Hong Kong: Govt assists building owners Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today said the Government is concerned about falling concrete cases and has been advising building owners on how to seek professional services on maintaining their buildings. Miss Mak made the remarks after attending a radio programme, noting that the Development Bureau has already convened a meeting with the Buildings Department, the Urban Renewal Authority and the Home Affairs Department to discuss the mechanism to help building owners maintain their own properties. As for the Home Affairs Department, we have all along been helping those owners convene owners meetings and giving them advice on how to seek professional services on maintaining their buildings. We will continue to reach out to the owners in need and provide them with suitable advice and help them seek suitable and relevant professional services. On District Services & Community Care Teams, Miss Mak said the 16 district care teams are expected to be formed in the coming two months. For the care teams set up in Tsuen Wan District and Southern District, those care team members have already provided various services to people living in the two districts. Just like during the typhoon period, the care team members stood by at the shelters to help those people in need. This story has been published on: 2023-07-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Turkiye to monitor steps taken by Sweden before ratifying its NATO bid: Erdogan Xinhua) 09:56, July 22, 2023 ANKARA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that his country would monitor Sweden's counterterrorism steps before ratifying its NATO bid at the parliament. "We will follow the (implementation of) promises and guarantees given by the Swedish side... and take action according to the steps Sweden takes," Erdogan told reporters on his flight back to Turkiye, according to the state-run TRT broadcaster. "It will be in Sweden's favor if the Nordic country takes concrete steps in the fight against terrorist organizations and the extradition of terrorists," the president noted. The NATO accession process requires the approval of all member states. Sweden and Finland applied to join the military alliance last year but faced objections from Turkiye, which argued that the two countries harbor members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party and the Gulen movement. Ankara eventually lifted its objection to Finland's NATO bid in March this year. Turkiye agreed to advance Sweden's accession to NATO on July 10, just ahead of a summit of the military alliance. The Turkish parliament will vote on the Nordic country's NATO membership in October. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/who-is-the-biggest-supplier-of-microchips-1112061898.html Who is the Biggest Supplier of Microchips? Who is the Biggest Supplier of Microchips? A Taiwanese microchip giant has delayed production at its plant in Arizona to 2025 due to a shortage of skilled labor. Who produces the most chips in the world? Sputnik explores. 2023-07-22T14:01+0000 2023-07-22T14:01+0000 2023-07-22T14:01+0000 economy us china taiwan chips semiconductors production /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/16/1112061739_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_c8f4740215e6b3c8db3b70984af773b1.jpg What is Microchip?A microchip is a substance typically made of silicon, which has specific electrical properties (it conducts electricity more than an insulator, but less than a pure conductor) that allows it to serve as a foundation for computers and other electronic devices.Also known as chips, semis or semiconductors, microchips can be found in such products as smartphones, appliances, gaming hardware, and medical equipment.Who is World's Largest Chip Supplier?Taiwan remains the world's undisputed leader in terms of raw semiconductor manufacturing and supplying.The island currently produces more than 60% of the world's semiconductors and over 90% of the most advanced ones. Who is Taiwan's Biggest Producer of Chips?Most semis are manufactured by a single company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC), which also controls more than half of the global semiconductor foundry market, by revenue.Founded in 1987, TSMC, which is sometimes called just Taiwan Semiconductor, registered record earnings in 2022. This was followed by the firms profits being plummeted by about 23% to $5.8 billion in the past three months to the end of June, because of slower demand for chips.Is TSMC Owned by China?No, even though Beijing perceives Taiwan as an essential part of China, which it says should finally be peacefully reunified with the mainland.TSMC is owned by its shareholders, and the largest one is the National Development Fund, which owns 6.4% of the company. A notable owner remains a company founder Morris Chang, whose stake is estimated to be around 0.5%.Can TSMC Sell Chips to China?Beijing has never said no to TMSCs massive semiconductor exports to the mainland, given that China heavily relies on the company, which provides cutting-edge microchips for Chinese consumer electronics industry.A couple of years ago, at least 40% of Taiwan's total exports were microchips, with China and Hong Kong being two of their biggest importers.But this year, Taiwans exports of integrated circuit chips (IC) to China and Hong Kong saw the largest fall since January 2009, in a sign of a global decline in electronics demand. The IC exports fell by 27.1% in January from a year earlier, according to the Taiwanese Finance Ministry.Who Makes Microchips for China?There are two largest chip manufacturers in China, the state-backed Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, (SMIC), and Hua Hong Semiconductor.SMIC said earlier this year that its 2022 revenue totaled $7.2 billion, up 34% year on year while its gross margin stood at a record 38%, the second year of sales growth above 30% for the company.In the same vein, Hua Hong Semiconductors posted an annual growth of 51.8% in sales in 2022, a record high for the firm.Other Chinese chip companies include HiSilicon, Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp (YMTC), UNISOC, Naura Technology Group, Will Semiconductor, Wingtech, GigaDevice Semiconductor, and Jiangsu Changjiang Electronics Tech.Who Else Dominates Global Chip Industry?Aside from TSMC, the top-three list includes South Koreas Samsung Electronics (SEC) and Taiwans United Microelectronics Corporation (UMC).Like TSMC, however, SEC expects a 96% profit plunge in the second quarter of 2023 as weak demand for memory chips persists, according to the company. UMC finance chief Chitung Li, in turn, said that his firms 2022 capital spending was $2.7 billion, less than the $3 billion previously planned, with 2023 spending set at $3 billion.Other world chip giants include California-headquartered Global Foundries, the US Intel Corp., San Diego-headquartered Qualcomm Inc., plus such US tech behemoths as Micron Techology Inc., Broadcom Inc, Nvidia Corp., and Texas Instruments.Is There Global Chip Shortage Now?The ongoing semiconductor shortage involves numerous industries pertaining to the automotive and personal electronics sectors that were hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, which was declared to be over by the World Health Organization earlier this year.Skyrocketing demand for mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices, along with the US' protracted trade row with China and decreased manufacturing capacity in America, have sparked the semis industry crisis, according to media reports.Is There Chip Race Between China and US?Yes. China and the US continue to lock horns to prevail in the prospering global chip industry, which may grow to $1.4 trillion in revenue by 2030. White House statistics show that the US currently produces roughly 10%, while China accounts for at least 15% of semiconductor-related global production.The US Commerce Department may announce the restrictions before the end of this month to stop the shipments of chips made by Nvidia and other semiconductor giants to customers in China and other countries of concern without first obtaining a license, according to the report.Last year, Washington required licenses for those companies that export chips to China using US tools or software, no matter where in the world they are being made. The measures also keep US citizens and green card holders from working for certain Chinese chip companies. The restrictions were preceded by President Joe Biden signing into law a bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act which includes more than $52 billion for US companies producing semiconductors, as well as billions more in tax credits to encourage investment in the chip industry. In this regard, Beijing is sparing no expense in the research and development (R&D) of similar technologies. Premier Li Keqiang has already promised that the country's R&D spending for the purpose would grow by more than 7% by 2025.On its chip rivalry with the US, Chinas Ministry of Commerce recently responded to restrictions by announcing that Chinese companies who plan to sell products containing rare earth metals gallium and germanium (which are used to manufacture chips) would need to first obtain an export license. This actually means that if the government refuses to issue such a license, a certain company will be banned from exporting. https://sputnikglobe.com/20221206/us-anti-china-chip-ban-worsens-shortages-inflation-in-bid-for-sovereign-capability-1105080387.html china taiwan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg semiconductors production, production of chips, Breakfast With The Babies at The Meadowlands came early on Saturday (July 22) morning, with a first post at 8 a.m. due to stakes commitments across the continent on this busy day. Sponsored by Jules Siegels Fashion Farms, Breakfast With The Babies had conditions that were perfect to begin with track fast, temperature of 71 degrees fahrenheit, and little to no wind. Cutler Memorial winner Venerate (Brian Sears) was out for some exercise this morning in a qualifier that also served as a return to the races for last seasons trotting sensation Alrajah One IT (Ake Svanstedt). The result was a very impressive 1:51.1 mile by Venerate who, having been stalked all the way by Alrajah One, turned on the jets for an in-hand :26.4 final quarter to score by five lengths. Alrajah One was valiant in defeat. Trainer Tony Alagna continued to impress with his seemingly endless parade of talented freshmen, victorious in half of this morning's 10 baby races. To get things started, a pair of talented Captaintreacherous colts from the Tony Alagna barn squared off for the length of the stretch and ultimately Captain Luke (Dexter Dunn) prevailed over Remember The Alamo (Andy McCarthy) in 1:53.4. The winner, owned by the partnership of Robert LeBlanc, Pryde Stable, Brad Grant and Steve Head, was a $135,000 Lexington buy from breeder Vieux Carre Farms. Fasnacht Hanover (Todd McCarthy) was Alagnas second winner of the morning, taking over from an erratic Avellino (Jordan Stratton) before the half. Through a :27.3 final quarter, he won a stretch battle with Pop It (Tim Tetrick) for the 1:54.2 win. Marvin & Lynn Katz share ownership with Brad Grant on the $190,000 son of Stay Hungry, a Hanover-bred Harrisburg yearling. Winter Soldier (A. McCarthy) survived a furious rally from Longfellow (Sears) and the wire arrived just in time to preserve his perfect record, winning for the third time in as many tries. This was a forwardly placed effort, making the front before the half in :59 and scooting away as they passed the 1:28 third panel. He then lasted in a :29.1 end to the 1:57.1 win. Pete Alagna and Pryde Stables are the owners with Alagna the trainer of the gritty Face Time Bourbon colt, bred by Order By Stable and sold in Lexington for $140,000. Vocalize (A. McCarthy) was an impressive wire-to-wire winner in 1:56 this morning. Stalked throughout by stable mate Benny J (Dunn), Vocalize rattled off a speedy :57 half, but had enough to hold his challengers at bay through the stretch. Vocalize is another winner from the Alagna barn, owned by Donna Lee, Pryde Stables, Pure Cotton Stables and James Gianuzzi, who gave a mere $30,000 at Lexington for the Father Patrick colt from the Brittany Farms consignment. In the final two-year-old race of the day, Alagna got his fifth with the Captaintreacherous filly Gifted One (T. McCarthy). McCarthy orchestrated a start to finish score here, setting lively fractions and using a :28.1 end to the 1:53.3 mile to hold off the serious late charge of Debut (Tetrick). The winner, a $180,000 Lexington yearling bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin & Lynn Katz, is owned by Robert LeBlanc, Joe Sbrocco, Brad Grant and Pryde & JAF Racing. Brian Sears put Lynam S on the lead from the start, set moderate fractions and held sway, despite drifting a bit late, over the fast-closing Edvard Palema S (Ake Svanstedt) through the :29.1 end to the 1:59 mile. The winner is a Greenshoe half brother to Joviality S, bred and owned by Anders Strom as AM Breeding and Courant Inc., and trained by Marcus Melander. The Norwegian-bred daughter of Googoo Gaagaa, Go For Gaagaa, was a 1:59.3 winner for Yannick Gingras and trainer Per Engblom. She left the gate nicely, settled in behind Volcanic Blue Chip (Svanstedt) as that one cut moderate fraction, slipped out mid-way on the turn then out gamed that rival through a :28.3 final quarter to get the win. Eric Good owns the winner, bred by Rune Hansen and Stall Friends. Todd McCarthy drove the impressive Walner filly Miss I La to a 1:58.1 win in her second try for owner Ken Jacobs and trainer Noel Daley. It was a pocket trip conversion, as McCarthy settled his charge in behind French Champagne (Svanstedt) through a series of 30-second quarters before fanning off that one as they straightened up and surging by with a :27.4 final quarter. Miss I La was a $275,000 Lexington purchase for Jacobs, bred by Blue Chip Farms and Stefan Melander. Chris Ryder and Dexter Dunn combined for a winner, this with Tarrific, a Huntsville half-sister to Niki Hill, a filly with which they have enjoyed remarkable success. Todays trip was from behind, as Dunn sat last of five until calling upon Tarrific on the final bend where she responded by sweeping by the field, then holding safe over the close of Sweet Flowers (Troyce Thomas) through a :27.4 end to a mile in 1:56.2. The winner was bred by Stephen Dey, who retains a stake in the filly with partner Let It Ride Stables. Live harness racing resumes at The Meadowlands tonight at 6:20 p.m. (With files from The Meadowlands) There is a gem in Culpeper which is emblematic of the American story: George Washington Carver Regional High School. Nothing is more a part of the American story than education, which equips us to continually reimagine what is possible. Segregation created many barriers for Black students. Through the 1940s, there were no high schools available for them in the Piedmont region. After seventh grade, only training schools were offered. To achieve a high school education, a Black student had to attended segregated high schools in Charlottesville or Richmond, an expense few families could afford. With the end of World War II, returning GIs and local leaders petitioned Virginia to establish a high school in Culpeper which would also serve Rappahannock, Orange and Madison counties. The land on which Carver stands was purchased in 1926 by farmer Noah Price. In the 1850s, that land was part of a vast plantation worked by enslaved families. GWCRHS was born of hope and named after its namesake, a famous agriculturalist and inventor, who intoned, Where there is no vision, there is no hope. Carver is noted for his crop rotation scheme, which rescued cotton fields by growing peanuts. He then invented numerous food and medical uses for peanuts. Carver died in 1943 after a long teaching career at Tuskegee University. The Regional High School in Culpeper opened on Friday, October 1, 1948, to 452 students and approximately 20 teachers. When the school closed its doors in 1968, over 4,500 young students had passed through its classrooms. They went into business, public service and military service careers. Carver RHS closed its doors after a long fight to end segregation in education, begun by the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown vs the Board of Education. Like its southern state neighbors, Virginia zealously fought to retain segregation. Culpeper was one of the last to fold. Carver students were enrolled in the Culpeper County High School in 1968. After closing, the building was converted into the Piedmont Vocational High School by Culpeper and Madison counties and served as a trade school for all students in the area. The trade school lasted several years, but ultimately shuttered and the building served several disparate purposes, including a storage space for Culpeper County and a nursing school facility for Germanna Community College. GWCRHS filled the need to offset the discrimination of the day. The need to fight discrimination, the usthem view of society, remains. The first executive order from Gov. Youngkin ended virtually all diversity and equity initiatives launched a few years ago by the Department of Education. Recently, he ordered the same deletion of resources for support of LGBTQ+ students. The consequence of this official discrimination is not only to block someones path, but to be discouraging in the long run. But GWCRHS is like a pebble that continues to make ripples to this day. The building contains a museum of the four counties history. This year, alumni celebrate the 75th anniversary of its founding. Community events have already been held in Madison and Orange. On July 29, the alumni will host a picnic at the Amissville Fire and Rescue station in Rappahannock. The focus for this event is remembrance of that long bus ride from Rappahannock to Culpeper. An event on Sept. 16-17 will focus on the agricultural legacy of Carvers career and agricultural support activities in progress today at the Carver Center. The echo from the schools alumni continues through sponsorship of annual scholarships for students from the four counties. The years finale will be a Gala dinner and dance on Oct. 21 at the Germanna Joseph R. Daniel Technology Center. The gala is the capstone of that echo. Join history and ensure the echo continues. Tickets for all these events can be accessed at gwcrhsaa.org. Libby McKay is constantly on the lookout when traveling around Norfolk, hoping to solve a mystery. The questions bedeviling McKay: How did a Milton a two-story home ordered a century ago from a Sears & Roebuck Co. catalog end up in this northeast Nebraska city. Is it still standing? The Milton most certainly made it here. A 1916 Sears catalog said so. Theres a story here, and Id like to hear it, said McKay, director of Norfolks Elkhorn Valley Museum. I want to find it if its still here. From 1908 to 1940, Sears & Roebuck customers ordered as many as 70,000 homes. Other lesser-known companies also offered homes from catalogs and sold comparable numbers. The houses, often called kit homes, were delivered by train. An unknown number of the kit homes were constructed in Nebraska. But many of the ones that have been identified hold an added cachet. Sears homes in particular carry credibility among architectural historians and home buyers looking for a well-made house with history. Rebecca Hunter, an architectural historian from Elgin, Illinois, has spent decades researching catalog homes. The most intriguing oral history associated with a home, is perhaps, This house came on the train, Hunter wrote in her book, Mail-Order Homes: Sears Homes and other Kit Houses. Costs for Sears homes ranged from $146 in 1911 for a two-room cottage to $9,990 for a 10-room design in 1920, according to Hunters book. The cost of the lot, foundation and construction labor typically doubled the catalog price. Early Sears versions were known solely by their design number, but later ones carried names, such as the Greenview, the Rosita and the Princeville. No matter the version, Sears homes were well-designed and made to last, Hunter said. Jan Paulsen owns a Langston in Cedar Bluffs. She learned it was a catalog home shortly after she bought the house nearly 15 years ago. Its rock solid, she said of her home. I believe if the winds would blow, it would stand. Just how many have survived remains a mystery, Hunter said. Sears records have been lost to time, which also complicates the authentication process. The challenge for people looking to spot Sears homes in their communities is they dont stand out, said Ed Zimmer, an architectural historian in Lincoln. The Sears homes blended in so well with other homes during this period, they now are hard to spot and difficult to verify. Kellie Knop knows exactly what she has: a Sears Paloma design built in the 1920s in Lincoln. She learned about her homes history from its previous owner, Luann Wandsnider, who received the news from a newspaper reporter in the 1990s. I was pleasantly surprised. I had no idea, Wandsnider recalled. When it was time to sell, Wandsnider left a copy of the Lincoln Journal Star story with her real estate agent. Knop bought the house in the early 2000s because it was live-in ready, but she appreciates the fact it has history. Ben and Denise Benegas wanted something with a little age for their retirement home. Two years before their retirement in 2010 from the University of Iowa, the couple started hunting for an older home, with an eye on a kit one. They looked at 200 homes in Iowa and surrounding states. They found their home in Stromsburg, and discovered it was a Sears Design No. 160. On their first visit, Ben Benegas said, the couple realized just how much work it needed. We said, Oh my. It needed a roof, it needed a heating system. Some pipes had frozen. We called (the real estate agent) immediately. This is the one. Benegas said a neighbor told him it was a Sears catalog home and others in town confirmed it. The couple found a book of Sears homes and saw theirs was nearly a dead ringer. Their house later was included on a state-by-state list of Sears homes. Hunter and Zimmer caution those who believe they have a kit house: Matching your home with a design from a catalog page might not be enough. True proof often is found on the framing boards. Sears, for example, stamped solid numbers and letters near the ends of the boards usually a capital letter followed by one or more numbers. Hunters book offers additional tips for verifying a catalog home: Blueprints with a mail-order model name, number or company logo. Title searches or tax records listing a mail-order company as the architect, buyer, seller, owner or payer of real estate taxes. Documents, including correspondence, guarantees, instruction manuals or parts lists. Mortgage records, in the case of companies that offered financing. Hunter said testimonials from historians, previous owners and neighbors often pique a homeowners interest. Kelsey Shirk received a letter addressed to the current owner of her home on Garfield Street in Lincoln about a year after she moved in. The writer, a woman in her 90s living in Minnesota, wrote about how her parents had built the Sears Rodessa-design home that she lived in as a child. I hope you are still enjoying your first home. I think it is the perfect size for one, she wrote in a follow-up note. Shirk said she enjoys everything about her home, except possibly the front door, which is a bit off-center. Dan and Indi Goebel, who bought their home in Omahas Dundee district in 2021, were intrigued that their home looked strikingly similar to a Sears Preston design. Even the closets are the same, Indi Goebel said. But Hunter expressed some doubt and said shed need to see the stamping on framing boards. Dan Goebel said he was disappointed by the assessment but understands. Well keep looking (for a stamp), he said. Hunter has compiled a state-by-state list of verified Sears homes. Kelli Bacon with History Nebraska keeps her own list. Nebraskans with verified catalog homes can report them to Bacon. In some situations, Hunter said, homeowners think they have a particular kit home, only to find out its another. Sears had competitors, including Montgomery Ward, Gordon-Van Tine and Aladdin. Brad and Kim Spady heard the talk: Their home in Imperial was a Sears home. People were constantly saying it, Brad Spady said. Now they know it is a kit home but from Gordon-Van Tine, a company based in Davenport, Iowa, in the early 1900s. Kim Spady said she had her eye on the home. The couple pounced when it became available in 2005. Like others, they didnt buy the house because it was a catalog home. We bought it because we love it, Kim Spady said. I was just tickled to find out what it was. A 57-year-old Scottsbluff man has been sentenced to 90 years to life in the Nov. 25, 2020, stabbing death of a 23-year-old Gering man. Scotts Bluff County District Court Judge Andrea Miller sentenced Gregory Moore to 80 years to life on a charge of second degree murder, a Class IB felony. He received a sentence of 10 to 20 years imprisonment on a charge of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, a Class II felony. A Scotts Bluff County District Court jury convicted Moore on May 31 in the death of Fernando Camacho-McBride. Trial in the cast lasted about a week. In a Facebook post, Semelee McBride, Camacho-McBride's mother, said that she felt that justice had been served. McBride said that due to a clerical error, she wasn't able to make a victim impact statement, so she posted one on social media. She gave the Star-Herald permission to use excerpts from the statement. In her statement, McBride spoke out about the brutality of Camacho-McBride's murder and its senselessness. According to testimony at the trial, Moore had attacked the man with a knife, chasing him around the apartment and Camacho-McBride died, bleeding out after suffering severe stab wounds. He made statements that he was "protecting his inventory." "...My son died for no reason," McBride said. "No one expects to bury their child and I certainly never did," she said, talking about having to buy a burial plot, headstone and encountering other funeral expenses. She said her family has suffered emotionally over the loss and that healing has been an ongoing process. She also talked about his biological family members, adopted and extended family members and friends missing the young man. Moore was given credit for 549 days already served in jail as he awaited trial. His sentence will be served consecutively to that in another case in which Moore had been convicted after stabbing his landlord. The Nebraska Attorney General's Office prosecuted the case, with assistant attorney general Doug Warner handling the case. Kelly Breen, of the Nebraska Commission of Public Advocacy, represented Moore. Family sees justice, nearly three years after son's death After nearly three years of waiting for the man accused of killing their son, Fernando Camacho-McBride, to go on trial, on Thursday, Semalee and Todd McBride heard the verdict they were hoping for: Guilty. Jury returns verdict, finds Scottsbluff man guilty of second-degree murder A Scotts Bluff County District Court jury found Gregory Moore guilty in the stabbing and killing of 23-year-old man Fernando Camacho-McBride Man accused in stabbing death had previous history of unprovoked attack The trial of a Scottsbluff man accused of killing a 23-year-old man by stabbing him several times will turn to the defense phase Thursday. Rain may have dampened attendance at the 2022 Iredell County Agricultural Fair but it didnt deter the Statesville Kiwanis Club from helping more than a dozen students with college expenses. The club, which sponsors the fair, handed out scholarships to eight students in July and presented four more this week to students unable to attend the July meeting. A total of 17 $1,000 scholarships were presented and the money came from proceeds from the fair. J.D. Brown, Presley Cox, Will Greer and Shaiyan St. Brice were the final group of recipients to receive their checks from the club. Also receiving scholarship monies but not present at the meeting were Abigail Hager, Caitlyn Carter and Alyssa Weaver. Brown is a graduate of Statesville High School and will be attending Winston-Salem State University. Cox is a graduate of Lake Norman High School and is headed to North Carolina State University. Greer and St. Brice are both graduates of South Iredell High School. Greer will be a freshman at the University of North Carolina and St. Brice is going to Duke University. Hager, also a graduate of SHS, is going to UNC as is Carter, a graduate of South Iredell High School. Weaver graduated from West Iredell High School and is going to Gardner-Webb University. Peyton Wood, graduate of the Agriculture Science and Early College, will attend Lenoir Rhyne University and Trinity Webb, a graduate of North Iredell High School, will attend Mitchell Community College. The students awarded their scholarships at the July club meeting were: Alaya Gillespie, SHS, East Carolina University; Guilianna Englert, Lake Norman High School, Pinnacle Institute of Cosmetology; Adamma Anukwuem, SIHS, UNC; Ansleigh Layne, SIHS, High Point University; Bailey Drane, North Iredell High School, Mitchell Community College; Isaiah Jones, Agriculture Science and Early College, Lenoir Rhyne University; Edison Flores, NIHS, Gardner-Webb University. Joe Stephens of the clubs Scholarship Committee, said selecting recipients from dozens of applications is a difficult but rewarding undertaking. Its always a lot of fun to do this, he said. It is so rewarding to be able to see what these folks are going to do and be. I give you a big round of applause. Club President Chuck Gallyon said it is a privilege for the club to see the weeks of hard work that go into planning and working at the fair each year come to fruition. We are so glad for you to be here, he said. The club now turns to getting ready for the 2023 fair, which begins Sept. 1 and continues through Sept. 9 at the Iredell County Agricultural Fairgrounds in Troutman. Organizers are hoping for fair skies and good attendance to be able to afford this opportunity for a new group of students next summer. Souvik Mukherjee Vs ITO (ITAT Delhi) Introduction: The recent judgement of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT), Delhi in the case of Souvik Mukherjee Vs ITO, sets a significant precedent for individuals earning income from overseas employment. This ruling, focusing on the taxation of a bonus received from foreign employment, offers fresh insights on the applicability of Foreign Tax Credit and could potentially impact a large number of Indian professionals working abroad. Analysis: In this case, Souvik Mukherjee, the appellant, received a bonus from his previous employer in Singapore. The Assessing Officer (AO) and Commissioner of Income Tax (CIT) originally determined that only a portion of this bonus was eligible for relief under section 90 of the Income Tax Act, leading to Mukherjees appeal. ITAT, upon examining the case, noted that the bonus was received in respect of employment services rendered by the appellant in Singapore during a period when he was a non-resident of India. Importantly, the bonus was declared after the appellant had returned to India and become a resident. Despite this, ITAT interpreted the provisions of section 5(1) of the Income Tax Act and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) between India and Singapore to conclude that the bonus, while taxable in India, is eligible for a full foreign tax credit for taxes paid in Singapore. ITAT rejected the original calculation method used by the AO, which only allowed a partial tax credit. Conclusion: The judgement of ITAT in Souvik Mukherjee Vs ITO has profound implications for professionals receiving income from foreign employment. The ruling emphasises that a bonus received abroad in connection with employment services is taxable in India if the recipient is a resident during the year of receipt. However, this bonus is eligible for a full foreign tax credit, contrary to earlier interpretation by the AO. This case serves as a crucial reference for those seeking clarity on the taxability of overseas income and eligibility of foreign tax credits. FULL TEXT OF THE ORDER OF ITAT DELHI 1. The appeal in ITA No.4246/Del/2016 for AY 2012-13, arises out of the order of the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals)-19, New Delhi [hereinafter referred to as ld. CIT(A), in short] in Appeal No.25/20 15- 16 dated 05.05.2016 against the order of assessment passed u/s 143(3) Income-tax Act, 1961 (hereinafter referred to as the Act) dated 03.2015 by the Assessing Officer, Ward-59(3), New Delhi (hereinafter referred to as ld. AO). 2. The assessee has raised the following grounds of appeal:- 1. That having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, Ld. CIT(A) has erred in law and on facts in confirming the action of Ld. AO in denying relief under section 90 of the Income Tax Act 1961. 2. That in any view of matter and in any case, action of Ld. CIT(A) in confirming the action of Ld. AO in passing the impugned assessment order is beyond jurisdiction, illegal, in violation of principles of natural justice, contrary to law and facts and deserves to be quashed. 3. We have heard the rival submissions and perused the material available on record. The assessee during the year under consideration, is a resident individual and had filed his return of income for AY 2012- 13 on 23.07.2012 declaring total income of Rs. 1,42,58,599/-. The assessee had declared income under the head income from salary, income from house property and income from other sources. During the course of scrutiny assessment proceedings, the ld AO found assessee had claimed relief u/s 90 of the Act in respect of bonus received from his previous employer in Singapore amounting to Rs. 12,18,677/-. The AO in para 5 of his order had stated that the assessee had received salary for the period from January 2011 to March 2011 amounting to Singapore $ 58865 and bonus amounting to Singapore $ 109859. The ld AO also stated in para 5 of his order that the assessee had paid Singapore $ 9998.55 as tax in Singapore. The ld AO accordingly granted relief only to the extent of Rs. 5.92% (9998.55 / 168724 X 100) u/s 90 of the Act and which was worked out to Rs. 2,33,481/-. Accordingly, the ld AO proceeded to disallow the relief u/s 90 of the Act in the sum of Rs. 9,85,196/- (Rs. 12,18,677 -2,33,481/-). These actions of the ld AO was upheld by the ld CIT(A) by observing as under:- 16. I have gone through the submissions of the appellant. In brief the contention of the appellant is that bonus represents arrears of salary in respect of services rendered in Singapore during the Financial Year 2010-11 and as per section 15(e), it is chargeable under the head salaries. He, further, relies on section 9(1)(ii) to say that income under the head salaries is deemed to accrue or arise in India only if the services are rendered in India. However, in his case, the services were rendered outside India, therefore, as per the provisions of section 9(1)(ii), this income should not at all be charged to tax in India and be excluded from the total income. 17. The argument of the appellant is contrary to his return. In his return he has already offered income which had been received from the Singapore Company and on which the tax has been duly deducted by his present employer. In the return, he had only claimed relief under section 90 in respect of taxes paid but in his argument he seeks exemption from tax in respect of entire bonus received. 1, however, do not agree with the alternate argument of the appellant for the following reasons:- (i) During the relevant Assessment Year 2012-1 3, the appellant is a resident of India which can be seen from his return of income. As per section 5 of the Act, a resident is liable in respect of:- (a) income received or deemed to received in India; (b) income which accrues or arises or deemed to accrue or arise in India; (c) Income which accrues or arises to him outside India. (ii) The appellant has stated that the amount of bonus was received by him in his bank account at Singapore and therefore, the income was not received in India. He, thereafter, states that as per provisions of section 9(1)(ii), income being in the nature of salary was rendered outside India since the bonus was received in respect of serviced rendered by him when he was a non-resident. He, therefore, states that he does not fall under any of the categories mentioned in Section 5 of the Act. iii) During the relevant previous year i.e. 2011-12, on 1 June, a bonus was declared by the Singapore Company, this is evident from letter filed by the appellant. This letter shows that no bonus was declared in the preceding year and the bonus was determined & declared in the month of June which was subsequently paid. This shows that this income has accrued/arisen to him during the relevant previous year. Since bonus is never a part of salary and is declared on the basis of performance and profits of the Company, it is not contractual income but is a gratuitous payment which arises or accrues only when the same is declared. Since the bonus was declared during the relevant previous year when the appellant was resident, it squarely falls within clause (c) of section 5(1) of the Act. In view of the above discussion, the bonus was chargeable to tax in India during the relevant year and tax has been properly deducted by his employer on the same. In view of the above discussion, appellant is entitled to a relief of Rs. 2,33,774/-in view of DTTA with Singapore read with section 90 of the Income Tax Act, 1961. This ground of appeal is rejected. 4. The main crux of the confirmation of the addition by the ld CIT(A) is that the assessee, being a resident during the year under consideration, this sum of bonus though pertaining to employment services rendered in Singapore but received during the year under consideration by the assessee, shall be treated as income accruing or arising to him in terms of section 5 of the Act. The ld CIT(A) however, accepted the fact that the bonus was declared by the Singapore Company only on 1st June 2011 and accordingly concluded that this income had accrued and arisen to the assessee during the year under consideration, in which year the assessee is a resident. 5. It is not in dispute that this bonus is received by the assessee form the Singapore Company in respect of employment services rendered by the assessee in Singapore. It is not in dispute that the assessee when he had rendered employment services in Singapore was a non-resident. It is not in dispute that this bonus received from Singapore Company was treated as part of salary by the assessee and by the Singapore Company. It is not in dispute that the bonus has been declared by the Singapore Company only on 1st June 2011. This excruciating fact of bonus getting declared on 1st June 2011 clearly proves the contention of the assessee that the said bonus was in respect of employment services rendered by the assessee in Singapore when he was a non resident. The evidence in this regard is enclosed at page 7 to 8 of the paper book. It is a fact that the bonus is included by the assessee in his return of income and tax has been deducted by the Indian employer also. We find from Article 15 of the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement entered into between India and Singapore, salary, wages and other similar remuneration derived by a resident of contracting state in respect of employment shall be taxable only in that state unless the employment is exercised in other contracting state. If the employment is so exercised, such remuneration as is derived there from may be taxed in that other state. Admittedly, the assessee herein was a non resident when he was rendering employment in Singapore Company in pursuance of which employment, the assessee was given bonus in June 2011. It is not in dispute that during the period for which bonus is received, the assessee was serving only in Singapore and not in India. On perusal of the provisions of section 5(1) of the Act, the said bonus income would have to be construed as income accruing or arising to him in India and it is also received during the year by the assessee. Hence, the bonus received by the assessee, being a resident would be taxable for the year under consideration in India. However, in terms of section 90 of the Act, the entire taxes paid by the assessee in Singapore for the very same salary and bonus component, would be eligible for tax credit for the assessee. We are unable to apprehend ourselves to accept to the tax credit calculation determined by the ld. AO in the instant case by working out @5.92% which has no support from the provisions of Act or in DTAA. Hence, the said determination of foreign tax credit by the AO is hereby rejected. However, we direct the ld AO to allow the foreign tax credit in full in respect of tax paid in Singapore for the very same salary and bonus income. With these directions, the ground raised by the assessee are allowed and ld AO is directed to give tax credit to the assessee accordingly. 6. In the result the appeal is allowed for statistical purposes. Order pronounced in the open court on 27/06/2023. There are some solutions we find by accident. Penicillin, silly putty, smoke detectors and Coca-Cola were all accidental products of an unrelated project. Sidewalk dining is much the same. During the COVID-19 pandemic, restaurants were trying to figure out how to thread the needle of social distancing in a scenario where masking wasnt really an option. Many of them took their restaurants outdoors, to the parking lots and sidewalks. And guess what? It was a hit. Many restaurants found that sidewalk dining wasnt just some thing they were temporarily doing, some customers genuinely preferred it. Thats why you can still see places taking advantage of outdoor seating long after any COVID mandates about social distancing have ended, especially during the summer. It seems like we found one thing that worked coming out of the pandemic. But it hasnt been smooth sailing for some establishments. Previously, The Daily News reported on Longview restaurants being faced with daunting costs for outdoor seating. Six local restaurants, including Antidote Tap House, have been cited for issues involving the sidewalk right-of-way. Not much good came out of the COVID pandemic, but discovering sidewalk dining was one example. But rather than reevaluate city policies as the various emergency declarations expired, we put an expensive policy in place, using the pricing structure Longview uses to lease city-owned buildings rather than setting a reasonable rate. Currently, the city offers two ways to have public sidewalk seating: One, restaurants can have chairs and tables they put out at the beginning of the day and take in as they close. The other is to buy a permit which allows you to lease part of the sidewalk. Two businesses looking to keep their sidewalk seating were quoted a one-time $3,000 application fee, and hundreds more each month for the lease. Compared to other cities in Washington, Longviews current rate seems downright extortionate. Permits for Vancouver are less than $200 and the cost to lease space sits between $200 and $400 a year. Currently, the city is claiming that sidewalk space in Longview is somehow worth a dozen times as much as Vancouver or Spokane. On Monday, city officials met to discuss dropping that fee by thousands of dollars. The City Council still has to OK the new proposed rate of $240 a year, to be renewed annually. We want to call on the council to expedite this process. Its taken far too long to act on this problem. Were glad to see city officials acknowledge the permit price was far too high, and promise to get it to a level similar to other Washington cities. But Longview had an opportunity to reexamine their pricing after COVID shutdowns ended and they missed it. This should be a lesson for the future: if a new trend emerges, the city should take a close look at how other municipalities are dealing with similar issues. When city councils make decisions, they often review what other nearby or similarly populated areas are doing, like when Castle Rock recently weighed raising council wages and Woodland looked at increasing residential developer fees to pay for parks. We think city staff should have done the same. We do recognize that the city does not have complete latitude in setting policy. The city does have to deal with regulations set higher up which they have to navigate. For instance, city staff have cited the federal Americans with Disabilities Act as complicating permitting. Antidote and The Lemon Drops sidewalk seating came into question in the first place when the city alerted them they were blocking what is deemed the accessible part of the sidewalk. Ensuring people with disabilities can use city spaces the same way able-bodied people do is necessary and just. We are sure businesses would agree with keeping a clear path for everyone. Another piece of red tape to jump is with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board, which has rules like requiring some outdoor seating where alcohol is served to be staffed to ensure underage people dont enter. That can be a deterrent for a business that doesnt want to pay another employee, but is a reasonable request. We appreciate that while state and federal agencies are working to protect the vulnerable, the city of Longview is working to have the least financial impact on businesses as possible. We wish TDN would have been able to report that the city had revised prices months ago based on businesses initial sticker shock, but thats in the past. All that can be done is to act now. 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. India is facing a growing threat from cybercriminals who exploit virtual numbers with the +92 country code, often associated with Pakistan, to carry out fraudulent activities. Recently, a new online scam has emerged, where scammers impersonate the so-called 'Bhai' from Dubai, enticing unsuspecting individuals with promises of attractive rewards like a free iPhone 14. One such victim, Virag Doshi, a 24-year-old businessman from Ahmedabad, fell prey to this deceitful scheme. Rising Trend of Virtual Number Exploitation It all began when Doshi received a message on his Instagram account, claiming he had won a free iPhone 14 from 'Bade Bhai and Chhote Bhai.' Eager to get his hands on the expensive device, he paid a small fee of 3,000 as instructed through UPI. Soon after, he received a call from a +92 country code number, with the caller posing as 'Bade Bhai' from Dubai, confirming the prize and claiming it was ready for delivery, TOI reported. Elated by the news, Doshi eagerly waited for the arrival of the iPhone 14, but things took an alarming turn when someone called 'Sanjay Sharma' rang him up, asking for an additional 8,000 for the delivery. Naively trusting the scammers, he paid the amount, only to find that he never received the promised gifts. The Aftermath and Widespread Nature of the Scam A devastating discovery soon followed Doshi's bank account had been debited by a staggering 6.76 lakh between April 18 and May 7. Unbeknownst to him, the scammers had emptied his account, leaving him devastated. A Call to Vigilance and Awareness The Dhandhuka police inspector, P N Zinzuwadia, revealed that Doshi unknowingly transferred the money to the scammers himself, unaware of the large sums involved. The fraudsters utilised virtual numbers to carry out their deceitful acts. This alarming trend of virtual number fraud is not limited to India alone but has also spread to other places, causing concern among law enforcement agencies. The cyber cell of CID (crime) has reported numerous similar cases nationwide, where scammers impersonate 'Bade Bhai and Chhote Bhai' from a reputed Dubai shop to entice victims with free or discounted iPhones. Here are 3 apps that can help you stay vigilant from online scams 1. Fraud Alert by CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) This app provides real-time alerts about online scams and phishing attacks. It also has a database of known scam websites and phone numbers. 2. mSafe by National Cyber Security Awareness Programme (NCSAP) This app helps you stay safe online by providing information about cyber security threats and tips on how to protect yourself. It also has a panic button that you can use to alert the authorities if you are being harassed online. 3. Anti-Phishing App by Google This app helps you identify and avoid phishing websites. It works by scanning websites for known phishing patterns. In addition to these apps, you can also stay safe online by following these tips: 1. Be careful about what information you share online. Don't share your personal information, such as your phone number, email address, or bank account details, with people you don't know. 2. Be suspicious of emails and text messages that ask for your personal information. These emails and text messages may be from scammers trying to steal your information. 3. Only download apps from trusted sources. Don't download apps from third-party websites or app stores. 4. Keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that can help protect you from malware and other threats. 5. Never believe claims of free gifts from strangers and don't ever make online payments to them without verifying their antecedents properly. To combat cybercrime, it's crucial for individuals to stay vigilant and cautious when dealing with unknown calls and offers. Awareness and informed decisions are essential in protecting oneself from falling prey to such fraudulent schemes. By following these tips, you can help protect yourself from online scams. A bald eagle sends out a warning, at a nest at a nest south of Gibsonburg. June 20 commemorates the anniversary of the bald eagles selection as our national symbol on the Great Seal of the United States of America, in 1782. Rodney Thomas, the father of Indianapolis Colts safety Rodney Thomas II, recently turned himself in to police as the man accused of slaying a bald eagle with a rifle. The 50-year-old Thomas is alleged to have shot the bald eagle on May 12 outside Pittsburgh when residents found one of two mature bald eagles dead in a field. Were devastated that this would happen, and we dont understand why somebody would do this, resident Linda Carnevali told Fox News Digital in early July. According to Carnevali, the eagle pair had lived in the area for nearly 20 years. She told Fox News the two eagles were always together except when they were protecting their clutches or newly hatched eaglets. The Pennsylvania Game Commission, within days of the poaching, issued a statement saying tips led investigators to Thomas, who quickly admitted to all aspects of the crime. We believe that the suspect will face any appropriate state and/or federal charges in due course upon the conclusion of the ongoing investigations, Mount Pleasant Township Police Chief Matthew Tharp said, according to Fox News. Bald eagles used to be endangered, but the population has rebounded due to public service campaigns. Recently upgraded from endangered to protected, the state penalty for killing a bald eagle in Pennsylvania got downgraded to a summary fine of up to $200. The federal penalty for poaching a bald eagle can include a fine up to $100,000 and up to one year in prison for the first offense, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [Fox News] Less than a month before classes are set to start, Texas A&M University has lost its president, the interim dean of one of its largest colleges and a highly qualified candidate to head its yet-to-be-certified journalism school. The Dean of the A&M Bush School, Ret. Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, will serve as A&Ms acting president after M. Katherine Banks announced her resignation on Thursday night in wake of the failed hiring of Kathleen McElroy as the new director of journalism and the resignation of Jose Bermudez as interim dean of the A&M College of Arts & Sciences, regarding the same controversy. Welsh was unavailable for comment at the time of publication due to serving on jury duty, but an A&M representative did say a lot remains unknown. We are unable to provide all the answers right now because we dont have them, but Texas A&M is determined to get to the bottom of what happened and why, according to an A&M spokesperson. With the quick succession of retracted offers and resignations, students, faculty and alumni remain unsure what this means for the future of the journalism program and the university. Roland Martin, a 1991 A&M journalism graduate and longtime political analyst, said even though Banks is now gone, he believes the decision regarding McElroy came from higher up. Let me make it perfectly clear, this thing is not over, Martin said. It is abundantly clear that the actions that she was involved in, in terms of pulling the initial offer from Kathleen McElroy, were made above her pay grade. And so, even with Banks resigning, we are still focused on righting the wrongs at Texas A&M. Martin said he and other alumni will continue to fight against discrimination at the university. We will not relent in our pursuit of justice when it comes to Kathleen McElroy, Black faculty [and] former students as well, he said. This is the first president since Dr. Mobley [that] I have never personally had a conversation with. That goes to show you her disregard for alumni. The failed hiring of McElroy is also part of a larger conversation in Texas regarding diversity, equity and inclusion [DEI], Martin said. Banks is a symptom of the problem, he said. She was not solely the problem. The Board of Regents and those who appoint the Board of Regents must be held to account [for] the DEI hysteria that is taking place in Texas and Im specifically talking about Gov. Greg Abbott. Campus leaders such as Hudson Kraus, A&M student body president for the 2023-24 academic year, said the recent controversy will have to be discussed by the student senate once classes begin next month. Im not completely educated on all the details of the specific story, he said. What I do know is that our job is to specifically serve students and were going to continue to do that no matter whats going on administratively. Despite the recent, rapid upheaval of the university administration, Kraus said he doesnt think it will affect students directly when they return to campus. Were absolutely confident that Texas A&M is the premier institution in the country, he said. I think thats not going to change regardless of what is going on administratively. I know that the [acting president], General Welsh is going to be great at understanding the concerns of our student population and continuing to work alongside us. Banks resignation has left Ruben Hernandez, The Battalion editor in chief, with more questions than answers. It really is a shock what just happened, said Hernandez, an A&M journalism senior. Im not really sure what to make of it, because its so recent. I feel like there could be steps going forward toward the situation at hand, but I also feel like this is still just scratching the tip of the iceberg. Although Hernandez had no direct involvement in The Battalions investigation of alumni group The Rudder Association (TRA), which has been cited as a possible motivator in McElroys departure, he said the student newspaper will continue to closely cover entities that have an effect on the university. I think this is bigger than just TRA, he said. This is just people who want to take control of something that isnt theirs to have control of. The [Battalion] will be there to show the information of whats going on and what isnt being presented to both students, administration, staff, anyone who is part of A&M as a whole. With his involvement in The Battalion and the journalism department, Hernandez said he feels as though he is in the middle of the controversy. Its kind of complicated being a student, and seeing all this go down, its shocking, because it feels like everything is falling apart, he said. As a journalist, its kind of like a gold mine for us like, Wow, this is an amazing opportunity to cover all of this. But theres that part of being a journalism student, that complicated feeling of like, This is crazy. Were gonna report on this, but Im also part of this. So theres that mixed feeling of Whats going on? Banks presidency was filled with controversies such as her efforts to prevent The Battalion from printing, the loss of tenure for university librarians and the consolidation of the universitys College of Science, College of Liberal Arts and College of Geosciences. Hernandez said he believes a combination of these controversies eventually led to Banks resignation. Whether or not this was the straw that broke the camels back, one part of me wants to say yes, he said. People were kind of already exhausted of what Banks was doing and fumbling over decisions that she wanted to implement and change. But another part of me thinks that because this is going bigger than just Kathleen McElroy resigning, and its quite an investigation going deeper, that this was probably a bigger situation at hand and thats what caused the resignation. Taiwan is looking into a potential disclosure of official records, including diplomatic cables and top-secret reports, regarding the island's delicate application to join a global trade agreement. Without going into specifics, an official stated that preliminary research indicated that some of the documents, which were posted on the internet bulletin board 8kun, included authentic information. At the same time, other portions were falsified, according to Reuters. Is China Involved? (Photo : by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images) Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen speaks during a press conference on the seventh anniversary of her tenure, at the Presidential Office in Taipei on May 20, 2023. A second officer stated that while they could not instantly establish the provenance of the documents uploaded online, they could tell that some documents appeared "authentic" in some places. The authorities requested anonymity owing to the sensitivity of the situation. The inquiry into "suspected government documents" that were recently uploaded online was verified by Taiwan's National Security Bureau (NSB). The NSB declared that it was also looking into possible involvement from China, which claims Taiwan as its own. The incident occurred at a crucial time for the island, which is seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade pact despite opposition from China, which is also seeking to join and is scheduled to have elections early next year. The online documents include what seems to be a confidential "security assessment" conducted on Taiwan's CPTPP candidacy in October by the country's main spy agency, the National Security Bureau. They contain purported diplomatic cables from Taiwan's de facto embassies in Vietnam and Japan regarding Taiwan and China's CPTPP applications and another top-secret report from Taiwan's de facto embassy in Washington this year on its trade negotiations with the United States. The CPTPP, a trade agreement between 11 nations (Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam), received applications from Taiwan and China in 2021. Britain intends to join as well. Beijing has stated that it is adamantly opposed to Taiwan joining since Taiwan is a part of China and is, therefore, unable to do so on its own. However, Taiwan is a member of the World Trade Organization known by the names Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. Taiwan vehemently denies Chinese claims to sovereignty and asserts that only the people of Taiwan have the power to determine their future. As the island prepares for the January presidential election, concerns about breaches and cyberattacks are escalating. President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly warned against China's attempts to sway public opinion before the election. Her ruling party is attempting to fend off a challenge from opposition parties promising closer ties with Beijing. Read Also: Taiwan Invasion: What Will Happen if China Attacks Taipei? Taiwan vs. China The relationship between Taiwan and China is one of the most sensitive and complex in the world. The two sides have been separated since 1949 when the Chinese Civil War ended with the Communist Party of China (CPC) taking control of mainland China and the Kuomintang (KMT) government fleeing to Taiwan. The CPC has long claimed that Taiwan is part of its territory and has vowed to eventually "reunify" the island with the mainland by force if necessary. The KMT, on the other hand, maintains that Taiwan is a sovereign state and that the people of Taiwan have the right to self-determination. In recent years, tensions between Taiwan and China have been rising. The CPC has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan and has made several provocative statements about the island. The KMT has also become more assertive in its defense of Taiwan and has begun to develop its indigenous defense capabilities. Related Article: Taiwan Bolsters Defense Capabilities with New US Missiles for F-16V Fighter Jets Amidst Rising Tensions @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. With no sign of a lioness on the loose on the outskirts of Berlin, German authorities have called off their hunt. After receiving reports of a wild animal from the public, police officers searched for almost 24 hours but turned up nothing. In the regions where the animal was seen, no paw prints or DNA evidence (such as animal excrement) were discovered. Experts were consulted, and it was decided that the animal was likely a wild boar. The search was eventually stopped after the employment of drones, helicopters, and heat-seeking cameras. See Also: Lioness on the Loose in Berlin; Germany Issues Warning Not a Lioness A brief, shaky video captured by a member of the public in the early hours of Thursday, July 20, set off the frenzied hunt. A wild animal, maybe a lion, was shown walking about in the woods near the village of Kleinmachnow. During the course of the search, two police officers reported seeing a "big cat" from a distance of roughly 20 meters (65 feet). However, Kleinmachnow Mayor Michael Grubert remarked during a news conference on Friday, July 21, that all signs point to it not being a lioness, BBC News reported. He displayed photos that demonstrated the animal in the video was not a lion since it lacked the distinctive long, curved neck of the animal. He added that what seemed to be a lengthy tail with a bob in the video may have really been a shadow generated by plants. Grubert reassured the public that there was no severe danger, adding that police would stay vigilant in case things altered. Martina Bellack, a spokesperson for the municipality of Kleinmachnow, claimed that two specialists, including one from South Africa, had been sent in to examine the footage. "Both came to the conclusion there was no way it was a lion," she stated. Another expert told RBB, a Berlin radio station, that the animal appeared more like a boar. Apparently, such an animal is prevalent in the area. The Hunt for the Wild Animal As many as 120 law enforcement and wildlife specialists were engaged in the hunt at one point. People were urged to remain inside, to not leave their pets alone, and to steer clear of the woods. During the search, BBC said that police received reports of up to a dozen probable sightings of the animal overnight, including in the wealthy Zehlendorf neighborhood inside Berlin itself. Authorities were not happy when several youths began blasting roaring lion noises from a speaker close to where they were searching. Police spokesperson Kerstin Schroder told RBB that such an act would not help either the local community or the police in their hunt for the animal. See Also: Baby Bison Euthanized After Encounter With Yellowstone National Park Visitor; Here's What Happened @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In search of a gas reservoir in the province of Sichuan, located in the country's southwestern corner, China has begun drilling a new hole that will reach a depth of 10,000 meters. After the launch of the first project on May 30 in China's western Xinjiang province, which is touted to be Asia's deepest well and is situated in the petroleum-rich Tarim Basin area, China will begin drilling its second ultra-deep well. Shendi Chuanke-1 Well On Thursday, July 20, PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Company started digging a new borewell in Sichuan province termed Shendi Chuanke-1 Well. The two companies are China's biggest oil and gas producers and distributors. According to the Independent, China Electric Power News reports that the exploration of Chuanke-1 is an integral part of the Deep Earth drilling project. Apparently, this is an aspect of China's larger infrastructure project that will offer an important foundation and support for China's future scientific studies and oil and gas development efforts. Energy security has been an increasing concern in recent years owing to geopolitical conflicts, shortages, and price instability. If the initiative to discover a gas reserve is successful, this will be a huge boon to the nation. China has surpassed other nations as the top exporter of natural gas and is now the fourth biggest gas producer in the world. President Xi Jinping's current five-year plan calls for meeting domestic energy demand entirely by 2025. See Also: Chinese President Xi Jinping Rejected Calls To Tackle Climate Change Following a Meeting with US Climate Envoy John Kerry Sichuan's Potential The southeastern region of Sichuan is not only home to some of China's most significant shale deposits. It is also home to the country's most famous pandas, fiery cuisine, and magnificent mountain views. Despite the region's obvious potential, state-owned oil giants have struggled to properly tap into it because of the region's difficult geography and subterranean geology. According to the project's deputy manager, Ding Wei, gathering geological data from the Earth's depths and assembling a world-class international and technical team in China are both critically important goals of the endeavor. Ding referred to the 10,000-meter-deep exploration project as a "major national project" on par with the moon exploration mission. Notably, he acknowledged that the subsurface conditions and inaccessible terrain would provide "world-class challenges" to the engineers when they drilled the borewell. China Daily reported that in May, the China National Petroleum Corporation announced that the work had begun on Asia's deepest well, at a depth of 11,100 meters in the province of Xinjiang. The initiative was called an attempt to explore subterranean regions of the Earth. The Kola Superdeep Borehole in northwest Russia is the deepest man-made hole at an impressive depth of 12,262 meters. See Also: China's Washington Envoy Warns of 'Serious Consequences' for Further US Tech Curbs @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. 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Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings confirmed on Friday that the state expects to return "something more than a billion" dollars to taxpayers who had taken advantage of a new tax benefit for pass-through entities, such as limited liabilities and other unincorporated businesses, that allows them to avoid a $10,000 cap on federal income tax deductions for state and local taxes. Even after returning those revenues to taxpayers, the state will have about $500 million in addition to the $3.6 billion in excess revenues that Youngkin relied on for a package of tax cuts and spending priorities he proposed to the two-year budget in December. Those excess revenues include a $1.9 billion surplus at the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2022, plus unspent appropriations and anticipated new revenues. Senate budget negotiators are considering a new House proposal to bridge a $1 billion gap between House Republicans and Senate Democrats over the governor's package of corporate and individual income tax cuts. "It is a significant step forward," said Senate Finance Co-Chair George Barker, D-Fairfax, who expects to brief other Senate budget negotiators and hold a meeting in the next week or two, depending on availability because of vacations. "Clearly, when we're dealing with something as significant as this is, we'll meet in person," Barker said Friday. The budget negotiations are not likely to include any excess revenues from the last fiscal year, especially with uncertainty over how much money the state will return under the "pass-through entity tax" adopted last year. Many small business owners pre-paid their taxes in the previous fiscal year, but will receive a state income tax refund this fall, part of the new fiscal year that began on July 1. As a result, the state will have to return large portion of the additional revenues that the governor reported on Wednesday for the last fiscal year. An estimated amount of final payments in November come in. Thats why the number was so large," Cummings said in an interview on Friday. "But the bottom line is given what we have in the surplus, we have way more than that estimated payment. Youngkin touts job growth Youngkin, in an appearance Friday to tout the addition of 200,000 jobs since he became governor 18 months ago, urged the General Assembly to end a four-month impasse that has left the state without a revised spending plan in the new fiscal year for the second time in 50 years. Send me a budget, he said at the Richmond office of Hourigan construction company. And then let me call a special session that is one of celebration, as opposed to disagreement. The additional revenues won't affect budget talks that resumed on Thursday between negotiators for the House of Delegates and Senate. House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach, said Friday that he expects negotiators to rely only on the $3.6 billion in revenues that Youngkin included in his budget proposal in December. "We're working with that number," he said. House budget proposal Knight met with Senate Finance Co-Chairs Janet Howell and Barker, both Fairfax Democrats, on Thursday afternoon in Richmond to pitch a new proposal to bridge a $1 billion gap between House Republicans and Senate Democrats over the governor's package of corporate and individual income tax cuts. He said the Senate leaders promised to review the new proposal with finance staff and the other seven members of the Senate's conference committee on the budget. "I don't anticipate them doing anything until next week," Knight said. Knight didn't provide details of the new proposal, but previously, he had offered a combination of ongoing and one-time tax cuts totaling about $900 million - on top of the $4 billion in cuts the General Assembly approved after a budget standoff more than a year ago. He ended talks on June 27 after the Senate rejected the proposal and instead offered about $900 million in one-time rebates to taxpayers this fall. "I've gone more than 50 percent of the way," he said in an interview on Friday. Knight's previous proposal included a smaller one-time rebate than the Senate proposed - $100 for individuals and $200 for couples filing jointly, versus $200 for individuals and $400 for couples in the Senate plan. But his proposal also would have raised the standard deduction for the second time in two years for taxpayers who don't itemize deductions and would drop the age limit for a new tax exemption on military retirement income. That proposal did not include Youngkin's proposals to reduce the corporate income tax rate by 1 percentage point or cut the top individual rate by one-quarter point, but it would have broadened the income ranges for the four individual tax brackets. Youngkin had said Monday that he remains committed to reducing corporate and individual income tax rates. I firmly believe that one of the challenges that we have in Virginia is that our cost of living and our cost of doing business are too high particularly relative to our competitor states, he said when asked if his proposed corporate tax cuts would survive the budget negotiations or not. I've continued to be an advocate for reducing rates because I think it fuels growth, the governor said. Jobless rate drops Youngkin took a political victory lap on Friday with his announcement that Virginia has boosted employment by 201,472 since he took office in January, 2022, and raised the labor participation rate to 66.6%, a 10-year high. He promised to make job recovery a priority during his gubernatorial campaign two years ago, when he claimed Virginia had badly lagged other states in recovering jobs lost since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, 2020. The state added about 23,000 jobs in June and reduced its unemployment rate to 2.7% from 2.9% in May. Virginians are back to work, with 200,000 more people working and the largest labor force in nearly 50 years, Youngkin said. Alonzo and Hazel Bristol were walking back to their room with a family friend after dinner on a May night aboard the Carnival Magic cruise ship when Alonzo, who had complained of dizziness, fainted in the hallway. He was having a heart attack, and died a short time later as the vessel made its way back to Norfolk from the Bahamas. In the months since, his family has harbored anger at Carnival Cruise Line for what it perceives as as a slow emergency response from the ships staff, and has grappled with the legal implications of a century-old U.S. law regulating death on the high seas. Alonzo, an 88-year-old retired Air Force veteran who lived in Hampton, loved going on cruises, Hazel Bristol said. She wasnt sure how many theyd been on, but said they were platinum members of Carnivals Very Important Fun Person Club, which is the second-highest category of membership out of five. Hazel, 79, said that when her husband fainted on May 19, staff on the scene seemed unprepared. Some custodial workers recognized the medical situation unfolding in the hallway before higher-level crew members, including a guest relations manager, arrived. While Alonzo was on the floor face-down, Hazel said, none of the staffers could get their communication devices to work correctly as they tried to call for medical personnel. Hazel alleges that in the meantime, no one performed life-saving measures on Alonzo and that ultimately it was another guest who reached the ships medical personnel using the phone in their room. It seemed like it took them forever to get there, nobody seemed to be in no hurry, Hazel said, claiming that the extent of help Alonzo received from staff was one of them calling his name trying wake him up, to no avail. Im sure they followed procedure but they were slow about doing it. The ship was about 12 hours away from Norfolk, according to the Bristols. Carnival cruises returned to Norfolk in May 2022 for the first time since 2019 after pandemic put the industry on hold. The company inked a deal in December to offer its first-ever year-round sailings from Norfolk in 2025. A spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line declined to comment on the specifics of the incident, but said their shipboard staff followed the companys emergency procedures, including performing CPR and using as AED (automated external defibrillator) on him. Our CareTeam assisted Mr. Bristols family through the unfortunate loss they experienced, a spokesperson said in an email. Our condolences have been shared directly with the family and our thoughts remain with them in this difficult time. Carnival Cruise Lines website says all its officers and crew complete comprehensive regular safety and emergency training that meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements and undergo specific training to handle emergency situations and help our guests. The companys Passenger Bill of Rights also includes the right to have available on board full-time, professional emergency medical attention, as needed until shore side medical care becomes available and the right to a ship crew that is properly trained in emergency and evacuation procedures. Hazel estimates that her husband was on the floor, suffering from what the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner later determined to be acute coronary insufficiency (a heart attack), for at least 15 minutes before receiving treatment despite several staff members being on scene. His eventual death that night was deemed to be due to natural causes. He was a diabetic, according to Hazel. Carnival has since offered their condolences and refunded the family for their trip. Im not saying my father wouldve survived if he got prompt medical attention but he wasnt even given the chance because their equipment wasnt working, said Alonzo Bristol III, who also lives in Hampton. Carnival sent Hazel a voucher for a free cruise, according to Alonzo III, but he called it a slap in the face. The family has considered legal action, but hasnt been able to get a lawyer to take the case. Many attorneys, if not all of them, cited the federal Death on the High Seas Act, according to Alonzo III. The act is a century-old admiralty law that allows the recovery of only certain damages in deaths that occur beyond 3 nautical miles of the United States shores. I have run into a solid brick wall with every attorney, Alonzo III said in a text. They all say (the act) is a horrible law and it needs to be changed. Tom Scolaro is an attorney with the Miami-based law firm Leesfield Scolaro, which has handled many medical lawsuits against cruise lines. He explained that the Death on the High Seas Act bars recovery of damages for pain and suffering for wrongful death aboard a cruise, only allowing recovery of lost wages and loss of financial support provided by the deceased. But federal law isnt the only barrier to passengers ability to sue. The ticket contract passengers must agree to states that they are admitting an awareness that the availability of medical care may be limited or delayed, that all or part of their voyage may be in areas where medical care and evacuation may not be available, and states that their own health insurance will not cover or be applicable to any medical services received on board and that such charges may not be eligible for reimbursement from Guests own insurance. The ticket contract strongly encourages passengers to purchase travel insurance to offset potential medical costs, which the Bristols did prior to embarking. Scolaro said the medical care on cruises in general is not ideal. Just judging by the sheer number of cases I am involved in and those that I currently have under review I would say that the state of medical care on cruise ships is second rate, Scolaro said in an email. The physicians on board are usually not educated and trained in the US. They are not usually board certified in their field. There are limited resources aboard cruise ships and you are left to their decision as to whether or not to medically evacuate you and disrupt the cruise schedule. Scolaro added that cruise staff are obligated to perform the life-saving measures they are equipped to conduct on board, but thats the problem. What are they equipped to perform on the vessel versus what emergencies warrant an immediate ship evacuation for treatment at a shore side hospital? he said. That is usually where the fight in these cases lie. LINCOLN Drones have gained a lot of popularity in farming and ranching operations across the United States over the last several years. Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association will host the Drones in Ag Conference from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3 at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education Center near Ithaca. There will be three separate presentation topics to choose from including: Operating a Drone Business, Livestock Production, or Crop Production. This event will include live field demonstrations in addition to presentations on drone laws, scouting, using drones in the classroom, drone efficiency and more. Those interested in registering for this conference can learn more at the NEATA website: https://neata.org/. Registration is now open for the third annual Latina Women in Business Conference: Haciendo Historia (Making History), hosted by the Center for Rural Affairs and Small Business Administration. The event is in Spanish only. The one-day conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 17, at Quality Inn & Conference Center in Grand Island. The conference is dedicated to developing Latino entrepreneurship in Nebraska, and features opportunities to share, learn, and network. As the Center for Rural Affairs celebrates its 50th anniversary, we recognize Latino women and men who are making history with us, said Jessica Campos, director of the Center for Rural Affairs Womens Business Center. You are an important part of our communities. The event is for those who currently own a business or who are considering starting one with sessions focusing on marketing, leadership, financial wellness, and more. To register, visit cfra.org/HaciendaHistoria. For more information, contact Campos at 402-870-1521 or jessicac@cfra.org. Services on the "Hogwarts Express" steam train, which became famous for its appearance in the Harry Potter film adaptations of JK Rowling's novel series, have been canceled over safety issues. Safety inspectors said The Jacobite, the train's real name, has faulty door locking systems, which might put passengers at risk of falling from carriages or being hit while leaning out of windows. Such concerns were provided since Potterheads, fans of the Harry Potter franchise, visit the train every year to ride it and witness it crossing the iconic Glenfinnan viaduct in Scotland. The train operates on the West Highland Line between Fort William and Mallaig. Read Also: Parents 'Horrified': UK Family-Friendly Theme Park Apologizes for Drag Queen Act Unexpected Inspection The train relies on the exemption granted by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) which could allow the continued use of heritage rolling stock. The BBC reported the ORR unexpectedly sent inspectors and found what the operator West Coast Railways said as "a couple of issues of concern." Some of them include procedures around secondary door locks, which could put passengers "at risk of serious personal injury." Until then, the operator said, all services had been suspended while it reviewed concerns raised in the ORR report. In a statement, West Coast Railways apologized to patrons for the cancellations and to have the issues fixed "as soon as possible. "As of now, passenger journeys on The Jacobite have been suspended while West Coast Railways review the concerns raised by the ORR to reach a satisfactory and swift solution to the issues raised," the operator added. Related Article: UK Government Urged to Reduce Residential Road Traffic So Children Can Play Outside @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Producers are encouraged to attend a Sentinel Fertigation Sunset Seminar in August. Central Platte NRD producers Arnie Hinkson of Wood River, and Don Batie of Lexington, will feature their research sites on Aug. 3 and 10 as Sentinel Fertigation joins forces with innovative farmers, Nebraska Natural Resource Districts, and the Nebraska On-Farm Research Network to host the Fertigation Sunset Seminars at trial field sites across Nebraska. If a farmer is wondering how to enhance their nitrogen management practices and is curious about technologies that can help them achieve their goals, this event is for them, said Jackson Stansell, Sentinels founder and CEO. This is a tremendous opportunity to see how N-Time is working on a real field, with a real farmer in real time. All events will discuss data comparing N-Time recommendations with grower practices. The informal and informative evening events will give growers and agronomists a chance to see how N-Time works and how it can influence nitrogen management outcomes. Seminars are being hosted by growers who have trialed N-Time this growing season and experienced its impact on their farms. N-Time is Sentinels flagship software system that analyzes field imagery to detect early signs of crop nitrogen stress and provides growers with timely fertilizer application recommendations, developed through research and proven through trials. Data collected from the on-farm pilots will be presented by representatives from UNL, providing growers with data quantifying N-Times impacts on nitrogen use efficiency while maintaining or improving yield. Effects of other nitrogen management technologies will also be discussed at some locations. In addition to UNLs presentation, the Sentinel Team will demonstrate exactly how N-Time functions and how it can be implemented with advanced fertigation systems. After the demo, host growers will have the opportunity to talk about their experiences and answer questions about using image-based fertigation technology. Light snacks and beverages will be provided during the seminars, followed by an unstructured Q&A and mingling. Sunset seminar schedule Monday, July 31; Beaver Creek Thursday, Aug. 3: Wood River (Hosted by Central Platte NRD) Tuesday, Aug. 8: Bellwood (Hosted by Lower Platte North NRD) Wednesday, Aug. 9: Stapleton Thursday, Aug. 10: Lexington (Hosted by Central Platte NRD) Monday, Aug. 14: Pierce Tuesday, Aug. 15: Gibbon Interested in attending a Sunset Seminar in your area? Sign up at: www.sentinelfertigation.com/sunset-seminars Cant make it to a Sunset Seminar? Sentinel will also be participating in the South Central Ag Lab Field Day on Aug. 1 near Harvard. The event, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., will include a number of informative tours and sessions. Stansell will deliver the keynote address on image-based nitrogen management and the Sentinel team will meet attendees at their booth. For more information and to register, visit https://extension.unl.edu/statewide/enreec/south-central-agricultural-laboratory-field-day/. Bamboo Capitals $31.5 mln rooftop solar power deal wins national honor By Tri Duc Sat, July 22, 2023 | 3:14 pm GTM+7 A $31.5 million green credit deal for BCG-SP Solar 1 has been chosen Vietnam Renewable Energy Deal of the Year-Solar by Asia-focused financial magazine The Asset. BCG-SP Solar 1 is the subsidiary of BCG-SP Greensky, a joint venture between Vietnams BCG Energy and Singapores utilities company SP Group. The recognition has been conferred under the magazines Triple A Sustainable Infrastructure Awards that honors outstanding and influential banks, financial institutions and deals of the year. It highlights financial institutions efforts to push green energy transition in the Asia-Pacific region. Financial institutions and consultants from 18 Asian nations participated in the 25th edition of the awards, the magazine said. In March, BGG - SP Greensky received $31.5 million disbursed by three major Singapore banks as part of a credit line totaling $50 million. The credit line is a syndicated loan from DBS, Oversea Chinese Banking Corp. (OCBC), and United Overseas Bank (UOB), will be used by BCG- SP Solar 1 JSC to finance rooftop solar power projects in Vietnam. Amid the markets volatility and challenges in sourcing capital, the deal is prominent for its large size, the participation of three major banks, and the prestige of BCH-SP Solar 1, The Asset remarked. At the moment, the joint venture operates projects that generate 71 MW of rooftop solar energy. The company aims to increase it to 500 MW by 2025, becoming the leading rooftop solar energy firm in Vietnam. The Bamboo Capitals Group (BCG) said the rooftop solar energy projects will contribute to Vietnams cleaner energy transition and the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Hyosung plans $1 bln carbon fiber plant in southern Vietnam By Tri Duc Sat, July 22, 2023 | 2:43 pm GTM+7 Hyosung Vietnam, invested by South Koreas chaebol Hyosung, plans to invest $1 billion to build a carbon fiber factory in Phu My 2 Industrial Park, Ba Ria-Vung Tau province. Representatives of the firm delivered the proposal to Ba Ria-Vung Tau Chairman Nguyen Van Tho at a meeting in the southern coastal province on Friday. The investment in the initial phase is about $160 million, the representatives added. They urged provincial authorities to support legal procedures for the investment. In reply, the provincial leader welcomed the investment and asked relevant agencies to aid the firm with investment implementation. Tho also lauded the timely deployment of Hyosungs projects in the province, including a polypropylene (PP) factory and an LPG terminal in Cai Mep Industrial Park. Hyosung polypropylene (PP) factory and LPG terminal in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Labor newspaper. So far, Hyosung has invested $3.5 billion in Vietnam, including $1.9 billion in the southern province of Dong Nai, $1.4 billion in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, $200 million in the central province of Quang Nam, and $100 million in the northern province of Bac Ninh. Entering Vietnam in 2007, Hyosung now runs 10 manufacturing sites and trading entities in the country. Hyosung Vietnam Co., Ltd. recorded a profit of KRW121.4 billion ($94.35 million) on a revenue of KRW2,123.1 billion ($1.65 billion) in 2022, according to the parent companys financial statements. NEW YORK Broadway and the touring theater community seem to have avoided a labor disruption like the one that brought the film and television industry to a halt. The Broadway League and Disney Theatrical Productions, which represent producers, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees announced Thursday they reached a tentative agreement after the union threatened a strike as early as Friday. About 1,500 workers stagehands, hair and makeup artists, and wardrobe personnel working on 28 productions on Broadway and 17 on tour are directly covered by the tentative agreement. The agreement still needs to be ratified. In a joint statement, the bargainers said: "The respective parties will inform their members of the details of this agreement in the coming days." The agreement is unconnected to the strike action roiling Hollywood. Leaders of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, or SAG-AFTRA, voted unanimously last week to start striking, joining the Writers Guild of America, which walked out on May 2. Photos: Hollywood goes on strike Beyonce will bring her global Renaissance World Tour to Soldier Field this Saturday and Sunday. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the show is expected to begin at 8 p.m. Whether you have a front-row seat, or will be listening from the parking lot, heres everything you need to know about Beyonce's eagerly-awaited Chicago Renaissance tour stop. Stadium policies For all events at Soldier Field, approved bags are limited to those that are clear plastic and do not exceed 12 x 6 x 12, along with small clutches. So, ensure that your Instagram-ready Renaissance outfit does not feature a fanny pack, backpack, a purse larger than a clutch or luggage of any kind. Other restricted items include but are not limited to alcohol, umbrellas, coolers and ice chests (including cloth), signage with vulgar language or signs that can block fans view. Transportation Parking at Soldier Field (3 to 10 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. to midnight), or the nearby Waldron Deck, 458 E. 18th Drive (3 to 11 p.m. Sat & Sun.) and the Adler Planetarium lot (4 to 11 p.m. on Saturday only) will cost $55. A $25 alternative is available if you dont mind the 25-minute walk to the Millennium Garages Grant Park South facility. There is no shuttle service from the garage to the stadium as was available for the recent Taylor Swift shows. Parking will be unavailable at Millenniums other garages, such as Grant Park North, Millennium Park, Millennium Lakeside. Those wanting to avoid the bumper-to-bumper traffic on DuSable Lake Shore Drive following the concert are a 20-minute walk away from the CTA Red Line Ls Roosevelt stop. The Orange and Green lines also provide the closest access to Soldier Field, according to the transit agency. Alternatively, concertgoers can hop on the #146 bus, which stops outside of Soldier Field at the Museum Campus. This bus can be used to transfer to the L train at Jackson station. The CTA also recommending concertgoers use the #3 King, #4 Cottage Grove, #12 Roosevelt and #130 Museum Campus bus lines. Weather Both performance days are expected to be warm with a chance of brief thunderstorms. On Saturday night, a low of 66 degrees is expected. On Sunday, there is a 40% chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon, while partly skies are expected with a low of 67 degrees in the evening. Both days are expected to reach a high of approximately 80 degrees, so if youre feeling heated like stolen Chanel, make sure to fan yourself off. Weekend events On a weekend packed with the Pitchfork Music Festival, Barbenheimer (The internet-hyped double release of the Barbie and Oppenheimer films) and the Beyhive, the city will be overflowing with opportunities to lean into your inner fan. Take a peek at the following events to plan your Renaissance-themed weekend schedule. Friday If you want to paint the town red like cinnamon, you can get started at Studio W.I.P.s Beyonce-themed spray paint and sip event. For $45, guests can choose between spray painting a 16 x 20 canvas or tote bag to tunes of Queen Beys concert set list. 7 to 9 p.m., Studio W.I.P., 3527 W. Grand Ave. Saturday Get shining at the top of the morning with an 11 a.m. drag brunch at Macys Walnut room. Chicago drag stars, such as Lucy Stoole, pay tribute to Beyonce. Upon grabbing a ticket for the opulent display, costumes are encouraged and hype is expected. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Macys Walnut Room, 111 N. State St. If youre hoping to keep the party going after the concert, stop by Roscoes Tavern for an event featuring DJ Kevin Aviance, whom Beyonce notably featured on her song Pure/Honey. With Aviance in the DJ booth all night, this event may have speakers knockin til the morning light. 11 p.m. 3356 N. Halsted St. Sunday Do you wanna party? Do you wanna dance? Do you wanna be yourself tonight? If youre still riding the wave of excitement post-Sunday show, get bodied on a trip to Club Renaissance. On the evening of July 23, Chicagos very own Miss Toto and Pepper Jelly will host a Renaissance World Tour After Party at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave. Performances will feature Chanel Mercedes-Benz, of Golden Girls Pop-Up Fame, along with Sasha Love and Lila Star Escada. 9 p.m., 3159 N. Southport Ave. Tribune reporter Claire Malon contributed. Pat Idzik has been on the faculty at John A. Logan College for less than three years, but he has already made an impact on students and the college. In fact, his peers recognized him as the colleges 2023 Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member earlier this year. It was a complete honor; really fantastic, he said, adding that the award is especially meaningful for him. It means a lot to me because I dont come from a middle class, blue collar existence. My parents didnt go to college; Im the first one who got this far in my education, he said. In fact, Idziks parents came to the United States from Poland and started an engineering business in the Chicagoland area. He worked in the family business for a while, but felt led in another direction, earning a bachelors and masters degree in communication as well as a doctorate in education. Teaching was something that was a calling for me. I really liked teaching, he said. He began teaching classes in communication at College of DuPage in 2017 and joined the John A. Logan faculty in 2021. His interest was not in speech as such, but more scientific. I think you can be both a communicator and a scientist, he explained. I would say I am more of a social scientist that focuses on communication: how do we communicate the things that we feel? Psychology and sociology look at different things; communication looks at the outward expression of how we accomplish certain goals. He also has an interest in what people choose to communicate. For the spring, I will have a course on lying and deception. That was my main area of research when I was in graduate school, he explained. We worked with the FBI, the National Security Agency and the Detroit Police Department to see if you can tell if somebody is lying just by looking at them. The answer, according to his research, is no. Turns out its about as good as flipping a coin: 51%, but that area has been an incredible interest of mine ever since because lying is something that takes a lot of work. Its an incredible human phenomenon and when I ask my classes who wants to be lied to, no one raises their hands, yet we all admit to lying at times. Idzik also teaches introductory speech classes, interpersonal speech and small group communication. Plus, he has another project up his sleeve. Hes leading efforts for the college to start a competitive speech team to compete both regionally and nationally. He also is not afraid to explore new areas and teaching styles. Im not looking to fill students brains with what or how to think, Im looking for colleagues in this sort of joint fight against ignorance, he explained. I give my students a lot of power when I dont know something. He also is willing to change. If a student has an argument or they think an assignment might be unfair, they I say to them, Lets argue this point and see what happens. I try to give them a say in things, he added. Idzik shared the story of a student who told him she and her classmates should be allowed to use notes when taking class quizzes. She stood up and said, Professor, the research says that letting students use notes during quizzes helps with retention and with other things. My ears perked up. How could I shoot that down? Not only did she go out of her way to find incredible research that went against my policy, but she also stood up and confidently told me maybe my policies werent the best for student success. Now we have notes available for quizzes, he said. Students seem to appreciate his approach. Many register to take additional classes from him. Its the greatest feeling in the world, he said. It is fantastic when students come back. When they want to take another class with you, that really means something. These are 10 major challenges business owners face when growing These are 10 major challenges business owners face when growing Finding customers Expanding geographies Expanding industries Recruiting Preserving company culture Obtaining funding Pursuing venture capital Getting press Choosing the right processes and technology Delegating CARBONDALE Researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will equip, coordinate and train teams of student eclipse observers across North America, playing a vital role in NASAs plans to study the rare celestial event in April. The team of SIU researchers, led by co-principal investigators Bob Baer and Matt Penn, will use a two-year, $314,000 NASA grant for the Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative (DEB) effort. The citizen science project will have more than 40 teams largely made up of high school and middle school students in sites spanning from Mexico up through the United States and into Canada use telescopes to provide critical coronal data as the moons shadow traverses the continent. The effort not only will result in valuable data but also real-time views streamed online and broadcasted in cooperation with NASA EDGE. Well be fulfilling NASAs citizen science strategy by engaging a diverse, emerging group of citizen scientists as volunteer observation teams, Baer said. By including volunteers outside the path of totality, we include the majority of Americans in our potential volunteer base. Baer, a specialist, and Penn, an adjunct assistant professor of practice, both in in the School of Physics and Applied Physics, are leading the effort along with other SIU faculty and other universities. Baer and Harvey Henson, director of the STEM Education Research Center, are leading an additional grant contributing to DEB and funded by the National Science Foundation. SIUs subaward on the grant led by Cosmic Pictures, the filmmakers of Einsteins Incredible Universe, an IMAX movie that focused on the 2017 total eclipse, will push the value of SIUs DEB effort up to more than $530,000, not including additional private donations. Altogether, enough funding exists for 70 DEB teams, Baer said. Citizen science projects like this one get the public involved and excited about doing science in a big way, Baer said. This one is especially cool, because the volunteers will be collecting real data for NASA. A big job So far, about 25 teams are in place, with many more to go, Baer said. Each team includes about five members and a team leader. The teams are strategically located in or near the path of the April 8 total eclipse and are often associated with a nearby university or community college. A diversity aspect of SIUs effort will specifically aim to create, equip and train 20 teams made up of middle school-age girls, in an effort to spark their interest in science. The grant money is paying for dozens of 40mm telescopes to equip each team, and about 10 teams already have received their telescopes and are training with them. Baer is now working with manufacturers to provide the balance of the scopes needed. On eclipse day, the teams will use the telescopes each less than one foot long to observe and record coronal activity that is only visible during totality. The grant money also is purchasing astrophotography cameras to fit each scope and capture important images. Baer and Henson also are helping create printed materials and videos, aimed at training each team leader usually a college student or other adult. This fall, the leaders will begin training the team members to operate the equipment and collect images and data. The first teams will have a chance to test their skills during an annular eclipse in October. Even though such an event does not provide the opportunities to collect coronal data as a total eclipse event, Baer said, the teams can still make direct disc observations of the sun and collect important data, while becoming more familiar with their equipment. Well get a lot of science out of that, he said. Were getting people involved and interested. DEB builds on 2017 project SIU lies directly in the path of totality for the April 8 eclipse, just as it previously did in 2017, making the university and the area the eclipse crossroads. During the 2017 eclipse, SIU also was involved in the Continental-American Telescopic Eclipse Experiment, another nationwide telescope network of citizen scientists. The effort was led by Penn, who at the time was an astronomer with the National Solar Observatory. The Citizen CATE Experiment included about 70 observation teams nationwide, roughly one every 40 miles along the path of the 2017 eclipse. Baer, who also is co-chairing SIUs eclipse committee this time around, acted as a coordinator for several Southern Illinois CATE teams, including teams at Pope County High School, Giant City State Park, the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, SIU and the airport in Perryville, Missouri. CATE was the most popular citizen science project in 2017, said Baer, adding that his co-PI, Penn, reported before Congress on the efforts success. DEB is a follow-on project to Penns CATE. Were taking what was good and improving upon it. SIU research team makes it work Along with Baer and Penn a physicist who studies the sun and the main science officer in the effort several other SIU faculty members also are heavily involved in the project. Cori Brevik, assistant professor of practice in the School of Physics and Applied Physics, is focusing on recruiting and organizing the dozens of teams, while Henson is focused on developing training and research materials. Karla Berry, associate professor in the School of Media Arts, is assisting with digital content creation. This is very much a team effort, here at SIU, Baer said. We have very dedicated researchers and scholars who are giving their all to get ready for this event. SIU also is partnering with faculty at the University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Moorhead State University, California State University-Northridge, Vincennes University, Westminster College and Langara College in Canada. Six students, representing the Orangeburg Technology Center as the South Carolina champions, attended the 2023 FCCLA National Leadership Conference on July 2-6 in Denver. More than 7,900 students, educators and guests from across the nation attended the event, which provided a platform to expand their leadership skills, sharpen their talents, explore career pathways and listen to speakers. Alexandria Brown, Taylor Brown, Chatara Benyard, ZyKeira Bethea, DAnna Franklin, and Mia Williams competed in the National Programs in Action, Job Interview, Focus on Children, and Career Investigation STAR Events and achieved three golds and one silver medal. Alexzandria Brown and Taylor Brown placed in the top 10 of the National Programs in Action category in recognition of their outstanding performance. The students' project was on Human Trafficking, Job Interview Skills, Physical Fitness and Career Research. At the heart of the conference were the Students Taking Action with Recognition, or STAR, events. More than 4,300 members competed in these events, where they were recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills and career preparation. The collaboration between youth and adults in managing the events and evaluating participants allowed students to develop real-world skills and gain valuable insights. STAR events support student development by enhancing their classroom experience and guiding them towards successful career pathways. With more than 30 events to choose from, participants have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities by addressing important issues concerning families, careers or communities. By researching the topic and implementing projects to advocate for positive change, students acquire valuable skills and industry insights needed to thrive in the 21st century. US President Joe Biden has chosen Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the US Navy, according to a Pentagon official Friday (July 21). If confirmed for the role of Chief of Naval Operations, she would become the first woman to become a military service chief in the US Armed Forces and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Read Also: Soldier Stationed in Hawaii Receives Highest Non-combat Award for Saving Woman from Physical Assault Franchetti: Biden's Choice According to several US officials who divulged the matter to the Associated Press last month on the condition of anonymity, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has recommended Adm. Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet, to replace Adm. Michael Gilday as Navy chief. Nevertheless, Franchetti would serve as acting Navy chief unless her appointment was confirmed. A White House official said Biden chose the female admiral based on the broad scope of her experience at sea and ashore, including a number of high-level policy and administrative jobs which give her deep knowledge in budgeting and running the department. At the same time, the official added, Biden understood the historic nature of the nomination and believed Franchetti would not only be the right woman for the job but also be an inspiration to all sailors. The only roadblock to her confirmation was Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), who was blocking the confirmation of military officers in protest of 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. While Franchetti is going to be slated as the first female member of the Joint Chiefs, she was not the first woman to command a major US uniformed service. The honor was given to Adm. Linda L. Fagan of the US Coast Guard, which is under the Department of Homeland Security. Franchetti is a surface warfare officer with broad command experience at all levels and only the second to ever be promoted to a four-star admiral. She also previously commanded the US Sixth Fleet and US Naval Forces Korea. Other Appointments Meanwhile, Adm. Paparo is slated to replace Adm. John Aquilino at the US Indo-Pacific Command. Biden also nominated Vice Adm. James Kilby to be the vice chief of the Navy and tapped Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler to head the Pacific Fleet. Related Article: Biggest US-Australia Joint Military Exercise Is a Message to China, Says US Navy Secretary @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (TBTCO) - Bao cao tu Bo Xay dung cho thay, luong tim mua bat ong san toan quoc tinh en het quy II/2023 giam khoang 33% so voi cung ky nam truoc, luong tin ang ban bat ong san cung giam khoang 44%. Tinh hinh giao dich tram lang do niem tin cua nguoi mua, nha au tu bi anh huong va nhung kho khan ve han muc tin dung, lai suat vay van chua uoc giai quyet triet e. CHEYENNE As you would expect, minority Democrats have many disadvantages in the Wyoming Legislature. First is their seriously out-numbered position in a legislative system controlled by a supermajority of Republicans. In this environment many of their motions and amendments dont pass and their bills can often get sidetracked in a committee. It can be depressing to be the underdog. Their minority status also presents other problems that lawmakers who set up the Legislative Service Office in the early 1970s, never contemplated. At that time the Democrats were a minority but it was a muscular bunch that held 11 votes in the Senate and eight in the House. The current question is how to accommodate a minority party that has only two members in the Senate and five in the House. The obvious answer, of course, is to elect more Democrats, but thats not going to happen anytime soon. A temporary rule pertinent to this issue came up during a meeting of the first interim session for the Joint Appropriations Committee (JAC) a couple of weeks ago. It required JAC subcommittees to have at least one representative from each political party. Don Richards, the Legislative Service Office chief budget guy, suggested that this could be an onus on minority legislators. It sure could. The only minority member of the 10-member JAC is Sen. Mike Gierau of Jackson in Teton County. He is a super busy guy. So is the only other Democrat in the Senate, Chris Rothfuss of Laramie. Their committee workloads are comparable to that of the Senate leadership. But without the perks. Yet Gierau sees value in such wide memberships. Being in a super minority is a challenge. It can also be an interesting opportunity Gierau wrote in an e-mail. Example, I serve on Appropriations, Capital Finance, and Investment Select Committee, and Management Audit Committee. Im the only member of the Legislature to see not only, the spending, and investment of tax dollars. I also get the chance to dive into how the programs we allocate dollars are preforming Serving on Select Water is a chance to be on a critical issue that is, for the most part, nonpartisan. This affords me the opportunity to forge relationships that otherwise met prove difficult. The biggest challenge, he concluded, is trying to make all the meetings and take care of his work (a Jackson business) and his family obligations. Zoom helps but he is not the phone a lot at home and takes lots of road trips. Other senators have a long list of committee assignments but half may be with the national legislative organizations Lynn Hutchings, a Cheyenne Republican, for example, has three committee assignments but only one, the Wyoming Health and Labor committee is local. The others are national legislative groups that meet annually. And then there is Sen. Anthony Bouchard, another Cheyenne Republican, whose only assignment is the Labor committee. But Bouchard is in the doghouse with the leadership over his intemperate comments. Gierau and Rothfuss have nine or 10 committee or task force assignment each, all of them Wyoming based. Gierau is co-chair of the task force on regulatory reductions, a significant accomplishment. Rothfuss is a member of the management council. The only other Democrat on that group is Rep. Mike Vin of Jackson. A scrappy bunch, the Democrats a few years ago pushed back hard against a Republican bill that would have reduced their membership on the management council to one. Their argument which was totally on target was that the lawmakers who sponsored creation of the Legislative Service Office (LSO) in the early 1970s wanted it to serve lawmakers from all political parties equally.. And the management council as the administrative arm of the LSO should have the same composition. This is a group primarily made up of legislative leaders who decide on interim studies and a host of other legislative work and policies. Over the years the LSO has maintained that tradition. Staff members who injudiciously showed their political persuasions were dismissed. Thats why the Democrats, though small in number, do have a voice in the Wyoming Legislature. With two seasoned lawmakers, that voice is particularly strong in the Senate. But its a lot of work. Trinidad and Tobago is able to access levels of free public healthcare that is not available 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. How do you retrieve a special delivery from outer space that has taken almost 7 years and several billion miles to reach you? Practice, practice, practice. The University of Arizona-led OSIRIS-REx team is in full rehearsal mode for the upcoming arrival of samples collected by the spacecraft from the asteroid Bennu in 2020. In recent months, team members have traveled to various locations across the country for planning sessions, training exercises and procedural reviews ahead of the big event on Sept. 24. Last month, they were in Colorado. Last week, it was Utah. Next month, its back to Colorado and Utah again. We started in earnest about one year ago, said UA professor Dante Lauretta, who is principal investigator for the OSIRIS-REx mission. By the time the spacecrafts sample-return capsule lands roughly two months from now, Lauretta estimates his team will have taken part in almost 30 rehearsals and reviews. That includes more than a dozen drills to practice tracking the capsule during reentry and descent, safely recovering it from the landing zone in Utah, and preparing it in a clean room for transport to a specially built lab at Johnson Space Center in Houston, where its priceless cargo will be unpacked and examined for the first time. I am participating in many of the preparation events, the UAs top mission scientist said in an email. There are too many to take part in (them) all. The main event All of the practice is leading up to this: At approximately 7:41 a.m. Tucson time on Sept. 24, a UFO-shaped capsule roughly the size of a truck tire is expected to begin its fiery descent through the atmosphere after being jettisoned toward Earth by the passing OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. It should take the capsule about 13 minutes to reach the ground, carried by parachute to a spot somewhere inside a military-controlled, 250-square-mile landing zone at the Utah Test and Training Range, west of Salt Lake City. Helicopters will speed the recovery team to the landing site, where they will visually inspect the capsule from a safe distance, then take its temperature to make sure it has cooled down enough from the blazing heat of reentry to be handled. A safety team will plug the capsules pressure vents, cap any exposed electrical wires and check for signs of venting gas or other hazards. Once its ready to be moved, team members will lift the roughly 100-pound package into a metal crate, wrap it in protective sheets and sling below one of the helicopters to be flown to a hanger on the range, where a temporary clean room will be set up. There, the sealed sample container will be carefully removed from its shell of reentry shielding and readied for transport to Houston the next day on a military aircraft. Everything will be recorded in painstaking detail throughout the process, from the marks left when the capsule hit the ground to samples of the soil and air at the landing site, which will be collected to help identify any contaminants that might have come into contact with the asteroid sample. The primary objective of OSIRIS-REx is to bring back pristine, 4.5-billion-year-old rocks and dust left over from the formation of the solar system so scientists can use them to unlock new clues about the origin of the planets and life itself. The primary objective of the capsule recovery operation is to not screw everything up at the last minute by polluting the sample with earthly moisture or microbes. Even though well be landing in a desert, and even if it is a nominal landing and the capsule looks great, there are still organisms around, Lauretta explained. The risk of any of that material contacting the sample is really low, but it is not zero. Rocket science OSIRIS-REx was launched on Sept. 8, 2016, and reached Bennu on Dec. 3, 2018, to begin almost two years of data collection and surveying in search of a safe landing spot. The SUV-sized probe finally made history on Oct. 20, 2020, when it touched down on the asteroids surface for about six seconds to scoop up a cloud of pebbles and dust. The sample-return capsule is believed to contain at least one full cup of material from Bennu, roughly four times the minimum amount originally sought by the $1 billion space mission. The precious payload represents the first asteroid samples to be brought back by a U.S. mission the Japanese space agency has done it twice already and the largest haul of off-world material collected by NASA since Apollo 17. The UAs Lunar and Planetary Laboratory leads the OSIRIS-REx science team. NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland provides overall mission management and navigation. Lockheed Martin Space built the spacecraft and hosts flight operations at its headquarters just outside of Denver. All the key players will gather in Utah late next month for the most elaborate rehearsal so far. On Aug. 30, a replica of the sample-return capsule will be dropped from a helicopter flying at 5,000 feet, so the team can test their radar and tracking cameras, then run through the full recovery procedure in the same terrain where the real thing will take place. UA President Robert Robbins wont be there for that trial run, but he does plan to travel to Utah for the capsules return on Sept. 24. His role doesnt require any rehearsing, either. He said hes going as an awe-struck spectator, there to cheer on the home team. I wanted to be there the first time I ever heard about it. The whole engineering and logistics part of this is just amazing, Robbins said. First of all, that you could land a spacecraft on an asteroid 300 million miles away with such precision, and then you could actually get a sample, bring it back and drop it at just the right time for it to land in the desert in Utah? I mean, thats really incredible. Even an internationally accomplished cardiac surgeon like Robbins cant help but be impressed by the science behind OSIRIS-REx. I used to tell my trainees when we were doing heart surgery, You know, this is not that hard. Its not rocket science, the UA president said with a chuckle. Doing heart surgeries? Thats a tap-in birdie compared to this stuff. Its one thing to defend your hometown. Thats a natural reaction when outsiders tell the world that the place where you live is becoming unlivable, as national reporters have been saying about Phoenix and Arizona during this heat wave. Its another thing to say, as state Sen. Justine Wadsack said this week on Twitter, that This weather is normal. Wadsack, a Tucson Republican, was one of a series of conservative Arizona critics of the reporting on our heat wave last week. They tried to push back on the idea that Arizonas heat is unusual, that it reflects the globes warming and requires some sort of action. State Rep. Justin Heap, a Republican from Mesa, put it this way on Twitter: Apparently the national media has decided we are all insufficiently frightened about climate change so its time to portray normal summer heat as the apocalypse. Alarmists, he went on, are trying to frighten us so they can take command of our economy in the name of curbing carbon emission. The thing is, theyre wrong: This weather is not normal. Phoenix broke high-temperature records four days out of six between July 15 and July 20. The city also experienced record high low temperatures 10 days in a row above 90 degrees, which is more than the seven that Phoenix averages in a year. In Tucson, the high temperature was a record every day from Sunday through Saturday -- a full week. That is not normal, especially when its also happening around the northern hemisphere. When I pointed out the many records broken to Heap, he responded, Breaking records is very normal. Weather records are being broken every day somewhere. Yeah, but theyre being broken here, now in bulk. As my colleague Tony Davis reports today, the signals from the warming climate are clear. Its a question of whether we will hear them. A sense of acceptance Its possible to dismiss hot weather in Arizona because, of course, Arizona is usually hot in the summers. When I went out and talked to people living in mobile homes and working outside about 12 days ago, I found a sense of acceptance that this is the way summer in Tucson is, even if it is getting hotter than normal. At the time, there was a chance the humidity would creep up, clouds would form, and they would cut off the heat wave before it really set in. That didnt happen. Even the day it really rained in Tucson, Monday July 17, we tied the record high temperature of 111 degrees Fahrenheit. Its normal that there would be a hot high-pressure ridge, or heat dome, over Arizona before the monsoon sets in, but what were experiencing is abnormal and part of a global pattern, UA Professor of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences Christopher Castro told me. These big high-pressure domes, these heat domes, are getting larger and more intense, Castro said. Its a pattern of intensifying heat waves that were seeing all over the world. A series of them have built up around the northern hemisphere this month, setting records at similar latitudes around the world, on land as well as in the hot North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. If youre under an intense high pressure ridge, youre going to experience a heat wave, but if youre on either edge of that ridge, youll see rainfall, and the rainfall will be more extreme, he said. As heat spreads, especially near the poles, the melting of ice and warming of oceans may change circulation patterns. It makes the jet stream more wavy and (creates) more tendency toward these blocking patterns, where you get the jet stream stuck in one configuration for a period of time. The scarier thing is, this is just the beginning we have no idea how much change will happen before the climate stabilizes again and how much damage it will do. But even as we experience the onset of real climate change, a chorus of gaslighters is trying to stop us from even acknowledging it, let alone doing something about it. On Fox Business, professional climate-change denier Marc Morano put it this way: They are weaponizing hot summer, heat waves, to turn it into some kind of climate action. Disinformation effort Whats really been going on for years is the opposite. A disinformation effort by the fossil-fuel industry has deliberately sowed confusion over climate science. In part as a result, public opinion has become polarized over climate change as with just about every other issue in American society. The House Oversight Committee revealed the results of an investigation in December, showing that even as the fossil fuel industry discussed oil and natural gas as bridge fuels to a renewable future, they were simultaneously planning to sustain production for years in order to maintain profitability. So now, thanks in part to these industry efforts, when evidence of the climate emergency arises, there is a kneejerk instinct on the political right to deny or rationalize its existence. Thats too bad, because you cant address a problem if you dont acknowledge its existence first. For the sake of Arizonas economy, not to mention the plants and animals, we need our public officials to stop the kneejerk denialism and grapple with the problem. Sen. Mark Kelly, the Tucson Democrat, tweeted an innocuous statement Friday about the issue. Arizonans are used to the heat, but this heat wave has been particularly brutal. Thats why were working hard to combat the climate crisis by investing in innovative solutions and building a clean energy economy for the future. A Kari Lake campaign account (still operating all these months after her loss) responded: Mark, we know youre from Texas so you dont really know how the weather works out here. But we live in a desert. It gets hot. Separately, Wadsack flippantly said via Twitter: If ya cant stand the heat in Arizona, youre welcome to leave. Wadsack works as a Realtor. Can you imagine the catastrophe in her industry, and our economy, if people start to leave in numbers because of the increasing heat? Denying the problem only hurts ourselves in the long run. (Photo : Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) United States President Joe Biden makes history after nominating Adm. Lisa Franchetti to become the first woman to lead the Navy as well as the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. United States President Joe Biden made history by nominating Adm. Lisa Franchetti to become the first woman to lead the Navy in history, the first woman to be a Pentagon service chief, and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Democratic leader's decision was made against the recommendations of his Pentagon chief. However, Franchetti, currently the vice chief of operations for the United States Navy, has broad command and executive experience. Insiders also previously considered the female admiral the top choice for the position. Joe Biden's Historic Nomination On Friday, the US president issued a statement noting the historical importance of Franchetti's nomination. He added that throughout the admiral's career, she had demonstrated extensive expertise in the job's operational and policy areas. Last month, the current commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet, Adm. Samuel Paparo, was recommended by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for the role. However, as per Yahoo News, Biden chose to nominate the former to lead the US Indo-Pacific Command. A senior administration official also noted that the Democratic president selected the female admiral to lead the Navy based on the broad scope of her experience at sea and shore. This expertise includes several high-level policy and administrative jobs where she gained deep knowledge about budgeting and running the department. The official also acknowledged that Biden knows the historical nature of the nomination and knows that the admiral will become an inspiration to both male and female sailors. They previously spoke about the situation under anonymity because the selection has not yet been made public. Franchetti's nomination to lead the US Navy will join the list of hundreds of military moves currently blocked by Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. The GOP member is blocking the confirmation of military officers in protest against a new policy by the Defense Department to pay for travel when a service member goes out of their home state to get an abortion or other form of reproductive care. Read Also: Biggest US-Australia Joint Military Exercise Is a Message to China, Says US Navy Secretary First Female Member of Joint Chiefs of Staff Biden noted that the admiral would bring her 38 years of dedicated service to the US as a commissioned officer. On Friday, the president also announced that he was nominating Vice Adm. James Kilby, currently the deputy commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, to become the next Vice CNO, according to CNN. Austin applauded all of Biden's nominations, saying that all of the admirals will make sure that the US Navy and the joint force in the Indo-Pacific remain the finest military force in the world. He said they would be at the core of the country's work to project power globally, defend freedom of the seas, and uphold the rules-based international order. Biden also made history last year when he nominated Adm. Linda Fagan to lead the US Coast Guard, making her the agency's first female commanding officer. However, Reuters said that the coast guard is not officially considered a part of the Defense Department and is under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Related Article: New CDC Director Wants to Gain Back Public's Trust; Here's Dr. Mandy Cohen's Plans @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Edith Sayre Auslander, a Tucson native who rose from the local newsroom to the upper echelon of the states university system while championing minorities and women in higher education and journalism, died Wednesday of natural causes. She was 83. As a journalist with the Arizona Daily Star and later a University of Arizona assistant professor of journalism, Auslander mentored numerous journalists at the start and during their careers. She was instrumental in developing national journalism training programs for minorities and was a founding member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in the early 1980s. And in her positions on the Arizona Board of Regents and as UA vice president and senior associate to the president, she led the establishment of the Commission on the Status of Women in 1991 and was involved in the creation of the Womens Plaza of Honor on the UA campus which was dedicated in 2005. Her biggest impact right now, when she was president of the Board of Regents, was the creation of the Commission on Women, said her husband, Steve Auslander, a former editor and local publisher with the Arizona Daily Star. That was her foremost impact, and the building of the womens plaza was pretty extraordinary. He attributed much of her success and achievements to being adroit at moving around a bunch of male egos. In her career, Auslander garnered numerous awards and recognition for her service and dedication to her community, including Tucson Woman of the Year in 1986 and the Ray Davies Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award in 2011. Hispanic Business Magazine named her as one of 100 influential Hispanics. She was a member of the Tucson Junior League. Edie was very talented and a trailblazer in many fields, but I knew her best as a fellow journalist. She was an outstanding reporter, editor, and newspaper executive at a time when female journalists were few and far between and in an era when female Hispanic journalists were even more uncommon, wrote Frank Sotomayor, referring to Auslander by her nickname. She like me and others, saw the scarcity of people of color in journalism who could tell our stories with greater knowledge and sensitivity, said the Tucson native and former Los Angeles Times journalist. She was inducted into the Tucson High Badger Hall of Fame, the UA Journalism Hall of Fame, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Hall of Fame. And in a unique Tucson honor, Los Descendientes del Presidio de Tucson named Auslander a Dona, a title of respect and distinction. Edith Auslander was born at the Stork Nest in downtown Tucson to William Frank Sayre and Artemisa Castelan Sayre, on Sept. 3, 1939. Her father, in 1942, was the first Mexican American engineer for Southern Pacific railroad, where he encountered discrimination and violence. He used to come home beat up, Auslander recounted in a column by Arizona Daily Star writer Bonnie Henry in 2007. Auslander graduated from Tucson High School in 1957 and went on to earn a bachelors degree in journalism from the UA and in 1975 completed her M.A. degree in journalism. She began her career with Arizona Catholic Lifetime, the publication of the Catholic Diocese of Tucson, first as a reporter, then managing editor. From 1973 to 1981, Auslander worked at the Arizona Daily Star as a features writer, a general assignment reporter, an education reporter, a copy editor, and a section editor at a time when there were few women and even fewer Hispanic women in those roles. She also served as the human relations director at Tucson Newspapers. In 1977 she joined the UA Journalism Departments faculty. She served as co-director and director of the Editing Program for Minority Journalists, a national training initiative sponsored by the Institute for Journalism Education in Berkeley, California. Years before she joined the department, former UA journalism professor Jim Johnson, who worked with Auslander, remembers her as a fellow undergrad and reporter for the UA Wildcat, the student publication. But it was her efforts as a regent that had a critical impact on the department, Johnson said. When the department was threatened to be shut down, she worked behind the scenes to keep the department open. Many people didnt know that, he said. In 1984 former Gov. Bruce Babbitt appointed Auslander to serve an eight-year term on the Arizona Board of Regents. That is how Paul Allvin, former UA associate vice president for communications, met Auslander. He was a cub reporter for the UA Wildcat and reported on the Board of Regents. She was always there to sit and listen, and to explain. Always a teacher, said Allvin, currently a vice president at George Mason University in Virginia. She helped me be better at my craft. I never forgot that. Former UA president Peter Likins appointed Auslander as UA vice president and senior associate to the president, a role she continued under former UA president Richard Shelton. Before her appointment, Auslander served as director of development at the UA Alumni Association. She retired from the UA in 2008. Former YWCA executive director Janet Marcotte said Auslander was a visionary and passionate about serving the community. Auslanders interests lay in providing support for women, children, and victims of domestic violence, Marcotte said. She was an incredibly strong woman. She had a great desire to make our community into a better place, said Marcotte. She credited Auslander for guiding her to a 25-year career at the YWCA. What she helped me see was not always to be right but to be practical and forward moving. Auslander is survived by her husband, Steve, son Gene Armstrong, daughters M.E. Armstrong and Anne Pagel (Ray Pagel), all of Tucson; granddaughters Alexis Pagel and Marisa Pagel, both of Laveen, Arizona; stepsons Jason Auslander of New Castle, Colorado, and Matthew Auslander of Amarillo, Texas; sister Mary Sayre Barrett (Bill Barrett) of Fresno, California, brother Federico Castelan Sayre (Desiree Sayre) of Buena Park, Calif., and two nieces and four nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother John Michael Sayre, all of Tucson. Visitation will be 4-9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 11, at Carrillos Tucson Mortuary, 204 S. Stone Ave., with rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be Saturday, Aug. 12, time to be determined, at St. Augustine Cathedral, 192 St. Stone Ave. Auslanders care in her final days was provided by Cheryl Seaton, whom the family gives deep gratitude. Steve Auslander will remember his wife of 46 years as genuinely sincere. Ive seen her at a banquet sit next to a stranger, and by the end they would be the best of friends, he said. I saw it happen time and again. PHOENIX Gov. Katie Hobbs is demanding utilities tell her how theyre prepared for record heat even though she has no legal authority to do so. In a letter Friday to electric companies, the governor said she wants their action plans for protecting Arizonans during this unprecedented heat wave. And that specifically includes everything from grid security to policies on disconnecting customers for unpaid bills and services available for customers who fall behind on payments. Only thing is, most utilities are subject and answer to only the Arizona Corporation Commission, the constitutionally created agency that regulates the activities and rates of electric companies. That left Christian Slater, the governors press aide, to explain where his boss gets any authority over utilities. Well, constitutionally, maybe not, he told Capitol Media Services. But I think it is her role to bring parties to the table to ensure that everybodys doing what they can to keep Arizonans safe during a historic heat wave, Slater said. I dont think thats something thats super outrageous. But it is the Arizona Corporation Commission that can and does bring utilities to the table. And that is backed by not only their general constitutional regulatory authority but also their power to subpoena utility executives to answer questions and demand their documents. In fact, the commission, exercising its powers, dictated to electric companies two years ago that they can either stop disconnections entirely from June 1 to Oct. 15 each year or, if they prefer, when outside temperatures are not going to exceed 32 degrees or will be higher than 95 degrees. A spokesman for Arizona Public Service, the states largest electric utility, said his company wont do any disconnects for past-due residential accounts through mid-October and is waiving late fees for customers during this period. He also said APS offers flexible payment arrangements as well as bill assistance. Tucson Electric Power and Unisource, its sister company, have a similar June through October policy. Salt River Project, which is not regulated by the commission, has said it does not disconnect customers when the National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning. The governors letter with copies to the media went out just hours after Jim OConnor, the Republican chairman of the five-member commission, issued a press release saying that utilities have successfully managed to meet electricity demands during these challenging times. OConnor cited several reasons, including at least one the governor wants to hear for herself from utilities: details of the transmission grid interconnectivity. Hobbs demand to the utilities comes less than a week after she announced that the Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health had a new emphasis program. While she cannot give that agency any new powers, she did direct its inspectors to focus on both preventing heat-related illness and injuries at workplaces and using its general authority to require safe workplaces to cite companies that dont provide adequate water, shade and rest. But Slater denied that this new letter is a publicity stunt, even if, unlike the Arizona Corporation Commission, she has no actual power to require the utilities to do anything. Its great that the Corporation Commission is doing their work, Slater said. But the governor is also interested in hearing directly from corporations, from utilities, what theyre doing to make sure that Arizonans, when they turn on the AC, are able to cool their homes during a heat wave. Lea Marquez Peterson, another Republican on the commission, told Capitol Media Services she is not concerned that the Democratic governor is getting involved in something that is within the panels constitutional purview. Nor is she opposed to the governor also studying the issues. We know its life or death if we dont have air conditioning, especially during the really hot peak summer days, Peterson said. But Peterson said she wants to be sure that the governor knows the work thats already been done, including the integrated resource planning process. The utilities submit those to us every year, she said. Its a 10- to 15-year outlook on where the resources are coming. There also was an energy reliability summit that looks out for the next three or four years, Peterson said. So we are on top of this, tracking this, holding the utilities accountable, she said, saying the panel welcomes sharing information with the governor. A spokesman for TEP and Unisource say their companies plan to respond to the governor. The same answer came from APS. APS has been particularly cooperative with Hobbs after its parent company, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., gave more than $850,000 to the Republican Governors Association last year as part of that groups bid to elect Republican Kari Lake as governor. After the election, Pinnacle West donated $250,000 to fund Hobbs January inaugural ceremony, making it the largest single contributor. In fact, the entire event actually cost less than that, with the excess from all donors going into a social welfare organization that can spend money to help defeat Republicans in 2024. WASHINGTON Mexico is not living up to its responsibility to protect the threatened totoaba fish and the critically endangered vaquita, a small porpoise of which there are only around a dozen left in the Gulf of California, the Biden administration said. But the president stopped short of imposing trade measures on Mexico as a result, drawing rebukes from environmental groups that demanded a harsher response. The United States needs to apply the strongest pressure and ban seafood from Mexico until theres real enforcement on illegal fishing in their habitat, Sarah Uhlemann of the Tucson-based Center for Biological Diversity said in an emailed statement. President Joe Biden, in a letter to Congress July 17, said only that trade measures could be imposed a year from now, when a group of Cabinet agencies is to report back on whether Mexico has reduced the illegal harvest and trafficking of totoaba and enhanced the conservation of vaquita. They must do more to prevent this illegal trade, enforce against illegal totoaba fishing across its full range, and protect these species, Bidens letter said, adding that the issue will continue to get the highest level of attention. He also said the U.S. stands ready to help with conservation efforts, if requested by the Government of Mexico. But the centers statement said enough time has already been wasted by what it called Mexicos inaction on the conservation of the endangered species. For decades, Mexico has failed to adequately enforce its fishing and wildlife trade laws in the Upper Gulf, causing the vaquita to decline from nearly 600 animals in 1997 to only around a dozen today, the statement said. Mexico has a long, painful history of failed promises on protecting these little porpoises. DJ Schubert, a wildlife biologist with the center, also called for sanctions against Mexico and said in the statement that the U.S. should do everything in its power to save the vaquita. The U.S. public will not tolerate our government being complicit in the extinction of a species, Schubert added. Without these steps, the center says the species will at best remain on the brink of extinction. The White House did not respond to a request for comment before publication. Along with immediate action against Mexico, advocates are calling for proper enforcement of a ban on gillnets around the vaquita habitat. These are fishing nets that allow a fishs head through the holes, but trap them when they try to back out. The nets are used to capture totoaba, another threatened species in the area. It has been illegal to fish for totoaba since 1975, but they are regularly poached to meet demand on the Chinese black market where their swim bladders can fetch tens of thousands of dollars. Demand has soared in recent years for the fish, which is used in Chinese medicine, food and cosmetics. Vaquita, which are also only found in the Gulf of California, get their heads caught in gillnets intended for totoaba. Unable to surface for air, they drown. In a statement on its website, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which has partnered with the Mexican government in conservation efforts since 2015, said it is fully committed to protecting the endangered species. The highlight for everyone involved in the Vaquita Refuge this year was the sighting of at least one vaquita calf. This is encouraging, the statement read. Increasing the scope of its partnership with Mexico was now its singular focus. PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Hun Sen has been Cambodias autocratic prime minister for nearly four decades, during which the opposition has been stifled and the country has grown increasingly close to China. With his Cambodian Peoples Party virtually guaranteed another landslide victory in Sundays election, its hard to imagine dramatic change on the horizon. But the 70-year-old former communist Khmer Rouge fighter and Asia's longest-serving leader says he is ready to hand the premiership to his oldest son, Hun Manet, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point who heads the country's army. Tens of thousands of supporters packed a central square in the capital before daybreak on Friday to hear the 45-year-old's 7 a.m. kick-off to the CPP's final day of campaigning before the vote. With a warm smile and soft tone, a stark contrast to his father's stern look and military-like cadence, Hun Manet said the CPP had brought peace, stability and progress to the Cambodian people. Voting for the Cambodian People's Party is voting for yourselves, he told the cheering crowd, promising to return Cambodia's national pride to a greater level than the glorious Angkor era of the Khmer Empire, centuries ago. After he cast his ballot Sunday, Hun Manet told reporters that he just came to vote as an ordinary citizen, then left without other comment. With the only credible challenge to the CPP barred from participating in the elections on a technicality, Cambodians are being offered little choice but to vote for the ruling party again. The arrests over the past week of several leading opposition figures have served to help stifle visible support for anyone but the CPP on the streets of Phnom Penh. Authorities in Cambodia have spent the past five years picking apart what's left of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, Amnesty International's Montse Ferrer said Friday. Many people feel that they are being forced to participate in this election despite their party of choice not being on the ballot. There was, however, a palpable sense of excitement at his pre-election rally as Hun Manet walked through the crowd of some 60,000 shaking hands and taking selfies, before taking a position next to his wife in the back of a pickup truck for a long parade through the city. Sixteen-year-old Sin Dina, one of many young people who turned out, jumped up and down and waved the Cambodian flag as Hun Manet drove slowly by, said it was the first time she had the opportunity to see him in person. He looks like a gentleman, down to earth, approachable, and he's well-educated she said, adding she only regretted she was too young to vote. He's an appropriate successor to his father. Many in the crowd spoke of Hun Manet's education his bachelor's at West Point being followed by a master's at New York University and a doctorate in economics from Britain's Bristol University. His background has given rise to hope from some in the West that he might bring political change, but it will still take work to regain influence in the Southeast Asian country of 16.5 million, given China's strategic and economic importance, said John Bradford, a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. A Cambodia led by Hun Manet might very well be a stronger U.S. ally, but the U.S.-Cambodia relationship can only thrive if it is built on strong fundamentals of common benefit and mutual respect, Bradford said. U.S. diplomats should focus on these things. At the top of Washingtons concerns is Chinas involvement in construction at Cambodias Ream Naval Base, which could give Beijing a strategically important military outpost on the Gulf of Thailand. Ground was broken last year on the Ream project, and satellite imagery of the ongoing construction from Planet Labs PBC taken about a month ago and analyzed by The Associated Press shows a jetty now large enough to accommodate a naval destroyer, if the water is deep enough. Regionally, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Cambodia chaired last year, has criticized Phnom Penh for undermining its unity in disputes with China over South China Sea territorial claims. It is not clear when or even if Hun Sen will hand off to his son during the next five-year government term, though most seem to think it will happen early enough for Hun Manet to establish himself in the job before the next election. Both men refused requests to be interviewed by The Associated Press. Even when Hun Manet does take over, Bradford said it might not mean any change at all, noting that educational and personal background do not necessarily translate into leadership style or political stance. We have a dictator in North Korea who went to school in Switzerland, he said. His choices dont exactly reflect Swiss values. Hun Manet has given few clues himself, posting frequently on Facebook and Telegram like his father but revealing little of his political leanings. And few think Hun Sen will fade into the woodwork, instead choosing now as a good time to turn over power so that he can still maintain a large degree of control from the sidelines, said Gordon Conochie, a research fellow at Australia's La Trobe University and author of A Tiger Rules the Mountain: Cambodia's Pursuit of Democracy, which was published this month. It means that while his son is establishing his own authority as prime minister, he's still got a relatively young, healthy physically and mentally father behind him, Conochie said. The reality is that as long as Hun Sen is there, nobody's going to move against them. And Hun Sen will be the man in charge, even if his son is the prime minister. Hun Sen joined the Khmer Rouge at age 18 as it fought to seize power, losing his left eye in the final battle for Phnom Penh in 1975. When a series of purges within the genocidal communist regime, blamed for the deaths of some 1.7 million Cambodians, put his own life at risk, he fled to neighboring Vietnam, returning to help oust his former comrades in 1979 alongside an invading Vietnamese army. By his late 20s he was installed as foreign minister by occupying Vietnamese forces, and in 1985 became prime minister, the world's youngest at the time. Over the decades he tightened his grip on power while ushering in a free-market economy and helping bring an end to three decades of civil war. Ly Chanthy, who braved a steady downpour to watch Hun Manet's parade through the city on Friday, said she remembered the Khmer Rouge days and would be forever grateful to Hun Sen, and was happy to back his son. I will vote for the Cambodian People's Party until I die, said the 58-year-old, a Cambodian flag on a makeshift pole over her shoulder. I will never forget that he rescued our lives from the Pol Pot regime. Under Hun Sen, Cambodia has seen an average annual economic growth of 7.7% between 1998 and 2019, It was elevated from a low-income country to lower middle-income status in 2015, and expects to attain middle-income status by 2030, according to the World Bank. But at the same time the gap between the rich and poor has greatly widened, deforestation has spread at an alarming rate, and there has been widespread land grabbing by Hun Sen's Cambodian allies and foreign investors. As discontent strengthened opposition, the country's compliant courts dissolved the main opposition party ahead of 2018 elections, and over the past five years the government has strongarmed any dissent while effectively pushing a message of peace and prosperity. An element of diehard opposition remains, but even though a silent majority may want more options, most are comfortable enough in their jobs and lives that they're not motivated to demand change, said Ou Virak, president of Phnom Penh's Future Forum think tank. With Hun Manet due to take over as prime minister, and an expected wholesale replacement of top ministers, the election will bring a generational change to Cambodia's leadership, which could begin a honeymoon period for international diplomacy, he said. But people will be disappointed if they expect a sharp pivot away from China, he added. China is still Cambodia's main backer, Cambodia's main superpower partner, he said. So I think any shift to the West will be limited, because you can't alienate your main supporter. Associated Press journalists Sopheng Cheang in Phnom Penh and Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. Circle Cinema quiz As part of Circle Cinemas 95th anniversary celebration, a three-question quiz regarding Circle Cinema Oklahoma Walk of Fame honorees is publishing each Sunday in July. The questions are courtesy of Michael Wright. Take your responses to the questions to Circle Cinema or a pop-up shop at Mother Road Market. In honor of Circle Cinemas 95th anniversary, those who provide correct responses will be entered into a weekly drawing to receive a prize of $95 (combined value) of concessions and movie tickets. This weeks quiz: Roy Clark was born April 15, 1933, in Meherrin, Virginia, and moved to Tulsa in the 1970s. He is best known for having co-hosted the country music and comedy television show Hee Haw from 1969-1997. 1. Which country music performance venue made Clark a member in 1987? A. Cains Ballroom B. Austin City Limits C. Outpost Hollywood D. Grand Old Opry 2. Clark was one of the first country music artists to tour this nation. A. Russia B. Argentina C. Kenya D. Tibet 3. Clark was a member of the Hee Haw Gospel Quartet. Which singer was not part of the quartet? A. Buck Owens B. Tennessee Ernie Ford C. Grandpa Jones D. Kenny Price Some organizations estimate Oklahomas homeschool population before the pandemic at about 22,000 using the national average of 3.3%. A U.S. Census report from 2020, however, said 20% of Oklahoma families were homeschooling. Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel 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 Sleeper: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is the most underestimated politician in Washington, D.C., Fourth District Congressman Tom Cole told the Ripon Society last week. The Ripon Society is a center-right Republican organization founded in 1962. I can tell you having served with multiple speakers this is the most accessible speaker I have ever seen, said Cole, who has been in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2002. It is easy to go talk to him. It is easy to get an appointment where he has the energy to handle this many egos, this many groups, and a narrow majority in the conference. But he does. I think its a work in progress every single day. But at the end of the day so far, its worked. Despite a paper-thin majority, McCarthy has guided House Republicans to legislative successes that have surprised many observers. As chairman of the House Rules Committee often called the Speakers Committee Cole is responsible for getting the final drafts of legislation and the conditions of debating them onto the House floor. He said McCarthy is careful to include as many factions of the Republican Conference as possible in that process. In the past, we would rush things to the floor sometimes and then run into a problem, Cole said. Now if you have a problem, you know about it early, because its going to pop up in the Committee. If somebody has an objection or a concern, it is easier to settle in the committee than on the Floor. No Choice: A federal housing program that has put $80 million into redeveloping west and north Tulsa would be zeroed out in the next budget year under an appropriations bill advanced by a House subcommittee Cole chairs. The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative supplied grants of $30 million for the makeover of the Eugene Field area west of the Arkansas River and north of 23rd Street and $50 million for demolition and redevelopment of the Comanche Park neighborhood at 36th Street North and Peoria Avenue. The appropriations bill is still far from final passage, and it isnt immediately clear what, if any, the implications would be for those two programs. Cole, as chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development known as THUD noted that the package, which advanced on a party-line vote to the full committee, would maintain or increase funding for other programs, including homeless assistance and Indian housing block grants. In its current form, the bill reduces overall THUD spending by 25%, reducing it to $65.2 billion. The biggest hit is to transportation, which would see a 60% cut. Cole said the draft meets our fundamental responsibility to support our most vulnerable citizens who rely on housing assistance to live in dignity. The bill still faces a vote by the full committee, a House floor vote and Senate negotiations before final passage. Furthermore : Cole took lots of heat from Democrats after his amendment removed $3.62 million for three LGBTQ community centers from the same bill. This amendment brings this committee to a new low, said Wisconsins Mark Pocan. The fact that you would take away members earmarks simply because they refer to the LGBTQ+ community is insane. Cole, whose amendment also bans Pride flags from federally owned flag poles, said the the community center earmark constituted problematic spending. All in: First District Congressman Kevin Hern asserted unqualified support for Israel after Washington Democrat Pramila Jayapal referred to it as racist. There are no ifs, ands, or buts, no exceptions or qualifications. Israel exists as a beacon of democracy and freedom in the heart of a region defined by oppressive autocrats and human rights abusers, Hern said in a written statement. Jayapals remarks, which she later withdrew, were in regard to allegations of human rights abuses by Israel against Palestinians. The Abraham Accords Caucus, of which U.S. Sen. James Lankford is a member, also offered full-throated support. The caucus is named for a set of agreements reached during the Trump administration among Israel and several Middle Eastern countries. Dots and dashes: Third District Congressman Frank Lucas endorsed recent legislation, similar to bills he has carried in the past, that would mandate greater federal oversight of land sales to what is termed foreign adversaries. Lankford was one of 16 senators voting for a Rand Paul amendment requiring congressional approval to fulfill NATO obligations to come to the aid of allies under attack. Lucas praised House passage of an aviation bill that includes provisions from the Science, Space and Technology Committee he chairs. Lankford launched an effort to encourage pharmaceutical manufacturing outside of China. The Houses National Defense Authorization Act included 5th District Congresswoman Stephanie Bices legislation to give the Department of Defense fentanyl intervention authority. Lankford said the Biden administration is focused on trying to turn over energy control of the United States over to China. The House Rules Committee is expected to tee up legislation next week repealing protected status for the lesser prairie chicken and the northern long-eared bat. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Foodie: Gov. Kevin Stitt is scheduled to appear on an episode of a program called Breaking Bread, which according to its publicity involves host Alexander Heffner eating and talking with political leaders from across the country. The program is being aired by Bloomberg, but Heffner is billed as the host of PBS The Open Mind, which is broadcast by the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority on Sunday and Monday afternoons. Stitt, coincidentally, tried to shut down OETA during a snit with the state Senate this spring. No broadcast date has been released for Stitts appearance on Breaking Bread, but he and Heffner will forego chicken fried steak at Jimmys Roundup and Fried Pies in favor of carne asada tacos at San Marcos in Oklahoma City. Still working: Oklahomas unemployment rate remained significantly lower than the nations in June, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Statewide unemployment stood at 2.7% for the month, compared to 3.6% for the nation as a whole. Total employment was more than 1.7 million, an increase of 33,900 from the same month a year ago. Campaigns and elections: Stitt called an Oct. 10 special election to fill vacant state Senate District 32, which is primarily the city of Lawton. Bottom lines: Stitts office said 572 underutilized state-owned vehicles have been taken out of service, resulting in savings of $5.15 million. Stitt was on Fox Business talking about environmental extremists and Chinese mining for rare earth minerals. Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, was among 90 state legislators attending a White House meeting on child care access. The Cherokee Nation will be topping out the $10 million Woody Hair Community Center in Kenwood on Monday. Oklahomas share of a $295.6 million Land Water Conservation Fund dispersal for local outdoor recreation came to a tad over $4 million. The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma, which has a considerable presence in Tulsa, opened an office at 15 E. 16th St. Randy Krehbiel, Tulsa World The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Barbara Hoberock Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Barbara Hoberock Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today OKLAHOMA CITY Senators return to the Capitol on Monday in a special-session effort to override two of Gov. Kevin Stitts vetoes and thereby extend tribal compacts. The Senate is expected to make a second attempt at overriding Stitts veto of Senate Bill 26x and take up an override of House Bill 1005x. Senate Bill 26x would extend the state-tribal tobacco compacts until Dec. 31, 2024, while House Bill 1005x would extend the motor vehicle registration compacts until that date. Both compacts are set to expire by the end of 2023. The Senate in June failed by one vote to override Stitts veto of Senate Bill 26x. After the vote, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said the Senate would have the votes later to override the veto by a pretty good margin. I am confident we have the votes to override the vetoes, Treat said Friday. The last time we took the vote we were missing several members who had to miss for one reason or another. But those members have committed to being there this time. If the Senate can muster the 32 votes needed to override Senate Bill 26x, the House is expected to take it up on July 31, according to a House spokesman. The House has already overridden Senate Bill 1005x. Stitt has countered the bills, which would keep the terms of the compacts the same for another year, with a proposal of his own that would put limits on where the compacts would be applicable which some tribes find objectionable. Lawmakers are concerned that Stitt could let the compacts expire without new ones in place, costing the state money. Last year, with these two compacts in place, the tribes remitted over $50 million to the state, Treat said. Without them in place, the state stands to lose this money. It will leave a hole in the following years budget that we will have to find a way to backfill. By simply extending the expiration date for these two compacts, we wont create a budget hole that we need to fill while allowing the governor and the tribes to negotiate a better deal for the state and tribes. Treat said that if the override attempts fail, it would be difficult to try again before the end of the month, when the special session ends. Stitt has been reaching out to senators and has taken his message to social media, seeking to have the override effort defeated. In a social media post, Stitt said that for months he has been trying to work with tribal governments while they believe they can get a better deal from lawmakers. I will not be bullied into doing a bad deal for Oklahoma taxpayers, Stitt said in a social media post. I want an even playing field for all 4 million Oklahomans. In a July 14 resolution, the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes asked the Legislature to overturn the vetoes, saying Stitt refuses to act in good faith with the tribes on extensions. Stitt has had a rocky relationship with the tribes since shortly after starting his first term, when he attempted to negotiate new gaming compacts with higher rates to the state. The tribes successfully sued Stitt to get a court order saying their gaming compacts had automatically renewed. In addition, lawmakers successfully sued Stitt over the process for entering into other compacts. The states high court found that Stitt had exceeded his authority when he compacted with tribes either outside the bounds of the Model Tribal Gaming Compacts or without the approval of the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations. He continues to lose court cases at every turn and, to me, launching a PR campaign does more harm than good when he should be figuring out a way to sit down and negotiate in good faith with the tribes, Treat said. On Thursday, members of Stitts administration met with representatives of the Chickasaw Nation concerning the compacts. Chickasaw Nation attorney Stephen Greetham said it appears that Stitts team used the meeting as a stunt for disrupting the Oklahoma Legislatures proceedings this coming Monday. We believe that stunt underscores the need for the Senate to act now. In fact, we believe the day may have arrived for the Oklahoma Legislature to take control of these issues away from this administration. Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby also released a statement. We call on the Oklahoma Legislature to complete its work and override the Oklahoma Governors vetoes of the compact extender bills, he said. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. (Photo : ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Russian investigators arrested a prominent nationalist critic of the country's conduct in the war in Ukraine. Igor Girkin, a former Russian commander in Ukraine and prominent war blogger, was detained by Russian authorities on Friday, reportedly on charges of promoting extremism. This is the first time Moscow has taken action against a fervent supporter of the war in Ukraine, despite Girkin's outspoken criticism of Russian leaders and their frequently botched military strategy. Russia Takes Rare Move, Detains Military Commander In Russia, it is illegal to criticize the military and the conflict, and the government has cracked down harshly on those expressing antiwar sentiments, including pupils. However, Russian law enforcement has disregarded the severe, frequently vehement criticism of pro-war conservatives who have criticized battlefield decisions, decried repeated military setbacks, and demanded harsher attacks against Ukraine. Girkin, known by his nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, is a former FSB officer. He participated in Russia's invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014. According to the Washington Post, Girkin later served as a commander in Russian-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, where he helped foment a separatist war and was accused of extrajudicial murders. In November, a court in the Netherlands convicted Girkin and two co-defendants of murder in the 2014 attack that destroyed Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew members on board. In this instance, Russia had protected Girkin from extradition. Now, however, Girkin is accused of online "public appeals for extremist activities," according to Russian state news agencies. On Friday evening, he appeared in a Moscow court for a pretrial hearing where investigators requested a two-month detention. Miroslava Reginskaya, Girkin's wife, first reported the news of her husband's arrest on his nearly one million-subscriber Telegram blog, stating that officers entered their residence on Friday morning and "carried him away to an unknown location." In a statement published on Girkin's blog, his supporters attributed his detention to his criticism of how Russia conducts its conflict in Ukraine and to his demands for accountability following the brief mutiny staged by Wagner mercenary commander Yevgeniy Prigozhin in late June. Read Also: WATCH: Chilling Explosion Kills 1, Injures 48 After Buses Go Airborne Who is Russian Military Commander Igor Girkin Girkin, a prominent nationalist blogger, has become increasingly critical of the leadership and administration of the Ukraine conflict by the Russian Army. He has advocated for a greater mobilization of the Russian economy and society to support the war effort and the purge of those who oppose the invasion, the NY Times reported. In recent days, he escalated his criticism by launching personal attacks against Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he characterized as "a nobody who managed to 'cast sand in the eyes' of a substantial portion of the population." Girkin, a veteran of the Russian Army and former intelligence officer, assisted Russia in its illicit annexation of Crimea in 2014 and then commanded pro-Russian separatist militias in eastern Ukraine. His merciless discipline earned him the reputation of being a decisive commander. In May 2014, he was appointed minister of defense for the Donetsk People's Republic, a separatist entity that claimed the Donetsk region of Ukraine. A few months later, when Flight 17 of Malaysia Airlines was shot down over eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 aboard, he was fired. In November of last year, a court in the Netherlands convicted Girkin and two others of murder for their roles in the downing of the plane; Girkin has denied responsibility. Since 2014, Girkin's messianic beliefs have been widely considered to be excessively extreme. With Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the previous year, he reclaimed his prominence and became one of the most prominent war commentators. Girkin's criticism of the Russian military leadership has intensified in tandem with that of the leader of the Wagner mercenary organization, Yevgeny V. Prigozhin. He ridiculed Defense Minister Sergei K. Shoigu as a "plywood marshal," but he criticized Prigozhin's attempt to challenge Putin's authority by launching a mutiny at the end of June. This month, Russian authorities conducted a search at the St. Petersburg patriotic cultural center where Girkin claimed he was scheduled to speak. It was an unprecedented move against ardent proponents of the war in Ukraine, and it signaled an increasing Russian effort to repress influential ultranationalists in the aftermath of the Wagner insurrection. Related Article: Crimea Bridge Attack: Putin Vows Response After Ukraine Claims Responsibility to 'Terror Incident' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United States sees Vietnam as a key partner for the formers plan to build more resilient supply chains, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told a press briefing in Hanoi on Friday. She emphasized Vietnams important role in the United States friendshoring drive. Friendshoring means the act of manufacturing and sourcing from friendship countries. Secretary Yellen, who made an official visit to Vietnam from Tuesday to Friday, said that the U.S. is boosting trade with trusted countries, including Vietnam, to diversify supply chains to back the global economic recovery. The purpose of the United States friendshoring initiative is minimizing vulnerability to economic shocks related to supply chains, mainly in the semiconductor field, said the U.S. official. Over the past decade, Vietnam has emerged as a critical node in the global semiconductor supply chain, Yellen affirmed. She listed several U.S. companies active in the hi-tech sector in Vietnam, including Arizona-based Amkor, which is planning to build a massive plant for manufacturing, assembling and testing semiconductors in northern Bac Ninh Province, and Onsemi, which is producing semiconductor chips for cars in Dong Nai Province. Besides, Intel has its largest assembly and testing facility in the world at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Ho Chi Minh City. She also underscored that the friendshoring drive is not meat for an exclusive club of countries. It is open and inclusive of advanced economies, emerging markets and developing countries, she said. Speaking at the press briefing, Yellen underlined that Vietnam has made great strides in economic growth over the past 10 years. Photo: Duy Linh / Tuoi Tre Yellen also highlighted the importance of climate chance response, saying that the United States has issued some decisions to ramp up the use of clean energy and reduce impacts on climate. Washington is proactively launching multiple initiatives to help other countries address the worsening climate crisis, including U.S. support for Vietnams Just Energy Transition Partnership. Before attending the press conference, U.S. Secretary of Treasury Yellen met with some representatives from 10 leading American firms which are doing business in Vietnam to learn about their challengers and opportunities. U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen (in blue) meets with some representatives from American firms in Vietnam. Photo: Duy Linh / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has borrowed an official development assistance (ODA) loan worth US$30.6 million from South Koreas Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for the first phase of the My An-Cao Lanh expressway project in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap. The ministry said it had written to Eunho Hwang, head of the operating board of EDCF, funded by the Export-Import Bank of Korea (Keximbank), asking for the loan as the project saw cost overruns of over VND1.4 trillion ($57.55 million). The 26.56-kilometer expressway will start at N2 Road in My An Town, Thap Muoi District, Dong Thap Province and end at the An Binh Intersection in Cao Lanh City, Dong Thap. The Vietnamese prime minister approved the first phase of the expressway project and its $206 million price tag on December 27, 2021. Of the total capital needed, some $158.8 million would be borrowed from the EDCF as an ODA loan. In January 2022, the Ministry of Planning and Investment sent a digital dispatch to the South Korean Embassy in Vietnam suggesting that the South Korean government provide the ODA loan for the My An-Cao Lanh Expressway. The My Thuan Project Management Board later produced a feasibility report for the project based on a consultation from South Koreas Jinwoo Engineering Co. Ltd., according to the Ministry of Transport. According to the feasibility report, the estimated investment for the project rose by $57.55 million, with loans borrowed from EDCF rising by $30.62 million. The Ministry of Transport attributed the cost overruns to an increase in the cost of site clearance, construction, and project management between the release of the projects prefeasibility report in October 2020 and the release of the projects feasibility report in October 2022. The ministry said it had asked the prime minister to approve adjustments to the investment plan for the project. In particular, ODA loans borrowed from the EDCF would be increased to $189.42 million and used to make payments for construction and equipment costs. The ministry asked Keximbank to clarify its ability to offer a $189.42-million ODA loan for the My An-Cao Lanh expressway project. The expressway, once completed, will allow commuters to travel at a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour. It will feature six lanes measuring 32.25 meters wide. In the first phase, the road will feature four lanes with a width of 17 meters and have a designed speed of 80 kilometers per hour. Construction of the project is expected to last five years, according to the ODA loan agreement with the EDCF. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, are advising the public to remain vigilant about drugs concealed in food and beverages in the wake of the discoveries of addictive substances in the locality. The technology crime bureau at the Da Nang Department of Public Security issued the notice after it had received inspection requests for powder-like substances contained in plastic packets labeled as White Coffee and Coffee House discovered and seized by the city police in different raids. Examination results showed that the aforementioned instant-coffee-like packets contained illicit substances such as MDMA, methamphetamine, ketamine, and nimetazepam. According to police officers, criminals employ a tactic of blending and packaging multiple types of drugs disguised as food, beverages, and other products, using packaging materials, labels, colors, and powdery scents similar to commonly-used convenience coffees. Drugs in disguise as instant coffee packets. Photo: H.B. / Tuoi Tre The end-users often mix this substance with water, treating it as a regular beverage or coffee. Upon consuming these substances, the narcotics will directly manipulate the central nervous system, inducing hallucinations and potentially resulting in uncontrollable behaviors, coma, unconsciousness, and even death. Therefore, the police advise residents to stay cautious when using unfamiliar or suspicious foods. Additionally, parents should ensure their children do not try foods without clear origins. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Hanoi Peoples Procuracy on Friday screened a CCTV footage showing Hoang Van Hung, an ex-investigator from the Ministry of Public Security, receiving a Samsonite attache case that the procuracy believed to contain US$450,000 to help enterprises executives involved in repatriation flights amid the COVID-19 pandemic, while Hung suggested the procuracy prove the case contained money. According to the CCTV footage, Hung received the Samsonite attache case in front of his workplace, the headquarters of the Security Investigation Authority under the Ministry of Public Security. Hung was charged with joining hands with Nguyen Anh Tuan, former deputy director of the Hanoi Police, to receive bribes to help Le Hong Son, former general director of Blue Sky Trading, Services and Tourism Company in Hanoi, and Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, former deputy general director of the company, escape investigations. Tuan declared he had transferred a total of $2.25 million to Hung but the procuracy had grounds to charge Hung with appropriating $800,000 only, according to the procuracy. The Hanoi Peoples Procuracy on Monday proposed sentencing Hung to 19-20 years behind bars. While screening the CCTV footage, a procurator said Hung declared the case contained four wine bottles, while Tuan, who assigned his subordinate to hand over the case to Hung, affirmed cash totaling $450,000 was inside the case. After receiving the case, Hung got in his car parked nearby. He drove the car away after sitting in the car for over seven minutes. Hung later returned to his workplace without holding the case. Both Tuan and Hang declared that the money was delivered to Hung following Hungs requirement, the procurator added. The procurator even said Hung was shifty and deceitful while assessing Hungs declarations, adding that the ex-investigator made dishonest declarations and slandered the procuracy. The procurator affirmed that the indictment of Hung was accurate and was issued in a prudent manner to ensure the objectivity and the compliance with the law. Procurators interrogated Hung three times and confronted him twice during the investigation into Hung. However, Hung denied the process and slandered the investigation agency. Therefore, Hungs refusal of receiving money proved his deviousness, according to the procuracy. A CCTV footage shows Hoang Van Hung receiving a Samsonite attache case. Meanwhile, Hung repeatedly denied the accusation and claimed innocence, saying that the procuracy deduced and used one-sided testimonies to charge him. The ex-investigator admitted receiving the Samsonite attache case. However, he suggested the procuracy give evidence proving that the Samsonite attache case contained $450,000, adding that there is no witness and image about Tuans handover of the money to him. As a result, it is impossible to conclude that the case contained money, Hung said. He earlier said at the court that he would plead guilty if the procuracy could give a piece of evidence. He also cited many regulations to say that the investigation process involved many shortcomings and the procuracy initiated legal proceedings against him and determined his count in a hasty manner. He suggested the court determine if the procuracys use of declarations of Tuan and Hang to accuse him is in line with the law or not. As for the remaining $350,000 among the $800,000 that the procuracy affirmed Tuan had sent to Hung, he suggested the procuracy clarify when and how he asked Tuan to give the money, what his requirement for the money was, and when and how he received the money. A representative of the Hanoi Peoples Procuracy at the court. Photo: Nam Anh / Tuoi Tre In early 2020, Vietnam closed 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, 54 officials, enterprises executives and other people were found to have committed law violations. The Peoples Court of Hanoi launched the first-instance trial of the 54 defendants on July 11 and is expected to finish it in a month. Of the 54 defendants standing trial, 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, the Vietnam News Agency reported. One defendant was prosecuted for committing fraud for property appropriation and the other is accused of committing fraud for property appropriation and giving bribes. The total amount of bribery money in this case reached $9.5 million, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper. The Hanoi Peoples Procuracy on Monday suggested sentences for the 54 defendants, including the death penalty for Pham Trung Kien, former secretary of a deputy minister of health, who allegedly took 253 bribes at a total value of over VND42 billion ($1.8 million). Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam has made strong growth in mobile application downloads over the past years, ranking 4th globally with over 4 billion global downloads of applications released by Vietnamese developers, according to a report by DataAI & APPMagic. Such achievement was announced at the event Google Think Apps 2023: Build the Future organized by Google in Vietnams southern business hub Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. Vietnam has jumped from the worlds top 15 in 2019 to 4th recently with 4.2 billion downloads of apps developed by domestic developers, said the report, released by DataAI, a U.S.-based firm combining consumer and market data in a single platform powered by AI, and APPMagic, a powerful mobile market intelligence tool, also based in the U.S. Vietnam has grown 2.5 times faster than other countries in the world in terms of application and game development, according to the report. Last year, the revenue from In App Purchase (IAP) in applications developed by Vietnam increased by 20 percent in the context of global revenue in this segment decreased by 2 percent, Marc Woo, managing director of Google Vietnam, told the event. Currently, 93 game and application development firms in Vietnam are possessing 171 apps, each of which has been placed in the top 10 weekly downloads rankings at least once on the Play Store. Notably, four app developers in Vietnam entered the Top 50 global companies with new applications surpassing 100 thousand downloads in 2022, including Falcon Global, ABI Global, Zego Global and Rocket Studio. Woo emphasized that Vietnam has changed and adapted faster than many other countries in the world, as its revenue for apps and games continues to grow while a downward trend has been recorded globally. The Southeast Asian country has been emerging as a hub for leading developers from around the world, consolidating its status as a power in application development, he commented. Woo also said Google is committed to continuing to support developers in Vietnam from creating the future, creating useful applications and games for society, as well as supporting the development of domestic programmers. Despite their impressive achievements, Vietnamese developers are facing many challenges to overcome, said Emily Nguyen, head of sales for Google Ads - Gaming & Apps Vietnam. These challenges include a loss of momentum in downloads, a slower growth in revenue from IAP, an increasing reduction of eCPM (estimated revenue received per thousand ad impressions), and a 5-percent decrease in user engagement (according to statistics by the end of the first half of 2023). Therefore, developers in Vietnam should apply advanced technologies such as AI to produce highly competitive products, strengthen updating market trends to find new opportunities in new markets, and improve product quality, Emily said. She added that Google will help local developers to overcome the challenges facing them. We wish to promote the development of Vietnamese application firms and developers so that they can reach out and succeed in the international market, Emily told the event. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Just a single episode of Special Ops: Lioness has been provided for review, leaving me somewhat cautious about Taylor Sheridans new action drama, screening on Paramount+. It comes with plenty of cachet, following from his successes with the Yellowstone universe, Mayor of Kingstown, and Tulsa King. Amongst its producers are Nicole Kidman (who undertakes a supporting role or possibly cameo), whike Morgan Freeman will also appear (not in ep. 1). The action centres around a U.S. Military program, Lioness, which uses female operatives to befriend the wives / girlfriends / daughters of targets in order for the latter to be taken out. Zoe Saldana (Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers: Endgame) stars as Joe, a CIA leader who recruits Cruz (Laysla De Oliveira) into a Middle East-based plot. But we have a lot of back story before the final sequence in Kuwait. The action begins with a bang in Syria as one of Joes secret operatives is compromised by the enemy, resulting in some arresting firepower, machine guns and explosions. Okay, this is money on the screen. But 4 years later in Oklahoma, we meet Cruz working a dead-end diner job and subjected to domestic violence at the hands of her violent boyfriend. When she busts free she lands, literally, in the local Marine office which sets her on a new path. As it turns out, Cruz is a helluva weapon herself, outclassing male Marines in all her test results, mental and physical. That leads her to being recruited by Joe for her next mission to ultimately eliminate the leader of Iranian backed militia. Theres a scene in the CIA in which Joe is debriefed by her seniors (Michael Kelly, Nicole Kidman) and one domestic sequence with family, in which hubby Neil (Dave Annable) reveals their open relationship. I guess that qualifies as away-from-home rules? Both Zoe Saldana and Laysla De Oliveira look to be doing their level best to outdo one another as strong women who can hold their own with the biggest bad-ass Marines and take a punch to the face (literally for one). But they will get the job done at all costs, without showing vulnerability. Joe is frequently dour, but at least Cruz has shown us her tough facade is a result of escaping a crisis. Comparisons with shows such as Homeland will be easily made, but so far Lioness is familiar terrain without being particularly compelling. Still, we are largely in set-up mode as a first episode. Where it will traverse, including acknowledging any shortcomings in the military itself, is unclear. So far Lioness cover is not yet blown. Special Ops: Lioness screens Sundays on Paramount+. Arshad Ahmed | Twocircles.net The approach to 12-year-old Jamal Islams make-shift home in Changmajhi, a revenue village in central Assams Nagaon district, becomes impassable when it rains. Jamals familywhich includes his elder brother Rafikul Islam, 24, Rafikuls wife Jahanra Begum, 19, and both his parents reside in a shanty measuring 20 by 20 feet in Changmajhi Village Grazing Reserve. We lived in the reserve forest for more than 3 decades, Deen Islam told TwoCircles.net, before being evicted from Lumding Reserve Forest in November 2021. Background of Eviction Their eviction came following a Gauhati High Court order after a former BJP legislator Shiladitya Dev, filed a PIL against alleged illegal encroachment in the reserve forest by people. According to the states chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, nearly 1500 families from three different communitiesBengali Muslims, Garo, and Chakmawere evicted from a 1410-hectares of forest land. However, most of those evicted are Muslims with Bengali ancestry who have been forced to live in deplorable conditions. This relief camp houses 350 families all Bengali-speaking Muslims who were evicted from different areas in the reserve forest. Meanwhile, a sizable number of other families, including Bengali Muslims as well as members of the Garo and Chakma communities, have been living in two other settlement camps in Assams Janju Bazar and Deka Basti. Muslim Residents Feel Abandoned by State Government The Changmajhi settlers feel that the state administration has abandoned them since their eviction from the reserve. The government is doing nothing for us. We drink poison (referring to high arsenic in water) and look at where we sleep crammed up in a shanty, Alchuma Begum, Jamals mother, who is in her early 30s, said with tears in her eyes. We spend days and nights in hunger. People Do Not Like To Hire Him: Muslim Residents Allege Economic Discrimination When this reporter visited the camp, Alchuma looked weak and rashes covered. Deen Islam, 48, is bedridden. He coughs a lot and has other illnesses, but because of his extreme poverty, he cannot afford to be diagnosed. For Alchumas family and others in the settlement camp, food has now become a luxury. Alchuma claims that they only fill their bellies when her son Rafikul, who is the sole breadwinner, finds employment and returns with groceries. However, an unskilled Rafikul, who left school at a young age like many adults in the camp, does not always get lucky finding employment. People do not like to hire him, and even if they do, they do not give him fair wages because we are from the camp, Alchuma explained. They exploit us for cheap labour because of our helplessness. Death, Disease, and Hunger in the Camp Haseena, 5, was inconsolable with the death of her mother Hanufa, 44, on 17 June of this year. According to Abdul Salam, her spouse, Haseenas health deteriorated as a result of the camps poor living conditions. He lamented how the eviction had robbed him of everything and said that she died of kidney failure. Speaking Bengali, Salam added, Daarun foishar lagi mara gasey (If it werent for the money, I wouldnt have lost her. Saddam Hussain, 27, the association of Changmajhi evictees head alleged that 15 people including 9 children had already passed away at the camp since the eviction. Twocircles.net could not verify the count. He said that deaths were untimely and might have been prevented if they had been provided with basic needs. Even animals live in far better conditions, he said, his face showing evident indignation. High Court Pulls up Assam Government on Conditions in Rehabilitation Camp In April Gauhati High Court pulled up the state government on conditions in rehabilitation camps. This is inhumanity of the highest order, said Justice Mehta. Just think of your child living in a tarpaulin for two years? Most unfortunate part issee the listall from the same community, the court said. The judge also directed the states attorney D. Nath to make immediate arrangements for them, including providing portable water, among other things. Saddam said they are forced to drink the same poisonous water, adding that the water was only provided for 10 to 12 days. According to Lachit Das Sub Divisional Officer of Hojai, it is not practical to ferry water every day for over 300 families. Our government is not a crorepati government that will spend 20,000 to 30,000 rupees on water every day, he said. Anti-Muslim Rhetoric in Assam Since the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the states Assembly election in 2021, for a second term, the state has seen a wave of eviction drives. Data from the state government reveals that 4,449 families, the bulk of whom are Muslims of Bengali ancestry, were evicted between May 2021 and September 2022. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been planking on saving the interests of indigenous Assamese communities from the Bengali Muslims of the state who are often dubbed Miyas and often referred to as illegal immigrants in light of the states long history against the illegal influx from neighbouring Bangladesh. About a week ago, Sarma even blamed the Muslim vendors for the price rise in vegetables. Are We Lesser Humans for Them?: Ask Muslim Residents of Camp These 350 families in Changmajhi, who have nowhere else to go, find their chances of rehabilitation in limbo. According to government officials, each of the 350 families would receive 15 lessa (2160 square feet) of land in a government reserve near Hojais Moudanga Pather. However, those residing in the shelter houses say, they rather live in the shelter homes, than move to the proposed allotted land. The proposed land, according to the evictees, is uninhabitable since it frequently floods and is always knee-deep in water. It is like the government wants to dump us there for the sake of rehabilitation, evictee Noor Islam, said. In comparison to other ethnic or linguistic minorities in Assam, Islam, and others in the camp feel they are treated differently and not on equal terms by the state. They first called us Bangladeshis, then we showed them our papers, then they robbed us of our land, Islam explained. Are we lesser humans for them or what? Arshad Ahmed is an independent reporter based in Assam, India. He tweets @arshadreports. Moscow on Saturday said the West is "responsible" for the death of a Russian war correspondent killed in Ukrainian shelling in the southern Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday. Earlier, the Russia-installed leader of Crimea said a Ukrainian drone attack on the peninsula had caused the "detonation" of an ammunition depot, leading to the evacuation of those living within 5km of the site. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time (GMT+2). This live page is no longer being updated. For more of our coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here 9:52pm: Zelensky asked for NATO-Ukraine Council meeting over Black Sea grain issue Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday he had asked the head of NATO to convene a meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council to discuss security in the Black Sea, particularly the operation of a corridor for Ukrainian grain exports. Russia this week pulled out of the UNbacked grain corridor deal, saying Western countries had ignored its demands to ensure Moscow's food and fertiliser exports. Russia said ships heading to Ukraine's Black Sea ports could be considered military targets. 8:45pm: Rail traffic in Crimea resumes after Ukrainian attack "Rail traffic... has resumed" in the district where the attack took place, the Moscow-installed governor of Crimea Sergey Aksyonov announced on Telegram. 6:23pm: West 'responsible' for death of Russian journalist in Ukraine, says Moscow Read more on FRANCE 24 English Read also: Russia seeks 20-year jail sentence for Kremlin critic Navalny Russia detains prominent hardliner who accused Putin of weakness in Ukraine Ukraines liberated town of Kupyansk endures Russian shelling, disinformation Zambian fashion designer thinks big after attending China-Africa trade expo Xinhua) 10:03, July 22, 2023 LUSAKA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A young Zambian fashion designer said participation in the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo has enabled him to appreciate and understand the Chinese business model and how to penetrate the market. Kabaso Nkandu, creative director and head designer at Nkanda Yatu, a Zambian fashion brand, said his participation at the third China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in the central Chinese city of Changsha from June 29 to July 2, provided him an opportunity to not only sell his brand to the Chinese market but meet important players in the garment sector. Nkandu, 34, participated at the expo under the auspices of a China-Kenya marketing agency, Development Reimagined, which is committed to taking African brands into the Chinese market. The agency organized sessions that focused on understanding the Chinese market and business model, as well as marketing and finding business partners. "And that is very important because it opens our minds to say that we cannot just limit ourselves to the Zambian market. It opens our minds, and we are able to tap even into other markets like the Chinese market which is very good," he said in an interview. Nkandu, who specializes in custom-made suits for both men and women as well as wedding garments, said during the expo he met with fabric manufacturers, which is important because textiles have been one of the biggest constraints to the growth of the garment industry in Zambia, as most textiles have to be imported. He expressed optimism that his brand will enter the Chinese market because of the enthusiasm shown during the expo. "The major highlight of this trip was seeing Chinese people appreciating products from Africa. The Chinese market is something that will absorb our brand because I could tell from the interest." The fashion designer has since urged Zambian companies to take a keen interest in attending platforms such as the China-Africa trade expo, which are of great help in introducing Zambian products to other markets. Nkandu, who started his business in 2017, was concerned that despite the potential that the garment industry has to contribute to the economic development of Zambia and many other African countries, the sector has not received much support. Nkandu said small and medium-sized enterprises in the garment industry lack access to affordable finance that could help expand their production. "We want the government's support; we want the private sector's support for us to be able to be competitive in the global market," he said, adding that there are a lot of trends that are happening in the garment industry in terms of machinery, technology, and many other things. Nkandu, who currently employs 15 people, said he has found potential investors but he is struggling to find collateral for the banks. The investment, he added, will result in improved production for his company which will lead to the employment of about 255 workers. "I am just a starter. I don't have collateral to offer for them to be able to give me the bank guarantee. My appeal to the private sector and the government is to prioritize the garment industry and provide the necessary attention it deserves," he added. Nkandu said his future plan is to be one of the top designers not only in Africa but the world. In September 2022, he made history by becoming the first Zambian designer to showcase at Milan Fashion Week in Italy. Hence his decision to name his brand, Nkanda Yatu, which is derived from one of the local languages meaning "our skin." He said the name is meant to encourage people to appreciate and take care of local prints the way they take care of their skin. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) (Photo : Peter Muhly - WPA Pool/Getty Images) Russian President Vladimir Putin warns Poland that any form of aggression against Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia itself. Russian President Vladimir Putin warns Poland that any form of aggression against its ally, Belarus, will be considered an attack on his country itself. The warning comes as the Russian strongman accused the NATO member of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union region. In Putin's remarks on Friday, he said that Moscow will react to any aggression against Belarus, which he said forms a loose "Union State" with Russia, with all of the means at their disposal. Russia Warns Poland Against Aggression Against Belarus The situation comes after Warsaw's Security Committee on Wednesday decided to move military units to eastern Poland. It was a decision made after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary group arrived in Belarus. In response to Putin's accusations against Poland, Warsaw authorities denied any form of territorial ambitions in Belarus. The Russian president also said in his statement that the western part of Poland was a gift from Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to his country and that Moscow was reminding the Poles about it, as per Reuters. In a Twitter post, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecky said on Friday evening that Stalin was a war criminal who was guilty of the death of hundreds of thousands of Poles. He noted that there is nothing to debate regarding historical truth. The Polish official added that the ambassador of the Russian Federation will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The situation comes after Belarus on Thursday said that Wagner forces started to train its special forces at a military range located just a few miles from the border with Poland. In recent weeks, Russia has started stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for the first time in history. The Kremlin noted that Putin was planning to meet Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Sunday. The Russian president also ordered the director of the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), Sergei Naryshkin, to monitor Poland's potential intention to "occupy Western Ukraine." However, there has been no evidence of such a claim being true, according to Yahoo News. Read Also: Taiwan Investigates Possible Leak of Classified Reports, Including Diplomatic Cables Moscow's Territorial Claims Additionally, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin on May 21 blamed Poland for allegedly "betraying historic memory," claiming that the country owes more than $750 billion to Russia for its liberation from Nazi Germany and the reconstruction of the nation. Morawiecky said that Russia has, for centuries, been an expert in "turning things on their heads to pull the wool over our eyes." His remarks were a response to the Russian president's wild claims. Poland's deputy minister coordinator of special services, Stanislaw Zaryn, also criticized Russia's lies about his country as well as trying to spread misinformation regarding the truth of its war against Ukraine. A professor of international affairs at the New School, Nina Khrushcheva, said that the Russian president's remarks were a message that Poland should be grateful to the Soviet Union. Instead, Warsaw has become more and more like an enemy of Moscow. The great-granddaughter of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev added that Putin's remarks were also a message to Ukrainians to remind them that for years, they have not been in good relations with Poland, warning them that they are currently being fooled, said Aljazeera. Related Article: Russia Detains Russian Military Commander on Charges of Inciting Extremism @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Nicknames for 19 countries around the world and reasons behind them Nicknames can be used for almost anything; people, places and even inanimate objects. They are often a shortened form of the full name given, but not always. Sometimes, they are given based on feelings associated with them. There are also nicknames that are personal to individuals and may only be known by them or a small group, based on a common connection or a shared feeling. Then, there are nicknames that are universally accepted and adopted for things worldwide. This is the case with the nicknames assigned to various countries across the world. You can say these alternatives to the actual proper place name to anybody, in any location, and they will understand what you mean. That is if they are aware of all of the nicknames in the first place. If you dont know nicknames for lots of different countries and would like to brush up on your knowledge before you next travel, or youre just curious to know, then NationalWorld has got you covered. Read through our list of nicknames for 19 countries across the world. They are all either based on distinctive features of the country itself or the popular culture there. For more fun stories related to all things language take a look at our dedicated words and meanings page. Stories youll find there include nicknames for Brits from around the world and untranslatable words from around the world. Nickname: Land of golden fleece Reason: Australia is famous for the Merino breed of sheep which leads to the creation of very fine wool of the same name. Nickname: Cockpit of Europe Reason: Belgium is the location where the largest number of European battles have taken place throughout history. Nickname: The great white north Reason: This nickname can be explained in three parts. Firstly, Canada is great because it's the second largest country in the world. Secondly, its described as white because of the large amount of Arctic frozen tundra and snow youll find there.. Finally, it's north because thats its position in relation to the United States. Story continues Nickname: Land of poets Reason: The nickname is often associated with the fact that Chilean poets have won the Nobel Prize in Literature for their works twice; Gabriela Mistral in 1945 and Pablo Neruda in 1971. The country also places a high degree of value on the work of poetry. Nickname: The red dragon Reason: The red dragon comes from the fact that a red dragon is an important symbol in the country. The Chinese dragon is one of the most legendary creatures in the countrys culture also. In addition, red has always been the traditional colour associated with the Chinese emperor. Nickname: Sugar bowl of the world Reason: This country, which is in the Caribbean, once had the largest sugar industry in the world. Nickname: Gift of the Nile Reason: The Nile River was critical to the development of ancient Egypt and made it possible for people to survive there. It provided the people with means for transport, helped with irrigation for farming, gave some food such as fish, and also created fertile soil for growing crops. Nickname: The land of hope and glory Reason: Land of Hope and Glory is a British patriotic song, with music by Edward Elgar, written in 1901. The song is still sung at BBC Proms and also at various sporting events. Nickname: Land of thousand lakes Reason: The country literally has thousands of lakes; 188,000 in total. Nickname: Land of fire and ice Reason: The country is home to two extreme and contrasting landscapes. It has some of the largest glaciers in Europe and also some of the world's most active volcanoes. Nickname: The emerald of the equator Reason: The country has lots of green and lush tropical rainforest and also sits alongside the equator geographically. Nickname: The boot Reason: The country is shaped like a boot because of the movement of the earth's tectonic plates over millions of years. Nickname: Land of the long white cloud Reason: This nickname refers to the cloud formations which helped early navigators to find the country. Nickname: The pearl of the Orient sea Reason: This nickname comes from two things; the location of the country which is at the crossroads of the Pacific Ocean and the South China Sea and also its long history of pearl diving and cultivation. Nickname: Rainbow nation Reason: This nickname was given to the country by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1994. He said it describes the fact that the country has people of all colours, from all backgrounds, of all religions and many different languages. Nickname: Playground of Europe and land of milk and honey Reason: The Playground of Europe nickname comes from the fact that the country has lots of natural beauty, including rolling hills, large lakes and the high peaks of the Alps, and these things also offer plenty of activity opportunities. The land of milk and honey nickname comes from the fact that the country is widely regarded as producing the world's finest honey and milk. Nickname: Land of white elephants and also land of smiles Reason: The elephant is the national symbol of the country. In addition, there are many white elephants in Thailand which are extremely rare. Its also called the land of smiles because Thai people use their smile to communicate their feelings - and they are also widely accepted to be very happy people. Nickname: The land of opportunity and land of the free Reason: Both nicknames come from the fact that theres a widely accepted idea that anyone can do anything they want, or be anything they want, in America. It is literally a place of opportunity and freedom for all. Nickname: Land of grace Reason: Explorer Christopher Columbus gave the country this nickname when he arrived there in the late 1400s. The taboo around criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be weakening, UK intelligence reported. Sputnik/Alexander Kazakov/Kremlin via REUTERS A Russian ultra-nationalist was arrested in relation to criticizing Vladimir Putin. The UK Minister of Defense said he made his comments as the "taboo" over criticizing Putin weakens. It credited the Wagner Group's uprising for the taboo's weakening. The "taboo" of criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin has been weakened in a development that likely led to a prominent pro-war blogger deciding to call him out, UK intelligence reported. Igor Girkin, a Russian ultra-nationalist, was arrested on extremism charges on Friday after he called Putin a "cowardly mediocrity." Girkin, a pro-war, former FSB security operative who goes by the nom de guerre "Strelkov," which is Russian for "shooter," was detained at his apartment. Girkin's wife posted news of her husband's arrest in a Telegram message to his nearly 900,000 followers before Russian state media confirmed his detainment. The UK Defence Ministry said in an intelligence update on Saturday that he likely only felt able to do this because the landscape of Russia had changed since the head of the Russian Wagner Group that joined Russia's invasion of Ukraine staged an uprising last month. It said: "While Girkin is no ally of the Wagner Group, he was likely only prepared to push the limits of public criticism in the context of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's June 2023 abortive mutiny." "The taboo against unmasked criticism of the Putin regime has significantly weakened." Igor Girkin, a prominent pro-war blogger, was arrested Friday related to charges of extremism. Photo by ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images The Wagner Group took over a Russian military headquarters in a key city and started to march on Moscow last month before the situation was defused with a peace deal that involved its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, going into exile. It came after months of feuding between Prigozhin and Russia's defense ministry, with Prigozhin criticizing its performance in Ukraine and accusing it of starving his men of ammunition to extinguish his group. Story continues Girkin, like many other Russian war bloggers, has been critical of Russia's military performance in Ukraine. Russia expected to occupy its neighbor quickly when it launched its invasion in February 2022 but has since endured a series of humiliating retreats and has not made any significant territorial gains in months while it hemorrhages troops and equipment. But Girkin's criticisms seemed to become harsher after the Wager Group's miniature mutiny and included criticisms of Putin, saying that if he can't win in Ukraine, "he needs to legally transfer his powers," Insider's Erin Snodgrass reported. He made his post on Telegram that "the country will not survive another 6 years of this cowardly mediocrity in power" three days before his arrest. The UK Ministry of Defence said that Girkin had "long been a critic" of Russia's military performance, but that, in recent days, his comments had turned to criticizing Putin himself. War bloggers including Girkin are a source of news and opinion about Russia's invasion, and their content can be both influential on and revealing about the national mood about the war. Girkin has military experience himself, including having once led a group of Russian militants in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. His arrest "is likely to infuriate fellow members of the mil-blogger community," the UK Ministry of Defence said, adding that members of the community are those "who largely see Girkin as an astute military analyst and patriot." He said in a 2016 interview with The Guardian that he was an "inconvenient figure" for the Kremlin. "They don't know what to do with me: am I a hero or a terrorist?" he said. "They can't arrest and jail me because it would be seen as bowing to the West to call me a terrorist." Read the original article on Business Insider HA NOI Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, in collaboration with the Department of Climate Change and Climate Impact X (CIX), has organised a seminar on establishing a voluntary carbon credit exchange in Viet Nam. The event was joined by representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Finance, other relevant ministries, as well as the Vietnam Security Depository (VSD), the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) and representatives from financial institutions and technical consulting firms. The workshop was an opportunity for participants to share views, experiences and proposals for developing the voluntary carbon market in Viet Nam. Nguyen Thuy Hanh, Head of Corporate, Commercial & Institutional Banking at Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam said Viet Nam is a potential key growth market in the world, but to facilitate foreign investment, Vietnamese firms need to transition to green production and business operation. "The establishment of a voluntary carbon credit exchange is a strategic move in the direction of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. "Standard Chartered is committed to providing sustainable products and services, as well as consulting for businesses in their investment and financial plan towards reducing emissions to achieve the net zero target. At the event, participants discussed issues of building and operating a voluntary carbon credit exchange, and a roadmap for developing the carbon market in Viet Nam by 2025. A pilot voluntary carbon exchange is recommended to supplement the compliance market. The mandatory Emission Trading System (ETS) will be officially implemented from 2028 onwards and provisions will allow for participation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Standard Chartered Bank and CIX shared experiences in operating a voluntary carbon credit exchange in Singapore and the next steps to set one up in Viet Nam. Standard Chartered has been a partner on ESG and Sustainable Finance for its clients, with an increasing focus on helping clients decarbonise. The bank has set ambitious targets to reach net-zero carbon emissions from financed activity by 2050, including interim 2030 targets for the most carbon-intensive sectors and a target to mobilise US$300 billion of Sustainable Finance by 2030. This includes the facilitation of green and social bond raising, provision of funding commitments to green and social causes, advisory services to support clients on their own journeys to net zero and facilitation of Sustainability Linked Loans. The bank has expanded its sustainable finance asset books to over $13 billion in 2022, representing a 30 per cent year-on-year growth. VNS ITALY Arabesque Viet Nam, a neo-classical and contemporary dance company from HCM City, is the only representative from Asia to participate in the International Contemporary Dance Festival 2023 in Italy on July 19-30. The event is being held in Salerno, Perugia, and Naples, by contemporary dance agencies like Campania Danza, Borderline Danza, Dance Gallery, Campano Della Danza, and Artgarage, with over 20 shows. Arabesque Viet Nam will perform for five nights, starting from July 21, featuring Kliselamef (Female Silk, choreographed by Nguyen Tan Loc) and Melting (choreographed by Lim SunYoung). Kliselamef is a work dedicated to Vietnamese women, inspired by the old Vietnamese quote "Than em nhu tam lua ao" (A woman's body is as soft as silk) and images of ancient women, said choreographer Nguyen Tan Loc. Using silk ao dai designed by Kieu Viet Lien, Loc hopes to merge the softness of Vietnamese silk and dance moves to promote the country's symbol. The music for Kliselamef is also among the most impressive elements of the performance, Loc added. "It was done in Viet Nam, France and Taiwan (China) by musician Ton That An, composed with Vietnamese traditional instruments like the moon lute and European ones like the cello," Loc said. With Melting, Arabesque has worked with choreographer Lim SunYoung for over two years to make it suitable for indoor and outdoor performances, he said. Loc said it was challenging for the team to work online with musicians and choreographers because of the pandemic and the geographical distance, but they tried their best to bring out the story behind each work. "We hope to bring a unique and special experience for audiences through our soulful dance," he said. Claudio Malangone, founder of Borderline Danza, said that the members of Arabesque have showed their great ability and professionalism through their performances over the years. Borderline Danza worked with Arabesque Viet Nam in the Ho Chi Minh International Dance Festival (2013-2018) and the Women Made 2022 project in Italy and Viet Nam. Renowned dancers like Carolyn Carlson, Ambra Senatore, and Marco D'Agostin will also perform at the festival. There are other activities during the festival, like outdoor performances at museums and national art galleries, workshops, and forums on dance. The International Contemporary Dance Festival in 2013 and 2016 was organised by Arabesque Viet Nam and the HCM City Opera House. VNS HCM CITY More than 70 photos of Vietnamese and foreign photographers, which are the winning entries from the Sony World Photography Awards (SWPA) from the last 10 years, are being presented at a two-day exhibition in HCM City Museum of Fine Arts in District 1 of HCM City. Starting from Friday, the exhibition, which is presented by Sony Vietnam, aims to encourage recognition of Vietnamese photographers and bring the artworks closer to the public. The gallery's installation is divided into three sections for those who share an interest in photography. The first area displays works of Vietnamese photographers who won the "National Award" in the 10 years from 2014 to 2023. Next is an area to screen some short films by the winners of two other Sony film competitions, the World of Film contest and the Sony Future competition. Finally, there is an expanded area with winning photos of international photographers who won at SWPA 2023 and other works by excellent Vietnamese photographers who have been nominated and won SWPA awards in the last 10 years. At the exhibition, there is displayed the winning picture of the "National Award Winner" category at SWPA 2023 by Vietnamese photographer Nguyen Ngoc Thien with his work named "Turtle Dream" captured in the Perhentian Sea, Malaysia. Aside from "Turtle Dream", other famous works by Vietnamese photographers include "Bicycle and blossoms" - first prize in the "National Award" category SWPA 2022 by photographer Nguyen Phuc Thanh taken on a ceramic road in Ha Noi; "Under The Moonlight" - first prize in the Youth Competition (12-19 years old) SWPA 2022 by young photographer Tri Nguyen and a photograph of dried scad fish - and the best travel photo at the Open SWPA 2021 by female photographer Khanh Phan were also featured at the exhibition. In addition to the chance to admire the photos, visitors have chance to listen to the photographers story about their journey to capture the winning shot. In addition, a talk with photographer Khanh Phan on the topic "Experience in participating in international photo contests," and a talk with photographers Tran Minh Dung and Nguyen Ngoc Thien on the topic "Turn hobbies and passions into professional photography" are available for visitors to attend. On the same day, organisers officially announced that the 17th ceremony of the awards show, SWPA 2024, will accept submissions beginning June 1, 2023 until early 2024 with the four categories of professional, open, student, and youth remaining unaltered. SWPA, which was established by the World Photographic Organisation, is a prestigious photographic competition on a global scale. With four official competition categories - professional, open competition, student, and youth - the award attracts photographers of all levels, from leading to emerging practitioners. The awards not only contribute to the development and advancement of photographic culture but also provide valuable opportunities for artists to build their networks, careers, and broaden the conversation around their work. SWPA is regarded as one of the most important competitions for the global photography community. In 2023 alone, the competition received a record number of entries, with more than 415,000 submissions from more than 74,000 professional and semi-professional photographers from more than 206 nations worldwide. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday reaffirmed that Viet Nam would stand shoulder to shoulder with Laos, offering full support to overcome challenges and continue their development. This statement was made during the official visit of the Lao Minister of Health Bounfeng Phoummalaysith to Viet Nam. Both PM Chinh and the Lao Minister of Health expressed their satisfaction with the strong cooperation between the two countries in the field of healthcare, particularly the joint efforts in medical examinations, treatments, healthcare workforce training, disease control, and support to strengthen healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. PM Chinh proposed that the two health ministries work together to create a detailed plan to effectively implement high-level agreements between the two countries. They also discussed the exchange of experiences, especially in advancing digital transformation and tele-medicine, and providing medical care to Laos citizens in Vietnamese hospitals. Furthermore, both parties agreed to enhance the training of healthcare professionals by diversifying training programmes and expanding training fields to meet Laos' current needs, especially for the Vietnamese-Lao friendship hospitals in Laos Hua Phan and Xiangkhouang provinces. He said the two ministries should consider revising the agreement on border health quarantine to adapt to the current situation, aiming for more streamlined and convenient procedures. Additionally, they would continue to collaborate and support each other in regional and international healthcare forums. PM Chinh mentioned the recent inauguration ceremony of the 200-bed Xiangkhouang Friendship Provincial Hospital with the assistance of Viet Nam's central Nghe An Province. He urged both health ministries to coordinate and provide professional guidance and support to ensure the hospital's sustainable and effective operation. For his part, Minister Bounfeng Phoummalaysith expressed his desire to further strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in healthcare, particularly in workforce training, traditional medicine, pharmaceutical production, vaccines, disease prevention, and control in border areas. He pledged to work closely with the Vietnamese Health Ministry to implement specific programmes and projects in line with PM Chinh's directions to welcome Vietnamese investors to invest in the healthcare sector. Viet Nam - Laos strengthening healthcare cooperation The delegation of the Ministry of Health led by Minister ao Hong Lan held talks with the delegation of the Laos Ministry of Health led by Minister Bounfeng Phoummalaysith yesterday in Ha Noi. According to Lan, the healthcare sectors of the two countries have maintained close and effective cooperation for many decades, contributing to the continuous blossoming and fruitful outcomes of the Viet Nam-Laos relationship. The Viet Nam Health Minister said that the cooperation between the two sides was highlighted by the coordination in medical examination, treatment, training of healthcare personnel, infectious disease control, and so on. The central-level and specialised hospitals in Viet Nam were ready to receive and treat Laos leaders and citizens who come for medical examination and treatment. Along the border, Laos people had received support from the healthcare sector of the border provinces of Viet Nam in medical examination and treatment activities. Some medical universities in Viet Nam had received and provided training to Laos students under the bilateral agreement between the two governments. After years of education, Laos medical graduates from Vietnamese training institutions had contributed to the struggle for national salvation and national construction, providing medical examination and treatment to the Laos people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both sides engaged in practical support activities, such as sending vaccines and medical equipment and deploying medical staff to assist in controlling the pandemic. Lan expressed her desire for the signed agreements to continue being implemented in the coming time. Minister Bounfeng Phoummalaysith congratulated the achievements of the healthcare sector in Viet Nam and extended heartfelt gratitude to the Government and the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam for their timely support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite facing many challenges and difficulties, Viet Nam provided valuable assistance. Thanks to close cooperation, both countries have effectively controlled the COVID-19 pandemic and recovered and developed their socio-economic plans. The cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos, especially between the two healthcare ministries, is becoming stronger and closer. Phoummalaysith hopes to continue receiving Viet Nam's support in training human resources, sending officials to assist in surveying, and supporting Lao hospitals to gradually become financially independent. He also sought to enhance cooperation in traditional medicine, pharmaceuticals, and disease prevention and control. Minister Bounfeng Phoummalaysith affirmed the mutual support between the countries in international forums, particularly with ASEAN countries, in establishing the ASEAN Centre for Responding to Health Emergencies and Emerging Infectious Diseases in 2024 when Laos assumes the role of ASEAN Chair in 2024. VNS HA NOI The US values the comprehensive partnership with Viet Nam and will continue to develop it, affirmed US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at her meeting with Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong inh Hue in Ha Noi on July 21. Currently on a visit to Viet Nam, Yellen said that she believes Viet Nam will successfully achieve its development goals and that the US wishes to contribute to this process. Chairman Hue stated that in Viet Nams foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, the US is a crucial partner. He affirmed support of the enhancement of stable and long-lasting bilateral relations for the interests of both countries, as well as for peace, friendship, and cooperation in the region and the world. The top Vietnamese legislator proposed both sides further promote relations across the channels of party, state, parliament, and people-to-people exchange; strengthen parliamentary cooperation, high-level delegation exchanges; and establish mechanisms for legislative collaboration commensurate with the bilateral relationship. He urged both countries to coordinate to set up new and more effective bilateral and multilateral cooperative mechanisms in trade and investment. Viet Nam does not pursue a trade surplus policy with the US, he said, highlighting the Southeast Asian nations continuous improvement of the domestic legal system and investment climate to create favourable conditions for long-term and successful operations of US enterprises. The NA Chairman proposed that the US recognise Viet Nam's market economy status and limit technical measures and trade safeguards to facilitate Vietnamese goods' access to its market. He suggested that the US Treasury and Administration take measures to support Viet Nam in enhancing its position in the global supply chain amid current trends of trade-investment diversification and restructuring. He recommended the US support Viet Nam in a fair energy transition, particularly in terms of finance, and proposed allocating resources supporting the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and cooperative initiatives within the framework of the Mekong - US partnership. He also requested the US to assist Viet Nam's development of the digital economy, digital government, digital society, and digital transformation to meet sustainable development requirements. For her part, Yellen said she will consider the matters raised by the Vietnamese NA leader and quickly give concrete reply on the ones that can be implemented in the immediate future. She appreciated the progress Viet Nam has made in implementing an action plan for exchange rate and information transparency. Both sides have engaged in positive dialogue, she said, expressing a wish to continue the bilateral cooperation in this area. Yellen stated that the Biden administration prioritises key partners like Viet Nam in a bid to ensure stability and resilience in supply chains. Hailing Viet Nam and partners' statement on the establishment of the JETP in December last year, she appreciated Viet Nam's positive steps in carrying out the statement and stressed that the US supports Viet Nam's access to multilateral and private financial sources to carry out its energy transition process. VNS (Photo : Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Judge Aileen Cannon sets a May 2024 schedule for former United States President Donald Trump's classified documents case trial. Former United States President Donald Trump's trial in his classified documents case has been set for a May schedule after Judge Aileen Cannon rejected the Republican businessman's bid to delay it until after the 2024 presidential election. In the judge's latest order, she said that the trial will be held in her home courthouse located in Fort Pierce, Florida. The legal battle will select its jury members from several counties that the Republican businessman won unanimously during his two previous presidential campaigns. Judge Sets Date for Trump's Classified Docs Case Trial Additionally, Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge, laid out a calendar of hearings that will be conducted throughout this year and into the next. These include those that concern the former president's handling of classified material, which are at the heart of the case. The development comes after a contentious hearing held on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce. There, prosecutors who are working for Special Counsel Jack Smith, and lawyers working for Trump, debated over a schedule of when to hold the trial in the case, as per the New York Times. Many consider the timing of the trial in the classified documents case as being crucial as Trump is the frontrunner for the GOP nomination for the 2024 presidential election. Additionally, the timeline would intersect with the former president's campaign schedule. The date that Judge Cannon selected, May 20, 2024, comes after the majority of the primary contests. However, it is still less than two months from the start of the Republican National Convention (RNC), which is scheduled in July, and the formal start of the general election season. The Republican businessman's advisers have also been blunt about their belief that winning the presidency is how Trump hopes to defeat the legal challenges brought against him. The former president has adopted a strategy of delaying the trial, which many expect to take several weeks, for as long as he can. Cannon's selection of a trial date for the classified documents case was made more complicated because Trump is already scheduled to stand trial in March after being indicted on state charges earlier this year in New York, according to the Washington Post. Read Also: Supreme Court Liberals Are Outraged That the Majority Upheld Alabama's Execution Pleading Not Guilty to the Charges The classified documents case also involves Trump's longtime aide, Walt Nauta, and they are both charged in a 38-count indictment. Authorities accuse the Republican businessman of improperly handling 31 classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Prosecutors also claim that the former president enlisted the help of his longtime aide to assist him in keeping some of the highly classified materials from being taken back by federal agents during a raid to return the documents. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges during separate court appearances in Miami and the former president has continued to criticize the case and other investigations scrutinizing him as being politically motivated. A spokesperson for Trump said in a Friday statement that Cannon's decision on a date is a "major setback to the DOJ's crusade to deny President Trump a fair legal process." Additionally, they noted that the schedule allows the Republican businessman and his legal team to continue to fight the supposed "empty hoax," said NBC News. Related Article: Joe Biden Nominates Adm. Lisa Franchetti To Lead Navy @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A NANG The central citys Peoples Council has approved free schooling for students from kindergarten to high school in 2023-24 with a budget of VN408 billion ($16.3 million). The decision was ratified at the council's working session earlier this year, making it the only city in Viet Nam to offer free education this year. Its the third year the beach city has applied subsidies to fund education, with the goal being to ease the financial burden caused by COVID-19 in 2020-22. The citys council said free education would apply to all state-owned and private schools in the city, but not to foreign-invested ones. Each student had to pay a monthly school fee from VN50,000 to 300,000 in previous years, but they will be offered a nine-month term free for the 2023-24 school year. The city's budget will provide VN316 billion for state-owned schools and VN92 billion for private schools. The central city was also the first in Viet Nam to hold a pilot project on caring for babies from six to 18 months at 21 public kindergartens as preparation for the citys social-security master plan for 2020-25. A number of foreign-invested kindergartens are operating in the city providing services for expats and those looking for international curriculums. The city, in cooperation with the American Half the Sky Foundation, opened the One Sky kindergarten at the Hoa Khanh Industrial Zone, the first care centre and kindergarten for children aged from six months to six years. The Japanese JP Holdings Group also operated the Japanese-led COHAS a Nang, or Smile School, for children ages one to six, while Leave a Nest, an education organisation from Japan, with the Self Wing Viet Nam Company, launched a project on nature research and education for students at secondary schools in the city. During the meeting, a Nang also proposed a fund of VN670 billion to upgrade the March 29 Park, which has long been polluted, in 2023-26. The park will be designed as a core green zone in the plan for a smart city by 2030. VNS AK LAK Three more suspects on the special wanted list in the recent terrorist attacks aimed at opposing the peoples administration in the Central Highlands province of ak Lak have been arrested, said Director of the provincial Police Major General Le Vinh Quy on July 21. So far, all six suspects on the special wanted list have been arrested. On July 21 morning, the local police successfully tracked down three fugitives in Cu Kuin district, namely Y Khing Lieng, 31, from Hoa Son commune Krong Bong district; Nay Duong, 55, from Cu Pong commune, Krong Buk district; and Y Hoal Eban, 53 from Ea Pok town, Cu M'gar district. Earlier on July 15, they arrested three others on the list, namely Y Ju Nie from Ea Knuec commune, Krong Pac district; Nay Yen and Nay Tam from Cu Pong commune, Krong Buk district. All six of them were involved in the attacks at the headquarters of the People's Committee of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes in Cu Kuin district on June 11, leaving nine dead and two others injured. They were later wanted by the ak Lak provincial Polices Investigative Security Agency on the charge of "terrorism aimed at opposing the people's administration" as specified in Article 113 of the Criminal Code. The Ministry of Public Security said that those were terrorist attacks aimed at opposing the people's administration and caused particularly serious consequences. VNS As per recent audit findings released by the Vietnamese government, the Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint-Stock Bank (Sacombank) has landed itself in troubled waters. The audit, focused on the bank's historical transactions, showed a reduction in outstanding credit balance, from $640.5 million as of December 2017 to $634.1 million by August 2018. Alarmingly, nine corporations had accessed loans that accounted for a staggering 48.5 per cent of the bank's equity, amounting to $385.9 million. The beneficiaries, including prominent corporations such as Him Lam Thu Do JSC and Hong Bang Investment JSC, utilised these funds to invest in the Saigon Binh An Urban Area project. However, the audit has highlighted numerous irregularities within the credit files of these businesses, triggering concerns about Sacombank's regulatory oversight. The bank failed to exert stringent controls on these clients, who simultaneously sourced loans from Sacombank and other institutions to finance their contracts tied to the aforementioned project. Furthermore, the audit underscored potential risks tied to the collateral underpinning these loans. The entirety of the asset rights and benefits derived from the Saigon Binh An Urban Area project were used as collateral. Yet, at the time, the project did not possess comprehensive legal documentation pertaining to ownership rights, raising concerns about the legality of such security. Sacombank's considerable loans, despite the weak or missing credit files, had been green lit without adequate assessment. In addition to these problematic real estate loans, the audit recommended probing Sacombank's handling of bad debt sold to the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC). The bank had failed to retain the original collateral files, which constitutes a violation. In another major lapse, Sacombank reportedly auctioned off collateral without obtaining the necessary client authorisation, in clear breach of legal regulations. Consequently, the auditing body has recommended an in-depth examination of the roles and responsibilities of Sacombank's leadership, alongside those of the Ho Chi Minh City Banking Inspection and Supervision Agency. The investigation comes as Sacombank neglected to set up additional provisions worth $100.2 million for 77 debts before offloading them to the VAMC, further highlighting the bank's potential shortcomings in terms of risk management and internal control mechanisms. Sacombank caps its FOL at 30 per cent and targets boosting its profits Bolstered by a well-defined roadmap that includes a cap of 30 per cent on foreign ownership level (FOL) and an ongoing debt restructuring programme, Sacombank is poised for remarkable growth and the distribution of dividends to its shareholders in the years to come. High-profile Vietnamese magnate Nguyen Cao Tri's assets under scrutiny Lam Dong Justice Department has advised local notary organisations to halt all transactions connected to the land of business magnate Nguyen Cao Tri, pending a decision from the competent authorities. Helping Chay put her hair in a bundle, Vu A Binh is still amused at times to see his youngest daughters enthusiasm to go to school. Just over a year ago, little Chay much preferred following her siblings around rather than getting up at five and hiking to class. But then, going to school became a lot more fun, especially as she knew she would be fed hot meals with meat and vegetables. Chays school in Na O village is among those participating in the VSF's Growing up with mountainous preschool students project. Meagre meals, difficult lives Being 172km away from the provinces centre, Bao Lam remains Cao Bangs most remote and difficult district, where 76.6 per cent of its residents are classified as poor and near-poor. Due to the lands challenging terrain, local schools have to establish various teaching locations so that children from ethnic minority communities and isolated villages can attend. Located in both the 30A Programme and 135 Programme areas that need special attention in terms of poverty eradication, Thai Son and Thach Lam preschools also took this splitting approach to accommodate the disadvantaged students, all of whom were of Hmong and Dao ethnicity. Despite the schools efforts, many children aged 3-5 still had to walk 5-6km through the hills along dirt paths to get to school. Greeting them was a very basic lunch containing only plain rice if they were lucky or men men a steamed minced corn staple in these mountainous areas. Often, the food would spoil in the summer heat, forcing many of the students to return home for lunch 80 per cent of whom would not return for the afternoon class due to the long and difficult route. Preschool students in Bao Lam district usually only had steamed men men or plain rice for lunch We only had men men at home every morning, said Giang Thi My while helping her son Phung prepare for school in Khau Noong. Having just steamed men men for every meal, sometimes with plain vegetable soup, Phung looked as if he was just three even though he had turned five earlier this year. Phung was diagnosed with malnutrition. His situation was unfortunately common, as many of the students in Bao Lams teaching locations were under the recommended weight and height that is specified by the National Institute of Nutrition, according to a recent survey done by the Ministry of Education. Meals that foster the will to gain knowledge From 2020, with the support of individuals, organisations, and businesses in Vietnam and abroad, the VSF has been implementing the Growing up with mountainous preschool students project at five locations in Thai Son and Thach Lam, along with another in Son La, to bring over 211,000 free nutritious meals to more than 700 students. For the past three years, the project has replaced the cold plain men men with hot lunches of white rice, meat, vegetables, and hot soup, along with afternoon snacks like porridge and noodles all prepared according to the national guidelines for school nutrition. Each meal costs VND9,500 (40 US cents), making it VND1.7 million ($70.80) to sponsor a students meal plan for a whole school year. Children enjoying their nutritious free school lunch Thanks to the hot lunches, the health and stature of the students at all five locations improved significantly, with all gaining height and weight. At the end of the school year, Phung was removed from the malnutrition list. Like many of his classmates, his favourite meal was sauteed minced pork with carrots, and he was already looking forward to the next school year. The hot lunches also helped foster the students will to stay in school, completely erasing the afternoon dropout rate that stood at 80 per cent before the projects launch. The children eat better than they do at home, and can then play with their friends, so they love going to school. Before the project, we often only had around 12 students, but now all of our 33 students never miss a class, rain or shine, said Nong Thi Tuyet, a teacher at Thach Lam preschool. In addition to providing nutritious meals, the project also aims to improve the conditions in the schools by renovating their water systems, building school kitchens, and providing warm blankets and school supplies. Along with the year-round sponsored lunches, the VSF also organises annual trips to the beneficiary locations and brings additional supplies for the students Tran Thi Nhu Trang, director of the VSF said, The Growing up with mountainous preschool students project, along with our other initiatives to improve childrens welfare, shows the commitment of VSF and our partners to provide timely and practical support for children in disadvantaged areas, helping them access opportunities to grow up healthily and happily and reach their full potential. Nong Van Long, a teacher at Thai Son preschool added, On behalf of all the teachers, parents, and students, I would like to send our sincere gratitude to the project for bringing nutritious, loving meals to our children. We hope that the project will carry on its mission to support more children over the coming school year and spread this goodwill to even more teaching locations in the future. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the VSF will continue to sponsor five teaching locations in Cao Bang. Since 2022, the VSF has expanded the Growing up with mountainous preschool students project to Son La and provided school lunches for 116 students with difficult backgrounds at Chieng Khoa Primary and Secondary School in Van Ho commune. Since its launch in 2020, the project has received monetary donations, along with time, expertise, and efforts, from 263,365 individual sponsors and 18 gifts from corporations, organisation partners, and groups, amounting to a budget of more than VND1 billion ($41,670). This encouraging community engagement and participation highlights the projects special meaning and its message of love and goodwill. For Vietnamese Stature encourages ethnic minority students to pioneer gender equality On October 1, the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) organised the Autumn Camp Breaking the Prejudice Circle programme at Ban Lau primary school in Muong Khuong district of the northern province of Lao Cai. Forty ethnic minority students had a memorable day with seven experiential activities. Promoting equality through the voices of ethnic minority youths The No voice - No equal future project that was implemented in Son La province in 2023 is encouraging ethnic minority youths and young journalists to become agents of change and help to reduce inequality. The project is run by the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) and sponsored by the US Embassy to Vietnam and the Moon of Hope fundraising programme. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The law enforcement veteran appointed to oversee reforms at the Minneapolis police department in the wake of George Floyd's killing plans to retire in September after enduring sharp criticism in his first year on the job. Community Safety Commissioner Cedric Alexander announced his retirement Thursday, The Star Tribune reported. Alexander defended his work overseeing five public safety agencies, including the police and fire departments, following criticism from some city council members and the public over the slow pace of reforms. Whoever takes the torch here from me, theyre on a firm foundation, Alexander, 68, said to the newspaper. He said people now feel safe when they come into the city. Alexander, a former police chief who spent four decades in law enforcement, set out to improve coordination among departments and rebuild trust in the city. He said that work and the effort to implement the Justice Department's recommendations to improve policing by eliminating racial bias and excessive force will continue after he's gone. He said programs like the multijurisdictional Operation Endeavor helped reduce shootings and carjackings in the city last year although crime statistics suggest that decline may have begun even before that program started. Alexander has said he lacked the resources to complete ambitious projects like replacing the city's five police precincts with community centers offering social services to help fight addiction and homelessness. In an early misstep, Alexander lashed out on Twitter at critics who questioned his strategy of parking empty squad cars downtown to deter crime even accusing one person of two-faced talking from both sides of your mouth. But he quickly apologized for his tone. Recently, there was criticism about a lack of communication from Alexander's office and his lack of public appearances. But he said the criticism wasn't a factor in his decision to retire. Thats just kind of par for the course, Alexander said, noting that administrators are always admonished for not moving fast enough. Mayor Jacob Frey praised Alexander's work, saying he successfully coordinated security for a Taylor Swift concert and several community events that brought large crowds to downtown Minneapolis earlier this year without any major problems. When Minneapolis needed strong leadership and a clear vision, he answered the call, Frey said in a statement Thursday. I am grateful for his dedication to our city and his excellent work to curb violent crime and make a comprehensive safety system a reality. Alexander's supporters say he didn't have much chance to succeed. I think he was the right man for the wrong time and the wrong city, said Lisa Clemons, a retired police sergeant and founder of the street outreach group A Mothers Love Initiative. I dont believe he was given the tools needed to make change, like the council and mayor gave our chief. A 42-year-old man was arrested Friday evening on federal warrants in two Waco bank robberies last year, Waco police announced. John Rainwater was arrested in Waco on bank robbery charges in an October armed robbery of Texell Credit Union, 1221 Hewitt Drive in Waco, and an April 2022 robbery of First Convenience Bank in the Walmart at 600 Hewitt Drive, also in Waco, according to a Waco police press release. Waco detectives, the FBI and U.S. Marshals cooperated on the investigation and arrest, the press release says. Waco police responded to the First Convenience Bank robbery at about 9:45 a.m. April 30, 2022, and determined a robber had demanded money from bank employees and claimed to have a handgun, police said at the time. Employees hands were tied, but no major injuries were reported. The robber fled on foot before police arrived. Police responded to the Texell Credit Union robbery at about 11:45 a.m. Oct. 22, 2022, after a robber walked into the building, brandished a firearm and took an undisclosed amount of money, according to a Waco police press release at the time. 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. Russia is now using fake trenches against Ukrainian forces. This was revealed by Michael Kofman, a leading American military analyst at the Center for Naval Analyses (CNA). Kofman is well known for his expertise in the Russian Armed Forces. On Thursday, July 20, he shared Russia's new defense tactics against Ukraine. Russia Now Using Fake Trenches Against Ukrainian Forces According to Business Insider's latest report, Kofman said that the Russian military is continuously adapting to the war against Ukraine. In the previous War on the Rocks podcast, the military expert said that Russians are building fake trenches to lure Ukrainian troops. He added that these fake war trenches are filled with land mines, as well as remote-activated mines. "Once forces jump into them, they have parts of trenches that are intentionally empty," explained Kofman. He added that these fake trenches are specifically designed to blow up the forces of Ukraine. The things that Kofman saw during his previous visit to Ukraine with other war experts show that Russia is further adapting to what's happening in Ukraine. Kofman said that the kinds of adaptations done by the Russian military are beyond the common defense tactics. Read Also: Russia Prepares Poseidon Torpedo Warheads Able To Wipe Out Cities Are Fake Trenches Effective? Since no videos are showing if the fake trenches of Russia can eliminate Ukrainian troops, it is hard to conclude if they are really effective. The fake Russian war trenches were revealed after a video showing Ukrainian Special Operations Forces troops defeating Russian soldiers in a trench went viral. On the official video of Ukraine SOF, you can see how Ukrainian forces were able to overwhelm the Russian trench occupiers. These Russian troops tried to take down the Ukrainian forces. However, they were killed one after another. The Twitter video of SOF generated over 1 million views and more than 5,000 likes. It is unclear if the viral footage of Ukrainian troops storming into a Russian war trench pressured the Russian military to come up with a counteroffensive strategy. If you want to watch the actual Ukraine SOF video, you can click this link. Related Article: Russia Thwarts Cross-Border Attack from Ukraine, Claims Over 70 Attackers Killed @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. CEDAR FALLS Its a good sign when a new eatery already has regulars just a week after opening. Thats been the case for Dorian Larson, Mike Keller and Cody Tucker, who opened Le Petit Patisserie and Cafe at the former Carter House Market & Cafe location at 119 Main St., which closed after about a year in business. Before that, itd been Farm Shed. My neighbor from across the street has been here several times, and I live in Waverly, said Tucker. Eagle View Partners, a company of developer Mark Kittrell, owns the Black Hawk Hotel and the attached 1,700-square-foot space now housing the new breakfast and brunch spot. Its the second establishment Larson, Keller and Tucker own. The other is Montage, a fine dining restaurant also in downtown Cedar Falls at 222 Main St. Its been very well received, said Larson. A lady told me today that she had been hoping for a place like this. There just arent many options like this. A recent Main Street survey asked what type of eating or drinking establishment would draw a person downtown more often. Breakfast/brunch restaurant was the top choice at 53.6% and bakery was second at 45.9%. Chocolate and almond croissants are the favorite dessert in the early going. The brie and prosciutto sandwich and smash burger also are popular. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, soups and weekend brunch options in addition to baked goods like scones, macaroons, madeleines, breads, and cakes 99% of which are made in house. Drinks include coffee, juice, milk, lemonade and soda with alcohol options like Bloody Marys and mimosas coming soon. The team reimagined the space, next to Uncle Harrys Five and Dime Tavern. It includes a kitchen, bakery and eating area with comfortable booth and table seating for up to 40 people. Wi-Fi and electrical outlets are available for those who want to get some work done. The aroma draws you in and children can stand on their seats and peek into the bakery to see how the goodies are made. Larson, Keller and Tucker met while working at Montage and worked their way up to management before taking over the business two years ago from former owners Jim and Jodi Landau. They each got into the food business in their teens, whether as a dishwasher, busser, or behind the counter at a bakery. Now theyve turned their experiences into an entrepreneurial venture. You love seeing peoples immediate reactions to the food and service you provide, and seeing that immediate response is definitely a huge bump in self-confidence, Keller said. Their dream project was a patisserie with trained chefs who utilize French-inspired cooking and baking techniques but put their own spin on the food they produce. Austin Carlson, who has held management positions at both Montage and Cedar Falls Brown Bottle, is chef de cuisine. Vicky Dunn, who has sold naturally fermented artisanal bread and pastries at Cedar Valley farmers markets and taught bread-making at Three Pines Farm, is head pastry chef. Jennifer Kane, the other pastry chef, worked at Carter House and served as the pastry chef for Verve. A strong emphasis has to be placed on the crew we have, said Larson. Vicky, Jennifer and Austin have been dedicated the last month to get this up and rolling. Theyve had to put in so many hours. Were extremely lucky to have this group. Orders can be placed at the counter or online at lepetitcf.com. Catering is not a guaranteed option, but people are encouraged to inquire to see whats possible. No delivery is available. The establishment is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. We were presented with an opportunity you just dont waste and immediately jumped on it, said Larson. Cedar Falls is one of the coolest cities in Iowa, easily, to have such a strong Main Street and have everyone so involved in it. Theres always something going on and bustling. Theres a lot of pride in it, and its hard not to want to keep growing with it. JESUP Wind turbines are proposed in Buchanan County to generate renewable energy. Theres a lot that has been discussed and still has to happen if Next Era Energy Resources, the self-proclaimed largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and the sun, is to get the go-ahead for the Jubilee Wind Project. The Buchanan County Board of Supervisors scheduled an informational meeting for 6 p.m. Monday at the St. Athanasius gym, 635 Stevens St. in Jesup. Company officials are expected to be present. According to Zoning Administrator Chad Beatty, the companys proposal has seen significant public interest since coming to the table last year. Dozens of turbines are currently being proposed for the southwest corner of the county around Brandon, Rowley and Jesup, and up along Interstate Highway 380. The Jubilee Wind project is more than wind turbines it represents a significant capital investment in Iowa. Once operational, it will create good-paying jobs and provide millions in additional revenue for landowners and the local community, states the companys pitch online. A county moratorium is in place on wind projects. Beatty said the supervisors and the Buchanan County Planning & Zoning Commission are looking at the comprehensive plan for future land use and growth, and what they would like to see allowed on farm land. We hope to come to a decision on our vision for taking land out of production, said Beatty. He has seen some support, but a lot of opposition in the county from those who put farmers first and have a strong stance on private land rights as well as solar and wind projects. They often have feelings on how land will no longer be the same once disturbed, he noted. Among the topics of discussion are the corn suitability rating of land where these turbines would be allowed. These regulations will be outlined in an ordinance for these projects, as will others pertaining to setbacks and decommissioning, to name a few. Is there a benefit to taking the fertile land out of production? Beatty asked. I think thats the big question we have to answer. The wind project discussions continue while the Iowa Utilities Board considers Navigator CO2 Ventures proposed carbon dioxide pipeline, another controversial infrastructure project with implications in Buchanan County. Baraboo Fire and EMS District employees earned union certification on Thursday with a familiar area first responders rights advocate leading the way. International Association of Firefighters Local 5429 received its certification as an official chapter at the Baraboo Fire and EMS District facility, with regional and state union leaders presenting the new chapter its official plaques and discussing the benefits of IAFF membership, as well as membership with the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin. Spencer Nett, the former president of IAFF L5026 who wrote a vote of no confidence letter containing numerous workplace harassment and power abuse allegations against Lake Delton Public Safety Director Daniel Hardman in February of last year, was unanimously voted president of L5429. Netts previous union represented members of Dells-Delton EMS. Sixteen of those members signed the letter. The newly-formed L5429 will have 32 original members, including Nett, former L5026 vice president Tyler Greenwood, and seven others who previously served with Dells-Delton EMS. Nett said that the idea to unionize first started in October 2022 prior to his hiring. The vote for official IAFF recognition was in January just after the fire and EMS services combined into the joint operation. We have a large majority of paramedics, and four of our members going through paramedic school to help that transition from EMT to paramedic, said Nett, who also mentioned the cross training members have received in firefighting. Working for the Baraboo Fire and EMS District, as opposed to his previous experiences with Dells-Delton EMS, are a night and day difference, according to Nett. He, PFFW president and former Lt. Gov. candidate Mahlon Mitchell, and IAFF District 5 vice president Tom Thornburg all praised the districts two chiefs, Kevin Stieve and Caleb Johnson, for their willingness to faithfully negotiate and partner with the newly formed union. From the very beginning when we learned of their intent to unionize, our approach as chiefs were and have been that we want to maintain the healthiest relationship between the two, said Johnson. Ultimately, in the end, we want whats best for the department, whats best for the community. Without the people, we have nothing. Mitchell, a lieutenant in the Madison Fire Department, addressed the members of the newly-formed union. He discussed Madison and Dane County union affiliation and the benefits of being a unionized first responder chapter, as well as the relationship between IAFF and PFFW. I think its really important, not just in terms of hours, wages, working conditions, retirement security, and health and safety, but really knowing that you have a partner and that you have the resources there, Mitchell said of the benefits of unionization, particularly for first responders in smaller communities. Thornburg commended Nett for his work in helping the Baraboo Fire and EMS employees unionize and his persistence in his prior situation. Netts IAFF representation helped him clear his termination status from Dells-Delton EMS into a voluntary resignation and was compensated for disruption in retroactive benefits. Hardman was cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated to his position after a leave period on April 27, 2022. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Israelis march along Highway 1 on their way to Jerusalem near Moshav Shoresh in Israel, as part of protests against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, Friday, July 21, 2023. The protest march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is growing as Netanyahu vows to forge ahead on the controversial overhaul. Protest organizers planned to camp overnight at Shoresh, before making their way to Israel's parliament on Saturday. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) Ever since the pandemic, a lot of companies have adopted a work-from-home policy to make up for the restrictions. Companies have since reinstated on-site work with said restrictions gone and Amazon is doing the same, although it might uproot some of its employees' lives. Relocation for On-Site Work Things are back to normal, which means that employees will have to return to their normal routines prior to the pandemic. Some have gained employment during the remote work setup thinking that it was permanent, but Amazon will soon require them to do in-office work as well. This is a problem for those who live far from the main offices, especially since the retail giant now requires three days of on-site work every week. The locations of the offices include New York, San Francisco, and possibly others, as mentioned in Engadget. With the new hybrid work policy, some employees will have to uproot their lives. The relocation and the employees who will be affected will be decided per department, although Amazon has yet to establish how many employees are required to report to its main offices. An Amazon representative stated that the in-office mandate led to "more energy, collaboration, and connections happening" after CEO Andy Jassy announced the return of on-site work. Ironically, employees will have to leave their homes to establish said "connections." The retail giant says that they are continuing to look for the best ways to "bring more teams together in the same locations" along with communicating with employees as they make decisions that will affect them. Predictably, the impacted workers are not happy about it since they applied with the idea that they can work remotely. Their displeasure with the changes has been expressed even back in May when employees organized a walkout to protest the hybrid work setup. Read Also: Surveillance Footage Inside Amazon Delivery Vans are Leaked Online Amazon is Not Gaining Popularity Points In the past few months, the retail giant has seen nothing but pushback and protests from its employees, which hints at how the company treats them. Other than mass layoffs, workers claim that they are subjected to unfair labor practices as well. Just this June, Amazon delivery drivers went on strike to force the company to provide better working conditions and pay. Instead of addressing the problem, Amazon insisted that the drivers were not their direct employees instead. The protesting workers claimed that Amazon was not providing the drivers with conditioned vehicles for transporting goods, which can become a problem when they have to travel through the desert and suffer "inhumane heat." According to the drivers, the temperature can reach around 118F. That doesn't include the fact that it tends to be warmer inside the vehicles compared to the open space. Inside the vehicle, drivers have to endure heat that can reach up to 130F. As mentioned in The Verge, the drivers filed unfair labor changes back in May with the National Labor Relations Board. Amazon has since tried denying that they were its employees, stating that they were merely contracted drivers from delivery service partners. Related: Amazon Claims Delivery Drivers on Strike Aren't Their Own Employees Instagram Celebrity The 'Kiss Me More' hitmaker speaks up weeks after a woman, who claimed she used to date J.Cyrus, accused the comedian of being 'manipulative' and called him 'a sexual predator.' Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Doja Cat wants people to stay out of her business. Having been called out by a fan for dating J.Cyrus, the "Kiss Me More" hitmaker set aside time to shut down the "miserable" individual. The 27-year-old was forced to defend herself after reading an Instagram comment that read, "girl everyone is unstaning you." It added, "Even if you paint yourself gold it won't make things better." In response, Doja stated, "I WANT YALL TO READ THIS COMMENT AND TAKE IT AS A MESSAGE. I DONT GIVE A F**K WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT MY PERSONAL LIFE." She went on to emphasize, "I NEVER HAVE AND NEVER WILL GIVE A F**K WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ME OR MY PERSONAL LIFE GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE MISERABLE H*ES !" Doja's post arrived weeks after J.Cyrus' ex-girlfriend exposed his alleged dirty secret. The woman, who claimed she used to date the comedian, accused him of being "manipulative" and called him "a sexual predator." The ex-GF wrote, "Multiple girls have called him out in the past for being manipulative it seems." "Yup he is a sexual predator basically and abuser but she still wants to be with him like girl are you dumb?" she continued, seemingly in reference to Doja. "I wish I would've known like I didn't realize there was so many other woman till the doja thing." The ex-girlfriend went on alleging that J.Cyrus was still seeing her while he's dating the raptress. "And even while he was seeing doja he was still trying to see me and sending me d**k pics from her place in NY," she claimed. Making fun of Doja for dating her ex, the woman added, "yes doja cat got my sloppy seconds lmfaooo very weird for me." She went on trolling J.Cyrus as saying, "His d**k is small. So she can have fun w that." Doja and J.Cyrus were first spotted together in New York City in November 2022 and returned to the Big Apple towards the end of May 2023 when they were seen enjoying a bite to eat at Carbone. In June, the pair were photographed packing on the PDA during a romantic boat trip off the shore of Los Cabos in Mexico. You can share this post! Cover Images/ROGER WONG Celebrity The 'Oppenheimer' actress admits she sometimes caves in to her desire to anonymously scroll through social media although she always feels terrible after doing it. Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Emily Blunt confesses "lurking on Instagram" always makes her feel "terrible." "The Devil Wears Prada" star has no an official social media account but she's admitted to browsing through picture-sharing feeds occasionally even though it doesn't make her feel good. "I have been prone to getting occasionally pulled into lurking on Instagram, and it just makes you feel terrible. I don't feel good after doing it. I don't feel like I've done anything beneficial to myself," she said in an interview with the Guardian newspaper. During the chat, Emily, 40, also touches on another technology talking point - artificial intelligence - admitting she finds the whole idea of AI pretty unnerving. She said, "AI unnerves me. It's human nature to propulsively want to keep inventing new things. But do we have to put into action everything that we create? Does it better us? Or does it really start to eviscerate what it is to be human?" Emily went on to add, "Sometimes I'm like, 'Oh my God, I'm such a dusty old fart about this stuff.' But I can't wrap my head around how beneficial it will be to us, as people, in our souls." It comes after the "Oppenheimer" actress - who has daughters Hazel, nine, and Violet, seven, with husband and fellow actor John Krasinski - recently caused a stir when she said she was taking a break from her career to be with her family. However, she has since clarified she's simply taking a temporary break and will return to acting in a few months' time. She told Deadline, "Honestly, that story got so overblown. I'm just taking a little downtime, not quitting Hollywood. I was just taking some months off to be with the kids." The "Jungle Cruise" star previously explained she wanted to spend more time at home to be with her kids for the tiny moments that are "so important" while they are still young. Appearing on iHeartPodcast's "Table for Two with Bruce Bozzi", she said, "This year, I'm not working. I worked quite a bit last year, and my oldest baby is nine, so we're in the last year of single digits." "I just feel there are cornerstones to their day that are so important when they're little. And it's, 'Will you wake me up? Will you take me to school? Will you pick me up? Will you put me to bed?' And I just need to be there for all of them for a good stretch. And I just felt that in my bones." You can share this post! Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity The Duke and Duchess of Sussex reportedly asked to join President Joe Biden on Air Force One for their travel back to US after Queen Elizabeth's funeral but their request was denied. Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were allegedly denied a ride on President Joe Biden's Air Force One after the Queen's funeral. Prince Harry, 38, and his former "Suits" actress wife Meghan Markle, 41, reportedly asked if they could travel back to the US on the aircraft before the White House denied the request. There was concern that allowing the couple on the flight could cause offence to the Royal Family following the couple's accusations of racism within its ranks and the publication of Harry's controversial memoir "Spare" which laid bare his turbulent relationships with his dad King Charles and older brother Prince William, 41, the Daily Mail reported. The Mail said the claim came from multiple current and former officials in the Biden administration, as well as the British government. Sources said there was barely any discussion of the couple travelling on Air Force One after the Queen's funeral in September after her death aged 96, as the idea was a "non-starter." One insider said, "It would have caused such a commotion. It would have strained relations with the Palace and the new King." There was also apparently concern about how the cost of them travelling on board the plane could have been justified to US taxpayers. Crisis communications specialist Andy Barr told the Daily Mirror he believes the apparent snub from the White House was a way to "keep a bit of distance from the couple" following Harry's "security-staff-drama" in the UK that saw him lose his fight in May to bring a legal challenge against the Home Office over its refusal to allow him to pay for police protection while in Britain. Andy said about the duke and his wife, who gave up senior royal duties as part of their infamous "Megxit" deal to move to America, "Harry and Meghan forgot the golden rule of giving up a globally respected royal title, you become just like us ordinary folk" "Biden's team would have been worried about the optics, and the precedence it would have set, for other A-Listers. If he had said 'Yes', where would it end? Giving a Kardashian a lift to their next Instagram shoot?" "Biden and his team are probably also still smarting over the fall out some time ago from their getting embroiled in the security-staff-drama and will be keen to try and keep a bit of distance from the couple." You can share this post! Instagram Music After sparking concerns among fans with the sudden cancellation of The Hollywood Vampires' concert in Budapest, it's now claimed that the real reason was the 'Alice in Wonderland' actor's health scare. Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Johnny Depp might be the main cause of the recent sudden cancellation of The Hollywood Vampires' concert in Budapest. After sparking concerns among fans when the group canceled the show at the last minute earlier this week, it's now reported that the real reason might be because the actor had passed out at the hotel. According to Hungarian news outlet Blikk, the 60-year-old missed the sound check ahead of the scheduled concert, but no one suspected anything at first, because it wasn't the first time he did that. A source said, "Everything was set, the stage was set, the backstage crew was ready for the party. It didn't even occur to me that there could be a problem, especially as the band members had done the sound set-up that had been scheduled for the afternoon. No one thought any more about the fact that Johnny Depp didn't take part, his microphone was set up by a staff member, but that's not unusual for such stars." "All we've heard is that Depp was over-excited, he couldn't even leave the hotel," the informant added. "We also heard that they called a doctor to see if there was anything more wrong with him than simply overdoing it as a rock star." The band eventually decided to postpone their show because of how serious the issue was, putting Johnny's health and safety first. The news came around six in the evening that there would be no concert. The hard rock band announced the cancellation via its social media page on Tuesday, July 18 while fans were already queuing outside the Papp Laszlo Budapest Sport Arena. "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Vampires will be canceling tonight's show in Budapest," the statement read. "All tickets (general and VIP, including meet & greet) will be refunded in full." "We love and appreciate all of the fans who traveled from near and far to see us rise, and we're truly sorry," they added. "Sincere apologies, The Hollywood Vampires." While details of the circumstances that led tot the cancellation were not disclosed, fans were worried if there's something serious happening to the member or the crew. "Cancelling the show while we're queuing is questionably weird. I sincerely hope everyone's alright," one fan reacted to the announcement. Another commented, "Please only let it be huge technical issues or whatever, no one from the Vampires or the team. I'm really really worried " On Thursday, the band once again canceled its scheduled gig Slovakia, this time blaming an "unsafe" venue. "Upon arrival today to the venue in Slovakia to begin set up for tonight's performance, it quickly became clear that the construction of the facility was incomplete, and therefore unsafe for both the band and the general public," they wrote in a statement shared on Instagram. "The band is very upset by this recent and unfortunate turn of events, and hope to return when schedules permit," the statement continued to read. "This cancellation is unrelated to the recent cancellation in Budapest, but we can assure you all bandmembers are safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing you in Poland, Germany and the US in the coming days. Sincere apologies, The Hollywood Vampires." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity One day after her estranged husband filed for divorce, the 'America's Got Talent' judge shares via social media photos of two massive colorful flower arrangements from her friends. Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Sofia Vergara has received thoughtful support from her loved ones. One day after her estranged husband Joe Manganiello filed for divorce, the "America's Got Talent" judge was showered with flower bouquets that were sent to her home. On late Thursday, July 20, the 46-year-old actress uploaded a number of photos showing off two massive colorful flower arrangements from her friends. In one Instagram Story, she displayed a white bowl full of orange and pink flowers. Over the snap, she mentioned OFIRA Jewels and Lorraine Schwartz. She also added a colorful heart sticker just above the tags. Another snap shared by the "Modern Family" star captured a white vase containing many blush and white roses. The bouquet was placed on top of a white and gray marble table. She tagged her pal and famous florist, Jeff Leatham, over the photo and let out a sparkling pink heart-shaped diamond sticker. Sofia Vergara shared photos of two flower arrangements from her friends via Instagram Story. Sofia's Stories were shared just one day after Joe officially filed for divorce in the Los Angeles County Superior Court. In the legal documents that were submitted on late Wednesday, July 19, Joe's lawyer Laura Wasser, per reported by TMZ, cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind their separation. The filing uncovered that the two had a prenup, and Sofia was not interested in contesting the prenup. As also seen in the documents, Joe urged the court to clearly state that he and Sofia will each keep the assets they have accumulated throughout their 7-year marriage, including jewelry and earnings. He additionally requested that each party pay the fees of their attorney. A few days before the legal docs were filed, reports came out that Sofia and Joe's separation was contributed from the differences in their lifestyle. In a report published on Tuesday, July 18, a source told The Sun, "I don't think Joe was ever really comfortable in a giant Los Angeles mansion or on the beaches of Saint Tropez. He saw that stuff for what it was and only let it into his life because it made Sofia happy." "No way is Joe staying in Beverly Hills now that he's out of this marriage, and I would not be shocked if he found some modest small town to settle down in," the source continued. "He misses the backyard barbecues and friend group he had in the early days of his career, and he tried to recreate that vibe during this marriage, without much success." You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The 'Django Unchained' actor, who was rushed to the hospital in April, also assures his online devotees that rumors about him being 'paralyzed' and 'blind' were not true. Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Jamie Foxx has shared the first video since his health scare. In the clip uploaded on Instagram, the "Django Unchained" actor was seen tearing up as he thanked those who have supported and prayed for him amid his hospitalization. "First of all I want to say thank you to everybody that's prayed, sent me messages. I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back," the 55-year-old kicked off the Friday, July 21 post. I went through something that I never thought I would go through." "I know a lot of people were waiting or wanting to hear updates but to be honest with you, I just didn't want you to see me like that, man," he added. "I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a joke, doing a movie, television show. I didn't want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was gonna make it through." Foxx went on to credit his daughter and sister for saving his life. "My sister Deidra Dixon, my daughter [Corrine Foxx] really saved my life. To them, to God, to a lot of great medical people, I'm able to leave you this video," he stated. "I cannot tell you how great it feels to have your family kick in in such a way, and y'all know they kept it airtight, they didn't let nothing out, they protected me. And that's what I hope that everyone could have in moments like these." The "Day Shift" star also shut down rumors regarding his medical condition. He explained, "By being quiet, sometimes things get out of hand. Some people said I was blind but as you can see my eyes are working just fine. Some said I was paralyzed, I am not but I did go to hell and back. My road to recovery had some potholes as well. But I am coming back, I am able to work, so I want to thank the people who let me work." With his cracked voice, Foxx said to the camera, "I love everybody and all the love that I got. I know they talk about people crying on videos and you can always take 2 but I am not, it is what it is. If you see me out from now and every once in a while I burst into tears it's because it's been tough, I was sick." Before concluding the clip, Foxx tried to light up the mood by quipping that the video wasn't shot by a clone. "Some people talk about how I am clone, check this out," he joked, pretending to take off a face-mask, before adding, "Just kidding!" In April, Foxx's daughter Corinne announced that her dad was suffering from a medical complication. However, little else was shared about his health troubles at the time. You can share this post! Music Aside from Bunny and The Weekend, the Houston rapper's friend and collaborators Pharrell Williams and SZA also make appearances in the three-and-a-half-minute visuals. Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Travis Scott (II) never disappoints when it comes to creating videos for his music. On Friday, July 21, the Houston emcee released a music video for "K-POP" ft. Bad Bunny and The Weeknd, which features a ton of mesmerizing scenes. In the clip, viewers can see Travis jamming in an empty stadium, hanging out with a group of riders and chilling during a yacht trip. As the clip transitions, it shows Bunny singing his verse while making his way out of a party. The Weeknd then shows up, delivering his lyrics in a unique mansion as Travis hypes him up in the background. Near the end of the MV, Travis is seen hanging out with SZA at a gas station before heading to a recording studio on the next day to meet up with Pharrell Williams. He wraps the video by eating spaghetti in an empty tribune. "I know 'bout this one time/ You felt like that winner/ That night was just so fire/ I need you back sooner/ You come back on this side/ When s**t get back cooler/ We run it back one time/ I'm grabbin' you uno," Travis and The Weeknd sing in the chorus. Bunny, meanwhile, sings his own lines in Spanish. "K-POP" arrived ahead of the release of Travis' highly-anticipated album, "Utopia". The emcee, whose real name is Jacques Bermon Webster II, is set to celebrate the album launch by performing at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt on July 28. Though the show has got pushback from Egypt's Musicians' Syndicate, its promoter Live Nation insisted that the plan is still going. The ex-boyfriend of Kylie Jenner also sent an open letter sent to authorities in the country, pleading that they won't cancel the event. You can share this post! Cover Images/POOL/CNP Celebrity The MAGA ringleader blasts Joe Biden for turning the United States into a 'third world hell-hole' and promises to 'liberate America' if he's elected in the upcoming election. Jul 22, 2023 AceShowbiz - Donald Trump has called the US a "third world hell-hole" run by "pervert criminals and thugs." The 77-year-old Republican is vying to be president again after being voted out of the White House in the 2020 election and he has claimed the American dream is "dead" under the leadership of Joe Biden and called on young conservatives to vote for him if they want to live in a "free country." "The election will decide whether your generation will inherit a fascist country or a free country. Millions of illegal aliens have stormed across our borders, it is an invasion, like a military invasion. Our rights and liberties are being torn to shreds. Your country is being turned into a third-world hellhole, run by censors, perverts criminals and thugs," he said at the Turning Point Action Conference in Florida. And the former "The Apprentice" star warned "sick, sinister and evil forces" are trying to "destroy" the US in ways that wouldn't have happened if he was still president. He claimed, "We are in big trouble, today the greatest threat is not for the outside the greatest threat. It is the sick, sinister and evil forces are trying to destroy our country from within." "If you have the right leadership China is not a problem, if you have the right leadership Russia would not be a problem. They would not have done what they did, believe me, they would never have done it. Your task, your calling, your historic mission is to liberate America from these communists, racists, Marxists, globalists and warmongers who want to plunder the future of our country." Trump pledged to "reclaim colleges" and "choke off the money" to universities he feels are leading a "Marxist assault" on "Western civilisation." He said, "After 50 years of leftist domination in the universities, I will take bold action to reclaim our colleges from the Communist leftanti-American radicals will no longer be given a free hand to dominate our institutions of higher learning. The days of subsidizing communist indoctrination are over." The controversial politician is under investigation for various offenses and previously pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges, after he was accused of illegally keeping hundreds of classified documents at his Florida estate. But Trump insisted he viewed his indictments as a "great badge of honour." He said, "Every time the radical left Democrats indict me, I consider it to be a great badge of honour and courage. I am doing it for you. I am being indicted for you. Better me than you and I believe the you is more than 200 million people." You can share this post! Instagram/Ross Halfin Music Dogstar are returning with a song called 'Everything Turns Around' ahead of their new studio installment 'Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees'. Jul 23, 2023 AceShowbiz - Keanu Reeves' band Dogstar have announced their first album for 23 years and released a new single. The grunge outfit haven't put out an album since 2000's "Happy Ending", but after reuniting last summer, the group have now returned to the scene with new tune "Everything Turns Around", ahead of their upcoming LP "Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees". "We are so excited to re-introduce Dogstar with our new single 'Everything Turns Around'. It feels like a fun summer song to us. It has an uplifting message and a positive vibe that hopefully makes your day a little bit lighter. It's one of our favourite songs to play live and can't wait to share it on our upcoming tour," they said. Dogstar - in which Hollywood actor Keanu plays bass guitar - will release "Somewhere Between the Power Lines and Palm Trees" on October 6, and they will head out on tour next month. The group will first play Hermosa Beach, California, on August 10, and will head to Japan in September. In May, Dogstar - who are also made up of Robert Mailhouse, Bret Domrose, and Gregg Miller - teased new music was on the way. They wrote on Instagram, "Thank you everyone for the kind comments. We are overjoyed to see such a response. Honestly, didn't expect this. It makes us want to play out even more." "We will be rolling out some new music this summer, followed by some gigs. As soon as it's all figured out we will let everyone know immediately. So much to do, but rest assured, we are on it and have assembled a fantastic team that are helping us. We are also going to make a music video to support our first tune." "That's all I can say now. Can't wait to share our new music with everyone. It's the most satisfying and meaningful batch of songs we've ever done. Thanks again for being so patient with us. We truly have the best, most loyal fans!" A new album release this summer marks 27 years since Dogstar dropped their debut record, "Our Little Visionary", in 1996. Dogstar had several bands open for them who went on to achieve huge success. "Buddy Holly" hitmakers Weezer's first-ever show was opening up for Dogstar, and US punk outfit Rancid have also opened up for the group in the past. You can share this post! Indias leading online fashion destination and house of brands AJIO has recently joined hands with Megalodon, India's first AI marketing communications company as their AI creative design partner. Megalodon will bring its cutting-edge AI-driven design capabilities to AJIO's brand strategy. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, Megalodon will assist AJIO in creating visually stunning and engaging content that resonates with their target audience. This collaboration will enable AJIO to deliver personalised and impactful experiences to its customers, fostering a deeper connection and driving brand loyalty. AJIO's decision to collaborate with Megalodon as their AI design partner signifies their commitment to leveraging the power of artificial intelligence to revolutionise the fashion industry. "We are thrilled to be chosen as AJIO's AI design partner," says Rashi Agarwal, Founder, Megalodon. "AJIO has established itself as a trendsetter in the fashion industry, and we are excited to collaborate with them on their journey towards AI-driven design excellence. Our expertise in AI creativity and marketing, combined with AJIO's vision and innovative spirit will enable us to create unique and captivating experiences that resonate with customers and elevate the brand to new heights," she added. "In today's fast-paced digital landscape, where customer expectations are evolving rapidly, brands must adopt innovative approaches to stay ahead. AJIO recognizes the immense potential of AI in reshaping the future of fashion and enhancing the customer experience," said Sahid SK, AI Head & Co Founder, Megalodon. Megalodon is currently at the forefront of the AI revolution in the marketing industry. With their in-depth understanding of consumer behaviour and data-driven insights, Megalodon will support AJIO in creating AI-powered campaigns that engage customers at every touchpoint. By employing advanced AI algorithms and machine learning techniques, Megalodon will help AJIO unlock new levels of creativity and deliver hyper-personalised experiences to their customers. A file image of a North Korean missile launch is shown during a news program being watched on a TV screen at Seoul Station, July 19. AP-Yonhap North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on Saturday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). South Korean and U.S intelligence authorities were analyzing the launches, which took place at about 4:00 a.m., to learn more about the type of missiles fired and other details, according to the JCS. "Our military has bolstered surveillance and vigilance while closely cooperating with the United States and maintaining a firm readiness posture," the JCS said, adding it is closely monitoring additional activities by the North. The launches came three days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. Castrol, Indias leading lubricant player, unveiled a new marketing campaign, #BadhteRahoAage, focusing on the opportunity of remarkable progress and success of truckers who prefer Castrol CRB TURBOMAX. The campaign, developed in collaboration with Ogilvy marks a significant milestone for Castrol in reinforcing its commitment to the progress and success of truckers. Commercial vehicles and truck drivers serve as the backbone of the Indian transportation and logistics industry. Truck drivers tirelessly navigate highways, delivering essential products that power various sectors, thereby connecting businesses, industries, and communities. Castrol's #BadhteRahoAage campaign recognises the importance of truckers and aims to empower them with superior engine protection, enabling them to progress and drive the economy forward. Speaking about the campaign, Jaya Jamrani, Vice President Marketing, Castrol India Limited, said, "Our new campaign #BadhteRahoAage is a special ode to the unwavering support of truckers in helping move commerce. This is one of the many ways in which Castrols reignited vision of accelerating progress comes to life. Our aim is to fortify our bond with this extraordinary community, reaffirming our unwavering commitment as their trusted allies in the pursuit of progress." The first leg of the campaign includes an engaging TVC featuring two contrasting characters: Sukhi, a young and progressive trucker who consistently chooses Castrol CRB TURBOMAX, and Dukhi, who regularly experiences engine failures and repairs due to inappropriate engine oil choices. Through this quirky narrative, the TVC demonstrates vividly how CRB TURBOMAX engine oil empowers truckers to forge ahead in their businesses while emphasising the critical importance of selecting the right engine oil. Dushyant Kumar, Sr Vice President, Ogilvy Mumbai, said, "#BadhteRahoAage campaign weaves a compelling narrative of the role of engine oil in driving truckers progress. Its simplicity and relatable storytelling will deeply resonate with truckers, complemented by a memorable jingle that amplifies its impact. The campaign aims to inspire truckers to keep moving forward." In addition to the TVC, the campaign will feature an extensive on-ground activation component specifically tailored to support truckers in their pursuit of progress. Castrol also plans to establish strategic collaborations with entities that will provide essential resources to further enhance the growth and success of truckers and driving the importance of business, finance, health, and the role of technology for the trucker community. This nationwide campaign will target truck owners and truck drivers across India and will be amplified through television, digital platforms, on-ground activations, and impactful out-of-home advertising. Castrol CRB TURBOMAX features advanced DuraShieldTM Technology, which is meticulously crafted to provide 3X Protection to the engine by addressing the primary factors of Heat, Deposits and Wear which contribute to engine damage. This exceptional formulation not only safeguards against the accumulation of harmful soot particles but also shields critical surfaces from wear and tear. By forming a durable protective layer on moving metal surfaces, the Castrol CRB TURBOMAX engine oil resolutely withstands challenging conditions, ensuring long-lasting performance and reliability. Crunchyroll, the worlds ultimate home for anime, announced more anime content and more dubs at a fan-filled premiere event in Mumbai this evening. The host of announcements signaled further investment in the India market and ambitions to super-serve anime fans in all parts of the country. Rahul Purini, President of Crunchyroll, travelled to Mumbai to celebrate the screening of the Hindi Dub (S1 - E1 and E2) of JUJUTSU KAISEN where he shared some news with a room full of passionate fans. The event was also attended by super anime fans, Tiger Shroff and Rashmika Mandanna, who shared their love for anime with fellow fans at the event. A roundup of the evenings breaking news during Purinis remarks: Expansion of Content Library: Crunchyroll announced that it would add 40 new series and 200 hours of content by the end of 2023, many of which will be available in Hindi. These series would join fan-favorites Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Naruto Shippuden, and My Hero Academia already on the platform. Hindi Dub for Chainsaw Man: Crunchyroll is making Hindi dubs of the popular Chainsaw Man available on July 29. Chainsaw Man is the hit dark fantasy anime series based on the widely popular and award-winning manga of the same name written and illustrated by Tatsuki Fujimoto (Fire Punch; Look Back; Goodbye, Eri) and serialized in Shueishas Weekly Shonen Jump. The Hindi dub cast list can be found below. JUJUTSU KAISEN will premiere season 1 dubbed in both Hindi and Tamil beginning July 28, with three episodes airing every week. Dubbed episodes of JUJUTSU KAISEN season 2 will begin airing in the fall, but fans can catch new episodes subtitled in English streaming now on Crunchyroll. Telugu and Tamil Dubs: Finally, Crunchyroll will be introducing dubs in Tamil and Telugu by the end of the year, responding to the diverse linguistic preferences of Indian anime fans Over the last year, Crunchyroll has reaffirmed its commitment to India, by reducing subscription fees and making payments available in local currency, adding more library hours and series, making Hindi dubs available (in India and worldwide), attending India Comic Cons and more. Rahul Purini, President, Crunchyroll, India is a special place for Crunchyroll . It has the second largest anime fandom on the planet and will drive 60% of the global growth in anime interest in the next few years.We see first hand how much love there is for anime here, which is why we have been expanding our content catalog. We now have over 500 titles, 3800 hours of content and 7500 episodes making us the largest anime catalog in India. Kuwait has declared a ban on cryptocurrency for payments or investments, aimed at thwarting money laundering activities. The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of the country has introduced a set of regulations that impose an "absolute ban" on the usage of digital currencies in the context of making payments. These regulations go as far as declaring all virtual assets as illegal. Furthermore, the CMA has also disallowed digital asset mining and disavowed crypto as a decentralized form of currency. Businesses are prohibited from offering any services related to cryptocurrencies. However, it is crucial to note that this prohibition does not apply to securities regulated by the Central Bank of Kuwait or other securities and financial instruments overseen by the Capital Markets Authority, as explicitly stated in the circular. The Central Bank of Kuwait, together with the Capital Markets Authority, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Insurance Regulatory Unit, have issued circulars pertaining to the supervision of virtual assets used as a means of payment or recognized as decentralized currency in Kuwait. They have emphasized on abstaining from engaging in transactions that involve virtual currency as a payment method within the boundaries of this prohibition, as reported by Al-Jarida daily. These circulars are aligned with the recommendations set forth by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism, aiming to enforce the implementation of Recommendation No 15 of the international requirements issued by FATF. As a consequence, dealing with virtual assets as an investment tool is strictly prohibited. Moreover, it is of utmost importance to refrain from providing any services related to virtual assets to customers, issuing licenses to individuals or entities for offering virtual asset services as a business, either for personal gain or on behalf of others. Notably, no such licenses have been granted previously. The circulars also extend the ban to encompass all virtual currency mining activities. The CMA stresses that the ban aligns with the guidelines put forth by the Financial Action Task Force on crypto assets and is a direct result of the study conducted by the National Committee for Combating Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing. Director Christopher Nolan is known for his charismatic filmmaking and unique storytelling. Creating masterpieces time and yet again, Nolan has proved himself to be one of the best storytellers in the world. Fans are excited that the phenomenal director is coming back with another movie after 3 years. Blowing the viewers' minds and exploring his talent in the genre of feature biopic, Christopher is back with a story about the creation of the first atomic bomb by Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer. Playing the lead role in a Nolan movie is a dream for many talented artists, one such actor among them is Cillian Murphy, who is renowned for getting into the skin of the character and blowing peoples mind with his skills. Murphy opens up about the first call he got from the director to know that he will play the role of Oppenheimer and shares his feeling of excitement and gratitude. Cillian Murphy says, Phone call from Christopher Nolan for Oppenheimer was unforgettable. Its 20 years since I first met Chris, but even at that point, I was a fan, because I had seen Memento and Insomnia, says Murphy, whose first encounter with Nolan was auditioning for Bruce Wayne in Batman Begins, a part which ultimately went to Christian Bale. He further added, To get to meet Chris for that moviewhich, personally, I always thought was an absurd idea; me playing Batman! was huge for me. But that meeting led to the character of Scarecrow, and an extraordinary working experience. My feeling ever since has been, if Christopher Nolan asks you to do something, no matter what the size of the part, you just turn up. I was not expecting him to call and ask me to play Oppenheimer. But he did. When I got off the phone, I just sat there rather stunned. I felt very lucky. And then we got to work. Produced by Universal Pictures (distributed by Warner Bros. Discovery), Oppenheimer will release on July 21 across theatres in India and advance booking across IMAX theatres in India have already successfully opened. Viacom18 and Pernod Ricard India in partnership with Wavemaker India, are delighted to announce yet another extraordinary collaboration for their groundbreaking music intellectual property, "Royal Stag Packaged Drinking Water Boombox." This innovative venture signifies the fusion of two distinct genres, Bollywood melodies and Hip Hop, resulting in a one-of-a-kind musical experience that is poised to captivate audiences nationwide. The "Royal Stag Boombox Originals" initiative progresses to its next phase with the highly anticipated release of four original music videos featuring renowned artists such as Jasleen Royal, Dino James, Nikhita Gandhi, Bali, Neeti Mohan, EPR, Amit Trivedi, and SlowCheeta, promising an unparalleled blend of soulful melodies and vibrant rap. Commenting on the association, Vivek Mohan Sharma, Head Branded Content, Viacom18, said, We are thrilled to partner with Pernod Ricard India for Royal Stag Packaged Drinking Water Boombox and the talented artists in this groundbreaking launch of a one-of-its-kind music IP. At Viacom18, we believe in the power of engaging and impactful associations that add tremendous value to our brand partners. This collaboration allows us to leverage our deep understanding of music, extensive network and platforms, ensuring widespread reach and engagement for this unique experience. Together, we aim to create a new benchmark in the music industry and provide audiences with a unique and unforgettable musical journey. Commenting on the same, Mansi Datta, Chief Client Officer & Office Head North & East, Wavemaker India.said, We are thrilled to have activated Boombox, one-of-a-kind musical IP for our client Pernod Ricard. We fused Hip Hop & Melody to make the youth of India groove and vibe. In this endeavour we joined hands with Viacom and got the biggest names of Music to create originals that truly connect with Generation Large for the brand. I believe this collaboration marks the beginning of a new era to celebrate Music in a whole different light and create newer avenues for budding talents. Music has always played a crucial role in engaging consumers for the brand, and Viacom18 is committed to delivering profoundly impactful experiences. As a platform, Viacom18 fosters innovation rather than conforming to trends, encouraging aspiring talents to make a lasting impression.Viacom18, a trailblazer in the music industry, is poised to deliver an exceptional and indelible musical experience for the listeners set in motion by Royal Stag. This collaboration signifies a shared vision of pushing creative boundaries and offering audiences a unique and immersive musical experience in a phygital format.Viacom18 in partnership with Pernod Ricard, aims to reshape themusic landscape and provide a dynamic platform for artists to showcase their exceptional talents with the introduction of the Royal Stag Packaged Drinking Waters Boombox. At the forefront of this extraordinary endeavour is a unique collaboration between Jasleen Royal, acclaimed for her soulful singing, and Dino James, a spunky rapper. Their combined talent and creativity in the music video titled Pehle Jaisi Baat Nahi is set to deliver an unparalleled musical experience that will resonate with fans of both genres.This song delves into the challenges faced by a young couple in their relationship, their longing for a lost love, and the accompanying sense of nostalgia. As the first original music track emerges from this exciting collaboration, fans can look forward to experiencing many more magical fusion of Bollywood melodies and dynamic rap. Hoodie - The years biggest party anthem will feature the ecstatic rapper Bali &party anthem queen Nikhita Gandhi. The pair will be seen swaying to the quirky lyrics of the new-age depiction of 'boy meets girl' in the energetic dance number. "Imtihaan" is a beautifully crafted song that delves into the depths of an artist's struggle with creative stagnation, vividly depicted through the poignant tale of separated lovers. EPR, the talented underground hustler, effortlessly weaves his poetic rap and rhythmic prowess, seeking to break free from the chains of artistic blockage. Adding an enchanting touch of nostalgia, Neeti Mohan's soulful vocals intertwine with the melodies, reminiscing their old love and evoking a sense of wistful longing. Amit Trivedi continues to break new ground by blending Desi melodies and Hip-Hop with the upcoming title Mohabbat featuring SlowCheeta the old school rapper.Amit Trivedi plays the love guru by giving the track a Desi melodywhile persuadingSlowCheeta, a hesitant newcomer to love freely and express without fear with a hint of Hip-Hop element. The music videos will be exclusively available for streaming on MTVs digital streaming platform KaanPhodMusic and Royal Stag Live It Large YouTube Channel. Listeners can also discover these tracks on popular audio platforms such as JioSaavn, Spotify, Apple Music, Hungama Music, Wynk Music, Resso, and Amazon Music. From data analytics to personalisation: How AI is powering next phase of martech growth Marketing is undergoing its next level of changes. The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence is giving a new direction to the martech ecosystem. This has led to greater brand awareness and brand recall, ensuring that the brands are an active part of the lives of the consumers. Will Threads maintain its initial momentum? Experts weigh in on long-term success Metas latest offering, Threads, has already garnered more negative attention than a new kid on the social media block would ideally expect to face. While 30 million users signed up for the Threads app on its first day, the platform has been mired in controversy with Twitter Havas India brings Havas People to India Havas India has announced the launch of the global talent communications agency, Havas People, in the country. With this move, the network further strengthens its growing portfolio of specialised expertise. Rohit Shetty talks stunts, fear, and passion in 'Khatron Ke Khiladi'!" Get ready for an adrenaline-packed season of the hit reality show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' as the talented director Rohit Shetty returns with a bigger and bolder canvas! In an exclusive chat, Shetty reveals what's in store for the audience this year. Exclusive: World PR Day - With AI and emerging tech, PR is at a transformative stage 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. We expect our revenue to exceed $1 bn in India: Mona Chariff, NTT DATA Services NTT DATA Services is a leading global business and IT services provider, offering a comprehensive portfolio of services and solutions, with a strong focus on employee engagement, employer branding, and generating demand. Fly-by-night operators issuing viewership data under Govt scanner The government of India is set to take action against the unauthorised agencies and research bodies that provide TV measurement data or ratings, including viewership numbers for internet-connected TVs. Sparsh Ganguli moves on from GroupM after over a decade Seasoned advertising professional Sparsh Ganguli has decided to move on from GroupM. Ganguli joined the company in July 2010 in ESP of GroupM and later on moved to another division as the Business Head for Matrix Publicities & Media India where he was in charge of developing and monetizing of few business verticals. Trai recommends statutory regulatory authority to oversee AI The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) emphasizes the necessity to regulate specific AI use cases, which could directly impact human lives, within a well-structured risk-based framework. Netflix ban on password sharing in India comes into effect Following a global crackdown announced in May this year, Netflix today (July 20, 2023) announced that it has ceased password sharing in India as well as other countries such as Indonesia, Kenya, Croatia, among others. Google play store billing row: HC reprieve for Disney+Hotstar According to Reuters, the HC granted Disney+Hotstar an interim injunction and instructed the platform to pay a reduced 4% commission to Google for utilizing its proprietary in-app payments system. How Barista is brewing the perfect concoction of innovation, experiences and expansion In an interaction with Adgully, Rajat Agrawal, CEO, Barista Coffee Company, speaks about offering a consistent coffee experience to its customers, introducing diner vertical to the business, growing the franchise business, expansion in the Sri Lanka market, and more. Of ChatGPTs and Creator Economy Arguably, large language model generative AI or artificial intelligence tools such as ChatGPT, Bing and many more are the new elephants in the room for the creator economy. How Kofluence is democratising content creation & influencer marketing landscape In conversation with Adgully, Ritesh Ujjwal, CEO & Co-Founder, Kofluence, talks about his entrepreneurial journey, automating every aspect of influencer campaigns, prioritising empathy, adaptability, and continuous learning, and much more. Luxury continues to become democratic in the Indian economy: Aakash Anand In conversation with Adgully, Aakash Anand, Founder & CEO, BELLAVITA, speaks about the less gives more concept dominating the industry this year, the resurgence of offline experiences, personalisation at scale, reducing inefficiencies across the value chain, and more. Women entrepreneurs are leading the way in most un-gendered businesses: Arthi Raghuram In conversation with Adgully, Arthi Raghuram, Founder, Deyga Organics, speaks about the rise of women entrepreneurs and how they are impacting businesses, the importance of adaptability and resilience, breaking down barriers and biases that hinder womens progress, and more. Why CenturyPly roped in Manish Malhotra to give a haute couture touch to its laminates In conversation with Adgully, Keshav Bhajanka, Executive Director of CenturyPly, said: Our corporate motto is The Best Always, that is the philosophy that we always had. This is about giving our customers something that has never been seen before in history, it's about giving our customers, a chance to express themselves in a way that they did not think was possible. IT Rules, 2021 have helped in swifter redressal of user grievances: The Dialogue-IAMAI The Dialogue and Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) have launched a joint report on IT Rules, 2021: A Regulatory Impact Assessment Study with Recommendations to Boost the Creative Economy. The study highlights that the grievance redressal process envisaged under the IT Rules has made publishers more accountable, and there is a need to raise greater awareness regarding this self-regulatory mechanism to ensure its optimum use by the people. How PR can build thought leadership & stakeholder engagement programs for real estate In conversation with Adgully, Akshita Agrawal, Senior Communications Manager, Magicbricks, speaks at length about how the real estate PR industry has evolved and the emerging trends, how PR is helping the real estate industry reach newer heights, and more. Were actively investing in performance & digital marketing techniques: Amit Mathur 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. Even the least internet savvy among us have probably heard about the latest debate going around: Barbie vs. Oppenheimer. Both movies, affectionally meshed together as Barbenheimer, first prompted lots of online jokes when it was announced that the insanely pink colored movie directed by Greta Gerwig and the devoid of pink movie directed by Christopher Nolan would release in theatres on the same day. Then, as many internet things do, it turned into wall to wall coverage, with many people stating their intention to book tickets to both. But which movie are Alabamians planning to see first or at all? Digital Third Coast, a website dedicated to search marketing, analyzed 108 Google search terms relating to both the Barbie and Oppenheimer movies. Then, they looked at the average state search volume per capita over the past 3 months. The movie Alabamians, along with a sizeable part of the South, are eager to see is the delightfully pink and glittery, Barbie. However, Barbie barely won the movie battle, according to the websites study. Twenty seven states were excited to watch Barbie, compared to 23 excited to see Oppenheimer. Tennessee was the only Southern state that was more interested in seeing Oppenheimer instead of Barbie. For the full list of states, click here. RELATED All 14 SEC coaches as Ken dolls, in honor of Barbie and SEC Media Days Netflix movie starring Jamie Foxx directed by emerging Alabama-born filmmaker DEAR ABBY: When I prepare for family to visit, I know Ill have to spend time with one relative who will repeat the same stories/facts/opinions ad nauseam. In the past, I have tried saying, Oh yes, I remember you telling me that, but he just continues. He acknowledges me when I say that Ive heard this one before, and then he keeps right on with the story. He does this with just about everyone, not only with me. Must I participate in these conversations? It seems odd pretending I havent heard the story, and telling him Ive heard it doesnt stop him. Hes been the same for the 30 years Ive known him, so I dont think there are any cognitive issues. Im not sure why he does this, or how important that is. My gut is telling me that hes awkward socially, inflexible and not interested in what others have to say. Any advice? -- TALK, TALK, TALK IN MICHIGAN DEAR TALK, TALK, TALK: When your egotistical relative starts one of his talking jags, wait for him to take a breath, remind him you have heard the story many times and leave the room. If its something you havent heard before, be grateful. DEAR ABBY: I recently met this guy at a private event. We got to talking, and he gave me his social media information. We have been messaging each other ever since. He has been acting increasingly obsessed, and its making me uncomfortable. He acts like weve known each other for years. I dont know how to tell him I dont want to talk to him anymore. What are your thoughts? -- RESERVED GUY IN MASSACHUSETTS DEAR RESERVED GUY: My thought is that because his messages are making you uncomfortable, you should respond to them slowly, briefly and then not at all. It would be kinder than ghosting him. DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with Blake for almost 10 years. Before we met, I was with Kaden, the father of my kids. It was a loveless relationship. Kaden was mean and cold and often had angry outbursts. My relationship with Blake started off as everything I ever wanted. He made me feel loved and appreciated. Ten years later, he, too, is cold. He no longer touches me (he watches porn instead) and makes no effort to show me love or appreciation. Hes a good provider financially, but he thinks he doesnt have to do anything more than that. I feel lost and hurt. I feel like Blake deceived me in the beginning, and now that he thinks Im not going anywhere, he doesnt have to try. My self-esteem has suffered greatly. I have suggested counseling, but he refuses. Any advice will be appreciated. -- UNLOVED IN PENNSYLVANIA DEAR UNLOVED: Because Blake refuses counseling doesnt mean that YOU couldnt benefit from it. If you go, your therapist can help you to understand why you have tolerated the treatment you have been receiving for 10 years and help you rebuild your sagging self-esteem. Counseling is the surest way to understand and break the pattern of your partners behavior, learn what your strengths are and turn your unhappy life around. You deserve to be happy, so start working on it now. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, not pictured, at the Department of State in Washington, D.C., July 20. AFP-Yonhap North Korea's unprecedented missile provocations have done little but solidify the United States' cooperation with South Korea and Japan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday, insisting that the U.S. alliances have only grown stronger over the years. The top U.S. diplomat also called on China to help bring North Korea back to talks, insisting that failure to do so will not benefit anyone, including China. "We have channels of communication. We have used them, and we made clear going back to early in this administration that we were prepared to have negotiations with North Korea on the nuclear program with no preconditions," Blinken said while speaking at an annual security forum hosted by the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit organization based in Washington. "We sent that message several times. Here is the response we got: one missile launch after another," he added. The Republican majority in the Alabama Legislature approved a new Congressional district map on Friday, the deadline set by a federal court that ruled the old map likely violated the Voting Rights Act. But Democratic lawmakers, who opposed the plan, said Fridays vote will not be the last word. Were going to be leaning and depending on the courts to fix this situation just like theyve done with so many other situations in the past, Rep. Napoleon Bracy, D-Mobile, said. Historically Alabama has not been kind to the Black population. From our voting rights, theres so many things that weve had to do to fight for an opportunity to have a seat at the table. And theyre continuing to take that seat away from us. So we stand today in support of moving forward, asking the courts to help us, because the Republican Legislature in the state of Alabama could not do the right thing and follow the mandate that was given to them. Republicans hold three-fourths of the seats in the State House and approved the map overwhelmingly, 24-6 in the Senate and 75-28 in the House on Friday afternoon. Gov. Kay Ivey signed the legislation into law. The three-judge federal court has tentatively scheduled a hearing to start Aug. 14 to hear challenges to the plan. Alabama's 2021 congressional map, left, and the new map passed by the Legislature on July 21, 2023. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) We have failed the people that sent us down here do their business, Rep. A.J. McCampbell, D-Livingston, said. Unfortunately, the federal courts have had to stand and make Alabama do the right thing. I called on my fellow colleagues to be fair about this process. But they failed to do it. If nothing else, this vote is a defiant vote. Its one that dehumanizes a people. It dehumanizes a people that have struggled just to have the opportunity to say that they really exist in the state of Alabama as Americans. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a three-judge district court ruling that Alabamas current map likely violates the Voting Rights Act by diluting the Black vote. Only one of the states seven Congressional districts has a majority Black population, even though one-fourth of Alabama residents are Black. The three-judge district court, including two President Trump appointees, noted that the Voting Rights Act does not guarantee Black citizens representation in proportion to their share of the population. But the court also said there were other factors to consider, including a finding that the Black population in Alabama was large enough and geographically compact enough for a reasonably configured second majority Black district. The fact that voting is racially polarized in Alabama also contributed to the finding that the map likely violated Section 2 the Voting Rights Act. The court said that to fix the violation, Alabama needed a second majority Black district or something quite close to it, a district where Black voters would have an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. The map approved by the conference committee Friday would leave District 7 as the lone majority Black district, barely, at 51% in Black voting age population, down from 56% on the current map. It would increase the Black voting age population in District 2, which covers southeast Alabama, from 30% to 40%. A new congressional map approved Friday by the Alabama Legislature. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June that Alabama's old map likely violates the Voting Rights Act. (Mike Cason/mcason@al.com) House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said after the map passed Friday that he believes it makes enough changes to survive a court challenge. If you think about where we were, the Supreme Court ruling was 5-4, Ledbetter said. So theres just one judge that needed to see something different. And I think what weve done with the compromise today, theres a good shot. Some Democratic lawmakers said they thought the real intent of the Republicans map was to generate another court case that could lead to a ruling that weakens the Voting Rights Act. Ledbetter said a return to the Supreme Court was not his goal. Its not my strategy, Ledbetter said. My strategy is for the lower court to approve what weve done. And I think we showed significant movement in what we had. Asked how the 40% Black voting age population in District 2 would comply with the courts guidance that a remedy for the Voting Rights Act violation was a second majority Black district or something quite close to it, Ledbetter said he was not sure that was the message from the courts ruling. It talked about an opportunity district is what it talked about, Ledbetter said. And I think it certainly does that. The National Redistricting Foundation, an affiliate of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, released a statement by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder denouncing the new Alabama map. This is a continuation of Alabamas fraught history with racial inequity, a history filled with Black Alabamians struggle for equal rights, Holder said. It is one where, at every turn, the federal courts have had to intervene on behalf of Black Alabamians in order to achieve the fair representation and equality they deserve as citizens of this nation. What is happening in Alabama underscores the absolute necessity of enforcing the legal protections in the Voting Rights Act. But Gov. Ivey took the opposite view, praising the Legislature for completing the task of redrawing its map. Following the U.S. Supreme Court order, I called the Alabama Legislature into a special session to readdress our congressional map, Ivey said. The Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline. Dauphin Island researchers are calling on Gulf Coast beachgoers to keep an eye out for the coasts most charismatic seasonal visitors, West Indian manatees. Also known as sea cows, the manatees are a threatened species that Dauphin Island Sea Lab works to track and protect. The labs Manatee Sighting Network has received more than 150 reports of manatee sightings from Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle this year. The manatees are slow-moving, gentle and curious, according to the sea lab. We really depend on the public to report every sighting, any time, as soon as possible, said Ruth H. Carmichael, a senior marine scientist at the sea lab. Much of what we know about our local manatee population comes from sighting information shared with us from coastal residents and visitors to our area. Each year in early April, manatees migrate to the Gulf Coast in pursuit of warmer waters, according to sea lab scientists. When the water starts cooling again around October, they travel to central Florida. Boaters are encouraged to cut their motors if they see a manatee. Dauphin Island researchers recommend wearing polarized sunglasses and having a designated manatee spotter onboard to help keep manatees safe. Boat strikes are the primary cause of mortality among adult manatees, according to sea lab researchers. Because of their threatened status, its illegal to harass manatees. Harassment includes any activity that alters the marine animals natural behavior, according to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab. The sea lab urges boaters to report any accidents involving manatees. If you hit a manatee while boating please report it and provide as much information as possible; you may remain anonymous, the sea lab website states. Researchers tag some manatees with floating sonar and GPS devices to learn more about their migration patterns and behaviors. The sea lab is currently tracking two manatees Clog and Lynnspin that were tagged last August in Alabama. Tagged manatee update! Our team has been busy these past few weeks checking in on our tagged manatees as they have been... Posted by Mobile Manatees Sighting Network on Wednesday, July 12, 2023 Sightings of tagged manatees help us learn more about behavior and group sizes in addition to movement and habitat use, said Elizabeth Hieb, manager of the sea labs manatee sighting network. Reporting sightings can be especially important if tags malfunction and we need help relocating tagged manatees. Manatee sightings can be reported to the sea labs manatee research team 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone (1-866-493-5803), email (manatee@disl.edu) or online sighting form (manatee.disl.edu). Megan Dunn, who has struggled with addiction since her teens, points to the moment her life went deeply downhill. After dropping out of high school, she gave birth at age 19 to a son she named Preston. Six weeks later, Dunn said, he died of sudden infant death syndrome. From then on, I went into this, like, PTSD, depression, said Dunn, now 28. Shortly after the babys death, Dunn said, she started using pain pills again. Eventually, she said, she was arrested on charges related to her illicit drug use, such as trespassing. She said she has had more than 30 stays in Walker Countys jail, a brick building in downtown Jasper. And each time, Dunn said, she was forced into drug withdrawal in her cell without medical care. I was literally praying to God to end me, Dunn said about the pain and despair she felt. People with drug addictions fill U.S. jails and are often left to endure withdrawal in concrete cells rather than in medical facilities. Thats especially true in Alabama, which has some of the toughest drug laws in the country. More than 5,000 people were arrested in Alabama on drug charges in 2021, and more than 90% of those were for possessing drugs rather than selling them, according to state data. Dunn survived her stay in a holding cell in Walker Countys jail thats known, she said, as the drunk tank, a concrete room that lacks water, a bed, or a toilet. Others have not. In January, Anthony Mitchell, 33, allegedly froze to death after spending 14 days in the tank, according to a federal lawsuit his family filed in February against Sheriff Nick Smith, his deputies, and other jail employees. Anthony Mitchell, who would later die in the custody of the Walker County Sheriffs Office, is shown in a photo provided by his family. (Margaret Mitchell via KFF News) Mitchell had spiraled into worsening drug addiction, the lawsuit said, and his cousin called 911 to send an ambulance to his home because Mitchell appeared to be having a mental breakdown. Instead, sheriffs deputies arrived and then a SWAT team, the lawsuit said. On Facebook, the sheriffs office posted that Mitchell brandished a handgun and, from the scene, a deputy published a photo of his arrest, the suit said. In jail, Mitchell was denied access to medical treatment, the suit said, citing video footage from the jail, and he died in custody. His death has sparked a debate in Walker County about the treatment by law enforcement of people with addiction and mental illness. Crime and Punishment: People Are Scared to Say I Need Help Walker County, nestled in northwestern Alabamas Appalachian foothills and dotted with coal mines, has one of the nations highest nonfatal overdose rates. The county was among the communities that pharmaceutical companies flooded with millions of pain pills in the 2000s. Addiction rates soared. Over time, people moved on to illicit drugs. Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith, first elected in 2018, campaigned to keep his job in last years election, in which he was unopposed, by saying hed confronted the drug epidemic head on by taking criminals off the streets and putting them in jail where they belong. Walker County Sheriff Nick Smith shown in a 2019 AL.com file photo. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com).Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com He also touted his drug arrests in a paid political announcement published in 2021 in the Daily Mountain Eagle, a newspaper in Jasper. He has deployed resources to boost the number of narcotics officers from two to five, and his staff has made about 2,500 drug arrests to date, Smith told KFF Health News. Smith also said that his office helps people with addiction. It gives people a list of treatment resources when theyre released, he said, and has doubled medical supervision in the jail from eight to 16 hours a day. Drug possession and distribution, Smith said, are crimes hes tasked with enforcing. We are going to do our job, he said. With so many people addicted to illegal drugs in Walker County, the power of the sheriffs office and threat of arrest loom large. People are scared to say I need help, said Kayse Brown, who added that she faced down her own addiction and then became a certified peer support specialist to help others. Kayse Brown is a certified peer support specialist in Jasper, Alabama. People are scared to say I need help, says Brown, who faced down her own addiction then decided to help others. (Renuka Rayasam/KFF Health News)(Renuka Rayasam/KFF Health News) According to the lawsuit, a sheriffs deputy allegedly told Mitchells cousin words to the effect of: Were going to detox him and then well see how much of his brain is left. No one checked his vitals or gave him the medication he needed, the lawsuit said. Within days, Mitchell was without a mat or blanket and had to lie naked on the bare concrete floor, the suit said. When Mitchell arrived at Walker Baptist Medical Center two weeks after his arrest, his internal body temperature was 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the lawsuit said. Thats more than 20 degrees below what is considered dangerously low, according to the Mayo Clinic. In response to the lawsuit, Smith and other defendants said that Mitchell was a drug addict who was arrested in a psychotic and delusional state. Court records show they dont dispute what doctors reported about Mitchells condition in the medical records. But they deny most of the lawsuits other claims, including any liability for Mitchells death. They asked that the lawsuit be halted while the FBI and the state of Alabama consider filing criminal charges in the case, according to court records. A judge denied the request in June. After Mitchells death, community activists called for Smiths resignation, circulating a petition that has more than 4,000 signatures. Ryan Cagle, a pastor who started the petition, said the sheriffs office doesnt see addiction as a chronic condition. Instead, Cagle said, its officials shame people who use drugs by posting their mug shots and arrest details on Facebook. The people who are elected, the people who have the power, they do not see people suffering under substance abuse as human or worthy of dignity, said Cagle, who runs a food pantry. Cagles brother is married to Brown. His father dealt with addiction, and earlier this year he lost a 20-year-old cousin to an overdose. Ryan Cagle is a pastor who runs a food pantry in Parrish, Alabama. Cagle started a petition calling for Walker Countys sheriff, Nick Smith, to resign after a man in a Walker County jail holding cell died while experiencing drug withdrawal. (Renuka Rayasam/KFF Health News) Smith wouldnt comment on the Mitchell case because of the pending lawsuit and said that Dunns experiences happened before he took office. But, he said, the burden of mental health is put on every sheriff in Alabama. The shortage of mental health treatment and lack of early intervention means people who need help land in jail instead. In one case, he said, a person with mental health disorders faced an 18-month waiting list for space to open at the secure medical facility in Tuscaloosa. Systemic Change Is Not Easy Walker Countys challenges are indicative of those faced across the country. People with addictions often end up incarcerated, and Stephen Taylor, a Birmingham-based doctor and president-elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, points to a failure of the public health system to create a sustainable and robust addiction care infrastructure. We know what to do to treat addiction, Taylor said in written testimony to a Senate subcommittee in May. But systemic change and disruption of the status quo is exceptionally difficult, he acknowledged. Sources inside the system say that more than half of the people placed on the Alabama Department of Mental Healths waiting list for residential substance abuse treatment either die, drop off the list, or end up incarcerated, according to a 2020 report from the Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice, an advocacy group that says the states prison system is broken. In Walker County, at least 2,800 people with a substance use disorder are not receiving treatment and existing treatment is limited, according to a September 2019 assessment conducted through a federally funded planning grant that helps rural communities respond to opioid overdoses. Though treatment options are growing in the area, there are not enough to meet demand, some local recovery experts said. For example, the number of peer support specialists those in recovery who are state-certified to help people before, during, and after treatment increased to nine in 2022 from one in 2018, according to the Healing Network of Walker County, a group that organizes mental health and substance use-related resources in the county. A handful of providers offer medication-assisted treatment, including buprenorphine, which provides relief from severe symptoms of opioid withdrawal and, over time, reduces opioid cravings. A program now exists to help pregnant and parenting women experiencing addiction. The need for more treatment services is especially acute in Alabama, one of 10 states that have not expanded Medicaid, which has provided insurance coverage to people with substance use disorders in other states. We operate the whole addiction system in a crisis mode, as opposed to looking at it over the long term, said Regina LaBelle, director of the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at Georgetown University. Law enforcement officials with no health care training exercise almost total authority over the lives of inmates with addiction, and they are more likely to view substance abuse as a crime to be punished than a health crisis to be treated, say academic researchers, reform advocates, and formerly incarcerated people. Right now, our system is still so focused on punishing people, said Leah Nelson, research director at Alabama Appleseed. Dunn said she felt continually harassed by law enforcement officials because she was known to be a drug user. Because she once missed the jails 4:30 a.m. breakfast call, she said, she was put in the same drunk tank where Mitchell spent his final days. Megan Dunn visits Jasper Mall in Alabama. Dunn has been arrested on charges related to illicit drug use. While in Walker Countys jail, she says, she was once placed in a holding cell known as the drunk tank, a concrete room that lacks water, a bed, or a toilet. (Renuka Rayasam/KFF Health News) Smith said that hes exploring the idea of treating people with addiction in Walker Countys jail with medications, but that the final decision rests with the county commission. Even though some people in county leadership disagree with the idea of treating people at the jail, were at the point where all options are on the table, he said. That is huge for Walker County, said Nicole Walden, an associate commissioner at the Alabama Department of Mental Health. She has had initial conversations with the Walker County Sheriffs Office about the idea. The stigma around substance use, in the South, it is a lot worse. Alabama is very much a law-and-order state. Fewer than a fifth of U.S. jails, and just 13% in the South, start people on medications to treat opioid use withdrawal, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report published in April. Only one Alabama jail currently offers medication-assisted treatment, Walden said. Dunn checked into residential treatment outside the county about six times. Each time she relapsed. Eventually, after missing court dates and once trying to escape from jail, Dunn ended up in prison for nearly two years, where, she said, drugs were everywhere. The Long Road to Recovery Nationally, police arrested more than a million people for drug possession in 2020. U.S. courts and police departments tasked with treating addiction have mixed results. Jails are not the most ideal place to treat them, but its the reality of where they end up, said Andrew Klein, senior scientist for criminal justice at Advocates for Human Potential, a social services advocacy organization. The Walker County Sheriffs Office runs a program to help people find treatment. But its limited to those without an outstanding arrest warrant and with no more than two drug convictions, so few residents who are in need qualify. In its first two years, 20 people completed some sort of addiction treatment, according to the September 2019 assessment. Nikki Warren benefited from the county drug court program, which requires participants to take drug tests and pay thousands of dollars in fees. Warren joined the program at the recommendation of a judge. She was arrested in 2018 after she blacked out when she mistakenly took fentanyl instead of heroin. I needed that wake-up call, said Warren, who is now an outreach supervisor at Recovery Organization of Support Specialists. After completing the program, her charges were dismissed, she said. Dunn said the drug court program was too hard. But she was released from prison 3 years ago determined to change her life. She recalled thinking to herself, Dang, girl, all them years that I wasted. She spends time reading the Bible and singing, she said, but has struggled to find stable footing. She has lost several friends to overdoses, she said. Dunn said she would like to see a counselor but is uninsured. She relapsed for about a week this year, she said. She wants to work, perhaps at the front desk of a factory, but she goes to job interviews with a felony record and no high school diploma. Here I am I quit school, my baby is dead, Dunn said. She feels she is still being punished by the system. Im not perfect, she said. But they dont give us a chance. -- Kara Nelson of KFF Health News contributed to this report. KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. An argument between two neighbors in north Alabama left one man dead and another in jail. Around 1 p.m. Saturday, the Scottsboro Police Department was called to a residence on the 300 block of Maple Avenue in reference to a shooting. Officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. According to Detective Sgt. Ryan Putman, the police departments public information officer, the man was transported to Highlands Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead. Police have not yet released the mans name. An investigation by officials found that an argument had taken place between to the two men, leading to the shooting of the victim. Gerry Paul Kelly, 62, been charged with murder, according to Putman. Kelly will be transferred to the Jackson County Jail. Police are still investigating the shooting. The City of Orange Beach and the operator of a toll bridge near The Wharf are prioritizing profits over protecting the future of Alabamas beaches, Gulf Shores Mayor Robert Craft alleges. Gulf Shores is backing a state bridge project that will not alleviate beachbound traffic congestion but will provide a private drive to a future city high school, Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon contends. Related content: The public pays the price as millions of tax dollars are wasted fighting a greedy legal battle, and the pain and danger from traffic conditions on Highway 59 worsen, Craft said on Monday. Kennon said hes requested an open forum with Craft or John Cooper, the director of the Alabama Department of Transportation, to defend their project openly in front of God and everyone. They wont give me the time of day, he added. Squabbling leaders The two mayors and their councils were involved in a battle of words earlier this week. The beach cities are arguing over a years-long dispute involving dueling bridge projects to Alabamas beaches. Craft, in a news release Monday, suggested Orange Beach is more concerned with receiving revenues generated from the existing toll bridge. Kennon, in response on Tuesday, called on Craft and others in Gulf Shores to issue a public apology for statements within the news release, which they say was filled with falsehoods. Neither city will have a final say. The Alabama State Supreme Court is expected to determine the fate over which bridge project should get the green light. There is nothing we can do about it now, Craft said at the end of the Gulf Shores City Council meeting on Monday. If it goes against us, it goes against. Hopefully and prayerfully, (the Supreme Court) will recognize the impact it will have. Bridge projects At stake is whether a fourth bridge should be built over the Intracoastal Waterway. Visitors to the Alabamas beaches have only three ways to access the area: W.C. Holmes Bridge (Alabama State Route 59) through Gulf Shores, the Baldwin County Bridge Companys toll bridge in Orange Beach, and the Perdido Pass Bridge that is also in Orange Beach. The two proposals that are part of the legal squabble include: An approximately $120 million new two-lane bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway connecting to Canal Road east of the Waterway Village in Gulf Shores. The bridge is already under construction and is programmed by the Alabama Department of Transportation. It is supported by Gulf Shores city officials. An alterative proposal pitched by the Baldwin County Bridge Company the private entity that owns and operates the toll bridge near The Wharf includes building two new lanes on the existing bridge, expanding the number of toll plazas and making $70 million in additional infrastructure improvements for Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. This project is backed by Orange Beach officials. The states highest court is considering an appeal of a Montgomery County judges ruling in May to halt the construction of the Gulf Shores bridge, which is located approximately 1 mile to the west of the BCBC toll bridge. Construction had been underway for several months after the state OKd a contract with the Scott Bridge Company to move forward on the project before it became entangled in a bench trail before Judge Jimmy Pool. Pool, in his May 17 ruling, slammed Cooper, the director of ALDOT, for engaging in what he said was a long effort to put BCBC out of business. Legal briefs to the state Supreme Court were filed by ALDOT and BCBC last week. In addition, amicus briefs were filed by the cities of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. Revenues or access Gulf Shores, on Monday, published a release on its website that listed information surrounding the case and a defense of the citys position on supporting the new ALDOT bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway. The comments in the news release matched much of what was included in the citys legal briefing. That legal document includes a claim that Orange Beach has direct proprietary economic interest in BCBCs toll bridge because the city receives 30 cents per vehicle that crosses over the toll bridge. Within ALDOTs legal briefing, the state argued that Orange Beach stands to gain $60 million if the alternative BCBC plan is adopted. Kennon said the city is not looking at the bridge issue as a money-maker. He said the revenues generated from having the private toll bridge within the city consist of a very small amount of Orange Beachs overall annual budget. Its not about the money, Kennon said. (The revenue) is about 1 percent of our total budget. The people of Orange Beach would rather (forgo) the 1 percent and have a much more free-flowing traffic pattern. Craft also says that BCBC, though its negotiations, is attempting to lock in a 50-year monopoly of total control over the fate of future bridge projects in the area. Kennon said that is not true. He said there were no provisions within the negotiations about a no compete clause with BCBC. I dont know how a mayor in the state of Alabama gets away with putting out a press release that is totally untrue, Kennon said at Tuesdays Orange Beach City Council meeting. Kennon also said there was no truth to arguments that the future toll fees will be unregulated and assessed only by BCBC. He said negotiations showed that Baldwin County residents would be able to use the private bridge without having to pay a toll. The current toll is $2.25. ALDOT lawyers say that what BCBC is asking is illegal and unconstitutional. Among the concerns is a potential violation to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for waiving tolls for all residents in Baldwin County, which ALDOT claims is discriminatory. Evacuation route Craft and Kennon also dispute whether the bridge will relieve traffic congestion. Kennon calls it laughable that the two-lane span will provide an adequate hurricane route, saying he believes it will make traffic leaving the island much worse. Kennon said there are several interchanges on the state route north of the Gulf Shores bridge that will slow traffic leaving the island. He said the city wants to see the bridge built, alleging that a new state road to the bridge will run near a future city high school that is targeted to open to students by 2025. Orange Beach City Councilman Jerry Johnson said a better solution is to spend state money on improving the Baldwin Beach Express and extending it northward from Interstate 10 near Loxley to Interstate 65. But Gulf Shores City Councilman Steve Jones said a new bridge over the Intercoastal Waterway without any concrete pillars in the water provides an emergency route in case the other two existing bridges are out of commission if a barge collides with them. Any or both of those bridges could be taken out with a storm, said Jones. This bridge wont be in danger of being struck. If for no other reason, this bridge needs to be built. Congestion builds on southbound Alabama State Route 59 from the W.C. Holmes Bridge in Gulf Shores, Ala., in this July 2021 photo. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). Craft said without any resolution, congestion will continue to build and erode the safety and quality of life of the growing area that consists of 40% of the states overall tourism revenue. The existing traffic conditions on Highway 59 are dangerous, he said, adding that the difficulty of building a new bridge impedes critical access to healthcare and poses a significant threat in any hurricane evacuation. ALDOTs new bridge would help alleviate every one of these challenges the very first day it is open, he said. By LARRY NEUMEISTER and JENNIFER PELTZ Associated Press Donald Trumps company and his former longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen have settled a lawsuit over Cohens claims that he was unfairly stuck with big legal bills after getting entangled in investigations into the former president. Lawyers for the two sides disclosed the settlement during a video conference with the judge Friday, three days before Cohens 2019 lawsuit was slated to go to trial in a Manhattan state court. Details of the agreement were not made public. Cohen said Friday the matter has been resolved in a manner satisfactory to all parties, and his attorney, Lauren Handelsman, said the terms were confidential. Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers for Trumps company, the Trump Organization. The legal fees lawsuit was one of the more obscure branches of the thicket of legal troubles surrounding Trump and his company. Still, the trial stood to give a platform to Cohen an ardent Trump loyalist who became an outspoken antagonist and to put the ex-presidents son Donald Trump Jr. on the witness stand. Cohen claimed in his lawsuit that the Trump Organization had promised to pay his legal expenses and did so for a time, footing more than $1.7 million in legal fees. But, Cohen said, the company reneged after he began cooperating with federal prosecutors in their investigations related to Trumps business dealings in Russia and attempts to silence women with embarrassing stories about his personal life. Cohens then-lawyers stopped representing him after the company stopped paying. His lawsuit said that harmed his ability to respond to the federal investigations. In court papers, the Trump Organization has disputed that it made certain promises and has said it satisfied any obligations it did have. The company also has argued that Cohens involvement in the federal investigations wasnt an outgrowth of his former job but rather a personal decision to try to reduce his own criminal legal exposure as an indictment loomed. Jury selection in the case had begun Monday. Among the prospective jurors, more than half said they had strong opinions about Trump, the front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Several said their feelings toward him were intense enough that they would not be able to fairly evaluate evidence. While the former president would not have been a witness in the trial, Donald Trump Jr., who is a leader in the family business, was expected to testify. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to multiple charges, admitting that he lied to Congress, violated campaign finance laws through excessive political contributions, lied to multiple banks to obtain financing and evaded income taxes by failing to report more than $4 million in income. He was sentenced to three years in prison, although he served nearly two-thirds of it at home, released after the COVID-19 outbreak overwhelmed the nations prisons. He then became a key witness in the New York grand jury proceeding that led to Trumps April indictment on charges of falsifying Trump Organization records to protect his 2016 candidacy by suppressing claims that he had had extramarital sexual encounters. Trump denied those encounters, and he pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges. He cast the case as a Democratic district attorneys attempt to blunt his ongoing campaign to return to the White House. Trump has now sued Cohen, accusing him of violating a company confidentiality agreement, breaching ethical standards for lawyers and maliciously spreading falsehoods about Trump. A Cohen spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, has responded that Trump was abusing the legal system to harass Cohen. While Fridays settlement resolves the suit over Cohens legal expenses, a trial is set for October in New York Attorney General Letitia James business fraud lawsuit against Trumps company and the businessman-turned-president himself. Trump also faces a March trial date in the New York hush-money indictment; a trial set for May in Florida in the federal criminal case surrounding his handling of classified documents; and the second federal civil trial involving writer E. Jean Carrolls claim that he defamed her in denying her sexual assault allegation. He also disclosed this week that the Justice Department had told him he was a target of an investigation into efforts to unravel his loss in the 2020 presidential election a notification that could signal forthcoming charges. Separately, prosecutors in Georgia plan to announce charging decisions within weeks in their inquiry into attempts by Trump and his allies to reverse the vote outcome there. Trump has denied wrongdoing in all the matters and says prosecutors are ginning up charges to damage his ongoing presidential campaign. ___ Associated Press writers Michael R. Sisak, Jake Offenhartz and Jill Colvin in New York and contributed to this report. By Patrick Camp | The Cullman Times, Ala. (TNS) A decades-old debate, centered on positions that the LGBTQ community are allowed to hold within United Methodists Churches, has caused more than a fifth of U.S. congregations to leave the denomination. Still, some local church leaders are seeing the silver lining to what has been described a traumatizing period as worshippers begin to enter a time for healing. Mt. Zion Church is a small stone building just inside the town limits of South Vinemont where about 40 worshippers gather each Sunday. Church leaders congratulate anyone celebrating an anniversary and sing Happy Birthday at the beginning of each service. A single upright piano just off to the side of the sanctuary provides the only musical accompaniment as families sing hymnals. It is the type of rural, country church with which nearly anyone in North Alabama would be familiar. It is also one of more than 500 churches in the state that have decided to disaffiliate from the UMC since 2019. Read more: Danette Clifton, director of communication for the UMCs North Alabama Conference, said just more than 330 local churches from the North Alabama Conference have left within the last three to four years. Those numbers, combined with the 240 congregations from the Alabama/West Florida Conference which represents areas in Alabama south of Jefferson County as well as Floridas panhandle make up roughly half of the UMCs pre-2019 membership. She said that while disaffiliations have become a recent phenomenon, the debates behind them have been an ongoing issue with church leadership for at least the past 50 years. Every four years an international group of locally elected delegates gather to view current social issues such as human sexuality, abortion and war through a Biblical lens and vote to revise the churchs ruling doctrine, known as The Book of Discipline. The gathering is referred to as the General Conference, and the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Cullman, Josh Hickman said there have been pushes to remove the churchs prohibition on openly gay ministers, among other LGBTQ issues, at almost all of such gatherings in recent memory. Clifton said so that much time has been spent at these gatherings debating matters of LGBTQ inclusion, that a special-called conference was held in 2019 to make a ruling ahead of the scheduled 2020 General Conference. During this meeting, a slight majority elected to maintain doctrines which dont allow same-sex marriages from being performed, in addition to the ordination of openly gay ministers. The delegates also added a provision which would allow any local church a limited right to disaffiliate from the denomination based on reasons of conscience related to the practice of homosexuality. That provision is set to expire at the end of this year, and Clifton said that when COVID-19 forced the cancelation of 2020s General Conference, many conservative congregations began to get nervous about the future direction they felt the church was taking. A lot of churches and clergy are unsure of what future policies the UMC might be and they see this window. Thats why they are choosing right now to leave the denomination even if they fully agree with the doctrine, they are just seeing this as an opportunity to leave in case things change down the road, Clifton said. During a regional meeting in November 2022, the UMC Western Jurisdiction defied the churchs doctrine and elected the Rev. Cedrick D. Bridgeforth as the denominations first openly gay African American bishop. In separate gatherings held the same month, each of the countrys five jurisdictional bodies passed resolutions to aspire to full inclusion for LGBTQ within the UMC. In June, the North Alabama Annual Conference passed a resolution to remove all language pertaining to homosexuality from the Book of Discipline, saying the churchs current stance has fostered painful division. Both Clifton and Hickman said that such a large number of conservative delegates leaving the denomination gives progressives more of an opportunity to change the churchs doctrine during the next General Conference, scheduled for April 23-May 3, 2024. But these groups are expected to face heavy opposition from traditionalist strongholds in other parts of the world. There will certainly be more support from the U.S. delegation there will be almost no opposition there but the reality is that we are a global church and the majority of our delegates come from Africa and South America, which are historically and fundamentally conservative, Hickman said. Mt. Zion Church Pastor Krel Buckelew said the idea that the recent disaffiliations amounting to anything as simple as progressive versus conservative congregations is a bit misleading and that disputes relating to inclusion are not the root or even the trunk of the tree as to why churches are leaving the UMC. Buckelew comes from a Southern Baptist background. He first became involved with the UMC through his wife and has been pastoring churches since 2014. Mt. Zion became the fourth church he has pastored when he was hired in April. He said that while he has only led the congregation for a few months, he has known church members on a personal level for much longer and can attest to the fact that the spirit and mission of the church have not changed since they decided to walk away from the UMC in December 2022. He said the churchs goal was never to figure out ways to keep certain people out of the church, and that Mt. Zion has been, and will continue to be, a place where the ultimate goal is to minister to its community with open arms. They want to be accepting and loving to the people who want a church where they can come and worship. Youre going to hear the Bible at our church, but were not a political church. Were a church that presents the gospel to anybody that wants to hear it, Buckelew said. One of the driving factors behind the progressive vs. conservative narrative is the fact that the majority of churches choosing to disaffiliate have smaller congregations and are generally located in more rural areas. But according to Buckelew, debates on matters of inclusion have just been the latest issue placed onto the shoulders of an already stressed system. Clergy in the UMC commit to serve where they are appointed by their presiding bishop, similar to the way Catholic priests are assigned to parishes. Appointments are made each year, and while it is not uncommon for a pastor to be reappointed to a church, the bishop may move any itinerant pastor at any time. The UMC says the goal of this process is to match the gifts of specific pastors with congregations who would best benefit from them. But Buckelew said that small community churches such as Mt. Zion have more of a desire to establish a relationship with a pastor who is more committed to growing the vision it has for its particular community. He said this has been a difficult task for small churches where attendance numbers have been slowly dwindling for decades. For a small church which has continued to see numbers slowly dwindle down for 20 years, it is hard to continue being assigned pastors who dont turn the church around, Buckelew said. Buckelew and Hickman both said that despite the painful process it has taken to reach this point, they are excited for the future of their respective congregations and how they each can potentially impact the community. Thats what were really focused on right now is just hitting the ground running and trying to love our community and trying to find people who dont go to church who want to try our church, Buckelew said. Buckelew said Mt. Zion has been operating a successful food closet for several years and will continue the ministry which distributes groceries to more than 100 families twice per month. A packing party is planned where church members will be filling backpacks with donated school supplies that will be donated to the students of Vinemont schools. He has also been introducing a few creative elements into his weekly sermons. Buckelew is a local artist, and for 30 years has become known for producing a painting to complement the sermons he preaches. It sounds like childrens church, but the adults like it as much or more as the children do, he said. These creative solutions will also be implemented into a new childrens ministry, which Buckelew said he hopes can attract younger families to the church. He said Sunday, July 23, will be the first Sunday for the program, and as children are taught the Biblical creation story, they will be able to draw or paint a depiction of their lesson. Were excited. This has given that church a new lease on life as far as looking forward to the future and building those ministries, he said. Hickman said, unlike the completely amicable decision made at Mt. Zion, FUMCs decision to remain with the denomination was met with strong opposition. The majority of congregants actually chose to leave the denomination, but did not meet the required two-thirds majority to do so. He acknowledged how the split decision has caused tension and resulted in a number of members to seek out other churches. But, he said he sees the potential for positive outcomes for those on both sides of the debate. The good thing is the fight is over. Now, the goal is to get busy and get back to our mission and ministry. We definitely need to acknowledge the hurt that has happened, but then we need to lean into the future, which I think is bright, he said. He said while FUMC is a large established local church, in many ways it has felt more similar to a start-up with a new lease on life. He said with fewer members, the churchs leadership has become streamlined and for the most part younger. Hickman said he doesnt foresee FUMC changing its doctrinal beliefs anytime soon, This church still believes what it has always believed. Even if language is removed, I dont think the identity and belief system of this church is going to change, he said. But he is also hopeful that those who may have felt unwelcome or underrepresented, such as the LGBTQ community, may start to become more apt to attend services moving forward, regardless of any future decisions from UMC leadership. The church can remove whatever language from The Discipline as long at the United Methodist Church is a place that makes room at its table for anybody and everybody who feels like they want a seat. If the church becomes a place where it says You dont get to sit down, to anyone, Im going to be the one to get up from that table and find somewhere else to sit, Hickman said. ___ (c)2023 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The new congressional district map approved Friday by the Alabama Legislature makes changes to all seven districts and moves about a dozen counties to different districts. Democratic lawmakers denounced the plan and said it would not fix the likely Voting Rights Act violation found by a three-judge federal court and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. Republicans, who hold three-fourths of the seats in the Legislature, approved the map by a 24-6 vote in the Senate and 75-28 in the House. They praised the plan for its compactness and said it kept together communities of interest, which they said included Mobile and Baldwin counties on the coast, the Black Belt, and the Wiregrass. Democrats said the plan failed to address the key finding by the court, the need to create a second majority Black district, or, as the court said, something quite close to it. District 7 remains the only majority Black district, with a Black voting age population of 51%. The Black voting age population in District 2 increased from 30% to 40%. Republicans said that would comply with the court guidance to create a second district where Black voters would have an opportunity to elect a candidate of their choice. Democrats disputed that and said they will rely on the federal court to reject the plan. Friday was the deadline set by the three-judge district court for the Legislature to pass a new map. The courts deadline was based on guidance from state officials about when a map would have to be ready in time for next years elections. The court said the Black voters and organizations who are plaintiffs in the litigation should file their objections to the new map by July 28. The court has tentatively scheduled a hearing on challenges to the plan to begin on August 14. Click here to see a zoomable view of the 2021 map. Click here for a zoomable view of the new map. A summary of some of the changes: District 1, in southwest Alabama, still includes all of Baldwin and Mobile counties. The district became wider and flatter, losing Washington and Monroe counties on its north side and gaining most of Covington County on its east side. District 2 still covers southeast Alabama but changed substantially. It added Lowndes, Macon, and Russell counties. It added northwest Montgomery County and now includes all of that county. It lost Autauga and Conecuh counties, most of Covington, and about half of Elmore. District 3 in east Alabama also changed substantially. It lost Macon, Russell and Coosa counties and gained Etowah. District 4 still spans the state from east to west in the northern half of the state. It lost Etowah County and added Blount County. District 5, which spans most of the border with Tennessee, gained Lawrence County and lost a portion of Lauderdale County. District 6 in central Alabama gained Coosa and Autauga counties and lost Blount County. District 7 in west Alabama added Washington, Monroe, and Conecuh counties on the south end and lost Lowndes County. Related: Kevin McCarthy should chip in on Alabamas legal fees if he influenced congressional map: Chris England A north Alabama police officer was sentenced to two years in a county jail Friday after a judge convicted him of assault and other charges for pointing a gun at a man and hitting him while off-duty late last year. Max Ryan Dotson, a lieutenant with the Sheffield Police Department who has been on leave since he was charged in March, was found guilty of assault, menacing and reckless endangerment in connection with the incident, court records showed. Dotson had a bench trial before Lauderdale County District Court Judge Carole C. Medley, who also found him not guilty of harassment. She sentenced Dotson to one year in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on the assault charge and another year on the reckless endangerment charge. She sentenced the officer to six months in the Lauderdale County jail on the menacing charge, but the sentence will run concurrent with the assault term. Demarcus Key, the victim in the case, said he did not know Dotson was a law enforcement officer at the time of the December 2022 incident. He said he believed the lieutenant would not face any consequences. I was pretty pleased with the verdict, he told AL.com in a phone interview. During the incident, Key said, Dotson approached him and just asked me what I said to his daughter and I kept telling him I didnt know what he was talking about. Key said Dotson then pulled a gun on him and hit him with his fist. Harry Daniels, one of the attorneys representing Key, said Dotson didnt act like a law enforcement officer should act, adding that he believed the charges against the lieutenant were actually lax. A civil rights attorney, Daniels is representing a client in another case involving Dotson. Dotson is one of 10 Sheffield officers being sued by Marvin Long, an unarmed Black man who was bitten by police dogs two years ago. This was not a case of we have a bad apple, Daniels said in light of Dotsons sentence in the Key case -- Key is Black -- and the incident Long is suing over. We have a bad apple orchard coming from the Sheffield Police Department, and something needs to be done. Dotson indicated he will appeal the decision in the Key case. He has 14 days to file a formal appeal. A brewery formed more than 10 years ago in north Alabama will close its doors at the end of the month. Salty Nut Brewery, located at 2404 Clinton Ave. in Huntsville, is closing on July 31. In a Facebook post on Friday, the business thanked everybody who has been in over the years and invited them to visit one last time before they close for good. Hey there Huntsville; thank you for the fantastic years weve spent together at Salty Nut, the post read. Wed be honored if you joined us one last time to enjoy a Salty brew, so roll through and lets go out with a bang! Hey there Huntsville; thank you for the fantastic years we've spent together at Salty Nut. With some salty tears, we... Posted by Salty Nut Brewery on Friday, July 21, 2023 Salty Nut Brewery was formed back in 2011 and bought by Straight to Ale, another Huntsville brewery, in 2020. At the time of the purchase, Straight to Ale said that the purchase was an effort to support the local craft beer scene while helping an important venue in the Huntsville community flourish. The owner of Salty Nut and Straight to Ale didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday. Many lovers of the brewery took to the comments to express their disbelief and shock over the closure, as well as to share fond memories of their favorite place. So sad to hear that you guys are closing, there are lots of good memories here for me, said David Hewitt, who lives in Huntsville. Instagram user @jowow22 had numerous crying emojis in their Instagram comment on the business page. One of the good breweries in AL. Very sad about this, the user said. RELATED: Huntsvilles Straight to Ale buys another Alabama brewery Salty Nut Brewery expands craft beer reach in Alabama with bottles North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song leaves a Security Council meeting on Non-proliferation/North Korea, July 13, at the United Nations headquarters. AP-Yonhap The Group of Seven nations, the European Union and three other countries are urging China to expel oil tankers from its waters that appear to be taking fuel to North Korea in defiance of U.N. sanctions, according to a letter seen by AFP, Friday. "We have concerns regarding the continuing presence of multiple oil tankers... that use your territorial waters in Sansha Bay as refuge to facilitate their trade of sanctioned petroleum products to the DPRK," the letter said, using initials for the formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Ambassadors from the G7 nations Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States signed the letter addressed to China's U.N. envoy Zhang Jun. Also signing were envoys from the European Union, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. In the letter, the ambassadors told Zhang they "would like to provide your government with additional information and satellite imagery that clearly indicates these practices continued to occur within China's jurisdiction in 2022 and have continued in 2023." "We reiterate our previous request that China inspect the vessels for evidence of illicit oil smuggling, deny them all services, and ultimately expel them from your waters as quickly as possible," it added. A source said the letter had been sent to the Chinese envoy, though there was no confirmation it had been received. Sansha Bay is in China's Fujian Province and connects to the East China Sea through a deep channel. The letter noted that the presence and movement of the tankers was observed by the UN group of experts monitoring sanctions compliance by North Korea. North Korea has been subject to U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its missile launches and nuclear programs. Additional sanctions in 2017 limited its crude oil imports. The Security Council has been unable to reach a united position since then, unlike earlier years. In May 2022, China and Russia vetoed a resolution imposing new sanctions on Pyongyang, and no Council resolution or statement has been adopted since then despite several missile launches by North Korea. On Friday, the North fired several cruise missiles into the Yellow (West) Sea, off the Korean Peninsula, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. The United States regularly accuses Beijing and Moscow of "shielding" the North Korean regime and encouraging further launches by preventing a united response from the Council. "It is critical for the international community, including China, to send a strong and unified message that the DPRK must refrain from provocation, abide by its (U.N. Security Council) obligations... to achieve a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean peninsula," the letter said. (AFP) A four-alarm fire in Alabama that burned for over 24 hours is finally under control, according to officials. The Merchants Transfer warehouse on Papermill Road in Mobile was in the process of being torn down on Wednesday when it became engulfed in flames. According to Bryan Smith, Mobile Fire-Rescue District Fire Chief, bales of shredded paper that were stored at the warehouse are to blame for the blaze. WPMI reports that it took fire crews over 30 hours to fight the fire and that its the third fire at the site in three years. RELATED: Popular Gulf Shores eatery Bahama Bobs heavily damaged by fire Fire at Florida wildlife center kills nearly all the animals Question: In what universe is it acceptable to refuse water to thirsty migrants desperate to cross the U.S. (or any other) border? Another question: In what universe is it acceptable to spread razor wire alongside a river, knowing that it will trap those migrants in a tangle of twisted galvanized steel studded with tiny blades? Answer to both questions: In no universe. Anywhere. Ever. As an old farmer and friend of mine used to say, lets throw the hay on the ground so the goats can get at it: It is simply inhumane to withhold water from people. As for razor wire, its designed to rip clothing and flesh -- to deter animals and humans by maiming those who try to climb over it. That, too, is inhumane. So why in the name of all that is good, right and responsible would Texas state troopers withhold water -- in blistering hot weather, mind you -- from people trying to cross the Rio Grande from Mexico to the United States? Why would they push people back into the river as those people straggled ashore? And how could they bear to watch as men, women and children -- including babies -- became entangled in coils of razor wire? At least one trooper couldnt bear to watch, and that trooper -- Nicholas Wingate -- wrote an email to his superiors about the atrocities he was witnessing. Once news media outlets obtained copies of his email, the proverbial you-know-what hit the fan. As well it should have. You dont have to be a rocket scientist or a moral ethicist, and you dont have to identify as a liberal, a conservative, a libertarian or anything else to know in your heart that such tactics are just wrong. A Texas congressman named Tony Gonzales, whose south Texas congressional district includes the border, tweeted, Border security should not equal a lack of humanity. He is a Republican, as is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who authorized the $4 billion deterrence initiative known as Operation Lone Star. In addition to stopping migrants at the Rio Grande, Operation Lone Star has included busing thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities and charging migrants with trespassing. Im certain the congressman could tell many true, data-filled stories of the societal and economic impacts of uncontrolled borders. Im sure statisticians could paint a vivid portrait of a border so permeable that an estimated 10,000 people illegally cross it every day from Mexico into California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. And I know the Department of Homeland Security has horrifying statistics on the illegal movement of guns, drugs and other contraband from Mexico into the United States. So Im not denying that illegal immigration is a serious problem for our nation or that it has been for nearly a half-century. Way back in the 1980s, Republican President Ronald Reagan warned that the simple truth is that weve lost control of our own borders, and no nation can do that and survive. The problem begs to be solved by the White House and Congress. That hasnt happened, however, and wont happen as long as the men and women who inhabit those institutions are so mired in combative partisan politics that theyre unable, unwilling and too gutless to tackle it. And no, I dont have the answer, although I believe that there are bound to be solutions out there, as challenging as they may be to formulate and enact. But I do have a conscience, and so do you. If we listen to them, our consciences will tell us that it is wrong and shameful to physically brutalize people who are fleeing violence and deprivation in their own countries. The state trooper whose email launched investigations into this scandal expressed it well. Of the deterrence program, he wrote, We need to operate it correctly in the eyes of God. To which I can only add, Amen, Trooper Wingate. Amen. Frances Coleman is a former editorial page editor of the Mobile Press-Register. Email her at fcoleman1953@gmail.com and like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prfrances. Kamala Harris recently came out with another shocking statement, and one that made it clear just where progressives stand on euthanasia, the right to life, and related issues. On July 14, speaking at Coppin State University in Baltimore, Harris said that "when we invest in clean energy and electric vehicles and reduce population, more of our children can breathe clean air and drink clean water." The White House labeled Harris' statement a slip of the tongue, hours after Harris showed no indication of its being so. Based on her own lack of awareness, we can infer that she meant what she said. The obvious question is how to achieve a lower population, if that is one's goal. The left has long supported universal availability of contraception and abortion, including late-term abortion, funded at government or employer expense. Along with that, tax codes penalize married couples. And there is no place for nuclear families in liberal media, even as liberals do everything possible to champion transgenders and gays. Beyond what might be called elective procedures, there are other possibilities. In the past, progressives supported forced sterilization, which was once legal in 32 states. And euthanasia, even of those who may not be capable of making a rational decision, is another procedure promoted by the left. Currently, right-to-die laws exist in nine states and Washington, D.C. All of these are liberal jurisdictions: California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, New Mexico, Maine, New Jersey, Hawaii, and Washington State. Liberals support euthanasia to the point of legalizing it for a wide range of conditions. Most conservatives have reservations. When Biden was vice president, he and Obama floated a policy of restricted care for senior citizens that would have amounted to euthanasia on a mass scale. Under Obama-Biden, Medicare and Medicaid would have withheld funding for some late-stage diseases, limiting treatment to palliative care only. As Obama's CMS director Donald Berwick told Congress in 2011, "[t]he decision is not whether or not we will ration care ... the decision is whether we will ration with our eyes open." The policy of restricting late-stage care to palliative treatment would have "lowered population" in a hurry, as thousands of elderly patients would have died before their time. It's important to note that Harris linked reduced population to other green "investments." The idea that abortion, euthanasia, and sterilization are "investments" is the product of a perverse and warped way of thinking. I don't believe that forcing Americans to spend tax revenues to murder children or eliminate senior citizens can be considered an "investment," as those on the left seem to do. I consider it criminal behavior. It's a lot like the behavior described in Burkhard Bilder's recent memoir of his grandfather's life in Nazi Germany. Bilder's grandfather was a minor Nazi functionary who was imprisoned for one year after World War II as punishment for his wartime activities in a village in Alsace. The grandfather was not an ardent supporter of fascism; in fact, he shielded one of his pupils who was mentally challenged and who normally would have been gassed immediately. As Bilder recounts in his latest book, Fatherland (2023), the Nazis euthanized "nearly a third of a million physically and mentally disabled Germans between 1939 and 1945" and forcibly sterilized some 400,000 people (Bilder 147). In an important aside, Bilder notes that forced sterilization was widely practiced in the U.S. at the time and promoted by liberal organizations such as the Rockefeller Foundation, which initially funded the "research" of Germany's Angel of Death, Josef Mengele. Actually, "investment" in lowering populations is a progressive cause that antedates the Nazis by many decades and that continued unabated after the war. In America, until the early 20th century, opiates were legal and widely available, and they were used as was chloroform, often with physician assistance as a means of euthanasia. (In the 1840s, Edgar Allan Poe attempted to take his life by swallowing laudanum, but he took too much, vomited up the drug, and survived.) Legalization bills were introduced as early as 1906 in Ohio and Iowa. More recently, books like Paul Ehrlich's The Population Bomb (1968) frightened the public into believing that the Earth's resources could not support a growing population and that measures must be taken to halt population growth. A host of population bomb books followed, such as Hal Lindsey's The Late Great Planet Earth (1970) and Donella Meadows's The Limits to Growth (1972). Al Gore's later predictions of climate change came with the warning that lower food production would lead to mass starvation. Gore began with these predictions in 1976 in the first congressional hearings on global warming, which he suggested would lead to catastrophe. Since then, global grain production has risen from 1.24 billion metric tons in 1976 to 3.07 billion metric tons in 2021 and shows no sign of decline. Never has a public official been more wrong about food production, climate change, or population...until now. As if in response to Gore's hare-brained predictions, the U.S. government promoted abortion, and many individuals announced decisions not to have children. Many other countries, including India and China, forcibly sterilized, aborted, or restricted childbirth, and these policies continue in communist China with regard to certain "unwanted" groups, including the Uyghurs. AOC is just one of millions of progressives who share Gore's mistaken assumptions. In 2019, she claimed that the world was "going to end in 12 years" unless drastic steps were taken to reduce carbon emissions. The congresswoman appeared to be citing an IPCC report claiming much the same thing a report that predicted mass poverty and hunger if costly measures were not adopted to slow climate change. One "solution" is to lower the Earth's population. Progressives have brought about untold suffering as a result of their support for "reduced population," but in her remarks, V.P. Harris evinced no awareness of the damage of anti-life policies or of their long and painful history. She did not pause in her delivery, and she accepted applause for her remark. In fact, as she spoke of lowering populations, she was her usual giggly self. She did not correct her "gaffe"; the White House stepped in and did that. In a chilling irony, within days of Harris's remark, Canadian authorities legalized euthanasia for "persons with a severe refractory mental illness." The progressive assault on human life has never been more determined than it now is. Already, those who are unwanted, a burden, mentally ill, or elderly are potentially subject to elimination. Soon it may be those who are just "different," or too conservative. Life is a precious gift from God, and it must be protected by those of us who are capable of speaking out. Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011). Image: Mobilus In Mobili via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped). Hollywood really does seem to be running out of new ideas. British big-budget director Christopher Nolan had his successes a few years ago with yet another round of Batman movies, but his expensive, visually lavish, films have otherwise not drawn large audiences. His new release, about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist who helped build the first atomic bombs, seems very much just another thin remake of a story long told. It is based on a 17-year-old book, American Prometheus, that was itself started way back in 1980. The late Cold War era featured miniseries, movies, documentaries, and plays all about the gang at Los Alamos., Although we have learned quite a bit more about the real Oppenheimer and the atomic spies, thanks to the opening of Kremlin files with the fall of the Soviet Union, Hollywood and the establishment media wont go anywhere near any of that. Instead, they are stuck in a late 1970s redux, where the Manhattan Project is a kind of X-Men comic adventure. Oppenheimer, the wise, sensitive leader, is Professor X, of course. A man learned in advanced physics and the Bhagavad Gita, so he can say cool things like I am become death, destroyer of worlds when a plutonium bomb explodes. He leads a band of genius scientists, harnessing forces too powerful for ordinary men to understand, and is beset by reactionary right wingers, who would misuse his discoveries. Especially those who did not understand the atomic bomb was only meant to stop Hitler and must not lead to America becoming too powerful and doing dangerous stuff, like, insisting on democracy for Eastern Europe and Russia after the war. Thats the basic story Hollywood keeps retelling. The reality was quite different. The guy in charge was Leslie Groves, an Army engineer. He was the one who set up the whole Oak Ridge secret city, that produced the crucial fissile material and made the bomb possible. Something neither the Brits nor the Germans had the resources to ever do and the Russians only later on, when they had enough stolen secrets. Groves was a bulldozer of a manager, building the Pentagon in record time, and furious that he had to then do the bomb project, instead of getting a combat command. Groves and his get it done at all costs attitude created loose security procedures, which would haunt the Manhattan Project ever after. Later, when Groves sought the top job commanding the Corps of Engineers, Eisenhower turned him down flat, telling him he had made so many enemies and broken so many rules during the war, his career was over. Many of the technicians and scientists Groves brought on board in his hurry to get it done, turned out to be high security risks or worse. Even Wikipedia has a full entry on the Soviet spies at Los Alamos. This was at a time when the Soviets had a massive spy operation in our country with the Comintern and the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). Groves recruited Robert Oppenheimer out of the important Cal Berkely physics department to lead his bomb design team, as he was well liked by his many colleagues, who were already familiar with much of what the bomb design would be. The uranium gun bomb, where one chunk of uranium is shot down a tube into another one, used on Hiroshima, in fact, proved so simple, no demonstration test was needed. Oppenheimer, of course, was even less interested in protecting the secrecy of the atom bomb than Groves and was a high security risk himself -- his brother, mistress, wife, and most of his friends were members of the Communist Party. He was an ardent left-winger, active in dozens of Communist front groups. His wife, Kitty, was a renowned commie wild child, having a passionate affair in Spain with Steve Nelson, the Communist thug who returned to America to direct CPUSA spy activities. Nelson scored at least one spy coup at Los Alamos, and probably more. There is a lot of evidence assembled over the years to support the idea that Oppenheimer was a secret member of the party and maybe even a working Soviet spy. Oppenheimer came from a wealthy family and grew to enjoy the fame and benefits of his work on the bomb. He also received the most powerful appointments available from Americas Big Science. But it all came crashing down when his security clearance was pulled in 1954. By this time, it was understood how the sloppy security and spy activity had advanced the Soviet atomic weapons program by many years. The Soviets successfully tested their first atom bomb in 1949. Its likely that if the U.S. had kept its monopoly on such weapons just into the new decade, Stalin would not have had the moxie to greenlight the Korean War in 1950, nor Mao intervene afterward. Still, this never sat well with many establishment Democrats, who have been trying to clear his name ever since, as part of the effort to prove the long overdue anti-Communist crackdowns of the 1950s were somehow unwarranted. JFK had this in mind when awarding him the Fermi Medal in 1963, and even the Biden administration got in on the act, Jennifer Granholm issuing a legally unfounded retraction of that decision last year. But the correctness of pulling Oppenheimers clearance was and is overwhelming. While the latest Oppenheimer movie is yet another tiresome replay of the same old liberal fairy tales of the Cold War, there is a more interesting story out there, waiting for a real film auteur. Do a full exploration of how a person can be brilliant at the highest level, yet otherwise so foolish and destructive. That is the true story of the Americas Communists over the last 100 years or so. People of intelligence, education, and artistic or scientific merit somehow decided they were too good for America and free society. Their hubris led them to gladly assist the most monstrous worldwide conspiracy in history. Many, like Whittaker Chambers, repented and became celebrated figures on the American Right. Others, like the labor leader Jay Lovestone, remained on the political Left but were devout Cold Warriors. In Oppenheimers case, its quite likely his youthful Communist enthusiasm led him to overlook the spying going on at Los Alamos, thinking helping Stalin was also helping the allies. After the war, he and a lot of other left-wingers were disabused of this notion. But for somebody in Oppenheimers position to come clean and make a full confession of what he did risked legal jeopardy, and an unbearable blow to his enormous ego. Anyway, the real story of Americas 20th Century Communists would make for some great movies, mini-series, or documentaries. They just wont be coming to a cinema near you anytime soon. Frank Friday is an attorney in Louisville, KY Image: Department of Energy I am among those tens-of-millions of Americans fearful of a new civil war. I despair of liberty's protracted endurance and deplore the ever-increasing likelihood that in my lifetime, I will bear witness to the end of this once-great nation. Never in the history of these United States has the federal government more aggressively sought to deprive the citizenry of those inviolable rights enshrined in the Constitution. The First and Second Amendments edicts essential to freedom's preservation have been savaged by the sitting Executive and Legislative Branches and only feebly defended by the Judicial. We are a nation in decline, a nation in peril, a nation deeply, and I fear ineluctably, divided. The Second Amendment exists for the purpose of ensuring that the people are able to stand against a tyrannical and corrupt government such as that currently in power. Only a government intent on subduing and subjugating its citizens deprives them of arms. This is not the supposition of one man; it is a statement of historical fact. As Hitler and his fanatics fomented enmity between German and Jew, as Lenin and his apparatchiks fomented enmity between proletariat and bourgeoisie, so Biden and his horde of postmodern leftist neo-Bolsheviks foment enmity between those who would preserve America and those obsessed with tearing her down. Likewise, as Hitler and Lenin hastened to disarm the populations of Germany and Russia, so Biden and the Democrats are attempting to disarm Americans by dressing lawlessness and gun violence born of their own lax criminal policies in the the raiment of a national public health crisis for purpose of seizing emergency powers and eradicating the Second Amendment. The methodology is old, tired, and patently obvious. Censorship and propaganda, too those proprietary tools of tyranny have been adopted by Biden and his handlers. To actualize their aims, Democrats have conspired with Big Tech to subvert freedom of speech. They have suppressed dissent and penalized even imprisoned dissenters. They have appointed themselves the supreme arbiters of truth and invoked the power of a partisan Judiciary to prop up their ill-gotten and facile authority. Consider the reflex to totalitarianism glimpsed in the COVID responses of functionally socialist states the likes of the U.K., Australia, and Canada. The selfsame aspiration to tyranny festers in the malignancy that is America's Democrat party. As the sun sets on American unity and the battle lines between left and right are drawn, my family and I resign ourselves to the defense of liberty, the preservation of constitutionality, and the sustainment of those ideals for which our fathers founding and familial alike fought and died. That we will soon be called upon to live up to the examples set by our forebears is the great terror and glory of our lives. Image: Don Hankins via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). With no irony whatsover, Kamala Harris stated yesterday in Florida what most of us have been thinking all along. HARRIS: "Let me start by saying this: I am a product of a public school education. I was sharing with some of the teachers earlier. My first grade teacher, Mrs Francis Wilson, god rest her soul, attended my law school graduation. I am a product of teachers and an educational system that believed in providing the children with the full expanse of information that allowed them to then and encourage them to then reach their own conclusions. Any exercise critical thought. in a way that was directly intended to nurture their leadership. I am fully aware that it is because of that approach that I stand before you, as vice president of the United States." Which is precisely what most of us have been concerned about in public education. First, when Harris speaks of public education, she's talking mostly Canadian public schools, based on the schools she went to as a teenager, according to her Wikipedia page. But combined with her education in American public schools, which is also there, Kamala Harris isn't exactly the poster girl for their efficacy of results. Based on her continuously stupid statements, and statements suggesting a lack of basic knowledge about the world, and her inability to speak a word of Spanish from a state that has many Spanish speakers, and the Democrat party's general aversion to having her at the top of the presidential ticket, one can only conclude that they didn't teach her much of anything and she didn't learn much of anything, either. Not knowledge. Not critical thinking. Some educational highlights: First, she's never released her transcripts from her public school educations, which is ... interesting. Second, after all that public school education, she somehow didn't get into Stanford University, despite her father having a professorship there, which normally could get her on the easy legacy 'admit' list so long as she could meet some minimum standards, nor did she go to Canada's most prestigious university, McGill University, where her mother was affiliated as a researcher. She, uh, wasn't exactly prepared for anything fancy after all that public school education, it seems, so she went to lower-ranked Howard University, where more applicants get in. Third, she flunked the bar the first time she took it, at least once, despite going to a fairly well regarded public law school, the University of California's Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. Then she went to Florida to lecture on slavery, mangling her history more than a little, which is easy to do if you don't know much about history, as the song goes. Nevertheless, her narrative seems explicitly intending to say that public schools are what made her so smart and so accomplished, let's look again at how she came to where she is. Was it her schooling that got her into the vice presidency? Or was it Willie Brown who got her into her political career, following her "service" to him as his mistress? One of these things is not like the other. That public education she brags about was a different kind of public education, as I noted here back in 2019: So now that Harris is presented as a role model and antidote-to-Trump these days, is she going to encourage all the little girls out there by saying that getting a politically strong boyfriend is the way to make it big in politics now? One wonders. Let's hope she has to answer some questions about it from the Trump camp in what's sure to be a pious and hectoring political campaign. Let's hope that's not what she means by the public education she so touts to others. She's a walking, talking example of what not to do, and if anything, the sorry effects of a deficient public education. She's all in for it and now offers herself as a poster girl for it. One, two, many Kamalas... Let's hope not. Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 Florida's Brevard County school board recently passed a new dress code policy that prohibits students from dressing like animals. Citing complaints by fellow students about "furries," the board forbade attire emulating "non-human characteristics." Cat ears and dog collars, for example. However, some claim that the county's new dress code violates President Joe Biden's proposed Title IX regulations. The controversy over the proposed regulations apparently centers on the redefinition of "sex" to mean "gender identity." What, exactly, does "gender identity" mean? Well, the New York State Department of Education defines "gender identity" as "a mental, emotional, and spiritual state that is not determined by a person's anatomy." (Sure. Now tell me you'll still respect me in the morning.) Yet if gender identity is nothing more than a "mental, emotional, and spiritual state," in no way determined by reproductive anatomy, why should it be confined to human anatomy? Why couldn't a girl or boy legitimately decide to identify as a kitten? Who's to say that little Johnny or Joanie can't claim to be a kitten, a skunk or a lake trout, for that matter? Are we that intolerant, that bigoted, that closed-minded? Anatomy is entirely inconsequential, arbitrary...moot. We don't even know what it is there for, or if there ever was a reason for sexual differentiation or complementarity. Is not the science "settled" on that? Who would deny furries their inalienable rights? Their fight must become our fight. And it just might become the most important civil rights movement of our time. Unless the righteous drive for pansexual acceptance does. Or the push for the legalization of polyamory. Or bestiality. Or necrophilia. There is so much work yet to do if we are to achieve that most precious and laudable goal of becoming a judgment-free society with equal outcomes for all! The fact that man-caused global warming currently and disproportionately affects non-binary, pansexual furries is a stain on our nation. Shame! Shame, I say! The preposterous claim that the ridiculous gender identity movement also somehow encompasses animal identification has been promulgated by Gender Spectrum, a gender identity advocacy organization that purports to have "trained thousands of schools and school districts ... building the capacities of tens of thousands of teachers, administrators ... and other leaders to create gender inclusive environments." The group has apparently partnered with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National PTA, the American School Counselors Association, and the School Superintendents Association, among others. Moreover, in 2015, Gender Spectrum co-authored a report titled "Schools in Transition," which was sponsored and promoted by none other than the National Education Association itself...and may well have been the first major policy paper arguing that schools should socially gender-transition students without their parents' knowledge. Why not stand in solidarity with Gender Spectrum? I mean, if a young student wants to identify as or should I say actually become a mouse, moose, or a beaver, why should schools be allowed to prohibit them from wearing the outfits that match their species identity? And there is certainly no need to inform the parents. Title IX doesn't go far enough. It's okay to prohibit sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity that receives funding from the federal government, but why not ban species-based discrimination as well? Meow! Woof! Note to readers: Sarcasm is abundantly employed here, pretending to advocate madness. Photo credit: Liliana Drew, Pexels license. This week, the Illinois Supreme Court issued its long-awaited ruling on the fate of the recently signed SAFE-T Act, which basically eliminated the use of cash bail for pretrial detention. In short, the state's highest court ruled in favor of the law, arguing, "The Illinois Constitution of 1970 does not mandate that monetary bail is the only means to ensure criminal defendants appear for trials or the only means to protect the public. Our constitution creates a balance between the individual rights of defendants and the individual rights of crime victims." Social justice advocates, including Cook County district attorney Kim Foxx, have universally praised the ruling. According to Foxx, the ruling is "a monumental milestone toward achieving equal justice for all in Cook County and Illinois." Foxx added, "Ending cash bail is in line with our values and is a critical step toward economic and racial justice in Cook County and Illinois, which is why I have supported and advocated for its end from the beginning. I will continue to support our court stakeholders as they prepare to implement the end of the cash bond." Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson also celebrated the ruling, saying, "Cash bail does not make communities safer, and it never has; it has simply exacerbated existing inequities and disparities in the criminal legal system. Pretrial detention, as a result of the inability to pay bail, further decimates communities that have long been most impacted by mass incarceration, and the destabilization of households and families." Unfortunately, Johnson, Foxx, Gov. J.B. Pritzker, and Illinois attorney general Kwame Raoul, who are all in on ending cash bail, are dead wrong when it comes to this life-and-death issue. All these officials claim that ending cash bail does not lead to increased crime; however, the facts say otherwise. Consider. In 2020, California temporarily suspended cash bail in an effort to alleviate overcrowding in its jails during the pandemic. What happened next? If you guessed that California experienced a spike in crime and that the vast majority of those let loose without paying a penny in bail committed new crimes, you would be correct. According to Yolo County district attorney Jeff Reisig, "the Yolo County District Attorney's office conducted an analysis of $0 bail and rearrests. Recent criminal histories of the 595 individuals released on $0 bail in Yolo County were reviewed for any new arrests in the state of California. Of the 595 individuals released, 420 were rearrested (70.6%) and 123 (20% of the overall number or 29% of those rearrested) were arrested for a crime of violence. The crimes of violence included murder, attempted murder, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, and domestic violence." Like California, and many other states, for that matter, Illinois is dealing with a large crime uptick. Specifically, crime is surging in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Also like California, Illinois in general, and Chicago in particular, has failed to float any solutions to the disturbing spike in crime. Actually, state and city leaders seem more preoccupied with handcuffing the police than they are handcuffing and jailing suspects of crimes. For example, did you know that Chicago police officers are not allowed to chase potential suspects on foot? This is but one of many insane policies that are preventing Chicago's finest from properly policing a city that is facing a crime crisis. Sadly, those who will pay the price for the state's misguided zero bail policy will be predominantly minority communities, because this is where the vast majority of crimes occur in cities like Chicago. Can someone please explain to me how ending cash bail, which results in criminals committing more crimes while putting law-abiding citizens at greater risk, could possibly be considered a "monumental milestone" and a "critical step toward economic and racial justice"? Chris Talgo (ctalgo@heartland.org) is editorial director at The Heartland Institute. Image: Daniel Schwen. Steven L. Shields poses with his Korean-language tutor at Bulguk Temple in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, 1976. Courtesy of Steven L. Shields By Steven L. Shields I arrived in Korea at the tender age of 19, a time in most young people's lives when they believe themselves impervious to disease, death and other calamities. Korea in the mid-1970s was a land on the cusp of an economic explosion, but it hadn't happened yet. Many of the puzzle pieces were in place, though. In a short decade, the small, impoverished, war-torn and oppressed former kingdom, former empire and former colony would roar onto the world stage and soon be known as the "Miracle on the Han River." A newsstand offers various publications, including The Korea Times, in 1976. The once-ubiquitous newsstands have largely disappeared, replaced by more permanent stalls in the busy areas of the city or by convenience stores elsewhere. Courtesy of Steven L. Shields For many in the 1970s, prosperity was still a distant dream. Most people then lived outside the bustle and traffic snarls of a city that had grown so quickly that infrastructure lagged terribly. Then-President Park Chung-hee commanded legions of "bulldozers" some figurative and some literal. So much of Korea's rich heritage was lost in that era. Still, the city desperately needed wider streets to make way for the increased motor traffic: buses, trucks, taxis and the endless parade of construction equipment. I watched as huge swaths of downtown Seoul Jongno, Cheonggyero and Euljiro were widened by cutting back existing buildings and erecting new outside walls while leaving some original buildings standing. Seen is an arch over Sejongno Intersection in 1976. It was a long-time fixture of the area, as the statue of Yi Sun-shin still is today. Visible in the distant background is the former Capitol building that was built by the Japanese, but used by the Korea well into the 1980s when it was converted to the National Museum of Korea. After much debate, the structure was demolished in the 1990s during the presidency of Kim Young-sam. Courtesy of Steven L. Shields Armed with a new 35mm SLR camera and a couple of rolls of Kodachrome, I pursued my photography hobby albeit with a bit more miserliness than I would have preferred. Film and processing were both expensive, and I had a small budget. I could not take my camera every day during my early missionary service, so I missed more photos than I was ever able to take. I remember some scenes today and often say, "I wish I had a photo of that." Even so, my photos are neither artistic, well-focused nor framed, and colors faded over time before I could digitize my precious negatives. I spent only a few months in Seoul on my arrival. Then I went south to Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province , where I tried to learn the language. I am grateful to my patient teacher, who spent countless hours drilling me on vocabulary and sentence structure. Cheongju was more to my liking than the big city. It was still an agricultural, rural capital, with a small footprint for the city itself (even in the mid-1970s, the heart of the city was still confined by the area within the long-destroyed city walls. Street names went according to the gates in the wall. The new train station (now gone, replaced by towering office and apartment buildings) was outside the historical city. The old 1920s train station is now a heritage site, and it was in the center of the old town. An even newer train station well outside the historical area (built in the 1980s) gets little traffic these days since the main line and KTX all bypass Cheongju, favoring outlying suburbs instead. In that agricultural mecca, I felt at home. My ancestors have been farmers for as many centuries as we can trace the family heritage in Scotland, England and Germany. My first years as a child were in a small house on land that had been my great-great-grandfather's farm. At age 10, I drove the combine harvester (which we used to harvest almost 1,000 acres of wheat) to and from the fields. I was tall enough to reach the pedals, and it didn't go much faster than 10 kilometers per hour. I didn't yet have the skill to keep it on a straight path in the field, but the country lane between the fields and my grandfather's house, where we kept all the equipment, was easy to navigate. It should be no surprise that I have more than enough photos of the farms around Cheongju. Those fields are long gone, replaced by roads, apartments and commercial buildings as the city grew and grew and grew over the past almost 50 years since I first lived there. The loading dock at the former Korea Times building at Gwanghwamun features a fleet of delivery trucks in 1977. The building was destroyed in 2007. Courtesy of Steven L. Shields What do you know? We learned that the president of Mexico wants his "compatriots" to oppose Governor Greg Abbott. Here is the story: 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. Wow. We are in new territory, aren't we? We have never seen anything like this before because Mexico has had a tradition of staying away from other countries' elections. My longtime Mexican friend told me months ago that Mexican presidents stay away from commenting on the other countries because they don't want anyone talking about their elections. It's the idea that we won't say anything, and you won't say anything about us. Enter AMLO. He injected himself into Peru's internal matters, publicly challenging an impeachment of his leftist friend President Pedro Castillo. Now he is calling on his "compatriots" here to vote one way or another. It's an outrage, but it's happening because no one fears President Biden. No one is afraid of getting a phone call threatening direct action. I guess President Biden has other things to get involved with. Or maybe he does not mind because AMLO is calling on Mexicans to vote Democrat. Remember when Hugo Chavez mocked President George W. Bush at the U.N. in 2006? Who defended President Bush? Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who said this: You don't come into my country; you don't come into my congressional district and you don't condemn my president. Well, those were the days, my friend. What Democrat will defend the country this time around? It might be a good question for Democrats on the border facing the challenges of President Biden's border disaster. PS: Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos. Image: Eneas de Troya. Samsung is getting closer to the One UI 5.1.1 stable update. The company recently updated its Good Guardians app to add support for the new, unreleased One UI version. It is already running One UI 5.1.1 public beta programs for the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Tab S8 series. Good Guardians, which was formerly known as Galaxy Labs, is a first-party Samsung app that gives Galaxy users access to various system management tools. It offers a battery tracker where you get detailed battery stats, tips to extend the battery life, an app performance booster, a temperature monitor, a memory utility, a media file manager, and more. Samsung recently updated the app to version 4.5.06, but seemingly with no notable changes. The update is rolling out through the Galaxy Store, with the changelog containing just one line: support for One UI 5.1.1 (via SamMobile). This makes Good Guardians usable for Galaxy users testing the new One UI version. But more importantly, its an indication of a nearing public release of the update. Good Guardians isnt the first Samsung app that has received One UI 5.1.1 support. The company previously updated the Nice Catch app, which is a Good Lock module, as well. A few others may have gone under the radar, or without the changelog mentioning One UI 5.1.1. All in all, the Korean behemoth looks buckled up to roll out the new One UI version to compatible Galaxy devices soon. Speaking of compatible devices, One UI 5.1.1 should be available to all recent foldables and flagship Galaxy tablets. Since the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Tab S8 series already have beta programs, they should be first in the pipeline. Samsung may also push it to recent Galaxy S series phones. A few features may trickle down to select Galaxy A models as well. We will let you know when we have more information. Upcoming Samsung foldables and tablets should ship with One UI 5.1.1 Samsung is preparing to host a major launch event next week. The Galaxy Unpacked in Seoul, South Korea, on July 26 will bring several new products. The company has readied the Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldables, Galaxy Tab S9 series tablets, and Galaxy Watch 6 series smartwatches. If history is any indication, the new foldables and tablets should run One UI 5.1.1 out of the box. The new watches should ship with One UI 5 Watch based on Wear OS 4. Stay tuned for the big event next Wednesday. (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 22 - The freed Egyptian researcher, human rights activist and Bologna University alumnus Patrick Zaki is expected in Bologna on Sunday evening, the university said on Saturday. Zaki will fly into Milan Malpensa and be accompanied to the Alma Mater by Rector Giovanni Molari and Professor Rita Monticelli, the coordinator of the master's course in women's and gender studies in which he graduated earlier this month. The three will then hold a press conference at the university at 8.30 pm local time. Zaki will not meet with reporters at Malpensa airport. In agreement with the municipality of Bologna, a public event is planned in Bologna's Piazza Maggiore on July 30 at 8 pm to celebrate the activist's release and return to Italy. On Friday Zaki celebrated his pardon and release from police custody in Cairo with other human rights activists including lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer, who also received a pardon from Egyptian President al Sisi on Wednesday. On Tuesday Zaki was sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly spreading fake news in relation to an article on the condition of Coptic Christians in Egypt. He has been arrested by Egyptian police in February 2020 and held in pre-trial detention for 22 months before being released but banned from leaving the country. Earlier this month Zaki obtained a masters degree in women's and gender studies from Bologna University with the maximum grade of 110 with distinction, defending his thesis via video link after the authorities in his homeland refused permission for him to present it in person. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 22 - Reception capacity on the Sicilian island of Lampedusa remained under strain on Saturday morning following the arrival of 266 migrants and refugees since midnight. Coast guard and finance police patrol boats intervened in support of seven boats including one carrying nine Tunisians of whom seven were pregnant women. The other boats carried between 21 and 49 people. On Friday a total of 936 migrants and refugees arrived in 28 boats on the tiny stepping-stone island that is closer to north Africa than it is to Europe. As of 9 am local time there were 2,501 people in the hotspot against an official capacity of around 400. Of the total, 1,034 were reported to be minors. A group of 760 people were due to be transferred off Lampedusa to Porto Empedocle on mainland Sicily later on Saturday. On Friday in total of 1,244 migrants and refugees were transferred off the island by a combination of passenger ferry, finance police patrol boat and the naval vessel Cassiopea. The Cassiopea docked in Reggio Calabria on Saturday morning. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 22 - Environment and Energy Security Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin on Saturday announced a decree providing for the extraction of Italian natural gas among other things. "In early September I will present an energy decree containing a whole series of interventions needed to rearrange the energy framework," said Pichetto during the first Renewable Energy Thinktank in Saint-Vincent near Aosta. "It involves correcting a series of things, and in any case adapting them to the times," added the minister. Pichetto said measures would include "the possibility of also using our natural gas deposits". "Otherwise in some contexts, in the Adriatic, we run the risk that only other countries will draw from them," he added. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUL 22 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Saturday that global action is needed by Europe and other countries to solve the migration phenomenon at its roots. "Italy has put the spotlight on the migration issue for months now, making it not only a national, but also a European and international issue," said Tajani on the eve of the international conference on migration and development in Rome. "The Italian strategy, a Mattei Plan (for Africa, focusing on migration and energy, ed.), cannot be sufficient; what is needed is global action by Europe and other countries" in order to "get to the root of the problem," he added. This, said Tajani, is why "tomorrow there will be a big event at the Foreign Ministry in Rome with the participation of leaders from North Africa, from the Mediterranean area, but also from the Gulf countries, that is, countries that invest in Africa, with the participation of Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel". Migration, added the foreign minister, cannot be "just an issue of policing, but one that implies a short, medium and long term strategy" in order to tackle the root causes. These are "climate change, poverty, terrorism, civil war and a set of contributing causes", continued Tajani. "If we add the grain crisis things risk getting even worse." (ANSA). Late-night visitors at Banksys Glasgow show were greeted by death on a dodgem at the Gallery of Modern Art. On Friday evening, a figure of the Grim Reaper prowled the citys Royal Exchange Square in a remote-controlled dodgem while Stayin Alive by the Bee Gees blared on repeat through speakers in order to encourage passers-by to attend the show. The Grim Reaper, first spotted in Bristol, is one of Banksys most famous works. It has been a feature in two previous exhibitions in New York in 2013 and at Dismaland in Weston-Super-Mare in 2015. Outside the Goma, the reaper did donuts and charged maniacally at passers-by as it caught the attention of onlookers. The elusive artists first solo show in 14 years arrived in Glasgow under a shroud of secrecy last month, Glasgows Gallery of Modern Art for the first time showing stencils used by the street artist to create many of his works in his new exhibition Cut & Run. Banksys grim reaper roams the streets of Glasgow (Ryan McDougall/PA) Banksy, whose identity has never been revealed publicly, used stencils from many of his most famous artworks to create new versions for the exhibition. The artist said he took the show to Glasgow because his favourite work of art the statue of the Duke of Wellington, which has a traffic cone on top of it is situated just outside the gallery. George and Jane Barbour were out in Glasgow when they decided to attend the show. George said the show was hilariously funny, adding Banksy is amazing, has a great sense of humour and said the Grim Reaper was really funny. Jane said: It looked a lot of fun, I wish we couldve got a shot! I think they could have sold tickets for that bit. Banksys grim reaper mascot outside the Gallery of Modern Art (Ryan McDougall/PA) Louise and Charlie were up visiting family when they decided to attend the show. Charlie said they had hoped to attend Dismaland but unfortunately missed it. Louise said: Its a one off maybe it will tour. Hopefully itll go down to tour the UK, but was brilliant. She added the reaper was hilarious, very clever! Charlie said: Its quite interesting the use of the scythe as the top bit with the sparkler. John and Laura Brown found the show both unbelievable and absolutely amazing. John added: Even if you arent interested in it, theres so much to see in it. I thought (the reaper) was quite cool, the truck with the animals on it was quite spooky! Laura said: Absolutely incredible. The whole thing was incredible. Real sketches and just reading everything, getting more information on him as well so cool! Banksys original grim reaper painting Brace Yourself! (PA) Kayleigh and Tomash also visited the show, with Kayleigh saying it was a very revealing show that humanises Banksy. On the reaper, she said: Thats what pulled me in tonight actually. I live round the corner and I was like, I dunno, I was too busy, and then I saw the sign outside saying its going to be open for later, so thats why we came in. That drew us in for sure! When the show was launched, Banksy said: Ive kept these stencils hidden away for years, mindful they could be used as evidence in a charge of criminal damage. That moment seems to have passed, so now Im exhibiting them in a gallery as works of art. Im not sure which is the greater crime. The exhibition has been hugely popular with day tickets selling out quickly, but art fans can still take a late-night trip or turn up on the day. Nearby Maxs Bar on Queen Street in Glasgow is serving free Irn-Bru margaritas to anyone holding a late night show ticket. Tickets for Cut and Run are available via the shows website at https://cutandrun.co.uk/ Rep. Kim Mi-ae of the ruling People Power Party, center, poses with organizers, presenters and supporters of the National Assembly's Open Forum on the Management of Adoption Records at the National Assembly Library auditorium, July 17. Courtesy of Jia H. Jung Adoptees and other victims of false birth and adoption papers demand truth at National Assembly Library By Jia H. Jung Tensions between international adoptees and Korean officials erupted last Monday during a forum held at the National Assembly Library addressing the management of national adoption records. After experts gave their recommendations on the country's handling of over seven decades of birth and adoption documents, 15 minutes remained for members of the audience to voice concerns and ask questions. The short session ended with a shouting match among attendees and a walkout by a group of 16 international adoptees and a man raised within Korea's orphanage system. International Korean adoptees comprised at least half the audience of approximately 60 people. Some were residents or reinstated citizens of Korea, while others were in Seoul at the tail end of the 2023 International Korean Adoptee Associations (IKAA) Gathering that had concluded the night before, which had over 450 adoptees in attendance from around the world. The tensions underscored human rights concerns about pending legislation to allow anonymous births and relinquishment of babies. If passed, the law could perpetuate the systemic lack of identity information already impacting over 200,000 ethnic Koreans sent overseas for adoption at a young age and more than 1 million domestic adoptees and children raised within facilities and the foster system of Korea. Many arrived ready to express concerns about a bill put forward to allow women to give birth anonymously , but the topic did not arise during the presentations. . Danish Korean adoptee Peter Moller, co-leader of the Danish Korean Rights Group, speaks during the National Assembly's Open Forum on the Management of Adoption Records at the National Assembly Library auditorium, July 17. Courtesy of Jia H. Jung Peter Moller, a Danish Korean adoptee and co-head of the Danish Korean Rights Group, asked how the panelists would parse out true and accurate information from records falsified by private adoption agencies. Moller has been calling for an investigation by Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission into crimes and abuses of the adoption system . Goh Geum-ran, vice president of Korea's National Center for Rights of the Child (NCRC), said that she acknowledged that there was a limit to what her center could do and that the focus was to try harder and do better at least from this point on. Women's and children's rights attorney Jeon Min-kyeong, a former NCRC Adoption Policy Team employee, later stood and said that Moller's question had been lost in translation. She asked what would be done about the double archives created by private adoption agencies fabricating "goa hojeok." "Goa hojeok" are family registrations that adoption agencies and intermediaries began making after the 1950-53 Korean War so children would be more readily adoptable. The practice erased the original identities of children and created paper orphans out of kids who had living biological families. Danish Korean adoptee Han Boon-young, co-founder of the Korean Adoptee Adoption Research Network, stood at the forum to once again ask how to reconcile double archives, and whether private agencies have been cooperating. "If the original documents aren't transferred, it's not really of help to adoptees," she concluded, to hearty applause. Danish Korean adoptee Han Boon-young, co-founder of Korean Adoptee Adoption Research Network, stands among a group of international adoptees as she reiterates a question about false family records created by adoption agencies and intermediaries during the National Assembly's Open Forum on the Management of Adoption Records at the National Assembly Library auditorium, July 17. Courtesy of Jia H. Jung A survivor of the domestic adoption system who spoke up was Cho Min-ho, who was raised entirely in the country's orphanage facilities. At age 4, he lost hold of his mother's hand in a busy marketplace in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province. Rather than reuniting him with his family, an adoption company gave him a new name and wrote him onto a false hojeok in 1977, rendering him an orphan viable for the international adoption market. According to national documents, overseas adoptions in 1978 brought in 3.8 million won ($3,000) each, while placement of a child in facilities housing real and paper orphans generated donations and subsidies of approximately 1.5 million won ($1,185). Cho was admitted to Chuncheon Pentecostal orphanage, a facility housing approximately 60 children used as a source for Holt International Children's Services, an international adoption agency. When he resisted attempts to send him to the U.K. and the U.S., the agency sent others instead. From 1977 through 1979, Cho saw at least 50 peers shipped overseas with constructed identities, while he stayed back with the hope of reuniting with his family. "Back then it was so hard," he recalled of the living conditions in an orphanage camp in Wonju. "It was really like a prison. They made us do hard labor, didn't feed us sufficiently. So I just got out of there as soon as I turned 17." It was 1990 when Cho left the system and got a job at a toothbrush factory. He thinks that there are 1.5 million others in the country like him without real records. He hardly knows a single one of them people rarely disclose a lack of original family background out of fear of discrimination in every aspect of society, from education to career to marriage prospects. He believes that an unknown number of this population take their own lives or scrape by on the streets. Cho implored the panel: "What will you do about this? You need to disclose falsified, inaccurate records and upright them. This isn't just about listing the right names it's about a person's fate." He urged the NCRC to hurry up. As those sharing Cho's predicament age, the realistic chances of a reunion with original families grow slim. The gathered adoptees applauded. Cho Min-ho, whose family records were fabricated at age 4 in 1977, shares his concerns during the National Assembly's Open Forum on the Management of Adoption Records at the National Assembly Library auditorium, July 17. Courtesy of Jia H. Jung Four activists have been arrested and charged with public order and breach of the peace offences after they allegedly blocked the entrance to an oil refinery with an old washing machine. Protesters from This Is Rigged allegedly locked themselves onto an old washing machine, halting traffic in both directions at the entrance of the Grangemouth oil refinery from 7pm on Friday. The group claimed their alleged action halted petrol distribution from the oil terminal and they remained at the scene into the early hours of Saturday morning, police say. It is part of a sustained series of actions in which the campaign group has vowed to shut down the Scottish oil industry which saw blockades by the group at terminals in Clydebank and Grangemouth on Wednesday and Thursday. More than 30 arrests have been made of climate activists this week across various actions. This Is Rigged activists claim their alleged activities have stopped fuel distribution in Scotland (This Is Rigged/PA) Hannah Bright, 21, a community worker and This Is Rigged co-founder said: These blockades are about hope over fear. Im here to stand up for my own for ordinary people in Scotland and all over the world who have been screwed over for far too long by the people in power. Im not going anywhere, even if that means I have to cement myself to a road. We wont be cowed by well-polished corporate BS, or police bullying. Were here to stay. The only way to stop us is to meet our demands. Assistant Chief Constable Wendy Middleton from Police Scotland said: A further four people have been arrested and charged with offences under section 68 of the Public Order Act and breach of the peace at the INEOS site in Grangemouth. They gathered in the area in the early hours of Saturday July 22 2023. Decisions about how to police protests require us to balance complex and often competing rights and issues. We have a legal duty to protect the rights of people who wish to peacefully protest or counter-protest. The guiding principles of policing protests are the safety of protesters, the public and police officers involved, preventing criminal behaviour or disorder, and de-escalating tensions. Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Labour must learn the lesson of seeing a party policy used against it following a narrow defeat in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. The Labour leader said there was something very wrong when a party policy was on each and every Tory leaflet following attacks on London mayor Sadiq Khans plan to expand the capitals ultra low emission zone (Ulez), which applies a charge for the most polluting vehicles. Addressing the partys national policy forum in Nottingham, Sir Keir said that, while the by-election win in Selby and Ainsty should give Labour every reason to be confident ahead of a general election, the Uxbridge and South Ruislip result demonstrated that there is still a long way to go. Labour overturned a 20,000 majority to win the Selby seat in north Yorkshire with a 23.7 percentage points swing away from the Conservatives the second largest produced by Labour at a by-election since 1945. But Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks Conservatives hanging on in Boris Johnsons old Uxbridge seat has sparked debates within both the Tories and Labour on their green policy stance. Sir Keir told the forum on Saturday: That result in Uxbridge demonstrates there is never any reason to be complacent and never a reason to rest on our laurels. It is a reminder that in an election, policy matters. We are doing something very wrong if policies put forward by the Labour Party end up on each and every Tory leaflet. Weve got to face up to that and to learn the lesson. The Opposition leader urged the forum, which is debating potential manifesto ideas, to stay disciplined as he warned that the Tories were likely to seize on rogue policies during next years likely general election campaign. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (centre) and deputy leader Angela Rayner with Labour candidate Alistair Strathern (left) during a visit to Shefford in the constituency of Mid Bedfordshire (Jacob King/PA) Following the byelection result in west London on Friday, Sir Keir said City Halls Mr Khan should reflect on the expansion of Ulez after new Tory MP Steve Tuckwell painted the vote as a referendum on the toll. Labour candidate Danny Beales, who cut the Tory majority from 7,200 to less than 500 votes, had called for Ulezs expansion to every London borough to be delayed during the campaign. According to HuffPost, Mr Beales told Labours policy forum that the environmental proposal designed to cut air pollution is bad policy. Mr Khan plans next month, pending a court challenge, to widen the 12.50 daily charge for cars which fail to meet emissions standards to beyond the capitals north and south circular roads. (PA Graphics) Mr Beales reportedly told the conference that a single policy cut us off at the knees and acted as a dead-weight when canvassing for votes ahead of Thursdays polling day. You cannot tell working people you are laser-focused on the cost of living, on the difficulties facing them, on making life easier and then also penalise them simply for driving their car to work, Mr Beales reportedly said. Mr Khans team said nine out of 10 cars driving in outer London were already compliant with Ulez regulations and would not be charged. A source close to the Labour mayor said winning Uxbridge was always going to be a struggle, pointing out that Sir Tony Blair did not turn it over during his 1997 landslide. It is a disappointing result and Sadiq has been clear he is listening to Londoners following this by-election, the source told PA news agency. Sadiq has always said that expanding the Ulez was a really difficult decision, but necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners. (PA Graphics) Following the Uxbridge win, Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak is facing calls from members of his party to water down pledges designed to help the UK meet its pledge of having a net zero carbon economy by 2050. Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, chairman of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, has suggested delaying the ban on new petrol and diesel cars, pushing it back at least five years to 2035. Health minister Maria Caulfield said the Tory Government was committed to a mixed energy economy with both new oil and gas licences being approved, along with moves to develop renewable energy as she swerved questions on whether policies such as the phasing out of gas boilers by 2035 should be postponed. While Mr Sunak avoided a triple by-election defeat, the ruling party saw heavy losses inflicted by voters in what were once considered safe seats. As well as losing in Selby, the Tories also came second in Somerton and Frome, with the Liberal Democrats turning a 19,000 blue majority into an 11,000-vote cushion for new MP Sarah Dyke. Newly elected Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Dyke with party leader Sir Ed Davey in Frome, Somerset, after her win (Ben Birchall/PA) Mr Sunak, according to an ally of the Prime Minister quoted in The Times, is preparing to approach the lead-up to next years likely election with more political edge in recognition that substantive issues, such as Ulez in Uxbridge, can help the Tories to win. The newspaper said Mr Sunak is planning to focus on divisive issues, such as crime, cracking down on small boats of migrants arriving in Britain, and transgender rights, to claw back ground on Labour, with Sir Keirs outfit well ahead in opinion polls. Ms Caulfield said the by-election results suggested there was no appetite among the electorate for a Starmer premiership, and showed instead that Tory voters were angry with how her party had governed. She told Sky News: What we saw in Somerton and Frome and in Selby and Ainsty is that actually, the Liberal and Labour votes only went up by two or three thousand and the majority of Conservative voters did not switch to those other parties they just stayed at home. That tells me that our Conservative voters dont really want the other parties, they are just angry with us, sending us a message and wanting us to be a Conservative Party. It has been difficult over the last few years. Weve had war in Europe, a pandemic that has meant weve had to spend in ways that Conservatives traditionally wouldnt. I think once they see that were able to get the economy back on track, deal with the migrant issue, tackle the NHS waiting lists, they are waiting for us to be able to deliver. And I think you may see a very different result come the general election. Labour should stick to their guns on expanding a charge on the most polluting vehicles in London, according to TV presenter Chris Packham. The environmental campaigner said a Labour government could consider taxing the profits of oil and gas giants to help pay for motorists to switch to cleaner vehicles as part of Labour mayor Sadiq Khans expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez). The Opposition party is embroiled in a debate about the Ulez extension after senior figures appeared to blame the mayors plans to extend it for Labours failure to win the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. The Conservatives hung on to Boris Johnsons old seat by 495 votes in Thursdays poll well down on the 7,200 majority the former prime minister secured in 2019. New Tory MP Steve Tuckwell and his campaigners focused on local anger about Mr Khans proposal to widen the 12.50 daily charge for cars that fail to meet emissions standards to beyond the capitals north and south circular roads. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said he did not think there was any doubt that Ulez was the reason that we lost the election in Uxbridge. He told his partys national policy forum on Saturday that future campaigns had to learn the lesson from Uxbridge after the Tories plastered their campaign leaflets with attacks on the widening of the Ulez charge. But Mr Packham said Labour would betray children with breathing difficulties if it did not act to cut pollution. The presenter of the programme, Earth, said a transition was needed to cleaner air, citing figures suggesting 30,000 people die annually because of poor air quality in the UK. The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) proved a central issue in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election (Lucy North/PA) Speaking to Times Radio, the naturalist said: My question is quite simple. The Labour Party are being asked, are you going to drop that part of your policy? What are you going to do? Do you want to grab short-term power and betray all of those children with asthma? Do you want to protect humanity and the rest of life on Earth? Or is it just about you getting into office? Theyve got to stick to their guns here. Mr Packham suggested the bill for pollution controls should fall on firms making money from fossil fuel sales. The difficult question is, where are they going to get the money to pay for it? Because the people in poverty in London who cant afford to switch their vehicles shouldnt ought to be the people that pay, he continued. The people who ought to be paying are people like Centrica that have announced enormous record profits this week, like Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, who are posting all of these record profits, not because of a shortage of oil, but because of a war they are exploiting. Sadiq Khans Ulez expansion is facing a legal challenge (Lucy North/PA) As a consequence of that, we need a government robust enough to stand up (and say), Were going to tax these people and were going to make sure that we subsidise a just transition through to a cleaner use of energy. Mr Khans team said nine out of 10 cars driving in outer London were already compliant with Ulez regulations and would not be charged. Officials also pointed to a 110 million scrappage scheme unveiled by City Hall as part of the expansion, which is due to go ahead next month pending a legal challenge. A source close to Mr Khan said: Winning Uxbridge and South Ruislip was always going to be a struggle for Labour. Labour hasnt won this seat for five decades and Tony Blair didnt even win it during the 1997 landslide. It is a disappointing result and Sadiq has been clear he is listening to Londoners following this by-election. The mayor is always looking at ways he can address their concerns. Sadiq has always said that expanding the Ulez was a really difficult decision, but necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners. McDonalds is to investigate allegations that an employee in Ireland was subjected to taunts at work after she was raped at a house party. Ciara Mangan waived her right to anonymity and spoke publicly this week after a former co-worker was convicted of raping her 10 years ago. She said was taunted at work with rape songs and rape comments after the attack. In a statement, the fast food companys UK and Ireland chief executive Alistair Macrow said: I commend Ciaras bravery in speaking about her horrific experience. I am deeply appalled by these new allegations and commit to investigating them to our fullest extent through our investigation-handling unit. Earlier this week, Mr Macrow appointed a new unit to crack down on sexual harassment and bullying after admitting the business has fallen short following a report by the BBC on several allegations of harassment at the company. He said the investigation-handling unit will be able to refer cases to specialist investigators. It comes after more than 100 past and present workers said they were sexually harassed or assaulted or subjected to racism or bullying at the chain. The allegations I have heard this week are personally and professionally shocking. I would like to reiterate my unreserved apology to, and empathy with, all those affected in any way, and I commend their bravery in coming forward. We have clearly fallen short in some critical areas, and I am determined to root out any behaviour or conduct that falls below the high standards of respect, safety and inclusion we demand of everyone at McDonalds, as detailed in our global brand standards. An update from Alistair Macrow our CEO, to view the full statement click here: https://t.co/BRW0sXznW0 pic.twitter.com/Ua8fif4Ygc McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) July 21, 2023 Mr Macrow said the unit, run by HR and legal professionals, will be in place until at least the end of the year. He said: Any substantiated breaches of our code of conduct will be met with the most severe measures up to and including dismissal. He also promised to appoint external experts who can evaluate what happens when a member of staff complains about a colleague. The BBC report included allegations that complaints had not been escalated properly. The outside experts will assess whether McDonalds escalation policy is effective and accessible and how much employees understand it. I will make sure that everyone is in no doubt of my own unequivocal insistence on zero tolerance of harassment of any kind and to ensure our non-negotiable message of respect and inclusivity is heard clearly throughout our business, Mr Macrow added. The BBC reported a McDonalds worker in his late 30s asked to show a 17-year-old colleague his penis after calling her a racial slur. Another 17-year-old girl said a senior McDonalds manager grabbed her bottom and choked her. In February, McDonalds signed an agreement with the equality watchdog to improve how it handles sexual harassment allegations. In 2019, the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union said it had spoken to 1,000 women who reported being subjected to sexual harassment and abuse while working at the chain. Police have appealed for potential victims of a photographer who raped a model in his London studio to come forward. Sritharan Sayanthan, 42, lured a woman who paid him for pictures to a local pub by convincing her it was a networking event, police said. He then encouraged her to get drunk very quickly, before leading her back to his studio on Brompton Road, central London, where he raped her after she passed out on the floor. The woman, in her 30s, may not be the only one attacked by Sayanthan, police said, after he was imprisoned for 11 years at Hendon Crown Court on Friday. The photographer, of Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and another of attempted rape, after the woman reported him in July last year. #JAILED I A man who ran a photography studio has been jailed after sexually abusing a former client. Read more about how specialist officers can support victims of rape or serious sexual offences.https://t.co/YLnH8EiU1J Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 22, 2023 Detective Constable Sophie Baker, of the Met Polices Central North Command, said two historical allegations of sexual assault against clients by Sayanthan in 2012 and 2015 were used as bad character evidence against him in court. She said: The victim survivor in this case was fantastic from start to finish. For victims, describing the incident in court can be daunting but she did amazingly and I am personally very proud of her bravery and thankful to her for coming forward. We also believe there could be other victims of Sayanthan and would encourage anyone who wants to speak to us to come forward. No piece of information is too small and you will be listened to and supported. Anyone with information about Sayanthan should call police via 101 with reference 1852/31JUL22. A group of primary school children left feeling ashamed of their country after murals were painted over at an asylum centre in Kent have sent hand-drawn pictures to the young refugees housed there. Two classes of pupils, aged between eight and nine, at St Gerards Catholic Primary School in Birmingham, have gathered about 100 hand-drawn pictures to send to children at the Kent Intake Centre. The drawings were sent on Friday before the school broke up for the summer holidays, with some pictures also being sent directly to immigration minister Robert Jenrick. It comes after Mr Jenrick said the murals, which included images of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters, were not age appropriate for the majority of young people staying there but reports claimed he had felt they were too welcoming. The children at St Gerards said they felt disappointed, sad, angry, and ashamed of their country, and they were inspired to do something to make the children feel more welcome. The hand-drawn pictures were sent to children in Kent (Caitlin Nash/PA) Eight-year-old Hugo told the PA news agency: When I heard it, it made me feel ashamed of my country because theyre making the childrens centre less welcoming. Another of the pupils, whose surnames have been omitted at the schools request, eight-year-old Ophelia, added: It made me feel really sad and angry, because some people in the world arent being very nice to them, and I think they should be welcomed everywhere. Ophelia added that they were inspired to make their own pictures to send to the children, saying: So we made these to send them to the Government so that they could stick them up so they feel welcomed. The pupils have gathered about 100 drawings so far, while others have written stories for the children to read. Darcey, also eight, said: As soon as I heard that those paintings were being painted over, I almost cried, because I dont think people should be treated like that because we dont know what theyre going through. Nine-year-old Anointing-Shalom said: When I heard that the pictures have been painted over, it made me angry, and it made me feel disappointed because we want them to feel welcomed. The pupils want children at asylum centres to recognise they are not alone (Caitlin Nash/PA) Were supposed to treat others how we want to be treated. Hugo said he wanted the children at the asylum centre to recognise they are not alone and that there are other people that are with them. Darcey said she wanted people to recognise that refugee children are like superheroes as theyve been escaping their country and theyve probably been walking miles and miles to just find safety. Anointing-Shaloms message to all the refugees out there is to never give up because theyve come this far and we dont want to turn them around and push them back. Of the Government, Ophelia added: I think they should listen to us and change their mind and start being kind to the refugees and giving them things. Children in the older classes at St Gerards have also written letters to their MP, Labours Paulette Hamilton, who was said to have written back giving her views and agreeing with the children about what changes they would like to see. Adult refugees from Sudan, Cameroon, Syria and Nigeria also visited the pupils at school last week, through the Stories of Hope and Home charity. As part of the schools work towards a Schools of Sanctuary award a national network of more than 400 schools committed to creating a culture of welcome and inclusion for refugees and those seeing asylum the children at St Gerards heard what it was like for refugees to leave their country and seek asylum in the UK. Asked how she felt when hearing their stories, Anointing-Shalom said: It makes me feel ashamed because it makes me feel like the country that I live in is not that friendly if youre not from here. Darcey added: It makes me feel very depressed and ashamed, because I think the Government are doing the wrong thing, and they dont know what its like to walk a mile in their shoes. Rail passengers face fresh travel misery on Saturday because of a strike by thousands of workers in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will badly disrupt services, with some parts of the country having no trains all day. Services are also being disrupted because of a ban on overtime by train drivers in the Aslef union. The deadlocked dispute is being made worse by a bitter row over controversial plans to close most railway ticket offices. Passenger groups have joined unions in condemning the move, warning it will have a serious impact on elderly and disabled travellers. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said staff will be moved from behind screens and on to station concourses, but unions believe more than 2,000 jobs will be axed. The RDG said that since the first RMT strike in June 2022, industrial action had cost the sector around 620 million. A statement said: This has stalled its post-pandemic recovery and threatens its long-term sustainability, pushing the industry in to a spiral decline and risking consequences like cuts to services to make up the shortfall. Revenue levels are still 30% below pre-pandemic levels. The strikes have hit the wider economy particularly sectors still recovering from the impact of the pandemic which employ hundreds of thousands of people. Analysis by Hospitality UK shows that with the upcoming rail strikes set to cost hospitality 132 million in sales, the cumulative impact of the rail strikes is 3.25 billion. The Night Time Industries Association said their members took a 40% hit on strike days at a time when nearly three-quarters of their members are either just breaking even or losing money due to the wider cost-of-living crisis. The RMT held a strike on Thursday and will stage another walkout on July 29. The strike at 14 train companies on Saturday is expected to see wide variations in services across the country with trains starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. In some areas only around half of train services are expected to run while others will have no services at all. (PA Graphics) An RDG spokesperson said: The rail strikes called by the RMT union and the overtime ban by Aslef will undoubtedly cause some disruption, affecting not only the daily commute of our passengers but also disrupting the plans of families during the summer holidays. This will lead to disappointment, frustration, and financial strain for tens of thousands of people. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and understand the impact on individuals and businesses. While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced services between Monday 17 July and Saturday 29 July, so our advice is to check before you travel. Picket lines will be mounted outside railway stations across England and workers say they are receiving strong support for their action from the public. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said striking rail workers were still waiting for an invitation back to the negotiating table. Weve been on strike for over a year, this campaigns probably been running for two years. The issues are the same. Theyre attacking our jobs. Theyre making redundancies. Theyre closing services. We havent had a pay rise for four years and the people that remain, they want to cut our conditions and issue new contracts of employment. There is not an agreement in sight at the moment but we remain available for negotiation with the companies and with the Government, but thats up to them to invite us back to the table so that we can work up some solutions to the dispute. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: The Government has met the rail unions, listened to them and facilitated improved offers on pay and reform. The union leaders should put these fair and reasonable offers to their members so this dispute can be resolved. Sir Keir Starmer has blamed Sadiq Khans charge on polluting vehicles for Labours narrow defeat in Boris Johnsons old seat but said the party stands by its green pledges. The Labour leader said he had spoken to the London mayor about the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) as he called for reflection on how the expansion plans are being carried out. Labour saw success in Thursdays three by-elections, overturning a huge 20,000 Conservative majority in Selby and Ainsty. The swing of almost 24 percentage points was the second largest produced by Labour at a by-election since 1945 and ranks on a scale similar to those seen under Sir Tony Blairs leadership ahead of his 1997 landslide victory. The win in North Yorkshire has fuelled party hopes that it can win a majority at next years likely general election, a victory that looked improbable after 2019s dire results. But its failure to overturn a 7,000 majority in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, Mr Johnsons former seat, has seen Labour publicly question Mr Khans proposals to extend Ulez to all London boroughs. The Labour incumbent in City Hall plans next month, pending a court challenge, to widen the 12.50 daily charge for cars which fail to meet emissions standards to beyond the capitals north and south circular roads. Sir Keir said on Saturday that the historic win in Selby showed his strategy was working. But he said lessons would have to be learned from the loss in Uxbridge, where the party reduced the Tory majority from 7,200 to 495 votes. I dont think there is any doubt that Ulez was the reason that we lost the election in Uxbridge, Sir Keir told broadcasters during a visit to Shefford in Bedfordshire. And I have said we should reflect on this, including the mayor. I have spoken to him as you would expect, and so there will be that reflection. The Opposition leader, asked whether Labours green policies would be under review, said there would be no scaling back but that consideration was required as to how policies were enacted. It comes after Labour last month altered its flagship pledge to invest 28 billion a year in a green energy transition, saying it would ramp up spending rather than hit the sum in the first year of a Labour government due to the state of public finances. Sir Keir said: I think when it comes to green commitments, it is not a question of whether they should be done of course they need to be done. It is how they are done, so there is a discussion to be had about that. Earlier on Saturday, Sir Keir told Labours national policy forum in Nottingham that there was something very wrong when a party policy was on each and every Tory leaflet. According to the HuffPost website, Labours Uxbridge candidate Danny Beales told the forum that Ulezs expansion cut us off at the knees. During the campaign Mr Beales called for the charge extension to be delayed as the Tory candidate and now a newly elected MP Steve Tuckwell painted the vote as a referendum on the toll. Huge demo outside BBC HQ against the terrible @SadiqKhan & ULEZ Only @HowardCCox @Cox4London of @reformparty_uk willscrap all ULEZcut crime ditch Khan ULEZ is a tax on the poor pic.twitter.com/8c5WN08LQZ Richard Tice (@TiceRichard) July 22, 2023 On Saturday, Reform UK leader Richard Tice joined an anti-Ulez protest in central London, where demonstrators chanted Get Khan out. Mr Khans team defended the policy, saying nine out of 10 cars driving in outer London were already compliant with Ulez regulations and would not be charged. Officials also pointed to a 110 million scrappage scheme that was recently topped up by City Hall. A source close to the Labour mayor told PA: It is a disappointing result and Sadiq has been clear he is listening to Londoners following this by-election. Following the Uxbridge win, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing calls from members of his party to water down pledges designed to help the UK meet its pledge of having a net zero carbon economy by 2050. Mr Sunak, according to an ally of the Prime Minister quoted in The Times, is preparing to approach the lead-up to next years likely election with more political edge in recognition that substantive issues, such as Ulez in Uxbridge, could help the Tories to win. (PA Graphics) But Chris Skidmore, the UK Governments net zero tsar, warned ministers against playing politics with environmental issues, arguing it could cost the Tories in the long run. The Conservative MP told PA: To do so would not only be deeply regrettable, it would be an abdication of responsible government that must put the lives and health of the public, and the opportunity for economic growth by investing in industries of the future, ahead of gamesmanship. It is also really bad politics, given that the environment and taking action on climate change consistently polls third in the issues that voters care about. Mainstream parties that dont recognise the priorities of the public and are instead swayed by vocal minorities end up ultimately becoming minority parties in due course. While Conservative Party leader Mr Sunak avoided a triple by-election defeat, the ruling party saw heavy losses inflicted by voters in what were once considered safe seats. As well as losing in Selby, the Tories also came second in Somerton and Frome, with the Liberal Democrats turning a 19,000 blue majority into an 11,000-vote cushion for new MP Sarah Dyke. Sir Keirs visit to the Mid Bedfordshire constituency, accompanied by his deputy Angela Rayner and shadow Northern Ireland secretary Peter Kyle, indicates Labour has another scalp in its sights during a future by-election. Tory incumbent Nadine Dorries has signalled her intention to resign although has yet to do so following a fallout over Mr Johnsons resignation honours, accusing Downing Street of removing her peerage nomination a claim No 10 rejects. The Conservative Party has held the seat since 1931. Sir Tony Blair and Sir Keir Starmer have led tributes to former Labour MP Ann Clwyd who has died at the age of 86. She represented the Cynon Valley constituency in South Wales for 35 years, becoming the oldest woman to sit in the House of Commons before standing down in 2019. Ms Clwyd was first elected MP for Cynon Valley in a by-election in 1984, having previously been the MEP for Mid and West Wales for five years in the European Parliament. Incredibly sad to hear that Ann Clwyd, former Labour MP for Cynon Valley has passed away. A long standing Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Ann was a leading figure in the Labour Party, dedicating her life to our movement. My thoughts are with her family and friends. Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 22, 2023 The former journalist held a series of frontbench posts in opposition including shadow Welsh secretary and shadow international development secretary. As a backbencher she campaigned to highlight the atrocities of Saddam Hussein against the Iraqi Kurds and was a strong supporter of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Her family said she died peacefully at home in Cardiff on Friday evening. Former Labour leader Sir Tony said: Ann was a courageous, fearless, principled political campaigner, whose politics remained steadfastly wedded to representation of the poor and oppressed wherever in the world she found them. Ms Clwyd served as special representative to Iraq during Tony Blairs period as prime minister (PA) She didnt flinch from speaking her mind, no matter what the personal or political cost. She fought the case of those employed in the coal industry, persuading my government to correct the failure to compensate former miners for the ill health they suffered through mining. She was a stalwart campaigner for better healthcare, typically using her own experience to advocate on behalf of others. And having spent a large part of her life standing up against the brutal repression of the Kurdish people in Iraq, she supported the removal of Saddam Hussein, not only when it was relatively easy to do so, but when the going got tough. I admired her enormously and am deeply sorry at her passing. A remarkable woman with an outstanding record of service to others. During her time as a special envoy for human rights on a visit to the Welsh Guards at Camp Abu Naji in Iraq (Phil Hannaford/The Sun/PA) Labour leader Sir Keir tweeted: Incredibly sad to hear that Ann Clwyd, former Labour MP for Cynon Valley has passed away. A long standing Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party, Ann was a leading figure in the Labour Party, dedicating her life to our movement. My thoughts are with her family and friends. Beth Winter, who succeeded Ms Clwyd as MP for Cynon Valley, said: My thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time. Her work over so many years for womens rights, international justice and the miners will be remembered. Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Government health minister, said: Throughout her decades of dedicated public service, she faced difficult challenges with tenacity and courage, fought for social justice, and spoke out for those in need. She was a true radical, inspired by her time as a European MP before becoming a significant force at Westminster, where her voice echoed in the corridors of power, urging for change and progress. Although her departure leaves a void uneasy to fill, her legacy will remain an inspiration for generations to come. We will never forget her impact on and contribution to Welsh public life. Ms Clwyd was an MP for 35 years and has died aged 86 (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament) Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central and shadow secretary of state for Wales, said: Ann really was a trailblazer for women, not just in Wales but across the UK and abroad. Determined, passionate, fierce and stood her ground, showing huge strength of character. Ann was also very kind, funny and loyal to her many friends and constituents. She was hugely supportive to me when I arrived at Parliament in 2015, always had time to chat and give wise advice. Ill miss her. She was one of a kind. Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said of Ms Clwyd: She was an exceptional parliamentarian who was a champion of many causes. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservatives in the Senedd, added: A formidable figure, she never shied away from fighting for her beliefs, standing on principle no matter who that may have upset. She was a passionate servant of the people of the Cynon Valley and will be deeply missed. West Baffin Art Collective marketing manager William Huffman and Lee Sun, co-curators of the "Once a Myth, Becoming Real" exhibition on Inuit artwork, pose together at the exhibition in the Canada Pavilion of the Gwangju Biennale at the Lee Kang Ha Art Museum in Gwangju. Courtesy of Arlo Matisz By Arlo Matisz Art from around the world was displayed at the 14th Gwangju Biennale, which ended its 94-day run earlier this month. Of the nine national pavilions, the Canada Pavilion was a little different. It displayed 90 artworks from 32 Inuit artists, products of the West Baffin Art Collective in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) in Canada's northern territory of Nunavut. "What are the commonalities between Gwangju's history and people, and the people and history in Kinngait? This is all about cultural resilience and the values of democracy and freedom, the idea of thinking in a way that doesn't need to be confined," said William Huffman, the marketing manager of the West Baffin Art Collective who co-curated the exhibition with Lee Sun. "This is also about looking at language as one of the things that unifies people. Every invader from East Asia has been here trying to do something to Korea, ripping down buildings, forcing them to speak another language, and that's exactly the history of the arctic." "Especially in Gwangju, where the May 18 pro-democracy movement took place, I think the exhibition, which introduces the life, culture and modern art of the Inuit people, a minority in Canada, is very meaningful in terms of timing," Lee said. "I think that respect and understanding for minorities and some love and solidarity of the Inuit community have been artistically embodied in the exhibition." But how did this work come to Korea in the first place? Huffman happily shares how he was the last to learn that he would be curating the exhibition. It started when Qavavau Manumie, an Inuit artist from Nunavut, was showing in Sydney, and the artistic director of the Busan Biennale saw his work there. "We got a phone call saying they'd love to show some of this work in Busan. I talked to my board about it, because they'd been interested in Asia, as we had no presence there," Huffman said. "There is a lot of cultural currency to Seoul, a lot of attention paid to the museums here. So, I came to Busan to see what's going on, and people were going bananas about Qavavau's work! There were crowds. I was taking photos and texting back to Kinngait and saying 'Can you believe this?' I shouldn't say that I'm surprised, but I have to step back and be modest, and be like, 'OK, it's happening again.' This is crazy but I have to understand that there something about this work that's resonant here." During that visit last September, the Canadian Embassy asked Huffman to go to Gwangju to meet with the Gwangju Biennale organizers. "So, for two days in Gwangju, they are taking me around to these great venues, and the second day they keep talking to be about this Canadian Pavilion," he said. "I said 'Who's doing this Canadian pavilion?' I was assuming it's the National Gallery of Canada or the Vancouver Art Gallery. And they looked at me and said 'You're doing it. Why do you think you're here?' Talk about lost in translation! I was the last one to know I was doing the Canadian Pavilion. I want to underscore this. We went from the September invitation, to December selection of work, to shipping by February, framing in March, to installation and opening in April. That's impossible. How did we get involved? We just don't say no to an opportunity." The Inuit art exhibition, titled "Once a Myth, Becoming Real," was held at the Lee Kang Ha Art Museum, named after curator Lee's father. When entering the exhibition in Gwangju, visitors could see an enlarged print of "Rabbit Eating Seaweed," a work by Kenojuak Ashevak, arguably the grand dame of Inuit Art and one of the original creators at Kinngait Studios. The title of the show is displayed in Inuktitut in large text, above smaller Korean letters and then English at the bottom. "This is a gesture to the language of the Inuit people, the fact that it appears here, probably for the first time in the country, on a wall in the museum," Huffman said. A large-scale reproduction of Kenojuak Ashevak's 1959 work "Rabbit Eating Seaweed" is on display, left, at the entrance to the Canadian Pavilion. To the right is the exhibition's title in Inuktitut letters on top, then Korean and then English. Courtesy of Ju Sae-woong "Rabbit Eating Seaweed" is also the name of the upcoming exhibition of Canadian Inuit Art in Seoul's Jamsil branch of Lotte Department Store. "It's super exciting to be working with Lotte," said Huffman, who is also curating the Seoul exhibition which starts Wednesday and runs until Oct. 3. "I think that the audience in Seoul is going to be amazed at what they see." More amazing than how this art came to be invited to Korea is the history of how it was made. Asked to explain the "blue box," which is how he refers to the Cape Dorset Cultural Centre and Print Shop, Huffman spoke with passion and admiration. "It was five years of my life. We generated $13 million to build that blue box. People ask 'Why is this work so extraordinary?' Because of where it comes from and the circumstances it was created in." He paused and then began a brief history lesson on the West Baffin Eskimo Cooperative. Cape Dorset Cultural Centre and Print Shop, the blue building, can be seen in Kinngait (Cape Dorset) in Canada's northern territory of Nunavut. Courtesy of Cape Dorset Cultural Centre and Print Shop First Minister Humza Yousaf has said support for independence is rock solid despite the challenges facing the SNP, as he kicked off a summer of independence tour across Scotland on Saturday. Mr Yousaf spoke to activists in Dundee as he enjoyed a cycling event in the citys Camperdown Park. Speaking to the PA news agency, the First Minister and SNP leader acknowledged the last few weeks and months had been challenging for his party, following the controversy around the investigation into alleged irregularities in campaign funding for a second independence referendum. Mr Yousaf said: The SNP has had a really challenging few weeks and months, there is no getting away from that, but even with those challenges, support for independence is absolutely rock solid. I believe the best decisions about Scotland are made by the people in Scotland. First Minister Humza Yousaf at Camperdown Park in Dundee as he kicks off his summer of independence tour (Lauren Gilmour/PA) Mr Yousaf said: The next general election, we will fight on the issue of independence front and centre. That impasse will be broken by the power of the people. Thats why support for independence has to continue to grow. Last year the UK Supreme Court ruled that the Scottish Government could not hold a legally binding second referendum on independence without the consent of the UK Government, which has consistently blocked attempts to hold one. Mr Yousaf added: As long as the UK Government continue to deny that (independence), what we will do is use the next election to test support for the proposition of independence. He was asked what a conversation with the next UK prime minister, whether that be Rishi Sunak or Sir Keir Starmer, would look like. He said: The conversation to me is a pretty simple one, its listen to the Scottish people, dont ignore the Scottish people, weve put independence front and centre, and give people a right to determine their own future. Mr Yousaf said Scottish Labour are taking the Rutherglen by-election for granted (Andrew Milligan/PA) Mr Yousaf was asked if he was confident his party could win the potential Rutherglen by-election, after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was convicted of breaching Covid rules and was handed a 30-day suspension from the House of Commons by the standards committee. The First Minister said: Theres no getting away from the fact the Rutherglen by-election will be challenging for the SNP. The response has been very positive in terms of the SNP. Labour have already taken that seat for granted. Theyve already decided the result before the recall petition is even over. He added: Labour are showing a degree of complacency, I want to see the back of the Tories, I also dont want to see a Labour majority government. The PA news agency asked Mr Yousaf if a negotiation on independence would be easier with a Labour government. He replied: I would hope so. The sensible voices in the Labour party would see that you cannot govern in Scotland by ignoring them. I would hope they would be more pragmatic about their approach. Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy MSP said: The public want the Scottish government to be focused on their real priorities. Rather than this obsession with dragging Scotland out of the UK. But in a desperate bid to hold his feuding, scandal-ridden party together, Humza Yousaf is fixated on the only issue that nationalists agree on, to the dismay of the majority of Scots. This summer of independence is a stark reminder that, for the SNP, trying to break up the UK will always trump everything else. Jackie Baillie MSP, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, said: Humza Yousaf knows his party is in trouble. The SNP have taken the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West for granted for too long. Michael Shanks, the Scottish Labour candidate, is taking Labours message to the people of the area day in and day out. Change is coming to Scotland whether the SNP like it or not. Its clear that Humza Yousaf doesnt care if the next government is a Tory government or Labour, this is a shocking admission of how out of touch he is with the people of Scotland. Scottish Labour is the change that Scotland needs. A 26-year-old Nebraska man accused of posing as a high school student at two different schools has been arrested on sex crime charges, police said. Zachary Scheich, of Lincoln, faces three felony charges -- two counts of sexual assault, use of an electronic device, and one count of sex trafficking of a minor -- following what started as a fraud investigation, Lincoln police said. Police began their investigation on June 1 "after being alerted about an individual impersonating a student," Lincoln Assistant Police Chief Brian Jackson told reporters during a press briefing on Thursday. The individual had enrolled under the name Zak Hess at Northwest High School during the first semester of the 2022-2023 year, before transferring to Southeast High School during the second semester, police said. The purported 17-year-old Hess was actually determined to be 26-year-old Scheich, who had graduated from the Lincoln school district in 2015, police said. "Mr. Scheich is approximately 5'4", 120 pounds, and appears to have blended in with other students," Jackson said. PHOTO: Lincoln Northwest High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. (KLKN) Further investigation uncovered "multiple contacts with juvenile students" by Scheich using the name Hess, leading to his arrest on the sex crime charges, Jackson said. The charge of sexual assault, use of an electronic device, could mean engaging with someone via a phone or computer, Jackson said, while an individual could be charged with sex trafficking of a minor "if you coerce or pay for certain items." Scheich was arrested and booked into the Lancaster County jail on Thursday. He was scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon in Lancaster County Court. It is unclear if he has an attorney. MORE: 28-year-old woman allegedly enrolls at high school as 17-year-old to learn English: Sheriff Jackson said police are working to "identify the scope of his actions." Authorities have not specified how many alleged victims there are amid the active investigation. Since announcing Scheich's arrest, police have received three calls from potential witnesses or victims in the case, Lincoln Police Department spokesperson Erika Thomas told ABC News Friday afternoon. Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman told reporters Friday morning that they have identified "a number of people who are victims," while urging anyone with information to come forward to police or the school district. "There may be potential victims of this scenario that we aren't aware of at this time," Gausman said during a press briefing. "If there are those out there that have been victimized in some way or another we need to know about it," he said. PHOTO: The Lincoln Police Department released this photo of Zachary Scheich. (Lincoln Police Department) The schools have social workers and mental health professionals who can provide any support to students who seek it, school officials said. The school district sent out an alert to families at Northwest and Southeast high schools following Scheich's arrest on Thursday, including a photo of the suspect, while also urging anyone aware of "concerning relationships" he may have had with students to come forward. "This is an extremely serious situation; we are not taking this lightly," Gausman said. "We understand the concern that this can cause." MORE: 32-year-old woman faces charges after allegedly posing as high school student Scheich attended approximately 54 total days of school during the 2022-2023 school year, according to police. He began attending Northwest High School on Oct. 20, 2022, before transferring to Southeast High School on Jan. 12, according to the school district. Scheich "exploited our enrollment process by using convincing, fake documentation to gain enrollment in our schools," Gausman said. The superintendent said he's not aware of anything like this happening before in Lincoln Public Schools. He said he did not believe there were any red flags overlooked regarding Scheich's enrollment, noting that the suspect presented "incredibly well-crafted, fraudulent documents." PHOTO: Lincoln Southeast High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. (KLKN) School officials said they are reviewing their enrollment processes and protocols in light of the incident. Required enrollment documents are not verified and include a birth certificate, high school transcript, immunization records and a physical from a clinic, school officials said. All of Scheich's documents appear to be fraudulent, according to Matt Larson, the associate superintendent for educational services at Lincoln Public Schools. Scheich also appears to have provided a fake phone number and address, Larson said. Scheich enrolled online, without a parent directly involved, Larson said. This is "not unusual," but is something the school district will review and consider changing, he said. The incident is one of several in recent months where an adult was arrested after allegedly posing as a high school student. In Massachusetts, a 32-year-old woman used fraudulent documents to enroll in three different schools during the previous academic year. A 28-year-old woman enrolled in a Louisiana high school as a ninth grader, a fraud that was also uncovered last month. In that case, the sheriff said she did so in order to learn English. 26-year-old man who posed as high school student arrested on sex crime charges: Police originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Even non-tech companies are looking to hire people with AI talent and they're listing jobs with salaries over six figures. Getty Images Companies across industries are hiring talent to help them develop and use generative AI. The law firm Husch Blackwell and insurer Travelers are among those seeking AI skills. Listings for such roles tend to offer above $100,000 in base salary and go as high as $300,000. AI developers, engineers, and consultants are seeing lots of new job opportunities with companies far outside the traditional tech world looking to put generative artificial intelligence to work. Listings at non-tech firms showed a wide range of salaries often exceeding well over $100,000 in base pay. One for a machine learning researcher role at the trading firm Jane Street indicated a salary range of $250,000 to $300,000. A representative for Jane Street declined to comment. Companies are on the hunt for candidates whose knowledge of AI can help them use their in-house data more extensively for instance, by making better predictions and decisions, said Aaron Sines, a director at the Austin-based tech recruiting company Razoroo. One agriculture client is looking to potentially use AI to help estimate crop yields, he said. "The demand for professionals with knowledge in AI research, machine learning, deep learning it truly outpaces the available supply of candidates," Sines said. That means the salaries companies are offering to lure people with this type of experience can quickly rise beyond six figures: The base salary ranges for AI researcher roles, even at non-tech companies, can range from $150,000 to $250,000, Sines said. Casetext, which Husch Blackwell is using, offers AI research tools for lawyers. Casetext. "There's certainly a scarcity, I think, and our clients are acutely aware of that, which inherently is driving upward pressure on compensation." he said. The insurance company Travelers had listed a data engineer role that sought AI expertise, with a potential base pay of $113,900 to $188,000. The company's CEO Alan Schnitzer affirmed the company's push into AI on an earnings call this month, saying that "we have a very significant number of our employees engaged on the objective of making sure that we're leading when it comes to AI." The exercise bike company Peloton Interactive posted a role for a machine learning engineer, with a salary range of $171,600 to $223,000 listed on LinkedIn. The yoga apparel company Alo listed a senior data engineer role that involves working on AI issues, that would offer base pay between $160,000 to $220,000, according to the listing. And AI-related roles don't always require engineering or coding skills. The law firm Husch Blackwell is hiring an "AI solutions strategist" who would help its lawyers learn to efficiently use AI tools like Casetext's CoCounsel, which uses OpenAI's GPT-4 model. (That's the same model that, in a test, passed the bar exam for lawyers.) CoCounsel is meant to help lawyers speed up tasks like looking over contract terms, and gathering material for legal filings, according to Casetext's website. A picture of Husch Blackwell's office in Kansas City, Missouri. The law firm Husch Blackwell has built a data science team, and is hiring an AI solutions strategist.Husch Blackwell. "Investing in AI talent and resources ensures they can take advantage of the latest advances in legal technology," Valerie McConnell, a VP of customer success at Casetext, told Insider in a statement, referring to its law firm clients. "CoCounsel allows law firms to deliver better results for their clients, but the technology is only enhanced by the user being well-educated on the product and its abilities." For its AI role, Husch Blackwell has looked for trained lawyers who understand AI and large language models, and ideally also have some business consulting experience, said Blake Rooney, chief information officer at Husch Blackwell. A listing for the role on LinkedIn provides multiple salary ranges depending on the location of candidates, going up to $164,000 for those in New York state. Employees can work at one of the firm's offices or remotely, or have a hybrid arrangement, according to the firm. It's also a bonus-eligible role, the firm said. The position has already drawn "several hundred" responses, and the company is planning to finalize a hire soon, Rooney said. The firm also plans on bringing on more such AI strategists if the hire is successful, he said. The ideal candidate should have "the ability to understand a business problem or a technical problem and help engineer a solution," Rooney said. The law firm Husch Blackwell has been looking to hire an AI solutions strategist as it expands its use of AI. Screenshot from LinkedIn listing. It's a staffing approach that also shows a strategy where non-tech companies like Husch Blackwell are doing two things to boost their use of AI licensing commercially available AI technology like CoCounsel, and also trying to develop their own proprietary tools in some cases. The law firm already built a data science team over the past three years, and automated some routine tasks. For instance, the firm leaned on OpenAI's technology to help speed up writing the bios of some 112 summer interns it brought on this year. The task, which was traditionally done by members of its client development team, was now done by an AI-driven automation process where interns would simply answer a set of questions, and their responses would help generate their bios, Rooney said. For professional services firms, it's also about keeping up with clients who are themselves embracing AI. "So we want to we want to be on the forefront of using the technology," Rooney said. Read the original article on Business Insider A conservative group headed by a 2020 presidential election denier will get access to an unredacted list of Illinois voters and their personal information, such as mail and email addresses and telephone numbers, under a federal court settlement with the State Board of Elections. The settlement includes a confidentiality order aimed at preventing dissemination of voters personal information beyond the Illinois Conservative Union. The settlement, filed Tuesday, dismisses a case brought on behalf of the Conservative Union by the right-wing group Judicial Watch. The Conservative Union and its founder, Carol Davis, a former tea party activist from Carol Stream, had filed a federal challenge to the state election boards limitations that provided complete voter data only to political committees and governmental entities. Under a previous judicial ruling, individual voter data that greatly redacted personal information had been available to the public. Now, after paying an existing fee that had been charged to political and governmental entities, the Conservative Union can acquire a complete list of the states 8.1 million registered voters along with age, address, phone number and county and state voter ID number, except for individuals covered by special federal or state confidentiality laws. In 2022, Davis and her Illinois Conservative Union were part of election integrity efforts mounted by the Illinois Republican Party and its unsuccessful candidate for governor, Darren Bailey. She has been a leader in a national network of 2020 election deniers along with top former aides to former President Donald Trump. Davis has contended there is fraud in every election in this country. She demonstrated a belief that left-wing, anti-fascist or antifa groups, rather than Trump supporters, were behind the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. She also expressed disappointment that a cold kept her away from that days Stop the Steal rally in Washington. Davis endorsed Trumps legal challenges to the election outcome, even though more than 60 of them were ultimately dismissed. Among those she has worked with is Cleta Mitchell, a Trump attorney who espoused debunked legal theories to try to challenge the election. Davis has long questioned the accuracy of Illinois voter rolls and contended without proof that they are bloated and, in some cases, include more registered voters than there are residents of the election jurisdiction. Judicial Watch, which took up her case, has challenged the accuracy of voter rolls in other states. Due to concerns over wider dissemination of the personal data, the settlement with the Illinois Conservative Union allows the group to get the unredacted voter lists only through the end of 2026. The group has 60 days after that date to destroy the voter lists and personal information it obtained. rap30@aol.com Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) shot back at the Biden administration after Vice President Harris called his new Black history education standards propaganda. The Harris-Biden administration is obsessed with Floridayet they ignore the chaos at the border, crime-infested cities, economic malaise, and the military recruitment crisis, DeSantis tweeted on Friday, adding that Harris was lying. In a speech in Jacksonville, Fla., Harris denounced the states updated guidelines on teaching about Black history, which include objective teaching and one standard that requires teachers to instruct on how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. They dare to push propaganda to our children, Harris said. Adults know what slavery really involved. It involved rape. It involved torture. It involved taking a baby from their mother. When I think about what is happening, then, here in Florida, I am deeply concerned, she added. Because, lets be clear, I do believe this is not only about the state of Florida. Theres a national agenda. Harris isnt the only one to condemn Floridas new education laws, however. The Florida teachers union slammed the guidelines as a step backward, and Black leaders from around the nation have accused DeSantiss administration of seeking to affirm white supremacy via instituting anti-Black, Black History standards. DeSantis, who is also in the running for the 2024 GOP presidential primary, pushed for the measure as part of his fight against indoctrination in schools. Other education standards passed this week regulated how LGBTQ issues could be broached in classrooms. State Sen. Geraldine Thompson (D) said the new standards require educators to teach about racial violence in the U.S., such as the Tulsa race massacre and the Ocoee massacre. The regulations describe the violence as perpetuated against and by African Americans, which Thompson said is only blaming the victims. The educations guidelines fit with DeSantiss 2024 campaign focus: fighting wokeness, a term he has used to describe anything from pro-LGBTQ policies to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Still, his campaign has lagged in recent weeks, falling even further behind the GOP frontrunner former President Trump in polls across the nation. Recent national polling averages show DeSantis receiving about 20 percent support to Trumps 50 percent. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Departments investigation into former President Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election started too slowly, but that the department is now back on track. The Justice Department was a little late in ramping up its investigation, its inquiry with regards to those people at the top of this whole conspiracy, he said in an MSNBC interview on Saturday. Theyve done and continue to do a great job with the foot soldiers who were there on Jan. 6th. Holder said the agencys early focus on lining up cases against individuals who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot on the Capitol, and saving the leaders of the scheme until now years later was a poor decision. He would have investigated both groups in parallel, he claimed. Now, it appears that the departments investigations will be wrapping up in the middle of the 2024 election cycle. Investigators delivered Trump a target letter on Sunday, notifying him that he is under investigation. That is one of the negative consequences for that delay. The Justice Department is operating quite well now, but that pause is going to have an impact, in some form or passion, on our politics, the Obama administration official said. Holder also criticized the Trump campaigns conduct after the 2020 election, including the former presidents phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, where he asked him to find enough votes to overturn the election result. This was a different form of ballot stuffing, to find votes that werent there and to have them counted, to fake electors and try to swear them in as representative of a particular state, Holder said. What was attempted by the former president and those around him was to conduct an election that was anything but fair, he added. That phone call is at the center of a state investigation in Georgia, which is expected to conclude by next month, looking into Trumps actions to overturn the election and could result in further charges The DOJ probe, spearheaded by special counsel Jack Smith, is looking at the Georgia phone call, as well as similar phone calls in Arizona and fake elector schemes in Nevada, Michigan and elsewhere. Holder also denounced Trumps attacks on Smith and other members of the DOJ. The former president has called Smith deranged, a thug and a Trump hater. These are strong folks. Theyre used to being criticized, but the unfounded level of criticism that we see here are really unprecedented, Holder said. I hope that people that are right-minded will come to the defense of the people in the Bureau, at the Justice Department. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Justice Department special counsel Jack Smiths team has contacted Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whom former President Donald Trump pressured to overturn the 2020 election, a Kemp official told CNN. I can confirm our office has been contacted by Jack Smiths office, but we will decline to comment further at this time, Andrew Isenhour, a spokesman for the Republican governor, said in a statement. Smiths team contacted Kemps office this week, according to a person familiar with the outreach. The Washington Post was first to report Smiths reach-out to Kemp. Trump pushed Kemp to overturn the 2020 presidential election result in Georgia after he narrowly lost the state to Democrat Joe Biden. After Kemp refused, Trump tried to sink the governors reelection efforts by recruiting a challenger in the 2022 GOP gubernatorial primary. Kemp was reelected despite Trumps efforts. He was mad at me. I was not mad at him. I told him exactly what I could and couldnt do when it came to the election, and I followed the law and the Constitution. And as Ive said before, thats a lot bigger than Donald Trump. Its a lot bigger than me. Its a lot bigger than the Republican Party, Kemp told CNN earlier this week. Smiths investigators have also recently contacted former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, whom Trump pressured to overturn the election after losing that state in 2020 as well. Federal investigators are focused on Trumps efforts and those of his top lawyers as they organized fake electors to submit votes to Congress on his behalf and sought to sway then-Vice President Mike Pence into blocking the election result certification. Trump received a target letter in Smiths investigation last Sunday, and his team is now bracing for an indictment in the case. The target letter cites three statutes that Trump could be charged with: pertaining to deprivation of rights; conspiracy to commit an offense against or defraud the United States; and tampering with a witness, according to multiple news outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, that cited a person familiar with the matter. The Justice Department has been known in the investigation to be examining possible violations of the law around conspiracy and obstruction of the congressional proceeding on January 6, which is part of the witness tampering law, CNN previously reported following a Justice Department search of a Trump administration advisers home. Back in November, Kemp provided testimony in the separate investigation by Atlanta-based state prosecutors into Trumps attempts to overturn the election in Georgia. Kemp appeared before the special grand jury in Fulton County for roughly three hours. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has indicated that charging decisions could come in the next few weeks. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Shania Shelton contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com North Korea launched two short-range missiles into its eastern sea early Wednesday morning just a day after the U.S. docked its nuclear submarine in South Korea. The move comes as tensions remain high between the two countries due to more frequent missile test launches by North Korea and the arrival of the nuclear-armed submarine. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea fired the ballistic missiles from near its capital of Pyongyang between 3:30 a.m. and 3:46 a.m. Wednesday. The missiles flew about 341 miles before landing in the eastern waters of the Korean peninsula. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada also said they reached a maximum altitude of 31 miles and noted the missiles may have experienced an irregular maneuver. The USS Kentucky arrived Tuesday afternoon at the port of Busan, which is the first visit by a U.S. nuclear submarine to South Korea since the 1980s. This port visit reflects US ironclad commitment to the ROK [South Korea] for our extended deterrence guarantee, and complements the training, operations and other military cooperation activities conducted by Strategic Forces to ensure they are available and ready to operate around the globe, U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement. This new launch is about a week after North Korea launched its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in three months. This also comes as the American-led United Nations Command and U.S. officials attempt to negotiate the release of an American soldier who willfully crossed the North Korean border from South Korea. The soldier has been identified as Pvt. 2nd Class Travis King, who was just released from a South Korean prison where he was doing time for assault charges. Instead of going back to the U.S. on a plane, he chose to leave and join a tour of Panmunjom, a border village in the Demilitarized Zone, where he ran across the North Korean border, according to U.S. officials. The Associated Press contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PALMER LAKE, Colo. Every day, retired Army veteran Donald Simmons must make a decision: pay $5 to shower at the nearest truck stop or risk taking a shower at home in contaminated water. Lately, he has been reluctantly showering at the house, but he refuses to drink the tap water, fearing it will jeopardize his long-term health. It could cause cancer. Nobody knows whats going on, said Simmons, 68. "You have to shower." Simmons has lived at Elephant Rock Mobile Home Park, a small community about 25 miles south of Colorado Springs, for 13 years, and state officials say its water quality violations date back 15 years. The two private groundwater wells that provide water to Elephant Rock contain high levels of radium, a cancerous radioactive metal, according to state officials. Elephant Rock's woes are part of a larger problem at Colorado's 800-plus mobile home parks, where water and private wells have been under-tested for decades, said state legislators who have regularly received complaints about smelly, discolored water that tastes bad and could be hazardous to residents' health. While no data is available to show how widespread the issue is, some legislators said the complaints they've received make them believe many mobile home parks don't meet federal drinking water standards. Until recently, the state didn't require testing. We dont know other than what residents are telling us," said state Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Democrat from Fort Collins. "There are pieces that are alarming to anybody, like taste and odor, and where you wouldnt want to put your kids in the tub at night. Many mobile home park residents have sought help from the Colorado Poverty Law Project, a nonprofit organization that works to prevent homelessness, the project's deputy director, Jack Regenbogen, said. Weve heard from residents that the water is pretty much undrinkable, Regenbogen said. "We've seen pictures of brown water." He said many residents of mobile home parks have low incomes and are afraid to file water contamination complaints out of fear they will be evicted from the only homes they can afford. The median rent in Colorado is $2,200 a month, according to Zillow. In comparison, rent at mobile home parks can be as low as $600 a month. Records from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment show that residents from about 15 mobile home parks have filed 37 complaints since tracking began in March 2020. The complaints cite illness, discoloration, bad taste and failure by park owners to notify residents of poor water quality. Parks where residents have complained include Mountainside Estates in Golden, Peak View Park in Woodland Park and Elephant Rock. A survey conducted last year by Voces Unidas de la Montanas, a Colorado-based Latino advocacy group, found that 40% of Latinos who live in mobile home parks in the state don't trust the water. How do we still have these communities where these environmental injustices are happening? said Alex Sanchez, the group's president. At Apple Tree mobile home park outside Aspen, resident Danule Feichko, 21, said the landowners dont seem to care about the 900 or so residents who are forced to contend with yellowish tap water. Park manager Henry Hendrickson declined to comment and referred questions to owner Investment Property Group, which didn't respond to several phone and email messages. I havent drank the water in three years, said Feichko, adding that he plans to move because of the water. We have the worst water that youll ever see. His neighbor Matgahta DeSantiago, 63, also is apprehensive. I dont drink the water. Its contaminated, she said. No complaints about the park's water quality have been filed with the state health department. To address the growing concern, the state Legislature this year passed House Bill 1257, which will allow the health department to test the water at the hundreds of mobile home parks in the state over the next five years. People deserve dignified living, said Rep. Elizabeth Velasco, a Democrat from Glenwood Springs and a primary sponsor of the bill who grew up in a mobile home park. Her district in western Colorado includes about 300 of them. The law, which Gov. Jared Polis signed last month, also requires park owners to remediate any contaminated water found by the testing. An external water tank in Elephant Rock Mobile Home Park in Palmer Lake, Colo., on April 18, 2023. (Hyoung Chang / The Denver Post via Getty Images file) Elephant Rock, which contains about 40 mobile homes, was the target of an enforcement case by the state in 2009, when then-owner Lucky Kim Sr. was cited for failing to monitor and report nitrate, disinfectant residue and byproducts, lead and copper in the water, court records indicate. The case was resolved through a consent decree, but more violations, such as failing to distribute an annual consumer confidence report, occurred from 2014 to 2018, the records show. Since then, the park's water has exceeded allowed radium levels 15 times, court documents show. Persistent exposure to radium, a naturally occurring radioactive metal formed by the decay of uranium and thorium, can cause increased incidences of bone, liver or breast cancer, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 2021, the state health department said it took the extraordinary step of issuing two advisories warning residents not to drink the water after Kim failed to respond to a violation and didn't provide bottled water to residents within 24 hours of a notice to do so. The state filed a lawsuit in August against Lucky Oliver Kim Jr., who became the park's owner two years ago after his fathers death, alleging he violated drinking water laws. State officials said Kim Jr. failed to remedy radium violations, increasing the risk of cancer to residents. In February, Kim Jr. was cited for contempt of court for failing to appear and for failing to remediate the violations, court records show. He was ordered to pay a civil penalty of $70,000, and he is being fined a remedial sanction of $100 a day until he submits a plan to provide safe drinking water that must be approved by state health officials. Kim Jr. agreed to clean up the water, public health officials said, but so far he hasn't taken steps to remove the radium from Elephant Rock's two groundwater wells, which remain contaminated. Attempts to reach Kim Jr. for comment were unsuccessful. At least one Elephant Rock resident says she doesn't have a problem drinking the water. Its not bad water. Its been tested numerous times, and its just fine, said Sandy, who wanted to be identified by her first name only out of concern for her privacy. But her neighbor Karolina Long, who is disabled and has lived there for 24 years, said she filters and boils the water before she uses it. Im nervous to do anything with the water. Weve been told there is radium going into the well, she said. What kind of damage will it do to us, not just me, but all of us? Dozens of Central American migrants, including 23 unaccompanied children, were rescued Friday from a box truck abandoned on the side of a highway amid sweltering temperatures in the southeastern state of Veracruz, according to the Mexicos National Institute of Migration (INM). The INM rescued 148 migrants who were traveling overcrowded in the box of a trailer and were abandoned in life-threatening conditions on the side of the Minatitlan, Cordova highway, the institute said in a statement. The truck was abandoned by the driver who is still at large, INM added. The migrants came from Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, INM wrote. Of the 148 people rescued there were women and men traveling solo, 23 unaccompanied minors and 44 families which consisted of 115 people. Humanitarian attention was provided to groups in vulnerable conditions, and their health condition was checked. Once the procedure was completed, the adults were taken to the INM facilities to carry out the corresponding immigration procedures, it added. The unaccompanied minors and family units will remain protected by the System for the Integral Development of the Family (DIF) and the Office of the Attorney for the Defense of Minors during their immigration process, the statement read. The truck was abandoned by its driver. The faces of rescued migrants were obscured by INM in this picture. - Mexico's National Institute of Migration Immigrants fleeing violence and poverty frequently travel through the state of Veracruz on their way to the United States. Without documents, they ride trailers or atop freight trains known to be a vessel for immigration north, called La Bestia, the Beast. Many migrants have been killed or badly injured trying to complete the journey. Many others have been found traveling in trucks and trailers. In 2021, Mexican authorities reportedly found 600 people hidden in two trailers. That same year, at least 55 people were killed and more than 100 injured when a truck overturned in southern Mexico. Migration is very common from Central American countries like Guatemala, where extreme weather, violence, corruption, and a lack of economic opportunity have left many with no other choice. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Building Beautiful China contributes to global environment governance 13:26, July 22, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily Deer forage and play on a wetland in a wind farm in Dafeng district, Yancheng, east China's Jiangsu province. (Photo by Ji Haixin/People's Daily Online) A national conference on ecological and environmental protection recently held in Beijing received wide attention from international personages. They hailed China's remarkable achievements made in the building of an ecological civilization, and recognized its firm determination to build a Beautiful China and to keep leading global environment governance on a new journey. China is the world's largest developing country. The remarkable achievements it has made in ecological civilization construction have inspired the world, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to the global ecological civilization construction. The international community has attached high importance to China's experiences in building ecological civilization, which calls for both science-based theoretical guidance and unswerving practice. China has accelerated the green and low-carbon transformation of our development modes, maintained green and low-carbon development as the fundamental solution to ecological and environmental issues, accelerated the formation of green production modes and lifestyles, and laid a green foundation for high-quality development. Today, the country has established the world's largest clean power generation system, with the world's largest installed capacity of hydropower, wind power, and solar power. China focuses on a harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature in planning its development, and is continuously fostering new driving forces and new strengths for development through high-level environmental protection, which sheds light on other countries facing the same tasks of realizing development while protecting the environment. China keeps up with the times with a global vision. It has assumed its responsibility as a major country, leading in global environment governance. The country has played an active role in international cooperation. It has deepened its cooperation with other Belt and Road countries and regions on ecological and environmental protection, as well as sustainable development. China established a South-South cooperation fund on climate change and the Kunming Biodiversity Fund. It also included green development projects in the nine programs of China-Africa cooperation. Erik Solheim, former executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, noted that the concept of ecological civilization practiced by China mirrors a positive thinking that aims at creating a better world for all. China's economy and society have entered a stage of high-quality development marked by faster progress in promoting green and low-carbon growth. Its ecological civilization construction is still at a critical phase amid overlapping pressures and heavy burdens. At the national conference on ecological and environmental protection, Chinese President Xi Jinping systematically developed strategic plans of building a Beautiful China in an all-round way, which offered fundamental guidance for further strengthening ecological and environmental protection and promoting ecological civilization. Photovoltaic panels are seen on roofs of buildings in an industrial park in Ningbo, east China's Zhejiang province. (Photo by Hu Xuejun/People's Daily Online) When global environmental governance is still facing various challenges, China is planning its ecological and environmental protection on the new journey from a higher position and with a broader vision and greater endeavors, which will inject new impetus into building a clean and beautiful world and building a community with a shared future for mankind. China's commitments and actions on carbon peaking and carbon neutrality are unswerving, but the path towards the goals as well as the manner, pace and intensity of efforts to achieve them should and must be determined by the country itself, rather than swayed by others. Global climate governance shall uphold multilateralism, adhere to the goals and principles set out in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, and follow the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. While pursuing the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality and implementing the "1+N" policy framework, China will continue to provide assistance to other developing countries to the best of its ability. Building a beautiful China is an important target for building a modern socialist country in all respects. China will continue to pursue a model of sound development featuring improved production, higher living standards, and healthy ecosystems to ensure the sustainable development of the Chinese nation. The country will keep assisting the global ecological civilization with its own new achievements in ecological civilization, and work with other countries to make greater contributions to building a clean and beautiful world. Egrets play in a wetland in Bozhou, east China's Anhui province. (Photo by Cheng Weiru/People's Daily Online) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) Rescue teams have recovered one more body of a person who was swept away by floods caused by recent torrential rain, raising the total confirmed deaths to 47, according to the emergency services, Saturday. The body of a man in his 60s was found in Yecheon, 161 kilometers southeast of Seoul, yesterday, they said. But three still remained missing as of Saturday in the aftermath of the landslides and floods caused by the monsoon rain, which has pounded the country since early last week. Around 2,000 of 18,000 evacuees in 15 cities and provinces still remain in shelters. Meanwhile, rain of up to 100 millimeters is expected to drench South Korea again over the weekend, the state weather agency said. A stationary front and low atmospheric pressure moving from northeastern China to North Korea are forecast to create humid heat in the South, bringing heavy rains across the country through Monday. The greater Seoul area will receive 50 to 100 mm of rainfall over the weekend, while the northern Gyeonggi Province may see over 150 mm. Precipitation is expected to range between 30 and 80 mm for inland and mountainous areas of Gangwon Province, and the central and southern regions. (Yonhap) A 26-year-old man is charged with sex crimes after enrolling in a public school district in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he pretended to be 17, police say. Zachary Scheich was arrested Thursday and faces two counts of sexual assault with use of an electronic communication device, which includes any attempt to knowingly solicit, coax, entice or lure a child 16 years or younger to engage in sexual activity, according to the Lincoln Police Department. Scheich is also charged with one count of sex trafficking of a minor. Scheich allegedly attended two high schools in the Lincoln school district during the last academic year, attending classes for approximately 54 days, police say. The district had been alerted about an individual impersonating a student who had been enrolled under the name of Zak Hess, the Lincoln Police Department said in a written statement. Scheich was first enrolled at Northwest High School during the first semester of the 2022-2023 academic year and then transferred to Southeast High School during the second semester, police noted in the statement. During a news conference Friday, Lincoln Public Schools superintendent Paul Gausman said Scheich had enrolled by submitting a birth certificate, an out-of-district high school transcript and immunization records. All those documents turned out to be fraudulent, said Gausman. Zachary Scheich - Courtesy Lincoln Police Department The documents were submitted to the school online without a parent present, associate superintendent Matt Larson said. The online enrollment process is something we are considering changing, he said. An arrest warrant obtained by CNN affiliate KOLN says police gained access to Scheichs cell phone during a search of his home and found text messages exchanged between Scheich and minor females. Police found sexually explicit messages sent to a 14-year-old female student, they said. Scheich also allegedly texted a 13-year-old girl to discuss meeting up for sex. During an interview with authorities, Scheich allegedly admitted to pretending to be a student at the school and sending explicit messages to children but said he did not sexually assault any of them. Weve identified a number of people who are victims, superintendent Gausman said, but declined to give an exact number. Bond for Scheich was set at $250,000 during a court hearing Friday, KOLN reported. Scheich did not enter a plea and did not have an attorney. CNN reached out to the public defenders office for comment Friday. CNNs Jennifer Feldman and Aya Elamroussi contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su speaks at the White House in March, shortly after President Biden nominated her to lead the agency. The former California labor chief has been sitting out strikes in her home state. (Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images) President Biden appears to have accepted the fate of his secretary of Labor nominee Julie Su, who will continue to serve as acting secretary even though her confirmation bid is all but doomed in the Senate. But the White House, which has praised Su as a preeminent dealmaker, especially when it comes to California labor issues, has been reluctant to have her intervene in the Hollywood strikes. "We are monitoring the situation closely," a Department of Labor spokesperson told The Times. Su, who served as California's labor chief before joining the Biden administration as deputy U.S. Labor secretary in 2021, has played a key role in leading an agency that's been crucial to Biden's domestic agenda and reelection message. If confirmed, she would be Biden's first Asian American Cabinet secretary. Biden, a self-described "pro-union president," kicked off his 2024 campaign with a speech to union workers in Philadelphia in June and has made union members central to his reelection strategy. But several labor disputes heating up across the country including the Hollywood strikes threaten to upend that argument. The president has thrown his support behind union workers and called for fair pay and benefits for striking screenwriters and actors in their ongoing dispute with studios that has ground Hollywood to a halt. Read more:Writers' strike: What's at stake and how it could disrupt Hollywood At the same time, Biden has struggled to get his own top Labor official confirmed. The White House recently called on centrist Sens. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) to seek their support for Su. Manchin had said he would oppose her confirmation over concerns about her "more progressive background." Sinema has not said how she plans to vote, but a White House statement Friday saying Su would continue on as acting secretary amounted to a tacit acknowledgment that she did not have enough votes to win confirmation. The White House had hoped that Su's role in brokering a deal between California dock workers and their employers in June would bring new momentum to a bid that had been stalled since February. Su, who has relationships with both sides in the ports dispute, was able to help break a yearlong stalemate on a collective bargaining agreement. Administration officials cited the incident as evidence of Su's sharp abilities as a mediator, and as another reason that the Senate should confirm her. "She is highly qualified, experienced, and has proven herself time and time again when it comes to delivering for Americas workers and our economy," a White House official said Friday. "Acting Secretary Su recently secured a major labor agreement at the West Coast ports, which ensured our supply chains remain strong for Americas businesses, farmers and working families." But as the Hollywood strikes and a separate strike of hundreds of L.A. hotel workers escalate, the White House has kept its public involvement to general statements of support for unions. No one person is in charge of monitoring the talks, but several officials scattered across the administration are in contact with all sides involved, a White House official told The Times. Su has also been quiet on the Hollywood strikes. She has no plans to repeat a trip she made to L.A. in June to intervene in the ports dispute. The unions, too, appear uninterested in a heavy-handed response from the Biden administration. Read more:What to know about the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike Ellen Stutzman, the Writers Guild of America's chief negotiator, thanked President Biden, his administration, and all of our elected allies support for writers in a statement, but added that the studios are the only ones who can end the strike by negotiating a fair deal. SAG-AFTRA declined a request for comment. Sus position in Washington, meanwhile, remains awkward. She still has the emphatic support of the White House, which has promised to keep pushing her nomination despite little evidence of a campaign to secure her confirmation. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say Tuesday whether senior officials still convened nightly in a "war room" to share updates on her nomination. Instead, the White House has relied on a little-known federal code to keep her in her acting role indefinitely. When then-Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh left the administration in March, Su, as his deputy, automatically became acting secretary. That role allows her to perform the duties of the Labor secretary until a successor is confirmed. Sus opponents have criticized the White Houses new strategy. For months, they have called on Biden administration officials to withdraw her nomination. Now that the White House plans to keep her in the acting position indefinitely, those calls can be expected to intensify. It is my view that this use of the Succession Act violates the constitutional provision of advice and consent and would potentially open any [Department of Labor] action under Julie Sus leadership to legal challenges, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in a letter to Biden, calling on the president to withdraw Su's nomination. "If your administration believes Ms. Su cannot receive the necessary votes for confirmation, then you should rescind her nomination," wrote Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "Any attempts to bypass the will of Congress, especially its constitutionally mandated advice and consent role, is unacceptable." A spokesperson for Stand Against Su, which describes itself as a coalition of small businesses, freelancers, tipped workers and franchisees working together to oppose Julie Su, said that the new strategy represents Biden not wanting to face the truth. "Julie Su flew in last-minute to preside over a West Coast Ports deal that was nearing completion. The Labor Department's subsequent lack of action in other labor disputes speaks to her lack of negotiation skills," Rachel Tripp, a spokesperson for the group, told The Times in a statement. Tripp criticized Biden and Su for allowing union leaders to "hold the American economy hostage," and pointed to the president's decision to tap White House senior advisor Gene Sperling to monitor talks with autoworkers as evidence that Su "wasn't up to the task." "This is not what leadership looks like," she added. "It's further evidence that Su is the wrong pick for the top Labor job." Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. At least 24 Black deaf students who attended a segregated school on the grounds of Gallaudet University in Washington, DC, in the early 1950s never received their high school diplomas. Seventy years after they were first able to enroll in the school, the students and their descendants will be honored Saturday during a graduation ceremony hosted by Gallaudet University, a liberal arts university for the deaf and hard of hearing. They had attended school and had nothing to show for it. And that, Im sure, was disappointing to them. They were dejected by that experience, said Carolyn McCaskill, a Gallaudet University professor and founding director of the schools Center for Black Deaf Studies. The event is a significant part of Gallaudet Universitys ongoing commitment to acknowledge and own its past racial and educational injustices, the university said in a statement. The students to be honored Saturday were in grades K-12 at the Kendall School on the Gallaudet campus in the early 1950s and were only able to attend the school after a legal battle against segregation. Kendall was the only elementary school for the deaf in the city, but Black deaf students were not allowed to attend and were forced to go to other schools in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Black deaf students attended separate classes than their White peers on the school built on Gallaudet's campus in the early 1950s. - Courtesy Gallaudet University The school created a division for Black deaf students after the families of several Black children filed a class action suit in 1952 against the District of Columbia Board of Education and won the case. The US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in their favor, saying Black deaf students could not be sent outside the state or district to obtain the same education that White students were provided. McCaskill said the case was one of several that set the precedent for the Supreme Courts landmark ruling on Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, which made school segregation unconstitutional. While the students attended the school division for Black deaf students, McCaskill said, their education was mostly focused on vocational studies, but not academic, and they were not prepared for college. Later, when the classrooms at Kendall School became integrated, McCaskill says Black deaf students were still treated differently and never got their high school diplomas. Kenneth Miller, 82, whose mother Louise B. Miller led the class action suit, is among the handful of students who are still alive and will participate in Saturdays ceremony. I want him and a few other students who were there to experience walking across the stage and experience getting their high school diplomas. I want them to have that excitement, McCaskill said. The experience of the 24 Black deaf students who attended the Kendall School in the early 1950s is only a small part of the history of the Black deaf community, McCaskill said. The Black deaf community has a rich history, she said. We have stories to share and we want the entire world to know about our stories. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a decree Friday tightening restrictions on civilian access to guns in Brazil, in a move aimed at reversing the pro-firearms policies of his right-wing predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. The decree reduces the number of guns civilians can possess for personal safety from four to two, reduces the allowed ammunition for each gun from 200 rounds to 50 and requires documentation proving the need to hold the weapons. It also bars civilians from owning 9 mm pistols, restricting them to members of the police and military. It's one thing for the regular citizen to have a gun at home for his protection, as a guarantee, because some people think this is safety. Let them have it. But we cannot allow gun arsenals to be in the peoples hands," Lula said Friday during a signing ceremony. During Bolsonaro's presidency from 2019 through 2022, the former president had said good citizens should be entitled to protect their families and their assets, and loosened rules on the possession of guns and ammunition. Though Brazil has no constitutional right to bear arms, Bolsonaro argued that an armed populace will never be enslaved. Estimates of the number of guns in civilian hands more than tripled to 2.9 million in a country of 214 million people, according to the Instituto Sou da Paz, a non-profit that monitors public security. That remains far lower than in the United States, and despite the increase in guns, Brazils rate of slayings remained stable during Bolsonaro's term. The number of homicides during his last year in office, 2022, was at about 47,500 and roughly even with the 2019 rate, according to a report published Thursday by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety. The Igarape Institute, another public security think tank, along with Sou da Paz, lauded the new restrictions in a statement saying they were another step to regain responsible parameters and legal security in controlling guns in Brazil. Lula's government is encouraging citizens to sell firearms that are not allowed under the new rules before the end of the year or face confiscation by the Federal Police. The new rules also solidify the status of the Federal Police as official watchdog over guns, sidelining the military, which previously held that role. In May, Lula's justice minister had imposed a deadline for citizens to legally register firearms with the Federal Police. That previously was typically done by the military, but Lula's new left-wing government has cast doubts on the reliability of the armed forces in carrying out that function because of the tendency of many of their members to support Bolsonaro. We will keep on fighting for a disarmed country. Who should be well equipped with guns is the Brazilian police and the federal armed forces," Lula said. Shooting ranges that proliferated during Bolsonaro's government and were relatively unregulated now face new restrictions. They can operate only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and must be at least 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) away from schools. Lula's new policy also changes the duration of a gun permit from 10 years under Bolsonaro to new limits of three to five years, depending on the holder. By Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It has never been easy for the United States to secure the return of citizens from North Korea, one of the world's most isolated nations. The task may be even harder in the case of Private Travis King, with communication between the countries now almost non-existent, say diplomats and negotiators. King, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier serving in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of the Demilitarized Zone on the border between the two Koreas. Washington is fully mobilized in trying to contact Pyongyang about him, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said on Thursday, but North Korea had yet to respond. Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in 2021 the limited contacts between Washington and Pyongyang have all but ceased as the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate over North Korea's nuclear weapons program fizzled and North Korea sealed its borders in response to COVID-19. It's a different situation than what most earlier negotiators faced. "The North Koreans have shown no interest in dialogue with us at this point," said Thomas Hubbard, a retired U.S. ambassador who traveled to Pyongyang in 1994 to bring back Bobby Hall, the last serving member of the U.S. military held in North Korea. At that time, U.S. officials had just concluded an initial nuclear agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il. "We were in a very different time," said Hubbard. "The North Koreans saw they had some stake in the relationship with the United States." LIMITED OPTIONS U.S. negotiators have few ways of reaching the North Koreans. The countries have no diplomatic relations and Sweden, which officially represents U.S. interests in Pyongyang, pulled out its diplomats in August 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. officials said the United States had attempted to reach North Korea about King through the United Nations Command hotline and other channels, including the U.N. in New York, where North Korea has a representative. The best approach for now, said experts, may be a low-key public stance. "About 90% of (the outcome) will be determined based on how we react right now," said Mickey Bergman, executive director of the Richardson Center set up by Bill Richardson, a former diplomat who has previously negotiated with North Korea for the release of detainees. North Korea would likely interrogate King at length, then have an option of deporting him or charging him, said Bergman, adding that the U.S. should avoid "pounding our chest" and instead calmly communicate that Washington respects Pyongyang's right to detain and question a soldier who entered its territory. Jenny Town, of Washington's 38 North think tank, said the case was complicated by not knowing King's intentions and whether he actually wanted to return. King had been detained in South Korea for more than a month for assault and was to fly back to the U.S. to face military discipline. Cases of U.S. soldiers going to North Korea are extremely rare. In 1965, Charles Robert Jenkins, a 25-year-old U.S. Army sergeant walked over DMZ and spent four decades in North Korea, where he taught English and also portrayed a U.S. spy in a propaganda film. HES NOW THEIR PAWN A former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea said King may be used as a propaganda tool, but it was not clear how long North Korea would want to exploit his presence. "Holding an American soldier is probably a not very cost-effective headache for the North in the long run," said Tae Yong-ho, now a member of South Korea's parliament. A cautionary case of North Korean detention is that of Otto Warmbier, a college student detained on a tour in 2015 and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for trying to steal an item with a propaganda slogan. Warmbier was eventually returned to the United States in a coma in 2017, but died days later. Ottos father Fred feels empathy for King and his family. "This is about a young man we don't know his mental condition," he told Reuters in an interview. "Hes now their pawn. If it was any other country in the world, there would be communication now." When asked about King, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said the Biden administration had repeatedly tried to re-establish dialogue with Pyongyang since taking office, offering new nuclear talks without preconditions. "We sent that message several times," Blinken told the Aspen Security Forum. "Here's the response we got: one missile launch after another," referring to repeated North Korean missile tests. (Reporting by Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and Stephen Coates) Denise Welch has expressed support for her son, The 1975 frontman Matty Healy, after his bands recent concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was cut short. While performing at the Good Vibes Festival on Friday (21 July), Healy went on a rant about the Malaysian governments stance on LGBT+ rights. I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasnt looking into it. I dont see the f***ing point, right, I do not see the point of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with, Healy, 34, is heard saying in fan-captured footage. I am sorry if that offends you and youre religious and its part of your f***ing government, but your government are a bunch of f***ing r*****s and I dont care anymore. If you push, I am going to push back. I am not in the f***ing mood, Im not in the f***ing mood. LGBT+ people face severe discrimination in Malaysia, where homosexuality is forbidden and sodomy can be punished with imprisonment and corporal punishment. A source close to the band tells The Independent: Matty has a long-time record of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community and the band wanted to stand up for their LGBTQ+ fans and community. Healy later told the crowd: Unfortunately, you dont get a set of loads of uplifting songs because Im f***ing furious and thats not fair on you because youre not representative of your government. Because you are young people and I am sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool. So I pulled the show yesterday and we had a conversation and we said You know what? We cant let these kids down because theyre not the problem. the full vid of matty's malaysian meltdown leading to the 1975's eventual ban from malaysia is surprisingly coherent and valid pic.twitter.com/fL51peYcCv h (@holmenswift) July 21, 2023 He added: But, Ive done this before, Ive gone to a country where, I dont know what the f*** it is? Ridiculous. F***ing ridiculous to tell people what they can do with their that and that [points to groin and mouth] and if you want to invite me here to do a show, you can f*** off. Ill take your money, you can ban me, but Ive done this before and it doesnt feel good and Im f***ed off. Healy, as he has often done on the bands ongoing Still... At Their Very Best tour, then proceeded to kiss bassist Ross MacDonald on the lips. After finishing their seventh song, I Couldnt Be More In Love, the band abruptly left the stage with Healy telling the crowd: We just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, goodbye. On Twitter, Waterloo Road star Welch reacted to a tweet claiming The 1975 had been banned from Malaysia alongside the video of Healy kissing MacDonald. Hes my son, Welch, 65, wrote alongside a rainbow flag emoji, which represents gay pride. The 1975 are next scheduled to perform at We The Fest festival in Jakarta, Indonesia. In Indonesia, LGBT+ people do not face as many restrictions as those in Malaysia; however, same-sex marriage is still not officially recognised by the state. In Athens, Hellenic Red Cross workers have been distributing water bottles to keep people hydrated Greece is bracing for more intense heat this weekend, with meteorologists warning that temperatures could climb as high as 45C (113F). People have been advised to stay home, and tourist sites - including Athens' ancient Acropolis - will be shut during the hottest parts of the next two days. It could turn into Greece's hottest July weekend in 50 years, one of the country's top meteorologists says. Meanwhile, firefighters are continuing to battle dozens of wildfires. Emergencies and civil protection officials are warning of a very high risk of new blazes across the country. Western Attica - just west of Athens - is among the worst-hit areas, along with Laconia in the southern Peloponnese and the island of Rhodes. Greece's EU partners have provided help, including firefighting planes from France and Italy and more than 200 firefighters from Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria. Neighbouring Turkey is also sending some aircraft to help. Greece - like a number of other European countries - saw a prolonged spell of extreme heat earlier this month. The latest heatwave comes at one of the busiest times for the country's tourism industry. In its latest bulletin, the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS) warns that central and eastern regions of Greece are likely to see temperatures reaching 44C on Saturday. And it forecasts an even hotter Sunday, with 45C possible in central Greece. "This weekend risks being the hottest registered in July in the past 50 years," said Panagiotis Giannopoulos, a meteorologist with state broadcaster ERT, quoted by AFP news agency. "Athens is going to have temperatures above 40C for six to seven days, through to the end of July," he added. After a slight drop on Monday a new heat surge is expected on Tuesday. Officials fear this could be the worst heatwave since the summer of 1987, when hundreds of deaths were linked to the extreme weather. Across Greece, a number of people have already lost their homes to wildfires. In one region, several villages have been consumed by the blazes. One man told the BBC he did not even have a bed to sleep on anymore, and was now living in a hotel. Climate change increases the risk of the hot, dry weather that is likely to fuel wildfires. The world has already warmed by about 1.1C since the industrial era began and temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make steep cuts to carbon emissions. Spain and Italy are among the Mediterranean countries which have also experienced intense heat this week, while parts of the US are also seeing records broken. Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin Jr., the former co-CEOs of Fresno-based Bitwise Industries, are being accused of committing fraud on a massive scale and repeatedly misrepresenting the companys financial situation to its board before they were fired June 2, two former Bitwise board members allege in a bankruptcy court filing. Joseph Proietti and interim Bitwise President Ollen Douglass filed the motion Thursday in the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court in Delaware asking for permission to pursue a civil lawsuit against Soberal and Olguin, as well as Scottsdale Insurance Co., which could cover some legal bills for former Bitwise employees under an existing policy. Typically, a bankruptcy case creates an automatic stay of lawsuits by creditors against a debtor. But the two former board members want to persuade the bankruptcy court that Soberal and Olguin committed a massive fraud and should not be entitled to bankruptcy protection from lawsuits or any part of $5 million of insurance coverage that might go toward paying legal bills for former employees and board members. Because the damages ... are likely to total in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and there are a number of lawsuits already filed it is extremely likely that the total amount of the policy will be exhausted defending the fraudsters, the bankruptcy filing states. A civil lawsuit, if allowed by the bankruptcy judge, would be filed in Fresno County Superior Court. It would ask a court to declare that Soberal and Olguin are not entitled to the insurance coverage and that the policy can cover legal fees for board members facing a recently filed state class-action lawsuit against Bitwise on behalf of former employees. The Bee attempted to contact Soberal and Olguin on Friday evening for comment about the recent filing and allegations. They did not respond to text messages, and for several weeks have declined comment for several Bee stories about the bankruptcy and the companys demise. Bitwise was founded in 2013 as a hub for training students in software coding and website design, technology services for local companies, and providing leased space to budding technology entrepreneurs and other businesses. From those beginnings, the company embarked on a program of expanding its geographic footprint across California and, in recent years, to out-of-state communities in Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Texas. Bitwises umbrella company, BW Industries, and four of its associated entities, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on June 28, less than a month after Soberal and Olguin announced May 29 that the companys entire workforce of more than 900 workers including about 400 in the Fresno area were being immediately furloughed. Bankruptcy court documents indicate Bitwise Industries and associated companies owe creditors at least $511 million a figure that is growing as more employees file claims for unpaid wages and expenses. Fraud on a massive scope alleged In one of the court filings, Proietti and Douglass say Soberal and Olguin were concealing material information and actively misleading investors, lenders, employees and partners, as well as their own board, for years. Over the course of the last few years (Soberal and Olguin) engaged in numerous acts of fraud to the point that they ultimately destroyed the company they were charged with running, leaving hundreds of others to suffer the consequences of their misdeeds, the court filing alleges. In an attempt to enrich themselves and avoid responsibility for their unethical, self-dealing actions for as long as possible, (Soberal and Olguin) told lie after lie to cover up previous lies, Proietti and Douglass allege. They borrowed millions upon millions of dollars without Board knowledge or authorization, often using funds from one defrauded party to pay themselves or another defrauded party. Because of the massive scope of the fraud, the true extent of the financial loss is not yet fully clear, the former directors stated in the court filing. Proietti and Douglass cite a provision of the insurance policy that addresses misrepresentations in an application for the policy a provision that they say disqualifies Soberal and Olguin from being covered. But, they added, it is their belief that Scottsdale Insurance, has agreed to provide coverage for the former CEO defendants not only for the civil lawsuits, but also in defending criminal and/or governmental investigations. Multiple sources confirmed to The Fresno Bee in late June that federal agents have launched a criminal probe of Bitwise and its leadership in the wake of the companys financial collapse. In a proposed lawsuit against Soberal, Olguin and the insurance company, Proietti and Douglass allege that for a lengthy period of time prior to April 30 (Soberal and Olguin) used falsified financial records and lies to solicit loans, insurance coverage and investments in Bitwise. During this time, (Soberal and Olguin) paid themselves lavish salaries and perks such as company cars, the proposed complaint adds. Company, board face multiple lawsuits Bitwise, its board and officers, including Soberal and Olguin, face a slew of lawsuits from investors and other creditors, as well as a pair of class-action lawsuits by employees, stemming from allegations of bad-faith dealing, fraud and misrepresentations. Those lawsuits include a staggering array of financial losses suffered by innocent third parties as the result of dealings by (Soberal and Olguin), the court filing states. Proietti and Douglass allege that they were never made aware of many of the underlying transactions on behalf of Bitwise, let alone the financial ramifications on various substantial investments into Bitwise made and/or authorized by Proietti and Douglass. It is not yet clear exactly when the Former CEO defendants began to mislead others, but given the massive scope of the fraud, it is apparent that these misrepresentations began well in advance of April 30, 2023, the court filing states. The filing by Proietti and Douglass adds that Soberal and Olguin failed to disclose to the board the various dealings related to six of the lawsuits against the company, including a $6.4 million settlement of a New York fraud lawsuit. In another lawsuit, Bitwise is being sued for allegedly taking out at least $30 million in loans against buildings in which Bitwise did not hold a majority ownership stake. Not only do Proietti and Douglass assert in their motion that the Bitwise board never authorized Soberal and Olguin to solicit the loans or to list the properties for sale, but they also allege that a written consent provided by Soberal and Olguin for at least one of those loans appears to bear forged electronic signatures of Bitwise board members. Most, if not all, of the representations allegedly made by Soberal in connection with the loans were false, misleading, or both, Proietti and Douglass state in the filing. The Board of Directors of Bitwise and specifically both Proietti and Douglass had no knowledge that either (Soberal or Olguin) was soliciting these loans or investments, or that they were making these representations. None of the acts of (Soberal and Olguin) in furtherance of their fraudulent scheme were authorized by the Board, the filing states. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A former Republican legislative candidate who traveled to Washington for former President Donald Trump's Stop the Steal rally was arrested Friday and charged with federal crimes for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot, officials said. Matthew Brackley, 39, of Waldoboro, Maine, entered the the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and asked for the location of House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office before shouting, Lets go," according to prosecutors. He was arrested on felony charges including assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers and civil disorder, along with several misdemeanors. He made his initial court appearance on Friday. It was not clear if Brackley had a lawyer, and he did not immediately respond to an email request for comment. Brackley tried unsuccessfully to unseat Democratic state Sen. Eloise Vitelli of Arrowsic last year. His campaign website described him as a Maine Maritime Academy graduate whose approach would be to have respectful, thoughtful conversations on the issues. At the Capitol, prosecutors said, Brackley led a group that pushed through police officers several times before ultimately being dispersed by chemical spray and exiting. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 attack. Approximately 100 of them have been convicted by juries or judges after trials, and more than 600 have pleaded guilty. Over 570 riot defendants have been sentenced, with more than half receiving prison terms ranging from three days to 18 years. (Reuters) - The Iraqi government sought to reassure diplomatic missions in the country of their security on Saturday, saying it would not allow a recurrence of the storming of the Swedish embassy. The statement from the Foreign Ministry came a day after hundreds of protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, setting it on fire in protest against plans to burn a copy of the Koran in Stockholm. Iraq also expelled the Swedish ambassador. "The Iraqi government is fully committed to the Vienna Convention that regulates diplomatic relations among countries and assures all resident diplomatic missions of their security and protection," the ministry said. "What happened to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Baghdad cannot be repeated, and any similar act will be subject to legal accountability," it added. (Reporting By Moaz Abd-Alaziz; Editing by William Mallard) Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik speaks during a press conference at Myeongdong Cathedral in downtown Seoul, July 22. Yonhap Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik said Saturday that Pope Francis has sent a message of peace for the Korean Peninsula, which will be announced on the 70th armistice anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War. You, who serves as prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy of the Holy See, said he visited South Korea for a vacation with the pope's handwritten message hoping for peace on the Korean Peninsula, which will be revealed during a Mass at Myeongdong Cathedral, July 27. "It deeply troubles me that the painful memories of the Korean War still divide us clearly into two sides without any room for common ground, logic or reason," You said during a press conference at the cathedral in downtown Seoul. "We need to overcome this tragedy quickly and strive for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. I truly hope that we can engage in dialogue and find a resolution soon," he added. When asked about the possibility of Pope Francis' visit to North Korea, the 71-year-old You said Vatican officials have been making efforts since the pope expressed his desire to visit the reclusive country but there hasn't been any progress. "Until now, there haven't been any clear indications from North Korea. Nonetheless, the pope continues to make efforts and that is why I believe the 70th armistice anniversary is very important," You said. The two Koreas still remain technically at war as the three-year conflict ended with a truce, not a peace treaty. It was You's second visit to his home country since he became the first South Korean to be appointed to a secretary position at the Vatican in June 2021. In May 2022, he was named as the fourth Korean cardinal after the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan, the late Cardinal Nicholas Cheong Jin-suk and Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung. An interview-based book about his life and thoughts about the Catholic Church was published in Italy under the title of "Come la folgore viene da Oriente" (Like the Thunderbolt from the East), and its Korean edition was released earlier this month. (Yonhap) First lady Dr. Jill Biden will travel to Paris next week to celebrate the US rejoining UNESCO, according to senior administration officials, in a visit that will highlight the national security imperative of American involvement in such coalitions and emphasize the role of US leadership in the world. President Joe Biden is deploying the first lady, a top surrogate, to commemorate the occasion that reverses a Trump-era decision as he seeks to reassure allies that Americas back and signal the White Houses reaffirmed commitment to the organization. The US withdrew from UNESCO the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization during the Trump administration, with the State Department at the time citing anti-Israel bias and mounting membership dues owed to the international body. The organization promotes cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication, and also designates world heritage sites. Then-US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, now a GOP presidential candidate, said at the time the organizations extreme politicization had become a chronic embarrassment. Dr. Biden, a senior administration official said, will attend and deliver remarks at a UNESCO flag raising ceremony on Tuesday and greet UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay. A second senior Biden administration official heralded the decision to rejoin the organization as a milestone that really signifies the return of our leadership in a vital international space. When we dont show up in these organizations, other countries will fill the void. And in an era of increasing geopolitical competition, competitors are working hard at the UN to shape the global agenda, the second senior official said, adding, If we arent in the room, we cant push back. The US absence from UNESCO, the official said, was harming our interests since the decision to withdraw in 2017, noting that the organization has also made much-needed reforms. A third senior official noted that having the US at the UNESCO table will give the administration influence on international standards and shared global understanding on issues like protection of World Heritage, the ethics of emerging technology, press freedom, and education. New top US priorities for the group, that official said, include investments on Holocaust education, the preservation of cultural heritage in Ukraine, journalist safety and STEM education focused in Africa for women and girls, and artificial intelligence. The Biden administration is committed to playing a leadership role in multilateral venues where our interests, our security and prosperity can be protected and promoted. UNESCO is precisely one of those venues where we believe the benefits of engagement are well worth the investment, the third official said. President Biden has often sought to communicate to US allies in the aftermath of his predecessors America First presidency that the US will reassert a leading role in what he casts as the battle between democracy and autocracy. Of course, former President Donald Trump is currently leading in GOP primary polling, with posing serious questions ahead for the future of critical US alliances following the 2024 presidential election. The first lady is set to depart Washington for Paris on Sunday evening, arriving Monday morning. She will meet with Mrs. Brigitte Macron, spouse of French President Emmanuel Macron, on Tuesday. Dr. Biden will also visit Mont Saint Michel, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and pay her respects to fallen World War II US service members at the Brittany American Cemetery in Normandy during her trip abroad. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to correct the timing of Dr. Jill Bidens meeting with Brigitte Macron. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Emmanuel Brown, 30, is dressed appropriately for the heat heading home from the beach in Santa Monica on July 13. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) July is shaping up to be the planet's hottest month on record as global warming, El Nino and regional heat waves conspire to push civilization into uncharted thermal territory, experts say. As a sizzling heat dome spread misery over the American Southwest, and hospitals reported increasing numbers of heat-related illnesses, government officials told reporters this week that it was increasingly likely that July would rank as the hottest month ever recorded, and that 2023 and 2024 may end up being the hottest years ever. "We are seeing unprecedented changes all over the world the heat waves that we are seeing in the U.S., in Europe, in China are demolishing records left, right and center," said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Read more:Hellish heat leaves Southwest in misery: Fainting, broken cars, sizzling sidewalks "This last June was the warmest June on record, and we anticipate, with the understanding of what's going on on a day-by-day basis, that July is likely to be the warmest absolute month on record." Schmidt said he put the odds that 2023 will be the warmest year on record at about 50-50, but noted that others have suggested it's more like an 80% chance based on current data. "We anticipate that 2024 will be an even warmer year because we're going to be starting off with that El Nino event," he said at a Thursday news conference. El Nino, a climate pattern in the tropical Pacific associated with warmer global temperatures, is still developing, but forecasters are increasingly confident that it will be a very strong El Nino. 2016 and 2020 currently tied for the hottest years on record both came after El Nino events. But while El Nino will likely boost temperatures over the next two years, the root cause of increasing global average temperature is humanity's burning of fossil fuels. "A lot of this is expected it is what our models predicted would happen," said Kristina Dahl, a principal climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists. "But I think the impacts are more severe than I would have anticipated. ... Just seeing how it actually plays out, I think, is really heartbreaking." In the coming weeks, huge swaths of the U.S, including California, are expected to see warmer-than-average temperatures, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA's August outlook shows a high likelihood of above-normal temperatures across much of the U.S., including California and the Pacific Northwest. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) The forecast looks particularly brutal in the Pacific Northwest, where Oregon and Washington have a 60% to 70% chance of a hotter-than-normal August. In California, there is a 33% to 60% chance of above-normal temperatures, with the odds highest in the northern part of the state. "The southern tier of the U.S. and even into the Pacific Northwest could end up with another period of quite warm weather quite extreme weather during the month of August, temperature-wise," said Matt Rosencrans, a meteorologist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, during a briefing Thursday. The forecast came after NOAA officials confirmed that last month was the hottest June in 174 years of record-keeping, with global surface temperatures 1.89 degrees Fahrenheit above average. The global ocean surface temperature also saw a record high, 1.66 degrees above average. Read more:Earth sizzled to a global heat record in June. And July is getting hotter, experts say The officials also said that this year was "virtually certain" to rank among the 10 warmest years on record, with a 97% chance of making the top 5, according to the agency. Much of that prediction hinges on the presence of a strong El Nino. Currently, there is a 52% chance that this El Nino will be in the "upper echelon" of strength, said Rosencrans. Should that happen during October, November and December, "it would likely be quite a warm winter over much of the Lower 48." Experts also noted that persistent warming from human-caused climate change is a factor in the skyrocketing temperatures. The jet stream the fast-flowing air currents that drive weather patterns around the globe may also be changing due to global warming, Dahl said. While it is still an active area of research, she said there is evidence that as the climate has warmed, the traditional path of the jet stream has changed and become "wavier" due to shifting temperature gradients from north to south. That could explain why the current heat dome has lingered over the Southwest for so long. "Basically what we're seeing is that these weather patterns are getting stuck, and you see it both in the summer and the winter," she said. Read more:116 degrees at night: Death Valley's extreme heat goes off the charts from climate change The convergence of factors is already making life miserable for millions of people living through the heat. In California, portions of the Central Valley could climb as high as 114 degrees this weekend. In the Los Angeles County area, highs could reach 112 degrees in interior mountains and deserts, and 105 degrees in the coastal valleys and Santa Monica Mountains. Daily records could be broken across the Antelope Valley on Friday and through the weekend, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. The agency has issued an excessive heat warning across the Los Angeles region until 8 p.m. Sunday. Some slight cooling is expected next week, although temperatures will still remain above normal. "The expectation is that we'll be cooling off, but it's still going to be above normal for the foreseeable future," Wofford said. While current temperatures may seem unbearably hot, many forecasters underscored that this could well be remembered as one of the cooler years if current trends persist, including warmer overall temperatures and warmer oceans. "We will anticipate that this is going to continue," said Schmidt, of NASA. "And the reason why we think that it's going to continue is because we continue to be putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and until we stop doing that, temperatures will keep on rising." 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. (Reuters) -NATO and Ukraine are to discuss security in the Black Sea next week, particularly the operation of a corridor for grain exports, at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Western alliance said on Saturday. NATO spokesperson Oanu Lungescu said the NATO-Ukraine Council, set up at this month's alliance summit, would discuss the situation following Russia's withdrawal from the year-old deal overseeing grain exports from Ukrainian ports. Zelenskiy said he had requested the meeting in a telephone conversation with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. Lungescu said the two men discussed Russia's pullout from the deal and its "continued attempts to weaponise food, which are affecting millions of vulnerable people around the world". The meeting, she said, would take place at the level of ambassadors. The council's inaugural meeting, at NATO's summit in Vilnius, was attended by heads of state or government. Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address, had said earlier that the council brought cooperation with NATO "to a new, more advanced level, the NATO-Ukraine Council, and this mechanism can have an impact. "I proposed to Jens that the council be convened without delay for relevant crisis consultations. The meeting will take place in the coming days. We can overcome the security crisis in the Black Sea." Russia said it had withdrawn from the accord on grounds that Western countries had ignored its demands to ensure Moscow's food and fertilizer exports. Moscow said ships heading to Ukraine's Black Sea ports could be considered military targets. The United Nations' aid chief told the U.N. Security Council on Friday that a spike in grain prices since Russia quit the deal "potentially threatens hunger and worse for millions of people." (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Ron Popeski and Nick Starkov; Editing by Paul Simao and Daniel Wallis) MOSCOW (AP) Russian security forces on Saturday killed a heavily-armed gunman who broke into a private house in the suburbs of Moscow and fired at them, reportedly threatening to march on the Kremlin. The assailant was spotted by guards after he had broken into an unoccupied house located in an elite cottage village in the Istra region, about 45 kilometers (less than 30 miles) west of Moscow. When two guards and a police officer entered the house, the man held them at gunpoint, but the three later managed to escape, according to Russian media. For several hours, the authorities negotiated with the attacker who was in combat fatigues and toted a Kalashnikov rifle. The man claimed he came from the front lines in Ukraine and was driven by God to march on the Kremlin, the seat of the government in Moscow. He refused to surrender, fired at the special forces and was killed when they stormed the house, Russia's National Guard said. It said that the attacker had several automatic weapons and hand grenades. Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein identified the assailant as Vyacheslav Chernenko, a 35-year-old resident of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. It wasn't immediately clear if he indeed fought in Ukraine as he claimed. Istra administrator Tatiana Vitusheva described the attacker as mentally unstable. Some Russian media claimed that the cottage he broke into once belonged to Viktor Yanukovych, the former Moscow-friendly president of Ukraine who was driven from office by mass protests and offered shelter by Russia. It has been put up for sale by its current owner, who was abroad when the incident happened. The standoff attracted close media attention, coming nearly a month after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a short-lived mutiny that saw his Wagner troops capture military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then drive as close as 200 kilometers (125 miles) to Moscow in a bid to oust the country's top military leaders. Prigozhin agreed to end the June 23-24 rebellion under a deal that offered amnesty to him and his mercenaries and allowed them to move to Belarus. For more than two years, Oceano Dunes Vehicular Recreation Area appeared poised to close to off-road riding by 2024. However, a San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge gave off-roading enthusiasts and wildlife advocates whiplash Wednesday afternoon when she issued a ruling that allows off-highway vehicle use to continue in the popular park. Judge Tana Coates ruling mandates the California Coastal Commission vacate its March 2021 amendment to the Oceano Dunes parks coastal development. That amendment had effectively prohibited off-roading at the park by 2024. The ruling marked the end of a court battled waged by off-roading advocates Friends of Oceano Dunes and EcoLogic Partners against the Coastal Commission after its March 2021 vote. The Coastal Commission is set to meet in August to discuss the ruling and next steps. Tire tracks are seen at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Off-roading enthusiasts and businesses that cater to that community said theyre happy with the ruling, which opens up the opportunity to let them keep driving their vehicles around the dunes for years to come. We are extremely pleased with our victory showing the Coastal Commission exceeded its authority once again, Friends of Oceano Dunes president Jim Suty wrote in an email to The Tribune. Friends of Oceano Dunes will continue to fight to protect continued access for camping and OHV use at the Oceano Dunes the way it has been occurring for over 100 years. However, wildlife advocates are concerned what the ruling could mean for the threatened and endangered birds that nest in the dunes. This ruling imperils a whos who of rare and endangered coastal birds, including the Western snowy plover and California least tern, Andrea Jones, director of bird conservation for Audubon California, said in a statement Friday. Off-roading enthusiasts happy with judges ruling The contradictory reactions to the Oceano Dunes ruling is nothing new for those who have followed the controversial parks history. Since the parks inception in the 1980s, off-roaders and preservationists have battled over the parks uses. The off-roading area within the Oceano Dunes has shrunk significantly over the years from 3,600 acres to about 1,500 acres. The majority of those closures were to set aside areas for bird habitat and dust pollution control measures. Friends of Oceano Dunes have long argued those closures were far too aggressive and based on science the nonprofit did not believe was accurate. Fences surrounding a 300-acre snowy plover and California least tern exclosure at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area were put back up a week after they were taken down. However, the closures were deemed successful by California State Parks as the population of endangered California least terns and threatened snowy plovers saw recovery in areas closed to off-road driving. Additionally, dust pollution from the dunes has fallen measurably since State Parks implemented the measures required by the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. Friends of Oceano Dunes has pledged to continue its fight against the use of bad science and the abuse of political power. Specialty Equipment Market Association and EcoLogic Partners entities that entered into a lawsuit against the Coastal Commission alongside Friends of Oceano Dunes where Coates issued her ruling said in a statement Thursday they were also committed to protecting off-roading recreation in the Oceano Dunes. The Coastal Commissions efforts to stop off-road access at Oceano Dunes were unreasonable and set a dangerous precedent, the two entities statement said. This is a hard-fought victory for the motorized recreation community and the millions of enthusiasts who recreate at Oceano Dunes each year. Vehicles are lined up at an off-loading area for Steves ATV Rentals at Post 2 at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Friday, July 21, 2023. Wildlife advocacy groups say ruling is deadly for protected bird species Off-roading enthusiasts promise to continue fighting for continued access to the Oceano Dunes is matched by that of groups battling to prohibit vehicles in the park. Audubon will continue to advocate for the birds, wildlife, rare coastal dune habitat, and air quality issues in the surrounding communities, as well as equitable access to nature, Jones said. Audubon California, the Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity say Coates Wednesday ruling marked a turn for the worse for the future of the Oceano Dunes. This is a deadly decision for the endangered shorebirds that call Oceano Dunes home, Ileene Anderson, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement to The Tribune on Thursday. A snowy plover walks along the water line at the Oceano Dunes. Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club director Andrew Christie noted that the ruling throws the future of South County and the Oceano-Nipomo dunes complex into limbo. In her ruling, Coates wrote that the Coastal Commission went about its ban of off-roading in the Oceano Dunes park the wrong way by amending the parks coastal development permit. There can be no dispute that the proper procedure is for the commission to first propose amendments to the (local coastal program) which authorizes such OHV driving, Coates wrote. To change the local coastal program, the Coastal Commission must submit proposed changes to the county or perhaps the State Legislature, Coates wrote in her ruling. The next global pandemic could come from the United States. That's the sobering message of a report from Harvard Law School and New York University, examining how humans, livestock and wild animals interact here. Many familiar and terrifying diseases originated in animals, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Zika, pandemic flu and COVID-19. Some started in other countries, typically on the African or Asian continents. These so-called zoonotic diseases are often blamed on poor hygiene, lack of government oversight, or unsafe practices in those places. While Americans often think "it couldn't happen here," regulations are so loose and interactions so frequent, researchers found, that a virus or another contagious bug could easily jump from animals to people in the U.S., sparking a deadly outbreak. "There really is this false sense of security and unfounded belief that zoonotic disease is something that happens elsewhere," said Ann Linder, one of the reports lead authors and associate director of policy and research with the Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program at Harvard Law School. "In fact, I think we're more vulnerable than ever in many ways." Jo-Anne McArthur shows American mink kits fighting for space in a small cage on a fur farm. For Jo-Anne it is important to document cruelty in order to instigate change. At a Swedish mink farm, the sign above a cramped, inhospitable cage indicates two kits have died. Due to legislation changes since this photo was taken, farms now have slightly larger cages, but the standard of life remains poor. In 2020 scientists discovered that mink could catch the Covid-19 virus and that it could mutate and be transmitted to humans. In response, Denmark shut down its industry. In 2022 in Sweden, after a temporary ban on breeding, the government allowed some mink farms to reopen. Location: Lindasen, Sweden The report, also led by NYU's Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, highlights several areas of vulnerability, including commercial farms where millions of livestock come into close contact with each other and their handlers; the wild animal trade in which animals are imported with few or no health checks; and the fur trade in which minks and other animals are bred for their coats, with little safety oversight. "Through globalization, we've erased seas and mountains and other natural boundaries of disease," said Linder, an expert in law and animal policy. "We're mixing animals and pathogens across different continents and circulating at a dizzying and ever-increasing pace." About 10 billion land animals are raised in the U.S., a number which is increasing by about 200 million a year, according to the report. Pigs and poultry, for instance, are raised in higher numbers in the United States than almost anywhere else in the world, the report found, and are the most likely vectors for a particularly lethal outbreak of the flu. Industry representatives were quick to defend the safety of their practices. According to the CDC, the likelihood of spreading an avian disease to a human in the United States is extremely rare, Ashley Peterson, National Chicken Council senior vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs, said in an emailed statement. A pork industry group did not immediately return a request for comment. Workers on pig and poultry farms are particularly vulnerable because of a lack of regulations protecting them, said Delcianna Winders, an associate professor of law and director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute at Vermont Law and Graduate School in Royalton. "There is virtually no regulation of on-farm raising of animals. There's limited regulation of the slaughterhouse but it is extremely inadequate and it's getting worse," said Winders, who was not involved in the report, but researches a similar area. "Right now, the federal government is deregulating slaughter, rather than increasing oversight." Because the mink and larger fur industry does not produce food, it is even less regulated, Linder said. A different study published last week in "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences," found "that mink, more so than any other farmed species, pose a risk for the emergence of future disease outbreaks and the evolution of future pandemics." Other studies have shown that mink are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and outbreaks were detected on 18 American mink farms during the pandemic's first two years. At least four Americans, two of whom worked on mink farms, were believed to have been infected by the animals. Challis Hobbs, Executive Director of the Fur Commission USA, a trade group, said "we unequivocally assert our commitment to the health and safety of our animals, our workforce, and the communities in which we operate." The industry, working with the federal government and state agencies, vaccinated 95% of the U.S. mink population beginning summer 2021, he said. The cost was entirely covered by the mink farmers, who also are helping to fund a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance project on mink farms. "Despite claims from animal rights advocates," he said, "there is no significant threat to the general public from U.S. farmed mink. About 220 million live wild animals are imported into the United States every year for pets and other purposes, many without health or safety checks, Linder said. If someone wants to bring a dog or cat into this country, there's a process, Linder said. "But if I'm a wildlife importer and I want to bring in 100 wild mammals from South America, I can do that with very little regulation of any kind." Perhaps the earliest Ebola case, which sparked the outbreak in West Africa from 2013 to 2016, was blamed on bush meat. It's illegal to import bush meat to the United States, but it's not illegal to import the same live animals that bush meat comes from, she said. "There are wide gaps." Both Linder and Winders also highlighted the lack of industry transparency. "So much of this is hidden from public view," Winders said. "There's so much we don't know because we're not monitoring." Winders said she's concerned about how much money the government spends subsidizing and protecting industries she believes put the American public at risk. She hopes Congress will take advantage of this year's reenactment of the Farm Bill to limit subsidies and impose new safety regulations on animal industries. "Don't we see the writing on the wall?" Winders asked. "Scientists are telling us there's a looming threat of a zoonotic outbreak that could make COVID look like a cakewalk, and we're still just ignoring it, even after what we've gone through over the last couple of years." Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com and Adrianna Rodriguez at arodriguez@usatoday.com. Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible, in part, by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Deadly, COVID-style pandemic could easily start in US, report finds North Korea fired cruise missiles in the direction of its western sea on Saturday, according to South Koreas military, according to the Associated Press. This is the countrys second event this week, after North Korea launched two short-range missiles on Wednesday to its eastern sea just one day after the U.S. docked a nuclear-armed submarine in South Korea. North Korea on Thursday threatened possible retaliation over the docking of the USS Kentucky. The military security situation in the area of the Korean peninsula, which has undergone a fundamental change due to the reckless military moves of the U.S. and its followers, more clearly indicates what mission the nuclear weapons of the [North Korea] should carry out, North Korean defense minister Kang Sun Nam said in a statement. Saturday mornings launch also comes as the country remains silent on the perceived detention of a U.S. soldier who willfully crossed into the country earlier this week. Travis King, a Private 2nd Class in the Army believed to be in North Korean custody reportedly sprinted from a tour on the South Korean side of the demilitarized zone. His current status and whereabouts are unknown, according to officials. We dont know where he is. We dont know the conditions in which hes living in right now, White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby said Thursday during a briefing with reporters. Were still doing everything we can to try to find out his whereabouts, his well-being and condition and making it clear that we want to see him safely and quickly returned to the United States, Kirby added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A pregnant woman was shot and killed after a fight broke out at a Texas park early Saturday, her family told ABC Houston station KTRK. Four other people were struck by gunfire, including two suspected shooters, after dozens of shots were reportedly fired, police said. PHOTO: Police respond to a deadly shooting at Margaret Jenkins Park in Houston, July 22, 2023. (KTRK) The shooting occurred at Margaret Jenkins Park in southeast Houston around 1:14 a.m., police said. The Houston Police Department received multiple reports of shots fired at the location through its ShotSpotter technology, Assistant Chief E. Garcia said. "A total of 36 shots came in from that technology," Garcia said at a press briefing. PHOTO: Police respond to a deadly shooting at Margaret Jenkins Park in Houston, July 22, 2023. (KTRK) MORE: Gunman who killed officer, wounded 3 others allegedly searched online for 'area events where there are crowds' Police believe a fight broke out between groups of people at the park, when the altercation led to some taking out firearms and shooting, Garcia said. Three of the people struck by gunfire were transported to a local hospital, including the two suspected shooters, Garcia said. They are in stable condition, he said. One person suffered a graze wound and did not to go the hospital, he said. The family of the woman killed in the shooting identified her to KTRK as 21-year-old Autumn Vallian. PHOTO: Ebony Vallian speaks to ABC Houston station KTRK, July 22, 2023. (KTRK) The victim was with her friends and family at a birthday party when the fight broke out, KTRK reported. She was trying to leave when she was fatally shot, her mother, Ebony Vallian, told the station. "My daughter came telling me, pulling me, 'Mama, let's get away, let's get away,'" Ebony Vallian told KTRK. "I looked back, my baby was down on the ground. Gone." MORE: Reward up to $40,000 for information in mysterious shooting of Birmingham firefighters Her family told the station Autumn Vallian was 5 months pregnant and was excited to become a mother. "I just lost my baby," Ebony Vallian told KTRK. "I just lost my baby. [She was] in school, trying to get a job. Trying to become something, and she's gone now." The two shooting suspects have been detained at the hospital, according to Garcia. Police are investigating to see if there are any additional suspects in the incident, he said. Pregnant woman killed, 4 others injured in shooting at Houston park originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, Gerome Sutton looked forward all week for his chance to swim at Algonquin Park pool on the weekend. It was like Christmas in the summer time, said Sutton, now 66 and a local minister. It was the best time of the week. Louisvilles public parks were desegregated in 1955, a year before Sutton was born. This included the newly built Algonquin outdoor swimming pool on the West Side of Louisville. It cost 35 cents to swim at Algonquin at the time, Sutton said. He and his seven siblings took turns going on alternating weekends because the family could not afford to send all eight children at the same time. Adults take swimming lessons at Algonquin pool in Louisville during the summer of 2022. The pool is closed this summer. - Central ALTS, Inc. We would go swimming. That makes a big statement against segregation, he said. There was an organized effort on the part of government to keep children engaged with an activity. Public pools have played a critical role in American culture over the past century. But as climate change and extreme heat worsen, they are taking on an urgent public health role. Heat kills more Americans than any other weather-related disaster, according to data tracked by the National Weather Service. Yet just as public pools become more important than ever, theyre disappearing from sight. Pools have become harder to find for Americans who lack a pool in their backyard, cant afford a country club, or dont have a local YMCA. A legacy of segregation, the privatization of pools, and starved public recreation budgets have led to the decline of public places to swim in many cities. If the public pool isnt available and open, you dont swim, Sutton said. Swimming is mental health In the early 2000s, Louisville had 10 public pools for a population of around 550,000. Today, the city has five public pools for a population of around 640,000, ranking 89 out of the largest 100 cities in swimming pools per person, according to Trust for Public Land, an advocacy organization for public parks and land. Algonquin is the only pool left in West Louisville, and residents say the city has neglected basic maintenance and improvements for years. This summer, as temperatures climb to the 90s in Louisville, Algonquin is closed for repairs, leaving around 60,000 people most of whom are Black and middle-or-lower income households without convenient access to the water. Algonquin Pool at 1614 Cypress St. in Louisville, seen in May. The pool is closed this summer. - Matt Stone/Courier Journal/USA Today Network/Imagn Some will miss out on a chance to learn how to swim, get more comfortable in the water, and build life-saving skills. Kids and teens wont have a key place to gather and play during the summer months when school is off. And seniors cant participate in Aqua Zumba fitness classes held at Algonquin during the summer to help them stay active. Swimming is mental health. Its therapy. You have to have activities. Its bigger than just a pool, said Louisville Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins, who represents the district. Swimming disparities Access to swimming pools has long been hotly contested in America. Giant municipal pools were built in the first half of the twentieth century, and desegregating public pools was a key target of the civil rights movement. But, strapped for funding, many local governments have neglected public pools. Weve gotten to a point where a lot of the recreation taking place in the summers is happening in private spaces or in places with lack of support, said Andrew Kahrl, a historian at the University of Virginia and author of The Land Was Ours: How Black Beaches Became White Wealth in the Coastal South. Weve seen the complete erosion of the public side of this equation, Kahrl said. Private pools, like these in Southern California, have replaced public pools in recent decades. - Mario Tama/Getty Images There is one outdoor public pool for every 38,000 people in America from 34,000 in 2015 according to the National Recreation and Park Association. The retreat of government and privatization of swimming pools and recreation has hurt poor and minority groups hardest, historians and public recreation experts say. Poor and working-class Americans suffered most directly from the privatizing of swimming pools, writes Jeff Wiltse, a historian at University of Montana, in Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America. Today, 79% of children in families with household incomes less than $50,000 have no or low swimming ability, according to a 2018 study. Sixty-four percent of Black children, 45% percent of Hispanic children and 40% of White children have no or low swimming ability, the study found. When America built pools While public pools are a rarer sight today, governments built enormous pools during the twentieth century. The New Deal led to the biggest burst of public pools in American history. The federal government built nearly 750 pools and remodeled hundreds more between 1933 and 1938. The Astoria Swimming Pool, built during the New Deal, in New York City in 1936. - Hulton Archive/Hulton Archive/Getty Images New York Parks Commissioner Robert Moses opened 11 pools funded by the federal Works Project Administration, and San Francisco opened Fleishhacker Pool, the largest of the era. A 1933 survey of Americans leisure activities found that as many people swam frequently as went to the movies. Pools became emblems of a new, distinctly modern version of the good life that valued leisure, pleasure and beauty, Wiltse writes. Racial violence Before the 1920s, swimming pools in the North were segregated along gender lines but not racial ones. This changed as they became gender integrated. Racial stereotypes around cleanliness and safety, as well as intense fears of Black men interacting with White women in bathing suits, turned pools into some of the most segregated public spaces in America, said Victoria Wolcott, a historian at the University at Buffalo and author of Race, Riots, and Roller Coasters: The Struggle over Segregated Recreation in America. Police armed with nightsticks disperse part of a crowd of 5,000 people during a riot in St. Louis in 1949. 13 people were injured. Several Black people were beaten and stoned. The fighting broke out as the result of a directive which permitted Black people to use swimming pools in public parks along with White people. The mayor later rescinded the order. - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images In the late 1940s, there were major swimming pool riots over integration in St. Louis; Baltimore; Washington, D.C.; and Los Angeles, Walcott said. In Cincinnati, Whites threw nails and glass into pools, and in St. Augustine, Florida, they poured acid into the water to prevent Black swimmers. The Kerner Commission, tasked with studying the underlying causes of disorder in cities during the 1960s, found in its landmark 1967 report that the lack of recreation facilities, including pools, was a deeply-held grievance among Black people fueling urban unrest during sweltering summers. Abandoning public pools Gaining entry to swimming pools was a top priority for civil rights groups, who saw recreation as a fundamental human right. In Martin Luther King Jr.s 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail, he described the tears in his daughters eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children. But the success of the civil rights movement integrating pools coincided with a surge of private pools and swim clubs. Millions of middle-class White families left cities for the suburbs and built pools in their new backyards during the era. New suburbanites chose to organize country clubs with fees rather than build pools open to the public. From 1950 to 1962, 22,000 private swim clubs opened, mostly in White suburbs. The Old Westbury Country Club in New York in 1963. Private pool clubs sprang up as the suburbs grew. - John Cornell/Newsday RM/Getty Images The development of private, gated communities and homeowners associations in the suburbs also led to the privatization of recreation. Towns formed their own tax bases and local governments with their own services and amenities. The decline of public pools happens at the same time as the push to privatization, said Wolcott. Some parts of the South revolted against integration by paving over or draining their pools rather than integrating them. Of the public pools open in 1961 in Mississippi, for example, nearly half had closed by 1972. As Whites withdrew from public pools and parks, taxpayer funding and support for pools dwindled. In Cleveland, the citys recreation budget was cut by 80%. Disinvestment in public recreation grew following tax revolts of the late 1970s, Kahrl said. In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 13, which slashed local property tax rates and made it more difficult for the state to fund public recreation. As cities closed pools and stopped maintaining existing ones, private swim clubs filled the void for those who could access them and backyard pools proliferated. In 1972, there were 1.1 million residential pools, according to pool industry market research firm PK Data. Two decades later, there were 3.8 million. Starved budgets Lifeguard shortages and underfunded public recreation departments continue to strain local pools. Parks and recreation agencies tend to be the first area to cut when budgets are tight and the slowest to get money back, said Kevin Roth, vice president of research, evaluation and technology at the National Recreation and Park Association. The budget challenge is something were very concerned about. Its not new and its not going away anytime soon, he said. Public pools are costly for cities to maintain and insure. Cities also have struggled to staff pools with lifeguards. High-school and college students have more summer job options and are less likely to pick up a job as a lifeguard over the summer than they once did, he said. Many cities have struggled to hire lifeguards, leading to pool closures. - Hannah Beier/Reuters But the loss of public pools cannot be picked up fully by private pools or non-profit groups. To give people in West Louisville a place to swim this summer, the city approved $100,000 in funding for free summer passes to the YMCA and an amusement park. Passes will be only be available to a limited number of residents, and many residents lack transportation to get to the YMCA or amusement park. Louisvilles metro government has allocated $6 million to renovate Algonquin and another local pool. But some local residents and leaders say renovating the Algonquin pool is not enough. They want an indoor swimming pool open all year, like the aquatics center on the predominantly White East Side of the city, so people can access the water, take classes and stay fit. I would love for it to be year-round with water safety classes, said LaShandra Logan, 35, who grew up in West Louisville and has gone to Algonquin since she was a child. Last year, she learned how to swim through a local non-profit group, Central Adult Learn-to-Swim. Eighty-seven percent of the programs students are Black and 85% are women. My biggest fear was drowning, and I wanted to learn, Logan said. I felt like if I could learn how to swim nothing else could intimidate me. She is currently enrolled in a lifeguard instruction class and wants to help other people in the community learn how to swim. Currently, there is a 2,500-person wait list of adults in Louisville who want to learn to swim through the non-profit. Its a life-changing experience, Logan said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com U.S. intelligence officials told reporters on Friday that there is no reason to doubt Russian President Vladimir Putins claims that he moved nuclear weapons into Belarus, according to CNN. Senior Defense Intelligence Agency officials also said they dont believe the movement alters the global nuclear landscape or increases the risk of nuclear attack, the outlet reported. Putin announced in June that Russia had delivered its first nuclear warheads into Belarus as part of a plan to deploy tactical nuclear bombs in the country bordering Ukraine. This is a deterrence measure [against] all those who think about Russia and its strategic defeat, he said at the time. The Russian president also claimed that it was only the first batch, the Russian state-run outlet TASS reported. We will complete this work by the end of this year. As the Russia-Ukraine war nears its 18th month, the intel officials said they had no reason to doubt that [Russia has] had some success in transferring the weapons, which Putin called a deterrence against all those who think about Russia and its strategic defeat. While they didnt go into detail about what made them come to their decision, the officials acknowledged that the weapons were difficult to track even with satellites. Putin first announced plans to store tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in March, saying their placement is a response to U.S. nuclear weapons in nearby European countries and Turkey. He said their actions were no different than what the United States is doing. We are doing what they have been doing for decades, stationing them in certain allied countries, preparing the launch platforms and training their crews, Putin said at the time, as reported by multiple media outlets. We are going to do the same thing. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also said that he would not hesitate to use the weapons if provoked. We have got the missiles and bombs from Russia Not all of them, little by little, Lukashenko said in June. God forbid I have to make a decision to use those weapons today, but there would be no hesitation if we face an aggression, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. At the beach in Busan in the early 20th century Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff For many people, summer means frolicking on the beach with friends and family. It is a time to enjoy the sun, the water and the beautiful views but there are also discomforts associated with the beach: too much sun leads to sunburns, sand everywhere including in your swimsuit and the huge crowds and subsequent larger amount of litter. There is, of course, the unspoken danger of sharks. People normally do not think about sharks in Korea but lately they have been in the news their recent appearances are blamed upon global warming. But sharks aren't really newcomers to Korean waters especially in the southern parts of the country. According to various trade reports from the late 19th century, one of Korea's chief exports was shark fin. And, if we are to believe the Western accounts, shark flesh was once quite popular in local markets. In 1890, the customs commissioner at Fusan (modern Busan) surnamed Hunt even described the very lucrative shark fishery at that port being carried on by "an enterprising company of Japanese merchants." The company employed a large number of fishing boats which would fish the waters around that port presumably late at night or very early in the morning and harvest about 900 sharks a month. Each morning, the sharks and the other fish caught would be brought into the port and taken to an auction at a fish market that had been established recently. The sharks were processed in a rather simple manner. The fins were cut off and then allowed to dry once dried, they were sent to China by one of the steamships that visited the port every week or so. As for the shark's carcass, this was sold to Korean dealers for a dollar or a dollar and half (depending on the size) and the Korean buyer would then transport it inland sometimes a considerable distance where it was viewed as a much much-relished food. A crowded beach in Busan in the early 20th century no sign of mermaids Robert Neff Collection According to Hunt, the company sold between $1,350 and $1,950 of shark products a month which made its investors very happy after they received a dividend of 30 percent. Sharks were not the only prey. In 1891, a Korean "whale-fishing syndicate" based in Fusan had a fleet of 22 whale boats and 256 sailors (it isn't clear if they were all Korean or a mixture of Japanese and Korean) who would go out each morning at dawn and hunt for whales. According to one account: "On sighting a whale two boats, lowering between them a large net made of strong rope, range themselves so as to closely encompass the whale, when the other boats advance and several harpoons are driven into the animal. The net is tightly drawn round it to secure its tail and to pin, as it were, the whale's flippers to the sides and so prevent it from diving or injuring the whalers in its frantic endeavours to escape." In a period of just five months, the company managed to kill 17 whales which were taken to Fusan, cut up and reportedly sold for about $20,000 (which seems a little inflated). Most of the whale meat was consumed locally but a large amount of it was sent to Japan where it was either sold in the local markets or boiled and rendered into oil. The article noted that it could not be boiled in Fusan because of the exorbitant price of firewood. The southern part of the peninsula possessed other dangers and treasures of the deep that seem a bit fishy when viewed through modern eyes. Busan in the early 20th century not everyone went to the beach to swim. Robert Neff Collection Outside the church, the protesters howled. Heads high, worshipers walked past the screaming strangers and into the sanctuary of the First United Church of Christ in Northfield. The church doors closed behind them, cutting off the threats and insults, and they were safe. They were welcome. They were ready for Gospel Drag. "They shouted such hateful things. Just horrible accusations," said the Rev. Cindy Maddox, the church's senior pastor, who braved weeks of threats and harassment last fall when the church welcomed performers in costumes as bright as their souls. "Once people got past that, within our sanctuary, it was such an amazing experience of joy." The word gospel means good news. The good news is that over the past year, Minnesota businesses, communities and institutions placed themselves squarely between hate groups and their targets. The good news, which some vast corporations have yet to learn, is that if you stand up to bullies, you might find an entire community willing to stand with you. "No matter who you are, who you love, or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here," Maddox greeted the people who crowded the pews last autumn. The Gospel Drag performers sang hymns from "Sister Act," belted out some Whitney Houston and shared stories about their faith. The protesters outside screamed through the whole thing, but nobody in the sanctuary could hear them. All they could hear was joy and music. A church, a library, a small-town theater and a suburban shop. All hosted drag performances this past year. All were harassed, insulted and threatened. None of them backed down. None of them stood alone. A long line of Minnesotans holding Pride flags stretched across the parking lot outside the Little Roos children's boutique in Chaska this July. A rainbow shield between the children inside and a handful of protesters yelling into bullhorns, trying to ruin drag queen storytime. They called the performers pedophiles; they called supporters groomers; they spun lurid, graphic, salacious fantasies and sent violent images to those who voiced support for the event. The goal of this cruelty is to make it so unpleasant to stand up for a drag performer or a trans kid, that eventually they're left standing alone. For weeks, strangers tried to harass Little Roos into canceling the event. Shop owner Marissa Held-Nordling held her ground, and her community had her back. "When people see someone standing up, when they see that kind of positivity, they want to be part of that positivity," she said. "A lot of people have come in to support our business and what we stand for which is basic human rights." If you brave the hate groups outside, you get the pure fun of watching a drag king with a glitter beard delight a room full of young readers. "It was unquestionably the most joyful public program that I've ever experienced in my years in the library," said St. Paul Public Library Director Maureen Hartman. Three city libraries hosted drag story times last September. "When I think back to that time which was a scary time and a hard time what stands out to me so much were our partners who came together to support these artists," Hartman said. Public response to drag story time was overwhelmingly positive, and there will be more stories, glitter and joy in the future. "We show with our actions that a whole big community is standing with folks who are being targeted," Hartman said. Two hours west of the Twin Cities, Bethany Lacktorin watched the protesters and counter-protesters outside the community theater she runs in New London, Minn. The Little Theatre hosted its first drag workshop last year, weathering insults and false claims that the theater was some sort of illicit adult cabaret. "It's such a small town," said Laktorin, who grew up in New London and returned a few years ago as executive director of the Little Theatre Auditorium. "The protesters and counter-protesters were neighbors. They knew each other. They knew each others' dogs. In moments, they forgot what they were there for and just started small talking." When Little Theatre staged another drag workshop this spring, not one protester showed up. These are hard times for LGBTQ youth. Kids hear the things politicians and protesters are saying about them, and it hurts. "Having even one supportive adult makes a tremendous difference in the mental health and suicide rates of LGBTQ youth, and I have to believe these community events change that experience," said Kat Rohn, executive director of OutFront Minnesota. Every once in a while, between the hate groups and the hateful comments, they see an adult brave enough to wave a rainbow flag on their behalf. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Marysville, CA (95901) Today Clear to partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 59F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. The Trinamul chief was also given a prominent seat at the joint press conference after the meeting. There is an interesting observation by the protagonist in Amor Towles novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, on seating arrangements for a formal dinner or meeting. Seating is everything, he said and cited past examples on how a wrong move had changed the course of history. Congress leaders clearly understood the importance of seating as they vied with each other to sit next to party leader Sonia Gandhi at the recent Opposition meet in Bengaluru. Since she is not seen regularly at political events these days, Sonia Gandhis participation in the Bengaluru summit created quite a stir. The event witnessed a proverbial game of musical chairs as Congress leaders awaited their turn to grab the chair next to the former party chief. At one point, two party leaders did succeed in their mission. But before they could make themselves comfortable, they were evicted by an upset Rahul Gandhi who asked them to ensure the meeting went off without a hitch. He then requested West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take the seat next to Sonia Gandhi. The two chatted amiably as they are known to share warm relations. Joining in the conversation, Rahul Gandhi enquired about Mamata Banerjees ligament injury and told her about his experience as he, too, had suffered a similar injury during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The Trinamul chief was also given a prominent seat at the joint press conference after the meeting. For sure, seating is critical. And while on the subject of seating, heres another titbit from the Bengaluru summit. It was obvious during the two days that the Congress leadership was going all out to keep Karnataka deputy chief minister D.K. Shivakumar in good humour and seating played a key role in this. For instance, at the media briefing held before the meeting, Congress leaders K.C. Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh specially asked Shivakumar to sit with them while they addressed the press. Before the meeting started, Mr Shivakumar was spotted welcoming all Opposition leaders and posing for photographs with them. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi as well other invitees, including Trinamul Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav spent a lot of time chatting with Shivakumar. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, who was the chief host, was virtually invisible as he was kept busy with the arrangements for the meeting. In addition, he was preparing for the Karnataka Assembly session and the launch of the Gruhalakshmi scheme which was unveiled last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modis Paris trip sent the external affairs ministry into a tizzy as it sought to explain the reason for excluding references to the deals on Rafale-M jets and Scorpene submarines from the joint statement. While the Rafale-M jet deal did not figure in the statement, the Scorpene deal was mentioned in the text of the agreement uploaded by the ministry. However, it was subsequently withdrawn. But the new text made no mention of the Scorpene deal although the two have been cleared by the defence ministry. The ministry tied itself in knots as it played down the media reports on these omissions. It held two briefings to point out that these deals were only proposals and that the first text of the joint agreement was uploaded by mistake. Apparently, the government got cold feet about publicising these deals as it does not want to give an opportunity to the Opposition to raise questions about them as it did following the purchase of Rafale jets. As in that case, the Rafale-M and Scorpene deals are government-to-government arrangements which give room to accusations of there being kickbacks. Union home minister Amit Shah is said to have issued strict instructions to state leaders in Madhya Pradesh during his recent visit to the state that they should get cracking for the year-end Assembly polls. Central ministers from the state have been particularly told that besides attending the weekly Cabinet meetings, they should not be seen in Delhi but should instead spend time touring their respective constituencies. Mr Shahs visit turned out to be a disappointment for several state leaders like Kailash Vijayvargiya, Narottam Mishra and Jyotiraditya Scindia. Not only were they told the party will go to polls with the current team, no senior leader was tipped for any major responsibility or post in the run-up to the elections. Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar has been the only lucky one, having been given charge of the election management committee for the state. After decades, the countrys Intelligence Bureau will have no senior Muslim IPS officer in important positions. The last Muslim IPS officer in the premier intelligence agency, S.A. Rizvi (special director) found his tenure curtailed last week when he was eased out and appointed advisor, National Disaster Management Authority. It has been noticed that the number of Muslim IPS officers in the IB has dwindled significantly in recent years. This is in sharp contrast to the earlier regimes when an Asif Ibrahim could rise to the rank of IB director or Rafiul Alam, an Assam cadres IPS officer, could hold key positions during his deputation with the agency. Courtesy of James X By David A. Tizzard And as long as we have the courage, we can show all women, and maybe even men, the light. Women raise slogans during a protest after a May 4 video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a few men in violence-hit Manipur. (PTI Photo) To be a woman and to be old puts you at an interesting intersection. See how I effortlessly use a current jargony sociological term. I should have said intersectionality but to be honest, I couldnt work out the grammar. Anyway, imagine this Venn diagram in your head. A round blob called women. Another blob called old. Then make them overlap a bit. Thats the bit Im talking about. Im sorry if I sound patronising to you. Actually, Im just trying to clear it in my own head. So there I am. In that bit which is larger in the middle and pointy at both ends. And in both cases, I face the wrath of society. Am I being too harsh? Unfair? Maybe Im just at the tail end of society, a remnant that hasnt kicked its feet up and gone yet. Now I sound like I feel sorry for myself. As a young woman, especially one who wants a live for herself, you have to negotiate the hurdles of society. Conservative, regressive attitudes. Predatory men. Charged public spaces. And continuous questions about your choices: marriage, no marriage, children, no children, career, no career, clothes, what clothes. Theres a mid-period for some, where you think youve got it sorted. But dont worry. Once menstruation stops and that causes its own problems as women know a life-changing phenomenon sticks you in that Venn diagram. I know feminists who take themselves seriously will now begin to question my use of their term. Intersectionality means a lot of things these days. Important things of class, caste, privilege, and more curious ideas about gender and fluidity. Not that a Venn diagram has figured out how to be fluid yet. But Im stuck with myself. And those hormonal changes that switch parts of you off, and then often make you invisible to the world. Why do post-menopausal women survive in Nature, when then the sole purpose of life is propagation of the species? Some scientists have come up with the theory that society needs our wisdom. Interesting. In the old days, as a widow you could be killed, because of your uselessness. Or packed off to some place to be forgotten. Or stuck in a room. Or in todays world, useful as a nanny to your childrens children. Maybe thats the good part. At least youre not forgotten. Must not be unfair. Men also get lost in the wilderness of being elderly. Read about two elderly couples who died in a road accident. Their ages ranged from 50 to 55 to 65 to 70. No one calls CEOs of large corporations elderly or prime ministers either. Have you seen a headline which read Indias elderly Prime Minister, 72, today But US President Joe Biden will be mocked for his age because he has crossed the threshold of 80 and is therefore fair game in the ageist lexicon. No one is surprised however when elderly men run organisations and the world. That is their societal right, by dint of having XY chromosomes. For women, well, arent you tired of me ranting yet? Get on with it, Woman, what are you trying to say? The other response is to come up with a joke about how difficult it is to live with a wife. Because it is universally understood that Women are Impossible. This creates a very sad situation for what are known as incels. Internet celibates. Poor young men who can find no women to take on their abundance of quality gifts. They thus prey on women on the internet. The younger women for cyber-sexual satisfaction. The older women because of their frustration. Each woman is a fish that never swam their way. I gather that there are many such young men, wallowing in their own bitter self-pity. I just introduced them as a distraction from my own seeming self-pity. I write this having seen that gruesome video of women being molested in Manipur. The sheer scope of vicious violence against women, and the excuses being made to justify it, have scrambled my mind. I cannot see the happy side of the fence. I read a book about the way the law interprets crimes against women. I see the patriarchy in older women, women who have been unable to break out of those shackles. Women who despite or because of everything life has shown them, cannot see beyond the pale of men. I forgive younger women. They have the chance to change and grow. I hope they do. But older women as the perpetrators of patriarchy? Its painful. My solace is from other women. Older women. Women who embrace their age and their changing bodies and minds. Women who will not stand down, no matter how powerfully patriarchy comes down on them. There are women like that all over the world. In todays world, patriarchy comes in many forms. In forms not seen very much in India yet. And yet, like patriarchy in India, these new forms of patriarchy are supported in developed societies by women themselves. Sadly, younger women, eager to fit in and conform. The women who marched us on to the many roads of feminism would be appalled at our regression. At our capitulation to patriarchal pressure. But luckily, weve got those elderly women to steer us along. Elderly women who dont care any more what people are going to say. Elderly women who can take all the internet abuse and throw it back. And as long as we have the courage, we can show all women, and maybe even men, the light. If I started with my ideas of science, Ill end with poetry. In the words of the indomitable Maya Angelou: You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod in the very dirt And still, like dust, I rise. Today's headlines: in Siberia, permafrost melts causing the methane-releasing Batagaika depression to sink further; Israeli army kills two teenagers in the West Bank; U.S. semiconductors in Russia despite sanctions through Maldives; Chinese youth stop at Propaganda Fide in Rome on their way to WYD. BHUTAN At least seven people are dead and 16 others are missing in Bhutan after flash flooding caused by heavy and heavier-than-seasonal rains swept away a section of a small hydropower plant dam, deepening further landslides downstream. Search and rescue teams are still patrolling the area, authorities said. Prime Minister Lotay Tshering has arrived at the scene and is taking stock of the situation and leading rescue and search operations. Five victims have been identified. RUSSIA Batagaika is located in Siberia and is the largest depression in the world, 1 km wide and 86 meters deep. Here the permafrost, a mixture of ice and soil, has literally been sinking since the forest was cleared in the 1960s, causing it to melt. Scientists say the phenomenon is accelerating as Russia is warming 2.5 times faster than the rest of the world, melting the frozen tundra that covers about 65 percent of the continental landmass. Batagaika has reached 100 meters deep in some places, releasing greenhouse gases-mostly methane-stored in the thawed soil. ISRAEL Israeli forces killed two Palestinian teenagers in the West Bank. They are 17-year-old Muhammad Fouad Atta al-Bayed, who was shot in the head by Israeli forces during riots in Umm Safa village near Ramallah, and Fawzi Makhalfeh, 18. That's 150 Palestinians killed since the beginning of 2023 in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. MALDIVES In addition to being a popular destination for vacationers, the Maldives is also a transit point for shipments to Russia that circumvent international sanctions. Since Putin invaded Ukraine, about 400 thousand U.S.-manufactured semiconductors with a total value of .6 million have been shipped to Russia through the Maldives, according to data from Indian research firm Export Genius. INDIA India has met, 9 years ahead of schedule, the targets of that relate to widespread distribution and supply capacity of electricity from non-fossil sources in the territory. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the ongoing G20 energy ministers' meeting in Goa relaunched with an ambitious target: "We now plan to reach 50 percent of installed non-fossil electric capacity by 2030. Take away make India among the world leaders in solar and wind." CHINA - WYD Chinese youth, on their way to Lisbon to participate in World Youth Day, made a stopover in Rome as they visited the Palazzo di Propaganda Fide, the historic building overlooking the Spanish Steps, home of the Dicastery for Evangelization. The group of pilgrims, 50 girls and boys, also received the missionary rosary as a gift, and in the Chapel of the Three Kings they intoned the Hail Mary in Mandarin at the place from which so many missionaries left to take the Gospel to China. by Alessandra Tamponi Just as those in favor of reunification are descending among the younger generation, South Korean TV series also disseminated through streaming platforms are also playing a cultural role at the opposite end of the spectrum that goes beyond entertainment: they break down certain stereotypes about North Korea and nurture a feeling of closeness between North and South. Seoul (AsiaNews) - July 27 marks the 70th anniversary of the armistice that sealed its division at the 38th parallel on the Korean Peninsula. From 1953 to the present, North and South Korea have evolved into two completely different forms of state and cultures. There are few people alive today who have experienced that rift firsthand and belonged to one of those more than 60,000 families divided by seven decades. Young people have grown up with two separate Koreas, so reunification is increasingly unlikely. According to a survey by Seoul National University, in 2021 only 44 percent of South Koreans were in favor of reunification. In the 20-39 age group, more than 40% believe that the South does not need to reunify with the North, while 34% believe we do not need it. These data show how in seventy years of division the perception of the relationship between North and South has changed in the population. Yet the attempt to preserve an idea of shared identity between North and South have found an unthinkable ally: in fact, the theme is at the heart of several Korean dramas, the Korean TV series better known as K-Drama. For example: just a few months after the historic meeting in the DMZ between South Korea's President Moon Jae-In, the U.S. President Donald Trump, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, the series Crash Landing on You, broadcast in South Korea by tvN, lands on Netflix. The series tells the love story between a South Korean businesswoman and chaebol heiress, who accidentally ended up in the North while paragliding, and the North Korean soldier who finds her. The series is one of the most watched streaming series, becoming an international hit, and an example of how pop culture still preserves and narrates the idea of "Korean Nation." In fact, one of the reasons that made it so beloved by viewers and critics alike, and that made it different from other South Korean TV series with a North Korean setting, is the depiction of life in rural North Korea, in fact using the love story between the two main characters as a vector to tell not only the differences but also the similarities that still unite the values of North and South: filial love, loyalty, and a sense of belonging. The series has also been welcomed by those organizations that support North Koreans fleeing to the South , precisely for moving away from the stereotypical portrayal of North Korea and the Koreans who inhabit it, whose image has long suffered as a result of bilateral tensions. The series is not the first of its kind, but its release through Netflix has turned it into the most significant case. In 2012 South Korea released The King 2 Hearts, which re-imagined South Korea as a constitutional monarchy and told the love story between the young crown prince and a young female soldier from the North. Or The Eternal Monarch, which, through traveling between different dimensions imagines a united Korean peninsula. The theme of the reunification of the Koreas, promoted through romantic love, is one of the most recurrent in K-Dramas and can help preserve the idea of Korean identity that is gradually being lost. TV series and cinema are a key aspect of South Korean cultural diplomacy that is being culturally affirmed internationally, but they could also play a key role in shaping cultural aspects at the local level through the influence of on-screen characters on viewers by emphasizing various social issues. People may not be fond of the Air, but they might enjoy the upcoming Gravity. After all, everyone and their dog prefer a higher driving position, bigger wheels, and less overall efficiency. So, if you're a for-profit company, just cave in and give customers what they desire. Happily, that's what Lucid is doing. But new videos of multiple prototypes while out and about raise a couple of legitimate questions and concerns. Photo: Lucid The world may not need it, but it might deserve it SUV Photo: Joao Kleber Amaral / autoevolution MPV A non-SUV-looking electric SUV Photo: Lucid EV The market giveth, and the market taketh away Here's some better, close-up dashcam shots of the #LucidGravity from yesterday morning. In the slow-mo video, I do see why some comments say it looks more like a minivan than a SUV haha. #Lucid #EVs pic.twitter.com/VEg927IuaA ZroHour (Johnny) (@ZroHour) July 20, 2023 Just spotted a prototype #LucidGravity SUV for the 1st time on my way to work from Fremont to across the Dumbarton Bridge! Design already looks really good even with the wrap on. @LucidMotors #EVs #electricvehicles pic.twitter.com/ANaA7x0UXt ZroHour (Johnny) (@ZroHour) July 19, 2023 Lucid matters in the world of quick, expensive, posh, and American-made all-electric vehicles. It's one of the industry's prominent innovators, boasting engineering solutions that even established brands like Aston Martin want to implement.Even though it is owned by Saudi Arabia 's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the automaker has its headquarters in Newark, California, and a somewhat new plant in Arizona. The Casa Grande manufacturing facility was opened in 2020, but construction was finished in March this year. So, if you are buying a Lucid, you are spending money on an all-American product envisioned by Tesla's former Model S Chief Engineer, Peter Rawlinson, and his team.By now, most people agree that Lucid's Air is a great first vehicle for a startup in this day and age. It has everything one may need. It's powered by electricity, so it can feel pretty quick when accelerating and even fast when the tri-motor version is considered. It doesn't disappoint when it comes to real-world range figures. It boasts a great layout, so the generous wheelbase allows for a spacious cabin.The software might have some bugs here and there, but that can be worked out through over-the-air updates.But since only a few people like buying sedans nowadays (especially very pricy ones), Lucid desperately needs an. Even a crossover would suffice.Enter Gravity . This SUV is meant to have the best range in its class and is anticipated to be capable of "setting new benchmarks across the board." If everything goes according to plan, we should see customers take delivery of the first Gravity SUVs as soon as Q1 or Q2 of next year.But until the production line is up and running, let's look at recent videos showing how the Gravity behaves on public roads. We've previously shown you high-quality pictures of the camouflaged testing units, but a short clip published on Twitter by a motorist reveals some interesting aspects.First, the overall shape of this vehicle reminds me of that time when I spent one month traveling in Germany. So many people were driving various generations of the VW Sharan (also sold as the Seat Alhambra in some markets). The Multi-Purpose Vehicle () or minivan was an excellent transport solution for families. The version with sliding doors was especially good in this regard. Sadly, VW discontinued it.Second, since we're getting a better look at the rear of the vehicle while it's in motion, one could be inclined to say that it resembles the freshly updated 2024 Porsche Cayenne . That's at first glance, of course. Because as you look closer, you discover it doesn't have that specific, instantly recognizable SUV silhouette.The Gravity's body is a tad bit elongated, which might be a way to prioritize headroom for those inside. There's no arching at the rear like we've seen on various vehicles since the BMW X6 debuted this type of automotive design. But alas, it's a three-row SUV. It should maximize interior space, so we can't blame Lucid for trying to give customers the best of both worlds.Plus, the taillights are slimmer and have that specific middle section that's dropped down a little to host the make's name.Some might even say that the Gravity is an evolved Toyota Sienna, which, to be honest, isn't very far from the truth. Others online have gone as far as to say that it looks like a posh hearse, which is a bit harsh.However, before jumping to conclusions, we should wait for the grand reveal. Camouflage is meant to play tricks with our eyes. There is a chance the Gravity might end up looking cooler than all the other three-rowSUVs on the market. Hear that Rivian R1S and Tesla Model X?But the same video available below shows the Gravity slamming its rear quarter onto the wheels rather hard. The SUV may be overloaded on purpose to test out the suspension system, but it does look heavy. Let's hope it is this and not the air springs being close to failing.At the same time, it's essential to recall a moment from two years ago, when a Lucid executive confirmed in 2021 that the Gravity will not be a rock crawler . The brand might be going for the EQS SUV crowd, who prefer large vehicles with luxurious amenities and a softer ride that makes off-roading an incompatible activity.We'll see what's what relatively soon because Lucid can't waste more time. The clock is ticking, and the company needs to convince prospective customers to spend their money before the economy starts contracting.Finally, remember that Lucid also plans to release Tesla Model 3 and Model Y competitors. But the appearance of those models greatly depends on the success of the Gravity and how much cash the owners are willing to burn before profitability is reached. You know what multi-millionaire American business tycoons needed more than anything in the 80s? Besides luxury condos in NYC's Upper West Side, it was wacky, eye-catching business jets. What better way to flaunt your bank account than by flying a private business jet that's faster, more luxurious, and more unique than your hedge-fund buddies? Since the market for such planes is no joke, a short-lived partnership between Gulfstream and American Jet Industries was there to give the bankers and celebrities what they wanted. Photo: Gulfstream kW Photo: Gulfstream This is the story of the Gulfstream American Hustler, a turboprop-turbofan mixed power business jet that could have only been designed in the United States in the 70s and 80s. A time where, just like Gordon Gekko said, greed was good, and greed worked. Timeless movie quotes aside; there was some serious industry horsepower behind the drive to make an all-new breed of business jet. One capable of taking off from short municipal airport runways with its turboprop engine and cruising close to 40,000 feet with its turbojet. It took a complete restructuring of one of America's premiere VIP business jet manufacturers to get the ball rolling on such an ambitious project.Gulfstream themselves began as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Bethpage, New York -based Grumman Aerospace Corporation, manufacturing the original Grumman Gulfstream G-1 turboprop business plane. After considerable success, Grumman formally separated its business jet operation from the military side of things, moving its business jet workforce to Savanah, Georgia, in 1967 in preparation to build the turbofan-powered Gulfstream II. Six years later, in 1973, Grumman merged its civil aviation division with another of its corporate subsidiaries, American Aviation Corporation, before selling the whole thing off to a conglomerate known as American Jet Industries (AJI) in 1974 to form Gulfstream American.This sale put the assets of Gulfstream in the hands of someone who wanted to spit in the face of tradition and established business jet designs. A man by the name of Allen Paulson. After two decades working as one of the most prolific second-hand civil airliner salesmen in North America, no sooner was the Gulfstream's sale to AJI finalized than Paulson began designing this novel hybrid business jet. Had all gone to plan, Paulson aimed to send the jet into production by the turn of the 1980s, perhaps even a bit earlier if it was possible. Initially, there was debate among Gulfstream American engineers as to whether Paulson's design qualified as a single-engine airplane with a turbojet emergency power unit or a dedicated twin-engine aircraft.Ultimately, it was decided to certify what became known as the Hustler as a twin-engine business jet with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The final agreed-upon design was something never before attempted outside of dedicated military aircraft like the Ryan XF2R Dark Shark . With dimensions of 12.57 m long (41 ft 3 in) long and a 10.49-meter (34 ft 5 in) wingspan, and a capacity for between five and seven passengers, the Hustler was considerably smaller than the more traditional Gulfstream II and III. Instead, being sized more in line with smaller private aircraft like the modern Cessna Grand Caravan EX.By looking at just the front fascia alone, it's almost easy to think the Hustler was just another private business plane. But clues to this strange chimera of a business jet can be found by observing the prominent turbojet air intake mounted in front of the Hustler's tail section. In its initial form, the Hustler 400, the prototype was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-41 turboprop in the nose making 900 shaft hp (670). Most famous for its use in the Beech King Air and the above-mentioned Cessna Caravan, the PT6 is still one of the most prolific turboprops ever designed.At the rear, behind the unmistakable air intake, sat a Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 turbojet engine most well known for its use in the Cessna Caravan twin-jet and the Aermacchi S-211 military trainer and jetting 2,200 lbf (9.8 kN) thrust. In theory, this powertrain was good for a takeoff run to 50 feet (15m) of 1,745 ft (532 m),m and an impressive rate of climb of 4,950 ft/min (25.1 m/s). At the top end, Gulfstream American aimed for the Hustler to cruise at 400 miles per hour (400 kn, 740 kph) and at a maximum altitude of 38,000 ft (12,000 m) over a distance of at least 2,000 nautical miles (2,300 mi, 3,700 km). That's not bad at all in terms of performance, even almost 45 years later.Inside the pressurized cabin, luxurious leather-stitched seating for either five or seven passengers melded with a generously-sized, built-in refreshment center and a full private bathroom. A separate baggage area with 30 cubic feet of cargo storage was also an excellent utilization of every square inch of the Hustler's airframe. With all the pieces in place, the sole existing Hustler 400 prototype left American Jet's 40-acre facility in Van Nuys, California, on January 11, 1978. At the controls that day was Allen Paulson himself, who found the flight characteristics of his novel airplane to be to his liking. Still, there was room for improvement.With little more than 30 hours logged on the flight clock, the Hustler 400 was wheeled back to its California hangar for some performance upgrades. First up was replacing its Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprop engine for a beefier Garrett TPE331 unit, most notable for its use in the Short Tucano military trainer and the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAV. Re-worked air intake ducting and added wing-tip fuel tanks essentially turned the only Hustler into an entirely new airframe, now dubbed the Hustler 500. With all the necessary adjustments made, it looked as though Gulfstream American would begin manufacturing and selling Hustler business jets as soon as the 1980s were underway.Instead, projected cost overruns and a company-wide dedication to completing Gulfstream's real money maker, the Gulfstream III, saw the quirky and unproven Hustler 500 knocked down the team's priority list in a hurry. That didn't stop Gulfstream from accepting as many as 76 down payments from prospective customers before a second example was ready. Predictably, this influx of deposit more was more or less just wishful thinking on the part of Gulfstream American and its customers. Not long after the Hustler 500's first test flight on January 26, 1981, the had still failed to achieve its FAA flight certification, and the program was subsequently ended entirely before the end of that year.The Gulfstream American Hustler never carried a single paying passenger in either its 400 or 500 forms. But that wouldn't stop the company that built it from squeezing as much life out of its airframe as possible. Proposals to market the Hustler airframe to the U.S. Air Force during development ultimately evolved into an all-new design for Air Force's Next Generation Trainer (NGT) program called the Peregrine 600. Interestingly, the Peregrine 600 program would lose out to the Fairchild T-46 in the NGT program, prompting the design to move back into the civilian business jet space and was known as the Fanjet 1500, and finally, the Gulfstream Peregrine.Of course, this means that all three airframes trialed on the Gulfstream American Hustler platform never saw production. One can only fathom how much money was spent in this pursuit, only for the final crescendo to never take place. If not for the avalanche-like success of the firm's more traditional business jets like the Gulfstream III through V and later the G450 and G550 , it's anyone's guess whether Gulfstream would still be kicking around today. Thankfully for the folks of Savannah, Georgia, the Hustler platform wound up being a mere footnote in a company history riddled with sales to the global elite. For that reason, looking back on the failure of the Hustler is more of a humorous curiosity rather than a tragedy. The first generation Ranchero dates back to 1957 when assembly kicked off in the US and Canada. The Dearborn company kept it until 1960 when they launched the second generation, and the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth generations came out in 1966, 1968, 1970, and 1972, respectively. They last used this moniker at the end of the '70s on the seventh and final generation.Chevy kept the rivaling El Camino until 1987, and for a short period of time, from 1982 to 1984, Dodge tested the waters with a similar model called the Rampage . A little over 37,000 units are estimated to have been produced at Belvidere in Illinois, and it was related to the era's Charger, Plymouth Tourismo, and other vehicles. The sole engine was a 2.2-liter straight-four, mated to automatic and manual transmissions.But this story is not dedicated to the Rampage nor the El Camino, but to the Ford Ranchero. As mentioned in the title, we came across an example worthy of your attention. It was born in 1957, in the first year of assembly, and wears black and the usual amount of chrome on top of the red and white leather interior. Everything looks properly maintained inside and out. The engine bay is very clean, and for a car that's almost seven decades old, so is the underbody. Therefore, it's safe to assume it underwent restoration at one point, during which it received a restomod twist.Notice the cross-drilled brakes that help it stop quicker, as well as a few other bits and bobs. The engine powering it is a 390 ci V8, the ad claims, which wasn't offered straight from the factory. The original Ranchero came with a pair of V8s, the 292 and 352 ci, and a 223 straight-six. Transmission options included a three-speed manual and two automatics with two and three gears. There's no word on how much the lump, which is hooked up to an automatic transmission here, produces, but at least the listing reveals the mileage of this old-timer, which is 5,918 miles (9,524 km).Deemed an awesome ride by Garage Kept Motors, which advertises it on its website here , the pictured 1957 Ford Ranchero is on the lookout for a new home. Its future owner will have to pay $24,900 before signing their name on the papers, and it's your turn to drop a line below and tell us if it's worth the asking sum. So, would you buy it? One of the greatest challenges involving battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is reducing the battery pack weight. Ideally, that should be done in a way that also increases energy density. Making them easier to repair and replace is also pressing. Stellantis presented an idea that tackles both objectives just by eliminating the inverter and onboard charger: meet the Intelligent Battery Integrated System (IBIS). BEV Photo: Stellantis kW Photo: Stellantis Photo: Stellantis Weirdly, the automaker seems to have ignored the repairability benefits of the new technology when it announced it to the world. It focused on the advantages of not having to install the two components mentioned above, which make the electric car less complex. It also did not elaborate on them, probably because IBIS will only be in a production if ever by the end of the decade. Stellantis may prefer to avoid creating expectations. Too late.The secret of what the automaker is developing is replacing these two components with electronic conversion boards mounted very close to the lithium-ion cells. Stellantis did not clarify that, but these boards seem to integrate each IBIS module in the BEV. The video below shows a "power module converter" at the edge of each battery module. The electronic conversion boards are probably inside them.To better understand what IBIS can do, it is worth knowing what alternating and direct currents are. The direct current flows in only one direction while alternating current changes direction and magnitude periodically. Batteries supply direct current. The grid uses alternating current because its voltage can be increased or decreased with a transformer. These differences are what make a charger and an inverter necessary in a BEV. The former component converts the alternating current from the grid to deliver it to the batteries. At the same time, the latter turns the direct current to alternating for the electric motors to move the car.Putting a conversion board close to the cells lowers losses, but we only confirmed that thanks to L'Argus. The French magazine attended a presentation about the system in France and got to talk to the company's engineers to grasp a better understanding of what makes it so unique. According to L'Argus, the charging efficiency at 11jumps from 91% in a Peugeot e-208 to 98.4%. If it charges at 22 kW, the efficiency is 97.2%, while it is 99.3% at 5 kW. The overall system efficiency has an even better increase: from around 70% to 90%. The weight savings are not that relevant: only about 10 kilograms (22.05 pounds).Another advantage of the conversion boards is that batteries can deal directly with alternating current. That would allow charging networks to have alternating-current fast chargers of up to 240 kW. These chargers work only with direct current due to the restrictions batteries face nowadays. The other way around is also true: just like the battery pack can generate alternating current for the motors, it can also give it back to the grid with V2G (vehicle-to-grid) capability.At first, anyone could suppose that electronic conversion boards just do what an inverter would, but that does not seem to be the case. Stellantis apparently managed to make the battery modules work in a way that they deliver three-phase power or alternating current. L'Argus talked to Francis Roy, the head of the IBIS project, and he did not explain precisely how that happens. However, the video below shows the modules work in waves, creating the cycles that alternating current presents. One clue the project manager gave was when he mentioned that the batteries are put to work by impulses and that the modules are independent. We'd have to talk to Roy to fully understand the process.The project manager said that working by impulses stretches the lifespan of the batteries. Roy told L'Argus that IBIS cells can last up to 30% more than those used in conventional battery packs . All these benefits are enough for anyone willing to buy a BEV to want their future cars to have a system such as this one developed by Stellantis. Too bad they will have to wait some years to get it. Considering that this system's modules work independently may convince them the wait is worth it.Roy told L'Argus that this would make it much easier to repair the vehicle. Should any module go bad, you just have to replace the defective one, not the entire battery pack. If a crash affects any module, that's the same story. Current ones have their modules connected in series, which means that the whole battery pack will stop working if a module has issues. IBIS will just bypass it should anything go wrong. Stellantis did not disclose how cooling works or much energy each module provides. Although the car is slightly lighter, energy density may drop with this approach, which can only be fixed with more energy dense cells. Still, it is better to have less range than to spend north of $20,000 on a new battery pack as Thatcham Research recently warned BEVs involved in collisions endure.The project manager also said the modules could help the battery pack's voltage drop to zero before the BEV is serviced. That would represent a significant safety gain for technicians in systems that work at 400V or 800V. According to Roy, the IBIS modules can work at any of these voltages.Stellantis started this project in 2018 with Saft a TotalEnergies subsidiary and researchers from the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, or French National Center for Scientific Research). The first demonstrator of the project was created in the summer of 2022. Although the automaker did not disclose what this demonstrator was, it is probably a module. A vehicle with IBIS will be presented about a year from now . The end of the decade never seemed so distant. J-10 jet fighters perform in formation to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army Air Force in Beijing, Nov. 15, 2009. AP-Yonhap China sent dozens of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, toward Taiwan, the island's Defense Ministry said Saturday, marking a forceful display days before the democracy plans to hold military exercises aimed at defending itself against a possible invasion. Taiwan is due to hold its annual Han Kuang Exercise next week, during which its military will hold combat readiness drills for preventing an invasion. It will also conduct the annual Wan'an Exercises aimed at preparing civilians for natural disasters and practicing evacuations in case of an air raid. The Chinese People's Liberation Army sent 37 aircraft and seven navy vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, the ministry said in a statement. Among them were J-10 and J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, and 22 of the detected warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait an unofficial boundary that had been considered a buffer between the island and mainland or entered Taiwan's air defense identification zone near its southern part, the statement said. Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the ruling Communist Party in control of the mainland. The island has never been part of the People's Republic of China, but Beijing says it must unite with the mainland. In recent years, China has shown displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by stepping up the number of military planes sent toward the island. China held huge military drills in response to former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan in August. It fired missiles over the island in a significant escalation that disrupted trade lanes in the Taiwan Strait and forced airplanes to reroute flights. In April, the PLA also held large-scale combat readiness drills in the air and sea around the island in response to Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with current U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. (AP) Judging by the quality of his work, youd think Marco Matteucci spent most of his life wrenching on motorcycles. Thats not exactly the case, however, because Marco had never even performed an oil change on any of his bikes prior to 2013. He fell love with two-wheelers several years earlier, but his career as an accomplished photographer didnt provide any practical skills for working on such machines obviously. Photo: Matteucci Garage Photo: Matteucci Garage Hungry to learn new things and perhaps sick of taking his rides to the mechanic for the simplest jobs, Marco eventually decided to deepen his knowledge. He took crash courses in fabrication and mechanics to better understand the intricacies of motorcycles and all their different components. Then, he bought four used bikes from a local dealer, diving head-first into the world of customization.And here we are a decade later; Marco is known as Matteucci Garage to the broader public nowadays, with a sizeable portfolio of professional builds under his belt. The latest of these is what well be inspecting in the following paragraphs, and its fascinating to see how far this guys abilities have come in a relatively short timeframe. Sure, you might say 10 years arent a short timeframe, but keep in mind that he literally started from square one!For the superb one-off were about to look at, Matteuccis chosen donor was a Moto Guzzi V35 sort of. Only the V35s framework is still present here, and the Italian craftsman spared absolutely no expense in catapulting this project to the next level. The bike he now refers to as Tana is intriguing in a lot of different ways, yet the coolest thing about it might just be the engine swap.Within the V35s double cradle skeleton sits a much larger 744cc longitudinal V-twin, which had previously belonged to an NTX 750. In stock form, this new powerhouse boasts twice as much torque and around 20 extra ponies for Tana to play with, but these numbers will have been increased even further thanks to enhanced airflow.Once hed refurbished the twin-cylinder mill, five-speed gearbox, and driveshaft, Marco also overhauled the carbs and blessed them with aftermarket pod filters. At the opposite end of the combustion cycle, he fitted a pair of ceramic-coated exhaust headers fabricated in-house. These bad boys terminate in dual slash-cut silencers on either side of the rear wheel.Tanas suspension is a delightful mixture of old and new, but it bears absolutely no resemblance to the setup youd find on an NTX or V35. At the front, we come across vintage-style springer forks oozing classic Harley-Davidson vibes, but the suspension arrangement at six oclock is even more interesting. Matteucci modified the swingarm to accommodate a single shock absorber instead of two, and the monoshock itself was transplanted from a Yamaha R1.As far as the brakes are concerned, the front and rear Brembo calipers appear to have been adapted from the Moto Guzzi V35. Operated via stainless-steel brake lines, they pinch a set of drilled aftermarket rotors for ample stopping power. The origin of those laced hoops hasnt been made clear, but our guess is that they were taken off the NTX 750 along with its engine. Their rims got painted black and subsequently cloaked in dual-purpose rubber.Now, the cosmetic side of Marcos work is also dialed up to eleven. He ditched the factory subframe in favor of a looped alternative built from scratch, and the rearmost portion of the tubing received a circular LED taillight. Youll spot a handmade, swingarm-mounted fender complete with a license plate bracket lower down, while a much smaller unit can be seen at twelve oclock.Despite its unquestionably retro looks, the Bates-style headlamp placed up high is an LED part just like the taillight and turn signals. Matteucci got the fuel tank from a Laverda 125, cleverly adjusting it to achieve a perfect fit with the main frame. Needing some reinforcements when it came to the upholstery, he enrolled the help of a local shoemaker and leather expert named Mauro Testella.Their collaboration gave Tana a brown calfskin saddle that looks absolutely delicious, but the leather makes its way forward to form a stylish tank strap, as well. The said extension features a smartphone pocket topped with a touch screen window, and we also see an elegant pouch underneath the seat. As you might expect, the motorcycles cockpit is so tidy it could probably treat OCD.A flat aluminum handlebar is placed ahead of a tank-mounted aftermarket dial, and it wears compact switchgear, underslung bar-end mirrors, and rubber grips. Last but not least, theres that stunning light blue colorway adorning Tana s bodywork and frame the ideal match for the brown leather upholstery we talked about earlier. White highlights and silver pinstripes accompany the blue base on the gas tank, rounding out the bikes livery in style. Most diecast collectors I know own items from multiple manufacturers. I, too, have cars from Hot Wheels, Tomica, Welly, Minichamps, and a few other brands. But most of the time, it's best to focus on one of them, or else you risk going bankrupt or running out of space quickly. Choosing suitable models for your collection can be a difficult thing to do. Photo: Ministry of Diecast Electric Vehicle Photo: Ministry of Diecast AMG Since Mattel took over at Matchbox, it has tried to revive the brand and steer it in a similar direction to Hot Wheels . Some apparent differences are still at play, but it all feels to be guided by the same marketing department. We recently looked at Case N for the 2023 Hot Wheels season, and now we've got Mix 10 for Matchbox before us. There are only a third as many cars inside as in an HW Mainline case, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. You'll rarely see crazy fantasy vehicles sporting the Matchbox logo, and most items here look pretty accurate.The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E is my least favorite car in this new set, and that may all be down to the wheels it's using. The First Edition variation was much better in Red with multiple double-spoke rims. The Ice Cream King is a much older casting, first appearing in 2009. It has already undergone a retooling process in 2019, and I can't help but think of the Hot Wheels Quick Bite every time I look at it.If only it played music when driving down your made-up diorama road! Mattel will sometimes ruin a Hot Wheels item by applying an overcrowded or ugly livery to it, but you don't usually have to worry about that with Matchbox. The color on the Audi TT RS is most likely a replica of Viper Green Metallic, and it's much better than the previous Orange, Red, and Black variations. JDM fans will be relieved to see the 1984 Toyota MR2 in this set.You'll find three earlier interpretations of the car on the market if you look for it, and we love the fact that the pop-up headlights aren't simply stickers as you'd see with HW. The Holden VF Commodore SSV is a new Police car for those who want to build complex dioramas at home. And you can't have a miniature city without a tiny Police car or other service vehicles such as the Ford C900, can you?As if onewasn't enough, the Volkswagen ID.4 is also part of this Matchbox set, now featuring a new color compared to the first iteration. A Renault Kangoo might mean little to you if you live in the USA, but Europeans might like this Goodyear-branded Tire Service vehicle. The 1941 Plymouth Coupe is a new casting for Matchbox, and it's good to see that this box isn't just a rehash of older products.Given my affiliation (read Obsession) with rotary-powered vehicles, it makes perfect sense that the car I'm most excited about with Mix 10 is the Mazda RX-8 . I was on the brink of buying one of these cars before I decided I needed some boost in my life. But I'd still love to own one as a daily driver, as stupid as that may sound to some people. It could be faster in a straight line, but the chassis provides excellent handling around corners!And that's where all the fun begins. The Metallic Black RX-8 is a new casting for Matchbox too, and it's a pleasant surprise to see more cars entering the 1/64th-scale world. It's always fun to observe the contrast between items inside Matchbox cases. After the 1934 Chevy Master Coupe, you end up with a 2012 BMW 3 Series Touring. Station Wagons are always a big hit with diecast collectors, and this one also has a panoramic roof that allows you to take a peek inside.The real question is: "How long before we'll get a replica of the new BMW M3 Touring ?" The Porsche 911 Carerra Cabriolet has been around for over two decades, and we've already seen a similar blue version. But that happened more than ten years ago before Matchbox retooled the design in 2020. The Land Rover Defender 90 showed up in 2021 and was the first of three iterations within the past few years.While I'm not a fan of the current color, I appreciate the spare tire on the rear, which further enhances the sense of realism. The Mercedes-SL 63 is yet another new casting for this mix and a replica of one of the most expensive cars here. For once, I think I can live with the black rims, although I wonder what a more premium version of it would look like.If the MBX Field Car doesn't feel appealing, you might think differently about the 1986 Volvo 240. It's not the best-looking car in the world, but somehow it lives on in the memories of so many adults today. And this casting hasn't been around for long either, so it should be a reasonably exciting addition to any diecast collection. Good news! Rivian has made all the much-awaited updates to its online configurator. The R1T pickup truck and R1S SUV can now be ordered in dual- or quad-motor specifications. The cheapest vehicle you can buy costs much less than the updated EV tax credit threshold, but there's little to no chance you might order one. Here's why. EV Photo: Rivian It has been quite some time since Rivian confused everybody with its pricing policy and vehicle options. The startup promised to fix everything in this regard, and it finally did. However, it might be too late for most people who considered getting one of their EVs.At the time of writing, the most budget-friendly new Rivian an American can order is the R1T. The zero-tailpipe emission pickup truck costs $73,000 before taxes and fees. There's no haggling involved, so at the most, you should spend a grand total of $81,000 (tax and destination included) if you live in a state like California.Keep in mind that the updatedtax credit applies to the MSRP, which does not include other costs associated with buying a plug-in vehicle. Starting next year, the federal incentive can also be applied at the point of sale, but critical mineral and battery components requirements change too. That may disqualify some EVs from getting the full $7,500.For $73,000, you get a Rivian R1T with the Adventure Package that includes useful things like the on-board air compressor, vegan leather seats that are heated and ventilated, a heated steering wheel, Chilewich floor mats, and recycled microfiber headliner.Performance-wise, the budget-friendly all-electric pickup truck has two motors (one for each axle) that help the vehicle go from zero to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. The powertrain is artificially limited to 533 hp, representing 10 hp more than the pre-facelifted BMW X5 xDrive50i (G05). That's enough power for most pickup truck-related activities.But the two motors are capable of 665 hp. If you want your R1T to have 132 hp extra, you must pay $5,000 for the Performance Dual-Motor version.Also included in the $73,000 price tag is the "Standard" 270-mile battery pack. Adding 80 miles more to the estimated range costs $6,000.The LA silver paint is also crammed into the abovementioned price tag, as are the 21-inch wheels and the Black Mountain interior.The $73,000 Rivian R1T, however, exists just to offer customers a base spec option. Most people won't pick the smaller battery pack because Well, trucks equipped with it won't be delivered anytime soon. The young automaker plans to hand over these R1Ts to customers who want the cheapest energy storage unit available in July 2024 one full year from now.However, deliveries of the dual-motor vehicles with "Max Pack" batteries are scheduled to begin next month.Last year, before the EV maker decided to raise prices for everyone overnight and backtracked shortly after, an entry-level Rivian R1T had a starting price of $67,500. That was for the Explore trim, which did not include the Meridian sound system, ventilated seats, yellow interior accents, better floor mats, passenger lumbar support, or a heated steering wheel.Today, the Meridian sound system has been replaced by an in-house solution.Lastly, despite all these changes, it's good for Rivian that it has finally figured out pricing. Customers will enjoy not being confused by emails asking them for more money But we can't help and wonder - will the promising startup follow Ford's and Tesla's lead in dropping current prices? Leave it to Mat Watson from the "carwow" YouTube channel to spell S3XY with Teslas and race them across a 1/4-mile drag strip. Buckle up and hold on to your seats, ladies and gents, for this drag race is a special one. And just in time for a lazy Saturday. Also, you might want to get used to these V8-less events because if the auto industry holds up its end of the bargain, racing ICE cars will be something "old people did back in the day." So what are our contestants? We have the Tesla Model S Plaid, Model 3 Performance, Model X Plaid, and Model Y Performance. Together, they make up Elon Musk's favorite acronym, albeit with a "3" instead of an "E." The real question is, if he's going for the electric boats market, what letters will he come up with next? The Tesla Models "Landlubber," "Land HO!," "Ahoy!," or "Stowaway?" We'll have to wait and see.Circling back to our neck of the woods, let's check out these prize fighters one by one. First, there's the Tesla Model S Plaid. It's all-wheel drive and comes with one electric motor in the front, and two in the rear axle, which, combined, can output 1,020 hp (1,034 ps) with 1,047 lb-ft (1,420 Nm) of torque.According to its spec sheet, this baby can hit 60 mph (96.5 kph) in 2 seconds, has a top speed of 200 mph (322 kph), and has a driving range between 348-396 miles or 560-637 km. In the ol' US of A, it starts from $108,490.The base Model 3 Performance price is $53,240 and has a dual electric motor that can output 527 hp or 534 ps and 486 lb-ft (660 Nm) of torque. It does 0-60 in 3.1 seconds and has a top speed of 162 mph or 261 kph.The Model X Plaid has the same innards as the S Plaid, but it's also a bit heavier. It goes from 0-60 in 2.5 seconds and has a top speed of 149 mph (240 kph).Price-wise, it almost the same as the S Plaid, so it's up to the buyer if they want a smaller and faster package or a "slower" but more muscly-looking vehicle.Finally, the Model Y Performance starts at $54,490 and has the same dual-motor system as the Model 3 Performance. It's chunkier all around, so the real life results differ slightly. It hits 60 in 3.5 seconds and has a top speed of 155 mph or 249 kph.Now that we're done with the pleasantries, let's see how these uncomfortably silent but deadly machines performed on the tarmac.There are no surprises here, folks. The S Plaid blasted like a rocket ship and won, followed by the Model X Plaid, Model 3 Performance, and Model Y Performance. The second attempt was just a rerun of the first one.Here are the results! The Tesla Model S Plaid's quickest time was 9.8 seconds, while the X Plaid finished in 10.1 seconds. Then, the Model 3 Performance crossed the finish line in 11.9 seconds, and finally, the Model Y Performance did the 1/4-mile in 12.4 seconds.After the main event, they went for seconds with 1/2-mile roll races. The standings were the exact same ones from the drag races.The final challenge was a break test from 100 mph or 160 kph. The results are in, and The Model S Plaid was the first to stop, followed by the Model Y. The Model 3 was third, and the X Plaid stopped last. Teardrop trailers are usually regarded as a halfway solution between camping in a tent and a full-size RV, but they make up for spatial limitations with their maneuverability and ease of use. For cyclists, a teardrop camper would be a most welcome upgrade over bikepacking. Photo: RoadSnailCamper Photo: RoadSnailCamper Photo: RoadSnailCamper That's what the RoadSnailCamper is: a teardrop trailer for cyclists and, as such, an incredible upgrade over bikepacking , where they'd have to rough it by sleeping on the ground, braving the elements. RoadSnailCamper is a towable designed for e-bike riders specifically, offering the most comfort for such a compact footprint and some of the creature comforts of a larger RV.It goes without saying that the RoadSnailCamper is not an RV of the kind you pack up your stuff in and hit the open road with for who knows how long. Since you tow it by bike, it's lightweight and very small and has a maximum payload limitation set by the bike itself. So it's only meant as a camping solution for short getaways their exact duration dependent only on how much the cyclist can go without the basics. It's probably perfect for overnight stays.The RoadSnailCamper hails from Turkey, with Fevzi Aras credited for inventing it. Right now, it's available there and throughout Europe, thanks to a partnership with a distributor in Germany. That said, it only became available to the public last month after its December 2022 introduction, so deliveries haven't begun, which means there's no consumer feedback on it just yet.But the camper has been making the rounds at various trades fairs both in Germany and in Turkey, and reaction has been mostly positive. As was to be expected: this is a product meant to capitalize on the boom of the e-bike industry, allowing cyclists to use that extra power in the rear hub for something more than just cheating on climbs and beating traffic without breaking a sweat. They can now go farther, stay longer, and even head into areas where a regular rig might not fit.The idea for the RoadSnailCamper isn't exactly new. In fact, it bears more than a passing resemblance to ModyPlast, an e-bike trailer we discussed a while back that seems to have since pulled a disappearing act. Since you have a motor, why not use it to pull a trailer behind you? The teardrop shape helps with aerodynamics, hybrid all-terrain tires on larger wheels will ensure smooth operation and stability, and legs on each corner come in handy in camp mode.This particular e-bike trailer is described as the perfect combination of luxury, comfort, and efficiency. Strangely enough, not a single word is mentioned about what it's made of, its exact dimensions, or its weight. We do know that it's rated for a maximum payload of 200 kg (441 lbs), so it could sleep even two adults at a squeeze.The interior is lined with fake quilted leather, and you also get a lamp, power outlets to charge your devices, and some storage by means of hanging pockets. Unlike the ModyPlast, the RoadSnailCamper features one opening window on each side for good ventilation, a lockable door, and a large panoramic window at the front, which helps with feeling claustrophobic.The maker notes that the trailer is made of "advanced" materials (probably aluminum and definitely some composite panels), with a coating for waterproofing and 18 mm (0.7-inch) insulation that keeps it comfortable even in colder weather. Not that you should use it in any other weather than mild. It also comes standard with an awning rated waterproof for mild rain and described as a must for any adventurer looking to spend as much time outside as possible.Of course, given the compact space, you can't expect more features inside. Products like this one are not impressive for the number of features they're able to pack in, but because they exist , taking advantage of a growing segment of the market that wasn't here a few years ago. They are a smaller, cheaper, and perhaps more fun option for RV-ing. And they're definitely more sustainable, too.The RoadSnailCamper is offered in four color choices at a starting price of 3,799 (approximately $4,300 at the current exchange rate) and a delivery timeline of three to four months. It's not exactly cheap, but it's cheaper than buying a campervan, and that's what the maker is counting on.The company has plans to introduce offroad and extra-wide versions later this year, but it's focusing on the flagship model for the time being. Extra customization is possible (at an extra charge, duh), but it's limited only to color options, from what we gather. We reached out to the company for additional details and will be updating the story when and if we hear back.Until then, here's the RoadSnailCamper in action in its first official commercial. It's a bit more dramatic than what you see in ads for typical towables, but chalk this up to the enthusiasm of a startup 22 July 2023 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Rena Murshud Read more Azerbaijan's cultural city Shusha is hosting Global Media Forum themed New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Having addressed the event, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also met the participants, including foreign guests attending the conference that is being held on 22-23 July. This forum, held for the first time in the history of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Year of Heydar Aliyev and in connection with the 148th anniversary of the national press of Azerbaijan, brought together the world's leading media, heads of journalistic organizations, influential experts in the field of media, information and communication, well-known journalists. Within the framework of the forum, the head of state touched upon topical issues at the global level in the field of media and information and communication. In this regard, AZERNEWS correspondent interviewed one of the guests of this forum - Russian politician, political scientist Sergey Markov. "The global media forum is Azerbaijan's contribution to the development of mankind. And today, the President of Azerbaijan proposed to consider this global media forum the first and make this event a regular one. This kind of global media forum is very important. Because it allows humanity to develop. Media, that is, means of communication with each other. And these means of communication should help people, not fall into hostility or fight, but understand each other and make joint projects through these media." Speaking about the current situation of the media, the expert said that now the media is in a difficult, and at the same time optimistic situation. On the one hand, this media has got very cheap and very high-quality equipment: video cameras, microphones, phones in everyone's pocket. Such a normal phone, a television studio filming - today almost every person has it in his pocket. "On the one way, there are huge resources of opportunities, on the other way, we see that media can easily reach all social networks. An ordinary person can become a hero for millions. But on the other hand, the media is increasingly turning from a tool of dialogue into a tool of hostility, a tool of lies. There is a huge amount of media abuse. This huge danger is how to take everything good from the future and throw away everything bad. This topic is actually dedicated to this global media forum, which is called "New Media in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution", the expert said. It should be noted that the political scientist who participated in the event also addressed a question to President Ilham Aliyev. Regarding the expert's question, the head of state clarified Azerbaijan-Russia relations as follows. The signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction had a solid foundation. As for the period we are going through after the signing, this period is completely new for the world, for our region, including Russia and ourselves. But despite this, despite such a serious change in the geopolitical situation, the development of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan since the signing of the Declaration has been quite successful. There have been many contacts at the highest level, there have been contacts at the level of heads of government, ministers of foreign affairs and other representatives of governments and state bodies. Therefore, I can say with full confidence that provisions of the Declaration are being fulfilled. I would like to say that those small rough edges that we see in the Russian media in relation to Azerbaijan and in the Azerbaijani media in relation to Russia have no influence on the policy of Azerbaijan and Russia." Sharing President's impressions, the expert said that, like everyone else, he was also interested in how the president characterized the relationship between Azerbaijan and Russia. "President Ilham Aliyev spoke very positively. This is very important, given that there were exchanges of notes and statements between the Foreign Ministries. Many began to say - 'is the relation getting lukewarm between Azerbaijan and Russia?' President Ilham Aliyev clearly said that there is a political will of the country's leadership. These relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are multifaceted. They go sprouting. Today the President expressed himself very gracefully in connection with the new processes. There are some difficulties, but nevertheless these multifaceted relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are recognized by both countries, they are in the interests of both countries in cooperation which are developing," Markov emphasized. Further, the expert noted that the Moscow Declaration was signed at a dramatic moment. "The document was signed at the time when the special military operation had began. Probably, there were many calls from different countries of the world to the President of Azerbaijan with a request not to go to Moscow. But the president went, showed his will, signed the declaration. This is not just a declaration, but a document making alliance and relationship stronger. According to the President, this declaration is a good part of the foundation for development between the two countries. We were very glad to hear this reaction, this assessment from Ilham Aliyev," the Russian political expert underlined. Touching on the role of Azerbaijan in the Non-Aligned Movement, Sergey Markov considered commendable a number of contributions of Azerbaijan to the solution of global problems within the NAM. He highly appreciated the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev in this regard. "Azerbaijan at the moment of crisis chaired that organization. Russia welcomes this organization very much. I am very glad that there are no countries that want stay on neutral side. We really appreciate the fact that these countries, under the leadership of Azerbaijan, take such a positive neutral position," the expert concluded. --- Rena Murshud is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @RenaTagiyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 July 2023 10:35 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the burning of the Koran in Sweden, Azernews reports, citing the Ministry. It called on the Swedish authorities to take all necessary measures against perpetrators and to prevent the recurrence of such hate crimes. Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador shortly after protesters stormed his embassy in Baghdad and set fire to part of the building. Supporters of the influential Iraqi Shia religious and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr called for the embassy to be set on fire on Thursday. The demonstrators were outraged by what was to be a second Koran burning in front of the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. The incident contributed to several other protests in Muslim-majority countries as the governments of Iraq, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Morocco condemned the incident. --- 22 July 2023 11:05 (UTC+04:00) By the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated June 5, 2023, the "State Programme of Socio-Economic Development of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic for 2023-2027" was approved, Azernews reports, citing Cabinet of Ministers. The Order instructed the Cabinet of Ministers to prepare and submit to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan more detailed projects to ensure the implementation of issues envisaged in the Action Plan for 2023-2024 and 2025-2027 in accordance with the Action Plan of the State Programme and the number of financial resources to be determined, as well as to inform the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the coordination and implementation of activities envisaged in the State Programme. The Cabinet of Ministers' Decision of 14 June 2023 was signed to ensure the execution of the instruction of the Head of the country. A large-scale meeting was held on 21 July 2023 under the chairmanship of Rufat Mammadov, Head of the Cabinet of Ministers Apparatus and with participation of representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, Plenipotentiary Representation of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Cabinet of Ministers of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Centre for Analysis and Communication of Economic Reforms and State Programme. Issues related to the implementation of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 5 June 2023 and other tasks were discussed at the meeting, and relevant instructions were given for the timely and qualitative implementation of the tasks. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 22 July 2023 11:40 (UTC+04:00) The International Court of Justice has deleted its publication on its Twitter page in connection with its decision to reject Armenia's lawsuit for Azerbaijan to withdraw its border guards from the Lachin border crossing point and Lachin road, Azernews reports. The International Court of Justice was apparently unable to resist the pressure exerted on it by the Armenian lobby. The publication, dated 14 July, has since disappeared. Although the court's decision was fair, as it was Azerbaijan's absolute right to establish a border checkpoint on the Lachin road to prevent the illegal transfer of personnel, ammunition, mines, and other military equipment from Armenia to Armenian armed formations on Azerbaijani territory. Since then, Armenia has been desperately trying to prevent peace talks with Azerbaijan, as well as the integration of the Armenian residents of Karabakh into Azerbaijani society. Numerous images obtained from the border, showing ICRC vehicles carrying humanitarian supplies passing by the checkpoint, as well as the Armenian inhabitants of Karabakh themselves, are the exact opposite of what Armenia propagates. Thus, this was yet another "move" by the Armenian side to deliberately obstruct the peace process with Azerbaijan, and to continue spreading lies, and unfortunately, the International Court of Justice seems to support this. --- 22 July 2023 19:15 (UTC+04:00) In the first half of this year, gas production decreased by 9.6% or 2.51 billion cubic meters compared to the same period last year. Electricity production increased by 4.3% or 1.57 billion kWh, Azernews reports, citing Kun.uz News Agency. The Statistics Agency has published data on industrial production for January-June 2023. It is noted that during the first 6 months of this year, the volume of gas production amounted to 23.56 billion cubic meters, which decreased by 2.51 billion cubic meters (26.07 billion cubic meters in January-June 2022) or 9.6% compared to the same period last year. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Astoria's Great Columbia River Crossing Oct. 8: Register for Oregon Coast Run Soon Published 07/18/23 at 5:55 a.m. By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Astoria, Oregon) Every October, Astoria swells with thousands of people either zipping along at a quick pace or other people watching them do so. It's the Great Columbia Crossing 10K run / walk and the date has been set for October 8 this year. The longest continuous truss bridge in North American is here on the north Oregon coast, and this is where the Great Columbia Crossing takes place. Registration opened two weeks ago, said Astoria Chamber of Commerce spokesperson Regina Wilkie, and already is halfway filled up with over 1,800 of the 3,500 spots taken. Every year, those 3,500 are shuttled to the southern end of the Washington coast and Dismal Nitch, then setting their sights (and running shoes) on the Astoria-Megler Bridge. As always, the entire bridge is shut off to all traffic from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., which lets runners concentrate on the run instead of worrying about this being their last visit to the Oregon coast. There is a 200-foot incline as the bridge rises above the shipping channel, making for incredible views of the Columbia Rivers' comings and goings as well as the river mouth. In fact, walkers are encouraged to take advantage of the slower pace and take in the sights while crossing, as the chamber has competitive runners start before walkers. Many participants share that this is one of their favorite annual traditions and it is approachable for families as well as experienced runners seeking a challenge, Wilkie said. You're nearly 200 feet above the Oregon coast's northernmost river at one point along the bridge. The Great Columbia River Crossing is an Official USA Track & Field Certified Event (#OR22006JH). All participants will be timed via electronic chip. Afterwards, you can utilize the race packets' clam bucks the race's own currency you can spend in the timeless town. After the run, you'll want to pay the sights and the cuisine a visit. Hotels in Astoria - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours Registrants receive clam bucks as part of their race packet a program that encourages participants to visit local participating businesses to spend these tokens, each worth $1, Wilkie said. The event is coordinated by the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce with assistance from more than a dozen local agencies. You Can Volunteer The Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce relies on volunteers helping out with some 100 shifts over the four-day event. They are currently putting a call for volunteers. If you are interested in being a part, sign up to volunteer at www.greatcolumbiacrossing.com. Registration is $45 (includes electronic timing). It includes free parking with the shuttle bus to the start of the race; your bib number, and snacks and water at the end of the race. You also get 5 - 10 Clam Bucks worth $1 each can be redeemed at participating Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce businesses from Oct. 5 to 11, 2023. TRAVEL INFO and TRAFFIC ADVISORY: During the event, the Astoria-Megler Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to add safety for participants, volunteers and others helping on the bridge. The closure will occur for approximately 2.5 hours during the event, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Any participants remaining on the bridge portion of the course will be picked up shortly before 11 a.m. so that lanes can be reopened for vehicles. The communities around the bridge encourage non-event travelers to take a little more time that morning before checking out of their hotels, enjoy a leisurely breakfast, shopping and exploring before hitting the road to avoid the delay and congestion around the bridge. For more information about the region, and local lodging options, visit www.travelastoria.com Contact: (503) 325-6311. Or in person 111 West Marine Drive, Astoria, OR 97103 MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Authorize the Board of Medicine to allow a military relocation licenses for physicians, physician assistant service members, and spouses, as well as offer internationally-trained hospital physician employee licenses for foreign-trained physicians Modify the State Hearing Aid Dealers and Fitters Board related to over-the-counter hearing aids Add the Qualified Applied Behavior Analysis Credentialing Board as a certifying entity for behavior analysts Modify the optometry laws Extend ambulance transport flexibility to have an uncertified medical person drive an ambulance for one year following the expiration of the public health emergency Require the development of a plan to transition the Nurse Aide I education and training program from the Department of Health and Human Services to the Board of Nursing Enact the Hospital Violence Protection Act which outlines criteria and increasing penalties for when a person violates a protective order issued by request of the hospital Being offered full-time employment as a physician in a North Carolina hospital Currently licensed to practice medicine in a foreign country, or had the license expire no more than five years before submission of an application Completed medical school and post-graduate training that is substantially similar to the requirements for licensure under current law Meets the requirements for licensure, other than a US-based residency Not subject to a disciplinary action Have practiced medicine for at least 5 years Be proficient in English Legally authorized to work in the US. Reside in NC, pursuant to military orders Hold a current license in another jurisdiction that has equivalent or similar licensure requirements Holds a license that is in good standing with no disciplinary actions within 5 years Has actively practiced medicine for 20 hours per week for the last two years. The North Carolina Senate is considering a bill that would make it easier for military and foreign doctors to practice in this state. House Bill 125, the NC Health & Human Services Workforce Act, would also provide provider protections from violence in rural hospitals, among other health-related measures in the bill.The current version is a Proposed Committee Substitute for the House's earlier version, titled Safe Surrender Infants. The original bill language only addressed providing parents with a safe way to surrender children during a personal crisis. That policy was already passed as part of the SB20 bill, which put multiple laws in place, including an extension of age in the state safe surrender law and restrictions on abortions after 12 weeks of gestation. Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill, but his veto was overridden by the legislature.The new PCS for HB125, if passed, would:Both the military relocation licenses and the internationally-trained hospital physician employee licenses that the bill promises are efforts to solve NC's scarcity of physicians, especially in rural areas.Sen. Benton Sawrey, R-Johnston, stated as one of the supporters of the bill in the Senate.Under HB 125, sufficiently trained physicians could bypass the residency requirement by proving that they haveisin NC.Other requirements for the internationally-trained physician employee license would include:According to SHEPS Health Workforce NC, an organization that tracks NC's health workforce, 15.5% of NC's current physicians are international medical school graduates, well below the national median which is 19.1%.Earlier this month, Tennessee became the first state in the country to completely remove medical-residency requirements for top international doctors.For the military applicant to receive thedoctors would need to meet the following requirements:Holding these requirements and upon application, the military physician would obtain athat would remain active for the duration of the military order and be converted to a full license upon completion of the application.Sawrey said.On the other end of HB 125 is the Hospital Protection Act. The act would increase penalties for assault on certain hospital personnel and make committing a violent offense at a hospital anin the crime.Sawrey said.More than a quarter of all nurses say they have been the victims of violence at work as more hospitals have reported violence since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent North Carolina Nurses Association's survey of over 11,800 nurses, found that nearly half of them reported witnessing violence on the job in the last two years.Sawrey says HB125 is a first step. Today, Governor Roy Cooper signed the following bills into law:Governor Cooper made the following statement on SB 58:Governor Cooper also vetoed the following bills:Governor Cooper made the following statement on SB 331:Governor Cooper made the following statement on SB 329:Governor Cooper made the following statement on SB 299:Sam Changovpress@nc.gov One of the leading British newspaper, the Daily Telegraph of London has published an article warning America not to follow the green energy disaster of the United Kingdom which has led to skyrocketing power prices and cratering reliability. In particular, it raises serious questions on the viability of wind power, and especially offshore wind turbines. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/06/11/green-energy-disaster-uk-awful-warning-america/ https://stopthesethings.com/2023/07/21/hard-lessons-from-britains-green-energy-disaster-freely-available-for-all/ In America, we have leftwing politicians like Joe Biden and Roy Cooper trying to push our country in this same disastrous direction, and both are fully pushing the very worst part of it, offshore wind. Sadly there are GOP quislings going along with it, with RINO legislative leaders in NC, Moore and Berger, sucking up to woke energy monopoly Duke Energy to promote the same thing. They are as bad as Democrats, and the RNO state seantor representing Beaufort County, Jim Perry, is right in the thick of supporting this anti-consumer scam. The asylum policies of progressive former Christian Democrat chancellor Angela Merkel created the illegal immigration problem that Germany faces today. The party's more conservative current leader Friedrich Merz is pushing a reversal of those policies. He recently dumped an old Merkel operative as the party powerful Secretary General and replaced him with an immigration hardliner from the party's right wing. Now Merz is praising a column penned by his deputy chairman Thorsten Frei in a major German newspaper, Frantfurter Allgemeine Zeitung,, calling for an end to Germany's current asylum policies. It is titled "Our right to asylum is based on a lie". That column proposes only accepting asylum applications direct from the home country, not from people showing up at the border. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/german-cdu-shifts-right-merz-backs-proposal-to-abolish-current-asylum-regime/ This comes as the populist / nationalist right anti-immigration Alternativ fur Deutschland (AfD) is making rapid political gains in local and state elections and in the polls. AfD is now the leading party in the polls across the states of eastern Germany, several of which have state elections next year, and is rapidly rising in western German states. A poll released last week in the important western German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, showed AfD gaining seven percentage points, while the three parties of the governing national coalition all lost ground, a cumulative total of a loss of seven points between them. The CDU remained the largest party in that state, losing a single percentage point. In national polls, AfD is now the leading party overall, but if the numbers for the CDU and its more conservative Bavarian partner party, the CSU are combined, the CDU and CSU together are in first place nationally and AfD second. https://rmx.news/germany/germanys-afd-party-rises-in-the-west-hits-record-19-in-baden-wurttemberg/ https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/07/23/alternative-for-germany-party-surges-in-polls-as-support-for-populism-rises/ The voters role being distributed to candidates is searchable and analysable, but is in a format that cannot be altered or tampered with, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said, rubbishing opposition claims that it was not searchable simply because it was not a MS Excel document. ZEC chief elections officer Mr Utloile Silaigwana said yesterday in a statement, that the voters roll met the provision of the Electoral Act as it was searchable and analysable. But he noted that the Act permits the commission to format the voters roll to prevent it from being altered or tampered with. It is for this reason why ZEC has issued out the voters roll in its current format. There is nowhere in the Act where it is stated that the roll should be in Excel or printable formats known to have compromised security features. The voters roll issued out to candidates has columns for the voters surname, forename, ID number, gender, date of birth, voters address, polling station, ward, local authority, constituency, district and province as prescribed in Section 20(2) of the Electoral Act. Mr Silaigwana said polling station codes have not been included on the voters roll because they are an administrative tool used by the commission to map out polling stations during delimitation, hence they are not part of the voters roll as alleged. He said the electorate and other stakeholders should expect to see real names of polling stations and not codes on the voters rolls. Ordinary voters without access to the electronic voters roll are encouraged to dial the USSD Code *265# on their mobile phones to ascertain their registration status and polling station. The commission would like to urge all stakeholders with queries on the voters roll or any other electoral issue to approach the commission for clarification. They should desist from casting aspersions on the voters roll and other electoral processes as this may affect voter turnout and discredit the polls, said Mr Silaigwana. Herald Health systems in Nevada, Louisiana, California and New York are taking advantage of the power of artificial intelligence to simplify workflows and connect patients with care. Here are four health systems installing AI-based platforms that Becker's has reported on since July 17: Ireland is a land bedecked in a multitude of jewels, many of great antiquity and all of great value. They lie softly scattered throughout the landscape, known only to the few enlightened souls fortunate enough to have happened upon their existence and understood their importance. One such gem is Ballyeglish Old Graveyard, which sits nestled in rolling countryside just outside the village of The Loup, near to the western shores of Lough Neagh. On a very hot day, not so very long ago, a discovery was made. Soil in a prestigious grave enclosure belonging to the Conwell family had dried out, dropping sufficiently to reveal an inscription on a grave slab long since forgotten. It read: Rev. A.A. Conwell P.P. planted this hawthorn and holly tree on June 23, 1805 (the day before the young priests funeral) Full inscription referencing hawthorn tree Mighty oaks from small acorns grow, and the few lines found offered tantalising insight into a much wider story. The Catholic cleric responsible for planting the tree was buried near to the inscription. The epitaph on his burial vault read: Rev Arthur Anthony Conwell, Parish Priest of Ardtrea from 1756 to 1802. Died July 1809 aged 98 years. Before he was ordained a priest he fought on April 16, 1746 under Prince Charles at the battle of Culloden where he received on his face and breast the sabre wounds the scars of which he carried to his grave. Rev. Arthur Anthony Conwell was known locally as The Old Priest, not to be confused with his grandnephew, Rev. Eugene Conwell, titled The Young Priest. Conwell the Elder was born in 1711 during the dark days of The Penal Laws when both Catholic and Presbyterian faiths were oppressed. He undertook studies to become a Franciscan cleric, before apparently interrupting his career path to join with the Irish Piquets of the French Army travelling from Dunkirk and Ostend to Scotland, to fight at Culloden. Arthur eventually returned to St Anthonys College, Louvain (Spanish Netherlands) to complete his training and, upon ordination, was sent to Ardtrea comprising the villages of The Loup and Moneymore where he remained until his death. The entire ministry of Rev. A.A. Conwell was carried out during Penal Times. The Irish statesman and philosopher, Edmund Burke, once described the Penal Laws as, a machine of wise and elaborate contrivance, as well fitted for the oppression and degradation of a people, and the debasement in them of human nature itself, as ever proceeded from the perverted ingenuity of man. Read more Titanic Belfast tops the list of NIs top 10 tourist attractions for 2022 The Franciscan Order, which the now-named Father Anthony was part of, was banned in Ireland. Therefore, the daring cleric registered as a secular priest in order to stay in his parish and administer to his congregation in secret. He was effectively an undercover Franciscan, undertaking covert religious operations, in keeping with the spirit of adventure he had displayed at Culloden. Fr Anthony Conwell is credited with the founding of three churches in the area after the death of the Old Pretender, James Francis Edward Stuart, in 1766. James was father to the Bonnie Prince who was likely less bonnie after his defeat at Culloden. An incremental relaxation of the Penal Laws meant that by 1768 Conwell was able to begin work on churches at both The Loup and Moneymore, with a later project started at Newbridge which was completed by his curate, Rev. Mackle also buried at Ballyeglish Old Graveyard. Of interest to some might be a story attached to Father Mackle. He was mentioned in the OS memoirs of 1836, in which it was said he was so pious as to have attracted pilgrims from as far away as Donegal to his graveside. Many came to receive healing from the soil upon his grave. The memoirs state: ... a parcel of earth is taken from his grave, its tea subsequently given as drinks to the patient and the clay afterwards applied to the part of the body complained of or afflicted. There is no information as to whether or not it cured hangovers, or caused indigestion. Read more Dundalk: Things to do in the town on an Irish staycation The Young Priest, Eugene Conwell, is in turn renowned for his Letters From Maynooth which covers the period from 1798 until 1805, the year of his demise. They are a reliable account of the more mundane aspects of life in Ireland at that time, detailing the prices of everything from clothes to postage. Strangely, he makes only an oblique reference to the United Irishmen Rising of 1798, which must have been of considerable concern in Ireland at the time. Eugene Conwell occasionally mentioned The Old Priest in his correspondence, but little did he know that his grand-uncle would outlive him by some four years. In more recent times, a project was developed to restore and preserve Ballyeglish Old Graveyard which contains both Catholic and Protestant burials, side by side with ne'er a wall between them. The site had previously suffered due to both vandalism and neglect. Crosses were broken and fences were down. Renfield was at his work perhaps. The site was subsequently scheduled by the Historic Environment Division giving it a stronger legal protection, and Mid Ulster District Council were petitioned to engage more fully in maintaining the site. Things improved and The Ballyeglish Society was formed. Read more A tale of two cities in Maltas small but enchanting capital Valetta One feature on the site, however, puzzled those engaged in the work, namely the presence of an aged hawthorn tree with a beautifully spiralled trunk. The hawthorn sat in an unusual spot within the graveyard, close to the Conwell enclosure. The discovery of the aforementioned inscription immediately cleared up the confusion. Today, the hawthorn still stands in Ballyeglish Old Graveyard, a living link to both The Battle of Culloden and Penal Times, planted by a regular countryman undiminished by circumstance. As such, the tree is not only a perfect example of its genus, its also an important piece of Ulster and Irish history sitting quietly in an ancient place. Ballyeglish Old Graveyard can be reached by a publicly funded lane-way. It has only a small number of parking spaces. But it has many stories, all archived within one quaint burial ground on an island with a multitude of jewels. Of great value, each and every one. A man was arrested on suspicion of arson after a house fire in west Belfast. Officers were alerted to the blaze, which extensively damaged the property, in the early hours of Friday morning. The male was detained on suspicion of various offences but has since been released. Detective Sergeant Kennedy said: Police received a report from colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service at around 3am yesterday, Friday, of a fire at property in the Mourneview Park area. Extensive damage was caused to the living room area and the kitchen, and smoke damage was also caused to the upstairs of the property. Thankfully, there were no reports of any injuries, and no one was inside the house at the time of the incident. One man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon in a public place, criminal damage, and arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. He was subsequently released on police bail pending further enquiries. Our enquiries are continuing, and we are appealing to anyone who may have any information to contact Musgrave CID by calling 101, quoting reference number 479 of 21/07/23. Police are investigating the raid at fast food premises on Friday night. A masked gang ordered staff to the floor during an armed robbery on a west Belfast takeaway. The employees were threatened with a firearm before the robbers fled with cash. The incident occurred in the Suffolk Road area on Friday night. Detective Sergeant Kennedy said: Shortly before 8.55pm, it was reported that three masked men, with one of them armed with a suspected firearm, entered the rear of a fast food takeaway in the area. It was reported the males ordered staff onto the floor before making off with a sum of money. No one was injured during the incident. Enquiries are continuing and police would appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this investigation, to contact them on 101 quoting reference number 1890 21/07/23. Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. China has sent dozens of warplanes towards Taiwan, days before the island plans to hold military exercises aimed at defending itself against a possible invasion, officials said. Taiwan is due to hold its annual Han Kuang exercise next week, during which its military will hold combat readiness drills for preventing an invasion. It will also conduct the annual Wanan exercises aimed at preparing civilians for natural disasters and practising evacuations in case of an air raid. The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army sent 37 aircraft including fighters and bombers and seven navy vessels around Taiwan between 6am on Friday and 6am on Saturday, the Taiwanese defence ministry said in a statement. Among them were J-10 and J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, and 22 of the detected warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait an unofficial boundary that had been considered a buffer between the island and mainland or entered Taiwans air defence identification zone near its southern part, the statement said. Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the ruling Communist Party in control of the mainland. The island has never been part of the Peoples Republic of China, but Beijing says it must unite with the mainland. In recent years, China has shown displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by stepping up the number of military planes sent toward the island. China held huge military drills in response to former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in August. It fired missiles over the island in a significant escalation that disrupted trade lanes in the Taiwan Strait and forced airplanes to reroute flights. In April, the PLA also held large-scale combat readiness drills in the air and sea around the island in response to Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with current US house speaker Kevin McCarthy. A judges daughter, Patricia Curran, was discovered just 40 yards from her home in Whiteabbey, Co Antrim at 2am on November 13 1952. She had been stabbed to death Who killed the judge's daughter? is a special two-part series of the BelTel podcast Patricia Currans mutilated body was discovered just 40 yards from her home in Whiteabbey, Co Antrim at 2am on November 13 1952. She was a judges daughter, savagely stabbed to death, and the pressure was on to find her killer. An innocent man, Iain Hay Gordon, was blackmailed into signing a confession and sent to a psychiatric hospital only to be quietly released and packed off home to Scotland in 1960. His murder conviction was eventually quashed in 2000. In this episode of the BelTel, journalist Stephen Gordon (no relation) tells us about meeting Patricias brother Desmond, who spent his life as a Catholic Priest in South Africa. And we ask the biggest question of all: If Iain Hay Gordon didnt kill Patricia, then who did? A former amateur champion boxer who kept driving after police punctured his tyres with a stinger device has been warned he will lose his licence if he collects more penalty points. Diarmuid Toland was handed nine penalty points and ordered to pay 375 in fines. District Judge Bernie Kelly told him: Having been given the discretion of the court in relation to dangerous vis-a-vis careless [driving], there will be no discretion if he appears back and reaches the magic 12 penalty points. Read more Boxer handed jail term after assaulting two men in drunken brawl on train Toland, from Deeny Drive in Lurgan, did not appear at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday, but he earlier pleaded guilty to careless driving, failing to stop for police and having a defective light. The court was told that in the early hours of March 29, police spotted a white Audi turning at speed onto Deeny Drive. Officers decided to follow and signalled for the vehicle to stop, but it continued. The police then went to the defendants home, where Tolands father confirmed it was his sons car. By the time the police spotted the vehicle again, the PSNI helicopter had been deployed. It was used to help track the Audi. Toland continued to drive at speed, and at times on the wrong side, as he weaved through the streets, moving towards Lurgan town centre. The police deployed a stinger device that punctured three tyres, but he kept going. He was arrested after the car eventually came to a standstill. A defence lawyer accepted their clients behaviour was completely foolish but said Toland had not been travelling at a high speed. It wasnt like one of those shows you see, like Police, Camera, Action, they added. Asking the judge not to ban the defendant from the roads, the lawyer said Toland worked full-time, boxes for Ireland and relies on his licence to get to the gym he attends in Belfast and elsewhere. Fining the boxer and handing him the penalty points, Judge Kelly said the offences were very much at the high end of careless driving. A racist thug who once headed the National Front in Northern Ireland has tried to claim the Portrush community is against gay pride. Mark Brown, who posts under a pseudonym on Facebook, made the unsupported statement after a gay councillor said Brown and a handful of fascists wouldnt ruin the upcoming Causeway Pride event due to be held in the town. The far-right activist, who was once jailed for a racially motivated attack on a taxi driver, branded those behind it as the queer tent, who are attempting to force debauchery and other societal ills on our townsfolk. Brown also called on people to end normalising sexual deviancy and shared a picture with the caption protect our children. Openly gay SDLP councillor Seamas de Faoite said of Browns remarks: As seen with recent protests organised by far-right groups in this area, they have absolutely no support from the local community in what is a welcoming and tolerant place. The actions of a handful of far-right fascists will not ruin whats set to be a great day in Portrush and Id urge as many people as possible to come along and send a clear message that hate wont win in Portrush or anywhere else. After Mr de Faoites remarks were published in the Belfast Telegraph, Brown shared the article stating: Right now, we are witness to the disfigurement and a profound campaign to change the mental horizon of our people by peddling anti-science, anti-organic, gibberish. He said the support of the gay pride event was at odds with the community view. Brown has also been involved in anti-refugee protests held in Portrush and led a protest against the settlement of Syrian refugees in Coleraine. In 2019 Brown was jailed for two months for a vile racially motivated assault on a taxi driver in Co Antrim. A judge said Brown had gone beyond the criminal pale during the incident, for which he was handed a two-month prison sentece. He punched the taxi driver, originally from the Middle East, on the head, got out without paying the 18.40 fare and then chased the mans car as he tried to phone the police. Sentencing Brown, Deputy District Judge Peter Magill said: This was a racially aggravated offence. You did admit that you expressed quite abhorrent racist views in respect of this man while denying any assault and making off. There is no place in our society for this type of behaviour, no place in this society for racism. UVF rapist Gerry Verners upcoming trial over a punch-up in a play centre has been delayed while a key witness gets dental work done abroad. Ex-soldier Verner (33) appeared at Laganside Magistrates Court for a contest alongside co-accused Shea McGreevy (25) on Friday, but the case was adjourned due to the absence of the witness. The court heard Toni McAllister, who is Verners ex-partner, had travelled outside the jurisdiction to have her teeth done, meaning the case could not proceed. Prosecutors said they had clear CCTV of the brawl which erupted in the Happy Town childrens soft play centre on the Portaferry Road in Newtownards in January. Deputy District Judge Phillip Mateer KC exclaimed in Happy Town? while details of the case were being heard. Heavily tattooed Verner, nicknamed Gerry Vermin because of his rape conviction, and pal McGreevy are both charged with assault and disorderly behaviour over the fist-fight. McGreevy, of ONeills Lane in Belfast, and Verner, whose address is given as c/o McConnell Kelly solicitors, deny the charges. Lawyers for the pair objected to the adjournment and were keen to have the matter dealt with. However, judge Mateer re-scheduled the case to be heard next month. Predator Verner was handed a five-year prison sentence in 2012 for raping a teenager. She was the fourth female he had violently assaulted. After getting out of prison, Verner moved to the Sydenham area of east Belfast, where he forged links with leading UVF figures. Loyalists say he dealt cocaine for the terror gang before being sidelined after details of his sex convictions were revealed in the media. Since then, Verner who was returned to prison for a short time in 2021 for breaching the terms of his early release licence has led a nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place. In May he was charged along with another man with possessing a military-style M4 carbine rifle and 50,000 of cocaine. Verner is further charged with possessing class B drugs with intent to supply, possessing class C drugs and having criminal property namely, 4,325 in cash. 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. PITTSFIELD Ask Owen Rathbun how he gets to school and he can tell you every step of the way between his home on Commonwealth Avenue and his class at Egremont Elementary, nearly a mile away. Owen said that on the two times a week he walked home from fourth grade with his neighbor and friend, the walk was normally a nice, calming long journey. With just two turns and one crosswalk, it was a pretty easy trip. The kind of walk that Melissa Rathbun, Owens mom, said she and her husband were comfortable sending their son on to build a little independence. But a little more than a month after Owen started walking home from school by himself, that all changed. Owen was struck by a car while crossing the street. He escaped serious injury, but the incident has set off a series of initiatives aimed at making the city safer for all pedestrians but especially for students like Owen. On Oct. 27, Owen, then 9, finished up school and headed out alone to walk home. About 3:35 p.m., just 10 minutes after the end of the school day, a crossing guard would have normally greeted Owen and other walkers at the crosswalk at Holmes Road and Dawes Avenue. But on this day the crossing guard had called in to report they wouldnt be at their post. As Owen made his way to the crosswalk, he paused to check the road. A car heading north on Holmes Road had stopped just after the crosswalk to make the left-hand turn onto Dawes Avenue. The car behind it stopped just before the crosswalk to let Owen pass. Seeing traffic stopped and waiting, Owen began to cross. Thats when a 59-year-old Lee woman driving south on Holmes Road struck Owen in the crosswalk. His mother, who is a kindergarten teacher at Egremont, said she was in her classroom finishing up some work when a coworker came in. Hes OK, but Owens been hit by a car. Owen had been thrown 5 feet from where the car stopped and had cracked and dented the driver side headlight on the car. Rathbun said she rushed to the crosswalk and got to her son before he was loaded into the ambulance. That was probably the scariest thing that weve gone through ever, Rathbun said. Owen was worried hed broken his leg a particularly large fear for the boy who loves Irish dancing and is part of the Scoil Rince Breifne O Ruairc dance studio. But X-rays taken at Berkshire Medical Center showed that Owen's leg was just bruised. He even got up in the emergency room and performed several Irish step dance moves for his doctor to prove it. We gave it a few days and then I started writing letters because I couldnt let this happen again, Rathbun said. Over the course of several months, Rathbun engaged in a diligent email campaign. She wrote to Pittsfield Public Schools Superintendent Joseph Curtis, the Pittsfield School Committee, the City Council, the police department, Mayor Linda Tyer and Ricardo Morales, the city's commissioner of public services. Rathbuns letters and emails took on a life of their own, creating a policy change in the school district, immediate safety improvements at the Dawes Avenue and Holmes Road crosswalk, and spurring a wider effort to improve pedestrian safety on that stretch of Holmes Road. On paper The Rathbuns have pored over the crash report the Pittsfield Police Department filed after their sons accident. The report says the driver of the Volkswagen that hit Owen told police that stopped cars in the northbound lane of Holmes Road created a blind spot. She didnt see Owen and he didnt see her. I felt terrible for her, because really it was just absolutely an accident, Rathbun said. She said a little while after the accident, a local attorney approached her at a school event and tried to persuade her to sue the driver. I was like 'Thats not what we want,' Rathbun said. We want the kids safe. We dont want to sue anyone, Owen interjected, we just want to keep the kids safe. Rathbun said that at the time of her sons accident, the crosswalk paint was hard to see, the crosswalk signs were graffitied over and one was laying on the ground. She said she feels the crosswalks placement didnt lend itself to safe driving either situated just over the crest of a hill on Holmes Road. Thats why she felt the crossing guard had such an important role. Rathbun said a couple days after the accident she began calling around to ask what happened with the crossing guard. She found herself talking with the Pittsfield Police Department, which is responsible for designating a crossing guard coordinator and hiring crossing guards. She learned that the crossing guard that normally watches over the Egremont Elementary walkers had called in according to the departments protocols to say they couldnt work that day and that the department couldnt find an officer to cover the crosswalk. Rathbun said the police told her they had found a hole in their policy and were going to fix it. But as the year progressed, the Rathbuns noticed more and more when no one was guarding the crosswalk. I didnt get responses for a while, Rathbun said. I had to just push and push and push to get a policy in place. Owen made a face and pounded his fist when asked how he felt every time he noticed the crosswalk didnt have a guard. The family decided to take matters into their own hands. Rathbun went to school administrators and asked them whether there was a policy or procedure on the books that laid out when crossing guards would be on duty and what would happen if someone was unable to work their post. She heard over the course of months that there wasnt one but that something was in the works. Thats when I started pushing for paper having it written down once and for all, Rathbun said. So families can refer to this to know when their kid can cross safely. In April, the police department and school district released the newly created crossing guard procedure. It says crossing guards will be at their posts from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for the start of the school day and from 3:20 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the end of the day. Theres a detailed section for what to do when a crossing guard needs a substitute and a list of people from the school district who will be notified and called in to help if theres a gap in coverage. A new look for Holmes Road While Rathbun was focused on pushing the police and school departments on cementing their crossing guard procedures, city staff were working on rethinking a section of Holmes Road all together. Commissioner Morales received one of Rathbuns emails from Curtis, the school district superintendent, in early November. He said his first reaction was relief that Owen was OK. His second: something needed to happen. Morales said that the city has been prioritizing road safety projects where children typically cross calling out recent work near the Morningside Community School through the states Complete Streets program. Its a prioritization the state is asking municipalities to take on and give special attention to. In a recent study by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, state officials found that in the years between 2016 and 2020, 44 percent of fatal and serious injury pedestrian crashes happened within 2,000 feet of schools statewide. In Pittsfield the situation is worse. The Eagle analyzed MassDOT crash data from 2016-20 and found that about 62 percent close to two in every three fatal or serious pedestrian crashes occurred within 2,000 feet of city schools. Even outside of school zones, Pittsfield is all too familiar with serious and deadly pedestrian crashes. In late January, Shaloon Milord and her 3-year-old daughter, Lucia, were hit by a driver as they used a West Street crosswalk near Dorothy Amos Park. Milords daughter was treated for minor injuries while Milord, 30, was transported to Berkshire Medical Center with a serious head injury. She later died from her wounds. Milord's death shone a light on the desperate need to improve pedestrian safety on city roads. A grassroots organization, Pittsfield Community Design Center, organized a walkout along West Street in Milord's memory. The Public Services Department is pursuing a $500,000 redesign of a section of West Street, alongside the Holmes Road project, to improve the safety of residents walking and biking along the two roads. The Public Services Department had already been looking at pedestrian crossings on Holmes Road, but not in the section where Owen's accident occurred. Our position right now is essentially: one close call is enough to merit [a change], Morales said. Morales and ward Councilor Kevin Sherman worked in the immediate days and weeks after the crash to get the crosswalk lines repainted and larger pedestrian crossing signs added to the Dawes Avenue and Holmes Road intersection. Within the first month a flashing crosswalk sign was added. Then began the longer range work of reshaping Holmes Road. The city hired contractors Fuss & ONeill to design a construction plan for Holmes Road that they say puts a greater emphasis on pedestrian safety. The project, which is estimated to cost $400,000, calls for replacing the crosswalks on Dawes, Cambridge and Strong avenues with speed tables raised crosswalks that will be paired with a push activated flashing pedestrian sign. Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps will be added to the crosswalk that covers Sampson Parkway, along with a bike box that will allow riders to come to rest ahead of Williams Street and Holmes Road stoplight. The city plans to divide the existing footprint of the road between thinner 10-foot wide travel lanes for cars and 5-foot bike lanes. For much of this section of Holmes Road bikers will ride side-by-side with cars. Near the Dawes Avenue intersection cyclists will be directed onto a shared-use path for bikers and pedestrians. The city hosted a public input session for residents in July and at this point Morales said all signs point toward a groundbreaking later this year. Rathbun said she was hoping that the project would be completed before the next school year, but that shes happy with the new design and improvements. For now the Rathbuns are working on taking the small steps to feeling comfortable on their school routes again. They started small, with Rathbun dropping off her son near the crosswalk on Cambridge Avenue to cross over to Egremont Elementary. She said she cried as she watched him brace himself at the crosswalk but called her friend to celebrate when he made it safely to the other side. Owen walked home from Egremont Elementary for the first time since his accident on June 10. But he delivers the caveat that it was a Saturday in the middle of the day and there were barely any cars. His older sister Evelyn Rathbun walked beside him. It felt weird, weird because I havent done it in a long time, Owen said. A pro-government motorcade travels down the road in Prey Veng, Cambodia. To impose dynastic rule on this nation of 17 million, Hun Sen has used a mix of repression, economic growth and careful grooming of his heir, Hun Manet, who is set to win a critical election Sunday. Biometric iris scanners being set up throughout Southern Europe; precursor to a global digital ID system being ushered in for citizens around the world whether they like it or not says technocrat CEO of new company that plans to scan the eyeballs of every human on the planet. Ive been saying for nearly three years now that the beast system is based on the worlds people accepting two technological components offered up by the Luciferian globalist elites: A globally recognized digital ID to replace the cards in your wallet and a globally recognized digital money to replace the cash in your wallet. The two together will comprise the foundation of the punitive global beast system. From an article in Slay News, we learned today that the CEO of an outfit called Worldcoin has warned that a global digital ID system will be ushered in for citizens around the world whether they like it or not. Worldcoin has developed a system that it pitches as the worlds largest identity and financial public network. The company has created a database that links central bank digital currencies in the form of digital tokens (the eventual replacement for cash), with a digital identity system. The company has created its own form of digital money called the Worldcoin token (WLD). Linked to Worldcoin tokens is another of Worldcoins products World ID. World ID is a digital identity system that collects biometric data for individuals and holds it in a database that links to Worldcoin token transactions. Worldcoin tokens and World ID are connected and accessed via the companys World App. When its all in place and no longer voluntary, these technologies will be used to create and enforce 15-minute cities, says Christine Anderson, a member of the E.U. Parliament from Germany. Watch her describe how it will work below. World App is an app that enables payment, purchases, and transfers globally using digital assets and traditional currencies, according to Worldcoin. People who voluntarily surrender their biometric data receive small sums in Worldcoins tokens in return for signing up for the World ID scheme. Worldcoin is co-founded by Sam Altman, the head of the company Open AI, which is behind the AI-powered chatbot ChapGPT. According to Worldcoins executives, World ID, or something like it, will soon be mandatory for anyone who wishes to partake in the day-to-day functions of society. World ID uses iris scanners that require a person to have their eyeballs scanned to prove their identity. And while that idea may sound like a dystopian nightmare to some, people in several European countries, notably Spain and Portugal, cant wait to give away their iris biometrics as proof of identity and the right to use a digital-wallet transfer scheme. The signup process involves exposing your eyeballs to whats known as Worldcoins Orb iris scanners. Coindesk.com, in an interview with Alex Blania, the 29-year-old CEO of Worldcoins parent company, Tools for Humanity, writes: To do this, they invented a physical device called The Orb that can scan your eyeball. The goal is for The Orb to eventually scan every eyeball of every human who walks the Earth. The project now claims to have 1.8 million signups; the ultimate goal is 8 billion. When asked about the privacy concerns of such a platform, Blania answered: So my high-level response is that something like World ID will eventually exist, meaning that you will need to verify [that you are human] on the internet, whether you like it or not. I think thats certainly going to happen with the progress in AI. Its probably going to happen in the next couple of years. More than 150,000 participants have reportedly already signed up to have their eyeballs scanned in Spain over the last year. Thats 20,000 new sign-ups per day. Portugal already has 120,000 signed up. Plans are already in place to install a number of Orb iris scanners in Barcelona with more cities to follow. Three years ago, in July 2020, the website Emerging Europe reported on the trend toward iris scans as the payment system of the future. Now the future is here and Worldcoin is not the only outfit playing in this space. A Polish firm called PayEye is also involved, among others. Who owns Worldcoin, you ask? Its website says Worldcoin is a decentralized open source protocol supported by a global community of developers, economists and technologists committed to expanding participation in, and access to, the global digital economy. It is intended to become a public network, with ownership by everyone. Yeah, right. More like ownership of everyone. Milan Kundera and Me 22. 7. 2023 / Muriel Blaive cas cteni 22 minut The Prague Spring was in many ways an attempt by middle-aged men to explain away their enthusiastic support, as young communist intellectuals, for the terror regime at the beginning of the 1950s. Many thanks to Derek Sayer, Gerard-Daniel Cohen, Ruth Zylberman, Jan Culik, and Eloise Adde for their critical remarks on this text. Their constructive objections show that this debate will be worth pursuing in the future. With the reactions to Milan Kunderas death in France and in the Czech Republic, I am experiencing a form of cognitive dissonance. Usually, French intellectuals pontificate on Central European literature and politics without understanding anything about Central Europe in general and about the Czech Republic in particular. This time, it is almost the opposite: not only have the French their own understanding and interpretation of Kunderas life and death, but they are fully legitimate in it, as legitimate as the Czechs. Both parties are in any case quite unaware of the underlying issues and subtext on the other side. It is almost as if some French liked Kundera for the wrong reasons, and some Czechs disliked him for the wrong reasons, too. The first misunderstanding: what it means to be French Here is the source of a first misunderstanding: as opposed to the majority of Czech society, Kundera did not only understand the universalist nature of French culture, he deliberately embraced it. He chose to move to France and become a French writer. This was naturally attributed to political motives in the context of the stifling normalization regime of the 1970s in Czechoslovakia, but it would be a mistake to neglect the aesthetic aspect of this position because it reveals a world of misconceptions on both sides. Such a move away not only from the Czech homeland but from Czech nationhood is indeed, for most Czechs, incomprehensible. Czech culture and identity, inscribed in the German-speaking civilizational sphere, is grounded in an ethno-nationalism inspired by Herder and Fichte: in this ideal-type, one is Czech if one is born of Czech parents, period. That Kundera emigrated under communism was felt as a bit of a betrayal at home but was understandable in the political context of the time; that Kundera (Skvorecky, Kohout, and others) turned foreign and refused to come back after 1989 rapidly became unforgivable, especially if they were critical of the post-communist regime. At least one current of the French understanding of nationhood and identity is closer to the American conception: in this ideal type, one is French who wants to be French, who was born in France or moved to France, and who promotes, via the use of the French language (never mind their accent), ideas, values, and an aesthetic that portents to speak to the entire world. The French are often misunderstood as being nationalistic because their aim is to speak in the name of the world; seen from the French point of view, this attitude is on the contrary the opposite of nationalism because it is all about promoting universal values (at least in theory). That Frances intellectual sphere was at the time of Kunderas arrival predominantly left-wing, with a long-standing interest in Czechoslovak communism (for instance for Eugen Fried and Artur London), and that Kundera was a disillusioned Czech communist, but who still had penchants for leftist non-communist ideals, added to the spontaneity and natural character of such a cultural transfer. Kundera understood all this and was welcomed in Paris with open arms. France gratefully accepted the gift of Kunderas literary presence and readily integrated him in the French nation, not although he was Czech, but because he was Czech. In exchange, Kundera gained what he had been seeking: an increased opportunity to address the entire world with his literary work and this from Paris, which still had considerable intellectual cachet. He accepted the restitution of his Czech passport only when it was quite literally brought to him on a platter in 2019 by Premier Andrej Babis (incidentally this was the only noble gesture of Babiss entire mandate, perhaps because Babis himself is an oddity: he was not born Czech.) There can be no doubt that Kunderas first and foremost aim in life was the quality of his literary production. He modified his Czech novels in French not to rewrite history but to speak to ever wider audiences. He adopted French as his new literary language to be more widely understood. He refused until recently to have his French novels translated into Czech. He retired from public appearances in order to be as disconnected from politics as possible, while only the literary value of his work would remain the focus of attention. He jealously guarded and controlled every written word he ever produced. Some Czechs pundits bitterly laughed at this, but have generally failed to understand Kunderas rationale: for him, to be a writer was more important than to be Czech; as it happens, to be a writer was also an intrinsic way to be French. It was a win-win situation. The second misunderstanding: what it means to be Czech This progressive effacement of politics and intellectual engagement to the benefit of literature went neither smoothly nor without setbacks, nor, mainly, without bitter irony. On his path to Frenchness and abstract universalism, Kundera published in 1983 his famous essay, originally entitled in French A Kidnapped West or The Tragedy of Central Europe. It would be an understatement to say that French intellectuals loved it: they worshipped it. The whole West loved it. I loved it too and was eager to discover this wonderful culture. As a student in Paris, moreover a student of Jacques Rupniks, I hammered to myself the historical truth of the time: Central Europe was politically in the east, geographically in the center, and culturally in the west. Indeed, since then I have never used any other expression than Central Europe to describe East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary. Yet I would argue here that Kundera was fundamentally wrong in this essay, and it misled intellectual reflection on Western and Central European cultural ties for decades. The article was flawed on at least two counts. First, the concept of nation, small or big, is an intellectual construction as Benedict Anderson put it in his famous volume published in the very same year, 1983, the nation is an imagined community. Perception is clearly more important than reality, but it can distort it to almost absurd levels. The Czechs count 10,5 million inhabitants there is no reason why they should feel small when there are only 5 million Slovaks, 2 million Slovenes, or less than a million Estonians. The Poles are 40 million strong, but they feel as small as the Czechs, i.e., as victims of history and bullied by their bigger neighbors, Germany and Russia. On the contrary, the Hungarians are a little less than 10 million strong, but have always considered themselves a grand nation, destined to rule others (history decided otherwise because history is unfair.) There are only 8 million Austrians, but they led an empire for centuries. Yet, for all intents and purposes, they reflect on their position in the world and on their culture in a similar manner as the Czechs. The memoirs of Stefan Zweig, The World of Yesterday, are in this respect eloquent: they are describing Viennese intellectual life, but Zweig could just as well be speaking of Prague. Small nations might have been bounced around by their neighbors in history, but it would be ludicrous to pretend that large states have not been equally so. Kunderas use of the myth of the Central European small nations was, similarly to Istvan Bibos Misery of the Small Eastern European States, intended in reality for the West. It is only after securing his move to a big nation that Kundera romanticized small nations. If it said little about Central Europe, the essay spoke volumes about the narcissism and Orientalism of the large states of the West, especially France and Great Britain, which were only too pleased to appear, by contrast with these doomed offspring of modernity, as big and powerful. The kidnapped west episode definitively anchored Kunderas position not as a Czech, but as a French intellectual, which was doubtless its aim. The second reason why Kunderas essay was flawed is that it dodged Czech and Slovak responsibilities in the onset and stabilization of the communist regime. Far from me the idea to exculpate the Soviets from their responsibilities and from the human and economic devastation they caused in Central Europe from 1945 to 1989. That they are culprits in this sense is not in question. The issue rather is to know if they are the sole responsible parties. To blame Stalin and the Russians was a typical argument of the Prague Spring already before the Warsaw Pact occupation. Why blame the Russians in spring 1968, at a time when communism was historically popular in Czechoslovakia and had finally managed to merge socialism and democracy? Because the country had suspiciously failed to oppose Stalinism and had missed a great rendezvous of history, the 1956 uprising of Central European nations against tyranny. For a society which claimed to be culturally democratic, it was difficult to justify why Czechoslovakia had not joined the Poles and Hungarians in their valorous opposition to the USSR. Quite the contrary, Czechoslovakia had done everything it could to curb its neighbors rebellion and help Khrushchev tame them. The explanation for this unexpected behavior, as I have shown here in French and here in Czech, is rather prosaic: as opposed to them, Czechoslovakia inscribed itself in a long standing left-wing cultural tradition, so that communism had deep and solid roots; and as opposed to them, Czechoslovakia had been a developed, industrialized country and its standard of living remained bearable even after Stalinism, still comparable in many ways to Western European countries. But by 1968, this early endorsement of the Stalinist dictatorship had become embarrassing. New historical theses materialized out of thin air to explain that Czechoslovakia had not rebelled during destalinization despite its democratic culture only because it was still anesthesized by terror, a terror worse than all the other communist countries put together. I have pointed out that Czechoslovakia did not suffer more than all the other countries put together, and in fact it possibly suffered less from terror than any of the other communist countries taken individually. Again, this is not a way to deny that terror did exist and did make victims of course it did. The smaller scale of collective terror compared to other countries does not in any way devalue the suffering of individual victims, ever. But no matter how unsound this historical thesis of greater terror was, the world was dazzled by the brilliance of the Prague Spring. The Prague Spring was thus in many ways the attempt by middle-aged men to explain away their enthusiastic support, as young communist intellectuals, for the terror regime at the beginning of the 1950s. Kundera belonged exactly to that generation. Instead of facing the disturbing level of collaboration of the regime with the Soviets, and the disturbing level of collaboration of the population with the regime, instead of reflecting on how a developed society could embrace dictatorship with so little resistance, a new culprit, Stalin and the Russians, was found. Then, predictably, the 21 August 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by the Warsaw Pact troops only served to set this explanation in stone. The Russians were confirmed as the sole culprits, and the Czechs were spared a painful reflection on their previous and present collaboration with the post-invasion, Soviet-supported regime. The third misunderstanding: what it means to live in a Stalinist dictatorship As we now see, Kunderas Kidnapped West did not stem out of nowhere but was part of his long-term intellectual baggage. Already in 1968 and in the frame of a debate provoked by yet another brilliantly provocative essay of his, this time on Czech fate in history, a young intellectual called Vaclav Havel had reproached him his pathos and romanticized understanding of the Czech contribution to the world of (left-wing) ideas. The French public was completely unequipped to grasp these Kidnapped Wests subtle references, but as I explained above, it did not really matter as the point was elsewhere: it was to turn Kundera into a French intellectual, on an implicit background of shared support for moderate left-wing ideals. On a side note, the Kidnapped West essay can in fact also be read retrospectively as introducing civilizational undertones already hinting at a future neo-conservative narrative Samuel Huntington-like and more prosaically in Europe at a conservative turn of the left. What is interesting for us here is that Kundera contributed to turning the Czech nation away from ever examining collaboration with the communist regime as a social practice and as a historical problem, at least on a collective level. His characters in The Joke, Life is Elsewhere, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being do grapple with the issue of communism as an endogenous endorsement of dictatorship and moral betrayal, but only on an individual scale, as a moral lesson anyone could identify with in what was, again, a search for universalism. Certainly, it was Kunderas role as a writer to transform painful societal issues into literature. But Kunderas role as a public intellectual somewhat came in contradiction with the aesthetics of this individual grasping with the everyday reality of repression. In effect, an unexpected follow up to the Kidnapped West debate would come back to haunt Kundera. It was all the harsher that, despite losing his debate with Havel in 1968, or so commentators thought, Kundera unwittingly won the anti-Russian part of the post-communist battle: the more distant the 1989 Velvet Revolution, the more the Czech state has been rewriting the history of Czechoslovak communism as a history of anticommunist heroism tamed by the Soviet domination. Since the woes of communism and therefore of post-communism are now conveniently blamed on the Russians and their Czechoslovak communist agents, historical research on the collaboration of ordinary Czechs with the communist regime is not only unwelcome, it is almost illegal. The law creating the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in 2007 listed the themes of research this national institute of memory was to pursue: resistance and repression not collaboration as a social practice. Yet in 2008 and under the guise of researching anticommunist resistance, a historian of this institute, Adam Hradilek, published with journalist Petr Tresnak what purported to be a sensational discovery: in 1950, Kundera had reported to the police the presence of a stranger who had appeared in the student dorm of which he was the responsible student. I already wrote extensively on this issue (here in French, and here in Czech) so I will only summarize it here: a Czech native, anticommunist resistant, had escaped to the West and been tasked by Czech exiled forces, supported by the Americans in Bavaria, to go back and try to establish a resistance network. Dvoracek, that was his name, crossed back into Czechoslovakia, was hosted by generous strangers, met a former girlfriend by accident in the street, Iva Militka, asked her to keep his suitcase in her student dormitory, and went on to establish his clandestine network by looking for the number of his potential contact in the local telephone book. Since he couldnt find it and didnt know what else to do, he went back to get his suitcase and was arrested on the spot, as Milan Kundera had already alerted the police to his presence or so Hradilek and Tresnak claim. A police document indeed reports that a certain Milan Kundera, born on 1 April 1929, had stopped by to report Dvoraceks, or perhaps only the suitcases, presence, although the document is not signed, which is of course a crucial point. The international scandal that followed this revelation swallowed this narrative hook, line, and sinker, and condemned Kundera even before questioning the seriousness of this historical work. Yet it was abysmally bad research, a discredit to the profession of both historian and journalist. The article was a prosecution, not a historical reflection. Driven by their anticommunist narrative and possibly thirst for sensation, Hradilek and Tresnak failed to restitute the context and oversaw many crucial details. I was surprised, though, to hear in the various obituaries that followed Kunderas death in these past days, especially in France, that their accusation had proven to be false. This is not true. No documentary proof of any sort was produced since 2008 to dispel it. Given the historical context, it is in my opinion indeed possible and even likely that Kundera reported Dvoracek to the police. But this is not the point. The point is that Kundera had no other choice and had he not reported Dvoracek himself, someone else would have, the very same day. In fact, Kunderas indiscretion, if it was his, came third in line. Let us review the context that was missing in the article. Milan Kundera had just been expelled from the communist party, and he was the responsible student of the dormitory Kolonka, in other words he was on tenterhooks with the regime. The police happened to be surveilling the dorm for other reasons they were on the search for a murderer, whom they thought might bring a suitcase there and students were alerted to report anything suspicious. And final straw, the secret police had organized a series of provocations in the previous months, posing as resistance fighters coming back from the West, only to unmask and arrest any potential supporter at home. It would have been suicidal for Kundera as any other student aware of the presence of Dvoracek that day not to report him immediately. Let us then reestablish the chain of responsibilities: it was almost criminal foolishness for the Czech forces in Germany and the Americans to send would-be spies without adequate training back to a tightly controlled dictatorship it is not only Dvoracek but his companion Juppa who was arrested on the first day of their mission. It was tragic amateurism for Dvoracek to look for top secret contacts in the telephone book and to entrust his fate to a former girlfriend of whom he knew nothing in the present circumstances. It was irresponsible for Iva Militka to tell the whole story to her boyfriend, Miroslav Dlask. It was rational but morally dubious for Dlask to pass the story on to Kundera, either to protect his girlfriend, or because he was jealous, or both. Incidentally, after the eruption of the scandal in 2008 a new witness, a former policeman, claimed that also Dlask went to report Dvoracek to the police, independently from Kundera or perhaps even in place of him or in his name, which would explain why his signature is missing. It was not particularly glorious for Kundera to report the information to the police if he did so, but again, not surprising either and an understandable gesture of self-preservation. Neither was it particularly glorious for Dvoracek himself to eventually denounce under police interrogation the generous strangers who had hosted him on his first night. It was not particularly noble for Iva Militka, who had been foolish enough in the first place to talk about Dvoracek to her boyfriend, to send her relative Hradilek on the trail of this story only to assuage her own conscience and get to hear the final word on the behavior of her then boyfriend, later husband, Miroslav Dlask, who had died in the meantime. And it was a singularly poor job on the part of Hradilek and Tresnak to satisfy themselves with this would-be sensational discovery without bothering to restitute the context or to hear Kundera out. The morale of this story is that nearly everyone speaks when tortured or pressured by the secret police in a regime of terror. Whoever is certain they would withstand it is more probably than not lying to themselves. It is not surprising that Kundera denied having reported on Dvoracek: even if he did report him, which is not certain, would he even remember this episode when he had no idea who Dvoracek was and how the story fatefully pursued its course for him? What is tragic is not only Dvoraceks fate, who survived his arrest but underwent a terrible spell in labor camp and jail, but Kunderas, who found himself dragged in mud by the international press without any possibility to defend himself. The historical irony, as I pointed out above, is that Kundera had himself not little contributed as a public intellectual to eschewing any debate on collaboration. Yet what happened to Dvoracek was not the Russians fault, but the fault of Czech civilians. As an accomplished writer, Kundera did not miss the literary chance to reflect on what we see when we look in the mirror (think of his alter ego Jaromil in Life is Elsewhere), but as a public intellectual, he curiously failed to reflect on this unwonted aspect of collective forgetfulness. As for us, the public, more empathy would have been highly welcome: nothing prevents us from feeling sorry both for Dvoracek and for Kundera. Conclusion: the cruel irony of fate In 1968, it had been incredible to see reform communists and democrats agree on the fact that Czech culture was intrinsically democratic, i.e. Western, including within the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. The only problem was, Prague Spring intellectuals claimed, this culture had been perverted by Stalin within the party. In one of these unforeseeable paradoxes of history, the thesis of the kidnapped west was unknowingly revived by the post-1989 anticommunist doctrinaires, personalities who are not without being reminiscent of the Stalinist doctrinaires of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Now, again, but for reasons that are at odds with Kundera and his generations guilty conscience about Stalinism, the post-1948 demolition of what is thought of as a Czech democratic culture is entirely attributed to the Russians or rather, as is more politically correct nowadays, to the Soviets. But not only to the Soviets: to their Czechoslovak allies, too, the communists of the time, i.e. now including Kundera. The new anticommunist ideology is thus the twin sister of the former communist ideology, and Kundera found himself entangled in both, once as a co-creator of this intellectual trap, the second time as someone who had been tripped into it. Havel and Kundera are two of the rare Czech intellectuals who were capable of thinking in abstract and universal terms. Both had trouble being understood by the Czech public, which shows that it is not easy to be Czech and open to the world. Milan Kundera really did not deserve the opprobrium that befell him in his last fifteen years. What he did deserve was the Nobel Prize in Literature, in the same way as Havel deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. It is certainly an historical injustice that neither received it. To be honest, after intensely studying Czech culture in Paris, the Czech society I met in 1990 in Prague was much closer to the earthly accounts of Vaculik and Skvorecky, including in their everyday vulgarity and sexism, than to intellectually high-flying Havel and Kundera. All four were at least united by what Kundera rightly underlined as a proverbial Czech quality: a delightful sense of humor. But these two giants wrote some of the most productive essays of our time and they were deeply European, indeed deeply human. As moving tributes from all corners of the world show, we all appropriated Kundera for ourselves, east and west, and for this alone, he was a brilliant and universal novelist. Rest in peace, dear Milan Kundera. Thank you for having made me dream, it was wonderful. 0 IAEA report cannot justify Japan's wastewater discharge plan 13:31, July 22, 2023 By Zhong Sheng ( People's Daily The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently released a report on the disposal of nuclear-contaminated water at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) immediately issued the certificate to the plant's operator Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) on facilities for discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. The Japanese government recently claimed again that its discharge plan remains unchanged. These actions prove that the Japanese side is trying to take the IAEA report as a permit for its discharge plan, in order to whitewash its erroneous decision to release nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. What Japan is doing is totally self-deception. Japan knows clearly how the IAEA report was made. It didn't invite the IAEA task force to launch relevant assessments until it unilaterally announced the discharge plan in April 2021, and the mandate was limited only to the evaluation of the ocean discharge plan. This is confirmed in the preface of the report by the IAEA director general. It fully indicates that the Japanese side has already decided to discharge nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean, and the invitation to the IAEA was just "window dressing." Instead of eliminating the international community's doubts about Japan's discharge plan, the IAEA report triggered more questions. Due to the limited mandate, the IAEA has only reviewed and assessed the data and information provided unilaterally by Japan, and conducted inter-laboratory comparative analysis for a small amount of samples of nuclear-contaminated water collected unilaterally by Japan. The IAEA failed to review the justification and legitimacy of Japan's ocean discharge plan, assess the long-term effectiveness of Japan's purification facilities and corroborate the authenticity and accuracy of Japan's nuclear-contaminated water data. It didn't verify alternative plans, either. The sampling of nuclear-contaminated water is grossly unrepresentative, and the relevant conclusions are limited and one-sided. The report is far from convincing. The report clearly pointed out that the IAEA provides neither a recommendation nor an endorsement of Japan's ocean discharge plan. The report should not be the "shield" or "greenlight" for Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. Though the IAEA assessed the security of nuclear-contaminated water processed by TEPCO's Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS), the report still cannot guarantee the reliability and long-term effectiveness of the system. The ALPS, as a key facility in Japan's discharge plan, was put into trial operation in 2013. It was not certificated by the NRA until March 2022. In fact, the system was not doing well during its trial operation. Four leakage incidents were reported in 2016, and two years later, it was found that radioactive substances including Strontium in nuclear-contaminated water treated by the ALPS were above the acceptable level. Besides, nearly half of the filters used to absorb radioactive substances in the exhaust broke down in 2021. It proves that the ALPS is not technically mature and whether it can work safely remains a question. Japan's discharge of nuclear-contaminated water will last as long as 30 years or even longer. The continuous aging of relevant equipment will further aggravate the non-compliance of nuclear-contaminated water to be discharged. It's a big mistake for the Japanese side to take the IAEA report as a "greenlight." In fact, the IAEA has no right to dispose of radioactive substances. Japan's discharge plan was assessed by a technical working group assigned by the IAEA director general, but the report failed to reflect the views of all experts that participated in the assessment. The conclusion was not shared by all experts. It is reported when the IAEA Secretariat sought opinions from the technical working group on the draft report, the experts were given very limited time, and there were no further discussions and consultations before the report was released. According to a report by South Korean media, an anonymous source said that the Japanese government had obtained the draft report in advance and even proposed substantive revision suggestions, exerting inappropriate influence on the conclusion of the final report. This further exacerbated the international community's concerns over Japan's discharge plan, and triggered people's doubt about the fairness and objectiveness of the report. The disposal of nuclear-contaminated water at the station concerns the ecological and environmental safety of the Asia-Pacific region and the world, as well as the lives and health of people from all countries. The discharge plan has no precedent, and shall not be "greenlighted." Rather than draining its brain to have its discharge plan endorsed by the IAEA, Japan should face up to the concerns of the international community and its own citizens, halt the plan, dispose of nuclear-contaminated water in a science-based, safe and transparent manner, and stay open to strict supervision by the international community. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A High Court judge has quashed a restriction imposed by gardai on a small public service vehicle (SPSV) licence granted to a man convicted for possession of drugs for sale or supply in 2009. Keith McKennas application for an SPSV licence should be remitted to An Garda Siochana for the purpose of granting an SPSV licence to him, Mr Justice Charles Meenan directed. Advertisement The judge believed it was irrational and unreasonable to attach a condition restricting McKennas licence to employment at Diamond Limousines and Vintage Wedding Car Hire, which is his cousins business. Given McKennas criminal record, it may not have been unreasonable for provision to be made for him to operate his licence under the supervision and/or direction of an appropriate person, Mr Justice Meenan added. Advertisement Gardai initially refused to grant a licence to McKenna (51), with an address at Springfield, Dooradoyle, Co Limerick, but he won a District Court appeal against this refusal. McKenna, who currently works as a truck driver, was then issued with a licence restricted to employment at Diamond. Advertisement An Garda Siochana is required, under the Taxi Regulation Act of 2013, to assess whether an applicant is suitable to hold an SPSV licence, which generally permits a driver to operate all SPSVs, including taxis and limousines. McKenna was in 2017 sentenced to five years in prison, with half of this suspended, after pleading guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to possessing some 100,000 worth of cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply in March 2009. He was earlier jailed for seven years by a UK court after pleading guilty in December 2009 to importing 1.14 million (1.32 million) worth of cannabis to the UK in May 2005. During the High Court hearing in April, McKennas senior counsel, Feichin McDonagh, said his client has been rehabilitating himself and is turning his life around. He said the District Court judge found McKenna was a suitable candidate for an SPSV licence and gardai cannot revisit the issue of suitability by imposing conditions. Advertisement Advertisement While his client has an offer of employment from his cousin, there was no guarantee he will be employed there for the duration of the SPSV licences five-year validity. The Commissioner of An Garda Siochanas senior counsel said McKenna told the District Court judge he had no desire to drive taxis and would just be driving wedding cars. The judge granted the appeal against the refusal on the basis McKenna was only going to drive for his cousin, the Commissioner submitted. In his ruling published on Friday, Mr Justice Charles Meenan said the licensing authoritys power, under the 2013 Act, to attach conditions as it sees fit is not without limitations. Advertisement It seemed to him that the purpose of the 2013 Act is to protect members of the public who use SPSV services. This must be balanced with McKennas constitutional right ot earn a livelihood, the judge said. Any conditions imposed on a licence must be rational, reasonable and proportional, and it is not open to gardai to impose a condition so restrictive as to, in effect, set at nought the decision of the District Court. The judge said that if McKennas cousins business changes its name the licence would be no longer valid. Further, McKenna could potentially style himself as being Diamond Limousines and Vintage Wedding Car Hire, which would defeat the whole purpose of the condition. For these reasons, the judge believed the condition was irrational and unreasonable and should be quashed . The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has said misogyny is present in all walks of life. Comedian Romesh Ranganathan, who helped Khan launch the Say Maaate to a Mate campaign, also echoed the sentiment as they spoke at the event launch in London. Advertisement The campaign urges men and boys to challenge sexist behaviour and misogynistic attitudes, in a bid to tackle violence against women and girls. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (L) with Romesh Ranganathan launching the campaign, Say Maaate to a Mate Photo: Jonathan Brady/PA. In the UK, [misogyny is present] in all walks of life, whether its in journalism, in politics, in the police, in the health service all walks of life, Khan told the PA news agency. Advertisement Ranganathan said barriers are in place for women in the comedy industry too. I still think it is much more difficult for a woman to do comedy than it is for a man. People have attitudes towards whether women can be funny and some people immediately make a pre-judgment, Ranganathan said. Advertisement I think its got better, but I dont think weve solved the problem by any stretch. Advertisement If your friends language or behaviour was crossing a line, would you know how to step in? My new campaign, Say #Maaate to a Mate, is a single word to stop misogynistic language in its tracks. Get involved https://t.co/cQzpAAeZeG pic.twitter.com/FUYMz9MTds Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) July 21, 2023 Advertisement The campaign comes as a new study by Ogilvy Consulting, commissioned by the Mayor, revealed that two-thirds of men want to intervene when they hear misogynistic language, but do not know what to say. Men have got to be allies, said Khan. We cant allow this to be an issue that is just at the doorstep of women to resolve, just like racism has been an issue for people who are black and minority ethnic. Khan wants the campaign to instil men with the confidence to firstly recognise sexism and misogyny and to challenge and call it out, and that will hopefully lead to a change in societal attitudes and a reduction and an end of violence against women and girls. Advertisement Tackling violence against women and girls in the capital is one of my biggest priorities as mayor. Last year, City Halls #HaveAWord campaign urged men and boys to challenge sexist behaviour and misogynistic attitudes. Now were giving them the word to say: #Maaate Advertisement Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) July 21, 2023 The former human rights lawyer has two daughters with his wife Saadiya, and said: The reality is their experiences are not my experiences. Im not touched up on the Tube or the buses. Im not looked at in a lecherous way when I go to the gym, nobody comments on the clothes that Im wearing. I can go for a jog any time of the day. Were going to make sure London is as accessible, as wonderful, as brilliant, as safe for women as it is for men. The campaign promotes male allyship. Photo: Ogilvy/PA. Since the murder of Sarah Everard by police officer Wayne Couzens in 2021, the Mayor has faced scrutiny about womens trust in the police and their safety in the city. I recognise the institutional misogyny that exists in the police service, and racism and institutional homophobia, Khan said. Were not going to have a transformation of trust or confidence from women and girls, or the black community, or the LGBTQ+ community overnight. Too many women and girls have lost confidence in our police, and they need to have confidence in our police to report crime, and when theyve been the victim of crime to come forward. Brazils petrochemical giant Braskem has said it has reached a 320 million settlement with a coastal city where four decades of the companys rock salt mining destroyed five urban neighbourhoods and displaced tens of thousands of people. Around 200,000 people in the Alagoas states capital of Maceio were affected by the excessive extraction of rock salt, according to the Brazil Senates website. Advertisement In recent years, several Maceio communities became ghost towns as residents accepted Braskems payouts to relocate. Paulo Sergio Doe, his wife Alessandra Cavalcante Doe and their children stand outside their home behind a sign which reads Braskem Assassin. We are Resistance in the Pinheiro neighborhood of Maceio, Alagoas state, Brazil (Eraldo Peres/AP/PA) The settlement about 1.7 billion Brazilian reais between Braskem and Maceio will be used for structural works in the city and for a residents support fund, the municipality said in a statement. The agreement does not invalidate negotiations between Braskem and the residents of the affected areas, it added. Advertisement The company has so far paid over 3.7 billion reais (700 million) in various compensations, including financial aid, Braskem said earlier this month. It said that Fridays settlement represents yet another important advance in the issue of Alagoas. Advertisement According to Braskem, more than 17,000 residents or over 90 per cent of all residents that the company plans to compensate and more than 5,000 businesses had received compensation by the end of June. Local activists were less enthusiastic following Fridays announcement. Pastor Wellington Santos at the Baptist church in Pinheiro, one of the affected neighbourhoods, said he recognises the funds will be used to modernise the city and make it even more beautiful, but wondered whether any amount of money could compensate for the destruction. Advertisement Alexandre Sampaio, who heads an association of the mining victims, said the full extend of the mining damage is difficult to comprehend. A school stands abandoned because of the threat of ground subsidence caused by the Braskem mine in the Pinheiro neighborhood of Maceio, Alagoas state, Brazil (Eraldo Peres/AP/PA) The real size of the damage caused to the health, education, social assistance, infrastructure, urban mobility, material and immaterial historical heritage is not clear, Mr Sampaio said. Advertisement Braskem is one of the biggest petrochemical companies in the Americas, owned primarily by Brazilian state-run oil company Petrobras and construction giant Novonor, formerly known as Odebrecht. Petrobras is currently negotiating a potential sale of Braskem. Rock salt mining is a process of extracting salt from deep underground deposits. However, brine-filled cavities left behind when the salt has been extracted can eventually collapse, causing the soil above to settle. Structures built on top of such areas can topple. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has downplayed the deadly January 6 2021 attack at the US Capitol, saying it was not an insurrection but rather a protest that ended up devolving, you know, in a way that was unfortunate, of course. Mr DeSantis, speaking in an interview on the podcast of comedian Russell Brand, said the idea that January 6 was a plan to somehow overthrow the government of the United States is not true, and its something that the media had spun up. Advertisement The violent attack by a mob of supporters loyal to then-president Donald Trump was fuelled by lies that the 2020 election was stolen. Rioters stormed the building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Bidens election victory, breaking windows, fighting police officers and forcing politicians and former vice president Mike Pence to flee for their lives. Advertisement Advertisement Nine deaths were linked to the attack, including four officers who later died by suicide. If somebody is honestly doing an insurrection against the US government, then prove that thats the case and Ill be happy to accept it, but all youre showing me is that there were a lot of protesters there and it ended up devolving, you know, in a way that were unfortunate, of course. But to say that they were seditionists is just wrong, said Mr DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate who was campaigning in Utah on Friday. Six Oath Keepers, including the groups founder, Stewart Rhodes, were convicted of seditious conspiracy over the course of two trials for what prosecutors said was a plot to stop the transfer of power from Mr Trump to Mr Biden. Advertisement Former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and three other members of the extremist group were convicted of the seditious conspiracy charge in May. They were convicted on the Civil War-era charge, which requires prosecutors to prove people conspired to overthrow the government, for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in the attack. Insurrectionists loyal to Donald Trump breach the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021 (John Minchillo/AP/PA) Advertisement Advertisement More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. More than 600 of them have pleaded guilty, while approximately 100 others have been convicted after trials decided by judges or juries. More than 550 riot defendants have been sentenced, with over half receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from six days to the 18 years Rhodes received. More than 250 people have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement who were trying to protect the Capitol, including more than 85 accused of using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer. Mr DeSantis also said it was ridiculous how much money was being provided for the US Capitol police in the wake of the attack. Advertisement The Florida governor is now challenging both Mr Trump and Mr Pence for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Mr Trump, who has praised the rioters as patriots, broke the news earlier this week that he has been informed he is a target of the Justice Departments investigation into efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, including the events leading up to the January 6 attack. Republican presidential candidate former vice president Mike Pence has denounced Mr Trump over January 6, saying that the former president endangered his family (Jacquelyn Martin/AP/PA) Mr Pence has denounced Mr Trump over January 6, saying that the former president endangered his family and everyone else at the Capitol that day and that history will hold him accountable. Advertisement Mr DeSantis comments are in line with other Republican supporters of Mr Trump who have minimised the attack to varying degrees. Mr DeSantis has been seeking to appeal to Trump supporters as he campaigns for the White House, often portraying Mr Trump as having failed to follow through on his own policies. The Florida governor has made similar comments in the past dismissing that the attack was an insurrection, saying at a January 2022 news conference that it was an insult to people to call it an insurrection when nobody has been charged with that. At a campaign event in June in New Hampshire, Mr DeSantis said he didnt enjoy seeing what happened on January 6 but said weve got to go forward on this stuff. We cannot be looking backwards. Earlier this week, Mr DeSantis criticised Mr Trumps actions on January 6, saying, He should have come out more forcefully, but questioned whether Mr Trumps behaviour was a crime. Labour should stick to their guns on expanding a charge on the most polluting vehicles in London, according to TV presenter Chris Packham. The environmental campaigner said a Labour government could consider taxing the profits of oil and gas giants to help pay for motorists to switch to cleaner vehicles as part of Labour mayor Sadiq Khans expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez). Advertisement The Opposition party is embroiled in a debate about the Ulez extension after senior figures appeared to blame the mayors plans to extend it for Labours failure to win the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. The Conservatives hung on to Boris Johnsons old seat by 495 votes in Thursdays poll well down on the 7,200 majority the former prime minister secured in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement New Tory MP Steve Tuckwell and his campaigners focused on local anger about Mr Khans proposal to widen the 12.50 daily charge for cars that fail to meet emissions standards to beyond the capitals north and south circular roads. Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, said he did not think there was any doubt that Ulez was the reason that we lost the election in Uxbridge. He told his partys national policy forum on Saturday that future campaigns had to learn the lesson from Uxbridge after the Tories plastered their campaign leaflets with attacks on the widening of the Ulez charge. Advertisement But Mr Packham said Labour would betray children with breathing difficulties if it did not act to cut pollution. The presenter of the programme, Earth, said a transition was needed to cleaner air, citing figures suggesting 30,000 people die annually because of poor air quality in the UK. The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) proved a central issue in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election. Photo: Lucy North/PA. Advertisement Speaking to Times Radio, the naturalist said: My question is quite simple. The Labour Party are being asked, are you going to drop that part of your policy? What are you going to do? Do you want to grab short-term power and betray all of those children with asthma? Do you want to protect humanity and the rest of life on Earth? Or is it just about you getting into office? Theyve got to stick to their guns here. Advertisement Mr Packham suggested the bill for pollution controls should fall on firms making money from fossil fuel sales. Advertisement The difficult question is, where are they going to get the money to pay for it? Because the people in poverty in London who cant afford to switch their vehicles shouldnt ought to be the people that pay, he continued. The people who ought to be paying are people like Centrica that have announced enormous record profits this week, like Shell, BP, ExxonMobil, who are posting all of these record profits, not because of a shortage of oil, but because of a war they are exploiting. Sadiq Khans Ulez expansion is facing a legal challenge. Photo: Lucy North/PA. As a consequence of that, we need a government robust enough to stand up (and say), Were going to tax these people and were going to make sure that we subsidise a just transition through to a cleaner use of energy. Mr Khans team said nine out of 10 cars driving in outer London were already compliant with Ulez regulations and would not be charged. Officials also pointed to a 110 million scrappage scheme unveiled by City Hall as part of the expansion, which is due to go ahead next month pending a legal challenge. Advertisement A source close to Mr Khan said: Winning Uxbridge and South Ruislip was always going to be a struggle for Labour. Labour hasnt won this seat for five decades and Tony Blair didnt even win it during the 1997 landslide. It is a disappointing result and Sadiq has been clear he is listening to Londoners following this by-election. The mayor is always looking at ways he can address their concerns. Sadiq has always said that expanding the Ulez was a really difficult decision, but necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners. Russian security forces on Saturday killed a heavily-armed gunman who broke into a private house in the suburbs of Moscow and fired at them, reportedly threatening to march on the Kremlin. The gunman was spotted by guards after he had broken into an unoccupied house in an elite village in the Istra region, about 30 miles west of Moscow. Advertisement He held them at gunpoint, but they managed to escape, according to Russian media. For several hours the authorities negotiated with the gunman, who was in combat fatigues and had a Kalashnikov rifle. An armoured vehicle at the house where special forces killed the gunman who refused to surrender (National Guard Troops Federal Service of the Russian Federation/AP) Advertisement The man claimed he came from the front lines in Ukraine and was driven by God to march on the Kremlin, the seat of the government in Moscow. He refused to surrender, fired at the special forces and was killed when they stormed the house, Russias National Guard said. Advertisement It said that the attacker had several automatic weapons and hand grenades. Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein identified the man as Vyacheslav Chernenko, 35, a resident of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. It was not clear if he had indeed fought in Ukraine as he claimed. Advertisement Bullet holes are visible around the window (National Guard Troops Federal Service of the Russian Federation/AP) Istra administrator Tatiana Vitusheva described the attacker as mentally unstable. Some Russian media claimed that the cottage he broke into once belonged to Viktor Yanukovych, the former Moscow-friendly president of Ukraine who was driven from office by mass protests and offered shelter by Russia. Advertisement It has been put up for sale by its current owner, who was abroad when the incident happened. The incident attracted close media attention, coming nearly a month after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a short-lived mutiny that saw his Wagner troops capture military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then drive as close as 125 miles from Moscow in a bid to oust the countrys top military leaders. Prigozhin agreed to end the June 23rd-24th rebellion in a deal that offered amnesty to him and his mercenaries and allowed them to move to Belarus. Spains general election could make the country the latest European Union member to shift to the political right. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the early election after his coalitions far-left partner, Unidas Podemos, took a beating in local and regional elections two months ago. Advertisement Most polls put the right-wing Popular Party ahead of the Socialists, but it is likely to need the support of the extreme-right Vox party to form a government. Such a coalition would return a far-right force to the Spanish government for the first time since the country transitioned to democracy in the late 1970s following the near 40-year rule of dictator Francisco Franco. Here is what you need to know about the vote: What is at stake? Advertisement The Spanish parliaments lower house in Madrid. Photo: AP. Opinion polls indicate the political right has the edge going into the election, and that raises the possibility a neo-fascist party will be part of Spains next government. Advertisement The extreme-right has not been in power in Spain since the transition to democracy following the death of Franco in 1975. With no party expected to win an absolute majority, the choice for voters is basically between another leftist governing coalition or one between the right and the far-right. Advertisement On one side is the right-of-centre Popular Party (PP) under Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the front-runner in the polls, and the extreme-right Vox party. They portray the vote as a chance to end Sanchismo a term the PP uses to sum up what it contends are the dictatorial ways of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the lefts radical ideology and numerous lies by the government. In the other corner are the Socialists and a new movement called Sumar that brings together 15 small leftist parties for the first time. They warn that putting the right in power will threaten Spains post-Franco changes. Why were early elections called? Advertisement A supporter wearing a pin of left-wing Sumar Prime Minister candidate Yolanda Diaz attends a political rally in Madrid. Photo: AP. Mr Sanchez called the election a day after his Spanish Socialist Workers Party and its small far-left coalition partner, Unidas Podemos (United We Can), took a hammering in local and regional elections on May 28. Prior to that, Mr Sanchez had insisted he would ride out his four-year term, indicating that an election would be held in December. Advertisement But after the May defeat, he said it was only fair for Spaniards to decide their countrys political future without delay. Advertisement What has happened since May 28th? Supporters of Vox, the extreme-right party which could enter government to support the centre-right Popular Party Photo: AP. The Popular Party emerged from the local and regional elections as the most-voted party by far, giving it the right to take office in all but a handful of towns and one or two regions. Since then, the PP and Vox have agreed to govern together in some 140 cities and towns as well as to add two more regions to the one where they already co-governed. The Socialists and other leftist parties lost political clout across the country but after weathering the initial shock, they have regrouped and recovered some ground, which means there is still a doubt over the outcome on Sunday. What does it mean for Europe? Popular Party supporters listen to their leader, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, in Barcelona. Photo: AP. A PP-Vox government would mean another EU member has moved firmly to the right, a trend seen recently in Sweden, Finland and Italy. Countries such as Germany and France are concerned by what such a shift would portend for EU immigration and climate policies. Spains two main leftist parties are pro-EU participation. On the right, the PP is also in favour of the EU, but Vox is not. The election comes as Spain holds the EUs rotating presidency. Mr Sanchez had hoped to use the six-month term to showcase the advances his government has made. Advertisement An election defeat for Mr Sanchez could see the PP taking over the EU presidency reins. What are the campaign themes? A campaign worker removes the stage following a rally of Spains Prime Minister and Socialist candidate Pedro Sanchez in Huesca, northern Spain. Photo: AP. The campaign has been dominated by mudslinging from all sides, with both the left and right accusing each other of lying about their policies and past records. The PP has managed to put Mr Sanchezs credibility in question by highlighting the many U-turns he has made and his alliances with small regional secessionist parties, an issue that alienates even some left-wing voters. The left has sought to convince voters that there is little difference between the two right-wing parties and that a victory for them would set Spain back decades in terms of social progress. Nearly every poll has put the PP firmly ahead of the Socialists and Vox ahead of Sumar for third place. But 30% of the electorate is said to be undecided. With the election taking place at the height of summer, millions of citizens are likely to be on holiday away from their regular polling places. However, postal voting requests have soared, and officials are estimating a 70% election turnout. Is there any chance of a surprise result? Most polls put the right-wing Popular Party ahead of the Socialists. Photo: AP. A surprise factor that could upset poll predictions is Sumar: the brand new, broad-based movement of 15 small left-wing parties, including Podemos and prominent social figures. Advertisement Sumar is headed by the highly popular labour minister Yolanda Diaz, who is also the second deputy vice president and the only woman among the leaders of the four main parties. This is the first time small left-wing parties have ever come together on a joint ticket in Spain. Their earlier fragmentation was blamed for many of the town and regional losses in the May election, and they hope that joined together they can make a better showing. Sumars target is to beat Vox to the potentially king-making third-place finish. That would allow Sumar to provide valuable support to another leftist coalition government. However, surveys have consistently suggested during the campaign that an absolute majority for the PP and Vox is possible. Thousands of people, mostly women, protested in Indias violence-wracked north-eastern state of Manipur on Saturday to demand the arrest of anyone who took part in the May assault of two women who were paraded naked and molested by a mob in an attack that was caught on video. The leaders of religious and womens groups addressed the nearly 15,000 protesters, who also called for the firing of Biren Singh, the top elected official in the state where more than 130 people have been killed since violence between two dominant ethnic groups erupted in early May. Advertisement The protest was held in Churachandpur, a town 40 miles south of Imphal, the state capital. Manipur has been the scene of a near-civil war that was sparked by Christian Kukis protesting against a demand by the mostly Hindu Meiteis for a special status that would let them buy land in the hills populated by Kukis and other tribal groups, as well as a guaranteed share of government jobs. Advertisement Minority Youth Federation members protest in Manipur (Bikas Das/AP) Advertisement A video showing the women being assaulted triggered widespread outrage and was widely shared on social media on Wednesday despite the government largely blocking the internet and keeping journalists out of the remote state. The footage shows the two naked women surrounded by scores of young men who grope their genitals and drag them to a field. The women are from the Kuki-Zo community, according to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum, a tribal organisation in Manipur. One of them told The Associated Press that the men who assaulted them were part of a Meitei mob that had earlier torched their village. Advertisement They forced us to remove our clothes and said we will be killed if we dont do as told. Then they made us walk naked. They abused us. They touched us everywhere on our breasts, our genitals, she said by phone from Manipur. More than 130 people have been killed since the violence erupted in early May (Bikas Das/AP) The woman said they were then led into a field where they were both sexually assaulted. The two women are now safe in a refugee camp. Advertisement Police said the assault happened on May 4, a day after the violence between the Kukis and Meiteis started. Advertisement According to a police complaint filed on May 18, the mob attacked the family of the two women and killed its two male members. The complaint alleges rape and murder by unknown miscreants. The emergence and widespread sharing of the video led Indias prime minister, Narendra Modi, to break his more than two months of public silence over the ethnic clashes in Manipur, saying on Thursday that the attack on the women was unforgivable. The Manipur state government on Saturday announced a fifth arrest over the attack. Rajiv Singh, the states director-general of police, said officers were carrying out raids to arrest others. Advertisement Protests also took place in New Delhi (Altaf Qadri/AP) The deadly clashes have persisted despite the armys presence in Manipur, a state of 3.2 million people tucked in the mountains on Indias border with Myanmar that is now divided into two ethnic zones. More than 60,000 people have fled to packed relief camps. Nearly 400 men and women also held a protest in the Indian capital with similar demands. They carried placards reading We demand action against the perpetrators and Resign, Biren Singh. In Manipur state, the protesters assembled at a Wall of Remembrance site on open ground in Churachandpur, a stronghold of the Kuki tribe, where they kept dummy coffins of people from their minority community who have been killed in the violence. Advertisement Biren Singh on Thursday said an investigation was under way to ensure strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment. Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society. A Ukrainian drone hit an ammunition depot in central Crimea on Saturday, sparking an explosion less than a week after a pre-dawn strike on a key bridge linking the peninsula to Russia prompted Moscow to exit a landmark grain export deal and pound Ukraines seaports with drones and missiles. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, the territory that Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014, said in a Telegram post that there were no immediate reports of casualties but that authorities were evacuating civilians within a five-kilometre (three-miles) radius of the blast site. Advertisement The Ukrainian military appeared to confirm that it had launched the drone strike, claiming through its press service that it had destroyed an oil depot and Russian arms warehouses in the Krasnohvardiiske area, although without specifying what weapons were used. Advertisement A plume of smoke rises over an ammunition depot where explosions occurred at the facility in Kirovsky district in Crimea (Viktor Korotayev/Kommersant Publishing House/AP) A local news channel based in central Crimea posted videos showing plumes of smoke looming above rooftops and fields near Oktyabrske, a small settlement next to an oil depot and a small military airport, as loud explosions rumbled in the background. Advertisement In one of the videos, a mans voice is heard saying that the smoke and blast noises appear to be coming from the direction of the airport. The explosion in Krasnohvardiiske came less than a week after a Ukrainian strike on the crucial Kerch bridge, which links Crimea with Russia. The bridge strike killed two people and left a section of the roadway hanging perilously. On the same day, Moscow ended its participation in a wartime deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported through the Black Sea and later pounded Ukraines seaports with drones and missiles after vowing retribution for the attack on the bridge, a key supply route for Russian forces in Ukraine. Advertisement On Wednesday, a fire broke out within military training grounds in eastern Crimea that forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 people and the closure of a nearby highway, according to Mr Aksyonov. Neither Moscow nor local Kremlin-appointed authorities gave reasons for the blaze, and Ukraine did not comment. Advertisement The Kerch bridge links Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea and is a key supply route for Kremlin forces in the war with Ukraine (AP) Advertisement The Russian company operating the Kerch bridge announced on Saturday morning that it was temporarily halting all traffic across it, without giving reasons. Traffic was later allowed to resume crossing. Ukraine previously successfully struck the bridge 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. 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. Advertisement The 3.6 billion dollar bridge is the longest in Europe and is crucial for Russias military operations in southern Ukraine in the nearly 17-month-old war. Also on Saturday, as fierce fighting continued in Ukraines bid to retake territory from Russia, Russian shelling killed at least two civilians and wounded four others, Ukrainian officials reported. A 52-year-old woman died in Kupiansk, a town in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, while another person was killed in a cross-border Russian attack on a village in the neighbouring Sumy province. Earlier, Ukrainian authorities had reported that Russian attacks on 11 regions across the country over the previous day killed at least eight civilians and wounded others. Advertisement The regional prosecutors office in the eastern Donetsk region said that at least four people, including a married couple, were killed as Russian forces shelled the settlement of Niu-York, south of the city of Bakhmut the site of the wars longest and bloodiest battle until it fell to Moscow in May. Three other Niu-York residents were taken to hospital after the fighting on Friday night. Bakhmut had been the site of some of the heaviest battles in the Russia-Ukraine war until it fell to Moscow in May (Libkos/AP) On Saturday morning, Ukraines interior ministry said two civilians died as Russian forces struck Kostiantynivka, a city in the Donetsk region, from multiple rocket launchers. In a post on its official Telegram channel, the ministry said that another civilian was wounded in the same attack, which also destroyed 20 private homes, cars and a gas pipeline. Two people were also killed near the northern city of Chernihiv, some 62 miles from the Russian border, as Russian cruise missiles destroyed the local cultural centre and damaged apartment blocks, the regional military administration reported. It did not specify the exact time of the attack, saying only it took place within the previous 24 hours. Three civilians were wounded as Russian troops overnight shelled a town neighbouring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, local governor Serhiy Lysak reported. Sandbags are stacked outside the National Museum of the History of Ukraine to protect the property from possible Russian attacks (Jae C. Hong/AP) Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry announced that a group of Russian journalists came under artillery fire in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Advertisement In an online statement, the ministry said that four correspondents for pro-Kremlin media were wounded, with one journalist from the state RIA agency later dying from his injuries. The Kremlin-installed head of the occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yevhen Balitsky, claimed in a Telegram post that the journalists were traveling in a civilian vehicle that was hit by shells. Ukrainian officials have regularly accused Moscow of using the Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russian forces captured early in the war, as a base for firing on Ukrainian-held territory nearby. Fears have also mounted that Russia might sabotage the plant Europes largest in an attempt to stymie Ukraines ongoing counter-offensive, which has focused on the Zaporizhzhia region as well as the countrys industrial east. The Ukrainian air force on Saturday morning said that it had overnight brought down 14 Russian drones, including five Iranian-made ones, over the countrys south-east, where battles are raging. In a regular social media update, the air force said that all Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones launched by Russian troops during the night were brought down, pointing to Ukraines increasing success rate in neutralising them. Police are scaling down the search for 50-year-old tech entrepreneur Andrew Findlay after three days of extensive searching, with the father-of-three presumed dead after a boat crash in Sydneys east. The crash claimed the life of renowned art dealer Tim Klingender, whose body was retrieved from the overturned boat near rocks off Watsons Bay on Thursday after locals reported debris floating in the water. Andrew Findlay is missing after a suspected boating accident on Sydney Harbour. Credit: Findlay and Klingender were the only two on the boat and set off on a fishing trip from Sydney Heads about 7.30am. They were travelling from Bondi towards Watsons Bay when they presumably capsized. However, residential developments continue to mushroom on the citys fringe, with Planning Minister Paul Scully approving 13,000 new homes for Appin earlier this month. We have a housing crisis. No one said we should have a single response to that problem, he said. We definitely cant get there by having a strategy of simply going out. We must go up. But we also need houses, not only apartments. That means greenfield housing cant stop completely. Property developer Stockland has built 4200 mainly freestanding homes in Marsden Park as part of its Elara development, which a spokeswoman said gave residents access to a lifestyle which may not be as affordable in existing suburbs. Building a new home is an aspiration of many Australians, and greenfield developments like Elara can provide that opportunity at an affordable price, she said. She said new suburbs such as Marsden Park had gone through a thorough and strategic planning process that had led to more than 10,000 new dwellings as well as schools, retail and community facilities. However, the suburb has no train station and buses to Schofields take about 25 minutes, or 47 minutes to Blacktown. Marsden Park falls within Blacktown City Council, which has approved more than 13,000 new homes in the past decade, adding 100,000 residents to the councils growth precincts. An additional 100,000 new residents are forecast to call Blacktown home in the next 20 years, taking the councils population to 600,000 more than Tasmania. A council spokesman said development in the north-west growth area is up to 30 per cent higher than what the NSW government had planned. This unplanned density of development has resulted in significant and unmet additional demands being placed on transport infrastructure, open space and community facilities, he said. Blacktown Labor mayor Tony Bleasdale said the western suburbs experience summer temperatures more than 10 degrees hotter than the east, which is not helped by the lack of trees and facilities to keep residents cool. Relentless rezoning and land releases by previous NSW governments have seen the development of vast new housing estates, with homes-built cheek-by-jowl, he said. Liberal planning spokesman Scott Farlow said housing that is affordable for families and suits their needs will often be outside the inner city. People need to have choice when it comes to housing, he said. The Labor government appears to think inner-city apartment living is the solution to all of Sydneys housing needs. Imposing new housing targets on inner-city suburbs without considering existing density, the feasibility of development and affordability for purchasers will not solve Sydneys housing crisis, Farlow said. If the NSW government is going to deliver 314,000 homes over the next five years then we need to be looking at going both up and out. Property developers say the state, already far behind in building homes to meet demand, will slip further behind if Sydneys urban sprawl is curbed. We urgently need more greenfield development as there continues to be strong demand for larger, less dense housing, Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest said. Loading Property developers are also frustrated by the slow provision of infrastructure in new suburbs, especially roads and water, Forrest said. The development community has shown it can provide land for schools and hospitals if required. But where government is a monopoly provider of infrastructure, like with... roads and water, they become the bottleneck, he said. Centre for Western Sydney executive director Andy Marks said Sydneys urban sprawl is not the issue, it is the failure to provide community infrastructure. The previous government released land without corresponding investment in sufficient transport connections, schools and health services, he said. Marks said Labors election pledges to upgrade hospitals and build new schools in outer south-western Sydney, if realised, will support new land releases. A big test for Labor, in its first term, will be its ability to rebalance job creation away from its traditional concentration in Sydneys east towards areas of greater population growth, like western Sydney, he said. These are the policy levers that will ultimately determine the viability of new land releases on the citys fringes. Loading But urban sprawl worries Committee for Sydney chief executive Eamon Waterford, who said: Building on paddocks is much easier than building in places where people already live, but the lifelong costs stack up for residents and government. Waterford said Sydney could not expand forever. A push to host Scottish and Welsh athletes near Phillip Island is another casualty of the decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, as the economic shockwaves spread beyond the regional host cities. Bass Coast Shire has revealed that it was negotiating to secure an innovative accommodation package for 500 athletes and staff from Scotland and Wales for a two-week period of acclimatisation and sightseeing before the Games kicked off. Meetings were held as late as last Sunday night, ahead of the cancellation announcement on Tuesday. We knew that athletes dont just come for the Games, they come to acclimatise, Bass Coast CEO Ali Wastie told The Age. Victoria leads the country on gender parity in local government, with 43.8 per cent of women councillors after the 2020 election, compared to 27 per cent in 2000. The Andrews government is aiming for 50 per cent after the election next October. The study of 200 councillors from across all 79 Victorian councils, titled From online trolls to Slut Shaming: understanding the role of incivility and gender abuse in local government, examined councillors who said they did not want run again and the reasons for it. Sixteen per cent of councillors declared after their first year in office they would not run again equally split between genders. But the study found a considerably higher number of women (56 per cent) than men (27 per cent) not intending to run in future elections reported experiences of hostility and bullying as one of their top three reasons for not contesting. Theres not enough measures to mitigate it, said La Trobe University Professor of political communication Andrea Carson, one of four authors of the study. Loading The abuse is largely coming from the public, followed by fellow councillors. There are some redress measures with local councillors, but even that seems to be fairly weak and theres really no recourse when its coming from the general public. She said a number of female councillors interviewed for the study had reported concerning behaviour to the police who were quite dismissive of it. In one example, one of the women interviewed had experienced someone cutting out magazine letters, and wrote a crude note and put it in her letterbox. And that showed that its not just online, its also offline and also the person who did that knows where the councillor lives. Carson said her study showed that online both men and women councillors experienced incivility, but women particularly have a gender element to it. The abuse speaks to their gender that men dont get, or when they do its very rare compared to women, she said. Not only that, for women, its so intolerable that they listed it in their top three reasons for why they wouldnt contest again, especially younger women and women of colour. Earlier this year the Victorian government launched a mentor program to train 125 women to be candidates in time for the next election, but some including Shepparton councillor Seema Abdullah fear it wont be enough to reach the 50 per cent mark. Abdullah, who was Sheppartons first ethnically diverse councillor, is part of an initiative to tap 1000 women on the shoulders to stand for elections. Im a strong advocate for women to put their hand up for council and I wouldnt say that if I was not convinced that it is a place where women should and can have a place, she said. But even so Abdullah says shes faced nastiness on the campaign trail and in the council chamber with suggestions she was an outsider even after she had lived and contributed to the community for over a decade. Shes undecided if shell run again. Shepparton councillor, Seema Abdullah, is working hard to get 1000 women to run in council elections next year. Credit: Joe Armao But if we have more women, more women from diverse backgrounds in this space, then it can also help change the culture, she said. Wellington believes her negative experiences from within council were less about her gender, and more a reflection that she was outside of the politically dominant block on council and questioned the status quo. Loading She said she was hugely sceptical of any further tightening of councillor conduct to improve culture such as that proposed by peak body LG Pro earlier this year calling for suspensions of up to three years for bad behaviour they said was leading to a high turnover of staff and CEOs. I feel that is driven by self-interest by administrators, said Wellington. Former Horsham councillor Di Bell, who resigned last year also over feeling unsafe on council, agreed. What I hate is that its always the councillors fault, she said. The staff absolutely hate councillors having any control. Regardless, Wellington she says she would still cautiously encourage women to step up to the plate. I would say its probably the hardest role youll ever take on, but theres the potential for great satisfaction, she said. I am able to make a difference for my community, I do feel that. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A months-long investigation into the failures of Home Affairs, exposing deep flaws in the operation of Australias gatekeepers. See all 15 stories . If you believe what it says on Yongge Henry Qis visa, he came to Australia to study. But he never went to the marketing and communication course he was enrolled in, and it was fanciful to think he could: the only English words he knows are yes and no. Instead, when he landed, Qi went to work in a suburban car window tinting factory. There for long hours, seven days a week, he did the work of two or three people, and was fed the sometimes rotten scraps from his employers table. When Qi complained about his conditions, his boss confiscated his passport. At one point, the factory he was living in was renovated and, he says, he went without a shower for a month. Qis ordeal is another example of the industrial-scale rorting of Australias student immigration system exposed by this masthead and confirmed in two recent federal government reports. His student visa was arranged by NewStars, the largest Chinese migration agent registered with the federal government, which boasts that it has assisted more than 30,000 migrants. A series of WeChat messages shows his employer drove the conversations with the NewStars agent to arrange Qis visa and student enrolment. The employer was posing as Qis sister. Advertisement An investigation by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes can also reveal that influencers on Chinese social media apps with hundreds of millions of users are luring people to Australia with false promises of permanent residency. An online advertisement promoting immigration to Australia touting high wages and no English requirement. Through a translator, Qi said he was lured to Australia by his employer with the promise of free accommodation, food, air tickets and a comfortable salary, but he ended up being treated like a slave. He was controlled, he had no freedom, he couldnt do whatever he wanted. Thats slavery to me, says Sean Dong, a migration lawyer who blew the whistle on Qis treatment. At my lowest, I couldnt express my feelings, so I punched the wall, concedes Qi in Chinese, as Dong interprets for him. I kept punching the wall. And I didnt know what to do, just punching the wall. The misuse of education visas is one of the rorts that have allowed criminals to traffic large numbers of people into the country to be exploited. A recent report by former police chief Christine Nixon also showed grotesque abuses of the visitor and asylum visa systems. The Albanese government has withheld Nixons report despite a promise to release it in May, and there has not yet been a response to it from Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil, who has described the migration system as broken in fundamental ways. Advertisement The Home Affairs Department has said it will not comment on individual cases for privacy reasons. In a statement, the department said it was highly successful at protecting Australia from immigration threats apart from isolated exceptions. But ONeil said she had inherited a migration system which was completely broken, not delivering for employers or workers and subject to rorting and exploitation. She told The Age, the Herald and 60 Minutes Home Truths investigation that her response to the Nixon report would be part of a systemic reform ... to build a migration system which protects workers and delivers for the national interest. The place where Henry Qi lived for a time in the factory of his employer. Fed leftovers Between December 2021 and last September, Qi was paid about $5 per hour for his work in the Melbourne car window tinting factory. He said he had been lured by the employer with promises of a job that was paid well and that he was told Australia was a relaxing environment to work in. Instead, he started by living in the employers house, and doing the jobs of two or three people between 9am and 9pm. For food, Qi said through Dong, they sometimes give him the leftovers that have gone bad, so he once had diarrhoea for three days. Later Qi lived in the factory where, he said, I was by myself. His employer brought him lunch and dinner which usually felt very un-fresh, he said. Advertisement They feed me leftovers, and they ask me to do things that are not related to work, Qi said. I have to work seven days. I only get rest when theres no job lined up. When the factory was being renovated, all he had for living quarters was a bed, a desk and a coat hanger. His longest workday was 16 hours, from 9am to 1am the following morning. He did not go to authorities to seek help because of his lack of English. I was scared because theres no way to say no because they threatened me because I have $12,000 cash on me. They said if I dont give up my passport, they will call the police [and say] I steal the money from them. He has since given a statement to the Australian Federal Police. A path to cheap labour Qi says he did not know that NewStars was his migration agent. In response to questions, NewStars produced documents showing Qi knew he was coming to Australia on an education visa. However, they conceded they had never spoken directly to him. Despite trying a number of times, they were unable to be answered, according to a written statement from the migration agent. Advertisement The statement said that, since the woman claiming to be his sister had provided all the requisite documentation, we were also satisfied that [she] had full authority acting on behalf of Mr Qi. It was only later, when Qis lawyer approached NewStars for documentation, did they realise that they are not in biological relationship. Loading The migration agents code says an agent must not deal with a client through an intermediary unless they can verify the persons identity. Qi didnt know who his agent was, and to me, thats obviously a representation issue, said Dong, a senior lawyer at immigration law specialist ProActive Legal. It was facilitated. To me, thats trafficking. He speaks almost zero English, just simply yes or no. He should never have been offered a place in a school and because of that, he shouldnt have gotten a visa. According to the law, as a student who was not attending classes, Qi was in the country illegally and not able to work. Dong said conversations on Chinese social media app WeChat were pitching a fantasy of Australia to thousands of people at a time and permanent residency if they worked well for two years. Advertisement Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic. We devised the first solar panel and let someone else manufacture and profit from them. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Husic has in mind concessional federal loans from bodies such as the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and government investment or subsidies through outfits like the Albanese governments new $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund and its Hydrogen Headstart. This is the new interventionism. Perish the thought, says the federal governments own Productivity Commission. It issued a stern warning this week against any such thing. We should never forget the lessons of our protectionist past, said deputy chair Alex Robson. Each dollar spent on subsidising the domestic production of goods in firms or sectors where Australia does not have a comparative advantage comes from firms and sectors in which we do. Worse, Robson says, such moves will only further encourage a global return to isolationist trade policy a system under which a small economy such as Australia is unlikely to prosper. This was precisely the free-market doctrine under which Australia lost the solar panel industry, and many other industries as well. But does the Productivity Commission have a point? The commission is an independent-minded, in-house economics advisory agency of the federal government. Under various names over the decades, it played an important part in educating Australia on the high costs of its cherished protectionist policies. Treasurer Jim Chalmers at the G20 finance ministers and Central Bank governors meeting in India this week. Credit: Reuters The tariffs and quotas that cossetted Australian industry for most of last century kept manufacturing alive but also made it uncompetitive. And when the Hawke-Keating-Button government dismantled the wall, most Australian manufacturing could not survive. Australia transformed from being one of the worlds most protected economies to being one of its most open. It became more competitive, productivity improved, and the country as a whole benefited. But manufacturing output halved as a share of the Australian economy. So the PC, as its known, does know what its talking about. But its also talking about the past. Treasurer Jim Chalmers calls it old think. He tells me: Economic theory doesnt always match geopolitical reality and thats why pragmatism matters. Ive always been at the freer trade end of the spectrum, the opposite end to protectionism, but with COVID, risks to the supply chain, turbocharged by geopolitical tension, you have to be realistic that the old models dont apply as well as they did. Australia, says Chalmers, is not about to abandon its essence as a nation of free trade and investment: Not everybody understands the difference between old-school protectionism and supply chain resilience. Got that, PC? The key question today, according to Chalmers, is this: How do we get all the benefits of free trade and investment without unnecessarily making ourselves vulnerable? Vulnerable, for instance, to Chinas near-monopoly control of the global solar panel supply. Especially a China that routinely deploys trade bans as a political instrument of coercion. The PCs model of economic efficiency fails to account for other priorities. Like survival. An interruption to Australias fuel supply or pharmaceutical imports would cripple the country. Husic says: Big new factors have reshaped thinking radically. Governments have to respond in markedly different ways. And they are. Freshly returned from a G20 finance ministers meeting in India this week, Chalmers attests: Making supply chains more resilient and less risky is now a central theme of discussions at forums like the G20. The free trade debate has evolved. Its now less ideological and perhaps more pragmatic. What was once a Cold War-style clash of worldviews is now more like a scramble for resilience and reliability in the face of risk. Loading The only way to safeguard globalisation is to mitigate its negative impacts this is about how to save globalisation from itself. What Labor is doing isnt exactly new. The PCs Trade and Assistance Review this week found that the total value of government assistance to industry increased by $460 million to $13.8 billion in 2021-22. And that was under the Coalition which also was subsidising the energy transition, but in an ad hoc way. A new coal-fired power plant here, a Snowy 2.0 hydro battery there. Labor is more systematic. But if the treasurer and industry minister are dismissive of the PCs complaints, Ross Garnaut is scathing. The eminent economist says that while the commission is right to point out the cost of subsidising industries where Australia lacks comparative advantage, its recent remarks leave out more than half of the economics. All economists who have absorbed the wisdom of their trade know that where a private activity imposes a cost on others as does emission of greenhouse gases special measures are required to maximise productivity, Garnaut says. Loading Increasing productivity requires a tax to balance the external cost, or regulation to prevent it, or a subsidy for competitors that do not impose those costs [such as the renewables sector]. To let the external costs run free is to subsidise the activity causing it. This fact of economic life is missing in recent PC statements. The best solution is a carbon tax, an efficient, market-based mechanism for decarbonising an economy. But thats politically infeasible in Australia. So it has to muddle through, a reality that Garnaut accepts. The US had to do the same after the Obama administration lost its effort to legislate a carbon tax. Garnaut recounts a remark from a private conversation with Obamas energy secretary, Stephen Chu, at the time: Dont worry, Ross. We were going to achieve our objectives with a low-cost, efficient mechanism. Now we will have to get there with high-cost and inefficient tools. Chu added an important rider: But well keep the costs as low as possible by estimating the social price of carbon, and asking all agencies to use it in choosing policies to reduce emissions. Garnaut thinks that this is where the PC could make a contribution: I look forward to the PC getting out of its bunker and explaining the productivity advantages of restoring carbon pricing. And calling for a shadow price of carbon to be applied in development of the policies that will be implemented in the meantime. Chalmers and Husic are adamant that the government wont be spraying money around indiscriminately in supporting technologies and companies. As Chalmers puts it, Theres nothing in the new reality that says you cant be disciplined and rigorous about it. We will rigorously measure the costs versus the benefits and weigh that against other priorities. Well see soon enough whether to be impressed. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size A months-long investigation into the failures of Home Affairs, exposing deep flaws in the operation of Australias gatekeepers. See all 15 stories . Violent crime syndicates run by Albanian immigrants on temporary visas have so successfully exploited holes in the countrys border security and migration system that they are now challenging bikie gangs for control of Australias lucrative cocaine market. State and federal law enforcement officials have issued repeated warnings in confidential reports circulated to Home Affairs that the Albanian mafia has strategically rorted the migration system for more than a decade to build powerful criminal enterprises. Secret policing intelligence links the Albanian mafia to shootings or suspicious deaths in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, large-scale drug importations and money laundering. High threat Separately, confidential files sighted by this masthead show that in December 2020, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission warned Home Affairs officials that Albanian Organised Crime was posing a high threat to Australia given its ability to exploit migration programs and there was a pressing need to make Australia less palatable to Albanian gangsters. The criminal intelligence commission concluded that the Albanian mafia had become proficient at exploitation of Australias migration programs as a means to gain entry and remain onshore and was backed by professional people smuggling syndicates expert in the exploitation of visa programs, including student, asylum seeker and partner visas. Advertisement The revelations come as part of the Home Truths series by The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes, starting today, that has unearthed significant evidence suggesting Australias Home Affairs department has catastrophically failed in two of its core duties: preventing criminal infiltration of Australia and management of offshore processing. Loading They add to evidence previously documented by this masthead and in the Nixon inquiry that concluded in March, but which the Albanese government has declined to release that shows the nations visa system has been exploited by drug and sex traffickers. The Nixon inquiry was called by Home Affairs Minister Clare ONeil after the Trafficked series by this masthead revealed how human traffickers were rorting the migration system with impunity. The report by former police chief Christine Nixon says it is clear gaps and weaknesses in Australias visas system are allowing ... criminal organisations and unscrupulous people ... to exploit and make money. This masthead has made Nixons complete report available for subscribers to access online. Advertisement Murders, threats and cocaine The Home Truths series has also uncovered major examples of these weaknesses. They include the case of an Albanian crime figure who entered Australia using a false passport in 2013 and was granted several visa extensions over the next five years. Two weeks after one extension was granted in 2018, he shot and killed a Melbourne man at a cannabis grow house. He was arrested by Victoria Police, charged with murder and ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter. A second Albanian gangster who also exploited the visa system over many years was arrested in 2020 after being implicated in a brazen plot to stalk and threaten police. The plot included the planting of cocaine at a detectives home. Victoria Police Commander Paul OHalloran. Credit: Justin McManus Another case uncovered by this masthead involves a man getting a visa despite stabbing to death two men in an Albanian bar. Authorities have also uncovered an Adelaide-headquartered Albanian mafia cell linked to one of the most powerful political figures in Albania. Eight of the political figures nephews have been investigated over suspected crimes relating to drugs and money laundering. Advertisement Police intelligence seen by this masthead describes how all eight gained Australian visas using spurious documentation. One is facing drug trafficking charges over a $1.6 million cocaine importation into South Australia. Eight police sources, who spoke to this masthead on the condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak publicly, complained that the Home Affairs department had failed to act adequately on the rorting of the visa system by organised crime groups. Calls for action Victoria Police Commander Paul OHalloran warned that the Albanian mafia had become very adept at exploiting Australias immigration rules and continue to work to get their people they want into this country to assist them in their enterprises. I think anything that would prevent criminals and organised criminals manipulating immigration systems would be of use, he said. Former homicide squad detective Charlie Bezzina agreed, saying the groups involved were ruthless. Former homicide investigator Charlie Bezzina has warned of the danger posed by Albanian gangsters. Credit: Eddie Jim Advertisement This is an organisation or a particular group ... that are prepared to kill and wipe out families, not just the one individual. And thats what makes them so feared, he said. In late 2020, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission which at that point was part of Home Affairs assessed that the Albanian mafia was expert in the exploitation of visa programs and were assisted by professional facilitators, lawyers and Registered Migration Agents. Since 2000, an entire Albanian organised crime structure had established itself in Adelaide, with tentacles stretching across Australia, the commission concluded. Loading It warned this mafia cells members had spent years obtaining temporary visas, citizenship and even federal government licences to work as migration agents. In its briefing paper, the commission called for major reforms including the establishment of a multi-agency taskforce, increased vetting of migration agents, a significant boost to biometric border security checks and other changes to prevent the rorting of temporary visas. More than two years later, Nixon demanded similar reforms in her report and warned that abhorrent crimes were being committed. Advertisement A man has died in hospital after police Tasered him multiple times and then shot him with immobilising rounds during a raid at a home in Melbournes south-east. Officers went to a property on Hickory Crescent in Frankston North on Thursday afternoon as a part of an active investigation, where police say the 46-year-old man was armed with knives. A man has died after being Tasered by police at a Frankston North home. Credit: Nine News He had barricaded himself inside the house about 4.40pm, police said, and members of the Critical Response Team attempted to negotiate with him. Shortly before 8pm police attempted to enter the property and were confronted by the man armed with knives and in an agitated state, Victoria Police said in a statement. The Duke of York had dinner with Jeffrey Epstein at a time when Prince Andrew has suggested they were no longer in contact, according to an email the billionaire financier sent to a friend. The Duke, 62, indicated during his 2019 BBC Newsnight interview that he had only met the billionaire financier once following his June 2008 conviction for soliciting and procuring an underage girl for prostitution. Prince Andrew in the disastrous BBC interview about his friendship with the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Credit: Courtesy BBC That meeting took place in December 2010, when the two men were photographed strolling through Central Park in New York during a visit the Duke said he had organised to show leadership and solely to break off the friendship, only staying at his mansion for several days because it was a convenient place to stay. However, court papers suggest the pair had lunch in June that year while Epstein was under a 12-month house arrest order at his Florida mansion and that they had kept in regular touch. Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023 Out Of 232 Stenographer positions, the Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) has released the Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023 on its official website at bssc.bihar.gov.in. The Bihar SSC Stenographer Exam 2023 is scheduled for July 30, 2023. Candidates who have submitted their applications successfully can use their login information to access the Admit Card on the BSSC website. Candidates should be notified that they won't be allowed to access the exam center without their Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023. The Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card download link has been made available by the exam organizers until the exam date. Candidates are advised to download their admit cards well in advance of the exam date and to print them off to bring with them to the testing facility in order to avoid last-minute technical difficulties. The Bihar SSC Stenographer 2023 Exam is slated for July 30, 2023. The admit card serves as identification documentation to enter the testing room. Through a written test, stenography test, document verification, and medical examination, candidates for the position of stenographer will be chosen. On July 22, 2023, the Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023 for the written exam was posted online. See the table below for all the crucial information about the BSSC Stenographer Admit Card. Steps to Download Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023: The steps listed below can be used by applicants to download their 2023 Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card from the official website. Step 1: Go to the official website of the Bihar Staff Selection Commission (BSSC) at bssc.bihar.gov.in. Step 2: Click on the Admit Card section on the homepage. Step 3: A new page will appear on the screen displaying "Admit Card for ADVT.NO.-01/2023 POST-STENOGRAPHER." Step 4: Click the login button after providing your login information, including your registration number, password, and captcha code. Step 5: The Bihar SSC Stenographer 2023 Admit Card will show up on the monitor. Step 6: Download the Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023 and print it down for your records. Details Mentioned on Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023: Candidates should carefully verify that all details on the Bihar SSC Stenographer Admit Card 2023 are accurate and clear before printing. Contact the exam authority if the admit card contains any errors. Under PM Modi's employment programme, Rozgar Mela, over 70,000 appointment letters were issued on Saturday to newly hired individuals in various government ministries. Through a video conference, the prime minister joined the occasion. According to the information, representatives from 44 different cities across India attended the Rozgar Mela. PM Modi posted from his official Twitter account that the Rozgar Mela is an effort to empower and promote youth participation in the advancement of the country. According to what he wrote in a tweet, "Rozgar Mela is an attempt to empower the youth and encourage their active engagement in the nation's progress." More job chances in the next years: Prime Minister Modi The prime minister made the following statement as he distributed the letter through video conference: "Working for the government during the 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav', when the nation is working to improve, is a great honour. The citizens of this nation have voted to transform India into a developed nation." He added that when India becomes one of the top three economies in the world, there will be more employment chances in the nation in the coming years. The new hires, who were chosen from across the nation, will join the government in a number of Ministries/Departments, including, among others, the Ministries of Revenue, Financial Services, Posts, School Education, Higher Education, Ministry of Defence, Health and Family Welfare, Central Public Sector Undertakings, Water Resources, Personnel & Training, and Home Affairs. What is Rozgar Mela? Rozgar Melas are extremely helpful for job searchers, especially those from rural areas or smaller towns, as they give them the chance to network with potential employers and access a variety of career prospects in one location. Additionally, it enables firms to efficiently recruit qualified people for their open positions by contacting a bigger pool of prospects. Employers also set up stalls or booths during a Rozgar Mela to advertise their businesses and open positions. These booths are available for job searchers to stop by, submit their resumes, and speak with recruiters in person. At events, employment decisions and on-the-spot interviews occasionally happen. SSC CPO SI Recruitment 2023; Check All Details Recruitment for SSC CPO, CAPF, and Delhi Police SI for 2023 has just been announced by the Staff Selection Commission. These organizations are the Delhi Police, the Central Police Organisation, and the Central Armed Police Forces. Inform them that this is a hiring process for the positions of GD and Sub Inspector Executive. The application procedure for the posts of CPO, CAPF, and Sub Inspector in the Delhi Police has begun as of today, July 22, 2023, per the notification that has been made public. Candidates can apply by following the instructions in the article listed below. To apply for the post of Sub Inspector in the Delhi Police, Central Armed Police Forces, and Central Police Organisation, candidates must go to the official website; ssc.nic.in. August 13 is the last day to submit an application for the position. In October 2023, following the process' conclusion, the recruiting exam will be held. As stated in the Commission's announcement, "Candidates may please note that the notice of the "Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2023" will be published on July 22, 2023, on the Staff Selection Commission website, located at ssc.nic.in, due to administrative reasons. The Commission's website is therefore something candidates are recommended to monitor closely. Overview of SSC CPO Recruitment 2023: Recruitment Organization Name: Staff Selection Commission Organization Name: Delhi Police, Central Police Armed Forces Name of the Post: Sub Inspector Application Begins: 22 July 2023 Last Date of Application: 13 August 2023 Mode of Application: Online Official Website - ssc.nic.in Exam Date: 3 to 6 October 2023 SSC CPO Recruitment 2023: Eligibility A graduation certificate from an accredited university is a requirement for candidates. The minimum age of the candidate to apply is 20 years and the maximum age is 25 years. Candidates from the reserved category have been awarded an age limit relaxation. Those for SC and ST receive a 5-year relaxation, whereas those for OBC receive a 3-year exemption. Age will be calculated as on January 1, 2022. SSC CPO Recruitment 2023: Exam Pattern The Delhi Police and Central Police Armed Forces' SI Recruitment (SI Recruitment 2023) exam will be held during the SSC CPO Recruitment period of October 3-6, 2023. In the exam, there is a negative marking, which means that for each incorrect answer, applicants would lose one-third of their total scores. There will be multiple-choice questions on the test. Candidates will be approached for a PET PST after the exam. This requires the candidate to measure their height, race, high jump, and long jump. SSC CPO Recruitment 2023: Salary The salary scale for Sub Inspector GD positions in CAPFs is from Rs 35,400 to Rs 11,2,400 for selected applicants. Payment will follow Level 6. In addition, candidates would receive pay ranging from Rs. 35,400 to Rs. 11,2,400 for the position of Sub Inspector Executive. SSC CPO Recruitment 2023: Selection Process There will be three stages to the selection process. This will see the organization of the first competitive exam, a computer-based exam. Candidates who advance to the second round and pass a physical exam will have qualified for the first stage. DME organization will then take place in the third phase. SSC CPO Recruitment 2023: Application Process Step 1: Candidates should go to the SSC's official website, ssc.nic.in, to apply for the position. Step 2: Click on the "Registration" link given in the "Login" section. Step 3: Register through a valid email and mobile number and upload a scanned copy of a passport-size photograph and signature. Step 4: After completing the verification process, log in to the online system on the website of the Commission through your registration number and password. Step 5: Click on the link on the 'Apply' button given in the section 'Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination 2022' under the tab "Latest Notification". Step 6: Enter the required details and complete the process by uploading the required documents. Step 7: Do not forget to take a printout of the application form for future reference. One of the best Indian universities for online and distance learning (ODL) programmes is Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU). Everyone can enrol in IGNOU online courses that offer the greatest study materials and educational practises with renowned educators because they have been authorised by the UGC. The top online programmes are thought to be offered by IGNOU. Online degrees are offered to students through UGC-approved IGNOU courses. IGNOU's UGC-approved online courses give students the flexibility to finish their programmes when they want. In addition to one's usual occupations or domestic duties, one might take part-time IGNOU online courses. Continue reading to learn about the 10 IGNOU online courses that have been approved by the UGC and are available to any student. All of the Association of Indian Universities' member institutions accept the degrees, diplomas, and certificates issued by IGNOU. IGNOU's online degree is authentic and legitimate. The University Grants Commission(UGC) of India has also approved and recognised IGNOU as a Central University. The Top 10 IGNOU Courses Approved By The UGC 1. Certificate in Tribal Studies (CTRBS) - This UGC-approved IGNOU course focuses on tribal development. People who work in social welfare can earn a certificate in a subject that interests them. The system will give a tribe all the fundamentals required for development as well as information on the challenges and issues it encounters. The suggested language of structure for this IGNOU online course is English. Syllabus of Certificate in Tribal Studies Understanding Tribals Tribal Society Tribals of South and Central Asia Tribals in North and Northeast Region of India 2. Certificate Programme in Library and Information Science (CLIS) - This UGC-approved IGNOU online programme aims to transform rural libraries and other unorganised industries. People working there are untrained and lack the necessary knowledge. To work in these fields, they need to have the appropriate training and abilities. It enables professionals working in this industry to receive fundamental training. The management and organisation of libraries are the main topics of the IGNOU online course. Although candidates can have their assignments and TEE written in Hindi, English is the primary language of instruction. Syllabus of Certificate Programme in Library and Information Science Libraries: An Introduction Document Processing and Organization Information Sources and Library Services ICT in Libraries 3. Bachelor of Tourism (BTS) - This IGNOU online course is a three-year degree programme. This IGNOU online course, which has been approved by UGC, seeks to provide you with many facets of tourism as the tourist sector and its surrounding areas develop. The curriculum educates people about tourism and provides instruction for setting up tourism services. This 96-credit IGNOU course has been approved by the UGC. English is used as the instruction language. Syllabus of Bachelor of Tourism Foundation Course in Tourism Tourism Development: Products, Operations, and Case Studies Indian Culture: Perspective for Tourism Ecology, Environment, and Tourism Project on Indian Culture: Perspective for Tourism Management in Tourism Tourism Marketing Project on Tourism Marketing Fundamentals of Computer Systems Introduction to Information Technology (I.T.) Web-based Technologies and Multimedia Applications Human Resource Development Basics of Event Management Event Planning Event Coordination and Control Airport Handling 4. M.A. in Translation in Studies (MATS): MATS is another online programme offered by IGNOU that has been approved by UGC. The goal of this programme is to enhance one's translating abilities. The importance of languages and other cultures in the transfer of knowledge is taken into consideration in this UGC-approved IGNOU course. In this course, which uses Hindi as its teaching language, the theories and practises of translation are imparted. One can advance their educational goals while working as a professional translator, which is needed in many fields. Syllabus of M.A. in Translation in Studies Anuvad Siddhant Anuvad: Itihas Aur Parampara Anuvadaur Bhashavigyan Anuvad ke Kshetra Anuvad Evam Bhartiya Bhashayen Anuvad Aur Sahitya Anuvad aur Jansanchar Kosh Vigyan Paribhashik Shabdavali aurAnuvad Anuvad Evam Antarsanskritik Adhyayan Anuvad ki Rajniti Anuvad Prakriya Pariyojana( Pariyojana Karya aur Maukhik) 5. Master of Arts in Hindi (MHD) - This online course offered by IGNOU helps students gain a deeper understanding of the Hindi language and its diverse culture. Hindi is used as the instruction language. Syllabus of Master of Arts (Hindi) (MHD) Aadhunik Hindi Kavya Upanyas Evam Kahani Natakaur Anya GadyaVidhayen Hindi Sahitya and Bhasha ka Itihas Hindi Kavya - I Hindi kavya - II Sahitya Siddhanta And Samalochna Bhasha Vigyan Aur Hindi Bhasha Upanyas: Swaroop Aur Vikas Hindi Upanyas (Premchand) Hindi Upanyas Bharatiya Upanyas 6. M.A. in Gandhi and Peace Studies (MGPS) - This IGNOU online programme, which has been approved by the UGC, focuses on social regeneration, conflict resolution, and Gandhian studies. It is for those who are interested in learning about Gandhi's worldview and his philosophy of peaceful conflict resolution. Gandhian concepts are also criticised in the UGC-approved IGNOU course, which includes both theoretical and practical studies. Both Hindi and English are available as the languages of instruction for this IGNOU online course. From a professional standpoint, this programme enables its participants to enter the fields of teaching, research, and NGOs. Syllabus of M.A. in Gandhi and Peace Studies (MGPS) Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution Philosophy of Gandhi Gandhi's Social Thought Gandhi's Political Thought Gandhi's Economic Thought Gandhi in the 21st Century Conflict Management Transformation and Peace Human Security Woman and Peace Gandhian Approach to Peace and Conflict Resolution Human Rights: Indian Perspective Civil Society Political Regimes and Conflicts Gandhi: Ecology and Sustainable Development Introduction to Research Methods Non-Violence Movements after Gandhi Gandhi: The Man and His Times Dissertation 7. Post Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Policy (PGCAP) - The purpose of this online course offered by IGNOU is to examine the function of national policies in agriculture. The development, execution, and planning of these policies for better agricultural practices are covered. In order to achieve general growth, it addresses a number of policy formulation issues (IGNOU Common Prospectus, 153). Its goal is to improve human resources. The only language of instruction is English. Syllabus of Post Graduate Certificate in Agricultural Policy (PGCAP) Agricultural Policy: Formulation, Components, Process, Implementation, and Comparative Analysis Indian Agricultural Development Cooperatives and Farmers' Organisations Project Analysis 8. Certification in Information Technology (CIT) - This online course offered by IGNOU that has been approved by the UGC primarily focuses on computer hardware and software fundamentals. Internet and multimedia technologies are also included. Students who take this online course from IGNOU will learn how to create programmes and algorithms for solving problems. This study will introduce students to a variety of information technology (IT) topics, including networking, IT roles, information systems, and computer communication. It requires knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Linux, C programming, as well as the ability to build databases and websites. English is used as the instruction language. Syllabus of Certification in Information Technology (CIT) Fundamentals of Computer Systems Introduction to Information Technology Web-based Technologies and Multimedia Applications Laboratory Course 9. Certificate in Arabic Language (CAL) - This UGC-approved IGNOU programme introduces learners to the fundamentals of the Arabic language at the introductory level. This online course from IGNOU equips students with the proficiency and assurance necessary to read, speak, and write Arabic. Arabic and English are the current communication languages. This online course prepares students for careers as interpreters and translators, personal secretaries or assistants, tour guides, medical tourism, employees of multinational corporations (MNCs), employees of transnational corporations (TNCs), and employees of countries that speak Arabic. In addition, the IGNOU offers a course online called Certification in Russian Language (CRUL). This UGC-approved IGNOU programme prepares students for employment in similar positions. It introduces students to the basics of the Russian language. It imparts the capacity to communicate in Russian through speech, reading, and writing. Syllabus of Certificate in Arabic Language (CAL) Basics of Arabic Communication Skills Project 10. Post Graduate Certificate in Gandhi and Peace Studies (PGCGPS) - The goal of this 16-credit course offered by IGNOU is to advance education in the Gandhian context. IGNOU's UGC-approved course is intended for recent graduates, political figures, NGO workers, and educators. You'll discover how to locate and implement peaceful solutions at a small scale. With this degree, one can continue their education by pursuing advanced degrees like the Postgraduate Diploma or M.A. in Gandhi and Peace Studies. The programme supports nonviolent activity, the World Order for Global Peace and Security, and Peace and Peace and Conflict Resolution in accordance with Gandhian beliefs. English is the language of teaching for this course. There are postgraduate programmes available in administration, science, the arts, and journalism at the Indira Gandhi National Open University. All of the programmes are available in remote, online, and offline formats. IGNOU, which claims to be the largest university in the world with more than 4 million students and is managed by the Indian government, is affiliated with UGC. Syllabus of Post Graduate Certificate in Gandhi and Peace Studies (PGCGPS) Introduction to Peace and Conflict Resolution Non-Violence Movements after Gandhi Gandhi: The Man and His Times Gandhian Approach to Peace and Conflict Resolution Weve heard it said, I didnt leave the Democrat Party, the party left me. Members of my family left in the 60s and on Thursday I saw why its still happening as a hearing on censorship in the U.S. House devolved into obvious attempts to censor fellow Democrat, RFK Jr. It began with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-FL, offering a motion for a closed session which would have stopped RFK from being heard live. In 2016, Wasserman Schultz resigned as DNC Chair when leaked leaked emails revealed a plot against Hillary Clintons opponent, Bernie Samders (Guardian 8/25/16). After asking RFK a question, Democrats often talked over him saying, I reclaim my time. D-Stacey Plaskett, a non-voting delegate, broke rules by interjecting herself into the time of a Republican member to argue with Kennedy. No stranger to controversy (Daily Mail 6/19/23; Dallas Express 6/25/23), the Virgin Island delegate also was fuming because RFK was called as a witness. Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech (Benjamin Franklin). Its no coincidence that only one network showed live hearings. Back in June, 2022, PBS interrupted childrens programming to show hearings held by House Democrats. Its obvious who wants to decide what is harmful speech, what is protected speech and what we hear. Not seeing it live to judge for yourself in context, youre left to trust the medias narrative. After watching these hearings, its clear why some say the party left them. Ralph Miller * * * Ralphie, hope you know, as a child of the sixties, as I recall....those Southerners, aka Dixiecrats, even Barry Goldwater feared were too extreme, left the Democratic Party in the '60s because it became too diverse and inclusive. They didn't like that. And Goldwater never met a racist he didn't like. But even he feared their extremism would come to be an albatross around the necks of the Republican Party. Republicans used the "Southern Strategy" to lure traditional-Southern white segregationist voters, aka Dixiecrats, who, among several displeasures, didn't think 'God' intended for little white children and little black children to attend school together, away from the Democratic Party. Although the 'Southern Strategy' was initially of Barry Goldwater's creation in 1964, Nixon was said to have "perfected" it in 1968, using those Southern white segregationists' votes to get elected. Brenda Washington * * * So, a committee of Congress, stacked with the most extremist members of the authoritarian right, held a hearing on government censorship. How quaint. After 40 years of deregulation, our public agencies must now appeal to the content moderators of social media giants to allow vital public health information to be conveyed to the public despite the open sewage that flows through those media. Meanwhile, a few global corporations conspire in the theft of virtually every bit of private information about you, and without compensating you no less. I fail to see what any of that has to do with government censorship. It is government censorship when authoritarian right-wing governors and legislatures ban books and forbid the full and factual teaching of social studies, civics, and history, even requiring teachers in Florida to serve as fonts for Confederate lost cause narratives like the stupid notion that some slaves benefited from slavery. Somehow, the dominant voices in the Republican Party have come to believe free speech means they have the right to a free platform, microphone, and amplifier to drown out all out all other voices. Meanwhile, they have worked incessantly to suppress free speech that draws public attention away from their white nationalist culture war. In the process, they have quite purposefully deprived the public of honest debate on economic and social policy that might actually serve the people. I cannot count how many times I have tried to engage someone in an honest, fact-based discussion about public policy only to be accused of being a Democrat. Having not been involved in Democratic Party activity since the late Eighties, I find that odd. I am, however, happy to see the Democratic Party coming back to me . For those Republicans who see their party moving away from them I can only say, you werent born a Republican. Put the people and the country above party and let us return to honest discussion and debate on public policy. Frank Wrinn * * * Growing up in the late 50's and 60's my family were staunch Femocrats and very proud of our party. However, I'm no longer a Democrat but am proud to be a right wing Republican. The Democrat's of yesteryear had morals, decency and were trustworthy. Today's Democrats are everything but that, political thieves, misinformers, liars, cheats and now have resorted to cannibalism in the case of RFK Jr. A man from the great Democrat bloodline of yesteryear that chose to run for President against Joe Biden. So his current party is displeased and chooses to rip him apart, discredit him and do all but injest him. It's true, if you are a Democrat and don't go along with the top brass they will eat you up and spit you out. If you Democrats want to do the American people a great justice, then have a cannibalism feast of the Bidens, DOJ and FBI as your main course. Michael Mansfield * * * As usual, Brenda is long on rhetoric and short on facts. So Senator Goldwater never met a racist he didn't like? That's funny since his family department store was the first in Phoenix to hire black people. He was a Major General in the Arizona National Guard and desegregated that unit two years before the Armed Forces. He was a lifetime member of the NAACP and received a 50 year humanitarian award from the National Urban League. On his first day in the Senate he demanded one of his black assistants be admitted to the cafeteria. He did vote against the 64 Civil Rights Act, but you know who else did, Brenda? Good old Albert Gore, Sr. Oh, and the last Klan members in the Senate were Democrats Fritz Hollings and Bobby (Sheets) Byrd from West Virginia. Douglas Jones A woman on Integra Vistas Drive called police because she thought she heard someone screaming. Police arrived and the woman pointed towards where she heard the screaming. The officer tried to make contact with the residents but no one answered the door, and the officer heard no screaming or other sounds of struggle or distress. The woman told police at approximately 10:30 p.m., she first heard the yelling and screaming, and it sounded like a woman screaming about someone giving her some keys. She said the screaming was sporadic, and went long times with no screaming. She said that at approximately 2 a.m., she heard a loud scream, and called police, but had not heard anything since. With no other evidence of any crime, police asked the woman to call back if she observed any other suspicious activity, and she agreed. * * * A man told police he was traveling north on Highway 153 in his black Mazda when he struck a white box in the roadway. The collision reportedly caused damage to the front-end of his car. * * * A man walked into Circle K at 4026 Shallowford Road and stole two cases of Bud Light. He took off in an unknown direction. * * * While on patrol, an officer saw a white Toyota Camry traveling at a high rate of speed and overtake a vehicle in the turning lane in the 3200 block of Brainerd Road. After following the car on Tunnel Boulevard, the officer saw it overtake another vehicle, crossing two solid yellow lines in the 800 block of Tunnel Boulevard and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The car then fled northbound on Tunnel Boulevard, running a red light at Wilcox Boulevard. The officer didnt pursue the vehicle and BOLOed it citywide. The driver was a black male with short hair wearing a white T-shirt. The officer had the registered address of the car on Tunnel Boulevard and will follow up at a later date. * * * While working on Station Street, staff at Westbound Bar flagged down officers about a patron that was just kicked out for causing a disorder. Due to the person's actions and continued disorder at the front of the bar, the patron was asked to leave. Police monitored the patron leaving and no further disorder occurred. * * * An employee at 3815 Rossville Blvd. told police he left work the previous evening at around 7:30 p.m., and upon returning early the next day, he discovered that the front glass door had been shattered and a large rock was found nearby. The damage was significant, with the door being completely broken. The employee estimates the cost of repairs at approximately $1,500. After the man expressed concern that someone might be inside the building, he requested that police search it. Despite their efforts, police didnt find anyone. The man said he would like to pursue legal action if the culprit could be identified. * * * The manager of Sephora at Hamilton Place told police multiple suspects stole approximately 30 units of "Dior Lip Maximizer" (roughly $1,200 worth of merchandise) while shopping within the store. The manager said she hadnt seen them before and the business doesnt want to prosecute at this time. An officer saw surveillance footage of one of the suspects grabbing several of the items and placing them into her purse before leaving the store without paying. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close This illustration provided by AstraZeneca depicts packaging for their medication Beyfortus. U.S. officials have approved a new long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that causes thousands of hospitalizations each year. The Food and Drug Administration on Monday, July 17, 2023 approved the injection for infants and children up to 2 years old. Cheshires strong record of military service is one of its hallmarks. Harvey C. Barney Barnum is one of its most celebrated sons. Having received the Medal of Honor for his courage fighting in Vietnam, he subsequently continued to serve in various capacities at the Department of Defense. Further back, Eri Davidson Woodbury also received the Medal of Honor for his gallant service in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War. A long-serving Headmaster of Cheshire Academy in peacetime, Woodbury is buried in St. Peters Cemetery. All throughout the history of this small Connecticut community are examples of men and women who sacrificed some or all of their lives to serve the United States of America and the cause of liberty and justice for all. And for years, historians believed that a Cheshire man named Adam Thorp was perhaps the first to distinguish himself. Known for his role in defending Connecticut soil from the British invasion known as Tryons Raid, Thorp was considered not only to be one of Cheshires first heroes, but that of a burgeoning nation. Yet, the real story is more complicated. Although there have been enemy incursions throughout American history, including Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., troops have rarely set foot on American soil since the time of the Revolutionary War. That bloody conflict threatened to undo the great statement of American freedom, the Declaration of Independence, and it is surely worth recalling how close Cheshire itself was to some of the Wars pivotal fighting. Charles Hervey Townsends account of the 1779 invasion of New Haven first appeared in the pages of the Morning Journal and Courier, a daily newspaper published in New Haven from 1848 to 1894, then changed names several times before eventually being absorbed by the New Haven Register in 1987. In the later half of the 19th century,Townsend was urged by several of the towns senior figures to collect his writings and turn them into a book, which he did in 1879 when he published The British Invasion of New Haven. The book recounts how Connecticut, full of independence-loving citizens supplying arms and soldiers to the Continental Army, had become a thorn in the side of British commander Sir Henry Clinton, headquartered in New York. Clinton decided to inflict on (Connecticut) a severe punishment. Clinton amassed a force to attack New Haven and other coastal communities via Long Island Sound, and on the morning of July 5, 1779, a first wave of 1,500 perfectly disciplined and equipped troops, the flower of the expedition, came ashore and marched swiftly to what is now the West Haven Green. Townsend quotes the poetic defiance of one eye-witness who recalled seeing the waters of New Haven bay full of enemy ships. Behind him were the Old Sentinels, the Red Mounts (East and West Rocks), standing forth in bold relief, seeming to say Thus far and no farther shalt thou come, for all before us is under our care. One step farther and we will arouse the Sleeping Giant, (Mt. Carmel) who will dash thee back from whence you came; leave us in peace is all we ask. Patriots arrived from East Haven to defend the beach, although Townsend guesses they were only around 50 in number. Their resistance, he also suggests, led the British to burn fields, barns and houses in retaliation, even as they advanced toward the heart of New Haven. However, reinforcements had begun to arrive adding their arms to the cause, in the form of militiamen from North Haven, Wallingford, Hamden, and Cheshire. Among them, Townsend mentions one: Adam Thorp. The newly-arrived fighters proceeded down what is now Townsend Avenue to check the British advance by any means necessary. Outmatched by the British professionals and their superior firepower, however, the patriots planned to make one more stand, fire and fall back up the road to the entrenchment on Beacon Hill where they had sent their cannon. A general stampede was then started as agreed upon, but Mr. Adam Thorp, of Cheshire, did not believe in running, reports Townsend. Thorp, Townsend says, turned and declared he would not run another step for all Great Britain, loaded and fired his piece and soon fell pierced with many bullets. The moment seemed to stand out during an invasion that, at least regionally, would become quite famous. Contemporary sources stated that a marker was erected on the spot of Thorps last stand, giving his name and the date, July 5, 1779. Cheshires first war hero would be remembered, it seemed, forever. Yet, even by Townsends time, the marker in Thorps honor was no longer there. To rectify this, the local historian stepped away from his narrative to offer up a passionate plea: Honor our illustrious and patriotic dead with suitable monuments, as England has always done. Despite the absence of Thorps reported marker, the name and man continued to live on in history. As recently as 2004, Robert J. Leeney wrote in the New Haven Register, on the 225th Anniversary of the invasion, about Thorps bravery and his place in history. The first American killed, on the eastern ridge road (now Townsend Avenue) above the harbor, was Adam Thorp from distant Cheshire, Leeney reported. However, Cheshire historian Peter J. Malia, author of several books of history and publisher of The Connecticut Press, says that the heroic tale of Adam Thorp may all be false, based simply on a misunderstanding. Per Malia, the famous genealogist Donald Lines Jacobus argues that Adam Thorp never existed at all. (Jacobus) traced the Thorp(e) family and concluded that Adam was simply the result of a misread manuscript, Malia says, a not-uncommon transcription error in a time when records were handwritten and often lost. It turns out even historians can be duped, says Malia. In the past, historians were more antiquarians than professionals, who often relied on oral histories and questionable or no primary sources at all in writing the telling of history. Malia adds that Jacobus believed the slain patriot was in fact one Sergeant Jacob Thorpe, who left behind a wife and five children. Adding to the confusion, an Abner Thorpe did come from Wallingford to fight in the battle, according to Joseph Perkins Beachs History of Cheshire, but records show he was married in 1784 to one Jerusah Cook one hopes happily. Malia also found evidence that two Cheshire sons truly did fall in the invasion: Eldad Parker and Aaron Russell. Russell, just thirteen years old, was a hired boy accompanying militia commander Gordon Hotchkiss who rode down to New Haven from his farm near Prospect when he heard about the attack. Hotchkiss was about to send Russell away with his horse when a shell struck the boy, and killed him instantly, in the words of Families of Ancient New Haven. So, was Adam Thorp Cheshires first hero of the Revolution, or is his place in history the product of poor record-keeping and a story that was so good, few bothered to investigate whether it was true? We cannot know for absolute certain. But what we do know is that over 140 volunteers from Cheshire and Wallingford did heed the call of their newly-born country, and while Adam Thorp may have been the product of simple historical error, the story still inspires. The call to serve a higher cause than oneself still echoes for many in Cheshire and can still be answered with the gratitude of those enjoying the benefits of their sacrifices. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 This woman and her ex-husband share custody of their 12-year-old daughter Kelly, who was only 3 when the couple separated. They have a court order that both of them must split the cost of her private school education until she graduates from high school, and since starting school, Kelly has been enrolled in a STEM-focused institution. Kelly loves going to school there, but getting there is often a challenge since it is about a 45-minute drive from their house, and there are no relatives or friends that could help out with taking her daughter. Since Kelly lives with her during the week and with her ex on the weekends, the responsibility to get her to and from school always falls on her. Last year, she got remarried to a man who has a 16 and 17-year-old. Both of his children attend a private school that is nearby, and like Kellys school, their institution also does not provide any bussing. The family doesnt have any extra vehicles for the older children to use, so its often a struggle to get all three of the kids to two separate schools on time. Her new husband is a widower and starts work early each day, so again, the responsibility falls on her. My stepchildrens private school doesnt have before or after school programs and starts after Kellys. Its a tight squeeze to get her there, then get back to their school, she explained. So, after a lot of discussions, she and her husband decided it would be best if they transferred Kelly to the stepchildrens school. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. One woman recently took to Reddit to express her anger over one common phrase: Looks dont matter. According to her, looks are actually paramount and matter way more than anything else. Well, if youre ugly. Discrimination against looks is something that transcends race, gender, and [orientation]. As humans, we are naturally drawn to more aesthetically pleasing faces that have more symmetry and harmony, she explained. Even in the animal kingdom, the undesirable will die off faster than the rest. So, she claims that pretty privilege is 100% real and believes that ordinary people can still benefit from the phenomenon with proper confidence and stellar styling. But, she claimed that no matter how confident or well-styled an ugly person is, they will always be seen and treated as just that ugly. Thats why she wholeheartedly knows that looks do matter and points toward a myriad of examples in society that prove her point. If appearance did not matter, for instance, then the cosmetic surgery industry would not make billions off of peoples insecurities, and influencers would not rake in heaps of cash from doing the bare minimum behind the camera lens. If looks didnt matter, advertisers also would not seek out the most beautiful models to be the faces of their companies, and Hollywood actors who arent model-level pretty would not get pigeonholed into playing ugly roles. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Humanity has long pined for the power to stay young. Folklore is full of heroes seeking springs of immortality or a fountain of youth, but these fantasies are not confined to the pages of literature. In modern life, our lust for youth takes the form of everything from Botox to cryonics. In our anti-aging pursuits, we are inadvertently relegating our elders to a second-class status and ignoring the many benefits of honoring the elderly among us. The 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging found that 82 percent of adults aged 5080 experience ageism in their day-to-day lives. The World Health Organization reports that up to a third of older citizens report feeling lonely. Prejudice against aging doesnt just hurt feelings or harm social relationships. Ageism can also lead to worse outcomes in both mental and physical health conditions, even leading to shorter life expectancy. Cultural disdain for aging harms individuals, families, and society as a whole. The Christian faith calls for another way. Throughout the Bible, God casts a vision for including the elderly in all aspects of community life. Experts in elder care are finding that the biblical vision not only benefits the elderly, but young people as well. It goes both ways, says David Phillips, CEO of Ebenezer Senior Citizen's Home in Israel. Listening to the elderly serves them in a spiritual way. And the young listeners can learn from them. Learning to Listen More than one in three American adults aged 5080 report feeling a lack of companionship. As their ability to be productive diminishes, the world often leaves them behind. But the scriptural vision for the elderly is not one that reduces humans to their utility but to their essence as image bearers of God. In other words, the reason people matter is not because they have something to contribute. They matter because they are created to reflect God in the world. Proverbs 16:31 says that gray hair is a crown of splendor. Behind those gray hairs are decades of stories and experiences, the telling of which can be mutually beneficial. Take Larissa Suabashi, a resident at Ebenezer, for example. A Holocaust survivor, Subashi has stories that are heartbreaking and harrowing. But she also tells stories of hope and plays the violin in a way that brings Gods beauty to mind. For the elderly, telling stories about their lives is linked to improvements in overall well-being, higher quality of life, and reduction of loneliness. Young people who learn to ask good questions and listen patiently to the stories of the elderly benefit from building intergenerational social connections and have the opportunity to play a role in preserving history and culture. In America, perhaps working toward well-being could be as simple as driving an elderly neighbor to a doctors appointment, mowing a lawn, or running a few errands. It may look like occasional evenings around the dinner table, in which stories are repeated as memory fails. In many ways, caring for the elderly is simply loving our neighbors as we love ourselves: paying attention to them and acting on their behalf. When encouraging volunteers at Ebenezer Senior Citizens Home in Haifa, Israel, Phillips emphasizes the power of listening. Many of the residents have experienced severe trauma in their lives, and telling stories to a listening ear is a powerful processing tool. We still have eight Holocaust survivors, explains Phillips. And we have a second generation of traumatized people of the Holocaust. Phillips says that listening brings back the central vision of dignity for the people telling their stories. Those stories do not end with pain and traumamany of Ebenezers residents have also shared their personal histories as accomplished artists and musicians. In sharing those passions, they have found new purpose in the twilight years of their lifelike Subashi, or Juan Onasiss who draws and paints stunning pieces despite a disability, or Antoinette Bermond, who has published two books since entering the Ebenezer Home. Working Toward Well-Being As we seek ways to honor the elderly, it is likely needs will arise. Maybe they can no longer maintain yardwork or housekeeping. Perhaps a trip to the grocery store feels daunting. Christians can find meaningful, tangible opportunities for offering help and support to our elderly neighbors. Phillips points to Exodus 22:2223, in which God says, Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. Phillips, who has been known to enter homes filled with filth, and even dumpsters, to rescue people in need, thinks of it like this: When we accept someone into Ebenezer, sometimes I see widows who have nothing. They have nothing left. We take them in, andits about doing the will of God and what he intended for his people. At Ebenezer, the opportunity to work toward well-being covers all aspects of lifefrom the physical and mental to the emotional and relational. As the only senior home run by and for Chrstians in Israel, Ebenezer houses both Jewish and Arab people. Their backgrounds are filled with memories of strife between the two ethnic groups. And yet, Phillips says that at Ebenezer, there is a peace agreement in the blood of Christ between Arab and Jewish believers. Faithful to the Forgotten In Pauls letters to Timothy, we read an invitation for young people to treat their elders with kindness, respect, and dignity. While honoring the elderly with our time may not seem intuitive or take priority in our busy lives, Gods heart is that Christians honor all of humanity. Creating community among those with strength and those with wisdom is a beautiful picture of heaven on earth. Ebenezer Senior Citizens Home is a shining example of this type of care. To hear more stories of Ebenezer's work and to contribute to their vital care for seniors, sign up for their newsletter. 6 Christians killed by terrorists amid worsening trend in Nigeria's Benue state ABUJA, Nigeria Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on Sunday killed six Christians in Benue state, Nigeria, the latest of 37 Christians slain the past three weeks in the state, sources said. The assailants arrived on motorcycles at the predominantly Christian villages of Igba-Ukyor and Tse Baka villages, Ushongo County, at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, said Ushongo resident Bemgba Iortyom. The terrorists, who accompanied armed herdsmen, first attacked Igba-Ukyor village, where they killed five Christians, and then proceeded to a second village, Tse Baka, where they killed one Christian, Iortyom told Morning Star News in a text message. Two other predominantly Christian communities were attacked in Ukum County on July 8, resulting in the massacre of 30 Christians, area residents said. Zaki Akpuuna and Diom villages were attacked at 11 a.m., said Kartyo Tyoumbur, the Ukum council chairman. The band of terrorists was made up of about 20 who were armed with deadly weapons, Tyoumbur told Morning Star News. They burned down several houses. Thirty corpses of Christians killed were recovered, while searching for missing Christians is ongoing. Saying victims were members of the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST) and the Roman Catholic Church, he identified some of the slain in Zaki Akpuuna as Kator Terwase, Aondowase Kator, Albert Tsavnongo, Mbaalumunga Felix, Terzungwe Kartyo, Hangeior Agudu, Terkimbi Umough, Ushahemba Akerchi, Friday Ezekiel, Terwase Mkoholga, Ayu Ageva Vaakaa, John Ikpor, Bem Shima, Vanger Kwaghkaa, Shaagee Tyokaa, Mfedoo Mamfe, Koholga Sase, Iorlumun Dai, Kwaghmande Mngueorga, Msugh Terwase, Ngutor Oraduen, Iortange Uye and Aker Orgema. On June 30 in Tse Anwhwan village, Logo County, one Christian was killed and two others wounded in an ambush at about 8 p.m., said Council Chairperson Salome Tor. The armed men ambushed and opened fire on the victims and murdered one Mr. Saater Apera, a member of the NKST church, and also shot and injured two other Christians, Tor told Morning Star News. The incident was reported to the police, and the corpse of the murdered Christian was recovered, while the two injured victims were taken to the hospital for treatment. Catherine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Command, said security personnel were deployed to the areas. Terrorists have been invading some communities in some local government areas of Benue state, she said. Police teams, in collaboration with other security agencies, have been deployed to affected areas in order to engage these bandits. We believe that these unprovoked attacks would be contained. Benue state officials said they have appealed to the federal government to take urgent steps to end the atrocities. The Rev. Hyacinth Alia, a Roman Catholic priest who was elected governor of the state in May, said in a statement that the attacks were a grievous sin against God and mankind. A directive has been given to security agents to arrest those behind these unlawful acts and bring them to book, Alia said. I send words of condolence to those whose loved ones were killed in these attacks and pray to God for their comfort. Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed at least 46 Christians in Benue state in June, part of a recent trend of mass killings in the state. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people. In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year. Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery, the WWL report noted. This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation. Nigerias government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians rights are carried out with impunity. Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdoms All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report. They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity, the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigerias Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. Did momentous event occur in predestination vs. free will debate? Even a casual observer of the Evangelical American landscape over the past half-century would be aware of the consistent, comprehensive, recurring and often combative discussions, debates and conversations about predestination vs. free will concerning Gods plan and purpose for the eternal salvation of human beings. It would be way too simplistic and misleading to outline the debate as being between polar opposites of Synod of Dort 5-point Reformed Calvinism and its polar opposite, Wesleyan Methodism. However, in its simplest form, the Synod of Dort formulation of T.U.L.I.P. (Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, Perseverance of the Saints) represents the theological formulation most frequently associated with the 16th century Protestant Reformer John Calvin. The opposite of these 5 points would describe the Wesleyan-Arminian position. As one reads or listens to the discussions and debates, it is clear that American Evangelicals understand the importance of the questions at issue, and significant numbers of Evangelical Christians embrace and advocate for both positions as well as for numerous variations between the two opposite poles. Consequently, you have moderate Calvinists and semi-Armenians. In my own Southern Baptist faith tradition, you have had, and do have, numerous variations of these two theological formulations, with the exception that confessionally, Southern Baptists have always insisted on the eternal Security of the Believer or once saved, always saved, their terminology for Perseverance of the Saints. Personally, I have always been quite fond of the great English Victorian Baptist pulpiteer Charles Haddon Spurgeons terminology, the Perseverance of the Savior. Such variations of understanding help explain mediating statements like the following in the Baptist Faith & Message, the Southern Baptists confessional statement: Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of Gods sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. Theology is words (logos) about God (Theos). These particular words deal with issues of critical importance such as the extent of the atonement of Jesus on the cross. Who can be saved and how much choice does an individual have concerning his eternal destiny? In a larger context, it can be seen as a form of theological determinism vs. free will. Can anything happen that God has not freely predestined? Once in a while, as brilliant and devoted people apply themselves with determination and dedication to the issue, a truly exciting, provocative, extremely helpful, and instructive study surfaces which makes a major contribution to everyones greater and deeper understanding of the issues under contention and discussion. I am delighted to announce that just such an event has occurred within the last year. Dr. Robert Picirilli, long-time Professor of New Testament of Welch College (in the Free Will Baptist tradition) has produced a volume that I believe will be his magnum opus. Entitled God in Eternity and Time. A New Case for Human Freedom, this volume has been very well received by most of the participants in the discussion of these issues for its originality and insight. Dr. Picirilli has applied a lifetime of biblical scholarship to the issues involved and produced a book that makes compelling reading for anyone interested in a truly biblical theology. Picirilli argues that to construct a truly biblical theology, one should start with the Bible itself as the best evidence of Gods plan, believing that it is better to infer what God has decreed in eternity, from the Bibles account of how God acted in the history of man and the cosmos rather than starting with the classical decrees and imposing them on biblical revelation. This Scripture-first approach has produced powerful and important insights into such thorny issues as Gods will, human freedom and divine foreknowledge. God in Eternity and Time has been well received by all segments of the Evangelical community, and its irenic spirit has been much appreciated, drawing accolades from across the Evangelical theological spectrum. Dr. Tom Nettles, longtime esteemed Southern Baptist scholar, professor and strenuous advocate for the T.U.L.I.P., described God in Eternity and Time this way: Robert Picirilli has written about the most important subject human beings can discuss God and his relation to time and eternity. ... The authors style invites conversation with the text. It is fun to read and will help one reason with humility, always deferring to Scripture over philosophy and biblically unwarranted assertions. Picirilli takes issue with confessional Calvinism (determinism), middle knowledge, and open theism as outside the demands of the biblical text. ... I heartily recommend this book to all who want to engage a mind-clearing, spirit-elevating, theologically challenging, Bible-endearing exercise that will bear eternal fruit and give great clarity to what is at stake on the several sides of this important discussion. And remember, Dr. Nettles is in significant disagreement with Picirillis conclusions. I cannot recommend this book more highly than I do now. It is quite simply the best book on the subject I have ever read, which takes in some territory. The clever maternity test that rescued an abducted baby Nearly 300,000 paternity tests are performed annually in the United States to determine a childs biological father, but did you hear about the time a clever maternity test was used to identify an abducted babys real mother? King Solomon lived and reigned 3,000 years ago. He was the third and last king of the united kingdom of Israel, after King Saul and King David. And he was renowned for his tremendous wisdom. God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomons wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the men of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than any other man (1 Kings 4:29-31). Solomons wisdom was on full display one day when two women stood before him and presented their dilemma. And in order to figure out which woman was lying, and which woman was telling the truth, the king employed a clever maternity test. One of them said, My lord, this woman and I live in the same house. I had a baby while she was there with me. The third day after my child was born, this woman also had a baby. We were alone; there was no one in the house but the two of us. During the night this womans son died because she lay on him. So, she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I your servant was asleep. She put him by her breast and put her dead son by my breast. The next morning, I got up to nurse my son and he was dead! But when I looked at him closely in the morning light, I saw that it wasnt the son I had borne.' The other woman said, No! The living one is my son; the dead one is yours. But the first one insisted, No! The dead one is yours; the living one is mine. And so they argued before the king (1 Kings 3:17-22). Do you have any idea what you would have done in that situation if you were the king? Solomon knew exactly what to do. The king said, This one says, My son is alive and your son is dead, while that one says, No! Your son is dead and mine is alive. Then the king said, Bring me a sword. So they brought a sword for the king. He then gave an order: Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other. The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Dont kill him! But the other said, Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two! Then the king gave his ruling: Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother. When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice (1 Kings 3:23-28). Child abductions are satanic in nature. Jesus revealed these facts about the devil: He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). The mother who lied to the king was guilty of a devilish and atrocious crime. Sadly, such crimes continue to be prevalent in our world today. The movie Sound of Freedom is raising awareness about the abomination of child sex trafficking, as it tells the incredible true story of a former government agent who embarks on a dangerous mission to rescue hundreds of children from sex traffickers. What would possess a person to kidnap children and sell them as sex slaves? It is a nightmare straight out of the pit of Hell. Like the woman who lied to King Solomon, human nature is capable of sinking into almost unimaginable levels of depravity. Abortion providers, like child abductors, surrender their soul to the devil in an effort to enrich themselves. And it doesnt require the wisdom of Solomon to understand that the devils work is exactly opposite of what Christ produces in the hearts and lives of his followers. Jesus loves children, as do those who follow the Savior. Satan hates children, as do those who become possessed with his evil intentions. Love or hatred. You are free to choose one or the other as you go about your daily life. The ultimate source of love and tender care is God, and the ultimate source of hate, child trafficking and abortion is the devil. God is love (1 John 4:16). God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). If you would like to have your heart overflowing with the love of Christ, you will need to talk to him every day, if not every hour, once he becomes your Savior and your friend. He will drive hatred from your soul if you confess your sins to Him and rely upon him continually to cleanse your heart. Even King Solomon, in all of his wisdom, went on to make some very big mistakes in his life. You see, he didnt always apply the wisdom God had given him. What about you? Have you allowed Scripture to make you wise for salvation? (2 Timothy 3:15). And are you applying Gods wisdom in your daily life? The wisdom that comes from Heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere (James 3:17). Does that description sound like your life today? If not, you can talk to the Lord about it right now. If we lack compassion for children, including the unborn, we resemble the pretender who lied to King Solomon and cared only for herself. What about you? What lies, if any, are you telling yourself, and what lies, if any, are you telling King Jesus? 5 highlights from the Hunter Biden hearings Congressional Republicans held hearings this week on television and behind closed doors related to allegations of wrongdoing surrounding Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden. The New York Post first reported on the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop in an October 2020 report suggesting that then-Vice President Biden's son was using his father's position for personal gain. To back up its story, the New York Post referenced emails from the hard drive of Hunter Biden's laptop, which had been dropped off at a shop in Delaware and later seized by the FBI. At the time the emails were sent, the younger Biden served on the board of the Ukrainian energy company Burisma. The emails raised questions about whether or not the then-Vice President's son was using his father's position to obtain personal and financial gain for himself and his family. Social media companies worked to censor The New York Post report, published less than three weeks before the 2020 presidential election where Biden was a candidate, and individual users' posts attempting to share it. Officials affiliated with the intelligence community signed a letter describing the contents of the laptop as "Russian disinformation," and then-candidate Joe Biden latched onto that narrative in the weeks leading up to the election as he attempted to make the case that the contents of the laptop were not real. Biden ultimately won the 2020 presidential election. Congressional Republicans are investigating the allegations contained in the emails as well as whether or not the government misled the American public about the authenticity of the laptop's contents, social media companies engaged in election interference by censoring their contents and federal government agencies are interfering with investigations into Hunter Biden's alleged wrongdoing. The following pages present five highlights from this week's developments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next CNN report implying Texas abortion ban behind spike in infant deaths is 'misleading': researcher A pro-life researcher is pushing back on the suggestion of a recent CNN report that Texas' abortion ban may be behind a spike in infant deaths, alleging the report failed to address several crucial factors. In 2021, Texas enacted a law that prohibited abortions after the unborn child's heartbeat becomes detectable, which is usually around the sixth week of pregnancy. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade in June 2022, restoring regulatory authority over abortion to the states, Texas outlawed nearly all abortions. A Thursday CNN report cited data from the Texas Department of State Health Services, showing that around 2,200 infants died in the state in 2022, an 11.5% increase from the previous year. The article implies that the increase could be a result of the Texas Heartbeat Act. However, the reporter did acknowledge a recent report that found Texas experienced more than 10,000 more births than expected as a potential factor. The report cites Dr. Erika Werner, an OB-GYN who argued in favor of the theory that strict abortion laws lead to a higher number of infant deaths. "We all knew the infant mortality rate would go up because many of these terminations were for pregnancies that don't turn into healthy, normal kids," the doctor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at Tufts Medical Center said. "It's exactly what we all were concerned about." Michael New, an associate scholar at the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute and an assisting professor of social research at the Catholic University of America, proposed that factors such as illegal immigration and the COVID-19 pandemic's disruptions to prenatal care are other potential reasons for the increase. "Additionally, the reporter engages in some statistical sleight of hand. While infant deaths increased in Texas in 2022, so did births," New wrote in a Thursday National Review article. "Both my Charlotte Lozier Institute study from November 2002 and a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Association have found that the Texas Heartbeat Act resulted in an increase in the birth rate in Texas in 2022." The pro-life researcher asserted that it would be more appropriate to analyze the infant-mortality rate instead, which, according to his calculations, rose by 6.6% in 2022. New acknowledged that while this is still concerning, it's not the "dramatic increase" that CNN makes it appear to be. "Furthermore, it should also be noted that the infant mortality rate in Texas in 2022 was well within recent historical norms," the scholar noted. "In fact, the Texas infant-mortality rate was actually lower in 2022 than in any year from 2007 to 2017. That, of course, receives no mention in the CNN article." New also addressed another potential factor behind the increase, highlighting the leading cause of infant mortality in Texas: congenital conditions. According to Texas Health and Human Services, birth defects accounted for approximately 26% of all infant deaths before one year of age from 2010 to 2017. "The Texas Heartbeat Act is not causing an increase in congenital conditions but rather preventing unborn children from being aborted due to their medical condition," New wrote. "Many such children were tragically dying before the Texas Heartbeat Act. However, since they were aborted, they were not counted as infant deaths." "During the past 15 years, Texas has been a leader in enacting strong pro-life policies," he continued. "It is no surprise that mainstream media have worked overtime to try to find evidence of a public-health crisis in the Lone Star State." Earlier this year, data released by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHS) showed that only three abortions took place in the state in August 2022, compared with 2,596 in June. The report found that all were deemed "medically necessary" abortions and that no elective abortions were performed last August. 92 Christian orgs granted $93M to reimagine church, adapt to 21st century In an effort to help various Christian ministries adapt to the changing culture, including technology issues and membership decline, the Indiana-based Lilly Endowment has given $93 million in grants to 92 Christian organizations. The Endowment announced the grants through its Thriving Congregations Initiative in late September, with beneficiaries including seminaries, congregations, and regional church bodies from diverse theological backgrounds. Specific recipients include Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Dakota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Fuller Theological Seminary, the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Boston, and the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, among others. Judith Cebula, communications director for the Lilly Endowment, explained to The Christian Post that the grants came as a way to help ministries handle the rapidly changing contexts in which congregations exist. The Endowment launched the initiative to encourage organizations that care about the wellbeing of congregations to find ways to help congregations strengthen their ministries so people can deepen their relationships with God, enhance their connections with each other and contribute to the flourishing of their communities and the world, said Cebula. Cebula also told CP that the grants were a competitive initiative, meaning that eligible organizations responded to Lilly Endowments request for proposals. After careful review, Lilly Endowment chose to make grants to 92 organizations that presented the most promising ideas to address the aims of the Thriving Congregations Initiative, she continued. In recent years, much has been made about the rise of religiously unaffiliated Americans and the decline of membership and attendance for most church bodies. Cebula noted that "technology, decrease in traditional worship attendance and participation in other ministries" are part of a "variety of challenges" for churches and ministries. "It is the role of the organizations to help the congregations name the challenges and respond to the challenges, which could also include religious disaffiliation, challenges created by the pandemic, and specific concerns of their particular communities, cities, and neighborhoods," she added. "Responses could include things such as developing their worship services, attending to social issues, building intergenerational relationships, serving people most in need, and many other possibilities." This is not the first time that Lilly has aided churches and ministries. In 2005, for example, the Endowment gave grants of up to $45,000 to 124 pastors to help with sabbaticals. The Christian Post reached out to a few of the recipients of the grants in November to see about their goals, the current status of their efforts, and what they viewed as a reimagined church. Yale Divinity School Last month, Yale Divinity School of New Haven, Connecticut, announced that it had received $1 million from the Endowment, which they would use for a program titled Reimagining Church: New Models for the 21st Century. The goal of the program was to help churches discover dynamic new approaches to congregational life and community engagement, according to a press release. Tom Krattenmaker, director of communications at Yale Divinity School, explained to CP that the program will involve working with 40 churches in Connecticut over the span of five years. This effort will include helping to support them in their efforts to engage in self-study, examine their local social and cultural contexts, learn about creative new options, and explore what models will work best for them in the post-pandemic world. Krattenmaker explained that the grant period will go from January of next year until December 2025, with the 40 congregations for the program still to be selected. When asked by CP what he believed a reimagined church would look like, Krattenmaker responded that it is not ours to say. Our role will be to support congregations as they think about what vision and mission are best for them going forward, he said. Seminary of the Southwest Seminary of the Southwest, a seminary of The Episcopal Church based in Austin, Texas, received $1 million to fund a program known as the Thriving Bi-Vocational Congregations: Envisioning New Life in a Changing World (TBVC). The program will establish three-year learning communities for Episcopal congregations that are bi-vocational, or headed by someone who serves in a part-time capacity. The Rev. Nandra Perry, Ph.D., project director for TBVC, explained to CP that the congregations involved will become labs for experimentation with both traditional and new practices of discipleship. Major goals include helping churches discover how God is already at work in their contexts and calling them to innovative acts of discipleship in partnership with their wider local communities, Perry said. To achieve this second goal, we will collaborate with Episcopal Relief & Development and The Episcopal Church to pilot an online version of their Called to Transformation curriculum. This curriculum offers grant participants theologically grounded training in the principles of asset-based community development. At present, the first cohort of peer learning communities is scheduled for launch next summer, while bi-vocational congregations are still being sought out. Originally, according to Perry, the summer 2021 cohort was going to have a three-day in-person meeting of church and diocesan representatives. However, because of pandemic concerns, the plan was changed to weekly videoconference meetings. According to Perry, a little over a third of Episcopal Church congregations are served by clergy who are supply, bi-vocational, or part-time and it is expected to increase. "Our grant is focused on helping congregations face the future adaptively by embracing a shared model of ministry, built on a shared vocation, shared habits of discipleship, and shared responsibility for engaging the community outside their walls," she explained. "By mentoring churches in this 'bi-vocational' vision of congregational life, we aim not only to help individual churches survive, but also to grow in their capacity to proclaim the Gospel and form mature disciples." Perry believes a reimagined bi-vocational church involves congregants learning to embrace and embody ministry as the work of the entire congregation, not just the work of religious specialists. It is a church where congregants discover pathways to new life and energy together through the tools of biblical study, theological reflection, traditional spiritual practices, and active community listening and engagement, added Perry. Through these practices, reimagined churches will recognize how sharing the call to ministry and discipleship can provide deeper meaning in congregants lives of faith; build relationships with people in their wider community; and help churches reach a new level of spiritual maturity. Reimagined bi-vocational churches, noted Perry, will experience new vitality without needing full-time, professional clergy. The Christian Reformed Church in North America In an announcement made Monday, the Christian Reformed Church in North America explained that it received a $1 million grant to establish a new lay leadership development course. Titled Thrive, the course will be divided into two parts, Thriving Essentials and Thriving Practices, which will be aimed at helping congregations with their local outreach efforts. Thriving Essentials will be a six-part course covering topics such as community and ministry context, Reformed essentials, faith practices, characteristics of thriving congregations, and church leadership, the denomination explained. Each of the sessions will be available in a variety of formats including online webinars, video recordings, in-person workshops, and downloadable materials that churches can use to host their own training event. CRCNA Ministry Support Services Co-Director Tim Postuma explained to CP that the course will begin next year, its programming influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. We wrote the proposal during the pandemic, so it was certainly on our minds, said Postuma. We've planned for both in-person and online delivery, and will be able to flex that as needed. But with the five-year timeframe, we certainly hope and trust that there will be plenty of in-person interaction throughout the project. House passes resolution saying Israel is not a 'racist, apartheid' state after Democrat's comment The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution this week reaffirming support for the Jewish state of Israel following controversy over a Democrat's remarks that the country is a "racist state." The resolution, introduced by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, passed with bipartisan support on Tuesday, with over 400 lawmakers voting in favor and one House Republican voting present. The Nine Democrats who voted no included Reps. Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Jamaal Bowman, Summer Lee, Cori Bush, Ayanna Pressley, Andre Carson and Delia Ramirez. According to the resolution, "the State of Israel is not a racist or apartheid state, Congress rejects all forms of antisemitism and xenophobia, and the United States will always be a staunch partner and supporter of Israel." House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Calif., commended the resolution, saying that he believes there has been growing anti-Semitism over the years. He criticized Democratic colleagues who he claims continue to "promote" anti-Semitism. He didn't mention any lawmakers by name. While the document did not mention Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., by name, the resolution comes after the lawmaker referred to Israel as a "racist state" during a panel at a Netroots Nation event. "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," Jayapal said. The Democratic representative later apologized for the comment in a Sunday statement and voted for the resolution. She claims that she had been trying to "defuse" a tense situation, explaining the protestors were demonstrating against members of Congress on the panel. She added that she doesn't believe Israel is racist, but is opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policies, which she thinks are "discriminatory." Jayapal stated that she has always advocated for a "two-state solution" in the Israeli and Palestinian conflict and that she believes the Israeli government's current policies make it "difficult" for Palestinians to see this solution as feasible. "As an immigrant woman of color who has fought my whole life against racism, hate, and discrimination of all kinds and viscerally feels when anyone's very existence is called into question, I am deeply aware of the many challenges we face in our own country to live up to the ideals of our nation here," the Democratic lawmaker said. "The only way through these difficult moments is to have real conversations where we develop our own understanding of each other and the traumas we all hold," she continued. "These are not easy conversations, but they are important ones if we are ever to move forward. It is in that spirit that I offer my apologies to those who I have hurt with my words and offer this clarification." Shortly after Jayapal's initial remarks, top Democrats issued a statement Sunday to counter, stressing that "Israel is not a racist state." The statement highlighted America and Israel's "shared values and strategic interests." "As House Democratic leaders, we strongly support Israel's right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people," the statement reads. "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 most Democrats supported the resolution, some, such as Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., questioned the reason why Republicans put the resolution on the floor. As The Associated Press reported Tuesday, more than 100 Democrats have signed a letter calling for the removal of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. despite his recent remarks that the COVID-19 virus was specifically designed to spare Jews and Chinese people. "That type of vile messaging and statements should never be given those world's largest platforms to fan the flames of conspiracy theories and racial and ethnic and religious hate," Schultz said. As The Christian Post previously reported, a survey released earlier this year by the American Jewish Committee found that 82% of American Jews agreed that anti-Semitism in the United States has increased in the last five years. Forty-three percent of American Jews said it had increased significantly, and another 39% said that anti-Semitism had increased somewhat. Toe the government line or lose your kids In a strange but eloquent example of irony, the news that the U.K.s National Health Service is banning hormone treatment and transgender surgeries for minors arrived just as I was reading the text of a proposed California bill that would make refusal to affirm a childs transgender confusion an offense for which a parent could lose custody. The bill, called the Transgender, Gender-Diverse, and Intersex Youth Empowerment Act, would require courts to consider a parents acceptance of his or her childs gender identity when deciding custody and visitation cases. One lesson to be drawn from this is that America is once again determined to be exceptional. As Europe apparently becomes a tad more sane on the trans issue, Americas gender dementia only deepens, with the full weight of the law behind it. The political leadership of the U.S. is committed to the transgender cause, though it is likely that few in the White House or Congress have bothered to read any of the gender theory that legitimates it. And it apparently has the kind of backing from sections of the medical establishment that would make Trofim Lysenko drool with envy. Apparently, we must follow the science but only where the demands of our anarchic identity politics lead. Both bode ill for the nations future: Politicians mortgaged to the latest therapeutic fad and scientific knowledge based on lobby groups do not inspire confidence. Yet while the trans issue is the presenting problem, the California bill points toward something of much broader significance: the rise of the notion that parents are defined by function rather than biology. Now, according to the Oxford Dictionary, parent as a verb existed as early as the 16th century, but it did not gain currency until the 20th. And its prominence today is likely significant, reflecting a world where parent is primarily something you do rather than something you are. In one sense, parents have always done things. They care for and protect their children, nurture them, raise them to be adults. That we can talk of good parents and bad parents indicates that parenthood involves functions. But the assumption has always been that the biological relationship is basic and that the judgment of good or bad is understood relative to the moral obligations that relationship necessarily implies. What is interesting is the way in which this biological relation is slowly being attenuated by an increasingly expansive set of functions defined in law and demanded by governments. Add to this the scientific marginalization of natural reproduction first via IVF and surrogacy, then by gay marriage, and soon (it seems) by the production of embryos from stem cells and the notion of being a parent has become more and more removed from the simple biological relationship of being the source of half a childs DNA. And as biology has faded as a stable basis for definition, so a functional definition of parent has risen in prominence. Thus now, with psychological categories coming into play, the way is open for parent to be defined ideologically by the state. That is what the California bill is, in practice, proposing. Much of this derives from the dominance of therapeutic or psychological categories. In a world where many adults increasingly see every criticism as a personal attack and every disagreement as some form of malicious gaslighting, it is not surprising that childrens mental health has been expanded to include affirmation even of the most egregious confusions that our anarchic culture of identity has generated. What is deeply troubling is that this subjectivism is now becoming an instrument for attenuating the relationship between parents and children. In the past, a bruise or a broken bone might well trigger an entirely appropriate intervention by social services. But our present age is a new and rather nasty one. Here the bizarre excesses of the most implausible academic theories combine with the commercial concerns of the pharmaceutical industry and the moral bankruptcy of a political caste interested only in pandering to the most unhinged of sexual revolutionaries. In such a world, parenting, to use the egregious verbal form, becomes a matter of political taste, to be policed by the state. Children become the means by which lunacy is enforced by virtual fiat: Toe the line or lose your kids certainly looks as if it could be a remarkably persuasive strategy. Of course, if California were really concerned about childrens mental health, it would ban the use of social media by children and prosecute parents who permitted them smartphones. Given the role of both in the high levels of anxiety and low self-esteem among the younger generation, such would seem a prudent strategy. But that will not happen any time soon, as social media is one of the primary tools by which the trans movement is capturing the imagination of the young. Despite this latest lunacy, I remain confident that the trans madness will come to an end, though sadly not without significant human carnage. Those responsible for this child abuse the doctors, the clinics, and the pharmaceutical companies are going to be sued and will pay a heavy price. This is America, folks: The establishments ideology is ultimately only plausible as long as it is making, not costing, money. Once those groups start paying out to settle such suits, as if by magic their beliefs will change overnight. We might also hope that the long arm of the law also eventually feels the collar of those lawmakers who have enabled this scandal. Sadly, of course, this will only come about after the willful destruction of the lives of many children who were simply in the wrong place, a morally bankrupt society, at the wrong time, when there was big money and political capital to be made out of treating parent as a verb rather than a noun. Originally published at First Things. Christians asked to pray for an end to trans ideology in schools Christians are being asked to pray after another delay to the publication of new guidance on transgenderism in schools. The Christian Institute said the continued delays were putting more children at risk of harmful transgender ideology and leaving the fight to students, parents, teachers and school governors. "It is clear that there are political battles going on behind the scenes between those who want to put an end to this scandal and those who do not. There is a great deal at stake," said The Christian Institute's Ciaran Kelly. New transgender guidance for schools in England was due to be published by the summer but is now expected in the autumn. It will advise schools on how they should treat children who want to 'socially transition', including whether they should be referred to by different names and pronouns. It was reported in the media this week that the government has pushed back the release of the guidance after the Attorney General for England and Wales advised that an outright ban on social transition in schools may be unlawful and that new legislation may have to be passed. "Transgender guidance for schools in England has been delayed again ... In its absence, hundreds more children are at risk of joining those who have already been harmed by transgender ideology being taught as if it were fact," said Kelly. "Many bitterly regret having been duped. Students, parents, teachers and governors alike will have to continue to fight to uphold the reality of biological sex." Earlier this week, Andrea Williams, head of Christian Concern, voiced disappointment at the delay. "No new laws are needed to tell schools to call boys 'boys' and girls 'girls'," she said. "Children can't change sex. They can't change legal sex, and they can't change biological sex. Why is it so hard for the government to tell schools this simple fact? "Schools enabling young children to socially transition is a major safeguarding issue. It is harmful for the children and all the pupils in the class. There is no excuse for the government continuing to allow this harmful unscientific practice." Church campaign to encourage more black people to adopt Church leaders are giving their support to a new campaign encouraging more people from black and mixed heritage backgrounds to adopt. The National Church Leaders Forum (NCLF) and Churches Together in England's Racial Justice Working Group have joined the You Can Adopt Coalition, which brings together charities, companies and other organisations in supporting prospective adopters. The coalition's latest campaign is seeking to increase adoption within black and mixed heritage communities by showing the range of support available to help people in their adoption journey. There are currently almost 2,000 children in England waiting for adoption, with children from black and mixed heritage backgrounds often having to wait longer than other groups to be adopted - on average 26 months or typically longer for children over the age of five. New data cited by Churches Together in England shows that nearly two thirds (63%) of black African parents living in the UK said they were helped by non-family members in raising their children. A quarter said this help had come from faith groups. Churches are being encouraged to get involved by hosting workshops with adoption experts, raising awareness about the needs of children in care, and helping members of their congregation think through whether adoption might be for them. They can also provide access to books, leaflets and other resources providing advice about the different stages of the adoption process. The NCLF and Churches Together in England said that churches were "perfectly positioned" to offer crucial support to prospective adopters like spiritual counsel and prayer. Bishop Aldred of the National Church Leaders Forum quoted Matthew 18:5, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me," as he called on churches to get involved. He said, "Children are a blessing from God, whether biological or adopted and as adoptees in God's spiritual family, we must extend that blessing to children in need. "The Church family is one of support and solace during the adoption journey. We wholeheartedly endorse supporting adoptive parents and their children." Shermara Fletcher, a member of Churches Together in England's Racial Justice Working Group, said, "Adoption is a beautiful reflection of God's love. "While it can be demanding and stressful at times, prayer, scripture and the church family provide comfort, encouragement and a vital support network. Churches Together in England's Racial Justice Working Group proudly join the coalition to aid those on the adoption journey." Six Christians killed in Nigeria's Benue state Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists on Sunday July 16 killed six Christians in Benue state, Nigeria, the latest of 37 Christians slain the past three weeks in the state, sources said. The assailants arrived on motorcycles at the predominantly Christian villages of Igba-Ukyor and Tse Baka villages, Ushongo County, at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, said Ushongo resident Bemgba Iortyom. "The terrorists, who accompanied armed herdsmen, first attacked Igba-Ukyor village, where they killed five Christians, and then proceeded to a second village, Tse Baka, where they killed one Christian," Iortyom told Morning Star News in a text message. Two other predominantly Christian communities were attacked in Ukum County on July 8, resulting in the massacre of 30 Christians, area residents said. Zaki Akpuuna and Diom villages were attacked at 11 a.m., said Kartyo Tyoumbur, the Ukum council chairman. "The band of terrorists was made up of about 20 who were armed with deadly weapons," Tyoumbur told Morning Star News. "They burned down several houses. Thirty corpses of Christians killed were recovered, while searching for missing Christians is ongoing." Saying victims were members of the Universal Reformed Christian Church (NKST) and the Roman Catholic Church, he identified some of the slain in Zaki Akpuuna as Kator Terwase, Aondowase Kator, Albert Tsavnongo, Mbaalumunga Felix, Terzungwe Kartyo, Hangeior Agudu, Terkimbi Umough, Ushahemba Akerchi, Friday Ezekiel, Terwase Mkoholga, Ayu Ageva Vaakaa, John Ikpor, Bem Shima, Vanger Kwaghkaa, Shaagee Tyokaa, Mfedoo Mamfe, Koholga Sase, Iorlumun Dai, Kwaghmande Mngueorga, Msugh Terwase, Ngutor Oraduen, Iortange Uye and Aker Orgema. On June 30 in Tse Anwhwan village, Logo County, one Christian was killed and two others wounded in an ambush at about 8 p.m., said Council Chairperson Salome Tor. "The armed men ambushed and opened fire on the victims and murdered one Mr. Saater Apera, a member of the NKST church, and also shot and injured two other Christians," Tor told Morning Star News. "The incident was reported to the police, and the corpse of the murdered Christian was recovered, while the two injured victims were taken to the hospital for treatment." Catherine Anene, spokesperson for the Benue State Command, said security personnel were deployed to the areas. "Terrorists have been invading some communities in some local government areas of Benue state," she said. "Police teams, in collaboration with other security agencies, have been deployed to affected areas in order to engage these bandits. We believe that these unprovoked attacks would be contained." Benue state officials said they have appealed to the federal government to take urgent steps to end the atrocities. The Rev. Hyacinth Alia, a Roman Catholic priest who was elected governor of the state in May, said in a statement that the attacks were a grievous sin against God and mankind. "A directive has been given to security agents to arrest those behind these unlawful acts and bring them to book," Alia said. "I send words of condolence to those whose loved ones were killed in these attacks and pray to God for their comfort." Fulani herdsmen and other terrorists killed at least 46 Christians in Benue state in June, part of a recent trend of mass killings in the state. Nigeria led the world in Christians killed for their faith in 2022, with 5,014, according to Open Doors' 2023 World Watch List (WWL) report. It also led the world in Christians abducted (4,726), sexually assaulted or harassed, forcibly married or physically or mentally abused, and it had the most homes and businesses attacked for faith-based reasons. As in the previous year, Nigeria had the second most church attacks and internally displaced people. In the 2023 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian, Nigeria jumped to sixth place, its highest ranking ever, from No. 7 the previous year. "Militants from the Fulani, Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and others conduct raids on Christian communities, killing, maiming, raping and kidnapping for ransom or sexual slavery," the WWL report noted. "This year has also seen this violence spill over into the Christian-majority south of the nation... Nigeria's government continues to deny this is religious persecution, so violations of Christians' rights are carried out with impunity." Numbering in the millions across Nigeria and the Sahel, predominantly Muslim Fulani comprise hundreds of clans of many different lineages who do not hold extremist views, but some Fulani do adhere to radical Islamist ideology, the United Kingdom's All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom or Belief (APPG) noted in a 2020 report. "They adopt a comparable strategy to Boko Haram and ISWAP and demonstrate a clear intent to target Christians and potent symbols of Christian identity," the APPG report states. Christian leaders in Nigeria have said they believe herdsmen attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria's Middle Belt are inspired by their desire to forcefully take over Christians' lands and impose Islam as desertification has made it difficult for them to sustain their herds. 2023 Morning Star News Thinking through the two-child benefit cap debate as Christians This week there has been a row within the Labour Party about the controversial two-child benefit cap. The cap means that families on Universal Credit receive no additional payments for third or subsequent children. Labour has said that it is a dreadful policy but that it cannot afford to scrap it in current circumstances. The Conservative government's original stated aim of the policy (as well as saving money) was to ensure that families in receipt of means-tested benefits "should face the same financial choices about having children as those supporting themselves solely through work". And many people do support the policy. The Fabian Society with close ties to the Labour party - found that more than half the public were in favour of the cap. People believe that parents should take responsibility for how many children they have and can afford. However, the Covid pandemic followed by a cost of living crisis means that many people have lost their jobs, fallen ill, or are simply finding their earnings no longer cover their outgoings. The Child Poverty Action Group found that 71% of poor children live in working families, and that this policy has in fact actively pushed families into poverty. These issues are far more complex than a tabloid headline would suggest, and such broad-brush policies always have unintended consequences. Shockingly, the British Pregnancy Advisory Service has warned that the two child cap has led to more abortions, as women fear they cannot afford to raise another child. Christians on the Left Labour's Christian group - have tweeted to say that they believe the two child cap is incompatible with ending child poverty and is a key driver of food bank use. In my podcast last week, we talked about the importance of long term planning for future generations. The Child Poverty Action Group has estimated that child poverty costs the UK nearly 40 billion per year in terms of lost earnings and income tax, unemployment benefits, and additional spending on public services due to child poverty, such as Pupil Premium and children's social services. Of course there will always be those who abuse the system. But children are always the innocent parties, and I'm not sure we should punish them for the choices of their parents. And in any event, today's economic circumstances are pushing people onto benefits who have never needed them before. Yet at the same time, can we afford to keep supporting them? The Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted that UK national debt will be three times our GDP in 50 years' time. The head of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson, noted that "we cannot begin to afford the current welfare state without very big tax rises" and "if we want to avoid big tax rises we need to dramatically reduce expectations of what the government does". Of course Christians will take different views on what should be done. The author of the two-child policy, Iain Duncan Smith, is a Christian, and did so in order to encourage personal responsibility. But the Bishop of Durham recently piloted a Private Member's Bill through the House of Lords to abolish it, calling it "immoral". So where and how do we draw the lines? As Christians weigh up different parties' proposals, there are three questions we can ask: firstly, do we see in their approach a sense of compassion for the poor and marginalised? 1 John 3:17 says: "If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?" Secondly, do we see a relational approach to policy? We are all part of families and communities, with a responsibility towards one another. Are people viewed as human beings with infinite worth, with commitments to others, or treated as isolated individuals? Thirdly, are the causes of problems being addressed as well as the consequences? Picking up the pieces might cost more than tackling the reasons why people fall into poverty in the first place. Ultimately our welfare state, like our other public services, was designed for a different time. There's a limit to what the state can do. But the recent Theos report called "A Torn Safety Net" warns that the Covid pandemic and rising cost of living means that faith and community groups who have been offering so much provision in their local areas are also reaching the end of their resources as their supporters can no longer afford to give so much of their time and money. But our God is infinitely creative, and we know he cares deeply for those who are struggling. In the words of Psalm 113:7: "He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap". So let's pray that he will raise up thinkers and policy makers who can lay hold of his inspiration and compassion, to find new approaches and solutions to these issues which may seem insurmountable. And let's be encouraged by Ephesians 3:20 that he "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us". Tim Farron has been the Member of Parliament for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005, and served as the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party from 2015 to 2017.Tim is also the host of Premier's 'A Mucky Business' podcast. His new book A Mucky Business: Why Christians should get involved in politics is published in November. Why is the government so fast to act on bank account closures but not transgenderism in schools? The government's swift response to the Nigel Farage 'de-banking' scandal contrasts with its dithering over new transgender guidance for schools. Why is that? Ministers have announced robust action after the exposure of the dossier that Mr Farage obtained from Coutts bank showing his account was cancelled because of his political beliefs. But the political wheels were turning on this issue before the Coutts scandal blew up. The Free Speech Union reports in its latest newsletter: "When the FSU was de-banked by PayPal last September, we kicked up an almighty fuss in the public square ...We saw this for what it was - the emergence in Britain of a Chinese-style social credit system, whereby if your beliefs don't align with the progressive 'values' of modern banks you lose access to their services. "We started talking to Andrew Griffith MP, the Economic Secretary, to see what could be done about it. He invited us to submit evidence to the Treasury about how widespread the de-banking phenomenon is. We duly did that, citing numerous cases many of them members of the FSU. "The result is that the Payment Services Regulations are now being toughened up to stop banks and payment processors closing people's accounts just because they've exercised their lawful right to free speech." This is good news for, amongst others, orthodox Christians. The FSU and Nigel Farage have done a significant public service in their stand against illiberal woke capitalism. But why isn't the government acting to protect children from being targeted by transgender activists in schools and starting on a gender-transitioning journey without parental consent? New government guidance to schools preventing them from allowing children to socially transition behind their parents' backs has now been delayed due to a reported disagreement in the cabinet. In her criticism of the delay, Christian Concern's chief executive Andrea Williams articulated the concerns of a growing number of parents, particularly those who send their children to Church of England primary schools where transgenderism promoted by LGBT lobby group, Stonewall, is going unchallenged. The CofE's transgender-affirming guidance issued in 2019, Valuing All God's Children, even quoted Stonewall research about alleged "homophobic, biphobic and transphobic" bullying in faith schools. Mrs Williams said: "No new laws are needed to tell schools to call boys 'boys' and girls 'girls'. Children can't change sex. They can't change legal sex, and they can't change biological sex. Why is it so hard for the government to tell schools this simple fact? "Schools enabling young children to socially transition is a major safeguarding issue. It is harmful for the children and all the pupils in the class. There is no excuse for the government continuing to allow this harmful unscientific practice. "If the government had the courage to speak plain common sense to schools in order to protect children I believe parents across the nation would breathe a sigh of relief." It is unfortunately not difficult to see why the government is acting against de-banking but dragging its feet on the transgender issue. Social conservatives are in a minority among Conservative MPs. The Education Secretary, Gillian Keegan, who is relaxed about children gender-transitioning at the age of 16, would have a substantial number of Tory MPs on her side if the issue ever came to a parliamentary vote. With Labour and SNP MPs voting against it, any robust measure to put a total stop to transgender activism in schools would fail. Asked by Sky News in January if she thought 16 was too young to make a decision about gender-transitioning, Keegan said: "No, I don't think so. I was working at 16, I was paying tax at 16. I could make decisions for myself at 16." In this respect, British politics is post-Christian, indifferent to biblical truth about the created order and lacking in moral outrage at the harm transgenderism is causing to children and the trauma parents are being put through. But the Conservative government will act on de-banking because that is about money rather than about family life. Is that not how politics is bound to play in a Mammon-worshipping society that does not share the Lord Jesus Christ's passion for the spiritual, moral and physical well-being of children? Julian Mann is a former Church of England vicar now an evangelical journalist based in Lancashire. BROOK PARK, Ohio A 20-year-old Cleveland man assaulted and pulled a handgun on two sisters, one of them his childs mother, and roughed up a 4-year-old boy at about 1 p.m. July 4 outside the womens Glenway Drive apartment building. The mother, accompanied by her sister, had taken her 1-year-old daughter to a nearby park to meet the man so that he could spend time with the girl. After a while, the mother, her daughter and her sister started walking back to their apartment. The man drove alongside the women and girl as they walked. Meanwhile, the mothers current boyfriend, who lived with the mother, was sitting outside the apartment building with his family. The boyfriend approached the women as they arrived at the apartment. He lifted the womans daughter from her stroller. This enraged the girls father, the Cleveland man. He jumped out of his car and ran after the boyfriend, who retreated into the apartment. The Cleveland man then swung his fists at the mother, who was trying to push him away. One of his swings grazed the mothers face. The sister attempted to push the man back. Then the sister and the man exchanged punches. The man grabbed the sister by the hair and pulled her to the ground. He dragged her by the hair toward his car. Then he let go of her hair, and the sister stood up to defend herself. The man pulled a handgun from his waistband and said, Im going to come back and blow this . . . up. Then he drove away. A witness who lived in a neighboring apartment said that during the fight, her 4-year-old son wandered into the fray. The man kicked the boy to the ground, causing a bruise to his arm and ear. Paramedics treated the woman, her sister and the boy on the scene. The sisters face was swollen and her knee and thigh were scraped. The man was later charged with domestic violence, aggravated menacing and assault. BROOK PARK, Ohio A Middleburg Heights man, 20, and a Cleveland man, 18, were cited for disorderly conduct at about midnight July 1 after they fought each other during a road-rage incident that started in Cleveland, then moved into Berea and Brook Park. The younger man sustained several injuries due to the incident and was taken to Southwest General Health Center in Middleburg Heights. The two men gave police conflicting stories about what happened. The older man said he was involved in a vehicle crash with the younger man on I-71 southbound in Cleveland. The younger man, driving a Ford Focus, didnt stop after the crash and sped away. The older man, driving a Kia Rio, followed him in his car. As both cars neared the Snow exit, the younger mans Focus somehow rammed the Rio, forcing the Rio to turn sideways and stop. The older man, who didnt appear injured, drove away afterward. At some point, the men fought each other outside their cars in Berea but its not clear precisely when or where the fight occurred. The younger man admitted that he kept driving after the crash on 71 but only because he wanted to take the nearest exit. He wanted to discuss the crash with the other driver off the freeway, where he believed it was safer. As the younger man neared the Snow exit, the older mans Rio continually rammed his Focus, causing the car to hit a wall several times. The younger man said he sustained most of his injuries during the vehicle crashes, not the fistfight. Brook Park police told the men to file a crash report with Cleveland police. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A missing Bedford womans body was found in Clevelands Slavic Village neighborhood, Bedford deputy police chief Rick Suts confirmed in an email Friday night. Through investigation, the body was positively identified as Breneisha Lightfoot, he said. Police have not said where exactly her body was located in the neighborhood. Police on Friday arrested Lightfoots boyfriend. As of Saturday morning, formal charges have not been filed. Lightfoots family reported her missing on Tuesday, one day after her birthday. Family members told police they couldnt get in contact with her. Officers went to her apartment and found evidence that shows someone may have been seriously injured, police said. Police have not released information on the circumstances surrounding Lightfoots disappearance or how the investigation led to her boyfriends arrest. CLEVELAND, Ohio A man is charged with murder after his missing girlfriends body was found in Clevelands Slavic Village neighborhood, Bedford police Deputy Chief Rick Suts said. Michael Roarty-Nugent may be facing additional charges, Suts added, and will make his initial court appearance via video arraignment at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Bedford Municipal Court, Suts said. Roarty-Nugent is accused of killing his girlfriend Breneisha Lightfoot, of Bedford. After a thorough investigation, the body was positively identified as Lightfoot, he said. Police have not said where exactly her body was located in the neighborhood. Police arrested Roarty-Nugent Friday. Lightfoots family reported her missing on Tuesday, one day after her birthday. They told police they couldnt get in contact with her. Officers went to her apartment and found evidence showing someone may have been seriously injured, police said. Police have not released information on the circumstances surrounding Lightfoots disappearance and killing. Its unclear how police tied Roarty-Nugent to the killing. Destination Cleveland recently unveiled a plan to bathe parts of downtown Cleveland in bright colorful light every night. The project would illuminate Public Square, Euclid Avenue from Public Square to Playhouse Square, and Mall B near the Cleveland convention center. This is something that we want to highlight first and foremost for visitors, but also for locals, said David Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland. How do we take a place that already is wonderful and make it more desirable to be used after dark? Last fall Destination Cleveland checked out how Montreal uses light to entice people downtown through its long winter. Brussels, Belgium, and Indianapolis also provided inspiration. Fundraising for the $7 million project is underway. Destination Cleveland has committed $3.25 million. The city of Cleveland pledged $1 million. Clevelands new lighting experience is to debut next spring, ahead of the NCAA Womens Final Four tournament in early April. But is the project big enough? Tom Bier, senior fellow at Cleveland State Universitys Maxine Goodman Levin School of Urban Affairs, suggests a key area is missing. So, how about the neighborhood known as the Flats, which I think is Clevelands most distinctive visual feature? Bier wrote in a letter to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. Few cities have such an eye-catching jumble of buildings, bridges and a river near their center. So, Destination Cleveland, exploit it. We put the ideas before the members of the Editorial Board. Heres what they said: Leila Atassi, manager public interest and advocacy: This lighting project sounds lovely, and I have no doubt that Destination Cleveland will execute it well. But improving the ambiance of downtown will do little to draw visitors, when the city is failing to mitigate the scourge of gun violence and carjackings. The answer to Gilberts question on how to make Cleveland more desirable after dark is far more complicated than this illumination plan. Ted Diadiun, columnist: Two fine ideas. Grumps will criticize the cost, but downtown Cleveland looks classy and inviting when bathed in color and light, and if the project is spread to the Flats, so much the better. Perhaps more light will mean less crime and fewer lurkers, and heres an even better idea: How about more cops patrolling these areas, so people feel safe enjoying the nightlife Cleveland has to offer? Eric Foster, columnist Its easy to say there are better uses for this money, but this squarely fits the directive of Destination Cleveland to sell the city as a destination. To grow, rather than continue to shrink, Cleveland must sell itself to outsiders. It must also support those that are already here. Its a fine line, but projects like this are (and should be) part of that strategy. Lisa Garvin, editorial board member Im very much against light pollution, so the idea of spending money on purely decorative lighting is anathema. Most cities are so brightly lit (under a false illusion of safety) that its negatively affecting birds, wildlife and humans alike. And to be honest, who will be around to see the pretty lights when crime in downtown Cleveland is getting out of hand? Thomas Suddes, editorial writer A nifty idea, go for it -- but as suggested, add the Flats to the project. That would further enrich the visual feast. Elizabeth Sullivan, opinion director Tom Bier is right. Clevelands most distinctive and historic landscape, both architecturally and in the variety and engineering of its bridges, is in the Flats. Lets promote it by lighting it up - though maybe not every night. Dark city skies also have their beauty and utility. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com RUSSELL TOWNSHIP, Ohio Neighbor trouble: Birchmont Drive: A dispute broke out with threats made, prompting police to arrive10:44 a.m. July 8 after a man cut down a neighbors dead tree that had fallen into his yard. No physical violence occurred. All parties to the dispute were directed to stay away from each others properties, and that the issue of the tree was a civil matter. Advice was given. Less than two hours later one of the complainants found a diaper discarded in the roadside ditch in front of their home. Suspecting it was from the neighbor, police were called. The neighbor denied it. All parties were reminded to stay away from each others properties. Assistance, Sweetbriar Lane: Police and EMS responded 7:20 a.m. July 6 to a home where an elderly man fell in his front yard. He was transported to the hospital. Traffic complaint, Cypress Pond Lane: Police received a complaint July 6 about burnout tire marks left in the road on the cul-de-sac sometime around July 4. The complainant described the culprit as a black Mustang car with orange stripes and named a street where the person may reside. Suspicious person, Kinsman Road: While on patrol 10:47 a.m. July 7 an officer encountered a man lying in the grass along the road, east of Hemlock Point. In speaking with him the man said he was okay and refused medical attention. He was resting from his walk from Colorado to New York while on a spiritual journey. He was transported to the Affelder House in The West Woods park to rest before continuing on his journey. Suspicious vehicle, Kinsman Road: An unknown silver mini van pulled into a residential driveway 11 a.m. July 5, and the driver walked up to the home but did not attempt to enter it. The caller wanted the incident on record because there have been thefts from the property in the past. Special police attention was requested. Get police blotters by email every weekday for free with our new Police Blotter newsletter. Sign up at cleveland.com/newsletters. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Once upon a time in America, it was normal for people who were political opposites to have a civil and productive conversation. One such interaction from that bygone era might just serve as a road map to help us find our way back to that forgotten sense of civility and respect. The year was 1968, and the eras best-known conservative media personality and one of its most influential hippies appeared together for nearly an hour-long televised discussion. Its hard to overstate how stressful and divisive American politics were at that time. In 1968, both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated; North Vietnam and the Viet Cong launched the Tet Offensive; Richard Nixon was elected; the Civil Rights Act was signed, that years Democratic convention devolved into violent chaos, and locally, a Black Power group got into a deadly gunfight with police in an event known as the Glenville Shootout. Despite the social and political turmoil of perhaps the most divisive time in 20th century America, Allen Ginsberg and William Buckley were able to engage in a respectful dialogue -- which touched on topics of psychedelics and the budding war on drugs, censorship, religion, the Vietnam War and more. Buckley, who once advocated for the use of nuclear weapons in Vietnam, seemed to listen and appreciate when Ginsberg, an openly gay arch-hippy, who vehemently opposed the war, read a poem he wrote while high on LSD. Ginsberg, who was known to publish poems with profanity and sexually explicit passages, didnt troll Buckley or try to make him uncomfortable with a shocking, explicit passage. Buckley listened and even complimented him on the poem. While neither side wavered from their beliefs during the discussion, they had a respectful exchange and were even able to find some common ground on the topic of limiting government power, the writing of Henry Miller and veneration of the Sacred Heart in Christianity. For most Americans, this sort of dialogue feels impossible in modern times. What you said Following a February column from cleveland.com editor Chris Quinn about civil discourse, we partnered with Baldwin Wallace University and Braver Angels Ohio, a group that seeks to improve how Americans communicate with one another about political and social issues, to produce a scientific survey of Northeast Ohioans. The survey sample was selected by Lucid Holdings LLC of New Orleans, and surveys were conducted by SurveyUSA. Responses were weighted to U.S. Census targets for demographics such as gender, age and race. The margin of error was +/- 4.5%. The results showed that 74% said civility in American politics has decreased in the last 10 years; 68% of respondents said civility in politics was either very or extremely important, and 78% of those who answered that civility had declined went further to say they believe the decline in civility is a crisis. Those opinions carried across all demographics of the 600 randomly-sampled adults from a wide swath of Northern Ohio no matter their age, race or political affiliation. A positive example How we got to this point is a debatable matter and was also a partial focus of questions on the survey. But the polarization of the 1960s and the artful way that Buckley and Ginsberg managed it during their discussion can be instructive for efforts to heal the deep political divisions in modern society, one conversation at a time. There are two main reasons Buckley and Ginsberg were able to have a productive discussion, despite their profound differences: They lived in a time when the political and media environment wasnt as geared toward ginning up partisan conflict, and they employed interpersonal skills that allowed for constructive disagreement. During a portion of the discussion where Ginsberg rejected the need to censor profanity, Buckley responded by summarizing Ginsbergs position on the issue, without distorting Ginsbergs point or trying to make him seem foolish. Thats a tactic recommended by Braver Angels, which seeks to bridge the partisan divide in America by improving the ways people of different political opinions communicate with one another. Another strategy Braver Angels recommends is finding things both parties have in common. During the Ginsberg/Buckley interview, the two expressed a shared interest in writers and the poem Ginsberg read on the air. Once you get a common element that you can both agree to, you can move forward on finding solutions, said Beverly Horstman of Braver Angels Ohio. And thats what has been lost in our country. Thats where polarization has stopped that from happening. During a moment of disagreement, Buckley prefaced one of his statements by saying in my judgement, rather than just telling Ginsberg that hes wrong. Thats another approach Braver Angels recommends. While both are having a productive discussion, theyre still human. Ginsberg interrupted Buckley throughout the interview, and Buckley at one point dismissed a point Ginsberg made as something concocted while under the influence of drugs. Theres no perfect political discussion, particularly among polar opposites. But the Ginsberg/Buckley interview leaves the impression that both parties have a lot to contribute to the countrys dialogue. At the very least, their debate is more productive than the kinds of discussions many of us are having today. Structural factors A lack of communication skills among people on social media is not the only reason a productive and public discussion like this feels unlikely today. Pressure to compete for an online audience and the decline in traditional ad revenue incentivize media and those who appear on it to create outrage at the expense of productive public discussion, according to Chris Stirewalt, a former Fox News politics editor who authored Broken News: Why the Media Rage Machine Divides American and How to Fight Back. Deprived of their ability to make large profits by controlling access to information, media companies will turn into commanders in the culture war, wrote Chris Stirewalt, who was forced out of Fox News after accurately predicting Joe Biden would win Arizona in the 2020 presidential election. Klein, a progressive journalist, agrees with Stirewalt on this point. There is evidence structuring positive, collaborative interactions can promote understanding, Klein wrote in Why Were Polarized. But very little in either political media or social media is designed for positive interactions with the other side. Civil discourse versus civility The ability for people of vastly different political opinions to have a productive exchange without dominating the other is crucial for a functioning democracy, Horstman said. I think theres a difference between civility and civil discourse. What Braver Angels is about is not having everyone sit together and sing kumbaya, which is a little more what civility is being equated with today, but we have to have civil discourse, Horstman said. If you cant sit down and have a conversation that is civilly based, where you are listening and talking and expressing opinions and perspectives, youre not going to find common ground that you can move forward on. To achieve this, Braver Angels advocates using the four Cs: being curious, charitable, conscientious and constructive. A group with similar goals, Starts With Us, advocates its own set of Cs: curiosity, compassion and courage. However you want to describe it, the point is to set ground rules, so sensitive discussions dont turn into fights, said Piers Turner, the director of the Center for Ethics and Values at Ohio State University. There are ground rules that we can all embrace that allow our conversations to be robust and rigorous, and still allow us to respect each other at the end of the day and not feel like the other person is just trying to score points and take us down, Turner said. In-depth Separate from the scientific survey, cleveland.com also conducted an online poll in which readers talked in depth about how a lack of ability to constructively communicate with their political opposites has affected their lives. Weve lost our ability to listen, especially to people we deem unlike ourselves, one respondent wrote. Because of this inability to communicate in a healthy way, we actually have become afraid to talk to others; we have family pledges not to talk about certain topics. How can we restore civility if we are too inept to listen effectively and too scared to speak without malice or judgment? Another respondent said the fear of blowback from an opposing side is preventing conversations from even starting. I would truly like to think that citizens who hold different opinions would be willing to discuss and talk respectfully to each other, but fear violence and vitriol from people in this present time, one respondent said. It did not used to be like this. This is part of a series called the Civil Discourse Initiative, which aims to improve how Ohioans of all political stripes communicate with one another. Feel free to reach out to the series author at ldaprile@cleveland.com. The fate of operations at West Coast ports in Canada hinges on the results of a vote among rank-and-file members of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union Canada. The full union began reviewing the tentative deal with port ownership Tuesday after a week of confusion and turmoil at the ports, and the voting process among rank-and-file members of the ILWU Canada is expected to begin Thursday and Friday. The union has told CNBC there is no set timetable to announce vote results. Last week, the Canadian government had said the strike was over and the deal its mediators had put together was accepted by both parties, but the union caucus later voted down the tentative deal. That set off a series of on-again, off-again work stoppages, creating confusion and frustration among shippers. Ultimately, the ILWU caucus approved and recommended to its membership the terms of settlement proposed by the senior federal mediator and ratified by the British Columbia Maritime Employers Association, or BCMEA, which represents port ownership, on July 13. In a tweet, Canadian Labor Minister Seamus O'Regan thanked the caucus for sending the tentative deal to the membership. According to the BCMEA, the settlement package includes a compounded 19.2% wage increase over four years, which would result in the median ILWU income moving from $136,000 to $162,000, not including benefits and pension. The proposed deal also provides an 18.5% increase in retirement lump sum payments, increased tool allowances, benefits, and pension contributions. Damage to supply chain Logistics managers and trade experts tell CNBC the delays created by the strike, which began July 1 and lasted 13 days before ending July 20, and the half-day strike this week, created costly diversions and delays. Weekly rail trade data aggregated by the American Association of Railroads reveals a continued decrease of 82.4% in rail trade. The Railway Association of Canada has estimated that it would take three to five days for every day the strike lasted for networks and supply chains to recover. When the first strike ended on its 13th day, delays for rail containers were estimated at 39 to 66 days. That does not include the delays in vessels waiting to get processed. The ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert are critical for U.S. trade, with 15% of U.S. trade coming into the Port of Vancouver, and 60% of all the containers bound for rail destined for the U.S. Trade delays lead to late fees on cargo containers that shippers pass onto the consumer. The delays also are taking place during peak shipping season, including back-to-school and holiday orders bound for the U.S. The National Association of Chemical Distributors told CNBC some chemical companies are expecting supply chain congestion until October as a result of the strike. Critical chemicals that go into food, cleaning, water purification, and personal care, among many others, flow through the West Coast ports of Canada and down to the United States. The association's CEO, Eric Byer, said chemical distributors were already seeing significant delays in the movement of products and that the second strike will add to what is already "millions of dollars of chemicals" stranded on the water. "It is imperative that both the BCMEA and ILWU come to an immediate agreement to ensure the stability of a global supply chain that continues to encounter significant operating challenges," Byer said. In a statement, Canadian National Railroad said it is concerned about the impact of this renewed work stoppage on the North American economy and on Canada's reputation as a trading partner. "We will be communicating with our customers to discuss next steps. Our supply chains need reliability, stability, and predictability to function properly. We urge the Government and both parties to do whatever is necessary to get goods moving again," it said. Trade on the water waiting to enter the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert has decreased to around $3 billion as vessels have either left to go to U.S. ports first or have left altogether. At the height of the strike, the amount of trade was around $12 billion. Destine Ozuygur, head of operations at eeSea, said that given this latest supply chain surprise, carriers and terminals are weighing decisions and waiting on more information before taking action. Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that ILWU Canada union members began reviewing a tentative deal with port management Tuesday. The voting process is expected to begin Thursday and Friday, with no set timetable for results to be released. An earlier version of this article misstated the timeline for the union process. David and Annie Lu, siblings and co-founders of H20k Innovations Photo courtesy David and Annie Lu Annie Lu was a student at Harvard when Covid-19 brought the world to a screeching halt, including her own college experience. "I remember in March of 2020 basically being kicked off campus and everything going virtual," Lu, 22, told CNBC in a video interview in June. At the end of the spring semester in 2020, Lu's sophomore year, she did not return to school. She hasn't looked back since. That's because Lu, and her older brother David, 25, have since launched and are now growing their own company, H2Ok Innovations, which uses a combination of hardware and software to improve the efficiency of factories by reducing how much liquid they use. "I can't speak to what would have been, but what I can say is it was such an easy decision for me to make and it was so obvious," Annie told CNBC. "The trade-off was virtually nothing." Leaving Harvard and becoming obsessed with improving factory efficiency with your older brother might seem like a surprising move. But there is a deep family connection: Annie and David's paternal grandfather started a factory in China that manufactured specialty fine chemicals, and their dad worked for the family's chemical-manufacturing business. So did Annie and David's uncles. And they were proud to do so. "As with every family business, everyone is involved in the family business," Annie told CNBC. David was born in Saskatoon, Canada, and at age 1 moved to the Bay Area, where Annie was born. Their parents are immigrants from China. Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Annie Lu visiting her family's factory in China when she was younger. Photo courtesy Annie Lu When Annie and David were young, their grandfather, who was deeply passionate about chemistry, taught them chemical reactions and how various pieces of industrial equipment worked. Also as kids, Annie and David would tour their family's factories and learn about chemical factory parts, like the distillation towers. The idea of "lean manufacturing" was also a topic of conversation in the family. "I remember in elementary and middle school spending summers touring factories, and having exposure to large scale industrial equipment, understanding how they work. We grew up in the sector," Annie told CNBC. "That's where our inspiration germinated from, I would say." Since officially launching their sibling enterprise in March 2021, H20k Innovations has raised $6.8 million from investors including Construct Capital, Flybridge Capital, Techstars, 1517 Fund and 2048 Ventures. The company is headquartered out of Greentown Labs in Boston, and is booking revenue. Annie and David were recognized as 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 and in March, H20k Innovations was recognized at Unilever's annual supplier summit and granted the "Start-up of the Year Award." Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Annie and David Lu at a Harvard Innovation Labs event, when they were still ideating. Photo courtesy Annie and David Lu The two started the company just as Covid-19 disrupted supply chains globally, bringing the importance of manufacturing into the spotlight. "The pandemic exposing gaps within manufacturing and industrials ... was an inspiration" for launching H20k, Annie said. "It was a perfect opportunity." From Techstars in Minnesota to setting up shop in Boston In fall 2020, Annie and David moved to Minneapolis for the Techstars Farm to Fork program, which accepted them based on previous projects. "Annie and I love hacking and building things together," David told CNBC. "We work really well with each other. There are so many projects we have built in our upbringing when we were growing up." Annie and David Lu at the Farm to Form TechStars Accelerator. Photo courtesy Annie and David Lu They came to Techstars with the idea of developing a low-cost technology to identify contamination in natural waterways and drinking water. But as part of the program, Annie and David got access to 120 executive leaders in various parts of food tech, and they asked those executives what their biggest headaches were. Eventually, they decided to focus on improving the efficiency of liquid use in manufacturing processes. "Liquids and fluids are at the heart of it in production process in so many different sectors," Annie said, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, semiconductor making and cooling commercial buildings and factories. "It is such a large white space, and an area where there exists a lot of gaps." By the end of Techstars, Annie and David had their vision for H2Ok Innovations set and started to execute. They came up with the idea of using a combination of physical sensors and software to measure and optimize both the use and composition of liquids and fluids in manufacturing. Their process involves collecting that data and using their software to combine the liquids data with other factory and facilities data in what Annie calls a "very, very versatile" internet-of-things system. Conventionally, data that is gathered in a factory stays on premises. "We're basically unlocking previously untapped data streams," Annie said. Improving the efficient use of liquids in manufacturing processes reduces waste and lost product, which means the factories are also operating more sustainably. In 2021, David joined Annie in Boston worked out of a space called Artisan's Asylum for about six months and then moved into Greentown Labs. Annie and David Lu with members of the H2Ok Innovations team at the Unilever Ben and Jerry's facility. Photo courtesy Annie and David Lu In fall of 2021 and early 2022, Annie and David participated in the 100+ Accelerator program, a virtual accelerator program run by Unilever in partnership with AB InBev, the Coca Cola Co. and Colgate-Palmolive. "The aim of the 100+ Accelerator program is to rapidly fuel the growth of startups developing sustainability solutions including reducing energy used in supply chains. Through the partnership, we work directly with entrepreneurs to refine and test their new technologies in our businesses, to put their solutions on an accelerated path to deliver a positive impact towards our sustainability goals," Sandeep Desai, the Unilever ice cream chief product supply officer, told CNBC in a written statement. "These startups operate across many fields including new packaging technologies, digital and geospatial solutions and new ways to upcycle product ingredients, that would otherwise be considered as waste," Desai said. As part of this partnership, Unilever tested the H2Ok Innovations solution at its Ben & Jerry's facility in Waterbury, Vermont. "At our Waterbury Ice Cream Sourcing Unit, our partnership has allowed for an 18% reduction in downtime during cleaning, which increases productivity and lowers costs in the supply chain. We have also saved 40% of a cleaning cycle's water consumption by using the technology," Desai said. Unilever is working to implement the H2Ok solution at other non-ice cream facilities in the U.S. and Brazil, Desai said. In spring 2021, the siblings raised their first round of funding, and added to that during summer of 2022. H2Ok Innovations now has 17 total employees. For investors, H2Ok's value proposition is especially timely, as more manufacturing is coming back to the United States, and those facilities face increasingly strict efficiency standards. "The U.S. is rising again as a manufacturing powerhouse and there is a compression of the normal technology lifecycle adoption curve in industrial companies and a push to be both innovative and more efficient given decades of intense, global competition," Jeff Bussgang from Flybridge Capital told CNBC. "U.S. manufacturers have a strong climate and sustainability mandate, compelling them to be even more precise with their usage of liquids and energy." Plus, some investors see an inevitability to the sensor technology H2Ok Innovations is using. "We found the H2Ok's vision of replacing monolith-based water measurement with a swarm of sensors very compelling. Our thesis is that all measurements and data will be provided in real time and used to optimize operations of plants, data centers, etc.," Alex Iskold from 2048 Ventures told CNBC. "That's exactly what H2Ok is building." Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards Annie and the H2Ok Innovations team at a customer facility, point up at their technology deployed in a factory. Photo courtesy Annie Lu The sibling bond runs deep All of the investors who spoked to CNBC commented on how impressed they were with Annie and David, which is to be expected of investors doting on their portfolio companies, but still, the glowing accolades were notable and reflect the conviction the siblings share in building in the space their family has worked in for generations. "They are exceptionally smart, visionary and courageous the kind of founders investors dream to back," Iskold told CNBC. "We invested because they are incredible founders. Annie and David are relentless and incredibly smart, and this is the culture they have built out at H2Ok. They are the right and rare mixture of customer- and problem-oriented, and they have executed well to build a defensible technical solution that fits the customers' needs," Dayna Grayson from Construct Capital told CNBC. "The founders are brilliant technologists and visionaries," Bussgang from Flybridge Capital told CNBC. Being siblings brings a level of inherent trust in that's valuable to both Annie and David, who have been close to each other and the rest of their family their entire lives. The H2Ok Innovations team at Greentown Labs in Boston, where they are currently headquartered. Photo courtesy David and Annie Lu. That trust is invaluable because running a business with employees, partners and customers can get stressful. "There are hard conversations that need to be had," Annie said. "We can have these hard conversations in a very, very comfortable way, and hold each other accountable and push each other to be better." "We know how to fight, we know how to have hard conversations. We've been fighting our whole lives," David said. Both Annie and David giggled at this thought. It's something of a joke, they said, but it's also serious. Getting through hard conversations is "crucial for the success of a business," David said. Their complimentary skill set is a great boon, too. Annie is creative and an "especially out-of-the-box thinker," said David. And David is excellent at recognizing patterns across disciplines and executing on technical developments, Annie said. They also share a philosophy on how to interact with people. They acknowledge that they're young and that listening to others is important. "I think this aspect of authenticity, and coming into every single conversation with customers, to users, to mentors, and beyond with deep humility and empathy is so critical to who we are as a team, but particularly who we are as founders," Annie said. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Activist Commentary: Elliott is a very successful and astute activist investor, particularly in the technology sector. The firm's team includes analysts from leading tech private equity firms, engineers, operating partners former technology CEO and COOs. When evaluating an investment, the firm also hires specialty and general management consultants, expert cost analysts and industry specialists. Elliott often watches companies for many years before investing and has an extensive stable of impressive board candidates. The firm has not disclosed its stake in this investment, but based on its history, we would expect it to be in excess of $1 billion. On July 18 , Elliott and Constellation entered into a cooperation agreement, pursuant to which the company agreed to increase the size of its board to 13 directors from 11 and appoint William T. Giles (former chief financial officer and executive vice president finance, information technology and store development, customer satisfaction for AutoZone ), and Luca Zaramella (CFO and EVP of Mondelez International ), as members of the board with initial terms expiring at the company's 2024 annual meeting. Elliott agreed to abide by certain customary voting and standstill provisions. Constellation Brands produces and markets beer, wine and spirits, but it's essentially a beer company with 85% of its revenue coming from beer sales. Historically, it has been a niche brand marketer in a family-controlled business. But that is all changing. In November 2022, the company undertook a reclassification, which led to the Sands family getting paid $1.5 billion for their Class B stock and took the company out of family control. Moreover, it is not just a niche beer business anymore. Modelo Especial has become the No. 1 selling beer in the U.S. and has high single-digit volume growth, something that is very rare in the oligopoly of the beer industry. This is an industry with stable cash flow and high margins. Similar businesses trade at 30 to 35 times earnings as opposed to 22.6 times for Constellation. So, what has gone wrong here? First, the company has traded at a discount because of the dual-class share structure that allowed the Sands family to control Constellation. Second, as we often see with family-controlled companies, there has been a lack of discipline that has led to the erosion of shareholder value and the loss of shareholder confidence. In 2018, Constellation raised its stake in a cannabis company, Canopy Growth, by $4 billion. That's in addition to its initial investment of about $190 million in 2017. The arrangement has not worked out, leading to a write down of more than $1 billion. The company had also commenced the construction of a $1.4 billion brewery in Mexicali, Mexico and ultimately was forced to close it in 2020. Constellation also bought craft brewer Ballast Point in 2015 for $1 billion, only to sell it about four years later. However, since these missteps the company, has taken meaningful steps in the right direction. In March 2019, Bill Newlands became president and CEO, succeeding Rob Sands. Also, the restructuring took the company out of family control and led to the Sands family abdicating their executive and committee roles, including Rob Sands announcing his retirement as chairman earlier this month. Now, they have appointed two activist-induced directors to the board after Elliott has been working amicably with the CEO and management for several months. Now, the company is looking for a new independent chair and for the first time ever is in a position to be run like a public company for the benefit of shareholders. That should not be that difficult for a company like this. The low hanging fruit here is for management to just stay out of its own way. A refreshed board with a CEO not beholden to the Sands family should lead to a more disciplined capex and strategic plan that should not only avoid the self-induced errors of the past but be accretive to shareholder value and earnings per share. This leaves a core beer business that can now be operated without unnecessary distractions. This business has had consistent revenue growth of high single digits. While some of this can be attributed to missteps made by Anheuser-Busch, Modelo has established itself as a top brand along Budweiser and Coors and has a much larger path for growth. Unlike Budweiser and Coors, Modelo does not currently enjoy mass U.S. penetration. It is very well represented in the West, but has a lot of distribution growth opportunity throughout the rest of the country, particularly in the middle of the country and the Eastern Seaboard. It should not take more than just basic "blocking and tackling" to continue this growth and the high margins that come along with it. Finally, there is an opportunity to grow and operate the wine and spirits business. A disciplined board and management team that regains the confidence of shareholders could do some strategic acquisitions to grow this business. Ken Squire is the founder and president of 13D Monitor, an institutional research service on shareholder activism, and the founder and portfolio manager of the 13D Activist Fund, a mutual fund that invests in a portfolio of activist 13D investments. The USS Kentucky missile submarine in Busan, South Korea, on July 19, 2023. North Korea launched two missiles into waters off its east coast in a show of anger hours after its arrival. North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward the sea to the west of the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean military said on Saturday. This would be North Korea's latest missile launch since it fired two ballistic missiles on Wednesday, as Pyongyang and Washington step up displays of military force in a standoff over the isolated country's nuclear weapons and missile programmes. A number of cruise missiles launched since around 4 a.m. Saturday local time (1900 Friday GMT) were detected, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. On Wednesday, North Korea fired missiles hours after a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) surfaced for a rare visit to South Korea. North Korea also warned on Thursday that deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers, bombers or missile submarines in South Korea could meet criteria for its use of nuclear weapons. Natnan Srisuwan | Moment | Getty Images Consequences include canceled flights, airline bans watch now It has become easier to engage in the practice due to online travel bookings, including via sites like Skiplagged.com that specialize in such bookings, French said. Skiplagged.com has a series of frequently asked questions that speak to some of the associated risks, and advice for working around them. "This is perfectly legal and the savings can be significant, but there are some things to be aware of," the company said in one FAQ response, adding: "You might upset the airline, so don't do this often." The risks were illustrated earlier this month when a teenager tried using the practice. The teen was scheduled to fly from Gainesville, Florida, to New York, with a stop in Charlotte, North Carolina; instead of disembarking in New York, the passenger planned to do so in Charlotte. Baona | E+ | Getty Images The carrier, American Airlines, reportedly discovered the traveler's intent and canceled their ticket. In addition to getting a flight canceled and then having to re-book last-minute, likely erasing any initial cost savings travelers could get banned from an airline's frequent-flier program and lose all its accompanying perks, Slotnick said. Carriers may also ban travelers from flying that airline in the future, he said. They also can theoretically take a traveler to court for damages. When booking a flight, travelers agree to airlines' contracts, or conditions of carriage. These contracts set rules for passengers, and often forbid skiplagging (though generally don't use that specific term), experts said. American Airlines' contract, for example, states: "Your ticket is valid only when travel is to/from the cities on your ticket and in your trip record." I think it reveals a bizarre and counterintuitive way the airline-pricing model works. David Slotnick senior aviation business reporter at The Points Guy More explicitly, it also prohibits reservations "made to exploit or circumvent fare and ticket rules," examples of which include: "Purchasing a ticket without intending to fly all flights to gain lower fares (hidden city ticketing)." United Airline and Orbitz filed a lawsuit against Skiplagged.com's founder in 2014, but a judge dismissed the case the following year. Carriers generally don't like the practice because, for one thing, they can lose revenue. They may have been able to sell an empty seat to another passenger, or perhaps sell a more expensive nonstop ticket to the skiplagging passenger, for example. Additionally, when travelers deviate from what's expected it messes with airlines' internal planning, flight scheduling and data science, for example, Slotnick said. "They're not angry that people save $20 on a flight," he said. "It's more the predictability in the data set." Skiplagging only exists "as a result of airlines' own pricing schemes," Dan Gellert, chief operating officer of Skipplagged.com, said in an e-mail. "Airlines have monopolies on certain hub airports and their pricing reflects that. Thousands of people book Skiplagging or hidden city tickets every day and we generally hear of no issues from any of them," Gellert said. There are other risks, inconveniences to skiplagging The U.S. military is raising the stakes and widening the field on a high-profile competition for Space Force mission contracts. The Space Force plans to buy even more rocket launches from companies in the coming years than previously expected, granting more companies a chance at securing billions in potential contracts. "This is a huge deal," Col. Doug Pentecost, the deputy program executive officer of the U.S. Space Force's Space Systems Command, told reporters during a briefing this week. Earlier this year the Space Force kicked off the process to buy five years' worth of launches, under a lucrative program known as National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Phase 3. Now it's boosting the scale. The U.S. sees a rising impetus to improve its military capabilities in space, spurring the need to almost triple the number of launches in Phase 3 that it bought in Phase 2 in 2020. "That just blows my mind," Pentecost said. "We had only estimated 36 missions in Phase 2. For Phase 3, we're estimating 90 missions." In February, Space Force outlined a "mutual fund" strategy to buying launches from companies. It split NSSL Phase 3 into two groups. Lane 1 is the new approach, with lower requirements and a more flexible bidding process that allows companies to compete as rockets debut over the coming years. Lane 2 represents the existing approach, with the Space Force planning to select a set number of companies for missions that meet the most demanding requirements. Pentecost said Space Force hosted an industry day in February to go over the program's details and had 22 companies show up. Since then, Space Force made a number of adjustments to Phase 3. It has added more missions, introduced a price cap, expanded Lane 2, and has set an annual schedule for mission assignments. The government weighs bids by a company's "Total Evaluated Price" per launch. That's split into "Launch Service," meaning how much it costs to build and launch a rocket, and the "Launch Service Support," which covers special requirements the military may have for launch. The Launch Service Support amount is capped at $100 million per year per company. "We implemented some cost-constraining tools so that we don't balloon. We don't want [a situation where] everybody gets a mission you get a mission, you get a mission, you get a mission because then there's no real competition," Pentecost said. "We do think that all of our industry partners want to be the number one guy, so we think that will provide competitive pricing to keep our costs down," Pentecost added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 21) The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and telco firms Globe Telecom Inc., PLDT, Smart Communications Inc., DITO Telecom Inc., and Converge ICT Solutions signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Friday to establish the Connectivity Index Rating. The rating system will be similar to hotel ratings that assess establishments on various parameters. Among the criteria will be internet speed, accessibility, availability, and security. "By having this initiative, we actually are able now to push all the establishments to improve their quality of service, especially on telecommunications and internet availability," said DICT Secretary Ivan Uy. The DICT chief clarified that the rating system is not mandatory nor will there be penalties because the incentives for businesses will be the exposure once the ratings are published. He said the rating system will also help the government target specific areas that have connectivity issues and allocate resources for interventions. "We can identify whether it is the establishment not willing to pay more to upgrade the quality of service or it's on the supply side. Whether the telcos are not able to provide the necessary bandwidth there," he said. Uy added that government subsidy is not possible for private establishments seeking to improve their connectivity since they generate their own income. However, they will look into providing support for micro, small, and medium enterprises. Private Sector Advisory Council Digital Infrastructure Head Henry Aguda, meanwhile, said he believes businesses will want to have high ratings to entice more customers and improve their service. He said the rating system seeks to improve connectivity in tourist spots and areas with a lot of foot traffic. "We want hotels, restaurants, malls to have the highest ratings. So, when tourists come here, they will have connectivity. And beyond that, also government services," Aguda added. The DICT is currently working with the Department of Tourism (DOT) to improve internet connectivity in tourist destinations. The DOT said the country has logged over 3 million international visitor arrivals as of July 19, amounting to 212 billion inbound tourist receipts. The technical working group composed of the DICT and telco firms will meet to finalize the standards and implementation of the rating system. It also targets to come up with a report on results of the rating system by year-end. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Russia's pro-war blogger and hardline Putin critic Igor Girkin detained Pro-war blogger and President Vladimir Putin's hardline critic, Igor Girkin, who earlier criticised Russia's military strategy in Ukraine, has been remanded in custody by a court in Moscow, media reports said. Igor Strelkov at the press conference in the Ural State Mining University, Yekaterinburg, March 14, 2015. Photo Courtesy: ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) / Wikimedia Commons The hardline nationalist, also known as Igor Strelkov, could face up to five years in jail, reports BBC. His wife claimed he was detained from his flat on Friday. A former FSB intelligence colonel, Strelkov played a key role in Russia's 2014 land grab of Crimea, reports BBC. Igor Girkin had even led Russia's proxy army in the ensuing war in eastern Ukraine. Igor Strelkov was one of three men convicted in absentia by a Dutch court last November of murder for his role in a missile strike in 2014 that downed a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over the conflict area, with the loss of all 298 people on board, the British media reported. But as the full-scale invasion of last year became increasingly bogged down, Strelkov's criticism of military failings and the commander in chief, President Vladimir Putin, became more vociferous. "We have already lost," he told social media followers last year as quoted by BBC. A few days ago he called the Kremlin leader "a nonentity" and "a cowardly waste of space", says BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg. Meanwhile, Russias bombardment of Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea could have far-reaching impacts on global food security, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council. DiCarlo strongly condemned the aerial strikes this week on the ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv, which destroyed critical infrastructure and killed or injured civilians. The attacks followed Russia's decision on Monday to effectively end the Black Sea Initiative, the UN-brokered accord that facilitated Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs to be shipped to international markets at a time of spiralling global food prices and rising hunger. DiCarlo said these events are but the latest developments in Russias "senseless war against its neighbour", which has consequences that can be felt around the world. Sandeep Chakravorty set to be Indian Ambassador to Indonesia: MEA Sandeep Chakravorty, a 1996-batch Indian Foreign Services Officer, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Indonesia, the Ministry of External Affairs stated. Chakravorty, who is currently a Joint Secretary in the MEA, is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Chakravorty had earlier served as the Consul General in New York, and as Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia. Photo: Connected to India India is the second largest buyer of coal and crude palm oil from Indonesia and imports minerals, rubber, pulp and paper and hydrocarbon reserves. India exports refined petroleum products, commercial vehicles, telecommunication equipment, agriculture commodities, bovine meat, steel products and plastics to Indonesia. Chakravorty had earlier served as the Consul General in New York, and as Ambassador of India to Peru and Bolivia. Also read: India's march towards USD 5-trillion GDP goal is unstoppable: Consul General in New York He has also held several positions including Press Relations Officer, Staff Officer to Minister and worked on desks dealing with Central Asia, East Asia and China in the MEA during his career. He has a Masters degree in Advanced Studies in International Security from Geneva University, a Masters degree in Sociology besides a Post Graduate Diploma in Forestry Management. He graduated in Physics from Delhi University. How many people could you take in a fight? Probably at least six or seven simultaneously, yeah? But heres a more difficult question: How do you stop those same number of people from fighting without engaging any of them in combat? Could you calm them all using nothing but the power of your own presence? If so, youre a master of peace, charisma and laughter, on par with the following champions. 5 The Bad Guys Mama This story of honor among criminals starts in Australias Pentridge Prison, with inmates Mark Read and Jimmy Loughnan. You might have learned about these two if you watched the Eric Bana film Chopper. If you havent seen it, thats fine the following events come after that films timeline anyway but this promo pic is still relevant: Mushroom Pictures Thats Bana as Read, a man with a gun. During one messy failed escape, Loughnan wound up injured in the grass, and Read, offering his mate some hope, promised to get him out of the jail once he himself was released. How exactly he planned to do this, Read didnt say. But a few months later, Read indeed was released, and in January 1978, he tried to make good on his promise not by breaking Loughnan out but by showing up to a courthouse and taking a judge hostage with a shotgun till authorities agreed to set Loughnan free. That hostage situation resolved easily enough, since the courthouse was filled with officers whod been itching for a situation like this all their lives. Read went back to prison for 13 years for the stunt. That wasnt the end of the story, however. With Read having proven himself dedicated to the failed art of freeing compatriots from prison, the criminal world now needed to return the favor. So, that same year, another associate of Reads on the outside staged a hostage standoff of his own, demanding that authorities free Read from prison. Mattinbgn/Wiki Commons It happened at this Italian restaurant, because the hostage taker was hungry. Advertisement This beat the previous standoff. Read had brought a shotgun to the courthouse; Amos Atkinson brought two shotguns to this restaurant. More seriously, Read had taken hostage a single judge, while Atkinson took hostage 30 diners. With a single hostage, a gunman may well not pull the trigger, since that leaves him with nothing (in fact, Read would later insist he didnt even realize his shotgun was loaded). With 30 hostages, he might well kill several of them if spooked. And so, The Waiters Club standoff lasted four hours. Then a negotiator walked in that Atkison wouldnt attack. It was his mother. She showed up in her dressing gown and whacked him on the head with her handbag. She told him to let everyone go, and he did. Atkinson got five years for the crime (he threatened more hostages than Read, but none were judges), and while he was in prison, he cut off his ear to show his continued loyalty to Read. That was a stronger friendship than Read and Loughnans. Loughnan, deciding Read hadnt fulfilled his promise, tried to stab Read to death when they were both back in prison. Read survived, but in 1987, Loughnan and four other inmates set a fire in the prison and burned to death. Advertisement 4 Elvis Presley Elvis was a seventh-level black belt. That meant that he was very skilled as a martial artist or that he found some random guy who conferred black belts on customers and offered them a Cadillac in exchange for declaring him level seven. Either way, he knew how to strike a pose, which is potentially more useful on a day-to-day basis than any established fighting style. Rising Sun Productions We cant even tell the difference between karate poses and rock and roll anymore. Advertisement In June 1977, Elvis flew to Madison, Wisconsin, after an Iowa concert, and a limo picked him up at the airport. They passed by a gas station, where he saw two people standing over a kid on the ground. The kid was 17-year-old Keith Lowry Jr., whose father owned the station. I dont buy this two-on-one deal, said Elvis. Advertisement He got out of the car, which had stopped at a red light. The way one witness later described it, Elvis said, If you want to fight, lets fight, while another witness would recall him saying, Ill take you two on. He was still wearing the jumpsuit from his concert, and he struck a karate pose, which might have looked more like a scene from one of his movies than a seriously threatening gesture. We dont have one of those scenes handy to share with you, so instead, heres a clip of Elvis bringing a woman close to orgasm purely by singing Old MacDonald. Advertisement Advertisement Elvis bodyguard the provocatively named Dick Grob was scared when his client bounded out of the car, because if this really was a street brawl, someone could easily pull out a gun and commit regicide. Thus, Grob and one other guard rushed out of the car after Elvis, but by this point, the fight had ended. Lowry ran from the scene into the station, and while the guards first assumed he was fleeing to safety, he was actually running to a phone to call friends and say Elvis was here. Is everything settled now? said Elvis. Then he got back into the limo and asked his entourage, Did you see those guys faces? Two days later, he performed his last concert. Two months later, he died. 3 Bamse the Dog In World War II, many dogs accompanied soldiers on the battlefield and won medals for their actions during combat. Bamse the St. Bernard was a little different. Bamse lived on a Norwegian ship called Thorodd, and while that ship had some adventures with Bamse onboard, the dog really came into his own from 1941 onward, when Thorodd just hung around Scottish ports. Sailors would get down and head into town, and it fell to Bamse to fetch them back. via Wiki Commons Obviously, he wore a helmet, as he was on duty. Advertisement One sailor, Olav Nilsen, would tell a story about how Bamse saved him from being knifed to death. He was out on the dock when someone showed up with a knife, speaking a strange language. This guy was probably looking to rob him but was maybe part of a squad dedicated to stabbing Norwegians. Bamse got up on his hind legs and knocked the attacker into the water. We never heard what happened to the blademaster next, but we trust he survived, because no one was soon asking questions about a waterlogged corpse. Advertisement Were sure your dog would similarly protect you from any foe, given the chance. More unique, perhaps, was Bamses strategy when two sailors fought each other, when it was not clear whose side he should take. Here, too, he would get up on his hind legs, but not to push anyone down. Hed just lay his paws on one mans shoulders. At this point, all combat was impossible, as was all negative emotions whatever. via Wiki Commons Particularly if his paws were dirty, and both sailors had to stop and bathe him. Advertisement Today, Bamse has a giant statue in Scotland, as well as additional statues in other countries. Hes better remembered than the ship he was on. That makes sense because it was a minesweeper, and while its technologically impressive that Norway even had PCs back then, computer games were surely a waste of resources at such a critical time. 2 Snackman, Eater of Chips When people fight on the subway, you never how it may escalate. Ignore whats going on, and next thing you know, maybe youre picking a body off the floor because he was fatally stabbed. Try to be a hero and take the aggressor down, and maybe youll kill them, and then youre the one guilty of manslaughter. Sony Pictures Simply obstruct him, and he may easily move you aside. Advertisement One March night in 2012, a man and a woman fought on a New York subway train. Though the encounter was captured on video and went viral, no campaign arose to identify the two fighters and destroy them, which says something about social media priorities in 2012 compared with today. Advertisement Also on the train was Charles Sonder. The 24-year-old had just come from a bar and had bought some Pringles and gummi bears. He saw the woman strike the man and the man hit back. Sonder stepped between them, casually, as though on his way to the doors to get out. But he stayed between them. He made no obvious attempt to intervene and addressed neither of them. He just stood there, eating those cheddar Pringles. Play Advertisement Clearly, the fight could not continue from here and instead had to fizzle out. Someone recorded and uploaded the encounter, and Snackman became a minor celebrity, complete with various remote fans vowing to bear his children. Today, you can still find him on Instagram, where he posts nothing of his personal life but simply shares photos of buildings he designs as an architect. A hero needs a little mystery. Advertisement by M. K. Bhadrakumar The NATO Summit in Vilnius (July 11-12) signalled that there is absolutely no possibility of talks to settle the Ukraine war in a foreseeable future. The war will only intensify, as the US and its allies still hope to inflict a military defeat on Russia although that is clearly beyond their capability. On July 14, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of US joint chiefs of staff said that Ukraines counteroffensive is far from a failure but the fight ahead will be long and bloody. Milley has a reputation for speaking what the White House wants to hear, no matter his professional judgment. Turkish President Recep Erdogan (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) with President Biden & NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg (C), NATO Summit, Vilnius,July 11, 2023 Indeed, on July 19, the Biden administration announced additional security assistance of about $1.3 billion for Ukraine. The Pentagon said in a statement that the announcement represents the beginning of a contracting process to provide additional priority capabilities to Ukraine. That is to say, the US will be using funds in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative program, which allows the administration to buy weapons from industry rather than pull from US weapons stocks. According to the Pentagon, the latest package includes four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions; 152 mm artillery rounds; mine clearing equipment; and drones. Meanwhile, in an ominous development, no sooner than Russia let the UN-brokered grain deal expire on July 17, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky disclosed that he had sent official letters to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan suggesting to continue the grain deal without Russias participation. On the very next day, Kiev followed up with an official letter to the UNs International Maritime Organization spelling out a new maritime corridor passing through Romanias territorial waters and exclusive maritime economic zone in the north-western part of the Black Sea. Evidently, Kiev acted in concert with Romania (a NATO member country where the 101st Airborne Division of the US army is deployed). Presumably, the US and NATO are in the loop while the UNs imprimatur is being arranged. It goes without saying that the NATO has been working on a new maritime route in the Black Sea for sometime already. This is a serious development, as it seems a precursor to involving the NATO in some way to challenge Russias domain dominance in the Black Sea. Indeed, the NATOs Vilnius Summit Communique (July 11) had forecast that the alliance is gearing up for a vastly enhanced presence in the Black Sea region, which has been historically a Russian preserve, where its has important military bases. The relevant para in the NATO Communique said: The Black Sea region is of strategic importance for the Alliance. This is further highlighted by Russias war of aggression against Ukraine. We underline our continued support to Allied regional efforts aimed at upholding security, safety, stability and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea region including, as appropriate, through the 1936 Montreux Convention. We will further monitor and assess developments in the region and enhance our situational awareness, with a particular focus on the threats to our security and potential opportunities for closer cooperation with our partners in the region, as appropriate. [Emphasis added.] Four things need to be noted: one, the Ukraine conflict has been singled out as the context; the focus is on Crimea; two, freedom of navigation means an assertive US naval presence; reference to the 1936 Montreux Convention hinted at the role of Turkey, both as a NATO member country and the custodian of the Dardanelles and Bosporus straits; three, the NATO flags its intention to enhance its situational awareness, which as a military term involves 4 stages: observation, orientation, decision, and action. Situational awareness has two main elements, namely, ones own knowledge of the situation and, secondly, ones knowledge of what others are doing and might do if the situation were to change in certain ways. Simply put, the NATO surveillance of Russian activities in the Black Sea will intensify; and, four, the NATO seeks closer cooperation with our partners in the region (read Ukraine). Most certainly, a new maritime route in northwestern and western regions of the Black Sea along Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey (all of whom are NATO member countries) will cut off the Russian garrison in Transnistria (Moldava) and would boost Kievs capability to strike at Crimea. The NATO involvement would complicate any future Russian operations to liberate Odessa as well, which is historically a Russian city. Most certainly, a new maritime route in northwestern and western regions of the Black Sea along Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey (all of whom are NATO member countries) will cut off the Russian garrison in Transnistria (Moldava) and would boost Kievs capability to strike at Crimea. The NATO involvement would complicate any future Russian operations to liberate Odessa as well, which is historically a Russian city. Apart from the huge legacy of culture and history, Odessa is a port head for the industrial products of Russia and Ukraine. The Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline (which the Ukrainian saboteurs blew up recently) is one of the best examples. The 2,471 km pipeline, the longest ammonia pipeline in the world, connected the worlds largest ammonia producer, TogliattiAzot, in Russias Samara region with Odessa Port. In strategic terms, without control over Odessa, NATO cannot have force projection in the Black Sea region or hope to resurrect Ukraine as an anti-Russia outpost. Nor can NATO advance toward the Transcaucasus and the Caspian (bordering Iran) and Central Asia without dominating the Black Sea region. And for the same reasons, Russia cannot afford to cede the Black Sea region to the NATO, either. Odessa is a vital link in any land bridge along the Black Sea coast connecting the Russian hinterland with its garrison in Transnistria, Moldova (which the US is eyeing as a potential NATO member.) In fact, Crimeas security will be endangered if hostile forces establish themselves in Odessa. (The attack on the Kerch Bridge in October 2022 was staged from Odessa.) Clearly, the entire US project on the new maritime route is intended to pre-empt Russia from gaining control of Odessa. It factors in the strong likelihood that with the Ukrainian offensive floundering, Russia may soon launch its counter-offensive in the direction of Odessa. From the Russian perspective, this becomes an existential moment. The NATO has virtually encircled the Russian Navy in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea (with the induction of Sweden and Finland as members). The freedom of navigation of the Baltic Fleet and the dominance in the Black Sea, therefore, become all the more crucial for Russia to freely access the world market round the year. Moscow has reacted strongly. On July 19, Russian ministry of defence notified that all vessels sailing in the waters of the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be regarded as potential carriers of military cargo. Accordingly, the countries of such vessels will be considered to be involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kiev regime. Russia has further notified that the north-western and south-eastern parts of the international waters of the Black Sea have been declared temporarily dangerous for navigation. The latest reports suggest that the Black Sea Fleet of warships are rehearsing the procedure for boarding foreign ships sailing to Ukrainian waters. In effect, Russia is imposing a sea blockade of Ukraine. In an interview with Izvestia, Russian military expert Vasily Dandykin said he would now expect Russia to stop and inspect all ships sailing to Ukrainian ports. This practice is normal: There is a war zone there, and in the past two days it has been the scene of missile strikes. Well see how this will work in practice and whether there will be anyone willing to send vessels to these waters, because this is very serious. The White House has accused Russia of laying mines to block Ukrainian ports. Of course, Washington hopes that the NATO moving in as the guarantor of the grain corridor, replacing Russia, would have resonance in the Global South. The Western propaganda caricatures Russia as creating food scarcity globally. Whereas, the fact of the matter is that the West didnt keep its part of the bargain reciprocally to allow the export of Russian wheat and fertiliser, as has been acknowledged by the UN and Turkey. What remains to be seen is whether beyond the raging information war, any NATO country would dare to challenge Russias sea blockade. The chances are slim, the daunting deployment of the 101st Airborne Division in next-door Romania notwithstanding. M. K. Bhadrakumar was a career diplomat by profession. Roughly half of the 3 decades of his diplomatic career was devoted to assignments on the territories of the former Soviet Union and to Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Other overseas postings included South Korea, Sri Lanka, Germany, and Turkey. He writes mainly on Indian foreign policy and the affairs of the Middle East, Eurasia, Central Asia, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific. The coming week is a huge one for the future of the cinema industry a major test of whether audiences who fell out of the habit of going to the movies during lockdown will return. Few could blame them if they decided not to. With the cost of a typical family outing having gone beyond 100 during a cost-of-living crisis its getting out of reach for most people. Add in the fact that most new movies swiftly become available via an online streaming service (where there is a massive choice of other films anyway), and many families will question whether those exorbitant ticket prices can be justified. Thats why so much now hangs on the performance of Barbenheimer as the joint release of Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwigs Barbie has been termed. The coming week is a huge one for the future of the cinema industry Thats why so much now hangs on the performance of Barbenheimer as the joint release of Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer and Greta Gerwigs Barbie has been termed Both were released in cinemas on Friday, joining Tom Cruises Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning, Part One. The consensus among industry experts is that if these much-hyped blockbusters cant lure audiences, the sector is in big trouble. Its by no means a guarantee that they will attract people to cinemas. The revival of Indiana Jones, starring the hugely popular Harrison Ford in The Dial Of Destiny, failed to meet expectations. However, if any film-makers can bring audiences back, its Nolan and Cruise. Both are passionate advocates of the idea that big films should be seen on big screens, not on televisions at home. Cruise is famous for performing his own spectacular stunts, while Nolan is renowned for his authentic staging of big action sequences live rather than relying on computer-generated visual effects. I certainly hope this pair of titans succeed. But I have concerns. Oppenheimer, for instance the story of the father of the atomic bomb, J Robert Oppenheimer is very, very good, but its also serious, wordy and three hours long. Barbie, by contrast, is frothy, pink and a lot of deceptively clever fun, but it may struggle to attract couples or a male audience. Even Tom Cruise will not be able to stop his latest epic from running out of steam eventually. The UK cinema industry desperately needs a hero. Lets just hope it finds one and fast. 1,000 int'l parcels that might contain poison reported to S Korean police Seoul, July 22 (UNI) The South Korean police have received nearly 1,000 reports of suspicious international parcels nationwide amid concerns these might contain an unspecified hazardous material, local media reported Saturday. The Yonhap news agency cited the police as saying that they received on Friday alone a total of 987 reports of suspicious parcels with cheap products or empty, delivered from abroad, mostly from Taiwan. No hazardous material has been so far found in parcels, but police will decide whether to launch an investigation after substance analysis. The prince will become the UK's seventh King George when he takes the throne With Prince William and Princess Catherine preparing to welcome their first child ten years ago today, they knew they would need to pick a name fit for a king. Prince George Alexander Louis was born on July 22, 2013 but it took two days for his name to be announced to the world. The name was a classic, traditional choice filled with many references to members of the Royal Family that came before him. George had been a notable favourite with the British Monarchy. Prince George Alexander Louis was born on July 22, 2013, but it took two days for his name to be announced to the world The name was a classic, traditional choice filled with many references to members of the Royal Family that came before him. Pictured: Page of Honour Prince George of Wales attending the coronations of King Charles on May 6, 2023 The Royal Family issued a statement which said: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis. 'The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge.' It was reported that William and Kate had a few options in mind for their firstborn son, however, they wanted to wait and decide what was fit for him after his birth. George had long been the favourite of bookmakers, with James, Alexander, Henry and Arthur as the next choices. George It is likely the name George was given in honour of Prince William's great-grandfather King George VI. The Queen's father, born Albert Frederick Arthur George, was known as Albert publicly and Bertie among friends, but he chose George - his fourth name - to use as Sovereign. George VI selected the name in tribute to his father George V and to create the impression of stability following the scandal of the abdication of his brother Edward VIII. George was, of course, introduced to the British Monarchy with the arrival of the Hanoverians, starting with the German-speaking George I. If he chooses to reign under his own name, Prince George would become the nation's seventh King George when he ascends to the throne. George is also the fourth name of King Charles, his grandfather. The name George has been a favourite with the British Monarchy. Pictured: Prince George and Prince William watching a fly-past from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in 2022 Having become a name that is synonymous with British kings, the name is also representative of St George, the patron Saint of England who represents honour, bravery and gallantry. The name George means farmer or earth worker - having been derived from the Greek word georgos and the Greek name Georgios. Alexander George's second name, Alexander, pays tribute to the Queen, whose full name is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. The feminine version of Alexander has also been used for other female members of the royal family, including Queen Victoria's full name Alexandrina Victoria. It was also noted by royal commentators that the name Alexander, or Alexandra, was a name favoured by Kate. A name of Greek origin, Alexander derives from the word warrior, or protector of men - with Alexander the Great as one of its most famous exponents. Prince George at the traditional Easter Sunday Matins Service at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, 2023 Louis The name Louis is likely to have been chosen as a tribute to King Charles's late friend and mentor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was known by the Royal Family as Uncle Dickie before his passing. The Earl - an uncle to the late Prince Philip - was murdered in 1979 along with two others people by an IRA bomb placed aboard his fishing boat in Mullaghmore, County Sligo, Ireland. Earl Mountbatten was also a great-grandson of Queen Victoria and was related to Queen Elizabeth II as well as Prince Philip. George's third name just happens to be the same as his father's, whose full name is William Arthur Philip Louis. It is probable that the name was also given to William in honour of Lord Mountbatten. Princess Charlotte and Prince George on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, 2022 A five-year-old Prince George as he arrives with bridesmaids to the wedding of Britain's Princess Eugenie to Jack Brooksbank at St George's Chapel, 2018 Kate and William must have loved the name Louis so much that they named their second son Louis Arthur Charles. The name Louis, although not a 'traditional' name, ran in the family as the Earl's father was also named Louis, along with Prince Philip's grandfather, Prince Louis of Battenberg. While no British monarch has been named Louis, it has been incredibly popular within the French royal family - where 18 kings have taken the name since 814. The French and English form of the German name Ludwig, Louis means famous warrior or famous in battle. Mountbatten-Windsor Like his siblings, George has the hyphenated surname Mountbatten-Windsor, which was created to combine the names of the late Queen and Prince Philip. Following their marriage in 1960, the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh sought to differentiate their direct descendants from the rest of the House of Windsor. Prince George at the Plunkett's Parent's Group at Government House on April 9, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand Philip's family surname Mountbatten had been a thorny issue for the royals in the past. The late Prince had been keen that their children take Mountbatten and famously exclaimed: 'I am nothing but a bloody amoeba. 'I am the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children.' So, it was decided the Queen's descendants, other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince or Princes,s would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor. There are more than 35,000 Starbucks around the world, with the coffee chain setting up shop in every continent except Antarctica. While many of the shops are run-of-the-mill buildings, some have been converted from differently purposed buildings including pubs, houses and even a shipping container. Really reaching every corner of the populated globe, Starbucks has taken over a bank in Amsterdam, while its also serving coffee in the middle of the dessert in Giza. At one point, Starbucks even had a store that was a working train in Switzerland, while many of their stores are inside old shipping containers. Here, FEMAIL reveals the most unusual Starbucks from around the world, from a train to the side of a Volcano... Prague Castle, Prague Located within Prague's castle walls, this store seamlessly combines classical Gothic architectural style and modern design. A must see, the store's stone terrace offers a beautiful panorama of the city Located within Prague's castle walls, this store seamlessly combines classical Gothic architectural style and modern design. A must see, the store's stone terrace offers a beautiful panorama of the city. The Guinness Book of Records names Prague Castle as the largest ancient castle in the world spanning 70,000 square meters and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Prague. A visit to this store allows you to step back in time whilst enjoying your favourite Starbucks beverage and the view of Prague's stunning skyline. Grand Egyptian Museum, Giza Desert This store embraces local architecture, showcasing remarkable engraved panels, captivating colours, and materials reminiscent of ancient Egypt. It combines unique textures and patterns, paying homage to the rich cultural heritage that surrounds it Opened this year, this store is located inside the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum in the world, outside of Cairo on the Giza Plateau and next to the famous ancient pyramids. This store embraces local architecture, showcasing remarkable engraved panels, captivating colours, and materials reminiscent of ancient Egypt. It combines unique textures and patterns, paying homage to the rich cultural heritage that surrounds it. Grand Turks Cruise Terminal, Turks & Caicos The Grand Turks Cruise Terminal store keeps the authentic Caribbean feel with its pink exterior and light interior palette, creating a tropical theme The Grand Turks Cruise Terminal store keeps the authentic Caribbean feel with its pink exterior and light interior palette, creating a tropical theme. The back of the store features a mural, hand-painted by artist Maria Camila Bernal Toro of Remedios Art, showing the Siren a Starbucks icon with her double-tail bent underwater. The artist recreated the Siren to evoke the same tranquillity and pleasure so many travellers in the past were rumoured to search for among the Sea. Blue Mall Punta Cana, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic The first Starbucks location in Punta Cana, located at the Blue Mall Punta Cana, pays tribute to the 'Jewel of the Caribbean' by combining high-quality arabica coffee and a comfortable atmosphere inspired by local culture with the convenience of Starbucks drive-thru service The first Starbucks location in Punta Cana, located at the Blue Mall Punta Cana, pays tribute to the 'Jewel of the Caribbean' by combining high-quality arabica coffee and a comfortable atmosphere inspired by local culture with the convenience of Starbucks drive-thru service. The store features murals painted by local artist, Ivanna Candelier, telling the story of Starbucks bond with the Dominican land, the local people, and the magic of the coffee bean. Boulevard des Capucines, Paris In the heart of Paris lies the Boulevard des Capucines store, which has undergone extensive design work to restore some of the buildings historic features In the heart of Paris lies the Boulevard des Capucines store, which has undergone extensive design work to restore some of the buildings historic features. The original building and courtyard date back to the 17th century, and two decades later it became an iconic department store selling fabrics and textiles. Perfectly located near the beautiful Opera Garnier in the centre of Paris, it boasts one of the most enviable locations in Paris, and first opened its doors as a Starbucks store in June 2006. Dubai Mall Chinatown, UAE Placed within the vibrant Dubai Mall's Chinatown, this store's design concept pays homage to the rich heritage of Chinese culture Placed within the vibrant Dubai Mall's Chinatown, this store's design concept pays homage to the rich heritage of Chinese culture. Its unique ambience provides a tranquil stop amidst the busy mall, inviting visitors to savour their favourite beverages and treats, including the latest Oleato range. Customers can then indulge in a unique shopping experience in the world's most visited mall and embark on a cultural journey through Chinatown. Hacienda Alsacia, San Luis, Costa Rica Located in San Luis, Sabanilla, Alajuela, off the slopes of the Poas volcano, this 240-hectare farm has become Starbucks global agronomy headquarters Located in San Luis, Sabanilla, Alajuela, off the slopes of the Poas volcano, this 240-hectare farm has become Starbucks global agronomy headquarters. Arabica beans were first introduced to Costa Rica in the 1700s, and today coffee is an important part of the country's economy. To help ensure the future of coffee, the mission of Hacienda Alsacia is clear: Create best practices to make growing coffee more profitable for small-scale farms; develop the next generation of disease-resistant, high-quality coffee; and share information and resources freely with farmers around the world. Tickets to experience the Hacienda Alsacia Visitor Center include a 90-minute guided tour, coffee tastings, parking and a take-away bandana. Tower of London, London Located in central London, opposite historic tourist attraction, the Tower of London, locals and tourists alike can shake up their unique Summer vibe by enjoying a range of our iced crafted beverages to cool off this Summer such as the brand-new Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew or a much loved classic Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage Located in central London, opposite historic tourist attraction, the Tower of London, locals and tourists alike can shake up their unique Summer vibe by enjoying a range of our iced crafted beverages to cool off this Summer such as the brand-new Salted Caramel Cream Cold Brew or a much loved classic Strawberries and Cream Frappuccino Blended Beverage. The Tower Place store has been carefully designed to champion handcrafted coffee and celebrate coffee craft culture. Its modern upstairs Mezzanine level overlooking the Tower of London creates a true contrast of old and new. Its location and proximity to the Thames means it boasts stunning views of the city's famous river and London's tallest building, The Shard. Duomo, Florence Italians are famous for their love of coffee, so perhaps its no wonder that Florence, the city of art and culture, Dante's homeland, and cradle of the Renaissance, has only just welcomed its third Starbucks store, located in the heart of the city centre. Italians are famous for their love of coffee, so perhaps its no wonder that Florence, the city of art and culture, Dante's homeland, and cradle of the Renaissance, has only just welcomed its third Starbucks store, located in the heart of the city centre. A stone's throw away from the Santa Maria in Fiore Cathedral and from Piazza del Duomo with the famous Brunelleschi's dome, the store is a stop both for the local community and for tourists who come to the city to admire some of the best art masterpieces the country has to offer. The new store combines the chromatic shades of the near cathedral with botanic-themed artworks. The store's design respects the existing architectural structures with arches, vaults, and wood beams ceilings, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Starbucks Reserve Roastery, Milan In Milan, one of the global capitals of fashion and design, close to the famous Duomo di Milano cathedral is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery You'd be forgiven for mistaking this branch for an ancient regal building. In Milan, one of the global capitals of fashion and design, close to the famous Duomo di Milano cathedral is the Starbucks Reserve Roastery. Here, one can immerse in the world of coffee, watch Master Roasters roast the small-batch coffees Starbucks Reserve is known for, and choose some beans from the scoop bar for the trip home. Cap off the visit with a cappuccino at a cafe table in a bronze bird cage out on the terrace or an Aperol Spritz at the marble-topped Arriviamo Bar. Amsterdam Bank, Amsterdam A nod to its history, the coffee shop preserves the vaults original exposed concrete walls along with the 1920s marble floors The first concept store for Starbucks in Europe was launched in Amsterdam in 2012, where they opened in a former bank in Amsterdams Rembrandt Square. A nod to its history, the coffee shop preserves the vaults original exposed concrete walls along with the 1920s marble floors. On a snowy mountain, California Perhaps the perfect place for a hot drink is atop a snowy mountain, which is where this Starbucks is at Californias Squaw Valley ski resort. At about 8,200ft above sea level, skiers and snowboarders can get a cup of joe without taking off their skis. CHERRY AND PISTACHIO ICE CREAM CONES Serves 8 Olly Smith's wine pairing: Cherry champion 325g (11oz) fresh cherries, stoned, plus 8 left whole to decorate (see tip, below) Juice of 1 lemon 4tbsp cherry jam or compote 1 x 397g tin of condensed milk 600ml (1pt) double cream To serve 8 ice cream cones Chopped pistachios or other nuts (optional) Cherry or chocolate sauce (optional) Place the cherries, lemon juice and jam or compote in a blender, and blitz to a smooth puree. Put the condensed milk and cream into a bowl and whisk until the mixture forms soft peaks. Stir in the cherry puree until evenly combined. Tip the mixture into a freezerproof container, cover with a lid and freeze until set around 5-6 hours. No need to churn! When ready to serve, scoop into cones, top with a cherry, some chopped nuts and a drizzle of sauce, if using. Cook's tip: British cherries are at their best right now, so look for lovely plump ones, which will be nice and juicy. Olly Smith's wine pairing: Cherry champion La Gioiosa Vino Spumante Rose 2021 (11%) 10, Asda The pink fizz of fruity dreams! As ripe as it is fresh, this is sublimely summery. Chill, pop and revel in the textural contrast with this cherry ice cream. BLUEBERRY, HONEY AND YOGHURT LOLLIE Makes 6 lollies Olly's wine pairing: Luscious with lollies 450g (1lb) Greek yoghurt 200g (7oz) fresh blueberries 75g (2oz) honey (we used Rowse Greek honey) 6 wooden lolly sticks In a blender, blitz the yoghurt, blueberries and honey until smooth. Pour into 6 ice pop moulds (see tip, below). Freeze for about 2 hours, or until just beginning to freeze (check after 1 hour). Push the lolly sticks into the moulds. Freeze for another 3-4 hours or overnight until fully set. Allow the lollies to sit at room temperature for a few minutes before unmoulding. Or dip the moulds into boiling water for 30 seconds to loosen. Cook's tip: No lolly moulds? Pour into small plastic cups, freeze for 2 hours, then insert a wooden stick and freeze until set Olly's wine pairing: Luscious with lollies Cockburns Fine Ruby Port (19%) 10.50, Morrisons Try serving this sweet, dark, berry compote of a wine fridge-cold or even over ice to pair with these lollies sipping it at a low temperature emphasises the fruit while taming the booze. RASPBERRY AND MERINGUE SEMIFREDDO Serves 8 450g (1lb) raspberries, plus extra to decorate 3tbsp sugar Juice of a lime 400ml (14fl oz) double cream 150g (5oz) icing sugar 2 shop-bought meringue nests, crumbled 50g (1oz) pistachios, chopped Mint leaves, to decorate Line a 450g loaf tin with clingfilm, leaving enough overhang to cover the top of the semifreddo. Place 300g of the raspberries in a pan with the sugar. Cook gently for 6-8 minutes, until the raspberries have broken down into a jammy puree. Cool. Olly's wine pairing: Ravishing with raspberries Toss the remaining raspberries with the lime juice and 2tbsp puree. In a bowl, whisk the cream and icing sugar to soft peaks. Stir in 2tbsp puree. Spoon one-third of the mixture into the lined tin. Top with half the whole raspberries and all the crumbled meringue. Spoon in another third of the cream mixture, then the remaining whole raspberries, the chopped pistachios, and the final third of the cream mixture. Spread the remaining raspberry puree evenly over the top with a palette knife. Fold the overhanging clingfilm over the top and freeze for 3-4 hours, or overnight. Peel back the clingfilm and invert the tin on a plate. Lift off the tin, peel off the clingfilm and decorate with raspberries and mint leaves. Cook's tip: Shop-bought meringue nests are sold in packs of 4 or 6, so use leftovers to make Eton Mess or crumble over desserts. Olly's wine pairing: Ravishing with raspberries Marks & Spencer Gibo Asti DOCG NV (7%) 7.50 Frothy and outrageously sweet, this pristine floral beauty is best served cold in flutes with your meringue semifreddo. If youre after a fruity sparkler, this fits the bill perfectly. MANGO, LIME AND TEQUILA GRANITA Olly's wine pairing: Great with granita Serves 6-8 For the granita 250ml (9fl oz) water 200g (7oz) caster sugar 6 ripe mangoes, peeled, stoned and roughly chopped 50ml (2fl oz) golden tequila (optional) Juice and finely grated zest of 3 limes For the chilli topping 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped 1tsp golden caster sugar In a pan, bring the water to the boil. Add the sugar; heat, stirring, until dissolved. Allow to cool. In a blender, blitz the mango, sugar syrup, tequila (if using), lime juice and two-thirds of the zest to a smooth puree. Transfer to a freezerproof container, cover and freeze for 6-8 hours, until set, stirring halfway through to break up any ice crystals. For the topping, mix the chilli, sugar and remaining lime zest. Serve alongside the granita for sprinkling. Olly's wine pairing: Great with granita Tesco Finest Dessert Semillon 2018 (9.5%, 37.5cl) 6.25 Delicious served cold in shot glasses to honour the tequila in the granita, this is like liquid mango! The iconic Michelin Man mascot has long been a part of the tyre brand, having first been conceived of in the late 1800s - but it wasn't always so cuddly. Pictures of the first tyre mascots have come to light, leaving fans of Bibendum in shock and horrified by the 'creepy' figures. The Michelin brothers Edouard and Andre were advertising their tyres at a fair in Lyon when they noticed the pile of rubber rings would look like a person if arms and legs were added. A few years later the Michelin Man was born - based off of a similar sketch in a German beer advert. Adapting the image for their own business, the brothers came up with the idea of him 'swallowing' up bumps in the road and his name was given: Bibendum, from the Latin phrase 'Nunc est Bibendum', now is the time to drink! But the Bibendum of the early 20th century is far from the one that is known and loved today. The Bibendum of the early 20th century is far from the one that is known and loved today (Pictured: Bibendum pictured earlier this month in Monza, Italy) The original mascot design has been described as 'terrifying' today after this photo from the 1920s resurfaced online Old posters advertising Michelin tyres were focused on bicycles and show Bibendum drinking and even smoking cigars Before cars became common place, the main tyre market was for bicycles, and he was therefore made up of thinner rings, giving him a somewhat alien appearance to a 21st century audience. In the 1920s the mascot was introduced to much of the public through people dressing up as the Michelin Man - complete with makeshift eye-goggles which completed the costume. Now social media users have been left horrified by the images of the 1920s Bibendum mascot. Responding to a picture of two of the mascots, one person joked: 'Looks like me and the wife after lockdown!'. A second added: 'Looks like one of the ninja turtles that didn't quite mutate all the way.' While some labelled the picture as 'creepy', 'absolutely terrifying' and 'sinister', one user just said: 'This is what I see when someone wears a puffy coat.' Users were also convinced the pictures would haunt them in their nightmares, while one nicknamed 'Fossildotty' confessed she had always 'had a horror of the Michelin Man' and 'still finds them creepy'. This 1929 photo shows a gathering of Bibendums at the Paris Auto Show, complete with driving goggles and sashes Before constructing costumes for staff to wear, Michelin made paper balloon-like figures which they then released in the air above Paris in 1904 By the 1970s, the Michelin Men were more similar to the figure we recognise today Michelin says that their 'brand ambassador' was highly popular in the 1920s and 1930s, adding on their website: 'He immediately became Michelin's brand ambassador: in promotional campaigns of the early 20th century, people dressed in Michelin Man costumes would hand out little Bibendum dolls to the crowd as goodies. 'You can imagine how popular those quickly became.' But the site also describes the 'friendly' mascot who 'inspired trust and emphasized the comfort provided by Michelin tyres. READ MORE: Revealed - The real reason behind the iconic Michelin Man logo Advertisement Unfortunately many contemporary viewers don't seem to agree - although one savvy user pointed out they would make great Halloween costumes. And sure enough, over the years vital changes were made such as ditching the iconic cigar and ending any advertising which showed Bibendum drinking. He also became much slimmer and transitioned to being made from car tyres, rather than the thinner bicycle ones. After the Second World War, the company began selling their own mini mascots that were specifically made to sit on the outside of trucks, and by the 1950s he was considered by many as a 'guardian angel'. Helen Tattersall, Head of Vehicle Accessories for Michelin Brand Licensing, said: 'The Michelin Man embodies our values and reflects our customers, which is why he evolves with them. 'He's also a reminder of the message that comes with using our tyres: no matter the brand of your truck, you're safe with Michelin.' The US citizenship test is being updated after more than 1 million people became Americans citizens last year - one of the highest numbers on record since 1907. The naturalisation test is one of the final steps toward American citizenship - a months-long process that requires legal permanent residency for years before applying. The US currently has the easiest citizenship test compared to other Western countries, including Germany, Canada and the UK, political science experts allege. Applicants must answer six out of 10 civics questions - selected from a bank of 100 questions - correctly to pass. Applicants are not told which questions will be selected but can see and study the 100 questions before taking the test. Authorities said last December that the test, which was last updated in 2008, was due for revision after 15 years. The new version is expected in late 2024. The test was previously changed by Donald Trump's administration in 2020, making it longer and more difficult to pass, but after taking office Joe Biden signed an executive order aimed at eliminating barriers to citizenship which changed the test back to its previous version. Could you pass the US citizenship test? MailOnline challenges you to try your hand at some of the oral short-answers questions applicants could face (and yes, there's a red herring in the image above) The naturalisation test is one of the final steps toward citizenship - a monthslong process that requires legal permanent residency for years before applying. The US currently has the easiest citizenship test compared to other Western countries, including Germany, Canada and the UK, political science experts allege The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS) has proposed that the new citizenship test adds a speaking section to assess English skills. An officer would show photos of ordinary scenarios - like daily activities, weather or food - and ask the applicant to verbally describe the photos. In the current test, an officer evaluates speaking ability during the naturalisation interview by asking personal questions the applicant has already answered in the naturalisation paperwork. Another proposed change would make the civics section on US history and government multiple-choice instead of the current oral short-answer format. Experts say the changes would make the test more difficult because it would require a larger base of knowledge. The test was previously changed by Donald Trump's administration in 2020, making it longer and more difficult to pass, but after taking office Joe Biden (pictured this week) signed an executive order aimed at eliminating barriers to citizenship which changed the test back to its previous version Under federal law, most applicants seeking citizenship must demonstrate an understanding of the English language - including an ability to speak, read and write words in ordinary usage - and demonstrate knowledge of US history and government. Pictured: US Capitol Building A current civics question has an officer asking the applicant to name a war fought by the US in the 1900s. The applicant only needs to say one out of five acceptable answers - World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War or Gulf War - to get the question right. But in the proposed multiple-choice format, the applicant would read that question and need to know all five of the wars fought by the US in the 1900s in order to select the one correct answer. Bill Bliss, a citizenship textbook author in Massachusetts, said earlier this month that the proposed change would require a 'significantly higher level of language proficiency and test-taking skill.' Could YOU pass US citizenship test? MailOnline challenges you to try your best to answer 20 of the civics questions that you could see on the actual exam. Remember, you only need a 60 per cent to pass! What is one reason colonists came to America? Who is the 'Father of Our Country'? Name one of the two longest rivers in the United States. Name one branch or part of the government. Where is the Statue of Liberty? Why does the flag have 13 stripes? When is the last day you can send in federal income tax forms? What are the two major political parties in the United States? What was one important thing that Abraham Lincoln did? The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words? What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful? What is the name of the President of the United States now? Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the states. What is one power of the states? What are two Cabinet-level positions? Who is the Commander in Chief of the military? What do we show loyalty to when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? When must all men register for the Selective Service? What happened at the Constitutional Convention? What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803? Who is one of your states US Senators now? UCIS said in a December announcement that the proposed changes 'reflect current best practices in test design' and would help standardise the citizenship test. READ MORE: Could YOU pass this British citizenship test? Advertisement Under federal law, most applicants seeking citizenship must demonstrate an understanding of the English language - including an ability to speak, read and write words in ordinary usage - and demonstrate knowledge of US history and government. USCIS also already evaluates whether applicants have past criminal histories, pay taxes and support their children financially. The agency said it will conduct a nationwide trial of the proposed changes in 2023 with opportunities for public feedback. Then, an external group of experts - in the fields of language acquisition, civics and test development - will review the results of the trial and recommend ways to best implement the proposed changes, which could take effect late next year. About 96 per cent of applicants are able to pass the current citizenship exam, according to recent estimates. The test is at a 'high beginner' level of English and a question bank with answers is made available to study beforehand. More than 1 million people became US citizens in fiscal year 2022 - one of the highest numbers on record since 1907, the earliest year with available data - and USCIS reduced the huge backlog of naturalisation applications by over 60 per cent compared to the year before, according to a USCIS report also released in December. One question test takers may face is: When must all men register for the Selective Service? Pictured are members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army last year About 96 per cent of applicants are able to pass the current citizenship exam, according to recent estimates. The test is at a 'high beginner' level of English and a question bank with answers is made available to study beforehand. Pictured: Statue of Liberty earlier this month Most people who naturalise in the US are not in the country because of merit or refugee status, experts note. They claim most applicants are in the states because of family sponsorship, where someone in their family became a citizen before them and petitioned for them to naturalise. A traumatised teenager who ran away from home and was found dead 11 days later had been texting a mystery man before she disappeared, a bombshell new documentary has claimed. Gaia Pope, who was diagnosed with PTSD, died of hypothermia after vanishing from her home in Swanage, Dorset, on November 7, 2017. Tragically, the vulnerable 19-year-old's body was found on a clifftop coastal path between Dancing Ledge and Anvil Point, Swanage, on November 18. Her disappearance followed an allegation she made in which she had been savagely raped by a man when she was 16 - claims which were not pursued by police. Now a new documentary by the BBC exploring Gaia's death has claimed she had been messaging a man called 'Connor' before suffering a mental health crisis and disappearing - as those who knew her questioned: 'What was she running from?' The mystery man 'Connor' had been messaging the teenager before she disappeared A clip from the documentary, Gaia: A Death on a Dancing Ledge, shows a text message reading: 'Just wanna say you look amazing x'. Afterwards, people who knew the teenager said about the man: 'There was one boy, he had messaged her.' Another added: 'We knew what he was like.' Speaking ahead of the three-part documentary's release later this month, Gaia's family said they wanted 'young people and survivors' watching the programme to know 'they are not alone'. 'Our hearts ache thinking about everything she was and all the possibilities of what she could have become,' they told the BBC, before adding they hoped to 'eliminate the perpetuation of rape culture in society' and holding authorities 'to account'. An inquest jury found the 19-year-old died from hypothermia after running away from her home while suffering a mental health crisis. Dorset Police apologised to her family for failings 'especially during those first 48 hours' after her disappearance and that it has sought to improve. A post-mortem examination found Gaia had died from hypothermia. An entomologist said he believed the latest she had been alive was November 9 - two days after she vanished. Missing teenager Gaia Pope body was found in undergrowth between Dancing Ledge and Anvil Point, close to the Swanage coastal path and died from hypothermia Her clothing was found scattered across a field as if she had been removing it while she walked and she could have been suffering from 'paradoxical undressing' as she succumbed to hypothermia. After deliberating for a day and a half, the jury returned a unanimous narrative conclusion that Miss Pope had died from hypothermia at some point between 3.59pm on November 7, 2017, and 10am on November 8, which was 'probably caused by her mental health and mental state on November 7, 2017'. After the inquest Gaia's family hit out at the police, saying they had 'failed to treat her with respect'. Her cousin, Marienna Pope-Weidemann, said: 'For two years, they did nothing but fail Gaia. They failed to prosecute her rapist. They failed to treat her with respect. 'They failed, as did Dorset Healthcare, to take safeguarding action or offer support with continuing harassment from the known child sex offender she had reported for rape and threats to kill. The teenager, who suffered from severe epilepsy and PTSD, was reported missing on November 7 2017, died November 9 but not found until November 18. 'Gaia's story epitomises all that is wrong with British policing and cuts to the heart of why public confidence has never been so low.' During the 11-week inquest, jurors at Dorset Coroner's Court in Bournemouth heard evidence from 78 witnesses. The teenager had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after revealing she had been drugged and raped by a man when she was 16. At the time of her disappearance she was anxious about his imminent release from prison for unconnected sexual offences and had been experiencing 'ongoing manic episodes' - fearing he was 'after her'. The college student had also reported to police receiving indecent images via Facebook from a different man and was due to make a formal statement on the day she disappeared. Miss Pope, who was a regular cannabis user, appeared 'unsettled' on November 7 and left her aunt Talia Pope's home in Swanage at 3.40pm. The last known sighting was a short time later on Priest's Road. The inquest heard the chief constable of Dorset Police had accepted there were several failings in the hunt for Gaia. Many members of the teenager's family told police to search the area where her body was later found, as it was a favourite spot of her late grandfather. Her mother, Kim Pope, tried reporting her missing and her aunt made five calls to Dorset Police in the hours after she ran off, but a formal missing person report was not logged by the force until 6.15pm. People who knew the teenager said about the man: 'There was one boy, he had messaged her. A new documentary by the BBC exploring Gaia's death has claimed she had been messaging a man called 'Connor' before suffering a mental health crisis and disappearing Family and supporters of Gaia Pope outside outside Dorset Coroner's Court in Bournemouth after the inquest into her death concluded She was then graded as at 'medium risk of harm' and only upgraded to 'high risk' nine hours after she vanished. It meant the search for Miss Pope was slow to get off the ground, with one officer searching Swanage town centre that evening and a police helicopter combing the Dorset coast. Extra officers were not drafted in, and a specialist police search adviser and senior officers were not informed. A 300-metre search of where she was last seen did not start until the following day and from the wrong location, with officers 'crying out for help', the inquest heard. The teenager's family told police to search the area where her body was later found, as it was a favourite spot of her late grandfather The teenager's father, Richard Sutherland, questioned whether police had directed enough resources to finding his daughter in the first 48 hours and should have searched the Dancing Ledge area earlier. The inquest also heard that a police search co-ordinator retrospectively altered search records relating to the teenager. There were several missed opportunities around Miss Pope's medical care in which she was seen four times in two years by psychiatric services. The inquest heard the teenager had spent several weeks in hospital in February and March 2017 - where she was sexually harassed by a patient - having been sectioned under the Mental Health Act following a tonic-clonic seizure and developing postictal psychosis. Gaia Pope was 19 when she was reported missing from her home in Swanage, Dorset, in 2017. Her naked body was found 11 days later on cliff tops in undergrowth after she had died from hypothermia Gaia's sister Clara told the inquest her mental health had been a 'ticking timebomb' since she learned the man she accused of raping her was to be freed. She was further assessed in Poole Hospital in the October after her mental health worsened but later discharged and sent home without any community support. The inquest also heard Gaia's social worker was never told she had undergone an assessment under the Mental Health Act just weeks before she disappeared. The college student was assessed under the Mental Health Act but later discharged because she did not meet the criteria for being detained. Professor Matthew Walker, a neurologist who treated the teenager's epilepsy, said there needed to be better communication between professionals as he was never told about the October assessment, which he described as a 'missed opportunity'. Epilepsy expert Professor David Chadwick said there were also 'missed opportunities' to review her epilepsy drug treatment because of communication failures between doctors. Furthermore, her social worker was never told of the assessment. Assistant chief constable for Dorset Police, Rachel Farrell, said: 'Over the last four-and-a-half years, we have been determined to examine our response when Gaia and her family asked for help. 'We have sought to identify and deliver the improvements that needed to be made. This work has been overseen by the most senior officers in our force. 'We make a commitment today that we will act swiftly on any learning that has not already been part of our improvement programme. 'We recognise that as a force our immediate response to the missing person inquiry should have been better managed. 'Gaia and her family did not receive the service they should have had after her disappearance. Gaia's father, Richard Sutherland, questioned whether police had directed enough resources to finding his daughter in the first 48 hours and should have searched the Dancing Ledge area earlier 'We should have done much better especially during those first 48 hours and for this we are truly sorry.' The Independent Office for Police Conduct said following an investigation and a series of recommendations there had been 'significant changes' to Dorset Police's missing person policies and procedures. Regional director David Ford said: 'While our investigation found several aspects of the search should have been better, particularly in the first 24 hours, we did not identify any evidence to suggest that a more concentrated approach would have resulted in Gaia being found alive. 'Dorset Police have advised that they have adopted our recommendations and findings in full and have made significant changes to their policy and procedures on missing person investigations, including implementing joint training on searches with other emergency services and volunteer rescue organisations. 'While we found police shortcomings over the initial period, it should be acknowledged that a large number of people, including police officers and staff along with others from the emergency and rescue services, devoted huge time and effort to finding Gaia and they are among the many who have been affected by her sad death.' A map shows where Gaia lived, where she was last seen and the areas where her clothes and body were found The IOPC also investigated Dorset Police's handling of the rape allegation made by the teenager in December 2015. The watchdog said there were 'performance issues' for four officers but found no case to answer for misconduct. But after the investigation was closed with no further action being taken, Gaia and her family should have been advised of the Victims' Right to Review. David Sidwick, the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner, said he had met privately with members of the teenager's family. 'I have already been assured that the way in which missing people cases are handled by Dorset Police has significantly changed since Gaia's death,' he said. 'In the coming weeks, months and indeed years ahead, I will continue to carry out regular and detailed scrutiny and review to ensure that lessons have been learned and our communities receive the level of service that they expect and deserve.' Gaia: A Death on a Dancing Ledge airs on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer on July 25 An outbreak is sweeping Cyprus and experts believe it could spread to the UK Julie, a former IT director, was left heartbroken when her cat died from a virus When Julie Gray's cat Sky fell ill earlier this year, she immediately knew he would have just days to live. Just months earlier, the retired Brit, who lives in Paphos, Cyprus, had already lost Smokey Sky's younger brother to what she insists was the same illness. No test confirmed what was to blame for four-year-old Smokey's sudden refusal to eat or swollen belly. But vets were able to pinpoint what killed Sky, a nine-year-old who suffered exactly the same symptoms. It was a coronavirus. From the same family as what sparked Covid. Julie told MailOnline that Sky's health deteriorated so quickly, that he died before his FIP test came back positive 'Next week will be eight weeks since Merlin was diagnosed with FIP and I am keeping everything crossed for him,' says Janne Yet, instead of gripping humans, this particular pathogen seeks cats. Cyprus is currently battling an unprecedented feline coronavirus outbreak, which is sweeping country and killing thousands of moggies. Experts have warned the crisis is turning the Mediterranean holiday hotspot into the 'island of dead cats'. And, if experts are to be believed, it is heading to Britain. Locals have shared their heartbreak as the virus is sweeping through the island's pets. Julie, a former IT director, told MailOnline that Sky's health deteriorated so quickly, that he died before his FIP test came back positive. Everything you need to know about feline infections peritonitis What do we know about the outbreak in Cyprus? Feline infections peritonitis (FIP) has been spreading across the Mediterranean island since January. Thousands of cats have been infected so far this year. Symptoms include a fever, abdominal swelling, energy loss and increased hostility. Local vets say this is the first explosion of cases of this magnitude, with the clusters usually restricted to catteries and kittens and young cats are most affected. Researchers are frantically genetically sequencing the coronavirus, which they believe has mutated to become more virulent. One school of thought is that cats exposed to the Covid pandemic may have developed antibodies to that type of coronavirus, forcing the feline version to mutate and become more harmful. However, more research is needed to understand exactly what has happened. How many cats have died? The figure is disputed. The local Cat Protection and Welfare Society (PAWS) estimated that 300,000 cats had died, based on the rough calculation that the virus kills 20 to 30 per cent of those it infects among the islands 1million cats. However, the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said this figure is greatly exaggerated. It believes the true toll is closer to 8,000. It noted that this is much higher than previous years, with 2,800 cases logged in 2022 and 1,350 in 2021. But with the island home to around 1million cats, many of which are strays, the number of fatalities is unclear. Does FIP pose a risk to cats in the UK? Experts are divided. Dr Charalampos Attipa, who has been investigating the outbreak from the University of Edinburgh, said: 'The UK is at risk from the virus, because a notable number of British people are based permanently or seasonally in Cyprus. 'People travel with their pets, and the advice is for them to get their cats tested for the coronavirus antibody before they leave Cyprus. But that can't be enforced at this stage. 'It is very much like what we faced with the human coronavirus, but for the cat population, so it is alarming.' However, Professor James Wood, a veterinary epidemiologist at Cambridge University, told MailOnline that FIP may pose less of a threat to cats in the UK than those in Cyprus. He said: 'As cats generally do not live outside in large colonies in the UK, it would be reasonable to expect there to be less transmission in the UK. 'Caution is always warranted in these situations, but there does not seem to be an immediate threat to British cats from this.' Advertisement She said: 'After losing our four-year-old cat Smokey to what seemed to be FIP in February, he had all the symptoms but there was no confirmed test, we were devastated when Sky, our nine-year-old male cat started showing the same symptoms, that we by then knew. 'His belly swelled and he stopped eating. We took him to the vet and they immediately carried out blood tests and took fluid from his belly to test that. 'All the signs were FIP, but we needed to do a PCR test to confirm. The test was going to take five days, so Sky stayed with the vet where he was force-fed and put on a drip. 'It was so sad to see him in a cage, so after four days, we brought him home to see if we could help him feel more comfortable. It was awful he was so restless and sick, and force feeding him was heartbreaking. 'That night he went out while we slept and I couldn't find him the next day. I thought he had gone off to die, but then one of our other cats found him under the bushes very depressed and in pain. 'We rushed him to the vets and immediately had him put to sleep we could not see him suffer anymore. The test finally came back the next day and it was positive.' Both stray and domestic cats have been struck by feline infections peritonitis (FIP), which does not infect humans, since the outbreak was first spotted in January. Thousands of cats have been infected so far this year suffering a fever, abdominal swelling, energy loss and increased hostility. Dr Demetris Epaminondas, vice-president of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association, said local vets have reported an 'alarming increase', after the first deaths were reported in the capital Nicosia in January. The virus spread island-wide in just four months. Dr Epaminondas says this is the first explosion of cases of this magnitude, with the clusters usually restricted to catteries and kittens and young cats are most affected. Researchers are frantically genetically sequencing the coronavirus, which they believe has mutated to become more virulent. One school of thought is that cats exposed to the Covid pandemic may have developed antibodies to that type of coronavirus, forcing the feline version to mutate and become more harmful. However, more research is needed to understand exactly what has happened. Others have told of their cats being left fighting for their life following a FIP infection. It was a village councillor who convinced Janne Stoten, 66, to take in a stray kitten two years ago and since then that kitten has lost a few of his nine lives, with the latest threat coming from FIP. 'Honestly, he was skinniest, scrappiest, mankiest looking little cat I'd ever seen, but I just fell in love with him. I took him in and called him Merlin,' says Janne, who lives in Pissouri, in the south of the island. Shortly after Merlin was brought home, he lost the top of his scalp and the skin down his back legs after getting caught under a speeding motorbike. He survived that, only to contract wet FIP at the end of May. 'I noticed his belly was getting bigger,' says Janne. 'I had no idea of FIP at that stage, but when I took him to the vet, they told they had seen many, many more cats coming in with FIP. They then took fluid from his abdomen and it confirmed both Covid and FIP. 'I was in tears. They told me he might only have eight weeks left to live.' Due to complications with treatment, Merlin rallied briefly before relapsing losing his appetite and growing increasingly lethargic. 'At one point, he was so thin I could close my hand around his abdomen.' Thankfully, Merlin slowly began to regain his strength and now Janne dares hope there could be light at the end of a very dark tunnel for her pet. Another local, Alison Moore, brought a rescue kitten home in May little knowing that six weeks later Mbili would be fighting for his life, another victim of FIP A stray cat eats at a cemetery in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, on June 14 2023 A domestic cat suffering from FIP in quarantine at a vet in Nicosia on June 20 2023 'Next week will be eight weeks since Merlin was diagnosed with FIP and I am keeping everything crossed for him. 'This disease is devastating and something needs to be done to stop it because cats are suffering in huge numbers, and so are the people who love them.' Another local, Alison Moore, brought a rescue kitten home in May little knowing that six weeks later he would be fighting for his life, another victim of FIP. The former IT worker from Devon found tiny Mbili pronounced Bili at a cat sanctuary in the Paphos region of Cyprus, when he was four months old. 'He was the smallest of all the kitten there and so timid,' says Alison. 'As soon as I saw him, I knew I had to get him out and bring him home.' Ancient cat history Cypriots have a long history with cats. Legend has it that a Roman empress, Helena, first brought the furry creatures to the island in a bid to do away with poisonous snakes around 1,700 years ago. But archaeological evidence of cats' domestication on the island dates back even further that anywhere else in the world - to 9,500 years ago in the village of Shillourokambos, where the remains of a cat and a human buried together were found. The bond between cats and humans has continued throughout the millennia, with tourists often seeing cat houses on the side of the roads, and stray animals welcomed into homes and restaurants. Advertisement For Alison, rescuing Mbili was a way to mend a heart broken by the loss of her cat Bandit, an elderly pet that passed away from cancer. However, within weeks of homing Mbili, the kitten began to falter. 'I first noticed something was wrong when he showed signs of gingivitis and didn't want to eat. His eyes grew cloudy and I treated them with steroid drops on the advice of the vet. 'But then he began to grow weaker and weaker until he was no longer able to jump up. He began sleeping a lot, he lost his appetite and then his back legs began to go. That's when the vet confirmed FIP.' Alison now faces an excruciating wait to see if little Mbili will be one of the lucky ones to survive this devastating illness. 'It's heartbreaking,' says Alison. 'His treatment can be painful and he is so tiny, but right now we have no other option. He is responding and as long as he does, I will continue to fight for him.' The true toll of the FIP outbreak is unclear. Local charities estimate that 300,000 cats have died since January. However, the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said this figure is greatly exaggerated. It believes the true toll is closer to 8,000. It noted that this is much higher than previous years, with 2,800 cases logged in 2022 and 1,350 in 2021. But with the island home to around 1million cats, many of which are strays, the number of fatalities is unclear. Vasiliki Mani, 38, a member of several animal welfare organisations in Cyprus, said that if FIP continues to spread, Cyprus will become 'the island of dead cats'. Cyprus has a long history with felines, being the first place to treat them as pets, around 9,500 years ago. A stray cat eats at a shelter established by the municipality in Nicosia on June 22, 2023 An abandoned cat suffering from FIP at a shelter established by the municipality in Nicosia on June 22, 2023 An abandoned cat eats at a shelter established by the municipality in Nicosia on June 22, 2023 However, its residents are now struggling to treat their infected cats. An antiviral tablet, GS-441524, chemically similar to the Covid treatment remdesivir, is approved for animal use in Britain and for importation to Cyprus. But it is expensive and there is no supply in Cyprus, forcing many pet owners to turn to the black market. The crisis in Cyprus has left many worried that FIP could spread further afield. An outbreak is suspected to be also spreading across cat populations in nearby Lebanon, Israel and Turkey, although this cannot be confirmed. Dr Charalampos Attipa, who has been investigating the outbreak from the University of Edinburgh, said: 'It spread like wildfire and is like nothing we have seen in a lifetime. 'The UK is at risk from the virus, because a notable number of British people are based permanently or seasonally in Cyprus. 'People travel with their pets, and the advice is for them to get their cats tested for the coronavirus antibody before they leave Cyprus. But that can't be enforced at this stage. 'It is very much like what we faced with the human coronavirus, but for the cat population, so it is alarming.' However, Professor James Wood, a veterinary epidemiologist at Cambridge University, told MailOnline that FIP may pose less of a threat to cats in the UK than those in Cyprus. He said: 'As cats generally do not live outside in large colonies in the UK, it would be reasonable to expect there to be less transmission in the UK. 'Caution is always warranted in these situations, but there does not seem to be an immediate threat to British cats from this.' He noted that the FIP virus is already present in UK cats and has been for years and much of the spread in Cyprus is linked with the animals living in large groups. Veterinarian Kostis Larkou tends to a cat suffering from FIP at clinic in Nicosia on June 20, 2023 A stray cat sits on a tombstone at a cemetery in Nicosia on June 14, 2023 Dr Rachael Tarlinton, an associate professor of veterinary cellular microbiology at the University of Nottingham, told MailOnline that the situation 'isn't something to panic about'. She said that FIP is a 'complicated disease' that most cats have already been infected suffering mild diarrhoea and recovering without treatment. Dr Tarlinton added: 'We don't have a vaccine for it, in part because demand for it is low.' The version that spreads in the UK is only serious in a minority of cases, when the virus spreads from the gut into blood cells that are a vital part of the body's immune response, she said. This then triggers FIP. 'Those cats are unable to control the virus infection so it replicates out of control and their immune system overreacts to it,' Dr Tarlinton said. She said: 'Until recently, we couldn't treat it and pretty much all FIP affected cats died, but a lot of the drugs that were developed for SARS-CoV-2 work really well for FIP and they now have a good recovery rate. But the drugs are expensive and aren't legally available for veterinary use in some places they are in the UK. 'We typically see outbreaks of disease occasionally in places with lots of young cats (being infected for the first time with feline coronavirus) so places like cat shelters. Adult cats are usually considered very low risk.' Dr Justine Shotton, senior vice president of the British Veterinary Association, told MailOnline: 'The reported cases of feline infectious peritonitis in Cyprus are understandably concerning. 'However, FIP is a condition seen in cats in the UK and so while tests are ongoing to determine if this is a new strain of the virus, our current advice for cat owners is to contact their vet if they have any concerns about their pet's health or welfare and discuss any preventative healthcare options. 'Cats being imported from Cyprus to the UK should be tested for the virus before travel and not be moved if they test positive. 'As a precautionary measure, anyone travelling to Cyprus for a holiday should avoid touching cats there and make sure to clean the soles of their shoes and suitcase wheels before leaving to avoid inadvertently bringing the virus into the UK.' The UK Health Security Agency's (UKHSA) list includes 15 of the most frightening infectious diseases. These are known as high consequence infectious diseases (HCID). For a pathogen to be given this category, it typically has a high fatality rate and requires an official organised response to ensure it is managed effectively, because symptoms are often difficult to recognise. The data was created to allow health professionals to assess the infection risk to each country. But it is also publicly available for anyone to access online. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a tick-borne viral disease. It triggers symptoms including high fever, muscle pain, dizziness, abnormal sensitivity to light, abdominal pain and vomiting. Later on, sharp mood swings may occur, and the patient may become confused and aggressive. There is no vaccine or specific antiviral drug that works against CCHF. But a broad-spectrum antiviral called ribavirin can be given to patients to prevent severe illness. CCHF has been found among ticks in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Eastern Europe and South Western Europe. It kills up to 40 per cent of everyone who gets infected, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Plague It might be infamous for killing millions in Europe during the Middle Ages. But the plague is still a threat in parts of the world, including areas of Africa, Asia, South America and even the US. People are usually infected after being bitten by fleas lurking on rodents. However, the disease can also spread through inhaling respiratory droplets from people infected with one type of plague called pneumonic. Bubonic plague, responsible for the Black Death, causes the tell-tale signs of swollen nodes. These can then turn into open, pus-filled sores. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain and coughs. Between 30 and 100 per cent of people with confirmed infections die if they don't get treatment. Antibiotics are effective against the plague if patients are diagnosed early. The WHO recommends that only people at high-risk of exposure to the plague, such as lab and hospital workers, get a vaccine against it. Marburg Marburg virus belongs to the filovirus family, making it a cousin of Ebola. It was initially detected in 1967 after an outbreak in Marburg, Germany, among workers exposed to African green monkeys. Fruit bats are thought to be the natural hosts of the disease, which causes sporadic outbreaks in Africa. It spreads among humans through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, surfaces and materials. Symptoms appear abruptly and include severe headaches, fever, diarrhoea, stomach pain and vomiting. They become increasingly severe. Infected patients can become 'ghost-like', often developing deep-set eyes and expressionless faces. This is usually accompanied by bleeding from multiple orifices including the nose, gums, eyes and vagina. Marburg virus has a mortality rate of up to 88 per cent, data suggests. There are no proven treatments or vaccines for Marburg. Junin virus The virus is found in the central areas of the Pampas, vast plains stretching from Argentina's Atlantic coast to the Andes. Data suggest the haemorrhagic fever kills up to 30 per cent of patients who don't get treated. Symptoms include chills, headaches and pain. Rodents are natural hosts of the virus. Human-to-human transmission is rare, experts say. Andes virus The Andes virus found in rodents in South America is a hantavirus. Although it is usually spread through coming into contact with infected rodents or their droppings, it can be passed through close human contact. Early symptoms include headaches, a fever and muscle aches, meaning it can closely resemble the flu. The mortality rate is close to 50 per cent, according to the UKHSA. Avian influenza Many scientists think bird flu will be the trigger of the next pandemic. Four strains of bird flu have sparked concerns for humans: H5N1, H7N9, H5N6, and H5N8. Although rare, avian influenza can spread to humans through touching infected birds, touching droppings or bedding, killing or preparing infected poultry for cooking. H5N1 the avian influenza strain behind the current outbreak sweeping the world, considered the biggest ever does not transmit easily between humans. But mutations to the virus that makes mammal-to-mammal transmission easier could change that, some experts fear. Globally, fewer than 900 human cases of H5N1, which kills close to 50 per cent of those it strikes, have ever been recorded. Symptoms of bird flu in humans may involve a very high temperature or feeling hot or shivery, aching muscles, a headache and a cough or shortness of breath. Nipah virus Nipah is a type of henipavirus, which are naturally held in fruit bats. The virus is usually spread to humans through direct contact with infected animals, usually pigs and bats. But human-to-human transmission can occur. Outbreaks occur almost annually in parts of Asia, primarily Bangladesh and India, the US CDC says. Symptoms, such as a fever, headache and drowsiness, may appear between five and 14 days after becoming infected, and can last up to two weeks. Eventually, patients can progress into a coma or suffer breathing problems. The virus is thought to be fatal in up to 75 per cent of cases. No vaccine or cure exists, but patients may receive supportive treatment to relieve symptoms. Lassa fever According to the World Health Organization, 80 per cent of people who get infected won't develop any symptoms. But the virus has a case-fatality rate of around 1 per cent. Lassa fever is endemic in Nigeria and several other countries on the west coast of Africa, including Liberia and Guinea, according to the WHO. Symptoms begin with headaches, sore throats and vomiting, but it can trigger bleeding from the mouth, nose or vagina. However, they gradually progress to shock, seizures, tremors, disorientation and comas without prompt treatment. A quarter of patients will also experience temporary deafness that will eventually return, medical literature states. Pregnant women who contract the disease late in pregnancy face an 80 per cent chance of losing their child or dying themselves. It can either be spread by rats or from person-to-person by exposure to bodily fluids of someone who is infected. Ebola Ebola is an often-fatal viral haemorrhagic fever named after a river in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where it was discovered in 1976. The virus is mainly transmitted through exposure to bodily fluids, with the main symptoms being fever, vomiting, bleeding and diarrhoea. It naturally resides in fruit bats, monkeys and porcupines living in the rainforest, and can also be transmitted through eating uncooked 'bushmeat'. Ebola outbreaks are difficult to contain, especially in urban environments. People who are infected do not become contagious until symptoms appear, which is after an incubation period of between two and 21 days. Ebola has a mortality rate of around 50 per cent, the WHO says. Monkeypox Monkeypox is a rare viral infection which people usually pick up in the tropical areas of west and central Africa. It is usually spread through direct contact with animals such as squirrels, which are known to harbour the virus. However, it can also be transmitted through very close contact with an infected person. Monkeypox was first discovered when an outbreak of a pox-like disease occurred in monkeys kept for research in 1958. Monkeypox is usually mild, with most patients recovering within a few weeks without treatment. Yet, the disease can prove fatal. Common symptoms are a skin rash or mucosal lesions, accompanied by a fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain and fatigue. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) SARS is the cousin of Covid, causing similar flu-like symptoms. It infected 8,000 people and killed nearly 800 in an outbreak in Asia in 2003. SARS is, however, deadlier than Covid. Data suggests it kills around one in 10 people, compared to fewer than one in 100 from Covid. The airborne virus can spread through small droplets of saliva, in a similar way to colds and influenza. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS), also known as camel flu, is a rare but severe respiratory illness. People can catch MERS from infected animals though doctors say camels in the Middle East are the main source of the virus. The virus was first detected region in 2012. It can also be transmitted through an infected person's cough droplets but this is rare. Its symptoms include a fever, cough, breathing difficulties, diarrhoea and vomiting. There is no specific treatment for the illness, so doctors work to ease a patient's symptoms. Around 35 per cent of those who get MERS die as a result. Severe fever with thrombocytopaenia syndrome (SFTS) The syndrome is caused by a tick-borne virus. Human-to-human transmission of SFTSV can occur, however. Human cases have been identified in China, as well as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. The virus starts with flu-like symptoms, but it can quickly progress. Patients suffer thrombocytopaenia a reduction in the number of platelets in their blood, reducing its ability to clot. Data suggests SFTSV has a mortality rate of around 5 per cent. Lujo virus Lujo virus has a death rate of around 80 per cent, it is estimated. Humans can get infected by handling rodents carrying the disease. Human-to-human transmission has been observed, however. Symptoms include a rash of the face and body, face and neck swelling, a sore throat and diarrhoea. In fatal cases, patients may improve slightly before suddenly deteriorating. It's one of the greatest mysteries of the Covid pandemic. How have thousands of people managed to avoid ever getting infected, despite so obviously being exposed to the virus? Yet others who have battled Covid and accepted numerous vaccines still manage to pick up the virus, seemingly with ease. So-called Covid 'super-dodgers' have even baffled scientists. Could their apparent immunity simply be down to sheer luck? Is it, instead, possible that they were infected at some point over the past three years but never picked up by tests? Or could it all be explained by them possessing some kind of superpower, one that makes them naturally Covid-resistant? Researchers tasked with getting their heads around the phenomenon think that is, indeed, the most likely answer. Just this week, scientists discovered what they think is genetic proof to back up the theory. But for now, super-dodgers remain scratching their heads, wondering exactly why, or how, they've lasted so long without falling victim to Covid's pesky symptoms... Music teacher Peter Gates, 60, pictured with his twin daughters Amelia and Elizabeth, 7, believes it is an 'oddity' that he has managed to dodge Covid Music teacher Peter Gates believes it is an 'oddity' he has managed to dodge Covid for so long. The 60-year-old guitarist visits four secondary schools regularly to give pupils music lessons, and says he obviously often comes into contact with the virus. Mr Gates, who lives in Hemel Hampstead, added that, during the pandemic, his wife Phan, 47 and his seven-year-old twin daughters Amelia and Elizabeth all had caught the virus. But, bizarrely, he didn't. 'I was doing lateral flow tests every day last year and you would have thought if I was asymptomatic one of them would have worked,' he told MailOnline. 'But none of them were positive.' And even though he didn't have the vaccine when he first went back, Mr Gates still managed to avoid Covid during those first few months. He said: 'I have a friend who is a doctor and he suggested I may have caught it and been asymptomatic and didn't realise. 'Because I am a teacher, we had to do lateral flow tests twice a week. 'All during the pandemic I was testing and had I had caught it I am sure one of them would have worked.' Janet Bailey, 64, was worried about getting Covid due to her being diabetic, but to her knowledge she has never caught it Janet Bailey, 64 from Birmingham, is diabetic and was understandably worried her health condition might leave her more vulnerable to Covid. But, three years on, she claims to have never had the virus. The mum-of-three, who works in finance, got the vaccine as soon as she was eligible, but still doesn't think that explains what's causing her immunity. Ms Bailey says she has been around family members with confirmed Covid and taken public transport during rush hour and has still somehow managed to dodge it. For example, Ms Bailey's 27-year-old daughter Laura-Jane got infected twice and both times she was living at home. Ms Bailey said: 'She just had a little sniffle at first and we went out to Sunday lunch. 'I was tasting her cocktail and I had a taste of her food, we were sharing utensils, we were close and hugging each other. 'The next day she did a test and she had Covid.' But Ms Bailey's test was negative. She said: 'So many people lived with me that had it and I have never got it. Why, I do not know.' Business owner, David Bone, 68, from Upminster in Essex says his whole family got Covid and he did not David Bone, 68, from Upminster in Essex, is another who is surprised that he never caught Covid. He runs a family business fitting shutters in people's homes, but managed to avoid the bug throughout the pandemic. Mr Bone has had diabetes for 35 years which is controlled with an insulin pump. Describing himself as a positive person, he said: 'I wasn't too concerned about getting Covid. 'I didn't go out my way to get it, but I didn't lock myself in the house.' He added: 'All the family has had it, why didn't I get it?' Mr Bone explained he even escaped infection when his wife had Covid, despite the two sharing a bed while she was sick. Clueless how he has dodged it for so long, Mr Bone joked that maybe he had 'special blood'. Amber Vasquez , 45, from Texas (left) and her daughter Athena, 20 (right) both have managed to avoid getting Covid despite several visits to hospital during the Amber Vasquez, 45, a graphic artist who lives in Texas, says she feels immune from Covid. Somehow, she has never caught it despite making several visits to the hospital at the beginning of the pandemic. In March 2020, when Covid kicked off, her daughter Athena, 20, had a major spinal incident and was paralysed from the waist down. 'We were in the hospital for about five days and eventually everything went back to normal,' she told MailOnline. 'But for a while we were in and out of the hospital with her and she never caught Covid and I never caught Covid.' Ms Vasquez added: 'Me and my daughter have both been in the same situations and we have both never caught it. 'Not even a sniffle. We tested every time we were exposed.' Ms Vasquez confesses to not being in the best shape and previously smoked 20 cigarettes a day, so she had been concerned about what could happen if she caught Covid. She said: 'I was scared I was going to die when the pandemic first started. 'I had a friend the same age of me who was also overweight, and he died. 'And I thought I was next. 'I spent the first year waiting to die. 'But now I feel immune, I am not going to try to get it.' Mike Thorne, 67, a plumber from Ramsgate in Kent, says he is 'renowned' for not getting ill Mike Thorne, 67, from Ramsgate in Kent, says he is 'renowned' for not getting ill. The plumber continued to work throughout the pandemic and although he was concerned about catching Covid at first, eventually he decided there is 'no point worrying about it'. And to this day Mr Thorne has not tested positive for Covid. This is despite both his wife Cherise, 47 and his daughter Imogen, 20, catching Covid. However, his immunity could run in the family. The father-of-two said that, as far as he is aware, his son Alexander 22, has also dodged the virus. Mr Thorne said: 'My son is a lot like me, we both heal easily and quickly and do not catch much.' 'I can't remember the last time I had a cold. 'Seriously, it was at least longer than five years ago. 'I can be around people dribbling form every orifice and I don't catch anything. 'I am quite renowned for it.' Most of us feel lonely occasionally and while spending time alone has its merits (the inventor Thomas Edison famously declared the best thinking has been done in solitude) there is nothing positive about that soul-crushing sense of loneliness that comes from feeling you have no one to talk to or to support you. Sadly its a common problem. In a recent survey of 3,000 Britons, 8 per cent reported that they didnt have real friends and most of their social interactions are online. Im not a very gregarious person, but am fortunate that my wife, Clare, nudges me into being more sociable. And like 39 per cent of those surveyed who said their best pal was their partner, I would say shes my closest friend and greatest emotional support (and sometimes also my greatest critic). The problem of loneliness has only got worse: four million people in Britain suffer from chronic loneliness and the number who report feeling lonely often or always has gone up by nearly 20 per cent since the start of Covid, reports the charity Campaign To End Loneliness. So when you see your neighbour, give them a wave and chat! They found that women are more likely to report being chronically lonely than men. This is possibly because women tend to live longer, so there are more widows than widowers. We are intensely social animals, which is why being lonely has such toxic effects on us; not only can it lead to anxiety and depression, but also to poor sleep, heart disease, stroke and premature death. The rise in loneliness is partly linked to changes in working practices, which mean that people spend more time at home on computers, and also to the closure of branches of banks and post offices and, as the Mail has reported, community pharmacies. Queuing in a bank or post office, or getting your prescription, is not exactly a great social outing, but for many it is a lifeline; an opportunity to have a brief chat with another human being. And even having brief chats with a stranger can make a difference to your mental health and the strangers. For example, when I buy my morning coffee, particularly if Im in a hurry, I usually order, tap my card on the machine and run. But a 2014 study by the University of British Columbia in Canada found that encouraging people to smile, make eye contact and have a brief conversation when ordering a cup of coffee, not only meant that the person buying the coffee got a boost to their happiness and sense of belonging, it also added to the happiness of the server. Similarly, when Im in a supermarket I always use the automated checkout to avoid getting caught in a queue behind someone whos nattering with the cashier. Now a Dutch supermarket chain, with the delightful name Jumbo, has discovered that there is a real demand by some customers for exactly this sort of interaction. So it has created special checkout counters, chat checkouts, where customers and cashiers can have leisurely chats without someone like me standing behind them, biting their lips and looking at their watch. The chat checkouts have proved so popular they are being introduced in most Jumbo stores. Getting a pet is another way to fight loneliness, particularly if youve recently lost a partner, as a 2019 study by Florida State University showed. Dawn Carr, a professor of sociology and the lead author, pointed out that pets not only provide companionship but also unconditional love (well, at least dogs do). You can talk to your dog, she said. Theyre not going to tell you youre a bad person, theyre just going to love you. Or you can pet your cat and its calming. For many, having a pet is not practical. Soon robotic versions may be an option and research suggests they could really help. In a recent study by the University of Plymouth, robot cats and dogs were given to care home residents. While not state-of-the-art, these were cuddly, made suitable noises and moved around a bit. Despite being only one step up from fluffy toys, the robotic pets helped reduce anxiety and depression and had a calming effect. The best way, however, to combat loneliness is to be brave, get out into the world and interact with others. And starting close to home may be easiest. I recently interviewed Pamela Qualter, a professor of psychology for education at the University of Manchester, whos an expert on the importance of social relationships, and she told me that performing small acts of kindness for your neighbours is a particularly powerful way to reduce your loneliness. She was one of the lead authors of a trial where people were asked to do a kind act for a neighbour once a week, for four weeks. This could be doing something practical such as taking out their bins or simply having a chat in the street. Results showed that this not only reduced both the giver and recipients feelings of loneliness, it also increased a sense of neighbourhood unity. Knowing that your neighbours care about you really does bring a community together, Professor Qualter told me. At a time when more people feel isolated, feeling youre part of a community, something bigger than you, is hugely important for mental and, possibly, physical health (now being assessed in a three-year UK research project called Common Health Assets, which is evaluating the effect of community-led organisations on health and wellbeing). So when you see your neighbour, give them a wave and chat! Test to spot Alzheimers early Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, so understandably there was a lot of excitement this week after trial results of a drug called donanemab suggested it can slow the rate of cognitive decline in people with very early disease. The drug is similar to two others that previously made headlines lecanemab and aducanumab they all work by getting rid of amyloid, a protein that builds up in the brains of Alzheimers patients. But these new drugs are expensive, have significant potential side-effects and are only effective when given to people early. For the drugs to be game-changers we need to diagnose dementia as soon as possible. Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, so understandably there was a lot of excitement this week after trial results of a drug called donanemab suggested it can slow the rate of cognitive decline in people with very early disease Now researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have developed a blood test, which they say can predict Alzheimers with 80 per cent accuracy, almost a decade before people develop symptoms. (It measures levels of a sugar called glycan: raised levels have been linked to dementia.) This is by no means the only or best way of detecting dementia, but this kind of simple, cheap test could form the basis of a screening method to spot people when theres still time to help them. Honey and vinegar kill off bacteria I love stories about traditional remedies, once seen as a bit crackpot, finding their way into modern medicine. Take honey, which the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates claimed cleans sores and ulcers, softens hard ulcers of the lips and heals carbuncles and running sores. He also said rubbing honey on the scalp could cure baldness. While honey is no longer used for hair growth, it is recognised as an effective treatment for certain types of wounds, including leg ulcers. Honey kills bacteria, even antibiotic-resistant bugs; it draws fluid out of them, which destroys the source of infection and reduces swelling and encourages the flow of white cells to start wound healing. Manuka honey - a rare type of honey from New Zealand - features a slew of health-boosting properties, including the ability to fend off winter illnesses, support gut health, heal wounds, soothe sore throats and so much more Hippocrates was also a fan of mixing honey and vinegar as a tonic a decongestant, he said, it also promotes flatulent discharges from the bowels (the sign of a healthy gut, as he saw it). While theres been lots of research into the health benefits of either honey or vinegar, theres been little on the combination. But in a study published this month, researchers at Warwick University found that a mixture of honey and vinegar is far more effective at killing bacteria than when either is given alone and natural vinegars, in particular pomegranate vinegar, are especially powerful. More research is needed before doctors start prescribing a honey/vinegar tonic on the NHS, but with drug-resistant infections on the rise, ancient remedies may prove a useful option. B'Desh FM attends 56th ASEAN Day Celebration in Dhaka 08 Aug 2023 | 6:45 PM Dhaka, Aug 8 (UNI) Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen attended the ASEAN Day Celebration as the Chief Guest at the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka on Tuesday on the auspicious occasion of the 56th ASEAN DAY. see more.. Japan-Australia defense cooperation treaty to take effect on Aug 13 08 Aug 2023 | 3:36 PM Tokyo, Aug 8 (UNI) A defense and security pact between Japan and Australia dubbed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) is set to go into effect on August 13 after the sides exchanged diplomatic notes on Tuesday, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. see more.. Football fan dead in violent clashes outside Athens stadium 08 Aug 2023 | 3:29 PM Athens, Aug 8 (UNI) A 22-year-old Greek football fan died on Tuesday after suffering serious injuries during violent scuffles that broke out the previous evening outside an Athens stadium, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. see more.. Thousands evacuated as floods hit western Myanmar 08 Aug 2023 | 2:59 PM Yangon, Aug 8 (UNI) Thousands of people have been evacuated as continuous heavy rains have caused floods in several townships in western Myanmar's Rakhine State, according to the Myanmar Fire Services Department. see more.. A private health care provider has launched a 'Netflix-style' service that gives subscribers access to consultants within 48 hours. The MyWay service, which has been set up by Circle Health Group, is a 'first of its kind solution' that is intended to help patients beat NHS waiting times and delays to appointments in the UK. Subscriptions to the service start at 20 a month, with patients required to sign up to a minimum of 12 months. But only people that have been using the service for 30 days will be able to access the rapid appointments with consultants. MyWay offers access to a GP consultation within roughly a day, while in-person appointments as well as scans and blood tests are available shortly after. The launch of the service comes as consultants staged their first walk-out in more than a decade earlier this week. A private health care provider has launched a 'Netflix-style' service that gives subscribers access to consultants within 48 hours for 20 a month The MyWay service, which has been set up by Circle Health Group, is a 'first of its kind solution' that is intended to help patients beat NHS waiting times and delays to appointments in the UK The launch of the service comes as consultants staged their first walk-out in more than a decade earlier this week Circle Health said the subscription service will allow people with health issues to get back to work sooner as increasing numbers of workers are being forced to stay at home due to long-term illnesses. To sign up to the service, patients are required to complete an easy 'five-box' process compared to more time-consuming questionairres that are required to take out life insurance. Mr Paul Manning, a consultant surgeon at Nottinghamshire University Hospital NHS Trust, who designed the service, told the Telegraph: 'The patients we're seeing now are more acute and less able to return to work. 'In the UK, there's a huge gap in provision for people who are worried about long waiting lists taking them out of the workforce, but find private medical insurance too costly or complex particularly sole traders, small business owners or people with any kind of pre-existing condition.' On Thursday thousands of senior doctors in England took strike action in a ongoing dispute over pay, which will last until 7am on Saturday. Thousands of operations, procedures and appointments have been cancelled and are being rescheduled as a result. It came just two days after junior doctors staged a five-day walkout, the longest in the history of the NHS. More than 24,000 consultants voted in the British Medical Association (BMA) ballot for industrial action last month, with the vast majority, 86 per cent, voting in favour. The Government has told consultants they will receive a 6 per cent pay rise, but the BMA has called this 'derisory' and said doctors have seen real-term take-home pay fall by more than a third over the last 14 years. According to the BMA, consultants on a 2003 contract earn a starting salary of 88,364 in basic pay, rising to 119,133 after around 19 years. The Department of Health said extra payments such as clinical excellence awards and cash for being on call would take the average NHS pay for consultants in 2023/24 to around 134,000. A postcode lottery in kidney cancer care is costing hundreds of lives every year, an NHS report has revealed. In some rural parts of England, patients with the disease are nearly half as likely to receive life-saving drugs as those in the most developed areas like London. Those who received drugs were about three times as likely to still be alive two years after their diagnosis than patients who did not, according to NHS documents seen by The Mail on Sunday. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting, himself a kidney cancer survivor, labelled the findings 'inexcusable'. The Labour MP, who was diagnosed with the disease in 2021, said: 'I was lucky that my kidney cancer was caught early and treated quickly. It is inexcusable that patients can't get life-saving treatments because of where they live. The NHS should be there for all of us when we need it.' Experts believe the disparity in access to these medicines is due to the fact that there are no guidelines on which treatment to offer kidney cancer patients. SURVIVOR: Labour MP Wes Streeting was treated for kidney cancer in 2021 These guidelines, which are created by the NHS spending watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), are for every one of the top ten most common cancers in the UK except kidney cancer. The disease affects 13,000 Britons every year, making it the seventh most common cancer. It usually occurs when people are in their 60s and 70s and is highly uncommon in people younger than 45, though Wes Streeting was diagnosed at 38. The first signs are often blood in the urine, back pain and lumps or swelling in the back, under the ribs or in the neck. Obesity, smoking, high blood pressure and late-stage chronic kidney disease which affects almost 70,000 people in the UK are all thought to increase the risk. Genetics also play a role. This year, NICE agreed to devise its first guidelines for kidney cancer, but these are not expected to be published for years. 'Our work has shown that the treatment kidney cancer patients are likely to receive varies depending on where they live in England,' says Malcolm Packer, chief executive of charity Kidney Cancer UK, which carried out the report, the Kidney Cancer UK Accord. 'We are now working with NICE and involved in the guidelines' development but this will take two years. We're also asking doctors to look at how they can better diagnose and treat patients.' If kidney cancer is spotted early it can be cured by removing the affected section of the kidney through surgery. Until recently, there were very few effective treatments for the disease if it spreads outside of the kidney. Yet, in the past five years, a number of new immune-boosting drugs collectively known as immunotherapy have become available for these advanced kidney cancer patients which can significantly extend their lives and even cure them. However, training is needed to administer the complex treatment which experts say many consultants do not have. 'This report is deeply troubling,' says one oncologist, who asked to remain anonymous. 'Cancer consultants in some parts of the country clearly do not have the time or expertise to administer complex life-saving drug treatments [such as those needed for kidney cancer]. I don't think new NICE guidelines are going to be enough to fix this problem.' The new report compared the provision of drug treatments across the 21 Cancer Alliances the NHS districts for cancer care in England. It looked specifically at advanced kidney cancer patients and if they were offered the new drugs within the first 12 months following diagnosis. It does not name the specific Alliances but says that at three, less than 40 per cent of this patient group, were given new cancer-fighting drugs. The lowest performing district offered just 36 per cent of patients these drug therapies. The highest rate of drug access was only 69 per cent. According to Dr Kate Fife, consultant oncologist at the University of Cambridge and lead author of the report, on average only around half of advanced kidney cancer patients were receiving these treatments. 'While the figures vary depending on the Alliance, it's clear that there are NHS patients not getting drugs which could extend or even save their lives,' says Dr Fife. Kidney cancer affects 13,000 Britons every year, making it the seventh most common cancer (stock photo of treatment) The report also found that only 11 per cent of patients who did not receive drugs survived two years or more after diagnosis, compared to nearly 40 per cent of those given the treatments. 'Not all patients can take these drugs,' says Dr Fife. 'Around 15 per cent are too old or sick to safely begin treatment. But that still leaves us with many patients who should be getting treatment.' While the report does not name-and-shame specific areas of the country, experts say it is obvious where the poor-performing Alliances are based. 'The data clearly shows kidney cancer patients in London are much more likely to get quality care than those in rural parts of the country,' one oncologist said. It was an incredible moment. Researchers told a packed audience at a medical conference in Amsterdam last week that a new drug, donanemab, could significantly slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. We were there, alongside other dementia scientists and clinicians from around the world, and everyone cheered a rare occurrence at these sorts of occasions. The reaction shows just how significant the news is and how few breakthroughs there are in dementia research. The Alzheimer's Society says it means we are now looking toward a future where we will treat the disease the number one cause of death in the UK, which affects one in 14 people over 65 as a chronic condition like asthma or diabetes. And news reports called donanemab a 'wonder drug', claiming it slowed patients' mental decline by 'up to 60 per cent'. There were stories of lives transformed. One American woman who was on the drug trial revealed it had caused her condition to improve so much she was able to drive and read again. Undoubtedly, donanemab represents an important scientific breakthrough. It provides a rare glimpse of hope for a disease which has, as yet, no cure. Yet amid the optimism, we as two doctors who have devoted our lives to research into dementia and treatment of the disease believe there is also cause for some caution. Some experts have raised valid concerns about the reality of what these results mean for most patients and whether the small benefits outweigh the risks posed by these powerful drugs. So what is the truth and what is hype? Here, we explain exactly what you need to know. Professor John Hardy (left) is Chair of Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease at the University College London (UCL) Institute of Neurology; Dr Catherine Mummery (right) is a consultant neurologist and head of clinical trials at the Dementia Research Centre, UCL Q: This seems like great news. Why would anyone be sceptical? A: It is great news. But there are some important caveats. The study announced last week ultimately shows what scientists call 'proof of concept'. This research, along with trials of another similar drug called lecanemab, shows for the first time that it is possible to rid the brain of toxic proteins called amyloid, a hallmark of Alzheimer's, and that doing that has an effect on the progression of the disease. That is significant as, despite decades of research and progress in understanding the disease, there has been no real progress in treating it. Now, in just a year, we have two drugs that have had an impact. Some scientists had begun to question if the 'amyloid hypothesis' the idea that the accumulation of amyloid in the brain causes inflammation, tangles of other toxic proteins called tau and, as a result, dementia held at all. They wondered if amyloid was the end game of a biological process that began years previously. If that was the case, getting rid of the proteins may not do anything. It's likely these drug trials will pave the way for more research into anti-amyloid drugs raising huge hope for future Alzheimer's patients. That said, some of the claims about donanemab last week have been misleading. While researchers managed to show a delay in how quickly the disease progresses, the widely-quoted figure of a 60 per cent reduction compared to patients given a placebo, is not an accurate reflection of what most patients can expect. This figure is at the top end of what scientists call a 'margin of error' a range of possible outcomes which could be as low as 19 per cent and is based on only one small sub-analysis of patients with the earliest form of the disease. For most, the benefit will be less. On average, the rate of mental decline slowed by around 35 per cent reduced to 22 per cent once patients with more advanced disease were taken into account. Q: So, are you saying this drug doesn't work after all? A: Absolutely not. These drugs do clear away toxic amyloid in the brain. Around three quarters of people taking the drug had no amyloid visible on brain scans by the end of the 18-month trial. This is real progress after previous disappointments, such as from another drug, aducanumab. This didn't clear amyloid as effectively and, although approved by US regulators in 2021, trials failed to show it benefited patients much. But other drugs were in the pipeline and these are the results we're seeing now. Donanemab and lecanemab show benefit. They both contain antibodies which recognise and bind to amyloid fragments in the brain and destroy them. They are most effective in the earliest stages of the disease, before amyloid leads to too many tangles of tau in the brain. What we don't know is what happens after 18 months the length of each of these trials. But it may take at least a year for amyloid to build up again if treatment is stopped. More work is needed to confirm that. But the drug does not stop the progression of Alzheimer's, nor is there evidence it can improve a patients' condition. Those on the drugs still get worse just, in some cases, less quickly. It was an incredible moment. Researchers told a packed audience at a medical conference in Amsterdam last week that a new drug, donanemab, could significantly slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease (stock photo) Q: So donanemab isn't a magic bullet. What can it do? A: The gains for patients may be relatively small. Researchers in the study used several tests to measure participants' thinking and memory, and to calculate their ability to perform everyday tasks. One test showed people given donanemab saw their condition decline, on average, by six points on a 144-point scale over 18 months. Those taking a placebo declined by nine points a 35 per cent difference. This means those given donanemab had four to seven months longer before their symptoms worsened, compared to the placebo group, over the 18 months of the trial. Nearly half (47 per cent) were stable for a year, compared with 29 per cent given a placebo. These are relatively subtle differences. Of course for people facing this degenerative disease, and their families, this may potentially be worthwhile. Any extra time with a loved one is precious. Being independent for longer, driving or getting dressed by yourself for longer is important. But overall, it isn't very long, and everyone's experience of Alzheimer's differs. How it might affect individuals is hard to predict. Q: Surely it's worth having a go, even if the benefits only delay progression for a few months? A: Even this isn't a straightforward decision. These powerful drugs carry significant risks. Nearly a quarter of people taking donanemab in the trial developed brain swellings, known as ARIA-E. More than a quarter had tiny bleeds on the brain. Most complications were not serious and patients either had no symptoms or recovered within a few weeks. But three patients died from ARIA side effects, which investigators linked to the drug. Some people also experience a reaction to the drug infusion, which is given intravenously. In all, 13 per cent 112 participants out of 860 withdrew from treatment with the drug because of the side effects. Lecanemab, approved by the FDA earlier this month, carried similar risks. It was initially thought that patients taking blood-thinning drugs for heart disease were more prone to these brain bleeds. But none of the patients who died on the donanemab trial were taking blood thinners, which means more work has to be done to understand these factors better. If it were given in the UK, patients would need to be carefully monitored. Q: I understand the risks, but still want to try it. Can I? A: Not yet. Donanemab hasn't been approved, either in the US or in the UK. The people whose stories were reported were taking it as part of a trial. It will take at least 18 months for it to become available here. The company which makes it, Eli Lilly, plans to apply to the UK regulator, the MHRA, for approval as soon as possible, a move backed by Alzheimer's charities. But it is likely to be cautious because of the safety concerns. If it's approved, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence then has to decide if the drug is cost-effective for the NHS and if it benefits patients compared with the risks. If all of this happens, it might not be available to everyone. Many patients with Alzheimer's now won't get it because, by the time it's approved, their disease won't be mild enough. In trials, participants are carefully selected. Not only are they generally in the very early stages of Alzheimer's but they are healthier, with fewer other serious conditions, than most people. The donanemab trial was more inclusive and involved people on blood-thinning medication and people with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, unlike the lecanemab trial. But when doctors begin prescribing it in the real world, they may have to do so carefully potentially not giving it to those with other diseases which might add to their risks, or to those too frail for monthly infusions. Patients might also need to have a test for the APOE4 gene, which studies show increases the risk of side effects. This is a requirement for prescribing in the US. In the donanemab trial, around 90 per cent of participants were white few black and Asian participants were recruited and most did not make it through the screening process. We don't know why, but it may be because they had other conditions. This means we know even less about the risks to patients from those ethnic backgrounds. An additional problem is diagnosing people early enough to get the drug. Patients may need a confirmed Alzheimer's diagnosis from either a lumbar puncture which involves using a needle to extract cerebrospinal fluid and testing it for amyloid and tau or a PET scan to measure the build-up of amyloid. But only a handful of neurology clinics in the UK perform these as standard. Most patients are still diagnosed using the 'pen and paper' test developed 40 years ago, which assesses memory and thinking skills by asking a range of questions. MRI brain scans are also essential for diagnosis but all too often patients don't get them. This has to change, to make sure people can get an accurate diagnosis early enough for such drugs which are more effective the earlier they are given. But changes are on the horizon researchers are developing a new blood test to pick up amyloid and tau without the need for invasive tests or scans. Q: So if I might not get it and it won't cure my disease, why is everyone excited? A: These trial results are cause for hope. We're more optimistic now that there may one day be a way to treat Alzheimer's. There are interesting parallels with multiple sclerosis. In the 1980s, new drugs called interferons had a small effect in delaying progression of MS but weren't very good. It led to the NHS better organising services to pick up the disease earlier and encouraged more research, which heralded in better drugs with more impact. Without that first drug, the investment wouldn't have come. So even if donanemab isn't 'the one', it's a foundation we can build on to create better, safer drugs. There are other exciting trials going on targeting tau, inflammation in the brain and the metabolic system. One 'gene silencer' drug has already been shown to switch off the production of tau. We may need a combination of these drugs to truly tackle the problem. And even if this generation of Alzheimer's patients does not immediately benefit from this breakthrough, those in the future almost certainly will. A 'scandalous' shortage of tests for lung disease is leaving thousands undiagnosed and missing out on vital treatment, says a leading charity. In a report to be published next month, Asthma + Lung UK will warn of a postcode lottery for accessing a test for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) a group of serious lung conditions that affect around 1.2 million people in Britain. The test, called spirometry, involves breathing into a machine that measures how much you exhale in one breath. This reveals how healthy the lungs are and, in some cases, whether medication will improve symptoms. GPs need a result from this test to refer patients for specialist treatment. But too few GP surgeries do the test, Dr Andy Whittamore, clinical lead for Asthma + Lung UK, told the doctors' magazine Pulse. A 'scandalous' shortage of tests for lung disease is leaving thousands undiagnosed and missing out on vital treatment, says a leading charity (stock photo) He said: 'In the pandemic spirometry stopped and we had a big shift in the respiratory nurse workforce who dropped out of primary care.' Now, he added, health authorities are too cash-strapped to fund the tests and staff. 'I can't see them throwing a lot of money into this,' he said. 'There are patients who are not getting a test. 'They might be getting the wrong treatment or no treatment at all as they haven't got the right diagnosis.' Last year, the charity found that nearly one in four COPD victims waits at least five years for a diagnosis. London-based GP Dr Rammya Mathew told Pulse the problem is 'nothing short of a scandal'. She said: 'We have had no access in our borough for months now. Specialist services won't see our patients without a diagnosis.' COPD, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, develops when lungs become inflamed, damaged and narrowed, making breathing difficult. It is commonest in those who have smoked but non-smokers can develop it too. Early diagnosis is vital, as many treatments are only effective in the early stages of the disease. Early diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is vital, as many treatments, including inhalers (pictured) are only effective in the early stages of the disease These include inhalers and medicines, as well as pulmonary rehabilitation, a programme of exercise and education. For some, the only effective treatment is major surgery or a lung transplant. Experts say in some areas, nurses and healthcare assistants have been trained to perform spirometry, but this is not widespread across the UK. In February, The Mail on Sunday warned that asthma patients were missing out on an essential test to see if medication is working. A device, called a feNO test, can spot when lungs are overworked a common asthma symptom. But NHS chiefs have not agreed to buy the test for GP surgeries, due to the cost. Well, there is good news and there is bad news. The good news is that the biopsy on the tumour on Mini Puppy's spleen has come back negative. Hooray! And while the mass on her thyroid was cancer, the lump was small and thankfully they got it all. So she doesn't need any more treatment, just another scan in six months' time. I don't have to tell you how relieved I am. That's how close we are. You love Mini Puppy as much as I do. We are family. The bad news? It's insignificant, compared to me not losing Mini who is, as Big said of Carrie, the 'love of my life'. But perhaps you will have read about the combative meeting between me and my ex-husband and seen the photos. So I thought I would fill you in a little bit more. In our safe space, here. Just between us. I met up with Nirpal for a piece in the Daily Mail; the news peg: Carrie and Aidan have got back together in And Just Like That..., the SATC reboot. And here, as an exclusive, is what you weren't told about my rendezvous with my ex. He only agreed to meet me for a big fat fee: 'Sure, put me in touch with the ed.' My ex only agreed to meet me for a big fat fee: and said 'Sure, put me in touch with the ed' In a bar after the photo shoot, he refused to tell me about his life, as the meeting was 'just a job'. But I know from his 'writing' in the Telegraph that he is 'currently single'. He ranted and raved and swore, despite the fact I wasn't the one who cheated. When he stood up to flounce off, I said, breaking the habit of a lifetime, 'Do you want to pay for our drinks?' And he said, 'No, the Mail can pay. Or you can.' He said my so-called friends hate me and my family hates me. This cannot go unchallenged. I still have my best friend, a woman I met aged 18. Nic has worked for me for 15 years. Andrea in Belfast loves me, and in fact calls Nirpal after she saw his photo in the Telegraph, accompanying a piece that accused me of racism and paedophilia 'Nipples'. My nieces love me. I paid for my mum's end-of-life care. He didn't care that I'd just lost Gracie. His only interest was in himself Nirpal brought up my very willing PA when I became editor of Marie Claire. I promoted her. She almost came on my honeymoon. I have never written a word about her that wasn't glowing. I imagine she got caught up in having a family. That's what happens. I still love her. Nirpal also brought up someone, whom I hired from fashion college, and whom I loved dearly as my gay best friend. I've never written a negative word about him. His ex-wife, on the other hand, wrote that I have sex with my cats, called me 'Nana' because I'm older than her, and also tweeted that he used to laugh at me, not with me, which isn't true. When I left London, expressly because I was disillusioned, lonely, hurt because my husband couldn't keep anything in his Kriss Kross pants, I gave my Greek Cypriot cleaner, H, three months' severance money, which is more than I got in the three times I've been sacked. Jones moans... what Liz loathes this week Caitlin Moran's new book, What About Men? She lucked out when she got married. So many of us didn't Parties. I can never hear a word anyone says, and I cannot eat standing up People who pretend to enjoy Glastonbury. I didn't wee for three days, I just reabsorbed Advertisement She currently has lung cancer, and I've been paying the vet bills for her cats. When I said, during our meeting, 'Oh, Nirpal, poor downtrodden immigrant. Have you kept in touch with H? Helped her?' Him: 'She's a cleaner.' I cannot tell you how I feel now, having re-met my husband. Why did I waste my time and money on him? What was I thinking? He didn't deserve one second of my time. He would shag women in my Vispring bed from Selfridges while I was away working. In his attitude towards me, he appeared to have no morals, no kindness, no empathy. When we met him enticed purely by money and the expectation of being high profile, if just for a second he didn't care that I had just lost Gracie. His only interest was in himself. Why did I waste my last child-bearing years on a 'man' who can't even say, 'What would you like to drink?' before ordering himself an espresso martini. Who can't say, 'I'm sorry your mum died.' Or, 'You look nice.' I cannot believe that I award-winning, generous, kind, successful, famous, hard-working, with brand new eyebrows, Botox, and currently wearing Dries van Noten married a dud. Why do we do this? Why do we not value ourselves? WHAT'S THE STORY? Adidas x Parley (a global nonprofit organisation focusing on the protection of oceans) has been a powerful collaboration since 2015. All trainers are made with 50 per cent recycled plastic, supposedly collected from beaches and coastal communities. The goal is to stop any plastic reaching the sea. Last year, Adidas and Parley made almost 27 million pairs of shoes containing 'ocean' plastic production on that scale sounds like fast fashion to us. WHY SHOULDN'T I BUY? Misrepresentation. In 2022, Channel 4's Dispatches discovered that the plastic recycled for these trainers actually came from water bottles in hotels, rather than the ocean. Parley's reliance upon these businesses to supply bottles for their shoes was encouraging the creation of more plastic waste rather than reducing it. TRAINERS, 100, adidas.co.uk. While this collaboration sounds a little too close to greenwashing for our liking, Parley is doing great things in other areas WHY SHOULD I BUY? While this collaboration sounds a little too close to greenwashing for our liking, Parley is doing great things in other areas. In 2022 alone, 13,364 beach clean-ups were organised by the organisation and its volunteers. WHY SHOULD I BUY? While this collaboration sounds a little too close to greenwashing for our liking, Parley is doing great things in other areas. In 2022 alone, 13,364 beach clean-ups were organised by the organisation and its volunteers. MADE IN Indonesia. MADE FROM 50 per cent recycled plastic waste. JOURNEY Almost 12,000 km from Indonesia to the UK. It's unclear how they are shipped. OUR RATING: 1/5 EATING OUT In Bayswater, London, Tom finds an unassuming little Malaysian restaurant that's big on quality The late and very great Jonathan Gold, restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times, once decreed that, 'If the restaurant you have been directed to lies between the 7-Eleven and the dry cleaners in a dusty strip mall, then you're probably at the right place.' Amen to that. There aren't too many dusty strip malls in Bayswater, but there is Queensway Market where, once you've passed the Brazilian cafe, phone-repair shop and Uzbek canteen, you'll find Normah's, a Malaysian classic. And if you wander down Queensway, and take the first right into Inverness Place, you'll find Med Salleh Kopitiam, hidden away in a typically bland tourist hotel on the junction. In Bayswater, London, Tom finds an unassuming little Malaysian restaurant that's big on quality. Slice of life: Hainanese chicken rice, 'elegantly poached on the bone' In fact, had I not got the tip-off from Henry Taylor, serious eater and restaurant PR (although he doesn't represent this one), I would have never known it was there. But once in the room, with its blue neon lights and photos plastering the walls, as well as an endearingly random bicycle, electric guitar and ancient TV, I knew this would be a lunch to remember. OK, so it's more restaurant than traditional kopitiam (Southeast Asian coffee shop), but there's no doubting the quality of the cooking. A vast oyster omelette, slightly frazzled at the edges, and still gooey in the middle, is studded with gently saline bivalves. Then a pair of sardine curry puffs, the pastry crisp, burnished and slightly blistered, the filling just on the right side of pungent. Satay chicken is charred from a spell over hot coals, thick cut and slightly fatty. Char kuey teow flat rice noodles with prawns and clams has that all important wok hei (breath of the wok), while prawn and okra belacan (the okra crisp, the prawns still blessed with bouncy bite) is made great by home-made sambal, all slow-building heat and proper prawn pong. Best of all is Hainanese chicken rice, that comfort-food classic. The chicken is elegantly poached on the bone, the ginger minced fine, the dark soy sauce speckled with coriander and the rice cooked in chicken fat. Hooray. The prawns are blessed with bouncy bite The broth, though languidly delicate, with a hearty jolt of white pepper takes it to another level. I can't help but slurp the whole bowl. Another reappears within seconds. 'You like it?' asks our lovely waiter. Hell yes. Give me a ring and I'd marry it. About 25 per head. Med Salleh Kopitiam, 35-39 Inverness Terrace, London W2; medsalleh.co.uk DRINKS: Charlotte's top tinned tipples I was living in New York when I started working in the drinks business. Summer saw citizens plucking cool cans from raffia handbags, and ordering them at hip bars. Now, from rose to red, zingy cocktails to zero-alcohol, the UK has embraced the revolution. Crack these open Move over, mojito! Here's a lime-infused, sugar- and alcohol-free bubbly from a UK brand that focuses on sustainability I was living in New York when I started working in the drinks business. Summer saw citizens plucking cool cans from raffia handbags, and ordering them at hip bars Now, from rose to red, zingy cocktails to zero-alcohol, the UK has embraced the revolution. Crack these open SPARKLING BLANC DE BLANCS 2022 (12%), 16.50 for three, cannedwine.co. Champagnestyle bubbles in a can? This is the one: citrus-tinged, effervescent and giving a mineral-dry finish. DASH LIME SPARKLING WATER (0%), 4.50 for four, ocado.com. Move over, mojito! Here's a lime-infused, sugar- and alcohol-free bubbly from a UK brand that focuses on sustainability. WILD STEPS ORGANIC CHARDONNAY 2021, MENDOZA (13%), 4.75, vincancan.co.uk. This Argentinian white tastes of peach and mango. Each purchase helps its charity partners too. TERRE DI FAIANO ORGANIC PRIMITIVO PUGLIA (13.5%), 3.49, Waitrose. The company has swapped all of its small bottles for a can format. Try this Puglian red, with dark fruit and smoky notes. MARKSOLOGIST PINK GRAPEFRUIT PALOMA (14%), 3.50, M&S. This cocktail evokes the magic of a tropical island I love the warmth of the tequila lifted by the zesty grapefruit Mobile phone users are being urged to check their contract before jetting off abroad as some networks charge almost 7 a day for certain countries. Last week, industry regulator Ofcom called for new powers to force networks to text customers about roaming fees. But the rules are not expected to be introduced until next year. As it stands, mobile phone companies are not obliged to warn customers of the extortionate fees they could rack up while on holiday. Life's a beach: As it stands, mobile phone companies are not obliged to warn customers of the extortionate fees they could rack up while on holiday One in five people has no idea what they pay, according to the regulator. Costly roaming charges in the EU ended in June 2017, allowing tourists to use their mobile phones on holiday without extra costs. But UK customers are no longer entitled to this right since Brexit. Provider O2 is now the only network that does not levy roaming charges in Europe for any contract taken out recently. However, most networks have continued to provide free roaming in the EU, as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and in some cases Switzerland, for those who stick with old contracts typically those taken out between July and October 2021. For more recent contracts, EE, Vodafone and Three have all reintroduced roaming charges demanding 2.29, 2.25 and 2 a day respectively. Outside Europe some providers levy an even higher roaming charge on top of the daily bill. Vodafone charges an extra 6.85 for every day in countries outside Europe and Three 5 per day while O2 demands 6 a day. Britons abroad have paid an estimated 539 million in unexpected roaming charges over the past year, according to price comparison website Uswitch. Ernest Doku, mobile expert at Uswitch, says: 'Given how confusing policies and plans can be, it is right Ofcom is taking the issue seriously. But customers should not have to wait so the regulator should act now.' To avoid a nasty surprise bill, Doku says it is important to read the small print of your contract to find charges for calls and data usage abroad. He suggests taking advantage of free wi-fi spots in hotels and cafes as long as they are secure to reduce mobile data usage. If you're happy to rely on these, ensure the data roaming option in the settings is switched off to avoid unexpected charges. And while you may pay to receive calls, you never pay to receive text messages, so encourage friends to send these. Or simply put your phone in flight mode if you are not using it. Cristina Luna-Esteban, of Ofcom, says: 'Millions of holidaymakers heading abroad want to stay connected. 'But without clear information from their provider they face unexpected bills for calling home or going online. 'Alerts would mean they would not be left in the dark on charges.' Every year, about four billion parcels are delivered around the UK. Turbocharged during the pandemic, the market continues to thrive, with businesses and individuals spending more than 10 billion annually to have goods sent direct to their door. Most packages are relatively small and simple food, frocks and fripperies. But many items are trickier to handle bulky stuff such as tyres or lengths of piping, heavy household wares including sofas and dishwashers, or items requiring extra security, such as jewellery, medicine or confidential papers. That is where DX Group comes into its own. The company was founded in the 1970s as a courier with an edge, delivering papers to lawyers and court houses before 9am each day and collecting documents after 5 in the afternoon. Perfect fit: DX specialises in shifting items that are tricky to deal with, such as furniture, or sensitive papers Business was brisk and the company grew at pace until email became part of commercial life and volumes started to dwindle. The firm tried to pick up the slack by moving into new areas, particularly the transport of unwieldy goods, but problems came thick and fast and, by 2017, DX was on the verge of collapse. New management were parachuted in, a turnaround ensued and, by 2020, DX was profitable and making progress. But the group soon hit another bump in the road, when rival Tufnells mounted a corporate espionage case against DX, alleging that staff had conspired to secure confidential information from their arch-rival. The case was finally settled in early June this year just a week before Tufnells went into administration. Details were never disclosed, but the amounts involved are understood to be minor, involving very few employees. Nonetheless, the case cast a long shadow over DX. Its accounts were delayed, shares were suspended for months and most members of the board, including the chairman and chief executive, left the business. Today however, prospects are robust and the shares, at 32p, should go far. New boss Paul Ibbetson is a plain-speaking Yorkshireman, who has spent more than 30 years in the delivery industry and has a history of turning round troubled businesses. Recruited to DX in 2017, he helped orchestrate the firm's recovery, was not involved in the espionage saga and, in January this year, was recruited to the top job. Early signs under his leadership are encouraging. The group's financial year ends on July 1 and a trading update last week showed good progress, with revenues expected to be up 10 per cent on the previous year at 470 million and a 40 per cent uplift in cash to 38 million. The spy story, grisly as it was, had little impact on the business itself, which has gained a reputation for efficiency and service, qualities that Ibbetson considers fundamental to future success. Crucially too, Ibbetson has moved swiftly to capitalise on Tufnell's unfortunate demise, picking up 15 sites from the business, which will now be incorporated into the DX estate. The move should accelerate growth across the firm. Delivering unwieldy parcels is a specialised field. Tufnells had a substantial share of the market and DX is picking up the slack, with demand for its services soaring some 25 per cent in recent weeks. Brokers expect a 31 per cent increase in profits to 26.5 million for the year just ended, with further strong growth coming through in 2024 and beyond. After a multi-year hiatus, DX has also reintroduced dividends, with 1.5p pencilled in for 2023, rising to 1.7p next year and 2p for 2025. DX retains its specialised courier business too and a flourishing logistics business, helping a host of retailers, including Ikea to deliver products. Traded on: AIM Ticker: DX Contact: dxdelivery.com or 0333 241 1624 Midas verdict: DX was once synonymous with legal deliveries, so much so that lawyers still talk about 'DXing' their papers. The firm has had a volatile few years, but the outlook is upbeat. Ibbetson knows what he is doing, Tufnells' collapse has fuelled demand for DX deliveries and, at 32p, the shares are undervalued, while the dividend adds further spice. Buy. Raising the stakes: French billionaire Patrick Drahi Patrick Drahi is considering raising his stake in BT for a fourth time, according to City sources. The French billionaire already owns 24.5 per cent of the group through his French telecoms company Altice. He is understood to be eyeing raising it to as much as 29.9 per cent the highest level before a shareholder must make a formal offer to buy the company. This happens when an investor's holding reaches 30 per cent. Drahi, 59, has repeatedly said he does not wish to attempt to take over BT, which is worth 12.6 billion. That is still the case, a source said. But taking his stake above 25 per cent would trigger another investigation by the Government about whether his investment poses any threats to Britain's security under a law called the National Security & Investment Act. A review under the same law last year gave him the green light. It comes weeks after BT's chief executive, Philip Jansen, said he would step down from FTSE 100-listed BT within the next year. The Mail on Sunday revealed days earlier that Jansen was 'desperate' to leave the group, which he has led since early 2019 and navigated through the pandemic. The 56-year-old recently set out his long-term vision for the firm which employs 130,000 staff outlining plans to cut up to 55,000 jobs by 2030, with many to be taken over by artificial intelligence. His strategy also includes ploughing 15 billion into rolling out next-generation 5G mobile and full-fibre broadband across the UK. Chairman Adam Crozier is expected to deliver an update on the hunt for Jansen's successor later in the summer. Drahi, who also owns auction house Sotheby's, initially bought a 12 per cent stake in BT in 2021. He raised this to 18 per cent a few months later. Then, in May 2023, he hiked it to 24.5 per cent despite making a loss on his holding after BT's share price dropped. It could be a tricky time for Casablanca-born Drahi to increase his stake in BT as Altice's Portuguese division has been rocked by an investigation into alleged corruption, which has led it to suspend several managers. Altice and BT whose shares dropped two per cent on Friday declined to comment. Russian, Chinese warships conduct artillery firing as part of joint drills Moscow, July 22 (UNI) Russia and China carried out joint artillery firing at a sea target as part of the "North. Interaction-2023" naval exercises organized by Beijing in the Sea of Japan, the Russian Pacific Fleet said on Saturday. "During the joint naval exercise 'North/Interaction-2023', a joint detachment of ships performed artillery firing at a sea target simulating a surface vessel of a theoretical enemy," the statement read. The Russian ships fired at the target at a range of over 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) using 100-mm A-190 and AK-100 artillery systems, while the Chinese side fired from 130-mm H/PJ-38 naval guns and 76-mm dual-purpose guns. The amount of UK national debt held by overseas investors has doubled in the past two decades and is on track to become the highest of any advanced economy, according to the independent budget watchdog. More than a quarter of the UK's total 2.3 trillion debt pile is foreign-owned, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility. It means the Government will rely on what former Bank of England governor Mark Carney called 'the kindness of strangers' to fund public borrowing, experts warned. Counting the cost: More than a quarter of the UK's total 2.3 trillion debt pile is foreign-owned, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility Only France of the major G7 countries has a higher amount of debt owned by foreign investors. The rest of the UK's debt is held by domestic pension funds, insurers and the Bank of England under its controversial bond buying programme called 'quantitative easing'. 'In theory it's good news that overseas investors are still prepared to buy,' said Doug McWilliams of the Centre for Economic and Business Research adding, however, that 'in the longer term it makes the economy more vulnerable if outside investors don't like what they see.' Brewdog's boss has claimed train strikes 'are killing UK businesses' and have cost his company 3.5 million. James Watt said sales at the craft beer brewer's bars were down by half on strike days and that the Treasury had lost out on 1 million through National Insurance, VAT and beer duty and that was only from Brewdog. In a lengthy tirade on LinkedIn, founder and chief executive Watt urged the Government to 'step in and sort this mess out'. Hit hard: James Watt said sales at the craft beer brewer's bars were down by half on strike days He even offered to host a meeting of ministers and unions over beer and sandwiches at a Brewdog pub to thrash out a deal. Hopes of an end to the long-running dispute over pay and conditions rose last week when a planned stoppage on the London Underground was called off. But unions have not ruled out further strikes and action is still planned on the train network. 'Everyone, including the Government is losing out massively,' Watt wrote. 'The strikes are threatening the viability and the future of hundreds of thousands businesses, and jobs all over the UK. 'All of this comes at a time when pubs, bars and restaurants are closing at the fastest rates since records began.' Watt has faced accusations of presiding over a 'culture of fear' in an open letter signed by staff, to allegedly promoting a toxic work environment. In a recent interview he accepted mistakes had been made but insisted some allegations against him and his company have been blown out of proportion. Teachers wanted to show her a video of a boy getting an erection and ejaculating A Christian father was so outraged by his daughter's sexual education classes he removed her from primary school, MailOnline can reveal. Michael Doherty, 50, from Suffolk, was shocked by what he saw when teachers at Thurston Primary School finally allowed him to see teaching materials intended for his nine-year-old daughter - after weeks of not allowing him access. It follows MailOnline revealing a wealth of questionable and sometimes graphic teaching material made for controversial Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) classes, which became compulsory three years ago. Secretive lesson plans showed schoolchildren are being taught about anal sex and orgasms before they have reached puberty. Former aircraft engineer Mr Doherty became concerned when the primary school said they would be teaching RSE to his daughter Sophia, nine, who is in Year 4. When he asked to remove his daughter from the class on religious grounds, he was told he did not have the right to withdraw her 'because it is important that all children receive this content, covering topics such as friendships and how to stay safe'. Michael Doherty, 50, (pictured outside his daughter's primary school) from Suffolk, was shocked by what he saw when teachers at Thurston Primary School finally allowed him to see teaching materials intended for his nine-year-old daughter - after weeks of not allowing him access Former aircraft engineer Mr Doherty became concerned when the primary school said they would be teaching RSE to his daughter Sophia, nine (pictured at school) When the Christian father asked to remove his daughter from the class on religious grounds, he was told he did not have the right to withdraw her. Pictured: Michael and Sophia, with her two brothers The school told him they had consulted parents. Yet documents seen by MailOnline reveal the primary school used the Covid pandemic as a reason they could not share specific teacher material with parents. A letter sent to Mr Doherty by the headteacher also claimed the school followed the national curriculum for PSHE relationships - however no such national curriculum exists. Mr Doherty told MailOnline: 'It's cutting parents out of the loop. You should be consulting with parents. They just refused to do it. 'I feel as a parent they were quite hostile to me. You're treated like some sort of prude. But I think you need to speak up.' He objected to his daughter being shown a BBC Bitesize video showing a boy having a wet dream, getting an erection and ejaculating. After Mr Doherty complained to the BBC, the video was removed from their website. His daughter's RSE teacher denied the video was sexual in nature and told him his daughter's year group was not taught sex education. The father-of-three became concerned when primary school teachers said in an email (pictured) they would be teaching Relationships and Sex Education to Sophia Mr Doherty was told by the class's teacher that he would not be able to remove her from the class The primary school teacher pointed him to a policy that said this was 'because it is important that all children receive this content, covering topics such as friendships and how to stay safe' Mr Doherty said: 'It's really, really weird what's going on in schools. Why is my daughter being shown a video of wet dreams? The teacher's reason was so that when she's an adult she doesn't go ''eurgh'' when she hears about wet dreams. 'It's all very bizarre. It's oversexualisation of children.' He said the headmaster, the CEO and the class's teacher all agreed the video was 'suitable' for a nine-year-old to see. Mr Doherty said the teachers told him that external charity the PSHE Association had provided them with teaching resources for the class. He said: 'Children are coming out of schools illiterate and they are doing this stuff. As a parent it just feels wrong. The video is really strange and disgusting. It's a really creepy and vile video. 'I don't want my child seeing a vile, disgusting video that [is] being pushed into primary schools. 'I have been vindicated because the BBC took the video off their site.' The school's own policy (pictured) says parents have a right to remove their child from sex education - but Sophia's teachers deemed what they were teaching her not to be sex education Documents seen by MailOnline reveal the primary school used the Covid pandemic as a reason they could not share specific teacher material with parents Mr Doherty said the teachers told him that external charity the PSHE Association had provided them with teaching resources for the class. Pictured: The teaching resources the class used A letter sent to Mr Doherty by the headteacher also claimed the school followed the national curriculum for PSHE relationships - however no such national curriculum exists Mr Doherty also said the school lied to him about when the classes were starting. After confronting the headmaster, the academy CEO and the RSE teacher, he tried to remove his daughter from the school. Although he said the school initially refused to allow him to take her out, intervention from the local authority let him do so. Sophia is now spending the rest of the school year with family in Poland before Mr Doherty and his wife plan to find another primary school in September. If they can't find one, they are prepared to homeschool her. Since September 2020, Relationships Education has been compulsory in primary schools and RSE mandatory in secondary schools. The change left many teaching staff seeking guidance. The void was filled by charities some harbouring unconventional views on biological sex and sharing material on their websites that references underage sex. Mr Doherty said the teaching of PSHE and RSE was 'like a sausage factory' because schools simply pay third parties such as the PSHE Association, which lobbied to make the subject compulsory, to access their content which is then taught to children. He added: 'School should be a safe place for education. 'Sadly we cannot trust the judgement of some school leaders. 'As for other parents, most are sadly ignorant of what is being shown to children in the school setting. 'Maybe if they were aware [of] the potential damage to their children, they would take the same steps as I did.' On Thursday, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan announced the government was pushing back the release of its guidance for schools and colleges when a child is questioning their gender. She said: 'It is a difficult and sensitive area and more information is needed about the long-term implications of a child to act as though they are the opposite sex. Keen horse lover Sophia is spending the rest of the school year with family in Poland before Mr Doherty and his wife plan to find another primary school in September He said the teaching of PSHE and RSE was 'like a sausage factory' because schools simply pay third parties such as the PSHE Association, which lobbied to make the subject compulsory, to access their content which is then taught to children 'We also need to take care to understand how such actions affect other children in the school or college. These decisions must not be taken lightly or in haste. 'It is vital that the guidance we publish gives clarity for schools and colleges and reassurance for parents. 'So, we have made the decision to allow more time to speak to teachers, parents, lawyers and other stakeholders in order to ensure this guidance meets the high expectations that these groups rightly have for it. 'In the meantime, schools and colleges should proceed with extreme caution. 'They should always involve parents in decisions relating to their child, and should not agree to any changes that they are not absolutely confident are in the best interests of that child and their peers. 'They should prioritise safeguarding by meeting their existing legal duties to protect single sex spaces and maintain safety and fairness in single sex sport.' A Department for Education spokesperson said: 'The safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our top priority. 'Following reports of inappropriate materials being used to teach relationships and sex education, the government has already brought forward an urgent review of the curriculum and is looking at introducing age ratings to make sure teaching materials are appropriate. 'The Education Secretary has also written to schools to reiterate that parents have a right to view teaching materials and copyright law does not prevent a parent from viewing external resources on school premises.' A spokesperson for Thurston Church of England Primary Academy told MailOnline: 'The PSHE curriculum taught at Thurston CE Primary Academy is in line with the statutory guidance from the Department for Education's policy on Relationships Education, Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education. 'The curriculum follows the PSHE Association programme of study which is government funded and quality assured by the educational body to ensure it meets statutory requirements. 'The BBC Bitesize video was included in the resources but has since been withdrawn by the BBC. The school will be reviewing its materials.' A spokesperson for the PSHE Association said: 'Parents' involvement in curriculum conversations should be welcomed, as high quality PSHE education involves a partnership between parents and schools and transparency about materials being used. 'Regarding puberty, the government's statutory Health Education guidance requires that all primary schools teach the "key facts about puberty and the changing adolescent body, particularly from age 9 through to age 11, including physical and emotional changes" and that this should occur before puberty starts.' The Church of England, Suffolk CoE, St Peter's Thurston and the BBC did not respond to requests for comment. Billionaire Richard White has gone from rock 'n' roll tech nerd to Australia's richest boss - but he still lives with his mum in the middle class Sydney suburb where he grew up. The founder of logistics software company WiseTech Global this week took the No. 1 spot on the Rich List from Andrew 'Twiggy' Forrest when the mining magnate split from his wife Nicola and shared his fortune with her. Mr White, 67, now owns stock worth $10.5billion after his company's share price soared almost 30 times its original value since going public in 2016, overshadowing Dr Forrest's $9.2billion portfolio. It's been a long way to the top for the former wannabe rock star who turned his back on fame to fix guitars for AC/DC and The Angels before making his money in tech. But despite his booming fortune, he still lives with his elderly mother - and his best mates from his teenage years - at a massive compound he built for them all at his childhood home in Bexley, in Sydney's south. Billionaire Richard White has gone from rock 'n' roll tech nerd to Australia's richest boss, but he still lives with his mum Cherry (pictured together) in the middle class Sydney suburb where he grew up Richard White also now shares his life with glamorous lawyer Zena Nasser (pictured together), who has represented bikies including Michael Ibrahim Richard White has built a high-tech solar powered home (pictured) in Bexley in Sydney's south Mr White also now shares his life with glamorous lawyer Zena Nasser, who has represented bikies and clients including Michael Ibrahim, the brother of Kings Cross nightclub boss John Ibrahim. She recently revealed her luxury lifestyle with Mr White in a leaked TikTok video in which she mimed the lyrics to Abba's Money, Money, Money at a series of exotic locations in St Tropez in southern France. But back home, Mr White shuns the typical life of Australian billionaires and has never joined them in Sydney's ritzy suburbs like Mosman, Bellevue Hill or Double Bay. Instead, he has developed a high-tech home in Bexley in Sydney's south. The compound is built around the historic 1855 home where Mr White was born and grew up with his mother Cherry, 91, and engineer father John, now deceased. It featured two ballrooms which his grandparents hired out for wedding receptions, where Mr White worked the bar as a teenager and served meals as a waiter. Zena Nasser mimed the lyrics to Abba's Money, Money, Money alongside her billionaire lover Richard White (pictured) in an embarrassing leaked video It's been a long way to the top for former rock star wannabe Richard White who turned his back on fame to fix guitars for AC/DC and The Angels before making his money in tech Richard White lives with his elderly mother - and his best mates from his teenage years - at the compound he built for them all at his childhood home in Bexley, in Sydney's south (pictured) His mansion is built where his grandparents ran two ballrooms (pictured), which they rented out for wedding receptions The father of two bought it back eight years ago and renovated it for his mother as part of an ultra-modern development with his sprawling mansion at its centre. The compound now features homes for her, his kids, and two ex-bandmates from his teenage rock group, who still play with him today in its lavish recording studio. His childhood home sits next to a colonial-style mansion and reception area facing the front, a huge annex with a pool to its rear, and an even bigger units-style development at the back of the property. The sprawling 3,777sqm property also has a cavernous underground car park, with separate James Bond-style entrance and exit ramps as part of its one-way system. The development even boasts a massive $480,000 solar power system, which can generate more than 117MWh a year - equal to a third of what is produced annually by the coal-fired Collie power station in Western Australia. Tesla-driving Mr White now plans to replicate the solar system at his stunning $12million resort-style estate Sentry Rock at Spencer on the Hawkesbury River, which was once owned by notorious financier Rene Rivkin. It adds to his growing property portfolio which includes a $27.5million six-bedroom weekender in Palm Beach, on Sydney's northern beaches, and both the $15.5m penthouse and also the entire sixth floor $6.5m apartment in the Eliza building, which overlooks Sydney's Hyde Park. He also owns a huge 38,000sqm city block in Mascot near Sydney Airport, as well as snapping up several neighbouring land estates near Berry in the Southern Highlands to create a 37-hectare tract of countryside. He admits he is moving his personal fortune into property to safeguard it from the risky highs and lows of the share market. WiseTech Global launched in 2016 at $3.35 a share and its price has since rocketed to its current all-time high of about $82 on Thursday, more than doubling over the past year alone 'They are not an insubstantial part of my personal wealth,' he told the AFR last September. 'The good thing about property is it is very slow moving; it doesn't jump up and down.' Despite WiseTech Global - which is still 40 per cent owned by Mr White - only going on the share market seven years ago, it has endured some dramatic peaks and troughs. It launched in 2016 at $3.35 a share and its price has since rocketed to its current all-time high of about $82 on Thursday, more than doubling over the past year alone. But the share price has also seen troubled times, with crashes in 2019 and 2022, and another in 2020 that halved the company's value within a month. Each time though, it has bounced back bigger and better than before. 'Every road has potholes,' White admitted. 'When something like this happens, you have to be very resilient, and be surrounded by other people who are very resilient. 'I never thought about failure; I only thought about how to succeed.' That success began when Mr White realised he would never get rich playing guitar in his rock band Jade. 'My father, to his great credit, said, "Look, you've got to have another skill,' he told Sky News. 'You can't just be a musician. 'It was fun, but it became a drain. The problem is, it's actually not at all profitable to be a musician, particularly a struggling musician. 'I gave up pretty quickly and went, "I'd actually prefer to eat and pay my rent."' He started his successful Rock Repairs business, expertly fixing guitars after he read just one book on the subject. Richard White's success began when he realised he would never get rich playing guitar in his rock band Jade (a young Mr White is seen on the left in this undated band photo) He set up Rock Repairs, which led him to work with brothers Angus and Malcolm Young from AC/DC and Rick Brewster from The Angels, as well as Cold Chisel and Dragon Richard White (pictured) sold Rock Repairs to his co-worker and started a lighting business which ultimately led to his multibillion-dollar international logistics software company It led him to work with brothers Angus and Malcolm Young from AC/DC and Rick Brewster from The Angels, as well as Cold Chisel and Dragon. 'It didn't seem important at the time - they were just people like me,' he said. 'None of us was successful in the real sense of the word back then.' But a move from the makeshift workshop behind his parents' home to a shop next door to Guitar City in Sydney took it to the next level. 'The guitar repair business was very successful and very profitable... but it was based around my two hands and that can't scale,' he said. 'I couldn't go from that to something bigger. Within a few months, I'd sold that business to my co-worker and I was building lighting equipment.' He later merged with a tour company and, as home PCs first emerged in the 1980s, he taught himself to program and developed one of the first computer-controlled digital lighting decks for rock concerts. That led to a million-dollar-a-month computer wholesale business until his suppliers needed help with a freight problem. 'Completely by accident, I ended up having two different freight forwarders who needed someone to help them with their computers,' he revealed. 'And particularly needed some little pieces of software to glue things together.' He developed the software that pieces together all the various stages of international freight for suppliers and buyers to keep track of its movements. The company, then called Eagle Datamation International, was started with his then-partner Marie Isaacs and five staff in 1994 and grew exponentially ever since. It dominated Australia in its first 10 years before the sale of 20 per cent of the company to new investors in 2006 kickstarted a move internationally. The money raised from the sale was re-invested into the company with a U.S. acquisition and saw it renamed CargoWise. 'We actually grew by taking very small baby steps - there was no big leap here,' he said. 'This was an effort over time, a lot of sweat equity, a lot of intellect put into the software to make it better and better.' Zena Nasser (pictured) has deleted her Facebook and Instagram accounts after her Money, Money, Money video leaked Richard White hopes to replicate his 117MWh solar farm in Bexley at his stunning $12million resort-style estate Sentry Rock at Spencer on the Hawkesbury River (pictured) It adds to his growing property portfolio which includes a $27.5million six-bedroom weekender in Palm Beach on Sydney's northern beaches (pictured) AFR'S RICH BOSSES LIST 2023 Note, this tracks shareholdings in publicly listed companies. It is separate to the Rich List which tracks personal wealth. 1. Richard White - WiseTech Global $10.5billion 2. Andrew Forrest - Fortescue Metals Group $9.2billion 3. Alan Wilson - Reece Group $6.7million 4. Sum Hupert - Pro Medicus $1.8billion 5. Anthony Hall - Pro Medicus $1.7billion Advertisement During the global financial crisis, it launched an innovative subscription-type model that saw it grow three per cent a month in 2008 while others were going bust. In 2011, it was rebranded again as WiseTech Global to reinforce its worldwide reach and its software roots, rather than logistics. It now serves 24 of the 25 biggest freight forwarders in the world and employs about 3000 people worldwide. But he says he owes it all to his family. 'My mother, whom I am very close to, is a born salesperson and she taught me many things that influenced my attitude and my enquiring mind,' he told the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 'My father was an engineer so he gave me engineering skills and experience working with him when I was still in high school. 'I used to mess around in his factory every chance I got, and I actually worked for him for a few years when I was young. 'My grandfather, who ran a large reception centre, gave me a paid job washing the dishes from the age of 11 and gave me a small pay packet every week and worked me quite hard. 'I enjoyed it immensely and I watched him and my grandmother run the business and I learned many aspects of the business including bar service, waiting tables, selling and reception. That was very powerful.' He added: 'I see now that my grandparents were schooling me in a very subtle way. 'Every Friday they would have this ceremony of giving me my pay packet and this little brown envelope with cash inside it. I remember that brown envelope so vividly. 'I don't remember how much money was in the thing and I don't remember what I did with the money. 'But I remember that the real sense of achievement by being paid for doing something valuable and hard work.' From those little brown pay packets, Mr White is now the nation's richest billionaire boss. As Ms Nasser says: 'Money, money, money...' His company now has 18,000 customers in 170 countries and is valued at more than $27billion, with reported revenues in December of $189million. 'It's very strange,' he admitted. 'It's hard to explain because it sort of happens around you and beneath you. You don't sit down and plan to be wealthy. 'It's a side effect of being good at your job and good at the vision that was created and the products it's created.' Three of Australia's 'big four' banks were very quiet about making some of their branches cashless - but there are sometimes subtle signs which reveal which locations don't offer in-person cash services. One obvious sign that customers can't withdraw cash from a bank branch is a vague name. National Australia Bank and Commonwealth Bank call their cashless locations 'expert centres' and 'specialist centres' respectively. Those branches direct customers to ATMs if they have 'everyday' banking needs. ANZ likewise unofficially calls their cashless outlets 'digital branches' - although there is little sign of a difference from the outside. ANZ doesn't have different signage for their teller-less branches but they will likely have prominent SmartATMs located at the front The reason for the distinction could be linked to laws on reporting bank locations to the financial watchdog, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which says in-person cash services must be available to be classified as a branch. There are clues available online as well. NAB and CommBank note on their store location websites that a bank is 'teller-less' - with CBA recently putting the specialist centres under their own category. ANZ is more subtle. On the ANZ's bank locations page, some branches will say they are 'full service'. On others in it's place the phrase 'self service options available: Smart ATM' usually means that over-the-counter cash services aren't available. The end of the 'bank branch' in Australia? While the banks have been quick to reiterate cash services are still offered through ATMs and at nearby branches, the opening of these cashless locations could very well spell the end for traditional bank branches as a whole. Managing Director of Retail Banking for ANZ, Kath Bray, wrote in 2021 that 'banking has been shifting to digital formats for a lot longer than we may think'. 'The latest digital payment data would suggest Australia is better placed than most countries in the world to adopt electronic payments exclusively,' Ms Bray said. 'Of those who still use physical banking, only a small proportion don't want to shift. Most are quite satisfied moving to digital banking if we make it easy and show them how.' Keeping traditional branches open for the small amount of customers who use them is an increasingly uneconomical proposition for banks with the majority of their customers going digital and ATMs able to service those clinging to cash. Ms Bray pointed to companies such as Amazon or 'neobanks' that could swoop in to topple established financial institutions' dominance if the big banks didn't keep up with the digital shift. NAB, for example, has opened its own entirely digital subsidiary Ubank. Cash comeback? But the use of cash is not shrinking as much as perhaps the banks are suggesting. RBA cash withdrawal figures to April 2023 show the usage of cash remains stable - with Australians making 30million cash withdrawals a month - which has not changed much since early 2022. According to a recent survey supported by advocacy group CashWelcome.org, cash is still the most popular way to pay for goods in retail settings. More than 60 per cent of shoppers prefer to pay in cash, followed by debit cards, then credit cards, then phone, according to the data. Even more telling is that 99 per cent of the more than 7,000 respondents aged over 18 agreed people should be able to choose how to pay and are concerned about a cashless society. Many small businesses prefer cash as they don't have to pay fees to Eftpos providers with each transaction CashWelcome.org spokesman Jason Bryce said cash is essential to the economy. He explained digital payments can be inferior because they are subject to computer systems failing or being compromised in hacks, digital transaction fees and the potential for every purchase to be tracked. He pointed out garage sales, school fetes, charity drives, the ability to slip a $50 note into a card, or buy a present for a spouse without it showing on a statement all rely on cash. 'We all like to tap and go but if people aren't able to freely withdraw cash whenever they want, confidence in digital systems evaporates,' he said. A bulletin in March from the Reserve Bank agrees cash is a vital part of the economy and the shrinking of cash access points could lead to instability. 'The Bank, as part of its 2022/23 Corporate Plan and in the conclusions to the 2022 Review of Banknote Distribution Arrangements, has committed to working to support the ongoing provision of cash services in Australia,' it said. 'Including by monitoring the ability of consumers to access and pay with cash.' You've no doubt seen it on the shelves of your local supermarket - and perhaps balked at its steep $16.99-a-bottle price. But Dr Bronners liquid soaps have gone from being a hippy essential to America's best selling natural soap brand, with a bottle or bar sold every 0.95 seconds. The brand was started by German-born Emanuel Bronner in 1948. He began manufacturing its peppermint soap - whose blue label is still the firm's most iconic - from an apartment in Pershing Square. Bronner wasn't a real doctor, and listed a slew of bizarre potential uses for his soaps. He claimed they could be used to brush teeth, wash vegetables, kill fleas and even prevent pregnancies. He died in 1997 aged 89, with many of his more bizarre assertions quietly dropped. But the soap firm he started has seen its range dramatically expanded, with loyal customers including Lady Gaga, Drew Barrymore and Sandra Bullock hailing the quality of its products. A huge HQ was opened in Vista, California, in 2017 and Dr Bronner made a cool $170.3 million in annual revenue last year. And while the brand has a well-deserved reputation for being woke, it puts its money where its mouth is when it comes to fair pay, treating its 300 staff well and making sizeable charity donations. It's estimated that a bottle or bar of Dr Bronner's 1-in-18 soap is sold every 0.95 of a second, and the company made $170.3 million in annual revenue last year Dr. Bronner's soap founder, Emanuel Bronner. He was born in 1908 to a family of Jewish German soap makers, and he immigrated to the US when he was 21 years old David Bronner, the founder's grandson, is the company's new generation eccentric leader FOUNDER LOST PARENTS TO NAZIS - AND SET FIRM UP IN 1948 Emanuel Heilbronner was born in 1908 to a family of Jewish German soap makers, and he immigrated to the US when he was 21 years old. After the rise of Adolf Hitler in Germany, he dropped the 'Heil' from his surname. His parents stayed in Germany during the 1940s. Their soap company was nationalized by the Nazis, and they were transported to Auschwitz and Theriesenstadt where they were murdered during the Holocaust. Emanuel moved to Chicago, where he turned to lecturing the public about his beliefs - which ultimately led to his sister putting him into a mental health facility. He launched the company in 1948, and used the labels on his ecological soaps to spread his message of the need for unity across religious and ethnic divides Emanuel Heilbronner's family pictured in the early 1900s. His mother and father were murdered in the Holocaust He escaped in 1946, and moved from Illinois to Las Vegas. According to his family, Emanuel played a game of roulette and he won big. And during this time, he adopts the honorific title 'Dr.' According to the company's website, no one questioned the legitimacy of his title because of his scientific knowledge and thick German accent. The soap maker then headed to Los Angeles, where he continued with his public pronouncements before his business boomed. He launched the company in 1948, and used the labels on his ecological soaps to spread his message of the need for unity across religious and ethnic divides. WACKY CLAIMS ABOUT KILLING FLEAS AND PREVENTING PREGNANCIES One soap boasts of having 18 uses - including as a toothpaste, body wash, and bug spray. The official list of all uses are: Face cleanser, body wash, shampoo, bath liquid, shaving liquid, toothpaste, decongestant steam, foot bath, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, mopping liquid, multipurpose cleaning spray, window cleaner, toilet cleaner, fruit and vegetable wash, dog shampoo, plant spray, and bug spray. Alongside its text-heavy labels which include some of the eccentric world-peace waging ideals of its founder, the soap inside became a multi-purpose hit. Dr Bronner even promised that it could kill fleas and ticks, but the advertisement was stifled by the Environmental Protection Agency who made him change the language to 'cleans fleas and ticks.' On top of that, one of the bizarre claims from its early days was that the soap could prevent pregnancy. It's understood that the confusion came from the fact soap can change the pH, potentially making fertilization inviable if used after unprotected sex. The company backed down from the claim in 1997, after the Emanuel's death. One of the soap bottle's famously text-heavy labels is pictured. The brand is famed for its hippyish proclamations - and sales have soared in recent years DR BRONNER'S GOES MAINSTREAM TO BECOME AMERICA'S BIGGEST LIQUID SOAP In the 1960s and 70s, the soap brand boomed and soon became the iconic soap of the era. It was popular with all types of counterculture subgroups, but in the decades that followed the rainbow bottles became more of a household name. In 2000, Dr Bronner's soaps started being shipped worldwide - opening up a huge new market for their products. And in 2003, it became the largest personal care company certified under USDAs National Organic Program - which occurred at the time that the firm created 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. In 2008, 10 years after his death, the company started their distribution into Israel, fulfilling Emanuel Bronners lifelong dream. From 1999 to 2014, the company grew by a staggering 1,100 percent - fully establishing itself in the worldwide market. As a result, the production was moved into larger factories to deal with demand. All the while, the soap company seemed to be on the forefront of social and environmental issues - staying true to its roots and also following the direction of David Bronner, Emanuel's famously-progressive grandson. In 2014, the company beating other brands to committing to being a zero waste operation. Pictured: Inside of Dr. Bronner's manufacturing plant FIRM NOW RUN BY HIPPY GRANDSON WITH STRONG VIEWS Jim Bronner, Dr Bronner's son, was battling cancer in 1998 and decided to spend a year training his 24-year-old Harvard graduate son, David. The hemp enthusiast started running the company with his mom Trudy and uncle Ralph after his dad's death. And in recent years, he has steered the ideals into a different direction. David, who is often seen wearing a black fedora, is the CEO - 'cosmic engagement officer.' It was David who, in 1999, decided to rebrand and replace the soap's iconic caramel color with hemp oil. From then on, David Bronner spearheaded campaigns for the legalization of hemp. In the period before 2010 and 2013, David made a name for himself after being arrested outside the DEA headquarters for planting hemp seeds. Police arrest David Bronner after cutting open a cage he was protesting from inside on a street near the White House in Washington, DC, on June 11, 2012 Jim Bronner, Dr Bronner's son, was battling cancer in 1998 and decided to spend a year training his 24-year-old Harvard graduate son, David (pictured). He is now the CEO 'cosmic engagement officer' He found himself in trouble with the law for harvesting the plant in a cage in front of the White House. The federal legalization of hemp farming occurred in 2018. In an interview with the LA times, David, now 50, said: 'My granddad was always talking about uniting Spaceship Earth, and it was kind of sailing over our heads. [He] was this mystically tapped-in genius that was doing the best he could to help the world.' Speaking about how the company works today, despite being born in the midst of counterculture, he said: 'More and more mainstream folks are grooving on us. 'We take stands that arent popular with everybody. 'People say, Why dont you just make soap? But then our other customers are like, Do you have any idea who these people are? This is what they do.' David, who now goes by the pronouns he/they, recently said that his gender is on the 'spectrum.' He said he feels he is '25 percent girl.' The spiritual soap seller is married to his 'glorious genderfluid bi wife Mia,' and he has an 'amazing non-binary 25-year-old kid, Maya,' with his ex-wife Kris Lin-Bronner, he said in a blog post. Pictured: Founder Emanuel Bronner. Rooted in counterculture and 'hippy' ideologies, in recent decades the soap brand turned into a major household name - being sold at all major US retailers, and across the world CEO PAY IS CAPPED - AND STAFF GET AMAZING PERKS Workers are pictured processing coconuts that the firm uses in its products. Dr Bronner prides itself on being an ethical firm that treats workers well and offers perks that are the envy of rival manufacturers Unlike many corporations accused of paying mere lip service to social justice issues, Dr Bronner has a host of initiatives to try and ensure the company is run in a fair and ethical way. Its 300 full-time, permanent employees are paid at least $25.95 an hour. They receive zero-deductible healthcare, free vegan lunches every day, and a 10 percent annual bonus. Those who work for the firm who have children are also handed $7,500 a year towards childcare costs. Bosses at Doctor Bronner are banned from being paid any more than five times the salary of the company's lowest-paid worker, capping their earnings at a maximum of $300,000. The 36-year-old charismatic anchor was known as the Golden Girl of NBC News Forty years ago, America was shaken to its core by the erratic on-air behavior and subsequent tragic death of one of its most famous newscasters. An incoherent NBC News broadcast helmed by Jessica Savitch on October 3 1983 sparked claims the quadruple Emmy-award winner gone on air while high on cocaine. Just 20 days later, Savitch drowned after a car being driven by a lover, New York Post vice president Martin Fischbein, plunged into a canal and killed them both. The death appears to have been an accident - although the New York Post later claimed she may have been murdered for probing an Italian banking scandal. Twice-married Savitch, who was childless and reportedly suffered from a serious drug addiction, was just 36 years old. The 40-year anniversary of the shocking events has sparked fresh discussion online about Savitch's troubled life and shocking death. On October 3, 1983, during an NBC News Digest segment, Savitch was broadcasted speaking incoherently. The anchor slurred her words and deviated during the report - causing many to speculate that she was on cocaine while broadcasting In 1988, five years after Savitch's death, a a blistering biography called Almost Golden by Gwenda Blair claimed Savitch was an 'unstable and pathetic' sharp-elbowed egomaniac hell-bent on achieving fame. Another book about Savitch, Golden Girl, alleged the $315,000-a-year newsreader snorted 'hills' of cocaine 'from morning till night'. Author Alanna Nash wrote: 'She was so paranoid by that time that sometimes she wouldnt go in to work. 'But this was someone who had more than a drug problem. She had a severe personality disorder. 'Right before she died, she was in dreadful physical shape. Her weight was low, her hair and nails were ragged, she had ulcerated sores from the drugs and her hands were shaking.' And it's that alleged drug addiction which triggered Savitch's most notorious moment, just weeks before her shocking death. On October 3, 1983, during an NBC News Digest segment, Savitch was broadcasted speaking incoherently and stumbling over her words in a bizarre sing-song voice while discussing then-president Ronald Reagan and handgun laws. She tragically died on October 23, 1983 after having a meal with a friend who accidentally drove into a canal during a heavy rainstorm Her speech and cadence appeared normal later the same evening, with some speculating that whatever drug she may have taken had worn off. Savitch blamed the problems on a teleprompter malfunction. Her agent at the time offered another excuse, claiming Savitch was feeling the effects of pain medication she was on - because she had to go through facial reconstructive surgery following a boating accident. But rumors of drug abuse persisted, and biographer Gwenda Blair claimed the incident had effectively ended Savitch's career, just a year after she'd been voted America's sexiest newsreader. NBC correspondent Linda Ellerbee said she asked the network to intervene: 'You have to do something. This woman [Savitch] is in trouble.' Ellerbee said that a network vice president responded: 'We're afraid to do anything. We're afraid she'll kill herself on our time.' The charismatic journalist, 36, was named her the 'sexiest' female anchor in the country in 1982 - as well as the fourth most trusted news anchor She had arrived at NBC News under a cloud, after colleagues at her old station - KYW in Philly - forwarded a recording of her having a huge tantrum over pages of her script being delivered in the wrong order. But Savitch and her fans never got to discover what the future held for her career, thanks to her sudden death. The newsreader and Fischbein, 34, who Savitch had been dating for two weeks, had enjoyed dinner at a restaurant called Chez Odette in New Hope, Pennsylvania. They drove about 600 feet over a dirt-and-gravel area, and past two warning signs, with Fischbein taking a wrong turn and suddenly driving off the road. The car fell 10 feet into the Delaware Canal and landed upside down. There were signs that the pair had tried to kick down the doors to escape the sinking vehicle. The back window had been smashed, the horrific wreckage showed. An autopsy showed that both Miss Savitch and Mr Fishbein died of suffocation due to drowning. No drugs were present in their system - both had only drunk a small glass of wine that evening. Investigators thought that the driver may have mistaken the towpath for an exit road after they left Chez Odette. Walter Everett, the New Hope police chief, said at the time: 'It was raining, the weather was bad. The visibility was very poor.' A more sinister version of events was offered by New York private investigator William Callahan, who suggested Savitch had been assassinated. He claimed her probe into the death of Italian banker Robert Calvi had placed her life in danger. Callahan says Calvi was murdered after costing his Milan-based bank $250 million, and suggested Savitch had attracted the attention of the killer by digging into his life. The local coroner dismissed the story and said he'd heard no such theory about Savitch's death. In the years leading up to her death, the broadcaster had been haunted by personal tragedies. Savitch in her apartment in North West Washington with her dog Chewy She had a slew of jobs after finishing college - as a researcher for CBS radio, a reporter at KHOU- TV, and then an anchor for KYW-TV An autopsy showed that both Miss Savitch and Mr Fishbein died of suffocation due to drowning. No drugs were present in their systems Miss Savitch was born in 1947 in Wilmington, Delaware, and is said to have had a keen interest in watching the news with her father from as young as seven Executive producer David Fanning and Jessica Savitch American broadcast journalist Jessica Savitch of NBC News, as she reports on the 'Great Debate' between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter in Pennsylvania She got divorced from her first husband Mel Korn after just 11 months of marriage, allegedly after he found out about her drug problem - and then she quickly remarried a gynecologist, Dr Donald Payne. Five months into their marriage, she found him hanged in their Washington DC townhouse. Miss Savitch was born in 1947 in Wilmington, Delaware, and is said to have had a keen interest in watching the news with her father from as young as seven. Her first job in journalism was while she was still at high school - she was a news reader and DJ under the name 'honeybee' at radio station WOND in Pleasantville, New Jersey. She then moved on to study communications at Ithaca College and graduated in 1968. In 1977, she bagged a job at NBC as a Congressional correspondent for $500,000 a year. She was at the network until her death six years later She had a slew of jobs after finishing college - as a researcher for CBS radio, a reporter at KHOU- TV in Houston, and then an anchor for KYW-TV in Philadelphia. In 1977, she bagged a job at NBC as a Congressional correspondent. She was at the network until her death six years later. She was praised throughout her broadcast career, including when she had to fill in gaps on air. Her KYW producer Cliff Abromats once said: 'She [Savitch] was very good on her feet. 'She could think fast and ask the right questions, and she had the ability so many lack, to actually listen to the answer. 'Jessica would never miss it when someone said something unexpected.' The Abdallah family who lost three of their children and a cousin in the Oatlands tragedy three years ago has launched a civil suit against the killer driver, Samuel William Davidson. The legal action, which is believed to involve Davidson's insurance policy, seeks payment for ongoing trauma to the family and for children who were injured but survived the catastrophic accident. It is listed in the NSW District Court next week. The Abdallah children's parents, Danny and Leila, have publicly forgiven Davidson and revealed this week they have met with his parents 'who are suffering too'. Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, eight, and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, were walking on a footpath to buy ice cream at Oatlands, in Sydney's west, when they were hit by a car and killed on February 1, 2020. The Abdallah family before the crash that claimed three of their children. Civil action is listed in court next week Samuel Davison is serving a 20-year sentence after he ploughed his car into a group of seven children - killing four instantly - while driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol Davidson was under the influence of drugs and alcohol, driving erratically and speeding when he fatally struck the four children. Three other kids were among the group mowed down by Davidson, all suffering injury and trauma. Then aged 29, Davidson was sentenced in 2021 to 28 years with a non-parole period of 21 years, which was reduced on appeal this year to a maximum of 20 years with a minimum of 15 years. Danny Abdallah told Daily Mail Australia the court matter was 'confidential' and related to ongoing therapy and trauma, but he did not want to comment further. Earlier this week, Mr Abdallah revealed the driver who killed his children was becoming a Maronite Catholic in jail because of the forgiveness the family showed. On a Christian Lives Matter podcast, Mr Abdallah told Stand for Truth broadcaster Charlie Bakhos of the jailhouse conversion Davidson had made. Mr Abdallah, whose family are Maronite Catholics themselves, explained two people in jail contacted his spiritual advisor Father Robert-Pio claiming Davidson wanted to meet him. 'Leila and I talk to him [Fr Robert] a lot,' Mr Abdallah said. '[He] is a good guy and feeds the homeless... and there was a homeless guy that that he feeds who ended up in jail and he said to him, "I've got a guy that wants to meet you." 'There was another guy that rang him and said, "Look, Father Robert, I've got the driver that ran over the Abdullah children he's in my cell."' Mr Abdallah added the inmates did not know Fr Robert was his spiritual advisor, whom he leaned on after the tragic deaths of his children. 'Of all the priests in Australia, this guy's talking to Father Robert, my spiritual father, yeah, and he doesn't know that,' Mr Abdallah said. 'Well, he [Fr Robert] goes, "I know the Abdullah parents, I visit them regularly and and I talk to them, they come to my church." '[Now] he [Davidson] prays the rosaries three times a day, he goes to mass, he's doing Bible study and he wants to become a Maronite Catholic.' Mr Abdallah said he was shocked by Davidson's change of heart - but said it was due to the forgiveness his family showed Mr Abdallah (right) spoke with Christian Lives founder Charlie Bakhos (left) on his 'Stand for Truth' podcast, revealing Samuel Davison had a 'change of heart' Mr Abdallah said he was 'shocked' by Davidson's change of heart and was told it was due to the forgiveness he and his wife Leila showed. 'I was shocked. I honestly didn't expect it at all to hear Father Robert went and visited him and spoke to him and he'd done his first confession,' Mr Abdallah said. 'They spoke and he [Davidson] said, "You know, the whole world should have hated me, but because of Danny and Leila's forgiveness I was able to see life in a different way." 'He [Father Robert] said he [Davidson] kept on saying how sorry he is and you know what he's done was wrong but goes that's what's changed my heart.' A brave Mrs Abdallah returned to the scene two days after the horror crash, where she held hands and prayed a rosary with loved ones, before famously forgiving Davidson for his actions. 'The guy [driver]... Right now I can't hate him. I don't want to see him, but I don't hate him,' she told reporters. 'I think in my heart to forgive him, but I want the court to be fair... I'm not going to hate him, because that's not who we are,'. The couple later set up the i4give Foundation - which coincides with the anniversary of the crash - to remember their lost loved ones and help others in similar situations. Abdallah's kids Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, eight, and their niece Veronique Sakr, 11, died instantly in the crash Witnesses saw Davison speeding through a red light, swerving anti-clockwise around a round-about, and driving at a maximum speed of 133km/h in a 50km/h zone before the crash The Christ-centred foundation aims at engaging communities across Australia in a 'shared embrace of the universal good of forgiveness'. In June 2022, Danny and Leila received two standing ovations at the Vatican after giving a powerful address about forgiveness. The Western Sydney parents were invited by the Pope to share their harrowing story with thousands of parishioners at the 2022 World Meeting of Families in Rome. Mr Abdallah also told Mr Bakhos he and his wife spoke with Davison's parents and spoke about the incident over breakfast. 'I was nervous, it was hard for all of us and hard for them as well but you know... we learned from this there's no winners in this tragedy,' Mr Abdallah said. 'Samuel Davidson's got a mother that's grieving and is going through her pain. We wanted to understand and show them that look we're in pain and they apologized about their son's actions. 'I know they lost their daughter with cancer and then years later they'd lost their son now in prison and they've got no one. 'They know what we're going through and they acknowledge that and we have acknowledge their sorrow and pain as well.' Despite losing three children, when Mrs Abdallah, 37, is asked how many kids she has, she always says seven - 'three in heaven and four here'. This stunning video shot from the cockpit of a Typhoon fighter jet has revealed how RAF Top Gun pilots are keeping the aggressive Russian military in check. The unique footage, filmed from a Go-pro camera mounted in the cockpit of the 90million superjet shows how the young pilots are on the front line of defending NATO borders. In one clip, a Typhoon shadows a jet known as the 'Flying Kremlin' an airborne command and control centre to be used by Soviet leader Vladimir Putin in the event of a nuclear war. And in another piece of footage vapour trails from a Russian jet known as a 'Zombie' - trail across the sky but the plane rapidly disappears as a Typhoon closes in at over 400mph. The footage might look like scenes from the Tom Cruise blockbuster 'Top Gun: Maverick' but this is real life - and is as close to a confrontation with Russia's military might as it gets. The unique footage, filmed from a Go-pro camera mounted in the cockpit of the 90million superjet shows how the young pilots are on the front line of defending NATO borders In some of the footage piece vapour trails from a Russian jet known as a 'Zombie' - streak across the sky but the plane rapidly disappears as a Typhoon closes in at over 400mph Among the pilots on the frontline with NATO is Flight Lieutenant Ben (pictured) The aerial footage exclusively obtained by MailOnline was shot by pilots like Flt Lt Ben, whose full name we are withholding for security reasons. He is one of the Top Guns based in Estonia and part of a Quick Reaction Force (QRA). Flt Lt Ben and other pilots from No 1 (Fighter) Squadron and No 1X Bomber Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland have been at the forefront of the NATO response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Fears that Putin might turn his attention to the Baltic states following the invasion of Ukraine has meant NATO has beefed up its presence with fighter jets and ground troops in Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Six Typhoon single seat fighter jets which can fly at twice the speed of sound form the QRA force. Their mission, named Operation AZOTIZE, is to intercept and escort any Russian military planes that are flying too close to NATO airspace. Flying from Amari Airbase, about 30 miles from the Estonian capital Tallin, the pilots of 1 Fighter Squadron are following in the footsteps of those who fought in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. Flt Lt Ben (pictured) and other pilots from No 1 (Fighter) Squadron and No 1X Bomber Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland have been at the forefront of the NATO response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine Flying from Amari Airbase, about 30 miles from the Estonian capital Tallin, the pilots of 1 Fighter Squadron are following in the footsteps of those who fought in the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940. The pilots have been on the front line of NATO's response to the war in Ukraine, regularly carrying out security patrols of the alliance's border and intercepting Russian jets From high above the clouds, a Typhoon is pictured soaring above a Russian 'Doomsday' plane (pictured right) Just as the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots did over 80 years ago, their modern-day equivalents still 'scramble' to engage their foes. That means getting airborne as fast as possible in a jet that can hit a speed of Mach 2 1,550mph. Those pilots on QRA duty might be sleeping or relaxing in a crew room watching TV when an alarm sounds. 'As soon as we hear the siren sound, and it is so loud everyone in the building hears the siren we just run as fast we can to the hangar where the Typhoon is waiting, said Ben. 'I often sleep in my flying suit and put the rest of the kit on as I get out to the plane. I run up the steps and strap in while I start getting messages about the flight, such as speed and the direction to take. Just as the Spitfire and Hurricane pilots did over 80 years ago, their modern-day equivalents still 'scramble' to engage their foes MailOnline was invited to Amari airbase to watch Ben and colleagues take part in a practice mission The Typhoons can travel at a staggering speed of Mach 2 1,550mph. Pictured is one of the jets preparing to take off 'I scribble them down on a pad on my knee and it's important to get airborne as quickly as possible. 'There's usually about six messages all coming in over the intercom, but once I'm airborne it's time to catch my breath. 'It is a real adrenaline rush but once you are off the ground things calm down a bit.' MailOnline was invited to Amari airbase to watch Ben and colleagues take part in a practice mission. Applying the afterburners to give the jet a turbo boost his Typhoon soared into the grey, leaden sky at a steep angle before heading off for a joint exercise with an Estonian air force jet. Within seconds only the orange flames from the engines were visible as the jet disappeared into the low cloud. Ben said when going at maximum speed the Typhoon can cover an astonishing 20 miles in a one minute. Applying the afterburners to give the jet a turbo boost his Typhoon soared into the grey (pictured) Pictured: RAF Typhoons with NATO planes Number 1 Squadron RAF know as No. 1 (Fighter) Squadron who are based in Estonia undertaking NATO's Baltic Air policing missions Ben said when going at maximum speed the Typhoon can cover an astonishing 20 miles in a one minute Pilots have to be ready to scramble to their jets within minutes as they carry out security patrols Fl Lt Ben checks his Typhoon before taking off from his base in Estonia As a pilot on the QRA force it is his job to intercept the Russian jets as fast as possible so they can be identified, and information relayed to ground controllers to ensure there is no serious encroachment. There is no contact between the opposing pilots, but some Russian pilots have been known to wave from the cockpits, across at their Typhoon escort. Russian planes over the Baltic Sea are usually flying from an airbase in the city of St Petersburg to Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian province sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. 'They have either not filed a flight plan with air traffic control or have turned off their transponders so they can't be identified or even both,' said Ben, who is from Eastbourne, East Sussex, and has been flying the Typhoon fast jet for two years. 'They can't fly across the NATO countries so fly along the Baltic Sea and stray close to the borders ' he said. Flt Lt Ben checks his RAF before taking off on another mission as part of a NATO force based in Estonia As part of his check, the RAF officer inspects his fighter jets armament of missiles and other weapons Signs indicated when the jets are loaded with its lethal array of bombs and missiles 'We shadow them, take photographs and see them continue on their journey. 'There is no aggression on our part, but the Typhoons are of course fully armed.' The QRA Typhoons have intercepted 50 'Zombies', including a Il-76 transport aircraft, a Il-20 intelligence gathering aircraft, a TU 22 long-range bomber and SU27 Flanker B fighter jets. Just over a week ago two Typhoons were scrambled when the jet known as the 'Flying Kremlin' flew from Moscow along the Baltic coast. The TU-214 plane is also known as the 'Doomsday Plane ' as it would be used by the Russian leader should nuclear war ever break out. The pilot who took the video and photographs of the converted passenger jet told MailOnline it was one of three intercepts he had carried out in a week. The Doomsday plane would of course be no match for the Typhoon and the pilots of 1 Squadron, the oldest British military flying unit. Formed in 1878 the squadron has a storied history from flying Hurricanes protecting British troops retreating from Dunkirk to the Battle of Britain. It was also the first squadron to be equipped with the Harrier 'jump jet'. Most of the pilots with the squadron are in their early thirties and, like Ben, grew up with the single ambition of becoming a fighter pilot. In the air, the Typhoons can travel twice the speed of sound - more than 1,500mph A view from the cockpit shows how closely the jets can fly together as the patrol NATO's borders A view from inside a Typhoon as it intercepts Russian 'zombie' planes after being scrambled from Estonia 'I used to watch the Eastbourne Air Show every year and decided I wanted to fly fast jets,' said Ben. 'I do feel privileged to be doing something I enjoy so much. 'The Typhoon is an absolute dream to fly. Firstly, it's gifted with so much power. So, you're never left asking for more which is really quite good. 'On top of that, it's a really easy aircraft to fly and that actually allows the pilot as the operator to dedicate more of his brainpower to focusing on operating and conducting the mission, which is really good. 'As an operator, I don't want to be concerned about where my flaps are, where my wings are, and what regime of flight and then I can just put that onto one side and just focus on fighting the aircraft. And that's what makes typhoons so good from a pilot's perspective Suited up - Flight Lieutenant Ben shows he is ready for take off in his Typhoon fighter jet 'Many aircraft must use re-heat to take off, but the Typhoon can go on dry power with no afterburners. ' While the jet can go to Mach 2, they rarely break the sound barrier due to the complications it can cause as people on the ground are left terrified by the sound of the sonic boom. 'We do need special permission to go supersonic. If I were to do it here, I'd break half the windows in Estonia,' said Ben, who flies up to three times week. The interception of the Russian planes usually lasts less than an hour. If longer duration flights were needed, this would see a refuelling tanker despatched from Prestwick in Scotland linking up with the fighter to allow it to continue its mission without having to land. Typhoons if on longer missions will have to refuel while in the sky from a tanker despatched from Prestwick in Scotland The manoeuvre requires pinpoint accuracy from pilots to line up the jet's fuel nozzle with a hose trailing from behind the tanker As well as flying intercept missions, Flt Lt Ben has been based in Cyprus and flown the Typhoon in the US, Bermuda and Israel. Keeping watch for 'Zombies' has been the principal mission, but he has also been flying night-time missions to make sure the airspace around Lithuania remained safe during the NATO summit attended by President Biden. It has meant up to eight hours of flying in a 20-mile circle with another Typhoon guarding the airspace while the NATO leaders discussed the possible inclusion of Ukraine in the military alliance. Being airborne for eight hours meant having to re-fuel the jet three times from a tanker. The squadron's tour of duty in Estonia ends in next month when the Spanish Airforce will take over policing operations. The 140 Expeditionary Air Wing comprising of up to 220 personnel from 1 (F) Squadron and other supporting units will return with them. Then it's a return to Lossiemouth together with the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing comprising of up to 220 personnel from 1 (F) Squadron and other supporting units. Ben and other Top Guns will again be on duty intercepting 'Zombies' that fly too close to the UK. They are also tasked with escorting passenger jets that fail to respond to air traffic controllers leaving those in authority on the ground fearful they could have been hijacked. Advertisement Cramped into a destroyed tank, the rumble of an artillery shell exploding nearby rattles flakes of rust onto Max Denison-Pender's easel as he paints a female Ukrainian soldier sitting inside the ruined war machine. Another thud, this time further out and more muffled, causes the ground beneath to shudder. But neither Max nor the combat medic, Victoria, flinch. After almost three weeks embedded behind the frontlines of Bakhmut with a Ukrainian assault battalion, Max had become used to the constant Russian shelling. It's a far cry from when the 25-year-old was shaking with fear during his first day there, speeding through the war-torn countryside where corpses of fallen Kremlin soldiers still rot in ditches at the roadside. 'My heart was in my mouth for the first day travelling to the front and seeing the destruction,' says the London-based artist. 'I quit smoking for three months but the moment I arrived I was like "where are the cigarettes?". Although initially rattled, Max is no stranger when it comes to treading where other painters daren't. Born in Chile and having moved to England at 13, he is an advocate of art in the extreme and thinks nothing of packing his easel, paints and brushes to head to some of the most dangerous spots in the world to create his work. Max Denison-Pender paints a female Ukrainian soldier sitting inside a ruined tank during his visit Ukraine Max, 25, travelled from London to paint Ukrainian troops in the middle of the war as part of his own collection of extreme art (Max is pictured) The fearless artist wore body armour and a helmet as he carted his easel and paints around with him on the battlefield His previous trips have seen him standing at the edge of an erupting volcano in Iceland, camping out in the Amazon Rainforest to meet the indigenous Korubo tribe, painting illicit miners in the Congo, and studying rare and dangerous wildlife. But his latest venture to Ukraine, shortly after Easter, was without doubt one of his most dangerous - something that wasn't lost on Max, who admits he was willing to pay the ultimate price for his art. 'It wasn't a suicide mission. I hoped I wouldn't die. But I was realistic - I knew the risks,' Max tells MailOnline. 'I didnt know what to expect but I knew I had to do it. This is why Im here on this earth. 'I want to tell beautiful stories. That doesnt mean a still-life painting of a flower in London. What about the brave people out in Ukraine defending their loved ones and country? I wanted to tell their story.' It was something that was brought into stark relief during a sobering conversation with his younger brother, Charlie, shortly before Max flew to Ukraine. 'I was telling him, dont worry about it. Im doing my job. Just know if I dont come back that my life is to paint. This is my absolute life. 'Im fully committed to doing the best job that I can: thats painting what it means to be human in every sense of the word.' Max flew to Krakow, Poland, where he took a train to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv before then heading east to Bakhmut, which has seen some of the most savage fighting since Vladimir Putin's forces invaded in February last year. Max spent three weeks close to the war-torn town of Bakhmut which has seen some of the fiercest fighting since Russia invaded His poignant art aimed to capture the beauty and humanity of those involved in war Max accompanied Ukrainians as they patrolled and admitted he wasn't afraid to die for his art 'Yes it was dangerous. But who else is going to do it,' adds Max. 'The ultimate price was dying - we really didnt want that but at the same time we wanted to brave it out and tell their story because their story is so, so powerful.' Max flew into Ukraine with long-time pal Henry Harte, a photographer and videographer. The duo are part of the Art in the Extreme movement, who travel to some of the most hazardous places on Earth to shine a light on what life in the extreme is like. They organised their last-minute trip to Ukraine with the help of one-man charity Dorset to Donetsk in an effort to lift the veil on what life on the frontline was really like - or as Max put it: 'To paint the beauty of humanity in the chaos of war.' 'Im not out there to paint people shooting with guns,' Max adds. 'It's to tell their story. Theyre real people with loved ones, mums and families.' Together, Max and Henry were based at a 'stabilsation point' - an area soldiers call home when they're not fighting that lies just 1.5 miles away from the frontline at Bakhmut. Max, who travelled with pal Henry Harte, made friends with the Ukrainian troops he was embedded with for three weeks Man, pictured in the black body armour, rides an armoured vehicle with Ukrainian troops The daring artist also painted his subjects inside buildings as artillery strikes blasted close by But the community of bombed out houses and shelled roads is far from safe: it's well within the range of Russian artillery, which can strike areas 30km away, and is a prime target for the invading forces, who target it with missiles, drones and missiles. It's easy to understand why - the area is where vehicles are refuelled and reloaded and where troops sleep and eat. But it is also the place where wounded soldiers from the front are first evacuated to before being sent to the nearest hospital. Despite the carnage around him, Max says he was welcomed with open arms by the Ukrainians. 'They all looked very intimidating with their guns,' he says. 'But they all gave us the biggest hug when they saw us. They couldnt believe we came to see them. They were thrilled I was painting their story.' During their time in Ukraine, Max and Henry lived alongside local troops. Pictured is a Ukrainian soldier at the 'stabalisation point' near Bakhmut Max's paintings aimed to capture the humanity behind the soldiers serving in the mayhem Max said when he first arrived in Ukraine he was 'flinching like a madman' but that he just focused on his painting to blur out the horrors around him It didn't take long for Max to acclimatise to the mayhem. He drowns out the shelling by focusing on his painting, while brushing aside the gallows humour of his Ukrainian subjects, who constantly joke about being bombed, shelled and dying. 'The soldiers are very used to the explosions and everything. They dont even flinch but I am flinching like a madman. Painting got me through it. The thuds would come and shake the ceiling and I was just like "keep painting, keep painting",' he recounts. Max formed close bonds with several of the troops who were risking their lives day in, day out to try an liberate their country from Russian occupation. He travelled out to areas close to Bakhmut to paint soldiers clambering on top of Ukrainian armoured vehicles. At one point he pauses to paint one soldier standing next to a Russian car seized as a 'trophy'. Max's art evens captures children as they play around the carcasses of long-destroyed Russian tanks, with the youngest - some appearing younger than 10 - dangling from the rusted barrel of the war machine's main gun. One of the images Max painted was of children playing on the rusting hulk of a destroyed Russian tank In another portrait, Max painted a young Ukrainian as he proudly sat on his 'Russian car' seized as a 'trophy of war' Max, 25, said he grew close to the Ukrainian troops he spent time with. Pictured is a Ukrainian soldier in a photo taken by Henry Harte The carnage of war was easy to see after more than a year of war, with Max and Henry regularly passing buildings destroyed by missiles and artillery Although he turned down trips to the frontline trenches, fearing the presence of himself lugging his cumbersome easel might put others protecting him at risk. And he declined going to a hospital to paint some of the wounded, as he didn't want to intrude. Through all this, he never fails to be stunned by the resilience of the local people - nor the courage of the men and women of the Ukrainian military, who were 'always upbeat, always smiling'. 'These lads and ladies are the bravest people I have ever met in my life,' he says. The war in Ukraine is one of the most widely documented in history. From footage captured by news teams and blurry images recorded by drones dealing death from above, to gruesome GoPro clips of troops killing one another in trenches - every aspect of the invasion is covered. 'One of the soldiers showed me a GoPro video of him running over a trench as they launched an assault,' says Max. 'In the video you could hear the zipping sounds of bullets flying past him. I asked "Are you not terrified?". He responded "This is our land. We are not terrified. They are terrified".' It's questions like these that Max finds import. He seeks not only to paint the people he meets but understand them too, on a personal level. Among those he paints, who stands out, is a 22-year-old combat medic called Victoria - or 'Torri', as the name badge on her body armour says. She left a high-paying city job in the US to return home and help in the war, alongside her sister. The young soldier has already made a name for herself in the hardened ranks of her battalion, with awestruck troops proudly telling Max she has 'saved at least 50 people' and not a single person has died under her care - yet. Among the people Max paints includes a 22-year-old combat medic called Torri (pictured) She left a high-paying city job in the US to return home and help on the frontline, alongside her sister Max painted troops in buildings, tanks and outside as they patrolled Max is pictured as he paints one soldier looking out of the window of a Ukrainian firing position Max said he will never forget his time with the Ukrainians, who hugged him when he arrived. He is pictured eating inside the Ukrainian HQ near Bakhmut While living in the camp, Max can't help but become close to the troops; he and Henry eat together with them, while wearing body armour and helmet almost day and night for protection. They often had time to laugh with the Ukrainians during the day before the troops were inevitably shipped off to Bakhmut to fight. But being based at the first port of call for the injured, it proves impossible for Max to avoid the horrors of war. One of the soldiers the 25-year-old Londoner grew to know was sent out in an armoured vehicle to rescue his wounded comrades one morning. 'He was wearing his flag and had a hat. He looked all excited,' Max says. 'He came back that afternoon and had no hand. It gives you an idea of what youre dealing with.' During his three weeks in Ukraine, Max painted 15 portraits - which will be shown at The Fine Art Commissions Gallery between October 10 and 21. All funds raised through the exhibition go directly to the volunteer initiative Dorset to Donetsk. It will also go towards buying vital medical supplies to help save the lives of wounded troops. Max is now contemplating heading back to Ukraine in September - although not to paint but instead to see his new-found friends. He added since returning to the UK, it has been tough to acclimatise to the peace of London, while his friends are risking their lives thousands of miles away. 'It's hard to go have a good time at the pub and you know your new friends were fighting for their lives, getting shot and getting blown up,' he says. 'I don't want the world to forget what they're going through.' If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit For most people it is a nightmare situation, but for Australian Tim Shaddock it became a reality: Adrift on the ocean, out of sight of land, and with no hope of rescue. Mr Shaddock managed to survive three months with his dog Bella before being rescued this week, surviving on nothing more than his own skill and cunning. We all like to think we'd know what to do if we were in a similar situation, but the blunt reality is that most of us have absolutely no idea of how to stay alive. That's why MailOnline has enlisted the help of expert Professor Mike Tipton to learn his surprising survival tips. Here he explains why you shouldn't drink urine, why you should drink turtle blood, and at what point you'd have to contemplate killing the dog. Australian Tim Shaddock managed to survive three months with his dog Bella before being rescued this week, surviving on nothing more than his own skill and cunning Australian Tim Shaddock sits with his dog Bella after being rescued by a Mexican tuna boat in international waters last week, after being adrift for three months Water, water everywhere The first key to survival, Professor Tipton says, is to pray you've gone adrift somewhere warm - otherwise you'll freeze to death before anything else becomes a concern. READ MORE: Stunning before and after photos show the change in Australian castaway who vanished with his dog Bella Advertisement 'Most survival stories tend to come out of the tropics,' he says. 'If you go adrift somewhere else then you tend not to live long enough to write a book or get on the news.' But if you do happen to be somewhere around the equator, then your next and most pressing concern is going to be water. 'Humans are recommended around 1.5 litres per day,' Professor Tipton says. 'In a survival situation then ideally you'd be looking to get 400ml per day. 'But studies have shown the absolute minimum you'd need to survive is 125ml to 200ml, which is around a quarter of a pint.' That may not sound like much, but in the middle of the ocean it can be very hard to come by - which is where his first unlikely-sounding survival tip comes in. Don't drink anything for the first 24 hours. The logic is completely counter-intuitive, but studies carried out in the 1950s showed that waiting a full day before a drink actually increases the chances of survival. That's because it tips your body over into crisis mode, triggering hormonal changes which mean you will consume less water in the long run. After that, survival depends on drinking the right things. Most of us know not to drink sea water, but Professor Tipton says urine is also a no-no. He adds: 'The problem is salt. Human body fluids contain about 0.9% salt. Urine is about 2% and sea water is about 3%. 'Your body uses up water removing the excess salt so it actually dehydrates your cells faster.' Both sea water and urine can be made drinkable by evaporating them and condensing the vapour down, which Mr Shaddock is thought to have done using a solar still, if you're lucky enough to have one. Or you could get even luckier and drift through a rainstorm, in which case catching the water and keeping it free of contamination will give you a plentiful supply. But if you can't get water that way, there are some unusual sources you can turn to. Turtle blood, saltwater enemas and fish juice What you want is any liquid that matches or is lower than the salt content of your own body, Professor Tipton explains, which makes the body fluids of other animals ideal. 'Fish eyes and spinal fluid are a yes,' he says - as evidenced by Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, an English couple who went adrift for 117 days in the Pacific back in the 1970s. The couple said they began craving the eyes of fish and would scarf them down whenever they got the chance - a fact they later claimed was because they contain vitamin C. Professor Tipton is somewhat sceptical of that, and instead thinks the eyes are more useful for their fluids which can also be found in turtle blood. 'Turtles have about 50ml of water in their blood per kilogram of bodyweight, so a 20kg animal will give you about 1 litre of water,' he says. Maurice and Maralyn Bailey survived adrift on a rubber raft for 117 days in the Pacific in 1973 Professor Tipton said turtle blood is a useful fluid to survive as they have 50ml of water in their blood per kilogram of bodyweight One thing you shouldn't do, Professor Tipton adds, is to copy the Robertson family - six of whom survived more than a month adrift in the Pacific while administering saltwater enemas to stay hydrated. This is a bad idea, he says, because the intestines aren't good at absorbing the fluid and also aren't good at filtering out the salt. If worst comes to worst, then you can actually juice a fish. 'It probably wouldn't be your first resort,' Professor Tipton admits, but fish flesh and skin contains drinkable liquid provided you've got the strength and patience to squeeze them out. Looking good enough to eat Humans will die after about six days without water but can survive up to two months without food, so eating is much lower on your list of priorities, the professor says However, if you're at sea long enough then starvation will become a concern. Fatty and sugary foods are best because they are high in calories and - crucially - can be processed by your body without expending precious water. Protein, on the other hand, does take some water to be absorbed, which is unfortunate because fish are more or less solid protein. Here turtles come in handy once again, because they have a layer of fat underneath the shell which helped keep the Robertson family alive. If fish and turtles aren't an option, you might have to get creative - as Jose Salvador Alvarenga did when he was cast adrift for 438 days, the longest anyone has survived at sea. Jose Salvador Alvarenga spent 14 months adrift in a fishing boat in the Pacific Ocean, starting in 2012 Jose Salvador Alvarenga was washed up on Ebon Atoll in the Pacific Ocean on January 30, 2014, and told his rescuers he set sail in September 2012 and has been floating on the ocean ever since Alvarenga recalled luring birds to his boat and capturing as many as he could in one go, eating the ones he needed and breaking the wings of the rest so they couldn't fly away and could be killed and eaten later. There are also questions around the fate of Alvarenga's crewmate, who didn't survive the voyage and whose death the sailor has refused to discuss. Though his exact end remains a mystery, Professor Tipton adds: 'It is generally not a good idea to eat the person you're with.' Ditto any animal companions who happen to be along for the ride, such as dog Bella who kept Mr Shaddock company on his boat. 'Sushi is generally better food than dog,' Professor Tipton says. But while it would be unwise to kill the dog for food, you may have to finish the unfortunate animal off if water supplies start to run low. 'Keeping the dog alive is no good if you're both going to die of dehydration,' he adds. Don't give up Mental strength is the last ingredient to successful survival, which has to continue even after rescue comes for you. Many survivors find themselves able to endure weeks or months of hardship while in a crisis, only for their health to rapidly decline once they are picked up. This is thought to be because, having been rescued, they effectively give up - handing their fate over to whoever has come to get them. For those cast adrift at sea that can be dangerous, as the rescue tends to happen hundreds of miles from land and the nearest hospital. Every June for years, a rainbow-striped banner celebrating Pride Week had been draped over the long balcony of the magnificent city hall in Valladolid, northern Spain. But last month it was nowhere to be seen. Instead, flying from flagpoles on the baroque-style building overlooking one of Europe's most exquisite squares was the national yellow-and-red flag of Spain, alongside those of the city itself and the surrounding province of Castile and Leon. The reason for the banner's disappearance was that, a month earlier, the Right wing swept to power here in local elections, dethroning the ruling Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE). 'It was the first sign of a culture change in our city, which is popular during Pride Week, with LGBTQ+ visitors from across the world,' Valladolid's defeated Left-wing mayor, Oscar Santiago, told the Mail this week. 'It was the same all over Spain. Socialists were thrown out almost everywhere in this May's local elections . . . in Seville, Andalusia, Oviedo. And down came the rainbow flags or banners.' The reason for the banner's disappearance was that, a month earlier, the Right wing swept to power here in local elections 'It was the first sign of a culture change in our city, which is popular during Pride Week, with LGBTQ+ visitors from across the world,' Valladolid's defeated Left-wing mayor, Oscar Santiago (pictured), told the Mail this week Tomorrow, this fervently Catholic country is expected to shift even farther to the Right in an extraordinary political shake-up. Spain is to have a general election and Mr Santiago's ruling PSOE faces a crushing defeat. Right-wing MPs in Madrid's parliament, the Cortes, stand on the brink of power and throwing the current Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, out of office. The polls are narrow, but an alliance between the conservative People's Party (PP) and the hard-Right Vox party is predicted to get more votes than the increasingly unpopular socialists. It would mean the hard-Right gaining a share of power here for the first time since General Franco's fascist rule ended in the mid-1970s. Latest predictions are that PP and Vox may win more than 180 of the 350 seats in the Cortes, exceeding by four the total necessary to win them an absolute majority. Many Spanish would be pleased to see Sanchez ousted as prime minister. He is accused, on dramatic political posters plastered this week on streets all over Spain, of lying to his people during five years of leadership. Right-wing MPs in Madrid's parliament, the Cortes, stand on the brink of power and throwing the current Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez (pictured), out of office An alliance between the conservative People's Party (PP) and the hard-Right Vox party is predicted to get more votes than the increasingly unpopular socialists. Pictured: Vox Party Leader, Santiago Abascal Perhaps the most extraordinary aspect of this resurgence of the Right is that huge numbers of the young are going along with it, even though Sanchez's party is associated with policies you would have expected them to approve of policies deeply sympathetic to transgender rights, mass migration and climate change. Much of this support from the under-30s is down to soaring youth unemployment and the effects of immigration when almost one young Spaniard in three is jobless. But young and old are also concerned about what they claim is the Left's destruction of national identity and traditional families in this fiercely proud nation. The first sign that big changes were afoot in Spain came last year in regional elections when a PP/Vox coalition won against Left-wing parties in northern Spain's Castile and Leon province, where Valladolid is the biggest city. In this year's local elections, Sanchez's socialists were ejected from Valladolid itself and astonishingly 140 other towns and cities in Spain. Consolidating their success, PP and Vox then formed local pacts to run huge swathes of the country between them. Prime minister Sanchez has dubbed the contentious PP-Vox deals 'an extreme Right-wing tandem'. Like-minded politicians have said they threaten nearly half a century of democracy introduced following the 36-year dictatorship of General Franco on his death in 1975. Valladolid was a notorious sanctuary for fascist supporters in the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, when Franco-led nationalists eventually won power after a bitterly drawn-out conflict against communists lasting three years. It would mean the hard-Right gaining a share of power here for the first time since General Franco's (pictured) fascist rule ended in the mid-1970s Like-minded politicians have said they threaten nearly half a century of democracy introduced following the 36-year dictatorship of General Franco (pictured) on his death in 1975 In the 1980s, Left-wing students nicknamed the city Fachadolid 'fascist place' in Spanish because of its suspected links to Franco-era Right-wing cells which, terrifyingly, are thought to have lingered on for decades. A monument commemorating a loyal supporter of the dictator, Fascist politician Onesimo Redondo, stood on a hill outside the city until 2016 and could be seen for miles around. It was pulled down on the orders of the Madrid government in an attempt to eradicate statues and plaques linked to the Franco days. In Valladolid this week, those picking up leaflets, balloons and sweets at PP and Vox campaign stands in Santiago Street near the city hall insisted they weren't voting for fascism or anything like it. They said they simply wanted to stop Left-wing and EU-inspired diktats covering uncontrolled immigration, green curbs on motorists, Pride marches and rainbow flags, which they claim are changing the society they love. One subject that came up time and again was a controversial law introduced by Sanchez's party to toughen penalties for sexual crimes. Popularly known as the 'Only Yes means Yes' legislation, it attempted to overhaul the criminal code by making consent, or lack of it, the key factor in determining assault cases. But mistakes were made in the rapidly drawn-up law and defence lawyers found loopholes in favour of sexual offenders a mistake for which Mr Sanchez has asked survivors 'for forgiveness'. A monument commemorating a loyal supporter of the dictator, Fascist politician Onesimo Redondo (pictured), stood on a hill outside the city until 2016 and could be seen for miles around In Valladolid this week, those picking up leaflets, balloons and sweets at PP and Vox campaign stands in Santiago Street near the city hall insisted they weren't voting for fascism or anything like it The errors, according to government figures, allowed 104 rapists to challenge convictions so they were released from prison. Another 978 sexual abusers had their sentences reduced, an outcome that caused national uproar. At the PP stand in Santiago Street, we talked on Wednesday to two law students, 18-year-old Jaime Esteban and his friend Marcos Rincon, 19, who said they were outraged at the 'yes means yes' fiasco. They insisted that 'a lot of our age group' are hoping to 'vote out' the socialists. 'It is time for a change because Sanchez and the Left are bad for everyone in Spain, young and old,' added Marcos. He said the 'yes means yes' law 'allowed rapists out of prison, it let them go free. It was not only women but also young people who were horrified at that.' Bearded grandfather Mariano, 65, was there with his grandchildren Ariadna, 15, and her brother Thiago, 13, who nodded enthusiastically when I asked them if they would vote for PP when they were old enough. The teenagers listened intently as Mariano asserted: 'Sanchez has lied to the Spanish people. That is why there is a swing to Right-wing parties here. We are not ashamed to vote for them. It is an anti-Sanchez feeling. We are all sick of him and don't like his policies.' At the Vox campaign stand farther along Santiago Street was recently widowed Begona, a former wine business owner with finely coiffured grey hair. She was happy to voice her support for the Right. At the PP stand in Santiago Street, we talked on Wednesday to two law students, 18-year-old Jaime Esteban (left) and his friend Marcos Rincon (right), 19, who said they were outraged at the 'yes means yes' fiasco Bearded grandfather Mariano (centre), 65, was there with his grandchildren Ariadna (right), 15, and her brother Thiago (left), 13, who nodded enthusiastically when I asked them if they would vote for PP when they were old enough 'And it isn't just people of my age who want change,' she said. 'My 19-year-old son is going to vote for Vox, too. I like the feeling of national unity it promotes. I don't agree with all the policies. There should not be a total abolition of abortion, as some of its politicians have suggested. But I like most of what this party is hoping to do.' Elena Diez, a nurse in her 50s, was equally sure that Vox is perfect for her. 'I want a change from the Left wing,' she said. 'I don't want a culture of handouts paid for by taxpayers, which is what they promote. We need people to contribute for health and education. I don't see any problem with a PP-Vox government.' So substantial is Vox's following of proudly nationalist 18 to 24-year-olds, especially women, they have become the largest single group among its supporters. A 20-year-old student called Pablo Cano was widely quoted in the Spanish media this week as saying he wants a win for Vox 'because the Spanish people must come first, then the rest'. He was attending a Vox rally in Malaga, southern Spain, where the party's leader Santiago Abascal told a crowd of followers: 'It's a miracle you are here. Considering what (the Left) are saying about us . . . considering how they insult us. How they twist everything you feel . . . turning it into a criminal thought, a hate crime.' As he listened to chants of 'Es-pan-ya' from the crowd, Abascal was clearly on a roll and relishing his chance of victory this weekend. So substantial is Vox's following of proudly nationalist 18 to 24-year-olds, especially women, they have become the largest single group among its supporters. Pictured: Valladolid, Spain One of the most contentious of his Vox party's promises is a ban on hormone therapy, puberty blockers and sex-change surgery for gender-questioning children. The party says the current Spanish laws, which allow these invasive treatments, are the consequence of 'activists brainwashing youngsters into believing they are a boy born in a girl's body or the other way round'. Its manifesto leaflet adds: 'This leads teenagers with low self-esteem to believe they can change their gender and it will help solve their difficulties.' Another proposal is that abortion clinics should make it obligatory to take images of the foetus and offer women the chance to listen to its heartbeat before they decide to terminate a pregnancy. The party also pledges to repeal a law cementing LGBTQ+ rights and rejects rising temperature worries as 'climate fanaticism'. Its politicians are alleged to have used terms such as 'Muslim invasion' in campaigns for tighter border controls to stop uncontrolled illegal migration to Europe. When I spoke to Fernando Alvarez, a retired businessman and volunteer at the Vox stand in Valladolid, he insisted: 'The Left's transgender laws don't protect women. No party does that better than ours.' Whatever the truth of this, much more controversially, Vox politicians have claimed that rainbow banners of the sort once displayed on Valladolid city hall are linked to promoting paedophilia. The party also pledges tighter border controls to stop uncontrolled illegal migration to Europe. Pictured: Migrants disembark from a Spanish Maritime Rescue vessel in the Port of Arguineguin on the Canary Island of Gran Canaria in July Pictured: Migrants rest on the pier after disembarking from a 'cayuco' (wooden boat) following a rescue operation on July 4, 2023 at the port of Los Cristianos, in the municipality of Arona, in the south of Tenerife In Spanish cities where the Right now rule, the LGBTQ+ symbols are disappearing from show on public buildings, funding for pro-migrant groups is being curtailed and the hiring of state-paid gender equality officers is already winding down. In one Cantabrian town, the recently elected PP-Vox council last month censored a screening of the film Lightyear, based on the character from Toy Story, for showing a kiss between a lesbian couple in one scene. The animation, popular with children, is already barred in several Muslim countries. As for Mr Santiago, the deposed Socialist Workers' Party mayor in Valladolid, he is worried that a full-scale attack on Spain's LGBTQ+ community is under way. Already, gay couples in the city have complained that they are afraid to kiss in a bar or hold hands in public. 'I am proud to be the first mayor in this city to marry a gay couple, two men in 2015. I oversaw the weddings of many more until I was voted out of office in May,' he says. 'Spain has a difficult history, with the 1930s Civil War between the Left and Fascists. It is as though we are back in those frightening times now. 'We are going back to the concept that excludes certain groups of people from society. If you take bullfighting or being a Catholic, they are good. Those who oppose this cruel way of killing animals or question the overreach of religion, that is bad. 'The Spanish Right, the wealthy and the powerful, are still steeped in Francoism. Even now, after all these years, they cannot forget this dictator or fascism.' Mr Santiago is an educated, erudite man and a delight to meet. But the fact is, he may be on the wrong side of modern history. A third of Europe's nations from Sweden to Greece, Finland to Poland have already moved to the Right and others threaten to do so, as people rebel at the ballot box against Left-wing politics. Tomorrow, it appears that Spain, despite its vivid background of fascism and a blood-curdling civil war, will do the same. This is the astonishing moment a woman strips naked and goes on a five-minute rampage through a grocery store - smearing cake all over her body. The woman, who has not been identified, was caught on tape destroying the food section of the store while employees stood by helpless. At the bakery section the woman picks up cakes in plastic boxes, opens them up before throwing them into a heap on the floor. A male store worker looks on, observing the trail of devastation and says 'we can't do anything, the cops are on their way.' It is the latest disturbing incident as states and cities such as San Francisco battle lawlessness, as well as spikes in homelessness, drug use and mental illness. At the bakery section the woman picks up cakes in plastic boxes, opens them up before throwing them into a heap on the floor The unidentified woman throws several cupcakes across the store before stepping onto the cakes The woman is seen taking a tray of cake out of its casing and smearing it down the front of her body before throwing it to the ground. She then strews several cupcakes across the store before stepping onto the cakes. The video also shows a series of smashed beer bottles on the ground that appear to have been part of the damage. The carnage also shows other food smashed and broken on the floor by what seems to be the woman's abandoned clothing. Footage also shows other food across the floor what seems to be the woman's abandoned clothing A male store worker looks on, observing the trail of devastation and says 'we can't do anything, the cops are on their way' The unidentified woman then goes behind the bakery counter as an employee shouts 'why is no one doing anything. Help!' Once behind the counter the rampage continues with the woman smothering her hair and legs with white cake frosting. The woman then moves over to the donut shelf and throws as many as she can to the ground. It is not clear where the incident took place or when it occurred. A 37-year-old passenger of a car in an alleged high speed police chase is the mother of Snapchat kidnapper Latia Henderson. Ashlea Francisco joined her daughter behind bars after the mum, along with Kasey Glover, 39, allegedly led police on a 90-minute pursuit in a white Hyundai Sonata from Prestons to North Rocks, in western Sydney, on Thursday. In February 2021 Henderson along with Kayley Lee Ketley kidnapped, stabbed and threw victim Nisha Phillips into the boot of a car with a plan to dump her body. The pair were allegedly smoking cannabis and filming Snapchat videos and singing to music as they drove the car south towards the Belanglo State Forest. Henderson's mother remains in custody along with Glover after the pair allegedly embarked on the wild cat-and-mouse chase across western Sydney on Thursday, Nine News said. Francisco was allegedly the passenger in the car during the police pursuit. Ashlea Francisco joined her daughter behind bars after the alleged 90-minute car chase Francisco was arrested at the scene (pictured) after allegedly crashing at a North Rocks intersection on Thursday The Hyundai Sonata allegedly veered onto the wrong side of the road and ran red lights across some of the city's busiest motorways and streets as police followed. It drew widespread attention as the alleged chase was broadcast live from a television news chopper. Police said in a statement the chase started at 10am when officers noticed the allegedly stolen Sonata driving through Casula in Sydney's south west. The beat-up car was pursued but police gave up the chase due to safety concerns. It was then tracked through Homebush, Parramatta and North Parramatta by the Polair before crashing at an intersection in North Rocks. Francisco and Glover faced court on Friday where it came to light there were two arrest warrants out for Glover's arrest. One was for allegedly skipping bail and the other for not turning up to court to face similar charges. Glover, who was allegedly behind the wheel during the chase also had a disqualified licence. Francisco's daughter Latia Henderson (pictured) pleaded guilty to her role in the horror kidnapping in 2021 Francisco and the alleged driver of the vehicle Kasey Glover faced court on Friday where it came to light there were two arrest warrants out for his arrest (pictured Kasey Glover after his arrest) The white Hyundai Sonata was tracked through Homebush, Parramatta and North Parramatta by the Polair before crashing at an intersection in North Rocks (pictured) Francisco was also wanted by police for alleged break and enter and for allegedly stealing protein powder. Two unregistered weapons had been found in the boot of the car including a sawn-off rifle and gel blaster rifle. Francisco was charged with six offences including possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place, aggravated break and enter, and stealing. Glover was charged with 20 offences including possessing an unregistered firearm in a public place, police pursuit and driving dangerously, aggravated break and enter, fraud and stealing. He was refused bail and will remain in prison while Francisco did not apply for bail and will stay in custody until next month. Francisco's daughter is currently serving a five-year sentence. A young mother-of-two killed in a multi-car crash in Queensland had kindly taken in her boyfriend, who is under police guard in hospital, just weeks earlier. Gypsy Satterley, 25, died in a suspected domestic violence murder when the ute she was in was rammed into the path of another vehicle on the Bruce Highway at Federal near Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Rafferty Rolfe, 25, from Yandina, who was allegedly in a stolen car which rammed her vehicle, is the sole survivor of the three-car collision, which occurred at about 4am on Friday. Alpaca breeder Jessica Townley, 38, from Imbil was killed when her blue Great Wall ute was hit in what appears to be collateral damage. According to police, the stolen Isuzu MU-X was allegedly pursuing a northbound Nissan Navara, which was carrying Ms Satterley - who was in a relationship with Rolfe - as a passenger. It is believed the stolen Isuzu then rammed the Navara into the path of Ms Townley travelling southbound. Ms Satterley, who is believed to have two daughters aged around six and eight, and the 65-year-old man driving the Navara both died in the crash. Police said that Ms Satterley and the Navara driver were not acquainted before last night. Investigations are underway to determine if he was a Good Samaritan who was helping her after she had earlier got out of the Isuzu. A close friend of Ms Satterley described her as a 'beautiful person' who is survived by her brothers, sisters, mother and father. The friend said she had invited Rolfe to stay in her home just three weeks earlier when he was in need of a place to stay. 'We are all so shocked... she never deserved this at all,' the friend told The Courier Mail. Gypsy Satterley, 25, (pictured) died in a suspected domestic violence murder when the ute she was in was rammed into the path of another vehicle on the Bruce Highway at Federal near Noosa on the Sunshine Coast Rafferty Rolfe, 25, who was allegedly in a stolen car which rammed her vehicle, is the sole survivor of the three-car collision, which occurred about 4am on Friday Alpaca breeder Jessica Townley, 38, was killed when her blue Great Wall ute was hit in the tragic collision Three vehicles were involved in the horror crash at Federal, on the Bruce Highway. Homicide investigators are probing the crash Ms Satterley's death is now being treated as a domestic-violence murder. Rolfe was allegedly known to Queensland Police and was taken to hospital with serious head injuries where he remains under police guard. On Friday night, he was charged with one count of robbery with violence whilst armed in relation to the alleged theft of the Isuzu. He is scheduled to appear in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday, July 24. Detective Superintendent Ben Fadian told reporters: 'The white Isuzu was trying to ram the Nissan Navara motor vehicle. 'As a result that vehicle [Nissan] crossed onto the southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway.' Police also confirmed on Friday night that Ms Satterley and Rolfe had allegedly been in a relationship before the tragedy. In a haunting final post to Facebook just four days ago, Ms Satterley, also from Yandina, posted a poem 'Keep Going' about pushing on the face of cruel adversity. It includes the lines: 'No matter how bad things are right now, no matter how many days you've spent crying, no matter how hopeless and depressed you feel... 'I promise you me you won't feel this way forever. Keep going.' In an earlier post at the end of June she reposted another message, with the caption: 'Rahhh raahhh you are a dead man.' The post added: 'Sometime we don't really let go. We don't really move on. We just learn to live with the loss. We learn how to smile when sad.... 'We carry on and hope for the best.' Gypsy (pictured) is believed to be the mother of two young girls aged around 8 and 6 In a haunting final post to Facebook just four days ago (pictured), Ms Satterley posted a poem 'Keep Going' about pushing on the face of cruel adversity The crash occurred at Federal west of Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, as this map shows Shocked friends paid tribute to the young mum after news of the tragedy spread. 'She was meant to be at my house last night but I missed her call and she never showed,' one told the Courier-Mail. 'This time there was no tomorrow. 'Her brothers and sisters aren devastated along with her mother and father, we are all so shocked. 'She's a beautiful person who deserved more than life gave her. She never deserved this at all.' The white Isuzu MU-X vehicle had been stolen 12 hours before the highway crash in a violent daylight carjacking in Gympie's main street on Thursday, police said. An alert for the vehicle was issued after a man armed with a knife threatened a mother and her three children as the family were getting into their car. The terrified mother, Bec Alexander, got her kids out of the vehicle before handing over the car to the robber. She and her children were unharmed. 'I was car jacked with three kids in the car,' Ms Alexander said in a Facebook post. 'A knife was pulled so the kids and I got out but my car was stolen!' Police later spotted the stolen car, but the driver refused to stop and escaped. The car was not being pursued at the time of the incident. The owner of the stolen white Isuzu, Bec Alexander (pictured) posted on Facebook at 6.35pm on Thursday that she had been held up at knifepoint: 'I was car jacked with three kids in the car' Police have confirmed one of the vehicles (pictured) involved in the crash was allegedly stolen from Gympie around 4.30pm Thursday 'The tragedy is that there are three people now deceased and the ripple effect that has on their families,' Detective Superintendent Fadian said. Queensland Ambulance Service's Sunshine Coast acting director Nigel Jones said it was a challenging event for all emergency services. 'The scene was obviously quite confronting given the mechanism of the forces involved - it was clearly a very high-speed incident involving those vehicles,' Mr Jones said. 'So much so that our paramedics report that the two patients were killed on impact with a third patient, unfortunately, passing away shortly afterwards.' Southbound lanes of the Bruce Highway are expected to be closed for an extended period, and diversions are in place. Detective Supt Fadian described it as a complex investigation and appealed for anyone who saw the stolen Isuzu to contact police. 'We also appeal for anyone who was driving on the Bruce Highway between Federal and Noosa turn-off this morning between 3am and 4am and may have seen that vehicle to please contact Crimestoppers,' Det Supt Fadian said. The wreckage of a Nissan Navara ute involved in the crash crumbled against a barrier Two people have been charged with murder after a house went up in flames and a body was discovered along a busy train line days later. A 36-year-old Chadstone woman was arrested at Seaford on Thursday and a 35-year-old Seaford man was arrested at Carrum Downs, in Melbourne, on Friday. The arrests came after police launched an investigation into a fire that broke out at a property on Binalong Avenue, at Chadstone, on Tuesday. A 36-year-old Chadstone woman and a 35-year-old man were arrested in recent days after police found a body in Railway Parade in Chadstone, Melbourne Police are still investigating the scene where they found the human remains on Railway Parade in Chadstone, with homicide detectives still on the scene late Friday night The blaze was treated as suspicious, a 40-year-old man was listed as missing with police alleging he had been fatally assaulted on the same day as the blaze. The body of a man was then found on Railway Parade, 500m where he was allegedly assaulted, near a train line on Friday afternoon. His body was reportedly found tied up at the time of discovery. Homicide detectives were spotted on the scene taking fingerprints from a fence. A nearby house was searched with forensic police searching through the garbage bin. The 36-year-old woman and 35-year-old man who were arrested were charged with one count of murder. The pair were remanded in custody and they will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Saturday. The body of the 40-year-old man is yet to be formally identified. Within hours of his death, Andrea Sechi was being held up as the latest climate change martyr. While riding his racing bike along the southern coast of Sardinia with friends last Saturday, the keen amateur scientist had collapsed and, though efforts were made to revive him, he died at the roadside. First to report the incident was a popular local news website. Since Mr Sechi was only 48 years old and seemingly super fit, and as the island was in the grip of a heatwave, they declared that his fatal heart attack was 'probably linked' with the freakishly high temperatures. And as the mercury soared across southern Europe, turning dramatic TV heat maps from dark red to black and starting a stampede for alarmist headlines, the news that a weekend cyclist had fallen victim to global warming was seized on by foreign news outlets and internet doom-mongers. This hasty assumption was perhaps inevitable. For here was a human story that perfectly played into the narrative of the moment, which held that Armageddon had reached our very doorstep. Andrea Sechi was only 48 years old and seemingly super fit when he collapsed and died while riding his bicycle in Sardinia last Saturday That, with the politicians still wringing their hands over how to reduce carbon emissions, the continent had already been plunged into a lethal, and perhaps irreversible catastrophe. However, there is a rather inconvenient problem with using Mr Sechi's death to support this frightening conjecture. Though the heat has been unbearable in parts of Sardinia in recent days, and one can well imagine it killing people who are frail or elderly, his family assure me it played no part in his death. Indeed, they are deeply upset that his misfortune has been cynically 'weaponised, as his brother, Stefano, puts it, by those seeking to sensationalise the heatwave's impact. 'It did get very hot later that day, but my uncle was riding at 8.30am when the temperature was only around 22c, normal or even a bit chilly for this time of year,' says the cyclist's niece, Laura Sechi, adding that he was being fanned by a stiff sea breeze. 'The doctors have told us it was most likely not caused by the heat. Andrea probably suffered a heart attack or a brain haemorrhage, but the Italian media just published what they wanted. They should have got their facts straight. It adds to our pain.' Before the Just Stop Oil brigade daub my house with orange paint, let me make one thing clear. My purpose in relating this story is not to play down the seriousness of global warming, much less to suggest that it isn't happening. And as the mercury soared across southern Europe, turning dramatic TV heat maps from dark red to black and starting a stampede for alarmist headlines, the news that a weekend cyclist had fallen victim to global warming was seized on by foreign news outlets and internet doom-mongers If the scientific evidence isn't convincing enough, one only needs to have spent the week in Sardinia, where temperatures along a diagonal inland band have reached almost 48c (118.4f), to see the many dangers this presents and recognise that urgent action is required. Lamentably, however, climate change is begetting another climate one of hysteria. At a time when there is a pressing need for evidenced facts on which to base clear-headed decisions, the debate is being polluted by outlandish rumours and hyped-up half-truths. This became worryingly clear even before I arrived on the island, the epicentre of the latest heatwave, last Monday. Waiting to board the plane, I read of fretful families hastily cancelling holidays in Inferno Europe and rebooking breaks on the bracing British coast. With temperatures in Sardinia forecast to hit the high 40s, however, no-one was remotely panicking at Gatwick. 'It's a bit worrying but we'll just get on with it,' said Chris Chubb, 63, ironically a heating engineer, from Canterbury. 'If we get hot we'll do a bit of swimming. And I don't usually wear a hat, but I've brought one this time.' His wife, Sue, nodded. 'Anything's better than rainy England isn't it?' They only differed when it came to the causes of Heatwaves Cerberus and Charon. 'Sue's a climate change believer, but I'm Mr Sceptical,' smiled Mr Chubb. 'They say it's never been hotter, but did the Victorians keep temperature records? It's not so long since the Thames froze over.' Lamentably, however, climate change is begetting another climate one of hysteria When I phoned them on Thursday, the day after a weather station in south-central Sardinia registered 47.71c (117.8f) they certainly weren't looking for an early flight home. Which brings us to another truth. For tourists such as them, who tend to stay on the coast, the heat is tolerable even pleasant, so long as you stay inside when the sun is highest. The people who are genuinely suffering are the locals who live inland. Yet even there, one finds a minefield of misinformation. Seeking to slake my thirst in the ghostly interior town of Vallermosa, where only mad dogs and English reporters brave the midday sun, I swooned into a local bar and struck up an amiable conversation (via Google Translate) with a retired policeman. Ordering up beers, he painted his own vision of hell. Sheep dying in their thousands following an outbreak of bluetongue, an insect-borne disease imported from Africa; fruit and vegetable crops withering; broiling seas invaded by tropical fish and electric-blue crabs; old people dying by the dozen in homes with no aircon. In fairness, some of the disasters he described proved all too real. I later visited a farm in Assimini, an hour's drive south, where one-third of this summer's crop of cherry and mini-plum tomatoes worth 15,000 Euros has been killed off by day after day of vicious sunlight and under-irrigation, with the water supply too hot to use. Gasping for air in a greenhouse where the temperature had pushed into the mid-50s, farmer Antonio Mereu, 49, led me along rows of stunted fruits withering. The baby Italian tomatoes beloved of British shoppers are sweet and crimson: these were yellow and tasted bitterly acidic. 'Normally, these plants produce vegetation to protect themselves from the sun, but this year the rise in temperature has been so sudden that they didn't have time to react. So now the fruit is burning,' explains Mr Mereu, whose father started the farm 35 years ago. He gives a hollow laugh. 'If these summers become a regular thing, maybe I'll start growing bananas and pineapples. But I don't think I could compete with the Caribbean.' The Sardinian wine industry has been badly hit, too. The grape varieties commonly used on the island, such as Vermentino (for white wines) and Cannonau (for reds) have been bred to thrive in hot, dry conditions, but not of this severity. At a time when there is a pressing need for evidenced facts on which to base clear-headed decisions, the debate is being polluted by outlandish rumours and hyped-up half-truths Driving into the Su'entu Winery, at Sanluri, one of the most oppressive towns I visited this week, I wondered why there weren't any familiar green bunches dangling from the vines. But as Roberta Pilloni, one of the family owners, later showed me, the grapes were there they were just too small to see. 'They should be this size,' she told me, making a grape-sized circle with her fingers, 'but since the heatwave began they have stopped growing, so now they are still like this.' The second shape she made was no bigger than a pea. Fortunately, her winery sits above an underground spring, 600 ft below the hills. So, assuming the weather soon cools down, this year's vintage will simply be late. However, those wineries without a supply of water face die-offs, she says; and, given the startling change in the country's weather, a respected Sardinian viticulturist has warned her that the industry could disappear within 20 years. Miss Pilloni, 38, is less pessimistic. Already, she says, oenologists on the island are experimenting to create more heat-resistant grape varieties that will be harvested 20 or 30 years hence. The mayor of Sanluri is similarly upbeat. Though he says the townsfolk 'feel more in Africa than Italy', he says they are adapting stoically and pragmatically. Some companies are giving their outdoors workers a couple of days off; the air conditioning has been turned up in public buildings; during the day, children and old people are staying in their homes, many of which are insulated with thick stone walls and window shutters. If a desert climate does become the norm, the official mantra is that Sardinians who have tended to 'live in the moment' long before the phrase became trendy will adapt. That said, it won't be plain-sailing. Emphasising the discomfort facing the island's agriculturalists, Ms Pilloni says the ferocious heat is even killing the sparrows that flitter around the vines. 'If you came back this afternoon, you'd see them lying about in the fields,' she says. 'I don't know why it's happening. Maybe they are confused by the heat and fly too low, hitting the trees and walls, but they just seem to be dying mid-flight and falling from the sky.' It's an eerily dystopian image. Another that the doomwatch brigade might well latch on to, as proof we're all bound for hell in a handcart. But back to that well-meaning ex-policeman in the bar: what substance is there in his other calamitous assertions? Not a great deal, it would seem. Take bluetongue, a disease symbolic of environmental ruination if ever there was one. As it turns out, this lethal mutton plague hasn't suddenly descended on Sardinia. It has been around for at least 20 years and was at its most lethal in the early 2000s, before climatic fluctuations were being spoken of here. There have been no reported incidences of it this summer. Then there are those sinister-looking blue crabs, a photograph of which our worried retired policeman showed me on his mobile phone. With their other-worldly coloration and outsized claws, there's no doubting their scariness. But have colonies of them really been washed on to the shores of Sardinia because its coastal waters are now a tepid bath? Not according to a rather more reliable source, respected Italian marine biologist Luca Garibaldi. While some invasive species, such as parrotfish and blue-spotted cornet fish, had migrated from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean after the Suez Canal opened, and rising sea temperatures had also enticed them, he told the Mail, blue crab, which are native to the Atlantic Ocean off the Americas, were not present in any great number. And what of the plethora of heat-related deaths: some 200, according to the man in the bar. Maybe this figure will prove accurate, though one hopes not. However, ask as I did this week, in town after scorching town, I was unable to find a single case to back it up. I repeat, this is not to make light of all this. With fields aflame, tarmac melting, and an eerie emptiness enveloping the usually-bustling town squares, I have seen some alarming sights this week. I just think we would all be better served if things were kept in perspective. If the hysteria were to be toned down. In this, I am not alone. Let's look at the two names coined to personify the recent back-to-back anticyclones that have turned Europe into a 'giant pizza oven' (to borrow Reading University climate scientist Hannah Cloke's slick metaphor). The first blast was quickly dubbed Cerberus, after the fearsome, three-headed hound who guarded the gates of the Underworld in Greek mythology. This week's even more hellish calefaction is being called Charon, another chilling character from the Classics: a boatman who ferried the souls of the dead down to the fiery depths of Hades. So, who dreamt up these darkly melodramatic epithets, which have been widely accepted, not only by the public but many leading meteorologists and climatologists? Step forward Antonio Sano, a one-time engineer and self-schooled weather-forecasting hack who founded his own website, il meteo.it, 23 years ago, and, with his charisma and eye for publicity, made it a commercial success. He first began naming unusual weather events after mythological and historical figures, such as Roman generals and warriors, in 2012 making front-page headlines in Italy's leading newspaper. Since then he has been at it every year, drawing attention and advertisers to his weather site. But, as he told me, this summer's sobriquets are his crowning glory. 'I was already famous in Italy, but now I'm also famous abroad,' he said with ill-disguised glee. Indeed so. Yet, as he acknowledges, the Italian Meteorological Society, whose members include many of the nation's most august weather scientists, are deeply unhappy that he has hyperbolised the heatwave using words suggesting the world is heading for annihilation. Sano, who predicts that the 50c barrier will be broken somewhere in Europe in the next few years and plans to christen the continent's next heatwave Lucifer suggests they should lighten up. 'Yes, these names are evocative of Hell,' he told me. 'But I don't think I'm frightening people. That's not the intention at all. It's like a joke. 'When the temperature gets high, everybody always talks about the infernal heat, so these are simple names that everybody can understand. 'The problem is that in Italy the official weather forecast is provided by the military. They just don't want a private website to become popular.' Perhaps not. Then again, in a week when wildfires raged across Spain, insufferable heat closed the Acropolis (a feat last achieved by the Persians in 480BC), and the temperature at the 15,800 ft summit of Mont Blanc rose to zero for the first time, perhaps the sober suits in the Italian weather service are responsibly keen to avert a wave of panic. Though scientists concur that man-made climate change has greatly increased the frequency, intensity and duration of unusually hot spells of weather in recent decades, it is, as yet, too early to assess the likelihood of whether this is what has brought southern Europe to the gates of hell in recent days. That should become much clearer in the coming weeks, after leading experts have fed all the data into computer models. In the meantime we would do well to cool the rhetoric and stop bending the facts to fit the scariest script. We might start by recognising that the collapse of one unfortunate cyclist, on a breezy seaside path, is not a portent of doom. The Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect hired petite women who looked like his alleged victims at his architecture firm, an ex-worker has claimed. The staffer, who only revealed his name as 'Eric', claimed Rex Heuermann would get the women to do menial tasks such as making coffee and moving his car. He claimed the 6ft 4in, 59-year-old murder suspect would try to demean them around the office and that he had a 'fascination' with them. Heuermann has been arrested and charged with the murder of three of the 'Gilgo Four', Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. Heuermann, 59 has been arrested and charged with the murder of three of the 'Gilgo Four', Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found on the Long Island beach in 2010 Police were seen searching the property for 'trophies' Friday that may be linked to the victims Drone photos of the backyard of Heuermann's Massapequa Park home on Friday A cat is removed from the home of Heuermann in Massapequa Park on Friday afternoon Former staffer Eric told the New York Post: 'It was almost like he had a fascination with those girls that he was working with.' He claimed Heuermann would be 'very demeaning to women, not very nice' and force them to do gopher work like grabbing coffee and moving his car. Eric, who worked 'on and off' for the alleged killer from the 1990s, also claimed Heuermann once told a fellow staffer to do 'months' of research on NYC strip clubs. 'He always had this sinister look in his eyes,' Eric said, adding that Heuermann would often brag about his collection of firearms. The ex-employee, who showed emails proving he worked for Heuermann, called him a man who would hide behind his expertise. 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 'He was a very good person at blending in and being a regular, nerdy guy about his topic. And that was his kind of cover,' Eric said. Eric was not, however, surprised that the 'cheap' Heuermann was arrested, noting he 'always had this sinister look in his eyes.' Heuermann was arrested and charged last week in the killings of three of the 'Gilgo Four,' a group of women whose bodies were discovered near Gilgo Beach on Long Island in 2010. He pleaded not guilty to the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello. The architect lived in a 'dungeon-like' home just 18 miles away from the beach with his wife Asa Ellerup, adult daughter and stepson - who police say were away when the murders took place. Heuermann is also the lead suspect in the 2007 disappearance and subsequent murder of the fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, though he has not yet been charged in the case. He is also being investigated for the murders of six other women whose bodies were found near Gilgo Beach in 2011. Detectives are now looking into unsolved murders across the country to see if they are linked to Heuermann. Police were seen searching his property for 'trophies' that may be linked to the victims for a seventh day on Thursday. Investigators are also looking at his time share in Las Vegas and a property he owned in South Carolina. The co-founder of OceanGate has hit back at Titanic director James Cameron, claiming he 'knows nothing' about the company and its submersible program. Cameron 'is a very experienced ocean explorer and a sub guy himself, but knows nothing about OceanGate and that stuff,' Guillermo Sohnlein, a 58-year-old Argentine-American entrepreneur, told Insider. Cameron, 68, who has made more than 30 deep sea dives to the Titanic wreck, has criticized OceanGate and its lack of safety procedures for the Titan sub - which disappeared on June 18, imploded and killed all five members of its crew. 'The media's whole spin on how unsafe this was is based on David Lochridge, Will Kohnen from Marine Technology Society, Jim Cameron, who knows nothing about any of this stuff and Karl Stanley. Four people' Sohnlein, who co-founded the company with Stockton Rush in 2009, said. After the high profile tragedy it emerged that Will Kohnen, chairman of the Marine Technology Society, had sent Rush a warning letter outlining how he felt the CEO was misleading the public about the Titan meeting industry safety standards. Guillermo Sohnlein, a 58-year-old Argentine-American entrepreneur, created OceanGate in 2009 with Stockton Rush, 61 Cameron, 68, who has made more than 30 deep sea dives to the Titanic wreck, has criticized OceanGate and its lack of safety procedures for the Titan sub The submersible, Titan, is pictured descending. It was the only five person sub capable of reaching the Titanic, and the only tourist sub which had not been independently certified as safe Lochridge was fired as OceanGate's director of marine operations after raising concerns over 'a lack of non-destructive testing performed on the hull of the Titan.' Submersible expert Stanley also spoke out after the disaster, explaining that he had ridden in the Titan during a test trip in the Bahamas in 2019 and was concerned about its safety. 'Stockton was designing a mouse trap for billionaires,' he said. But Sohnlein has remained loyal and dismissed the criticism as a 'vocal minority.' 'Over the course of 15 years that company's probably employed like 200 and has dived dozens of people. And you're only hearing from four people,' he told Insider. 'Common sense seems to indicate these must be the vocal minority because there are a lot of other people that aren't speaking up who disagree with those four,' he added. He also defended Stockton's decision to use carbon fibre for the sub's hull telling the publication: 'The world only had one foremost expert on using carbon fiber to go in the deep oceans and he's gone now.' Rush died in the disaster, along with British billionaire Hamish Harding, 58; French Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, 77; and British-Pakistani father and son Shahzada Dawood, 48, and Suleman Dawood, 19. In 2012, James Cameron carried out a successful solo mission to the deepest known point on Earth, the Mariana Trench. He piloted the Deepsea Challenger (pictured) which was designed to withstand depths in excess of 36,000ft Cameron in 2012 after his successful solo dive in Deepsea Challenger to the deepest-known point on Earth, the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench A graphic breaks down Cameron's 2012 mission to the deepest known point in the ocean Titan's carbon fiber hull and its acrylic viewport were subject to several warnings and James Cameron singled them out as 'potential failure points' on the vessel Cameron gave a series of interviews following news of Titan's demise which criticized the 'fundamentally flawed' carbon fiber hull Cameron, who is a celebrated deep sea explorer as well as famed director, has previously said that the Titan's carbon fiber design was widely seen within the deep sea exploration community as being unsafe. Sohnlein previously rejected Cameron's opinion telling Times Radio, 'one of the things Mr Cameron said which was correct is that the deep sea exploration community is very small. 'We all know each other. I think in general we all respect each other. 'But as you would expect in this kind of community there are completely different opinions about how to do things - how to design submersibles, how to engineer them, how to operate in the dives. 'But one thing that's true of me, and every other expert that has been talking, is that none of us were involved in the design, engineering or even testing of the subs. 'So it's impossible for anyone to really speculate from the outside.' Sohnlein said Cameron and others were wrong in calling OceanGate reckless. 'I was involved in the early phases of the overall development program, during our predecessor subs to Titan. 'And I know, from first hand experience, that we were extremely committed to safety, and risk mitigation was a key part of the company culture.' Yet Cameron has said there were several 'potential failure points' in the doomed Titan submersible - and a warning system probably alerted the five crew who perished shortly before the vessel imploded. Cameron said the Titan had 'three potential failure points' and indicated that its 'Achilles heel' was the carbon fiber cylinder. He added that the hull was broken into 'very small pieces' after Titan imploded when the hull fractured because of the pressure. A warning system probably sounded an alert and the crew tried to ascend in the moment before the implosion, he added. The famous children's book illustrator Quentin Blake who collaborated on much-loved Roald Dahl books has said that 'if the sensitive had their way we wouldn't have the Twits'. Blake spoke this week just after the Roald Dahl museum and Story Centre, in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, put up an apology panel at its entrance declaring that the racism and antisemitism of the author were 'undeniable and indelible'. In the recent flurry of 'cancelled' pieces of work, Dahl's novels have been changed by publishers to be more 'woke'. Earlier this year publisher Puffin hired sensitivity readers to rewrite chunks of the author's text to make sure the books 'can continue to be enjoyed by all today', resulting in extensive changes across Dahl's work. Considerable edits were made to descriptions of the characters' physical appearances - the new editions no longer use the word 'fat', which has been cut from every book, and the Oompa Loompas are now gender neutral. The famous children's book illustrator Quentin Blake (pictured last year) who collaborated on much-loved Roald Dahl books has said that 'if the sensitive had their way we wouldn't have the Twits' In the recent flurry of 'cancelled' pieces of work, Dahl's (pictured in 1976) novels have been changed by publishers to be more 'woke' Blake, who illustrated the books, said he was shocked by this, adding: 'If the work is wrong, it's wrong. If it's crude and insensitive, we need to know that.' But he said that children laugh at 'rude descriptions' of characters such as Miss Trunchbull from Matilda or The Twits. 'That's what they like! If the sensitive had had their way, he'd never have written The Twits at all,' he told the Telegraph. The novel has seen small alterations such as Mrs Twit's 'fearful ugliness' chopped to 'ugliness'. Changes were made by Puffin and the Roald Dahl Story Company - bought by Netflix in 2021 for a reported 500 million. But the review began in 2020 when the company was still run by the Dahl family who, the same year, apologised for the author's anti-semitic statements. Dahl, a fighter pilot during the Second World War, is one of the best-selling children's authors in history with more than 250 million books sold. According to The Telegraph, Matthew Dennison, Dahl's biographer said the author carefully chose his vocabulary, he said: 'I'm almost certain that he would have recognised that alterations to his novels prompted by the political climate were driven by adults rather than children.' Problems with the content of Dahl's children's book were heightened in 2020 when a Hollywood version of The Witches received backlash after the Grand Witch, played by Anne Hathaway, had a finger missing from each hand. The novel has seen small alterations such as Mrs Twit's 'fearful ugliness' chopped to 'ugliness' Paralympians and charities said it was offensive to the limb-difference community and Warner Bros was forced to issue an apology. In the latest edition of The Witches, 59 changes have been made to avoid offence, such as the phrases 'You must be mad, woman!' and 'great flock of ladies' being changed to 'You must be out of your mind!' and 'great group of ladies'. It comes as Rishi Sunak hit out at attempts to alter Dahl's books, with the Prime Minister quoting the author's BFG character to warn you shouldn't 'gobblefunk' with words. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said it was 'important' literary works were 'preserved and not airbrushed', citing the 'right of free speech and expression'. The spokesman said: 'When it comes to our rich and varied literary heritage, the Prime Minister agrees with the BFG that we shouldn't gobblefunk around with words. 'I think it's important that works of literature and works of fiction are preserved and not airbrushed. We have always defended the right to free speech and expression.' The Prime Minister had concerns about rewriting the books - and quoted Dahl's BFG in a warning not to 'gobblefunk' with words. Pictured: BFG film poster Rishi Sunak poses with his daughter on the red carpet at the world premiere of the Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical film last year Hundreds of changes have been made to Dahl's books, with some passages not written by the author being added Acclaimed writer Sir Salman Rushdie has also branded the moves as 'absurd censorship'. It was previously revealed that following the use of sensitivity readers, the publishers had decided to cut words such as 'crazy' and 'mad' from the books. References to the colours 'black' and 'white' are also said to have been removed, with the BFG not able to wear a black cloak and the description 'turning white with fear' axed. This comes as children's authors have given their opinion on the controversy. His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman said Dahl's books 'should be allowed to fade away' rather than changed if they were regarded as offensive. 'If Dahl offends us, let him go out of print,' Pullman told Radio 4's Today programme. 'Read all these [other] wonderful authors who are writing today, who don't get as much of a look-in because of the massive commercial gravity of people like Roald Dahl.' Best-selling author Philip Pullman (pictured in 2019) has said that publishers must stop censoring Roald Dahl's classic children's books and instead just let his work go 'out of print' Puffin Books, a division of Penguin Random House, has removed so-called colourful language from books like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Matilda to make them 'more acceptable' to modern readers (file photo) Unlike the literary experts calling the censorship 'absurd,' Sir Philip argued that changing Mr Dahl's texts will not cause lasting damage to the industry. Pictured: Roald Dahl in 1988 He pointed out that there were probably millions of second-hand editions of Dahl's books in school libraries, classrooms and charity shops, saying 'are you going to round up all the books and cross them out with a big black pen?'. Appearing on Nicky Campbell's Radio 5 Live talk show, John Dougherty, award-winning author of around 30 children's books, said the alterations made to Dahl's books sounded like 'overreach'. He said there was no reason the BFG should not have black cloak, saying this 'seems absurd'. How the stories changed CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 2001 - Mrs Salt was a great fat creature with short legs, and she was blowing like a rhinoceros 2022 - Mrs Salt was so out of breath, she was blowing like a rhinoceros THE TWITS 2001 - Mrs Twit may have been ugly and she may have been beastly, but she was not stupid 2022 - Mrs Twit may have been beastly, but she was not stupid. MATILDA 2001 - Get your mother or father 2022 - Get your family THE BFG 2001 - 'BFG,' she said, 'would you please tell these rather dim-witted characters exactly what to do.' 2022 - 'BFG,' she said, 'would you please tell them exactly what to do'. THE ENORMOUS CROCODILE 2001 - We eat little boys and girls 2022 - We eat little children ESIO TROT 2001 - 'I beg you to tell me Mr Hoppy! I'll be your slave for life.' 2022 - 'I beg you to tell me Mr Hoppy! You'll be my hero for life.' FANTASTIC MR FOX 2001 - Bunce, the little pot-bellied dwarf, looked up at Bean 2022 - Bunce looked up at Bean JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH 2001 - They were like a couple of hunters who had just shot an elephant 2022 - They were like a couple of hunters who had just shot their prey Advertisement Hundreds of changes were made to the original text, extinguishing Dahl's colourful and memorable descriptions, some over fifty years old, to make his characters less grotesque. Mrs Twit's 'fearful ugliness' has been chopped to 'ugliness' and Mrs Hoppy in Esio Trot is not an 'attractive middle-aged lady' but a 'kind middle-aged lady'. Gender is also eliminated, with books no longer referring to 'female' characters. Miss Trunchbull in Matilda, once a 'most formidable female', is now a 'most formidable woman', while her 'great horsey face' is now called 'her face'. Oompa-Loompas, who were once 'small men', are now 'small people' and Fantastic Mr Fox's three sons have become daughters. Passages not written by the late author, who died in 1990, have also been added by the publisher to complete their new editions. In The Witches, a paragraph describing them as bald under their wigs is followed shortly by a new line: 'There are plenty of other reasons why women might wear wigs and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.' A witch posing as a 'cashier in a supermarket' now works as a 'top scientist' and Matilda reads Jane Austen instead of Rudyard Kipling. Mental health was another focal point for sensitivity readers with the words 'crazy' and 'mad', which Dahl used in a comic fashion, removed from his books. The word 'black' was removed from the description of the terrible tractors in 1970s The Fabulous Mr. Fox. The machines are now simply 'murderous, brutal-looking monsters'. The Roald Dahl Story Company, which controls the rights to the books, previously said it worked with Puffin to review the texts because it wanted to ensure that Dahl's 'wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today'. The language was reviewed in partnership with Inclusive Minds, a collective which is working to make children's literature more inclusive and accessible. Any changes were 'small and carefully considered,' the company said. The firm claimed the analysis started in 2020, before Netflix bought the Roald Dahl Story Company and embarked on plans to produce a new generation of films based on the author's books. A spokesman for the organisation added: 'We want to ensure that Roald Dahl's wonderful stories and characters continue to be enjoyed by all children today. 'When publishing new print runs of books written years ago, it's not unusual to review the language used alongside updating other details including a book's cover and page layout. 'Our guiding principle throughout has been to maintain the storylines, characters, and the irreverence and sharp-edged spirit of the original text. Any changes made have been small and carefully considered.' They added: 'As part of our process to review the language used we worked in partnership with Inclusive Minds, a collective for people who are passionate about inclusion and accessibility in children's literature. 'The current review began in 2020, before Dahl was acquired by Netflix. It was led by Puffin and Roald Dahl Story Company together.' Ronan McDonald at The Guardian: Grotesque. Unbelievable. Bizarre. Unprecedented. The then Irish prime minister Charles Haughey famously used these four words at a press conference in the summer of 1982, when a double murderer, the subject of a high profile nationwide search, was found to be staying as a guest in the seaside penthouse of the attorney general, Patrick Connolly. The most wanted criminal in Ireland was occasionally chauffeured around in the state car provided to the Irish governments chief legal adviser, complete with a garda driver. It was Conor Cruise OBrien who shortened this into the acronym that was to define an era: Gubu. The ensuing scandal cost Connolly his job and contributed to the fall of the Haughey government later that year. Picking up Mark OConnells remarkable new book about these murders, I was half expecting social analysis, and perhaps some theoretical reflections on 1980s Ireland, such as Fintan OToole offers when dissecting the case in his recent autobiographical social history, We Dont Know Ourselves. more here. Support for the Indigenous Voice to Parliament is slipping and the government could be headed for an embarrassing referendum defeat, a new poll has revealed. Two Resolve Political Monitor surveys recently conducted for The Sydney Morning Herald showed only 48 per cent of voters across Australia would vote for the Voice while 52 per cent said they would vote against it. A referendum held between October and December this year - the date is yet to be announced - will ask Australians to vote 'Yes' or 'No' on whether to enshrine an Indigenous advisory body to Parliament in the Constitution. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference announcing the referendum in June Going state-by-state, the survey data shows support in NSW has slipped from 53 per cent supporting the Voice to Parliament in May-June this year to 49 per cent in June-July, moving it from the Yes to No camps. Over the same period In Victoria, which had the strongest support for the advisory body, the numbers have also dropped from 56 per cent saying they would vote Yes to 52 per cent. According to the survey, most of the remaining states are also in the No camp with Queensland at 42 per cent supporting the Voice and South Australia and Western Australia at 49 per cent. Currently Tasmania appears to lead the Yes camp with 54 per cent of respondents saying they would vote in favour of the amendment to the Constitution. For the referendum to pass it must be supported by a majority of the national vote and also a majority of voters in a majority of states. Former Alice Springs Mayor turned federal politician Jacinta Price is part of the Vote No campaign For the referendum to pass it has to get a majority of yes votes not only nationally but in each state in a majority of states Resolve director Jim Reed said the survey showed it was close but the Yes Campaign appears to be the underdog. 'The referendum requires that the Yes vote wins in a majority of states too, and that goal is looking like a more distant prospect,' he said. 'NSW is now the fourth state to be voting No, and Victoria and Tasmania are trending in the same direction. The current position, combined with the unwavering trend, certainly makes a No result the most likely outcome at this stage,' he said. Mr Reed said a simpler phrasing of the Constitutional amendment along with a draft bill of the legislation would have made it easier to gain support and tougher for the No camp to criticise an absence of detail. Resolve Political Survey on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament A proposed law: To alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. While you may not be currently decided, it is compulsory that you vote yes or no. Even if it's a leaning, do you approve this proposal alteration? Queensland: 42 per cent yes, 58 per cent no NSW: 49 per cent yes, 51 per cent no Western Australia: 49 per cent yes, 51 per cent no South Australia: 49 per cent yes, 51 per cent no Victoria: 52 per cent yes, 48 per cent no Tasmania: 54 per cent yes, 46 per cent no National: 48 per cent yes, 52 per cent no The state figures are based on 3216 voters from two surveys in June and July. The national figure is from 1610 voters conducted July 12 to 15. Advertisement The Yes and No camps in the Voice referendum have unveiled their pitches to the people of Australia ahead of the divisive vote later this year, but key details still remain unclear. Both sides have revealed their campaign pamphlets published by the Australian Electoral Commission on Tuesday which will be posted to homes across the country. Indigenous Senator Lidia Thorpe is the face of the Blak Sovereign Movement which argues the concept of the Voice to Parliament is tokenistic and instead wants a Treaty with Indigenous people. Senator Thorpe this week said the vote no pamphlet was misleading and 'emboldened racists'. But she also slammed the Yes campaign saying it was a 'smokescreen to cover up the continued violent process of colonisation' 'They provide no historical evidence that an advisory body would have an impact, fail to recognise that there have been many ineffective advisory bodies in the past, and present a model of the advisory body that has not been debated or agreed to by First Nations people,' she said in a statement. Senator Lidia Thorpe has slammed both the yes and no campaigns, she is part of the Blak Sovereign Movement which wants a Treaty Reasons to vote No 1. This Voice is legally risky 2. There are no details 3. It divides us 4. It won't help Indigenous Australians 5. No issue is beyond its scope 6. It risks delays and dysfunction 7. It opens the door for activists 8. It will be costly and bureaucratic 9. This Voice will be permanent 10. There are better ways forward Read the full No pamphlet here. Advertisement The boss of MI5 has warned British students they are 'magnetic targets for espionage and manipulation' by hostile foreign states. Ken McCallum urged students to be vigilant to avoid sharing secrets to China, Russia and Iran - as hostile actors are stealing British research with 'dispiriting regularity'. 'Hostile actors working for other states make it their business to take your hard work and use it for their gain,' the MI5 director general said. He added: 'We see this happening with dispiriting regularity. Precisely because our great universities are so great and rightly prize openness, they are magnetic targets for espionage and manipulation.' Mr McCallum also compared the global scientific race to the Cold War and called on students studying courses which involve technology such as AI to be cautious. MI5 boss Ken McCallum (pictured) urged students to be vigilant to avoid sharing secrets to China, Russia and Iran as hostile actors were stealing British research with 'dispiriting regularity' He said that it was not a question of xenophobia but rather to stop the likes of Russia, Iran and China from gaining an advantage amid their hostile acts on Ukraine, their own people and Taiwan respectively, The Times reports. The MI5 boss, who earlier this year said he was 'profoundly sorry' that the security service did not prevent the Manchester Arena attack, pleaded with students as he delivered the annual Bowman Lecture at the University of Glasgow. Mr McCallum, who graduated from the Scottish university with a degree in mathematics in 1996, gave the talk to students, staff and alumni last month. He told students in Glasgow: 'Today's contest for scientific and technological advantage is not a rerun of what we had in the Cold War but it is every bit as far-reaching. 'Systemic competition means just that. If your field of research is relevant to advanced materials or quantum computing or AI or biotech, to name but a few, your work will be of interest to people employed by states who do not share our values.' He has previously warned that spies from hostile foreign states are targeting MPs, military officials, think tanks and academics but he had not previously been so adamant that students were also at risk. Mr McCallum was speaking before parliament's intelligence watchdog revealed Chinese spies are targeting the UK 'prolifically and aggressively'. It raised concerns about Chinese influence in UK universities and the country's intention to become a 'permanent and significant player' in the civil nuclear energy industry. The MI5 boss pleaded with students as he delivered the annual Bowman Lecture at the University of Glasgow (pictured) Mr McCallum was speaking before parliament's intelligence watchdog revealed Chinese spies are targeting the UK 'prolifically and aggressively'. Pictured: The MI5 HQ in London The Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) was also critical of the UK Government's response, questioning the trade-off between economic interest and security concerns. The 207-page report, published last month said the UK is of 'significant interest to China when it comes to espionage and interference', placing the country 'just below China's top priority targets'. Mr McCallum also gave students tips on how to avoid being manipulated, warning them to avoid fancy conference invites, proposals to collaborate and 'donations with strings'. 'These aren't hypotheticals,' he said. 'They're things MI5 sees in investigations week by week, and they happen in universities just like Glasgow. Whether we like it or not, universities are participants in the global contest I'm describing and need to make conscious choices about the role they're going to play.' Universities will be offered expert training from the National Protective Security Authority, which is part of MI5, to help them stay alert. The risk of prostate cancer could be reduced by 7 per cent by living close to parks, fields and the countryside, a study has revealed. The impacts on psychological wellbeing of exercising in green spaces are well documented, but the latest research is unusual in finding a reduction in the likelihood of cancer. Experts suggest living near green spaces has been shown to decrease depression, a risk factor for prostate cancer. Likewise, it also makes it more likely for people to carry out physical exercise or do it more vigorously which could also reduce the risk. The risk of prostate cancer could be reduced by 7 per cent by living close to parks, fields and the countryside, a study has revealed The findings, cautiously welcomed by cancer charities, were only found in prostate cancer. Other cancers, including breast, skin and lung, showed no link. Scientists analysed data from the UK Biobank study of 401,189 people aged 37 to 73 who were free of cancer. Their health was then tracked over 12-and-a-half-years up until 2021. Almost one in ten 43,273 developed one of 25 types of cancer, of which 7,928 were prostate cancer. But higher exposure to green space was found to reduce the likelihood of prostate disease. A previous Canadian study found men living near green spaces had a 16 per cent lower risk of prostate cancer. The Daily Mail is pushing for improvement in the treatment and diagnosis of prostate cancer with its End The Needless Prostate Deaths campaign. Writing in Science of the Total Environment, the study team, led by Tianjin Medical University in China, said: Our findings are potentially of great significance to support the improvement of urban planning towards building a healthy living environment to promote population health. Hayley Luxton at Prostate Cancer UK said: Wed need to see much more evidence before we could say access to green spaces had any effect whatsoever on a mans likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Cancer Research UKs website advises that men with prostate cancer who do a small amount of exercise every week live longer than those who do nothing. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has confirmed his plans to become a republic and admits the country wanted to ditch the monarchy after the Queen died last year. Mr Holness, 50, still praised Prince William and Princess Kate, who he said were 'always welcome' to visit the Caribbean island. Speaking while on a trip to London, Mr Holness said he thought there has always been a 'strong love and respect' for the late Queen and the 'appropriate time to [separate] would have been on a transition'. 'The truth is the recent polls have shown there is a tendency towards Jamaica becoming a republic. So over time the position has evolved,' he told the Daily Express. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness (pictured) has confirmed his plans to become a republic and admits the country wanted to ditch the monarchy after the Queen died last year Mr Holness praised Prince William and Princess Kate, who he said were 'always welcome' to visit the Caribbean island. Pictured during a visit to Trench Town Culture Yard Museum where Bob Marley used to live Mr Holness said he thought there has always been a 'strong love and respect' for the late Queen and the 'appropriate time to [separate] would have been on a transition' The change in the country's constitution was hoped to have been completed by June this year but the government faced delays amid discussions over what position would represent the new head of state. 'We would have wanted to be able to do this within a year but the process is not a linear one. So we are on the journey of public education.' He explained then a legislation must be passed in Parliament before a referendum is sat. It is not yet confirmed when Jamaica will become a republic. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the country in March last year and William was both praised and criticised for speaking out against Britain's historic role in the slave trade. But despite his condemnation of the 'abhorrent' trade in humans, abolished after 200 years by Britain in 1807, some Jamaicans do not believe he went far enough. The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness presents the Duke of Cambridge with a bottle of Appleton Estate Ruby during a meeting at his office in Kingston, where the PM almost immediately raised his wish to make Jamaica a republic The second in line to the throne told a dinner in Kingston: 'I strongly agree with my father, The Prince of Wales, who said in Barbados last year that the appalling atrocity of slavery forever stains our history. I want to express my profound sorrow. Slavery was abhorrent. And it should never have happened. ' The Jamaican government and their supporters are said to be 'incredibly disappointed' the Duke of Cambridge did not say 'the word sorry', an insider on the Queen's fourth largest realm has claimed. Omar Ryan, Centre for Reparation Research at the University of West Indies, also said William should have gone further in the speech: 'That is a statement of regret - but he is not admitting their role in the enslavement of African and Caribbean people'. Mr Holness campaigned on the promise of making Jamaica a republic ahead of his 2016 PM win and 2020 re-election. Last year he suggested African and Caribbean nations should unite to 'demand reparations from colonial powers for the damage caused to our people'. At 49, he is the country's youngest leader to date and vowed to turn Jamaica from a constitutional monarchy into a Republic during his 2020 election campaign. He said his government would introduce a bill to replace the Queen with 'a non-executive president as head of state.' A timeline for a referendum, required by law to make the change, has not yet been given. But a minister close to him hinted a vote and then separation from the British throne could be completed by the end of 2024. A former Russian separatist commander who shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 has finally been imprisoned - but only because he criticised President Vladimir Putin. Igor Girkin, better known by his nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, is a staunch supporter of the invasion of Ukraine but he said this week that Putin should stand down before the presidential elections in March. 'The country won't survive another six years with this talentless coward in power,' the pro-war blogger wrote. Girkin and three others were found guilty of shooting down Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board. He was sentenced to life in prison at a court in the Hague last year without attending the trial. Russia, which denies any involvement in the downing of the plane, had refused to extradite Girkin. Igor Girkin (C), better known by his nom de guerre Igor Strelkov, has been charged with inciting extremist activity Girkin said this week that Putin (pictured) should stand down before the presidential elections in March. But almost 10 years after the nationalist was blamed for blowing the Boeing 777 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpar out of the sky, he appeared behind a glass cage in a Moscow courtroom on Friday on charges of 'public calls for extremism'. His wife, Mirslava Reginskaya, said that he was detained at their Moscow flat while she was out. In footage from court posted by the popular Telegram channel Shot, Girkin stood almost motionless behind the glass with his arms folded, staring straight ahead as he was detained for two months. The hardline response by Putin comes after the Russian despot survived an attempted coup from warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin and his private Wagner army last month. Although both have been critical of Russia's defence chiefs, Girkin accused Prigozhin of treason. He was detained after a Wagner mercenary informed police about his comments on Putin. Girkin, who took part in the 2014 annexation of Crimea, has regularly criticised the conduct of the Ukraine invasion on the messaging app Telegram, where he is followed by around 875,000 people. He had been regarded by many as untouchable due to his history and ties to the authorities, but had become more outspoken in recent months. By opening a case against him, observers said authorities were sending a signal that any criticism - even from supporters of the military operation in Ukraine - are off-limits in the aftermath of the Wagner mercenary group's short-lived rebellion. Girkin (pictured in 2014) was one of the key figures in the pro-Kremlin insurgency when fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014 A Moscow court ordered Girkin to be placed in detention pending a trial on charges of inciting extremist activity that could land him in prison for five years. 'Justice in our country, once again, has not triumphed' his lawyer Alexander Molokhov told reporters outside the Meshchansky Court in Moscow. Molokhov said the defence would appeal the court's decision and explained the case against his client was based on two social media posts in which Girkin discussed Russian-annexed Crimea and army supplies. Girkin's arrest appears to be the beginning of a crackdown from Moscow against ultra-nationalists who have been allowed to be critical of Russia's defence chiefs. On Tuesday, retired colonel Vladimir Kvachkov was charged with discrediting the army after accusing Putin of sending Russian troops to their deaths in Ukraine and replacing them with Muslim migrants from central Asia. Girkin and three others were found guilty of shooting down Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 on board. Pictured: People walk amongst the debris of the crash site Several dozen supporters of Girkin gathered around the court on Friday, with at least one detained. 'The repressive machine has gone into full gear, this is an excuse to knock him out from public work,' said Pavel Gubarev, head of the 'Club of Angry Patriots' that Girkin co-founded - and that Kvachkov is also a member of. Shortly before being detained, Gubarev said Girkin's supporters would fight using all legal means. 'Igor Ivanovich Strelkov isn't just not an extremist: he is a patriot who has gone through five wars in the interests of Russia.' A former FSB colonel, Girkin was one of the key figures in the pro-Kremlin insurgency when fighting broke out in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Girkin ruled the then-rebel stronghold of Sloviansk with an iron fist, with executions for petty theft reportedly carried out under his rule. Girkin's detention comes around a month after the attempted mutiny Wagner, from which the Kremlin emerged visibly weakened But he was squeezed out of the separatist leadership later that year under mysterious circumstances and returned to Russia, where he lost all influence, until the offensive began. Girkin came back to the spotlight after the beginning of the offensive, becoming one of the most vocal critics of Putin and of the way in which Russia's offensive in Ukraine has been conducted. In response to Girkin urging Putin to hand over power to a successor, independent political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya said Girkin had 'long crossed all possible red lines'. But his detention comes around a month after the attempted mutiny Wagner, from which the Kremlin emerged visibly weakened. Prigozhin was the most strident voice for those inside Russia criticising failures in Russia's campaign and the strategies used by Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Valery Gerasimov. The Kremlin crackdown comes after Yevgeny Prigozhin (pictured) and his Wagner army failed in an attempted coup Girkin denounced Prigozhin's mutiny but kept on criticising the incompetence of Russia's conventional military commanders. The case against Girkin 'is one of the consequences of Prigozhin's rebellion: the army received more political opportunities to suppress its opponents in the public space,' Stanovaya said. She did not expect mass arrests but said: 'The most radical ones may be prosecuted, so that the rest will be more careful.' Criticism of Russia's assault on Ukraine has been outlawed and all key liberal opposition figures are either behind bars or in exile. 'The authorities decided that uncontrolled ultra-patriots are no less dangerous than the extra-systemic liberal opposition,' said political analyst Ilya Gerashchenkov. Five carers at a home for patients with neurological conditions have gone on trial accused of neglecting residents. A court was told one of the carers was seen pushing a vulnerable man in a wheelchair into a door two weeks before his death. Luke Inman, a former maintenance worker at the Campsie Neurological Care Centre, told Glasgow Sheriff Court he saw Catherine Haughey push wheelchair user Edward McBride from behind. Asked what he had seen, Mr Inman, 50, said: Mr McBride was facing me, Catherine came down the corridor his back was to her. She took hold of the handles and fired him away. Asked how he felt about the incident, the witness replied: I was gobsmacked. I stared at her open mouthed. I couldnt believe what I was seeing... she gestured to me kind of like What? and walked away. A court was told one of the carers was seen pushing a vulnerable man in a wheelchair into a door two weeks before his death at the Campsie Neurological Care Centre He told the court he tried to report staff a number of times for other alleged incidents at the home, but was told by his manager to stay in my lane and mind my own business. The court heard that Mr McBride died two weeks later. Haughey, 59, of Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, is accused of ill-treating or wilfully neglecting Mr McBride at the specialist care home in Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire. Nigora Hamatova, 38, of Shotts, Lanarkshire, faces a similar charge against a second resident, Edward Egan. Hamatova and Amelia Green, 58, also of Kilsyth, Lesley-Ann Gray, 58, of Bishopbriggs, near Glasgow, and Lynne ONeill, 39, of Carntyne, Glasgow, are all accused of neglecting a third man, Neil Henderson. The allegations took place between January 2018 and April 2020. They deny all of the charges. Ricardo Matteo, defending Haughey, asked Mr Inman if he liked her and he replied: No. When asked why, he replied: She was part of a bullying campaign in there. Mr Inman said: If you were not in their clique, if you were not under their control, you were an outsider and they made life difficult for you. He said he did not regard ONeill as part of the clique. The trial, before Sheriff Kevin McCarron, continues in October. Deputy prime minister Richard Marles has insisted there is no need for alarm after a Chinese spy ship was seen in waters off the coast of Australia. The lurking vessel was seen entering the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland this week but was 'acting in accordance with international law,' Mr Marles said. The massive ship which is fully equipped with advanced technology is believed to be sitting 30,000kms off the coast as Australia began its Talisman Sabre military exercises in Sydney on Friday. The exercises involve 30,000 troops from 13 nations in the country's single largest training spectacle which will continue over the next two weeks. Mr Marles told Weekend Today he took solace in the fact there's always been a Chinese ship watching ever since the training first started in 2013. There's no need for alarm after a Chinese spy ship (pictured) was seen in the waters near a military exercise, according to the Deputy Prime Minister Deputy PM Richard Marles said that the lurking vessel is 'acting in accordance with international law' as it was seen entering the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland The mission comes first and the country should be focused on the training itself, according to Mr Marles. 'They are acting in accordance with international law and so this is to be completely expected,' Mr Marles said on Saturday. 'For us, it is really about our capability and our capacity and it is very much about our ability to work with other countries, our friends and allies, and particularly the United States.' The spy ship was first spotted by the Australian military on Friday, who announced to the public that they had confirmed its location and country of origin. Senior officers involved with the training also confirmed that the sight of the ship was not noteworthy and routine, according to the ADF's chief of Joint Operations, Lt. Gen Greg Bilton. 'No, look, they've come before and look, I'll tell you now, there's one off the east coast of Australia at the moment,' Lt. Gen Bilton said during the opening ceremony of Talisman Sabre. 'We reached out on Thursday and hailed that vessel in the Coral Sea. It'll move down, I expect, and join the exercise or be in the location of the exercise again. 'They've done this for a number of years, we're well prepared for it.' Lt. Gen Bilton did not reveal the Chinese ship's name or class during his speech. The Deputy prime minister stressed that the exercises were not a simulation of war against China or any other nation, but rather an operation in cooperation between allies. 'You don't have a capable Defence Force unless you are match-fit and you are not match-fit unless you train,' Mr Marles said. 'It is the most important exercise that we do, in terms of certifying all the capabilities and skills that exist within the Australian Defence Force.' The massive foreign ship which is fully equipped with advanced technology is believed to be sitting 30,000kms off the coast as Australia began its Talisman Sabre military exercises The exercises involve 30,000 troops from 13 nations in the country's single largest training spectacle which will continue over the next two weeks Mr Marles said he also wasn't worried about the AUKUS nuclear powered submarine deal falling through as it works its way through the US Senate. 'I have been briefed by exactly what is occurring in the Congress,' he said in the WT interview. 'I think this is pretty well business as usual, in terms of the way in which legislation proceeds through the Congress.' The USS Canberra was the first American naval ship commissioned outside the country for the Talisman Sabre, which was launched on Saturday. Australia is joined in the exercises by Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Philippines, Singapore and Thailand also have personele in the country who are attending as observers. Police have scaled back the search for a missing father-of-three and admitted there was no hope of finding him alive after he was lost in a boating accident that claimed the life of his art dealer friend. IT entrepreneur Andrew Findlay, 51, is still unaccounted for after the body of Tim Klingender, 59, was found in the water at Watsons Bay, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Thursday. Police have now revealed neither was wearing lifejackets when their 7.8m inflatable was smashed by 5m waves off Bondi on Thursday, with debris from the boat found near The Gap. 'This was a violent accident, a tragic accident we believe could have been avoided,' said Marine Area Command Superintendent Joe McNulty 'Both of them were not wearing life jackets. That's a terrible message to share with you today.' Rescuers believe the boat struck a treacherous hidden underwater rock ledge as it was pounded by the huge surf. 'Those large swell have contributed to the loss of two good men,' said Supt McNulty.n'Know your abilities, know your environment and the conditions.' IT entrepreneur Andrew Findlay, 51, is still unaccounted for after his friend and fellow-sailor Tim Klingender, 50, was found dead in the waters on Thursday morning near Watsons Bay Mr Klingender's body was found was ashore on the rocks near a small vessel which had been overturned just after 10am on Thursday The search for Mr Findlay, a father of three young children, will be scaled back when it resumes on Sunday, with all hope gone for finding him alive. 'We're at the conclusion now, we are wrapping the search up,' the police chief added. 'The time-frame for survival for anyone in the water, taking into account the temperatures at the moment in July, have lapsed.' Supt McNulty said the operation had spanned more than 20km on Saturday, from South Head to Cape Solander near Botany Bay. Caves and cliff faces around the suburb have been searched with a PolAir helicopter seen hovering near the coast attempting to locate more of the boat and Mr Findlay. The four-tonne vessel the men were in is still lodged tight against the rocks under the cliffs at South Head, with police attempting to recover evidence from it. He said the men were trolling, a fishing method that involves trailing fishing lines behind a vessel. He said they were too close to the cliffs for the conditions. The tech entrepreneur was known to be a keen angler according to close friends who are anxiously waiting for news on his whereabouts. 'It's just horrendous for everyone,' one of Findlay's friends told the Sydney Morning Herald. Mr Findlay had a love for the water with an old photo resurfacing showing him and his three children canoeing in the Sydney Harbour. Mr Findlay's partner Lakshmi Pillai declined to comment on the matter when approached by reporters. Police were seen abseiling down a cliff at The Gap on Friday when they discovered more pieces of the destroyed boat. Friends and family of Ms Pillai also gathered in the area in support of their friend. Marine police were contacted at around 10:20am on Thursday by members of the public who had noticed pieces of debris floating in the area. Soon after Mr Klingender's naked body, which only had socks on his feet, was found swept up on the rocks near a small vessel which had been overturned. By Friday three marine boats had joined in the efforts to search the area at 8am, as well as a volunteer group from Botany Port Hacking. Crews have been conducting parallel line searches from The Gap to Wedding Cake Island, just off Coogee, according to NSW Inspector Steve Raymond. 'Sea conditions around the search area are fair; there is a bit of a swell but visibility is fairly good for the Marine Rescue NSW search crews,' Raymond told SMH. The police search of the area was suspended at 5pm on Friday and recommenced as light broke early Saturday Mr Klingender's death has been met by shockwaves in the art community, who regarded him an international leader in Australian Indigenous art Mr Klingender's death has been met by shockwaves in the art community, who regarded him an international leader in Australian Indigenous art. 'He leaves behind a huge vacuum for Indigenous art in this country and around the world ... he truly was the architect of the market we have today,' associate and Melbourne gallerist D'Lan Davidson told the Daily Telegraph. His wife, Skye McCardle, will now be the primary carer of the couple's two teenage children. Ms McCardle was in Nepal when news broke about her husband's passing, before immediately arriving back in Sydney on Friday. Mr Klingender spent 20 years working for Sotheby's, where he became an international director between 1998 and 2009. While there he established a contemporary art department for Sotheby's, Australia, in 1994, before founding an Aboriginal art department in 1996. After leaving the organisation, Mr Klingender launched Tim Klingender Fine Art in 2009, which carried the strong ethical standard he was known for within the industry. Police are now trying to understand what caused the boat to become a wreckage, and whether it was due to a mechanical fault or whether it was beaten by the elements. An IRS whistleblower has called for an independent attorney to be brought in to bring criminal charges against Hunter Biden for 'willfully' tax evading. Joseph Ziegler was known as 'Mr X' until he testified publicly before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday alongside his boss, Gary Shapley. Ziegler and Shapley were part of the team investigating Biden's tax affairs, and felt the First Song was not prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Ziegler told Fox News host Martha MacCallum he was deeply 'frustrated' by the subversion of existing rules, and he said there should have been criminal charges. Biden has been charged civilly, but not criminally, and a plea deal agreed. Ziegler said it was the wrong decision. Joseph Ziegler spoke to Fox New host Martha MacCallum on Friday night about the Hunter Biden tax case 'When you work a criminal case, there's a thing called willfulness: whether someone intentionally with knowledge either evaded their income taxes or filed a false return,' Ziegler said. 'And that's what one thing that sets us apart from a civil case. And in this case, we provided a ton of evidence that showed willfulness. 'The ultimate reason I went public is that there were a lot of things I thought were improper - not following proper procedures,' he said. 'And I thought it was my duty to come forward. 'When we were invited to come and testify in front of the congressional committee, I didn't want to leave my supervisor, Gary, there alone. And I thought it was important that for my credibility, that people hear it straight from me.' Ziegler, who has worked for the IRS since 2010 after a career as an external auditor with Ernst & Young, said he felt it important to speak out despite he and his husband being targeted online for abuse, and despite his self-professed 'middle of the road Democrat' leanings. 'At the end of the day, the reason why I came forward, and the reason I'm putting this information out there: we have to treat taxpayers the same. It's all about following the evidence and making sure that justice is served,' he said. Hunter Biden is seen with his father Joe on June 25 Ziegler is pictured on Wednesday testifying before the House Oversight Committee Ziegler said he realized there was an issue when they learnt of a storage unit belonging to Hunter Biden - and that information was passed on to Hunter Biden's legal team, before they could investigate. 'Our first really big disagreement would have been related to the storage unit - the search warrant related to the storage unit,' he said. 'When I found out that she told defense counsel that we knew about the storage unit, and the records request included that, I just knew that we weren't - it was kind of a shot to the gut. 'And we didn't have a seat at the table. 'And it was really kind of a defining moment for me, that said that things aren't following the proper procedure that we would normally follow.' Ziegler said that he felt there was no chance of a fair charging decision until there were independent people appointed to oversee the case, in Washington DC. 'If there are other charges that are viewed outside the District of Delaware. David Weiss is going to run into the same problem again and again,' he said, referring to the U.S. attorney for Delaware, who Ziegler said was blocked from pursuing charges. Weiss has denied that he was restricted, but Shapley and Ziegler said he was. 'And that's why we need to have an independent attorney assigned who has authority, who can go in there, bring the proper charges, so that there can be some faith restored in our justice system,' Ziegler said. A Melbourne man has been charged over his alleged role as a 'money mule' in a cyber scam, with federal police alleging he laundered more than $176,000 scammed from an Australian business. It is alleged that between June 2021 and May 2022, the 23-year-old man received $176,192 in suspected criminal proceeds of business email compromise (BEC) scams. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege one of the scams involved an Australian construction company which lost $17,000 after receiving a fraudulent email. A Melbourne man has been charged over his alleged role as a 'money mule' in a cyber scam, with federal police alleging he laundered more than $176,000 scammed from an Australian business It is further alleged the company received a correspondence from a supposed furniture supplier, claiming their bank details had changed. The company subsequently paid money to a bank account that was later found to be in the 23-year-old's name. An AFP spokesman said the man allegedly dispersed such fraudulently acquired funds across a number of bank accounts before transferring the money to another individual. It will be alleged that the man acted as a 'money mule', helping move the money through business email compromise (BEC) frauds and other cyber crimes. The AFP searched the man's Footscray home in November last year, allegedly seizing illicit drugs and electronic devices. This subsequently led to the man's arrest on July 13. The AFP searched the man's Footscray home in November last year, allegedly seizing illicit drugs and electronic devices AFP Senior Constable Khali Sherer said Australians reported losses of more than $98m to BEC attacks, losing on average $64,000 per incident. 'If you think an email is suspicious, make further enquiries,' he said. 'Call and check directly with the business or organisation you are dealing with. It is reasonable to ask questions to protect yourself or your company.' The 23-year-old Footscray man has been charged with one count of dealing with the proceeds of crime, money or property worth $100,00 or more, one count of possessing cocaine and one count of possessing cannabis. He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 13 and will next appear on October 5. Sehar Iqbal in Phenomenal World: On August 5, 2019, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah presented the draft of the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Reorganization Bill in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indias parliament. The bill threatened to permanently alter the legal, political, and economic status of the state, sparking widespread outrage in the region and across the world. As Yamini Aiyar of the Hindustan Times commented: The undemocratic manner in which the J&K reorganization bill was passed in Parliament, the silencing of voices of those affected by these actions, and the unprecedented move to convert a recognised state into a Union Territory (UT) mark a rupture in Indias federal trajectory. India is now firmly on the path to centralisation of power and may well be inching toward transforming into a unitary rather than federal state. The bill proposed revoking the states constitutional autonomy, downgrading it to an Indian Union territory directly administered by the Indian government, and opening its international legal status to dispute. Most importantly, it abrogated Article 370 of the Indian Constitution, which in 1949 gave Jammu and Kashmir special status, including measures of autonomy from the Indian union government and the ability to grant special employment and land ownership privileges to permanent residents. The right-wing ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) used its majority to force through the bill in both houses of Parliament. On August 6, a day following the bills presentation, Article 370 was repealed by Presidential order. The move was widely considered illegal by constitutional experts and the Indian Supreme Court and lacked support from J&Ks elected state governmenta coalition led by the local Peoples Democratic Partywhich itself was dismissed by Presidential decree in June 2019. Preempting resistance in what has been the site of continuous armed insurgency against Indian rule since 1988, Shah added 35,000 armed forces to the existing 308,000 stationed in J&K. More here. A patient of Dr Charlie Teo has spoken up in defence of the embattled neurosurgeon after he was found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct. Kellie-Anne Goodwin met Dr Teo aged 21 when the brain cancer she had been battling since she was nine returned and other doctors told her it was inoperable. Now in her late 30's, Ms Goodwin is confined to a wheelchair but told The Saturday Telegraph she is extraordinarily grateful for the life Dr Teo has given her and would always 'have his back'. She currently relies on the help of support workers to eat, take her medication, get out of bed, shower and manage her catheter. Ms Goodwin's comments follow attacks on Dr Teo in the wake of findings from the Health Care Complaints Commission (HCCC) that he failed to properly inform two of his patients of the risks involved with 'experimental' operations that they failed to recover from. 'No one understands that Dr Teo has a huge vegetable patch scattered throughout many hospitals in Australia,' one anonymous intensive care doctor told The Sydney Morning Herald. The doctor claimed there were patients of Dr Teo's who 'should have died from their disease' but instead remain in vegetative states. Former patient Kellie-Anne Goodwin has voiced her support for embattled brain surgeon Dr Charlie Teo Dr Teo was reprimanded by the HCCC for unsatisfactory professional conduct over two patients who suffered catastrophic results from his operations (pictured with Traci Griffiths) Restrictions imposed by the HCCC, including that he get permission from surgeon colleagues before operating, have forced Dr Teo to admit his career in Australia is over and he will have to operate overseas. The surgeon's fans intend to walk across Sydney Harbour Bridge on September 17 in protest to show their support. 'Many have asked what you can do to show your support Well, I would be honoured if you would join me in solidarity on the Sydney Harbour Bridge,' Dr Teo wrote to supporters a week ago. Ms Goodwin will be among them. In a video message this week the Grafton local thanked Dr Teo for saving her life and said she would 'see you in Sydney'. Her mother Kathryn Fordham told the newspaper Kellie-Anne had 'basically come back as a baby' following her first operations as a child and needed help to relearn how to walk, talk and look after herself. But she fought through and graduated high school only for the cancer to reemerge in her early twenties when her oncologist told her there was nothing that could be done. The pair defiantly raised money with the help of the local community and travelled to Sydney to seek the neurosurgeon's help. She said Dr Teo explained the risks clearly to them including that Kellie-Anne could lose significant brain function. 'He told us: 'I can't guarantee I can do this, all I can do is try' and we walked out with some frigging hope,' Ms Fordham said. Kellie-Anne, who with the help of her support workers ran for Grafton's Jacaranda Queen last year, has not needed another brain operation. Pictures from her social media show her attending a 'wind up dance party' for the 2022 Jacaranda Festival, going on a helicopter tour and dining out at cafes. The pair are organising an interstate holiday but said they would put it off on short notice to show their support for Dr Teo in the protest. Ms Goodwin (pictured on a recent helicopter tour) said she is grateful for what Dr Teo did for her Her comments echo that of Queensland woman Aimee Kennedy who told 7News in October she felt her life was over until Dr Teo offered to help. Following two operations to remove a brain tumour as a teenager, it grew back and doubled in size leading her doctors to tell her to make the best of the time she had left. She sought Dr Teo's help as a 19-year-old and said she was thoroughly informed of the risks before undergoing surgery. 'I'm 36 years old now, I'm married, got two kids and I'm still living,' she said. Dr Teo said he would now look to China to perform surgery because they had 'committed' to him, and would also continue to perform occasional surgeries in Europe and parts of Southeast Asia. He said he was disappointed 'but not surprised' by conditions placed on his practice, but would 'never' accept he failed to gain proper consent or lacked empathy for his patients. Teo appeared before the Medical Professional Standards Committee in February over complaints that he decided to operate on two patients where the risk of surgery outweighed any potential benefits of the operation. It was also alleged that he did not obtain informed consent from the patients before the surgery, charged an inappropriate fee of $35,000 to one patient and spoke inappropriately to that patient's daughter after the surgery. In its decision the committee said it 'found these elements of the complaint proven'. A man has been charged over the alleged abduction and assault of a nine-year-old girl as she walked to school in a Perth suburb. Ryan Ashley Darken, 37, has been hit with four charges following the incident at Warnbro in the city's south including detained another with intent to prevent/hinder a person doing an act, deprivation of liberty and assault. A parent at the school allegedly noticed the girl getting into a silver ute about 8.45am on Friday before she was later found outside a nearby supermarket in distress, barefoot and with cable ties on her hands. A nine-year-old girl was found with her hands bound by zip-ties outside an IGA in Port Kennedy (above) on Friday after she allegedly got into a stranger's car WA Police surround a ute the arrested man was allegedly driving The parent who allegedly witnessed the girl getting into the ute was immediately suspicious and alerted the school, which sparked a major police operation when her whereabouts could not be accounted for. Darken is set to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday. Worker Alicia Janse Van Vuuren told The West Australian the girl was transferred from the small shopping centre in an ambulance. 'We saw her coming out of IGA and saw her being taken into the ambulance,' she said. 'We were shocked by it, she looked tiny. She was crying and distressed. 'I thought at first she had lost her mum but she didn't have any shoes on which I thought was concerning.' Another witness said they saw police collecting bags of evidence from the scene before leaving at about 5.40pm. Forensic officers were also seen at a bushland location understood to be connected to the alleged abduction. WA Police released footage of the dramatic moment officers arrested a man in his 30s driving what is alleged to be the car the child was taken in. Police have charged a 37-year-old man with four offences (pictured, the man's arrest) A worried parent spotted the young girl allegedly getting a silver car at about 8.45am on Friday while she was heading into school (pictured, the IGA where the girl was found) The man, wearing a high-visibility work uniform, leaned against a silver ute while officers announced over the radio they had a 'suspect in custody'. Acting Detective Inspector Scott Johnson from the sex crimes division commended the parent who first reported the alleged incident. 'That's probably one of the primary reasons that this resolved - a parent noticing that something wasn't right, seeing a child get into a car when they were almost at school and reporting it straight away - it's of utmost importance,' he said. 'It's one of those things that parents need to have that hard conversation with children about stranger danger and talking to anybody or going with anybody or doing anything online.' A Louisiana pastor has locked himself in a prayer room and has vowed to remain there until crime in Baton Rouge comes down. The capital city has been gripped by a crime wave that has dominated conversations in the state. Now Dwight Pate, 68, is taking action by attempting to draw people to the holy building to seek prayer and receive holy oil. Dwight Pate, 68, senior pastor of Church Point Ministries in North Baton Rouge has locked himself in a prayer room and has vowed to remain there until crime in Baton Rouge comes down When the pastor first acquired the building for the church in 1994 he locked himself in the prayer room for almost eight months 'It's impossible for someone to really be sincere by seeking God without drawing other men and women to pray,' the senior pastor of Church Point Ministries in North Baton Rouge told WLBT. 'The only place [the city's ills] can be solved is in the church. And the teaching and the loving of God's people. So I believe that prayer can change the hearts of the individuals that's creating all the violence,' he said. In the first quarter of 2023 there were more than 13,000 violent crimes reported by Baton Rouge police department. There were also 16 homicides in the first three months of the year, and property crime 11,046. The pastor is praying for a 'spirit of peace' to spread across Baton Rouge, in order to create 'a new standard of what I call righteousness and brotherly love.' 'There's gonna be such a move of God among people,' Pate said. 'There's gonna be such a move with some of the most violent people in this city. 'Instead of [people] out here killing and robbing and hurting people, [there will be people] bringing peace and joy and victory and forgiving and love' he added. Describing his experience of isolation in the room, Pate said in a video uploaded to Facebook: 'What it means to be in the prayer house is that I can just spend 24 hours a day talking to my Godjust being with my God and seeing the fruit of God touching your life.' This is not the first time Pate has staged such a protest. Baton Rouge has experienced high levels of crime since the start of 2023 In 2000 Pate locked himself up again for a further five months, this time in order to connect with the pain and suffering of the isolated elderly Pate hopes to bring residents to the building to join together in prayer and receive holy oil When he first acquired the building for the church in 1981, Pate decided to dedicate the structure to helping those caught up in drugs, crime and prostitution. In 1994 he locked himself in the prayer room for almost eight months. The city was then experiencing a similar crime and drugs wave, similar to that which has hit the area since the start of the pandemic. In 2000 he locked himself up again for a further five months, this time in order to connect with the pain and suffering of the isolated elderly. The desperate search for a missing teen in Sydney's outer suburbs is on the cusp of entering its second week after the 13-year-old failed to return home last Saturday. Awab Farhan was reportedly spotted in Canley Vale on Saturday, one week after he was reported missing by his concerned family. The 13-year-old went missing on July 15, after he was last seen at a home on Berallier Drive in Camden South. Awab Farhan was reportedly spotted in Canley Vale on Saturday, one week after he was reported missing by his concerned family Subsequent searches have been unable to locate the teenager. Both police and family members holding grave concerns for the young boy's welfare due to his age. Awab is described as being of African appearance, standing at about 175cm tall and of a slim build with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey jumper, black pants and black shoes. Inquiries into his whereabouts have led police to believe he was seen on Saturday, on Cardwell St in Canley Vale at around 10.15am. Awab is known to often travel on the Sydney train network and frequents the Cabramatta, Hurstville, Marrickville, Miranda and Redfern areas. Anyone with information of the teenager's whereabouts is urged to contact Camden Police Area Command or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 immediately. Ron DeSantis has slapped down claims January 6 was an insurrection and argued it was just a protest that 'devolved' into a riot. The Florida governor admitted how the event turned out was 'unfortunate' but maintained it was not an attempt to overthrow the US government. He argued those branding the demonstrators 'seditionists' were 'just wrong', despite six Oath Keepers being convicted of seditious conspiracy over the last two years. His comments came as he sat down with British comedian Russell Brand for a surprise interview as he gears up towards running for president in 2024. At one point the comic even asked DeSantis about what type of underwear he wears, adding 'Joe Biden... that guy goes commando'. Ron DeSantis on Friday told Russell Brand he did not believe January 6 was a coordinated attempt to overthrow the 2020 election result DeSantis said the January 6, 2021 gathering 'ended up devolving, you know, in a way that were unfortunate' When asked about January 6, DeSantis said: 'If somebody is honestly doing an insurrection against the U.S. government, then prove that that's the case and I'll be happy to accept it, but all you're showing me is that there were a lot of protesters there and it ended up devolving, you know, in a way that were unfortunate, of course. 'But to say that they were seditionists is just wrong.' Elsewhere in the wide-ranging interview, Brand cut to advertise for the show's underwear sponsor, telling his guest: 'I don't know about you, Ron, but I'm getting pretty hot down there.' He added: 'I don't know what Donald Trump wears on his privates. But I'll tell you, Joe Biden, that guy goes commando.' Brand then moved on without DeSantis replying. DeSantis' comments about January 6 run contrary to some, who believe the rioters descended on the US Capitol to overthrow the Biden administration. Six Oath Keepers, including founder Stewart Rhodes, were convicted of seditious conspiracy for what prosecutors said was a plot to stop the transfer of power. Former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and three other members of that extremist group were convicted of the seditious conspiracy charge in May. They were convicted on the Civil War-era charge, which requires prosecutors to prove people conspired to overthrow the government, for orchestrating a weekslong plot that culminated in the attack. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Over 600 of them have pleaded guilty, while approximately 100 others have been convicted after trials decided by judges or juries. More than 550 riot defendants have been sentenced, with over half receiving terms of imprisonment ranging from six days to the 18 years Rhodes received. More than 250 people have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement who were trying to protect the Capitol. DeSantis spoke to Brand as part of his campaign's attempt to turn around his current weak efforts Donald Trump is seen on January 6, 2021 - shortly before the Capitol was stormed. He is facing potential criminal charges related to his actions after the 2020 election DeSantis, in his comments Friday, also said it was 'ridiculous' how much money was being provided for the US Capitol police in the wake of the attack. The Florida governor is now challenging both Trump and Pence for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Trump, who has praised the rioters as 'patriots,' is facing possible charges over his role in the events surrounding January 6, and attempts to reverse the election result. Pence has denounced Trump over the riot, saying the ex-president endangered his family and everyone at the Capitol that day and history will hold him accountable. DeSantis comments are in line with other Republican supporters of Trump who have minimized the attack to varying degrees. DeSantis has been seeking to appeal to Trump's base as he campaigns for the White House, often portraying Trump as having failed to follow his own policies. The Florida governor has made similar comments in the past dismissing that the attack was an insurrection, saying at a January 2022 news conference that it was 'an insult to people' to call it an insurrection when 'nobody has been charged with that.' At a campaign event in June in New Hampshire, DeSantis said he 'didn't enjoy seeing' what happened on January 6 but said 'we've got to go forward on this stuff. We cannot be looking backwards.' Earlier this week, DeSantis criticized Trump's actions on January 6, saying: 'He should have come out more forcefully.' But he questioned whether Trump's behavior was a crime. DeSantis's interview came the day after his campaign was hit with more bad news, with a new poll showing entrepreneur and political novice Vivek Ramaswamy has caught up with him, behind Trump. The former president continues to dominate the field, attracting the support of 48 percent of Republicans nationwide in a poll conducted by Kaplan Strategies. After Trump, both Ramaswamy and DeSantis are tied at 12 percent. 'Ramaswamy outperformed six other hopefuls by more than double, marking a significant surprise in this poll,' Kaplan Strategies founder Doug Kaplan said in a statement. While it marked good news for the 37-year-old 'anti-woke' businessman, it proved that there was trouble in DeSantisland. A shock poll released Thursday showed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (left), thought to be former President Donald Trump's greatest GOP primary threat, tied with political novice Vivek Ramaswamy (right) THE BATTLE FOR SECOND: A poll released Thursday shows that political novice Vivek Ramaswamy is just as popular with Republican primary voters as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, proving that there's trouble in DeSantisland Last weekend, DeSantis fired nearly a dozen staffers amid a campaign shake-up, NBC News reported. Morale is 'downright low,' a source who was present when the aides were axed told the network. 'The entire campaign is on the brink,' the source said. 'I've never seen anything like it.' Despite the campaign being able to raise $20 million in just six weeks, sources said that leaders had hired too many staff members and thus were spending too much money to be stuck in second place. About 40 percent of the money had gone toward salaries, NBC said. Additionally, a large swath of DeSantis' donors had maxed out under federal law, meaning they couldn't be able to aid the Florida governor again this year. 'They never should have brought so many people on. The burn rate was way too high. People warned the campaign manager, but she wanted to hear none of it,' a Republican source told the network. One donor added, 'DeSantis' stock isn't rising. Twenty percent is not what people signed up for.' The Florida governor waited to announce his presidential run until late May, giving Trump a more than six-month head start in the 2024 race. Once he jumped in, DeSantis didn't make the expected splash - stuck in a distant second place spot behind the former president. Part of his problem was that he was getting branded as awkward on the stump. Prior to his announcement, The Daily Beast came out with a piece that depicted DeSantis as aloof, and someone who sometimes engaged in odd behavior. The memorable anecdote from the piece was a story about DeSantis eating chocolate pudding out of a plastic cup with three fingers while on a private plane flying between Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. As part of the reboot, reported by NBC Thursday, DeSantis will be gripping-and-grinning with voters more and giving fewer staged speeches. Behind DeSantis and Ramaswamy every other Republican contender is polling in the single digits. The Kaplan Strategies survey found that Sen. Tim Scott and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie are tied at 5 percent, former Vice President Mike Pence is at 4 percent, former U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley is at 3 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is at 1 percent and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum hasn't yet cracked 1 percent. A 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped at gunpoint in Texas has been rescued in California after a passersby spotted her holding up a 'Help Me!' sign in a car. The youngster, who has not been named, was saved from the vehicle at the Easy Wash Laundromat in Long Beach on July 9. Steven Sablan, 61, of Cleburne, Texas, was arrested and charged with kidnapping and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. It came three days after he allegedly abducted her at gunpoint from San Antonio before driving 19 hours across the US to Long Beach. In this undated photo released by the U.S Department of Justice is a 'Help Me!' sign used by a 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Texas 'Through their investigation, officers learned the Good Samaritans were in a parking lot when they saw the victim in a parked vehicle holding up a piece of paper with 'help me' written on it', cops said. 'The customers - who are regulars at Easy Wash Laundromat in Long Beach - acknowledged the note and immediately called 9-1-1.' Sablan was being held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown LA. It was not immediately known if he had an attorney. The girl was walking down a street in San Antonio on July 6 when Sablan allegedly drove up, raised a black handgun and told her, 'If you don't get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you,' an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit. According to the account, the girl had left home without telling her parents because she was trying to visit a school friend who had moved to Australia a year earlier. At some point after getting in Sablan's car, the girl told him about her friend and Sablan said he could take her to a cruise ship to go to Australia, but that she would have to do something for him, the affidavit said. The suspect stopped the car and sexually assaulted the girl, who told him to stop but was scared that she would be hurt if she did not comply, the agent wrote. The rescue occurred July 9 in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, when officers responded to a trouble call and found the 'visibly emotional and distressed girl,' police said in a press release Thursday In Long Beach, the suspect parked at the Easy Wash laundromat and told the girl to change her clothes, then took her clothes and his inside, creating the opportunity for the girl to write 'help me' on a piece of note paper, according to the document. Sablan sexually assaulted the girl several more times on the drive from San Antonio through New Mexico and Arizona and into California, the affidavit said. Meanwhile, the girl's mother reported her missing to San Antonio authorities on July 7. In Long Beach, the suspect parked at the laundromat and told the girl to change her clothes, then took her clothes and his inside, creating the opportunity for the girl to write 'help me' on a piece of note paper, according to the document. When Long Beach police officers arrived, Sablan was standing outside the car and they observed the girl mouth the word 'help,' the agent wrote. During the arrest, officers found a pair of silver handcuffs in Sablans back pocket and that he was wanted for burglary in Fort Worth. A search of the vehicle turned up the a black plastic BB gun, the 'help me' sign, a switchblade knife and black handcuffs in packaging labeled 'Fetish Fantasy Series Designer Cuffs,' the document said. The affidavit said Sablan was convicted of robbery with a deadly weapon in 1979, robbery with a deadly weapon and burglary in 1985 and possession of a controlled substance in 2016. The girl was placed in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The body of a child pulled from the Delaware River in Pennsylvania is believed to be missing two-year-old Matilda Shiels, officials have said. The body was discovered by Philadelphia police around 5:30pm on Friday in Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood. At a press conference officials said based on descriptions of clothing on the child's body it is strongly believed to be Matilda Shiels. Matilda's mother, Katie Seely, 32, was found dead after flash flooding hit Bucks County last week. Seely's eldest son, husband Jim and mother Dalia 62, survived the deluge last Saturday but their other son nine-month-old Conrad is still missing. The body of a child pulled from the Delaware River in Pennsylvania is believed to be that of missing two-year-old Matilda Shiels The family, from Charleston, South Carolina, were visiting family in the area when the fierce flooding struck The search will continue, officials said. The family, from Charleston, South Carolina, were visiting family in the area when the fierce flooding struck. Approximately 11 vehicles were on General Washington Memorial Boulevard near the river when they were caught in the downpour and three of them were swept away. Eight people were rescued from cars and two from Houghs Creek. Their vehicles were swept up in the flash flooding - and the father, Jim Sheils, 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. Peter, who is Katie's uncle and Dahlia's brother, wrote on social media following a police update: 'The grandmother is my sisterthis is so devastating, but your updates and all the supportive comments have been comforting.' Matilda has been missing since Saturday when her family's car was hit by flash flooding in Pennsylvania Jim Sheils (pictured) was able to get him and his four-year-old Jack to safety Emergency services found mother Katie dead during their search efforts Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer said the storms dumped about six to seven inches of rain in an hour Four other individuals were killed in the Bucks county flooding and search efforts are continuing Four other individuals were killed in the Bucks county flooding, Enzo De Piero, 78, and Linda De Piero, 74, Yuko Love, 64, and Susan Barnhart, 53. 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. Four state highways in Bucks County were closed due to the flooding, according to the state department of transportation. A local resident, Nick Primola, told abc6 that he saw cars being swept away and upside down along the roads. 'I guess it was just fortunate timing because the people who were there probably just 10 minutes before didn't have as much luck. They really didn't have any warning and they were caught up in it,' he said. 'I haven't seen anything like this before this quick. I mean this is an area where there are a lot of waterways, so people are used to flooding, but I think that's why it snuck up on these people who were driving,' Primola added. A Victorian man who was shot with bean bag rounds and Tasered by police during an arrest has died in hospital. The 46-year-old man barricaded himself inside a North Frankston house in Melbourne's south on Thursday after police arrived as part of an investigation. After a four hour standoff police stormed the property and found the man armed with knives and in a 'confrontational' state. The man was arrested following a four hour standoff at this property in North Frankston Police fired bean bag bullets into the building (pictured is a shattered window) Police said in a statement on Saturday despite multiple shocks with a taser the man couldn't be subdued and so 'flexible baton rounds were used'. 'The man was then provided with immediate medical care when he appeared to become unresponsive during his arrest,' police said. The man was rushed to hospital where he died on Saturday. There were no other reports of injuries and noone else was in the house during the standoff. Victoria Police Homicide Squad will prepare a report for the coroner which will be overseen by the Professional Standards Command. A man has been charged with threatening media personality Yumi Stynes, following the backlash over her book on sex which is aimed at young people. On Friday, officers from Leichhardt Police Area Command, in Sydney's inner-west, launched an investigation over the alleged online threats to the 48-year-old. 'Following inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested at Balmain Police Station [on Friday],' NSW Police said in a statement. The man was then taken to Newtown Police Station, where he was charged with one count of use carriage service to menace/harass/offend. He was granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on August 11. A 23-year-old man has been charged over alleged threats against media personality Yumi Stynes Stynes had earlier posted multiple screenshots to Instagram showing alleged rape and death threats she had received since the release of her book, Welcome to Sex: Your no-silly-questions guide to sexuality, pleasure and figuring it all out. Yumi Stynes co-authored the sex education book aimed at young people with Sydney doctor Melissa Kang Stynes's book, which she co-authored with Sydney doctor Melissa Kang, has been at the centre of a furious row since it was published in May. The book was this week blasted by Rachael Wong, chief executive of conservative organisation Women's Forum Australia, who labelled it a 'graphic sex guide for children'. 'For those saying the book is sex education, there is a huge difference between giving children age-appropriate information, and prematurely exposing them to graphic, highly sexualised material,' Wong told the SMH. Big W has pulled the book from its physical stores after its staff reportedly received abuse from members of the public. It is still selling the book online. On Friday, Stynes called out Channel 10 for not giving her any work in recent years, blaming her absence from TV screens on an off-hand comment she made about war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith Stynes appeared on Channel 10's The Project on to discuss the backlash she has received from the book. Some of those real world consequences include the fact I'm not on television any more,' she claimed on The Project on Friday. 'Since that controversy around a comment I made around Ben Roberts-Smith, Channel 10 hasn't given me one paid job aside some appearance on some show one time. 'So real world consequences? Yes. People threatening my life? Yes. 'There was a guy in the supermarket today. I was buying strawberries for my kids and I kept checking over my shoulder wondering if he was going to smack me over the back of the head - which is entirely possible.' Stynes called out Channel 10 on Friday for refusing to give her work in recent years Stynes was hosting Channel 10's now cancelled show The Circle in 2012 when she commented on a photo of Roberts-Smith shirtless by a pool. 'Hello! Look at that physique! He's going to dive down to the bottom of the pool and see if his brain is there,' she said at the time. Stynes said on Friday she supported Big W's decision to remove the book from its shelves in-store. 'No retail worker deserves to be in danger just for showing up and doing their minimum wage job, to be honest,' she said. 'If that's what it took to keep retail workers safe then I supported it.' The book, which sells for $16, contains detailed explanations on sexual activities including oral sex, anal sex, masturbation, porn, sexuality and gender identity. Despite controversy, the book was Amazon's best seller on Friday. A coroner has said there was a 'lost opportunity' to carry out a potentially life-saving test on a teenager who died from a rare genetic condition triggered by drinking a protein shake. Rohan Godhania, 16, of Ealing, west London, fell ill after drinking the shake on August 15 2020, and died three days later at West Middlesex Hospital after suffering 'irreversible brain damage'. A post-mortem examination on August 28 2020 could not ascertain his cause of death - a late onset of the rare disease ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, an inquest has heard. This was because his liver and kidneys were donated for transplant before the mystery of his sudden illness was solved. His cause of death was not revealed until months later when the recipient of his liver was admitted to hospital. Rohan Godhania with his parents Pushpa and Hitendra Godhania Rohan Godhania, 16, of Ealing, west London, fell ill after drinking the shake on August 15 2020, and died three days later at West Middlesex Hospital after suffering 'irreversible brain damage' OTC prevents the breakdown of ammonia, causing it to build up to lethal levels in the bloodstream, and can be triggered by a protein load. Concluding Rohan's inquest at Milton Keynes Coroner's Court in Buckinghamshire on Friday, senior coroner Tom Osborne said: 'I find that on August 15 Rohan was given a protein shake purchased from a supermarket and that this triggered an acute reaction. 'I find that Rohan suffered from OTC deficiency that was unknown to him and his family at the time.' He called Rohan's death a 'tragedy', adding: 'There is no doubt that this was a young man with a bright future ahead of him.' Mr Osborne said Rohan was admitted to West Middlesex Hospital, part of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where advice was taken from the neurologists at Charing Cross Hospital who said 'he should be tested for ammonia', but this test was not carried out. In a narrative conclusion, he said: 'The deceased was admitted to West Middlesex Hospital on August 16 2020. 'His hyperammonaemia and OTC deficiency was not diagnosed. 'The failure to carry out a test for ammonia that would have revealed the hyperammonaemia resulted in a lost opportunity to render further medical treatment that may, on the balance of probabilities, have prevented his death. 'He died on August 18 2020.' Doctors had been unable to confirm the underlying cause of Rohan's fatal brain swelling. Around six months after the transplant, the recipient of Rohan's liver was rushed to hospital with symptoms including seizures and hyperammonaemic encephalopathy, a metabolic condition precipitated by elevated blood ammonia. They required intubation and ventilation in an intensive care unit before their condition improved over a few days, the inquest has heard. An independent expert later identified the link between the two cases and a biopsy on tissue from the donated liver established that Rohan had suffered from OTC, which was then recorded as his cause of death. Rohan Godhania with his father and mother Pushpa and Hitendra Godhania and his sister Alisha The coroner now intends to issue two prevention of future death reports. One report is to the Food Standards Agency and will call for a health warning to be added to the protein shake in question to alert other OTC sufferers of the risk, despite the rarity of the disease. He said: 'It does concern me that this product, this protein milkshake, is readily available. 'It's available online, you can buy it in bulk, you can buy it in the supermarket and there is no mention on the literature of the possibility of someone who suffers from OTC having a reaction to it.' The other report will be to NHS England because Mr Osborne feels it should review the guidance that is given with regard to the treatment of patients between the ages of 16 to 18. The coroner repeatedly raised the issue during the inquest of whether 16 to 18-year-olds 'almost fall between two stalls' when it comes to them getting paediatric or adult care. Lawyers for Rohan's family had argued he should have been transferred to Charing Cross Hospital, which has dedicated neurology and neurosurgery departments. The inquest heard that the hospital could not take him because he was a paediatric patient rather than an adult. In a joint statement provided to the PA news agency after the inquest, Rohan's parents Pushpa and Hitendra Godhania said: 'When a child is taken to hospital, you expect the system to pull out all the stops to save their life. This did not happen in Rohan's case. 'It has taken almost three years for our inquest to be finally heard. We feel very strongly that the lack of transparency from the trust played a key part in the delay. 'Bereaved families should not have to fight to be heard. We should not have to fight for information that should be rightfully available.' They added: 'Our experience shows the opposite of a just and learning culture. We experienced a defensive and insensitive attitude. 'We were constantly told that there were no issues with Rohan's care. But poor quality reviews will fail to identify any learning. 'We believe the system closed ranks. In the meantime, children like Rohan pay with their life. 'Our ultimate goal has always been to uncover shortcomings in the care provided to Rohan and to ensure that there is learning, so that other families will not have to suffer a similar loss. 'While the conclusion of the inquest brings some closure, as Rohan's family we continue to advocate for greater transparency and improvements within the healthcare system. 'We hope that the lessons learned from Rohan's case will contribute to meaningful changes that help prevent such tragic deaths in future.' Sarah Kingsley Fried, from Fieldfisher, representing the family at the inquest, said: 'This inquest would not have happened were it not for Rohan's parents and their tireless pursuit of answers about their son's death. 'For nearly three years they fought to establish that the care he received warranted investigation. Today it is clear they were right.' Outspoken Aussie vegan activist Tash Peterson has been blasted by UK commentator Piers Morgan for comparing the slaughter of farm animals to the Holocaust. Ms Peterson, 29, from Western Australia, appeared on Morgan's TV program Uncensored on Friday wearing a T-shirt with the words 'End this holocaust' and an image of a pig in a cage. Morgan suggested people were losing interest in veganism was because they were 'fed up with being shouted out'. 'You're one of those people that runs into restaurants and plays sounds from screaming animals in abattoirs and so on,' Morgan said. Piers Morgan (pictured) has slammed vegan activist Tash Peterson for comparing the slaughter of farm animals to the Holocaust Tash Peterson said that 'multiple holocausts have occurred throughout human history' The controversial activist hit back, declaring that she didn't agree with his analysis. 'No, I don't think so at all,' she said. 'I think it brings more attention to the animal holocaust,' Peterson offered, to which Mr Morgan then asked: 'Why would you use the word holocaust?' 'Holocaust is the mass extermination of more than six million Jewish people by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis,' he said. 'Why would you use that very emotive language knowing it would offend people?' Ms Peterson replied that it was 'just a factual statement'. 'If you look at the definition of a holocaust it is slaughter or destruction on a mass scale,' she said. 'Multiple holocausts have occurred throughout human history and non-human animals can be subjected to the same atrocities that humans can.' Ms Peterson is notorious for her confrontational protest tactics Ms Peterson has been banned from entering WA pubs and restaurants Mr Morgan also criticised Ms Peterson's protest methods, saying there were better ways to convince people to switch to a veganism 'than running into restaurants and playing noises of screaming animals'. Ms Peterson is currently in the UK for the Vegan Camp Out Festival where she will appear as a guest speaker. She was required to seek clearance from a Perth court for the trip after she was charged with failing to leave a licensed venue, disorderly conduct and trespass. Ms Peterson was issued with a 12-month ban from entering licensed venues in WA after becoming involved in multiple confrontations with chef John Mountain at his Perth restaurant Fyre on June 30 and July 8. Mr Mountain banned vegans from his restaurant in June, 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'. Ms Peterson this week posted a video to social media in which she appeared to burn the police notice banning her from WA pubs and restaurants. Peterson will appear via videolink for her next court appearance on July 31. A Royal Navy aircraft carrier which broke down just a few miles from its home port has left dry dock nearly a year later after undergoing repairs and upgrades. Due to a broken propeller shaft, HMS Prince of Wales came to a halt off the Isle of Wight in August last year. The 3 billion warship was heading to Portsmouth Naval Base for a diplomatic mission to the United States. It was brought under tow back into harbour for the problem to be identified. Then it was taken to the Babcock shipyard where it was built in Rosyth, Scotland, to undergo the repairs costing 25 million which have taken nine months to complete. Fears had been raised that the 65,000 tonne vessel was being 'cannibalised' for parts to be used on sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth but Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said this was 'perfectly normal' and the ship would return to service by the autumn. Pictured: Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales enters the Firth of Forth as it leaves Rosyth docks after repairs The ship's commanding officer, Captain Richard Hewitt, describes it as the 'most advanced warship ever built' for the Royal Navy The carrier moved out of dry dock at Rosyth and into the River Forth on Friday before it begins its journey back to Portsmouth. A navy spokesman said: 'The carrier will then build on her previous successes including acting as Nato's command ship and leading the Maritime High Readiness Force in the Arctic, before she takes over from HMS Queen Elizabeth as the nation's flagship towards the end of 2024.' The ship's commanding officer, Captain Richard Hewitt, said: 'We are returning HMS Prince of Wales to operations as the most advanced warship ever built for the Royal Navy. 'This year, we will be operating F-35s, V-22 Ospreys, drones and the RN Merlin helicopters - pushing the boundaries of naval aviation and UK Carrier Strike capability as we progress towards a global deployment in 2025. HMS Prince of Wales being repaired at the Babcock shipyard in Rosyth, Scotland, after breaking down on route to America last August Aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales sets sail from Rosyth Dockyard on July 21, 2023 The repairs made to HMS Prince of Wales were estimated to cost 25 million 'Our sailors are paramount to ensuring our return to operations. They have approached the task of getting us back to sea with the remarkable ethos that I have come to expect from them. They are a credit to the ship and the Royal Navy.' The navy spokesman said that the ship's engineering departments had worked with civilian engineers from Babcock to fix the propeller shafts along with BAE Systems which has also been carrying out previously-planned upgrade works. He added that the 750-strong crew have undergone training and supported recruitment drives as well as taking part in civic events during the period of the repairs. The spokesman added: 'Once the ship has completed her propulsion trials, she will bring her flight deck back to life before returning to Portsmouth to prepare for her autumn deployment to the USA.' Rishi Sunak has been urged to abandon net zero pledges if he wants the Conservatives to win the next election, Cabinet ministers have warned. The calls to ban the green goals, such as phasing out gas boilers by 2025 and banning the sales of new petrol cars by 2030, come after the Tories shock election win in Uxbridge and South Ruslip. The party's surprise victory was credited to the unpopularity of the expanding Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) spearheaded by Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan. Ministers hoping to win next year's general election are now examining other green 'wedge issues' to try and sway some voters away from Labour. 'It is about pace and practicality. This isn't the area for pure ideology, it is an area for balance. I don't deny the need for net zero, but making that the biggest priority means you end up as a green no growth group,' one unnamed Cabinet minister told the Telegraph last night. Rishi Sunak (pictured with his newest MP Steve Tuckwell) has been urged to abandon net zero pledges if he wants the Conservatives to win the next election, Cabinet ministers have warned One of pledge by the Conservative party is to ban the sales of new petrol cars by 2030 Another added that the Ulez, which ensues a 12.50 daily charge on polluting cars entering the capital, was 'hated' and 'very strongly' opposed among Uxbridge voters. They added: 'There probably is a broader lesson that the Conservatives should stand for sensible approaches to net zero.' Friday's win spared the Prime Minister of a triple by-election defeat after Labour succeeded in Selby and Ainsty while the Liberal Democrats stole Tory safe-seat Somerton and Frome. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner both voiced concerns over their defeat in Uxbridge, alluding that would look into the divisive ULEZ policy. Sir Keir, who has refused to say point-blank whether he supports the policy or not, said on Friday: 'Ulez was the reason we didn't win there yesterday. We know that. We heard that on the doors. And we've all got to reflect on that, including the mayor.' While the deputy leader admitted: 'One of the things we have to reflect on today is not only the mood against the Tories, but also [the fact that] the decision in Uxbridge was related to Ulez. The Uxbridge result shows that when you don't listen to the voters, you don't win elections.' The Tories are also hoping to phase out gas boilers by 2025 It comes after the Tory's shock win in Uxbridge and South Ruslip, which was attributed to Labour's unpopular ULEZ policy expanding further Labour is at war over its green policies after Sadiq Khans (pictured) tax on drivers helped cost the party Boris Johnsons coveted seat It has led to those on the right side of the Tory party to scrap its green scheme sand 'return to Conservative policies'. Former Brexit Secretary Lord Frost said: 'The lesson is surely that green policies are very unpopular when there's a direct cost to people - as indeed all the polling says. This time that hit Labour. But soon it could be us unless we rethink heat pumps & the 2030 electric car deadline.' One of the main concerns around the Government's policies is the plan to phase out new gas boilers by 2035, although no specific details on how this will be implemented have been revealed. A Cabinet Minister told the paper changing to other heat sources as 'very expensive' for households. Another said the topic had been broached at Cabinet earlier this year but the debate had not been passed up to the Prime Minister. Chairman of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group added that the by-election win should serve as a 'wake-up call' warning politicians against 'anti-motorist policies across the entire country'. He added: 'We need to get the 2030 ban on new petrol and diesel cars overturned at least until 2035, which is where most of the developed world is going.' A dog walker was left stunned after discovering one of Europe's longest snakes in central London. Chris Kutler, 59, was worried that the Aesculapian snake, a type of rat snake, was missing from London Zoo after he spotted it while out for a stroll. Chris was walking along the Regents Canal towpath on Thursday when his dog stopped to look at something in the grass. He was shocked to discover a dark grey snake, which he said was 'too big' to be an adder or grass snake. After calling a friend to help identify it, he was relieved to discover that despite not being native to the UK the animals are not venomous or aggressive. Chris Kutler, 59, was walking along the Regents Canal towpath on Thursday when he spotted the snake Chris was worried that the Aesculapian snake, a type of rat snake, was missing from London Zoo One passer-by asked London Zoo on Twitter: 'Any chance of you have missing a snake? There is one on the side of the canal, north walkway, and people are stopping to have a look.' The zoo said it did not escape from there and lives on the banks of the canal. Chris, from London, said the snake was longer than one metre but they can grow up to two metres in length and are one of the largest snakes to be found on the continent. He said: 'The dog stopped to look at something and I thought "what's that" - and it was a snake. 'I thought it might be an adder or grass snake, but it was much too big for that. Chris said: 'The dog stopped to look at something and I thought "what's that" - and it was a snake' 'I realised I was next to the zoo and thought maybe it's escaped from the zoo. 'I was quite mesmerised by it but didn't know if it was poisonous. So I called a friend who knows about this kind of thing who said he thought it was a rat snake.' Several other walkers have spotted the exotic snake on the banks of the canal and feared it had come from the zoo. There are three colonies of the snake located within the UK - two in Wales and one on the banks of Regents Canal. It is thought to be the only non-native snake species to have formed a breeding population in the UK. An illegal immigrant who beat his sister-in-law to death with a hatchet because she reported him to the Home Office calmly texted her husband to let him know she was dead. Nicolae Virtosu, 48, was found guilty of murdering Svetlana Mihalachi, 53, at their family home where they lived together in Ilford, east London. The pair did not have an easy relationship, the Old Bailey heard, often arguing about household chores, noise and money. Virtosu, who had previously been convicted of killing his wife by strangulation the court heard, was born in Moldova and came to live with his brother and his family in Ilford around 2018. Eventually Ms Mihalachi made it clear she wanted Virtosu to move out but he refused. Nicolae Virtosu, 48, was found guilty of murdering Svetlana Mihalachi, 53, (pictured) at their family home where they lived together in Ilford, east London Virtosu, who had previously been convicted of killing his wife by strangulation the court heard, was born in Moldova Their relationship deteriorated further, the court heard, with Virtosu continuing to threaten Svetlana, who had begun to fear for her life. A month before the fatal attack, Ms Mihalachi had called the police after Virtosu threatened to kill her. The two officers who visited her home on March 4 2021 said that they could not evict him but they would report him to immigration services. Ms Mihalachi had previously asked a friend to send a letter to the Home Office Immigration Services to report Virtosu as being in the UK illegally in the hope he would be deported. She also secretly taped him talking on his mobile phone and sent the recordings to her friend and husband. Four weeks later, on Friday April 9, London Ambulance Service were called out to Princes Road following reports that a woman had been assaulted inside. The court was told Virtosu had waited until she was alone and at her 'most vulnerable' before launching his attack. Officers on arrival found the woman with serious head injuries caused by blows to the head by a hatchet that remained at the scene. Virtosu's finger prints were found on the tool. Prosecutor Catherine Pattison had told jurors there was no dispute that Virtosu had killed Ms Mihalachi by striking her repeatedly with a hatchet and the issue in the case was his state of mind at the time. Virtosu was convicted of murder, as well a making threat to kill and found not guilty of making another threat to kill She said: 'His acts on the day were of a cold, callous, angry and violent man - not of a psychotic man.' CCTV footage from the area showed that the killer left the house two minutes after midday and was seen walking quickly down Princes Road. He then went to call Ms Mihalachi's husband but when he did not pick up the phone, he sent a text message to tell him his wife was dead. When her husband returned home he found her lying on the sofa with serious head and facial injuries, with police officers then arriving to administrate first aid. She was taken to the Royal London Hospital where she underwent surgery before being placed in an induced coma and on life support. Meanwhile police returned to the home and arrested Virtosu on suspicion of murder. Ms Mihalachis condition continued to worsen and she died just over a month later on May 12 2021. A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to have been multi organ failure resulting from head injuries and loss of blood. Throughout the trial Virtosu claimed to have been 'hearing voices' and suffering a psychotic disorder. He claimed that his sister-in-law had appeared to him as having devil-like shining red eyes to support a defence of diminished responsibility, but he did not convince the jury. Throughout the trial jurors were told social services became aware of Ms Mihalachi hopes of evicting her brother-in-law, as did a domestic violence hub and the Refuge charity. The case was due to be discussed at a multi-agency risk assessment conference on April 20 2021 - but by then it was too late. Ms Pattison added: 'The relationship between Svetlana and the defendant deteriorated considerably. There were times when the defendant threatened to kill Svetlana. Svetlana became worried for her safety. She feared the defendant would kill her. She was right.' Speaking after the verdict on Friday, Judge Rosa Dean addressed the issue relating to Ms Mihalachi's dealings with the two officers who had told her she had to provide a statement and attend court. The judge told jurors that was not police policy, adding: 'Ms Pattison tells me these young probationary officers have had some training and the failings have been addressed.' Virtosu was previously convicted in September 2009 of unlawfully killing his wife Anastasia by strangulation, the Old Bailey was told. In court yesterday he was convicted of murder, as well a making threat to kill and found not guilty of making another threat to kill. He will be sentenced on October 9. A Home Office spokesperson said: 'Foreign National Offenders who exploit our system and commit crimes here in the UK will face the full force of the law, including deportation at the earliest opportunity for those eligible.' He is wanted for questioning over fraud The wife of a controversial property developer wanted for questioning over fraud is rumored to have left him, appearing in photos without her wedding ring. Nisserine 'Nissy' Nassif, wife of Toplace developer Jean Nassif, was spotted stepping out with a friend late last month, dressed up to party and minus her wedding bling. It came after she recently posted a pointed message on Instagram: 'You will never really see how toxic someone is until you breathe fresher air.' Despite being wanted by police, Mr Nassif has continued his own social media activity, and countered with cryptic comments on his Facebook page. 'You go from being their soulmate and the center [sic] of their universe to nothing you ever did being good enough!' read one post. He also wrote: 'You're left behind drained in every aspect of your life: mentally, emotionally, spiritually and often financially!' Toplace's building arm went into voluntary administration at the start of July, with 64 more subsidiaries going under over the past fortnight, potentially owing creditors about $200million. Nisserine 'Nissy' Nassif (right) was dressed up to party in a photo posted on a friend's (left) Instagram account last month, and was without her wedding ring Jean Nassif (left with wife, Nisserine 'Nissy' Nassif) is wanted on fraud-related charges It is understood more than 20,000 homeowners across 20 buildings could be affected. In a photo posted to a friend's Instagram last month, Ms Nassif was seen dressed up in a figure-hugging black mesh bustier top and matching pants. The founder of the Wiping Tears charity was also spied out with the same friend a week later with a video posted of the pair posing and having drinks in a bar, reports The Daily Telegraph. Ms Nassif, who has three children with Jean, has long been rumoured to be estranged from the embattled developer, who has been in Lebanon for the best part of this year. She is supposedly still living in the former couple's multimillion-dollar mansion in Chiswick, in Sydney's inner west, and is even rumoured to be planning a reality TV career, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. She will reportedly star in the travel series Adventure All Stars, which is being filmed across six days on a tropical island and will screen on streaming platform 7Plus. Meanwhile, Mr Nassif claims he is suffering from 'anxiety, depression and stress', with a source close to the businessman saying he is missing his children. He remains on the run while wanted on fraud-related charges, with police accusing him of financial crimes dating back to 2021. Detectives from the NSW Police organised crime squad were granted an arrest warrant for Mr Nassif in June in relation to fraud-related charges. Mr Nassif gave his wife a yellow Lamborghini for Valentine's Day in 2019, in a now infamous social media post Mr Nassif became a social media sensation in 2019 when he gave his wife a $480,000 yellow Lamborghini for Valentine's Day. He had uploaded a video of him presenting the luxury vehicle to the mother of his children with the comment, 'Congratulations Mrs Nassif you like?' Mr Nassif is the father of lawyer Ashlyn Nassif, who has been accused of securing a $150million loan from the Westpac bank with an allegedly falsified property pre-sale contract in 2021. She has been charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and publishing false or misleading material to obtain advantage. The 27-year-old is accused of falsifying $10.5m in pre-sale contracts for the development of the $900m Sky View apartment complex in northwest Sydney. The partner of law firm EA Legal is yet to enter pleas after she was charged with dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception and publishing false or misleading material. She was granted bail in March with $2.6m secured by her family. Earlier this year, Mr Nassif was called to appear before a NSW parliamentary inquiry into allegations of impropriety at Hills Shire council, but he declined to give evidence via video link from Lebanon for legal reasons. Sir Tony Blair has led tributes to Wales' longest serving woman MP Ann Clwyd, who has died at the age of 86 at her home in Cardiff. Ms Clwyd represented Aberdare and the Cynon Valley constituency in South Wales for 35 years, becoming the oldest woman to sit in the House of Commons before standing down in 2019. Flintshire-born Ms Clwyd was first elected as an MP in a by-election in 1984, having previously been the MEP for Mid and West Wales for five years in the European Parliament. The former journalist held a series of frontbench posts in opposition including shadow Welsh secretary and shadow international development secretary. As a backbencher she campaigned to highlight the atrocities of Saddam Hussein against the Iraqi Kurds and was a strong supporter of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The family of former Labour MP Ann Clwyd said she died peacefully at her home in Cardiff, at the age of 86 The veteran Labour MP represented the Cynon Valley for 35 years Pictured: Sir Tony Blair and the late MP Ann CLwyd. Sir Tony led tributes by describing Ms Clwyd as a 'courageous, fearless, principled political campaigner' Her family said she died peacefully on Friday evening. Former Labour leader Sir Blair described her as a 'courageous, fearless, principled political campaigner, whose politics remained steadfastly wedded to representation of the poor and oppressed wherever in the world she found them'. He added: 'She didn't flinch from speaking her mind, no matter what the personal or political cost. 'She fought the case of those employed in the coal industry, persuading my government to correct the failure to compensate former miners for the ill health they suffered through mining. 'She was a stalwart campaigner for better healthcare, typically using her own experience to advocate on behalf of others. 'And having spent a large part of her life standing up against the brutal repression of the Kurdish people in Iraq, she supported the removal of Saddam Hussein, not only when it was relatively easy to do so, but when the going got tough. 'I admired her enormously and am deeply sorry at her passing. A remarkable woman with an outstanding record of service to others.' Beth Winter, who succeeded Ms Clwyd as MP for Cynon Valley, said: 'My thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time. 'Her work over so many years for women's rights, international justice and the miners will be remembered.' MP Ann Clwyd became the first woman to sit for a Welsh valleys constituency in 1984, following the death of Ioan Evans Pictured: Former MP Ann Clwyd when she was the Labour Party candidate for Denbigh in 1970 Wales' First Minster Mark Drakeford said: 'She was a fearless campaigner, a defender of human rights and a trailblazer for female politicians, but above all of these - a long-term, dedicated servant of the people of Cynon Valley.' Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Government health minister, said: 'Throughout her decades of dedicated public service, she faced difficult challenges with tenacity and courage, fought for social justice, and spoke out for those in need. 'She was a true radical, inspired by her time as a European MP before becoming a significant force at Westminster, where her voice echoed in the corridors of power, urging for change and progress. 'Although her departure leaves a void uneasy to fill, her legacy will remain an inspiration for generations to come. 'We will never forget her impact on and contribution to Welsh public life.' Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central and shadow secretary of state for Wales, said: 'Ann really was a trailblazer for women, not just in Wales but across the UK and abroad. 'Determined, passionate, fierce and stood her ground, showing huge strength of character. Ann was also very kind, funny and loyal to her many friends and constituents. Flintshire-born Ms Clwyd was first elected as an MP in a by-election in 1984, having previously been the MEP for Mid and West Wales for five years in the European Parliament Ms Clwyd is Wales' longest serving MP. After serving Aberdare and the Cynon Valley for 35 years, she stepped down in 2019 'She was hugely supportive to me when I arrived at Parliament in 2015, always had time to chat and give wise advice. I'll miss her. She was one of a kind.' Welsh Secretary David TC Davies said of Ms Clwyd: 'She was an exceptional parliamentarian who was a champion of many causes. My thoughts and prayers are with her family.' Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Conservatives in the Senedd, added: 'A formidable figure, she never shied away from fighting for her beliefs, standing on principle no matter who that may have upset. 'She was a passionate servant of the people of the Cynon Valley and will be deeply missed.' A spear-fisherman narrowly avoided being mauled to death by a vicious shark by hugging it for dear life after he speared it in its eye when it suddenly attacked him. Albany man Keiron Benson and his family had spent several days at Five Fingers Reef, on Western Australia's north coast, during the school holidays earlier this month. But what had been a fun trip of snorkelling, fishing and swimming took a dramatic turn when Mr Benson decided to go fishing on their last day. The father said he'd wanted to celebrate the end of the trip by catching a fish to cook for dinner. At about 3pm he grabbed his speargun and the family took their dinghy about 200m offshore. Mr Benson dived alone while his partner, daughter and stepson waited in the boat. Keiron Benson (above) survived a shark attack at Five Fingers Reef, Western Australia, earlier this month Mr Benson had spent several days at Five Fingers Reef (above) swimming, snorkelling and fishing with his partner, daughter and stepson 'I was about to head back when I saw a big shape in the water,' he told the ABC. The shape turned out to be a large shark which Mr Benson believes was either a tiger or bull shark. 'It started circling me, each time getting closer it just got bigger and I realised it wasn't a reef shark like we'd seen previously,' he said. By this point Mr Benson had drifted a fair way from his family's boat so he did his best to wave them over to help him while still trying to remain calm. When he looked back down in the water, the shark was near the end of his speargun. In that moment Mr Benson noticed the shark instantly became more aggressive and was moving closer. 'It was right at end of the gun. I just thought, "Shoot" and I did, and at that exact moment it must've decided to flick and attack me,' he said. A shark (example above) attempted to attack Mr Benson while he was spearfishing, he knocked it unconscious by shooting his spear through its eye Mr Benson (above) survived the remainder of the attack by holding onto the shark's tail while it tried to bite him His gun managed to hit the shark's eye socket, knocking it unconscious, but the momentum it had built to attack meant it slammed into Mr Benson's side. With his family still metres away, the dad knew he had just moments to save his life. 'The tail hooked up under my shoulder [and it] gave me the idea to hang on. I grabbed the tail and just sort of hugged it,' he said. Just seconds later the shark regained consciousness and began trying to attack. 'It started arching back around snapping at me we started rotating underwater several times in a spin,' Mr Benson said. The pair continued to struggle as the dinghy pulled up alongside them. For several horrifying moments Mr Benson and the shark thrashed in the water as his family watched on. It was only when the shark suddenly dived down that the dad saw an opportunity to escape and jumped into the boat. 'I just flew into the boat, don't remember touching the sides, just jumping in,' he said. Mr Benson (pictured with partner, Hollie) managed to climb aboard his family's boat and escaped the attack without any major injuries Miraculously, he managed to escape the encounter with only bruises. Fishery workers are using DNA from Mr Benson's speargun to identify which species of shark was responsible for the attack. It's thought the shark may have come closer to the shore in an attempt to find fish during an unusually quiet season. A jewelry CEO told of how an entitled mother took her pre-booked window seat on a plane - then seethed when she refused to give it up for a middle seat in another row. Tammy Nelson, the CEO of global jewelry brand CONQUERing, has garnered over 6,000 comments on a TikTok video she posted this month, describing the June 19 incident on a Delta Airlines flight from Cincinnati to San Jose, California. She says she arrived at her row to find the unidentified mom in the window seat. On being told the seat was reserved, the mom said she wanted to sit next to her children, who Nelson estimated were aged 11 and 15. The mom offered to swap her seat with Nelson, but Nelson refused on discovering she was being offered a dreaded middle seat in another row. Nelson said the mom seethed on being refused, and muttered angrily about the rejection for the remainder of the flight. 'Having had only 90 minutes of sleep the night before and knowing I had to give a presentation to 500 people, I desperately needed some sleep, so I did not agree to switch seats,' Nelson captioned her video, which has nearly three million views. Posing the question to her followers, Nelson asked: 'What would you do?' Nelson was taken aback when she discovered someone sitting in the seat she had reserved. Assuming it was a mistake, she politely informed the woman of the mix-up. Tammy Nelson, CEO of a jewelry brand, refused to give up her window seat to a mom who wanted to sit next to her two kids, sparking debate online The TikTok video has nearly 3m views has countless of positive comments praising her for not giving up her seat to the 'entitled mother' Poll Should Tammy have swapped seats? Yes No Should Tammy have swapped seats? Yes 267 votes No 18505 votes Now share your opinion 'When I got to the seat that I thought I had reserved, there was someone sitting in it,' Nelson told The Cincinnati Enquirer. 'I just assumed the woman sitting there had just also made a mistake. And so I said, 'Oh, I'm sorry. It looks like you're sitting in my seat.' And she said, 'Oh, you wanna sit here?' And I thought, 'Well, that's such an odd question.'' However, things took a turn when the entitled woman assumed Nelson would swap and take her middle seat, so that she could sit next to her two children aged about 11 and 15-years-old. Nelson considered the request and told the woman she would be happy to switch with her if she had a window seat, which Nelson purposefully reserved on the flight. 'I always pick a window seat because I get motion sickness during takeoff and landing if I can't look out the window,' Nelson said to Good Morning America. Nelson's TikTok has sparked a debate online, with countless positive comments praising her for not giving up her seat Nelson, who had only 90 minutes of sleep the night before and had to prepare a presentation to 500 people when she landed, explained that she booked a window seat on purpose 'And then the second reason is, I don't get a lot of sleep, so I usually like to be able to sleep on plane and being in the window seat obviously gives you that easiest opportunity to do that,' she added. Nelson then politely declined her request and the passenger reluctantly returned to her assigned seat while 'huffing and puffing,' Nelson described. 'She was not happy. It wasn't like a fight but she kind of begrudgingly picked her stuff up and huffed and puffed and went back to her seat,' Nelson recalled. 'Then she continued to complain loudly to the person next to her.' Nelson said the mom 'proceeded to complain for at least 15 minutes to the person next to her loud enough for me to hear.' 'But the woman actually defended me several times. It was so kind and I appreciated it so much because I was feeling really guilty,' she added. Nelson's TikTok has sparked a debate online, with countless positive comments praising her for not giving up her seat. But while most people supported her for refusing the mother's request, a smaller minority argue she could have been more empathetic and understanding. 'Before anyone comes after me the kids looked like they were about 11 and 15 years old. And the mom was in arms-reach of both of them from the middle seat in the row behind us,' Nelson wrote in her caption. Many users argued that individuals who wish to sit together on flights should make arrangements when booking their tickets, rather than inconveniencing fellow passengers. 'The amount of families who aren't 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 it's not an upgrade it's a sacrifice,' said another. 'People choose book seats together if they want to sit together,' added another user. 'Even if I wanted to switch, the second someone acts entitled by sitting there before even asking Not happening,' one commenter said. 'Mother of 3 here and I wouldn't have switched either,' one person wrote in the comments. 'I pay more to book my family together.' Seat swapping is a hotly contended topic among the frequent flyer community and one story on the matter has added fuel to the debate. In recent months, a resurfaced Reddit post described one airline passenger who shared their frustrations over a mom who had 'the audacity' to expect them to swap seats so she could sit next to her child. The anonymous traveler explained that they were on a transpacific flight from Japan and they had a widow seat, while the 'toddler daughter was in the middle next to me' and the mom was also in the middle but in the row behind. Explaining the chain of events, the Redditor who has since deleted their account, wrote: '[The mom] asked me - and just me - to switch with her so she could have my window seat (next to her daughter) and I'd take her middle seat a row back. 'Hell to the f*** no. Not my problem they didn't book together,' the post read. Britain is facing a fortnight's washout after the Met Office issued a weather warning as parts of the country were hit with a month's worth of rain in just one hour. This weekend, the Met Office said it will feel 'disappointingly cool for most' with temperatures around 13C. It comes after Friday's highest and lowest temperatures were 22.6C in Frittenden in Kent and 1.6C at Tulloch Bridge in the Scottish Highlands. After a cloudy start to Saturday, the northern half of Scotland could stay drier with sunny spells and a few showers, while it could become increasingly windy in southern England and Wales, the forecaster said. For those holidaying in the UK, the first two weeks of the holidays will be a washout but there are indications the weather could become more settled in the second week of August, the Met Office said. The UK's poor summer is due to the position of a jet stream which is also pushing high pressure to the south where parts of Europe are experiencing a heatwave. This woman appeared well-prepared for the inclement weather, wearing a pair of Hunter wellingtons and a waterproof poncho In Manchester, England's Ashes match against Australia was under threat because of rain On the south coast, visitors to West Bay in Dorset wore their waterproofs in a scene more in keeping with November This lady used her leather jacket in an effort to protect herself from the downpour in Nottingham Meanwhile, Greece was today bracing for its longest heatwave on record as weekend temperatures were forecast to soar above 40c while a record-breaking heatwave stretching across the southern United States was expected to expand in the coming days. Tens of millions of people in the northern hemisphere have been suffering through intense heat this summer as the world appears headed for its hottest July on record. As temperature records tumble, experts have pointed to climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels, saying global warming is playing a key role in destructive weather. Already 11 days into its heatwave, Greece's national weather institute warned reprieve was still days away, setting this up to be the longest hot spell the country has ever seen. 'According to the data, we will probably go through 16-17 days of a heatwave, which has never happened before in our country,' Kostas Lagouvardos, the director of research at the National Observatory, told ERT television Saturday. The previous heatwave record in Greece was set in 1987, when scorching temperatures of over 39C lasted 11 days. Across the southern United States, about 80 million Americans will swelter in temperatures of 41C and above this weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. The country's worst heat of up to 46C is forecast for Phoenix, Arizona, which has seen a record-breaking three weeks in a row of highs above 43C. In Greece, locals and tourists have been warned that the record-breaking heatwave will continue Tourists, meanwhile, have been flocking to Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border between California and Nevada, to post selfies with a temperature display outside the visitor centre. Many are hoping to see it break a world record of 56.7C, which was set in July 1913 but was likely the result of a faulty measurement, according to several meteorologists. Regardless, July 2023 is on track to be the hottest month - not only since records began, but also in 'hundreds, if not thousands, of years,' leading NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt said. The effects cannot be attributed solely to the El Nino weather pattern, which 'has really only just emerged' and isn't expected to strengthen until later in the year. El Nino is associated with the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Schmidt said the trend of extreme heat was expected to persist, 'and the reason why we think that's going to continue, is because we continue to put greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere'. Greece, which is battling dozens of forest fires, warned people not to venture out unnecessarily due to the baking heat. In Bournemouth, Dorset, only the hardy ventured out onto the beach which should have had thousands of holiday makers relaxing on the shoreline Firefighters were still battling 79 forest fires across the country. Their spokesman Vassilios Vathrakoyannis said Greece would be on a state of alert through the weekend. Fires on the island of Rhodes forced dozens to evacuate their homes late Friday, officials said, as Slovak firefighters arrived to provide reinforcement. A hotel in the Kiotari area of the island that was bustling with tourists was also forced to evacuate as a precautionary measure, requiring 30 buses to relocate the holiday-goers to a safer area. The exceptional temperatures also mean key tourist sites such as the Acropolis will be closed during the hottest part of the day, with authorities saying the last entries for tourists will be at 11:30am on Sunday. 'This weekend risks being the hottest registered in July in the past 50 years,' said Panagiotis Giannopoulos, meteorologist with state broadcaster ERT. Sea temperatures are two to three degrees above normal, the state weather service reported Saturday, while a high of 42.6C recorded by the Akrotiri weather station on Friday, which is expected to be topped. Sunday is likely to see the city labour under temperatures as high as 44C, with the central region of Thessalia enduring 45C. In Benidorm, Spain, Britons who manage to flee the rain and wind were enjoying the heatwave The temperatures are taking a toll on people's health. A 46-year-old man was reported to have succumbed to heatstroke on the central Greek island of Evia after being admitted to Chalkida hospital, which said cardio-respiratory failure following exposure to high temperatures appeared to be the cause. Emergency health officials told the state broadcaster at least 38 heatstroke patients were received in the last three days, while hospitals were also seeing cases of fainting and other heat-related conditions. Greece is just one of a swathe of countries battling a prolonged spell of extreme heat around the globe in recent days. A father has been left heartbroken after his wife died tragically just days after giving birth to their second child. Brayden Yates' wife Krystal Pitt, 24, died 10 days after giving birth to her second child, Toby, just over a fortnight ago. The couple had been lining up at the Noranda post office, in Perth's northern suburbs, after visiting Toby in the neonatal intensive care unit in Perth Children's Hospital when Ms Pitt told Mr Yates her chest hurt. Within seconds, he realised she was having a heart attack. Krystal Pitt (left), 24, died ten days after giving birth to her second child, Toby (pictured with husband Brayden Yates) 'I had her sit down and then pretty quick, she had a cardiac event,' Mr Yates, 28, told the West Australian. Mr Yates called triple-0 before performing CPR and then setting up a defibrillator in a desperate attempt to save his wife's life before an ambulance arrived. Ms Pitt was then placed into an induced coma and while her prognosis was initially positive, her health quickly deteriorated before she died in hospital on Saturday. It is understood Ms Pitt, who had a pre-existing blood condition, died from blood clots that had formed in her lungs and triggered the cardiac arrest. The couple, who are originally from York, had named their son Toby together at the hospital before she passed away. 'It was obviously something special that we were able to do it together and I'm grateful for that,' Mr Yates said. Mr Yates said baby Toby, who was born four weeks premature, was progressing well and he hoped to have him home from hospital soon. The couple also have a 14-month-old daughter together named Aurora. The father-of-two said he wants the death of his partner to serve as a reminder for people to 'cherish every moment' with loved ones. 'The super crazy thing, the day before, we were talking about how precious life was and you never know when your last day will be,' he said. 'You've got to live to the fullest.' Brayden Yates (right) said he wants the death of his wife Krystal (left) to serve as a reminder for people to 'cherish every moment' with their loved ones Mr Yates said he will make sure to tell his kids 'how amazing and caring' their mother was. 'I've got a heap of videos and photos that she recorded, especially during the first year of my daughter's life, so I can always share those with her,' he said. Mr Yates said Ms Pitt was a 'natural mother' and enjoyed spending time with other mothers and sharing parenting tips. Mr Yates' family is raising funds for Ms Pitts' funeral via a GoFundMe. 'Any contributions made will go towards helping Brayden and the children with a service for their Mum and ongoing costs with raising the children,' the GoFundMe organisers wrote on the page. 'I would just like to express my gratitude to everyone for their ongoing support throughout this difficult time'. A man who ran a photography studio that targeted aspiring models has been jailed for 11 years for raping a former client after getting her so drunk that she blacked out. Sritharan Sayanthan, 42, from Fitzrovia, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape following a seven-day trial at Hendon Crown Court. The court heard how the victim survivor, a woman in her 30s, attended Sayanthan's photography studio on Brompton Road in London in May 2022 where she paid for photographs to be taken. The victim met with him again on July 8 2022 for a drink, which she believed was part of the networking process associated with the agency. Sayanthan had previously contacted her online to arrange this. Sritharan Sayanthan, 42, (pictured) from Fitzrovia, was found guilty of two counts of rape and one count of attempted rape following a seven-day trial at Hendon Crown Court The victim met Sayanthan at a pub in Warren Street at 7.40pm. He encouraged her to drink alcohol which made her intoxicated very quickly. He then led the victim to his studio where she blacked out on the floor. When partially awake she was aware of Sayanthan sexually assaulting her and she was unable to respond verbally or physically. She eventually woke to find him putting her clothes back on her and he then walked her to the station. The victim, a Chinese national, reported the offences to police on July 31 2022. She did not tell the police earlier because she did not know how or if rape was investigated in the UK. Detectives from Central North Command carried out an investigation. They discovered Transport for London CCTV footage of the victim arriving at Warren Street Station and then of her back at the station nearly four hours later. The Metropolitan Police said that in the CCTV footage Sayanthan is seen directing the victim to the tube station and she was noticeably unsteady on her feet. The victim provided a visually recorded interview in August and once the suspect was identified he was arrested during a pre-planned warrant in September. Statements were gathered from studio staff and further research uncovered several other photography businesses owned by the suspect. Two historical allegations of sexual assault against clients by the same suspect in 2012 and 2015 were retrieved. Sayanthan led the victim to his studio on Brompton Road (pictured) on July 8 2022 where she blacked out on the floor. When partially awake she was aware of Sayanthan sexually assaulting her and she was unable to respond verbally or physically These investigations were closed at the time due to evidential difficulties, but the cases were served as bad character evidence against the former photographer. The Metropolitan Police said that unfortunately vital CCTV was lost in these investigations, as were forensic opportunities due to the delayed time of reporting. Detective Constable Sophie Baker, from the Central North Command, said: 'The victim survivor in this case was fantastic from start to finish. 'She was extremely nervous at the prospect of giving evidence but, with the support of an interpreter, she told the court in fine detail what happened. 'For victims, describing the incident in court can be daunting but she did amazingly and I am personally very proud of her bravery and thankful to her for coming forward. 'We also believe there could be other victims of Sayanthan and would encourage anyone who wants to speak to us to come forward. No piece of information is too small and you will be listened to and supported.' DC Baker added: 'Anyone with information about Sayanthan should call police via 101 with reference 1852/31JUL22. I would urge anyone who has been a victim of rape or sexual assault to come forward and report what happened to police. We will support you and take you seriously. 'By working with our partners across the criminal justice system, we are determined to bring offenders to justice. We will prioritise action against sexual and violent, predatory offenders and we would ask any victim or witness to sexual assault, to please contact us. We have specially trained officers who will help and support you.' A prominent war correspondent from Russia's state propaganda media has been killed by a 'cluster munitions' strike in occupied Ukraine, Kremlin officials said. Rostislav Zhuravlev, 34, a war correspondent for Russia's RIA news agency, died in shelling near the frontline in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday. Russia's defence ministry said three other journalists were also wounded in a Ukrainian artillery strike. They were evacuated from the battlefield but RIA correspondent Zhuravlev died during the journey, officials said. 'As a result of shelling with cluster munitions by the Ukrainian armed forces, four journalists have suffered injuries of varying severity,' said Putin's defence ministry. Zhuravlev worked for RIA Novosti, a staunchly pro-Putin state media outlet seen as a key Kremlin propaganda weapon. Rostislav Zhuravlyov, 34, a war correspondent for Russia's RIA news agency, died in shelling near the frontline in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region Zhuravlyov worked for RIA Novosti, a staunchly pro-Putin state media outlet seen as a key Kremlin propaganda weapon The group reportedly came under fire in the Pyatikhatki area south of Zaporizhzhia, occupied by Russia. The journalists are now being taken to the major Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which is controlled by Russian occupation forces. 'The other reporters' condition is medium, stable,' said the ministry. 'Their lives are not in danger. 'They are being provided with all necessary medical aid.' The reporters were on a tightly-controlled trip to the war zone organised by the Russian defence ministry, said Roman Saponkov, another military journalist. RIA confirmed in a report that its correspondent had been killed while reporting in the frontline village of Piatykhatky, and that one of its cameramen was also hurt. The defence ministry said Ukraine had used cluster munitions in the incident, but did not provide evidence for this Russia said it would now respond in kind to the supposed use of US-supplied cluster munitions. However, Ukraine alleges that Russia has already used cluster bombs in the war. Zhuravlev last month told Russia's state-controlled Channel One TV how Russian forces had 'done their job so well' that Western-supplied Leopard tanks and Bradley armoured vehicles were 'destroyed on the approaches, without being allowed to reach our defensive lines'. Rostislav Zhuravlev, correspondent for Russia's RIA news agency, poses for a picture at an unknown location Zhuravlyov worked for RIA Novosti, a staunchly pro-Putin state media outlet seen as a key Kremlin propaganda weapon Ukraine received cluster bombs from the United States this month, but it has pledged to use them only to dislodge concentrations of enemy soldiers. Such weapons contain scores of small bomblets that rain shrapnel over a wide area, but are banned in many countries due to the potential danger they pose to civilians. Ukraine has repeatedly said their use will be limited to the battlefield. The United Nations said Russia itself has repeatedly used cluster munitions during the war. Cluster munitions are prohibited by 123 countries, including the UK. Concern was raised by several countries following Joe Biden's decision to supply the war-torn country with with weapons. Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans the production, stockpiling, use, and transfer of the weapons. Seattle vagrants have now constructed a homeless encampment in the trees above the crime-ridden city, prompting one stunned local to liken it to the Ewok Village from Star Wars. Local journalist Jonathan Choe stumbled across the ramshackle treehouse high in the city's trees on Friday, and deployed a drone to get a closer look. The Ewok encampment has a wooden stepladder to let its residents reach the ground below it. Its floor appears to be comprised of foam blocks, with a net supporting the soft material, which likely gives the shelter's residents a comfortable sleeping experience. Up top, the sci-fi style enclosure is covered with a green tarpaulin. It has been stuffed with mounds of trash and the sort of detritus commonly seen in other encampments, including clothes and a black plastic crate. It's unclear who lives in the treehouse and no residents were visible during Choe's visit. The Ewok Village appeared in Return of the Jedi, the 1983 movie that was the third in the original Star Wars trilogy. But unlike the sight that greets Seattle locals, it was a peaceful and idyllic location home to a tribe of Ewoks - furry creatures native to the fictional moon of Endor. Upon venturing into the encampment on Friday, journalist Jonathan Choe was stunned to find a resident living high up in the evergreen trees - a scene reminiscent of the iconic EWOK village from 'Return of the Jedi' Residents in an affluent Seattle neighborhood were outraged earlier this month after homeless people set up a swimming pool at their encampment - which officials refuse to remove Choe compared the scene to that of an Ewok Tree Village, which was village built within the evergreen trees in Bright Tree Village, home to an tribe of Ewoks during the Galactic Civil War in Star Wars He said of the discovery: 'After all the smoke cleared Friday afternoon, I went into the I-5 homeless encampment in downtown Seattle and found someone living up high in the evergreens. It's like the EWOK Village scene from Return of the Jedi. Earlier this month, Seattle hit the headlines after a swimming pool was constructed at a separate homeless encampment which saw a murder in May, with senior citizens living close to the slum left terrorized by its presence. In addition to the tree dwelling individual, Choe discovered a man building an intricate underground cave tunnel system. 'I met one guy who is extremely talented and should be working, said Choe accompanying a footage he took of the cave and its architect. 'He built one of the craziest encampments I have ever seen with an underground tunnel system in the works.' The sheer complexity of the structure shocked Choe as it suggested a level of engineering skill beyond the usual makeshift dwellings found in homeless communities. In addition to the tree dwelling individual, Choe discovered a man building an intricate underground cave tunnel system 'But the state might want to get on this ASAP,' he added. 'Imagine if this collapses on someone? Why take the risk? Only in Seattle.' After complimenting the skills and craftsmanship of the man he calls 'Jesse,' Choe asked: 'Why don't you be an architect?' To which the man explained that he can't get a job because he didn't go to school, but if he was offered one, he would take it. Jesse said he built the structure because he had no job, no money, and struggled with drug use. The Seattle encampment is situated on Washington State Department of Transportation property, Choe said, as he toured the property, stopping at various tents that were surrounded by trash and debris. 'I counted at least 40 suspected situations,' he said. 'Lots of drug use, trash, and no doubt there is run off going into the waterways. It's an environmental disaster in the making.' The Seattle encampment is situated on Washington State Department of Transportation property, Choe said, as he toured the property, stopping at various tents that were surrounded by trash and debris Officials in the crime-ridden city are dragging their heels with removing it, despite outrage from law-abiding taxpayers living nearby What initially drew attention to the West Seattle homeless encampment, was a fully inflated adult-sized swimming pool, which became a controversial topic in recent weeks. Residents in an affluent Seattle neighborhood were outraged earlier this month after homeless people set up a swimming pool at their encampment - which officials refuse to remove. Homeowners in Highland Park - where the median house price is nearly $600,000 - said the addition feels like a slap in the face after months of voicing their concerns. Video captured by KOMO shows one woman sitting on a couch next to the pool and smoking fentanyl in broad daylight. The encampment witnessed a recent murder, as well as theft and open air drug use - but the sight of a new inflatable swimming pool was what really threw neighbors off the edge. However, officials in the crime-ridden city are dragging their heels with removing it, despite outrage from law-abiding taxpayers living nearby. 'When I hear the shooting, I stay down and away from the windows,' said a neighbor Cheryl Galyeam. 'There are times I've had to get on the floor in the middle of the night. The sheer complexity of the structure shocked Choe as it suggested a level of engineering skill beyond the usual makeshift dwellings found in homeless communities Some of the inhabitants, however, are not pleased with Choe's investigation Residents of one Seattle neighborhood are furious vagrants living in an encampment have been spending summer days installing blow-up pools and smoking fentanyl Video captured by KOMO in the Seattle neighborhood shows one woman sitting on a couch next to the pool and smoking fentanyl in broad daylight Last week, Choe spoke with the woman who set up the pool and lives on the property, Monica Parrish. Parrish told Choe that the homeless are getting a bad rap and all she was trying to do was bring some 'positivity' to the community. Choe asked if she was aware that the state might come and clear the area soon. Parrish said she heard the plans to clear out the encampment are rumored to occur within the next one to two months. 'So why build all this if you're time is limited here?' Choe asked. 'I guess I was hoping for something a little different,' Parrish said while tearing up. 'I hate to see it go, but for the time being I wanted it to be nice, to look nice.' 'I was hoping it would be something I could keep, and hang on to, and maintain ... but it doesn't see like that's going to be a choice that we are going to be able to make,' she added. Since then, Choe said he has been venturing out and exploring the constellation of mini encampments in the deep woods nearby. Some of the inhabitants, however, are not pleased with his investigation. 'Who is that?' one disgruntled man asked as Choe walked toward his tent. 'Why are you walking into peoples camps man?' Choe ignored the man's question and asked: 'How long have you been here?' to which the man replied: 'Over a year.' 'I thought, "oh my God, what next?"' said Cheryl Galyeam (pictured) in reference to the pool Highland Park homeowners - many who are elderly - say the addition of a pool in the area feels like a slap in the face after months of voicing their concerns Seattle: one man can be seen here openly using a hypodermic needle as he lays on the sidewalk 'You know the states going to come and start clearing this out,' Choe declared. The man, now in an irritable state, said: 'That's fine, just go away, go away, god damn.' Many viewers praised Choe on YouTube for investigative the encampment and revealing his discoveries to the public. 'In the past several years, WA state, King County, and Seattle have spent BILLIONS on the homeless. It is revealing to see the results of that spending,' one commented. 'Keep up the good work!' 'That took nerve to do what you did. Those people are very independent and some are very violent be careful,' another commented. As the investigations continues, the public eagerly awaits further updates on those dwelling in this unusual homeless encampment, hoping that these discoveries can shed light on the broader issue of crime and homelessness in the city. 'The madness of community leaders who believe the rights of the selfish are more important than the contributing members of a society paying for everything.. Get organized, get out and vote for changes. Their lining their pockets with your money all awhile making empty promises.' Some viewers expressed concern for Choe's safety, emphasizing the dangers involved with intruding on the space of these homeless individuals. 'These are human beings like you and I. Why are you intruding into their lives? These individuals are extremely vulnerable, they have little sense of security. You're gonna end up on the evening news as another statistic. I'd be careful where you tread, be safe,' one commented. Nigel Farage has today escalated his battle with Coutts and the BBC over the closure of his bank account by lodging a formal complaint with the Information Commissioner which has the power to hit financial institutions with 17million fines. The former UKIP leader is demanding a formal apology from the corporation for claiming that the prestigious private bank dropped him after he fell below the required 1million threshold. Dame Alison Rose, chief executive of Natwest which owns Coutts has already apologised after the banks internal documents revealed that the account had in reality been closed because they thought his political views did not align with our values. Mr Farage has also written to BBC director-general Tim Davie to complain about the corporations reporting. In his letter to the Information Commissioners Office (ICO), Mr Farage places the relationship between the bank and the BBC at the centre of the furore: the BBC story was published by Business Editor Simon Jack the morning after Mr Jack sat next to Dame Alison at a charity dinner. Ex-UKIP leader, Nigel Farage, has lodged a formal complaint with Information Commissioner in Coutts account closure rower. Pictured on Good Morning Britain in March 2023 Dame Alison Rose, CEO of Nat West leaves her North London home yesterday morning In the letter, which has been seen by The Mail on Sunday, lawyers on behalf of Mr Farage write: The content of the BBC report gives rise to the inescapable conclusion that the bank was providing confidential information comprising Mr Farages personal data about his financial affairs to the Press, which, on the face of it would constitute a serious data breach by the bank. It adds: This material showed that the information that was apparently given to the BBC by Coutts or someone within the Natwest Group was at best incomplete and at worst deliberately misleading. The information given to the BBC was also not fully accurate in relation to the offer of alternative banking facilities at Natwest; Mr Farage was only offered an alternative current account, and was not offered an alternative business account. Mr Farages sense of profound injustice, and concern for wide societal implications of the banks conduct, led him to feel he had to correct the position by making public the full DSAR response, even though it included information that was highly prejudicial about him. The letter concludes: Given the gravity of this situation however, Mr Farage asks the ICO to intervene to take action to require Coutts and Natwest Group to explain promptly exactly how it has handled his personal data. The ICO has the power to fine Coutts a maximum of 17.5million, or 4 per cent of the total annual worldwide turnover in the preceding financial year, whichever is the higher amount. Former prime minister Boris Johnson said that if Dame Alison was in any way responsible for a false impression of Mr Farages financial circumstances being given to the media then she really needs to go. Writing in todays Daily Mail, Mr Johnson said: This is about far more than the bank account of one person. It is about freedom under the law, for everyone in this country. It is about the freedom to think and say what you believe provided you dont break the law without the fear of open or covert persecution. That freedom made our country great. It is under threat. It is time to fight. Its a fight about freedom to say what you want I read the banks dossier with cold, hard fury Hes been my political opponent but I vehemently support him. Mr Farage has written to BBC director-general Tim Davie to complain about the corporations reporting of the matter Since the story first appeared, the BBC has quietly updated the headline of the story to clarify that the information came from a source rather than being factual. Analysis editor Ros Atkins admitted the article has been disproven by the release of a 36-page internal dossier on the Brexiteer, which branded him a disingenuous grifter who promoted xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views. The BBC posted a statement that said: We acknowledge that the information we reported that Coutts decision on Mr Farages account did not involve considerations about his political views turned out not to be accurate. Mr Jack wrote on Twitter: The headline on the Farage story has been clarified and an update posted. It should have been clearer at the top that the reason for Mr Farages account being closed was commercial was what a source told the BBC. That has been corrected. Tycoon Sir Richard Branson had breakfast with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein three years after the US financier was jailed for a child prostitution offence, a court document claims. In 2019, after Sir Richard's name had appeared in a 'little black book' of high-profile Epstein contacts, a spokeswoman for the billionaire Virgin founder said that the two men had 'no personal or business relationship'. But a bombshell legal document seen by The Mail on Sunday reveals that in 2011 Epstein emailed his private banker Jes Staley and the former Labour Cabinet Minister Peter Mandelson to tell them of his alleged meeting with Sir Richard. The document states: 'On January 7, 2011 Epstein writes to Peter Mandelson (copying Staley) 'had breakfast with Richard Branson, he is also a big fan of Africa'. Epstein was a convicted sex offender at the time of the alleged meeting. In June 2008 he pleaded guilty to soliciting an underage girl for prostitution and was sentenced to 18 months in jail. Tycoon Sir Richard Branson (pictured in October) had breakfast with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein three years after the US financier was jailed for a child prostitution offence, a court document claims Sir Richard is the latest high-profile figure named in court papers from a civil case brought by the US Virgin Islands government against JP Morgan, an American US bank accused of ignoring warnings about Epstein's sex trafficking. Asked by the MoS this weekend whether Sir Richard had ever met or had breakfast with Epstein, a source said: 'We have no record of a breakfast on January 7, 2011.' The reference to Africa remained a mystery last night. Sir Richard bought a private game reserve in South Africa in 1994 and 12 years later helped establish a business school in Johannesburg to boost entrepreneurship. Epstein also repeatedly visited the continent, including in 2002 when he flew there on his private plane with former US President Bill Clinton, actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker to raise awareness of poverty and the Aids crisis. The source close to Sir Richard said he 'did not travel to Africa with Epstein, meet with Epstein in Africa or attend a 2002 trip with Epstein'. The MoS revealed earlier this month that Epstein planned to hire Prince Andrew and Lord Mandelson to be his 'star advisers' for a new consultancy business. Last weekend this newspaper also disclosed how Prince Andrew requested Epstein's help with securing $200 million (153 million) in funding for a mysterious fuel company in December 2010. That coincided with a visit, lasting at least five days, by Andrew to Epstein's New York mansion. In his infamous Newsnight interview with Emily Maitlis, the Prince claimed in that the 'sole purpose' of this trip was to break off his friendship with the disgraced financier. Epstein was a convicted sex offender at the time of the alleged meeting (pictured in 2005) Last week it emerged that Prince Andrew had also visited Epstein while the paedophile was still under house arrest for the child prostitution offence. This contradicted Andrew's claim in the same Newsnight interview that he did not see Epstein between 2006 and the visit in December 2010. In an email sent on June 14 2010, Epstein told Staley: 'Andrew just sat next to me at dinner.' Last year Andrew paid a reported 12 million to settle a civil case brought by Virginia Roberts, 39, who claimed that he sexually assaulted her when she was 17. However, he rejects her claims. Lord Mandelson's spokesperson has denied any professional or business relationship with Epstein. Holiday firms have been criticised for jetting in tourists to Rhodes today as the island buckles under its fifth day of wildfires, with thousands of people evacuated from beaches. Desperate tourists have described feeling 'abandoned' by flight carriers as they shared harrowing stories of being forced to walk for miles to safety and rely on help from overburdened local authorities. Panicked Brits say they have been left to fend for themselves after fleeing their burning hotel which felt 'like a warzone'. Officials on the Greek holiday island have today evacuated 30,000 people threatened by wildfires to safety - including 2,000 who had to flee on small boats and ferries. George Hadjimarkos, regional governor of the South Aegean, told Skai television that the operation, which is still ongoing, had been hampered by fires cutting off some road access. 'The aim is to protect human life,' he said. Are you caught up in the wildfires on Rhodes? E-mail: stewart.carr@mailonline.co.uk A firefighting aircraft drops water to extinguish a wildfire in Kiotari village, on Rhodes A father carries his daughter to safety as hundreds of tourists are evacuated from Rhodes amid a barrage of wildfires A wildfire burns next to a beach near Lindos, on the island of Rhodes Tourists are lining up waiting to be evacuated as wildfires break out in Lindos on the Greek island of Rhodes Twitter user John Hughes took a video of the chaotic scenes as the wildfire rages on the island Janet McDonald told Mail Online: 'My daughter and granddaughter were evacuated from Princess Sun Hotel Kotari this morning. They were told to walk for 50 minutes and then abandoned on a beach with nothing, no food or water and they have been left there. 'Now it is pitch black, her phone is dying and obviously the children are distressed. The Jet2 rep told them to "walk that way" then got in her car and drove off. It's nearly midnight and all they can see is the fires. Scary stuff and I'm a wreck.' Another woman told The Mirror how her friend and her family had to flee their hotel on foot in the blistering heat, leaving them stranded at the airport with no money or passports. Eileen Lawton, her daughter Hannah Gormley and eight-year-old granddaughter Annabelle were also staying at the Princess Sun Hotel when it started to catch fire. Their friend Glynis Wall said that hotel bosses evacuated, leaving guests to wait for rescue coaches which 'never turned up'. 'They said it was like images of a warzone,' Ms Wall said. 'Everyone around them was panicking. There were children and babies crying and mothers trying to protect them from the smoke.' Tourist Kieran Turner captured this view of Rhodes from his family's campsite on a beach Holidaymaker Emma Marsh said: 'We are currently in Rhodes - we landed today only to be told that our hotel has burnt down. No one from the airline informed us before we flew. 'The car we booked refused to take us anywhere definitely a lesson to always book a package holiday! We've had to sort ourselves out with a hotel for tonight and the insurance company is shut until Monday. 'I would definitely recommend people do not fly out to Rhodes in the next week. 'The hotel we've managed to find is having power cuts every two minutes, there is no aircon because it's putting too much pressure on the electricity and it's just a complete nightmare.' Fellow tourist Kieran Turner added: 'Me and my family are evacuees in Rhodes from Rodos Princess Beach hotel. Information from the hotel is sparse and our airline Jet2 is nowhere to be seen other than taking a register around 6pm. 'I'm currently camping on the beach with my wife, our six-year-old daughter and her two grandmothers. 'It's horrible what is happening to the people of Rhodes but we feel completely abandoned by Jet2.' Friend and family members of holidaymakers contacted airlines in desperation after hearing tales of them being stranded Guidance from the British Embassy included a hotline for Britons to call for consular assistance Tourists sit in the back of an open air lorry as they are evacuated during wildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes Hundreds of tourists have been forced to walk miles to safety on the Greek island of Rhodes Tourists and locals have been ushered into gyms, schools and hotel conference centres on the island where they will stay overnight, while firefighters battle the blaze. In addition, three passenger ferries have been moored at the port of Rhodes to accommodate those rescued. In previous days, the wildfire was confined to the island's mountainous centre, but aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread on Saturday towards the coast on the island's central-eastern side. Tourists evacuated from their hotels took to social media to describe the terrifying scenes, while claiming they had not received support from holiday companies. Carolyn Clason, on holiday in Pefkos, told the Mail: 'A lot of families with small children are frightened. Pefkos has just received a message from the Greek authorities telling us to evacuate, but no one knows where to go or how to get there. Three coastguard boats were leading more than 20 vessels in an emergency evacuation effort to rescue people from Rhodes 'The scene is chaotic, the beach is full. 'Transfer coaches have been unable to ferry arriving passengers to their locations due to road closures and its clearly having a knock-on effect. 'The ash from the fire is like a very full ashtray being spilt on the floor. Swimming pools are covered in thick ash and dust . 'We're wishing the rain you have back home would make its way here...' Members of the coastguard, the armed forces and local authority workers used dozens of buses to help move people away from the fires, said Rhodes municipality official Teris Hatziioannou. Where the fires had cut off road access, some tourists had to walk to safety. Panagiotis Dimelis, head of the Archangelos village council, told Skai TV that many locals had rushed to help the tourists. 'It is an unprecedented situation for the island,' he added. For the beach operation, the coastguard said three of its boats led more than 30 private vessels to pick up people from the Kiotari and Lardos beaches on the east of the Mediterranean island. A Greek navy boat was also headed to the area to help, according to the coastguard. Later Saturday, fire services spokesman Yannis Artopoios told ERT that new evacuation orders had been issued for the villages of Gennadi and Kiotari with direction to Plimiri on the eastern side of the island. Holidaymakers board a vessel as a beach in Rhodes becomes engulfed in smoke from nearby wildfires Smoke rises from a wildfire on the island of Rhodes, Greece Twitter user Paul Kalburgi reported that he left the hotel with his children and was told by his youngest that 'he doesn't want to die' Whole forests on the island have been caught up in raging wildfires for the past five days Twitter user Paul Kalburgi wrote: ' Currently stranded in #Rhodes escaping the wildfires on foot - left everything at the hotel and fled with towels across our faces. 'My youngest just told me he doesn't want to die. No news from any authorities. Terrifying situation here.' John Hughes detailed his evacuation with his child and claimed there had been little support provided to him by holiday company Jet2. He posted on Twitter: 'Jet2 where are you? No help, contact or guidance. Had to walk 4 mile in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a 5 year old. No possessions. #jet2 #rhodes #lindosimperial' User Volcaholic said there were scenes of 'absolute chaos' as people left without their possessions. They said: 'Crowds of hundreds of tourists and locals evacuate via roads to get away from out-of-control fires ravaging the island'. Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said on Saturday afternoon that residents of four localities were sent SMS messages to evacuate - in two places they were told to move to the north-east and in two others to the south-west. Mr Artopios said that more than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. The force includes 31 firefighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines. The main front of the fire is a triangle, with two of its points near the sea and one in the mountains. The wildfire was confined to the island's mountainous centre, but aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread on Saturday towards the coastline of Rhodes The wildfires have raged for five days, with authorities issuing an evacuation on Saturday An empty beach is pictured amidst smoke rising from wildfire burning near Lindos People try to extinguish a wildfire burning near Lindos, on the island of Rhodes Tourists were evacuated by boats close to Kiotari village on Rhodes island, Greece on Saturday Hundreds of tourists have been forced to evacuate from Rhodes as wildfires continue to ravage the Greek island after five days Families enjoying the summer holidays were forced to pack their belongings hurriedly as evacuations took place on Rhodes, which has been beset by wildfires A house was razed to the ground after fierce wildfires in Rhodes over the past five days Firefighters put out a blaze in a yard on the Greek island of Rhodes Small fishing boats were even used in a bid to remove as many tourists as possible from the island as it burns under searing temperatures Firefighters are seen near a wildfire on the island of Rhodes The fires have wrought devastation on Rhodes' wildlife and scenery, famed as one of the lushest Greek islands Around 40 customers with Thomas Cook are in the most affected hotels in Lardos and Kiotari. The firm says its remaining customers on the island are staying elsewhere and are unaffected by the current wildfire. A Thomas Cook spokesperson said: 'We are monitoring closely the wildfires in Rhodes and are in touch with our customers who are on holiday there. 'Our teams are in regular contact with our holidaymakers on the island currently as well as those about to depart to discuss their options.' A Jet2 spokesman added: 'We are aware of the fast-moving situation in Rhodes and our absolute priority is the health, safety and well-being of customers in the affected area. Our in-resort teams are working hard to comply with the guidance of local authorities, and we are continuing to bring more customer helpers into the area to provide further assistance, despite transport infrastructure challenges. 'We ask any customers in affected areas to follow the advice of both the local authorities, as well as staff in their hotels, who are acting under the advice of the authorities. 'In addition to our in-resort team, we have set up a dedicated team in the UK to help co-ordinate our response, and we have sent direct communications to keep customers updated. 'We are keeping the situation under constant review and continue to make decisions in the best interests of our customers.' Three coast guard vessels, plus one from the army, were seen evacuating people from two beaches. Twenty private boats were assisting and the Greek navy was sending a vessel. The blaze in Rhodes was the most dangerous of several active fires across Greece, Mr Artopios said. The fire north-west of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, he said, although the conditions, including temperatures set to reach 45C (113F) on Sunday and low humidity (below 15%), mean the danger is not over and more wildfires might break out. The Fire Service has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes, as well as large swathes of the south-west, as category five, the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks on Sunday. There will be a brief respite in the heatwave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have said. Firefighting forces from eight EU countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Mr Artopios said. Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, including aerial equipment. Are you caught up in the wildfires on Rhodes? E-mail: stewart.carr@mailonline.co.uk People protesting against Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion have taken their campaign to the BBC to increase pressure on the London Mayor to abandon the scheme. Hundreds of objectors of the hated scheme have gathered outside the BBC Broadcasting House in central London today dressed in high-vis jackets and armed with placards and megaphones. Some of the signs labelled ULEZ as a 'scam' and a 'highway robbery' while others brandished the London Mayor as a 'liar'. The ULEZ expansion is set to force Londoners in all boroughs to pay 12.50-a-day to drive in the capital from August 29, if their cars don't meet certain environmental standards. Despite mounting pressure, Khan vowed to push on with the plans yesterday despite Labour figures complaining it wrecked their efforts to seize Uxbridge & South Ruislip from the Tories following this week's byelection result. People protesting against Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion have take their campaign to the BBC to increase pressure on the London Mayor to abandon the scheme Hundreds of objectors of the hated scheme have gathered outside the BBC Broadcasting House in central London today dressed in high-vis jackets and armed with placards and megaphones The ULEZ expansion is set to force Londoners in all boroughs to pay 12.50-a-day to drive in the capital from August 29, if their cars don't meet certain environmental standards This map shows how the ULEZ area is due to be dramatically expanded from next month The London Mayor dismissed concerns after Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner joined calls to look again at the plans to expand the driver charging zone. He pointedly said that the seat had 'never been Labour in my lifetime', insisting the 12.50 a day levy will 'clear the air' in the capital. Mr Khan was branded the 'loser of the night' after the Tories unexpectedly clung on to Boris Johnson's old seat by 500 votes. However, the wider picture for Mr Sunak was grim - with the alarming sight of Labour comfortably overturning a massive majority to gain the former stronghold of Selby & Ainsty. The Conservatives were also trounced by the Liberal Democrats in Somerton & Frome as their 19,000-vote margin from the last general election crumbled. The Tories' new Uxbridge MP Steve Tuckwell credited his victory to the unpopularity of ULEZ. And speaking in Selby, Sir Keir said: 'Ulez was the reason we didn't win there yesterday. 'We know that. We heard that on the doors. And we've all got to reflect on that, including the mayor.' Sir Keir Starmer pinned the blame for Labour's loss in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election on the planned expansion of the ultra low emission zone (Ulez) in London. Sir Keir was asked what 'reflect' meant and whether it meant the scheme should now be scrapped. He said: 'We've got to look at the result. The mayor needs to reflect. And it's too early to say what should happen next.' Pictured: A pink cab outside the BBC Broadcasting House with a sign stuck to its back window that reads 'stop the toxic air lie' Pictured: Protestors carry signs calling the ULEZ scheme a 'scam', while another says the BBC and Sadiq Khan are both 'liars' Pictured: Objectors to the ULEZ scheme carry licence plates reading 'NO 2 ULEZ' as a picture of the London Mayor with the word 'liar' on his foreheard can be seen in the background Asked about the Uxbridge result on a visit to a cafe in central London today, Mr Khan said Victorious Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell shakes hands with his Labour rival Danny Beales after being declared the winner of the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election Speaking to broadcasters during a visit to Shefford in the Mid Bedfordshire constituency today, the Labour leader added: 'I don't think there is any doubt that Ulez was the reason that we lost the election in Uxbridge. 'And I have said we should reflect on this, including the mayor (Sadiq Khan). I have spoken to him as you would expect, and so there will be that reflection. 'But we're not sitting back, we're not looking over our shoulder. We're pressing forward. 'There should be an election, a by-election in Mid Bedfordshire, and so I'm here talking to local residents, to people who are now fed up and want a by-election desperately and want to vote Labour. 'So yes, of course we reflect, but we're moving forward here because the goal is to get to that general election.' Meanwhile, Labour deputy leader Ms Rayner said yesterday 'there is no getting away from' the fact that ULEZ was 'the major issue'. She warned people 'can't afford' the levy amid the cost of living crisis - but blamed the government for failing to fund a scrappage scheme. 'The Uxbridge result shows that when you don't listen to the voters, you don't win elections,' she said. Asked about the Uxbridge result on a visit to a cafe in central London yesterday, Mr Khan said: 'Of course I am disappointed that this seat, which has never been Labour in my lifetime, didn't go (to) Labour last night. 'Obviously I welcome the 7% swing to Labour in this outer London seat and we are determined to clear the air in London.' With its cross-dressing heroine and story of mistaken identity, Shakespeare's Twelfth Night has been delighting audiences for four centuries. But the romantic comedy is now the subject of a so-called 'content warning' by a university, which has given students permission to walk out of lectures on the play if they find its romantic entanglements detrimental to their 'wellbeing'. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David issued the directive for an English degree course module that includes Twelfth Night, as well as three other plays by the Bard. Last night some of the country's finest Shakespearean actors hit out at the move. Good Life star Felicity Kendal, who played Viola in the BBC's acclaimed 1980 adaptation of Twelfth Night, said: 'This sort of thing is totally absurd. PICTURED: Felicity Kendal playing Viola in the BBC's acclaimed 1980 adaptation of Twelfth Night Felicity said children should not be deterred from engaging with these works 'Great art is meant to challenge our senses, our feelings and our prejudices... We should not be deterring students from engaging with these works.' Dame Janet Suzman, who has starred in productions of Antony And Cleopatra, The Merchant Of Venice and Love's Labour's Lost, also said she had no time for what she described as 'piffle'. Great art is meant to challenge our senses The university's warning, a copy of which has been obtained by this newspaper under Freedom of Information laws, allows undergraduates studying Error and Sweet Violence: Shakespeare and Renaissance Comedy and Tragedy 'to leave the class, interrupt their activity or take any measure necessary to take care of their wellbeing without the need for explanation or justification' if they are confronted by content they consider upsetting. In addition to Twelfth Night the warning also covers the Shakespeare plays Othello, Measure For Measure and Coriolanus, as well as Doctor Faustus and Edward II, both by Christopher Marlowe. Twelfth Night, which is believed to have been written between 1601 and 1602, tells the story of twins Viola and Sebastian, who become separated following a shipwreck. Fearing that Sebastian has drowned, Viola decides that her only chance of survival is to disguise herself as a man called Cesario. Her disguise is a success, but chaos ensues when she finds herself falling in love with her new employer, Duke Orsino. The situation is complicated further when the Countess Olivia, the object of the Duke's affections, falls in love with Cesario. Last night, Dame Janet added: 'If some deluded members of the human race wish to be immersed in a Barbie-safe world of pinkness and sugar, by all means stay there but they must never choose to study great literature. 'Heavens! They might be in danger of widening their horizons.' Succession star Dame Harriet Walter, who played Viola in the RSC's 1987 production of the play, said: 'The emphasis on the potential upset caused by these plays over the probable uplift, mind-expansion and inspiring humanity of Shakespeare's language is worrying.' Twelfth Night, which was heavily referenced in the 1998 Oscar-winning film Shakespeare In Love, has always been popular with children and young teenagers. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David did not respond to requests for comment. A Manhattan model filed a lawsuit against her ex boyfriend after he allegedly threatened to kill her and her dog with a 41 inch sword after coming home to their East Village apartment 'very drunk.' Ombeline Cahn, 26, claimed tech CEO David Lipa, 'pulled down a sword that he had hanging from the wall, positioned the sword over (her) chest, and threatened to kill (her) and her dog,' the New York Post reported. Lipa allegedly came home drunk and began to 'verbally abuse' Cahn, before hitting her in the face and ear, according to the lawsuit obtained by the New York Post. The 38-year-old then did not allow Cahn back into their $1.1M East Village apartment. 'When she was finally able to re-enter, with the assistance of the police, she saw that Mr. Lipa had stabbed and destroyed her clothing,' Cahn's lawyer, Nonna Shikh, said in a statement to the New York Post. Model Ombeline Cahn, 26, has sued her tech CEO ex David Lipa over claims he threatened to kill her and her dog with a 41-inch sword According to the lawsuit, the sword is a large blade called a 'spit,' which is illegal in New York Cahn claimed Lipa (right), 38, 'pulled down a sword that he had hanging from the wall, positioned the sword over (her) chest, and threatened to kill (her) and her dog,' the New York Post reported According to the lawsuit, the sword is a 41-inch blade called a 'spit,' which is illegal in New York. She reported the incident to the New York Police Department and requested an order of protection, according to the Post. The 38-year old and founder and CEO of the tech company Lightserve was arrested and charged with menacing and criminal possession of a weapon. The couple's relationship began in April 2022 and they moved in together within just four months. Cahn said this wasn't the first time that her ex, who had a history of taking Adderall and getting drunk, became violent toward and her pup. In November, Lipa allegedly slapped Cahn multiple times in the face. Cahn said that when he let her back into their 1.1M East Village apartment, he had stabbed and destroyed her clothing. She reported the incident to the New York Police Department and requested an order of protection Lipa allegedly came home drunk and began to 'verbally abuse' Cahn, before hitting her in the face and ear, according to the lawsuit obtained by the NYP Cahn said Lipa (right) has previously threatened to kill her dog by dangling the animal out of a window, according to her statement to the Manhattan Supreme Court Lawsuit He has also previously threatened to kill her dog by dangling the animal out of a window, according to a statement by Cahn in the Manhattan Supreme Court Lawsuit. The specific amount in damages that the lawsuit is requesting is currently unclear. 'Ms. Cahn is in complete emotional distress and physical pain from the actions of Mr. Lipa,' the attorney said to the New York Post. Aside from her modeling career, Cahn, who is originally from France, calls herself a 'concept artist specializing in dynamic military aviation illustrations,' according to her site. An abducted social worker set off fireworks in a garage to try and alert people to a mom murdering her baby and two young children in an adjoining room. The unidentified social worker arrived at Brandy McCaslin's home in Verdigris, Oklahoma, on Thursday night to collect McCaslin's 11 year-old daughter Noa. But once there, McCaslin held a gun to her head, locked her in a garage and shot dead Noe, as well as her two sons - six year-old Bryce and 10 month-old Billy. She then turned the gun on herself and took her own life. Locals reported seeing fireworks go off inside the property at the time, which DailyMail.com has since been told were the social worker trying to raise the alarm. McCaslin had seized the woman's phone. Brandy McCaslin, 39, had been given unsupervised visitation right to two of her children just a month before she killed them at her home in Verdigris, Oklahoma McCaslin killed Billy Jacobson, 10 months, her 6-year-old son Bryce and 11-year-old daughter Noe in the tragedy on Thursday night Billy Jacobson Sr paid tribute to his son, callign him the 'sweetest happiest baby', who woke up 'every morning with a huge smile waiting to play She had her son in the car, and started setting off fireworks through the garage window in a bid alert law enforcement to the tragedy, according to Billy's father, Billy Jacobson Sr. Authorities confirmed that the lone officer went to investigate and called for back-up when they found McCaslin barricaded inside the home, armed with a weapon. When officers gained access to the house hours later, they found McCaslin and her three children dead. Billy Sr told DailyMail.com that McCaslin had asked for an extra hour with their son, and he believes she 'planned it in advance'. He 'I knew she had problems, and I was so scared something could happen like this. She planned this ahead of time. 'She asked me a week and a half ago, if she could have an extra hour with Billy that day. She was a very controlling person and that combined with her losing her grandparents is what caused this. 'her not having control over where her kids went, it would have been a factor. She was trying to push for them to move back in with her. 'Her grandparents would baby her through her whole life, they brought her up, gave her everything she wanted and if she got in trouble they covered for her. All it did was create a monster. Billy Sr told DailyMail.com that McCaslin had asked for an extra hour with their son, and he believes she 'planned it in advance' The mother-of-three (left) had attempted suicide in January after losing her grandfather, with the father of her youngest child saying her mental state worsened when her grandmother died a month later The mother-of-three had also been released from DHS supervision while caring for Bryce, (pictured) in the weeks running up to the murders 'Myself and Noe's dad were fighting for what was safe for the kids. Brandy had a lot of mental issues and threatened to run off with Billy and never let me see him again. 'The courts have failed us dramatically. I had emergency custody of Billy, and Noe's dad did the same, but within a month they gave her supervised visitation back when she hadn't done anything'. A fundraiser has received $215 of a $10,000 goal to pay for funeral costs for Billy and Bryce as well as any other assistance the family needs. McCaslin reportedly told the court that she had completed her counseling following her attempt on her life, with lawyers for the fathers of Billy and Noe fighting to stop her from having unsupervised visits. The mother-of-three had also been released from DHS supervision while caring for Bryce, in the weeks running up to the murders. She was allowed unsupervised access to the children over a month before the killings, with Billy Sr blaming the system for the deaths of the children. Billy Sr said: 'Her guns, a shotgun, a couple of hunting rifles, and a 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun, weer taken away from her after the first suicide attempt. 'But I think her friend gave them back to her when she was released from supervision for Bryce, and this is what happened. 'She was a mother and the courts instantly gave her much more consideration. I believe if it had been a man on the other side of the fence, that I wouldn't have seen my kids ever again. A memorial has been set up in front of the property for the three children, as neighbors pay tribute to the three children as 'happy and normal kids' A fundraiser has received $215 of a $10,000 goal to pay for funeral costs for Billy and Bryce, which claims McCaslin had her son during a 'supervised visit' 'Because she was a mother, they just gave her the kids back, whether it was safe or not. No checks were done to make sure they were safe. 'She did it to take them away from me and their fathers. That's why she did it. The courts have failed us dramatically, it has been a total failure. 'We don't want this to happen to anyone else. We are praying for changes to the system to prevent it from ever happening to another family.' Billy Sr paid tribute to all three children, calling Billy the 'sweetest happiest baby', who woke up 'every morning with a huge smile waiting to play adding that he was 'so loved' by his two sisters, Alex and Zoe. He also cared for Bryce, who was autistic and had told the six-year-old that he would 'always take care of him' when he visited last week. The father-of-three said: 'I told him I can't be your daddy, but I'll always be your Billy and always take care of you. I just didn't think that I would have to take care of him by organizing his funeral. 'Bryce was the sweetest, happiest little boy, he always had a smile and had a heart of gold soaked up attention from anyone. Authorities confirmed that the lone officer went to investigate and called for back-up when they found McCaslin barricaded inside the home, armed with a weapon 'Noe was a goofy, funny, sweet cute little kid. She was so timid but she had just started vaulting horses recently, I was so proud of her. She was strong and fearless.' A memorial has been set up in front of the property for the three children, as neighbors pay tribute to the three children as 'happy and normal kids'. An Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spokesman said: 'On the afternoon of July 20, 2023, officers with the Verdigris Police Department noticed fireworks erupting outside a home near East Dogwood Court and Cypress Street. 'Officers went to investigate and discovered an armed and barricaded woman inside the residence. 'Negotiations quickly began as they worked to make contact with 39-year-old Brandy McCaslin. A stand-off ensued for the next three hours. 'After no response, officers made entry into the home where they found McCaslin, along with her three children, dead inside. 'The children included a ten-month-old, as well as a six and eleven-year-old. It was determined that McCaslin shot all three kids and then turned the weapon on herself. 'The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation was requested to assist with this case. OSBI agents will continue to work alongside the Verdigris Police Department, as this investigation continues.' Donald Trump would beat incumbent President Biden to the White House if the race was held now, a new poll has shown. New findings in a Harvard-Harris poll released on Friday show that Trump would beat Biden in a head-to-head matchup by five percentage points. The new findings also show that Vivek Ramaswamy is hot on the heels of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis who has shot up eight points in the polls and is only two behind DeSantis. Trump would also beat Vice President Kamala Harris should she step up and run in the race by an even bigger margin of seven percent, according to the polls. The former President also remains well in front of winning the Republican presidential primary, despite the rise of Ramaswamy. The new poll suggests that if an election was held now, former President Trump, right, would beat incumbent Biden, left, by five percent Their survey, which polled 2,068 registered voters, also showed a wide sense of discontent across the country for both major party candidates, with 70 percent looking for another option. The majority of people polled also agreed that President Biden was mentally unfit to continue to serve as President. 59 percent of people agreed that they had doubts about his fitness for office, with the majority being GOP voters, 85 percent. It was also widely agreed in the polls that Biden was showing he is too old to be President, with over two thirds, 68 percent, agreeing he was too old. Should the Republican party primary fall between DeSantis and Trump, polling suggests the former President would win by a landslide with 63 percent of the vote. DeSantis campaign pollster Ryan Tyson took issue with the poll's findings, tweeting Sunday that the national sample, collected through an internet panel, is 'not a likely Republican voter survey that uses vote history.' 'While I appreciate the desire for clicks, narrative and publicity, these findings shouldnt remotely be considered indicative of where likely primary voters are today,' said Tyson. 'Bottom line: this is not the state of the race nationally- and especially not in the early states.' Outside of the main political front runners in the upcoming election, the poll also asked individuals about their favorability of political figures. Top of this poll was Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who achieved a favorable rating of 47 percent, with a 26 percent unfavorable rating. Second on the list was Donald Trump, who achieved a favorable rating of 45 percent, but a higher unfavorable rating of 49 percent. This is a national sample collected via internet panel-not a likely Republican primary voter survey that uses vote history. This methodology is the least effective way to connect with the 65+ voters who actually vote in Rep. primaries (~40%+ of electorate) (Part 2 in comment.) https://t.co/SWYJgDZyIL Ryan Tyson (@ryan_tyson) July 22, 2023 Vivek Ramaswamy, left, has now closed the gap to just two percentage points behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, right, but both still trail Trump by considerable margins Fresh doubts have been raised about Biden's fitness for office after a string of high-profile slip-ups It comes after polls published earlier this month by Echelon Insights found that 48 percent of swing state voters would back Trump in next year's vote. Pollsters, who interviewed 1,020 voters for the study, said just 41 percent would back Biden over the former president. But in a straight head-to-head nationwide poll, Echelon found that Biden is just ahead of Trump by 45 percent to 44 percent. Echelon Insights survey revealed 60 percent of likely Democratic voters said they would "definitely" or "probably" back Biden in a Democratic presidential primary. It is a further 33 percent replied they would opt to back a different Democratic candidate, with 7 percent stating they were unsure. The Echelon Insights poll was conducted with 1,020 likely voters between June 26 and 29, with a margin of error of +/- 3.9 percentage points. Out of all the political figures in the country, Robert F. Kennedy, who is running as the Democratic presidential candidate, was deemed the most favorable in the poll The president was able to win the 2020 election after flipping the key swing states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia. Last month, a survey suggested that the swing state of Pennsylvania had gone back towards Trump. With 20 Electoral College votes and a tendency to swing back and forth between elections, Pennsylvania is one of the states crucial in determining who wins the presidency. After voting for Trump in 2016, Pennsylvania turned blue for Biden in 2020. The Quinnipiac survey said that 47 percent of voters in Pennsylvania would vote for the former President, while 46 percent would back the current commander-in-chief. An Irishman who dragged the body of his 'grey coloured' and 'lifeless' uncle to a post office in a bid to claim his 246 (213) pension has been jailed. Declan Haughney, 40, of Pollerton Road in Carlow, pleaded guilty to deception after taking Peadar Doyle, 66, into Hoseys Post Office on January 21 last year. Gareth Coakley, 38, of John Sweeney Park in Carlow, also admitted the same offence. CCTV captured the pair dragging Mr Doyle along the street and into the post office, before making their way to the front counter, Dublin Live reports. Police said Haughney showed the late Mr Doyle's social welfare card in a bid to collect the pension, while placing his uncle slumped against a door. Declan Haughney, 40, of Pollerton Road in Carlow, has received a jail sentence after taking the 'lifeless' body of his uncle, Peadar Doyle, 66, into Hoseys Post Office on January 21 last year Haughney admitted he had attempted to claim his deceased uncle's 246 (213) pension Gareth Coakley, 38, of John Sweeney Park in Carlow, also admitted his role in the offence At a sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Eugene O'Kelly said the pair had 'a callous disregard for the dignity and welfare of a dying man' and 'literally abandoned him on the floor of the post office' Mr Doyle was subsequently discovered to be deceased inside the post office. At a sentencing hearing, Mr Justice Eugene O'Kelly said the pair had 'a callous disregard for the dignity and welfare of a dying man' and 'literally abandoned him on the floor of the post office', Daily Star reports. Haughney and Coakley were each handed a jail sentence of two-and-a-half years with the final six months suspended. In a victim impact statement, Peader Doyle's sister Noeleen Dowling - also the aunt of Haughney - said the family were hurt by his failure to raise the alarm sooner and that her brother's death had been 'reduced to a macabre spectacle and his dignity was taken away from him'. Groves has been charged with taking images of nude three-to-five-year-old children while working at a daycare. Laughton is accused of sharing explicit and sickening fantasies with ex-girlfriend Lindsay Groves tacie Marine Laughton, 39, a former Democrat representative, has been charged with aiding and abetting the sexual exploitation of children New Hampshire's first ever elected transgender lawmaker has been charged with horrific child sex offenses after allegedly getting her daycare worker to send her explicit photos of toddlers in her care. Stacie Marine Laughton, 39, a former Democrat representative, could face up to 30 years in jail after being charged with aiding and abetting the sexual exploitation of children. The former New Hampshire state representative was arrested after daycare worker Lindsay Groves, 38, was accused of taking explicit photographs of children aged between three to five years old in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts. Groves was reportedly in a relationship with Laughton, and the two had discussed the sexual photographs of children in more than 10,000 messages. Department of Justice documents show several sickening conversations between the pair, who fantasized about sexually assaulting young children. Their alleged conversations were detailed in full in charging documents, but are too horrific to reproduce. Stacie Marine Laughton, 39, could face up to 30 years in jail after being charged with aiding and abetting the sexual exploitation of children Lindsay Groves, right, a worker at a daycare in Tyngsborough, has also been arrested. She was previously in an intimate relationship with Laughton, seen left The former couple shared warped fantasies about sexual acts they wanted to perform on the children and discussed them in graphic detail, it is alleged. Groves was reportedly in a relationship with Laughton at one point According to documents Laughton told Groves to touch a childs genitals, so she took a picture and sent it to her for sexual gratification. She 'allegedly used natural bathroom breaks for the children,' such as 'routine diaper pull-up changes prior to naptime ... to take multiple photos of the prepubescent children in a private bathroom. Groves, a former employee at Creative Minds Early Learning Center was charged last month with sexual exploitation of children and distribution of child pornography. She is accused of taking naked pictures of the three- to five-year-old children and disseminating them, according to charging documents. The charge of sexual exploitation of children can lead to a sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Nashua Police Department began an investigation into the allegations after receiving an anonymous tip off. Laughton, a former Democrat representative who is transgender, has a lengthy criminal history dating back to 2002 The former New Hampshire state representative was arrested after daycare worker Groves, 38, was accused of taking explicit photographs of children aged between three to five years old in Tyngsborough, Massachusetts The charge of sexual exploitation of children can lead to a sentence of up to 30 years in prison if found guilty Laughton was born a man and elected in 2012, but was unable to serve after her criminal past emerged in which she was sentenced to 10 years probation stemming from a 2008 felony conviction for credit card fraud. State laws prohibited convicted felons from holding office until the final discharge of their sentence. In 2012, she was elected along with two Democrats - David Cole and Mary Gorman - to represent the Hillsborgouh 31 district. The three all received more votes than both Republican challengers, Elizabeth Van Twuyver and Richard Heitmiller. She was arrested for domestic violence/criminal mischief in 2002 and also had a sexual assault charge against a woman in 2003. In 2015, she was arrested for making a bomb threat against the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center. In 2021, she was arrested once again for misusing the state's 911 texting system. Despite her criminal past, Laughton still ran for a second term in 2022 and was elected to represent Nashua, New Hampshire. She was elected to represent the Hillsborough 3 district along with Democrats Cote and Fred Davis. Republican Joost Baumeister lost earning one of the three seats by about 100 votes. However, once again, she was unable to take office having been jailed on stalking charges. She was accused of stalking Groves. Laughton has blamed her past criminal behavior on mental illness and untreated conditions. When she resigned her House seed in 2022, she posted a video to social media about her issues. 'As of today, Im no longer a state representative which is very disappointing, but Im going to come back to it,' Laughton said, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. 'I will be attending mental health court and getting some counseling and trying to get my life back on track. Im not perfect. Even in the future I still wont be perfect but I will be a better version of myself and better able to handle situations that come my way. In two years, the next state election, I will run for state representative again.' Ocado is to be paid 200 million by a rival Norwegian company after winning a three-year long 'robot wars' legal battle. The retail giant, which licenses automated technology for supplying groceries, said it and AutoStore have settled their long-running dispute over robot patents. It comes after the Norwegian company launched a legal battle in 2020 after it accused Ocado of using some of its patented robot technology and tried to protect six patents that it said the company had breached. A High Court judge ruled in March that AutoStore's 'patents were invalid' as they had already been disclosed to another company years earlier and that, regardless, Ocado did not infringe them. Ocado said that AutoStore is to pay them 200 million in 24 monthly instalments starting this month, under a new settlement as both firms withdrew their actions against each other. Ocado is to be paid 200 million by a rival Norwegian company after winning a three-year long 'robot wars' legal battle The retail giant, which licenses automated technology for supplying groceries, said it and AutoStore have settled their long-running dispute over robot patents Tim Steiner, Ocado Group chief executive, said: 'I am pleased that we have worked together to resolve our differences and can now continue to focus on what we do best, innovating, developing and enabling partners to access world-beating technology.' Neill Abrams, group general counsel and company secretary, added: 'I'm delighted that this litigation has now ended on satisfactory terms.' The full terms of the settlement are confidential but Ocado said that both firms are allowed to continue to use and market their own existing products without challenge of infringement of the other's post-2020 patents. It added that AutoStore is not permitted to make or use a single-space cavity robot in any jurisdiction where Ocado has patent protection. The deal also gives access to part of each party's patent portfolio for them to use or develop their own products but this does not mean there will be collaboration, technology assistance or access to actual products. When it first announced its claims, AutoStore said Ocado was using some of its patented robot technology. Deals that the automated supermarket company had with Marks & Spencer and Morrisons and Kroger in the US infringed on the patents, AutoStore claimed. The company had asked for the courts to ban Ocado from using the technology in future and was seeking compensation. Ocado boss Tim Steiner (pictured with his partner Patrycja Pyka) said he was 'pleased' that the companies were able to resolve their differences Both companies use automated machinery to collect and carry products around their warehouses. Earlier this week, Steiner also admitted he was disappointed about the performance of the tie-up with Marks & Spencer as the company crashed to its biggest ever half-year loss. Speaking after the online supermarket reported a 289million loss for the six months to May 28, the Ocado boss said its joint venture with M&S was not where we wanted it to be. Ocado faces the humiliating prospect of missing out on a near-200million payment from M&S because targets agreed at the time of the tie-up may not be met. The companies joined forces in 2019 to create Ocado Retail, a 750million 50-50 joint venture that gave Ocado customers access to M&S food. Russian security forces have killed a gunman who broke into a private house in the suburbs of Moscow and fired at them, reportedly threatening to march on the Kremlin. The assailant was spotted by guards earlier today after he had hidden in the unoccupied house located in an elite cottage village in the Istra region, which is less than 30 miles west of Moscow. He held them at gunpoint, but they managed to escape, according to the Russian media. For several hours, the authorities negotiated with the attacker who was in combat fatigues and toted a Kalashnikov rifle. The man claimed he came from the front lines in Ukraine and was driven by God to march on the Kremlin, the seat of the government in Moscow. Russian security forces (pictured) have killed a gunman who broke into a private house in the suburbs of Moscow and fired at them The man reportedly held the guards at gunpoint, but they managed to escape. Pictured is an armed vehicle for the National Guard Troops Federal Service For several hours, the authorities negotiated with the attacker who was in combat fatigues and toted a Kalashnikov rifle He refused to surrender, fired at the special forces and was killed when they stormed the house, Russia's National Guard said. It said that the attacker had several automatic weapons and hand grenades. Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein identified the assailant as Vyacheslav Chernenko, a 35-year-old resident of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. It was not immediately clear if he indeed fought in Ukraine as he claimed. Istra administrator Tatiana Vitusheva described the attacker as mentally unstable. Some Russian media claimed that the cottage he broke into once belonged to Viktor Yanukovych, the former Moscow-friendly president of Ukraine who was driven from office by mass protests and offered shelter by Russia. It has been put up for sale by its current owner, who was abroad when the incident happened. The incident attracted close media attention, coming nearly a month after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a short-lived mutiny that saw his Wagner troops capture military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then drive as close as 125 miles to Moscow in a bid to oust the country's top military leaders. Prigozhin agreed to end the June 23-24 rebellion under a deal that offered amnesty to him and his mercenaries and allowed them to move to Belarus. BBC presenter Evan Davis has revealed that he found out about the death of his father during a phone call on his wedding day. The Dragon's Den star, 61, said in an interview with The Sunday Times that he received a text from his brother Roland shortly after the ceremony with his husband in Lambeth town hall last July, telling him to 'Call ASAP'. Mr Davis, who has presented Radio 4's flagship early evening current affairs show PM since 2018, managed to slip away from his guests during the reception to ring his brother back, who then told him that their father Quintin had taken his own life. He had just married his partner Guillaume Baltz, 56, a French landscape architect, on the same day that 17 conservative MPs resigned, which forced Boris Johnson himself to stand down as PM the day after. Mr Davis, whose wedding day had already been distracted by the drama unfolding in Westminster, told his guests about the tragic news of his father's death urging them not to 'be alarmed' as 'he was elderly and it was definitely his time'. BBC presenter Evan Davis found out about the death of his father during a phone call on his wedding day Evan married his partner Guillaume Baltz (pictured together), 56, a French landscape architect, last July the day that 17 conservative MPs resigned, which forced Boris Johnson himself to stand down as PM the day after Mr Davis' father, who he said 'had a wonderful, long and happy life', had already told the presenter and his two brothers that he planned to take his own life as his physical and mental state were deteriorating. Quintin had sent them all an email a year before informing them of his intentions and they did not try to talk him out of it. Mr Davis told The Sunday Times that after announcing the news at his wedding party, one of his guests, Elizabeth Filkin, a former parliamentary standards commissioner, proposed a toast to his late father. The day after the ceremony, he went back to work at the BBC Broadcasting House in London and broke into tears when colleagues asked how the day went. Four hours after going on air to host the PM programme, Johnson resigned. Mr Davis said that the whole week was 'very weird'. Mr Davis and his partner met in a bar in 2002 and have been together ever since. He graduated from Oxford with a first in politics, philosophy and economics and took a masters at Harvard before joining the BBC as an economics reporter, then editor. He has been the host of Dragons' Den since 2005. Earlier this year, the BBC star found himself at the centre of another impartiality row as his Radio 4 show failed to 'remind listeners' about 'opposing opinions' on legalising cannabis. Four hours after going on air to host the PM programme, Johnson resigned. Mr Davis said that the whole week was 'very weird' It came days after Prince Harry had spoken out about his recreational use of illegal drugs during an intimate chat with a toxic trauma expert. The Corporation 'partially upheld' a complaint over an interview Mr Davis conducted with a professor who was in favour of legalising cannabis, on Radio 4's PM show. After the programme aired in October, a listener complained about 'the absence of an alternative view' and a 'lack of impartiality on the part of the presenter'. A month prior, the BBC was forced to apologise after Mr Davis was accused of making 'perfunctory efforts' to challenge a trans guest who accused JK Rowling of transphobia. In 2019, shortly after quitting as host of Newsnight to take over at PM, Mr Davis admitted that he felt better suited to radio. He said at the time: 'I didn't want to do Newsnight for ever, because it's an intense job and unsociable due to the hours. I would have liked to have gone on, but if something like PM comes up and you say no then someone else gets it, and there'll be no vacancy for another ten years.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or go to samaritans.org Marcus Ball brims with righteous indignation as he targets politicians he accuses of squandering public money. So much so, that one imagines his own probity could never possibly be doubted. Yet four years ago it was revealed that not all of the 500,000 in online donations he received went on his private prosecution case against Boris Johnson. Some 53,000, he conceded, found its way into his own pocket, including, 12,065 on accommodation, with 1,250 on a deposit for a flat he never actually moved into. A further 255 went on home office expenses on the flat he shared with four others, including a mirror and a rug to make my work environment a lot nicer. Marcus Ball brims with righteous indignation as he targets politicians he accuses of squandering public money His campaign against Mr Johnson began in 2016 with a largely ignored amateurish video Mr Ball told his supporters: I chose a building which had security staff, security cameras outside and inside, as well as fitness facilities on site. Some people may criticise me for spending so much on rent, but I dont regret this decision. Donations also paid for 333 self-defence lessons. By protecting myself I protect our work, he explained. Some 210 even went on cupcakes. I accept the cupcakes were a mistake, he told Channel 4 News but dismissed a mischievous suggestion that he was hungry, insisting the treats were a thank you to his valued team. He also denied the prosecution was a colossal waste of money. History graduate Mr Ball, 33, was born in Norwich, the son of a retired English teacher. His birth certificate lists his name as Joshua Edwin Ball. At some point during adulthood, it is believed he changed it by deed poll to Marcus for 15. A failed entrepreneur, he has a string of wound-up businesses to his name, with several registered to his family home, a 630,000 property near the Norfolk citys cathedral. His campaign against Mr Johnson began in 2016 with a largely ignored amateurish video. Then, in the aftermath of the EU referendum, he set up a page on the Crowdfunder website. Any donations he received, he promised supporters, would be used to prosecute guilty Leave-supporting politicians. History graduate Mr Ball, 33, was born in Norwich, the son of a retired English teacher A failed entrepreneur, he has a string of wound-up businesses to his name, with several registered to his family home, a 630,000 property near the Norfolk citys cathedral Elsewhere he repeatedly insisted that the case against Mr Johnson had nothing to do with a wish to frustrate Brexit. It was simply to stop lying in politics. Described as vexations and politically motivated, the failed prosecution in 2019 reportedly left him facing financial ruin. Previously he says that he earned money speaking in public and teaching public speaking skills. His website says he has contributed to Russia Today, the controversial Kremlin-funded TV station recently fined by Ofcom for breaching broadcasting standards during coverage of the Salisbury poisonings. China is suspected of supplying Russia with weaponry and ammunition that is being used to maim and kill Ukrainian civilians and soldiers, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. A classified Ukrainian military intelligence document leaked to the MoS claims that Chinese companies supplied Russia with weapons parts to the value of 165 million in just January and February this year. More have arrived since. State-owned companies run by the Chinese Communist Party are accused of sending components for Russian drones called Orlan, which have been used to fire more than 40,000 rounds of shells, and kill up to 100 Ukrainian soldiers per day. Last night, Vladyslav Vlasiuk, who advises President Volodymyr Zelensky, said: Our armed forces are finding Chinese-made components and microelectronics in the weapons used by the Russian aggressor. 'We have also found Chinese components in the dangerous mortar shells that rain down indiscriminately on Ukrainian civilians. China is suspected of supplying Russia with weaponry and ammunition that is being used to maim and kill Ukrainian civilians and soldiers, Pictured: A Russian soldier carries an Orlan aerial drone in eastern Ukraine An aerial view of damaged sites from eastern Ukraine city of Severodonetsk last year 'This week, their air strikes even struck the Chinese consulate in Odessa [in southern Ukraine], which is further proof that the aggressor does not care what horrors it inflicts on whom. Western weapons firms stopped trading with Russia because of US, British and EU sanctions. Mr Vlasiuk said: No country should trade military-grade components with Russia as it kills innocent children and commits war crimes against the Ukrainian people. At least nine Chinese companies have been sanctioned by Ukraine after its military found their component parts in missiles, drones and tanks used by the Russian military. Chinese-made rifles and ammunition, as well as tank parts, have also been found in the battlefields of Ukraine, having been used by Russian troops. Mr Vlasiuk named China North Industries Group (Norinco), a state-owned weapons maker, and Xinxing Guangzhou Import & Export Co as two firms that have supplied weapons components to Russia. He also named two other Chinese firms Beijing Huanuo Exiang (Rex) Trading Company Limited and Silverron International Pte Limited as major military hardware suppliers to the Russians. All four companies were on Ukraines sanction list, while Norinco also featured on the US sanctions database. Pictured: The Orlan-10 drone, a reconnaissance, unmanned aerial vehicle Ukrainian investigators found navigation systems built inside the Russian Orlan drones have been supplied by a Chinese company. The drones are manufactured by St Petersburg-based company Special Technology Centre, which bought components from Hong Kong-based firm Asia Pacific Links Limited. In April, Chinas foreign minister, Qin Gang, said his government will not sell any weapons to either side of the conflict. A Foreign Office spokesman said: Any support for Putins brutal and illegal war against Ukraine is deplorable. Chinas failure to condemn the invasion is deeply harmful to its interests and reputation in Europe. The Chinese embassy in London could not be contacted. An inmate has warned that Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect Rex Heuermann is a 'marked man' and will be attacked if removed from protective custody. Philip Walker told the New York Post from inside Suffolk County Correctional Facility that Heuermann, 59, was not safe inside the general prison population. Heuerman, who's charged with killing three women and suspected of killing a fourth, is currently being held in a separate part of the facility. According to Walker, a large number of those inside the jail had came from Long Island, where Gilgo Beach is, and knew about the murders. He said : 'I dont think people would be too happy if he was in population. I dont think it would be good if he was moved into population. I could see someone doing something to him. 'Crimes against women and girls, especially killing them, is frowned upon here. A lot of us have sisters, daughters, mothers. No one likes guys who did crimes like that.' Heuermann, 59, was taken into custody dramatically in the street earlier this month on suspicion of some of New York state's most horrific and prolific unsolved murders According to Walker, the whole of Suffolk County jail, pictured here, goes into a lockdown when he has to be moved around the prison The convict added that most people in the county prison are from Long Island and knew about the Gilgo Beach murders. According to Walker, the whole prison goes into lockdown when Heuermann is moved around. He added: ' Everything shuts down when they move him to the yard, medical, whatever. We all know its for him.' Heuermann was dramatically arrested earlier this month in Midtown Manhattan outside his Fifth Avenue firm, 13 years after the discovery of four bodies along Gilgo beach, all wrapped in camouflage burlap sacks. In total, the bodies of 11 people, including a toddler, have been found along that same stretch. He is charged with murdering three of the 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. Her body was bound and hidden in thick underbrush along a remote beach highway, and authorities have not ruled out charging him with more murders. 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 A fleet of forensic investigators have since been combing through the 59-year-old architect's 'dungeon-like' Massapequa Park home since his arrest. DailyMail.com spotted one investigator carrying a note listing some of the evidence found inside Among the items on the list were a rope kept in a vault, a torn man's shirt with a stain in a bag and handcuff keys in a shelf underneath a work bench. It's unclear when those specific items were cleared from the home or whether they were tied to the investigation, but officers have been searching the property for 'trophies' that may be linked to the victims. Last Sunday police removed a massive haul of more than 200 weapons from the home. 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. Heuermann, pictured here, is also considered prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes The suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann kept a torn, stained shirt and handcuff keys in a workshop at his Long Island home A fleet of forensic investigators are combing through the 59-year-old architect's 'dungeon-like' Massapequa Park home Forensic investigators continue to comb through Heuermann's property One neighbor, Etienne Devilliers, on Wednesday said that Heuermann peeked over their fence to look at his wife sunbathing when they first moved in. He said that at first he thought Heuermann was 'just being friendly', but a conversation between the two men afterward was 'unpleasant', although after the incident he was always 'friendly and pleasant'. He described Heuermann's wife as 'equally as odd' and was 'very isolated' and mostly kept to herself. The investigation into Heuermann now spans at least three states, including South Carolina where he owns property and Nevada where he owned a condo in Sin City. Earlier this week it was revealed that Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup had filed for divorce in New York that is described as 'uncontested'. Universities across the UK are offering separate accommodation for gay and trans students starting courses in September. At least seven institutions have flats or accommodation blocks reserved only for LGBTQ+ undergraduates, including leading Russell Group universities. Critics likened the move to social segregation and said it was 'patronising' to think that homosexual students wanted their own halls. Education campaigners also raised concerns that the decision could contribute to a shortage of student housing after it emerged unfilled rooms at LGBTQ+ halls are being left empty rather than offered to heterosexual students. Sheffield, Cardiff, Bristol, Bath, Southampton, Southampton Solent and Essex universities said they have introduced the measure to keep LGBTQ+ students safe from 'homophobia, biphobia and transphobia' by straight flatmates. Universities across the UK are offering separate accommodation for gay and trans students starting courses in September Sheffield, Cardiff, Bristol, Bath, Southampton, Southampton Solent and Essex universities said they have introduced the measure to keep LGBTQ+ students safe from 'homophobia, biphobia and transphobia' by straight flatmates (file photo of Cardiff University halls) Kate Barker, of gay rights charity LGB Alliance, said: 'Learning to live alongside people from different backgrounds and with different outlooks is one of the most important lessons of university. 'LGB Alliance student networks tell us that these silly ideas are widely considered patronising to gay people and indeed to the whole student population. Experiencing difference is their priority, not narrowing their perspective.' Chris McGovern, of the Campaign for Real Education, said: 'It will likely create division and resentment within student communities. 'Any restrictions on students from diverse backgrounds and orientations mixing together is a recipe for social disintegration among the student body. It does not benefit anyone, however well intentioned it is.' Essex University said the move was 'welcoming and inclusive' and that 'it may be helpful to be with people who may have shared life experiences'. Labour disarray over Sadiq Khan's 'tax on drivers' deepened yesterday, after Sir Keir Starmer admitted it had been a gift to Tory campaigners following the shock by-election result in Uxbridge last week. In a public sign of anger over the Labour London mayor's unpopular plans to extend his Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), Sir Keir said: 'We are doing something very wrong if policies put forward by the Labour Party end up on each and every Tory leaflet.' The blunt statement to Labour's National Policy Forum came after last week's by-election in Boris Johnson's former Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat, which was narrowly held by the Tories after they turned the contest into a referendum on the unpopular ULEZ. And last night Mr Khan faced mounting pressure from across the political divide to postpone the plan to extend the 12.50 daily charge on older, more polluting vehicles across London. Labour disarray over Sadiq Khan's 'tax on drivers' deepened yesterday after Sir Keir Starmer admitted it had been a gift to Tory campaigners following the shock by-election result in Uxbridge last week The seat was narrowly held by the Tories after they turned the contest into a referendum on the unpopular ULEZ Steve Tuckwell, newly elected Tory MP for Uxbridge, joined with Conservative mayoral candidate Susan Hall to demand a stop on plans to extend the ULEZ from August 29. And the Tory demands were echoed by London Labour MPs, who fear the extension would hit the poorest hardest. Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, told The Mail on Sunday: 'It cannot be right for the Left-of-centre party to be putting all the responsibility on the shoulders of people who can least afford it.' And yesterday Sir Keir, who admitted 'ULEZ was the reason that we lost the election in Uxbridge', said he had spoken to the mayor and added there would now be 'a reflection' on ULEZ and the by-election. Last night, Mr Khan's office declined to say if he was considering a postponement of the scheme's extension. But in a statement after a 'constructive' private discussion with Sir Keir, the mayor's office said: 'Sadiq has been clear he is listening to Londoners following this by-election. The mayor is always looking at ways he can address their concerns.' Tories were delighted last week after the surprise victory in Uxbridge prevented a trio of by-election defeats, as Labour overturned a huge 20,000-plus majority in Selby and Ainsty, while the Liberal Democrats overtook a similar Tory lead in Somerton and Frome. Tories were delighted last week after the surprise victory in Uxbridge prevented a trio of by-election defeats Jubilant Tory MPs credited their wafer-thin 495-vote Uxbridge win to turning the by-election into a referendum on ULEZ. One Tory source said: 'Our campaign was basically, 'Vote for us and Starmer will tell Khan to stop ULEZ'.' Last night, Mr Tuckwell and Ms Hall challenged Mr Khan to respect the 'clear message' of west London voters 'that the Labour ULEZ expansion must be stopped'. Mr Khan has insisted that extending ULEZ is necessary to clean up London's air in order to 'save the lives of vulnerable Londoners'. But one Shadow Cabinet Minister yesterday warned Mr Khan that, prior to next year's mayoral elections, 'he does not want every London Labour MP and candidate against him'. Another added: 'This policy is deeply unpopular. In Uxbridge, it was an albatross around our necks.' On its fifth anniversary it can be revealed it has helped bring 40 new babies Dozens of couples who feared they may never become parents are celebrating the birth of their babies thanks to King Charles. The monarch faced scepticism when he set up a holistic fertility programme as part of his 'Royal Health Service'. The radical project at Dumfries House, the Scottish stately home he restored in 2007, offers a range of complementary therapies said to help improve pregnancy chances. Participants, many of whom have exhausted all help available on the NHS and face huge bills for private treatments, can try out acupuncture, reflexology, massage, yoga and hypnotherapy. The free course, which operates on both GP and self-referrals, also includes relationship counselling, cookery classes and dance lessons. SUCCESS STORY: Calvin Forrest's parents Colin and Stacey took part in the programme BABY BOOM: King Charles cradles an infant, with the monarch's fertility centre helping couples to conceive Now, on its fifth anniversary, the MoS can reveal the Fertility Wellbeing programme has helped bring 40 new babies into the world. The Prince's Foundation, which runs Dumfries House, says half the women who have taken part in the first-of-its-kind project some of whom were previously deemed 'infertile' have gone on to become mothers soon after. In contrast, the average birth rate for IVF patients in the UK is around 20 per cent. One of the lucky couples, Colin and Stacey Forrest, from Darvel, Ayrshire, were overjoyed to welcome baby Calvin after trying for more than two years to have a child. Mrs Forrest, whose son was born in February 2020, said: 'We've never met the King but I can't ever express our gratitude for how he's changed our lives.' Supporters say the programme's success is validation of the views of the monarch deemed the 'Unscientific King' who said he 'believes that safe and effective, complementary medicine can play an important role in healthcare systems'. Over a decade ago he was criticised for calling on the NHS to recognise 'the core human elements of mind, body and spirit', as well as simply treating disease. In his 'black spider memos' released in 2015 it was also revealed he had lobbied the last Labour Government to change public spending plans in favour of complementary medicine. The monarch faced scepticism when he set up a holistic fertility programme as part of his 'Royal Health Service'. The radical project at Dumfries House (Charles pictured outside Dumfries House in 2018), the Scottish stately home he restored in 2007, offers a range of complementary therapies said to help improve pregnancy chances Meaghan Miller, health and wellbeing co-ordinator for The Prince's Foundation at Dumfries House, said: 'The point of our Health and Wellbeing programme is to complement what the NHS is already doing. 'Couples who come to us looking to conceive have often tried various different things, but the programme looks at how the mind and body connect and can offer that reminder to create time and space for yourself 'Not every success story can definitely point to our programme as why they managed to conceive but everyone takes away something from the programme that can be helpful.' The cost of running the service is covered by the Prince's Foundation, including donations from private benefactors, as well as profits from Dumfries House Estate. It is part of the multi-million-pound Health and Wellbeing programme at Dumfries House, dubbed the 'Royal NHS', which also offers holistic treatments for chronic pain, diabetes, anxiety and menopause symptoms. It is the fruition of years of planning to bring King Charles' vision for a better society from organic farming to eco-housing to life. BABY BELLE 'SO THANKFUL': David and Maxine Philips with their daughter Belle, three After a failed IVF cycle, Maxine and Dave Phillips were devastated. The stress of the invasive procedure had taken its toll, both physically and mentally, and they feared further disappointment. However, after signing up for the Dumfries House programme, the Kilmarnock couple went into their next round of fertility treatment feeling 'calm and positive' and it worked. They welcomed daughter Belle, now three, in May 2020. Mrs Phillips, 31, reckons the acupuncture and reflexology she was given helped their embryo establish itself. She said: 'We believe it helped us on our journey to having Belle. We had the one side, the IVF, which was scientific, and the other holistic side and together they made the perfect combination. 'We had been feeling so stressed going into our second cycle, it really is a rollercoaster of emotions, and that is not a good state to be in if you are trying to get pregnant. I'm so thankful we were able to attend the programme and wish there were more like it to help other couples.' Advertisement The BBC was accused of hypocrisy after its Climate Editor jetted off to Spain to report on its heatwave which he blamed on carbon emissions. The Corporation repeatedly refused to say if Justin Rowlatt, 57, had made the 1,800 mile round trip to Spain by plane. But our exclusive picture shows the moment he arrived back at his 2.8 million north London home on Thursday afternoon with Iberia Airlines bag tags attached to his backpack. Tory MP Craig Mackinlay accused the BBC of 'sheer hypocrisy'. He added: 'If they're so convinced this is all to do with global warming, surely they could have used reporters already in Spain to do the job rather than clocking up more air miles, which supposedly just adds to the problem.' The BBC was accused of hypocrisy after its Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt jetted off to Spain to report on its heatwave which he blamed on carbon emissions Justin Rowlatt said during his report from Spain: 'Unless we begin to reduce our use of fossil fuels quickly, we simply aren't tackling the real problem.' Mr Rowlatt reported for News at Ten from a Spanish beach as temperatures across the south of Europe soared above 40C. BEEB HAS NINE ECO-JOURNALISTS The BBC has at least nine full-time climate journalists, who report exclusively about climate change, global warming and the environment. Climate and Science reporter Georgina Rannard joined after a PhD in global history, focusing on economic impact of British imperialism and America. In 2015, she became a senior fellow for social justice charity Humanity in Action. As a teenager, she tried to convert her family to vegetarianism and now often uses her BBC role to encourage youngsters to get their parents to stop using planes and become vegetarian. The BBC has two climate disinformation journalists Marco Silva and Merlyn Thomas, who was previously an interpreter for a refugee charity. Advertisement He warned breathlessly of the need to cut carbon emissions to stop climate change, adding: 'Unless we begin to reduce our use of fossil fuels quickly, we simply aren't tackling the real problem.' Yet it is understood he then boarded a plane at Alicante airport on Thursday morning. He arrived home in London at 2pm hours after reporting for the BBC in Spain. The return flight will have produced an estimated 0.32 tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to driving 1,550 miles in a petrol car. Conservative MP Sir John Hayes said: 'You can't fly if you are going to be a climate zealot. 'But now we have the BBC Climate Editor jet-setting to Spain to tell us that we should not be jetting anywhere because it is too hot because of emissions.' The Mail on Sunday can also reveal that the corporation flew senior BBC journalist Azadeh Moshiri from London to report from Greece. A round trip from London to Athens emits 0.73 tons of Co2- equivalent to driving 2,700 miles in a typical petrol car. The Corporation also put its Italian correspondent Sofia Bettiza on a flight from Rome to Sicily to report on the hot weather. Tory former leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'I don't think it was necessary for the BBC to fly their reporters to Europe. 'There is plenty of video available from other broadcasters that they could have used. 'It's ironic, really, when they are the same people complaining about emissions. In fact, flying them over makes me wonder if they were campaigning, rather than reporting.' Last night the BBC again refused to admit that its reporters took fossil fuel-guzzling flights to cover the European heatwave. Despite repeated questions from this newspaper, the broadcaster declined to say how its reporters travelled to Europe. In a statement, a BBC spokesperson said: 'The extreme heat millions of people are experiencing in several parts of the world is a significant story relating to climate change. 'Our journalists are providing additional insight and analysis on the ground from some of the hardest hit regions.' Mr Rowlatt, a former Newsnight, Channel 4 and Panorama reporter, was appointed the BBC's first Climate Editor in September 2021, ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow. His reporting on environmental issues began at Newsnight, when in 2006 he gave up flying for a year to reduce his family's carbon footprint. However, he appears to have since returned to air travel. His profile on the BBC News website states that he 'has travelled all over the world for the BBC' and that he believes climate change 'is the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced'. Three months ago he travelled to the Swiss Alps to reveal melting ice caps. Six months earlier he reported from Egypt on the United Nations climate change conference. Ironically, his Twitter cover photo depicts the young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, who refuses to fly because of carbon emissions and once sailed from Plymouth to New York to attend a UN climate change meeting. Critics accused Mr Rowlatt of being more of an eco-campaigner than an objective reporter. His wife Bee, a former producer for the BBC World Service, has attended Extinction Rebellion protests in the past. His sister Cordelia was fined for taking part in an Insulate Britain protest which blocked the M25 two years ago. Last year, the BBC upheld complaints about two claims made by Mr Rowlatt in a Panorama programme called Wild Weather: Our World Under Threat. The BBC's complaints unit found he had falsely said the death toll from natural disasters was rising and that southern Madagascar, off the south-east coast of Africa, was 'on the brink of the world's first climate-induced famine'. An unruly Jet2 passenger was allegedly tasered and dragged off a flight after his behaviour forced pilots to divert a plane on its way to Tenerife, causing a 27-hour delay to holidaymakers. The flight which departed from Edinburgh was forced to land on Porto Santo Island in Madeira, Portugal - more than 300 miles away from its destination, Tenerife. Video obtained by Portuguese newspaper Diario de Noticias shows a 26-year-old man being hauled across the runway by four airport security staff members wearing yellow hi-vis jackets after he was removed from the plane. In the background, a second female passenger can be seen being ejected off the plane by a further two security officers. As the man is taken across the runway with his hands behind his back, he is filmed trying to wrestle himself out of the firm grip of the security personnel but to no avail. An unruly Jet2 passenger was allegedly tasered and dragged off a flight after it was diverted on its way to Tenerife, causing a 27-hour delay to holidaymakers Several airport security staff were required to escort the passenger across the runway after he was removed from the aircraft When a fifth security guard arrives at the scene, the passenger, wearing grey tracksuit bottoms, a blue t-shirt and white trainers, aggressively shouts in his direction. The latest incident on a Jet2 aircraft comes after an 'extremely drunk' passenger allegedly tried to open a plane door earlier this month, while another holidaymaker was removed from a flight after allegedly 'urinating on his brother'. This time around, Portuguese police said that the 'disorderly' passenger's behaviour 'raised immediate concerns among the crew'. Madeira Regional Command of the Public Security Police (PSP) said that a foreign national had been arrested 'for the crime of disobeying the legitimate order of the Commander of an aircraft'. Police also said officers had been forced to use 'an electric weapon of low lethal potential' to 'guarantee the safety of the other passengers and crew' after the man refused to cooperate. 'The citizen ended up being detained by the police present there for the crime of disobedience, following the normal procedural steps, and the flight continued to its destination', they added. A Jet2 spokesperson told MailOnline: 'We can confirm that flight LS727 from Edinburgh to Tenerife diverted to Porto Santo on Monday 17th July so that police could offload a disruptive passenger. 'As a result of this diversion, the Tenerife to Edinburgh flight was subsequently delayed, however our teams did everything to look after customers including providing hotel accommodation and refreshments.' The latest incident on a Jet2 aircraft comes after an 'extremely drunk' passenger allegedly tried to open a plane door earlier this month, while another holidaymaker was removed from a flight after allegedly 'urinating on his brother' Police in Sofia boarded a Jet2 airliner and arrested a man after claims he had tried to open the plane door mid-flight Another Jet2 passenger was dragged off a plane by police after allegedly urinating on his brother Earlier this month, a British tourist who was returning from his holiday in Turkey with his wife and teenage daughter had to restrain a 'drunk' passenger for an hour after he threatened to open the plane door. The Jet2 flight, which was bound for Glasgow and packed with holidaymakers travelling home from Bodrum, was forced to make an emergency landing in Bulgaria to remove the 'disruptive' passenger. A month prior, another Jet2 passenger was dragged off a plane by police after allegedly 'urinating on his brother' and engaging in a 'full fist fight'. Alfie and Kenneth Springthorpe were issued with a 50,000 fine following the incident on the London Stansted Airport to Crete flight. A shocked passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, captured a video showing one of the brothers being carted down the aisle by a Greek police officer. A two-year blitz of formal visits by senior Royals is planned in a bid to protect ties with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world. The King and Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales hope a show of soft diplomacy will protect relations with countries such as Australia which want to go it alone. The tours raise the prospect of Kate and William taking George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, with them. Charles has made only one state visit to Germany in March since becoming King. As monarch, he has yet to visit any of the 14 Commonwealth realms outside the UK where he is head of state. A two-year blitz of formal visits by senior Royals is planned in a bid to protect ties with the Commonwealth and the rest of the world. Pictured: Baby George on a visit to Australia with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, in 2014 State visit: Queen Elizabeth II with the Duke of Edinburgh during their 1952 visit to Kenya But last night a palace source said: State visits are back in business. Palace insiders have suggested senior Royals have been frustrated at the Governments perceived slow process for approving visits, which are decided by the Foreign Office and Royal Visits Committee. Now plans are under way for a rescheduled visit to France by the King and Queen in September postponed because of riots in March and, next year, the King will visit Samoa when it hosts a Commonwealth heads of government meeting. As The Mail on Sunday has revealed, the King and Queen will also travel to Kenya later this year. Kenya does not recognise the King as head of state but it is seen as a major part of the Commonwealth. William and Kate are widely expected to visit the Commonwealth country of Singapore in the autumn. Kensington Palace has announced William will go to New York in September. Historian Ian Lloyd said: A visit by Charles to Canada and one by the Waleses to Australia and New Zealand would capitalise on the global interest in the Coronation. They need to do this soon before that interest wanes and taking the Waleses children would prove to be a PR triumph too. He added: The problem is they are asked to undertake tours by the Government who want to utilise the Royal soft power to promote the country. So, the Kings desire to maintain links with the Commonwealth has to work in tandem with the Government. This was easy in the early days of Elizabeths reign when Prime Ministers like Churchill had a romantic vision of the old empire. Elizabeth was once Queen of 31 Commonwealth realms. Today there are 14 and referendums are planned which could see more of them peel away. Yesterday Jamaicas premier Andrew Holness said he had hoped to cut colonial ties as soon as the Queen died but red tape and a long period of public education and consultation were elongating the process. Antigua and Barbuda could also break away. Prime minister Gaston Browne told the visiting Earl of Wessex last year that Britain must pay reparations for its atrocities. Last week the Australian state of Victoria announced that it would no longer host the 2026 Commonwealth Games because they do not represent value for money. Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Professor of Government at Kings College, London, said the Royal Family could still enjoy a close relationship with Commonwealth countries after they cease to be realms. He said: It would not mean breaking ties. The vast majority of member states are republics. Of the many scientists who gathered in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945, to witness the world's first atomic bomb explosion, one was a brilliant but shy Englishman. By rights, the name James Chadwick should be familiar far beyond his chosen field of physics. Like Albert Einstein, for instance, or J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the 'father of the atomic bomb' and the subject of a cinematic blockbuster hailed last week as 'the best, most important film of this century'. After all, Chadwick's discovery of the neutron 13 years earlier was not only revolutionary in physics, it would in time change the course of history. Not least, it paved the way for the Manhattan Project, the name given to the development of the bomb. It was Chadwick, the son of a Manchester cotton spinner, who first convinced both Britain and the United States, then at war with Nazi Germany, that such a nuclear weapon was feasible. Even Oppenheimer would conclude that the US project was all but doomed until the timely arrival on President Franklin D Roosevelt's desk of the pipe-smoking Englishman's top-secret report. By rights, the name James Chadwick (right) should be familiar far beyond his chosen field of physics RIGHT-HAND MAN: James Chadwick, left, with General Leslie Groves The world changed for ever at 15 seconds before 5.30am that day in July. Superbly recreated by British director Christopher Nolan in his film, Oppenheimer, the Trinity test explosion was 'brighter than a thousand suns' and gave the atomic age its unforgettable visual symbol of destruction: the mushroom cloud. Chadwick, who headed Britain's involvement in the Manhattan Project, watched from a bunker 20 miles from ground zero, an area of desert so arid that earlier travellers called it Jornada del Muerto (Journey of the Dead Man). We're not surprised... we're used to him being cut out of history Alongside him that morning was William L Laurence, a New York Times reporter who wrote of Chadwick that 'never before in history had any man lived to see his own discovery materialise itself with such telling effect on the destiny of man'. Three weeks after the test, a single uranium-235 bomb exploded over the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing tens of thousands. Three days later, Nagasaki was devastated. On August 10, Japan agreed surrender terms. So who among the cast of Oppenheimer, stacked with Hollywood's finest including Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jnr, Rami Malek and Kenneth Branagh was chosen to play the Nobel Prize-winning scientist, whose genius, like that of Oppenheimer, shaped the 20th century? It came as little surprise to Chadwick's descendants, as well as British physicists and academics, to discover when the film opened last week that he does not warrant so much as a cameo. His great-niece, Lis Pibworth, told The Mail on Sunday: 'He gets missed out of a lot of films. Oppenheimer is an American film, isn't it? So he probably just wasn't a glamorous enough figure for them. 'We are not surprised he's been left out, just disappointed. We've got used to him being cut out of history.' She recalled how at school in Macclesfield, Cheshire three miles from where Chadwick was born to working-class parents before the turn of the last century his name once cropped up in a science class. 'My classmates didn't believe me when I said he was a relative.' Dr Christoph Laucht, an associate professor of modern history at Swansea University, says the contribution of Chadwick and Britain to the Manhattan Project has been 'written out of popular culture'. Dr Laucht has written extensively of the 'Americanisation of the making of the atom bomb' and how the US has wrongly 'long regarded the Manhattan Project as an American accomplishment'. Long before London-born Christopher Nolan's new movie, he argues, successive films all downgraded Britain's involvement. There is no disputing of course that Nolan is free to make whatever film he chooses or that Oppenheimer, one of the most fascinating, titanic figures of the 20th century, is a supremely worthy subject. It is simply that many find the neglect of Chadwick puzzling. A reason suggested by Cambridge University's Professor Malcolm Longair, one of Britain's foremost physicists, is that 'Chadwick, while unquestionably brilliant, was never what you would call a rock 'n' roll scientist'. It wasn't until after he died that we learned what a great man he was Innately modest, he avoided the limelight, downplaying his feats. Today, scientists semaphore their achievements on social media, something that would be incomprehensible to Chadwick who died aged 82 in 1974. Oppenheimer, though, had a flair for the dramatic. Under his direction, the Manhattan Project scientists worked in a laboratory in Los Alamos, New Mexico, and lived in a purpose-built secret city which he alone conceived. Chadwick's Los Alamos log cabin, which he shared with his wife Aileen and twin teenage daughters Judith and Joanna, still stands. Now aged 96, Judith and Joanna live together in a modest flat less than a mile from the famous Cambridge University laboratory where their father discovered the neutron. Cillian Murphy in a scene from 'Oppenheimer'. There is no disputing of course that Nolan is free to make whatever film he chooses or that Oppenheimer, one of the most fascinating, titanic figures of the 20th century, is a supremely worthy subject. It is simply that many find the neglect of Chadwick puzzling A photograph on display at The Bradbury Science Museum shows the first thermonuclear test on October 31, 1952. The museum is Los Alamos National Laboratory's window to the public. The Museum displays the Laboratory's current research and presents the history of the Laboratory's role in the Manhattan Project during World War II 'Oh yes, we remember Oppenheimer from Los Alamos,' said Judith. 'Odd fellow. He wasn't as clever as our father, you know.' Her sister added: 'Our father was incredibly modest. 'He never discussed his work during the war and it wasn't until after he died that we learned quite what a great man he was. 'The thing I remember most about Los Alamos is that we went horse-riding in the desert, that was the best thing. But we had no idea at the time what all these scientists were working on. It was just our father's work. We were used to it.' Neither daughter was remotely interested in science. After the war, both had 'administrative jobs' and led 'ordinary lives'. Judith said of her father: 'He wouldn't have been impressed with this film. No, it wouldn't be for him. In any case, I can't see who would play him. Who would be able to capture him properly?' Another reason for his omission is that the film closely follows the magisterial biography, American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin, which only fleetingly mentions Chadwick. 'I don't know if he even went to Los Alamos,' said Bird when contacted by The Mail on Sunday. After the war, Oppenheimer often spoke publicly about his work, and graced magazine covers, a symbol both of America's technological genius and when he later opposed the hydrogen bomb its conscience. Chadwick, meanwhile, retreated into academia and obscurity. 'His homeland forgot him,' was the verdict of distinguished science writer Nigel Calder in his 1997 review of Chadwick's only biography. But Calder observed that when the then US President 'Bill Clinton gives Tony Blair a special hug and Royal Navy submarines hoist their American Trident missiles aboard, they do so because of a transatlantic alliance forged between 1943 and 1946 by Jimmy Chadwick'. It is easy to imagine that were he alive today, the man in overall command of the Manhattan Project, General Leslie Groves played by Matt Damon would have hoped to see Chadwick portrayed on the big screen. He regarded him as his right-hand man. Chadwick both impressed and amused Groves by beating Oppenheimer in a highly technical argument when the British scientists assigned to the project met their American counterparts at the Pentagon. They made an unlikely pair: the big, tough, reactionary Army officer and the retiring, sensitive scientist who had never been to America before 1943 but who was responsible for making the Anglo-American atomic collaboration work. The nuclear historian Margaret Gowing once said that an improbable but 'warm friendship' built on trust existed between the two men. Chadwick's role, she said, involved 'gruelling labour, endless paperwork, conferences and much travel but the highest diplomatic skills'. Despite his towering accolades, Chadwick always remained self-effacing and was generous in his praise of contemporaries and unusually tactful when his own efforts eclipsed theirs. The new film characterises the Manhattan Project as a race against time between the US and the Nazis. In reality, the Nazis were never really in the race. And Britain had been way ahead of the US in developing the bomb, with Chadwick taking charge of coordinating the secret programme cover name Maud conducted at the universities of Birmingham, Liverpool, London (Imperial College) and Oxford. But while the still-neutral US lacked nuclear know-how, it possessed manpower and resources Britain didn't have. It was only when the Americans read the brilliant Maud report, drafted by Chadwick, that they took the project seriously and were galvanised into action. 'Without the British work,' wrote Margaret Gowing, 'World War II would have ended for better or worse before an atomic bomb was dropped.' Chadwick called the atom bomb 'a menace to civilisation' but believed its use in Japan was justified to end the war and save the lives of American and Allied servicemen, who faced slaughter in an invasion of the Japanese mainland. Not that it failed to weigh heavily on his conscience. It was in the spring of 1941, Chadwick once recalled, that he realised that 'a nuclear bomb was not only possible it was inevitable'. He added: 'I had many sleepless nights And I had then to start taking sleeping pills. It was the only remedy. I've never stopped since then. It's 28 years, and I don't think I've missed a single night.' Perhaps his sense of foreboding and karma assailed him even earlier. In 1935, he invested his Nobel Prize money in an early example of a cyclotron machine, enabling him to work on a neutron therapy to combat cancer. Jennifer Chadwick, another great-niece, said: 'My first job was as a medical secretary at the Christie Hospital [in Manchester] and I can remember glibly saying to somebody, 'My uncle had something to do with developing the neutron and we wouldn't have all these scans if it wasn't for him'. 'The family never really spoke about him. I think he was estranged from the rest of the family because he had such a high education, but if he had been around today we would have all been as proud as punch.' After the war Chadwick knighted in 1945 returned to Britain shattered, having suffered 'almost insupportable agonies of responsibility arising from his scientific work'. Unlike Oppenheimer, he never contributed to the public debate on nuclear weapons. Prosecutors said YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons , conspired to make the killings look like a drive-by shooting Rapper YNW Melly's double-murder trial ended in a deadlocked jury with a Florida judge declaring a mistrial in the case that revolved around the shooting death of two of the musician's friends. YNW Melly - whose real name is Jamell Demons - was in a Florida courtroom for the last three weeks facing murder accusations for the 2018 deaths of Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr. The two men, who were also rappers, were shot dead in October 2018 in Miramar, Florida. On Saturday, Broward County Circuit Judge John Murphy declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case. Prosecutors are expected to retry the case with a new jury. Rapper YNW Melly saw his double-murder trial end with a deadlocked jury YNW Melly faced the death penalty in the case that ended on Saturday in a mistrial YNW Melly, at 15 years old, started posting songs on Soundcloud, which is where he initially posted his breakthrough single Murder on My Mind in 2017 YNW Melly faced the death penalty in the case. A three-week trial ended on Thursday and jury deliberations began. On Friday, the panel told Murphy they could not reach a decision. However, they were told they must continue to talk. On Saturday, when they still couldn't reach a verdict, the judge declared the mistrial. Cortlen Henry is a co-defendant in the case and is being tried separately. Investigators said in 2018, Williams and Thomas, who were both rappers, were shot and killed. Police say YNW Melly and Henry conspired to make it look they were killed in a drive-by shooting following a recording session, according to Rolling Stone. On Friday, the jury told a judge they could not reach a verdict. However, they were told they must continue to talk Cortlen Henry is a co-defendant in the case and is being tried separately After the two musicians were shot and killed, their bodies were taken to the Everglades, where prosecutors say, YNW Melly and Henry shot at their Jeep to make it look like a drive-by. 'The question is why?' Prosecutor Kristine Bradley said during closing arguments, according to the Miami Herald. 'Why does there need to be a cover up? Because there were two murders committed.' Prosecutors said the killing was part of a 'gang action.' 'Yeah, he covered up a murder,' Bradley said. 'He did a very terrible job of it, but that's what he did.' Defense attorneys dismissed that argument saying the two victims were friends of YNW Melly. 'All this evidence is open for interpretation,' Defense attorney Stuart Adelstein said. 'That's not proof beyond a reasonable doubt.' The defense also questioned the police work in the case, saying that an investigator intimidated and threatened witnesses. Broward County Circuit Judge John Murphy declared a mistrial after the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in the case NW Melly, is shown at the defense table during closing arguments in his trial at the Broward County 'Everything was directed to get this kid,' Adelstein said while pointing at Melly. 'That's why he ignored everything. That's why he intimidated and threatened anybody who said something different.' YNW Melly, at 15 years old, started posting songs on Soundcloud, which is where he initially posted his breakthrough single Murder on My Mind in 2017. The song garnered most attention after Demons became linked with the double murder for which he is now on trial, and peaked at number 14 in the Billboard Hot 100. He subsequently collaborated with Kanye West and Juice Wrld, and released an album Melly vs. Melvin in November 2019, nine months after his arrest. The rapper had previously been arrested in 2015 for shooting at a group of students near a school, for which he was convicted of aggravated battery, discharging a firearm in public, and two counts of aggravated assault, seeing him serve several months in prison. He is also a suspect in the murder of a sheriff's deputy in Gifford, Florida, in 2017. A security guard was shot dead by a gunman who opened fire inside a hospital in Portland, Oregon. A second guard was also injured at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland just before noon Saturday as the gunman opened fire inside the facility. The shooting spurred a massive manhunt for the suspect - who police said was later shot dead during a standoff with officers. Police were seen cornering a white and maroon van. Shoppers say they witnessed a standoff between police with between three and four gunshots being fired at the suspect. The name of the guard who was fatally shot was not released. Authorities have not identified the suspect or a motive in the shooting. Police were at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland following a shooting The shooting left one security guard dead and prompted lockdowns with staff being forced to wait outside the hospital for hours Staff from were forced to wait outside of the hospital while the facility was on lockdown The incident saw the hospital immediately placed on lockdown for several hours, with patients and staff all sheltering while the authorities looked for the gunman. Several roads in the area were closed as a result leading to significant disruption in the area, which is home to various shops and restaurants and Stadium Fred Meyer. Police closed off a four-block radius around the hospital, diverting people from the area with police tape in place. The area between Northwest 21st and 23rd avenues from Lovejoy to Northrup streets was cordoned off, blocking all traffic. Police were left searching the area for the suspect who made a getaway shortly after the incident, reports KPTV. Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who is also police commissioner, said he was receiving updates on the situation and urged residents to remain vigilant in the shooting's immediate aftermath. 'This is still an active investigation and we urge those in the area to stay alert until further notice,' he said. A second guard was also injured at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland. Police tape was seen across the street from the entrance to the hospital Mo Badreddine was heading to the hospital when he got a call from his father who was receiving treatment. 'I told him I was on my way back, and he said I wouldn't be able to get in,' Badreddine said to OregonLive. 'He said there was an active shooter.' Badreddine said he wanted his dad to be able to leave lockdown. 'I'd just like to make sure my dad can go home,' he added. For anyone who envied the 420 lime tweed and chiffon fabrics dress made by the London label Self-Portrait that the Princess of Wales wore for the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Final, it's possible to get exactly the same outfit for 69. Savvy fans have cottoned on to the fact that they can copy Kate without having the royal budget, by renting the same items for a fraction of the cost saving the planet as well as their own wallets. For example, the dress the Princess wore on Centre Court is available to all via the rental platform Girl Meets Dress. Girl Meets Dress founder Anna Bance thought up the hire-for-a-day or week idea after realising that the practice of loaning designer dresses to celebrities for red-carpet events could be extended to the general public. Since then, she has discovered customers are as keen to be sustainable as to save money. For a great bargain, the same Karen Millen midi-dress worn by Kate for a visit to a maternity hospital in Surrey can be hired for 5 a day. Pink Princess: Kate's fashion choice for the opening of Young V&A last month was a work of art: a blush pink midi-dress by Beulah London. It costs: 695 Rent it for: 145/2 days From: byrotation.com Love all on Centre Court: For the Ladies' Final at Wimbledon, Kate nearly upstaged the players with her vibrant lime boucle collared chiffon midi by Self-Portrait, which she teamed with Cassandra Goad pearl earrings and suede slingbacks by Gianvito Rossi. It costs: 420 Rent it for: 69/2 days From: hire. girlmeetsdress.com Meet and pleat: The Princess wowed all the mums at the maternity ward of the Royal Surrey County Hospital last year when she visited wearing an elegant Karen Millen Structured Crepe Forever pleat-belted midi-dress in a rich shade of ochre. It costs: 219 Rent it for: 20/4 days. From: mywardrobehq. com Blooming lovely: The Princess was the star attraction at this year's Chelsea Flower Show, in a pink block shirt dress and belt by Me & Em. It costs: 450 Rent it for: 69.34/4 days From: hurrcollective.com Licence to thrill: The Princess of Wales turned Bond Girl for the premiere of No Time To Die. Her weapon of choice? A Jenny Packham sequinned gown. It costs: 3,780 Rent it for: 231/4 days From: mywardrobehq.com Ready for her close-up: For her first official joint portrait with William last year, Kate opted for a stunning silk metallic chiffon Falconetti dress from The Vampire's Wife in sparkling emerald green. It costs: 1,595 Rent it for: 106/4 days From: mywardrobehq.com READ MORE: Want a body like Kate's? I'm a personal trainer and here are the workouts you need to do to get a toned figure like the Princess of Wales A personal trainer has shared their expert tips on what exercises are best to get a body like Kate's Advertisement 'Our customers never tire of gazing at Kate's dresses,' the former fashion PR said. 'As soon as she goes out in a new style, we get emails desperate to rent it. They are always among the most popular items on our website and customers sometimes reserve them three months or more in advance for an important event. We usually end up having to re-order more sizes and replacement stock for years after Kate wore it.' While Girl Meets Dress and fellow rental site My Wardrobe HQ both own their stock, there are at least two peer-to-peer rental companies, where anybody can list their designer collection for rental: both Hurr Collective, which describes itself as the 'Airbnb of fashion' and By Rotation, which has its own app, have designs from the Princess of Wales's collection. Also, admirers of the Princess's fashion sense can chronicle her every move on websites such as whatkatewore.com. Sacha Newall, co-founder of My Wardrobe HQ, said: 'There is no one more influential than the Princess of Wales when it comes to fashion choices. As soon as she wears anything, we are flooded with requests for the item or the designer. It goes way beyond just the UK, with requests coming in from around the world for anything that she wears. 'There isn't a better ambassador for the British fashion industry we are very lucky to have her.' So, where can you rent Kate's wardrobe and how much can you save? Plenty of eyebrows were raised when a French woman claimed to have been struck by a meteorite earlier this month. Not least because the odds of a person being hit by a space rock are estimated to be anywhere from around one in 700,000 to one in 100 trillion. That and the fact there's only ever been one known meteorite victim a 34-year-old woman from Alabama who was hit by a grapefruit-sized extraterrestrial rock 70 years ago. Well, it may be an unwanted record, but Ann Hodges remains the only person in recorded history to be struck by a meteorite after dozens of geologists rushed to dispel the unnamed French resident's claims. She said she had been hit in the ribs by a piece of meteorite while enjoying a coffee with a friend on the terrace of her home in Schirmeck, north-eastern France. Painful: There's only ever been one known meteorite victim - an Alabama woman named Ann Hodges (pictured), who was hit by a grapefruit-sized extraterrestrial rock nearly 70 years ago Shocked: Hodges stands above the hole in the roof where a meteorite came crashing through WHO WAS ANN HODGES? Born: February 2, 1920 Died: September 10, 1972 (aged 52) Lived: Alabama Spouse: Eugene Hodges (div. 1964) Hit by: Sylacauga meteorite Date: November 30, 1954 Injuries: A large bruise to her upper thigh and hand What happened afterwards? Her husband claimed that Hodges' health problems worsened and her behaviour changed following the incident. Her shyness became social anxiety, and she suffered from what appeared to be PTSD. Advertisement But a number of experts saw the story go global and said it couldn't have been a meteorite because it had irregular, spiked edges rather than being smooth like a space rock would do after melting in the Earth's atmosphere. Instead they said it was just a regular terrestrial rock which either fell from a roof, a plane's wheels or was thrown by burglars to see if anyone was home. The rock that hit Hodges, however, was most definitely a meteorite. On November 30, 1954 she was happily napping on her sofa when an 8.5-pound, 4.5 billion-year-old space rock shot through her roof, bounced off a radio, and hit her on her upper thigh and hand, giving her a large bruise. Her mother, who was in another room, ran to her daughter's aid when she heard a scream. Neither knew what had happened in the immediate aftermath, only that the house was filled with dust. First they thought the chimney had collapsed or a space heater had ruptured, before discovering a rock on the floor and a bruise to Ann's body. The pair then called the police and fire department. Shortly before the impact, a number of residents in Sylacauga reported seeing 'a bright reddish light' crossing the sky 'like a roman candle trailing smoke.' Others said they saw a 'fireball, like a gigantic wielding arc' and heard a large boom. Such was the intensity of it that many thought an airplane was crashing to Earth. Authorities were inundated with calls and expected to find a crash site, before identifying the Hodgeses house as 'ground zero' and discovering a hole in the roof. It was only as they pieced together all the evidence that the penny slowly began to drop. What later emerged is that when the meteor entered the Earth's atmosphere, it broke apart. One fragment hit Hodges while another was discovered by a farmer several miles away. Hodges' husband Eugene was completely unaware of what had happened until he returned home later that day to find emergency vehicles and a crowd of people surrounding the couple's home. On November 30, 1954 she was happily napping on her sofa when an 8.5-pound, 4.5 billion-year-old space rock (pictured) shot through her roof, bounced off a radio, and hit her thigh Collateral damage: This is the radio that the meteorite bounced off before it hit Hodges on the upper thigh His wife then told him there had been a 'little excitement' that day. Despite not initially requiring hospital treatment, Hodges was admitted the following day not for the bruise, but because of the mental distress the ordeal had caused her. Eugene would later claim that his wife's behaviour changed in the months and years following the meteorite strike. Her health problems worsened, her shyness became social anxiety, and she suffered from what appeared to be post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The couple divorced 10 years later. Prior to their split, and in the immediate aftermath of the incident, Ann and Eugene spent a year locked in a bitter legal dispute with their landlady over the rights to the piece of meteorite that smashed through their house. Although the law favoured the landlord, the public got behind Hodges and she eventually got to keep it after she and her husband agreed to pay a $500 (389) settlement. Meteorite de Schirmeck : le debris va etre analyse https://t.co/VpNXxizaKg DNA (@dnatweets) July 18, 2023 Disputed: A woman claimed she was hit by a meteorite while enjoying a coffee with a friend in Schirmeck, north-eastern France (shown above). However, dozens of geologists dismissed the idea that it was a space rock because of its irregular spikes. Meteorites tend to be smoother Hodges had said of the legal wrangling for ownership: 'God intended it to hit me. After all, it hit me!' Unfortunately, interest in the meteorite had waned by the time Hodges and her husband had the rock in their possession. They tried to sell it but couldn't find a buyer, so initially used it as a doorstop before donating it to the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The farmer who also had a piece of the Hodges Meteorite fall on his land had much better luck. Julius Kempis McKinney quickly sold it to the Smithsonian while the Hodges legal ordeal was still raging, allowing him to buy a new car and a house from the proceeds. Decades later, in 2017, a chunk of this second, smaller piece of the space rock sold at auction house Christie's for $7,500 (5,800). Hodges would eventually pass away aged just 52, having struggled enormously in the spotlight of her notoriety. She died of kidney failure in a nursing home on September 10, 1972, while her ex-husband lived until 2012. Google Maps is the most popular navigation app on Earth - but most users have never looked under the hood to unlock the app's hidden abilities. For example, you can share your location with friends, pinpoint where you parked your car (and how long is left on the meter) and get a superb augmented reality view where you see directions overlaid over camera images. You can even see where your children are 24 hours a day in the Android app (with a little help from Google's Family Link service). Google Maps first launched in 2005 for desktop only, and is now used by more than a billion people every month it was downloaded 24.7 million times in 2022 in the U.S., making it by far the most popular navigation app. Here are some of the coolest tips and tricks to get the most out of the application: There are lots of cool hidden features in Google Maps Turn your camera into an augmented reality map If you live in certain cities, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco or London, you can see an augmented reality view with map information overlaid over your camera. If youre lost, this makes it much easier to work out which way to go. To activate it, open Maps, then tap the camera icon: hey presto, youll see navigation overlaid over your cameras image. Share your location and ETA If youre meeting someone in a park or somewhere unfamiliar, this trick is a godsend. Simply tap on the little blue icon on the map that shows your location, then select Share Your Location. You then get an option to share it directly with contacts, or share it to apps. You can share your location with friends (Picture Rob Waugh) You can choose to set a timer or leave the shared location on until you turn it off. If youre navigating somewhere, you can also share your ETA and where you are: just tap the bit on screen showing how long until you arrive, and then select Share Trip Progress. Remember where you parked the car You can save where you parked your car (and even save a reminder of how much time you have left on the clock). To do this, tap the blue icon on the map that shows where you are, then select Save Parking. Tap again, and you can opt to save your notes on the parking spot and the time left on the meter. Keep track of your kids 24/7 If you use the Family Link app (youll need to install it on both your childs phone and your own and you'll also both need to have Google accounts), you can see where your children are on Google Maps (they appear as a grey dot). It works in both Android and iPhones. To activate it, open the Family Link app, tap Location and Set up location. Open the Family Link app. Tap Location. At the top right, tap More More and then Location settings. Select the option See your childs location and switch on. Your child will now appear as a grey dot in Google Maps. Take a trip down memory lane! If you want an exact record of where youve been, you can visit Google Maps timeline - it can be handy (for example) if you want to know exactly when you got somewhere. Its also a useful way to keep track of how long youve jogged, or how many miles you have driven. This feature only works if you've enabled Timeline (and if youre worried about privacy, you can disable it at any time). To see your timeline, select your account icon at the top right and select Your Timeline. Youll then be able to go through day by day. Save data while youre abroad or off-grid You can save data by downloading maps (Picture Rob Waugh) If you know youre going somewhere where youll have to pay for data - or somewhere where cellphone coverage is patchy - you can pre-download the maps you need. To do this, just tap your icon in the top right, then choose Select Your Own Map. You can then drag or zoom to adjust the area you want to download. Add extra destinations to your trip You can add stops when you start up Google Maps navigation (Picture Rob Waugh) If youre on a car trip, you can add multiple destinations from the get-go, rather than doing a series of smaller trips. In Google Maps, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner after youve entered your starting point and ending point in navigation. This offers the option to add a stop. Navigate inside buildings Many large buildings such as airports and shopping malls let you navigate inside them: just tap on the location, then scroll to Directory. You can also get augmented reality views in many U.S. malls including in Seattle, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose. Christopher Bledsoe told DailyMail.com he has been seeing glowing orbs since 2007, when he went on a fishing trip with his son and employees A North Carolina man who was on the verge of giving up on life called out to the heavens for help and received a response from what he believes was the third kind. Former construction mogul Christopher Bledsoe, 62, told DailyMail.com that in 2007 he was nearly penniless after losing his business and ventured out to the dark woods around Cape Fear Lake with thoughts of ending his life. 'I got within 40 feet at the top of the hill, I cried out, 'whoever's up there, help me,' and I never expected to see what I saw,' said Bledsoe. Hovering about 150 feet above the ground were two orbs glowing a blood-red, tangerine color, and Bledsoe said these orbs have since appeared over his home 'every night,' and while he is reluctant to call them 'aliens,' he is adamant they are not from this world. He claims to have captured footage of these orbs and his stories - while they might seem fantastical - have caught the attention of NASA, as well as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Department of Defense (DoD) agents. Bledsoe is also featured on History Channels' 'Beyond Skinwalker Ranch,' where investigators travel to his Fayetteville home to analyze video evidence and see the orbs themselves. Pictured is allegedly an orb caught by the History Channel Bledsoe has captured over 2,000 videos of orbs flying over his home in the last two years. Pictured is an up-close image of an orb taken in 2012. It was hovering three feet off the ground when he snapped it 15 feet away Bledsoe is also featured on History Channels' 'Beyond Skinwalker Ranch,' where investigators travel to his Fayetteville home to analyze video evidence and see the orbs themselves. The episode will air on August 1 at 10 pm ET. He told DailyMail.com NASA investigated his accounts in 2008 and continued for about eight years after. Bledsoe said the American space agency 'did their homework' and spoke with people in his community. He also participated in studies with 'materials not of this world.' 'Tim Taylor [a NASA veteran] placed a metal in my hand that came 50 million light years away,' said Bledsoe. 'They were looking for a reaction, and I had one of the only ones they had ever seen. Taylor said he's never seen anything like it.' Bledsoe has never wavered with his story, but research has shown that visual hallucinations can occur due to 'neurological and psychiatric disorders, including toxic disturbances, drug withdrawal syndromes, focal central nervous system lesions, migraine headaches, blindness, schizophrenia, and psychotic mood disorders,' according to a study published in the journal National Library of Medicine. There were dozens of UFO sightings over North Carolina in 2022, and all appeared to be the same as what Bledsoe had experienced - glowing orbs hovering in the air. Physicist Dr Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), also revealed this month that unidentified metallic orb UFOs have been spotted 'all over the world.' The book 'Phenomena' by Los Angeles Times report Annie Jacobsen features an interview with former CIA neuroscientist Dr Christopher (Kit) Green, who was commissioned around 2010 by a secret $22 million defense program monitoring UFOs to write a paper on injuries from close encounters with 'anomalous' craft and glowing orbs. Green told Jacobsen that he found the patients were 'all high-functioning individuals, many prodigious savants, most of whom carry a high-security clearance.' These individuals reported seeing' [something] that emits some kind of a light or a beam. Some orbs.' Bledsoe's accounts are shared in the book 'UFO of GOD' - and the Foreword is written by former CIA member Jim Semivan who worked in the Central Intelligence Agency's National Clandestine Service for 25 years. 'When Chris first told me the story, I was gobsmacked, reads the Foreword. 'The narrative was truly incredible. And I knew it was an honest recollection of the events that happened to him and his son, Chris Junior.' Bledsoe's life-changing experience began on September 11, 2001, when the US fell victim to a terrorist attack. At the time, he was a commercial builder for Fort Bragg, developing new homes for military families on the base. 'I had 72 houses under construction, and suddenly, Fort Bragg shut down,' said Bledsoe. 'They went off to war, and no houses were selling, so I knew I was in trouble. My 20 years of savings started going out the window and [I had] $80,000 a month and interest in overhead. 'I was at the point of giving up on life and thinking terrible thoughts, but I love nothing more than my children and wife [so I pushed on].' In 2007, Bledsoe was nearly penniless after losing his business . Pictured is family (L-R): Chris Jr., Jeremey, his wife Yvonne, Emily and Ryan NASA was the first to investigate the bizarre accounts, followed by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and Department of Defense (DoD) agents. Bledsoe (left) has been to NASA's headquarters several times Bledsoe's father gave him a construction job, and the crew working with him asked him to go fishing at Cape Fear on January 8, 2007. He took the three men and his son, Chris Jr, who was 17 then, to the river but went into the forest to get away because of his struggles. 'I was 46 years old at the time, and I could not even buy my children lunch - that's how bad it was,' said Bledsoe. 'I lost everything.' 'When I got up within 40 feet of that hill, the first thing I noticed was what looked like the setting sun, but then I saw two of these things,' he continued. 'So I knew what I was looking at wasn't anything from the military or anything we had. It was from another world.' Bledsoe said fear set in, and he ran down the hill, but when he looked back, another ball of fire appeared directly above him. Bledsoe took the History Channel crew to Cape Fear, where he first saw the orbs in 2007 'There was another one above me that appeared within one second,' he explained. 'It wasn't there. The next second I've got a third setting sun that was as big as a house.' When Bledsoe returned to the fishing hole, he learned he had been gone all night - even though it felt like just 20 minutes for him. Bledsoe's son was missing from the group and he went back into the woods looking for him. 'I heard the rustle of the leaves, and he came up weeping,' Bledsoe told DailyMail.com with tears as he recalled seeing the fear in his son's eyes. 'He said, where have you been, daddy? Why did you leave me? These creatures, there were two of them with red eyes, and I saw orbs or balls of light.' Bledsoe told DailyMail.com that when he told his community, he and his family were shunned and ridiculed, forcing him to keep what he and his son experienced a secret from the rest of the world. But that all changed in 2012 when he was visited by a being that told him he was not going at this alone. During the History Channel show, the team analyzes Bledsoe's brain signals during interactions with the phenomena 'A woman was glowing with a white dress, the most beautiful thing you have ever seen,' Bledsoe said, explaining she was floating three feet off the ground. 'She looked at me and said, 'You know why I am here. If you do this, I will always be with you and help you. I will help you with witnesses. 'Immediately, I could share it with my parents and the US government. I am probably the most studied person in the world now.' Bledsoe has captured over 2,000 videos of orbs flying over his home in the last two years. Some shot the glowing balls in the sky, while others were captured hovering just a few feet off the ground. This story caught the attention of 'Beyond Skinwalker Ranch,' who spent seven days with Bledsoe, studying him and observing the skies around his home. The show's investigators realized Bledsoe could summon the orbs at any given moment, which he told DailyMail.com all he needs to do is pray, and they appear. 'I am no longer a religious person. I am a spiritual person,' he said. The North Carolina resident has had his brain analyzed by NASA and scientists at The Monroe Institute, which studies human consciousness. During the History Channel show, the team analyzes Bledsoe's brain signals during interactions with the phenomena. Neuroscientists James Thompson, who analyzed the data, confirmed Bledsoe has no brain issues and appears to have an emotional connection with the orbs that occurred during the show. Scroll down to the bottom to see which kit is the best overall... Qatar Airways' kit is 'the most luxurious' and the one by Qantas is 'most creative' The free amenity kit that awaits business and first-class airline passengers is a high point of the journey. At least, that's the theory. Here we investigate the various goody bags handed out by airlines that rank among the world's top 20, as determined by the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2023, to see if they're worthy of the thousands that the tickets cost. Here's our verdict on the cases, which contain everything from designer fragrances to 'luxury' socks. Scroll to the very bottom for the kit that takes the top prize... ANA, ALL NIPPON AIRWAYS MailOnline Travel tested out the business class amenity kit offered by Japanese airline ANA, All Nippon Airways Airline ranking: Third worldwide. Price of a plane ticket: A business class ticket from London to Tokyo with the Japanese airline is priced from around 3,974 ($5,105) one-way. We tested: The business class amenity kit. The bag: A little suitcase-shaped case from the British luxury luggage brand Globe-Trotter, which launched in 1897. The contents: A 'travel-friendly' face mist (10ml) and a lip balm - made using yuzu, a type of citrus - by the Japanese cosmetics brand Shiro. It's 50 ($64) for a 120ml face mist. 'These high-end cosmetics will appeal to the growing number of passengers interested in sampling Japanese cosmetics,' says the airline. Overall verdict: This is definitely the most fun design of all the kits tested. Its a real keepsake for travel lovers. The elasticated compartments inside the case are also reminiscent of old-school luggage. Shiro products are of fantastic quality too, made using natural ingredients. One drawback - the case is a little stiff to open. Star rating: **** SINGAPORE AIRLINES Above is the Singapore Airlines' business-class amenity kit, which was developed in collaboration with British perfumers Penhaligon's Airline ranking: Number one in the world. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Singapore with the Singaporean airline is priced from around 2,386 ($3,065) one way. Amenity kit tested: The business-class amenity kit. The bag: An easy-to-reuse taupe folio-style zip-open bag. The contents: As the kit was developed in collaboration with British perfumers Penhaligon's, there are three Penhaligons Luna products inside - hand lotion, lip balm and facial mist. They have a specially curated floral and citrus scent. You get 30ml of the hand lotion it retails at around 24 ($31) for 75ml. Overall verdict: The Penhaligon's detailing is charming - the lining is patterned with perfume-themed illustrations and the zipper pull is a miniature Penhaligons perfume bottle. It loses points, however, for the limited selection inside. Passengers can request other amenities such as shaving tools, a dental kit and eyeshades during their flight, but it's a pity they're not worked into the kits. Plus, it's a shame there's no eau de toilette included from Penhaligons. Star rating: ** JAPAN AIRLINES Japan Airlines' business-class kit is a faux leather case designed in collaboration with the French-Japanese fashion house Maison Kitsune. The leather is stamped with a gold fox - the brand's logo The Maison Kitsune case could easily be reused as a clutch or a purse after the flight Airline ranking: Fifth worldwide. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Tokyo with the Japanese airline is priced from around 3,791 ($4,870) one-way. We tested: The business-class amenity kits. The bag: A faux leather case designed in collaboration with the French-Japanese fashion house Maison Kitsune. The 'leather' is stamped with a gold fox - the fashion brand's logo - with the fox theme continuing in the boldly patterned lining. The contents: A toothbrush, ear plugs, eye mask, a packet of tissues and a moisturising face mask. Overall verdict: Very elegant. You can imagine people using them as a clutch or a purse long after their flight. It's also the only kit to have a moisture mask for your skin, though it loses marks for the general lack of toiletries inside. Star rating: *** TURKISH AIRLINES Turkish Airlines business-class passengers get a leather case designed by the luxury Italian brand Salvatore Ferragamo Airline ranking: Sixth worldwide, top in Europe. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from New York to Istanbul with the Turkish carrier is priced from around 3,217 ($4,132) one-way. We tested: The business-class amenity kit. The bag: A leather case designed by the luxury Italian brand Salvatore Ferragamo. Turkish Airlines says: 'The chic and functional design of the bags, available in different colours throughout the year, makes them attractive for use even after the journey.' The contents: Toiletries by Salvatore Ferragamo - facial mist, body lotion and lip balm. Plus, there are 'luxury' soft socks, earplugs made from recycled plastic and a toothbrush made from wheat straw. Overall verdict: The case itself is the best quality of all of those tested. There's a soft, buttery feel to the leather, and it's a generous size. Socks are super fluffy and soft. It's the only kit that contains a hair tie - a little detail that proves very handy when flying. Star rating: **** AIR FRANCE Air France's business-class kit features a 'stylish herringbone pattern' and is made from 96 per cent recyclable material Airline ranking: Seventh worldwide. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from New York to Paris with the French carrier is priced from around 1,497 ($1,923) one-way. We tested: The business-class amenity kits. The bag: A zip-up case in a 'stylish herringbone pattern', made from 96 per cent recyclable material. The contents: Travel-size products by the premium French brand Clarins - the rejuvenating hand cream (26/$33 for 100ml) and the moisturising, cooling face gel (76/$98 for 100ml). A toothbrush and a pen made from maize straw and a soft eye mask are among the other contents. Overall verdict: Wholeheartedly chic. It's presented in a sophisticated style, channelling the airline's colours in a muted way. Clarins products are known for their quality, too. Star rating: **** CATHAY PACIFIC Cathay Pacific's business-class kit was created in collaboration with luxury British skincare brand Bamford Airline ranking: Eighth worldwide. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Hong Kong with Hong Kong's flag carrier is priced from around 4,864 ($6,248) one-way. We tested: The business-class amenity kit. The bag: A beige mock leather case created in collaboration with luxury British skincare brand Bamford. The contents: It features three products by Bamford - a 'botanic' lip balm, a hydrating face mist and a hand and body lotion. An eye mask, ear plugs, a toothbrush and toothpaste and a handy tub of mouthwash complete the set. Overall verdict: The case revolves around getting a good night's sleep - a card outlines a 'three-step ritual' to undertake, 'preparing the body for sleep' by applying the lotion on 'areas that carry tension such as the neck, arms and hands', followed by a 'calming' spritz of the face mist and the application of the lip balm to 'restore softness while you sleep'. Perhaps a little unexciting overall but would certainly help you to feel rested. Star rating: *** QANTAS AIRWAYS Of all the kits, the business-class amenity kit by Qantas Airways has the most creative design Toiletries in the Qantas kit are by Australian skincare brand LiTya and feature Australian eucalyptus Airline ranking: Seventeenth worldwide, top in Australia. Price of a plane ticket: With the Australian carrier, a business-class ticket from London to Sydney, with one stop, is priced from around 4,698 ($6,035) one-way. We tested: The business-class amenity kit. The bag: The blue-and-white case is designed by Aboriginal artist Kevin Wilson, and is embellished with illustrations of whale sharks and kangaroos to combine 'the elements of Western Australias ancient tracks, waterways and animals'. The contents: Theres a card inside that tells you about the artist and introduces you to hotspots in Western Australia, such as the Ningaloo Reef World Heritage Site. Toiletries - face cream, lip balm and hand cream - are by Australian skincare brand LiTya and feature Australian eucalyptus. Overall verdict: Of all the kits, this has the most creative design. Graphic and original, it showcases the wildlife and cultural experiences that await you on a trip to Australia. What's more, it's designed to be reused - Qantas says that its customers 'repurpose them as wallets, or for storing makeup or keys'. Theres a sustainable bent too, with a bamboo toothbrush, fully compostable packaging and recycled plastic skincare tubes. Star rating: **** BRITISH AIRWAYS British Airways' first-class amenity kits are designed by British fashion designer Alice Temperley and come in a male and female variety The male first-class amenity kit for BA, which contains shaving gel and a comb, among other items. The case's patterned Alice Temperley lining is pictured on the right Image two shows British Airways' amenity kit by luxury lifestyle brand The White Company, which is handed out to business-class passengers Airline ranking: Eighteenth worldwide, top in the UK. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to New York with the British carrier is priced from around 8,035 ($10,321) one-way. A first-class ticket for the same route is 10,900 ($14,001). We tested: First-class amenity kits and the amenity kit by lifestyle brand The White Company for business-class (Club World) passengers. The bag: The first-class sets are designed by British designer Alice Temperley - the female kits have a slightly intense pattern on the outside, whereas the male versions look more sophisticated, wrapped black or aubergine. The White Company set sits in a neat little black case. The contents: In the Alice Temperley kits, you get an Elemis cleansing micellar facial wipe, a fortitude deodorant, a pro-collagen rose facial mist, a lip balm, a moisturiser and eye cream. It's a real treat, as Elemis moisturisers can cost as much as 150 ($193) retail. Male sets also include shave gel. In The White Company set, there's a moisturiser (with geranium and neroli), a lip balm and a 'pulse point' (with lavender and peppermint) that you use to massage your skin. They're all from the brand's 'Restore & Relax Spa Collection' and are supposed to 'counteract the effects of long haul air travel' and give you a 'relaxing boost'. Overall verdict: All in all, they're very generous kits that are packed to the brim with products. The quality of the Elemis toiletries is excellent and it's thoughtful to include shaving gel and deodorant. The mirror and comb are another clever addition, though the mirror is a bit stiff to open. The Alice Temperley print on the bags likely isn't to everyone's taste, but it's nice to see that BA has worked with a British designer. Star rating: **** DELTA AIR LINES Delta Air Lines partnered with Mexican apparel brand Someone Somewhere to create its business-class kits Airline ranking: Twentieth worldwide, top in the U.S. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Atlanta, Georgia (the U.S airline's hub), is priced from around 6,636 ($8,524) one-way. We tested: The business-class amenity kits. The bag: Delta partnered with Mexican apparel brand Someone Somewhere to create the kits, with the partnership creating jobs for 'more than 250 people in five of Mexicos most vulnerable states'. The bag is navy blue, envelope style and held together with an elastic strap. The contents: Organic and cruelty-free toiletries - a vanilla and watermelon lip balm and an orange peel hand cream - are by Grown Alchemist, described as a leading force in clean beauty. It also includes a Someone Somewhere eye mask and a toothbrush by sustainable brand Humble Co. Overall verdict: A lot of thought has been put into the ethos and eco-credentials behind the kit. A nice touch is a QR code that you can scan, introducing you to the Mexican craftswoman who designed the kit. Plus, the overall design is slick and contemporary. Star rating: **** SWISS INTERNATIONAL AIR LINES Swiss International Air Lines collaborated with Victorinox, the makers of the original Swiss army knife, for its business-class kit. The case can be transformed into a packing cube Swiss International Air Lines takes the prize for the most practical amenity kit Airline ranking: Twelfth worldwide. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from New York to Zurich with the Swiss carrier is priced from around 729 ($936) one-way. We tested: The business-class amenity kits. The bag: Swiss International Air Lines distributes two different amenity kits depending on the route. Both are made by Victorinox the makers of the original Swiss army knife, established in 1884. One is a pouch that can be unfolded into a packing cube to organise your luggage 'perfectly'. The other is a rectangular tin box. The contents: Both kits contain a toothbrush made of corn starch, toothpaste, earplugs, socks and an eyeshade. Overall verdict: This takes the prize for the most practical amenity kit. The tin box is sturdy, light and doubles as a nifty pencil case, and the packing cube is equally reusable. The contents, however, are a bit disappointing theres not much beyond the basics. The bright red socks are a jazzy touch, however. Star rating: *** QATAR AIRWAYS Qatar Airways offers its first and business passengers 'luxurious bespoke gift boxes', which come in two colourways The Qatar Airways kit contains a Diptyque eau de toilette - passengers either get a signature 34 Boulevard Saint Germain bottle or an Eau Rose eau de toilette Airline ranking: Second worldwide. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Doha with the Qatari airline is priced from around 3,121 ($4,009) one-way. A first-class ticket for the same route is from 6,630 ($8,515). Amenity kits tested: Amenity kits for first and business class - passengers in both cabins receive the same goody bags - that were created in collaboration with the French fragrance brand Diptyque. The bag: There are the Diptyque branded bags made from vegan leather and 'luxurious bespoke gift boxes'. The gift boxes are striking, but as theyre made from card, theyre not hugely long-lasting. The zip-up case, on the other hand, is easily reusable. The contents: You get one of two different 10ml bottles of eau de toilette - the signature 34 Boulevard Saint Germain (98/$126 for a 50ml bottle) or Eau Rose eau de toilette (90/$116 for a 50ml bottle). The former is scented with a blend of amber, patchouli, cinnamon and rose while the latter is with damascene and centifolia roses. There's also the brand's 'nourishing' lip balm, an orange-blossom scented body lotion and a face cream made with prickly pear extract 'to boost radiance'. Overall verdict: The most luxurious kit of all. The kits smell heavenly, creating a truly premium experience (though it might be a little overpowering if you dont like Diptyque). The presentation means that opening them up feels like unwrapping a gift. The eau de toilette is the cherry on top, especially considering how much it costs to purchase. Star rating: ***** EMIRATES - THE BEST OVERALL Emirates partnered with Bulgari for these 'exclusive' kit bags for its business-class passengers. The kits feature 5ml bottles of Bulgari eau de toilette Airline ranking: Fourth worldwide. Price of a plane ticket: A business-class ticket from London to Dubai with the UAE airline is priced from around 2,614 ($3,357) one-way. A first-class ticket for the same route is 4,546 ($5,838). We tested: First class and business-class amenity kits. The bag: Emirates partnered with Italian luxury fashion house Bulgari for these 'exclusive' kit bags, made from faux leather, which come in a range of colours for both men and women. The bags have been designed for multipurpose uses after the flight to store headphones, makeup or jewellery, says Emirates. The contents: They feature 5ml bottles of Bulgari eau de toilette - Omnia (84/$108 for 65ml) and Aqva (65/$83 for 50ml). There's also matching hydrating face emulsion, body lotion and lip balm, tissues, a shaving kit, a foldable brush, a pocket mirror and a dental kit. Overall verdict: This kit takes the top prize because Emirates has truly considered everything a business-class passenger might need during their flight and delivered it, with the Bulgari toiletries creating a little cocoon of luxury. And while the roll-on deodorant looks a little cheap, it's the kind of thing you'd be grateful for five hours into a flight. Star rating: ***** Flight prices correct at the time of writing, based on Google Flights. It's hard to believe that Mr. Mom hit theaters 40 years ago in 1983. The film follows engineer Jack (Michael Keaton) after he loses his job. In a desperate search for a way to support their family, he and his wife, Caroline (Teri Garr), both search for jobs. Caroline secures a job first, forcing Jack to stay home with their three children, Alex (Frederick Koehler), Kenny (Taliesin Jaffe) and Megan (played by twins Caroline and Brittany White). Naturally, various hijinks riffing off the stereotypical gender expectations ensue. It's hard to believe that Mr. Mom hit theaters 40 years ago in 1983. The film follows engineer Jack (Michael Keaton) after he loses his job and his wife has to enter the workforce Not only did the film make $64 million off its $5 million budget, but it also helped launch the cast's careers. Some stars like Garr and Martin Mull, who played Caroline's boss, and Ann Jillian, who portrayed Caroline's neighbor, already had booming careers. However, Mr. Mom was Keaton's first major role in a feature film in 1983. Additionally, child actors Koehler and Jaffe continue to act to this day thanks to the movie. Unfortunately, some of the film's stars came across tragedy after it premiered. Garr was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, while Jillian had a battle with breast cancer. As for the rest of the cast, here is what they've been up to since Mr. Mom wrapped 40 years ago. Michael Keaton briefly left acting only to return and win an Emmy Mr. Mom was Keaton's first lead role in a motion picture movie (left) and he eventually went on to be an Emmy-winning actor (right earlier this year) Mr. Mom was Keaton's first lead role in a motion picture and he has his part in Night Shift (1982) to thank for landing him the role. Producer Lauren Shuler Donner was set on casting him after her friend and Keaton's agent encouraged her to see the film. '[His agent said] "Look, I represent this guy who is really funny. Would you meet with him?"' Donner recalled of the conversation. 'So I met with him (Keaton). Usually I don't like to do this unless we're casting, but I met with him because she was my friend. 'And then she said, "You have to see this movie Night Shift that he's in." 'So I went to see Night Shift, and midway through I couldn't wait to get out of that theater to give Mr. Mom to Michael Keaton. Fortunately, he liked it.' The role was one of the most notable of 71-year-old Keaton's career. He used its momentum to create a long-lasting career in Hollywood, with iconic roles like Bruce Wayne in Batman and Riggan Thomson in Birdman, a role that he won a Golden Globe for. He then starred as the one and only Beetlejuice. The actor revealed that he played a huge role in shaping Beetlejuice, one of the quirkiest and most unique characters to ever hit the big screen. Producer Lauren Shuler Donner was set on casting him after her friend and Keaton's agent encouraged her to see him The role was one of the most notable of 71-year-old Keaton's career At first, he didn't see himself in the part and initially turned down the role multiple times. 'I liked Tim personally, but I really didn't know what he was trying to explain with the concept of the movie. And so I said no two or three times,' Keaton told EW. However, once he was on board 'it was off to the races.' The actor explained that he personally approached the wardrobe and makeup department and told them: 'I want mold on my face. My hair has to look like I stuck my finger in an electric socket.' He also had a role in picking the way Beetlejuice's teeth and skin looked while Burton selected the character's iconic suit. Keaton appreciated that freedom in the creative process. 'Beetlejuice is the ultimate "Yes and..." movie, really, because Tim never went, "Wait, no, you can't do that." He went, "Oh, you're going to do that? Cool. Then watch this. Then go over there and do this,"' he shared. The veteran actor added: '[My character] isn't even in the movie very much! But it's 100 per cent just an original piece of art.' Shortly after Beetlejuice, he joined Burton on his next project, 1989's Batman. Beetlejuice: At first, he didn't see himself in the part and initially turned down the role multiple times. However, once he was on board 'it was off to the races' He and his wife, Caroline McWilliams (pictured in 1989 at the Batman premiere), divorced a year after his project, Batman, in 1990 Fans of the comic book saw it as a controversial choice, especially coming off of his campy portrayal of Beetlejuice. However, he knew what it took to play a grounded version of the character by focusing on his alter ego, Bruce Wayne. 'I know the name of the movie is Batman and it's hugely iconic and very cool and culturally iconic,' he said on the In The Envelope: The Actors Podcast. 'I always knew from the get-go it was Bruce Wayne. That was the secret... from a character perspective it's about Bruce Wayne. Who's that guy?' During that time he was married to Caroline McWilliams. They shared one son together, Sean, who was born in 1983 - five years before the release of Beetlejuice. They ultimately divorced in 1990 after eight years of marriage. Sadly, Williams passed away from complications of multiple myeloma - a cancer that comes from malignant plasma cells - in 2010. Keaton had complicated feelings about his ex-wife's illness and death, which he described in a 2010 interview with Elle. 'And the feelings that came up were odd, but not in a bad way, necessarily, because we had remained close,' he stated. 'She was a remarkable mom. Sean is the great guy he is because of her we've always been tight, but now the bond's even tighter. We're the family now.' He then went on to date Friends star Courteney Cox in 1990 up until 1995. During that time, he returned for the Batman sequel, Batman Returns (1992). He spent the rest of the 90s taking on more film projects including The Paper (1994), Multiplicity (1996), Jackie Brown (1997) and Out Of Sight (1998). During the 2000s, his career slowed down and he stuck to making cameos on TV series like The Simpsons and Frasier. Keaton has spoken out about the break in his career and explained that it was an active decision to step away from Hollywood for about a decade. 'Look, there's two different things here. There's me taking a pause. I really like life, doing things, having a normal life. So there was that,' he told The Guardian. Shortly after Beetlejuice, he joined Burton on his next project, Batman (1989) He spent the rest of the 90s taking on more film projects including The Paper (1994) and Jackie Brown (1997) 'And there was me getting bored, hearing the sound of my voice, seeing the same old tricks. So I may have lost interest, combined with a whole lot of people not knocking on my door. It wasn't just me. 'But I also consciously started to slowly change things internally, and it worked.... Just thinking about things, asking what you want, what you don't want, how am I going to get to there? And it takes a lot of stumbling around, and it takes discipline,' he explained. With a newfound sense of discipline, he returned to Hollywood in 2008 in the film The Merry Gentleman. However, it wasn't until 2014 that he landed the biggest role of his career. Keaton was excited to accept a meeting with Birdman's director, stating: 'I had seen all of Alejandro Inarritu's movies and loved them.' Once he read the script, he claimed he 'knew from the get-go I was doing that movie. I thought, "Boy, this is going to be really scary." But when I'm frightened, that's generally speaking a good sign.' It certainly was a great omen for him as the film landed him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and the film went on to win an Oscar for Best Picture. The performance rebooted his career and he went on to star in Spotlight (2015) and The Founder (2016). Keaton landed his next award-winning role in the 2021 TV miniseries Dopesick. He won both an Emmy and Golden Globe for his performance as Dr. Samuel Finnix. The role had a deep emotional impact on him and he even teared up when giving his Emmy acceptance speech, noting that he lost his nephew to drugs. Keaton took a break from Hollywood for about a decade but with a newfound sense of discipline, he returned to Hollywood in 2008 in the film The Merry Gentleman (2008) Birdman landed him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor and the film went on to win an Oscar for Best Picture 'Given the subject matter, this is for my nephew, Michael, and my sister, Pam,' he shared. 'I lost Michael to drugs and it hurts. To my sister Pam, thanks.' Most recently, Keaton donned the Batman helmet once again in The Flash after walking away from the role decades ago. 'I thought, "Boy, what would that be like?"... It has to be good,' he told THR of his prerequisites for taking on the role. 'There's no reason to do it if it's not good. It's not gonna really change anything.' He added: 'And I just jumped in and had fun. And why would you not? You know, I mean, director Andy Muschietti is fantastic, and it's really creative. I don't know. It's fun.' He is also winning on the romance front as he has been dating Marni Turner for reportedly more than six years. Unlike her famous beau, Turner has remained out of the spotlight. She has been a supportive figure in his life and even accompanied him to the Emmys in 2022. Keaton has proved that he's not opposed to reprising old roles and he has said the same in regards to the Beetlejuice sequel. He landed his next award-winning role in the 2021 TV miniseries Dopesick. He won both an Emmy and Golden Globe for his performance as Dr. Samuel Finnix By his side: Marni Turner, his girlfriend of reportedly more than six years, supported him after his Emmy win in 2022 'I always said that's the one thing I'd like to do again, if I ever did anything again. But it kind of required Tim to be involved some way or another,' he told MTV previously. The feeling appeared to be mutual. Burton spoke with IGN about how a sequel only felt right if Keaton was involved. He said: 'There's only one Beetlejuice, and that's Michael. There is a script, and I would love to work with him again. I think there is now a better chance than ever. 'I miss that character. There's something that's cathartic and amazing about it. I think it's closer than ever.' And they both got their wishes as the sequel, Beetlejuice 2, is currently in the works. Keaton has returned along with his co-star in that film, Winona Ryder. They are joined by Jenna Ortega, who is playing Lydia's daughter. Ryder and Ortega have been spotted filming the sequel, which is set to hit theaters on September 6, 2024. Teri Garr was one of the most successful actresses in the 80s and 90s - but lost her career to MS Garr was already a huge name by the time she filmed Mr. Mom (left), but she struggled with continuing to act after her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. She's pictured right in 2014 Garr was already a huge name by the time she filmed Mr. Mom, having starred in Young Frankenstein (1974), Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (1977) and Tootsie (1982). She went on to have a successful career and get married after Mr. Mom, but was forced to slow down after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In Mr. Mom, Garr played Caroline, the matriarch of the Butler family who lands a job before her recently-fired husband, causing her to switch roles from stay-at-home mom to breadwinner. As she was filming the 1983 flick, she dated film executive Roger Birnbaum. However, they ended their seven-year relationship the same year that it came out. Shortly after, she started dating Hollywood doctor David Kipper after they met through mutual friend Carrie Fisher. In Mr. Mom, Garr played Caroline, the matriarch of the Butler family who lands a job before her recently-fired husband, causing her to switch roles from stay-at-home mom to breadwinner As she was filming the 1983 flick, she dated film executive Roger Birnbaum (pictured in the 80s). However, they ended their seven-year relationship the same year that it came out Garr also continued her successful movie career throughout the 80s. She had a supporting role in the hit film After Hours (1985) and went on to star in Full Moon in Blue Water (1988) next to Gene Hackman and Let It Ride with Richard Dreyfuss. She also was a recurring guest on late night series like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and Late Night With David Letterman, which she appeared on more than 30 times. The 90s started out just as promising. She continued her film career in Waiting For The Light along with Shirley MacLaine (1990), Mom And Dad Save The World (1992), Perfect Alibi (1995) and A Simple Wish (1997). She also starred in some short-lived TV series. Even though they only lasted a season, she had the lead role in the shows Good & Evil (1991) and Women Of The House (1995). The actress appeared in the hit sitcom Friends as Phoebe's mom. She also tried her hand at married life. The bombshell actress tied the knot with actor John O'Neil in 1993. In November that year, they witnessed the birth of their adopted daughter, Molly O'Neil. However, three years later, the pair ended up filing for divorce in 1996. During that time, she also didn't make any appearances on Late Night With David Letterman. Garr also continued her successful movie career throughout the 80s. She had a supporting role in the hit film After Hours (1985) She was a recurring guest on late night series like Late Night With David Letterman, which she appeared on more than 30 times In 1997, Letterman went on The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder and revealed an embarrassing incident that occurred during his own show, according to the Deseret News. He shared, 'Like 100 years ago, Teri Garr's on the old show, and we're bantering back and forth... and I made a very cheap, very uncharacteristic double-entendre sexual reference about Teri just because I needed to have some kind of a joke.' 'I needed a laugh, we were going to commercial,' he continued. 'During the commercial break, I write a note to her which said, "I wish I was dead," meaning: "I express to you my embarrassment and chagrin over this faux pas."' She was seemingly able to get past it. She never publicly commented on the matter, but she went on to appear on his show again that year in 1997. Garr dropped a major bombshell in 1999 when she discovered that she had MS. The actress revealed that her symptoms had started in 1983, the same year that Mr. Mom came out. 'It started in 1983,' she shared to Brain&Life. 'I was living in New York and I'd go jogging in Central Park, and I'd start tripping. 'I'd notice that the more I ran and got my body heated up, the weaker I'd get. But then it'd go away, and it went away for about 10 years. She starred in some short-lived TV series. Even though they only lasted a season, she had the lead role in the shows Good & Evil (pictured left in 1991) and Women Of The House (pictured right in 1995) She also tried her hand at married life. The actress tied the knot with actor John O'Neil in 1993 'And then it started up again, and I started getting stabbing pains in my arm when I ran. But I figured hey, I'm in Central Park, maybe I am being stabbed.' She visited doctors during this time, but they all gave her mixed answers. 'Every movie I did, I'd go see a different doctor in the location where we were shooting, and every one had a different opinion about what it might be,' she explained. 'Every so often someone would mention MS, but then someone else would think it was something else.' The symptoms came and went until finally, in 1999, Garr was officially diagnosed with MS. Garr went public with her condition in 2002 on the Larry King Live show. 'I really didn't think there was any reason to come out and say anything about it, she said on the talk show. 'The good news is there is a lot of good medicine out there,' she continued. 'If I can just help people to feel better.' Garr and her husband, O'Neill, witnessed the birth of their adopted daughter Molly, pictured in 2012 Garr was diagnosed with MS in 1999 and was forced to stop acting. She's pictured in 2014 She acknowledged that she did have her reasons for keeping quiet. 'I didn't tell people because I didn't want pity and I was afraid I wouldn't get work,' Garr said. 'But others with MS need to know they are not alone. We don't have to be victims.' However, her symptoms had become visible at this point so it didn't come as a surprise to many. 'The gossip had an immediate and devastating effect on my career,' she lamented. 'The phone was ringing with inquiries about my health, but when it came to inquiries about my availability for roles, it was "Adios, amigos."' Upon reflection, she felt her time in Hollywood was limited anyway due to the industry's age biases. 'I think my career would have changed anyway at a certain age, but Hollywood's very finicky about everyone being perfect. When things slowed down, it was either the MS or that I'm a stinking actress, so I chose to believe it's the MS,' she told Brain&Life. She would go on to act in more projects, but Expired (2007) was ultimately her last project. She also filmed for an unaired pilot How To Marry A Billionaire in 2011. Otherwise, she has been living a life out of the limelight. She suffered a medical incident in December 2019, but survived it. Frederick Koehler continued working consistently in Hollywood after starting out as a child star Koehler starred as the eldest Butler child Alex in Mr. Mom when he was just eight years old (left). This role led to a lengthy career (right in 2006) Koehler starred as the eldest Butler child Alex in Mr. Mom when he was just eight years old. This role was his first big film project in Hollywood and although it was his biggest to date, it still led to a lengthy career. Immediately after Mr. Mom, he starred in the TV series Kate & Allie from 1984 to 1989. After acting in minor roles in a couple of TV movies, he took a break from the industry to earn his degree in theater from Carnegie Melon. Once he graduated, he continued to book film roles in Pearl Harbor (2001) and Birdseye (2002). Immediately after Mr. Mom, he starred in the TV series Kate & Allie from 1984 to 1989 Once he graduated from college at Carnegie Melon, he continued to book film roles in Pearl Harbor (2001) and Birdseye (2002). He's pictured in the latter movie The former child star then booked a role in Death Race (2008), which eventually turned into a four-part franchise He also made cameos in Ally McBeal, Charmed and the CSI franchise. The actor landed his next film role in the 2005 film Domino. A year later, he had a recurring role in the TV series Pepper Dennis (2006), which only lasted one season. The former child star then booked a role in Death Race (2008), which eventually turned into a four-part franchise. He filmed Death Race 2 in (2010) followed by Death Race 3: Inferno (2013) and Death Race 4: Beyond Anarchy (2018). Koehler continues to book work to this day. He recently starred in The Little Things (2021). Most recently, he filmed for the first season of a TV series titled Kombucha Care (2023). Taliesin Jaffe pivoted to dubbing and video game voiceover - and ended up on successful D&D series Jaffe played one of the Butler children, Kenny, in Mr. Mom when he was six year old (left). The child actor pivoted his career to voiceover work in his adult life (right in 2022) Jaffe played one of the Butler children, Kenny, in Mr. Mom when he was six year old. The child actor pivoted his career to voiceover work in his adult life. Before discovering his passion for voicing video game characters, he had a role in She's The Sheriff from 1987 to 1989. He then got into dubbing anime series into English. He started with the 3x3 Eyes series in (1991). He was then asked to dub their follow-up series 3x3 Eyes: Legend Of The Divine Demon in 1995. He continued consistently booking dubbing work at this point. His name got out there after he did voiceover for the 2001 series Hellsing. This allowed him to get his start in video games, voicing additional voices in Shaun Palmer's Pro Snowboarder and Jade Cocoon. Before discovering his passion for voicing video game characters, he had a role in She's The Sheriff from 1987 to 1989 In 2015, he launched the renowned D&D series Critical Role in which he plays Percival Critical Role is still going strong and have been featured at popular conventions He then landed a role in the famous World Of Warcraft franchise as High Lord Darion Mograine. Jaffe then booked the role of Edward 'Edge' Geraldine in Final Fantasy IV (2007), and Blanka and Adon in Street Fighter IV (2008). He has returned for future instalments of the Street Fighter franchise and booked bigger video game projects with franchises like Marvel, Disney and Lego. He also voiced The Flash in Injustice 2 (2017). In 2015, he launched the renowned D&D series Critical Role in which he plays Percival. In fact, it is so successful that they made an animation series based on their campaign titled The Legend Of Vox Machine for which he also did voiceover. Critical Role is still going strong and have been featured at popular conventions. Martin Mull has carved out a successful career as an actor even though it's only his 'day job' In Mr. Mom, Mull played Ron, Caroline's boss (pictured left) and has gone on to have a successful career acting in sitcoms (pictured right in 2018) Mull isn't your typical Hollywood triple threat: he's an actor, musician and painter. He considers acting his day job, painting his passion and his music career as a staple of his past. In Mr. Mom, Mull played Ron, Caroline's boss. After that he continued his work as a comedic actor in films like Clue (1985) and Jingle All The Way (1996). He also made history, appearing as one half of the first-ever gay couple to appear on a sitcom in Roseanne from 1991 to 1997. He also landed a role on the short-lived sitcom The Ellen Show (2001-2002). His next major role was in the 2010 film Killers. He then would team up with Seth Green to film the TV series Dads. The sitcom, for which his daughter Maggie served as a writer, only lasted for one season, but he still calls it the 'highlight of his career.' Mull made history, appearing as one half of the first-ever gay couple to appear on a sitcom in Roseanne from 1991 to 1997 Love story: He met his wife through music and played in a band with her (pictured left in 1987) They broke up the band when the time came to start a family. The couple pictured right in 2016 After Mr. Mom, he continued his work as a comedic actor in films like Jingle All The Way (1996) 'I think the highlight was when I was doing a show called Dads,' he told Smashing Interviews Magazine. 'At the beginning of every week, we would have a table read where you sit around and read the script for the producers and writers. 'I looked out on day one, and there was my daughter (as one of the writers) sitting there with a yellow legal paid and a pencil taking her notes. 'She was one of the writers on her papa's show. I don't think I've ever felt higher than that. That was it for me.' Mull then starred in a sitcom with David Alan Grier and Leslie Jordan called Cool Kids. At the time, he told Smashing Interviews Magazine, 'I'm with three of the best actors Ive ever worked with, and we're having a ball! What can I say? 'It's about old people, uh, older people who just don't want to be old. We're in a retirement home, so we're still very agile and very able and up to a lot of shenanigans.' The sitcom Dads only lasted for one season but he still calls it the 'highlight of his career.' He's pictured on the show with Vanessa Lachey He then starred in a sitcom with David Alan Grier and Leslie Jordan called Cool Kids in 2018 As for his family, he met his wife through music. The two had formed a band together and tied the knot in 1982, a year before Mr. Man's theatrical release. They broke up the band when the time came to start a family. While their band may be no more, they're happily together to this day. 'My wife and I decided to have a family, and she was a keyboard player. So the band broke up, but the band stayed together because the band was me and my wife,' he told Smashing Interviews Magazine. His daughter, Maggie, has followed in his footsteps, working in the industry as a TV writer. 'We've been together for almost 40 years, and we have a daughter, Maggie, who is now a writer on Family Guy. So she stayed in the business,' he said. Out of all of his passions, painting remains his favorite. 'I don't know. The painting has always been number one for me. It's been the most important thing I do because it's personal, you know,' he explained. In fact, he claims acting is his 'day job' that 'puts paint on my table' and that he's been doing it throughout his entire acting career. 'I've been painting all along. All of this has been a way to try to put paint on my table,' he told The A.V. Club. 'You know, every painter I know has a day job. They're either teaching art at some college or driving a cab or whatever. 'And I just happened to luck into a day job that's extraordinary and a lot of fun and buys a lot of paint. But how did I start out to do that?' Ann Jillian survived breast cancer and played herself in a fictionalized retelling of her story Jillian played Joan, Caroline's neighborhood friend, in Mr. Mom (pictured left) and has since stepped away from acting Ann Jillian was a sex symbol of the 80s due to her role in the TV series It's A Living. While filming that series, she also played Joan, Caroline's neighborhood friend, in Mr. Mom. She also starred in the 1983 TV series Jennifer Slept Here. While Jillian, now 72, was quite busy in the early 80s, her world was turned upside down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1985 at just 35 years old. 'I was in the midst of shooting the miniseries "Alice in Wonderland." When I got the diagnosis, of course, it wasn't something I wanted to hear,' she told Fox News. 'My mother had breast cancer so it was always in the back of my mind. But my mother was also very much alive.' 'I noticed it with my own self breast examination, which is extremely important for all women to do. I was in the shower and I noticed something. 'I immediately went to see a doctor about it. I had a mammogram. And it was good timing. Her husband, Andy Murcia, has stayed by her side this whole time. The two tied the knot more than 40 years ago, pictured in 1981 Ann Jillian was a sex symbol of the 80s due to her role in the TV series It's A Living (pictured left). She also starred in the 1983 TV series Jennifer Slept Here The actress, who survived her bout with breast cancer, believes she wouldn't have made it if she hadn't gone to the doctor. 'I think if I hadn't caught it early, I probably wouldn't be here talking to you today. Early detection and swift medical action saved my life,' she explained. 'And it all goes back to having a good attitude. I put my trust in my medical team, as well as my family and friends who supported me along the way. 'I remember the cast was very supportive. I went back to work 11 days after surgery.' After her battle with breast cancer, the actress felt like it was important to get her story out there. In fact, she filmed a series, The Ann Jillian Story, in which she played herself and portrayed her journey of defeating cancer. She then launched a TV series titled Ann Jillian, which ran for a season. After telling her breast cancer story, she starred in TV movies like I'll Be Home For Christmas (1997) As for the success of their marriage, Jillian makes it seem easy. 'Beats me,' she said when asked about their 'secret' by Closer After that, she only starred in TV movies like Labor Of Love: The Arlette Schweitzer Story (1993), Heart Of A Child (1994), It Was Him Or Us (1995) and I'll Be Home For Christmas (1997). Her other credits include TV appearances on Touched by an Angel (1999) and Walker, Texas Ranger (2000). She has since stepped away from the industry. Her husband, Andy Murcia, has stayed by her side this whole time. The two tied the knot more than 40 years ago in 1977. As for the success of their marriage, Jillian makes it seem easy. 'Beats me,' she said when asked about their 'secret' by Closer. 'Originally, we started with the idea that you have to be nice to each other. We haven't abandoned that.' She added: 'I think the fact that you are friends and have gone through deeply personal challenges together creates a safety net.' They have had one son, Andrew, who is now a lawyer and has given them a granddaughter. X-rated influencer 'Lena the Plug' Nersesian was catapulted from the niche worlds of podcasts and porn into the mainstream over the past month. The 32-year-old has been the talk of the town ever since her influencer husband Adam22 allowed her to film a sex scene with another man - who she later said had a 'bigger' penis than her beau. In the past, she also raised eyebrows for doing porn while heavily pregnant and once went viral after she and Adam picked up a Target cashier for a three-way romp on OnlyFans. Now people are wondering, just who exactly is Lena the Plug and why is she so famous? The Armenian stunner was raised in a conservative Christian family and was a self-confessed 'nerd' in high school. Porn star 'Lena the Plug' Nersesian (right) has become one of the most talked about women on the internet ever since her husband, podcaster Adam22 (left), let her film a sex scene with another man The 32-year-old paired up with male porn star Jason Luv (pictured) to film an X-rated sex scene for OnlyFans - with Lena later claiming that he was 'bigger' than her husband She attended the University of California while working odd jobs as a nanny and Uber driver before finding a job at an influencer marketing agency. In 2015, she quit her job and education after gaining a huge following on Snapchat, where she started selling racy content to premium subscribers. The following year, the brunette beauty started dating podcaster and YouTube star Adam Grandmaison, better known as Adam22, which pushed her further into the online spotlight. To capitalize off her growing popularity, Lena followed in Adam's footsteps by launching her own YouTube channel. She went viral within a month on the platform thanks to a video titled 'I let my best friend have sex with my boyfriend', which has racked up 22million views to date. In the video, Lena and her best friend, porn star Emily Willis, detailed how they'd had a threesome with an A-list rapper in Los Angeles, before inviting Adam over to sleep with them and then documenting the aftermath of the experience on YouTube. Lena first found fame as an Instagram model and raunchy Snapchat influencer The Armenian stunner is pictured in her first ever YouTube video in 2016 Lena went viral thanks to a video titled 'I let my best friend have sex with my boyfriend', which featured herself, Adam, and porn star Emily Willis as they documented their threesome together Lena and Adam continued to push the envelope for views, and it didn't take long for the attention-seeking couple to make the move into porn in a bid to cash-in on their notoriety. To launch themselves into the adult industry, Lena uploaded a video in early 2017 vowing to film a 'sex tape' with Adam if she hit 1million YouTube subscribers. They finally dropped the X-rated tape in 2021 as part of a collaboration with Pornhub, and from there they went full throttle with their porn careers. The pair became masters at creating marketing stunts to drive subscribers to their OnlyFans accounts. In one memorable moment, they documented themselves picking up a glamorous cashier at Target for a threesome and then encouraged people to go to their OnlyFans to see all the action. Lena also went viral after she continued to do porn while heavily pregnant with the couple's first child. Justifying the move, the bisexual brunette said that she was pregnant during the pandemic and stressed that it was the 'peak time' for creators to earn money on the platform. 'Those were my record months for sure,' she boasted on the Flagrant podcast. 'I was not gonna stop working!' Lena also went viral after she continued to do porn while heavily pregnant with the couple's first child The couple's next major move was to launch an X-rated podcast on OnlyFans called Plug Talk, where they interview porn stars before having sex with them. Despite her success in porn, Lena only ever performed with Adam or other women up until this month, when she filmed a highly-publicised scene with well-endowed African-American porn star Jason Luv. The viral scene, which was heavily promoted on Adam's own podcast No Jumper, is believed to have raked in seven figures. In December, Adam bragged that he and Lena rake in over $1million a month from OnlyFans alone - and earn even more when their other businesses are factored in. The couple came under fire after Adam insisted that the sex scene was 'amazing' for their business, while Lena noted that she was left in pain 'for days' from having sex with a man whose penis was 'bigger' than her husband's. Adam and Lena currently rake in over $1million a month from OnlyFans and their many other business ventures The other man, Jason Luv, added fuel to the fire when he came forward and claimed that he 'obviously f***ed' Lena better than Adam did. To celebrate the scene, Adam bought a $400,000 neon green Lamborghini for Lena as a gift. In an interview with The Fan Bus, Jason said even if he, Adam, and Lena had a threesome, he would '100 per cent still f***' Lena better,' despite her husband being there. The interviewer asked: 'Do you think that you f***ed her better than Adam did?' Jason responded: 'Well, obviously, yes. But I'm pretty sure it probably felt different for her because love is involved and emotions, but as for the physical aspect of getting f***ed, obviously yes.' Jason Luv later boasted that he 'f***ed' Lena better than her own husband did To celebrate Lena sleeping with another man, Adam bought her a $400,000 neon green Lamborghini as a gift In another clip from the same interview, the actor revealed that '90 per cent of the time' women are surprised by his penis size when they see it in person, adding that is around 'nine to 10 inches.' The interview came after Lena dished on who she had more fun with in bed, admitting that she had a better time with Jason because it was something 'new.' During a recent appearance on Adin Ross' YouTube channel, Lena was questioned about who she 'preferred' in bed - her spouse or Jason. 'I did enjoy Jason's new d**k,' she admitted, leaving host Adin stunned. 'Everything new is interesting and fun.' Adam and Lena enjoy a romantic moment together on their wedding day The happy couple are proud parents to daughter Parker 'You choose Jason over your husband?' he responded, clearly surprised over her response. 'I have had sex with one person for seven years, and although Adam is very exciting to me sexually, a new experience is always going to be a little more interesting and different,' she explained. Adam, who was present for the interview, did not react to his wife's answer, keeping a straight face as he stared ahead. Lena has also previously admitted that Jason's penis was much bigger than her husband's, and said that she was turned on by the idea of Adam watching the sex scene. She also revealed that she and her spouse have had 'more' sex since she filmed the scene. DailyMail.com reveals how reality TV's most famous family's wealth has increased over the years She had a net worth of just $11 million when her family's reality show premiered back in 2007 Advertisement As one of the most famous families in the world, the Kardashian-Jenner are a masterclass how to turn fame and scandal into a billion-dollar empire. There's no better example that the recent news that Kim Kardashian's game-changing apparel brand Skims company has been valued at a whopping $4 billion, cementing her status as a billionaire mogul. The reality star, 42, first launched the shapewear line in 2019, and it has since expanded into one of the most popular clothing companies on the globe. Thanks to the success of her business venture, the reality star has a personal net worth of $1.7 billion - a far cry from the mere $11 million her net worth was valued at when the family's reality show premiered in 2007. Kashing in: The Kardashian-Jenner family have managed to turn fame and scandal into a billion-dollar empire Watch and learn: The entire Kardashian-Jenner family found fame through the popularity of Keeping Up With The Kardashians Indeed, since the entire Kardashian-Jenner family found fame through the popularity of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, they have all managed to cause significant growth to their financial health - as reported by CelebrityNetWorth and CAknowledge.com. While Kris Jenner, 67, is no longer topping the list like she did in 2007 with a net worth estimation of $66 million, the momager extraordinaire is reportedly worth a cool $230 million. Meanwhile, Kylie Jenner was crowned the world youngest 'self-made billionaire' in 2020 - only to have the title quickly snapped back by Forbes over accusations of fudged numbers. However, the 25-year-old is still laughing all the way to the bank with an estimated $750 million net worth to date. Even the family's less impressive earners have seen financial growth that people would dream to have in their own lives. Reclusive Rob Kardashian may rarely feature on the clan's reality series or make appearances at their public events, but that hasn't stopped him making steady money moves behind the scenes. Thanks to his sock company Arthur George, a clothing line called Halfway Dead, a soda water collaboration and his hot sauce brand, Grandez, the 36-year-old has a net worth of $10 million - according to Celebrit Here, DailyMail.com reveals how reality TV's most famous family turned interest in their lives to head-line making wealth. Kim Kardashian, 42: Skims mogul seen her net worth grow from $11 million to $1.7 billion Money moves: Kim's launched her Skims shapewear line in 2019 and it has now become the mother-of-four's biggest revenue generator Transformation: The reality star had an estimated net worth of $11 million back in 2007 At the start of her career, a lot of Kim's wealth stemmed from her 14-year stint on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. Big business: Alongside her business, Kim also earn up to $1 million for a paid Instagram post The reality star pulled in a tidy $4.5 million per season as both executive producer and star of hit E! reality show which ran for 20 seasons. In 2014, she launched mobile game app Kim Kardashian: Hollywood and it made $1.6 million in the first five days after its release. Then 2015 saw the release of her own range of Kimojis. Another bulk of Kim's wealth came thanks to her KKW Beauty company. In 2019, the Product line raked in $100 million and she gained $200 million by selling a 20 percent stake in the company to Coty, the same company that bought her sister Kylie's brand. Her Skims shapewear launched in 2019 and has now become the mother-of-four's biggest revenue generator. In 2020, it was valued at a 'conservative $225 million' and that was the number Forbes used to value Kimat over $1 billion for the first time. Elsewhere, the aspiring lawyer has started a private equity firm, called SKKY Partners, while she also earn up to $1 million for a paid Instagram post. Let's not forget that the Kardashian-Jenner family has gone on to star in 'The Kardashians' for Hulu, of which there have been three seasons so far. Reports suggested the Kardashians are earning 'nine figures' from the show, or around $16.6 million each. Though Kim's wealth bounces up and down through the year - at one point her net worth reached $1.9billion last year before falling to $1.2billion. However, her net worth now stands at $1.7 billion, according to Forbes' calculations following the latest round of funding for Skims. Kylie Jenner, 25: Cosmetics brand founder has seen her net worth increase from under a million to $750 million Lip kit love: The young reality star has become one of the richest women in the United States under 30 thanks to Kylie Cosmetics Blast from the past: Kylie's net worth was not yet established in 2007 but it would likely have been less than a million Kylie Jenner has an estimated net worth of $750 million thanks to her family's television series and her Kylie Cosmetics and skincare empire. With the help of mother Kris, Kylie Cosmetics was launched in 2014 in partnership with Seed Beauty. Big brand: By September 2019, Kylie had successfully expanded her brand into skincare and personal fragrances The then 17-year-old invested $250,000 from her own income into the company and by February 2016 it had generated more than $420 million in revenues. In July 2018 and at the age of 20, she became the youngest person to be listed in the Forbes list of America's Richest Self-Made Women with an estimated net worth of nearly $900 million. By September 2019, Kylie had successfully expanded her brand into skincare and personal fragrances. In November of that same year, Coty bought out a 51 per cent majority stake in the company in a deal worth about $600 million. This deal put the company at a $1.2 billion valuation and pushed Kylie's net worth over the billion-dollar mark. However, in 2020, Forbes reported that the Coty deal also highlighted that Kylie's business had actually been much less profitable than what she had publicly stated. The company revised her net worth to $900 million, thus stripping her of the billionaire's title. Kylie continued to expand her business empire by launching new product lines like Kylie Swim, a swimwear line, in August 2021, and Kylie Baby, a skincare product line for babies, in September 2021. She might still not be a millionaire, but thanks to her savvy business decisions, the mother-of two is still one of the richest women in the United States under 30. Kris Jenner, 67: Celebrated manager has seen her net worth grow from $66 million to $230 million Momager moment: Kris Jenner has built a vast empire for herself and her children by negotiating business deals in their best interest over the years Determined mama: Kris, pictured in 2009, had an estimated net worth of around $66 million in 2007 After working as a manager for her former partner Caitlyn Jenner, Kris Jenner has built a vast empire for herself and her children since finding international fame. Business brain: Kris has benefited monetarily from a number of of her own business ventures such as Safely The reality TV mom-turned-manager, or momager as she calls herself, has made a vast majority of her wealth from the success of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. According to a 2017 report from The Hollywood Reporter, she made close to $4.3 million per year from E! for appearing on and executive producing the reality show. Kris also serves as executive producer on the many Kardashian-Jenner reality TV spin-offs that have been released as a result of the initial shows success. In addition to her pay checks from E!, Kris makes a 10% percentage from each of her children's careers and business ventures as their manager. However, Kris has benefited monetarily from a number of of her own business ventures as well. In 2016 she debuted a new jewelry line for DebutNetworks.com called the Kris Jenner Signature Collection. Its unclear what the line was valued at, however. Meanwhile, she launched a plant-powered cleaning brand in 2021 called Safely, which is available in over 6,000 stores throughout 2023. Kourtney Kardashian, 44 : The Poosh founder has seen her net worth increase from $1.4 million to $65 million Health is wealth: Kourtney Kardashian recently launched a vitamin and supplements line, Lemme Slow and steady: Kourtney, pictured with her ex Scott Disick in 2008, had an estimated net worth of $1.4 million in 2007 Like the rest of her family, Kourtney Kardashian has made significant profit from starring in Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Kardashians. Live like me: Her other big project is the lifestyle brand and blog, Poosh Her TV fame has allowed her to become a celebrity endorser and brand ambassador to several high-profile companies such as New Zealand skincare brand Manuka Doctor and Calvin Klein. Kourtney pulls in significant amounts of money from her product endorsements on social media platforms such as Instagram. Meanwhile, also collaborated with online shop, Pretty Little Thing, on her own fashion line. She then went on to release a Boohoo capsule collection in 2022 which aimed to support sustainable fashion. However, one of her biggest launches to date is her lifestyle brand, Poosh, where she shares how to navigate adulthood and live your best life. On the Poosh site, users can look up recipes, fitness hacks, and even shop products that are "Poosh approved." One of those approved products is the star's vitamin and supplements line, Lemme. The brand focuses on ingredients that are nutritious and promotes concentration, energy, and stress relief. Khloe Kardashian, 39: The clothing brand mogul has grown her net worth from $2 million to $60 million Looking good: A large chunk of Khloe Kardashians profits come from her inclusive denim company, Good American Throwback: The reality star had an estimated net worth of $2 million in 2007 Khloe Kardashian has not only profited from the two main series created by her family, but she has also enjoyed a cut from spin-off such as 2009s Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami and 2011s Khloe & Lamar. She even released a unisex fragrance with ex-husband Lamar Odom during their failed marriage, which was called 'Unbreakable'. Tune in: Khloe has also ventured further into the world of TV as a host and executive producer of Revenge Body Meanwhile, Khloe ventured further in the world of TV as a host and executive producer of Revenge Body and her talk-show, Kocktails with Khloe. She is also served as a producer for Twisted Sisters on Investigation Discovery. After releasing the book Kardashian Konfidential with her sisters in 2012, Khloe released her own motivational book, Strong Looks Better Naked. Like her sister, Khloe Kardashian earns a lot money from product promotions and endorsements. However, the large chunk of her profits come from her inclusive denim company, Good American - which enjoyed $200 million in annual sales last year. The business is currently one of the top denim brands and is sold by many well-known retailers. Kendall Jenner, 27 : Supermodel has built her net worth to $60 million Bottoms up: After being her name as a supermodel, Kendall Jenner surprised fans when she launched her own tequila brand called 818 Tequila in 2021 Fresh-faced: Kendall, pictured with sister Kourtney in 2009, did not have an established net worth in 2007 Kendall was a mere teenager when her family decided to launch their reality series, meaning the young star grew up on career before ever choosing to become a star. Say cheese: Besides her collaborations with her sister's companies, Kendall also works with oral care company, Moon When it came time to picking a career, Kendall decided to delve into the world of fashion - starting first with a joint clothing line with sister Kylie. She also launched a short-lived lifestyle app, KendallJ.com - something which all her sister also did at the time in 2015. Soon she kicked off her modelling career and become a leading member of the 'Instagirl' era of supermodels alongside Gigi Hadid and Hailey Baldwin. Kendall has built up her modelling career to star in various campaigns for LOVE, Vogue, Victorias Secret and Proactiv. In 2017, she stole Gisele Bundchens spot as the worlds highest-earning model after a mammoth $22 million year. Part of the success came from being tapped up by Estee Lauder to front the short-lived Estee Edit range aimed at younger makeup lovers. The model surprised fans when she launched her own tequila brand called 818 Tequila in 2021. Besides her collaborations with her sister's companies and her work with oral care company, Moon, the alcohol brand was the first solo business launched by the model. Rob Kardashian, 36 : Reclusive reality star has seen his net worth grow from $66,000 to $10 million Last but not least: Rob Kardashian has made a significant amount of his fortune for appearing on the familys E! reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians Happier times: Rob, pictured with momager Kris in 2009, had an estimated net worth of $66,000 in 2007 Steady income: Rob also profited from his sock company, Arthur George, before turning his attention on a clothing line called Halfway Dead, and his hot sauce brand, Grandez Like his mother and siblings, Rob Kardashian has made a significant amount of his fortune from appearing on Keeping Up With the Kardashians. He also starred the spin-off series, Rob & Chyna, with ex Blac Chyna - while he makes brief appearances in The Kardashians on Hula. Rob also profited from his sock company, Arthur George, before turning his attention on a clothing line called Halfway Dead, and his hot sauce brand, Grandez. The father-of-one often endorses products on social media. Josephine Skriver cradled her blossoming baby bump as she attended a Santa Monica party Friday thrown by Givenchy and Cultured magazine. Hosted by stylist Kate Foley and Givenchy CEO Renaud de Lesquen, the fete was held in honor of a new Givenchy shop opening on Rodeo Drive. For her latest public appearance Josephine, 30, who shot to fame modeling for Victoria's Secret, was draped in a elegant sky blue maternity dress. She is expecting her first child by her husband Alexander 'Bohnes' DeLeon, the frontman of the Las Vegas rock group The Cab. A cavalcade of fashionistas flocked to the event, including Riverdale bombshell Madeleine Petsch, who went bra-less under a tantalizingly see-through ensemble. Aglow: Josephine Skriver cradled her blossoming baby bump as she attended a Santa Monica party Friday thrown by Givenchy and Cultured magazine A cavalcade of fashionistas flocked to the event, including Riverdale bombshell Madeleine Petsch (left) and Copenhagen-born Josephine (right) Sensation: Madelaine showed off her hourglass figure to full advantage in a flesh-flashing black dress done in sheer mesh and saucy fishnets She showed off her hourglass figure to full advantage in a flesh-flashing black dress done in sheer mesh and saucy fishnets, showing off her Intimissimi underwear. Letting her luxurious waves of red hair cascade freely down her back, she donned a sleek pair of dark shades and lent the look a splash of glitz with a silver handbag. The White Lotus alum Lukas Gage was also on hand for the festivities, where he squeezed in a hobnob with Cuba Gooding Jr.'s son Mason. Mason, who has carved out an acting career of his own with such films as Booksmart and the latest two Scream movies, went beguilingly shirtless under his suit jacket. He gathered together for a group shot to remember with his fellow famous names Keith Powers, Cylus Sandoval and Devin Booker. Meanwhile, joining the bombshell parade at the knees-up was Stephanie Shepherd, best known as Kim Kardashian's former assistant. She exuded the air of an Old Hollywood femme fatale in a slinky, backless black dress that accentuated her svelte figure. Stephanie mingled at the event with former porn star Jessie Andrews, who has pivoted to a career in jewelry design. Place to be: Letting her luxurious waves of red hair cascade freely down her back, she donned a sleek pair of dark shades and lent the look a splash of glitz with a silver handbag Side by side: The White Lotus alum Lukas Gage (left) was also on hand for the festivities, where he squeezed in a hobnob with Cuba Gooding Jr.'s son Mason (right) Place to be: Hosted by stylist Kate Foley and Givenchy CEO Renaud de Lesquen, the fete was held in honor of a new Givenchy shop opening on Rodeo Drive Party of four: (from left) Mason gathered together for a group shot to remember with his fellow famous names Keith Powers, Cylus Sandoval and Devin Booker Meanwhile: Joining the bombshell parade at the knees-up was Stephanie Shepherd, best known as Kim Kardashian's former assistant On the town: Stephanie mingled at the event with former porn star Jessie Andrews (left), who has pivoted to a career in jewelry design So many stars: Maddie Ziegler, who rose to fame on Dance Moms and has since developed a long professional relationship with Sia, made her way to the celebration as well What a party: Dominique Fishback (left) bared her toned midriff in a bandeau, while model and filmmaker Amalie Gassmann (right) plumped for double denim Maddie Ziegler, who rose to fame on Dance Moms and has since developed a long professional relationship with Sia, made her way to the celebration as well. Dominique Fishback bared her toned midriff in a bandeau, while model and filmmaker Amalie Gassmann plumped for double denim. Josephine and her husband joyfully announced her pregnancy this May, just over a year after they tied the knot in Cabo San Lucas. Weeks before going public with her baby news, Josephine glowingly wished Alexander a happy first wedding anniversary. 'Becoming your wife has been one of my biggest joys in life,' she gushed alongside an Instagram album filled with photos from their nuptials. You are my best friend, my safe place, my family and my home. I thank the universe every day for making sure our paths collided, cause with you life has become the craziest adventure!' the Copenhagen native wrote. She's never shied away from flaunting her incredible figure. And Ashley Roberts appeared to be taking inspiration from the Barbiecore trend that's swept the nation as she enjoyed a night out in London's Chiltern Firehouse on Friday. The Pussycat Doll, 41, put on an extremely leggy display in a Barbie pink satin mini dress as she headed to the celebrity hotspot. Ashley showed off her incredible figure in the plunging pink dress with asymmetrical hem, accessorising with matching strapped heels. Sweeping her blonde tresses into a sleek bun, she accessorised her look with a matching handbag. Revealing! Ashley Roberts put on an extremely leggy display in a Barbie pink mini dress as she enjoyed a night out at London's Chiltern Firehouse on Friday Hard to miss! The Pussycat Doll wowed in a Barbie pink metallic mini dress as she headed to the celebrity hotspot Grand entrance! Ashley was hard to miss in her bold pink outift, in honour of the much-anticipated Barbie film's release on Friday It comes after Ashley Roberts set pulses racing as she shared a video of herself modelling a range of sexy lingerie on Instagram. She showed off her tanned and toned figure in three sets of underwear from Ann Summers. Ashley danced to Britney Spears' Gimme More as she worked the camera in the Astral, Camille and the Honoured lingerie sets. For one look, the Heart Radio presenter left little to the imagination in a blue lace thong and plunging bra. She then slipped into a racy hot pink lingerie look before strutting her stuff in black underwear. She wrote: 'Gimme gimme MORE hunnis @annsummers lingerie... Underwear fits of the week'. And on Friday, Ashley channelled her inner Barbie as she was dressed in head-to-toe pink for her show at Heart Radio. The former Strictly star celebrated the released of the film in UK cinemas by wearing a pink linen shirt, matching trousers, open toe sparkly heels and a pink handbag. Glammed up! Ashley showed off her incredible figure in the plunging pink dress with asymmetrical hem, accessorising with matching strapped heels Glam outing: Sweeping her blonde tresses into a sleek bun, she accessorised her look with a matching handbag Flawless! She showed off her endless pins in the daring dress as she headed out for the night Grand entrance! Ashley's stunning dress comes as excitement for the Barbie core, and its pink wardrobe, have swept the nation Racy display: It comes after Ashley Roberts set pulses racing as she shared a video of herself modelling a range of sexy lingerie on Instagram Hot stuff: The Pussycat Doll, 41, showed off he tanned and toned figure in three sets of underwear from Ann Summers Greta Gerwig's Barbie sees Margot Robbie, 33, leading the cast as the eponymous Barbie doll alongside her boyfriend Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, 42. The cast is a who's who of Hollywood powerhouses, with Will Ferrell playing the CEO of Mattel, and Helen Mirren the narrator. It follows Barbie who leaves her 'perfect' life as a doll and sets out to explore the complexities of being a woman in the real world. Ashley also boasted a very girly look for her attendance at the Barbie premiere on Thursday last week. 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 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'. Strutting her stuff: Ashley danced to Britney Spears' Gimme More as she worked the camera in the Astral, Camille and the Honoured lingerie sets Tori Spelling accused a realtor of mocking her familys housing crisis as she and her five children navigate an 'ongoing mold problem' at their home. In a text exchange, uploaded to her Instagram Story, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star's realtor messaged her: 'The latest bizarre inquiry.' 'Im sorry? Im assuming that wasnt meant for me,' the actress, who is allegedly experiencing marital issues with her husband Dean McDermott, replied. He, then, responded: 'It is more for Karen. Tori Spelling has been asking for a 1 month rental. If you follow her situation on TMZ it is all amusing.' Spelling, 50, fired back: 'This is Tori Spelling. Wow! Human empathy and kindness prevails. Kids in crisis is amusing.' Tori Spelling accused a realtor of mocking her familys housing crisis as she and her five children navigate an 'ongoing mold problem' at their home; seen earlier this month The best-selling author proceeded to leak the messages on her Instagram Story, with the caption: 'And, this human is a father! I guess I hold out too much hop that people lead by kindness.' She continued: 'Shame on you Robert Vinson @vinsongroup real estate! My 5 kids are going through Mold poisoning and we need a home and this is how you treat people? Mocking their situation?' When asked about the situation by DailyMail.com on Friday, Vinson stated that 'celebrity impersonation is rabid in Hollywood' and that as a real estate broker, he has a 'fiduciary responsibility to be certain of the identity of the person' he is 'dealing with.' 'Ms. Spelling texted me asking for a one month rental,' he stated. After getting 'concerned' he was 'dealing with a scam' text, he asked: 'How can I confirm it is you?' 'I never received a call back from the text. I am now being publicly shamed for my due diligence. I sent Ms. Spelling the following text after being bombarded with vulgar messages from her followers,' he continued. The realtor also claims to have sent an apology, which read: 'I am sorry about the message. I was raised by a single mother and understand the challenges you are dealing with. When you did not call me I thought I was being spoofed by someone who was pretending to be you.' Earlier this month, a source told Us Weekly that Spelling and her family were staying at a hotel due to 'the ongoing mold problem at their house. 'My 5 kids are going through Mold poisoning and we need a home and this is how you treat people? Mocking their situation?' she wrote beneath the messages on her Instagram His side: When asked about the situation by DailyMail.com on Friday, Vinson stated that 'celebrity impersonation is rabid in Hollywood' and that as a real estate broker, he has a 'fiduciary responsibility to be certain of the identity of the person' he is 'dealing with' 'Tori is taking this issue very seriously and isnt going to subject herself or her kids to that,' the insider emphasized. Weeks ago, in a now-deleted post, McDermott took to Instagram to announce that he and his wife of 18 years were going their separate ways. The two are parents to five children: Liam, 16, Stella, 15, Hattie, 11, Finn, 10, and Beau, 6. McDermott is also father to son Jack, 24, whom he shares with ex Mary Jo Eustace. Alongside a throwback photograph of the pair together and snap with four of their children, Dean shared a heartfelt statement. 'It's with great sadness and a very very heavy heart that after 18 years together and 5 amazing children, that @torispelling and I have decided to go our separate ways, and start a new journey of our own,' he shared. 'We will continue to work together as loving parents and guide and love our children through this difficult time. We ask that you all respect our privacy as we take this time to surround our family with love and work our way through this. Thank you all for your support and kindness,' the note finished. Brood: Spelling and her estranged husband Dean McDermott are parents to five children: Liam, 16, Stella, 15, Hattie, 11, Finn, 10, and Beau, 6; pictured with four of their kids on June 10 Tori - who is the daughter of late film producer Aaron Spelling - has yet to address the split publicly. After the actor shared the statement, a source told Us Weekly that the two were not getting divorced. 'Theyve had their ups and downs like any couple, but have continued working on their marriage through couples counseling,' the person dished. 'They love each other and are not going to split,' the insider added. 'Friends suspect that Dean posted that because he and Tori may have gotten into a big blowout fight last night. He obviously regretted it, so he deleted the post.' Last month, someone close to the couple told DailyMail.com that Dean feels he's done everything in his power to make his wife happy, but believes his efforts have not been reciprocated. 'Dean has changed and worked very hard to be the husband she needed him to be but she is still demanding and entitled. 'Nothing he does or has done will ever be good enough for her,' the insider told DailyMail.com last month. 'For a very long time Tori used their marital problems to stay relevant,' the source said. 'Everyone knew about their issues, and she didnt play it down, she played it even going so far to go outside where she knew paparazzi were waiting. This really took a toll on Dean,' the friend shared. The insider also claimed that the couple had been struggling with financial issues and the daunting duty of raising their children, stating: 'Tori did not feel like Dean was holding his weight at the time. 'She kept wanting more and more, and from Toris perspective, she always just felt like Dean wasnt carrying his half. She feels like she had to raise all their children on her own and, for the most part, she is right.' Statement: Weeks ago, in a now deleted post, McDermott took to Instagram to announce that he and his wife of 18 years were going their separate ways Family unit: The couple started a family shortly after their May 2006 wedding Tori's mother, Candy Spelling, recently spoke out in support of her daughter. The 77-year-old producer told TMZ that the former Beverly Hills, 90210 actress is 'doing great.' The outlet caught the star as she left Hermes in Beverly Hills on Friday, accompanied by Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles star Josh Flagg. The mother-of-two admitted she doesn't know what the fate of Tori and Dean's marriage will be. Asked if the couple is done for good, Candy answered, 'I dont know,' before adding, 'I love my daughter, and I support her in whatever she does. I support my daughter, what can I tell you?' Shes been enjoying a fun-filled holiday in Ibiza, soaking up the Spanish sun. But now fans are wondering is Amber Turner has quit TOWIE after it appeared that she skipped filming to jet abroad for the summer break. Whilst some of the cast, including Chloe Brockett, Diags and Roman Hackett were at Epsom Races on Thursday shooting scenes for the rshow, Amber was absent. The blonde bombshell instead jetted off for her eighth holiday of the year, this time to celebrate her 30th birthday. She has been giving fans a glimpse into her glamorous getaway, which has included filming videos of her clubbing, partying on a boat and chilling by a pool. Blue with envy: Amber Turner, 30, is in Ibiza celebrating her birthday and keeping fans updated on her different outfits and swimwear Rumour mill: Fans have been left wondering if she has quit TOWIE after it appeared she skipped filming at Epsom race course in favour of Ibiza No show: Some of the TOWIE cast, including Chloe Brockett, Diags and Roman Hackett were at Epsom Races on Thursday shooting scenes for the reality show On Friday, she was joined by pals Courtney Green and Chloe Meadows and uploaded a number of Stories to her socials of all the girls together. MailOnline has contacted a representative for TOWIE and Amber Turner for comment. Earlier this week Amber appeared to take a dig at her ex Dan Edgar after the pair had a blazing row on camera. She posted a cryptic message about loyalty on her social media with a quote which read: You know what's attractive? Someone who is all about you and isn't afraid to show it. Amber reportedly had a huge showdown with Dan when the cast were filming for the show in Cyprus earlier this year and he accused her of cheating on her 'multiple times'. TOWIE's season 32 is set to air on ITVBe later this year with 'juicy gossip, major LOL's and serious drama' being teased, with the couple's row expected to feature. After six years together, the former couple announced their split in May this year after break up rumours swirled when Dan unfollowed Amber on social media. She wrote at the time: 'I wasn't going to post anything but due to speculation and questions I feel like I need to. Girl gang: On Friday pals and TOWIE alumni Courtney Green (pictured right) and Chloe Meadows (pictured centre) joined her in Ibiza Exes: Amber, who was with Dan for six years, appeared to take aim at her ex earlier this week when she posted a cryptic message about loyalty on her social media 'Yes me and Dan have split. I honestly wish him the best for the future. Please respect our privacy at this time. Thank you.' The Sun reported that Dan confronted Amber on camera after allegedly learning of 'fresh accusations'. A source told the publication: 'These two were never going to settle their differences over a nice cup of tea but what actually transpired was pretty shocking. 'This will rank as one of the great showdowns - and TOWIE has seen a few.' The Real Housewives of Sydney is back six years after it was cancelled. However, all doesn't seem to be running smoothly for the second series of the rebooted Binge show. Filming for the global reality franchise began Down Under last month and is still ongoing, but there is chaos on set, according to The Sydney Morning Herald. US producer Amy Kohn, who worked on some of the extremely popular franchises of the show stateside, came to Australia to revamp the Sydney series, but has reportedly quit. According to the publication, she left the show very suddenly. The Real Housewives of Sydney is back six years after it was cancelled following just one series. However, all doesn't seem to be running smoothly for the second series of the rebooted Binge show There is also apparently drama between the cast because one member was allowed to head to Europe with her family during filming. Victoria Montano was 'missing in action' for some of the series, according to the publications sources, and her co-stars were not impressed. On top of that, producers were forced to rent two houses in Sydney to use for filming. There is also apparently drama between the cast because one member was allowed to head to Europe with her family. Victoria Montano (pictured) was 'missing in action' for some of the series, according to the publications sources, and her co-stars were not impressed Housewife Terry 'The Biv' Biviano and her NRL star husband Anthony 'Mini' Minichiello aren't able to film in their Vaucluse house as it's under construction. While wellness entrepreneur Sally Obermeder's home was deemed unsuitable for the show's filming requirements. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Binge for comment. This comes as sources previously told this publication that the reboot almost never happened in the first place. Housewife Terry 'The Biv' Biviano and her NRL star husband Anthony Mini Minichiello aren't able to film in their Vaucluse house as it's under construction (both pictured) Producers originally found 'phenomenal' casts in both Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and were trying to come up with a way to combine the women to create a singular show. However, network bosses ultimately decided that a Sydney reboot make for the best series and would also be attractive to overseas buyers. This time around, the network has demanded 'fun and aspirational' women from Sydney's Eastern suburbs instead of the 'toxic' cast from the original series. 'They're only looking for funny and fabulous women that can open up their lives and give viewers something glamorous and aspirational,' a source said. 'It's going to be a lot more real and honest instead of fabricated catfighting. 'Foxtel doesn't want a repeat of the toxic drama from the first season. This reboot will be completely different with a lot of luxury and likeable ladies.' They added: 'Of course there's some conflict between the women, but nobody's throwing wine or flipping tables. Viewers don't want to see that anymore.' However, network bosses ultimately decided that a Sydney reboot would be best for the series and would also be attractive to overseas buyers. Producers are only after 'glamorous and aspirational' women who can showcase luxury, including rumoured new cast member, NRL WAG Terry Biviano (pictured) Original cast members Krissy Marsh and Nicole O'Neil (pictured) are the only originals returning for the reboot, as producers were impressed by their wealth and the fact that neither woman engaged in 'nasty' drama during the first season Foxtel is said to be happy with how filming is going so far, and feel the reboot will be a return to form for the troubled franchise. Original cast members Krissy Marsh and Nicole O'Neil are returning, as producers were impressed by their wealth and the fact that neither woman got too nasty during the first season of the show. Krissy has already been spotted on set with Sydney socialite and party girl Caroline Gaultier. The pair were spotted filming scenes on the beach in Rose Bay with celebrity personal trainer Jono Castano. Meanwhile, original cast members Lisa Oldfield, Athena X Levendi, and Victoria Rees were immediately ruled out to return due to how much drama they caused during the first season. U.S. network Bravo, which airs the Real Housewives franchise, famously declined to air the Real Housewives of Sydney in the States after executives dubbed it 'too extreme' for an American audience. 'A lot of the women in this show were nasty for nasty's sake and have no redeeming features,' a Foxtel boss said at the time. Lisa Oldfield, Athena X Levendi, and Victoria Rees were immediately ruled out to return due to how much drama they caused during the first season 'Foxtel doesn't want a repeat of the toxic drama from the first season. This reboot will be completely different with a lot of luxury and likeable ladies,' said a source Despite producers seeking less confrontational women this time around, one Housewife, who is one of the more prominent cast members this season, has allegedly been a major headache on set. A source says that the Housewife in question is 'image conscious' and 'trying to control the narrative', which is causing friction with both her castmates and producers. However, another source shot down the claims entirely, insisting that there have been no problems with any of the women, including NRL WAG Terry Biviano, who the Daily Telegraph claimed had clashed with producers on set last month. When reached for comment, a Binge spokesperson said, 'Production is going well and we are excited to introduce Australian viewers to the new group of Sydney housewives in this reimagined series.' Meanwhile, Foxtel is rumoured to have lost all interest in the Melbourne series after five seasons, and has no plans to revive it in the near future. It comes after the rumoured Real Housewives of Brisbane cast was recently leaked. Among the glamorous candidates included PR queen Fleur Madden, couture designer Sonia Stradiotto and jewellery designer Jimena Alejandra. Caroline is believed to have filmed as a 'friend' of the show, but there are rumours that she may be upgraded to a full time spot soon Jimena told The Advertiser that she was approached in mid-2022, 'but then they told us they were cancelling it'. Fleur added that the network had plans to make the series different and less frivolous than its processors. 'They were specifically looking for business women and women that had their own success, they were trying to make it different' she told Adelaide Now. A number of high profile women had been approached by producers and some reportedly declined the opportunity, opting to keep their lives private. Emily Ratajkowski put her supermodel figure on display when she was spotted dashing around New York this week. The 32-year-old slipped into a tantalizingly see-through mini-dress that complemented her elegantly designed black lingerie. Her outfit allowed her to showcase her sculpted midriff and vertiginous legs as she pounded the pavement in the city that never sleeps. She heightened the saucy impact of the ensemble with a pair of black thigh-high boots that glinted in the July sunshine. Wearing her silky dark hair down with a touch of fringe, the fashionista warded off the rays with a pair of sleek sunglasses. Mover and shaker: Emily Ratajkowski put her supermodel figure on display when she was spotted dashing around New York this week Use it or lose it: The 32-year-old slipped into a tantalizingly see-through mini-dress that complemented her elegantly designed black lingerie Her latest sighting comes in the flush of her on-again romance with a smoldering DJ called Orazio Rispo, whom she was first linked to last year. Emily has conducted a whirlwind, headline grabbing love life in the wake of the collapse of her marriage to movie producer Sebastian Bear McClard. She was first spotted kissing Orazio last autumn, but in the intervening time has run around with such names as Pete Davidson and Eric Andre. This March she locked lips with Harry Styles in Tokyo, provoking a swirl of criticism on account of the fact she is supposedly gal pals with his ex Olivia Wilde. 'Olivia and Emily were friends and this is a betrayal,' a source with inside knowledge exclusively informed DailyMail.com. In a subsequent interview with the Los Angeles Times, Emily dismissed the kiss by saying she was not 'not thinking about guys' but 'sometimes things just happen.' Over the past few weeks she has repeatedly been seen out and about with Orazio, including a dinner date in London last week. Sebastian, whose credits include the Adam Sandler vehicle Uncut Gems, had a courthouse wedding to Emily in 2018. Hunk-tastic: Her latest sighting comes in the flush of her on-again romance with a smoldering DJ called Orazio Rispo (pictured), whom she was first linked to last year Looking good! The mother-of-one gave Ivanna Obregon a sweet shoutout on her Instagram Story Having fun: In a video, uploaded to her Instagram Story, the bombshell could be seen hanging out with two gal pals The pair welcomed their baby son Sylvester in March 2021, only for their marriage to fall apart last year under a cloud of rumors about Sebastian's fidelity. When news broke that they had split, a Page Six source said Sebastian 'cheated. Hes a serial cheater. Its gross. Hes a dog.' Emily then added fuel to the conjecture by liking a tweet that read: 'cant believe that little b*** cheated on emrata.' It emerged this March that Sebastian has faced 'grooming' allegations and been fired by Elara Pictures, the production company of the Safdie brothers, whom he worked with on Uncut Gems and the Robert Pattison starrer Good Time. Sebastian was at the time tangled up in mediation with the Safdies, alongside his divorce proceedings and custody battle with Emily. Emily has remained tight-lipped in public about the circumstances leading up to her divorce, telling the Los Angeles Times that she was 'scared' of being more candid because 'Im learning that outspoken women dont often get their children.' Benny Safdie, one of the brothers whom Sebastian used to work for, recently broke his public silence about the accusations. 'It's disgusting, and when you find out something about somebody that you didn't realize, you just have to be much more careful,' Benny told GQ Hype. 'It's a lot, and it's not something that you want to have happen to anybody. And when you find it out, the one thing that you can do is really just take control.' Sharna Burgess clapped back at 'ignorant' trolls as she defended putting a pink scrunchie in her son, Zane's, long locks in an Instagram story rant on Thursday. The Dancing With The Stars pro, 38, who shares the one-year-old with Brian Austin Green, 50, had previously uploaded a snap of the little one who wore the hair piece to hold back some strands away from his face. In the clip, per Us Weekly, the star addressed some of the criticism she has since received, and stated, 'Ive had some people in my DMs that were so passionately angry at me for doing that.' The mother of one added, 'I had someone comment on the fact that his hair tie this morning is pink.' She then explained, 'I dont get this whole "Pink is for girls" and me putting a pink hair tie [doesnt] symbolize anything. I dont get this whole "long hair is feminine or for girls."' Clapping back: Sharna Burgess, 38, clapped back at 'ignorant' trolls as she defended putting a pink scrunchie in her son, Zane's, long locks in an Instagram story rant on Thursday; seen in March in Hollywood Responding to criticism: The Dancing With The Stars pro had previously uploaded a snap of the little one who wore the hair piece to hold back some of the strands away from his face 'I mean, Im sorry, have you seen Jason Momoa?' she expressed. 'I need to do a post of all the men that majority of women, and probably majority of men, find attractive and so many of them have long hair.' The pro dancer added to her nearly 1 million followers, 'Like, it is just wild to me that when its kids, its like were pushing some agenda on them. It's so f***ing dumb.' In response to a fan's question of, 'Are you going to let Zanes hair grow long like his brothers,' which appeared in a box in the reel, Sharna replied that she was 'absolutely letting' her son grow his 'beautiful baby hair.' In a caption added towards the top of the video, she penned, 'Sorry for my rant to this person that asked, so not mad at you just annoyed at ignorant narrow-minded ppl and their dumb comments.' Sharna first crossed paths with her partner and Beverly Hills, 90210 alum back in 2020, and the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together in February 2022. Later that same year on June 28, their son Zane was welcomed to the world. Brian is also father to son, Kassius, 21, whom he shares with ex, Vanessa Marcil. During his marriage to Megan Fox, he also welcomed three children: Noah, 10, Bodhi nine, and also Journey, six. The former couple initially tied the knot in 2010 with their divorce being finalized in October 2021. Earlier last month in June, the actor also shut down the claim that both he and Fox 'force' their sons to wear girls clothing. 'Ignorant': In a caption added towards the top of the video, she penned, 'Sorry for my rant to this person that asked, so not mad at you just annoyed at ignorant narrow-minded ppl and their dumb comments' Past criticism: Earlier last month in June, the actor also addressed criticism that both he and Fox 'force' their son to wear girls' clothing; former couple seen in 2019 in Los Angeles Austin responded to Robby Starbuck, who ran for U.S. Congress last year in 2022, who claimed that two of Megan and Brian's children had stated that, 'they were forced by their mom to wear girls clothes as their nanny tried to console them.' While talking to TMZ, Brian stated, 'Its a totally bogus story. There are only a few people in their world that can actually verify whether or not a story like this is true and I can tell you with absolute certainty it is no.' The star added, 'This person trying to claim this is true is a perfect example of someone with selfish motives that does not care about negatively affecting a parent child relationship.' Before the father of five slammed the claim, Robby had jumped to Twitter and typed out, 'We used to live in the same gated community and our kids played at the park.' 'I saw 2 of them have a full on breakdown saying they were forced by their mom to wear girls clothes as their nanny tried to console them. It's pure child abuse. Pray for them.' Since their divorce, Brian and Megan both co-parent their children, and Sharna has previously opened up about the co-parenting relationship between the two exes. Earlier this year in April, she appeared on the Not So Hollywood podcast and explained at the time, 'Honestly, the relationship is great. We're actually all going to Universal [Studios] today. All together, which is amazing for the kids.' Burgess added, 'The reason it's great is because the focus is the kids. There's nothing else that needs to be considered other than making this a beautiful, healthy, whole environment for them.' Disturbing claim: Austin's responded to Robby Starbuck, who ran for U.S. Congress last year in 2022, who claimed that two of Megan and Brian's children had stated that, 'they were forced by their mom to wear girls clothes as their nanny tried to console them' 'Bogus': While talking to TMZ , Brian stated, 'Its a totally bogus story. There are only a few people in their world that can actually verify whether or not a story like this is true and I can tell you with absolute certainty it is no' Lovebirds: Sharna first crossed paths with her partner and Beverly Hills, 90210 alum back in 2020, and the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together in February 2022; seen in September 2022 in Newport Beach Moving on: While Brian has moved on with pro dancer Sharna, Megan has also been dating rapper, Machine Gun Kelly; seen in February in Los Angeles 'People try to protect kids from divorce as much as they can so that they're not affected, but the truth is they're going to be affected,' she admitted. 'So you can only choose that there's a positive effect or a negative effect.' While Brian has moved on with pro dancer Sharna, Megan has also been dating rapper, Machine Gun Kelly. The two stars became engaged last year in January and have appeared to be reconciled following reported relationship woes earlier this year. However, only days after enjoying a movie date, Kelly was seen getting involved in a scuffle at the Orange County Fair on Thursday. During the heated exchange, a passer-by also threw a hit at the performer, causing Fox to get slammed into a nearby barrier. Liev Schreiber and his glowing, pregnant wife TaylorNeisen surfaced in the Hamptons on Friday - in their first sighting since their secret wedding this month. They held an intimate ceremony at their stunning Hamptons mansion, just weeks after his ex Naomi Watts also walked down the aisle. DailyMail.com has exclusively learned that Liev, 55, and the former pageant queen, 31, who is currently eight-and-a-half months pregnant, officially became husband and wife over Fourth of July weekend after five years of dating. The couple exuded wedded bliss as they enjoyed a sunlit stroll hand in hand this Friday, she decked out in a summery floral maternity dress. Sweeping her luscious blonde locks back into a ponytail, Taylor complemented the dress with a purple-tinted pair of cat-eye shades. A fine romance: Liev Schreiber and his glowing, pregnant wife TaylorNeisen surfaced in the Hamptons on Friday - in their first sighting since their secret wedding this month Newlyweds: They held an intimate ceremony at their stunning Hamptons mansion, just weeks after his ex Naomi Watts also walked down the aisle Hand in hand: The couple exuded wedded bliss as they enjoyed a sunlit stroll this Friday, she decked out in a summery floral maternity dress Taylor, whose baby will be her first, wore a radiant smile as she pounded the pavement with her dashing new husband. Meanwhile her silver fox, sporting a distinguished hint of white stubble, left his white shirt casually untucked over his fossil grey slacks. A source exclusively informed DailyMail.com that the couple exchanged vows during a very low-key ceremony attended by only four guests, two of whom were Liev's kids Alexander 'Sasha,' 16, and, Samuel 'Kai,' 15, who he shares with ex Naomi. Also in attendance was author Jonathan Safran Foer, who officiated the wedding, and his wife. 'They didnt want a big fuss because Taylor is ready to give birth, but they wanted to bring the baby into the world as husband and wife,' the insider dished. The nuptials took place in the yard of their sprawling, ocean-front Montauk abode - the home he once shared with Naomi, 54. The former couple bought the 3,500-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom house together in 2016 for $5.4 million, but split just months later after 11 years together. They never married. Unfortunately, the source said there will be 'no honeymoon' for Liev and Taylor since he is busy 'working' and she's 'too pregnant to go' anywhere 'long distance,' but they added, 'They were just happy to be together in a no frills service with the kids.' Aglow: Sweeping her luscious blonde locks back into a ponytail, Taylor complemented the dress with a purple-tinted pair of cat-eye shades Mother to be: Taylor, whose baby will be her first, wore a radiant smile as she pounded the pavement with her dashing new husband Details: A source exclusively informed DailyMail.com that the couple exchanged vows during a very low-key ceremony attended by only four guests Hot couple: DailyMail.com has exclusively learned that Liev, 55, and the former pageant queen, 31, officially became husband and wife over Fourth of July weekend The newlyweds attended the Rufus Wainwright and friends 50th Birthday concert - which was produced by Brian Kelly of Murmrr - at the Montauk Point Lighthouse on Thursday (seen) DailyMail.com has reached out to Liev's rep for comment. The newlyweds attended the Rufus Wainwright and friends 50th Birthday concert - which was produced by Brian Kelly of Murmrr - at the Montauk Point Lighthouse on Thursday, where he was seen sporting a wedding ring. Afterwards, Liev attended the afterparty without his spouse, which took place at the upscale eatery Talya Montauk. An onlooker told DailyMail.com that the movie star got behind the bar and mixed cocktails using Irish whiskey from his brand Slainte. Ever the doting husband, Liev left around 11pm and was heard telling friends on the way out that he had to call it a night so he could go home to his pregnant wife. Days after his own wedding, the 55-year-old shared a snap of his dog Scout standing next to another canine on Instagram, and jokingly announced that his pup had gotten married to his 'longtime love.' The pooch donned an adorable tuxedo while his 'partner' was dressed in a mock wedding dress. 'We wish you both every happiness in the world,' Liev wrote in the caption. The wedding was attended by only four guests, two of whom were Liev's kids Alexander 'Sasha,' 16, and, Samuel 'Kai,' 15, who he shares with ex Naomi Watts. Taylor is seen with Liev and his children in 2018 Days after his own wedding, Liev shared a snap of his dog Scout standing next to another canine on Instagram, and announced that his pup had gotten married to his 'longtime love' Naomi and Liev (seen together in 2016) split in 2016 after 11 years together. They never married Originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, Taylor was an entrant in Miss USA 2012 (seen) as the reigning Miss South Dakota. It was revealed that she was expecting in April of this year Liev and Taylor's wedding comes just weeks after his ex Naomi also walked down the aisle. She married actor Billy Crudup, also 54, in June (seen) after five years of dating It's unclear when he and Taylor started dating, but rumors first started to swirl in 2017 that they were romantically involved after they were photographed spending a lot of time together. At the time, however, they shut down relationship rumors, with Liev's rep insisting, 'They are friends and she sometimes helps out with the kids - they are not dating.' Naomi and Liev had reportedly made a pact not to openly date within a year of their separation. But by February 2018, there was no denying that he and Taylor were dating, as the two were seen soaking up the sun on a romantic vacation together with his children in Costa Rica. In April of this year, DailyMail.com revealed that Taylor was expecting her and the Ray Donovan star's first child together. Originally from Rapid City, South Dakota, Taylor was an entrant in Miss USA 2012 as the reigning Miss South Dakota. She is 24 years younger than her actor, writer and producer boyfriend. Naomi wed her boyfriend, Almost Famous alum Billy Crudup, 54, back in June. At the time, she confirmed the exciting news by sharing a photo of her and her new husband on the steps of a Manhattan courthouse, which she captioned, 'Hitched.' Liev showed his support for Naomi in an Instagram comment at the time, writing: 'Congratulations! Gorgeous.' Naomi and Billy met on the set of her 2017 Netflix series Gypsy, and started dating later that year. Married At First Sight's Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding often speak candidly about sex on their podcast Sit With Us. And the best friends took it to a whole new level as they spoke on stage at a sex convention in Brisbane on Friday. Dom, 30, and Ella, 29, attended the LoveX convention to promote their latest sex toy in collaboration with the company Vush Australia. The reality stars spoke all things sex and relationships at the raunchy convention, as they gave some lucky audience members their vibrator that they created with the sexual wellness brand. They dressed the part for the fun day out, which was described by organisers as 'an immersive stage for discovering the realms of sexuality, intimacy, and pleasure through awe-inspiring performances and insightful workshops.' Married At First Sight's Domenica Calarco and Ella Ding (both pictured) often speak about sex on their outspoken podcast Sit With Us Dom and Ella wore matching outfits for their expo appearance. They donned white cropped T-Shirts that had the word 'Love' written on them, and black leather trousers with shiny coloured hearts on their backsides. The podcast hosts were full of energy as they posed for photos before taking to the stage. And the best friends have taken this to a whole new level as they spoke on stage at a sex convention in Brisbane Dom, 30, and Ella, 29, attended the LoveX convention in Brisbane with sex toy company Vush Australia Sharing these photos to Instagram, Ella wrote: 'What a crazy amazing and eye opening experience its been!! Day 2 lets go!' The Married At First Sight stars were attending the conference, which is also heading to Melbourne and Sydney, to promote their vibrator with Vush Australia. They announced the collaboration earlier this week, with the best friends saying it's 'a dream'. The reality stars spoke all things sex and relationships at the raunchy convention, as they gave some lucky audience members their vibrator that they created with Vush The Married At First Sight stars were attending the conference, which is also going to Melbourne and Sydney, to promote their vibrator with Vush Australia 'After 12 months in the making were so excited that our dream collaboration is finally here,' they said in a statement. 'We wanted to ensure that this toy was for everyone! No matter what your preference is - internal, external or even from behind, nothing is off limits with our twist vibe and we're confident that it will take your self-pleasure game to the next level! 'Thank you all so much for supporting our journey, we wouldn't be here without you guy and we really hope you all love vibing with our toy, just as much as we loved creating it! Blac Chyna proudly flaunted her natural physique on Friday after undergoing a major make-under that included her dissolving her facial fillers and removing the implants in her breasts and butt. Instead of her typical racy looks, the rapper, 35, opted for a cottagecore look in the form of a flirty minidress that hugged her waistline. The hitmaker who recently spoke about Khloe Kardashian's affection for her daughter Dream snapped the dreamy photos in support of her hair brand Hearts Pure. Chyna (born Angela Renee White) styled her off-white dress with green earrings that contrasted perfectly with her neutral clothing. Seemingly rocking Hearts Pure hair extensions, her sleek raven tresses flowed down her back in glamorous, curled strands. Transformed: Blac Chyna proudly flaunted her natural physique on Friday after undergoing a major make-under that included her dissolving her facial fillers and removing the implants in her breasts and butt Dreamy: Instead of her typical racy looks, the rapper, 35, opted for a cottagecore look in the form of a flirty minidress that hugged her waistline The influencer has been proudly showing off her face and figure on social media since beginning an intense physical transformation earlier this year in order to get back to her 'real' self. While appearing on The Tamron Hall Show in March, she discussed her journey with the host and spoke about the process of having her breast implants, butt injections and face fillers as part of her restructuring. She also advised young women to stay away from plastic surgery and encouraged viewers to embrace their natural beauty. Though supportive of the Chyna's changes, Hall seemed skeptical of her statements and asked her if she would 'ever do any more surgery' in the future. The model insisted that she is 'done' and has no plans to augment her appearance moving forward. Chyna, who is also known for boasting a wide variety of tattoos, has also pledged to remove her ink collection in the future. The performer recently spoke to The U.S. Sun and expressed that her biggest regret from her 20s was receiving an extensive array of tattoos. She described to the outlet that it's a pain-riddled process. 'I'm getting laser and it hurts. It stings. It's like you're on fire. I have a lot of tattoos, so it's going to be a long process,' Blac Chyna said. Pop of color: Blac Chyna (born Angela Renee White) styled her off-white dress with green earrings that contrasted perfectly with her neutral clothing Promo: The hitmaker who recently spoke about Khloe Kardashian's affection for her daughter Dream snapped the dreamy photos in support of her hair brand Hearts Pure Dissolved: Chyna got the fillers in her face dissolved in March, which she documented in a video shared to her Instagram Cheeky: Chyna previously revealed that she never had a Brazilian butt lift but had silicone injections into her backside starting when she was 19-years-old She's documented her make-under on social media over the past several months She also reiterated her stance on swearing off plastic surgery in the future so that she can focus her energy on spending time with loved ones including her daughter Dream, five, who she shares with ex Rob Kardashian. She also has son King Cairo, 10, who she shares with her ex, rapper Tyga. 'I wanna be there for my grandkids and my kids. I wanna be very active and it's like once you're injecting yourself with these different type of objects and fluids and things or whatever it is, you don't really know what it is,' Blac Chyna explained. As part of her wholesome revamp, Chyna announced in March that she would be deactivating her OnlyFans account for the sake of her children. Chyna fast became one of the most popular stars on OnlyFans when she joined the platform in 2020. After charging subscribers $10 a month for her content, she was soon earning $20 million per month, according to The Richest. Chyna began charging a $50 a month subscription fee, while offering a three-month package for $127.50 and a full year's subscription for $450. She soon made over $240 million on the site and was eventually confirmed to be the top celebrity earner. Greta Gerwig debunked a theory surrounding the identity of one actress in her much-anticipated Barbie movie, which hit theaters on July 21. Following the film's release, it was widely speculated that Barbara Handler, who inspired the Barbie doll, appeared in a scene with Margot Robbie's titular character while relaxing on a park bench in Santa Monica, California. The woman speaking to the Australian actress, 33, however, was actually costume designer Ann Roth, not the daughter of Mattel co-founder and Barbie inventor Ruth Handler. While speaking about the Oscar-winning costume designer's cameo, Gerwig told Rolling Stone: 'I love that scene so much. And, the older woman on the bench is the costume designer Ann Roth.' 'Shes a legend. Its a cul-de-sac of a moment, in a way it doesnt lead anywhere,' the director explained. Setting the record straight: Greta Gerwig debunked a theory surrounding the identity of one actress in her much-anticipated Barbie movie, which hit theaters on July 21; seen earlier this month Not accurate: Following the film's release, it was widely speculated that Handler (pictured in 2002) appeared in a scene with Margot Robbie's titular character while relaxing on a park bench in Santa Monica, California After some suggested that she 'could cut' the moment, the Sacramento native, 39, said without the scene 'the story would move on just the same' and she wouldn't know 'what this movie is about.' Handler in April spoke with TMZ about the highly-anticipated motion picture - which arrives in theaters Friday - saying she felt Robbie, 33, succeeded in playing the iconic character. She also praised the extended cast of the Greta Gerwig-directed film, which includes Ryan Gosling, Issa Rae, Alexandra Shipp, Dua Lipa and John Cena. Handler told the outlet that her mother Ruth, who died April 27, 2002 after surgery amid a battle with colon cancer, would be happily shocked to see the doll become the focal point of a big budget Hollywood film. Ruth was the first president of Mattel, which she founded in 1945 with her husband Elliot Handler. In inventing the Barbie doll, Ruth sought to bring to life the paper dolls Barbara played with. She opened up about coming up with the concept in her 1994 memoir Dream Doll: The Ruth Handler Story. 'I discovered something very important: They were using these dolls to project their dreams of their own futures as adult women. Wouldn't it be great if we could take that play pattern and three-dimensionalize it?' Ruth said of the paper dolls. Ruth said in her book that her spouse Elliot and their former business partner Harold 'Matt' Matson were skeptical that the product would be a success. Mistaken identity: While many believed that Barbara Handler was in the film, the woman in the scene was actually costume designer Ann Roth (seen above) Opposite of Margot Robbie: While speaking about the Oscar-winning costume designer's cameo, Gerwig told Rolling Stone : 'I love that scene so much. And the older woman on the bench is the costume designer Ann Roth' '"Ruth, it won't work," I was told flatly,' she said in the book. She added that there was also pushback to capturing the character's femininity via her shape. 'I really think that the squeamishness of those designers - every last one of them male - stemmed mostly from the fact that the doll would have breasts,' Ruth said. 'Even Elliot, who has an uncanny knack for correctly predicting what others will buy, feared that no mother would buy her daughter a doll with a chest.' In 1956, Handler noticed a novelty doll during a Switzerland vacation that bore a resemblance to her earlier idea. Robbie leads the cast of the anticipated summer blockbuster based off the famed toy brand She said, 'Here were the breasts, the small waist, the long, tapered legs I had enthusiastically described for the designers all those years ago.' She took one home and had Mattel VP Jack Ryan work on adapting the doll for a young American audience. The famous toy debuted on store shelves three years later, with 300,000 dolls sold in its first year, according to the company. Mattel SVP of Barbie design Kim Culmone described to People how the idea wasn't an easy sell at the end of the 1950s. 'Ruth was able to sell Barbie in a toy industry that was hesitant to think of a doll that a girl could use to project her hopes and inspirations,' Culmone said. American actor Joel Kim Booster is best known for his role in Hulu's raunchy gay comedy Fire Island. And it turns out that the 35-year-old's experience on the island extends far beyond his on-screen role. During an appearance on the Finding Fire Island podcast, Joel admitted to attending a gay orgy with over 200 people at the New York hotspot. 'I've been to a 200-plus person orgy on the island, and there's nothing like watching a bunch of guys get railed as the sun is coming up over the ocean,' he gushed. 'The amount of sex and sex acts that I've seen on that island in public, in front of an audience, is sort of wild,' he continued. 'I don't know what it is about Fire Island that unlocks people's inhibitions a little bit.' American actor Joel Kim Booster (pictured) has opened up about a 200-person gay orgy he had on New York's Fire Island during a hedonistic getaway The South Korean-born star described Fire Island as a place that 'buttoned-up' people go to 'get railed in public in front of all [their] friends'. Meanwhile, his Fire Island co-star Matt Rogers also shared a shocking tale of his own about spending time at the hedonistic LGBTQ destination. The American comedian admitted that during one jaunt, he was left feeling deathly ill after performing a taboo sex act on another partygoer. 'There was also a time I ate *** on the beach and then got really sick,' he confessed. 'I've been to a 200-plus person orgy on the island, and there's nothing like watching a bunch of guys get railed as the sun is coming up over the ocean,' he told the Finding Fire Island podcast Joel's Fire Island co-star Matt Rogers (pictured) also shared a shocking tale of his own, revealing that he once got 'really sick' after performing a taboo sex act on the island 'So it's not a place you want to eat *** and get some sort of *** eating related disease on the beach,' Matt continued. 'It's so funny because you're like, "Wow, I've never felt so alive," and then I've never felt so dead.' He finished: 'So yeah, I'm out there being a full gay man on that beach, and that comes with its maladies and successes.' 'There was also a time I ate *** on the beach and then got really sick,' he confessed Matt and Joel shared the wild stories about their debaucherous sex lives on the new podcast, Finding Fire Island. The podcast explores the history of the New York destination, which has been a mecca for the gay and lesbian community for decades. The pair previously starred together in Hulu's gay romantic comedy Fire Island, which was inspired by Pride and Prejudice. It was lauded by modern film critics, who praised the film for its diversity and gay sex scenes. Jimmy Nicholson is enjoying his last days as an unmarried man. The commercial pilot, who found love with Holly Kingston on The Bachelor, announced on Saturday that he's working his final shift before the wedding. 'That's it, last trip done,' the 33-year-old said in a video shared to Instagram Stories, in which he was wearing his captain's uniform. 'Six weeks off. Bring on the honeymoon, you little ripper,' he added, looking absolutely delighted. 'Last day of work. Time to get married I guess,' he added in a caption on the video clip. Jimmy Nicholson (pictured) is enjoying his last days as an unmarried man Jimmy and Holly will tie the knot in August, almost one year after the couple broke the engagement news last September. The pair celebrated their final days of freedom with respective bucks' and hens' parties in Sydney in June. They revealed Jimmy popped the question during a romantic Italian vacation. He got down on one knee on the balcony at Hotel Lorelei Londres in Sorrento, Italy, after leading his love to the location via a series of clues. The commercial pilot, who found love with Holly Kingston (left) on The Bachelor, announced on Saturday that he's working his final shift before the wedding 'That's it, last trip done,' the 33-year-old said in a video shared to Instagram Stories, in which he was wearing his captain's uniform Holly is said to have wept with joy as she accepted the proposal. Jimmy had planned the proposal for several months, buying a diamond ring from Sydney's Cerrone jewellers and asking Holly's parents for their permission. 'It was important to ask both her mum and dad for permission,' he told Stellar. The couple hope to start a family soon after. The pair moved into an apartment together in North Bondi in September 2021, shortly after The Bachelor finale aired on TV. YEREVAN, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. On July 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the newly appointed Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Republic of Armenia, Mehdi Sobhani, on the occasion of handing over the copy of his credentials. As ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan congratulated Mehdi Sobhani on assuming the responsible mission, expressing hope that the newly appointed ambassador will make an important contribution to the further development of relations between the two friendly and neighboring countries. Mehdi Sobhani expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and expressed his willingness to make maximum efforts to further promote relations between the two countries, which are running smoothly on historical and cultural foundations, and to implement programs of mutual interest. During the meeting, a number of issues related to the Armenian-Iranian agenda were discussed. The interlocutors noted with satisfaction the dynamically developing Armenian-Iranian political dialogue, emphasizing the organization of high-level mutual visits. Reference was made to the deepening of cooperation in the bilateral trade and economic, energy and transport sectors and the implementation of planned projects. The interlocutors also exchanged ideas on regional security issues. Referring to the recent discussions on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized that the efforts of the Armenian side are aimed at establishing stable peace in the South Caucasus, which will be beneficial for all the peoples of the region. Both sides emphasized the approach to settle the existing problems peacefully and through negotiations. Minister Mirzoyan presented the humanitarian crisis created in Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor, stressing the need to immediately remove the blockade. Rachel Riley has candidly detailed her marital struggles with her husband Pasha Kovalev in a new interview, claiming they are like 'ships that pass in the night.' The Countdown star, 37, admitted it can be very difficult to find some alone time with professional dancer Pasha, 43, while they juggle work and parenthood. After meeting on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013 the couple went on to marry in a secret Las Vegas wedding in 2019, surprising friends and fans alike. Going on to welcome two children, they have gone from strength to strength, but this week Rachel opened up about their 'difficult' time juggling work and parenthood. Here, MailOnline takes a look into the couple's relationship history... Couple: Rachel Riley has candidly detailed her marital struggles with her husband Pasha Kovalev in a new interview, claiming they are like 'ships that pass in the night' Throwback: The Countdown star, 37, admitted it can be very difficult to find some alone time with professional dancer Pasha, 43 (pictured in 2013) When did they meet? Rachel met Pasha during her 2013 stint on Strictly Come Dancing, when they were paired together. Reflecting on the experience last year, the presenter gushed about how 'bonkers' it was that time had flown so quickly, adding how she'll 'have to show the kids' the clip. In a social media upload, she wrote in her caption: 'Exactly 9 years ago today according to my phone. Bonkers! Will have to show the kids tomorrow [laughing and dancing emojis] @PashaKovalev #Strictly.' The video saw Rachel being swept off her feet by the Russian dancer after she had been eagerly awaiting on the announcement with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth. Rachel ended her 16-month marriage to James Gilbert weeks after she was eliminated from series - they had met while studying at the University of Oxford. The couple finally went public with their romance the following year. Newlyweds: Rachel and Pasha married during a secret Las Vegas ceremony in June 2019, while she was expecting their first child When did they get married? Rachel and Pasha married during a secret Las Vegas ceremony in June 2019. The couple exchanged vows in Sin City after keeping the ceremony 'so secret' that the majority of their friends and family are said to have been unaware of the nuptials. Taking to Instagram with a surprise post, Rachel confirmed the news as she shared a picture from their big day, captioned: 'Introducing the new Mr and Mrs Kovalev... We both said yes!' Rachel, who had just entered her second trimester of pregnancy, sheathed her baby bump in a printed cream and pink mini dress for the ceremony. The blonde beauty radiated with a healthy pregnancy glow that shone through her minimal make-up, whilst her glossy golden locks were styled in a chic chignon. Pasha, 39, made for a dapper groom in a navy blazer teamed with a polka dot shirt, beige chinos, and boater shoes. The couple appeared to be posing in the Wynn hotel, which offers three different floral-themed wedding 'salons' where guests can tie the knot, including the Lilac Salon, the Lavender Salon and Primrose Court. Wedding packages at the popular hotel and casino range from $1,790 for the most basic - though still lavish - of services, to an eye-watering $29,990 for the no-expense-spared Elegant Affair Ceremony. Records show the couple got a marriage licence in Clark Country, Nevada, which includes Vegas, on June 25, marrying three days later. Baby joy: Rachel was pregnant with their first child during the couple's Las Vegas wedding in 2019, welcoming a baby girl named Maven Aria that December Congratulations: She gave birth to a baby girl named Noa in November 2021, 15 days after her due date How many children do they have? Rachel was pregnant with their first child during the couple's Las Vegas wedding in 2019, welcoming a baby girl named Maven Aria that December. She revealed her daughter was two weeks overdue, but after 'keeping them waiting' she arrived so quickly she had to be delivered in their bathroom at home. The TV personality shared a number of sweet snaps of the couple gazing adoringly at their little girl, posing in front of their Christmas tree at home. She wrote: '2 weeks after we were expecting her this little one finally made an appearance! 'Miss Maven (one who understands) Aria (lioness) Riley Kovaleva arrived on Sunday morning weighing in at 7lbs 4. 'After keeping us waiting she came so quickly we didnt have a chance to get to the hospital and was born in our bathroom with our amazing doula and wonderful St Marys midwives rushing over to be with us in to be nick of time! 'Shes absolutely perfect and Pasha and I are in newborn bliss. Couldnt be more in love #newborn #babygirl #maven #baby'. The couple announced they were expecting their second child with a hilarious Instagram post in April 2021. In the update, Rachel asked her fans to figure out her latest Countdown conundrum, which aptly spelt the phrase fertility. Rachel's post showed her cradlling her blossoming bump in a pretty black floral mini dress as she posed alongside the famous Countdown letters board. With the tiles spelling out the phrase 'Fitt Riley' Rachel asked her fans to guess what the correct word could be, with many quickly guessing it must be 'Fertility.' She gave birth to a baby girl named Noa in November 2021, 15 days after her due date. The Countdown star took to Instagram to reveal the happy news as she shared a picture of her bundle of joy, her second second child with husband Pasha Kovalev. In the caption of her post, Rachel gushed: 'We have some news! Introducing Pashas newest dance partner - baby Noa was finally born, 15 days after her due date, late on Friday night to the sound of fireworks!' Rachel added: 'Shes totally adorable and her big sister Maven has already tried welcoming her to the world by offering Oatly and pickles, we think thats a good sign. 'Massive thanks to the wonderful home birth midwives team and my doula who looked after us all so well. 'Ps thanks too to my namesake @rachelrileyuk for the lovely rainbow baby clothes for our gorgeous rainbow baby. Our family feels complete now shes here.' Parenting: The television personality spoke about her growing family in an exclusive interview with MailOnline, saying they decided 'to go full steam ahead' due to her age (pictured in 2022) What has Rachel said about parenthood? The television personality spoke about her growing family in an exclusive interview with MailOnline. She explained that she and Pasha felt unsure children were in their future during the early stages of their relationship, but after reflecting on her age and the possibility starting a family may not be easy, they decided to go full steam ahead. 'We've bashed them out! Get the sleep deprivation over in one go is the plan', she explained. 'I'm 35 and I've got friends that are struggling with fertility, and you just never know if you're going to be able to get pregnant. 'We have been really lucky, touch wood, and we're very excited. They're great, we weren't sure if we wanted them before and we're just both in love, it's lovely.' Rachel candidly revealed she suffered a miscarriage between her two pregnancies. The former Gadget Show presenter, told OK! Magazine about why she planned to have another child so soon after welcoming Maven. Rachel said at the time: 'At 35 I'm considered old biologically. I had a miscarriage between the two pregnancies, so you can't count your chickens. Thankfully, I seem to get pregnant easily which I don't take for granted.' Distance: Speaking in an interview with The Sun this week, Rachel admitted it can be very difficult to find some alone time with Pasha while they juggle work and parenthood (pictured in 2016) Are they having marriage struggles? Speaking in an interview with The Sun this week, Rachel admitted it can be very difficult to find some alone time with Pasha while they juggle work and parenthood. Rachel said date nights can be rare for the couple, but the TV personality also admitted she wouldn't change a thing, and she enjoys in fact this phase of parenthood. 'When you first get together, if they're away for three months and you've only been together a month, it's a big deal,' she told. 'But when you've been together the best part of a decade and you can see a future of how ever many more decades that you get together, it kind of changes your perspective. "It's nice to have date nights especially as we can be ships that pass in the night, especially when you have kids as well.' The Channel 4 star revealed she's been 'juggling so many things' and will now need to be more organised during her days off. The MBE didn't hold back to add that is crucial to make time for romance and keep the spark alive. She said is nice to 'have date nights' especially because they can be 'ships that pass in the night'. Sara Sampaio put on a leggy display on Friday night as she arrived at Craig's restaurant in Los Angeles with Jack Nicholson's son Ray to celebrate her 32nd birthday. The supermodel showcased her enviable figure in a thigh-skimming black mini dress as she made her way inside the swanky eatery with Nicholsons youngest offspring, 31. Sara teamed the sparkly dress with pearl detailed, pointed black heels and a black handbag, while her raven locks cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves. Sara was in great company on the night as she was also joined by model pals Shanina Shaik and Kelsey Merritt. Meanwhile Ray looked dapper in a beige button-up, black pants and boots for the occasion. Stunner: Sara Sampaio put on a leggy display on Friday night as she arrived at Craig's restaurant in Los Angeles with Jack Nicholson's son Ray to celebrate her 32nd birthday Leggy: The supermodel showcased her enviable figure in a thigh-skimming black mini dress as she made her way inside the swanky eatery with Nicholsons youngest offspring, 31 The former Victoria's Secret Angel looked in great spirits outside the restaurant as she beamed amid her birthday celebrations. Just like her pal, Shanina, 32, put on a leggy display in a zebra print Joelle Mini in Tigris dress by RESA and heels. Earlier this month, Sara and her other model pal Jasmine Tookes both looked incredible as they attended the Zuhair Murad show during Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris. Sara put on a glamorous display in a sheer black embroidered gown, with matching underwear underneath. She boosted her height in Aquazzura's Yes Darling Plateau Platform, while accessorising with a choker necklace and gold earrings. The model opted for a bronzed makeup palette which accentuated her natural features, while her brunette locks were scraped back in a bun. Although she is best known for her work as a model, Sara has made numerous strides into the film industry. The fashion industry figure made her small screen debut during an episode of the drama series Billions that aired in 2017. The influencer also made her transition over to the big screen while making a cameo as herself in the comedy feature The Clapper, which also premiered that year. Gorgeous: Sara teamed the sparkly dress with pearl detailed, pointed black heels and a black handbag, while her raven locks cascaded over her shoulders in soft waves Birthday girl: The former Victoria's Secret Angel looked in great spirits outside the restaurant as she beamed amid her birthday celebrations Stunners: Sara was in great company on the night as she was also joined by model pals Shanina Shaik and Kelsey Merritt Flawless: Just like her pal, Shanina, 32, put on a leggy display in a zebra print Joelle Mini in Tigris dress by RESA and heels The model went on to appear in features such as Crisis, Shadow and Wifelike, the last of which premiered last year. Sara's most recent role in a movie was as Elisabetta in the romantic comedy feature At Midnight. The feature is centered on an actress who discovers that her boyfriend and castmate has been unfaithful to her and subsequently starts a new romance with the junior manager of a hotel. In addition to the model, the film's cast included Whitney Cummings, Anders Holm and Monica Barbaro. Ben Fogle has kindly offered to pay to reunite Australian castaway Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella after the pair were emotionally separated. Tim, 54, and his dog Bella were recently saved from certain death after they were miraculously found adrift nearly 2,000km from land off the coast of Mexico. The Australian set sail on a catamaran from Mexico in April bound for tropical French Polynesia, but was crippled by bad weather weeks into the 3,700-mile journey. After he was rescued, Tim made the difficult decision not to take his dog Bella - a stray who he found while living in Mexico - back home to Australia with him. He worried the journey would be too stressful for Bella after spending three months adrift, and it is believed their union came to an end due to Australia's notorious animal importation regulations. Sweet: Ben Fogle has kindly offered to pay to reunite Australian castaway Tim Shaddock and his dog Bella after the pair were emotionally separated Kind gesture: Sharing a snap of Tim and Bella, Ben told how he wants to pay for the dog's travel and quarantine to allow her entry into Australia with Tim Amid their separation, adventurer Ben took to Instagram on Friday to share his sympathies with Tim and offer to pay to reunite the pair. He admitted he was 'moved' by their story and told how he wants to finance Bella's travel and quarantine costs to allow her entry into Australia to be reunited with Tim. Sharing a snap of Tim and Bella, he wrote: 'I was so moved and inspired by the story of Tim and Bella that I want to help them to be reunited again. 'I would like to offer to pay for the quarantine and travel of Bella to Australia to join Tim Shaddock.' People can only bring animals into Australia that are arriving from approved countries, which Mexico is not, and also once they are medically fit to arrive. Australia has some of the toughest animal import laws in the world, and the process involves several hurdles which aren't cheap. Bella would likely have to temporarily stay in an approved country before travelling Down Under, where she would have to get vaccines, be microchipped, and undergo quarantine. After Tim made the difficult decision to leave her behind, Bella has been adopted by a man who rescued her at sea. Bella survived more than two months at sea on raw fish and rainwater with Tim before their storm-struck catamaran were rescued last weekend by a passing tuna vessel and brought to shore in Mexico. Rescued: Tim, 54, and his dog Bella were recently saved from certain death after they were miraculously found adrift nearly 2,000km from land off the coast of Mexico Sad: After he was rescued, Tim decided not to take Bella - a stray who he found while living in Mexico - back home to Australia with him, likely due to the country's strict animal rules Now, Bella has been adopted by Genaro Rosales, 48, a crew member of the vessel that brought her to shore, and a self-proclaimed 'lover of dogs and all animals'. 'I was one of the first to have contact with her,' Genaro told AFP in the western port of Manzanillo where Tim and Bella arrived on Tuesday. 'I was the one who hugged her, to get her on one of the (two) small boats' in which he and three companions approached the stricken catamaran. She was happy when she saw us.' On the day of the rescue, Genaro was the one who took responsibility for calming Bella and giving her initial treatment. 'Timothy saw the treatment I gave Bella, the attention I gave her,' he explained. 'I told him that I liked animals, I have a dog, I have cats, I have had everything! And well, he decided that I would be (Bella's) second dad.' Once they get home to the seaside city of Mazatlan, she will meet 'her new brother' Vicente, a pug who Rosales said is 'very spoiled'. 'My pets sleep in my bed, I turn the air conditioning on for them. They have all the privileges,' he said. Tim and Bella had set off from La Paz in Mexico in April, and planned to sail about 6,000 kilometers (3,700 miles) before dropping anchor in French Polynesia. They soon found themselves stranded after rough seas damaged the boat and knocked out its electronics. Hard times: Tim worried the journey would be too stressful for Bella after spending three months adrift, where they survived off raw fish 'Second dad': However, Bella has been adopted by Genaro Rosales, 48, one of the crew members of the tuna vessel that brought her to shore They were then plucked from the water 'more than 1,200 miles from land,' according to fishing company Grupomar, that owns the tuna vessel. After arriving back on dry land, Tim said Bella 'is much braver than I am' and told how the dog had 'found him' in the middle of Mexico and stuck by his side. He met the stray dog while he was living in San Miguel de Allende after arriving in Mexico at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tim said: 'She wouldn't let me go. I tried to find a home for her maybe three times and she just kept following me onto the water. She's a beautiful animal. I'm just grateful she's alive.' Jane Kennedy and Rob Sitch are two of Australian comedy's most recognisable stars, known for their time on the hit ABC series Frontline in the 1990s. The married couple, who rarely make red carpet appearances together, enjoyed a date night at the opening performance of the new play Bloom at the Melbourne Arts Centre on Saturday. Kennedy, 59, looked chic in a black cape paired with wide-legged trousers and patent dress shoes. She added a number of bracelets and a gold wristwatch, while opting for a classic makeup look with a punch of colour with red lipstick. Jane Kennedy and Rob Sitch are two of Australian comedy's most recognisable stars, known for their time on the hit ABC series Frontline in the 1990s Frontline was a satire of TV current affairs shows, with Sitch playing dim-witted anchor Mike Moore and Kennedy playing ambitious reporter Brooke Vandenberg Sitch, 61, was casually chic in a black velvet blazer with a simple T-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers. The pair, who have been married for decades, share five children, including son Joshua Sitch who starred in Little Lunch on the ABC. Three decades have passed since Frontline first went to air on the ABC. The show took viewers behind the scenes of a fictional current-affairs program, and is fondly remembered for its sharp satire of television tabloid news. The married couple, who rarely make red carpet appearances together, enjoyed a date night at the opening performance of the new play Bloom at the Melbourne Arts Centre on Saturday Frontline was created by Working Dog Productions - the company behind cult films The Castle and The Dish and also Channel 10 panel show Have You Been Paying Attention? - and ran for three seasons from 1994 to 1997. Sitch starred as Mike Moore, the lead anchor of Frontline who considers himself a serious journalist, but is really a self-centred dunce with no knowledge of current events. Since the series ended, Sitch has continued to work as an actor, director, producer and screenwriter with Working Dog. His recent TV credits include Australian comedy program Utopia (2014), for which he served as its lead actor, producer, writer and creator. Sitch starred as Mike Moore, the lead anchor of Frontline. Kennedy played Brooke Vandenberg, an ambitious and publicity-hungry reporter In 2016, he also co-created and starred in animated comedy series Pacific Heat. Sitch reprised his Frontline character Mike Moore in 2014 during a short sketch on ABC's Friday Night Crack Up. Jane played Brooke Vandenberg, an ambitious and publicity-hungry reporter who never let the truth get in the way of a good story. One of the founding members of Working Dog Productions, Kennedy has had a varied career since Frontline, working as an actor, producer, writer and radio host. Jane still makes regular appearances as a panellist and quizmaster on Have You Been Paying Attention? Former Bachelorette star Brooke Blurton has come a long way since her days as a youth worker. After appearing on multiple reality shows, launching a podcast and working as a social media influencer, the 28-year-old is now ready to make a drastic career change. Speaking to Stellar magazine, Brooke revealed that she's studying to become a marriage celebrant. 'I failed at falling in love myself, so I will just marry people instead... It's so beautiful to know you can help couples get married and share their love,' she said. 'I'm such a sucker for love. When people are in love, it's not always happy I get that. But there's such a raw happiness within it. Maybe I'm just addicted to that.' Bachelorette star Brooke Blurton is now studying to become a marriage celebrant The reality star briefly found love with Darvid Garayeli on The Bachelorette, but the couple split shortly after the show's finale. She also just broke up with another guy after just one month. Brooke has had quite the successful media career since shooting to fame season six of The Bachelor in 2018. She appeared on Bachelor In Paradise in 2019, and then became Australia's first ever bisexual Bachelorette in 2021. Brooke briefly found love with Darvid Garayeli on The Bachelorette, but the couple split shortly after the show's finale. Pictured together The former youth worker then joined The Challenge Australia last year, which aired on Channel 10. She later took a swipe at the series for focusing too much on drama and romance instead of competition. 'I wanted to do The Challenge to do The Challenge,' she told Yahoo Lifestyle. 'I didn't go to do The Bachelor again or do a remake of Bachelor In Paradise, thats not what I came for,' she continued. Brooke became Australia's first ever bisexual Bachelorette in 2021. Pictured 'I had just finished writing my book and I wanted to reclaim who Brooke Blurton was, so I didn't want to be affiliated with them. 'I got dragged into it so many times, but I made a conscious effort and a conscious decision that I wanted to go into The Challenge just being Brooke Blurton, not Brooke Blurton from The Bachelorette.' She now hosts a podcast called Not So PG. Natasha Poly put on a leggy display with her husband Peter Bakker and their children in St Tropez on Saturday. The supermodel, 38, looked incredible in a pair of white shorts as she made her way to celebrity hotspot Club 55 with actor Adrien Brody and her family. She completed her summery look with a matching waistcoat and carried a pearl crochet handbag. Walking barefoot across the jetty, Natasha held hands with her youngest Adrian, four, while her daughter Aleksandra, ten, walked in front. Peter went for a casual outfit, sporting a black T-shirt with some white shorts and flip flops. Sun-soaked: Natasha Poly, 38, put on a leggy display with her husband Peter Bakker and their children in St Tropez on Saturday Holiday: The supermodel looked incredible in a pair of white shorts as she made her way to celebrity hotspot Club 55 with actor Adrien Brody and her family Elsewhere, Adrien, 50, wore a dark green top with a pair of loose fitting camouflage trousers and sandals. The family are enjoying a sun-soaked getaway in French destination St Tropez after attending Cannes Film Festival together. Adrien has also been seen with his girlfriend Georgina Chapman on the French Riviera. His partner, 47, was previously married to disgraced film producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein. Adrien and Georgina have been publicly dating since March 2020 although rumours of their romance began in September 2019. The Oscar-winning actor and the fashion designer were set up by Danish model Helena Christensen in April 2019, according to the Sun. The pair, who had initially met through Weinstein, were introduced 'properly' at a swimwear launch in Puerto Rico where they 'bonded over cocktails', according to an insider. The source said at the time: 'Georgina and Adrien obviously initially met through Harvey, but met again properly in April.' Stylish: Walking barefoot across the jetty, Natasha held hands with her youngest Adrian, four, while her daughter Aleksandra, ten, walked in front Group: Elsewhere, Adrien, 50, wore a dark green top with a pair of loose fitting camouflage trousers and sandals Lavish: The pals are enjoying a sun-soaked getaway in French destination St Tropez after attending Cannes Film Festival together Romance: Adrien has also been seen in the French Riviera with his girlfriend Georgina Chapman (pictured in Cannes in May) 'Helena had invited them both to her swimwear launch in Puerto Rico, and they bonded over cocktails against a backdrop of various beautiful beaches. 'Obviously it's still quite a new thing, but Adrien is smitten and Georgina is the happiest she's been in ages. 'She has had a torrid past couple of years, and finally feels ready to move on with her life. Her kids and family are all aware, and everyone whole-heartedly approves.' Georgina divorced Weinstein after ten years of marriage in 2017, when more than 90 women made accusations of sexual assault against the Hollywood mogul. John Cleese has been in Australia the past week filming a brand new TV special. The iconic English comedian has wrapped on The Roast Of John Cleese, hosted by Shane Jacobson. The Channel Seven special was filmed last week in front of an audience at Melbourne's Crown Casino. The 83-year-old was treated to a whole host of good natured insults thanks to a series of celebrity guests. Those appearing include comedian Joel Creasey, musical theatre star Rhonda Burchmore, comedian Anthony 'Lehmo' Lehmann and comedian Tom Gleeson. John Cleese (pictured) has been in Australia the past week filming a brand new TV special. The iconic English comedian has wrapped on The Roast Of John Cleese, hosted by Shane Jacobson Also appearing are radio star Lawrence Mooney and Aussie comedic legend Steve Vizard. The British comedian is set to perform his latest stand up comedy in Australia over the next month. Cleese will play Geelong's Costa Hall on July 29, Melbourne's Hamer Hall on July 30 and 31, before moving on to Brisbane's QPAC Concert Hall on August 2. The British icon will then move on to Sydney's The Concourse Concert Hall on August 5 and 6, before heading to Canberra Theatre on August 8 and the Civic Theatre in Newcastle on August 11 and 12. The Monty Python star's newest show may have audiences guessing just how funny it will be, as its title, An Evening With The Late John Cleese, suggests that some topics may be pretty bleak. The Channel Seven special was filmed last week in front of an audience at Melbourne's Crown Casino The British comedian is set to perform his latest stand up comedy in Australia over the next month However, at the age of 83, Cleese has been seriously questioning what comes after life, and in this new show he will discuss death and the afterlife with the audience. He will also be joined by his daughter Camilla Cleese as he tells stories from his illustrious comedy and acting career, which has spanned more than 50 years. Organisers of the show, Bohm Presenters, have described it as a chance for fans to get 'up close and personal' with the Oscar-winning star. 'At 83 years of age, Johns boundless energy and inimitable sense of humour is sure to leave audiences in splits, and thoroughly entertained,' they said in a statement. Chloe Ferry showed off her incredible figure as she relaxed by the pool with some friends in Ibiza on Saturday. The former Geordie Shore star, 27, slipped into a tiny red bikini with a busty plunging top and thong bottoms. She styled her long brunette hair into waves and shielded her eyes with a pair of aviator sunglasses. Chloe flash a glimpse of her pert bottom while soaking up some sun on a lounger, as she turned over to sunbathe. The group appeared to be having the tie of their lives at the resort as they chatted away and sipped on cocktails. Stunning: Chloe Ferry, 27, showed off her incredible figure as she relaxed by the pool with some friends in Ibiza on Saturday It 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?'' Holiday: The former Geordie Shore star slipped into a tiny red bikini with a busty plunging top and thong bottoms Relaxing: She styled her long brunette hair into waves and shielded her eyes with a pair of aviator sunglasses Chilling: Chloe flash a glimpse of her pert bottom while soaking up some sun on a lounger Pals: The group appeared to be having the tie of their lives at the resort as they chatted away Yum: The reality star sipped on a cocktail by the pool Funny: Chloe giggled away as she held on to her pal's foot Girls day: The group flashed smiles while hanging out Perfect: They each had an inflatable heart in the pool 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. Gemma Collins looked sensational in a ruffled pink dress as she was spotted stepping out at the Dorchester Hotel after watching the Barbie movie on Friday. The reality star, 42, beamed from ear to ear after watching the hotly-anticipated film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. The star paired the Barbie-esque dress with a pair of chunky gold heels while she kept her hair down in her natural bob. Taking to Instagram Gemma praised the film for its inclusivity and diversity, seeing the film as a real representation of female solidarity. Posing in the toy's plastic box, the former TOWIE star captioned the post: 'Barbie is all these women. And all these women are Barbie. The Film was SO EMPOWERING HEART WARMING and a MUST SEE'. Come on Barbie let's go party: Gemma Collins, 42, looked sensational in a ruffled pink dress after watching the Barbie movie on Friday as the star confessed she's in 'no rush' to marry her fiance Beautiful: The star paired the Barbie-esque dress with a pair of chunky gold heels while she kept her hair down in her natural bob Switching up her look on the Thursday evening for a special screening of the film at the Picturehouse cinema London, the star embraced the Barbicore trend in a pink jumpsuit. Gemma hit the red carpet alongside new mum Jessie J, 35, as she hinted at her ample cleavage and risked a wardrobe malfunction thanks to the plunging neckline. Slipping her feet into gold platforms she toted her essentials for the evening in a quirky french fry shaped handbag. Earlier this week the bubbly blonde admitted she is in 'no rush' to marry her fiance Rami Hawash and is 'postponing' it until later in life as she spoke about her worries of divorce. Gemma and business owner Rami, 48, got engaged in December 2021 after they reunited during lockdown, seven years after ending their first engagement. Gushing over their relationship, Gemma told how they are very happy and are in 'no rush' to tie the knot, saying they have 'postponed' their wedding day for now. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Gemma explained that seeing other couples get divorced has made her apprehensive for marriage as she's realised that she doesn't want go to through it herself. She admitted she is planning to postpone her wedding for 'as long as possible', potentially until she is in her 50s, and has not yet made any plans for the big day. Female empowerment: Gemma attended a special screening of the film on Thursday as she stunned in a pink jumpsuit which showed off her ample cleavage Girl power: Gemma praised the film on her Instagram for its representation of different women Future: Gemma Collins has told how she is in 'no rush' to marry her fiance Rami Hawash and is 'postponing' it until later in life as she spoke about her worries of divorce Happy couple: Gemma and business owner Rami, 48, got engaged in December 2021 after they reunited during lockdown, seven years after ending their first engagement 'For me, there's just no rush! I love JLo, her and Ben tied the knot at 50, they were ready to settle down and put their comfy slippers on, so I'm not probably going to do anything like that until I'm a bit older really. 'There's no rush! You're a long time married, you're a b****y long time married, and I kind of feel like marriage is sadly - and it is sad - it's a bit old hack now. 'When you see people going through divorces and all that comes with it, you're like hell no! I do not want that, I can't bear admin anyway, I couldn't be bothered to do the paperwork. So I'm just postponing it as long as possible.' She confirmed the marriage really isn't a priority for her right now, admitting she has not yet picked a wedding venue. 'It could be Claridge's, it could be Italy, who knows! It could be in the middle of the forest, who knows! I'm just cool and happy as we are at the minute... It's just not a priority for me at the minute.' With her man: Gemma shared the sweet snap of her and Rami on holiday on Sunday, but says she might wait until she is in her 50s until the pair get married Embracing her Barbie-inspired female empowerment, earlier this week Gemma wowed in a leopard print bikini as she posed for her Instagram followers on Wednesday. The reality star struck a powerful pose for the camera as she spoke out in a new post about suffering with Polycystic ovary syndrome [PCOS] and an underactive thyroid. Showing off her curves, the former TOWIE star captioned the post: 'CARBOHYDRATED BARBIE FOR LIFE '. Raising awareness of her ongoing health conditions, she wrote: 'With an underactive thyroid and pcos everyday is a constant struggle but do you know what F IT.' When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie spent the summer in Britain in 2012, they vowed to make it their second home. More than a decade later, and now entangled in a bitter, long-running divorce battle with Ms Jolie, the Hollywood heart-throb is back and has fallen in love with the UK again. The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the Fight Club actor has spent weeks here letting his hair down after filming his new movie about Formula 1 racing. He has been based at the exclusive Soho Farmhouse near the Oxfordshire village of Great Tew, staying in one of their A-list cabins previously used by his friend Tom Cruise and British actor Simon Pegg. Sources close to Pitt, who turns 60 in December, also say that he fell in love with a traditional British pub in the market town of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, where they were filming scenes for his movie, rumoured to be called Apex, in which he plays a fictional F1 driver called Sonny Hayes. He sipped pints at the idyllic Globe Inn, on the banks of the Grand Union canal, along with his co-stars and other staff working on the film. The traditional menu includes scampi and chips for 11.99 and sausage and mash for 11.89. Match made in heaven: Brad Pitt in the Royal Box at Wimbledon for the mens final last Sunday READ MORE: The real life Benjamin Button! Brad Pitt, 59, looks like he's ageing in reverse as he films his new F1 movie at Silverstone The real life Benjamin Button! Brad Pitt looked youthful as he was pictured filming his new F1 movie at Silverstone Circuit on Thursday Advertisement It is 25 miles from Silverstone, where Pitt was seen filming on the same weekend as the British Grand Prix earlier this month. It is also close to the movie studios in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, where much of the film is being made for Apple TV. One source said: 'Brad loves traditionally English things, including a really nice pub. It was closed for a week for filming but Brad just loved it there so would stay after filming and enjoy a drink.' The star was also in the Royal Box at Wimbledon last Sunday to watch Spain's Carlos Alcaraz defeat Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the men's final. He has been enjoying rides in the English countryside in a chauffeur-driven Range Rover. He has also regularly visited his close friend George Clooney at his 10 million Grade II-listed riverside home in Sonning, Berkshire, which he shares with wife Amal. Like previous visitors to the actor's house, including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the Obamas, Pitt stayed overnight after visiting the local pubs. The source added: 'It was lovely to have a friend so nearby.' Pitt has also regularly taken a private helicopter across the Channel to France to visit his vineyard, Chateau Miraval in Provence, which he bought with Ms Jolie for around 25 million in 2008. Sadly, it seems that his British summer could be brought to an end sooner than he thought after he stopped filming in solidarity with US writers and actors who are striking over higher pay and protesting about the use of artificial intelligence. He had been due to fly to other grand prix events in Europe to film scenes. But stunt doubles are now being used instead. The Fight Club actor has spent weeks here letting his hair down after filming his new movie about Formula 1 racing (pictured at Silverstone) He sipped pints at the idyllic Globe Inn, on the banks of the Grand Union canal, along with his co-stars and other staff working on the film about Formula 1 Producer Jerry Bruckheimer visited Pitt for a drink at The Globe Inn last week to talk about how they would adjust filming in light of the industrial action. This month the actor was seen racing an adapted Formula 2 car at Silverstone for the movie, which is also being produced by Lewis Hamilton. In the new film, Pitt plays a veteran driver returning to the sport after a 30-year absence. In 2012 Pitt and Ms Jolie lived in a mansion in Richmond, south-west London. That summer they were seen at their local Halfords store, Wimbledon and the Olympics. Remembering that tragic night, choking back the tears, Ani barely utters the words: "I couldn't get through an ambulance. It was 2am. I somehow got to the hospital. I was six months pregnant... we couldn't save my child." July 22, 2023, 11:18 Due to the blockade 6-months pregnant woman lost her baby STEPANAKERT, JULY 22, ARTSAKHPRES: The death of an unborn child was recorded in the Haterk village of the Martakert region of the Artsakh Republic as a result of the humanitarian disaster caused by the Azerbaijani blockade. 23-year-old Ani, who lost her angel Gabriel that night, appealed to the whole world through MediaHub. "Do not be silent, do everything so that unborn children do not die under the hearts of mothers, do not be silent." "There was no transport, I somehow got to the hospital at 2am, but already bleeding. We were calling an ambulance, somehow they got through, and maybe it was already too late. It took us 2 hours to reach Stepanakert from Haterk, it was already too late," she says. Ani, who had not been able to get pregnant for 2 years, did not choose Gabriel's name by chance. "I couldn't get pregnant for 2 years. I saw God in my dream. God told me he would definitely give me children, but all their names should start with the letter "G". We named my first son Gor and we decided that he second son will be named Gabriel," says Ani and whispers, the decision became a dream that will never come true again. His other son, Gor, is 2.5 years old and attends kindergarten. Ani says that they can no longer buy basic necessities for a baby in any store, they don't exist. .''We cultivated a plot of land, we somehow get food. You won't find anything in the shops" she said. The 120,000 population of Artsakh has been under the Azerbaijani blockade for 222 days, for more than 35 days under complete siege, facing the threat of hunger and diseases. The head of Haterk Vardan Grigoryan told MediaHub that the situation in the village is dire. "The situation of the people is terrible, the issue of medicine, fuel, food is not solved. Due to the lack of medicines, the patients are in critical condition. About a week ago, they somehow managed to save the life of the woman, unfortunately, the child died," he says, referring to Ani. Grigoryan told that as a result of the humanitarian disaster created in Artsakh, the incidence of heart attacks tripled. "About a week ago, a 45-year-old man died, the father of many children," he said. Khloe Kardashian's daughter True Thompson and Kim Kardashian's daughter Chicago West are besties. The Good American founder, 39, shared an adorable photo of the cousins, both five-years-old, on Instagram on Friday. In the photo the girls were wearing screen-printed T-shirts shirts with both Khloe and Kim's names on the front with a few images of the reality stars printed below. She captioned the series of three photos: 'They think this t-shirt thing is funny.' They may have been grinning because each wore a shirt repping their aunt, rather than their mother. Kim's daughter Chicago held her hands behind her back to show off the display featuring photos of her aunt Khloe, while True's shirt included one of her aunt Kim's iconic Met Gala looks featured front and center. Cousins: Khloe Kardashian's daughter True Thompson (R) and Kim Kardashian's daughter Chicago West (L) are besties, which they demonstrated in new photos Khloe posted showing them wearing shirts celebrating their mothers The girls stood next to each other in the photos with big smiles on their faces and in one photo have their arms wrapped around each other in a sweet hug. And it seems the girls may have inherited their love of ironically funny t-shirts from Kim. Last month, Kim shared a TikTok video in which she trolled her sister Kendall Jenner, 27, by wearing a T-shirt that said Kendall's Starting 5. The shirt included images of Devin Booker, Blake Griffin, Ben Simmons, Jordan Clarkson and Kyle Kuzma with Kendall's face in the center of it all. The new snaps of True and Chicago comes after Khloe and Kylie Jenner, 25, had a candid chat about beauty standards on this week's episode of The Kardashians. Khloe said she had 'the most confidence' when she was a kid and chubby and in a skintight bodycon dress and you couldnt tell me otherwise. Society gave me insecurities. She added in a confessional: Ive been torn apart the minute that Ive gone on TV. I didnt look like my sisters, so therefore, its not good enough. 'And then when I started, whatever, changing my look, you get better makeup, you do fillers, you do whatever, I had a nose job, and theres still people constantly bullying you,' she continued. 'Its like, so which one is it? You didnt like me then? You dont like me like I you have to do things for yourself,' she concluded. Hug: The girls stand next to each other in the photos with big smiles on their faces and in one photo have their arms wrapped around each other in a sweet hug Besties: 'They think this T-shirt thing is funny,' Khloe wrote, possibly because they each had on a shirt for their aunts, rather than their mothers Sisters: Kim and Khloe have six kids between them with North West, 10, as the oldest and Tatum Thompson, one, as the youngest In a later confessional the mom of two elaborated on her earlier thoughts. Were still growing up in front of the camera, for better or worse, regardless of how old we are,' she added. 'Were still growing and evolving, and I think its unfair to have so much pressure put on people. I think were all just trying to do our best we can. Later in the episode, she told her sisters: Like I definitely dont want our kids to have those insecurities but I do my best at home. Emily Ratajkowski displayed her toned legs in a casual yet chic summer outfit as she was spotted in New York City on Saturday morning. The model, 32 was seen wearing an all-white outfit as she was out on a stroll in New York City with her dog Colombo, a Husky-German shepherd mix. Ratajkowski's all-white outfit was comprised of a white cropped tank top, a pair of white shorts and white sneakers from Adidas. She completed her look with a black leather belt and a pair of black sunglasses as she wore her newly dyed red hair, which was straightened and styled down. Ratajkowski's bangs covered her entire forehead. Walks with Colombo: Emily Ratajkowski was spotted walking her dog Colombo in New York City on Saturday morning The 32-year-old walked Colombo with a long black leather dog leash in one hand while holding onto her cell phone with her remaining hand. Ratajkowski has a deep bond with Colombo, who she adopted sometime in 2019. She famously introduced her then nine-weeks-old puppy to the world by bringing him out on stage during a May 25, 2019, appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Fallon, 48, and the rest of the studio audience were in awe of the puppy and the late night talk show host held one of Colombo's paws. Colombo even licked Fallon's nose when he leaned in and asked the dog to give him a kiss. During her appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the model joked that Colombo stole the spotlight from her as whenever people would come up to her to ask for a photo (which she said yes to), the approaching strangers would clarify that they actually wanted to take pictures of Colombo, not with her. Over the years, the 32-year-old model has been spotted going on numerous walks throughout the Big Apple with Colombo. She was even spotted taking him on a walk the previous day in the NYC neighborhood of West Village. For her July 21 dog walk, Ratajkowski wore a blue sweater from Reebok, a pair of black biker shorts, a pair of white sneakers, and a pair of black sunglasses. She carried an iced beverage with one of her hands as she was accompanied by an unidentified female friend while taking Colombo out on a walk. All-White Outfit: The 32-year-old model showed off her toned legs in all-white outfit was comprised of a white cropped tank top, a pair of white shorts, and a pair of white sneakers from Adidas Stroll: The model adopted Colombo in sometime during 2019 and has been spotted taking him on walks numerous times in NYC over the years Four-legged friend: Colombo has also been featured in several of Ratajkowski's social media posts Shining bright: The supermodel accessorized with a pair of silver hoop earrings that gave her outfit a bit of extra shine Color coordination: The social media personality contrasted the dominant tone of her outfit with a leather belt Eyewear: Ratajkowski completed her look with a fashionable pair of sunglasses Gone Red: The July 22 sighting of the model and her dog on July 21 comes just a few days after Ratajkowski debuted her newly dyed red hair on Instagram The sighting of the model and her dog on July 22 comes just a few days after Ratajkowski debuted her newly dyed red hair on Instagram. In a July 18 Instagram post, the 32-year-old, whose known for her stunning brunette hair, showed off her fiery new look in a series of sultry snaps that showed her modeling a low-cut one-piece swimsuit. 'gone red. thank you @kerastase_official for keeping my my hair healthy with chroma absolu and thank you to the legend @jennaperryhair,' Ratajkowski wrote in the caption of her Instagram post. In all four photos, Ratajkowski sat on light green couch as she showed off her cleavage in the low-cut one-piece swimsuit, which was in the color black. Several of Ratajkowski's 30.1 million Instagram followers expressed their approval and love for her new look in the post's comments section, with comedian Hannah Berner commenting on the post that the model's red hair looked, 'so so good.' This Account has been suspended. 'The Kardashians' star shared a series of photos showing various stages of her pregnancy on Instagram Friday Kourtney Kardashian Instagram Kourtney Kardashian Shares Stylish New Baby Bump Photos Kourtney Kardashian is enjoying a very stylish pregnancy. The Kardashians star shared a carousel of photos showing off her baby bump at various stages of her pregnancy on Instagram Friday. Lost and found, Kardashian, 44, captioned the bump-filled post, which revealed she has a penchant for black and silver maternity outfits, as well as a spot of double denim. In the first shot, the Poosh founder who announced that she and husband Travis Barker are expecting a baby together at a Blink-182 concert in Los Angeles last month was pictured gazing to her right as she sat on a directors chair, with her bump on display in a chic black bodysuit. A later snap showed her in the same outfit with her eyes closed and her hand resting on her hip. In another pic that appeared to be from earlier on in her pregnancy, Kardashian posed in front of an ornate wooden door, with the beginnings of her bump visible through a lace dress. Related: Travis Barker Jokes His Son with Kourtney Kardashian Could Be Named Rocky 13 The mom of three also included two shots that showed her posing next to (and on!) a pool table in an all-silver outfit complete with a matching silver purse with her shirt opened to show off her belly. Kardashian then included a mirror selfie in her carousel, and later shared a shot of her walking through her home wearing a sheer black bodysuit and black leather pants, with her hand resting protectively on her bump. The proud mom also showcased what appeared to be a more recent shot of her bump in a black-and-white image of her belly peeking through a double denim outfit. With her jacket buttoned just above her growing bump, Kardashian ran her hands through her hair as she gazed into the distance. Earlier this month, the reality star shared a glimpse into her Hawaii vacation via a series of snapshots posted on Instagram. Story continues In a first picture, Kardashian showed off her growing belly in a black cut-out swimsuit as she sunbathed on a striped beach towel. She teamed her vacation look with a white cover-up, black sunglasses and a Prada hat. The Lemme founder, who traveled to the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Kaua'i, Hawaii, also took a dip in the ocean in the swimsuit and shared a photo of herself floating in the water with her bump peeking above the surface. In the final photo of the carousel, Kardashian swapped her black swimsuit for a leopard print bikini and a long white shirt and snapped a shot of herself laying on her side in the sand. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker attend the 64th Annual GRAMMY Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 03, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada Related: Kourtney Kardashian Has Happily Withdrawn into a Love 'Bubble' with Travis Barker While Kardashian has been sharing the progress of her pregnancy on social media, her husband Barker, 47, has been talking about what the couple plan to name their baby boy. Earlier this week, the Blink-182 drummer sat down with his daughter Alabama, 17, in a new GOAT Talk interview with Complex, where he discussed all manner of things they believe are the Greatest of All Time. For his final question, Barker picked up a card that asked for the GOAT baby name?" Alabama, who Barker shares with his ex Shanna Moakler, was quick to answer and shared her penchant for lavish watch brands. Audemars, Milan, f---ing Patek, she told her dad, to which he jokingly replied: "I like Rocky 13." Barker already teased that he and Kardashian had already picked out a name for their baby boy last month. In the comments section of a post that Kardashian shared of several photos from a maternity shoot, Barker wrote, "I already know his name ." Along with Alabama, Barker is also dad to son Landon, 19, and stepdaughter Atiana, 24, with Moakler. Meanwhile, Kardashian shares daughter Penelope, 11, and sons Reign, 8, and Mason, 13, with ex Scott Disick. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. July 22, 1993 Just the name conjures up hot summer nights of lake dances, crowded clubs and outdoor events. From 1968 to 1971, Free Will was at its peak. The hottest band in central New York scored an RCA recording contract and success was at the door. Free Will melded into Jukin' Bone from 1971 to 1973, releasing two albums. For Mark Doyle and Joe Whiting, being members of Free Will was the experience of a lifetime, one that would mark their lives forever. On Friday night, their lifetime experience will occur one more time as the original members of Free Will perform their 25th reunion concert at The Winners Circle on Grant Avenue. Doyle and Whiting have been musical partners and friends for more than 25 years. Looking over pictures of Free Will in the early '70s, one gets the eerie feeling of "Dorian Grey." Time has been kind to them in many ways. Over the years, their friendship has been tested, but never more so than when Free Will/Jukin' Bone began and ended. "In the beginning, we were one unit," Doyle said. "We were very focused, young, yet of one mind. We had a clear picture of what we were doing, and we were doing it 24 hours a day. We were very dedicated." "We had a vision and followed it," Whiting said. During the late '60s and early '70s, Free Will packed dozens of popular clubs throughout the central New York music scene. "It was easy to take things for granted," Whiting said. With fellow Auburnians John DeMaso, George Egosarian and Tom Glaister, Free Will rose like cream to the top. Jukin' Bone was one of the first central New York bands to be signed to a national label, RCA Records. They released two albums, "Way Down East" and "Whiskey Woman," both of which contained powerful hits. Yet the band began to erode from the inside out. "I believe that we were equipped to handle failure," Doyle said. "We were not equipped to handle success." "Eventually we were turned against each other," Whiting said. "It was during the final throes of Jukin' Bone that things began to fall apart. The manager we had really had this power thing. He eventually took our problems and convinced both Mark and I in a subdued way that it was the other's fault. It was very subversive." Doyle agrees. "If you share a vision, and it fails, it's so painful that you almost create a rift by necessity. It took me a long time to recover from Jukin' Bone's breakup." The band asked RCA Records to release them from their contract when they believed RCA failed to "properly" promote "Whiskey Woman." The other band members were equally angry, and the band broke up. As of 1993, the members of Jukin' Bone hadn't seen each other in 20 years. When the Syracuse Area Music Awards were forming in 1992, organizers began to search for the popular bands of the '70s. The first name on the list was Free Will. Area booking agent David Rezak talked with Whiting and Doyle about the possibility of a Free Will reunion. "It started off as 'what if ...'" Whiting said. "I really missed those guys tremendously." City Bradley W. Marshall, 31, 4 Van Patten St., Auburn, was charged July 14 with sixth-degree conspiracy and petit larceny. Johnny F. Keesee, 57, 4 McMaster St., Auburn, was charged July 14 with sixth-degree conspiracy, petit larceny and possession of possession of a mislabeled dangerous drug. John B. Dennis, 35, 57 Orchard St., 2, Auburn, was charged July 14 with sixth-degree conspiracy and fifth-degree criminal possession of a stolen property. Brandon A. Dutcher, 37, 18 Pulaski St., Auburn, was charged July 14 with first-degree disseminating indecent material to minors, endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree sexual abuse, second-degree criminal possession a weapon and failure to notify of address change as sex offender. Jeffrey R. Scott, 62, 90 Owasco St., 3, Auburn, was charged July 14 with criminal obstruction of breathing, second-degree criminal contempt and endangering the welfare of a child. Britney E. Musso, 35, 125 Austin Dr., Auburn Heights Apartments, Auburn, was charged July 15 with driving while ability impaired by drugs or alcohol and driving while intoxicated first offense. Chrystal A. Martinez, 39, transient, Auburn, was charged July 15 with aggravated driving while intoxicated, driving while intoxicated first offense, alcohol-cannabis in motor vehicle on highway. John C. Cool, 58, 16 N. Hunter Ave., Auburn, was charged July 15 with operating a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol content of at least .08 of 1% first offense and driving while intoxicated first offense. James B. Dorsey, 35, 73 Seymour St., 5, Auburn, was charged July 16 with driving while intoxicated with a prior conviction in the last 15 years and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Mathew E. Mosher, 49, 7755 Weedsport Sennett Road, Sennett, was charged July 16 with second-degree identity theft and petit larceny. Kialisha P. Emerson, 39, 1752 Sherwood Road, Aurora, was charged July 16 with driving while intoxicated first offense. Megen M. Aguilar-Lopez, 33, 62 Glasgow St., Clyde, was charged July 16 with resisting arrest and second-degree obstructing governmental administration and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Megen M. Aguilar-Lopez, 33, 62 Glasgow St., Clyde, was charged July 17 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Byron M. Cole, 34, 13 Church St., Auburn, was charged July 17 with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Victoria L. Cobb, 24, 40 S. Lewis St., Auburn, was charged July 17 with endangering the welfare of a child. County Andrew J. Campbell, 31, 12625 Farnam Road, Ira, was charged July 14 with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Matthew J. Kuhlmann, 34, 82 Rochester St., Port Byron, was charged July 14 with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving while ability impaired by drugs. Angelina S. Burgdoff, 27, 21 Lisa Lane, Moravia, was charged July 16 with first-degree criminal contempt. Kyle M. Spratt, 24, 2654 E. Main St., village of Cato, was charged July 17 with fourth-degree criminal mischief. State Michael A. Whiffen, was charged July 14 with third-degree criminal mischief and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Tynesha A. Collins, 20, Syracuse, was charged July 15 with fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal impersonation. Daveonna S. Lawson, 22, Syracuse, was charged July 15 with fourth-degree grand larceny. Donald J. Gregory, 55, Weedsport, was charged July 16 with second-degree criminal contempt. David Wilcox Features editor Follow David Wilcox 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 DWI laws were different in 1989. On May 1 of that year, Diane Adsit was hired by then-Cayuga County District Attorney Paul Carbonaro as a part-time prosecutor of DWI offenses. Since then, as the public became increasingly aware of the potential dangers of driving while intoxicated, the laws were changed to address those dangers. The legal blood alcohol content limit was lowered from .1 to .08 in 2003, the harsher charge of aggravated DWI was introduced for offenders with a BAC of .18 or higher in 2006, and Leandra's Law made ignition interlock devices a standard condition of sentences beginning in 2010 among other changes Adsit witnessed during her 34 years at the district attorney's office. Speaking to The Citizen on Thursday, Adsit recalled each change in the laws to the letter. She also recalled each detail of some of the cases that defined her prosecutorial career, from the road where they occurred and the BAC of the offender to the names and ages of the people who were hurt or, too often, killed by DWI in Cayuga County. Adsit, who retired as senior assistant district attorney on May 6, will be honored for that career with a proclamation by the county Legislature at its next meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. "I think I made an impact on the community. I tried to keep people safe," she said. "I know I pissed off a lot of defense attorneys, but they know I did my job well and was good at what I did." A native of East Syracuse, Adsit had just finished law school at Syracuse University when she began living and practicing law in Weedsport in 1986. Her grandfather Clarence Manley, formerly a guard at what's now Clinton Correctional Facility, paid for her freshman tuition because he had dropped out of college after a year due to a lack of funds. She continued at the Weedsport practice, led by Jim Stafford and Dave O'Connor, even after joining the district attorney's office part-time. When Stafford passed away in 1990, she became a partner. Since Carbonaro hired her, Adsit has also worked for District Attorneys James Vargason, Jon Budelmann who made her full-time in 2008 and current office-holder Brittany Grome Antonacci. "Diane Adsit devoted her career to the prosecution of DWI offenders," Antonacci told The Citizen. "During her tenure as a prosecutor, Diane was an integral part of this office's success in fighting for the rights of vehicular assault victims and holding DWI offenders accountable. We are grateful for her more than three decades of service and dedication to our community." Adsit closed the Weedsport practice when she became a full-time assistant district attorney, as O'Connor retired the same year. In Auburn, along with continuing to prosecute DWI offenders, she began managing the caseload for the drug, alcohol and behavioral health treatment courts. Though that made for a "strange combination" of responsibilities, she called the courts an "important tool." Substance abuse often gets worse after prison, but treatment courts help people break the cycle and become "productive members of society." Adsit's responsibilities also expanded to DWI education. From talks and PowerPoints to mock accidents, she believes the district attorney's office has gotten the message across with youth. Citing Stop DWI New York data, she said the average age of DWI arrests in Cayuga County is older than that of most other counties in New York state. With adults, she continued, the message is harder to get across. Teaching bartenders to recognize intoxication is one priority, but getting the attention of people who drink in private remains difficult. "We have to make sure it's front and center on people's minds," she said. "The 'DWI guy' is out there with his ads, we have to make sure ours are out there, too." Part of the message is that DWI can happen to anybody. An example is the March 2018 death of Travis Manwaring, 25, of Auburn, when his Ford Taurus was struck by the Honda Accord of Stephen S. Landon, of Skaneateles, on Route 34 in Fleming. Three passengers in Manwaring's car were injured as well. Landon, whose BAC was .2 and was sentenced to up to 13 years in prison for first-degree vehicular manslaughter, was an award-winning chef who had "a very promising life and career," Adsit said, "but let alcohol ruin his life." Other memorable cases from Adsit's career include the convictions of Dain Schneider for the 2016 death of 18-year-old Chloe Calhoun in Owasco, Raymond Campagna Jr. for the 2016 death of 1-month-old Kasey Potter in Fleming, Heriberto Perez Velasquez for the 2019 death of 59-year-old Mark Knapp in Weedsport, Tristan Hope for the 2021 death of 52-year-old Michael Maltese in Mentz, and William LaVea for the 2009 death of 41-year-old Chris Spack in Ira. All of the offenders were intoxicated, most of them from drinking alcohol. The Spack accident is different, Adsit said, because it was deliberate. His car was repeatedly struck by LaVea without provocation. That led most to consider the accident an act of road rage, though she noted LaVea's BAC was .18 a few hours later. The scene where Spack's car hit oncoming traffic "looked like a bomb went off," she said. LaVea, who served five years for assaulting a man to death in a bar in 1967, was paroled for killing Spack on his sixth attempt in 2020. He passed away the following year at the age of 90. "We worked hard to make sure LaVea stayed in prison," Adsit said. "He had a long, violent history and was clearly a danger to everyone." Adsit leaves the district attorney's office after 34 years knowing they did everything they could to achieve justice for victims like Spack and their loved ones. Now living in Port Byron with her sister, she plans to focus on her health, which is one of the reasons she retired. But she knows the struggle to keep the roads safe will continue. "Do you want to get a ride home with the sheriff, or have to call home and say you killed somebody? What's your choice there?" she said. "Make sure you have a plan to get home." BIT Mining Limited (NYSE:BTCM 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 479,400 shares, an increase of 11.6% from the June 15th total of 429,700 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 147,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.2 days. Currently, 4.5% of the companys stock are short sold. BIT Mining Stock Performance Shares of BIT Mining stock traded up $0.07 on Friday, hitting $4.03. The company had a trading volume of 134,733 shares, compared to its average volume of 410,810. The stock has a market capitalization of $42.87 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.23 and a beta of 2.79. BIT Mining has a 1 year low of $1.40 and a 1 year high of $8.10. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $3.06 and a 200-day moving average of $2.91. Get BIT Mining alerts: BIT Mining (NYSE:BTCM Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 30th. The company reported ($0.39) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $72.87 million during the quarter. BIT Mining had a negative return on equity of 60.31% and a negative net margin of 40.22%. Equities analysts anticipate that BIT Mining will post -1.07 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Trading of BIT Mining BIT Mining Company Profile A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Jane Street Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BIT Mining during the first quarter valued at approximately $69,000. Millennium Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of BIT Mining during the second quarter valued at approximately $82,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in shares of BIT Mining by 2,768.8% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 521,169 shares of the companys stock valued at $323,000 after acquiring an additional 503,002 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG increased its position in shares of BIT Mining by 105.7% during the second quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 47,038 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 24,166 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of BIT Mining by 88.5% during the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 225,049 shares of the companys stock valued at $628,000 after acquiring an additional 105,644 shares during the last quarter. 3.94% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. (Get Free Report) BIT Mining Limited operates as a cryptocurrency mining company. The company operates through three segments: Mining Pool, Data Center, and Cryptocurrency Mining. It operates a cryptocurrency mining data center in Ohio with power capacity of 82.5 megawatts; and mining pool business, including the domain name and the cryptocurrency wallet of BTC.com, as well as purchases and deploys bitcoin mining machines. See Also Receive News & Ratings for BIT Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BIT Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BlackRock World Mining Trust plc (LON:BRWM Get Free Report)s stock price crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 610.70 ($7.99) and traded as high as GBX 622 ($8.13). BlackRock World Mining Trust shares last traded at GBX 620 ($8.11), with a volume of 423,309 shares traded. BlackRock World Mining Trust Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.22. The stock has a market cap of 1.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 561.47 and a beta of 1.08. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 610.41 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 666.29. BlackRock World Mining Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) BlackRock World Mining Trust plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched by BlackRock Fund Managers Limited. It is managed by BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating in the mining and metal sectors. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for BlackRock World Mining Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BlackRock World Mining Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN Get Free Report) was the target of a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 15,390,000 shares, an increase of 11.1% from the June 15th total of 13,850,000 shares. Approximately 9.2% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 2,990,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.1 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Brandywine Realty Trust Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vident Investment Advisory LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Brandywine Realty Trust by 9.1% during the 1st quarter. Vident Investment Advisory LLC now owns 12,069 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $170,000 after purchasing an additional 1,006 shares during the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company boosted its holdings in shares of Brandywine Realty Trust by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 68,928 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $424,000 after purchasing an additional 1,651 shares during the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue boosted its holdings in shares of Brandywine Realty Trust by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 204,960 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $1,259,000 after purchasing an additional 1,778 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Brandywine Realty Trust by 4.0% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 48,413 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $298,000 after purchasing an additional 1,840 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Brandywine Realty Trust by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 157,185 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,223,000 after purchasing an additional 1,855 shares during the last quarter. 92.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Brandywine Realty Trust alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes BDN has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Evercore ISI lowered their target price on shares of Brandywine Realty Trust from $7.00 to $6.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Brandywine Realty Trust in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their target price on shares of Brandywine Realty Trust from $8.00 to $7.00 in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Brandywine Realty Trust Price Performance BDN stock traded down $0.10 during trading on Friday, hitting $4.63. The stock had a trading volume of 2,279,754 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,784,644. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34, a current ratio of 2.56 and a quick ratio of 2.56. Brandywine Realty Trust has a twelve month low of $3.42 and a twelve month high of $9.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $795.97 million, a P/E ratio of 18.52, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.20. The companys 50-day moving average price is $4.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.96. Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:BDN Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 20th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.03) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.29 by ($0.32). Brandywine Realty Trust had a return on equity of 2.61% and a net margin of 8.36%. The firm had revenue of $129.23 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $127.08 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.35 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Brandywine Realty Trust will post 1.14 EPS for the current fiscal year. Brandywine Realty Trust Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 20th. Investors of record on Thursday, July 6th were issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 16.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 5th. Brandywine Realty Trusts payout ratio is 304.00%. Brandywine Realty Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) is one of the largest, publicly traded, full-service, integrated real estate companies in the United States with a core focus in the Philadelphia, Austin and Washington, DC markets. Organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), we own, develop, lease and manage an urban, town center and transit-oriented portfolio comprising 163 properties and 23.0 million square feet as of March 31, 2023 which excludes assets held for sale. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Brandywine Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brandywine Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Churchill Capital Corp VII (NYSE:CVII 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 66,200 shares, a decrease of 16.9% from the June 15th total of 79,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 602,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.1 days. Approximately 0.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Churchill Capital Corp VII A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of CVII. Atlas Merchant Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Churchill Capital Corp VII by 83.8% during the first quarter. Atlas Merchant Capital LLC now owns 5,257,718 shares of the companys stock worth $53,313,000 after purchasing an additional 2,397,718 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC acquired a new position in Churchill Capital Corp VII during the first quarter valued at $8,566,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in Churchill Capital Corp VII during the first quarter valued at $8,229,000. Shaolin Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Churchill Capital Corp VII during the first quarter valued at $5,599,000. Finally, First Trust Capital Management L.P. raised its position in Churchill Capital Corp VII by 47.8% during the first quarter. First Trust Capital Management L.P. now owns 1,624,286 shares of the companys stock valued at $16,470,000 after buying an additional 525,000 shares during the period. 74.86% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Churchill Capital Corp VII alerts: Churchill Capital Corp VII Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of Churchill Capital Corp VII stock traded down $0.01 on Friday, reaching $10.37. 231,923 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 613,891. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $10.30 and a 200-day moving average price of $10.16. Churchill Capital Corp VII has a fifty-two week low of $9.78 and a fifty-two week high of $10.80. Churchill Capital Corp VII Company Profile Churchill Capital Corp VII, a blank check company, focuses on effecting 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 New York, New York. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Churchill Capital Corp VII Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Churchill Capital Corp VII and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited (NYSE:CCM 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 2,800 shares, an increase of 7.7% from the June 15th total of 2,600 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.6 days. Approximately 0.0% of the companys shares are short sold. Concord Medical Services Trading Up 2.6 % CCM traded up $0.03 during trading on Friday, hitting $1.41. The companys stock had a trading volume of 614 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,985. Concord Medical Services has a twelve month low of $1.03 and a twelve month high of $2.10. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $1.38 and its 200-day moving average price is $1.36. Get Concord Medical Services alerts: Concord Medical Services Company Profile (Get Free Report) Featured Stories Concord Medical Services Holdings Limited, together its subsidiaries, operates a network of radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging centers in the People's Republic of China. The company operates in two segments, Network and Hospital. Its services include linear accelerators and external beam radiotherapy, proton therapy system, gamma knife radiosurgery, head gamma knife system, and diagnostic imaging services. Receive News & Ratings for Concord Medical Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Concord Medical Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. HIT: The fates smiled upon someone who bought a Powerball ticket at Wegmans in Auburn this week. The New York Lottery announced on Thursday that a $1 million second-place ticket was sold there. There were seven million-dollar second-place tickets sold across New York state, as the winners matched all five numbers but not the powerball. Even after taxes, the local winner will have won hundreds of thousands of dollars, a nice prize. The lone winning ticket was sold in California for the jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion, the sixth highest in US history. MISS: A pair of house fires displaced two groups of people in Auburn last weekend. A blaze at 16 Wheeler St. came in at 4:51 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Even though the fire was extinguished in about 10 minutes, an adult and two children who lived in the residence were displaced when that side of the duplex was condemned. At 3:32 p.m. Sunday, July 16, Auburn firefighters responded to a fire at 30 Washington St. Crews needed over 90 minutes to get the blaze under control and as a result, three adults and two children were displaced because the building was condemned. Fortunately no injuries were reported in either fire and the Red Cross was able to assist the people who were displaced from their homes. HIT: It feels like the dark days of the pandemic continue to be a distant memory as local residents have their choice of multiple public events to attend this weekend and the remainder of the summer. MacKenzie-Childs is holding its famed barn sale which attracts hundreds of people from all over the country, the Skaneateles Curbstone Festival will features vendors and performers in the village's downtown, Convention Days, which celebrates the birth of the modern women's liberation movement is in Seneca Falls and it's less than a month to the Great Race, a summer highlight in the Auburn area. No matter what your interest is, there are plenty of local events where you can eat, drink, listen to music, shop, hang out or participate in activities, so get out and enjoy what's turning out to be a spectacular summer in central New York. HIT: To the newly pinned Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES practical nurses that were honored recently at their commencement. Gallery: Students graduate from Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES practical nursing program One thing that was proven during COVID was how important health care workers are and how tough a field it is to attract future professionals. The new graduates will be needed as we move forward and we wish them well in their future endeavors. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 8,720,000 shares, a decline of 12.2% from the June 15th total of 9,930,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 5,860,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.5 days. Currently, 0.7% of the companys shares are short sold. Analysts Set New Price Targets COP has been the topic of a number of research reports. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and set a $124.00 target price on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Wednesday. Raymond James increased their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $135.00 to $142.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, April 21st. Barclays reduced their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $160.00 to $141.00 in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of ConocoPhillips from $151.00 to $167.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, April 11th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of ConocoPhillips in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, ConocoPhillips has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $135.30. Get ConocoPhillips alerts: Insider Activity In other news, Director Caroline Maury Devine sold 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.08, for a total value of $102,080.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 849 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $86,665.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of ConocoPhillips ConocoPhillips Stock Up 1.1 % A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Affiance Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of ConocoPhillips in the 4th quarter worth $61,000. First National Trust Co lifted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 10.1% in the 4th quarter. First National Trust Co now owns 3,684 shares of the energy producers stock worth $435,000 after acquiring an additional 339 shares during the period. Arosa Capital Management LP lifted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 3.4% in the 4th quarter. Arosa Capital Management LP now owns 124,050 shares of the energy producers stock worth $14,638,000 after acquiring an additional 4,050 shares during the period. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 168.6% in the 4th quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,613 shares of the energy producers stock worth $1,961,000 after acquiring an additional 10,429 shares during the period. Finally, Royal Fund Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 24.8% in the 1st quarter. Royal Fund Management LLC now owns 9,272 shares of the energy producers stock worth $920,000 after acquiring an additional 1,843 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.20% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE COP traded up $1.25 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $112.94. The company had a trading volume of 4,957,041 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,256,213. The company has a current ratio of 1.39, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $103.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $106.23. The stock has a market cap of $136.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.04, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 1.29. ConocoPhillips has a 52-week low of $87.54 and a 52-week high of $138.49. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The energy producer reported $2.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.02 by $0.36. The firm had revenue of $15.52 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.06 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 20.21% and a return on equity of 32.75%. ConocoPhillipss quarterly revenue was down 19.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $3.27 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 9.53 earnings per share for the current year. ConocoPhillips Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, May 16th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.81%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 26th. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio is currently 16.32%. About ConocoPhillips (Get Free Report) ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects. Read More Receive News & Ratings for ConocoPhillips Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ConocoPhillips and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DHI Group, Inc. (NYSE:DHX Get Free Report) saw a large decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 378,100 shares, a decline of 14.4% from the June 15th total of 441,500 shares. Currently, 1.0% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 147,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 2.6 days. DHI Group Stock Performance Shares of DHX stock traded down $0.23 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $3.58. 94,271 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 163,884. The firm has a market capitalization of $169.80 million, a P/E ratio of 51.14, a PEG ratio of 4.75 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.48. The firms 50 day moving average price is $3.76 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $4.17. DHI Group has a 52 week low of $3.00 and a 52 week high of $6.56. Get DHI Group alerts: DHI Group (NYSE:DHX Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The technology company reported $0.01 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($0.02) by $0.03. The business had revenue of $38.62 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $37.78 million. DHI Group had a net margin of 2.17% and a return on equity of 1.77%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.01 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that DHI Group will post 0.03 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional Trading of DHI Group Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of DHX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in DHI Group by 394.0% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 59,564 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $354,000 after purchasing an additional 47,506 shares during the period. Citigroup Inc. bought a new stake in shares of DHI Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $328,000. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of DHI Group by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 799,582 shares of the technology companys stock worth $4,757,000 after acquiring an additional 45,192 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of DHI Group by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,750,901 shares of the technology companys stock worth $22,318,000 after acquiring an additional 35,706 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of DHI Group by 8.1% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,169,952 shares of the technology companys stock worth $12,911,000 after acquiring an additional 163,094 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.28% of the companys stock. DHX has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com lowered shares of DHI Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 19th. B. Riley reduced their target price on shares of DHI Group from $9.00 to $7.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. Barrington Research reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $12.00 target price on shares of DHI Group in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, Lake Street Capital reduced their target price on shares of DHI Group from $9.00 to $6.00 in a report on Thursday, May 11th. DHI Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) DHI Group, Inc provides data, insights, and employment connections through specialized services for technology professionals in the United States. The company operates Dice that offers job postings of technology and non-technology companies for industries, such as positions for software engineers, big data professionals, systems administrators, database specialists, project managers, and other technology and engineering professionals; and ClearanceJobs, an online career network, which matches security-cleared professionals with hiring companies searching for employees. See Also Receive News & Ratings for DHI Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for DHI Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Genesis Energy, L.P. (NYSE:GEL Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,790,000 shares, a growth of 11.9% from the June 15th total of 1,600,000 shares. Approximately 1.7% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 436,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.1 days. Genesis Energy Price Performance Shares of Genesis Energy stock traded down $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $9.64. 346,357 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 382,980. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.16, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.03. The firm has a market cap of $1.18 billion, a P/E ratio of -248.00 and a beta of 2.15. Genesis Energy has a 52 week low of $7.94 and a 52 week high of $12.79. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $9.87 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.67. Get Genesis Energy alerts: Genesis Energy (NYSE:GEL Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The pipeline company reported ($0.21) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.13 by ($0.34). The company had revenue of $790.60 million for the quarter. Genesis Energy had a return on equity of 9.06% and a net margin of 2.68%. Genesis Energys revenue for the quarter was up 25.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned ($0.20) EPS. Genesis Energy Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 14th. Investors of record on Monday, July 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 28th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.22%. Genesis Energys dividend payout ratio is -1,500.00%. GEL has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Genesis Energy in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on Genesis Energy from $19.00 to $17.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, April 21st. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Genesis Energy A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GEL. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC increased its stake in shares of Genesis Energy by 10.6% in the 2nd quarter. Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC now owns 10,843 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $104,000 after buying an additional 1,039 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC increased its stake in shares of Genesis Energy by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 83,182 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $765,000 after buying an additional 1,128 shares during the period. Pettinga Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Genesis Energy by 9.5% during the second quarter. Pettinga Financial Advisors LLC now owns 23,070 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $220,000 after purchasing an additional 2,000 shares during the period. Arrow Investment Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Genesis Energy by 10.7% during the first quarter. Arrow Investment Advisors LLC now owns 20,812 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $234,000 after purchasing an additional 2,006 shares during the period. Finally, Captrust Financial Advisors grew its stake in shares of Genesis Energy by 90.8% during the second quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 5,034 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 2,395 shares during the period. 67.18% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Genesis Energy Company Profile (Get Free Report) Genesis Energy, L.P. operates in the midstream segment of the crude oil and natural gas industry. The company's Offshore Pipeline Transportation segment engages in offshore crude oil and natural gas pipeline transportation and handling operations; and in the deepwater pipeline servicing in the southern Keathley Canyon area of the Gulf of Mexico. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Genesis Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Genesis Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited (NYSE:HMY Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 6,910,000 shares, a decline of 16.1% from the June 15th total of 8,240,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 4,020,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.7 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Harmony Gold Mining Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Harmony Gold Mining in the 1st quarter worth approximately $54,000. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its position in shares of Harmony Gold Mining by 378.1% in the 4th quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 11,714 shares of the mining companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 9,264 shares during the period. Quadrant Capital Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Harmony Gold Mining by 94.7% in the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 12,081 shares of the mining companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 5,875 shares during the period. Enlightenment Research LLC acquired a new position in shares of Harmony Gold Mining in the 1st quarter worth approximately $65,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in shares of Harmony Gold Mining in the 1st quarter worth approximately $67,000. 35.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Harmony Gold Mining alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several equities analysts recently commented on HMY shares. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Harmony Gold Mining in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Harmony Gold Mining from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Investec downgraded shares of Harmony Gold Mining from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold. Harmony Gold Mining Trading Down 0.3 % About Harmony Gold Mining NYSE HMY traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $4.50. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,551,762 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,985,780. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $4.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 0.97. Harmony Gold Mining has a 52 week low of $1.93 and a 52 week high of $5.43. The stock has a market cap of $2.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.24 and a beta of 1.33. (Get Free Report) Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited engages in the exploration, extraction, and processing of gold. The company also explores for uranium, silver, copper, and molybdenum deposits. It has eight underground operations in the Witwatersrand Basin; an open-pit mine on the Kraaipan Greenstone Belt; and various surface source operations in South Africa. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Harmony Gold Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Harmony Gold Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hippo Holdings Inc. (NYSE:HIPO 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 796,600 shares, a drop of 15.4% from the June 15th total of 941,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 84,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 9.4 days. Currently, 5.9% of the companys shares are short sold. Institutional Trading of Hippo Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Hippo by 135.5% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 15,042,378 shares of the companys stock valued at $29,934,000 after purchasing an additional 8,655,415 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in Hippo by 157.7% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,045,702 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,555,000 after purchasing an additional 2,475,532 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its holdings in Hippo by 69.5% in the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,533,200 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,104,000 after purchasing an additional 1,449,094 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its position in Hippo by 237.3% in the 2nd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 2,473,055 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,174,000 after acquiring an additional 1,739,907 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Hippo by 4.0% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,877,537 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,737,000 after acquiring an additional 72,492 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 33.22% of the companys stock. Get Hippo alerts: Hippo Stock Performance Shares of NYSE HIPO traded up $0.20 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $17.45. 32,222 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 86,525. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $16.77 and a 200 day simple moving average of $16.84. The stock has a market capitalization of $405.97 million, a P/E ratio of -1.19 and a beta of 0.86. Hippo has a twelve month low of $11.30 and a twelve month high of $27.25. Hippo Company Profile Hippo ( NYSE:HIPO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported ($3.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($2.64) by ($0.37). The business had revenue of $39.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $30.00 million. Hippo had a negative return on equity of 44.09% and a negative net margin of 248.59%. On average, research analysts expect that Hippo will post -8.9 earnings per share for the current year. (Get Free Report) Hippo Holdings Inc provides home protection insurance in the United States and the District of Columbia. Its insurance products include homeowners' insurance against risks of fire, wind, and theft; and personal and commercial insurance products. The company distributes insurance products and services through its technology platform; and offers its policies online, over the phone, or through licensed insurance agents. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hippo Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hippo and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Invesco Income Growth Trust Plc (LON:IVI Get Free Report) passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 278 ($3.63) and traded as low as GBX 270 ($3.53). Invesco Income Growth Trust shares last traded at GBX 278 ($3.63), with a volume of 47,441 shares traded. Invesco Income Growth Trust Stock Performance The stock has a market capitalization of 162.22 million and a P/E ratio of -5.42. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 278 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 278. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.32, a quick ratio of 0.08 and a current ratio of 0.08. Invesco Income Growth Trust Company Profile (Get Free Report) Invesco Income Growth Trust plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Invesco Fund Managers Limited. It is co-managed by INVESCO Asset Management Limited. The fund invests in the public equity markets of the United Kingdom. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Income Growth Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Income Growth Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated their neutral rating on shares of Associated British Foods (LON:ABF Free Report) in a research note released on Tuesday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Several other analysts have also issued reports on ABF. Royal Bank of Canada upgraded shares of Associated British Foods to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the company from GBX 2,150 ($28.11) to GBX 2,250 ($29.42) in a report on Tuesday, May 16th. Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating and issued a GBX 2,000 ($26.15) target price on shares of Associated British Foods in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, Shore Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of Associated British Foods in a report on Friday, June 23rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of GBX 2,075 ($27.13). Get Associated British Foods alerts: Associated British Foods Stock Performance LON ABF opened at GBX 2,108 ($27.56) on Tuesday. Associated British Foods has a fifty-two week low of GBX 1,223 ($15.99) and a fifty-two week high of GBX 2,139 ($27.97). The firm has a market capitalization of 16.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,218.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.25. The stocks fifty day moving average is GBX 1,942 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 1,931.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 33.61, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 1.89. Associated British Foods Cuts Dividend Insider Transactions at Associated British Foods The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 7th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, June 1st were paid a dividend of GBX 14.20 ($0.19) per share. This represents a dividend yield of 0.69%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 1st. Associated British Foodss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4,631.58%. In related news, insider Eoin Tonge sold 45,355 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 2,007 ($26.24), for a total value of 910,274.85 ($1,190,212.93). Company insiders own 56.35% of the companys stock. About Associated British Foods (Get Free Report) Associated British Foods plc operates as a diversified food, ingredients, and retail company worldwide. It operates through five segments: Grocery, Sugar, Agriculture, Ingredients, and Retail. The Grocery segment manufactures and sells grocery products, including hot beverages, sugar and sweeteners, vegetable oils, balsamic vinegars, bread and baked goods, cereals, ethnic foods, and meat products to retail, wholesale, and foodservice businesses. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Associated British Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Associated British Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) (LON:JPS Get Free Report)s stock price passed below its fifty day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of GBX 561 ($7.34) and traded as low as GBX 557.60 ($7.29). JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) shares last traded at GBX 561 ($7.34), with a volume of 104,535 shares. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Trading Down 0.2 % The firm has a market capitalization of 305.80 million and a P/E ratio of -48.36. The businesss 50-day moving average is GBX 561 and its 200 day moving average is GBX 561. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.65, a current ratio of 11.53 and a quick ratio of 11.53. JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Company Profile (Get Free Report) JPMorgan Japan Smaller Companies Trust plc is an open-ended equity mutual fund launched by JPMorgan Funds Limited. The fund is co-managed by JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Limited and JPMorgan Asset Management (Japan) Limited. It invests in the public equity markets of Japan. The fund seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for JPMorgan Japan Small Cap Growth & Income plc (JPS.L) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada reissued their outperform rating on shares of Oxford Instruments (LON:OXIG Free Report) in a report issued on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage currently has a GBX 350 ($4.58) price objective on the stock. OXIG has been the topic of several other research reports. Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Oxford Instruments in a research note on Thursday, June 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group restated a hold rating and issued a GBX 2,720 ($35.56) price target on shares of Oxford Instruments in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Oxford Instruments from GBX 3,100 ($40.53) to GBX 3,000 ($39.23) and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 17th. HSBC initiated coverage on Oxford Instruments in a report on Wednesday, May 17th. They set a hold rating and a GBX 2,900 ($37.92) price objective for the company. Finally, Berenberg Bank reiterated a buy rating and set a GBX 3,100 ($40.53) price objective on shares of Oxford Instruments in a report on Tuesday, June 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Oxford Instruments presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of GBX 2,414 ($31.56). Get Oxford Instruments alerts: Oxford Instruments Trading Down 0.4 % Shares of OXIG opened at GBX 2,500 ($32.69) on Tuesday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 12.76. Oxford Instruments has a 12-month low of GBX 1,686 ($22.04) and a 12-month high of GBX 2,884.80 ($37.72). The firm has a market capitalization of 1.44 billion, a PE ratio of 2,500.00, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -3.56 and a beta of 0.90. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is GBX 2,681.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 2,557.81. Oxford Instruments Increases Dividend Oxford Instruments Company Profile The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 12th. Investors of record on Thursday, August 3rd will be given a dividend of GBX 14.90 ($0.19) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, August 3rd. This represents a yield of 0.55%. This is a positive change from Oxford Instrumentss previous dividend of $4.60. Oxford Instrumentss payout ratio is currently 2,000.00%. (Get Free Report) Oxford Instruments plc provides technology products and services in Europe, North America, Asia, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Materials & Characterisation, Research & Discovery, and Service & Healthcare. The company offers atomic force microscopy products; tools for use in research and development across a range of applications, including semiconductors, renewable energy, mining, metallurgy, and forensics; etch and deposition processing equipment and solutions for use in power and RF devices, VCSELs/lasers, 2D materials, augmented reality, biomems, failure analysis, HBLEDs, infrared sensors, MEMS and sensors, and quantum; and low temperature systems comprising wet systems, dry systems, magnets, cryogenics, and accessories. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Oxford Instruments Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oxford Instruments and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras (NYSE:EBR Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,580,000 shares, a growth of 7.9% from the June 15th total of 2,390,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,330,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.9 days. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, June 21st. Get Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras alerts: Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Stock Up 2.5 % Shares of EBR traded up $0.20 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $8.06. The stock had a trading volume of 546,718 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,406,058. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras has a 1-year low of $5.67 and a 1-year high of $10.39. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $7.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $7.24. The company has a market cap of $18.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.68, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 2.03. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Cuts Dividend Institutional Investors Weigh In On Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras The company also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 1st were issued a $0.0443 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 5th. This represents a dividend yield of 0.7%. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobrass payout ratio is 5.80%. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Deltec Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 5.6% during the 2nd quarter. Deltec Asset Management LLC now owns 75,000 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $620,000 after acquiring an additional 4,000 shares in the last quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras during the 1st quarter worth $95,000. Two Sigma Investments LP acquired a new stake in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras during the 1st quarter worth $427,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC raised its stake in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 18.3% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 327,408 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $2,171,000 after acquiring an additional 50,729 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Century Companies Inc. raised its stake in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 10.5% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 241,385 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,596,000 after acquiring an additional 22,874 shares in the last quarter. 5.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Company Profile (Get Free Report) Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MINNEAPOLISCarnal Media announced Friday that it has signed real-life couple Tyler Saint and Ace Banner as brands newest exclusive performers. The pair recently completed their first shoots under the deal, for Carnal banner ScoutBoys.com. We are so looking forward to this exhilarating new adventure with Carnal. And Tyler has always been independent," Banner said. "Until we met the team at Carnal, Tyler had no interest in signing with a studio. So signing as Carnal Media as exclusives is a huge deal for us. Saint, hailing from Vermont, launched his adult career in 2006 after serving in the Air Force and pursuing various careers in IT and hospitality. His passion for performing began with erotic stage showshe was one of the original Splash Bar dancersbefore moving to Los Angeles and shooting for the adult industrys top studios. In 2013, he moved to Mississippi to be with Banner. Banner, a Mississippi native, had a tumultous journey that took him out of Mississippi and back again before he got his start in adult media. As a young man, he excelled academically and professionally, all while raising a family. But after moving away and completing his Masters Degree, Banners life underwent a massive transformation that involved coming out, ending his marriage, falling in love with Saint, and starting their life together as a married couple. The duos passion for travel and enjoying lifes pleasures serve as inspiration for their collaborations, and after several years shooting OnlyFans content, they decided to make the leap into exclusive work with Carnal Media. So far theyve worked with Carnal favorites Adam Snow, Damien Gray, Zack Dean and Serg Shepard, plus some fan content with Cole Blue Tyler Saint and Ace Banner can be found on Commented Carnal Media CEO Legrand Wolf, "We are so pleased to welcome Tyler Saint and Ace Banner to the Carnal Media family. Their authentic connection as a couple, and dedication to their performances are truly extraordinary. We have big plans with these two, and we look forward to fans getting to know them much better through their upcoming scene releases on CarnalPlus.com.Tyler Saint and Ace Banner can be found on OnlyFans.com/tylersaint and Twitter @TylerSaintReal and @acebannerreal M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MDC Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large decrease in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,170,000 shares, a decrease of 13.2% from the June 15th total of 2,500,000 shares. Approximately 3.7% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 674,300 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 3.2 days. M.D.C. Stock Performance MDC traded up $0.22 on Friday, reaching $46.50. The stock had a trading volume of 712,166 shares, compared to its average volume of 646,173. M.D.C. has a 12-month low of $27.04 and a 12-month high of $49.29. The company has a current ratio of 9.12, a quick ratio of 3.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $44.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $39.96. The company has a market cap of $3.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.88 and a beta of 1.39. Get M.D.C. alerts: M.D.C. (NYSE:MDC Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The construction company reported $1.08 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.64. The business had revenue of $1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $887.13 million. M.D.C. had a net margin of 8.99% and a return on equity of 16.34%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 17.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.02 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that M.D.C. will post 3.59 earnings per share for the current year. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Insider Activity MDC has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of M.D.C. in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Raymond James raised shares of M.D.C. from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $55.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday, July 14th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn reissued a neutral rating on shares of M.D.C. in a report on Wednesday, June 14th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $36.83. In related news, CEO David D. Mandarich sold 157,044 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.45, for a total value of $6,509,473.80. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 5,097,022 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $211,271,561.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO David D. Mandarich sold 157,044 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.45, for a total transaction of $6,509,473.80. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 5,097,022 shares of the companys stock, valued at $211,271,561.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Larry A. Mizel sold 125,330 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $41.45, for a total transaction of $5,194,928.50. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 842,956 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $34,940,526.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 1,664,457 shares of company stock worth $72,700,485. 23.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of M.D.C. Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in M.D.C. by 74.6% in the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 258,677 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $9,789,000 after purchasing an additional 110,564 shares during the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of M.D.C. by 0.7% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 84,150 shares of the construction companys stock worth $3,184,000 after acquiring an additional 568 shares during the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. lifted its holdings in shares of M.D.C. by 21.6% in the 1st quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 6,200 shares of the construction companys stock worth $235,000 after acquiring an additional 1,100 shares during the last quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of M.D.C. by 57.6% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 30,993 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,173,000 after acquiring an additional 11,325 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in shares of M.D.C. by 14.0% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 48,738 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,844,000 after acquiring an additional 6,003 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 98.19% of the companys stock. M.D.C. Company Profile (Get Free Report) M.DC Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the homebuilding and financial service businesses. Its homebuilding operations include purchasing finished lots or developing lots for the construction and sale primarily of single-family detached homes to first-time and first-time move-up homebuyers under the Richmond American Homes name. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for M.D.C. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for M.D.C. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sound Financial Strategies Group LLC cut its stake in The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO Free Report) by 5.0% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 16,612 shares of the companys stock after selling 878 shares during the quarter. Sound Financial Strategies Group LLCs holdings in Coca-Cola were worth $1,030,000 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. Altus Wealth Group LLC purchased a new position in Coca-Cola during the 4th quarter worth $203,000. Arabesque Asset Management Ltd grew its stake in Coca-Cola by 104.1% during the 4th quarter. Arabesque Asset Management Ltd now owns 73,354 shares of the companys stock worth $4,666,000 after buying an additional 37,412 shares during the last quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Coca-Cola by 13.5% during the 1st quarter. Janney Capital Management LLC now owns 50,687 shares of the companys stock worth $3,144,000 after buying an additional 6,020 shares during the last quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in Coca-Cola by 11.1% during the 4th quarter. Foster Victor Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 7,161 shares of the companys stock worth $454,000 after buying an additional 718 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Procyon Advisors LLC grew its stake in Coca-Cola by 26.1% during the 1st quarter. Procyon Advisors LLC now owns 13,313 shares of the companys stock worth $826,000 after buying an additional 2,758 shares during the last quarter. 68.61% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Coca-Cola alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Coca-Cola news, insider Nikolaos Koumettis sold 253,102 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.63, for a total value of $16,104,880.26. Following the sale, the insider now owns 184,563 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,743,743.69. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Nikolaos Koumettis sold 253,102 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $63.63, for a total transaction of $16,104,880.26. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 184,563 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,743,743.69. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CMO Manuel Arroyo sold 734 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.40, for a total value of $46,535.60. Following the transaction, the chief marketing officer now owns 114,580 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,264,372. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 420,786 shares of company stock worth $26,886,224. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Coca-Cola Stock Performance Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. HSBC dropped their target price on Coca-Cola from $77.00 to $74.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on Coca-Cola from $61.00 to $63.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 25th. Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Coca-Cola from $68.00 to $70.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 25th. StockNews.com started coverage on Coca-Cola in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Finally, Barclays dropped their target price on Coca-Cola from $73.00 to $69.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $67.40. Coca-Cola stock traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $62.42. The company had a trading volume of 4,982,827 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,487,104. The company has a current ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 0.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34. The Coca-Cola Company has a 12-month low of $54.01 and a 12-month high of $65.47. The companys fifty day moving average is $61.00 and its 200-day moving average is $61.31. The company has a market capitalization of $269.94 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.36, a P/E/G ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.54. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 24th. The company reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.03. Coca-Cola had a return on equity of 42.96% and a net margin of 22.69%. The business had revenue of $11 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.78 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.64 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that The Coca-Cola Company will post 2.61 EPS for the current year. Coca-Cola Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be given a $0.46 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $1.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.95%. Coca-Colas dividend payout ratio is presently 80.70%. Coca-Cola Profile (Free Report) The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures, markets, and sells various nonalcoholic beverages worldwide. The company provides sparkling soft drinks, sparkling flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and other beverages. It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers, such as restaurants and convenience stores. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. WNY Asset Management LLC lowered its position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 3.6% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 37,241 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 1,393 shares during the period. WNY Asset Management LLCs holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,519,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. Front Street Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Pfizer by 4.3% in the 1st quarter. Front Street Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,168 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $268,000 after acquiring an additional 215 shares in the last quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Pfizer by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Synergy Asset Management LLC now owns 7,287 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $373,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Motco raised its holdings in Pfizer by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Motco now owns 31,376 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,608,000 after acquiring an additional 236 shares in the last quarter. Alterity Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in Pfizer by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. Alterity Financial Group LLC now owns 5,474 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $280,000 after acquiring an additional 243 shares in the last quarter. Finally, RKL Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Pfizer by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. RKL Wealth Management LLC now owns 14,450 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $740,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 67.80% of the companys stock. Get Pfizer alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities analysts have commented on PFE shares. Barclays cut their price target on Pfizer from $40.00 to $38.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Pfizer from $45.00 to $41.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Pfizer from $43.00 to $42.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Pfizer from $49.00 to $45.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price objective on Pfizer from $50.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Twelve research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $45.88. Insider Activity Pfizer Trading Up 0.7 % In related news, Director Scott Gottlieb purchased 1,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 8th. The shares were bought at an average price of $38.58 per share, with a total value of $38,580.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 6,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $231,480. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . 0.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. PFE traded up $0.25 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $37.02. The stock had a trading volume of 2,731,369 shares, compared to its average volume of 24,110,139. The stock has a market capitalization of $208.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.37. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $37.61 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $40.69. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $35.35 and a 52 week high of $54.93. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 28.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.62 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 3.35 EPS for the current year. Pfizer Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 28th will be paid a $0.41 dividend. This represents a $1.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 27th. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 32.28%. Pfizer Company Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO Free Report) in a research report report published on Wednesday. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. Separately, TheStreet raised shares of Argo Group International from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a report on Friday, May 26th. Get Argo Group International alerts: Argo Group International Stock Performance NYSE ARGO opened at $29.71 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.76 and a beta of 1.01. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $29.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $29.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.63. Argo Group International has a fifty-two week low of $19.00 and a fifty-two week high of $33.94. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Argo Group International Argo Group International ( NYSE:ARGO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 8th. The company reported ($0.31) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.80 by ($1.11). Argo Group International had a negative net margin of 9.98% and a positive return on equity of 0.06%. The company had revenue of $419.60 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $461.90 million. On average, equities analysts forecast that Argo Group International will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year. Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Mcdonald Capital Investors Inc. CA increased its position in shares of Argo Group International by 11.0% in the second quarter. Mcdonald Capital Investors Inc. CA now owns 21,925 shares of the companys stock valued at $649,000 after buying an additional 2,175 shares in the last quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Argo Group International in the 2nd quarter worth $591,000. Prelude Capital Management LLC raised its position in Argo Group International by 1,128.4% during the first quarter. Prelude Capital Management LLC now owns 185,126 shares of the companys stock worth $5,422,000 after acquiring an additional 170,056 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Argo Group International by 385.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 332,929 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,752,000 after purchasing an additional 264,412 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FourWorld Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Argo Group International in the first quarter valued at about $80,747,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.92% of the companys stock. About Argo Group International (Get Free Report) Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. underwrites specialty insurance and reinsurance products in the property and casualty markets. The company operates in two segments, U.S. Operations and International Operations. It offers primary and excess specialty casualty, general liability, commercial multi-peril, and workers compensation, as well as product, environmental, and auto liability insurance products; management liability, transaction liability, and errors and omissions liability insurance; primary and excess property, inland marine, and auto physical damage insurance; and surety, animal mortality, and ocean marine insurance products. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Argo Group International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Argo Group International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) had its target price upped by Argus from $70.00 to $81.00 in a report released on Wednesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Raymond James raised Charles Schwab from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $63.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, May 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on Charles Schwab from $75.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price on Charles Schwab from $89.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Charles Schwab from $86.00 to $85.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Charles Schwab currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $69.91. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Down 2.1 % NYSE SCHW opened at $66.49 on Wednesday. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $55.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $62.57. Charles Schwab has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $86.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 0.39 and a current ratio of 0.39. The company has a market cap of $117.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.17, a P/E/G ratio of 5.52 and a beta of 0.88. Charles Schwab Announces Dividend Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 27.83% and a net margin of 34.82%. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.61 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.97 EPS. The firms revenue was down 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Charles Schwab will post 3.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 26th. Investors of record on Friday, May 12th were issued a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 11th. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.32%. Insider Activity at Charles Schwab In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 77,640 shares of the firms 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 transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,771,278 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,093,761,349.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 6.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Charles Schwab A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of SCHW. Ruedi Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Quilter Plc purchased a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 2nd quarter valued at about $424,700,000. Sittner & Nelson LLC purchased a new position in shares of Charles Schwab in the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Heritage Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 153.0% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Management LLC now owns 468 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 283 shares during the period. 82.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Charles Schwab Company Profile (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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cactus (NYSE:WHD Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Citigroup from $40.00 to $52.00 in a research report report published on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock. Separately, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Cactus from $64.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $57.17. Get Cactus alerts: Cactus Stock Down 0.0 % Shares of WHD stock opened at $48.00 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.80 billion, a PE ratio of 23.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 2.01. The company has a quick ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 2.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. Cactus has a 12 month low of $31.36 and a 12 month high of $58.30. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $40.00 and a 200-day moving average of $43.87. Cactus Dividend Announcement Cactus ( NYSE:WHD Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $228.40 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $217.45 million. Cactus had a return on equity of 19.95% and a net margin of 17.18%. Cactuss quarterly revenue was up 56.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.30 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Cactus will post 2.41 EPS for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 30th were paid a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.92%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 26th. Cactuss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.15%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Cactus Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WHD. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Cactus by 70.5% during the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,016 shares of the companys stock valued at $172,000 after acquiring an additional 1,247 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Cactus by 55.2% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 30,390 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,724,000 after acquiring an additional 10,813 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Cactus by 2.4% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,987,233 shares of the companys stock valued at $226,236,000 after acquiring an additional 94,603 shares during the period. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Cactus during the first quarter valued at $268,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Cactus by 1.1% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 950,570 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,933,000 after acquiring an additional 10,327 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.33% of the companys stock. About Cactus (Get Free Report) Cactus, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells a range of wellheads and pressure control equipment in the United States, Australia, China, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The company's principal products include Cactus SafeDrill wellhead systems, Cactus SafeLink monobore, SafeClamp, and SafeInject systems, as well as frac stacks, zipper manifolds, and production trees. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Cactus Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cactus and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sylogist (OTCMKTS:SYZLF Get Free Report) is one of 330 publicly-traded companies in the SoftwareApplication industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare Sylogist to similar companies based on the strength of its institutional ownership, risk, profitability, dividends, analyst recommendations, valuation and earnings. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Sylogist and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Sylogist alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Sylogist N/A N/A 38.60 Sylogist Competitors $445.01 million -$22.12 million 508.48 Sylogists peers have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Sylogist. Sylogist 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 Sylogist 0 0 0 0 N/A Sylogist Competitors 422 1801 4404 52 2.61 This is a breakdown of recent ratings and target prices for Sylogist and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat. As a group, SoftwareApplication companies have a potential upside of 24.69%. Given Sylogists peers higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Sylogist has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Institutional and Insider Ownership 57.4% of Sylogist shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.1% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are owned by institutional investors. 29.4% of shares of all SoftwareApplication companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Profitability This table compares Sylogist and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Sylogist N/A N/A N/A Sylogist Competitors -33.87% -261.11% -8.48% Dividends Sylogist pays an annual dividend of $0.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.8%. Sylogist pays out 146.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. As a group, SoftwareApplication companies pay a dividend yield of 1.8% and pay out 72.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Sylogist Company Profile (Get Free Report) Sylogist Ltd., a software company, provides SaaS solutions in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The company manages IT services, network security, Web portals, and others. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Sylogist Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sylogist and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Celanese (NYSE:CE Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft currently has $125.00 price target on the basic materials companys stock, up from their prior price target of $120.00. A number of other research firms have also issued reports on CE. Vertical Research lowered shares of Celanese from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $122.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Friday, June 9th. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Celanese from $113.00 to $112.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a downgrade rating on shares of Celanese in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Celanese from $140.00 to $124.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 11th. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Celanese in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Celanese presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $123.07. Get Celanese alerts: Celanese Stock Performance Shares of CE opened at $121.27 on Tuesday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $113.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $112.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.19, a current ratio of 1.67 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The stock has a market cap of $13.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.92, a PEG ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 1.32. Celanese has a one year low of $86.71 and a one year high of $128.35. Celanese Dividend Announcement Celanese ( NYSE:CE Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 9th. The basic materials company reported $2.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $2.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.88 billion. Celanese had a net margin of 14.85% and a return on equity of 23.75%. The firms revenue was up 12.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $5.54 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that Celanese will post 10.83 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 31st will be paid a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 28th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Celaneses payout ratio is 20.60%. Insider Transactions at Celanese In other Celanese news, SVP Mark Christopher Murray purchased 1,008 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $101.69 per share, for a total transaction of $102,503.52. Following the completion of the purchase, the senior vice president now directly owns 11,597 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,179,298.93. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Celanese news, SVP Mark Christopher Murray purchased 1,008 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $101.69 per share, for a total transaction of $102,503.52. Following the completion of the purchase, the senior vice president now directly owns 11,597 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,179,298.93. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Thomas Francis Kelly purchased 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, May 19th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $107.29 per share, for a total transaction of $214,580.00. Following the purchase, the senior vice president now directly owns 47,165 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,060,332.85. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 0.33% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Celanese Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust boosted its stake in shares of Celanese by 92.6% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 181 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its stake in shares of Celanese by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 3,152 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $322,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Czech National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Celanese by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 11,676 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $1,194,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA boosted its stake in shares of Celanese by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. First Commonwealth Financial Corp PA now owns 3,424 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $489,000 after purchasing an additional 97 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its stake in shares of Celanese by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 6,500 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $708,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.17% of the companys stock. About Celanese (Get Free Report) Celanese Corporation, a chemical and specialty materials company, manufactures and sells high performance engineered polymers in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Engineered Materials and Acetyl Chain. The Engineered Materials segment develops, produces, and supplies specialty polymers for automotive and medical applications, as well as for use in industrial products and consumer electronics. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Celanese Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Celanese and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Till Capital (OTCMKTS:TILCF Get Free Report) is one of 86 publicly-traded companies in the Fire, marine, & casualty insurance industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Till Capital to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, analyst recommendations, earnings, risk, valuation, institutional ownership and dividends. Institutional and Insider Ownership 55.2% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by institutional investors. 27.5% of Till Capital shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 13.5% of shares of all Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get Till Capital alerts: Earnings and Valuation This table compares Till Capital and its competitors revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Till Capital $6.76 million -$4.20 million -2.68 Till Capital Competitors $14.75 billion -$253.62 million -22.04 Profitability Till Capitals competitors have higher revenue, but lower earnings than Till Capital. Till Capital 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. This table compares Till Capital and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Till Capital N/A -7.34% -2.51% Till Capital Competitors -1.90% -16.55% -0.28% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings for Till Capital and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Till Capital 0 0 0 0 N/A Till Capital Competitors 544 2648 2422 157 2.38 As a group, Fire, marine, & casualty insurance companies have a potential downside of 0.76%. Given Till Capitals competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Till Capital has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Volatility & Risk Till Capital has a beta of -0.41, meaning that its share price is 141% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Till Capitals competitors have a beta of 0.60, meaning that their average share price is 40% less volatile than the S&P 500. Till Capital Company Profile (Get Free Report) Till Capital Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the mineral exploration activities. The company explores for silver, gold, copper, and other deposits. It owns various mineral royalties and exploration property option agreements. The company also holds an interest in the Copper King property. The company was incorporated in 2012 and is based in Vancouver, Canada. Receive News & Ratings for Till Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Till Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Watts Water Technologies (NYSE:WTS Get Free Report) and Crane NXT (NYSE:CXT Get Free Report) are both mid-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their institutional ownership, profitability, analyst recommendations, dividends, earnings, risk and valuation. Risk & Volatility Watts Water Technologies has a beta of 1.03, meaning that its share price is 3% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Crane NXT has a beta of 1.48, meaning that its share price is 48% more volatile than the S&P 500. Get Watts Water Technologies alerts: Insider & Institutional Ownership 75.2% of Watts Water Technologies shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 69.4% of Crane NXT shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.1% of Watts Water Technologies shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 2.0% of Crane NXT shares are owned 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. Earnings & Valuation Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Watts Water Technologies $1.99 billion 3.11 $251.50 million $7.80 23.76 Crane NXT $3.35 billion 0.96 $401.10 million $6.50 8.71 This table compares Watts Water Technologies and Crane NXTs top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Crane NXT has higher revenue and earnings than Watts Water Technologies. Crane NXT is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Watts Water Technologies, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Watts Water Technologies and Crane NXT, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Watts Water Technologies 0 5 0 0 2.00 Crane NXT 0 0 2 0 3.00 Watts Water Technologies presently has a consensus price target of $167.20, indicating a potential downside of 9.79%. Crane NXT has a consensus price target of $71.00, indicating a potential upside of 25.42%. Given Crane NXTs stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Crane NXT is more favorable than Watts Water Technologies. Profitability This table compares Watts Water Technologies and Crane NXTs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Watts Water Technologies 13.16% 19.77% 12.87% Crane NXT 13.12% 20.86% 9.01% Dividends Watts Water Technologies pays an annual dividend of $1.44 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.8%. Crane NXT pays an annual dividend of $0.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.0%. Watts Water Technologies pays out 18.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Crane NXT pays out 8.6% 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. Watts Water Technologies has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Crane NXT is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Summary Crane NXT beats Watts Water Technologies on 10 of the 17 factors compared between the two stocks. About Watts Water Technologies (Get Free Report) Watts Water Technologies, Inc. supplies products and solutions that manage and conserve the flow of fluids and energy into, through, and out of buildings in the commercial, industrial, and residential markets in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers residential and commercial flow control and protection products, including backflow preventers, water pressure regulators, temperature and pressure relief valves, thermostatic mixing valves, and leak detection and protection products for plumbing and hot water applications. It also provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and gas products comprising commercial boilers, and water heaters and heating solutions; hydronic and electric heating systems for under-floor radiant applications; custom heat and hot water solutions; hydronic pump groups for boiler manufacturers and alternative energy control packages; and flexible stainless steel connectors for natural and liquid propane gas in commercial food service and residential applications. In addition, the company offers drainage and water re-use products, such as drainage products and engineered rain water harvesting solutions for commercial, industrial, marine, and residential applications; and water quality products that include point-of-use and point-of-entry water filtration, conditioning, and scale prevention systems for commercial, marine, and residential applications. The company sells its products to plumbing, heating, and mechanical wholesale distributors and dealers, as well as original equipment manufacturers, specialty product distributors, and do-it-yourself and retail chains; and wholesalers and private label accounts. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts. About Crane NXT (Get Free Report) Crane NXT, Co. focuses on payment and merchandising technologies. It indents to offer electronic equipment and associated software leveraging extensive, and proprietary core capabilities, including payment verification and authentication, as well as automation solutions, field service solutions, remote diagnostics, and productivity enhancing software solutions. The company is based in Stamford, Connecticut. Receive News & Ratings for Watts Water Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Watts Water Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FBI agents executed a search warrant on the home of Tampa City Council member Lynn Hurtak and her husband, former Deadspin editor Timothy Burke back in May, seizing computers, video equipment, and other devices in the process. On Friday, his lawyers filed a motion to the U.S. Department of Justice demanding that Burkes devices be returned, also issuing a statement for the first time on the matter. It was later revealed that the search warrant executed by the FBI was linked to allegations of alleged computer intrusions and intercepted communications at the Fox News Network by Burke. In Burkes statement on Friday, he vehemently denied that any crime was committed by him toward Fox News. Finding and reporting on newsworthy content is not a crime, no matter who is embarrassed by the reporting, Burke said in a statement sent to the Tampa Bay Times. An excerpt from Burkes attorneys letter to the prosecutor on his legal fund website further details Burkes side of the story. Our further investigation of both the facts and the law as we know them indicate that this is not a close case. Mr. Burke accessed publicly accessible live streams by simply finding and putting in the appropriate URL for the website. There was no hacking, no forced entry and no special tools necessary. You have indicated that you are continuing to investigate by speaking to victims other than Fox News. We emphatically insist that there are no victims because there was no crime. Even if the entities streaming the video were unaware that the videos were publicly accessible, and indeed even if they had no intention of making the videos publicly accessible (facts which we emphatically dispute), there was no intentional access to ANY computer without authorization, and no intentional access to ANY computer in excess of authorization. The only cases we are aware of where a prosecutor has taken the position that access by a journalist to publicly accessible information for the purpose of publishing this information was charged as a crime did not end well for the government. Burke added in his statement to the Tampa Bay Times that he feels that powerful people and corporations are trying to silence him. Those entities have long attempted to silence me or the companies for which Ive worked, but Im astonished to now find my own government levying the biggest challenge to my First Amendment rights that Ive ever faced, Burke added. While Burke added that he hopes the legal process plays out quickly, its too early to tell just how his case may develop in the weeks and months to come. [Tampa Bay Times, Tim Burke Legal Fund] HF Sinclair Co. (NYSE:DINO 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 8,720,000 shares, a drop of 8.7% from the June 15th total of 9,550,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,370,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.7 days. Approximately 5.6% of the companys shares are short sold. HF Sinclair Trading Up 1.3 % Shares of NYSE:DINO opened at $48.96 on Friday. HF Sinclair has a 12-month low of $37.12 and a 12-month high of $66.19. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $44.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $47.62. The company has a market capitalization of $9.42 billion, a PE ratio of 3.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a current ratio of 2.10, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. Get HF Sinclair alerts: HF Sinclair (NYSE:DINO Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The company reported $2.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.52. HF Sinclair had a return on equity of 32.56% and a net margin of 8.13%. The business had revenue of $7.57 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.97 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.99 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 1.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts predict that HF Sinclair will post 7.73 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. HF Sinclair Dividend Announcement Institutional Trading of HF Sinclair The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 18th were given a $0.45 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 17th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.68%. HF Sinclairs payout ratio is 12.34%. A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 4.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 14,799,193 shares of the companys stock worth $796,789,000 after purchasing an additional 571,178 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of HF Sinclair in the 1st quarter worth $539,533,000. State Street Corp acquired a new stake in shares of HF Sinclair in the 1st quarter worth $308,240,000. Pacer Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 12.3% in the 2nd quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 4,378,928 shares of the companys stock worth $195,344,000 after purchasing an additional 480,061 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in shares of HF Sinclair by 99.4% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,737,944 shares of the companys stock worth $142,072,000 after purchasing an additional 1,364,601 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.82% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TD Cowen lowered their price objective on HF Sinclair from $50.00 to $44.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 5th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on HF Sinclair from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, July 13th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on HF Sinclair from $48.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $70.00 price target on shares of HF Sinclair in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on HF Sinclair from $55.00 to $58.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $59.00. About HF Sinclair (Get Free Report) HF Sinclair Corporation operates as an independent energy company. It produces and markets gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, renewable diesel, specialty lubricant products, specialty chemicals, specialty and modified asphalt, and others. The company also owns and operates refineries located in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming; and markets its refined products principally in the Southwest United States and Rocky Mountains, Pacific Northwest, and in other neighboring Plains states. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for HF Sinclair Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for HF Sinclair and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Integer Holdings Co. (NYSE:ITGR Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,500,000 shares, an increase of 6.4% from the June 15th total of 2,350,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 225,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 11.1 days. Approximately 7.8% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Integer Trading Up 0.2 % NYSE:ITGR traded up $0.18 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $86.05. The company had a trading volume of 326,512 shares, compared to its average volume of 292,956. The company has a market capitalization of $2.86 billion, a PE ratio of 42.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $83.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $78.37. Integer has a 52 week low of $50.05 and a 52 week high of $89.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 2.79 and a quick ratio of 1.79. Get Integer alerts: Integer (NYSE:ITGR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The medical equipment provider reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.82 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $378.79 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $352.43 million. Integer had a return on equity of 9.54% and a net margin of 4.71%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 21.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.78 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Integer will post 4.15 EPS for the current fiscal year. Insider Buying and Selling Hedge Funds Weigh In On Integer In other Integer news, Director Jean M. Hobby sold 3,625 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $83.85, for a total value of $303,956.25. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 9,126 shares of the companys stock, valued at $765,215.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link . 1.84% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ITGR. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in Integer by 12.6% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 40,898 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $3,295,000 after buying an additional 4,578 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its position in shares of Integer by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 406,645 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $32,763,000 after purchasing an additional 5,256 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Integer by 20.9% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 5,573 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $449,000 after purchasing an additional 963 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of Integer by 11.8% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 9,970 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $803,000 after purchasing an additional 1,051 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Integer by 2.9% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 7,831 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $632,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.34% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes ITGR has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company initiated coverage on shares of Integer in a report on Friday, May 26th. They issued an equal weight rating and a $87.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Integer in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of Integer from $86.00 to $96.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Integer in a report on Thursday, March 30th. They issued a neutral rating and a $86.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Integer in a report on Thursday, May 11th. They issued a neutral rating and a $88.00 price target on the stock. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $88.67. Integer Company Profile (Get Free Report) Integer Holdings Corporation operates as a medical device outsource manufacturer in the United States, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and internationally. It operates through Medical and Non-Medical segments. The company offers products for interventional cardiology, structural heart, heart failure, peripheral vascular, neurovascular, interventional oncology, electrophysiology, vascular access, infusion therapy, hemodialysis, urology, and gastroenterology procedures. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Integer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Integer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of International Tower Hill Mines (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Free Report) (TSE:ITH) in a research report sent to investors on Tuesday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the mining companys stock. International Tower Hill Mines Stock Performance Shares of THM opened at $0.43 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $83.48 million, a PE ratio of -21.42 and a beta of 0.70. International Tower Hill Mines has a 1 year low of $0.37 and a 1 year high of $0.75. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $0.45 and its 200-day simple moving average is $0.52. Get International Tower Hill Mines alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On International Tower Hill Mines An institutional investor recently raised its position in International Tower Hill Mines stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of International Tower Hill Mines Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:THM Free Report) (TSE:ITH) by 187.3% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 215,462 shares of the mining companys stock after buying an additional 140,462 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned approximately 0.11% of International Tower Hill Mines worth $211,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 55.34% of the companys stock. International Tower Hill Mines Company Profile International Tower Hill Mines Ltd., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties. It holds or has rights to acquire interests in the Livengood gold project covering an area of approximately 19,546 hectares located to the northwest of Fairbanks, Alaska. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for International Tower Hill Mines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for International Tower Hill Mines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OTCMKTS:OROVF Get Free Report) shares were up 9.5% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $15.81 and last traded at $15.81. Approximately 3,000 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 158% from the average daily volume of 1,161 shares. The stock had previously closed at $14.44. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, HSBC cut shares of Orient Overseas (International) from a hold rating to a reduce rating in a research note on Thursday, May 25th. Get Orient Overseas (International) alerts: Orient Overseas (International) Stock Down 0.6 % The firms 50-day moving average price is $14.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $16.60. Orient Overseas (International) Company Profile Orient Overseas (International) Limited, an investment holding company, provides container transport and logistics services in Asia, Europe, Australia, and North America. The company offers supply chain management services; and containerised shipping services in various trade lanes comprising Trans-Pacific, Trans-Atlantic, Asia/Europe, Asia/Australia, and Intra-Asia trades. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Orient Overseas (International) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Orient Overseas (International) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PDS Planning Inc grew its stake in Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG Free Report) by 71.7% during the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 30,365 shares of the financial services providers stock after buying an additional 12,684 shares during the quarter. PDS Planning Incs holdings in Lloyds Banking Group were worth $70,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 31.0% during the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 17,338 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 4,100 shares during the period. Naviter Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Naviter Wealth LLC now owns 197,868 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $459,000 after buying an additional 4,273 shares during the period. Marino Stram & Associates LLC raised its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 23.6% during the 1st quarter. Marino Stram & Associates LLC now owns 24,503 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 4,678 shares during the period. West Family Investments Inc. raised its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 6.7% during the 1st quarter. West Family Investments Inc. now owns 81,755 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $197,000 after buying an additional 5,124 shares during the period. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of Lloyds Banking Group by 5.1% during the 4th quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 111,137 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $245,000 after buying an additional 5,363 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 2.18% of the companys stock. Get Lloyds Banking Group alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes LYG has been the subject of several recent research reports. StockNews.com raised Lloyds Banking Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, May 15th. BNP Paribas downgraded Lloyds Banking Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Lloyds Banking Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 70 ($0.92) to GBX 69 ($0.90) in a research note on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on Lloyds Banking Group from GBX 63 ($0.82) to GBX 60 ($0.78) in a research note on Thursday, July 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Lloyds Banking Group has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $60.14. Lloyds Banking Group Stock Down 2.3 % Shares of NYSE:LYG opened at $2.33 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $37.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 5.81, a PEG ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83. Lloyds Banking Group plc has a 52-week low of $1.70 and a 52-week high of $2.63. The business has a fifty day moving average of $2.24 and a two-hundred day moving average of $2.35. Lloyds Banking Group (NYSE:LYG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The financial services provider reported $0.11 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $5.65 billion during the quarter. Lloyds Banking Group had a return on equity of 11.52% and a net margin of 21.31%. On average, research analysts expect that Lloyds Banking Group plc will post 0.4 earnings per share for the current year. Lloyds Banking Group Company Profile (Free Report) Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance, Pensions, and Investments. The Retail segment offers a range of financial service products, including current accounts, savings, mortgages, motor finance, unsecured loans, leasing solutions, and credit cards to personal and small business customers. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LYG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lloyds Banking Group plc (NYSE:LYG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Lloyds Banking Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lloyds Banking Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk (OTCMKTS:UNLRY Get Free Report) shares shot up 1.9% on Thursday . The company traded as high as $5.78 and last traded at $5.78. 646 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 86% from the average session volume of 4,753 shares. The stock had previously closed at $5.68. PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk Stock Performance The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $5.77 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $5.89. Get PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk alerts: PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be given a $0.0664 dividend. This is a boost from PT Unilever Indonesia Tbks previous dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. PT Unilever Indonesia Tbks dividend payout ratio is 73.15%. About PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk manufactures, markets, and distributes consumer goods in Indonesia. It offers soaps, detergents, dairy based foods, ice creams, savories, soy sauce, cosmetic products, tea-based beverages, and fruit juices. The company provides its products under the Axe, Bango, Buavita, Cif, Citra, Clear, Clear Men, Close Up, Cornetto, Dove, Feast, Feast, Glow & Lovely, Hellmann's, Jawara, Knorr, Lifebuoy, Lipton, Love Beauty & Planet, Lux, Magnum, Molto, Paddle Pop, Pepsodent, Pond's, Pond's Men, Populaire, Rexona, Rinso, Royco, SariWangi, Seru, Simple, St. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. Separately, TheStreet cut American Shared Hospital Services from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a report on Monday, May 1st. Get American Shared Hospital Services alerts: American Shared Hospital Services Stock Performance American Shared Hospital Services stock opened at $2.71 on Wednesday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $2.68 and its 200 day simple moving average is $2.89. The company has a current ratio of 3.72, a quick ratio of 3.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. American Shared Hospital Services has a 1-year low of $2.27 and a 1-year high of $3.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.83 million, a PE ratio of 13.55 and a beta of 0.71. Institutional Trading of American Shared Hospital Services American Shared Hospital Services ( NYSEAMERICAN:AMS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, May 12th. The company reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $4.93 million for the quarter. American Shared Hospital Services had a net margin of 6.29% and a return on equity of 4.88%. Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in American Shared Hospital Services by 26.3% in the third quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 19,321 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 4,021 shares during the last quarter. Canton Hathaway LLC boosted its holdings in shares of American Shared Hospital Services by 100.0% in the 4th quarter. Canton Hathaway LLC now owns 20,000 shares of the companys stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 10,000 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in shares of American Shared Hospital Services by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 158,681 shares of the companys stock valued at $465,000 after purchasing an additional 5,899 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CI Private Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Shared Hospital Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $470,000. 17.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About American Shared Hospital Services (Get Free Report) 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for American Shared Hospital Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Shared Hospital Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on a new ordinance regulating short-term or vacation rentals in the unincorporated parts of the county. The ordinance, which will be voted on at a Tuesday, Aug. 8 meeting, was first presented in January, and aims to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of owners and users of vacation and short-term rental properties while supporting the residential character of neighborhoods outside of Flagstaff, Sedona, Page and Williams. In Arizona, county leaders are not allowed to prohibit vacation rentals completely. They also cant set rules for those same properties within the city limits of communities like Flagstaff and Williams. Until recently, neither counties nor municipalities had the capacity to limit or regulate the operation of short-term rentals like VRBOs and Airbnbs in their area. That was until the passage of Arizona Senate Bill 1168. In general I think local government is the best place to make decisions about local issues. Im pleased that last year the Legislature changed the statute, said Patrice Horstman, the supervisor for District 1 and chair of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors. Im sorry there was ever a prohibition. I think these decisions are best made at the community level. Now, under Arizona Revised Statute 11-267.17, counties have the ability to set some parameters for short-term rental owners in their area. This is the result of our communicating with the Legislature to express our concerns about not having regulatory authority over short-term rentals, District 3 Supervisor Matt Ryan said in January. Albeit limited, we now have a very important tool that will promote voluntary compliance and encourage people to be good neighbors. According to Horstman, the board and county staff considered the regulatory efforts of other municipalities in developing the language for the ordinance introduced in January. I think it makes it easier for our residents if they have a certain continuity or consistency in how we are interpreting the law, Horstman said. She calls the ordinance, which will be read for the third time in August, common sense regulation, describing it as a set of rules that requires short-term rental owners and operators to be good neighbors. I would like to believe this is reasonable and rational, and I like to believe were going to get a lot of support, Horstman said. Im really proud of the ordinance ... we are basically requiring that short-term rentals are compliant with underlying land use. These are single-family residential neighborhoods. What this ordinance states is they must use the rental in a way that conforms with the single-family neighborhood. If the ordinance passes in August, short-term rental owners will only be able to "host" guests who will use the space as a temporary family dwelling. In the draft language, family is defined as individuals related by blood, marriage, affinity or legal adoption/guardianship. No more than five people who are unrelated to one another will be allowed to rent a short-term vacation rental in Coconino County, under the new ordinance. Most short-term rentals are utilized by families or people who are affiliated. They are usually consistent with a single-family residential neighborhood, Horstman said. This ordinance allows us to address the notable few who violate the concept of living in a single-family residential neighborhood. Horstman said even before she was elected she heard from neighbors about party houses and the problems associated with short-term rentals hosting events. These short-term rentals were not owner occupied, the owner was not living on site, many times they were not living in Coconino County, and [the rental] was being used for large parties and events, Horstman said. That caused problems in our single-family residential communities in terms of noise, parking, trash and traffic. The proposed ordinance takes direct aim at short-term rentals that were formerly used for events such as weddings and bachelor parties, stating: Vacation or short-term rental property shall not be used for non-residential purposes, including but not limited to special events, multi-family transient stays, or any land use or group gathering that would otherwise require a county special or temporary use permit, a county health code license, or any other regulatory license or permit required pursuant to a county ordinance or state law or rule. Horstman said the proposed ordinance aims to address constituent complaints about absentee owners as well. If the new rules go into effect, every new and existing short-term rental owner will have to register a contact for their property who can be available around the clock, seven days a week. That is very important. A lot of the problems happen when people cant reach the owners of a property. Now, we have a contact person if there is a violation going on, Horstman said. "We have concerns about fire and fire restrictions. There were situations when we were under fire restrictions, the short-term rental might have a bonfire in the backyard under stage two fire restrictions. They may not be aware (from outside the region). There needs to be a contact in place to communicate rules to renters if complaints are filed. Horstman said contacts will also help to facilitate parking during major snowstorms so vacation renters arent getting in the way of residents or snow removal equipment. Contact information is not the only paperwork new and existing property owners will need to file with the county; theyll also have to apply for a permit or license to operate a short-term rental legally. Before a short-term rental owner can be permitted, they also have to give notice of their intentions to their neighbors. The permitting fee, under state law, can be no more than $250. If a property owner doesnt secure a permit and lists their dwelling on a site like Airbnb or VRBO, they could face an initial fine of $1,000. If a property owner doesnt renew or apply for a permit, theyll owe the county an additional $1,000 for every month they continue to operate. Fines for failure to register an emergency contact follow the same fee structure. Permits can be revoked altogether if property owners intentionally allow parties or weddings to take place in their rental, if the owner knowingly houses a sex offender, or knows about the operation of adult-oriented businesses or prostitution on the property. Permits can also be revoked if a felony is committed on the rental property or if there are more than three documented minor violations of the ordinances rules on the property. Some residents have taken to social media with concerns over the new ordinances enforcement. These proposed ordinances will be lacking any teeth unless there are resources to enforce the ordinances, one Cheshire resident wrote on a neighborhood social media app. Horstman said the county worked on consequences for violations and hoped to develop a due process that was fair and reasonable. You need to have effective enforcement. We did put in an appropriate and timely enforcement provision in the ordinance, the enforcement, due process, and procedure, she said. Under the ordinance, the process for accepting, investigating, and litigating complaints against vacation-rental owners is laid out, but Horstman said the board would like to hear more from the community. The meeting will take place virtually, and verbal comments will be heard before the Aug. 8 vote. Written public comments can be sent up to 24 hours prior to the meeting, emailed to Jess McNeely at wmcneely@coconino.az.gov or mailed to Coconino County Community Development, Planning and Zoning Division, 2500 N. Fort Valley Road, Building #1, Flagstaff, AZ 86001. The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Jul 23 The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany, 423 N. Beaver St., Flagstaff. 978-774-2911. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Come join in prayer, fellowship, friendship, come and see! www.epiphanyaz.org, or 978-774-2911 for more info. https://go.evvnt.com/1834275-0. BEACON UU SUNDAY SERVICE: Climate Refugees - a Plea for Responsibility with Stefan Sommer, PhD Jul 23 Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 510 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff. (928) 779-4492. 10-11 a.m., As we barrel on towards 1.5C warming in 2028, what can we say about the effects this is having on our fellow humans and other fellow inhabitants of planet Earth? How are they being affected and what is our responsibility? Is it a sin if we drive another species to extinction? Since we all have our individual carbon footprint and are part of the overall collective carbon footprint, where does our responsibility lie? Stefan Sommer preaching with Worship Associate Char Tarashanti; music by George Murphy with Simon Cunningham, accompanist; and Social Justice Witness from Larry Spade of Servants at Work (SAWs), an ecumenical nonprofit that builds wheelchair ramps for those who cannot afford them. Following the service, there will be an Estate Planning Seminar sponsored by the Beacon Endowment Board of Governors and presented by local attorney Alexandra Shroufe. Stefan Sommer, Ph.D., is a Science Communicator, film producer, author, and public speaker as well as Founding Board member and speaker for the Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance and Founding Board member and speaker for NAUs Sustainable Ambassadors Program. Sommer writes for the Arizona Daily Sun as author of the column Spotlight on Climate and has served as executive producer of four award-winning PBS documentaries on biodiversity and habitat conservation. https://go.evvnt.com/1853298-0. PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH Jul 23 3430 N. Fourth St., 3430 N. Fourth St., Flagstaff. 928-526-9578. 10-11 a.m., We invite you to join the family of Peace Lutheran Church (LCMS) on Sunday at 10:00am for in person blended service (Combined Liturgical, hymnal based and Praise Worship) with Holy Communion. Pastor William Weiss Jr. (Pastor Bill) will be presiding. The service will be live streamed on our website (peacelutheranflagstaff.org) and on YouTube. Fellowship and refreshments are available before the worship service beginning 9:15am. https://go.evvnt.com/1851947-0. Unity of Flagstaff Spiritual Center Jul 23 Unity of Flagstaff, 1800 S. Milton Road, Flagstaff. 10:30-11:30 a.m., Living in the NOW Moment is BUNK if you deny your past experiences. AND you WILL shortchange your future in doing so.Rev. Penni Honey. You cant live in the NOW moment without your past and without intentions for the future. Join Rev. Penni Honey at Unity of Flagstaff this Sunday with musician Ryan Biter (ryanbitermusic.com). Living in the Present is a fabulous idea. A lot of people have gotten on that bandwagon, AND it is a great concept unless we are discarding our past. Robbing ourselves of the fertilizer that it has to offer. Tossing out our past can directly impact the growth of our future. Join us Sunday, 10:30 AM LIVE or LIVESTREAM (Youtube.unityofflagstaff.org) 1800 S. Milton, Suite 103 Unity of FlagstaffFIND YOUR EXPRESSION! ALL are Welcome!. https://go.evvnt.com/1856682-0. Flagstaff Federated Community Church Please join us for in person services Sundays at 10 a.m. We are located at 400 W Aspen Ave. on the corner of Aspen and Sitgreaves in Downtown Flagstaff. All are welcome to our services. For more information about Flagstaff Federated Community Church please call our office at 928-774-7383, Mon Thurs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church of the Resurrection Sunday Church Services 740 W. University Heights Drive S., 740 W. University Heights Drive S., Flagstaff. 928-853-8522. 10-11:30 a.m., Church of the Resurrection Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): We invite you to join us for worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays at 740 W. University Heights Drive South. Please feel free to contact us for information on our mid-week gatherings and for more information on our church. You can find us at www.cor-pca.org and www.facebook.com/CORFlagstaff or we can be reached at corflagstaff@gmail.com and (928) 699-2715. Leupp Nazarene Church The church, near mile post 13 or Navajo Route 15, has been holding services by teleconferences and doing drive-up meetings. For information, call pastor Farrell Begay at 928-853-5321. Teleconference number: 1-7170275-8940 with access code 3204224#. Services are 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Christian Science Society of Flagstaff 619 W. Birch Ave. Bible Lesson services every Sunday 10-11am (Zoom option: https://zoom.us/j/369812794). Testimony Meetings every Wednesday: 5:30-6:30pm (Zoom option: https://zoom.us/j/971672834). Zoom password: CSS. There are thousands of Meiteis from Manipur and Assam who stay in Mizoram, including students.(Wikipedia) Peace Accord MNF Retrurnees Association (PAMRA), an organisation of former Mizo National Front militants has asked Meiteis from Manipur who are residing in Mizoram to leave the state in the interest of their own safety. They further stated that there is anger among the Mizo youth over the barbaric and heinous atrocities committed on Kuki women in Manipur, the video of which went viral on Wednesday. The statement issued by PAMRA ON Friday stated, "The situation in Mizoram has become tense and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur. The PAMRA appeals to all Meitei people in Mizoram to leave for their home state as a safety measure." It further stated that there is anger in Mizo youths directed towards Meiteis arising out of deep anguish over the barbaric and atrocious acts perpetrated by Meiteis against Zo or Kuki people in Manipur. The association said that in case Meiteis choose to disregard this appeal and dont leave Mizoram, they will be responsible for any eventuality that befalls them. Its secretary general C Lalthenlowa said it was just a normal appeal for safety of Meiteis from Manipur alone and should not be construed as a diktat or a warning. There are thousands of Meiteis from Manipur and Assam who stay in Mizoram, including students. In response to this public appeal, the state government has initiated necessary actions to provide security cover to the Meitei community residing in the state, especially in and around Aizwal, the capital city. H Lalengmawia, Mizorams Home Commissioner and Secretary told PTI that the state government is making continuous efforts to ensure that no Meitei person is harmed. Police has been on alert in view of the prevailing tense situation. Government representatives had a meeting with the Meitei community as a confidence building measure and to assure them of their safety. He also plans to convene a virtual meeting of all the deputy commissioners next week to assess the situation. Earlier, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga had assured Manipur CM N Biren Singh of the safety of Meiteis in Mizoram over telephonic conversation. Female candidates pose for photos with their appointment letters at a selfie booth after receiving them during a Rozgar Mela, in Patna, on Saturday. (Image: PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that greed for power overrode national interest during the UPA government, wreaking havoc on the banking sector, but his dispensation has nursed it back to good financial health. Virtually addressing a Rozgar Mela, the Prime Minister, in an apparent swipe at the Gandhi family, said a few powerful politicians close to a particular family would get loans of thousands of crores of rupees to their favourites by calling up banks. Those loans were never meant to be returned. "The phone banking scam was one of the biggest scams of the previous government as it broke the back of the banking system in the country. Phone banking may be a common practice now, but its idea was different for the government that was there nine years ago, as it was not meant for the common citizen," Mr Modi said. The Prime Minister also said that India is now among the countries with the strongest banking sectors following a series of measures taken by his government. After handing over appointment letters to over 70,000 recruits, Mr Modi noted that a large number of them have been employed in the banking sector, as he highlighted how it was destroyed under the previous Congress-led dispensation before his government took corrective measures. The United Progressive Alliance was in power from 200414. In his address, the Prime Minister asserted that his government took several measures, including strengthening the management of banks, merging small banks and injecting professionalism, to help the sector. "Public sector banks were earlier known for losses running into thousands of crores of rupees and non-performing assets (NPAs), but now they are known for record profits," he said. He also praised banking sector employees for their hard work and commitment to serve people and execute various government schemes to help the poor and unorganised sectors through loans under the "Mudra" scheme and to support women's self-help groups. Mr Modi said that India has emerged as a centre of global trust and attraction and that the country has to make full use of it. He pointed out that opportunities are increasing in various fields. "There are many examples of the destruction that is caused when the greed for power overrides national interest. Our banking sector has suffered this destruction under the previous government," the Prime Minister said. He further noted that loans given to favourites were never really repaid during those times and one loan was sanctioned after another to clear previous dues on paper. "By laws like the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, banks were protected from NPAs, while tough action against those accused of swindling banks, including attachments of their properties, was also taken," Mr Modi said. The Prime Minister also pointed out that his government has also insured bank deposits up to Rs 5 lakh, ensuring the safety of more than 99 per cent of account holders. Addressing the gathering, Mr Modi said that it is not only a memorable day for the young recruits but also a historic day for the nation as today (Saturday) marks the day when the "Tiranga" was adopted in its current form by the Constituent Assembly for the first time in 1947. Noting that the next 25 years are crucial for the recruits and the nation as it charts its path to becoming a developed country, he highlighted the rise of India from the 10th largest global economy to the fifth largest under his government. "Most experts are of the view that India will become the third-biggest economy in a few years and it will be a monumental achievement. It will give rise to employment opportunities in every sector and also boost the income of the common citizens," Mr Modi said. He cited a recent NITI Aayog report that said 13-crore Indians were brought above the poverty line in the last five years and lauded the hard work of government servants in implementing welfare measures such as building pucca houses and toilets, opening Jan Dhan accounts and providing electricity connections to the poor. "This success shows that if we increase the efforts to remove poverty from India, then it can be completely eliminated. And certainly, every government employee has a big role in this," he said. Mr Modi pointed out that the expansion of the neo-middle class is creating new job opportunities, with their growing demand and aspirations driving the manufacturing sector. "With the percentage of the ageing population rising and the working-age population declining in many countries, the world is looking at India's talent," he said, highlighting new opportunities for its young citizens. The Prime Minister mentioned that his government has focused on the skill upgradation of the young population, with the number of professional education institutes rising. Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik is escorted by police officers to a court in New Delhi. (AP File Photo/Dinesh Joshi) New Delhi: The Department of Delhi Prisons has suspended four officials, including a deputy superintendent, in connection with the physical appearance of jailed JKLF chief Yasin Malik in Supreme Court, a statement said on Saturday. The presence of Malik, serving life term in Tihar jail, in a packed courtroom created a flutter in the apex court on Friday. Malik, who is in jail following his conviction and life sentence in a terror funding case, was brought to the high-security apex court premises in a prison van escorted by armed security personnel without the court's permission. Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. (DC) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will set the foundation stone for the mega housing programme under Navaratnalu Pedalandariki Illu on Monday, July 24, at Krishnayapalem in Amaravati. This will fulfil his long-cherished wish of providing houses to 50,000 people in R-5 Zone of Amaravati. The mega housing programme faced many hurdles, as pro-Amaravati farmers lodged petitions in courts, claiming demographic imbalance due to housing colonies for poor. The government fought a long battle to get the primary permission. Jagan Mohan Reddy emphasised, "Amaravati belongs to everyone, not just the rich. These are not just houses, but instruments of social justice. Our government fought a legal battle in the Supreme Court for the poor and we won. Telugu Desam-backed farmers fought in vain to stop distribution of house sites by creating legal hurdles. They even approached the Supreme Court saying demography of the CRDA will be disturbed. These houses are worth 710 lakh. They are being registered in the name of my sisters. Social justice has finally been delivered. From now on, Amaravati will belong to all." The CM aims to complete the houses in Amaravati by Sankranti 2024 spending 2,000 crore. Houses will be constructed and infrastructure provided in 25 layouts. 23,762 poor women have got the house site pattas in 11 layouts of Guntur district. 27,031 women have received the pattas in 14 layouts of NTR district. Construction of houses has been sanctioned incurring a total estimated cost of 1,081.39 crore, with the unit cost of a house being 2.30 lakh. Beneficiary Eepuri Jeevaratnam's house has been built as a model house in Krishnayapalem layout within three days using shear wall technology. Following the appreciation it received, the government has decided to build as many houses as possible by adopting the shear wall method. 36 labour agencies have been identified to construct 24,200 houses using this method. Rest of the houses will be built conventionally. Electricity and water supply lines, and approach roads are being laid at a cost of 365.91 crore. In the layouts, 72.06 crore have been earmarked for infrastructure facilities like schools, health centres, Anganwadis and digital libraries. Jeevaratnam said, "I am working as a volunteer. My husband is an agricultural labourer. We have been living in a rented house for the past 13 years. I applied for a house twice during the previous government but was disappointed. This time, I got both the plot and house. My house has been built as a model house. I am happy beyond words. CM Jagan Mohan Reddy has been by my side like a sibling. While the government is giving us houses, some are filing cases in courts. When we hear such news, we are afraid of losing our homes." Housing minister Jogi Ramesh said all arrangements are progressing on a war footing. The Chief Minister will lay the foundation for the mega housing programme on Monday in the R-5 Zone of Amaravati. "It is a victory for the poor," he maintained. Interestingly 45,101 beneficiaries are going to get houses for free of cost after they choose option 3, under which AP government will construct the houses bearing the entire expenditure. An open nala at Kharkhana with huts along the side, poses a threat during the monsoon season at Brooke bond colony kakaguda near Karkhana in Secunderabad. (Photo by S. Surender Reddy) HYDERABAD: The Secunderabad Cantonment (SCB) was one of the worst-hit areas of the city during the four-day incessant rain spell last week, as showers left drains overflowing, raising a stink and obstructing traffic movement on roads, besides inundating houses. Many residents complained that potholes near AOC and along Wellington Road posed a significant danger to commuters, making them susceptible to accidents. "Areas adjacent to the nalas quickly saw deluge-like conditions due to rains since Wednesday night. We couldnt travel in a car without worrying; it was more troublesome for two-wheelers and those who chose to walk. The fear of manholes and potholes kept us from going out unless absolutely necessary," said Ramanath Lalu, a resident of Bowenpally. Areas affected by the overflowing nalas include Rasoolpura, Indiranagar Colony, Sitaram Colony, Harsha Vardhan Colony, SAIL Colony, and Hasmathpet. "Stagnation lasted long enough to invite several insects, apart from mosquitos, to breed here," said Aravinda Reddy, a resident. Residents and employees of the SCB, however, said that a major part of the problem could be avoided if the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporations (GHMC) strategic nala development programme (SNDP) was extended to the SCB area. "The SNDP arrangement near Patny has helped areas around it, especially saving Rasoolpura and Indranagar from inundation. If the same is carried out at the other nalas in the SCB limits, especially at Ramanukunta Lake and Hasmathpet, a huge problem will be solved," an SCB official said. SCBs chief executive officer (CEO) Madhukar Naik said he has written to the GHMC multiple times on the issue, and will do so again, seeking SNDP works in the area. "Because that hasn't happened, water from areas near Alwal municipality and Kukatpally are flowing into areas here and without proper channelising of the water, the area is bound to get flooded. If it gets worse, reverse flooding to the fringe areas outside the cantonment can occur," Naik told Deccan Chronicle. However, residents said that desilting works helped prevent the problem from being exacerbated. Many agreed that the place has been crawling back to normalcy sooner than it did in 2020. "The rains have been kinder this time most other areas in the cantonment, although had several waterlogging issues, are drying up faster because of several pre-monsoon precautions that the water division department was able to take up," said Naik. He said desilting and jetting machines were used to clear silt and debris. "But, this is just the beginning of the monsoon, more works are on, with staff monitoring the situation through the day and night. More than 70 per cent of the work is done and the remaining will be cleared soon," the CEO said. "The countries present pledged to work closer together to shape home-grown initiatives and promote more sustainable and equitable economic growth. Moreover, the countries devised ways to engage in the global development architecture, going beyond their traditional role as recipients and contributing their energy and successful development experience for the benefit of the entire world," it said. It was submitted that Samuel gave an exculpatory statement in the Court of Inquiry vis-a-vis the officer. He admitted neither any money was demanded nor was it paid to the officer. He also accepted that the plaintiff had refused to attend the dinner to be hosted in a five star hotel or accept any other hospitality. The relevant portion of the statement to the effect, I am only giving you a word of advice as a friend, has been deleted. 'Only way forward is to sack CM, impose President's rule in Manipur,' says Sibal In a tweet, Sibal said, 'The only way forward: Sack Biren Singh; Impose Art. 356; Apologise to the women of our country.' "The visit of the Chief of Naval Staff signifies a high level of bilateral defence engagements between Indian Navy and Vietnam People's Navy as well as India's recognition of 'ASEAN Centrality' to the region," the Navy said in a statement. A group of 12 young adults came to Foxglenn Park for a recent Thursday skateboarding session with +swappow PLUS as part of an annual convention meant to help youth with the transition out of foster care. The Arizona Department of Child Safety (AZDCS) puts on the conference every year, providing people in foster care ages 14-20 with workshops, resources and a variety of activities to help them develop life skills during the transition. Arizona has about 4,000 youth between the ages of 14-21 in its foster care system, according to AZDCS. Each year, about 700 young adults in foster care turn 18 without having found a permanent placement. The conference -- and the Young Adult Program more generally -- is meant to help such young people successfully age into adulthood. PK Wood and Kenzie Clark are both AZDCS Youth Advocates who helped arrange this years conference. Clark said she hoped the workshops would help youth gain "resilience, vulnerability and perseverance." I think a lot of foster youth have a hard time making connections with people and when you take them to a place like this, they can all mingle with each other and have a similar understanding of experience that feel theyre included, theyre valued, she said. It gives them an opportunity that theyre not used to. You never know what their lives are like in general, Wood added. ...This might be something they've never done before, so theyre stepping outside of their comfort zone for the first time and they want to spread their wings and take risks. About 70 teenagers and young adults in Arizona's foster care system visited Flagstaff for the conference recently, staying at Little America. Among this years workshops were sessions on gun safety, substance awareness, Native American beading with Three Precious Miracles and the +swappow PLUS skate session. After going over some of the basics of skateboarding -- the best positions, where to use different kinds of boards, how to get off a moving board -- +swappow PLUS Director Michael Shapiro told the group to pick out their boards and start practicing. The participants started out riding straight lines across the park's sidewalks before some went on to try their skills in the skate course. This type of session is the first of three tiers of programming +swappow PLUS offers to youth in foster care. Founded five years ago, the organizations goal is to help those in foster care gain confidence and other life skills through skateboarding. When youre riding a skateboard, you have to focus on your balance and youre paying attention just to staying upright, Shapiro said. Youre present in the moment and youre not thinking about whats happened or what might happen. For the first time for a lot of these kids, they're able to be kids. They're able to just be present. The group offers the tier one skateboarding workshops to kids ages 7-21. Participants are given a donated board to take home and they spend some time trying out skateboarding for the first time or advancing their skills. Youth ages 13-21 can also take a 12-week personal development program, which is meant to help those who enjoy the sport progress in their ability while showing how they can move toward their goals over time. The final tier offered is a professional development program for youth 16-21, and it focuses on teaching them how to make their own boards alongside business skills such as marketing, sales and graphic design. Participants in the program create four custom skateboards with their personal logo, keeping two, selling one and donating one to others in the program. One of those boards is made entirely by hand and another is made from recycled water bottles. Each course, according to Shapiro, also uses skateboarding principles and techniques to teach more general life lessons -- such as, for instance, that falling isnt failure and to look where you want to go rather than focusing on obstacles. If you see an obstacle, a crack in the sidewalk, dont focus on that. Focus on the pathway through it, he said as an example. In the same way, if you have a person in your life you really dont care for, you dont focus your energy on them; you look at the people you want to be like. He added: "We always say, you find what youre looking for, so look for good things, then you control the narrative a little bit. ... We really try to encourage our participants to aim high. More about foster care in Arizona can be found at azdcs.gov/foster. To learn more about +swappow PLUS, visit swappowplus.org. Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by opposition MPs. The Monsoon session started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral. "If you show mercy, the petitioner will spend the rest of her life with her husband, four minor children and matrimonial relative will be grateful that you gave chance to make something of myself and to be a source of strength and support matrimonial petitioner can. The petitioner will finally be able to live a life with dignity in India...," she stated in the petition. More than 160 people have died, and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the majority Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS Get Free Report) had its price target cut by equities research analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $71.00 to $69.00 in a research report issued on Thursday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an overweight rating on the casino operators stock. Wells Fargo & Companys price objective would suggest a potential upside of 23.43% from the stocks current price. Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Credit Suisse Group boosted their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $62.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 20th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $73.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $70.00 to $69.00 in a research note on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group downgraded shares of Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the company from $69.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $70.81. Get Las Vegas Sands alerts: Las Vegas Sands Trading Down 1.0 % Shares of NYSE LVS opened at $55.90 on Thursday. Las Vegas Sands has a 1-year low of $33.38 and a 1-year high of $65.58. The company has a market cap of $42.72 billion, a PE ratio of -77.64, a P/E/G ratio of 5.84 and a beta of 1.15. The company has a current ratio of 1.79, a quick ratio of 1.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.65. The company has a 50-day moving average of $58.03 and a two-hundred day moving average of $57.59. Insiders Place Their Bets Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The casino operator reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $2.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.41 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a negative net margin of 10.42% and a negative return on equity of 10.21%. Las Vegas Sandss revenue for the quarter was up 143.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted ($0.34) earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands will post 1.79 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Las Vegas Sands news, Director Charles D. Forman sold 15,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.17, for a total transaction of $947,550.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 205,984 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,012,009.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.91% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Las Vegas Sands Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in LVS. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 13.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 46,767 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,818,000 after purchasing an additional 5,716 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 17.1% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 13,612 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $529,000 after purchasing an additional 1,985 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 6.9% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 33,282 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,294,000 after purchasing an additional 2,145 shares during the period. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 26.7% in the first quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 13,502 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $525,000 after purchasing an additional 2,848 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands by 47.6% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 27,000 shares of the casino operators stock valued at $1,050,000 after purchasing an additional 8,711 shares during the period. 39.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. About Las Vegas Sands (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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Las Vegas Sands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Las Vegas Sands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. New York State Teachers Retirement System trimmed its position in shares of Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ Free Report) by 0.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 419,158 shares of the asset managers stock after selling 2,482 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System owned approximately 0.09% of Invesco worth $6,874,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Arizona State Retirement System boosted its holdings in Invesco by 2.7% during the first quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 99,164 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,626,000 after acquiring an additional 2,583 shares during the period. Strs Ohio lifted its stake in shares of Invesco by 16.3% in the first quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 91,607 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,502,000 after buying an additional 12,856 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D lifted its stake in shares of Invesco by 4.5% in the first quarter. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D now owns 170,788 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,801,000 after buying an additional 7,279 shares during the period. IRON Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco in the first quarter valued at about $188,000. Finally, Peterson Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Invesco by 138.7% in the first quarter. Peterson Financial Group Inc. now owns 40,506 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $664,000 after buying an additional 23,537 shares during the period. 65.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Invesco alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research firms recently weighed in on IVZ. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Invesco in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They issued a market perform rating and a $21.00 target price for the company. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Invesco from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, July 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Invesco from $18.00 to $18.50 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, April 14th. Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Invesco from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Finally, TheStreet cut shares of Invesco from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 30th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $18.45. Invesco Stock Performance NYSE IVZ opened at $17.84 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $8.17 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.93, a PEG ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a 50 day moving average of $16.24 and a 200-day moving average of $17.04. The company has a current ratio of 4.88, a quick ratio of 4.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Invesco Ltd. has a 1-year low of $13.20 and a 1-year high of $20.56. Invesco (NYSE:IVZ Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The asset manager reported $0.38 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.36 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.42 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.10 billion. Invesco had a net margin of 14.87% and a return on equity of 7.86%. The companys revenue was down 13.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.56 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Invesco Ltd. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Invesco Increases Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 2nd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 9th were issued a dividend of $0.20 per share. This is a positive change from Invescos previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 8th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.48%. Invescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 57.97%. Invesco Company Profile (Free Report) Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Dupont Capital Management Corp lowered its holdings in Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW Free Report) by 64.2% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,697 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 3,048 shares during the period. Dupont Capital Management Corps holdings in Pinnacle West Capital were worth $134,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in PNW. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Pinnacle West Capital by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 13,918 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,103,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares in the last quarter. Eaton Vance Management boosted its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Eaton Vance Management now owns 7,921 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $619,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 18.6% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 939 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $71,000 after acquiring an additional 147 shares during the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 27.7% during the 4th quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 686 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Empirical Finance LLC boosted its stake in Pinnacle West Capital by 5.2% during the 1st quarter. Empirical Finance LLC now owns 3,128 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $248,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.46% of the companys stock. Get Pinnacle West Capital alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have commented on PNW. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Saturday, May 20th. KeyCorp increased their price objective on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $55.00 to $61.00 in a research note on Wednesday. Bank of America reduced their price objective on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $80.00 to $78.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 29th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $78.00 price target (up from $73.00) on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research report on Friday. Finally, Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $80.00 to $84.00 in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pinnacle West Capital has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $78.11. Pinnacle West Capital Trading Up 1.1 % Shares of NYSE:PNW opened at $85.41 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $9.67 billion, a PE ratio of 20.88, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.47. The companys 50-day moving average price is $80.68 and its 200 day moving average price is $78.15. Pinnacle West Capital Co. has a fifty-two week low of $59.03 and a fifty-two week high of $85.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 1.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.28. Pinnacle West Capital (NYSE:PNW Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported ($0.03) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.03 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $944.60 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $808.33 million. Pinnacle West Capital had a net margin of 10.33% and a return on equity of 7.50%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 20.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.15 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Pinnacle West Capital Co. will post 4.08 earnings per share for the current year. Pinnacle West Capital Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.865 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, July 31st. This represents a $3.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.05%. Pinnacle West Capitals payout ratio is 84.60%. Pinnacle West Capital Profile (Free Report) Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pinnacle West Capital Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pinnacle West Capital and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. State of Michigan Retirement System increased its stake in Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL Free Report) by 0.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 13,930 shares of the medical research companys stock after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the quarter. State of Michigan Retirement Systems holdings in Charles River Laboratories International were worth $2,811,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of CRL. CIBC Asset Management Inc grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 6.1% in the 4th quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 7,127 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,553,000 after purchasing an additional 412 shares during the period. Belpointe Asset Management LLC grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 8.7% in the 4th quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 1,178 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $257,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 188,646 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $41,106,000 after purchasing an additional 3,223 shares during the period. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 4.6% in the 1st quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 53,330 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $10,763,000 after purchasing an additional 2,358 shares during the period. Finally, Asset Management One Co. Ltd. grew its position in Charles River Laboratories International by 6.6% in the 1st quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 20,782 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $4,194,000 after purchasing an additional 1,278 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 98.55% of the companys stock. Get Charles River Laboratories International alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently issued reports on CRL shares. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price target on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $260.00 to $255.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Charles River Laboratories International from $290.00 to $280.00 in a report on Friday, May 12th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Charles River Laboratories International from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Thursday, May 11th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Charles River Laboratories International in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Citigroup downgraded shares of Charles River Laboratories International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $225.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $251.80. Insider Buying and Selling at Charles River Laboratories International Charles River Laboratories International Price Performance In other Charles River Laboratories International news, EVP Joseph W. Laplume sold 345 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $190.39, for a total transaction of $65,684.55. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 24,026 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,574,310.14. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock. CRL opened at $206.20 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $10.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.32, a PEG ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.34. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $203.18 and a 200 day moving average of $212.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 1.21 and a current ratio of 1.48. Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $181.22 and a fifty-two week high of $262.00. Charles River Laboratories International (NYSE:CRL Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 11th. The medical research company reported $2.78 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.59 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $1.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $988.10 million. Charles River Laboratories International had a net margin of 12.13% and a return on equity of 20.12%. On average, research analysts expect that Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. will post 10.32 EPS for the current year. Charles River Laboratories International Profile (Free Report) Charles River Laboratories International, Inc, a non-clinical contract research organization, provides drug discovery, non-clinical development, and safety testing services in the United States, Europe, Canada, the Asia Pacific, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Research Models and Services (RMS), Discovery and Safety Assessment (DSA), and Manufacturing Solutions (Manufacturing). Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CRL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. (NYSE:CRL Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Charles River Laboratories International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles River Laboratories International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Derry's popular and highly acclaimed local film and theatre company, Black North Productions, have recently received funding from the National Lottery 'Community Fund' which will enable them the ability to offer free acting lessons, free costumes, free transport, free drama lessons, free admission to the premiers and the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the creative media industry. Black North Productions are currently working on their short film Missing Chapter which deals with the profound effects of the covid 19 pandemic on our young people. In essence, without funding from the Lotto Community Fund, we would not be able to continue to offer all aspects of film involvement for free, commented Joseph McCarthy, Black North Productions writer and director. Joseph McCarthy (green bib), Black North Productions writer and director, giving instructions during their recent shoot. Our membership grows with every production and unlike many other arts organisations, we are all unpaid volunteers and all funding received goes into providing people of all ages and backgrounds with invaluable experience in the arts at no cost to them whatsoever. I cant praise this lotto initiative enough as they have not only been very supportive, but they also have an invaluable insight into what community arts is really about, continued Joseph. Missing Chapter will premiere later in the year and as always, admission will be free. A huge consignment of cocaine, over 4 million worth of which has washed up on the Donegal coast, may have been dumped off a large vessel that was heading for Europe. Large parcels of cocaine, weighing around 60kg and valued in excess of 4 million, were located off the Donegal coast this week, prompting a major investigation. The packages, wrapped in black plastic and bound with ropes, washed up at Ballyheirnan Beach in Fanad and Tramore Beach in Fanad on Wednesday. Concentrated searches have been conducted along the north Donegal coast while a fishing vessel was impounded at Magheroarty on Thursday as part of the investigation. Investigators believe the packages came from a large batch that was affixed to a buoy in the water. Officers are now attempting to determine the source of and planned destination for the drugs. The entire Atlantic is the route by which cocaine comes from South America, said Michael OSullivan, a former Assistant Garda Commissioner who worked as the head of the EUs anti-drugs smuggling agency, MAOC-N, before retiring. He said the find represented a 'very costly expense' for drug smugglers and dealers, who have now lost a significant stash. Depending on law enforcement and naval activity will determine on the route the vessels would take. On occasion they pass the west coast of Ireland - sometimes, they have landed on the west coast of Ireland - go around Scotland and come the east side of the UK. It depends on the operation, the cartel and the load. It depends on law enforcement activity - basically, where is the line of least resistance? A major multi-agency probe is continuing into the find. One of the packages washed up on the Donegal coast. (North West Newspix) Gardai in Milford with the assistance of the Garda Air Support Unit and the Garda Water Unit, along with Revenue's Maritime Unit continue to carry out an investigation along the North Donegal/ Fanad Head coastline. An operation on Thursday centred on a boat docked at Magheroarty Pier. Scenes of crime Gardai, Coast Guard and Revenue officials conducted a search of the vessel. The boat, a Cleopatra 38, is understood to have been advertised for sale recently. It does not appear as if the boats radar was operating in recent weeks, however. The drugs were packed into bales, encased in black plastic wrapping. One eye-witness said one of the packages was the size of a suitcase. Gardai are believed to have been monitoring the potential trafficking of illegal drugs into the county in recent days with investigating officers said to have been trained on marine vessels in the Atlantic Ocean. Gardai believe the packages were discarded from one such vessel. Mr OSullivan said: A lot of it is to do with the mothership. Say, if a large container ship is heading to Scotland or Northern Ireland or the west coast of Ireland, they may put the drugs on that. Gardai at Tramore Beach, where one of the parcels was found. (North West Newspix) What normally happens is that they will load the drugs on a very large vessel - maybe one carrying cars - and somewhere in the Atlantic they will offload it to a smaller vessel, a daughter vessel, possibly a fishing vessel. That is where it gets dangerous. Very often, they have to drop it without cables. Bad weather, under pressure, hoping they arent discovered and the mother ship is very anxious to get rid of it. It depends on the overall plan, the cartel and the people transporting it. In the past, they have transported it in semi-submersible submarines, which have crossed the Atlantic over 22 or 23 days. Once they embark on a course, that is the direction they will take. There are pre-arranged logistics in place. The trans-shipment of the bales can be very cumbersome. It is a very costly expense to lose that much pure cocaine while it is being shipped. Given the belief that the washed-up packages were part of a much larger shipment, investigators say further parcels could be located and have appealed to the public for their assistance. A Garda spokesperson said: Any person who sees any similar package or any other marine debris that attracts their attention are requested to not interfere with the packages and to contact An Garda Siochana at Milford Garda Station on 074 9153060, their local Garda station or the Garda Confidential line 1800 666 111. Members of the public can also contact the Customs Drug Watch Confidential number 1800 295 295. FLAGSTAFF An investigation into an Arizona wildfire that destroyed more than 30 homes and other buildings on the outskirts of Flagstaff last year concluded without investigators determining a definitive cause of the blaze, the U.S. Forest Service announced Friday. Known as the Tunnel Fire, it was one of two major wildfires in the spring of 2022 on the outskirts of Flagstaff. The fire broke out on Easter Sunday, but the affected acreage remained in the double digits over the next two days. That Tuesday, high winds and Red Flag Warning conditions caused the fire to swell to 6,000 acres within a few hours. Residents were forced to evacuate quickly, and firefighters spent weeks trying to extinguish the blaze before it was fully contained June 1. Ultimately, the Tunnel Fire affected more than 26,000 acres due to a combination of strong winds and warm, dry conditions. The Forest Service's investigative division in the Southwest said in a statement Friday that it had ruled out multiple potential causes during its probe, but ultimately closed out the case without determining exactly what started the blaze. The agency did not immediately release its investigative report; the Arizona Daily Sun has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for more information. The fire started about 9 miles northeast of Flagstaff in an area of the Coconino National Forest where campfires are banned year-round. One of the intersecting forest roads near the fire's origin, Schultz Pass, is a major artery for traveling around the San Francisco Peaks. Residents at the time questioned how a small blaze was able to balloon into such a size, ripping through dry grass and scattered ponderosa pines around homes into volcanic cinder fields. The flames threatened more than 1,330 structures and destroyed 30 homes and 24 buildings. No deaths were reported. Matt McGrath, a district ranger on the forest, has said firefighters believed they had extinguished the fire when it was first reported and didn't see any active smoke or flames when they checked on it the following day. Winds were a major factor in the fire's spread, with flames soaring as high as 100 feet. Popular national monuments, including Sunset Crater Volcano and Wupatki closed for a time because of the wildfire. The other wildfire that followed on its heels, known as the Pipeline Fire, was still under investigation, said Brady Smith, a spokesperson for the Coconino National Forest. Close Two firefighters from a Phoenix crew working the Tunnel Fire mop up an area burned off Schultz Pass Road Thursday morning. A fire response helicopter leaves the head of the Tunnel Fire Thursday morning amidst strong winds to scoop more water in an effort to contain the burn. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. Two firefighters from the Coconino Engine 383 crew crest a hill as they return to their truck Thursday morning. Efforts are still underway to contain the Tunnel Fire, which has burned over 20,000 acres. Two fire response aircraft leave the head of the Tunnel Fire Thursday morning amidst strong winds to scoop more water in an effort to contain the burn. Hoping to make sure that all active burning is extinguished, a firefighter from a Phoenix-based crew working the Tunnel Fire feels underground for heat during a process in which firefighters follow smoke into roots in the ground that fire will follow The landscape on Schultz Pass Road features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the Tunnel Fire swept through the area. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. A crew of Mormon Lake Hotshots drives down Schultz Pass Road Thursday morning as crews continue efforts to contain the Tunnel Fire. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres. The landscape off Schultz Pass Road near the origin of the Tunnel Fire near 6064D features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the wildfire swept through the area. The origin of the fire, which has burned over 20,000 acres 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff, is still under investigation. The landscape off Schultz Pass Road features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the Tunnel Fire swept through the area. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. A burned tree that was knocked down by gusting winds pushing the Tunnel Fire lies on the scorched forest floor Thursday morning. The fire has burned over 20,000 acres and 24 known structures and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. The landscape off Schultz Pass Road near the origin of the Tunnel Fire near 6064D now consists of burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the wildfire swept through the area. A dozer line can been seen off of Schutlz Pass Road Thursday morning. Dozer lines are one of many methods fire crews will use to contain the Tunnel Fire, which is burning 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff. Two firefighters from the Coconino Engine 383 crew check on a smoldering tree Thursday morning. Efforts are still underway to contain the Tunnel Fire, which has burned more than 20,000 acres. A fire response helicopter heads toward the head of the Tunnel Fire Thursday morning amidst strong winds to dump water in an effort to contain the burn. The landscape on Schultz Pass Road features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the Tunnel Fire swept through the area. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres. Residential communities near Timberline are located less than 2 miles away from areas burned by the Tunnel Fire off Schutlz Pass Road in Flagstaff Thursday morning. The fire has burned over 20,000 acres. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire in 2022 with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Gallery: Tunnel Fire continues to burn, though spread slows The Tunnel Fire increased to 20,511 acres in Thursday afternoon's latest count, slowing its pace despite somewhat windy conditions, but more wind is on the way Friday. Photographer Rachel Gibbons got a tour of the scene, while Ed Moss shared some excellent photos from outside the evacuation area. Two firefighters from a Phoenix crew working the Tunnel Fire mop up an area burned off Schultz Pass Road Thursday morning. A fire response helicopter leaves the head of the Tunnel Fire Thursday morning amidst strong winds to scoop more water in an effort to contain the burn. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. Two firefighters from the Coconino Engine 383 crew crest a hill as they return to their truck Thursday morning. Efforts are still underway to contain the Tunnel Fire, which has burned over 20,000 acres. Two fire response aircraft leave the head of the Tunnel Fire Thursday morning amidst strong winds to scoop more water in an effort to contain the burn. Hoping to make sure that all active burning is extinguished, a firefighter from a Phoenix-based crew working the Tunnel Fire feels underground for heat during a process in which firefighters follow smoke into roots in the ground that fire will follow The landscape on Schultz Pass Road features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the Tunnel Fire swept through the area. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. A crew of Mormon Lake Hotshots drives down Schultz Pass Road Thursday morning as crews continue efforts to contain the Tunnel Fire. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres. The landscape off Schultz Pass Road near the origin of the Tunnel Fire near 6064D features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the wildfire swept through the area. The origin of the fire, which has burned over 20,000 acres 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff, is still under investigation. The landscape off Schultz Pass Road features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the Tunnel Fire swept through the area. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. A burned tree that was knocked down by gusting winds pushing the Tunnel Fire lies on the scorched forest floor Thursday morning. The fire has burned over 20,000 acres and 24 known structures and continues to move northeast into the Strawberry Crater Wilderness. The landscape off Schultz Pass Road near the origin of the Tunnel Fire near 6064D now consists of burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the wildfire swept through the area. A dozer line can been seen off of Schutlz Pass Road Thursday morning. Dozer lines are one of many methods fire crews will use to contain the Tunnel Fire, which is burning 14 miles northeast of Flagstaff. Two firefighters from the Coconino Engine 383 crew check on a smoldering tree Thursday morning. Efforts are still underway to contain the Tunnel Fire, which has burned more than 20,000 acres. A fire response helicopter heads toward the head of the Tunnel Fire Thursday morning amidst strong winds to dump water in an effort to contain the burn. The landscape on Schultz Pass Road features burned grass and trees Thursday morning after the Tunnel Fire swept through the area. The fire has consumed over 20,000 acres. Residential communities near Timberline are located less than 2 miles away from areas burned by the Tunnel Fire off Schutlz Pass Road in Flagstaff Thursday morning. The fire has burned over 20,000 acres. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire in 2022 with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. Ed Moss took these photos of the Tunnel Fire with a telephoto lens from southwest of the fire operations. The Louth International Film Festival recently announced its 4th edition which is set to take place at the IMC Cinema Dundalk and DkIT on September 29 and at the An Tain Arts Centre on September 30 and October 1. Filmmakers from all corners of the globe are invited to submit their work and compete for prestigious awards. The festival will screen over 40 hours of short films, features and documentaries across the three days. A major highlight of this year's festival is the continued support of esteemed patrons, including John Moore, a talented filmmaker with roots in Dundalk, who has made a name for himself in Hollywood. Speaking about the fourth edition of this festival, John stated: Everyone is from somewhere: but we like to reach out to everywhere - local film festivals do this, they bring the wide world to us all and add their own special local magic. Louth is a small county with a huge sense of magic, of history, of story; I wish them continued success with their world-class festival and continue to support them and cheer them to the rafters. Another distinguished patron, the renowned cinematographer Seamus McGarvey, ASC, BSC, ISC, will once again select the Best Cinematography Award. Seamus, known for his exceptional work in movies like "Atonement" and "Anna Karenina," has earned two Academy Award nominations for his cinematography. Additionally, he has won the British Society of Cinematographers (B.S.C.) award for "Anna Karenina" and "Nocturnal Animals," and received nominations for "Atonement." Lorcan Dunne, Festival Co-Director and DkIT Lecturer, expressed his excitement about the upcoming event, saying: "Through the Louth International Film Festival, we embrace diversity and welcome filmmakers from around the world to share their stories and creativity. Our goal is to nurture talent and provide a platform where the magic of cinema can unite us all. "We are honoured to have the continued support of our esteemed patrons, director John Moore, and cinematographer Seamus McGarvey." The Louth International Film Festival is not only a showcase of outstanding films but also recognizes the importance of providing opportunities for learning and professional development within the film industry. Attendees can look forward to insightful panel discussions, workshops, and masterclasses with industry experts, such as Diarmuid Goggins, Elaine Gallagher, Luke McManus, Mick Mahon, and Frankie Fenton, who have participated in previous editions. Colm Mullen, the Artistic Director of the festival, emphasized the significance of these educational initiatives, stating: "We believe in the power of sharing knowledge and lived experiences. By bringing together established filmmakers, aspiring talents, and students from DkIT, we create an environment where learning and growth thrive. Our industry panels serve as a platform for collaboration and dialogue, enabling filmmakers to expand their skills and vision." The Louth International Film Festival presents a range of awards, including Best Short Fiction, Best Short Documentary, Seamus McGarvey Award for Best Cinematography, Best Student Film, Audience Choice, Best in Louth, Best Feature Documentary, Best Feature Fiction, Best Actor (gender-neutral), Best Director, Best International Short, and Best International Feature. For filmmakers interested in submitting their work and for more information about the Louth International Film Festival, please visit: filmfreeway.com/LouthInternationalFilmFestival A new county registrar has been appointed for Louth after the 18 month vacancy was filled last week. Mark Stafford, a solicitor and Fine Gael councillor from Kildare was appointed by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. The Minister last week confirmed the news in a written response to Louth TD Ruairi OMurchu who queried when the new county registrar would commence their position. In reply, the minister stated that: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. The Courts Service Act 1998 sets out the nature of the relationship between the Courts Service and the County Registrar. The post of County Registrar is a statutory officer appointed by the Government, with a number of different roles, including under-sheriff and returning officer functions. When such posts become vacant, arrangements are made with the Courts Service and the Public Appointments Service to run an open recruitment competition to identify suitable persons for recommendation to Government for appointment. I can confirm that a competition was run through the Public Appointments Service to fill the vacancy referred to by the Deputy. This process is now complete and I am pleased to say that Government approved the appointment of a new Registrar for Louth today. I wish the new Registrar well in their new role. Mr Stafford qualified as a solicitor in 1998 and since then has practised in Newbridge, Dublin and Naas before establishing his own firm in 2013 with offices in Rathangan and Kildare Town. In order to take up the position Mr Stafford resigned from Kildare County Council last week having represented the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District since 2014. Speaking last Friday to Kildarelive, the former Fine Gael councillor confirmed he had been appointed to the position. Its a great honour and I am absolutely delighted and I am really looking forward taking up the role, he said. I have resigned my seat as a member of Kildare County Council and I would like to thank the people of the constituency, of the Kildare Newbridge Municipal District, and the people of County Kildare for supporting me during my time with the council and I am very grateful to them. Cllr Stafford had spent nine years on the council and had been involved in local politics for some time before that. It was a great honour to serve on Kildare County Council. It is with a heavy heart that I resign my seat, I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, but I am delighted to accept this post. I applied for the job the same as anybody else through the public appointments procedure. The position is based in the Dundalk Court Offices. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. On 26 April 1986 the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in northern Ukraine became the site of the worst ever nuclear accident. A massive steam explosion destroyed the reactor hall of unit 4 and radioactive material was released, affecting large parts of Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, but also reaching western Europe. The incident caused huge damage in the immediate vicinity and had a severe impact beyond. The emergency services response took place in extremely perilous conditions under extraordinary time pressure. While early interventions led to a stabilisation of the situation, a long-term solution had yet to be developed and implemented in subsequent years. This has been achieved. In a unique demonstration of global cooperation and solidarity, the international community and Ukraine have radically transformed the site of the 1986 accident. In November 2016 the New Safe Confinement was moved over the old sarcophagus housing the destroyed reactor 4. The New Safe Confinement makes the site safe and allows for the dismantling of the ageing shelter and management of the radioactive waste within the shelter. Following systems installation, testing and commissioning the New Safe Confinement has now been handed over to the Ukrainian authorities and the Chernobyl Shelter Fund was closed in late 2020. The New Safe Confinement represents an extraordinary feat of engineering. The 36,000 tonnes structure is 108 metres high, 162 metres long and has a span of 257 metres. It provides a safe working environment equipped with a heavy duty crane for the future dismantling of the shelter and waste management. The structure was constructed by Novarka, a consortium by the French engineering companies Bouygues and Vinci. All work on site was carried out under strictest health and safety regulations by a specially trained workforce whose radiation exposure was permanently monitored. There was no single case of exposure beyond permissible limits. The first waste canister containing highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine has been successfully processed and will now be safely stored for at least a 100 years. More videos The 1986 explosion caused the deaths, within weeks, of some 30 workers and firemen at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and injured many more. Its long-term impact on the health of others is the subject of debate to this day. Some 200,000 people, including the inhabitants of the neighbouring town of Pripyat, were evacuated from the vicinity of the destroyed reactor. A 30 km (19 mile) exclusion zone was imposed and still is in place. The accident led to a worldwide review of nuclear safety standards and regulatory processes and the acknowledgment that international cooperation in this field is critically important. The EBRDs involvement in nuclear safety programmes and in Chernobyl projects is a direct consequence of this. The accident left Ukraine with a costly legacy when the country gained independence in 1991, including the cost of managing the site, the decommissioning of the three intact reactor units, the loss of arable land, health screening or support for victims. The EBRD was tasked by the international community with managing the funds financing the efforts to transform Chernobyl into a safe and secure state. Decommissioning any nuclear power plant is a challenge. In Chernobyl, where the last unit was shut in 2000, it is further complicated by the fact that it takes place in a contaminated area. The EBRD has been assisting Ukraine to address the challenge of making Chernobyl safe and secure since it was first invited by the country and the G7 to manage dedicated donor funds in 1995. The entire Shelter Implementation Plan cost 2.1 billion and has now been completed. It is funded by contributions from 45 countries, the European Commission and the EBRD. The EBRD also manages the Nuclear Safety Account which finances two additional decommissioning infrastructure facilities at the site: 1) The Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility 2 to process the spent fuel assemblies from reactors 1 to 3, place them in double walled canisters and enclose them in concrete modules for a minimum period of 100 years. This work has been carried out by the US company Holtec. The facility has successfully passed hot testing and first spent fuel canisters have been transported to their final destination. The facility cost in excess of 400 million. 2) The Liquid Radioactive Waste Treatment Plant was the first EBRD-managed project in Chernobyl, The facility retrieves highly active liquids from their current storage tanks, processes them into a solid state and moves them into containers for long-term storage. The plant is complete and fully operational. Transforming Chernobyl is a long-term challenge. Through the EBRD-managed funds the international community together with Ukraine has created the foundations to develop and implement a national strategy for the coming decades. More than 2 billion has been received for EBRD-managed Chernobyl projects from 45 donors. The EBRD has contributed 715 million of its own resources in support of the work to transform Chernobyl into an environmentally safe and secure site. A CORK microbrewery has celebrated its first official year in business, despite being on the go for longer than that. The Original 7 Beverage Company, based in the microbrewery at the back of The Franciscan Well Brewpub, celebrated its first birthday in recent weeks. Shane Long has been the owner of the microbrewery since 1998. In 2022, Steve Guiney partnered up with Shane and head brewer, Paidi Scully, to launch Original 7 Beverage Co. in the microbrewery at the back of The Franciscan Well Brewpub. Speaking to The Echo about the inspiration behind the business, Steve said it came from a desire to brew quality beer! We are all beer enthusiasts and wanted to produce beers that we could be proud of, he said. And brewing quality beers is exactly what the gang at Original 7 do. We now have five beers in our core range, Steve explained. Our most popular is Revolution IPA and we also have Original 7 Lager, Rockefeller Weisse, Wonderland Red Ale and Hazy Pale Ale. We have brewed some collaborations with our friends in Coughlan's Bar on Douglas St, a Spiced Ginger IPA for The Shelbourne Bar on MacCurtain St, a very successful collaboration with Lee Valley Brewing Club to brew a Mountain IPA in partnership with them and in July we will be releasing our New England IPA special for The Franciscan Well Brewpub, designed by the general manager, Michael Sheehan. Later this year we will release the first in a range of barrel-aged beers, an extra stout aged in ex-whiskey barrels for nine months - a collaboration with a world renowned Cork-based distiller, he added. Shane Long, founder, Steve Guiney, managing director and Paidi Scully, head brewer at Original 7 beverage company based at the Franciscan Well brew pub on Cork's North Mall. Picture: Eddie O'Hare Its certainly a busy time for the team at Original 7. At present, the brewing co has three members of staff on the brewing team, and these are complemented by a range of other staff across various roles and positions. Paidi Scully is our head brewer and his assistants are Lucia Moreno Montero and Jim Molloy, Steve explained. Our graphic design and marketing is managed by Fianait O Donoghue. I take care of all business and financial matters as well as sales, customer support and branding. 48 Locations The beers from Original 7 can be found at 48 locations across Cork, and the lads have no intention of slowing down. In fact, our 48th location began pouring last week - The Crane Lane, Steve added. You can find all outlets serving original 7 on our website - original7.ie. When asked what it felt like to be celebrating the companys first official anniversary, Steve said: The business itself is actually nearly two years old as there was a long road to walk in acquiring our alcohol manufacturers licence and other setup hurdles but it was one year ago that our first pint was pulled in The Franciscan Well Brewpub. That was easily the highlight so far - drinking that first pint of beautiful, fresh, crisp Original 7 Lager! It feels great to be where we are one year on with all sales targets met and still growing! Looking to the future of the business, Steve explained there are some exciting projects in the pipelines (literally) at Original 7. Well, we have our exciting barrel-aged series coming out in November which will be our first exposure to the off-trade market, he said. We are actively working on a canning solution so we can bring our core range to the off-licence shelves. Our next hurdle is to add more brewing capacity, he added. Once we get there, we want to build the brand outside of Cork. We are already in one outlet in Dublin - Bar 1661 - so we would like to have a bigger footprint there and spread across the country in time. For more, check out Original7.ie. DOZENS of people marched through the town of Fermoy today to highlight concerns over the SouthDoc red eye (overnight) service in the area. Local representatives and residents have claimed that the red eye service at SouthDoc Fermoy ceased at 10pm on Tuesday night. However, in a statement issued to The Echo, Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) said it wished to reassure people that there is no reduction of service, red eye or otherwise, in Fermoy. The march at 12pm today, which started at the gates of Fermoy Town Park and finished at the courthouse, was the latest in a series of events organised this week to highlight concerns over what locals claim is a reduction in the service. Sean Sherlock TD, County Mayor Cllr Frank O'Flynn and local resident Michelle OBrien speaking outside the Courthouse in Fermoy, Co Cork, where residents protested over SouthDoc services in Fermoy. Picture: Dan Linehan Speaking at the march, Labour TD Sean Sherlock said it is clear that the service has been cut back. We are not fools and we are not to be fooled It is a cut back, plain and simple. It is a cut back to services that have been partly paid by you, the taxpayer, he said. When the Dail resumes in September, I will take up this issue but, in the meantime, we will fight the HSE and we will ask them to put pressure on SouthDoc to reverse this decision." 'No Change' In the statement to The Echo today, CKCH also said: SouthDoc continues to provide service from 6pm to 8am each weekday and 24-hour cover at weekends and public holidays, as per the Service Level Agreement in place with the HSE. Any person in Cork and Kerry who become unwell will proceed through the same process that has always been in place. SouthDoc visits are by appointment only i.e., a person rings SouthDoc - which is all manned through a call centre in Killarney - who will ensure the clinical triage is completed and that people are seen, if deemed necessary. SouthDoc has a fleet of vehicles, which are fully equipped for home visits and the GPs of the SouthDoc co-operative remain committed to ensuring appropriate clinical care is available out-of-hours. Home visits will continue to be provided to patients where clinically necessary. There is no change in this. If an individual in the catchment area requires out-of-hours care, that care can be provided by appointment in the Fermoy Treatment Centre, or via home visit, depending on clinical condition of the patient as assessed by the consulting doctor. Answers Speaking following the march, Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Frank OFlynn claimed there has been no red eye service in SouthDoc Fermoy since Tuesday. The HSE are saying theres no change to the quality of service in the area, but the staff were told last week that they were not required anymore after 10pm at night, he continued. We are not going to roll over. We are going to fight this to the bitter end. We want answers and if theyre saying theres no change to the service, I want to find out what service theyre providing after 10pm at night." County Mayor Cllr Frank O'Flynn and local resident Michelle OBrien speaking outside the Courthouse in Fermoy, Co Cork, where residents protested over SouthDoc services in Fermoy. Picture: Dan Linehan Mr OFlynn paid tribute to all involved in todays protest. I want to thank most sincerely everyone who came out at such short notice. I especially want to thank the organiser Michelle OBrien and her hardworking team who put it together in such a short time and the gardai for facilitating the safe pass of the protestors. THE Chief Executive Officer of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, has announced that he will be stepping down from his role at the end of September. Mr Lucey confirmed his departure in a letter yesterday (Friday) morning to each Oireachtas member of Cork county. In the letter, he also revealed that he will be taking up a CEO role with Greyhound Racing Ireland in November, and that he will conclude his role with Cork County Council on Friday, September 29. The Bandon native served as CEO of Cork County Council since 2014. During his 40-year career in local government, he also served as manager of Cork City Council from 2010 to 2014. Mr Lucey thanked each Oireachtas member of Cork County for their support and reaffirmed his full commitment to the organisation in the coming weeks. I will over the next number of weeks be making the necessary arrangements for this transition. "In the meantime, I look forward to continuing with my full commitment to this organisation that I am incredibly proud of. Mr Lucey who has been credited with leading transformational change in the Local Government sector with a focus on investment in corporate development and commercial thinking said he is looking forward to his new role with Greyhound Racing Ireland. Warm Tributes Warm tributes were paid to Mr Lucey from councillors across the political spectrum. Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath said: His departure is very significant for the organisation. The CEO role is incredibly important, and I think it is critical that the process to appoint a permanent chief executive commences as soon as possible so that the transition can be managed as smoothly as possible. On a personal level I would like to wish Tim all the very best for the future. Fine Gael councillor John Paul O'Shea added: Tim has left a good legacy. He has been in the council for over 40 years, and he has worked his way up right to the very top. He is a very good administrator. "He led us through the covid experience, which was a very challenging time for all the local authorities. "We wish him all the very best. Labour Party councillor Cathal Rasmussen said Mr Lucey was always good to deal with. He did his job very well on behalf of Cork County Council. He was always good to deal with. He managed the organisation through some very difficult times, and I wish him well in his new role. Independent councillor Danny Collins added: He told you out straight what could or couldnt be done, which I liked. He would always try and work with people on issues. He will be sadly missed in Cork County Council. Tim Lucey is leaving Cork County Council in a good state. A 35-year-old man fled from gardai to avoid a drugs search and tried to swallow some cannabis to avoid detection. Now at Cork District Court a total jail term of five months suspended has been imposed on Michael ODriscoll of 29 Shannon Lawn, Mayfield, Cork, by Judge Olann Kelleher on the obstruction and drug possession charges. The background to the case was that on June 24, 2022 shortly before 11pm while on patrol, Garda Sean Hahessy observed Michael ODriscoll in a suspected street deal. Garda Hahessy informed him he was to be searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Mr ODriscoll fled on foot. He was apprehended a short distance away where he proceeded to attempt to swallow a deal of cannabis herb. He was restrained and the cannabis recovered. When detained at Mayfield garda station, a second deal of cannabis was located in his underwear. The total value of the cannabis was 130. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said at Cork District Court, He is no longer involved in the use of drugs. Mr Buttimer asked the judge to take into consideration the fact that the young man had also pleaded guilty to the charges against him. Who exactly does Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks serve? Presumably, the entirety of the Montanan public, with decisions presumably reflecting scientific management of all of Montana's wild resources for all users. Two weeks ago, Montana based non-profit Wolves of the Rockies hosted a Yellowstone Wolf Summit in Gardiner. Wolves of the Rockies' agenda is simply the scientific management of wolves as a wildlife species through policies that take into account non-consumptive users in addition to consumptive interests. One of the major focal points of the summit was the dangers of allowing extremists on all sides to dominate issues of wolves (and other wildlife) and the need to understand the sincere concerns of fellow Westerners who see wolves through a different lens than ourselves. We believe it is through good faith relationships, transparency and policies based on reality that all sides will ultimately come out ahead. Summit speakers included livestock owners who live in wolf country. They included ethical hunters who venture into the Rocky Mountain wilderness in the hopes of filling up their winter freezer with elk meat. They even included the lead wolf biologist of Wyoming Game & Fish. But they did not include Montana FWP. Not for lack of invitation. Wolves of the Rockies asked FWP over 10 months ago to participate in the June 2023 summit, and asked again on at least five subsequent occasions, only to be first refused by the previous director Hank Worsech and then by the new director Dustin Temple. Additional FWP leadership either refused or ignored all invitations. We didn't want FWP to send someone to our wolf conference so they could be heckled; that would serve absolutely no purpose for us. We wanted someone representing our wildlife resource management agency to answer honest questions, explain the data behind their wolf management policies, and to simply engage with us as legitimate stakeholders. FWP works regularly and closely with the Montana Trappers Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, and a host of other targeted wildlife interests. And that brings us back to the initial question posed above. If FWP is truly serving the people of Montana, then it must start extending its engagement beyond only consumptive users, as well as cease pretending that a handful of organizations with deep pockets speak for all hunters. Furthermore, if FWP is indeed managing wildlife based on sound science and the long established American tradition of the public trust, then it is quite perplexing that they routinely refuse to engage non-consumptive users or clearly explain the data behind their decision making. Why for example do we need a complete open season (no quota) on wolves, with individuals able to now obtain 10 wolf tags by hunting and another 10 by trapping, with said individuals then paid by the state for each dead wolf (which is a bounty, despite the state calling it "reimbursement") even in areas of the state with elk populations above management objectives and miniscule livestock losses? Why does the FWP insist on ignoring the tens of thousands of Montanan wildlife wildlife watchers, the tens of millions of dollars that wolf-watching and other wildlife watching brings to Montana communities, and those outdoorsmen who know that the responsible carnivore management promised by the state is nothing like the wholesale slaughter through any means imaginable that the state is actually delivering? Finally, why does FWP aggressively resist any fiscal benefits that could be provided by inclusion of wildlife watchers, including killing a voluntary Wolf Stamp for which all proceeds would have directly funded all non-lethal aspects of Montana's wolf program? It seems that FWP refuses to even acknowledge that wildlife management governed by science and enacted on behalf of all Montanans' interests is desirable, or even possible. We want win-win. We're tired of the paradigm of "win-lose", and wildlife watchers getting the seats at the table that our numbers warrant to hold FWP accountable to reality is not the death knell for Western culture. It's an affirmation of Montana values of equality, responsibility and fair governance. We have no interest in banning big game hunting or destroying the small family rancher. Of course, if FWP bothered to come to the summit, they would have learned that. The Crawford Art Gallery is set to benefit from government funding to promote stronger representation of Irelands diverse communities. It comes as Arts Minister Catherine Martin (Green party) announced the acquisition of more than 100 contemporary artworks to the National Collection. This was supported by an allocation of 1.5m - from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media - to the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery. The purpose of the award was to respond to significant gaps identified in the collections of the national cultural institutions. New additions will take the form of paintings, sculptures, photography and installations. Digital media works and textiles are also part of the collection which features Irish and international artists. The acquisitions, inspired by pressing issues such as climate change, diversity and global migration, will ensure that seminal artists previously missing from the National Collection are represented. They come on foot of a 1m fund provided to Crawford Art Gallery and IMMA in 2020 for the acquisition of artworks to support Irish artists during the covid-19 pandemic. Minister Martin described the importance of diversity in the art world. It is critical that our national collection speaks to Irish audiences about the issues that matter now. "This significant investment in acquisitions at IMMA and the Crawford delivers on that need and strengthens the holdings of both institutions. "It is heartening to see generations of artists finally find their home in the Collection and to see the complexity and diversity of our nation reflected in these exciting works." Meanwhile, Director of the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Annie Fletcher reiterated her gratitude to Minister Catherine Martin. The impact of this acquisitions funding cannot be underestimated. It has re-focused and reinvigorated the Irish Museum of Modern Arts resolute determination to build a vital, accessible and ambitious world class Collection for Ireland. We recognise and sincerely thank Minister Martins commitment to the arts and for her Departments support in realising these strategic aims with our valued colleagues in the Crawford Art Gallery. This important injection of funding matches our ambitions and commitment to make IMMA a significant site and resource of Irish and international artwork for the Irish public now and into the future." A protest took place in Cork city centre on Saturday afternoon in support of Pipers Funfair, whose future in Kinsale has been cast into doubt. Cork County Council is currently seeking a 30,000 bond - down from an original figure of 60,000 - from the organisers to hold the funfair in a Kinsale town park. A rally was held in Kinsale last April in support of the event which attracted a large crowd, and the organisers are hoping Saturdays protest will help to further highlight the ongoing situation. Libby Marah and Jade Jasmine Hickey were at a protest march in Cork to bring Piper's Funfair back to Kinsale for 2024. Helen Hickey who is a member of the Save Pipers Action Group said they are protesting to raise awareness. We hope the protest will raise awareness and highlight the ongoing situation." A protest march to bring Piper's Funfair back to Kinsale for 2024 making it's way through Cork city centre. Ms Hickey said the group were in Cork city last Thursday drumming up publicity ahead of Saturdays protest. We were in the city canvassing last Thursday and we handed out 500 fliers. We good feedback from the public and people are signing the online petition which is now up to nearly 600 signatures. There is fierce frustration over this issue locally, she added. We have great support from the local community and the businesses in Kinsale." The Piper family are synonymous with Kinsale. They built the funfair in 1932. Their livelihoods and heritage are under threat. The people of Kinsale are missing what is part of our culture and childhood. Helen Hickey of Save Piper's Action Group speaking at Grand Parade following a protest march through Cork city centre to bring Piper's Funfair back to Kinsale for 2024. Ms Hickey said the Save Pipers Action Group wont give up. We have approached the executive to get another meeting and to have a sit down. We have had no response. The situation is in a stalemate. We wont give up. We will keep battling. A protest march to bring Piper's Funfair back to Kinsale for 2024 making it's way through Cork city centre. "We will be taking the protest and handing over signatories to the County Hall the following week," concluded Ms Hickey. Kenneth Fox The High Court has dismissed a father and daughter's claim that An Bord Pleanala's decision to allow a data centre to be built near their home has breached several Constitutional rights, including their right to a healthy environment. Those claims, which were denied by the State, and the board, forms part of an action that raises important points of domestic and EU law, were brought by Mannix Coyne and his daughter Amy Coyne. The Coynes live at Bracetown, Clonee, Co Meath, close to the 24.5-hectare site where permission has been given to allow EngineNode Ltd to build a data centre. The proposed data centre includes four two storey data storage buildings, offices as well as associated roads and a car park. In a second set of related proceedings the Coynes also sought to quash the board's decision to allow a substation and grid connection works, associated with the proposed data centre, at Bracetown and Gunnock which are north of Clonee. In a lengthy judgement on Friday, Mr Justice David Holland rejected all grounds of the Coyne's arguments in the two separate actions they brought. EngineNode Ltd, which also opposed the challenges, was a notice party to the proceedings. The Coynes had claimed that the proposed centre will require of 180 megawatts of electricity per year and will generate an estimated 1% of Ireland's total annual carbon dioxide emissions. They claimed that the board's decision in early July 2021 granting planning permission for the centre was flawed, invalid and should be set aside. They claimed the decision to grant permission will make a significant contribution to the current climate crisis and that there was a failure by the board to assess the environmental consequences of carbon dioxide emissions that will be produced by the proposed development. The Coynes claimed that the board's decisions infringed their Constitutional Rights and rights under the European Convention on Human Rights to bodily integrity, life and a right to a healthy environment. The respondents and the notice party rejected all of the Coyne's claims and in a statement and had argued that a right to a healthy environment has not been recognised as existing under either the Constitution or the ECHR. The Coynes also claimed that the decisions did not comply with planning regulations, the 2000 Planning and Development Act and the EU Directive on Environmental Impact Assessments and Habitats. No regard was given by the board to the 2015 Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, it was also alleged. They also claimed they will suffer a major loss of amenity, privacy as well serious disturbance to the equine business they operate from their home if the centre and the associated works are carried out. The matter will return for final orders before the court at a later date. High Court reporters A number of Irish retail stores in the Iceland chain will not reopen, which will affect a large number of employees, the High Court has heard. An examiner appointed by the court to Metron Stores Limited, which operates the Irish stores, reported that about 160 employees have been temporarily laid off, while 12 of the 26 Irish stores have temporarily closed. All efforts will be made to retain staff members, the examiners barrister, Stephen Brady, told the court on Friday. The company is following statutory steps and it is likely a collective redundancy process will begin in the coming days involving engagement with employees and unions, the court heard. Joe Walsh, of JW Accountants, was appointed interim examiner to Metron in June, when the court was told the company was insolvent and unable to pay debts of about 36 million as they fall due. Among the companys difficulties was a Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) order requiring it to withdraw from its Irish stores all frozen food of animal origin imported since March 3rd of this year. Metron has also suffered significant losses in the past two years due to a high-cost base. On Friday, the examiners barrister, Stephen Brady, said a preferred investor has been selected and, if finalised, the investment will bring significant working capital, protect employment and ensure sustainability. Cash flow has been carefully managed while the company remains under the protection of the courts. Outlining Mr Walshs report, Mr Brady said four stores were temporarily closed around the time of the examiners appointment, while it was necessary to temporarily close a further eight loss-making outlets since then. Employees at these 12 stores, located in counties Dublin, Cork, Wexford, Donegal, Roscommon, Tipperary and Longford, have been placed on temporary lay-off. It is now clear that certain stores will be closed permanently, he added. Mr Brady said the company has made good progress in dealing with various issues arising from the FSAIs intervention and ongoing investigation. EU regulations Previously the court was told the alleged breaches concerned the importation of the products from the UK into Ireland. The products veterinary certificates came from the UK but needed certificates from within the EU to comply with EU regulations. The firm was the subject of an FSAI withdrawal notice and has been required to destroy food valued at 360,000 and will need to destroy another food consignment worth 252,000, the court heard. Efforts were made to return the relevant food items to Britain to avoid good food from being destroyed, but this was not possible, the examiner reported. Mr Brady also told the court the examiners office has received about 100 claims from employees regarding potential amounts owed to them. At the examiners request, Mr Justice Michael Quinn extended by one month the period under which the company is protected from its creditors. Noting significant changes were afoot, he said the proposed investment was of critical importance. There was no objection from the companys creditors. Iceland UKs counsel Shelley Horan said her client has significant assets, including freezers, at many of the Irish stores. She stressed that her client has complied with all of its regulatory controls, while the Irish entity is responsible for its own compliance. The case was adjourned to a date next month. 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. The beach at Signehamna, sampled in 2022 with the 12 sediment samples on the right. Birgit Lutz with permission Citizen scientists visiting the Arctic have assisted an international research team in finding microplastics on remote beaches for a new study. The amount of plastic being produced all over the world has led to the tiny pieces of plastic debris being found everywhere, including in sea ice, inside nature reserves and on the floor of the ocean. Scientists are afraid ocean currents will cause plastic accumulation in the Arctic, damaging long-established and fragile ecosystems. Plastic pollution is now ubiquitous. It is found on land and in soil and most rivers of the world, said Dr. Bruno Walther of the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research and lead author of the study, as Frontiers reported. It is even found in the polar oceans and the deepest ocean trenches. In order to fill in gaps in their knowledge of the type and scale of microplastics polluting the Arctic, the researchers asked tourists on cruises to collect samples. The study, Citizen scientists reveal small but concentrated amounts of fragmented microplastic on Arctic beaches, was published in the journal Frontiers in Environmental Science. In 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2022, four cruises carrying tourists visited the Svalbard archipelago the northernmost landmass in Europe and collected samples of sediment, reported Frontiers. At first, metal tools were used to take single samples from beaches and sent, along with photographs and metadata, to record sampling locations. This method was later expanded to entire beaches with sampling grids. Citizen science is possible even in remote Arctic beaches, Walther said. This helps to cut down on traveling time, CO2 emissions and costs for scientists, and it helps to engage citizens in a global environmental issue. After the samples were dried, weighed and measured, they were filtered to catch particles one millimeter or larger. The scientists theorized that smaller plastic particles dont become airborne easily, which they tested. The researchers discovered that microplastics of the larger size were very concentrated, but not widespread. However, the overall level of pollution was similar to areas that had been thought to have much more plastic pollution than beaches in the Arctic. The team identified two types of sources for the plastic: polyester-epoxide particles, likely from ship equipment or color coating, and polypropylene fibers that were probably from a fishing net. Plastic debris from fisheries is the most direct point of entry to the marine realm, and is often particularly important in remote areas, said author Dr. Melanie Bergmann of the Alfred Wegener Institute, according to Frontiers. There is an active fishing fleet operating in the waters surrounding Svalbard but also in the North Sea and north Atlantic. Some of the waste that they emit drifts to the beaches of Svalbard. Conditions on the Arctic beach continuous sunlight all summer, high humidity caused by fog and repeated freeze cycles looked to have caused the netting to fragment very fast. If the same type of quick fragmentation was happening elsewhere, microplastics could be introduced there rapidly as well. We still need more sampling in the Arctic, in more places and in more regular time intervals to monitor the situation, Walther said, as Frontiers reported. It should be noted that we only analyzed microplastics particles larger than 1mm. This was because of the citizen science approach and to avoid potential airborne contamination by small particles, added Bergmann. But our previous studies on Arctic water, ice, and sediment samples have shown that more than 80% of the particles were much smaller. So, we probably would have found more particles, if we had looked for smaller particles, too. An earthquake measuring 3.4 in magnitude was reported in the area between Laurel and Red Lodge Friday at about 2 p.m. The quake registered strongest about three miles southwest of Boyd, according to earthquaketrack.com. Carbon County emergency dispatchers were initially getting calls about an explosion. The county sheriffs office posted a notice on its Facebook page at about 2:15 p.m. asking residents to call if they had any more information. One resident responded to the sheriffs post from Fromberg say the quake rattled her glass doors. Another resident in the area said her whole house shook. "It kind of freaked me out," said another resident. The sheriffs office said it so far hasnt received any reports of serious damage. Manx owned mansion fire on 'Billionaire's row' Pic: London Fire Brigade The fire that broke out in a derelict mansion during the early hours of this morning (Friday, July 21) is owned by Manx registered company, Birch Ventures Limited. Around 70 firefighters and ten fire engines were tackling the blaze on the The Bishops Avenue in Barnet, north London. The Bishops Avenue is renownedly nicknamed as billionaires row due to it being one of the most expensive streets in Britain, with big names such as Sultan of Brunei and Justin Bieber inhabiting some of the mansions on the street. The Georgian property known as the The Towers was reportedly bought by the Saudi royal family for 25 million and was built on part of the site of the mansion of British actress Gracie Fields. According to sources, the property was sold on to Castletown based company, Birch Ventures Limited in 2013. London Fire Brigade (LFB) have said that the fire started on the homes ground floor but damaged the first floor and destroyed the roof of the three-storey building. A spokesperson for LFB said that the heavy smoke from the fire could be seen and smelt in other areas of central London. The site of the property is currently the subject of a planning operation to Barnet Council. Sources have said that developers had hopes of demolishing the property and replacing it with 65 flats. At one point in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb dons his iconic uniform a fedora cap, a smoking pipe, a slightly over-sized suit like Batman wearing his cape and cowl for the first time. It's a look that serves as a sort of armor against mere mortals, who he woos with a peculiar charisma, as well as the military and political bureaucracy he battles while leading the Manhattan Project. It's also a way for J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy) to ground himself as he wrestles with the major conflict around his work: Building an atomic bomb could help win the war, but at what cost to humanity? Oppenheimer may seem like a curious project for Nolan: Since wrapping up his Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises, he's thrown himself into increasingly complex projects (perhaps to atone for that disappointment). Interstellar was ostensibly a story about a man exploring the cosmos to find a new planet for humanity, but it also wrestled with personal sacrifices as his children aged beyond him. Universal Pictures Dunkirk was a purely cinematic, almost dialog-free depiction of a famous wartime evacuation. And Tenet was a bold attempt at mixing another heady sci-fi concept (what if you could go backwards through time?!) with bombastic James Bond-esque set pieces. Oppenheimer, meanwhile, is a mostly talky film set in a variety of meeting rooms, save for one explosive sequence. Take a step back, though, and a film about an intelligent and very capable man wrestling with huge moral issues is very much in the Nolan wheelhouse. Oppenheimer's swaggering genius fits right alongside Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman, the dedicated magicians in The Prestige or the expert dream divers/super spies in Inception. The film, which is based on the biography American Prometheus by Martin J. Sherwin and Kai Bird, follows Oppenheimer from his time in Germany as a doctoral student, to his professorship at UC Berkeley. He mingles with notable scientists, including Albert Einstein himself, and makes a name for himself as a quantum physics researcher. We see Oppenheimer as more than just a bookish geek: He sends money to anti-fascists fighting in the Spanish Civil War, he pushes for unionization among lab workers and professors, and he supports local Communists. (Something that will come back to haunt him later.) It's not too long before he's recruited to the Manhattan Project to build an atomic bomb, and the myth-making truly begins. Like a Nolan heist film, he assembles a team of the brightest scientific minds in America and beyond, and he pushes the government to establish a town doubling as a secret research base in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The film is strongest when it focuses on the specificities of the Manhattan Project: the rush to build a bomb before Nazi Germany, the pushback from scientists terrified about the damage "the gadget" could do. Universal Pictures The movie firmly focuses on Oppenheimer's point of view, so much so that we mainly see him as a heroic tortured genius. Only he can put the right scientists together and motivate them to work; only he can solve the riddles of quantum physics to keep America safe. Some colleagues criticize his cavalier attitude about building an atomic bomb they think it can lead to untold disaster, while he naively thinks it may be so powerful it could end all war. But, for the most part, we're left feeling that he was a great man who was ultimately betrayed by a country that didn't care for his post-war anti-nuclear activism. I wasn't able to see Oppenheimer on an IMAX screen, unfortunately, but sitting front row in a local theater still managed to be a thoroughly immersive experience. That was particularly surprising since it's really a movie featuring people (mostly men) talking to each other in a series of unremarkable rooms. Save for one virtuoso set piece the build-up and aftermath of a successful atomic bomb test is Nolan at his best what's most impressive is how cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema makes those conversations utterly engaging. We've never seen Cillian Murphy's piercing blue eyes do so much work in close-up. Universal Pictures Still, it's an overall disjointed experience. The few featured women Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer, Florence Pugh as the Communist activist Jean Tatlock are sketched thin, even by Nolan standards. And the movie would have benefitted from more insight into Oppenheimer's thinking. It's a surprisingly standard biopic, even though it's three hours long and far more technical than any studio film this year. At the very least, it would have been interesting to see Oppenheimer reckon more directly with the aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We see him confront President Harry Truman (Gary Oldman) in a vain attempt to stop building nuclear weapons, and the film points to his very public stance against future bombs. But even those scenes feel self-serving. At the end of the film, Oppenheimer finally comes to understand something many of his colleagues have been saying from the beginning. Nothing will be the same because of him. There is no peace now, only the undying specter of nuclear annihilation. When most of the advanced countries are on the recourse to exit the path of unconventional monetary policy, it is time to look at a new perspective and review the unconventional monetary policy from the lens of tool purchase by central banks under quantitative easing. The purchase of government treasuries affects risk premia and yields more compared to the purchase of private assets by central banks. But the purchase of private exchange traded funds/mortgage backed securities are important for cash-starved entrepreneurs and real-estate developers compared to government bond purchase. How India was different in practising the unconventional monetary policy is also discussed. Jake Wallin was once a small boy who sought comfort in the arms of family, terrified of fireworks that lit up the sky. On Saturday, the Fargo police officer was remembered for growing up to be a military veteran and dedicated officer whose final act of valor was staring down the face of a man intent on bloodshed. Wallin, 23, was killed July 14 when a man armed with 1,800 rounds of ammunition, multiple guns and explosives ambushed officers responding to a routine traffic crash. Two other officers and a civilian were wounded before a fourth officer returned fire, killing gunman Mohamad Barakat. Police said the actions of the fourth officer likely spared the city a bigger, bloodier attack. Wallin, who had been sworn in as a Fargo police officer in April and was still in field training, was cremated in his uniform. On Saturday, the Fargo Police Department escorted his cremains to Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, for his funeral service, which was attended by loved ones, dignitaries and law enforcement agencies from across the country. The police procession of 10 squad cars and three buses carrying department employees left Fargo early Saturday for Pequot Lakes. Dozens of people were at the memorial honoring Wallin at the site of the shooting as the procession went past, KFGO reported. Wallin previously served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and was deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq from November 2020 to July 2021, according to a spokesperson for the Minnesota National Guard. He received final military honors at a private interment. He served his country, came back here and wanted nothing more but to serve in a position with purpose and meaning his exact words and he did that, Fargo Police Chief David Zibolski said at a media briefing after the shooting. Zibolski on Saturday recounted Wallin's impressive quality as a candidate in his officer interview last fall, how he excelled in the police academy, and strived for a job with meaning and purpose. The chief shared that body-camera footage of the shooting showed Wallin hurried to create distance, intuitively after his fellow officers were hit, pulled his gun out and was taking aim at the gunman when he was fatally struck. His final act of valor was to selflessly face the shooter and attempt to neutralize him to save others, Zibolski said. His actions were valorous and exemplify the highest standards of the policing profession. Aunt Jodi Wallin recounted her nephew as the little boy I adored who grew into the young man I admired and was oh so proud of. Wallin had recently purchased a house for himself and his fiancee, and "was so proud of becoming a new homeowner that he ran right out and bought himself a lawnmower and mowed his new lawn, his aunt said. I remember him as a small boy with his little arms wrapped so tightly around my neck, burying his face into me to try to avoid the fireworks that he hated so much at that age, she said. From that timid, small boy, he grew to be a driven, ambitious, brave young man. Chaplain Jordan Helming, who served with Wallin in Iraq, recalled his dedication as a soldier and his positive personality amid a changing mission as well as restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic. Jake could see the big picture in life, and he realized that it took long, disciplined, steady efforts to get you to the top of the mountain, Helming said. Wallin's parents received two Fargo police awards and the Minnesota Distinguished Service Medal in honor of their son at the service. Law enforcement agencies from other states attended Wallin's funeral. A caravan including Sioux Falls police and South Dakota Highway Patrol left Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Friday to make the five-and-a-half hour trip for the funeral, KELO-TV reported. Dignitaries at the funeral service included Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. A public memorial service is planned for Wednesday in Fargo. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will attend and give remarks, his spokesman said. On Friday, North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley provided more details about the attack, which also wounded Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes and bystander Karlee Koswick, who had been involved in the crash. Barakat was a Syrian national who came to the U.S. on an asylum request in 2012 and became a U.S. citizen in 2019, Wrigley said. Over the past five years, he had searched the internet for terms including kill fast, explosive ammo, incendiary rounds, and mass shooting events, Wrigley said. Perhaps the most chilling search was for area events where there are crowds, which on July 13 brought up a news article with the headline, Thousands enjoy first day of Downtown Fargo Street Fair. On the day of the attack, the downtown fair was in its second day and was less than 3 miles from the crash scene. Barakat also searched for information on the Red River Valley Fair, which was a 6-mile drive from the scene, the attorney general said. Wrigley said Barakat had an obvious motive to kill and was driven by hate, but it was not directed toward any particular group including the police. Evidence suggests instead that Barakat came upon the crash by happenstance and his ensuing ambush was a diversion from his much bigger intended target, Wrigley said. A proposed ballot measure that would set an age limit of 80 for congressional candidates in North Dakota has been approved for circulation. Secretary of State Michael Howe on Friday announced that a required petition title had been approved. The title is a statement to be included on the petition that sums up the proposed constitutional initiative. The measure's 28-member sponsoring committee is led by Jared Hendrix, who led a successful gubernatorial and legislative term limits initiative last year. He has said supporters think there should be a retirement age for Congress. No one who could attain 81 years of age by the end of their term could be elected or appointed to the states U.S. House or Senate seats under the proposal. It's unclear how the proposed measure could stand up to the U.S. Constitution, which does not set maximum age limits. The petition title reads, in part: "No person may be elected or appointed to serve a term or a portion of a term representing North Dakota in the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives if that person could be 81 years old by December 31 of the year immediately preceding the end of the term, and any such person is prohibited from appearing on the ballot. "If a superior law requires age-limited candidates to appear on the ballot in a primary or general election, the candidates age on December 31 of the year immediately preceding the end of the term they are seeking must be printed next to the names of all candidates for all federal legislative offices in future elections." Measure supporters have one year -- until July 21, 2024 -- to gather 31,164 valid signatures. They have to submit signatures by Feb. 12 to get the measure on the June 2024 ballot and by July 8 to get it on the November 2024 general election ballot. If they submit signatures after July 8 but before the July 21 deadline, the measure would go on the 2026 ballot or any statewide special election held before June 2026. The number of required signatures is 4% of the state population at the 2020 census, 779,094. It's the second potential constitutional initiative ballot measure next year. Bismarck plastic surgeon and former Republican state Rep. Rick Becker is spearheading an effort to abolish property taxes. Howe late last month approved that petition for circulation. Colt Fire torching on Thursday, July 20. (Courtesy InciWeb) People living near Rainy and Summit lakes north of Seeley Lake were ordered to evacuate Friday afternoon because of the spread of the Colt Fire burning in the area since earlier this week. The Missoula County Sheriffs Office issued the evacuation order at 4 p.m. Friday for people living along Highway 83 between mile markers 27 and 31 from Rainy Lake to Summit Lake. The same area was issued an evacuation warning about an hour beforehand. The sheriffs office said the fire was an immediate threat in the area and that an emergency vehicle would being moving through the area making loudspeaker announcements about the evacuation order. People are also being advised to avoid the Beaver Lake and Colt Lake areas where crews were working on the fire. The fire is believed to have started when lightning moved through the area, about 15 miles northwest of Seeley Lake, on Monday, though it was first detected on Tuesday. As of midday Friday, the fire was an estimated 200 acres in size and was active on all fronts, according to fire officials. It is burning through dense timber with heavy dead fuels. Incident spokesperson Kristin Mortenson, with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, said she would not be surprised if the fire had grown well beyond 200 acres as she drove toward it on Friday afternoon and could see the smoke plume. Its pretty big and weve got some strong winds here, she said. Its been really difficult to get accurate mapping on it because conditions are continually changing. Firefighters were pulled away from the fire on Thursday afternoon when activity increased but were back working on the fire both on the ground and with aircraft Friday morning. A Complex Incident Management Team was ordered in to manage the fire and is expected to be on site for a briefing Saturday before taking control of it on Sunday, according to the DNRC. One hotshot crew, two Type 2 hand crews, two engines, and multiple aircraft are currently working the fire along with DNRC and U.S. Forest Service personnel, and more resources have been ordered. Westerly winds are expected to shift to southwesterly winds overnight, and temperatures are forecast this weekend in the 90s with humidity around 11-21 percent, according to fire officials. Several new fires were also reported in the Bowles Creek area Friday east of Hamilton and about three miles southwest of Skalkaho Pass, the largest of which was an estimated 50-60 acres Friday morning, according to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The USFS said the causes of those fires had not yet been verified but are also suspected to have started because of lightning. People living near the Colt Fire and in fire-prone areas of Montana are advised to be prepared with go-bags, evacuation plans and more during the fire season, which officials said this week was likely to kick off in earnest this weekend into next week, with temperatures in the 90s across most of western Montana and little precipitation forecast. People in Missoula County can click here for more information on the evacuation process and can sign up for emergency alerts at Smart911.com. The latest information on the Colt Fire can be found on its page at InciWeb. The post Evacuations ordered north of Seeley Lake as Colt Fire spreads appeared first on Daily Montanan. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 56F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. A new bill seeking to deter the theft and resale of quads and ATVs has received Royal Assent following months of lobbying work by farming groups. The Equipment Theft (Prevention) Bill will give the Home Secretary new powers to make regulations that centres on ATV thefts, which cost 2.2 million in 2021. It has received Royal Assent after months of work between the NFU, NFU Mutual, Home Office, National Rural Crime Unit and other industry organisations. The bill includes measures such as fitting ATVs with immobilisers, forensic markings and ensuring the owners details are registered on a database. Industry groups have urged the government to pass secondary legislation to widen the scope of the Act to include other agricultural equipment, particularly GPS systems. NFU vice president, David Exwood said farmers would be 'delighted' that the government and police now have wider powers to tackle increasing incidents of equipment theft on farm. Quads are often one of the main things that attract criminals onto farms which often leads to further thefts," he explained. "But if these new powers can deter criminals in the first instance, I hope they will drive a reduction in further instances of rural crime." The key provisions the Act will facilitate are immobilisers, which are electronic devices that will only allow the engine to run if the correct key or key fob is present. It also includes forensic markings, which remain hidden on vehicles but can be identified under UV light, or in some cases contain a unique code that can be read by scanners. Bob Henderson, NFU Mutuals engineering lead on rural crime, said there was a 'huge opportunity' within the bill to protect farmers. The Equipment Theft Bill receiving Royal Assent comes at a time when we are seeing an increase in theft of vital equipment and machinery. "We know the role that measures such as forensic marking, registration and immobilisation play in preventing crime." The Act was a Private Members Bill introduced by Greg Smith MP and supported by Lord Blencathra in the Lords. It has also been supported by the National Rural Crime Unit, led by Superintendent Andy Huddleston. According to NFU Mutual's most recent figures, rural crime cost farmers over 40 million in 2021. Kit Connor wasnt used to the idea of millions of people watching his every move before he came out as bisexual. Kit Connor wasnt used to the idea of millions of people watching his every move before he came out as bisexual The 19-year-old Heartstopper actor, who revealed his bisexuality to the world in November amid intense speculation on social media, added it would have been so inappropriate for makers of the hit Netflix gay drama to ask him about his sexual orientation when he was cast in the show. He told The Guardian: (I) was still very freshly 18 (when I came out.) Still newly in the public eye. I wasnt used to the idea of millions of people watching what I was doing, or having a genuine interest in my private life. Kit took to social media last year to accuse fans on Twitter of forcing him to disclose his sexuality. He tweeted: Back for a minute. Im bi. congrats for forcing an 18 year old to out himself. Kit plays Nick Nelson in Netflix love story Heartstopper, based on the graphic novels by Alice Oseman, 28, about two schoolboys navigating their first queer relationship. The actor added about not being asked about his sexuality when he tried out for the part as a younger teen: It would have been so inappropriate to ask a 16-year-old. But he said there was something unspoken in the little notice before the casting call, saying: We really want the characters to pass authentically. I was thinking, Well, I feel I can play this role very authentically. I knew that I was a queer man, but I didn't feel I wanted the world to know. Not because I was ashamed, but because it was private. Kit, who still lives with his parents in his native London, recently told British Vogue about his and his familys privacy: You feel a bit watched. Im still in my formative years, so things I wouldnt want to be watched doing are. He added even though he is starring in the second series of Heartstopper, which premieres on Netflix in August, he wanted to be seen as an actor who can do a variety of different roles. Dan Aykroyd argues with his brothers ghost. Dan Aykroyd argues with his brothers ghost The afterlife-obsessed Ghostbusters actor, 71, was devastated when his younger sibling Peter Aykroyd died aged 65 in 2021 two weeks before his 66th birthday from sepsis caused by an untreated abdominal hernia, and Dan says he tells off his spirit for not allowing him to take him to hospital for treatment that would probably have saved his life. He told the Daily Mail: I say (to Peters ghost), Will you just get into the ambulance? He had an impacted bowel, but he was very anti-medicine and refused help and it ended up killing him. Dan added the other spirits he regularly sees are grinning to remind him of better days, saying: Theyre smiling, as they were in life. Theyre reminding me of the good times. The comic still regularly performs as a Blues Brother with the late John Belushis brother Jim Belushi, 69, and says he still feels his friends presence when they play, 41 years after Johns drug overdose death in 1982 aged 33. Dan said: We dedicate the show to John and I feel his spirit. I feel it when I go into House of Blues (Dans music club franchise.) Every time I go in I think about him and how much fun hes missed. Dan also said about how ghost sightings are in his blood: It has always been in my family. My great-grandfather was an Edwardian spiritualist. My dad wrote a book about the history of ghosts. I grew up with it. Dan has been filming the follow-up movie to Ghostbusters sequel Afterlife sequel in the UK, where he has indulged in his love of visiting haunted spots. He said: I love working with the British crew, theyre superb. The studios are state of the art and vie with anything we have in Hollywood. And I have an idea for a sequel I would set here in the UK. There are lots of ghosts and mythical creatures in Scotland. I put a thousand miles on the car driving up there and it was wonderful. I went to Skye, to the Glencoe valley, Edinburgh, Glasgow I loved it. Dame Joanna Lumley is thrilled Queen Camilla is no longer called Queen Consort. Dame Joanna Lumley is glad she's known as Queen Camilla The 76-year-old royals title was changed after she and husband King Charles were formally crowned in May, and the Absolutely Fabulous star believes her friend is a tremendous asset" and wonderful figurehead for the country. She told Britains HELLO! magazine: I think shes going to be a completely wonderful Queen. Im thrilled that shes called Queen Camilla, rather than Queen Consort, because that is her name. And I think Queen Camilla is a tremendous asset, a wonderful figurehead and a tremendous name to add to our great royal heritage. She has been constant and true and loyal, and silent when silence is necessary. And shes won the hearts of people, from having been put in the invidious position of always being measured against somebody else. Joanna praised Camilla for always being a good sport and good fun on official engagements. She said: One of the things I love most of all is her enthusiasm. Shes always wholehearted in the things she supports and loves. People who know her know that shes charming, funny, self-effacing and not grand. Shes a good sport and good fun and makes everyone feel at ease. And the veteran actress insisted criticism of Charles and Camilla taking the throne in their 70s is unfounded. She argued: The fact that she and the King have come so late to the throne is no bad thing, because they know the world, they know life, they know people. Theyve had time to develop their own interests and passions and they do all they can to make things better. And I think thats a commendable quality. Robin Williams son said he will love the tragic comic forever on what would have been his 72nd birthday. Robin Williams son said he will love the tragic comic forever on what would have been his 72nd birthday Zak Williams, 40, paid tribute to his late dad who died by suicide aged 63 on 11 August 2014 by posting a still on his Instagram on Friday (21.07.23) of Robin starring in 1987 film Good Morning Vietnam. He captioned the image: Happy 72nd Dad! Was remembering how much I used to love that look youd give. That look with a mischievous, loving grin that your friends and loved ones knew so well. Joyous and curious and wondrous. Miss you and love you forever! Zak is the only child from Robins marriage to actress Valerie Velardi, 70, which ended in 1988, and he has two half-siblings from the comedians second marriage, to US film producer Marsha Garces, 67. Robins only daughter, Zelda, 33, also took to social media to commemorate her dad on Friday. Referencing the current SAG-AFTRA strike that has brought Hollywood to a standstill, she said: Happy birthday to Poppo, who definitely wouldve been out there fighting the good fight for art and artists today and always. Zak has often remembered his late father since the beloved movie star passed away, and last year shared a photo on Instagram of Robin wearing biking gear, which he captioned: Ill be remembering you today as you would want to be remembered, in spandex. Miss you and love you always! And in 2021, Zak posted a black-and-white photo of his dad on Instagram, writing alongside the snap: Dad, on what would be your 70th birthday, I would want you to know that your incredible spirit lives within us. Our family will be celebrating you and your memory today. We miss you and love you always! Robin had Zelda and her brother Cody, who does not appear to have social media, with second wife Marsha, who were married from 1989 to 2010. Robin, who took his life after years battling depression and mental health issues after he had been misdiagnosed with Parkinsons disease, married his third wife Susan Schneider in 2011. The actors autopsy revealed instead of Parkinsons he was actually suffering from Lewy body dementia, which can cause behavioural changes including hallucinations, delusions and mood changes. Visiting the magnificent Pantheon in Rome, Italy, now attracts a small entry fee - and for good reason Dating back to 2 BC, the Pantheon officially called the Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres is the most-visited cultural site in Italy, attracting millions of visitors annually. The edifice in Rome stands as an example of the only major work of Roman Imperial architecture, boasting the largest unreinforced concrete dome ever built, and, even today, is remarkably preserved. First constructed by Emperor Hadrian to be a temple honouring the Roman gods (giving it its name - pantheon is Greek for all Gods), it became a Catholic church in 609 AD, and was rechristened the Basilica of Santa Maria ad Martyres. It is an active place of worship with regular Masses being conducted in it. This month, for the first time, this iconic temple has started charging visitors from outside the city a token entry fee. Set by Italian culture and church officials, the ticket price is 5 for tourists. Under 25s will pay 2 for entry, while children under 18 can enter free. The waiver of entry fee applies to residents of Rome, those working at the Pantheon and people attending holy Mass. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online, and reservations are required if you want to visit on public holidays or on weekends. Reports have it that the revenue from tickets will be divided, with 30% going to the Rome diocese and 70% to the culture ministry to cover maintenance and cleaning costs. Images: Shutterstock Also Read: Carry, Dont Wheel, In Dubrovnik And Other Things To Know Before You Go Across the West, a vast swath of federal land has been staked out by oil and gas drillers, miners, cattle grazers, loggers, renewable energy developers and outdoor recreationists. Soon, the federal agency that oversees those lands will allow them to be leased for a new purpose: conservation. Earlier this year, the Bureau of Land Management proposed putting conservation on an equal footing with the other permitted uses across its 245 million acres, about 10% of the land in the United States. The new rule would strengthen the agencys ability to protect certain landscapes and allow it to assess the health of land beyond just grazing areas, reported Stateline. We have so much stress on the public lands if you look at what weve all seen with drought and fire and the changing landscape, as well as the demands on our public lands, said Nada Wolff Culver, the agencys deputy director of policy and programs. If we want to keep [providing multiple uses] successfully for future generations, this rule is timely and necessary. The agency is currently reviewing public comments on the proposed rule. Under the proposal, most conservation leases would be offered for a maximum of 10 years, with the opportunity for renewals. They could be issued to environmental groups for targeted restoration work or to developers to offset their projects effects on wildlife habitat. The new rule could have far-reaching effects. In many Western states, the BLM is the largest landholding entity, making its actions crucial for wildlife migration corridors and watersheds, along with multibillion-dollar industries and the state budgets that rely on them. Some states fear that environmentalists and the BLM will use conservation leases to block oil and gas or grazing operations. Six Republican governors have written a letter to the agency opposing the rule. Others, though, see it as an opportunity to work in tandem with the feds to restore healthy landscapes. A massive impact Last year, the state of Wyoming received $750 million in royalties from mineral development on its federal lands, money it used to pay for schools and roads. State leaders there fear the BLMs new emphasis on conservation could cut back on oil and gas and coal development along with state revenues. It would have a massive impact on Wyoming, said state Sen. Brian Boner, a Republican who chairs the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee. It absolutely would have a detrimental effect on our state budget, on our schools budget. In 2021, the BLM paid states more than $1.7 billion, mostly in the form of mineral royalties in Wyoming and New Mexico. But Boners worries arent just limited to the direct payouts from the feds. In many places, BLM lands exist in a checkerboard pattern interspersed with state and private lands. Many oil and gas and grazing operations, even those based on private lands, rely on access to neighboring public parcels. If you have an environmental group that leases the federal portion of the checkerboard, that neighboring private landowner is out of business, Boner said. Theres no way to practically make that work. Boners committee has urged the federal agency to withdraw the rule, and its looking at changing the states fencing law to ensure landowners arent forced to pay for fences if neighboring BLM land is declared off-limits to cattle. The BLM oversees 155 million acres of grazing land, and roughly 18,000 grazing permits. Some industry groups say the new proposal could devastate ranching in the West. If you took federal lands grazing away, you would see the bottom dropping out of the rural economy in a lot of these places, said Sigrid Johannes, director of government affairs and federal lands with the National Cattlemens Beef Association. In a checkerboard situation, [BLM lands] may be the only parcels that allow you to move through a landscape of intermingled private and state land. Johannes and other industry leaders who operate on federal land believe that conservation leases are likely to limit their access. This is going to severely constrict productive uses on public lands, said Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, a trade group that promotes oil and gas development. The way BLM has redefined conservation makes us think they are defining it in such a way that any other use is incompatible. In Nevada, where 65% of the states land is managed by the BLM, mining and grazing industries rely heavily on those federal parcels. We dont want to see this weaponized to remove larger pieces of land from economic industries, said J.J. Goicoechea, director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture. The way its written right now, it appears the conservation use will trump all other uses on public lands. Our workforce depends on multiple uses of federal lands. While the BLM has not specified what it will charge for conservation leases, some have called on regulators to set market prices that account for the value of other activities that may be preempted by conservation. The federal Bureau of Land Management oversees 245 million acres, about 10% of the land in the United States. The federal agency acknowledges the economic significance its lands have for Western states. Last year, it estimated that activities on BLM lands exceeded $200 billion in economic output and produced nearly 800,000 jobs. But agency leaders say industries fears are overblown. Culver, the BLM official, said that conservation leases could not be used to override existing projects or permits. And she pledged the feds would work closely with landowners on checkerboard landscapes to assess the best locations for conservation leases. The conclusion our experts reached was that there was not a quantifiable likely economic impact to industries or state budgets that depend on them, she said. We expect to continue making the significant economic contributions we do to so many communities across the West. Culver noted that many state wildlife agencies require developers to restore certain landscapes to offset habitat disruptions elsewhere. Opening public lands for such compensatory mitigation projects could actually help companies speed up construction of projects like wind and solar farms, she said. Meanwhile, she said, conservation programs will be designed to work in tandem with cattle grazers, not kick them off the land. The Biden administration, Culver said, is confident it can add conservation as a permitted use without cutting back on existing industries. Restoring habitat New Mexico draws more economic output from BLM lands than any other state, largely in the form of oil and gas development. But leaders there dont see the proposal as doomsday for their economy. Were excited, because were already doing something similar on state land, said Stephanie Garcia Richard, the states public lands commissioner. We are naturally moving away from the days of oil and gas providing 50% of our budget. Will this speed up the process? I dont think it will have that big of an impact. New Mexico is working to create its own conservation lease system for state lands, and its heavily focused on work to promote water conservation and drought resilience. The BLM proposal allows the state to envision more landscape-level projects that cross state and federal boundaries. Garcia Richard called on the feds to make states eligible to apply for conservation leases. Culver said the agency has received significant public input on that question and will continue to evaluate which entities can hold conservation leases. In some places, environmental groups say their state leaders need BLM support to ensure their investments in restoration are successful. Administrative boundaries are largely artificial when it comes to the concerns of wildlife, said Brien Webster, public lands campaign manager with Conservation Colorado, a Denver-based nonprofit. This rulemaking is going to provide us the opportunity to restore mule deer habitat in one section and sage grouse habitat in another. In one area, it can help us deal with the impacts of a wildfire that threatens water quality for a local community. In Arizona, the federal agency has sold or exchanged some of its lands in the Sonoran Desert, said Mike Quigley, Arizona state director with The Wilderness Society, a nonprofit conservation group. Thats habitat loss and conversion, he said. When BLM identifies lands that are eligible for disposal, having conservation on an equal footing will help balance those things. Culver, the BLM official, said the proposal would help foster collaboration with states on projects like wildlife corridors and drought resilience. And keeping those landscapes out of the emergency room, she said, will help provide long-term stability for the industries that rely on them. Conservation leasing can ensure that we are able to achieve these very ambitious goals that Congress set us to somehow maintain functioning landscapes while permitting so many multiple uses, she said. Manipur Violence: Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri recently engaged in a Twitter exchange after a user requested him to make The Manipur Files following the success of The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files. This plea came in response to Vivek's post about the plight of Kashmiri Pandits. Recently, he unveiled the trailer for his web series titled The Kashmir Files Unreported. VIVEK AGNIHOTRI ASKED TO MAKE 'THE MANIPUR FILES' In regards to The Kashmir Files Unreported, Vivek tweeted and expressed his concern about the Indian judiciary's failure to protect the right to life of Kashmiri Hindus as guaranteed in the constitution, referring to the Kashmiri Hindu Genocide. Reacting to his post, a Twitter user urged Vivek to make The Manipur Files if he had the courage. The netizen wrote, "Don't waste time go and make a movie 'Manipur Files' if you are man enough." Don't waste time go and make a movie 'Manipur Files' if you are man enough. Wanderer_ali (@WandererAli) July 21, 2023 Vivek humorously responded, expressing gratitude for the faith placed in him but also questioning whether he should be the sole filmmaker responsible for all projects. He replied, "Thanks for having so much faith in me. Par saari films mujhse hi banwaoge kya yaar? Tumhari 'Team India' mein koi 'man enough' filmmaker nahin hai kya (But, do you want me to make all the films. Isn't anyone else not man enough)?" Thanks for having so much faith in me. Par saari films mujhse hi banwaoge kya yaar? Tumhari Team India mein koi man enough filmmaker nahin hai kya? https://t.co/35U9FMf32G Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) July 21, 2023 HERE'S WHAT IS HAPPENING IN MANIPUR The turmoil in Manipur began about two months ago, starting on May 3, in Churachandpur town, when Kuki groups protested against a proposal to grant scheduled tribe status to the Meitei community. This led to clashes resulting in over 150 fatalities and more than 50,000 injuries. Recently, a distressing video from Manipur emerged, capturing a violent incident that occurred during the clashes. The video portrayed two tribal women being paraded naked and subjected to molestation by a group of men, sparking massive public outrage after going viral online. Reacting to this horrific incident, Vivek previously penned a heart-wrenching poem, expressing his sorrow and shame as an Indian, a man, and a human being witnessing the continuous victimization of innocent mothers and sisters in various parts of the country. The Manipur incident has drawn significant attention and has prompted public discussions on social media, with many seeking justice and accountability for the perpetrators of such heinous acts of violence against women. Vijay Business Details Revaled: Information about actor Vijay's business has been released. The information has shocked his fans in a time where his potential to spend money in politics is being questioned. Vijay is one of the top actors in Tamil. He has currently finished acting in Lokesh Kanagaraj's Leo. The shooting of the film has also been recently completed and the post production work is going to start soon. It is to be noted that the movie Leo, starring a huge star cast, is slated to release on October 19. Anirudh has composed the music. Highest Paid Actor In India Next to Leo, Vijay will be acting in his 68th film directed by Venkat Prabhu. This film is produced by AGS. The infomration about Vijay's salary negotiation for this film has surprised everyone. It is said to have started from 175 crore rupees. If it is true, Vijay will become the highest paid actor in India. Vijay slowly turned his fan base into a people's movement. Through it, he is doing many welfare programs. Due to this many people are saying that Vijay will enter politics soon. His latest move is widely believed to be a confirmation of that. Even recently, he met the students and honored them by wearing a shawl and giving them incentives. Vijay Invests More In Real Estate Industry Apart from that, night school has also been started in all districts of Tamil Nadu on behalf of Vijay People's Movement. With this, Vijay has started sowing the seeds of his politics and his fans are also working hard. Meanwhile, it is also rumored that the Venkat Prabhu film will be Vijay's last film. It is noteworthy that the information has been released that he will take a break for three years and look after his political works. There is a doubt among Vijay fans whether he will have enough money to spend if he enters politics. In this case, information about Vijay's activities other than cinema has been released. Accordingly, it is said that Vijay has invested a lot in the real estate industry. Reports say that Vijay has also rented out many of his apartments, shopping malls and wedding halls. It is also said that Vijay is financing films with the money he earned from the cinema. Now this information is trending on social media. Not for Distribution to United States Newswire Services or for Dissemination in the United States VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / July 21, 2023 / NextGen Food Robotics Corp. (the "Company" or "NextGen") (NEO:NGRB)(OTC PINK:NGRBF)(Frankfurt:O83) is pleased to announce that it has closed (the "Closing") its previously-announced non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") of units of the Company ("Units") at $0.60 per Unit for gross proceeds of $1,650,000. Pursuant to the Closing, the Company issued and aggregate of 2,750,000 Units. Each Unit is composed of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (a "Share") and one-half of one (1/2) common share purchase warrant of the Company (each whole common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one (1) additional Share (a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.70per Warrant Share for a period of 12 months from the date of Closing. In connection with the Closing, the Company paid certain finders (the "Finders") cash finders' fees in the aggregate of $90,972 and issued a total of 151,620 finder warrants (the "Finder Warrants") to the Finders. Each Finder Warrant is exercisable into one (1) Share at $0.70 for a period of 12 months from the date of Closing. The Company intends to use the proceeds raised from the Offering for the development and rollout of the Company's Lily app, the re-allocation and retrofit of the Company's commissary kitchen, advertising and marketing, and general working capital. The Offering was completed pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption (LIFE) under Part 5A of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions and therefore the securities issued in the Offering are not subject to a hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About NextGen Food Robotics Nextgen Food Robotics is an automated robotic food co-packer and manufacturer that uses technology to modernize its food manufacturing processes. Additionally, Nextgen is developing the "Lily app", which is an AI-powered food application. For investor inquiries or further information, please contact: Paul Rivas, Chief Executive Officer 1 (236) 471-1357 privas@originalholycow.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "will", "estimates", "believes", "intends", "expects" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements. More particularly and without limitation, this news release contains forward-looking statements concerning the intended use of proceeds from the Offering. Forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and the actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, assumptions and expectations, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, as such information, although considered reasonable by the respective management of the Company at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and are expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statement. Except as expressly required by securities law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Neither the NEO Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in policies of the NEO Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. SOURCE: NextGen Food Robotics Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/769758/Nextgen-Completes-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement Content marketing firm One Page Case Studies announces a new report detailing the evolution of storytelling in the advertising industry, and its continued relevance in the modern era. Wilton, Connecticut--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2023) - As content continues to play a central role in modern marketing strategies, One Page Case Studies launches a new report explaining the importance of story-telling. More details can be found at https://onepagecasestudies.com/breakthrough-advertising-one-page-case-study/ One Page Case Studies Announces Story-Telling Based Advertisement Report To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/174361_9943ab5b64f6d8c7_001full.jpg The firm's latest piece is part of an ongoing series, designed to demonstrate how communicating client success stories can build trust and transparency with an audience. One Page Case Studies specializes in developing this form of targeted content, and publishes regular instructional articles for businesses who are interested in developing their content marketing strategy. The new report highlights several factors that make content more effective when inciting readers to act. These include engaging the audience, making readers believe in the products' value, creating a narrative that others can relate to, and the use of psychology as a persuasive tool. "The best ads aren't about showing off a product; they're about selling a story that resonates with you on a personal level," Edward Winslow of One Page Case Studies explains. "If an ad can make you believe that its product fits right into your life and dreams, you're much more likely to buy. It's not just about convincing you that a product works; it's about making you believe that this product was made for you." While the concept of "Breakthrough Advertising" has been around since the late 60s, the latest report from One Page Case Studies states that many elements are still highly relevant in the modern era of digital marketing. The company distills the essential principles into three key factors that should be integrated into short-form content: the desires/wants of potential clients, the things they will relate to, and the ability to make that audience believe. The new piece adds to a growing library of instructional articles, that now include writing guidelines for press releases, the use of AI in content creation, the impact of case studies on lead generation, and more. Interested parties can find more information by visiting https://onepagecasestudies.com/breakthrough-advertising-one-page-case-study/ Contact Info: Name: Edward Winslow Email: ed@onepagecasestudies.com Organization: One Page Case Studies Address: 26 Tory Pl, Wilton, CT 06897, United States Website: https://onepagecasestudies.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174361 Kaso, a Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Kingdom-based provider of a B2B platform digitizing & automating procurement between restaurants and food suppliers in the Middle East, raised $10.5M in Seed funding. Backers included BY VP, Hala Ventures, Seedra Ventures, Pioneer Fund, Spade Ventures, Derayah, Vulpes Ventures, Cyfr, regional family offices, and other investors from KSA, along with contributions from previous investors such as GFC and MSA. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations, enhance its technology platform, and achieve a GMV of $1 billion within 12 months. Currently operating in KSA and UAE, KASO is the Middle Easts platform connecting restaurants with suppliers and is currently serving over 5000 partners in KSA and UAE alone. The company was founded by tech entrepreneurs Manar Alkassar and Ahmed Soliman, with the vision to work for the food supply chain. By digitizing the relationship between restaurants and suppliers, they improve efficiency and transparency in the food supply chain and reduce food waste in the region. FinSMEs 22/07/2023 Superblock, a Seoul, South Korea-based contributor to Over Protocol, raised $8M across two funding rounds. Investors included SK, Netmarble, DSC, E&Investment, Schmidt, SpringCamp, and NaverZ. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts. Led by Ben (Jae-Yun) Kim, Founder, Superblock builds products, tools, and decentralized applications to grow the Over Protocol, a new layer 1 blockchain based on a protocol named Ethanos that only considers active accounts valid, enabling full nodes to discard obsolete data and operate with less storage, thus allowing for reduced storage requirements. With Over, anyone will be able to run a node and become a validator on their PCs at home. FinSMEs 21/07/2023 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India has received encouraging response to its global grid proposal an initiative to build a transnational grid One Sun One World One Grid (OSOWOG) to enhance energy security from other countries. We are promoting this mutually beneficial cooperation with our neighbours in this region. And I can tell you, we a seeing encouraging results, PM Modi said while addressing the G20 group energy ministers meeting, according to Reuters. In spite of our various realities, he emphasised that the objectives of the energy transition are still the same. He said, No talk about the future, sustainability or growth and development can be complete without energy. It impacts development at all levels from individuals to nations. A global solar grid connecting 140 nations was unveiled on the sidelines of the United Nations climate conference (COP26) in November 2021, marking a huge step towards capturing and promoting solar energy and being Indias most ambitious renewables project to date. The One Sun One World One Grid and Green Grids initiative is an idea whose time has come. If the world has to move to a clean and green future, these interconnected transnational grids are going to be critical solutions, he had said during his speech in Glasgow, reported The Times of India. But what exactly is it? Lets take a closer look. Also read: What is G21? Why has PM Modi been pushing for it? Indias ambitious global grid project One Sun One World One Grid is the first international network of globally interconnected solar power grids that will integrate large-scale solar power plants, wind farms, and grids with rooftop solar and community grids to guarantee a consistent, dependable, and reasonably priced source of clean energy for everyone. The motto the sun never sets serves as the inspiration for the OSOWOG initiative. The project, which is being led by the governments of India and the UK in collaboration with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and the World Bank Group, will bring together a global coalition of national governments, international financial and technical organisations, legislators, power system operators, and knowledge leaders to speed up the construction of the new infrastructure required for a world powered by clean energy. The duty of developing the global grids road map has been assigned to a partnership headed by the state-owned power utility company of France, EDF, which is made up of the French company AETS and the Indian organisation The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). A $1 trillion path for solar investment is provided by the global grid plan for 2030. Aim of the project PM Modi presented the idea of a united global solar grid for the first time at the ISAs First Assembly in late 2018. In order to share solar energy globally, OSOWOG plans to create and scale inter-regional energy systems that take use of the various time zones, seasons, resources, and costs that exist between various nations and regions. Additionally, it will assist in decarbonizing the worlds largest source of greenhouse gas emissions todayenergy production. The Green Grids Initiative (GGI) and OSOWOG have partnered to create a single GGI-OSOWOG initiative with the goal of coordinating their efforts and activities with other comparable organisations around the world. According to the ISA website, it also aims to provide momentum, and a pool of investment towards low-carbon, innovative solar projects, and bring together skilled workers for a solar-powered economic recovery. It can also propel investment and create millions of new green jobs. Also read: India making great efforts in green growth and energy transition: PM Modi How will it work There are three phases to the overall grid system. The Middle East-South Asia-South East Asia (MESASEA) interconnection is the focus of the first phase, which aims to share renewable energy sources like solar to meet electricity needs, particularly peak demand. The third and final phase is about worldwide interconnection, whereas the second phase deals with the MESASEA grid becoming connected with the African power pools. A sea link connection to Oman in the west was also part of the original plans. The neighbourhood-first approach of PM Modi, which is centred on South Asia, includes encouraging cross-border energy commerce, according to Livemint. In order to meet the regions electricity needs, India has been supplying power to Bangladesh and Nepal and advocating for a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) electricity system that excludes Pakistan. Also read: Prime Minister Narendra Modis nine years: Going green 2600GW of interconnection capacity by 2050 The Times of India quoted Ajay Mathur, director general of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), as saying after the announcement that the network has the potential to be a cutting-edge engineering marvel, a catalyst for considerably increasing the production of renewable electricity, and a means of effectively reducing climate change in the coming ten years. According to him, up to 2050, about 2600 GW of interconnection capacity might be deployed globally, resulting in an estimated 226 billion euros in annual electricity savings. The One Sun Declaration is a prime example of multilateralism in action, with world leaders joining forces to promote lasting change for a greener world and economy. We believe we can create and assist a shift away from fossil fuels to a financially viable solar future and offer up affordable, renewable electricity supplies to markets that have historically been underserved through the power of solar and other renewables and our combined efforts, according to Mathur. Developments in the project In 2019, after PM Modi proposed OSOWOG in 2018, a steering committee chaired by the Indian MNRE was established, which kicked off a technical study. In 2020, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the MNRE (Government of India), the ISA, and the World Bank at the First World Solar Technology Summit in September. In May 2021, onboarding of a consortium of consultants including EDF, AETS, and TERI was carried out to conduct the technical study in three phases to formulate vision and roadmap. Currently, the technical study, undertaken by the EDF-led consortium, is currently under progress. Indias climate pledges India has also stated that it will achieve net-zero emissions by 2070, when the amount of carbon emissions produced will be equal to the amount of carbon emissions that are absorbed. OSOWOG is important to Indias net-zero pledges, said Gagan Sidhu of CEEW, a think organisation with offices in Delhi that has been monitoring Indias energy transformation paths for years, told Eco-business.com. Due to the erratic nature of solar and wind energy, battery storage or an additional energy source (often massive hydropower or fossil fuels) is employed to supplement renewable energy and stabilise the system. A new CEEW research estimates that India will require 5,600 GW of solar capacitymore than 11 times the amount PM Modi has promised to accomplish by 2030to achieve net zero energy consumption by 2070. This would necessitate a significant investment in pricey battery storage. According to Sidhu, In this context, OSOWOG is seen as one of the potential storage alternatives and lowering costs of renewable energy integration. Sidhu stated that GGI-OSOWOG might aid in enhancing international cooperation on climate change measures. A grid that connects different time zones represents an ambitious alternative to expensive storage on both ends. Not only would it help meet climate commitments, it would also enhance energy security and meet development priorities, he said. With inputs from agencies Travelling is a passionate pursuit enjoyed by people based on their rich past experiences. But it is an art to balance work or school obligations alongside an eventful hobby. Setting a similar example, Aditi Tripathi, a 10-year-old Indian-origin girl has already ticked off 50 countries on her travel list and surprisingly, without missing a day at school. As per a report by Yahoo Life UK, Aditi lives with her parents, father Deepak, 43 and mother Avilasha, 36, in Greenwich, South London. The couple, both accountants by profession, claim to spend 20,000 pounds on travel annually. Till the present day, the young girl has covered most of Europe including Norway, the Netherlands and Monaco, and visited countries like Nepal, Singapore and Thailand to name a few. Smart planning Smart planning was all it took to put their strategies into practice. The couple used every school holiday and bank holiday to travel. Calling their experience worth every penny, the couple claims an estimated 20,000 pounds or over Rs 21 lakhs spent each year on travel. The outlet further indicates that the girls parents made this prudent decision quite early about raising their child to be a well-travelled individual. Striving for the same, the Tripathi family walked an extra mile to help the child take note of and embrace different cultures, foods and people present in the world. However, never at the cost of formal education. The family saves on travelling by not eating out or having takeaways, and not owning a car. Not only that, they cut down on commuting costs by working from home. This also helps them save on childcare for their younger daughter, Advita, who is 2 years old and stays at home. Further shedding light on the familys routine, the accountant duo said: Now we pick her up straight from school on Friday and take a late night flight back 11pm on Sunday. Sometimes we arrive on Monday morning, and she heads straight to school from the airport. Furthermore, they added, Travelling has helped her make more friends and become more confident. An inquisitive kid As outlined in an interview with Yahoo Life, the 43-year-old father said about Aditi: She gets curious and excited when she sees different cultures like those in Nepal, India, and Thailand. He further added: We started travelling with her when she was in nursery age three and she went to school for two and a half days per week. Metro UK reports that the young energetic girl has even climbed three of the highest mountains in the UK with her parents. The three peaks include Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. Aditi, on her part said that even though she doesnt have a specific favourite country or place, the top 3 amongst most adventurous are Nepal, Georgia and Armenia. The young girl added in the interview with Yahoo Life: I would recommend it to other children because it helps with your social skills. BJD will fight for womens rights from the village to the Parliament, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Saturday. Patnaik, who heads BJD, said that while women are empowered at the grassroots level, they are less visible at the state and national levels. BJD will fight for womens rights from villages to Parliament We must raise our voice for one third reservation for women in Parliament and assembly, he said addressing the BJP state executive committee meeting here. The chief minister said that women are demanding equal credit as men in the development of Odisha. They are doing excellent work in all fields and therefore the state government has made provisions for their empowerment. Women empowerment, he said, is something is very close to his heart. It was not just a slogan for BJD, but a formula for development. I have all along said that no society, state or nation can develop without empowerment of women, he said. Patnaik said women have been visible in different fields and are now equal partners in Odishas progress. They are now taking on leadership roles in villages and panchayats. Mission Shakti has become the power center for women Efforts are on to take Mission Shakti movement to the next level and transform women self help group members as entrepreneurs, Patnaik said and urged them to take the message of development and empowerment of people to every household in every village and every town. He made this statement two days after asking his party MPs to raise the issue of Women Reservation Bill in Parliament. To ensure 33 per cent reservation for women BJD had fielded women candidates for seven out of the total 21 parliamentary seats in the state during the last general election in 2019. Five of them had won the election that year. The chief minister said that the state cabinet on Friday approved a proposal for providing interest free loans up to Rs one lakh for women self help group leaders to purchase scooters. He said that Rs 11,000 crore loan has been disbursed to women in the state during last year. Patnaik said. Patnaik urged the BJD women to remain connected with people, serve them and be an agent of transformation of the state. Ahmedabad: Heavy to very heavy rains pounded several districts in Gujarats south and Saurashtra regions on Saturday, triggering a flood-like situation in urban areas and isolating villages amid rising water levels in dams and rivers surging to danger levels. In Junagadh city, dozens of parked cars and cattle were swept away in gushing waters after it received 241 mm of rainfall in just 12 hours till 8 pm on Saturday. People were seen wading through waist-deep water to shift to safer places. Some of them were rescued by volunteers as they were carried away in strong currents. A father-son duo drowned after their car got washed away near Silvassa town of Dadra and Nagar Haveli district in the Union Territory neighbouring Gujarat. The two were caught by fast-moving waters on Friday night when they were trying to cross over a low-lying bridge. In Navsari city, a man and his son were swept away in a swollen drain. While the man was rescued, efforts were underway to trace the son, an official said. #WATCH | Gujarat: Waterlogging in various parts of Junagadh due to heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/VRGGI4u4DI ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2023 The Gujarat government said low-lying areas were flooded due to rains in Junagadh district. At least 250 people evacuated to safer places in an operation by this evening. A system is being put in place for accommodation and making arrangements of food for the evacuees, officials said. Two companies of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) were deployed in Junagadh and a third company was also being dispatched. SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) also allocated two teams, along with five fire response teams of Rajkot municipal corporation and its adjoining Gondal municipality to carry out rescue operations. Officials said more than 25,000 food packets were being prepared with the support of various social organisations to deliver food to the affected people in Junagadh district. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel cut short his official programmes in Rajkot and reached the district collectors office to review the situation in Junagadh. Authorities requested people to take precautions and urged them to contact the control room in case of any untoward incident or emergency situation. Directions have been issued for people against visiting dams and surrounding areas. Rescue teams were pressed into service to shift people living in low-lying areas to safer places. As many as nine teams of NDRF were deployed, two in Junagadh and one each in neighbouring districts, officials said. A potential ballot measure would set an age limit of 80 years for North Dakota congressional candidates. If enough signatures are gathered, it could go on the ballot in June or November of 2024. Jared Hendrix, chairman of the committee behind the effort, also led the successful initiative last year to impose term limits on legislators and the governor. Taken together it appears to be an attempt to limit the field of qualified candidates. Under the U.S. Constitution, Senate candidates must be 30 and a U.S. citizen for nine years. To run for the House you must be 25 and a citizen for seven years. Its uncertain how the proposed measure would stand up to the U.S. Constitution, which doesnt set maximum age limits. Hendrix told The Associated Press that the effort is driven by those who believe in principle that there should be a retirement age for Congress. The median age for retirement for all Americans is 64, but many choose to work longer. There are some jobs that have a mandatory retirement age. There are four senators now serving who are over 80: Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., is 90; Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, is 89; Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont, are both 81. There are 12 members of the Senate who are 75 or older. Under the proposed measure no one who would turn 81 by the end of their term could be elected or appointed in North Dakota to Congress. The Tribune Editorial Board believes setting age limits is questionable. People age differently, with some losing mental or physical abilities before they reach retirement years while others remain sharp and active into their 80s. Some Democrats called for Feinstein to resign from the Senate earlier this year. She had missed time after reportedly battling shingles. Her absence was important because Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate. Its obvious that Feinstein is frail and shes announced she wont seek another term in 2024. Grassley, McConnell and Sanders appear to be going strong, though McConnell missed some time after a fall. Age was an issue when Grassley ran for reelection in 2022, but he easily won his eighth term. Hes the longest-serving senator in U.S. history. Iowa voters were acutely aware of his age and that he would be in his mid-90s when his term ends. The Tribune believes voters should decide whether a member of Congress should stay or go. An arbitrary age limit in North Dakota could prevent a healthy candidate from serving. The states present congressional delegation wouldnt be immediately impacted if the proposed measure gets on the ballot and passes. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer are in their 60s and Rep. Kelly Armstrong is in his 40s. All three are Republicans. North Dakota has had two senators in their 80s. Sen. Milton Young, a Republican, was 83 when he retired in 1981. Democrat Sen. Quentin Burdick was 84 when he died in office in 1992. The Tribune agrees that age can be a factor in someones ability to perform their duties. However, the age will vary depending on the person. Voters should be allowed to choose who they want in office regardless of age. The Tribune believes we must put our trust in voters. Emphasising Indias climate commitments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the country has shown leadership in climate action and achieved its non-fossil installed electric capacity target nine years in advance. In a video message to the G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting in Goa on Saturday, the Prime Minister said India now plans to achieve 50 percent non-fossil installed capacity by the year 2030. No talk about the future, sustainability or growth and development can be complete without energy. It impacts development at all levels, from individuals to nations, the Prime Minister said at the meeting that brought together ministers from the countries in the G20 grouping. He pointed out that India is among the global leaders in solar and wind power and is making great efforts in green growth and energy transition. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says Today, India is one of those countries where the banking sector is considered to be the strongest but this was not the situation 9 years ago Our banking sector has seen massive destruction during the previous govt. Today, we are pic.twitter.com/jctFweJSPk ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2023 India is the most populated nation and the fastest-growing large economy in the world yet we are moving strongly on our climate commitments We achieved our non-fossil, installed electric capacity target 9 years in advance. We have now set a higher target, we plan to achieve 50 per cent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030, PM Modi said. The G20 Energy Ministerial meeting is being held under the chairpersonship of Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy, R K Singh. Earlier on Friday, Union Minister Singh said that India has achieved its target of producing 43.6 per cent of its total energy through non-fossil fuel sources nine years ahead of the schedule of 2023. The Prime Minister pointed out that the world looks to the G20 countries to this group to advance sustainable, just, affordable, inclusive, and clean energy transition and urged them to ensure that the Global South is not left behind. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi, says Because of this phone banking scam the backbone of the banking sector was broken. In 2014, we started reviving our banking sector. We strengthened the management of government banks in the country. We combined several small banks and pic.twitter.com/Ga2wBlUVWU ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2023 We must ensure low-cost finance for developing countries, PM Modi said.We must find ways to bridge technology gaps, promote energy security, and work on diversifying supply chains. And, we must strengthen collaboration on the fuels for the future, he said. Meanwhile in his video message today, the Prime Minister said more than 119 million families in the country have got LPG connections in the last nine years. We have also achieved the historic milestone of connecting every village to electricity, he said. In 2015, we began a small movement, by launching a scheme for the use of LED lights, this became the largest LED distribution programme in the world. Saving more than 45 billion units of energy per year, the prime minister said. He said that Indias domestic electrical market is projected to reach 10 million annual sales by 2030. We have commenced the rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol this year. Our aim is to cover the entire country by 2025, he said. The Prime Minister said that for decarbonising India is working on a mission mode on green hydrogen as an alternative.The aim is to make India, a global hub for the production, use and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives, the PM said. The Energy Ministerial meeting was followed by the launch of the Green Hydrogen Innovation Centre by the Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh and the Global Biofuel Alliance by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh. Earlier on July 14, Power Secretary informed that the Energy Ministers from G20 member countries, nine invited countries and high-ranking officials from 14 international organizations will be part of the Ministerial meeting. In the lead-up to the Energy Ministerial Meeting, a two-day 4th Energy Transition Working Group meeting concluded on Thursday in Goa. A man in Madhya Pradeshs Gwalior shot his wife for wearing perfume while going outside, following a heated argument between the couple. The woman suffered severe injuries and was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment, while the man fled the scene after the incident took place. The victim identified as Neelam Jatav, a resident of Ganeshpura in the Bijoili Thana area, married Mahendra Jatav eight years ago. Mahendra carries a criminal record (involvement in theft cases) and was behind the bar for four years. After he was released from the jail a year ago, Mahendra started living with Neelam at her parents house. On Saturday, when Neelam was going out, her husband questioned about wearing perfume and being too dressed up, leading to an argument between the couple. The situation quickly escalated as the argument intensified, Mahendra took out a gun and fired at his wifes chest. Neelam collapsed on the ground, while Mahendra hastily fled the scene. Reacting swiftly, Neelams brother, Dinesh Jatav, immediately summoned their relatives for assistance and rushed her to a nearby hospital for medical attention. In response to the complaint filed by Neelams family, the police have taken action and registered a case of attempted murder against Mahendra. The Police officials have launched a search operation in the case and the investigation is underway as per India Todays report. A day after former insurgents warned Meiteis living in Mizoram to leave the state for their own safety, the government has arranged special security to keep them safe in the capital city of Aizawl. On Friday, Peace Accord MNF Returnees Association (PAMRA) issued a statement saying that Meiteis should leave Mizoram and that there is anger among Mizo youth over the viral video incident in Manipur which showed two Meitie women being paraded naked. Mizo sentiments have been deeply hurt by the violence meted out to the Zo-ethnic community in Manipur, PAMRA said. It added that if any kind of violence is inflicted upon Meiteis in Mizoram, they would bear all the responsibility themselves. The situation in Mizoram has become tense, and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in ManipurThe PAMRA appeals to all Meitei people in Mizoram to leave for their home state as a safety measure, the statement read. To ensure the safety of Meiteis, the chief ministers of the two states, N Biren Singh and Zoramthanga had earlier held a telephone conversation. Meanwhile, the government in Mizoram has already taken steps to keep Meities safe in the state. A video, about two months old, from Manipur was widely circulated on Twitter and other social media platforms on Wednesday which showed two women being paraded naked by a mob, assaulted and gang raped. A mid-level police official has confirmed the incident and dated it back to May 4, just a day after ethnic clashes broke out between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipurs Churachandpur town. Bhubaneswar: Odishas Naveen Patnaik on Saturday became the second-longest-serving chief minister in the country, replacing West Bengals Jyoti Basu. Former Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling still holds the record of being the longest-serving CM in the country. He was the CM of the Himalayan state from December 12, 1994 till May 27, 2019 more than 24 years. Patnaik, the five-time chief minister of Odisha, took charge on March 5, 2000, and holds the post for 23 years and 138 days. Basu served as the chief minister of West Bengal from June 21, 1977 to November 5, 2000, which was 23 years and 137 days. Patnaik is also the third leader after Chamling and Basu to become the chief minister of a state for five consecutive times. If the ruling BJD wins the 2024 elections, Patnaik will be the longest-serving chief minister in India. BJD vice president Prasanna Acharya said, We are happy that our chief minister has crossed the record of West Bengals former CM Jyoti Basu. I am sure that Patnaik will break all the records of the past, and will emerge as the longest-serving CM. Congress leader SS Saluja said, We congratulate Naveen Patnaik for becoming the second-longest-serving CM, but we are pained that Patnaik is not doing anything during his term. Senior BJP leader Suresh Pujari said history will not remember how long one serves as the chief minister, but how one creates history within a short span of time. As outrage over the video of two women in Manipur being paraded naked still continues, a gruesome incident of two other women beaten and their clothes being torn apart has surfaced in West Bengal. The two women, most likely from the tribal community, were attacked in Maldas Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station. In the video, it can be seen that the police were helpless to the cries of the women in question. The two women were attacked by a mob following which they were left heavily injured and traumatised. The incident took place on 19 July. According to North East India Blog, no one has filed an official complaint with the police yet. However, investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators behind the attack. The incident comes just a day after a female BJP gram sabha candidate of in West Bengal claimed that she was stripped naked and paraded by Trinamool Congress workers on 8 July when Panchayat polls were held. As per the complaint, the woman alleged that she was beaten up by about 40 Trinamool miscreants in Panchla area of Howrah district when the Panchayat polls in West Bengal were underway. I was hit on the chest and head with a stick and I was thrown out of the polling station, the BJP worker said. Names of several people including Trinamool candidate Himanta Roy, Noor Alam, Alfi SK, Ranbir Panja Sanju, Sukmal Panja were also mentioned in the FIR. BJP slams Mamatas TMC Sharing the horrific video on Twitter, Bengal BJPs co-incharge Amit Malviya said that the tragedy should have Mamata Banerjees heart. The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women belonged to socially marginalised community and had a frenzied mob baying for her blood he said. Malviya added, It had all the making of a tragedy that should have broken Mamata Banerjees heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the Home Minister of Bengal. Continuing his rhetoric from yesterdays video incident that also took place in the state, Malviya said that the horror continues in West Bengal. In recent years, due to vigilant media reportage, the country has become increasingly aware of the interconnection between politics and violence, be it in Kerala or West Bengal or now Manipur. This brutal nexus often incorporates sexual violence. However, despite this growing awareness amongst the public, this violence doesnt stop. It has been reported in the media that in the recently concluded Panchayat Elections in Bengal, a female candidate from the BJP was stripped naked and molested allegedly by TMC workers. In the conflict-ridden border state of Manipur, there has been unprecedented access to arms fueling a deadly clash between the Kukis and Meiteis for the last two months. This week, on the first day of the monsoon session of parliament a video from early May showed the brutal assault and gang rape of two Kuki women. It is alleged that it was an act of retribution in light of rumours of the rape of a Meitei woman, which later proved false. Whilst the timing of the release of the video seems to be directed at the first day of parliament, what is undeniable is that the sickening brutality has shaken the nations conscience. Political violence is a broad term encompassing any form of violence within political conflicts between political entities or communities fighting for dominance. Often, its used to maintain power, spread fear, silence dissent, or manipulate socio-political narratives. In these situations, sexual assault becomes a weapon of war, a strategy of terror, and a tool for the degradation and dehumanisation of certain groups. And it is being used with alarming regularity. The weaponisation of rape has been distressingly evident in numerous conflicts. The horrific mass rapes during the Bosnian War in the 1990s were a chilling demonstration of this. In Rwanda, during the genocide of 1994, up to half a million women were raped, often with the explicit intention of spreading HIV. Similarly, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, often dubbed the rape capital of the world, sexual violence has been used as a military strategy for decades. Moreover, the brutal episodes of mass rape in Myanmars Rakhine state against Rohingya women and girls underscore the continued use of rape as a weapon of war. In India, political violence has thrown up numerous instances in the recent past of the rape and degradation of women. The perpetrators in these cases are often protected by impunity, sometimes even actively encouraged by political structures, making it difficult for victims to seek justice and recover from their experiences. Unlike in Manipur where the perpetrators and victims are from battling sections of society, in West Bengal the victim in the most recent report is a political worker, who is accusing the cadre of the ruling party of assault. For most of us, it is unimaginable to think of the weaponisation of rape as a tool used outside of wartime conflict and is in complete contravention of democratic principles. However as we have found, sexual violence, including rape, is frequently employed in political conflicts and this is the case for several reasons. Firstly, it instills fear within communities, breaking down social structures and creating an environment conducive to the establishment or maintenance of power. It also serves as a form of ethnic cleansing in some contexts, with systematic rape used to alter the ethnic composition of a population. This was most glaringly witnessed in the case of Kashmiri Pandit women (post-1989) who were targeted and raped amidst other brutality, which led to the exodus of the community from the Kashmir valley. Efforts to combat political violence and sexual assault require a multi-faceted, intersectional approach. Primarily, there is a need to strengthen national legislations that deal with sexual violence in conflict situations. Specific laws that deal with this impunity and disarm the reductionist context of conflict social or political. Our lawmakers rather than scoring political points, should be discussing laws and the path to justice for victims of these assaults. Because normalcy may be restored with time, but the occurrence of these crimes perpetuates discord within society that can last decades, on a subliminal and overt level, if justice is not delivered and accountability is not set. The eradication of a culture of impunity is essential. This includes the prosecution of perpetrators at all levels, from individuals to state actors. And there should be laws whose ambit covers all these players. The weaponisation of rape is a profound violation of human rights. Addressing it requires urgent, collective, and comprehensive efforts at various levels and especially in parliament in light of the incidents in West Bengal and Manipur. Politicians must shed politics and come together to provide an effective legal framework, with specificities that deal with this horrendous crime. Anything less will be a betrayal of the women of this country. The writer is a best-selling novelist and award-winning screenwriter. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Manipur is on fire for more than 75 days now. The nature of violence and brutality committed by Meiteis and Kukis on each other makes one wonder if humanity has any traces left in the region. A 31-year-old man guarding his village was beheaded and his head was stuck trophy-like on a pole for all to see just because he belonged to a different ethnic group. The other side hasnt been less brutal either. Whats unfortunate is that each group has hardened its stance and believes its people are victims. This victimhood mentality runs so deep among the two communities in fact three, if we add Nagas, who, thankfully, arent a part of the ongoing violence they are no longer sensitive about the intensity of violence and heinousness of crime. As a community, they have stopped feeling the pain of the other, even when the nature of the offence is grisly. Even the video of two Kuki women being paraded naked failed to evoke much sympathy from the other side. Oh, but they do the same to us, our women all the time, said one Meitei student studying in the University of Delhi. The Meitei-Kuki divide is dangerously absolute. This, however, is not a black-and-white story. Meiteis constitute 41.39 percent of Manipurs population, but are, by law, forced to inhabit the valley alone, which covers about 10 percent of the geographical area of the state. Under Manipurs Land Reform Act, they are not allowed to settle in the hilly regions, which is 90 percent of the states territory. In sharp contrast, other tribes like Naga and Kuki along with their 29 sub-tribes, who reside in 90 percent of the states territory, can move into the remaining 10 percent of the states territory. Much to their apprehension, the Meitei numbers have dwindled from 48 percent in 2001 to 44 percent in 2011. Interestingly, they accounted for more than 65 percent of the total population of Manipur in 1951. Here, it needs to be mentioned that the Naga-Kuki tribes have mostly converted to Christianity, whereas the Meiteis are largely Hindu Vaishnavites. But then the orgy of violence being orchestrated today is not exactly religious in nature, as many vested elements are trying to make it. Its a battle between two ethnic groups of Manipur, both of whom feel they are tribals but one is not recognised despite having more claims to being the sons of the soil. The mischievous attempt to project it as a Hindu-Christian battle, in which Christians, which tribal Kukis have converted into in the last one century, are facing the persecution of the worst kind is to give the rising, new India a bad name globally. It fits into the Western Soros-ian narrative in which India is being ruled with majoritarian haughtiness, pushing minorities into the peripheries. The truth is that there hasnt been a better, safer place for minorities. Historically, India has given refuge to every persecuted community from Zoroastrians to Jews and they never felt, howsoever minuscule they might be in terms of population, compelled to give up their indigenous lifestyle for a Hindu way of life. Post-Independence, too, the minorities have officially received equal, if not the preferential, first claim on resources treatment. One can look at the state of religious institutions of Hindus vis-a-vis other minorities, to comprehend the difference. Hindu temples, for instance, are run by the secular Indian State, while the minorities are free to operate their religious institutions the way they want. Coming back to the Meiteis, they have a deeper grievance of being discriminated against for their religion. They feel they have been left out of the tribal category primarily because they are Vashnavites. They have a point, here. After all, they all belong to the same civilisational whole. One can read their folktales and folklores to realise not just a sense of oneness among them, but also the fact that these people were an extension of the Indic civilisation. It was actually a British colonial mischief to, first, bracket these people out of the Hindu fold by calling them Animists, and then go for the further division between the valley and the hills. Prof BB Kumar, in his book, The Tribal Societies of India, quotes the Census 1921, as saying: Animism as a religion should be entirely abandoned, and all those hitherto classed as Animists should be grouped with Hindus. Even eminent sociologist H Risley found no sharp distinction between Hinduism and Animism. Their folklores, too, share a similar story: Of one people, with overarching civilisational connection. Prof Kumar, in another book, Folklores and Folklore Motifs, invokes several local legends that hint at common cultural, civilisational continuity. As per a Naga story, a God known as Jillmasa had connection with a cloud, and as a result of that god, tiger and three others namely Asapu, Tuthoh and Kepi were born. Asapu and Tuthoh went to the valleys of Brahmaputra and Manipur respectively. Kepi stayed there. The three became the ancestors of Mayangs (Indians), Meitheis (Manipuris) and Huas (Nagas) respectively. He also recounts an Angami (Naga) story that says that the Nagas and the plainsmen were the descendants of two brothers and their followers, who used Chombu and Chemu trees to lighten their paths. The former gave light for several days, but not the latter. Thus, most people who followed the brother using Chombu tree for blazing the path went to the plains. The ancestor of the Nagas was the second brother. Then, theres another Angami legend, as per which Nagas and Teprima (Indians) are the descendants of Ukepenopfu and her wise husband, who had a long moustache and beard reaching down to his feet. He imparted all his knowledge and wisdom to the younger son, who became the ancestor of Teprimas (Indians). The elder one (i.e., the ancestor of the Nagas) was frightened to see him and ran away and thus remained poor in knowledge and wisdom. Manipur, and the rest of the Northeast, is bleeding precisely because the British executed with great elan their divide and rule policy when they first entered the region after the Treaty of Yandaboo following the first Anglo-Burmese war in 1826. They created the artificial divide between the hills and the plains; so the hills became the homes of the Kuki-Naga tribes and the Imphal Valley, the abode of Meiteis. After dividing the region between the hills and the valley, the British came up with another masterstroke in the Eastern Bengal Frontier Regulation Act 1873, which prohibited an outsiders British subject or foreign citizen entry into the area beyond the Inner Line without a pass and his purchase of land there. Post-Independence, the Nehru administration continued with these colonial policies of course, in newer terms such as Inner Line Permit, and in the name of safeguarding tribal culture and traditions. But, in reality, the government of free India did exactly what the colonial masters had done before 1947: To outsource the Northeast to missionaries. In fact, the access and control that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave to Dr Verrier Elwin was unprecedented. No wonder, Manipur, which had just 45 Christians in 1901, and 4,000 two decades later, finds its hilly regions mostly converted today. What ails Manipuri society is that it is heavily weaponised. To make matters worse, each ethnic group has armed militias. So, when the divide is deep and dangerous, violence becomes the obvious outcome. Theres no trust for the other, no sympathy either. What has further complicated the matter is the poppy growing culture, especially among the Kukis, though a section of Meiteis too have deep drug nexus, besides the ongoing flux in Myanmar just across the international border. As Sreemoy Talukdar wrote for Firstpost in his recent article, The destabilising factor of armed insurgents from Myanmar many of whom have kinship ties with transnational ethnic communities straddling India and its immediate neighbours slipping into the northeastern states through the porous border and adding to the complexity of Kuki-Meitei clashes and exacerbating the ongoing conflict in Manipur, has been under-reported. The state government has failed to control the situation. Worse, it doesnt have the trust of a fairly large segment of its own people. The gravity of the situation, thus, demands strong measures from the Central government. It just cannot afford to let the situation deteriorate any further. Maybe given the almost unbridgeable divide between the hills and the valley, the government can look at granting autonomous district councils under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to Kukis and Nagas something on the line of the Bodoland Territorial Council in Assam. Simultaneously, the Meiteis too need justice: They have a legitimate demand and it cannot be brushed aside because of the faith they profess. They are as tribal as Kukis and Nagas. Accepting such demands may bring in new players with similar proposals. But given the scale and intensity of violence in Manipur and also the great societal divide between the valley people and the inhabitants of the hills a byproduct of disastrous government policies, of course the Centre has no option but to bite the bullet sooner than later. A lot of violence has already marred Manipur. It cannot be allowed to bleed any further. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday said that his party has decided to work together with BJP as an opposition to strengthen the interest of the state. Stating that party supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has authorised him to take any final decision regarding the party, he said there is still time for Parliament polls to talk about it. Responding to a question about the discussions in the JD(S) legislature party meeting on Thursday night, Kumaraswamy said, I have already said both inside and outside the assembly, as both BJP and JD(S) are opposition parties, it has been decided to work together in the interest of the state. Even today morning, MLAs of our party discussed how to go ahead. The former chief minister told reporters in Bengaluru that in the legislature meeting, Gowda advised forming a 10-member team with representation from all communities after taking the opinions of all the leaders. Still there are 11 months for Parliament elections. Lets see when the Parliament election comes. It was advised to organise the party. Also, Deve Gowda has said that he has authorised me to take any final decision regarding the party, he added. In the elections to the 224-member Assembly held in May, the Congress bagged 135 seats, while the BJP secured 66 and the JD(S) 19. With inputs from PTI On Friday, President Vladimir Putin charged NATO member Poland with having territorial aspirations in the former Soviet Union, and he warned that any strike against Belarus, a key ally of Russia, would be viewed as an attack on his country. Putin stated in televised statements to his Security Council that Moscow will respond to any action against Belarus, which shares a loose Union State with Russia, with all the means at our disposal. After Russian Wagner mercenaries landed in Belarus on Wednesday, Warsaws Security Committee decided to dispatch military forces to eastern Poland, its secretary was cited as saying on Friday by the state-run news agency PAP. There are no territorial aspirations by Poland in Belarus. In addition, Putin said that Russia would remind Poles that the western portion of Poland was a gift from Soviet leader Joseph Stalin to the nation. In apparent reference to that, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki tweeted on Friday evening that Stalin was a war criminal, guilty of the death of hundreds of thousands of Poles. Historical truth is not debatable. The ambassador of the Russian Federation will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said. On Thursday, Belarus said Wagner mercenaries had started to train Belarusian special forces at a military range just a few miles from the Polish border. For the first time, Russia has started stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in recent weeks. Putin will visit Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, with whom he frequently speaks, on Sunday in Russia, according to the Kremlin. Boris Pistorius, the German minister of defence, stated on Friday that NATO and Germany were ready to assist Poland in safeguarding the eastern edge of the military alliance. According to Putin, there have been press reports of plans for a Polish-Lithuanian force to conduct operations and eventually capture territory in western Ukraine, which had previously been part of Poland. It is well known that they also dream of the Belarusian lands, he said, also without providing any evidence. In a video released on Wednesday, Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin welcomed his warriors to Belarus and instructed them to build up their strength for Wagners operations in Africa while training the Belarusian army. He also instructed them to stop participating in the battle in Ukraine for the time being. According to Prigozhin, Wagner, who overran the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, is Russias most potent fighting force. But four weeks ago, he staged an armed rebellion as a result of his ongoing disputes with the Moscow defence establishment. At the end of the uprising, it was agreed that Wagner fighters, many of whom had been enlisted from prison, might relocate to Belarus if they so desired. (With agency inputs) Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan has warned that a war with Azerbaijan is very likely. Accusing Azerbaijan of genocide in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, Pashinyan told AFP, So long as a peace treaty has not been signed and such a treaty has not been ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, of course, a (new) war (with Azerbaijan) is very likely. Similar concerns have been raised earlier and its high time that the world takes note. Armenia and Azerbaijan have already fought two wars over the enclave- the most recent in 2020, and skirmishes between the two have continued since. Talks between the two former Soviet nations mediated by EU, US, and separately by Russia have failed to achieve a breakthrough so far. Two ongoing events have escalated fears of another full-blown conflict in the Caucasus. One is the Russia-Ukraine war and the other is the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh blockade by Azerbaijan. Distracted by Ukraine, Russias role as a mediator in the region has weakened. The 2020 Karabakh war, which international observers say was triggered by Azerbaijan, saw Armenia cede most of the territories it held since the 1990s to Baku. The conflict came to an end after Moscow mediated a peace deal and as part of the agreement, Russia stationed nearly 2,000 peacekeepers in the region. Moscow also has a pre-existing agreement with Yerevan which states that Russia will provide military protection to Armenia if the latter is attacked. The agreement does not cover Nagorno-Karabakh. Since the start of the Ukraine war, an isolated Russia has been trying to avoid confrontation with Azerbaijan despite various instances of ceasefire violations by Azeri troops. In September 2022, Azerbaijan attacked Armenian cities when Russia shifted some of its soldiers from Karabakh to Ukraine. What made this attack different was that Azerbaijan attacked Armenian territory, however, Russia did not intervene militarily. Backed by its powerful NATO ally Turkey, Azerbaijan has been increasingly attacking Armenian positions in Karabakh. Armenia has time and again slammed Russian troops for failing to contain Azeri escalation. Key corridors blockade brings region back to the brink of war Another issue at the heart of the Armenia-Azerbaijan tensions is the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor- the only land link between Karabakh and Armenia. Since December 2022, a group of so-called Azeri eco-activists have been blocking the corridor to protest against what they call illegal mining. Armenia has accused the Azeri government of orchestrating the demonstrations while the latter has accused Yerevan of using the Lachin corridor to transport land mines into Nagorno-Karabakh. The blockade has triggered a humanitarian crisis in the enclave with residents facing food and medicine shortages as supplies from Armenia have come to a halt due to the barrier. URGENT: Artsakh on the Brink of Famine For 222 days, the Republic of Artsakh has faced a dire humanitarian catastrophe, triggered by the neighboring dictatorship of Azerbaijan. The situation worsened when Azerbaijan set up an illegal checkpoint in the Berdzor Corridor, pic.twitter.com/CSCige3jtk 301 (@301arm) July 21, 2023 Even vehicles from the International Red Cross have been finding it difficult to navigate the blockade. Yerevan says that the blockade is an attempt by Baku to force Armenians to leave the territory. Azerbaijan denies the accusations. Also read: Blackouts to food shortage: How Azerbaijans blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh triggered a humanitarian crisis Attempts to end the blockade have failed. In May 2023, Armenia even agreed to officially recognise Nagorno-Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan but demanded international mechanisms for the protection of the rights and security of the regions ethnic-Armenian population. Azerbaijan rejected any global mechanisms saying that such guarantees must be provided at the national level. Bakus refusal to allow international observers only adds to concerns about the present situation and also the future of Armenians in Karabakh. Theres no doubt that in order to avert a war, the blockade must end. And for the current situation to improve, global mediators like EU should be willing to engage with Russia. But the first step is to acknowledge the magnitude of the crisis. In the hyper-regulated financial services landscape, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be limited by compliance and risk. But the capabilities AI can offer are too tempting to simply pass up, from data-driven customer intel to automated tasks. In this blog, discover how Microsoft Dynamics AI Insights provides financial services with compliant, pre-built automation capabilities that build the foundation for digital transformation. Authorities in the state of Sonora reported on Saturday that eleven people were killed in a suspected arson assault on a pub in the border city of San Luis Colorado, Mexico, after an expelled customer set it ablaze with a Molotov cocktail. The suspect was young, male and quite inebriated at the time of the incident in the early hours of Saturday, according to preliminary investigations, according to Sonora state prosecutors. He had already been kicked out of the pub for disrespecting women there. Then, according to prosecutors in the state that shares a long border with Arizona, he returned and tossed something akin to a Molotov cocktail at the bars doors. The notification further stated that four of the 11 fatalities were women and that four more people were receiving medical attention for their injuries. It claimed that authorities are working to apprehend the suspect. (With agency inpust) India on Saturday gifted its in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam in reflection of growing bilateral strategic and defence partnership amid common concerns over Chinas increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. It is for the first time that India handed over a fully operational corvette to any friendly foreign country, officials said. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, currently on an official visit to Vietnam, presided over the ceremony at Vietnamese deep water bay of Cam Ranh where the frontline warship was handed over to Vietnam Peoples Navy. The Indian Navy said the ship has been handed over to Vietnam Peoples Navy (VPN) with complete weapon complement. Todays handing-over ceremony symbolises the deep-rooted friendship and strategic partnership between India and Vietnam, Admiral Kumar said in his address at the event. What makes this occasion even more significant is the fact that this is the first-ever occasion that India is offering a fully-operational Corvette to any friendly foreign country, he said. The Navy Chief said the transfer of INS Kirpan to the Vietnam Peoples Navy resonates with Indias G20 vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam One Earth, One Family, One Future. Vietnam, an important country of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region. India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. India and Vietnam have been boosting their maritime security cooperation in the last few years to protect common interests. Todays event serves as a reaffirmation of our commitment to expand and deepen our defence partnership, not only bilaterally but also in the broader multilateral framework, he said. Admiral Kumar hoped that INS Kirpan would continue to navigate the vast seas, upholding the principles of freedom, justice, and international rules-based order to be the pillar around which a force for good be built. His comments come in the backdrop of Chinas increasing military muscle flexing in the South China Sea. As we entrust INS Kirpan to the Vietnam Navy, we do so with complete confidence in their ability to operate and maintain this magnificent vessel, the Navy Chief said. We are certain that they will harness its immense potential to safeguard their national maritime interests, contribute to regional security, and foster peace and stability, he added. INS Kirpan was handed over to Vietnam after it was decommissioned from Indian Navy. On completing 32 years of illustrious service to the nation, Indian naval ship Kirpan has been decommissioned from the Indian Navy and handed over to VPN today, the Indian Navy said in a statement. INS Kirpan, since its commissioning in 1991, has been an integral part of Indian Navys Eastern Fleet and has participated in many operations over the last 32 years. Manned by about 12 officers and 100 sailors, the ship is 90 metres long and 10.45 metres in width with maximum displacement of 1,450 tons. The transfer of INS Kirpan from Indian Navy to Vietnam Peoples Navy, symbolises the status of Indian Navy of being the preferred security partner in the Indian Ocean Region, the Indian Navy said. INS Kirpan, an indigenously built Khukri-class missile corvette, was handed over to Vietnam in line with Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs announcement last month that India will gift an in-service missile corvette to the country. INS Kirpan departed on her final journey under the Indian tricolour from India to Vietnam on June 28 and reached Cam Ranh, Vietnam on July 8. Following allegations that a Koran was burned in Denmark, hundreds of protesters sought to enter the Danish embassy in Baghdad early on Saturday. In response, Iraqi security personnel used tear gas and videos posted on social media. Two days prior to the event at Baghdads heavily guarded Green Zone, protesters had broken into and set fire to the Swedish Embassy in opposition to a scheduled Koran burning in Stockholm. Iraq denounced the assault on the Swedish Embassy but also removed the Swedish ambassador in retaliation for the planned burning of the Koran, which Muslims believe to be a revelation from God and is the core text of Islam. A man set fire to a book claiming to be the Koran on Friday in Copenhagen, Denmark, across from the Iraqi Embassy. A group calling itself the Danish Patriots livestreamed the event on Facebook. Two bystanders may be seen standing and conversing near to the burning book in a tin foil tray as well as the Iraqi flag that is lying on the ground. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen condemned it as an act of stupidity by a few individuals, telling national broadcaster DR: It is a disgraceful act to insult the religion of others. This applies to the burning of Korans and other religious symbols. It has no other purpose than to provoke and create division, he said. He noted however that burning religious books was not a crime in Denmark. A book that the demonstrators claimed to be the Koran was kicked and partially smashed during the anti-Islamic protest on Thursday in Stockholm, but they left the scene an hour later without lighting it on fire. Middle Eastern nations including Saudi Arabia and Iran summoned Swedish officials in protest over the incident. Iran asked Sweden and Denmark to take action to stop the ongoing attacks on the Koran in the Nordic nations on Saturday, claiming that Muslims around the world expected the desecration to stop. Burning the Koran is permissible in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, all of which have laws protecting the right to free speech. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, declared on Saturday that those who burnt the Koran deserved the most severe punishment and urged that Sweden deliver them to the perpetrator to the most severe punishment. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said: Iran believes that the Danish government is responsible for preventing insults to the Holy Koran and Islamic sanctities, as well as prosecuting and punishing those committing the insults. According to Kanaani, in a statement reported by state media, public opinion in the Islamic world was waiting for practical action from the Danish government. A reply from the Danish foreign ministry was not immediately available. Iran claimed it will not accept a new Swedish envoy in retaliation for Sweden delaying the installation of a new ambassador due to attacks on the Koran. In line with the directive of the president (Ebrahim Raisi), their (Sweden) new ambassador will not be accepted and our new ambassador will not be sent to Sweden until effective action is taken by them, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told state TV. A spokesman for the Swedish government confirmed that the foreign ministers of Sweden and Iran spoke by phone on Friday, but she would not elaborate on their conversation. The Iraqi president issued a statement urging Western nations and international institutions to stop incitement and hate practises, whatever their justifications. Additionally, it cautioned Iraqis against being complicit in what it called a plot of sedition that was intended to demonstrate that Iraq was unfit for foreign missions. (With agency inputs) The South Korean military reported on Saturday that North Korea has launched several cruise missiles into the western sea off the Korean Peninsula. Since firing two ballistic missiles on Wednesday, North Korea has launched one more missile, as Pyongyang and Washington escalate their military confrontation over the isolated nations missile and nuclear weapons programmes. The Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea reported that a number of cruise missiles launched since roughly 4 a.m. Saturday local time (1900 Friday GMT) had been discovered. A U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) surfaced for a rare visit to South Korea on Wednesday, hours after which North Korea fired missiles. On Thursday, North Korea also issued a warning, stating that the stationing of American aircraft carriers, bombers, or missile submarines in South Korea may be sufficient justification for the use of nuclear weapons. (With agency inputs) US President Joe Biden announced that he will nominate Admiral Lisa Franchetti to head the countrys Navy, making her the first woman to possibly hold the post in US history. It is, however, unclear whether the Senate will confirm her position by the time her predecessor leaves office. A Republican lawmaker is stalling more than 200 senior military nominations to protest the Pentagons decision to assist troops who have to travel to receive abortions. Franchetti will bring 38 years of dedicated service to our nation as a commissioned officer, including in her current role of Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Biden said in a statement. She is the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and when confirmed, she will again make history as the first woman to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he added. Who is Lisa Franchetti? Admiral Franchetti has served on a series of surface vessels and has commanded a guided missile destroyer, a destroyer squadron and two carrier strike groups. She has also served as the deputy commander of the US naval forces in Europe and in Africa. She was the deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting development, among other positions. She became vice chief of naval operations in September 2022. Admiral Mike Gilday is due to complete his four-year term as head of the Navy next month, but Franchettis confirmation will likely be held up by Senator Tommy Tuberville, who has been delaying the approval of military nominees for months. With inputs from AFP On Saturday, thousands of Israelis protesting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposed judicial reform marched into Jerusalem to put pressure on his right-wing administration to drop a law that would limit the Supreme Courts authority. The law, which parliament is expected to vote on by Monday, was deemed necessary by Netanyahus religious-nationalist coalition because the Court has grown overly interventionist. Critics claim that in a nation without a constitution and a unicameral parliament predominated by the administration, it plays a critical role in preserving civil liberties. Under a sweltering July sun and to the sounds of banging drums, a column of demonstrators several kilometres (miles) long marched up the major roadway to Jerusalem. The protesters have been travelling for days, camping out at night, and frequently encountering locals who offer them food and beverages. Before a Sunday debate and subsequent vote on the bill, which would restrict the Supreme Courts ability to overturn what it deems unreasonable governmental or ministerial decisions, they want to demonstrate outside of parliament. When asked if she thought the protesters would be able to block the vote, protest leader Shikma Bressler responded that she wasnt sure. But the vote is not the last step, she told Reuters. This is why we are trying to build the forces in this country to choose right from wrong, to choose light from darkness. The law, according to its proponents, is intended to assist efficient governance while courts continue to maintain significant judicial control. The measure, according to critics, is being pushed through parliament and will allow for corruption and power abuses. The planned changes have harmed the economy and alarmed Washington, which has encouraged Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption accusations that he denies, to seek consensus on judicial reforms. According to polls, there are broad concerns among Israelis about the changes. Concerns about war-readiness have been raised on all sides of the argument, and the crisis has even sowed tensions inside the military, which was previously thought of as an apolitical melting pot for a fractured country. (With agency inputs) A US court on Friday announced the trial date of former President Donald Trumps case of mishandling classified documents. The case will be heard from May 20 next year. Trumps lawyers had resisted setting a date but said any trial should take place after the November 2024 US presidential election, in which he is a front-runner for the Republican nomination. No one disagrees that Defendants need adequate time to review and evaluate it on their own accord, said Cannon, a Trump appointee who was randomly assigned to the high-stakes legal battle. A spokesperson for Trump said that the trial schedule allows President Trump and his legal team to continue fighting against the criminal case. Fridays ruling came from US District Judge Aileen Cannon, who sits in Fort Pierce, Florida. The trial will be held at a federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, a city about 130 miles (210 kilometers) north of Miami in a part of Florida. On June 8, the former president was indicted on charges of unlawfully handling national security documents when he left office and lying to officials who tried to recover them. He has pleaded not guilty. Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said the judge, in choosing a May start date, appeared to be trying to split the difference between the requests of the prosecutors and the defense attorneys. Apart from this, Trump is set to go on trial in Manhattan for his involvement in falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to a porn star. He said on Tuesday he had received a letter saying he is a target of a grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election defeat. With inputs from agencies As the two close allies strengthen their military connections in reaction to Chinas expanding regional reach, the United States commissioned a warship in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, marking the first time a U.S. Navy vessel entered active service at a foreign port. The Independence-class littoral combat ship was commissioned at a ceremony at an Australian naval facility on Sydney Harbour, officially joining the US Navys active fleet. It was named after a Royal Australian Navy cruiser that was sunk while assisting the US Marine landings on Guadalcanal in 1942. Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy, Australian Defence Minister Marles said in a statement. The commissioning of the U.S. ship in Australian waters reflected our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order, he added. The ceremony coincides with the US and Australias yearly Talisman Sabre military drills, which are considered as a display of strength and cohesion as China asserts itself more and more in the Indo-Pacific. The two-week long exercises feature amphibious landings as well as simulated ground and air combat in a number of locations across Australia. Forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga, and Britain are also participating in addition to Australia and the US. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) launched a surface-to-ship missile on Saturday as part of the war simulations off Australias east coast at Jervis Bay, around 195 kilometres (121 miles) south of Sydney. Australias Defence Department said the drill marked the first time the JGSDF has tested the capability in Australia. As the European country increases its footprint in the region, Germany is taking part for the first time with 210 paratroopers and marines. The United States and Britain have agreed to assist Australia in acquiring a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS initiative, which was unveiled in March. Prior to that, in the early 2030s, the US is required to sell Australia three nuclear-powered submarines of the US Virginia class, with an option for Australia to purchase two more. (With agency inputs) Marks is attracted to China, which has been classified by some strategists as uninvestable. For example, Viktor Shvets at Macquarie says Chinas national mission under Xi Jinping is on a path not driven by economics or efficiency. You dont buy anything on an uninvestable pile just because its there. But this is where you look. Howard Marks, Oaktree co-founder Shvets says, increasingly there is no meaningful rationale for staying invested or even choosing one stock or sector versus another. In a world not driven by economics, who knows whether stock A should be trading at $100 or $50 and, more importantly, how much intellectual energy investors are prepared to spend on such decisions and how much second guessing they are willing to accept. Marks has a robust response to this line of thinking. First, I have made a career of investing in things that were described as uninvestable, starting with B-rated bonds in 1978, and distressed debt in 1988, and emerging market equities in 1990, he says. All of which were on the no-fly list. So, I dont invest in things only because others described them as uninvestable. But its a good starting point in terms of places to look for bargains. Investing in China may require psychoanalysis So, we will certainly look at China. Thats the good news. The bad news is that investing in China may require what I call not economic or financial analysis, but political analysis or psychoanalysis. And I dont think those things can be done definitively. In the meantime, my guess is well continue to invest in China as we have done I think well do it carefully. Marks says China sits in the list of things that investors dont know about, dont understand, dont like, dont find respectable and are pessimistic about. People call it uninvestable. Theres no doubt about that, but let me make it clear: you dont buy anything on an uninvestable pile just because its there. But this is where you look. The things everybody loves will never be cheap. Its an oxymoron to say I found a bargain among the pile of things everybody loves. He says China is experiencing trough sentiment, an opinion backed up by analysis released on Friday by JP Morgan strategist Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou showing that foreign ownership of Chinese equities has slumped by $US160 billion since June to $US370 billion. Panigirtzoglou says these big market losses may explain the reluctance of foreign investors to sell Chinese equities over the past year. But the estimate of total size of foreign ownership of Chinese equities points to the potential selling that could take place if foreigners decide to exit their portfolios. Marks says that when you have trough sentiment, and it turns out to be unwarranted, thats how you make the big bucks. Im not saying thats China today. But theyre on the [uninvestable] pile. One of the wonders of the world Your Rooster could not pass up the opportunity to ask Marks about the Australian retirement income system created 30 years ago by the Hawke and Keating government. It was relevant, given that a big chunk of Oaktrees $7 billion under management in Australia has come from big industry super funds. I think its one of the wonders of the world the fact that you have the institutions, and that it is mandatory, he says. This prompts Marks to recall a memo he wrote in August 2008 about the decline in financial security of the typical American worker. In August of 08, one month before the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, things were pretty placid so I had an opportunity to write a memo, which was about long-term musing, he says. Retirement income US, Chile and Australia I said when I was young, the American worker had four legs under the stool of financial security savings, private pension, Social Security and home equity. But now there arent many savings, most corporations have closed the fixed benefit pension plan, and most people are paying interest only, so they have no home equity. And were down to Social Security, and its clearly inadequate. This prompts a segue to his observations about Chiles pension system, which will not go down well with federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. We have a lot of good clientele in Chile, and in my opinion Chile has been the greatest economy structure in Latin America and thats partly because it was established by a bunch of University of Chicago economists in the mid-20th century, he says. They had a pension system, but you could take a holiday, you could go for a period of not putting in, you could take out, you could do all these things. And now, or most recently, people have been retiring. And when the system was put in, people were supposed to get, I think, 90 per cent of their terminal salary, and theyre getting 30. Actually, I think it led to the election of the leftist, as I recall. It has to be mandatory. To illustrate his point, Marks retells the anecdote about the marshmallows and the kids. One of the great experiments in psychology, I think it was in 1969, psychologists took a bunch of four-year-olds, and they had a room, and a little chair, and a little table and a plate and a marshmallow, he says. And they put this four-year-old kid in the chair, and they said: You like marshmallows, the kid says: Yes, I like my piece. Good. You can have that marshmallow if you want. But Im going to step out of the room for 10 minutes. And if when I come back, its still there. Ill give you two. And 80 per cent of the kids ate the marshmallow. Because they just cant wait. And most people say Id rather have a boat today than a little fatter pension 30 years from now. But the mandatory [contributions] I mean I have unlimited admiration for the super system, its just so wise. Zookeepers at an Ohio zoo were dumbfounded when one of their gorillas gave birth, because somehow for the last four years they thought the mama gorilla was a male. How the mix-up could have happened is beyond head-scratching, but the staff at Columbus Zoo says that at only 8 years old, Sully wasn't developed enough to show outward signs of her sex. "Until about eight, males and females are about the same size, and they don't have prominent sex organs. Males don't develop their silver backs until 12 or later." Zookeepers also blamed their confusion on Sully's health, which has always been good, giving them no reason for a close-up examination. In fact, it wasn't until they spotted the new mother nursing that they even realized the infant was hers. From BBC: The birth "was unexpected, yet exciting for the care team and important for the conservation of a critically endangered species", the keepers said in a blog post. Zookeepers suspected nothing until they saw the "male" nursing her child. "It's hard to tell the sex of younger gorillas," they said. "We're thrilled by the addition of another birth for this critically endangered species," the zoo said. "As the 34th gorilla born here since 1956 when the Columbus Zoo became the first zoo in the world to welcome the birth of a baby gorilla, she's an important part of our work to conserve these magnificent animals." The zoo said it would conduct DNA tests to determine the father. To prevent another silly and perhaps embarrassing surprise, the zoo immediately examined the newborn gorilla, determining with confidence this time, "It's a girl!" Who are the U.S. senator, the state lawmaker and the state judge that the FBI improperly used their surveillance powers against? It's the rubber-stamp FISA court again, which enables warrantless domestic surveillance by targeting foreigners' communications with the U.S. subject. The FBI's improper use of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act was documented in an opinion from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) and is sure to pose challenges for an intelligence community lobbying for the reauthorization for what it sees as one of its most vital tools. In October of that year, "a Staff Operations Specialist ran a query using the Social Security number of a state judge who "had complained to [the] FBI about alleged civil right violations perpetrated by a municipal chief of police." The opinion does not make clear the identity of those searched. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), whose efforts prompted the release of the court opinion, highlighted other alarming patterns. "These disturbing new revelations show how Section 702 surveillance, a spy program the government claims is focused on foreign adversaries, is routinely used against Americans, immigrants, and people who are not accused of any wrongdoing," Patrick Toomey, deputy director of the ACLU's National Security Project, said in a statement. felicilin at 22-07-2023 09:14 PM (2 weeks ago) (f) Divorce is a legal affair that signals the end of a civil marriage. As a woman, will you go back to your maiden name and as a man will you allow your ex-wife retain your surname after a divorce? A cross section of Lagos residents on Saturday expressed divergent views with the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Divorce is a legal affair that signals the end of a civil marriage. As a woman, will you go back to your maiden name and as a man will you allow your ex-wife retain your surname after a divorce?A cross section of Lagos residents on Saturday expressed divergent views with the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Adenike Ajose, a caterer, told NAN that the culture of shame had made it difficult for most divorced women to revert to their maiden names. I think its the shame of divorce itself, the moment one goes back to ones maiden name, you start getting calls from all and sundry and that can be exhausting and embarrassing. So, one may retain it in order not to recount the sad ordeal of ones failure in marriage. As for me, I didnt change it because of the National Identity Number (NIN), the process is excruciatingly painful. I had begun the process, but when I saw how long getting the name regularised will take, I cant deal with the fact that Id have to put my life on hold for that long, moreover we have two children together, she said. Nana Adeoti, a businesswoman , told NAN that she was ashamed to change her maiden name after her marriage of 16 years failed. I was so ashamed, I struggled with my identity for a long time. I recently changed it because I wanted my business to have the proper structure. A failed marriage is tough, when mine failed in 2016 after 16 years of marriage, I couldnt come to terms with the fact that my life had changed forever. Should I remarry again, I will never change my name, she said A civil servant, Mayenne Duke, said that if she ever got divorced, the only reason she would retain her ex-husbands name is if the family is prominent and will be beneficial for her children. Adenike Ajose, a caterer, told NAN that the culture of shame had made it difficult for most divorced women to revert to their maiden names.she said.Nana Adeoti, a businesswoman , told NAN that she was ashamed to change her maiden name after her marriage of 16 years failed.she saidA civil servant, Mayenne Duke, said that if she ever got divorced, the only reason she would retain her ex-husbands name is if the family is prominent and will be beneficial for her children. Quote My surname is Duke, thats the same surname as Donald Duke, the former governor of Cross-Rivers, that name has lots of potential, I wont change it. Imagine if my exs surname was Tinubu, why will I change that name? never, as long as we have a child together, I personally believe I have earned the right to bear that name forever, she said. Also, Ufan Daniel, a banker, told NAN that he wouldnt have a problem should his ex-wife retain his name as long as she was not a criminal minded person. If the marriage was childless, then I dont see the point, but if there are children from the marriage, I dont think theres anything wrong. As long as my ex doesnt turn to crime in the future, as a man I understand that change of name is not easy especially with NIN, Bank Verification Number (BVN). I have relatives that are divorced and I know how painful that is, to now add the pain of going back and forth, most of government agencies are created to frustrate people, he said. According to another banker, Seyi Idris, as long as the divorce is absolute, his ex-wife has no right to his name. If she filed for divorce, that means it is of her volition, then, she has no right to keep answering my name. But if I filed for the divorce, she have every right to decide if she wants to keep the name. After all, the initial plan was to do life together forever before life happened, he said. Meanwhile, a psychologist, Lilian Brendan, a psychologist, said that an individuals psychological state might be affected by change of name. According to Brendan, having to learn how to accept a new name can empower people to take control of their lives. Changing ones name is a big choice that can affect ones mental health. The act of changing your name has many emotional and psychological repercussions. People change their names for various reasons. These include marriage, divorce, expressing their true self, or starting anew. Additionally, it highlights the significance of social support. It offers tips for handling criticism and misunderstandings, she said. She further said that there were lots of psychological benefits of change of name . She said it would improve an individuals sense of empowerment and could take charge of their identity and align it with their objectives, by changing their names. Having a greater sense of results in better emotional health and self-assurance, changing your name can spark personal growth and transformation. Changing your name provides a fresh start, relieving you from negative memories or connections to your previous name. Embracing a new name nurtures resilience, optimism, and a renewed sense of purpose, she said. he said.Meanwhile, a psychologist, Lilian Brendan, a psychologist, said that an individuals psychological state might be affected by change of name.According to Brendan, having to learn how to accept a new name can empower people to take control of their lives.she said.She further said that there were lots of psychological benefits of change of name .She said it would improve an individuals sense of empowerment and could take charge of their identity and align it with their objectives, by changing their names.she said. Post Reply Posted: at 22-07-2023 09:14 PM (2 weeks ago) | Addicted Hero Netflix Password Sharing Comes To An End In India: Know New Rules, Transfer Profile, Watch History Features oi -Alap Naik Desai Netflix has been curbing the rampant practice of sharing accounts and passwords. The streaming giant has now cracked down on password sharing in India, possibly forcing many Indian users to create new accounts and avail subscriptions. Netflix has announced that its streaming service users in India will no longer be able to share their accounts with people freely. Let's see how Netflix will crack down on the practice in India. Learning how to create new accounts and retain watch history, profile preferences, and other customizations is now important. Netflix Cracks Down On Password Sharing In India Netflix started cracking down on password-sharing in countries like the US and Canada back in May. Just a day after Netflix reported that it added nearly 6 million new subscribers after introducing the policy, the streaming giant announced that it will no longer allow password sharing in India. A Netflix account is only meant to be used by one household, the streaming giant mentioned on its official Indian website: "Everyone living in that household can use Netflix wherever they are - at home, on the go, on holiday - and take advantage of new features like Transfer Profile and Manage Access and Devices" The new policy will restrict access to a Netflix account to those who are part of your 'Netflix Household'. Netflix will rely on information such as IP addresses, device IDs, and account activity to determine if a device is part of your household. How To Create A "Netflix Household" And Ensure Uninterrupted Access To Streaming? Netflix account users must set up a Netflix Household. This is essentially the primary account holder's main location from where they will be using the account from. To set up the primary location, open the Netflix app and tap on the Get Help option at the bottom right section of the UI. Click on Manage Netflix Household. The app will ask if the device is to be a part of the Netflix Household. After confirming, Netflix will ask users to verify the account using an OTP delivered to the registered email address or phone number. After confirming the account, Netflix will take users to the page where it will show the devices that are connected to the same internet connection. Needless to say, only those who use the same internet connection will be able to access the account. Those who are borrowing a Netflix password outside the household will get a notification when they try to log in that prompts them to create their own account. How To Create New Netflix Account, Transfer Profile, Watch History, And Customizations? Netflix users who are no longer part of a Netflix Household but want to continue using the service will need to create a new account. However, users can retain all their profile customizations and watch history when they migrate to the newly created account. To create a new Netflix account, head over to the Netflix app from a smartphone or the Netflix website on a laptop or desktop. Ask the original account holder to sign in. Head to Settings and tap on the profile that has to be transferred. There should be a 'transfer this profile' option. Trapping the same will take the user to a page that confirms transferring a profile will migrate recommendations, viewing history, My List, saved games, settings, and more. Users can transfer the profile to a newly created or preexisting account. Selecting "A New Account" will start the process of creating a new Netflix account, with a new subscription. It is recommended to create a new account beforehand and choose the desired subscription, before starting the migration process. This will significantly shorten the migration process. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Samsung Galaxy Unpacked Event: How to watch the livestream, what to expect ahead of July 26 News oi -Carlsen Martin Samsung is kicking off its first Galaxy Unpacked event in Seoul, South Korea on July 26. Samsung is set to unveil several new devices at its upcoming Unpacked event, although the new foldables will headline the event. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Watch 6 Series, and Galaxy Tab S9 series will be unveiled at the coming Galaxy Unpacked event. However, rumours also suggests that the Galaxy Buds 3 TWS earbuds will also debut at the event. The new devices pre-order detials were also recently leaked. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2023: How to watch the livestream? The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event is taking place on July 26 at 04:30 pm (IST). It will be the first time that Samsung hosts a Galaxy Unpacked event in Seoul. The event can also be livestreamed on Samsung's official website and YouTube channel. Rumours suggests that the upcoming Galaxy foldables, tablets, and smartwatches will go on sale in August. So without any further delays, let's look at all the devices coming to the next Galaxy Unpacked event. The upcoming Galaxy devices are already available for pre-order from Samsung's official website. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 Specifications (Expected) The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will undoubted be the star of the show at the event as Samsung plots major updates to the series. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will get a large cover display, the largest on a Galaxy Z Flip smartphone to date. Moreover, the panel will rival that of the screen on the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is expected to feature a 6.7-inch FHD+ LTPO AMOLED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and an external 3.4-inch cover screen with a similar 120Hz refresh rate. The Galaxy Z Flip 5 will also feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, a 12 MP dual-rear camera setup with OIS, and a 3,700 mAh battery with wired and wireless charging. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 Specifications (Expected) Unlike the Galaxy Z Flip 5, the upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 5 isn't expected to offer a major update over its predecessor. The Galaxy Z Fold 5 is rumoured to feature a 7.6-inch foldable AMOLED display, accompanied by an outer display measuring approximately 6.2 inches. Both displays are expected to use LTPO AMOLED panels with 120Hz refresh rates. What do you think this symbol means? Drop a comment below!#JoinTheFlipSide #SamsungUnpacked pic.twitter.com/tvNWTLaQoM Samsung India (@SamsungIndia) July 21, 2023 The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 will be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. The foldable device is expected to pack a 4,400 mAh battery with 45W wired fast charging and 25W wireless charging. The phone will also feature a 50 MP triple-camera setup on the back, a 10 MP selfie camera on the cover display, and a 4 MP sensor on the inner foldable screen. Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Series Specifications (Expected) Samsung will also launch its flagship tablet series on July 26. These are expected to include the Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus, and Tab S9 Ultra. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series will likely use a Dynamic AMOLED display, although screen sizes may differ across various models. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series is said to feature a dual-rear camera setup including a 13 MP primary sensor and an 8 MP ultrawide lens. Moreover, up front, the tablets are expected to use two 12 MP selfie cameras. The Galaxy Tab S9 series will feature large batteries with fast charging support. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Series The vanilla Galaxy Watch 6 will come in 40mm and 44mm sizes, while the Watch 6 Classic version will come in 43mm and 47mm options. Additionally, the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic will come with a host of health features. Here's everything you need to know about the Galaxy Watch 6 series. For more details about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event, stay tuned to Gizbot. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications TRAI Slapped 35 Crore Fine On Jio, Airtel, And Vodafone For Falling Short In Curbing Spam Calls, SMS News oi -Alap Naik Desai The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reportedly fined Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea a total of 34.99 Crore. These Indian telecom service providers were penalized because they failed to stem the rampant growth of spam calls and SMS on their networks. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw indicated that India's "Access Providers" were falling short of their obligations. Let's look at the developments and see how this might affect Indian telecom subscribers. Indian Telcos Need To Do A Lot More To Stop Pesky Spam Calls, SMS Vaishnaw informed the Indian Parliament that Access Providers Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea were collectively fined around 35 Crore for failing to curb pesky calls and SMS on their network: "TRAI has imposed financial disincentives of Rs. 34,99,98,000 on the Access Service Providers for failing to curb unsolicited commercial communications in their networks from Registered Telemarketers." Market share of fixed-line telecom operators in India as of 31 october 2022 according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). Jio (31.08%) BSNL (25.55%) Airtel (24.89%) MTNL (8.58%) Tata Teleservices (5.63%) Vi (2.57%) Quadrant (1.17%) Rafath Alam (@raf_alam) July 17, 2023 Telecom operators in India have disconnected 15,382 and 32,032 connections during the calendar year- 2021 and 2022, respectively, for violating Telecom Commercial Communication Customers Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), 2018, confirmed the minister. Although the telecom service providers have taken some action, the sheer magnitude ensures the impact is minuscule. As such, Access Providers need to step up and take much more stringent or aggressive steps to curb the menace, as the TRAI appears to have implied with the fine. Service Providers To Ensure Subscribers Grant Consent For Promotional Calls, Messages TRAI recently directed Access Providers to develop a unified digital platform in two months to allow their subscribers to grant, maintain and revoke consent for promotional calls and messages. In the first phase, only subscribers will be able to initiate the process to register their consent for receiving promotional calls and SMS. Subsequently, business entities would be able to reach out to customers to seek their consent to receive promotional messages, TRAI said in a statement. Access providers have been further directed to use a common short code, starting with 127, for sending consent-seeking messages. Needless to say, such a mechanism is nowhere to be seen. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Henry Lee, a famed forensic scientist who has worked on numerous cases and appeared often as an expert in court, fabricated evidence in a 1989 trial that sent Ralph "Ricky" Birch and Shawn Henning to jail for killing Everett Carr, according to a ruling Friday. A judge vacated the felony murder convictions in 2020, and the men filed a federal wrongful conviction lawsuit naming Lee, eight police investigators and the town of New Milford. The ruling Friday sends the case against the police and the town to trial. In granting a motion for summary judgement against Lee, the only outstanding issue for a jury in his case will be the amount of damages. No forensic evidence linked Birch and Henning to the crime other than a "bloody towel". But later tests proved the substance on the towel wasn't blood, implying that Lee did not test it as he had claimed.U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden: "Other than stating that he performed the test, however, the record contains no evidence that any such test was performed," the judge wrote. "In fact, as plaintiffs noted, Dr. Lee's own experts concluded that there is no 'written documentation or photographic' evidence that Dr. Lee performed the TMB blood test. And there is evidence in this record that the tests actually conducted did not indicate the presence of blood." The judge also ruled that Lee failed to properly use an immunity defense that could have shielded him from damages and was no longer eligible to use that argument. Lee's work includes the JonBenet Ramsey case; the Spector case; Connecticut's first murder conviction with no body; the O. J. Simpson case; and many others. It's long been speculated that he botched much of his work. I can't help but wonder if this guy is a scapegoat for deeper problems with forensic evidence at trial. A lot of it should get more skepticism than it does, notwithstanding the scope for contrarian nonsense that invites. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Retired navy officer gets 5-month prison sentence over China links ROC Central News Agency 07/21/2023 09:15 PM Taipei, July 21 (CNA) The Kaohsiung District Court on Friday sentenced retired Navy Major General Hsia Fu-hsiang () to five months in prison Friday in connection with a Chinese attempt to cultivate intelligence assets in Taiwan. The ruling, which is subject to appeal, can be commuted to a per diem fine of NT$1,000 (US$32), the court said in a statement. The court added that it had acquitted former Legislator Lo Chih-ming () on related espionage charges after finding no evidence he had recruited any retired military officers or established a relationship with Chinese intelligence. Lo and Hsia, who were indicted in March, stood accused of arranging for retired Taiwanese military personnel to go on subsidized sightseeing tours of China at the behest of two front organizations for Chinese state intelligence -- the Alumni Association of the Huangpu Military Academy (AAHMA) and the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (CCPPNR). Prosecutors alleged that Hsia, who retired in 2009, met CCPPNR Deputy Secretary-General Hao Yifeng () and AAHMA official Fang Xinsheng () in 2012 in his capacity as Republic of China (Taiwan) Navy Academy Alumni Society head. Prosecutors had charged Lo, then the head of Taiyen Biotech Co.'s Xiamen subsidiary, introduced Hsia to Lee Ying (), a business associate in Guangzhou whose father served in the People's Liberation Army Air Force, who arranged for Hsia to take an all-expenses-paid trip to China. On Friday, the court ruled that Hsia had arranged for 14 retired naval officers to visit China from 2014 to 2018 at the behest of Hao and Fang. However, since no evidence showed that any of these retired officers eventually agreed to be recruited by the AAHMA, the court ruled that Hsia's efforts were only "an attempt" to develop a spy ring for China. Although Lo and Hsia knew Li, prosecutors failed to provide enough evidence to prove that the latter has ties to Chinese intelligence, the court said, adding that arranging for retired Taiwanese officers to visit China did not constitute a crime. Following Friday's verdict, the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office said it would appeal the ruling. (By Hung Hsueh Kuang, Mathew Mazzetta, Evelyn Kao, Sean Lin and Ko Lin) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Igor Girkin / Igor Strelkov GIRKIN, Igor Vsevolodovich (a.k.a. STRELKOV, Igor Ivanovich; a.k.a. STRELKOV, Ihor; a.k.a. STRELOK, Igor), Shenkurskiy Passage (Proyezd), House 8-6, Apartment 136, Moscow, Russia; DOB 17 Dec 1970) is a former employee of the FSB of Russia (1996-2013). He is known for his involvement in the conflict in Eastern Ukraine that began in 2014, and served as Minister of Defense of the Donetsk Peoples Republic [DPR]. Before his involvement in Ukraine, Girkin had served in the Russian FSB (Federal Security Service), and participated in several conflicts including in Transnistria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Chechnya. Strelkov is a staunch monarchist, sympathetic to the Russian Empire. For him, the phrase "collapse of the country" is associated not with 1991, but with 1918. He sympathizes with the white movement (obviously, therefore, he wears a mustache like that of White Guard officers). However, the external resemblance is not limited. Girkin tries to behave like a real Russian officer and often emphasizes that he is a man of honor. This man emerged from the past, in terms of moral and ethical qualities he is clearly not from this century, the writer Mikhail Polikarpov described him in this way. Igor Vsevolodovich Girkin was born on December 17, 1970 in Moscow into a family of hereditary military men. His father - Vsevolod Ignatievich Girkin - was a soldier. His mother was named Alla Ivanovna Runova. Girkin's maternal grandfather volunteered to go to the front of the Great Patriotic War, served in the militia, was wounded five times. He went all the way to the commander of a rifle battalion, participated in the defense of Moscow, the Battle of Kursk, the battles near Voronezh, the liberation of the Baltic states and Poland. His paternal grandfather participated in the Soviet-Japanese War, was a regular aviation officer and served as a military engineer. Igor studied at Moscow secondary school No. 249. Igor studied diligently, read with pleasure, and was especially fond of history. Having received a certificate of maturity, the young man at the age of 18 became a student at the State Historical and Archival Institute in Moscow. And a year later, the young man had a rare hobby for that time - military-historical reconstruction [re-enactment]. He decided to follow in his father's footsteps, and in 1992 his military career began as a volunteer (private) of the 2nd platoon of the Black Sea Cossack troops. in Transnistria. At the initiative of Igor, the fighters built their first "tank", sheathing a bulldozer with steel sheets; this bulldozer was able to turn over the Moldavian armored personnel carrier, after which the crew of the armored vehicle fled, and the Black Sea Cossacks had their own BTR-70 at their disposal. In the period from November 1992 to March 1993, Igor Strelkov was again in a "hot spot" - he fought as a volunteer in Bosnia as part of the 2nd Russian Volunteer Detachment of the 2nd Podrinsky Light Infantry Brigade of the Republika Srpska Army. Subsequently, he published the "Bosnian Diary" with notes on the events of that period and personal experiences. Igor served in the Russian army in the Air Defense Forces as a gunner in a security company (1993-1994). Starting service as a private, Girkin rose to the rank of junior sergeant. After serving military service, the young man remained in the ranks of the army, but already under a contract as a deputy platoon and commander of a self-propelled artillery mount. After 5 months, Igor received the rank of guard sergeant. In 1995, Igor Girkin went to the Chechen Republic. Returning from the war, in 1996 he joined the Federal Security Service as a detective, simultaneously receiving the rank of lieutenant. Simultaneously with work, Igor took courses at the FSB, after which he received a promotion, taking the position of deputy head of the department - with the rank of senior lieutenant. At that time, Igor remembered his youthful hobby and became the head of the "Consolidated machine gun team", created on the basis of the military-historical club "Moscow Dragoon Regiment". The main goal of the organization was the reconstruction of historical battles, in which Igor took part with pleasure, most often in the lower military ranks. From 1998 to 2013, he worked in the FSB in special forces - and again under bullets: he participated in the second Chechen war and military operations in Dagestan. The details of his activities during this "blank period" are unreported in open sources. Since the start of the second war between Chechnya and Russia in 1999, thousands of civilians have been killed or have disappeared, all in a climate of impunity. FSB operations against the armed underground in Dagestan are often raids aimed at capturing militants and seizing weapons and other evidence of participation in illegal armed groups. In 2013 Dagestan continued to be the most violent area in the North Caucasus, with more than 60 percent of all casualties in the region. In 2013, he "retired" from the FSB with the rank of colonel due to a conflict with his superiors. By early April 2014, armed groups emerged in the Donbass and proclaimed the Lugansk and Donetsk Peoples Republics. A key actor in these initial days was Igor Strelkov. The pseudonym "Strelkov" was chosen by Girkin, based on the fact that this surname is more easily remembered and reflects the owner's connection with military affairs. There is scant evidence that Putin ever directly ordered Strelkov and his compatriots to the Donbass. Using his own initiative, Strelkov identified Slavyansk as a city vulnerable to his fifty-two supporters and seized it on 12 April 2014, leading to first armed clashes in the region. He became a cult figure among supporters of the "Russian spring". During the defense of Slavyansk, the leadership of the Russian Federation was in no hurry to provide military assistance to the rebels. Reportedly individuals in the Russian leadership actively opposed the rebels and even recommended that Strelkov shut up shop. The conflict quickly grew in scope, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces, after reclaiming some ground during the summer of 2014, were defeated by Russian conventional military units at the Battle of Ilovaisk. Once Moscows covert war began, the local authorities (the first Prime Minister of the Donetsk Peoples Republic and the first Defense Minister were, respectively, Russian political technologist Aleksandr Borodai and FSB officer Igor Girkin-Strelkov) stated that the Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate was the main religious group in the area and began to move against other Christian religious activity. Strelkov himself has repeatedly stated that he is a supporter of the orthodox monarchy. He believes: Any authoritarian form of government is optimal for Russia. It fits our culture and economic realities.... I am a believing Christian, I try to live according to this principle. I have long come to the conclusion that life is given to a person for something. Not to enjoy it." The Donetsk Peoples Republic asserted governmental authority over a part or region of Ukraine without the authorization of the Government of Ukraine. The militia in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic is defying the peaceful settlement regime, continues combat operations, and has seized and occupies regional government buildings, using them as its headquarters and firing positions. Igor Strelkov, the leader of the militia of the Donetsk Peoples Republic, rejected Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenkos peace plan. On August 14, 2014, Strelkov resigned from the post of Minister of Defense of the DPR "in connection with the transfer to another job." On April 15, 2014, the SBU initiated criminal proceedings on the facts of organization by a citizen of the Russian Federation Strelkov of a premeditated murder and actions to the detriment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, carrying out subversive and subversive activities, as well as organizing mass riots in the eastern regions of our state. Girkin faced international accusations and legal actions for his role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 on 17 July 2014, which resulted in the death of all 298 people onboard. A class-action lawsuit was filed against Strelkov by 25 relatives of those killed in the Boeing 777 crash on July 17, 2014. On December 21, 2017, the District Court of the Northern District of Illinois satisfied the claim, ordering Igor Strelkov to recover from Igor Strelkov in favor of the victims of the plane crash a total of $400 million ($20 million for each plaintiff). However, the chance of receiving compensation is zero, Girkin and three others were charged with causing the crash and murdering the people onboard by the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT). Because I was the commander of the rebels and a participant in the conflict, I feel morally responsible for these deaths, Strelkov admitted in an interview with the British newspaper The Times, wrote Svobodnaya Pressa in May 2020. Strelkov does not admit guilt and repeats: The militia did not shoot down the Boeing. The trial began in March 2020 and was held in the Netherlands, but Girkin and the other defendants had not been present at the trial. On 17 November 2022, Strelkov was convicted in absentia by the Dutch court for his role in shooting down Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. All evidence suggested that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was likely downed by a SA-11 surface-to-air missile from separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. Russia-backed separatist fighters have demonstrated proficiency with surface-to-air missile systems and have downed more than a dozen aircraft over the past few months, including two large transport aircraft. Shortly after the crash, separatists including the self-proclaimed Defense Minister of the group calling itself the Donetsk Peoples Republic, Igor Strelkov, a Russian citizen claimed responsibility for shooting down a military transport plane on social media. When it became evident that the plane was a civilian airliner, separatists deleted social media posts boasting about shooting down a plane and possessing a Buk (SA-11) system. Even after the defeat of Ukrainian forces in Ilovaysk in August 2014, the Russian military encountered considerable difficulties with command and control of its proxies. Rampant criminality also prevailed as the various proxy groups organized themselves into mini-fiefdoms. This led the Kremlin to send high-level emissaries to reign in the various warlords, and when that failed special forces even resorted to assassination and forced extraction from the battlefield. The leader of the Cossack Great Don Army, Nikolai Kozitsyn, was for example forced out of the Donbas by Russian services. Another prominent Russian commander, Igor Strelkov, was also removed. To instill greater professionalism among its proxy forces, therefore, Moscow has increasingly turned in both Ukraine and Syria to private military companies. It was widely known that Strelkov-Girkin had led advance reconnaissance teams for Russia in Crimea and served as chief of security for Russian oligarch Konstanin Malofeev, a key financier of Russian irregulars, Strelkov reported that the so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic had executed people. After his resignation, Strelkov returned to Moscow. He organized the Novorossiya movement, which helped volunteers. He often criticized the leadership of the LPR and DPR (for selfish interests) and the leadership of Russia (for not properly supporting the militia). In 2015-2016, he tried to get involved in politics - he talked about creating a party, but this did not result in something intelligible. At first, he was enthusiastic about the Special Military Operation, but soon again took the position of a critic, this time of the Russian military: they are attacking in the wrong way, in the wrong place, with the wrong forces, etc. In May 2022, someone even created the telegram channel Did Strelkov whine today?, where almost every day there is one post: Yes, Igor Strelkov whined today. And so it was almost every day. He himself tried several times to get to the front. But he is apparently not welcome there - apparently, after all the critical statements, his figure is too toxic. In January 2023, entrepreneur Yevgeny Prigozhin publicly invited Strelkov to join Wagner PMC. But after mutual reproaches and insults, the former militiaman refused such an offer. Girkin wrote 12 July 2023, posting on Telegram, : "I am forced to seriously consider the version put forward by one of the like-minded people, which is in the following: "THE COUP WAS SUCCESSFUL. The powers within the ruling mafia are currently being redistributed as (or close to) planned by the conspirators behind Prigozhin. The "Shoigu-Vorobiev-Sobyanin Tower" has lost some of its positions (although not completely demolished), and part of its influence and resources "flows" into the group of oligarchs of the "Ozero Cooperative" (Rotenbergs, Kovalchuks and Co.). This group, vitally interested in ending the war "on any terms" - will not let us win in any case and will lead the president to realize the need to accept defeat and transfer supreme power to a successor nominated from this group (Kiriyenko? Prigozhin?). "In the coming months, we should expect new campaigns aimed at undermining not only of the RF Ministry of Defense, but also at the demolition of the influence of Patrushev and those parts of the FSB that are not controlled (or not completely controlled) by the President Administration and the oligarchic groups behind it. In the meantime, they will do everything so that the urgently necessary measures to prepare the army, rear and industry for a long hard war are not taken or slowed down as much as possible. This may include major defeats at the front, caused by a lack of reserves and a shortage of personnel, military equipment and ammunition. (And then these defeats will be the reason for a new blow to the "siloviki" in favor of the "peacekeepers" (or rather, supporters of surrender)." In July 2023 Girkin publicly accused President Vladimir Putin and the army top brass of not pursuing what they call Russia's "special military operation," in Ukraine harshly or effectively enough. "History has no subjunctive mood. For 23 years, a nonentity was at the head of the country, who managed to "blow "smoke in the eyes" of a significant part of the population. Now he is the last island of legitimacy and stability of the state. To remove him illegally means to "successfully finish the work of those who put the Unique Advantage on the throne in due time. But the country will not survive another 6 years in power of this cowardly mediocrity. And the only thing he could do usefully "before the end" (so as not to cover his name with eternal shame in History, like Judas Gorby - [Yudushka] Judas not Jew) is to ensure the transfer of power to someone truly capable and responsible. Too bad it didn't even cross his mind. And if it comes, then we have already seen the "ability to choose associates" many times ..." His arrest on 21 July 2023 by his ex-employer, the FSB state security service, suggested authorities had wearied of his criticism of and perhaps of other loud nationalist voices who had appeared to have exceptional license to deride the war effort. Girkin was married three times. By his first wife he had a son. The second wife is Vera Olegovna Nikitina . Two sons were born in the marriage - Andrey (2004) and Ivan (2005). The third wife is Miroslava Sergeevna Reginskaya (born 1993). In marriage, a daughter, Ulyana, was born (2016). Miroslava helps her husband in all endeavors, has an active political position and is a member of the Novorossiya social movement, headed by Strelkov. In 2014, they wrote about his family: They live more than modestly - no car, no dacha, no luxuries. Igor and Miroslava like to spend their holidays on the Crimean peninsula. Strelkov's father-in-law, Sergei Sitolenko, was killed in March 2022 in the battles near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address July 20, 2023 Transcript Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Briefing Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: All right, hi, everyone. Good afternoon. I just have a few things here at the top, and then I'd be happy to take your questions. Next week, the secretary will travel on his eighth trip to the Indo-Pacific region, to include the first-ever visit by a serving secretary of defense to Papua New Guinea. He will meet with government leaders to discuss next steps following the recent signature of the U.S.-Papua New Guinea Defense Cooperation Agreement, which reflects our friendship and our shared values as Pacific countries. He will then travel to Australia and join Secretary Blinken to meet with their counterparts for the 33rd annual Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations to advance our unprecedented cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and globally. Also in Australia, Secretary Austin will visit U.S. and Australian service members participating in Exercise Talisman Sabre, the United States' largest military exercise with Australia. Every stop on the trip will highlight how since the start of the Biden administration, the United States, its allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region have made major investments in their own sources of national strength and their shared ties, driving historic momentum toward a shared regional vision for peace, stability and prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific. Yesterday, the department announced a new security assistance package that included additional air defense capabilities, munitions and mine-clearing equipment totaling $1.3 billion. This USAI package highlights the continued U.S. commitment to meeting Ukraine's pressing requirements by committing critical near-term capabilities, while also building the enduring capacity of Ukraine's Armed Forces to defend its territory and deter Russian aggression over the mid and long term. Switching gears a bit to AFRICOM, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Force Medical held an event in support of Africa Malaria Task Force on July 17-21 in Accra, Ghana. Tactical-level individuals from the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Health and key leaders from 25 partner nations attended with a focus on the emerging threat of malaria. Since its inception in 2011, the task force has brought together scientists and policymakers with demonstrated interest in malaria programs to share resources, strategies and expertise that would ultimately leave -- lead as a catalyst for change. The African (sic) Malaria Task Force complements the U.S. president's Malaria Initiative focused on malaria prevention in Africa and the African Partner Outbreak Response Alliance, which supports global health security objectives for the United States and partner nations. And lastly, today, the Senate Armed Services voted on the nominations of General CQ Brown for the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Gen- -- General George for Army -- for the chief of staff for the Army. The committee, including Senator Tuberville, unanimously voted to move these nominees to the Senate floor. But however, as you're very familiar, Senator Tuberville is holding up military nominations not just be -- not because of their qualifications, but because he disagrees with a DOD policy. This unprecedented hold directly impacts readiness and our national security. And to reiterate what Secretary Austin said earlier this week, one in five troops are women. They do not get a chance to pick where they are assigned and they sacrifice every day. This policy allows service members and their family -- and their family members to access noncovered reproductive health, including important family services such as in vitro fertilization. And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. Tara, do you want to start us off? Q: Sure, thanks, Sabrina. Several questions about Private King. Could his escorts make a mistake not escorting him all the way to the plane and staying to make sure he was on the plane when it took off? And then secondly, do you have a better idea now of what he was doing from the moment he left the customs area until the point he crossed into North Korea? Then I have a couple more. MS. SINGH: Sure. So in terms of the -- the escorting to the plane, this was someone that was going -- as Private King, I should say, was going from one duty station. He was -- he was leaving a deployment and going back and returning home to his home base prior -- his home station. So when he was escorted all the way up, he was -- they were only able to escort him up to security, and when he got to the gate, he did confirm that he was -- he was near the gate. And in terms of -- I'm sorry. Your second question was on -- Q: Do you have any better visibility on -- you know, there's about half a day where -- MS. SINGH: Yeah. Q: -- you don't know where he was. MS. SINGH: So we have -- the Army has launched an investigation into this incident. It's going to be led by Army counterintelligence personnel, and they'll be conducting this in coordination with U.S. Forces Korea. So we -- at this moment right now, I can't tell you more about his whereabouts. That's something that the investigation would reveal. Q: Okay. And then just to see if anything's changed, has North Korea responded to any outreach from either the U.S. or from another country acting on our behalf about his welfare? MS. SINGH: Unfortunately, no. They -- we have not heard any communication or correspondence from the North Koreans on this incident. Yeah, I'll go to Jen. Q: Sabrina, I'm trying to understand still why he was allowed to be unescorted to the gate. He was facing disciplinary measures back here in the States. Are you saying that there was just a -- sort of an honor code and a trust that he would get onboard or -- why -- I don't understand why there wasn't more monitoring or somebody to fly with him. MS. SINGH: Sure. Well, he wasn't in custody when he was going through the airport. He was flying home. So because of that, he wasn't -- he -- because he wasn't in custody, he was leaving his deployment and had faced consequences in Korea, had served those -- or served that time that he served in the correctional facility and then was returning home. So -- Q: -- face more consequences at home? MS. SINGH: He was -- Q: Disciplinary? MS. SINGH: He was facing additional administrative action but I'd leave that to the Army to speak to what exactly that was, but what I can say is that, from what I've -- from what we know, is that when he was being escorted to the airport, his escorts were not allowed to go beyond security. Q: And then there's a story out suggesting that there's an Army report indicating that this may have been pre-planned with the North Koreans, that somehow this soldier had -- had been contacted and that this was part of a plan or an outreach and that the North Koreans weren't surprised when he crossed. Is that accurate? What can you say? MS. SINGH: I haven't seen that report. This is of course under investigation. We don't have any inclination of that at this time, but again, we'll let the investigation take its course, but I haven't seen that report, so I couldn't comment on it. Q: Was he a defector? MS. SINGH: I -- again, that's something that the investigation will certainly glean. That's not something -- a characterization that we're using right now. Phil? Q: Do you have any knowledge of -- or perhaps intelligence that -- that Private King is -- is alive? MS. SINGH: Well, that's something that we're focused on. We're focused on -- our -- our priority focus and what the Secretary reiterated at the beginning of this week was that we want to bring him home. We don't know his condition, we don't know where he's being held, we don't know the status of his health, but we are working with the interagency, through the DOD, through the NSC and State, really pulling all levers of government here to -- to try and find out more but I don't -- I don't have a -- I don't have anything else to add on that. Q: -- so you don't know -- you couldn't say right now whether -- even through intelligence channels, that you know he's alive? MS. SINGH: I wouldn't be able to get into any intelligence or -- or speak to that. All I can say is that, from when he crossed over to the DMZ, we know he is in custody of the North Koreans, but beyond that, in terms of his condition, I just -- I can't speak to that. Q: And then on the issue of U.S. forces in South Korea, has there been any kind of greater restrictions put on them? Has anything changed regarding, you know, their freedom of movements when off-duty or in -- in a -- you know, a -- when they're in travel, you know, themselves? MS. SINGH: That's a good question for South Korea forces there. I am not aware of any changes to any policies, so I'd direct you them -- to them. Janne? Q: Thank you. Same questions on these issues. I'm wondering, because everybody have a lot of questions about this -- I visited this area several times. JSA is a place where safety is highly demanded. But how could this soldier who left without boarding a plane attended a tour of Panmunjom? MS. SINGH: Well, that's something that the investigation is going to be looking at. We don't know his motivations for why he did not board the plane. We don't know what he did in the hours between when he left the airport and when he crossed over into the DPRK. We have snippets of time and -- and understand from -- I'm -- we've seen some of the publicly reported imagery of him taking the tour, of what time that was, but beyond that window of sort of the questions that you're getting into on, like, what he did during the time that between when he left the airport and the tour, that's something that the investigation is going to have to look into. Q: -- you think there was a security gap because they not follow him and the -- they not -- this is guy's a troublemaker, something, you know, you -- MS. SINGH: Sure. Well, again, that's something that I mentioned before. This wasn't a service member that was in custody. He had served in a -- in a correctional facility in South Korea. He was being returned to his duty station at home. So there was -- you know, we -- I don't think anyone anticipated that he was going to leave the airport. He did have escorts take him all the way up through security, and what we know is that he confirmed that he was, you know, near or -- or somewhere close by the gate, but I don't think there was any anticipation that he was going to not board his flight. Q: -- can I follow up with another question? MS. SINGH: Yep, we can do another one. Q: -- China and Russia are conducting large scale military exercise on the East Coast near South Korea. Meanwhile, North Korean Kim Jong-un announced they -- he ready for the nuclear war. How can you respond to this? MS. SINGH: Well, I think, on -- on the exercises, we've seen the -- China and Russia conduct these exercises just last year. Again, it shows China siding -- or -- or prioritizing an exercise with a country that unjustly invaded its sovereign neighbor. You saw the joint statement that President Putin and President Xi, I think, had also put out. Again, all of this demonstrates that the link between European security, Indo-Pacific security, it's all -- it's all linked together. And we certainly are -- are in touch with our allies and partners around the world but we've seen this exercise take place just -- just last year. I'm going to move on and I can -- I can always come back. Matt, yeah? Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Today, North Korea's Defense Chief implied that the presence of the nuclear-capable USS Kentucky at port in South Korea might fall under the legal conditions for his country's use of nuclear weapons. Do you take that as a threat? And what's the department's response to that language? MS. SINGH: Well, I -- I certainly don't think rhetoric like that is -- is helpful. The port visit that you're referring to is something consistent, that the President had said early on this year, when President Yoon came to visit -- I'm -- I'm forgetting the exact month -- but when the two leaders met. This is something consistent, when it comes to strategic deterrence, and it reflects our ironclad commitment to the region, but I wouldn't say that -- you know, rhetoric like that, it's incredibly dangerous. We're not there to instigate or to -- you know, I -- I'm using a bad expression, but poke the bear -- we are there -- this is a further deepening of our cooperation with South Korea and something that was announced during the Washington Declaration. So again, I would just refer you back to what the President had announced when the state -- when President Yoon visited earlier this year. Q: Okay. MS. SINGH: Yeah. Q: Can you say any more about the efforts being made to contact North Korea, either directly or through intermediaries? Is this a matter of making the calls and just no one's picking up on the other end, there's no sign of any response at all so far? MS. SINGH: Unfortunately, no. There's no sign of engagement from the North Koreans. We don't have any lead -- we've always maintained that we want to have diplomatic channels remain open. We've always wanted to ensure that there are -- is military-to-military cooperation and communication. But sadly, there's -- there's not on the North Korean side. You've heard from my NSC counterparts that there has been engagement at their level to Sweden and -- and other, you know, interagency efforts to try and engage North Korea, but we just have not heard back on this issue. Q: Thank you. MS. SINGH: Yeah. Oren? Q: Just a -- a quick clarification on that. MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: Those efforts, those outreach efforts continue despite North Korea's non-answers, right? There -- there are still ongoing outreach efforts? MS. SINGH: There are, yes. Q: And then the second question. At any point while Travis King was in South Korea, especially after he had served 50 days in a (inaudible) jail, was there ever a psychological evaluation conducted to see if there were any issues or to determine if something like this might have been likely or concern about something like this? MS. SINGH: I'd have to refer you to Army for that. I'm just -- I'm -- I don't know off the top -- I am not aware. Q: OK. MS. SINGH: Yeah. Yes? Q: Hi. I wanted to ask a follow-up question about the USAI package from yesterday. MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: Can you provide any more details on the tactical vehicles for towing equipment, and also for recovering vehicles? Can you say if those have been sent before? And if so, why is this something that's being provided under USAI, rather than equipment drawdown? MS. SINGH: Sure. USAI is a long-term commitment to Ukraine. We have done over -- or we are at 42 presidential drawdown authorities now. Again, it's our long-term commitment. We -- we have -- we evaluate what's on our stock shelves and see what we can provide, you know, within days and weeks immediately to Ukraine. But the USAI is just another type of commitment in our long-term commitment to Ukraine. As you heard the secretary say earlier this week, the Ukrainians certainly have what they need to be successful in their counteroffensive. They have the combat power. They have the ability to demine the minefields that the Russians have laid. And so we're confident in their ability to continue to push on in the counteroffensive. And again, the USAI is just another tool in our toolbox to demonstrate our long-term commitment to Ukraine. Go ahead. Q: So with the counteroffensive, it's not a question of the U.S. stocks of these tactical vehicles being -- being low or (inaudible)... MS. SINGH: No, it's just -- it's just another commitment for long -- it's a long-term commitment to Ukraine. And again, you can see some of the other packages -- other USAI packages that we've rolled out include similar equipment and systems. I don't have that whole list in front of me, but you can go on defense.gov and -- and find all of that. Let me take one question from the phone here. Howard Altman, War Zone? Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Ukraine today issued a -- a warning about shipping in the Black Sea. It follows -- can you hear me? It follows (inaudible)... MS. SINGH: We're just going to turn up your volume just a bit. Sorry. Q: OK. Anyway, can you hear me now? How's that? All right, so Russia -- Ukraine today issued a warning about Black Sea shipping follow on by Russia yesterday. How concerned is the U.S. about shipping in the Black Sea given this warning, given the tensions? And -- and what, given there's no naval presence the U.S. has in the Black Sea, what is being done about that by the Pentagon? MS. SINGH: Well, we've already seen the ramifications of Russia withdrawing from the grain deal. We're seeing higher global wheat prices all around the world, and we're going to see many countries impacted by Russia withdrawing from the deal -- Africa, Latin America, others that depend on this grain all around the world, countries that are food insecure. And so I would say that the message that Vladimir Putin is sending to these countries is that he doesn't care. He continues to engage in this unjust, unprovoked war that seems to be his priority, rather than the idea that there could be other starving countries all around the world, because he has, you know, withdrawn Russia from the grain deal. So on our part, like you mentioned, we don't have assets in the Black Sea, but what we can do is continue to encourage and be outspoken about urging Russia to return to the deal and to allow that grain to reach as many people as -- as possible. (inaudible) I'll come back into the room. Hey, Rio. Yeah. Q: Thank you. I want to follow up about China-Russia by joint exercises in the Sea of Japan. Do you assess they are responding to U.S.-Japan's-South Korea's closer defense cooperation? Do you characterize exercises as concerning? MS. SINGH: Well, the -- we monitor the exercises, but this is something that we saw last year. So again, we -- we've seen that Russia -- China continues to engage in military -- in military cooperation with Russia, despite the fact that it is in -- its brutal war against Ukraine. So we do monitor, but this is something that did -- we did observe last year. Yeah. No problem. Sorry. Yes? Q: Hey, thank you. I want to go back to grain deal question... MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: ... regarding the tensions that have been building up recently. How engaged are you with the Turks? Or are you in close contact with them regarding the security for these (inaudible) trades, for example? (inaudible)... MS. SINGH: I don't have anything more specific to add right now. I mean, Russia just withdrew from the grain deal. We continue to urge Russia to return to it. Turkey was the leading nation that helped broker that deal. We certainly talk to our Turkish counterparts and our allies who have been supportive of Ukraine during this war, but I just don't have more to -- to share at that -- at this moment. Q: Anything specific regarding the security of this trade to our energy and civilian ships, or any other ships? MS. SINGH: No, noth- -- I mean, nothing specific from, like, what the United States is doing. We don't have assets in the Black Sea right now. Q: With regard to that, are you in close cooperation with Turks? Is there anything specific on the table? MS. SINGH: Nothing that I can share at the moment. Yeah. Yes, in the back? Hi. Q: Thank you, Sabrina. The Belarus the military and members of Wagner formed a group. As the military of Belarus announced, they will hold four days of joint training in the region near the Poland border. So how much concern do you have about the security situation in that area specific -- specific of the eastern border of the NATO and E.U.? And is there any change with the U.S. troops planning priority there (inaudible) take from (inaudible). Thank you. MS. SINGH: No announcement in terms of any type of troop movement or repositioning of -- of any of our trips along the eastern flank. In terms of what we're seeing in Belarus -- seeing the reporting that Wagner troops continue to move into that region and continue to, I think, consolidate there. Look, I would -- I would let the Belarusians and -- and Wagner speak to what their intentions are. We've certainly seen Wagner forces get sort of re-integrated within the Russian military. But again, our focus is on Ukraine, what we can do to help Ukraine in this fight now and what you -- we can continue to sustain with for its long term. And so that's what our focus is on. You just saw us roll out a -- another security assistance package for long-term assistance earlier this week. We're going to continue to roll out more packages as we go forward. Yeah? Q: Thank you. I have two questions on North Korea. MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: The first -- next week, July 27th will mark the anniversary of the armistice of the Korean War in 1953. How much are you worried about North Korea additional provocations, including another satellite missile launch? And to follow-up on the detention of the U.S. soldier. Given the recent tension in the region, are you worried that North Korea could use this case as a bargaining chip? MS. SINGH: Well, it's hard to speak to hypotheticals. So I couldn't really say on -- on that front. Our biggest concern about Private King is that we want to bring him home, and we are doing whatever we can through the interagency, from DOD and -- and other partners, to find a way that we could bring him home. Again, as you heard me say, I just -- we have not heard any contact, we have not received any communication back from the North Koreans, but that is something that remains our focus. In terms of the anniversary, I mean, again, hard to predict. I don't know what DPRK is planning. All I can say is, again, we don't -- we don't seek conflict. We continue to work with our allies and partners in the region to further deter but we're not looking to seek conflict and we're not looking for more provocation. Constantine, yeah. Q: Yeah, thanks, Sabrina. On the outreach to Private King, how confident is the Department of Defense that your outreach is being received by the North Koreans? MS. SINGH: Well, it's hard to say. We haven't received any communication back from them. All we can do is continue to communicate, both publicly and in private channels. It is of course concerning when you don't hear back but we've never also had engagement with the North Koreans and they certainly have shut down military-to-military engagement with us at senior levels. So it's not unexpected, but with this case in particular, we are of course -- our priority is to bring an American home. That is what we want to do, so we're going to keep engaging where we can. Q: Thank you. MS. SINGH: Yeah, Tara? Q: ... a follow-up? MS. SINGH: Sure. Q: Can you describe what those private channels are? Is -- are these phone calls, is it cables? What -- how are you communicating? MS. SINGH: I would let each agency speak to that. These are -- you know, these are pretty sensitive ways of communicating, and I would just leave it at that. Q: Can I follow-up? MS. SINGH: Yeah, I'm going to go to the back and then I'll come back for one more. Yeah? Q: Thank you for your time today. I had a quick question regarding the U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral Summit ... MS. SINGH: OK. Q: ... reported today it's to take place next month. Can you provide us with any insights into the agenda and the primary objectives of the meeting? And can we expect these meetings to continue later down the line as well? MS. SINGH: Thanks for the question. I'm just not going to get ahead of anything or any further announcements. So I will -- I will not get ahead of that -- sorry -- and I have nothing else to provide. Sorry. I'm just going to Erin and then I'll come back to Janne. Q: So when you say agencies, how many are involved? It's not just the DOD trying to get Private King back, it's DOD, State? Who else? MS. SINGH: Yeah. This is an interagency -- this is collaborative, where you -- we don't work in silos ... Q: ... referring us to ask DOD -- ask DOD... MS. SINGH: Yep. Well, it is -- it is our -- it is our soldier but we are certainly working with State and the NSC, both who have incredibly powerful voices all around the world and have counterparts all around the world, to lever what we can to engage with North Korea, and unfortunately we just have not had any successful engagement breakthrough right now. OK, Janne, and then I'll go to Mike. Q: ... that -- the -- Travis King voluntarily defected to the -- North Korea but the -- how do you know whether he wants to stay in North Korea or he doesn't want to come to the United States and his home? MS. SINGH: Well, again, Janne, I -- I am cautious to use that word. That's something that the investigation will yield. What I can tell you is that the soldier's current duty status is absent without leave. That's all I can say right now. I -- it's hard -- I can't say what he was thinking at the time. This is a very difficult situation. I can't imagine what his family's going through. All I can say is that our priority is to bring him home, and we are doing everything that we can to do that. All right, Mike? Q: Is (inaudible) the only country that acts as an interlocutor between the U.S. and North Korea, or are there other countries that are -- that the U.S. is reaching out to? MS. SINGH: I can't speak to other countries but I know that we have worked with Sweden previously. Q: Have you worked with Sweden on this particular issue ... MS. SINGH: Yes, we are. The NSC spoke to that as well, that the -- that we are engaging with the Swedes on -- on this front. Q: ... what administrative actions were proposed against him once he got back to Fort (inaudible)? MS. SINGH: I would refer you to the Army for that, for more context. All I can say is, you know, I -- he was facing additional administrative action ... Q: ... (inaudible) ... MS. SINGH: I do not -- I do not. I would refer you to the Army for that, who can answer more questions. OK ... Q: ... as a private cavalry scout, he probably would have had -- been privy to much information that North Korea would be interested in though, right? MS. SINGH: I mean, we're not -- we're -- we're not -- that is not our assessment. This is, again, our -- something that the investigation will certainly look into, but that is not our assessment at this time. Right now, again, our focus is on bringing him home. Q: So what (inaudible)? MS. SINGH: That he is -- what -- how did you phrase it, a -- an intelligence liability or a -- some -- I'm sorry ... Q: ... was a Private E-2 Cavalry Scout. MS. SINGH: Right. So I don't remember exactly how Mike phrased it -- yep -- yep, I'll take two more. Tara and then Luis. Q: Just a follow-up on -- has there been any other communication with the family besides the next of kin? Do they have a case officer that's staying in touch with them about this? MS. SINGH: That's really a question for the Army. They are the point of contact for the family, so I would -- I would defer to them on that. Yeah, Luis? Q: Sabrina, there have been some reports that the -- Ukraine has used the cluster munitions the United States has provided to them. Can you confirm that? And what kind of effect do you expect that they'll have on the battlefield, if that is the case? MS. SINGH: Yeah, I believe -- I believe they have started using them. In terms of the effect on the battlefield, I'd -- I'd really let Ukraine speak to how they -- in -- intend to employ them, but, you know, this is a powerful artillery that we have given them. They have -- have promised to -- or have committed to use it responsibly, to keep track of -- and record where they are using it, so when this war is over, they can begin those de-mining efforts. But I would let -- to -- Ukraine speak to more of their operational uses on that front. Q: And these are the ones that are included -- that are housed inside of artillery shells, is that correct? MS. SINGH: That's right, yeah. All right, great. Thanks. We can wrap it up there. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3466362/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy SEALs Enhance Maritime Dominance with Partner Forces in Colombia US Navy 20 July 2023 From Lt.j.g. Martin Carey, Naval Special Warfare Group TWO CARTAGENA, Colombia -- East-Coast-Based Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEAL) showcased their capabilities and strengthened international partnerships during their participation in the multinational exercise UNITAS 64. As part of the exercise, SEALs trained alongside partner nation special operations forces in submarine operations, visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS), and close quarters combat (CQC), reaffirming the importance of collaboration in maritime defense strategies. UNITAS, an annual joint exercise, brought together naval forces from 20 nations in Colombia to enhance interoperability and increase the collective capability to respond to evolving maritime security challenges. The event kicked-off with an opening ceremony where Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Carlos Del Toro delivered remarks. "When I assumed office as the 78th Secretary of the Navy in August of 2021, I made enhancing strategic partnerships one of our Department's top enduring priorities," said Del Toro. "Trust, proficiency, and interoperability are core tenets of our partnerships as we work together to advance our common interests in the Western Hemisphere, maintaining the stability and security necessary for economic prosperity." Naval Special Warfare's (NSW) involvement in UNITAS demonstrated the United States Navy's commitment to maritime dominance and showcased the crucial role played by special operations forces in achieving this objective. Training alongside Colombian special operations forces, the SEALs practiced landing and launching combat rubber raiding craft boats onto the Los Angeles-Class attack submarine USS Pasadena's (SSN 752) stern deck, refining their tactical abilities in the operational domain. "UNITAS provided a unique opportunity to work with SOCSOUTH aligned special operations forces in the region, to advance our skills and train toward contingency operations," said the SEAL commander on the ground overseeing the training. "Working alongside our partner nations adds another degree of interoperability, while demonstrating to our allies why we remain the partner of choice in the SOUTHCOM AOR, and sends a message of a united Western Hemisphere." During UNITAS, the SEALs engaged in rigorous training exercises alongside Brazilian, Chilean, Colombian, Dominican, Ecuadorian, French, Paraguayan, and Peruvian special operations counterparts, exchanging best practices and tactics to strengthen their collective abilities. During CQC, the SEALs honed their skills in operating in confined spaces, a critical aspect of maritime special operations. The VBSS training focused on refining techniques for boarding and searching vessels, ensuring they are ready to protect international law and safeguard all nations' inherent right to freedom of the seas. Partnerships lie at the heart of the United States' national defense strategy, and NSW's engagement in UNITAS 64 exemplifies this principle. By working alongside partner nations, they fostered strong relationships, deepened mutual understanding, and improved operational effectiveness. This exercise served as a testament to the United States' commitment to maritime security and operating everywhere international law allows. UNITAS, which is Latin for unity, united, or oneness, was conceived in 1959 when representatives at the first Inter-American Naval Conference in Panama agreed to conduct an annual maritime exercise with one another. Prior to UNITAS I in 1960, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Arleigh Burke reviewed preparations for the multinational exercise. He commended planners for their progress, especially in building compatible communication systems among navies, and predicted that UNITAS would build strong relationships among sailors of the Western Hemisphere. The Colombian navy hosted this year's UNITAS, which featured 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter), and approximately 7,000 people from 20 partner nations. Forces conducted operations off the coast of Cartagena, Colombia, and ashore in Covenas and Barranquilla, Colombia. Naval Special Warfare Group 2 produces, trains, supports, and deploys the world's premier maritime special operations commandos to conduct full-spectrum operations and integrated deterrence that support national objectives. For more information, visit https://www.nsw.navy.mil/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS Ramage (DDG 61) Arrives in Durres, Albania US Navy 20 July 2023 From USS Ramage (DDG 61) Public Affairs DURRES, Albania -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61) - part of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, Gerald R. Ford CSG, arrived in Durres, Albania for a regularly scheduled port visit July 20, 2023. The port visit provides an opportunity to enhance the U.S.-Albanian partnership as the two nations work together for a stable, secure, and prosperous Europe. It also allow the Sailors of USS Ramage a chance to experience the culture and history of a key NATO Ally. As a NATO member since 2009, Albania's long-standing relationship with NATO, and its continued interoperability with NATO Allies, including the United States, has solidified the country's position as a strategic partner in defense of the Adriatic Sea. "I welcome the visit of the USS Ramage to Albania as another step forward in our strengthening defense partnership, as close partners and NATO Allies," said Demian Smith, Charge d'Affaires of U.S. Embassy Tirana. "The spirit of Albania is very much our own, a proud nation which declared their independence from tyranny and broke free from communist dictatorship," says Cmdr. Tim Yuhas, commanding officer of the USS Ramage. "Our relationship with Albania is built on a foundation of shared values, experiences, and vision. We all want nothing more than for people to live their lives in freedom. With this port visit, we hope to preserve this trust between our great nations." While in port, Ramage Sailors will have the opportunity to visit historical sites such as the Amphitheatre of Durres, the largest amphitheater in the Balkans, as well as Durres Castle, a fortified city built under Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman influence. "Growing up as the son of two experienced archaeologists, my parents sparked my interest in history," says Gunner's Mate Seaman Caleb Baker of Littleton, Colorado. "I'm excited to visit the Archaeological Museum of Durres after its reconstruction." Strengthening partnerships during the port visit to Albania builds enduring relationships and emphasizes our shared commitment to promoting safety and stability within the region, while seeking opportunities to enhance our interoperability as NATO allies. Albania recently participated in the Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO (STRIKFORNATO)-led enhanced vigilance activity Neptune Strike 2023-2 alongside the Gerald R. Ford CSG. CSG-12, Gerald R. Ford CSG, is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is comprised of its flagship and namesake, the Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON-2), the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG-60), and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116). The squadrons of CVW-8 embarked aboard Gerald R. Ford are the "Tridents" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 9, the "Spartans" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 70, the "Bear Aces" of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 124, the "Ragin' Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37, the "Blacklions" of VFA-213, the "Golden Warriors" of VFA-87, the "Tomcatters" of VFA-31, the "Gray Wolves" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 142, and the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hun Sen says son could be installed as prime minister within weeks of election Previously, it was believed that the longtime prime minister would stay in power through 2028. By RFA Khmer 2023.07.21 -- Prime Minister Hun Sen told a Chinese television station that his eldest son could become prime minister as soon as three weeks after Sunday's parliamentary elections. "I am walking on the right path to secure country stability for younger generations," he said in the interview with China's Phoenix TV that aired on Thursday. "I have sacrificed my power. Hun Sen has sacrificed power for peace for a long time." Until recently, it was widely believed that the 70-year-old Hun Sen would continue as prime minister through 2028, when the next general election is scheduled to take place. He said publicly in 2021 that Hun Manet would one day follow him as prime minister. "This is the closest we've had yet to a definitive public confirmation about the timing of the handover of power," author and journalist Sebastian Strangio wrote on Twitter. The ruling Cambodian People's Party, which currently holds all 125 seats in the National Assembly, is expected to sweep Sunday's vote. The National Election Committee in May blocked the main opposition Candlelight Party from appearing on the ballot, citing inadequate paperwork. Hun Manet is listed as the CPP's top candidate from Phnom Penh. On Friday - the last day for official campaigning - he led a large parade of party supporters through the streets of the capital. "Within three or four weeks, Hun Manet can become the prime minister," Hun Sen told Phoenix TV. "We will wait and see how people respond. After that Hun Manet is able to work." New blood incoming The CPP has ruled Cambodia since 1979. Recent appointments and promotions in several government ministries indicated that the sons and daughters of longtime officials would be assuming new leadership roles after the election. CPP spokesman Sok Ey San confirmed to Radio Free Asia on Friday that a post-election government cabinet will be "90 percent new blood," with only a few ministers staying on. "The new blood will be working with the old blood," he said. Finland-based political analyst Kim Sok told RFA that the new cabinet will continue to be controlled by Hun Sen. "Hun Sen knows that Hun Manet can't work with the current ministers so he removes the existing ministers so his son can easily control them," he said. Hun Sen has said in the past that he would retain influence behind the scenes as head of the CPP after stepping down as prime minister. West Point graduate Hun Manet, 45, is a graduate of the elite United States Military Academy at West Point. He holds a masters in economics from New York University and another graduate degree from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. He traveled with his father to Beijing in February to attend meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang. Exiled opposition leader Sam Rainsy said at the time that Hun Sen was trying to cement personal ties with the Chinese Communist Party so that Beijing would support a handover of power to Hun Manet. Sam Rainsy told RFA on Friday that Hun Manet will have no legitimacy as prime minister. He repeated a recent plea to voters to destroy their ballots on Sunday to show their support for the opposition. In March, Hun Manet was promoted to the rank of four-star general. He recently suspended his role as deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Force to run for the Assembly. "I trained him to be able to work. If he can't be a prime minister he can do something else for the sake of the country," Hun Sen said in the Phoenix TV interview. Changes to the Constitution last year did away with a requirement that the Assembly vote to approve a newly designated prime minister, a move believed aimed at easing the transition to Hun Manet. "Hun Manet can become the prime minister or not based on the Constitution," the prime minister told Phoenix TV. "No one has the right to stop Hun Manet when he doesn't breach any law." Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Here comes the son The adult children of Cambodia's aging ruling elite are preparing to take over the government. By RFA Khmer 2023.07.21 -- Prime Minister Hun Sen had been grooming him for years. And in December 2021, he finally declared that his eldest son - the foreign-educated military general, Hun Manet - would one day succeed him as Cambodia's next prime minister. "Who would dare to oppose this? Hun Sen will die someday, so why not let his son take over?" he asked at a public event in Sihanoukville. This week, the prime minister said the transfer of power could become a reality as soon as next month. But the prime minister's son isn't the only heir poised to take on power from an aging generation of political elites. They appear ready to hand over the government to a new generation, many of whom are literally their sons and daughters. In April, the prime minister sent a dozen senior government ministry appointments to King Norodom Sihamoni for his approval. Every candidate was related to a top military, government or CPP official. The last parliamentary election in 2018 was widely condemned as neither free nor fair after the Supreme Court ordered that the main opposition party at the time, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, be disbanded. Duong Chantra, a senior CNRP official who now lives in Thailand, said the CPP's nepotistic practices aren't fair to ambitious and capable young Cambodians who don't have powerful relatives. "We don't want to see them practice such dynastic power transfer," he said. "It creates disappointment and hopelessness for the younger generations who are not from that kind of lineage." The CPP is preparing to welcome members of the new generation into the prime minister's cabinet after the election, CPP spokesman Sok Ey San told Radio Free Asia this week. In an earlier interview, he told RFA that the party that wins elections has the right to appoint who they want. "Are there any countries in the world that employ the children of opposition party officials?" he asked. "For our ruling party, we appoint and promote people from our own party." Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content July not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vietnamese police arrest suspected ringleaders of attacks in Dak Lak province The June attacks on two commune offices left nine dead. By RFA Vietnamese 2023.07.21 -- Authorities in Vietnam said Friday they have arrested the other three of six ethnic minority individuals accused of spearheading deadly attacks in June on two commune offices in central Dak Lak province that left nine people dead. Police say the six were leaders of two groups of about 40 people armed with guns and knives who conducted a dawn raid on the headquarters of Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur communes in Dak Lak's Cu Kuin district on June 11. In all, authorities detained nearly 100 ethnic minorities for allegedly participating in terrorist attacks in which two commune officials and three civilians also were killed. The attackers also held three civilians hostage, but one escaped, and the other two later were freed. Dak Lak Provincial Police Director Maj. Gen. Le Vinh Quy told state media that police arrested the three remaining wanted members of the group on Friday. They included Y Khing Lieng, Nay Duong and Y Hoal Eban. Police arrested the other three wanted suspects Y Ju Nie, Nay Yen and Nay Tam on July 15. In the days immediately following the attack, authorities had said those involved were young people who harbored delusions and extremist attitudes and had been incited and abetted by the ringleaders via the internet. The attacks occurred in an area that is home to about 30 indigenous tribes known collectively as Montagnards, who have historically felt persecuted or oppressed. Vietnamese state media had reported that the attackers were Montagnards, but the country's Ministry of Public Security did not identify those arrested as such, Radio Free Asia reported earlier. In late June, RFA interviewed several overseas Montagnard organizations whose members denied involvement in the incident and condemned the violent attacks. Translated by RFA Vietnamese. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armenian PM Says Another War With Azerbaijan 'Likely' Unless Peace Treaty Is Signed By RFE/RL's Armenian Service, RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service July 21, 2023 Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian says a fresh war with Azerbaijan remains a high probability in the absence of a peace treaty between the two countries. "So long as a peace treaty has not been signed and such a treaty has not been ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, of course, a [new] war [with Azerbaijan] is very likely," Pashinian said in an interview with AFP published on July 21. Baku and Yerevan have fought two wars over Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly Armenian-populated mountainous enclave that is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan. The most recent war lasted six weeks in late 2020 and left 7,000 soldiers dead on both sides. As a result of the war, Azerbaijan regained control over a part of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding districts. The war ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire under which Moscow deployed about 2,000 troops to serve as peacekeepers. Armenia and Azerbaijan in recent weeks have engaged in rounds of diplomacy aimed at reaching a lasting peace deal but there have been sporadic border clashes, and the talks have not yet yielded a breakthrough. Tensions have remained high over the situation on the Lachin Corridor, the only road linking Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan earlier this month suspended traffic through a checkpoint on the corridor pending an investigation after it said "various types of contraband" had been discovered in Red Cross vehicles coming from Armenia. The suspension of traffic heightened concerns over a humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh. Both Armenia and separatist authorities in the enclave have said that Azerbaijan has blockaded the territory since December, resulting in shortages of food, medicines, and energy. Pashinian sharply criticized the blockade in the interview with AFP, saying it amounted to "an ongoing process of genocide" for ethnic Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, meanwhile, said Azerbaijan is making serious efforts to remove land mines, more than 1 million of which are buried in the territories of Azerbaijan, while also criticizing a map provided by Armenia that covers approximately 400,000 mines. Speaking on July 21 at the Shusha Global Media Forum, Aliyev also said that after the end of the war, land mines killed or seriously injured more than 300 people. He said that Armenia's "nonpresentation" of the maps showing where the land mines are "is a continuation of Armenia's terror against us." Armenia has not responded to Aliyev's comments. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said in a separate interview published on July 21 that Armenia and Azerbaijan cannot resolve their relations without taking into account the security factor and the rights of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh. Mirzoyan stressed in an interview with the Austrian daily DerStandard that the main issue for Armenia is the security of people and their fundamental rights. The humanitarian situation in Nagorno-Karabakh is difficult and close to a humanitarian catastrophe, he said. "We need immediate humanitarian intervention to save 120,000 people from starvation. Then we will be able to continue negotiations with everyone who is interested in establishing a lasting peace in the region," Mirzoyan said. "It's important to avoid another dangerous cycle of hostility," he said. "Enough blood has already been shed in the South Caucasus. Mutual recognition of territorial integrity will be of key importance." As for the issue of security and rights of the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, he said Armenia believes that the best mechanism would be a dialogue with international participation. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-pm-war-azerbaijan- likely-peace-treaty/32513815.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CNN's Nathaniel Meyersohn writes on the slow, inexorable disappearance of public swimming pools. Old ones are becoming run down, renovation is expensive, and new ones are out of the question. As a public resource mostly used by Black and lower-income Americans, their fate is another warning about everything else funded by the public that isn't a fighter jet, corporate subsidy or six-figure salary for cops or consultants. In the early 2000s, Louisville had 10 public pools for a population of around 550,000.Today, the city has five public pools for a population of around 640,000, ranking 89 out of the largest 100 cities in swimming pools per person, according to Trust for Public Land, an advocacy organization for public parks and land.Algonquin is the only pool left in West Louisville, and residents say the city has neglected basic maintenance and improvements for years.This summer, as temperatures climb to the 90s in Louisville, Algonquin is closed for repairs, leaving around 60,000 people most of whom are Black and middle-or-lower income households without convenient access to the water. As soon as they were desegregated, assigning public money for swimming pools became controversial to liberals and openly unacceptable to conservatives. Defamation Law Adopted By National Assembly Of Bosnia's Republika Srpska Despite Criticism From Rights Activists By RFE/RL's Balkan Service July 21, 2023 The National Assembly in the Republika Srpska (RS) on July 20 adopted amendments to the Criminal Code of Bosnia-Herzegovina's majority Serb entity that journalists and rights activists say would criminalize defamation and stifle free speech. The National Assembly adopted the amendments despite months of protests by domestic and international organizations as well as journalists who have called on the lawmakers to scrap the changes. The amendments say that making malicious or untrue statements about a person amounts to defamation and make the offense punishable with fines. The law was adopted despite criticism that it represents an attack on freedom of opinion and a step toward the introduction of censorship. "By adopting this law, you will have a situation where a murderer and a man who told a joke about a politician in a bar are playing chess in prison," said Igor Crnadak, a representative of the opposition Party of Democratic Progress, on July 18. At the same time, the Justice Minister of Republika Srpska, Milos Bukejlovic, said "insinuations" through headlines and texts created an "incorrect" image that the criminalization of defamation favors individuals and not citizens. Hundreds of journalists and rights activists marched to the parliament in Banja Luka, the capital of Republika Srpska on July 18 to protest the amendments, which were introduced by Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik, a divisive figure who is also the leader of the ruling Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD). Lawmakers adopted the changes in a draft amendment in March that was then subject to a two-month period to allow public debate. Following turbulent discussions during which journalists and organizations representing civil society accused lawmakers of attempting to bring the media under state control, fines were reduced in the final draft of the law from an initial maximum of 60,000 euros to between 1,000 and 3,000 euros. The bill foresees fines for public mockery for belonging to a certain race, religion, nationality, or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Higher fines are possible in situations where defamation appears in the media, on social networks, or at a public gathering. With reporting by Marija Augustinovic-Stojak Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-srpska-defamation- law-criminalization-criticism/32512853.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 21 July 2023 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's noon briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Alright, one thing I can confirm is that it's Friday today. Just a programming note: if there are any developments or news on the FSO Safer over the weekend, we will be putting out a statement and possibly video. But that will come out over the weekend. ** Ukraine This morning, the Security Council held a meeting on Ukraine. Briefing Council members was the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, who reiterated the Secretary-General's deep regret over the decision by the Russian Federation to terminate its participation in the Black Sea Initiative. Ms. DiCarlo added that we have now witnessed a further blow to global food security, as the Russian Federation, for the fourth consecutive day, struck Ukraine's Black Sea ports in Odessa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv with missiles and drones, destroying critical port infrastructure, facilities and grain supplies. She stressed that threats regarding potential targeting of civilian vessels navigating in the Black Sea waters are unacceptable and that we are also concerned about the reports of sea mines laid in the Black Sea, further endangering navigation. Also briefing Council members was Martin Griffiths, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. He noted that global grain prices have spiked this week, threatening to undo the hard-won progress achieved over the past year, and this potentially threatens hunger and worse for millions of people. He warned that higher prices will be most acutely felt by families in developing countries already at risk, who tend to spend a much higher share of their household income on food. Mr. Griffiths emphasized that the UN would continue its engagement with all involved to ensure that Russian Federation and Ukrainian food and fertilizer can be accessed on global markets. ** Sudan The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said it is deeply concerned by ongoing attacks against aid and health care workers in Sudan. We are appalled by reports that a team from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) was assaulted by armed men in Khartoum yesterday. MSF said the incident happened while the team was moving medical supplies from the organization's warehouse to the Turkish Hospital in the Sudanese capital and that it is one of only two hospitals that are still operating in all of southern Khartoum. The Office underscores that attacks on health-care workers and facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law. They must stop now. The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified more than 50 attacks on health-care facilities since the conflict erupted in Sudan on 15 April. ** West and Central Africa The World Food Programme (WFP) today said that the war in Sudan is impacting hunger and migration across West and Central Africa, depleting scarce resources, and worsening intercommunal tensions. The World Food Programme Executive Director, Cindy McCain, who is concluding a visit to Chad, Togo and Benin, today warned that the spill-over of the war will be devastating for peace and stability in a region already facing climate extremes, insecurity and economic decline. As you know, Ms. McCain was in Chad along with the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, and witnessed first-hand how conflict, climate shocks, and high food and fuel costs are pushing millions into acute hunger and malnutrition. WFP urgently needs $157 million to reach those in need and to stabilize the deteriorating situation. WFP plans to reach 2 million refugees and vulnerable Chadians with emergency assistance but cannot even assist half of them due to insufficient funds. And staying in the region, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, will conduct a two-day official mission to Chad from 24 to 26 of this month. During his visit, he will meet with senior Government officials as well as human rights representatives and members of political parties and civil society. ** Japan Our head of the Department of Operational Support, Atul Khare, travelled to Tokyo yesterday for an official visit that will last until 26 July. He will meet with senior Japanese Government officials to exchange views on current challenges and opportunities related to global operational support matters, including training and capacity-building for troop-contributing countries, support for uniformed peacekeepers, and withdrawal and downsizing of field missions. Mr. Khare's visit is taking place ahead of the Peacekeeping Ministerial preparatory meeting that Japan is co-hosting with Pakistan in August and the Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting in Ghana in December, which Mr. Khare will also attend. ** Syria And just to note on the Syrian front that today, one truck carrying humanitarian assistance from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) crossed into north-west Syria from Turkiye through the Bab al-Salam crossing. This week, a total of 18 trucks delivered life-saving relief items from UN agencies via Bab al-Salam. In the coming days, additional truck movements and UN staff missions are planned through the Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra'ee crossings. James, then Dezhi, then Pam. ** Questions and Answers Question : Yeah. Mr. Griffiths said today in the Security Council, people were going to die as a result of the end of the termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. I'm not sure you'd be able to answer this now, but it would be useful to get an idea, I'm well aware that the grain price affects everywhere in the world. But, clearly, there are some countries who are much more dependent on Ukraine and Russian grain than others. But, I assume that's something that's changed a bit, as some of them have tried to get other supplies in the recent months. OCHA [Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs] must be doing projections, I would think, on where are the most vulnerable places. Spokesman : We'll check with them. Yeah. Correspondent : It would be useful to know where are the most vulnerable countries in terms of this and where are you most concerned about. And it would be useful, I know it's a political subject and a bit of a minefield, but the humanitarian impact of this, it would be good to get Mr. Griffiths in this room. Spokesman : Well, if anybody can walk through a minefield... Correspondent : Yes. Exactly. Spokesman : And survive. And I think, the other issue, and we've talked about this a couple of times this week, is the lack of funding for WFP in certain projects. WFP buys a lot of grain on the open market. So, they will have to spend more money to buy grain as funding dwindles in a number of places and rations have to be cut. Question : I've got one more question about a different subject. Sudan, which you mentioned, the concern about the MSF team and the concern about the overall situation I noted in the last 24 hours that there were 14 people killed south of Khartoum by the RSF [Rapid Support Forces], using drones. Now the RSF didn't have drones at the start of this war. So, there is a proliferation of arms going on here. Does the Secretary-General think it's time for a full arms embargo? And would he recommend that the Security Council put one in place? Spokesman : I think our immediate concern right now is to see a halt of the fighting. I don't have the knowledge here, and I don't think we have the necessary forensic capacity to tell you whether or not these drones have been in the country before or had not been in the country before. But, obviously, as each day goes by, we're seeing more and more violence and impacting civilians. Question : But if there was an arms embargo, the Security Council would have a panel of experts, and you'd have people working out where the arms were coming from? Spokesman : That's something for the Security Council... Question : It is something for the Security Council, but sometimes the Secretary-General makes recommendations for the Security Council. On this, is it...? Spokesman : I have nothing to share with you on that at this very moment. Dezhi, then Pam. Question : A couple of questions on the Black Sea Initiative. Today in the Security Council, some Member States said that they believe Russia wants to earn more money so that, because of that, they quitted the initiative. Does the UN believe that's one of the reasons? Spokesman : I will leave the analysis of why Member States make certain decisions on a whole host of issues to diplomats, journalists, academics, and analysts. Question : And because also, I think DiCarlo mentioned that it's the fourth consecutive days of the attack on Odesa. Do you have any information that these attacks are for the ports or facilities? Have any ships been struck by the Russian attack? Do you have any information? Spokesman : I don't have that level of details. We know that port operations have been impacted, that facilities have been impacted. But, its level of granularity, I do not have from here. Question : One last question. This question is actually not from me, but from some comments. Some of the comments said they understand that there's condemnation from the United Nations on the attack from Russia to Odesa. But, there was no condemnation about Nord Stream attack, as well as the attacks on Crimean bridge. Why is that? Spokesman : I think we expressed the position on all those things and I would ask you to check the transcript. Question : Yes, but there is no strong condemnation? Spokesman : I would ask you to check the transcript, and you can make your analysis. Correspondent : I know, I know, I know. I checked. Spokesman : You can do your comparing. Question : There is no condemnation. Right? Spokesman : Then you can make your compare and contrast. I used language for those things. And I have no... Question : But would that be impartial or not? Spokesman : Again, you're asking me... you will do the analysis and you can do the compare and contrast. Pamela? Question : Thank you, Steph. On the grain deal, a few Security Council members today mentioned outside the Security Council that there were demands, that the new demands of Russia. Is it your perception from Martin Griffiths and from Rebeca Grynspan and everyone else that have been negotiating it, that the original requests for payment has now become the re-entry of the agricultural bank into SWIFT? Has it been escalate... Have the Russian demands changed over time? Spokesman : Listen, on the MoU [Memorandum of Understanding], Rebeca Grynspan and her team have been working tirelessly to remove the barriers. The Russian Federation took the decision that it took as for what they're asking for. I think things have been reported publicly, but that's a question for them to answer. I'm not going to enter into the details of the negotiations here. Question : Alright. And we also heard from a few Security Council members that Romania as a port is not a good workaround. You talked about the solidarity lanes. Is there any way that you know of that Ukraine can get grain out, short of return? Spokesman : I don't know any more than what is being reported. I don't know any more than you do. I think yet another reason why we should all study geography in school. Question : Alright. Wait. One last one. The last time or before the deal, the grain prices were, and there was...? Spokesman : Up. Question : Up. Now, then they went down. Now they're going up. What is your sense of how long it will take to have that kind of a global impact? In other words, it came here. The United States had an impact. Everywhere had an impact. Spokesman : Well, we're seeing the impact on food prices at the global level. National levels have all sorts of other factors that go into the price of food at the local level. But if at the source, the price of wheat, the price of corn is going up, it will have a negative impact. How negative that impact will be on each national market will be determined by national factors. Mushfiq, and then we'll go back to the room. Question : Thank you. Thank you. Can you hear me? Spokesman : Yes, sir. I can see you, as well. Question : Yeah. Thank you. On Thursday, Bangladesh Government summoned UN Resident Coordinator in Dhaka, Gwyn Lewis, for her tweet expressing concern over the attack on Dhaka-17 by-election independent candidate Hero Alom. The main opposition party boycotted the election. Not only UN, 12 Western countries, including US and everybody... Spokesman : Right. No, Mushfiq, I know the situation. What is the question, sir, if I may? Question : No. My question is Secretary-General aware of that situation and why one Member State can summon to the Resident Coordinator for just an informal tweet or formal tweet expressing concern over this discussion? Spokesman : Look, there are a couple of things. First of all, the Secretary-General has full confidence in the UN team in Bangladesh. It is not uncommon for a Member State to call in a Resident Coordinator if they have an issue with what that person has said. That is what it is, as one says. So these are procedures. These are processes that Member States utilize when they may not be happy with something that someone has said. But, we have full confidence in the work of our country team. Question : One more on Bangladesh. Tens of thousands of people march in capital, Dhaka, and other city asking ruling Prime Minister's resignation before election expected in January. At least two opposition activists has died and hundreds of others are injured. So, from this podium, you were asking for a free fair election. Do you think the current situation is fair enough to holding a free fair election? Because people are... Spokesman : What I do think is that people have a right to speak up, to demonstrate peacefully. Authorities have a responsibility to help people uphold that right and that goes across the board. We get asked this question many times. I'm not going to prejudge the elections before they happen. Madame? Question : Thanks, Steph. A follow-up on the border crossing. You said 18 trucks have crossed the border by the two other border crossing this week. Can you give us some kind of a... Tell us, compared to what was... Spokesman : A proportionality? Question : Yes. To what was before? Spokesman : The other crossing, the one that is now closed, Bab al-Hawa. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Souffler. I don't know how they say that in English. Carried about 85 per cent of the load. Right? So, we're not anywhere near a level of compensation. Question : But, are these 18 trucks comparable to what was going through these two crossings, the weeks before? Spokesman : No. No. Question : Or are more than...? Spokesman : Yeah, we are trying to up a bit what we can through the other crossings, but we're not able, for all sorts of logistical reasons, able to compensate fully. Correspondent : And... sorry. Spokesman : That's okay. Question : Any update on the negotiation on the re-opening of Bab al-Hawa? Spokesman : No. If there was an update, I would share it with you. James, then Dezhi. Question : So, a couple of quick ones. Sorry, just picking up quickly on your Odessa... you don't have detail and granularity on what's going on. Does the UN have anyone in Odessa? Spokesman : Yeah. Yeah. We have staff in Odessa. Our resident coordinator has been there a number of times. Question : There are people based in Odessa? Spokesman : Yeah. We have staff. Question : So, could they not just look to see what's been hit? Spokesman : I'm sure they can look. I'm just telling you I don't... we'll see... Question : You don't have the granularity, but the UN might? Okay. Spokesman : That is often the case about any information coming out of here. Question : Right. The Secretary-General had a meeting with the ambassadors of the OIC [Organisation of Islamic Cooperation] countries. We've seen the readout. But, it wasn't really clear. What is the Secretary-General's position on this? Does he condemn the burning of the Quran? Or does he think it's a legitimate right to a freedom of expression? Which one is it? Spokesman : We need to show mutual respect. We also need to have freedom of expression. I think the Secretary-General in what he said to the ambassadors was quite clear on the provocation that these things are. But, I will... Correspondent : You just said it's both. It can't be both. It has to be one or the other. Spokesman : No, I think... Question : Does he support the burning of the Quran, or does he...? Spokesman : No. He doesn't support. Of course, he doesn't support the burning of the Quran. Question : No. But, is it a legitimate act of freedom of expression or not? Spokesman : I think what we're seeing is that it is being used as an act of provocation. And I think in his readout, the Secretary-General explained himself clearly. Question : Okay. Back to the other issue that we've done in recent weeks, which is AI [artificial intelligence]. There was a big meeting or is a big meeting at the White House today, with Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft meeting. Does the Secretary-General hope, that's a US voluntary agreement, but those are all huge global social media players and media players; is he hoping this could be the building block of something bigger and more global? Spokesman : It is critical for the private sector to involve itself with national governments. We also need to see a dialogue at the international level with Member States, with industry leaders, civil society. Let's see what comes out of the US. But, I think there is a high level of responsibility here, given that so many of these industries are based here in the US. Correspondent : And a last one from me before the weekend. I promise. Spokesman : Don't make promises you can't keep, James. Question : So, a serious subject. Ukraine has started using US-supplied cluster bombs. What is the Secretary-General's reaction to that? So many countries have signed that convention into cluster munitions, including two thirds of the NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] countries. What's his reaction to the fact that this weapon that is abhorred by human rights activists and many others because of the effects it has on populations and particularly children is now being used by Ukraine, supplied by the US? Spokesman : I think we've seen these reports, which are very concerning. And as we've said before, these types of munition should be consigned to history and should not be used. Dezhi? Question : Oh, a couple of questions concerning the Black Sea Initiative. Has the UN terminated the MoU officially? Spokesman : Dezhi, with all due respect I think I would... Correspondent : No. No. Spokesman : No. No. We are continuing with all our efforts to get food and fertilizer from Russia and from Ukraine out to market. We have not taken any steps on our end regarding the MoU. Question : So, the MoU is still alive? Spokesman : We have not taken any steps from our end on the MoU. Question : Okay. Then has the UN received any letters in this kind about the MoU? Spokesman : We've received a number of communications from the Russian Federation. Question : Has they addressed it's been terminated? Spokesman : I think I would ask you to ask them, if they want to share those letters with you. Correspondent : They said that... Spokesman : And also, I would advise you to read what has been said publicly in statements from the Russian Federation. On that note, Ms. Kubiak. I wish you all... oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you that we will have an official trip announcement soon later today, but the Secretary-General will be going to Rome. He'll be there on Monday to address the Food Summit stock-taking, and the Deputy Secretary-General will be there on Tuesday and be there through Thursday to attend the closing, and the Secretary-General will be back here Monday afternoon. But, we'll have a more formal announcement a bit later on. Question : Is that at FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization]? Spokesman : Yes, ma'am. It is at the beautiful FAO headquarters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WFP staffer shot and killed in Yemen 21 July 2023 - A long-serving staffer with the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has been shot and killed in Yemen. Moayad Hameidi, a Jordanian national, was working in Turbah, in the country's southwest. He came under fire on Friday afternoon, and the identify of the assailants is not yet known. Head of Taiz office WFP released a statement expressing deep sadness at the news, noting that he had only recently arrived in Yemen to assume a new job as head of the agency's office in Taiz. Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally-recognized Government has been battling for control of the Arab nation, with Houthi militia, who control the capital and much of northern Yemen. Taiz is the country's third largest city and has been under siege by Houthi rebels for around seven years, creating a blockade for essential goods and humanitarian supplies for the city's residents. Tens of thousands of civilians have died during the grinding conflict and the UN estimates that 17 million people are still food insecure across Yemen, with projections showing that by the end of this year the number suffering high levels of acute food insecurity could rise to 3.9 million. Food assistance from WFP is crucial to avoid potential famine and a lingering food security crisis. 'Profound tragedy' The agency described Mr. Hameidi, who had worked for WFP for 18 years as a "dedicated humanitarian". He had served previously in Yemen, as well as in Sudan, Syria, and Iraq. "The loss of our colleague is a profound tragedy for our organization and the humanitarian community," said Richard Ragan, WFP Representative and Country Director in Yemen. "Any loss of life in humanitarian service is an unacceptable tragedy." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India-China Military Buildup Threatens Fragile Himalayan Ecosystems By Bilal Hussain July 21, 2023 Environmental activists and experts are increasingly concerned about the impact that military activity by India, China and Pakistan is having on the unique biodiversity and pristine ecosystems of Ladakh, an Indian-administered region high in the Himalayas. Simmering tensions between India and China since a deadly border confrontation in 2020 have led to a surge in military deployment, with both sides fortifying their positions to ensure territorial security. The influx of troops, equipment and infrastructure construction for military purposes has disrupted the fragile Himalayan ecosystem. The unchecked expansion of military bases, roads, helipads and related projects has led to deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and increased air and noise pollution, the experts say. They point to the rapid degradation of sensitive habitats, such as alpine meadows, wetlands and high-altitude forests, which are home to several endangered species, including the elusive snow leopard, Tibetan antelope and black-necked crane. "Rare birds such as the black neck crane face disturbances in their habitats due to the heavy military presence on both the Chinese and Indian sides," said Sonam Wangchuk, an environmentalist and past winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award - sometimes referred to as the Nobel Prize of Asia. He and other experts explained that the military activities disrupt the natural breeding patterns, feeding habits and migration routes of these vulnerable species, threatening their survival. The damage caused by military activity is exacerbating degradation already underway from rising global temperatures attributed in large part to the burning of fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide, trapping heat from the sun in Earth's atmosphere. Mountain regions like the Himalayas are rapidly changing because of the climate crisis, said Doug Weir, policy director at the Conflict and Environment Observatory, a U.K.-based charity working to develop policies that will reduce the environmental harm caused by conflicts and military activities. Weir told VOA that military activity is estimated to account for 5.5% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. "Increased military spending and activity help accelerate the climate crisis and the regional changes that are already readily apparent," he said. "While India has begun to acknowledge a need to reduce its military emissions, efforts are in their infancy. China's views on military emissions reductions remain unclear." Wangchuk argued in an interview that the military buildup in Ladakh is contributing significantly to the warming climate. "The Indian side alone emits approximately 300,000 tons of CO2 [carbon dioxide] annually, considering the substantial amount of fuel transported and burned for military operations," he said. "Similarly, the emissions would be slightly higher on the Chinese side and somewhat lower on the Pakistani side, resulting in nearly 1 million tons of CO2 being emitted each year in this triangular junction. "Pollution doesn't know borders," Wangchuk added, urging governments to prioritize the well-being of soldiers and civilians alike, irrespective of their nationalities. He compared the disputes between nations "to squabbling neighbors fighting over a fence while an impending avalanche threatens them both." Not only the wildlife is threatened. A recent study indicated that if temperature trends continued, the Himalayan glaciers might disappear entirely, "having a significant impact on regional water supplies, hydrological processes, ecosystem services and transboundary water sharing." Ladakh is particularly vulnerable to the threat, Wangchuk said. "Its glaciers play a crucial role in sustaining not only the local population but also communities across northern India and northern Pakistan. Consequently, many villages are teetering on the brink of becoming climate refugees." In a media report last year, the village of Kumik witnessed residents abandoning their homes and relocating to other parts of Ladakh because of water scarcity. On a more positive note, Wangchuk said efforts are underway to collaborate with the Indian army to introduce passive solar-heated shelters, which have proven effective in significantly reducing emissions. "These innovative zero-emission buildings have been successfully tested during two harsh winters, ensuring soldiers' warmth without relying on conventional fuel sources," he said, calling for China and Pakistan to adopt similar environmentally friendly practices. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Rights Body Calls for Action in Ethiopia's Oromia Region By Maya Misikir July 21, 2023 In its annual report this month, the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission urged officials to pay closer attention to the tensions and violence in the Oromia region. The commission said there have been attacks in 13 of the 20 zones in the Oromia region, leading to an alarming number of casualties and an extremely concerning overall situation. The Ethiopian government blames a rebel group, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), for the violence. But the commission said the response of government forces has also resulted in rights abuses. Deputy Commissioner Rakeb Melese said the rights commission is emphasizing the need for peaceful negotiations. "The retaliation measures taken by government equally incurs human rights violations because civilians are affected, people are displaced, because of the retaliatory measures," Rakeb said. Attempts to call and text a spokesperson for the Oromo region went unanswered. Fighting between the federal government and the OLA has caused thousands of deaths and displaced millions of people in the region over the past four years. A former resident and teacher in the Horo Guduru Welega Zone, who wanted to remain anonymous, said school has been disrupted for the past two years where he used to live. "I have taught for a long time there for 26 years," he said. "But because of the security problems there, I left. I am now in Addis Ababa. Even the way we left was in special circumstances, we walked 90 kilometers on foot those of us who were able to leave." The resident said that the attacks are being carried out by militias, known as Fano, from the neighboring Amhara region. "We know very well that it's the armed fighters, Fano. They are the ones stealing, killing and displacing people," he said. "Everyone knows this, including government bodies. They are creating major problems." In April, federal government orders to integrate Amhara special forces, including Fano, into the federal military or the police triggered widespread protests. More recently, Amhara and Oromo militias have been targeting each other's neighborhoods, one example of Ethiopia's long-simmering ethnic conflicts. Amanuel Adinew, executive director at the Center for Development and Capacity Building, which works in Oromia, said the conflicts have created mistrust in the community. "The state of anarchy created around these areas of conflict is behind increasing levels of cruelty. It has eroded the trust that people had in one another," Amanuel said. In addition, he added, many social institutions aimed at helping people in need are no longer functional. Peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the OLA took place in April, but ended without any agreements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address MSF Says Operations in Sudan's Khartoum May Cease After Attack By Leah Seyoum, Carol Van Dam Falk July 21, 2023 Doctors Without Borders in Sudan warned Friday that it may end operations at a hospital in the capital, Khartoum, after 18 of its workers were "aggressively assaulted," as conflict rages in the country. The medical aid group, commonly known by its French acronym MSF, said the team was transporting medical supplies to Turkish Hospital in southern Khartoum Thursday when unidentified armed men attacked its staff, "physically beating and whipping them," the aid organization said in a statement. The men also threatened to kill an MSF driver before releasing him and taking off with the vehicle. Christophe Garnier is MSF's emergency manager for Sudan. Speaking to VOA Friday, he denounced the attack as "unacceptable" and "very concerning." He said the aid group may be forced to end services at the hospital in order to protect its staff. "If an incident like this happens again and if our ability to move supplies continues to be obstructed, then, regrettably, our presence in the Turkish Hospital will soon become untenable," Garnier said in a statement. He said that the armed men who attacked the aid workers appeared drunk and that it wasn't clear which of Sudan's warring parties they belonged to. Forces from the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have been battling for control of the country since hostilities erupted on April 15. Sudanese authorities say over 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict. As the humanitarian situation continues to worsen, the United Nations said as of July 14, more than 3 million people have been displaced, including 2.4 million within Sudan. MSF's Garnier called on officials to avoid targeting humanitarian workers and civilians. He said they are not a party to the conflict and "shouldn't be involved in the conflict," urging all sides to guarantee the safety of aid workers and ensure access to vulnerable populations. The Turkish Hospital in southern Khartoum is one of the few hospitals still administering medical care in the country. This story originated in VOA's English to Africa Service. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thai Election Victor, Move Forward Party, on Brink of Losing Bid for Government By Zsombor Peter July 21, 2023 The party that won Thailand's general election in May stands a good chance of being left out of the country's next government when parliament meets again next week to pick a prime minister, analysts say, raising fears of a return of mass protests. "That's where the trend is going," Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a political science professor at Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, told VOA on Thursday. Surprising most pundits, the youth-facing Move Forward party won a plurality in the May poll with promises of easing the royalist, military establishment's decades-long grip on political power. It landed 151 of the 500 lower house seats up for grabs, trouncing the conservative, pro-military parties backing the aging ex-generals who seized power in a 2014 coup. In the days after the poll, Move Forward cobbled together an eight-party coalition holding a total 312 seats in the House of Representatives. On July 13, however, its candidate for prime minister, Pita Limjaroenrat, failed to win the needed majority in a joint session of the elected House and military-appointed Senate. At their session on Wednesday, the same senators and conservative lawmakers refused to even vote on Pita again, citing rules that prevent a failed motion from being made twice. During debate, those opposing Pita's bid mostly railed against Move Forward's vow to amend Article 112 of the Criminal Code, a controversial royal defamation law that metes out up to 15 years in jail for insulting the king, his heir or regent. Pheu Thai to nominate candidate With Pita out of the running, the bloc has agreed to let the second-largest party in the group, Pheu Thai, nominate its own candidate for prime minister when parliament meets again July 27. That candidate is expected to be real estate tycoon Srettha Thavisin. To succeed where Pita failed, though, analysts say Pheu Thai will likely have to jettison Move Forward from the bloc to win over enough conservatives and senators. "It will not be surprising if Pheu Thai elbows out Move Forward by making proposals that Move Forward cannot accept, such as abandoning or retreating on 112. And therefore, Move Forward will be kind of forced into the opposition. Pheu Thai will then proceed to form a coalition with the other parties, including the pro-military parties," said Thitinan. Srettha has "no chance" of winning Thursday's expected vote with Move Forward on board but a good one without it, agreed Paul Chambers, a political science lecturer at Thailand's Naresuan University. Royalists fear that amending the defamation law to weaken it "opens the door" to doing away with the law altogether, he said, a prospect that is "just anathema to them." Meanwhile, critics of the law accuse the government of misusing it to stifle calls for basic democratic reforms; over 200 people have been charged with violating Article 112 in the past three years. "The conservatives and military draw much of their legitimacy from their reputation as defenders of the monarchy, which as an institution is still revered and respected by many sections of society," said Harrison Cheng, a Singapore-based analyst and director for consultancy Control Risks. "They suspect that Move Forward's proposed amendment is only the first step in a broader plan to dilute monarchical prestige and prerogatives, which in turn would also have negative repercussions for their own status and powers," he told VOA. Like Chambers and Thitinan, Cheng said Pheu Thai was more likely than not to form a new coalition, minus Move Forward, to secure a win for Srettha Thursday. "Move Forward has also indicated that it is prepared to play the long game and remain in the opposition instead of compromising on its plan to amend the lese-majeste law," he added. Ambitious changes on hold The analysts said that means Thailand, for now, will see few, if any, of the more ambitious changes that Move Forward campaigned on come to fruition. Those proposed changes included ending military conscription, reallocating a share of defense spending to social programs, and injecting more competition into sectors of the economy long dominated by sometimes just one or two well-connected firms. The analysts also said shunting Move Forward into opposition is likely to mean a return of the mass street protests of 2020 sparked by the prosecution and ultimate dissolution of Move Forward's predecessor party, Future Forward. In those demonstrations, crowds of frustrated young men and women in the hundreds and sometimes thousands were repeatedly met by riot police with water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets. Cheng said Thailand could be in for months of renewed protest if Move Forward is shut out of the next government by the military-appointed Senate and the conservative parties it soundly defeated in the election. If the protests get big enough, Chambers said, the military might even step in and declare martial law; it has already staged two coups in as many decades, 12 in the past nine. Thitinan said the next wave of protests would probably be more modest than the last, though, unless the courts dissolve Move Forward altogether, disenfranchising its 14 million voters in a stroke. Party faithful fear the stage is already being set. Earlier this week, the Constitutional Court suspended Pita from parliament while it considers a complaint that he ran for election while owning a fraction of a TV station that has not broadcast in over a decade. Thai law bars candidates from owning shares in an active media company. In a separate and potentially more perilous case, the court recently accepted a petition accusing Move Forward of violating the constitution, which holds the king inviolable, merely for proposing to amend the royal defamation law. If found guilty, the court could order the party dissolved. "They have to think a lot about that, because when they dissolved Future Forward in 2020, they got a yearlong protest," Thitinan cautioned. "Dissolving Move Forward, as the largest winning party, will lead to social unrest, and it will be ferocious." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WFP Chief calls for immediate support to maintain peace and stability in West and Central Africa World Food Programme 21 July 2023 ROME/COTONOU, BENIN -- The ripple effects of Sudan's war are impacting hunger and migration across West and Central Africa, rapidly depleting scarce resources, further stressing the already underfunded humanitarian response, and exacerbating inter-communal tensions. The spillover will be devastating for peace and stability in a region already facing climate extremes, insecurity, and economic decline, warned the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director Cindy McCain as she concludes a visit to Chad, Togo, and Benin. In Chad, the Executive Director witnessed firsthand how conflict, climate shocks, and high food and fuel costs are pushing millions into acute hunger and malnutrition. Chad hosts the largest refugee population of any country in West and Central Africa and is also gripped by its own rising food insecurity. "The global community faces a decision point," said McCain. "We act now and stop Chad from becoming another victim of this crisis that has gripped the region or wait and act when it's too late." The Executive Director travelled together with the United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed to the border with Sudan, where some 330,000 people - the vast majority of whom are women and children - have already crossed to escape violence. They visited WFP's teams who are working around the clock to respond to the emergency as it unfolds. "The people I spoke with on the Chad-Sudan border told me absolutely heartbreaking stories of their dangerous journey, and of loved ones they lost along the way," McCain said. "Too many are injured and malnourished. This is the price innocent people pay for war; what these people have been through is unacceptable, and the world must step up and help them." Needs are soaring in Chad, but funding is not keeping pace. WFP urgently requires $157 million to reach those in need and to stabilize the deteriorating situation. WFP plans to reach 2 million refugees and vulnerable Chadians with emergency assistance but cannot even assist half of them due to insufficient funds. McCain also visited Abeche to see WFP's resilience projects that are transforming communities by laying the groundwork for sustainable food systems and self-sufficiency. The Executive Director continued to Togo, where she met the President, and Benin, where she met the Vice President and Government Ministers, to discuss areas of collaboration, such as School Feeding and the transformational impact this can have on children and communities. They also discussed the wider impacts and risks of crisis in the Sahel, and how WFP, together with national governments, can act early to foster stability. "I am impressed by the leadership and commitment of the Government of Benin in promoting a holistic development of children through a government led and owned national school feeding programme," McCain said. "This is a clear example of how WFP and national governments can work together to achieve human capital development and the overall well-being of future generations." Amidst the rising of violence in the Sahel, WFP stands ready and committed to supporting national governments in emergency preparedness and response. "We are increasingly concerned about an overflow from the security crisis in the Sahel into coastal countries - particularly the Gulf of Guinea," said McCain. "Urgent action is needed if we do not want to see the crisis spiral out of control." # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Release: Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Lebanon July 21, 2023 On August 1, 2007, by Executive Order 13441, the President declared a national emergency with respect to Lebanon pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.) to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States constituted by the actions of certain persons to undermine Lebanon's legitimate and democratically elected government or democratic institutions; to contribute to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law in Lebanon, including through politically motivated violence and intimidation; to reassert Syrian control or contribute to Syrian interference in Lebanon; or to infringe upon or undermine Lebanese sovereignty contribute to political and economic instability in that country and the region. Certain ongoing activities, such as Iran's continuing arms transfers to Hizballah which include increasingly sophisticated weapons systems serve to undermine Lebanese sovereignty, contribute to political and economic instability in the region, and continue to constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States. For this reason, the national emergency declared on August 1, 2007, must continue in effect beyond August 1, 2023. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)), I am continuing for 1 year the national emergency with respect to Lebanon declared in Executive Order 13441. This notice shall be published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the Congress. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR. THE WHITE HOUSE, July 21, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 21 July 2023 - Day 513 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 in the coming days, Russia's Wagner Group is likely to release the last of its convict-recruits from their mandated service. Its Project K prison recruitment scheme peaked in early 2023 and at least 40,000 men served under it. A significant number of the now pardoned convicts are likely to take up the offer to continue with Wagner as professional contractors. Meanwhile, the Russian MOD has taken over Wagner's prison recruitment pipeline. The end of the scheme marks a way point in the history of Wagner and of Russia's war in Ukraine. The soldiers provided by Project K enabled Russia to seize Bakhmut: one of its few recent claims to success. The project grew Wagner into the organisation which, last month, directly challenged the authority of President Putin. It also marks one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history: up to 20,000 convict-recruits were killed within a few months. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of July 21, the Russian occupiers launched yet another massive missile and air strike on the territory of Ukraine, using 3x Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles, 4x Iskander ground-launched cruise missiles, 6x Oniks cruise missiles, 1x Kh-59 cruise missile, and 1x S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile. In addition, Russian forces launched 12x air strikes and 29x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian terrorist attacks killed and wounded civilians, including children; destroyed or damaged grain storage facilities in the south of Ukraine, industrial facilities. More than 70x civilian residences and other infrastructure were destroyed or damaged. The likelihood of missile and air strikes across Ukraine remains high. Russia continues to focus its main efforts on Kup'yans'k, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Mar'inka axes, heavy fighting continues. During the day of July 21, there were 33x combat engagements. Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine. Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia continues to maintain its military presence. The Russian invaders fired mortars and artillery at more than 15x settlements, including Honcharivs'ke (Chernihiv oblast), Stukalivka, Bilovody, Stepne, Morozova Dolyna (Sumy oblast), Veterynarne, Kozacha Lopan', Hoptivka, Vysoka Yaruha, and Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian troops are standing their ground. Krasne Pershe, Fyholivka, Novomlyns'k, Kup'yans'k, and Novoosynove (Kharkiv oblast) came under artillery and mortar fire of the Russian adversary. Lyman axis: Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the vicinities of settlements of Nadiya, Makiivka, Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Serebryanskyi forest, and Dibrova (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders launched air strikes in the vicinities of Serebryanskyi forest, Spirne, and Dibrova (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, and Berestove (Donetsk oblast) were shelled with artillery. Bakhmut axis: under heavy fire from Russian artillery, the Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks in the vicinity of Hryhorivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vasyukivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, Kostyantynivka, Markove, Ivanivske, Druzhba, and Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast), suffered from Russian artillery shelling. Avdiivka axis: under heavy fire from Russian aircraft and artillery, the Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled russian troops' attacks in the vicinities of Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinity of Avdiivka. At the same time, the Russian invaders fired artillery at more than 10x settlements, including Keramik, Krasnohorivka, Avdiivka, Vodyane, Pervomais'ke, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian offensive in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka and Mar'inka (Donetsk oblast). The adversary shelled more than 10x settlements, including Mar'inka, Heorhiivka, Maksymil'yanivka, Hostre, and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast). Shakhtars'ke axis: the Russian adversary shelled more than 10x settlements, including Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Neskuchne, and Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast). Zaporizhzhia and Kherson axes: the Russian adversary focuses its main efforts on preventing further advance of Ukrainian troops. Russian forces fired artillery at more than 25x settlements, including Levadne, Hulyaipole, Huliaipilske, Bilohir'ya, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), Zolota Balka, Mykhailivka, Novooleksandrivka, Beryslav, L'vove, Antonivka (Kherson oblast), the city of Kherson, as well as Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast). At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to conduct the offensive operation on Melitopol' and Berdyans'k axes, consolidating their positions, firing artillery for effect on the identified Russian targets, and conducting counter-battery fire. During the day of July 21, Ukrainian Air Force launched 13x air strikes on the concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, as well as 3x air strikes on the anti-aircraft missile systems of the Russian adversary. During day of July 21, the Ukrainian missile and artillery troops hit 1x concentration of manpower, weapons, and military equipment of the Russian adversary, 2x artillery systems at their firing positions, and 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian forces. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that that night the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out another strike with long-range sea-based precision weapons against sites where terrorist acts against the Russian Federation were being prepared using strike drones. The goal of the attack has been reached. All the assigned targets have been neutralised. The AFU continued unsuccessful attempts to conduct offensive actions in Donetsk, Krasny Liman and South Donetsk directions. In Donetsk direction, as a result of coordinated and active actions by units of the Yug Group of Forces, aviation and artillery, 9 enemy attacks have been successfully repelled near Zolotaryovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Mayorsk, Vesyoloye, Maryinka, Vodyanoye and north of Kleshcheevka (Donetsk People's Republic). As a result of active actions by Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Novomikhailovka, Dyleevka, Belaya Gora and Aleksandro-Shultino (Donetsk People's Republic). In addition, two ammunition depots of the AFU 38th Marine Brigade and the 118th Territorial Defence Brigade have been destroyed near Razliv and Vyemka (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 185 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers. In Krasny Liman direction, as a result of coordinated actions by aviation, artillery, heavy flamethrower systems, and units of the Tsentr Group of Forces, three enemy attacks have been repelled forward Chervonaya Dibrova, Kovalyovka, and Karmazinovka (Lugansk People's Republic). In addition, enemy units have been hit close to Nevskoye, Makeevka, Novogorovka and Raigorodka (Lugansk People's Republic), and Yampolovka, Terny (Donetsk People's Republic). The actions of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed near Torskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The enemy losses were up to 100 Ukrainian servicemen, one tank, four armoured fighting vehicles, seven pickup trucks, and two howitzers: D-20 and D-30. In South Donetsk direction, as a result of active actions by aviation and artillery by the Vostok Group of Forces, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Makarovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and Levadnoye (Zaporozhye region). One AFU sabotage and reconnaissance group has been destroyed near Priyutnoye (Zaporozhye region). In Zaporozhye direction, as a result of the actions by units and artillery, an enemy attack has been repelled near Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region). In addition, two ammunition depots of the 23rd Mechanised Brigade and the 36th Marine Brigade of the AFU have been destroyed close to Uspenovka and Rovnopolye (Zaporozhye region). The enemy losses were up to 175 Ukrainian servicemen, three armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, two D-20 howitzers, as well as one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station. In Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by aviation and artillery by the Zapad Group of Forces, AFU manpower and hardware have been hit close to Stelmakhovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Figolyovka, Kalinovo, Zagoruykovka, Timkovka and Krasnoye Pervoye (Kharkov region). The activities of one Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group have been suppressed close to Novosyolovskoye (Lugansk People's Republic). One ammunition depot of the 1st Special Forces Brigade of the AFU has been destroyed near Volchansk (Kharkov region). The enemy losses were up to 30 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, Msta-B and D-20 howitzers, two D-30 guns, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station. In Kherson direction, the enemy losses were up to 35 Ukrainian servicemen, four motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar station have been. One ammunition depot of the AFU 123th Territorial Defence Brigade has been destroyed near Veletenskoye (Kherson region). Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised 102 AFU artillery units at their firing positions, manpower and hardware in 123 areas. In addition, a fuel depot of the 36th Brigade of the AFU Marine Corps has been destroyed near Rovnopolye (Zaporozhye region). The command post of the 79th Airborne Assault Brigade of the AFU has been neutralised near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). Air defence facilities have shot down six projectiles launched by HIMARS MLRS. In addition, Ukrainian 14 unmanned aerial vehicles have been destroyed close to Zolotaryovka, Krasnorechenskoye, Shipilovka, Svatovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Artyomovsk, Bakhmutskoye, Mariupol, Klyuchevoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Gusarka, Chapaevka, Romanovskoye and Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region). In total, 456 airplanes, 243 helicopters, 5,154 unmanned aerial vehicles, 426 air defence missile systems, 10,789 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,139 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,547 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 11,787 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Katherine Banks, president of Texas A&M, is herself out of a job after the college backed off its job offer to a prominent Black professor. Kathleen McElroy, a former New York Times editor, was invited to reboot Texas A&M's moribund journalism program, but conservatives complained she was took woke and the offer was effectively rescinded, triggering a media scandal and threats of legal action. Her exit comes as Republican lawmakers across the U.S. are targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campus. That includes Texas, where Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in June that dismantles program offices at public colleges.The A&M System said in a statement that Banks told faculty leaders this week that she took responsibility for the "flawed hiring process" of Kathleen McElroy, a former New York Times editor who had been selected to revive the school's journalism department. The statement said "a wave of national publicity" suggested that McElroy "was a victim of 'anti-woke' hysteria and outside interference in the faculty hiring process." My first thought is that political pressure on the college made Banks' job impossible and she reasonably and rationally decided to get out ASAP, but there are reports she forged a colleague's signature to cover amendments to the job offer. I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash, like your tears if you got your degree at this place in the Before Time. Leader of International Drug-Trafficking Organization Sentenced for Cocaine Distribution Friday, July 21, 2023 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs A leader of an international drug-trafficking organization (DTO) was sentenced today to life in prison for conspiring to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for importation into the United States. According to court documents, between 2003 and April 2016, Gerardo Gonzalez-Valencia, aka Lalo, 45, was a leader of Los Cuinis, a DTO responsible for importing large quantities of cocaine from South America, Mexico, and elsewhere into the United States. Los Cuinis is closely aligned with the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva GeneraciAn (CJNG), which is based in the State of Jalisco in Mexico. Together, Los Cuinis and CJNG form one of the largest, most dangerous, and most prolific drug cartels in Mexico. They are responsible for trafficking significant quantities of illegal drugs into the United States and employing extreme violence to further that objective. "Gonzalez-Valencia's prosecution marks another step in the Justice Department's pursuit of the top leadership of drug-trafficking organizations like Los Cuinis and the CJNG," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "The significant sentence imposed today also reflects the magnitude of harm these drug-trafficking organizations wreak on our communities. The Criminal Division will continue to hold accountable those like Gonzalez-Valencia, who profit from importing large quantities of dangerous substances into the United States and who support the extraordinary violence committed in furtherance of that objective." Gonzalez-Valencia personally invested in and coordinated multi-ton shipments of cocaine for importation into the United States. Some of these shipments were interdicted by law enforcement, including the seizure of approximately 280 kilograms of cocaine from a semi-submersible interdicted by the U.S. Coast Guard and the seizure of 750 kilograms of cocaine concealed in frozen shark carcasses destined for the United States and seized by Mexican law enforcement. Gonzalez-Valencia also directed the murders of rival drug traffickers and used and supplied weapons in furtherance of the drug-trafficking conspiracy. "Today's sentencing sends a clear message to the leaders of drug cartels that DEA will stop at nothing to dismantle the criminal networks that threaten the safety and health of the American people," said DEA Administrator Anne Milgram. "Under Gonzalez-Valencia's leadership, Los Cuinis - a cartel closely aligned with the Jalisco (CJNG) Cartel - shipped massive quantities of cocaine into the United States and killed rivals that threatened the cartels' trafficking organizations. The men and women of DEA are working relentlessly to hold all drug traffickers accountable that seek to profit from the Jalisco Cartel's violent and deadly drug trafficking network." This case is supported by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). The DEA Los Angeles Field Division investigated the case with the assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Investigative Operations Division. Acting Assistant Deputy Chief Kaitlin Sahni and Trial Attorneys Kate Naseef and Kirk Handrich of the Criminal Division's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section prosecuted the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance. The Justice Department thanks Uruguayan authorities for their assistance in securing the arrest and extradition of Gonzalez-Valencia. Topic: Drug Trafficking Components: Criminal Division Criminal - Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section Criminal - Office of International Affairs Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces U.S. Marshals Service Press Release Number: 23-794 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FACT SHEET: White House Launches Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy July 21, 2023 Major General (ret) Paul Friedrichs Will Serve as the Inaugural Director The Biden-Harris Administration has made historic progress on our nation's ability to manage COVID-19 so that it no longer meaningfully disrupts the way we live our lives. Under President Biden's leadership, the Administration has taken significant steps to ensure all individuals have continued access to lifesaving protections such as vaccines, treatments, and tests, and that the nation is well prepared to manage the risks of COVID-19 or other causes of potential pandemics in the future. As part of the President's commitment to ensure that our country is more prepared for a pandemic than we were when he took office, the Administration is standing up the Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy (OPPR). This will be a permanent office in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) charged with leading, coordinating, and implementing actions related to preparedness for, and response to, known and unknown biological threats or pathogens that could lead to a pandemic or to significant public health-related disruptions in the United States. OPPR will take over the duties of the current COVID-19 Response Team and Mpox Team at the White House and will continue to coordinate and develop policies and priorities related to pandemic preparedness and response. To lead this work, the President announced that Major General (ret) Paul Friedrichs will serve as the inaugural Director of OPPR and Principal Advisor on Pandemic Preparedness and Response as of August 7, 2023. Maj. Gen. (ret) Friedrichs' unparalleled experience makes him the right person to lead this office. He is currently Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefense at the National Security Council (NSC). Maj. Gen. (ret) Friedrichs previously served as Joint Staff Surgeon at the Pentagon, where he coordinated all issues related to health services, provided medical advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and served as medical adviser to the Department of Defense (DoD) Covid-19 Task Force. The Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy will: Coordinate the Administration's domestic response to public health threats that have pandemic potential, or may cause significant disruption, and strengthen domestic pandemic preparedness. This includes ongoing work to address potential public health outbreaks and threats from COVID-19, Mpox, polio, avian and human influenza, and RSV. Drive and coordinate federal science and technology efforts related to pandemic preparedness. Specifically, OPPR will oversee efforts to develop, manufacture, and procure the next generation of medical countermeasures, including leveraging emerging technologies and working with HHS on next generation vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 and other public health threats. During the height of the pandemic, the Biden-Harris Administration made historic investments in COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments that were made widely available. OPPR will continue to leverage these investments as it drives future progress in combatting COVID-19 and other public health threats. Develop and provide periodic reports to Congress. As required by statute, OPPR will develop and provide to Congress a biennial Preparedness Review and Report and Preparedness Outlook Report every five years. Major General (ret) Paul Friedrichs, Inaugural Director of OPPR and Principal Advisor on Pandemic Preparedness and Response Major General Friedrichs is currently Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Global Health Security and Biodefense at the National Security Council (NSC). Prior to joining the NSC, Dr. Friedrichs most recently served as the Joint Staff Surgeon and the medical advisor to the Department of Defense (DoD) COVID-19 Task Force. Throughout his career he has worked closely with Federal, State, Tribal, local, and territorial government partners, as well as industry and academic counterparts and has been active in multiple professional medical societies. Dr. Friedrichs has also overseen the DoD global patient evacuation system, supporting global medical care and numerous interagency domestic and global disaster responses. He led the DoD Task Force which developed plans to implement high reliability medical principles across DoD and stood up the Air Force's first medical analytics capabilities. Over the course of his 37-year career, he has led military hospitals and regional and global health care systems, published multiple medical papers, and consistently sought opportunities to partner with colleagues to improve health care delivery and preparedness. As the United States' representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Committee of Military Medical Chiefs, he worked closely with many of America's closest allies and partners throughout the pandemic and in developing medical support to the Ukrainian military. Dr. Friedrichs is a board-certified physician who has cared for hundreds of patients in combat and managed broad domestic and global public health threats. He has spent all of his career in public service, having first received his commission through Reserve Officer Training Corps in 1986 and rising to Major General in 2023. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China to promote membership expansion process, cooperation among emerging markets with BRICS members during upcoming summit: vice FM Global Times By Global Times Published: Jul 21, 2023 01:35 PM China is willing to work together with BRICS countries to implement the consensus reached by the countries' leaders to promote the membership expansion process and enhance cooperation among emerging markets and developing nations, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said on Thursday. While attending a special virtual meeting of BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, Ma said China looked forward to holding in-depth discussions with BRICS partners on various important issues to achieve fruitful results and elevate BRICS cooperation to a new level during the upcoming 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced earlier in July that the BRICS summit, scheduled from August 22 to 24, will be held "physically" after a hiatus of three years. The expansion of BRICS, a common currency within the bloc and ensuring food and energy security are among key topics of the agenda, per media reports, as an increasing number of countries have applied to join BRICS or expressed interest in doing so, including Ethiopia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Argentina, Iran, Algeria, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In an exclusive interview with Global Times, South African Ambassador to China Siyabonga Cyprian Cwele said he expected the in-depth discussions on tackling climate change and energy transition, on skill sharing of technologies and innovation, and on coordinating growth, stability, and global recovery post-pandemic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese policymakers launch intensive, targeted stimulus to bolster growth Global Times By GT staff reporters Published: Jul 21, 2023 10:55 PM Chinese policymakers, ranging from the State Council and top economic planner to the commerce ministry and the central bank, have been intensively launching stimulus measures to boost consumption and rejuvenate growth momentum over the past week, moves that are seen as a pivot for bolstering the nation's continuous economic recovery and also critical for the world as it encounters lingering headwinds. Observers noted that the slew of measures are carefully drafted, widely applying to all sides concerned and could form a compounded effort in boosting the nation's growth. For instance, boosts for automobiles and electronics products consumption are close to people's daily life, the promotion of artificial intelligence appliance is in line with the nation's determination to promote high-quality growth, and the heavyweight guideline to spur the private economy has injected much-needed confidence into the domestic market. They will further consolidate the foundation for the recovery of the world's second-largest economy, observers added, noting that with more broad-based stimulus to kick in over the next few months, recovery will continue to pick up pace, though challenges remain. The growth from China will bring opportunities and stability for the world, a stark contrast to the US, which is obsessed with geopolitical fighting and is eager to maintain hegemony rather than a pursuit of common growth for the world, they said. Policy package In the latest move to shore up consumption, China on Friday freshly announced steps to boost sales of cars and electronics - two areas in which the nation has vast potential. Regions will be encouraged to increase annual car purchase quotas and efforts will be made to support sales of second-hand vehicles, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement on automobile consumption. A separate statement on supporting sales of electronics products said authorities would encourage scientific research institutes and market entities to actively apply domestic artificial intelligence (AI) technology to improve intelligence levels of electronic products, with a particular focus on rural areas. In recent years, the demand for electronic products has been slow to pick up due to various reasons such as uncertain income expectations due to the pandemic, slower innovation, and disruptions in global supply chains. However, China's strong income levels and network infrastructure indicate that there's still great potential in the market. The increasing trend of smarter products is driving upgrades in consumption, and even rural areas hold significant untapped opportunities, NDRC official Chang Tiewei explained at a press conference introducing the policies on Friday. To boost consumption, policymakers are considering ways to make electronic products smarter and more user-friendly by using the latest technology like AI, Chang said, explaining that they are planning to invest in technology that recognizes different regional dialects and accents, making voice control features more efficient and accessible to people in rural and older communities. These efforts aim to reduce the digital gap, make electronic products more accessible and beneficial to all residents, regardless of their location or background. As the country moves forward, these steps may shape a more advanced and inclusive electronic products market, the official said. In another conference held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs on Friday, Zeng Yande, an official with the ministry vowed further efforts to "fill farmers' wallets", saying that only with a stable income can people in rural areas "dare to consume." The two policies from two ministries form a virtuous circle to boost rural consumption, with a support for both the demand and supply sides, and serve as an example of how the nation boosts its economic growth with a sustained growth drive, Zhang Hong, an independent analyst on macro economy, told the Global Times on Friday. Potential in economic drivers such as the new generation of AI follows years of the central government's efforts to build internet infrastructure even in the most remote areas of China, and will provide sustained growth drive for consumption, Zhang said. Moreover, Zhang pointed out that China's innovative policy tools are also completely different from those of Western countries, which some foreign media fail to understand. On the macro level, China on Wednesday issued a guideline on boosting the growth of the private economy, highlighting that it will ensure that enterprises of different ownership will operate in an arena of fair competition and be protected by the law equally. On Thursday, China raised a key parameter in its macro-prudential management to allow domestic firms to take on more foreign debt, a renewed effort to stabilize the yuan, which in turn will shore up confidence and support the real economy by coordinating domestic and international resources. Other supportive measures will soon follow, and some policies rolled out in the first half, such as infrastructure investment, will also take effect in the coming months, Cong Yi, dean of the School of Marxism at Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Friday. Pie for all However, going forward, major challenges are likely to remain, and the challenge is not only faced by China, but also the world, said officials and economists. Nevertheless, China might be one of the nations that can hold the rudder most steadily amid the turmoil. According to freshly released data, China's second-quarter GDP jumped 6.3 percent, falling short of expectations, but outpaced most of the world's major economies to become the locomotive of global growth. In the first quarter, the US, EU, Japan and Brazil reported GDP expansion of 1.8 percent, 1 percent, 1.9 percent, and 4 percent respectively. This means that even taking into account the second-quarter reading, China's first-half GDP growth still leads major global economies, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday. Compared with the US, with its crackdowns, containment and protectionist approach that continues to drag down the global economy, China has been sticking to an opening-up approach with global investors while striving to maintain its own growth momentum, Cong said. On Friday, the Ministry of Commerce held a special policy interpretation and communication roundtable for foreign business associations, a mechanism that will become a regular fixture as the world's second-largest economy is committed to creating a fair, transparent and predictable business environment for foreign firms. China will formulate comprehensive policies to further attract foreign investment, expand market access and enhance communication with foreign firms and chambers of commerce, in a bid to set up a higher-level opening-up system and attract global resources, Jin Xiandong, an NDRC official, said during a press conference on Tuesday. In the longer term, the country will continue to provide strong impetus for the recovery and growth of the world economy, and will surely bring more permanent development opportunities for foreign enterprises, Jin noted. "There is indeed some pessimistic sentiment across the market, which is affected by a complex external situation, foreign media hype about the loss of momentum in the Chinese economy and US politicians' continuous call for decoupling from China," Cong said. But that's not the whole picture: more foreign enterprises and CEOs of global giants have been visiting China, and more are expanding their footprints in the nation, which demonstrates confidence, the expert said. In mid-June, US memory chip giant Micron Technology said it will invest over 4.3 billion yuan ($603 million) in its packaging and testing plant in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, in the next few years, a move that the company said "showcased its unswerving commitment" to Chinese business and team members. The company previously failed to pass China's cybersecurity review, which fuelled malicious speculation of a "tit-for-tat" amid frosty China-US bilateral relations. "We should have the confidence that with policymakers being fully sober about the challenges ahead, and sufficient policy tools in hand, China can be the 'most stable' one in the face of the hardest headwinds," Cong said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China to unveil more measures to revive private economy: officials People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:07, July 21, 2023 BEIJING, July 20 (Xinhua) -- Chinese officials on Thursday pledged greater efforts to revive the private economy, with more measures to be unveiled soon. Their remarks came after the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council issued a guideline on Wednesday on boosting the growth of the private economy. "The private economy has long played a positive role in stabilizing growth, promoting innovation, increasing employment and improving people's livelihoods," Li Chunlin, deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a press conference. To ensure full implementation of the guideline, the commission will work with relevant parties to introduce supporting policies and measures in the near future, he said. As part of the supporting measures, the commission will publish a document soon on encouraging private investment to "fully motivate the sector," Li said. The commission will continue holding symposiums with private entrepreneurs on a regular basis to help them solve problems and heed their suggestions, Li said. The private sector contributes approximately 50 percent of China's tax revenue, 60 percent of its GDP, 70 percent of its technological innovation, and accounts for 80 percent of its urban employment. To provide an improved environment for the private economy, China will also work to remove barriers in market access and fully implement policies and mechanisms for fair competition, he said. An Lijia, vice chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, pledged efforts to create a nurturing social environment for the private economy. "We will increase publicity of outstanding private entrepreneurs and promote their entrepreneurial spirit. Meanwhile, we will cooperate with relevant departments to crack down on malicious rumors and smears against private enterprises," An said. In China, more than 90 percent of private companies are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and more than 90 percent of SMEs are private companies. China will continue to facilitate financing for SMEs, said Xu Xiaolan, vice minister of industry and information technology. Outstanding inclusive finance lending to small and micro-sized companies reached 27.7 trillion yuan (about 3.88 trillion U.S. dollars) at the end of June, up 26.1 percent year on year. China will also promote qualified SMEs to go public, and encourage the national SME development fund to increase investment in start-ups, Xu said. "The country will work to create a market-oriented, legalized and international business environment for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises," Xu noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on July 21, 2023 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China At the invitation of the government of the Federated States of Micronesia, President Xi Jinping's Special Envoy and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian will attend the inauguration ceremony of President Wesley W. Simina to be held on July 26 in the Federated States of Micronesia. Reuters: A building of the Chinese consulate in Odessa was damaged by a Russian missile and drone attack yesterday. Does this mean that China will now condemn the attack on the Ukrainian city? Also has China launched any complaint at all with the Russian side about the attack? Mao Ning: We have given information on the explosion near China's Consulate-General in Odessa. We will stay in communication with the parties concerned and take all measures necessary to keep Chinese institutions and nationals in Ukraine safe. Global Times: It was reported that recently a Japanese scholar found Unit 731-related official documents from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare for the first time, including the name list of members of Unit 731 that launched bacterial warfare against the Chinese people. These documents contain details of the Unit structure and its members' names and titles, including information on Shiro Ishii, the Japanese bacterial warfare culprit and Unit 731's first head. What is your comment on that? Mao Ning: During WWII, in blatant violation of international law, the Japanese army launched horrendous bacterial warfare against the Chinese. They conducted barbaric in vivo experiments on humans, and committed heinous crimes against humanity during their aggression against China. The official documents disclosed by the Japanese scholar are yet another solid proof of the bacterial warfare launched by Japanese militarists. There's no room for denial. We appreciate the courage of people with vision in Japan to reveal and face the historical facts. Japan needs to heed the just callaboth domestically and internationallyaand earnestly face up to and reflect on its history of militarist aggression. Japan needs to root out the toxic legacy of militarism, and not let history repeat itself. Reuters: With the Chinese consulate in Odessa being damaged by Russian attack, if there is no criticism over Russian damage of the building, is non-criticism now the policy for any future similar cases should Chinese missions abroad be damaged or hit in any way during an attack of some sort? Mao Ning: On the Ukraine crisis, our position is consistent and clear. We will continue to facilitate the political settlement of the crisis. We are closely following relevant developments and staying in communication with the parties concerned. We will take all measures necessary to keep Chinese institutions and nationals in Ukraine and anywhere else in the world safe. Reuters: According to The Wall Street Journal, Chinese hackers infiltrated the emails of hundreds of thousands of US officials, including those of US Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Kritenbrink. Do you have any comment on this? Mao Ning: My colleague has answered relevant questions. I'm not going to repeat the answer. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hong Kongers line up for hours at Shenzhen bank branches to withdraw their money Long waits come amid concerns about the Chinese economy and liquidity of banking system. By Gigi Lee for RFA Cantonese 2023.07.21 -- Hong Kong residents have been lining up at branches of state-run banks in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen to withdraw funds in recent days, waiting several hours after making appointments to get hold of their cash, Radio Free Asia has learned. The Luohu branches of the Bank of China, the China Construction Bank and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China were packed on Thursday with Hong Kongers who had crossed into mainland China via the Lo Wu border checkpoint, which has run its own immigration operation since Hong Kong's 1997 return to Chinese rule. Several security guards were on duty at the doors of each bank, with batons and riot shields stacked at the ready, and at least 20 chairs set out for waiting depositors. A notice placed outside the Luohu branch of the Bank of China warned depositors that there would be a "wait of at least 4-5 hours" for withdrawals. Given the tight security, depositors were extremely wary of explaining their reasons for withdrawing their money, but the long lines come amid concerns about the Chinese economy and the liquidity in its banking system. Customer A from Hong Kong said he was told to wait despite having booked an appointment to withdraw funds ahead of time. "Even if you made an appointment, you still need to wait in line," the security guard told him. "That's the rule." "That's not what the [manager] said yesterday," Customer A replied, insisting that he not be identified for fear of reprisals. "He said I could come right over and pick up the money if I made an appointment." Limits on withdrawals A member of the Bank of China's customer service team said withdrawals of more than 200,000 yuan, or about US$27,800, now require appointments to be booked at least one day in advance, and that different banks and branches have different requirements. Some banks are limiting withdrawals to 100,000 yuan (US$13,900) a day, the staff member said, and appointments are typically required for any withdrawal over 20,000 yuan (US$2,780). Repeated calls to the three banks' Luohu branches to make an appointment rang unanswered during office hours on Thursday. One depositor whose progress was observed from start to finish by Radio Free Asia lined up for several hours outside the branch. But when they got inside, they were given a number and made to wait for more than an hour inside. Only one employee was visible in the branch, and asked the depositor several times for the reason for the withdrawal. They were asked to sign multiple documents and enter multiple passwords, alongside a thorough ID check. While they eventually managed to withdraw 60,000 yuan (US$8,350), the entire process lasted around five hours. Frozen accounts Some depositors said they had been refused permission to withdraw funds remitted to mainland China from Hong Kong, on the basis that their accounts had been frozen pending investigation for suspected "fraud." "They told me there was an issue with my funds," Customer B said. "The policy in mainland China is such that they would even freeze an account with 4,000 yuan in it." "We're talking the kind of money you could get through in a day, and they're still holding it up," she said. "They said the details didn't match up." Several Hong Kong residents who asked not to be quoted confirmed that they had made fairly small remittances to mainland Chinese banks, which were then frozen due to suspected money laundering, including one payment of 5,000 yuan to help an elderly relative. Chinese financial affairs commentator Si Ling said liquidity is extremely tight in mainland China, and more and more people are rushing to get their money out of Chinese banks. "Investors can see that the investment environment in mainland China is deteriorating at an accelerated rate," Si said. "And mainland China is introducing more measures to restrict Hong Kong people from withdrawing funds." Si said the process of withdrawing money is being made deliberately onerous, to slow down the outflow of money and prevent a liquidity crisis. "You have to report any amount you withdraw now, and the worse the liquidity crisis gets, the more panic there will be," he said. In July 2022, the government moved to stave off the crisis amid a mortgage repayments strike and widespread protests over frozen accounts at rural banks. Commentators said then that restrictions on the use of bank cards pointed to an underlying crisis in China's financial system, against the background of a wider economic downturn in the wake of the zero-COVID policy, which ended in December 2022. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing Restricts Japanese Seafood, Escalating Tensions with Tokyo By Christy Lee July 21, 2023 China has tightened checks on Japanese seafood, escalating diplomatic tensions with its neighbor over Tokyo's plan to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The General Administration of Customs in China began inspecting seafood imports from Japan for radiation earlier this month, Japanese media reported Wednesday. This follows the agency's July 7 announcement that extended a ban on seafood products from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, because of radiation concerns. China is the biggest buyer of Japan's seafood exports. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on Thursday that Beijing had tightened the restrictions because "the Chinese government puts people first." She continued, "Our job is to be responsible for the health of our people and the marine environment. Our opposition to Japan's ocean discharge plan is based on facts and reason; so are the measures that we have decided to take." The restrictions came as Japan prepares to discharge the treated waters from its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. There is no confirmed date for the release at the plant, which was damaged in the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Japan dismissed Chinese objections to its plan, calling on Beijing to remove restrictions on Japanese seafood. Japan "has long urged Chinese authorities to quickly remove import restrictions on Japanese food products based on scientific evidence," said a spokesperson for the Japanese Embassy in Washington in an email to VOA's Korean Service on Wednesday. Tokyo will continue "to make a concerted effort to appeal to the Chinese authorities through every possible opportunity" and "explain the conclusion of the IAEA report to the international community with a high level of transparency," said the spokesperson, referring to the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency. The decision to start releasing the water, originally set for some time in August, came after the IAEA said in a report presented to Tokyo earlier this month that the release meets its safety standards. Some experts see Beijing's restrictions on seafood imports from Japan as a move to instill doubts about the safety of treated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant that Tokyo said would be released once it addressed "reputational damages" associated with the process. 'China doesn't trust Japan' Andrew Yeo, the SK-Korea Foundation chair in Korea Studies at Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies, said, "China doesn't trust Japan or the IAEA's report regarding Fukushima waters." Yeo continued, "The inspections on seafood imports [are] intended to continue sowing doubts on the IAEA's findings and undermine Japan's claim about the safety of its seafood and fish exports." The European Union announced last week that it would lift restrictions on seafood imports from Japan imposed over 12 years ago, Euronews reported. European Council President Charles Michel said the decision was based on scientific evidence presented by the IAEA. The IAEA report concluded the release of 1.3 million metric tons of the treated water from the Fukushima plant would be safe and have negligible radiological impact on people and the environment. The water has been filtered through the Advanced Liquid Processing System to remove most radioactive contamination except tritium, according to IAEA. However, an article by China's state-run English-language newspaper, the China Daily, on Monday said Japan's plans to release the treated water makes seafood consumers and restaurant owners anxious about Japanese imports. Daniel Sneider, a lecturer in international policy and East Asian studies at Stanford University, said Beijing wants "to put pressure on Japan and to play into Korean narratives promoted by the opposition party in [South] Korea." He said the main goal of China's inspections of Japanese seafood imports "seems to be to feed similar fears" among people in China as exist among consumers in South Korea "with the rather obvious aim of undermining progress in repairing Korea-Japan relations." On July 7, South Korea officially endorsed the Japanese decision to release the treated water upon the IAEA's approval of the discharge. Opposition lawmakers have been against the decision. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi arrived in Seoul on July 8 after his visit to Tokyo and met with opposition lawmakers explaining the IAEA's approval based on "scientific" research. Hundreds of South Koreans marched in Seoul protesting the discharge plans during Grossi's three-day visit in Seoul. Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have been improving since South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol reached out to Tokyo in March, resulting in two summits in March and May, the first for the two countries in 12 years. Ties between the two U.S. allies had been frayed over a historical dispute stemming from the Japanese occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945. Washington, Seoul and Tokyo are planning to hold a summit in August, Yoon's office said Thursday. At the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May, President Joe Biden had invited Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a meeting in Washington this summer. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Steps Taken to Avert Damage by Intense Heat Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, July 21 (KCNA) -- Timely measures have been taken in different parts of the DPRK to minimize the damage by fierce heat. Sinuiju City of North Phyongan Province pays attention to the health and security of people working outdoor and strives to prevent abnormal phenomena at power distribution stations. The Chonma County Forestry Management Station has taken a precautionary step to protect saplings from being damaged by intense heat. Sariwon City of North Hwanghae Province pays primary attention to supplying domestic water to residents on a regular basis. Medical workers in Sangwon County are preparing necessary hygienic information materials and improving their effectiveness given the lingering high temperature. Anbyon County of Kangwon Province makes preparations to operate the cooling equipment at small and medium power stations. Kumya County of South Hamgyong Province, too, is taking measures to protect the generators. Paechon County of South Hwanghae Province focuses on helping the farms cope with heat wave in time. Medical workers in Taesong District of Pyongyang Municipality take responsible care of the health of citizens. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPRK condemns U.S.-South Korea "Nuclear Consultative Group" meeting People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:06, July 21, 2023 SEOUL, July 20 (Xinhua) -- A senior official of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Thursday condemned a meeting of the U.S.-South Korea "Nuclear Consultative Group" held on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. "In particular, the hostile forces posed the most undisguised and direct nuclear threat to the DPRK by bringing an Ohio-class strategic nuclear submarine to the Pusan Port operation base, which means strategic nuclear weapons have been deployed on the Korean Peninsula for the first time after 40 odd years," the KCNA quoted a statement by Kang Sun Nam, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, as saying. Among the nuclear-armed nations of the world, the United States is the only country which openly made it its policy to use its nuclear weapons against a specific country, said the statement, adding that the military security situation on the Korean Peninsula has "undergone a fundamental change due to the reckless military moves of the U.S. and its followers." The statement warned that "the ever-increasing visibility of the deployment of the strategic nuclear submarine and other strategic assets may fall under the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the DPRK law on the nuclear force policy." The armed forces of the DPRK will responsibly carry out their important mission for defending the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity and fundamental interests and preventing a nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula and in the Northeast Asian region, said the statement. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Buffalo man dead, two injured after overnight shooting on Genesee Street A 31-year-old Buffalo man was shot and killed early Saturday morning while two others were injured, Buffalo police said. Three men were struck by gunfire while outside on the 400 block of Genesee Street around 3 a.m., police said. Detectives are working to determine if a fight began inside a nearby establishment and continued outside prior to the shooting. The two others shot, 33- and 44-year-old Buffalo men, were taken to Erie County Medical Center and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police ask anyone with information to call or text the confidential tipcall line at 716-847-2255. - Ben Tsujimoto India and Sri Lanka to Strengthen Economic Partnership By Anjana Pasricha July 21, 2023 India and Sri Lanka boosted their economic partnership by signing a series of agreements on energy, trade and connectivity projects following talks between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi on Friday. Wickremesinghe was on his first visit to India since he took charge a year ago after an economic crisis engulfed the country and led to the resignation of his predecessor. He came to New Delhi as both sides reset a relationship that has been set back by growing Chinese influence in the strategic island nation that lies on India's southern tip. Before Sri Lanka's economy collapsed, Beijing had poured in billions of dollars to build infrastructure projects that India feared could affect its security. India provided aid last year Ties between Colombo and New Delhi received fresh momentum last year, though, after India extended $4 billion in aid to help the beleaguered country. Addressing reporters along with Wickremesinghe, Modi said that being a close friend, India had stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with its neighbor during the crisis and that a prosperous Sri Lanka was key to regional stability. "Sri Lanka has an important place in our 'neighborhood first' policy," Modi said. "We believe that the security interests and development of India and Sri Lanka are intertwined." Wickremesinghe said that his visit had "reinforced trust and confidence for our future prosperity in the modern world." In a signal of deepening bilateral ties, the two countries unveiled an economic partnership vision that focused on enhancing connectivity and investments. Modi said the two sides will conduct feasibility studies on laying a petroleum line between the two countries that would give Sri Lanka access to affordable energy. They also will explore the possibility of building a land bridge. The closest points between the two countries are just 50 kilometers apart. The two countries also will work to connect their electricity grids and cooperate in the renewable energy sector. New Delhi will develop a port and an economic hub at Trincomalee, on Sri Lanka's northeastern coast. The two leaders also expressed support to implement a plan for the Sri Lankan government to share power with the country's ethnic minority Tamil population that lives in the island's north and east provinces. The Tamils of Sri Lanka have long had close ties with Tamils living in southern India. "We hope that the government of Sri Lanka will fulfill the aspirations of the Tamils," Modi said. Optimistic about recovery Wickremesinghe expressed optimism about economic recovery in his country, which secured a $3 billion bailout package from the International Monetary Fund in March. "I have set Sri Lanka firmly on a path of economic reform," he said. For Sri Lanka, a top priority is to get countries like India and China to agree to a debt restructuring plan. Last year, the country defaulted on its $46 billion foreign debt. But balancing ties with India and China still poses a challenge. Last year, Sri Lanka allowed a Chinese research vessel, Yuan Wang 5, to dock in a port built by Beijing a despite objections by New Delhi, which feared it was a spy ship. Wickremesinghe's visit to India, however a his first overseas trip since becoming president a underscores that ties between the two neighbors are again set on a growth trajectory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Oil cargo of tanker seized by Indonesia belongs not to Tehran': Oil Ministry Iran Press TV Friday, 21 July 2023 2:21 PM The Iranian Oil Ministry denies any ownership of an oil tanker's cargo that Indonesia recently confiscated near its coast, noting that related reports lack credibility and are in line with anti-Iranian propaganda. "The cargo of MT-ARMAN 114 oil tanker, which was recently [seized] by Indonesia's coast guard due to what was described as illegal transfer of oil [to another ship], does not belong to the Islamic Republic of Iran," said the statement. The statement said reports that this cargo belongs to Tehran "lack credibility" and are released to distort Iran's image. The Iranian-flagged tanker was seized by Indonesia on July 11 over a suspected illegal transfer of oil at sea. Indonesian maritime authorities said the tanker carried 272,568 metric tons of light crude oil worth tens of millions of dollars. Over the past years, the US navy has several times seized Iranian-controlled tankers and shipments of oil en route to other countries, citing its own sanctions on Iran's oil exports. In April, US forces seized a Greek oil tanker called Suez Rajan carrying an Iranian oil cargo near southern Africa. The ship anchored off the coast of Texas in May. On Thursday, an Iranian military commander warned that any oil company that unloads the cargo would be held accountable. Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal revealed that at least 800,000 barrels of Iranian oil remain untouched in US waters. According to the paper, American firms are reluctant to buy the Iranian cargo, which is worth $56 million as they fear potential reprisals from Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US revealed bullying nature by preventing Iran from hosting shipping event: Diplomat Iran Press TV Friday, 21 July 2023 11:35 AM The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the United States over rejection of Tehran's offer to host a maritime event in October, stating that the move showed that Washington recognizes no limits in politically abusing the United Nations' technical and specialized agencies. "The United States once again exposed its bullying and arrogant nature by obstructing the shipping event in Iran," Nasser Kan'ani said in a statement on Friday. Iran had proposed to hold a shipping event in Tehran in late October 2023 along with an annual maritime day organized by the IMO, which the IMO's executive Council agreed to in 2015. However, Tehran's bid to host the event was turned down after the US spearheaded a proposal to revoke the offer and the UN shipping agency's Council voted in favor of it. "This is while the above-mentioned event had been ratified by the International Maritime Organization's (executive) Council in London in 2015, and had been also endorsed by the general assembly of the UN-affiliated organization," he added. The top Iranian diplomat highlighted that the US move, which was backed by the United Kingdom, proved that Washington sees no limits to the political exploitation of the UN's technical and expert institutions, even if it results in undermining the international credibility of such organizations. Kan'ani also denounced the US over ignoring the majority vote of the IMO member states. The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasized that the latest US move runs counter to the international principles, and was strongly opposed by many IMO Council members, which voted against Washington's proposal or abstained from voting and underscored that reneging on the organization's previous decisions would discredit it. Kan'ani went on to lash out at the US government for resorting to falsification, accusations and lies in order to cover up its illegal and unjustifiable actions. "As a member of IMO, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always stressed its active and responsible activism in the international maritime sphere and acts in accordance with international commitments," he concluded. The US, in a working paper seen by Reuters and submitted to the IMO's Council which is meeting this week, proposed rescinding the decision. It alleged in the paper, which was co-sponsored by Britain, that "Iran has seized, or attempted to seize, commercial vessels with no pretext, warning or prior justification." It further claimed that Iran had fired on the "Richmond Voyager" using live fire, "threatening the lives of seafarers onboard." Iran's Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) said in a July 6 statement that the Richmond Voyager had ignored basic international maritime laws by escaping the scene of a collision with an Iranian vessel after an incident that happened in international waters in southern Iran a day earlier. The statement said five people had been seriously injured in the collision between the Bahamas-flagged tanker and the Iranian ship which was carrying seven crew members when the incident took place. It added that the incident had caused flooding on board the Iranian vessel. The PMO said Iranian Navy forces then sought to seize the ship based on a court order and upon a request by the owner of the damaged ship. "The ship rerouted and entered the territorial waters of Oman without heeding warnings and cautions issued by the Iranian Navy," it said, adding that Iran has informed Omani authorities of the case and will continue efforts to confiscate the ship because of its violation of international maritime laws. In April, the US confiscated an oil tanker called Suez Rajan, loaded with at least 800,000 barrels of Iranian oil, at sea and the Greek owner was charged with sanctions evasion. The tanker was anchored outside the US port of Houston, according to ship tracking data on Thursday. Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri warned on Thursday that Tehran would retaliate against any oil company involved in unloading the seized Iranian oil cargo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sunni Cleric Voices Support for Women Defying Hijab Rules By VOA Persian Service July 21, 2023 A prominent Sunni cleric in Iran voiced support Friday for women who defy rules mandating they wear a hijab in public, saying such women are expressing their discontent and "demonstrating civil disobedience." In a sermon, Molavi Abdul Hamid, the Friday prayer imam of Sunnis in the city of Zahedan, said hijabs cannot be imposed on Iranian women through imprisonment, detention or torture. He also said Iran's economic problems stem from deep-rooted political issues and asserted that the Islamic republic's 44-year-old policies have failed to provide solutions. As long as political issues remain unresolved, he said, the country's economy will not find stability. Hamid condemned the recent Quran-burning incident in Sweden, saying that disrespect for the sanctities of all religions and denominations is unacceptable. He said the sacred books of Muslims, Christians and Jews should never be set on fire. 'Protest Friday' Protesters in Zahedan observed the 40-second Protest Friday with a silent rally, respecting the request of Molavi Abdul Hamid and honoring the Islamic holy days of Ashura. Protest Fridays against the Iranian government gained momentum in Zahedan after the Sept. 29, 2022, incident in which security forces killed nearly 100 protesters. The day became known as the "Bloody Friday of Zahedan." The Baloch Activists Campaign reported a heavy security presence in the streets of Zahedan during the recent Protest Friday, mirroring the situation in previous weeks. NetBlocks, the watchdog organization that monitors internet access restrictions globally, reported that the internet in Zahedan faced extensive disruptions during Friday prayers and protests, similar to previous Fridays. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan Signs Chip Development Deal With India By Adam Xu July 21, 2023 Japan and India have signed an agreement for the joint development of semiconductors, in what appears to be another indication of how global businesses are reconfiguring post-pandemic supply chains as China loses its allure for foreign companies. India's Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister for railways, communications, and electronics and information technology, and Japan's minister of economy, trade and industry, Yasutoshi Nishimura, signed the deal Thursday in New Delhi. The memorandum covers "semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment research, talent development and [will] bring resilience in the semiconductor supply chain," Vaishnaw said. Nishimura said after his meeting with Vaishnaw that "India has excellent human resources" in fields such as semiconductor design. "By capitalizing on each other's strengths, we want to push forward with concrete projects as early as possible," Nishimura told a news conference, Kyodo News reported. Andreas Kuehn, a senior fellow at the American office of Observer Research Foundation, an Indian think tank, told VOA Mandarin: "Japan has extensive experience in this industry and understands the infrastructure in this field at a broad level. It can be an important partner in advancing India's semiconductor ambitions." Shift from China Foreign companies have been shifting their manufacturing away from China over the past decade, prompted by increasing labor costs. More recently, Beijing's push for foreign companies to share their technologies and data has increased uneasiness with China's business climate, according to surveys of U.S. and European businesses there. The discomfort stems from a 2021 data security law that Beijing updated in April and put into effect on July 1. Its broad anti-espionage language does not define what falls under China's national security or interests. After taking office in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a "Make in India" initiative with the goal of turning India into a global manufacturing center with an expanded chip industry. The initiative is not entirely about making India a self-sufficient economy, but more about welcoming investors from countries with similar ideas. Japan and India are part of the QUAD security framework, along with the United States and Australia, which aims to strengthen cooperation as a group, as well as bilaterally between members, to maintain peace and stability in the region. Jagannath Panda, director of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs of the Institute for Security and Development Policy, said that the international community "wants a safe region where the semiconductor industry can continue to supply the global market. This chain of linkages is critical, and India is at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region" a a location not lost on chip companies in the United States, Taiwan and Japan that are reevaluating supply chain security and reducing their dependence on China. Looking ahead Panda told VOA Mandarin: "The COVID pandemic has proved that we should not rely too much on China. [India's development of the chip industry] is also to prepare India for the next half century. Unless countries with similar ideas such as the United States and Japan cooperate effectively, India cannot really develop its semiconductor industry." New Delhi and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in March to advance cooperation in the semiconductor field. During Modi's visit to the United States in June, he and President Joe Biden announced a cooperation agreement to coordinate semiconductor incentive and subsidy plans between the two countries. Micron, a major chip manufacturer, confirmed on June 22 that it will invest as much as $800 million in India to build a chip assembly and testing plant. Applied Materials said in June that it plans to invest $400 million over four years to build an engineering center in Bangalore, Reuters reported. The new center is expected to be located near the company's existing facility in Bengaluru and is likely to support more than $2 billion of planned investments and create 500 new advanced engineering jobs, the company said. Experts said that although the development of India's chip industry will not pose a challenge to China in the short term, China's increasingly unfriendly business environment will prompt international semiconductor companies to consider India as one of the destinations for transferring production capacity. "China is still a big player in the semiconductor industry, especially traditional chips, and we shouldn't underestimate that. I don't think that's going to go away anytime soon. The world depends on this capacity," Kuehn said. He added: "For multinational companies, China has become a more difficult business environment to operate in. We are likely to see them make other investments outside China after a period of time, which may compete with China's semiconductor industry, especially in Southeast Asia. India may also play a role in this regard." Bo Gu contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar's shadow government sets up crypto bank to block money flow to junta The Spring Development Bank is the country's first financial institution operating solely with cryptocurrency. By RFA Burmese 2023.07.21 -- Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government said Thursday that it is ready to launch an online bank that uses cryptocurrency in an effort to disrupt the flow of foreign currency to banks run by the ruling military junta, including the country's central bank. The Spring Development Bank will be the Southeast Asian nation's first financial institution to operate solely with crypto and blockchain technology. It will have a trial run with 1,000 users and 100 supervisors on July 22. "Spring Revolution" refers to popular protests that began in February 2021 following the military's coup d'etat. The NUG - made up of members of Myanmar's former democratically elected government and other opponents of the junta - set up the bank to ensure the financial security of the people, said Tin Tun Naing, the shadow minister of planning, finance, and investment and governor of the NUG's interim central bank. Banks controlled by the junta have blocked the accounts of users, seized their deposits, and provided their personal account data to the authorities by violating the bank regulations, he said. "There are many incidents where the terrorist military council has threatened people's deposits in the banks which the people have deposited with trust," he said at a press conference on Thursday. "We are responsible for protecting people's financial security a the safety of the people's funds and their personal data." Myanmar's banking industry nearly collapsed following the military coup, as many bankers and other employees at financial institutions walked off the job to join the nationwide civil disobedience movement in opposition to the junta. The system received a further blow from restrictions on transactions implemented by the junta-controlled central bank. The NUG issued an ordinance on June 1 to establish an interim central bank to regulate and rectify the banking sector and to safeguard foreign exchange reserves from misuse by the junta. The Spring Development Bank, expected to be fully operational by the end of August, will serve as the NUG's representative bank to help with funding, tax collection and fundraising for the Spring Revolution, Tin Tun Naing said. Currencies supported Initially, the bank will support transactions in Myanmar kyat, U.S. dollars, Malaysian ringgit and Singaporean dollars, said officials at the press conference. Later, the bank will handle transactions in British pounds, euros, South Korean won, Japanese yen and other currencies. The NUG is planning for the bank to support payments for trade and links with international banks, provide loans, and offer currency swaps, fixed deposits and prize-linked savings account services such as depositing gold and using credit cards, NUG officials said. It also will issue revolutionary bonds and auction property owned by the State Administration Council, as the junta regime is known. The bank expects to have 100,000 users in its first six months of regular operations, and 500,000 users in the following six months, officials said. RFA could not reach the junta's central bank for comment. A financial expert said the development was positive but that SDB would have to take precautions to avoid fraudulent digital currency transactions. "I see it as a positive since it is using transparent technology for transactions, but we have to be cautious about technical fraud a scams," he said. Easier for transferring money Min Zayar Oo, the NUG's deputy minister of planning, finance and investment, said the crypto banking system will be safe to use. "Similarly, the SDB has also implemented a security system [in case] users leak the data," he said. Pro-military junta Telegram channels frequently reported arrests of supporters of the revolution and users of the NUG's mobile money service, NUG Pay. Myo Myint Aung, who is helping anti-dictatorship activists on the Thai-Myanmar border, said the crypto banking system will be easier for transferring money and supporting resistance fighters. "For us, this means that when we send money to the youths [revolutionaries], we can send it safely," he said. "In the same way, we deposit money in the bank safely. We don't have to worry about our accounts being blocked." Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw for RFA Burmese. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with Murmansk Region Governor Andrei Chibis At the end of his working trip to the Murmansk Region, the President met with region Governor Andrei Chibis. July 20, 2023 23:55 Murmansk Andrei Chibis began his report by saying that, thanks to the President's support, the expansion of gas distribution in the region is fully under way, and a large infrastructural transport hub is being implemented. All the decisions have been made on lithium; Norilsk Nickel and Rosatom have begun work on the largest lithium deposit in Russia, Kolmozerskoye. The governor said that all measures of support to military personnel and their families were being implemented. Soldiers of the 200th Northern Fleet Brigade, which the President awarded the title of Guards by Executive Order, the 61st Naval Infantry Brigade, the 80th Arctic Brigade, the Northern Fleet air detachment and air defence are participating in the special military operation. Since it began, the region has sent almost 193,000 different units of what is needed to the front line, from transport to combat uniform. A decision was made to pay the Heroes of Russia 5 million rubles each to improve their living conditions. If the title of Hero is awarded posthumously, this money is received by their family. A centre for social support for families of soldiers has been established, and issues are resolved very quickly, with 13,000 requests received, and 99.5 percent of them are already met. The North Helps action organised by the United Russia party is being held in the region. About 400 tons of various humanitarian aid have already been sent to the front line and to the new territories. The entire Murmansk region and the entire North are united around the tasks that are being resolved today at the front. As for the economy, Andrei Chibis said that over a four-year period GRP growth amounted to 19.8 percent; industrial production growth to over 10 percent; investment growth to 16 percent; and a total of 900 billion rubles have been invested in the region over just four years. Despite all the difficulties such as the coronavirus pandemic and the sanctions that are in force, not a single enterprise has stopped operations, and no job reduction has been noted. In addition to their investment plans, key partners, such as PhosAgro, Norilsk Nickel, and NOVATEK, are fulfilling their additional social obligations under special agreements. Among the issues discussed were the development of small and medium-sized businesses, an increase in nominal incomes, the Work Nearby project, for those who cannot find a permanent job and for school and university students who can take up temporary socially useful work. Another project is the Arctic School. This year, there will be more than 180 special areas in the region's schools (156 today). School students can choose the area that requires improving, as well as the corresponding design project. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia: Statement by the Spokesperson on restricting and criminalising contacts with foreign NGOs and so-called "foreign agents" European External Action Service (EEAS) 21.07.2023 EEAS Press Team The systematic crackdown against the civil society in Russia continues. State Duma has recently adopted draft law introducing criminal liability for citizens' participation in activities of any foreign or international non-governmental organisation not registered by the Ministry of Justice. It also further restricts interaction with the so-called "foreign agents". These amendments aim at further intimidating and persecuting independent and critical voices in the Russian society and isolating Russian people from the rest of the world. The EU calls on Russian authorities to stop the unfounded repression and to respect Russia's own constitution and adhere to its obligations under international law, including in the field of human rights and freedoms. The EU stands in solidarity with those Russians who want to see an open and democratic Russia, and with those who want Russia to end its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. The EU will continue to support Russian independent media, civil society and human rights defenders inside and outside Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Meeting with permanent members of the Security Council Vladimir Putin held, via videoconference, a meeting on current issues with permanent members of the Security Council. July 21, 2023 13:05 The Kremlin, Moscow Taking part in the meeting were Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office Anton Vaino, Secretary of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, and Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin. *** President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues. We have several issues on today's agenda; one of them is the development of relations with our friends on the African continent. Russia will host the Russia-Africa Summit soon. Another issue relates to a very important area, the use of information technology to ensure the country's security. But first of all, I would like to ask if anyone has anything relevant to discuss. Yes, please, Mr Naryshkin. Director of the Foreign Intelligence Service Sergei Naryshkin: Mr President, colleagues. According to information provided to the service by several sources, officials in Warsaw are gradually coming to an understanding that no kind of Western assistance to Kiev can support Ukraine in reaching the goals of this assistance. Moreover, they are beginning to understand that Ukraine will be defeated in only the matter of time. In this regard, the Polish authorities are getting more intent on taking the western parts of Ukraine under control by deploying their troops there. There are plans to present this measure as the fulfillment of allied obligations within the Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian security initiative, the so-called Lublin Triangle. We see that plans also call for significantly increasing the number of personnel of the combined Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian brigade, which operates under the auspices of this so-called Lublin Triangle. We believe that it is necessary to keep a close eye on these dangerous plans of the Polish authorities. Vladimir Putin: Yes. We should elaborate on what Mr Naryshkin has just said. This information has already appeared in the European media, in particular, the French. I believe it would be suitable in this context to also remind everyone about several history lessons from the 20th century. It is clear today that the Western curators of the Kiev regime are certainly disappointed with the results of the counteroffensive that the current Ukrainian authorities announced in previous months. There are no results, at least for now. The colossal resources that were pumped into the Kiev regime, the supply of Western weapons, such as tanks, artillery, armoured vehicles and missiles, and the deployment of thousands of foreign mercenaries and advisers, who were most actively used in attempts to break through the front of our army, are not helping. Meanwhile, the commanders of the special military operation are acting professionally. Our soldiers, officers and units are fulfilling their duty to the Motherland courageously, steadfastly and heroically. At the same time, the whole world sees that the vaunted Western, supposedly invulnerable, military equipment is on fire, and is often even inferior to some of the Soviet-made weapons in terms of its tactical and technical characteristics. Yes, of course, more Western weapons can be supplied and thrown into battle. This, of course, causes us some damage and prolongs the conflict. But, firstly, NATO arsenals and stockpiles of old Soviet weapons in some countries are already largely depleted. And secondly, the West does not have the production capacities to quickly replenish the consumption of reserves of equipment and ammunition. Additional, large resources and time are needed. The main thing is that formations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine suffered huge losses as a result of self-destructive attacks: tens of thousands of people. And, despite the constant raids and the incessant waves of total mobilisation in Ukrainian cities and villages, it is increasingly difficult for the current regime to send new soldiers to the front. The country's mobilisation resource is being depleted. People in Ukraine are asking a legitimate question more often: for what, for the sake of whose selfish interests, are their relatives and friends dying. Gradually, slowly, but clarity comes. We can see the public opinion changing in Europe, too. Both the Europeans and European elites see that support for Ukraine is, in fact, a dead end, an empty, endless waste of money and effort, and in fact, serving someone else's interests, which are far from European: the interests of the overseas global hegemon, which benefits from the weakening of Europe. The endless prolongation of the Ukrainian conflict is also beneficial to it. Judging by the actual state of affairs, this is exactly what today's US ruling elites are doing. Anyways, this is the logic they follow. It is largely questionable whether such a policy is in line with the American people's true, vital interests; this is a rhetorical question, and it is up to them to decide. However, massive efforts are being taken to stoke the fire of war - including by exploiting the ambitions of certain East European leaders, who have long turned their hatred for Russia and Russophobia into their key export commodity and a tool of their domestic policy. And now they want to capitalise on the Ukrainian tragedy. In this regard, I cannot refrain from commenting on what has just been said and on media reports that have come out about plans to establish some sort of the so-called Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian unit. This is not about a group of mercenaries - there are plenty of them there and they are being destroyed - but about a well-organised, equipped regular military unit to be used for operations in Ukraine, including to allegedly ensure the security of today's Western Ukraine - actually, to call things by their true name, for the subsequent occupation of these territories. The outlook is clear: in the event Polish forces enter, say, Lvov or other Ukrainian territories, they will stay there, and they will stay there for good. And we will actually see nothing new. Just to remind you, following WWI, after the defeat of Germany and its allies, Polish units occupied Lvov and adjacent territories that had been part of Austria-Hungary. With its actions incited by the West, Poland took advantage of the tragedy of the Civil War in Russia and annexed certain historical Russian provinces. In dire straits, our country had to sign the Treaty of Riga in 1921 and recognise the annexation of its territories. Even earlier, back in 1920, Poland captured part of Lithuania - the Vilnius region, a territory surrounding the present-day Vilnius. So they claimed that they fought together with the Lithuanians against so-called Russian imperialism, but then immediately snatched a piece of land from their neighbour as soon as the opportunity presented itself. As is well known, Poland also took part in the partition of Czechoslovakia following the Munich Agreement with Adolf Hitler in 1938, by fully occupying Cieszyn Silesia. In the 1920-1930s, Poland's Eastern Borderlands (Kresy) - a territory that comprises present-day Western Ukraine, Western Belarus and part of Lithuania - witnessed a tough policy of Polonisation and assimilation of local residents, with efforts to suppress local culture and Orthodoxy. I would also like to remind you what Poland's aggressive policy led to. It led to the national tragedy of 1939, when Poland's Western allies threw it to the German wolf, the German miliary machine. Poland actually lost its independence and statehood, which were only restored thanks in a large measure to the Soviet Union. It was also thanks to the Soviet Union and thanks to Stalin's position that Poland acquired substantial territory in the west, German territory. It is a fact that Poland's western lands are a gift from Stalin. Have our Warsaw friends forgotten this? We will remind them. Today we see that the regime in Kiev is ready to go to any length to save its treacherous hide and to prolong its existence. They do not care for the people of Ukraine or Ukrainian sovereignty or national interests. They are ready to sell anything, including people and land, just like their ideological forefathers led by Petlyura, who signed the so-called secret conventions with Poland in 1920 under which they ceded Galicia and Western Volhynia to Poland in return for military support. Traitors like them are ready now to open the gate to their foreign handlers and to sell Ukraine again. As for the Polish leaders, they probably hope to form a coalition under the NATO umbrella in order to directly intervene in the conflict in Ukraine and to bite off as much as possible, to "regain," as they see it, their historical territories, that is, modern-day Western Ukraine. It is also common knowledge that they dream about Belarusian land. Regarding the policy of the Ukrainian regime, it is none of our business. If they want to relinquish or sell off something in order to pay their bosses, as traitors usually do, that's their business. We will not interfere. But Belarus is part of the Union State, and launching an aggression against Belarus would mean launching an aggression against the Russian Federation. We will respond to that with all the resources available to us. The Polish authorities, who are nurturing their revanchist ambitions, hide the truth from their people. The truth is that the Ukrainian cannon fodder is no longer enough for the West. That is why it is planning to use other expendables - Poles, Lithuanians and everyone else they do not care about. I can tell you that this is an extremely dangerous game, and the authors of such plans should think about the consequences. Mr Naryshkin, I hope that your service, just as the other special services, will closely monitor the developments. Let's get down to the main issues on our agenda. <...> NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin warns Poland against harboring territorial ambitions in Belarus Iran Press TV Friday, 21 July 2023 10:37 PM Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused Poland of harboring territorial ambitions concerning Belarus, warning Warsaw that Moscow would defend the Belarusian territory in case of a Polish incursion. Addressing the country's security council on Friday, Putin said Russia would protect the Belarusian soil "with all the means at our disposal" should it be coveted by Poland. Belarus formed a "Union State" with the Russian Federation, he said, adding that Russia would treat any act of aggression against Belarus as one targeting its own territory. The comments came after Poland's security committee announced that the country was repositioning some military units towards its eastern border near Belarus after the arrival of members of Russia's Wagner military group in the ex-Soviet republic to train Belarusian forces. Still warning Poland against targeting the Belarusian territory, Putin said part of the Polish territory was a gift from Soviet ruler Joseph Stalin to the country and that Russia might be forced to remind Poles about it. "Have our friends in Warsaw forgotten about this?" Putin said, and cautioned, "We will remind you." During the Friday meeting, Sergei Naryshkin, head of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), also said that Warsaw was considering capturing western territories of Ukraine -- where Russia has been conducting a military operation since last February -- by deploying its own troops to the region as part of a Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian security initiative, Russia Today reported. According to Naryshkin, Polish officials were gradually coming to the realization that "the issue of Ukraine's defeat is only a matter of time," regardless of the amount of Western military assistance that has been sent to Kiev. Commenting on the SVR report, Putin suggested that the true purpose of such a coalition would only be to occupy Ukrainian territories, but Moscow would not allow any party to treat the Belarusian territory in a similar fashion. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kia and Hyundai owners across Western New York say they feel like sitting ducks, anxiously waiting to become the next victims of the "Kia Challenge." Russian Prosecutors Seek 18 Years In Prison For Cybersecurity Company Chief By RFE/RL's Russian Service July 21, 2023 Prosecutors have asked the Moscow City Court to convict and sentence Ilya Sachkov, the head of a leading Russian cybersecurity company, to 18 years in prison on a high treason charge. Sachkov's lawyer, Sergei Afanasyev, said on July 21 that the sentence of his client will be handed down on July 26. Sachkov is the founder of Group-IB, currently known as F.A.C.T.T., a company known for its work in tracking down hackers and fighting theft and cybercrime. The 37-year-old Sachkov is one of a group of prominent people, including scientists and cybersecurity officials, to be arrested in Russia on treason charges in recent years. Moscow has faced numerous allegations of being behind cyberattacks on Western countries -- which it has consistently denied. Investigators have said Sachkov was suspected of passing classified information to a foreign country. No other details were given by officials. Sachkov was arrested and charged after police searched his company's offices in Moscow in September 2021. He denies any wrongdoing. Last month, a senior executive at F.A.C.C.T., Nikita Kislitsin, was arrested in Kazakhstan at the request of the United States, where he is wanted for alleged buying personal data obtained through the 2012 hack of Formspring, a now-defunct social media site that allowed users to receive answers to questions. In late June, the Tver district court in Moscow said it issued an arrest warrant for Kislitsin in connection with an investigation into illegal access to computer data in Russia, adding that a legal request will be sent to Kazakhstan to extradite Kislitsin to Russia. One of Kislitsin's acquaintances and the mastermind of the hacks of the U.S. companies, Yevgeny Nikulin, was extradited to the United States from the Czech Republic in 2018 and sentenced to more than seven years in prison. He was released from jail earlier this year and deported back to Russia. Group-IB, founded in 2003, has grown markedly in recent years as cybercrimes increase globally. In addition to Moscow, the company has offices in Singapore, London, New York, and Dubai. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-prosecutors- prison-cybersecurity-company-chief/32513583.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CIA Chief Says Putin Likely To Take His Time Before Going After Prigozhin By RFE/RL July 21, 2023 CIA head William Burns says he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to bide his time and wait before seeking retribution against Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, following his aborted mutiny against Russia's military leadership last month. Speaking at the Aspen Security Forum on July 20, Burns also said Prigozhin's mutiny was the biggest challenge to Putin in his 23 years as Russia's preeminent official, and he asserted that Russia's elites, some already doubting the conduct of the Ukraine war, had increasing doubts about Putin's leadership. "What we are seeing is a very complicated dance," Burns said in what was billed by the forum as a fireside chat. "Putin is the ultimate apostle of payback," he said. "So I would be surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution for this. So in that sense, the President (Joe) Biden is right. if I were Prigozhin, I wouldn't fire my food taster," Burns added, referring to a quip by Biden earlier this week that, if he were Prigozhin, "I'd be careful what I ate." The stunning but short-lived mutiny by Prigozhin on June 24 saw Wagner fighters seize the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and march to within 200 kilometers of Moscow, shooting down Russian military aircraft and killing 13 air-force personnel along the way. Putin immediately denounced the insurrection as a "stab in the back" and vowed to punish all "traitors" involved. But Prigozhin does not appear to have been arrested or even detained, and the Kremlin said he met with Putin days after the mutiny. Since then, the Wagner chief's whereabouts have been shrouded in mystery, though he is believed to be moving between Russia and Belarus, where Wagner troops have been setting up camps to train Belarusian armed forces as part of a negotiated deal that helped end the mutiny. The insurrection came on the heels of months of intense public infighting with Russia's military leadership over the war strategy in Ukraine and ammunition supplies. Burns claimed that U.S. intelligence had prior warning of the mutiny, and he said many of Russia's elites were wondering about Putin's response: `"whether the emperor had no clothes or at least why is it taking him so long to get dressed." "I think what it resurrected was some deeper questions which again, you know, you've seen circulate within the Russian elite since the war in Ukraine began," said Burns, a longtime diplomat who also served as U.S. ambassador to Russia. "I think Putin is already a little bit uneasy as he looks over his shoulder" he added. On the battlefield, the CIA chief said it was not a surprise that gains from Ukraine's counteroffensive have been incremental. Russian troops, he said, had months to prepare defenses before Kyiv's troops launched their campaign last month. "I don't think it should come as a surprise to anyone that the counteroffensive is a hard slog. Offense is a lot harder than defense," Burns said. "I am however, an optimist...Behind those considerable fixed defenses that the Russians have built in southern Ukraine...there still lie some pretty significant structural weaknesses, poor morale, uneven generalship to put it mildly on the Russian side...and the disarray... about the political and very senior military leadership," he added. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-prigozhin-revenge- burns-cia/32513156.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Russian and Chinese sailors start active stage of joint naval exercise 'North/Interaction - 2023' 21.07.2023 Sailors of the two countries, as part of the exercise to ensure the safety of navigation in remote areas of the world ocean, carried out tasks of sea and air convoying of ships and vessels. The issues of organising reliable anti-aircraft, anti-ship and anti-submarine defence of the joint detachment were worked out. In the course of an exercise involving the expulsion of a mock intruder ship from an area closed to navigation, Russian and Chinese sailors jointly practised implementing a set of standard measures aimed at forcing the ship to leave a restricted area. A mock intruder ship, the corvette Gremyashchy, was approaching the order of ships without complying with the requirement to slow down and change course. After unsuccessful attempts to contact the inturder via international communication channels, warning flares were fired in its direction, and then the Utyos machine gun crew fired warning shots at the intruder's course. A Ka-27 deck helicopter was also sent to the ship. After taking active actions, the intruder ship dropped speed and was blocked by the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs and the patrol ship Rizhao to find out its nationality and search the intruder. Joint Russian-Chinese Naval Exercise 'North/Interaction - 2023' is being held in the waters of the Sea of Japan from 20 to 23 July. The main purpose of the exercise is to strengthen naval cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China and to maintain stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region. The Russian Navy is represented at the exercises by the Pacific Fleet's large anti-submarine ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev, the corvettes Aldar Tsydenzhapov and Gremyashchy, Geroy Rossiyskoy Federatsii Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and support vessels. From the People's Liberation Army Navy, the destroyers Qiqihar and Guiyang, the patrol ships Zaozhuang and Rizhao, and the integrated supply ship Taihu are involved in the exercise. Deputy Commander of the North Sea Fleet Rear Admiral Qiu Wansheng is in charge of the Chinese side. More than 30 aircraft of naval aviation, including anti-submarine aircraft and helicopters, fighter-interceptor are also involved in the exercise from both sides. Press Service of the Eastern Military District NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The bilateral Russian-Chinese naval exercise continues in the waters of the Sea of Japan 21.07.2023 The bilateral Russian-Chinese naval exercise 'North/Interaction - 2023' continues in the waters of the Sea of Japan. In the course of practical operations, Russian and Chinese sailors improved their navigation skills in various formations and conducted communications training. Russian warships practised naval combat with a mock enemy ship, during which they carried out artillery firing at a sea target with 100mm Ak-100 and A-190 artillery systems. As part of an exercise to repel an air attack by a mock enemy, the ships of the detachment conducted artillery firing at a simulated air target with rapid-fire anti-aircraft guns. Later, sailors of the Russian and Chinese navies destroyed a mock-up of a sea floating mine posing a danger to shipping from a large anti-submarine ship Admiral Tributs with a heavy machine gun, and also repelled an attack by a high-speed small-sized target. Joint Russian-Chinese Naval Exercise 'North/Interaction - 2023' is being held in the waters of the Sea of Japan from 20 to 23 July. The main purpose of the exercise is to strengthen naval cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China and to maintain stability and peace in the Asia-Pacific region. The Russian Navy is represented at the exercises by the Pacific Fleet's large anti-submarine ships Admiral Tributs and Admiral Panteleyev, the corvettes Aldar Tsydenzhapov and Gremyashchy, Geroy Rossiyskoy Federatsii Aldar Tsydenzhapov, and support vessels. From the People's Liberation Army Navy, the destroyers Qiqihar and Guiyang, the patrol ships Zaozhuang and Rizhao, and the integrated supply ship Taihu are involved in the exercise. Deputy Commander of the North Sea Fleet Rear Admiral Qiu Wansheng is in charge of the Chinese side. More than 30 aircraft of naval aviation, including anti-submarine aircraft and helicopters, fighter-interceptor are also involved in the exercise from both sides. Press Service of the Eastern Military District NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. committed to addressing weapons delivery delays: Pentagon official ROC Central News Agency 07/21/2023 12:53 PM Washington, July 20 (CNA) The United States is doing everything it can to address the US$19 billion-worth of delayed weapons deliveries to Taiwan, according to a senior Pentagon official on Thursday. The administration of President Joe Biden is working through the foreign military sales process while also utilizing "the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) and potentially Foreign Military Financing," said Ely Ratner, U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs. Speaking during a hearing held by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, Ratner said the delayed Taiwan weapons transfer was not due to a "backlog" but rather the result of systemic problems within the U.S. defense industrial base. "What we are facing is not a backlog as is sometimes described, but rather concerns and slowdowns within all of our industrial base that is affecting our military production and our defense industrial base systematically, not individually as it relates to Taiwan," he explained. As a part of the 2023 budget, the U.S. Congress in December last year authorized up to US$1 billion in military aid to Taiwan via the PDA, which takes weapons from existing Pentagon stocks and ships them overseas. In May, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed at a Senate hearing that the U.S. would also soon send Taiwan US$500 million in stockpiled military equipment using the PDA, but nothing has been announced so far. The hearing on Thursday was also attended by Daniel Kritenbrink, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs. At the event, Republican Representative Michelle Steel asked why Taiwan, despite being a like-minded ally of the U.S., has not been included in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). "The way that IPEF is currently configured, it has 14 partners. That's where we are focused for now," Kritenbrink said without elaborating. Going back to the cross-strait issue, Kritenbrink said that "from the very beginning our [U.S.] policy and our approach has been predicated on the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and peaceful resolution." He stressed that there has not been any change to the U.S.' "one China policy" over the last 40 years and "that approach has been fundamental to maintaining peace and stability." (By Stacy Hsu and Ko Lin) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address War in Ukraine - Military support for Ukraine Germany - Federal Government Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview. Thursday, 20 July 2023 This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. It includes deliveries from the Federal Armed Forces, from industry and assistance measures together with partners, which have, inter alia, been financed from Federal Government funds for security capacity building. Funding for the security capacity building initiative amounts to 5.4 billion Euros for 2023 (after 2 billion Euros for 2022) and additional authorisations to enter commitments in the following years amounting to 10.5 billion Euros. These funds are to be used primarily for military assistance to Ukraine. At the same time, they will be used for re-filling Federal Armed Forces stocks for items delivered to Ukraine as well as for Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility (EPF), from which costs incurred from providing military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states. Delivered military support to Ukraine: (Changes compared to the previous update in bold) Armoured fighting vehicles 10 LEOPARD 1 A5* 138 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS (before: 118) 8 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* ammunition for LEOPARD 1* 18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators) 40 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 50 MRAP vehicles DINGO 54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany) Spare parts for LEOPARD 2 and MARDER Air defence 40 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD including circa 6.000 rounds of ammunition* 2 air surveillance radar TRML-4D* 2 air defence system Iris-T SLM* Iris-T SLM missiles* 10 fire command units IRIS-T SLM air defence systems air defence system PATRIOT with missiles 55,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD 4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns 500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER 2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA Artillery 28,535 rounds 155mm ammunition (before: 27,230) 3,248 rounds 155mm smoke ammunition (before: 1,184) 155mm precision guided ammunition* 5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain) ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II 14 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 (German share in joint project with the Netherlands) 20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets* counter battery radar system COBRA* 10 laser target designators VULCANO artillery ammunition* Military Engineering Capabilities 18 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers (before: 17/0)* 5 bridges for bridge-laying tank BEAVER 10 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 15 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2* 2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3 5armoured engineer vehicles DACHS* 3 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems* 6 palettes material for explosive ordnance disposal 12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems* 4 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* Protective and Special Equipment 163 border protection vehicles* (before: 159) 18 ground surveillance radars* (before: 8) 10 radio jammers* 57 anti-drone sensors and jammers* 68 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 2 spare part packages for VECTOR drones 93 drone detection systems* 40 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices* 1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* 32 reconnaissance drones* 42 mobile antenna mast systems* 40 laser target designators* 10 unmanned surface vessels* 10 anti-drone guns* 28,000 combat helmets 125 binoculars 600 safety glasses 1 radio frequency system 3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps 353 night vision goggles* 12 electronic anti-drone devices* 165 field glasses* 38 laser range finders* 6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material 10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)* 1 high frequency unit with equipment* Logistics 140 trucks Zetros* (before: 124) 32 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 27 semi-trailers* 14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS* 4 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 20 roll of containers* 288 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) 179 Pick-ups* 12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 26 load-handling trucks 15t* 35 load-handling trucks 8x8 30 protected vehicles* 10 roll off containers Combat Readiness and Survivability 260,000 first aid kits* (before: 160,000) 107,712rounds ammunition 40mm* 11,000 group module rations 103,000 tourniquets 500 pistols SFP9* 2 hangar tents* 8 lift trucks* 295 generators 10 winter camouflage nets 168 mobile heating systems* 36 ambulances* 36,400 wool blankets 14,000 sleeping bags Mi-24 spare parts* spare parts for heavy machine gun M2 200 tents 116,000 winter jackets 80,000 winter trousers 240,000 winter hats 405,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready 67 fridges for medical material* 3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices 14,900 anti-tank mines (9,300* from industry stocks) 22 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms 50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices 100 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks 100,000 hand grenades 5,300 explosive charges 100,000 m detonating cord and 100.000 detonators 350,000 detonators 100 auto-injector devices 15 palettes military clothing 1,200 hospital beds 18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights protective clothing, surgical masks 1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)* medical material (inter alia back packs, compression bandages) Diesel and gasoline* 10 tons AdBlue* 500 medical gauzes* MiG-29 spare parts* 7,944 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90 Matador* Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution (due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover) Armoured fighting vehicles 46 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)* 66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)* 100 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (project jointly financed with Denmark) 20 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER* ammunition for LEOPARD 1* ammunition for MARDER* Air defence PATRIOT missiles 6 air defence system IRIS-T SLM* Iris-T SLM missiles* 12 launchers Iris-T SLS* Iris-T SLS missiles (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) 6 air surveillance radars TRML-4D* 12 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD* 300,000 rounds of GEPARD ammunition Artillery 26,174 projectiles 155mm* 3.816 rounds of smoke ammunition 18 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155* 16 self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) Military Engineering Capabilities 16 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER* 2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems* 38 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1* 3 heavy and medium bridge systems* Protective and Special Equipment 80 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN* 357 reconnaissance drones VECTOR* 121 reconnaissance drones* 10 unmanned surface vessels* 40 ground surveillance radars* 1 Satcom surveillance system* 2000 portable light systems* 8 mobile antenna mast systems* 5 mobile reconnaissance systems (on vehicles) * 337 border protection vehicles* vehicle decontamination system 11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems* Logistics 12 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh* 30 tank trucks (water/fuel)* 3 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 8 roll of containers* 58 heavy duty trailer trucks 8x8 HX81 and 63 semi-trailers* 2 tractors and 4 trailers* 10 protected vehicles* 52 trucks Zetros* Combat Readiness and Survivability 108,288 rounds ammunition 40mm for grenade launchers* continuing deliveries of medical material* 100 machine guns MG5* 100 grenade launchers GMG* 200,000 first aid kits* 17 mobile heating systems* field hospital (role 2)* * Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Finland sends material assistance to ensure water supply in Ukraine Finnish Government Ministry of the Interior 21.7.2023 Press release During the summer, Finland has sent water purification materials, water containers, pumps and intensive chlorination units to Ukraine to strengthen the country's water supply. In addition, new shipments of water production materials and wastewater purification equipment are under preparation. Finland will continue to support Ukraine. The destruction of the Kakhovka dam at the beginning of June has led to a situation where the water supply of thousands of Ukrainians is at risk. Finland and the EU support the measures taken by the Ukrainian authorities to rectify the situation. In addition to donations for the water sector, recent assistance to Ukraine includes generators, ambulances and other vehicles, hospital beds and equipment intended for the protection of cultural heritage. "Russia's aggression against Ukraine continues and Finland will continue its active support to Ukraine. In recent months, Finland has delivered assistance to Ukraine through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on a weekly basis," says Heikki Honkanen, Senior Coordinator at the Ministry of the Interior. With the contribution of private and public donors, Finland has been able to provide much-needed support to the Ukrainian authorities. The Ministry of the Interior is coordinating the provision of assistance to Ukraine through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism. Total amount of material assistance exceeded 250 truckloads in July In addition to 256 trackloads of material assistance, a total of 55 vehicles, such as rescue service vehicles and buses, have been sent to Ukraine. Expert assistance supporting the work of the EU's Civil Protection Mechanism has also been delivered through the Mechanism to Ukraine's neighbouring countries. There is a great need for civilian material assistance in Ukraine. The war of aggression, which has continued for well over a year, has caused extensive damage to Ukraine's infrastructure. "Finland aims to respond to both the permanent and changing needs of assistance in Ukraine. Recently, Ukraine has emphasised the need for water supply assistance and Finland has been able to react effectively to those requests. At the same time, Ukraine's energy sector continues to need extensive help," Honkanen says. The Ministry of the Interior would like to thank all those who have donated civilian material assistance for their significant help. Supporting Ukraine is a long-term endeavour that is unlikely to end soon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address FM Spox refutes claims on export of Iran's drones to Russia IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jul 21, 2023 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has rejected the claims of exporting Iran's drones to Russia, terming the accusation as "unfounded". Any attempt to link the war in Ukraine to the bilateral cooperation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia is in line with political goals, Kanaani said on Friday reacting to the European Union act in imposing new sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran under the pretext of selling drones to Russia. As it has been officially announced many times, the claim of exporting Iranian drones to Russia to use them against Ukraine is a baseless accusation, he added. Referring to Iran's clear opposition to the war in Ukraine, he emphasized ending the war through the diplomatic route. Unfortunately, the West is trying to continue adopting the ineffective and failed policy of imposing sanctions against the Iranian people with political aims and by resorting to false claims, he stated. The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves its right to take reciprocal and proportionate action against the sanctions imposed by the European Union and its members, he said. 9376**7129 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistani FM calls for peaceful resolution of Russia-Ukraine conflict People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:17, July 21, 2023 ISLAMABAD, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and engagement. Zardari said here on Thursday during his joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba that a prolonged conflict brings immense hardship and suffering to the civilian populations. "We hope, therefore, that peace will prevail so that the people of Ukraine and Russia can enjoy peace dividends," Zardari said. He assured the Ukrainian foreign minister about Pakistan's readiness to support peace initiatives that could bring peace to the region. As a country in a volatile region, Pakistan understands how longstanding regional conflicts could endanger the collective security, Zardari said, adding that the Ukrainian conflict has also brought difficulties for developing countries and the Global South, particularly in terms of fuel, food and fertilizers shortages. "Pakistan is no exception. We, therefore, have a vested interest in promoting peace and reconciliation, and we hope for a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy," according to Zardari. Kuleba is on a two-day official visit to Pakistan from July 20-21. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasure-Skye Crawford, entering her junior year at West Seneca West High School, thought she wanted to become a nurse in a neonatal intensive care unit. Now shes considering radiology. Mikaela Embry, a soon-to-be senior at Health Sciences Charter School, has cared for her grandmother and likes to help others. Now she has a basic understanding of nursing. Richard Wei, who graduated in June from Williamsville South, wondered if a foray into health care could complement his plans to study aerospace engineering this fall at the University at Buffalo. It just might. These three, along with 14 other students in the region who recently completed 10th to 12th grade, received certificates Thursday at Erie County Medical Center for completing a two-day summer internship program dubbed Healthcare Explorers in which they were introduced to a wide range of departments and specialties on the Grider Street campus. Three more two-day sessions with different groups of high school students are planned at ECMC through Aug. 10, with a total of 87 students representing about 40 high schools across five counties. The participants were selected after submitting an electronic application, letter of recommendation and a two-minute video explaining their interest. Those selected in the first group were whisked around an active hospital, with a flurry of introductions and hands-on activities. Explorers posed questions to ECMC leaders including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Samuel Cloud and conducted surgery on a melon under the guidance of Dr. Marc Labelle, vice president of surgical services to remove infectious seeds. ECMC dental program opens Hertel Avenue clinic at People Inc. site The Erie County Medical Center for Dental Care will open a second dental clinic, this one of Crawford said the melon surgery in which students used retractors and cameras on an operating table gave her an appreciation for the work of surgeons. It blew my mind how that works and how doctors do that, she said. Before their graduation Thursday, the group ventured to the ECMC parking lot to watch a Mercy Flight helicopter land, then peeked around the aircraft and learned about emergency operations from chief paramedic Eric Barkey. The students final stop was the trauma and emergency hub, which was called a beacon of hope when completed in 2020. Embry, who said shes long been attracted to the pace of health care, saw it firsthand. Its like a city it just keeps going, its no sleep, she said. This is real life this is not TV, its reality. Wei said his assumption that an emergency room was primarily doctors and nurses was shattered. He was struck by how specialists including in pharmacy and psychiatry were woven into the operation. Erin Conley, ECMC training coordinator who leads the Healthcare Explorers endeavor with Emily Beauchamp, said her understanding of how the hospital functions fueled her desire to share with others. My eyes were open to so many other careers that existed in this building, and I wanted to bring that to high school kids, Conley said Thursday. I didnt know what I wanted to be in high school, and theres a lot of pressure from parents and teachers to decide. Inside the patient bottlenecks at ECMC and what it says about the health care system ECMC, like many hospitals across Western New York, the state and the country, is struggling to get patients out of its hospital, a multilayered problem that shows just how intricately connected the health care system is and how just one issue in just one of its parts can cripple the whole structure. Conley explained that ECMC had long participated in the Mayors Summer Youth Internship until Healthcare Explorers took root last year. Isaiah Gary, Health Science Charter Schools director of community and health equity, inquired with ECMC Senior Vice President of Operations Cassandra Davis about opportunities for high school students interested in health care. In fall and winter, the medical center hosted two one-day sessions for Health Sciences students. Strong reviews encouraged hospital leaders and ECMC Foundation Executive Director Susan M. Gonzalez to expand. We need to blow it up and make it big for the summer, Conley said Gonzalez told her. The group that graduated Thursday was the first of the summer, and the first to expand beyond Health Sciences. A summer program intended to open future doors requires energy and courage from participants, Conley said. She was impressed by the first cohort. 'A strong contract': ECMC nurses ratify 5-year deal that includes annual wage increases, staffing language More than 1,300 registered nurses who work at Erie County Medical Center and Terrace View Long-Term Care Facility in Buffalo have a new contract, which will boost wages, improve staffing and address workplace safety concerns. Seeing kids ask our chief medical officer questions made me really proud of them, that they had an opportunity to do that and they were confident enough to do that, she said. Conley anticipates the program growing next summer and perhaps adding options during the school year. Although the internship lasted two days, the taste was enough to further whet student appetites for health care careers. Now I kind of have a glimpse of whats to be expected like 5, 10, 15 years from now, she said, when I do become a nurse, when I go into nursing school. Ukraine says to consider ships to Russia-controlled ports as military cargo carriers People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:14, July 21, 2023 KIEV, July 20 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on Thursday that it will consider all ships traveling to Russia and Russia-controlled areas in Ukraine through the Black Sea as potential carriers of military cargo. "All vessels heading in the waters of the Black Sea in the direction of seaports of the Russian Federation and Ukrainian seaports located on the territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia may be considered by Ukraine as carrying military cargo with all the associated risks," the ministry said in a post on Telegram. The new rules will take effect from midnight local time on July 21, it said. The announcement came after Russia's Defense Ministry said Wednesday it would consider ships destined for Ukrainian ports via the Black Sea to be carriers of military cargo. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN worried over tensions ensuing Black Sea grain deal expiration Iran Press TV Friday, 21 July 2023 7:12 PM A senior UN official has expressed worry over the expiration of the Black Sea grain deal, saying this combined with Russia's attacks on Ukraine's port regions could jeopardize global food security. UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo made the remarks on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council. "Russia's termination of its participation in the Black Sea Initiative, coupled with its bombardment of crucial ports, will further compound the crisis." DiCarlo said food prices have been rising around the globe since the collapse of the deal, thus adding to the agricultural, energy and financial crises already affecting the world's most vulnerable people. Tensions around Ukraine's Black Sea ports have escalated after the expiration of the deal securing safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments. Moscow refused to extend the deal, arguing that parts of the agreement concerning Russia's exports were not fulfilled. Russia said it will not extend the deal as long as obstacles to Russian food and fertilizer exports under the accord remain in place. On Thursday, Russia said it carried out retaliatory strikes on two Black Sea port regions in response to a Ukrainian attack on a bridge linking Crimea to Russia. The same day the US claimed Russia's attacks on port regions might expand to attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea. Moscow has rejected any intention to attack ships, calling the US assertion "pure falsification." Moscow said the assertion is an attempt to disguise Washington's own destructive activities, aimed at the de facto sabotage of the implementation of the grain deal. UN engagement continues DiCarlo underlined the UN's commitment towards ensuring that food and fertilizers from both Ukraine and Russia can continue to reach global markets. DiCarlo's message was echoed in the Security Council meeting by UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Griffiths, who said Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative was "immensely disappointing" while the port strikes were alarming. "Farmers, as we can imagine, look on this nightly assault with great anxiety as they harvest now the crops nurtured in the shadow of war," he told the Council. On Wednesday, wheat and corn futures rose by nearly nine and eight percent, respectively. More than 30 million tons of grain and agricultural products have been exported under the initiative to date. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian president blames West for stoking 'flames of war' Iran Press TV Friday, 21 July 2023 4:00 PM Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the West for stoking the "flames of war" by supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia. Putin said on Friday in televised remarks to members of his Security Council that Ukraine's counteroffensive, which started last month, has failed and the huge caches of Western weapons and munitions supplied to Kiev simply "burn well" on the battlefield in Ukraine. Since Russia launched its special military operation in Donbas in late February 2022, the US-led West has supplied Ukraine with tens of billions of dollars of weapons and munitions to fight against the Russians. Kiev, last month, launched a massive counteroffensive using the Western weapons and munitions provided to its forces. "In any case, there are no results yet" from the counteroffensive, Putin assured in the broadcast of the meeting with the Kremlin's Security Council. "Neither the colossal resources that have been pumped into the Kiev regime, nor the supplies of Western weapons, tanks, artillery, armored vehicles and missiles are helping," Putin reassured the Russian nation. In the meantime, a senior aide to Kiev told AFP that Ukraine's forces still needed more weapons and munitions to continue the "long and difficult" fight against the Russian forces. Ukraine is already using US-supplied cluster bombs against Russian forces despite international concerns that such munitions can cause heavy casualties to the civilian population if used in residential areas. Meanwhile, Russian forces remain in control of large swathes of territory in Donbas' pro-Moscow regions while military operations in most parts of the warfront appear to be frozen. Also on Friday, Putin warned that Moscow would use "all the means at our disposal" to protect Belarus in case of an attack against the country which is a close ally to the Kremlin and has formed a "Union State" with it. Putin said in his remarks on Friday that any aggression against Russia's neighbor and close ally Belarus would be seen by the Kremlin as an attack against the Russians. "Unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against the Russian Federation," Putin warned, adding, Moscow would react to any aggression against Minsk "with all the means at our disposal." Moscow and Minsk agreed to transfer Russian tactical nuclear warheads to Belarus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran dismisses 'baseless' claims of drone exports to Russia Iran Press TV Friday, 21 July 2023 1:23 PM Iran once again dismisses the "baseless" claim that it supplied Russia with weapons to be used in the war in Ukraine. Tehran says it reserves the right to retaliate after the European Union imposed new sanctions against Iran in connection with the allegation. "As it has been formally announced several times, the claim on the export of Iranian drones to Russia for the use against Ukraine is a baseless allegation," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani said in a statement on Friday. He said any attempt to link the war in Ukraine with cooperation between Iran and Russia is a move solely serving political objectives. The Iranian spokesman also reiterated Tehran's implacable opposition to the war in Ukraine and underscored the importance of an immediate end to the conflict through diplomatic channels. "Unfortunately, the West tries to keep adopting the ineffective and failed policy of imposing sanctions against the Iranian nation with political motives and by resorting to bogus and unproven claims," Kan'ani said. The EU Council on Thursday established a new framework for restrictive measures over the claim. According to the Council, the new sanctions regime prohibits the export from the European Union to Iran of components used in the construction and production of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). It also provides for travel restrictions and asset freeze measures that could be imposed against persons responsible for, supporting or involved in Iran's UAV program. The anti-Iran claim first emerged in July 2022, when US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan alleged that Washington had received "information" indicating that the Islamic Republic was preparing to provide Russia with "up to several hundred drones, including weapons-capable UAVs on an expedited timeline" for use in the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelensky fires Ukraine's ambassador to UK after criticism Iran Press TV Friday, 21 July 2023 11:15 AM Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky has fired the country's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, for criticizing the president's response to a dispute over British military aid. Prystaiko had criticized Zelensky's response to British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace's suggestions that Ukraine should show greater appreciation for arms supplies from its allies. Zelensky signed a decree dismissing Prystaiko, which was published on the presidential website, without giving a reason for issuing the order. The dispute began when Wallace told at a NATO meeting in Vilnius this month that the UK was not an Amazon arms delivery service to Ukraine and suggested that Kiev could express more "gratitude" to London. Wallace recalled that after receiving a list of weapons requests from Ukraine last year, he told officials in Kiev "I am not Amazon." Since the beginning of the military conflict in Ukraine, Britain has been one of the main donors of arms supplies to Ukraine while also giving training services to the Ukrainian forces. At a press conference at the summit, Zelensky responded by saying that he did not know how to clearly express Ukraine's gratitude, adding: "We could wake up in the morning and express our words of gratitude to the minister personally." But the Ukrainian diplomat agreed that Zelensky responded to Wallace "with a bit of sarcasm." "I don't believe that this sarcasm is healthy. We don't have to show the Russians that we have something between us, they have to know that we are working together," Prystaiko said. "If anything happens, Ben can call me and tell me everything he wants," the diplomat said. Prystaiko is a career diplomat who has served as ambassador to the United Kingdom since July 2020. He was previously the minister of foreign affairs of Ukraine from 2019 to 2020. Western countries have so far provided or committed to providing Kiev with tens of billions of dollars worth of military equipment. Ukraine has repeatedly called for more military assistance, notably long-range weapons. Kiev has also frequently asked to be admitted into NATO over the past months. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Strikes On Odesa Storage Facilities Destroy Large Quantities Of Grain As Battles Rage In East By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service July 21, 2023 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. 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-odesa-strike- grain-facilities-naval-drill/32512956.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Former Leader Of Russian-Backed Separatists In Ukraine Arrested In Moscow By RFE/RL's Russian Service July 21, 2023 A court in Moscow has sent Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), the former leader of Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine who has criticized President Vladimir Putin and senior military officials for an ineffective war campaign, to pretrial detention on an extremism charge. The Meshchansky district court ruled on July 21 that Girkin must stay in pretrial detention until at least September 18. Girkin entered a not guilty plea. The court pronounced the decision hours after Girkin's wife, Miroslava Reginskaya, said on Telegram that her husband was detained on an extremism charge. Girkin's lawyer also confirmed the detention to the RBK and AFP news agencies. Girkin was a key commander of Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in 2014. He also helped Russia illegally annex Ukraine's Crimea that year. But his detention appears to indicate he has fallen out of favor with the Kremlin despite previously being seen as untouchable given his background. A former officer of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Girkin has sharply criticized Putin, recently referring to him as a "nonentity" and a "cowardly mediocrity," and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for "mistakes" in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. He also has accused them of "incompetence" and argued that a total mobilization is needed for Russia to achieve victory. In one of his harshest rants, Girkin said in a July 18 post on his official Telegram channel that Putin should transfer power "to someone truly capable and responsible." The post has garnered almost 800,000 views. In November last year, a court in the Netherlands sentenced Girkin and two other defendants to life in prison in absentia in the case of the 2014 shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine. All 298 people on board died in the crash. In February, international investigators said there were "strong indications" that Putin was personally involved in the incident. The Boeing 777 flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was blown out of the sky on July 17, 2014, amid a conflict between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian armed forces. The victims came from more than a dozen countries, although more than two-thirds of them were Dutch citizens. Russia has denied any involvement in the shooting down of the plane. With reporting by Meduza, TASS, Interfax, Mediazona, RBK, RFE/RL's Russian Service, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-girkin-strelkov- arrested-ukraine-extremism/32513321.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Nationalizes Bank Linked To Russian Tycoons By Current Time July 21, 2023 Ukraine's government has purchased Sense Bank, which is linked to sanctioned Russian oligarchs Mikhail Fridman and Pyotr Aven, for 1 hryvnia (2 U.S. cents) after the central bank (NBU) ruled to remove the institution from the Ukrainian financial sector. Lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said the move on July 21 will put the bank, formerly known as Afla-Bank Ukraine, under the management of the Ukrainian Finance Ministry. The government move came a day after the NBU said that an interim administration will be set up for Sense Bank once the government approves its nationalization. The move was taken because of the bank's association with Fridman and Aven, who are connected "with the government of the country-aggressor" and are currently under sanctions in Ukraine, the NBU said. The government is expected to complete the nationalization of Sense Bank by the end of the weekend. Last month, a nominal owner of the Sense Bank, Luxemburg-based ABH Holdings S.A., asked Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council to sell the bank to a European investor, promising that the money received from the buyer will not go to either Fridman or Aven. Skhemy (Schemes), an investigative project run by RFE/RL, has reported that Russian companies linked to Fridman had been involved in supplying Russian troops invading Ukraine with clothes and food, and also provided insurance for technical equipment for the Russian National Guard that is being used in the war in Ukraine. In September, the Financial Times and The Washington Post cited sources as saying that Fridman had held talks with a U.S. official, offering $1 billion for Ukraine's efforts to restore infrastructure damaged by Russian strikes in exchange for the lifting sanctions imposed on him by the West. Fridman denied the reports at the time. In May 2022, Ukrainian authorities froze Fridman's assets -- estimated to be $416 million -- that were held by Alfa-Bank Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy subsequently signed a law allowing the nationalization of property and assets of individuals who support Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022. Fridman, a 59-year-old Ukrainian-born Russian-Israeli businessman, was the founder of Alfa-Bank and grew to be one of Russia's wealthiest businessmen. He has been sanctioned by the European Union as part of a series of moves against Russia for its war against Ukraine. The EU described him as "as a top Russian financier and enabler of [President Vladimir] Putin's inner circle." In 2013, Fridman and the 68-year-old Aven, one of his main Alfa partners, reorganized their holdings following the $14 billion sale of their stake in the Russian oil company TNK-BP. They created a new London-based investment group called LetterOne, but both men stepped down from the new company after the EU imposed sanctions in March 2022. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-nationalizes- sense-bank-fridman-aven/32513412.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Official Says Any Risk of Ukraine Conflict Spillover in Black See Must Be Avoided Sputnik News 20230721 UNITED NATIONS (Sputnik) - The United Nations warns that any risk of the Ukrainian conflict spilling over as a result of a military incident in the Black Sea must be avoided at all costs to prevent potentially catastrophic consequences, UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said on Friday. The Kremlin announced Monday that the Black Sea Grain Initiative had effectively been suspended, however, Moscow will be prepared to return to the deal as soon as agreements concerning Russia are implemented properly. "We strongly urge restraint from any further rhetoric or action that could deteriorate the already dangerous situation. 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," DiCarlo said during a UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. The United Nations wants to continue its support of all parties involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and warns about escalatory rhetoric following Russia's termination of the deal, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said in turn. "The bottom line is that food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and the Russian Federation remain of crucial importance to global food security. The United Nations will therefore continue its engagement with all involved to ensure that Russian and Ukrainian food and fertilizer can continue to reach global markets: to ease prices and strengthen food security around the world," Griffith told the Security Council members. "Escalatory rhetoric [following Russia's withdrawal from the Grain Deal] also threatens to further undermine the safe transportation of food through the Black Sea more broadly." Russia, Ukraine, Turkiye and the United Nations struck a deal to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports on July 22, 2022. Moscow has since agreed to several extensions to the grain deal, also known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which expired on July 17. On Wednesday, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that starting from July 20, all ships headed for Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea will be intercepted as potential carriers of military cargo. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Escort of Ukrainian Grain Supplies by Turkish Ships in Black Sea Impossible - Moscow Sputnik News 20230721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The issue of transit of ships in the Black Sea will be discussed during a possible future meeting between Presidents of Russia and Turkiye, Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Friday. The idea that Turkish ships could escort Ukrainian grain supplies in the Black Sea is impossible and dangerous, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Friday. "We have not discussed this issue, I believe that this option is impossible and dangerous," Vershinin told a briefing, adding the transit of ships in the Black Sea will be discussed soon. "I am sure that these issues [transit of ships] will also be part of the agenda. I think it is wrong to predict now. But the fact that such countries as Russia and Turkiye have a special responsibility and role is without doubt." Vershinin also mentioned that Russia is ready to return to the grain deal if all conditions are fulfilled, but there are currently no negotiations on an alternative to the grain deal. "Currently there are no contacts on an alternative to the grain deal, because we have clearly stated our position: let us first get the results of what we have been discussing for a year and received many promises, and then we can restore the joint efforts to supply grain to the world market," Vershinin told reporters. Russia is not ruling out the possibility of a new grain deal with Turkiye, the diplomat emphasized. "We are ready to consider various options for further continuation of the supply of grain to the world market, both grain and fertilizers. We have very close interaction with Turkiye, traditional interaction, and we are also in contact with them now and exchanging about what to do in the current situation," Vershinin told journalists, when asked if signing a new grain deal between Moscow and Ankara is possible. Russia intends to do everything to meet the food needs of African countries after the termination of the grain deal, Vershinin highlighted. "Of course, contacts are underway, efforts are being made so that African countries do not feel any negative consequences in this sense," he said. The Russian diplomat also noted that UN's measures to preserve the Black Sea Grain Initiative failed. "It turns out that one thing is declared and it is not done, and what the UN is trying to do and has been trying to do, to provide some kind of exemption for Russian agricultural exports and fertilizers, simply did not work. It did not work because the mechanism did not work. The statements were somewhere in one place, but the real life was different. This, of course, raises big questions. In this case, it seems to me that our reaction to this is absolutely legitimate and fair. Because the issue of double standards in general, maybe it is a common expression, but unfortunately life forces us to pay attention to it all the time," Vershinin said. On UN Double Standards The Russian Foreign Ministry slams double standards showed by the United Nations in its reaction to strikes on Odessa, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said on Friday. Russian military inflicted new retaliation strikes on Thursday night on the areas of production and storage of unmanned boats of Ukraine military in the Odessa region, the Russian Defense Ministry said. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres then strongly condemned Russian actions. "Just today, a statement was issued on behalf of the UN Secretary General regarding the retaliatory strikes on Odessa. Strong condemnation, it harms supposedly food security. But it seems to me that strikes on targets that were actually preparing terrorist attacks. That is not something that should be condemned," Vershinin told a briefing. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two refugee families were welcomed Saturday into new homes in Cheektowaga that were built by Habitat for Humanity Buffalo volunteers. The Teganya family and the Bukuru/Habonimana family who are from the neighboring African countries of Rwanda and Burundi will be moving into homes on Barbara Place and East Second Street, respectively. The two families recently obtained their U.S. citizenship, and both have young children, said Alex Lauer, director of development and communications for Habitat for Humanity Buffalo. Members of the families are friends and will live one street apart from each other. Clement [Teganya] and his wife, Joseline, are able to help translate for Moise [Bukuru] and his wife, Stasia, [Habonimana]. They have really just been helping each other out throughout this program, said Christopher Kennedy, executive director of Habitat Buffalo. They are able to speak the same language. Lauer said one of the refugee families has a veteran in it. Thats a pretty special milestone for us to be able to help those who have served us, Lauer said. Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that helps offset the cost of homes for families through monetary and material donations, as well as volunteer labor. Our model is that we either build new or renovate a home. Then we work with low to middle income families to help them purchase a home using an affordable 30-year mortgage plan, Lauer said. Buffalos chapter was started by volunteers who were concerned over the lack of affordable housing in the city. Eligible families can purchase homes through Habitats home buyer program at a lower cost by earning what they call sweat equity. Our homebuyer program essentially involves [families] completing a certain number of sweat equity hours. Equity hours can be earned by working on a build site, Lauer said. A lot of our homeowners actually have helped build the homes that they are moving into, including the two families that are having their homes dedicated today. Lauer said that Habitat looks for different main factors when considering what families would be a good fit for the program. The first factor they look at is level of need, which Lauer said would be considered families that spend more than 30% of their total income on housing. We also look at overcrowding. Is the family in an apartment that is too small, where a parent and a child or multiple children have to share the same bedroom. We look at all those needs, Lauer said. In terms of need, Habitat also looks at the safety of housing where the family is living. With an older housing market, many apartments in Buffalo are not safe to live in due to lead exposure, mold and other hazardous issues, Lauer said. Habitat also considers familys willingness to work alongside volunteers to construct or renovate their own homes and the houses of other families in the program. Lastly, the organization makes sure that prospective families are eligible and approved for a 30-year mortgage loan. When all those pieces come together, the way it did for these two families. We are able to put it into a habitat home, Lauer said. A big part of what Habitat does is we look at passing on generational wealth. These homes are going to be a wealth builder for real families, Lauer said. Russia Strikes Ukrainian Facilities Where Terrorist Attacks Prepared Sputnik News 20230721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) -The Russian armed forces struck targets in Ukraine, where terrorist attacks with the use of UAVs were being prepared against Russia, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday. "Last night, the Russian military carried out strikes with high-precision long-range sea-based weapons at facilities where terrorist attacks against Russia were being prepared with the use of combat unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said. The goal of the strike has been achieved, all designated objects have been hit, the ministry concluded. On Latest Special Op Results Ukraine has lost up to 185 military in the Donetsk direction in the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry added. The Russian armed forces have repelled nine attacks by Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction over the given period, the ministry said in a statement. "During the fighting, up to 185 Ukrainian military, three armored combat vehicles, four vehicles, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers were destroyed [in the Donetsk direction] over the past day," the statement read. Additionally, Russia repelled three attacks by Ukraine in the Krasny Liman direction, where Kiev lost over 100 military. The Russian armed forces also repulsed one attack in the South Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions, with Kiev losing over 175 military. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Poland Considering Sending Troops to Western Ukraine - Russian Foreign Intel Head Sputnik News 20230721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Poland is considering establishing control over the western part of Ukraine through the deployment of its troops there, Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergei Naryshkin said on Friday. The SVR head believes that Warsaw is coming to realize that the defeat of Ukraine is a matter of time. "The Polish leadership is intensifying the mindset to introduce control in the western territories of Ukraine, the western regions by deploying their troops there," Naryshkin said at a meeting held by President Vladimir Putin with the permanent members of the Security Council. In this regard, Putin instructed the Russian foreign intelligence head to monitor Poland's plans for Ukraine. Putin stressed that Polish leaders plan to form a coalition under the guise of NATO and intervene in the conflict in Ukraine in order to seize land and return, as they believe, their historical territories. "As for the Polish leaders, they probably expect to form a coalition within NATO... and directly intervene in the conflict in Ukraine in order to then 'tear off' a fatter piece [of land] for themselves, to regain, as they believe, their historical territories - today's Western Ukraine," Vladimir Putin said. The union between Poland, Lithuania, Ukraine, the reports on which appear in the media, is being made for the subsequent occupation of Ukraine, Putin added. "There have been media reports about plans to create a certain so-called Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian union: that is, we are not talking about some gathering of mercenaries, there are enough of them, and they are being destroyed, namely a regular, assembled, equipped military unit that is planned to be used for actions on the territory of Ukraine, including for allegedly ensuring the security of the current Western Ukraine. And in fact, if you call things by their proper names a for the subsequent occupation of these territories," Putin said at a meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin: There are No Results of Ukrainian Counteroffensive Sputnik News 20230721 Oleg Burunov The Russian president said it's obvious that Western supporters of the Kiev regime are clearly disappointed with the results of Ukrainian long-anticipated counteroffensive. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said there are no results of Ukraine's counteroffensive. Addressing a Russian Security Council meeting on Friday, Putin said that "as a result of suicidal attacks," the Ukrainian Armed Forces have suffered extensive losses, with "tens of thousands" of soldiers killed. He stressed that despite the "constant raids and total mobilization" across Ukraine, the Kiev regime "is finding it increasingly difficult to drive new reinforcements to the front." The Russian president stated that neither the supply of weapons nor the presence of foreign mercenaries and advisers helped Kiev. "Neither the colossal resources that were pumped into the Kiev regime, nor the supply of Western weapons, tanks, artillery, armored vehicles and missiles helped. The delivery of thousands of foreign mercenaries and advisers who were most actively used in attempts to break through the front of our army did not help either," Putin said. According to him, the West already lacks "Ukrainian cannon fodder," which is why the Western leaders are considering using Lithuanians and Poles in hostilities. "Hatching their revanchist plans, Polish authorities don't tell their people the truth. The truth is that the Ukrainian cannon fodder is clearly not enough for the West, so they plan to use new consumables - the Poles themselves, Lithuanians, and the list goes on. All those who the West will not feel sorry for," Putin noted. He warned that "This is a very dangerous game, and the authors of such plans should think about the consequences." The Russian president added that "The existing production capacities in the West do not allow it to quickly replenish the consumption of reserves of equipment and ammunition." According to Putin, the West needs "Additional massive resources and time." Putin also praised the command of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine for their professionalism. "Our soldiers and officers, as well as units and formations are doing their duty to the Motherland courageously, steadfastly, and heroically," the Russian head of state pointed out. The Russian head of state stressed that "At the same time, the whole world sees the much-hyped 'invulnerable' Western military equipment on fire [on the battlefield]. And in terms of its performance characteristics, it often even yields to some pieces of Soviet-made military hardware." The Russian president also warned of Eastern Europe leaders' possible involvement in kindling "the fire of the war." "The fire of war is currently being intensively kindled as they use the ambitions of Eastern European states' leaders, who have long turned hatred for Russia and Russophobia into their main export product and into an instrument of their domestic policy. And now they want to profiteer from the Ukrainian tragedy," he underscored. Ukraine's much-hyped counteroffensive kicked off on June 4 after months of delays over a lack of military supplies from Western donors. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukrainian troops kept trying, but were failing to advance. A number of Western media outlets also pointed to the unimpressive results of Kiev's counteroffensive, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky himself admitted that progress was "slower than desired." Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, for his part, said that since the start of the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russia has destroyed 21 enemy aircraft, five helicopters, and about 1,244 tanks, also eliminating more than 26,000 Ukrainian servicemen. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kremlin Dubs Kiev Regime Unpredictable, Warns About Dangers of Black Sea Navigation Sputnik News 20230721 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine's statement that it will now consider ships crossing the Black Sea to Russian ports as carrying military cargo is dangerous, as Kiev behaves unpredictably, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday. On Thursday, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry announced that navigation in the northeastern part of the Black Sea and the Kerch Strait is prohibited as dangerous, adding that Kiev can consider ships sailing in the Black Sea in the direction of the seaports of Russia as carrying military cargo with "corresponding risks" starting July 21. "Unpredictable actions and, moreover, the involvement of the Kiev regime in terrorist attacks, of course, potentially creates a threat in this area, because the Kiev regime is absolutely unpredictable," Peskov told a briefing. Earlier, Russian Defense Ministry also warned that it will regard all ships in the Black Sea that are sailing to Ukrainian ports as potential carriers of military cargoes starting July 20, adding that the countries under whose flags the vessels are sailing will be considered involved in the conflict on Kiev's side. The announcement came after the UN-mediated Black Sea grain deal expired as Russia refused to extend its participation in the agreement and withdrew guarantees for safe navigation in the area, citing the UN's failure to facilitate Russia's grain and fertilizer exports under the deal. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia's latest Black Sea Grain Initiative demands are tantamount to holding the world's starving hostage: UK statement at the Security Council Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Ukraine. 21 July 2023 I'd like to start by thanking USG DiCarlo and USG Griffiths for their briefings. Colleagues, my Foreign Secretary said on Monday that Russia's termination of the BSGI [Black Sea Grain Initiative] was taking food out of the mouths of the poorest people across the world. 64% of the 34 million tonnes of grain exported under the deal went to low- and middle-income countries. Unsurprisingly then, Kenya called Russia's withdrawal a "stab in the back" of countries in the Horn of Africa already impacted by drought. Russian missile attacks on Odessa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv destroyed over 60,000 tons of grain. That is enough to feed 270,000 people for a year or to double WFP [World Food Programme] shipments under the BSGI to both Sudan and Somalia. Russia has destroyed dock equipment, making it harder to load grain on ships. Now, Russia has gone further, burning food at the dockside, and making threats to murder civilian sailors. There is no possible justification for these punitive acts. Moreover, Russia has benefitted from the Deal. Russian food exports are significantly above pre-war levels. Russian food and fertiliser exports have never been sanctioned. The UK has worked with its banking and insurance sectors to facilitate transactions. And the UN has worked tirelessly to address Russian concerns. We know that Russia's so-called reasons for ending the Deal are nonsense. Ukraine has made no demands. As Foreign Minister Kuleba said in this room, Ukraine wants nothing more than to make its food available to the world. Up to 24 million tons of Ukrainian food may not now reach world markets because of Russia. Russia's actions have already raised prices, with immediate impact on the world's poorest and hungriest people. And Russia's latest demands are tantamount to holding the world's starving hostage. We thank TArkiye, the UN and Ukraine for their efforts to protect the deal. We call on Russia to rejoin it and to end the war. Food is not a weapon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Anniversary of the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine: UK statement to the OSCE Ambassador Neil Holland marks the 9th anniversary of the downing of flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine and the deaths of 298 people. 21 July 2023 This year marked the anniversary of the downing of Flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine and the deaths of 298 people from 17 countries, including 10 British nationals. The United Kingdom expresses its deepest condolences to all those who lost their loved ones. The United Kingdom reiterates its full support for the efforts to pursue truth, justice and accountability, and to provide answers for the friends and families of those who so tragically died. We are grateful in particular for the work and dedication of the Joint Investigation Team. The conclusion of the trial in the Netherlands last November, and the conviction of three individuals of murder in relation to the downing of MH17, was an important step in securing justice for the families of the victims. However, this process has not finished. The downing of MH17 was a shocking violation of the international norms which keep our societies safe. It serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of Russia's actions in Ukraine over many years. The United Kingdom continues to support the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Australia in their call for the Russian Federation to accept State responsibility for the downing of MH17 and to cooperate fully with all efforts to establish accountability, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2166. Thank you, Chair. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy discusses unblocking of grain corridor, implementation of Peace Formula with President of TArkiye President of Ukraine 21 July 2023 - 21:07 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with President of TArkiye Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan. The head of the Ukrainian state thanked the leader of TArkiye for the fruitful meeting in Istanbul, which took place on July 7, and also noted the principled position of the Republic of TArkiye regarding the support of Ukraine's future NATO membership. The parties coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The President of Ukraine called unblocking the grain corridor an absolute priority. "Due to Russia's actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis. A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation. With joint efforts, we must avert the global food crisis," Zelenskyy said. In addition, the interlocutors touched on issues related to the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula. The President of Ukraine called on ErdoAYan to facilitate the return of Ukrainian POWs and political prisoners held by Russia, including Crimean Tatars. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Since start of week, over 20 people have suffered from Russian terror in Odesa region alone; only absolute evil can inflict such blows - address of President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 21 July 2023 - 18:45 Dear Ukrainians! Russia killed two more children today. Russian artillery attack on the village of Druzhba, Toretsk community, Donetsk region. A girl born in 2007 and a boy born in 2013 died. Chernihiv Region, the village of Honcharivske - a missile hit. Two women were killed, the demolition of the rubble is underway... A cultural center, a school, residential buildings were damaged. My condolences to the relatives and friends of the deceased! Today, Russian missiles and drones hit Odesa and our southern regions again. In total, since the start of the week, over 20 people have suffered from Russian terror in Odesa region alone. Among them are two children. Only absolute evil can inflict such blows. There will be an answer. In addition, there will be even more consolidation of the world for defense and for joint action, even more energy for victory, even more desire for justice, the just punishment of Russia for all the crimes of this war. And this punishment will be. I held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff. It was long. The issue of protecting our cities and communities, our ports from Russian attacks was analyzed in detail. If someone in Russia hopes they can turn the Black Sea into a space of arbitrariness and terrorism, they will not succeed. We know how to defend ourselves, and we see the readiness of the world to work together in the future - and more actively - to give peace to this region. Tonight, I plan to hold talks with President of TArkiye ErdoAYan. The Black Sea region, food security, other important topics. As always, there were detailed reports of the military, intelligence, and border guards on the current situation on the front line at the Staff meeting. And not only in the key directions of active actions, but also in general regarding the border, regarding the likely development of the situation. The provision of ammunition is a topic of constant attention. Of course, our production of rounds and drones, and not only supplies from partners. Every week we record greater results, the growth of our capabilities. Today, I held a substantial meeting regarding one of the most important components of Ukraine's state policy - the policy for heroes. The policy regarding our soldiers, regarding veterans. Ukraine will not only win this war, but also win a life that will be worthy of the heroes who fight for it. It is very important that our system - state, social, economic, and cultural - is exactly such that it can be said that it is truly based on respect. With respect to Ukraine and everyone who directed their lives, their bravery, their strength for the sake of Ukraine resisting evil and defeating Russian terror. I am grateful to everyone who has already started to work out with us the details of the Ukrainian transformation after this war. And one more. I thank our warriors. Everyone who defends the Ukrainian sky throughout the country. The Air Force, our pilots, and anti-aircraft fighters, mobile fire brigades. Each air defense unit of all branches and types of troops. Thank you! Bakhmut direction... The 5th Separate Assault Brigade, the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Thank you, warriors, for your courage and ability to hit the enemy so that even the enemy - if he survives - understands that Ukraine will always be free! The 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade Zakarpattia, marines of the 35th and 36th separate brigades, artillerymen of the 55th Brigade, the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade, and the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Thank you, warriors, for your accuracy, for your ability allowing Ukraine to return its own! Glory to you all, warriors! Glory to everyone who fights for our state and people! Thanks to everyone in the world who helps us! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine should receive reliable security guarantees and unite the whole world around Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula - Andriy Yermak at Aspen Security Forum President of Ukraine 21 July 2023 - 13:35 Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak notes that our state continues to work on obtaining reliable guarantees of its security and uniting as many countries as possible around the implementation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula. He said this during an online participation in the 14th annual Aspen Security Forum. Andriy Yermak emphasized that after the NATO Summit in Vilnius, the Ukrainian delegation returned home with a clear understanding of the next steps. "We need to win the war as quickly as possible. And we have heard that all our allies not only believe but are confident in our victory. So Ukraine must receive reliable and effective security guarantees," he said. The Head of the President's Office emphasized the importance of the approval of the Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine by the G7 leaders in the course of the NATO Summit, which contains elements of the Kyiv Security Compact elaborated by the international working group headed by Andriy Yermak and former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. Work will now continue on concluding a system of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and the guarantor states in the framework of multilateral cooperation. Answering a question about the situation on the frontline, the Head of the Presidential Office noted that the counteroffensive is not easy, but is generally in line with the plan of the Ukrainian command. "Our heroes on the frontline are doing their best for this. So is the entire Ukrainian nation. After all, the main goal and desire of all Ukrainians is to win this war. Ukraine will definitely win. And it will be our joint victory with the United States and other partners," he emphasized. Andriy Yermak once again thanked U.S. President Joseph Biden, his administration, Congress and both parties, and the entire American people. "We need ATACMS, and we are waiting for a corresponding decision. We need more air defense systems. We are talking about this with our partners and we are glad that they hear us. You know what's been happening in Odesa and Mykolaiv in recent days, what happened to the grain corridor, and this is a problem not only for Ukraine but for many countries around the world. And, of course, we need F-16s, as well as additional weapons and ammunition," the Head of the Presidential Office noted, speaking about Ukraine's current defense needs. In addition, as Andriy Yermak emphasized, Ukraine continues to actively work on the implementation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Peace Formula, and consultations on organizing a peace summit are ongoing, with more and more countries from around the world joining in. "This platform should unite the world. Because the ten points of the Peace Formula are not just about how to end this war in Ukraine. It is about the major crises that are the consequences of this war. We are talking about food security, nuclear security, the environment, and very important humanitarian issues. We have to return not only all our territories, but also all our people. First of all, all Ukrainian children who were illegally deported to Russia and the occupied territories," summarized the Head of the Presidential Office. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian strikes on Ukraine ports 'further blow to global food security' 21 July 2023 - Russia's bombardment of Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea could have far-reaching impacts on global food security, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council. Ms. DiCarlo strongly condemned the aerial strikes this week on the ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv, which destroyed critical infrastructure and killed or injured civilians. The attacks followed Russia's decision on Monday to effectively end the Black Sea Initiative, the UN-brokered accord that facilitated Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs to be shipped to international markets at a time of spiralling global food prices and rising hunger. Ms. DiCarlo said these events are but the latest developments in Russia's "senseless war against its neighbour", which has consequences that can be felt around the world. Safety guarantees withdrawn "Russia's termination of its participation in the Black Sea Initiative, coupled with its bombardment of crucial ports, will further compound the crisis," she warned. By ending the deal, Moscow also withdrew security guarantees for ships navigating in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. Ms. DiCarlo said food prices have been rising around the globe since its collapse, thus adding to the agricultural, energy and financial crises already affecting the world's most vulnerable people. Death and destruction "We have now witnessed a further blow to global food security, as Russia for the fourth consecutive day struck Ukraine's Black Sea ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv with missiles and drones, destroying critical port infrastructure, facilities and grain supplies," she said. The air raids have resulted in civilian casualties, she added. One person reportedly was killed in Odessa on Thursday, and at least eight injured, while two people were reportedly killed and 19 injured in Mykolaiv. "We strongly condemn these attacks and urge Russia to stop them immediately," she said, noting that such incidents may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law. "The new wave of attacks on Ukrainian ports risks having far-reaching impacts on global food security, in particular, in developing countries," she said. Sea mine threat Ms. DiCarlo also expressed concern over reports of sea mines being laid in Black Sea waters, which would endanger civilian ships. She urged restraint from any further rhetoric or action that could deteriorate the already dangerous situation. "Any risk of conflict spilling over 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. UN engagement continues Ms. DiCarlo underlined the UN's commitment towards ensuring that food and fertilizers from both Ukraine and Russia can continue to reach global markets. This message was echoed by UN Humanitarian Coordinator Martin Griffiths, who recalled that 362 million people in 69 countries rely on aid to survive. Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative was "immensely disappointing" while the port strikes were alarming, he said. Concern for Ukraine's farmers "Farmers, as we can imagine, look on this nightly assault with great anxiety as they harvest now the crops nurtured in the shadow of war," he told the Council. Mr. Griffiths reported that global grain prices spiked this week, citing information from the World Food Programme (WFP). On Wednesday, wheat and corn futures rose by nearly nine per cent and eight per cent, respectively, and higher prices will be felt most by families in developing countries already at risk. He further warned that "escalatory rhetoric" also threatens to further undermine the safe transportation of foods through the Black Sea. Without access to ports or world markets, farmers could have no choice but to stop farming. "In addition to the global effects, this would have an immediate impact on domestic food prices and on the economic stability of Ukraine. This in turn would affect food security inside Ukraine and in the region," he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chrissy Casilio has an unusual proposal for the Erie County Legislature in response to the arrival of asylum seekers. The Republican candidate for Erie County executive said shed like to see members hold a public comment period on whether to formally declare Erie County a sanctuary county and then hold a vote on the matter. If it passes, migrants and asylum seekers from New York City should only be housed in districts whose representatives voted for the proposal. If it fails, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, Casilios Democratic opponent in Novembers election, should start doing his job and fighting New York City on the relocation efforts. This is a self-inflicted problem and is a result of career politicians mistaking bad policy with good politics, Casilio said at a Friday news conference near a hotel housing migrants. Its time for local communities to have a say. As Casilio spoke, at least 10 asylum seekers walked across their hotels parking lot and gathered on the edge of the news conference. They watched for a few minutes, chatting softly with each other, before silently returning to their hotel. Casilios proposal comes one month after the first bus of migrants from New York City arrived in Erie County. Since then, about 450 asylum seekers have arrived in Erie County from New York City, said a spokesperson for resettlement agency Jericho Road Community Health Center. The most recent round of buses has brought approximately 150 migrants, most include families with children. Erie County has so far been the only Western New York county to host any asylum seekers from New York City. And compared to the processing and resettlement of asylum seekers at other counties in the state, Erie County has been considered a model of efficiency, a statewide immigration advocate recently told the County Legislature. County leaders say the busloads of migrants coming to the area do not represent a crisis for a county that is used to processing refugees and asylum seekers. But the incoming wave is still taxing. Jericho Road, the agency contracted to find shelter for the migrants, is working to catch up with asylum seekers who have not yet been through the resettlement process. Casilio criticized Poloncarz for not being transparent enough about the process and whether tax dollars are actually being spent as part of this effort. And there are some legislators who are in agreement. We dont have answers. We dont know the limit. We dont know the costs, Casilio said. Im not for being left in the dark, and not knowing how our tax dollars are being spent. No county taxpayer money is being used to support migrants transported to Erie County, according to the county executive. New York City is responsible for covering all transportation and housing of migrants here. County officials have said they typically only find out several hours beforehand when New York City is preparing to transport migrants, all of whom must volunteer to come to Western New York. As soon as Erie County Officials are notified of the transport of migrants from New York City, we immediately notify the County Legislature and ask that New York City officials also notify municipal leaders for the jurisdiction where migrants are being housed, Poloncarz spokesperson Dan Meyer said. The administration has answered all questions posed on this topic as best we can despite not running the program. Why are we allowing this to happen? So far, Erie County lawmakers have not taken up Casilios proposal for a sanctuary county vote. But Republican legislators have expressed concern about the fact that some hotels that are housing migrants are delinquent on their taxes. Two of the three hotels currently housing asylum seekers are behind on tax payments. One of those hotels owes nearly $72,000 in taxes, while the other owes just under $4,800, according to county records. In response, Legislator Frank Todaro, R-Lancaster, asked the Legislature to support a resolution calling on the county comptroller to ensure that the hotels receiving public money to house migrants are not benefitting while owing back taxes. Why are we allowing this to happen? Todaro said. Legislator Jeanne Vinal, D-Amherst, accused Todaro of singling out businesses that are participating in the asylum seeker shelter program. She successfully moved to send the matter to committee. Legislator Timothy Meyers, D-Cheektowaga, supported the resolution. Both he and Todaro represent Cheektowaga, where migrants are being sheltered at local hotels. Meyer confirmed that Poloncarz supports the resolution, adding that the county executive has always supported efforts by the Comptrollers Office to collect hotel occupancy tax promptly and properly. Casilios campaign has been working behind scenes Friday marked Casilios first news conference in almost two months, but the 36-year-old first-time candidate says thats not because shes been off the campaign trail. Ive had multiple events every single night, Casilio said. Ive been focusing my time with meeting as many Erie County residents as possible. Ive also been focusing totally on fundraising, because thats obviously going to be an important factor for this campaign. Casilio has denounced Poloncarz for not declaring a state of emergency to bar the arrival of asylum seekers in Erie County, and repeated that criticism Friday. Western New Yorks seven other counties declared similar states of emergency in May, prompting Poloncarz to call those orders morally repugnant. But Casilio says her campaign is also about more effective use of tax dollars, more efficient social services and post-pandemic economic recovery even though she says shes focused on migration for now. Its about shifting priorities and just, in general, changing the culture of county government to go back to serving the people, Casilio said. Because were not getting that right now. Latest in Ukraine: Russia Targets Grain Storage After Black Sea Barrage By VOA News July 21, 2023 Latest developments: The United States plans to announce as soon as Tuesday a new military aid package for Ukraine of up to $400 million, including artillery, air defense missiles and ground vehicles, as Ukraine's counteroffensive grinds on, three U.S. officials said Friday. The package will not include cluster munitions. Warsaw's Security Committee decided Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying Friday. The World Bank's private investment arm is considering $1.5 billion in investments in Ukraine's banking, agribusiness and infrastructure sectors, a senior official with the International Finance Corporation said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks that any aggression by Poland against Russia's neighbor and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia. Poland denies any territorial ambitions in Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelenskyy called unblocking the grain corridor an absolute priority. "Due to Russia's actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis," he said. "A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation. With joint efforts, we must avert the global food crisis." His remarks were echoed by U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo to the Security Council earlier Friday. She said that Russian attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports could have "far-reaching impacts on global food security, in particular in developing countries." DiCarlo also called threats about the potential targeting of civilian vessels in Black Sea waters a made by both Russia and Ukraine a 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. Missile strikes Russian cruise missiles pummeled Ukrainian food export storage facilities in Odesa early Friday. The attacks followed a three-day barrage against the region's Black Sea port infrastructure. "Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley," regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app. Two people were injured, Kiper said, while officials reported seven dead in Russian airstrikes elsewhere in Ukraine. Moscow has described the attacks as retaliatory after Ukraine's strike on the Russian-built bridge to Crimea. Russia accuses Ukraine of using the sea corridor to launch terrorist attacks. "Terrorist attacks are when Russian anti-ship missiles hit shopping malls, hospitals and grain terminals," tweeted Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, in response. Russia said its Black Sea fleet had practiced firing rockets at "floating targets" and it would deem all ships heading for Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying arms. Kyiv responded with a similar warning about ships headed to Russia. Since the grain deal expired Monday, the number of ships loading grain cargoes from the Black Sea area has fallen by 35%. Uncertainty grows over whether Russia could hit commercial traffic, and shipping insurance companies have now suspended coverage for shipments from Ukraine apart from the smaller ports along the Danube, insurance industry sources said Friday. Ships stalled Meanwhile, dozens of ships were waiting to pass through the Danube channel Friday, including vessels bound for Romania or leaving from there, according to data from analytics company MarineTraffic. In an interview with VOA's Russian Service, USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman said that the U.S. agency has been assisting Ukraine in exporting grain via alternate routes through Poland and other countries, as well as through the Danube River. Coleman said these alternate routes are not as "cost-efficient and not as fast as transporting in big bulk carriers from the Black Sea, and it has caused some friction with its neighbors." Overland Ukrainian grain exports can adversely affect grain prices of Ukraine's European neighbors, which see their agricultural products depreciate. But Coleman stressed it is important to utilize these alternate distribution routes so that "Putin's blackmail, his destruction, will not undermine Ukraine's agricultural sector." The attacks on Ukraine's grain export infrastructure and fears about the fate of grain shipping have triggered a spike in the prices of grain products. Erdogan said Western countries should address Russia's demands to restore the Black Sea grain corridor. The U.S. Treasury said Thursday that it had imposed new Russia-related sanctions to "reduce Russia's revenue from the metals and mining sector, undermine its future energy capabilities and degrade Russia's access to the international financial system." Wagner Group The last of the Wagner Group's convict-prisoner mercenaries are scheduled to be released from their mandated service "in the coming days," the British Defense Ministry said Friday. In the ministry's daily intelligence report about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it said "a significant number" of the pardoned convicts would likely continue with Wagner as professional contractors. Russia now controls Wagner's prison recruitment pipeline, according to the ministry. The Wagner Group staged a mutiny against Putin's authority last month. The end of the Wagner Group's prison recruitment program marks one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history, the British ministry said, with as many as 20,000 convict-recruits killed in a few months. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the Aspen Security Forum on Friday that Wagner mercenaries were not fighting in Ukraine at present. Wagner's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a video Wednesday that his fighters would take no further part in the Ukraine war for now, ordering them to gather their strength for Africa. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin, VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb, VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer, VOA's Anna Chernikova in Kyiv, VOA's Mykhailo Komadovsky contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: UN Warns of Global Food Crisis as Russia Pounds Ports By VOA News July 21, 2023 Latest developments: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Ukraine's ambassador to Britain. The ambassador had publicly criticized Zelenskyy's response to remarks from outgoing British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace that Ukraine should show more gratitude for weapons from its allies. The World Bank's private investment arm is considering $1.5 billion in investments in Ukraine's banking, agribusiness and infrastructure sectors, a senior official with the International Finance Corporation said Friday. Prominent Russian nationalist Igor Girkin was arrested Friday in Moscow on charges of inciting extremism. Girkin had accused Russian President Putin and army leaders of not conducting the war in Ukraine effectively. His detention follows the short-lived mutiny by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin against Russia's top brass. Russian attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports could have "far-reaching impacts on global food security, in particular, in developing countries," the United Nations political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo told the Security Council on Friday. DiCarlo also called threats about the potential targeting of civilian vessels in Black Sea waters a made by both Russia and Ukraine a unacceptable. "Any risk of conflict spillover as a result of a military incident in the Black Sea a whether intentional or by accident a must be avoided at all costs, as this could result in potentially catastrophic consequences to us all," she said. Russian cruise missiles pummeled Ukrainian food export storage facilities in Odesa early Friday, threatening a global food crisis in retaliation for sanctions levied against it. Friday's attacks followed a three-day barrage of the region's Black Sea port infrastructure. "Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley," regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app. Two people were injured, Kiper said, while officials reported seven dead in Russian airstrikes elsewhere in Ukraine. Moscow has described the attacks as retaliatory after Ukraine's strike on the Russian-built bridge to Crimea. Russia accuses Ukraine of using the sea corridor to launch terrorist attacks. "Terrorist attacks are when Russian anti-ship missiles hit shopping malls, hospitals, and grain terminals," tweeted Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, in response. Russia said its Black Sea fleet had practiced firing rockets at "floating targets" and it would deem all ships heading for Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying arms. Kyiv responded with a similar warning about ships headed to Russia. Since the grain deal expired Monday, the number of ships loading grain cargoes from the Black Sea area has fallen by 35%. Uncertainty grows over whether commercial traffic could be hit by Russia, and insurance shipping companies have now suspended coverage for shipments from Ukraine apart from the smaller ports along the Danube, insurance industry sources said on Friday. Meanwhile, dozens of ships were waiting to pass through the Danube channel on Friday, including vessels bound for Romania or leaving from there, according to data from analytics company MarineTraffic. The attacks on Ukraine's grain export infrastructure and fears about the fate of grain shipping have triggered a spike in prices of grain products. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Western countries should address Russia's demands to restore the Black Sea grain corridor. The U.S. Treasury Department said Thursday it has imposed new Russia-related sanctions to "reduce Russia's revenue from the metals and mining sector, undermine its future energy capabilities and degrade Russia's access to the international financial system." Wagner Group The last of the Wagner Group's convict-prisoner mercenaries are scheduled to be released from their mandated service "in the coming days," the British Defense Ministry said Friday. In the ministry's daily intelligence report about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it said "a significant number" of the pardoned convicts will likely continue with Wagner as professional contractors. Russia now controls Wagner's prison recruitment pipeline, according to the ministry. The Wagner Group staged a mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority last month. The end of the Wagner Group's prison recruitment program marks one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history, the British ministry said, with as many as 20,000 convict-recruits killed in a few months. CIA Director William Burns said Thursday at the Aspen Security Forum, a U.S. national security and foreign policy conference, that the mutiny was a "very complicated dance," and Putin is likely biding his time until he can decide how to exact revenge on Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner Group. "In my experience, Putin is the ultimate apostle of payback, so I would be surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution," Burns said. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin, VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb, VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer and VOA's Anna Chernikova in Kyiv contributed to this story. Some information was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Singapore, July 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Online whisky retailer Still Spirit is inviting buyers to visit its website and browse through its extensive product catalogue, which boasts a curated selection of spirits for all budgets and tastes. For more information visit https://www.stillspirit.co.uk/ Starting with a mission to share their passion for whisky with a global clientele, brothers Craig and Daniel Milne founded Still Spirit and its sister company Whisky Hammer. While the latter is now the platform of choice for several collectors to auction off and buy authentic and rare whiskies, Still Spirit offers a convenient way to buy spirits that have been directly purchased from the distilleries themselves. Buyers can choose from a range of whisky categories including single malt, old & rare, bourbon, blended malt, blended whisky, world whisky, grain whisky, and liqueur, as well as related items such as glassware and books. The online whisky shop also offers a diverse selection of other spirits such as champagne, cognac, tequila, gin, rum, vodka, and more. Right now, we have nearly 1,400 whiskies and fine spirits for sale on Still Spirit, says Daniel Milne. Just select the type of spirit you are looking for, enter the region of the world where it originates, and specify your minimum and maximum budget. You can even narrow the search based on the distillery and tasting notes. The listings provide all the details you need to know such as size of the bottle, strength and weight of the whisky, as well as interesting facts about the distillery or bottler and whether the bottle is part of a limited edition. The shopping experience on the website has been designed to be as seamless and convenient as possible. A customer shared their online experience with Still Spirit on the companys Google Business Profile which has a perfect 5.0 out of 5.0 overall rating. The review states: I brought Suntory Hibiki Harmony whisky for a birthday (celebration). All other stocks had sold out and any I could find were at an inflated price. I paid for next-day delivery from Still Spirit as their price was very good. Im grateful. I will buy from here again. As previously announced, the ease of buying online with Still Spirit is supplemented by an equally refined whisky-tasting experience at the business brick-and-mortar location. The company regularly schedules ticket-based tasting events with renowned guests, sharing their knowledge and love for whisky with the attendees. Moreover, Still Spirit can also cater for private parties such as families celebrating special occasions or professionals bonding at a corporate event. Visitors who attend the tasting events also get exclusive access to its private whisky bar which is stocked with some of the worlds rarest whiskies. One reviewer details their impression of Still Spirits retail location: Great place. Popped in for a quick look as I was driving past, and ended up with some nice bottles. The shop has a welcoming but modern look. There is no sales pressure and theyre happy to chat about whisky. I recommend it and I will be back! For whisky enthusiasts who cant make the trip down to the companys facilities in Ellon, Scotland, Still Spirit instead offers an online dram bar where they can choose from over 100 whiskies to buy, as the name suggests, by the dram. The dram bar selection includes sought-after whiskies from Speyside, Macallan, Islay, Highland, Campbeltown, Islands and Lowland, Ireland, and many others. Prices start from as low as 2.50/25 ml to vintage selections that cost over 30/25 ml. Finally, for serious collectors, Still Spirit owns over 1,000 carefully curated casks for sale. The casks are stored in the companys secure state-of-the-art facility which has been conscientiously designed for safety and minimal handling. With the utmost quality assurance standards in place, Still Spirit prides itself in offering a complete Cask to Glass service. All casks sold by Still Spirit are owned by the group itself, making the transfer of their legal ownership simple and swift for all parties involved. Whisky aficionados from all over the world can find out more about Still Spirit and its varied offerings by visiting https://www.stillspirit.co.uk/browse/single-malt/whisky/ ### For more information about Still Spirit, contact the company here: Still Spirit Sales 01358 747475 sales@stillspirit.co.uk Whisky Hammer - Malt Whisky Auctions, Udny, Ellon AB41 7PR, United Kingdom Los Angeles, CA, July 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clip from Oct. 26, 1945; 50 seconds: ATOM BOMB SCIENTIST WARNS AMERICA OF DANGERS AHEAD! Research chief of atomic project, Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, in-camera interview, tells nation that 40,000,000 in U.S. cities could be killed overnight, and emphasizes that there is no counter-weapon to stop atom bomb. Clip context: In October 1945, two months after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that led to the end of World War II, physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer resigned as director of the Los Alamos Laboratory, where he oversaw the design of the bomb. Soon after, he met with President Truman to discuss the future of atomic energy and how to achieve international control of the weapon. Mr. President, I feel I have blood on my hands, he said (Truman later described Oppenheimer as a cry-baby scientist). ** In this newsreel interview, recorded after that White House visit, Oppenheimer tells the nation that 40,000,000 people in U.S. cities could be killed overnight by atomic bombs, emphasizing that there would be no counter-measures to stop such destruction. The only hope for our future safety must lie in a collaboration, based on confidence and good faith, with the other peoples of the world. - J. Robert Oppenheimer Preview the clip online, courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Packard Humanities Institute. Visit newsreels.net to explore more historical footage from the Hearst Metrotone News Collection. Download Oppenheimer footage, here. Password: UCLAHEARST1945 CLIP CREDIT: Courtesy of the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Packard Humanities Institute; from Hearst Metrotone News Collection: newsreels.net. USE ON SOCIAL, TAG: @uclaftvarchive; @uclalibrary ** Source: From The Meanings of J. Robert Oppenheimer Lindsey Michael Banco, 2016, University of Iowa Press, and Dark Sun: The Making Of The Hydrogen Bomb Richard Rhodes, 2012, Simon & Schuster. About the UCLA Film & Television Archive A division of UCLA Library, the Archive is internationally renowned for rescuing, preserving and showcasing moving image media and is dedicated to ensuring that the visual achievements of our time are available for information, education and enjoyment. The Archive has over 500,000 film and television holdings conserved in a state-of-the-art facility at the Packard Humanities Institute Stoa in Santa Clarita, CA, that is designed to hold materials ranging from nitrate film to digital video at all preservation standards. Many of the Archives projects are screened at prestigious film events around the globe. The Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum is the home of the UCLA Film & Television Archive's public programs. The theater is among a handful of venues nationwide able to exhibit an entire century's worth of moving images in their original formats. From the earliest silent films requiring variable speed projection all the way up to cutting-edge digital cinema, the Wilder can accommodate an array of screen technologies. Attachments Phase 3 study failed to meet one of the success criteria of the primary objective RSV program to be discontinued COPENHAGEN, Denmark, July 22, 2023 Bavarian Nordic A/S (OMX: BAVA) today announced that its Phase 3 clinical trial of MVA-BN RSV, a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine candidate for adults 60 years of age did not meet all the primary endpoints of preventing lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) from RSV. The final study results showed that the vaccine candidate had a 59% efficacy in preventing at least 2 pre-defined LRTD symptoms meeting one of the efficacy criteria of the study. However, when measuring more severe LRTD based on at least 3 pre-defined symptoms, the vaccine candidate only demonstrated a 42.9% efficacy and missed the co-primary endpoint of the study. Based on this outcome, Bavarian Nordic will discontinue its RSV program, including its partnership with Nuance Pharma to develop and launch the vaccine for selected Asian markets. We are disappointed that our RSV vaccine candidate was not successful in this pivotal trial, said Paul Chaplin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bavarian Nordic. While this outcome was unexpected and will impact our short-term growth expectations, we continue to have a unique commercial business and given the recent strong brand and market growth, this provides a solid foundation for profitable growth in the years to come. A continued strong growth in the Companys travel vaccine business is expected to absorb the loss incurred from the lack of milestone payments of DKK 195 million, that are no longer expected under the Nuance partnership, and thus no impact on the financial guidance for 2023 is expected from the RSV program discontinuation. About the Phase 3 trial The global, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind Phase 3 VANIR clinical trial enrolled more than 20,000 adults 60 years of age, who were randomized 1:1 to receive either a single dose of MVA-BN RSV or placebo. The primary objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of the vaccine candidate against lower-respiratory tract disease (LTRD) caused by RSV. About Bavarian Nordic Bavarian Nordic is a fully integrated vaccines company focused on the research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of life-saving vaccines. We are a global leader in smallpox and mpox vaccines, which have been developed through our long-standing partnership with the U.S. Government to enhance the public health preparedness and have a strong portfolio of vaccines for travelers and endemic diseases. Using our live virus vaccine platform technology, MVA-BN and in-licensed technologies, we have created a diverse portfolio of proprietary and partnered product candidates designed to save and improve lives by unlocking the power of the immune system. For more information visit www.bavarian-nordic.com . Forward-looking statements This announcement includes forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, future events, performance and/or other information that is not historical information. All such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances after the date made, except as required by law. Contacts Europe: Rolf Sass Srensen, Vice President Investor Relations, Tel: +45 61 77 47 43 US: Graham Morrell, Paddock Circle Advisors, graham@paddockcircle.com , Tel: +1 781 686 9600 Company Announcement no. 28 / 2023 Attachment CALGARY, July 22, 2023 - This news release is being disseminated as required by National Instrument 62-103 in connection with the acquisition of securities of Northern Shield Resources Inc. (the "Corporation") (TSXV: NRN.V). Between July 18, 2023 and July 20, 2023 Russell Richards, the chair of the board of the Corporation, acquired (the "Acquisition") an aggregate of 4,400,000 common shares (the "Acquired Shares") in the capital of the Corporation. The Acquired Shares were purchased in three separate transactions as follows: 2,657,000 common shares on July 18, 2023 at a price of $0.050 per common share; 1,564,000 common shares on July 19, 2023 at a price of $0.050 per common share; and 179,000 common shares on July 20, 2023 at a price of $0.055 per common share. Total consideration paid for the Acquired Shares was $220,895.00. The Acquisition was conducted through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange. Prior to the Acquisition, Mr. Richards beneficially owned, controlled or directed an aggregate of 4,000,000 common shares, representing approximately 5.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Corporation. Following the Acquisition, Mr. Richards beneficially owns, controls or directs an aggregate of 8,400,000 common shares, representing approximately 10.9% of the issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis, and approximately 14.37% on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of all 2,650,000 common share purchase warrants of the Corporation held by Mr. Richards. Mr. Richards purchased the Acquired Shares for investment purposes. Mr. Richards may acquire additional securities or dispose of securities either on the open market or through private acquisitions in the future depending on market conditions, reformulation of plans and/or other relevant factors and subject to applicable securities laws. The Corporation's head office is located at 150 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K2P 1L4. An early warning report will be electronically filed under applicable securities laws and will be available on the Corporation's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. SOURCE Northern Shield Resources Inc. LONG BEACH, Calif. A 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Texas and sexually assaulted was rescued in Southern California when passersby saw her hold up a "help me" sign in a parked car, police and federal authorities said. The rescue occurred July 9 in Long Beach, south of Los Angeles, when officers responded to a trouble call and found the "visibly emotional and distressed girl," police said in a news release Thursday. "Through their investigation, officers learned the Good Samaritans were in a parking lot when they saw the victim in a parked vehicle holding up a piece of paper with 'help me' written on it. They acknowledged the note and immediately called 9-1-1," police said. Steven Robert Sablan, 61, of Cleburne, Texas, was arrested and on Thursday was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of kidnapping and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Los Angeles. Sablan was being held at the federal Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown LA. It was not immediately known if he had an attorney. The girl was walking down a street in San Antonio, Texas, on July 6 when Sablan drove up, raised a black handgun and told her, "If you don't get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you," an FBI agent wrote in an affidavit supporting the criminal complaint. According to the account, the girl left home without telling her parents because she was attempting to visit a school friend who moved to Australia a year earlier but kept in touch through an internet chatroom. At some point after getting in Sablan's car, the girl told him about her friend and Sablan said he could take her to a cruise ship to go to Australia, but she would have to do something for him, the affidavit said. The suspect stopped the car and sexually assaulted the girl, who told him to stop but was scared that she would be hurt if she did not comply, the agent wrote. Sablan sexually assaulted the girl several more times on the drive from San Antonio through New Mexico, Arizona and into California, the affidavit said. The girl's mother reported her missing to San Antonio authorities July 7. In Long Beach, the suspect parked at a laundromat and told the girl to change her clothes, then took her clothes and his inside, creating the opportunity for the girl to write "help me" on a piece of note paper, according to the document. When Long Beach police officers arrived, Sablan was standing outside the car and they observed the girl mouth the word "help," the agent wrote. During the arrest, officers found a pair of silver handcuffs in Sablan's back pocket and that he was wanted for burglary in Fort Worth. A search of the vehicle turned up the a black plastic BB gun, the "help me" sign, a switchblade knife and black handcuffs in packaging labeled "Fetish Fantasy Series Designer Cuffs," the document said. The affidavit said Sablan was convicted of robbery with a deadly weapon in 1979, robbery with a deadly weapon and burglary in 1985 and possession of a controlled substance in 2016. The girl was placed in the custody of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. Adrianne Berman, federal employee Gayle Glanville, senior development officer, Northeast Ohio Medical University (Glanville previously held positions with The Ohio State University, College of Wooster and City of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio) Tim McNish, career consultant, Jewish Family Services, Columbus, Ohio (McNish previously worked with Ohio local schools, in workforce development, and on an AmeriCorps assignment) Adam Roberts, senior community development analyst, St. Louis County Visit Governing U , our an index of public sector management and policy degrees from universities across the country. It provides a single source for browsing offerings from Master of Public Administration (MPA) , the Master of Public Policy (MPP) and the Executive MPA and certificate and other professional programs designed specifically for the education needs of working professionals in public service.In todays competitive job market, holding a masters degree is a valuable tool to have when marketing yourself and to a good-paying career. And if youre already in a job you enjoy, an advanced degree can put you in a better position for promotions, better pay, and recognition within your organization or among your peers. But given the high cost of a masters degree in public administration (MPA) or public policy (MPP), as well as certificate and executive programs, does the benefit of seeking one outweigh its costs?You might be tempted to consider substituting on-the-job experience for a masters degree. And while the knowledge you gain at each job you hold is invaluable, MPA and MPP programs help you take a step back and see the bigger picture, a big plus for out-of-the-box thinking.One of the things employers often comment on is theyre looking for someone who can see the big picture of things and understand connections between things and put a better analytic framework on things than someone who just went to college, says National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration (NASPAA) Executive Director Laurel McFarland. A lot of learning on the job is what Id call specific human capitalhow this agency or office does something. What a degree does, typically, is it teaches you how to take a few steps back from a particular workplace and teaches you how to do [for example] budgeting in a more general settingyou understand what youre doing and learning on the job in a broader context.If youre already a civil servant and have accumulated a wealth of on-the-job knowledge, there is still benefit in the MPA/MPP degree, certificate or executive education programs. A significant portion of those who return to school for a masters degree are seeking to advance in their careers, specifically into leadership positions. And often times, you cant rely on your current job to give you the skills necessary to lead an organization. According to McFarland, at some point, many employees recognize that they havent had the kind of leadership development training that they need to not just do their job but to lead people, and not just lead people but to help an organization envision where they want to go. When youre a front-line employee, these skills arent as important as when you become a manager.I asked two MPA and two MPP graduates in varying public positions what value they place on their graduate education. Click each name below to learn more.When I went to college, I knew I was going to pursue a Political Science degree and likely wanted to work in some level of government. However, I figured that my destined path would be to go to law school. Luckily, I had a great undergraduate advisor whoencouraged me to look at my universitys five-year combined BA/MPP program. I knew that I wanted to work in government and he convinced me that this degree would give me the skills needed to succeed in any level of government, more so than a law degree would.While I learned statistics and cost-benefit analysis, the lessons learned about the day-to-day workings of the federal government, as opposed to Congress and the political process, which I learned about while completing my BA, were more helpful than learning how to use STATA and what valuations to put on a cost or a benefit.I think that my MPP degree helped me to understand the inner workings of government and made me feel confident that I could excel in a government career.I wish that there had been a larger emphasis on the regulatory process as opposed to the policy making process.Yes, I certainly think that pursuing my MPP was worth the cost and time, especially when compared to pursuing a JD in this current climate. I was able to quickly and easily find a job and have found other since graduating from my program, so I think that is a big sign of success.I was having no luck finding a position teaching elementary school.Public administration was suggested by a mentor as a field that would help me serve my community along the lines of teaching.Professionally, I learned economics and budgeting from Francios Doamekpor. I am now able to make arguments for the sorts of programs necessary to do my job well.I dont think that gaining an education is the same as getting training. If one is trained to do a job there can be a clear delineation of pre-training incompetence and post-training mastery. Education is not like that. Education should expand and open the mind, allowing ideas in and out freely. My MPA experience certainly added to my ability to think critically, evaluate ideas, argue esoteric concepts and simply agree to disagree without raised voices.We spent quite a lot of time in collaborative learning environments, and those lessons have served me very well through the years.Oh, absolutely. The degree has added to my salary through the years, has added to my ability to do my job well, and has added to my prestige with my peers in the academic world in which I choose to work. I would do it again in a heartbeat.Ilost my job as a manager of an auto rental agency when the company went out of business. I decided that a career in the public sector or social services would better fit my values. I had an interest in social work and while researching my options, decided that my interest in non-profit work, my business degree and minor in political science would market well with an MPA. I felt that in the long run, it could provide more career versatility than the social work degree.My studies in public finance, public policy and organizational theory provided me with the ability to understand the bigger picture with regard to the programs that I have been involved with.I studied grant-writing during my MPA program and have written grants and contributed to grant-writing and program design/development in all of my positions. These skills have allowed me to contribute to my employers above and beyond the specific responsibilities of my positions and provided me with opportunities to broaden my experience.It provided me with the credentials and skills required to change the direction of my career and enter the human services field. It has helped me to be creative in my positions to be a part of program design and development and take on leadership roles, both formally and informally.Really being able to see the bigger picture.It helped me to recognize that change is constant and adaptability is critical to long-term success.There was no question that it was well worth it to me. Shortly after graduating, I was able to find a career that fit my values and passions. I tried but was unable to achieve that goal prior to entering graduate school. The degree is unique among colleagues and has given me a valuable perspective to share with management, peers, and clients.The environment in which policy actors perform is constantly changing and in order to produce accurate and impactful results, policy must be analyzed from every possible angle.There have been countless times where the tools I acquired through the MPP helped me to work through challenging projects and difficult situations. I have also been portrayed as a policy resource within my department and by other public and private partners in the St. Louis Region.Policy analysis is the primary tool that I learned while receiving my MPP that I use every day.Everyday tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) mapping and quantitative data analysis techniques I developed in graduate school have also enhanced my policy making effectiveness tremendously.The one thing I really wished I would have learned more about during my MPP program was local government financing mechanisms.I do think the time and money invested into obtaining my MPP degree was well worthwhile. I really feel this way because of the tools I acquired and understanding of the world around me that I gained. Public-sector leadership comes with a unique set of increasingly complex challenges. There is finite time. Resource constraints are real. The gap between public expectations and service capabilities is widening. There is politicking. Trust is sparse. And technology is rapidly changing the way we live, work and play.According to the Census Bureau, there are more than 89,000 governmental bodies in the United States, representing many times that number of people in elected, appointed or career administrative decision-making roles. Despite this significant universe, leadership best practices specific to the public sector are under-theorized and under-represented.Leading people and organizations is about more than giving speeches, passing new laws, building a strong public workforce or enforcing regulations effectively. We need to pay attention to the personal factors and challenges that underlie effective leadership. Here, blended from reviews of published research and practice along with interviews with elected local and state government leaders in California, are five key personal strategies:It all starts with you: honest, open and real. Mastering the internal is an in-depth process of exploring self-awareness (who am I), self-management (how am I) and self-care (what I need). Self-awareness is shaped by origin, identity, experiences, strengths, socialization and expertise. Self-management brings emotional regulation. Mastery comes from an honest appraisal of our triggers and the ways we address stress to operate at peak levels.Partisanship is all too alive and well; much information is slanted to support one ideological point of view or another. Be conscious about how data is gathered and where it comes from. Like a detective, analyze data from multiple perspectives to make informed decisions. This process blends mind (statistics, policies, institutional knowledge, economics) and heart (people, context, power and influence) to gather a full spectrum of information and reduce the likelihood of decisions being made on the basis of biased information.Vision is like a lighthouse guiding us in the desired direction. Effective government leaders are driven by purpose and a focus on achieving long-term goals that benefit the entire community. This means translating vision into workable actions and thinking beyond the immediate context. Moreover, this means understanding that there are always going to be some things you have no control over.This is the conduit for sustaining legitimacy and building political capital. Build trust by sharing experience, actively listening, and recognizing and voicing reliable communications. Remember that both verbal and non-verbal communications send messages and that inconsistency in words and actions challenges trust.When circumstances change, how do you respond? Recognize that change is natural and inevitable. Learn to be comfortable with not knowing what is coming. Willingness to engage with not knowing means evaluating your plans through honest questioning and being open to new ways of doing things when the status quo is not working. This involves acknowledging mistakes, which can feel vulnerable and humbling, but humility allows us to learn. And leading through change involves recognizing wins along the way. Celebrate contributions and progress. We are all in it together, after all. F1 filming continues despite Hollywood strike Filming of the new Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt is continuing this weekend in Hungary - despite the highly publicised Hollywood production strike. Start, British GP 2023 Red Bull All filming is cancelled, for now, a source for the film's production team told NBC last week. Brad Pitt really had fun, but he's definitely a very loyal member of the union, the source added. However, at the Hungaroring this weekend, filming of on-track scenes continued with the modified 'Apx GP' Formula 2 cars - and Pitt is expected to appear at the circuit near Budapest where a special garage has been set up as was the case at Silverstone. Fortunately we can continue, Lewis Hamilton, an executive producer, is quoted by Kolner Express newspaper. Hopefully we can get some important parts of the film done here, the Mercedes driver added in Hungary. Through July 30 Lake Ontario Counties Summer Derby. www.loc.org July 23 Double T Archery Memorial Shoot, 1120 North French Road, Amherst from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $15 per person. 30 3-D targets and 15 bag targets. July 24 Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs summer picnic meeting at the Hartland Conservation Club, 3606 Orangeport Road, Gasport, starting at 6 p.m. Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks provided. July 25 Trap or Skeet League continues at Wood and Brook Sportsmans Club, 13712 Genesee Street, Crittenden, from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., as well as Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 300 rounds of trap or skeet in any combo. 5-7 person teams. Call Ben at 983-0026 for more info. July 25 Allied Sportsmen 3-D Archery League continues at 12846 Clinton Street, Alden, and will run for 17 weeks beginning at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 15 targets on the course. Contact John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. July 26 Sun Life Marina Bass Open from 6-9 p.m. Fee is $40 per boat. Best 3 bass. July 27 Six Week Doubles Trap League (300 Target Doubles) at Boston Valley Conservation Society, 9624 Zimmerman Road, Boston. Sign-up 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursdays. Targets may be ATA registered. July 27 Erie County Federation of Sportsmens Clubs monthly meeting at Niagara River Station, 355 East River Road, Grand Island, starting at 6:30 p.m. July 29-20 Barts Cove Walleye Invitational, Dunkirk. NY waters only. Call 998-9871 for more info. July 30 Summer Lake Ontario Counties Trout, Salmon, and Walleye Derby ends at 1 p.m. with awards to follow at Rileys Bar and Grill, North Rose. www.loc.org Aug. 1 Wood and Brook Sportsmans Club Trap or Skeet League continues at Genesee Street, Crittenden. Shooting 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Also Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Open to the public. Teams are 5-7 shooters. 300 total birds in trap or skeet. Call Ben at 983-0026 or Brian at 863-0719. Aug. 1 Allied Sportsmen 3-D Archery League continues at 12846 Clinton Street, Alden, and will run for 17 weeks beginning at 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. A total of 15 targets on the course. Any questions contact John Floriano at 725-5822 or Kevin Ulrich at 430-1059. Aug. 1 Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Irondequoit Fish and Game Club, 658 Bay Front S., Rochester. Aug. 1 Niagara Musky Association monthly meeting at the Eldredge Club, 17 Broad Street, Tonawanda, starting at 7 p.m. Aug. 2 Double Dip Wednesday Sun Life Marina Bass Opens from 6 to 9 a.m. and from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Fee is $40 per boat for each. Best 3 bass. Aug. 3 Six Week Doubles Trap League (300 Target Doubles) at Boston Valley Conservation Society, 9624 Zimmerman Road, Boston. Sign-up 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is the final week. Targets may be ATA registered. Aug. 4 Reel Impact Fishing Tournament with PUNT Pediatric Cancer Collaborative and Catching Dreams Charters on the lower Niagara River. Call Ned Librock at 870-5326 for more info. Aug. 4 A Night of Reels and Revelry with WNY Chapter of Cystic Fibrosis Foundation with Summer Bash at The Atrium, 1 Robert Rich Way, Buffalo. Call 204-2535 for tickets or more info. Aug. 4-6 Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club Walleye Derby. Three fish per day, NY waters only. Call 640-2776 for more info. Aug. 6 Niagara Musky Association summer picnic from noon to 4 p.m. at Stiglmeirer Park, Cheektowaga. Please RSVP. Aug. 9 Sun Life Marina Bass Open from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fee is $40 per boat. Best 3 bass. Perez will lose his place at Red Bull Sergio Perez's future at Red Bull became even more clouded on Friday when he crashed during his opening practice laps at the Hungaroring. Sergio Perez, Spanish GP 2023 Red Bull With Daniel Ricciardo back in racing action in the Red Bull family this weekend and Yuki Tsunoda also still shining in the sister Alpha Tauri, former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher said the crash was the last thing Perez needed. This cannot happen, he told Sky Deutschland. "I predict he will lose his place in the long run. And maybe Ricciardo's return to the wheel of Red Bull is closer than we all think. Most believe the 33-year-old is now spiralling downwards as the pressure mounts. The mental factor is very, very important, Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost told Bild newspaper when asked about Perez's situation. You win and lose races in your head. Formula 1 is a very tough business. Worse still for Perez is that he crashed before collecting any data for Red Bull about its new and rare-in-2023 car update. Now he has no more spare parts, Dr Helmut Marko confirmed. However, with Perez already contracted for 2024 - and with multiple powerful Mexican sponsors part of the deal - Marko insists that his seat is safe for now. If Ricciardo presents himself well, he could certainly be an issue for Red Bull Racing in the future, said Marko. But that will certainly only be possible after the end of the 2024 season, when Perez's contract expires. Marko told motorsport-magazin.com that, on Friday, Ricciardo was close to Tsunoda except on the soft tyres in qualifying trim. He needs to improve on the fast lap to get more in qualifying - that's our goal, he said. There is still a third training session for this so I hope we can solve these problems. Alpha Tauri's Tost believes Japanese Tsunoda will also be a candidate for Perez's top seat. Of course that depends on the further results, he said. "There are already discussions with our partner Honda. If you take this year's performances, you can assume that it can happen. For his part, Perez admitted he simply made a mistake on Friday - on top of five consecutive failures to even reach Q3 recently. Achieving tourists target: Reduce tariffs, taxes -Hotels association to government Dickson Worlanyo Dotse Business News Jul - 22 - 2023 , 06:18 The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has entreated the government to address the needs of hoteliers to make it easier for the country to achieve its 1.2 million tourists target. The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the association, Benjamin Afunya, who articulated the views of the GHA, said even though hotels were ready to receive visitors, the government should reduce the high tariffs, taxes and levies to enable them to operate freely. We need government to reduce tariffs. As Im talking to you, big and small hotels alike are owing so much. Fees that we used to pay at less than GH3,000 weekly or monthly, we are now paying twice that value. Today, we are just laying workers off. I personally have had to lay about five off, he revealed. Mr Afunya made the appeal at a dinner and awards ceremony held in Accra yesterday. Organised by the Greater Accra Regional Chapter of the association, some individuals who had shown exemplary and distinguished leadership and attained exceptional heights in the hospitality industry over the years were honoured. Issues The countrys law provides tax free regime for certain items imported for use in the hotel and hospitality industry such as beddings, towels, cutlery, plates and utencils. The hoteliers, however, maintained that although the policy existed on paper, the procedure to access the benefit was very cumbersome, thereby making it virtually non-existent. Untapped potential The President of the association, Dr Edward Ackah-Nyamike, said a huge potential of the countrys tourism and hospitality sector remained untapped, and therefore, urged the government to develop its development model on that. Ive often said we have to model our development on tourism. That alone, and we will rely less on gold and these things that are creating challenges for us. Tourism is the way into the future and Im happy to be part of this industry, he said. More rooms needed At the third National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the GHA last Thursday, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal, said that players in the hospitality industry must collaborate with the government to increase hotel rooms to 100, 000 in the next decade. He said the country would soon be awashed with lots of visitors and that called for the availability of more hotels to avoid difficulties. When US President Bill Clinton visited the country in 1998, some quarters alleged that he could not sleep overnight because there were no rooms enough to accommodate him, his delegation and security details. The General Manager of Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Raphael Ayitey, stressed that the introduction of initiatives such as the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, December in GH, Afrochella, Afro Nations, as well as the visit of high profile personalities to the countrys forts and castles were very impressive and helpful. However, he said, the industry needed operational support to enable prices to come down, offer more value and create more jobs. Mr Ayitey, who is also the National Treasurer of the Association of Ghana Industries, said the hotel and hospitality industry responded to a call to expand facilities prior to the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2007. He said the private sector had kept faith with its contributions to the growth of the hospitality industry and it was important to receive equally critical support and concessions from the state. Four honoured Four individuals, who were honoured with citations, were Mr Ayitey; the General Manager of Tang Palace Hotel, Sajid Khan; the General Manager of Accra City Hotel, Divine Matey; and the Managing Director of Labadi Beach Hotel, David Eduaful. Mr Afunya said the recognition was to motivate and encourage the individuals and other stakeholders to do more and take the industry to greater heights. Looking at their resilience in the industry, there was the need to show appreciation and honour those who have stood out. We just wanted to honour our people who are working for us, he added. Teamwork After receiving his award, Mr Ayitey said despite the host of challenges facing the industry, there was a growing demand for tourism visits to Ghana. He, therefore, commended the association and its members, the Ghana Tourism Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for their continuous efforts to push the sector forward. For his part, Mr Eduaful stressed the need for teamwork and collaboration to push for mutually-beneficial agendas to enhance their common good. Its not an easy industry. Its an industry where when the world catches cold, we all suffer. Its a very fragile industry. The least thing that happens and we are all affected. So, if we dont come together and we rather work in isolation, we will not get anywhere, he explained. Mr Khan encouraged hotel owners and managers to be passionate and dedicated to their work and added that the country had been noticed and recognised. Looking at the hospitality scene in places like Doha and Dubai, we havent reached there yet. But we have to be proud because even people in the hotel space over there are telling me that, at the moment, hospitality is in West Africa, he said. Similarly, Mr Matey advised members of the association to forge ahead and not fear criticism because being criticised meant they could improve on something they were already doing. You have to keep your focus. When COVID-19 came, we thought it was the end of the world and now its gone and we pray nothing else comes to disrupt our business. When we are focused and work together, well reach the top, he said. Govt still interested in viable Accra Sky train project- CEO of GIIF tells PAC Nana Konadu Agyeman Business News Jul - 22 - 2023 , 14:45 The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), Solomon Asamoah, has told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament that the government is still interested in investing and implementing the Accra Sky Train project due to potential viability of the project. He said the government had already invested $2 million with the Africa Investor Holdings Limited for the feasibility study of the public-private partnership project and steps were being taken for the early completion of the study. That is the intention that we are still following and the government is still interested in investing in the project because the fundamental reasons for the project still exist and the feasibility showed the project is potentially viable, he said. Potential solution Appearing before the PAC in Parliament to respond to some questions raised in the 2021 Auditor-General report on GIIF, Mr Asamoah said: Everybody lives in Accra and the potential solution for the congestion that happens on our roads is the Sky Train project and we will like to proceed with it. The changes in the macroeconomic environment of Ghana and the outbreak of COVID-19 delayed the project, making it a little bit challenging for the takeoff. But we still believe in it and we have spoken to funders and we are still in touch with potential financers who still believe in the project and in the right time we will still like to move forward, he said. A-Gs concerns Per the A-Gs report, the Fund paid $2 million on February 25, 2019 to Africa Investor Holdings Limited as full consideration for 10 ordinary shares at $1 per share in Ai Sky Train Consortium Holdings (the special purpose vehicle). The report said Ai Sky Train Consortium Holdings was yet to obtain the licence for Aeromovel Technology, required for the Sky Train Project. Feasibility studies which will better inform the project economics and the required approvals from the Cabinet of Ghana and the Parliament of Ghana are still ongoing and that the investment in the SPV could not be recovered, if the Accra Sky Train Project was unable to secure the licensing, and the Executive and Parliamentary approvals. Mr Asamoah appeared before the committee together with a Deputy Minister of Finance, Abena Osei-Asare, and the Deputy CEO of GIIF, Catherine Quiadoo, to respond to questions contained in A-Gs report. Extensive due diligence The CEO of GIIF said Ai Investor Holding Limited was a consortium of different partners based in South Africa. He said a delegation from consortium approached the Ministry of Railway Development back in 2017/2018 to engage the Ministry on how to fulfil the project. He said the Fund carried out extensive due diligence into the project feasibility in order to get returns on the Sky Train project. We even hired our own consultants to help us with the due diligence and it was very extensive work that was done to know that the project is viable before we made the investment decision, he said. Mr Asamoah indicated that there was an initial feasibility study that was done by the original consortium to prove the concept of the project When the Chairman of the PAC, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, asked if the GIIF would be able to recover the $2 million investment from Ai Holding Limited or it would push for the study to be complete and the taking off of the project, Mr Asamoah retorted Yes sir. Insurance penetration still low - Ag. Commissioner NIC Maclean Kwofi Business News Jul - 22 - 2023 , 05:43 The countrys insurance industry has evolved over the years with gross premiums increasing about tenfold from GH458 million in 2010 to GH6.6 billion in 2022. However, the insurance penetration rate in the country is still below two per cent with more than 75 per cent of Ghanaians, representing about 25 million people, being uninsured. The Daily Graphics reporter, Maclean Kwofi (MK), had a chat with the Ag. Commissioner of the National Insurance Commission (NIC), Michael Andoh (MA), on measures being deployed to correct that shortfall and further grow the industry. MACLEAN Kwofi (MK): Can you provide a brief overview of the current regulatory framework for insurance in Ghana and any recent or upcoming changes or reforms? Michael Andoh (MA): The NIC was established under Insurance Law 1989 (PNDC Law 227), but now operates under Insurance Act, 2021 (Act 1061). The object of the commission, as detailed in Act 1061, is to ensure effective administration, supervision, regulation and control of the business of insurance in the country. NIC is mandated to perform a wide spectrum of functions, including licensing of entities, setting of standards and facilitating the setting of codes for practitioners. The regulator is also mandated to approve rates of insurance premiums and commissions, provide a bureau for the resolution of complaints and arbitrate insurance claims when disputes arise. Other responsibilities include the provision of recommendation to the sector minister for policy formulation, supervision of practitioners, enforcement of compliance and public education. The development of strong relationships with regulators from other countries and international bodies such as ensuring the conformity of practitioners to internationally accepted standards are also key mandates of the commission. The enactment of Act 1061 was a major milestone towards a robust insurance regulatory environment, as it empowers and grants adequate powers to the commission. Together with several other initiatives in the past decade, the new law provides a strong regulatory framework for Ghanas insurance industry. Growth MK: How is the insurance industry faring in 2023? MA: The insurance industry has been doing quite well in recent times. It is now made up of 28 non-life companies, 20 life companies, three reinsurance companies, 118 broking firms and 5,000 agents across the country. The Insurance Act which regulates the industry provides the NIC with a supervisory oversight for the life and non-life business, leaving health insurance to the National Health Insurance Authority (NIA) and pensions to the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA). The industry in terms of total assets was about GH13.6 billion at the end of 2022, with life contributing GH6.7 billion, non-life bringing in GH5.5 billion, while reinsurance offered GH1.1 billion. Gross premium has also jumped more than tenfold from GH458 million in 2010 to GH6.6 billion in 2022. It was made up of GH3.5 billion for life and GH3.1 billion for non-life insurance. MK: What has been the growth rate of the industry, and which segment of the business has contributed significantly to the numbers? MA: The industry has been growing about two to five per cent per annum in the last 10 years. But motor and life insurance have become a major contributor to the growth. The performance of motor insurance can be attributed to the motor insurance database (MID), which has seen the issuance of more than 4.4 million insurance stickers to vehicles. This represents a 25 per cent increase over the number of all insured vehicles on the countrys roads between January 2020 and now. The objective of the introduction of the MID is to curb the menace of vehicles with fake motor insurance stickers plying our roads, thus endangering lives and property. Since being introduced on January 1, 2020, the platform is helping to ensure compliance of the law and reduction of undercutting. Life insurance, on the other hand, has overtaken non-life insurance. We believe that the Act 724, which has been replaced by the new Act prohibited composite companies and separated life insurance firms from non-life companies and so the dedication of resources to life insurance also contributed significantly to the growth. We also think that the trend could be attributed to the significant improvement in the economy over the years. In most advanced economies, life insurance is bigger than the non-life and so I think our growth curve is normal. Size MK: Can you give us a brief explanation on how the size of the industry is measured? MA: There are two factors to consider when measuring the actual size of the insurance industry and its significance to national output. The first is the penetration rate, which is the percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) that the industry contributes in terms of gross premium. And the other is the coverage, which refers to the percentage of the population that have insurance services. So, because the majority of people are low-income earners in Ghana, even though the coverage has gone up significantly to 44.6 per cent, the penetration rate is still low. MK: What would you say is the current penetration rate and how has it grown over the last seven years? MA: The current insurance penetration is about 1.16 per cent, but we have instituted a number of measures, including insurance education, to get people to understand and appreciate insurance in order to boost effective demand. It is not just enough for people to hear about insurance; they need to also appreciate its use and benefits. So, there are diverse things we have been doing to improve insurance education on radio, television and newspapers. We also have market education through an initiative dubbed micro and small businesses clinic. Our industry is still considered small compared to other countries but we aspire to grow further by developing measures that can correct the anomaly. Some of the measures to shore up market development and improve financial resilience of regulated entities include risk-based supervision, a forward-looking supervision model that seeks to evaluate the risk profile of regulated entities and prioritise cash supervisory resources on entities with high-risk profiles, as well as the risk that poses the most threat to financial stability. With these measures, we are highly optimistic of increased insurance penetration in the coming years. Challenges MK: What are the key challenges facing the insurance industry in Ghana today, and what steps are being taken to address them? MA: Just like any other industry or sector, the insurance industry is also facing a number of challenges which the NIC is putting measures in place to resolve. For instance, the law stipulates that all imports with the exception of personal effects must be insured but our marine business is still not doing well, which simply means there is a big challenge. And so, we have been collaborating with relevant stakeholders to improve the business by getting importers to comply. We thought that it was better to use the collaboration approach than to use force to push that segment of the law. To that end, we have started collaborating with the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) and other trade associations such as the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF). The collaboration is to help get the public to comply in order to boost marine insurance in the country. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to help coordinate and collaborate has subsequently been signed. The NIC has also built a marine insurance database to help keep track of marine policies. Majority of our people operate in the agricultural sector, making it a major contributor to our gross domestic product (GDP) but the insurance support for the sector has not been at the level we expect. The new Insurance Act has created an agriculture fund to help boost agricultural insurance delivery in the country. The NIC is making an effort to raise capital for the fund to be efficient and support the industry. The insurance industry has made a substantial contribution, but we are waiting on other stakeholders such as the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), development partners and agriculture value chain actors. We need to boost agricultural productivity to ensure food security, adequate raw materials and to be able to control migration to the urban centres. MK: Finally, can you tell us how the insurance industry is faring after the debt exchange programme? MA: The industry is doing quite well after the DEP; our biggest fear was liquidity but thankfully the bond market has picked up and has not been as bad as we thought and so you can see the insurance firms are still paying claims, and have not collapsed. Yes, the insurance firms took some kind of knocks as a result of the DEP but the industry has been resilient and it is still functioning appreciably well. Parliamentary caucus on Climate commends Okyeame Kwame for Climate change advocacy Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Jul - 22 - 2023 , 20:06 Dr Emmanuel Marfo, Chairman for Parliamentary Caucus on Climate Change has applauded renowned Ghanaian rapper, Okyeame Kwame for leading advocacy on climate change in the country. Dr Marfo made the commendation when Okyeame Kwame led school children and various Non-Governmental organisations(NGOs) on environment on a Climate champions walk to demand requisite policies that will protect the environment at Parliament yesterday, July 21. Possibly impressed with the walk which had in attendance the Mayor of AMA, Honourable Elizabeth Sackey and UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana in attendance, Dr Marfo reiterated governments commitment in protecting climate change and making relevant contributions to global conversations on climate change. We have been impressed with your walk and the message that you have sent across and the message is very clear that you are demanding climate justice. You are demanding that we stop talking and start acting well now. That, there should be fairness in our world so that those who are polluting and those who are emitting dangerous gas in the atmosphere affecting climate change would also be fair to us to make contributions that reflect their level of pollution. So we as parliament and law makers around the world have also been calling for action on climate change, he said. Campaigns Since 2018, Okyeame has been leading campaigns on climate change. And this year, the onetime VGMA Artiste of the year, took the climate change awareness to Parliament to press upon our law makers to enact policies that will benefit the environment. In his presentation, the Woso hitmaker noted that the enactment of right polices were very relevant in this crucial times when Africa including Ghana are facing the harsh consequences of climate change, when they are contributing little it. We know that Africans only contribute four percent to the climate problems that bedevils the world. And so, we have come here seeking for climate justice. We have here national and international media and we want the whole world to state that in Ghana, we dont separate the conversation about the environment and climate change from the children who are here. So we have come here to encourage or law makes to work with the children of Ghana so that we can improve the global condition of global warming and we are not here by ourselves. This programme is being organised in partnership with the Mayor of Accra. Honorable Elizabeth Sackey, UN Residence Coordinator. We are here to seek Climate justice, he said. Madam Elizabeth Sackey reiterated the call for the protection of the environment noting that when the last tree dies, the last man dies. Charging the leadership of the Parliamentary Caucus on Climate to take action on climate change, the Lead Organiser for Climate Ghana, Portia Adu Mensah said everyone must be mindful of how to keep the environment safe. God created the world and asked human beings to be care takers of the world. It is our turn to also take care of the environment including the air that we breathe which is being affected by air pollution, she said. The Climate Champion Walk and presentation to Parliament accentuated the commemoration of World Climate Emergency Day, celebrated on July 22 every year. The day was first celebrated in Ghana last year. In marking the day, Okyeame Kwame, who is also the Climate Clock ambassador did live count down on his social media pages as the clock counted down to the 5-year deadline earlier today at 4:00pm. The Climate clock exhibits a Deadline counting down the time remaining to prevent global warming from rising above 1.5C and three Lifelines tracking progress on key solution pathways, including the percentage of the worlds energy from renewable sources, the amount of land currently protected by Indigenous peoples, and the amount of money dedicated to the Green This was followed by a Twitter space conversation later in the evening to include stakeholders in the ongoing climate change discussions. Related article: Okyeame Kwame takes Climate change campaign to Parliament tomorrow Inconsistencies in police complaint, media reports on stolen money from my residence - Cecilia Dapaah Graphic.com.gh Jul - 22 - 2023 , 07:45 There are noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has stated in response to media reports on money stolen from her residence. I refer to publications dated 21/07/2023 suggesting that I own one million dollars, three hundred thousand euros and millions of cedis which have been stolen from my house. There are noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter. I am taking steps to examine the origins of the inconsistencies and will provide a detailed response in the coming days, Mrs Dapaah said in a press statement dated July 21, in reaction to media reports on the theft. Related articles Two house helps working for the Minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour are facing charges at an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing monies and items worth millions of cedis from the couple's residence at Abelemkpe in Accra. The accused are 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei. They allegedly stole personal effects belonging to the minister including assorted clothes valued at GH95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery worth US$95,000. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing. The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022. Patience Botwe has also been accused of stealing six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH90,000 and six sets of men's suits valued at US$3,000, which belong to the minister's husband. Furthermore, three other individuals, identified as Ms. Botwe's current and former boyfriends and her father, are also facing charges for allegedly being involved in the crime. They have been respectively charged with dishonestly receiving GH1 million, GH180,000, and GH50,000. Attached below is a copy of the charge sheet STATEMENT FROM CECILIA ABENA DAPAAH 2023 Insurance Fair: Citizens urged to patronise insurance policies Mary Anane-Amponsah, Gertrude Ankah Nyavi Jul - 22 - 2023 , 07:21 Insurance companies in the country have urged citizens to patronise insurance policies to enjoy the benefits that come with its packages. They said insurance benefits were generally colossal than what other investments offered, and therefore, encouraged people to own one or more packages to secure their future against unexpected events. In an interview with the Daily Graphic at the ongoing 2023 National Insurance Fair in Accra yesterday, the insurers debunked claims that it was as a result of the expensive nature of their policies that there was low patronage of the sector in the country. The Head of Corporate Services of SIC Life, Albert Bahun-Wilson, said it was rather the opposite because we have low premiums that provide high benefits or compensations to clients when the need arises. The negative perception people have about insurance has contributed to the low interest in investing in our policies, and this perception is what we want to correct through programmes of this nature where we can interact with the public, know their concerns and address them, he said. Mr Bahun-Wilson also advised the public to be critical about policies they sign up to by first seeking guidance and advice from professionals. On the payment of claims, he said insurance companies paid not less than GH 4 million claims daily. Patronage Officials of Enterprise Insurance Life interacting with some customers. Picture: ESTHER ADJORKOR ADJEI Touching on the fair, Mr Bahun-Wilson said it had met their expectations, adding that patronage was encouraging. It looks like almost anyone who comes to the Accra Mall gets to know there is something going on and they come here to listen to what insurance is all about, so it has not been bad, he said. The Accra Main Branch Manager of Provident Insurance Company Limited, Kwabena Brempong, commended organisers of the fair. "I believe that the whole exercise was a good idea to help correct the wrong perception the public have about the industry. And we as insurers have had our expectations met because it is part of our programme within the year to create awareness," he said. Mr Brempong further urged the organisers to do more publicity in subsequent events to attract more patronage. The senior relationship officer of the State Insurance Company (SIC) Limited, Godson Soffo Bissi, also said he was impressed about the turnout, adding that they had had a number of people visiting their stand. Reactions A publisher, Lawrence Tei, who is under an insurance cover, explained that he did so to protect his investment. He, however, claimed that cumulatively, insurance was expensive, adding expensive as it is, if there is no incident, you do not get your money back and that is the disadvantage. A business intelligence analyst, Afua Mensah, said she was not on any insurance cover because her company did not offer such packages, hence, she did not know much about insurance, but with the information gathered here, I will consider patronising some policies in future. A salesperson, Caleb Fio, also said that apart from the National Health Insurance Scheme, he did not have any other insurance cover. This fair has now broadened my knowledge about insurance policies and I so am now willing to give it a try, he said. The fair which began on Thursday, July 19, 2023, on the theme: Making insurance the Ghanaianway of life, ends today, July 22, 2023. Dilapidated structures, lack of desks affecting teaching in Kumbungu Mohammed Fugu Jul - 22 - 2023 , 11:00 The lives of pupils and teachers of Nwodua R/C Primary School in the Kumbungu District in the Northern Region are under threat, as teaching and learning are undertaken in dilapidated structures. The dilapidated structures, coupled with the lack of space, have compelled authorities to jam-pack the pupils in the few available structures. Some of the pupils sit on stones, while others make do with benches for lessons. Situation A school building weakened by cracks With a population of about 800, the school that was established in 1992 has not undergone any facelift. A large number of dual desks for the pupils have broken down and left unattended to on the schools compound. The structures are not only unfit for classrooms but are also woefully inadequate. Deep cracks have also developed on the buildings with the roof leaking, exposing the pupils and teachers to danger. The situation has affected enrollment in the school, as a number of pupils have dropped out, while some have left to join nearby schools. Others, the Daily Graphic gathered, were supporting their parents on the farm. A teacher who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, said some of the pupils had dropped out of school becuase of the harsh condition. The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Paul Alhassan Issahaku, said the situation was seriously affecting teaching and learning, adding that it was compounded during the rainy season. He said efforts to get authorities to fix the school had proved futile. "We have written series of letters to the district assembly but they have done nothing about it. I do not know whether they are waiting for it to fall before," he lamented. Some of the pupils sitting on improvised benches for lessons Appeal For his part, the Assemblyman for the area, Alhassan Tidoo, indicated that he had written several letters to the assembly to appeal for the renovation of the school, but he had not received any positive response. He, therefore, made an appeal to the assembly and other benevolent organisations for support to save the pupils from being exposed to the harsh weather conditions in the area. Some of the pupils who spoke with the Daily Graphic expressed worry about the situation and said any time it rained they were compelled to boycott school. All attempts to speak to the District Chief Executive for Kumbungu, Abdul-Salam Hamza Fataw, on the matter proved futile as all calls went unanswered. Emancipation, PANAFEST from Pikworo Slave Camp to Elmina Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Jul - 22 - 2023 , 07:00 Beginning next year, the celebration of Emancipation Day and Pan African Festival (PANAFEST) will begin from the Pikworo Slave Camp in Nania in the Upper East Region, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Akwasi Agyeman, has announced. Yearly, the celebration started from Accra but clearly the route starts from Pikworo, and must start from here going forward, he said. He said the day was historic, and that the celebration would start from the Pikworo camp through to Salaga, then to Bono Manso to Assin Manso before ending in Cape Coast and Elmina. Celebration Mr Agyeman announced this when he addressed a mini durbar to commemorate the 2023 Emancipation Day and PANAFEST celebration at the Pikworo Slave Camp last Thursday. The celebration was organised by the Upper East Regional office of the Ghana Tourism Authority under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the PANAFEST Secretariat. The event, which was on the theme: Reclaiming the African family: confronting the past to face the challenges of the 21st Century, was interspersed with cultural dance performances by the Sandema War Dancers and the Sakoti Dancers. Mr Agyeman said the new initiative had come to stay, and would, accordingly, be observed annually. He noted that the move was to remind everyone that everything about the slave trade started from Pikworo and must remain as such, stressing that it was important for everyone to understand the chronology of events about the slave trade. Drown in tears Mr Agyeman noted that despite the inhumane treatment the slaves went through, a considerable number of them survived and managed to have offsprings who returned home occasionally to come to terms with their heritage. He noted that the GTA, being the coordinating agency for the Year of Return and Beyond the Return, was happy that many disaporans had come back to their routes, especially to the Pikworo camp where it all began. We were not born slaves, but it was rather someone who came with weapons and deceived our forefathers to enslave them, he said. Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of Ghana Tourism Authority, speaking during the event Gathering shed tears A performance by school pupils depicting what the forefathers went through left the audience in tears. It came about when pupils of the Roveca International School in Paga re-enacted the struggles of slaves captured from the areas as well others from neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, went through before being transported to the coastal areas for onward transportation abroad. The pupils received applause at the end of their performance as they pricked the senses of their audience with a performance that belied their ages. Re-affirm commitment The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, said the choice of the camp for this years celebration was not a coincidence since the region was home to several historical sites, including the regional museum which hosted the museums and monuments for the entire northern areas. He urged the people to re-affirm their commitment to freedom, justice and equality by recognising the progress the people of the country had collectively made as well as the opportunities ahead. Ghana, Italy renew ties Daily Graphic Jul - 22 - 2023 , 07:13 Ghana and Italy have renewed their commitment to deepen the ties of co-operation and the bond of friendship that exist between the two countries. They also pledged to continue to explore sectors of mutual interests for the benefit of their respective countries. This came to light during bilateral discussions between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Italian counterpart, President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy, yesterday, as part of the Presidents four-day official visit to that country. Relations President Akufo-Addo said that Ghana and Italy had strong relations spanning many decades, leading to some Italian companies establishing businesses in the country, and cited an Italian Engineering firm, Impregilo, which constructed the Akosombo Dam as an example. He reiterated Ghanas determination to continue to work with Italy, and expressed appreciation to President Mattarella for his countrys support in Ghana securing a $3 billion Extended Credit facility from the International Monetary Fund. President Akufo-Addo further said that Ghana would collaborate with Italy in the development of the countrys pharmaceutical and agro-based sectors, and that those were some of the issues that would be on the agenda when he called on the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, on Monday, July 24, 2023, in Italy. President Akufo-Addo also said that it was important to redesign the global financial and economic architecture to ensure that systems of injustice and inequity in the global financial sector were corrected. Reforms President Akufo-Addo further called for reforms at the UN Security Council, which he said was long overdue. We are anxious that the matter of UN Reform be given priority on the global agenda. It is time to correct the longstanding injustice that the current structure and composition of the UN Security Council represent for the nations of Africa. We are encouraged, though, by the attitude and sentiments of two leaders of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council President Joe Biden of the US and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic, who have publicly called for the reforms. We look forward to leaders of the three other Permanent Members to also throw their support behind the reform process, he said. While in Italy, President Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver the keynote address at the 4th ECAM Summit in Rome, which has been organised as a sideline event to coincide with the Coordination Hub of the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment in Rome. The summit will discuss challenges and opportunities in the fields of healthcare and food safety in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Beacon of democracy President Mattarella said Ghanas continued adherence to the tenets of democracy, good governance, the rule of law and principles of accountability had made the country a beacon of democracy and stability not only in West Africa but the entire Africa continent. He also applauded the role being played by Ghana in helping to deal with the jihadist and terrorists threats in the Sahel. Describing the Accra Initiative as commendable, the Italian President pledged the support of his country for the success of the initiative because the stability of the Sahel is important, adding that Italy would also support Ghana in its effort to contain the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The Italian President also agreed to President Akufo-Addos suggestion that the current set-up of the global financial architecture must be more responsive to the needs of the world. LOTSA Club tournaments successful The Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association held its in-club tournaments last weekend, and they were again successful ventures. In last Saturday's 20th annual LOTSA King Salmon big fish contest, Bob Herkalo of Bangor, Pa., with the Sweet Jane team (that included his brother Mike), caught the biggest fish overall a 25.82-pound salmon. They reeled the fish in between Wilson and Olcott in 225 feet of water with an NK Green Dolphin spoon. It was caught on a diver back 165 feet on a No. 2 setting. The big king enters the weekend at 11th place on the leaderboard for the Summer LOC Derby. In the clubs 3-2-3 contest, which amounts to three fish over two days with three winners, Robert Schneider of Massachusetts and the Royal Flush team (with his son Devon Glynn) won with an impressive three-fish total of 69.19 pounds. Schneider found a huge temperature break in 210 feet of water off Wilson, 60 to 80 feet down. Flashers and cut bait did the trick to produce two 23-pound kings Saturday. Runner-up was the Streaker team with Matt and Marc Dunn, as well as Doug Parker Sr. and Jr. They totaled 62.09 pounds of salmon by fishing off Wilson in 400 feet of water, using 300 and 400-foot copper lines rigged with meat and flies behind flashers to produce the big boys. Leading the way in the 13th annual Curt Meddaugh Memorial 3-Fish contest last Friday was Gary House of Hamburg and the Red Dawn team with a total weight of 56.28 pounds. Streaker finished runner-up there, too, with 54.74 pounds of salmon. Big fish Friday was Marty Polovick of Lockport with his 4 Poles team, weighing in a 23.7-pound king salmon. A total of 48 boats competed in the events. Check out all the details at www.lotsa1.org. Reel Impact Tournament Aug. 4 The Second Reel Impact Fishing Tournament to benefit the PUNT Pediatric Cancer Collaborative and Catching Dreams is scheduled for Aug. 4 in the lower Niagara River out of Lewiston. The tournament will consist of up to 15 crews of anglers paired with local charter captains to earn points for every bass and walleye caught. Proceeds from the friendly event will benefit families in Western New York facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis through special programs provided by Catching Dreams and PUNT. Sponsoring a boat will include fishing for up to three anglers, breakfast and lunch, a gift bag, and a snackle box for your fishing adventure. There are other sponsorship opportunities available. For more information, contact Capt. Ned Librock with Catching Dreams Charters at 870-5326. DMAP permit deadline is Aug. 1 Fall hunting seasons are not very far off. The states Department of Environmental Conservation has announced that lifetime licenses and tags are being mailed and the agency also reminded landowners that special Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) tags must be requested by Aug. 1. DMAP provides landowners the opportunity to receive additional antlerless deer tags (if eligible) that they can issue to licensed recreational hunters for use on their property during open hunting seasons. Deer damage can be devastating for some agricultural areas, and this is one way to help control deer herds in some areas. To be considered for DMAP permits, landowners or their designated agent must apply by Aug. 1, explaining why these special permits are needed. Properties enrolled under the forest regeneration, unique natural areas, and custom deer management categories must meet minimum acreage requirements and/or submit a written management plan with their application. If approved, DMAP permits are valid for three years. However, annual reporting of those permits is required for continued eligibility. To obtain an application, follow the link https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/wildlife_pdf/dmapappl.pdf. For more information on DMAP and to see if you are eligible, visit https://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/33973.html. Con Club Walleye tourney Aug. 4-6 The three-day Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club, known simply as the Con Club around fishing circles, will be holding its popular walleye derby Aug. 4-6 on Lake Erie out of Dunkirk. Only the first 100 boats entered are eligible to complete, and the event usually sells out every year. The premise of the contest is simple. Teams can fish for their three biggest fish each day, in New York waters only. Each day is treated separately for big fish and overall weight, plus overall for the three days combined. For information on registration, contact 640-2776 or 366-8836. South Sudan delegation studies GAF, veterans architecture Joshua Bediako Koomson & Diana Mensah Jul - 22 - 2023 , 11:11 A delegation from South Sudans Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs has paid a five-day working visit to Ghana to study the security architecture of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). The delegation also studied the administrative structure of the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG). Led by the Under Secretary for Veterans' Affairs, Lieutenant General Biar Atem Ajang, the members were the Chairman of the South Sudan Veteran Affairs, Gen. Salva Chol Ayat; the Chairman of the Standing Committee on African Affairs (SCAA), Lt Gen. Panek Biar Chol Ayak, and the Director of Veterans Benefits, Col. Tut Gatwech Garang. The tour The delegation, together with the some members of the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG), visited the Ministry of Defence last Tuesday to engage with the Deputy Minister of Defence, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, and headed to the Burma Camp to have a closed-door discussion with the Chief of Defence Staff, Rear Admiral Seth Amoama. They also visited the Ghana Military Academy to familiarise themselves with the place and also interacted with the academy administration. The delegation was briefed on the history, objectives and operations of the GAF, a breakdown of the military divisions as well as some expansion project and the recruitment process of the force. Strong partner The Undersecretary for Veterans' Affairs of the Ministry of Defence and Veterans Affairs in South Sudan, Lt Gen. Biar Atem Ajang, acknowledged Ghanas expertise in maintaining peace and security. We believe learning from Ghana, as a big brother, we can benefit immensely from the experience youve gathered over the years as the first sub saharan African nation to break the cycle of colonial rule, he said. In South Sudan, which is a newly formed state, he said most of the state institutions were still under construction and were not yet matured and that is why we are happy for extending this essential opportunity to visit your country and institutions, Lt Gen. Ajang said. He assured that South Sudan would continue to learn from Ghana and grow until the country was able to stand on its feet. Lt Gen. Ajang said the country had experienced one of the longest wars in Africa from 1955 to 1972 and from 1983 to 2002. He said there was now a peace treaty which was being implemented to ensure that the fight for peace to ensure the safety of its citizenry did not happen in vain. However, he said the country would need the support of nations who had more experience in conflict resolution such as Ghana, to maintain its current existing peace. I hope our business here will strengthen our effort to streamline our institutions in order, taking care of our veterans and wounded heroes, and many to manage their affairs, Lt Gen. Ajang said. Maintain peace The Deputy Minister of Defence commended South Sudan for the effort it had put in to maintain peace since it gained independence in 2011. Mr Amankwa-Manu recounted that right after the country gained independence, it reached out to Ghana to enhance the cordial relations between the two countries. That, he said, was a call in the right direction as it had led to many mutual benefits for both countries. As I speak, Ghana has battalions in Southern Sudan helping to ensure peace and stability. The one area that I will say that Ghana is so good at is maintaining peace and bringing peace to wherever we are needed, Mr Amankwa-Manu stated. President Akufo-Addo accepts Cecilia Dapaahs resignation Graphic.com.gh Jul - 22 - 2023 , 19:16 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has accepted the resignation from office of Cecilia Abena Dapaah as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and member of the government. President Akufo-Addo applauded Cecilia Dapaahs loyalty to the image and standing of his Government, and thanked her also for her wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of Government and the Nation. A statement signed and issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Bentum Arhin, wished her the best in all her endeavours. The President will soon appoint a new Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Mr Arhin explained. The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah on Saturday afternoon resigned from her position with immediate effect. In a resignation letter dated, Saturday, July 22, 2023 and addressed to the President, she wrote: I write to inform you that I wish to resign from my position as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources. It has been a great privilege and honour for me to have been given the opportunity to serve in your government and an even greater honour to have worked to try and bring your great vision for our country to fruition. Since yesterday, Friday, July 21, 2023, social and traditional media have been full of stories about a court case involving a theft that took place last year in the home I live with my husband and daughter. The stories sought to suggest that I own various huge sums of foreign currencies and millions of Ghana cedis which have been stolen from my home. Whereas I can state emphatically that those figures do not represent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position. I am resigning therefore because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time. I intend to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts, I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the processes, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations that have filled the public domain in the past 24 hours. I thank you my dear, Mr President, for the honour done me in giving me the opportunity to serve our beautiful nation Ghana, she wrote. Related articles: Inconsistencies in police complaint, media reports on stolen money from my residence - Cecilia Dapaah Earlier in a press statement, Mrs Dapaah indicated there were inconsistencies in the complaint and what had been reported in the public domain from the charge sheet and court proceedings. There are noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has stated in response to media reports on money stolen from her residence. I refer to publications dated 21/07/2023 suggesting that I own one million dollars, three hundred thousand euros and millions of cedis which have been stolen from my house. There are noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter. I am taking steps to examine the origins of the inconsistencies and will provide a detailed response in the coming days, Mrs Dapaah said in a press statement dated July 21, in reaction to media reports on the theft. Related articles Two house helps working for the Minister and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour are facing charges at an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing monies and items worth millions of cedis from the couple's residence at Abelemkpe in Accra. The accused are 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei. They allegedly stole personal effects belonging to the minister including assorted clothes valued at GH95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery worth US$95,000. They have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing. The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022. Patience Botwe has also been accused of stealing six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH90,000 and six sets of men's suits valued at US$3,000, which belong to the minister's husband. Furthermore, three other individuals, identified as Ms. Botwe's current and former boyfriends and her father, are also facing charges for allegedly being involved in the crime. They have been respectively charged with dishonestly receiving GH1 million, GH180,000, and GH50,000. STATEMENT FROM CECILIA ABENA DAPAAH How househelps blew millions allegedly stolen from Cecilia Dapaah's home Parliaments review of its Standing Orders Dr John Osae-Kwapong Politics Jul - 22 - 2023 , 06:10 A report of the Standing Orders Committee on the review of the standing orders of Parliament was finalised on June 23, 2023. It covers a total of forty-one subject areas and proposes major changes to the way Parliament plans to conduct business going forward. The proposed changes are bold and impressive. If adopted and implemented successfully, I sincerely believe it holds promise for Parliament as an institution. I do however anticipate some challenges too. Proposed Changes A stronger Parliament. It is not uncommon to hear public comments about how weak parliament is in comparison to the executive arm of government. This is partly due to the design of the constitution. I do not reject the strong executive-weak Parliament argument in its entirety. Constitutional powers are necessary for strength but not sufficient. They have to be asserted and be met with little to no challenges from other co-equal branches of government. The executive, in my opinion, is only as strong as Parliament allows it to be. The proposed changes, especially with the powers given to some of the new committees, will strengthen Parliament as an institution and the role it is designed to play in our constitutional set up as a co-equal branch of government. Greater oversight In Afrobarometer, the percentage of Ghanaians who say Parliament should make the laws as opposed to the president has grown from 59 per cent in 2002 to 75 per cent in 2022. The percentage of Ghanaians who say Parliament should monitor the president as opposed to letting him freely bypass Parliament has grown from 66 per cent in 2008 to 82 per cent in 2022. At the same time, the percentage of Ghanaians who say that the president often or always ignores parliament has grown from eight per cent in 2012 to 33 per cent in 2022. If the presidency is the symbol of the executive arm of government, then there is demand for oversight and constraints on its powers. There is also a feeling among Ghanaians that Parliament is unable to restrain the executive. The new changes, especially with the establishment of new committees such as budget and independent constitutional bodies, and the reconfiguration of the appointments committee will help ensure greater oversight of the executive. Some sittings of parliament are already held in public. The recommendation is to have all committee sittings, for the purpose of taking evidence, held in public. There is a qualifying statement that says, unless otherwise determined by the committee. It is my hope that committees will always choose public sittings. The perceptions of Parliament as captured by the Afrobarometer survey is not positive. Offering greater transparency can help Parliament reap the benefits of an improved image in the eyes of Ghanaians. Strong minority party It is unusual to see a strong role for a minority party when it comes to committees in a legislative body. The default is always a majority party ensuring not just numerical strength but also chairing all committees. I was surprised to read the recommendation to have committees such as appointments and budget chaired by a minority party. This is a sweeping change which improves the say a minority party has on matters such as presidential appointments to the executive or on fiscal policy. The Challenges Partisanship The proposed changes gives a minority party important committees to chair. A minority party in Parliament is more likely to subject a ruling government to scrutiny than a majority party. This is true if both government and majority party belong to the same political party. However, any keen observer of Ghanaian politics will agree that our partisan edges have become sharper and life in the 8th Parliament, given the equal strength of the two major parties, has exacerbated those sharpened partisan edges. Under these new changes, a minority party will need to be careful of partisanship overreach so as not to cause political gridlock. Shield of majority It is rare to see a majority party in Parliament abandon the ruling government especially when it is the same political party. While these changes offer hope for a stronger Parliament, I remain concerned that party discipline and loyalty may still let a majority party offer a shield to its ruling government counterpart in the executive under the guise of pushing back against minority party overreach. There will be some resistance, I suspect, on the proposed new committee for independent constitutional bodies. These bodies are independent for good reasons. However, there is the need to balance independence with the need for oversight. I do not believe that independence means insulation from oversight and accountability. Good luck, Parliament! The writer is a fellow at the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) California accounts for nearly all renewable diesel consumption in the United States, but most of it isnt made in the state, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). More than eight times the renewable diesel was consumed in California than was produced there in 2021. Instead, most of Californias renewable diesel was produced in other states or was imported, mostly from Singapore. Data source: US Energy Information Administration, State Energy Data System Californias renewable diesel consumption grew substantially after its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) went into effect in 2011. Between 2011 and 2021, consumption grew from 1 million barrels to 28 million barrels per yearmore than 18 times its original volume. The California LCFS requires transportation fuels used in the state to be mixed with biofuels to lower their carbon intensities. California is the only state that offers a rebate to customers who purchase renewable diesel specifically, increasing renewable diesel use in the state as it becomes more economically competitive with biodiesel. Other states have various biodiesel laws and incentives. Oregon was the only other state where renewable diesel was consumed in 2021, but it accounted for less than 1% of the US total. Oregon requires petroleum diesel fuel sold in the state to be blended with either biodiesel or renewable diesel. Beginning in 2023, Washington also began requiring petroleum diesel to be blended with biodiesel or renewable diesel, but it did not report any renewable diesel consumption in 2021. Six statesLouisiana, North Dakota, California, Wyoming, Washington, and Kansasaccounted for all renewable diesel production in the United States in 2021. Many of the plants in the other states have exclusive agreements to send all of the renewable diesel they produce to distributors in California. Louisiana, with its substantial petroleum infrastructure, has been the state with the most renewable diesel production since 2011. More than 9 million barrels of renewable diesel was produced in Louisiana in 2021about 46% of the US total. A plant located in Norco, Louisiana, has the most renewable diesel production capacity in the United States, about 64,000 barrels per day. US renewable diesel production capacity could more than double by 2025, boosting domestic production. EIA expects that both renewable diesel production and consumption will continue to grow in the United States over the next few years. Nigeria-based NNPC Ltd. and UTM Offshore signed a Heads of Terms (HoT) agreement for the construction of Nigerias first indigenous Floating LNG project. (Earlier post.) UTM Offshore Group Managing Director Julius Rone, expressed his delight at the partnership with NNPC Ltd., said that this agreement showcased the capability of indigenous companies to collaborate with world-class energy conglomerates to drive growth in Nigerias energy sector. UTM Offshore is also based in Nigeria. Rone also said that apart from significantly cutting down on gas flaring and supporting the countrys commitment to reducing carbon emissions, the project would also create more than 7,000 job opportunities, contributing to the nations economic growth and development. Samsung phones support screen mirroring and casting to other devices, just like all Android phones, but with limited support. You can only cast your phone's screen to smart TVs via Miracast using the Smart View feature and it's been like this since forever. Samsung and LG TVs, for instance, support Miracast. However, devices such as Chromecast or other Android TVs won't be able to display your Samsung's screen. All that seems to be changing. Android Police discovered a very convoluted way to enable screen casting to all devices. They've confirmed it works on One UI 5.1 devices, but it could be available to older ones too. Accessing Google Cast via the Smart View menu To do so, open Smart View, tap on the three-dot icon in the upper-right corner, tap on Settings and enter the About Smart View menu. Tap 10 times on Smart View and when you are asked for a password, enter #00rtsp00. A developer options menu will open up where you need to enable Google Cast. The hidden developer options menu Once you go back to the Smart View menu, you will see non-MIracast TVs and Chromecast available for screen mirroring. The same steps are required to enable the Start SecondScreen feature that allows you to extend your Windows 10 or 11 PC's desktop environment. Windows key + K is the quick shortcut to connect to your Samsung phone. It's nice to finally get support for this, but hiding the feature in secret menus like that is a disservice to all users. Maybe Samsung is still testing it before providing official support in upcoming versions of One UI. Source Free workshops are being provided for children between the ages of eight to twelve years old to learn about personal well-being, proper relationship development, health and nutrition through fun and age-appropriate activities. These activities will engage, teach and give them the knowledge to be able to protect themselves and make good relationship choices in the future, according to the Bureau of Womens Affairs. These workshops are being held by BWA for their EMPOWER: Comprehensive Self-Awareness Education program. Slots are still open for the third session of the free week-long workshop that will run from July 31 to August 4 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Guam Community College campus. Weve gotten great feedback from parents of the children who attended the first two workshop sessions, said Jayne Flores, BWA Director. This information is so vital to making our community healthier, both physically and socially with regard to how we interact with each other. My son enjoyed this summer program. He felt comfortable to tell me he learned about sexuality and drugs, said Loraina Aguon, a Sinajana resident. He is almost eight years old, and I feel it is important for our children around this age to learn about these topics before they enter middle school. In my generation as a millennial, I did not have a safe space to easily talk to my parents about these topics because of the stigma of the topics making our parents uncomfortable, added Aguon. So now that I am a parent, I want to ensure my child has the opportunity to learn and apply the skills as he grows up and be able to have open conversations about it, she said. The workshop curriculum is based on the Navigating Personal Wellbeing & Sexuality in CHamoru & Chuukese Communities curriculum written by Drs. Lisa Linda Natividad and Tim de La Cruz of the University of Guam. The curriculum is a culture-based learning resource focused on personal wellness and health in our communities. Residents can click the link here for more information or to register their child for the BWA Empower CSE session III workshop. Residents may also call (671)483-6409 or email info.bwa@guam.gov by July 27. The BWA Empower: CSE workshops are funded through the Bureau of Womens Affairs, the Governors Prugraman I Pinilan I Famaguon Guahan childcare grant program and the Guam Economic Development Authoritys Community Care Grant Program. News / Local by Staff reporter A Nyanga family is living in fear of a vengeful spirit that claims to be a sex worker who was murdered 50 years ago by the family's patriarch.The spirit, which speaks through various possessed family members of the Muusha family, says it will not rest until it is appeased.The spirit identifies itself as Elizabeth Ncube, a sex worker from Chiredzi, who was working in Bulawayo before being murdered by Moses Muusha over a payment dispute.The matter appeared before Acting Chief Saunyama's court recently.During the court session, Moses Muusha who had for months been insisting that he has nothing to do with the avenging spirit that is haunting his family shocked the gallery when he confessed.The man also revealed that after killing Ncube in 1968, he was convicted by the courts and served his time in prison."I was a young man and did not know what I was doing back then. We were both drunk and the sex worker had denied me her services after she had collected her payment. I hit her once and she fell to her death," he said.However, the man claimed that he doubted the spirit's genuineness and accused his first wife of conniving with her children to stage-manage the possessions."I strongly feel that someone from my family unearthed my dirty past and exposed it. They connived and started stage-managing spiritual possessions so that they milk me of my wealth."If it is indeed Elizabeth's avenging spirit, then it should also possess my second wife's daughters and granddaughters and not just those from my first wife. I think my first wife is working in cahoots with her daughters and grandchildren to dupe me," said the polygamist who is no longer in good books with his first wife.At least five of the Muusha granddaughters have stopped attending school due to the manifestations as they become violent each time they are possessed.When the spirit manifests on any of the girls, they start banging their heads on the ground, thereby endangering their lives.As a result, the orphaned girls who are in the custody of their grandmother are always bound by chains so that they do not injure themselves during their daily manifestations.Upon orders from Acting Chief Saunyama, the family consulted traditional healers and all claimed that it was Ncube's spirit that needs appeasement.It seems to be double trouble for the family as they also claim to be haunted by another vengeful spirit which is also seeking justice and appeasement.The spirit of Josphat Mukunje is manifesting on three minor girls from the same family, while alleging that the girls' grandfather, Moses Muusha, murdered Mukunje in Chipinge two decades ago.Muusha's first wife, Tambudzai Muusha, said both spirits are demanding compensation."At first it was just Mukunje's spirit manifesting on three of my granddaughters. My husband denied any knowledge of the avenging spirit. He distanced himself from Mukunje's death ."The chief asked us to consult traditional healers. When we did that, Ncube's spirit started manifesting on two more of my granddaughters. I never knew that my husband had killed a woman in Bulawayo and is an ex-convict."I was so devastated and shocked and for him to insist that this is being stage-managed when our granddaughters had to drop out of school is saddening. Moses (Muusha) will not budge because it is not affecting him directly. He does not care about his grandchildren's welfare and future because he has several others," said the elderly woman.Hailing from Chipinge, the Muusha family has stayed in Nyanga for decades after Moses migrated to the area in search of greener pastures.However, Mukunje's avenging spirit alleges that Muusha relocated to Nyanga, fleeing from his sins in Chipinge.When they appeared before the community court, Moses was adamant that his granddaughters are faking the manifestations. However, this did not go down well with the late Mukunje's spirit which manifested on one of his granddaughters and spoke in fluent Ndau."Do you want to dare me Moses? Appease my family or risk being wiped out as a family. There will be no trace of the Muusha family in Nyanga in a year if you continue denying killing me in Chipinge. I will keep working with Ncube whom you also killed and eventually, every Muusha family member will be ill or dead," said the spirit.The matter was adjourned to a later date. As a US territory, it is imperative that Guam maintains its relationship with the federal government in order to continue being properly funded for its operations. Federal supplemental funding has been a dire issue for Guam to address as the initial proposed federal budget for Fiscal Year 2024 zeroed out the annual $30 million funding to US territories that host Compact of Free Association migrants, which includes Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa. It also removed the $6 million discretionary funding. Gov. Leon Guerrero noted that Guam still needs the federal support. From addressing national security to COFA negotiations, along with housing and workforce development, our administration is requesting greater support and advocacy in all these areas to increase the quality of life for the people of Guam, said Gov. Leon Guerrero. Specific to COFA negotiations, our administration is working to ensure we receive adequate reimbursement for compact impact expense. Additional information about the work that local government officials have discussed on this matter can be found here. On Saturday, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio met with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland during her weeklong visit to the Pacific islands. Secretary Haaland was accompanied by Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor and Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison Erika L. Moritsugu. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero noted these visits are essential in order to provide updates on Guams recovery efforts from Typhoon Mawar and for federal partners to gain an understanding of Guams most pressing issues. We are in support of the Compact Impact Fairness Act and its intent to allow non-US COFA citizens the same social benefits as those in the respective places of residents, said the governor. CIFA should not replace the $30 million in Compact funds received by the COFA-impacted U.S. territories as these funds are spent separate from the social benefits. I have also asked that she support Delegate Moylans amendment to extend $16 million for the next year. Since taking office, our administration has built strong relationships with our federal partners, which has enabled us to maximize federal resources and ensure Guam stays top of mind at all levels of government, said Lt. Governor Tenorio. We want to thank Secretary Haaland for taking the time to visit Guam and her continued support for us in the Pacific. Despite having no Liberation Day parade filled with village floats, thousands of Guam residents and visitors still came down to the Chamorro Village Festival Huts for the Liberation Block Party. Jackden Samson of Hagat noted that its nice to start the weekend off with such an event. We deserve this because the storm was drastic for all of us. We all deserve to have this to come together and have some fun, stated Samson. Last year until now, it has been pretty hectic. I wanted to come down here to help support Guam because Guam has been through a rough time after the typhoon. Everyone had something to enjoy as numerous different food stands were set up with dozens in line while some village mayors offices along with Sen. William Parkinson had booths giving away free refreshments. An abundance of different activities was also available for the children with bungee trampolines, rock climbing and even a petting zoo consisting of goats and chickens. With the performances taking place in the rear parking lot, a variety of entertainers showcased their musical talents, including Prominence, The Frequency, DJ Straight Up Jed and The John Dank Show Band. Cultural dancers also took the stage and displayed the unity of the melting pot of cultures on Guam. We have dancers from Japan, South Korea and the Federated States of Micronesia joining Guams local dancers to perform CHamoru music and dances together, stated Guam Visitors Bureau Vice President Gerry Perez. This is our journey towards peace as we come together as one community. Back in business Perez also noted the two reasons for the GVB, the Mayors Council of Guam, and for the Office of the Governor of Guam to still host the events nearly two months after Guams strongest typhoon in 20 years. First, this is to demonstrate to the world that were back in business, and tourism is back, added Perez. Second, our local residents have suffered enough, and they need an uplifting. This is a way for us to do an uplifting for everyone, especially our front-liners. Its different, but to me, this is as good as a substitute as you can find. The parking lot was then filled with visitors and residents for the 7:21 p.m. fireworks and drone show. Once the first fireworks started popping, the crowd was captivated as they shared their excitement with Oooh, Awww and Woah consistently being heard across the audience with every explosion. Despite having to wait until a little past 8:05 p.m. for the drone show, the spectators were once again held in awe as the drones displayed colorful appreciation for all the front-liners of the community, including the Guam Power Authority, the Guam Waterworks Authority and the Guam National Guard. Residents shared that despite not having a parade, the night of festivities was still something to look forward to. Island family feeling Adam McCormick of Yigo echoed the sentiment of support of island unity. Weve been here for almost two years. The typhoon put a damper on the parade, but we still wanted to come out and show our support for the island, stated McCormick. Its nice to see what every village has to offer and to meet new people. Its amazing to see everybody bounce back and be so resilient. To put on an event like this, it really shows the island family feeling. Arlena Gofigan from Humatak shared how the presence of fireworks and a drone show was something to wait for. Every year, we traditionally watch the parade with a spot. So, this year its nice to come down and watch the fireworks later on, stated Gofigan. Since were recovering from a storm, its a great turnout for the community to come together. Ashton Gogo of Dededo shared how inviting it was to hear about the numerous performers and cultural dances present with thousands in the audience. This is something we should do more often because usually, this is something we only do on Liberation Day or during Christmas. This is something we need to continue to bring out for our community. shared Gogo. Honestly, this just shows how strong our community is. Everyone is here to come outside and hang out. Its awesome that were all here together. Haiti - News : Zapping... Partnership Customs-Private Sector Friday, July 21, 2023, a meeting took place between the General Administration of Customs (AGD) and the Association of Industries of Haiti (ADIH) where very enriching discussions took place between the 2 parties to strengthen the customs-business partnership. DR : Deportations of Haitians have doubled in one year According to Sam Guillaume, Communication Manager of the Support Group for Returnees and Refugees (GARR) during the first 6 months of 2023, the Dominican authorities have already deported more Haitian nationals than in all of last year -rd-in-the-month-of-june.html Did you know ? Did you know that it was in 1966, for the first time, that the name of Haiti would appear in the register of the Ministry of Manpower and Immigration (today Citizenship and Immigration Canada-CIC). The data available at that time reported the presence of 84 Haitians on Canadian soil. Fifty years later, according to information provided by Statistics Canada, collected during the 2016 census, the Haitian community in this country amounts to 165,095 Haitians, of whom just over 86% live in Quebec. Kenscoff : Accident 1 dead and several injured Friday July 21. a traffic accident on the Route de Kenscoff, at Pelerin 3, left one dead and several injured. The victim is an elderly man who died at the scene. The injured were rushed to hospital. The brakes of the vehicle in which the deceased was found, would have let go... 275 Haitian migrants intercepted at sea The US Coast Guard intercepted 275 Haitian migrants (194 men, 60 women and 21 children) near Cay Sal in the Bahamas archipelago, said Bahamas Immigration Minister Keith Bell. Public Investment Lecture Series Launch Friday, July 21, 2023, of a series of conferences on Public Investment for ministries and other public institutions as a prelude to the budget conferences which will take place soon at the Ministry of the Economy. This series of conferences on Public Investment will end on Friday, July 28. HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2023/07/21 Korean movie "Unfinished" is available to order on DVD with English subtitles from YESASIA. "Unfinished" (2018) DVD with English subtitles Directed by Noh Gyoo-yeob Advertisement With Lee Beom-soo, Yeon Woo-jin, Park Hyuk-kwon, Park Joo-mi, Lee Hyun-jung-III, Kim Bo-min-I,... Formerly known as "Departure" and "In the Line of Fire" (, sa-seon-e-seo) Synopsis Berlin in 1986 was a time when everyone was wary. A man becomes everyone's target because of one mistake. Economist Young-min is convinced by a Northern spy to move North under the pretext of safety for his family and himself. However, he realizes this is a mistake and escapes to West Germany where he is parted from his family. To make things worse, he is under surveillance by various countries that want to use him for different purposes. The struggle of a man to find his family begins! Release date in Korea : 2018/11/14 Order from YESASIA News / Local by Staff reporter THERE is public outrage over the state of affairs at Mpilo Central Hospital after journalist Hopewell Chin'ono posted a picture of broken wheelchairs at the institution.Chin'ono posted a picture of the wheelchairs with only reams and no tyres, saying he was sent the pictures by a doctor at the hospital who complained about the deplorable state of the hospital.Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association chairperson, Ambrose Sibindi, said government had neglected the public health sector."Mpilo Hospital is a very poorly-managed hospital in the city," Sibindi said."They (hospital staff) are always saying that the major machines are not working."This gets us very worried when our leaders are always putting themselves first before people, they get themselves luxuries which benefit them and not the ordinary citizens.""We are calling for the government to, at least, get their priorities right and put the citizens' tax money into very good use, purchasing health equipment that will benefit everyone and not people at the top only."Bulawayo Provincial Affairs minister Judith Ncube said she was not aware of the said poor state of affairs at the public hospital."I haven't received any reports from the hospital yet," Ncube said."Let me first get in touch with the hospital's chief executive officer and hear what he has to say about that. They have not come forward to me complaining or saying they are facing challenges."So if l rush to comment first before getting my facts right it would make me look like I am irresponsible."Mpilo Hospital chief executive officer Narcissus Dzvanga said he was in a meeting when contacted for comment yesterday.Underfunding from the Treasury has been blamed for a fall in health delivery standards, a situation mirrored by shortages of drugs and other sundries. Candidate for lieutenant governor to speak at GOP club Hal Weatherman, a candidate for lieutenant governor, will be guest speaker at the Republicans Mens Club meeting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 19, at Mills River Restaurant. A native of North Carolina, Weatherman, 53, received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and his masters degree from Wheaton College. He is the founder and president of the Electoral Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing election integrity efforts in North Carolina. He served as chief of staff to former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest and former U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick and in a post he omits from his campaign bio as 11th Congressional District director for former U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn. The Mens Club meets the third Saturday of each month. Reservations are required to obtain an accurate head count for the restaurant. Reservations may be made by emailing noirs@aol.com, or calling 828-329-4971. A FOOTBRIDGE over the Thames in Henley that was closed for safety reasons will remain shut for the foreseeable future, despite almost 50,000 being spent on it. Marsh Head Horsebridge, which forms part of the Thames Path, was shut by the Environment Agency in May last year following complaints about its condition. It said that part of one of the handrails had fallen off and some wooden panels had come loose. Repairs were initially expected to take two months to complete but then the agency said it was likely to last throughout this year. A Freedom of Information request to the agency found that in May last year it had sent three members of staff to visit the site and meet with the landowners agent. Nine staff members then went back six times to install, repair and replace fencing and install signage and diversion signs. More than a year later, no tenders for the repair work have been issued, although the agency has a designer and contractor in place. So far, it has produced two general inspection reports and a dive survey of the underwater structures. The agency has spent a total of 46,482 on the project so far. Swiss financier Urs Schwarzenbach has opened up part of his Culden Faw Estate nearby to give walkers a short and safe path around the bridge at Marsh Lock. In December he had told the agency that he would stop giving access from April because the repairs were taking too long, until he agreed to extend it following discussions. Alex Dick, the Culden Faw Estate manager, said that the Schwarzenbach family would keep access to the diversion on their land open for the time being. He said: We are monitoring the situation and are not minded to close access up in the short term but, should this continue, we would have to look at it again. We want this to be mended as soon as possible so that everything can be put to bed. We are not expecting any work to happen this year. I hope the council and local MPs also put pressure on the Environment Agency to get this sorted out. Walkers, anglers and town councillors are upset that repairs have not yet started as it is used by thousands of people each year. Town and district councillor Kellie Hinton said it was a lot of money to be spent for no progress to have happened. She said: I remember last year when it was first closed, the agency said it would take some time as they needed to look into what needed to be done. They were very up front but I dont think anyone would have envisaged just how long it would be. A lot of authorities are running on tight budgets and I understand they have to prioritise certain things but this is a key location on the Thames. I know they have done surveys and things but it is a lot of money for no progress and we would like to see some progress. It is very kind of the Schwarzenbach family to keep the diversion open but its still a massive inconvenience to people and an important part of the Thames Path. Councillor Jo Robb, who is the district councils Thames champion, described the delays to work as unacceptable. She said: The Environment Agency is responsible for maintaining its assets and Marsh Lock is one of the most iconic footbridges on the River Thames. Its unacceptable that essential works to make the footbridge safe for residents and visitors are taking so long. The agency has lost much of its funding since 2010 but its vital that our footpaths and bridges are safe and usable. Residents deserve an explanation and a clear plan as to how the footbridge will be made safe and reopened to the public as soon as feasible. Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society in Henley, said: We are deeply concerned at the delay in reopening Marsh Lock bridge, and the costs which have been incurred before we have seen any action. We believe that the Environment Agency should give this case priority because of its importance as part of the Thames Path National Trail, and the fact that without the bridge and the landowners permissive diversion, people would be forced to walk a long way partly in busy roads. The issue earlier this year, with the landowner initially withdrawing permission for the alternative path, highlights the vulnerability of any temporary arrangement. A permanent solution must soon be found. Alie Hagedoorn, who chairs the Henley and Goring Ramblers, which uses the diversion now, said: The work has not started and the cost seems out of proportion. We are disappointed that work has still not started and we are not sure what is holding it up. The group has used the diversion for organised walks about once every two months since the footbridge closure. Without it, they would have to cross the busy A4155 and divert through Harpsden and Shiplake before rejoining the Thames Path. Ms Hagedoorn fears that the estate might close off the pathway if work continues to be delayed. She said: The estate has really been generous with providing a diversion but we are afraid that because it has taken so long, I think it will last out this year, I am not sure coming into next year whether they will still be willing to do that. So, it needs to start as soon as possible. Andrew Crook, captain of the Remenham Angling Society Henley Waters, said: As of yet, there has definitely been no work started on there because we are down there all the time. If they close the bridge and the diversion goes, we will have to look at other ways to get to our matches. The Envrionment Agency did not respond to requests for comment. News / National by Erick Matotoba A Nyanga family finds themselves living in constant fear as they believe a vengeful spirit is haunting them, claiming to be a s_ex worker who met a tragic end 50 years ago at the hands of their patriarch.The Muusha family is grappling with a distressing situation as a vengeful spirit, claiming to be Elizabeth Ncube, emerges through various possessed family members.This spirit alleges that it was a s_ex worker from Chiredzi who met a tragic fate in Bulawayo, murdered by Moses Muusha following a payment dispute.In light of these haunting claims, the matter has been brought before Acting Chief Saunyama's court, in hopes of finding a resolution to the unsettling events that have befallen the Muusha family.During the court session, to the surprise of those in attendance, Moses Muusha, who had vehemently denied any connection to the vengeful spirit haunting his family for months, shocked the gallery by making a startling confession.He admitted to his involvement in the tragic incident and acknowledged that he was indeed responsible for the death of Elizabeth Ncube back in 1968.Adding to the revelation, Moses Muusha disclosed that following the murder, he was apprehended and subsequently convicted by the courts."I was a young man and did not know what I was doing back then. We were both drunk and the sex worker had denied me her services after she had collected her payment. I hit her once and she fell to her death," he said.Despite his confession, Moses Muusha still expresses doubts about the genuineness of the vengeful spirit and has put forth accusations against his first wife.He claims that she, along with her children, is orchestrating the possession episodes as part of an elaborate scheme to deceive and manipulate him.Moses believes that someone within his family has unearthed his past misdeeds and is using the avenging spirit as a means to exploit him financially."I strongly feel that someone from my family unearthed my dirty past and exposed it. They connived and started stage-managing spiritual possessions so that they milk me of my wealth."If it is indeed Elizabeth's avenging spirit, then it should also possess my second wife's daughters and granddaughters and not just those from my first wife. I think my first wife is working in cahoots with her daughters and grandchildren to dupe me," said the polygamist who is no longer in good books with his first wife.The situation with the Muusha granddaughters is deeply concerning and troubling. The violent manifestations they experience when possessed by the vengeful spirit of Elizabeth Ncube have had a severe impact on their lives.To protect them from causing harm to themselves during these episodes, the orphaned girls, who are under their grandmother's care, have been bound by chains. Hong Kong: Education chief visits Guangzhou Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin today attended the Strategy Consultation Conference on Building a Leading Country in Education (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area) co-organised by the Ministry of Education and the Guangdong Provincial Government in Guangzhou. The conference focused on the implementation pathway for building a leading country in education and meeting challenges arising from the technology revolution's new global wave. Ms Choi said that she was pleased to exchange views with other participating leaders on major topics such as nurturing innovative talent and scientific research. She pointed out that the Education Bureau would continue to devote resources to step up the promotion of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) education, and along with the broad direction of invigorating the country through science and education, strengthen the cultivation of local innovation and technology talent. Yesterday, Ms Choi met Hong Kong students joining a Mainland study tour on the subject of Citizenship & Social Development in Guangzhou. She encouraged the students to cherish the learning opportunity to deepen their understanding of the country's latest situation and development, and enhance their knowledge and appreciation of Chinese culture and national achievements. Ms Choi then visited the Guangzhou Experiential School of Labor & Technology for Secondary School Students to meet the school representatives and tour the facilities. She learnt about the school's educational programmes in a number of areas including technology, life safety, the rule of law and the environment. The education chief said that as an activity base in Guangzhou for students' comprehensive practice, the school provides experiential learning programmes that are suitable for secondary school students in Hong Kong. On the same day, Ms Choi called on representatives of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province to exchange ideas on education issues of mutual concern. This story has been published on: 2023-07-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. [The below appeal from TV journalist Ravish Kumar first appeared in Hindi and this is quick English translation of that appeal] Ravish Kumars appeal Viewers and readers of India, It is possible that many of you may not have seen that video from Manipur, in which many men are stripping Kuki women naked and stroking their organs. A crowd of men is carrying away the stripped women. The murderers of the mob are playing with the bodies of those women. Helpless women are crying. The crowd of men is enjoying. Social media sites will soon block this video under community rules of decency, but the incident is real. Its description is only what is written. What we dont know is what happened to those women after this video? From where was the crowd bringing them, and where were they taking them. There is no beginning and end in that video, there is a little part, it is not seen but no one can turn away from that video. You cant keep quiet today. Today we have to speak for those naked women surrounded by a crowd of men. Speak up wherever you are. If you have gone to the market, talk to the shopkeeper there. Talk to the rickshaw puller. Talk to Ola-Uber drivers. If you have called your father, then tell him this first of all. If you have received a call from your girlfriend, then first of all tell this. If you are in the classroom, then stand there and speak in front of your teacher, if you are having fun with friends in a restaurant, stop eating there and speak for these women. If you are in the bus, in the train, at the airport, then tell there that such a video has gone viral from Manipur, in which the crowd is playing with the bodies of women by stripping them naked. This incident has happened in that country, which repeats the lie every day that women are worshiped like goddesses. Then he writes Save Daughter on the back of his own car. If you dont speak against that mob today, their body, their mind will be naked forever. Makes you a monster like the same crowd, which is playing with the bodies of those women by stripping them naked. So pick up the phone, speak, write, and tell everyone that this has happened to the women of Manipur. We oppose it. Our heads hang in shame. You save your humanity. Speak against the Manipur incident. No one is listening so cry for those women alone in a closed room. I know that the helplessness of those women of Manipur will not reach you because you are not left fit enough to listen to their cries. Because the newspaper you read, the channel you watch, has killed your sensibilities. The goodness in you has been destroyed. I dont know whether the voice of those women will be raised in Godi media or not, I dont know whether the Prime Minister will cry out loud seeing this scene or not, I dont know whether Women Development Minister Smriti Irani will cry just for show or not, but I know who has made this crowd, what kind of politics has made it. This politics has made you a monster. Godi media has turned its viewers and readers into man-eaters. Identity politics in the name of caste, religion, language, and geography has made man a man-eater. A crowd of men dancing around the women of Manipur has also formed around you. Beware of the uncles of the housing society. Beware of relatives who sow poison day and night in your homes. Go and tell all of them what kind of mob the politics of hatred and identity has turned the public into. Those women are not from Manipur. They are not from the Kuki community. They are nothing else. They are only women. If this incident doesnt make you restless, if it doesnt send shivers down your spine, then you should declare yourself dead. But before taking the last breath, speak for those women. Write it down Tell someone that this has happened. The Prime Minister of this country Narendra Modi did not appeal for peace for two and a half months. Didnt appeal to stop hatred and violence by going there. The state did not fulfill its duty. There is no guarantee that their departure or appeal would have stopped the violence, but what does this silence mean? Can this silence be called justified? Leave the silence of the Prime Minister, you break your silence. Speak. Yours, Ravish Kumar o o See Video of Ravish Kumars Appeal in Hindi News / National by Staff reporter Thirty-Five motorbikes seized as exhibits by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Criminal Investigations Department (CID) with a selling value of US$87 500 have disappeared from their custody.The 35 motorbikes belonging to Chiredzi farmer Tony Renato Sarpo were seized in 2017 after his partners at Yagden Engineering Pvt Limited, Wayne Williams and Regis Maburutse reported him for theft of trust propertyThe bikes were seized by CID Harare Commercial Crimes Division and instead of being kept at the Police station, they were kept at a Yagden warehouse in Chiredzi after the company's Loss Control manager Solomon Mateta signed an indemnity form.Williams claimed he gave Sarpo US$150 000 from the company but diverted the motorbikes to personal use.Harare Resident Magistrate Ruramai Chitumbura acquitted Sarpo of the charges in March 2023, after he produced the Customs Clearance Certificate for the motorbike kits. They showed that they were imported for US$64 443, not US$150 000, as claimed by Williams.She issued a grant order for the motorbikes to be released to Sarpo.Part of her order, dated May 4, 2023, reads: "RE: Release of exhibits State vs Tony Renato Sarpo CRB HREP4035/17. In respect of the 3rd count the accused was found not guilty and acquitted therefore the 35 unassembled motorbikes are to be returned to the accused person."CID Harare Commercial Crimes Division (CCD) Officer-In-Charge, Detective Inspector Hillary Mazhekete, confirmed to The Mirror that the motorbikes are missing but referred all the questions to the national Police Spokesperson Paul Nyathi.However, Nyathi did not respond to the questions. He did not pick up calls either.When Sarpo went to CCD to ask for assistance to retrieve the exhibits back into his care, they were not there. It is alleged the motorbikes were disposed of during the trial while they were still State exhibits, and some of the CID officials received the motorbikes to facilitate the unlawful release of the motorbikes.CID spokesperson Rachael Muteweri said she would respond later, but when called she kept dropping the calls. Williams said he was not well and went on to say the case happened long back and is no longer interested in it.However, Sarpo said he is going to make a formal complaint with the Police because the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act, [9:07] Section 58A (1) reads: "if within 21 working days from the date- (a) When an article is seized and a receipt was therefore given (provided the dates shown on the receipts shall be determinative if it is dated later than the day of seizure)"(e) reads: "the seized article shall (unless the article in question is one whose possession is intrinsically unlawful) be returned as soon as possible by the police officer who detained it, or by any person acting in his or her self to the premises, place, vehicle, vessel or aircraft where it was removed or, where that is impracticable, be availed for collection at such a place as the police officer shall direct the owner or the possessor thereof to go unless the police officer earlier, upon at least seventy-two hour's notice to the owner or possessor thereof, serves upon him or her written notice of continued retention of the seized article""What the police did violates the Act. I am going to launch a formal complaint with the Police. You know this is a serious offence and I wonder why Williams and Maburutse are not being arrested," said Sarpo. Weekly Horoscope Predictions says, rise Above the Waves, Cancer. This week is all about keeping your head above water. There may be a lot of challenges coming your way, but you have the strength to handle them. Trust your intuition and rely on your loved ones for support. Weekly Horoscope Cancer, July 23-29, 2023: This week is all about keeping your head above water. This week may bring some emotional turbulence for you, Cancer. But remember that you are a fighter, and you can rise above any storm. You will face some difficult situations, but your perseverance and determination will help you overcome them. This is a time to trust your intuition and listen to your inner voice. Your loved ones will be your biggest support system, so lean on them for guidance and comfort. Also Read: Horoscope Today, July 23, 2023 Cancer Love Horoscope This Week: Love will be a source of strength for you this week. Your relationships will flourish as you open up and communicate with your loved ones. Trust and honesty will be the foundation of your connections, so make sure you stay true to yourself. Single Cancerians will find potential partners through social activities and networking events. Embrace your vulnerability, and love will find its way to you. Also Read: Love Horoscope, July 23, 2023 Cancer Career Horoscope This Week: You will face some professional challenges this week, but your perseverance will pay off in the long run. Keep pushing through and stay focused on your goals. You may face some resistance from coworkers or superiors, but stay true to your beliefs and keep working hard. Your determination and hard work will pay off in the form of a promotion or recognition from your peers. Cancer Money Horoscope This Week: Your financial situation may be unstable this week, so it's important to be mindful of your spending habits. Keep an eye on your expenses and try to cut back on unnecessary purchases. If you are thinking of investing, be cautious and seek expert advice. You may receive unexpected financial assistance from a loved one, so be open to help. Cancer Health Horoscope This Week: Your emotional well-being may take a hit this week, so make sure you take time to care for yourself. Engage in self-care practices like yoga, meditation, or exercise. Take breaks when needed, and surround yourself with positive influences. If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional for guidance and support. Remember, your health is your top priority. Cancer Sign Attributes Strength: Intuitive, Practical, Kind, Energetic, Artsy, Dedicated, Benevolent, Caring Weakness: Insatiable, Possessive, Prudish Symbol: Crab Element: Water Body Part: Stomach & Breast Sign Ruler: Moon Lucky Day: Monday Lucky Color: White Lucky Number: 2 Lucky Stone: Pearl Cancer Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces Good compatibility: Cancer, Capricorn Fair compatibility: Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius Less compatibility: Aries, Libra By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: https://www.cyberastro.com E-mail: caresponse@cyberastro.com Phone: 9717199568, 9958780857 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 29 year old data engineer from Andhra Pradesh was arrested by Bengaluru police for allegedly trying to open the emergency door of an international aeroplane, reported The Times of India. The incident happened on July 15 at a Paris Bengaluru flight and he was taken into custody after landing in Bengaluru. Man booked for trying to open emergency door of Paris - Bengaluru flight(File Photo / Representational Image) Also Read - Bengaluru-bound Nepal Airlines flight returns to Kathmandu after suspected bird strike According to the report, the man was identified as Venkat Mohit and he was travelling to Bengaluru from Paris through an Air France flight to visit his aunt. Mohit tried to open the emergency door which is not meant to be used during normal times. Soon after landing in Bengaluru, an employee of Air France registered a complaint to the airport authorities, alleging that he endangered the safety of passengers by trying to open the door. The police arrested him on July 16 and he is currently out on bail. The report also suggested that Mohit wanted to check the arming and disarming functions of the road which led him to attempt the unsafe act. Bengaluru airports police have registered an FIR after they received the complaint. The accused is said to be a data engineer at a reputed American company, and he hails from Andhra Pradeshs Rajahmundry.lso SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The famous and delicious Mysore Pak has been named in the list of best street food sweets in the world by Taste Atlas. Mysore Pak is ranked as the 14th best street food in the list and Falooda and Kulfi Falooda are the other Indian desserts that are in the list. Taste Atlas is a food-based magazine that gives detailed reviews and information on street food around the world. Mysore Pak is a combination of three ingredients ghee, sugar and gram flour. Also Read - These 3 Indian desserts ranked best street food sweets in the world Mysore Pak which is said to be born in the kitchens of Mysore Palace has not just been a favorite sweet of Kannadigas but many south Indians. The deputy chief minister of Karnataka DK Shivakumar expressed his happiness for Mysore Pak being named among world's best street food sweets. He tweeted, Kannadigas are proud that Mysore Pak has been ranked 14th among the world's top 50 street sweets published by Taste Atlas. My childhood memories of sharing Mysore pak when my father and relatives who came home often brought me still. Though the name suggests that Mysore Pak is an origin of Karnatakas Mysore, there is a theory in place which said that it was first born in Tamil Nadu which was smuggled to Mysore later. However, DK Shivakumar claimed that the Mysore Pak belongs in Karnataka and wrote, The hard work and skill of millions of chefs lies behind the Mysore Pak, which was born in the Mysore Palace and reaches every household today. All of them deserve credit for this. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Citing the unprecedented flood situation, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday urged the Centre to release Himachal Pradeshs pending disaster relief fund of 315.80 crore at the earliest. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. The chief minister urged the Centre that funds be released at the earliest as Himachal Pradesh is seeing devastation caused by incessant rains this monsoon. (HT file photo) Also read: 3 feared dead in Rohru flash flood, 2,500 evacuated in Kotkhai Sukhu said that this amount has been withheld for the past few years with 121.71 crore allocated for 2020-21, 133.56 crore for 2021-22 under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and 61.07 crore for 2019-20 under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). The delay was attributed to objections raised by the accountant general, which the state government has resolved, he said. Stating that all objections have been cleared now, the chief minister urged that the funds be released at the earliest as the hill state is witnessing devastation caused by incessant rains and flash floods this monsoon. Since the onset of the monsoon in the hill state on June 24, as many as 138 people have died in rain-related incidents, such as landslides, flash floods, and road accidents, according to the Himachal Pradesh State Emergency Response Centre. The state has suffered a loss of 4,986 crore till July 21. Residents of Baliyala village in Fatehabads Ratia block on Saturday rescued a couple who were swept away by a strong current in the Ghaggar river. The couples identification could not be ascertained as they are under treatment at a government hospital in Ratia and not in a state to speak. Flood water continuous to rise on the outskirts of Fatehabad city though water has started receding in some villages. (Hindustan Times/Representational image) Flood water continuous to rise on the outskirts of Fatehabad city though water has started receding in some villages. In Sirsa, the main embankment near Malewala village was breached in the morning following which locals put sand on the main road and strengthened the embankment. There are fears that this water may flow towards other neighbouring villages. The Sirsa administration has started the process to build two permanent embankments to stop the breach of water in Rangoi nullah. Water has reached the National Highway-9 on the outskirts of the city and local leaders Gokul Satiya and BJPs Govind Kanda reached the spot to check the overflow of water. They faced sloganeering from agitated farmers. A gang of burglars targeted a Government Primary School in Chhohle village in Ladhowal and allegedly decamped with electronics, LPG gas cylinders, inverter batteries, mid-day meal ration and utensils. A gang of burglars targeted a Government Primary School in Chhohle village in Ludhiana. (HT FILE) While fleeing, the accused also took away digital video recorders (DVR). The Ladhowal police lodged an FIR against unidentified accused on the statement of Jatinder Kumar of Phillaur, head teacher of the school. The complainant said that on the morning of July 18, when he reached school, he was shocked to see the office ransacked. He said that the burglars decamped with an inverter, 3 DVRs, 7 LEDs, speakers, 2 LPG gas cylinders, 2 furnaces, water filter, mid-day meal ration, utensils and ceiling fans. ASI Daljit Singh, who is investigating the case, said that though CCTVs are installed in the school, the accused took the CCTV recorder while fleeing. The cameras installed in the nearby area are being scanned. A case under sections 457 and 380 of the IPC has been lodged against the accused at Ladhowal police station. It is the second such incident reported in the city in the past 13 days. Earlier on July 8, burglars had targeted a Government Primary School in Jainpur village. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday announced that nearly 50,000 new government jobs will be provided to youths ahead of next years assembly and parliamentary polls. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday said his government has worked to ensuring law and order, besides working for womens safety. (HT File) Addressing booth workers of BJP at a state-level meeting in Hisar, Khattar said very little time is left for the polls and its time to chart out a strategy. People who used to call Hindus communal forces are now on the right track. The BJP government has provided equal respect to people belonging to all sections of the society, he added. The CM further said his government has worked to ensuring law and order, besides working for womens safety. When our government was formed in 2014, there was only one women police station in the state and now there are 29 women police station, the CM added. Conducts aerial survey in Sirsa, Fatehabad Earlier in the day, Khattar conducted an aerial survey in Sirsa and Fatehabad districts to assess the losses caused due to floods. He said that water had penetrated several villages in the Jakhal, Bhuna, Ratia, Fatehabad, and Sirsa blocks due to breach in Ghaggar river. The CM said 12 districts have been declared flood-affected, with water receding in 10 of them. The government will provide financial aid to the next kin of the deceased persons and those suffered losses of property and crops, he added. BJP state chief OP Dhankar said they will carry out Tiranga yatras in all assembly segments from August 7 to 15. We have conducted panna pramukh samelans in 34 constituencies and we will cover the remaining assembly segments in the coming days, he added. Police have also detained 114 farmers who were protesting the CMs visit demanding compensation for the previous years crop. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON To tide over the destruction caused by flash floods in the state this monsoon, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has sought central assistance on the lines of the assistance provided by the Centre to neighbouring Uttarakhand during the Kedarnath flood disaster in June 2013. Himachal chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu says his government will send a revised memorandum to the Centre after the monsoon, citing geographical challenges, higher construction cost in hills. Sukhu has sought central assistance on the lines of the assistance provided by the Centre to neighbouring Uttarakhand during the Kedarnath flood disaster (HT Photo) During a meeting with an eight-member central team, led by financial adviser Ravneesh Kumar from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Sukhu appealed for immediate assistance from the Centre. He said the state had suffered an estimated loss of 8,000 crore and the central government had released only 180 crore as flood relief. Drawing attention to the assistance provided in proportion to the scale of the catastrophe, Sukhu said: The guidelines for financial aid from the Union government offer meagre relief. A revised financial assistance pattern should be adopted, taking into consideration the unique geographical challenges and the higher construction costs faced by hill states. Extensive damage to infrastructure The torrential rains have inflicted extensive damage upon power and water supply schemes, road projects, and bridges in the state. The recovery and restoration of this infrastructure is expected to be time consuming. In such dire circumstances, the Centre must step forward to help Himachal Pradesh, he said. The state government has already sought interim relief from the Centre. He said a comprehensive and revised memorandum will be submitted once the monsoon concludes, providing an accurate assessment of the total damage. State revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi, chief secretary Prabodh Saxena, finance secretary Akshay Sood, special secretary, revenue, DC Rana, principal private secretary to the CM Vivek Bhatia also attended the meeting. Seeking a differentiated pattern for financial assistance for hill states in the aftermath of natural disasters, Sukhu said: The present standardised approach to financial aid fails to address unique hurdles effectively. Tailored financial aid for hills Uttarakhands experience during the Kedarnath disaster served as a precedent, highlighting the role that tailored financial assistance can play in supporting states grappling with the aftermath of such calamities Given the magnitude of destruction, he said funds provided by the Centre must be substantial and directed towards both immediate relief and long-term rehabilitation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Opinion / Columnist Worldwide cyberbullying has been associated with suicide among school children in several recent cases, a phenomenon that has been newly termed cyberbullicide. With access to modern technology and the internet, Zimbabweans now have access to a powerful tool for sharing information and ideas with friends and family all over the world. Unfortunately, we have individuals that use this tool to bully, harass, and intimidate others. Using the internet in this way violates our national laws and the Data Protection Act signed into law in 2021 under section 164B in the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act criminalises cyberbullying and harassment. It states that any person who unlawfully and intentionally, by means of a computer or information system, generates and sends any data message to another person, or posts on any material whatsoever on any electronic medium accessible by any person, with the intent to coerce, intimidate, harass, threaten, bully or cause substantial emotional distress, or to degrade, humiliate or demean the person of another or to encourage a person to harm himself or herself, shall be guilty of a criminal offence. This offence carries a fine not exceeding level 10 as well as imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or both.Our schools are the epi-centres of cyberbullying yet most schools in Zimbabwe do not have the right structures to prevent, protect, monitor, educate and discipline cyberbullies. Cyberbullying in schools is a serious issue that can have a significant impact on children's mental health, self-esteem, and academic performance and schools need to have solutions to deal with child cyberbullying which is now prevalent in some schools.Schools need to take a leading role in educating children and parents about the dangers of cyberbullying, the importance of respecting others online, and the consequences of cyberbullying. This can be done through community meetings, workshops, seminars, and other awareness programs.Schools need to establish clear policies which is a school policy document to be signed by both students and parents against cyberbullying and ensure that students are aware of the consequences of engaging in such behavior. These policies should be included in school handbooks, constantly referred to and discussed in classroom settings.Schools should have systems that monitor, detect cyberbullying activities and encourage students to report incidents of cyberbullying. This will help school administrators take appropriate action against the perpetrators and provide support to the victims.Schools should provide counseling and support services to children who would have been victims of cyberbullying. This can help them cope with the emotional impact of the experience and develop strategies to deal with future incidents.It is important that schools work together with parents to address cyberbullying. Parents should be encouraged to monitor their children's online activity and report any incidents of cyberbullying to school authorities.Schools should promote positive online behavior among students, such as encouraging them to use social media responsibly, to be respectful of others online, and to use the internet to enhance their learning.Overall, the key is to create a safe and supportive environment in which children feel comfortable reporting cyberbullying incidents and seeking help when needed.Role of a parent to child cyberbullyingParents play a crucial role in preventing and addressing cyberbullying. Parents should educate themselves and their children about cyberbullying, including what it is, how to recognize it, and how to respond to it. This can involve talking openly and honestly with their children about the risks associated with using social media and other online platforms.Parents should maintain open lines of communication with their children and let them know that they can come to them if they are experiencing cyberbullying. Parents should provide emotional support and help their children develop coping strategies to deal with cyberbullying.Parents should model positive online behaviour and encourage their children to do the same. This can involve being kind and respectful online, avoiding cyberbullying, and reporting incidents of cyberbullying to the appropriate authorities.If a parent becomes aware that their child is engaging in cyberbullying, they should take immediate action to stop the behavior and intervene to prevent it from continuing. This may involve reporting the incident to school officials, law enforcement, or social media companies, depending on the severity of the behavior.Overall, parents play a critical role in preventing and addressing cyberbullying. By educating themselves and their children, monitoring their online activity, providing support and communication, modeling positive online behaviour, and taking action when necessary, parents can help to create a safer and more positive online environment for their children.Role of government to child cyberbullyingCyberbullying is a serious issue that affects many children, and governments around the world have taken steps to address it. The Government of Zimbabwe has passed laws that specifically addresses cyberbullying and make it a criminal offense. Data Protection under section 164B in the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act criminalises cyberbullying and harassment.The government should be investing in education and awareness programs aimed at preventing cyberbullying. These programs should be designed to teach children and parents about the dangers of cyberbullying, how to recognise it, and how to respond to it.The government and the private sector should be funding research into cyberbullying to help the nation to better understand the extent of the problem and to develop effective strategies for preventing it.Internationally governments are partnering with technology companies to develop tools and resources to help prevent cyberbullying. For example, some governments have worked with social media companies to develop reporting tools and other features that make it easier to report cyberbullying incidents. This is a route the government of Zimbabwe should take.Zimbabwe's government should provide support and resources for victims of cyberbullying. This may include counseling services, legal assistance, and other forms of support.Zimbabwe's governments should adopt working structures with law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of cyberbullying. This may involve working with social media companies to identify perpetrators and providing training for law enforcement officers to help them better understand and respond to cyberbullying cases.Overall, the Government of Zimbabwe is taking a multi-faceted approach to addressing child cyberbullying, which includes legislation, education and awareness, research, technology partnerships, victim support, and law enforcement.Suicide is the leading cause of death for adolescents and young adults in the Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe's young adolescents are spending most of their time online than ever before. It important that parents/guardians, educators and primary care providers to screen for cyberbullying routinely in the same way that they might screen for other suicide risk factors like depression. Parents/guardians, educators and primary care provider should also be aware of the risk factor and help protect today's youths.https://www.theindependent.co.zw/opinion/article/200014244/tech-crime-suicide-now-associated-with-cyber-bullying Inclement weather has hampered the work to plug the 950 feet wide breach at dhussi bundh on Sutlej in Jalandhars Gata Mandi Kasu village. Workers plugging a breach at dhussi bundh amid heavy rainfall in Jalandhar on Saturday. (HT Photo) On Saturday, with heavy rains lashing the region, the access roads leading to both ends of the breach were filled with slush making it impossible for heavy tippers and tractor trolleys to bring sand to the spot. As per the officials, the efforts to plug the breach are on a war footing before the water is released from the Bhakra Dam. AAPs Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, whose team is overseeing the work of plugging the breach at one end, said the movemnet of vehicles was halted briefly as the tippers and trolleys couldnt bring the sand to the spot. Now the sand has been dumped in nearby grain market under the sheds from where it would be transported. People from the nearby areas and other parts of the state are working tirelessly. We are hopeful of positive results, he said. He added that once the breach is plugged, it would bring life back on track facilitating smooth movement of people, who are looking after their houses and livestock. Deputy commissioner Vishesh Sarangal said the official of the drainage department has started work from one end, while Sant Seechewals team is carrying out the work from the opposite end. We are ensuring free movement of vehicles bringing sand and soil bags to plug the breach and are hopeful of completing the work in coming days, the DC said. Heavy downpour inundates Jalandhar city Heavy showers, coupled with hailstorm left the city roads inundated on Saturday. The meteorological (MeT) department recorded 70mm of rainfall on Saturday and predicted more rain in the coming days. Commuters faced a lot of hassles in navigating the waterlogged roads exposing the ill-preparedness of the Jalandhar municipal corporation (MC) and the district administration in tackling the issue. From market areas to residential localities, residents were left stranded as the civic body authorities are unable to control the situation. Gurpreet Singh, a local shopkeeper on railway station road, said, Whats the use of spending crores on cleanliness of the citys drainage system if there is no respite from waterlogging? Meanwhile, following reports of flooded roads, Punjab minister Balkar Singh toured the city and directed the officials to ensure an efficient drainage system. Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Kaplish also apprised the minister that all the pumps were working at 120 feet road and Pholriwal area to drain the water. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Sarabha Nagar police on Saturday arrested the owner of a cafe after a chef working there allegedly died of electrocution. The SHO added a case under section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been lodged against the cafe owner and arrested him. (iStock) The accused has been identified as Shubham Gupta, the owner of Sir Dough Bakehouse cafe, near South City. The deceased has been identified as Manish Singh Rawat, 22, of Haibowal. Sub inspector Amarinder Singh, SHO at Sarabha Nagar police station said that Manish was working at the cafe for the past few months. On Friday, he had gone to the cafe at around 3 pm and by 6:30 pm, the employees of the cafe informed the family that Manish suffered an electric shock. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died. The SHO added a case under section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the IPC has been lodged against the cafe owner and arrested him. Earlier, the kin of the victim staged a protest outside the office of commissioner of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu on Saturday, seeking action against the restaurant owner. Rajan Kumar, father of the victim, stated that his son had joined the cafe three months ago after completing a hotel management degree. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the second round of talks with the government failing to end the impasse, protesting clerks of Haryana government departments on Friday intensified their agitation by launching a hunger strike. Empty government offices during clerks protest in Haryana. (HT File) As per the Clerical Association Welfare Society (CAWS), five clerks Pardeep Prajapati, Parmjeet, Amit Nain, Ravi and Pardeep Kumar, sat on a day-long hunger strike outside the Karnal mini-secretariat. Meanwhile, the clerks indefinite pen-down strike entered the 18th day on Saturday. Around 15,000 protesting clerks of various government departments are on strike, demanding a revision of their pay-scale from 19,900 to 35,400. Accusing the government of ignoring their genuine demand, Pradeep Prajapati, Karnal district president of the CAWS, said they were left with no option but to declare a hunger strike as the second meeting with the government ended without any assurance. The agitation is causing inconvenience to residents, who are unable to avail of several key services, including registration of land deeds and vehicles. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said its very unfortunate that governor Banwarilal Purohit does not know whether calling of the two-day special assembly session in June was legal or illegal. Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann was interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event in Chandigarh on Saturday when he criticised governor Banwarilal Purohit for saying that he believed the convening of the special assembly session was a breach of law and procedure. (HT file photo) On July 17, Purohit wrote to Mann, saying he believed that convening the special session was a breach of law and procedure. Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event in Chandigarh to send off a group of school principals to Singapore for training, the chief minister said during Capt Amarinder Singh governments tenure, the assembly was called twice without the permission of the governor as the session was not prorogued. Also read: SGPC urges PTC to continue Gurbani broadcast till its channel is launched Mann said the special session from June 19-20 was convened after consulting constitutional experts. He was responding to a question on Purohits letter in which the governor said calling the assembly session was likely a breach of law and procedure and indicated that he may not sign off soon on the Bills passed during that sitting of the House. Purohit had also questioned the legality of the Bills and had said that he was actively considering seeking the attorney generals advice on them or referring them to the President. The governors response had come after Mann urged the governor to sign the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aimed at ensuring a free-to-air telecast of Gurbani from the Golden Temple in Amritsar. It was one of the four Bills passed during the special session. Mann accused the governor of delaying the signing of the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023. He said with this amendment, the state government would not have any right to broadcasting and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) would ensure the telecast of the Gurbani. He said that the Bill aims at freeing the undue control of a particular family over the rights to telecast the Gurbani. Takes on SGPC for benefiting blue-eyed channel of Badals Criticising the SGPC for dragging its feet on the live telecast of the Gurbani from the Golden Temple just to benefit a blue-eyed channel of the Badals, Mann said: Rather than working to ensure that ambrosial nectar of the sacred Gurbani reaches every household with free to air and free of cost telecast, the SGPC has made a U-turn just to ensure that the telecast rights remain in the hands of a single channel. He said that surprisingly instead of working in the larger interest of humanity, the SGPC is acting on the whims and fancies of the Badal family by inordinately delaying the matter of free telecast of the Gurbani. Mann said former Akal Takht acting jathedar Harpreet Singh had a year ago batted for launching a channel for free to air telecast of the Gurbani but the SGPC had been sleeping over the matter. The CM said now too, jathedar Raghbir Singh has not named any channel for the telecast of the Gurbani, but being more loyal than king, the SGPC has asked the same channel to continue till it launches its own satellite channel just to appease its masters. He reiterated that if given a chance, the Punjab government can perform sewa of making all arrangements for live and free to air telecast of Gurbani within 24 hours. Citing the example of live feed of government events, he said that most of the time the arrangements are made within an hour. Mann said that this will ensure free to air telecast of Gurbani on every satellite and web channel within seconds. On Friday, the SGPC had appealed to the management of GNext Media (PTC channel) to continue Gurbani broadcast from Golden Temple, until the SGPCs own satellite channel is established. The SGPCs agreement with GNext Media, which is telecasting the Gurbani from the Sikh shrine at present, will expire on July 23. PTC is often linked to the Badal family. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ravinder Vasudeva Ravinder Vasudeva is a principal correspondent who writes for the Punjab bureau of Hindustan Times. ...view detail The police have booked three persons, including a woman, in connection with the death of a man, a month after he set himself on fire in front of his relatives over a land dispute. The man from Leela Megh Singh village set himself on fire after pouring petrol on himself in Ludhiana. (HT FILE) Police lodged an FIR on Friday against three relatives of the man who died in a hospital in Sidhwan Bet on the statement of his wife. The man from Leela Megh Singh village set himself on fire on June 17 after pouring petrol on himself. After struggling for life for over one month he succumbed to injuries on Friday. The accused have been identified as Wazir Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Jyoti. According to the complainant, her father-in-law were four brothers and they had distributed their ancestral property among themselves a few years ago. A 4 marla (121 sq. yards) land located in front of their house was in the possession of her father-in-law but her husbands cousins claimed their share in the property and indulged in a spat with her husband over it. She said that her husbands cousins wanted to sell the land to their neighbour Kuldeep Singh. When her husband learnt about it, he was upset. He went to the house of the accused on June 17 and set himself on fire after pouring petrol. They rushed him to civil hospital Jagraon from where he was referred to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. Due to financial constraint, the victim was shifted to a private hospital in Sidhwan Bet and then was brought home. The victim succumbed to his burn injuries on Friday. Sub-inspector Surjit Singh, who is investigating the case, said that an FIR under sections 306 and 34 of the IPC has been registered against the accused at Sidhwan Bet police station. A hunt is on for their arrest. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two tribal women were stripped and assaulted at a village market in West Bengals Malda district on Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed. A purported video of the incident was shared by BJP I-T cell head Amit Malviya (Twitter/video screengrab) A purported video of the incident was shared by BJP I-T cell head Amit Malviya on Saturday claiming that the incident took place in Malda on Wednesday (July 19). Sharing the video on his official Twitter handle, Malviya, who is also the partys co-incharge for West Bengal, said the women belonged to a socially marginalised community. Attacking state chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Malviya wrote on Twitter, A frenzied mob baying for her blood It had all the making of a tragedy that should have broken Mamata Banerjees heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the Home Minister of Bengal He said that the Bengal CM chose to do nothing about the incident. Neither she condemned the barbarity nor did she express pain and anguish, Malviya alleged. There is a video going viral on the internet emanating from Malda in West Bengal. Two Dalit women were mercilessly beaten and stripped, Smriti Irani, Union minister told media persons. As the BJP attacked the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) over the purported video, the TMC accused the BJP of politicising the issue. Even though senior police officers of the district did not take calls and some refused to comment, the state woman and child development minister Shashi Panja told media persons that police have registered a suo moto case. The incident took place in a big village weekly market. It was alleged that those two poor women had stolen something. A quarrel broke out between some village women which turned into a fight. In the scuffle, they got disrobed. The women civic volunteers tried to intervene but failed as even they were over overpowered. The two women went away, she said, adding that the BJP was unnecessarily politicising the issue. According to locals, the incident took place at the Pakua Hat (weekly market) at Bamangola in Malda district on July 19. Allegations surfaced that five tribal women from Maldas Manikchak area had come to the weekly market to sell local products. They were caught stealing from other women. While three managed to escape, local women caught the two women and assaulted them. It is not a matter of states whether MANIPUR OR WEST BENGAL every daughter of this country deserves respect irrespective of politics, cast and creed. As per concerned of the required evidence here are the shocking and horrific visuals of how women are assaulted in OF MALDA WB, Locket Chatterjee, BJP MP wrote on Twitter. The Malda incident came to light a day after Chatterjee alleged that a party candidate was stripped, groped and paraded naked at Panchla in West Bengals Howrah on July 8 when panchayat elections were being held. Chatterjee had broken down into tears on Friday while speaking to media persons and narrating alleged atrocities on women in West Bengal. Police, however, said that they received a complaint from a woman via email on July 13. A day later, a first information report was lodged, but till date, no evidence has been found to support the allegations. Till date, we havent found any evidence. There are no witnesses. Police approached the woman and her husband to give s statement in court, but they refused, Manoj Malaviya, director general of West Bengal Police, had told the media. Even after being a scientist at one of the most elite organisations in the country for the last six years, being a member of a team that successfully launched Chandrayaan-3, Indias third lunar exploration mission, was like a childhood dream come true for Prayagrajs Neha Agrawal. Neha Agrawal (SOURCED) Agrawal, who was also associated with the Chandrayaan-2 mission, is also working on many future projects of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), details of which she didnt want to share. Girls High School and College of Prayagraj was the ISRO scientists alma mater, post which she completed her engineering graduate degree from United College of Engineering and Research. She then pursued MTech in Electronics and Communication from Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) and passed with a gold medal in 2017 before joining the ISRO. Nehas mother Vandana Agrawal is a teacher at a government-run primary school in Karachhana area of Prayagraj while younger sister Pranjali and younger brother Puneet are working as engineers in private firms. Nehas father Sanjay Kumar has retired as a special assistant from Indian Bankand is currently serving as the district chairman of the Allahabad Bank Staff Association. Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Pushpakrishna Palace near Civil Lines in the city, said Neha, her eldest of child, wanted to become a scientist since her childhood. When she was not reading textbooks, she engaged herself with books of science. It is the result of her dedication that she became a scientist at the ISRO on the very first attempt and has been serving the country for the last six years. With pride, we all watched the launch of the Chandrayaan-3 live on TV, he said. PHOTO: Neha Agrawal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR K Sandeep Kumar K Sandeep Kumar is a Special Correspondent of Hindustan Times heading the Allahabad Bureau. He has spent over 16 years reporting extensively in Uttar Pradesh, especially Allahabad and Lucknow. He covers politics, science and technology, higher education, medical and health and defence matters. He also writes on development issues. ...view detail MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has sought an explanation from the Tardeo police for arresting a music teacher on bailable charges and detaining him in custody. HT Image According to the petition filed by the music teachers wife, a case under sections 354A (outraging modesty of a woman) and (insulting modesty of a woman) was registered against him in the second week of June at Malad police station. The case was later transferred for investigation to the Tardeo police station, within the limit of which the alleged incident had taken place. The womans counsels, advocate Kripashankar Pandey and Darshan Juikar, on Tuesday told the HC that he visited the Tardeo police station at least four times. Pandey said that at the time of the music teachers arrest on Monday, he spoke to the senior police inspector and apprised him that since the sections applied in the case were bailable and the accused was willing to provide bail bond, he cannot be arrested and should be released on bail. The division bench of justice Revati Mohite Dere and justice Gauri Godse then directed the senior police inspector of the Tardeo police station and police sub-inspector Priyanka Kadam, investigating officer of the case, to file their respective affidavits in reply to the petition filed by the music teachers wife. A day after the man was arrested on July 18, his wife moved to the HC, seeking directions to the police to release her husband forthwith, claiming the arrest was illegal as he was arrested in a bailable case. She has also sought action to be taken against the senior police inspector and PSI Kadam for violating his fundamental rights. The accused music teacher was released by the police immediately after the petition was mentioned for urgent hearing on Tuesday morning and the bench asked the police officer concerned to remain present in the court. Claiming that the music teacher was having reputation amongst his peers and students, and had an unblemished record of over 20 years, Pandey also pointed out that though the Tardeo police registered the fresh FIR on July 7, the copy was not forwarded to the metropolitan magistrate court concerned. On the other hand, an assistant public prosecutor informed the bench that the music teacher was released from police custody around 12 noon on Tuesday itself. The court, however, felt it necessary to call for explanation from the senior police inspector and Kadam. The release appears to be after the learned APP (assistant public prosecutor) was directed to take instructions and when we asked the officer of Tardeo Police Station to remain present at 2.30 pm, the bench said. It directed the two police officers to file in two weeks their respective affidavits, observing that the allegations made by the petitioner were serious and the petitioner has alleged violation of fundamental rights, personal liberty and law. Irshalwadi/Khalapur: As the rescue operation following the Irshalwadi landslide entered its fourth day, Ankush Wagh, the leader of the tribe, made a heartfelt plea to the government to call it off. Having already lost nine of his own family members to the catastrophe, Wagh believes that further efforts to retrieve bodies may be futile and even hazardous to those involved in the operation. Ankush Wagh at a rescue camp near chowke village during the rescue operations are going on the Third day where people trapped under rubble after landslide in Khalapur Irshalwadi Village in Raigad, Maharashtra on Saturday, (Satish Bate/HT Photo) Also Read | Landslide survivors find hope and kindness amid tragedy The search has thus far resulted in the recovery of 26 bodies but there are still 65 more to be found, leaving families in a state of anguish and uncertainty. With diminishing hopes of finding any survivors and the understanding that the deceased will eventually be cremated, we see little value in the process of digging out lifeless bodies, said Wagh. Instead, the tribe plans to hold rituals on the 13th day at the site to honour and remember the departed souls. Wagh, who also serves as the tehsil president of Zilla Thakur Sanghatana in Raigad district, was expressing not just his own but the communitys collective decision. Our community gathered and unanimously decided to formally request the government to halt the rescue operation. We have sadly lost hope of finding our beloved relatives alive, said a teary-eyed Wagh, seated at the temporary shelter set up by the government in conjunction with the Panchayatana temple, Nadhal village. Also Read | Thackeray urges not to politicise landslide; CM backs hi Jagdish Pardhi, who lost 15 family members in the landslide, has only recovered five bodies so far. He echoed Waghs sentiments. We yearn to bid our final goodbyes to our loved ones but not at the cost of mutilating their bodies, he said. It is better to bring the rescue operation to a close. In response to the villagers plea, Mahendra Kalyankar, the district collector of Raigad, acknowledged their request and assured them that the matter was being discussed with the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF). The authorities are thoughtfully considering the emotional and practical implications before taking a final decision regarding the rescue operation. Ever since the landslide occurred, Namdev Tiwate has been reaching the base of Irshalgad from Karjat every morning to search for 25 people from his in-laws house with the NDRF team. So far, we have received the bodies of only five of our relatives, he said. The youth of the village come here every morning with hope and leave with despair. It is right if our community decides to stop the rescue operation. But although I will accept whatever the village sarpanch decides, we will remain sad that we could not see our relatives for the last time. Supporting the decision of the community, Rajesh Thakur, who lost five members from his family, said, Only one body was found. We are searching for the others every day. It is an irreparable loss, but I think it will be right if the community decides to stop the rescue operation. Khalapur: With help pouring in from all quarters for the Irshalwadi landslide victims, CIDCO, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and NGOs too have gone all out to help in the rescue efforts and also provide relief to the victims. Irshalwadi landslide: CIDCO, NMMC, NGOs provide logistics support CIDCO had sent its firemen led by its chief fire officer Vijay Rane and 600 labourers to the disaster site immediately on receiving information on the incident. It sent the force to the spot again on Friday to continue the rescue work. Said a CIDCO official, The landslide has created mounds of mud in the village at the base. Keeping in view the massive manpower required for the ongoing relief work at the disaster site, CIDCO had urgently provided 600 labourers from its various housing project sites on Thursday itself. They reached the spot at 8 am to help clear the debris. Today, again 600 labourers have been sent to the site. He added, We have also sent a batch of firemen from CIDCO to help in the rescue work. CIDCO will continue to send its personnel to Irshalgad till the rescue work goes on as a part of our social commitment. Informed the official, Apart from manpower, 25 stretchers and 5000 bottles of drinking water, each of 1 litre have also been supplied by CIDCO at the site. Said Vijay Rane, chief fire officer of CIDCO, We are doing our best in the difficult circumstances to help in the rescue efforts. It is a massive operation and hence every bit of help from experts is needed. He added, Our dedicated team has been on the job for two days and we shall leave no stone unturned in supporting the rescue operations being carried out by the government agencies. The NMMC has also played a key role in landslide relief and rescue operations. It has provided over 150 workers to help in the ongoing rescue operation. Additionally, two officers and five assistants have been assigned the work of supervising the aid process. Anticipating the need for medical assistance, the corporation has also stationed 10 ambulances at the base camp along with a team of medical doctors and staff. The administrative body has also formed a four-member search and rescue squad. We have even sent four rescue tenders from the fire department and they have been present at the spot since Thursday night. In the first batch a total of 50 cleanliness workers were deputed by 3 am to the spot. Additionally, we also sent 50 stretchers, said municipal commissioner Rajesh Narvekar. NMMC Medical department has provided 50 fluid absorbent body cover bags for adults and 13 bags for infants. Another batch of 50 workers were sent to the site on Thursday afternoon and on Friday, a third batch of 55 workers along with buses was sent. Anticipating that there will be electrical issues, a total of 50 big and small torches are given to the workers. There are water bottles and biscuits also supplied, said an official. Disturbed by the natural calamity, Navi Mumbai chapter of Robinhood Army NGO too has envisioned distributing 500 grocery kits, 500 blankets and 1,000 bedsheets in the coming few days. On Friday, the NGO visited the rehabilitation camp and distributed 70 packets of dry snacks. We had initially planned to undertake a distribution drive of all the products. However, officials asked us to return in a few days as the survivors are yet to be provided with a proper place to reside. Officials also informed that most likely porta cabins are to be brought and these will be utilized as makeshift homes for those displaced due to the landslide, said the head of the Navi Mumbai Chapter of the NGO, Deepak Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Maria Goeppert Mayer worked on the Manhattan Project and later won the Nobel Prize in physics. Bettmann/Getty Images Nolan's "Oppenheimer" fails to highlight the women who helped make the Manhattan Project possible. Women worked across the Project, including as explosion techs, librarians, and hematologists. Several went on to shape their fields later in their careers, with one even winning a Nobel Prize. Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer" explores the work of physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his colleagues to create the atomic bomb at a research facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Yet, the film fails to depict a key part of the story, using scientists Lilli Hornig and Charlotte Serber as stand-ins for all the women who contributed their time and expertise to make the project possible. From a Nobel Prize winner to a chemist who protested the use of the atomic bomb in warfare, the work of these women was essential to the story Nolan sought to tell and yet, their voices remain mostly absent from the film. Here are the stories of just six of the hundreds of women that made essential contributions to the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos. Lilli Hornig Chemist Lilli Hornig first came to the United States in 1933 from Berlin, Germany after German officials threatened to imprison her father in a concentration camp. Hornig first arrived at Los Alamos after Manhattan Project officials tapped her husband to join the effort. Hornig began researching plutonium a key element for nuclear technology. However, after her colleagues realized how dangerous the isotope plutonium-240 was, they fired her, citing concerns that the isotope would cause reproductive damage. Hornig told the Voices of the Manhattan Project she recalled trying to point out that men's reproductive systems were more exposed than hers. Hornig then moved to the explosives team and witnessed the Trinity Test the world's first detonation of a nuclear weapon, conducted in New Mexico in 1945 before leaving Los Alamos. Hornig, notably, also tried to stop the actual use of the atomic bomb in warfare, signing a petition urging officials to instead demonstrate the bomb's power on an uninhabited island. Story continues "And we thought in our innocence of course, it made no difference that if we petitioned hard enough they might do a demonstration test... and invite the Japanese to witness it," Hornig said in the interview. "But of course the military, I think, had made the decision well before that they were going to use it no matter what." While Hornig was featured in Nolan's film, she makes just a few appearances, including a scene depicting her speaking out against the US military's use of the bomb in Japan. Lilli Hornig's ID photo. Los Alamos National Laboratory Charlotte Serber Charlotte Serber first went to Los Alamos with her husband, a physicist, in 1942. Serber worked for the Manhattan Project as a scientific librarian despite not having any formal training handling various top-secret technical documents throughout her time at Los Alamos, according to the book, "Their Day in the Sun: Women of the Manhattan Project." Serber eventually became the only female group leader at Los Alamos, overseeing a staff of 12 people. She also assisted with counterespionage efforts, making trips into nearby Santa Fe to act drunk in local bars and spread rumors that the project was actually an effort to build an electric rocket, according to the book, "Atomic Spaces: Living on the Manhattan Project." While Serber also makes an appearance in "Oppenheimer," Nolan depicted Serber as Oppenheimer's secretary, removing her essential contributions as a librarian from the narrative. Charlotte Serber's ID photo. Los Alamos National Laboratory Floy Agnes (Naranjo Stroud) Lee Floy Agnes (Naranjo Stroud) Lee was earning her biology degree from the University of New Mexico when she was asked to work at Los Alamos. Lee worked as a hematologist, collecting blood samples from the men who worked directly on the atomic bomb. Her work was essential in monitoring scientists' health at Los Alamos. In an interview for the Voices of the Manhattan Project an oral history archive Lee recalled taking blood from physicist Louis Slotin after he was exposed to severe radiation doses during a 1946 experiment. Lee said she was worried he would die which he did, just nine days later. A member of the Santa Clara Pueblo tribe, Lee was one of a few Indigenous women working at Los Alamos. After the war, Lee earned her Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Chicago and went on to pioneer a new method for computer analysis of chromosomes. Lee was also a founding member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, an organization that still exists today with the mission of increasing representation for Indigenous peoples in STEM fields. Joan Hinton Joan Hinton was a physics graduate student at the University of Wisconsin when she was tapped for Los Alamos. She worked on a team building the first reactor able to use enriched uranium as fuel. Hinton also witnessed the Trinity Test. Just weeks after the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagaski, killing more than 200,000 people, Hinton drove physicist Harry Daghlian to the hospital after he was exposed to a lethal amount of radiation from a plutonium core. He died about three weeks later. Hinton believed the bomb would be used in a demonstration for the Japanese which Hornig advocated for as well and became an ardent peace activist after the war. In protest, Hinton sent the mayor of every major city in the United States a case filled with glassified desert sand a byproduct of the Trinity Test bomb alongside a note asking whether they wanted their communities to suffer from a similar fate, according to her obituary in the New York Times. Hinton emigrated to China in 1948, where she spent the rest of her life working on dairy farms. Joan Hinton, left, working on a dairy farm in Beijing, China. Reuters Photographer/Reuters Elizabeth Graves Elizabeth Graves was an invaluable member of the Los Alamos team because she was one of few physicists in the United States with experience using a Cockroft-Walton particle accelerator, a machine that could produce beams of charged particles and was essential to the development of the Manhattan Project, according to the US Department of Energy. Graves was also pregnant during her initial months at Los Alamos and even went into labor while conducting an experiment. She did not stop until the experiment was finished, timing her contractions with a stopwatch, physicist Henry Barschall told the authors of "Their Day in the Sun." Graves and her husband went on to raise their family at Los Alamos, where she continued to research experimental nuclear physics. Elizabeth Graves' ID photo. Los Alamos National Laboratory Maria Goeppert Mayer Theoretical physicist Maria Goeppert Mayer contributed to the development of nuclear fission while working at Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, and visiting Los Alamos from time to time. Mayer never worked on the atomic bomb under Oppenheimer, rather working with Edward Teller on the related hydrogen bomb at Los Alamos. Mayer kept her work at Los Alamos a secret from her husband for many years, according to "Their Day in the Sun." "Keeping from him that awful secret of the atom bomb research I did during World War II for four years was harder on me than all the prejudice of the years," Mayer told Sharon McGrayne for her book, "Nobel Prize Women in Science: Their Lives, Struggles, and Momentous Discoveries." "We were lucky because we didn't contribute to the development of the bomb, and so we escaped the searing guilt felt to this day by those responsible," Mayer added. In 1963, Mayer won the Nobel Prize in physics. She was only the second woman preceded by Marie Curie in 1903 at the time to receive the award. Read the original article on Business Insider Navi Mumbai Irshalwadi landslide: Raigad administration seeks food, donations A day after the landslide that wiped off one village from Khalapur Taluka, Raigad administration has appealed to the citizens to donate generously to the survivors in terms of food as well as finances. For donating finances, the administration has also released details of a bank account. Those who want to help financially should deposit the funds in this bank account:- Name of the account :- District Disaster Response Fund, Name of the bank :- State Bank of India, Main Branch, Alibag, Bank Account Number:-38222872300, IFSC Code:-SBIN0000308. Meanwhile the administration has also informed to get in touch with Sub-Divisional Officer, Karjat Ajit Nairale -8390090040- and Khalapur Tehsildar Ayub Tamboli- 9975751076- in case of donating any other materials. On the second day of the rescue operation, six more bodies were recovered from the pile of mud taking the toll to 22. The deceased found today have been identified as Ravindra Padu Wagh, 46, Kamal Madhu Bhutambra ,45, Kanhi Ravi Wagh, 45, Hasi Pandurang Pardhi, 50, Madhu Nama Bhutambra, 55 and Pandurang Dhanoo Pardhi 55. Of the two admitted to MGM Kamothe hospital on Thursday, Pravin Pandurang Pardhi, 21, got discharged on Friday and went back to his once existing village from where his parents were found from on Friday. Now there is no scope of anyone coming out alive. In some families, some of the members are still missing and in some cases, the whole family is missing. Some of the children studying in the ashram schools have been brought back and all are in inconsolable state, Suresh Bhasma (28), a relative of Pardhi said. While addressing the media on Friday, Raigad Collector Yogesh Mhase said that there were a total of 46 houses in Irshalwadi village and around 18 of them have come under the landslide. There are 229 citizens in this wadi and so far 22 people have died in the landslide. A total of 67 citizens are kept in shelter centres and 107 are untraceable. As of now, eight injured are undergoing treatment at hospitals including MGM and Government hospital. So far 102 people have been found. As of now 32 temporary container houses with all facilities have been made available to the citizens of Irshalwadi village, District Collector Yogesh Mhase said, adding that a place has been proposed at Chowk for the heirs of the displaced and deceased families and the proposal will be sent to the government. Survey number 27 in the Chowk area is a government site proposed for permanent settlement of Irshalwadi villagers. Negotiations with CIDCO regarding construction of houses are going to be done at the government and administration level. The administration proposal will be sent to the government through the relief and rehabilitation department. Of the missing, some are out for work reasons, some have gone to relatives also, some students are in ashram school. They are being searched by the administration. Food and drinking water arrangements have been made by the administration at the shelter homes by the administration. At least 1000 people are helping in various ways at the incident site, Mhase added. The displaced citizens of Irshalwadi village will be provided temporary accommodation in containers for one year. A colony of 32 container houses has been set up at Chowk area, adjacent to the old Mumbai Pune highway. Electricity and water facilities are provided along with it. The container will be filled with essential household items, clothes, household items and convenience materials. Also, 20 toilets, have been provided. The cost of education and school supplies of the student studying in the school will be borne by the administration, Mhase further informed the media. The district was declared a red alert for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday by the Meteorological Department. The Collector said that he had ordered all the officers to stay awake on Wednesday so that the officers should be alert in case of any natural calamity. A video conference was was kept at 11 pm in the night to keep the officers awake. On learning about the landslide, the Khalapur could reach the spot at the soonest as the administration was awake and alert, Mhase said. To get rid of the smell in the area, the health department has been spraying medicines in the area. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested Chhattisgarh IAS officer Ranu Sahu a day after the central agency raided her premises as part of their investigation into the money laundering case, officials said. Ranu Sahu, a Chhattisgarh-cadre IAS officer of the 2010 batch, is currently posted as the director of the state agriculture department (ANI Photo) On Friday, the ED had conducted searches at the premises of the IAS officer, senior Congress politician and contractors in Raipur, Bilaspur and Korba districts in connection with the money laundering case. Ranu Sahu has been arrested in connection with the coal levy case, and the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering) court in Raipur granted her custody for three days to the probe agency, said EDs lawyer Saurabh Pandey. Ranu Sahu, a 2010-batch IAS officer in the Chhattisgarh cadre, is currently serving as a director in the states agriculture department. Sahu had earlier served as the collector of the Korba and Raigarh districts, both known for their coal reserves. Notably, Sahu is the second IAS officer in the state to be arrested in connection with the case after 2009 batch IAS officer Sameer Vishnoi was arrested last year. The central agency had previously raided Sahus residence in Raipur and also attached her assets during its earlier investigation into the alleged coal levy scam. The ED had in a statement claimed that a massive scam was taking place in coal transportation in Chhattisgarh, under which a cartel of politicians, officers and others was allegedly running a parallel system of extorting illegal levy, which is generating about Rs.2-3 crore daily. The probe agency has claimed that the main kingpin of this scam is Suryakant Tiwari and his associates, who entered into a criminal conspiracy to run a parallel system of extorting illegal levy on coal, and were doing illegal and unaccounted cash movement. In December 2022, the ED arrested Chhattisgarh chief ministers deputy secretary Saumya Chaurasia in connection with the money laundering case alleging that Chaurasias WhatsApp chats retrieved by the Income Tax Department revealed that she was sharing all the governments confidential information with kingpin Tiwari who was not even attached to her office for any official work. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ritesh Mishra State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh. Reports Maoism, Politics, Mining and important developments from the state. Covered all sorts of extremism in Central India. Reported from Madhya Pradesh for eight years. ...view detail The erstwhile Mizo National Party (MNF) underground armed wing- Peace Accord MNF Returnees Association (PAMRA) has asked the Meiteis residing in Mizoram to leave the state for their own safety. (File Photo) In a statement issued from Aizawl on Friday, PAMRA said, The situation in Mizoram has become tense and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur. The press release stated that the Mizo sentiments have been deeply hurt by the violence meted out to the Zo-ethnic community in Manipur. The PAMRA stated that if any violence should happen upon Meiteis in Mizoram, the Meiteis themselves shall bear the responsibility. In light of their safety, they will be responsibility if something unpleasant occurs to them, the release stated. This comes after a May 4 video of two Kuki women being paraded naked and molested allegedly by Meitei mobs recently went viral online sparking nationwide outrage. PAMRA secretary general C Lalthenlova said it was a normal appeal for safety and should not be regarded as a diktat or warning. We simply appeal to the Meiteis to leave for their state to avoid any untoward incident. We do not serve them a diktat, Lalthenlova told PTI. It is worth mentioning that PAMRA were the armed wing of the MNF and they came overground and surrendered their weapons after the Mizoram Peace Accord was signed in 1986. Meanwhile, the Mizoram state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday filed a first information report (FIR) against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for organising a protest in front of the BJP in Aizawl. AAP had organised a demonstration holding the ruling-BJP responsible for the Manipur incident. During the protest, a minor clash broke out between the workers of the two parties, following which a case was registered by the BJP. In the FIR filed with the superintendent of police, Aizawl district, BJP state general secretary Malsawmtluanga stated that the AAP had gathered in front of the BJP office, using loudspeakers without taking prior permission from the city deputy commissioner. He said that the AAP disturbed the Friday political session of the BJP. The FIR also stated that the AAP blocked roads for a long duration and could serve as a security threat to the governor as the Raj Bhavan is just next to the BJP office. (with PTI inputs) VARANASI Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged representatives of various temple managements to further the vision of Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi, which, he says, brings traditional aspects together with modern technological elements to make the temple ecosystem even more vibrant. The PM said this in a letter written to the organisers of the International Temple Convention and Expo (ITCX) 2023. PM praises organisers of International Temple Convention and Expo 2023 (HT File) Detailing the importance of the Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi vision, the letter says, This is the same vision that can be seen behind many transformational efforts of our temple towns in the last few years. Whether it is Somnath, or Kedarnath of the city of Baba Vishwanath, our temple towns are being transformed with modern people-centric infrastructure and facilities, while keeping the sanctity of the shrines intact. It also highlights the beautification of Kashi saying, In a way, it is fitting that ITCX is happening in Kashi, which has seen a great transformation in the recent past. Be it Kashi Vishwanath Dham, beautification of the iconic ghats, cleaning up the Ganga, or development projects in infrastructure and connectivity, Kashi has become a place where the past meets the future and the past inspires the future. The letter also praises the organisers for their initiative. It is indeed heartening to learn about the initiative by Temple Connect to organise ITCX 2023 in Varanasi. India has been blessed with a massive diversity of temples, representing our pluralism in craftmanship, theology, history, and heritage. These temples are not just structures but living testaments to the unwavering faith, devotion, and resilience of our people, reads the letter by Modi. It adds, Our temples provide strength and succour to those who seek divine grace but also go beyond it. For centuries, our temples have not only been places of worship but have also been the nucleus of art, architecture, engineering, culture, economy, and society. They are intimately connected with our past, present, and future. Referring to the Amrit Kaal, the letter says, The Amrit Kaal of the next 25 years (the run-up to Indias 100th year of Independence) is also a Kartavya Kaal (a period of duty) for the nation and the people. One of our most important duties is to work towards preserving and promoting our diversity in the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat (an initiative launched to promote national unity and integrity). The letter goes on to say, ITCX 2023 is a unique opportunity for temple managements, architects, archaeologists, scholars, and enthusiasts to come together and exchange ideas, knowledge, best practices, and experiences to preserve and promote our cultural heritage. Lastly, Modi, in his letter, hoped that temples continue to exercise a positive, vibrant influence globally. Strengthening our temples and temple towns is important and ITCX 2023 is a commendable effort in this direction. I wish the deliberations at ITCX 2023 all the success, the PM added. VARANASI A list of temples located across nations should be prepared so as to empower them and create a network, said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday, while adding that this list should include even the smallest of temples. RSS chief says temples must help people in need; hails Swachh Bharat Mission. (Rajesh Kumar) The RSS chief made the suggestion while addressing a gathering of people associated with the managements of different temples from across the world after inaugurating the three-day-long International Temples Convention and Expo (ITCX) 2023 at Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi. Explaining his suggestion in detail, Bhagwat said, Temples have a crucial role to play in the society and to discharge them, their managements should have adequate resources... Every aspect -- be it hygiene, service, or infrastructure -- should be improved. Going into the role of temples in the society, he said, It is the duty of temples to reach out to people in difficult times. Every temple, as per its capacity, should help people in distress in its area. Besides, it is upon temples to impart sanskaar (values) to people and teach them about upasana (ways to worship). Bhagwat further said, We need to teach our younger generations about the importance of service and temple ecosystem. During his address, Bhagwat also pointed out the positive impacts of Swachh Bharat Mission on temples. He said, Temples are a symbol of purity. Therefore, cleanliness is a huge and an extremely critical aspect of temples. The Swachh Bharat Mission played a pivotal role in helping our temples ensure cleanliness. With the International Temple Convention, we seek to achieve this on a deeper level in every temple -- either small or big -- in the world. At the event, Bhagwat also read the letter Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to appreciate ITCX. Praising the ITCX, Bhagwat said, I am very delighted to see representatives of over 700 temples of the Sanatana tradition from our country and abroad. On the occasion, Prasad Lad, chairman, International Temples Convention & Expo 2023 and Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council, said, Through ITCX, we intend to help temples and temple culture across the country... The convention is an endeavour to bridge temples across India as well as connect dharma and society together. Ashwini Kumar Choubey, minister of state for consumer affairs, Food & Public Distribution of India, congratulated the organisers of the event and said that he believes ITCX will have a considerable impact in empowering temples. In a similar vein, Varanasi mayor Ashok Tiwari said, I hope that through ITCX, and under the guidance of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, we can inspire the winds of change in Kashi and temple managements across the world. Meanwhile, Giresh Kulkarni, founder of Temple Connect, said, This conference, through its sessions, throws light on devotion, systems management, and creating sops. It also brings people together, help learning, and facilitates organised communication. PM Modi praises ITCX Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a letter, extended his support to ITCX. In his letter, he encouraged the participants to utilise the platform to further the vision of Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi. He said the participation of people representing hundreds of temples from more than 30 nations augurs well for strengthening of the temple ecosystem not just in our country but globally. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday inspected Srimantapur Integrated Check Post (ICP) and land port station at Sonamura in Tripuras Sepahijala district. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharam in Tripura (Twitter/@PIBAgartala) Sitharaman reached Tripura on Friday to inaugurate GST Bhavan, she also chaired a review meeting of the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) of the northeastern states in Agartala. During her visit, the FM inspected various facilities at the ICP and a jetty on the Gomati River along the Indo-Bangla border and interacted with the concerned officials about issues related to the ICP, passengers movement, trade recorded daily between the two countries, among other things. She expressed satisfaction over its performance and advised the concerned officials about bringing more improvement in the facilities at the station. Srimantapur ICP recorded an increasing trend in export-import trade, reflected in custom duty collection, standing at Rs.17.85 crore in 2022-23, according to a press communique of the Press Information Bureau (PIB). In the same year, the ICP recorded a hike in the movement of passengers with 26,405 passengers coming from Bangladesh while the number of outgoing passengers was 25,582. Later in the day, Sitharaman released a booklet Connecting Borders containing information about all functional land customs stations in the northeast region in the presence of officials from the Land Port Authority of India, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs and state administration. Sitharaman also visited the zero point along the Indo-Bangladesh border where the Border Guards of Bangladesh welcomed her with a bouquet. While inaugurating the GST Bhavan, the FM stated that Tripuras revenue generation has been extremely favourable post-GST. She said that Tripura received only Rs.4.21 crore as central sales tax in FY 2016-17 prior to the introduction of GST, while it rose to Rs.982.50 crore in FY 2022-23 from the inter-state trade. In the meeting with RRBs, Sitharaman stressed improving credit-deposit and asked the officials to focus on meeting the credit requirements of the rural people in the northeast region. She also asked them to focus on lending under Kisan Credit Card as most of the people are involved in agri-allied activities. The finance minister also instructed the officials to prepare a roadmap in the next 30 days to improve performances in the areas where its not up to the mark. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE The NIV team visited the Rural Hospital in Alandi on Saturday and conversed with the treating doctors. (HT PHOTO) Following the conjunctivitis outbreak in Alandi, experts from the National Institute of Virology (NIV) visited the town on Saturday and collected samples from 30 patients for testing. According to the preliminary findings of public health professionals, the spread began in Warkari Schools. On Saturday, the infection spread further, with over 2,000 new cases recorded in the Alandi area alone. The NIV team visited the Rural Hospital in Alandi on Saturday and conversed with the treating doctors. Experts also paid visits to the Warkari-Schools. The NIV team has discovered that ventilation and hygiene at the Warkari Schools have been compromised, according to officials. Conjunctivitis has an incubation period of 24 to 72 hours, during which time isolation and hygiene must be observed. According to the doctors, the condition is self-limiting, and there is no need to prescribe antibiotics or medication for an extended period of time. Health professionals have been tasked with promoting health and hygiene. Alandi has 23 schools and over 350 Warkari-schools, with each Warkari School housing between 80 and 150 students. According to the officials, the virus has infected the majority of the pupils at the Warkari Schools. According to Dr Indira Parkhe, taluka health officer of Khed, NIV specialists have said that students should refrain from sharing towels, soaps, combs, and other items. During the visit, they advised the kids to practice good hygiene and isolate themselves if they develop any symptoms or become infected. While some of the students have shown good signs of recovery, we have seen fever in approximately 4 to 5 per cent of the infected children. The sample reports will be received from NIV within the next three to four days, she said. The experts have requested that a list of kids with comorbidity be prepared in order to determine which youngsters have morbid diseases or are at high risk. The number of teams for the survey on Saturday has been expanded from 17 to 29, according to Dr Nagnath Yempalay, district civil surgeon, and the survey will continue through Sunday. The infection began in the Warkari Schools and spread to other schools. We have also enlisted the help of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials and private doctors from the Ophthalmologist Association, he explained. Pune: The investigation agencies have found that the landlord who rented out the flat in Kondhwa to three men, two of whom were arrested for being on the list of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for alleged terrorism activities, did not carry out mandatory police verification of his tenants. Police probe found that the rented flat was occupied by three individuals who were allegedly linked to a terrorist organisation under the NIAs radar for their involvement in allegedly hatching a bomb blast conspiracy in Jaipur, Rajasthan. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) On Tuesday, the Kothrud police had arrested Mohammad Imran Mohammad Yunus Khan and Mohammad Yunus Mohammad Yakub Saki hailing from Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh (MP) during night patrolling. The third accused has been identified as Mohammed Shahnawaz Shafiurrehman Alam. Police probe found that the rented flat was occupied by three individuals who were allegedly linked to a terrorist organisation under the NIAs radar for their involvement in allegedly hatching a bomb blast conspiracy in Jaipur, Rajasthan. A senior police officer on condition of anonymity said, The landlord failed to produce police verification documents of tenants which is a major flaw related to safety and security concerns. The landlords failure to carry out police verification has put the locality at risk. Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Zone 3, Suhail Sharma said, We are appealing to all landlords in the city and also reminding them of their responsibility to conduct thorough background checks before letting out their premises to potential tenants. Sharma said the incident serves as a reminder of the significance of community cooperation and adherence to security protocols in the ongoing battle against terrorism and criminal activities. During investigation, it was found that the suspects were associated with Sufa, a terrorist organisation based in Madhya Pradesh and inspired from ISIS and had allegedly hatched a bomb blast plan in Jaipur. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PUNE: The warrants aim to apprehend persons who, despite repeated reminders, have failed to fulfil their obligations under the Motor Vehicle Act, such as paying traffic violation fines and appearing in court. (RAVINDRA JOSHI/ HT PHOTO) Pune Traffic Police on Friday informed that they have received arrest warrants against 732 traffic violators for not paying fines for traffic violations in 2020-21. According to officials from the traffic police department, during the previous Lok Adalat conducted in February 2023, the court issued summons against the violators; however, the majority of them did not attend the hearing, thus the court has now issued arrest warrants against them. Arjun Botre, Traffic Police Inspector (Traffic Planning and Administration) said, This is the first instance, where a court has issued arrest warrants against traffic violators for not paying compounding traffic violation penalty charges. These warrants are issued for violators for contempt of court for not appearing before the court. Vijay Kumar Magar, Traffic DCP said, We have forwarded these warrants to the concerned police stations, and the police station will hand them over to the violators. Concerned traffic violators will have to appear in court within the next eight days and the court will take a further decision regarding it. According to Magar, these are non-bailable warrants issued under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 75 (Notification of Substance Warrant). In this case, the person concerned has to appear in front of the court. Now, traffic officers have begun the procedure of transferring warrants to the appropriate police station for delivery to the appropriate person. If the person in question was not present/available at the address given, it is within the duty of the police to initiate a search and bring them to court. These warrants aim to apprehend persons who, despite repeated reminders, have failed to fulfil their obligations under the Motor Vehicle Act, such as paying traffic violation fines and appearing in court. According to an official, the court will issue more similar warrants in phases. PUNE Three persons have been arrested for abduction and murder of retired bank manager in Chinchwad, said police on Saturday. The incident took place on July 19. Police said that Singh and Ingale were friends. After retirement Singh gave 30 lakh to Ingale and asked him to invest the money and give him good returns. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) The accused have been identified as Rajesh Narayan Pawar and Samadhan Dyanoba Mhaske, both residents of Chikhali in Pimpri Chinchwad, who were arrested on Friday night. Police said, prime accused Narayan Bapurao Ingale had given a contract to kill retired Punjab and Sindh Bank manager Ranjit Mela Singh, 70. Ingale paid 4 lakh to each accused. Police said that Singh and Ingale were friends. After retirement Singh gave 30 lakh to Ingale and asked him to invest the money and give him good returns. However, two years later, Singh came to know that, Ingale had not invested the money and hence Singh demanded his money back. Ingale was unable to return the money as he used 30 lakh for his personal use. Jitendra Kadam, senior police inspector at crime branch unit 2, said, Ingale was unable to return the money, hence he hatched a plan to kill Singh with the help of Pawar and Mhaske. For this purpose, he agreed to pay them 4 lakh each. On 19 July, Ingale, called Singh to his house on the pretext of returning his money. When Singh came at his place, Ingale along with other accused attacked him and strangled him by using a rope and later stabbed him. They took his car and dumped his body inside it and went to Thamini ghat and threw his phone in the river and dumped his body in the water. They left the car in Raigad district and returned back home. . Singhs relatives panicked and registered a missing persons complaint at Chinchwad police station. Police said, Singh relative said, Singh went to meet Ingale and after that his phone was not reachable. After technical analysis, police suspected on Ingale and detained him for further questioning. During questioning he confessed that Pawar and Mhaske killed him. Based on information provided by Ingale, police arrested Pawar and Mhaske from Chinchwad on Friday and recovered Singhs body and car used in the crime from Tahmini ghat on Saturday morning. A case regarding the crime has been registered at Chinchwad police station under sections of 364, 392 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Imagine learning how to put in an IV, draw blood, take an X-ray or place a breathing tube before the age of 15 or 16. A group of more than a dozen Altoona ninth- and 10th-grade students spent the week learning these skills while being introduced to a wide array of medical career options at Chippewa Valley Technical Colleges Health Education Center. Chippewa Valley Technical College launched its Healthcare Simulation Camp pilot program Monday. For four consecutive days, students learned various medical skills in a program that focused on hands-on learning. CVTC Clinical Simulation Center coordinator Theresa Meinen began the program. COVID was such a hard time for health care workers that I thought this would be a unique way to recruit students at a level at which they could then prepare better for their futures, she said. This is kind of a unique opportunity in that were not just telling them about our careers, theyre really getting to explore them a little bit hands-on and know a little bit about all these health care programs. The skills the students spent the week learning were put to use on Thursday, when the students went through a scenario with manikins in the simulation lab. A manikin is a full-body patient simulator that mimics human anatomy and physiology and safely allows for the teaching of clinical skills. The manikin used on Thursday had a chest that would rise and fall to mimic breathing as well as a voice controlled by a person in the next room who could respond in real time to stimuli in the room, make comments and ask and answer questions making the scenario more life-like for the students. I think its kind of fun so far, theyre all having a great time, Meinen said. During the simulation, students worked alongside medical professionals and a manikin representing a 28-year-old female patient who was admitted after days of partying with her friends and fell and hurt herself. The simulation took one hour, during which students worked alongside first-year residents and other medical professionals to assess and treat the patient. Students did not know which medical role they would be assigned Thursday, as each was expected to use all the knowledge from the week learned from varying health care specialties. Participants were exposed to nursing, respiratory therapy, medical lab technician and radiography programs. Mariah Ottinger was one of the students involved in the simulation. The soon-to-be ninth grader played the role of a respiratory therapist Thursday. Ottinger signed up for the program because she wanted to get CPR certified but was also trying to decide if the medical field might be a good fit for her. I didnt know exactly what I wanted to do so I just kind of wanted to figure it out, she said. I definitely think I found something that I really like. After Thursdays simulation, Ottinger said she wants to pursue respiratory therapy. It feels interesting and its, like, hands-on and really involved, she said. She believes other students will be interested in the program. You want to keep learning more, she said. The program does not provide academic credit. Participants can earn CPR certification and a $250 CVTC scholarship for future learning, which can be used if students decide to return to take one of the colleges program courses, Meinen said. The program is funded by Chippewa Valley Technical College and the Altoona School District. Meinen said she hopes to expand it to other schools in the future. This is our pilot program. We really wanted to kind of figure out what worked for the students, what worked for us, what works for the school districts and then really figure out how that is going to play later, she said. We really feel that tying it in with some summer schools in the district works really well because its kind of a schedule that they can plan ahead of time. Meinen said there are talks about expanding the program to other breaks during the school year as well, like winter break. Ottinger said she thinks her classmates enjoyed the program greatly. They were beaming the whole time and couldnt stop smiling, she said. Staff Selection Commission (SSC) will release the detailed notification for Sub Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination (SSC SI Delhi Police, CAPF 2023) today, July 22. Candidates can check it and subsequently, apply for these posts on the commission's website, ssc.nic.in. Notification for SSC CAPF, Delhi Police SI 2023 recruitment today on ssc.nic.in (Representational image)(Unsplash) The commission will mention number of vacancies, eligibility criteria including age limit, physical requirements, educational qualification for these posts, schedule of various activities, application fee, examination scheme, etc. in the notification. Candidates may please note that due to administrative reasons the Notice of Sub-Inspector in Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces Examination, 2023 will be published on 22.07.2023 on the website of the Staff Selection Commission i.e.https://ssc.nic.in. The candidates are, therefore, advised to keep a close watch on the website of the Commission, reads a notice issued by SSC on July 20. As per the exam calendar of the commission, the notice was supposed to be out on July 20, which has now been delayed. For further information, candidates can visit ssc.nic.in. Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has announced result of the recruitment examination which was held to fill 577 vacancies at the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). Candidates who applied for UPSC EPFO recruitment 2023 and appeared in the exam can check it on upsc.gov.in or use links given below. UPSC EPFO Result 2023 out on upsc.gov.in, direct links here This recruitment drive is being organised for 418 vacancies for the post of Enforcement Officer/Accounts Officer (EO/AO) and 159 vacancies for the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner post. UPSC has informed that shortlisted candidates are required to submit the detailed application form (DAF), failing to do which will result in rejection of candidature. The DAF will be available on the online recruitment application (ORA) on upsconline.nic.in and the schedule to submit it will be announced in due course. Marks of rejected candidates will be announced after completion of the recruitment process, it added. The written exam was held on July 2. After submitting the DAF, eligible candidates will be called for interview. UPSC EPFO result 2023: EO/AO UPSC EPFO result 2023: Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner. A total of 2,571 students graduated during the 60th Convocation of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras which was held today, July 22. As many as 2,746 degrees (including joint and dual degrees) were awarded to the students on the occasion, the institute said. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud was the chief guest of IIT Madras's 60th Convocation (handout) The institute also awarded 453 PhDs, including Joint Degree PhDs with foreign institutions and dual degree PhDs during the convocation. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud attended the 60th Convocation of IIT Madras as chief guest. Congratulating the graduating students and prize winners, Justice Chandrachud said, Over the past 64 years, this university has contributed significantly to Indias development true its research, innovations, technological innovations and advancements." "In a true sense, institutions such as IIT Madras have transformed Indian Society by entrenching the scientific approach and temper in our society. As I think about the history of this institution, I think about the 1,000s of the students who have graduated from his hallowed university and made not ony our nation but the world a better place. And today, I can see the bright future of the India in your shimmering eyes, he added. Masamune-kun's Revenge R Season 2 has become the summer's most highly anticipated anime series in 2023. After the release of its third episode last week, the show's popularity has skyrocketed, leaving fans anxiously craving more. The anticipation is over as Masamune-kun's Revenge R Season 2 Episode 4 is set to air on Monday, July 24, 2023. Masamune-kun's Revenge Season 2 Episode 4 will premiere on Monday, July 24. Find the release times for all time zones, and the streaming guide here! If you are new to the world of anime and dont know what Masamune-kun's Revenge R is about then this official synopsis of Masamune-kun's Revenge R might help you understand the plot, It's time for a class trip to Paris! When they get there, Aki and Masamune soon cross paths with a French otaku. They agree to help her with the manga she's making, but soon realize they're in way over their heads. Modeling, threats from the mafia, and a fake datetheir school trip is proving to be far more exciting than they ever could have imagined! What is the exact release time of episode 4 of Masamune-Kun's Revenge R season 2? Masamune-kuns Revenge Season 2 Episode 4 will drop on Monday, July 24, 2023, at 11:00 PM JST. Below are the mentioned release date and timings for Episode 4 of Masamune-Kun's Revenge R in all regions: Masamune-kun's Revenge R Season 2 Episode 4 Exact Release Time JST PT ET GMT CET IST 11:00 PM 7:00 AM 10:00 AM 2:00 PM 4:00 PM 7:00 PM where to watch Masamune-kuns Revenge Season 2 Episode 4? The upcoming episode is scheduled for broadcast in Japan on Tokyo MX, Bs Fuji, AT-X, and KBS Tokyo. For international fans, you can catch it on Crunchyroll and the official Ani-One Asia YouTube channel. A recap of Masamune-Kun's Revenge R Season 2 Episode 3 In Masamune-Kun's Revenge R Episode 3, adapted from manga chapters 36 and 37, the story continues after the Paris trip. Yoshino faces consequences for her mistakes during the trip while helping Aki Adagaki with lunch. She informs Masamune Makabe about Aki's emotional state after the events of the previous episode. Fujinomiya asks Makabe to accompany her to the hospital for a check-up. During their time together, Fujinomiya confesses her feelings, but they are interrupted by Frank's men. Frank confronts Makabe for leaving his sister, Muriel, behind, but he ultimately lets him go after being inspired by Makabe and Aki's actions. The episode also sheds light on Kantesugu's financial struggles due to his sister's illness. He has been deceiving Aki and her family using an old marriage agreement. The episode concludes with a significant revelation when Makabe visits Aki's mansion. He realizes that Yoshino was the one who called him 'Pig-foot' that day, causing his childhood trauma. What to expect in Masamune-Kun's Revenge R Season 2 episode 4? In the highly anticipated episode 4 of Masamune-Kun's Revenge R, viewers can expect an exciting storyline continuation, likely covering chapters 38 and 39. This episode will shed light on Yoshino's past actions and the motivations behind them, following the events of the previous episode. Moreover, a major twist awaits as Kantesugu's true identity will be unveiled, altering the course of the plot significantly. With this revelation, both Makabe and Aki will experience significant character growth, ensuring an enthralling and dramatic episode. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Ananya Panday finally posted photos from her recent trip to Spain. She was reportedly with her rumoured boyfriend Aditya Roy Kapur. After photos of them spending time together in Spain and Portugal, fans have seemingly spotted The Night Manager actor in Ananya's latest pic. Also read: Aditya Roy Kapur and Ananya Panday return from European vacation Ananya Panday shared photos from Ibiza. Ananya's latest post Ananya took to her Instagram handle and shared a bunch of photos. The first one featured her sitting by a pool and holding coconut water. She was wearing a blue swimsuit and paired it with sunglasses. This photo was followed by a photo of her reflection on a glass wall. A man was also seen in the photo. In another photo, she was sitting on the sand and posing for the camera. Her post also came with beautiful glimpses of Spain. Sharing them all, Ananya wrote in the caption of the post, Blue baby. Soon after her post went live, best friend Suhana Khan commented, Woww bikini babe. Internet reacts to Ananya's Spain pics Meanwhile, a fan wrote in the comment section, Where is Night Manager? Is Night Manager Taking photos, asked another one referring to Aditya Roy Kapur. Someone also wrote, Can see Aditya taking a stroll through the beach in the second picture. Ananya Panday and rumoured boyfriend Aditya Roy Kapur Ananya and Aditya Roy Kapur are rumoured to be dating for some time now. On Thursday, they were spotted in grey casuals as they returned to Mumbai. However, they chose to walk out solo upon their exit from the airport but were spotted by the paparazzi. Previously, pictures of Ananya and Aditya from various parts of Spain and Portugal have appeared online. A video from Portugal showed the rumoured couple riding scooters on the streets. Before the video, a picture of them chatting at a restaurant in Lisbon had gone viral. Another photo also showed Aditya cuddling Ananya and giving her a hug as they enjoyed a scenic view. Recently, Ananya had commented briefly about her dating rumours. Without giving any clarification about her relationship status, she told Hindustan Times, Its good to be curious, people should keep guessing who Im dating. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New photos from Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan's family vacation have surfaced online. The family is enjoying a long holiday in Europe. The new photos feature Saif and Kareena enjoying a sunny day with their sons, Taimur and Jehangir by a lake. The boys also tried their hands at fishing. Also read: Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan pose for romantic pic on holiday Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Taimur and Jeh in Europe. Saif, Kareena, Jeh and Taimur in Europe The first photo showed Kareena sitting and observing Saif and the kids from a distance as they held a fish, which they seemingly caught. Kareena looked relaxed in a basic t-shirt with jeans and sunglasses. Saif opted for a breezy white t-shirt with matching pants. Jeh and Taimur wore T-shirts and half-pants. The next photo had Saif fixing bait to a fishing pole while someone was assisting Jeh. The next one featured Saif with Taimur as both held fishing rods by a lake. While it's not known which part of Europe they are currently in, previously they were in Italy. Kareena's family holiday Kareena has been sharing several photos from the holiday with her family. Previously, she had posted a picture of herself as she posed amid the greenery with the mountain in front of her. A small hut was also seen in the photo. In the picture, Kareena wrapped a shawl around herself and wore denim. She captioned the post, "Framed (sparkling heart emoji) (camera emoji)-by my dear friend@ginaroznerpr." Kareena and Saif got married on October 2012 in Mumbai, after years of dating. They were blessed with Taimur in 2016 and had Jeh in 2021. Kareena was last seen in Laal Singh Chaddha. She will be next seen in The Crew also starring Tabu, Kriti Sanon and Diljit Dosanjh. The film is slated to hit the theatres on March 22, 2024. Besides this, Kareena is also a part of director Sujoy Ghosh's thriller, based on the book The Devotion of Suspect X. It also stars Vijay Varma and Jaideep Ahlawat in important roles. Apart from that, she also has director Hansal Mehta's next untitled film in the pipeline. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Mouni Roy took to her Instagram account and informed fans that she was admitted to a hospital for over a week. The reason behind her hospitalisation, however, wasn't revealed. She penned a long note and thanked her husband Suraj Nambiar for being by her side. Also read: Mouni Roy fails to show passport, security staff sends her back from airport Mouni Roy was recently hospitlised. Mouni Roy discharged from hospital Sharing her health update, Mouni said she is recuperating currently. She posted a bunch of photos featuring her brother, Suraj and their pet dogs as she was discharged. She also added a couple of photos which were clicked in the hospital. It showed a cannula in her arm. Mouni wrote in the caption, 9 days in a hospital & Im overwhelmed by a stillness deeper than anything I have ever known. Happy to report Im back home and recovering slowly but very well. A happy healthy life over everything. A big thank you to my loveliest friends who spent their precious time taking care of me, sent me wishes & love. ILY guys P.S @nambiar13 Theres No one like you Im forever grateful. Celebs react to Mouni's post Replying to her, the actor's best friend Disha Patani commented, Awww get well soonest my Monz I love you!! Also I have the same jumper hehee. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Nia Sharma said. Mrunal Thakur said, What baby why??? You ok? Get well soon my doll. Others including Disha Parmar, Arjun Bijlani, Sunil Grover and Pulkit Samrat too wished for her speedy recovery in the comment section. Earlier this year, Mouni was part of The Entertainers Tour with Akshay Kumar, Disha Patani, Sonam Bajwa, Nora Fatehi, Aparshakti Khurrana, and Stebin Ben across the US. She also marked her Cannes debut this year. Mouni Roy was last seen in Ayan Mukerji's Brahmastra, which marked her official Bollywood debut alongside Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan. She was seen at Dance Bangla Dance Season 12 as one of the show judges. The actor will be next seen in The Virgin Tree. Directed by Sidhaant Sachdev, the film also stars Sunny Singh. Reportedly, Palak Tiwari and Aasif Khan are also a part of the horror-comedy. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Sunny Leone was an adult film star in the US when she dated Russell Peters. She soon met her now-husband Daniel Weber. The two got married and moved to Mumbai, where Sunny became a Bollywood actor. They have three children, Nisha, Asher and Noah. Sunny recalls relationship with Russell When Sunny was asked in a recent interview with Mid-Day if she has seen how Russell has made her a character in his stand-up comedy shows post their break-up, she said, Yes, I've seen it. I don't know if he does it now. I'm not upset about it. He can say whatever he want. It's okay. It's totally fine. If it makes people laugh, it doesn't matter. She added that they dated for a hot second only. She also added that it was a mistake. He and I were such good friends and we had so much fun together. Everywhere I'd travel to in the US, there were a lot of places where he was at because he was doing a show. And we'd just meet, have fun, drink, go out and just be really silly and really funny. And all of a sudden, we messed up by just going on a date, Sunny said in the same interview. Sunny says she'd love to meet Russell again Sunny added that while they went their separate ways, she'd be really happy to see him again even if he did talk sh*t in his stand-ups. There's even a character named Rusty, modelled on Russell, in Sunny's autobiographical web show Karenjit Kaur: The Untold Story, streaming on ZEE5. And her husband Daniel's character goes on to beat Rusty because he was cracking a joke on Sunny. However, Sunny clarified in the interview that that bit was sensationalised in the show. Sunny revealed that since she met Daniel immediately after her break-up with Russell, it'd have been weird for her to be in touch with both. So she had to let her friendship with Russell go so she could marry Daniel eventually. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Megan Fox recently visited the Orange County Fair in California's Costa Mesa with her boyfriend Machine Gun Kelly. At the fair, on Thursday night, she had to bear the brunt after a person tried to attack her boyfriend. Several videos of the incident have been shared on social media platforms. (Also Read | Megan Fox refutes claims of 'forcing' kids into 'girls clothes') Megan Fox with Machine Gun Kelly at the fair. How it all started In a clip, posted on Twitter, Megan and Machine Gun Kelly walked out after a ride when a person behind a metal barricade said something to him. As he walked towards him, the person threw a punch and Machine Gun Kelly also punched back. His security guard who stood close by ran towards the person. Megan slammed into metal barricade However, in doing so he unintentionally pushed Megan into the metal barricade and she had to hold it to keep her balance. While running, he also pushed Machine Gun Kelly aside. As the security guard stood there stopping the person from throwing any more punches, Machine Gun Kelly pulled Megan and walked away with her. She visibly looked taken aback by the turn of events. The security guard too walked away after a brief minute. The video was shared with the caption, "#MeganFox caught in between the fight." For their date night, Megan wore a black bralette top, a leather jacket, ripped shorts, and knee-high white-heeled boots. Machine Gun Kelly was seen in a white crocheted top and green printed pants. Machine Gun Kelly reportedly threw first punch According to TMZ, two people said something to Machine Gun Kelly who raised his hand first and hit one of them. The other person then threw a punch back at him and that is when his security guard came to the rescue. Whoever was at fault, it was Megan who was pushed towards the barricade. Megan and Machine Gun Kelly's relationship Megan and Machine Gun Kelly got engaged in January 2022, however, rumours of tension between them started earlier this year. The couple has been seen on several dates since then. ET quoting its source said that the duo is continuing to work through things and still going to couples therapy. "Megan is very adamant about keeping that consistent. It's an absolute necessity for her in order to have them heal and move forward. They are both doing their best to make their relationship work and making an effort. She doesn't want to draw further attention to their relationship while they are in the healing phase and just focused on each other and their families," ET reported quoting the source. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT Entertainment Desk Dedicated professionals who write about cinema and television in all their vibrancy. Expect views, reviews and news. ...view detail Grace Stanke, the newly crowned Miss America 2023, is not your typical NYC diva. She is also a nuclear engineering student from the University of Wisconsin who loves science and math. From nuclear engineering to Miss America, Grace Stanke defies stereotypes as a real-life 'Barbenheimer'(Twitter/ Miss America) The 20-year-old is, in a way, a real-life version of Barbenheimer. In an interview with Christina Macfarlane for CNN, Stanke said she was inspired by both Barbie and Oppenheimer, who represent different aspects of her personality and interests. Yes, I can be Miss America and a nuclear engineer. I can be the woman who can. An thats something I am so excited about with the movies. I think Barbie is such an amazing role model for young girls. She shows that you can be anything you want to be. You can be a doctor, you can be a lawyer, you can be an astronaut, you can be Miss America, she added. And Oppenheimer, hes one of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century. He was the father of the atomic bomb. He was also very conflicted about his role in history. He had a lot of moral dilemmas. And I think thats something that I can relate to as a nuclear engineer. Stanke said she chose to study nuclear engineering because she wanted to make a positive impact on the world through clean energy and nuclear medicine. I think theres still a lot of stigma around women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Theres still a lot of bias and discrimination. And I think thats something that we need to change, she shared. Miss America 2023 added that she hopes to use her platform as Miss America to inspire more girls and women to pursue their passions in STEM and other fields. I want to show them that they can do anything they want to do. They can be beautiful and smart and talented and successful. They dont have to choose between being feminine or being intelligent. They can be both, she said. Stanke also said she was excited to watch the movies Barbie and Oppenheimer, which are both slated to hit theaters this year. Barbie is a live-action comedy starring Margot Robbie as a doll who leaves Barbieland and embarks on an adventure in the real world. Oppenheimer is a biographical drama starring Cillian Murphy as the scientist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II. ALSO READ| Barbie star Margot Robbie spills beans on her favourite 'Barbenheimer' meme! Ryan Gosling says, 'What's a meme?' I think theyre both going to be amazing movies. I think theyre both going to show different sides of these characters that we dont usually see. And I think theyre both going to challenge our perceptions of what it means to be a woman or a man in society, she said. The Wisconsin goer expressed, I think Im a little bit of both. Im a little bit of Barbie and Im a little bit of Oppenheimer. And I think thats OK. I think thats what makes me unique and special. And I think thats what makes everyone unique and special. People rallied around Rudi the pig as his seven-day stay came to an end. The pig has been a popular sight along Madisons Southwest Bike Path for more than a year, but last week the city gave Rudis owners, Paula Niedenthal and Markus Brauer, a warning that Rudy had to leave within a week or they would be cited. Pigs are not allowed in Madison. That seven-day period ended Thursday. Rudis owners werent yet cited, but the city told Niedenthal on Thursday that they would follow up. Meanwhile, signs have shown up along the bike path. One said, Rudy: The pig that brought joy to bicyclists, joggers, walkers and a whole town. Another says, Pardon the pig inside a web drawing, evoking Charlottes Web, the classic E.B. White childrens story about Wilbur the pig and his friend Charlotte, a spider who saves his life by writing about him in her web. That sign pleaded with the mayor to do the right thing. Madison City Attorney Michael Haas said Thursday that it would be some time before the warning Rudis owners got last week from Public Health Madison and Dane County made its way through this office. Im not really personally involved with the cases we have, he said. So, first of all, the public health department is the one that would issue a citation. Just like the police would issue a citation for speeding. Its an ordinance the public health department enforces, so its up to them to decide whether or not to issue a citation. He said his office would only get involved if Niedenthal enters a not-guilty plea. Then we would make a decision about whether to prosecute in municipal court. So theres a couple of steps before it gets to us. Those steps could take months. Haas said he cant say yet whether the city would prosecute. There are cases in municipal court all the time in which city attorneys have to make decisions about whether to prosecute or reach a settlement, he said. Theres an ordinance on the books right now, and so unless the ordinance has changed, city agencies will enforce the ordinances, Haas said. Niedenthal, meanwhile, worked from home Thursday wondering what would happen to Rudi, a 1-year-old Juliana miniature pig. My guess is either theyre gonna come on 10 horses or theyre not gonna come at all, she said. Niedenthal contacted her City Council member, Regina Vidaver, 5th District, to discuss the possibility that the ordinance hasnt evolved to allow animals like Rudi, whos bred to be a pet. Vidaver said she needed to look into it and is now on vacation and didnt respond to an email Thursday. Inquiries made Meanwhile, Ald. Tag Evers, 13th District, who represents an area on the other side of the bike path, consulted with Haas and asked how Niedenthal could contest the citation. Evers said if Niedenthal pleads not guilty and asks for a court appearance, that would take time, and in the interim, the council should be able to change the ordinance. And by that time, it would be moot, he said. He said no one from the city is going to come and pick up Rudi, and Niedenthal wont be faced with mounting fines for every day shes in violation. Evers said he thinks staff from the citys public health and zoning departments are open to the idea that the council could change the ordinance in this instance. We are checking in with other municipalities and figuring out how this can be done and how we can construct parameters, clear parameters around it, in terms of maybe a weight limit on a pig and certain breeds of pigs that would be acceptable as pets, he said. Christy Vogt, a spokesperson for the health department, said Thursday that as far as she knows, nothing has changed. We follow and enforce all ordinances that pertain to our agency. The ordinance, enacted in June 2018, prohibits anyone inside Madisons city limits from possessing pigs, hogs, boars or swine. The only exceptions are special events or block parties, and those require permits. Possible options Haas told Evers that if the council amends the ordinance or is in the midst of reconsidering the ordinance, that may impact the position the city attorneys office takes. I do not know how prevalent restrictions regarding ownership of pigs in cities is, or the extent of the public health and safety concerns for various types of pigs, Haas wrote. Based on brief conversations I have had today; it seems that it is rare for Wisconsin cities to permit pigs as pets except for potbellied pigs in some municipalities. Evers said there are ways to craft an ordinance that has strict and clear parameters regarding public health and safety, for instance, that a pig gets certain vaccinations. We dont want a pet that could spread swine flu, right? Pigs would need to be licensed the way dogs are, too, he said. The council would also need to come up with rules regarding the conditions under which pigs are kept, similar to how the city handles chickens and chicken coops, he said. Niedenthals situation is novel in that not many people have chosen to have a pet pig, Evers said, but under the circumstances it seems like we ought to be able to make this modest change ... I dont think youre going to find pigs on every block. To the farm Niedenthal got a call from an officer from the health department late in the day Thursday and she told him she was planning to take Rudi back to her hobby farm in Juneau County for the weekend, as she did last weekend. Leaving Rudi at the farm is not a solution, she said, because she has to work on Monday and theres nobody there to care for him. Niedenthal said when she let Rudi out Thursday morning in the backyard, which is visible from the bike path, people were saying their goodbyes. I needed to let him go potty and stuff and now hes asleep in in my kitchen because Im working, she said. Thats what he does. See the Wisconsin State Journal photo staff's favorites of 2022 One Piece, the popular manga and anime series by Eiichiro Oda, follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy as he seeks to become the King of the Pirates in the Grand Line. Netflix's loyal adaptation holds promise for live-action One Piece series. (YouTube/ Netflix) The fantasy adventure franchise will soon have a live-action American adaptation on Netflix. On Saturday, Netflix has unveiled a new trailer for the live-action One Piece series, which showcases many iconic scenes from the animes first arc, the East Blue Saga. The 3min-7sec long trailer reveals several familiar characters besides the Straw Hat Pirates, such as Buggy the Clown and Arlong. It also recreates moments from the anime, such as Luffy entrusting his hat to Nami and Zoro dueling with Captain Mihawk. Plus, several images from One Piece were released, along with a letter of gratitude from Oda himself. Everything you can expect from the live-action One Piece series The new live-action One Piece trailer shows that the show will deliver a loyal adaptation of the East Blue Saga on the streaming service. This means One Piece season 1 will focus on the formation of the Straw Hat Pirates as they get ready to sail to the Grand Line in search of the One Piece. The core team will include Luffy (Inaki Godoy), Zoro (Mackenyu), Nami (Emily Rudd), Usopp (Jacob Romero Gibson), and Sanji (Taz Skylar). One Pieces live-action version getting praise from Oda himself is a good sign that the adaptation will be true to the original series. One Piece Netflix series However, Netflixs previous attempt at adapting an anime into a live-action series, Cowboy Bebop, was axed after season 1. Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe didnt watch the show and criticized the way the adaptation was done. Odas enthusiasm about the series is a good sign, but the way Cowboy Bebop was done may cast doubt on One Piece as well. ALSO READ| One Piece's Wano Country Arc reaches fever pitch in epic finale! While theres no guarantee One Piece will be able to break Netflixs anime adaptation curse, the latest trailer highlights the shows attempt to be as loyal as possible to the anime. Maybe Netflix has learned from its errors with Cowboy Bebop and will create a live-action version of One Piece loved by fans and newcomers alike. The success of the live-action One Piece series will become clear once the show arrives on Netflix on August 31. "Oppenheimer" director Christopher Nolan had a candid conversation with Hollywood superstar Robert Downey Jr. during an interview to Wired recently. During the interview, Downey asked Nolan Internet's most searched questions about him. Christopher Nolan(File) During the interview, Downey reads the question: "why Christopher Nolan doesn't use CGI?". Nolan replies " I find CGI, however versatile it is, but it always tends to feel a little safe to me. I think if you want something to have a bit of bite, you've got the imagery to a better threat, even if it's a miniature, even if it's something very fake but something real on camera, I think it gives you a better result. To the question "Why does Christopher Nolan shoot on film?". Nolan answers " I shoot on film because it's the highest quality imaging format ever devised, particularly IMAX film, a large format film. Downey then asks him "Where does Christopher Nolan get his ideas?". And Nolan gives the answer; "All over the place. Different on every film. 'Oppenheimer' somebody had been interested in a long time, didn't know that much about the specifics of the story, then came the book "American Prometheus" and that absolutely got me hooked." To another question "Where is Christopher Nolan from?". The Hollywood director replies "Born in London, but I'm half American, half English. My mother is American. I've grown up kind of both sides of Atlantic, but originally from England." ALSO READ| First job, hobby, Iron Man story and more: Robert Downey Jr. answers Internet's most searched questions about him One of the most searched questions on the internet was read by Downey: " What if Christopher Nolan directed the Avengers?". To this question, Nolan said: " Whoa!, that is the multiverse conundrum. Having worked with you on 'Oppenheimer', there'd probably be a lot too much Tony Stark." "What is Christopher Nolan's best movie?" and the director answered "The one I'm promoting[Oppenheimer]". To this question, Downey opined "I'm telling you, and I've seen every single film you've ever done. 'Oppenheimer' is the culmination of your life's work, and it is a frickin' masterpiece, brother. And that is the God's honest truth." Another question that Nolan answered during the interview was "What degree does Christopher Nolan have?". He revealed, "I have an English degree from UCL in London." When Downey asked the "Inception" director "Is Christopher Nolan a physicist?", Nolan gave an honest and straightforward reply: "No, I am not a physicist. I've always been interested in Physics and I've done a lot of films that involve looking into ideas of Physics. Purely an amateur." To Nolan's reply, Downey jokingly said: "Don't know if I buy that, do you want another take?" Actor Johnny Depp was scheduled to perform with his band Hollywood Vampires in Budapest earlier this week. However, the show was cancelled due to 'unforeseen circumstances'. The Papp Laszlo Sport Arena was already packed with people when the announcement came. (Also Read | Johnny Depp donates all of ex-wife Amber Heard's $1 million settlement money to charity) Johnny Depp performs with Hollywood Vampires during the Hellfest Summer Open Air rock festival in Clisson, western France, on June 15. Hollywood Vampires confirm show's cancellation in Budapest After reports emerged of the show getting cancelled, Hollywood Vampires shared a post on Instagram on July 18 confirming the same. The note read, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Vampires will be cancelling tonights show in Budapest. All tickets (general and VIP, including meet & greet) will be refunded in full. We love and appreciate all of the fans who travelled from near and far to see us rise, and were truly sorry. Sincere apologies, The Hollywood Vampires." Hollywood Vampires shared a post on Instagram on July 18 confirming the same. Johnny reportedly couldn't leave hotel room Since then, several reports surfaced saying that it was because Johnny fell ill in his hotel room. Blikk quoted an insider as saying, "Everything was prepared, the stage was set, the background crew was also ready for the party. It didn't even occur to me that there could be a problem, especially since the band members also did the sound setup scheduled for the afternoon. Nobody even thought about the fact that Johnny Depp didn't take part, a colleague also set up his microphone, but this is not unusual for such stars." It also reported, "We heard so much that (Johnny) Depp partied too much, he couldn't even leave the hotel. We also heard that, sure enough, a doctor was called in to see if there was anything more wrong than simply pushing rock stardom too far." Twitter user claims he drank ahead of show A Twitter user, @cocainecross, also shared a picture of Johnny with a beer cup claiming that it was clicked just an hour before the concert. The person tweeted, "Heres Johnny Depp drinking an hour before cancelling his concert due to 'unforeseen circumstances'. He likely passed out again." They also added, "Before they come for me, it was confirmed by the photographer. They claim he 'fell ill at the hotel' even though he was drinking right before the alleged illness." The group also had a show in Slovakia but it was cancelled too. Hollywood Vampires Slovakia show cancelled too The group also had a show in Slovakia but it was cancelled too. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, Hollywood Vampires wrote, "Upon arrival today to the venue in Slovakia to begin set up for tonights performance, it quickly became clear that the construction of the facility was incomplete, and therefore unsafe for both the band and the general public. The band is very upset by this recent and unfortunate turn of events, and hope to return when schedules permit." It also added, This cancellation is unrelated to the recent cancellation in Budapest, but we can assure you all band members are safe and healthy. We look forward to seeing you in Poland, Germany and the US in the coming days. Sincere apologies, The Hollywood Vampires. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists on Friday evening chased and beat up the vice chancellor and the registrar of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya University (DDU) in Gorakhpur - the home turf of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath over alleged irregularities in the varsity and assaulted police personnel who had arrived here to control the mob. Vice-chancellor Rajesh Singh and officiating registrar Ajay Singh, three-four ABVP members and some policemen were injured in the ruckus Dainik Bhaskar reported that members of the ABVP, a student organisation with ties to the Bharatiya Janata Party, also vandalised the chamber of the vice-chancellor. The police had to resort to a lathi-charge to control the situation. Vice-chancellor Rajesh Singh and officiating registrar Ajay Singh, three-four ABVP members and some policemen were injured in the ruckus. As many as 10 ABVP workers have been detained, the report claimed. Why ruckus in Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University? ABVP workers had been protesting against the alleged irregularities in the university. The immediate trigger for the violence was said to be the refusal by university officials to meet the protesters on Friday. According to the students' union, the varsity was yet to resolve the problems despite the vice chancellor's assurances. On July 13, ABVP activists staged a demonstration on the university campus by burning the effigy of the vice-chancellor. Later, the vice chancellor reportedly listened to the problems of the students and assured them that they would be resolved soon. But later, Dean Satyapal Singh issued an order for the suspension of four ABVP members who allegedly created the ruckus. In protest against the order, when the students reached to meet the vice-chancellor on Friday, he allegedly refused to talk. Around 3pm, the angry workers reached the vice-chancellor's chamber and attacked him and vandalised his chamber. In the presence of police, students and outsiders created a ruckus on campus. The police tried to convince the students to stop but they failed. The police then decided to take the university officials out of the campus safely. When the V-C was being taken to safety, the miscreants manhandled him, The Indian Express quoted a university official as saying. The miscreants attacked and injured officiating registrar professor Ajay Singh. When he fell on the ground, the miscreants hit him and he suffered injuries. They also hit him with a blunt object on his head. Later, the police shifted him to a safer place, the official added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The United States and like-minded countries including India need to work together to shape the course of artificial intelligence, Arati Prabhakar, the Science Advisor to President Joe Biden, said on Friday as the administration roped in several IT giants like Google and Microsoft to ensure that it is not misused and is being used for public good. Science advisor to Joe Biden, Arati Prabhakar. (REUTERS File Photo) The work that we are doing includes working with companies to hold them accountable and there's some important progress on that today. We're also working on executive actions that we can take within existing law, and the President is considering an executive order that we think can really boost our ability to deal with AI's harms and also start using it for good, Indian-American Prabhakar told PTI in an interview. That's what we can do from the executive branch. We'll also continue to work with Congress on bipartisan legislation as they start putting legislation forward. Then critically and underpinning all of this is the work that we're doing globally with our international partners and allies, including with India, Prabhakar said. And that is because this is a global technology. It's everywhere. Everyone is participating and it's really affecting, it's going to affect everyone's lives and we want to make sure that like-minded countries work together to shape the course of AI, she said in response to a question. AI, she said, was one of the important topics of discussion when President Joe Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here last month. I think that's very much on the minds of our global leaders when they meet with President Biden. That's what happened with Prime Minister Modi and many others. I had the opportunity to be at Congress when the Prime Minister spoke and then at the State Dinner and then again at the luncheon that the Vice President and the Secretary of State hosted and artificial intelligence came up repeatedly in those conversations, she said. In fact, the prime minister made a wonderful joke when he addressed Congress and he said he thought AI stood for America, India, which is another way of interpreting it. But I think really the theme of many of the conversations that have happened is exactly what you're saying is we're going to have to link arms and be clear about how to achieve safe AI so all of our citizens can benefit from it, Prabhakar said. Prabhakar, who spent half of her professional life in Silicon Valley and has her regular home in Palo Alto, said she senses the excitement about AI in Silicon Valley. What I would say is go build amazing applications for artificial intelligence because that is part of how we're going to go forward and make sure while you're doing it, to build AI that is safe and trustworthy so that it really does lift us up in the end, she said. On Friday, Biden announced voluntary commitments that the administration has worked on with seven leading AI companies. These companies include Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and some of the smaller AI companies. A number of tech companies, some of the biggest leaders in AI, are signing up for some commitments on safety, security and trust. It is such an important step that we've been able to achieve by holding these companies to account because it's the first time that the industry has started to come together and take responsibility, she said. Then we're going to be working on what we need to do as an executive branch, and that will include figuring out how do we manage as AI makes voice cloning, makes fraud easier. As cybercrime becomes easier, some of these harms start advancing. How do we mitigate those harms within the laws and regulations that we already have? she said. And then how do we start using AI for public purposes? How do we use it to deal with the climate crisis that we're confronting? How do we use it to improve health outcomes for everyone here in America and around the world? So we're seeing both the bright and the dark side and we're actively working on both pieces, she said. Describing AI as the most powerful technology of this time, she said the president's been clear that how it is used is going to express their values. But that's true as well around the world. We know every part of the world is trying to use AI to create a future that expresses their values. I think we can disagree about lots of things in this country and around the world, but the one thing I think we would all of us would agree on is that we don't want to live in a future that's driven by technology, that's shaped by authoritarian regimes, Prabhakar said. Thats is why I think it is so important for like-minded countries, for democratic countries to come together and make sure that we're working together to use AI in ways that express our values, said the top American scientific official. Alarmed over Haryanas mid-year sex ratio at birth (SRB) dipping by 11 points in six months, the woman and child development department took up the hot-button matter with the deputy commissioners on Friday and apprised the district authorities about the serious concern of the state government. The January to June cumulative SRB of Haryana has come down to 906 female births per 1,000 males from 917 in December 2022 (Shutterstock) The January to June cumulative SRB of Haryana has come down to 906 female births per 1,000 males from 917 in December 2022. The 906 SRB recorded till June has registered a 10-point fall in comparison to the same period in 2022 when it stood at 916. This is the lowest half-yearly SRB since 2016 when it was 891 (in the same period). This dip in the mid-year SRB numbers is contrary to previous years trends when during the same period, the figures had improved from 870 in 2015 to 891 in 2016, 910 in 2017, 916 in 2018, 918 in 2019, 917 in 2020, and 911 in 2021. A day after HT highlighted this alarming dip in SRB (Sex ratio at birth slips to six-year low in Haryana; After showing steady improvement, sex ratio begins to worsen again in Haryana: July 20), Monica Malik, director, woman and child development (WCD) department in Haryana held a virtual meeting on July 21. Present in this video conferencing were all district officers, including deputy commissioners; superintendents of police; chief medical officers; district attorneys; district programme officers; PNDT nodal officers, and drugs control officers of the state. The meeting focused on a critical issue, the fall in sex ratio at birth in the state of Haryana, as revealed in the recently analysed half-yearly CRS (civil registration system) data, an official spokesperson said. Expressing her deep concern, WCD director Malik urged the district officers to take proactive and effective measures to promote the Save the Girl Child programme and combat the heinous menace of female foeticide. We are very concerned about this issue and we will make efforts to improve the SRB. Attitudinal change in the society is imperative and improving SRB is a collective effort. Lots of good work has been done and we will continuously focus on this, Malik told HT over phone. Emphasising the significance of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched from Haryana in January 2015, Malik said after this flagship programme was launched and due to the states efforts, the SRB had improved by approximately 50 points until 2022. This achievement is a matter of great pride for the state as it demonstrates its unwavering commitment to the empowerment and upliftment of the girl child, she said. However, the latest CRS figures until June 2023 have raised alarm as the sex ratio of the state has declined from 917 in 2022 to 906, witnessing an 11-point downturn in just six months. The WCD director expressed serious concern of the state government about this regression. The WCD identified districts such as Rohtak, Charkhi Dadri, Gurugram, Kaithal, Karnal, Bhiwani, Mewat, Panchkula, Mahendergarh and Palwal, where the half-yearly sex ratio has shown a drastic decline. During the meeting, Malik also highlighted several essential girl child welfare schemes of the government that have been instrumental in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the girl child. The WCD department stressed the need for stringent action against those involved in the heinous act of killing female children in the womb and applauded the efforts of districts such as Jind, Rewari, Kurukshetra, and Jhajjar which exhibited improvements in the SRB. Raj Bala Kataria, joint director (WCD), advocated the launch of innovative schemes to reinforce the governments flagship Beti Bachao Beti Padhao programme, encouraging a seamless flow of information among all stakeholders through coordinated efforts. Kataria emphasised the timely uploading of all birth events for mandatory registration for better policy formulation and decision-making. According to the civil registration system data up to June 2023, of 22 districts, the SRB of eight districts, including seven districts of the National Capital Region (NCR) were below 900. The data indicates that January to June SRB of 10 districts (Jind, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Kurukshetra, Rewari, Ambala, Jhajjar, Panchkula, Faridabad, Mahendergarh) improved in comparison to same months last year. And, the SRB of 12 districts (Sirsa, Fatehabad, Nuh, Palwal, Hisar, Bhiwani, Kaithal, Sonepat, Gurugram, Rohtak, Karnal, Charkhi Dadri) went down drastically in comparison to the corresponding months last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pawan Sharma Pawan Sharma, based in Chandigarh, is Assistant Editor in HT and presently writes on Haryana's politics and governance. During different stints over the past two decades, he covered Punjab extensively for 10 years and before that judiciary and Himachal Pradesh with focus on high-impact news breaking and investigative journalism. ...view detail New Delhi: Schemes such as Ujjwala Yojana, Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, New Education Policy, Mudra Yojana and Start up India, among others are included (PTI) The Indian Council of Social Science Research has given a special call for short term research proposals to assess the reach and socioeconomic impact of 31 government schemes, including Ujjwala Yojana, Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, New Education Policy, Mudra Yojana and Start up India, among others. While the call by the autonomous body under the education ministry has been given ahead of the 2024 general elections, officials at the council said it has no political angle to it. The idea is to independently assess the impact of various government schemes and to understand the bottlenecks being seen in their implementation at the ground level, said social scientist JK Bajaj, chairperson of the council. Take for instance the Ujjawala scheme. It will be important to assess how it has impacted the life of women. What is the continuity of the usage cylinders distributed under the scheme and if there are any bottlenecks. Similarly, in the Mudra scheme of financial inclusion, we have some government data, but it would be interesting to actually go to the ground and assess its impact on entrepreneurs, Bajaj said. Who are the new entrepreneurs coming and from which community they are coming from? How will we get this information if the social scientists will not work on it? It has nothing to do with the upcoming elections, he added. Prior to this, the council had given two special calls for short term research on social science dimensions of the Covid-19 pandemic, and culture, history and geography of scheduled tribes. Under this new project, the council is aiming to select 300 proposals covering different schemes and geographical areas. We are trying to get the widest possible coverage. We want to understand the impact of the same scheme in different geographical areas as well. Therefore, we are encouraging institutions to come together and work collaboratively on projects instead of researchers working individually. This way it will help us to have a broader coverage, Bajaj said. Each selected project will be funded up to 6 lakh. For collaborative projects, the funding is fixed at up to 30 lakh. The sanctioned amount will be released in two instalments, and the selected individuals or groups will get six months to complete the work and submit their reports. Among the other schemes mentioned in the call for proposals are Jan Dhan Yojana, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Stand-Up India, Digital India, PM Krishi Sinchai Yojana and PM Fasal Bima Yojana, among others. Research scholars from recognised institutions, civil servants, officers from defence services and other professionals with social science perspective having not less than 20 years of regular service will be eligible to apply, according to guidelines issued by the council. A rigorous assessment of the reach and socioeconomic impact of the specific scheme and policy initiative is expected to be carried out, the guidelines said. These studies will be based on field work focused on a specific geographical region, which may be an urban, semi-urban or rural area. The sample size for each study will be 400 to 500 and 2,000 to 3,000 for collaborative studies. The researchers are encouraged to undertake quantitative as well as qualitative research of a scheme in the selected geographical region, the guidelines stated. Once completed, the reports will be made available publicly, Bajaj said. We will not try to make recommendations or become a part of the policymaking process. We want to record reality and the reality will then speak for itself, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fareeha Iftikhar Fareeha Iftikhar is a principal correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. She tracks the education ministry, and covers the beat at the national level for the newspaper. She also writes on issues related to gender, human rights and different policy matters. ...view detail Authorities began fanning out to localities close to the Yamuna, which is expected to swell by Sunday evening after states upstream received heavy rains, bringing back the threat of floods that threw life out of gear a little over a week ago. A photo released by the Army shows its personnel conducting a flood relief and rescue operation. (PTI) The rate of flow at the Hathinikund barrage rose dramatically from 38,000 cusecs on Friday to close to 250,000 cusecs on Saturday afternoon capturing the effect of the downpours in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Also Read | At 205.34 meters, Yamuna water level crosses danger level mark again An update by the Upper Yamuna Division of Central Water Commission said that it is expected for the river to breach 206m the level at which people are evacuated from low-lying neighbourhoods close to the river by 6pm on Sunday. Thereafter water level will likely to remain steady, stated the forecast. The government is fully prepared to carry out immediate evacuations in these vulnerable areas. The situation has raised concerns and the government is taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents. CM Arvind Kejriwal and the entire government has been closely monitoring the developments and overseeing the response efforts, said revenue minister Atishi in a statement. Also Read | Green Tribunal cracks whip on HSPCB over illegal sand mining in Yamuna As on 10pm on Saturday, the rivers peak level was at 205.02m, just shy of the danger mark of 205.33m. The water released from Hathnikund barrage reaches the national capital roughly 36 hours later. Officials in at least three districts said they are asking people to remain vigilant. We are sounding alert in all low-lying areas such as Yamuna Bazaar, Monastery Market, Majnu Ka Tilla. People are being told that the water level in Yamuna is likely to rise and they should be careful. The water levels are being constantly monitored by district officials and the evacuation will start based on the ground situation. When water level touches 206 metres, evacuation of people will start, said Atul Pandey, ADM, Central district. On July 11, the Hathnikund barrage discharged over 350,000 cusecs of water, which was felt in the Capital in the days that followed when floodwaters inundated swathes of Delhi, snapping key routes, triggering delays for commuters and forcing 28,000 people to flee to relief camps. As on Saturday, 15,000 of the 28,000 were still in the camps. A second official, who asked not to be named, said while there was no danger as on Saturday evening, 24x7 monitoring of the water level and the ground situation is being done. Yamunas catchment areas include regions in Haryana, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, which have been hit by a fresh spell of heavy rains. On Saturday, officials in Himachal Pradesh said three people were dead after flash floods hit a village in the Shimla district. Heavy rain also triggered flashfloods in Uttarakhand, where homes and shops were damaged in Uttarkashi district villages, and Leh, where more than a dozen of houses and shops suffered partial damages. The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand till July 25. A senior official from the irrigation and flood control department, one of the key Delhi government agencies responsible for flood management, said the department is keeping a close watch on the situation. Some rainfall in Uttarakhands upper reaches led to an increase in water discharge from Hathnikund barrage which is behind the predicted rise in the Yamuna water levels, said the official. A second Delhi government official, who asked not to be named, said officials are now aware of the critical points and are keeping a specific watch there, following the recent flooding. We now know the critical points where possible breaches or backflows can occur so regulators and pumps are checked and kept in a position accordingly, said the official. Since the flood in the second week of July, the water level of the Yamuna in Delhi has been hovering around the danger level, while mud and muck left behind in the areas from where water receded are being cleared. This significant volume of water [discharged from Hathnikund] is expected to reach Delhi within 36 hours, posing a risk of mid-scale floods in the capital, which is still recuperating from one of the worst flood spells it experienced in the second week of July, said Bhim Singh Rawat, associate coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, according to news agency PTI. The second spell of floods will likely see the Yamuna river reclaiming most of its floodplain in Delhi. Given the valuable insights gained from the last flood spell this month, city planners and policy makers must take note of the lessons learned. It is imperative for the relevant government departments to be on high alert and maintain internal coordination, Rawat added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Amid outrage over a viral video showing women being paraded naked by a mob in strife-torn Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party alleged on Saturday that two tribal women were stripped naked and tortured a few days ago in West Bengal's Malda while police remained a mute spectator. Amit Malviya, who is also the party's co-incharge for West Bengal, said the incident took place in Malda on July 19. BJP I-T cell head Amit Malviya, who is also the party's co-incharge for West Bengal, said the incident took place in Malda on July 19, with a frenzied mob baying for her blood. He also posted a video with blurred images of the crime. "It had all the making of a tragedy that should have 'broken' Mamata Banerjee's heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the home minister of Bengal," he tweeted, targeting chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been strident in criticising the Manipur incident. The BJP has been criticising Banerjee for sporadic incidents of violence during the recently conducted West Bengal panchayat election. With opposition parties targeting the BJP over the incident of two women being paraded naked in ethnic violence-hit Manipur, where it is in power, the party has been highlighting similar cases of atrocities against women in states ruled by its rivals such as the Congress and the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress. Hitting out at Banerjee, Malviya said she chose to do nothing in the case. "Neither did she condemn the barbarity nor did she express pain and anguish because it would have exposed her own failing as a chief minister," he said. But a day after, she shed copious tears and screamed blue murder because it was politically expedient, Malviya said in reaction to her attack on the BJP over the Manipur incident which sparked a nationwide outrage after a May 4 video of it went viral. Malviya said, "The horror continues in West Bengal. Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda." Union minister Smriti Irani also reacted to the Malda incident. "This (Manipur viral video) issue is not only sensitive but has implications with regard to national security and is known to the opposition leaders. However, the Opposition did not want to discuss the issue on the floor of the Parliament. What is extremely alarming is that yesterday, from the state of Rajasthan, a minister spoke up on crime against women in the state, he was unceremoniously dismissed by the Congress. Equally shocking is a video that is emanating from West Bengal's Malda where two Dalit women are being beaten and stripped. The Congress did not want to hear the truth about atrocities against women in the state of Rajasthan... The Congress is a mute spectator to the killings of people during the West Bengal Panchayat elections all because it is hungry for collaboration with TMC," she told reporters in Mumbai. Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar asked why I.N.D.I.A. (new opposition alliance) isnt condemning the incident. Another horrific incident with the Tribal women in WB. Two Tribal women were stripped naked & beaten mercilessly in Malda. Like other heinous incidents, Didi is silent & not taking any action in her own rule. Why I.N.D.I.A. isnt condemning this? Majumdar tweeted. Stating that there is absolutely no need to politicise the Malda incident, West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja claimed that it was a case of theft, where the two ladies tried to steal something from the market. "A group of women tried to take law and order into their hands and started beating them. However, the police reached the spot. A case has been registered & police are investigating the matter," Panja said at a press briefing. Ripped my clothes, threw..': BJP worker The Malda incident came to light a day after a Bharatiya Janata Party worker alleged she was sexually assaulted by TMC workers in Howrah the day West Bengal voted in the panchayat elections on July 8. The saffron party worker claimed that she was dragged by her hair by unknown individuals associated with the rival party and later pushed down a flight of stairs. ".They also ripped my clothes. Later, I went to a nearby house to borrow clothes to wear. Had my husband not been present there they could have done anything to me. He saved me. I have filed an FIR in this incident," she told news agency ANI. West Bengal DGP Manoj Malviya, however, earlier today said that the police investigated the incident but no evidence was found about the alleged incident SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday asked its affiliated schools to consider providing the option of Indian languages mentioned in Schedule 8 of the Constitution as a medium of instruction, in addition to the existing options, from pre-primary classes to Class 12. (Representative Photo) The move is a part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which envisages the use of mother tongue or regional or Indian languages as the medium of instruction until at least Grade 5, and preferably till Grade 8 and beyond. The policy also recommends promoting multilingualism among students. In a letter sent to the heads of all its affiliated schools, CBSE director (academics) Joseph Emmanuel said that there were many challenges to the implementation of multilingual education and the use of the mother tongue as a medium of instruction in terms of skilled teachers, and high-quality multilingual textbooks, the Union ministry of education has taken several steps to actualise education in Indian languages on the ground. One of the major steps taken now is the direction by the ministry of education to NCERT to prepare new textbooks in 22 scheduled Indian languages. NCERT has taken this serious task on highest priority so that textbooks in 22 scheduled languages can be made available to all students from next sessions, he wrote. Emmanuel further said that several such steps have also been taken in the higher education sector. The approach towards the medium of instruction should be a continuity from school education to higher education. Therefore, the schools affiliated with CBSE need to play a vital role in this great endeavour by offering education through Indian languages, he said. In view of the above initiatives taken to facilitate education through Indian languages, the CBSE affiliated schools may consider using Indian languages, as enumerated in Schedule 8 of the Indian Constitution, as the medium of Instruction from the foundational stage till the end of Secondary Stage i.e. from pre-primary classes till class XII as an optional medium in addition to other existing options, Emmanuel added. The board has asked schools to explore the available resources, consult with experts in the field, and collaborate with other schools to share best practices. Sudha Acharya, chairperson of the National Progressive School Conference (NPSC) it has more than 120 Delhi schools as its members -- and principal of ITL Public School, Dwarka, welcomed the initiative. When children come to us in nursery school they are comfortable in their own language. In our school, we have started an initiative from this year under which every student has to learn at least one Indian language from Class 1 onwards. They will not have to pass any exam but it is just to learn the beauty of different Indian languages, she said. Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School, said, By embracing Indian languages as a medium of instruction from the foundational stage to the end of secondary education, we are fostering an inclusive learning environment that celebrates our rich heritage. This bold step not only empowers students with cognitive advantages but also nurtures a deeper connection to their roots. Tania Joshi, principal of The Indian School in Delhi, said that the use of Indian Languages as a medium of instruction will facilitate learning, but it must be done carefully. You cannot explain everything in the local language which is Hindi in Delhi. Even teachers wont know some terminologies. We will need to properly train teachers in different Indian languages to facilitate teaching in those languages, she said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fareeha Iftikhar Fareeha Iftikhar is a principal correspondent with the national political bureau of the Hindustan Times. She tracks the education ministry, and covers the beat at the national level for the newspaper. She also writes on issues related to gender, human rights and different policy matters. ...view detail Get alert on your mobile and email as soon as the result is declared. For this, please provide information. With the school year approaching, school supplies can be a worry for some families, especially as the price of seemingly everything has gone up recently. Platte County Time 4 Change (T4C) and Centro Hispano, seeing that need years ago, started the Back-to-School Bash and it's still going strong. The Back-to-School Bash, being held 3 p.m. July 23 at the Columbus Fire Station, 4630 Howard Blvd., will help 400 youngsters in need of school supplies as they approach the start of school. This is a significant increase in support over previous years, Vanessa Oceguera, from Platte County T4C, said. "It shows the demand and how things have truly changed financially for some of the families in Platte County," Oceguera said. "Theres just a higher need for more of these items to be provided and willingness of the community to provide this for families." Kat Lopez, communications director at Centro Hispano, said that last year's 250 backpacks had a significant reach, so this year's 400 will be more impactful, which is what the organizations hope to be with all of their activities. "Its been cool to see just because we realized there may be more need than we thought. Its an incredible feeling when you see the magnitude of people coming out for this," Lopez said. The backpacks, Lopez said, are handed out on a first-come, first-served basis and there are only 400. There's no sign-up or registration, though they do ask parents or guardians accompany children in order for them to receive a backpack. Oceguera said the event aligns with T4C's mission which was originally to prevent gang activity in Platte County, but has since shifted to promoting activities that keep youths from being involved in the justice system. Activities like this, she said, promote education and educational activities, which help towards that goal. "You see a large financial need for students to get some assistance in gathering school supplies, thats why we annually provide backpacks for families in need of assistance for that. Along the lines of that is why we provide youth activities, scholarships, its all part of what we do and it does impact things tremendously," Oceguera said. Lopez said the event lines up with Centro's mission within the community and their more recent focus on making those coming into the area feel welcome and included. Area sponsors, such as Cargill, Hy-Vee, Nebraska Public Power District and the firefighters' union make it all possible, Lopez added. "Our biggest vision and mission is to foster intentional change, especially with outreach programming, and cultivating that welcoming and belonging piece as well, being a resource for families whether thats Platte, Boone, Colfax (Counties)," Lopez said. There will also be food and other resources, Lopez and Oceguera said, so for those who may not make it for the initial backpack dispersal, there are still activities and resources available. At the very least, Lopez said, it's a fun day for families to come out and get information and resources. "Were excited because not only are we providing utilities and backpacks but also the resources the community may offer. We have booths, bounce houses, Kona shaved ice, things like that. Its also just a fun day for people to get school supplies and resources and have fun with families." The Central government on Friday asked the Andhra Pradesh government to look into the complaint made by Ahmadiyya sect of the Muslims against the state waqf board, which recently passed a fresh resolution declaring Ahmadiyya members as kafirs (non-believers) and non-Muslims, people familiar with the matter said. The union ministry said despite the high court orders, the present Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board issued another proclamation in February this year declaring the Ahmadiyya sect as non-Muslim. (Image source: @ZyiteGadgets/Twitter) Also Read | Show cause notice issued to IAS officer Anil Ramod in illegal Waqf land transaction In a letter written to Andhra Pradesh chief secretary K S Jawahar Reddy, the Union ministry of minority affairs said the resolution of the waqf board amounted to hate campaign, which could have ramifications across the country. The Union ministry was acting on a representation made by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community on Thursday, in which it referred to the resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh waqf board, declaring the community to be outside the fold of Islam. Also Read | Inspector suspended for sale of waqf land to Mukhtar Ansaris wife in Lucknow This constitutes a hate campaign against the Ahmadiyya community at large and the Waqf Board neither has the jurisdiction nor authority to determine religious identity of any community including Ahmadiyyas, the letter added. When contacted, president of Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh state waqf board (check) Hameedullah Hasan refused to comment on the representation given to the central government, saying he was not aware of it. However, its former president Mohammed Sohail said the representation might have been made by their Delhi unit. In fact, this resolution is not new. In 2012 itself, the then combined Andhra Pradesh State Waqf Board passed it declaring the Ahmadiyya community as non-Muslim. This resolution was challenged in the Andhra Pradesh high court which issued an order for interim suspension of the resolution, he said. The union ministry said despite the high court orders, the present Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board issued another proclamation in February this year declaring the Ahmadiyya sect as non-Muslim. Andhra Pradesh state waqf board chairman V Khader Basha did not respond to the calls to seek clarifications on the fresh resolution. Waqf board chief executive officer L Abdul Khadir also did not take calls, saying he was busy in a meeting. According to Mir Ayub Ali Khan, a prominent Muslim scholar of Hyderabad, Ahmadiyya is an Islamic religious revivalist movement founded near the end of the 19th century, originating with the life and teachings of Mirza Ghulam Ahmad at Qadian in Punjab. Muslims across the world regard Ahmadiyyas, who are also called as Qadiyanis, as non-Muslims, because they do not believe in the basic tenet of Islam that Prophet Mohammad was the last prophet and there would be no more prophets, he said. On February 18, 2012, the then combined Andhra Pradesh Waqf Board passed a resolution asking the Qazis (Islamic priests) of the state not to perform Nikaah (marriage) of those belonging to Ahmadiyya community because they are not Muslims. Besides the matrimonial boycott of Ahmadiyya community, the state waqf board has also suspended religious properties belonging to the community from its list of waqf properties. It asked the state government to take control of religious properties belonging to Qadayanis under its direct management.| SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Srinivasa Rao Apparasu Srinivasa Rao is Senior Assistant Editor based out of Hyderabad covering developments in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . He has over three decades of reporting experience. ...view detail The Centre on Friday accepted serving Twitter a notice with a significant consequences warning after it failed to take down 167 of 3,750 URLs it had asked to block during the period of farmers' agitation between 2020 and 2021. It, however, denied having threatened to carry out authorised raids or shut down Twitter's office during the protest. Rajeev Chandrasekhar The government said the direction to block those URLs was made following the Information Technology Act. The government issued notice to Twitter on June 27, 2022, giving them opportunity to comply fully, failing which they would have had to face significant consequences as mention in the IT Act, 2000. Subsequent to this notice, Twitter complied with all the blocking direction issued under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, Union minister of state for electronics and information technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told Parliament in a response to a question in Rajya Sabha. The Union minister also denied requesting for users' data from any social media accounts. Twitter former CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey whipped a controversy alleging Indian government of directing to remove posts and accounts from the social media platforms that manifested in ways such as we will shut Twitter down in India, raid the homes of your employees. Notably, Delhi Police in May, 2021, carried out raids at Twitter's Delhi and Gurugram offices. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Srinagar: A cloudburst triggered flash floods in the union territory of Ladakh on Friday night, causing debris to flow into market areas in Leh town and damaging over a dozen houses and shops , but there are no reports of any loss of life, officials said on Saturday. A road covered in mud water due to flash floods triggered by a cloudburst in Leh on Saturday. (ANI) The flood water inundated some markets in Leh town and also washed away parked vehicles. However, no loss of life was reported from Leh or its adjacent localities. Locals said that flash flood brought muck and boulders in the markets and residential areas. Police, army and local volunteers were involved in rescue operations throughout the night and main essential services have been restored in the affected areas. Locals said more damage was witnessed in Skampari and upper Leh. Heavy rains damaged Leh-Nubra road at Khardong and Khalsar villages. Standing agriculture crops were also damaged. Tourists could be seen helping locals in the rescue operations. Leh municipal committee president Namgail said government teams are collecting details about damages caused by flash floods. The cloudburst triggered flash floods in Leh town around 10 to 10.30 pm. Houses were damaged and few vehicles also got damaged in flood water. No loss of life was reported from any part of the Leh town. By morning all the essential services were restored. He said two houses were completely damaged. Many houses and shops got partially damaged in these floods. Officials said there were reports of damage to properties and agriculture land in Chokhang, Chubi, Khalshal, Katpa and Ladmdon areas and teams have been deputed to assess the damage due to the flashflood. Power supply was affected in Khaltsi block as HT/LT networks were washed away due to the floods, officials said. Ladakhs Lt Governor Brig (retd) B D Mishra praised armed forces for rescue operations. On behalf of the people of Ladakh, I want to express my deep appreciation towards the jawans of XIV Corps, branches of BRO, ITBP along with PWD and Mechanical Department of Leh and the local volunteers for their prompt action and service to the people. In the face of disaster, we experienced exemplary collaboration between the Armed Forces in Ladakh, the concerned departments of the civil administration and volunteers from across Ladakh in dealing with the aftermath of the flash floods and heavy rain, he said in tweet. Police spokesman sought cooperation from people in the rescue and rehabilitation process which is still underway. Rescue and rehabilitation works in Leh town especially at Kakhsal, Sankar, Skampari, Chubbi, Zangsati and main market Gompa Sompa areas were started soon after the flash floods. The rescue works are still going on the war footing basis, the spokesman said in a statement. Meanwhile, MeT office has predicted more rains in coming days and asked people to remain alert. Moderate rain accompanied by thunderstorm, lightning is very likely at many places of Ladakh during next 24 hours. Some rainfall spells can be intense, localized and heavy which may generate Flash flood, mudslides at vulnerable spots. Accordingly, people are advised to remain alert, MeT director Sonum Lotus said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A couple was arrested on Wednesday, while the search is on for three others, for allegedly carjacking an SUV and stealing tomatoes worth 3.5 lakh in RMC Yard area of Bengaluru, police said on Saturday. Currently, the tomatoes are priced between 100 to 120 per kilogram in Bengaluru. (HT Photo) Police identified the arrested accused as Bhaskar and his wife Sindhuja, residents of Tamil Nadu. Also Read | Mom asks daughter in Dubai to gift her 10 kg tomatoes A police official familiar with the matter said that the search is on for the rest of the accused who have been identified as Rocky, Kumar, and Mahesh. The incident took place on July 8 when the accused, upon noticing the goods vehicle, started tailing the tomato-laden vehicle, said a police officer from RMC Yard police station, on anonymity. After intercepting the vehicle, the accused faked an accident and assaulted both the farmer and the driver of the Bolero goods vehicle. They coerced the victims into transferring funds electronically to the robbers mobile phones under the pretext of compensating for the supposed damages, said the officer quoted above. Also Read | Pune farmer loses 400 kg of tomatoes to theft, hunt on to nab thieves The accused forced the farmer to accompany them in the goods vehicle, only to later abandon him forcefully as they escaped with the stolen tomatoes, heading towards Tamil Nadu, said another senior officer, requesting anonymity. After stealing the tomatoes, the accused abandoned the stolen vehicle near Peenya in Bengaluru and fled in another unregistered vehicle, said police. During the probe, the RMC Yard police identified the accused via the CCTV footage and apprehended the couple, said the senior officer. A case was registered into the matter under Sections 346A (kidnapping, abduction, or wrongful confinement) and 392 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). This is not first such case as similar cases have been reported amid the surge in commodity prices. Earlier on July 6, tomatoes worth 2.5 lakh were stolen from a womans farm in Halebeedu, Karnataka. Currently, tomatoes are priced between 100 to 120 per kilogram in Bengaluru. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: In its 201-page report, the parliamentary panel said it received 1,309 memoranda regarding the bill (HT) Environmentalists, community leaders and activists from Himalayan states on Saturday raised concerns about several provisions of the Forest Conservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The sensitive ecology and geology in the Himalayan states already makes them extremely vulnerable to disasters and exempting the provision of prior environmental clearance would further put these regions at risk, they said at a media briefing. Moreover, if the provision of prior consent of gram sabhas (village councils) is weakened, it could impact a large number of poor and vulnerable forest dwelling communities, they said. The joint parliament committee scrutinising the draft legislation has cleared all proposed modifications, even as some opposition MPs submitted notes of dissent. The proposed law brings about sweeping changes to how forests are governed in India and seeks to clarify what constitutes a forest and, hence, attract provisions of forest conservation law in case of any diversion. In its 201-page report submitted on Thursday, the parliamentary panel said it received 1,309 memoranda along with comments from various state governments, departments and ministries and four notes of dissent from opposition MPs within the committee. On Saturday, environmentalists said two provisions are particularly worrying for them: a clause exempting environmental clearance for forest land within 100km along international borders in case of linear projects of national importance and concerning national security, and the silence on consent given by affected village councils and recognising the law of the rights of forest dwellers. I am from Lahaul and Spiti, and if this provision covers up to 100km from the border, then it can reach up to Mandi. Himachal Pradesh is struggling with disasters and breakdown of critical infrastructure. We havent recovered from the devastating floods this monsoon. If there is a freeway for roads and other linear infrastructure, it can be devastating, said Takpa Tenzin, president of the Spiti Civil Society. Moreover, will gram sabha consent be taken? We really need to know. Roads, railways and transmission lines are the main linear infrastructure that can have significant impacts on Himalayan ecology, according to Ravi Chopra, an Uttarakhand-based environmentalist and former chairman of the high-powered committee on Char Dham roads appointed by the Supreme Court. We have seen how the government ensured that the Char Dham roads bypassed environmental impact assessment (EIA). In several examples during the project, we saw that adverse impact could have been avoided had the project been scrutinised, Chopra aid. For example, a lot of landslides took place in the Tankapur to Pithoragarh stretch (in Uttarakhand), there were 102 sensitive zones and 45 landslides had already taken place in 2019. A geological investigation and EIA may have helped avoid this. The muck went into the river. When muck goes into rivers, the river level rises and it can cause devastating floods. In the case of the 880km road widening project to the four Hindu shrines in the Himalayas, also known as Char Dham, the work bypassed EIAs altogether, he said. New national highways and expansion of highways that are longer than 100km need prior environmental clearance but this project was broken up into several small stretches separated by 16 bypasses to bypass the safeguard, Chopra said. We are a very small state. The 100km clause can cover entire Sikkim. Only because of the gram sabha consent provision under Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, we could stop a highly dangerous hydropower project. Rivers in Sikkim also affect neighbouring West Bengal and Bangladesh. We are particularly worried about impacts from hydropower projects, said Mayalmit Lepcha, president of Sikkim Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association and general secretary of affected citizens of Teesta river. Northeastern states including Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Sikkim, all ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party or its allies, have said in the parliamentary committee that the clause on exempting environmental clearance in forest land within 100km along the international borders would cover their entire states and open up ecologically important forest areas to a change in land use, HT reported on Saturday. Himachal Pradesh, ruled by the Congress, has also sought clarity on this provision. The environment ministry has said exemptions will be applicable to such qualifying linear projects as may be identified by the defence and home ministries. The environment ministry has said that the proposed legislation does not violate the Forest Rights Act. The State Government or the Union Territory Administration, as the case may be, after obtaining the final approval of the Central Government under Section 2 of the Act, shall ensure the recognition of rights under the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest dwellers (Recognition of Forest rights) Act, which is the FR Act, it said. So, the State Government will issue the final permission only when the Gram Sabha of the concerned area has given the permission in writing. Shimla/Dehradun A building collapsed as cracks emerge in the middle of Khaltu Nalah market due to heavy rain, in Shimla district on Saturday. (ANI) Three people were feared dead after a flash flood in Shimla district, and another three were killed after a vehicle fell into a gorge in Bilaspur, as heavy rains, flash floods and a cloudburst ravaged parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Saturday. In the town of Khaltu Nullah in Himachal Pradesh, cracks appeared in the middle of the road, forcing an evacuation of local residents. There was a flash flood in the Laila rivulet at Badiyara village of Shimla district early on Saturday, which washed away an eatery next to the river and killed the family that ran the establishment, officials said. There are reports that an elderly couple along with their grandson are missing after the flash flood in Laila rivulet. Rescue work is on and the damage to property is being assessed, Shimla deputy commissioner Aditya Negi said. The elderly couple, Roshan Lal and his wife Bhaga Devi, ran the dhaba, while their grandson Kartik had come to meet them. There was panic in Khaltu Nullah town in Kotkhai tehsil of Solan when large cracks emerged in the middle of the bazaar road. The administration evacuated more than 2,500 residents and have disconnected power lines to the town to mitigate the risk of electrocution in the event of a potential landslide. The district administration should deploy a team of geologists and experts to examine the underlying cause of the cracks and devise an effective plan, said local Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chetan Bragta. In Bilaspur, three persons were killed after their car fell into a gorge early on Saturday. The accident took place in Dharkanshi, when the driver lost control due to the heavy rain. The three dead are residents of Noida in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu held a meeting with a central team and appealed for assistance from the Centre. The state had suffered an estimated loss of 8,000 crore and the central government had released only 180 crore as flood relief, he said. A revised financial assistance pattern should be adopted, taking into consideration the unique geographical challenges and the higher construction costs faced by hill states, the chief minister said. In neighbouring Uttarakhand, there was a cloudburst in Uttarkashis Purola that damaged shops and homes. Due to a cloudburst overnight at Chhada Khadd, debris entered several houses and shops under ward numbers 3 and 4 of Purola nagar panchayat. Four pedestrian bridges were damaged. Power supply was also affected due to damage to electricity poles, subdivisional magistrate Devanand Sharma said. Around 150 students trapped in debris at Kasturba Gandhi Inter College at Barkot were rescued by the state disaster response force, spokesperson Lalita Negi said. At Dhauntri under Dunda tehsil on Uttarkashi-Lamgaon-Kedarnath highway, a safety wall of primary hospital caved in due to a landslide triggered by overnight rain, officials said. Over 299 roads in Uttarakhand are blocked due to landslides and incidents triggered by rain. The state received 41.1 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours against a normal of 13.9 mm, according to the weather bureau. The Ban Ganga river breached its warning level of 230 metres and was flowing at 230.63 metres at Raisi in Haridwar at 8 am, while Gauri Ganga, with a water level of 987.58 metres, was flowing above the warning level of 987.25 metres at Munsiyari in Pithoragarh district. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday launched an attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his few seconds of speech on Manipur incidents during his address to media ahead of the monsoon session in Parliament. Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addresses a press conference at his residence, in Jaipur.(PTI) Instead of calling Manipur our state, the Prime Minister is addressing it as his government. Just imagine what would he have said if it was a Congress government there, Gehlot said. He was speaking at a press conference a day after a his government passed the landmark minimum guaranteed income bill, 2023, in the state assembly amid criticism from the opposition parties. CM Gehlot further professed the need of a rigid law regarding social security in the country while speaking on the benefits of the income guarantee law. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assess various social security laws in the West and pass a similar act in the country. You (PM Modi) speak about become a world leader, first manger your home. What you doing for those who are suffering from hunger and malnutrition?Those who call this (act) as a freebie are themselves distributing freebies in their states, Gehlot rebutted. The chief minister recalled how PM Modi commended the central employment guarantee scheme, launched under UPA government, MGNREGA. Imagine, we have to repeatedly explain the provision (of the act) to the same Prime Minister." The Rajasthan minimum guaranteed income bill, 2023, seeks to provide a guarantee pension or wages to the entire adult population. All families of the of the state will received a minimum of 1,000 per month in case of diasbled/aged/single women etc, irrespective of urban or rural setting. It also has a provision to increase the pension at 15% each year. AIZAWL: Several members of the Meitei community from Manipur living in neighbouring Mizoram left for their ethnic strife-torn home state on Saturday, a day after a Mizo organisation of former militants asked them to leave for their own safety citing anger among Mizo youths following the viral video of two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob. Women's wing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) stage a protest near the 'Wall of Remembrance' erected to honor lives lost during the ongoing ethnic clashes in the state, in Churachandpur on Saturday. At least 69 Meiteis were on board the flight to Imphal from Lengpui Airport in Aizawl on Saturday, an airport official said, requesting anonymity. Flights to Imphal for the next few days are also fully booked, the official added. The Manipur government has also issued directions to arrange for a special flight from Lengpui airport to Imphal on Sunday to evacuate members of the Meitei community out of Mizoram, officials said. Several people were also seen taking buses to Manipur on Saturday, officials added. In a statement on Friday, Peace Accord MNF Returnees Association (PAMRA) a non-political organisation of former Mizo National Front (MNF) militants asked Meiteis living in Mizoram to exercise caution in the light of public sentiments regarding the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur which has claimed at least 150 lives and displaced another 40,000 since May 3. The situation in Mizoram has become tense and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur, PAMRA said in the statement. The PAMRA appeals to all Meitei people in Mizoram to leave for their home state as a safety measure. The statement came two days after a video surfaced on social media, reportedly shot on May 4, showing two women being paraded naked and molested by a mob in Manipur. The viral video has created a nationwide uproar, and the Manipur police have arrested five people and detained a minor in connection with the incident so far. On Saturday, Mizoram home commissioner H Lalengmawia held a meeting with PAMRA representatives, who clarified that the statement issued by them was an advisory and not a diktat to Meiteis from Manipur living in the state. The home commissioner also met representatives of All Mizoram Manipuri Association, assuring them of their safety and asking them not be misguided by rumors. He also asked the association to inform fellow Meiteis from Manipur who work or study in Mizoram not to leave the state due to the unfortunate misinterpretation of the press statement, an official familiar with the matter said. The Mizoram government also clarified to the association that no incident of violence or untoward incident against Meiteis from Manipur living in the state has been reported till date, the official added, also declining to be named. At least 150 people have been killed and nearly 40,000 displaced in Manipur since May 3, when ethnic violence erupted in the northeastern state between numerically dominant Meitei community which forms 53% of the state population and tribal Kukis, who live primarily in the hill districts. Violent clashes broke out after a Tribal Solidarity March was organised in the hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei communitys demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Union minister of state for electronics and information technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. (File) AI not leading to joblessness but augmenting capability: Centre to Rajya Sabha The ministry of state for electronics and information technology (Meity) told Parliament on Friday that the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not creating any joblessness and is instead expected to increase Indias annual growth rate. Read more Pakistan to privatise Islamabad airport for 15 years? Best bidder can The Islamabad airport would be outsourced for 15 years to improve its operational activities, Pakistan minister for aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique said as per a report in Geo News as the country battles an economic crisis. Read more Sachin Tendulkar's king-sized reaction for Virat Kohli after India star smashes 76th international ton during 2nd Test India's star batter Virat Kohli reached his 29th Test century on Friday during the final Test against West Indies. Kohli ended an almost five-year wait for an overseas Test ton, with his last century on foreign soil coming in December 2018 in Perth. Read more Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor step out for dinner with friends in Mumbai, watch Oppenheimer together Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor had a fun evening as they started their weekend with dinner followed by a movie. Several videos and pictures of the duo emerged on social media platforms as they stepped out of home on Friday night. Read more Alia Bhatt in chiffon saree and show-stealer bustier blouse, Ranveer Singh in grey suit serve fashion excellence: Watch Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh promoted the new song from their film Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani at Spotify's Music Concert. The two stars served fashion excellence at the event with their dapper and elegant looks. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: A juvenile and a man, who were allegedly part of the mob that stripped and paraded two women naked in Manipur, were apprehended on Saturday, police said even as outrage and protests over the assault continued in different parts of the country. Minority Youth Federation members stage a protest rally against the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur at Esplanade in Kolkata on Saturday, (Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times) Also Read | Hours after Manipur incident, cops visited the village, termed situation as calm The police have so far apprehended six people in connection with the case after a video of the incident went viral on Wednesday, sparking a nationwide outcry that jammed both Houses of Parliament, and prompted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to assure that the perpetrators of the barbaric sexual assault will not be spared. As regards to the viral video of 02 (two) women on 4th May, 2023, another accused was arrested today. Altogether six persons, including one juvenile have been arrested/apprehended in the case so far. The state police is making all-out effort to arrest the remaining culprits by conducting raids at many suspected hideouts, the Manipur police tweeted. Also Read | Manipur clashes: Meiteis flee Mizoram, a day after advisory from ex-militants Manipur police have faced criticism for not acting promptly after the first complaint in the case was lodged on May 18, and not arresting the culprits even after the FIR was transferred to the nearest police station on June 21. The first arrest was made on Thursday, 77 days after the assault and a day after the video of the incident went viral. The video showed a group of men hooting and applauding as two distraught women were stripped and paraded through a field; the women were molested and groped as they walked. It fanned fresh tension in the state that has been shrouded in ethnic violence between the dominant Meitei and tribal Kuki communities that has killed at least 150 people and displaced another 50,000. Also Read | Manipur incident protest: 11 SP student activists held at LU The FIR said the family fled to a forest to escape an armed mob that entered their village and vandalised houses. But when they were on their way to a police station, the mob waylaid them and snatched them from police custody though in statements to some media outlets, one of the two women said they were handed over by the police to the mob and first killed a man, before assaulting the women and parading them naked. HT has seen a copy of the FIR. One of the women was later gang raped, the FIR said, adding that the mob also killed her 19-year-old brother for trying to intervene. We have the Aadhaar card and other identification details of the other men involved in the case. They are from villages far away from where the incident happened. The police teams have matched the identity of some accused with that of the photo identity card that we have got. A second team is on the trail of those accused men. We will be arresting more people soon, a police officer said on condition of anonymity. The outcry over the incident continued in the ethnic violence hit state and other parts of the country on Saturday as people took out protest marches demanding swift action against the guilty. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON According to a recent press release, investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol arrested Jesse Voichahoske, 35, of Grand Island man, formally of Boone County, on multiple counts of sexual assault of a child following an investigation that began earlier this year. In May, the victim of a sexual assault contacted state patrol reporting that this crime had occurred on multiple occasions in Boone County several years ago. After investigators began looking into the case, they discovered another victim. Both victims were children in their early teens at the time of the assaults, which occurred between 2012 and 2015. The suspect had since moved to Grand Island. Investigators located the suspect, and made an arrest July 20 in Grand Island. Voichahoske was arrested for first degree sexual assault and three counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child. He was lodged in Hall County Jail and has since been transferred to Boone County Jail. The investigation remains ongoing. The Nebraska State Patrol urges any additional victims or anyone with additional information to contact investigators at 402-370-1024. Torrential rain washed away a section the Gairsain-Karnprayag national highway-109 near Kalimati in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on Friday. According to the police, the road was washed away about 15 meters near Kalimati on Thursday night.(ANI) Also Read: Sub-inspector, three home guards among 16 electrocuted to death at riverbank in Uttarakhand's Chamoli The police said the road was washed away about 15 metres near Kalimati on Thursday night following heavy rain and people travelling from Gairsain to Karnprayag and Nainital were stranded on both sides of the road. Meanwhile, the Badrinath national highway in Chamoli was also blocked in five places between Nandprayag and Badrinath on Friday due to landslides triggered by heavy rain at several places. The Rishikesh-Yamunotri national highway was also closed due to debris near Dharasu band in Uttarkashi, news agency PTI reported quoting the officials. Several regions witnessed waterlogging due to the closure of drains. Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday reviewed the progress of relief and rescue works in Haridwar and declared the waterlogged areas as "disaster-prone" and deferred the payment of electricity and water bills and other government dues and loans for the next three months. Also Read: Uttarakhand rain: Landslides, Ganga breaches danger mark, alert in Haridwar The CM assured that in order to reduce the risk of floods in the future, steps will be taken to get the rivers channelled. According to the need, permanent flood relief centres will be constructed in disaster-affected areas. Due to heavy rain in Haridwar, 71 villages in Roorkee, Laksar, Bhagwanpur, and Haridwar tehsils were submerged, forcing several families to leave their houses for other places. The northern states in India have been battered by downpours this monsoon. A flood-like like situation has erupted in parts of several states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called on members of G20 nations to advance a sustainable, just, affordable, inclusive, and clean energy transition while ensuring that countries of the global south are not left behind. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Twitter Photo) The world looks up to this group to advance sustainable, just, affordable, inclusive, and clean energy transitions. While doing this, our brothers and sisters in the Global South mustnt be left behind. We must ensure low-cost finance for developing countries, PM Modi said via a video message addressing the G20 Clean Energy Ministerial meeting, which is underway in Goa. We must find ways to bridge technology gaps, promote energy security, and work on diversifying supply chains. And, we must strengthen collaboration on the fuels for the future, he added. PM Modi also spoke of Indias commitments, as the worlds most populated and fastest growing large economy in the world to achieving its non-fossil energy goals. India is the most populated nation and the fastest-growing economy in the world. Yet, we are moving strongly on our climate commitments. We achieved our non-fossil installed electric capacity target nine years in advance. We have now set a higher target. We plan to achieve 50% non-fossil installed capacity by 2030. India is also among the global leaders in solar and wind power, PM Modi said in his address. The PM further invited the members to join the Green Grids Initiative One Sun, One World, One Grid of the International Solar Alliance Trans-national grid interconnections can enhance energy security. We are promoting this mutually beneficial cooperation with our neighbours in this region and we are seeing encouraging results. Realising the vision of inter-connected green grids can be transforming. It will enable all of us to meet our climate goals, stimulate green investment, and create millions of green jobs, said PM Modi. Speaking at the inaugural of the G20 energy ministers meeting, Union minister for power and renewable energy R K Singh called on developed nations to help poorer nations make the transition. Availability of affordable energy plays a pivotal role in our policy. Developing world needs more funds for energy transition, Singh said. People who do not have access to electricity are one of the greatest challenges before us to provide them affordable electricity access. The issue of the challenge of supply chain disruption is another issue we need to focus on. The importance of low-cost finance to emerging and developing countries is needed for faster energy transition. I would like to request the developed world to come forward and fund such projects. We need to cooperate, collaborate and share green technology to achieve the energy transition for the world, he added. The 4th G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting is being hosted by Goa on July 22. The meeting is expected to conclude on Saturday with a joint communique being issued by the member countries and the invited countries that will outline the G20 members common commitments towards sustainable energy goals. The meeting is a significant platform where the member nations address pressing energy issues, explore innovative solutions, and collaborate to shape the global energy landscape. We are immensely honoured to host the 4th G20 Energy Ministerial Meeting in the vibrant state of Goa. This event represents a unique opportunity for our nation to showcase its dedication to advancing clean and sustainable energy solutions, chief minister Pramod Sawant had said ahead of the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday distributed more than 70,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits and virtually addressed the appointees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Twitter Photo) The Rozgar Mela was organised at 44 locations across the country. The recruitments are taking place with the support of central government departments as well as state governments and Union Territories. The new recruits, selected from across the country will be appointed to various ministries and departments. Addressing the appointees, PM Modi said, During the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, when the country is working on the path of development, it is a great honour to get the opportunity to work as a government employee. The people of this country have taken the resolution to make India a developed country. The PM further congratulated the recruits and their families on this momentous occasion. On Indias growing banking sector, PM said, Today India is one of the countries where the banking sector is considered to be the strongest but this was not the situation nine years ago... Our banking sector has seen massive destruction during the previous govt. Taking a dig at the previous government, Modi said that during their rule, the banking sector witnessed massive destruction. Now, we are able to make digital transactions but nine years ago, phone banking was not for 1.4 billion people. People who were close to a specific family used to call banks and provided them loans worth thousands of crores and these loans were never repaid. This phone banking scam was one of the biggest scams during the previous government regime, Modi told appointees. He further emphasised that the next 25 years are going to be crucial for India as the country will be in the worlds top three economies indicating the increase in employment opportunities and per capita income of the citizens. He said that in the last nine years, India has become the 5th largest economy from being the 10th largest economy. The selected appointees will be given a chance to enhance their skills through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online module available on the iGOT Karmayogi portal. This platform offers access to over 580 e-learning courses, accessible from anywhere. Last year, PM Modi launched the first phase of Rozgar Mela, initiating the campaign of providing 10 lakh government jobs. Jaipur: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning the state in his statement on the Manipur sexual assault incident, saying that the PM hurt the swabhiman (self-respect) of Rajasthan. Jaipur, July 22 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addresses a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday. (ANI Photo) (Ashok Sharma) On Thursday, Modi expressed anguish over the stripping and parading of two women naked in the ethnic-violence hit state and said: Whether the incident happens in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, or Manipur in any state government, rising above political disputes and maintaining the significance of the rule of law and respect for women is crucial. Rajasthan and Chhatisgarh are governed by Congress governments. Countering the PM, Gehlot said: The Prime Minister has hurt the self-respect of Rajasthan. Modi finished his speech within a few seconds on Manipur, the issue on which he should have held review meetings. In his address, the PM also said that the entire nation was ashamed because of the brutal incident. Gehlot countered the PM and said: The people of the country are not feeling ashamed, but they are disappointed with the work and failures of the Modi government. Information and Broadcasting (I&B) minister and senior BJP leader Anurag Thakur hit back at Gehlot, saying that the law and order situation in the state had deteriorated under his tenure as chief minister. Where has Rajasthan reached in the last five years? There have been so many incidents of rape and atrocities against women that a peaceful and safe state has become number one in terms of crime against women in the last five years, he said. Barely two hours after three Kuki women were stripped, paraded naked, assaulted, one of them gang-raped, and her father and brother murdered by a mob in B Phainom village in Thoubal district of Manipur on May 4, a police team visited the village but left because they did not see any loss of human life, police records accessed by HT show. Women during a protest in Churachandpur on Saturday. (PTI) Also Read | Manipur incident protest: 11 SP student activists held at LU The police described the situation in the village as calm as it found no accused at the spot, showed a reading of FIR (6)(5) 2023 said, filed by the Nonpok Sekmai police station the jurisdiction in which B Phainom village was located. HT analysed the contents of two FIRs that the Nonpok Sekmai police station filed on its own or suo motu on May 4, and the contents, taken together, paint a picture that leaves many questions, and strengthens reports from people in the Kuki community, who have said they were apprehensive of approaching police for fair action since most happened to be of the Meitei community. It is these two communities that have clashed since May 3, leading to at least 150 deaths in an episode that many fear to have played out much worse than what is known. Also Read | Death penalty, blot on: Anna Hazare on Manipur women paraded naked video case One of those horrific details that has since emerged was captured in a video posted online on Wednesday and showed two women being paraded naked and groped, within minutes of their male family members being lynched, and moments before the younger of the two was gang raped.The four were part of a five-member group the fifth person was a woman who was also stripped and paraded that was snatched from a police team after they hid out when the B Phainom village was attacked. The FIRs HT analysed numbered (5)(5) 2023 and (6)(5) 2023 showed that the village was attacked twice and the police responded both times, first in the early hours of May 4 (shortly after midnight) and then again at 5pm, roughly two hours after the attack in which the five victims were caught by the mob then went on to murder the male members and sexually assault and parade naked the women. In both FIRs, the police said it found no evidence of a crime other than vandalisation of homes. Then there were other inconsistencies based on the accounts of the horrific crime that have only now come to light, based on a complaint by the village head of B Phainom. This FIR was filed only on May 18 and was numbered (110)(6)(2023). In it, the village head identified the attackers as those from Meitei groups --- while the FIRs filed by the police suo motu made no mention of this. ...Today on May 4, received reliable information that some unknown persons numbering about 2,000/2,500 were unlawfully assembled and stormed at the five neighbouring villages i.e. B Phainom, S Elmphai, Haokhong. Phouoibi and Ukhongshang Village the organised unruly and irate mob by holding deadly weapon and vandalized some houses, the police noted in FIR (6)(5) 2023 -- the one relating to the afternoon attack. The suo motu FIRs also do not contain a mention about the victims being taken from a police vehicle, as alleged by the village head. It is also not clear why the police characterised the situation as calm in the second FIR, despite noting that settlements in the village had been burned to the ground. The FIR also claimed the police team did not spot any loss of human life.On arrival at the spot, the unruly and irate mob have already dismantled and vandalized the houses of the said villages in mass. The houses and valuable household items were destroyed by the unruly and irate mob whereas no any loss of human life was found so far. Later on, the situation was calm, the second FIR, signed by station in-charge K Premkumar Singh, said. The first arrests in the case were not made until a video of the women emerged online, 77 days after the crime. Taken together, these police records strengthen questions over the Manipur administration, especially its chief minister N Biren Singh, who has remained in office despite widespread calls for him to quit. Till Saturday, six people have been arrested in connection with the attack on the five people -- with the latest arrest being that of a juvenile that was announced on Saturday. In FIR (110)(6)(2023), the village head, who also fled his home after the attack, accused members of Meitei Youth Organisations, Meetei Leepun, Kangleipak Kanba Lup (KKL), Arambai Tenggol and World Meitei Council (WMC), Schedule Tribe Demand Committee (STDC) of attacking the village in the afternoon. The five people had also fled when their village was raided by the mob. They were later on rescued by Nongpok Sekmai Police team and (were) on their way to Nongpok Sekmai PS. However, they were blocked on the way by a mob and snatched from the custody of police team by the violent mob near Toubul (Sekmai khunou) about 2km from Nongpok Sekmai police station, the village chief said in the FIR. The village chief did not mention the identity of the police personnel from whose custody the family was forcibly taken. The mob first killed the 56-year-old man near a paddy field after which the three women aged 21, 42 and 52 were physically forced to remove their clothes and were stripped naked in front of the mob. The 21-year-old woman was gangraped in front of the other three. When the womans younger brother, a 19-year-old man, tried to defend his sister, he was murdered by members of the mob on the spot, the FIR stated. The three women managed to escape with the help of some people they knew, it said. Since May 3, the northeastern state has been gripped by ethnic clashes primarily between the tribal Kukis, which mostly reside in the hill districts, and majority Meiteis, the dominant community in Imphal Valley in which at least 150 people have died and over 50,000 have been displaced. Clashes first broke out on May 3 in Churachandpur town after Kuki groups called for protests against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting scheduled tribe (ST) status to the Meitei community. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Delhi prison authorities on Saturday suspended four officials, including one deputy superintendent, two assistant superintendents and one head warder of jail number 7 of Tihar Central prison, a day after the physical appearance of jailed Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik in the Supreme Court citing serious security lapse on the part of some officials. Jammu and Kashmit Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik was given life imprisonment on May 24 in terror funding case (File Photo) Sanjay Baniwal, director general (prisons), who ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter, said that prima facie, these four officials have been found responsible for Maliks physical production before the top court. Ive already ordered a detailed inquiry in the matter to be conducted by deputy inspector general (prisons headquarters) Rajiv Singh to fix the responsibility of erring officials. He has been asked to submit his reports in this connection by Monday as it was a serious lapse on the part of jail officials, Baniwal said. We have a clear-cut instruction to produce Malik through video conferencing only. Instead, Malik was produced in person before the court. Its definitely a gross lapse on our part. The erring officials will not be spared, Baniwal added. Despite a ban on the physical production of a terrorist, Malik, who is serving life imprisonment in a terror funding case, appeared in the Supreme Court under police escort on Friday, with the solicitor general Tushar Mehta terming it a major security lapse in a letter written to the Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla. Mehta sought action against prison officials stating how the separatist leader was allowed to step out in the absence of any order or authorisation from court warranting his presence. The solicitor general urged the Union home secretary to take the matter seriously and take suitable action as Malik is not an ordinary person but a man with terror and secessionist background who was convicted in a terror funding case last year. Malik had arrived at the Court to appear in an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, challenging a September 2022 order passed by a TADA court in Jammu, which required his personal presence in the trial relating to the killing of four Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel in Srinagar in 1990 and the 1989 abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then Union Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The Supreme Court on April 24 had stayed this order, thereby issuing notice to the respondents, including Malik to appear either in person or through an authorised lawyer. However, the order did not provide for his personal presence. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sanjeev K Jha In his reporting career of over 20 years, Sanjeev K Jha has covered bureaucracy, politics, ISI activities in border areas, music and Bollywood. Presently, he covers crime in the national Capital. ...view detail Union minister Smriti Irani reacted to the report card that the Congress gave her amid national outrage over the shocking video of two Kuki women paraded naked in Manipur. The verdict of the report card is: Failed. The women and child development minister was clueless about women's plight and wakes up after two months, the Congress's report card said. The minister reacted to the report card and said the Congress, on the other hand, scores well on two counts -- depravity and wilful ignorance. Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra asked Smriti Irani to buy a dictionary to know the meaning of 'depravity' "There are depths of depravity very few are capable of -- keeping a score card re women. There are instances of wilful ignorance very few incessantly exhibit. On both counts - depravity and wilful ignorance- CONgress scores well. Discuss in Parliament if the dynasty permits," Smriti Irani tweeted. Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra retorted and asked the minister to buy a dictionary to know the meaning of depravity. Sorry WCD Minister. This isnt Depravity. Depravity is BJP deflecting Manipur issue with all out fake news assault in other states. When PM, HM & WCD keep mum while our sisters die. Depravity is when your chair cant protect our wrestlers. Buy a dictionary. If MaunGuru permits, Mahua tweeted. Amid the intense political slugfest over the shocking Manipur video over which the Congress cornered the BJP which ruled Manipur, BJP ministers and leaders are citing examples of other states where similar incidents of atrocities on women took place, and accused the Congress of silence. The Congress is a mute spectator to the atrocity of women in West Bengal and turns deaf in Rajasthan, Smriti Irani said. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said Smriti Irani's silence embodies the 'depths of depravity'. "You kept quiet for 78 days, and what you spoke is worse than your silence. You have FAILED. Read that again. A FAILED WCD Minister," Shrinate tweeted. Atrocities against women in Manipur, Rajasthan, West Bengal On July 18-19, a video of two women being paraded naked in Manipur surfaced triggering nationwide condemnation. The incident took place on May 4, a day after the ethnic clash between the Meiteis and the Kukis broke out in the northeastern state. An FIR was filed but the arrests were made only after the video went viral. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance and said if the government does not take action, the top court will. As the united opposition held the BJP responsible for it, the BJP countered Manipur with Rajasthan where four members of a family, including a six-month-old, were burnt to death. The Rajasthan government sacked Rajender Singh Gudha after he said women in Rajasthan are not safe. Questioning the sacking, Union minister Anurag Thakur said over one lakh incidents of women atrocities took place in Rajasthan in the last 4 years. Rajasthan has become the number one state in crime against women. 22% rape cases in India are from Rajasthan. Instead of taking any steps against the criminals, CM Ashok Gehlot sacked one of his ministers Rajendra Gudha on the direction of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Anurag Thakur said. In West Bengal's Malda, the BJP claimed, two women were stripped and assaulted on the suspicion of theft earlier this week. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Srinagar authorities on Friday banned the sale, purchase, and carrying of 'sharp-edged weapons' in public places in view of several stabbing incidents in the city. The decision was taken apparently as a result of several recent incidents of stabbings reported several places in the district The ban was announced by Srinagar District Magistrate Mohammad Aijaz Asad, an official spokesman said. The decision was taken apparently as a result of several recent incidents of stabbings reported from Qamarwari, Bemina, Kralpora, Batmaloo, Nowhatta, Kothibagh, Rambagh, among other places, as reported by the Senior Superintendent of Police. The order said that the safety and security of the public is of paramount importance and incidents involving the use of sharp-edged weapons in public places pose a significant threat to the lives and safety of the citizens. "It has become imperative to check the practice of carrying sharp-edged weapons by people in territorial jurisdiction of District Srinagar so as to prevent the occurrence of such incidents," it added. Accordingly, the possession of sharp-edged weapons "whose blade is more than nine inches long or whose blade is more than two inches wide" for any purpose other than domestic, agricultural, scientific, and industrial purposes is a cognizable offence under Arms Act 1959, the order said. The ban, which comes into effect immediately, will be applicable to business establishments engaged in sale or purchase of such weapons, the spokesman said. A 'sharp-edged weapon' will be any object or instrument that possesses a blade, an edge, or a point capable of causing injury or harm to individuals, including but not limited to knives, swords, daggers, box cutters, and razors, he said, citing the order. The order further said the ban will be applicable to everyone except law enforcement agencies, individuals possessing such weapons for legitimate occupational purposes (e.g. butchers, carpenters, electricians, chefs, etc). The order also said any individual possessing a sharp edged weapon, will surrender it at the nearest police station within the next 72 hours. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Varanasi district court on Friday ordered an extensive survey of the Gyanvapi Masjid by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to ascertain whether the mosque was built over a pre-existing Hindu temple, holding that the scientific investigation is necessary for the true facts to come out. Gyanvapi mosque (File Photo) Allowing an application by four Hindu women plaintiffs, district judge Ajaya Krishna Vishvesha directed ASI to conduct a comprehensive survey, using dating, excavation and ground penetrating radar (GPR) techniques, of the plot where the mosque stands, next to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. The court, however, ordered excluding the section which has remained sealed since the Supreme Court order in May 2022. The area under the seal is where Hindus insist a Shivling has been found, while Muslims claim it is part of a fountain. The director of ASI is directed to conduct a detailed scientific investigation by using GPR Survey, excavation, dating method and other modern techniques of the present structure (mosque) to find out as to whether same has been constructed over a pre-existing structure of a Hindu temple, stated the court order, seeking a report from ASI up to August 4 when the matter will be taken up next. Dating is a method of calculating the age of very old objects while a GPR survey is a method of gathering data about whats below the ground using ground-penetrating radar technology that sends electromagnetic energy signals into the subsurface. The order directed ASI to carry out a GPR survey under the three domes of the mosque (where the plaintiffs claim there are remains of the pinnacle of a temple) and beneath the western wall (where the Hindu shrine of Shringar Gauri exists). The director of ASI is also directed to conduct a GPR survey beneath the ground of all the cellars and conduct the excavation if required. The director of ASI is also directed to conduct dating exercise of the pillars and plinth of the building to find out the age and the nature of construction, it added. Permitting ASI to carry out a scientific investigation of all the artefacts found in the mosque to find out their age and nature, the court further directed ASI to study all objects of historical and religious importance existing in different parts of the building and also beneath the structure which may be found during excavation. The director of ASI is also directed to conduct GPR survey, excavation wherever required, dating exercise and other scientific methods for determining the age and nature of construction existing at the site in question, said the court, adding that ASI must ensure that there should be no damage to the structure standing on the disputed land and that it remains intact and unharmed. One of the lawyers for the mosque management committee, Raees Ahmad Ansari said that they will challenge the order in a higher court. The court order came on two applications moved by four of the five Hindu plaintiffs who filed a suit in August 2021, demanding the right of unhindered worship at the Maa Shringar Gauri Sthal, located inside the complex that houses idols of Hindu gods. Rekha Pathak, Manju Vyas, Sita Sahu, and Lakshmi Devi applied to the survey. Their pleas were argued by advocates Hari Shankar Jain, Vishnu Jain, Sudhir Tripathi and Subhash Nandan Chaturvedi. The mosque management committee, in its reply, refuted that the mosque was built over a temple, maintaining the structure at the spot was always a mosque. Represented by advocates Ansari and Ekhlaq Ahmad, the management committee opposed the survey, saying such an exercise cannot be ordered to collect evidence. It was also argued that a survey by an advocate commissioner was previously conducted in April 2022 and until the validity of that survey is not decided, no new survey can be ordered. But the district judge shot down the mosque management committees objections, noting the spot inspection conducted in April 2022 is entirely different from a scientific survey by ASI, which has all the modern techniques and wherewithal to ascertain the age and nature of construction at the disputed site. In my view, if ASI will be directed to hold a survey and scientific investigation at the property in question and submit a report then it will help in the just and proper disposal of the case and true facts will come before this court. I am also of the view that objections, filed by defendant no.4 (mosque management committee) are unfounded and without any substance, held the court. The mosque management committee had earlier sought to get the case thrown out under Order VII Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), arguing the suit by the Hindu plaintiffs was barred by the 1991 Places of Worship Act. The Act locks the position or religious identity of any place of worship as it existed on August 15, 1947. But last September, the Varanasi district judge dismissed the committees application. This judgment was upheld by the Allahabad high court in May, and the committees appeal is now pending before the Supreme Court. On Friday, the Varanasi court pointed out that the Supreme Court did not stay the proceedings before it even as the Allahabad high court order for a scientific survey to determine the age of a structure inside Varanasis Gyanvapi mosque complex that Hindus insist is a Shivling, and Muslims say is part of a fountain, was stayed. Therefore, the judge held, the Supreme Courts orders on protecting a specific section inside the mosque complex or staying the scientific survey of a structure had no bearing on the application being decided by him. Scientific investigation by ASI seems to be necessary in this case so that true facts relating to this case can come before the court and this court can arrive at a just and reasonable conclusion, the order held. Advocate Rajesh Mishra, the state governments special counsel for the Gyanvapi case, said: The Varanasi district court allowed the application for survey in the Gyanvapi Complexs barricaded area, excluding its barricaded area, by ASI. The district judge is currently trying eight suits claiming the existence of idols of Hindu deities inside the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. While the first one to be filed by the five Hindu women asked for a right to worship Hindu deities inside the mosque complex, six others have pressed for a claim over the title of the land where the Gyanvapi Masjid stands. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A video of a heated exchange between an official of the Indian railways and a passenger angry after being served halal-certified tea has gone viral. The passenger in the video questioned the railway staff as to what halal-certified tea is and why it was being served during the month of sawan. The staff, as seen in the video, explained to the irate passenger that tea is in any case vegetarian. A video of a passenger and a railways staff arguing over halal-certified tea has gone viral. "Month of sawan is going. And you are giving us halal-certified tea?" the passenger asked the railway official. Examining the sachet, the officer asked, "What is that?". "You know, you explain what halal-certified is. We should know it. We know ISI certificate, explain what is a halal certificate," the passenger said. Read | Ban halal certified products across India, says petition in Supreme Court "This is masala tea premix. Let me explain. This is 100% vegetarian," the railways staff said. "But what is halal certified? I will have to do puja after this." the passenger said. "Are you making a video?This is 100% vegeterian. Chai veg hi hota hai, sir," the railways staff said. "I don't want any religious certification. Please keep these sentiments in mind. Put swastik certificate then," the passenger said. "Okay, will keep that in mind," the staff said. The video has gone viral with several users raising questions why a tea premix needs halal certification. Some users praised the patience of the railways official who did not lose his calm and explained to the passenger that tea is by default vegetarian. The passenger got called out by some for seeking 'swastik-certified' tea. IRCTC issued a statement that the premix at the centre of the controversy has the mandatory FSSAI certification. It is a 100% vegetarian product with green dots. "The product is also exported to other Countries which mandate "Halal certification" for such products," the IRCTC tweeted replying to the viral video. The tea premix company Chaizup also issued a statement clarifying that the halal certificate is because the product is exported world wide. "All our products lab reports are available and our products are 100% vegetarian. All ingredients are natural. We use milk powder and 100% plant based ingredients to make our tea and coffee premixes," Gunjan Poddar, CEO of Chaizup said in a statement. Railways ministry issued a statement assuring passengers that the tea served in trains is purly vegetarian and of international standards. What is halal certification? Halal certification was first introduced in 1974 for slaughtered meat and till 1993 it was applied only to meat products. Then it was extended to other food items and also cosmetics, medicines etc. In Arabic, halal means permissible and halal-certified refers to food prepared adhering to Islamic law. Halal meat refers to the meat of an animal which has been slaughtered through the throat, oesophagus, and jugular veins but not the spinal cord. In 2022, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a complete ban on halal certification and it was said that the fundamental rights of 85% citizens were being infringed because of the 15% of the population. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Poulomi Ghosh Poulomi Ghosh is a journalist with Hindustan Times, New Delhi. ...view detail What started as a farmer's bright idea has since grown into a family business and legacy - in the span of just 80 years. When Art Hellbusch started Duo Lift in the 1940s, he could never have predicted what his simple operation would become. The Duo Lift story, according to Owner Jim Hellbusch, starts in 1943 when his father Art, a farmer at the time, injured his back scooping grain out of a trailer. With newfound time to think and a desire to not wind up on his back again, he started working out a pulley system that could do the lifting for him, mounted on a trailer. "My dad was not a manufacturer, he was a farmer and it was a hobby," Jim said. "He had no experience, no sales, marketing, no advertising or nothing. He made stuff for other people to buy, he went to the neighbor and the neighbor's neighbor and he was a hard worker but he was a farmer and 'by the way I do welding on the side.'" Art made his idea a reality and started looking at ways to make it better. In the meantime, he was garnering a lot of interest from other area farmers... and the government. He had to register his business as a manufacturing company. While he was working on a name for his now-manufacturing business, hydraulics started becoming more prevalent. After trying two hydraulic cylinders in place of the pulley system, Art decided to call the business Duo Lift. In 1969, Jim took an interest in what had become the family business and started designing his own devices. He had just finished college and was able to teach drafting, but gave himself a little time to figure out how to make his dad's hobby/job into something bigger. "I came home and I made whatever I could make, for example, a trailer, stuff like that just to make ends meet," Jim said. "We had these irrigation pipe trailers, my dad started that, he sold those to the neighbor and the neighbor's neighbor. I got in, wanted to expand and turn it into a company and it took a lot of hard work." Word spread of the reliable manufacturer based out of Columbus beyond the neighborhood, city and even county, all the way into Kansas, which led to the foundation of one of the key points on Duo Lift bases their designs and builds on. "In 1977 a guy from Wichita came up, he'd heard we made good, high-quality equipment, a good high-quality part for a fair price and an emphasis on safety. He said 'would you be interested in anhydrous ammonia trailers?'" Jim said. The visitor brought not only a request but a tale of misfortune. A farmer had been working in a field with a poorly-built anhydrous ammonia trailer and, when it looked like rain was on its way, decided to work into the night. He asked his wife to take the ammonia tank back with her and there was an accident that ended in the wife's death. Jim said then and there he wanted to focus on safety and if safety was too expensive, they just wouldn't build it. "I built one and said 'here it is, if it's too expensive I won't make it,' and we just went on from there. That's what we did, a high-quality product. It was an industry I wasn't ever in but I had to go and learn," Jim said. The family never moved their business. Right on the other side of Jim's office wall, he said, is where his father used to keep cattle. Making that transition and elbowing his way into the industry, Jim said, wasn't easy, but he planned things carefully and had to be creative and risky at times to get where he wanted to go. "If a guy wanted to buy 10 trailers, I'd say buy nine of theirs and one of mine. If mine cost $300 more, I'd say 'just do it and I'll come back and if it wasn't good for what you spent, I'll give your money back, you keep the trailer,'" Jim said. "Well, it was the best they had, they bought more and we made ourselves known." Now, Jim, his wife Connie and their sons Ben and David run Duo Lift. With Ben and David's respective areas of expertise, Jim's confident the company is in good hands going forward. After all, they've been there for 17 and 16 years, respectively. Ben said the fact that it is a family business and that they work with the right people has been their secret ingredient to making it all work. "It's been good being a family business. We'll bounce ideas off each other, collaborate when you can, move when you have to," Ben said. "It's in all of our blood and we care deeply about it. When you care about it and enjoy what you do, it's easy to keep coming back." David said the best part in his eyes on the operations side is being able to make decisions and be creative in their approach. In a way, he said, they have to be creative and work things out together because it's their bottom line that they lose if they can't figure it out. While it's challenging, it's rewarding. "It's a sense of accomplishment, working together as a team to make it go around, if it doesn't happen out there, we don't get the revenue in to keep running," David said. "Keeping rolling is always a challenge, always something different. You deal with stresses but the fun stuff is figuring out a new way, a better way and it has an impact on what we do." From the starting crew of Art and Jim, the business has grown to over 70 employees, visits with former governors, numerous articles, over 20 patents and countless machines and parts leaving the garage doors over the years. Making space, buying equipment, new products and even hiring staff have all gotten in their way before, Jim said. That didn't stop them from winning numerous awards from various organizations for being at the top of their game for all these years, though. From "small business of the year" to local variants, safety commendations and even visits to Washington, D.C., they have made a name for themselves as Duo Lift and as a family business. "Since we're a family business, there's a certain culture that comes with that versus a corporate business, larger business. You're talking to the owner, anyone can come off that floor to talk to any of us," David said. "Also our attention to high quality and detail, product design, doing things the right way when it might not make financial sense but it's the right way." As a celebration of 80 years in business, the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Jim Pillen, State Sen. Mike Moser, Mayor Jim Bulkley and a slew of other friends, cohorts and well-wishers packed the Duo Lift office at 2810 38th St. and broke a chamber attendance record that night. Congressman Mike Flood will visit and speak for the company's upcoming international sales meeting next week as well. As luxury hotels around the world aim to serve as destinations in themselves, their offerings are becoming more unusual. Guests can opt for an orchestral performance in their suite; get wine from taps in the room; dial a caviar hotline. PREMIUM At the Milestone in London, guests can opt for an in-room private orchestral recital by members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Its a trend propelled by the pandemic, says Rakhee Lalvani, a luxury tourism consultant who worked with the Taj hotels for 30 years. In the pandemic, hotels had to reinvent, cater more strongly to the local staycationing population; essentially, redefine their purpose. Experiential travel, already a trend, got a whole new meaning, Lalvani says. In the search for new experiences in a largely-locked-down world, new boundaries were crossed. This has given regular customers added incentive to return, says Nikhila Palat, a consultant to luxury hotels and brands and also a former employee with the Taj Group. This is vital as competition from other hotels and lavish homestays grows. Add-ons have always defined the luxury hotel market. En suite bathrooms prompted gasps at the Ritz in Paris, in 1898. The wall-to-wall carpeting was considered the height of extravagance (and fast became an elite interior-design trend). Reports of the time made special mention of the closet lights that turned on when the door was opened. The idea of what constitutes luxury does need to be revisited regularly, says Lalvani. Take a look at some of the most recent twists and turns in that definition. An en suite orchestra In partnership with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Milestone Hotel & Residences in London offers in-room private recitals and performances for guests, in their suites. The experience can include a solo harpist or a string trio. (Room tariffs starts at about 45,000 a night.) . Breakfast with a Picasso The Maison a Juan-Les-Pins by Pablo Picasso remains on the wall for the duration of the guests stay. Starting this April, in collaboration with the Opera Gallery, guests booked into a Le Bristol Paris suite can enjoy a special breakfast in their room while a curator discusses a 1931 oil painting on one wall: Maison a Juan-Les-Pins, by Pablo Picasso. The painting remains on the wall for the duration of the guests stay, protected by a state-of-the-art security system. The inclusion, and the breakfast offering, mark the master artists 50th death anniversary year. The painting, incidentally, depicts the historic Villa Chene Roc in Juan-Les-Pins on the French Riviera, painted during a summer holiday Picasso spent there in 1924. The breakfast spread includes soft-boiled eggs with maple syrup and caviar, smoked salmon blinis, a basket of fresh pastries, seasonal fruit and chilled champagne. (The room costs about 1.6 lakh a night.) . A caviar hotline; wine on tap The Park Lane hotel in New York introduced a caviar hotline this year. Dial 5 from the house phone, any time of day or night, and a caviar spread can be brought to the room in minutes. The menu features a range of dishes featuring ossetra caviar, including nachos, devilled eggs and smoked salmon blinis. (Room rates start at about 88,000 a night.) The wine taps at the Museum Hotel. Meanwhile, at the Museum Hotel in Cappadocia, the Safir Cave room has two taps, one each for red and white. Its a move meant to promote the regions own wines. Guests may take as many refills as they like. (Room rates start at 50,000 a night.) A Royal Nanny-approved stay Norland College in Bath is known for training the nannies who care for children of royal families. These nannies learn to drive safely at high speeds to avoid paparazzi, practice martial arts in case of a kidnapping attempt, and can even make spinach seem delicious to a child. Louenna Hood graduated from this academy and, after a 20-year career caring for the children of the royal and famous, founded the Louenna app (nicknamed Nanny in Your Pocket), in 2020. This year, she worked with Hotel Cafe Royal in London to create the Tiny Traveller programme. Rooms have nanny-approved bedding, mini bathrobes and slippers. There are white-noise machines, organic bath products, and vetted toys, books and sensory cards for little ones of all ages. The idea is to offer a frictionless experience for the entire family. Amen to that, but room tariffs start at 80,000 a day. A gourmet dinner for dogs This year, Marriott Executive Apartments in Mumbai introduced a four-course gourmet dinner for dogs and their human families, hosted in a private cabana by the citys Powai Lake, for resident guests. Rugs and cushions let dogs and humans sit side by side. On the pets menu is an amuse-bouche, two main courses and a dessert, prepared according to the pet parents instructions. (It can be all-chicken, for instance, or anything but.) Menus have included an amuse-bouche of turkey cotelettes (turkey and cranberry nuggets served on coconut oil-spritzed shavings of sweet potato, carrot and baby zucchini), followed by the Ultimate Grin Bowl (a bit of an Etons Mess of chicken tenders, whole eggs, carrots, broccoli, honey, toasted nori, red pumpkin, fresh sardines and watermelon popsicles), and Doggizza (chicken breast in a hearty bone broth, with whole eggs, chicken livers, zucchini, grape tomatoes, baby spinach and young cheddar). Each course is artfully plated; which is incidental since dogs will eat as dogs do and its all gone in about a minute anyway. Meal costs start at 2,000 per pet. Room rates starts at 9,000 a night. A meet-the-authors soiree The Soneva Fushi hotel in the Maldives hosts an exclusive literature festival open only to resident guests. Its second such event was held in February, and was an intimate edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival. Literary guests included Booker Prize-winning authors Howard Jacobson and Damon Galgut, and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. Amid bean bags, beach chairs and candlelit tables, the three-night event aims to offer direct engagement in small groups or one-on-one. Prices start at about 5.3 lakh for the three-day package. It was a unique experience. Where else do you get to engage with the worlds brightest minds amid such beauty, says writer Neha Khilnani, 41, who has attended both editions of the event. Panellists can be more candid with a small audience. The Sufi musical evenings were fantastic too. Kutle Khan (Rajasthani musician) had us swaying through the night under the palm trees and starry skies. Experience unrestricted digital access with HT Premium Explore amazing offers on HT + Economist Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In In September 2017 a group of young women from a jewellery school came to Daniel Brushs studio-cum-home, a loft in mid-Manhattan. They crammed onto his sofas, awed to be meeting a figure who, to them, was a worker of miracles with gold, steel and jewels: an artist unknown to all but a few cognoscenti, who considered him one of best there was. PREMIUM Daniel Brush He, facing them, could hardly stand still for nerves. He leaned against the wall as if he hoped it would swallow him. His words jerked, and sometimes burst out in anger. Deliberately, he still wore his surgical binoculars and 40-power loupe clamped over his eyes and his leather apron round his waist. He had broken off his work to talk to them, he was touched to see them, but he must get back to it. He had to get back. For 45 years in that loft, living like a hermit, he had pursued his calling. Almost no one knew he was there or what he was doing. His wife Olivia was the only company he needed; his work was her work. Together they set a rhythm to each day, and over 40 years it did not change. Every breakfast, Cheerios; every lunch, lentil soup. He rose very early and then, for three or four hours, swept the loft to empty his mind, as an apprentice initiate might sweep a temple. Pacing, reading and meditating, especially on Zen texts or ancient technical manuals, were necessary to the work. So was worrying. Did he have anything to say? Did he know enough? If he thought he did, he would be in the studio by 11, and might work for 18 hours straight. He went in like a boxer, expecting a fight. His thoughts and the material grappled together as long as his momentum lasted; he downed tools as soon as it lapsed. A piece might dwell in the studio for decades before he addressed it again. He did not grasp or use the word complete, for the work was never-ending. He produced hundreds of objects: boxes, brooches, collars, perfume flasks, objets de vertu of all sorts, most of them exquisite and many astonishingly small. He once made 117 collars, over three years, simply to have them photographed as a visual poem in a book. It was still time well spent. Every piece advanced his understanding of the materials he was using. Those materials included marble, aluminium and even Bakelite, sometimes presented to him by fans who simply wondered what he might make of them. When one of his devotees presented him with a packet of tiny pink diamonds from Australia, he whimsically decorated the Bakelite with sparkling flamingos and rabbits; but he refused to be called a jeweller. Jewellers traditionally waxed, cast and filed; he wrought and struggled. Working with steel, for example, was almost brutal: hammering, forging, chiselling, resharpening for every cut, like forcing an ice-breaker through Antarctica. Each piece was hand-made there in the studio. He worked alone, too impatient to do otherwise, and never finding anyone else who wanted to do what he wanted to do. Rather than use electricity, he laboured in a forest of antique machines, including the largest private collection of lathes in the world. On these he turned minutely patterned boxes made of mastodon ivory 40m years old, or engraved thousands of rainbow-reflecting lines on flattened billets of steel. When tools frustrated him he made his own, displaying them in cabinets as art in themselves. He painted, too, applying the same techniquelearned from Japanese Noh theatreas he did to the objects he sculpted or turned. Using his grandfathers ruling-pen, containing one drop of ink, he would approach the paper, inhale, and make one line; then exhale, step back, and repeat until the momentum stopped. Above all else, he worked in gold. He did so first in 1967, when he bought an ounce of it to make Olivias wedding ring. Yet his obsession had taken fire long before, on a trip to London, when at 13 he had seen an Etruscan gold bowl in the Victoria and Albert Museum. The ancient technique of granulation, applying geometries of gold beads as fine as sand-grains to a curved gold surface without solder, was stunning, but so was the lightness of spirit, the insouciance of the thing. He resolved then and there that he would make such a bowl, and gold became the study of his life. Simply to watch it melt, turn to red-hot and white-hot, then glow purple, was magical. To hold pure gold grain and let it sift through his fingers restored his equanimity of spirit. To outside eyes his own granulation, with 78,000 hand-made grains applied to one dome five inches in diameter, was peerless. He thought he was still rubbish at it. What was this search? What was his work for? Certainly not for fame. And not for money, either. He refused to take commissions, though his pieces could command six-figure sums, because neither he nor Olivia could bear to let them go. They crowded his studio as the record of his life, and of passing time. His dreams and blood were in them. They could be bought only by those who had the sensitivity to appreciate what they were. That connection of ideas, as the piece passed from warm hand to warm hand, was where their only value lay. His chief motivation, he said, was to understand both the material and, through that, himself. He wanted to know why his heart had beat so fast in the V&A that day. Gold in particular had a message for him. His manipulation of this glorious metal, like his daily sweeping of the loft, might empty his mind to hear it. He longed for that clarity. It would come, he believed, if he took ego out of the process; if he became a vessel the pieces just flowed through. His work could then be precious to others not in a monetary way, but as a link to something greater and a source of calm. He had long admired the Tendai monks of Japan, who made gruelling treks through the mountains to find enlightenment. He loved the idea that such a monk might take a Brush piece out of a pocket, let its beauty pass from emptied mind to emptied mind, and smile. That too was what its maker was after. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com It is, in many ways, a time portal. PREMIUM Vivek Muthuramalingam attended workshops at Studio Goppo and has since co-founded his own alternative-photography studio, Kanike, in Bengaluru. Step into Studio Goppo in Santiniketan, West Bengal, and one could well be back in the 1850s. The cameras are wooden, perched on wood-and-brass tripods. Images are captured on glass plates coated in chemicals. There are few studios in the world that still use these techniques. Referred to as historical photography, it is a medium that harks back to an era before film. Each image is cumbersome and laborious to produce. But it does what smartphones and Instagram simply cannot: it allows the photographer to create something unique. And because of all the labour and craft involved, each image holds within it the story of how it was made. This is where the studio gets its name (Goppo is Bengali for Tale). This promise, of a one-of-a-kind image crafted by hand, is what draws photographers to this space, which holds small workshops two or three times a year, to spread its philosophy on the medium. Now in its tenth year, Studio Goppo is also sending little ripples out into the world, in the form of new kinds of photo art being produced by former students, and bought and sold at exhibition. And more studios dedicated to historical photography. Studio Goppo founders Arpan Mukherjee and Shreya Mukherjee. Swapan Nayak, for instance, first signed up with Studio Goppo in 2015, disillusioned with his work as a photojournalist. I wanted to do more, in a world where just the ability to take a good picture no longer stood out, he says. I was also looking for a medium in which I could express myself better. He was considering moving to Italy to study historical photography, when he came upon this 800-sq-ft space, in searches online. Each workshop involved working with new materials and devices. Sessions were conducted by founders Arpan Mukherjee and Shreya Mukherjee, professors of graphic art and art history respectively; and photo artist Manoj Biswas. I was so happy when I found them, says Nayak, 58. The core of the Goppo philosophy is an unusual one, in a time of social media: A photograph ought to have meaning and purpose, says Arpan Mukherjee, 46. Photo artworks by Studio Goppo alum Swapan Nayak, from a collection exhibited in Kolkata recently. Four pieces sold, and this has given him the confidence to pursue his art full-time, he says. Part of that meaning comes from understanding what goes into it and how it is made, he adds. This is why Mukherjee teaches about chemicals, plates and exposure. Workshop sessions also explore the liminal spaces between imagination and image; different materials and definitions for image-making. Mukherjee, a professor of graphic art at Visva Bharati, the university at Santiniketan, began his journey with historical photography in 2003, when he started tinkering with old film cameras, and making his own. His partner Shreya Mukherjee, 43, a visiting professor of art history at Burdwan Universitys College of Art and Design, was then researching the history of pre-digital photography in India. Eventually, they decided to share their ideas around the medium. Rather than an exhibition, they decided to take the workshops route. Goppo remains a small operation, by design; one that seeks only to sustains itself, they say. Former students return for refresher courses, or to learn a different technique, and this helps. Nayak has attended two workshops so far, one each on gum printing and albumen printing. Some of his work was shown in an exhibition in Kolkata in 2022, and four pieces sold, for 30,000 each. That has given me the confidence to dedicate myself to alternative photography full-time, he says. Other former students have opened their own alternative-photography studios, such as Kanike in Bengaluru, co-founded by Vivek Muthuramalingam, and Maze Collective in Delhi, founded by Ashish Sahoo. This gives me great satisfaction, Mukherjee says. We always wanted more studios like ours in this part of the world, to spread a different philosophy of photography. Experience unrestricted digital access with HT Premium Explore amazing offers on HT + Economist Start 14 Days Free Trial Already Subscribed? Sign In Amsterdam voted to ban cruise ships in an effort to cut back on the inflow of tourists and reduce pollution from the giant vessels. The Dutch capitals council voted on Thursday to restrict the jumbo ships from docking in the city and aims to close its central cruise-ship terminal, according to a municipality spokesperson. The timeline and details of implementation will be decided after consultations with various stakeholders, the spokesperson said. Amsterdam has one of the largest cruise ports in Europe, hosting hundreds of mega ships and about 700,000 cruise passengers each year. (Twitter/JBNAVictoria) The polluting cruise is not in line with Amsterdams sustainable ambitions, said Ilana Rooderkerk, the local leader of the socially progressive D66 party, which introduced the motion. Cruise ships in the city center also do not fit in with the task of combating mass tourism. Amsterdam has one of the largest cruise ports in Europe, hosting hundreds of mega ships and about 700,000 cruise passengers each year. The country has other cruise terminals in Rotterdam and IJmuiden. The decision comes amid a wider crackdown on the tourist influx and sense of disruption they bring to Amsterdam, a city famed for its red light district and coffee shops that sell marijuana. Mayor Femke Halsema has been spearheading a campaign to discourage visitors from taking what she has called a vacation from morals. Amsterdam attracts more than 1 million tourists on average each month, surpassing its population of just over 800,000. Halsema is determined to permanently shift the economic balance between residents and tourists, and rethink Amsterdams free-wheeling image as a magnet for sex- and drug-seeking vacationers. Earlier this year, the citys council banned outdoor marijuana smoking in the red-light district. In March, city authorities also launched an online effort targeting young British men in a Stay Away campaign aimed at keeping rowdy visitors from descending upon the city. Italys government introduced measures in 2021 to ban large cruise ships in Venices historic lagoon to protect the site from mass tourism. I would choose death rather than go through what the women in the video have, Glady Hunjan, a rights activist from Manipurs Kuki community told me, barely able to form the words through copious tears. As she wept in despair, helplessness, anger and anguish, all of it felt together, I cried too. PREMIUM Biren Singh should resign or be removed. Not because of the horror of this incident alone, but because of his spectacular failure over the last two months. (ANI) As a reporter, I have seen countless horrors over the decades, but there was something about that video in which two women are stripped to the bone, paraded naked, shoved and pushed by a mob, one of them then brutally gangraped, that broke a bit of every Indian woman who watched it. I kept thinking of the 21-year-old woman who was sexually assaulted by the mob, as spectators looked on, and of her brother, just 19, who was killed on the spot, for trying to save her. The Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India were angry too. Their reprimands led to an inert chief minister rising from his two-month-long stupor. Suddenly, in a matter of hours, the main accused was arrested. So, was N Biren Singh deliberately looking the other way all these days? Or was he ignorant of what had happened? Neither option speaks well of his (already diminished) credibility. Let me explain. We know that this incident of gangrape and murder took place on May 4. The first police complaint, what is called a zero first investigation report (FIR), was filed on May 18. This is a concept introduced by the Justice JS Verma panel in the aftermath of the 2012 gangrape. It allows a sexual assault victim to file a police case anywhere in India, irrespective of jurisdiction. The FIR is then forwarded to the relevant local police station. In this case, the FIR was forwarded to the relevant police station on June 21. For more than 60 days, a rape-and-murder FIR was ignored. If the video had not emerged and enraged an entire country, the rapists and murderers would still be out there. So, is Singh admitting that he was not aware of this particular ghastly case of sexual assault? Or is he conceding that he was in the know but was helpless to act? Either way, it reveals either incompetence or callousness. Biren Singh should resign or be removed. Not because of the horror of this incident alone, but because of his spectacular failure over the last two months. And because there are other rapes and murders that have not hit the national headlines yet. And, yes, of course, there are victims and perpetrators on both sides of the ethnic divide. The truth is that Singh has failed to protect even his own lawmakers. Think of Vungzagin Valte? He is Singhs colleague, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator, and an advisor to the chief minister. He was attacked and he lay strapped to a hospital bed in Delhi, unable to speak or walk. His wife said the family could never return to Manipur. The truth is that with all units of local administration split along ethnic lines, the only institution that still has any credibility is the Army. It is the Army that has been creating buffer zones between the Meiteis and the Kukis; it is the Army that has been initiating dialogue with community leaders on both sides and it is the Army that has been reminding Indians, as it did in a recent video, that to be human is not a sign of weakness. And remember, the Army has been operating without the legal cover of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in many pockets of Manipur. Singh claims the video provided crucial evidence and helped the police to identify the men. So, isnt it ironic that some officials in the information technology ministry have asked for reports and shows on Manipur (these include some of my own) to be blocked? Of course, no media house should be permitted to identify the women or show graphic images of assault. Such videos should be blocked. But, if the video has been referred to with the requisite editorial protection, to take down media coverage around it is to effectively obstruct the full telling of the Manipur horror. This is not about Kukis or Meiteis ... it is about Indian women, all Indian women, Hunjan said to me, sobbing like a child. On the day, that we, Indias women, were chilled to our bone by the video, a parliamentarian accused of sexual abuse got bail unopposed by Delhi Police, and a rape convict, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, got parole, yet again. Manipur and the viral video should concern us all. And the beginning of rebuilding the trust among people in the state is Presidents Rule. Barkha Dutt is an award-winning journalist and author. The views expressed are personal Elon Musks Twitter will soon impose a limit on the number of direct messages (DM) that an unverified account can send on the platform. In an announcement Saturday, Twitter said that the new update is being introduced to cut down on the spam in DMs. Earlier, Musk had also temporarily limited the number of tweets that users can view each day to to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation'.(REUTERS) "We'll soon be implementing some changes in our effort to reduce spam in Direct Messages. Unverified accounts will have daily limits on the number of DMs they can send," the company said. However, those availing the services of paid Twitter will have no daily restrictions for DMs. The move is the latest by the company to encourage people to sign up for Twitter Blue. Twitter hasnt revealed detailed information about the limits it plans to impose. This comes a week after the microblogging site rolled out a feature which restricted unverified accounts from texting users who dont follow them. This helped reduce spam in Direct Messages by 70 per cent as against the previous week, Twitter announced on Saturday. Earlier, Musk had also temporarily limited the number of tweets that users can view each day to to address extreme levels of data scraping and system manipulation. Unverified accounts can read up to 800 posts and verified accounts can scroll through up to 10,000 tweets. The company also disallowed users from seeing tweets or comments on the web unless they were logged in to an account, a move which was ultimately scrapped earlier this month. Twitter has been embroiled in controversies ever since Musk acquired the social media giant for $44 billion in October 2022. Twitter Blue is Musk's attempt to expand its profits from beyond advertising. For individuals in India, the web service is available for a monthly fee of 650 while it costs 900 on mobile devices. Brands can sign up for a 'Verified for Organisations' programme, whose subscription starts at $1,000 per month. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Google is the dream destination to work for every professional in India and abroad. The aspirants leave no stone unturned to get a shot at working with one of the top technology giants. But what should you do if your efforts are not enough to get your resume noticed by the recruiters at Google? A former recruiter has now listed the red flags in a resume which can ruin your chances at your dream company. Nolan Church has worked at the talent acquisition in companies like Google. Currently serving as the chief executive officer of talent marketplace Continuum, Church has a list of do's and don'ts for the aspirants. Church has a piece of advice for those writing their resumes for Google. Speaking to CNBC, he warned the applicants against spelling mistakes, stretching CVs to more than two pages and mentioning vague skills without providing evidence. If your application is not being considered by recruiters at Google, it's time to work on your resume.(AP file) Church warned against text bricks on the resumes, which refers to endless text having lot of words but not enough content. For him, such CVs have zero chances of going forward. Another important advice is to make sure that each job title has just one-line description, and not long sentences. Church says a lot of communication at workplaces happens over email and platform Slack. If the aspirants cannot effectively describe what they have been doing in their career, there is no way they would be able to communicate in the workplace. He also suggested using tools like ChatGPT or Grammarly for making sentences shorter, grammatically correct with the right punctuation. He also suggested to get the resume reviewed by at least five to 10 people before sending it across. Finally, he suggests drafting the resume for a 10-second viewership, the time which the recruiter has to dedicate to the application. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR HT News Desk Follow the latest breaking news and developments from India and around the world with Hindustan Times' newsdesk. From politics and policies to the economy and the environment, from local issues to national events and global affairs, we've got you covered. ...view detail Growing up, so many wish to one day travel the world and experience different cultures and see various countries. For Aditi Tripathi that dream came true even before she turned 10. The Indian-origin girl, presently staying in the UK, has already visited most places in Europe and even travelled to India, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. What's interesting is that thanks to her parents, she did all this without jeopardising her education or missing school. The image shows 10-year-old Aditi with her dad Deepak Tripathi. (Facebook/Deepak Tripathi) How do her parents plan their travel? Aditis parents, 43-year-old Deepak and 36-year-old Avilasha, are both accountants by profession, reports the Metro. The duo wants to give their child an amazing experience in life without her having to sacrifice her studies. So, they make sure to travel during school holidays and national holidays. With careful planning, they have taken Aditi to over 50 countries even before she turned 10 years old. As per Metro, her parents pay nearly 20k (approximately over 21 lakhs) a year on travel. How do they save money for travel? The family saves money throughout the year by avoiding eating out and not owning a car, reports the Mirror. Also, her parents work from home to avoid the costs of commuting. The image shows 10-year-old Aditi in one of her trips. (Facebook/@Deepak Tripathi) How is travelling helping Aditi? Her dad explains: "She gets curious and excited seeing different cultures like in Nepal, India and Thailand. We started travelling with her when she was in nursery age three and she used to go to school for two and a half days per week. Now we pick her up straight from school on Friday and we take late night flights back at around 11pm on Sunday. Sometimes we have arrived on the Monday morning, and she goes straight to school from the airport. Travelling has helped her make more friends and has made her more confident, Deepak told the Mirror. What did Aditi say about her incredible journey? I don't have a specific favourite country or place but if I had to choose three it would be Nepal, Georgia, Armenia. Nepal was probably been one of my favourites because I did horse riding, I went on the longest cable car, and I could see mountains like Mount Everest, the little one told the Mirror. I really love travelling and have loads of fun memories. I would recommend it to other children because it can really help with your social skills, she added. The image shows 10-year-old Aditi and her parents. Till now, she has travelled to over 50 countries. (Facebook/@Deepak Tripathi) On June 25, Deepak also took to Facebook to share a post about Aditi reaching a huge milestone by completing her visit to 50 countries. We had set a target for our daughter to visit 50 countries before she turned 10 and I feel immensely proud at reaching this milestone two weeks before her 10th birthday. Due to personal circumstances, my wife could not travel with us on this occasion, so it was just me and my daughter travelling to Romania, Moldova and San Marino for a total duration of 9 days, he wrote. In the next few lines, he explained about their journey in detail. He also posted a series of images showing Aditi enjoying herself. Take a look at the post showing Aditi and her dad visiting different places in Europe How did Facebook users react to Aditi visiting 50 countries? Netizens couldnt contain their excitement and shared how Aditis journey left them happy. Many reacted by sharing Amazing in the comments section. Some also posted heart emoticons. This is great, wrote a Facebook user. Good achievement, shared another. Darun [Superb], posted a third. What are your thoughts on the 10-year-old visiting 50 countries? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Reddit is a platform that people often use to ask questions or seek suggestions from netizens. This user of the platform did the same and asked if a salary of 40,000 per month is enough to survive in Bengaluru along with her mother. Her post soon captured peoples attention and received several positive reactions. What are your thoughts on the woman's Bengaluru-related Reddit post (representational image). (Unsplash/@vishwanth07) Can a daughter along with her single mother survive in Bangalore on a salary of 40k? she wrote as the title of her post. In the next few lines, she described her question in detail. My father has not been in the picture since I was 5, now after completing my education from my hometown and working from home for 2 years, my organisation is stressing on returning to office and to do so i would have to move to Bangalore along with my mother. I am s*** scared because my mom has recovered from severe medical illness but has been stable for 3 years. I am so scared to burst this comfort bubble and move there thinking what if things turn out bad? But moving to Bangalore is very crucial for me in my career at this point. I know I have to eventually do so but any related experience or tips will be helpful. Thank you, she wrote. Also Read: Bengaluru woman makes 1 kg Kimchi for tenant as a welcome gift Take a look at this Bengaluru-related Reddit post: Netizens quickly came to the Redditors aid and shared several comments. Many encouraged the original poster and expressed how the amount is more than enough to survive in the city. A few also shared their own stories. What did Reddit users say about surviving in Bengaluru on 40,000? My pay was considerably lower than yours. Mom stayed in hometown and took care of the family with her very low pay. And I took care of myself & saved up money. Income of both mom & mine wouldn't reach 40k. So you're good to go. It all depends on tiny financial choices & how we want to live. (You might say I was in a shared flat, which makes my rent lower. But then again mom too was paying rent in hometown), shared a Reddit user. Just go with the flow, it's totally sufficient, don't rely on those people posting 24lpa isn't sufficient to live in Bangalore, suggested another. Yes. You just have to get your priorities right. If anyone says it's not enough, don't ever talk to such people again, added a third. You can. 40k is enough (I'd argue that it's more than enough) to survive in Bangalore, you just gotta know where to look for things, wrote a fourth. The post was shared a day ago. Since being posted, it has gathered close to 700 upvotes and the numbers are increasing. What are your thoughts on the question asked by a Reddit user about sustaining in Bengaluru with a monthly salary of 40,000? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police believe that the international student from India who was murdered in the Greater Toronto Area during the course of a violent carjacking recently was lured by his attackers on the pretext of placing a food order. International student from India Gurvinder Nath who died from injuries sustained during a carjacking in the GTA earlier this month (Peel Regional Police) Gurvinder Nath, 24, originally from Nawanshahr district in Punjab, was violently assaulted and robbed of his vehicle on July 9, while responding to delivery call in the town of Mississauga. Nath, who was studying business at the Loyalist College in Toronto, succumbed to the injuries sustained on July 14. That episode has shocked the Indo-Canadian community in the region, as many work part-time in similar occupations and face similar hazards. Given the outpouring of support and anger over the killing, community members are holding a candlelight vigil in his memory on Saturday evening. Jaswinder Meelu, a family friend, said, It (the murder) has caused a shock. There has been quite a lot of discussion on this. Peel Regional Police or PRP described Nath as an innocent victim and said investigators have reason to believe there are multiple suspects involved and that the food order was placed as a means of luring the driver to the area. They have also identified a vehicle that may have been used the suspects. The unidentified suspects fled the scene in the victims vehicle leaving him by the side of the road with life-threatening injuries. Naths cousin Balram Krishan has started an online fundraiser for his family which raised nearly CA$97,000 as of Friday evening. Krishan described Nath as a hardworking individual who was simply trying to make a living but fell victim to a horrifying act of violence while working. His father wanted to travel to Canada to take back the victims body but was unable to get a visa in time. Naths remains are expected to be flown back to India on Thursday. Naths case has become a flashpoint for the increase in violent crime in the GTA, Meelu said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The following suspects were sentenced in Platte County District Court this week. Jamie R. Kluck, 42, of Monroe, was sentenced by District Court Judge Jason M. Bergevin after pleading guilty to DUI - alcohol, third offense, a Class W misdemeanor. Kluck was sentenced on July 20, 2023, to 300 days in the Platte County Jail, had her probation revoked, was ordered to pay $858 in fines and court costs; had her Nebraska driver's license revoked for 15 years; and was ordered to install an interlock device onto her vehicles when her license is reinstated. Kluck received 22 days credit for time she has already spent in the county jail. Also sentenced on July 20 by Bergevin was Jerod A. Rose, 22, of Duncan, after he pleaded guilty to Domestic assault, threatening an intimate partner with imminent bodily injury, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Rose was sentenced to 90 days in the Platte County Jail, with credit for 37 days he had already been incarcerated; placed on two years of supervised probation; and ordered to pay $1,001. 88 in court fines and fees. Judge Bergevin also sentenced on July 20, 2023, Cody R. Granfield, 37, of Hoskins, who had pleaded guilty to assault by mutual consent, a Class II misdemeanor. Granfield was sentenced to a term of 90 days in the Platte County Jail, with credit for one day already incarcerated. Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who claimed to be kidnapped after calling 911 about a child wandering on a highway, has lost her job at a spa in Birmingham. Alabama nursing student Carlee Russell.(Hoover Police Department) Stuart Rome, the owner of the Woodhouse spa, quoted The New York Post that Russell was fired and that her former co-workers were outraged by her dubious story. Rome said his staff was shocked and worried when they heard that Russell had gone missing and did everything they could to help find her. They were devastated, thinking that one of their co-workers was abducted, he said. They had to work on Saturday, which was the busiest day of the week, and in their spare time they distributed flyers and other things. But since Russell reappeared, police have revealed that she had searched online for bus fares and movies about the kidnapping on the day she vanished, raising doubts about her account. Her co-workers sympathy also turned into anger. ALSO READ| Alabama's missing teen Carlee Russell had searched for amber alerts & abduction-related info on internet As more information came out that there were some questionable things, weve been very pissed off, mainly because so many people spent so much time searching, Rome said. He added that the spa has been receiving nasty messages and negative reviews on social media because of its connection to Russell. Weve been trying to delete things for the last day, he said. Comments. I had to disable my comment section on Instagram and Facebook, which hurts us because we do a lot of marketing there. Were just trying to keep the doors open. Russell, 25, told a dispatcher at 9:34 p.m. on July 13 that she had seen a child wearing a T-shirt and diaper walking barefoot along a busy Hoover, Alabama highway. Alabama woman's alleged kidnapping saga unravels.(Twitter/@HooverPD) She said she would stay there until police arrived but then disappeared for two days before returning home and claiming that she had been kidnapped and held captive. Police found her red Mercedes-Benz, cellphone, and wig at the scene but no sign of Russell or a missing child. Her mother, Talitha Russell, told NBCs Today show Tuesday that her daughter had fought for her life to escape her captors - but Police Chief Nick Derzis said his investigators have been unable to verify most of Carlees initial statement. The 25-year-old alleged that she was forced into a car and then a truck by a man who blindfolded her. She said she was then taken to a house where a woman gave her cheese crackers, according to Derzis. She told detectives that she eventually escaped and ran through the woods back to her neighborhood. Before she went missing, Russell searched online for information about Amber Alerts, the Liam Neeson movie Taken and bus tickets to Nashville leaving the day she disappeared, officials said. She also posted some strange tweets before calling 911. ALSO READ| Carlee Russell was quite active on Twitter for 40 minutes before 911 call Yeah I want a family now, she wrote about 15 minutes before contacting police. Earlier, she tweeted: Today was a GREAT day God be looking out Im telling you!! and someone to tell you I love you and dont got a reason. Her former boss said that if her story is proven to be a hoax, people will be less willing to help the next time someone goes missing. I think it erodes faith for the next time, it erodes faith when people see somebody whos been abducted and theyve been put through this, he said. Theyre not going to respond like they did, which is the worst part. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A man who claims to know who killed Tupac Shakur had his house raided by cops this week and .40 caliber ammo seized the same kind used to shoot the rapper, a search warrant shows. FILE - Rapper Tupac Shakur attends a voter registration event in South Central Los Angeles, Aug. 15, 1996. Authorities in Nevada confirmed Tuesday, July 18, 2023, that they served a search warrant this week in connection with the long-unsolved killing of the late rapper Shakur. (AP Photo/Frank Wiese, File)(AP) Sources quoted The New York Post that ex-gang member Duane Keith Davis could still face charges for the 1996 Vegas murder of the rapper, who says his nephew Orlando Anderson was the shooter. Retired LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) detective Greg Kading, who investigated Tupacs death and his rap rival Notorious B.I.G.s, told The Post he was pleasantly surprised when Vegas cops executed a search warrant at Davis house on Monday. The point is it shows Las Vegas PD is proactively investigating this. They dont want this to go down in history as an unsolved case. They want to close it once and for all, Kading said. The search warrant showed cops took computers, laptops, iPads, and .40 caliber cartridge from the home, as well as photos that could show Davis involvement with the LA gang South Side Compton Crips. ALSO READ| They were in shock, disbelief: Alleged Gilgo Beach killer Rex Heuermanns wife, kids living in a hotel Davis said he was in a white Cadillac with Anderson and two others as they shot at Tupacs car on the Vegas strip on Sept. 7. 1996. Davis said Anderson shot Tupac, affiliated with rival LA gang the Bloods, as the rapper hung out of a BMW and flirted with women in a nearby car. Tupac was hit with four bullets and died six days later. Death Row Records CEO Suge Knight, who was driving their car, was only grazed but never said who the gunman was. Kading said Davis made a proffer agreement with LAPD for his statement on Tupacs murder where he stated his nephew shot the rapper. Kading said Anderson shot Tupac in retaliation for being attacked by him and his Death Row entourage at the MGM Grand just before the shooting. Kading explained Davis original proffer does not provide immunity, and Davis could still be charged for any statements he makes outside of that agreement. Over the years, Davis has done interviews, TV specials and self-published a memoir titled Compton Street Legends. A home searched by Las Vegas police is seen on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in neighboring Henderson, Nev. The property was searched Monday, July 17, in connection with the 1996 drive-by shooting of rapper Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)(AP) Cops who searched Davis house hoped to also find manuscripts and notes related to the book, which could be in the laptops taken on Monday. Everything that he has said outside of that original proffer is not protected, so everything he has said publicly is self-incriminating evidence, Kading said. Nevada does not have a statute of limitations on murder cases, Kading said. I am pleasantly surprised because it shows that Las Vegas still cares about bringing closure to this case, he said. Anderson denied any involvement in Tupacs assassination and was never charged. He was killed in May 1998 in another gang shootout aged 23 Davis is the only surviving witness among the four men who shot at Tupacs car, Kading said. Investigators and prosecutors could be collecting evidence to present to a Grand Jury, which would decide whether to indict Davis for the 1996 murder. On Thursday, a man who answered the door of the Henderson, Nevada home where the warrant was served said he did not know Davis or his wife. Don Sansouci, who lives on the quiet desert suburban block, said he watched as police and SWAT arrested a man and a woman from the home Monday night. I went to bed and my wife woke up and said, There were cop cars everywhere, Sansouci said. Police kept saying, The occupants of 2204, come out with your hands up! They didnt say any names. They repeated that for the next five to 10 minutes. Finally, someone did come out and he was yellin at them. Sansouci said a woman also was arrested by cops. He said he was shocked to hear the arrests could be linked to the Shakur cold case. It is very shocking to me because its literally so close to home, but Im happy to see that Las Vegas Metro is still working hard on the case, Sansouci said. Patrick Carter, who lives a few doors from the home where the warrant was served, said nothing like that has happened in the years they have lived on the quiet block. He also was shocked to hear that the occupants of that home could be connected to Tupacs murder. ALSO READ| Carlee Russell who lied about being kidnapped loses her job at spa, co-workers pissed off It is a very quiet neighborhood. When you think about it, it is a good place to hide, he said. Shakurs stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, told CNN he and his family have been frustrated since Davis name has been floated in connection to the murder for decades. This theory hasnt been looked into for 27 years, Mopreme Shakur said. Why? My familys been traumatized, my sister, my daughter, my nieces, my nephews, weve all been traumatized, waiting. Weve been waiting for something to happen, for someone to be proactive enough to take action. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a move that could turn his federal courtroom drama into a blockbuster spectacle, former President Donald Trump is demanding cameras be allowed in if he faces indictment for January 6 election fraud charges. As the trial date for the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case is set for May 20, 2024, Trump's legal team is preparing for the high-stakes legal battle while he continues to engage in political feuds on Truth Social. Former President Donald Trump(AP) With a potential grand jury indictment looming, the former president is gearing up for a fight that could shake the political landscape. Trial Set for May 20, 2024 The gavel is set to drop on May 20, 2024, for Donald Trump's trial in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. With just six months before the presidential election, the stakes couldn't be higher. Judge Aileen Cannon issued the order, and the clock is ticking as the date approaches. Also read | Is Donald Trump's January 6 speech enough to indict him? Legal experts comment. Here's all you need to know Bullying rivals and bracing for indictment In the midst of legal battles, Donald Trump is keeping busy on Truth Social, taking aim at his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination. Ron DeSantis, Chris Christie, Asa Hutchinson, and others have found themselves on the receiving end of Trump's digital tirades. But it's not just political sparring; Trump is also bracing for an imminent grand jury indictment related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his role in inciting the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. While the courtroom drama unfolds, Donald Trump's new attorney is making a bold request: cameras in court. If the former president faces trial for his alleged election interference, his legal team wants the world to witness the proceedings. Whether it's for transparency or theatrics, the request adds another twist to an already gripping legal saga. Also read | Donald Trump's classified documents trial date set for May. Pleas for political postponement amid 2024 election fail Legal maneuvers As the trial date draws near, Trump's legal team is making last-minute efforts to block investigations into his actions surrounding the 2020 election. A motion has been filed to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office from further investigating the former president's activities in Georgia. The case has been reassigned outside of Fulton County, stirring debates over the potential impact on the proceedings. A massive explosion rocked a Newark Housing Authority property in Newark, New Jersey, causing a devastating building collapse that sent shockwaves through the neighborhood. The incident, which occurred shortly after 6 pm on Friday, left residents in disbelief as they witnessed the destruction that unfolded before their eyes. Authorities respond to a building collapse near the single digit block of Pine Street in the Steven Crane Housing Development in Newark, New Jersey.(Getty) Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene as the building exploded, sending debris flying up to 600 feet away. The force of the blast knocked residents off their feet, shattered doors from their hinges, and reduced walls to mere shreds. The impact was so intense that glass and windows were sent flying, adding to the trail of destruction. Victims Rushed to Hospital As emergency responders arrived at the scene, they found residents in a state of shock and distress. Some were injured and in need of immediate medical attention. At least five people were rushed to local hospitals, with one victim suffering serious burns and currently in critical condition. The cause of the explosion remains unknown, but authorities are actively investigating the incident. Support and Investigation Underway Newark Public Safety director, Fritz Frage, addressed the situation, assuring residents that immediate assistance was being provided. The City of Newark is offering temporary residential stays to those affected, ensuring they have a safe place to stay in the coming days. While firefighters continue to extinguish the remaining flames, investigators are working diligently to determine the cause of the explosion. Also read | Tent city troubles emerge in New York City as migrants seek shelter below Brooklyn-Queens Expressway amid housing crisis As the investigation unfolds, the community is left reeling from the tragic event, hoping for answers and standing in solidarity with those affected by the Newark building collapse. The truth about UFOs and extraterrestrial encounters may soon see the light of day as the House Oversight Committee gears up for a highly anticipated hearing this week. Scheduled for Wednesday, the committee is set to hear testimonies from three witnesses, including former Navy pilot Ryan Graves, ex-Navy commander David Fravor, and former U.S. intelligence officer David Grusch, all of whom claim to have experienced unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). Screengrab of the video of UFO spotted in Middletown, Ohio. Who want UFO-related information to be public? This comes as investigations into U.S. intelligence regarding UAP gain bipartisan momentum in Congress. Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer recently pushed for an amendment to the national defense bill, urging the release of UFO-related information to the public. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy also voiced his support for the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide greater transparency on UFOs. Who are the witnesses claim to have experienced unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP)? Among the witnesses set to testify, Ryan Graves, the founder of the nonprofit advocacy organization Americans for Safe Aerospace, revealed the fears and stigma associated with coming forward about UAP encounters. Many aircrew witnesses reportedly feel a "very real fear" of potential consequences for speaking up about their inexplicable experiences. Graves, who served in the U.S. Navy from 2009 to 2019, has shared details of unexplained flying objects encountered by him and his flight crews on an almost daily basis. His organization aims to empower military and commercial pilots and aircrews impacted by UAP, offering a secure system to report their experiences to the government. What do we know about the upcoming House Oversight Committee hearing? While some government officials have been tight-lipped about the upcoming hearing, House GOP members Tim Burchett and Anna Paulina Luna, leading the Oversight Committee's investigation, promised a different approach from the previous public hearing in May 2022. Unlike the "I don't know" or "that's classified" responses from Pentagon "bureaucrats," this hearing will allow witnesses to "speak frankly to the public about their experiences." The efforts to increase government transparency have garnered bipartisan support. Democratic Florida Representative Jared Moskowitz emphasized that taxpayers have the right to know where their dollars are going and that they are entitled to learn the truth about UAP. Also Read | US secret UFO documents could be declassified: What this means When will the upcoming House Oversight Committee hearing take place? Next week's hearing, scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. EST at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., promises to shed new light on the long-standing UFO mystery. The Defense Department has yet to comment on the upcoming meeting, but the establishment of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) last summer indicates a growing interest in reviewing UAP cases. With 650 cases of reported UAP currently under examination by AARO, the quest for answers continues. The safety and security of military personnel and installations remain a priority, but the search for scientific evidence to unravel the UFO enigma marches forward. As the historic hearing draws near, the nation eagerly anticipates revelations that may finally bring the truth about UFOs and extraterrestrial encounters to the forefront of public awareness. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In a fiery exchange that has left tongues wagging, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has found herself in hot water after displaying sexually explicit but censored photos of Hunter Biden during a congressional hearing. The controversial move has prompted Hunter Biden's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, to file an ethics complaint against the Georgia Republican. The lawyer demands that the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) take action, accusing Greene of violating House Ethics rules and standards of official conduct. People watch as US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) holds up a graphic photo of Hunter Biden during the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing regarding the criminal investigation into the Bidens, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC,(AFP) Controversy at the oversight committee hearing During a House Oversight Committee hearing, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene raised eyebrows as she exhibited photographs of Hunter Biden engaged in graphic sexual acts with alleged prostitutes. The purpose was to question whether Hunter had violated the federal Mann Act of 1910. The act prohibits the transportation of women across state lines for immoral purposes, including prostitution and debauchery. As Greene displayed the images, some lawmakers expressed concern over their appropriateness for public viewing. Also read | The GOP shows porn,' Marjorie Taylor Greene stuns Congress with explicit Hunter Biden photos at whistleblower hearing Hunter Biden's lawyer takes action Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden's lawyer, has penned a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics, urging them to condemn and discipline Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for her actions. Lowell argues that Greene's behavior has brought disrepute to the House of Representatives and violated House Ethics rules. He accuses her of using the hearing as a platform for fundraising and generating online attention at the expense of harassing and embarrassing Hunter Biden. Political stunt or serious inquiry? US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) holds up a graphic photo of Hunter Biden during the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability hearing regarding the criminal investigation into the Bidens, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC,(Twitter) While Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has defended her actions as an attempt to shed light on potential wrongdoing by Hunter Biden, critics have labeled it a political stunt. The images were obtained from Hunter Biden's infamous abandoned laptop, adding another layer of controversy to the debate. As calls for accountability grow louder, the Office of Congressional Ethics will review the complaint and determine whether further action is warranted. Also read | FBI confirms to Twitter Hunter Biden laptop's authenticity during New York Post scoop, official reveal The outcome of this investigation may reshape the boundaries of congressional conduct and serve as a precedent for future hearings. Prominent Russian pro-war blogger Igor Girkin who criticized president Vladimir Putin and his invasion in Ukraine was arrested as Kremlins patience with dissent grows thinner in the wake of the Wagner group's rebellion last month. Igor Girkin is a former KGB officer who helped Russia seize Crimea and was convicted of mass murder for his role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in eastern Ukraine. He was arrested from his home in Moscow by security agents and charged with extremist activity", Reuters reported. Igor Girkin (Strelkov), the former top military commander of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" and nationalist blogger.(AFP) He co-founded an ultra-nationalist political group called the Angry Patriots Club. Russia was on the cusp of very grave internal political changes of a catastrophic character", he said, adding that if Vladimir Putin is not ready to take the leadership over the creation of war-ready conditions in Russia then he really needs to transfer the powers, but legally, to someone who is capable of such hard work. Igor Girkin called the president a lowlife and a cowardly bum saying, For 23 years, the country was led by a lowlife who managed to blow dust in the eyes of a significant part of the population. Now he is the last island of legitimacy and stability of the state. But the country will not be able to withstand another six years of this cowardly bum in power. His wife Miroslava Reginskaya said that he was taken away to an unknown direction. The Meshchansky Court of Moscow said, Strelkov is charged with Part 2 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public calls for extremist activity)." If found guilty, Girkin could be sentenced to up to 5 years in prison. Ukraines defense intelligence claimed that his arrest signals that there could be growing disputes within the Kremlin. The issue is not with Girkin himself, who has never acted as an independent figure before. Neither have many other military correspondents or military bloggers, or members of Girkins group. These are not independent figures, a representative for Ukraines defense intelligence said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Investigators reportedly believe alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann may have killed his victims inside his Massapequa Park home in Long Island, New York, when his wife and children were away. Officials have been taking away potential evidence from his home after his arrest. Items recently pulled out include a large doll in a glass case, a large portrait of a woman with a bruised face and a filing cabinet, Associated Press reported. Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has been making headlines ever since he was arrested (Suffolk County Sheriff's Office/Handout via REUTERS) "In the coming days, as we continue to gather evidence, anything is possible," an investigator said, according to CBS. "We're looking for potential trophies, souvenirs, jewelry, anything that could be attached to the four women or other women that he might have been involved with," another investigator said. Rex Heuermann may have killed women inside his home A source close to the investigation has now told CNN that the suspect may have brought victims to the Long Island home and killed them while his family was away. The disappearances reportedly coincided with those times. The source also said that committing the crimes at home would have allowed Rex to control the situation. It would have also allowed him to use materials like tape and burlap bags, which were found at the crime scene. Investigators had kept an eye on Rexs home since this spring, it has been reported. He had an arsenal in a vault Rex reportedly had an 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. Rex, 59, was caught by plainclothes cops as he strolled down a Midtown sidewalk on Thursday night, July 13. Rex had worked in Midtown for several years at his own company, RH Architecture. He is on suicide watch at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility. 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. Joe Biden chose Admiral Lisa Franchetti for the position of the country's top Navy officer marking the first time a woman will hold the position in US history. She is also the first woman in the joint chiefs of staff, CNN reported. As our next Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti will bring 38 years of dedicated service to our nation as a commissioned officer, including in her current role of Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Joe Biden said. Lisa Franchetti: US president Joe Biden has chosen Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy.(AP) Throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas. She is the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and when confirmed, she will again make history as the first woman to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he added. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the nomination will ensure that our US Navy and the joint force in the Indo-Pacific remain the finest military force that the world has ever known, and will be at the very heart of our work to project power around the world, defend freedom of the seas, and uphold the rules-based international order." Who is Lisa Franchetti? Lisa Franchetti is currently serving as the vice chief of naval operations. She was commissioned in 1985 and has served as the commander of US Naval Forces Korea, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, and director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff. She has also commanded two carrier strike groups. She became the Vice CNO in September 2022. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The brain fog symptom associated with long Covid is equivalent to ageing 10 years, researchers suggested. A study by Kings College London investigated the impact of Covid-19 on memory and found that cognitive impairment was the highest in individuals who had symptoms for more than three months. The study was published by The Lancet. An illustration of the novel coronavirus seen next to a health care worker at a Covid-19 testing centre in New Delhi. The fact remains that two years on from their first infection, some people dont feel fully recovered and their lives continue to be impacted by the long-term effects of the coronavirus. We need more work to understand why this is the case and what can be done to help, Claire Steves, a professor of ageing and health at Kings College, said. The study included more than 5,100 participants from the Covid Symptom Study Biobank and were reached out through a smartphone app. Using 12 cognitive tests that measured speed and accuracy, researchers examined working memory, attention, reasoning and motor controls between two periods- 2021 and 2022. In the first cohort of 3,335 participants during July and August 2021, researchers found lower cognitive scores in individuals with positive Covid-19 infections. The deficits were comparable to the effect of an increase in age of approximately 10 years, or exhibiting mild or moderate symptoms of psychological distress, it found. The study found no cognitive impairment for individuals who reported full recovery from coronavirus, studys lead author Dr Nathan Cheetham said. This study shows the need to monitor those people whose brain function is most affected by Covid-19 to see how their cognitive symptoms continue to develop and provide support towards recovery, Dr Nathan Cheetham explained. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON 9 2023 : 480 . . 300 700 . 1945 , Fat Man () . , 70.000-90.000 80.000. 1950 : . 1954 20 , . 1974 . 1979 . Israeli forces on Saturday shot and killed a Palestinian in disputed circumstances in the northern West Bank the latest in an ongoing surge of violence that has gripped the region. The car in which the Palestinian teen was killed(Reuters) The Israeli army said in a statement that two Palestinian men tried to drive a car into soldiers at Sebastia near the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, around midnight, but the claim could not be verified. Soldiers opened fire, killing one and wounding the other. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the young man killed as Fawzi Makhalfeh, 18. Palestinian media quoted the victims family as saying the two did not target soldiers but that they were ambushed while driving and their car was riddled with bullets. The mayor of Sebastia, Mohammad Azem, said he was one of the first to arrive at the scene. He described a bloody carnage, with more than fifty bullet holes in the chassis. He was a university student," Azem said, "it was just so brutal. Local media reported that Makhalfeh had just passed his high school exams and was in good spirits before the shooting. The shooting came hours after a 17-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire elsewhere in the West Bank. The spiral of violence, which shows no signs of abating, is one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in years. More than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023 in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by The Associated Press. Violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel expanded near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Israel says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting army raids and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state. In a twist of fate, President Biden has defied a shocking prediction he made three decades ago. During a 1991 speech at the Detroit College of Law, then-Senator Biden confidently proclaimed that he would be "dead and gone" by 2020. Fast forward to today, and he stands as the oldest sitting US President, proving that life can be full of unexpected surprises. Senator Biden predicted that he would be dead by 2020 in his 1991 Detroit College speech. Speech on Supreme Court Justices Back in 1991, Joe Biden addressed law students on the crucial role of selecting Supreme Court justices. He emphasized that their decisions would have a lasting impact on the country, long after many political figures were forgotten. Little did he know that he himself would become one of the central figures in American politics. Senator Biden said, If Justice [David] Souter lives, God willing, as long as the average age of the court now, hell be making landmark decisions in the year 2020. Ill be dead and gone in all probability. Despite defying his own prophecy, President Biden's age has become a topic of concern for some. As he approaches his 81st birthday in November, questions about his physical and mental fitness have arisen. If he secures victory in the 2024 election, he would be 86 by the end of his second term, raising valid queries about his ability to serve. New York Post shared the video of his speech. Slip-ups and stumbles Throughout his presidency, Biden has experienced a few public gaffes that have raised eyebrows. From mistakenly saying "God save the Queen" at the end of a speech on gun control to appearing in a low-power state during a conversation with an international leader, his verbal slips have drawn attention. Additionally, physical stumbles on the stairs and a hard fall during a graduation commencement have fueled speculation about his well-being. Also read | What is the President saying? Joe Biden's odd remarks leave White House staff scratching their heads- Report CPAP and near-fatal health incidents In a surprising revelation, the White House disclosed that Biden is dealing with sleep apnea and relies on a CPAP machine to aid his breathing during sleep. This added to the public's concerns about his health. Furthermore, it was revealed that Biden had suffered two near-fatal brain hemorrhages in the 1980s, underscoring the potential impact of his medical history. While Biden has certainly defied his own prophecy from the past, the reality of his age and health conditions remains an important aspect of his presidency. As the nation watches closely, the focus remains on his ability to lead and govern effectively in these challenging times. Also read | Biden's bailout blues! President's new pricey student loan relief plan rings in at $475 billion, ignites debates (Source: New York Post) Jamaica's prime minister Andrew Holness vowed to complete his efforts to end monarchy in the country but insisted that Prince William and Kate Middleton are always welcome to return to the Caribbean island despite facing protests during a controversial royal tour last year. Kate Middleton Prince William: Britain's Kate, Princess of Wales, and Prince William, Prince of Wales, in London.(AP) They are always welcome to visit, he said, praising the royals, while suggesting he would have liked to end the monarchy when the Queen died. I think there was always a strong love and respect for the Queen in Jamaica. The appropriate time to do it would have been on a transition, Andrew Holness said. He insisted he had public support, continuing, The truth is the recent polls have shown there is a tendency towards Jamaica becoming a republic. So over time the position has evolved. Earlier, a poll showed that 49 per cent of Jamaicans supported becoming a republic while 40 per cent in favour of remaining a monarchy and 11 per cent undecided. Jamaica is one of eight Caribbean nations that have retained their historic ties to the British monarchy. The three-time prime minister said, We have started the journey. We have set indicative timelines. We would have wanted to be able to do this within a year but the process is not a linear one. So we are on the journey of public education. Then we will have a legislative element where we will table legislation which will have to sit in Parliament before it is passed for six months and then we will have to have a referendum. Without sharing a timeline for when Jamaica will become a republic, he said, It all depends on how fast the process is. We intended to have at least passed the legislation a year from when we announced the formation, the start, of our constitutional reform process. But that has obviously been elongated because we had to engage in a long period of public education and public consultation. Earlier Jamaica's minister for legal and constitutional affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte criticised King Charles, saying, A lot of Jamaicans had warm affection and identified with Queen Elizabeth II. When Jamaica became independent, Queen Elizabeth was already on the throne. But They do not identify with King Charles. He is as foreign as it gets to us. Plain and simple." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lady Colin Campbell, a well-known royal insider and vocal critic of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has recently spoken out, warning that the former senior royals are headed for heartbreak. In a new series of comments, she expressed her concerns about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, claiming that they are "sloshing around" in a "pond of destructiveness," facing uncertainty in both their personal and professional lives. FILE - Meghan Markle, and her husband Prince Harry arrive to the observatory in One World Trade in New York, Thursday, Sept. 23, 2021. After months of speculation about whether they would be invited to the coronation, the palace announced that Harry would attend but Meghan would remain in California with their two children.(AP) Lady Colin Campbell shared her thoughts in a video uploaded to her YouTube channel, where she addressed various issues surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She criticized the couple for their reputation of negativity and their tendency to play games with each other, pulling the public into their drama as onlookers. "We have to be wary of the fact that we are dealing with a couple whose primary objective is each other," Campbell asserted. "Therefore, they play games with each other, and we are roped in as onlookers." She further emphasized that their behavior, despite their grandeur and demands of relevance, lacks self-respect, in her opinion. Campbell also pointed out that the negativity surrounding the couple has its supporting cast and victim, making their ongoing drama seriously convoluted and disturbing. She cited their public behavior from 2020 to the present as examples of this troubling trend. Addressing a fan's statement, Lady Colin Campbell highlighted Prince Harry's decision to participate in projects like the Netflix series "Harry & Meghan" before Queen Elizabeth's death. According to a June 2023 article by The Daily Beast, a friend of the Queen revealed that during the monarch's final months of life, Prince Harry's behavior caused her immense pain and hurt. "For Harry to announce he was writing a memoir when his grandmother was not just recently widowed but actually dying herself. The cruelty of it takes the breath away," the source was quoted as saying to The Daily Beast. Campbell also expressed her belief that Prince Harry is in denial about Meghan Markle's reported actions. She stated that Harry willingly allowed Meghan to take control of both their personal and professional lives, and from the beginning of their relationship, he seemed content with her being at the helm. The royal insider suggested that the couple's dynamic of "drama and control" may eventually contribute to the potential downfall of their marriage. She believes that they are like "two sides of a coin" that often flip for control and drama. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday that the bridge linking the Crimea peninsula to Russia "brings war not peace" and was therefore a military target. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky(AFP) Explosions on the Crimea bridge on Monday killed two civilians and put part of the road bridge out of service, which had only recently returned to full operation after being severely damaged in a similar attack in October. Ukraine welcomed Monday's attack, but officials did not directly claim responsibility, and Moscow blamed Ukraine. Crimea was annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014 and Kyiv wants to reclaim it as it fights back against Russia's 17-month-long full-scale invasion. The road and rail bridge, built by Russia and brought into service in 2018 was "not just a logistical road", said Zelensky, speaking by video link to the Aspen security conference in the United States. "This is the route used to feed the war with ammunition and this is being done on a daily basis. And it militarises the Crimean peninsula," Zelensky said in comments heard through an interpreter. "For us, this is understandably an enemy facility built outside international laws and all applicable norms. So, understandably, this is a target for us. And a target that is bringing war, not peace, has to be neutralised." Zelensky, answering questions from a moderator, denied any link between the attack and Russia's withdrawal this week from a U.N.-backed deal to export grain from Ukrainian ports. Russia, he said, had hindered the operation of the grain corridor from the very start. "And later, they took this situation around the Crimea bridge, using it just as an example," he said. "If not the Crimea bridge, they would have found another example, another reason." The Ukrainian military's long-anticipated counteroffensive, launched last month, had taken time to prepare as Russian occupying forces had set up several defensive lines and extensively mined Ukrainian territory, Zelensky said. The president repeated a previous assessment that the counteroffensive has been moving more slowly that he would like. The campaign has so far focused on capturing villages in the south and retaking areas seized by Russia in recent months in the east. "Ukraine is not backtracking. It is progressively liberating its territories, which is very important," Zelensky said. Still, I believe we are approaching a moment when relevant actions can gain pace. I do understand it is better to see that victory comes sooner. This is what we want too. Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermanns wife and adult children are living in a hotel at present, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison has confirmed. Rex, 59, was caught by plainclothes cops as he strolled down a Midtown sidewalk on Thursday night, July 13. Rex had worked in Midtown for several years at his own company, RH Architecture. He is on suicide watch at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility. Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has been making headlines ever since he was arrested (Suffolk County) "They were in shock, disbelief, Rodney said of Rexs family. "We had to kind of show them some type of proof to let it be known who their father was behind the curtain," he added. "But they're cooperating. They're currently, I'm being told, in a hotel. And I just was told that the wife's filed for divorce. And she retained a lawyer and we'll see what happens next." Rex Heuermann may have killed his victims inside his Long Island home Investigators reportedly believe alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann may have killed his victims inside his Massapequa Park home in Long Island, New York, when his wife and children were away. Officials have been taking away potential evidence from his home after his arrest. Items recently pulled out include a large doll in a glass case, a large portrait of a woman with a bruised face and a filing cabinet, Associated Press reported. A source close to the investigation has now told CNN that the suspect may have brought victims to the Long Island home and killed them while his family was away. The disappearances reportedly coincided with those times. It has also been revealed that Rex made disturbing Internet searches 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. Hundreds of other searches were made about raping and torturing women, child porn and rape porn. The searches included girl begging for rape porn and torture redhead porn. There were also searches about his victims and their families. 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. A man referred to as the Easter bunny by the UK police has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for stealing almost 2,00,000 Cadbury Creme Eggs. Joby Pool, a 32-year-old individual, burglarized an industrial unit in Telford on 11 February, making off with a stolen lorry cab filled with Cadbury Creme Eggs worth over 32,00,000, reported The Guardian. Cadbury Creme eggs In a court hearing earlier, prosecutor Owen Beale stated that Joby Pool utilized a metal grinder to forcibly enter an industrial unit owned by SW Group Logistics in Stafford Park, Telford. He then proceeded to tow away the trailer that held the stash of creme eggs. According to Beale, Pool was intercepted by the police while driving northbound on the M42 in a vehicle that had been reported stolen from the Yorkshire region in October. As the officers neared him, he willingly approached them with his hands raised. This clearly wasnt spur-of-the-moment offending, if I can put it like that, because he had taken with him a tractor unit and he had to know that the load was there in the first place This is clearly an organised criminal matter. You dont just happen to learn about a trailer with that kind of value being available. Beale was quoted by The Guardian. I am pretty sure others would have been involved in this enterprise" Beale added. Shortly after apprehending the suspect, West Mercia police humorously referred to the incident on Twitter as an "eggs-travagant theft" involving a "chocolate collection box." In a previous admission, Pool, hailing from Tingley, near Leeds, confessed to being involved in theft, and matters of criminal damage. Russian president Vladimir Putin is buying time before seeking revenge against Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin over his short-lived mutiny last month, CIA director William Burns, adding that the mercenary group's uprising showed the weaknesses that Moscow has. Vladimir Putin has a carefully crafted image and it's only a matter of time before the Russian president faces further retribution for his actions, William Burns said. Russia's president Vladimir Putin(AFP) The charges against Yevgeny Prigozhin and the Wagner group were dropped under a deal brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko after which they were to relocate to Belarus. Although, the Wagner group leader hasn't been officially sighted since the end of his uprising, however, a video emerged that appeared to be filmed in Belarus. Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny "exposed weaknesses in the system that Putin has built, weaknesses that had already been laid bare by the disastrous and deeply destructive war launched in Ukraine," William Burns said. Wagner chief's criticism of the war will become more widespread among Russians as Kyiv makes advances in the war, he asserted. In the sense that if and when Ukrainians make further advances on the battlefield, I think what that's going to do is cause more and more Russians in the elite and outside the elite, to pay attention to Prigozhin's critique of the war. That's where Putin is trying to buy time as he considers what to do with Wagner and what to do with Prigozhin himself," he said. Responding to whether the Wagner group chief is in danger as US president Joe Biden suggested, William Burns said, Vladimir Putin is "the ultimate apostle of payback." So I would be surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution for this. So in that sense, [Biden] is right, I wouldn't fire my food taster, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mallika Soni When not reading, this ex-literature student can be found searching for an answer to the question, "What is the purpose of journalism in society?" ...view detail An opening ceremony of the Shusha Global Media Forum on New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution has been held, Azernews reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of the Forum and answered the questions. Addressing the event, President Ilham Aliyev said: - Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to Karabakh, welcome to Shusha. I am very glad to see you here, and thank you for accepting our invitation and participating in the Shusha Global Media Forum, which is a remarkable event for our country and, of course, for the Karabakh region. Shusha is officially a cultural capital of Azerbaijan already. But at the same time, Shusha is a symbol of our victory and also a symbol of peace. Because after Shusha was liberated, the Second Karabakh War stopped. You came here through the liberated territories. From Fuzuli Airport to Shusha, you came by the road, which later was called by us the Victory Road. This road did not exist neither during soviet times, nor during the period of occupation. This road was opened by the courage and spirit of our heroes. That is a way how we moved, liberating cities and villages, moved here to this city, which is also a symbol of our courage. Shusha already hosted several international events, including the Khari Bulbul International Music Festival, Vagifs Poetry Days, several international sporting events and now Global Media Forum. So, the city kept its identity despite the fact that it was very deliberately destroyed during the time of occupation. I prefer not to have a long speech but maybe to have more of our discussions and to address issues, which are of interest to you. So, probably I will now conclude and give floor to the moderator. Moderator: Your Excellency. First of all, wed like to express our gratitude to You for taking your time to be with us. Ladies and gentlemen, as our President mentioned his kind participation here is for the purpose of exchanging ideas in an interactive form. And now, with your permission, Mr. President, we are going to the questions from the participants. I would like to inform you that some of the questions have been collected in advance to save our time and I will read them out one by one. But dear participants, feel free to jump in with your questions at any time. Mr. President, shall we start? TRT World, Bora Bayraktar. Bora Bayraktar: Thank you very much for your invitation. I'd like to ask a question about, of course, the Karabakh victory. We know that foreign relations between two countries, the personal relations of leaders are also important and they play an important role. And we know that Your Excellency has very good relations with the Turkish President, Mr. Erdogan. This special relationship played a very important role in liberation of Karabakh. Mr. President, the President of Turkiye has won a five-year term. It means that now you have five more years together. It seems like a golden opportunity. What will be your priority in these five years in this process? I mean, what would you say we have to do together immediately? What is the first thing that you want to do with Turkiye? President Ilham Aliyev: You are absolutely right. Our personal friendship with President Erdogan, I think, is known now not only to the regional community, but also to the world. This is a really important factor of regional development and regional stability. But also I'd like to say that relations between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Turkiye are based on long-lasting friendship and brotherly ties. So, this is a great foundation for our countries to develop and support each other. From the first days, even I would say, from the first hours of the Second Karabakh War, Turkiye, its people and its leader were side by side with us. The statement of President Erdogan in the first hours of the Second Karabakh War that Azerbaijan is not alone was a great moral support to us. Throughout all the 44 days of the Second Karabakh War, we felt the support from our brothers. President Erdogan several times publicly announced the position of Turkiye. At the same time, other governmental officials also elaborated on that. So, that was a great moral and political support to Azerbaijan. After the victory in the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan and Turkiye formalized their relationship, which, actually, de facto were relations between allies. This relationship was formalized by signing the famous Shusha Declaration, which was signed a couple of 100 meters from this hotel and elevated our relations at the level of allies. This is really a big asset for our nations, for our peoples. This declaration actually opens new horizons in front of us. Though, even before that Azerbaijan and Turkiye in many areas demonstrated unity, solidarity, and mutual support. If we take the broad agenda of our cooperation, we'll see starting from political relations, energy, trade, transportation, defense, defense industry, and many other. So, it's easier to name the areas, where we are not very advanced rather than in the areas where we are closely working. I have no doubts that my brother President Erdogan will be reelected. Because what he did for Turkiye during 20 years in office is a demonstration of commitment to his people and to his country. Today, Turkiye is one of the global leaders. International influence of Turkiye is growing year after year. Of course, in Azerbaijan, it is difficult to find someone who was not happy with the results of the elections. In the coming five years, we will definitely continue our close partnership. The world is changing, the situation in the region is changing. We need to stabilize situation in the South Caucasus. We need to have sustainable peace and security for the future. The role of Turkiye in global affairs and in particular, in our region, of course, is a role of very important stabilizer. Policy of Turkiye aimed at regional security and regional development is highly appreciated in Azerbaijan and not only in Azerbaijan. As you know, President Erdogan already paid a state visit to Azerbaijan after elections. This is a tradition between us, you know. I do the same after my reelections. And also, before that participating in the inauguration ceremony, we had an opportunity to address the issues of our future cooperation. Probably, I will not disclose all what we agreed on. But I think, it will not be difficult to guess that in the coming years, Turkiye and Azerbaijan will play more important role in our region. Of course, we'll use our potential in order to bring our countries closer. Moderator: James Flue, the United States of America. James Flue: Thank you, Mr. President. My question is about threats to Azerbaijan. And what you sort of view as the most important threats to the country? President Ilham Aliyev: Well, actually, after the liberation of our territories, we don't see any potential threats to our country. Because, first of all, there are no internally generated threats. The country is stable. The level of solidarity among Azerbaijanis is high as never before. The country's economic development is very impressive. I don't want to go into details into figures, but those who are interested in that can see that Azerbaijan's economy is self-sufficient and based on our own resources and good management. So, in that respect, the oldest threats we had before was a threat coming from Armenia from its occupational policy. And that threat was here around, including in this particular place for almost 30 years. Now this threat, in general, have been managed. But of course, we must be on alert. We should not forget our past. We should not forget that we were stabbed in the back by our neighbors, when we did not expect that, and they took advantage of chaos in Azerbaijan and occupied our territories. Also, we should not forget that even now, despite the results of the Second Karabakh War, there are people in Armenia in different segments including government and in other parts of society, which live with revanchist ideas, and they do not hide it. Therefore, we must be ready for any kind of scenario. And for that purpose, right after the Second Karabakh War, despite the glorious victory, courage and spirit we demonstrated on the battlefield, we started immediately deepening reforms in the defense area. I already publicly spoke about that. Today, our army is much stronger than three years ago. This is a need, I think, which is based on our history, and also based on that, we see that international law norms are being violated brutally. Now, we see that international law is working selectively. We have faced that for many years, when we were raising our voice saying that, look, the United Nations Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding withdrawal of Armenian troops from our lands - immediate and unconditional withdrawal. But these resolutions were not implemented. So, now this tendency is spreading around. When international law doesn't work, when signature does not mean a lot, the only guarantee for peace is strength. So, having said that we cannot exclude potential threats, which may emerge in the future because situation in the world and in our region is quite unpredictable. For the time being, the level of external threats is not very high. But, probably also because of the fact that we are ready to manage those threats and to defend ourselves. Mikhail Gusman: If you will allow me, I will ask my question now. My name is Mikhail Gusman. I represent the TASS agency. Dear Mr. President! A little over a year ago, on February 23, we had the honor of welcoming you together with colleagues, some of them are here today, at the TASS agency, together with leaders of the Russian media. This was the day after you signed the Moscow Declaration with the President of Russia. More than a year has passed. The world is in a very turbulent state. After the victorious 44-day war, Azerbaijan is consistently working, but so far it has not been possible to conclude peace with Armenia. Russia is conducting a special military operation. And yet, how would you assess the development of this memorandum you signed? How is it being implemented? What are its prospects? Are there any problems in the implementation of this Memorandum, which was signed in Moscow on February 22? I will also have a second question. Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: In my opinion, the declaration signed in February last year was a milestone in Russia-Azerbaijan relations. The declaration covers the history of development of relations, which developed differently in various periods of independence and reached the level of strategic partnership just as both countries declared for long years. This was really so because if we look at the scope of work done by both countries, the two sides set a goal of strengthening relations and results-based cooperation. We know very well how deep these relations are and the scope of international is quite broad. Russia played a key role as a mediator for many years and played its part in ceasing military operations and settling the Armenia-Azerbaijan relations and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as one of such areas. We all remember those days very well. It was the Russian side that acted as a link between Armenia and Azerbaijan, I mean between the leadership of the countries, on November 9, 2020 when the trilateral statement was being coordinated. Therefore, the signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction had a solid foundation. As for the period we are going through after the signing, this period is completely new for the peace, for our region, including Russia and ourselves. But despite this, despite such a serious change in the geopolitical situation, the development of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan since the signing of the Declaration has been quite successful. There have been many contacts at the highest level, there have been contacts at the level of heads of government, ministers of foreign affairs and other representatives of governments and state bodies. Therefore, I can say with full confidence that provisions of the Declaration are being fulfilled. The most important thing is that there is political resolve at the level of the leadership. Taking the opportunity of the presence of media representatives here and the fact that you will discuss these issues tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, both cooperation and problematic issues, I would like to say that those small rough edges that we see in the Russian media in relation to Azerbaijan and in the Azerbaijani media in relation to Russia have no influence on the policy of Azerbaijan and Russia. We know this quite clearly. But this is also, as they say, a tribute to the time when media representatives are completely free in their assessments. Since the situation is changing dramatically, including our region after the Second Karabakh War, the situation in the world after the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, then, naturally, different assessments, different analyses and different opinions are inevitable. But again, taking this opportunity, I want to say that in any case, such moments do not affect the political will of the Azerbaijani leadership. Therefore, I think that the future of our relations will be as positive and successful as in previous years. Considering that you started your remarks in Azerbaijani, I think that you can ask the second question right now. Otherwise, you may never get another opportunity. Mikhail Gusman: Thank you, Mr. President. Before asking my question, I would like to express my gratitude to you personally and to the organizers of this Forum. Because I visited the liberated Shusha two years ago. I was lucky enough. Shusha is also changing in a spectacular way and the Forum is also organized at an exceptional level. My second question is that Azerbaijan has been successfully leading the Non-Aligned Movement for the last few years, and a month ago, I contacted your successor, Ugandan President Museveni. He talked about Azerbaijan's successful leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement over the years and emphasized that Azerbaijan had breathed a new life into it. I have two questions about this. In which direction do you see the further development of this movement? Secondly, a women's forum and a youth forum were created here during the period when Azerbaijan chaired the Movement. We are also considering the media. How would you see the evaluation the prospects for organizing a media forum of the Non-Aligned Movement in Azerbaijan? Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you, this is a very good idea. I think that it will be fully accepted by us. We don't have much time left as our chairmanship ends early next year. Therefore, in order to have time to do this, we probably need to work together. As you know, initiative is punishable, so I invite you to take an active part in the preparation of such an event. This will be very useful, especially considering that, as you noted, the Non-Aligned Movement I can say without false modesty received a second breath during Azerbaijan's chairmanship. It is no secret that the influence of the Movement had been gradually in decline and it had become a platform for discussing certain issues that did not have much of a continuation. As is the case with any work we do, we treated this work with great responsibility and began to work step by step in the direction of institutional development. And I think the fact that Azerbaijan's chairmanship was extended by a unanimous decision for another year, and in fact for a year and a half, shows that our activity was appreciated and is in demand. In addition to the formats you mentioned, I would also add a parliamentary platform, this is also a very important element in terms of institutional development. We believe that this is the path the Movement should follow. Of course, after we transfer our powers to Uganda in a few months, we will be in the trio for some time, while Uganda presides. Of course, we will actively participate in consolidating efforts, filling the activities of the Movement with concrete results. I must say that during COVID we showed leadership in drawing the attention of the world community to this problem. Azerbaijan as chair was one of the countries that actively opposed vaccine nationalism. We didn't hesitate to call countries by their names the ones that bought five times more vaccines than they needed, while many poor countries found themselves unprotected. Among other things, it was simply shameless. On our initiative, a database was created in the countries of the Movement, which was also used by the World Health Organization, not to mention the fact that we allocated 10 million US dollars for humanitarian and financial assistance and provided assistance to many countries with vaccines. So, the countries of the Movement saw that this structure, although it is not an organization, can achieve its goals. At the summit in Baku, when we took over chairmanship, I said that we would protect international law, justice and the legitimate interests of member countries. I think that we have successfully coped with this task. And I would like to believe that after we transfer the powers of chair, the positive dynamics will be continued. In any case, we will do everything to ensure that this is the case. Moderator: Mirshahin Agayev, Real Analytical and Information Center. Mirshahin Agayev: Mr. President, I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to ask questions of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Shusha after 29 years. Let's keep in mind that tomorrow is the National Press Day, it is a holiday for all of us, and let me ask you to accept my gratitude on behalf of all our media as the head of state, as the Victorious Commander-in-Chief, for making this holiday even more magnificent. My question is about your hand sign. It can be like this, when you extend your hand, and like this, when it becomes an Iron Fist. We have heard this statement a lot in Shusha, and every time we have seen the real echo and impact of this statement. My question today is a little below Shusha, about Khankendi. You know that the remnants of the separatist forces are carrying out certain events there and are engaged in disinformation. Azerbaijan is said to be allegedly blocking someone and something although I recently prepared a special edition of the Mirshahin's Time program on Lachin road, and we saw everything there. We saw Red Cross vehicles coming and going through there, how warm and gentle the attitude towards people is. This is one thing. Among the tasks facing the New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, what do you require from us in order to combat this type of disinformation? Because you brought us Victory. You were in front of us in our media struggle, and you were the key person in breaking the information blockade of Azerbaijan. We followed you. Therefore, I want your advice in this matter. Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. I think that the Azerbaijani media are doing great things in this direction. Of course, the general direction is already clear. All of us, regardless of the position we held during the occupation period, every patriotic Azerbaijani tirelessly went towards this goal. In my speeches, I said many times during the occupation that this day would come, the day of freedom would come, each one of us must bring this day closer, and we brought it closer and closer. This is our national Victory. In other words, the people of Azerbaijan deserved this Victory. Of course, the restoration of international law, the restoration of our territorial integrity all these are fundamental rights, and we won this right on the battlefield by shedding blood and giving martyrs. However, at the same time, the activity of the Azerbaijani media in this field is valuable, because the media was our first tool to convey the problem we are facing to the world community not only from the perspective of international law, but also from the general human perspective. This is why I always mentioned this during meetings with media representatives in the previous years, i.e. during the occupation period. I mentioned that we should reach bigger international audiences. You will probably agree that what we were saying in the past was falling on deaf ears. It was as if we were trying to prove something to ourselves. It was important. It was important to keep the issue on the agenda and to educate the younger generation in the spirit of patriotism. Most of our sons who liberated Shusha and all the other occupied lands had never seen Shusha, Aghdam or any other occupied land. In other words, education at home, education in schools and keeping this issue on the daily agenda by the media strengthened the internal unity to a huge extent. Of course, state policy was always at the forefront. However, at a later stage, we started speaking to a more international audience. That is, we have these opportunities, and there are publications of many of our media resources, websites and other electronic means in various languages. Today, we are destined again to prove our truth. Because the campaign against us continues to this day. We must and we do respond with solid and real arguments to those who cannot digest our Victory, who are jealous of our success and who have started an open information war against us. It is the result of this that today, despite all these slanders, libel and lies, the voice of Azerbaijan, the rightful voice of the Azerbaijani people and state is being heard, and our media are the main tool for this. Therefore, the solidarity and unity in society provides us with this advantage. As for recommendations, to be honest, I am a bit far from this. Because the independence of the Azerbaijani media is one of the main conditions for the development of our society. Secondly, you know everything perfectly well yourself, and I am very glad that the healing process in our media is progressing successfully and articles that are against the interests of the people and may harm the interests of the state are now very rare. That is, this is again a factor that indicates the responsibility of the media. So, my advice to the media is to keep it up. Moderator: Mr. President. It's quite active here and we are getting some questions from our participants. I do believe that we will have enough time for all questions. Next question from Jordan Morgan, the United Kingdom. Jordan Morgan: Mr. President, thank you very much for the hospitality. My name is Jordan and I'm from the UK. My question for you. What opportunities do you see for Azerbaijan and the West Asia region since China brokered Iran-Saudi rapprochement? And what opportunities are present for Azerbaijan? Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: In respect with our relations with Asian countries, you mean? Jordan Morgan: This whole region. President Ilham Aliyev: Well, regional development here in the Southern Caucasus largely depends on the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. We have now international actors, which should try to help us to find a mutually acceptable solution. And fortunately, what we've seen so far is clear that all international actors understand that this solution must be based on international law. And now, after almost three years have passed since the end of Second Karabakh War, we hear more and more very straightforward statements that Karabakh is Azerbaijan. If that was the case during the times of occupation, probably the Second Karabakh War wouldn't have started. But unfortunately, during those years - 28 years, negotiations under the umbrella of the Minsk Group not only produce zero result, but also actually did not elaborate the formula, which must be taken as a basis for settlement. They're ambiguous and sometimes contradictory statements, not to mention actions, actually lead to the freezing of the conflict. At some point, we realize here in Azerbaijan that their goal is to freeze the conflict and make occupation endless through different so-called public diplomacy initiatives to impose an understanding that we should start cooperation, we should start doing business with Armenia, and the conflicts will be resolved by the future generations. Many times, during the times of occupation, I publicly raised the issue of imposing sanctions on Armenia. I was explaining this position by international organizations` decisions and declarations. The United Nations Security Council resolutions, the Council of Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe decisions, even the European Parliament - though, it now takes a very pro-Armenian stand but even the European Parliament once adopted a resolution, which reflected the reality. But it did not happen because their geopolitical agenda was different. So, we had to do it ourselves. We had to implement the Security Council resolutions of United Nations on the battlefield. Now, situation is different. By the way, at that time, none of those international players who today say Karabakh is Azerbaijan never said that. They said that with respect to some other protracted conflicts in the post-soviet area, but not about Azerbaijan. When it came to Azerbaijan, their narrative was you have to agree. You have to integrate self-determination and territorial integrity understanding, which is not possible. It is not possible. Fundamental principles of international law like territorial integrity and self-determination of any nation should not undermine territorial integrity of countries, especially, when this nation has already self-determined itself once having independent Armenian state. So, now situation is different. And now, international brokers are, how to say, expressing their position from a more realistic point of view. Because I always said that I heard many times during the times of occupation that Azerbaijan has to take into account the reality. And now I say yes, I agree. Now everybody should take into account the new reality. One cannot think about any peace agreement with Armenia, which is not absorbing the reality of the 30-year occupation and destruction, and the reality of the results of the Second Karabakh War. But so far, the efforts of international actors are not enough. At the moment, we have three international actors who are providing the assistance - the United States, Russia and the European Union. And on three tracks, Azerbaijan works in good faith and with result-oriented approach. But so far, it did not end in any result. Because Armenia needs to make, I think, one of the final steps. They already made several steps after the war, I would say that these were not the steps, which they made voluntarily. There have been several cases during the last two-and-a-half years, several episodes. I would name it like it clearly demonstrated to Armenia that if they do not recognize our territorial integrity, we will not recognize their territorial integrity. And what will mean for them is more or less clear. They already accepted that Karabakh is Azerbaijan publicly. Now they need to put their signature under the document. This is one of the final steps and there must be some more. But if that step is made - negotiation teams on the level of foreign ministers are going to hold the next round of negotiations to take place in the coming days in Moscow - if Armenia will agree on that paragraph, where they totally refrain from any territorial claims to Azerbaijan, I think, the signing of a peace agreement can be realistic by the end of the this year. If not, well, I said many times, if they don't want to have a peace agreement with us, we cannot force them. We could not force them to comply with international law for 28 years. We managed only to force them by force. But in this case, there'll be no peace. Well, it's not the best scenario for the region. It will not add stability, security. And also taking into account the very fragile geopolitical situations that may create complications in the future. So, we have three brokers. All of them have enough international mechanisms to work independently. We hope that on one of these three tracks, we will see progress. Moderator: The next question from Maurizio Geri, Italy. Maurizio Geri: Mr. President, it is my second time in Shusha. Thank you very much for having us here. My question is related with the last two weeks I spent in Baku for the Energy Summer School in ADA. So I would like to ask you the role of Azerbaijan as a bridge between Europe and Central Asia. In particular, gas and other energy from countries like China and Russia. So, I know that there are projects with Turkmenistan. I know you said you would be happy with it if the Turkmenistan decides to do it. What could be the help that Italy or Europe could give you to support you in this process? President Ilham Aliyev: With respect to the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline project, several times I already expressed our position. I want to repeat that this is not the project, which Azerbaijan will initiate. Because usually the projects, which are initiated by the countries, other projects based on these country's resources as we did for instance with the Southern Gas Corridor. We initiated, we were their major shareholder, and we were actually their coordinator of all intergovernmental relations and agreements. As you know, this project was successfully implemented, and already for more than two years Azerbaijan became an important gas supplier to Europe. The President of the European Commission names Azerbaijan a reliable partner, and the Energy Commissioner of EU calls Azerbaijan a pan-European gas supplier. And this is true, because geography of our gas supplies to Europe is becoming broader and broader, and hopefully by the end of this year, two more European countries will be recipients of Azerbaijani gas. With respect to the Trans-Caspian. This project as an idea is based on the gas resources of Turkmenistan. Therefore, it's not up to us to initiate it or to invest in it. What can we do? We can provide our existing infrastructure or can provide infrastructure some land in their possession in order to build a new infrastructure. But I think, it's also important to know that today, Azerbaijan is working on expansion of the pipeline, which was built less than three years ago. Why? Because demand in Europe is growing. The pipeline, which was designed for 10 bcm like TAP, now, needs to be expanded up to 20 bcm. TANAP from 16 to 32. That was not expected by us. Because situation has changed. So, why we talk about expansion is that Azerbaijan will produce more gas and is producing every year more gas than year before. For instance, if 2021 we exported 19 bcm, last year, it was more than 22 bcm, and this year, probably it will be 24 bcm or even more. And these months - that's in the time when we didn't see each other - we already announced the discovery from the Absheron gas field, which possesses at least 300 billion cubic meters. And the first well is already producing gas more than any well on Shahdeniz. So, in other words, expansion of our pipeline system is based on our growing resources. For additional gas from Eastern shores of the Caspian first, the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline must be built under the sea, and second from Baku to the European destination, another something like the Southern Gas Corridor must be built. And the main question is who will finance these important projects? And we don't have an answer. Therefore, before we find an answer who will finance it, I think, implementation or even some ideas about that will be unrealistic. And also you know very well that now European banks stopped financing the projects of fossil fuel. Therefore, it will be difficult to raise substantial money for that. Because, when we were building the Southern Gas Corridor, apart from corporate financing, we had financing from EBRD, EIB, ADB and also from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. But now two of these European institutions - they are out, I hope temporarily, from the fossil fuel financing, therefore, who will finance it? The green transition makes implementation of this project even more complicated. And the fluctuation of the gas prices in Europe, which we see also creates a lot of questions. By the way, also the price cap, which, I think, was absolutely unacceptable for the consumers to put a limit for the price. This is totally in contradiction with any market economy principles, which these countries were advocating for many years. So, in other words, from realistic point of view, this is very problematic. But again, if someone decides to build the Trans-Caspian Pipeline, we will be only happy. We will have more transit fees and more cooperation. Vusala Mahirgizi, head of APA group: Mr. President, I want to ask you about the Return. The relocations to Lachin are currently underway as part of the Great Return. Residents of which district will be welcomed in their districts at the next stage? My second question may seem a little personal to you. When Karabakh was liberated, you were the first to go there, followed by our army. You have been visiting Karabakh very often, and every time you come, new projects and new places are opened. How does that make you feel? A completely ravaged place being rebuilt from scratch. How does that feel? How does it feel to be a winning President in general? President Ilham Aliyev: You know, the emotions I experience are no different to those felt by the people of Azerbaijan. The only difference is that I see these places so often. Most people see it on television, but at the same time, as you know, there are now tours to liberated areas and, as you mentioned, citizens are quickly returning to the liberated lands. Of course, first of all, I feel proud. Every time I come to Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, the first thing I feel is a sense of pride. Because it is impossible not to be proud of my people, our Army, our heroes, and every time you also come to Shusha along Victory Road, just look at how our heroic soldiers and officers with only light weapons covered this road, how they died in hand-to-hand battles in the face of the enemy armed with cannons, tanks, and artillery. This is how high the spirit of the Azerbaijani people is. In other words, all this showed the qualities of our people to all of us again. It once again showed to each of us, first of all, and to the whole world how high the moral qualities of the Azerbaijani people are. It is very hard for each of us to see the destroyed cities and villages. We cannot come to terms with this pain. Although I have already been to the liberated lands perhaps a hundred times in the last three years or so, every time I see the ruins, my heart hurts. I ask myself every time. Why did the people we consider neighbors resort to this barbarism? What did we do to them? We were the defeated side in the First Karabakh War. We did not destroy their cities, we did not destroy their graves, we did not remove the bones of their dead. Why did they do this? How much hatred did these people have in their hearts for us to commit such inhuman acts? I mean I still can't understand that and probably no normal person can ever understand it. At the same time, every time I see a new development project or participate in a groundbreaking ceremony, it feels as if blood is being pumped into my veins, in other words, that is, it gives me so much positive energy that this positive spiritual energy also strengthens a person physically. It is not just about the weather of this region. I am sure you feel the same way. We say a lot about how we feel good in Shusha or Zangilan or Lachin. Not only because of the weather. What is happiness? Happiness that comes from within. Many have asked themselves, but every time I see this development, I say to myself that this is probably what happiness is. As for the Great Return program, we have now approved the Master Plan of more than 30 cities and villages, the foundations of many villages have been laid and the figures have already been announced. We will return more than 150,000 people to both Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur within the next three years. Now we are at the preliminary stage of the work, as they say, because the design takes a long time, the tender procedures take a long time. We want everything to be in order, according to the law, to be completely transparent, and this takes time, it does take time. I am sure that the former IDPs understand this. To the Karabakh region alone, 140,000 people are expected to return by 2026. I already hope that next year the first residents will arrive and settle down in the city of Shusha. Now, you probably haven't had the time today, but you will probably walk around in the evening or tomorrow, and you will see that in several places construction projects, namely the construction of residential buildings, are already underway. Of course, the demining process was the biggest obstacle. Because the work we have done during these two and a half years not only shows that we have financial opportunities. It also shows that we have very serious experience and professional personnel. I don't think anyone would have thought of implementing projects on this scale in a matter of two and a half years. No-one could have imagined that in just two and a half years, such large-scale work would be carried out on a large area covering 10,000 square kilometers. This is why the Azerbaijani public is periodically updated about the plans and the work done. When master plans of the cities were approved, the opinions of the people who lived in the cities were taken into account, and I attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of cities together with the former IDPs. In other words, we really want people who have suffered morally and physically for 30 years to be provided with the best conditions, and we are moving towards that and will continue to do so. Moderator: And the next question from Majeed Shawkey, Egypt. Majeed Shawkey: My name is Majeed. The Middle East News Agency, Egypt. Mr. President, you have talked about threats to your country and your efforts for the development after the war. How far landmines are affecting the daily lives of ordinary people and how far these landmines are affecting the efforts for development? And if there are any plans for removing these mines, given the high cost of the process? Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: Yes, you touched upon probably the most important issue. Because landmines already claimed almost 300 lives and serious injuries of our civilians and military personnel. So, 300 mine explosions on the liberated territories, because of these war crimes. Planting landmines is a war crime. But not giving us the maps of landmines is a continuation of the Armenian terror. Because we know that they have it. This is how the mines are being planted. Those, who plant the mines, they have to have a map. Otherwise, they themselves can be victims of those mines. They first denied on the very high level, on the level of the Armenian Prime Minister that they have mine maps. Then, finally they admitted that they have it. That means they were lying to us at first. And why were they lying to us? They wanted Azerbaijanis to be killed, to continue to be killed, losing their legs, being severely injured. When they announced that they gave us the maps, and we started to check the accuracy of those maps, which was not as high as 25%. You can imagine that it means nothing. It means that these maps are absolutely useless. We are undertaking very serious efforts in demining. We purchased equipment, special machines, the mining machines. One of our local companies started to produce demining machines in Azerbaijan. We invited private companies to join the efforts, and several private companies already were established, which already started the demining process. Our State Agency ANAMA, along with the battalions of the Ministry of Emergency Ministry, specialists are working day and night to clean the area. But according to our estimation more than 1 million mines have been planted. The maps, which Armenians gave us, cover about 400,000. That means that they admitted that 400,000 have been planted. But we know that it is more than 1 million. So, it's very credible information. We received several proposals from international companies to work in this area. But unfortunately, the price was very high. I don't want to go into much details, but on average it was 8 to 10 times higher than the cost of demining of one mine. So, in other words, Azerbaijani local companies and ANAMA are demining the area 8-10 times cheaper than foreign companies, which applied for this job. We started to use drones thanks to good brains of some people. There are drones now, which detect the most contaminated places by mines and it is helpful. But at the same time, we can understand that it's a long process. Unfortunately, we should understand that there will be more victims and more casualties. So, the mine terror of Armenia continues. The most important is the fact that the areas, which have not yet been cleaned, are isolated now. Restricted access to the liberated territories helps us to minimize the casualties. But after the former IDPs will return, they must be very careful. I want just to use this opportunity once again to apply to them, I made it many times, to be very careful and not to go to the places, which are not authorized. This is really very dangerous and this is one of the biggest threats, which we will face for many years in the future unfortunately. Moderator: Gela Vasadze, Georgia. Gela Vasadze: Mr. President, first of all, thank you very much for organizing such a large-scale and wonderful event. I am really impressed. I agree with you that there are just a few steps, perhaps even step to peace. But peace depends on how far the process of integration of the Armenian population of Karabakh goes. When they tell me about people, when talking with friends, I ask them: Give me the phone number of these people. Do you have the phone number of Karabakh Armenians? Do you know this phone? Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: We have repeatedly expressed our position on this issue and have shown maximum constructivism. But, unfortunately, the junta that seized power in Karabakh and which calls itself presidents, ministers or deputies is only causing everyone to laugh. They have taken hostage those who now live in the territory where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily stationed. We took the initiative, I appointed a special representative who was supposed to deal with representatives of the Armenians of Karabakh, and in order to establish these contacts, he was sent to Karabakh. The first meeting took place there, in the village of Khojaly, at the base of the Russian peacekeeping contingent. After that, we invited representatives of the Armenians of Karabakh to come to Baku to continue the dialogue. But they refused, and quite defiantly. After some time, we invited them again perhaps there was some kind of a mistake, it happens, a misfire in order to find out whether they want it or not. But there was a refusal again. And then I said that there would be no third invitation. If they are not interested, so be it. Well, what happened next you probably know the establishment of a border checkpoint on the state border of Azerbaijan and Armenia. If you trace the chronology of all our actions, even if you go back before the beginning of the Second Karabakh War, you will see logic and a very strong argument on our side. We did not do anything for which we would be ashamed or we could say, yes, we are wrong there. We did everything right. We gave them a chance, including the Armenian leadership before the start of the Second Karabakh War for two years, but they did not take advantage of it. We gave them a chance at a time when the Lachin-Khankendi road was just a thoroughfare through which Armenia transported mines that were produced in Armenia in 2021. And we discovered these mines. We found them. We invited representatives of the Russian peacekeeping contingent, as well as representatives of the Russian-Turkish monitoring center, which is located in Aghdam, demonstrated that to them and asked: How did these mines get into Karabakh? Who brought them? And who was supposed to watch? It is unacceptable for us to die after the Victory on our own territory because Armenia continues its policy of terror. Therefore, all our steps were logical, justified, legitimate, competent and sufficiently courageous. So, the establishment of a checkpoint on the border is an important stage in the post-conflict situation, which has significantly changed the landscape and the fact that these actions were fully accepted, although not immediately and not entirely willingly by all actors, but they were eventually perceived as legitimate. It was also a message. But how many times are we supposed to send messages? How many times can we hint? Was it not enough? The Farrukh operation, the situation on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan in May 2021, the situation on the border in September 2022, and the border checkpoint. Well, how many messages should we give to them? Are they really so slow-witted? Therefore, the issue of reintegration depends on when the Armenian residents of Karabakh will be able to get rid of these shackles, of this junta that took them hostage and exploited them as slaves. It is still exploiting them now, because when eco-activists came to the Lachin-Khankendi road, the Armenian leadership, the so-called leadership in Khankendi did not allow ordinary citizens to use this road. They set up a roadblock, accusing us of the blockade. Today they put up concrete blocks on the Aghdam-Asgaran road again. When you said, why do products have to be shipped from another country? After all, Karabakh is Azerbaijan. Right? It is, isnt it? Doesnt everyone recognize it as such? Everyone recognizes it. Does anyone say it is not? No! And why should goods be delivered from another country? This is illogical. But instead of accepting this gesture, concrete blocks were placed there. So, who is blocking whom? This is the whole point. And todays comedy show they are staging when they sit in a tent and protest against someone. It is just a joke, you know. People who call themselves president protest, do a sit-in strike we have some journalists joking that the next stage will probably be a lying down strike. Whatever it is, it wont help the case. We are ready to follow the path of reintegration, respecting the rights and security of the Armenian minority in Karabakh within the framework of our Constitution and within the framework of the good practice of how these issues are resolved in Azerbaijan as a whole. Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic and multi-confessional state, and this is our strength. All representatives of ethnic groups living in Azerbaijan have the same rights and obligations and the same level of security. So, why should some ethnic group stand out against this background is also not entirely clear to me. This is our approach. We still have not lost hope that the sensible part of society that lives in Khankendi and its environs will understand the futility of ignoring of Azerbaijan and common sense will prevail. Otherwise, I think that only naive people can count on the fact that someone will come and fight for them. They had several stages when they had to understand and come to terms with the realities. They appealed to different authorities, to different countries starting with neighboring ones and ending with some countries that are located further away. But no-one in the right mind will fight against us on the territory of Azerbaijan for them. Therefore, they must eventually understand and accept these realities. I have already said this. I was told many times by mediators during the occupation, that the First Karabakh War ended like this, so you must accept the realities. But I wasnt accepting them and did not. I am saying again: accept these realities, and these realities will only change if they do not for the benefit of either Armenia or the Armenian minority in Karabakh. Therefore, I hope that they will hear these words and draw the right conclusion. President of the Global Policy Institute, Paolo von Schirach: Mr. President. Thank you for your hospitality. You won the war, you need to win the peace. What message could you give to the American private sector, corporate economy, which are interested in business with Azerbaijan. Of course, everybody knows about oil and gas. What about other sectors of the economy? What would be your message to American business leaders who are interested in partnering with Azerbaijani companies, where the benefit should be transparent and mutual with particular value for your country and the people who suffered so much because of this horrible war? Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: One of our priorities now is to stimulate the development of the sector, which is not related to natural resources. And that program is being successfully implemented. Year after year, we increase not only the share of the non-energy economy in our GDP, which is now more than 50%, but also increase our non-energy related export. My message would be that now capital goes to the places where there's a predictability and stability, which is a case in Azerbaijan. That was here for many years, even during the times of occupation. But definitely the Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict being unresolved created certain probably frustration and was elevating certain risks. After the Second Karabakh war is over, this risk is very minimum in general. So, our government has a very predictable policy with respect to development and also with respect to improvement of business climate. I think that foreigners who live and work in Azerbaijan can also prove that in recent years, there have been very serious, positive changes in management, including our fiscal system, including corporate management in our companies. This process is already in the final stage of full compliance with international standards. The countrys economy is sustainable, foreign debt is below 10% of GDP. And currency reserves exceed the foreign debt 10 times. So, in principle, if we decide, we can zero the foreign debt within one week. Trade turnover has a high surplus. During these six months, we had 10 billion US dollar surplus in our export over our import. Political situation is stable. Azerbaijan proved itself as a reliable partner in oil and gas, and at the same time, is now working actively on issues related to connectivity, taking into account the geographical location and already very modern transportation infrastructure. So, these are general messages to companies, which probably think it's a good idea to come and try to work in Azerbaijan. With respect to the areas, which are now priorities for us, of course, number one is reconstruction of the liberated territories. We have a growing number of foreign companies, who are working here as contractors. Another important sector, which we are actively working on, is digitalization. And already substantial financial resources have been channeled to that sector. I know that some American companies are already showing interest to the renewable energy area. We have discovered a lot of potential. Those who know Baku are aware that Baku is a very windy city. When the wind was very strong, it always created certain problems. But at the same time, now we found out that wind will generate a lot of money in the Caspian. So, the IFC already made the assessment and testifies that there is 157 gigawatt of wind power only in the Caspian Sea. Foreign companies have already started several investment projects in renewables. Last December, an agreement was signed between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Hungary and Romania and witnessed by the European Commission to build an integrated green energy line from Azerbaijan to Europe going under the Black Sea. So, feasibility study already started. We expect the feasibility study to be presented probably in September-October. The first steering committee of the projects was held in Baku this February. The first 240-megawatt solar power station is to be inaugurated by the end of this year. But this is only the first. We already signed MoUs and contracts at the level of 10 gigawatts. So, if half of these MoUs is materialized, that will be more than enough to supply big geography in Europe. At the same time, it will save us a lot of natural gas, which we use now to generate electricity and that natural gas will go also to the international market. So, it's a win-win situation. And also I would like to see more foreign companies in agriculture. We don't have many of them so far. We use some of the advanced technologies, including in the irrigation area. But, I would personally would like to see investors, because there is a big potential of agriculture, especially, in the liberated territory, whose soil is very fertile. And 25% of our water resources is generated in Karabakh, can you imagine? We've been deprived from that for 30 years and we could not use it, because Armenians were closing the dams as water reserves. 100,000 hectares of land were not irrigated. We had to drill the wells, artesian wells. So, now this water is a source of life not only for Karabakh. We have a plan to build pipelines to bring this water to the central part of Azerbaijan, which needs water most of all. So, I would like to see in agriculture and also in transportation, but here it is more, how to say, already internationalized this sector, because one country cannot be transportation hub. If it wants to be a hub, it should work with the neighbors. So, here we have quite a good international cooperation with the neighboring countries and big potential in expansion of transportation infrastructure. Moderator: Your Excellency, the next question, Mohamad Al Kadi, Al Jazeera TV. Mohamad Al Kadi, Al Jazeera TV: Thank you very much, dear Mr. President. Thank you for your hospitality in this beautiful city of Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan. My question will be in Arabic so that everyone should know that there are Arabs in this Forum too. Because the Arabs also watched and observed the war in Karabakh with great interest, and you talked with them about the damage to museums, centers and mosques. You also talked about historical places, monuments and thousands of lost manuscripts and books. In your opinion, why did the Armenians cause this devastation and deliberate and programmed destruction of Azerbaijani heritage and culture? My other question is when the reconstruction of Karabakh will be completed and how long will it take? Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: The process of reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur has been divided into stages. The Great Return program has been adopted. Financial resources have been mobilized for the implementation of the program. In dollar equivalent to date, projected spending on infrastructure and urban development purposes by the end of the year will be somewhere around $7 billion. So, this is just the beginning. How long will the implementation of this program, which is divided into stages, take? It is difficult to say. Because at the first stage, our main task is to rebuild eight cities and about 100 villages. People have already been settled in several places. The Aghali village of the Zangilan district, the Talish village of the Tartar district, and the city of Lachin. But this is a gradual process. One million people who suffered from the occupation must return to their ancestral lands. I should also mention that before we started the restoration work, we conducted an informal survey among the former IDPs to find out whether they intend to return to their ancestral lands or not. The good news is that the absolute majority of IDPs gave an affirmative answer. This, of course, increases the amount of work to be done, and I think that the rehabilitation of cities will be possible in the next five years. On the example of the city of Lachin, I can say that in a matter of eight months, the town of Lachin was completely rebuilt. There are facilities for more than 700 families today both individual houses and multi-apartment houses. Now the school will be ready for September 15. A kindergarten will also be ready. A hospital will be ready and other social facilities are being built. Therefore, I am sure that people will live in all liberated cities in the next five years. But the development plan of the cities is certainly more extensive. Because if we take the city of Aghdam as an example, in the period before the occupation, somewhere around 40,000, perhaps even 50,000 people lived in the city of Aghdam. According to our master plan, about 100,000 people will live in the city of Aghdam. Of course, all this will be done in stages. Because funds should be spent when people are ready to go there. As for your first question, I mentioned in my comments that I still can't understand where this cruelty and hatred comes from. Because the Armenians have lived in the territory of Azerbaijan for a long time. Their migration to Karabakh en masse began in the first half of the 19th century. In 1805, as a result of the Kurakchay agreement, the Karabakh Khanate was included in the Russian Empire. The agreements of Gulustan and Turkmenchay signed after that included other khanates of Azerbaijan into the Russian Empire. After that, the process of settlement of Armenians from Iran and Eastern Anatolia began. There are many documents to confirm this. Therefore, the writings, letters and statements of prominent statesmen are all confirmed historically. So they came to these lands as guests of the Karabakh land, including Shusha. They claimed that Shusha is an Armenian city. First, the history of the city of Shusha doesnt date too far back. In 1752, Panahali Khan built a city in Shusha, and last year was declared the year of Shusha in Azerbaijan because we were celebrating the 270th anniversary of Shusha. From then and until the occupation, the absolute majority of people living in Shusha were Azerbaijanis. If Shusha was an Armenian city, why was it in such a deplorable state? Why were 17 springs of Shusha dried up by Armenians during the occupation? I specifically enquired about that when I came to Shusha on November 14, 2021. Because Shusha was a city of 17 mosques, and 17 springs. If this was your city, why did you dry up the springs? Why didn't you leave a single stone in Shusha? There are two or three villas in Shusha that were built during the occupation, and they were on the Lachin-Khankendi road. One of them belongs to the head of the junta located in Khankendi, Karabakh. One is said to have been donated by the head of the junta to one of the leaders of Armenia, and the owner of the other is unknown. Besides, the Khankendi junta did not leave a single stone in Shusha. As for other cities, their hatred towards Azerbaijan and our people does not fit into normal human psyche. Psychologists, probably psychiatrists should analyze this and tell us what the reason for this cruelty and barbarism is. That is, they stole gravestones, erased the names of Azerbaijanis who died there and used them as gravestones for their own relatives. What kind of culture is this? Or to dig up Azerbaijani graves, extract gold teeth from the skulls of the dead, melt them and sell them in the market. I am not talking about the damage done to the environment. A total of 60,000 hectares of forests were destroyed by Armenians, chopped and sold for parquet floors. When the Second Karabakh War ended, Russia appealed to us to give them time to leave those lands Aghdam, Kalbajar, Lachin. We probably haven't forgotten those shameful scenes yet. They cut down trees and burned houses. They burned the trees and in the houses once inhabited by the Azerbaijanis which they settled illegally in, they even dismantled their cheap belongings and carried them on their backs right in front of the whole world. What name can we give to that? Therefore, what can we expect from people who committed these deeds? Everything I say is 100 percent true. I am not exaggerating anything. In fact, I am not even saying all of it. There may be a reason that they did this in order to completely Armenianize this region, to erase the cultural heritage of Azerbaijan and to make these lands unfit for habitation in the future. Because the ruins you see are the cities of Fuzuli and Aghdam, which suffered the greatest destruction. There is not a single sound building left there. Those ruins are not wartime ruins. Those ruins are the ruins resulting from the demolition of these houses after the First Karabakh War. They removed the stones one by one and sold them here and there. So, what can you call that? We do not touch the historical heritage of the Armenian people. There is even an Armenian church here in Shusha. Anyone can go and have a look, not a single stone has been touched there. On the contrary, it is protected. That is our attitude, and we are not going to take revenge on them for their actions. I said even during the war and afterwards that we must take revenge on the battlefield, and when we did that. We also avenged the blood of our martyrs on the battlefield. We have never fought against civilians. But during the war, they fired at our peaceful cities with Iskander, Tochka, and Scud missiles. About a hundred innocent people, including 12 children, were killed as a result of this cowardly fire. So by saying all this, I want to state that our memory is not erased. It will not and should not be erased, the people of Azerbaijan should never forget this. Again, not for revenge, they must remember it so that it never happens again. Because we made a mistake once, we trusted the neighbors too much and then we were made to suffer for it. In any case, everything is obvious. The importance of these gatherings is also important, among other things, because representatives of the international media gathered here will see everything with their own eyes. They will convey the truth of Azerbaijan to their countries, their people, and the public. We want that. During the occupation, it was a kind of forbidden zone. They did let some foreigners come to the city of Shusha but no-one was allowed to go to Aghdam and Fuzuli districts. Because whoever goes there will see everything. But now everything is obvious and it shows once again what historical result we have achieved. We did not just defeat Armenia. We broke the back of Armenian fascism. We almost saved the Armenian people from these evil deeds. Maybe this bitter defeat, the bitter defeat in the Second Karabakh War will be a lesson for them, and they will sit down and think about how to live in this region from now on, acknowledge their sins, confess their crimes, and bring criminals to justice. This process has already started. In Armenia, the executioners whose hands are soaked in the blood of the Azerbaijani people are being punished by the Armenian government now. It is only fair, and there should be a continuation. Only in this case can there be real reconciliation between peoples. A peace treaty can be signed, but the main issue is to take steps towards reconciliation at public level, and the first of them is the confession of their sins by the Armenians. Igor Korotchenko, Russian military expert: Thank you. Mr. President, in your speech you noted that the world is turbulent, everything is changing very quickly, and against this background, Azerbaijan is successful. It stands like a rock. For many countries today, Azerbaijan is an example in addressing a variety of problems. The strategic vision of the future of Azerbaijan, which is in your hands, Mr. President, how do you see the future of Azerbaijan? Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: First of all, thank you for such an assessment of what we are doing and how the country is positioning itself. In principle, we have strategic directions for development, and they were determined many years ago. The only thing is that life makes adjustments, and we have to integrate the changing realities into our plans. But I will not say that it is of any dramatic nature. In the foreground after the liberation of the occupied territories, of course, are issues of socioeconomic development. Because the political processes in Azerbaijan are going in the right direction. There is a consensus in society on the main issues of our future. Whether it is political development, whether it is economic development or issues related to social policy. Therefore, improvement of the well-being of the Azerbaijani people is now the main task. Before that, this was always one of the priorities, but the main priority, of course, was the issue of liberating the territories and, accordingly, strengthening the potential of the Armed Forces. Now with regard to defense capability. This issue is also in the spotlight, taking into account the experience of the Second Karabakh War, taking into account what we needed more, what we needed less, what was used more and what was used less. But as someone who deeply knows the issues of military construction you probably understand what I am talking about. But, of course, the issues of sustainable development and reducing dependence on the oil and gas sector come to the fore. This task, I think, is facing all oil-producing economies in which this sector plays an important role, including ours. This is not easy to do. But without this there will be no sustainable development. Because natural resources are resources that are depleted, and we must be prepared for the economy to show its resilience in any case. Of course, we are making reserves, we are accumulating foreign exchange reserves, we are improving the system of governance. All this gives us additional opportunities. Even if we look at the statistics of the fulfillment of the forecast by our tax and customs authorities, the picture is very impressive. This is not the first year that we have been introducing upward additions to the budget in May and June based on the fact that the tax and customs authorities have collected much more revenue only thanks to transparency and a new approach to governance. As for the broader context, not everything here depends on us, including the issue of normalizing relations with Armenia. If we come to the signing of a peace treaty, this will improve the situation in the South Caucasus as a whole and exclude the South Caucasus, by and large, from the high-risk zone. Because the high-risk zone is not just an assessment of experts, it is also about ratings, which involves opportunities to take loans. These issues are directly related to foreign investment, especially now, when investors primarily proceed from potential and existing risks. The settlement of relations with Armenia will remove this risk, it will be good both for our economy and for the economy of Armenia. In general, it will create opportunities for the normalization of relations and a more complete implementation of our plans. This will allow us the opportunity to finance issues related to our defense potential to a lesser extent, i.e. it will free up fairly large resources. And of course, I still see Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur as a driver of the non-energy sector of the economy. Because in terms of natural and climatic conditions, in terms of tourism potential, in terms of the potential of agriculture, as well as renewable energy, this region will be able to seriously contribute to the treasury of our GDP. For example, I will say that by the end of next year we will complete the construction of about 30 hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 200 MW. More than 50 MW have already been put into operation, and for comparison, perhaps I am going into too much detail, but it might be of interest to someone. The efficiency of using hydroelectric stations in Karabakh is much higher than in any other point in Azerbaijan, i.e. the flow is so powerful and the rivers are so full-flowing. Each power plant has its own efficiency factor, whether it is a combined cycle power plant or a hydro power plant, and there is exceptional efficiency here. That is, the huge potential of wind power in the Kalbajar-Lachin zone, in the Jabrayil district in just a couple of months, the construction of a solar station with a capacity of 240 MW will begin. In other words, it will be such a huge energy potential plus a logistical center. No-one has canceled the Zangezur corridor and this project remains on the agenda and will remain until it is implemented. And this opens up huge potential. It is now called connectivity, as it were, of transport links. And in order to fully answer this question, this requires a separate interview. Thank you. Moderator: The next question, Khalil Mohamed Ibrahim, Chad. Khalil Mohamed Ibrahim: Dear Mr. President, when you liberated these lands, many countries gave you moral, logistical and diplomatic support. The positions of many countries were unclear. What will Azerbaijans diplomatic relations be in the future? The second question is how Azerbaijan's relations with African countries will be in this regard. Thank you very much. President Ilham Aliyev: Our relations with African countries are developing rapidly. Some time ago, our embassy in the African Union was also opened. At the same time, we are in close contact with African countries within the framework of the Non-Aligned Movement, and I have already mentioned that part of our humanitarian aid during the COVID period was also directed to the African continent. I must also state that until today our relations in the economic and commercial sphere have not been on a very high level. Just like on the political level. There are probably natural reasons for this, and I think that opportunities in this direction will be evaluated as contacts become more intense. Anyway, we are interested in that. As for the position of countries during the Second Karabakh War, this is now history. We know who was with us, who was with Armenia, and who was in a neutral position. I think it would be wrong to bring this issue up again now. Our main task was to liberate our lands and we did that. Every country has its own agenda, its own foreign policy, its own internal, as they say, reasons. We understand that too. From some countries, we expected a little more support, from some countries we expected nothing at all. So, these are the laws of international relations, and I can say that in our experience, such issues do not have a great impact on bilateral relations. Even during the occupation, I can say that we saw a neutral position from many countries. We were not satisfied with that, because we rightly demanded that the position of justice prevail. At the same time, we saw the position of countries that were in solidarity with Armenia during the occupation. But let me say again that this did not lead to the freezing of our relations with those countries, that's one thing. Secondly, I think we have achieved this to some extent. We have to try to play on the opponent's court, and we did that. Our relations with countries considered to be close allies of Armenia during the occupation, I mean that period also developed successfully, and we managed to show those countries that their real political, economic and other interests should lie in Azerbaijan, not in Armenia. This factor made it possible to somewhat amend the pro-Armenian position of these countries. It is true that during the Second Karabakh War and afterwards, the countries distinguished for being close to Armenia could no longer hide their pro-Armenian position or did not want to. To a certain extent, this led to the straining of our relations with such countries. But that doesn't mean it will be like this forever. At this stage, it will end, a new stage will open, and the main thing is that you have an agenda. In the post-war period, we did everything in sequence, one step was a logical continuation of the previous step, and we were moving towards the goal. We reached many goals. There are some goals we haven't reached yet, but we will reach them. Of course, political competence is not in the last place in order to achieve those goals. Therefore, our communication channels are open with all countries. In parallel with this, we express our displeasure, protest and countermeasures at the appropriate level when necessary. Nurjan Kasmaliyeva, Kyrgyzstan: After the completion of the Karabakh war, some Central Asian countries announced their willingness to help Azerbaijan in reconstruction of liberated territories. What kind of support or help Azerbaijan received from the Central Asian countries? And in general, how can you characterize relations with the Central Asian countries, in particular, with Kyrgyzstan? President Ilham Aliyev: We are very grateful to our friends and brothers in Central Asia for support. When you drove from Fuzuli Airport, probably, you've noticed the housing project, which is being implemented. There is a school behind it, which was generously donated to us by Uzbekistan and also the Art Center, which was donated by Kazakhstan. Both are under construction and the school must be ready by the end of August, and Art Center for young generation - Youth Art Center - by the end of the year. So, these are two signs of support. And actually all this is foreign aid, which we received since the war ended. This was a very important gesture demonstrating their solidarity. They clearly understand that we can build schools and we build schools. But this was a genuine desire to demonstrate their solidarity and to help us, and understanding that what a great scope of work is in front of us. With respect to cooperation with Central Asian countries in general, they are very dynamic. I visited many Central Asian countries last year and this year. Also presidents of the Central Asian countries visited Azerbaijan, and we expect also more visits of presidents of friendly countries by the end of the year. We are now actively working on bilateral level on the issues related to investments and trade. We established a Joint Investment Fund with Uzbekistan and there is such initiative to establish one with Kyrgyzstan. The amount of assets is not very big, but it depends on the availability of the projects. With Uzbekistan, the Fund is on the level of half a billion US dollars, with Kyrgyzstan I think it is 25 million. Because we do not have yet projects to be implemented, so, these funds, of course, can be enlarged and they will be enlarged. You also asked particularly about our relations with Kyrgyzstan. They are very good, very friendly. I paid a state visit to your country and the president paid a visit to Azerbaijan. We also meet regularly at the meetings of the Organization of Turkic States summit and also CIS summits. With the Central Asian countries, we are now actively working on the issues related to connectivity and transportation infrastructure. Just several days ago, I received the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, a while ago Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. Main topics of conversation were transportation routes across the Caspian through Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye to Europe. This route is going to be one of the most important transportation routes for the Central Asian countries. Because Azerbaijan's transportation infrastructure is modern and is capable to handle cargoes much more than we have now. So, I think that there is a great future in our relations. Moderator: The next question, Mohammad Reza Pour, IRNA News Agency. Mohammad Reza Pour: Mr. President, thank you for the invitation. I greet you on behalf of IRNA News Agency, on behalf of Iran. Mr. President, the governments of Iran and Azerbaijan are making great efforts to develop and strengthen relations between the two countries. How will the launch of the project, which will take place in the near future, affect the strengthening of relations? President Ilham Aliyev: I am sorry. Your question wasnt clear. Please repeat your second question. Mohammad Reza Pour: What effect will the launch of IRNA Azeri have on the strengthening of relations? President Ilham Aliyev: Maybe you are a little far from us, so we can't hear your question well. Please voice your question to the moderator and he will pass it on to us. Moderator: Opening of IRNA office in Azerbaijan? In the coming days, IRNA agency will open its office in Azerbaijan and what role can IRNA Azeri play between the two countries? President Ilham Aliyev: I hope IRNA Azerbaijan will definitely contribute to strengthening of relations between our countries. Because I think the responsible media outlets need always to contribute to strengthening of relations between neighboring countries. Therefore, I think the best way is to inform your audience in Iran about Azerbaijans reality, about the process of reconstruction of Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. Of course, I think that it will be very good if more people in Iran know the reality of the Second Karabakh War and post-war situation, especially with respect to Azerbaijan's agenda of broad regional cooperation here in the region. So, I wish you success in your activity. I'm sure that you will play an important role in strengthening our relations. Moderator: Next question, Tarek Cherkaoui, Manager of TRT World Research Centre? Tarek Cherkaoui: Your Excellency. I would like to congratulate you, after winning the battle for liberation. You are winning also the battle for reconstruction. My question is about Shusha, actually. What is your vision for Shusha down the line in 10 years time? Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: Well, reconstruction of Shusha has started. The master plan has been approved a while ago, and now the construction of the first housing projects has started. Maybe you can see them. They are in different parts of the city. These projects will accommodate the Shusha residents back to their homes. At the same time, as I already said, Shusha was officially declared by the presidential decree a cultural capital of Azerbaijan. And we expect big traffic from all over the world to come to this unique place. Because history, culture, architecture and climate of Shusha is really a big asset for our country. Of course, the city, which is situated on the rock, surrounded by the ancient city wall is really a pearl of the Caucasus - as we call it the crown of Karabakh. We are actively now restoring the historical monuments of Shusha. Three mosques have already been rebuilt with one of them restored and others built, which were destroyed. The first historical monument, which we restored was a Mausoleum of our great poet and the minister vizier, a kind of minister of Karabakh Khanate Vagif, which was destroyed by Armenians during the times of occupation. As I said, we already restored the springs, traditional springs - five of them already are full with water. Shushas infrastructure also is taken care of. When Armenians were running away from here, they damaged the water distribution system. So, we had to build it from scratch. And, in general, all the infrastructure of Shusha, including new roads, has been taken into account while master plan was elaborated. This September, we will inaugurate the opening of the school, which is designed for almost 1000 pupils and the hospital for 90 patients will be ready, I think, in several months, may be probably by the end of the year. Everything in Shusha is being done based on the master plan. And that will allow the city to look even better than it looked ever before. So, it will be very convenient and modern, at the same time keeping the authentic look. Because almost all the historical buildings are now in the process of renovation. And those who travel to Shusha often can see every time the changes and how city becomes looking better and better. There will be still some demolition works to be carried out, because of the buildings, which were built during the soviet times. Their sustainability do not allow us to use them as apartment buildings. But the master plan for Shusha is really amazing. I think this will be one of the best places in three-four years in the world, not only in the Caucasus. By the way, this hotel is also a good illustration of what we're doing. Two hotels have been restored - Karabakh and Khari Bulbul and they were built from scratch. Interesting thing about this hotel is that here on this particular place, the separatists wanted to build a parliament for so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic. And when I came here first time in January, I came to see it, they did not finish it. There was only construction. They wanted to move their so-called parliament here, and to continue Armenisation of Shusha. And standing in front of that, I called it the House of the Devil. And the House of the Devil was knocked down, and we built this beautiful hotel, which is a five-star hotel. I hope guests also feel themselves comfortable. This also demonstrates how quickly Shusha is being developed. Moderator: Mr. President, actually, more than two hours have already passed since the start of our interactive part. It's clear that everyone wants to be a part of this process. But we do not want to overuse your discretion. Maybe we can let Mr. Markov ask his question. He was raising his hand from the first minute. Russian political scientist Sergey Markov: Thank you, Mr. President. If you don't mind I will speak English. If you remember we conducted very small international conference. There was even an explosion on the way to the conference. We very much hope that there will be no explosion at all here and Armenians will accept the reality peacefully. And my question to you, not only as to a politician and to a winner. You are a very experienced person. You told about three brokers, now. They are competing each other. And all of them want to be successful, first. But at the same time, all these three brokers worked together as Minsk Group and fully collapsed and were absolutely not able to prevent the beginning of the Second Karabakh War. They spent 28 years with no sense of negotiation. It has come to the war. We can see now that the number of brokers is increasing but the sense of brokering is a little bit decreasing. And what you think, first of all, who amongst the brokers will be successful in competition? What the brokers must do to be successful? And second is connected in a broader sense. How should international institutes develop not to move to the crisis because it's clear that the United Nations is not successful and the OSCE Minsk Group proved to be unsuccessful. With you great experience, and with your great education on international relations, what could be a positive direction for these international institutions to become most stable and sustainable? President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much. I want to specify a little bit with respect to these tracks of negotiations. We have two processes. One is negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and we have two brokers, which is Russia and United States. And we have the so-called Brussels format, which is not a formal negotiation, because negotiations are being held by ministers of foreign affairs and their teams and experts. The Brussel format, we consider as a kind of supplementary or a kind of a supportive mechanism of direct interaction on the level of the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan. So far, it has worked, I think, more or less successfully. There is some difference between this format and the Minsk Group, because we do not have exactly the same actors. One of the members of the Minsk Group was France, which is now not in the picture. But the European Union again, I said, is not a real broker for negotiations but a kind of a factor, which maybe decreases the tension and allows Armenian, Azerbaijani leaders to talk and to understand each other better. With respect to the Minsk Group, I want to say that it was not me, it was themselves who actually made it dysfunctional. When the Second Karabakh War ended, frankly speaking, they also were asking themselves what they should do next. And when communicating with us, our position was that the conflict is over taking that into account. Absolute majority of provisions of the so-called Madrid principles have already been achieved, including the peacekeeping operations. Therefore, to our mind, the Minsk Group, if continued, should have dealt with trust-building measures only, and also helping countries to implement fully provisions of the 10 November 2020 declaration. Because as you know, two important paragraphs are not implemented - first, withdrawal of the Armenian troops from Karabakh and second, having access to Nakhchivan. These two provisions Armenia does not fulfill. But then after this geopolitical clash, the Minsk Group formally, how to say, resigned. And now the reincarnation of the Minsk Group in any form is absolutely unrealistic and is unacceptable to us. We hear some rumors, sometimes, some information that there are some ideas how again to assemble this broken vase. But it is not possible from practical point of view and point of view of disagreement of Azerbaijan. Because, as you can imagine, we don't have good memories of the activity of the Minsk Group. With respect to the rivalry, yes, we see this rivalry. This is part of the global rivalry. It's not only here. It's easier to say where this rivalry is not happening. So, the Southern Caucasus and Azerbaijan is not an exclusion. After the end of the Second Karabakh War, naturally, Russia took the lead, because, as I said before, Russia was the principal negotiator with respect to the 10 November declaration, and the Russian peacekeepers were deployed in the region. Russia is a neighbor to Azerbaijan, and though, it's not neighbor but very close to Armenia. So, it was natural. But then, we all know that Russia became more preoccupied with other issues and the rivals just started to fill the gap. So, what will be the end of this rivalry here in the Caucasus, I cannot say. For me, as a President it was always important, even during the times of occupation, that Azerbaijan does not transform into the area of rivalry. This is the worst scenario one can imagine for any country. We see that Armenia now is slowly becoming such an area of rivalry, which can lead to serious problems. Not only Russian-American, but also other countries are actively stepping in, and I think that the Armenian government does not have a clear foreign policy strategy. They had it before the Second Karabakh War. But now we see that they don't have it and this could lead to serious problems for them. But with respect to Azerbaijan, our area is free from rivalry. We are the area of cooperation. As you know, many times Russian and American military commanders gathered in Baku for meetings. They were high-level commanders of Chief of Staff of Russian Army and US military commander or NATO military commander - they selected Baku for their meeting. That was a sign of respect to us. Selection of Baku by them - I think four or five meetings of that kind took place - demonstrated that Azerbaijan is a country, which can unite interests even between countries, which always compete. That was a time, when this competition was more or less peaceful. Now, under current circumstances, again Azerbaijan is a place, where potentially this kind of context can restart. What will be the final result? Difficult to say. The thing is that both sides actually provide the space for negotiations, and whether it's Moscow or Washington. That is not a trilateral negotiation, it is a bilateral negotiation. Shortly, the meeting was held in Washington, in several days it will be in Moscow. It depends on who invites. So, when we got invitation from the Russian Foreign Ministry several days ago, I immediately gave instructions to our foreign minister to agree, and they agreed the date. Then, Armenians asked to change the date. We agreed to change the date, because probably they had some reason. So, Americans were inviting more. So, more meetings took place there. But again, it is definitely the bilateral format. Negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to our approach, must be bilateral only. Of course, the factor of where these negotiations take place is also important. It has played its role, and we are open to any kind of mediation efforts in order to make positions closer. But one of the most important issues now on the negotiation table, which needs its resolution, is the formal agreement by Armenia to refrain from territorial claims against Azerbaijan. They did it already verbally. We consider it as a position. When the Prime Minister said that Karabakh is Azerbaijan, I wish he said that in 2019. But he said an absolutely different thing in Khankendi. Now, he says the right thing, but now he needs to put his signature under that. He needs to initial that open paragraph, which we did not agree on peace treaty draft, and clearly demonstrates that they don't have territorial claims. Their position is a little bit ambiguous. They say we recognize territorial integrity, and even they say the parameters. But at the same time, they say that this Armenian minority in Karabakh should be incorporated, which is not possible at all. There are a kind of bridging language proposals, which are reciprocal, and which refer to national minorities, their rights and security in both countries. Because if Armenians want to talk about rights and securities of Armenians in Karabakh, then we want to talk about rights and securities of Azerbaijanis in Zangazur, in Goycha, and in Yerevan. So, I think, this is logical absolutely. But hopefully, we will come to a final stage, though its difficult to predict. I can predict only what solely depends on us. But with respect to negotiations, we are hopeful, but must be less optimistic, more realistic. Moderator: Mr. President. It will be the last question. Shafag Mehraliyeva, ADA University. Shafag Mehraliyeva: I teach communication and media at ADA University. In the next two days, we will continue these conversations with our distinguished colleagues talking about modern media trends. And one of the issues that usually come up in this conversation is relationship between social media and professional media or traditional media. Sometimes difficult relationship, most of the time competitive relationship. You have a very strong, open, active social media presence. I would like to thank you for that. Population of all age ranges follow you. My son religiously follows you on Instagram. And I hope that the First Lady knows that we very closely follow her. Her messages, videos are very open and warm. It gives us an opportunity to connect with you, directly without any filters without any framing. So my question to you. When it comes to social media usage, what value do you see in social media yourself? Do you use it? Thank you. President Ilham Aliyev: Well, I can tell you that I find out many important things from social media and what is happening in our country. On several occasions in my communications with media representatives, I was telling them that you help me in my day to day job. Because you know every President has his own, how to say, very similar to each other format of activity. Because especially in the countries like Azerbaijan, where you have to work 24 hours a day and be ready for any kind of news, good or bad. At the same time, the scope of activity is really so huge that sometimes you miss some important points, so you can miss the feeling of the pulse of society. This is very important for me to feel this pulse. I feel it when I travel, when I meet people, when I also use social media and many things, which happened in Azerbaijan and were not reported to me, either due to some bureaucratic procedure or now less deliberately, now less but still. Maybe because of my being too busy with some other issues. I find out also through my grandchildren sometimes, and children from social media and sometimes myself. It helps a lot. Because there are a lot of things, which irritate me, as well as anyone in Azerbaijan. I feel the same. I live the same life like any other person. I love my country like any other person, and I am irritated like any other person, when I see injustice, bureaucracy, mismanagement or something even worse. So, channels of communications to me are different. But taking into account the current situation and, of course, post-war situation, issues related to security, peace process, energy diplomacy - I mean issues of global security and development of Azerbaijan - they prevail in my day to day working activities. So, in these circumstances, definitely, I can miss something. So, social media and not only social media, traditional media help, when I follow of course, to know what is happening in order to react immediately. In many cases, I can tell you that governmental officials react even to the cutting of one tree because I saw it on the media in many cases. It creates additional discipline. You know, I travel around the country regularly and travel most of the time by car. The reason is that when I go by car, I can see many more things than I go by a plane or by a helicopter. Officials on the ground know that I will come next time and check what is happening, what is going not as it should be. So, I think that in my future activity, definitely I will use social media. I'm not as active as I would like to, but with respect to issues, which create concern in the Azerbaijani society, I am also very reachable by people of my office and my close relatives. And also I think that meetings like this are very important. I was not planned to be around, when the first Forum was held last year here in Shusha by the Azerbaijani media community. I then told our Presidential Administration, employees that it will be good if we make it international next time. It happened. It is well-organized with big presentation, and I decided to join the group. When I was scheduled to be a keynote speaker, I decided not to use this formal once again, speeches or long speeches, something like that. I saw these kinds of discussions much better for me and I think for you also. So, I'm grateful for your patience. So, almost three hours already. I'm sure you will come with very good results after two-day discussions. That will be a kind of good guidelines also for our government how to move in this direction. My last suggestion is to have this forum regularly and name it the first Shusha Global Media Forum. Moderator: The first Media Global Forum is over. Once again, thank you so much, Mr. President, for your time. See you next year. x x x The Global Media Forum on New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution held, at the direction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and on the occasion of the 148th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Press brought together 150 participants from 49 countries including state news agencies from 34 countries, 12 international and media organizations. Moreover, the Forum is attended by 60 local media heads and representatives. The Forum is scheduled to discuss critical issues of global importance in the media and information-communication fields. Worlds illustrious media leaders, experts will deliberate about new tools of journalism and communications in the digital era, digital transformation, media management and sustainable media business models, consumer trends and media literacy in the new media, methods of fighting disinformation and fake news, safety of journalists and other matters. The Non-Aligned Movement Media Platform initiative will also be put forward by the Forum. It is the first time that the city of Shusha has brought together heads of worlds leading media, journalist organizations, media and communication experts and renowned journalists. Sorry, there are no polls available at the moment. The commonwealth has said it will not pursue a prosecution of Richard Murray Coe, the Charlottesville man accused of raping and strangling a preteen girl, after more than two years of back-and-forth in court. The family of the minor who brought allegations against Coe has also announced no intentions to pursue the case any further. Coes defense attorneys told The Daily Progress Coe does not intend to pursue civil action. Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Nina Antony, who represented the minor and her family, filed a nolle prosequi motion July 13. While the motion does not exonerate Coe of the eight charges he faced in Charlottesville Circuit Court, it identifies the commonwealths intention to abandon the prosecution based on a lack of evidence that could be used during the trial, initially set for late October or early November. This conclusion does not alter the Commonwealths belief in the credible disclosures made by the victim, Antonys motion said. However, the Commonwealth must also comply with its ethical duties and not pursue a prosecution for which, at this time, the Commonwealth cannot present evidence in court to sustain any criminal conviction. The allegations against Coe were first disclosed in 2020 when the minor was attending Greenbrier Academy for Girls, a now-closed therapeutic boarding school in West Virginia. The disclosures were in relation to incidents that allegedly occurred from 2012 to 2016. Throughout the course of the trial, the defense alleged that several of the therapies Greenbrier used to treat the minor were equivalent or akin to hypnosis, and therefore inadmissible, which the commonwealth conceded after consulting experts in psychology and hypnotherapy, according to the motion. Evidence derived from means akin to hypnosis cannot be used during a trial, according to precedent established in the 1990s. As the prosecution did not have evidence of documented recollections prior to the events at Greenbrier, criminal prosecution is not possible at this time, the motion concluded. Given the current state of Virginia case law, we understand the Commonwealths decision to stop prosecution in this case, the minors family said in a statement to The Daily Progress. Even so, we are sickened, both for ourselves and for sexual assault victims across the state, by the tragic way that this law functionally silences the credible claims of those who most need to be heard. Coes defense team maintained the laws reasoning is not the least bit outdated or destructive. Uncorroborated, recovered memories are never enough to responsibly say someone is guilty of a crime, even when they dont involve hypnosis, Coes defense attorneys wrote to The Daily Progress in a statement. If someone has to be hypnotized to recover a memory, its not a memory and it shouldnt be admissible in a court of law. The minors testimonies were deemed credible by a grand jury October 2022, and earlier by Child Protective Services and Charlottesville police. Coes defense attorneys said the grand jury, police and Child Protective Services had no idea about Greenbriers hypnotic practices, which the defense said it uncovered through an investigation. Greenbrier has been the subject of multiple allegations of abuse and neglect, and its founder has faced million-dollar lawsuits over the practices at his facilities. Nationally, advocates have fought to address the troubled teen industry to close such therapeutic boarding schools, which the U.S. Government Accountability Office has reported for rampant negligence. The family placed the minor at Greenbrier precisely because of her experience of abuse, they said in their statement. There, she underwent therapies that were scientifically valid and personally beneficial. This ruling is simply one more tragic demonstration of what survivors know all too well: that the laws of this state and of many other states make it incredibly difficult for survivors of childhood sexual assault to be vindicated in criminal proceedings, the family said. It is a tragedy and must be addressed. This case should not deter anyone from coming forward with anything that was not the product of hypnosis, the defense said. But, they added, if someone has to be hypnotized to recover a memory, its not a memory. Tuesday morning, Judge Thomas Padrick acknowledged the cases notoriety and highly unusual nature before granting the commonwealths motion to discontinue the prosecution. The prosecutions decision to dismiss the charges was the right one and my family and friends wish the best for all parties moving forward, Coe wrote to The Daily Progress in a statement. This case has torn this community in half and my wife and I have prayed for all those affected on a regular basis. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 64F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Marissia Bibbo-LaFog is a preschool teacher at Berkshire Family YMCA's Northern Berkshire branch. Marissia Bibbo-LaFog, center, with co-teacher Jada Smith and their class at the YMCA. PreviousNext Teacher of the Month: Marissia Bibbo-LaFog Marissia Bibbo-LaFog had been working with older children but enjoys that she can spend more time with the younger children since the preschool covers several years of age. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Berkshire Family YMCA preschool teacher Marissia Bibbo-LaFog was selected as the July Teacher of the Month. The Teacher of the Month series runs for the next 10 months in partnership with Berkshire Community College. Bibbo-LaFog has been working in the child-care field for 11 years starting at the age of 15 as a camp counselor. She also worked with high schoolers and just recently shifted to preschool, working as an assistant preschool teacher. "I've been solo teacher since December. I was assistant preschool teacher beforehand. I've been at it quite a long time," she said. "This is my first official year as a 'teacher teacher' and not just child-care staff alone." It's a great field, Bibbo-LaFog continued, saying she loves it because of the connection with the community and growth with not only the kids but their families. Everyday the kids put a smile on your face, she said. "I have officially found what age group is the one that I want to stay with and continue to teach. They're the ones you see the most milestones because you get them at 2 1/2, and then you have them until they're 5 1/2," she said. "So you see a lot of growth in between those. And it's just really rewarding to see all that." If you enjoy it as a career, there will be moments when you realize it despite how exhausting and hard it can be, Bibbo-LaFog said. The most rewarding and influential moment for her was the decision to switch to preschool, she said. Even though it has been the most difficult; it has been the most rewarding. "I came in not really knowing much about these toddlers and preschoolers and now they're like my own kids, I treat them just like my own and to see them grow," Bibbo-LaFog said. Right now the students are learning Spanish and that morning her students knew all their numbers. "So, that was like, it's just amazing to see how much they grow in such a short amount of time and how much information they really retain," she said. Although this is Bibbo-LaFog's first year working as a solo teacher her co-workers and supervisor praised her for her leadership, creativity, and nature. Her supervisor, co-manager Carlie Mantello, described Bibbo-LaFog as a happy teacher who is always interacting with her students. "She's a huge benefit to us. She's a team player," Mantello said. "...When we heard that she got nominated we both ran into her room and congratulated her because we can't think of anyone else so deserving." As a teaching assistant, she immediately started doing crafts, implementing curriculum, and doing circle time, co-manager Jamie Willette said. "She's been super involved in that room and we're super happy to have her here." Even though working at a daycare can be a little crazy, Bibbo-LaFog always makes sure everyone is having a good day, her co-teacher Jada Smith said. "She really goes into each student individually. She's really caring about each and every one of them ... So, we enjoy having her. She's really a blessing to be here," Smith said. Bibbo-LaFog is currently studying early childhood education at Berkshire Community College. She has completed all the classes to be a teacher and now she is pursuing her associate's degree in early childhood development. "I'm a hands-on teacher. I think they learned the best through doing and through trial and error. I'm very active in everything we do," Bibbo-LaFog said. "We do a lot of arts and crafts, music, singing, a lot of things that are bright, colorful, just so they retain more of that information because they are on the younger side still." The University of Virginia's vice president of student affairs and dean of students will be stepping down from her position after two years at the school, UVa announced Friday in an email. Robyn Hadley will leave her post effective Aug. 1, the school said. Christopher Holstege, who serves as executive director of student health and wellness, will step in as vice president of student affairs. Cedric Rucker, the school's senior associate dean in the Office of African-American Affairs, will serve as interim dean of students. It is unclear why Hadley is leaving the university, where she began working as vice president of student affairs and chief student affairs officer in June 2021. She did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Progress. Hadley was named dean of students last year. There was also no reason for her departure identified in the university email sent out Friday morning. In that email, the school's President Jim Ryan praised Hadley for her contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and the November shooting that took the lives of three student-athletes. Robyn has led Student Affairs with grace and determination, even in the face of enormous challenges," Ryan said. The email also references Hadley's work advancing initiatives such as Hoos First, aimed at supporting first-generation and low-income students as well as enhancing mental health care resources for the student community. "Through it all, she has demonstrated the professionalism, wisdom, and deep care for our students for which she will be remembered here at UVA," Ryan said. "We are grateful to Robyn and her team for all they have achieved these past few years." The University of Virginia has experienced notable turnover in senior leadership since the pandemic. And at the same time, the university has received criticism for saying it would conduct nationwide searches to fill positions in the past and then settling on promoting existing staff. Hadley herself was named dean of students to replace an interim dean, Julie Caruccio. Caruccio took over for Allen Groves, who left the school in July 2021 after 14 years. The university leadership had said that a full search would likely commence to find a replacement for Groves, but ultimately Hadley stepped in to fill the seat. At an Aug. 23, 2022, Board of Visitors meeting, Chief Operating Officer J.J. Davis said the school faces a war on talent" that has made it difficult to hire and retain employees. As Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) continues to foster inclusivity and support diverse families in the workplace, the leading consumer finance company now includes domestic partners as dependent in its medical benefits program for eligible employees. Home Credit Philippines Chief People Officer Alpha Omega Aquino noted that this new policy is aligned with the companys commitment to prioritizing the well-being of its employees. With this initiative, we hope to create an environment where every employee feels supported and valued. We want to help promote a caring and nurturing work culture that feels like home to empower our employees further, said Aquino. With this new policy, qualified employees can now extend their HMO coverage to their domestic partners if they meet certain criteria. The employee and domestic partner should be both single and never married and not related by blood, whether legitimate or illegitimate. The partner must also be of legal age and not more than 65 years old. If eligible, the employee can enroll the partner by submitting the following requirements for the medical benefits program: barangay certification of co-habitation, the partners Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) certified copy of birth certificate, and PSA certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR). By extending our medical benefits program to domestic partners, we aim to enable our employees to build strong and healthy families, regardless of marital status. The coverage will encompass inpatient and even outpatient services, including checkups, laboratory tests, rehab, therapy, emergency care, dental, mental health care, and pre-existing conditions, Aquino added. As a strong advocate of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), this initiative complements the Same-Sex Partner HMO Coverage that Home Credit started to offer its employees in 2021 to provide medical benefits to LGBTQIA+ partners. Currently, the company already has several employees enjoying this benefit. At Home Credit, we believe that our employees are our greatest asset. We remain committed to fostering a workplace that promotes DEI, allowing us to embrace different perspectives and backgrounds to make every employee feel welcome and appreciated. We will continue enhancing our programs for our employees as we believe our success will not be possible without them, Aquino remarked. As a testament to Home Credits commitment to upholding DEI practice, the company recently received another Gold Stevie for the Innovative Achievement for Diversity and Inclusion category during the tenth annual Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards last June. To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are also encouraged to download the My Home Credit App on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see whats new in the Marketplace. Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). A new study has found that 73% of small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the Asia Pacific (APAC) region believe global expansion would make their business more resilient to external events and disruptions. It noted, however, that only 13% make globalization a top business goal. SMBs may be interested in entering new markets, but they have different priorities. These include increasing revenue growth (53%) and profitability (39%), and improving customer satisfaction (43%). Expanding their customer base (30%) rounded out the list of top concerns. This data was gathered by Payoneer in its inaugural SMB Ambitions Barometer report. The leading cross-border payments platform surveyed 3,575 businesses across 15 international markets to find out their thoughts on global expansion, their ambitions, and how they plan to achieve them. Going beyond borders presents a world of growth opportunities, untapped markets, and diverse talent. Those who dare to leave their comfort zones create a better future for themselves, their community, and the economy, says Monique Avila, Payoneers Country Manager for the Philippines & Other SEA. The potential for global expansion SMBs in APAC are on track for global expansion. Their customers (57% domestic vs. 43% international) and vendors (60% domestic vs. 40% international) are mostly local, but this split is expected to even out in the next two years. Those who are already operating internationally have reaped the benefits of todays global economy. Payoneer found that revenue earned from exports grew from an average of 52% in 2021 to 61% in 2022. This is expected to continue growing to an average of 69% in 2023. In the Philippines, SMBs are expected to enjoy a 16% increase in revenue growth from exports. They are also one of the most optimistic about their business outlook. Challenges and disruptions SMBs know the benefits of global expansion but they face barriers. Businesses in APAC are more likely than others to have been hurt by global events in the past two years. This is particularly true for the Philippines, which is among the most negatively impacted by these events. Global supply chain disruptions remain a top concern. Cross-border trade is another challenge with issues related to foreign exchange rates, slow transaction times, international trade compliance requirements, lack of choice in payment options, regulatory and compliance costs, fraud and weak security practices, and more. SMBs in APAC also face problems breaking into geographic markets due to external events and disruptions, legal compliance, securing capital, and talent acquisition. There is also an increase in freelance and gig work due to COVID-19, which has increased competition for their company. Due to these experiences, 64% of SMBs in APAC are more likely than others to agree that most payment solutions are tailored to large corporations. It is difficult to find a payment solution that meets the unique needs of their company (51%). The worlds go-to partner for digital commerce, everywhere The SMB Ambitions Barometer report notes that there is great potential for businesses around the world to develop. Although SMBs face challenges and external economic forces, they must be supported to thrive in the cross-border economy. We remain committed to empowering SMBs in the Philippines. Our products, services, and expertise are tailored to meet their unique needs so they can unlock their full potential on the global stage. Together, we can create a future where every business owner can succeed internationally, achieve tremendous growth, and make a lasting impact, ends Avila. Business owners and interested individuals can access the full report through beta.payoneer.com/resources/the-smb-ambitions-barometer/. The first-arriving officer repeatedly ordered the man to drop the knife, but the man appeared to ignore the officer's commands and charged toward him. The officer responded with multiple gunshots. Morris said she didn't know how close the man was to the officer when he was first shot, but said he continued approaching the officer still holding the knife even after being hit. Other officers responded and performed CPR until medics arrived and took him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A number of neighbors witnessed at least part of the incident. One witness reported that one woman, possibly the victim's mother, was desperately trying to diffuse the situation before police arrived but could not get the young man to calm down. Morris said the victim's next-of-kin has been notified, but police won't release the man's name until tomorrow. He was a Stafford resident. The officer who shot him is on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation. Morris said his name will be released at a later date. Chief Brian Layton has asked the Virginia State Police to conduct the investigation into the shooting. As a teenager, I realised a simple truth: humiliation loses its sting if you turn it into a good story. By the time I was back from a beach holiday where a waterslide had torn my bobbly old swimsuit, Id embroidered the anecdote into one of full, shivering, pasty nudity in front of a jeering horde of French teenagers. The resulting rush of turning pain into triumph is one thatll be familiar to writers, comedians, raconteurs, or anyone whos written into teen magazine Mizzs legendary cringe pages with gory tales of tampon mishaps. As beloved screenwriter and autobiographical essayist Nora Ephron put it, everything is copy. But notorious influencer-turned-anti-hero Caroline Calloway has taken this theory to new levels with her self-published book Scammer, a work she loftily describes as a daybook, made of loosely connected vignettes leading from her dysfunctional childhood right up to her traumatic cancellation. Bizarre as it often is, its impossible to look away. To recap: in her unproblematic golden years, Calloway was an Instagram influencer famed for beaming an idealised image of Cambridge University life to her legions of followers, wearing orchids in her hair and a $500,000 book deal like a badge of honour. But then, in 2019, Calloways pastel-tinted universe assumed nightmarish hues. Her former best friend Natalie Beach wrote a fluent, merciless expose called I Was Caroline Calloway for American website The Cut, where she told the world how shed ghostwritten Calloways famously lyrical Instagram captions and subsequent book proposal, while suffering endless small indignities at the hands of her prettier, more popular friend. The day after the essays publication, Calloways dad died. As she wrote his eulogy, the internet ripped her to shreds, and she assembled an unlikely new look from the tattered pieces of her carefully-curated image. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} China has sent nearly 40 warplanes toward Taiwan just days before the island plans to hold military exercises to practise defending itself from a potential invasion. Taiwan is set to conduct annual military exercises next week, including combat readiness drills, and to prepare its civilians for evacuations in the case of a possible air raid. The evacuation exercise has drawn attention because it represents a significant departure from previous years while normally people are just asked to go indoors for 30 minutes while the air raid sirens sound, this week police will escort anyone out on the street at the time of the drill to their nearest bomb shelter. The drills are also covering a much greater sample of the population than previously, covering districts that account for a combined three million of Taiwans 23 million people, according to the Financial Times. The expanded drills are widely seen as a response to increasingly aggressive rhetoric from China, which claims Taiwan as a breakaway province and has repeatedly said it is willing to use force to bring the island back under Beijings control. Days before the planned exercises the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) sent 37 aircraft and seven navy vessels toward the island between 6am on Friday and 6am yesterday, according to Taiwans defence ministry. Among the aircraft sent toward the island were J-10 and J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, a statement said. The Taiwan defence ministry said 22 of the detected warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait considered the unofficial boundary between the island and the mainland or entered Taiwans air defence identification zone. China and Taiwan split in 1949 following a civil war that led to the ruling Communist Party taking control of the mainland and Chiang Kai-sheks Republic of China relocating its government to the island. While the two governments have permitted economic ties to develop over the years, the prospect of any kind of political reconciliation appears to be at an all-time low as Taiwan asserts its own identity, while China wants the island to accept its terms for unification. China has conducted increasingly elaborate military drills around the island including practising blockading access by sea, and sent large numbers of military planes across the Strait to test the Taiwanese air forces responses. Beijing has also repeatedly expressed its displeasure towards officials from other countries who have visited Taiwan for talks, including from Western countries. Washington maintains robust unofficial ties with Taiwan, and has pledged to help the island defend itself in case of an invasion while not officially recognising it as a separate country. Chinas show of displeasure towards Taiwanese political activities has particularly seen a rise since former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August. After Ms Pelosis visit to the island, the PLA fired missiles over Taiwan in a significant escalation. The increased escalation has disrupted trade lanes in the Taiwan Strait and has also forced airplanes to reroute flights. After Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen met with current US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the PLA held large-scale combat readiness drills in the air and sea around the island. Pressure from China on the international stage means that only 13 countries have formal ties with Taipei. Honduras, which had been the 14th, severed relations with Taiwan after suggesting it could receive up to $10bn in investment from China in Honduran infrastructure projects. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An experienced hiker has died in Death Valley, hours after being asked by a reporter why he was attempting to brave the extreme heat. Steve Curry, 71, was pronounced dead after collapsing outside of a restroom on the Golden Canyon trailhead in 121F (49C) temperatures at about 3.30pm on Tuesday, according to National Park Service officials. Hours earlier, Curry spoke to a Los Angeles Times reporter at Zabriskie Point while slathered in sunscreen, huddled beneath a metal interpretive sign that afforded a small amount of shade, officials said. Why do I do it? Curry said when asked why he was hiking in unbearably hot temperatures Why not? Curry reportedly refused offers of help, telling the LA Times he was more concerned with keeping pace with younger hikers. As a punishing heat dome has brought record high temperatures across the US, Death Valley has become a magnet for tourists keen to experience the iconic desert landscape in sweltering conditions. The national park, which runs along the Nevada-California border, saw the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth of 134F (57C) in July 1913. For the past week, it has baked in temperatures of up to 128F (53C) and is under an excessive heat warning until Sunday night. More than 100 million people across the US southwest remained under heat alerts this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. While much of the Southern U.S. has been in a prolonged heat wave this July and the heat expected to build in the West this weekend, it appears our colleagues @NWSCPC are forecasting an expansive heat wave at the end of next week across the majority of the Lower 48 and Alaska. pic.twitter.com/thxaaIG0U5 National Weather Service (@NWS) July 21, 2023 Curry, a retired electrician from Sunland, Los Angeles, was remembered by family as an adventurous and warm-hearted man who had caught the bug for hiking. He just had this desire to go there, his wife, Rima Curry, told KTLA. He wanted to take this one hike and it did him in. Curry had taken wilderness training courses and was happiest sleeping outside under the stars, his wife said. He was a loving man, very good soul, good-hearted, enjoyed people, loved the outdoors. Hikers called 911 after finding Curry unresponsive near the Furnace Creek Visitors Centre on Tuesday, according to officials. National Park Service park rangers performed CPR and used a defibrillator but were unable to revive him. Steve Curry, 71, died while hiking in Californias Death Valley on Tuesday (Family handout) Curry was the second person to die in Death Valley this month, after a 65-year-old California man was found dead in his car in the national park on 5 July. The man appeared to have suffered a heat-related illness that caused him to drive off the road. His car was found 30 yards off the North Highway with two flat tires, the National Park Service said. A thermometer at the visitors centre recorded 121F at the time of Currys death but the real-feel temperature would have been much higher, officials told the LA Times. The Inyo County Sheriffs Office said the cause of death was believed to be heat-related. This weekend, temperatures are expected to climb past 130F in Death Valley. Signs warn hikers not to venture out after 10am but despite this many still choose to head out in the punishing heat. Across the planet, heatwaves stoked by the climate crisis, combined with a warming El Nino pattern, have set new records this summer. In the US, all-time temperature records have been approached in the San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert and Great Basin regions. In Phoenix, Arizona, temperatures have been above 110F (43C) for the entire month of July. And there appears to be little respite in the coming days. The National Weather Service said they expected an expansive heat wave across the majority of the lower 48 states and Alaska at the end of next week. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As unrelenting, record-breaking temperatures continue across many states, pressure is mounting on US healthcare systems due to an increasing number of people in heat distress coming through their doors. In the Southwest, doctors are relying on tried-and-tested measures such as body bags packed with ice to quickly bring down dangerously high body temperatures. Doctors at Memorial Hermann Medical Center in Houston, Texas, told The Independent that there has been an increase in the number of patients presenting with heat-related illnesses including heat stroke, which can be potentially fatal if not treated rapidly. Our affiliated providers rely on the tools they have readily available in the emergency department and the latest, evidence-based research including but not limited to ice baths, ice-filled packs, fans, circulating cold liquids into the body, and more to effectively bring down body temperatures as quickly as possible and save lives, a representative wrote in an email. Dr Frank LoVecchio at Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix where the temperature has been above 110F for three weeks told CNN that emergency care was needed three to four times each shift to save the lives of patients with heat-related conditions. Brain damage can occur at body temperatures above 107F in a matter of minutes. Temperatures have entered uncharted territory around the world this summer due to an emerging El Nino pattern and the ever-worsening climate crisis driven by the burning of fossil fuels. June was the planets hottest month in human history, and July looks set to at least match that record. This is our new normal but countries and people can take steps to mitigate the harms, said Hans Kluge, regional director for the World Health Organisation in Europe. Nine locations have recorded temperatures of 122F (50C) in recent weeks, according to climatologist Max Herrera. At 50C it is hard to cool down because more heat is entering the body than leaving it, due to the differential in temps between body and air, Prof Lewis Halsey, from Life and Health Sciences at the University of Roehampton London, whose has researched the impacts of extreme heat on the heart, told The Independent via email. A pedestrian cools off in water sprinklers along the sidewalk during a heat wave in Las Vegas, Nevada last week (AFP via Getty Images) This is particularly acute when the air is somewhat humid because then sweating to lose heat through evaporation doesnt work sweat doesnt evaporate if the air is already wet. In the US, more than 107 million people were under alerts this week as temperatures remained in triple-digits in Arizona, Texas, Nevada, and California with parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coast expected to follow. While hot summers are common in many of these states, the current heat levels are unprecedented. And since heat has fallen into a governance gap historically, as Phoenixs chief heat officer David Hondula told The New York Times on Thursday, public health communities and lawmakers are racing to catch up to the new reality. Passengers stretchered off Delta flight after getting sick from heat In cities across the US, cooling centres are now the norm along with a jump in high-pressure misting systems, hydration stations and infrastructure specifically designed to provide shade particularly in concrete and glass-heavy downtown areas which retain higher temperatures as so-called urban heat islands. Yet these measures have not stopped people turning up at hospitals suffering from contact burns caused by searing pavements, dehydration, heat exhaustion and heat stroke along with myriad life-threatening conditions including strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure and respiratory conditions. Extreme heat is also known to exacerbate mental health problems, and cause pregnancy complications. Dr Neelima Tummala, clinical assistant professor of surgery at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences and co-director of GWs Climate Health Institute, said that the number of medical professionals focused on the overlap between climate change and health problems has grown tremendously in the past five years. How extreme heat can impact our health (Climate Signals) I think that [medics] are really recognizing how much their patients are being impacted by extreme heat, Dr Tummala told The Independent. I definitely have increased the amount that I counsel patients on extreme heat and how to protect themselves, more than I ever thought I would have as an EMT physician. Heat causes more deaths in the US than all other climate-related disasters combined. It is incredibly deceptive at times enveloping people in temperatures much higher than they realise when humidity is factored in. Last year, the US set a new record of 1,708 deaths from heat-related causes, according to provisional data from the CDC. That figure 1,200 more deaths than 20 years ago is still likely to be massively underestimated. Some groups are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat children, pregnant people, the elderly, those with underlying health conditions and outdoor workers. Marginalised communities face greater risks: Native American and Black communities have the highest rates of heat-related deaths in the past 20 years. Historically racist housing policies - such as redlining or construction of highways through Black neighborhoods have played a role in creating heat island areas that can be up to seven degrees hotter than average. But really, Dr Tummala points out, everyone is at risk from extreme heat. A person receives medical attention after collapsing in a convenience store on July 13, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. EMT was called after the person said they experienced hot flashes, dizziness, fatigue and chest pain (Getty Images) Whats safe outdoors for one person may not be the same for another, she said. Alongside demographics, much depends on the level of physical activity: a construction worker, for example is going to face a lot more strain than someone going for a light stroll, for example. Heat puts stress on every organ, she said. If you previously had a heart attack or have high blood pressure then additional heat stress causes the heart to work extra hard, and is what increases the risk of another heart attack or developing heart failure. Children are at risk because they dont tend to sweat as well as adults one of the bodys essential cooling mechanisms - and are likely to be more active outdoors. A big concern with younger children is they may not be able to communicate when they're feeling really tired, stressed, or fatigued, things that we have sort of learned to identify as potential symptoms of heat stress, Dr Tummala said. Heatwaves are also a dangerous time for those who dont have access to air conditioning - either because they cannot afford it in their home, or because they are living on the streets. This is one of the most essential tools for staying cool, especially during these extreme heat events, Dr Tummala noted. The US healthcare system averages 67,512 ER visits and 9,235 hospitalisations due to heat each year, according to the CDC. Last summer, the Arizona Burn Center reported 85 admissions from heat-related burns caused by sidewalks and outside surfaces that can reach 180F with seven patients subsequently dying from their injuries. More than a quarter of patients were unsheltered. These injuries are serious but preventable, said Dr Kevin Foster, Arizona Burn Center Director. External surface temperatures can reach 180 degrees Fahrenheit, and deep cutaneous burns can happen with only brief contact. Exposure often occurs in patients with impairments that prevent them from quickly removing themselves from such contact, leading to severe injury. The US is expected to experience 3F-12F of average temperature rise this century, depending on effectively the world tackles the climate crisis. It means that more frequent and prolonged heatwaves will become part of life for many. Homes, workplaces and infrastructure urgently need to be adapted and people made more aware of the risks, climate and health experts have warned. It is more important than ever that we put in place measures to limit the harm on our health, said Dr Modi Mwatsama, head of capacity and field development at the health research foundation Wellcome, wrote in an email. These can be simple solutions like providing shade and painting buildings white to reduce heat, to investing in early-warning systems for climate-sensitive infectious disease outbreaks such as cholera. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Lewis Hamilton said he held his breath for the 76.6 seconds it took him to capture his first pole position in 595 days for Sundays Hungarian Grand Prix. The seven-time world champion held off Red Bull foe Max Verstappen by just three thousandths of a second as he danced his Mercedes to top spot in an exhilarating qualifying session at the Hungaroring. Lando Norris finished third following another impressive afternoon for the rising McLaren star, one spot ahead of his team-mate Oscar Piastri. George Russell managed only 18th on a day to forget for the Mercedes man. Hamiltons one-lap triumph here described as a work of art by his old rival Nico Rosberg is his first since the penultimate fixture of the contentious 2021 season in Saudi Arabia, 33 races ago. The following round in Abu Dhabi where Hamilton was denied a record eighth world title by Michael Masis controversial refereeing marked the last time he started a race from the front row. Verstappen began from pole on that contentious evening in the desert. On Sunday, it will be Hamiltons turn. Hamilton roared with delight over the team radio before holding his head in his hands and then saluting the raucous crowd as he stood on top of the front-right tyre of the Mercedes machine which carried him to his ninth pole in Hungary and 104th in all. A cursory handshake for Verstappen followed. Ive lost my voice from shouting so much in the car, said Hamilton, moments after stepping out of his cockpit. In the official press conference reserved for the top-three drivers, Hamilton added: I forgot what it feels like to sit in this spot. He (Verstappen) has been hogging it for a while. I dont think I breathed for the whole lap, I held my breath. I was so out of breath at the end. It is an extraordinary feeling. I have not been here for such a long time. Even with the success I have had before, and this is my 104th pole, it feels like the first. It is hard to explain how special it feels. Hamilton trailed Verstappen by 0.126 sec prior to the concluding runs. But he usurped the Dutch driver, who failed to improve on his last lap, with his final throw of the dice. He was the last man to cross the line. I witnessed those special moments and the days he used to have, and today was one of those, said Rosberg, who beat Hamilton to the 2016 title. That lap is like perfection, it is art. Only Lewis Hamilton can do that. Hamilton has won more times in Hungary than anybody else, and claimed his first victory in Mercedes colours at this venue a decade ago. Last year we were nowhere, said Hamilton. I have always had belief that if we apply ourselves the right way we would get there, and it was just a question of how long that would be? But we started this season with the twin sister or twin brother of the previous years car. It felt identical and that was worrying. When you lose that confidence you shed a lot of time. I had no confidence in the car. It was so nervous, and it felt like I was treading on eggshells. I started out this season with very little confidence, but bit-by-bit I got the thing on the right tracks, so the confidence has finally come back. We have been on this journey of undoing the wrong decisions we have taken and it has taken far longer than we hoped, but we are starting to see those benefits. Converting his 104th pole into his 104th victory will not be an easy task for Hamilton. Verstappen has won eight of the 10 rounds so far and his Red Bull team are unbeaten this season. We tend to have decent race pace, concluded Hamilton. Maxs race pace yesterday in practice was quite extraordinary. They were quicker than us. But if there is a way to hold position then maybe there is a fighting chance for us. I am as keen as I am to win tomorrow as I did for my first win in Montreal in 2007. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} America Ferrera has pointed out one revolutionary detail that she remembers noticing in the original Barbie Dreamhouse. In a new interview for the Harpers Bazaar UK Summer issue, the US actor, 39, discussed Barbies progressive but inelegant history since its creation in 1959. Ferrera stars as the character Gloria in the new Barbie film, which was released in the UK today (Friday 21 July). Gloria is a longtime Barbie fan and assistant to the chief executive of Mattel. Speaking to Harpers Bazaar, Ferrera said that growing up, she was never a Barbie girl but there have been revolutionary moments in Barbies history when Mattel has made subversive statements about womanhood. Ferrera points out that there was no kitchen in the first Barbie Dreamhouse, which freed the doll from expectations of domesticity. The Dreamhouse, which debuted in 1962, was made entirely of cardboard and had one room. It had a television set and a record player but no kitchen. This was in contrast to early dollhouses, which were usually made with the intent of teaching young girls about domestic tasks such as cooking and cleaning. However, Barbies Dreamhouse was more focused on her leisure she had a TV set and record player instead. On the shelves and walls of the original Barbie Dreamhouse, books and varsity pennants suggested that Barbie was college-educated. The dolls single occupancy of the home also signalled that Barbie was an unmarried, young woman living independently in the Sixties. American Ferrera for Harpers Bazaar UK (Harpers Bazaar UK / The Masons) Felix Burrichter, the co-editor of the book Barbie Dreamhouse: An Architectural Survey recently toldThe New York Times that the first Barbie Dreamhouse played on the idea of a bachelor pad, instead representing a bachelorette pad. This was also the time of the Playboy bachelor pad and the idea of a single occupancy home for a freewheeling bachelor, but here you have the female version of that, Burrichter told the publication. While celebrating the more progressive moments in Barbies history, Ferrara told Harpers Bazaar UK that there have been some inelegant times, too. We also look back and see the exclusion of so many of us how long it took for [Barbie] to have a Black friend, and then she had another ethnically ambiguous sort of brown friend, she said. There were very inelegant times of change and growth. America Ferrera stars on the digital cover of Harpers Bazaar UK (Harpers Bazaar UK / The Masons) To be perfectly honest, I was never a Barbie girl, Ferrera admitted. I didnt play with Barbies for a number of reasons. We couldnt afford them. And they just didnt resonate with me. I didnt see myself reflected in that world in a way that captured my imagination. The Ugly Betty actor praised director Greta Gerwig and the Barbie team for addressing the problematic and sometimes controversial history of the dolls. They didnt ignore what was problematic about Barbie, or the multitude of perspectives that people have, Ferrera said. Read The Independents five-star review of Barbie here. Barbie is out in cinemas now. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A woman has been praised for her refusal to switch her first-class seat on a plane with a child. On Thursday (20 July), TikTok user Dr Sabra (@lifewithdrsabra) took to TikTok to share the experience she had on her recent flight. She posted a video of herself seated in the first-class section of a plane along with a caption that read: POV: Flight agent asks me if I want to give up my 1A seat so a child sits with their family. The big smile on her face indicated she was pleased with her decision to stick with the ticket she originally paid for. Thats a no from me dawg, would you have given up your seat? Also they ended up finding a solution so no, I am not a terrible human being. Also the child was like 13, she wrote in the caption of the video, which has since been viewed more than 3m times. The TikTokers viewers agreed that there was no need for her to switch, especially because of the position of her seat. As one viewer pointed out, her 1A position would not have another seat directly next to it. Dr Sabra confirmed they were right, but the family wouldve still been across the aisle from each other had she switched. However, Dr Sabra claimed it was not the familys fault they werent sat together, but the airlines, after one supporter commented: Never switch unless it is an upgrade. Others poor planning is not your fault. Nope, cause as a mom, it is a parents responsibility to plan ahead. Just travelled to Europe for one and a half months with my toddler and no one had to move, another viewer said, while someone else agreed: As a parent, you didnt do anything wrong. I cant even bring myself to ask someone to please get up so that I can use the loo, but there are literally people out there who ask to trade seats? one person asked. Worst part is the kid is usually like 12 and perfectly capable of being on their own for the flight, a viewer noted. The TikTok users post comes after the CEO of global jewellery brand CONQUERing recorded a similar incident. Tammy Nelson was flying on Delta Airlines from Cincinnati, Ohio, to San Jose, California, when she was asked to swap seats with a woman who wanted to sit next to her two children. Nelson told Newsweek that she thought she may have been looking at the wrong window seat, but her ticket confirmed the mother was sitting in her place. 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, she told Newsweek. The woman did not proceed to get up and explained she thought she could sit in Nelsons seat since she was with her children. Nelson didnt want to be difficult, but she confessed to her followers that she tends to get sick on flights and window seats help ease the nausea by allowing her to sleep. Just like they did with Dr Sabra, people commended Nelson for not giving up the spot she had booked. 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, one follower said. The two influencers arent the only passengers to experience a request for a seat swap as theres been a recent uptick in the number of people sharing their own stories on social media. Most individuals admit they refused to move, and, according to a travel etiquette expert, they are valid in doing so. Diane Gottsman, a national etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, spoke to The Independent about the one appropriate instance in which someone can request another passenger to switch their seat after having prebooked it. If a parent had tried their absolute hardest to find seats next to their children, but was unable to secure them, only then is it acceptable to ask if they can take someones spot on the plane, train, bus, or any other mode of transportation. However, Gottsman encouraged those parents to first ask a ticket agent or someone from the travel company if there is a possibility of changing or switching seats before you board the plane or train because you dont want to put the person you are asking in an awkward position or count on their goodwill. The Independent has contacted Dr Sabra for comment. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Toxic flame retardants have been found in human breast milk, research has revealed. A new peer-reviewed study published in the Environmental Pollution journal has identified 25 types of toxic flame retardants in human breast milk in the US, posing a disturbing threat to breastfeeding infants. After analysing breast milk samples of 50 mothers from the Seattle area, researchers at Toxic Free Future, Emory University, the University of Washington, and Seattle Childrens Research Institute found brominated flame retardants (BFRs) a class of man-made compounds commonly used in products like upholstered furniture, televisions, and insulation. Researchers have warned that these chemicals, as well as the presence of flame retardants in human breast milk, can have an adverse effect on human health and early-life exposures are of greatest concern. One type of flame retardant found in the breast milk samples were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), despite these compounds being phased out by manufacturers nearly 10 years ago. Efforts to ban PBDEs came around in 2003 after the toxic chemicals were found in the breast milk of 20 mothers in the US. Chemical producers quickly stopped the sale of PBDEs for use in upholstered furniture, and they were eventually banned by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Companies then turned to another, largely unregulated BFR called bromophenols, which are used in electronics and have been shown to affect hormone levels in infants. While the research found that levels of banned PBDEs had declined in breast milk samples 70 per cent lower than they were 20 years ago bromophenols were present in 88 per cent of the breast milk samples tested, ultimately replacing one banned chemical with another, unsafe chemical in the same class. Our results show that when we prohibit the use of persistent toxic chemicals like PBDEs, we make breast milk safer for babies, said Erika Schreder, study co-author and science director at Toxic Free Future, a group that has advocated for new regulation of industry and consumer products. But its disturbing to find that the replacement chemicals are now building up in breast milk. Brominated flame retardants are often put into casings for TVs and other electronics. Studies have shown that these chemicals can escape out of products into indoor dust and air, outdoor air, surface water and of course, breast milk. BFRs have also been linked to negative health impacts such as learning problems, hormone disruption, and reduced fertility. Its concerning to find flame retardants in breast milk that can disrupt hormones and affect childrens brain development, said Dr Amina Salamova, study co-author and assistant professor at Emory Universitys Rollins School of Public Health, adding that bromophenols have already been found to affect key thyroid hormones during fetal development. Local, state, and federal policy makers have since taken steps towards regulating harmful flame retardants. In December 2021, New York governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a bill that restricted the use of flame retardants in furniture, mattresses, and electronic displays. The law also prohibited the use of organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs) in electronic enclosures, such as televisions. The European Food and Safety Authority has also banned or restricted the use of certain BFRs and BFR-treated products throughout the EU to protect health and the environment. I hope we can learn our lesson this time and put policies in place that address the entire class and make sure chemicals used in products are known to be safe, said Schreder. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Mattel has sparked criticism for stealth marketing to children after a new programme gave away free Barbie dolls in schools, a move that health experts are claiming reinforces damaging gender stereotypes. The toy manufacturer launched the Barbie School of Friendship programme this year, in which free Barbie dolls were given to an estimated 150,000 students in 700 schools across the UK to teach social skills. However, in an investigative piece published in the British Medical Journal on 20 July, many experts have questioned the programmes potential negative effects of gender stereotyping, as well as companies freely marketing their products in schools. The project makes me suspicious that it may be exploitative, Philippa Perry, a psychotherapist and author of books on parenting and education, told the BMJ. I feel faintly repulsed by it. Commercial entities like Mattel are not experts in childrens health or education, they are experts in selling products to maximise profits, said May van Schalkwyk, a specialty public health registrar. The Mattel materials are heavily branded why should children be exposed to this type of stealth marketing? The Barbie School of Friendship programme cited research funded by Mattel and completed at Cardiff University in Wales, in which playing with dolls offered major benefits for child development, including nurturing social skills such as empathy. Students took part in a series of role-playing lessons designed to consider nuance and the importance of empathy using dolls. To do so, schools were provided with a set of 12 Barbie and Ken dolls, lesson plans, certificates, stickers, a poster, and other educational and promotional items all branded with the companys logo. Leaflets aimed at pupils also said, Enter the Barbies School of Friendship Competition for a chance to win a Barbie Toy Bundle worth 100!! and instructed students to draw a friend/Barbie/Ken expressing a feeling of their choice to send in to SUPER for a chance to win. SUPER is the marketing company involved in creating and promoting the programme. The Barbie movie hits cinemas on 21 July in the US and UK ( 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.) While one expert called the initiative alarming, some educators said that Mattels offer to provide free resources was a positive, given the current lack of funding in schools. According to the BMJ, a 2020 paper found higher brain activity in children when they played with Mattel dolls, rather than playing with electronic tablet computers. A Mattel-sponsored study of the same experiment group also found in 2022 that the children playing with dolls used more internal state language to describe feelings and thoughts. Despite the positive results of the study, psychologists pointed out that the research should not be used to make conclusions about the long-term developmental effects of children playing with dolls. Sarah Gerson a senior lecturer at Cardiff University, the senior author of both studies, and a recipient of Mattels research funding told the BMJ that Mattels school programme and exercises themselves arent directly based on our research. However, it seemed that both Mattel and SUPER were aware of some of the criticisms the Barbie School of Friendship programme might receive from parents and health experts. We didnt want teachers to think this was a commercial venture to sell more Barbies, said Aaron Lipman, the founding director of SUPER the marketing company behind the programme. He added that the response to the educational materials have been phenomenal, with schools subscribing to the programme in record speed. Meanwhile, a Mattel spokesperson maintained to the BMJ that the Barbie School of Friendship programme delivered positive results among students and the company was considering expanding the programme to other markets. The Barbie movie is a near-miraculous achievement ( 2022 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.) The Independent has contacted Mattel for comment. In anticipation of the widely-acclaimed Barbie live-action film, starring Margot Robbie and directed by Greta Gerwig, Mattel has rolled out a number of campaigns to promote both the Barbie movie and its Barbie products. Zara, Gap, Crocs, and Airbnb have all announced pink-filled collaborations with the Barbie film and Mattel. The vacation rental company even offered fans the chance to stay in a real-life Malibu Barbie Dreamhouse for one night, free of charge. As health experts question how Mattel-sponsored initiatives could reinforce damaging gender stereotypes, many parents are also wondering if the Barbie movie is safe for their children to watch, due to its PG-13 rating. A PG-13 rating is generally given to titles that the Motion Pictures Association (MPA) feels include some material that may be inappropriate for children under 13. Barbie was granted this rating for suggestive references and brief language. Still, critics are raving about the Barbie film after it received an impressive 89 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes during its opening weekend. The Independents Clarisse Loughrey also called it a near-miraculous achievement in her five-star review. Barbie is out in cinemas on Friday 21 July in the US and UK. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ben Fogle has offered to pay to reunite Australian sailor, Tim Shaddock, with his dog, after an emotional separation. The 49-year-old broadcaster presented the kind gesture in a recent Instagram post. As he reflected on learning about Shaddock and his pet, Bella, who were recently separated after spending three months adrift in the Pacific Ocean, he offered to help them. I was so moved and inspired by the story of Tim and Bella that I want to help them to be reunited again, Fogle wrote. I would like to offer to pay for the quarantine and travel of Bella to Australia to join Tim Shaddock. In the comments of the post, many fans praised the Animal Park presenter for the offer. Such a lovely and generous gesture Ben. The world needs more people like you, one wrote, while another added: Youre a good man, Ben. Some fans asked Fogle to share an update about if he can reunite Shaddock and Bella, with one writing: Please let us know how this goesIt broke my heart when I read theyd been separated. Earlier this week, the 51-year-old Sydney resident and the dog were found off the coast of Mexico after being lost at sea for nearly three months. According to local news reports, the pair survived by eating raw fish and drinking rainwater. The doctor who attended to the sailor said he had normal vital signs and said his dog is stable and very well. The pair first set off on their voyage in April, from La Paz in Mexico to French Polynesia. Weeks into the trip, their boat was severely damaged in a storm, leading to them having to spend their days trying to survive while waiting to be rescued. Approximately two months later, it was reported that a helicopter accompanying a tuna trawler spotted 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. Shaddock later revealed that hed decided to leave Bella in Mexico, after a crew member from the rescue boat promised to give her a happy and loving home. Bella sort of found me in the middle of Mexico. Shes Mexican, he explained. Shes the spirit of the middle of the country and she wouldnt let me go. I tried to find a home for her three times and she just kept following me onto the water. Shes a lot braver than I am, thats for sure. Speaking to the Associated Press on Tuesday, Shaddock said that while he plans to return to Australia to see his family, hes unsure when hell return back to sea. A little over a week after Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Republicans launched efforts to drive up early and absentee voting, Democrats formally launched their own similar efforts but its not a totally new concept for them. Del. Charniele Herring, D-Alexandria, called the effort, dubbed The Majority Project, an extension of the push for early and absentee voting that Democrats have done since first spearheading expanded voting access in 2020 and 2021. This is something that its natural to us as Democrats, Herring said. Its something that we believe in, because we believe people should have access to the ballot. While the formal launch and name of the initiative was revealed this week, the Democratic caucuses say the work first rolled out this past May. The program builds on Democrats previous encouragement to vote early, and they hope it will be key to keeping their majority in the Senate while attaining it in the House of Delegates. During a special election earlier in the year, Aaron Rouse, a Democrat from Virginia Beach, had an edge in early and absentee voting culminating in his victory for a state Senate seat over Republican Kevin Adams. House Minority Leader Don Scott Jr., D-Portsmouth, said he thinks Republicans learned a lesson from that. They found that out in the special Senate race, and thats why they know theyre behind, he said. When Republicans launched Secure Your Vote Virginia, their early voting campaign, Youngkin said, We cant go into Election Day down thousands of votes. 100 hired in districts statewide Meanwhile, to ramp up the messaging for The Majority Project, about 100 people have been hired in districts around the state to help with door-knocking and phone calls. While Scott did not disclose the exact price tag of the effort, he said it was close to seven figures. They have an unprecedented fundraiser on the other side, and he spent $20 million of his own money to become governor, he said. We know that theyre motivated to spend money and so we have to spend our money in a smart way. According to the Virginia Public Access Project, Youngkin did donate $20 million to his campaign. Meanwhile, his Spirit of Virginia political action committee has raised over $10 million since its launch in 2021 and can play a role in supporting GOP candidates. The PAC gathered $1 million in May from an out-of-state LLC and $1 million in April from Thomas Petterfy, who used to donate to presidential hopeful and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Youngkins campaigning last summer for GOP gubernatorial candidates in other states sparked speculation that he might be flirting with the idea of a presidential run in 2024 or onward. While his term does not end until January 2026, analysts say he might need to carry his agenda further in Virginia before he could vie for the White House. Control of General Assembly at stake All 140 seats in Virginias General Assembly are up for election this year on new district maps and a handful of them are competitive races where both parties see opportunity to flip a seat or bolster their power. During this years General Assembly session, Democrats held a four-seat edge in the Senate while Republicans held a four-seat edge in the House. Youngkin, who has not ruled out a presidential run, first announced the Republican push for early voting on the Fox News Channel to its national audience. Scott, the House Democratic leader, said: Weve been champions of early voting, of voting access, drop boxes ... doing everything we can to make voting accessible. And Republicans have been doing everything in their power to roll it back. In 2020 and 2021, when they held a majority in both chambers and held the governorship, Democrats passed measures to expand access to voting. Many Republican lawmakers have since introduced or supported bills to undo or walk back the measures. Republicans who supported bills in this years session to eliminate absentee ballot drop boxes and to trim the length of early voting have since expressed support of the GOPs new early voting effort, Secure Your Vote Virginia. Im glad that the Republicans finally are seeing the light that early voting is a good thing, Herring said. A key issue for Democrats this year is protecting access to abortion, and their majority in the Senate has allowed them to halt GOP efforts to enact bans or restrictions on the procedure. Other proposals among Democratic candidates involve efforts to reduce gun violence and investments in education as well as environmental protections. Early voting begins in September. During the election season that spans between then and Novembers Election Day, Scott said the passion for Democratic platforms will be found out. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ulrika Jonsson has shared that her son was teased in school after she posted a picture of her naked body on social media. The Swedish-born TV presenter has four children between the ages of 28 and 15. In her recent column for The Sun, Jonsson, 55, shared her views on recent comments made by Made in Chelsea star Ashley James about misogyny and the pressure and judgement placed upon womens bodies. Jonsson stated that while women facing more body scrutiny compared to men is unfair, in her view, it is par for the course and something to be expected when sharing pictures online. While making her point, Jonsson recalled the reaction when she posted a nude picture on Instagram. The other day, my youngest male Ungrateful [Malcolm] a hormonal 15-year-old boy confided in me that hed been teased by some older boys at school about the fact that I post nudes on social media. After adding that Malcolm was understandably upset and concerned, the former Gladiators host noted that he was referring to an image she posted for the mens mental health charity, StrongMen. The photo shows Jonsson outdoors while her naked body is in profile as she covers her most important bits with a strategically placed wheelbarrow. After two weeks, the photo was removed from the platform due to a claim that she was soliciting sex. Ulrika Jonsson (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) Jonsson then noted that while some applauded her for her courage, she was also trolled for the daring picture. Some said I looked scrawny and old, that I was attention-seeking, sad and desperate, she said. This is par for the course when women show off any parts of their bodies or pose sexily. We expose ourselves physically and we become targets for those who have opinions about our bodies. Malcolm is Jonssons youngest child, whom she shares with her ex-husband Brian Monet, an American advertising executive. Though they split in 2019, Jonsson and Monet lived together during the Covid pandemic to co-parent their son. In 2021, Jonsson told Best magazine that Malcolm had suffered bullying at school some years prior, saying that seeing her son suffer nearly killed me. I felt I was expecting him to have greater resilience than my girls and, all the while, I wanted to shield him from the pain, she explained. In short, I had different expectations of him and I shouldnt have. Am I the only one who thinks we need to tip the balance of attention in favour of our boys a bit more? For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Brazils President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a decree Friday tightening restrictions on civilian access to guns in Brazil, in a move aimed at reversing the pro-firearms policies of his right-wing predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. The decree reduces the number of guns civilians can possess for personal safety from four to two, reduces the allowed ammunition for each gun from 200 rounds to 50 and requires documentation proving the need to hold the weapons. It also bars civilians from owning 9 mm pistols, restricting them to members of the police and military. It's one thing for the regular citizen to have a gun at home for his protection, as a guarantee, because some people think this is safety. Let them have it. But we cannot allow gun arsenals to be in the peoples hands," Lula said Friday during a signing ceremony. During Bolsonaro's presidency from 2019 through 2022, the former president had said good citizens should be entitled to protect their families and their assets, and loosened rules on the possession of guns and ammunition. Though Brazil has no constitutional right to bear arms, Bolsonaro argued that an armed populace will never be enslaved. Estimates of the number of guns in civilian hands more than tripled to 2.9 million in a country of 214 million people, according to the Instituto Sou da Paz, a non-profit that monitors public security. That remains far lower than in the United States, and despite the increase in guns, Brazils rate of slayings remained stable during Bolsonaro's term. The number of homicides during his last year in office, 2022, was at about 47,500 and roughly even with the 2019 rate, according to a report published Thursday by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety. The Igarape Institute, another public security think tank, along with Sou da Paz, lauded the new restrictions in a statement saying they were another step to regain responsible parameters and legal security in controlling guns in Brazil. Lula's government is encouraging citizens to sell firearms that are not allowed under the new rules before the end of the year or face confiscation by the Federal Police. The new rules also solidify the status of the Federal Police as official watchdog over guns, sidelining the military, which previously held that role. In May, Lula's justice minister had imposed a deadline for citizens to legally register firearms with the Federal Police. That previously was typically done by the military, but Lula's new left-wing government has cast doubts on the reliability of the armed forces in carrying out that function because of the tendency of many of their members to support Bolsonaro. We will keep on fighting for a disarmed country. Who should be well equipped with guns is the Brazilian police and the federal armed forces," Lula said. Shooting ranges that proliferated during Bolsonaro's government and were relatively unregulated now face new restrictions. They can operate only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and must be at least 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) away from schools. Lula's new policy also changes the duration of a gun permit from 10 years under Bolsonaro to new limits of three to five years, depending on the holder. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A derelict mansion has been destroyed in a huge blaze on one of the UK's most expensive streets, known as 'Billionaires' Row'. Dozens of firefighters rushed to the multi-million-pound property just before 1am on Friday after reports of a house fire on The Bishops Avenue in Barnet. The fire raged through the house for almost three hours, before being brought under control by 3.30am. The roof of the three-storey mansion was completely destroyed in the blaze. Part of the ground floor and first floor were also damaged. The fire caused heavy smoke which was so thick it could be seen and smelt in central London. Residents in the nearby area were warned to keep their doors and windows shut due to the smoke. The cause of the fire is not yet known. The roof of the three-storey mansion was completely destroyed in the blaze (London Fire Brigade via Twitter) The Bishops Avenue runs from the north side of Hampstead Heath to East Finchley and is one of the worlds richest streets. Properties in the area are priced up to 65m, and attract wealthy owners such as the Sultan of Brunei. A 2014 Guardian investigation revealed 16 of the properties on the street were derelict and have not been lived in for several decades. One resident said only three of the houses are occupied on a full-time basis. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Black man who won an employment tribunal after being racially abused by a manager at Halfords has spoken of his anguish - and his outrage that the senior staffer still works for the company. Christopher Best, 34, took Halfords, one of the UKs largest retailers, to task this year arguing that he was discriminated against on the grounds of his ethnicity. It was found that his colleague, Mr Pillay, targeted him with abuse for over a year, comparing him to a monkey crying for bananas and telling staff I dont care - Im going to be racist. Mr Best was awarded 5,000 for injury to feelings by the tribunal, while Mr Pillay was found to have breached the Equality Act by harassing his colleague more than once between October 2020 and November 2021. Speaking exclusively to The Independent for the first time since the tribunals ruling, Mr Best said: Mr Pillays actions breached the stores own policies on gross misconduct, so, to me, it stands to reason that he should be sacked. During the period of time that I suffered abuse from Mr Pillay, I felt victimised, angry and violated. There were times when I felt like I wanted to explode but I kept a cap on it, mindful of the consequences of being seen as a troublemaker. Its disgusting that even in 2023, we still come across people who behave like Mr Pillay. Being on the receiving end of racist abuse from Mr Pillay came as a horrible shock to Mr Best. The former employee was appointed as a Service Sales Advisor in 2012 at the Brixton branch, south London, before his contract was terminated in 2021. Mr Best argued racial harassment and unfair dismissal; however, the latter allegation was unfounded. Just 0.2 per cent of discrimination claims relating to ethnicity end up being heard at an employment tribunal, according to research from the Resolution Foundation in November . Mr Bests case against Halford was fuelled by a desire to hold the retailer accountable and he says rejected an opportunity to settle out of court for a five-figure sum. I turned it down because I couldnt do it and live with a clear conscience, Mr Best explained. In the beginning, I wasnt even going to fight back. But then I realised that my case was strong. The money didnt matter to me; it was more the principle of exposing how this man had treated me and the company. I hoped that good people will no longer be subjected to this treatment. Thats what was important. Despite the tribunals outcome, Mr Best still doesnt think justice has been served because Mr Pillay appears to still be employed by Halfords. How can justice have been achieved when Mr Pillay is still working there? When it comes to equality within corporate organisations, I dont think theres any denying that Black people fare worse than other ethnic groups. Halfords has not responded to multiple comment requests from The Independent, however, it has been confirmed that Mr Pillay is still employed by the company. He was still employed by the company when the tribunal took place in February 2023. Despite the tribunals outcome, Mr Best still doesnt think justice has been served because Mr Pillay appears to still be employed by Halfords (PA Media) When we called the store on Friday, they said Mr Pillay now works at another branch. In recent years, the retailer has repeatedly come under fire for alleged racism in its ranks. The Independent previously revealed that Halfords is being sued for 1 million by a former Black employee who alleges racial discrimination. This case remains ongoing. Mr Adjei-Dawkins, who didnt want his first name used, worked at Halfords as an assistant manager where he claims to have been bullied by managers and paid less than white colleagues in junior positions. The 32-year-old said he was continuously subjected to the treatment during his five-year tenure and was stereotypically labelled as aggressive, despite having no prior disciplinary records, according to documents seen by The Independent. Regarding Mr Adjei-Dawkins, a Halfords spokesperson said: We dispute in the strongest possible terms all of Mr Adjei-Dawkins claims. We have a large and diverse workforce, and we work hard to foster a welcoming and inclusive culture. Halfords operates over 600 stores across the UK and Ireland, with over 10,000 staff members. According to court documents, it is run by exclusively white board members. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The UK is imposing visa requirements for all visitors from five nations, with Suella Braverman citing abuse of the migration system as a reason. The home secretary said the changes were being made solely for migration and border security reasons and insisted it is not a sign of poor relations with Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. In a written statement to MPs on Wednesday, she said Dominica and Vanuatus operation of a citizenship by investment scheme has shown clear and evident abuse. The two Commonwealth allies have been granting citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK, she said. Ms Braverman said there had been a sustained and significant increase in nationals from Namibia and Honduras who had abused their right to visit the UK for a limited period without a visa in order to claim asylum. As such, Namibians and Hondurans rank first amongst non-visa nationals for asylum claims, she wrote. These high numbers are unsustainable, contributing significantly to operational pressures which have resulted in frontline resource being diverted from other operational priorities. Namibia is another member of the Commonwealth of 56 mainly former British colonies. As for Timor-Leste, Ms Braverman said there had been a sustained increase in its nationals arriving at the border as non-genuine visitors. She said they often had the intention to fraudulently claim EU Settlement Scheme status as dependants or to work illegally in the UK. Ms Braverman was allowing a four-week transition period for those who hold confirmed bookings to the UK to travel without visas before the new requirements come into force. It comes as the government cracks down on migrants attempting to claim asylum in the UK by crossing the Channel, with the Illegal Migration Bill now poised to become law. It passed its controversial plans to tackle the small boats crisis this week after defeating a final series of Commons challenges by Tory moderates. The provisional number of migrant crossings for 2023 so far is 13,774, which is still lower than the more than 15,000 arrivals recorded this time last year. Overall, 45,755 people made the journey in 2022. The reforms will prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means. The government also hopes the changes will ensure detained people are promptly removed, either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda, which is currently the subject of a legal challenge. UN human rights chief Volker Turk and UN high commissioner for refugees Filippo Grandi led outrage at the plans. In an unusually critical joint statement, they warned the Bill will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection and breaks the UKs obligations under international law. Downing Street defended the Bill, with the prime ministers official spokesman saying: We are confident we are acting within international law. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police have appealed for potential victims of a photographer who raped a model in his London studio to come forward. Sritharan Sayanthan, 42, lured a woman who paid him for pictures to a local pub by convincing her it was a networking event, police said. He then encouraged her to get drunk very quickly, before leading her back to his studio on Brompton Road, central London, where he raped her after she passed out on the floor. The woman, in her 30s, may not be the only one attacked by Sayanthan, police said, after he was imprisoned for 11 years at Hendon Crown Court on Friday. The photographer, of Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, London, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of rape and another of attempted rape, after the woman reported him in July last year. Detective Constable Sophie Baker, of the Met Polices Central North Command, said two historical allegations of sexual assault against clients by Sayanthan in 2012 and 2015 were used as bad character evidence against him in court. She said: The victim survivor in this case was fantastic from start to finish. For victims, describing the incident in court can be daunting but she did amazingly and I am personally very proud of her bravery and thankful to her for coming forward. We also believe there could be other victims of Sayanthan and would encourage anyone who wants to speak to us to come forward. No piece of information is too small and you will be listened to and supported. Anyone with information about Sayanthan should call police via 101 with reference 1852/31JUL22. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The current rules around preventing a revolving door of former ministers being rewarded with plum jobs in the industry they previously presided over are toothless and needed strengthening, a peer has said. Lord Pickles, chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba), has welcomed measures to apply fines for those found in breach of vetting procedures. Under a new ethics regime announced by Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden this week, former ministers who breach the rules on post-government jobs could be hit by financial sanctions. One major change is designed to prevent breaches of Acoba rules something former prime minister Boris Johnson was recently accused of after giving the committee 30 minutes notice of taking up a new post as a Daily Mail columnist. They are toothless and they need a new pair of gnashers to bite Lord Pickles, Acoba chairman A ministerial deed will be designed to legally commit ministers to the rules on accepting jobs after they leave office, binding them by the same restrictions as civil servants. When asked why he welcomed the measures, vetting watchdog chief Lord Pickles told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Because they (the current rules) are toothless and they need a new pair of gnashers to bite. I often write to the Deputy Prime Minister to say: Such-and-such has caused a problem, and what you do is a matter for you. It is an act of kindness on my part that I say: Not that you can do anything, because the rules are useless. These will make the rules legally binding on ministers and on civil servants and it will make very clear that people who regulate cant expect to go into the same sector when they leave Government. And that applies to civil servants as well as ministers. In order for people to actually take these things seriously, there has to be a financial penalty. The Conservative peer said fines would be reserved for the most egregious and blatant abuses. Lord Pickles, a former Cabinet minister during David Camerons premiership, said Mr Johnson had the opportunity while in Downing Street to change the rules around former ministers and MPs taking up media work. Mr Johnson, who quit as an MP last month in protest at a Commons probe concluding he lied to Parliament with his partygate assurances, was found to have committed a clear and unambiguous breach of Government rules and the ministerial code after giving only half an hours notice to Acoba about his paid job writing for the Mail. Asked about whether the former premier would have received a punishment under the new rules, Lord Pickles said: We had recommended to Boris when he was prime minister that we didnt really think that newspaper columns or appearing on television, or if said minister decided to become a presenter on the Today programme, we didnt think that was terribly important. We are interested in the governments interests, so under the rules we are suggesting, just standard conditions would apply to that, so if Boris had listened to us, there would not have been any story. BBC presenter Nick Robinson, in what appeared to be a reference to GB News hiring Tory MPs, replied saying: Interesting. We dont allow politicians to present the Today programme it is only on other networks that they think that that represents impartiality. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Keir Starmer turned his fire on parts of his own party on Saturday as he sought to keep Labour on the path to No 10. Addressing the forum that will help set the agenda for his partys manifesto, the Labour leader warned against giving Conservatives ammunition at the next election. He held up Fridays bruising by-election loss in Boris Johnsons old seat as a cautionary tale, warning the party it had to face up to and to learn the lesson of the defeat. We are doing something very wrong when a Labour party policy was on each and every Tory leaflet, he said. Addressing Labours national policy forum in Nottingham, which brings together members and affiliated groups to discuss the next manifesto, Sir Keir said: Weve got to ask ourselves seriously are our priorities the priorities of working people or are they just baggage that shows them we dont see the country through their eyes? Sources said Starmer was cautioning in his speech that the forum should reflect the needs of the public. The Tories held Uxbridge in west London by focusing on Labour mayor Sadiq Khans much-disliked plans to charge motorists with more polluting cars. A source close to Sadiq Khan said he was listening and always looking at ways to address concerns. But Starmer warned his party that the result shows policy matters when it comes to elections. Later in Bedfordshire, where a by-election is expected soon in Nadine Dorriess seat, Starmer said the party would not change its controversial plans to keep the two-child benefits cap in place, which last week sparked a mutiny among Labour MPs. (PA) Starmer told broadcasters: I've been absolutely clear that we won't have any unfunded spending commitments, so we proceed on that basis. And that is why we're not going to change our policy on the two-child benefit cap. But we have to recognise that that is as a result of the damage that the Tories have done to our economy. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak is facing calls from within his own party not to escalate culture wars that divide the electorate as he eyes policies on small boats and crime in a bid to avoid electoral annihilation. Government sources made clear the prime minister intended to have crunchier political arguments around areas such as immigration, where the Conservatives believe Labour is weak, in the months ahead. But they indicated he would shy away from a fight on trans rights, a move which risks disappointing the right of his party. Senior Tories have warned Sunak he is doomed to lose power if he does not change course ahead of the election. One senior Tory told The Independent that he feared an escalation of dog whistling on culture war issues from his own party in the run-up to the election. Starmer has blamed Khan and his hated expansion of the ultra-low-emission zone (Ulez) for their shock defeat. Danny Beales, Labours defeated candidate in the Uxbridge by-election, launched a vicious attack on the emissions scheme at the forum, saying the policy had cut us off at the knees and handed the seat to the Tories. He also declared: Ulez is bad policy. It must be rethought. Keir Starmer leafleting during a visit to Shefford (PA) On Friday Starmer said it was clear Ulez was the reason the Tories won and urged Khan to "reflect" on the expansion. "We know that [was the reason for defeat]. We heard that on the doors. And we've all got to reflect on that, including the mayor," he said. Labour MPs from outer London now plan to send a delegation to Khan to urge him to pause the scheme, according to reports. Labour MPs have told The Independent that Khan and the party should now ditch the policy. Siobhan McDonagh, the MP for outer London seat Mitcham and Morden, urged Khan to "suspend" the expansion and find a way to make sure "those with the broadest shoulders" carry the burden for any changes. "I think Sadiq should suspend the start date and have another look at it," she said, adding that the 12.50 charge set to be imposed on outer London drivers from August was essentially a "regressive tax". Ms McDonagh said: "It's a laudable aim to improve air quality, but the question is whether this is the right way to do it." Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan (PA) But Sadiq Khan defended his controversial Ulez expansion, sticking to his guns on the rollout planned for August, which aims to cut emissions and improve air pollution, on Friday. "Of course I am disappointed that this seat, which has never been Labour in my lifetime, didn't go Labour last night," he said. He added: "The decision to expand the ultra-low emissions zone was a tough one, but it's the right one. We do want to clean up the air in London. I think it's a human right, not a privilege. Nobody puts up with dirty water. Why dirty air? I'm hoping Ulez is expanded by the end of August. Despite Labours hopes of overturning a 7,000 majority and helping to deliver a humiliating triple by-election defeat for Sunak, the Tories' Uxbridge candidate Steve Tuckwell managed to hold on by 495 votes. The Labour candidate Beales had expressed his reservations about the Ulez policy midway through the campaign, arguing that August was not the right time to expand the daily charge on cars that do not meet emissions standards. But Mr Tuckwell, who opposed the policy, effectively thanked Khan for handing him victory. "It was his damaging and costly Ulez policy that lost them this election," he said. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rail passengers face fresh travel misery on Saturday because of a strike by thousands of workers in a long-running dispute over pay, jobs and conditions. The walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union will badly disrupt services, with some parts of the country having no trains all day. Services are also being disrupted because of a ban on overtime by train drivers in the Aslef union. The deadlocked dispute is being made worse by a bitter row over controversial plans to close most railway ticket offices. Passenger groups have joined unions in condemning the move, warning it will have a serious impact on elderly and disabled travellers. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said staff will be moved from behind screens and on to station concourses, but unions believe more than 2,000 jobs will be axed. The RDG said that since the first RMT strike in June 2022, industrial action had cost the sector around 620 million. A statement said: This has stalled its post-pandemic recovery and threatens its long-term sustainability, pushing the industry in to a spiral decline and risking consequences like cuts to services to make up the shortfall. Revenue levels are still 30% below pre-pandemic levels. The strikes have hit the wider economy particularly sectors still recovering from the impact of the pandemic which employ hundreds of thousands of people. Analysis by Hospitality UK shows that with the upcoming rail strikes set to cost hospitality 132 million in sales, the cumulative impact of the rail strikes is 3.25 billion. The Night Time Industries Association said their members took a 40% hit on strike days at a time when nearly three-quarters of their members are either just breaking even or losing money due to the wider cost-of-living crisis. The RMT held a strike on Thursday and will stage another walkout on July 29. The strike at 14 train companies on Saturday is expected to see wide variations in services across the country with trains starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. In some areas only around half of train services are expected to run while others will have no services at all. An RDG spokesperson said: The rail strikes called by the RMT union and the overtime ban by Aslef will undoubtedly cause some disruption, affecting not only the daily commute of our passengers but also disrupting the plans of families during the summer holidays. This will lead to disappointment, frustration, and financial strain for tens of thousands of people. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and understand the impact on individuals and businesses. While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced services between Monday 17 July and Saturday 29 July, so our advice is to check before you travel. Picket lines will be mounted outside railway stations across England and workers say they are receiving strong support for their action from the public. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said striking rail workers were still waiting for an invitation back to the negotiating table. Weve been on strike for over a year, this campaigns probably been running for two years. The issues are the same. Theyre attacking our jobs. Theyre making redundancies. Theyre closing services. We havent had a pay rise for four years and the people that remain, they want to cut our conditions and issue new contracts of employment. There is not an agreement in sight at the moment but we remain available for negotiation with the companies and with the Government, but thats up to them to invite us back to the table so that we can work up some solutions to the dispute. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: The Government has met the rail unions, listened to them and facilitated improved offers on pay and reform. The union leaders should put these fair and reasonable offers to their members so this dispute can be resolved. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A conservative California school board staunchly opposed to teaching gay rights in its social studies curriculum finally reversed course after holding a heated nine-hour debate and publicly feuding with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. On Friday, Temecula Valley Unified School District voted to adopt Californias Cultural Contributions textbooks, reversing a May vote rejecting the curriculum. A hearing was held in June during which many parents disagreed with the boards 3-2 decision, followed by a nine-hour meeting earlier this month. Governor Newsom had threatened to not only send the textbooks to Temecula but fine the district $1.5million if it did not implement curriculum which had been approved by the State Board of Education for Grades 1-5. Were going to purchase the book for these students the same one that hundreds of thousands of kids are already using, the governor tweeted on 13 July. If these extremist school board members wont do their job, we will and fine them for their incompetence. Fortunately, now students will receive the basic materials needed to learn, he said in a statement following the Temecula districts decision. But this vote lays bare the true motives of those who opposed this curriculum. This has never been about parents rights. Its not even about Harvey Milk who appears nowhere in the textbook students receive. This is about extremists desire to control information and censor the materials used to teach our children. Much of the districts controversy had centred on Mr Milk, the first known out gay man to hold public office in California who was assassinated at San Francisco City Hall in 1978. Allison Barclay, a board member of the Temecula Valley Unified School District, told CNN that there was no mention of Harvey Milk in the textbook that I know of. He is listed in a supplemental section titled Biographies where there are several hundred short, age-appropriate biographies of historical figures, she said. Within the curriculum lessons, she said, there are several sections, such as artists, architects, writers, educators, discussing Californians who made substantial contributions in these areas. Under the heading Protests, one paragraph discusses gay rights in California and under the heading Court Cases, there are two paragraphs that discuss the court cases that allowed gay marriage in California. Gov Newsom a vocal opponent of book bans and other Republican efforts across the country, not just California continued in his Friday statement: Demagogues who whitewash history, censor books, and perpetuate prejudice never succeed. Hate doesnt belong in our classrooms and because of the board majoritys antics, Temecula has a civil rights investigation to answer for. Significant runway improvements are coming to Shenandoah Valley Airport in Weyers Cave after federal funding was announced on Wednesday. Virginia U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine Wednesday announced nearly $45 million in federal funding for Virginia airports, including a large amount for Shenandoah Valley Airport. Shenandoah Valley Airport will receive $7.572 million from the Federal Aviation Administrations airport improvement program for runway rehabilitation. The airport improvement program funds infrastructure projects for airports, such as runways, taxiways, airport signage, lighting and markings. Heather Ream, the director of marketing and communications for Shenandoah Valley Airport, said the funding came after receiving a detailed runway inspection. She said the FAA grades the inspection. The inspection revealed the need for rehabilitation. Rehabilitation is cheaper than reconstruction, Ream said. And much time has elapsed since the airports runway has been upgraded. Ream said the last work was done in 2006. The work is likely to happen during non-peak hours by a contractor. Ream said a contractor would perform the rehabilitation overnight when flights are not departing or arriving, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. A contractor will be selected after proposals are received. Ream said the timetable is the spring or early summer of 2024. She said the anticipated time to complete the improvement to the runway is six to eight weeks. Warner and Kaine spoke of the need to improve Virginias airports through maintenance. The two senators said, Local airports are crucial for travel to, from, and throughout Virginia. Were glad to see this funding continue to support investments at airports across the Commonwealth that will improve safety and efficiency for travelers. On Contour Airlines, Shenandoah Valley Airport offers daily round trips to Charlottes Douglas International Airport. Contour has been serving the airport since November of last year. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Convicted BTK serial killer Dennis Rader has laid out the similarities between himself and newly-arrested Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann. 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 in 2010 within one-quarter of a mile of each other in the Long Island community of Gilgo Beach in New York state. 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. Now Rader, who is serving ten life sentences in a maximum security Kansas prison after he confessed in 2005 to killing 10 people over a span of three decades, has called Mr Heuermann a clone of me. Rader gave himself the title of the BTK killer because he bound and tortured his victims before killing them. I was arrested age[d] 59. Married, two kids, Rader wrote in a letter sent to Fox News Digital. Husband, dad longtime a serial killer, stalker, used electronic devices, lives in a neighbourhood undetected. Earlier this week, Raders daughter Kerri Rawson told The Independent that shes heartbroken for Mr Heuermanns family. 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, Ms Rawson said. 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. Mr Heuermanns wife Asa Ellerup filed for divorce on Wednesday, just five days after his arrest. In a statement to The Independent, Ms Ellerups attorney said the familys was devastated. As you can imagine, our client and her family are going through a devastating time in their lives, attorney Robert Macedonia said. The sensitive nature of her husband's arrest is taking an emotional toll on the immediate and extended family, especially their elderly family members. Convicted BTK serial killer Dennis Rader said in a letteer to Fox News that Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann was a clone of me (SCPD) 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. 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. Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told ABCs Good Morning America that law enforcement agencies across the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and even nationwide are also reviewing cold cases that Mr Heuermann may be tied to. Las Vegas and South Carolina police are also reviewing unsolved cases in the areas where Mr Heuermann owns properties. Close Carlee Russell: Police give timeline of disappearance Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Carlee Russell wore a big smile when she had her mug shot taken as she was charged with two misdemeanour counts for faking her own disappearance and kidnapping in Alabama. An arrest warrant was issued Friday, on charges of false reporting to law enforcement authorities and falsely reporting an incident. Ms Russell was released from jail later that day after posting bond, her lawyer said. The Alabama woman disappeared on the evening of 13 July after calling 911 claiming she was stopping to help a toddler walking alone on Interstate 459. She returned home two days later and claimed she had been kidnapped and barely managed to escape. Police revealed last week they were unable to verify many of Ms Russells claims and pointed to her relevant internet history which included searches for Amber Alerts and the movie Taken. Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis told local WVTM 13 that investigators had sussed out the hoax long before her confession. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of sex crimes after he allegedly posed as a high school student at two Nebraska high schools. Zachary Scheich, using the alias Zak Hess, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault and one count of sex trafficking a minor using an electronic device. All of the victims identified are female, and police said Mr Scheich allegedly communicated with them via phone and computer. Investigators said he allegedly attended multiple schools in the Lincoln Public Schools district during the time he was incognito. He graduated from the same school district in 2015, police said. The school district learned that an adult man was impersonating a student during its 2022-2023 school year using the name Zak Hess. The district then alerted police on 1 June, which started an investigation into the alleged impersonation. Police said Zak claimed to be 17 and he began the year attending Northwest High School and later transferred to Southeast High School for the second semester of the year, according to USA Today. Officers eventually determined that the man claiming to be Zak graduated from Lincoln Public Schools in 2015, and found he was actually 26. Records from the district show he was in attendance as Zak Hess for 54 days. Mr Scheich is 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds, allowing him to blend in with the students at the high school. Once police determined the man posing as Zak had contact with juvenile students they were able to secure an arrest warrant. Zachary Scheich, 26, was charged with sexual assault and sex trafficking a minor after allegedly posing as a high school student at two Nebraska high schools (Lincoln police handout) The district responded by sending out an alert to families at both schools which provided a summation of what had occurred. According to the district, the man began attending Northwest High School in October 2022 and then transferred to Southeast in January of 2023. The district received a tip on 31 May that an adult man may have been attending the school disguised as a junior. After receiving the tip, the district contact the police and provided them with the information it had received. Police say they confirmed this month that Mr Scheich enrolled and attended the high schools, leading to his arrest on Thursday. The district distributed his photo to school officials and warned them not to allow him on the premises. It further explained that Mr Scheich allegedly faked documents to enrol himself in the school. The district said it would review its enrollment process to prevent future abuse. Some parents dont vaccinate, some homeschooled kids dont have transcripts when they come in, we have kids from across the world who come in who dont have birth records, Lincoln Public Schools Director of Security Joe Wright said during a press conference. He said the district has a statutory responsibility to provide education to any child 20 years old and younger, according to the Lincoln Journal Star. Whats provided to us is sometimes not as thorough as we like or as proof positive as this kind of case would make you think, but thats whats required of us. Police are investigating potential victims relating to the impersonation. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rex Huermanns sister-in-law has opened up about the difficult situation his wife is facing following the father-of-twos arrest in connection with the Gilgo Beach murders. Thirteen years after a trail of bodies were discovered in the shoreline community of Gilgo Beach, the Suffolk County Police Department made a long-awaited arrest in the case last week. Rex Heuermann, 59, was taken into custody and charged with the murders of Amber Costello, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman. The architect and father-of-two has pleaded not guilty, with his attorneys telling the media that he broke down in tears as he insisted on his innocence after his arraignment hearing. However, Mr Heuermanns wife Asa Ellerup, who is said to be devastated in the wake of her husbands arrest, has already filed for divorce. Speaking with NBC News, Ms Ellerups half-sister Dr Johanna Ellerup said the family is going through a uniquely difficult time. 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 Ellerup told the outlet. My ego has great difficulty processing the idea that I looked Rex in the eye and was unable to discern any murderous intentions. Ms Ellerup filed for divorce on Wednesday, just five days after Mr Heuermann was taken into custody while he walked in a busy street in Midtown Manhattan street near his architecture business. In a statement to The Independent, Ms Ellerups attorney said she and her adult children have asked for privacy as they reel from the news that Mr Heuermann is accused of brutally killing at least three women before dumping their bodies just five miles away from the Massapequa Park home where the family lived. As you can imagine, our client and her family are going through a devastating time in their lives, attorney Robert Macedonia said. The sensitive nature of her husbands arrest is taking an emotional toll on the immediate and extended family, especially their elderly family members. Authorities search the home of suspect Rex Heuermann, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Massapequa Park (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Mr Heuermann first came onto investigators radar last year, when a witness identified 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. 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 sexual abuse images and disturbing content. Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told ABCs Good Morning America that law enforcement agencies across the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and even nationwide are also reviewing cold cases that Mr Heuermann may be tied to. Las Vegas and South Carolina police are also reviewing unsolved cases in the areas where Mr Heuermann owns properties. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Private equity billionaire Leon Black agreed in January to pay $62.5m to the US Virgin Islands to be released from potential claims related to the territorys investigation of the Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking ring. The settlement, obtained by The New York Times via a public records request, stipulates that the agreement shouldnt be construed as evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the former Wall Street executive. Mr Black engaged and made payments to Jeffrey Epstein for legitimate financial advisory services, which, based on everything now known, he very much regrets, a spokesperson for Mr Black told the paper. Consistent with settlements of other major US banks, Mr Black resolved the USVIs potential claims arising out of the unintended consequences of those payments. There is no suggestion in the USVI settlement that Mr Black was aware of or participated in any misconduct. This July 9, 2019 photo shows Jeffery Epstein's estate on Little Saint James Island in the U. S. Virgin Islands (Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Mr Black knew Epstein, who killed himself in prison in 2019, for decades and the pair both socialised together and had deep financial ties. The billionaire reportedly paid Mr Epstein $158m for financial planning. The pair cut business ties in 2018 because of a fee dispute, representatives for Mr Black have previously said. In 2021, Mr Black stepped down from Apollo Global Management, the private equity firm he co-founded. Following his resignation, the firm hired the law firm Dechert to investigate his ties to Epstein. Dechert cleared Mr Black of wrongdoing but noted that payments to Epstein far exceeded any amounts to his other professional advisors. The settlement with Mr Black is part of the US Virgin Islands larger investigation of the Epstein sex trafficking ring, where numerous girls and young women were sexually abused on the disgraced financiers private island estate in the territory. In November, Epsteins estate agreed to pay $105m to the US Virgin Islands government to settle a lawsuit. In December, the territory sued JPMorgan over its lengthy history with Epstein, which accused the Wall Street firm of having pulled the levers that allowed the financier to abuse girls and women on a mass scale, doing business with Epstein years after he had been red flagged by the bank as a child sex offender. The bank has denied wrongdoing and argues that it was officials in the US Virgin Islands who were complicit in the abuse. He gave them money, advice, influence, and favors. In exchange, they shielded and even rewarded him, the bank argued in a May court filing. Last month, a judge approved a $290m settlement between JPMorgan and victims of Epsteins abuse. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A woman claiming to be the winner of the $1.08bn Powerball jackpot was spotted at the California convenience store where the ticket was sold. An unidentified woman who was evidently overcome with emotion was captured on video eagerly hugging people at the unassuming Las Palmitas Mini Market in downtown Los Angeles. Reporters at the store tried to interview the woman, who may hold the third-largest jackpot in Powerballs history, but she appeared to be too ecstatic to talk. I cant even ... I cant, she said as she fought tears of joy. Im scared right now, Im so scared. She managed to nod when asked if she was the winner but as she rushed out of the store, the woman collapsed on her knees and continued sobbing as she waved her hands in the air. She then drove off in a BMW, according to Inside Edition. Nabor Herrera, who owns Las Palmitas Mini Market, told the outlet that he thought it was fake because he didnt recognise the woman. However, Mr Herreras daughters said they believe the woman is the daughter of a customer who bought the ticket. The California Lottery said the formal process to officially identify the winner will take longer. Anybody claiming to be the winner isnt valid until we say it is, spokesperson Carolyn Becker said at a press conference outside Las Palmitas Mini Marker on Thursday morning. The winner has secured an estimated $1.08bn, the sixth largest in US history, while store owners have also won a $1m bonus for selling the lucky ticket. The winning numbers for Wednesday nights drawing were white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. A woman claiming to be the Powerball winner was spotted at the store that sold the ticket on Thursday (KTLA) Mr Herrera told KTV-LA that he didnt realise hed sold the winning ticket until he arrived for work early Thursday and saw the heavy media presence outside of the store. I tell you, its a surprise for me, I didnt know what it is filming or what, the father-of-four said. Mr Herrera, who has owned the store for seven years, said he planned to use his $1m seller bonus to expand his business and take his family on a vacation to Cabo San Lucas or Cancun in Mexico. The large prize also helped raise money for California Public School System for every ticket that is sold, 80 cents go to public school funding. Thanks to this jackpot that grew for 39 different draws, the California Lottery raised nearly $80 million for public schools just from the last three months, Ms Becker said. California State Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker speaks during a news conference outside the Las Palmitas Mini Market (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The California Lottery announced on Wednesday that only one ticket across the country had matched all the six numbers in the draw. The organisation said that an additional seven tickets matched 5 of the numbers which means that these ticket holders will also win a prize of $448,750 each. The Golden State luck was in full force as California also sold SEVEN additional tickets that matched 5 numbers missing just the Powerball, winning $448,750 each, in Hayward, La Puente, Los Angeles, Northridge, San Francisco, Santa Clara, and South Lake Tahoe, the lottery said in a tweet. Las Palmitas Mini Marker is around the corner from LAs notoriouss Skid Row neighbourhood and just a 30-minute drive from the convenience store in Altadena where Powerball winner Edwin Castro purchased his ticket for last Novembers $2.04bn jackpot. The jackpots winner can choose the total jackpot paid out either in yearly increments or a one-time lump sum. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Members of the US Senate have backed calls for safe haven for an Afghan pilot threatened with deportation to Rwanda, saying he and other veterans should not be left in legal limbo. The pilot, who served alongside coalition forces in Afghanistan, said he hoped he might be able to find a new life in the US, but slammed the UK government for failing to offer him refuge. The Afghan Air Force official, who arrived in Britain last year, says he feels abandoned by the UK Home Office who are refusing to process his asylum claim. American senators from across the political divide told The Independent that Afghan allies who supported coalition forces should be supported to new lives in the States. The Independent is campaigning for the pilot and other Afghan veterans to be given asylum in countries for whom they have bravely risked their lives. Dozens of military chiefs, politicians, diplomats and celebrities have backed the call. The Republican senator Thom Tillis, from North Carolina, said that the fact that people who helped US service members are stuck in third countries needed to be fixed. He said initially that many people worried that Afghans coming to the United States would not be properly vetted. I think many of those things worked themselves out and we still owe them, he said. I believe we owe it to those who serve alongside our men and women and our Nato partners and allies, to get them where they want to be. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, told The Independent that Afghan veterans should not be left with uncertain immigration status. She said Afghans who helped our military literally are holding letters from top military people saying that they saved their lives and they should not be in legal limbo. The pilot, who flew combat missions in support of British and US forces, arrived in the UK via a boat last November and has been waiting to find out his fate ever since, with his young family in hiding in Afghanistan. The threat of deportation to Rwanda has still not been removed despite the UKs Court of Appeal ruling that the governments returns agreement is illegal. Without the notice being removed, his application for asylum in the UK cannot progress. He told The Independent: I dont know why they havent removed the notice. I am scared they are still trying to send people to Rwanda and of course I am worried about what they will do next. Lately, I am completely disappointed in the UK government. The US senator Amy Klobuchar said Afghans who helped the military should not be in legal limbo (Getty Images) The airman has been forced to turn to the US for help, with the White House pledging to take care of the folks who helped us during the longest war in this country. He is being considered for possible sanctuary in the US and has had his initial relocation interview. In order to access the so-called P1 scheme, he had to be personally referred by a US official. Speaking about his disappointment with UK, he said: At the moment, I feel like it doesnt matter who you are, or what you did with the allies, troops or partner countries. Right now I hear lots of Afghan diplomats, military generals, and others, they are saying that the government doesnt care about us, who we are and what we did with them. I think the government is not seeing us as colleagues. When they came to Afghanistan, they were saying we are your friends and we will help you. Now I think they have completely forgotten us. Republican senator Thom Tillis is a co-sponsor of the Afghan Adjustment Act (Getty Images) The pilot spoke about his hope that the US would accept him: I am happy that the US government is helping me, but on the other side I am not happy about the instability of not knowing where I should be or where I will be. I dont know which country I will be in and my family needs comfort and a new life. Dan Jarvis, a Labour MP and former soldier in Afghanistan, said: This pilot risked his life on combat missions in support of coalition forces. That he faces the threat of deportation from the UK to Rwanda stands as a mark of shame on No 10 Downing Street, whose policy position is increasingly at odds with the much more decent approach taken by the White House. He continued: There is considerable angst amongst the Armed Forces community and beyond that the UK government seems unwilling or unable to honour the commitments made to these men. This isnt just a point of principle, its a matter of honour and a failure to do the right thing in this case will further undermine our international reputation. Joe Bidens White House has pledged to take care of the folks who helped us during the longest war in this country (AFP/Getty) Kevan Jones MP, of the defence select committee, added: "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to these individuals and the government dragging its feet on supporting them is a national disgrace." Most Afghans who arrived in the United States were permitted on temporary humanitarian grounds. But a bipartisan group of senators is trying to change the law to adjust their status to permanent resident. The group wanted to add the Afghan Adjustment Act, to a series of must-pass bills during the final year of the 117th Congress. But senators failed to garner enough support to include their legislation in final versions of last years National Defense Authorisation Act (NDAA). Ms Klobuchar, the Minnesota senator, is one of the Afghan Adjustment Acts Democratic sponsors. She told The Independent she hoped the bill would pass in the future and had strong support from senior Republicans on the Senates Armed Services, Judiciary and Veterans Affairs committees. Were building support and would hope to have a vote on the defense authorisation act, she said. Another Democratic sponsor of the Adjustment Act, Delaware senator Chris Coons, told The Independent the legislation is about fulfilling Americas commitment to its veterans. "The core objective of this bill is to ensure that every Afghan currently here is vetted and has a pathway towards a legal status in the United States making it possible for additional Afghans who served alongside our troops and the troops of our treasured Nato allies like the United Kingdom, to have a safe path in a safe passage to our country while addressing legitimate security concerns of my colleagues is a valuable core purpose of this bill," he said. Sign The Independents petition calling for UK to support Afghan war heroes who served alongside Britain A UK government spokesperson said: Whilst we dont comment on individual cases, we remain committed to providing protection for vulnerable and at-risk people fleeing Afghanistan and so far have brought around 24,500 people impacted by the situation back to the UK. We continue to work with like-minded partners and countries neighbouring Afghanistan on resettlement issues, and to support safe passage for eligible Afghans. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Mississippi Republican state Sen. Jeremy England says he intentionally wore what he considers a very embarrassing Halloween costume to raise money for breast cancer research a shiny pink bodysuit with a short pink skirt. Now, England says a photo of him in the outfit has been misused, with a slur directed at him, in an increasingly divisive GOP primary as he supports Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for reelection. A person backing one of Hosemann's opponents posted an image of the tutu-clad England on Twitter along with a comment: Hosemann and his groomer weirdos. "I consider that to be some of the worst, dirty form of politics which is, of course, where we are now in this race, England told The Associated Press. "Groomer is commonly used to describe how sex offenders initiate contact with their victims. The word has become ubiquitous in American politics as certain conservatives try to equate certain educational materials with pornography or pedophilia. Hosemann faces two challengers in the Aug. 8 primary. State Sen. Chris McDaniel has run two unsuccessful U.S. Senate races in the past decade, including a bitter race against longtime incumbent Thad Cochran in 2014. Tiffany Longino is an educator who is spending little in her first run for public office. If nobody wins a majority, the race goes to an Aug. 29 runoff. In a new Hosemann TV ad, England says he supported McDaniel in 2014 for Senate but now considers that a mistake and is endorsing Hosemann for a second term as lieutenant governor. England said that soon after the ad started airing, he received a text message from state Sen. Melanie Sojourner, who is publicly supporting McDaniel. England said the message had no words just a photo of England wearing the tutu. It was obvious that she was sending that to me as a threat, England said. England responded to Sojourner with a HaHa on the picture and wrote he had worn the costume in his neighborhood to raise money for breast cancer research as part of the American Cancer Society's Real Men Wear Pink effort. The next day, another McDaniel supporter posted a similar photo of England on Twitter with the groomer weirdos reference. The tweet has been deleted, but England saved a screenshot of it. England posted about the episode on Facebook, and he revived his fundraising effort for the American Cancer Society. By Saturday he had raised more than $5,400. In response to questions from the AP, Sojourner said the tone of the text exchange between her and England is absent of any intention to threaten and/or bully Sen. England. She said he laughed and liked her messages. As the jokester of the Senate chamber, Sen. England's newfound decorum is both ironic and bizarre, Sojourner said. Sen. England is crying foul purely to score political points for his enabler in chief, Delbert Hosemann. Sojourner said she does not know whether the person who called England a groomer is associated with the McDaniel campaign. McDaniel said in a statement to the AP: To be clear: I do not condone any vitriol aimed at Sen. England, nor any of the toxicity our modern political environment breeds. Volunteers are what campaigns are won and lost on, but its impossible for any campaign or candidate to police every volunteer on social media. During the 2014 U.S. Senate campaign, some McDaniel supporters entered a nursing home without permission and photographed Cochran's wife, who had dementia. Images of her appeared briefly online. McDaniel said he had nothing to do with the incident. McDaniel refused to concede his loss in the GOP primary runoff after the Cochran campaign courted Black voters who usually cast ballots in Democratic primaries. Republican-led Mississippi is electing state officials this year, including a governor and a lieutenant governor. Although candidates for the two jobs run as a ticket in some states, the governor and lieutenant governor are elected separately in Mississippi. The lieutenant governorship is one of the most powerful positions in Mississippi government. The person presides over the 52-member state Senate, appoints Senate committee leaders and has great leeway to decide which legislation lives or dies. In the Nov. 7 general election, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor will face Democrat D. Ryan Grover, who reports spending no money on his campaign so far. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Department of Justice warned Texas on Thursday it plans to sue over the states decision to install a floating wall in the middle of the Rio Grande river, which forms the international border between the US and Mexico. The State of Texass actions violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, present serious risks to public safety and the environment, and may interfere with the federal governments ability to carry out its official duties, the DoJ wrote in a letter to state officials, which was obtained by CNN. The letter says US law prohibits the creation of any obstruction to the navigable capacity of waters of the United States, and further prohibits building any structure in such waters without authorization from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps). Guardsmen patrol as workers continue to deploy large buoys to be used as a border barrier along the banks of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas, Wednesday, July 12, 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution, Texas governor Greg Abbott said in a statement on twitter on Friday. We have sent the Biden Administration numerous letters detailing our authority, including the one I hand-delivered to President Biden earlier this year. (The governor claimed last year he is authorised under the US Constitution to carry out military-style actions along the border because of a clause concerning states under invasion, though legal scholars have said this is not an accurate interpretation of the provision.) The warning from the federal government is the latest challenge to the governors plan to install a 1,000-foot long aquatic wall of buoys and netting across the river at Eagle Pass, Texas, a busy border-crossing site. As The Independent reported, a local kayak guide has also sued the state, arguing that Texas doesnt have jurisdiction to build an impediment along an international borderline. Mexico has also said it is investigating whether Texas broke international law with the barriers. Youve taken a beautiful waterway and youve converted it into a war zone, Jessie Fuentes, a kayak guide who works on the Rio Grande, told The Independent. Migrant advocates have also strongly criticised the buoys. They argue such installations dont actually slow down immigration, but rather will push migrants towards ever more remote places to cross the border, increasing the likelihood they will face a perilous and potentially lethal crossing. An estimated 250 people died crossing the Rio Grande last year, and that was before Texas installed what amounts to a giant net in the river. Its been proven time after time that these so-called prevention through deterrence strategies dont work, Fernando Garcia of the Border Network for Human Rights told The Independent. They have not stopped immigration flows, but what they have done is they have put immigrants at risk. All of this is death by policy. Criticisms have also come from the inside. A Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper, one of countless state officers deployed to the border under Mr Abbotts Operation Lone Star, wrote in a message to superiors that the obstacles at the border, as well as alleged orders from the state to push migrants back into the water, showed that Texas has stepped over a line into the inhumane. The medic also detailed multiple instances in June and July in which military-style barriers along the Rio Grande caused migrants to suffer severe injuries and medical issues. He described a man who lacerated his leg on razor wire attached to a buoy while trying to rescue his son, a 15-year-old who broke his leg trying to avoid the floating barrier, and a 19-year-old who had a miscarriage while trapped in razor wire. We need to operate it correctly in the eyes of God, Trooper Nicholas Wingate told the Texas DPS. We need to recognize that these are people who are made in the image of God and need to be treated as such." Texas officials have denied ordering troopers to push migrants into the water, and the claims from the trooper are under investigation. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former president Donald Trumps legal team is once again trying to block an investigation into whether his allies broke the law in their attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia, The Washington Post reported. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has been looking into Mr Trumps teams efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. But Fulton County Superior Court Judge Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville recused the entire judicial bench in Fulton County from hearing the former presidents motion to disqualify the investigation. Rather, the judge reassigned the case to the Seventh Judicial Administrative District in the state for the appointment of a judge who is not a member of the district to preside over the case. Mr Trumps team filed an amended notion to disqualify Willis and end the findings. The 650-page document argues that fundraising for her re-election campaign on the back of this case and said Ms Willis, who is seeking re-election, has made requests for followers and campaign donations which referenced her prosecution of this investigation. As evidence, the Trump team cited a tweet from Adam Parkhomenko, a Democratic activist not affiliated with Ms Williss campaign, saying She is exactly the kind of candidate we must not only elect but re-elect. Ms Williss account later retweeted the message. The Georgia Supreme Court had previously rejected Mr Trumps lawyers to disqualify Ms Willis and stay all criminal proceedings in the case. Mr Trumps legal team has also tried to remove Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney from the case, citing his oversight of the special grand jury, which they called under an unconstitutional statute and through an illegal and unconstitutional process that violated the former presidents rights. Mr Trumps attorneys pointed to Ms Williss timelines for indictments in the coming weeks and called for emergency motions. Petitioner cannot sit on his hands while a prosecutor with a disqualifying personal interest uses unconstitutionally obtained evidence to drag him ultimately into a courtroom, they argued. Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of holidaymakers and residents have been forced to evacuate their homes and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes, as wildfires raged for a fifth day. Coastguard vessels and more than 30 private boats evacuated at least 2,000 people from beaches on the south of the island, and in total an estimated 30,000 people have been moved to safety, local officials said. Long queues of tourists were videoed walking with their luggage along a road as part of an evacuation operation, while smoke could be seen in the background. Those evacuated are being housed at an indoor stadium and at hotels on the island, said Konstantinos Taraslias, a deputy mayor of Rhodes. Three passenger ferries were also committed to host tourists during the night, the coastguard said. The wildfire had been confined to the islands mountainous centre, but aided by winds, high temperatures and dry conditions, it began to spread more widely on Saturday. Pine trees burning in a wildfire on the Greek island of Rhodes, on July 22 (Eurokinissi/AFP/Getty) Tourists are being evacuated as wildfire burns near Lindos, on the island of Rhodes (REUTERS) Local media reported the fires had reached three hotels, which had already been evacuated. Fire Service spokesperson Yannis Artopios said on Saturday afternoon that residents of four localities were sent SMS messages to evacuate in two places they were told to move to the northeast and in two others to the southwest. The British Embassy in Athens has also told people in Kiotari and Gennadi to evacuate to Plymiri. Tourists told how they had been forced to walk for hours in the searing heat to try and escape the smoke. Currently stranded in Rhodes escaping the wildfires on foot left everything at the hotel and fled with towels across our faces, said Paul Kalburgi on Twitter. My youngest just told me he doesnt want to die. Terrifying situation here. Another Twitter user, John Hughes, said he had to walk four miles in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a five year old. No possessions. Nikita Bassi tweeted: Arrived in Rhodes this morning to be told that wild fires have spread throughout and our hotel has been evacuated. No hotels anywhere for us to go and now looking for a flight home as news says the fires are getting worse around Greece. 600/700 people from the evacuated hotels are coming to this one hotel and are having to sleep in the lobby and outside on the sun beds. This is honestly crazy. I cant believe this is happening. Tourists are evacuated from hotels during a wildfire on Rhodes on July 22 (Eurokinissi/AFP via Getty Images) Clouds of smoke from a forest fire rise to the sky on the island of Rhodes, Greece (AP) Becky Mulligan, a British tourist on Rhodes, told the BBC that she was evacuated from her hotel with her sister and daughter, but was now stuck on a beach alongside hundreds of others. Theres just a small shack here and theres so many of us, she said. Theres children, its the middle of the day, we are just stuck here with no help, its disgusting. Another tourist, Simon Wheatley told the broadcaster that his hotel had initially said the situation was normal and there was no need to worry. His hotel was subsequently evacuated. We saw that a beach bar that we were at just the day before had burnt down. The smoke was so bad. We had to leave two bags of luggage, he said. Holidaymaker James Hall told Sky News: It was quite a bit of madness this morning. We noticed smoke and ash coming down and we got the government text, pretty much telling us to evacuate. And we walked south, as far as we could We dragged our suitcases for two hours in the 40-degree heat. Firetrucks line up as firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning on Rhodes Island, Greece (Reuters) He said that he was worried he would miss his plane home, adding: Honestly it was bizarre, if you are in a wheelchair or on crutches, the chances of you getting out in a timely manner was almost nil. We got instruction to go to the beach but we decided to keep walking. The sheer volume of smoke I dont imagine its particularly safe right now. Jet2, a budget airline that flies multiple daily flights from the UK to Rhodes during the summer, told The Independent that it was working to support tourists on the ground. We are aware of the fast-moving situation in Rhodes, and our in-resort teams are working to comply with the guidance of local authorities, a spokesperson said. The health, safety and well-being of our customers will always be our number one priority and we ask any customers in affected areas to follow the advice of the local authorities, or their hoteliers who will be acting under the advice of the authorities. Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning near Laerma, Rhodes Island (Reuters) A spokesperson for travel company Tui, which organises package holidays to Rhodes, told The Independent that they are aware of wildfires in the south of Rhodes and are monitoring the situation closely. A number of hotels have been impacted and our resort teams are working with the local authorities and following their advice to relocate impacted customers, added the spokesperson Our main priority is always the safety of our customers and we will proactively be in touch with anyone due to travel whos holiday is affected. Smoke rises from a wildfire on the island of Rhodes on July 22 (via REUTERS) Fire Service spokesperson Yannis Artopios added that more than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. The force includes 31 firefighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines. The situation in Rhodes is serious and extremely difficult. Due to the strong wind and quickly changing direction of the fire, firefighters had to withdraw and move, Slovak Fire and Rescue Services said on Facebook. The main front of the fire is a triangle, with two of its points near the sea and one in the mountains. On maps, each side of the triangle appears more than six miles long. Three coast guard vessels, plus one from the army, were evacuating people from two beaches. Twenty private boats were also assisting, and the Greek navy was sending a vessel. Tourists stand on a beach after being evacuated during a forest fire on the island of Rhodes (EPA) The blaze in Rhodes is the most fearsome of several blazes ongoing around Greece. The fire northwest of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, said Mr Artopios, although weather conditions, including temperatures set to reach 45C on Sunday and low humidity, mean there is a risk more wildfires might break out. The Fire Service has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes, as well as large swathes of the southwest, as category five, the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks on Sunday. There will be a brief respite in the heatwave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have said. Firefighting forces from eight EU countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Mr Artopios said. Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, mostly aerial equipment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Ukrainian attack drone blasted a Russian ammunition depot in central Crimea on Saturday, sparking a major explosion. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said that there have been no immediate reports of casualties, but that authorities were evacuating civilians within a five-kilometre radius. The Ukrainian military seemed to confirm it had launched the drone strike, after it claimed that it had destroyed an oil depot and Russian arms warehouses in the Krasnohvardiiske region of Crimea, the Ukrainian territory that Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Local news channels posted videos showing plumes of smoke above settlements, as explosions rumble in the background. The drone attack comes just as Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the countrys counteroffensive to push back Russian forces in occupied Ukraine is set to gain pace. The much-anticipated effort began later than Kyiv had expected due to a lack of sufficient ammunition supplies from allied countries. But Mr Zelensky said yesterday that the now weeks-old counteroffensive is about to shift in momentum, with Ukraine set to receive more weapons. He called on his allies to provide the war-torn country with more long-range missiles as well as advanced fighter jets, as he addressed international leaders at the Aspen Security Forum. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the audience in Colorado that the results of Ukraines military effort would only become clear once Kyiv had fully committed its forces. It is at that moment when they make that commitment that we will really see what the results of the counter-offensive will be, Mr Sullivan said. Already, recent days have seen Ukraine flexing its munitions capabilities, as videos have revealed the first confirmed use of US cluster bombs by Ukraine The US had announced previously that it would send the cluster bombs to Ukraine as a part of an $800m package. More than 100 countries have banned the use of these bombs as some of the bomblets may not explode and turn instead into mines on the battlefield, remaining a threat for a long time to come. The governor of Russias Belgorod region said on Saturday that Ukraine fired cluster munitions at a village near the Ukrainian border on Friday, but that there were no casualties or damage. A local woman sits in front of the damaged residential building in Shebekino, Belgorod region, Russia (EPA) Also on Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported that overnight attacks from Russia on 11 regions had killed at least eight civilians and wounded others. At least four people, including a married couple, were killed as Russian forces on Friday night shelled the settlement of Niu-York, said the regional prosecutors office in the eastern Donetsk region. On Saturday morning, Ukraines interior ministry said that two civilians died as Russian forces Friday struck Kostiantynivka, a city in the Donetsk region, from multiple rocket launchers. In a post on its official Telegram channel, the ministry said that another civilian was wounded in the same attack, which also destroyed 20 private homes, cars and a gas pipeline. Two more people were also killed near the northern city of Chernihiv, some 100km from the Russian border, as Russian cruise missiles destroyed the local cultural centre and damaged apartment blocks, the regional military administration reported on Saturday morning. Three civilians were wounded as Russian troops overnight shelled a town neighbouring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, local governer Serhiy Lysak reported. Londons famous Leicester Square was packed full of cinema fans on Friday 21 July, the first day of the Barbie and Oppenheimer screenings. Many movie-goers will be jumping on the Barbenheimer phenomenon, watching both releases on the same day. The two films feature radically different tones - Oppenheimer is Christopher Nolans three-hour biopic about the Father of the Atomic Bomb J Robert Oppenheimer, while Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, is adapted from the iconic toy franchise. Many cinema fans came dressed in pink for the occasion on Friday, and some shared their thoughts on the film after watching on opening day. Greek resident Chrysoula Renieri returned to her home on Thursday 20 July to discover what damage had been done after wildfires took hold of the building. Her house was tucked in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki because she and her husband loved living in nature. But earlier this week, winds fuelled a major wildfire that burned more than 35 square kilometres (21.7 sq miles) of forest and scrubland, including Renieris home. Everything was destroyed. We have suffered too much damage, she said. Renieri wasnt home at the time but her son and family had returned from a swim when the fire started a few houses away. The State Claims Agency has received 385 claims concerning CervicalCheck, including 79 psychological injury claims from members of the families of the women concerned. Photo: Getty Images A private lab firm facing multiple legal proceedings arising from the CervicalCheck programme scandal last year paid out 10m in settlements and legal costs connected to legal cases from the scandal. That is according to new accounts filed by the Dublin-based Medlab Pathology Ltd which has been sued in the High Court by a number of women concerning alleged failings in the firms participation in the HSEs CervicalCheck programme from 2011 to 2019. In the third set of annual accounts to be filed by the firm in recent weeks, they disclose that the company paid out 10m in gross payments in the 12 months to the end of June 2022 arising from a number of High Court actions. The accounts disclose that the firm received medical malpractice insurance of 4.84m towards the pay-outs resulting in Medlab Pathology making a net payout of 5.16m last year. Arising from Medlab Pathologys 10m gross payout in 2022 and 2.56m in 2021, the firm has a remaining gross 36.7m provision at the end of June 2022 to deal with outstanding CervicalCheck cases before the court. At the outset of the cases coming before the High Court, the company set aside a gross provision in its recently filed 2020 accounts of 49.6m to deal with the cost of damages and legal costs from the CervicalCheck cases. The 2020 accounts showed that the firm had insurance receivable of 31.48m leaving the company facing a net-payout of 18.15m. The new 2022 accounts state the outstanding gross provision of 36.7m at the end of June 2022 includes an estimate for future claims, based on data access requests received. The note states that in relation to the small number of claims for which the insurers have not yet confirmed indemnity, we used our best judgment of the liability, based on the most reliable information available. The directors state that the company no longer trades and the main business of the company is to manage the liabilities arising from litigation, in respect of claims related to the cervical cancer screening programme in Ireland. The 10m payout has been provided for in prior year accounts with the gross 49.6m provision in place for the CervicalCheck cases and the firm recorded a loss of 303,370 last year. At the end of June last, the firm had accumulated losses of 26.2m. Addressing the companys going concern status where it has an equity deficit of 9.95m, a note attached to the accounts states that the companys sole liabilities relate to legal claims arising in respect of the cervical cancer screening programme in Ireland. They state that insurance is in place in respect of these liabilities and the net liability for the company is largely the insurance deductible. The note adds that these cases are inherently complex, and the determination of the ultimate outcome requires significant judgment, with the final resolution likely to be beyond the going concern outlook. The note states that a number of cases have been settled subsequent to the balance sheet date, with others discontinued and the remainder active. In recent Dail replies to Social Democrat TD Catherine Murphy, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly stated that the State Claims Agency (SCA) has received 385 claims concerning CervicalCheck, including 79 psychological injury claims from members of the families of the women concerned. He said: "In relation to the 385 claims received, 183 are active and not yet concluded and 202 have concluded. Mr Donnelly said that at the end of June 2023 damages amounting to 710,000 had been paid by the SCA in respect of CervicalCheck claims. It should be noted that most of the claims have been settled by the laboratories involved in the individual claims, he said. Succession is one of the hit shows that can be streamed on the new Sky Stream service Sky picked an unfortunate month to launch its latest big new TV service, Sky Stream. With strikes in Hollywood escalating, will there be much worth tuning in for later this year? Sky Stream is basically the same service as its all-in-one Sky Glass, except its a small set-top box that plugs into any telly and works on your homes normal Wi-Fi. The bottom line is that you no longer have to have a satellite dish to get Sky. But Sky couldnt have been unluckier in its window of launch. When Cillian Murphy and the cast of Oppenheimer walked out of a press screening in solidarity with the Hollywood actors strike, it reaffirmed how big a deal this could be to our TV viewing. A reassessment of our television consumption habits is probably beyond due, anyway. Thanks to the proliferation of streaming services in the last five years, we now watch an awful lot of on-demand telly on our 55-inch screens. The average Irish home now has at least two streaming subscriptions, as well as access to the usual linear channels. In my own case, I have an embarrassing number of subscriptions, not including Sky. I pay for Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+, Mubu and YouTube Premium. And thats having recently cut the number down, jettisoning Apple TV+ (sorry, Ted Lasso) and Discovery+. Im paying almost 1,000 a year just for my online subscriptions. The new Sky Stream set-top box and remote Lately, Ive been feeling overwhelmed by it all. Im like a kid who walks into a warehouse full of sweets and told that I can have whatever I want and, by the way, theyre adding another whole section of the warehouse with loads more types of sweets every month for the foreseeable future. As good as all of the must-see series like Succession, documentaries and made-for-streaming movies initially sound, its actually too much. Im not the only one to feel this. Disney chief executive Bob Iger told an interviewer last weekend that he was cutting the number of spin-offs and movies that Marvel and Pixar are making. He said that there was simply too much now and that it had diluted focus and attention of viewers. Hes definitely talking about me. Initially, I hungrily lapped up Star Wars spin-offs such as The Mandalorian and Marvel side-projects such as Loki and WandaVision. I started to get a little fatigued when Eternals and Moon Knight came along. And by the time of this years Secret Invasion, I didnt really care any more. I want less content thats more memorable, not endless categories just for the sake of it. In a way, Sky Stream could help with this. It can be purchased on either a 12-month or pay-as-go monthly basis (which is a little dearer). You can add or subtract bits and pieces as you like too, like sport, movies, premium TV channels and the like. And it supports all of the main streaming-only services, like Netflix and Disney+. So its flexible. For those wondering how the new Stream service differs from Skys cheaper online Now TV (or Now as it was rebranded recently), Sky Stream shows all your regular programming, including RTE and BBC, while Now is mostly Sky channels. (Theres a picture quality difference, too, with Now only available in lower resolution.) The only real downside to it is that the recording technology is still pretty hit-and-miss: it uses Sky Glass system of trying to retrieve your requested recorded programme from the cloud. Right now, though, Im starting to feel that less TV might not be so bad. Dr Mary Doherty, co-author of the doctors study, who is based in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Navan, Co Meath Autistic doctors are a hidden minority in hospitals and other health settings, according to an Irish hospital consultant whose new groundbreaking study has revealed their mental struggles. Dr Mary Doherty, an anaesthetist in Our Ladys Hospital Navan, who herself was only diagnosed with autism 10 years ago, discovered on average the doctors surveyed only had their autism confirmed in their mid-30s but many are not disclosing their condition. Dr Doherty, a founder of Autistic Doctors International, is a senior author of the first study of autistic doctors led by Brighton and Sussex Medical School and Thomas Jefferson University, USA. It found a quarter of the autistic doctors in the survey across different countries had attempted suicide, and more than three-quarters considered it. Nearly half had also engaged in self-harm. Autistic doctors are a hidden minority in the medical workforce, and the range of specialties in Autistic Doctors International challenges autistic stereotypes. General practitioners are the largest subgroup, followed by psychiatrists, said Dr Doherty. Lead author Dr Sebastian Shaw of Brighton and Sussex Medical School pointed out that while it is deeply concerning to see the extent to which my fellow autistic doctors have struggled with their mental health, it is perhaps not surprising when we consider the many barriers and challenges faced by autistic people working in the healthcare sector. We also found that those who considered autism to be a disorder, rather than a difference or disability, were more likely to have attempted suicide. This may reflect a degree of internalised shame from being trained to understand autism as a disorder through their medical practice. He added: Fostering more acceptance of autism as a difference may potentially improve the wellbeing of autistic healthcare professionals and patients alike. The study showed that many autistic doctors did not disclose their diagnosis in the workplace, with 29pc not having told anyone at work. Some 32pc told supervisors and 30pc divulged to their colleagues. Most did not feel comfortable enough to disclose being autistic to others in the workplace. As a result, these people are consistently camouflaging or masking their autistic status, putting on a non-autistic facade for others in professional settings, said the study. Such practice takes a continual effort on the part of autistic people, and we know that masking can contribute to burnout, discontinuing employment, and even serious mental health issues and suicide many of which are major issues within the medical workforce to begin with. While disclosure can be an appealing option for autistic employees, it is difficult to access in many workplaces and is often associated with stigma and discrimination from supervisors and co-workers. The study pointed out that as awareness and diagnosis of autism grows, more medical students and doctors are discovering they are autistic and the average age of diagnosis was found to be 36. Some were diagnosed after difficulties in stressful clinical environments, or highly demanding career paths arose and found support from employers was inconsistent. Some colleagues refused to believe a qualified doctor could be autistic. Key to improving the experience of autistic doctors is ensuring that neurodivergence is viewed in a positive light, said Dr Shaw. Workplaces need to provide better support and improve awareness of autistic healthcare professionals. Employing a well-supported and neurodiverse medical workforce will mean that the diversity of the public is reflected in their medical providers, with likely improved experiences and outcomes for neurodivergent patients. The findings, however, show that 74pc usually enjoyed their work as doctors and three-quarters felt being autistic was helpful in their role as doctors. Dr Wendy Ross, director of the Jefferson Centre for Autism and Neurodiversity, added: This study is a call to action for the entire medical field to meet the needs of autistic medical talent as well as patients. If you have been affected by issues raised in this article, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, and Aware can be contacted on 1800 80 48 48 The revelation that McDonalds has launched an investigation into the treatment of an Irish worker has marked the end of an explosive week for the fast-food chain following allegations made by staff in the UK. CEO of McDonalds in the UK and Ireland Alistair Macrow confirmed that an investigation is taking place into claims that rape survivor Ciara Mangan was subjected to rape taunts at work. Ms Mangan was an employee of McDonalds in Castlebar, Co Mayo, when she was raped by her co-worker Shane Noonan at a house party in May 2013. Shane Noonan (28) of Castlehill Park, Turlough Road in Castlebar, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the rape of Ms Mangan at the house party 10 years ago. He was jailed on Monday for seven years. In the aftermath of the rape, Ms Mangan said she was subjected to rape comments and rape songs by colleagues in her then-workplace when the owner was absent. In a statement to the Irish Independent, Mr Macrow expressed his shock at hearing that the allegations related to a McDonalds outlet. I commend Ciaras bravery in speaking about her horrific experience, he said. I am deeply appalled by these new allegations and commit to investigating them to our fullest extent through our Investigation Handling Unit. It is understood that the fast-food chain was not aware of any of Ms Mangans allegations until yesterday. Separately, a number of workplace harassment claims have been made by staff in the UK. Earlier this week, a BBC report stated that over 100 current and recent UK staff have made allegations including sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying. Multiple workers, including teenagers, claimed that managers at outlets across the UK had been responsible for harassment and assaults, and that senior managers often failed to act on complaints. The BBC was told that workers, some as young as 17, are being groped and harassed almost routinely. The UK equality watchdog said it was "concerned" by the BBC's findings and is launching a new email hotline. In relation to claims in the UK, Mr Macrow said this weeks allegations are personally and professionally shocking. Mr Macrow said the fast-food chain has clearly fallen short in some critical areas and that he is determined to root out any behaviour or conduct that falls below the high standards of respect, safety and inclusion we demand of everyone at McDonalds as detailed in our global brand standards. I would like to reiterate my unreserved apology to, and empathy with, all those affected in any way, and I commend their bravery in coming forward, he said in a statement. He identified three immediate action areas including investigation and resolution, escalation protocols and confidence to speak up. Mr Macrow has established a dedicated Investigation Handling Unit, which he said will have the power to refer the most serious cases to a third-party legal team staffed by specialist investigators. Any substantiated breaches of our code of conduct will be met with the most severe measures up to, and including, dismissal, he said. I commit to all former or current employees, who have experienced any type of harassment, abuse, discrimination, and victimisation that the full weight of our Investigation Handling Unit will be applied in pursuit of resolution. Mr Macrow said it is crucial that people feel safe and able to speak up, he added: We intend to move at a pace in line with the gravity of the issues but also ensuring we are fair and accurate in our investigations, and any resulting enhancements. The most recent findings show that there are 97 outlets of the iconic fast-food chain in Ireland with approximately 6,000 staff. There are more than 1,450 restaurants in the UK. The first McDonald's opened in Ireland on Grafton Street in May 1977 since then, it has grown to be one of Ireland's largest employers. There is an outlet in the majority of Irish counties excluding Roscommon and Leitrim. Courts Drunk who was caught trying to strike passers-by in Dublin city centre avoids jail Michael Knowles never knew his mother, but was shocked the bodies of Nicholas and Hillary Smith lay undiscovered for a year and a half The house in Cloneen, Co Tipperary, where Hillary and Nicholas Smiths bodies were found a year and a half after they died and (inset left) Hillarys abandoned son, Michael Knowles The long-lost son of an elderly woman who, along with her husband, lay dead in their rural home for a year and a half before their bodies were found, has spoken for the first time of his sadness regarding the circumstances of their deaths. Shane Noonan of Castlehill Park, Turlough Road in Castlebar pleaded guilty earlier this year to the rape of 28-year-old Ciara Mangan at a house party ten years ago. Photo Collins Courts Ciara Mangan at home in Castlebar Co Mayo. Photo by Steve Humphreys 19th July 2023. The CEO of McDonalds in the UK and Ireland has launched an investigation into claims that rape survivor Ciara Mangan was subjected to rape taunts at work. Ms Mangan was an employee of McDonalds in Castlebar, Co Mayo, when she was raped by her co-worker Shane Noonan at a house party in May 2013. Shane Noonan, aged 28, of Castlehill Park, Turlough Road in Castlebar, Co Mayo, pleaded guilty earlier this year to the rape of Ms Mangan at the house party 10 years ago. Ciara Mangan shares her story after Shane Noonan pleads guilty to her rape He was jailed on Monday for seven years, for what the judge described as the cold, predatory and premeditated rape of his work colleague as she drifted in and out of consciousness on a bathroom floor. In the aftermath of the rape, Ms Mangan said she was subjected to rape comments and rape songs by colleagues in her then-workplace when the owner was absent. In a statement to the Irish Independent, McDonalds UK and Ireland chief executive officer Alistair Macrow expressed his shock at hearing that the allegations related to a McDonalds outlet. I commend Ciaras bravery in speaking about her horrific experience, he said. I am deeply appalled by these new allegations, and commit to investigating them to our fullest extent through our Investigation Handling Unit. It is understood that the fast-food chain was not aware of any of Ms Mangans allegations until yesterday. Shane Noonan of Castlehill Park, Turlough Road in Castlebar pleaded guilty earlier this year to the rape of 28-year-old Ciara Mangan at a house party ten years ago. Photo Collins Courts On foot of queries relating to an interview with Ms Mangan, published in todays newspaper, and outlining in detail the abuse she suffered at work, an investigation is now underway. The outlet in Castlebar is operated by a couple from Mayo. The strong response from Mr Macrow comes as McDonalds faces a raft of workplace harassment claims in the UK. Earlier this week, a BBC report stated that over 100 current and recent UK staff have made allegations including sexual assault, harassment, racism and bullying. Multiple workers, including teenagers, claimed that managers at outlets across the UK had been responsible for harassment and assaults, and that senior managers often failed to act on complaints. In news reports on the scandal, Mr Macrow said there was simply no place for harassment, abuse, or discrimination in the company. With no green way to fly, is it time to ration air travel? As Europe swelters in a heatwave linked to climate change, Dublin Airport is as busy as ever. Electric planes are years away, biofuels are scarce and carbon offsetting is questionable. So just how do we cut our emissions? Air travel is responsible for about 3.5pc of the warming impact caused by humans Kim Bielenberg and John Meagher Sat 22 Jul 2023 at 03:30 John OHegarty was destined for great things. He studied philosophy in the prestigious University of Leuven in Belgium and had a masters in psycho-analytic studies from Trinity College, Dublin. On the day he politely robbed his first bank, 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 peoples lives and ultimately lead John to become Irelands most prolific bank robbers. Episodes 1 & 2 are available now wherever you get your podcasts and then every Monday. One of Wexfords busiest service stations has been snapped up in a multi-million euro deal without ever being placed on the open market. Killeens Service Station on the Newline Road which has been in the same family for over 30 years, has been purchased by the Maxol Group which took over the premises earlier this week. The former Emo service station which includes a Mace store, a pharmacy and a separate equestrian shop and a coalyard will continue to be managed by the vendors Tony and Sarah Butler from Glynn, as licensees for Maxol Killeens currently employs 38 people and all the existing services and staff will be retained. The forecourt has been newly branded and there are plans underway for a further 350,000 in branding and in the deli and off-licence within the store. Wexford auctioneer John Keane confirmed that he was asked to market the property quietly. He had a few clients who were looking for a business of this nature and he eventually finalised a deal with Maxol. Tony and Sarah Butler said the decision to sell came as they were revaluating their lives following a series of personal events their first grandchild Darragh (3) was born during Covid, Sarah underwent surgery last September and Tonys dad, Tom Butler Senior died. What really happened was I had a major operation and I was out of action for over six months. Tonys father was ill and died at the end of May. And before all that, we had a beautiful little grandson. We decided to make a change and step back a little, said Sarah who has been involved in the business for almost 30 years. "We would like to thank John Keane we had a lot going on at the time and he took over the whole process. He took a lot of the stress off us. I was still recuperating and Tonys dad was ill and he was helping to look after him. The Kinsella/Butler familys ownership of the business goes back to her enterprising uncle Ned Kinsella who ran it prior to 1997 when her parents Paddy and Cecily Kinsella took over, adding the equestrian shop and other units, with their daughter being actively involved. Since that time, Sarah has seen the surrounding area develop from green fields into one of Wexfords largest residential and retail zones, with further plans coming on stream, making Killeens a thriving and continuously-expanding commercial off-shoot of the town. "When we first opened here, there was nothing across the road but fields. Then came Clonard Village and the Wexford Retail Park and more recently the Loreto secondary school. Our business had to grow to meet the increased demand. Sarah and Tony purchased the service station from Sarahs parents in 2008 and developed the enterprise to include a popular delicatessen and off-licence, turning it into a successful retail hub. "The biggest single asset we have had is the staff. I cant say enough about them. We have five girls at present that we will be celebrating 20 years of service with this year. Our success is down to the staff. The biggest compliments we get from people are about our staff, said Sarah whose own favourite involvement is still getting behind the counter and meeting people. "That was one of the hardest things to consider in selling if we sold it and walked away we would have felt we were leaving our family behind, she said. "We would like to reassure our customers that everything is staying the same. We are still here. Nothing has changed apart from the signs on the door. All the staff are staying. Tony added: We are thrilled to be working with Maxol and to be part of the hugely successful family-owned Maxol business which has been in Ireland for over 102 years. Its exciting to unveil a new look to our customers. There are further exciting plans and updates in the pipeline but we want to assure everyone that it is business as usual. The Wexford acquisition is part of a national multi-million euro investment plan by the Maxol Group across its entire network. "Its been a fantastic week at Maxol Killeens which is always busy and buzzing, commented Maxol Group CEO Brian Donaldson. "We are keen to continue to strengthen our presence in the Leinster area and this is an important part of our strategy to grow our network of service stations and to make Maxol a more convenience-led destination that delivers for the local community. "We very much look forward to bringing our latest innovative forecourt model to the community of Killeens and surrounding area, led by the highly-respected Tony and Sarah. Maxol Killeens will be selling the companys Rosa Coffee brand, becoming the second store in the country to offer the Rosa extended range which includes oat milk and iced coffee. Waterford garment technologist believes new platform Tailr can help redefine production for the clothing industry globally Stand close to a changing room in any fashion store this weekend and you will probably hear complaints from customers grappling with sizing inconsistencies. Shana Chu is a fashion graduate and experienced garment technologist from Waterford. She could write a book about the frustrations shoppers face with different sizing across the fashion industry worldwide. Inconsistencies relate to fit and description. An item that is a size 10 might really be closer to a 12, or the other way around. Theres no way to know other than by trying the garments on. Ms Chu has been that soldier in the dressing room. She knows all about the pain of trying on two pairs of trousers by the same label with the only difference being a colour or fabric yet one somehow fits better than the other. Instead of writing a book about it, Ms Chu put her tech skills to good use. She set about developing Tailr, an Irish platform geared toward tackling inconsistent sizing and excessive garment waste from the manufacturing stage. It is her goal that it will redefine production for the clothing industry globally. Tailr addresses the inefficiencies and challenges faced by the clothing industry, enabling real-time data flow between the design teams, fabric mills and factories. The platform has been designed to streamline production processes, ensuring consistent sizing across fabrics, cuts and seasons, while supporting clothing brands in achieving their sustainability goals. Ms Chu studied fashion in her native Waterford and learned website skills at AOL, which all combined to set her up for what lay ahead. She witnessed the problems afflicting the industry when she was on the factory floor in India designing and developing protective uniforms worn by Irish firemen. While I was on the factory floor ensuring production was in line with design documents, I quickly realised that fabric often reacts differently than expected during the production process, she stated. There is so much that happens during fabric production that can affect the garment production. This is where the fabrics effect on sizing are felt because you have brands that use the same pattern for different fabrics. This has a huge impact on sizing and at Tailr, we are predicting how that fabric will handle [what happens] during production . For example, during production, fabric mills can apply a chemical finisher on the fabric. Next week, Tailr will announce a 700,000 investment. This will help it cement its role in revolutionising the garment industry while also advancing sustainable fashion. The investment round will see participation from lead investor Delta Partners in Dublin, UK investor Haatch and Enterprise Ireland. Ms Chu said: We help the brands to understand the fabric that they are working with and when or where to make changes, either on the measurement chart or on the pattern. Brands are struggling to get consistent sizing and reduce production waste. To compete, they are facing faster production rates and its getting more difficult to manage fabric in traditional ways. By digitising fabric, we are helping them to streamline the sampling and production process. Ms Chu said it is often a nightmare trying to buy clothes. She added: That was the whole reason I started Tailr. You go into a shop and eventually you find something that you absolutely love. You see it in another colour and buy the same size but it doesnt fit. Tailr is about removing that frustration, not only for the brands but also for the consumer. Eventually, I would love if we could have consistency across the board. For the minute, though, its about focusing on ensuring that there is consistency within the brand itself because there isnt even consistency within the brands. After that, you can then tackle the huge consistencies across the whole industry. Weather Are ants taking over your house in the hot weather? 10 best tips to keep the tiny pests out The British-born Ukrainian marines new memoir about his treatment by his Russian captors serves as both a warning and a message of hope In the last 18 months, the world has become increasingly aware of the horrific way Russian forces operate, not only on the battlefield, but also beyond it. Bucha, a quiet suburb outside Kyiv, is now known globally as a place where civilians were massacred by occupying forces. Not a day goes by without more news of Russian missile attacks on civilian centres. Yet all those documented atrocities and war crimes are just the tip of the iceberg, the bit that is most visible. A large blaze burning on the Greek island of Rhodes for the fifth day has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations, including two seaside resorts. The Indo Daily: X-rated videos, drug addiction, and an illicit affair - the controversies of Hunter Biden Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. A flooded street in Delhi. Photo by Shaz Syed/Mongabay. Of Delhis 1,040 wetlands and waterbodies, none have been officially notified, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The citys drainage plan and system have not been updated since the 1970s. This along with encroachment of the Yamuna floodplains by settlements and large development projects make the city vulnerable to flooding. Experts strongly recommend reviving the citys water bodies and desilting its existing drains to help mitigate flood effects. Mongabay India writer Simrin Sirur reports Of Delhis 1,040 wetlands and waterbodies, none have been officially notified, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. The citys drainage plan and system have not been updated since the 1970s. This along with encroachment of the Yamuna floodplains by settlements and large development projects make the city vulnerable to flooding. Experts strongly recommend reviving the citys water bodies and desilting its existing drains to help mitigate flood effects. When parts of Delhi were inundated with floodwaters several meters high in early July, several reports said that the river Yamuna was reclaiming its path. The river stretches across 48 kilometers of the city, and swelled above the danger mark on July 10, leaving damages worth over Rs. 10,000 crores in its wake, according to early estimates. View from the 14th Floor, Vikas Minar, ITO that once used to be the Yamuna Floodplains. Photo by Vishal/Wikimedia Commons Compelling as the idea of river reclamation is, experts say the floods are, however, an urgent indication to improve the citys drainage systems. They also point to Delhis diminishing natural line of defence its water bodies and wetlands against such hazards, without which the river cannot drain its water naturally. "The biggest wetland in Delhi is the Yamuna floodplain, which has slowly been taken over [by urban development], said Ritesh Kumar, director for Wetlands International South-Asia (WISA). Two processes are occurring in Delhi which make it flood prone first, more and more surface is being concretised and covered, creating more runoff, and secondly, there are [increasing] weather impacts that the landscape is incapable of handling well." The Yamunas floodplain in Delhi is around 97 square kilometres, or 7% of the citys area, according to the Delhi Development Authoritys 2021 Master Plan for the city. But much of this has been encroached upon by settlements and large development projects which have hindered its free flow. The citys 2041 Master Plan proposes to regularise some of these settlements and projects by allowing regulated development along the O zone of the river, considered prone to flooding, which could worsen the citys resilience to such disasters. Wetlands act as natural sponges, absorbing excess rainfall and mitigating floods, providing cities with invaluable flood protection and host a lot of biodiversity. Photo by Koshy/Wikimedia Commons While excess water released from a nearby barrage, an aging drainage system, and heavy rainfall were some of the immediate triggers for the flooding last week, the gradual erosion of Delhis wetlands and the Yamuna floodplain have also contributed to the citys vulnerability, show studies. Role of wetlands in flood management Wetlands can be of many different kinds, including lakes, marshes, river floodplains, and swamps, to name a few. They can also be artificial structures built for specific purposes, like reservoirs and aquaculture ponds. Wetlands are slow waters. Once water enters them, it starts to release sediment and it gets an accommodating space to spread. The force of the water is reduced significantly and blunts out the hydrograph, explained Kumar. The release of water from the Hathnikund barrage has sparked a dispute between the governments of Haryana and New Delhi. Photo by Owais Khursheed/Wikimedia Commons A 2021 modeling study from a proposed constructed wetland in the north-west part of Delhi found that it could lead to an overall reduction of 23% in flooding, with a significant reduction in backflow as well as water depth in the drain. Apart from regulating the speed and volume of water, wetlands also perform a host of other ecological functions. They host a diversity of species, recharge groundwater, and reduce downstream erosion. Delhi has a total of 1,040 wetlands and waterbodies, according to the citys Wetland Authority. But none of them have been officially notified yet, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. A report in The Hindu revealed that the Wetlands Authority received requests from agencies to delist over 200 wetlands, because they have dried up or been encroached upon. Delhis drainage plan and system have not been updated since the 1970s. . Photo by Shaz Syed/Mongabay. The National Capital Region presents a unique scenario because it has so many wetlands along with a river flowing through it, said Madhu Verma, an environmental economist with Iora Ecological Solutions, who chairs a technical committee advising the Delhi Wetlands Authority. We are in the process of notifying some wetlands. Without notification, there can be no planning and funds cannot be allocated for their protection. Encroachment of wetlands Shortly after the floodwaters breached the danger mark this month, the governments of Delhi and Haryana engaged in a dispute over water released from the old Hathnikund barrage located in Haryana, built in 1996 to divert water into the eastern and western canals of the Yamuna. The Delhi government blamed the citys flooding on the Haryana governments decision to release excess water directly into the river, as opposed to the canals. The Haryana government retaliated by saying it had merely followed prescribed norms when the rivers flow exceeded 1 lakh cusecs. On July 10, the peak discharge from the barrage was 3.59 lakh cusecs. To make matters worse, floodgates in the heart of the city in ITO were reportedly jammed, exacerbating the flooding. According to Himanshu Thakkar, coordinator of the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), the water released from the Hathnikund barrage does not explain the extent of flooding the city saw last week, which he attributes to gradual obstructions in the river, concretisation of the floodplains, and destruction of water bodies within the city. In 2010, water released from the Hathnikund barrage exceeded 7 lakh cusecs, but water levels never breached 207.49 meters, a record level set in 1978. Three years later, over 8 lakh cusecs were discharged into the river, and still we did not see this level of flooding. Now, with only 3 lakhs of discharge, flood records have been broken. This can only mean that factors within Delhi are the reason, he said. Lakhs of people live on the floodplains of the Yamuna in the city, several of whom have converted the area to agricultural fields to make a livelihood. The Akshardham temple, which had a daily footfall of 6,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic, was built in 2000 on the floodplain with post-facto environmental clearance. The posh Commonwealth Games Village in 2010 too came up on the floodplains. A flooded street in Chennai Flood, Nandanam. Representative image. Photo by Vijayingarsal/Wikimedia Commons According to a report by the Centre for Science and Environment, the Yamuna floodplain had over 600 wetlands and waterbodies, but more than 60% of them are without water, making the city prone to flooding. The report further states that the river-fed water bodies in the Yamuna floodplain are disconnected from the river because of embankments. Economist Verma says the destruction of floodplains and waterbodies stems from a systematic undervaluation of natures ecological services. It is so much more damaging and expensive when an event like this occurs, costing thousands of crores. It is much more economical to conserve these ecosystems which give us benefits in the long run, she said. Repairing drains and reviving waterbodies Delhi has at least 21 drains that are connected to the Yamuna, according to A.K. Gosain, a professor with the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. Gosain was part of a group that drafted a 2018 drainage plan to replace the citys current ailing system, which hasnt been updated since the 1970s. What made the flooding particularly bad this time was not just heavy rainfall over the city, but a swollen river that itself blocked regular drainage pathways, Gosain explained. The 2018 draft plan recommended desilting existing drains to improve efficiency and reviving wetlands and water bodies to improve drainage in the city. Wetlands and waterbodies help mitigate local flooding because they also act as storage spaces. If a waterbody can hold flood water temporarily, it prevents that much more from going into the drain, said Gosain. The Delhi government rejected the 2018 draft plan, calling it generic in its approach, but has failed to finalise a drainage plan for the city to date. Some pockets of the city are seeing a revival of water bodies and wetlands, but not nearly at the scale required, say experts. Wetlands and waterbodies act as a storage space that can help in mitigating local flooding. Photo by Shaz Syed/Mongabay. One such pocket is the Delhi Development Authoritys Yamuna Biodiversity Park, which is located alongside the river. Park authorities have worked to revive an active floodplain of the Yamuna river since 2009, and looked at 20-25 year old data on the rivers flood pulse to chart a course of action. The floodplain is no simple system, said senior scientist at the park, Faiyaz Khudsar, who has worked here since 2005. There are several zones within the floodplain that have to be carefully studied before restoration efforts begin, he said. After the river channel, there is a riparian zone, then an active floodplain, then an alluvial floodplain. All these zones and their ecological integrity have to be carefully considered, because thats what makes a river functional, he said, adding that the park had revived a wetland by planting grass species like phragmites and Saccharum spontaneum, which remain intact through floods. A young tigress in Kanha Tiger Reserve / Wikipedia Creative Commons Enhanced conservation management of tiger reserves in India has helped avoid forest loss, preventing one million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. This represents $93 million in ecosystem services from the avoided social cost of emissions. The researchers suggest that biodiversity conservation programmes could generate revenue from carbon credits that could be traded in voluntary carbon markets. Mongabay-India writer Neha Jain reports New research shows that Indias tiger conservation policy has not only helped in preserving and increasing tiger populations, but it has also played a role in climate change mitigation by avoiding forest loss. India is home to more than 70 percent of the worlds endangered tiger population. In 2005, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) was established and key protected areas were designated as tiger reserves across India, which had enhanced protection and monitoring. By the end of 2022, around 53 tiger reserves across India were under enhanced management. Reserves under this policy are required to prepare a conservation plan regulating the extraction of forest products, reducing deforestation drivers and encouraging alternative livelihoods for communities that live within tiger conservation landscapes. The researchers modelled forest loss and the associated carbon emissions reductions in 45 tiger reserves that were under enhanced protection from 2007 to 2020 compared with 117 untreated protected areas. Our study is one of the first to quantify the additional carbon benefits of a species conservation program at a large geographical scale, says Aakash Lamba, a doctoral candidate at the National University of Singapore and lead author of the study. Published in Nature in May 2023, the study found that between 2007 and 2020, enhanced protection within tiger reserves led to a net avoided forest loss of over 5,802 hectares corresponding to approximately 1.08 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions (MtCO2e). This translated to $93 million in ecosystem services from the avoided social cost of emissions, which is the additional damage that the Indian economy would have faced had these emissions been released into the atmosphere. This estimate corresponds to about $7 million per year between 2007 and 2020. The annual budget from Project Tiger in 2020 was $27 million. So, more than a quarter of this budget was paid back per year from the avoided social cost of emissions. A crucial takeaway from our findings is that biodiversity conservation can help pay for itself given the ancillary climate and consequently economic benefits arising from these programs, Lamba points out. These findings, he says, offer empirical evidence that conservation efforts targeted at umbrella species such as tigers can have a significant and positive ripple effect on climate change mitigation. He adds that, By adopting effective conservation strategies such as the ones implemented in tiger reserves across India, policymakers and managers can leverage effective protected areas as an additional part of their toolkits to meet climate targets. The paper shows the remarkable success of investments in Tiger Reserves in India for protecting habitat within these protected areas, as has been found in other places around the world, says Ruth DeFries, professor of ecology and sustainable development at Columbia University, who was not connected to the study. The investment has also benefited the national goal of carbon sequestration. An equally critical need is to manage areas outside protected area boundaries to meet multiple goals of minimizing conflict with people, enabling livelihoods, sequestering carbon and providing habitat for biodiversity over larger areas, stresses DeFries. Central India versus the Northeast The study found that 15 out of 45 tiger reserves showed significant but mixed results on deforestation. Overall, the designation of tiger reserves had a net positive impact on forest protection with 11 out of 15 reserves avoiding deforestation. Reserves in Central India showed higher avoided forest loss with NawegaonNagzira Reserve emerging as the best-performing reserve. Four reserves, however, showed higher forest loss than the control models. Two of these reserves fall in Northeast India. Locations of the tiger reserves and the forest loss avoided. Photo from Lamba et al., 2023. Deforestation in reserves in northeastern India is highly complex and averting forest loss will involve a myriad of interventions. According to Lamba, making sure that local communities both benefit from protected areas and are key partners in the decision-making process for conservation programs is essential for equitable and effective forest conservation. Forest conservation can be strengthened for the benefit of local communities and ecosystems by prioritizing community engagement, alternative livelihoods, social assistance, cultural respect, technological monitoring, and adaptive management, Lamda adds. Generating climate finance through carbon credits According to the authors, these findings suggest that integrating species conservation programmes into global carbon markets could provide additional opportunities for funding the protection and restoration of natural habitats. Carbon markets are well-established trading systems where carbon credits, representing a reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions, are bought and sold. They are issued to organizations or individuals that have taken measurable steps to reduce their carbon footprint, explains Lamba. In recent years, the voluntary carbon market has grown rapidly with nature-based climate solutions such as forest protection and restoration. Carbon emissions avoided by the tiger reserves analysed. Photo from Lamba et al., 2023. Lamba stresses that the idea of additionality is important to understand the discussion on carbon markets. Additionality refers to the requirement that an intervention creates additional or extra climate benefits compared to the business-as-usual scenario. Under the current definition of additionality, the avoided emissions from tiger reserves may not be eligible for the generation of carbon credits given that these reserves are already protected, he explains. However, our study provides food for thought on how this idea of additionality may be expanded since we see that improvements in the management of already protected areas do in fact yield additional climate benefits. By quantifying these carbon benefits, our study shows how biodiversity conservation programs could generate revenue from carbon credits that could be traded in voluntary carbon markets. The revenue generated from the sale of these carbon credits could be reinvested back into conservation, creating a more sustainable model for financing biodiversity conservation programs. Tiger in Kanha Tiger Reserve. Photo by David Wilcove. Limitations of the study Ghazala Shahabuddin, visiting professor at Ashoka University, who was not part of the study, believes that tiger conservation does not represent a useful co-benefit for carbon sequestration in Indias protected area landscape. She questions the use of remote sensing in detecting forest loss as a surrogate for biodiversity or even carbon sequestration benefits. It is well-known that both biodiversity and carbon sequestration ability are adversely affected not only by net forest loss but also by forest degradation and conversion to monocultures. However, neither degraded forest area nor tree-based monocultures are easily detectable with the help of satellite imagery; such land uses can show up as forest of varying canopy covers, notes Shahabuddin. This problem of detectability also means that actual losses as far as biodiversity is concerned, could in fact be higher than inferred from net forest loss estimates alone. Therefore, I would recommend much more ground-truthing in a sample of tiger reserves from each biome in such studies. Further, Shahabuddin says that even if we assume that remotely sensed forest cover is a good surrogate for biodiversity or carbon, the total carbon corresponding to avoided forest loss from tiger conservation is estimated only at 1.08 MtCO2e, which, she points out, is a very tiny fraction of the estimated annual carbon emissions in the country as of 2020 of 3.17 GtCO2e (Gigatonnes of equivalent carbon dioxide). Lamba acknowledges that the study focuses on deforestation, which represents the complete loss of forest cover in an area. Forest degradation and changes in forest structure could also represent an important driver of forest carbon loss, he explains, adding that their estimates provide a conservative measure of carbon emissions avoided, as preventing forest degradation in these tiger reserves could result in even higher emissions reductions. The authors point out another caveat. The carbon benefits discussed primarily apply to species found in high-carbon ecosystems such as terrestrial forests, limiting the generalizability of a biodiversity-first paradigm, Lamba says. However, since many high biodiversity areas coincide with carbon-rich protected areas, it becomes crucial to conduct such evaluations to establish an evidence base for directing more resources towards species conservation programmes. Photo Caption and Courtesy: Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe meets Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu in India. PIB New Delhi: Indian President Droupadi Murmu met her visiting Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe and said India will continue to support the neighbouring nation during its hour of need in future. The Sri Lankan President, who visited India from July 20-21, met Murmu in the Rashtrapati Bhavan here. "Welcoming President Wickremesinghe to India, the President said that Sri Lanka occupies a special place in Indias Neighbourhood First Policy and SAGAR (Security and Growth of All in the Region) Vision," read the statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs. "Indias multi-pronged support to Sri Lanka in the last one year to tide over its economic challenges is a testament to Indias long-standing commitment to bilateral relations with Sri Lanka. She emphasized that India has always stood with Sri Lanka during its hour of need and would continue to do so in future as well," read the statement. Murmu said, "Our partnership is enduring and beneficial to the common people of our two countries and the larger Indian Ocean Region." The two leaders noted that India and Sri Lanka are working on many key projects in several sectors, and that India-Sri Lanka development partnership has touched the lives of Sri Lankans in a positive way. The President said that India looks forward to continuing and strengthening its developmental partnership with Sri Lanka under the leadership of President Wickremesinghe. Ranil Wickremesinghe also met Indian PM Narendra Modi during his visit to the neighbouring country. Sandeep Chakravorty has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Indonesia. He is presently the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. He had earlier served as the Consul General in New York. Picture Credit: Facebook/Mamata Banerjee/ScreenGrab from viral video as tweeted by AmitMalviya/IBNS File Kolkata: Amid outrage over a recent viral video where two women were seen paraded naked by a mob in strife-hit Manipur, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday alleged that two tribal women were stripped naked and tortured in West Bengal's Malda region recently. The party further alleged that when the incident occurred the police remained a mute spectator. BJP I-T cell head Amit Malviya, who is also the party's co-incharge for West Bengal, tweeted a video of the incident and wrote: "The horror continues in West Bengal. Two Tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda." He claimed the incident happened on July 19. Targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who criticised the Manipur incident, Malviya said, "The women belonged to socially marginalised community and had a frenzied mob baying for her blood It had all the making of a tragedy that should have broken Mamata Banerjees heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the Home Minister of Bengal." The horror continues in West Bengal. Two Tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda. The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women pic.twitter.com/tyve54vMmg Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 22, 2023 "But she chose to do nothing. Neither did she condemn the barbarity nor did she express pain and anguish because it would have exposed her own failing as a Chief Minister," he said. "But a day after, she shed copious tears and screamed blue murder, because it was politically expedient," he said. Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar slammed the new opposition alliance named I.N.D.I.A. over the Malda episode and tweeted: "Another horrific incident with the Tribal women in WB. Another horrific incident with the Tribal women in WB. Two Tribal women were stripped naked & beaten mercilessly in Malda. Like other heinous incidents, Didi is silent & not taking any action in her own rule. Why I.N.D.I.A. isnt condemning this? pic.twitter.com/3liCO5bNIY Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) July 22, 2023 Two Tribal women were stripped naked & beaten mercilessly in Malda. Like other heinous incidents, Didi is silent & not taking any action in her own rule. Why I.N.D.I.A. isnt condemning this?" TMC reacts: Meanwhile, West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja said it was a case of theft and the two ladies tried to steal something from the market. "A group of women tried to take law and order into their hands and started beating them. However, the police reached the spot. A case has been registered & police are investigating the matter," Panja was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times. Mamata slams Modi over 'Manipur' incident Mamata Banerjee, the only woman Chief Minister of the country, on Friday slammed Modi and his BJP over the recent incident in Manipur where a viral video in early May showed two women were paraded naked on road. Despite Modi's strong response to the incident outside Parliament on Thursday, Mamata on Friday, while addressing the Martyrs's Day Rally in Kolkata, said, "BJP is planning to make fake videos and defame Bengal. This is evident in the Prime Minister's speech where he referred to West Bengal, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while referring to Manipur. "I just ask the Prime Minister whether he is not even remotely sad over the incident in Manipur? He keeps on dictating over Bengal but has no love for women and their integrity in Manipur," she said. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi: The Department of Prisons has suspended four Tihar jail officials in connection with the physical appearance of jailed JKLF leader Yasin Malik in the Supreme Court, media reports said. Malik, who is serving life imprisonment following his conviction in a terror funding case, appeared in a packed courtroom. His presence was a matter of surprise as the court had not issued any order to produce him before it. He was brought in a prison van to the high-security court premises and escorted by four security personnel. In a statement on Saturday, the Department of Delhi Prisons said the physical production of Malik before the Supreme Court on Friday, the Prisons Department has suspended one deputy superintendent, two assistant superintendents, and one head warder on Friday night. They were found to be prima facie responsible based on preliminary inquiry, the statement said. "A detailed probe is being conducted by DIG Tihar to identify any other officials who may also be responsible for the serious lapse," it added. Prison authorities announced that Deputy Inspector General (Prisons-Headquarters) Rajiv Singh will investigate the oversight and identify the responsible officials, submitting a report to the Director General (Prisons) within three days, saidmedia reports. During a court appearance, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta expressed surprise at Malik's presence, stating that there is a specific procedure for high-risk convicts to personally argue their case in the Supreme Court. During the hearing of an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the 2022 trial court order in the Rubaiya Sayeed kidnapping case, Malik appeared in the Supreme Court. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, surprised by Malik's presence, raised the issue of permission for high-risk convicts to argue their case personally. However, the bench, led by Justice Kant, clarified that no such permission or order had been granted to Malik to argue his case in person. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has granted Rs 2 crore to an Indian Army officer as compensation for the damage to his reputation caused by a 2001 "expose" carried out by a news portal, which accused him of involvement in corruption related to defence procurement, media reports said. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, who heard Major General M S Ahluwalia's case, ordered Tehelka.Com, its owner M/s Buffalo Communications, its proprietor Tarun Tejpal, and two reporters, Aniruddha Bahal and Mathew Samuel, to make the payment. The judge emphasized that this was a clear and severe case of defaming an honest Army officer, and an apology made 23 years after the publication was "not only insufficient but meaningless". However, the court ruled that the plaintiff failed to establish any defamation committed by Zee Telefilm Ltd and its officials when broadcasting the story as per their arrangement with the news portal. The court further noted that the plaintiff not only suffered a decline in public estimation but also endured severe damage to his character due to serious corruption allegations, which cannot be rectified or healed by any subsequent refutation. On March 13, 2001, the news portal published a story titled "Operation West End," which alleged corruption in defence deals related to the import of new defence equipment. The plaintiff, represented by lawyer Chetan Anand, contended that he was defamed in the said story, as it falsely broadcast and reported that he had accepted a bribe. In its 48-page judgment, the court dismissed the defence of "truth," "public good," and "good faith" raised by the defendants. It emphasised that there could not be a more damaging defamation to a person of integrity than falsely imputing that he had demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 50,000. The court further highlighted that as a consequence of such reporting, a Court of Inquiry was initiated against the plaintiff. Although no misconduct was proven, the plaintiff faced "serious displeasure." India gifts INS Kripan to Vietnam amid China's growing assertiveness in South China Sea (Image Credit: PIB) Cam Ranh(Vietnam): India on Saturday presented its active missile corvette, INS Kirpan, as a gift to Vietnam, symbolising the growing strategic and defence partnership between the two nations. This gesture comes amid shared concerns regarding China's escalating assertiveness in the South China Sea. The handover marks a significant milestone as it is the first time India has provided a fully operational corvette to a friendly foreign country, as confirmed by officials. Admiral R Hari Kumar, the Navy Chief, who is currently on an official visit to Vietnam, presided over the ceremony at the Cam Ranh deep water bay, where the advanced warship was transferred to the Vietnam People's Navy. The Indian Navy stated that the ship was handed over to Vietnam People's Navy (VPN) with a complete "weapon complement." The transfer of INS Kirpan, from the Indian Navy to the Vietnam Peoples Navy reflects Indias commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability, and is in consonance with the Government of Indias policies of Act East and Security and Growth for all in the Region (SAGAR). This is the maiden occasion of gifting a fully operational corvette by India to any Friendly Foreign Country, the Defence Ministry said in a statement. INS Kirpan is an indigenously built Khukri-class Missile Corvette and is being handed over to VPN in accordance with Defence Minister Rajnath Singhs announcement of gifting an in-service missile corvette to Vietnam on 19 Jun 2023. INS Kirpan departed from India to Vietnam on 28 June and reached Cam Ranh, Vietnam on 08 July. During the visit, Admiral R Hari Kumar will visit Vietnam Peoples Navys Headquarters at Hai Phong for bilateral interaction with Vice Admiral Tran Thanh Nghiem, CINC, Vietnam Peoples Navy. He will also call on Vietnams Minister of National Defence. The visit of the Chief of Naval Staff signifies a high level of bilateral defence engagements between IN and VPN, as well as Indias recognition of ASEAN Centrality to the region, the statement said. Christopher Nolan Instagram page Netizens were found irked by a scene in Christopher Nolan's latest released movie Oppenheimer where actor Cillian Murphy, who is portraying the titular character of physicist J Robert Oppenheimer, could be seen reading the Bhagavad Gita while having sex. Several netizens to the scene and even criticised the Indian Censor Board Of Film Certification (CBFC) for allowing the retention of it in the movie. Shame on Indias censor board for allowing this. Christopher Nolan is a typical Hollywood racist. He completely shut out all the Indian fighters in WWI movie and now he is making crude sexual references with Hinduism. Porno perverts from the West again exploit Hindu texts. https://t.co/qhiifzipNQ Indian-Americans (@HinduAmericans) July 20, 2023 A Twitter handle named Indian-Americans posted: "Absolutely disgusting. We are calling upon Hindus to boycott and protest this film! It has a scene associating the Gita with sex scene. Indias censor allowed it! They need to reverse this. They would never allow Quran or China to be shown like this." Another Twitter user Shan said: "#Oppenheimer movie, hero reading Sanskrit Bhagavad gita while sex scene, it's completely defame Indian culture & religion, this scene need to be removed or BAN this movie in India @narendramodi@AmitShah @ARanganathan72 @jsaideepak @rishibagree @BeerBicepsGuy @vivekagnihotri." You are having a sex scene and at same time reading the #BhagavadGita What crap is this @Chris_Nolann? You have clearly manipulated the scripted history. I left the movie instantly after that scene. Shame#Oppenheimer pic.twitter.com/IsEXbCIK03 Mayur (@peafowlms) July 21, 2023 Mayur, another netizen, said: " You are having a sex scene and at same time reading the #BhagavadGita What crap is this @Chris_Nolann ? You have clearly manipulated the scripted history.I left the movie instantly after that scene. Shame." Oppenheimer released on Friday. The movie is directed by Christopher Nolan. Based on the 2005 biography American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film chronicles the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist who was pivotal in developing the first nuclear weapons as part of the Manhattan Project, and thereby ushering in the Atomic Age. Cillian Murphy stars as the titular character, with Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer's wife, Katherine "Kitty" Oppenheimer, Matt Damon as General Leslie Groves, Oppenheimer's military handler, and Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a senior member of the United States Atomic Energy Commission. Other members of the supporting cast include Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh. Caption: Igor Strelkov at the press conference in the Ural State Mining University, Yekaterinburg, March 14, 2015. Photo Courtesy: ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0)/Wikimedia Commons Pro-war blogger and hardline critic of President Vladimir Putin, Igor Girkin, who earlier criticised Russia's military strategy in Ukraine, has been remanded in custody by a court in Moscow on charges of inciting extremism, media reports said. The hardline nationalist, also known as Igor Strelkov, could face up to five years in jail, reports BBC. His wife claimed he was detained from his flat on Friday. A former FSB intelligence colonel, Strelkov played a key role in Russia's 2014 land grab of Crimea, reports BBC. Igor Girkin had even led Russia's proxy army in the ensuing war in eastern Ukraine. Igor Strelkov was one of three men convicted in absentia by a Dutch court last November of murder for his role in a missile strike in 2014 that downed a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over the conflict area, with the loss of all 298 people on board, reports BBC. But as the full-scale invasion of last year became increasingly bogged down, Strelkov's criticism of military failings and the commander in chief, President Vladimir Putin, became more vociferous. "We have already lost," he told social media followers last year as quoted by BBC. A few days ago he called the Kremlin leader "a nonentity" and "a cowardly waste of space", says BBC Russia editor Steve Rosenberg. Meanwhile, Russias bombardment of Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea could have far-reaching impacts on global food security, UN political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo said on Friday in a briefing to the Security Council. DiCarlo strongly condemned the aerial strikes this week on the ports in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Mykolaiv, which destroyed critical infrastructure and killed or injured civilians. The attacks followed Russia's decision on Monday to effectively end the Black Sea Initiative, the UN-brokered accord that facilitated Ukrainian grain and foodstuffs to be shipped to international markets at a time of spiralling global food prices and rising hunger. DiCarlo said these events are but the latest developments in Russias "senseless war against its neighbour", which has consequences that can be felt around the world. Rising temperature and other weather-related effects of climate change could prompt a record number of dengue infections, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned, Azernews reports, citing Al Arabiya. Countries across the world are this week witnessing record temperatures, with the World Meteorological Organization saying it expects temperatures in North America, Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean to soar above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) for a prolonged number of days. Global warming marked by higher average temperatures, precipitation and longer periods of drought, could prompt a record number of dengue infections worldwide, the WHO warned on Friday, as temperatures across the globe continued to soar. A NASA scientist said July will be the hottest month in "thousands of years." Dengue is the most common viral infection and is spread from mosquitoes to people. Most people who contract the infection suffer mild symptoms and recover in one to two weeks, but for others, the infection can develop and become severe, and in certain cases fatal. As of 2022 there were more than 2.4 million recorded cases of dengue worldwide, an eightfold increase compared to 2000 when there were about half a million cases, Dr. Velayudhan told journalists at a briefing in the UN in Geneva on Thursday. Asia has the highest number of cases with about 70 percent of all recorded cases, the expert said. Numerous factors in addition to climate change have [also] driven the spread of dengue fever, such as the increased movement of people and goods, urbanization and pressure on water and sanitation, the WHO added on its website. Parents Day 2023 Wishes & Quotes: Parents' Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July every year in India. This Year Parents' Day is being celebrated on July 23. As Today we are celebrating National Parents' Day, So it's the perfect opportunity to take some time out of our busy lives and make parents feel special. There is nothing better than celebrating Parents' Day on a Sunday. So, let's not forget to wish them, give them a small gift and it's important to tell our parents our how much we love them. Happy Parents Day 2023: Top 75+ Wishes, Messages, Greetings, Images, Quotes, and Parents Day WhatsApp Status to Share and Express Your Love | Pixabay It is a day to feel grateful for the endless questions they've answered without being impatient, how much they cared during our toughest days, the vital role they played in protecting, teaching, and providing us with all we needed. Parents Day 2023 Wishes, Images, Quotes, and Parent's Day WhatsApp Greetings to Share On this day we honour all the parents who do everything to raise and protect their children. Here are some suggestions about Parents' Day 2023 wishes, messages, quotes, greetings and Parents' Day Whatsapp Status you can send to your parent and express your love. Happy Parents Day 2023: Top 75+ Wishes, Messages, Greetings, Images, Quotes, and Parents Day WhatsApp Status to Share and Express Your Love | Pixabay Parent's Day 2023: Inspirational Parents Day quotes Here are a few Inspirational Parents' Day quotes and wishes that you can share with your parents to express your love on this Respect for Parents' Day: 1. "My parents are my God and no one can ever take your place. Happy Parent's day Maa Paa!" 2. "The biggest blessing for a child is their parents. I feel so lucky that I have you, thank you for being such an amazing parent's! Happy Parents' Day 2020!" 3. "My parents are my biggest strength. Thank you so much mummy and papa for always being my biggest supporter. I love you a lot. Happy Parents Day!" 4. "You both are my source of inspiration and my motivation. I love you, mom and dad. Wishing both of you a happy parent's day!" 5. "My constant my mom and dad I can never explain to you, what you both mean to me. Thank you, God for giving me the best parents in the world. Happy Parents Day Mom and Dad." 6. "I can pay you for the sacrifices you made for me. Thank you for making my world so beautiful. Happy Parents' Day my sweethearts!" 7. "Everything I am today is because of you two. Thank you for making my childhood awesome and my life wonderful. Wishing you a happy parent's day!" 8. "Dear Maa and paa, I wish both of you a very Happy Parent's Day! Thank you for guiding me through my life and supporting me like a true friend!" 9. "Thank you, my guardian angels, for everything. I am so lucky that I was born to you. Happy Parent's Day 2023!" 10. "Thank you for everything. You two are the reason for my happiness and the motivation behind my success. Happy parent's day maa and paa!" Parents Day 2023 Status and Messages 1. I feel lucky all the time for having such amazing parents like you! Happy Parents Day! 2. Happy Parents Day 2023! Thank you for always being my biggest supporters! 3. You have always been with me, both on good and bad days. You have motivated me to do my best. I love you, mom and dad. Happy Parents Day! 4. Everything I am today is because of you two. Wishing you a Happy Parents Day 2023! 5. You made my childhood awesome and my life wonderful. Thank you! You are the best! Happy Parents Day Wishes in English 1. Happy Parents Day to the most amazing parents! Your love and support mean the world to me. 2. Wishing the best parents in the world a day filled with joy and happiness. Thank you for everything you do. 3. To the superheroes who brought me into this world, Happy Parents Day! Your strength and love inspire me every day. 4. Mom and Dad, you are my role models and my biggest supporters. I'm grateful for you every day. Happy Parents Day! 5. Today, we celebrate the incredible parents who shaped us into the people we are. Happy Parents' Day to you both! 6. Thank you for your unconditional love and guidance. You've made our lives so much brighter. Happy Parents Day! 7. Mom and Dad, your love is like a beacon guiding me through life's journey. I love you both dearly. Happy Parents Day! 8. On this special day, I want to express my gratitude for all the sacrifices you've made for us. Happy Parents Day! 9. To the world's most caring and loving parents, Happy Parents Day! You deserve all the happiness in the world. 10. Wishing a happy and blessed Parents' Day to the two people who mean everything to me. Happy Parents Day 2023: Top 75+ Wishes, Messages, Greetings, Images, Quotes, and Parents Day WhatsApp Status to Share and Express Your Love | Pixabay Happy Parents Day Thoughts 1. Mom and Dad, you've always been there for me through thick and thin. Thank you for being the best parents ever! 2. Your love and support have been unwavering, and I'm forever grateful. Happy Parents Day to my amazing parents! 3. Thank you for filling our home with love, laughter, and happiness. Happy Parents Day to the best parents in the universe! 4. Today is a reminder of the love and strength you bring into our lives. Happy Parents Day 2023! 5. Mom and Dad, you are my rock and my anchor. I love you both dearly. Happy Parents Day 2023! 6. Here's to the parents who always put their children first. Your selflessness is truly inspiring. Happy Parents Day 2023! 7. May this Parents Day be a reflection of the love and care you've given us all these years. You're simply the best! 8. Your love has been a guiding light in my life. Thank you for being such wonderful parents. Happy Parents Day! 9. On this special day, I want you both to know how much you mean to me. Happy Parents Day, Mom and Dad! 10. You've been our biggest cheerleaders, and we're eternally grateful for your love. Happy Parents Day! Happy Parents Day Greeting Card Messages 1. Wishing a fantastic Parents Day to the parents who have showered us with love and affection. 2. Mom and Dad, your love has been the foundation of our family. We love you so much. Happy Parents Day! 3. You've taught us valuable lessons, and your love has been a blessing in our lives. Happy Parents Day! 4. To the parents who have been with us every step of the way, thank you for your unwavering support. Happy Parents Day! 5. Your love has given us the strength to face life's challenges. Happy Parents Day to the best parents ever! 6. Mom and Dad, your presence in our lives is a precious gift. Thank you for everything you do. Happy Parents Day! 7. Here's to the parents who've shown us the meaning of love and sacrifice. Happy Parents Day! 8. You've made our house a home filled with love and warmth. Happy Parents Day to our beloved parents! 9. Mom and Dad, you're the reason we smile every day. Wishing you a joyous and love-filled Parents Day! 10. Your love and support have made us better individuals. Happy Parents Day to our extraordinary parents! 11. Your love has been a source of strength and comfort. Thank you for being such incredible parents. Happy Parents Day 2023! Parents Day 2023 wishes for mom and Dad 1. Dear mom and dad, I have no words to thank you for giving me more than what I deserved. You are my ideals, you are my strengths, you are my inspiration. I wish you both a very Happy Parents Day. 2. No words in the world can express my love and respect for you mom and dad. You are my strength, my inspiration and my love. Best wishes on Parents Day to the both of you. 3. No money in the world can buy the unconditional love of parents. Dear mom and dad, I wish you a very Happy Parents Day because you are my inspiration and motivation in my life. 4. Warm wishes on Parents Day to the mom and dad who make the most amazing parents. I thank you for believing me and pampering me always. 5. Dear mom and dad, of all the mentors and friends I have had in my life, you two are the most special ones. Wishing you a very Happy Parents Day. 6. Your presence in my life is a signal that God loves me because he has given me the best parents in this world to take care of me. Happy Parents Day to you mom and dad. 7. I wish I could be half as good a child as my amazing parents. Thank you for all your love. Thank you for all your faith you have in me. Love you mom and dad. 8. A very Happy Parents Day to my mom and dad who are my lucky charms, who have made me the most fortunate child in this world with all their love, care and affection. Happy Parents Day Wishes From Daughter 1. I know how much sacrifices you have for me and I can never be more thankful to you. Warm wishes on Parents Day to the most loving mom and dad. 2. Whatever I know today is all because of my mom and dad. I wish I can always make you proud of me. Happy Parents Day to you. 3. Whenever I look at you mom and dad, I see the most beautiful blessing of God. Thank you for making me an independent and responsible girl. 4. The occasion of Parents Day gives me an opportunity as your daughter to tell you that you two mean the world to me. Love you forever. Happy Parents Day Wishes From Son 1. The occasion of Parents Day gives me an opportunity as your Son to tell you that you two mean the world to me. Love you forever. Happy Parents Day 2023! 2. Dear Mom and Dad, Happy Parents Day! I am so grateful for everything you've done for me. You've always been there for me, no matter what. I love you both so much. 3. Mom and Dad, you are the best parents anyone could ask for. Thank you for everything you've done to raise me and help me become the person I am today. I love you both more than words can say. 4. Happy Parents Day to the two people who mean the world to me. I am so lucky to have you in my life. Thank you for everything, Mom and Dad. 5. I don't know what I would do without you, Mom and Dad. You are my everything. Happy Parents Day! 6. Thank you for always believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. You are the best parents anyone could ask for. Happy Parents Day! 7. I am so grateful for all the sacrifices you've made for me. You've given me everything I could ever want and more. I love you both so much. Happy Parents Day! 8. You are my role models, my best friends, and the people I love most in the world. Happy Parents Day! 9. I am so lucky to have you as my parents. You've taught me so much about life, and I'm so grateful for all the love and support you've given me. Happy Parents Day! 10. I hope you have a wonderful Parents Day. Thank you for everything, Mom and Dad. I love you both! 11 I can't wait to spend the day with you, Mom and Dad. I love you both so much. Parents Day 2023 quotes 1. "Let parents bequeath to their children not riches, but the spirit of reverence" - Plato 2. "Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them" - Oscar Wilde 3. "There is no such thing as a perfect parent. So just be a real one" - Sue Atkins 4. "When mother is happy, family is happy. When family is happy, nation is happy" - APJ Abdul Kalam 5. "There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you" - JK Rowling 6. "When you look into your mothers eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth." Mitch Albom 7. "A parents love is whole no matter how many times divided." Robert Brault 8. "First your parents, they give you your life, but then they try to give you their life." Chuck Palahniuk 9. "Children begin by loving their parents; as they grow older they judge them; sometimes they forgive them." Oscar Wilde 10. "The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day." O. A. Battista Parents Day Shayari Status in Hindi #1 , , , , - . Happy Parents Day! #2 , , , , . Happy Parents Day! #3 , - , , . Happy Parents Day! #4 , , , . Happy Parents Day 2023! #5 , , , Happy Parents Day! Happy Parents Day Images and Greeting Cards #1 Happy Parents Day Images and Greeting Cards #2 Happy Parents Day Images and Greeting Cards #3 Happy Parents Day Images and Greeting Cards #4 Happy Parents Day Images and Greeting Cards #5 Happy Parents Day Images and Greeting Cards Here's wishing you Happy Parents Day 2023! For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events 2012 saw the release of Gangs of Wasseypur, an 'unconventional' gang war movie set in India's hinterlands and not the metro cities. Gangs of Wasseypur told the story of the intense gang war in Jharkhand's Dhanbad, one of the most important coal mining areas. BCCL It was probably for the first time most of India ever heard about the intense gang rivalry and their bloody history. The real Gangs of Wasseypur Now Wasseypur is back in the news as Interpol has issued a Red and Blue Corner Notice against gangster Prince Khan. A fugitive believed to be currently operating out of Dubai or Sharjah, Prince Khan is the new don of Wasseypur. AFP Who is Prince Khan? Prince is the nephew of Faheem Khan, considered the most notorious and dreaded gangster of Wasseypur and the main character in the film, and was earlier associated with his gang before a fallout. Notably, the character of Faizal Khan, which is played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui in the two-part gangster saga, is said to be built around life of Faheem Khan. After Faheem went to jail, Prince, who calls himself 'Chote Sarkar' of Dhanbad, rose through the ranks and became the gang's new leader. BCCL Prince Khan's regime of terror in Dhanbad The 'elusive' gangster made his first 'public appearance' in November 2021 in a video, claiming responsibility for the murder of Mahtab Alam alias Nanhe Khan, a property dealer who was considered close to Faheem. According to Prince, Alam's killing was revenge for the murder of one Ashraful Hasan alias Lala Khan, who was allegedly shot dead on May 12 allegedly on the orders of Faheem Khan from behind bars. SCREENGRAB Apart from murders, Prince has also been accused of frequent threats to businessmen, traders, officials, police officers and politicians. In March this year, Prince had also released a video threatening a member of the influential 'Singh Mansion' BJP leader Ragini Singh, warning her not to make any political interferences in "other matters". 'Singh Mansion' was the residence of Suryadeo Singh, said to be the "most powerful strongman" in the Dhanbad coalfields region from 70s till the 90s. Ragini is the wife of former legislator Sanjeev Singh, who is currently in jail in connection with a murder case. Faheem's son shot at In May this year, Faheem's son Iqbal Khan and his aide Dholu were shot at, allegedly by Prince's henchmen. While Dholu died, Iqbal, who suffered severe injuries, survived. Faheem's brother Sher Khan had said that Prince had repeatedly threatened to kill them. How Prince Khan fled India Prince is believed to have fled India a few months ago using a fake passport in the name of Hyder Ali. Unsplash Even after fleeing abroad, Khan released several threat videos from UAE, and his gang members continue to terrorise businessmen and politicians in Dhanbad. The CBI had sought Interpol's assistance at the request of Dhanbad Police to arrest and extradite Khan. Red and Blue Corner notices against Prince Khan The Interpol Red Corner notice has been issued against Prince in connection with a firing case in Dhanbad, while the Blue Corner notice was issued against him for another case being probed by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the police. FACEBOOK The UAE and National Security Council have been apprised of the Interpol notices, and the police is trying to get Prince extradited to Jharkhand if he is arrested. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. We have heard of cattle kept in a desi veranda, but hardly ever does a cattle stock being raised in a Chinese flats balcony come up. Thats why mainland social media was struck with a million questions when a video of 7 cows being kept on the fifth-floor balcony of a Chinese flat went viral. Chinese Family Raises 7 Cows On Fifth-Floor Balcony SCMP Videos of seven baby cows happily eating on the balcony of a residential building in southwest China's Sichuan province have become super popular. Lots of peopleabout 4 millionhave watched these clips on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. A resident living in the area said that the cows were there for just one day. But their mooing and bad smell bothered the neighbours, so they alerted the authorities about it. On July 14, the animals were removed by urban management officials. The leader of the community, Zhang Dayou, told the reporters at Fengmian News that the baby cows weighed somewhere between 10 and 20 kilogrammes each. There Was A Tussle Between The Owner And The Security Guards After the cows were taken away, the people in charge of managing the property and the security guards have been having a tough time dealing with the owner of the cows. The owner has been trying to secretly bring the cows back into the residential flat, and it has become like a contest of determination between them. Spectators on the internet were worried about the animals being squished on the small balcony. Everyone wanted the calves to be healthy. The residential area is home to people who moved there from nearby villages, and that might be the reason why this situation took place. Tell us what you think about having calves on a balcony in the comments below. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. The premier thanked the EU's Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) and its upgraded agency rescEU - European Civil Protection & Humanitarian Aid Operations. These agencies "have once more proved their immense value in times of need," he said, calling the contribution of the EU and of all countries invaluable. The flagship event highlighted the excellent cooperation between Greece and the United States in the shipping industry Keywords The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has responded to the increase in service charges by Point of Sale (POS) agents. According to the apex bank, it is currently in discussions with the POS operators and is actively working to find a resolution to the matter. Isah AbdulMumin, CBN Director, Corporate Communications, in a chat with Guardian said: Yes, the apex bank is aware of the move by POS agents to increase transaction charges. We at the CBN understand their plight. We know their challenges but we are engaging with them to find a common ground. Though the CBN maintained it has not approved any service charge hike by the agents, but the operators argue that the unfavorable business environment has forced them to raise their fee. Information Nigeria reports that the Association of Mobile Money and Bank Agents in Nigeria (AMMBAN) recently announced a new fee structure, effective from July 17, 2023. Withdrawals ranging from N1,000 to N2,400 will incur a charge of N100, while withdrawals from N3,500 to N4,000 will have a N200 charge. The charges continue to increase in increments based on the amount withdrawn, up to N18,000-N20,000, which will attract an N800 charge. READ ALSO: Presidential Appointment: Nothing Can Be Done At Villa Without Calling Someone In Lagos Dele Fulani Sues For Balance Similarly, deposits are subject to charges based on the amount, starting from N1,000 to N4,900 incurring a N100 charge, and increasing gradually up to N41,000-N50,000, which will be charged N600. The announcement of these increased charges has caused concern among Nigerians, especially those in rural areas who heavily rely on PoS agents for quick withdrawals and deposits. Kayode Salako, Chairman of the Concerned POS Operators in Nigeria, criticized the fee hike as being exorbitant and harmful to many Nigerians already facing financial difficulties. While we agree that the new cashless and fuel subsidy removal policies have greatly affected businesses, we think the best thing, for now, is for the association to fight for how to make business easy for agents and the masses by fighting for some preference from the government to at least let the PoS operators have access to cash if it would take the bank to increase their daily withdrawal limit, Salami said. Although the new charges were not yet operational in Abuja, the nations capital, and Lagos State, the commercial capital, findings showed that operators in other parts of the country had effected the changes. Favour Asagwara, a POS attendant in Abule-Egba area of Lagos State, confirmed that old service charges were still obtainable in the area. Its still N100 for N5, 000; N200 for N10, 000; N300 for N15, 000 and N400 for N20, 000 and so on. It was only during the new naira policy that the increase was last effected, she said. The Federal Government has increased school fees for Federal Government Colleges (FGCs), otherwise known as Federal Unity Colleges, from 45,000 to 100,000. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that the government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, has directed that new students of these colleges across the federation would pay N100,000 on resumption. The new directive was contained in a circular from the Office of the Director of Senior Secondary Education Department of the Federal Ministry of Education, reference number ADF/120/DSSE/I, dated 25th May 2023 and addressed to all Principals of Federal Unity Colleges. According to the circular titled Approved fees/ charges for Federal Unity Colleges (1st Term) for new students, signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education, Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, new students are expected to part with 100,000 instead of the previous 45,000. READ MORE: UNILAG Increases Tuition Fees By 400 Per Cent The circular further noted that The latest fees/charge increment will affect virtually all aspects and activities of the school, including tuition and boarding fees, uniform, textbooks, deposit, exercise books, prospectus, caution fee, ID card, stationery, clubs and societies, sports, extra lesson, insurance, et al. Please be informed that the ministry has approved only the under-listed fees and charges for all Unity Colleges. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives had on July 11, urged the Federal Government to reverse the increment of school fees in all federal government-owned secondary schools. The resolution followed a motion moved by Saidu Abdullahi (APC, Niger) and Kama Nkemkanma (LP, Ebonyi). Nkemkanma had while moving the motion said the increment was causing untold hardship for students. A former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, has vowed to appeal a United Kingdom court ruling on Friday ordering a Confiscation of 101.5 million pounds linked to him. Delivering the order, Judge David Tomlinson of the Southwark Crown Court, said the former Delta governor should pay the sum immediately or face an eight-year jail sentence. However, Ibori, in his reaction via his Facebook page, said he would appeal against the confiscation order, one of the largest imposed on an individual in recent British legal history. Ibori said despite some of the most logic defying rulings against him, he had believed that that justice and fairness would eventually triumph. Adding that he has accepted his fate despite the inability of the British prosecutors to show any evidence whatsoever of monies defrauded or indeed missing from Delta State, Ibori insisted that he would appeal the ruling. His post read in part, Todays ruling from Judge Tomlinson is difficult to comprehend and even harder to accept. I have to move past the fact that the British Courts found themselves competent to sit in Judgment over contracts awarded in Delta State for contracts that were legitimately awarded and completed. I have come to accept my fate despite the inability of the British prosecutors to show any evidence whatsoever of monies defrauded or indeed missing from Delta State. READ MORE: Nigeria Receives 4.2m Ibori Loot From UK Since 2005 the British Prosecutors have investigated my assets worldwide, they have had a restraint order in place on most of those assets and they are well aware that the total monetary value of those assets is nowhere close to the sums that were the subject of todays Order. Not withstanding the fact that many of the assets are not and have never been owned by me, it seems that if you are my friend and you allowed me to spend some holiday time in your house, then by this order I now own your home and must ask you to sell it to satisfy the Order. The Order made today was to be paid immediately, this was made in the full knowledge that it could take many months to actually realise the sale of many of these assets. There is an 8 year default sentence, which means that if I do not co-operate and pay nothing at all, then the prosecution can apply for the imposition of the default sentence. However as the prosecution already has a Restraint Order over the assets the situation of my not co-operating or paying will not arise. However, an issue arises if my Restrained Assets are sold, and the total realised from the sale does not equal the amount in the Order, then the Prosecution can still apply for part of the default sentence to be applied, but they could only ask for a sliding scale reduction of the 8 years default sentence based on the amounts that remain outstanding. If such an application were to be made it would be vigorously contested. In the normal course of events any talk of a default sentence would normally be stayed until any outstanding Appeal has been concluded. The Judge in this case has appears to have cast aside any pretence of impartiality and has made an Order which is both wholly unrealistic and unrealisable. He has completely disregarded any arguments, evidence or expert witnesses in my favour. It was apparent during these last 2 days that he has forgotten many of the important elements of the case which is unsurprising as it almost 2 years since the case concluded. It has taken him 2 years to write this Judgment and in the interim he has presided over hundreds of cases, but I refuse to make excuses for him. At this point in time words fail me and so the question for me as I take my case to the Court of Appeal, is, if I continue to believe that I may finally get some Justice is this the definition of madness? I know one thing for sure, that if I do not go to the Court of Appeal to contest this outrageous Order then my people will definitely say that I am a madman! The Lagos Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed on Saturday that the Lagos State Government pardoned and released 30 inmates. The spokesperson of the NCoS Lagos Command, Mr Rotomi Oladokun, confirmed the release in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. Oladokun stated that the inmates were pardoned by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kazeem Alogba. READ ALSO: Five Kuje Prison Inmates Bag Varsity Degrees At NOUN The inmates released are those who committed minor offences such as assault, disorderliness, low-level shoplifting, road traffic offences, theft, and burglary, among others. There is, however, a need to free more inmates as the state custodial facilities are housing over 8000 inmates, which is above their capacities, Oladokun said. Oladokun called on the state government to use its justice system to check the database of inmates to see if more inmates could be released. He also urged Nigerians to accept the freed inmates and help them reintegrate back into society. Thousands of Muslims and Christians in Maiduguri trooped out en masse on Friday to pray for peace and steady rainfall in Borno. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that while the Muslim faithful observed the prayer in their respective Mosques yesterday, the Christians from different denominations gathered at First Baptist Church, Maiduguri, for the prayers. The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai El-Kanemi, and officials of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had on Thursday urged the faithful to pray for divine intervention over the shortage of rainfall. The monarch also directed all district and village heads across the state to mobilise their subjects to support the needy, orphans, and disabled as part of the prayers. He advised all parents to counsel their wards to desist from immoral behaviours, misconduct, social vices, and drug abuse, as well as urging all traders and business operators to fear Allah in conducting their lawful businesses. READ MORE: Photos Of Boko Haram Commanders And Physician Who Surrender To Nigerian Troops In his words of exhortation during the prayer session for Christians at the Baptist Church, the state chairman of CAN, Most Rev John Bakeni, urged the faithful to seek Gods face and abide by His ways in their dealings for good tidings. Also, the Bishop of Maiduguri Anglican Diocese, Rev Emmanuel Morris, prayed to God to grant the state peace and fruitful rainfall for a bumper harvest. Nigerian controversial skitmaker, Abdullahi Maruff Adisa, popularly known as Trinity Guy, has been released from prison. Recall that on June 22, the Nigeria Police authorities summoned the prankster over his skit involving a female minor in a sexualized prank. INFORMATION NIGERIA reports that Trinity Guy was summoned to appear before the Oyo State Police Command. However, a Magistrate Court at Iyaganku, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, ruled that Trinity Guy be remanded in prison till August. Alongside the entertainer, the court also remanded the parents of the minor, Isiaka Ahmed, 40, and his wife, Rofiat Ahmed, 29. The Prosecution Counsel, Inspector Oluwakemi Arowosaye, informed the court that Abdullahi, Ahmed, and his wife, Rofiat plotted to commit sexual abuse. READ MORE: Court Remands Skit Maker, Trinity Guy, Victims Parents To Agodi Prison Arowosaye stated that Trinity was accused of sexually abusing and exploiting a 10-year-old girl in the Kuola neighbourhood of Ibadan on December 17, 2022. He said the Police also confirmed that the offence violated Section 35 (1) and was punishable under Section 35 (2) of the Oyo State Child Rights Law 2006. Meanwhile, another popular Nigerian skitmaker, Abdugalfar Abiola, better known as Cute Abiola, in a post via his Instagram page on Friday night, announced that his colleague has been released on bail. He wrote: @iamtrinityguy is finally free on Bail . I am wishing you all the best brother. May Almighty Allah keep guiding you to the right path. Amen Welcome back! Welcome back! My guy don pray tire see him forehead Oyo State Government, Friday, disclosed that it has arrested and prosecuted no fewer than 44 violators of street trading. The offenders were arrested along Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan North and Salvation Army/Ogunpa Ibadan North-West. Other areas they were nabbed are; Anajere Market Academy, Iwo road, Lagelu and Egbeda Local Government areas in Ibadan, the State capital. The exercise, according to the state government, was carried out on Thursday. Rotimi Babalola, Director of Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, made these disclosures in a statement. According to him, the exercise was carried out in order to ensure that streets get more sanitized and environmental friendly. He added that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Modupe Adeleye, mobilised a team of Directors of the Ministry and Officers of Oyo State Road Transport Maintenance Agency (OYRTMA) and the Environmental Task Forces, for the enforcement in markets within Ibadan metropolis. The Oyo State Government, on Thursday, arrested and prosecuted 44 violators of street trading, along Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan North, Salvation Army/Ogunpa Ibadan NorthWest, Anajere market, Academy, Iwo road, in Lagelu and Egbeda Local Government areas of the state. This was a follow-up to the myriad warnings and sensitization against street trading by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources. READ ALSO: Primate Ayodele Donates N500k To Veteran Actor, Charles Olumo, Places Him On Life Salary Meanwhile, the Government has sealed five private health facilities found guilty of employing unqualified and unlicensed doctors, commonly referred to as quack doctors. The state government said it was part of measures towards protecting the health and well-being of residents, adding that the healthcare facilities were sealed for non-compliance with regulatory standards. Director for Secondary Healthcare and Training, Wale Falana, speaking during an inspection at Olodo and Moniya axis of Ibadan, stated that the action became necessary after an extensive monitoring and evaluation of hospital facilities was carried out within the state. The inspection revealed alarming evidence of malpractice, misdiagnoses and inappropriate treatments being administered to unsuspected patients. According to him, The five health care facilities sealed were found to be lacking in terms of equipment, personnel, and compliance with standard medical regulations. Also, some hospitals were staffed with unqualified personnel who were practicing medicine without the required qualifications and license, he said. Falana further warned hospitals not to compromise on the quality of healthcare offered to patients, stressing that the facilities will remain closed until they meet the requirements and standards set by the regulatory bodies. This administration underscores its commitment to ensuring that health care services in the Oyo State adhere to the highest standards of quality and professionalism. The government of the day, distinguished health as one of the cardinal programmes, consequently, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde takes the health of the people as essential, which is the reason behind the omititun free health mission held quarterly throughout the state. We will not tolerate any compromise in medical standards that could put lives at risk. Our action in closing these hospitals demonstrates our commitment to maintaining quality healthcare delivery within our state, he added. Falana added that the state government had urged citizens to be more cautious when seeking medical attention and reminded them to verify the qualifications and licenses of healthcare providers they visit for treatment, encouraging citizens to report any suspected cases of quack doctors or substandard medical practices to the Ministry of Health. This will enable the government to take swift action and ensure that the healthcare system in Oyo State remains trustworthy, reliable, and patient-centric. Dele Fulani, National Coordinator Of Conference of All Progressives Congress Support Groups in the South West, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to minimize favouring Lagos with appointments over other South Western states. There have been accusations that 13 out of 20 appointments made by the President since his inauguration into office are either from Lagos or play a major role in Lagos politics. Information Nigeria understands that in a Wednesday press release titled, Dangers of Lagosizing South West, Fulani called out the President stating that he only appoints Lagos Boys politicians who have played their politics in the city of Lagos for the majority of their political career. Fulani in a chat on Friday, with Arise News and in a bid to clarify Party members and supporters concerns over the allegations, emphasised the need for Tinubu, to not only spread out appointments to other parts of South West, but also to other regions and balance out his appointment method. What has Lagos contributed to the victory of Mr President? If the election were to be solely relied on what comes out of Lagos, I think we wouldnt be talking about Mr. President being the president. READ ALSO: Fuel Crisis: Pro-Tinubu Protesters Storm National Assembly Complex Mr. President should look out for other parts of the South West, those that have contributed to his success. Look at Ondo State, look at Ekiti. Look at Oyo, Ogun and Osun. It shouldnt be Lagos alone. And also, the sense of entitlement of Lagos politicians doesnt do well with us. The pressure on the president is mainly from Lagos politicians, not politicians from other parts of the South West, he said. Despite the president having the right to pick his own men, he said there are strategies of politics that must include consideration of public opinion and stakeholders opinion. I am a politician. We see the character of our people. We see Lagos politicians, the way they come in. Let me tell you, we cant get anything done in the Villa without calling somebody from Lagos. Even to some of us in the South West, to me as an individual, even with my capacity in the party, when I want to do something in the Villa, I have to call somebody in Lagos. The president should spread out to other regions, even beyond South West. Because all what we are saying, look at the appointments, the evidence is there, he added. The Obi-Datti media office has revealed that rogue trolls are deploying fake news to distract the judiciary. Recall that Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed were the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 election. LP and its candidates are challenging the outcome of the election at the tribunal. In a statement signed by Diran Onifade, head of the Obi-Datti media office, the Party decried recent happenings as it pertains to the judiciary. According to Onifade, the campaign of calumny against the bench and bar is being orchestrated by agents of retrogression to distract and defocus the judiciary from its critical national assignment. We find absolutely needless and utterly unacceptable some of the curious happenings around our judiciary lately, starting with the threat of anarchy and chaos should the ruling partys candidate be legally removed by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC). The allegations of a telephone conversation between the esteemed Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukoyade Ariwoola with some persons, which the Supreme Court has since denied, and most recently, the bizarre fake news claiming that one of the panelists at the ongoing hearing before the PEPC had resigned, the statement read. The office furthered that the judiciary should not be burdened by these distractions. READ ALSO: Nigerians Will Take To The Steets In Joy When Tribunal Invalidates Tinubus Election PDP Boasts Its indisputable that the future of this country is tied to the outcome of the judiciarys assignment. Every hand must be on deck to help them pilot the ship of the Nigerian state to safety away from perdition, the statement reads. Obi-Datti Media office, therefore, wishes to call on all patriots desirous of seeing a new Nigeria to desist from any action that may hinder the delivery of justice by their Lordships. Relatedly, we also want to use this medium to warn these rogue Troll and Fog Machine agents to desist from ongoing attempts to smear or entrap Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed under whatever ploy. We recall at least seven failed fake demarketing and discrediting campaigns against our principals. We are all the more concerned about plans to escalate these desperate acts ahead of the PEPC judgment. Nigerians must not be gullible to believe or accept such deep, fake, and dubious ploys, all in the name of partisan politics. While we continue to appreciate our security agencies efforts to secure Nigeria, we implore them to ensure that our principals are safe and secure in their persons, movement and properties as they go about their public and private endeavours. Obi-Datti media office, therefore, wishes to call on all patriots desirous of seeing a new Nigeria to desist from any action that may hinder the delivery of justice by their Lordships or other forms of nefarious activities that may heat up the national polity, the office added. Socio-political commentator, Shehu Sani has backed Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra States stance on the distribution of palliative. According to the former Kaduna Central lawmaker some state governors might use the funds for palliative to pay contractors, pay backlog of salaries, settle domestic debt, among others. Recall on Thursday, Soludo had urged governors to prune down on their use of funds amid the hardship Nigerians are facing following petrol subsidy removal. READ ALSO: Ogun Tribunal: Police Fled When Thugs Invaded Polling Unit Witness Soludo cautioned governors against being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians, saying it would be insensitive for governors to have long convoys while their subjects are reeling in hardship. Sani, via Twitter further urged the President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration to ensure proper checks on the palliative funds. Without proper check, some states will use palliative funds to pay contractors they are owing or pay the inherited backlog of salaries and pensions or use it to settle their domestic debts with Banks or use it settle political supporters; Soludo is right, all states are not equal, Sani tweeted. As part of efforts made by the Nigerias military in cubing terrorism in the Northern part of the country, Troops of Operation Hadarin Daji in Zamfara State on Friday intensified clearance operations in bandits enclaves. In recently coordinated operations, they cleared bandits camps in Mutuwa, Guda Tudu, Kawar, Dantayawa, Gidan Kare, Mahuta, and Gyado villages of Zamfara and Sokoto states. A top military source who preferred anonymity told Channels Television that during the operations, the troops, who approached the bandits enclaves with full strength and agility, frightened the marauding bandits. They fled from their enclaves before the arrival of the troops. However, the troops recovered four of the bandits operational motorcycles and instantly destroyed their newly established enclave. READ MORE: Troops Rescue 24 Kidnap Victims, Kill Bandits In Zamfara Similarly, troops of Operation Hadarin deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Faru of Maradun Local Government Area of Zamfara State received credible information on bandits intent to attack Bagabuzu village. The gallant troops swiftly mobilized to the general area, engaged the armed bandits in a gun duel, and denied them access to the villages. After the encounter, four bandits were neutralized while others escaped with gun wounds. While repelling the attack, the troops recovered one General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG), one FN Rifle, and 123 rounds of special ammunition. Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division Sokoto/Commander Joint Task Force Northwest Operation Hadarin Daji, Major General Godwin Mutkut, commended the troops for resilience, gallantry, and sustenance of the onslaught against the terrorists. He called on the public to support the troops with credible information about bandits activities for proactive measures to ensure the safety of the lives and properties. The management of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Friday, disclosed reason for its increment in school fees of undergraduate students. Information Nigeria had earlier reported the institution hiked its tuition by 400 percent. The school in a statement signed by UNILAGs Public Relations Officer, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem, explained that the hike has become necessary, because of the prevailing economic realities in Nigeria. Alaga-Ibraheem noted that the management has deliberated with its stakeholders (students, parentsalumni/guardians, staff unions, and, among others), that there will be adjustments in the tuition fees for new and returning undergraduate students. READ ALSO: UNILAG Increases Tuition Fees By 400 Per Cent It partly read, The adjustment in fees which will take effect from 1st Semester, 2023/2024 Academic Session, is in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the University to be able to meet its obligations to its students, staff, and municipal service providers among others. It is also pertinent to note that the University has not increased its obligatory fees in recent years. Management, therefore, seeks the kind understanding and support of students and other stakeholders with the assurance of its commitment towards ensuring that students get the best learning experience. Microsoft with its TypeChat library is looking to enable easy development of natural language interfaces to large language models (LLMs) using types. Available on GitHub, TypeChat is an open source library that uses TypeScript and generative AI to bridge natural language, application schema, and APIs. TypeChat uses type definitions in your application to retrieve structured AI responses that are type-safe. Introduced July 20 by a team featuring C# and TypeScript lead developer Anders Hejlsberg, a Microsoft technical fellow, TypeChat addresses the difficulty of developing natural language interfaces, with apps relying on complex decision trees to determine intent and collect required inputs to take action. TypeChat replaces prompt engineering with schema engineering, TypeChats creators said. Developers can define types that represent the intents supported in a natural language application. This could be as simple as an interface to categorize sentiment or more complex, such as types for a shopping cart or music application. After the developer defines the types, TypeChat constructs a prompt to the LLM using those types and validates that the LLM response conforms to the schema. If validation fails, further language model interaction is used to repair the non-conforming output. TypeChat also summarizes the instance and confirms that it aligns with user intent. Developers can install TypeChat through NPM: npm install typechat TypeChat also can be built from source: npm run build Elaborating on TypeChat, its creators said that the recent rush of excitement around LLMs has raised many questions for developers. While chat assistants have been the most direct application, there have been questions regarding how to integrate these models into existing app interfaces, such as how to augment traditional UIs with natural language interfaces and how to use AI to convert a user request into a form that apps can operate on. TypeChat is intended to answer these questions. Walter B. Saul High School makes its own cheese. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the school to announce investments to urban communities that will provide increased access to healthy foods. Read more U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced millions in new investments for urban agriculture Friday, including money that will make its way to Philadelphia farms, schools and organizations. The announcement made in the auditorium at W.B. Saul High School in Roxborough, the countrys largest agricultural high school will have a ripple effect throughout the country, said Vilsack, who heralded what he called a great day for Philadelphia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Vilsack said, will start 17 new service centers to promote urban agriculture, and partner with community-based organizations around the country, including PASA Sustainable Agriculture, based locally in East Kensington. Beneficiaries of the USDA money announced Friday include $1.5 million for PASA to start one of the 17 urban service centers, providing information for those looking to get into urban farming, or help for those already running small- or mid-sized farms; and $50,000 Farm to School grants for the Norris Square Community Alliance and the Caring People Alliance, both based in the city. Advertisement The Farm to School Grants, Vilsack said, mean farmers now have a new market opportunity. Schools now have a new opportunity to have fresh fruits, vegetables or potentially protein that is produced locally. Politicians, community members and Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. underscored the significance of Vilsack making the announcement at Saul, a Philadelphia magnet school and one of three working farms in the district. Agriculture is a top industry in Pennsylvania, and so were laser focused for preparing all of our young people who are interested in it, who may not be interested just yet, Watlington said. Opportunities abound, and we certainly will do our due diligence to make sure that we prepare our students to be ready for those opportunities. Weavers Way Co-op recently received $200,000 from the USDAs Healthy Food Financing Initiative to help create a 6,000-foot, community-owned grocery store on Chelten Avenue in Germantown, said Jon Roesser, Weavers Ways general manager. The flexible federal funding stream helped with early costs, including architecture fees for the site, a long-closed former Acme. There are no big farms within 100 miles of City Hall, but plenty of bread bakers, coffee roasters, orchards, cheese makers and other small producers, Roesser said. Fridays announcement can make a big difference for them. The new dawn for me is how the USDA can support local food systems all across the country, said Roesser. Farming is tough work; many farmers struggle to eke out a living. Scratching out numbers on a whiteboard in front of the Saul stage, Vilsack said the Biden administrations investment can help bridge the gap for small and mid-sized producers who now often use a phrase he scrawled in green marker: Get big or get out. That is 89% of U.S. agricultural revenues are now produced by a tiny fraction of its farms. Were sending a message that no matter what you grow, where you grow, no matter how small you might be, theres a place and an opportunity for you at USDA, Vilsack said. UPS workers gather outside the distribution center at 15 E. Oregon Avenue hold a rally on Thursday, July 20, 2023 to inform management that organized labor will strike if negotiations fail. Pennsylvania State Representative Elizabeth Fiedler led the rally in support of labor. Read more An ongoing wave of high-profile union activity a Hot Labor Summer as some might say, using a catchphrase coined by California labor leaders was visible across Philadelphia this week. Picketing events across the city included striking television and film actors and writers and UPS workers continuing threats of a strike as their contract expiration nears. It sends a strong message to corporate America, said Bill Hamilton, eastern region vice president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the union that represents 340,000 UPS workers across the country. Advertisement Theyve made hundreds of millions of dollars because of COVID. The people that actually did the work in these warehouses and these other [workers] deserve to share in the profits, Hamilton said. Food service workers for Philadelphia Airport vendor OTG, who are members of Unite Here Local 274, were also out demonstrating Thursday because they have been working without a contract for more than five years. And on Saturday, Starbucks workers are planning a rally in front of City Hall to launch their unions Kick Starbucks Off City Hall campaign. Nicole Izanec, president of SAG-AFTRA Philadelphia, said the commonality between these national labor movements is the growing disparity between workers income and corporate profits as well as management salaries. The list of people that are recognizing this is growing larger, and larger, and larger theyre just getting stronger, and theyre not going away any time soon, she said. President Joe Biden seemed to express a similar observation when he briefly visited Philadelphia on Thursday, though he also made sure to note that there are good folks on Wall Street. I got tired of trickle-down economics. Ive never been a big fan, Biden said. I like the wealthy to be able to be wealthy. But the mere fact they do well doesnt mean that everybody else does well. UPS and Teamsters are returning to the table UPS workers have been holding demonstrations throughout the city and in the suburbs, including a rally Thursday on Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia. Labor-supporting organizations including the AFL-CIO Philadelphia Council also have been canvassing the neighborhood surrounding that location, council president Daniel Bauder said, which will continue over the weekend. The Teamsters voted to authorize a strike if they havent reached an agreement with management when their contract expires Aug. 1. A strike seemed increasingly likely earlier this month, when both UPS and the union accused the other of walking away from negotiations. Union leadership has said they want to see in increase in pay for part-time employees, which has become a sticking point in negotiations. UPS announced Wednesday that negotiations would resume Monday. We are prepared to increase our industry-leading pay and benefits but need to work quickly to finalize a fair deal that provides certainty for our customers, our employees and businesses across the country, it said. If theyre coming back to the table Monday, were hopeful that means theyve come back to a sense of reality, Hamilton said. Not Alone SAG-AFTRA, including multiple celebrity members, rallied in Love Park on Thursday, a week into their strike after failing to reach a contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The union has been forming picket lines across the country, where members have emphasized that the majority of working actors make a middle-class living or less. The actors are demanding new framework for how performers are compensated when their work runs on streaming platforms and safeguards for how artificial intelligence is used. The producers group has argued that SAG-AFTRA has mischaracterized their contract negotiations. Around 100 TV and movie actors gathered at the Center City park, joined by local members of the Writers Guild of America, who have been on strike since May, as well as supporters from other local unions and elected officials. Hollywoods writers and actors havent gone on strike simultaneously since the 1960s. One of the most exciting things is to realize how not alone you are in your fight, local SAG-AFRA leader Izanec said. Working without a contract Like the actors and UPS employees, food service workers at unionized Starbucks locations who will be rallying in Philadelphia on Saturday are part of a national movement. Starbucks Workers United represents baristas at eight cafes in the city. Locally, theyre calling on Philadelphia City Council to select a new vendor for the coffee shop at Dilworth Park because of Starbucks managements alleged union-busting behaviors. In a petition launched last month, the union noted that Council had passed a resolution in 2022 supporting baristas unionization efforts. Starbucks doesnt own the site, but its products are incorporated there by Brulee Catering, which runs the Dilworth Park cafe. Starbucks spokesperson Andrew Trull said the union hasnt demanded closure of a Starbucks store before this. (The union has said it would prefer for the store to stay open and provide products from a local, unionized business.) The Philly baristas will be joined by a group of Starbucks Workers United members who have been on a 13-city bus tour, including a visit to Pittsburgh this week. Starbucks has faced hundreds of unfair labor practice charges throughout the U.S., including in Philadelphia, and none of the more than 300 unionized cafes has reached a contract with the company. Trull said that the company wants to see progress toward first contracts at unionized stores and that there has been a full day of bargaining with the 10th Street and Market Street store in Philadelphia. Other locations havent met yet due in part to disagreements over whether to bargain in person, which Starbucks has insisted on, or with some employees joining by video. Workers United should demonstrate the same commitment to bargaining as they do to rallies and now a multicity bus tour, Trull said. The Unite Here members employed by OTGs airport restaurants have also been working without a contract they previously had one, but it expired more than five years ago. At their protest this week, they said theyre still waiting on more than $340,000 of back pay under terms of a contract they ratified last year after a handshake agreement with management, which the union says OTG later acknowledged in emails as well. OTG management has said that here was no contract agreement last year and that it wants to continue negotiations. Discussing the national and local contract struggles taking the spotlight this summer, Bauder, of the AFL-CIO Philadelphia Council, said he worries that corporations are going to double down on union opposition. But, he added, there have also been some fruitful contract negotiations recently, as well as strikes that ended in a contract for local workers. I think that there is a better way, and that some employers are wise to it, Bauder said. When Donta Rose hosted the opening of his new Sharswood grocery store, the day marked more than his own triumph. The August opening of his Grocery Outlet at 21st Street and Ridge Avenue represented the latest salvo in a six-decade battle to bring full-service supermarkets to the citys poorest communities. For Rose, 28, it was personal, too. He spent part of his childhood living with his family in the neighborhood. As a kid, he recalled, there was never any grocery stores where you would buy fresh produce nearby. Two decades later, Roses venture represents the hope of reversing the century of racist development and investment practices responsible for that void. A century ago, small mom-and-pop grocery stories dotted every Philadelphia neighborhood. One analysis out of the University of Pennsylvania counted one store for every 54 families, according to Temple professor Ken Finkel. But that would all change by the 1960s, as grocery executives opted to follow middle-class white families on their flight pattern to the suburbs then growing outside city limits. Citing advantages such as large lots for parking and lower crime rates, these store operators left urban neighborhoods to create a winning business model in the form of the suburban supermarket. As the decade ended, they were selling food to 70% of the nation. By 2019, 25% of Philadelphians lived in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and no or limited access to stores with high-quality produce, according to a report by the citys Department of Public Health. Across the city, stores selling mostly unhealthy food outnumber stores with healthier offerings by nearly 10-1, according to the report. Grassroots activists call the phenomenon abandonment, or retail redlining, a term the National Institutes of Health uses to describe a major chain supermarkets disinclination to operate in inner cities or low-income neighborhoods. As healthy, affordable food became less available for those in these underserved communities, eating poorly became a public health crisis and bringing supermarkets to neighborhoods a rallying cry. About 6.2% of the country has limited supermarket access, according to a 2017 USDA food access research report. While retail redlining is a national problem, Philadelphias Black community has been on the front lines fighting for solutions. If you value this kind of journalism, please subscribe today. Seeding a vision with Progress Plaza A local charismatic Baptist minister, the Rev. Leon H. Sullivan, an adherent of economic justice, undertook one of the citys earliest efforts to lure a supermarket in the late 1960s. Sullivan painted a picture of Progress Plaza, now Sullivan Progress Plaza, on North Broad Street and encouraged his members to pool their money to seed the vision. They raised $400,000 (equivalent to $3.4 million today) to create the first shopping center in the United States owned and operated by African Americans. The aim is to keep some of the money at home instead of seeing it flow out, week after week, into the suburbs, making the wealthy wealthier from the earnings of black folks, Sullivan wrote in his 1969 autobiography, Build Brother Build. When Progress Plaza opened in 1968, it housed the countrys largest supermarket chain, A&P, as its anchor tenant. It was the first large supermarket in North Philadelphia and, by 1974, the store ranked as one of the chains top five grocery stores in the Delaware Valley. It was very difficult [to build Progress Plaza], said Wendell R. Whitlock, chairman emeritus of Progress Investment Associates Inc. Rev. Sullivan had to use every trick in his bag in order to get financial support for the building of Progress Plaza. [He called in] every favor that was owed. Big business is reluctant to get involved in the inner city. There is blanket prejudice. A jubilant throng, estimated at 10,000 people, celebrated the dedication of the plaza on Oct. 27, 1968, and Sullivan fashioned himself a commercial development consultant to help Black communities across the country build retail shopping centers. But no one then could have known that the storied A&P, like other legacy traditional supermarket chains, would fail to remain competitive and would start a decades-long slide from which it would never recover. A national study showed that Philadelphia by the 1990s had the second-lowest number of supermarkets per capita of any major city. After 30 years in Progress Plaza, A&P refused to renew its stores lease, which it had renamed under its Super Fresh banner. Workers were given four days notice of the closure. An Inquirer article at the time said that the next closest supermarket, a Thriftway, is 19 blocks away, at 22d Street and Lehigh Avenue. Big business is reluctant to get involved in the inner-city. There is blanket prejudice. Wendell R. Whitlock The irony of Super Fresh is it was the most profitable store in the state, but they still closed the supermarket as they did all their inner-city stores, recalled Whitlock. They didnt have to give a reason, or if they gave one, I never heard it. It would be a decade before another supermarket, Fresh Grocer, would open at Sullivan Progress Plaza. But during the heady days when getting supermarkets back seemed possible, Sullivan tried in 1979 to replicate his Progress Plaza success by building Strawberry Square Shopping Center at 29th and Dauphin Streets. By then supermarkets had all but divested from the urban market and he could not lure an operator or lock down commercial financing. He pulled out of the project three years later. Another local minister stepped in and built the shopping center but was still unable to snag a supermarket as an anchor tenant and finally agreed to rent to an untested owner-operated market cooperative. It, too, failed and was evicted from the shopping center in 1987. A dire food situation A chain supermarket didnt come to Strawberry Square until 1991. In 2013, a Bottom Dollar grocery store finally opened at 3000 Grays Ferry Ave. but was shuttered after a year. Bottom Dollars parent company sold all the citys 66 stores to Aldi, which in turn planned to reopen only half of them. The Pathmark across the street then closed in 2015, creating a dire food situation in the area. Thats why Mayor Jim Kenney, State Sen. Anthony Williams, and Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson were all on hand when a Fresh Grocer opened in 2016. Talmadge Belo Jr., the cofounder and now emeritus vice president of the Brewerytown Sharswood Community Association, started the Brewerytown Task Force when the Shop N Bag at 27th and Girard Avenue first shut down in 1996. A quarter of a century later, the group is still trying to get a replacement full-service supermarket, not just the discount Aldi (a former Bottom Dollar) at 31st and Girard. Yes, I was surprised that its taken so long, Belo said. The resistance is large. [Supermarket owners] say that there is not enough square footage available, and it wont be profitable. That is a ridiculous excuse. They are resisting us for I suspect another reason that we are the inner city. Getting supermarkets in neighborhoods Public money is needed to push private owners to operate supermarkets in undesirable locations. The Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) was developed by U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans when he was a state representative, The Food Trust, and the Reinvestment Fund to grow supermarkets in underserved communities across the state. The public-private initiative funded 88 projects and gave $73.2 million in loans and $12.1 million in grants between 2004 and 2010. Beneficiaries included the Browns ShopRite in Eastwick, the Fresh Grocer in the rehabilitated Sullivan Progress Plaza, and Weavers Way Co-op for a new store in West Oak Lane, the only source of produce within two miles. FFFIs footprint in Philadelphia helped make it a national program, but it alone hasnt been a panacea. Weavers Way shut its store after four years and turned operation over to the Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Corp. Today its a corner convenience store. This story has been updated to correct the name of the Reinvestment Fund. The Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton Sunday, July 16, 2023. The New Jersey Supreme Court recently completed its rollout of statewide reforms to its jury selection process. Read more In what New Jersey officials called a first-of-its-kind reform, the states courts have begun collecting racial and demographic data on jurors to help align jury panels with the diversity of surrounding communities. Court officials say the effort will help ensure that jury pools are an appropriate reflection of the communities from which jurors are drawn. Its one of a host of changes New Jersey began last year, including limiting how extensively trial lawyers can examine jurors backgrounds when seeking to remove potential jurors from serving on a particular case. Other efforts, such as implicit bias training for court staffers, and education campaigns about the benefits of jury duty in marginalized communities, are also underway. Advertisement Civil rights groups and legal experts lauded the reforms, saying the jury selection process has long kept working-class people and people of color from participating in a key function of the criminal justice system. The pursuit of justice is a never-ending process, said Julio Mendez, a retired judge in Atlantic and Cape May Counties and a senior contributing legal analyst at Stockton University. New Jersey should be commended for taking these steps. The jury diversification began in 2021, when the state Supreme Court reversed the 2017 murder conviction of Edwin Andujar, a Newark man accused of stabbing his roommate to death. Before Andujars trial, state prosecutors moved to eliminate a Black juror from the pool, arguing that his associations with people accused of crimes could compromise his impartiality. Defense lawyers countered by saying that logic would dictate that a lot of people from Newark would not be able to serve. When the court denied that request, prosecutors noted that there was an outstanding warrant for the mans arrest in a simple assault case. He was arrested, and the judge agreed to strike him from the jury. In challenging that decision, the American Civil Liberties Union said the arrest rendered the courthouse into a potential threat to freedom rather than a proud locus of civic engagement. The Supreme Court later unanimously agreed that the decision to disqualify the juror may have stemmed from implicit or unconscious bias. It soon formed a committee to suggest changes, headed by Chief Justice Stuart Rabner and comprised of legal experts, community members, and state government officials. The result of the committees work included the rollout of demographic collection on potential jurors this spring. A similar program has been proposed in Pennsylvania, where a state Supreme Court rules committee is reviewing potential reforms that advocates say could be sent to the justices for a vote by the end of summer. Such change would be welcome in a state that has taken steps toward change in the jury selection system over the past two decades, said Lisette McCormick, executive director of the Pennsylvania Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Fairness. McCormicks team conducted a 2003 study that found jury pools in Pennsylvania often excluded working-class people and people of color. Thats because the lists of potential jurors were drawn from voter registries and motor vehicle records lists she said can skew older, wealthier, and less diverse. The state briefly launched a pilot program in 2012 that allowed counties to voluntarily collect demographic data, but those efforts have recently ended, McCormick said. That data is still collected by courts but destroyed after trials, leaving concerns about equity unanswered, she said. We had hoped that we increased diversity, McCormick said of the program. But we dont have any data to show that. New Jerseys new policies seek to broaden the states jury selection pools, using lists that include taxpayers and people receiving public assistance. Pennsylvania, too, has broadened its jury selection pools, but leaves the option to use a statewide database up to county officials. Around two-thirds participate. While advocates laud the steps both states have taken to broaden jury representation, they say further reforms are necessary. Increasing the daily pay rate for jurors would make serving more economically feasible to wider groups of people, said Mendez. In New Jersey, jurors are paid just $5 a day, making jury duty a financial burden for many hourly wage workers whose employers do not pay for time spent in court. Pennsylvania pays jurors $9 a day, fueling the same problem. You have a single mother who works at a place making $18 an hour and shes called upon to serve on a jury, she doesnt get pay, Mendez said. The choice for that person is, do I fulfill my obligation as a citizen which we all should do or do I pay my rent? In 20 years on the bench, Mendez said, he saw economic considerations keep marginalized people from jury service. In addition to economic incentives, advocates of broader jury representation say, expanding selection pools to people convicted of some low-level crimes would also help diversify the jury pool, particularly in New Jersey, which has strict limits on jury service for those convicted of crimes. Said Mendez, A broad spectrum of participation that is representative of the entire community will lead to a fair and impartial jury. Fari Ghamina Tumpe, of Washington, with Spaces in Action D.C., leads chants with fellow protesters during the 2023 Peoples Convention Rally in Philadelphia on Saturday. Read more Lowell Faison has seen the housing affordability crisis push poor renters to the brink. Some renters, the 75-year-old said Saturday outside of City Hall, have been forced tens of miles outside city limits in search of cheaper rents. Others, Faison said, lost their housing entirely during the fog of the pandemic. He wasnt talking about Philadelphia. Faison is from Charlotte, N.C., but was in Philadelphia on Saturday, joining an estimated 2,000 protesters many of them also from out of state to express their concern for what they see as a national crisis reaching its breaking point. When it comes to housing, local governments have to step up, Faison said. Theres no question about it. Advertisement Protesters hailed from New York state and Pennsylvania, but also the Deep South and beyond, many drawn to town for a national convention held by the Center for Popular Democracy, a left-leaning political group, and other housing advocates. The rally proved a fitting end to the convention in a city where housing advocates are grappling with news of a third eviction-related shooting episode involving one of the citys deputized landlord-tenant officers. Faison stood against a sea of signs urging Protect Tenants and House Every One. Some carried empty tents, what often end up becoming homes for those forced from housing due to skyrocketing rents. The movement came at a critical moment for Philadelphia housing advocates, as just several days before, Philadelphia courts announced a pause on evictions. The decision came after a deputized landlord-tenant officer shot a 33-year-old Kensington woman in the leg while enforcing a lockout the third time such an officer fired a weapon during an eviction in Philadelphia since March. A spokesperson for the First Judicial District said Wednesday that the court-appointed landlord-tenant officer, lawyer Marisa Shuter, and her employees and contractors who enforce evictions would not conduct lockouts until they had received the most up-to-date training on use of force and de-escalation. Faison was unaware of these tensions, which began brewing in April when another landlord-tenant officer shot a 35-year old woman in the head (she survived her injuries). When told of them, his voice became angrier, but he wasnt particularly surprised. Violence is as American as apple pie, Faison said. Other protesters were keen to the issue, noting that it was impossible to ignore that landlords paid Shuters office to contract for its services. Saturdays rally was less focused on the shootings than the April gathering outside Shuters Center City office, when a large crowd called for an end to the citys eviction practices. Instead, Democratic politicians such as Pennsylvania State Sen. Nikil Saval and Philadelphias District 3 Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier touched on the broader issue of housing affordability. While Philadelphia has enjoyed lower rents than other large metropolitan cities, lower incomes and poverty have nonetheless increased the housing burden. Nearly three in five residents and particularly Black Philadelphians said affordable housing should be a top priority for the city, according to a Lenfest Institute survey released in May Gauthier said she was working on Council to protect 12,000 affordable units across the city, some that face similar fates as the beleagiered UC Townhomes. Tenants from the West Philadelphia affordable housing complex rallied for months after learning its owner was seeking to sell the property, ending federal housing subsidies that made renting possible for generations of families. The yearslong campaign resulted in an agreement in April with the city to develop at least 70 replacement units. We know that the most affordable home is the home that you already live in, Gauthier told the crowd. Saval, who represents the states 1st District, which covers much of South and Central Philadelphia, lauded the recent passage of the Whole-Home Repairs program in Harrisburg, a fund that helps county agencies address habitability concerns and make units accessible for people with disabilities. The intersectional crowd Saturday drove home a point: that the housing crisis is all-encompassing. For some members of Gen-Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, its lasted the entirety of their adult lives. Emily Rodriguez, a 21-year-old college student from Brooklyn, recalled memories of her childhood in Williamsburg, before it was gentrified. Music flowed from the street, she said, while aunts and uncles played dominos and small street vendors lined the corners. Rent hikes meant Rodriguez saw an influx of wealthier residents and high-end stores such as Apple and Whole Foods and the flight of longtime Latino neighbors. She warned the crowd that this experience was far from unique to New York. Many of us here today have lost homes and been displaced from their communities, Rodriguez said. This experience happens every single day across the country. Debbie Wei, co-founder of Asians Americans United and long time Chinatown community speaks at a press conference asking Councilmember Mark Squilla to make good on his promise to listen to community and stop the Sixers arena. The press conference took place on the one-year anniversary of the Sixers' arena proposal at Chinese Christian Church, 225 N. 10th Street, Philadelphia, Friday, July 21, 2023. Read more City Councilmember Mark Squilla was on the big screen Friday morning. During a press conference at the Chinese Christian Church and Center protesting the controversial Sixers arena, a still shot of Squilla holding a microphone, surrounded by community members, was projected onto a large pull-down screen. Then the video played, showing Squilla speaking to community members at the contentious town hall organized in Chinatown in December. In the video, Squilla explained that he is the only person who can introduce legislation that would move the arena proposal forward. I make a commitment to share that legislation with the community ahead of time, get feedback, and only if supported by the community would it be able to move forward, Squilla said at the time. After the video finished playing, Rev. Wayne Lee, pastor of the church, walked up to the podium. Advertisement [Squilla] made clear commitments, Lee said. I just want to say that we appreciate Councilman Squillas commitment to the community. And we are simply asking him today to stand by his word, because as weve seen in the past year, it is very clear that the community does not want [the arena]. Fridays press conference marked a significant shift for Squilla, who has been able to remain relatively out of the limelight in the year since the Sixers first announced their plans to build a $1.3 billion arena that would abut the historic Chinatown neighborhood. But as councilmember of the district where the arena would be located, Squilla can stop the arena or set it on its way through the approval process through councilmanic prerogative, which is an unwritten tradition in Philadelphia, not a law or rule. Now, community members are beginning to put more pressure on Squilla to stay true to his word. Standing in front of the big screen were over a dozen community members holding a variety of signs addressed to the councilmember: Do the right thing, Do you represent your constituents or three billionaires? and Will you keep your word? Councilman Squilla, members of the City Council, you are elected to represent us, the people. Not buildings, not corporations, not profits, said Rev. Robin Hynicka, lead pastor of the Arch Street United Methodist Church. This is a moral issue, and we ask you to do the right thing. When asked about his December statement, Squilla said he understands Chinatowns concerns and would absolutely keep his word, but said that hes talking about all surrounding communities that would be impacted by the arena, not solely Chinatown. All community stakeholders play a role in this, and if all the community stakeholders are opposed to it, its gonna be really hard to introduce legislation, Squilla said. Squilla said that legislation is currently being drafted by 76 DevCorps attorneys, but that hes still committed to giving the community 30 days to review the draft once he receives it before introducing it. Theres other stakeholders as part of it, Squilla said. If theres other organizations that sign on to a [community benefits agreement], and the [impact] studies come back and say that these concerns that [Chinatown has] can be mitigated, it is still possible to move forward. In a statement, a spokesperson for 76 DevCorp said they will be announcing additional opportunities for public input to inform adjustments to the proposal that provides benefits to all communities. The press conference came ahead of the highly anticipated fall start of City Council session, which is also the Sixers self-imposed deadline for obtaining city approvals. It also came on the heels of the revelation that the Sixers will be paying for the studies on the impact of the arena, which critics say casts doubt on the outcome of what were promised to be independent city analyses. Common sense knows that now that DevCorp is paying for the study, their influence is greater than if they werent, Hynicka said. These developers have proven they cannot be trusted. Squilla contested concerns that payment equals influence. Thats a little bit disingenuous, he said. The City of Philadelphia is doing it, the Sixers arent. The moneys coming through the Sixers, but [Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp.] and the city are commissioning these studies and the reporting is going to the city, not to the Sixers. While community members stressed at the press conference that they have lost trust in the citys process regarding the arena, they added that they still have faith in Squilla to do the right thing. If you do the wrong thing, the only thing you will be remembered for is being a politician who destroyed Philadelphias wonderful, 150-year-old Chinatown one of the last remaining Chinatowns in the whole country, said Walt Palmer, who grew up in West Philadelphias Black Bottom. Your legacy is on the line. The view of the banks of the Delaware River in the Port Richmond neighborhood near the Richmond Power Plant, where the body of a young girl was recovered in the water on Friday. Read more Authorities strongly believe the body of a young girl found Friday evening in the Delaware River near the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia is that of 2-year-old Matilda Sheils, who disappeared during Saturdays deadly flash floods in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County. Search crews will continue Saturday morning to look for Matildas brother, 9-month-old Conrad, Tim Brewer, chief of the Upper Makefield Fire Company, said at a news conference Friday night. Not counting the missing children, five people are confirmed to have died in the flood, including 32-year-old Katheryn Seley, the childrens mother. Early Friday evening, the body of a young girl believed to be around 2 years old was recovered from the Delaware near the 3900 block of North Delaware Avenue 32 miles from where she went missing, Brewer said. Advertisement The girls body was transported to the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office, where an autopsy will be conducted on Saturday, Brewer said. Based on the bodys appearance and clothing, we strongly believe the girl is Matilda, Brewer said. An official confirmation needs to be made by the Medical Examiners Office. Three of the victims were identified Monday: Enzo Depiero, 78, of Newtown Township; Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, N.J.; and Seley, of Charleston, S.C. They all were found on Saturday. The childrens father, Jim Sheils, survived, along with a 4-year-old son. The bodies of Yuko Love, 64, who also had suffered multiple injuries, and Linda Depiero, 74, both of Newtown Township, were recovered Sunday. The Sheils family, along with a grandmother, was visiting the area from Charleston, S.C. On Saturday, the family members were driving along a stretch of Washington Crossing Road on the way to a barbecue when they were suddenly met with a swell of rushing water. Matilda "Mattie" Sheils, 2, who disappeared during the deadly flash floods in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County. Her body was recovered Friday night. Read more A childs body found in the Delaware River near Port Richmond Friday night is that of Matilda Mattie Sheils, the 2-year-old who disappeared a week ago during a deadly flash flood in Upper Makefield, township officials said Saturday morning. In a statement posted to Facebook, Upper Makefield police said that we are grateful that prayers were answered and that we were able to bring Mattie home. Search operations including K-9 teams and divers were to continue Saturday up and down the Delaware River for Matties 9-month-old brother, Conrad, the township said. Matties body was found about 5:30 p.m. Friday in debris against a pier near the Philadelphia Waste Disposal Plant after police received a 911 call about a childs body in the river in the 3900 block of North Delaware Avenue, south of the Betsy Ross Bridge, police said. The location is 32 miles from where flood waters swept Mattie away last Saturday along a stretch of Washington Crossing Road in Upper Makefield. Including Mattie and her 32-year-old mother, Katheryn Seley, six people are confirmed dead in the flash flood, triggered by a severe thunderstorm that inundated the Washington Crossing area with several inches of rain. Matties father, Jim Sheils, survived along with a 4-year-old son, and Seleys mother. The family were visiting friends and family from Charleston, S.C., and were on the way to a barbecue when their vehicle encountered the raging waters along the overwhelmed Houghs Creek. Seleys body, along with those of Enzo DePiero, 78, of Newtown Township, and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, N.J., were found last Saturday. The bodies of Yuko Love, 64, and Linda DePiero, 74, both of Newtown Township, were recovered Sunday. The Sheils family Saturday released pictures of a smiling blond Mattie and a statement of thanks for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and concern from people throughout the country. We are grateful that our little Mattie has been brought home to us. We are still praying for the return of Conrad, they said. The Acadia, a Jones Act compliant vessel, is being built at the Philly Shipyard for Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, for subsea rock installation work for wind farms in New York. The ship subsea rock installation vessel, currently under construction at the Philly Shipyard in the U.S., will be used to install rocks to protect and stabilize monopile foundations, electrical substructures, and export cables. Read more Few realized until President Joe Bidens visit to the city Thursday that the Philly Shipyard could become a player in the offshore wind industry emerging off the Eastern seaboard. The shipyard signed a contract as far back as 2021 to build the Acadia, a 461-foot-long, highly specialized vessel thats needed to get the skyscraper-high turbines set in the seafloor. A key boost for the shipyard: An old federal law, the Jones Act, likely unknown to most outside the maritime industry, requires that vessels transporting cargo within the United States be built in the U.S. instead of overseas. Who is building the Acadia? The Acadia is being constructed at the Philly Shipyard for the Houston-based Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corp., the countrys largest dredging operation, which has jumped into the offshore wind business. At least initially, the ship would be used for the Empire Offshore Wind project, a joint venture between Equinor and BP for wind farms approved off the coast of New York. Advertisement Biden announced Thursday during a steel-cutting ceremony for the ship that it would be the first offshore wind vessel of its kind to be made in the United States. The vessel would be built by the pool of 1,400 workers and nine unions based at the shipyard, according to Matthew Cassidy, a spokesperson for the shipyard. The ships steel plates will be made by United Steelworkers in Indiana. Biden said the activity surrounding the ship would generate an estimated $125 million a year as it is being built. The ship is expected to be complete for delivery in 2025, according to the Philly Shipyards second quarter report, and is about 6% complete. What will the ship do? The vessel would be used as part of subsea rock installation work for the Empire Wind I and II wind farms to be built off the coast of New York, according to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock company literature. The two wind farms would have the capacity to provide power to more than one million homes in New York. The rock installation will be used to protect and stabilize monopile foundations, electrical substructures, and export cables by the mid-2020s, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock said. The company will be working with Dutch-owned Van Oord, a global market leader in subsea rock installation. Philly Shipyard announced in November 2021 that the ship would be built in South Philadelphia. The shipyard also said there is the possibility of Great Lakes Dredge & Dock contracting a second ship at the location. The initial value of the contract was $197 million, and $382 million if both ships were built. However, the Business Network for Offshore Wind, a nonprofit, educational organization that advocates for offshore wind, reported in a news release Thursday that Great Lake Dredge & Dock was investing $246 million into the Acadia. Ulstein, a Norwegian/Dutch company, designed the Acadia. The vessel will be able to carry up to 20,000 metric tons of rock, which it will transport and deposit on the ocean bottom, laying a foundation for the monopiles the foundations for offshore wind turbines. The ship is expected to have accommodations for 45 people. Great Lake Dredge & Dock says the vessel will boast state-of-the-art technology, equipment, environmental controls, and automation, and will be built with best-in-class safety, environmental, and emissions standards. It is capable of using biofuel and can be powered by electricity while in port. There are no indications the Acadia would be used by either of the companies, rsted and Atlantic Shores, with approval to build the first wind farms in New Jersey toward Gov. Phil Murphys ambitious goal of producing 11,000 megawatts of energy from offshore wind by 2040. New Jerseys first wind farm, Ocean Wind I, being built by rsted, is planned to be 13 nautical miles southeast of Atlantic City and have an estimated capacity of 1,100 megawatts capable of powering over 380,000 homes. The plan calls for 98 wind turbines with construction set to begin this year and first powered delivery in late 2024 or early 2025. READ MORE: At 3 million pounds, the first foundation for New Jersey wind is complete but its maker sees trouble ahead Why is the Jones Act important? Biden made note that the ship is Jones Act compliant. The Jones Act, also known as the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, is a federal law that requires cargo transported between U.S. ports to be conducted by U.S. flag ships, according to the U.S. Department of Transportations Maritime Administration. The Jones Act specifies that the ships must be U.S.-owned and -registered. The crews must be Americans. In designing their own budding offshore wind policy, New Jersey officials made note that vessels toggling between ports would have to be compliant with the act and that means U.S.-based jobs. New Jersey has invested at least $1 billion into offshore wind. Murphy has set a goal of producing 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035 and 100% clean energy by 2050. It is developing the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County, as a sort of wind hub where the giant parts for wind farms would be gathered and transferred, or made, for offshore wind projects off the states coast. And it has helped back EEWs monopile construction facility at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, also on the Delaware River. However, the Jones Act also has its detractors. The libertarian-leaning Cato Institute issued a policy paper on the act, saying that it has restricted water transportation in the U.S. for a century between U.S. ports. The think tank said the act has been justified as a national security measure, but it is really a cloaked protectionist measure that imposes significant economic costs to businesses. The paper calls the Jones Act an archaic, burdensome law propped up by motivations among those who benefit from the Jones Acts protections and the vastly greater number who bear its costs while leading to higher prices, inefficiencies, and forgone opportunities. This article has been corrected to say that the Acadia is being built to handle 20,000 metric tons, not 20,000 million metric tons as originally stated. When Emily Blunt was 13, she was in the chorus of the school play. Then the lead fell ill. Could she learn The Caucasian Chalk Circle overnight? No need! She was already off-book, says her sister, Felicity Blunt. Em had been watching the whole time in rehearsal, not gossiping like everyone else. Felicity, 17 months her senior, is a literary agent. When she reads manuscripts, she says: If Im thinking: Is it good? its not good. If its great, you cant stop thinking about it. Such was the case seeing her little sister smash Brecht in the gym that night. It was just incredible. She made it look so easy. The drama teacher was also floored. It was very, very impressive, says Alfred Bradley, now retired, but still in touch with his former pupil. A really mature performance for one so young. When the curtain fell, he was mobbed by people asking why he hadnt cast her in the first place. He should have, he says. Even then, she had a mission, a focus and a fortitude rare among adults, let alone children. He can still picture her ready, crouching in the wings, before a crowd scene in Twelfth Night. Those big, blue eyes incredibly alive to what was going on. She had just turned 11. Blunt is now 40 and the biggest British female movie star of her generation: currently pipping Knightley and Mulligan; a natural successor to Weisz and Winslet. You can trace the lineage back further some Dench deprecation, a little Mirren wither. A very shredded Maggie Smith. In her new movie, she plays another early starter. Kitty Puening was a botanist and one-time US Communist party campaigner who had four husbands before she was 30, the last of whom was Robert Oppenheimer, the so-called father of the atomic bomb. Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer. Picture: Universal Pictures Christopher Nolans huge and chewy new drama shows how Kitty sustained Robert through his development of the weapon in remotest New Mexico and during a later campaign to smear him for espionage. Yet she was far from your cookie-cutter supportive spouse (sample line: The brat is down! Where are the martinis?). There was something flighty and wild and nonconformist about her, says Blunt. It was a time where contortions were happening to women, as they tried to kind of mould themselves into perfect housewives. But Kitty was a terrible mother and she wasnt a very good housewife and had no desire to be one. Simmering in a pinny was a fate shared by a lot of women with great minds that brilliant brain gone to waste at the ironing board. I know so many women of a certain age who are angry at their lives being defined by being someones mummy or someones wife. And I have empathy for that. Its OK that thats not enough for them. Blunt is speaking over video, two miles down the road. It is the final day of the Oppenheimer press tour; in fact, it is the final day of press for actors in the Sag-Aftra union for the foreseeable. The air is hectic, the schedule scrambled. The premiere that evening has been moved forward an hour so its cast can walk the red carpet without crossing a picket line. She is pro-strike: I am a big believer in unions getting exactly what they want. She is also pro-resolution: Im a huge believer in getting our crews back to work the people who will suffer most. For Blunt, the industrial action is also quite well timed. A few weeks ago, she mentioned in a podcast that she was taking a year off to spend with her daughters, Hazel, nine, and Violet, six, and her husband, the actor and filmmaker John Krasinski. Actually, she says, that has been overplayed: Im not quitting Hollywood. Its OK, guys. Just taking a little bit of downtime. Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Returns. Picture: Disney via AP But she does want to make the most of motherhood before they are teenagers I adore babies and children a feeling channelled into recent hits such as the Mary Poppins sequel and two Quiet Place thrillers. Kitty, meanwhile, according to Oppenheimers biography, had absolutely no intuitive understanding of children. There are multiple scenes of her being frosty towards inconsolable tots. Particularly stressful to shoot was one showing the couple driving home with their two-year-old, Peter. The young actor was distraught, kicking off, screaming, so clingy with his mum, just exhausted. Snot pouring out of his nose. As the cameras reloaded, Blunt sang him to sleep. They did four further takes, with the child conked out in her arms. Nolan chose the first version, where I looked like the worst mother in the world. Over the phone, he grins at the memory: It was hard. Emily is an amazing mother and made this child feel immediately so comfortable and loved. Im not sure Kitty shared that. In fact, his film blunts Kittys claws. According to the book, she left both babies with friends for months. Oppenheimer died alone because his wife found his final-hours regression to infancy pitiful. Just horrific, says Blunt. She was pretty ruthless in so many ways. She worshipped Robert, but also really called him on all his shit. Still, Blunt gamely attempts empathy. Perhaps some people are just allergic to weakness? And dont label Kitty an alcoholic: surviving on cigarettes and martinis at Los Alamos was understandable, she says. Plus, Roberts genius got him a free pass denied to his wife. His gender, too? Yes, I think so. I wonder what the world would feel if it was Kitty Oppenheimer who created this bomb. When he was writing the film, says Nolan, I thought about running away from Kitty. She is a frightening character. He recruited Blunt to humanise her, then was surprised how keenly she embraced Kittys worst angles: No vanity, no fear of humiliation, no wanting to control the way she would appear. In her mid-20s, Blunt told this paper that bitchy gets boring a line, she says today, from a time when she was still working out how to talk to journalists. It is a good one. Back then, fresh from breakthroughs in My Summer of Love and The Devil Wears Prada (Such a cow, but terribly funny and likable, says Bradley), Blunt was worried about typecasting. But over the past 15-odd years, she has leaned into women with acid tongues and hearts of flint: the bruised FBI agent in Sicario; Tom Cruises relentless survival trainer in Edge of Tomorrow; the vengeful mother in The English. Even softer outings, such as The Girl on the Train (gaslit drinker) and The Young Victoria (rare corset), climax in shows of steel. In this autumns Pain Hustlers, she plays a hardscrabble single mother who shuts her eyes to the effects of the fentanyl she is helping to distribute. Maybe bitchy is just richer? Emily Blunt in The Girl on the Train.. Picture: DreamWorks Pictures/Universal Pictures via AP, File For female actors, she says, I think there is still a pressure to be likable, and sort of warm and understood, and men are not held to that same standard. No one cared if Leonardo DiCaprio was likable in The Wolf of Wall Street. In Oppenheimer, Kitty attacks Robert for being so fucking gentlemanly. Are women, broadly speaking, more forthright? Yes, says Blunt, but I could equally generalise and say a lot of women tend to try to dance around things because were not often given a platform to speak honestly. Or youre considered too ambitious or emotional if someone appears to be speaking their mind with spirited opinion. Kitty was revolted by her husbands desperation to atone for his sins. She just wanted him to own it. You see that explosion of frustration and rage start to build. I remember Chris saying to me: Shes wild, shes unpredictable, the drinking is now out of control, but shes right! And she was always right, and she knew it. Blunt likes righteous anger. She is great at flashing eyes and squashed small talk. Im always really awestruck by people who are so completely comfortable in their own skin and uncompromisingly own who they are, she says. People for whom theres nothing blurry about their conviction of themselves. Kittys husband may have been the flakier half of the marriage, yet it was he who was elevated to role of quasi-messiah, with acolytes to wow and, sometimes, exploit. Has anyone ever captivated Blunt like that? She thinks for a few seconds. Nolan, she says inevitably, but convincingly: Ive never met anyone as authoritative. When he walks in, the air changes in the room. (He is duly flattered: You want to be held in high regard by Emily. Her opinion matters.) Who else? Malala Yousafzai, she says. This also feels genuine, if a no-brainer. I was blown away by her serenity and sweetness after so much trauma. (Yousafzai, too, is touched to make the cut and emails to say she was struck by Blunts calmness: The first time we met we had tea and talked for a long time. She just puts you at ease.) Anybody else? Felicity. So devastatingly brilliant and funny. She continues to be such a vital presence in my life. A source of such comfort and ease. Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh. Picture: Ian West/PA Wire Such choices suggest Blunt is not someone easily swayed by false prophets. They are also one of the reasons I ring her sister (plus, because of the strike, no actors are available). I read the quote back to her. Felicity splutters. That is probably the most extraordinary compliment anybody will ever manage to pay me, she says. Thats really more moving than I was expecting from this call. Im gonna kill her! How dare she embarrass me like that? The sisters grew up in Roehampton, a leafy south London suburb, and attended Ibstock Place, then a small private school that promoted learning through play. Their parents Oliver, a QC, and Joanna, a former actor had the girls and then, a decade later, two more children. The timing cemented their bond. We were fellow travellers through all the big moments, says Felicity. New school, puberty, first boyfriends, no boyfriends, first jobs, no money, first hangovers. Shes always been there. Their dependency is mutual, she says. At Emilys 40th this year, Felicity said in her speech: I wouldnt know how to be me without you. In their late teens, they rented a flat in Edinburgh, which is where we really fell in love with one another. Emily was in a school play they had taken to the festival. It got her an agent, then the agent got her a role in a Peter Hall production in the West End as Judi Denchs granddaughter. Film roles swiftly followed. Looking back, says Felicity, it was very swift: no drama-school buffer, solo in Los Angeles at 19. She had to be so independent from such a young age, she says. At the time, it seemed fine. Now, I look back and think: Jesus Christ! And shes sane! Thats amazing. The sisters separately tell me they share a secret language. Felicity clarifies: mostly, it is just knowing what the other is thinking. But they do also call each other Slothy and converse in cod-Mrs Doubtfire accents: Deeply irritating for other people. But our husbands are incredibly indulgent about it because thankfully they happen to love both of us. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski. Picture: Isabel Infantes/PA Wire Felicity met her husband, Stanley Tucci, at Emilys wedding in 2010 (at George Clooneys place on Lake Como in Italy). That the two main adults in her life are very famous gives her unusual authority on how that can affect people: Im endlessly glad I get to go to the bathroom and not be followed. She talks of bodyguarding Tucci when they are out with their children; of the ways social media is such a strange and murky part of being a public figure; and of watching and learning from Em. Shes so careful and dextrous about how she manages the personal versus the private. Officially, Blunt is not on social media. But, she says, groaning lightly, I have been prone to getting occasionally pulled into lurking on Instagram, and it just makes you feel terrible. I dont feel good after doing it. I dont feel like Ive done anything beneficial to myself. There is a great line in the film, in which Oppenheimer tells a friend that only a fool or an adolescent would presume to understand someone elses relationship. Today, you could add to that number every consumer of celebrity news. Blunts relationships with her husband and with her ex-boyfriend Michael Buble have been picked over by strangers for two decades. I have always tried to see speculation as white noise, she says. Im not always successful. Sometimes its going to permeate. Her policy now is resignation. I remember someone saying to me years ago: how you relate to the issue is the issue. Things beyond her control are less reconcilable. I am very easily overwhelmed by the idea of the vastness of the never-ending universe, she says. Contemplating black holes would be the depths of hell. She is shaky on the nuclear physics casually strewn through the movie and uneasy about more recent technological advances: AI unnerves me. Its human nature to propulsively want to keep inventing new things. But do we have to put into action everything that we create? Does it better us? Or does it really start to eviscerate what it is to be human? She leans back on the bed in her hotel room. Sometimes Im like: oh my God, Im such a dusty old fart about this stuff. But I cant wrap my head around how beneficial it will be to us, as people, in our souls. As the strikes have highlighted, actors hate AI Blunt, perhaps, even more than most. Her business is built on a gift for reading people; AI would make a nonsense of that. Back at school, acting boosted her confidence so much that it cured a stammer. Yet the stammer helped the drama, too. Had she been chatting, she would never have committed that Brecht epic to memory. It might have been formative, because she learned early to observe and soak it in, says Felicity. My husband always tells me: When a scene doesnt work, its because the other person isnt listening. Theyre just waiting to say their line. Her sisters trump card, she thinks, is that she pays attention: I think shes highly attuned and sensitive to peoples behaviour. And I also feel she knows herself and, in the best sense, likes herself. Emily goes to bed happy. She works really hard. Her children and her husband are at the centre of everything. Shes a good friend. Shes a brilliant actress. Shes loving. She doesnt have anything to prove. She pauses. I think shes the best person I know. Rebeka Russell is founder of Manderley Press, a London-based publishing house which aims to reintroduce forgotten titles to a new audience, giving them distinctive new covers, illustrations and introductions. It previously reissued The Fly on the Wheel by Cork-born author Katherine Cecil Thurston, illustrated by Fatti Burke, and with an introduction by Megan Nolan. A reissue of Letter from New York by Helene Hanff, with an introduction by Jean Hanff Korelitz, will be published in September. How did you get into publishing? I studied history at university, and I have always loved books and art. I tried a few things, then ended up doing a master's in art history, and absolutely loved it. While I was doing that, I worked in a bookshop to support myself and it was just brilliant. After that, I worked for a start-up publishing company and then I got into museum publishing. Later, I went to work for Thames and Hudson to try it from the trade side. Then we moved to Moscow for a bit for my husbands work. I ended up getting a job at the National Portrait Gallery, so we came back and I worked there until I had my daughter 14 years ago, when I went freelance. I was working [on catalogues] for the V&A, the British Museum and other London galleries. Then in lockdown, the museums closed and that was it, the job was completely gone. Id had this idea of Manderley Press for a few years and I thought if I dont do it now, Ill never get around to it. Can you tell me more about Manderley Press and its mission? There are so many wonderful publishers out there doing amazing things, when I was casting around for a reason to have a publishing company, I needed something to make us stand out. I love visiting old houses where people wrote books or painted or had epiphanies of some kind or another. Manderley Press is about the link between amazing houses, buildings, places and cities and how they directly inspired the author and the book. The name came about because I love Daphne Du Maurier, and her settings, and in the book Rebecca, Manderley is like a character in itself. Your books look so beautiful, the aesthetics are obviously important to you. I want to make books that last and that it is why I wanted them cloth-bound/quarter-bound. Obviously there are production costs associated with that design choice. I do judge a book by its cover, theres no getting around it. I spent a long time working with designers over the years to find the perfect formula for what will make something jump off the shelf into a readers hands. It's got to be a great read, but its got to be something that brings joy as an object. Im very lucky because Myfanwy, who is the designer I work with, has a brilliant eye, she completely gets what Im trying to do. What do you like most about your job? I love being my own boss. I do like being part of a team and theres a real thrill about working towards a goal collectively in a publishing company, but I love that I can get up in the morning and decide, right today, I can do whatever I want. Thats exciting. A good example is that I made a wish list for people to read our new book, Letter from New York by Helene Hanff, including Tom Hanks, Sarah Jessica Parker, and so on I was aiming high. I emailed Tom Hanks agent and asked if I could send him a copy of the book. The agent replied and said Tom was going on holiday and if I could get a copy to him, he would take it with him. Things like that make my job really exciting and sometimes terrifying. There's no day thats exactly the same as the one that went before it. What do you like least about your job? I think its the self-motivation. sometimes I get up and I just think theres so much to do, I dont really know where to start. While its really exciting that I get to choose what I do, sometimes I feel a bit out of my depth. So every now and again, when I feel overwhelmed, I reach out to other publishers or booksellers, its really good to chat to them. Everyone Ive talked to has been incredibly generous with their time, advice and support. What three books would you bring to a desert island? First of all, obviously, its going to be Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I don't know how many times Ive read it. Ive got loads of editions and I love them all. Im also a massive fan of Stephen King. One of my favourite books of all time is The Stand which I would happily take away with me. For the third, anything by Haruki Murakami. Im always incensed when I read a review of his books in the paper because I feel like he wrote his books just for me. Colm Bairead: Writer/Director When Irish people were asked in an RTE poll in 2015 to vote for their favourite Irish poem of the last 100 years, they chose Seamus Heaneys When All the Others Were Away at Mass. The poem offers a vivid and moving evocation of a very specific memory from the poets youth, a weekly ritual between young Heaney and his mother, sitting alone, peeling potatoes. No words pass between them, the silence broken only by the potato peels falling into a bucket of clean water, like solder, weeping off the soldering iron. In the poem, Heaney is a grown man keeping vigil by his mothers deathbed, and yet this childhood memory is what preoccupies him, this memory of a special kind of silence, shared. I remembered her head bent toward my head, her breath in mine, our fluent dipping knives never closer the whole rest of our lives. It doesnt surprise me that it topped the poll. It touches something in us. We recognise implicitly that silence in which everything is said, the muted language of the heart. Its a silence that we tried to reproduce in our film An Cailin Ciuin (adapted from Claire Keegans Foster), a film that is also, in a sense, concerned with childhood memory-making, as a young, neglected girl experiences a formative summer on a farm in County Waterford, the temporary ward of distant relatives. Theres another silence, however, that An Cailin Ciuin is addressing, obliquely, simply by existing. The film is not, of course, silent. The characters do speak. They just happen to be speaking a language that has been underrepresented in the darkened spaces of our cinemas. They happen to be speaking a language that itself has been silenced by history and is, by some overly-pessimistic projections of recent years, on its own deathbed. They happen to be speaking Irish. I think going to the cinema to watch a film in Irish is still a novel, perhaps even mildly revolutionary, idea for Irish audiences. The language has rarely had the opportunity to grace the big screen, to weave its way into what has been, historically, one of our nations favourite past times. Those of a certain vintage will remember the old Gael Linn newsreels that preceded the main feature in the cinemas of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Or being brought on school trips to see George Morrisons Mise Eire. Yet these were documentary subjects. Over the following decades, fiction filmmaking in Irish was a decidedly rare thing. Colm Bairead and Cleona Ni Chrualaoi, writer/director and producer of An Cailin Ciuin. Pic: Nina Val Photography My wife and I (Cleona Ni Chrualaoi, who produced An Cailin Ciuin) have often commented on the fact that we had never seen an Irish-language dramatic feature together in a cinema before Tom Sullivans Arracht in 2020. It felt like a landmark moment. This recent surge in Irish-language films, which began in earnest with Arracht is due almost entirely to increased investment, to a commitment to the idea of Irish-language cinema by a number of key stakeholders TG4, Screen Ireland, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland. It has resulted in a continuity of films in Irish that the industry and Irish audiences have never known before. Most encouragingly, I think it has produced some of the more distinctive Irish films of recent times and has actually shifted the perception of what our national cinema can look like. It has felt in these past few years that a sense of real possibility has attached itself to Irish-language cinema, a sense of something new to be discovered in this expression of ourselves. Something that belongs unreservedly to us, that can complement and stand side-by-side with Irish films in English. Thats certainly how it felt sitting in the Dolby Theatre at this years Oscars, as An Cailin Ciuin represented Ireland in the International Feature Film category, while Martin McDonaghs The Banshees of Inisherin haunted a host of other categories. Two different films, two different languages, but both an expression of us. That was exciting. That is exciting. It feels modern to me. Mature and open and nuanced. And yet, despite our films extraordinary international journey, the thing that has been most affecting for us as filmmakers has been the impact and the response that the film has had here at home. The huge number of admissions in cinemas around the country, the outpouring of emotion on social media, the countless remarks on how the film has captured peoples memories of childhood and, most remarkably of all, the manner in which the film has seemingly brought people back to the language. On that final point, I dont want to overstate things. I cant say with any certainty that the film sent people rushing in their droves to their nearest Irish evening class or Pop-Up Gaeltacht, but I do believe, that An Cailin Ciuin has played its part in a shifting of mindset. The number of Irish speakers may not have magically increased since the films release, but the respect for the language and for its capacity to represent us, even though we may not all speak it fluently, I believe, has. It has shown me that there is still a connection between Irish people and their indigenous language that hasnt been entirely lost. Something unspoken, but keenly felt, a little like that silence between Heaney and his mother. That gives me hope. For Cleona and I, as we raise our two young boys through Irish here in Dublin City, that hope continues to be one of the greatest gifts this film has given us. Colm Bairead and Cleona Ni Chrualaoi, writer/director and producer of An Cailin Ciuin. Pic: Nina Val Photography Cleona Ni Chrualaoi: Producer How are you feeling? Michael Patric asked me as were being chauffered in our black SUV past the famous Siegessaule statue towards the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin for the world premiere of An Cailin Ciuin. Michaels kind curiosity, a far cry from his onscreen character, Das tough persona. Excited, a little nervous, I said. It was February 11, 2022, and we were all masked up because of covid. We were about to walk the red carpet and launch our quiet film into the world. It was the first time an Irish-language feature film had been selected for the prestigious Berlin Film Festival. Ill never forget stepping onto the red carpet and our film team being introduced individually inside the auditorium. It was such a magical feeling. Afterwards, the film received rapturous applause. We took to the stage for our very first Q&A and one of the first questions I was asked was Why did you choose to make the film in Irish? It is a question that weve answered many times since. Before we made An Cailin Ciuin, much of our work was in the Irish language. Colm made his first short film for TG4 in 2005 and one of my first jobs in television was working on a period docudrama for the station. It was also the language that brought Colm and I together when were both hired to work on the same TG4 docudrama series in 2009. When I saw Tom Sullivans Arracht at the Dublin Film Festival in February 2020, it had a profound impact on me. It was the first time I had seen Irish on the big screen and it stirred something in me. Before that, I had only ever heard Irish on the TV or the radio. Here was an Irish-language film of great cinematic achievement that could hold its own against any film. Colm and I knew at that stage that our film-to-be, an adaptation of Claire Keegans Foster, had gotten the green light and that we would soon be embarking on an Irish-language feature of our own. We were about to become a part of something bigger than any one film. A new wave. One made possible by an initiative called Cine4 launched in 2017 by TG4, Screen Ireland, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to fund feature films in the Irish language. Back on stage in Berlin, we talked about Irish-language cinema like it had just been born and in some ways, it felt like it just had. Before Cine4, you could count on one hand the number of Irish-language feature films that had been theatrically released, none of which I had ever actually seen in a cinema. There was no question that the language was underrepresented on the big screen, but Cine4 was now breathing life into the idea of a new kind of cinema for Ireland, and the world. During many Q&As since and throughout our Oscars campaign, Colm and I spoke about Irish and its current status in Ireland, how its only spoken daily by a small percentage of people, how, unfortunately, its declining in Gaeltacht areas, and how its listed as an endangered language by Unesco with a risk of disappearing in the next century. We also touched on the positive efforts to keep it alive by muintir na Gaeltachta themselves, the countrywide network of Gaelscoils (where we found our young star, Catherine Clinch), the work of TG4 and other Irish-language organisations and the phenomenon of the Pop-Up Gaeltacht. Colm Bairead and Cleona Ni Chrualaoi, writer/director and producer of An Cailin Ciuin. Pic: Nina Val Photography As for our own connection to the language, that seed was sown years ago. Colm was raised bilingually in Dublin, where his Dad spoke Irish and his Mum spoke English. His Dad, Liam, was an activist for the Irish language and he set up a Gaelscoil in their local community where Colm and his siblings attended school. I grew up in Meath and became fluent during my teenage years, as a student in the Rathcairn Gaeltacht, where I lived during the week. My Mum is also a native speaker from Donegal. I wasnt raised through Irish, but I would hear it spoken by her and my relatives when wed be on holidays there. As a young child, I remember my Mum doing a thesis on the decline of the Irish language in her native Rosguill. The graphs and maps have stayed with me. I saw how Irish had declined in her homeplace since she was a child and sadly, it barely exists as a first language in the area now. I didnt fully understand how fragile the language actually was then, but I often wonder now how something so central to that community and our own identity could simply disappear. Of course, the language wasnt the main motivation for us to make An Cailin Ciuin, but it became a huge part of the films story. I remember the joy back home when the film won the Grand Prix award at the Berlinale. A film in our native language being recognised by a major festival such as Berlin really meant something to people. Winning Best Film at the IFTAs 2022 was another watershed moment because it was the first time an Irish-language film had done so, but nothing could have prepared us for the outpouring of national pride and emotion that came when the film was nominated for an Oscar. Something historic had happened. Our small, indigenous language was finding her voice on the world stage. A language that had sometimes been viewed with shame and resentment, was suddenly something to celebrate. The word brod has been used a lot in the wake of the Oscars. It didnt matter that we didnt win an Oscar, people were genuinely moved that a film in Irish made it that far. When An Cailin Ciuin eventually finishes its theatrical run all over the world, it will have been seen in over 60 countries, by audiences who have never heard our ancient language before. It hopefully means people will be open to seeing more films in Irish and will help to ensure a future for Irish-language storytelling on screen. Perhaps what our film and other Cine4 films have done is that they have both normalised and elevated Irish in mainstream culture. Seeing Irish-language films being represented at glitzy awards ceremonies such as the BAFTAs and the Oscars and hearing Irish being spoken on the red carpet at these events by stars like Paul Mescal can only help to positively affect how the language is perceived and raise its status. The success of these films shows that Irish has value as a way of expressing ourselves, but just like the young girl at the heart of our film, it needs to be nurtured, if it is to survive. Photoshoot by Nina Val Photography, in Casino Marino, Dublin: Casino Marino is a remarkable building, both in terms of structure and history. It is widely acknowledged as one of the most important examples of neoclassical architecture in Ireland. Casino Marino is operated by the OPW and is open daily for tours until 5th November this year. The underground tunnels, used by Michael Collins for shooting practice during the War of Independence, are also re-opening to the public. For more information please see https://casinomarino.ie/ An bhfuil Gaeilge agat? Cliceail ar an bpictiur seo. Nadia Dobrianska can still vividly remember hearing her first traditional song, an experience which sparked a deep love of Irish language and culture. That song was Gile Mear, a traditional ballad performed by many acclaimed artists including Mary Black, James Last, and Celtic Woman. In Nadias case, her first experience of the song was a recording by Irish and Scottish group, Relativity, and she felt both an instant connection to the song and an eagerness to know more. I was just completely taken, she recalls. I was like: I dont know what this is, I want it. It sparked the beginning of a love affair with Irish language, history, and culture for the Ukrainian woman, who returned to Ireland with family when Russia invaded Ukraine last year and currently lives in Cork. Nadia had an interest in languages that goes back many years and was supported by her family. But when she first heard Irish, she was completely intrigued by the language. My parents used to send me to do English language courses with native speakers whenever they had this opportunity, she says. When I was a teenager, I had a tutor from the North of England. He really liked Irish and Scottish music, and I got to hear traditional tunes and songs through him. I later discovered theres this big world of Irish music and Irish language and I was completely taken because I have some languages. I can speak a bit of German, French and Polish. Ive been learning them at different stages in my life. Irish was nothing like any of these languages that I knew and I was completely absorbed. Now a fluent Irish speaker, Nadia is one of a growing number of non-Irish who are learning the language. But despite her ability with other languages, the cupla focail proved challenging to master. When I was young, there was really no opportunity for me to learn it, because everything is through English in the first place, she says of her initial efforts, adding that she didnt feel confident enough in her English at that time to learn another language. I came to Irish on my third attempt, when I was in my first years of university and I was studying law. I was doing Irish dancing and playing trad. It was the mid 2000s and shows like Riverdance and Lord of the Dance had already been going global, she says. Her first efforts to learn Irish through the use of an academic textbook in Russian may have proved unsuccessful, but Nadia would later make another attempt to hone her cupla focail through English. Some years later, when I was working, I was more confident in my English. So I ordered a textbook from Ireland, in English. I couldnt quite get past pronunciation again, because I wasnt confident in my English. My last attempt was [the online app] Duolingo, maybe 10 years later, in 2018. It worked really, really well. Ever since Ive been learning Irish, and Im fluent by now. Its going to be five years in July that Im learning Irish. Irish speaker and flute player Nadia Dobrianska, from Ukraine, now living in Cork. Pic: Larry Cummins. Encouraged by her breakthrough, and seeking a change of scene from her work in Kyiv, Nadia took a deeper dive into her growing interest in 2018, moving to Belfast to take a degree in Irish studies and develop her language skills further. It was something she wanted to do for herself, she says, and felt it was the right time to pursue her dream. I got funded and I went to Queens University Belfast and then I went to learn Irish on the Falls Road, where theres a cultural centre. It was very thrilling I was doing Irish studies in Belfast. I was exploring the music scene. My degree was very broad and interdisciplinary, I drifted to Irish history and really enjoyed it and decided to do a PhD, which Im finally doing right now. On returning to her native Kyiv, Nadia applied for further education while working as a project manager with a human rights organisation. But like many others, life was upended in the most shocking of ways when Putin ordered the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the spring of 2022. She couldnt have known it then but she would return to the country she had taken to her heart, this time to Cork city, and as a refugee as well as a student. When it started, I fled Kyiv with my parents and my brother initially, and after a week, my brother went back to Kyiv. We were in the countryside with my mothers family. A grassroots organisation of volunteers from Cork and Dublin approached me and said: Do you want to come over and stay with your family with us in Ireland? That time I got a lot of support through social media, from the Irish language community, on Twitter, and the music community on Twitter. It was great, great support. During this time, she also started talking about her experience to media outlets here in both English and Irish. She felt supported in incredibly difficult times Nadia says, and she made friends along the way. I think the Irish-language community in Ireland really made me feel welcome, and helped me in many instances during this very hard time. The Irish academic community of historians, they really supported me too. Being part of the Irish-language speaking community is really like a safety net I would say, for me. Like many of us, from fluent speakers to those with no Irish at all, Nadia has become a fan of Irish-language channel TG4 for helping her learn Irish over the years but also for its programming. [When I] started watching TG4, I was just a beginner and I watched these people speaking in Irish to each other and all I could make out were articles and prepositions. So I started watching TG4 with subtitles, this was just brilliant. I was picking up the language as I was listening and watching and I really enjoyed the fact that there is a broad range of programmes available for different audiences I was watching documentaries about Irish food and historical programmes too. Like a great many of us at home and millions of cinemagoers internationally, she also fell in love with a quiet girl who made noise at this years Oscars. I have seen An Cailin Ciuin in the cinema and I thought it was fantastic. Does she think Irish culture and language and music will always have a place in her life? Oh, definitely. Absolutely. Im a researcher. Im doing a PhD in Irish history. So this is something that Im really interested in. If things were to go well, I would like to have an academic career. Ive been doing a lot of work through Irish since last year, Ive been translating books from Irish to Ukrainian. I would definitely consider a career working in the Irish language. Cape Escape If youre looking for a Gaeltacht escape in Cork this summer, making a break to gorgeous Oilean Chleire has never been easier. Cape Clear Ferries have a new ferry, the aptly named Carraig Aonair, and its summer schedule will reduce crossing to the island from 45 minutes to just 25. They also offer scenic tours to one of the countys most spectacular landmarks, Fastnet Rock where better to enjoy a summer sunset? Paris Cork Airport has announced its latest route, with Ryanair to fly a new, three-times per week service to Paris Beauvais. Starting from October 29, the service will operate to the French airport on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays making it an option for a longer weekend break. Just note that Beauvais is located about 100km north of Paris a bus transfer will get you to the city centre in about 1hr 15mins. Current regular fares (incl. carry-on) start from 180 return. Greenway Go Irelands ever-increasing greenway network expands further next Tuesday with the launch of the first phase of the Southeast Greenway in Co Wexford. The Rosbercon to Glenmore stretch in New Ross, taking in the stunning Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Bridge, will form 6km of the eventual 24km route. When fully completed it will wind from Wexford through South Kilkenny into Waterford City before connecting up with the Waterford Greenway all meaning a 72km greenway linking New Ross to Dungarvan. Chef Gareth Mullins of The Marker Hotel. Making a Marker One of the capitals most stylish hotels, The Marker has rebranded to become Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel to reflect its takeover by the global luxury hotel group of the same name, with a renovation including refurb of its 187 rooms, the launch of the hotels new destination restaurant, Forbes Street by Garreth Mullins, on down to finer details such as the replacement of plastic room key cards by sustainable wooden ones. Connemara West Cottages. Connemara Cottages Set up by a local cooperative, Connemara West Cottages is a collection of thatched holiday homes in the scenic village of Tullycross on the Renvyle Peninsula. Guests can enjoy rustic design with home comforts go leor while being perfectly located to explore everywhere from Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey to the endless secret beaches of the Connemara coastline. McDonalds is to investigate allegations that an employee in Ireland was subjected to taunts at work after she was raped at a house party. Ciara Mangan waived her right to anonymity and spoke publicly this week after a former co-worker was convicted of raping her 10 years ago. She said was taunted at work with rape songs and rape comments after the attack. In a statement, the fast food companys UK and Ireland chief executive Alistair Macrow said: I commend Ciaras bravery in speaking about her horrific experience. I am deeply appalled by these new allegations and commit to investigating them to our fullest extent through our investigation-handling unit. Earlier this week, Mr Macrow appointed a new unit to crack down on sexual harassment and bullying after admitting the business has fallen short following a report by the BBC on several allegations of harassment at the company. He said the investigation-handling unit will be able to refer cases to specialist investigators. It comes after more than 100 past and present workers said they were sexually harassed or assaulted or subjected to racism or bullying at the chain. The allegations I have heard this week are personally and professionally shocking. I would like to reiterate my unreserved apology to, and empathy with, all those affected in any way, and I commend their bravery in coming forward. We have clearly fallen short in some critical areas, and I am determined to root out any behaviour or conduct that falls below the high standards of respect, safety and inclusion we demand of everyone at McDonalds, as detailed in our global brand standards. Mr Macrow said the unit, run by HR and legal professionals, will be in place until at least the end of the year. He said: Any substantiated breaches of our code of conduct will be met with the most severe measures up to and including dismissal. He also promised to appoint external experts who can evaluate what happens when a member of staff complains about a colleague. The BBC report included allegations that complaints had not been escalated properly. The outside experts will assess whether McDonalds escalation policy is effective and accessible and how much employees understand it. I will make sure that everyone is in no doubt of my own unequivocal insistence on zero tolerance of harassment of any kind and to ensure our non-negotiable message of respect and inclusivity is heard clearly throughout our business, Mr Macrow added. The BBC reported a McDonalds worker in his late 30s asked to show a 17-year-old colleague his penis after calling her a racial slur. Another 17-year-old girl said a senior McDonalds manager grabbed her bottom and choked her. In February, McDonalds signed an agreement with the equality watchdog to improve how it handles sexual harassment allegations. In 2019, the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union said it had spoken to 1,000 women who reported being subjected to sexual harassment and abuse while working at the chain. The son of a US tourist viciously assaulted in Dublin city centre said his father has suffered life-altering injuries. Stephen Termini was punched and kicked in the head by a gang of youths on Store Street just after he left his guesthouse accommodation on nearby Talbot Street on Wednesday night. The 57-year-old is receiving treatment in Beaumont Hospital, the countrys specialist hospital for head injuries. His family said he had only lost his wife to illness last April and had saved every penny for a dream visit to Ireland. His son, Mike Rizzuto, based in Buffalo, New York, posted a statement online on a GoFundMe page that he set up saying he learned about an unprovoked attack by multiple people on his father as he returned home from a tour with his band. The brutal attack has left my father in a coma after suffering various injuries," he said. "He is currently in critical condition with what I am told are life-altering injuries. He said he is receiving news of the situation as it comes through on the media. My father instilled the love of music I have inside of me and has been a huge support to me over the past decade. Although we may have not been the closest throughout the years, he is still my father and the reason I am here today, he said. He added: I am asking for you to send healing vibes to my father while my family and I attempt to learn more facts of the situation. He uploaded a photo on the page of his biological father along with himself and his brother Jesse Rizzuto. Senior gardai have said that "significant lines of inquiry" are being made regarding the assault and that officers are continuing to examine CCTV footage and interview witnesses. One of the suspects is said to be just 14. The violent attack has again sparked outrage over violence in Dublins north inner city, but also across Dublin and in other cities, including Galway and Cork, where a spate of violent, and, in some cases, fatal assaults have taken place in recent weeks. It has raised concerns, again, at a lack of visible policing on the streets due to falling numbers and claims from garda associations that members are forced to spend too much time in stations at their desks inputting data and filling out forms. The garda strength stood at 13,927 at the end of May, compared to 14,106 in May 2022 and 14,499 in May 2021. As reported in the Irish Examiner last month, garda numbers are below the European average for police-to-population ratios, at 291 for every 100,000 people, compared to an average of 328 across 35 countries. That figure was based on 2020 numbers, but with falling garda levels that ratio is down to 277 per 100,000 people. On the GoFundMe page, Stephen Terminis sister, Michelle, said: "My brother had been working at a galvanizing plant, saving every penny to afford the trip (after losing his wife to illness last April). He had always dreamed of visiting Ireland. He was trying to trace our family that emigrated to the US from Dublin. What we were told as children was that our grandfather, Charles Wilson, had been a painter, painting cathedrals in Dublin. His mother, Ann Donnelly was from county Mayo. She said it had been difficult to find any trace of them from the US, so her brother thought perhaps he could learn more in Ireland. Our mother's last request was to be buried in Ireland (2004). He was unable to attend the ceremony at the time but longed to visit her final resting place. He has two sons, Michael and Jesse who were denied knowledge of their Irish Heritage. She said she and her husband were retired nurses. I didn't worry about my little brother visiting Ireland, as he's been a long-time traveller. Steve's love of music (we were a very musical family) and art appreciation were (thankfully) passed on to his children. We feel so very helpless as none of us can afford the trip to be with him in his time of dire need. I understand that he may lose one of his eyes and suffer lifelong disability from this unfortunate incident. Thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers. God bless yall!" The site, set up around midnight on Friday, has so far raised 4,300 (3,860) from 120 donations. Anti-migration protests are being fuelled by false information including about migrants alleged mistreatment of women, Dublins top police officer has said. Assistant Commissioner (AC) Angela Willis said the live streaming of protests is increasing the complexities of the protests, particularly from a policing perspective. Many of the live videos of protests online, that are taken by far-right agitators, show the extent to which they are used to heighten tensions, including against gardai. Mobile phone recordings In many cases, the people making the mobile phone recordings subject gardai to high levels of verbal abuse at close quarters, make a point of recording their identities and garda numbers, and issue veiled, and sometimes direct, threats against them. In her policing report to the Dublin Joint Policing Committee, AC Willis said that under Operation Carageen, gardai have recorded 316 anti-migrant protests to the end of June 2023. She said this compares to 156 protests in the same period last year, an increase of more than 100%. There were 307 such protests for the whole of 2022 and 395 in 2021. In 2023, the Committee will be aware that An Garda Siochana, particularly in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) have responded to a significant increase in volume and frequency of protests, AC Willis said. She said the increase in the number of protests the DMR was experiencing was attributed mainly to what may be broadly categorised as anti-migration protests, incorporating demonstrations against persons utilising the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) and institutions and or individuals who support same. In addition, she said there was an increase in counter protests, by those supporting migration and diversity within the State. A principal motivating factor driving the anti-migration protests concerns the false information / misinformation regarding migrants, including their access to housing, employment and their alleged mistreatment of women and children, AC Willis said. The widespread use of social media and live streaming of protests is a further contributing factor to the increase and complexities of the protests, particularly from a policing perspective. Dublin city assaults (L to R) Angela Willis, Garda assistant commissioner, Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe, Pat McMenamin Chief Superintendent, and Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD on Store Street, Dublin after an assault left a tourist badly injured. Photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos Elsewhere, the report, which was written before the vicious assault on a US tourist in Dublins northeast inner city, shows that the total number of assaults is slightly down on 2022, apart from the end of June and early July, when they were higher. Robbery cases appear to be higher than last year, particularly during April and May, with theft offences up on 2022. Drug supply offences are also higher than last year, though drug offences are more associated with actual enforcement levels. Public order offences, also linked to enforcement, are down on 2022, according to the provisional figures in the report. Under Operation Citizen, established to improve visible garda patrols in the north and south inner city divisions, there were almost 6,400 cases of people being brought into custody between January and end of June. Almost 9m worth of drugs were confiscated and 107 firearms (including fake firearms and ammunition) were seized, figures show. AC Willis said that she set up the Dublin Crime Response Team (DCRT) on a pilot basis at the end of January to operate across the region to target mid-level organised crime groups and quality of life issues in communities. This task force hit a west Dublin gang in June in which 1.3m worth of drugs were seized and a mobile drug pressing unit built into a large lorry was confiscated. A juror's illness has led to the adjournment of the cold case trial of a Cork man charged with murdering a mother-of-three, whose body was found dumped in a wooded area 42 years ago. UK forensic scientist Dr Jonathan Paul Whitaker, who developed a DNA profile from material recovered from the body of victim Mrs Nora Sheehan, had begun to give his direct evidence in the trial of Noel Long on Friday when a juror took ill. Adjourning the trial this afternoon, Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the remaining ten jurors that as one of their colleagues was unwell, he would adjourn the case until Monday to give that ill juror an opportunity to recover. Last Tuesday, the jury of 12 was reduced to 11 when a juror handed the judge up a note which led to him being discharged. The trial judge told the remaining jurors that as a result of information having been conveyed to him it was appropriate that their fellow juror would no longer serve and that they would continue to hear the evidence in the case as a jury of 11. 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. The jury has heard that the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem on Mrs Sheehan found bruising in the anterior wall of her vagina and it showed the presence of spermatozoa. Dr Robert Dermot Coakley conducted the post-mortem on Mrs Sheehan on June 13, 1981 but died weeks after carrying out the examination in August 1981. Evidence has also been given that material recovered from Mrs Sheehan had to be sent to the UK in 2008 to generate a DNA profile, as Ireland lacked the techniques to interpret low amounts of DNA at the time. Witness Dr John Whitaker pictured leaving the trial of Noel Long Co. Cork at the The Criminal Courts of Justice. Picture: Collins Courts. Dr Jonathan Paul Whitaker from Forensic Science Services (FSS) in the UK told Mr Brendan Grehan SC, prosecuting, that he has specialised in DNA profiling for over 30 years. The witness said he had prepared a report in the case on May 9, 2022 which contained information from an evaluation of work done in 2008 and also comparison work carried out in May 2022 on foot of an email from Dr Kristen O'Connor, which had included a profile of a black beanie hat. Dr Kristen O'Connor from Forensic Science Ireland has already testified that she received five items belonging to Mr Long for DNA on December 1, 2021 and one of these was a black beanie hat. DNA evidence Explaining DNA to the jury, Dr Whitaker said it's a chemical found in all cells of the body including skin, semen, blood, sweat and muscle, which determines how a person looks and acts. He said DNA profiling was first introduced into casework in 1988 or 1989 and that the first DNA tests introduced were quite basic and that a blood-stain the size of a 2 coin would have been required to generate a DNA profile. Asked by Mr Grehan at what point in time it was possible to tell whether a DNA profile was male or female, Dr Whitaker said the sex of the contributor has been told through DNA markers since 1996. Low copy number (LCN) is a DNA profiling technique, the witness said, which was developed by FSS in the UK around 1999 and has been applied to forensic cases since 2002 involving a minute blood speck. Dr Whitaker said the biggest challenge mounted to LCN DNA came in 2007 at the trial of Sean Hoey in relation to the Omagh bombing. "The judge had some issues with the validation of the technique and as a result, there was a temporary suspension of the test in the UK and Wales and a review of the methodology," he explained. In December 2007, then 38-year-old Sean Hoey, from Jonesborough, south Armagh, was found not guilty of the murder of 29 people in the 1998 Omagh bombing by Mr Justice Weir at Belfast Crown Court. Mr Hoey had maintained his innocence throughout the trial. The witness told the jury that before the Hoey verdict was announced, Professor Brian Caddy undertook a review of LCN to oversee the validity and reliability of the test. The Caddy review concluded in a report in April 2008 that there was no reason to believe there was any unreliability in LCN DNA testing, he said. Since 2008, the expert witness said developments in DNA profiling have changed hugely and FSS adopted a recommendation from the Caddy review with a quantification step introduced into LCN methodology. Dr Whitaker said the vaginal swab slide recovered from the body of Mrs Sheehan was tested in a laboratory in Birmingham in 2008 and his opinion was peer-reviewed by another scientist and no disagreements were noted. Dr Brid Martina McBride, from Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), told the jury on Thursday that she sent a vaginal swab slide recovered from the body of Mrs Sheehan to Dr Whitaker in November 2008 for DNA profiling as he was an expert in this area. Adjourned The trial broke for lunch at 1.20pm on Friday, but when the jurors returned to the court after 2pm they were told by the judge that one of their colleagues was not well and that the trial would be adjourned until Monday. The trial continues on Monday before the judge and a jury of seven men and four women, when Dr Whitaker will continue giving his direct evidence. In his opening address, Mr Grehan told the jury that Dr Whitaker had developed a DNA profile from semen recovered from the body of Mrs Sheehan. In November 2021 he said material from Mr Long was obtained by gardai, which was analysed in the forensic science lab. "Results from their analysis were sent to Dr Whitaker and he will say it matched the semen recovered from Mrs Sheehan's vagina. Using the calculation tools, the possibility that it originated from someone other than Mr Long is one in 20,000 provided they are unrelated to him," said the barrister. Treatment for Alzheimers disease appears to have taken a step forward in recent weeks, with two new drugs and espresso coffee making headlines, but the question now for people in Ireland is how might this news affect them. As we wait to see whether the medical treatments will be approved for Europe, a leading brain health expert advises that awareness of 12 risk factors is vital for the public in the meantime. In Ireland there are 64,000 mainly older people living with the disease, according to the HSE, with this projected to reach 150,000 by 2045. Dr Sabina Brennan, author and research assistant professor in the Institute of Neuroscience at Trinity College Dublin, urged people at risk to focus on prevention. Rather than catastrophising the prospect of dementia, however, it is crucial to focus on prevention, she said. Research suggests that modifying 12 risk factors could delay or prevent 40% of all dementia cases. Dr Sabina Brennan: Research suggests that modifying 12 risk factors could delay or prevent 40% of all dementia cases. Picture: Eddie O'Hare These risk factors have been identified as hearing loss in mid-life, education level, traumatic brain injury, hypertension, excessive alcohol consumption, obesity, smoking, depression, social isolation, physical inactivity, air pollution, and diabetes. Mild hearing loss can double the risk of dementia, while moderate and severe hearing impairment can triple and quintuple the risk, respectively. The link between hearing loss and dementia is not yet properly understood, she said, but there are theories. One proposes that the sensory stimulation lost through hearing loss may disrupt the production of neurotransmitters, affecting cognitive function, she said. Another suggests that the difficulty in perceiving speech, associated with hearing loss, diverts brain resources from other cognitive functions, potentially contributing to memory decline. Despite hearing loss being a significant risk factor, only one in four adults in Ireland (25%) are aware that this is associated with the early onset of dementia, a survey this month by Hidden Hearing found. Even fewer just 16% were aware that kidney disease is also linked to developing dementia. In a sign of how common dementia and Alzheimers disease are becoming, the survey showed that among 509 people almost four in 10, 39%, have a relative diagnosed with these conditions. Understanding links between risk factors and dementia is crucial, Dr Brennan said. It helps people understand that dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing, prompting proactive efforts to prevent it. While scientific developments around Donanemab, developed by Eli Lilly, and Lecanemab, developed by Eisai/Biogen, have been welcomed by the medical community, they also caution that neither is a cure and they will not be suitable for everyone. In practice, these treatments will only be used in Ireland if the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approves them. The EMA is already assessing Lecanemab, with findings expected next year. Lecanemab, branded as Leqembi, slowed the rate of cognitive decline in early-stage Alzheimers patients by 27% compared to a placebo. Lecanemab was given full approval on July 6 by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) meaning it can be used widely there now, when appropriate. The drug is designed to target and clear a protein called amyloid that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimers. Scientists found that after 18 months it slowed disease progression by 27%, compared with those taking the placebo. Findings were evident as early as six months after participants started taking the drug. Donanemab made headlines this week when evidence of clinical trial success was presented at the Alzheimers Association International Conference. This also works by clearing amyloid. Scientists found Donanemab was able to slow clinical decline by 35.1% in people with early-stage Alzheimers whose brain scans showed low or medium levels of a protein called tau. Some 47% of people taking the drug who had early-stage disease and low or medium levels of tau found the disease stalled for a year. Tau is an essential protein which usually maintains healthy cells. However in cases of Alzheimers disease, tau forms toxic clumps or tangles around nerve cells in the brain. The Alzheimer Society of Ireland has welcomed both developments. Research and policy manager Dr Laura OPhilbin said the Donanemab results are incredibly heartening. We have entered a new era of drug development, particularly as this news comes just two weeks after the FDA granted full approval to the Lecanemab drug in the United States, she said. While there are no guarantees, we are hopeful that if approved by regulators, disease-modifying therapies will reach Ireland in the next couple of years. However she pointed to changes which will be needed, including greater access to MRI scanners to help identify people in the early stages of the disease. These would also be needed to monitor potentially serious side-effects already noted with Lecanemab in a small number of study participants. The HSEs new model of care for dementia says MRIs are the preferred way to give an early diagnosis, with CT scans more appropriate in some cases, including for a person with claustrophobia or a pacemaker. They also note, however: The progressive nature of dementia and the low rates of early diagnosis mean that many people receive a diagnosis in the later stages of the condition. Dr OPhilbin said that significant work would be needed, if these drugs are approved, in order to get the services ready. And that work must start now, she said. It would be devastating if we had a safe and effective treatment that our health system could not deliver. However, Dr OPhilbin sounded a note of caution against expectations being raised too high. It is important to note that these drugs are not cures and are only suitable for some people who are in the early stages of Alzheimers disease, she warned. Dr Laura OPhilbin said if new drugs are approved, 'significant work' is needed to get services ready. There will be countless people for whom this drug will not be helpful. We must continue to advocate for and resource non-pharmacological interventions and supports for people with all types of dementia, and their families. This week also espresso coffee and dementia treatment featured in new Italian research. A University of Verona study indicated espresso is a source of natural compounds which may help prevent tangles or clumps of tau from forming in the brain. Professor Mariapina DOnofrios work showed the length of the tau tangles decreased as they increased the coffee extract concentrations. She said two or three cups of coffee daily may act on the tau proteins in this way. We expect that moderate coffee consumption may provide a sufficient amount of bioactive molecules to act separately or synergistically as modulators of tau protein aggregation and toxicity, the study found. The effect of the coffee extract was quite strong, she found, regardless of the concentration. The team used a medium-roast ground coffee blend of Arabica coffee from South America and Robusta coffee from Africa and Southwest Asia. Published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the findings could pave the way for more investigation into the interaction between coffee and cognitive illnesses, the researchers urged. Eight days ago, Deepa Dinamani became number 261 when her life was extinguished. The 38-year-old was a mother to a five-year-old boy, having travelled from India she was making a new life for herself and her family in Cork, and had taken up a senior manager role with Alter Domus Fund Services in April. When her life was stolen from her at her red-brick semi-detached home in Wilton, she became the 261st woman to die violently in Ireland over the past 27 years. Some of these women and the tragic circumstances in which their lives were brought to an end have become well known Veronica Guerin, Sophie Toscan du Plantier, Clodagh Hawe, Ashling Murphy, Elaine O'Hara but many others have not received the same public attention down the years. All are lives that have been taken. Remember their names, too Deepa joins Jamie Farrelly Maughan, Xiang Yi Wang, Eileen Coyne, Bridget McFadden, Margaret Concannon, Carmel Marrinan, Elizabeth Troy, Paiche Onyemaechi, Sheola Keaney, Mary Sleator, Linda Evans Christian, Catherine McEnery, Nicola Vonkova, Nora Kiely, Marie Quigley, Deirdre Jacob and Debbie Fox who all died in the month of July since 1996. In some respects, this column could have been written at any stage over the past 27 years, or indeed far further back than that. Violence against women in all its forms has persisted through the generations. Ireland has progressed but too many women still live in fear in their own homes; girls are still taught to be vigilant while out walking in public and to use 'safe' routes; young women keep their keys between their fingers on the way back to their parked cars. The Women's Aid Impact Report 2022 reveals shocking levels of violence and abuse in homes and relationships in Ireland with 31,229 contacts made to its helpline and services last year, representing a 16% increase on 2021. One in four women in Ireland are subjected to domestic violence CSO statistics published this year show that 52% of women have experienced sexual violence compared to 28% of men. The majority of adults (78%) who experienced sexual violence in their lifetime knew the perpetrator. Ciara Mangan waived her right to anonymity to speak out about rape culture since a neighbour and work colleague raped her at a party as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Picture: Michael Donnelly At just 18, Ciara Mangan joined the 52% when she was raped at a party as she drifted in and out of consciousness. Outside court this week, and again in the 'Irish Examiner' and on IrishExaminer.com today, Saturday, she showed incredible strength in speaking out about the sexual assault and the abuse that then followed from co-workers who subjected her to "rape comments" and "rape songs". "I was easy prey, extremely vulnerable and defenceless. My control was taken from me. I stood no chance, she said as her rapist was jailed this week. The rape made me feel worthless, the way he left me on the floor. I felt like a pile of rubbish and it's such a disregard for someone else. "I am someone's daughter, I'm someone's sister, And to just dump somebody after a brutal rape like that, it's just horrendous." 'Tip of the iceberg' Organisations say the figures around sexual assaults, domestic violence and femicide, while shocking, are only the tip of an enormous iceberg. But despite the harrowing and unjustifiable statistics, there are finally some signs of hope that this scourge may be tackled with greater urgency. It is a year since the Governments zero-tolerance strategy on domestic sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) was published; progress has been made. Women's Aid CEO Sarah Benson: 'We must get this right to honour the many lives that have been lost in such circumstances...' The strategy includes 144 actions which aimed to eradicate violence against women through prevention, protection, prosecution, and policy co-ordination. In the wake of Ashling Murphys death in January 2022, Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill read a list of names into the Dail record each month. In doing so, she remembered each of the women who had been killed in that month over the years. In her final contribution last December, Ms Carroll MacNeill pointed to the spectrum of violence, from harassment to sexual assault, physical and emotional violence, to femicide which remains grounded in a culture where women still make changes to their lives that do not need to be considered by men in the same way. She said: It does not matter where women live or what they do, since, by their simple existence, womens lives are at risk from men who they know and do not know in a way that is just not replicated for men. "It is an everyday problem which requires an all-of-society, everyday response by us. It is therefore encouraging that a cross-departmental approach is being taken to tackle DSGBV as ending violence against women in all its forms is not solely about justice, but involves education, healthcare, housing, social protection, and supports for children. An updated social personal and health education (SPHE) curriculum being rolled out to focus on issues including relationships, sexuality, and consent will hopefully change mindsets from a young age. At third level, more than 22,000 students accessed consent classes in the past year, and a full-time coordinator will be appointed in all universities to implement the zero-tolerance plan. New laws This week, the President signed a bill into law that introduces new standalone offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation. The new law increases the maximum penalty for assault causing harm one of the most commonly prosecuted violent offences from five years to 10 years. In April, the Sex Offenders (Amendment) Act 2023 passed, which allows for electronic tagging, bans convicted sex offenders working with children or vulnerable people and, in certain circumstances, allows the gardai to disclose information relating to people on the sex offender register. Laws have also been passed to provide statutory paid domestic violence leave for employees. Sandhya Rani and Melba Siju were at the vigil for Deepa Dinamani at Cardinal Court, Wilton, Cork on Sunday, July 16. Picture: Jim Coughlan While a positive start, this momentum must be maintained for the remaining two years of the strategy. Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said her objective is to double the number of refuge spaces over the next five years, but staffing and supports are also equally critical and may not be as simple as the bricks and mortar element. Equally our court system is under pressure, which can lead to lengthy and traumatising delays for women involved in proceedings. We have focused very much on the pursuit of the perpetrator, which of course is very important, but one of the keys is to absolutely create robust pathways out of abusive relationships meaningful, viable pathways out of abusive relationships for victims until we do that this will keep going, said Mary McDermott, CEO of Safe Ireland. Tributes at the Cork home of the late Deepa Dinamani. Picture: Jim Coughlan Each woman that can access a court order that is sustainable is protected. Every woman who is provided with a refuge space can escape. Every woman that can access welfare support in Intreo and the social protection support she needs is a step forward. There are many more steps that must be taken to ensure that our court services and specialist domestic and sexual violence supports are fit for purpose. Most importantly, there is still a long way to go to change a toxic culture that has existed for too long. A culture where rape jokes are hurled a victims in their workplace, a culture which has seen the deaths of six women already this year. As Womens Aid chief executive Sarah Benson put it: We must get this right to honour the many lives that have been lost in such circumstances, and to honour their loved ones left behind. We must give ourselves the tools to learn from the past so we can do better in the future to prevent such deaths. This week, TG4s current affairs series Iniuchadh focused on Irish neutrality. The documentary untangled the complex history and contemporary political and military meaning of Irelands neutral status. From the outset, it became clear that our neutral status is not a simple binary position, but a complex, evolving and pragmatic foreign policy response to a rapidly changing world. In the realpolitik of Irish foreign policy, Ireland professes military neutrality. While we have never been politically neutral in any conflict, we have never become full members of a formal military alliance. During the Second World War, Ireland was markedly biased in its neutrality, on the side of the Allies. Ireland allowed the repatriation of allied pilots and air-crew who had crashed-landed here. We also allowed the liberal use of our air-space for allied protection of Atlantic convoys vital to the ultimate defeat of Nazi Germany. Despite de Valeras repeated assertions of Irish neutrality, Ireland went out of her way to assist the allies, including, famously providing the weather readings from Blacksod Bay that were crucial to the success of the D-Day landings. Less well known among the general public were detailed Nazi plans Unternehmen Grun, or Operation Green to invade Ireland during the Second World War. In response, de Valera and Churchill agreed a secret operation Plan W to counter-attack any German invasion here. This would have involved Oglaigh na hEireann and the British army fighting side by side on Irish soil against invading Wermacht forces. Thankfully, the Battle of Britain saw an end to Hitlers invasion plans for Britain and Ireland. It is, however, a useful illustration of the amorphous and shape-shifting nature of Irish neutrality predicated entirely on the selfish, self-interest consistent with the foreign policy imperatives of a confident, ambitious state. With Putins criminal invasion of Ukraine, Irelands neutral status has again come into sharp focus. In the last year, many high-profile academics and public commentators have begun to negatively frame Irelands neutral status in the context of the war in Ukraine. Some senior political figures have also expressed surprisingly hawkish views and have openly advocated Irelands full membership of Nato. 'Weakest link' In a near-perfect storm, this focus on neutrality including the Tanaistes Consultative Forums on Defence has come at a time of unprecedented crisis in our Defence Forces. Partially as a consequence of the peace dividend accruing to the Good Friday Agreement, our armed forces have experienced a two-decade period of underinvestment, poor pay, and appalling working conditions. This has led to a recruitment and retention crisis, which has seen numbers drop to a new low of just 7,764 personnel across army, naval service and air corps. Hundreds have resigned in the last year, including over 30 commissioned officers. In effect, Ireland is unable to monitor or meaningfully defend its ground, maritime air or cyber domains. In defence, security and intelligence terms, Ireland has become Europes weakest link and has attracted the attention of international terrorist networks, organised crime gangs, and the Russian state. In recent months and years, Russian naval and air assets have increasingly probed Irish controlled airspace and our maritime waters off the west and south coasts. This is particularly problematic since Irish-controlled airspace consists of one of the busiest air corridors for civil and military air traffic between the EU and the United States. We have learned more anon that Russian aircraft with their transponders turned off have been lurking in our airspace in order to test Nato reaction times on their vulnerable western approaches. Russian elements have also launched cyberattacks on our critical infrastructure in recent times, including a devastating attack on the HSE at the height of the pandemic. Politically and diplomatically, Ireland has marketed itself as an open, digital economy that punches above its weight internationally with many US tech and pharma multinationals headquartered in Ireland. Ireland holds almost one third of Europes data in over 50 data centres here. In addition, dozens of transatlantic fibre-optic subsea cables which pass through Irish waters represent the digital link between the US and Europe, carrying almost one-half of the worlds digital traffic. Ireland lacks even the most minimal credible cyber defence for this extraordinary infrastructure and data. Ireland's 'dependence' It is clear that our naval service cannot adequately monitor or protect the oceanic physical infrastructure that underpins this global digital economy. Nor can our naval service through no fault of its own hope to patrol or protect our planned offshore wind energy platforms. This is especially embarrassing given that Ireland hopes to be the Saudi Arabia of wind energy. What is also acutely embarrassing to the Government is the frank admission that we have only learned of many of these threats due to the generosity of the intelligence services of other nations. In the TG4 documentary this week, former defence minister Willie ODea admits that the RAF have been patrolling our airspace since the 1950s and that we rely on Britain for piecemeal bits of vital intelligence entirely at their discretion. This brings us to the stark conclusion that Irelands sovereign and neutral status are currently meaningless in that we cannot adequately protect or defend ourselves against the most minimal of threats and rely on others to do so. That dependence is fatally detrimental to our sovereign and neutral status in that we have zero credibility or foreign policy leverage with our recently acquired state of helplessness. Defence Forces This is an unprecedented crisis for Ireland. On a personal level, while I recognise the importance and legitimacy of Nato as a military alliance, I do not believe that there is any advantage for Ireland in joining that organisation in order to solve our defence problems or as a response to Russian aggression. Rather, I believe we should adopt the highest level of ambition of investment in our basic defences as set out in the recent report of the Commission on the Future on the Defence Forces. Ireland and her global diaspora have benefited hugely from Irelands neutral status as a non-aligned Republic with no imperial ambitions or associations. As a professional soldier, election supervisor and journalist, I have personally experienced the dividend that our neutral status provides in many hostile environments. Neutrality is an invaluable component of our foreign policy that gives us a moral authority and a unique voice for peace in an increasingly unstable world. To protect and preserve it, however, we must invest in our Defence Forces and we must support its current transformation in order to vindicate our sovereign and militarily neutral status. While it provides no comfort to recent victims of assault, violence on our streets is not a new problem. Nor is it a problem only for Dublins north east inner city or just Dublin. It affects cities and towns across the country and includes a spate of vicious assaults recently in Cork city and Galway city, resulting in fatalities in some cases. There are no easy solutions and little to be gained from ministerial promises of getting tough. Ignore any government statements that the commissioner has reassured them he has enough resources. It is hard for the commissioner to say otherwise when budgets have increased, though this has to be factored against wider policing tasks, growing crime types and a rising population. Community groups have flagged ad nauseum the crisis in certain communities: with people simply not feeling safe; the constant threat of violence and the corrosive impact of open drug dealing, public drug usage and drug debt intimidation. A stream of research has documented again and again the same problems not enough policing, cuts to community and youth projects, difficulties in accessing mental health services and the magnetic pull of cash, status and excitement from involvement in drug gangs. There is also a wider question as to how to deal with juvenile violence with much, but by no means all, assaults, robberies and intimidation on the streets coming from gangs of young teenagers. What is the balance to be struck between effective punishment and rehabilitation of children? There is a retention crisis within An Garda Siochana, with people resigning from jobs because they are too stressful, where working conditions have worsened and, yes, where they feel they are not paid enough. File picture: Andy Gibson People living in communities and those working or visiting them need to feel safe and need to know that if they are assaulted or robbed it will be investigated by gardai and that action is taken against perpetrators even if they are juveniles. At the same time, the State has a task, and has a legal obligation, to intervene in the lives of those children, including the most serious offenders, and offer them a way out in order for them to avoid as much as possible a criminal conviction and detention. But what is crippling the State is a staffing and funding crisis in all the key areas policing, youth work, social work, drug projects and mental health services. Much of the problem stems from the recession and the blanket moratorium on recruitment and savage cutbacks in funding and services a haemorrhage that drained the lifeblood out of disadvantaged communities the most. Mixed in with that is a morale crisis, with associations and groups across policing, mental health, youth work, community projects and social work, flagging this for many years. The staffing situation has no doubt worsened in recent years with the economy picking up and State agencies finding it difficult to recruit people. Covid hit recruitment hard, with 1,100 fewer garda recruits than otherwise would have happened. As reported in the Irish Examiner last month, garda numbers are below the European average for police-to-population ratios, at 291 for every 100,000 people, compared to an average of 328. That was based on 2020 numbers, but with falling garda numbers that has dropped to 277. So, we know there is a recruitment crisis in policing, and all the other key sectors. But there is also a retention crisis, with people resigning from jobs because they are too stressful, where working conditions have worsened and, yes, where they feel they are not paid enough. This is where the Government and its agencies should start and do their best to keep the gardai, youth workers, social workers and psychiatric nurses we have. Respect and value them. Improve their working conditions. Make them know they are appreciated and take whatever possible action to keep them. What individual gardai and garda associations also complain about is the extent of desk work they now have to do, inputting into the Pulse computer system or filling out forms, or waiting on the line to get through to the Garda Information Services Centre in Castlebar. We are drowned in red tape, one garda source said, when we should be out on the street. They also complain, rightly or wrongly, over having to look over their shoulder at Gsoc investigations in case someone makes a complaint or they make a potential error in dealing with fraught, even violent, situations. It may well be time for the Garda Commissioner to speak out more and make no bones about the crisis. Short of a sudden surge in students coming out of Templemore, he could do with a doubling, and more, of overtime from the Government. Fianna Fails Jim OCallaghan has mentioned increasing the compulsory age of retirement. People living in communities and those working or visiting them need to feel safe and need to know that if they are assaulted or robbed it will be investigated by gardai and that action is taken against perpetrators even if they are juveniles. File photo Policing has expanded and resources have had to be put into important areas such as protective services units (to investigate sexual and domestic crimes) and cybercrime, for example. All the time the resources continue to drain from the frontline. The focus now must now be on the regular units and community policing units. A recent Oireachtas committee report on youth work highlighted the crisis that it too faces, in terms of funding, staffing and low morale. This much-undervalued work which is a long-term effort is key if we are to engage with those juveniles most at risk of violence, drug-dealing and disorder. The report highlighted the benefit of projects engaged in outreach work with young people disconnected from their communities, often because of drug use, trauma and marginalization. Not that any these factors excuses acts of violence by juveniles which are often against other children, inflicting trauma and physical injuries on them. Positive developments But, it would be churlish to ignore the positive things the State is doing. The Department of Justice has funded special projects to target young people and criminal gangs, including the Greentown team in University of Limerick. The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 has allocated funding for youth projects with the most serious of young offenders. There is a widely-welcomed pilot project combining both gardai and health workers in Limerick but it is still yet to start. A Garda Dublin Crime Response Team, a regional task force, has been set up, apparently focusing on local drug-dealing up to now but perhaps could expand to street gangs and violence? Proposed legislation will legally oblige health and other agencies to work with gardai on community safety. Policing has expanded and resources have had to be put into important areas such as protective services units (to investigate sexual and domestic crimes) and cybercrime, for example. File picture Dublins inner city has the Dublin North East Inner City Initiative set up in the wake of the Kinahan killing campaign in the area. Drogheda has a similar task force, set up after the murder and dismemberment of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods. Local community safety partnerships, of which three are being piloted, are due to be rolled out next year. The Citizens Assembly on Drugs has already heard about these issues and will focus on them in more detail in September and hopefully make recommendations. A long-planned pilot supervised injecting centre is due to start in Dublin in early 2024, after first being legislated for in 2017. This initiative, which agencies in Cork city also want, will reduce the numbers of people injecting drugs on the street and in laneways. They are all good developments. There is no need for empty talk of getting tough or zero tolerance. Instead, invest in agencies, improve their working conditions, and fund local groups. Allow and support people on the frontline to do their job. Russia came under pressure at the United Nations Security Council from its ally China and developing countries as well as Western nations to avert a global food crisis and revive Ukrainian grain shipments. Moscow was also criticised by the UN and council members for attacking Ukrainian ports after pulling out of the year-old grain deal and destroying port infrastructure a violation of international humanitarian law banning attacks on civilian infrastructure. In response to Russia declaring wide areas in the Black Sea dangerous for shipping, the UN warned that a military incident in the sea could have catastrophic consequences. Russia said it suspended the Black Sea Grain Initiative because the UN had failed to overcome obstacles to shipping its food and fertiliser to global markets the other half of the Ukraine grain deal. The Kremlin said it would consider resuming Ukrainian shipments if progress is made in overcoming the obstacles, including in banking arrangements. Chinas deputy UN ambassador Geng Shuang noted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres commitment to make every effort to ensure that both Ukrainian grain and Russian food and fertiliser get to world markets. He expressed hope that Russia and the UN will work together to resume exports from both countries at an early date in the interest of maintaining international food security and alleviating the food crisis in developing countries in particular. Attacks on Ukrainian ports key to sending grain to the world are in violation of international law, the UN said (AP) US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia of using the Black Sea as blackmail and playing political games, pointing to Moscows export of more grain than ever before at higher prices. She called on the Security Council and all 193 UN member nations to come together and urge Russia to resume negotiations in good faith. Several developing countries warned of the impact of the cut-off in Ukrainian grain shipments, which has already led to a rise in wheat prices. Gabons UN ambassador Michel Biang said the grain deal had avoided a spike in grain prices and calmed the risk of food insecurity in the drought-affected Horn of Africa and other regions. He urged talks to break the current deadlock and avoid a humanitarian crisis. Mozambiques UN ambassador Pedro Afonso said Russias action is certain to amplify global socio-economic stresses in a world already grappling with a perfect storm of conflict, climate change and a loss of confidence in multilateral solutions. Russias deputy UN ambassador Dmitry Polyansky said Russia stands ready to consider rejoining the deal if seven principles from the Russia-UN memorandum are implemented. He listed them as the real not theoretical lifting of Western sanctions on Russian grain and fertiliser exports, and the lifting of obstacles to Russian banks that service exports, including the immediate connection to the SWIFT global banking system. Russia also wants the delivery of spare parts for agricultural production to resume, a resolution to issues related to chartering vessels for Russian exports including insurance, the war-damaged ammonia pipeline from Russia to Ukraine to be fixed and other fertiliser issues resolved, Russian assets linked to agricultural production unfrozen, and the resumption of the initial humanitarian nature of the grain deal, he said. Under the deal, Ukraine was given a green light to ship grain from three Black Sea ports, but following Mondays withdrawal Russia said it will consider a ship traveling to Ukrainian ports as being laden with weapons and will treat the country of its flag as a participant in the conflict on Kyivs side. Ukraine announced that it will also treat ships travelling to Russian Black Sea ports as military targets. Russia has been warned that a food crisis could be on the way (AP) Thomas-Greenfield told the council the United States has information that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports and that Russias military may attack civilian shipping in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks. UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo strongly condemned Russian attacks on Ukraines Black Sea ports and urged Moscow to stop them immediately. She said threats to target civilian vessels are unacceptable and warned that sea mines can endanger civilian navigation. Chinas Mr Geng called on the parties to remain calm and exercise restraint, abide by international humanitarian law and refrain from attacking civilian infrastructure, and make every effort to curb the expansion of the conflict to prevent a larger scale humanitarian crisis. Moscow has declared large swathes of the Black Sea dangerous for shipping (AP) UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths told the council that a record 362 million people in 69 countries need assistance, a number that has never been reached anywhere before, requiring an unprecedented 55 billion dollars (42 billion). He said the cut-off of Ukrainian grain shipments has already brought not only killings and injuries to civilians and damage to port infrastructure but a 9% spike in wheat prices on Wednesday, the largest since Russias February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine continues to reverberate around the world, Mr Griffiths said, and for many of the 362 million people who need help, a cut-off in critical Ukrainian and Russian grain threatens the future of their families. Some will go hungry, some will starve, many may die as a result of these decisions, he said. Did you know that President Joe Biden was bussing unauthorized immigrants to a hotel near Orlando, Florida, and giving them pre-loaded credit cards, hotel rooms, and clothingall on your dime?!? You say you didnt know? Good, because the story was a complete fabrication. On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we are joined by good friend of the show Jim Swift from The Bulwark to discuss the mechanics of how a modern conspiracy theory like this goes viral. Swift covered this story over at The Bulwark in a piece titled, The Bogus Protest, the House Race, and the MAGA Grocer. We talk about this viral conspiracy theory and more on this episode. Enjoy! And dont forget to subscribe to our newsletter! Its INSTANT and FREE! The Connors Forum is an independent entity from the institutions that we partner with. The views expressed in our newsletters and podcasts are those of the individual contributors alone and not of our partner institutions. Related episodes Understanding the rise of conspiracy theories in America | Utterly Moderate Podcast On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast, we are joined by Michael Shermer from Skeptic Magazine to discuss the rise of conspiracy theories in America. Finding ways to reduce extremism and radicalization | Utterly Moderate Podcast On this episode of the Utterly Moderate Podcast we discuss the difficult tasks of reducing extremism and radicalization in the U.S. as well as improving our political discourse. Woke wars and 'virtuous lies' from the left | Utterly Moderate Podcast Misleading information is being fed to liberals and conservatives within their ideological bubbles. How the left deals with misinformation is the topic of this week's Utterly Moderate Podcast. Episode Audio: Spains general election could make the country the latest European Union member to shift to the political right. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the early election after his coalitions far-left partner, Unidas Podemos, took a beating in local and regional elections two months ago. Most polls put the right-wing Popular Party ahead of the Socialists, but it is likely to need the support of the extreme-right Vox party to form a government. Such a coalition would return a far-right force to the Spanish government for the first time since the country transitioned to democracy in the late 1970s following the near 40-year rule of dictator Francisco Franco. Here is what you need to know about the vote: What is at stake? The Spanish parliaments lower house in Madrid (AP) Opinion polls indicate the political right has the edge going into the election, and that raises the possibility a neo-fascist party will be part of Spains next government. The extreme-right has not been in power in Spain since the transition to democracy following the death of Franco in 1975. With no party expected to win an absolute majority, the choice for voters is basically between another leftist governing coalition or one between the right and the far-right. On one side is the right-of-centre Popular Party (PP) under Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the front-runner in the polls, and the extreme-right Vox party. They portray the vote as a chance to end Sanchismo a term the PP uses to sum up what it contends are the dictatorial ways of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the lefts radical ideology and numerous lies by the government. In the other corner are the Socialists and a new movement called Sumar that brings together 15 small leftist parties for the first time. They warn that putting the right in power will threaten Spains post-Franco changes. Why were early elections called? A supporter wearing a pin of left-wing Sumar Prime Minister candidate Yolanda Diaz attends a political rally in Madrid (AP) Mr Sanchez called the election a day after his Spanish Socialist Workers Party and its small far-left coalition partner, Unidas Podemos (United We Can), took a hammering in local and regional elections on May 28. Prior to that, Mr Sanchez had insisted he would ride out his four-year term, indicating that an election would be held in December. But after the May defeat, he said it was only fair for Spaniards to decide their countrys political future without delay. What has happened since May 28? Supporters of Vox, the extreme-right party which could enter government to support the centre-right Popular Party (AP) The Popular Party emerged from the local and regional elections as the most-voted party by far, giving it the right to take office in all but a handful of towns and one or two regions. Since then, the PP and Vox have agreed to govern together in some 140 cities and towns as well as to add two more regions to the one where they already co-governed. The Socialists and other leftist parties lost political clout across the country but after weathering the initial shock, they have regrouped and recovered some ground, which means there is still a doubt over the outcome on Sunday. What does it mean for Europe? Popular Party supporters listen to their leader, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, in Barcelona (AP) A PP-Vox government would mean another EU member has moved firmly to the right, a trend seen recently in Sweden, Finland and Italy. Countries such as Germany and France are concerned by what such a shift would portend for EU immigration and climate policies. Spains two main leftist parties are pro-EU participation. On the right, the PP is also in favour of the EU, but Vox is not. The election comes as Spain holds the EUs rotating presidency. Mr Sanchez had hoped to use the six-month term to showcase the advances his government has made. An election defeat for Mr Sanchez could see the PP taking over the EU presidency reins. What are the campaign themes? A campaign worker removes the stage following a rally of Spains Prime Minister and Socialist candidate Pedro Sanchez in Huesca, northern Spain (AP) The campaign has been dominated by mudslinging from all sides, with both the left and right accusing each other of lying about their policies and past records. The PP has managed to put Mr Sanchezs credibility in question by highlighting the many U-turns he has made and his alliances with small regional secessionist parties, an issue that alienates even some left-wing voters. The left has sought to convince voters that there is little difference between the two right-wing parties and that a victory for them would set Spain back decades in terms of social progress. Nearly every poll has put the PP firmly ahead of the Socialists and Vox ahead of Sumar for third place. But 30% of the electorate is said to be undecided. With the election taking place at the height of summer, millions of citizens are likely to be on holiday away from their regular polling places. However, postal voting requests have soared, and officials are estimating a 70% election turnout. Is there any chance of a surprise result? Most polls put the right-wing Popular Party ahead of the Socialists (AP) A surprise factor that could upset poll predictions is Sumar: the brand new, broad-based movement of 15 small left-wing parties, including Podemos and prominent social figures. Sumar is headed by the highly popular labour minister Yolanda Diaz, who is also the second deputy vice president and the only woman among the leaders of the four main parties. This is the first time small left-wing parties have ever come together on a joint ticket in Spain. Their earlier fragmentation was blamed for many of the town and regional losses in the May election, and they hope that joined together they can make a better showing. Sumars target is to beat Vox to the potentially king-making third-place finish. That would allow Sumar to provide valuable support to another leftist coalition government. However, surveys have consistently suggested during the campaign that an absolute majority for the PP and Vox is possible. A blaze burning on the Greek island of Rhodes for the fifth day has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations, including two seaside resorts. In previous days the wildfire was confined to the islands mountainous centre, but aided by winds, very high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread on Saturday towards the coast on the islands central-eastern side. Local media reported the fires had reached three hotels, which had already been evacuated. Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said on Saturday afternoon that residents of four localities were sent SMS messages to evacuate in two places they were told to move to the north east and in two others to the south west. A firefighting helicopter dumps water on a wildifre (Petros Giannakouris/AP) Mr Artopios said that more than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. The force includes 31 firefighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines. The main front of the fire is a triangle, with two of its points near the sea and one in the mountains. On maps, each side of the triangle appears more than six miles long. Three coast guard vessels, plus one from the army, were evacuating people from two beaches. Twenty private boats were assisting and the Greek navy was sending a vessel. The blaze in Rhodes was just one, the most dangerous, of several active across Greece, Mr Artopios said. A damaged car stands in front of a burned tree near Loutraki west of Athens (Petros Giannakouris/AP) The fire north west of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, he said, although the conditions, including temperatures set to reach 45C on Sunday and low humidity (below 15%), mean the danger is not over and more wildfires might break out. The Fire Service has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes, as well as large swathes of the south west, as category five, the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks on Sunday. There will be a brief respite in the heatwave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have said. Firefighting forces from eight EU countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Mr Artopios said. Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, mostly aerial equipment. A Myanmar junta airstrike has hit a Kachin State village near where regime troops have been fighting the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) since last month. Three jet fighters bombed Nam San Yang village, which was previously controlled by the KIA about 9km from its Laiza headquarters, on Friday night. No casualties were reported as villagers fled last month, according to KIA spokesman Colonel Naw Bu. Some livestock were killed and houses and an administration office were destroyed. The KIA on Thursday attacked junta reinforcements from Bhamo Township at La Gyar Yang village in Momauk Township. The village is on the Myitkyina-Bhamo road, about 22km south of Nam San Yang. On Thursday, we shelled their troops from Bhamo for about 20 minutes, said Col Naw Bu. The Kachin media reported heavy junta losses. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Col Naw Bu reported that about 1,000 junta troops were stuck between Nam San Yang and Nalone villages, trying to shell the KIAs headquarters. So we shelled them back every day. Tensions are high and we have to stay alert, he said. This week, junta reinforcements have come from the Military Operations Command in Bhamo Township along the Myitkyina road towards Laiza. Former army captain, U Htet Myat, who joined the civil disobedience movement, served in Kachin State before his defection. He predicted a defeat for the junta forces because of the KIAs military strength. It seems the junta thinks it is easy to fight the KIA. But its not that easy at all, as we saw back in 2021, said Captain Htet Myat. He added that the regime commanders involved were cowards with little military skill. Myanmar junta troops killed 11 civilians and three resistance fighters in Yinmabin Township, Sagaing Region, on Friday, according to residents. Troops stationed in Yinmabin town raided Sone Chaung village before dawn on Saturday and beheaded three Bo Tun Tauk Peoples Defense Force members, who were guarding the village. They then killed 11 male villagers, the group said. First, we found the bodies of the three fighters in the village center. The other bodies were spread around. Some had been tortured, said a villager. Other villagers were taken away and their condition is unknown. The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. The three resistance fighters were named Ko Pyae Phyo Tun, Ko Sai Thu San and Ko Nay Min Tun. The civilians killed were U Myo Myint Oo, U Kyaw Oo, U Yan Naing Soe, U Swe Gyi, U Aung Win Swe, U Naing Min, U Tote Kyi, U Lwin Moe Tun, U Htay Zaw, U Phoe Aung and U Aung Zaw Win, according to the resistance group. Pro-junta Telegram channels released the same names but said they were all resistance fighters. A funeral was held yesterday and the 14 bodies were cremated together. Dr Sasa, the National Unity Governments minister for international cooperation, posted on Facebook that the Yinmabin atrocity was one of around 80 massacres committed by the junta since the 2021 coup. The genocidal military junta hides behind secrecy, evading international scrutiny. But we cannot remain silent observers; we must take decisive action now, he said. Dr Sasa, known by only one name, called on the international community to cut the flow of money, weapons and legitimacy to the junta. Let us stand in solidarity with the loved ones, families and villagers of Yinmabin during this heart-wrenching time, deliberately created by the genocidal junta and supported by their partners in crime, he said. In March at least four civilians in Kone village, Yinmabin Township, were killed by junta troops after they torched the village. A clash has been reported between the Arakan Army (AA) and Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State, with both sides suffering casualties. Residents said fierce fighting took place on Wednesday in the Mayu mountains near Sein Hnyin Pyar and Gu Dar Pyin villages. Five ARSA fighters were killed and an outpost was seized. The AA seized weapons. I heard one AA member was killed and two injured, an AA source told The Irrawaddy. Neither side has commented on the fighting and The Irrawaddy could not independently verify the reports. Rakhine media reported that fighting began when ARSA troops entered AA territory in the Mayu mountains. The fighting sparked fears of an escalation among Muslim and Buddhist communities. ARSA, a Rohingya militant group, first emerged in 2016 when it reportedly attacked three police outposts in Maungdaw and Rathedaung townships and on police posts in northern Rakhine State in 2017, killing around 12 officers. The military retaliated with massive clearance operations against Rohingya villages, prompting an exodus of nearly a million Rohingya to Bangladesh. ARSA now operates along the border and inside Bangladesh refugee camps. It has later come under fire after the killings of Rohingya community leaders in the refugee camps. A Muslim representative said ARSA was facing declining support among Muslims and no longer infiltrated the Bangladeshi refugee camps like before. The Bangladeshi authorities have launched a probe and were hunting the group, with its leader, Ataullah abu Ammar Jununi, reportedly in hiding in Buthidaung Township. Formed in 2009, the AA has been fighting Myanmars military in Rakhine State on and off since 2015 for Rakhine self-determination. It is backed by Rakhines population and was inflicting heavy casualties in Rakhine State and Paletwa Township in neighboring Chin State until an informal ceasefire was agreed in late 2020. The AA has since set up its own administration and judiciary across much of Rakhine State. However, fighting resumed in August 2022. A temporary ceasefire was agreed in November but tensions with the regime remain high. Indian road diplomacy Ties between Myanmars military regime and neighboring India are deepening despite international condemnation of the juntas atrocities against its own civilians. On Sunday, junta foreign minister Than Swe attended the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation meeting in Bangkok and held talks with his Indian counterpart Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on speedy completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway. Construction of the highway is around 70 percent complete. Following the meeting with Than Swe, the Indian minister expressed concerns via Twitter that instability in Myanmar could disrupt the highways construction. The two ministers also discussed the India-funded Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project in Myanmar. On Thursday, Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Vinay Kumar paid a call on the juntas international cooperation minister Ko Ko Hlaing in Naypyitaw to discuss construction of the trilateral highway. In November last year, Indias Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra flew to Myanmar to hold talks with junta boss Min Aung Hlaing on the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport project. Min Aung Hlaing has called India a good neighbor and is pushing for rapid implementation of the project. Sittwe port, which is part of the Kaladan Project, was opened in the Rakhine State capital of Sittwe on May 9. China seeking law leverage A Chinese university has conferred honorable professor status on the juntas legal affairs minister and attorney-general, Thida Oo. The ministry and the China-ASEAN Legal Research Center signed a memorandum of understanding on legal cooperation and research on July 17 in Chongqing, where the Southwest University of Political Science and Law appointed Thida Oo as an honorable professor. Under the MoU, the two countries will cooperate in research on legislation, and expanding legal knowledge. Thida Oo plays a key role in reviewing and preparing agreements between Myanmar and China. In May, Chinas ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai urged her to expedite the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port project in western Myanmar. The project is part of Chinas global Belt and Road Initiative. The 58-year-old was the permanent secretary of Union Attorney-Generals Office under the ousted National League for Democracy government. She was appointed as attorney-general and legal affairs minister one day after the February 1, 2021 coup. The US-sanctioned legal expert traveled to The Hague last year as a member of the juntas legal defense team in the Rohingya genocide case filed at the International Court of Justice. Min Aung Hlaings giant tourist attraction The giant Buddha statue that Min Aung Hlaing has had built over the past two years to portray himself as the protector of Burmese Buddhism is set to be consecrated on August 1. Deputy junta chief Soe Win chaired a meeting on consecration of the colossal Maravijaya image on Thursday. The regime also organized a press conference on Friday, inviting locals and international media to the site of the statue in Naypyitaw for the first time. While millions go hungry in the chaos that has followed his coup, Min Aung Hlaing has been busy squandering public funds on vanity projects. Most prominent among them is his marble colossus, touted as the worlds heaviest and largest sitting Buddha statue. Retired and incumbent generals including former president U Thein Sein have supported Min Aung Hlaing in constructing the statue. The marble slab from which it is carved was donated by former military dictator Than Shwe. Min Aung Hlaing is following in the footsteps of his predecessors Ne Win and Than Shwe, who were also keen to abuse religion for their political purposes. Ne Win built the Maha Wizaya Pagoda and Than Shwe constructed the Kyauktawgyi Temple and Buddha statue in Yangon, and a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Naypyitaw. But while his predecessors pagodas are free to visit, it appears that pilgrims will have to pay to enter Min Aung Hlaings pagoda. Soe Win told Thursdays meeting that pilgrims could visit the Maravijaya for free from August 1 to August 16 to commemorate the opening but would afterward have to pay an admission fee, in keeping with tourist venues in other countries. The announcement came as a surprise to Myanmar people, who have been visiting pagodas for free since time immemorial. Junta slams ASEAN for ignoring peaceful democracy efforts The junta retaliated after ASEAN foreign ministers released a statement calling for an end to atrocities being committed by its military. Read more: Saturday, Jul 22nd, 2023 (12:01 am) - Score 3,096 Network builder CityFibre has given themselves a pat on the back after trials of an enhanced platform capable of true proactive fault repair, which involved several broadband ISPs on their UK full fibre (FTTP) infrastructure, delivered an impressive improvement. At present CityFibre aims to cover up to 8 million UK premises (funded by c.2.4bn in equity and c.4.9bn debt) with their 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across over 285 cities, towns and villages (c.30% of the UK) by the end of 2025 (here). Various ISPs, such as Vodafone and TalkTalk, access this via wholesale and then sell packages on to consumers. NOTE: The network currently passes 2.9+ million UK homes, although its only Ready for Service for consumers at 2.5m. The operator aims to cover 8m by the end of 2025 ( The network currently passes 2.9+ million UK homes, although its only Ready for Service for consumers at 2.5m. The operator aims to cover 8m by the end of 2025 ( here ). The operator has always had the ability to proactively monitor their fibre network and see faults as they happen, but the new platform theyre integrating is said to enhance that. The platform is designed to ensure that as soon as a service outage red flag incident happens on their network, Auto Create and Auto Resolve incident responses are activated. This allows them to begin investigating and resolving the issue almost immediately, while notifying their ISP partners and end-customers in parallel. The results of early trials, underway since February 2023, are said to be nothing short of impressive. More than half of the proactively managed faults identified during the trial have been fixed on the same day, meaning service loss is only a few hours, rather than the alleged three-to-five-day industry average (in reality this can vary a lot between ISPs and networks, often depending upon a chosen service level). The ISP partners who started trialling this with us in one city immediately saw the benefits of this for their customers and agreed to extend to eight locations within a matter of months, said Matt Walker, CFs Director of Customer Delivery and Assurance. The operator is also working to deliver predictive maintenance, which may help to reduce the risk of faults occurring in the future. Matt Walker said: Its not just about end customer experience benefits though. Operationally, ISPs have a been able to redirect human time spent on triaging connectivity issues to other important areas. And because we look for the source of the issue, we can often identify when problems are related to ISPs own equipment too, for example their Wi-Fi router. The combination of commonly defined datasets, accurate real time diagnostic information and high levels of process automation is delivering something that operators of legacy networks cannot currently match. The automation element enables us to react quickly and appropriately, but it also improves accuracy and reduces the potential for human error caused by lack of knowledge or experience. CityFibre now intend to scale up their Proof of Concept (PoC) trial and expand its availability, although they have yet to reveal how long it will take before this becomes available across their entire network. Workers walk near an excavator loading coal onto a truck at a coal port in Hanoi February 23, 2012. Photo by Reuters Vietnam has signed a deal with Laos to import around 20 million tons of coal a year for the next five years. The memorandum of understanding was signed for the purpose Thursday by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines. Laos has been an important supplier of coal and other minerals to Vietnam in recent years. Vietnam imported 1.8 million tons of ores and minerals for US$78.2 million from that country last year, and 900,000 tons worth $31.6 million in the first half of this year. The two also have many cooperation projects in energy such as building hydropower plants and connecting grids while Laos exports electricity to Vietnam. Vietnam has 220 kV lines linking Laos, and is set to import at least 3,000 MW of electricity by 2025 and 5,000 MW by 2030. Southeast Asia has recently emerged as an ideal hub for global retirees thanks to its tropical weather and cheap cost of living, but only five countries now offer visas specifically for global retirees. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, offers a visa for elderly and retired individuals with a period of one year, which can be renewed annually for up to five years. Those holding the retirement visa are not allowed to work in Indonesia. To be eligible for the visa, foreigners aged 55 years and above, who can provide a guarantee letter from a tourism board as a guarantor, are required to show a proof of at least $1,500 a month in funds and health insurance. They also need to submit a proof of accommodation in Indonesia and proof of having employed an Indonesian maid or domestic helper. Since 2002, Malaysia has launched a retirement visa policy called "Malaysia My Second Home Program" in which applicants are divided into age-based categories of 25 to 49 years and 50 years and above. The visa program allows foreigners to live in Malaysia for up to 10 years. Those under the age of 50 must have liquid assets worth a minimum of RM500,000 ($118,500) and an offshore income of at least RM10,000 ($2,370) per month. For those from 50 and above, they are required to have at least RM350,000 in liquid assets and an offshore income of at least RM10,000 per month. Obtaining a retirement visa in Malaysia enables foreign retirees to purchase a house, set up their business and get a domestic helper. Thailand recently introduced a special policy for retirees aged 50 years and over with a 10-year multiple entry renewable visa, fast-track service at Thai airports, tax exemption for overseas income and a work permit among other privileges. To be eligible for the visa policy, foreign retirees are required to have an annual pension or stable income of at least $80,000 per year at the time of application. The Philippines, home to more than 64,000 foreign retirees, has launched a Special Residence Retiree's Visa program, allowing wealthy foreigners to hold a multiple-entry visa and the right to reside in the Philippines indefinitely. For those at least 50 years old and above, they need to have a deposit of $10,000 and a monthly pension of $800. Deposits for applicants aged 35 to 49 years old was $50,000 while those aged from 50 and above who do not receive monthly pension need to have a deposit of $20,000. Though travel experts believed that Vietnam has great potentials to become a paradise for global retirees, the country has yet to implemented any specific policies to lure retiree tourists, as it has only exempted visas for 24 tourism markets with a limited stay duration of 15-30 days. The Cambodia retirement visa program allows foreigners to stay for up to 12 months. They can apply to extend it for another year with multiple-entry after it expires. The visa fee costs $290 per person. Obtaining a Cambodian retirement visa allows foreigners to rent and own a property and purchase a car. To be eligible for the visa, foreigners must be 55 of age or older, prove that they are retired and unemployed, and have sufficient financial means. ELKO Parcels of federal land are on Elko Countys wish list for transferring from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to county ownership for recreational possibilities in the Elko and Spring Creek area and to address airport concerns in Jackpot. County Commissioners have approved a resolution and maps to send the proposed land transfers to U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., in hopes they will be added to his Nevada lands bill introduced in May. Assistant Elko County Manager and Natural Resources Director Curtis Moore said one transfer request is for land north of the shooting range west of Elko, which will give us more room to expand recreation opportunities. He said an overland trail could be created for four-wheel-drive vehicles or there could be mountain bike trails. The second proposal is for land off to the side of the Spring Creek mobile section, also for recreation, Moore said. If Elko County acquires the land, Spring Creek could annex it for a walking or non-motorized bike trail, according to Spring Creek Association President and General Manager Jessie Bahr. It would also fit in with the SCAs strategic plan to connect all four tracts within one border. The third is for pieces of land around the Jackpot airport that would be nice to have to clear up all our airport issues, Moore said, telling commissioners this month that there is a patent pending for the BLM land but this would help to move that process along. Moore said in a July 7 email that he doesnt have the exact acreage for the proposals, but there are maps outlining the sections the county wants transferred. We are forwarding the resolution and maps to Mr. Amodeis office, as well as the rest of our congressional delegation, and were hoping they go into the current lands bill, he said. Connecting Spring Creek The Spring Creek Association has looked at acquiring federal land to connect tracts, which is a prerequisite for the sprawling community to ever become something more than a property owners association. Bahr said its smart to prepare for the future in case the Legislature one day approves state or federal funding. Although a change in governance wouldnt make sense right now, the process to acquire the land could take years. It would also prepare the association if the Nevada Legislature creates new laws that might make sense to change to a town in the future, Bahr explained. A governance study completed in 2017 showed that the association has few options if their borders remain non-contiguous. They could become a general improvement district or a district for the maintenance of roads. Connecting Vista Grande Tract 200 with Marina Hills Tract 100, which are currently separated by a strip of federal land, might help the SCA with becoming a town, but only if it makes financial sense for property owners, Bahr said. The study showed it was less expensive for Spring Creeks subdivisions to remain under a homeowners association than if it were to become an unincorporated town, she continued. A town might require residents to pay hundreds of dollars in taxes a month for law enforcement and fire departments. It also might mean tax monies are distributed by Elko County to other unincorporated areas and not remain just for Spring Creek. Remaining an HOA was also supported by the community when the study and options were presented during a workshop, Bahr added. An act of Congress Kelsey Mix, communications director for Amodei, said the current parcels Elko County wants can be added as an amendment to his already introduced bill. The lands bill is currently waiting to be heard and marked up, which we anticipate will be soon. Now that Elko County has passed their resolution, we are having an official map made for the requested parcels and drafting accompanying legislative text, she said. The resolution requesting the transfer of certain lands in the county by act of Congress states that 73% of Elko County is administered by federal agencies while economic development, whether for extractive industries, housing, infrastructure, or recreational purposes, depends on access to land currently administered by federal agencies. The resolution additionally says that having control of certain lands designated on the maps would allow Elko County to develop its outlying communities, create recreational opportunities and diversify its economy, so the county is asking the congressional delegation to introduce legislation directing the transfer of the lands. Commissioner Wilde Brough asked Moore whether the county should prioritize the three potential transfers. I would put the airport first, if we are prioritizing, Moore said, adding that the transfers would not only help the airport situation but solve some of our housing problems in Jackpot. Commissioner Jon Karrs motion to approve the resolution didnt include prioritizing, however. The lands bill Amodei introduced has the same points in it as one proposed last year, but only the U.S. Navys Fallon testing grounds expansion and Lander County land portions passed then and were signed into law. His Northern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act of 2023, without Elko Countys new proposal, would convey federal lands to Douglas and Pershing counties, the cities of Fernley and Sparks, and the Incline Village General Improvement District. Preserving the Rubies The bill also would remove the possibility of any oil and gas leasing on more than 300,000 acres of the Ruby Mountains in Elko County just outside the current wilderness area and create 150,000 acres of wilderness in northern Nevada. Moore told commissioners in May that the Rubies proposal is a compromise toward getting more federal land transfers for development. Commissioners initially were upset in May that they hadnt been consulted about Amodeis 2023 lands bill, but the congressman disagreed. He told the Elko Daily Free Press they were consulted on earlier versions of the bill, and the new one was similar. Reddit 6 Email 170 Shares Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) On Friday, all hell broke loose in Israel, even more so than the recent norm. The Israeli newspaper Arab 48 reports that an earthquake struck the Israeli Air Force when 1,142 reservists published an open letter saying that they will be forced, with great regret, to resign their commissions if the current government passes its law neutering the Supreme Court. A loss of this magnitude, including 400 highly trained fighter-jet pilots, would much reduce the countrys military preparedness. Some doubted whether the Israeli model of citizen-soldiers can even survive. At the same time, Israeli protesters mounted a massive miles-long march on Jerusalem. Embed from Getty Images Demonstrators lift flags as they walk near the Israeli village of Moshav Shoresh on July 21, 2023, during a multi-day march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to protest the governments judicial overhaul bill ahead of a vote in the parliament. Israel has been rocked by a months-long wave of protests after the government unveiled in January plans to overhaul the judicial system that opponents say threaten the countrys democracy. (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP) (Photo by MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP via Getty Images) A committee of the parliament, dominated by a right-wing coalition that includes out-and-out extremists, reported out an article of the new law on the judiciary that removes the Supreme Courts power of judicial review on the grounds of whether a law is reasonable in the light of Israels basic laws on issues such as human dignity. The country does not have a formal constitution, but some laws, on human rights issues, have been taken as the basis for overturning subsequent legislation that contradicts the basic laws. Removing the Supreme Courts power of judicial review would make Israel an elective dictatorship, where the ruling party can pass retrograde laws permitting discrimination against women, Christians, Muslims, secularists and gays, in accordance with the principles of the Israeli Religious Right. The Supreme Court has also branded some squatter-settlements by Israelis on Palestinian-owned land in the West Bank as illegal, and extremists Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir want to prevent the court from so ruling in the future. It is expected that the government will pass the controversial legislation on Monday, since the current coalition has more than enough votes to do so and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is unmoved by the huge demonstrations that have been mounted for 28 weeks in a row. Netanyahu is on trial for corruption, and the new legislation may save him from being convicted. Article continues after bonus IC video Israel judicial overhaul: Protests intensify ahead of final votes FRANCE 24 English Thousands of protesters against the new law set out this week from Tel Aviv, walking on foot to the Givat Ram district of Jerusalem where the Israeli parliament or Knesset meets, to stage a big demonstration this weekend and into Monday against the passage of the law neutering the Supreme Court. The journey is about 44 miles. On Friday evening, the group, some 10,000 strong, halted 9 miles outside Jerusalem to hold Friday evening worship ceremonies. Although they never blocked the main road, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, and notorious extremist and racist, ordered the police chief to clear it with as much force as needed. Ben-Gvir seems to want to treat secular Jews rather as the occupied Palestinians are treated. It shows that once you go in for occupying other people and depriving them of their rights, it eventually blows back on the metropole. Embed from Getty Images Israels National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrives to attend the weekly cabinet meeting at the prime ministers office in Jerusalem on July 9, 2023. (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN / POOL / AFP) (Photo by GIL COHEN-MAGEN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) The demonstrators issued the following statement: We are entering the most fateful days in the history of the state. This is a war of independence for the vast majority of the citizens of Israel, patriots who have given up everything and have been fighting for months for its future as a liberal democracy. We are in the phase before the destruction of the Third Temple, and the government and its president must hear the peoples cry and stop. Starting Saturday evening we will all be in the streets, and only with firm resistance will we stop the dictatorship. The reference to the destruction of the Third Temple is almost apocalyptic in tone. Solomons temple, the center of Jewish worship according to the Bible, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. The Iranian Achaemenid Empire then conquered the Near East and allowed Jews to return to the Levant, to a special district for them named Yahud. There they built the Second Temple. It was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. Thereafter Judaism developed as a different sort of religion, based in scattered communities rather than around a central cultic site, and developing rabbis who advised on the practice of the religion in the absence of a temple. The destruction of both edifices is lamented in Jewish tradition. The protesters are saying that Israel as a secular liberal democracy functioned sort of as a Third Temple for the Jewish people, and that Netanyahu and his colleagues are no less a threat than had been the Babylonians and the Romans. ( Globalvoices.org) On July 20, European Union foreign ministers met to discuss Ankaras renewed accession demands and agreed to re-engage with Turkey. In the European Commission report on enlargement for 2022, they noted the EUs concerns over the countrys continued deterioration of democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and the independence of the judiciary. However, Russias invasion of Ukraine has reportedly shifted perceptions within the EU toward its neighboring countries, including Turkey. Turkeys aspirations to join the EU started 24 years ago or 36 when Turkey applied for association with the European Economic Community, the precursor to the EU, in 1987. It renewed these aspirations ahead of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, earlier this month. As such, as one senior EU official told the Financial Times, Were not swallowing the membership demand line whole. But theres definitely a willingness from many of us to see where we can do more together. How it started Turkey was granted candidate status in 1999, and accession negotiations opened in 2005 under the condition that Turkey must meet a series of policy fields (called chapters) within the enlargement process and abide by a set of principles known as the Copenhagen political criteria. Since then, Turkeys EU bid grew weaker each year under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) which took power in 2002. Over the years, internal political riffs and crackdowns on freedoms and rights have reduced the chances of the country joining the European body. That and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans inflammatory rhetoric, calling Europe sick and collapsing, while threatening to roll back some of the reforms like reinstating the death penalty, pushed the countrys European aspirations even further away. Other contested issues include Turkeys hostile relations with Greece and Cyprus, both EU member states. By 2018, Turkeys accession negotiations came to a standstill. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland announced their decision to join NATO. However, the decision, which must be approved unilaterally by all 30 member states, was vetoed by Turkey, also a NATO member. Ankara said last year that unless both countries met its demands, it wouldnt approve the bid, citing their history of hosting members of Kurdish militant groups and Swedens suspension of arms sales to Turkey since 2019 over Ankaras military operation in Syria according to the Guardian. In addition to Turkey, Hungary also vetoed the decision for the two countries to join the alliance. In February 2023, Turkey withdrew from attending a meeting in Brussels between Sweden, Finland, and Turkey, which was meant to hash out the diplomatic standoff over Finland and Swedens bid to join NATO. Finland joined the alliance in April 2023. So it was rather surprising to hear Erdogan renew the countrys accession aspirations ahead of the NATO summit. Shortly before leaving for the summit, he spoke to the local media, where he was quoted as saying, First, open the way for Turkeys membership in the European Union, and then we will open it for Sweden, just as we had opened it for Finland. Turkey was at odds with Sweden joining NATO following a Quran-burning incident earlier this year. But Erdogans gripe with Sweden goes beyond what the leader described as an insult to the sacred values of Muslims. Whatever the explanation is, soon there will be answers, wrote Turkey experts: Illustrative image (Photo: Martech) The event was part of a promotion programme to bring more Vietnamese goods to Singapore and regional countries, contributing to attracting foreign investment in industries related to e-commerce, facilitating joint ventures between both countries, and promoting cross-border connectivity in payment, goods transportation, logistics and customs. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung said Singapore is now Vietnams fifth biggest trade partner in ASEAN. Two-way trade reached 9.1 billion USD last year, up 11.6% annually. He added that the Vietnamese Government considers e-commerce one of the pioneering fields in the digital economy. The Prime Minister has issued a decision approving a comprehensive plan for the development of the national e-commerce for the 2021-2025 period, with specific goals and measures. Commercial Counsellor Cao Xuan Thang, head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Singapore, advised firms to keep updated on e-commerce trends in Singapore, such as e-commerce for smartphones, live streaming, commerce on social media, online payments and voice commerce. Head of the iDEAs International Cooperation Office Bui Thanh Hang spoke about Vietnam's regulations on e-commerce, mechanisms to facilitate e-commerce and digital economy in Vietnam, and the goals of Vietnam's e-commerce development programme until 2025. The event attracted about 280 representatives from Vietnamese enterprises and Singaporean partners, including manufacturers, farms, trading companies, software and technology solution providers, printing and packaging companies, wholesalers, retailers, garment and household appliance companies, legal consultancy firms, digital transformation companies, investment firms, research institutions and business associations./. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Friday that it summoned the Swedish charge d'affaires in Abu Dhabi to protest recent decisions permitting burnings of the Muslim holy book in the Nordic country, Azernews reports, citing Anadolu Agency. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Charge DAffaires at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden to the UAE, and handed her an official note of protest against the repeated attacks and abuses on copies of the Holy Quran committed by extremists in the Kingdom of Sweden," the Foreign Ministry of UAE said in a statement on Friday. The UAE expressed its strong condemnation of the Swedish government's decision to allow such acts to continue, highlighting that it reflects a "disregard for international responsibilities and a lack of respect for social values." It also stressed the importance of "monitoring and addressing hate speech and expressions of racism that negatively impact peace and security." The Ministry furthermore expressed its rejection of the use of freedom of expression as justification for such heinous acts," it said. Early Thursday morning, a crowd of Iraqis stormed Sweden's Embassy in Baghdad and set it ablaze in protest against the June 28 burning of a copy of the Quran last month by Salwan Momika, an Iraq-born man who now lives in Sweden. Sweden's Foreign Ministry condemned the attack on its embassy in Baghdad, calling it a "serious violation" of the Vienna Convention. Following the storming of Stockholm's diplomatic mission, Momika again desecrated a copy of the Quran, stepping on it and the Iraqi flag in front of Iraq's embassy in Sweden. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and PM Pham Minh Chinh visit a display of photos by Vietnam News Agency (Photo: VNA) During the visit, PM Anwar paid courtesy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong, held talks with PM Chinh, met with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements between the two countries, and joined the official banquet. He also attended the Vietnam-Malaysia business gathering. During the talks and meetings, the Vietnamese leaders welcomed PM Anwar Ibrahim and his encourage to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties this year, and believed that Malaysia will successfully pursue the "Malaysia Mandani" strategy initiated by PM Anwar Ibrahim, and become a high-income country with sustainable development. Leaders of the two countries expressed their satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations in recent years, especially since the upgrade of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership in 2015. Malaysia is now Vietnam's second biggest trade partner within ASEAN and the ninth largest globally. Cooperation areas directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as tourism, labour, education and training, has shown a strong recovery. Both sides agreed to facilitate the exchange of delegations at all levels via the Party, State, Government and parliament channels, consider the possibility of establishing a mechanism for regular or periodic meetings between the two PMs under flexible forms at multilateral forums, expedite the implementation of the signed sectoral cooperation mechanisms, and strive for balanced bilateral trade with less trade barriers. Following their talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of two documents, namely the minutes of the seventh meeting of the Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia. On the occasion, PM Anwar Ibrahim together with PM Chinh and their spouses called at a book street in Hanois Hoan Kiem district where they experienced an outdoor reading space and enjoyed Vietnamese coffee. PM Pham Minh Chinh introduced and presented to PM Anwar Ibrahim the poem collection Nhat ky trong tu (Diary in Prison) by late President Ho Chi Minh, the book The World People's Affection For President Ho Chi Minh", and another book Some theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path towards socialism in Vietnam by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The two spouses joined various activities, such as enjoying the art of water puppetry and visiting the SOS Children's Village, a place that provides care, nurturing, and support for orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children. It was the first Vietnam visit by the Malaysian PM since he took office in December 2022, marking a new milestone and contributing to the advancement of bilateral strategic partnership./. Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla, hidden, with a llama during a visit to Theatr Brycheiniog in Brecon, Wales, Thursday, July 20, 2023 to meet members of the local community and celebrate the local volunteering and public service sector. (Jacob King/PA via AP) PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Lao Minister of Health Bounfeng Phoummalaysith (Photo: VNA) PM Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two health ministries jointly build plans to concretise and effectively realise high-level agreements reached by the two countries, including continuing to share experience, especially in digital transformation, remote medical examination and treatment; and creating conditions for Lao citizens to access medical check-ups and treatment at Vietnamese hospitals. The two sides should step up human resources training in health care to meet the current needs of Laos, particularly for Vietnam-Laos friendship hospitals in Houaphan and Xiangkhouang, the PM said, adding that the two ministries should also study the revision of the agreement on health quarantine at border areas and work closely together at global and regional forums in the field. He noted that recently, the People's Committee of Nghe An province and authorities of Xiangkhouang province held a ceremony to put into operation a 200-bed friendship hospital, and suggested the two ministries offer professional support to ensure the hospital's effective operation. Minister Phoummalaysith, for his part, thanked Vietnam for actively supporting the Lao medical sector, especially in personnel training, helping Lao citizens receive check-ups and treatment in Vietnam, and in the fight against COVID-19. Informing the host about the outcomes of his working session with the Vietnamese counterpart, the minister expressed his wish to continue fostering collaboration with Vietnam in health care, particularly in human resources training, traditional medicine, pharmaceutical and vaccine production, disease prevention and control in border areas, and the completion of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Hospital project in Houaphan. He pledged to work closely with the Vietnamese Health Ministry to carry out specific programmes, projects, and joint activities as suggested by the PM, contributing to further promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. Laos welcomes Vietnamese investors in health care sector, he said./. 50 Shares Share Physician burnout and the shortage of physicians are pressing issues within the health care industry, often unnoticed by the general public until their own health is at stake. The erosion of the title doctor and the increasing encroachment on physician authority have contributed significantly to this problem. Physicians have allowed the interference of the federal government, burdensome regulations, and insurance company restrictions to impede their ability to provide quality care. Physician burnout is primarily rooted in the loss of independence and the diminishing role of physicians in decision-making processes. In this article, we explore how these factors have led to burnout and propose potential solutions to alleviate this crisis. The loss of physician independence Physician burnout is not solely a result of excessive workload or poor work-life balance. Contrary to popular belief, it is a straightforward issue with a single underlying cause: the loss of physician independence in making decisions about patient care. In the past, physicians were dedicated to the well-being of their patients. They went above and beyond to ensure their patients received the care they needed, often finding ways to accommodate those who couldnt afford medications or accessing charitable programs to provide free care. However, the landscape has changed dramatically. Physicians are now burdened with onerous regulations, such as mandatory reporting, that have never shown evidence of improving patient care. The introduction of prior authorization requirements and contractual terms from insurance companies and Medicare has further interfered with physicians ability to provide efficient care. Diminishing autonomy and patient-centered care Physician burnout is exacerbated by the loss of autonomy. Physicians are now forced to collect Medicare copays or face criminal charges. They must account for every drug sample they receive and can no longer provide it as free medication to those in need. They must navigate complex networks of in-network doctors for patient referrals and can no longer just refer patients to the specialists or consultants they know and trust. The once-direct process of prescribing medication, tests, or treatments has been replaced by the need for approval from non-physician insurance representatives following rigid protocols that do not account for a patients individual needs. This constant questioning, second-guessing, and denial of a physicians skill, knowledge, and experience have eroded their confidence and added to their frustration. The impact of external factors Physicians attempted to comply with government and insurance company demands, hoping to improve patient care. However, the enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) further compounded the problem. Physicians were forced to adopt electronic medical records (EMRs) before the software was ready and allocate valuable resources to report meaningless statistics to the government. Suddenly, physicians found themselves responsible for monitoring unrelated aspects of a patients health, which had no direct relevance to their specialty. Physicians were turned into data entry employees. Moreover, the coding systems emphasis on documenting a certain level of complexity resulted in physicians adapting to the system and being able to document excessive but irrelevant information to meet coding requirements. This discrepancy in expectations created further frustration between physicians and the systems when Medicare and insurance companies realized that doctors could now provide more comprehensive notes to support their higher coding. Then the system responded by lowering fees for the work being done. In the case of Medicare, they completely eliminated the coding for a consultation that had a higher fee than the lower-paying new patient codes. Addressing physician burnout To effectively address physician burnout, it is imperative to restore physician independence and respect for their expertise. The following actions can help mitigate the crisis: Cease forced reporting: Eliminate burdensome reporting requirements that do not contribute to improved patient care outcomes. Eliminate prior authorizations: Remove the unnecessary prior authorizations that do not result in cost savings but impede timely patient care. Respect physician decision-making: Allow physicians to have the final say in determining appropriate testing, treatments, and referrals based on their expertise and patient needs. Reinforce the role of physicians: Recognize the significance of the medical degree and restrict the use of the title doctor in medical settings to licensed physicians, ensuring patients understand the distinction. Make it illegal for anyone but a licensed physician to own a medical practice and outlaw the corporate/hospital ownership of medical practices. No non-physician should employ a doctor and be able to dictate how they work or take care of patients. Conclusion Physician burnout has reached critical levels due to the loss of physician independence and the erosion of respect for their expertise. Restoring autonomy and empowering physicians to provide the medical care they have been educated and trained to provide to their patients without non-physician interference. If that is done, physicians will do as they have always done, they will make medicine their lifes work and provide the care to the people that is needed. Brian Hudes is a gastroenterologist. Stuff reports: The government will introduce a ram raid bill, to create a new offence and to allow police to prosecute 12-year-old ram raiders. Under the proposed law, ram raiders could be imprisoned for up to 10 years, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said. The law change would also mean children who commit ram raids can be charged and tried at the youth Court. But the 10-year maximum sentence for ram raiding would not be any different from the existing penalty for burglary, which is also a maximum of 10 years. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening. Scattered thunderstorms developing after midnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 66F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during a telephone conversation on Friday "coordinated efforts to resume the work of the Black Sea Grain Initiative," the Ukrainian leader said. "Thanked my colleague for the fruitful meeting in Istanbul on July 7 and Turkish principled position regarding Ukraine's NATO membership. We coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Unblocking the grain corridor is an absolute priority," Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter and Telegram. "Due to Russia's actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis. A total of 400 million people in many countries of Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation. Together, we must avert a global food crisis," Zelenskyy stressed. "In addition, we discussed the implementation of the PeaceFormula, and asked for President Erdogan's assistance in returning Ukrainian POWs, in particular Crimean Tatars," the president also added. The office of the Turkish President also reported on the conversation. "Our President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In a telephone conversation, held at the request of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, the leaders discussed in detail the issue of extending the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement," the Turkish presidential office said in a statement. On Saturday night, Russian invaders attacked from the southeast direction with five Shahed-136/131 strike drones, according to the Telegram channel of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "All five kamikaze drones have been destroyed by the forces and means of air defense of the Air Force!" the report notes. In addition, over the past day on July 21, the Ukrainian air defense destroyed nine reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles of the operational-tactical level, launched by the Russian occupiers. In addition, over the current and past 24 hours, the aircraft of the Air Force carried out more than 25 group air strikes against the Russian occupiers. Leah Cohn, a board-certified specialist in small animal internal medicine, has been a part of MU's faculty for 28 years. On behalf of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Office of the Head of State, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Oleksiy Kuleba met with the management of the international charitable organization Misericordia, headed by the organization's chairman Domenico Giani. During the conversation, they discussed issues of further cooperation, in particular, social assistance to Ukrainians, the President's Office reports. Kuleba thanked those present for their help to Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of humanitarian missions with the support of the Embassy of the Sovereign Order of Malta in Ukraine and Misericordie. "Assistance to our citizens from the start of the full-scale invasion, assistance in the evacuation of Ukrainian refugees, especially children and the elderly, to Italy, financial assistance the country highly appreciates Misericordie's role in supporting Ukraine in the fight against the terrorist country," the deputy head of the President's Office said. Kuleba expressed his belief in strengthening cooperation, in particular, in the restoration of life in de-occupied regions and the most affected regions of Ukraine, such as Kherson region, which is currently recovering from the devastative, economic, environmental, and other consequences of the terrorist act at the Kakhovka HPP thanks to joint efforts. For his part, the head of the organization, Domenico Giani, expressed readiness for further cooperation. "We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and fully support them in their struggle for independence and democratic values. We continue our cooperation. During this visit, an ambulance was brought and handed over to St. Nicholas Hospital in Lviv. We started cooperation in the field of rehabilitation with the National Rehabilitation Center in Lviv. I am convinced that our cooperation will only strengthen in the future," Giani said. Ireland's Ryanair, the largest European low-cost airline, is considering the possibility of building its own aircraft maintenance infrastructure in Ukraine, including an aircraft engine maintenance workshop, in the long term, investment in which will amount to $500 million, Michael O'Leary, Executive Director of the airline, said. "We are looking over the longer term as to whether we could build up our own aircraft maintenance hangars here and do heavy maintenance for aircrafts, as well as doing engine maintenance," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine. O'Leary recalled that at the first stage, within a year after the resumption of flights to Ukraine, the company would deploy 16-17 aircraft at three Ukrainian airports. "We have plans to base aircraft, pilots, cabin crew engineers, spares in Boryspil, Lviv and in Odesa within 12 months. We could have 10 aircraft in Kyiv maybe five aircraft in Lviv and maybe one or two aircraft in Odesa. And that would double that we would grow that then over the next 2-3-4 years as the traffic builds up," the company's head said. According to him, Ryanair is studying the possibility of building its own engine maintenance workshop in Europe, the investment in which will amount to $500 million. It can be located on the territory of Ukraine. "We're looking at building our own engine maintenance shop, which is a $500-million investment. We certainly will put one in Europe, and I think Ukraine would be a very interesting location for something like that. Ukraine has a highly-skilled population. I think Ukraine will become a member of the European Union rather quickly," O'Leary said. Igor Girkin also know as Igor Strelkov, the former military chief for Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine, sits in a glass cage in a courtroom at Meshchansky District Court in Moscow, July 21. AP-Yonhap A prominent hard-line nationalist who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of weakness and indecision in Ukraine was arrested Friday on charges of extremism, a signal the Kremlin has toughened its approach with hawkish critics after last month's abortive rebellion by the Wagner mercenary company. Igor Strelkov, a retired security officer who led Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and was convicted of murder in the Netherlands for his role in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that year, has argued that total mobilization is needed for Russia to achieve victory. He recently criticized Putin as a "nonentity" and a "cowardly mediocrity." Moscow's Meshchansky District Court ordered the 52-year-old Strelkov, whose real name is Igor Girkin, to be held in custody for two months pending an investigation on charges of making calls for extremist activities. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Strelkov rejected the charges, but asked the judge to place him under house arrest, citing health issues. His arrest comes nearly a month after a short-lived mutiny launched by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin that saw his Wagner troops capture military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then drive as close as 200 kilometers (125 miles) to Moscow to demand the ouster of Russia's top military leaders. Prigozhin agreed to end the June 23-24 rebellion under a deal that offered amnesty to him and his mercenaries and allowed them to move to Belarus. The revolt posed the most serious threat to Putin's 23-year rule, eroding his authority and exposing government weakness. Like Prigozhin, Strelkov harshly criticized Russia's military leaders for incompetence, but also denounced the Wagner chief and described his action as treason and a major threat to the Russian state. The two repeatedly had traded insults, and Strelkov's supporters said a criminal inquiry into his statements has been initiated by one of Wagner's mercenaries. Strelkov has over 875,000 subscribers on his messaging app channel. The Club of Angry Patriots, a recently created hardline group he belonged to, issued a statement protesting his detention as a "provocation" that "undermines the population's trust in law enforcement organs" and "carries extremely negative consequences for the country's stability." Strelkov served in the Russian military during the Chechen separatist wars and later joined the country's top domestic security agency, the Federal Security Service, where he reached the rank of colonel. After he retired from service, he took part in the Kremlin's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and then led fighters in eastern Ukraine during the first months of a Moscow-backed separatist rebellion there in 2014. Last year, a Dutch court convicted him and two other men of murder in absentia for their role in downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard the Boeing 777 as it flew over separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. They were accused of bringing the Buk air defense missile system from a Russian military base into Ukraine and putting it into position for the launch. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a Security Council meeting via from Moscow, July 21. AP-Yonhap Yes, by at least $1 Yes, by $2 or more No Vote View Results SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. Azerbaijan and Turkiye always support each other in the information space, Head of the Communication Policy Section of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Javid Musayev said during the presentation of the www.dhapress.com news portal - a joint project of Trend News Agency and Demiroren News Agency (DHA), an influential Turkish media platform. Musayev mentioned that Azerbaijan and Turkiye are friendly and fraternal countries, always standing together and supporting each other in the information space. He emphasized that during the 44-day Patriotic War, Turkiye provided comprehensive support to Azerbaijan. Turkish media played a significant role in conveying the truth about Azerbaijan to the world on the information front. Musayev noted that the "Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation in the field of mass media between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkiye" gave a serious impetus to strengthening ties between the two countries in the field of mass media. The joint media platform created in this regard has opened up opportunities for conveying the truth of Azerbaijan and Turkiye to the whole world. Close cooperation in the field of media has been established between the two countries. It is gratifying that Trend is making great strides in this direction. The newly created www.dhapress.com is another contributor to this relationship. The platform will play an important role in bringing the news of Azerbaijan and Turkiye, our voice of truth, to the world, Musayev said. My grandfather Mohler Witwer took this photo when he and his wife Jane (we called her Gaga) took me and my two younger sisters (Sally and Violette) to Chicago. If my memory serves me correctly, they bought me my Betsy McCall doll on this trip. I think this was taken in Marshall Fields. STAYC's maknae line Seeun, Yoon, and J, have been featured in the latest August issue of Cosmopolitan Korea, where they showcased visuals and spoiled their upcoming comeback! Read more to know further details. STAYC Seeun, Yoon, J Flaunt Elegant Visuals in First-Ever Trio Pictorial for Cosmopolitan Korea + Give Thoughts Regarding Album Preparations, Concept STAYC's maknae line Seeun, Yoon, and J have been featured in Cosmopolitan Korea's August issue, where they gave insights about their individual charms, daily routine, and more. While the girls showcased their gorgeous and youthful visuals, they also took the time to answer various interview questions during the photoshoot. The interviewer mentioned that it's indeed the group's first time to appear as a trio for a pictorial. "Yoon: It feels new since it's the first time the three of us have shot a pictorial. When we were taking the group cut, the director asked, 'Aren't the three of you close?' So I felt a bit shocked (laughs)." "Seeun: During our promotions as a full group, I'm one of the youngest. But in the three of us, I'm the oldest, so I feel this sense of responsibility to take care of my dongsaengs, Yoon and J. Seeun: The 'Yoon' of Yoon Seeun, 'Shim' of Shim Jayoon (Yoon), and Jang Yeeun (J) was combined to be 'Yoonshimjang," and I'm proud that we wrapped our schedule really well!" The girls were asked about their combination, to which Seeun replied: "Seeun: It feels like we're a group of friends in high school. In fact, due to the age rule, we spent the last two months as friends of the same age. I think it's much better when they treat me like a normal friend." YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: STAYC Yoon Reveals She's a Huge Fan of This IZ*ONE Member Afterwards, Yoon and J gave spoilers about their August comeback preparations and concept. "Yoon: We're gearing up for our schedules and album simultaneously, and we have at least two schedules on a single day. It becomes split into day and night, becoming busy ourselves. If I were to update you, I'm learning the guitar nowadays. Yoon: I've been playing a song called 'Ai Wo Tsutaetai Da To Ka' by Aimyon, but the problem is that I can't sing and play the instrument at the same time yet. Someday, I'll be able to do it! J: It's a track that comprises of MZ generation's mindset. We placed in lyrics that people can't freely express. Yoon: Our upcoming song will have a definition of "Teen Fresh" and showcase STAYC's feelings, so we'll enjoy promoting it. Rado PD wrote the song after meeting us, so it fits perfectly what we want to say. In my opinion, it will go perfectly with J." Seeun, Yoon, J Dish on Desired Solo Performance Concepts + Share Precious Moments With STAYC During the interview, the girls were also asked on what kind of concepts would they like if given the chance to perform solo. "Yoon: I want to be the frontman who leads the band. I'm definitely going to learn how to play the guitar, and I also want my music to have funky rock sounds. J: Like Dua Lipa, I want to dominate the entire stage with my own vibe and vocals. Dancing can be good too, but I want to be focused (laughs). Seeun: I want to perform on stage with a lot of dancers, just like YooA sunbaenim's 'Selfish.' I want to conquer the stage with dancing and singing." They were also asked about if there were other good times with STAYC as a group. "Yoon: I think that it's nice just simply being together. No matter how wealthy or popular you are, it's not fun being alone. I would be lonely if I didn't have anyone who likes me and I'm happy that my members are there for me. J: I'm relieved to have my bandmates, they're like family to me now. Seeun: Knowing that there are five members on my side no matter what is more than enough to encourage and strengthen me. Yoon: I'm not doing any official solo promotions yet, but while shooting for variety show 'Curiosity Yoon,' I remember how precious the members are to me. Yoon: Doing street interviews and hosting solo were challenging. There was an instance during my way home from work, when I felt like tearing up since I really missed the members. When I learned that we had a schedule as a full group, I immediately felt happy." To see their full interview, click here! Who in STAYC is your bias? Are you excited for their upcoming comeback? Let us know in the comments below! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: STAYC J Got Locked Inside a Convenience Store for a Hilarious Reason KpopStarz owns this article Written by Riely Miller In an online community, BLACKPINK Jennie received raised brows after netizens re-examined her attitude in concerts. As a response, the controversy was immediately countered by her fandom BLINKs. BLACKPINK Jennie Concert Attitude Issue: Knetz Claim Idol Perform Well Only In Front of Big Stars In an online community, netizens accused BLACKPINK Jennie of being picky about whom she should perform well only, even alluding to "faking" the idol's sickness. On July 20, a netizen took to a popular web forum to point out Jennie's controversial attitude during their concerts. Since last year, BLACKPINK has been touring around the world through the "BORN PINK" tour which aims to garner a cumulative of 1.5 million spectators. In the post titled, "Jennie's concert attitude that is controversial overseas," the netters shared their thoughts: Jennie only performs hard when her famous friends and a bigger crowd are watching. She really wants her friends to think she's always performing like that. No, but if one of her famous friends is watching, she'll be bouncing." The OP then implied that Jennie's enthusiastic attitude in front of big stars and the crowd is contrary to what she would usually show to fans, saying: "There were lots of instances recently that Jennie didn't show up on stage. She would claim that she was sick." As of writing, the post amassed over 106k views and also entered the "Hall of Fame" rankings for trending articles. Following the article, some web commenters agreed with the OP and wrote: "Let's admit what we have to admit. You only work hard on the big stage." "She should practice some more." "Keep up on giving us nothing, girl." "Jennie was talked about a lot during their Paris Concert, but I guess she still couldn't memorize the choreography because she keeps glancing at the member next to her." "But from the fans' point of view, they paid a lot of money and took time to go to the concert, but do they have to understand that the members are doing it roughly under the pretext of being sick?? You can complain." "Lisa, Rose, and Jisoo are also members who work hard and get sick, but they always give their best." BLINKs Defend BLACKPINK Jennie From Malicious Comments As the article becomes more popular, BLINKs (BLACKPINK fandom) immediately come to Jennie's defense and countered the claim that she was faking her sickness to avoid performing on stage. "But what do you want her to do when she really got food poisoning? If you get food poisoning, it's painful. How do you go on stage? The medical staff also told her not to go on stage, but Jennie insisted on performing that until she couldn't hold it in and took a break." "Even in her 8th year of career, Kim Jennie's topic is always rising. It's just crazy, and even in the 8th year, she can't say that she's sick and was accused of having a fake illness. It's a sin that she's still the top, not a decadent" "There are malicious haters who use instant gifs to frame artists, even though they dance more than 15 songs at a concert alone." Fans then criticized haters for not appreciating Jennie's effort and dedication to her work, who continue to perform despite her poor health, when some idols would take hiatus to focus on their recovery. "There are celebrities who are sick and completely skip schedules, but Jennie tries to continue on stage, but even if she can't stand it in the middle, her attitude becomes controversial. Pann fairies are likely to be intimidated by Jennie even after 10 years." "Hey, even if it hurts, even if you work hard, damn idols, it must be hard. At every stage, as if your bones will break, you will be cursed if you don't do it, and even if you work hard, you'll still get cursed. Which beat should I tune in to? For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Eunice Dawson. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. The issue of reintegration depends on when the Armenian residents of Karabakh will be able to get rid of these shackles, of this junta that took them hostage and exploited them as slaves, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as he addressed the Shusha Global Media Forum on New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution, Trend reports. Today they put up concrete blocks on the Aghdam-Askeran road again. When you said, why do products have to be shipped from another country? This is illogical. But instead of accepting this gesture, concrete blocks were placed there. So who is blocking whom? This is the whole point, the head of state mentioned. GLACIER BAY, Alaska - The beauty of Alaska never gets old and the demand for cruising The La Rena Murshud Azerbaijan's cultural city Shusha is hosting Global Media Forum themed New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution. Having addressed the event, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also met the participants, including foreign guests attending the conference that is being held on 22-23 July. This forum, held for the first time in the history of Azerbaijan within the framework of the Year of Heydar Aliyev and in connection with the 148th anniversary of the national press of Azerbaijan, brought together the world's leading media, heads of journalistic organizations, influential experts in the field of media, information and communication, well-known journalists. Within the framework of the forum, the head of state touched upon topical issues at the global level in the field of media and information and communication. In this regard, AZERNEWS correspondent interviewed one of the guests of this forum - Russian politician, political scientist Sergey Markov. "The global media forum is Azerbaijan's contribution to the development of mankind. And today, the President of Azerbaijan proposed to consider this global media forum the first and make this event a regular one. This kind of global media forum is very important. Because it allows humanity to develop. Media, that is, means of communication with each other. And these means of communication should help people, not fall into hostility or fight, but understand each other and make joint projects through these media." Speaking about the current situation of the media, the expert said that now the media is in a difficult, and at the same time optimistic situation. On the one hand, this media has got very cheap and very high-quality equipment: video cameras, microphones, phones in everyone's pocket. Such a normal phone, a television studio filming - today almost every person has it in his pocket. "On the one way, there are huge resources of opportunities, on the other way, we see that media can easily reach all social networks. An ordinary person can become a hero for millions. But on the other hand, the media is increasingly turning from a tool of dialogue into a tool of hostility, a tool of lies. There is a huge amount of media abuse. This huge danger is how to take everything good from the future and throw away everything bad. This topic is actually dedicated to this global media forum, which is called "New Media in the era of the 4th Industrial Revolution", the expert said. It should be noted that the political scientist who participated in the event also addressed a question to President Ilham Aliyev. Regarding the expert's question, the head of state clarified Azerbaijan-Russia relations as follows. The signing of the Declaration on Allied Interaction had a solid foundation. As for the period we are going through after the signing, this period is completely new for the world, for our region, including Russia and ourselves. But despite this, despite such a serious change in the geopolitical situation, the development of relations between Russia and Azerbaijan since the signing of the Declaration has been quite successful. There have been many contacts at the highest level, there have been contacts at the level of heads of government, ministers of foreign affairs and other representatives of governments and state bodies. Therefore, I can say with full confidence that provisions of the Declaration are being fulfilled. I would like to say that those small rough edges that we see in the Russian media in relation to Azerbaijan and in the Azerbaijani media in relation to Russia have no influence on the policy of Azerbaijan and Russia." Sharing President's impressions, the expert said that, like everyone else, he was also interested in how the president characterized the relationship between Azerbaijan and Russia. "President Ilham Aliyev spoke very positively. This is very important, given that there were exchanges of notes and statements between the Foreign Ministries. Many began to say - 'is the relation getting lukewarm between Azerbaijan and Russia?' President Ilham Aliyev clearly said that there is a political will of the country's leadership. These relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are multifaceted. They go sprouting. Today the President expressed himself very gracefully in connection with the new processes. There are some difficulties, but nevertheless these multifaceted relations between Azerbaijan and Russia are recognized by both countries, they are in the interests of both countries in cooperation which are developing," Markov emphasized. Further, the expert noted that the Moscow Declaration was signed at a dramatic moment. "The document was signed at the time when the special military operation had began. Probably, there were many calls from different countries of the world to the President of Azerbaijan with a request not to go to Moscow. But the president went, showed his will, signed the declaration. This is not just a declaration, but a document making alliance and relationship stronger. According to the President, this declaration is a good part of the foundation for development between the two countries. We were very glad to hear this reaction, this assessment from Ilham Aliyev," the Russian political expert underlined. Touching on the role of Azerbaijan in the Non-Aligned Movement, Sergey Markov considered commendable a number of contributions of Azerbaijan to the solution of global problems within the NAM. He highly appreciated the initiative of President Ilham Aliyev in this regard. "Azerbaijan at the moment of crisis chaired that organization. Russia welcomes this organization very much. I am very glad that there are no countries that want stay on neutral side. We really appreciate the fact that these countries, under the leadership of Azerbaijan, take such a positive neutral position," the expert concluded. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The speech of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Shusha Global Media Forum on "New Media in the Era of the 4th Industrial Revolution" is in the spotlight of the world media, Trend reports. Pakistan's government agency, the Associated Press of Pakistan, published the main points of the speech of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The agency's article reports that 150 foreign guests from 49 countries, including representatives of state news agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organizations and media structures, as well as 60 leaders and representatives of local media, are taking part in the forum, held in connection with the 148th anniversary of the national press of Azerbaijan. Moreover, speaking to the participants of the event, President Ilham Aliyev noted the important role that the media play in informing people and solving their problems, as well as the importance of social media along with traditional media, the publication says. The state news agency of Pakistan quotes President Ilham Aliyev, who, speaking about the Karabakh War and the Azerbaijani territories liberated from occupation, said: "From the first days, even I would say, from the first hours of the Second Karabakh War, Turkiye, its people, and its leader were side by side with us. The statement of President Erdogan in the first hours of the Second Karabakh War that "Azerbaijan is not alone" was a great moral support to us." The article indicates that within the framework of the forum, it is planned to discuss current tasks of global importance in the media, information, and communication spheres. Heads of well-known and influential world media and media experts will discuss new tools in journalism and communication in the digital age, issues of digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, the creation of sustainable business models in the media sphere, consumer trends in new media and media literacy issues, methods of dealing with disinformation and fake news, the safety of journalists, and other topics. In conclusion, the city of Shusha gathers the leaders of the world media, journalistic organizations, influential experts in the information and communication sphere, and well-known journalists for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan, the publication says. The Belarus Segodnya Publishing House has published information that also says that at the forum organized in connection with the 148th anniversary of the national press of Azerbaijan, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan, the city of Shusha, hosts representatives of the world media. The publication reports that 150 foreign guests from 49 countries, including representatives of state news agencies from 34 countries and 12 international organizations and media structures, are taking part in this prestigious international event. In addition, 60 leaders and representatives of local mass media are among the participants in the forum. After the official opening ceremony, the forum will continue its work in sessions where new tools in journalism and communication in the digital age, digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, the creation of sustainable business models in the media sphere, consumer trends in new media and media literacy issues, methods of combating disinformation and fake news, the safety of journalists, and other topics will be discussed, the publication says. Moreover, the article also contains statements from the speech of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Russian-Azerbaijani relations. According to the Belarusian edition, the head of the country said that relations with Moscow are at the level of strategic partnership. The speech of President Ilham Aliyev at the Shusha Global Media Forum was widely covered by the Turkish media. TRTHaber, Takvim, Yeni afak, HaberGlobal, Milliyet, Anadolu, and other TV channels, news agencies, newspapers, and news portals of Turkiye paid special attention to the words of the head of country about relations with Turkiye, who, in particular, said: "From the first days, even I would say, from the first hours of the Second Karabakh War, Turkiye, its people, and its leader were side by side with us. The statement of President Erdogan in the first hours of the Second Karabakh War that "Azerbaijan is not alone" was a great moral support to us." In the materials published by the Turkish media, it is reported that the President of Azerbaijan, speaking about the changes in the situation in the region and the world and the emerging new realities, noted the importance of ensuring stable peace and security. The head of the country also stressed the important role of Turkiye in these processes and said that in the coming years Ankara will gain even more influence in the world. The Shusha Global Media Forum is also in the spotlight in the Russian media. In the news published by Russias TASS news agency as well as posted on websites News.ru and Ria.ru, President Ilham Aliyev's opinion on Russian-Azerbaijani relations, on strengthening ties with Turkiye, that Azerbaijan's chairmanship has breathed new life into the Non-Aligned Movement, and that Azerbaijan can become a platform for negotiations to restore relations between Moscow and Washington, is being discussed. In addition, Russian media have noted President Ilham Aliyev's statements about the return of 150,000 Azerbaijanis to Karabakh in the next three years and the possibility of signing a peace agreement with Armenia by the end of this year. Russia's "Vestnik Kavkaza" news agency paid great attention to the statements of the head of state about the mine terror on the part of Armenia and the work that the Azerbaijani government is carrying out to demine the territories. The Russian press also spoke in detail about the topics and issues that are being discussed at the Shusha Global Media Forum. The article published by the Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA) notes that at the Shusha Global Media Forum, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev touched upon important global and regional issues. The foreign media drew the audience's attention to the Azerbaijani President's remarks on such topics as Turkiye's support for Azerbaijan in the Second Karabakh War, Baku's relations with Moscow, Azerbaijan's successful chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement, new realities in the region after Azerbaijan's victory in the Patriotic War, Armenia's mine terror against Azerbaijan, as well as the peace process. According to ATA, President Ilham Aliyev stressed that if Armenia renounces any territorial claims to Azerbaijan, it is quite possible that a peace agreement will be signed before the end of this year. The agency quotes the head of the country on this issue: "But in this case, there'll be no peace. Well, it's not the best scenario for the region. It will not add stability or security, taking into account the very fragile geopolitical situations that may create complications in the future." Moreover, Spain's "El Periodista" published the main thesis of the speech of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the Shusha Global Media Forum. The article reflects the statements and opinions of the head of state about the new realities in the South Caucasus region and in the world, the situation in Karabakh at present, the Armenian minority living in this region, the work on demining the territories liberated from occupation, as well as the return of Azerbaijanis to their lands. The article notes that the Azerbaijani president, speaking about the mine terror in Armenia, said: "The maps, which Armenians gave us, cover about 400,000. That means that they admitted that 400,000 trees have been planted. But we know that it is more than 1 million. So, it's very credible information." PNN New York [US], July 22: Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI) has proposed the creation of a global forum World Cooperative Economic Forum to democratize the global value chain for innovative food systems amid rising concerns over inequality in the post-Covid world. Also Read | Rapido Bike Taxi Driver Sexually Harasses Woman Activist in Bengaluru, Allegedly Masturbates While Victim Sat Pillion; Probe On. New Delhi-based CNRI is the national network of non-government organizations and people's organizations working for development effectiveness and democratic governance in India. Addressing the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) here, Secretary General of CNRI Binod Anand said he comes from a country where thousands of years ago, the concept of social and solidarity economy was expressed differently." Also Read | UPSC EPFO Result 2023: Union Public Service Commission Declares Results for EO, AO, and APFC on upsc.gov.in, Know How to Check. It can be summarized in English "Let us speak together. Let our thought be one. Let us be of one mind. Let the place be common. Assembly be common. Mind and thought be common. Let the resolve be the same. And the mind be of one accord. Maybe live in Harmony and agreement (Rig Veda)," said Anand. "It is heartening to notice India has become home for cooperative Movement and helping the civil society create - World Cooperative Economic Forum- will go a long way in developing Social and Solidarity economy," Binod Anand said. Anand also strongly advocated exploring SDG bonds as a new source of capital for raising vital resources for humanitarian projects in the post-COVID world. Anand said the world is compelled to reconsider the issue of rising inequality, which has cast doubts on the successful implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Poverty itself bears multiple definitions. To illustrate the point, he said two successful cases from India could be highlighted here. Firstly, in the private sector, Dhanuka AgriTech's sustainable agriculture initiative stands as a significant milestone. This initiative honors farmers with the slogan "India Ka Pranam Har Kisan ke Naam" (Salutations to every farmer). It not only educates grassroots farmers about Sustainable Development Goals but also supports their efforts in practising sustainability within the Crop Protection sector, thus contributing to National Food Security. Secondly, a government initiative called the Small Farmers Agribusiness Consortium plays a crucial role in helping farmers adopt sustainable practices. It not only promotes Smart Agriculture but also ensures a democratic value chain for farmer groups and cooperatives. This initiative directly impacts approximately 10 million farmers with limited resources, setting a successful example for Social and Solidarity economy principles. He emphasized that CNRI feels imperative to bring structural reforms in the delivery mechanism to ensure that the decisions and reforms that are undertaken ensure a bright future for humanity. CNRI was recently accorded special consultative status by the United Nations in recognition of the work being done by it in rural India. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) NewsVoir Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 22: BIS Research, a market intelligence and advisory firm specializing in deep and emerging technologies trends, has announced the launch of a new subscription-based pricing model for its subsidiary, InsightMonk. Priced at USD 99 per month, the introduction of InsightMonk's subscription model will enable Indian businesses, CXOs, and investors to make informed decisions, drive innovation, and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving landscape of emerging technologies. Also Read | AI Guardrails: Seven Top Tech Companies Sign Deal With US Government To Manage Risks Associated With Artificial Intelligence. InsightMonk is a powerful SaaS platform that gathers data from millions of public and private sources, offering users access to information on emerging technologies, markets, and key players. InsightMonk offers access to a comprehensive suite of data and tools to gather key deeptech insights. One of the critical features of InsightMonk is the Insight Navigator, an AI-powered chatbot powered by GPT 3.0. This interactive bot guides users through the vast repository of reports, providing quick answers to queries and helping them navigate the deeptech landscape. Insight Navigator makes it easier for professionals to extract the most relevant information from over one million sources, enabling informed decision-making and streamlined research processes. We continuously strive to enhance the accessibility and precision of deeptech insights for our clients. Within InsightMonk, we have integrated the Insight Navigator, a tool built on top of GPTs large language model that can sift through thousands of public as well as our proprietary research reports on deeptech sectors. This transformative technology enables us to rapidly deliver contextual insights to users' queries, thereby democratizing access to valuable information, said Faisal Ahmad, Co-founder & CEO, BIS Research and InsightMonk. Also Read | Willem Dafoe Birthday Special: From Spider-Man to The Lighthouse, 5 Unhinged Performances of the Star That Left Us Terrified!. In response to the growing demand for accessible and high-quality information on emerging technology trends, BIS Research has introduced a subscription-based pricing model for InsightMonk, which includes: Key Player Data The platform helps users gain insights into the most relevant players in the preferred markets, along with their contact details, empowering meaningful connections and strategic collaborations. Market Intelligence Chatbot InsightMonk allows users to engage with the AI-powered chatbot, developed using the latest ChatGPT algorithm and BIS Research's proprietary market intelligence data. This powerful tool helps users find accurate answers to their queries and facilitates a seamless research experience. Public and Private Reports The InsightMonk platform is a robust tool that helps customers explore a vast array of reports sourced from millions of trusted public and private sources seamlessly. It also helps discover the most relevant reports for the critical user mandates and conduct deep dives into various industries and emerging technologies. Expert Consultations The customers of the platform also benefit from the expertise of a community of specialized experts, including industry professionals, scientists, and key opinion leaders. It enables the end-users to get industry trends and key perspectives on technologies, markets, and end-user segments from industry experts, enhancing the depth and accuracy of the insights. BIS Research has over 1500+ customers in 60+ countries across the world, including Fortune 500 companies such as Intel, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Hitachi, Roche, Boeing, Airbus, GE Healthcare, Bosch, and others. It also serves customers in the domain of emerging startups, government agencies, and academic institutions. The company plans to strengthen its footprint in its existing markets by acquiring new customer segments with the launch of Insight Monk subscription-based business model. To learn more about InsightMonk's new subscription-based pricing model and to sign up for a subscription, please visit www.insightmonk.com. BIS Research is a global B2B market intelligence and advisory firm focusing on deep technology and related emerging trends, which can disrupt the market dynamics in the near future. We publish more than 200 market intelligence studies annually that focus on several deep technology verticals. Our strategic market analysis emphasizes market estimations, technology analysis, emerging high-growth applications, deeply segmented granular country-level market data, and other important market parameters useful in the strategic decision-making for senior management. BIS Research offers syndicate as well as custom studies and expert consultations to firms, providing them with specific and actionable insights on novel technology markets, business models, and competitive landscapes. For more info, please visit bisresearch.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) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gorakhpur (UP), Jul 22 (PTI) A day after Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University VC Prof Rajesh Singh was assaulted and his office ransacked by a group of students, the Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday arrested eight people. "We have arrested Shakti Singh, Prince Tiwari, Shubham Govind Rao, Shivam Pandey, Alok Gupta, Rishabh Singh, Mayank Rai and Shravan Kumar Mishra," Superintendent of Police (city) Krishna Kumar said. Also Read | India Landslide: Rescuers Push on as Death Toll Rises. A case was registered under IPC sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 427 (mischief causing damage), 342 (punishment for wrongful confinement), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), and under the Criminal Law Amendment Act on the basis of a complaint by varsity proctor Satyapal Singh, he said. The police, however, did not specify whether the arrested persons are students, contractors or outsiders. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: Man Slits Girlfriends Throat After Learning of Her Engagement, Hangs Self to Death in Jhunjhunu. According to reports, the accused ransacked the vice chancellor's office and also beat him up as well as the registrar, police and administrative officials, and varsity employees on Friday. The heads of various departments of the varsity condemned the incident on Saturday and demanded that stern action be taken against those who disturbed the peace of the varsity. They also appealed to the teachers to prevent the students from being misled. In a statement issued by the varsity's media department Friday evening, it said FIR has been registered against those who had created ruckus and the students involved in it have been expelled from the varsity with immediate effect. "Some people, including students, entered forcefully in the administrative block on Friday at 11 am, and they started creating ruckus in the premises. They damaged window glasses, plant pots, chairs and VC's four-wheeler, and also locked the VC, finance officer, registrar and proctor," it said. "Some external elements were trying to motivate the students in a planned conspiracy. Some contractors were also involved in the incident and they have been blacklisted. Some of the teachers were also found to be involved and action will be taken against them," the press note added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati, Jul 22 (PTI) Regional committees of Assam and Meghalaya met here on Saturday to discuss three disputed sectors along the inter-state boundary, ministers of the two states heading the panels said. They will meet at the same venue next month and undertake joint field visit to one of the areas of conflict, the ministers added. Also Read | Odisha: 56-Year-Old Man Arrested With Skins of Deer, Leopard in Kalahandi. We discussed three disputed sectors today. We heard what the Meghalaya government had to say. Ministers, MLAs and top officials from both sides were present, Assam Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora said. He said the officials, especially the district commissioners, have been asked to verify the ground reality and submit their updated reports at the next meeting, which has been fixed for August 25. Also Read | Bike Bot Scam: ED Arrests Samajwadi Party Leader Dinesh Kumar Singh in Connection With PMLA Case. On August 26, the committees will visit West Dimoria (in Assam's Kamrup Metropolitan district) for joint inspection, Bora added. Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said after the joint inspection, more sectors will be taken up in a phased manner for resolution. The two neighbouring states have been entangled in border disputes since Meghalaya was carved out of Assam as a separate state in 1972 and it challenged the Assam Reorganisation Act, 1971, leading to disputes in 12 areas of the 884.9km-long border. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on assuming office in May 2021 had announced that his priority was to resolve long-standing boundary disputes with neighbouring states. Subsequently, regional committees were set up to resolve the issues in a phased manner, with six areas of differences taken up initially. The regional committees submitted their recommendations, which were handed over to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, followed by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on March 29, 2022 to resolve disputes in six of the 12 areas. According to the agreement, 36.79sqkm of the disputed area was taken up for settlement in the first phase, with Assam getting full control of 18.51sqkm and Meghalaya over 18.28sqkm. The two states have now taken up discussion in the remaining six sectors, with Sarma holding a meeting in this regard with his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma on May 24 here. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) The CBI has filed a fresh FIR against Safdarjung Hospital neurosurgeon Manish Rawat, who was arrested in March in a bribery case, for allegedly amassing Rs 2.40 crore worth of illicit assets, officials said. His wife Khushbu Rawat is also named in the FIR as an accused in the case, they said. Also Read | 'Male' Gorilla Gives Birth at US Zoo Leaving Staff Members With Sweet Surprise. Officials said the doctor along with four of his confidants, including Deepak Khattar, proprietor of Kanishka Surgical in New Delhi; and middlemen Avnesh Patel, Manish Sharma, and Kuldeep; was arrested in March for allegedly compelling patients to procure surgical equipment from a Jangpura shop at inflated prices in exchange for expedited surgery dates. The CBI spokesperson had said Rawat coerced patients into paying a price which was manifold over the actual price for the instruments. Also Read | Jharkhand: Newly-Married Woman Found Dead in Hazaribag, Family Alleges Murder by In-Laws Over Dowry. The shop owner shared the profits of overbilling with the accused surgeon, he said. The investigation further exposed Rawat's directions to his patients to deposit bribes ranging from Rs 30,000 to Rs 1.15 lakh into a middleman's bank account. The probe agency also stumbled upon portions from the grey diary during searches which shed light on the racket spearheaded by Rawat in cahoots with his cohorts and the proprietor of the surgical equipment emporium. The Central Board of Investigation (CBI) had also found jewellery worth Rs 69 lakh in a locker. The investigation showed that the Rawat couple had Rs 3.39 crore and their expenditure was Rs 1.16 crore. "During the check period, they acquired assets amounting to Rs 4.63 crore which include five immovable properties worth Rs 3.47 crore in Noida (UP) and Haldwani (Uttrakhand), investment of about Rs 48 lakh in companies/firm wherein Khushbu Rawat is one of the directors/partners and investment of Rs 17.5 lakh in insurance policies," the CBI FIR registered on Friday said. It alleged that Rawat has "intentionally enriched himself illicitly" and acquired assets in his name as well as in the name of his wife to the tune of Rs 2.40 crore, which is 70.85 per cent above the known sources of income of the couple. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, July 22: The Delhi High Court has ordered journalists, Tarun Tejpal, Anirudh Behl, Mathew Samual and M/S Tehelka.Com, to pay Rs 2 crore as damages to retired Indian Army officer, Major General MS Ahluwalia in a defamation case. Tehelka had conducted a sting operation in 2001 stating that Ahluwalia was allegedly involved in corruption in the defence deals. The bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna noted that the reputation of the plaintiff has suffered as he not only faced a lowering of estimation in the eyes of the public but his character also got maligned with serious allegations of corruption which no subsequent reputation can redress or heal. Yasin Malik in Supreme Court: Delhi Prison Authorities Suspend Four Officers in Kashmiri Separatist Leader Security Lapse Case. The court also noted that much time has passed and the plaintiff has already lived with ill fame for more than 23 years. Considering the enormity of the nature of defamation, an apology at this stage is not only inadequate but is meaningless. According to the suit, Tarun Tejpal, the proprietor of the portal, Tehelka.Com, was responsible for managing the release of news items/ articles on the website of Tehelka.Com. A media blitz was launched on 13.03.2001 carrying a story about the alleged corruption in the defence deals relating to import of new defence equipment. The story was done and recorded by two Reporters allegedly working undercover by representing themselves on behalf of a fictitious defence equipment Firm based in London keen to introduce new defence equipments in the Indian Army, stated the suit. The article alleged that Ahluwalia had demanded Rs 10 lakh and a bottle of Blue Label whiskey as a bribe. It further alleged that the officer had accepted a token bribe of Rs 50,000. The plaintiff/ Major General through suit claimed that this was done deliberately without ascertaining the true facts. 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots Case: Delhi Court Gives CBI Five Days to Submit Forensic Result Regarding Jagdish Tytler's Voice Samples. The allegations were false to the knowledge of the defendant and were intentionally made to destroy and malign the reputation and image of the plaintiff in the general public. In fact, the alleged tape containing the conversation between the Reporter and plaintiff has been tampered with and doctored to manipulate the recording and selective portions had been deleted and editorial comments had been added which were not substantiated by facts. The Indian Army took serious note of the telecasted video tape and ordered a Court of Inquiry into this issue. The plaintiff was summoned in the Court of Inquiry and his military reputation and honour had been tarnished and put under a cloud of suspicion, stated the suit. (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 22 (ANI): Floor leaders of the newly formed Opposition alliance the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) will meet at the office of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament on July 24 to chalk out the strategy for the floor of the House, the sources said on Saturday. The leaders are likely to protest in front of the Gandhi statue on the Manipur issue. Also Read | Bike Bot Scam: ED Arrests Samajwadi Party Leader Dinesh Kumar Singh in Connection With PMLA Case. The situation in Manipur dominated the proceedings of the second day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on Thursday, with the Opposition demanding the Centre to discuss the issue. The Congress and opposition leaders are demanding a statement from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon session. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Flags Off 72 Government School Principals to Singapore for Training (See Pics). Meanwhile, the proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced adjournments for the second consecutive day amid uproar over the Manipur incident. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi informed members that the government is ready to have discussions on the Manipur violence in both Houses, and the Home Minister would give his reply once the discussions are conducted. The 12th session of the 17th Lok Sabha has begun close on the heels of 26 opposition parties forming the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In a recent incident in Manipur, two women were paraded naked and sexually assaulted before being set free by the mob comprising the majority community. The incident allegedly took place on May 4, a day after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur. After a video of the same went viral, the police swung into action and arrested five people, including the main accused. Taking suo motu cognisance of the video, Police on Thursday night said that a case of abduction, gang rape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed men and that all-out efforts were on to arrest the culprits at the earliest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while briefing the media ahead of the monsoon session on Thursday, said he is pained over the incident that is "shameful for any civil society". "No accused will be spared, we will never forgive those who are behind this," PM Modi said. The violence in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 in protest against the proposed inclusion of people belonging to the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], July 22 (ANI): A high-level meeting between a sitting minister of Assam and his counterpart from neighbouring Meghayala was held on Saturday to discuss the border issue. The meeting was convened in Assam capital, Guwahati. Also Read | India Landslide: Rescuers Push on as Death Toll Rises. The regional committee meeting, held at State Guest House, Koinadhora in Guwahati, featured Assam's Agriculture Minister Atul Bora and Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong. During the meeting, the two ministers agreed on joint visits by the regional committees of both states in the disputed areas to find out an amicable solution to the inter-state border dispute. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: Man Slits Girlfriends Throat After Learning of Her Engagement, Hangs Self to Death in Jhunjhunu. Significantly, Assam and Meghalaya had 12 areas of disputes with regard to their interstate boundaries. However, issues of contention in six areas have already been resolved. On May 24, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya counterpart Conrad Sangma held a high level meeting in Guwahati. In the meeting, the two leaders discussed the border issues in six areas threadbare. Atul Bora, who is the chairman of the regional committee from Assam, told ANI that in May 24 meeting, the Assam CM and his Meghalaya counterpart decided that the regional committees will jointly visit the border area and study the ground reality, while suggesting measures to resolve all contentious issues. "Accordingly, today, we discussed contentious issues in three areas. We had a good and constructing meeting today. We have decided to sit together on August 25 again. However, before that, the deputy commissioners of both states will visit the disputed areas. We will jointly visit the Dimoria site on August 26. Today, the deputy commissioners gave Powerpoint presentations. The chairman and members of the regional committees were present in the meeting," Bora said. Meghalaya Deputy CM Tynsong, who is the chairman of the regional committee constituted by the Meghalaya government, told ANI that on August 26 morning, the regional committees of the two states will make a joint visits to disputed areas. "At the meeting today, I represented the regional committee from Meghalaya who two panels from Assam were headed by ministers Atul Bora and Chandra Mohan Patowary. We have three contentious areas which figured in the discussions today. Both sides made their presentations and we held talks on all the grey areas. We instructed the deputy commissioners from Assam and Meghalaya to visit disputed areas and suggest solutions that are acceptable to both sides," Tynsong said. "We have decided to meet again on August 25 in Guwahati. On August 26 morning, we will jointly go for a site inspection. Both the CMs met on May 24 and decided to take up six remaining areas of differences between both the states. Following up on the May 24 meeting, we held a meeting of the regional committees of the two states today," he added. The two CMs on May 24 further decided to make the border talks productive and keep laying the groundwork for resolving the decade-old border issues. The regional committees will also take different stakeholders into confidence in a bid to reach a mutually agreeable solution to border disputes. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. New trends have appeared in the Azerbaijani media, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan - Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev said, Trend reports. He made the remark during the Global Media Forum themed "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," held in Shusha. "After Azerbaijan gained independence in 1991, independent media appeared. Professional journalists should have privileges. A number of challenges also concern the Azerbaijani media. We feel it in everyday life," Hajiyev said. The forum, organized by the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and in connection with the 148th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national press, has been attended by 150 foreign guests from about 50 countries, including state information agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organizations, and media structures. Among the participants are 60 leaders and representatives of local media. The forum aims to discuss global issues in the media and information-communication spheres. Prominent and influential leaders from the world's renowned media, along with experts, will discuss new tools in journalism and communication in the digital era, digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, and the establishment of sustainable business models in the media industry. The discussions will also cover consumer trends in new media, media literacy, methods to combat disinformation and fake news, journalist safety, and other topics. During the forum, an initiative for creating the media platform of the Non-Aligned Movement will also be proposed. The city of Shusha, which has hosted numerous international events, is gathering leaders of leading global media, journalistic organizations, influential experts in the information and communication sphere, and renowned journalists for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan. New Delhi [India], July 22 (ANI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday raided the residential premises of an absconding accused carrying bounty of Rs 3 lakh in the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terror conspiracy case, the agency official said. The accused has been identified as Riaz Ahmed alias Hazari, a resident of Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Horror: Woman Cuts Husband's Private Parts With Blade in NTR for Watching First Wife's Instagram Reels, Case Registered. The searches conducted today at Riaz's house led to the seizure of one mobile phone, which is being analysed. The anti-terror agency has announced a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh for leads on Riaz. Also Read | Pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan Through Kartarpur Corridor Suspended for Two More Days Due to Heavy Rainfall. The case was registered initially by Anti-Terrorist Squad, Uttar Pradesh on September 12, 2018, and the NIA re-registered the case under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on September 24, 2018. The case registered against one Kamruj and others related to a criminal conspiracy to carry out terror attacks by Hizbul Muzahideen cadres at different places in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India. Kamruj and one absconding accused, Osama Bin Javed, were chargesheeted in the NIA Special Court in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow on March 11, 2019 under various sections of Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Osama was killed in an encounter with security forces on September 28 in 2019. Subsequently, on May 29, 2021, a Supplementary Chargesheet was filed against arrested accused persons Nisar Ahmad Sheikh and Nishad Ahmad Butt, both residents of J-K. A second supplementary chargesheet was filed against the arrested accused Danish Naseer on November 25, 2022. Investigations have revealed that accused Kamruj was radicalized by Osama Bin Javed to join the Hizbul Mujahideen and both received nine months of physical and weapon-handling training by the cadres of the terror outfit. Absconding accused Riaz, an active militant and district Deputy Commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, along with another co-accused Mohammad Amin alias Jahangir Saroori, also an active militant and District Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen, was involved in recruiting and training accused Kamruj and Osama Bin Javed in the forests of Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. After completion of training, Kamruj was directed to set up bases and hideouts, and select targets in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and other parts of India for terrorist activities, said the NIA. Accordingly, Kamruj had come to Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur city where he had also carried out reconnaissance of a few targets. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 22 (ANI): The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday issued an Orange alert warning for four districts in Odisha for the next 24 hours. Senior Scientist of IMD, Bhubaneswar Umashankar Das, while talking to ANI, said, The India Meterological Department has issued a heavy rainfall warning in Odisha's 15 districts in the next 24 hours. Along with it, low pressure is likely to form over the Northwest Bay of Bengal on July 24th." Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Youth Gunned Down After Dinner Party in Khagaria District, Probe Underway. IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in Odisha's four districts, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, and Balangir. Apart from that, there is a yellow alert for 11 districts in the state for the next 24 hours, Das added. According to the IMD, the Red colour code warning signifies isolated extremely heavy rainfall and scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall. Orange for isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. Yellow for scattered heavy rainfall/Isolated heavy rainfall and Green for no heavy rainfall. (ANI) Also Read | Telangana Rains Forecast: Widespread Rainfall Likely To Occur in State During Next 24 Hours; IMD Issues Red Alert. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nashik, Jul 22 (PTI) In a case of human sacrifice, a nine-year-old boy was killed and his body was half buried by four people in Maharashtra's Nashik district, police said on Saturday. The police have arrested all the accused involved in the crime that took place in Malegaon taluka of the district on July 16, an official said. Also Read | Andhra Pradesh Horror: Woman Cuts Husband's Private Parts With Blade in NTR for Watching First Wife's Instagram Reels, Case Registered. The accused allegedly abducted the boy when he was out playing in a field in Pohane Shivar village, he said. The accused slit the boy's throat and half buried his body in the ground, the official said, adding that the body was found on July 18 and a murder case was registered. Also Read | Pilgrimage to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan Through Kartarpur Corridor Suspended for Two More Days Due to Heavy Rainfall. The accused, who are residents of the same village, were in search of a hidden treasure and had killed the boy as part of a ritual, the official said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Nashik, Jul 22 (PTI) Two persons have been arrested in connection with a fraud of more than Rs 21 crore at a cooperative credit society in Maharashtra's Thane district, police said on Saturday. The police have arrested two persons involved in cheating investors and account-holders of Late Subhashchandji Parakh Urban Co-operative Credit Society in Yeola tehsil of the district, an official said. Also Read | India Landslide: Rescuers Push on as Death Toll Rises. The police in 2021 had registered a case against the chairman, board of directors, manager and employees of the credit society under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (in Financial Establishments) Act, 1999 and Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act, 1961. Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed the main accused Ajay Bhagchand Jain from Manmad town on Friday and the other accused Akshay Ravindra Chhajed was also apprehended the same day. Also Read | Rajasthan Shocker: Man Slits Girlfriends Throat After Learning of Her Engagement, Hangs Self to Death in Jhunjhunu. The duo has been remanded to police custody and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is probing the matter. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Yavatmal, July 22: With heavy rains lashing Maharashtra's Yavatmal, Mi-17 V5 helicopter has been inducted from Nagpur to evacuate 40 people who have been stranded due to floods. "Based on the requisition of the District administration, one Mi-17 V5 helicopter is being inducted from Nagpur to evacuate 40 people stranded due to floods in Yuvatmal district," said Wing commander (Wg Cd) Ratnakar Singh, Defence PRO Nagpur. With heavy rains lashing Maharashtra's Yavatmal on Friday night, many residential areas in the district were inundated, and water also entered several houses on Saturday. As per locals, it rained for around four hours at night and they woke up to flooded streets and rainwater entering their houses. Maharashtra Rains: Rainwater Enters Several Houses, Leaves Roads Inundated in Yavatmal After Incessant Rainfall (Watch Video). Houses, Roads in Yavatmal Submerged in Water #WATCH | Maharashtra: Houses, roads in Yavatmal submerged in water due to incessant rain in the region. pic.twitter.com/9Hus9bezuB ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2023 "It started raining heavily around midnight, and when we woke up in the morning, we saw our house submerged in water. Currently, the water has entered our house and our furniture including sofa, fridge, ration got submerged in the water," said a local. Locals said that over 500 houses have been inundated. "Yavatmal hasn't witnessed this amount of rainfall earlier. Water started entering people's houses at 4 am and till now over 500 houses have been submerged," Sujit Rai, one of the residents said. Maharashtra Rains: Severe Waterlogging Witnessed, Houses and Roads Submerged in Yavatmal Due to Incessant Rainfall (Watch Videos). Earlier on Friday, train services in Mumbai and adjoining areas were disrupted following waterlogging due to heavy rains in Maharashtra. Waterlogging at Kurla station of the Harbour Line Down from Wadala to the Mankhurd section, suburban traffic was closed as a safety precautionary measure for a brief period. Rest assured, all sections were running. UP Harbour Line trains were running, the Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) said on Friday. Maharashtra has seen a flood-like situation in various parts of its districts owing to incessant rainfall in the state. Regional Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places in several districts including Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhubaneswar (Odisha) [India], July 22 (ANI): Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the incident where two women were paraded in the nude in Manipur was condemnable but what happened in West Bengal was even more unfortunate. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the responsibility and assured that injustice against women will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against the perpetrators," Dharmendra Pradhan said in Bhubaneswar. Also Read | Greece Faces Longest Heat Wave on Record. "Whatever happened in Manpiur is unfortunate but what happened in West Bengal is even more unfortunate. It is worrisome and shameful," the Union Minister said. Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday targeted West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for failing to provide security to women in the State. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Son Kills Mother's Lover in Barabanki Over Illicit Relationship, Accused Arrested. The partys West Bengal in charge Amit Malviya today tweeted that two tribal women were allegedly stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly in Malda a few days ago while police remained a "mute spectator". The ruling Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress in its response said that the BJP was needlessly politicising the issue and the women were caught stealing, which prompted outrage by the locals. Malviya tweeted a purported video, that has surfaced on social media, of the incident, which he claimed took place on July 19 in Pakua Hat, a weekly market, of Bamangola Police Station in Malda. Women and Child Development minister of West Bengal Shashi Panja said, "There is absolutely no need to politicise he Malda incident. It was a case of theft, where the two ladies tried to steal something from the market. A group of women tried to take law and order into their hands and started beating them. However, the police reached the spot. A case has been registered and police are investigating the matter." It has nothing to do with politics though we have taken suo motu of the incident, Panja said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hazaribag, July 22: A newly-married woman was found dead in Jharkhand's Hazaribag district with her family alleging that her in-laws killed her for dowry, police said on Saturday said. The body of the 18-year-old woman, who got married on June 13, was found in the bathroom of her house in Katkamdag police station area on Friday, they said. Rajasthan Shocker: Man Slits Girlfriend's Throat After Learning of Her Engagement, Hangs Self to Death in Jhunjhunu. Police said they have arrested her husband, but his two brothers and a sister-in-law who allegedly brutalised her are on the run. In the police complaint, the victim's father alleged that she was subjected to frequent torture by her in-laws. He alleged that the woman was killed by her husband and other members of his family, and the body was hung in the bathroom to make it appear as a suicide, police said. Punjab: Police Constable Found Hanging in House in Hoshiarpur. The body was sent for post-mortem, said DK Prajapati the officer-in-charge of Katkamdag police station. An investigation is underway, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, July 22: Removal of structures built on encroached railway land is a routine procedure as these pose potential safety hazards, the national transporter said on Saturday amid a row over notices sent to two mosques in the national capital. The Railways recently issued notices to a mosque in the Bengali Market area and another near the Pragati Maidan metro station, asking them to remove encroachments within 15 days. A Northern Railways (NR) spokesperson said the structures are on railway land along the main route between New Delhi and Ghaziabad. A senior Delhi Waqf Board official, however, claimed both the Taqia Babar Shah mosque near Tilak Bridge and the one near Bengali Market were properties of the board and termed the notice of demolition "surprising". "In 1973, the Railways had even requested the Delhi Waqf Board for a piece of land on which Masjid Taqia Babar Shah is located and 94 square yards of land was given to them. The mosque is a Waqf Board property and it was surprising that Railways was serving notice for its demolition," Mehfooz Mohammad said. 13 Cases of Signalling Failure in 5 Years, No Incident Due to Defects in Interlocking Signal System: Rail Minister. He said both the mosques were part of properties handed over to the Delhi Waqf Board by the British. These are also included in 123 Waqf Board properties that the Centre has sought to acquire. The Waqf Board has already challenged it in the high court, Mohammad added. According to railway officials, the process of removal of encroachments from railway land begins with issuing notices to encroachers, giving them a reasonable amount of time, generally 15 days, to remove the encroachments themselves. NR spokesperson Deepak Kumar said, "The NR takes the removal of encroachments on railway land very seriously. Encroachments can pose a safety hazard to railway employees and passengers, and they can also damage railway property. NR is committed to ensuring that railway land is used for its intended purpose, and the removal of encroachments is an important part of this commitment." The notice issued to the mosques read: "Railway property has been illegally invaded upon. You must voluntarily dismantle any unlicensed structures, including temples, mosques or shrines within 15 days of receiving this alert or the railway administration will take legal action." "Encroachments that are not permitted will be removed in compliance with the Railways Act. Any damage incurred throughout the procedure will be your responsibility. The railway administration won't be held accountable," it added. Kerala: Drunk Man Arrested for Driving Car on Railway Track in Kannur (Watch Video). The officials said if encroachers do not comply, the NR forms a task force to remove the encroachments. They added that the task force includes RPF and local police, and will depend on the availability of manpower, machinery, and support from the local police and administration. They also said it was a general practice in the NR to issue notices to encroachers whenever they come to the attention of the transporter. This means the process of removing encroachments, in general, is not predetermined, and it can happen at any time. Encroachment on railway land is also removed under predetermined plans when it falls into the alignment of existing or proposed railway lines, the officials added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 22 (ANI): Trinamool Congress MLA and West Bengal Women and Child Welfare Development Minister, Shashi Panja, on Saturday voiced concern over the Manipur viral video, asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear his stand on the incident. The Centre and the Manipur government have come under fire from the Opposition over a viral video from Manipur, purportedly showing two women being paraded in the nude. Also Read | Manipur Violence: Opposition MPs to Hold Protest in Parliament Complex on July 24 to Press for PMs Statement. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Panja said, "Yesterday, from the podium of our July 21 rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and (MP) Abhishek Banerjee cleared our state on the Manipur incident. We had been tracking events in Manipur over the past 88 days, waiting for the PM to speak up. It wasn't until the day before yesterday that he finally opened up on Manipur, making a brief statement expressing his sorrow (over the viral video). We demand that all other listed businesses in Parliament be suspended or set aside and the PM make his stand clear on the Manipur issue." "Two days have passed (since the viral video) and we still haven't seen the PM making a statement in Parliament. Our five-member fact-finding team that visited Manipur said the situation is grave there. It seems that the central government is turning a blind eye to reality. The PM and the state's CM aren't willing to accept accountability (for the Manipur situation). I would like the Union Women and Child Development Minister (Smriti Irani) to also clear her stand on this. The Centre sent a fact-finding team to Bengal (to inquire into the violence during and after the Bengal panchayat polls) but why did they not send a similar team to Manipur? The PM was busy campaigning in Karnataka but did not speak a word on Manipur," she added. Also Read | Delhi Flood-Like Situation: Alert Issued As 2.9 Lakh Cusec Water Released From Hathini Kund Barrage in Yamuna River. Further hitting out at PM Modi, the TMC leader said, "He had time to make overseas visits but not to visit Manipur as it burned. As a woman, I felt helpless after watching the video. Where are the victims now? The NCW (National Commission for Women) received a complaint (over the video) within 38 days (of the incident). Why did it not act before? The central government is questioning why Twitter did not take down the video. It has resorted to a diversionary tactic in the wake of the Manipur incident. The PM has to issue a statement in Parliament over the Manipur incident." Accusing NCW chief Rekha Sharma of being "politically motivated", the Bengal minister said, "Did she visit Manipur? Was the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah), who visited Manipur, informed about the video? This video shows how the Home Minister failed to control law and order in Manipur." Warning of more protests in Parliament as the two Houses reconvene on Monday, the minister said, "Our MP's will hold more protests over this incident. Mamata Banerjee has assured the people of Manipur that she would fight for their rights," Panja 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) Jaipur, July 22: Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, on Saturday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of refraining from visiting violence-hit Manipur. "For the first time, I have seen that a Prime Minister is visiting Karnataka, Rajasthan and other places for elections, but not Manipur. It is his government in Manipur, just imagine what would he have said if it was a Congress government there," CM Gehlot said while speaking to the media at his residence in Jaipur. The Senior Congress leader also criticised PM Modi for allegedly making a reference to incidents in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh while commenting on a video of women being paraded naked and molested in Manipur and said that Modi's remark has hurt the sentiments of Rajasthan. Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot's Government Transfers Rs 1,005 Crore to Over 51 Lakh Pensioners Through Direct Benefit Transfer. "The way Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the CMs of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh should take care of the law and order situation in their state, it has hurt the sentiments of Rajasthan," Gehlot said. Rajasthan CM also went on to suggest that PM Modi should have held a meeting to review the situation in Manipur. "If PM Modi could not visit Manipur, he should have called a meeting and reviewed the situation in Manipur," he said. This comes after PM Modi on Thursday took note of recent sexual assault on women in Manipur, and appealed to all the Chief Ministers of the states to tighten law and order while mentioning Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh during his address. Rajasthan Has Become a 'Model Welfare State' for the Country, Says CM Ashok Gehlot. "This a shameful incident for any society..who did this and who is responsible is another issue but this has put our nation to shame. I appeal to all chief ministers to tighten law and order. Whether it is Rajasthan, Chattisgarh or Manipur...the issue of a woman's honour is above all politics," PM Modi said while commenting on the Manipur situation ahead of the Monsoon session of the Parliament. Earlier on Friday, a minister in Gehlot Cabinet was sacked hours after he criticised his own government over the recent crime against women in the poll-bound state. In his address at the state assembly, Rajendra Singh Gudha said, "It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister Rajendra Singh Gudha. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The Western Azerbaijan Community has issued a statement exposing the recent speeches of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, clearly demonstrating the hypocrisy of the Armenian government and the abuse of such a high concept as human rights to realize its territorial expansionist plans, Trend reports. According to the statement, Armenia forcibly expelled all Azerbaijanis from its territory and seeks to erase the traces of their presence on their ancestral lands by desecrating and destroying Azerbaijani cultural heritage, shrines and cemeteries. Despite our constant calls for dialogue and efforts to return home in safety and dignity, Armenia refuses to discuss this issue, demonstrating absolute disregard for our rights," the statement said. "By continuing to prevent the return of Azerbaijanis expelled from its territory, Armenia is trying to brazenly abuse the topic of human rights in relation to ethnic Armenians living in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan." Armenia's claims, being inherently unfounded, are in the nature of an encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, the statement noted. "Armenia, recognizing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan only conditionally, reveals its true intention and thereby tries to preserve opportunities for attempts at separatism," the statement pointed out. "Such behavior of Armenia is a clear violation of international law and completely contradicts the principles reflected in the OSCE recommendations on national minorities in interstate relations." In the statement the community reminded the OSCE recommendations, which, along with other issues, note that in cases where states show a greater interest in minorities abroad than in their own, or actively support a certain national minority in one state, neglecting the interests of the same minority in other countries, the motives and sincerity of their actions may be called into question. "The fact that Armenia ignores our right to return, refuses to accept international missions to facilitate this process and assess the state of the Azerbaijani cultural heritage in Armenia requires universal condemnation," the statement authors said. "The international community must reject the policy of Armenia, based on the 'no ethnic minorities - no problems' approach, which it openly pursues on its territory." Moreover, according to the authors, Armenia grossly misuses rhetoric on the issue of human rights to implement its territorial claims against Azerbaijan. "The Western Azerbaijan Community calls on the international community to condemn the actions of Armenia precisely for this essence. We demand from Armenia to fulfill its obligations [within the trilateral statement signed by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the 2020 second Karabakh war] to ensure the return of exiled Azerbaijanis to their homes in Armenia in safety and dignity and to put an end to opportunistic and hypocritical abuses of human rights," the authors noted. "Continuing our fight for justice and the right to return, we reiterate our commitment to peaceful dialogue. We call on the international community to support and show solidarity with us in our work for the sake of a future that respects and protects the rights of all people, regardless of their ethnicity or religion," the statement authors concluded. New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Two people, including a woman, were arrested for their alleged involvement in an attack by the CPI(Maoist) on security forces near Tiriya village of Chhattisgarh in 2019 that left six Naxals and one civilian dead, an NIA official said. Kandula Sirisha alias 'Padmakka' and Duddu Prabhakar alias 'Ajay' were nabbed after extensive investigations and search operations, taking the total number of arrests in the case to six, a spokesperson of the federal agency said. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Goes to In-Laws House to Bring Wife Back in Agra, Woman's Family Sets Him on Fire. According to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), both the accused were working closely with top leaders of the CPI(Maoist) to promote and expand the banned outfit's anti-national activities. Several incriminating materials related to the activities of CPI(Maoist) cadres were earlier seized by the NIA during searches on the premises of the two accused, the official said. Also Read | Naveen Patnaik Replaces West Bengals Jyoti Basu As Second-Longest-Serving CM in India. "Sirisha and Prabhakar were working for different frontal organisations of the CPI(Maoist). Sirisha, a member of the frontal outfit, was previously active as armed cadre (tech in-charge) of the CPI(Maoist)," the spokesperson said. The official said both used to receive funds from the CPI(Maoist) and worked for different frontal outfits to spread the Maoist ideology. "Both were frequent visitors to the core Naxal belt in the Andhra-Odisha border Special Zone, where they would go to meet R K alias 'Akkiraju Haragopal', central committee member of the CPI(Maoist) and leader of the United Front," the spokesperson added. The Tiriya encounter took place in July 2019 when a joint team of the local District Reserve Guard, Special Task Force and the Central Reserve Police Force travelled to the forest area near Tiriya in Jagdalpur district after a tip-off. They went there after receiving input that a group of Maoist cadres had gathered with the intention to perpetrate a big incident on July 28, which is observed as "Shaheed Diwas", the NIA said. After the encounter, the security forces had recovered arms and ammunition, along with incriminating handwritten documents and literature from the site, and started investigations in the case, the agency said. The case was initially registered on July 28, 2019, under various sections of the Arms Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It was re-registered by the NIA on March 18, 2021, after the agency took over the case, along with several other cases related to Maoist conspiracy in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Algiers [Algeria], July 22 (ANI): Algeria has formally applied to join the BRICS group and submitted a request to become a shareholder member of the BRICS Bank. The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, revealed this development during his recent visit to China, where he expressed Algerias eagerness to open new economic opportunities and strengthen its partnerships with countries like China, Morocco World News reported. We officially applied to join the BRICS group, we sent a letter asking to be shareholder members in the bank ... Algeria's first contribution in the bank will be USD 1.5 billion, An-Nahar Al-Jadid quoted Tebboune as saying. Also Read | North Korea Fires Several Cruise Missiles Into Yellow Sea, Says South Korea. An-Nahar Al-Jadid newspaper is an independent Algerian daily newspaper. The BRICS group, which currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represents a significant portion of the global population and economy, accounting for more than 40 per cent of the worlds population and approximately 26 per cent of the global economy, Morocco World News reported. Also Read | US President Joe Biden Chooses Admiral Lisa Franchetti as First Woman to Be Top Navy Officer in US History. Morocco World News brings the news of Morocco and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Middle East and Morocco. Algerias bid comes in the midst of what some have called a worldwide eagerness for a geopolitical reconfiguration, with many in the Global South having shown signs of displeasure with the Wests dominance over global affairs. Amid the ongoing Ukraine war and the surging ideological clash between the West and the Rest, more than 40 countries are said to have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group., Morocco World News reported. But some analysts have warned against the allure of the BRICS group in the global south, arguing that explicitly picking the Russia-China axis is not a strategically sound choice in a context of geopolitical chaos that requires strategic ambiguity, Morocco World News reported. In September of last year, 27 bipartisan US members of Congress criticized Algerias arms imports from Russia and called for the North African country to be sanctioned under the Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions Act. Similarly, 17 members of the EU Parliament lambasted Algeria in November of last year for politically and financially supporting Russia by being among the top four buyers of Russian arms in the world. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Lahore [Pakistan], July 22 (ANI): Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan lashed out at the country's government alleging that the resurgence of the cypher controversy is an "apparent bid" to disqualify him from contesting elections by the ruling parties, Dawn reported on Friday. He further said that the ruling parties have shot themselves in the foot by reviving the issue. Also Read | Ukraine: New Export Routes Needed for Grain. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman during his address, accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Asif Ali Zardari, and former Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa of hatching a conspiracy to remove him The rulers have only a one-point agenda i.e. how to disqualify the PTI chairman and send him to jail. In order to fulfil this plan, they have now brought forward the cypher, he claimed. Also Read | Indian Expat in Dubai Flies Home With 10 kg Tomatoes in Suitcase To Fulfil Her Mother's Wish. But they are clueless that this cypher will be their annihilation, Dawn quoted Khan as saying. He further demanded a detailed inquiry into the US cypher conspiracy as the Federal Investigation Agency was not competent enough to spearhead the probe. The nation must know about the real players behind the conspiracy, he said. Imran Khan lauded then-envoy to the US Asad Majeed who had reportedly asked the government to issue a demarche over the cypher for his integrity and steadfastness, saying no such courage was shown by other politicians. My own army chief was lobbying against me and acting to topple the government that had revived the countrys economy and industry after hectic efforts, the PTI chairman alleged. The former PM alleged that his aide Azam Khan was forced to make the statement and he wouldnt believe the statement until he listens to him in person. I dont believe Azam Khan has said many of these things [in the alleged statement]and many are also true, he said in a reference to the statement attributed to his aide. The matter pertains to the claims made by the PTI Chairman on March 27, 2022. Khan, during a gathering of PTI workers, pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it at the crowd, claiming that it was evidence of an "international conspiracy" being hatched to topple his government. The US has time and again denied such allegations, terming them "categorically false". (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kyiv [Ukraine], July 22 (ANI): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday said that he held a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jen Stoltenberg on unblocking the Black Sea grain corridor. This phone call came on the heels of Russia calling off the crucial deal to ensure the safe passage of ships. Also Read | Bangladesh Road Accident Video: 17 Killed, Many Injured As Bus Veers Off Road and Falls Into Large Roadside Pond in Jhalakathi. Had a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General @jensstoltenberg. We discussed the implementation of the agreements reached during the Vilnius summit and further actions regarding the integration of Ukraine into @NATO, tweeted Zelenskyy. His tweet continued, We shared assessments of the current situation in the Black Sea and the risks it poses for global food security. We also identified with Mr. Stoltenberg the priority and future steps necessary for unblocking and sustainable operation of the Black Sea grain corridor. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Bulgaria Agrees to Send Heavy Military Equipment to Ukraine for the First Time Since Invasion. Earlier, Zelenskyy discussed the extension of the Black Sea grain deal with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan over a phone call, Al Jazeera reported on Friday. The leaders discussed in detail the extension of the Black Sea Grain Corridor Agreement during the phone call held at the request of President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, the Turkish Communications Directorate said on Twitter. During the conversation, Erdogan also emphasised that Turkey has made intense efforts to maintain peace. On July 17, Russia 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. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that 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. Russia and Ukraine, both have warned each other against the travelling of ships in the Black Sea, saying that it will be considered as "potential military cargo". Moscow had also accused Ukraine of using the Black Sea grain corridor for combat purposes. Kyiv hit back at Moscow, stating that Russia must stop playing hunger games with people around the world. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Anchorage, July 22: No survivors were found after a helicopter carrying a pilot and three state workers crashed in a shallow lake in Alaska's North Slope region, officials said on Friday. The helicopter had been chartered by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the department said in a statement on Friday. It was carrying three employees from the Division of Geological and Geophysical Survey who had been conducting field work. DNR is praying for our employees and the pilot, their families, and the DNR team, the statement said. We are continuing to await updates from the search and rescue effort. US Plane Crash-Landing Video: Woman Passenger Takes Control of Aircraft After 80-Year-Old Pilot Falls Sick, Crash Lands It in Massachusetts. The helicopter, a Bell 206, was reported overdue Thursday night. A North Slope Borough search and rescue team in a helicopter found debris matching the description of the missing helicopter, but no bodies had been seen or recovered, D.J. Fauske, the borough's director of government and external affairs, said in a text to The Associated Press on Friday. The wreckage was found in a shallow lake near Wainwright, about 50 miles south to southwest of Utqiagvik, the northernmost city in the US, formerly known as Barrow. The flight originated in Utqiagvik and was supposed to return there, said Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board's Alaska region. Johnson said he did not immediately have further information on the flight details. US Plane Crash Video: Six People Dead As Aircraft Crashes Into Field and Bursts Into Flames in California. The helicopter was operated by Maritime Helicopters Inc., according to a statement on the company's website. It confirmed the accident was fatal and said names of the pilot and passengers would be released pending notification of next of kin. The borough notified the Federal Aviation Administration and state officials as well as NTSB, Fauske said. The borough is here to help and we will pray for the missing, he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad [Pakistan], July 22 (ANI): Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said that the trial of those involved in the May 9 violence should not begin in military courts without informing the Pakistan Supreme Court, Dawn reported on Friday. He made the remarks as a six-member bench, headed by him and consisting Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha A Malik, resumed hearing a set of pleas challenging the military trials of civilians. Also Read | Ukraine: New Export Routes Needed for Grain. During Fridays hearing. Latif Khosa, the lawyer for petitioner Aitzaz Ahsan, stated that whatever was happening in the country today had taken place during the tenure of former military dictator Ziaul Haq. You cant compare the present era with the era of Ziaul Haq. This is not Ziaul Haqs era nor is martial law imposed in the country. Even if a martial law-like situation arises, we will intervene, Dawn quoted CJP Bandial as saying. Also Read | Indian Expat in Dubai Flies Home With 10 kg Tomatoes in Suitcase To Fulfil Her Mother's Wish. He further said that the Supreme Court should be informed before military trials of civilians begin. The trial of the accused in military court should not begin without informing the SC, he said. At the previous hearing, the apex court had provided another opportunity to Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to seek fresh instructions from the government about the provision of appeal against the sentence to be awarded by military courts to those found guilty of May 9 violence and arson. The observations came when the AGP said that the Pakistan government was willing to follow any suggestions to improve the process of trial by military courts if the SC issued directions to ensure the provision of appeal against convictions and that the sentence should be awarded reasons, Dawn reported. On May 9, this year, former PM and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from inside the High Court in Islamabad by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the charges of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust, which he owns alongside his wife, Bushra Bibi. Following Khan's arrest, his party called for demonstrations, which turned violent at many places. The administration resorted to a crackdown and many arrests were made across the country. The people accused in the May 9 violence are being tried at military courts. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, Jul 22 (PTI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will convene an all-party meeting next week on the implementation of the contentious 13th Amendment to the country's Constitution, a long-pending demand of the minority Tamil community, a minister said on Saturday. The announcement came a day after the issue figured prominently in the wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Wickremesinghe, with the Indian prime minister highlighting the need for the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution. Also Read | Bangladesh Road Accident Video: 17 Killed, Many Injured As Bus Veers Off Road and Falls Into Large Roadside Pond in Jhalakathi. Prime Minister Modi conveyed to Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe, who arrived in New Delhi on Thursday on a two-day visit, India's expectations from Colombo to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamil community in the island nation. The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment that provides for devolution of power to it. The 13th Amendment (13A) was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. It created 9 provinces as devolved units with a temporary merger of the Northern and Eastern provinces. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine War: Bulgaria Agrees to Send Heavy Military Equipment to Ukraine for the First Time Since Invasion. In his media statement after the talks, Wickremesinghe said on Friday he shared with Modi the "comprehensive proposal" he presented this week for "furthering reconciliation, power sharing through devolution and the multiple elements of the Northern development plan." Jeevan Thondaman, the minister of water supplies who was part of the Wickremesinghe's delegation to India, said the all-party meeting would be convened by mid-next week. Thondaman, who represents the Tamils of Indian origin in the central hill plantations, said with the implementation of 13A, the outstanding issues of the Indian-origin Tamils would also be addressed. Prior to his India visit, Wickremesinghe on Tuesday met the Tamil parties and assured them that the 13th Amendment will be fully implemented, without police powers, in the provincial councils. The president outlined plans for devolution, stating that the 13th Amendment with full powers except for police powers as outlined under List 1 (the subjects reserved for provincial councils) will be implemented, including specified functions in List 3 in the provincial councils list subject to agreement among political parties in Parliament, the president's office had said in a statement. The List 3 entails provincial powers subjected to concurrence with the Centre. India has been pressing Sri Lanka to fully implement the 13th Amendment as the answer to the Tamil demand for political autonomy for the Northern and Eastern regions. Sri Lanka has had a long history of failed negotiations to end the Tamil claim of discrimination by allowing some form of political autonomy. The Tamils put forward their demand for autonomy after gaining independence from Britain in 1948 which from the mid-70s turned into a bloody armed conflict. The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (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. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dubai [UAE], July 22 (ANI/WAM): In a groundbreaking move that solidifies the UAE's status as a global leader in sustainability and energy transition, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) has announced the establishment of the "UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre." As the first-of-its-kind Centre in the MENA region and the fourth globally. Also Read | Ukraine: New Export Routes Needed for Grain. This pioneering initiative, developed in collaboration with DNV marks a historic milestone not only for the UAE but also for the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and sets a new standard for maritime decarbonisation efforts worldwide. The official signing ceremony to commemorate this historic partnership took place at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) headquarters in London, UK. Also Read | Indian Expat in Dubai Flies Home With 10 kg Tomatoes in Suitcase To Fulfil Her Mother's Wish. The signing brought together high-level government officials, industry leaders, and international stakeholders to celebrate this momentous occasion. By leveraging the expertise of DNV and harnessing the UAE's strategic geographic location and maritime influence, the Centre aims to drive research, innovation, and collaboration among key stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices, technologies, and policies in the maritime sector. Setting a new standard for maritime decarbonisation Commenting on this partnership, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said, The UAE leads numerous global competitiveness indicators in the maritime sector. It ranks 3rd globally in the Bunker Supply Index, 5th as a key competitive maritime hub and 12th in the transport lines index. This is a result of the competitive business environment the UAE provides, which attracts major international maritime companies and makes the country's ports a preferred destination for international shipping lines. However, we will not rest on our laurels; we want to occupy the top position in all international maritime indicators. We look forward to innovations and digital platforms to contribute to enhancing the UAEs position and improving its global ranking. Al Mazrouei added, "The establishment of the UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre reflects our unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices within the maritime industry. By collaborating with DNV, we aim to leverage their expertise and global network to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of decarbonisation technologies. This Centre will play a pivotal role in advancing our national and regional sustainability goals, while contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change." Reinforcing the UAE sustainability goals The establishment of the UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre is a testament to the UAE's unwavering dedication to achieving its ambitious sustainability goals outlined in the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy. By spearheading the maritime decarbonisation efforts, the UAE aims to drive greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions that exceed global ambitions, positioning itself as a leading force in the global fight against climate change. The Centre will serve as a hub for research, development, and implementation of innovative technologies and strategies to reduce CO2 emissions in the maritime industry.It will conduct joint-industry projects, incubator and accelerator programmes, and future talent development initiatives. Furthermore, it will provide access to funding opportunities, foster collaboration among industry stakeholders, and serve as a knowledge hub by publishing research and information. We are very pleased to collaborate with the UAEs Ministry of Infrastructure & Energy to establish the Maritime Decarbonization Centre, said Knut Orbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime. Initiatives like the Centre are essential as we look to accelerate towards a decarbonised future. We need to build via cooperation, foster innovation, and scale local strengths into global leadership. With its strategic location and strong support from industry leaders, the Centre is poised to become a hub for maritime decarbonisation efforts. A maritime hub for business excellence and innovation. This initiative aligns perfectly with the UAE's preparations for hosting COP28, where the nation will showcase its commitment to sustainability and energy transition on a global stage. The UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre will play a crucial role in strengthening the country's position as a hub for sustainable innovation and global collaboration during COP28. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, At the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we seek to unify the maritime sector to build the UAE Maritime Cluster, and turn it into a powerhouse that enhances business growth opportunities and creates new capabilities for companies by bringing them together. Digital technologies are the best way to build this cluster, standardise information related to the maritime sector and develop innovative mechanisms to explore business opportunities that can benefit all stakeholders. Al Malek added, This partnership is yet another step to promote innovation in the maritime sector, which has become an international incubator for quality ideas. At the current stage, we focus all our innovations on building a sustainable and environmentally-friendly maritime sector. The UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre will serve as a vital hub for research, collaboration, and knowledge transfer in the field of maritime decarbonization. Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, we will focus on developing and implementing sustainable solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy efficiency in maritime operations. This Centre aligns with our vision of positioning the UAE as a global leader in the sustainable maritime sector and driving the transition towards a greener future." "This partnership is complemented by many other quality projects and initiatives the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has already launched. These include the UAE Maritime Cluster initiative and the Maritime Network, which aims to build a global network of professionals and experts to enhance the competitiveness of the UAEs maritime sector and market it globally, making use of the strong presence of international maritime companies in the UAE". (ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Jul 22 (PTI) The United States and like-minded countries including India need to work together to shape the course of artificial intelligence, Arti Prabhakar, the Science Advisor to President Joe Biden, said on Friday as the administration roped in several IT giants like Google and Microsoft to ensure that it is not misused and is being used for public good. The work that we are doing includes working with companies to hold them accountable and there's some important progress on that today. We're also working on executive actions that we can take within existing law, and the President is considering an executive order that we think can really boost our ability to deal with AI's harms and also start using it for good, Indian-American Prabhakar told PTI in an interview. Also Read | Ukraine: New Export Routes Needed for Grain. That's what we can do from the executive branch. We'll also continue to work with Congress on bipartisan legislation as they start putting legislation forward. Then critically and underpinning all of this is the work that we're doing globally with our international partners and allies, including with India, Prabhakar said. And that is because this is a global technology. It's everywhere. Everyone is participating and it's really affecting, it's going to affect everyone's lives and we want to make sure that like-minded countries work together to shape the course of AI, she said in response to a question. Also Read | Indian Expat in Dubai Flies Home With 10 kg Tomatoes in Suitcase To Fulfil Her Mother's Wish. AI, she said, was one of the important topics of discussion when President Joe Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here last month. I think that's very much on the minds of our global leaders when they meet with President Biden. That's what happened with Prime Minister Modi and many others. I had the opportunity to be at Congress when the Prime Minister spoke and then at the State Dinner and then again at the luncheon that the Vice President and the Secretary of State hosted and artificial intelligence came up repeatedly in those conversations, she said. In fact, the prime minister made a wonderful joke when he addressed Congress and he said he thought AI stood for America, India, which is another way of interpreting it. But I think really the theme of many of the conversations that have happened is exactly what you're saying is we're going to have to link arms and be clear about how to achieve safe AI so all of our citizens can benefit from it, Prabhakar said. Prabhakar, who spent half of her professional life in Silicon Valley and has her regular home in Palo Alto, said she senses the excitement about AI in Silicon Valley. What I would say is go build amazing applications for artificial intelligence because that is part of how we're going to go forward and make sure while you're doing it, to build AI that is safe and trustworthy so that it really does lift us up in the end, she said. On Friday, Biden announced voluntary commitments that the administration has worked on with seven leading AI companies. These companies include Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and some of the smaller AI companies. A number of tech companies, some of the biggest leaders in AI, are signing up for some commitments on safety, security and trust. It is such an important step that we've been able to achieve by holding these companies to account because it's the first time that the industry has started to come together and take responsibility, she said. Then we're going to be working on what we need to do as an executive branch, and that will include figuring out how do we manage as AI makes voice cloning, makes fraud easier. As cybercrime becomes easier, some of these harms start advancing. How do we mitigate those harms within the laws and regulations that we already have? she said. And then how do we start using AI for public purposes? How do we use it to deal with the climate crisis that we're confronting? How do we use it to improve health outcomes for everyone here in America and around the world? So we're seeing both the bright and the dark side and we're actively working on both pieces, she said. Describing AI as the most powerful technology of this time, she said the president's been clear that how it is used is going to express their values. But that's true as well around the world. We know every part of the world is trying to use AI to create a future that expresses their values. I think we can disagree about lots of things in this country and around the world, but the one thing I think we would all of us would agree on is that we don't want to live in a future that's driven by technology, that's shaped by authoritarian regimes, Prabhakar said. That's is why I think it is so important for like-minded countries, for democratic countries to come together and make sure that we're working together to use AI in ways that express our values, said the top American scientific official. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bhopal, July 22: A woman priest in Madhya Pradesh has alleged molestation by three male priests of a shrine in Indore and threatened to immolate herself if no action is taken against the accused. The sadhvi claimed that she made several attempts to get an FIR registered against the accused. However, the police did pay any heed to her complaint. She made the allegation at Indore Press Club and threatened to self-immolate in front of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's residence if no FIR gets registered in the next 24 hours. Molestation on Mumbai Local Station: Drunk Man Molests Woman Passenger at Kalyan Railway Station, Gets Beaten Up by Crowd After Victim Raises Alarm; Arrested. Accompanied by around half-a-dozen priests, including men, the sadhvi said she had met state Home Minister Narottam Mishra in this regard but nothing has come out so far. "I met Narottam Mishra who in turn spoke to Indore police but nothing has been done so far. If an FIR does not get registered in the next 24 hours, I would immolate myself in front of the Chief Minister's residence in Bhopal," the woman priest said. Manipur Women Paraded Naked: No Gang-Rape in May 4 Incident, Claims COCOMI Citing Media Reports. She would reach every programme of Chief Minister Chouhan and voice her concern if her demand is not met, the sadhvi warned. "Three male priests molested me, but the police are not taking my complaint. I will raise this issue before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, if needed," the sadhvi asserted. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2023 11:45 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. The presentation of www.dhapress.com - a joint project of Trend News Agency and Demiroren News Agency (DHA), an influential Turkish media structure, was held within the framework of the Shusha Global Media Forum, Trend reports. The presentation ceremony was attended by the staff of Trend and DHA, officials, representatives of foreign and local media. Opening the ceremony, Sahil Kerimli, Deputy Director of Trend, highlighted the agency's constantly expanding international cooperation and the numerous foreign projects under implementation. Then, Sahil Kerimli gave the floor to Javid Musayev, Head of the communication policy section of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Celal Korkut, General Director of DHA, and Rashad Medjid, the Chairman of the Press Council of Azerbaijan. One of the advantages of the project is that, for the first time, an Azerbaijani news feed will be created on a popular Turkish media portal. Javid Musayev said that Azerbaijan and Turkiye are friendly and fraternal countries that always support each other in the information space. He stressed that during the 44-day Patriotic War, fraternal Turkiye provided Azerbaijan with all possible support. On the information front, the Turkish media played a big role in bringing the truth about Azerbaijan to the world. Musayev noted that the "Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation in the field of mass media between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Turkiye" gave a serious impetus to strengthening ties between the two countries in the field of mass media. The joint media platform created in this regard has opened up opportunities for conveying the truth of Azerbaijan and Turkiye to the whole world. Close cooperation in the field of media has been established between the two countries. It is gratifying that Trend is making great strides in this direction. The newly created www.dhapress.com is another contributor to this relationship. The platform will play an important role in bringing the news of Azerbaijan and Turkiye, our voice of truth, to the world, Musayev said. DHA Director General Celal Korkut, in turn, noting the importance of fraternal Azerbaijan for Turkiye, said that the two countries continue cooperation in the media field, as well as in many other areas. "Last year, we signed a protocol on the preparation of joint projects with Trend, the most influential agency in Azerbaijan. In this regard, www.dhapress.com will be the showcase of our cooperation. Here you can receive important news not only from Turkiye and Azerbaijan, but also from all over the world. Our website will not include news from only two countries. You will be provided with latest news in multiple areas - from business, culture and art to health, education and sports," he said. Korkut also stressed that www.dhapress.com, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world, is a platform that conveys the voice of all the Turkic states, and not just Turkiye and Azerbaijan, to the world. In this regard, we continue our activities to establish cooperation with other Turkic republics. I invite everyone to visit www.dhapress.com for accurate and high quality information in the fastest way in the digital media world, he said. Chairman of the Press Council Rashad Majid also wished success in the work of the newly created portal and expressed hope that it would take a special place in the media space of the two fraternal countries. Successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkiye in all areas also makes a great contribution to the media sector. I am confident that www.dhapress.com, which is a joint project of the leading Azerbaijani Trend News Agency, and the reputable Turkish DHA agency, will bring innovation and success to both countries. Some time ago, when a memorandum of cooperation between Trend and DHA was signed, I also participated in this event. I am glad that this cooperation has quickly borne fruit and such a project has been implemented, he added. Rashad Majid also stressed that the creation of this portal on the National Press Day of Azerbaijan is not accidental. Such cooperation is of particular importance in order to always have a voice in the information space, he concluded. Chennai, July 22: The Tamil Nadu government has declared six districts of the state as drought affected. Additional Chief Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management, Kumar Jayant has declared 25 blocks of Pudukottai, Ramanathapauram, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts as moderately drought affected. According to agriculture department officials, blocks where crop damage is more than 33 per cent due to rainfall shortage are declared as moderate agriculture drought affected blocks. There was insufficient rainfall in these blocks from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Chennai Rains: Heavy Rainfall Lashes Tamil Nadu Capital, Residents Share Pics and Videos of Downpour. A senior official of the Tamil Nadu agriculture department told IANS that if the rainfall comes down beyond a certain percentage, ground water level will decrease leading to hydrological drought in summer period. The official said that when hydrological drought occurs in summer, the government declares such areas as drought affected. The farmers in these districts have, according to sources, petitioned to the state Agriculture Relief Commissioner to take necessary action in these drought affected blocks. Tamil Nadu Weather Forecast: Regional Meteorological Centre Predicts Heavy Rains in 12 Districts. The Tamil Nadu government has already appealed to the Cauvery Water Management Authority to direct Karnataka government to release the state its volume of water from the Cauvery river. This is following the Kuruvai farmers petitioning the government of a shortage of water from Mettur dam due to the reduced flow of water from Cauvery into Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu water resources minister, S. Duraimurugan has already handed over a letter written by Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to the Union Jalshakti Minister, in a recent meeting regarding the shortage of Cauvery water in the state and the sufferings meted out to Kuruvai paddy farmers due to this. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2023 03:46 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Thane, July 22: The body of a 19-year-old missing man was found on an inundated bridge in Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday, an official said. Local residents spotted the highly decomposed body on the overflowing river bridge at Nandeni village near Murbad, said the official. Mumbai: Unidentified Body Found Near Powai Lake, Sent for Post-Mortem. According to senior inspector Prasad Pandhare of Murbad police station, a young man from the area had been missing for the past two days and they had received a complaint about it. Noida: Unidentified Body Found Dead Next to Petrol Pump. The body was found to be that of the missing man, he said. The police are probing into the incident, the official said. New Delhi, July 22: The Delhi prison authorities have suspended four officers in Yasin Malik security lapse case, an official said on Saturday. On Friday, the prison authorities had launched a probe after Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik, who is undergoing life sentence in a terror funding case, was taken to Supreme Court without following standard operating procedure. "In the matter of physical production of Yasin Malik before Supreme Court on July 21, the Prison Department, Delhi has suspended one Deputy Superintendent , two Assistant Superintendent and one Head Warder last night as they were found to be prima facie responsible based on preliminary inquiry," said a senior prison official. Yasin Malik in Supreme Court: SC Shocked to See Kashmiri Separatist Leader Appear Before It in Person Despite No Such Order; Government Expresses Concern. "Detailed inquiry is being conducted by DIG Tihar to identify any other officials who may also be responsible for the serious lapse," the official added. According to a senior prison official, on Friday Malik was produced physically in the Supreme Court by the officials of the Central Jail no. 7 (Tihar) and prima facie observed that it was lapse on the part of concerned Jail officials. Terror Funding Case: NIA Seeks Death Penalty for Kashmiri Separatist Leader Yasin Malik, Delhi High Court To Hear Plea on May 29. The Director General (Prisons) has ordered a detailed inquiry in the matter to be conducted by Dy. Inspector General (Headquarters, prison) Rajiv Singh to fix the responsibility of erring officials. The DG had asked to submit a report within three days, the official said. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2023 03:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Texas Governor Greg Abbott's controversial floating barriers and barbed wire along the Rio Grande are now facing legal scrutiny as the DOJ notified Texas that it plans to file a lawsuit regarding those barriers. The floating barriers are part of Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star which aims to stem the number of migrants crossing the US-Mexico border illegally. However, experts have warned that these will not deter migrants from crossing and instead lead to drownings, injuries, and deaths. According to Texas Public Radio, the DOJ letter demanded that Texas remove the buoys and razor wire along the Rio Grande by Monday, July 24. If the state does not comply, the Justice Department will seek legal action, arguing that the state violated federal law, raised humanitarian concerns, and presented public and environmental risks. These floating barriers have also received backlash from Mexico, which filed a diplomatic complaint, arguing that Texas violated various treaties by installing the floating barriers along the Rio Grande. "The floating barrier at issue here is a structure that obstructs the navigable capacity of the Rio Grande ... which is a navigable water of the United States within the meaning of the Rivers and Harbors Act. Texas does not have authorization from the Corps [of Engineers] to install the floating barrier and did not seek such authorization before doing so," wrote the DOJ. The DOJ demand came after a Texas State Trooper reported human rights violations being done to migrants crossing the border, including being ordered not to give exhausted migrants any water despite the harsh Texas heat. The trooper also reported that they were ordered to push a group of exhausted migrants back to the Rio Grande and force them back to Mexico. READ MORE: Mexico Files Diplomatic Complaint After Texas Breaks Boundaries Treaty With Floating Barriers Greg Abbott Defends Controversial Floating Barriers Despite the looming threat of a lawsuit from the federal government and that diplomatic complaint from Mexico, Texas Governor Greg Abbott defended the floating barriers on Twitter, tweeting, "Texas has the sovereign authority to defend our border." His office still has not officially commented on the situation, though it is currently under fire for the myriad of possible human rights violations that the governor's policies have brought. According to Al Jazeera News, Greg Abbott's "Operation Lone Star" also includes razor-wire fencing and having the Texas National Guard arrest migrants on trespassing charges. So far, the Texas Department of Public Safety has stated that it has launched an internal investigation regarding the Texas State Trooper's report of migrant mistreatment. Greg Abbott's Texas Floating Barriers Left Migrant Children Wounded One of the most dangerous barriers that Texas placed along the banks of the Rio Grande is the low-lying barbed wire fences designed to ensnare migrants trying to cross. However, the fence has managed to inflict injury on a 5-year-old migrant child. Omar Tortua and his family traveled from Venezuela to the US-Mexico border in search of a better life, surviving the treacherous Darien Gap and cartel kidnappers along the way. However, they did not face any injuries until Tortua's 5-year-old son got caught up in a coil of concertina wire. He spoke with People Magazine and said that Texas officers were just watching from above as he scooped up his bleeding son. The boy, Jesus, was seen shrieking after he got caught by the barbed wire. Officials did call out to help soon after and treated the boy. However, the damage was done. Soon after Jesus was treated, the family was turned over to US Border Patrol and were processed before being released. "I don't understand: If they were just going to arrest us and let us go, why do they have to put all that up?" the Venezuelan father said. "It doesn't seem right." READ MORE: Illinois Law Will Stop Landlords from Discriminating Tenants for Immigration Status This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Texas Trooper's Accounts Of Injured Migrants On U.S.-Mexico Border Unleashes Criticism - News On 6/KOTV BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. In accordance with the instruction of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the return of former internally displaced persons to the restored city of Lachin continue, the State Committee for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons told Trend. Another caravan was sent from the Gobu Park 3 residential complex in the Garadagh district of Baku on July 22. At this stage, another 22 families (79 people) moved to the city of Lachin. As a result of the Victory by the valiant Azerbaijani army under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, opportunities have been created for a voluntary, safe and dignified return to their native lands after 30 years. Residents of the city of Lachin, which has become even more beautiful and comfortable, thanked the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the victorious Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva for their comprehensive care and expressed gratitude to the valiant Azerbaijani army that liberated the lands from occupation and its heroic soldiers and officers. Thus, as many as 133 families (533 people) were provided with permanent residence in the city of Lachin. Moreover, a total of 18 families (73 people) were relocated to the city of Lachin on July 18. DEAR MISS MANNERS: Im often flummoxed by some peoples gall, but this situation, in my humble opinion, takes the cake. Im sad to say it came from a dear friend living several states away. Her college-age daughter, whom I have never met, is doing a semester abroad in a major European city. My friend posted on social media, asking all her friends (over 200 of them) to help celebrate the daughters birthday by sending her money electronically, along with a birthday greeting. This was to make the birthday special and keep her from feeling homesick. She included her daughters handle on this public forum. Several people, including me, simply posted a birthday greeting comment on my friends page, while others commented that they had sent money to the daughter. Let me stress that this is NOT a financially strapped family or deprived student. Quite the contrary; they live in an affluent community in a large metropolis. Seems like a tacky money grab for a privileged daughter. Im so sad to say that this bold request has clouded how I feel towards my friend. I could understand asking people to send a birthday greeting on the daughters account, but requesting money seemed a bit over the top to me. Am I off base? GENTLE READER: Nothing cures homesickness like a newly fattened bank account. Miss Manners agrees that it is unseemly for solvent people to beg. You were more than generous sending your well wishes -- and are understandably less enthusiastic about the friendship now. If this girl is being taught that money will cheer her up on a birthday, a future graduation or wedding may make her downright lachrymose -- in order to continue cashing in. *** MORE FROM MISS MANNERS: Miss Manners: Do I buy peanuts at the arena even though they make a mess? Miss Manners: Are there rules for thanking therapists? Miss Manners: What would be a polite response when a friend criticizes my choice of words? Miss Manners: After a houseguest departed, I discovered multiple places where they had helped Miss Manners: Food, facial hair and offending my boyfriend *** (Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.) *** COPYRIGHT 2023 JUDITH MARTIN DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106; 816-581-7500 Disability Pride Lehigh Valley on Saturday in Lehigh County celebrated the regions community of people with disabilities, their supporters, and friends and family. Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance and Disability Pride PA organized the free festival featuring art, live music, special guests, resource tables, food trucks and games for all ages. It was hosted by Penn State Lehigh Valley in Center Valley, Upper Saucon Township. Modeled after other Disability Pride PA events, the local edition aimed to create a centralized event where individuals could come together through the power of arts to foster disability celebration through an inclusive and supportive environment. Our ultimate goal is to make Disability Pride the epitome of accessibility and inclusivity in the Lehigh Valley, ensuring that everyone can actively participate and feel welcome, Jacqui Schwartz, accessibility manager for the Lehigh Valley Arts & Cultural Alliance, said in a news release. The Penn State Lehigh Valley campus is fully accessible to individuals with mobility access needs, organizers said. Recorded audio description was to be be provided for visual arts and American Sign Language interpreters working throughout the event to provide ASL interpretation for announcements and performances. Event partner LANTA agreed to provide special LANtaFlex 505 Service to and from the event. Disability Pride Lehigh Valley was made possible thanks to support from Penn State Lehigh Valley, LANTA, Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living, Free Mom Hugs, and Good Shepherd. State-wide sponsors, who also support Disability Pride PAs events across Pennsylvania, include Autism Connection of Pennsylvania, Community Health Choices, AmeriHealth Caritas, Convatec, Disability Rights Pennsylvania, Highmark Wholecare, Inglis, Liberty Resources, Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, NEPA Inclusive, PA Health & Wellness, Temple University, UPMC Health Plan and Values Into Action. Flip through the photo gallery above for a look at Saturdays festival. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. A team of three Easton Area High School students beat out every team in the nation to win the mobile app development contest at the national FBLA convention, according to a news release. Six students from Easton Area High School earned the right to compete at nationals for the national business and technology competition in Atlanta from June 27 to 30. The three winning app developers were Alexander Harrison, Matthew You and Andrew Xia The students set a level of professionalism that would be tough for even adults to compete with, said Michael Tanczos, an Easton Area High School computer science teacher who helped with the project. It wasnt just good for student work. It was good for any level. Also traveling to Atlanta to compete were Ian Berry, Patrick Melan and Jonathan You. We are so very proud of all of you that competed, club advisor Bev Klein said. Easton Area kids won the mobile app development contest at the FBLA nationals in 2019 and 2020. Easton Area High School took sixth place in the nation last year. Club reporter Karolyne Cristobal gave the school board a year-end wrap-up with a presentation July 18 at the board meeting in the education center in Forks Township. You can watch the presentation on YouTube. The FLBA is a longstanding club within our district, who has continually made us proud, giving kids opportunities to explore their potential, not only through the experience of giving back to the community but through competition experience, Easton Area School District Superintendent Tracy Piazza said. Were very grateful for that. Easton Area High School students won first place in the mobile app development contest at the national FBLA conference in Atlanta from June 27-30, 2023.Photo courtesy of Bev Klein Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. By Mike Schlossberg and Stephen Kinsey In our state, 1.8 million adults struggle with a mental health condition the overwhelming majority of those people (1.7 million) do not live in a community with enough mental health professionals. One in four Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness have a serious mental illness, and one in four adults with a serious mental illness have been arrested. Every year, we lose 2,000 Pennsylvania lives to suicide. Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania House Democrats finalized the 2023-24 state budget, with the intent of the bill being signed in the Senate, then going to the desk of Gov. Josh Shapiro. This budget deal includes a $45 billion spending plan and historic investments for public schools, community safety initiatives and economic development. Despite our support for these critical funding initiatives for our commonwealth, the budget unfortunately fell short in the area of mental and behavioral health. In the 2022-23 state budget, the legislature established a bipartisan Behavioral Health Commission for Adult Mental Health to provide recommendations for allocating $100 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding for adult mental health programs in Pennsylvania. Per Act 54 of 2022, no funds can be spent until enabling legislation is enacted by the General Assembly. To create this enabling legislation, we worked tirelessly with our friends across the aisle, mental and behavioral health experts, and advocates for over a year to reach an agreement on H.B. 849. In May, the bill was unanimously approved by the House Human Services Committee, and it passed the tightly divided Pennsylvania House of Representatives with widespread support (173-30) on June 7. As we awaited action in the Senate to approve this bipartisan piece of legislation, we unfortunately discovered that the $100 million ARPA funding for adult mental health initiatives in our state would not be included in the budget. By not directing the funds already earmarked for Act 54 of 2022s recommended investments in adult mental health, the 2023-24 state budget has failed the 1.8 million Pennsylvanians struggling with mental and behavioral health disorders, as well as the families of those struggling with the loss of their loved ones to suicide. This budget failed the dwindling mental health workforce who are underpaid and overworked. This budget failed our criminal justice system, our local law enforcement, and people who should be in treatment rather than behind bars. We look forward to working with the Senate, the House and the governor to find a solution to this devastating oversight. We ask the Senate to take up and pass H.B. 849. Until then, we urge our stakeholders to continue their advocacy efforts for this crucial funding to save the lives of Pennsylvanians. State Rep. Mike Schlossberg of Lehigh County is the prime sponsor of H.B. 849 and serves as House Democratic Caucus chairman, while Rep. Stephen Kinsey of Philadelphia is majority chairman of the House Human Services Committee. Both are Democrats. An old-timey concert Saturday afternoon in Belvidere is pulling double-duty to entertain Warren County residents but also offer information on resources for those recovering from last weekends flooding. The free concert of 19th century American tunes by the Yankee Brass Band is being held as part of the celebration of Warren Countys upcoming bicentennial. It is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. in Garret D. Wall Park, the town square located in front of the Warren County Court House, 413 Second St. in Belvidere. Guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets. In the event of rain, organizers said the concert would be held inside United Presbyterian Church, 224 Mansfield St., Belvidere. The forecast is for a picture-perfect July day with sunny skies, a high near 85 and a north wind 5 to 10 mph. Warren County officials via social media on Friday said that during the concert, representatives of local, state and federal officials would be on hand to provide information on resources for those affected by the recent storms. That includes staff from the offices of U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., a Republican representing New Jerseys 7th Congressional District; state Sen. Douglas Steinhardt, R-Warren/Hunterdon/Somerset; the Warren County Board of County Commissioners and Belvidere Town Council. Tomorrow, 7/22: FREE Bicentennial Concert in Garret Wall Park - Yankee Brass Band. Reps from offices of Congressman Kean, Sen. Steinhardt, WC Commissioners & Belvidere Council to provide info on resources available to those affected by recent storms: https://t.co/I10Gy8UJ9q pic.twitter.com/jfhvyP8qdu WarrenCountyNJGov (@WarrenCountyNJ) July 21, 2023 Last weekends torrential storms flooded homes and yards with water and debris and damaged public roads and bridges, including a stretch of Route 46 in Knowlton Township that requires a complex berm repair in order to fix. The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management launched a site to help gather data on storm damage in Warren County, available at damagenj-njoem.hub.arcgis.com. This website should be used by Warren County-only homeowners to report any damage caused by last weekends storms. It is set up to help the process of gathering storm damage data, though entering info in the site does not guarantee federal assistance, officials said. The website does not supplant the normal local-county-state reporting structure, and property owners are encouraged to still report losses/needs to local emergency management officials. Site users are asked to please only report damages to residential properties no outbuildings or businesses should be included. Neighboring Northampton County in Pennsylvania also severe damage in last weeks flooding, and just to the south in Bucks County, six people died in flash flooding and the search was continuing for a 9-month-old boy missing after both his 2-year-old sister and their mother died. Warren County has a series of events planned to celebrate its upcoming 200th anniversary. Last summer, the county looked back to its centennial era with a free concert of jazz from the Roaring Twenties; another event that harkens back to the centennial is planned for this fall with a Great Gatsby-style gala on Oct. 21 at Rutherfurd Hall in Allamuchy Township, and planning is underway for other events to last through 2025. Warren County came into existence in 1825 after an act that passed the state Legislature on Nov. 20, 1824, separated the area from Sussex County. The county was named in honor of the Revolutionary War hero Gen. Joseph Warren, a Bostonian who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775 years before the formation of Warren County. The Yankee Brass Band concert on Saturday, July 22, will feature music that would have been heard in the early years of Warren County. Since 1987, the Yankee Brass Band has entertained audiences with historically informed performances of 19th century American brass band music, according to a news release from county spokesman Art Charlton; using rare and authentic period instruments, the musicians presents the tunes of the Golden Age of Bands played in much the same manner as in the mid-to-late 19th century. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Being Barbie isnt just about wearing pink, changing hairstyles and dating Ken its about all of those things, plus doing anything else you can dream of and making it happen with your own two hands. And if that anything else you want to do includes building a candle from scratch, youre in luck. Pink Girls Run The World, a group travel company based in New Jersey, will team up with a new DIY candle studio Lit Girl Candle Company in Phillipsburg to host a Barbiecore-themed party from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5. The event is open to the public; prices begin at $90. Guests will enjoy an evening of Barbie-themed nostalgia with lots of pink treats and Barbie trivia, the groups said. Guests will learn the art of blending wax and fragrance oil to create custom candles during the ultimate pink themed experience, said Lit Girl Company owner Kiarra Nash, who took a page out of Barbies own handbook when she opened her new shop at 396 S. Main St. in Phillipsburg last month. She also learned a ton about how to open her storefront from YouTube University, she said. Owner Kiarra Nash opened Lit Girl Candle Company at 396 S. Main St. in Phillipsburg in May. The store offers DIY candle making classes for groups and hopes to foster community through creative arts.Glenn Epps Lit Girl Candle Company now offers classes by appointment for up to 12 people per session. Each session lasts about two hours and features music, board games and a chances to chill. The store also features a photo booth available to visitors. Appointments can be made online for sessions from 6 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekends. Pink Girls Run The World launched six years ago. Founder Tasheika Brewer started her company with the intention of encouraging women to choose experiences over things, she said. The company was featured in the New York Times in 2022 for taking a stance against racial inequity within the travel industry. In 2024, Pink Girls Run The World plans to take its members on a group vacation to Croatia, the companys website states. For over six decades, Barbie has inspired, encouraged and empowered generations of young girls to become women who empower other women, Brewer said. This is what made me love Barbie years ago. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on Twitter. Azercell Telecom", adhering to the tradition, congratulates media representatives on July 22 Day of National Press and Journalism in its own way. On the occasion of the professional holiday of journalists, on July 22-23, all subscribers of the "Mediacell" tariff, as well as the media workers who joined the 2nd Karabakh war, will get a 5 GB mobile internet package from Azercell. Media representatives will be able to get the gift package by texting 1875 to the short number 2723 on the mentioned dates. The leading mobile operator always remembers with deep respect the journalists Maharram Ibrahimov and Siraj Abishov, who were martyred in the line of duty and keeps focus on their family members. "Azercell Telecom" has implemented numerous projects to support the development of journalism and increase the professional skills of press representatives in our country, continuously organizes English language courses for them and provides a "Mediacell" tariff package with special discounts. Azercell congratulates all the journalists, and anyone engaged in this field, who cover issues on the national and world agenda, on the occasion of their professional holiday and wishes them success in their endeavors! I WORK with a lot of companies who ask me to provide one to one financial advice for their employees. And as part of this initiative, I encounter young people who have just graduated and are starting out on their working life. And whilst they dont have very specific financial plans in place right now, they do ask for guidance as to what they should be doing from a financial perspective and what they should be looking out for. Because its easy to get overwhelmed regardless of what age you are, when youre reading or listening about shares, pensions, mortgages, budgeting, tax etc. It can all seem very complicated and contradictory, and for those who dont get the right advice, they can suffer from whats known as: DNA Do Nothing Approach. So, in this weeks article I thought Id share with you what I typically tell people who are at the beginning of their working life. Im going to tell you what tips and habits I want them to form. Because if they heed whats very simple and practical advice, I think it could stay with them throughout their lives, and in no time, theyll set themselves up for financial success now and in the future. 1. Establish a Budget You dont want to end up living pay cheque to pay cheque, and how you avoid this forever happening is to put a monthly budget in place. It may seem very boring and an obvious step to take, but its an area a lot of people struggle with. And the reason why you create and follow one in the first place is simple it helps you do more with the money you earn. If you dont know what youre up against, you cant identify the areas you are under or over-spending on. And yes, I said under-spending. A budget, contrary to popular belief, isnt about cutting back on your spending, its about awareness and making the necessary adjustments in order to achieve whatever goals/lifestyle you want to have. Its finding that happy medium that allows you have a good time, save, and not being in a situation every month, where youre counting the days until your next paid. You need to break what could become a feast or famine cycle, and a budget will help you with this. 2. Establish a Rainy-Day Fund This is really important, and if youve no reason or obvious purpose to start saving right away, and you think whats the point, then let me give you a big reason why. I meet people all the time who are 30 days away from being unable to pay their rent or mortgage and are really living on the edge. If there was a change in employment, or there was a transitory period before you next get paid, or some unforeseen expenses occurred, thats where your emergency fund kicks in. Therell be other reasons, you cant readily think of right now where youll need access to money quickly, and thats where having that emergency fund will be so invaluable. It prevents you from getting into debt, asking your parents for money, and/or having to move back in with them. I think aiming for two months of your net monthly income is a good number to save towards. And youre not going to get there as quickly as you would like, and thats okay by the way. If it takes you a year, two or three it doesnt matter. What matters is youre setting aside money each month towards this goal. 3. Avoid Debt Once you get your first job, it doesnt mean that now you have an income, you can start applying for credit cards or loans. Other than buying a house, a car, or your wish to further your education, you should try and pay for everything else you need with cash and/or savings. 4. Join the Pension Plan If your new employer has a pension scheme and you are asked to join, then do so immediately. Trust me on this. You have an incredible advantage over others, and you should make the most of it, and thats your age. Youve time on your side, and how much you put in, isnt nearly as important as starting early. The longer your contributions and those of your employer are invested, the bigger your fund will become when youre older. Let me give you an example of this. If Susan started saving 100 each month at age 25 and stopped altogether 10 years later at 35, when she reaches 65, at an annual growth rate, of 7% shed have 140,484 in her fund. If Eddie delayed saving until he was 35 and saved 100 every month for the next 30 years, at age 65, again at an annual growth rate of 7%, hed have 121,997 in his fund. So, even though Dermot saved three times longer than Susan, hes still c. 18,487 behind her. And thats the value of starting your pension early. So, whatever your company will contribute, begin your retirement journey by matching it. This is free money youre getting from them, so take advantage of it, and let signing up to the retirement plan be one of the first things you do - dont be an Eddie. And if the company doesnt have a group scheme or you have to be a certain age before you can join it, dont let that put you off because you can set up your own pension (Id recommend a PRSA) and then transfer it to a group scheme when you join it. 5. Set Goals If your reason why is a strong one, it becomes easier to save and avoid debt throughout your working life. I would recommend you take some time out every year, to find out what your reason why is. What do you want to do or happen over the next year, two or three? Because when you know, it makes your effort and hard work that bit easier. If you have a plan to go on holidays, buy a car, save for a deposit on a house, you need a clear-cut plan as to what you have to do, in order to achieve it. And again, its not difficult to figure out. For example, if youre 25 and your goal is to buy a property at age 30, youll need a minimum deposit of 10% deposit. And if that deposit is for example 30,000 then you need to save 500 every month (30,000/60) If you want to go on holidays next year, without taking on any debt to pay for it, and you need 2,000, then start saving 167 every month into a dedicated holiday savings fund. Whatever your reason why is, put a number on it, divide it by the number of months you want to have it saved by, and thats the amount you need to save each month. 6. Take Advantage of Employer Benefits I come across people all the time who dont realise what additional benefits their company provide other than perhaps health insurance and pension contributions. Some will offer death in service benefits, income replacement in the event of people being unable to work because of an accident or illness, discounted share purchase schemes, independent financial advice planning and so on. Id say familiarise yourself with whats available so that you get the most out of them, and you could begin by asking your HR department and/or your co-workers what they are, because some or all of these benefits can help boost or stabilise your personal finances along with improving your physical and mental health as well. Liam Croke is MD of Harmonics Financial Ltd, based in Plassey. He can be contacted at liam@harmonics.ie or www.harmonics.ie There are still a small number of four-bed detached homes available at The Rye, Riverwalk, Ballymore Eustace. River Walk is located in this idyllic town in Kildare, just 11 km outside Naas, where Ballymore built its first home over 40 years ago and provided the company with its name. The development will feature 80 energy-efficient homes, all within walking distance of Ballymore village and a mere 45-minute drive from Dublin. This picturesque development of 80 homes on the banks of the River Liffey has a mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes, thoughtfully designed for modern living. The two-bed house is designed as a contemporary interpretation of the typical Irish cottage. Each home at River Walk features stunning kitchen and bathrooms with spacious open floor plans. River Walk boasts fantastic sustainability credentials, with all homes built to an A rating for energy efficiency. Each home features well-insulated walls, floors, and roofs as well as an air-to-water heat pump system that provides domestic hot water and efficient heating, serving wall-mounted radiators, and excellent indoor air quality due to mechanical ventilation. The detached four-bedroom homes at The Rye are priced at 680,000 For more information visit www.riverwalkballymore.com One of our young supporters, Zoe Spillane, is raising money for the KWWSPCA by walking 100 kilometres in the month of July, with her dog Trixie. They have already covered quite a few kilometres and have raised over 200 so far. It is wonderful when the young have concerns about animal welfare and are willing to put time and effort into fundraising for charity. The photo shows Zoe and Trixie reading a nice article about their fundraising effort. The Spillane family adopted Hazel from the KWWSPCA about seven years ago, but Hazel sadly went over the rainbow bridge last July. This fundraiser is in her memory. If you would like to support Zoe, please donate to http://kwwspca.ie/donate/ specifying that the donation is for Zoe. If you and your dog fancy a nice stroll along the Barrow River and the Grand Canal please come along tomorrow, Sunday the 23 of July for a sponsored walk in aid of the KWWSPCA. The walk starts at 11 am at the Courthouse in Athy. Everyone is welcome to join the walk, even if you dont have a dog. We hope to have some of our rescue dogs with us on the day. We have quite a few beautiful kittens ready for adoption in the Kitty Cottage, and more that will be ready for adoption when they are a little older. The Kitty Cottage is at the KWWSPCA Animal Shelter near Athgarvan, eircode W12 EV60. There is a 100 adoption fee per kitten which includes the cost of spay/neuter, vaccination, worm and flea treatment and microchipping. If you are planning to come along to see our kittens please bring ID and a cat carrier if you have one. If you don't have a carrier, we have some of them for sale. Open days are usually Saturday afternoons from 12pm to 3pm. Kildare & West Wicklow Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ltd Registered Charity Number: CHY 6280 General Helpline: 087 6887136 Noah's Ark: 086 3413017 Website: www.kwwspca.ie Email General: kwwspca@gmail.com KWWSPCA SUMMER BAZAAR SUNDAY, 13 AUGUST 2023 FROM 12.00 3.00 The KWWSPCAs first Summer Bazaar will take place at the KWWSPCA Animal Shelter near Athgarvan (Eircode W12 EV60) on Sunday, August 13, from 12.00 3.00. Plenty of free parking and no entry charge. There will be stalls selling cakes, books, plants, clothes, pet products, bric a brac, small items of furniture and much more. All the proceeds from the Bazaar will go to helping the animals in the care of the KWWSPCA. KWWSPCA ANNUAL WAG & BONE DOG SHOW SUNDAY 10 SEPTEMBER 2023 In the Parade Ring at Punchestown Racecourse. Registration starts at 1.00 and the Judging starts at 2.00. A Fun Dog Show. Every type of dog welcome, especially rescue dogs. Light refreshments will be available available. All dogs must be kept on leads. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, visited Boyle on Wednesday last to officially open the 3.4 million Boyle Town Regeneration Project. The project has provided a community, cultural and business hub in the towns previously vacant Royal Hotel and the development of a new river promenade which includes outdoor space for events and performances. The project, funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, with match funding provided by Roscommon County Council has been delivered at an overall cost of 3.4 million. The investment comes as part of the Governments commitment to the revitalisation of rural towns under its Rural Development Policy, Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy which aim to bring more people, business and investment opportunities to Irish towns. Roscommon County Council was awarded funding of over 2.5 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to deliver the project. Speaking at the event, Minister Humphreys said: I am delighted to be here today to officially open the Boyle Regeneration project. This fantastic facility will serve the town with community and cultural facilities as well as providing business opportunities to the local community. Boyle Regeneration, which is part of the larger Boyle 2040 masterplan, will be transformative for the town of Boyle and its surrounding communities. By repurposing a previously vacant building, this project has breathed new life into the town and will help attract further investment in the area. The Minister continued: With investment of over 2.5 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, this project demonstrates the commitment of my Department in supporting projects which promote sustainable, inclusive communities and I must congratulate Roscommon County Council and their project partners on delivery of such a fantastic project. 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme This week Minister Humphreys TD also launched the 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme a 15 million fund designed to revitalise and regenerate rural towns and villages. The fund will support dozens of projects nationwide with a focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction and bringing additional footfall into the centre of towns. Grants will be made available to support the development of outdoor projects such as plazas, parks, playgrounds and green spaces. Under the initiative, funding will be provided to local authorities to acquire land for regeneration purposes. Farmer and artisan markets will be supported under the scheme and there will also be funding ring-fenced for projects for offshore island communities. She said that Our Rural Future, the Governments ambitious policy for rural development, is very much focussed on supporting the regeneration of our rural towns and villages. Additionally, the Town Centre First Policy is a cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. This years Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been closely aligned with these two policies and it will directly support our towns to be more attractive and economically and socially vibrant." Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, over 154 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects. The Scheme typically funds rural towns and villages with a population of up to 10,000 people. The Minister concluded: There are still some small towns and villages that have not yet benefited from the Scheme, so I would encourage all of these towns and villages, in particular, to consider applying for funding under the 2023 Scheme. A farm storage building is seen heavily damaged after a Russian attack in Odesa region, Ukraine, Friday, July 21, 2023. LIBKOS / AP Russia targeted on Friday, July 22, Ukrainian critical grain export infrastructure after vowing to retaliate for what it said was a Ukrainian attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Attacks in recent days have put Odesa in Russias crosshairs after Moscow abandoned a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port. Other Russian missiles damaged what officials described only as an "important infrastructure facility" southwest of the port city of Odesa, in what appeared to be an effort to cripple Ukraines food exports. In the attack on the storage site, two low-flying cruise missiles started a blaze, then another struck during firefighting efforts, regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said. The barrage injured two people, damaged equipment and destroyed 100 metric tons (110 tons) of peas and 20 metric tons (22 tons) of barley, Kiper said. "The enemy is continuing terror, and its undoubtedly related to the grain deal," said Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian militarys Operational Command South. Both Russia and Ukraine have announced they will treat ships traveling to each others Black Sea ports as potential military targets. Russias Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin clarified the Defense Ministrys announcement earlier this week that Moscow has declared wide areas in the Black Sea dangerous for shipping. The ministry said it would consider incoming vessels as laden with weapons and treat the country of its flag a participant in the conflict on the Ukrainian side. Vershinin said the Russian navy will inspect the vessels to make sure they arent carrying military cargo before taking any other action. "There is no longer a sea humanitarian corridor, there is a zone of increased military danger," he told a news briefing. Vershinin added that Russia will fulfill the needs of African countries despite the deal's termination. President Vladimir Putin has promised to provide poor countries in Africa with free grain. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes War in Ukraine: At the 'stabilization points,' where the wounds tell the stories of war 'Unlocking the grain corridor is an absolute priority' The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said the recent strikes against port and grain infrastructure and threats of escalation at sea "are likely a part of a Kremlin effort to leverage Russias exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and exact extensive concessions from the West." In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Western countries should address Russias demands to restore the Black Sea grain corridor. "Russia has some expectations. If these are overcome, Russia is in favor of the active work of this grain corridor," said Erdogan, who helped negotiate the deal. "We know that (Putin) has some expectations from Western countries. Western countries need to take action on this issue." He reiterated he would talk to Putin by phone and hoped to meet him in Turkey next month. In comments reported by state-run news agency Anadolu and other media, Erdogan warned that the end of the grain initiative would raise global food prices, increase famine and unleash new waves of migration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke with Erdogan by phone Friday, and they "coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative." "Unlocking the grain corridor is an absolute priority," Zelenskyy said on the Telegram messaging app. Putin, whose authority was shaken last month by a short-lived rebellion from a Russian mercenary force, told his Security Council that the Ukrainian military has suffered massive losses and the West is struggling to maintain supplies of weapons and ammunition. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes War in Ukraine: The Black Sea once again at the center of the conflict A WOMAN was before Newcastle West Court after a series of events that began with a ball getting stuck under her car. Clara Wall, aged 26, of Arra View, Newcastle West pleaded guilty to no driving licence and driving without insurance. Garda Dylan McCarthy gave evidence of attending a minor road traffic collision at her address on June 26, 2021 and noting the offences. Michael Lane, solicitor for Ms Wall, said his clients vehicle was parked up at the time. She was out on maternity leave and it was Covid times, said Mr Lane. The solicitor said a neighbours ball had got stuck under Ms Walls car. The solicitor said Ms Wall moved her car to release the ball and while doing so her car came into contact with a neighbours vehicle. It was very minimal, said Mr Lane. The solicitor said Ms Wall needs her car as she works as a nurse in a nursing home and asked Judge Carol Anne Coolican not to disqualify her from driving. The judge asked Garda McCarthy about the damage to the neighbours vehicle. There was very little damage, said Garda McCarthy. Judge Coolican asked the investigating garda if Ms Wall told him on the day she was moving the car due to a ball. Yes, said Garda McCarthy. Judge Coolican fined Ms Wall 150 for not having insurance and she exercised her discretion not to disqualify her from driving. The driving licence offence was taken into consideration. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. The second day of the Global Media Forum themed "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution" has kicked off in Azerbaijan's Shusha, Trend reports. The forum, organized by the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and in connection with the 148th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national press, is attended by 150 foreign guests from about 50 countries, including state information agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organizations, and media structures. Among the participants are 60 leaders and representatives of local media. The forum aims to discuss global issues in media and information-communication spheres. Prominent and influential leaders from the world's renowned media, along with experts, will discuss new tools in journalism and communication in the digital era, digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, and the establishment of sustainable business models in the media industry. The discussions will also cover consumer trends in new media, media literacy, methods to combat disinformation and fake news, journalist safety, and other topics. During the forum, an initiative for creating the media platform of the Non-Aligned Movement will also be proposed. The city of Shusha, which has hosted numerous international events, is gathering leaders of leading global media, journalistic organizations, influential experts in the information-communication sphere, and renowned journalists for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan. IN OUR culture, there's an awful lot of negativity, so this has helped us to concentrate on something positive for a change. Nora O'Neill shared this sentiment which rings through in Traveller communities around the county and beyond at the Traveller Pride Art Exhibition titled Moments of Truth, at City Hall. Hosted by Limerick Traveller Health Programme, with Limerick Social Service Council CLG, 12 Traveller women from different parts of Limerick came together to showcase seven large canvas paintings and two quilts completed. Nora herself painted an artwork called My Family, to honour her children, and a new generation. Bridgie, a member of the team who created the Lady Of Limerick quilt, spoke on why they decided to represent Traveller life with that scene. We wanted to make something that had Traveller women at its centre, because Traveller women are the heart of Traveller families, she said. With the flowing Shannon and King John's Castle as the landscape, the heart of the quilt is the depiction of a Traveller woman. They are daughters, sisters, wives, mothers and aunts - they are fixers of all problems that often go unseen, she outlined. A powerful medium to express emotions, stories, and culture, the art created by Limerick Travellers for this event captures the essence of their rich heritage. RaYche Ps has released her debut EP, Bigotry & Blood. Through four tracks, she delves into themes of diversity, bigotry and injustice, referencing personal traumas and struggles regarding sexuality and her mistreatment by church institutions. With this collection of songs, RaYche hopes to spark conversations and contribute to a more empathetic and inclusive world. Speaking of Bigotry & Blood, she explained: Its open to interpretation. But I feel like for me, it references the unwillingness to accept diversity and the destructive consequences of bigotry and injustice, which can lead to violence, conflict, and shedding of blood. It represents a hurtful ideology that can cause division between communities or individuals. I'm also referencing the historical use of blood as a symbol of our ethnicity, ancestral ties and our own like universal experiences of life and death. RaYche describes herself as a conscious artist, one who seeks to write meaningful music and resonate with people. Before going solo, she used to perform in a choir. I joined a gospel choir in 2005 and that really helped me to gain the confidence to sing solo. I learned how to build up confidence there, how to step out on my own, she explains. In school, RaYche struggled with accepting a side of herself she did not understand. Anything to do with being gay was never discussed in school, it was never mentioned. Sex education was all just between a man and a woman. I feel like I grew up in a time where I felt like I wasn't normal. I really struggled with accepting that side of me. I do remember being in a really kind of bad place mentally in myself, she recalls. I was really depressed, and I tried to find solace in a church. And I went to church in Limerick, but while I was there, one of the very first things that I experienced there was somebody stood up and started to preach out loud, Lord Jesus Christ, delivered the gay people out of Limerick. I felt like I went there feeling like Christian people would understand and that they'd be open to welcoming you and making you feel safe, but I felt the total opposite. Nvidia may be able to sell every artificial-intelligence chip it can make. Unfortunately for the chipmaking industry, there is only one Nvidia. That conundrum is already apparent at the start of the second-quarter earnings season. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the chipmaking company more commonly known as TSMC, said Thursday that second-quarter revenue fell nearly 10% from the same period last year. That marks the companys first revenue decline in 16 quartersthe longest streak of growth since at least 2000, which is as far back as such data compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence goes. It wasnt a total surprise. Analysts had been expecting a decline, as the chip industry is still mired in a slowdown because of slumping demand for products like personal computers and smartphones. Global chip sales for 2023 through the month of May were down 21% from the same period last year, according to data from the Semiconductor Industry Association. And a turnaround doesnt seem to be on the near-term horizon. TSMC said it now expects its full-year 2023 revenue to decline around 10% from last year on a U.S. dollar basis, compared with the low- to mid-single-digit decline the company projected just three months ago. TSMC is now the worlds largest semiconductor company by annual revenue. And it is a contract manufacturer that produces chips designed in-house by high-tech titans such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabets Google along with other major chip designers such as Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, which lack their own manufacturing capabilities. Hence, the companys results serve as a strong bellwether for the health of the entire sectorand the latest set cast a large shadow. The PHLX Semiconductor Index slid 3.6% Thursday, with every name on the index closing the day in the red. The drop was particularly pronounced among makers of chip-manufacturing gear, as TSMC said its capital expenditures for the year would be at the low end of its previously forecast range of $32 billion to $36 billion, which would represent a decline of as much as 12% from the previous year. Chip-equipment makers ASML, Applied Materials, KLA and Lam Research saw their stocks average a decline of nearly 5% on Thursday. Chip stocks have been on a tear this year. Some of the gains have come from traders trying to get ahead of the highly cyclical industrys eventual recovery. But a big part stems from hype over generative AIthe technology that powers chatbots such as ChatGPT and that also requires powerful computing and graphics processors. Cloud-computing giants Microsoft, Google and Amazon are racing to build up GenAI tools and services, which is driving up demand for the necessary components. Nvidia issued a blowout revenue forecast with its latest quarterly results in May, putting the chipmakers stock on a trajectory that pushed the companys market value above $1 trillion. The PHLX index had jumped 22% between Nvidias report and TSMCs latest results, more than double the S&P 500s performance in that time. But Nvidias quickly rising tide doesnt lift all boats. TSMC said Thursday that AI accounts for just 6% of its current revenue, compared with 33% for smartphones. Circumstances may remain challenging for the latter; Wall Street expects Apples iPhone unit sales to fall 4% in the fiscal year ending in September, which would be the first such drop in four years, according to consensus estimates from Visible Alpha. And while TSMC expects its AI business to surgeaveraging 50% annual growth over the next five yearsthat business also has to get through some serious production constraints. Those issues are mostly on the back end of the production process, where the chips are packaged with other components. Brian Chin of Stifel says TSMC could quadruple the number of production starts for Nvidias AI chips, and output in the short run would not change because advanced packaging capacity is the choke point." Even Nvidia cant fully defy the chip industrys gravity. Amazon.com has told employees across the company that they may have to relocate to main offices concentrated in bigger cities, an escalation of its efforts to bring workers back to the office in-person. Managers at various Amazon businesses are telling their staff that if they are located in smaller offices or are remote workers, they may have to move to what the company calls main hub" locations such as the companys headquarters in Seattle, or offices in New York or San Francisco, people familiar with the matter said. In some communications, employees are being told they have a certain amount of time to move back to their main hubs where their bosses or teams are located, even if they live close to other Amazon offices where they could work. Amazon doesnt have an exact definition for what a main hub is and determines it on a team-by-team basis. The number of employees or teams affected by the change is unclear. Amazons push to mandate that employees return to the office has been met with resistance from many workers. Some have started jokingly referring to the policy as disagree and commute," a variation of one of Amazons leadership principles called disagree and commit." Internally, some have speculated that the return to office rules are another way to thin out Amazons workforce since it will cause a certain amount of voluntary resignations. Late last year through the early part of this year, Amazon laid off more than 27,000 employees. The cuts were part of a cost-cutting effort at the company, and at first targeted unprofitable businesses such as its devices arm, but later included layoffs at Amazons profitable cloud-computing division. Theres more energy, collaboration, and connections happening since weve been working together at least three days per week, and weve heard this from lots of employees and the businesses that surround our offices," Amazon spokesman Brad Glasser said. We continue to look at the best ways to bring more teams together in the same locations, and well communicate directly with employees as we make decisions that affect them." Amazon said that employees being asked to relocate will be eligible for relocation benefits. Amazons move to push employees back to main business offices follows earlier decisions by the company to be stricter about employees returning to in-person work. The company earlier this year began to mandate that its employees work out of physical offices at least three days a week, shifting from a policy that enabled individual teams and managers to decide how often to be in the office. Its easier to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture when were in the office together most of the time and surrounded by our colleagues," Chief Executive Andy Jassy said at the time of the decision. Inside Amazon, some employees have feared that the shift to return to main hubs means the company is moving in the direction of requiring workers to go back to the office five days a week, according to employees. Amazon said that such a policy isnt in place. Amazons stance has evolved throughout the pandemic. The company early on in the health crisis moved to expand its physical offices and discussed having an office-centric culture." As its tech peers offered more flexibility, however, the company shifted to giving employees more choice. In late 2021, Jassy said corporate team directors would decide if staff need to work from the office, saying then that it expected some teams to work mostly remotely while others would combine remote work and in office. The company made that pronouncement as competition for tech talent was at a high and the labor market tight. Things look different now. Amazon and other tech companies have laid off thousands of workers in recent months as their businesses have seen slower growth compared with early in the pandemic, and many companies across industries have moved to require more in-office work. As one of the largest companies in the U.S. with more than 1.4 million employees globally, Amazon has long invested in its office spaces throughout the country. Besides coastal cities, the company has large offices in metro areas such as Dallas, Nashville, Tenn., and Austin, Texas. Amazon also recently opened what it calls its second headquarters" in Arlington, Va. Amazon opened the first phase of the development but paused construction for the second phase. Write to Sebastian Herrera at sebastian.herrera@wsj.com and Dana Mattioli at dana.mattioli@wsj.com Go Airlines (India) Ltd has received claims totaling 23,777 crore ($2.9 billion) from both operational and financial creditors as part of its ongoing insolvency process, according to two banking sources who spoke to Reuters. This procedure follows the requirements set by Indian law, granting every creditor the right to seek payment and remedy by submitting claims when a company faces bankruptcy. Subsequently, the resolution professional is responsible for verifying the authenticity of these filed claims. Also Read: Go First gets conditional nod to resume flights Claims from the lenders are around 5,000 crore while lessors' claims amount to 18,000 crore so far, Reuters cited a banker with a state-run bank, who has exposure to Go Airlines, as saying. The comment was made after a meeting of the committee of creditors on July 21. The resolution professional overseeing Go Airlines is yet to authenticate the validity of the claims and did not promptly respond to a request for comment from Reuters via email. Go Airlines, which managed the operations of Go First carrier, sought bankruptcy protection in May, attributing the grounding of approximately half of its 54 Airbus A320neos to "faulty" Pratt & Whitney engines. The Raytheon-owned engine maker has said the claims are without merit. Earlier in July, the company extended an invitation to investors to express their interest in the company through a court-appointed administrator. Investors have until August 9 to submit their expressions of interest (EOI). "The airline has received 40 queries on EOIs from potential bidders, but no formal submissions have been made as yet," the second banker said. The bankers declined to reveal their identities as they lacked authorisation to interact with the media. On July 21, India's aviation regulator said Go Airlines could resume operations if it can meet certain conditions, including getting interim funding and approval of its flight schedule. The resolution professional is waiting for banks to disburse funds for which in-principal approval was given last month to resume operations, the banker said. (With Reuters inputs) Axis Banks's much revered Magnus credit card might loose some of its charm and shine following the privatised bank's Friday notice devaluing rewards on the card and excluding certain payments from earning reward points. The Magnus Credit Card that targets affluent customers remains enjoyed the Axis Bank has notified of certain changes it brings to the Magnus Card with effect from 1 September 2023. This includes discontinuation of the Tata CLiQ voucher for the newly onboarded members from the afore mentioned date. The Axis Magnus credit card from Axis Bank boasts of a high earning as well as redemption rate. It offers 12 EDGE Rewards (ER) on every 200 spent. Axis bank values 1 ER at 20 paise, which makes the base reward rate 1.2%. Axis Bank requires customers to have a salary of over 3 lakh a month to access Burgundy, among other criteria. The primary motivations behind changing the rewards are consolidation efforts towards clubbing Axis Magnus and Axis Burgundy rewards, says Bloomberg Quint. Axis Bank remains a professional player in the credit card business. The bank boasts of over 14% market share and is the fourth largest issuer as of March. In FY23, Axis bank issued 4.2 million new credit cards. As of 31 March, the outstanding loans toward credit cards were 31,684 crore, up 97% year-on-year, as reported by BQ. Major changes introduced to Axis Magnus credit card -Lowering the swap ratio of card rewards to airline or hotel miles programs. While earlier customers could swap five reward points for four miles, now the ratio will be lowered to 5:2. -The annual fee will be updated from INR 10,000 + GST to INR 12,500 + GST for customers on-boarded from 1 September 2023 -Annual benefit of voucher worth INR 10,000 will be discontinued -Customers on-boarded from 1 September 2023, will receive fee waiver of INR 12,500 on spends of 25,00,000 in the preceding card anniversary year -For customers onboarded before 1 September 2023, annual fee waiver will be applicable on cumulative spends of 15,00,000 in preceding card anniversary year -Monthly milestone benefits of 25,000 EDGE Reward Points on monthly spends of 1,00,000 will be discontinued from 1 September 2023 -Utility services and government institution payments have been excluded from reward eligibility New Delhi: In a significant move towards green energy growth and transition, India is set to achieve 50 percent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday. Virtually addressing the G20 energy ministers via meeting, PM Modi highlighted the importance of energy in shaping the future, sustainability, growth, and development of both individuals and nations. He expressed that despite different realities and pathways for energy transition, the ultimate goal of every country remains the same. With India being the worlds most populated nation and the fastest-growing large economy, the country is making commendable strides in fulfilling its climate commitments. PM Modi proudly revealed that India has surpassed its non-fossil installed electric capacity target nine years ahead of schedule and has now set even higher ambitions for itself. We are among the global leaders in solar and wind power," the Prime Minister stated, citing Indias significant progress in clean energy adoption. To showcase the nations commitment, the delegates of the Working Group were given the opportunity to visit the Pavagada Solar Park and Modhera Solar Village. PM Modi highlighted some of Indias remarkable achievements over the past nine years. These include connecting over 190 million households with LPG, achieving the historic milestone of providing electricity to every village, and striving to provide piped cooking gas to more than 90 percent of the population in the coming years. He underscored that the goal is to ensure inclusive, resilient, equitable, and sustainable energy for all. He informed that in 2015, India began a small movement by launching a scheme for the use of LED lights which turned out to be the largest LED distribution program in the world saving us more than 45 billion units of energy per year. He also touched upon starting the largest agricultural pump solarization initiative in the world and Indias domestic electric vehicle market projection of 10 million annual sales by 2030. He also highlighted commencing the rollout of 20% ethanol blended petrol this year which aims to cover the entire country by 2025. For decarbonizing India, the prime minister said that the country is working on Mission mode on green hydrogen as an alternative and aims to transform India into a Global Hub for the production, use and export of green hydrogen and its derivatives. Addressing the G20 groups role in advancing sustainable and inclusive energy transition, PM Modi stressed the importance of including the Global South and providing low-cost finance for developing countries. He advocated for bridging technology gaps, promoting energy security, and diversifying supply chains. The prime minister applauded the High-level Principles on Hydrogen as a positive step in this direction. To strengthen energy security and collaboration, the prime minister suggested exploring the potential of transnational grid interconnections. India is actively promoting mutually beneficial cooperation with its neighboring countries in this regard. He invited all participating nations to join the Green Grids Initiative of the International Solar Alliance, titled One Sun, One World, One Grid. Concluding his address, PM Modi emphasized Indias traditional wisdom in caring for the environment and launched Mission LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment, a movement aimed at turning each individual into a climate champion. He reiterated the significance of preserving our One Earth, protecting the interests of our One Family, and striving towards a green One Future through our thoughts and actions, no matter how we transition. For years, as Yemen was ravaged by civil war, another catastrophe has loomed off the countrys Red Sea coast, where a rusting tanker is threatening to break apart and spill more than a million barrels of oil into the fragile ecosystem. International organizations and experts watched with alarm as the FSO Saferleft stranded 5 miles off the Yemeni shore since 2015began to fall apart. If it ruptures or explodes, it could disgorge four times the amount of oil spilled in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska, disrupting one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes and closing off ports bringing humanitarian aid into the war-torn country. A cleanup would cost more than $20 billion, and would never be fully complete, the United Nations estimated. This weekend, a U.N.-led team of international experts is scheduled to begin an audacious operation to siphon out the entirety of the Safers volatile cargo. The plan is fraught with danger. It involves lining up a very large crude carrier, purchased by the U.N. as the Nautica and now renamed Yemen, alongside the FSO Safer. The tanks on the two vessels will be connected by pipes and the oil will be shifted using hydraulic pumps. The Safer will then be cleaned of sludge, constituting an estimated 5% of the original cargo, towed to a nearby location and secured to a specially strengthened buoy anchored to the seabed with thick cables. The two vessels will need to be kept steady in open waters during the operation, which is expected to take two weeks to complete. Pipes and valves on the 47-year-old Safer are badly corroded, increasing the risk that something could go wrong. Moving such a large quantity of oil after sitting still for so long could also dramatically change the pressure on the aging hull, which could rupture. The systems used to maintain safe pressure in the oil storage holds have been inoperable since 2018, raising the risk of a mishap, including, in a worst-case scenario, an explosion. Salvage teams have pumped an inert gas into the tanks in an attempt to stabilize the oil before it is siphoned out. Other obstacles include the weather. The crew faces scorching temperatures. Then there are sea mines, known to drift in the area, a byproduct of the eight-year civil war. An oil spill would destroy precious coral reefs and mangroves, and deplete fish stocks that would take an estimated 25 years to recover. It would temporarily shut down the nearby ports of Hodeidah and Saleef, conduits for crucial food and lifesaving supplies for millions of people displaced by the war. Desalination plants providing drinking water to nearly two million people also risk contamination if there is a spill, according to a study bya group of researchers led by Benjamin Q. Huynh at Stanford University, publishedin science journal Nature. That could worsen a persistent cholera problem. It really is a perfect storm," said David Gressly, the U.N. resident coordinator in Yemen. We really have no choice but to do something about it." The 1,200-foot, Japanese-made Safer was launched in 1976 before being sold to the Yemeni government in the 1980s to store oil marked for export. It was abandoned eight years ago, left moored offshore with its 1.1 million barrels of Marib light crude after Iran-backed Houthi rebels took control of the nearby coastline as they pursued their fight against the Saudi-backed government based in the port city of Aden. Since 2019, the Houthis had stonewalled requests to access the tanker, according to the U.N. and foreign governments. Diplomats suspect them of aiming to use it to extract concessions in any peace process, or as a floating bomb to deter seaborne attacks. The Houthis, in turn, have said they suspect foreign governments of planning a military operation against them under the guise ofpreventing an oil spill. But over the past year, Saudi and Houthi negotiators have made progress toward a lasting peace deal, accelerated in part by a wider detente in the region between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The breakthrough came with the help of a Yemen-based company that the Houthis trusted. The Fahem Group, which imports grain through Hodeidah port where it also owns a grain silo and a flour mill, in 2020 began trying to convince the Houthis that a major oil spill would damage their economic and political interests. The firm warned it would eradicate the local fishing industry and close the ports through which the Houthis hoped to export oil as the peace process progressed. We presented a scenario of what an oil spill would look like on the coast of Yemen," said Fathi Fahem, the companys chief executive officer. When we explained that in detail, they went along with our solution." The company facilitated a meeting in the capital, Sanaa, between the Houthis and SMIT Salvage, a subsidiary of the Dutch maritime construction and maintenance company Boskalis. Meanwhile, the U.N. appointed Gressly, a veteran diplomat, to solve the looming tanker crisis, including securing funding for the operation. The presence of the Fahem Group alongside the resident coordinator was indeed a new experience that resulted in mutual trust," said Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister of Ansar Allah, the official name for the Houthi movement. After a series of meetings, the Houthis Safer committee and the U.N. in March last year signed a memorandum of understanding to transfer the oil to a replacement tanker within 18 months. More than a year later, on May 29, a 65-person crew, including 40 salvage experts and supporting staff from SMIT, set off from Djibouti on a 30-hour voyage to get eyes on the Safer. They assessed which of the existing valves and pipes could be used to pump the oil out, and replaced faulty parts, including manifolds. The systems required to maintain inert gaswhose low levels of oxygen prevent the combustion of flammable hydrocarbon gaseswere defunct so workers pumped inert gas into the tanks to lower the risk of explosion. A team of divers inspected the Safers hull to ensure it wouldnt break apart once the oil transfer began. On July 16, the tanker bought by the U.N. to take the oil from the Safer arrived at the port in Hodeidah for final preparations. At a cost of $55 million, it was the single largest expense in the $143 million budgeted for the operationa necessity imposed by the unwillingness of any leasing company to provide a vessel that size for the purpose. So far the U.N. has raised $121 million from more than 20 countries, chiefly Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Germany and the U.S., in addition to the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers and some private donors. Even if the salvage operation passes off safely, future conflicts are brewing, this time over who actually owns the oil. Some 90% of it belongs to Yemens national oil-and-gas company, Sepoc, which both the Houthis and the national government in Aden claim to control. The oil itself is a separate discussion to be had with authorities in Sanaa and the government," Gressly said. Well be taking one step at a time." Write to Sune Engel Rasmussen at sune.rasmussen@wsj.com New Delhi: In a significant push towards climate action, COP28 president Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber has called uponl countries to unite and join the Global Cooling Pledge ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28). Speaking on the sidelines of the 14th clean energy ministerial and the G20 energy transitions ministerial meeting, Al Jaber emphasized the critical importance of sustainable cooling solutions to address climate challenges and protect vulnerable communities. The Global Cooling Pledge, a collaborative effort between the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the COP28 presidency, was announced earlier this year with the goal of expanding cooling access to safeguard communities, especially in regions most susceptible to extreme heat, such as small island states, least developed countries, and the global south. Additionally, the initiative seeks to ensure the preservation of essential goods like food and vaccines. During his address, Al Jaber expressed his appreciation to Denmarks minister, Dan Jergensen, and Indias minister of science and technology Jitendra Singh, for their commitment as Cool Champions in support of the pledge. He called on countries worldwide to actively participate in the pledge, underscoring the significance of collective efforts in addressing climate challenges. Collaborating closely with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), the Global Cooling Pledge advocates for sustainable cooling measures across five key areas: nature-based solutions, super-efficient appliances, cold chains for preserving food and vaccines, district cooling, and National Cooling Action Plans. These measures are aimed at driving positive change in the realm of cooling technologies while aligning with climate and environmental objectives. Earlier this month, Al Jaber unveiled his comprehensive approach and roadmap for COP28, focusing on an ambitious response to the Global Stocktake. The strategy centres around four key pillars: expediting the energy transition, addressing climate finance, prioritizing the well-being of communities, and promoting inclusivity in all aspects of climate action. Highlighting the urgency of the cooling challenge, the COP28 president emphasized that a business-as-usual approach to cooling expansion would lead to a significant rise in emissions from the sector. Stressing the need for rapid action, he called for a transition towards energy-efficient and climate-friendly cooling technologies to mitigate environmental impacts. Al Jaber highlighted the plight of the most vulnerable states and cooling as a matter of climate justice, saying, Food and medicine all depend on cooling. It is a topic of critical importance across climate mitigation and adaptation...Cooling is also a matter of climate justice with heat disproportionately impacting lower-income communities and families." In a warming world, sustainable cooling is critical for reducing GHG emissions, protecting against heat stress, enabling productivity, reducing food loss, and enhancing access to healthcare," He concluded: We have a unique opportunity to deliver a significant, collective response to the cooling challenge via the Global Cooling Pledge. This pledge aims to improve energy efficiency and increase access to sustainable cooling. It is gaining momentum with more than 20 early supporters including India and Denmark. But there is more to be done. I call on all countries to join the Global Cooling Pledge in the lead up to COP28." SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. More news should be reported from countries of the Turkic world, the Head of the Foreign News Department of the Turkish NTV channel, Ahmet Yesitepe, told Trend. "When I arrived in Shusha, I saw two different landscapes on the way. On the one hand, these are provocations and vandalism committed by Armenians, and on the other hand, Shusha city, which was rebuilt by Azerbaijan and is developing," he stressed. "Yesterday, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, during a meeting with forum participants, sent a message to the world that these lands belong to Azerbaijan, that Azerbaijan is the owner of these lands, and they will be rebuilt." Speaking about the development of cooperation between the Azerbaijani and Turkish media, Yesitepe noted that the main responsibility falls on the Turkish media. "In Turkiye, there is a very great interest in Azerbaijani culture, music, and current topics. The Turkish media should be a little more open on this issue. Of course, important events are given space. However, we should talk about more topical topics because they also attract the attention of Turkish society," he added. On July 21, the Global Media Forum, themed "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," kicked off in Shusha. The forum, organized by the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and in connection with the 148th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national press, has been attended by 150 foreign guests from about 50 countries, including state information agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organizations, and media structures. Among the participants are 60 leaders and representatives of local media. The forum aims to discuss global issues in the media and information-communication spheres. Prominent and influential leaders from the world's renowned media, along with experts, will discuss new tools in journalism and communication in the digital era, digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, and the establishment of sustainable business models in the media industry. The discussions will also cover consumer trends in new media, media literacy, methods to combat disinformation and fake news, journalist safety, and other topics. During the forum, an initiative for creating the media platform of the Non-Aligned Movement will also be proposed. The city of Shusha, which has hosted numerous international events, is gathering leaders of leading global media, journalistic organizations, influential experts in the information and communication sphere, and renowned journalists for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan. The forum will last until July 23. In Delhi, the flood-affected people on Saturday again took shelter in relief camps as the water level of the Yamuna River breached the danger mark of 205.33 meters at Old Railway Bridge at 8 am today. Hundreds of flood-affected people were seen taking shelter at the relief camps near Signature Bridge. Speaking to ANI, Lakshman Das, an occupant of the relief camp near Signature Bridge said, We live in a camp near Signature Bridge. We request the Delhi govt to give us a space to live. We have to relocate every time there is a flood in the area" Jagdish, an occupant of the relief camp in Mayur Vihar Phase 1, said that the Delhi government is providing water, food, and ration here. Now that the water level has increased again, we will have to stay in the camp till the situation goes back to normal...we're getting water, food, tea, and ration from the Delhi government," Jagdish said. A woman recounted the loss caused by overflowing Yamuna River and that if the situation continues she would have no other option but to return to her village. Another woman staying at the makeshift said that she can't return to her village because her children are in school and the reverse migration would affect their education, ANI reported. "We are getting, food, and water here. Clean water comes on a tanker. We are jobless as our farms are flooded. We can't even return to village as our children are going to schools," she added. Meanwhile, Delhi government had decided to withdraw the restrictions on entry of vehicles in the national capital after the water level in Yamuna had fallen below the danger mark of 205.33 metres. The rise in Yamuna water level could be attributed to increased discharge from Hathni Kund Barrage in Haryana and rains in the upper catchment areas, mainly in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The discharge from Hathni Kund barrage rose to 3,60,000 cusecs in July and was recorded at 29,973 cusecs on Friday. One cusec is equal to 28.32 litres per second. A rise in the water level of the Yamuna could slow down the pace of rehabilitation of flood-affected people living in low-lying areas of Delhi, leading to a prolonged stay of these families in relief camps. (With ANI inputs) The milk prices in Karnata are set to go up in August as per the media report. The Karnataka government is likely to hike the retail price of milk by 3 per litre, according to the Milk Federation officials. The hike is subject to cabinet approval and will come into effect from 1 August. According to the Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna, who met Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, said they have proposed the state government to increase the milk prices to address the rise in the production of cost and to help producers. "At the next cabinet meeting a decision will be taken regarding its implementation from August 1," he said. There is a demand to increase the price of milk by 5 per litre, he said. "However, the cabinet will decide whether to increase by 5 or 3. A delegation of Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) led by its Chairman Bheema Naik attended the meeting. The demand by farmers and the federation was to increase 5 per litre, Naik said. "Once the cabinet decides to hike by 3 per litre, it will apply to all varieties of milk by KMF. We will ensure that the 3 per litre hike benefits the farmers." Noting that milk price in Karnataka is less compared to other states, Rajanna said Karnataka sells 'Nandini' milk at 39 per litre, while in Andhra Pradesh it is 56, Tamil Nadu 44, Kerala 50, and Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat it is 54. Leading milk suppliers like Amul and Mother Dairy have hiked the prices of milk multiple times in the last one year. For instance, Mother Dairy has increased milk prices by 10 per litre between March and December 2022. The Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), famous for the Amul brand, also increased the rates of milk this year due to the rise in input costs The Manipur viral video incident, showing women being paraded naked by a mob, took place at a location just 1 kilometre away from India's 'best' police station. As reported by India Today, the Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Team conducted an extensive visual investigation to determine the exact location of the Manipur viral video, showcasing women being paraded naked by a mob. To conduct analysis, they relied on open-source satellite images of the southern peaks to pinpoint the exact location of the incident. As per the report by analyzing visual cues from the footage and utilizing open-source satellite imagery, they found that the incident took place approximately one kilometer away from the police station recognized as the country's best by the government. Mint could not independently confirm about development. Annually, the Government of India identifies top-performing police stations nationwide, based on various performance indicators. The criteria for selection include the police's effectiveness in handling cases of crimes against women and weaker sections. The Nongpok Sekmai police station was awarded the title of 'Best in the Country' in 2020. However, the station has come under scrutiny after a disturbing video emerged, showing women being sexually assaulted by a group of men. The incident reportedly occurred on May 4, the day following ethnic clashes in Manipur. After the video of the incident went viral, the police took swift action and apprehended four individuals, including the main suspect. Upon taking suo motu cognizance of the video, the police registered a case of abduction, gang rape, and murder at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed men. They assured that all efforts were being made to apprehend the culprits as soon as possible. The victims, two women, allegedly experienced sexual assault before being released by the mob, which comprised members of the majority community. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his distress over the incident, deeming it "shameful for any civil society." He asserted that no one involved would be spared, and those responsible would not be forgiven. The violence in Manipur erupted following a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3, in protest against the proposed inclusion of individuals from the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). (With inputs from agencies) The much-awaited movies, Baribe and Oppenheimer have hit the movie theatres this Friday. After creating a lot of hype about the two movies with a stupendous marketing strategy of Oppenheimer, people are coming to theatres in large numbers to enjoy the movie. For those who want to chill and enjoy OTT this weekend or try some other movies, here is the list of top releases of this weekend. Movies and OTT to watch this weekend Bawaal Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor starrer, Bawaal, is a recent release and a good option for Bollywood lovers. The film revolves around the story of a history teacher, who is married to Nisha. The movie unfolds further when the couple is asked to travel Europe during World War II. Trial Period Anamaya Roy Choudhary, or Ana( Genelia Deshmukh) is a hardworking single mother living in Delhi with her six-year-old son Romi. Their lives revolve around a packed routine that balances both Ana's career and her sons upbringing. However, when Romi is tasked with talking about his non-existent father at school, his curiosity sparks a unique idea he demands a New Papa on a 30-day Trial Period. Prajapti Dwivedi( Manav Kaul), also known as PD, is a simple yet affable man from Ujjain, who takes on this unconventional job. But not before Ana ensures that her hidden terms & conditions are followed, in order to ensure that Romi never yearns for a father again. The contrasting personality of PD collides with those of Ana and Romi, which leads to the creation of a distinct and quirky dynamic. They come from different worlds; Classic versus Modern, Academic versus Creative, Dwivedi versus Choudhary! However, despite their differences, deep bonds are formed between them while they navigate the ups and downs of an imperfect family together. This slice-of-life story delves into the emotional voids each of us carry around with us, as well as the diverse ways in which we seek fulfilment. Be it through blood relations, chosen relationships, or in this particular case - accidental connection. Sweet Magnolias Season 3 -Netflix The movie is based on the novels written by Sherryl Woods. The story of the web series revolves around three best friends, Maddie, Helen and Dana Sue, who live in the small town of Serenity, South Carolina. The movie has all what you need be it love, family, drama or trauma. The Deepest Breath -Netflix The movie tells the story of friendship and special bond between two sky divers and their passion for the sport. The film focuses on Alessia Zecchini, who is an Italian champion freediver, and Stephen Keenan, an Irish safety diver. They Cloned Tyrone -Netflix A fantasy movie featuring John Boyega, teyonah Parris and Jamie Foxx has all the elements that makes it a classic fantasy masterpiece. Enjoy the clones, aliens and government agents in the movie this weekend. Kalkoot-Jio Cinema The movie features none other than Vijay Verma. He plays the role of a cop who is also struggling with a stunted marriage and social pressure. He is also shown as facing the harassment from superiors. The movie is directed by Sumit Saxena and will be released on the platform on July 27. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at the previous regime under the United Progressive Alliance government, saying while it destroyed the banking sector with scams" his dispensation has restored good financial health, with India now known for the sectors strength. Addressing a Rozgar Mela after giving appointment letters to over 70,000 recruits virtually, PM Modi said a large number of them have been employed in the banking sector as he highlighted how it was destroyed under the previous dispensation before his government took corrective measures. Today, India is among the countries whose banking sector is considered to be the strongest," said he said while recalling the journey of the last nine years. He dwelled on the ill impact of political selfishness on the sector in the past. He mentioned phone banking of the past when loans were disbursed on the phone calls of the powerful. These loans were never repaid, he said. These scams broke the back of the banking sector of the country, he said. He listed the measures taken after 2014 to retrieve the situation. He mentioned strengthening of management of the government banks, stress on professionalism and consolidation of small banks into large banks. PM Modi said that by insuring deposits up to 5 lakhs, more than 99% of deposits have become safe leading to a renewed trust in the banking system. By acts like the Bankruptcy Code, banks were protected from losses. Furthermore, by tightening the grip over those who looted the government property by attaching their property, the banks known for losses and NPA are being discussed for their record profit. The prime minister expressed pride in the hard work of the employees of the banking sector. People of the banking sector never disappointed me or my vision", he said. PM Modi hailed the efforts of the banking sector in making the Jan Dhan Account scheme a huge success by opening 50 crore Jan Dhan Accounts. This was a great help in transferring money into the accounts of crores of women during the pandemic. Speaking on the efforts for the betterment of the MSME sector, the prime minister mentioned Mudra Yojana which provided collateral-free loans to the enterprising youth. He praised the banking sector for making the scheme a success. Similarly, the banking sector rose up to the occasion when the government doubled the loan amount for women Self Help Groups and helped the MSMe sector by providing loans which saved 1.5 crores jobs by protecting small enterprises. He also thanked the bank employees for making PM Kisan Samman Nidhi a grand success. More than 50 lakh Street Vendors were helped in the SVANidhi Scheme. I am sure, you will take a Sankalp Patra (resolution letter) for making banking a tool of empowerment of the poor along with your Niyukti Patra (appointment letter). The Science Advisor to President Joe Biden , Arati Prabhakar on Friday said that the United States and like-minded countries including India need to work together for shaping the course of artificial intelligence. This came after the US administration roped in several IT giants like Google and Microsoft to ensure that it is not misused and is being used for the public good. Speaking to PTI, Indian-American Prabhakar said, The work that we are doing includes working with companies to hold them accountable and there's some important progress on that today." "We're also working on executive actions that we can take within existing law, and the President is considering an executive order that we think can really boost our ability to deal with AI's harms and also start using it for good," she said. She further stated, That's what we can do from the executive branch. We'll also continue to work with Congress on bipartisan legislation as they start putting legislation forward. Then critically and underpinning all of this is the work that we're doing globally with our international partners and allies, including with India." According to Arati Prabhakar, artificial intelligence was one of the important topics of discussion when President Joe Biden met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here last month. And that is because this is a global technology. It's everywhere. Everyone is participating and it's really affecting, it's going to affect everyone's lives and we want to make sure that like-minded countries work together to shape the course of AI," she told PTI. She recalled that PM Modi made a wonderful joke when he addressed Congress in the United States. He (PM Modi) said he thought AI stood for America, India, which is another war of interpreting it." Joe Biden on Friday announced voluntary commitments that the administration has worked on with seven leading AI companies which include Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and some of the smaller AI companies. It is such an important step that we've been able to achieve by holding these companies to account because it's the first time that the industry has started to come together and take responsibility," she added. She also described AI as the most powerful technology of this time and said the president's been clear that how it is used is going to express their values, as per PTI inputs. Thats is why I think it is so important for like-minded countries, for democratic countries to come together and make sure that we're working together to use AI in ways that express our values," said the top American scientific official. (With PTI inputs) US President Joe Biden has chosen Admiral Lisa Franchetti to be the Navy's top officer, a historic appointment that would make her the first woman to hold this position in the US Navy's history and also the first woman in the joint chiefs of staff, as per CNN. Admiral Franchetti, currently serving as the vice chief of naval operations, has an impressive career history. She was commissioned in 1985 and has held various significant roles, including commander of US Naval Forces Korea, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, and director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff, as mentioned in her official biography. Also, she has commanded two carrier strike groups and assumed the role of Vice CNO in September 2022. President Biden expressed his confidence in Admiral Lisa Franchetti's appointment as the next Chief of Naval Operations. With an outstanding 38-year tenure as a commissioned officer, including her current position as Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Franchetti's dedication to serving the nation is commendable, he said. Throughout her illustrious career, Admiral Franchetti has showcased remarkable expertise in both operational and policy matters, as per Biden. As a testament to her accomplishments, she has achieved the prestigious rank of four-star admiral, making her only the second woman in the history of the United States Navy to reach this position, Biden added. Upon her confirmation, she will etch her name in history once again, as she becomes the first woman to hold the distinguished role of Chief of Naval Operations and join the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a momentous milestone for gender representation in the military, the US president said. On July 21, President Biden made an announcement regarding nominations for key military positions. He put forth Vice Adm. James Kilby, who currently serves as the deputy commander of US Fleet Forces Command, as the nominee for the next Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Adm. Samuel Paparo, who holds the position of commander of US Pacific Fleet, was nominated to take charge of US forces in the Pacific as the commander of Indo-Pacific Command. Biden also nominated Vice Adm. Stephen Web" Koehler to take over from Paparo as commander of the US Pacific Fleet. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin applauded the nominations stating that each of the admirals will ensure that our US Navy and the joint force in the Indo-Pacific remain the finest military force that the world has ever known and will be at the very heart of our work to project power around the world, defend freedom of the seas, and uphold the rules-based international order", ANI quoted CNN as reporting. Notably, Franchetti marks another first for the Biden administrations Defence Department, which has now had the first Black secretary of defence, the first female Army secretary, Christine Wormuth, and upon Browns confirmation would mark the first time the Pentagons two most senior leaders are Black men, CNN reported. (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 North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward its western sea Saturday, South Korea's military said, marking the second launch event this week apparently in protest of the docking of a nuclear-armed US submarine in South Korea. While adding to its barrage of missile launches in recent months, North Korea remained publicly silent for a fifth day on the fate of an American soldier who bolted into the North across the heavily armed Korean border this week. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said the launches were detected beginning around 4 am but did not immediately report how many missiles were fired or how far they flew. It said the US and South Korean militaries were closely analysing the launches. On Wednesday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles from an area near its capital, Pyongyang. They flew about 550 kilometers (341 miles) before landing in waters east of the Korean Peninsula. The flight distance of those missiles roughly matched the distance between Pyongyang and the South Korean port city of Busan, where the USS Kentucky on Tuesday made the first visit by a US nuclear-armed submarine to South Korea since the 1980s. The United States and South Korea have been expanding their combined military exercises and have agreed to increase the regional deployment of US strategic assets like bombers, aircraft carriers and submarines in a show of force against North Korea, which has test fired around 100 missiles since the start of 2022. The allies have also kicked off new rounds of nuclear contingency planning meetings that are partially aimed at easing fears among the South Korean public about the North's growing nuclear threat and suppressing voices within the country that it should pursue its own deterrent. Also Read: North Korean hacking group Labyrinth Chollima breached US IT firm JumpCloud to steal cryptocurrency North Korea's defense minister issued a veiled threat Thursday suggesting the docking of the Kentucky in South Korea could be grounds for a nuclear attack by the North. North Korea has used such rhetoric before, but the comments underscored how much relations are strained now. South Korea's Defence Ministry on Friday described the deployment of the Kentucky and the nuclear contingency planning meetings between Washington and Seoul as defensive response measures" to counter the North Korean threat. The ministry said in a statement it strongly warns" that any nuclear attack by the North on the allies would face an immediate, overwhelming and decisive response that would bring an end to the North Korean regime. South Korea has warned North Korea that any nuclear attack from the latters side would mean an end" of the Kim Jong Un-led regime, Yonhap News Agency reported on Friday. The warning came after Pyongyang had said the deployment of a US nuclear-capable submarine and other strategic assets here could meet the conditions for its use of nuclear arms. Seoul's defense ministry renewed the warning after Pyongyang's Defence Minister Kang Sun-nam issued a sharp-tongued statement the previous day, criticizing the arrival of the USS Kentucky, an 18,750-ton Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), in South Korea and the inaugural meeting of the South Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) this week, ANI reported citing Yonhap news agency. Seoul ministry said, In the event of any North Korean nuclear attack against the South Korea-US alliance, it will face an immediate, overwhelming and decisive response from the alliance, and (we) strongly warn again that through this, (the attack) will result in the end of the North Korean regime." The USS Kentucky arrived in the southeastern port city of Busan on Tuesday which coincided with the first NCG session aimed at strengthening the credibility of the extended deterrence commitment by the US to use the full range of its military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend its ally. The defense ministry defended the NCG gathering and the SSBN's deployment as a "rightful" defensive measure against North Korea's continued nuclear and missile threats", dismissing the North's claim that they posed a nuclear threat to the recalcitrant country, as per ANI reports. It also said Pyongyang's nuclear program and missile provocations are "clear" violations of UN Security Council resolutions and "illicit activities," noting the country is the "only" one that repeats threats of a nuclear attack against the South Korea-US alliance. "North Korea will never gain any concessions from the South Korea-US alliance through its nuclear development and threats, and (we) urge it to recognize its isolation and destitution will only deepen, and to come out swiftly to the path of denuclearization," the ministry stated. The first US SSBN's visit to the South since 1981 came after the US pledged to enhance the "regular visibility" of its high-profile military assets, including the strategic submarine, in the Washington Declaration that Presidents Yoon Suk Yeol and Joe Biden issued during their summit in April, Yonhap news agency reported. Tensions have heightened as Pyongyang has continued its sabre-rattling, such as its launches of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 12 and two short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday. (With ANI inputs) The Taliban, who once destroyed the historically and culturally significant 'Buddhas of Bamiyan,' are now seeking to profit from the empty niches in a desperate attempt to obtain cash. As reported by ANI, Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religions and author, shared in his article on Bitter Winter how he refrained from visiting Afghanistan, despite being a keen traveller, to prevent the Taliban from benefiting from the sites they themselves had demolished. The Afghan regime desperately needs cash. It cannot show the Bamiyan Buddhas for the good reason it blew them up. But it would take tourists to the site for a fee," he stated. As per the author's account, the Taliban used artillery fire and detonated anti-tank mines in 2001 to destroy the massive sixth-century CE statues. Presently, the public can only view the vacant niches that once housed these magnificent Buddhist sculptures and use them for meditation. However, access to these sites comes at a cost, as individuals are required to pay money to the regime, as reported by Bitter Winter. The author noted that he would be willing to pay a fee to visit historical sites like the Nuremberg propaganda headquarters of the Nazi Party or the Khmer Rouge mass graves in Cambodia. In these cases, the money would not go directly to Adolf Hitler or Pol Pot, as those regimes are no longer in power, but instead support the current governments. However, in the context of Afghanistan, the situation is different, as the Taliban was responsible for the destruction of the Buddhist statues and is now profiting from the sites while being in the current government. The author draws a parallel by stating that paying to visit the sites of historical atrocities, such as the Xinjiang "transformation through education camps" where Uyghurs have endured torture and death, would be akin to financially supporting Chinese President Xi Jinping. I understand the empty niches of the destroyed statues do have their own melancholic beauty. But I do not want to support the Taliban with my ticket. I would rather not go," Massimo Introvigne further stated in his piece. (With inputs from ANI) SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. Most of the current tragedies could have been avoided if the world media covered the Khojaly genocide in 1992 with due attention, Lithuanian military journalist Richardas Lapaitis told reporters within the Global Media Forum themed "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution" being held in Shusha, Trend reports. "In February 1992, when the Khojaly genocide happened, it was surprising that the number of foreign journalists who arrived on the scene to cover this tragedy could be counted on the fingers. The international media were silent," Lapaitis said. "If the world press had actively covered those events, perhaps some subsequent tragedies, including events in Ukraine and elsewhere, could have been avoided". "I understand that Armenian politicians spread very strong disinformation. They hid what happened in Khojaly, and no one, not even the US media, came there, neither the BBC, nor Reuters," he stressed. According to him, a journalist who has chosen his profession should cover events objectively. "My deepest gratitude to everyone who has now come here. I could only dream of sitting in Shusha and drinking coffee and tea 30 years ago. I always believed that Azerbaijanis will be able to return to this city," Lapaitis noted. He also noted the particular importance of Shusha for Azerbaijani people. "For them, this place is native and holy - the birthplace of mugham, the greatest poets, writers and thinkers," the journalist added. The Global Media Forum kicked off on July 21. The forum is organized by the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and in connection with the 148th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national press. Since the shameful video incident in Manipur sparked nationwide uproar, many have demanded that chief minister Biren Singh should resign from his post immediately. Some reiterated that the chief minister should take moral responsibility, others called him incapable. The issue was as also discussed at the Rajya Sabha earlier this week. Though BJP leaders, including prime minster Narendra Modi, condemned sexual violence in Manipur, the party did not indicted whether any action will be taken against the chief minister. Human right activist, oppositions demand CM Biren Singh's resignation Irom Sharmila, who continued her hunger against alleged army atrocities in Manipur, told NDTV that "I feel numb and disturbed," and cited that incident could have been avoided if the Centre had intervened. Adding to it, another Manipuri human rights activist Binalakshmi Nepram said that Centre and the state should be held accountable and expressed that those in charge" should resign. Opposition parties made similar demand at the Parliament, including outer Manipur MP R Lorho S Pfoze of the Naga Peoples Front, one of the two MPs from the state. Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, while speaking at the Rajya Sabha, said, We demand the resignation of Manipur chief minister and imposition of Presidents Rule." Why BJP is reluctant pressure CM Singh to resign? Despite facing strong opposition, Biren Singh seems to have the support of the ruling party. Reports cited that there were no discussions about removing Singh as the Chief Minister of Manipur. And for the Centre, the priority right now is maintaining law and order in the state Justifying BJP's stand, a Imphal-based veteran political commentator told Rediff, It is difficult to replace him because if he is replaced, it will lead to a sense of defeat among the Meiteis, rightly or wrongly, and more chaos." However, countering the thought, TMC MP Mahua Moitra argues that that current government is incapable of restoring law and order in the state citing reports that states, it was Manipur police that handed over Kuki women to mob. How long before this shameless CM resigns? - she questions. The viral video that emerged on social media couple of days ago of two Kuki ZO women getting sexually harassed by a large mob of Meitei men unearthed the horrific incidents that unleashed in violence stricken Manipur. The incidence caught attention considering it had occurred on 4 May and the authorities including the Manipur Police, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Chief Minister N Biren Singh had failed to take any action. However, the incident went ahead and opened a whole lot of partisan political worms that ensued a slugfest of accusations and allegations that were shot at from both ends- BJP and I.N.D.I.A (the rechristened opposition alliance). Both camps seems to have taken opportunity in the dreadful incident and instead of aiding an expedited action and bringing the victims to justice by punishing the perpetrators, both camps had resorted to mudslinging, probably with several assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections in mind. BJP raised the incidents of atrocities against women in West Bengal and Rajasthan and questioned the "silence" of the opposition, which termed it as a diversionary tactic to avoid debate on the situation in the north-eastern state. Meanwhile, the opposition has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Manipur inside Parliament followed by an unhindered debate in both houses Atrocities on women flagged by BJP in Rajasthan The BJP fielded Union minister Anurag Thakur who alleged that there is a long list of heinous crimes against women in states ruled by opposition parties such as Rajasthan, West Bengal and Bihar, but they were playing politics over the Manipur incident. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, Thakur slammed former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and the leaders of other opposition parties, accusing them of remaining silent on cases of crimes against women in non-BJP ruled states. "Over one lakh cases of crimes against women have been registered in Rajasthan in the last four years. A total of 33,000 cases pertaining to sexual assault on women in Rajasthan," Thakur alleged. Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Thakur also hit out at the Congress for sacking its minister in Rajasthan after he raised the issue of crime against women in his state. Thakur alleged that it has been done on the instructions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. BJP alleges tribal women harassed in West Bengal BJP highlighted a video of two tribal women allegedly being beaten up and stripped in Malda district and targeted opposition leaders including ruling Trniamool Congress (TMC). Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan hit out at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. "What happened in Manipur is unfortunate, but what happened in West Bengal is more unfortunate. The people who were expressing outrage over the Manipur incident, a similar barbaric incident happened in West Bengal," Pradhan said. Congress says BJP running away like fugitives The Congress accused the BJP of resorting to whataboutery and running away from discussion in parliament like "fugitives". Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, The Prime Minister and his drum beaters are diverting and deflecting from the enormous tragedy that has overtaken all of Manipur in the past 80 days by creating false equivalence with an issue relating to Rajasthan." SEOULNorth Korea fired several cruise missiles shortly after a U.S. nuclear submarine deployed as a show of strength against Pyongyangs threats left the Korean Peninsula. North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea around 4 a.m. local time on Saturday morning, according to South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff. Seouls military didnt reveal where the missiles were fired from or how far they traveled. Our military has bolstered surveillance and vigilance while closely cooperating with the U.S. and maintaining a firm readiness posture," JCS said. The missile launches came as the USS Kentucky, an Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine, departed from South Korea on Friday. The American warship can stay submerged indefinitely and can fire nuclear warheads at targets thousands of miles away. Its port visit to the Korean Peninsula was part of the Washington Declaration, an agreement struck in late April between President Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Amid North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threats, the U.S. promised to dispatch strategic assets to the region to reaffirm its commitment to protecting its allies. On Thursday, North Korea warned that such deployments of nuclear assets could meet the conditions for North Korea to use its nuclear weapons. The U.S. military must realize it has brought its strategic assets into far too dangerous waters," North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam said in a statement. Kang said the USS Kentuckys visit was a direct nuclear threat" to North Korea. South Koreas defense ministry denied Pyongyangs accusation, saying the submarine visit and other deterrence measures are a fair defensive response to North Koreas continuous nuclear and missile threat." North Korea last fired cruise missiles from a submarine in March. Pyongyangs state media said the underwater launch demonstrated the countrys diverse methods of conducting a nuclear strike. Earlier this week North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles following a series of statements criticizing Washingtons dispatch of strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula. North Korea has repeatedly refused to engage in dialogue with the U.S. On Monday, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said Pyongyang would seek to restrain the U.S. with sufficient exercise of force," ridiculing the Biden administrations calls for dialogue. U.S. officials have attempted to establish contact with North Korea through several channels, after a U.S. soldier crossed into North Korea on Tuesday during a tour of the Joint Security Area on the South Korean side. North Korea hasnt responded. Pyongyang has shown no interest in returning to disarmament talks, despite the Biden administrations repeated offers to do so without preconditions. North Korea is preparing to celebrate a major holiday it calls Victory Day on July 27. Pyongyang will likely hold a military parade featuring military hardware to celebrate the holiday. Write to Dasl Yoon at dasl.yoon@wsj.com Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that the latter has time to visit poll-bound states, but not the violence strife Manipur. CM Gehlot's statements come a day after he sacked a minister of his cabinet for cornering the Gehlot led state government regarding women's safety issue in Rajasthan. The viral video from Manipur which showcased the sexual harassment being meted out to two women from the Kuki Zo indigenous community by a mob of men from the Meitei community has attracted national attention and concern. The incident which allegedly occurred on 4 May, was never worked upon by the Manipur Police till recently, when the video went viral and mass outcry ensued five arrests within two days. The Opposition alliance has levied accusation on Manipur's ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) government, led by N Biren Singh. They have also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of inaction thereby triggering a political blame-game ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The latest to join the debate is Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot who pointed out that PM Modi has been refraining from visiting violence-hit Manipur, while visiting poll bound states int he country. This also comes ahead of the Rajasthan Assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year or early next year. "For the first time, I have seen that a Prime Minister is visiting Karnataka, Rajasthan and other places for elections, but not Manipur. It is his government in Manipur, just imagine what would he have said if it was a Congress government there," CM Gehlot said while speaking to the media at his residence in Jaipur. PM Modi on Thursday took note of recent sexual assault on women in Manipur, and appealed to all the Chief Ministers of the states to tighten law and order while mentioning Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh during his address. This comes while, earlier on Friday, a minister in Gehlot Cabinet was sacked hours after he criticised his own government over the recent crime against women in the poll-bound state. In his address at the state assembly, Rajendra Singh Gudha said, "It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister Rajendra Singh Gudha. Rajendra Singh Gudha on Saturday said that he will keep speaking until he is alive. "Public will stay with me, I will work for them. Whether he (Ashok Gehlot) removes me from the cabinet or sends me to jail, I will keep speaking until I am alive," Gudha said. He said that the women in Rajasthan are not safe and the state is number one in atrocities on women. (With agency inputs) Rajasthan Congress co-in-charge Amrita Dhawan on Saturday said that Rajendra Gudha should have been sacked earlier as the state minister. As reported by ANI, Dhawan said, Rajendra Gudha should have been sacked earlier as the Rajasthan minister...His earlier statement on Goddess Sita was not accepted by the party. It will not be acceptable if he speaks BJP's language while being part of Congress. He was given multiple chances and should have been sacked earlier." Meanwhile, after being removed from the Rajasthan cabinet, Rajendra Singh Gudha said that he has public support. Public will stay with me, I will work for them. Whether he (Ashok Gehlot) removes me from the cabinet or sends me to jail, I will keep speaking until I am alive. Women in our state are not safe." Gudha further stressed that Rajasthan is number 1 in atrocities on women. The state government has failed to provide security to women. I wanted to ask Ashok Gehlot to do something on this issue. Police in the state is corrupt, they are busy taking bribes from people" Furthermore, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said, "The way Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the CMs of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh should take care of the law and order situation in the state has hurt the sentiments of Rajasthan" Gudha held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development. Rajasthan Chief Minister and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Friday sacked his minister of state Rajendra Gudha. The Raj Bhavan confirmed the development, wherein the Rajasthan governor accepted with immediate effect the recommendation of CM Ashok Gehlot to sack state minister Rajendra Singh Gudha. Also Read: Rajasthan minister sacked hours after he questioned CM Ashok Gehlot The development comes only hours after his address at the assembly when Gudha criticized his government's response to recent incidents of crimes against women in the state. Gudha had said, It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves that atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. A memorandum has been signed between Azerbaijan's ARB 24 and the Kyrgyz Ala Too 24 TV channels, Trend reports. The document was signed by ARB 24 Executive Director Radik Ismayilov and Ala Too 24 Deputy General Director for Information Ulan Satiyev within the Global Media Forum themed "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution" in Shusha. The Global Media Forum kicked off on July 21. The forum, organized at the instruction of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and in connection with the 148th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national press, hosts 150 foreign guests from about 50 countries, including state information agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organizations, and media structures. Among the participants are 60 leaders and representatives of local media. The forum aims to discuss global issues in the media and information-communication spheres. Prominent and influential leaders from the world's renowned media, along with experts, will discuss new tools in journalism and communication in the digital era, digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, and the establishment of sustainable business models in the media industry. The discussions will also cover consumer trends in new media, media literacy, methods to combat disinformation and fake news, journalist safety, and other topics. During the forum, an initiative for creating the media platform of the Non-Aligned Movement will also be proposed. The city of Shusha, which has hosted numerous international events, is gathering leaders of leading global media, journalistic organizations, influential experts in the information and communication sphere, and renowned journalists for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan. The forum will last until July 23. Judge sets a trial date for next May in Trump's classified documents case in Florida A federal judge in Florida has set a trial date for next May for former President Donald Trump in a case charging him with illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents The Tennessee Valley Authority is celebrating its 90th anniversary by opening the floodgates for dam tours for the public. Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov congratulated the media representatives on the occasion of the National Press Day in Azerbaijan, Azernews reports, citing a tweet by the Minister. The Minister noted that mass media plays an essential role in educating society, shaping public opinion, and promoting national and moral values. He added congratulations to the media representatives and wished them success and accomplishments in their important work. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. During the Shusha Global Media Forum on "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution," a panel discussion on "Media Management and Creating Sustainable Business Models in the Modern Information Environment" has been held, Trend reports from the scene. The panel participants exchanged views on the changing trends in media production and consumption, as well as sources of investment for sustainable media. In his speech during the panel discussion, Bora Bayraktar, Program Director of TRT World, emphasized the challenges of competing with private media. He highlighted the need for media outlets to maintain constant responsibility for their activities to retain the public's trust. He also emphasized considering geopolitical realities, events, and values when preparing reports on specific regions. Regarding TRT, Bayraktar mentioned that the channel does not require an introduction, as it is well-known beyond Turkiye, reaching regions such as the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, and Europe. Mikhail Gusman, First Deputy Director-General of TASS, who also spoke during the panel discussion, noted that he has visited Shusha on multiple occasions. He praised the beauty of the Azerbaijani city and its prosperity. Speaking about innovations, Gusman emphasized that it is too early to talk about the demise of traditional media and newspapers due to social media. He mentioned that even in technologically advanced countries like Japan and the US, newspapers still play a leading role. He emphasized that classical media and social networks should not be mixed, as they have their own audiences, and classical media remains irreplaceable in terms of professionalism and history. He highlighted that journalism demands professionalism, honesty, and responsibility. Touching upon the role of news agencies, he stated that their role is to deliver news, while analysts, various institutions, and other media outlets can interpret the information themselves. Neven Cvjeticanin, former member of the Serbian parliament and President of the Forum for Strategic Studies, highlighted in his speech that media outlets delivering accurate, honest news and analysis are crucial for predicting the future. He mentioned that he believes every media outlet has connections and dialogues with political circles. Klaus Juergens from Economyfirst Limited London noted that journalists sometimes need to take a position, but it does not mean they should represent a specific group or party. He emphasized the importance of journalists conducting thorough research to determine their stance, which ultimately reflects in their articles. The forum, organized by the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev as part of the Heydar Aliyev Year and in connection with the 148th anniversary of Azerbaijan's national press, is attended by 150 foreign guests from about 50 countries, including state information agencies from 34 countries, 12 international organizations, and media structures. Among the participants are 60 leaders and representatives of local media. The forum aims to discuss global issues in media and information-communication spheres. Prominent and influential leaders from the world's renowned media, along with experts, will discuss new tools in journalism and communication in the digital era, digital transformation, media management in the modern information environment, and the establishment of sustainable business models in the media industry. The discussions will also cover consumer trends in new media, media literacy, methods to combat disinformation and fake news, journalist safety, and other topics. During the forum, an initiative for creating the media platform of the Non-Aligned Movement will also be proposed. The city of Shusha, which has hosted numerous international events, is gathering leaders of leading global media, journalistic organizations, influential experts in the information-communication sphere, and renowned journalists for the first time in the history of independent Azerbaijan. Funding has been allocated to replace the general X-ray machine located in the radiology department at St Josephs in Longford. The money will be made available under the equipment replacement programme 2023. Last May it was announced that the HSE were committed to a full upgrade of all equipment at the radiology room over the next 18 months. Raising the matter in Seanad Eireann Senator Micheal Carrigy said the upgrade of the facilities at St. Joseph's campus is set to go ahead. We have a fantastic radiology facility that recently got some aesthetic works done but the X-ray machine is badly in need of an upgrade, Senator Carrigy told the Leader. Senator Carrigy said the service is vital: A lot of services have been taken away from Longford and moved elsewhere, which means people living in my home county and my local area, in particular north Longford, have to travel upwards of an hour to access them. We want to maintain the services we have there on the campus. Confirmation of the inclusion of the replacement of the general X-ray machine by the HSE comes after prolonged campaigning by local elected representatives. Fine Gael councillor Peggy Nolan had repeatedly raised the issue in the council chamber. Cllr Nolan even suggested a public campaign outside St Joseph's campus to expedite action from the HSE. In a statement on the HSE proposal Cllr Carrigy said the project will include the replacement of the X-ray machine and associated required infrastructure works. The HSE has also confirmed the estimated timeline for completion is late quarter 4 of 2023. I have also received a statement from the HSE confirming the project to construct 43 replacement beds in a new-build facility at St Joseph's Care Centre, Longford under the HIQA compliance programme has gone out to tender, the Fine Gael senator said. Senator Carrigy said the exact time frame for completion is yet to be determined. Moscow, RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Kyivs counteroffensive, launched to push Russian troops back in the south and east of Ukraine, was failing despite military and financial support from Western countries. In any case, there are no results yet of the counteroffensive, Putin said in televised remarks from a meeting of the Kremlins Security Council. Kyiv last month launched a long-anticipated counteroffensive after stockpiling Western weapons. Neither the colossal resources that have been pumped into the Kyiv regime nor the supplies of Western weapons, tanks, artillery, armored vehicles and missiles are helping, Putin said. Moscows forces still occupy swathes of southern and eastern Ukraine and large parts of the front appears to be frozen. Deadly vigil. A Ukrainian artilleryman sits next to 152 mm shells at a position on the front line near Bakhmut, eastern Ukraine, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Genya Savilov / AFP) Earlier this week a senior presidential aide in Kyiv told AFP the operation would be long and difficult and called on allies to send more armored vehicles and weapons. Poland, one of Ukraines staunchest allies, has provided Kyiv with arms and welcomed refugees. It has however shown no interest in sending troops to Ukraine. Putin singled out Poland and accused its leaders of trying to directly intervene in the conflict to occupy Ukrainian land. Poland has reinforced its defenses at the border with Russia-allied Belarus, where fighters from mercenary force Wagner moved after an aborted mutiny in Russia. Belarusian territory which borders Ukraine as well as EU and NATO members Poland and Lithuania served as a launching pad for Russias Ukraine offensive. Putin warned that Moscow would use all the means at our disposal to protect Belarus in case of an attack. Unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against the Russian Federation, Putin said. Russia has begun transferring tactical nuclear warheads into Belarus. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. SHUSHA, Azerbaijan, July 22. Participants of the Shusha Global Media Forum themed "New Media in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution", which is held on the occasion of the 148th anniversary of the Azerbaijani national press, got acquainted with the sights of the city of Shusha, Trend reports. The guests first walked around the Shusha Fortress. Here they were told about the history of the city and the construction of the Shusha Fortress. The participants of the event also visited the central square of the city, where the busts of Azerbaijan's prominent cultural figures Khurshidbanu Natavan, Bulbul and Uzeyir Hajibayli, subjected to Armenian vandalism, are located. During the occupation, the Armenians wanted to take those monuments to Armenia to melt them down. Upon the initiative of Heydar Aliyev, these monuments were brought back to Azerbaijan and kept in the courtyard of the Art Museum in Baku. After the liberation of the city from the occupation, the monuments were returned to their original place. At the end, the guests arrived at the Jidirduzu, from where a picturesque landscape opens up. According to the participants of the forum, the trip left an indelible impression on them. A 79-year-old pilot who suffered a medical emergency while flying a plane that subsequently crashed on Marthas Vineyard last week has died, news outlets reported. The Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office identified the pilot as Randolph Bonnist of Norwalk, Connecticut, WCVB reported. He died Thursday night at Boston Medical Center following the crash at Marthas Vineyard Airport, according to the news outlet. The pilot suffered a medical emergency upon the final approach to the airport shortly before 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement. The passenger, a 68-year-old Connecticut woman, then took over the controls and tried to land the small aircraft, according to a Facebook post from the West Tisbury Police Department. Saturday, July 15, 2023 Marthas Vineyard Airport On Saturday, July 15, 2023 at 3:12 p.m. a Piper Meridian Turbo Prop 6... Posted by West Tisbury Police Department on Saturday, July 15, 2023 The plane landed on its belly with no landing gear in a grassy area near a runway at the airport, authorities said. The aircrafts left wing broke in half as a result of the crash. The pilot was freed from the plane and flown by medical helicopter to a Boston hospital. He was in serious, life-threatening condition, according to law enforcement. The passenger, who suffered minor injuries, was evaluated at Marthas Vineyard Hospital and released. The aircraft, a six-seat 2006 Piper Meridian Turboprop, had departed from Westchester, New York earlier in the afternoon, State Police detailed. The scene of the crash was eventually cleared, and the plane was taken to a secure location at the airport. The short runway where the plane crashed was reopened, and the airport slowly continued operations, according to the authorities. The crash remains under investigation by the State Police and the Federal Aviation Administration. A 17-year-old girl is dead and others are injured following a boat crash in Sesuit Harbor on Cape Cod late Friday, authorities said. The girls body was found in the water around 11:30 p.m. Friday by the Barnstable County Dive Team with help from the Dennis Fire Department. The discovery followed a search and rescue operation that involved local, state and federal authorities and began after the boat crashed into a jetty in the harbor around 9 p.m., according to a statement from Massachusetts State Police spokesperson David Procopio. Initial reports indicated some of the six people onboard were injured and one person was missing. At least one passenger, a male teenager, was taken to Cape Cod Hospital with a head laceration, Procopio said in the statement. Read more: GoFundMe raises money for Peabody police officer Henry Breckenridge The United States Coast Guard, the Barnstable County Dive Team and Sandwich Fire Department marine assets were searching for the girl in the water off Cold Storage Beach in Dennis following the crash in the harbor. Massachusetts State Police patrols and detectives were also helping on the ground. The Dennis Fire Department was coordinating the emergency response, the statement said. The State Police Marine Unit and Underwater Recovery Unit, along with Massachusetts Environmental Police marine assets, are doing dive operations at the crash site Saturday to search for debris from the boat, according to the statement. Investigating the girls death are the Dennis Police Department, the Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office, Environmental Police and State Police, the statement said. No further information, including the name of the girl, was immediately released to the public by State Police. Editors note: The girls body was found by the Barnstable County Dive Team with help from the Dennis Fire Department. Initially, authorities incorrectly stated that her body was found by the U.S. Coast Guard. The traditional Second Line Parade, including several hundred people, as well as Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, and led by world roots band Brown Rice Family and the Community Music School, made its way from the steps of City Hall in Court Square to Center Square then into Stearns Square, opening the final day of the 10th Annual Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival. And, what a pleasantly surprising day it was for many people as they got ready for events to unfold there was no thunder, no rain, no sweltering heat and humidity, and a pleasant breeze blew across Stearns Square. Even the jazz was cool. We missed last night because of the weather reports, you know, all that thunder. So, we didnt come last night, but we are here today, Marvin Kennedy said as he and Sandra Cope settled in for a day of music. They had some of the best seats in Stearns Square, arriving early to make sure they got good spots because they consider themselves real jazz fans. Big time, Kennedy said. We go to the Hartford Festival, and we go to almost every jazz festival in the area. Springfield is our favorite. They were looking forward to hearing Avery Sharpe and his 400 Project play later in the afternoon. By the time the Evan Arntzen Trio began their set on the Charles Neville Main Stage to kick off the day, the grass of Stearns Square was covered with lawn chairs held down by jazz fans. A block away, Ron Smith and the Soulful Trio opened their set on the Urban Roots Stage in Center Square where a large crowd had already gathered. Three of those were renowned musical practitioners in their own right. Teddy P, P for polka. The music that will chase your blues away, he said in introducing himself, and Big D from the Motown Moma Show, along with, Lady J with the Motown Mama Show. The WTCC music DJs took a busmans holiday to settle in on Center Square and soak in the jazz of the Soulful Trio. Our station is multi-cultural, so we have everything from A to Z. Big D explained. I play jazz sometimes as well as the Motown I am known for because that was my original show. All three agreed that live jazz is worth coming a little early for. Personally, I love Jazz, Big D said. Back in Stearns Square, former Springfield city councilor and retired District Court Judge Philip Contant was herding a gaggle of kids, his grandchildren. We wanted to support Springfield activities, Contant said. It is good to see some life here in the downtown. Chris and Laurel Peltier drove down from Amherst and grabbed their little patch of Stearns Square grass more than an hour before show time. We got here a little before noon so that we could get a decent spot and just settle in, Chris said. This is the highlight of the year for us. We love jazz and live music of all sorts so this has been a must-see for the past four or five years. And we love Springfield, Laurel interjected. Emerson Blatche unexpectedly found himself in the middle of one of New Englands premiere jazz festivals. He was on a train from New Haven to Syracuse, New York, and discovered he had a four-hour layover in Springfield. I walked out of the station and saw all these people carrying chairs, he said. I thought to myself, it looks like something is going on. So, I followed them. The festival closed out its 2023 run at 11 p.m. Saturday with 23 bands playing on two stages over two days. It was like a jovial wake. A lot of old friends and regular customers ambling about, waving, saying Hi and ordering drinks and food. The wake was for Donovans Irish Pub at the Eastfield Mall. This was the last time these people would come through its doors. I started coming here when it was the Black Forest, customer John Goonan said from his seat at the bar. Im going to miss the people. Ive been coming in here once a week for a long time, the help here they are always friendly. Along with their customers, owners Justine and Frank Garaughty were saying goodbye to the pub they have owned since 2015. At 11 p.m. Friday night, it was to close at the mall for the last time. Asked if he would make the drive to Holyoke, the bars soon-to-be new home, Goonan said he will try. I will see how I find the drive, he said. The Garaughtys said they know a lot of regulars wont keep coming once they reopen in late September. John Goonan visits Donovan's Irish Pub & Restaurant for the last time at Eastfield Mall location Friday evening, July 21, 2023. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) We have been overwhelmed by the positive response we have gotten from our regular customers, Frank Garaughty said. We know its a little bit of travel time, but many of our regulars said they would visit us. The Garaughtys were forced to find a new home for the pub when Onyx Partners Limited announced this year it would clear the building and then tear it down. As people said goodbye to the pub, a barren, deserted hallway in the mall itself stretched for what seemed hundreds of yards. No other businesses remain in the mall, following its closing last Saturday. The mall was the first all-indoor shopping center in the Pioneer Valley when it was built in the 1960s. Donovans will reopen in late September in its new location on Jarvis Drive in Holyoke, now home to Slainte, an Irish restaurant. Frank Majka is one of the regulars the Garaughtys will miss. He gets together with friends a few times a week after work to have some drinks and shoot the breeze. I made some good friends in here, he said Friday. Its only five minutes from my house. It will be a change. Like I said, I have met some good friends in here. We will probably have to find a place to hang out locally. But Majka said he will venture over to Holyoke. We will definitely go up to Holyoke for lunch once in a while, and on Saturdays for sure. One of Majkas friends, Jeffrey Poindexter, agreed. He said they would continue to meet somewhere. It is hard when something like this closes, it is a big loss. This is kind of like a Cheers. There are a lot of people here who built a lot of relationships. Everybody knows everybody, for the most part. But we will find someplace to meet, he said. Frank Majka and Jeffrey Poindexter having a good time at Donovan's Irish Pub & Restaurant for the last time at Eastfield Mall location Friday evening, July 21, 2023. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) Jeff Walsh said he is disappointed Donovans is closing. He has been a customer for about 20 years. I come in every couple of weeks, I know the people pretty well. Im kind of disappointed about the closing, but not in a bad way. It has been part of my adult life for a couple of decades. You get to know the people here they are a welcoming group of guys and gals. Holyoke is quite a drive, so I wont be seeing them as much as it has been in the past. Ray Melbourne and her son, Justin, along with Ronnie Knobbs, packed themselves into a booth to wait for their meal. We celebrate St. Patricks Day here all the time, Ray Melbourne said late Friday afternoon. She said they didnt want to miss the last day. We have been coming in here for, what, 24 years? Rays son, Justin, agreed. Its sad, you know, we have been doing this for years. Its a tradition, he said. They have great food and great music. We will have to drive out to Holyoke to check it out. So today we said we have to come in because its the last day, Ray said. We came in for the clams and for the Reubens. Its a good time. Dennis and Jean Nelson arrived just before 5 p.m. for dinner. They have been coming in for just about as long as it has been Donovans. The atmosphere is good, Dennis Nelson said. We get along with the people at the bar. We like visiting at the bar because you meet a lot of people you can talk with. And the food is good. Frank and Justine Garaughty, owners of Donovan's Irish Pub & Restaurant at Eastfield Mall, on their last day at the Springfield location. They are moving Donovan's Pub from Springfield's Eastfield Mall to Jarvis Avenue in Holyoke in the fall. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) Jean Nelson agreed, especially about the food. I always get the grilled Reuben sandwich. I just love it, she said. The Nelsons said they would travel to the new Donovans once it reopens. it is a half-hour drive now, Dennis Nelson said. We live in 16 Acres. So, its about the same to Holyoke. For the Garaughtys, after a short vacation, they intend to start renovations on the Holyoke property to get ready for their fall opening. We will have all the things associated with starting a business, Frank said. We are going to keep the pub feel. We are very proud that, yeah, its a bar, but its a pub, and families can come in and have a meal and enjoy themselves in a nice atmosphere. We cant replicate this place, but what we will do will be similar. The 21-year-old man who went missing in a lake in Hopkinton late Friday was found dead early Saturday, according to authorities. The man has been publicly identified as Wilinson J. Orbequito of Hopkinton. His body was recovered Saturday morning in Lake Maspenock following a search involving several public safety agencies that spanned from Friday night until when he was found, according to a statement from Hopkinton Fire Chief Gary Daugherty and Police Chief Joseph Bennett. Orbequito was swimming with his friend beyond the safe-swimming zone of Sandy Beach at the lake when he went missing, the statement said. They went past the buoys and continued further into the body of water, but on the friend returned to the beach, at which point he noticed Orbequito was missing and called 911. When they arrived at the lake, Hopkinton firefighters and police officers began searching the beach line, and the towns fire department deployed its sonar-equipped rescue boats. They were supported by the Massachusetts Fire District 14 Dive Team and Natick and Westborough Fire Department boats, according to the statement. However, the search was suspended around midnight Friday due to a number of challenges, including an intense storm and limited visibility, the fire and police chiefs noted. Hopkinton first responders began searching for Orbequito again around 6:15 a.m. They were later supported by the District 14 Dive Team, along with Auburn firefighter Matthew Ethier and K-9 Riggs, according to the fire and police chiefs. Orbequito was found dead around 8:10 a.m. His body was recovered in 12 feet of water about 90 feet from the shore along the buoy line, the statement said. Further details will not be released at this time pending the determination of the cause of the death, the statement said. Update: The swimmers body was found by first responders early Saturday, July 22, 2023. Editors note: The swimmers age was 21 years old. Authorities initially incorrectly stated he was 22. First responders are searching for a 21-year-old swimmer who went missing at lake in Hopkinton late Friday, according to authorities. A 911 call came in around 8 p.m. Friday reporting the man had not returned with his friend after they swam past the safe-swimming zone set up at Sandy Beach at Lake Maspenock. The friend eventually returned to the beach, noticed the man was missing and called 911, Hopkinton Police Chief Joseph Bennett and Interim Fire Chief Gary Daugherty said in a statement Hopkinton firefighters and police officers soon kicked off the search, with the Hopkinton Fire Department using its sonar-equipped rescue boats to look for the man. Divers from the Massachusetts Fire District 14 Technical Rescue Team also helped, and boats were provided by the Natick and Westborough fire departments, according to the statement. First responders stopped their search around midnight and were expected to resume operations at 7 a.m. Saturday. Severe weather led to multiple interruptions Friday night, the police and fire chiefs said in their statement. We faced a number of obstacles during the search, including limited visibility and thick weeds in the lake. We decided around midnight to halt the recovery effort and will return in the morning when conditions are safer, Daugherty detailed in the statement. The search for the man is now being considered a recovery operation, the statement noted. The family of the missing swimmer has been notified. Sandy Beach will be closed Saturday until further notice. The police and fire chiefs asked swimmers to abide by the following safety guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: A series of thunderstorms that moved rapidly across Massachusetts on Friday battered the commonwealth, and they took no prisoners. From Greenfield to Somerville, the storms swept across the state, dumping as much as 7 inches of rain on some areas, flooding basements and collapsing parts of roads. Downed electrical wires and trees, lightning strikes and even landslides were reported. Heavy and sudden precipitation was the main source of the damage from the storms. The National Weather Service received reports of flash flooding in cities and towns throughout the commonwealth, including Ashfield, Ashland, Belmont, Billerica, Boston, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Conway, Deerfield, Dracut, Everett, Fitchburg, Gill, Holliston, Hubbardston, Lowell, Medford, Montague, Orange, Revere, Somerville, Watertown, Wellesley, Westford and Winthrop. Franklin County got hit particularly hard by the storms. The area saw some of the most significant precipitation in the state, with 7 inches, 5.41 inches and 4.65 inches of rainfall recorded in Conway, Montague and Greenfield respectively, according to the Weather Service. Here is the estimated rainfall from noon to 6 pm based upon radar. Estimates of over 6" near Deerfield MA (the small white pixels if you zoom in). Lots of other swaths of 2" or more of rain across CT and central MA. Thus all the flooding that we've seen. #ctwx #mawx pic.twitter.com/XcuTFEQ6nD NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) July 21, 2023 In Deerfield, sections of Routes 5 and 116 were closed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation due to flooding around 3 p.m. Friday, and Massachusetts State Police were sent to the area to assist. Elsewhere in the town, roughly 14 feet of Lower Road collapsed. The Weather Service received a report that a car fell into the washed-out section of the street and the person inside was rescued. Update: US 5 is now closed between Childs Cross Road in #Deerfield to Cheapside Bridge in #Greenfield due to flooding. Avoid the area. pic.twitter.com/0Xldr9KXbL Mass. Transportation (@MassDOT) July 21, 2023 North of Deerfield, in Greenfield, Route 2 between Adam and Main Roads was closed in both directions because of the heavy damage the storms inflicted on three parts of the roadway. MassDOT engineers were called to look at the issue. The damage to the road on the Gill side is substantial, the Greenfield Police Department said in a Facebook post. That area, caused by a massive landslide, will not be fixed, but the lanes will be altered to allow traffic to flow until a more permanent solution can be found. Update: Rt 2 between Adams Rd and Main Rd in Gill remains closed due to storm damage. MassHighway is working... Posted by Greenfield, Mass Police Department on Saturday, July 22, 2023 In both Deerfield and Greenfield, crews were working Saturday to repair the parts of the roadways damaged by the storms. Authorities warned of traffic delays and road closures that could last days. Western Massachusetts wasnt the only target of the storms Friday. In Worcester County, a lightning strike damaged a homes electrical system on Hillcrest Drive in Oxford. In Hubbardston, where a tornado watch was issued, cars also got stuck in serious flooding on Route 68 and elsewhere in the small town. Please use caution throughout town as there are numerous locations that are currently flooding, including Williamsville Road, the Hubbardston Fire Department said in a Facebook post shortly after 8 p.m. Friday. More storms are approaching the area and could cause further flooding. Please use caution throughout town as there are numerous locations that are currently flooding, including Williamsville Road (below). More storms are approaching the area and could cause further flooding Posted by Hubbardston Fire Department on Friday, July 21, 2023 Northeast of Hubbardston, in Fitchburg, both sides of Route 2 near Leominster were closed because of flooding, according to MassDOT. Electrical wires and trees were knocked down in East Brookfield as well, the Weather Service reported. Eastern Massachusetts wasnt spared either. The Wellesley Police Department posted a video to Twitter late Friday of a tree that was set ablaze after being struck by lightning. Parts of Route 9 in the Norfolk County town were also flooded. FYI: Local flooding on several Wellesley roads including Route 9. Some lightning strikes, including this tree on Schaller St. Officer Chris Fritts captured this video as Wellesley FD extinguished it. pic.twitter.com/4w5aVTlHLG Wellesley Police (@WellesleyPolice) July 22, 2023 Read more: Massachusetts rolls out online assistance guide for flood victims Cars were struck in street flooding under the Lawrence Street Bridge in Lowell, on Route 1 in Revere, near the McGrath Highway in Somerville and elsewhere throughout the region, according to the reports the Weather Service received. In Everett, there was flooding near the Chelsea city line that left several cars stranded and trapped people inside their vehicles. Some had to be rescued, the Weather Service noted. I hope you are all doing well, especially after another week of wild New England weather! Monday started off this week with a Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs hearing. During this meeting, several bills were heard that will help further extend benefits to veterans and more members of the armed forces. Later, my staff attended a meeting alongside Rep. Duffy with several organizations in Holyoke working to expand access to affordable food here in the Pioneer Valley, and discuss the challenges posed by recent flooding to our communitys food banks, and local farmers. On Tuesday I had the opportunity to visit Kamp for Kids in Russell with my son Carson. It was great to welcome the campers and get to see their amazing site! Office hours were hosted in Holyoke on Wednesday before members of my team and I headed down to the Westfield Council on Aging for their Summer Sizzle and Float Party. Thank you to all the wonderful staff and community members who made this event possible! It was great to be able to talk with and enjoy the festivities with so many of my community members. FEARS of violence at Croagh Patrick have abated after a charity climb passed off without incident this afternoon (Saturday). Six gardai were present at the mountain as part of a policing plan which was put in place after fears arose of potential violence between feuding families. Approximately 50 people undertook the climb this morning alongside UK-based celebrity Paddy Doherty, who had made several appeals against violence on the day of the climb. Mass was said by Br Bryan Shorthall at the bottom of the Reek shortly before the main group began the ascend after 10am. Several more individuals climbed the mountain after the main group, who arrived at the bottom of the mountain around 2.30pm. Mr Doherty undertook the climb today (Saturday) in aid of an orphanage in Ukraine. Speaking at the top of the mountain, Mr Doherty said he was so happy to have completed the climb, before listing out the names of several relatives. Thank you, God, for letting me do it again, and to everyone who donated to them children in Ukraine. Thank you very, very much. Thank you very, very much, said Mr Doherty in a video on his Facebook page. Martin Collins, Co-Director of Pavee Point Traveller Centre, had branded talks of violence as hysteria when he spoke to The Mayo News earlier this week. Several local businesses in Westport have installed extra security at their premises amid fears of anti-social behaviour over this weekend. Speaking to The Mayo News this afternoon (Saturday) local county councillor Christy Hyland said there was panic created on social media, by people who should know better. I think this fear was created by social media, and legislation is required to deal with social media, said the former garda. Social media can create stress in many areas and has done in the past and will continue to do so, unless legislation is implemented by the government to deal with it. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. The support of small and medium-sized businesses in Azerbaijan has been a strategic direction for Visa for many years, Vice President and Regional Manager of Visa in Central Asia and Azerbaijan Cristina Doros told Trend in an interview. According to her, this is primarily due to the acceleration of business development and the positive impact of SMEs on the economies of countries. "The more small companies and enterprises use convenient payment technologies, the sooner business turnover grows and develops. The second element, which is no less important for us, is the support of local businesses and entrepreneurs. We are very actively working with our partners, creating solutions for micro, small and medium-sized businesses," Doros said. "One of these solutions is Visa Tap to Phone technology, which allows you to accept payments by bank cards using a mobile device with an NFC module based on Android. The Visa Tap to Phone solution is offered together with a Visa Business Card, which provides an entrepreneur with the opportunity to instantly use cash," she added. Meanwhile, a total of 99 percent of business entities are small and medium-sized organizations in Azerbaijan. by Les Luchter , July 20, 2023 Kenvue, a 135-year-old newborn, ventured out on its own early Thursday morning (7:30 am ET) as the consumer health spinoff from Johnson & Johnson held its first-ever quarterly earnings call following a May 8 IPO. Yet, like a young person who starts living independently at college while still financially supported by their parents, J&J continues to own 89.6% of Kenvue stock shares. Both Kenvue and J&J reported their second quarter consumer health business rising $5.4% year-over-year to $4 billion. This duplication can be expected to change soon, though, as J&J announced a coming split-off of its spinoff as early as the coming days. During J&Js own earnings call an hour after Kenvues, the formers chief financial officer Joe Wolk said J&J shareholders will be able to choose to exchange all, some, or none of their shares of their stock for shares of Kenvue stock. advertisement advertisement We are ready to take on the next phase in our journey to becoming a truly independent company, Kenvue chief executive officer Thibaut Mongon told analysts, as he extolled the successes of the new public company, which he hailed as the the largest pure-play consumer health company in the world, with 1.2 billion customers worldwide Both Kenvue and J&J pointed to strong quarterly performances by Tylenol and Motrin pain relievers, driven by higher incidents of cough/cold/flu this season, as well as to the success of Neutrogena suncare products Yet, despite lower incidents of allergies, both Zyrtec and Benadryl have also been gaining share in the U.S., Mongon said. He noted that the suncare category still has much growth potential, stating, Its estimated that one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime, yet today a majority of Americans do not use sunscreen on a regular basis. Kenvue this year has launched Neutrogena Purescreen+ Mineral UV Tint, he noted, a product that comes in four shades that blend smoothly to complement skin tones and are 30% less whitening than the leading mineral sunscreen, which is one of the biggest frustrations consumers have. Mongon also touted that Band-Aid, for the second straight year, was named Americas Most Trusted Brand in any category by research firm Morning Consult. For its self-care products, which include pain relievers and allergy medications, Mongon promised that Kenvue will deliver a consistent cadence of innovation and marketing programs to drive growth on our priority brands. For instance, he said, the company just launched Tylenol Precise, a topical analgesic that leverages our extensive skin health expertise in the pain relief category. This is an example, he explained, of how Kenvues synergies across segments deliver innovative health solutions. In its skin health and beauty category, meanwhile, Mongon said that with supply chain issues getting resolved, we are planning a return to normalwith a reactivation of marketing campaigns. Other brands mentioned by Mongon included successes for Nicorette in smoking cessation and Immodium in digestive health. One part of Johnson & Johnsons consumer health concerns has not transferred over to Kenvue, and thats good for the newbie -- since the concern involves the ongoing lawsuits related to J&Js use of talcum in Johnsons Baby Powder and other products. The pharma/medtech giant took the unusual step of having its worldwide vice president of litigation Erik Haas speak to the analysts on its earning call. Referring to a negative ruling handed down in one case this Tuesday, Haas declared that we intend to appeal based on the erroneous rulings by the trial judge that prevented us from sharing with the jury critical facts that demonstrate that plaintiff's exceedingly rare form of mesothelioma was not caused by baby powder. A click on Johnsons baby products on Kenvues website took Marketing Daily to a still-existing website from Johnson & Johnson Consumer, where a search for baby powder told us that particular product had been discontinued. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, July 22. The enterprises of the oil industry of Turkmenistan exceeded their production indicators from January through June 2023, Trend reports. This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan Batyr Amanov at an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. According to him, during the specified period, the oil supply plan to the Turkmennebit State Concern was exceeded by 1.8 percent. Furthermore, Amanov noted that the plan for oil refining at Turkmenistan's factories from January to June this year was exceeded by 2.5 percent, for gasoline production by 12.7 percent, diesel fuel by 6.4 percent, polypropylene by 18.3 percent, and lubricating oils were fulfilled by 100.1 percent. Meanwhile, according to the Turkmen Turkmengaz State Concern, the country's hydrocarbon resources are estimated at more than 71 billion tons of oil equivalent, of which more than 20 billion tons of oil and more than 50 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Iran will soon begin electricity exchange with Russia through Azerbaijan, Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian said, Trend reports. The minister noted that it is easier and more cost-effective for Iran to exchange electricity with Russia through Azerbaijan. "Currently, electricity consumption in Iran is 72,500 megawatts per day. Some 30,000 megawatts of this consumption accounted for cooling equipment. Thus, Iran can export about 30,000 megawatts of electricity in winter," he added. According to Mehrabian, if Iran's electric network is connected to Russia through Azerbaijan, taking into account that the peak time of electricity consumption in Iran is in summer and in Russia in winter, it can import electricity from Russia in summer and export electricity to Russia in winter. Reportedly, work is underway on the project of creating a North-South Energy Corridor among Iran, Azerbaijan, and Russia. The goal is to synchronize the power networks of the three countries. The necessary design work related to this project is carried out by Monenco Iran Consulting Engineers Company. --- Follow the author on Twitter:@BaghishovElnur 2:46PM: The Rangers announced that Seager has been placed on the 10-day IL due to his right thumb sprain. Sam Huff was called up from Triple-A to take Seagers spot on the active roster. The MRI didnt reveal any structural damage, Seager told Jeff Wilson and other reporters, so he is hopeful of a return in two weeks time. 1:30PM: Rangers shortstop Corey Seager left Fridays game due to what the team described as a right thumb sprain. He suffered the injury while diving into second base for a double in the eighth inning, and Seager was removed for a pinch-runner. Manager Bruce Bochy told reporters (including Jeff Wilson of Rangers Today) that Seagers x-rays were negative and that the shortstop was considered day-to-day, but Wilson tweeted this afternoon that Seager will undergo an MRI to determine any further damage. Even if the MRI comes back clean, Wilson writes that there seems to be an expectation that he will need time on the IL. It would mark Seagers second trip to the injured list this season, as he previously missed about a month of action due to a hamstring strain. The Rangers can only hope that Seagers MRI reveals nothing more than inflammation, as the 29-year-old is on pace for the best season of his nine-year MLB career. Seager is hitting .350/.413/.631 with 15 homers over 298 plate appearances, and was voted as the American Leagues starting shortstop for the All-Star Game. Seager signed a 10-year, $325MM free agent deal with Texas during the 2021-22 offseason, and he delivered 33 homers and a .245/.317/.455 slash line over 663 PA in 2022. It was an underwhelming performance in terms of bottom-line numbers, but a .242 BABIP and outstanding advanced metrics indicated that Seager was unusually unlucky last year, so it isnt a surprise that he has bounced back in such tremendous fashion this year. While pretty much the entire Texas lineup is posting above-average to great numbers this season, losing Seager for an extended amount of time would obviously be a huge blow to a team with World Series aspirations. The Rangers were already expected to be pretty aggressive at the trade deadline, but if Seagers availability for the stretch run is now in doubt, the front office might turn some attention from the pitching staff to add another bat to the mix. Fortunately for the Rangers, Ezequiel Duran already projects as a capable fill-in for Seager at shortstop, as Duran performed well during Seagers earlier stint on the IL. FLINT, MI -- Rx Kids, an initiative to provide every Flint mother with unconditional cash payments during and after their pregnancies, is in line to receive $16.5 million from a state omnibus budget awaiting Gov. Gretchen Whitmers signature. Michigan State University announced the expected state funding for the program in a news release on Friday, July 21, giving a major potential boost to the program led by its College of Human Medicine and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the pediatrician whose research helped end the Flint water crisis. In addition to the earmarked state funds, Rx Kids received a second boost this week when the Ruth Mott Foundation announced it has awarded $1.2 million, the largest single grant commitment in its history, to the program, which aims to launch in 2024. Building on global evidence, Rx Kids sparks a powerful vehicle for equity and opportunity, Hanna-Attisha said in a statement from MSU. As a pediatrician, Rx Kids is the science-based and prevention-driven answer to treat the pathogen of poverty. We are beyond grateful to the Michigan Legislature for boldly supporting a new vision of how we can best care for each other. Hanna-Attisha announced her push to create the first-of-its-kind cash allowance program in Flint as a pilot program for the nation just four months ago. The program is designed to provide all expectant mothers in the city with up to $7,500 without restrictions on how the money can be used. In addition to a one-time payment of $1,500 during pregnancy, the program would also provide $500 per month until the childs first birthday. Backers of the program say those cash allowances are desperately needed in Flint, a city with more than 80% of young children living in poverty in some city neighborhoods. Census Bureau data from 2017 ranked Flint as the poorest municipality of its size in the nation with nearly 39% of residents and 60% of children living in poverty. In addition to the commitments by the state and Ruth Mott Foundation, other recent funders include the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, which pledged a $15-million challenge grant; the Community Foundation of Greater Flint; the Hurley Foundation; and the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. Hanna-Attisha told MLive-The Flint Journal on Friday that Rx Kids will have raised nearly $35 million of its $55 million fund-raising goal once the state omnibus budget is signed by the governor. It has also applied for American Rescue Plan Act funds from the city of Flint. The Ruth Mott donation will be paid over three years, according to a news release from the foundation, which was incorporated in 1987 and awarded its first grants in 2001. Were incredibly proud to support this innovative citywide approach to investing in Flint children and families, especially in the wake of the water crisis and a global pandemic, said Raquel Thueme, president of the Ruth Mott Foundation. North Flint residents told us to focus on youth and economic opportunity and Rx Kids fits squarely within those two priority areas. Since 2016, the foundation has focused its grantmaking on Flints north side. Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter Read more at The Flint Journal: Dr. Monas prescription for helping Flint kids? $500 infant cash allowance for entire city Flint plans more speed humps to stop speeders in residential neighborhoods Proposal for more Flint police overtime fails. Chief says money needed to reign in street parties TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 22. President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon has held a meeting with Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, who visited Dushanbe for a working visit, Trend reports. During the discussion, the sides focused on the current state and future prospects of the strategic partnership and allied cooperation between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, seeking ways to further enhance their relations. Both parties expressed satisfaction with the positive trend in the growth of trade between the two countries and emphasized the need to diversify mutual trade and expand the range of traded goods. They highlighted significant opportunities in various sectors, including industry, energy, transport, agriculture, and tourism, among others, which are of mutual interest. Additionally, they discussed promoting cooperation in light and food industries, non-ferrous metallurgy, automotive industry, and the agro-industrial complex. The importance of fostering direct economic ties between businesses and enhancing cooperation at the regional level was also highlighted. President Rahmon stressed the importance of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation in advancing Tajik-Uzbek cooperation, and both sides expressed their commitment to further promoting their comprehensive relations through joint efforts. LAPEER COUNTY, MI The attorney for Kenneth KC Grondin, a man once convicted in the 2011 murder of girlfriend Andrea Eilber, has asked a Lapeer County judge to amend his bond in the wake of a new suspect being arrested and charged in the slaying. Grondin, whose convictions were overturned by the Michigan Supreme Court in 2018, has been on house arrest since his release from the Michigan Department of Corrections. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Harmony Brewing Company has been family-owned on the east side of Grand Rapids for the past 12 years, brewing beer, wood-firing pizzas and serving up comfort food. Located at 1551 Lake Dr. SE, Harmony Brewing is known for its distinct wood-fired oven flavor. Heather VanDyke-Titus, co-owner of the brewery with her two brothers, said customers can pick Harmonys pizzas out of a lineup because of how unique they are. Were really thoughtful about the ingredients and about the way that the flavors are paired together, so youre not going to get a meat lovers pizza loaded with toppings, VanDyke-Titus said. Youre gonna get something thats put together thoughtfully about the combination of flavors so that every bite is delicious. The bestselling pizza is the 12-inch Crispy Pig, with ham, pepperoni, prosciutto, mozzarella and basil for $19. For a vegetarian option, the bestseller is the Good Earth with spinach, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and Jarlsberg cheese for $19. Harmony Brewing Company has vegetarian and vegan options at their restaurant, creating what they call pepperphoni with pepperoni that is made from mushrooms. Pizza is very universal, VanDyke-Titus said. Everybody loves pizza. You can have pizza once a week. You can do stuff that is very accessible to everybody, but then you can also get really, really creative with it. VanDyke-Titus said to match with the vibe of Eastown and the eclectic and funky vibe of the brewery, the menu may be expanding soon. While she said the pizza will never be off the menu, their head chef is creating a menu that pairs with pizza. In the meantime, the restaurant is going through the process of preparing specials to see what fits. Recently, they incorporated a cast iron blueberry cobbler with local blueberries and lemon cream for $13 as well as a roasted chicken thigh with cold green bean salad with chili hot sauce for $17. VanDyke-Titus said some of the most underrated menu items are the salads that she said are big enough to split with someone else. The bestselling salad is the spring berries salad with arugula, white balsamic pickled strawberries, roasted asparagus, shaved red onion, parmesan, toasted pecans and a poppy seed vinaigrette for $14. It couldnt be a brewery without the beer and VanDyke-Titus praises the flagship beers such as the Black Squirrel, with a smoky, rich and Scotch-like taste for $10 a growler and the Lovely Day IPA with fresh orange zest and lavender for $14. Harmony Brewing Company also serves cocktails with their house-made vodka, gin and limoncello. VanDyke-Titus current summer drink is the strawberry-infused mix of gin and tonic for $11.50. It is a nice, really yummy summer drink, VanDyke-Titus said. People come for the beer, but then they can get a delicious cocktail and people are often really surprised. The brewing company hosts events almost every night like Monday euchre night, Wednesday night trivia, Yappy Hour on Thursday, where the restaurant holds a dog-friendly patio happy hour, vinyl night Thursday and live music on Saturdays with brunch. We put a lot of work into making it a place where you can get something delicious to eat or drink and theres a friendly welcome with that, but theres also often something really cool happening, VanDyke-Titus said. Harmony Brewing Company is open noon-11 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For full menu options, go to harmonybeer.com. Contact Harmony Brewing Company at 616-233-0063. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. More from MLive Grand Rapids school board votes to put $305M bond proposal on Nov. 7 ballot I forgive you: paralyzed Kalamazoo police officer to drunken driver at sentencing A Michigan town didnt want a Dollar General. Then it got sued. MECOSTA COUNTY, MI A 58-year-old woman died Friday night after a head-on collision with another vehicle on East Wheatland Avenue in Mecosta County, police said. Early investigation from police showed that the Lake woman lost control of her vehicle and crossed over the center line before getting into a head-on collision with a 55-year-old woman from Blanchard, according to a news release from the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office. The 55-year-old woman survived the crash and was transported to a hospital in Mt. Pleasant by family members for her injuries. The crash took place around 8 p.m. on Friday, July 21, according to a news release from the Mecosta County Sheriffs Office. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, police say. Mecosta County Sheriffs Department was assisted by Meceola Central dispatch, Wheatland Township Fire and Rescue, Mecosta County EMS, AERO Med, the Mecosta County Accident Investigation team, Mecosta County Sheriffs Posse and the Mid Michigan Medical Examiner Group. Read more on MLive: Every car outside local Davison dealership damaged from hail, owner says New Mott Community College police chief wants to keep community policing tradition Recall filed against Grand Blanc trustee charged with election law forgery: She has been a distraction State grant allows GISD to offer new staff advancement programs to address teaching shortage Want more Flint-area news? Bookmark the local Flint news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Flint daily newsletter. GRAND HAVEN, MI - If youre looking to have lunch or dinner with a spectacular view, this Lake Michigan spot might be the next go-to foodie spot. Joann Noto owns Notos at the Bil-Mar, 1223 S. Harbor Dr. in Grand Haven, alongside her brothers Tony and Tom Noto. The Noto family started out in Grand Rapids over 35 years ago with their mainstay location, Notos Old World Italian Dining. Ten years prior, the family was in the Standale area with a trattoria-style restaurant. Fast forward to 2019, the family tore down the 60-year-old Bil-Mar building to open up a new space offering authentic Italian cuisine with a panoramic view of Lake Michigan. We were open for 13 months and then got shut down due to COVID-19, Joann Noto told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle. It was difficult, but were very blessed to have the location that we have. Its a place that people want to come to, so were really lucky for that. We are here to stay and we arent going anywhere. The beachfront location features a beach bar and a roped-off area called the Sandlot, where guests can walk up from the beach on the sand mats and have an alcoholic beverage in the area. On the second floor of the restaurant, there is a panoramic view equipped with a banquet area and additional seating. We are going to be doing a new restaurant concept up there in the fall so thatll be something new that we are still in the process of working on, Joann Noto said. One of the things we did this spring is lower the windows so that people dont have to have a window seat to see everything. And whats better with a view? Great food and refreshing drinks. Some of the best sellers on the rotating, seasonal menu include fresh seafood appetizers like calamari ($17), mouthwatering wood-fired pizza like the classic margherita ($16 for 10-inch), entrees like the savory filet mignon ($69) and Penne Rigate ($26), and comfort foods like Notos wagyu burger ($24). When it comes to the classic Italian dishes, a lot of them are from my parents and grandparents recipes, Noto said. And then some of the other stuff the chef is creative with, so theres a nice blend of it. Were happy to be doing this type of food and the quality of it. We wouldnt have it on the menu if we didnt love it and appreciate it for what it is. Noto touts the spot as a beautiful location, even in the wintertime. We want customers to come and appreciate the fact that from every seat in here, you have a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, she said. I can see the pier, the lake, people, the deck, and the patio all from the hostess station. Its magical here. Hours of operation for the restaurant are Monday through Thursday, from 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m., 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday and noon - 9 p.m. on Sunday. Visit online to make a carryout order. Would you like MLive to consider featuring your favorite restaurant in Michigans Best Local Eats? Send the details, including business name, address and best menu item, to Skyla Jewell-Hammie at sjewell-hammie@mlive.com. Read more: 5 fun things to do in Muskegon this weekend (July 21-23) Girl Scouts of Michigan Shore to Shore reopens Grand Haven meeting space Why do people love pickleball so much? We asked Beer City Open players GRAM on the Green free concerts return to downtown Grand Rapids It was 1964 and Daniel West, a Democrat, had been elected to represent Detroit for a second time in the Michigan House. Just a few short months later, he vanished. Not dead, but gone, disappeared completely from public record and eye. As of 2023, West at least the man thought to be West has never been found. It turns out, he never really existed at all. On paper, West appeared to have good qualifications for being a lawmaker. His legislative biography, found within the Library of Michigan, notes he graduated from Swarthmore College with a Bachelor of Arts and later earned a law degree from Yale University before relocating to Michigan. It also lists a spate of other positions including former deputy commissioner of public works for the Virgin Islands, former deputy recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia and a member of the Conference on Equal Employment Opportunities in both 1960 and 1962. A Detroit Free Press article from December 1964 noted West had first filed to run for state representative in 1954, though lost in the primary. In an affidavit filed with the Wayne County Clerk for that election, West claimed to be a practicing attorney born in Sabin, Minnesota. The states legislative biography of him, however, says he was born in Algood, Tennessee. It is unclear which of the two is correct. When filing to run for state office again in 1960, West later changed his occupation to tax accountant and noted hed retired from practicing law. Instead, according to that same Free Press article, West claimed to be self-employed. It was there, in his switch to accounting, that things began to unravel. Following his reelection to the House in 1964, a detective investigating a complaint against the 54-year-old found the lawmaker wasnt exactly who he said he was. In fact, Daniel West an attorney practicing law in New York had died three years prior, according to a 2015 blog post from the outlet Gongwer News Service. The man Michiganders knew as West was a fraud, having used the dead attorneys identity while winning two Michigan House elections. Whats more, his fingerprints matched those of a felon whod served time in three prisons under different pseudonyms for crimes ranging from burglary to larceny to forgery. West, through his tax consulting business, was additionally found to have swindled in excess of 1,500 Detroit-area victims in his scheme, according to an Associated Press report from that era. The faux-West was subsequently indicted on 117 counts related to filing false information on his income tax returns. When the Legislature reconvened for its 1965-66 session, officials refused to seat him and declared the position vacant. If he were arrested and tried, his true identity might have been known. But he wasnt. Per Gongwer, officials issued an arrest warrant for the imposter in July 1965. He fled, never showing up for his day in U.S. District Court. Since then, the man known as Daniel West never been seen or properly identified. According to the Capitol outlet, there had been a handful of alleged sightings in Canada, once in 1965 and again 10 years later. The second sighting, in 1975, was reported to be the last. A former campaign staffer alleged hed spotted the faux-West at a restaurant in Windsor, Ontario, according to the Associated Press. Allegedly, Gongwer reported, when West saw the man staring, he left the restaurant without ever ordering food. Its presumed the man is long dead. It is a fair assumption considering West or the man people knew to be West would be more than 110 years old. More from MLive An uphill battle: how a Hawaii election could complicate Michigans pro-Trump electors case Michigan has a housing problem. So, what is the legislature doing? To-go cocktails, a temporary COVID-19 measure, is now permanent Michigan law Business leaders: Michigans community colleges need to be better Less binging, more revenue: Michigan colleges allowed to sell alcohol at stadiums It was an out body experience for Ronnie Waters when he was sentenced in 1981 to life without the possibility of parole at the age of 17. I couldnt wrap my mind around believing that they were sentencing me to die in prison, that I wouldnt have that opportunity to be free again, said Waters, convicted of first-degree murder in Oakland County. At that time, I was in a daze, and I just figured somehow, some way, something would happen that would change my conditions. It wasnt until years later when he saw his chance to regain freedom in a U.S. Supreme Court case, Miller v. Alabama. He followed the case closely from within the prison walls, and in 2012, the high court deemed it unconstitutional to sentence juveniles to mandatory life without the possibility of parole. Thousands of inmates across the country became eligible for resentencing after the ruling, and Waters was released from prison eight years later. Now, thanks to the 2016 U.S. Supreme Court Montgomery v. Louisiana case and three Michigan Supreme Court cases from last year People v. Parks, People v. Poole, and People v. Stovall almost 400 Michigan inmates sentenced as juveniles could also be released. In its newly passed budget, the Michigan legislature appropriated the State Appellate Defender Office $2.5 million in state funds for the next fiscal year to ensure compliance with the court rulings. This is in addition to a bill package introduced this term looking to codify those rulings into Michigan law, while providing parole opportunities for people younger than 19 at the time of their convictions. Most of the hundreds of cases in need of resentencing are the newly eligible 18-year-olds, said Jose Burgos, a reentry specialist for the State Appellate Defender Office. The court cases opened the door for 18-year-olds to be considered juveniles, as well as retroactively applied the Miller v. Alabama decision to those not considered under the initial ruling. Burgos said clearing up the backlog of cases is not an easy fix and could take years. As a former juvenile lifer released under Montgomery v. Louisiana two years after the ruling came down, Burgos, sentenced as a teen for shooting two people during a bungled drug deal, knows from professional and personal experience the process is oftentimes stalled by prosecutors. Former Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette fought hard against the high courts decision that inevitably freed Burgos, arguing that resentencing hearings would unfairly re-traumatize victim families. Now, both Waters and Burgos continue to see problems at the local level, where county prosecutors make the possibility of resentencing hearings a challenge. They can drag things for years and years if they either dont agree with the rulings or arent motivated to carry out the resentencings, Burgos said. Prolonging it is just another way of getting as much time out of a person as possible, he said. Kalamazoo County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Getting spoke in April on behalf of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. We are in favor of juveniles having second chances, but we are also in favor of juveniles who have committed the most horrific acts facing that ultimate consequence of the possibility of life without parole, he said. Waters said hes happy to see the state make steps in the right direction. He suggests Michigan seek model prisoners who take advantage of prison programs and resources to streamline the process in the meantime. Waters, who now works as the community engagement specialist for Safe and Just Michigan, a criminal justice nonprofit, said people who are incarcerated young want the chance to prove to society that they have redeeming qualities. He noted the states low recidivism rate, which stands at 23.6% Most of these people come home and they have no other desire than to put a life together for themselves, Waters said. Read more from MLive: Cover-up alleged as Michigan redistricting member cleared of ethics violation Ranking Michigan health care jobs by growth, pay and staff shortages Michigan GOP, after a pause, excoriates Nessel over Trump elector charges Whitmer signs $24.3 billion education budget with record per-pupil funding Renowned Ghanaian Digital Music Expert and Country Director of Uganda-based music aggregator, Jonathan Jonilar Nii Laryea, is set to organize a nationwide Digital Music Education Seminar. This groundbreaking initiative aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of musicians, producers, and other industry stakeholders. The seminar will delve into crucial topics such as promotion, marketing, branding, government policies on creative arts, and breaking through the mainstream music space. In an exclusive interview with Jonilar, he highlighted the inspiration behind the nationwide endeavor. After witnessing the overwhelming response to our Digital Music Education Series podcast launched in 2019, which has garnered a broad listenership across Ghana and even beyond, we realized the immense need to extend this valuable education to every corner of the country. The significant surge in streaming numbers, coupled with the numerous seminars, radio and television appearances, and the substantial following we have gained from countries like Nigeria, Liberia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, are a testament to the progress we are making, he stated. The maiden edition of the Digital Music Education Seminar is scheduled to take place on July 26th, 2023, at the Jasikan Municipal Assembly Hall. Nii Laryea added, "The event is a collaborative effort between Jonilar.net and Digishare Africa, with support from esteemed organizations such as Champs Hub Ghana, Shugga Creative, and the Office of the Member of Parliament for Beum Constituency, Honorable Kofi Iddie Adams. Honorable Adams strongly believes that public discussions like this seminar will foster the creation of business avenues in the Oti region of Ghana. "The Digital Music Education Seminar promises to be an enriching and impactful event, featuring expert speakers, industry professionals, and thought leaders who will share their insights, experiences, and strategies for success in the ever-evolving music landscape. Attendees will have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and gain practical knowledge that can drive their careers and businesses forward. Participants can look forward to engaging sessions covering a wide range of pertinent topics, including digital distribution, monetization strategies, copyright and licensing, effective marketing and branding techniques, as well as navigating the complexities of government policies related to the creative arts sector. "Whether you are an aspiring artist, an established musician, producer, or someone involved in the music industry value chain, the Digital Music Education Seminar is a must-attend event that promises to equip you with the necessary tools to thrive in todays digital music landscape." About Jonathan Jonilar Nii Laryea Jonathan Jonilar Nii Laryea is a highly respected figure in the Ghanaian music industry and serves as the Country Director of Omziki Distribution, a leading music aggregator based in Uganda. With a passion for digital music education and industry growth, Jonilar has been instrumental in driving positive change in the music landscape through his podcast and various educational initiatives. 21.07.2023 LISTEN The campaign team of Kennedy Agyepong, one of the flagbearer aspirants of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), is expressing concerns over the lack of a level playing field in the upcoming party elections. The campaign team believes that some individuals within the government are opposed to the party holding free and fair elections. In an interview on Accra 100.5 FM's Ghana Yensom morning show on Friday, July 21, 2023, Mr. George Opoku Amponsah, a member of Agyepong's campaign team, criticised the decision by the National Council to hold a decentralised super-delegates conference instead of a centralised election. He warned that the National Council could even decide to hold the election at the House of the National Chairman but the will of the grass root of the party will prevail. Mr. Amponsah stressed the importance of vigilance for Agyepong's campaign team, stating that they need to be watchful against any manipulations in favour of a specific candidate of the system. Despite the challenges they face, he expressed confidence that the will of the people will ultimately prevail. On the other hand, Mr. Raymond Kumah, a member of the Bawumia campaign team, denied that the National Council is favouring Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia in the race. He argued that Dr. Bawumia's campaign is gaining momentum because he speaks for himself and connects with the people. However, Alhaji Sulemana Lakuku, a member of the Alan Kyerematen campaign, shared concerns that the decision to decentralize the elections may not ensure a level playing field. He believes that this decision could have negative implications for the party's chances in the 2024 general elections -Classfmonline.com President Emmanuel Macron will visit the French overseas territory New Caledonia in the Pacific from 24 July to 29 July. The agenda includes discussions on the archipelago's future status, the effects of China's growing influence in the region, and environmental issues such as climate change and coastal erosion. Macron last visited New Caledonia in 2018, before a series of three referendums on self-determination. The "No" vote won, but voices favouring a separation from Paris are growing stronger. During the first referendum in 2018, independence was rejected by 56.7 percent, but in 2020 only by 53.3 percent. The third and last referendum, in 2021, overwhelmingly favoured staying with France (95.5 percent) but only because the pro-independence opposition controlled by the indigenous Kanak population, boycotted the vote. During his re-election campaign, Macron promised to defuse existing tensions with separatists, though negotiations on the electorate for the 2024 provincial elections remain uncertain today. Focus on the Pacific Paris may engage in dialogue on the future status of its overseas territory, but New Caledonia represents a growing strategic interest for Paris. Following the US, which shifted the focus of its foreign policy to the Pacific under the Obama administration, France followed with its own Indo-Pacific strategy in 2019. The main goal: to counter China's growing influence in the region. A new 130m docking quay was built at Noumea Port last August, able to host 2 patrol ships. France also takes part in war games with Australia, using the archipelago as a base, and French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is expected to visit in 2025. But the China card is played by both sides. According to researcher Daryl Morini, in a brief for the Australian National University, anti-independence forces argue that independence from France "will inevitably result in New Caledonia being strategically dominated by China". France itself repeatedly warns against "hegemonism" in the region, with Macron pointing out in a 2021 speech in Papeete, capital of French Polynesia, that "the small needed a big power" to protect them from the "incursions of the hegemon which comes to take their fish, their technology and their economic resources" - without mentioning China by name. But according to the 650-page report by France's defence ministry, China exerts influence in the independence movement in New Caledonia. Its claims are not substantiated, but Morini points out that the report " played into the 2021 independence campaign by shoring up pro-France arguments." A proponent of the China-threat theory in the Pacific, Bastien Vandendyck, was recently appointed as communications advisor to France's ministry of the interior. But according to Morini, the Kanak pro-independence opposition counters the claim that independence would "entail New Caledonia's subjugation to foreign powers as a colonial trope that "the Kanak are incapable of governing themselves". The indigenous Kanak, concentrated in the Northern part of the archipelago, are currently trying to secure control over New Caledonia's lucrative nickel mining without being dominated by either France or China. On July 26, Macron will meet with the various New Caledonian political groups. After his visit to the territory, he will travel on to Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, a first visit by a French president outside French territories in the Pacific. 21.07.2023 LISTEN Farouk Aliu Mahama, Member of Parliament for Yendi has said flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kyerematen's leadership skills will best serving as a minister in Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's government. Mr. Mahama describes Alan Kyerematen as intelligent and respected. Speaking in an interview on Starr News, said Alan Kyerematen must stop the its my turn mantra and rally behind Dr. Bawumia to become the President of Ghana. Alan is somebody who is very respected and who has carried himself well, very intelligent. We will need him to become a Minister under Bawumia but there shouldnt be a yardstick for you to say that you have suffered." Mr. Aliu Mahama added, The Vice President has suffered for the party. He has been an existing important creature in the space of Ghanaian politics for the last sixteen years. He didnt win for almost ten years and he patiently waited. So for Alan to say its my turn mantra, such a mantra has been shot down. Because Apreku too is senior to Alan and when you say suffering weve all suffered. Bawumia has also suffered, Alan too, all of them but the suffering will be determined by the delegates. However, Alan Kyerematen's campaign communication team spokesperson, Richard Nyamah has said delegates should disregard comments by the Member of Parliament for Yendi, Farouk Aliu Mahama since he is a novice in politics. Speaking on Morning Starr with Francis Abban, the Campaign Spokesperson indicated that the lawmaker does not deserve a response. Farouk Aliu Mahama is my junior brother, he is new to politics, he does understand what he is doing and saying so Im not going to glorify what he said. His father was a politician, he just got into Parliament. He doesnt have the experience and gravitas to say some of the things he is saying. He is just saying them because he needs to be heard. It is his opinion, I wont glorify him with a response. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, July 22. Kazakhstan to launch the transit of Russian gas to Uzbekistan in October 2023, Trend reports. This was revealed during the visit of Chairman of the Management Board of QazaqGaz national company Sanzhar Zharkeshov to the facilities in the Atyrau region. He inspected the progress of preparatory work on the Kazakhstan section of the Central Asia - Center gas pipeline system for the transportation of Russian gas to Uzbekistan through the territory of Kazakhstan. Currently, all technical measures carried out by QazaqGaz are implemented according to the approved schedule. At the moment, a number of repair and restoration measures have been carried out: repair and restoration work on site No.14 in the Mangystau region has been completed ahead of schedule and in full. Passing pressure tests have been successfully carried out; repair and restoration work on site No 1 in the West Kazakhstan region is at the completion stage; repair and restoration work on sites No.2-No.13 in the Atyrau region is actively underway. Meanwhile, QazaqGaz and Russia's Gazprom signed an agreement on the transportation of natural gas through Kazakhstan for consumers in Uzbekistan in May this year. The total annual volume of the gas supply is projected to reach nearly 2.8 billion cubic meters. The Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for Savannah Region, Alhaji Iddrisu Sulemana Kalamonia has urged politicians in the region to leave an impressive legacy for the unborn generation. Prof. Kalamonia gave this admonishment in an exclusive interview with Modern Ghana News on Thursday, July 20, 2023. According to him, leadership is a call to serve and as such, people elected or appointed to positions must not lord over those over propel them to such heights. In his view, they should instead, serve in transparency, fairness, humility and must at all times, be accountable to their subordinates. "As a politician, you must not be fixated on amassing wealth but rather exhibit leadership of influence such that you would be remembered by generations yet unborn," he urged. He further impressed on politicians especially those that hail from the Savannah Region to always do something distinctive that will help change the lives and aspirations of those looking up to them. "As a politician, you must do something singular to have a positive response on others and by doing so, you must embrace the virtues and values of leadership," he stated. The veteran politician has endeared the hearts of all political divides in the Savannah Region for his stellar performance. He has also received widespread commendations for securing countless jobs for the teeming youth in all sectors of the economy. Kuchu Times was founded eight years ago to give voice to Ugandas LGBTQ+ community. Now, a new anti-homosexuality law is threatening this mission at a time when LGBTQ+ Ugandans are facing beatings and evictions. People will tell us their stories and ask us not to put them out there, not until it is safer, Kuchu Times deputy director, Ruth Muganzi, told CPJ. We are meant to ensure LGBTI voices are heard but we are gagged. This is the pain we suffer since the law was passed. Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act, enacted in May, punishes consensual same-sex relations with life imprisonment, entrenching restrictions in a 1950 penal code. Those convicted of aggravated homosexuality for same-sex relations with minors, the elderly, or the disabled, face the death penalty. There are reports that the law has sparked increased vigilantism against LGBTQ+ Ugandans, and that some have been forced into exile or hiding. Kuchu Times still posts on its website. But its annual magazine, Bombastic, is on hold in part because the team is grappling with how to print a publication that mostly features personal accounts without endangering sources. The law has potential ramifications for the press beyond issues with sourcing. Anyone convicted of printing, broadcasting, or distributing material promoting or encouraging homosexuality could be imprisoned for 20 years. Free speech advocates fear that this provision poses a risk to the media. This law, in so many ways, is an anti-publication law. The broad terms in which it talks about promoting homosexuality can be interpreted to mean anything, said Nicholas Opiyo, a human rights activist and one of the lawyers in a petition challenging the laws constitutionality. Covering a story that depicts the community in a positive light could be interpreted to mean promoting homosexuality. Companies found to be promoting homosexuality face license revocations or fines of up to one billion Ugandan shillings (US$269,000). It is a financial penalty akin to strangulation, said Robert Ssempala, executive director of Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda, a press rights group. For Kuchu Times, which derives its name from the slang that queer Ugandans use to identify themselves, the implications of these provisions are clear and grave. But there are signs that the law may have a chilling effect on news organizations that dont solely focus on the LGBTQ+ community, too. CPJ interviewed 13 journalists about the new law. Most requested anonymity, fearing professional and social repercussions of talking about a law they perceive to have popular support, including within the media industry. Nine told CPJ that while they have not cut back their reporting, and their newsrooms still cover the LGBTQ+ community, the law is affecting the way they work. Two Ugandan reporters contributing to international media say that theyve had trouble finding LGBTQ+ Ugandans to interview about the laws impact on access to HIV treatment, and about incidents of persecution. A third journalist has decided to forgo a byline on some LGBTQ+ coverage out of an abundance of caution. A newspaper editor and a television reporter told CPJ that company lawyers have been brought into editorial discussions to advise on what copy might breach the law. Are you promoting homosexuality if you give a story about a gay person a lot of space in your paper? Or are you just reporting? Should you give these stories lower prominence? the newspaper editor said. It is a thin line; journalists might not know where it is until theyve crossed it. Fox Odoi-Oyweloyo, a ruling party politician who voted against the law and is now petitioning against it in court, told CPJ that he recently declined four broadcast interview invitations after journalists called in advance and asked him to tone down his views once on air. Ssempala said that in two instances, broadcast journalists warned him not to go there when he broached the laws press freedom implications. Three of the journalists who spoke to CPJ also expressed concern that given Ugandas spotty press freedom record, which includes physical attacks on journalists, arrests, and the use of criminal libel charges against the press, the law might be used as a pretext to target critical media. It is a trap that you eventually walk into. You might be punished not because anyone is necessarily outraged because you interviewed an LGBTQ person, but because they are unhappy with your [other] coverage, said Lydia Namubiru, news editor of the Pan-African weekly e-paper, The Continent. Authorities in Uganda have previously sanctioned the media for its coverage of LGBTQ+ issues. In 2004, regulators fined a radio station US$1,000 for depicting homosexuality as an acceptable way of life and in 2007, a radio show host was suspended after interviewing a lesbian activist. Bombastic has also faced threats. History has shown us it has happened. It is not inconceivable that the same will happen again, said Opiyo. Namubiru told CPJ she also worries that the media will not grow better at reporting on the LGBTQ+ community while the law makes it difficult or dangerous to publish their voices. Ugandan media have a record of homophobic, even inflammatory, coverage of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2010, a now-defunct newspaper called for the hanging of homosexuals. One of those named in the publication, gay rights activist David Kato, was bludgeoned to death a few months later. In 2014 the Red Pepper tabloid exposed the names of people it called the 200 top homos. In court filings responding to petitions challenging the law, Ugandas attorney general Kiryowa Kiwanuka said the law does not infringe on human rights, including freedom of expression. The attorney general said that the law is intended to protect the traditional family and is unambiguous and purposeful. Some journalists share similar opinions. A broadcast reporter based in eastern Uganda feels empowered to investigate sexual crimes by a section of the law requiring the public to report reasonable suspicion of the offense of homosexuality, the reporter told CPJ. CPJs emails to the office of Attorney General Kiwanuka were unanswered. CPJ called Asuman Basalirwa, the opposition legislator who authored the law, and sent requests for comment via his parliamentary email address and text message but did not receive any replies. Other African journalists may also soon face freedom of expression concerns surrounding anti-LGBTQ+ laws. Ghana is considering a law which carries the potential for censorship. In Kenya, one lawmaker has called for a ban on any discussions, publications and spread of news on same-sex relationships while another has drafted a law similar to Ugandas. Cameroons media regulator has threatened to suspend programs promoting homosexual practices. As Ugandans wait on the courts to decide the constitutionality of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, Muganzi remains defiant. This law, she said, is just another battle for the countrys LGBTQ+ community and Kuchu Times will not stay away from the frontlines. We must keep speaking up so that Ugandans have a wider picture of LGBTI people. We must keep saying: We are not a myth. We are not an import of the West. We are your friends, your neighbors, your brothers, and your sisters, she said. As a lesbian woman, I do not have the privilege to remain afraid and silent. Muthoki Mumo is CPJs sub-Saharan Africa representative. She is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and has a masters in journalism and globalization from the University of Hamburg. 21.07.2023 LISTEN The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has said the northern region needs a lot of attention. According to Mr. Agyapong, in order to address the underdevelopment in the region, 60% of the nation's businesses would be relocated there if elected President. In a tweet on July 21, he said this will enable people from the South to also move to the North to look for highly paid jobs. I will push about 60% of our country's businesses to the north, and I'll make sure people from the south go there to look for jobs because there are lots of undeveloped lands up there, Kennedy Agyapong stated. The NPP is expected to hold a special conference of 900 delegates to trim down the number of its presidential aspirants from nine to five, ahead of its National Congress on November 4, 2023, where over 200,000 delegates would choose the partys flagbearer to lead the party to the 2024 general election. Nine out of the 10 aspiring flagbearers were said to have petitioned the National Council for the exercise on Saturday, August 26 to be centralized. The statement included holding elections in 16 regions would be a waste of resources because the exercise would only need the gathering of fewer than a thousand people in one location. 22.07.2023 LISTEN Notwithstanding the fact that there are alleged bribery and corruption scandals hanging on the neck of former President Mahama, he remains innocent until proven otherwise. Of course, the former president has an inherent right to the presumption of innocence. Suffice it to emphasise that it is the job of the investigative bodies to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, or to establish a prima facie case, and not a job for the former president to prove his innocence. That being said, it is no exaggeration to venture to stress that in any other equitable jurisdiction, the former president would have been investigated thoroughly and prosecuted if a prima facie case is established. If indeed there are serious bribery and corruption scandals hanging on the neck of a former president who is desperately seeking to return to the presidency, it would be fair and proper that he is investigated and cleared before his name appears on the ballot. Unlike Ghana where former and incumbent heads of state are insulated by the seemingly irrational and unjust indemnity clauses, in other equitable jurisdictions, the past and incumbent presidents may face the full rigour of the law without any recourse to their status. Take, for example, the Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, was investigated, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to nine years and six months in prison on corruption and money laundering charges. Suffice it to stress that he served his term, put himself forward for re-election, and was re-elected by the majority of Brazilian electorates. While it is true that the Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, was re-elected after serving his prison sentence, it is absolutely wrong for the teeming supporters to argue somewhat speciously that Mahama is taking a cue from the Brazilian leader. In a grand scheme of things, if Mahama wants to return to the presidency, it is incumbent on him to clear the doubts on the minds of Ghanaians over the alleged bribery and corruption scandals hanging around his neck. Undoubtedly, the president of a nation is a serious job and as such it requires a serious and committed person, therefore, it is quite troubling if corruption allegations are hanging on the neck of an individual who is going to look after the national coffers and has so far unwilling to seriously disprove such allegations. In fact, a lot of eyebrows were raised when Mahama failed to square up with the Attorney-General under Mills/Mahama administration, Martin Amidu, when he audaciously told Ghanaians that the late President Mills set up a committee to investigate a suspicious Brazilian Aircrafts deal negotiated by the then Vice President Mahama. It is also a known secret that subsequent to the embarrassing Airbus bribery and corruption scandal between 2009 and 2015, President Akufo-Addo tasked the then Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu to establish the identity of the said Government Official One who allegedly took bribe in the international thematic report. The Special Prosecutor concluded in 2020 that the said Government Official 1 in the Airbus bribery scandal was the former president and the 2020 flagbearer of NDC, John Dramani Mahama. The report nonetheless concluded that since we were in the election period and the said protagonist was a presidential candidate, the Office of the Special Prosecutor was not in a position to take any immediate action. To his credit, the current Special Prosecutor is dutifully probing into the alleged involvement of former President Mahama in the Airbus bribery and corruption scandal between 2009 and 2015. It is, however, quite unfortunate that the party loyalists would choose to heckle the Special Prosecutors over his prudent decision to continue with the investigation of former President Mahamas alleged involvement in the embarrassing Airbus bribery and corruption scandal. Besides, the teeming supporters contention that after all Akufo-Addo is allegedly much more corrupt than Mahama and therefore must be left alone is a nonstarter. Who says that Akufo-Addo cannot be investigated over any alleged bribery and corruption scandal hanging around his neck at some point in retirement? For the sake of justice, we would humbly plead with the diehard supporters of Mahama to exercise restraint and cease their cacophonous witch-hunting rendition and allow the Special Prosecutor to bring finality to the seemingly international embarrassment. K. Badu, UK. [email protected] Lusaka, July 21, 2023Zimbabwean authorities should thoroughly investigate the assaults of freelance reporters Annahstacia Ndlovu, Pamenus Tuso, and Lungelo Ndlovu in Bulawayo and hold their attackers to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Monday, July 17, in Bulawayos central business district, a group of people wearing regalia of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, or ZANU-PF, slapped Annahstacia Ndlovu, a correspondent for U.S. Congress-funded Voice of America, across her face and punched her when she refused to delete a recording and photographs of their skirmish with vendors at a vegetable market in the city, according to news reports, a statement by the Zimbabwean chapter of the press freedom group the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Members of the same group also slapped Tuso, a freelance journalist who is also chairperson of the Bulawayo Media Center, and Lungelo Ndlovu, a Reuters correspondent who is not related to Annahstacia Ndlovu, according to both journalists, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Zimbabwean authorities should speedily investigate the assaults of journalists Annahstacia Ndlovu, Pamenus Tuso, and Lungelo Ndlovu, and bring all those responsible to justice, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator, in New York. Journalists must be free to report without fear of attack, and those who prevent them from working must face immediate consequences, especially as there is heightened concern about journalist safety ahead of the August 23 general election. The journalists told CPJ that ZANU-PF supporters had ordered vendors to show proof of their support for the ruling party at their central business district office ahead of the August elections or risk losing trading space at the market. When the vendors refused, the supporters beat them up and told them that they were not allowed to trade at the market. Annahstacia Ndlovu told CPJ that she and the other reporters were interviewing vendors about the skirmish with ZANU-PF supporters when one of the supporters ordered her to delete her footage. After she refused and identified herself as a member of the press, that man, aided by other supporters, slapped her across the face and punched her body. A woman confiscated her phone and deleted footage and photographs before handing it back, Ndlovu said, adding that her other phone fell to the ground during the assault and was damaged. The ringleader assaulted me several times, while others were even touching my breasts, she said. They beat me all over the body. My face is swollen. The journalist reported the attack to the Bulawayo Central Police station, where a case was opened for investigation, she said. According to a medical report reviewed by CPJ, Annahstacia Ndlovu sustained serious injuries to her eyes and a swollen right hip. The injuries presented a potential danger to life and the likelihood of a permanent disability, according to the report. Lungelo Ndlovu told CPJ that the attackers also slapped him and ordered to him to delete footage, but he managed to flee to safety. They demanded I identify myself, which I did, and then they said [to] delete footage and some guy slapped me on the face. I didnt see that coming. I couldnt think of anything at that point, I had to run away, Ndlovu said, adding that he had not deleted his footage. Tuso said he was slapped on the cheek but was not injured, saying, They wanted to confiscate my camera, but I had to run away and hide it. ZANU-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa and his deputy, Michael Bhima, did not respond to CPJs repeated texts and phone calls seeking comment. When reached via messaging app, Bulawayo Central Police spokesperson Abedinco Ncube referred CPJ to Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi. CPJ called and texted Nyathi, but did not receive any reply. Earlier this month, CPJ condemned the Zimbabwes legislatures passage of the so-called Patriot Bill, which threatens the rights to freedom of expression and media freedom in the country. The Executive Secretary for Advocacy for Medical Malpractice Victims, Mr Kwame Appiah has revealed that medical malpractice is prevalent among pregnant and lactating mothers in Ghana. According to him, pregnant women are the most among when seeking health care in Ghana. Advocacy for Medical Malpractice Victims, a patient-centered non-governmental group has been leading a campaign to bring justice to victims of medical negligence in Ghana. Speaking to Captain Koda, host of the Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9 FM's morning show "Nyansapo", on Friday, July 21, 2023, Mr Kwame Appiah disclosed that almost half of the victims of medical negligence are pregnant women. He noted that pregnant women either get medical complications during or after their pregnancy due to some negligence on the part of health professionals. Speaking on their work, Mr Kwame Appiah said the Advocacy for Medical Malpractice Victims comprises lawyers, doctors and other health professionals. Their work he noted, has been championing justice for victims of medical malpractice through the payment of compensation, promotion of high competence among healthcare givers, among others. He added that the group receives and investigates between 25 and 30 cases of alleged medical negligence nationwide every week. The incidence of medical negligence so far as our organization is concerned is on the high. On the average, we have a minimum of 25 to 30 cases coming through, said Executive Secretary, Kwame Appiah. We listen to the narrative of these patients, assess the complaints they come with and then we are able to determine what to do to help them seek compensation or justice, he added. A vibrant youth group based in Buipe in the Central Gonja District of the Savannah region has called on government and stakeholders to intervene in resurrecting the defunct Buipe Produce Buying Company (PBC) Shea Nut Factory. This they say will help ameliorate the plight of the women and reduce the unemployment situation in the district. The group, Buipe Youth for Peace and Development which seeks to promote peace and development in the area made the appeal when this reporter visited the factory to ascertain the state of the once active factory. It was generally observed that the once upon a time buoyant factory has gradually been turned into a rearing site for animals. The Buipe Produce Buying Company Limited (PBC LTD), a joint venture by the government of Ghana and Mesrs LDS Maquinas e'Equipmentos Industrias Limited of Brazil was established by the erstwhile President John Dramani Mahama administration at a cost of US$10million to process shea nuts into shea butter and shea oil for export to Brazil. The company started active operations and employed a number of youth in its early days. In 2019, the company grounded to a halt due to lack of funds to procure raw materials for production, sending many of the workers home. The leader of the Buipe Youth for Peace and Development, Issah Mohammed lay the blame on the management of the factory for the collapse of the factory. The group launched a passionate appeal to the government and stakeholders to resuscitate the company. A section of traders engaged in the business expressed their frustration as their trade grounded to a halt. A resident and a shea nut picker decries the low patronage of the nuts owing to the collapse of the factory. Assemblyman for the Buipe Electoral Area, Abdulai Baaki narrates his efforts at revamping the factory but all efforts fell on deaf ears. His fellow Assemblyman for Old Buipe Electoral Area, Wani Williams bemoans the unemployment the collapse of the factory has since caused the area. The Amansie Central District Assembly has cut sod for the construction of a boys dormitory at Tweapease Senior High School. Established as a private school in 2012 by Nana Prah I , the Tweapease Senior High School in the Amansie Central district was absorbed by the government as a day school in 2018. The school with a population of more than 400 students gained boarding house status in 2023 when the first batch of about 122 students made up of both males and females were admitted into makeshift dormitories of the school. The new boys dormitory according to the Amansie Central District Chief Executive, Michael Donkor, will accommodate about 70 students of the school. At a short sod cutting ceremony to signal the commencement of construction, the DCE said the project which will be funded by the Minerals Development Fund forms part of measures by the Assembly to beef up the facilities of the school. " As an Assembly, we are conscious of the infrastructural gap in the Tweapease Senior High School hence have resigned to salvage the situation by providing boys' dormitory for the start," he stated. He intimated that the NPP government since the school was established has made efforts to resource the school by donating a brand new bus and pick up for the school. Hon Donkor further appealed to parents to also contribute to the development of the school. The contractor of the project Archibald Oppong assured that the project will be completed in the stipulated 6 months time assuring quality work done. He said "as a local contractor, I can assure the school that I will deliver on schedule and make sure I hand over quality work to the school." The District Director of Education Nana Pokuaa Amoako lauded the Assembly for the project which she said will partly solve the infrastructural deficit in the school. She seized the opportunity to appeal to parents to also support the school. On his part, the headmaster of the Tweapease Senior High School Theophilus Yeboah commended the Assembly for the project describing it as a relief for staff and students of the school. He said the need to accommodate the students of the school forced them to improvise by converting some classrooms into dormitories. Mr. Yeboah enumerated the several challenges facing the school which included inadequate washroom facilities, lack of accommodation for the headmaster and staff as well as some security challenges. He said "we want government to come to our aid by regularising the appointment of security personnel in the school as well as fencing the school to ward off intruders and criminals." 22.07.2023 LISTEN While telling my students each morning before heading to lecture I watch BBC British Broadcasting Corporation to be updated on the latest world news for them it stands for "Big Black Cocks". I was astonished but they were laughing. Knowing from Africa firsthand by seeing many Ghanaians easing themselves in public due to a lack of public toilets and proper education as well as discussions on the subject I learned this is a pure fantasy of hormone-driven white males and hungry ladies. This humble example demonstrates the situation that the younger generation lives in a parallel world compared to the one of us who has walked the earth before them. Aggressive climate activists of Generation Z have not been witness to the actions and development of the RAF Red Arny Fraction that took the fight for a more democratic and inclusive Germany to a different level by kidnapping, bank robbery, blackmailing, killings, and suicide with no change in society achieved. The Green Party which evolved over those traumatic years has not only betrayed its founding fathers and original supporters but is soon going to be outnumbered by the right-wing party AfD Alternative for Germany. More so the different understanding of words reflects the worlds we live in on the same planet. While we old folks were trained to communicate face-to-face playing after school in public places, writing letters waiting for days or weeks to receive a reply, and making calls modern technology changed today's young generation. Sit mostly before computers and use their smartphones for quick chats and fighter games our youngsters have lost direct interaction and based on the development a disorientation of values. Each generation of the past listened with great interest to stories of a past gone long ago sitting by the side of the grandparents. Hungry for stories they try to find out about values that exist in the life of humans and how people are capable of overcoming challenges as much as getting a guideline for their own life. Modern technology makes it too easy for parents to ignore the hunger for values and heroes in human flesh not as an Avatar to kill others. When such children, teenagers, and young adults come across an old friendly man willing to share his life stories openly and honestly with them they get glued to his lips and he gets praised be seen as the best teacher in school. What is certainly a big compliment and very flattering for any serious educationalist it must be an alarming signal to society at large. Aggressive comments even online death threats were not seen this way in past generations. Observing on public transport how many people stare at their smartphones and play useless games wasting precious lifetimes instead watching their neighbors and thinking of a better world sadness haunts any mind with better ideas for the world. Every generation complained about the next generation no doubt about it but when generations cry out massively for the meaning of life and values being empty minds the old generation should be alarmed and take great care of the years left so they still can make an impact on the course of events. The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has issued a press release to address the controversy over the huge amounts of money stolen from her home in Accra. The monies in question are $1 million, 300,000, and millions of Ghanaian Cedis. In her press release, Cecilia Abena Dapaah said she has noticed inconsistencies in the various reports in the media that has generated conversations in the public. She notes that she is taking steps and will provide a detailed response on the reports of the stolen money from her home in the coming days. I refer to publications dated 21/07/2023 suggesting that I own one million dollars, three hundred thousand euros and millions of cedis which have been stolen from my house. There are noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter, parts of the release from the Sanitation Minister said. Cecilia Dapaah continued I am taking steps to examine the origins of the inconsistencies and will provide a detailed response in the coming days. Reports indicate that two house helps of Mrs. Cecilia Abena Dapaah have been dragged to court. The two house helps of Minister Cecilia Dapaah accused of stealing the money have been identified as 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei. Patience and Sarah (A2), are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing US$1 million, 300,000, and millions of Ghana cedis. Within the same period, Patience and Sarah allegedly stole personal effects of Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, which included assorted clothes, valued at GH95,000, handbags, and perfumes. The rest are jewelleries valued at US$95,000 from Cecilia Abena Dapaah. However, Patience alone, within the same period stole six pieces of Kente cloth worth GH90,000 and six sets of mens suits valued at US$3,000 which are properties of the ministers husband. Below is the response form the Minister: TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 22. Latvia has expressed its readiness to boost investments in Uzbekistan through the implementation of an additional project, the construction of a phosphorite processing plant, Trend reports. The announcement was made during a meeting between Kadambay Sultanov, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Latvia, and Janis Vilgerts, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at BAO company. As was noted, preliminary estimates indicate that the construction of the plant is valued at $12 million, all of which will come from direct foreign investments. Vilgerts positively evaluated the significant transformations taking place in Uzbekistan, including the favorable conditions being created for foreign investors in the country. As a result of the meeting, an agreement has been reached for Vilgertss visit to Uzbekistan from July 19 through July 21. During the visit, he will meet with representatives of relevant ministries and agencies in the country. BAO, established in 1995, is one of the major companies in Latvia providing services related to the collection, reliable transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste, with a focus on minimizing environmental damage. Currently, the company is implementing an investment project for the development of phosphorite deposits in Uzbekistan with a total value of $30 million. Meanwhile, Georgijs Vojevoda, Head of the newly created representative office of the Latvian Investment and Development Agency (LIAA) in Uzbekistan, earlier emphasized the growing interest of Latvian businesses in establishing promising cooperation with Uzbekistan. "This is evident from the decision to open an LIAA representative office in Tashkent," he said. According to Eurostat data, Latvia ranked 8th among Uzbekistan's main trade partners in 2022, with a turnover of 11.4 million euros. Hundreds of people took to the streets in Botswana's capital of Gaborone on Saturday to protest against legislation seeking to make same-sex relations legal. Backed by religious groups, the demonstrators marched across the city to voice their opposition to a bill that aims to comply with a 2019 court ruling in favour of LGBTQ rights. Some held signs reading "we say no homosexuality" and "protect our children". The bill "would open floodgates of immorality and abomination", said Pastor Pulafela Mabiletswane Siele of the Evangelical Fellowships of Botswana, a Christian group, delivering a petition to the parliament. "We urge our parliament to opt for a referendum regarding this matter," Siele said. The protest comes amid a wider pushback against LGBTQ rights in southern Africa. Pushback across Africa Last week, thousands of people took to the streets in Malawi ahead of a constitutional court case challenging the country's ban on same-sex relationships. Lawmakers in Namibia have backed legislation to ban same-sex marriage and punish its supporters, following a Supreme Court ruling that allowed for the recognition of some unions contracted abroad. Botswana's High Court in 2019 ruled in favour of campaigners seeking to strike down jail sentences for same-sex relationships, declaring the punishment to be unconstitutional. The government sought to revoke the ruling but lost in appeal in 2021. Religion 'weaponised' Gay sex had been banned since 1965 in the socially conservative African nation, where offenders could face up to seven years in prison. The bill that is expected to be discussed in the coming weeks removes the related provisions from the penal code. Receiving the petition on behalf of parliament, opposition lawmaker Wynter Mmolotsi said MPs would take into consideration the views of the church. "We worry that religion and faith are being weaponised to distort the message of the church which is to encourage love and restoration," Botswana's LGBTQ rights group LEGABIBO said in a statement earlier this month. (with AFP) President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Saturday, July 22, paid a courtesy call on Pope Francis, in Rome. The visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations between Ghana and the Vatican. The call on the Holy See formed part of the President's four-day official visit to Italy, as the West African nation renews the bonds of friendship between the two countries. In line with the visit, the Ghanaian delegation was taken on a tour of the Pontifical Academies of Sciences at the Vatican by its Chancellor, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, a reputable Catholic priest of Ghanaian origin. The country shares in the aspirations of the Holy See in addressing the vexed issues of climate crisis, human trafficking and the promotion of equality for all. In the recent commemoration of the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' papacy, which coincided with the National Day of the Holy See, President Nana Akufo-Addo praised the former for his commitment to the cause of humanity. Since his pontification in 2013, His Holiness, Pope Francis, has promoted fairness and equality amongst nations, and also preached against discrimination and exploitation, he noted. The Vatican has over the years been supportive of Ghana's development agenda, especially in the area of education, health and youth development. GNA Paul Adom-Otchere is a well-known state-sponsored journalist on Akufo Addo's payroll who defends, aids, and abets crimes under the NPP regime. He is known to be a law student who didn't graduate as a lawyer because he failed to be one. In addition to defending the corruption of Kwadzo Owusu Afriyie, aka Sir John, and Eugene Arhin, the president's director of communication, he also justified the extramarital affair between Akufo Addo and the Ghanaian-Canadian nurse, calling the lady a criminal. It's time for me to ask Paul Adom-Otchere, how the corrupt journalist who inflated the price of Christmas trees for decoration, will defend Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah, now that two of her housekeepers are accused of stealing millions of Ghanaian cedis, $300,000, and $1 million from her Abelenkpe, Accra, home in October 2023. (I want to call readers' attention to this publication's inaccuracy, although we are in July 2023, the alleged theft occurred in October 2023.) Ghanaians are eagerly awaiting Paul Adom-Otchere's response to the Sanitation Minister's 1 million dollar theft since he has been defending all NPP politicians who have been involved in serious corruption offenses. In Ghana, history is repeating itself, but unlike the time when colonial powers fought over Africa, this time the NPP politicians are stealing the state's resources and squabbling over its property since they know the government will not succeed in remaining in power until 2024. One of the major reasons Ghana's infrastructure has crumbled with huge debt and no accountability is that Ghana is losing millions yearly, ever since Akufo Addo was elected president nearly seven years ago. A government should have a good reason for failing, but the NPP administration's demise was caused by pervasive, chronic corruption rather than the COVID or the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as they want Ghanaians to believe. Since corruption affects everyone in the lower classes, Ghanaians should remind Akufo Addo, Richard Ahiagba, or other NPP politicians that they cant blame COVID for the failure of the economy, and of both domestic and foreign investment, without mentioning the enormous amount of COVID funds stolen. Akufo Addo has known for a very long time that he has failed and that the majority of Ghanaians have rejected the entire government. In light of this, he is aware that the party will not be able to maintain power past 2024. Thats why on two occasions Akufo Addo asserted that "He will do everything in his power to secure the NPP victory," then followed the recent treacherous comment by Bryan Acheampong that "The NPP will never hand over power to the NDC. As I've previously stated in most of my articles, Akufo Addo never decided to control or prosecute anyone for corruption under his administration, promising to fight corruption was the easiest statement to win the trust of the people, so Ghanaians shouldn't underestimate the impact of corruption in his administration, which has led to the collapse of the economy, businesses, and domestic and foreign investments. It will be noted that the lengthy list of assets appeared in the divorce papers filed by Eugene Arhin's wife after she had a misunderstanding with the Director of Communications for the President of Ghana. His properties include a five-bedroom house intended to serve as the couple's matrimonial home, which is located on two lots of land in East Legon, Accra. He also owns a house that is currently being built that will eventually have sixteen separate apartments in Tuba-Weija, Accra, and another house that will have apartments in Teshie, Accra. After a brief career in politics, where did Arhin get this money? Many NPP politicians have seized the chance to plunder public coffers as a result of Akufo Addo's failure to prosecute any corrupt politicians. He demonstrated again after giving a directive to the Special Prosecutor to unfreeze the assets of the late corrupt NPP politician known as Sir John. How could the minister of sanitation have so much cash at home? What's more, where did she acquire the cash? Do Ghanaians realize how much money the NPP politicians have secretly stolen? I am very sure that the majority of Ghanaians, and probably not just me, are anxiously waiting for criminal-defending journalist Paul Adom-Otchere, over what he is going to say about the financial crime against Cecilia Dapaah. How long can Ghanaians endure witnessing such events? I am too smart to put my trust in politicians that aspire to be president yet have wrecked Ghana. Only those who require psychiatric intervention will vote for Kyerematen, Akoto, or Bawumia since they are all useless. Blue Pearls School located in Teshie in the Ledzokuku Constituency of the Greater Accra Region on Friday, July 21, 2023 made an educational visit to the Parliament House in Accra. The visit, which saw a section of students and staff participating, was part of moves to expose young but promising and energetic students to the core duties of Legislators across the country. The visit also provided an avenue for students to witness the day's debate from the public gallery for the first time. Upon entering the House, the team was taken through series of lectures on the history and leadership of Parliament, the roles of legislators in enhancing democracy, professionalism and security in Parliament and many others. The meeting also provided enlightenment on the sitting arrangements in Parliament where first-time MPs are made to occupy the back seats, however, they are given the opportunity to move steps forward as and when they win their elections at the constituency. The team also had the privilege to meet some notable Members of Parliament including Hon. Benjamin Narteh Ayiku (Ledzokuku Constituency), Hon. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (Krowor Constituency), Hon. Albert Akuka Alalzuuga (Garu Constituency) and Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu (Madina Constituency) as they took turns to offer advises on the need to achieve and become responsible citizens in the country. Subsequently, MPs for Ledzokuku and Krowor Constituencies who were seemingly enthused about the visit encouraged the hardworking staff of Blue Pearls School not to relent but continue with the good work of nurturing students to hold leadership positions across the world in the coming years. The team lead, Nambe Patrick (Sir) thanked the Legislators for their kind words and reception while assuring them of the continuous support of staff at Blue Pearls to impart more useful skills and knowledge in the lives of these promising students. In a world where the quest for academic excellence often takes center stage, it is crucial to pause and reflect on the true purpose of education. As societies evolve, so do the challenges they face. Africa, with its diverse cultures and abundant potential, stands at a pivotal moment in history, calling for a new breed of leaders capable of navigating the complexities of the 21st century. Amidst the pursuit of knowledge and skills, character education emerges as the foundation on which strong, ethical leaders can be built. In this regard, Alex Ansah Kofi Owusu, the proprietor of Chief Montessori School in Obuasi East advocates for character-based education to cultivate future leaders who can transform the African continent and humanity. The Quest for Transformative Leadership Africa is a continent brimming with untapped talent, but its progress is often impeded by social, political, and economic challenges. Alex Ansah Kofi Owusu, a passionate advocate of character-based education, firmly believes that these hurdles can be overcome by instilling ethical values and enlightened perspectives in the minds of the youth. Addressing a gathering of students, teachers, and stakeholders at Chief Montessori School's 6th-anniversary conference, the proprietor emphasized that education must transcend the boundaries of academic excellence to encompass character development. Character Education: The Missing Piece in the Puzzle In his powerful speech, Alex Ansah Kofi highlighted the limitations of focusing solely on academic achievements in shaping future leaders. While academic excellence is undoubtedly valuable, character education is the missing piece that can pave the way for transformative leadership in Africa. Through character-based education, young minds can be nurtured to possess qualities such as integrity, empathy, resilience, and social responsibility. These traits form the bedrock of ethical leadership, enabling individuals to navigate challenges with a sense of purpose and compassion. The Kofi A. Tawiah Foundation, represented at the conference, shares a similar vision for the future of Africa. Driven by the belief that inspired, ethical, and enlightened young generations can solve Ghana and Africa's problems, the Foundation focuses on supporting character education and good citizenship. Maxwell Makimi Wunangi, the program coordinator for the Ashanti and Bono region, expressed that the Foundation's main purpose is to inculcate positive attitudes and characteristics in the youth, empowering them to be agents of change for national development. The Role of Children as Agents of Change Jennifer Ofori, the Obuasi East District Director for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), echoed the significance of character education by emphasizing that children are powerful agents of change. Speaking after the conference, she highlighted the impact of the students' conference in imparting knowledge and values, transforming them into ambassadors of peace-building, underscoring the transformative potential of character-based education in nurturing responsible and active citizens who contribute positively to society. About the Schools Conference The Chief Montessori School in Obuasi East celebrated a significant milestone, marking six years of dedication to nurturing young minds and shaping future leaders. The 6th-anniversary celebrations took the form of a grand student conference, where various schools from the Obuasi East and West were invited to participate in the event. Students and staff from The Bacnof Schools, Winterfell School, The Leap School and Artic Cluster of Schools were present. The School also partnered with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Kofi A. Tawiah Foundation, Elsie Effah Kaufmann Foundation and Dext Technology Ghana. The history of SUP is a history of struggle and resistance. Regardless of the enormous conspiracies against the party by elements of reactions, SUP has never wavered on her historical existence. She has continued to stand tall in championing the noble causes of all students, peasants and workers in Liberia. Through this process, SUP has lost several of her finest cadres with others being beaten and jailed illegally. With knifes to our throats and bullets to our heads, never will we as cadres and ideologues of SUP allows the struggle for a decent homeland to be compromised as a result of intimidations. Comrades and friends, almost one year after the July 26, 2022 bloody saga at the US Embassy near Monrovia, SUP wishes to inform the general public that she will uncompromisingly assemble at the US Embassy near Monrovia on July 26, 2023 to commemorate one year of the July 26, 2022 brutalizations of its ideologues and militants. It can be reminiscence that on July 26 of last year, conscious university students under the banner of SUP assembled at the US Embassy near Monrovia in protestation of the national calamities that have engulfed the state under the five and almost six years misrule of George Weah and his cliques of economic vampires. Unfortunately, those students were attacked by surrogates of the failed CDC regime under the instructions of Jefferson Koijee, City mayor of Monrovia. The attack was staged by the CDC-COP of Ben Believe Togba, Foday Massaquoi, Pukar Robert, Hassan Trawallay and other domestic terrorists of the CDC. The attack saw several of SUP ideologues and cadres receiving severe causalities, notably with Cde. Christopher Walters Sisusu Sivilli being stripped naked and humiliated on live cameras. Fellow Liberians, SUP is sad that almost one year after this sad incident, there has been no investigations or report by the Government of Liberia and other Human Rights' Group in the country. It's in this Vien that SUP will assemble on July 26, 2023 to call on the United States Government, the European union, ECOWAS, the United Nations, African Union and other international partners to ensure justice be served for Cde. Christopher Walters Sisusu Sivilli, Cde. Paul Dolo, Cde. George Darsaw, Cde. Abraham Nulah and other victims of the July 26, 2022 bloody saga at the US Embassy. SUP will never rest until justice is serve for the afford mentioned comrades. Meanwhile, SUP wishes to inform the general public that the assembly will be led by Cde. Ideologue Haggaison Kwein W. Kwein, the Co Chair for Governmental Affairs of the party. In conformity with the constitution of the Student Unification Party, and taken into consideration the graduation of the Chairman emeritus, Mustapha Kanneh and Co Chairs for Party's Affairs Marcus Goodrich with the party General "Congress" broken down, the constitution invest all authority in the Co chair Governmental Affairs as the highest ranking officer on campus. SUP wishes to use this medium to also calls on all solidarity forces to join her on July 26, 2023 in seeking justice for Cde. Christopher Walters Sisusu and others. Aluta, struggle continues. About the Author: Augustine F. Taylor, Jr. is a Senior Student of the University of Liberia studying Public Administration. He's a staunch Ideologue of the Vanguard Student Unification Party where he currently serves as Chairman on the Bureau of Membership, Mobilization and Recruitment. He can be reached at: Contact #(s): +231777410860 /+231880623348. Unless global goals do not become a reality in the lives of every person worldwide, we will fail to deliver on those promises. Local actions are key. That is why the Mayors of several municipalities in Bangladesh and other local government leaders and experts had united to form the Bangladesh Mayors Alliance for Healthy Cities in 2019. "Well-coordinated actions at the local level are building blocks to deliver on global goals. If all local governments of all municipalities in Bangladesh work towards reducing (and eventually ending) tobacco use and TB, and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), we will be able to deliver on the promises made by Bangladesh's honourable Prime Minister," said Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Member of Parliament of Bangladesh and co-convener of Asia Pacific Parliamentarians Caucus for Health and Development (APCAT Parliamentarians). Barrister Patwary was addressing the 3rd Mayors' Summit of Bangladesh held in Cox's Bazar during 21-22 July 2023 om the theme "United efforts for healthy cities." The Summit was co-hosted by the Cox's Bazar Municipality, National Tobacco Control Cell (NTCC), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Mayor Alliance for Healthy Cities, International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT), AID Foundation, Tobacco Control and Research Cell (TCRC) of Bangladesh and others. One Health approach is key to boost pandemic preparedness "United efforts at all levels are vital if we are to end TB, or tobacco use, or prevent NCDs. Major risk factors of life-threatening and chronic NCDs (over 70% of deaths are attributed to NCDs worldwide) and TB (the deadliest of infectious diseases in most low- and middle-income nations) are common: such as tobacco, alcohol, malnutrition, obesity, lack of physical activity, etc. That is why, united, and well-coordinated efforts at the local level assume an overwhelming importance so that local people can stay healthy, prevent infections, and reduce the risk of NCDs, said Dr Tara Singh Bam, Asia Pacific Director of International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union). "Mayors play a critical role in tobacco control by implementing and enforcing policies, raising public awareness, and creating smoke-free environments in their cities to protect the health of their citizens" added Dr Bam. Mayors role is also critical to address and prevent any pandemic through One Health approach, emphasized Dr Tara Singh Bam. According to the latest WHO Global TB Report, undernourishment was the biggest risk factor for people getting sick with TB in Bangladesh in 2021, followed by tobacco use as the second biggest risk factor. Other risk factors included diabetes, alcohol and HIV. Bangladesh aims to be tobacco-free by 2040 Bangladeshs Prime Minister has promised to make the country tobacco-free by 2040, said SM Sirajul Haque, Mayor of Tangail in Bangladesh. He said that we cannot create a smart Bangladesh unless children and adults alike make smart decisions which are good for them and for the country. If people use tobacco then they will be unhealthy and also cause havoc on their family. Staying away from tobacco use is vital. That is why he is encouraging those who use tobacco in his Tangail region to quit tobacco use by benefitting from tobacco cessation services. Tobacco retail is not allowed within 100 metres of educational institutions and to those who are under 18 years of age, he added. Tobacco use in Bangladesh has reduced in the past 20 years as per the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Health Data Observatory. From 57.6% in 2000, tobacco use has come down to 34.7% in 2020. However, tobacco consumption in Coxs Bazar was found to be higher than the national average at 43.4%. Tobacco use is a major public health challenge in Bangladesh, with high rates of both smoking and smokeless tobacco use. Smokeless tobacco use is particularly prevalent in Bangladesh, with over 20 million people using various forms of smokeless tobacco, like jarda and gul . Tobacco consumption in Bangladesh has significant health consequences, as it is a leading cause of NCDs such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases (heart diseases and stroke), and chronic respiratory diseases. Additionally, tobacco use has significant economic costs, both in terms of direct healthcare costs and lost productivity. Bangladesh is the 3rd biggest tobacco growing country in the southeast Asia region of the WHO (after India and Indonesia). Land under tobacco cultivation had seen a substantial rise in Bangladesh during 2008 and 2015, but now dedicated efforts of the Bangladesh government have led to success in farmers choosing not to grow tobacco, but rather opt for cultivating other crops. Bangladesh has ratified the global tobacco treaty (formally called the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control or FCTC), Article 17 of which calls upon governments to promote economically viable alternatives for tobacco workers, growers and individual sellers. According to the WHO, farmers in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Indonesia are gradually taking to alternate crops that are equally or more profitable. One of the reasons for farmers giving up tobacco cultivation is the high input costs and declining domestic and international demand. Tobacco Cultivation Control Policy of Bangladesh, 2017, has set targets to reduce tobacco cultivation at all stages by 2040. In early 2020, Bangladesh Bank notified all its branches not to sanction loans for tobacco farming- both contractual or direct. It is also increasing credit flow to farmers switching to alternative crops. Several surveys have already identified alternative crops for different cropping seasons and for different geographical areas. Alternatives include French beans, potato, melon, sweet gourd, chilli, eggplant, groundnut, tomato, wheat, garlic, masur, mustard and leafy amaranthus, radish, coriander, okra, bitter gourd, beans, spinach and cabbage. A report stated that farmers in water-scarce northern Bangladesh are shifting away from tobacco to grow tea, sunflower and mustard, which use less water and offer greater profits. Strengthening leadership commitment This Mayors Summit aimed to enhance mayors' leadership role by prioritizing prevention of tobacco use, TB and NCDs, within the framework of strategic and operational planning, as well as in policy, fiscal, and legislative instruments. There need to be strong mechanisms to ensure that mayors and leaders at local level are held accountable for safeguarding the development and implementation of public health policies from undue influence of unhealthy commodity industries. This will involve promoting transparency, enforcing strict guidelines, and cultivating strong public-private partnerships to effectively implement programmes, while also monitoring their performance and effectiveness. Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant CNS (Citizen News Service) Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah has said that she will be exonerated after the investigation into the cash that was kept at her home. She has resigned following the incident. "I intend to cooperate fully with all the state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts. I have no doubt that at the end of the processes it will be established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations, she said in a statement on Saturday, July 22. Madam Cecilia Dapaah is said to have kept $1 million, 300,000 and millions of undisclosed Ghana Cedis at home. These monies were allegedly stolen by two house helps, for which they are standing trial at an Accra Circuit Court. Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has resigned following the public ridicule and embarrassment over reports that some huge sums of money she stashed at home were stolen by her house helps. Madam Cecilia Dapaah is said to have kept $1 million, 300,000 and millions of undisclosed Ghana Cedis at her Abelenkpe residence. These monies were allegedly stolen by two house helps, for which they are standing trial at an Accra Circuit Court. The matter has caused stir among Ghanaians with individuals and organisations calling for her resignation or dismissal. Others have also called on anti-graft institutions to probe the source of the money. In a letter to President dated 22nd July, 2023 and confirmed by ModernGhana News, Abena Cecilia Dapaah stated, "I am resigning therefore because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time. "I intend to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts. "I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the processes, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations that have filled the public domain in the past 24 hours. "I thank you my dear, Mr President, for the honour done me in giving me the opportunity to serve our beautiful nation Ghana." Read full letter below: Former Ghana Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hanny Sherry Ayittey has been confirmed dead by her family. The head of the family, Nii Kofi Ayittey of Akwetey Nantan, Osu Alata announced the demise of their beloved through a concise press release on Saturday, July 22. The head of the family, Nii Kofi Ayittey of Akwetey Nantan, Osu Alata, announce with deep sorrow the death of their beloved daughter and sister, Hon. Hanny Sherry Ayittey, on July 22, 2023. The family will announce further details in due course, parts of the release said. Now late Hanny Ayittey, she was born on February 8, 1948, in Ghana. She has passed at the age of 75. The well-known politician was a member of the National Democratic Congress and served in various positions during her active days as a politician. She succeeded academically and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and a Master of Science in Industrial Microbiology from the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. She is a fellow of American universities of management, including Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Moreover, she attended a leadership program at Harvard University in February 2013. The late Hanny Sherry Ayittey served as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology under former President John Evans Atta Mills who is also late. There is lots to catch up on this week from a new website and CEO interviews to exclusive manufacture visits, and an exciting new release. See what you missed in our special weekly round-up WorldTempus Unveils Its New Website As you may have noticed, things are looking a little different over here! We are very happy and proud to present to you our brand-new website! Find out more about its fun new features in this weeks editorial. 7 Questions, 7 Minutes With Thomas Baillod Does a a tourbillon, entirely designed and produced in Switzerland, for 5,000 CHF sound too good to be true? Not according to BA111OD! To set the record straight, our correspondent, Olivier Muller, grills the brands CEO with seven hard-hitting questions. Thomas Baillod BA111OD The Extra Mile WorldTempus gets an exclusive tour of the Richard Mille manufacturing sites. Tag along with our Editorial Director, Sophie Furley, as she discovers what goes into producing the brands innovative timepieces and what makes this brand so special. Click Becomes Tick Fans of Leica cameras, rejoice! The world-renowned and iconic camera brand also makes watches that are becoming a whole new creative outlet for the famous German brand! Get a sneak peek of the ZM 2 Monochrom here. Marco Tedeschi, a Five Minute Snapshot Next up, WorldTempus enjoys a quick five-minute chat with the genius behind Kross Studio, Marco Tedeschi. Find out about the CEOs captivating journey into watchmaking and what the future holds for the brand and its passionate team. 24 Hours In The Life of a Watch Unsure about how to read the time on the Patek Philippe Calavatra Affichage 24H Travel Time 5224R? Dont worry, we have got your back. Our correspondent David Chokron explains all of its fascinating features in this focus. Calavatra Affichage 24H Travel Time 5224R Patek Philippe Walter Ribaga on This Years Novelties We cant quite believe that Watches and Wonders was already four months ago; where does the time go? So, heres a throwback to one of the highlights with an interview of Cyruss CEO Walter Ribaga, who talks about the brands launches of the year. New Colors Grace the Recital 23 Last but not least, Bovet unveiled the latest iteration of the Recital 23 this week, in vibrant green and baby blue hues, topped with brilliant white diamonds. Just in time for long, sun-drenched days! Discover more about this fabulous piece here. Badger Meter, Inc. (NYSE:BMI Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,060,000 shares, a drop of 13.1% from the June 15th total of 1,220,000 shares. Currently, 3.6% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 177,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 6.0 days. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Badger Meter A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of BMI. Advisor Partners II LLC grew its stake in Badger Meter by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Partners II LLC now owns 3,070 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $374,000 after acquiring an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 7,262 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $889,000 after buying an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. NY now owns 1,798 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $196,000 after buying an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 1,798 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $196,000 after buying an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Flputnam Investment Management Co. grew its stake in shares of Badger Meter by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Flputnam Investment Management Co. now owns 5,271 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $642,000 after buying an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. 86.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Badger Meter alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have recently weighed in on BMI shares. Robert W. Baird raised their price target on shares of Badger Meter from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Badger Meter in a report on Wednesday, June 28th. They issued a hold rating and a $142.00 price objective for the company. Argus lifted their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $130.00 to $151.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Maxim Group lifted their price objective on shares of Badger Meter from $152.00 to $180.00 in a report on Friday. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Badger Meter from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Badger Meter presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $149.60. Badger Meter Stock Performance Shares of BMI traded up $7.11 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $164.15. 580,112 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 158,829. Badger Meter has a 1-year low of $87.46 and a 1-year high of $164.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.81 billion, a PE ratio of 64.43 and a beta of 0.88. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $144.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $128.95. Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $0.76 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.09. Badger Meter had a net margin of 12.08% and a return on equity of 16.45%. The company had revenue of $175.90 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $156.32 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.57 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 27.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Badger Meter will post 2.72 EPS for the current fiscal year. Badger Meter Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 6th. Investors of record on Friday, May 26th were paid a dividend of $0.225 per share. This represents a $0.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.55%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 25th. Badger Meters dividend payout ratio is currently 36.89%. About Badger Meter (Get Free Report) Badger Meter, Inc manufactures and markets flow measurement, quality, control, and communication solutions in the United States, Asia, Canada, Europe, Mexico, the Middle East, and internationally. It offers mechanical or static water meters, and related radio and software technologies and services to municipal water utilities. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Badger Meter Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Badger Meter and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. ageas SA/NV (OTCMKTS:AGESY Get Free Report) and B&M European Value Retail (OTCMKTS:BMRRY Get Free Report) are both mid-cap finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and profitability. Dividends ageas SA/NV pays an annual dividend of $1.13 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. B&M European Value Retail pays an annual dividend of $0.60 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.1%. ageas SA/NV pays out 18.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Get ageas SA/NV alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares ageas SA/NV and B&M European Value Retails top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio ageas SA/NV $16.30 billion 0.49 $999.72 million $6.04 7.00 B&M European Value Retail $6.38 billion 1.13 $576.37 million N/A N/A Volatility and Risk ageas SA/NV has higher revenue and earnings than B&M European Value Retail. ageas SA/NV has a beta of 0.71, suggesting that its stock price is 29% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, B&M European Value Retail has a beta of 1.41, suggesting that its stock price is 41% more volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for ageas SA/NV and B&M European Value Retail, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score ageas SA/NV 1 3 4 0 2.38 B&M European Value Retail 1 0 4 0 2.60 ageas SA/NV currently has a consensus price target of $40.33, indicating a potential downside of 4.54%. B&M European Value Retail has a consensus price target of $615.00, indicating a potential upside of 2,030.98%. Given B&M European Value Retails stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe B&M European Value Retail is more favorable than ageas SA/NV. Insider & Institutional Ownership 0.0% of B&M European Value Retail shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Profitability This table compares ageas SA/NV and B&M European Value Retails net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets ageas SA/NV N/A N/A N/A B&M European Value Retail N/A N/A N/A Summary B&M European Value Retail beats ageas SA/NV on 6 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About ageas SA/NV (Get Free Report) ageas SA/NV, together with its subsidiaries, engages in insurance business in Europe and Asia. The company operates in five segments: Belgium, Europe, Asia, Reinsurance, and General Account. It primarily offers property, casualty, and life insurance products, as well as pension products; and reinsurance products. Its life insurance products include risks related to the life and death of individuals; and non-life insurance products comprise accident and health, motor, fire, and other insurance products, as well as other damages to property covering the risk of property losses or claims liabilities. The company serves private individuals, as well as small, medium-sized, and large companies through independent brokers and the bank channels. ageas SA/NV was founded in 1824 and is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium. About B&M European Value Retail (Get Free Report) B&M European Value Retail S.A. operates general merchandise and grocery stores. The company operates a chain of stores under the B&M, Heron Foods, and B&M Express in the United Kingdom; and stores under the B&M brand in France. It also provides property management services. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. Receive News & Ratings for ageas SA/NV Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for ageas SA/NV and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FD Technologies (OTCMKTS:FDRVF Get Free Report) is one of 140 publicly-traded companies in the Information Technology Services industry, but how does it compare to its peers? We will compare FD Technologies to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, institutional ownership, profitability, dividends, earnings, risk and analyst recommendations. Profitability This table compares FD Technologies and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get FD Technologies alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets FD Technologies N/A N/A N/A FD Technologies Competitors -58.08% -193.67% -4.63% Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent recommendations for FD Technologies and its peers, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score FD Technologies 0 1 1 0 2.50 FD Technologies Competitors 204 574 1891 25 2.64 Dividends As a group, Information Technology Services companies have a potential upside of 47.45%. Given FD Technologies peers stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe FD Technologies has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. FD Technologies pays an annual dividend of C$0.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. FD Technologies pays out 40.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Information Technology Services companies pay a dividend yield of 4.7% and pay out 155.3% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Valuation and Earnings This table compares FD Technologies and its peers revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio FD Technologies N/A N/A 75.29 FD Technologies Competitors $1.53 billion $20.55 million -30.27 FD Technologies peers have higher revenue and earnings than FD Technologies. FD Technologies 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. Insider & Institutional Ownership 35.0% of FD Technologies shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 34.2% of shares of all Information Technology Services companies are held by institutional investors. 31.2% of shares of all Information Technology Services companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Summary FD Technologies peers beat FD Technologies on 7 of the 13 factors compared. FD Technologies Company Profile (Get Free Report) FD Technologies plc provides software and consulting services in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company operates through three segments: KX, First Derivative, and MRP. It provides KX, a real-time decision-making engine that captures data, from various location and format; First Derivative, a capital markets consulting solutions; and MRP Prelytix platform, an enterprise-class predictive account-based marketing solution. The company also licenses software. It serves finance, technology, retail, pharma, manufacturing, and energy markets. The company was formerly known as First Derivatives plc and changed its name to FD Technologies plc in July 2021. FD Technologies plc was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Newry, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for FD Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FD Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:BW Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,870,000 shares, a decline of 12.6% from the June 15th total of 2,140,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 500,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.7 days. Insider Transactions at Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises In other Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises news, major shareholder B. Riley Financial, Inc. purchased 75,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 12th. The shares were bought at an average price of $5.43 per share, for a total transaction of $407,250.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now owns 371,788 shares in the company, valued at $2,018,808.84. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, major shareholder B. Riley Financial, Inc. bought 75,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $5.43 per share, for a total transaction of $407,250.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider now directly owns 371,788 shares in the company, valued at $2,018,808.84. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Louis Salamone, Jr. bought 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $5.49 per share, for a total transaction of $32,940.00. Following the acquisition, the chief financial officer now owns 511,303 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,807,053.47. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 185,060 shares of company stock worth $1,025,346. Company insiders own 3.19% of the companys stock. Get Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its position in Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises by 192.0% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,641 shares of the technology companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 3,709 shares in the last quarter. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Dark Forest Capital Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises by 3,147.3% in the 1st quarter. Dark Forest Capital Management LP now owns 7,826 shares of the technology companys stock worth $47,000 after purchasing an additional 7,585 shares during the period. Quarry LP lifted its stake in Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises by 666.8% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 8,949 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 7,782 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd bought a new position in Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises during the first quarter valued at $82,000. 84.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Price Performance Shares of NYSE:BW traded down $0.17 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $5.40. 477,597 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 450,812. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $5.83 and a 200-day moving average price of $6.01. The company has a market cap of $479.26 million, a PE ratio of -11.49 and a beta of 1.90. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises has a 12 month low of $3.89 and a 12 month high of $8.66. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises (NYSE:BW Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, May 10th. The technology company reported ($0.18) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.08) by ($0.10). The business had revenue of $257.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $222.20 million. Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises had a negative return on equity of 3,839.48% and a negative net margin of 2.88%. On average, analysts anticipate that Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises will post -0.02 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating for the company. About Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises (Get Free Report) Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides energy and emissions control solutions to a range of industrial, electrical utility, municipal, and other customers worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Babcock & Wilcox Renewable; Babcock & Wilcox Environmental; and Babcock & Wilcox Thermal. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW 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 1,300,000 shares, a decline of 12.2% from the June 15th total of 1,480,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 293,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 4.4 days. Currently, 9.9% of the companys stock are short sold. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Build-A-Bear Workshop news, CEO Sharon Price John sold 37,398 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.26, for a total transaction of $757,683.48. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 602,781 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,212,343.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Sharon Price John sold 37,398 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.26, for a total transaction of $757,683.48. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 602,781 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,212,343.06. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director George Carrara sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.54, for a total value of $61,620.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 24,073 shares in the company, valued at $494,459.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 56,398 shares of company stock valued at $1,143,303 in the last 90 days. 11.40% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Get Build-A-Bear Workshop alerts: Institutional Trading of Build-A-Bear Workshop Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Gladius Capital Management LP bought a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter valued at $36,000. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter valued at $37,000. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new stake in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop during the 1st quarter valued at $39,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 190.9% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 3,200 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 2,100 shares during the period. Finally, UBS Group AG lifted its position in shares of Build-A-Bear Workshop by 313.1% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,545 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 1,929 shares during the period. 77.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Build-A-Bear Workshop Price Performance BBW traded up $0.02 during trading on Friday, hitting $22.36. The stock had a trading volume of 199,407 shares, compared to its average volume of 295,320. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $20.94 and a 200-day moving average price of $22.51. The firm has a market cap of $324.89 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.85 and a beta of 1.96. Build-A-Bear Workshop has a one year low of $12.47 and a one year high of $26.87. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE:BBW Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 25th. The specialty retailer reported $0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.01 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $120.05 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $124.24 million. Build-A-Bear Workshop had a net margin of 10.29% and a return on equity of 44.90%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.89 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Build-A-Bear Workshop will post 3.46 EPS for the current fiscal year. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Build-A-Bear Workshop in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Build-A-Bear Workshop Company Profile (Get Free Report) Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc operates as a multi-channel retailer of plush animals and related products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Direct-to-Consumer, Commercial, and International Franchising. Its merchandise comprises various styles of plush products to be stuffed, pre-stuffed plush products, and sounds and scents that can be added to the stuffed animals, as well as range of clothing, shoes and accessories, and other toy and novelty items, including family sleepwear. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Build-A-Bear Workshop Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Build-A-Bear Workshop and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR 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 28,170,000 shares, an increase of 10.6% from the June 15th total of 25,460,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 5,860,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 4.8 days. Approximately 3.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Carrier Global Price Performance Shares of CARR stock traded down $0.91 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $53.76. 6,365,435 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,221,253. Carrier Global has a 12 month low of $33.10 and a 12 month high of $55.58. The company has a market cap of $44.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.16, a PEG ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.39. The companys 50 day moving average price is $47.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $45.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03, a quick ratio of 1.23 and a current ratio of 1.70. Get Carrier Global alerts: Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $5.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.05 billion. Carrier Global had a net margin of 12.02% and a return on equity of 25.56%. The businesss revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.54 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Carrier Global will post 2.57 earnings per share for the current year. Carrier Global Announces Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be given a $0.185 dividend. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, June 22nd. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 25.00%. A number of research firms recently weighed in on CARR. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $53.00 to $54.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an equal weight rating and set a $49.00 price target on shares of Carrier Global in a report on Wednesday. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Carrier Global from $45.00 to $52.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. 888 reissued a maintains rating on shares of Carrier Global in a report on Friday, April 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price objective on shares of Carrier Global from $47.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $50.67. Insider Buying and Selling In other Carrier Global news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 138,956 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.01, for a total transaction of $6,254,409.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich grew its position in Carrier Global by 98,174.3% during the second quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 1,790,574,025 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,009,435,000 after purchasing an additional 1,788,752,009 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 0.6% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,147,448 shares of the companys stock worth $1,516,493,000 after buying an additional 206,839 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 712.1% in the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 17,482,866 shares of the companys stock worth $799,843,000 after buying an additional 15,330,140 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 2.0% in the first quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 17,377,066 shares of the companys stock worth $793,207,000 after buying an additional 342,215 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Carrier Global by 109.6% in the first quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 10,892,166 shares of the companys stock worth $498,317,000 after buying an additional 5,694,510 shares during the last quarter. 86.33% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Carrier Global Company Profile (Get Free Report) Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. The HVAC segment provides products, controls, services, and solutions to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation needs of residential and commercial customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Carrier Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carrier Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coca-Cola HBC (LON:CCH Free Report) had its price objective lifted by Barclays from GBX 2,700 ($35.30) to GBX 3,000 ($39.23) in a research note released on Tuesday morning, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has an overweight rating on the stock. Other analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Numis Securities reiterated an add rating and issued a GBX 2,800 ($36.61) price objective on shares of Coca-Cola HBC in a report on Thursday, May 25th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and issued a GBX 3,000 ($39.23) price objective on shares of Coca-Cola HBC in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,950 ($38.57) to GBX 3,150 ($41.19) and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, July 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a neutral rating and issued a GBX 2,600 ($34.00) price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC in a research report on Monday, July 10th. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a neutral rating on shares of Coca-Cola HBC in a report on Monday, July 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of GBX 2,803.33 ($36.65). Get Coca-Cola HBC alerts: Coca-Cola HBC Price Performance LON CCH opened at GBX 2,384 ($31.17) on Tuesday. Coca-Cola HBC has a 1 year low of GBX 1,811 ($23.68) and a 1 year high of GBX 2,582 ($33.76). The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 101.01, a current ratio of 1.24 and a quick ratio of 0.80. The company has a market cap of 8.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,457.73, a PEG ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 0.95. The stocks fifty day moving average price is GBX 2,383.18 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 2,238.34. Coca-Cola HBC Increases Dividend Insider Transactions at Coca-Cola HBC The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 19th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 25th were issued a dividend of 0.78 ($0.88) per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 25th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.67%. This is a positive change from Coca-Cola HBCs previous dividend of $0.71. Coca-Cola HBCs payout ratio is currently 6,907.22%. In other Coca-Cola HBC news, insider Zoran Bogdanovic acquired 167 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 17th. The stock was bought at an average price of GBX 2,572 ($33.63) per share, for a total transaction of 4,295.24 ($5,616.16). Over the last three months, insiders bought 545 shares of company stock worth $1,314,772. 46.86% of the stock is owned by insiders. About Coca-Cola HBC (Get Free Report) Coca-Cola HBC AG engages in the production, distribution, and sale of non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages under franchise in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers sparkling soft drinks, adult sparkling, hydration drinks, juices, ready-to-drink tea, energy drinks, dairy, coffee, water, plant-based drinks, premium spirits and flavored alcoholic beverages, and snacks. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola HBC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola HBC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Davidson Investment Advisors lowered its position in The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA Free Report) by 9.2% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 71,828 shares of the aircraft producers stock after selling 7,273 shares during the period. Davidson Investment Advisors holdings in Boeing were worth $15,258,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. United Bank raised its holdings in shares of Boeing by 4.7% during the first quarter. United Bank now owns 5,036 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $964,000 after purchasing an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its holdings in shares of 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 valued at $163,000 after buying an additional 777 shares during the period. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Boeing by 68.0% in the first quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 7,111 shares of the aircraft producers stock worth $1,362,000 after buying an additional 2,879 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in Boeing during the first quarter worth about $836,000. Finally, Dakota Wealth Management raised its position in Boeing by 26.7% during the first quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 2,127 shares of the aircraft producers stock valued at $408,000 after acquiring an additional 448 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.22% of the companys stock. Get Boeing alerts: Insider Activity In other Boeing news, EVP Howard E. Mckenzie sold 412 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $204.36, for a total value of $84,196.32. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,181 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,511,109.16. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.15% of the companys stock. Boeing Trading Down 0.3 % BA stock traded down $0.71 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $212.90. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,898,530 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,739,771. The stock has a market cap of $128.08 billion, a PE ratio of -30.76 and a beta of 1.41. The companys 50 day moving average is $210.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $208.31. The Boeing Company has a fifty-two week low of $120.99 and a fifty-two week high of $223.91. Boeing (NYSE:BA Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 26th. The aircraft producer reported ($1.27) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.98) by ($0.29). The company had revenue of $17.92 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $17.56 billion. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 28.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted ($2.75) EPS. On average, analysts forecast that The Boeing Company will post -1.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Analysts Set New Price Targets BA has been the topic of several recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price objective on Boeing from $225.00 to $220.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 27th. Northcoast Research cut shares of Boeing from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $180.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group increased their target price on shares of Boeing from $261.00 to $270.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 12th. Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on Boeing from $200.00 to $220.00 in a research note on Monday, April 10th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Boeing from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, June 26th. Seven equities 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.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $223.14. Boeing Company 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Boeing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boeing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Everyman Media Group plc (LON:EMAN Get Free Report) crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 62.57 ($0.82) and traded as low as GBX 56.10 ($0.73). Everyman Media Group shares last traded at GBX 59 ($0.77), with a volume of 114,117 shares trading hands. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group reiterated a buy rating and issued a GBX 200 ($2.62) price objective on shares of Everyman Media Group in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Get Everyman Media Group alerts: Everyman Media Group Stock Performance The firms 50 day moving average price is GBX 62.37 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 70.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 234.97, a quick ratio of 0.48 and a current ratio of 0.54. The firm has a market cap of 51.06 million, a PE ratio of -1,423.75 and a beta of 1.14. About Everyman Media Group Everyman Media Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and management of cinemas in the United Kingdom. The company operates a network of 38 venues with 130 screens under the Everyman brand name. It is also involved in the property management business. The company was formerly known as Finlaw Two Plc and changed its name to Everyman Media Group plc in October 2013. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Everyman Media Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Everyman Media Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (OTCMKTS:FMCB Get Free Report) released its earnings results on Wednesday. The bank reported $28.03 EPS for the quarter, reports. The company had revenue of $57.87 million for the quarter. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Stock Up 1.0 % Shares of OTCMKTS FMCB traded up $10.00 during trading on Friday, hitting $985.00. The company had a trading volume of 86 shares, compared to its average volume of 142. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has a 52 week low of $924.01 and a 52 week high of $1,088.00. The businesss 50-day moving average is $974.22 and its 200 day moving average is $994.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.02, a current ratio of 0.85 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Get Farmers & Merchants Bancorp alerts: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Saturday, July 1st. Investors of record on Friday, June 9th were paid a dividend of $8.30 per share. This represents a yield of 1.69%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 8th. Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Company Profile Farmers & Merchants Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Farmers & Merchants Bank of Central California that provides various banking services to businesses and individuals. The company accepts various deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, time certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Farmers & Merchants Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Farmers & Merchants Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. A young Ukrainian violinist, David Yakushin, who fought bravely for the freedom and independence of his country, was killed in the Russian war. The musician did not abandon his favourite instrument even at the front line. ADVERTISIMENT The death of the defender of Ukraine was reported on social media by Taras Kompanichenko, leader of the band "Chorea Cossack", People's Artist of Ukraine and a soldier. His mother also confirmed the death of her son (to see the photo, scroll to the bottom of the page). The soldier was a volunteer and served in the territorial defence of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Together with his comrades, he fought in the East of the country. "David Yakushin on the shield. I am crying and sobbing. Our golden child. A violinist, a piper, a young shepherd of the Christ Child. A volunteer, a warrior, a knight. Forgive us. Eternal glory! Eternal gratitude! Death to the wild cannibalistic Moscow imperialism of the Russian Federation," the post reads. ADVERTISIMENT The hero's mother, Oksana Yakushyna, posted a video and a screenshot of her correspondence with her brave son. In the comments, Ukrainians expressed their condolences and shared their memories of the defender. "My colleagues admired his talent. Everyone had a video of David playing the Ukrainian anthem somewhere in the East. My husband used to talk about his comrade-in-arms and show me the video." "I saw David once in my life and remembered him forever. A bright, young, talented man," the network recalled. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, OBOZREVATEL wrote that a soldier from Kharkiv region, Vladislav Nesterov, was killed in the battles for the freedom of Ukraine. The defender was killed in the Svatove direction on 8 July 2023. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! GATX Co. (NYSE:GATX Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 1,570,000 shares, a drop of 16.9% from the June 15th total of 1,890,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 147,700 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 10.6 days. Currently, 4.5% of the companys stock are sold short. Insider Transactions at GATX In other news, EVP Paul F. Titterton sold 8,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.84, for a total transaction of $970,704.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,373 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,362,940.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, EVP Paul F. Titterton sold 8,100 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $119.84, for a total transaction of $970,704.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 11,373 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,362,940.32. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, SVP Aken Jennifer Van sold 2,600 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, June 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.43, for a total value of $323,518.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,649 shares in the company, valued at $578,475.07. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 11,700 shares of company stock valued at $1,414,832. 1.80% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Get GATX alerts: Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GATX. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in GATX by 2.6% during the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 4,490 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $554,000 after acquiring an additional 114 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in GATX by 6.2% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 17,266 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,182,000 after acquiring an additional 1,004 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in GATX during the first quarter worth about $219,000. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its holdings in GATX by 10.5% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 13,010 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,605,000 after acquiring an additional 1,240 shares during the period. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its stake in GATX by 8.0% in the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 19,808 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $2,513,000 after purchasing an additional 1,471 shares in the last quarter. 99.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GATX Stock Performance A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on GATX shares. StockNews.com upgraded GATX from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 4th. Susquehanna raised their target price on GATX from $115.00 to $118.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 26th. Two equities 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, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $118.33. Shares of NYSE GATX traded down $0.34 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $131.36. 175,135 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 146,421. GATX has a 52 week low of $84.96 and a 52 week high of $132.90. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $123.46 and a 200 day moving average price of $114.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.04, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 2.05. The company has a market cap of $4.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.94 and a beta of 1.05. GATX (NYSE:GATX Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The transportation company reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by $0.76. GATX had a net margin of 12.16% and a return on equity of 10.53%. The business had revenue of $338.90 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $353.98 million. Sell-side analysts anticipate that GATX will post 6.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. GATX Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 15th were paid a dividend of $0.55 per share. This represents a $2.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.67%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, June 14th. GATXs dividend payout ratio is currently 50.00%. About GATX (Get Free Report) GATX Corporation, together its subsidiaries, operates as railcar leasing company in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and India. It operates through three segments: Rail North America, Rail International, and Portfolio Management. The company leases tank and freight railcars, and locomotives for petroleum, chemical, food/agriculture, and transportation industries. See Also Receive News & Ratings for GATX Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GATX and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Georgia Healthcare Group PLC (GHG.L) (LON:GHG Get Free Report) crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 70.80 ($0.93) and traded as low as GBX 67 ($0.88). Georgia Healthcare Group PLC (GHG.L) shares last traded at GBX 70.80 ($0.93), with a volume of 18,341 shares trading hands. Georgia Healthcare Group PLC (GHG.L) Price Performance The company has a quick ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 2.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 83.79. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of GBX 70.80 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 70.80. About Georgia Healthcare Group PLC (GHG.L) (Get Free Report) Georgia Healthcare Group PLC, together with its subsidiaries, provides healthcare services in Georgia. It operates through Healthcare Services, Pharma, and Medical Insurance segments. As of December 31, 2017, the company operated 16 referral and specialty hospitals comprising 2,519 beds that offer secondary and tertiary level healthcare services; 21 community hospitals, including 495 beds providing basic outpatient and inpatient healthcare services; and 255 pharmacies under the GPC and Pharmadepot brand names. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Georgia Healthcare Group PLC (GHG.L) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Georgia Healthcare Group PLC (GHG.L) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc. (OTCMKTS:GOVB Get Free Report) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $7.80 and traded as low as $7.75. Gouverneur Bancorp shares last traded at $7.75, with a volume of 500 shares traded. Gouverneur Bancorp Price Performance The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $7.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.79. About Gouverneur Bancorp (Get Free Report) Gouverneur Bancorp, Inc operates as the holding company for Gouverneur Savings and Loan Association that provides various banking products and services to individuals and businesses in New York. It accepts passbook savings, NOW, money market deposit, and checking accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Gouverneur Bancorp Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gouverneur Bancorp and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. GUD (OTCMKTS:GUDHF Get Free Report) and Garrett Motion (NYSE:GTX Get Free Report) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the better stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, valuation, earnings, risk, dividends, institutional ownership and profitability. Institutional and Insider Ownership 16.5% of GUD shares are owned by institutional investors. 37.1% of Garrett Motion shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Get GUD alerts: Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of recent ratings for GUD and Garrett Motion, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score GUD 0 0 0 0 N/A Garrett Motion 0 0 1 0 3.00 Profitability Garrett Motion has a consensus price target of $15.00, suggesting a potential upside of 101.61%. Given Garrett Motions higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Garrett Motion is more favorable than GUD. This table compares GUD and Garrett Motions net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets GUD N/A N/A N/A Garrett Motion 10.43% -289.60% 14.60% Valuation and Earnings This table compares GUD and Garrett Motions top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio GUD N/A N/A N/A C$0.42 14.55 Garrett Motion $3.67 billion 0.13 $390.00 million $0.72 10.33 Garrett Motion has higher revenue and earnings than GUD. Garrett Motion is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than GUD, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary Garrett Motion beats GUD on 7 of the 10 factors compared between the two stocks. About GUD (Get Free Report) GUD Holdings Limited, through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and importation, distribution, and sale of automotive products, pumps, pool and spa systems, and water pressure systems in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea, France, and the United States. It operates through Automotive, Auto Pacific Group, and Davey segments. The Automotive segment offers automotive and heavy-duty filters for cars, trucks, and agricultural and mining equipment; and fuel pumps and associated products for the automotive after-market. The Auto Pacific Group segment manufactures and markets towing, trailering, functional accessories, and associated products for the automotive aftermarket and original equipment manufacturer customers. The Davey segment provides pumps and pressure systems for household and farm water; water transfer pumps; swimming pool products; spa bath controllers; and pumps and water purification equipment. The company was incorporated in 1958 and is based in Altona North, Australia. About Garrett Motion (Get Free Report) Garrett Motion Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and sells turbocharger and electric-boosting technologies for light and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers worldwide. The company offers light vehicle gasoline and diesel, and commercial vehicle turbochargers, as well as electrified vehicles; and provides automotive software solutions. It offers its products in the aftermarket through distributors. The company was incorporated in 2018 and is headquartered in Rolle, Switzerland. Receive News & Ratings for GUD Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GUD and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI Get Free Report) and Lanvin Group (NYSE:LANV Get Free Report) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and earnings. Insider & Institutional Ownership 19.2% of Levi Strauss & Co. shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 75.0% of Lanvin Group shares are held by institutional investors. 3.8% of Levi Strauss & Co. shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 2.7% of Lanvin Group shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Levi Strauss & Co. alerts: Profitability This table compares Levi Strauss & Co. and Lanvin Groups net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Levi Strauss & Co. 7.12% 23.46% 7.56% Lanvin Group N/A -443.09% -50.06% Analyst Recommendations Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Levi Strauss & Co. 0 5 4 0 2.44 Lanvin Group 0 1 0 0 2.00 This is a breakdown of current recommendations for Levi Strauss & Co. and Lanvin Group, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Levi Strauss & Co. currently has a consensus target price of $17.50, indicating a potential upside of 25.04%. Lanvin Group has a consensus target price of $6.50, indicating a potential upside of 48.40%. Given Lanvin Groups higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Lanvin Group is more favorable than Levi Strauss & Co.. Valuation and Earnings This table compares Levi Strauss & Co. and Lanvin Groups top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Levi Strauss & Co. $6.13 billion 0.91 $569.10 million $1.10 12.72 Lanvin Group $422.31 million 1.36 -$229.99 million $0.33 13.27 Levi Strauss & Co. has higher revenue and earnings than Lanvin Group. Levi Strauss & Co. is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Lanvin Group, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Volatility & Risk Levi Strauss & Co. has a beta of 1.19, suggesting that its share price is 19% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Lanvin Group has a beta of -0.02, suggesting that its share price is 102% less volatile than the S&P 500. Summary Levi Strauss & Co. beats Lanvin Group on 10 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks. About Levi Strauss & Co. (Get Free Report) Levi Strauss & Co. engages in the design, marketing, and sale of apparels and related accessories for men, women, and children in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. It offers jeans, casual and dress pants, activewear, tops, shorts, skirts, dresses, jumpsuits, shirts, sweaters, jackets, footwear, and related products under the Levi's, Dockers, Beyond Yoga, Signature by Levi Strauss & Co., and Denizen brands. The company also licenses Levi's and Dockers trademarks for various product categories, including footwear, belts, wallets, bags, outerwear, sweaters, dress shirts, kids wear, sleepwear, and hosiery. In addition, it sells its products through third-party retailers, such as department stores, specialty retailers, third-party e-commerce sites, and franchisees who operate brand-dedicated stores; and directly to consumers through various formats, including company-operated mainline and outlet stores, company-operated e-commerce sites, and select shop-in-shops located in department stores, and other third-party retail locations. Further, the company operates approximately 3,200 brand-dedicated stores and shop-in-shops. The company was founded in 1853 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. About Lanvin Group (Get Free Report) Lanvin Group Holdings Limited operates as a couture house worldwide. The company offers ready-to-wear, made to measure, footwear, leather goods, costume jewelry, accessories, eyewear, and childrenswear under the Lanvin brand name; ready-to-wear, legwear, lingerie and beachwear, and accessories under the Wolford brand; footwear under the Sergio Rossi brand name; luxury womenswear, footwear, handbags, jewelry, and leather goods under the St. John brand; and leisurewear and formalwear under the Caruso brand name. The company was founded in 1889 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China. Lanvin Group Holdings Limited is a subsidiary of Fosun International Limited. Receive News & Ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Levi Strauss & Co. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kidoz Inc. (CVE:KIDZ Get Free Report) rose 14.9% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$0.27 and last traded at C$0.27. Approximately 5,500 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 47% from the average daily volume of 10,456 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.24. Analysts Set New Price Targets Separately, Fundamental Research set a C$1.02 target price on Kidoz and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. Get Kidoz alerts: Kidoz Price Performance The stock has a market cap of C$35.45 million, a P/E ratio of -27.00 and a beta of -1.50. The company has a current ratio of 2.33, a quick ratio of 2.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of C$0.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$0.26. Kidoz Company Profile Kidoz Inc develops and sells AdTech software products in Western Europe; Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe; North America; and internationally. The company also owns and develops mobile Kidoz safe ad network, the Kidoz kid-mode operating system, the Kidoz publisher SDK, the Rooplay edugames platform, and the Rooplay originals. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Kidoz Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kidoz and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MA raised its position in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED Free Report) by 38.1% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 2,900 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 800 shares during the quarter. Loring Wolcott & Coolidge Fiduciary Advisors LLP MAs holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $277,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Dark Forest Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in Consolidated Edison in the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich bought a new position in shares of Consolidated Edison during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Retirement Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 74.8% during the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 271 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares during the period. Boyd Watterson Asset Management LLC OH acquired a new position in shares of Consolidated Edison during the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Clear Street Markets LLC raised its stake in Consolidated Edison by 261.0% in the 4th quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 361 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 261 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 67.30% of the companys stock. Get Consolidated Edison alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ED has been the topic of several research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $89.00 to $80.00 in a report on Wednesday, June 7th. 3M reissued a maintains rating on shares of Consolidated Edison in a research report on Friday, May 5th. Guggenheim dropped their price objective on shares of Consolidated Edison from $90.00 to $85.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an underweight rating and set a $74.00 target price (up previously from $73.00) on shares of Consolidated Edison in a research note on Friday. Finally, Mizuho increased their target price on Consolidated Edison from $92.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $91.46. Consolidated Edison Price Performance ED stock opened at $97.14 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.20 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a 12 month low of $78.10 and a 12 month high of $102.21. The firm has a market cap of $33.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.84, a P/E/G ratio of 9.52 and a beta of 0.36. The companys 50-day moving average price is $92.99 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $94.46. Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.62 by $0.21. Consolidated Edison had a return on equity of 8.36% and a net margin of 15.56%. The company had revenue of $4.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.47 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 8.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Consolidated Edison, Inc. will post 4.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Consolidated Edison Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.81 per share. This represents a $3.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, August 15th. Consolidated Edisons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 46.15%. Consolidated Edison Company Profile (Free Report) Consolidated Edison, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.6 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ED? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Consolidated Edison Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Consolidated Edison and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Malvern International Plc (LON:MLVN Get Free Report)s stock price was down 2.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as GBX 17.60 ($0.23) and last traded at GBX 17.60 ($0.23). Approximately 37,496 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 40% from the average daily volume of 62,157 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 18 ($0.24). Malvern International Trading Down 2.2 % The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 17.94 and a 200-day moving average price of GBX 15.51. The firm has a market capitalization of 4.30 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -352.00 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 70.89, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a current ratio of 0.53. Malvern International Company Profile (Get Free Report) Malvern International Plc provides educational services in the United Kingdom. The company operates Malvern House London; Malvern House Brighton; Language in Action; Communicate School in Manchester; International Study Centres; and Malvern Online Academy. Its colleges offer English language courses, juniors and summer camps, and bespoke group courses; and university pathway programs, such as pre-university, foundation year, year one, graduate diploma, and pre-master's program; and in-sessional and pre-sessional English programs. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Malvern International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Malvern International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG Get Free Report) and Vivic (OTCMKTS:VIVC Get Free Report) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, earnings, valuation, dividends, risk, profitability and institutional ownership. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Harley-Davidson and Vivics top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Get Harley-Davidson alerts: Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Harley-Davidson $6.05 billion 0.89 $741.41 million $5.56 6.71 Vivic N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Harley-Davidson has higher revenue and earnings than Vivic. Institutional and Insider Ownership Analyst Recommendations 83.6% of Harley-Davidson shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Harley-Davidson shares are owned 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. This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Harley-Davidson and Vivic, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Harley-Davidson 0 4 4 0 2.50 Vivic 0 0 0 0 N/A Harley-Davidson presently has a consensus price target of $45.29, indicating a potential upside of 21.44%. Given Harley-Davidsons higher possible upside, equities analysts plainly believe Harley-Davidson is more favorable than Vivic. Profitability This table compares Harley-Davidson and Vivics net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Harley-Davidson 14.08% 28.68% 6.92% Vivic N/A N/A N/A Summary Harley-Davidson beats Vivic on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks. About Harley-Davidson (Get Free Report) Harley-Davidson, Inc. manufactures and sells motorcycles in the United States and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Harley-Davidson Motor Company, LiveWire, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. The Harley-Davidson Motor Company segment designs, manufactures, and sells motorcycles, including cruiser, trike, touring, standard, sportbike, and dual models, as well as motorcycle parts, accessories, and apparel, as well as licenses its trademarks and related services. This segment sells its products to retail customers through a network of independent dealers, as well as e-commerce channels. The LiveWire segment sells electric motorcycles, balance bikes for kids, parts and accessories, apparel, and related parts and services. The Harley-Davidson Financial Services segment provides wholesale financing services, such as floorplan and open account financing of motorcycles, and parts and accessories; and retail financing services, such as installment lending for the purchase of new and used Harley-Davidson motorcycles, as well as point-of-sale protection products comprising motorcycle insurance, extended service contracts, and motorcycle maintenance protection. This segment also licenses third-party financial institutions that issue credit cards bearing the Harley-Davidson brand. Harley-Davidson, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. About Vivic (Get Free Report) Vivic Corp. engages in the construction of marinas and yachts under Monte Fino brand in the mainland China. It operates Joy Wave, an online platform that offers yacht rental and leisure services; development of energy-saving yacht engines; and provision of tourism consultancy services, as well as yacht services. The company was incorporated in 2017 and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vivic Corp. is a subsidiary of Honetech Inc. Receive News & Ratings for Harley-Davidson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Harley-Davidson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Man Group (OTCMKTS:MNGPF Get Free Report) is one of 1,230 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Man Group to related companies based on the strength of its earnings, risk, dividends, valuation, institutional ownership, profitability and analyst recommendations. Insider & Institutional Ownership 40.0% of Man Group shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.4% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.0% 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. Get Man Group alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of current recommendations and price targets for Man Group and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Man Group 0 1 3 0 2.75 Man Group Competitors 1057 4722 6252 87 2.44 Valuation and Earnings Man Group currently has a consensus target price of $300.50, indicating a potential upside of 9,916.67%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 73.89%. Given Man Groups stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe Man Group is more favorable than its competitors. This table compares Man Group and its competitors top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Man Group N/A N/A 102.43 Man Group Competitors $540.94 million $13.85 million 12.33 Man Groups competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Man Group. Man 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 Man Group pays an annual dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Man Group pays out 274.3% 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 7.3% and pay out 1,197.2% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Profitability This table compares Man Group and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Man Group N/A N/A N/A Man Group Competitors 348.96% 7.15% 4.82% Summary Man Group competitors beat Man Group on 7 of the 13 factors compared. About Man Group (Get Free Report) Man Group Limited is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides long-only and alternative investment management services worldwide. It offers a range of liquid investment products and solutions, which include quantitative, multi-manager and discretionary investment styles, and span across various asset classes, like equity, real estate, currency, credit, volatility, and commodities. The firm distributes its products and solutions directly to institutions and to private investors through a global network of intermediaries. Man Group Limited was founded in 1783 and is based in St. Helier, Jersey with an additional office in London, United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Man Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Man Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Palm Hills Developments (PHD), a premium real estate developer in Egypt, said it has joined hands with EFG Hermes, a leading investment bank franchise in Frontier and Emerging Markets (FEM), for the successful closing of a E472.5 million securitized bond. The issuance is structured as follows: *Tranche A valued at E49.61 million with a tenor of 13 months and a credit rating of AA+ from Middle East Ratings and Investors Service (MERIS) *Tranche B valued at E137.02 million with a tenor of 36 months and a credit rating of AA from MERIS *Tranche C valued at E285.86 million with a tenor of 84 months and a credit rating of A from MERIS On the issuance, Tarek Tantawy, the Co-CEO and Managing Director of Palm Hills Developments, said: "We are pleased to once again be partnering with EFG Hermes for this securitization issuance, which marks an important milestone for the group." "This collaboration not only diversifies our funding sources but also highlights our commitment to growth within the Egyptian real estate sector. We look forward to leveraging this strategic financing opportunity to further strengthen our market position and enhance our projects portfolio," he added. Maie Hamdy, Managing Director - Debt Capital Markets at EFG Hermes, said: "This transaction marks the beginning of a key program that will enable PHD to further strengthen its position in the market and capitalizes on a long-standing relationship with the leading Egyptian developer." "The issuance was met with strong interest from investors, reflecting the confidence in both EFG Hermes' track record and PHDs solid performance within the Egyptian real estate sector," stated Hamdy. "As a leading financial institution, EFG Hermes continues to leverage its extensive expertise and deep market knowledge to drive impactful financial solutions that facilitate business expansion and generate sustainable value for its partners," he added. EFG Hermes acted as the sole financial advisor, bookrunner, and underwriter, while ALC-Alieldean Weshahi & Partners were the transactions legal advisor and KPMG the auditor. National Bank of Egypt (NBE), Arab African International Bank (AAIB), and Al Baraka Capital acted as the underwriting banks, with Al Baraka Bank acting as a subscriber to the issuance. AAIB was also the transactions custodian. With a current footprint spanning 12 countries across four continents, EFG Holding has grown over 39 years of success to transform from a pure-play investment bank in Mena region into an impact-driven universal bank in Egypt with the leading investment bank franchise in FEM.-TradeArabia News Service Even the same make-up can look different on the skin at different times of life, time of day and year. What looked ugly in winter and accentuated imperfections in summer can set off tanned skin. ADVERTISIMENT The lightest shadows in your arsenal will look best on a slightly brown face. This was told by the editors of the French website Voici (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the photo). 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Roanoke Asset Management Corp NY lowered its stake in shares of Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 0.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 52,655 shares of the credit services providers stock after selling 254 shares during the quarter. Mastercard accounts for 8.2% of Roanoke Asset Management Corp NYs holdings, making the stock its biggest holding. Roanoke Asset Management Corp NYs holdings in Mastercard were worth $19,135,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of MA. Bornite Capital Management LP bought a new position in shares of Mastercard during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $21,442,000. United Bank boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 34.5% during the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 6,007 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $2,147,000 after acquiring an additional 1,541 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Mastercard by 30.1% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 272,358 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $97,335,000 after acquiring an additional 63,040 shares during the period. First Western Trust Bank purchased a new position in Mastercard during the 1st quarter valued at $1,168,000. Finally, Bridgewater Associates LP purchased a new position in Mastercard during the 1st quarter valued at $12,926,000. Institutional investors own 81.33% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard Stock Down 0.1 % NYSE:MA traded down $0.57 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $397.49. 1,868,149 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,787,395. The company has a market capitalization of $376.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.74, a P/E/G ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a fifty day moving average of $382.89 and a 200 day moving average of $372.13. Mastercard Incorporated has a twelve month low of $276.87 and a twelve month high of $404.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.84, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.20. Mastercard Dividend Announcement Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The credit services provider reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.71 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $5.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. Mastercard had a return on equity of 169.12% and a net margin of 42.33%. Mastercards revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $2.76 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.2 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 9th. Investors of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.57%. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.78%. Insider Activity at Mastercard In other Mastercard news, insider Craig Vosburg sold 6,333 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $400.00, for a total transaction of $2,533,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 46,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $18,596,400. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Mastercard news, insider Craig Vosburg sold 6,333 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $400.00, for a total transaction of $2,533,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 46,491 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $18,596,400. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Raj Seshadri sold 5,164 shares of Mastercard stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $373.24, for a total value of $1,927,411.36. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 11,164 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,166,851.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 553,576 shares of company stock worth $211,635,322. Company insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on MA shares. Morgan Stanley restated an overweight rating and set a $440.00 price objective on shares of Mastercard in a report on Wednesday. 888 restated a reiterates rating on shares of Mastercard in a report on Friday, June 30th. StockNews.com started coverage on Mastercard in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a buy rating for the company. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on Mastercard from $425.00 to $430.00 in a report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Mastercard from $435.00 to $440.00 in a report on Friday, April 28th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Mastercard currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $423.89. Mastercard Profile (Free Report) Mastercard Incorporated, a technology company, provides transaction processing and other payment-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It facilitates the processing of payment transactions, including authorization, clearing, and settlement, as well as delivers other payment-related products and services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 4,890,000 shares, a growth of 10.9% from the June 15th total of 4,410,000 shares. Approximately 16.0% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 492,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 9.9 days. Choice Hotels International Price Performance Shares of CHH stock traded up $0.89 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $124.49. 716,629 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 420,545. Choice Hotels International has a twelve month low of $104.15 and a twelve month high of $131.64. The firm has a market cap of $6.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.26. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $117.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $119.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.25, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 0.92. Get Choice Hotels International alerts: Choice Hotels International (NYSE:CHH Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The company reported $1.12 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $333.80 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $320.43 million. Choice Hotels International had a return on equity of 129.67% and a net margin of 21.50%. The companys revenue was up 29.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.03 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Choice Hotels International will post 5.93 earnings per share for the current year. Choice Hotels International Announces Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 5th were issued a dividend of $0.287 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, July 3rd. This represents a $1.15 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.92%. Choice Hotels Internationals dividend payout ratio is 19.83%. CHH has been the topic of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Choice Hotels International from $122.00 to $113.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Friday, May 12th. TheStreet downgraded Choice Hotels International from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 9th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on Choice Hotels International from $134.00 to $127.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 27th. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Choice Hotels International from $119.00 to $122.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $121.88. Insider Transactions at Choice Hotels International In other Choice Hotels International news, CFO Dominic Dragisich sold 15,877 shares of Choice Hotels International stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $124.55, for a total transaction of $1,977,480.35. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 83,739 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,429,692.45. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 23.07% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Choice Hotels International Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CHH. Intercontinental Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Choice Hotels International in the second quarter worth about $353,000. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 16.2% in the 2nd quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,254 shares of the companys stock worth $382,000 after acquiring an additional 453 shares in the last quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 4.1% in the 2nd quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 7,700 shares of the companys stock worth $905,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board boosted its holdings in shares of Choice Hotels International by 14.0% in the 2nd quarter. New Mexico Educational Retirement Board now owns 5,700 shares of the companys stock worth $670,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FDx Advisors Inc. raised its position in Choice Hotels International by 175.5% in the 2nd quarter. FDx Advisors Inc. now owns 5,330 shares of the companys stock worth $626,000 after purchasing an additional 3,395 shares during the last quarter. 60.62% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About Choice Hotels International (Get Free Report) Choice Hotels International, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a hotel franchisor. The company operates through Hotel Franchising & Management and Other segments. It franchises lodging properties under the brand names of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion, Clarion Pointe, Sleep Inn, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, WoodSpring Suites, Everhome Suites, Cambria Hotels, Ascend Hotel Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson, Park Plaza, Country Inn & Suites, Radisson Inn & Suites , Park Inn by Radisson, Radisson Individuals, and Radisson Collection. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Choice Hotels International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Choice Hotels International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tevis Investment Management lifted its stake in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 1.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 7,442 shares of the insurance providers stock after acquiring an additional 95 shares during the period. Travelers Companies accounts for about 1.3% of Tevis Investment Managements investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Tevis Investment Managements holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $1,276,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of TRV. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of Travelers Companies during the 1st quarter worth about $160,000. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 28.8% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 5,934 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,084,000 after acquiring an additional 1,327 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 11,905 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $2,210,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the period. Blair William & Co. IL raised its holdings in Travelers Companies by 40.6% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 51,551 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $9,420,000 after buying an additional 14,873 shares during the period. Finally, Sei Investments Co. raised its holdings in Travelers Companies by 5.0% in the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 27,212 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,952,000 after buying an additional 1,286 shares during the period. 81.06% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms recently commented on TRV. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from C$183.00 to C$185.00 in a report on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $194.00 in a report on Thursday, July 6th. Morgan Stanley restated an equal weight rating and issued a $185.00 price target on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Friday. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $179.00 to $185.00 in a report on Thursday, April 20th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Travelers Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, June 19th. Nine 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, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $193.77. Travelers Companies Stock Down 0.5 % Shares of NYSE:TRV opened at $172.82 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $174.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $178.29. The firm has a market cap of $39.92 billion, a PE ratio of 14.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.60. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $149.65 and a 12-month high of $194.51. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 20th. The insurance provider reported $0.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.05 by ($1.99). The company had revenue of $10.10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.97 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 13.41% and a net margin of 7.41%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.57 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 14.12 EPS for the current fiscal year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, September 8th will be paid a $1.00 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 7th. This represents a $4.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.31%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 34.10%. Travelers Companies declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, April 19th that permits the company to buyback $5.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization permits the insurance provider to buy up to 12.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. Insider Buying and Selling In other Travelers Companies news, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 11,572 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.14, for a total transaction of $2,061,436.08. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 17,361 shares in the company, valued at $3,092,688.54. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 10,246 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $182.85, for a total transaction of $1,873,481.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares in the company, valued at $2,574,528. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andy F. Bessette sold 11,572 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $178.14, for a total transaction of $2,061,436.08. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 17,361 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,092,688.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. About Travelers Companies (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tevis Investment Management lowered its position in Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 2.2% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,479 shares of the companys stock after selling 34 shares during the quarter. Tevis Investment Managements holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $508,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC raised its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC now owns 1,485 shares of the companys stock worth $543,000 after acquiring an additional 28 shares in the last quarter. Aries Wealth Management raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Aries Wealth Management now owns 3,701 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,271,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in Eli Lilly and Company by 7.6% during the 1st quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 397 shares of the companys stock valued at $136,000 after buying an additional 28 shares during the period. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC increased its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 2.3% in the first quarter. Richard W. Paul & Associates LLC now owns 1,248 shares of the companys stock worth $428,000 after purchasing an additional 28 shares during the period. Finally, Verdence Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 0.5% during the 4th quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,732 shares of the companys stock worth $2,097,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.25% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance NYSE LLY opened at $462.04 on Friday. The stocks fifty day moving average is $446.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $386.40. The firm has a market capitalization of $438.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 73.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 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 Dividend Announcement Eli Lilly and Company ( NYSE:LLY Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The company reported $1.62 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.73 by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $6.96 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.87 billion. Eli Lilly and Company had a return on equity of 61.42% and a net margin of 20.54%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.62 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 8.78 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 8th will be paid a dividend of $1.13 per share. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.98%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 14th. Eli Lilly and Companys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 71.86%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth LLY has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. UBS Group increased their price target on Eli Lilly and Company from $447.00 to $498.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 24th. HSBC assumed coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Friday, July 14th. They set a buy rating and a $560.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $440.00 to $500.00 in a research report on Friday, May 26th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Eli Lilly and Company from $408.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, 22nd Century Group reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Tuesday, June 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Eli Lilly and Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $458.36. Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company In other Eli Lilly and Company news, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 164,125 shares of Eli Lilly and Company 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 sale, the insider now owns 101,028,810 shares in the company, valued at $47,241,071,556. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Eli Lilly and Company news, EVP Johna Norton sold 1,647 shares of Eli Lilly and Company stock in a transaction on Wednesday, June 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $444.29, for a total value of $731,745.63. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 31,761 shares in the company, valued at $14,111,094.69. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Lilly Endowment Inc sold 164,125 shares of the businesss 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 970,965 shares of company stock worth $423,725,107 over the last quarter. 0.13% of the stock is currently 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report) by 40.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 32,336 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 9,282 shares during the period. Venturi Wealth Management LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF were worth $3,029,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EFG. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 11.9% in the 1st quarter. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,254 shares of the companys stock worth $217,000 after purchasing an additional 240 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 34.0% in the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 10,468 shares of the companys stock worth $1,007,000 after purchasing an additional 2,657 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 4,076 shares of the companys stock worth $392,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF by 81.0% during the 1st quarter. Laurel Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 5,319 shares of the companys stock worth $512,000 after buying an additional 2,381 shares during the period. Finally, Interchange Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF during the 1st quarter worth approximately $266,000. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Price Performance Shares of EFG stock opened at $95.97 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $13.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.69 and a beta of 0.89. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $95.12 and a 200-day simple moving average of $92.84. iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF has a 1-year low of $67.58 and a 1-year high of $85.81. About iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Growth Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Growth Index (the Index). The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (BATS:EFG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wakefield Asset Management LLLP lessened its holdings in shares of Albemarle Co. (NYSE:ALB Free Report) by 54.6% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,232 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after selling 5,084 shares during the period. Wakefield Asset Management LLLPs holdings in Albemarle were worth $936,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. CENTRAL TRUST Co grew its stake in Albemarle by 3.4% in the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 1,149 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $304,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in Albemarle by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 973 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $211,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems grew its stake in Albemarle by 0.4% in the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems now owns 9,209 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,997,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Canal Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Albemarle by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Canal Capital Management LLC now owns 1,407 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $305,000 after buying an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its stake in Albemarle by 51.2% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 130 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 87.03% of the companys stock. Get Albemarle alerts: Albemarle Price Performance NYSE:ALB traded down $7.12 on Friday, hitting $215.99. The company had a trading volume of 2,833,348 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,961,149. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $220.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $226.27. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.92, a PEG ratio of 0.63 and a beta of 1.55. Albemarle Co. has a 52 week low of $171.82 and a 52 week high of $334.55. The company has a current ratio of 1.90, a quick ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. Albemarle Dividend Announcement Albemarle ( NYSE:ALB Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 4th. The specialty chemicals company reported $10.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.93 by $3.39. The firm had revenue of $2.58 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.74 billion. Albemarle had a net margin of 41.89% and a return on equity of 45.57%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 128.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.38 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that Albemarle Co. will post 23.42 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.74%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 14th. Albemarles payout ratio is currently 5.13%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have issued reports on ALB. Bank of America upgraded shares of Albemarle from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the stock from $195.00 to $200.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. UBS Group upgraded shares of Albemarle from a neutral rating to a buy rating and increased their target price for the stock from $196.00 to $225.00 in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their target price on shares of Albemarle from $240.00 to $205.00 in a research report on Monday, May 8th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Albemarle in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Berenberg Bank decreased their target price on shares of Albemarle from $290.00 to $225.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $282.55. Insider Activity In other Albemarle news, insider Eric Norris purchased 1,260 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $195.49 per share, with a total value of $246,317.40. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now owns 26,596 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,199,252.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, insider Eric Norris bought 1,260 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 10th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $195.49 per share, with a total value of $246,317.40. Following the completion of the purchase, the insider now directly owns 26,596 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,199,252.04. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO J Kent Masters bought 5,470 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 5th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $181.64 per share, with a total value of $993,570.80. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 51,466 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,348,284.24. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders acquired 8,103 shares of company stock valued at $1,489,774. Insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Albemarle Company Profile (Free Report) Albemarle Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets engineered specialty chemicals worldwide. It operates through three segments: Lithium, Bromine, and Catalysts. The Lithium segment offers lithium compounds, including lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium chloride, and lithium specialties and reagents, such as butyllithium and lithium aluminum hydride for use in lithium batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles, high performance greases, thermoplastic elastomers for car tires, rubber soles, plastic bottles, catalysts for chemical reactions, organic synthesis processes in the areas of steroid chemistry and vitamins, life sciences, pharmaceutical industry, and other markets. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ALB? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Albemarle Co. (NYSE:ALB Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Albemarle Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Albemarle and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tata Steel is likely to report a loss for the period ending June 30, 2023 (Q1FY24) due to the double whammy of lower realisations and underperformance of its European operations. The company will announce its June quarter earnings on July 24. According to a Bloomberg survey of 12 brokers, Tata Steels consolidated net sales are expected to come in at Rs 56,337.80 crore, down 10.75 percent YoY. Net loss is estimated at Rs 122.80 crore, according to 11 brokers. The Tata Group-backed steelmaker's EBITDA may fall 37 percent QoQ and 70 percent YoY. Tata Steel had clocked revenues of Rs 63,128.32 crore in Q1 FY23 and a net profit of Rs 7,714 crore. In the preceding quarter ended March 2023, the company had posted revenues of Rs 62,238.78 crore and a net profit of Rs 1,566.24 crore. Also Read: Future holds many opportunities for Tata Steel, says Chairman N Chandrasekaran Analysts estimate that Tata Steel Europe will post an EBITDA loss of $81/ton (-$92/ton in 4QFY23) led by weak demand and higher costs, partially offset by improved realizations QoQ. Analysts also attributed the poor earnings to weak realisations stemming from lower global base metal prices (steel, aluminum, etc.), reduced average selling prices (ASP), sluggish global demand, and a slower-than-expected recovery in China. "We estimate 1Q volumes (standalone) to decrease 10.7 percent QoQ to 4.4 million tons. We expect realisations to remain flat while EBITDA/ton (standalone) is expected to decrease by 21.3 percent QoQ to Rs13.1k/t. Corus EBITDA/ton is expected at negative $85/t," brokerage JM Financial said in a note to investors. Tata Steel's provisional sales volumes for Q1 FY24 showed positive growth in its Indian operations, with sales standing at 4.8 million metric tonnes (MT), up 15 percent YoY. This increase was attributed to the ramp-up of NINL (Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited). However, on a QoQ basis, sales volume declined by 10 percent due to a planned maintenance shutdown. In contrast, Tata Steel Europe experienced a decline in sales volume to 1.97 MT, down 8 percent YoY and 9 percent QoQ. This reduction was mainly due to the planned re-lining of a blast furnace at Tata Steel Netherlands, which began in April 2023, resulting in a decrease in crude steel production at Tata Steel Europe. "We expect consolidated revenue to fall QoQ led by lower sales volume which will offset the higher price realisation in India (Rs 1,200/t QoQ improvement guidance) and Europe (15/t QoQ improvement guidance). Revenue will fall YoY due to lower HRC prices, which will partially be offset by higher sales volume. We expect EBITDA Margins to fall both YoY/QoQ, led by lower topline and higher coal and energy costs. Benefits from the lower coking coal costs will accrue from Q2FY24," said Axis Securities. Brokerage firm PhilipCapital expects Tata Steel to post a loss on consolidated basis due to non-cash tax expenses amounting to Rs 1,500 crore on the British Pension Scheme separation. The brokerage expects a fall in volume across various geographies. Additionally, realisations are expected to be lower, while the cost of production (CoP) witnessed an increase. Shares of Tata Steel are down 2.14 percent on YTD basis, but the 1-year return stands at 25 percent. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not those of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. The government has rejected Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD Motors and Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) plan to set up a $1 billion four-wheeler manufacturing facility in India. This website last week reported that BYDs proposal to tie up with Hyderabad-based MEIL for electric cars and batteries has hit a security roadblock, as the Centre was not keen to give the green signal to the Chinese entity to invest in India. Security concerns with respect to Chinese investments in India were flagged during the deliberations, an official familiar with the matter told the Economic Times. Another official said that the existing guidelines do not permit such investments. Also Read: BYD India partners Bajaj Fin for dealer finance, vehicle loans In its proposal to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the venture made a pitch to manufacture up to 15,000 electric cars a year. MEIL was infusing money while technology and knowhow was to come from the Beijing-based company. Government nod needed Olectra Greentech, a unit of MEIL, has already developed two electric buses with technical support from BYD. Since April 2020, firms from land-border-sharing neighbours need approval to invest in Indian companies. A committee headed by the home secretary has to approve such proposals first. The step was made obligatory to check Chinese entities from bypassing rules to acquire companies in India following the Covid-19 pandemic and border skirmishes between the two countries. Also Read: BYD aims to be among top three e-PV players in India this year Furthermore, the DPIIT is already examining Chinese automakers having ties with Indian firms following allegations that some Chinese companies have joined proxy Indian partners to act as a front for them, without any strategic long-term purpose of moving manufacturing units to India, the report said. In the summer, many women are looking for a stylish and comfortable alternative to a top that doesn't always look appropriate at official events or in the office. A cropped shirt can be a fashionable solution to this problem. ADVERTISIMENT This wardrobe item will not only save you in the heat, but also accentuate your figure. The French website Voici told us what it looks good with (scroll to the bottom of the page to see the photos). A cropped shirt can be worn both for business meetings and for casual walks. Just like a regular wide-leg shirt, it looks stylish with any bottom. You can safely combine this item with jeans, skirts of different lengths, shorts, straight trousers, etc. The choice of shoes depends on what kind of bottom complements the stylish shirt. ADVERTISIMENT Classic pumps, simple sneakers or elegant sandals will look equally stylish with a cropped top. By the way, not only a white shirt will be in trend. Stylish options with prints or bright colours can also be safely combined. Looks with a cropped shirt combine formal style and seduction. An open stomach can emphasise the waist against the background of a wide chest. Even an ordinary shirt can be turned into a trendy item. To do this, you need to artificially shorten it by tying it at the waist. Earlier OBOZREVATEL wrote about summer skirts in which any figure looks winning. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Starting August 1, the price of Nandini milk is set to be increased by Rs 3 per litre, according to Karnataka government sources. The decision came after a meeting between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, cooperation minister KN Rajanna, representatives from Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF), district milk cooperatives, and senior officials on July 22. However, a formal order regarding the price hike is yet to be issued. It remains unclear whether the price increase will extend to other dairy products such as curds, milk powder, and others. KMF had demanded an increase of Rs 5 per litre on the selling price in order to boost milk procurement. "The current milk procurement by KMF has declined from 94 lakh litres a day last year to 86 lakh litres. Dairy farmers have been opting for private firms over KMF due to the relatively lower prices offered. This has also led to distress among dairy farmers, who find milk production economically unviable. We are planning to transfer the additional Rs 3 per litre to the farmers," said a KMF official. KMF officials said the selling price of milk in Karnataka is still cheaper than that of private companies. For instance, KMF milk is priced starting from 39 per litre, while private firms sell it for 48-52 per litre. Cooperation minister K N Rajanna said the final decision would be taken by the cabinet. He said they are hiking the milk prices due to increased production cost of milk and the distress faced by farmers. "Milk prices in Karnataka is cheaper compared to other states.At present, milk is priced at Rs 39 per litre in Karnataka, whereas it sells for Rs 56 in Andhra Pradesh, Rs 44 in Tamil Nadu, Rs 50 in Kerala, and Rs 54 in Maharashtra, Delhi, and Gujarat," said Rajanna. Bringing an end to all speculation over the past few weeks, Axis Bank introduced some significant changes for its Magnus and Reserve credit card customers on July 21. These changes, which are likely to disappoint credit card users, will take effect from September 1, 2023. They are: One: The bank has hiked the annual fee for its Magnus credit card and raised the spend threshold for the waiver of the annual fee for both Magnus and Reserve credit cards. Two: Certain credit card spends (such as utility bill payments) will no longer earn reward points, known as EDGE reward points, and not count towards meeting the annual fee waiver threshold. Three: The transfer ratio for converting reward points to hotel and airline points/miles has been made less attractive, dropping from the current 5:4 to 5:2. This means that you will only receive 2 partner points/miles instead of 4 in exchange for 5 reward points. However, there's one catch: If you are an existing Burgundy customer (Axis Bank's wealth customer) or become one, you will continue to enjoy the existing miles conversion ratio of 5:4. As for Axis Reserve credit card holders, they will need to open a Burgundy Private account along with the Burgundy Private credit card to continue enjoying this benefit. Higher fees, higher spending needed for fee waiver The bank has increased the annual fee for the Magnus credit card from the current Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,500 (plus GST). Additionally, the annual benefit voucher of Rs 10,000 has been withdrawn. Most significantly, the bank has raised the annual fee waiver threshold for the Magnus card from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. This means that you will only be eligible for a fee waiver in the current year if your cumulative spends in the preceding one year exceed Rs 25 lakh. As for the Axis Reserve credit card, customers will now get a fee waiver of Rs 50,000 only if they cross the spend threshold of Rs 35 lakh, instead of the previous threshold of Rs 25 lakh. These changes will apply to both existing and new customers (on-boarded from September 1, 2023, onwards) from September 1, itself. However, some of these changes may have a delayed impact on existing customers. For example, existing credit card customers may still be eligible for the lower annual fee waiver threshold for one last time. Suppose you were issued a credit card in March 2023, your annual renewal fee will come due in March 2024 (before September 1, 2024). In that case, you will be eligible for a fee waiver if your spends exceed the Rs 15 lakh limit. It's only in March 2025 (a date after September 1, 2024) that the revised Rs 25 lakh spend threshold will apply for fee waiver eligibility. For existing customers, the higher fee waiver threshold will apply only for renewals that happen after September 1, 2024. Also read: Axis Bank reduces benefits on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card Not every spend will be rewarding For both the credit cards, spends on utility bills and government payments (such as taxes) will not earn reward points from September 1, 2023. Such spends will also not count towards meeting the annual fee waiver threshold. Hotel and flight benefits reduced Another important change for Axis Magnus and Reserve credit card users is the lowering of the transfer ratio, which is the rate at which reward points can be converted into domestic and international hotel points and airline miles. This has been revised from the current 5:4 to 5:2. Additionally, the bank is now imposing a maximum limit of 5 lakh reward points that can be converted to partner points/air miles in a year per customer ID. This is an overall limit across all credit cards linked to that customer ID. Also, for each airline/hotel transfer partner, a customer can only link one partner programme loyalty ID for each partner at a given point in time. That is, you can link only one loyalty programme ID per hotel and per airline partner that is part of the banks network. This has been done to avoid misuse where a credit card holder links more than one ID (belonging not just to him but to others too) to maximise the utilisation of the collected partner points. Also listen to: Credit card devaluation what banks give, they can take away too | Simply Save Other changes for Magnus As part of the welcome benefit voucher (worth Rs 12,500) choices, customers on-boarded from September 1, 2023 will no longer have the option of Tata CLiQ vouchers. Burgundy customers will, however, get a welcome voucher worth Rs 5,000. Apart from this, the bank has discontinued the annual benefit of vouchers worth Rs 10,000. Also read: Forex cards or credit cards? Which one is better for foreign travel The very popular milestone benefit of 25,000 reward points on monthly spends of Rs 1 lakh, too, has been withdrawn. But this benefit has been replaced with an accelerated rewards rate that will favour high spenders. From September 1, 2023, Magnus cardholders will earn 12 reward points for every Rs 200 spent for cumulative spends of up to Rs 1.5 lakh. And beyond this threshold, every Rs 200 spent will earn them 35 reward points. Come September 1, 2023 Magnus and Reserve credit card users are set to lose some of their very attractive benefits. Though, if you are a very high spender, you may still manage to qualify for the annual fee waiver. Also, the now-introduced accelerated rewards rate may work in your favour. However, unless you are willing to engage with Axis Bank for wealth management services too, your rewards to partner points/miles conversion rate will become far less attractive. Also read: Club Vistara's 3rd co-branded card IDFC FIRST Credit Card is here: A Moneycontrol review In an emergency town hall meeting conducted with over 5,000 Byjus Tuition Centre (BTC) employees on July 22, Indias most-valued startup has agreed to remit variable pay and other incentives to staff, while committing to not lay off any employee from the BTCs, people aware of the matter told Moneycontrol. Mrinal Mohit, the defacto head of Byjus India business, led the discussions with BTC employees, who were planning to hold protests across India on July 25 over a host of concerns including non-payment of production-linked pay and critical incentives among other things, the people said. Mohit has agreed that the company would start paying incentives next month onwards, while he said that variable pay would be remitted next quarter, the people added. There was speculation going around that Byjus would start laying off BTC employees starting July 26 amid a substantial drop in subscriptions at the tuition centres, which had prompted area business heads to plan pan-India protests, according to the people. "This address by Mrinal Mohit to BTC managers was planned well in advance, to mark the completion of one year of BTC. It was not a reaction to any rumour, but a celebration of all our achievements in hybrid learning. It was also organised to transparently share the plan for the next six months as we now embark on building BTC 2.0, which is even more effective and efficient than BTC 1.0. In addition, all the concerns of our employees, including about restructuring and incentives were duly and satisfactorily addressed," said a spokesperson for Byju's. "We are not aware of any employee protests. Any rumours regarding the same is incorrect," the spokesperson added. However, employees disagreed. This townhall wasnt planned, it happened to stop the protests on July 25, said Zia Ur Rehman, Area Business Head at a Byjus Tuition Centre, who was terminated on July 21 with immediate effect. Rehman, who was the main organiser of the probable protests on July 25, has been given no clarity over the reason for his termination, he told Moneycontrol in a call on July 22. The company has agreed to the main demands and so, for now, we have decided to not go ahead with the protests. Three main demands about incentives, variable pay and a commitment from them to not lay off any employee, Rehman, who attended the townhall with one of his colleagues, added. Rehmans email address was deactivated with immediate effect on July 21. Rising problems at Byjus Tuition Centres add to the already extensive list of problems encountered by the world's most valued edtech company this year. These challenges include resignations of auditors and directors, government authorities conducting searches and mounting tensions with term loan B lenders. To be sure, Byjus co-founder Divya Gokulnath was extremely bullish on Byjus Tuition Centres. In an interview in January with Moneycontrol, Gokulnath had said that Byjus will be opening as many as 300 physical tuition centres in 2023. We're building for the way in which students are learning now the new way of learning, which is hybrid. So we launched 300 hybrid learning centres last year and we plan to do 300 more this year, Gokulnath told Moneycontrol on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. July has seen heavy rains lash northern India. It's triggered flash floods, landslides and evacuations across large parts of the region. Several rivers, including Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Yamuna and Ganga, have been in spate. Videos of bridges, roads and even houses crumbling under the sheer force of raging waters have gone viral. Earlier this week, waters of the Yamuna reached the walls of the Taj Mahal for the first time since the floods of 1978. In Kota, Rajasthan, people have posted videos of crocodiles in residential areas after heavy rains this week. And earlier today (July 22), a cloudburst led to a flash flood in Ladakh. Yamuna flood alert In Delhi, an overflowing Yamuna breached the high flood level mark on July 12 for the first time in 45 years, according to the Central Water Commission. Waters rose to 208.57 metres as of July 13 the highest mark ever. Several parts of the city were inundated. Schools, colleges, and non-essential government and private offices were shut down. It also impacted three water-treatment plants, with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warning that people would likely have to ration water supplies for several days due to shortages. With the waters yet to recede, it could be a while before the full extent of the damage is known. Rivers are essential to human life, and provide us with food, water and fertile land to grow crops. But they can be a destructive force too, with catastrophic effects on human life and the environment, especially during floods, says Himanshu Garg, who has been studying freshwater bodies in the Himalayas for the past decade. Loss and damage As per the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), India is highly vulnerable to floods. Out of the total geographical area of 329 million hectares (mha), more than 40 mha is flood-prone. The average annual flood damage in the 10-year period from 1996 to 2005 was Rs 4,745 crore as compared to Rs 1,805 crore, the corresponding average for the previous 53 years. It is also a continuously rising trend. In 2021, economic losses from flooding in the country were a staggering $3.2 billion, as per The State of the Climate in Asia 2021 report. These losses can be attributed to a steep increase in population, rapid urbanization, deforestation, poor drainage systems, damming of rivers, and growing developmental and economic activities in the flood plains. Global warming, too, is a major contributor. Climate change is exacerbating extreme weather events in the country, making floods more frequent and intense. For instance, in 2022, the country witnessed 314 days of extreme weather, as per the Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). It included 214 days of heavy rains, floods and landslides, the most recurring extreme weather event type in the year. Floods have claimed 1,600 lives on average every year, according to the NDMA. What is also concerning is that floods now occur in areas that were earlier not considered flood prone, says Garg. What you need to know about floods Unfortunately, a one-size-fits-all solution cannot be applied since floods are of many types. In India, more than 70 percent of the precipitation takes place from June to September. Heavy rainfall over low-lying landscape leads to areal flooding. When river systems overflow due to heavy monsoon rain, cloudbursts, or glaciers melting, you get riverine flooding. Storm surges from cyclones can lead to coastal flooding, while urban flooding occurs when densely populated areas receive heavy rainfall but have improper and inadequate drainage systems. Of these, urban floods are most destructive since they occur in highly populated areas and cause more deaths. Floods have a wide range of negative and positive effects on their surroundings, depending on their location, magnitude, depth, and intensity. Seasonal floods are known to renew ecosystems in floodplains. They bring in nutrients that help improve soil quality and boost plant productivity. They can recharge groundwater, and also trigger breeding and migration events for wildlife. In fact, they are essential for the survival of wetlands, says Veena Kamath, who studies wetlands in Asia. Deep impact of floods But flooding also makes agricultural land less fertile due to soil erosion and the deposition of sediments. Stagnant water weakens plants. As per Ministry of Agriculture data, over 339 lakh hectares were lost due to hydro-meteorological calamities between 2015-16 and 2021-22. Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal reported the highest damage due to flooding and rains. About 65 percent of the total crop damage due to floods in India in the last seven years were reported from these top states. Floods also contaminate groundwater and its consumption is the leading cause of water-borne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and diarrhoea. Health experts in Delhi have already warned that ingesting the floodwaters of the Yamuna, which is mixed with various pollutants such as sewage, industrial waste, and harmful chemicals, could result in a rise in water-borne diseases. The stagnant waters could also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and cause a spike in vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Floodings can have a negative effect on wildlife. Contaminated waters, when they enter the ocean, affect water quality and disrupt delicate ecosystems such as coral reefs. They can also lead to a severe deoxygenation of rivers, which can result in the death of fish. Wildlife can drown, and die due to disease proliferation, and habitat destruction. In 2012, for instance, hundreds of animals, including many one-horned rhinos, were killed in floods that swamped Kaziranga National Park in Assam, says Kamath. While floods cannot be stopped, their effects can be mitigated to a large extent. Natural flood control measures focus on deciding where the most successful interventions can be introduced, with an emphasis on increasing water retention capacity. You can realign coastal areas or reconnect rivers with their floodplains to restore natural flows. The preservation of wetlands can help slow the flow of floodwaters, while green spaces and sustainable drainage can reduce their impact in urban areas. Small measures, but they can save many lives, says Garg. The Karnataka government has constituted a one-man judicial commission to inquire into the police sub-inspector (PSI) recruitment scam. Retired Karnataka High Court judge B Veerappa will conduct the probe, and the government notification constituting the probe has set a deadline of three months for the inquiry. The Congress had strongly taken on the then BJP government over alleged irregularities and corruption in the recruitment of 545 PSIs. It was one among its major ammunitions against the saffron party during the campaign for the Assembly polls. Following allegations that the exam results were manipulated, the then government had ordered a probe by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), which arrested several officials from the Police Recruitment Cell, including its then chief Additional Director-General of Police Amrit Paul and also a large number of candidates who appeared for the exam. The government had also annulled the results of the exam and decided to hold a re-exam, which is yet to happen. The order constituting the judicial inquiry lists four questions as its terms of reference: Were rules violated during the process of recruiting 545 PSIs? What were the violations or illegalities and at what level were they committed? Who are the persons that gained undue benefit from the illegalities? What measures can the government take to hold the PSI recruitment exam as per rules and in a transparent manner? The order has also asked the CID and the police recruitment wing to cooperate with the commission by providing necessary documents and information. Further, the DG & IGP has been asked make sure the commission gets an office in Bengaluru with the required facilities and staff. The Law and Home Affairs Minister of Singapore, K Shanmugam, has asked the Singapore Police Force (SPF) to investigate claims made by an Indian-origin police officer who said he faced racial discrimination and bullying at the workplace, among other allegations just before he died. Uvaraja Gopal, 36, identified as a police officer, was found lying motionless at the foot of an apartment block in the Yishun housing estate and was transported to the hospital on July 21, where he died. In a Facebook post on July 21 evening, Shanmugam offered his deepest condolences to Gopal's family and said that he had asked the police to look into the allegations made by the officer before his death. "He has put up a post, which amongst other things, says he faced racial discrimination in SPF. These and other allegations are serious," Channel News Asia cited Shanmugam's post. "I have asked SPF to investigate the matter thoroughly. We will get to the bottom of it. And be accountable," Shanmugam reiterated "a clear policy of non-discrimination" and that all officers are entitled to be treated fairly. "SPF as an organisation is committed to that principle. We will investigate the facts," he added. The officer's allegations, which also mentioned a toxic work culture, first came to light in a Facebook post. The post has since been deleted, but several screenshots were reposted on Reddit. He also wrote that he had sought help, but was shunned and turned away. In a Facebook post, the police said they were "aware" of the challenges at work which had been raised by the officer, and "had extended various assistance to him". "We will look thoroughly and investigate into all the issues he has raised in his (Facebook) post," the police said. The police also said they were assisting the officer's family in their time of grief and that an investigation was ongoing into his death. Members of the Defence Select Committee of the United Kingdom House of Commons visited Mumbai to better understand the current situation in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region and assess how the UK could contribute towards ensuring security in the region, the Navy said. The delegation, led by Tobias Ellwood, MP, a former British Army Officer and currently the chairman of the committee, visited the city from July 19 to 21, the navy said in a statement. The delegation interacted with Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Western Naval Command and senior officers of the Command. "The British delegation was in India to better understand the current situation in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and assess how UK could contribute towards ensuring security in the region," it said."The British delegation was in India to better understand the current situation in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and assess how UK could contribute towards ensuring security in the region," it further added. "The interaction covered subjects of shared interests and the endeavours of both countries in bolstering security in the region. Ensuing discussions touched upon avenues to enhance defence cooperation between the two maritime nations," the navy noted. The delegation also visited the latest indigenous destroyer INS Mormugao. Over the decades, cooperation between India and the UK has enhanced in various defence-related fields. The recent edition of Indian and Royal Navy bilateral exercise Konkan-23, held in March 2023, highlights continual efforts of both the countries to strengthen maritime security and uphold rules-based order in the region, the navy said. The current visit by the Defence Select Committee furthers the growing cooperation between the two maritime nations for enhanced interoperability in various domains. With common interests in the IOR and mutual goal of peace and stability in the region, both countries are committed to work together, it added. Tequila has been booming globally for a while now. It has rid itself of its tacky party drink image, and people are paying a fair bit of money for the premium stuff. Famous people, from Dwayne The Rock Johnson to Adam Levine, have launched their own tequilas; while George Clooneys Casamigos, a tequila brand the actor co-founded with two friends, was bought by Diageo in 2017 for $1 billion. The spirit is gaining followers in India as well. Bars stock top-shelf tequilas; many single malt drinkers are switching to ultra-premium tequilas; and Monika Alcobev, among the countrys largest importers and distributors of spirits, has seen a massive jump in tequila sales since 2020. Two years ago, Desmondji, launched in 2011 and for long Indias (and Asias) only agave spirit brand, had company in the form of Pistola. With World Tequila Day around the corner, here is a snappy 101 on the worlds hottest spirit. A few things about tequila Tequila is a distilled spirit made from the Weber blue agave plant that is native to Mexico. Tequila is a type of mezcal, which is a broad category of spirits made from agave. So, while all tequilas are mezcals, not all mezcal is tequila. (Think of it like whisky and bourbon.) Tequila is geographically protected and can only be produced in five regions of Mexico: Jalisco, Guanajuanto, Michoacan, Tamaulipas and Nayarit. The spirit must be made with at least 51 percent blue agave in order to be considered tequila. There are several tequila styles. Blanco is tequila that is usually aged for around two months; reposado is aged for 2-12 months; and anejo is aged in oak barrels for 12-36 months. You also have joven that is a blend of aged and unaged tequilas and extra anejo which has been aged for over three years. How do you drink tequila? The Mexicans drink it neat (and no, no lime, no salt). And thats the best way to have it, especially if we are talking about anejos and extra anejos, says Sarath Nair, beverage manager at Copitas, at the Four Seasons in Bangalore. Copitas was recently ranked 38th on Asias 50 Best Bars list. You wouldnt want to mix your anejos or extra anejos with anything. Just chill it and sip it, says Nair. Blancos and reposados are ideal for cocktails, he adds. Besides the Margarita, you could do a Paloma or an Old Fashioned. A nice tonic like, say, a rhubarb tonic water, works pretty well, too, says Nair who counts Tears of Llorona, an extra anejo tequila, among his favourites. Tequilas worth checking out Tequila Fortaleza Guillermo Erickson Sauza comes from an illustrious lineage. His great-great grandfather, Don Cenobio, who founded his first distillery in the town of Tequila, in Jalisco, in 1873, was the first person to use steam to cook the agave. Cenobios grandson Eladio Javier fought hard and long to establish the Denomination of Origin for tequila. In 1968, he set up La Fortaleza, a small distillery, which ran for about a decade before Javier sold off the family business. The distillery was revived in the early aughts by Javier's son Guillermo and has since then produced some of the worlds best tequilas. Their anejo, aged 18 months in American Oak, comes in a hand-blown bottle, and is described as rich and complex. $95 Teremana Launched by actor Dwayne Johnson in 2020, Teremana, which is distilled in Jalisco, is the fastest growing tequila brand in history. Teremana sells over a million cases annually. Teremana 's range includes blanco, reposado, and anejo. $32 onwards 1800 Cristalino 1800 tequila, named after the year it was first distilled in Mexico, is owned by the Beckmann family which also owns the Jose Cuervo tequila brand. The super premium Cristalino is made from 100 percent Weber blue agave and aged in French and American oak barrels before being married in port wine casks. Rs 15,000 Stellantis' Fiat Chrysler failed again on July 19 to persuade a federal court in Michigan to block sales of Indian carmaker Mahindra & Mahindra's Roxor off-road vehicles based on allegations that Mahindra copied its Jeep design. U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain in Detroit ruled that Mahindra's design was not likely enough to cause consumer confusion to justify the ban, reiterating an earlier decision after a U.S. appeals court last year ordered him to reconsider the case. A representative for Mahindra said on July 21 that the company was pleased with the decision. Representatives for Stellantis did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fiat Chrysler sued Mahindra in 2018 in Detroit and filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission accusing the Indian company of copying its trademark-protected Jeep design elements in its Roxors. Drain blocked Mahindra from selling pre-2020 Roxors following an ITC import ban, but rejected Fiat Chrysler's request to block sales of its redesigned version of the vehicle based on an ITC ruling that it did not infringe Fiat Chrysler's trademark rights. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threw out the decision last year, and told Drain to reconsider whether Mahindra's new design should have been held to a higher standard of keeping a "safe distance" from Fiat Chrysler's designs because Mahindra was a "known infringer." Drain rejected the ban on post-2020 Roxors again on Wednesday, and said after considering new factors that the "safe-distance rule" still should not apply. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept A 10-year-old British girl has travelled to 50 countries and not missed a single day of school, a Yahoo report said. The girl, identified as Aditi Tripathi, has been to several European countries such as Norway, Monaco and The Netherlands and has also been to Asian countries such as Nepal and Thailand. Tripathi's parents- identified as 43-year-old Deepak and 36-year-old Avilasha- said that they wanted their daughter to be well-travelled despite their travel expenses going up to Rs 21 crore per trip. The girl's parents are accountants and the family has managed to visit the countries by using all school holidays and bank holidays that are available. "We started travelling with her when she was in nursery age three and she used to go to school for two and a half days per week," Deepak told Yahoo. "Travelling has helped her make more friends and has made her more confident. Now we pick her up straight from school on Friday and we take a late night flight back at around 11pm on Sunday. Sometimes we arrive on Monday morning, and she goes straight to school from the airport," he added. The girl's first trip was to Germany when she was three years old and stated Nepal, Georgia and Armenia as the three favorite countries that she's been to. "I don't have a specific favourite country or place but if I had to choose three it would be Nepal, Georgia, Armenia. Nepal was probably one of my favourites because I did horse riding, I went on the longest cable car, and I could see mountains like Mount Everest. I really love travelling and have loads of fun memories," she said. A key factor helping Deepak and Avilasha save the money needed to travel is both have work from home jobs. Also read: Delhi pilot, husband assaulted by mob for torturing 10-year-old domestic help. Video China may put pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, high-ranking sources in the Kremlin have said. Thus, China is not satisfied with the fact that Russia has blocked grain exports from Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT The Washington Post reports that Russia is facing a barrage of criticism from countries around the world, including some of its friends, for its strikes on Ukrainian ports and the decision to suspend participation in a U.N. deal that allowed Ukrainian grain to be exported through the Black Sea. "Russia is waging war on the world's food supply," U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield warned. "Russian exporters are already benefiting while millions of people who can't afford more expensive grain are suffering, especially people in the Middle East and Africa. Let's be clear: Russia has no legal grounds to suspend its participation in this agreement," she added. The grain initiative has proved widely popular among some countries that maintain friendly ties with Russia as well. Moscow's withdrawal from the deal drew notable rebukes from China, Egypt and several African members of the UN Security Council, which have taken a relatively neutral stance on the conflict. ADVERTISIMENT Putin, who faces arrest for war crimes, will skip the BRICS summit in South Africa. Mozambique's UN representative, Filipe Chidumo, said his country "appreciates" the initiative and warned that its suspending would "increase global socio-economic stresses". He called on all parties to recommit to the deal and urged Russia and Ukraine to engage in peace talks. In addition, Egypt, one of the world's largest wheat importers and a major buyer of Russian and Ukrainian grain that deepened its relations with Russia in recent years, also criticized Russia's withdrawal from the deal. A senior Russian diplomatic official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said China could pressure Russia to return to the grain deal as being the largest recipient of Ukrainian grain. "Both agreements should be implemented in a balanced, comprehensive and effective way," Geng Shuang, China's representative to the United Nations, said on Friday. ADVERTISIMENT The Russian diplomatic official said a solution should be found soon because Ukraine will soon run out of space to store grain when the new harvest reaches the ports. As reported by OBOZREVATEL: - On July 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a series of statements about the grain agreement. He complained about "harassment" of Russia but said that it would consider returning to the grain agreement. - Since July 20, Russia has declared all ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports as such carrying military cargo. Thus, the terrorist state will consider them a "legitimate military target". Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A 31-year-old Sikh farmer who died while trying to rescue an eight-year-old girl in California last year was bestowed with the Carnegie Hero Award- the highest honour for civilian heroism in North America. Identified as Manjit Singh from Fresno, he died while trying to save the girl, identified as Samantha Cruz Pedro from the Kings River in Reedly on August 5, 2020. The girl found it difficult to swim after she was separated from a group of other kids who were playing in the river. The swift current carried the girl downstream. The man, despite not knowing how to swim, then entered the river to save Pedro. He unwrapped his turban and tried to use it as a lifeline while entering the water. Singh submerged into the water and those watching soon lost sight of him. He was later recovered downstream and brought back in an unresponsive state. Attempts to revive him proved unsuccessful. Another man located the girl and took to her to the first responders. She was then taken to a hospital where she died six days later. The Carnegie Hero Award is given to those who save or attempt to save lives of others through extreme danger. The award is bestowed upon those living in the United States and Canada. The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission said in a release in June 2023 that every recipient or their survivors of the award will also get a financial grant. The Carnegie Hero Award has so far been awarded to 10,371 individuals. Also read: First woman Sikh judge in US swears in An IIIT-Delhi student, currently living in Bengaluru, has copped backlash for taking exception to Google ads in Kannada. Amisha Aggarwal, a computer science major, tweeted her take on Kannada-language ads this Thursday, pointing out that even though she lives in Bengaluru, she doesnt speak or understand Kannada and should therefore not be shown Kannada ads on YouTube. Her tweet sparked a massive row on social media, given that language is a contentious issue in Karnataka. The state has witnessed a pro-Kannada movement in the last few years, where some locals have demanded reservation in jobs for Kannada speakers. Several cases of non-Kannada speakers being attacked have also come to light in the Silicon Valley of India. Dear Google, just because I stay in Bangalore, doesn't mean I'll understand ads in Kannada, Aggarwal wrote in her post which started a heated debate on Twitter. Dear Google, just because I stay in Bangalore, doesn't mean I'll understand ads in Kannada. Amisha Aggarwal (@awwmishaaa) July 20, 2023 Her post was immediately flooded with comments, mostly from Karnataka residents who asked her to leave the state if she could not learn its language. Dear non-Karnataka people, just because you are in Bangalore, doens't mean localites have to learn your language to converse with you, wrote one person. Just because you speak Hindi, everything cant be in Hindi in Bengaluru. Learn Kannada or sit down, another said. One day these Northies will make me a Kannada activist even if I don't want to become one. The arrogance and attitude they display is beyond normal level, a third Twitter user posted in response to Aggarwals tweet. If you plan to live in Bangalore, be grateful to the great Kannada people who allow people from other states to come and work and for god's sake stop imposing Hindi on Kannada speakers.If Kannada language ads will not be shown in Karnataka, where shall Kannada people go. Hatt (@amcamk2) July 20, 2023 Good to see such kind messages from fellow Indians. Made my day pic.twitter.com/3cP3xxJj43 Amisha Aggarwal (@awwmishaaa) July 22, 2023 Aggarwal later posted a clarification after receiving harsh criticism, saying she only wanted to provide feedback to Google about its algorithm which suggests ads to users. This tweet was primarily a feedback to the ads algorithm. They should keep in consideration that just because someone changes their place, doesn't mean they should get all ads in that language, she wrote. While comments on her post were largely negative, some people did come to her defence. I dont know what mental gymnastics do you have to go through to make this about language when its clearly about Googles algorithms, one Twitter user agreed. They are misunderstanding the point you wanted to make, another said. If there is one thing that has remained consistent in Gulshan Devaiahs career of 13 years, it is his penchant of taking up roles that are as different as chalk is from cheese. Case in point, the slightly eccentric rich brat KC in Shaitan (2011), the sex-addict Mandar in Hunterrr (2015), queer lawyer Guru Narayan in Badhaai Do (2022) or the recent Web-series Dahaad where he played the sincere and forward-thinking cop Devi Lal Singh. As the actor readies for his forthcoming projects, including the Raj and DK-directed Web-series Guns & Gulaabs, spy thriller Ulajh with Janhvi Kapoor and season 2 of Duranga, he tells us that he is happy that the diversity in his roles is being appreciated by the audience. Edited excerpts: As the cop Devi Lal Singh in Dahaad, you managed to shine in spite of not being either the protagonist or the antagonist. Tell us how you arrived at the character? First, when I tested for the role, I didnt try to play the cop. I have observed that, sometimes, actors get too excited about playing a cops role and they overdo it. Cops are also people and being a cop is a profession. I just tried to play the personality. He seemed like a sensible, nice guy who wants to do the right things; is not necessarily able to do it all the time because of how the system works and other variables, but his natural tendency is to do the right thing as much as possible. I think Reema (Kagti, the director) really latched on to that and told me that she liked how I was playing it. I just carried that through while we were filming. I loved wearing the uniform and the child inside me really loved it but the adult actor in me told me to take it easy and do the best I could. Thats all that is required at times for me to do take one scene at a time and do my best. I didnt attempt to stand out. I am a creative person and I understand the craft to a certain degree and I just try to do my best. Critics have written about the soft masculinity in Devi Lals role and you critiqued the men dont cry notion in a recent interview as well. Is this a concept that you have gradually come to understand and endorse such roles? It is a gradual understanding. I have been at the receiving end of it. Some of my friends used to make fun of me for crying and some of my mannerisms are what commonly people would refer to as effeminate. I wouldnt say I was bullied but I was teased when I was in my early teens. I didnt quite understand it back then because, at the time, you yourself are searching for this idea of masculinity. I started realising that I am not masculine in the ways that I probably understand the concept. I tried to be like that but I realised that it was not working and I had to be me. Also, as you mature, you are exposed to new ideas and you develop a comprehensive understanding of all those things. I know masculinity has its place and I am not completely rejecting it. I dont consciously try to look for such parts. In fact, if I do get the opportunity to play an out and out masculine part, I would be totally up for it. Has there been a point in your career where you decided to go and seek the roles you want to play? I dont know what I want; it is a little difficult for me to hustle and seek. I have tried to do that at times because I hear of certain films and parts that I think might be good for me and I have reached out but it hasnt worked out (laughs). Also, it is nice for me to sit back and for people to bring nice roles to me. For instance, I would have never imagined that I would be in a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film (Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela, 2013). I liked his films but I didnt see myself fit in, so it was a nice surprise when it was offered to me. I try to balance things. For a guy who never did it to almost being in a film because I did, I am happy that I am capable of hustling (laughs). Earlier, there were not many mainstream heroes who were doing what you were probably doing 10 years ago, but now the competition has gotten bigger. Do you sometimes see other actors performances and feel you could have done them better? Sure, but not in a competitive way. I think some amount of competitiveness is healthy because it breeds excellence. I do feel a little jealous sometimes but then I try to look at it from the perspective of reality. For instance, I saw Badlapur (2015) and I was so jealous of Varun Dhawan. However, when I think of the kind of film it was and the profile that he has, its a lot better than what I can bring to the table in terms of the size of the release that it can manage. Raj (Rajkumar Rao) and I started our careers pretty much around the same time. He has done wonderfully well for himself and transitioned into the mainstream leading man. So yes, I am jealous. I wish I had done a lot of his films, also Ayushmanns (Khurrana). I am also aware that I dont have the same profile. There are some limitations when it comes to my career and how I am perceived. That does create some limitations and I try to be realistic about that. Youre working next in Raj and DKs crime series Guns & Gulaabs. Tell us about working with the director duo; are they really as quirky and unique as their cinema is? Oh yes, they are quite mad! (Laughs) They are two different personalities and have different styles of direction. DK is more vibrant and energetic while Raj is more subdued and quieter. I have worked with them in the Unpaused (2020) anthology as well. They complement each other and dont get in each others way. They do, sometimes, have opposing views but they create a wonderful environment to be creative. Filmmakers such as Raj and DK, Anurag Kashyap and Vasan Bala create that conducive environment where they ask you to join in as a creative person. They allow you to contribute so much. I always feel that I have given a bit more than expected and that is very satisfying. One of the news reports said your look in the show is inspired by Sanjay Dutt from the '90s The show is set in the early '90s, so a lot of it is inspired by a popular reference from that time. There are also homages some of them may seem obvious, some are very subtle. For instance, there are things connected to pro wrestling and certain things I use which are a homage to '60s and '70s Hindi cinema. Even if people dont get them, they will still be kind of quirky and enjoyable. You are also filming director Sudhanshu Sarias spy thriller Ulajh along with Janhvi Kapoor and Roshan Mathew. How is that shaping up? We finished the biggest schedule which was in London. It was like a workcation for me because I had a lot of free time and I really enjoyed myself. In my head, I think I have a very difficult part. I had to do a lot of pre-production on it, on my own, with my director and my co-actor, primarily Janhvi. We are in the process of wrapping up the India schedule. There is also season 2 of your crime series Duranga? Yes, thats ready for release and should be announced in a few weeks. I have not seen it yet but the team at ZEE5 is very excited and they feel they have managed to take it one step ahead from season one. The buzz is slowly building up. Its a progression of the journey. From my characters perspective, it is a lot more emotional and the love story gets a lot more emotional as well. It will have a different appeal than the first season. Greta Gerwig, the visionary filmmaker, writer, actor, is one of the most celebrated storytellers of our time, with a unique ability to craft compelling narratives and evoke empathy for all the characters in her stories. Gerwig is back in cinemas in an explosion of pink, having directed and co-written Barbie (2023), starring Margot Robbie (among many others) in the titular role of the plastic doll. At first glance, Gerwig may seem like an odd choice for the crass commercialism of a movie based on a toy, but her unique ability to convey humanity in all its messiness makes her the perfect fit for this plastic expedition. Born in Sacramento, California, in 1983, Gerwigs background in theatre and her experiences as an actress deeply influenced her storytelling style. Her works often explore themes of self-discovery, coming-of-age, and family dynamics; all through the lens of what it means to be a woman in todays world. Gerwigs breakthrough film, the critically acclaimed and universally beloved Lady Bird (2017), was a semi-autobiographical account of her senior year in high school. In Lady Bird, Gerwig mined her own life to tell the story of Christine Lady Bird McPherson, as played by Saoirse Ronan. The film was a thoughtful, funny, and heartfelt exploration of Lady Birds (sometimes dramatic) quest for freedom and her fraught relationship with her mother Marion, portrayed by Laurie Metcalf (who was robbed of a much deserved Oscar for her thoroughly lived-in performance). Gerwig unveiled her superpower to great effect in her debut, framing both Lady Bird and Marion through a deep well of empathy and understanding. We as the audience relate to Lady Birds quest for identity, but never lose sight of Marions tightrope walk of balancing her love for her daughter with the travails and insecurities of running a middle-class family. Even relatively minor characters like Father Leviatch, the priest and drama teacher played by Stephen McKinley Henderson, were imbued with dignity and glimpses of interiority in their scant screen time. Gerwig then made her first move into the world of IP and adaptation with Little Women (2019) her revisionist take on Louis May Alcotts oft-adapted classic novel. The film explores the lives of the March sisters Jo, Meg, Amy, and Beth in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Each sister has her own dreams and aspirations, and plays a different role in the fabric of their sisterhood. Gerwig deftly demonstrated her mastery of empathetic storytelling here by turning her lens on Amy March, the third sister, who has long been portrayed (in multiple adaptations) as a spoiled selfish brat. In Gerwigs retelling, Amy (the fiercely committed Florence Pugh) became a whole person with wants and vulnerabilities, not just the reductive one who stole her sisters love. Sibling rivalry and a deep desire for recognition drove this version of Amy. Gerwigs determination to treat her characters with respect and dignity compelled the audience to reevaluate their own preconceived notions. With Little Women, Gerwig displayed a shrewd understanding of iconography, showing that she could put her own spin on existing well-worn characters and get audiences to relate to them by reexamining their own biases and approaches. It was only fitting that Gerwig would next set her sights on the most emblematic (and problematic) female icon of our times, Barbara Millicent Roberts, commonly known as Barbie. Barbie presented the ultimate challenge to a filmmaker like Greta Gerwig who has an uncanny ability to get audiences relate to her characters how to make a plastic doll relatable? Gerwig has been slowly building up to this, her first two movies explored themes of self-discovery and fraught female relationships; and Barbie continues in the same vein. But this time its not just about her characters discovering who they are, but also about what they mean to everyone else around them. Barbie is the closing statement to Greta Gerwigs trilogy of female identity if Lady Bird was about figuring out what kind of woman to be, and Little Women was about societal expectations of women, then Barbie is the logical next step, tackling the impact that self-actualised women have on society at large. Gerwig more than delivers with Barbie, proving that there is no one better suited to breathe life into plastic. The perfection of Barbie made her an aspirational icon but not a relatable one. Gerwig weaves her superpower again, turning Barbie from plastic into flesh and blood (or at the very least, cellulite) and masterfully willing the audience to laugh and cry as this doll learns what it means to be human. The loudest detonation, in Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer, doesnt occur in the arid Los Alamos desert where the atomic bomb was created and tested. It instead takes place on Cillian Murphys craggy, sunken face as he contemplates having created the thing that might just become humanitys undoing. Oppenheimer, as has been widely hinted, isnt the average Christopher Nolan film. Sure science is part of the method here, but for once, it isnt the hat that Nolan characteristically pulls pseudo rabbits out of. Instead this is a talkative, meditational study of a defining period in the worlds history, headlined by the man whose ideas may have helped shaped the future. But not without disfiguring his own personal present. Cillian Murphy plays Robert J. Oppenheimer, a troubled but maverick scientist gradually working his way up in the world of physics. From European cities where he trades niceties with the likes of Heisenberg, Oppenheimer heads west, to the place where he would eventually head The Manhattan Project. Typical of a Nolan film, time is again moulded and shifted around to create a puzzle box of plotlines. Linearity, Nolan exemplifies, might be the biopics greatest weakness. He brings Dunkirks clever, macro approach to Oppenheimers life. We see him being tried by a modest jury for treason, while another timeline deals with the filings of Lewis Strauss, the man thought responsible for discrediting Oppenheimer. In the default junket, he and his band of geniuses that includes the likes of Feynman, Teller and others, builds the bomb that is eventually dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to catastrophic effect. Murphy disappears into the historical figure, as a flawed but motivated man who cant discern politics from science until it shows up at his doorstep dressed in the fabric of consequence. As a man who readily gives into impulse and lust, the scientist is framed as a man capable of the unimaginable but susceptible to the banal. He can build the bomb, but not foresee it for the cataclysmic act of human subjugation it eventually becomes. At least not soon enough. To an extent, his genius clouds his moral vision. Brilliance makes up for a lot, he says to a military man who questions his resourcefulness. Murphy is superlative in a role that would take some beating in the awards season. He is also assisted by a terrific cast constituting some of the finest actors walking the planet. Matt Damon is brilliant as the patriotic, but loyal Leslie Groves. Emily Blunt finds just the right pitch as the scientists wife Kitty, who though undermined by her husbands matter-of-fact approach to life and relationships, pushes herself to see the bigger picture. A picture that she often urges Robert to see for the countrys sake. Most impressive but maybe least surprising, however, is Robert Downey Jrs Strauss, a complicated bureaucrat who makes diplomatic word-gurgling look and sound fascinating. Its the usual loquacious brief, but Downey Jr brings a sense of fragile masculinity to it, as the cornerstone of not just his war against a scientists recently discovered humanity, but maybe every war ever. Between genius and reckoning here, theres a straight route that could so easily be painted in American bravado and white guilt. While much of the film, by design, has to be cast through that lens, Nolan bends the narrative, to extract a precise moment that reveals not the misery of a mans extraordinary rise and decline, the hidden deterrents to his continued propulsion into world popularity, but the thing that his eyes for all their scientific faculty could not see. Its a losing moment painted through a winners perspective. Genius is no guarantee of wisdom, a character in the film says, as we watch Murphy and Co., recreate a period that testifies to greatness as a source for epochal ache. Its as much a creational myth as a scientifically proven truism. Oppenheimer, against all odds, has some signature Nolan elements. The time jumps sustain, the drone-like music crescendos into moments of blinding beauty and Nolans famed IMAX cameras capture both landscapes and faces in breath-taking detail. Murphys face, quite literally becomes a courier for guilt and grief. Its as much a physical performance, as it is an emotive one. Perhaps the only bone to pick with the film is its lengthy epilogue, where the Strauss v Oppenheimer battle takes prominence to the point where ideological quarrels, begin to weigh down upon a narrative with global implications. But despite its length, and the trademark tricks that refuse to leave the directors armoury, this is a cinematic evolution that maybe Nolan was always working towards. It probably isnt his finest film but it sure embellishes his adaptability, as maybe the only filmmaker living, who could mainstream a story that is in Oppenheimers words, a terrible revelation of divine power. Fitness influencer and bodybuilder Justyn Vicky has died in a freak gym accident. He was strength training at a gym in Bali when a barbell broke his neck on July 15. According to the Daily Mail, Vicky, 33, was killed by the barbell while trying to squat-press 210kg with a single spotter behind him. He failed to complete the lift while exercising at The Paradise Gym in Sanur, Bali, on Saturday. When the Indonesian fitness influencer failed to complete the lift, he fell forward, cascading the weight bar off his shoulders and snapping his neck and head forward, Bali Discovery reported. The spotter behind him was helpless as Vicky fell to the floor and the stacked weights crashed down the back of his neck. Horrifying footage of the moment shows his neck snapping forward as falls to the floor. Vicky was rushed to the hospital after the gym accident where he succumbed to his injuries. He died of a broken neck. Tributes have poured in for the bodybuilder who had amassed over 30,000 followers on Instagram. His friend Kang Gede said he was a good person, polite and sociable. View this post on Instagram A post shared by PARADISE BALI (@the.paradisebali) The Paradise Gym, where Vicky worked, remembered him as more than just a fitness expert; he was a beacon of inspiration, motivation, and unwavering support. His infectious energy and genuine passion for helping others transform their lives touched us deeply. Through countless workouts, words of encouragement, and compassionate guidance, he became an irreplaceable part of our fitness journeys and our gym family, the gym said in its statement. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept If you were heavily into the HBO show Succession till the last season, you might have come across a cool tweet in April about four levels of wealth: 1. No debt 2. No checking prices at restaurants 3. No checking prices at hotels 4. No phone case on the iPhone. Time magazine called ditching a phone case a symbol of Stealth Wealth. the four levels of wealth: 1. No debt 2. No checking prices at restaurants 3. No checking prices at hotels 4. No phone case on iPhone gaut (@0xgaut) April 26, 2023 Its unlikely you will find too many people in India going case less. We all love our smartphones to remain scratch-free. Even as smartphones continue to make progress on all aspects including build quality, an accidental drop could still cause a dent that leaves your phone scarred for life. While most smartphone brands come with their original accessories which are probably the best options to protect your phone, they always come at a premium. If youre like most users and like to swap your cases or find the best deals on a smartphone case, our list is a good starting point: 1. GRIPP Clear Mag-safe case for iPhone 14: if you want to show off your funky yellow iPhone, you might need a good clear case. This ones a great spin on a classic iPhone transparent MagSafe silicon case. The TPU bumper offers extra grip and extra drop protection. Its also anti-scratch and comes with an anti-yellowing UV coating. (Rs 1,690) 2. ESR case for Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra with kickstand: one can never overstate the advantage of a kickstand in a smartphone case. Whether you need to catch up on your favourite show on a flight or need to dial into a Teams call from the lounge, its always handy. This case comes with military-grade protection and three stand modes. (Rs 1,329) 3. Burrano Nillkin Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 case: the Z Fold 4 offers support for Samsungs S-Pen but theres no provision to embed it into the phone. Thats why this case (that also comes with a concealed kickstand and a slide camera cover) that offers room for Samsungs handy stylus is a great option if you dont mind the extra heft. (Rs 2,029) 4. CASEOLOGY Parallax Back cover case for Samsung Galaxy Z4 Flip: doesnt add too much weight but complements the Z Flip 4 with its edgy 3D design. This patterned design also provides enhanced ergonomics and a secure grip with extra raised bezels for the screen (Rs 1,874) 5. Casedodo thin case for the iPhone 13 mini: if you're still using your 2022 iPhone 13 mini, its because of its lightweight form. Thats one reason I like this ultra-thin case that's almost invisible (especially the frosted transparent variant) - it's 0.5 mm thin and weighs just a few grams. (Rs 575) 6. Spigen Liquid Air Back Cover Case for Google Pixel 7 Pro: this case comes in multiple colours and textures Im partial to the patterned, matte black option. An air cushion technology protects your phone against accidental falls, while the anti-slip matte surface offers a better grip (Rs 669) 7. Stare Labs MagSafe Vegan leather case for the iPhone 14 Pro Max: Im a fan of the original iPhone leather cases that age really well over time. This case is a good option for iPhone users seeking a leather case under Rs 2K, and comes in a wide range of colours. (Rs 1,799) 8. Amozo Slim Fabric Texture case for OnePlus 11: theres something elegant about fabric cases done right. This case is finished with a flexible material thats equally durable. The raised bezels lift the camera off flat surfaces offering extra protection. (Rs 379) 9. Myxtur Van Gogh Case for iPhone 14 Plus: one of the many tempered glass-back cases from Myxtur that stand out in a crowd. We like the Bedroom (By Van Gogh) that plays out well on the larger iPhone 14 Plus case with a glossy finish. (Rs 599) 10. Daily Objects City Tag Glass Case for Xiaomi 13 Pro: perfect if you like to wear your city identity on your sleeve a phone cover in this case. We dig the cool tag design thats available for multiple Indian cities and smartphones. (Rs 599) A Hyderabad man lost close to Rs 6,000 after he used the toilet inside a Vande Bharat Express train at the Rani Kamalapati railway station in Bhopal. A report in India Today stated that the man, identified as Abdul Qadir was traveling to Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh with his wife and eight-year-old son. The family arrived in Bhopal and were about to take another train to Singrauli. At the railway station, the man felt an urgent need to urinate but could not find a toilet nearby. Hence he entered a Vande Bharat Express, which was Indore-bound, to use the toilet. But when the man came out of the toilet, he found the doors to be locked and the train was leaving the station. The man tried to take help from the police and ticket collectors, but was told that only the train driver could open the door. He, then, tried to approach the driver but was stopped. Qadir was fined Rs 1,020 for boarding the train without a ticket. He got down from the train at Ujjain and had to pay Rs 750 for a bus ticket back to Bhopal to reunite with his family. The man's family, who were stranded in Bhopal while he was on the train, decided to not take the train to Singrauli and were worried about him. The cost of the tickets was Rs 4,000 and it meant that the total money lost by Qadir came up to Rs 5,760. Also read: Clogged toilet: Man who bought Vande Bharat ticket claims another train arrived 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. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Another instance of sexual harassment by a Rapido bike taxi driver has come to light after Bengaluru woman Athira Purushothaman tweeted screenshots of the inappropriate messages she received from him. Purushothaman said the driver masturbated during the ride and called her repeatedly afterwards until she was forced to block his number. The Bengaluru woman said she booked a Rapido bike to take her home after attending a protest against Manipur violence in the city. She was taken aback when the driver arrived on a different bike than the one mentioned on the app. He explained that his registered vehicle was under servicing, and Purushothaman proceeded with the ride after checking the drivers app to confirm the booking. During the ride, she was shocked when the Rapido driver started masturbating on a lonely stretch of the road. During the journey, we reached a remote area with no other vehicles around. Shockingly, the driver began riding with one hand and engaging in inappropriate behavior (Masturbating while riding the bike). Fearing for my safety, I remained silent throughout the ordeal, she wrote. She paid for the bike taxi online and asked the driver to drop her off about 200 metres away from her house so as not to give away her address, but her ordeal did not end there. Once the ride was over, he started relentlessly calling and messaging me on WhatsApp. I had to block his number to stop the harassment, she said. Purushothaman shared a screenshot of the messages she received from the Rapido driver. He sent her kissing emojis and a message reading love you with heart emojis. Thread #SexualHarassement Today, I went for the Manipur Violence protest at Town Hall Bangalore and booked a @rapidobikeapp auto for my way back home. However, multiple auto cancellations led me to opt for a bike instead. pic.twitter.com/bQkw4i7NvO Athira Purushothaman (@Aadhi_02) July 21, 2023 The media professional tagged Rapidos official Twitter account in her thread and asked the company to look into the issue and conduct background checks for drivers. She also said that the driver was calling her from different numbers. Bengaluru City Police took note of the incident and said that S.J.Park Police Station had been asked to take necessary action. We have informed to @sjparkps to take necessary action in this regard, Please DM your contact number. BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) July 21, 2023 Reacting to this, Rapido said in a statement that they deeply regret the unfortunate incident and that acted immediately by suspending the driver from the platform. "We extend our sincere apologies to the affected customer and assure her, as well as all our customers, that we are fully dedicated to making Rapido a safer and more reliable platform for everyone. The safety and well-being of our customers are of paramount importance to us, and we take this matter with the utmost seriousness," the company stated. "Upon learning about the incident, we took immediate and strict action against the captain involved by suspending him from our platform. We are fully cooperating with the investigating authorities and providing all necessary support to the affected passenger during this challenging time. Our dedicated team is working closely with all relevant parties to ensure a thorough investigation into the incident. We want to underscore the significance of adhering to the communication and safety protocols we have put in place." Shockingly enough, this is not the first instance of a Rapido employee harassing customers. In March this year, a Twitter user received similarly distressing messages from her Rapido driver after he dropped her off to her destination. Screenshots she shared online show that the driver told her he only accepted the ride after looking at her profile picture. Otherwise I was very far, wouldnt have come at all, he wrote in Hindi before his final audacious text: And yes, another thing, I am not bhaiyya (brother). Only weeks later, another woman who booked a bike taxi through Rapido was forced to jump off the bike to escape the drivers sexual advances. China has called for the grain deal to be renewed, at the same time claiming that grain exports should also come from Russia (which no one has prevented). This has a great impact on food security. ADVERTISIMENT CGTN quotes Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN). China hopes that the parties concerned will work together with relevant UN agencies, as well as strengthen dialog and consultation. In addition, the Chinese representative recognized that important civilian infrastructure is being shelled in Ukraine. The rejection of the grain deal was voiced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. "China calls on the parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint, strictly abide by international humanitarian law and avoid attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure," the statement said. According to a Russian diplomatic official, a solution should be found soon, as Ukraine will soon run out of space to store grain when the new harvest reaches the ports. As reported by OBOZREVATEL: ADVERTISIMENT - On July 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a series of statements about the grain deal. He complained about the "harassment" of Russia but said that the it would consider returning to the grain agreement. - Since July 20, Russia has declared all ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports as such carrying military cargo. Thus, the terrorist state will consider them a "legitimate military target". Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi was allegedly cheated of Rs 1.55 crore by three persons who asked him to invest in an event and film production firm promising good returns but used the money for themselves, police said on Friday. The incident came to light on Wednesday when the actor's chartered accountant filed a complaint against the trio in a police station in Mumbai, an official said. According to the complaint, the three accused, including a film producer, were business partners of the actor and had asked him to invest money in an event and film production firm, he said. The actor invested Rs 1.55 crore in the project but the accused persons used the invested money for themselves, he said. The actor's wife was also a partner in the firm, the official said. A case was registered against the three for cheating by personation, common intention and criminal breach of trust, he said. The probe in the case is underway, he added. This is only one of many recent cases when actors have lost large amount of money. In June, actor Rashmika Mandanna was reportedly cheated of Rs 80 lakh by her long-time manager. The manager, who was not named, was associated with her since the beginning of her career and was later sacked. In 2022, actor Annu Kapoor was cheated of Rs 4.36 lakh by an online fraudster on the pretext of getting his Know Your Customer (KYC) details updated. Also read: Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking summoning of actor Vivek Oberoi, family in alleged cheating complaint In the darkest moments of the financial crisis in 2008, former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao lectured a group of U.S. government officials and business executives in New York. In the face of economic difficulties, he said, confidence is more precious than gold. The Chinese economy then was teetering. Today its sputtering, facing the dimmest prospects in decades, and Chinas leaders are learning the hard way exactly what Wen meant. Beijing unveiled a 31-point set of guidelines Wednesday to bolster the confidence of the private sector. After three years in which the government cracked down on private companies, stamped out innovation and exalted state-owned businesses, the document represents a near-concession by the Communist Party that its campaign failed spectacularly. Stocks on the mainland and in Hong Kong, where many of Chinas biggest private enterprises are listed, fell Thursday but regained their footing Friday. Some entrepreneurs rushed to praise the guidelines in official media. But in private, others I interviewed dismissed the partys pep talk in words that can be best translated as, Save it for the suckers. By now its obvious that the countrys economic problems are rooted in politics. Restoring confidence would require systemic changes that offer real protection of the entrepreneur class and private ownership. If the party adheres to the political agenda of the countrys paramount leader, Xi Jinping, who has dismantled many of the policies that unleashed Chinas economy, its promises on paper will remain just words. The stock markets reaction was very honest, one tech entrepreneur said. Investors sensed how desperate the party is, he said, and how meaningless the guidelines are. At its core, he said, the issue of confidence is a matter of government credibility. Beijing has lost nearly all its credibility in the past few years, he said. If it really wants to remedy the situation, it can at least apologize for its wrongdoings. He cited a document that the party issued after the Cultural Revolution admitting some of its mistakes under Mao Zedongs leadership from 1949 to 1976. Other people pointed to similar steps the party took then, such as rehabilitating persecuted cadres and intellectuals. At the very least, they said, the government should release Ren Zhiqiang and Sun Dawu, outspoken entrepreneurs who are serving 18-year prison sentences after their arrests in the recent crackdown. Or, another entrepreneur told me, the government could return the fines it imposed on his company, which he believed served as punishment for not toeing the party line and as revenue for an overextended local government. He said he felt that he had been robbed. None of the business owners I talked to expect the government to take any of these steps. They all spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of punishment by the authorities. The Communist Party has always been wary of the wealth, influence and organizational skills of entrepreneurs. In the 1990s and 2000s, the party felt that it needed a vibrant economy to rebuild its legitimacy after the Cultural Revolution and the 1989 crackdown on the Tiananmen Square protesters. The private sector grew to contribute more than 50% of the countrys tax revenues, 60% of economic output and 80% of urban employment, according to none other than Xi in 2018. But Xi is no fan of the capitalist class. His economic thinking can be best summed up in his slogan, Bigger and stronger state-owned enterprises. Under Xi, private companies and entrepreneurs have been under constant attack from both the government and online commentators. The situation deteriorated since the start of the pandemic. In the past few years, Chinas leadership went after the countrys biggest private enterprises, vilified its most celebrated entrepreneurs, decimated entire industries with arbitrary regulation, and refused to budge on COVID policies when many businesses were struggling. In 2021, a commentary headlined, Everyone can feel it, a profound transformation is underway! was reposted on many of the most important official media websites. Praising the suppression of the private sector and the policy proposal known as common prosperity, the commentary said, This is a return from capital groups to the masses, and a transformation from a capital-centered approach to a people-centered approach. But after ending its zero-COVID policies abruptly in December, the government seemed to have realized that it needed the private sector to help revive the economy, which suffered from both the pandemic and Chinas deteriorating relations with the United States and other key trading partners. The rebound has failed to meet expectations and business and consumer confidence has tanked. Why are many people saving money and cutting back on spending? Why are ambitious entrepreneurs reluctant to make long-term planning and investment? Sun Liping, a sociology professor at Tsinghua University wrote in an article last month. Its because they feel uneasy. He said that for China to get out of its slump, the government needs to create a business environment that can provide reassurance. What Chinas business community is getting is a charm offensive. We have always regarded private enterprises and entrepreneurs as part of our own, Xi said in March, repeating himself from 2018. The head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the countrys economic planning agency, held a series of meetings with business leaders, pledging support. Then came the 31-point guidelines. Most Chinese businesspeople support the government and willingly follow what it says. Still, the comments from some entrepreneurs on state media read more like pledges of loyalty to the party than authentic expressions of confidence. Pony Ma, CEO and chair of the social media and gaming giant Tencent, wrote, The partys central committee attaches great importance to the private economy and private enterprises and has always treated us as part of their own, echoing Xi. He pledged to adhere to our role as a connector, toolbox, and assistant. Some entrepreneurs simply repeated a series of party pronouncements. Li Shufu, founder of Geely, one of the worlds biggest automakers, said, As a private entrepreneur, we must strengthen our confidence in development, further implement the Eight-Eight Strategy, implement the Sweet Potato Economy, take responsibility bravely, and carry forward the Four Thousand Spirits. The jargon was all from Xis instructions on how to develop the economy of Zhejiang province, where Geely has its headquarters. Lai Meisong, chair of ZTO Express, a delivery company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, said the guidelines made him feel warm and inspired. His company will remain grateful to the party and follow the partys guidance, he said, echoing Xi, who said in March, When private enterprises face difficulties, we provide support, and when they encounter confusion, we offer guidance. Ben Qiu, a lawyer who practices law in Hong Kong and the United States, summed up the executives comments in a social media comment: The emperors clothes look fabulous. Some people noted that most of the 31 points were not new. One goal that attracted a lot of attention was to actively and prudently carry out the work of developing party members in the private sector. The guidelines asked entrepreneurs to be patriotic and to uphold the partys leadership over the work of the private sector. Chinas private sector started developing in the 1990s when the government tried to separate the Communist Party from business. It was not an all righteous time by any means there was a lot of corruption. But the government tried to stay out of the way of the companies. No matter how many supportive words the party offers now, it will be hard for the private sector to feel confident. Sun, the Tsinghua sociologist, reposted in May a speech he gave in 2018: Private enterprises dont need support. They need a normal social environment regulated by the rule of law. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. By Li Yuan c.2023 The New York Times Company Taiwan chipmaker Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp aims to list a joint venture being set up to build a factory in Japan in five to seven years, an executive from the chipmaker said on Friday. Powerchip and Japanese financial firm SBI Holdings earlier this month said they aim to attract government subsidies to build the plant amid a wave of investment in Japan aimed at boosting its chip manufacturing capabilities. "I think about five to seven years it depends on the business," Joe Wu, President of PSMC Japan, told Reuters when asked about the timing for a potential listing. The factory is intended to manufacture micro-controllers and power chips, which are needed for power management in electric vehicles, for Japanese companies. Its location is yet to be decided. Powerchip said it sees scope for additional foundry capacity in Japan, which has seen a lack of investment. "We want to come here and build up the capacity," Wu said. Companies with chip businesses include Renesas Electronics and Mitsubishi Electric. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) has secured subsidies for a plant in Kyushu that will supply chips to Sony Group and auto parts maker Denso Corp. Kyushu, a major chipmaking hub, could be a good option but Powerchip is also speaking to other local governments, Wu said. Chip factories require stable electricity supply and abundant water. The Taiwanese firm previously set up a joint venture in China to build a chip factory which listed in Shanghai this year. Powerchip and SBI hope to attract additional funds for the Japan business and are targeting chip industry customers and financial investors as potential backers, Wu said. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept An armed man wearing a military uniform entered the territory of a house in the Sherwood luxury cottage complex in Moscow region. He also took two employees of a private security company and a police officer hostage. ADVERTISIMENT The man behaved inappropriately and claimed to have recently returned from the war in Ukraine. This was reported by Russian propaganda media (scroll to the bottom of the page to see photos and videos). The security of the cottage community received a report of a break-in at one of the houses. When the guards approached the house, they saw a broken window on the ground floor and ammunition and magazines scattered around the room. Inside the house, the guards saw a man wearing a military uniform and bulletproof vest. The attacker was behaving inappropriately and shouted that "God told him to break into the house". He also managed to tell the guard that he had recently returned from the war in Ukraine. Russian media reported that the hostages managed to get out of the house, and the Rosgvardia began to storm it. It is noteworthy that the attacker refused to surrender and resisted. ADVERTISIMENT According to local residents, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych used to live in the house. "He occupied the house because it was for sale and was not used by anyone. The house is not someone else's, it belongs to God," the militant said. According to preliminary data, the attacker's name is Vyacheslav, he is 36 years old. He keeps shooting from time to time with a Kalashnikov rifle. In the spring of 2023, in the village of Plavna, Bryansk region of the Russian Federation, a Russian conscript took officers and his fellow soldiers hostage. He was armed with an assault rifle and grenades. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier it was reported that an occupier from the Nizhny Novgorod region of the Russian Federation returned home from the front in Ukraine and in a fit of rage stabbed his wife to death. Their young children, aged 6 and 7, witnessed the horrific scene. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! July 22, 2023 Ukraine Open Thread 2023-174 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 22, 2023 at 18:58 UTC | Permalink Comments next page As of July, 22, at least 5,000 mercenaries of the PMC Wagner, who began to leave Russia en masse after the failed rebellion, are on the territory of Belarus. Groups of "Wagner," simultaneously migrating to the neighboring republic, number in the hundreds. ADVERTISIMENT This was told by Colonel of the State Border Service of Ukraine Andriy Demchenko. He pointed out that our security forces closely monitor the movement of militants. "I note that the situation along the border line remains fully controlled by border units and other components of the Defense Forces of our state. All of them have been warned about further risks that may come from the territory of Belarus, which is unfortunately a subject to the influence of Moscow and provides support in the war unleashed against Ukraine," he stressed. It should be noted that in early July, the first photos of a probable field camp in Belarus, built for mercenaries of the PMC "Wagner," appeared on the network. It is located in the village of Tsel in Mogilev oblast (Osipovichi district). As reported by OBOZREVATEL, Prigozhin registered his own company "Concord" on the territory of Belarus' Osipovichi, which indicates the far-reaching plans of the war criminal. The main activity of the new company is declared to be "real estate management." ADVERTISIMENT The U.S. intelligence earlier confirmed that mercenaries of the Russian PMC "Wagner" continue to arrive in Belarus. It also became known that the "Wagner" soldiers had begun to train the army of Belarus, special forces in particular. Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! This year Carpathians are one of the most popular vacation destinations for Ukrainians. Therefore, prices have increased significantly and it is better to book places in advance. However, these factors do not stop vacationers. ADVERTISIMENT The flow of tourists in the summer of 2023 returned to the pre-war level, local experts told the journalists of RBC-Ukraine. Most of all Ukrainians are attracted to the resort Bukovel and its surroundings (to see photos, scroll to the end of the page). Despite the rise in prices, vacationers have occupied all the hotels that are easy to reach. You can still find offers in more remote places, but the road to get there will be harder. "Bukovel and its surroundings are fully populated, I do not remember such a situation even in winter. Accordingly, summer prices have increased by 50% compared to previous years", said Ihor Hubilit, director of the tour operator "Vidviday". There are almost no places for the next dates on the official website. Some hotels have rare cases when rooms can still be booked. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainians should be prepared that there is much less chance of finding an open spot in popular regions in easy access than in remote estates. However, the number of places to enjoy the mountain air has increased this year. Owners of houses, hotels and estates have once again opened their doors to vacationers. In addition to passive recreation, tourists are also attracted by various tours and excursions. However, their prices have also increased by 15-20%. The reason was the new price tags from the carriers, travel agency explained. Fuel prices have increased significantly this year. ADVERTISIMENT Ukrainians still have a chance to book a vacation in the Carpathians, although they will have to pay more than in previous years. Experts advise to look for accommodation in less famous settlements like Kosmach, Kolochava, Lower Apsha. Prices there are more affordable and the views are not inferior to the famous tourist spots. Earlier OBOZREVATEL told about the most beautiful islands for traveling. Not only Maldives, Canaries, Cyprus or Tenerife can impress tourists. Only verified information we have in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel and in Viber. Do not fall for fakes! U.S. Representative Terri Sewell (D-AL) speaks, at the commemoration of the 58th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday", when state troopers beat peaceful voting rights protesters who were marching against discrimination, at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, U.S. March 5, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies before a House Judiciary Committee hearing on "oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" and alleged politicization of law enforcement, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., July 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Michael Cohen, former attorney for former U.S. President Donald Trump, exits a New York Courthouse in New York City, U.S., March 10, 2023. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm attends the White House daily press briefing, in Washington, U.S., January 23, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Survivor: Living in love, that is what will truly liberate you' World War II veteran Irvin Ward, 98, recalls his time in Guam after American forces recaptured the island from the Japanese, during an interview with The Guam Daily Post on Thursday, July 20, 2023. The leadership of the terrorist state of Russia is demanding that its citizens pay their "debt to the motherland" by having children. The Russian Federation is agitated because the birth rate has fallen to a historic low since 1999, which is 8.5 children per 1,000 people. ADVERTISIMENT Obviously, Putin's government is worried not for the future of the Russian Federation, but for a human resource for future wars and exploitation of Russians for his own enrichment. This is reported by the Telegram channel "Orestocratiia". Not surprisingly, the Kremlin blamed the West for the falling birth rate. The Russian authorities are urging Russian women to "understand the complexity of the geopolitical context" and live for the state, not for themselves. In particular, Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko said that a woman should first give birth to a child and then think about education, career and material benefits. In fact, the Kremlin authorities urge Russians to think about childbirth, not about career or education almost from the school bench. The Russian authorities also tell them that a woman should give birth as early as possible, ostensibly to preserve her health. ADVERTISIMENT Moreover, Tatyana Butskaya, deputy chairwoman of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children Issues, followed the Minister of Health in issuing another sexist statement. According to her, the only thing women can achieve in life is to give birth to children. "In the past it was easy: first enter the university, then get married. Now women build a career to the age of 35 and after 35 realize that they have nothing in life: no family, no children and most importantly, no health," Butskaya said. It should be noted that at the Valdai Forum dictator Vladimir Putin was offered to increase the population of Afro-Russians. Scientists of the Institute of National Economic Forecasting offer to solve the birth rate catastrophe in Russia by granting asylum to African migrants. It is noteworthy that they are trying to increase the birth rate in Russia not only through absurd propaganda and sexist statements but also through abortion bans. Deputies of the State Duma are also thinking about introducing a tax on childlessness. ADVERTISIMENT In reality, however, the Kremlin may get the exact opposite result. The increase in early marriages, which officials call for, will lead to an increase in the number of divorces, which is already at a rate of 70%. Accordingly, the number of single mothers and parents will increase. Today in the Russian Federation at least one third of families are single-parent families, while arrears of alimony amount to more than $2 billion. To remind, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation said that for population growth Russian families should have three or four children. Today families in RF have one or two children at most. Earlier it was reported that the birth rate in Russia is likely to fall to 1 million by mid-2024. The birth rate may reach 1.2 children per woman, which was observed in Russia only once in 1999-2000. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Terrorist state Russia continues to attempt to sow discord within NATO and the Alliance's relations with Ukraine by undermining Western support for our state. To do this, Russia is manipulating the "grain deal" and striking Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure. ADVERTISIMENT This conclusion was reached by analysts of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW). It is noted that the aggressor country and dictator Vladimir Putin personally are trying to encourage Western states to prematurely push Ukraine into negotiations with Russia. According to analysts, the Kremlin is also trying to soften the Russian Defense Ministry's July 19 statement that civilian ships in the Black Sea are considered legitimate military targets. For example, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said on July 21 that the ministry's statement meant only that Russian forces would inspect the vessels. However, ISW believes that the Russian Defense Ministry's statement still indicates that Russian forces intend to treat civilian vessels as legitimate military targets and even Vershinin's interpretation of the statement says that Russian forces will board and possibly seize foreign civilian vessels. ADVERTISIMENT Analysts said Russia is maneuvering to preserve its ability to modify the current agreement rather than negotiate an entirely new one, as it seeks broad concessions from the West. Vershinin also justified Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal by accusing Ukrainian forces of using grain corridors to carry out "terrorist attacks" against Russia, which is consistent with previous statements by Russian officials and bloggers justifying Russia's withdrawal from the deal during its extension. At the same time, Putin himself has laid out a number of demands for Russia to return to the agreement , which include, among other things, the lifting of sanctions on Russian grain and fertilizer shipments, as well as the reconnection of Russian banks servicing food shipments to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) banking system. According to analysts, increasing Russian military strikes on Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure, as well as threats of maritime escalation in the Black Sea, are likely intended, among other things, to force the West to agree to these demands. ADVERTISIMENT "The Kremlin regularly resorts to escalatory rhetoric aimed at inducing the West to make concessions. Some officials often promote this rhetoric while others feign willingness to engage in negotiations," ISW said. To remind, on July 21, the Russians attacked the Odesa region of Ukraine with missiles for the fourth day in a row. Launched from the sea "Kalibr" hit an agricultural enterprise in the region, causing significant damage to hangars and equipment and destroying 120 tons of peas and barley. According to Natalia Humenyuk, head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces, the occupants deliberately tried to destroy Ukrainian grain stocks. After all, the hit was recorded directly in the hangars of its storage and in the place where the agricultural machinery was located. ADVERTISIMENT As reported OBOZREVATEL: - Grain deal ceased to function since July 18. The EU condemned the actions of the Russian Federation, while UN and Turkey promised "not to stop the efforts" with Ukraine counting on the work of the grain corridor without Russia at all; - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine would resume grain exports despite the threat the ships to be attacked by the Russian Federation. In particular, the Ukrainian diplomat wanted to show Kyiv's readiness to expose Moscow's bluff against the background of the confrontation in the Black Sea; - The Ukrainian Defense Ministry reacted to the Russian Federation's threats to safe navigation in the Black Sea. It noted that from July 21, it will consider all vessels heading to Russian ports, as well as to ports in the occupied territories of Ukraine, as ones carrying military cargo with all the relevant consequences; ADVERTISIMENT - The Russian Federation reacted to the warning issued by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry regarding vessels in the Black Sea. Thus, the Kremlin said that Kyiv "does not bend to anything" and thus "poses a danger". Only verified information from us in Telegram-channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! North Korea is a land of stories that dont often get told. Here are some that did North Korea is a land of stories that dont often get told. Here are some that did View Photo With a U.S. soldier crossing the border into North Korea at the border town of Panmunjom and in custody this week, talk turns to the nation itself a country that is known for its suspicion of outsiders but also rejects frequent descriptions of it as reclusive. In some ways, North Korea is a nation like many others; it is also definitively its own thing, sometimes strikingly different from the rest of the world. For six years until his death in 2019, longtime Associated Press Asia correspondent Eric Talmadge was the news organizations Pyongyang bureau chief. In that role, with regular access unusual for a journalist from the West, he wrote many stories that explored the nations culture, politics and economics during the rule of third-generation leader Kim Jong Un. As the drama around the American soldier plays out, here is a selection of some of Talmadges AP coverage that pulls back the curtain on a society that few around the world see. ___ The real revolution in North Korea is the rise of consumer culture. This AP word cloud reveals the patterns in North Korean propaganda. Yes, canned soup may be fueling North Koreas air force. With its options limited, North Korea is lit by flashlights and a creaky grid. First person: How the Pyeongchang Olympics might feel to a North Korean. North Korean economics 101: How much is a dollar worth? Postcard from Pyongyang: The airport now has Wi-Fi, sort of. K-pop and fancy sneakers: Kim Jong Uns cultural revolution. Swedes keep a room ready for U.S. diplomats in Pyongyang. North Koreas construction boom may build more than a skyline. North Korea learns to embrace its inner consumer. Worlds tallest empty hotel lit up by North Korean propaganda. Additionally, former AP Pyongyang photographer Wong Maye-E made this series of portraits of North Koreans that offer a glimpse into the nations people and culture. ___ Find more AP North Korea news here. To see Talmadges Instagram images of North Korea, click here. By The Associated Press As Taiwan prepares for anti-invasion exercises, China sends dozens of warplanes toward the island As Taiwan prepares for anti-invasion exercises, China sends dozens of warplanes toward the island View Photo TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) China sent dozens of warplanes, including fighter jets and bombers, toward Taiwan, the islands Defense Ministry said Saturday, marking a forceful display days before the democracy plans to hold military exercises aimed at defending itself against a possible invasion. Taiwan is due to hold its annual Han Kuang exercise next week, during which its military will hold combat readiness drills for preventing an invasion. It will also conduct the annual Wanan exercises aimed at preparing civilians for natural disasters and practicing evacuations in case of an air raid. The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army sent 37 aircraft and seven navy vessels around Taiwan between 6 a.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Saturday, the ministry said in a statement. Among them were J-10 and J-16 fighters and H-6 bombers, and 22 of the detected warplanes crossed the midline of the Taiwan Strait an unofficial boundary that had been considered a buffer between the island and mainland or entered Taiwans air defense identification zone near its southern part, the statement said. Taiwan and China split in 1949 following a civil war that ended with the ruling Communist Party in control of the mainland. The island has never been part of the Peoples Republic of China, but Beijing says it must unite with the mainland. In recent years, China has shown displeasure at political activities in Taiwan by stepping up the number of military planes sent toward the island. China held huge military drills in response to former United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan in August. It fired missiles over the island in a significant escalation that disrupted trade lanes in the Taiwan Strait and forced airplanes to reroute flights. In April, the PLA also held large-scale combat readiness drills in the air and sea around the island in response to Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen meeting with current U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Russian special forces kill a gunman who broke into a private house near Moscow View Photo MOSCOW (AP) Russian security forces on Saturday killed a heavily-armed gunman who broke into a private house in the suburbs of Moscow and fired at them, reportedly threatening to march on the Kremlin. The assailant was spotted by guards after he had broken into an unoccupied house located in an elite cottage village in the Istra region, about 45 kilometers (less than 30 miles) west of Moscow. When two guards and a police officer entered the house, the man held them at gunpoint, but the three later managed to escape, according to Russian media. For several hours, the authorities negotiated with the attacker who was in combat fatigues and toted a Kalashnikov rifle. The man claimed he came from the front lines in Ukraine and was driven by God to march on the Kremlin, the seat of the government in Moscow. He refused to surrender, fired at the special forces and was killed when they stormed the house, Russias National Guard said. It said that the attacker had several automatic weapons and hand grenades. Russian lawmaker Alexander Khinshtein identified the assailant as Vyacheslav Chernenko, a 35-year-old resident of the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. It wasnt immediately clear if he indeed fought in Ukraine as he claimed. Istra administrator Tatiana Vitusheva described the attacker as mentally unstable. Some Russian media claimed that the cottage he broke into once belonged to Viktor Yanukovych, the former Moscow-friendly president of Ukraine who was driven from office by mass protests and offered shelter by Russia. It has been put up for sale by its current owner, who was abroad when the incident happened. The standoff attracted close media attention, coming nearly a month after mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin launched a short-lived mutiny that saw his Wagner troops capture military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then drive as close as 200 kilometers (125 miles) to Moscow in a bid to oust the countrys top military leaders. Prigozhin agreed to end the June 23-24 rebellion under a deal that offered amnesty to him and his mercenaries and allowed them to move to Belarus. Israeli forces shoot and kill Palestinian motorist after alleged car-ramming attack in West Bank View Photo SEBASTIA, West Bank (AP) Israeli forces on Saturday shot and killed a Palestinian in disputed circumstances in the northern part of the occupied West Bank the latest in an ongoing surge of violence that has gripped the region. The Israeli army said in a statement that two Palestinian men tried to drive a car into soldiers at Sebastia near the city of Nablus around midnight. Soldiers opened fire, killing one and wounding the other man, the army said. The Palestinian Ministry of Health identified the young man who was killed as Fawzi Makhalfeh, 18. Palestinian media quoted the victims family as saying the two did not target soldiers but that they were ambushed while driving and that their car was riddled with bullets. The mayor of Sebastia, Mohammad Azem, said he was one of the first to arrive at the scene. He described a scene of bloody carnage, with more than fifty bullet holes in the chassis. He was a university student, Azem said, it was just so brutal. Sebastia resident Mohammad al-Shaar said he heard the shooting and rushed to the scene to find soldiers blocking the road. Speaking next to the ruined car, he pointed to blood stains and windows punctured by dozens of bullet holes. Hundreds attended the funeral ceremony in Sebastia on Saturday. Makhalfehs father helped carry his sons body which was covered with the Palestinian flag while his head was wrapped in a keffiyeh. He told local media his son was hoping to get married soon. Makhalfeh had just passed his high school exams and was in good spirits before the shooting, according to local reports. The shooting came hours after a 17-year-old Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire elsewhere in the West Bank. The spiral of violence, which shows no signs of abating, is one of the worst between Israelis and Palestinians in years. More than 150 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023 in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, according to a tally by The Associated Press. Violence between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank intensified early last year when Israel expanded near-nightly raids into Palestinian areas in response to a spate of Palestinian attacks against Israelis. Israel says most of those killed have been militants, but stone-throwing youths protesting army raids and others not involved in the confrontations have also been killed. Israel captured the West Bank in the 1967 Mideast war, along with the Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem. Palestinians seek those territories for their hoped-for independent state. ___ McNeil reported from Jerusalem. By SAM McNEIL and MAJDI MOHAMMED Associated Press Yemeni police say theyve arrested 2 suspects in the killing of a senior World Food Program official Yemeni police say theyve arrested 2 suspects in the killing of a senior World Food Program official View Photo CAIRO (AP) Yemeni police on Saturday arrested two suspects in the killing of a senior World Food Program official the previous day, authorities said. Ten others were also detained for their alleged involvement in the killing of Moayad Hameidi, who had recently arrived in the country to take the post of the head of the World Food Program in the southwestern province of Taiz. Taiz police did not provide further details. On Friday, two gunmen riding on a motorbike shot Hameidi in the town of Turbah. He died shortly after reaching a hospital. The attackers fled the scene. Hameidi, a Jordanian, was the latest aid worker to be killed in Yemen, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014. He had just arrived in Taiz a few days ago to assume his role as head of the WFP office in the province. The loss of our colleague is a profound tragedy for our organization and the humanitarian community, said Richard Ragan, WFPs director in Yemen. Any loss of life in humanitarian service is an unacceptable tragedy. In a phone call with WFP Chief Cindy McCain, Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed said the perpetrators would be held accountable for the terrorist crime they committed. He reiterated the governments commitment to secure aid organizations working in the war-torn country. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year on the side of the government, and over the years, the conflict turned into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Houthis main foreign backer. Yemens conflict has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises and more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed. Taiz, Yemens third-largest city and the provincial capital, has been under a siege by the Houthis since 2016, as part of the countrys brutal conflict. The blockade has severely restricted freedom of movement and impeded the flow of essential goods, medicine, and humanitarian aid to the citys residents. In May 2021, an aid worker with the Oxfam charity died and another wounded when they were caught in crossfire in the countrys south. Harris says Florida rules on Black history pushed by DeSantis are propaganda View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) Vice President Kamala Harris said extremists want to replace history with lies as she traveled to Florida on Friday to assail Republican efforts to overhaul educational standards, plunging into a battle over schooling that has rippled through classrooms around the country. They dare to push propaganda to our children, she said in Jacksonville. This is the United States of America. Were not supposed to do that. Her trip came two days after the Florida Board of Education approved a revised Black history curriculum to satisfy legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate who has accused public schools of liberal indoctrination. The new standards include instruction that enslaved people benefited from skills that they learned. How is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization? Harris asked. She did not mention DeSantis by name, instead referring to so-called leaders. However, the speech was another example of how Harris has been the White House point person for addressing cultural issues such as race, schooling and abortion that DeSantis has taken on in the governors office and on the campaign trail. In Salt Lake City on Friday, DeSantis doubled down on earlier arguments that the new curriculum was needed to prevent liberal indoctrination and accused Harris of attempting to demagogue and politicize history. He said he wasnt involved in devising the Board of Educations standards but defended the components concerning how enslaved people benefited. Theyre probably going to show is some of the folks that eventually parlayed being a blacksmith into doing things later, later in life. But the reality is: All of that is rooted in whatever is factual, he said. Earlier, DeSantis accused the Biden administration of being obsessed with his state as it ignores other problems, like border security and crime. Harris, the first Black person to serve as vice president, spoke from the Ritz Theater and Museum, located in a historically African American neighborhood of Jacksonville. She described true patriotism as fighting for a nation that will be better for each generation to come, and she said schools would better prepare students for the world if they dont gloss over historical crimes. Let us not be seduced into believing that somehow we will be better if we forget, she said. We will be better if we remember. We will be stronger if we remember. Christian Ziegler, chairman of the Florida Republican Party, said Harris was out to lecture Floridian parents that their children belong to the government and the government has a right to indoctrinate and sexualize our children. He said the government overreach on parental rights has already been overwhelmingly rejected in Florida. President Joe Biden and Harris have pitched their reelection campaign around preserving freedoms, and they view education issues as one way to highlight Republican extremism. In a video announcing his bid for a second term, Biden warned about Republicans dictating what health care decisions women can make, banning books, and telling people who they can love, all while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote. Jacksonville is a rare bright spot for Democrats in Florida, a longtime swing state that has become increasingly safe for Republicans. Donna Deegan, a Democrat, was elected as the citys mayor in May, and Harris tried to boost morale among the party faithful on Friday. We gotta remind the folks of Florida that youre not fighting out here by yourself, Harris said. We believe in you. Florida has shifted to the right under DeSantis leadership. As governor, hes signed legislation on a number of education issues, such as banning drag shows at schools and imposing new requirements for transgender bathroom use. In 2022, he signed what he called the Stop WOKE Act, which limits how race can be taught in school and which the governor used to attack critical race theory a subject he has described as crap. The law essentially says students cant be made to feel guilty about their race because of injustices of the past. Critics said the law was DeSantis attempt to suppress an accurate account of Black history. The law is being challenged in court. The full measure of African American history is not a hand-picked Rosa Parks here and a Martin Luther King Jr. there, said Democratic state Sen. Bobby Powell, who is Black. It is the sweeping collection of stories spanning several centuries, the lessons of cruelty and inhumanity interwoven in the determination of a people to live and breathe free. It is as much Floridas story as the nations story and it needs to be fully told. Earlier this year, the DeSantis administration rejected a College Board Advanced Placement course on African American history, which DeSantis said was indoctrination. ___ Farrington reported from Tallahassee, Florida. By CHRIS MEGERIAN and BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press Man linked to deaths of four women in Oregon reportedly assaulted one earlier, victims father says Man linked to deaths of four women in Oregon reportedly assaulted one earlier, victims father says View Photo PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A man being investigated in the deaths of four women in Oregon had previously attacked and choked one of them, her father said. But the man was not arrested until months later only after the womens bodies were discovered scattered across northwest Oregon. The bodies had raised fears a serial killer was targeting young women in the area. The Multnomah County District Attorneys Office announced Monday that investigators and prosecutors from nine law enforcement agencies have found links between the four deaths, with at least one person of interest identified. The statement did not name the person, but a law enforcement official with knowledge of the investigation said Tuesday it is Jesse Lee Calhoun. The official requested anonymity because they are not authorized to comment publicly on the case. Calhoun was arrested on June 6 by members of two sheriffs departments with U.S. Marshals Service assisting, the official said. The bodies of Kristin Smith, 22; Charity Perry, 24; Bridget Webster, 31; and Ashley Real, 22, were found over a three-month period in wooded areas, under a bridge and in a culvert in a roughly 100-mile (160-kilometer) radius, spanning from rural Polk County southwest of Portland to the Columbia River Gorge, east of the city. Reals body was the latest one found, on May 7. Her father, Jose Real, told The Associated Press on Friday that he called police on Nov. 11 after she showed up, crying, at his Portland home, saying she had been choked by Calhoun. She had marks on her throat, he said, and he took her to a hospital. A Portland police officer took an initial report from Real and his daughter and she gave the officer Calhouns name. Police wanted her to help find him but she was scared to do so, he said. Because the location of the alleged assault was outside Portland police jurisdiction, the department referred the case to the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office. Real said he never heard back from the sheriffs office, even though he and his wife called repeatedly. Details of the attack were first reported by the Oregonian/OregonLive. The police didnt do their work, he told the newspaper. And now my daughter is dead. Portland Police Sgt. Kevin Allen said in an email Friday that the department cannot comment on any reports or information related to Calhoun because of an active ongoing criminal investigation. Sheriffs Deputy John Plock also said he could not comment because of an active investigation. Real said he was grateful his daughter was found and he can visit her remains in a Clackamas County cemetery. I can tell her, Daddys here, mija you know how much I miss you, Real said, using an affectionate Spanish term for daughter. Calhoun was one of 41 prison inmates whose prison sentence was lowered by one year in 2021 by then-Gov. Kate Brown after they helped battle devastating 2020 wildfires in Oregon. Calhoun was released from the Columbia River Correctional Institution on July 22, 2021, almost one year before his projected release date, the Oregon Department of Corrections said Friday. He had been serving a 50-month sentence for assaulting a police officer, trying to strangle a police dog, burglary and felony unauthorized use of a vehicle. Sen. Tim Knopp, leader of the minority Oregon Senate Republicans, on Tuesday blamed Brown for letting violent offenders out early. But even if Brown hadnt commuted Calhouns sentence, he would have been released months before the deaths occurred. Still, a relative of another woman who died blamed police for being slow to react. Melissa Smith, Kristin Smiths mother, said in a video on Facebook that she reported her daughter missing in December to police in a Portland suburb, but, she said, I was not given the help that I needed. Family members posted flyers about the missing woman and searched parts of Portland. Kristin Smiths body was the first of the four to be discovered, in a wooded area of a Portland neighborhood, on Feb. 19. Melissa Smith praised a detective with the Portland Police Bureau for more aggressively pursuing the case. The district attorneys announcement Monday said no charges have been filed in connection with any of the deaths. But Calhoun is back behind bars. Gov. Tina Kotek revoked his commutation on July 3. Calhoun is now back in prison to serve the remainder of his sentence, with his new projected release date June 9, 2024, Oregon Department of Corrections spokesperson Amber Campbell said Friday. ___ Selsky reported from Salem, Oregon. Rhonda Shafner in New York and Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, contributed to this story. By CLAIRE RUSH and ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press Judge finds forensic scientist Henry Lee liable for fabricating evidence in a murder case View Photo Famed forensic scientist Henry Lee was found liable for fabricating evidence in a murder case that sent two Connecticut men to prison for decades for a crime they did not commit, a federal judge ruled Friday. Ralph Ricky Birch and Shawn Henning were convicted in the Dec. 1, 1985, slaying of Everett Carr, based in part on testimony about what Lee said were bloodstains on a towel found in the 65-year-olds home in New Milford, 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) southwest of Hartford. A judge vacated the felony murder convictions in 2020, and the men filed a federal wrongful conviction lawsuit naming Lee, eight police investigators and the town of New Milford. The ruling Friday sends the case against the police and the town to trial. In granting a motion for summary judgement against Lee, the only outstanding issue for a jury in his case will be the amount of damages. Lee, the former head of the states forensic laboratory and now a professor emeritus at the University of New Havens Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Lee, 84, rocketed to fame after his testimony in the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial, in which he questioned the handling of blood evidence. He also served as a consultant in other high-profile investigations, including the 1996 slaying of 6-year-old JonBenet Ramsey in Colorado; the 2004 murder trial of Scott Peterson, who was accused of killing his pregnant wife Laci; and the 2007 murder trial of record producer Phil Spector. When Birch and Henning were put on trial in 1989, jurors heard about an extremely bloody crime scene. Carr had been stabbed 27 times, had his throat cut and suffered seven blows to the head. No forensic evidence existed linking Birch and Henning to the crime. No blood was found on their clothes or in their car. The crime scene included hairs and more than 40 fingerprints, but none matched the two men. Prosecutors presented evidence from Lee not yet famous that it was possible for the assailants to avoid getting much blood on them. Lee also testified that a towel, which later was suggested could have been touched by the killers while cleaning up, was found in a bathroom near the crime the scene with stains that he tested and were consistent with blood. Tests done after the trial, when the men were appealing their convictions, showed the substance was not blood. In his ruling Friday, which was first reported by The Hartford Courant, U.S. District Judge Victor Bolden ruled that Lee presented no evidence to back up his testimony. Other than stating that he performed the test, however, the record contains no evidence that any such test was performed, the judge wrote. In fact, as plaintiffs noted, Dr. Lees own experts concluded that there is no written documentation or photographic evidence that Dr. Lee performed the TMB blood test. And there is evidence in this record that the tests actually conducted did not indicate the presence of blood. The judge also ruled that Lee failed to properly use an immunity defense that could have shielded him from damages and was no longer eligible to use that argument. Elizabeth Benton, a spokesperson for Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, whose office defended Lee and the police detectives in the case, said it was reviewing the decision and evaluating the next steps. Birch served more than 30 years of a 55-year sentence for felony murder before being released in 2019 after a judge ordered a new trial. Henning, who was 17 when the crime occurred, was granted probation in 2018. After their convictions were vacated in 2020, Lee defended his conduct in the investigation. In my 57-year career, I have investigated over 8,000 cases and never, ever was accused of any wrongdoing or for testifying intentionally wrong, Lee told a throng of reporters. This is the first case that I have to defend myself. Lees work in several other cases has come under scrutiny, including in the murder case against Spector, in which he was accused of taking evidence from the crime scene. ___ Associated Press writer Susan Haigh contributed to this report By PAT EATON-ROBB Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A ninth teenager charged in a shooting outside an Iowa high school that killed a 15-year-old boy and seriously wounded two girls pleaded guilty Friday. The Des Moines Register reported that Nyang Chamdual, 16, said in court that it was right for the victims family for him to plead guilty to first-degree murder. Chamdual was 14 years old when the shooting happened in March 2022 on the grounds of East High School, near downtown Des Moines. Jose David Lopez, a 15-year-old who was not a student at the school, was killed. Police said gunshots fired outside the school came from several shooters from multiple vehicles. Chamdual admitted at Fridays hearing that he was among those shooters. Ten teenagers were charged in the shooting. A judge transferred Chamduals case to adult criminal court in December under the recommendation that he be granted youthful offender status. That means his case is tried in adult court, but his sentence will be imposed by the juvenile court. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The parties discussed the agreements reached during the NATO Summit in Vilnius on 11-12 July. ADVERTISIMENT Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared the details of the call on his Telegram channel. He noted that during the call, they also discussed Ukraine's further steps towards joining NATO. The parties also shared their views on the current situation in the Black Sea and the possible threats it poses to global food security. "I had a phone conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. We discussed the implementation of the agreements reached during the Vilnius Summit of the Alliance, as well as further actions on Ukraine's integration into NATO. We shared our assessments of the current situation in the Black Sea and the risks it poses to global food security," the Ukrainian leader said. The President also noted that as a result of the conversation, they had identified urgent actions and future measures necessary for the restoration and stable functioning of the Black Sea "grain corridor". ADVERTISIMENT As a reminder, former U.S. Special Representative to the U.S. Department of State Kurt Volker is convinced that Ukraine will have the unanimous support of all NATO members at the next summit in Washington. It will be held in 2024. Earlier, Bloomberg reported that Zelenskyy tried to influence the course of discussions on guarantees for our country and Kyiv's invitation to join the bloc before the NATO summit in Vilnius. He used harsher rhetoric than usual when it became known that the text of the final declaration had been changed to wording less favourable to Ukraine. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Amazon is asking some corporate workers to relocate as part of its return-to-office policy Amazon is asking some corporate workers to relocate as part of its return-to-office policy View Photo Amazon is asking some corporate workers to relocate to other cities as part of its return-to-office policy, which mandates workers to be in the office three days a week. An Amazon spokesperson confirmed on Friday that relocations are happening but would not comment on reports by several news outlets that the tech giant was requiring some workers in smaller offices to move to main offices located in bigger cities. Amazon didnt provide details on the number of employees that will be required to relocate. Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser said the company will provide relocations benefits to workers who are asked to move and consider requests for exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Theres more energy, collaboration, and connections happening since weve been working together at least three days per week, and weve heard this from lots of employees and the businesses that surround our offices, Glasser said in a prepared statement. We continue to look at the best ways to bring more teams together in the same locations, and well communicate directly with employees as we make decisions that affect them. The relocations represent an escalation of the companys efforts to get workers back to the office. In February, Amazon introduced a new policy that would require workers to be in the office three days a week. The policy went into effect in May, prompting hundreds of corporate workers to protest outside of the companys headquarters in Seattle. Amazon had previously allowed team leaders to determine how their teams worked. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in February that the company made its decision to bring workers back after observing what worked during the pandemic. Among other things, he said the senior leadership team watched how staff performed and talked to leaders at other companies. He said they concluded employees tended to be more engaged in person and collaborate more easily. Citing internal messages, Business Insider reported earlier Amazon employees who refuse to relocate near main offices of their teams are being told they either have to find a new job internally or leave the company through a voluntary resignation. The company has cut 27,000 jobs in the past few months. The Associated Press MERIDEN Merari Velazquezs son was finally upgrading his beaten-up, pink booster to a big boy seat in the car. He happily plopped into his new car seat provided at no cost by the citys Department of Health and Human Services. Although her sons original car seat expired in 2015, Velazquez explained that she didnt have the money to buy him a new one. So, when she heard that there was a possibility to upgrade her sons seat, Velazquez jumped at the opportunity. Theres a lot of parents that cant afford new car seats or anything at the moment. [Car seats] are getting more expensive than what they were five years ago, she said. Everything has changed and different rules, different safety tactics. Velazquez is one of 75 parents who received car seats and installation training at no cost early Thursday morning at the citys health department employee parking lot. In collaboration with the Yale New Haven Injury Prevention Center and Connecticut Childrens Safe Kids CT, the health department is hosting three free car seat installation drive-throughs in July, August and September, said Stephanie Denya, associate director of the citys health department. Thursdays installation day marked the first event of the series, which aims to educate caregivers on child passenger safety laws and the intricacies of car seats. Having the right seat for the child is so important because the deaths that occur because children arent buckled in or in the right seat are tragic. Theyre preventable, Denya said. Improving road safety In 2021, 711 child passengers 13 or younger died in traffic crashes nationwide, according to an analysis by the National Safety Council. Of them, an estimated 31% were unrestrained. The analysis also found that car seats reduce the risk of fatal injury by an estimated 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers in passenger cars. Luis Rivera, the community relations manager at Connecticut Childrens, has been a car seat safety technician for 12 years. He explained that he wanted this certification to bring crucial car seat and road safety education to the communities he serves. Every year, new versions of car seats are released and laws are suddenly updated, Rivera said. He added that educating yourself on car seats takes considerable time that a parent with young kids may not have. The installation events present an opportunity to address common misconceptions and provide comprehensive guidance. Meriden resident Pedro Morales, for example, said he didnt know that a rear-facing car seat shouldnt rest against the back of the passenger seat. He explained that having space between the car seat and the passenger seat helps minimize a babys injuries during a crash. Sometimes [parents] might find it challenging to harness the child properly in the vehicle and they dont know, Rivera said. So, they have a technician lovingly and patiently guide them through how to do it the right way so that the child could be as safe as possible. In addition to the drive-through installation, Denya said all participants who sign up for the events must attend an hour-long car seat safety course the night before. The class is held in English and Spanish, and she said it allows the technicians to explain car seat-related laws and regulations in-depth. For Nassem Abughneim of Plainville, the night class was a perfect environment to learn about all the weight and age requirements that come with the different car seats. At the installation event, she said the technician walked her through how a car seat should be installed and adjusted as her child grows. Installation At Thursdays installation drive-through, there were seven nationally certified car seat safety technicians from the citys health department, the Yale New Haven Injury Prevention Center and Connecticut Childrens Safe Kids CT. Participants pull into one of two makeshift lanes created along the exit of the health departments employee parking lot. After assessing their needs, the technicians pick out the car seats best suited for the family. Denya explained that the health department pays for a variety of car seats with funds from the state Department of Public Health and Department of Transportation. They gave away more than 100 car seats at Thursdays event. Before installing the seat, the technician thoroughly explains each part of the seat and the safety features. Three dolls of different ages and weights are used to help the parents practice adjusting the car seat harnesses and straps before the seat is installed. Denya added that the technician could help customize the seat if the child using it is present. For kids with special needs, the technicians can assess their immediate needs and connect them with representatives from Griffin Hospital, who could help find a specific car seat. In addition to the August and September free installations, residents can call Denya at 203-630-4226 throughout the year to coordinate a free car seat safety class and an installation appointment. To find the nearest car seat installation location, go to ctsafekids.org. Health Equity reporter Cris Villalonga-Vivoni is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms. They can be reached at cvillalonga@record-journal.com and 203-317-2448. Support RFA reporters at the Record-Journal through a donation at https://bit.ly/3Pdb0re. To learn more about RFA, visit www.reportforamerica.org. PureHealth, the largest healthcare platform in the Middle East, said it has collaborated with Fujifilm Global to leverage the latest cutting-edge technology and advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions to enhance excellence benchmarks in healthcare sector of Abu Dhabi and beyond. As part of the partnership, PureHealth will be introducing Fujifilms advanced Healthcare IT products. It was initiated through a ceremony held at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental during the recent Japan-UAE Business Forum. PureHealth pointed out that one of its key subsidiaries, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (Seha) will be the first beneficiary, deploying the state-of-the-art system and products in its facilities. The integration of AI algorithms will enable the rapid analysis of vast amounts of medical data, with medical practitioners able to focus their expertise on critical cases instead, leading to faster and more accurate diagnoses, said the company in a statement. Doctors in the UAE will be able to detect abnormalities promptly, provide quantitative measurements, and offer improved patient care, it added. PureHealth Chief Corporate Officer Rashid Al Qubaisi said: "By harnessing the power of PureHealth's network and Fujifilm's unparalleled imaging and biotechnology AI capabilities, we are poised to redefine the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare." "Together, we will propel the sector forward, driving exceptional advancements that will improve lives, enhance diagnostics, and elevate the standard of care," he stated. Seha Group CEO Saeed Jaber Al Kuwaiti said: "Abu Dhabi is leading the transformation of the regional healthcare ecosystem, leveraging the power of science and technology while establishing itself as a life science hub and a global innovation incubator with PureHealth at the forefront." As one of the largest networks of hospitals and clinics in the UAE, Seha is aligned with PureHealth's vision and fully committed to embracing pioneering technologies and advanced AI solutions to provide world-class healthcare services and unparalleled health solutions, he stated. "Being the first beneficiary of Fujifilms state-of-the-art system and products excites us, as it further reinforces our dedication to delivering exceptional care to our patients," he added. Fujifilm President and CEO Teiichi Goto said: "We are excited to collaborate with PureHealth and contribute to the advancement of healthcare in Abu Dhabi. By using AI, we offer the flexibility to make the most of these advanced technologies, leading to better radiology operations faster and more accurately and assisting surgery preparation." This latest collaboration reinforces PureHealths mission to raise the benchmarks in healthcare excellence, increase standards in patient care, advance the science of longevity and boost the advancements of the UAE healthcare sector, added Goto.-TradeArabia News Service The US presidential national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, has said that the Ukrainian army has considerable power, which it has not yet brought into combat operations during the counter-offensive. According to him, the Ukrainian Armed Forces will now have to overcome voluminous mine barriers and the echeloned defenses of the Russian occupiers. ADVERTISIMENT Sullivan also emphasized that the AFU plans to choose the most appropriate moment to attract significant combat power. He stated this at the Aspen Security Forum. Advisor to US President Joe Biden noted that the Ukrainian forces intend to use significant power to maximize the impact on the situation on the battlefield. The White House spokesman said that Ukrainian troops first need to overcome significant defenses and minefields of the Russian occupiers during the counteroffensive. At the same time, Sullivan added that it is important for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to choose the most opportune moment to use significant combat power with maximum impact on the course of hostilities. "Ultimately it's a decision they will make. That is when we will see the significant results of the counteroffensive," Sullivan said. ADVERTISIMENT The US presidential adviser added that the US is in close contact with the Ukrainian leadership, but explained that the AFU decide how to fight during the counteroffensive operation independently. Earlier it was reported that the United States will start training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets in a few weeks. It will take place in Europe and will last several months. To remind, Ukrainian servicemen continue to move forward at a distance of 0.5 to 1 kilometer every day. The counter-offensive of the AFU is almost unrealistic to conduct at a fast pace because of the huge number of defensive structures and minefields of the Russian occupiers. As reported by OBOZREVATEL, the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine can not be called a failure. Ukrainian defenders are doing their job, but are forced to liberate the land through the minefields of the enemy. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! EXILED businessman Mutumwa Mawere has approached the Constitutional Court, seeking to block President Emmerson Mnangagwa from contesting in the August 23 polls. The South African-based tycoon made a court application on 5 July arguing that allowing the Zanu PF leader to run for Presidency was as good as condoning violations of the Reconstruction of State Indebted Insolvent Companies Act, which have taken place during his tenure. Mawere used to preside over the Shabanie Mashava Mines (SMM) Holdings which was seized from him and his other related entities by the Zimbabwean government in 2004 through the controversial Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act, blamed by many for destroying several companies. SMM, now in ruins, was once an asbestos conglomerate under Mawere, employing thousands of workers and sustaining the Midlands province. Mnangagwa was reportedly behind the seizure of the company after a fallout with Mawere. Article continues below these jobs... Work In Zimbabwe Latest Jobs Executive Director on 9 August 2023 The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO [] Assistant Accountant on 9 August 2023 Shepco Industrial Supplies is [] TOPP Trainee on 9 August 2023 National Foods Logistics is a [] Key Accounts Manager on 9 August 2023 National Foods Logistics is a [] It is alleged that Mnangagwa had assisted Mawere in acquiring the company but at a later stage he sided with Mnangagwas political rival, former Vice President Joyce Mujuru. In the application, Mawere is cited as the applicant, SMM, THZ Holdings Limited, Africa Resources Limited, Tap Building Products Limited and Tichaona Mupasiri are cited as second to sixth applicants respectively, while Mnangagwa is cited as the respondent. Mawere also made reference to government-run airline, Air Zimbabwe (AirZim) and Hwange Colliery Company Limited, as cases where violations of the law had taken place while the firms were under reconstruction. In his application for an interim interdict and restraining order, Mawere said Mnangagwa must be interdicted and restrained from participating in the 2023 elections. Court to declare that Mnangagwas conduct in relation to the affairs of Air Zimbabwe Private Limited and Hwange Colliery Company through his direct and personal actions including appointing Chinamasa as chairman of Air Zimbabwe under reconstruction, which conduct was ultra vires the Reconstruction of State-indebted Insolvent Companies Act. Chinamasa is the former minister of finance, who presided over the Treasury between 2013 and 2017. Mawere argued that the Act precluded the concurrent application of the provisions of the Companies Act in relation to the affairs of a company whose control and management was divested and deprived due to the Reconstruction Act. NewZimbabwe Breaking News via Email Rep. Mike Johnson: Biden administration, Big Tech, mainstream media colluded to censor content online In his speech as a ranking member of the House Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana blasted the administration of President Joe Biden, Big Tech and the mainstream media for colluding in their efforts to censor massive amounts of content online Johnson, who has been a vocal critic against censorship in the past, noted in his speech that a federal court was able to affirm what he and other government censorship critics have been reporting for a long time about how "the White House, the Department of Justice, the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation], among other agencies, threatened and coerced the social media platforms to censor and suppress disfavored viewpoints and conservatives' social media posts online." (Related: CNN correspondent ADMITS Biden "regularly" asks social media companies to act as SPEECH POLICE and censor content.) Later on during the select subcommittee's hearing, Johnson further noted that FBI Supervisory Special Agent Elvis Chan, who is one of the agents in charge of the bureau's online censorship program, testified under oath that, whenever the FBI asked social media platforms to censor certain posts or other types of content "that they said was disfavored speech," the Big Tech companies agreed to government demands and took down about 50 percent of the targeted content. Biden administration barred from contacting Big Tech social media companies Johnson's speech referenced the recent ruling by the United States District Court Judge for the Western District of Louisiana Terry A. Doughty that prevents officials within the administration from contacting social media sites. This ruling comes after the court definitively proved that federal government officials under the Biden administration targeted and suppressed "millions of protected free speech postings by American citizens." "It is quite telling that each example or category of suppressed speech [brought as evidence in the case] was conservative in nature," wrote Doughty in his ruling. "This targeted suppression of conservative ideas is a perfect example of viewpoint discrimination of political speech. American citizens have the right to engage in free debate about the significant issues affecting the country." In the hearing with the select subcommittee, Johnson made sure to point out that the mainstream media is attempting to suppress the ability of people in the United States to learn about this "landmark lawsuit against the federal government." "Let's talk facts: The American people are not aware of the magnitude of this case and its profound implications because most of the mainstream media is in on it too and they're trying to bury the story," said Johnson. He added that this "blatant censorship" is because the attorneys general of Louisiana and Missouri brought forward a case "that went after the blatant censorship of the Biden White House." Doughty would later reject a request from the Justice Department to put a pause on the order. Learn more about government censorship at SpeechPolice.news. Watch this clip from "System Update with Glenn Greenwald" as host Glenn Greenwald interviews Rep. Mike Johnson about the problems with the FBI and its weaponization by the Biden administration. This video is from the Russia Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: OMNIPOTENT TYRANTS Biden and Macron demand total control over speech, government power to censor anyone. Censorship defenders finally admit they hate First Amendment, want free speech curtailed as policy of "national interest." HUGE: Biden officials ordered by federal judge to STOP contacting social media companies and demanding censorship of speech. Biden regime responsible for creating behemoth Censorship Complex to silence true but inconvenient "malinformation," congressmen discover. ELECTION INTERFERENCE: YouTube removes Jordan Peterson interview with presidential candidate RFK Jr. over vaccine comments. Sources include: NewsBusters.org C-Span.org TheVerge.com CBSNews.com Brighteon.com Biden family and associates received more than $17 million in illegal payments from Burisma and other foreign nationals The Biden family raked in more than $17 million through business dealings with foreign nationals between 2014 and 2019, an IRS special agent recently testified in front of the House Oversight Committee. According to IRS Special Agent Joseph Ziegler, the funds came in via a series of multimillion-dollar payments to corporations linked with the Biden family from entities situated in China, Romania and Ukraine. The whistleblower explained that around half of the money went to Hunter Biden. Ziegler and another IRS agent, Gary Shapley, reportedly approached the House Ways and Means Committee a few months ago to inform them that a high-level coverup was taking place in the governmental investigation into Hunters gun and tax crimes. In testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee back in June, Ziegler reported that the Ukrainian energy firm Burisma Holdings had paid everyone involved around $7.3 million in total. Meanwhile, their dealings in Romania brought around $3.1 million to the Biden family and their associates, while transfers to Hunters business from a Chinese company, CEFC, totaled around $6.9 million, bringing the total to $17.3 million. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer characterized the foreign payments as an influence-peddling scheme to enrich the Bidens. He went on to explain how the Biden family received millions of dollars from these foreign entities using associates companies and then withdrew the money in the form of incremental payments to various bank accounts. These complicated financial transactions were used deliberately to conceal the source of funds and total amounts. No normal business operates like this, he added. Comer recently indicated that he intends to obtain bank records showing the Biden family has actually accepted closer to $30 million from various foreign entities over the years. In addition to Hunter, some of the other family members who have allegedly received foreign income include the president's brother and his brother's wife, James and Sarah Biden, along with Hunters current and ex-wives, Melissa Cohen Biden and Kathleen Buhle, and the widow of Bidens son Beau, Hallie Biden, who also had a romantic relationship with Hunter. FBI informant file describes bribery Yesterday, Senator Chuck Grassley released an FBI informant file that contained allegations of a $10 million bribe on the part of both Joe and Hunter Biden. The file showed that the owner of Burisma, Ukrainian oligarch Mykola Zlochevsky, was coerced into paying the Biden family the money. He reportedly told the FBI informant that it cost 5 [million] to pay one Biden, and 5 [million] to another Biden. Hunter was also placed on Burismas board and received thousands of dollars per month from them. At the time, the firm was being investigated by prosecutor Viktor Shokin; Joe Biden, as vice president, used his position to push for Shokins firing, presumably in exchange for the payments. When asked why they would hire Hunter rather than more qualified oil advisers, the document alleges: Zlochevsky made some comment that although Hunter Biden was stupid, and his (Zlochevskys) dog was smarter, Zlochevsky needed to keep Hunter Biden (on Burismas board) so everything will be okay. When the source asked if it was Joe or Hunter who encouraged him to retain Hunter, he responded, They both did. Zlochevsky is said to have 17 recordings of conversations that took place with the Bidens, and two of these included Joe himself. There are also numerous text messages and financial documents showing payments that were made to the Biden family. According to the FBI source, Zlochevsky said the evidence will prove that he was somehow coerced into paying the Bidens to ensure Ukraine Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin was fired. He added that he did not send money directly to the Big Guy widely understood to be a reference to Joe and that it would take investigators a long time to find the records of his illicit payments to him. Referring to Shokins investigation of Burisma, Zlochevsky indicated that Hunter would take care of all of those issues through his dad. The same Big Guy nickname was used when discussing a potential 10 percent cut of a deal with CEFC China Energy for Joe in 2017. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com FoxNews.com Why are Black hoax artists trying to make White people look evil? The so-called abduction of Carlee Russell is looking more and more like a hoax. As a matter of fact, at a recent press conference, Hoover, Alabama police officials admitted they dont believe Carlee was ever abducted. (Article republished from Revolver.news) Mixed emotions to hear that the Carlee Russell kidnapping was a hoax. Sad because she must be severely mentally ill to make something like this up. Happy because no baby was hurt and she wasnt hurt. What consequences should she face for the hoax?pic.twitter.com/dVFHUa3r7q Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) July 19, 2023 It looks like the entire thing was a twisted and elaborate hoax. Yahoo News: Nearly a week after the sudden disappearance of Carlee Russell, the Alabama woman who went missing last Thursday after reporting seeing a toddler walking along the interstate, police in the city of Hoover said they do not believe she was kidnapped. During a 30-minute press conference Wednesday afternoon, Hoover Police Chief Nick Derzis said he does not believe a crime was committed and shared new evidence casting doubt on Russells abduction story, which includes a number of revealing Google searches on her cellphone in the days and hours leading up to her disappearance. Recent searches on Russells phone, he said, included How to take money from a register without being caught, one-way bus ticket from Birmingham to Nashville, Amber Alert information and a search for the movie Taken, a film about an abduction overseas. This investigation is not over, Derzis said. However, due to the public interest and, in some cases, public fear that this story has generated, we owe it to our citizens [to share] the facts that we have uncovered. Its highly unusual the day someone is kidnapped that they Google the movie Taken, about an abduction, he added. I find it very strange. Carlees boyfriend, who had previously stood by her and even supported her abduction story with a passionate Instagram post, has now removed that post along with all photos of Carlee. This very telling move happened right after the police press conference. However, Carlee and her family are still insisting that the cockamamie abduction story is real, even though none of it aligns with the facts or the traffic camera that caught the entire plot on video. There was no child on the side of the road. Central to Carlees story is her claim of being abducted by a white man while she was attempting to help a white male toddler on the side of the freeway. According to police and traffic camera footage, this simply didnt occur. This brings us to a very important point that seems to be overlooked why are these viral black hoax artists dragging white people through the mud? We saw a similar racist scenario with the notorious hoax artist Jussie Smollett, who falsely reported being attacked by white Trump supporters, who supposedly draped a noose around his neck and doused him in bleach. Yeah, because white people never leave the house without their trusty noose and jug of bleach. Absurd. But many supposedly well-educated people ran with the story, eager to smear white Trump supporters. .@JussieSmollett is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know. Im praying for his quick recovery. This was an attempted modern day lynching. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate. Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) January 29, 2019 Liberals talk a lot about words having meaning and doing damage and nowhere is that more apparent than with these black hoax artists. Now, we have a situation involving a black woman who scared the entire country by falsely claiming that a monstrous white man was using a half-naked innocent child as bait to abduct women. It doesnt get more evil than that. And who can forget one of the biggest black hoax artists of all time: Tawana Brawley, whos lie about being raped and racially assaulted by white men was perpetuated by none other than Al Sharpton. NPR: It was 1987 when a black teenager, Tawana Brawley, said she had been raped and kidnapped by a group of white men in Dutchess County, N.Y. Her story of being attacked, scrawled with racial slurs, smeared with feces and left beside a road wrapped in a plastic bag made front pages across the nation especially after the Rev. Al Sharpton took up her case. But, as The Associated Press reminds readers, a special state grand jury later determined that Brawley had fabricated her claims, perhaps to avoid punishment for staying out late. And its not just these headline-grabbing cases. Theres a long list of smaller, less sensational incidents like this that occur regularly. So, while the media focuses on just the hoax aspect, were more interested in why this woman, like other well-known black hoax artists, decided to use a fictitious white person as the evil villain in their elaborate lie. Race hatred? Something more? Something less? One possible theory besides the obvious angle of racial hatred and race resentment is that its likely because these hoax artists know the type of hyped up coverage they will get if their story involves a racist plot. And theyre right. Just look what happened to a white woman who had an altercation with a black man in a park it made national news and went mega viral. The poor woman lost her job and was forced to go through race rehabilitation training before the charges against her were eventually dropped. However, cases like Smolletts, Brawleys, and Russells get the meh treatment from our esteemed media and are tossed aside because they dont serve the anti-white narrative that our media is so intent on pushing. In reality, perhaps Carlee Russell should be charged with a hate crime for intentionally dragging white people through the preverbal mud. Perhaps she should be forced to go through race rehabilitation training so she can begin to understand how wrong it is to vilify a race of people for no reason Read more at: Revolver.news After reports about the arrival of mercenaries of the PMC "Wagner" to the territory of Belarus, the AFU demonstrated how the fighters were preparing for a possible attack from the north. Thus, the network showed how the Ukrainian defenders of the civilian critical infrastructure in the Chernobyl exclusion zone were training. ADVERTISIMENT The General Staff of the AFU showed footage from the training of fighters, which the commander of the United Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Lieutenant General Serhiy Naiev recenlty visited. Regarding the situation on the border, he noted that first of all, the events involving Wagner mercenaries were organized to intimidate and exert psychological pressure on the Ukrainian population. "We do not need to be intimidated, because we know what we need to do and we are doing everything to prevent enemy reconnaissance sabotage forces from successfully operating on the territory of Ukraine, in particular, in the Kyiv direction in the Chernobyl zone," Lieutenant General wrote on his Telegram-channel. Naiev also emphasized that in order to prevent possible enemy actions, a number of actions aimed at ensuring security have been taken over the past week. In addition, weekly trainings of personnel are carried out to maintain combat readiness. ADVERTISIMENT We shall remind you that Russian SRGs tried to break into Sumy and Chernihiv regions, but all their attempts were unsuccessful. This was reported by the commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Serhiy Naiev. In order to check the readiness of forces and means for an adequate response to the attempts of the enemy, in particular the private military company "Wagner", to penetrate into Ukrainian territory from the Belarusian direction, he conducted a working trip along the border in Chernihiv region. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier Naiev said that the northern borders of Ukraine are fully under the control of the AFU. Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the Ukrainian intelligence has all the information about the actions of the army of Belarus. At the same time, the Ukrainian defenders are always ready for defense and deterrence of the enemy. Video of deserted mall and streets in downtown San Fran reveals Democrats destroyed city A recent poll commissioned by Probolsky Research found 60% of voters in San Francisco "disapprove" of Mayor London Breed's performance, and only 22% believe she deserves re-election. There's plunging confidence among the business community that progressive leadership in the crime-ridden metro can revive the poop-infested downtown area. Businesses are closing up shops in droves, while some building owners have stopped payments on malls and hotels as the city's economic recovery appears bleak. (Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com) San Francisco Chamber of Commerce CEO Rodney Fong recently drew a dire historical parallel of the faltering metro area to the 1906 earthquake: "We have a lot of work to do as residents are more pessimistic than ever." Marc Benioff, the chief executive officer of Salesforce, the city's largest employer and anchor tenant in its tallest skyscraper, warned this week that the metro area is in trouble. Benioff offered this grim outlook: The downtown area is "never going back to the way it was" in pre-Covid times when workers commuted to offices daily. "We need to rebalance downtown," Benioff said, adding Breed needs to initiate a program to convert dormant office space into housing and hire additional law enforcement to restore law and order. San Francisco's demise is much more than just the remote or hybrid work narrative, and a record 30% of office space is vacant. Remember, without office workers, local shops can't thrive. This leaves us with Youtuber METAL LEO, who walked the downtown area, revealing empty streets and closed-up stores. He wrote in the description of the video, "Embarcadero Center is a commercial complex of five office towers, two hotels, a shopping center with more than 125 stores but only two remain open on three levels located in San Francisco, California." The video is an eye-opener of the economic collapse of the downtown area as it has transformed into a "ghost town" overnight. The exodus of companies and people is a vote of confidence that Breed's progressive administration has failed. There are attempts to rebuild the downtown district, but that could take many years, meaning the city's economic recovery won't happen anytime soon. Read more at: ZeroHedge.com Bidens federal border patrol agents sabotage Texas Gov. Abbotts efforts to keep illegal migrants out A remote pecan farm in Eagle Pass, Texas has become the focal point of the ongoing immigration policy debate, showcasing the dysfunctional nature of America's approach to immigration. The sprawling ranch, owned by Hugo and Magaly Urbina, lies on the banks of the Rio Grande and has become a battleground between the federal Border Patrol agents of President Joe Biden and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. According to the Daily Mail, Border Patrol agents process illegal migrants in a white tent on the farm before transporting them to a nearby facility. From there, migrants are typically released into the U.S. to wait for legal hearings on their asylum claims. However, just outside the fence of the farm, Texas DPS authorities stand guard. Sgt. Rene Cordova of the DPS Highway Patrol said: "It seems that [U.S. Border Patrol is] letting [migrants] in, and we're doing our part in order to keep them out." Cordova showed the fortifications that the DPS has constructed to prevent migrants from crossing into the Urbinas' farm. However, the Border Patrol tore down a section of the chain-link fence. Meanwhile, the Urbinas, who leased a long stretch of their riverfront to the Border Patrol at the expense of the U.S. taxpayers, constructed a walkway ramp to make the steep river bank more accessible. (Related: USBP agents report 743% increase in illegal migrants trying to cross northern border.) In response, Abbott sent state troopers to occupy their land on the grounds of alleged criminal activity. Texas DPS bulldozed the river ramp, installed rows of barbed wire, chained and sealed off gates and posted a sign threatening fines, stating: "You cannot pass here." Battle at the border: Texas vs. the federal government The pecan farm in Eagle Pass is a microcosm of the larger conflict playing out along the Rio Grande, highlighting the contradictory policies at the state and federal levels. Armed with a $10 billion budget, Abbott deployed Texas state police, national guard troops and a range of security measures, including makeshift walls and barbed wire fences along the borders. The governor also ordered the installation of a marine barrier with spinning buoys and a submerged net in the river to impede swimmers attempting to cross the Rio Grande. The state forces occupy gravel river islands, where they thin the vegetation and plant the Texas state flag. Texas has also stationed camouflaged National Guard personnel and DPS officers along the way in the riverbank. Boats, helicopters, drones and police from other states like Florida have been invited to bolster the military-like presence. In 2022, the Biden administration reportedly proposed opening the country's northern border with Canada and the southern border with Mexico. The news first came to light through an announcement by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who revealed that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had presented the proposal. (Related: Biden administration proposes permanently opening all borders between US, Mexico and Canada.) This proposal has not been received favorably by many level-headed Americans, especially considering the ongoing concerns surrounding the unsecured southern border. The porous nature of the border has already allowed migrants, and potential criminals disguising themselves among them, to enter the United States. The consequences of this clash between Texas and the federal government are evident along the border. Long lines of aspiring illegal immigrants now traverse thousands of yards of razor wire while others attempt to cross the river, seeking a gap in the Texas defenses or assistance from sympathetic Border Patrol agents. Despite Texas' efforts, the Border Patrol often finds ways to circumvent the obstacles. In some instances, groups of immigrants traverse thousands of yards to a point beyond the barbed wire and patrols, where Border Patrol vehicles await them. Once these individuals are in Border Patrol custody, the Texas state troopers and DPS officers can do little to intervene. Check out OpenBorders.news for more stories about illegal migrants. Watch Mike Martins discusses how illegal migrants crossing the northern border from Canada are affecting the United States. This video is from Mike Martins Channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Infrared camera catches small army of migrants illegally entering U.S. as Republicans consider impeaching DHS chief. Five illegal migrants on FBIs terrorist watchlist ARRESTED shortly after Title 42 expired. Illegal aliens are now climate migrants, according to globalists pushing population replacement scheme. New York City suburbs rebel against Mayor Adams plan to ship illegal migrants to their neighborhoods. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk TheNewAmerican.com RFK Jr finally has his say after House Democrats fail to completely shut him up Prior to Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.'s testimony yesterday before the Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government of the House Judiciary Committee, I thought President Trump had gotten the worst treatment of anyone in public life by the assorted powers that be. And maybe he has, considering the two bogus impeachments and the two outstanding and possibly one or more additional criminal indictments he is facing. (Article by Peter Barry Chowka republished from AmericanThinker.com) But in terms of a one-day nuclear shutdown of an American citizen and his rights to free speech, I have never seen anything on the level of what was meted out to RFK Jr. yesterday by both Democrats in Congress and the mainstream media, with the exception of FOX News. In fact, you'd have to go back to the Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954 to find such enmity in the halls of Congress. Even the bipartisan Watergate hearings of 1973 were tame in comparison. Even before the hearing started yesterday, on Monday, as reported by Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. in his excellent article on the hearing at The Defender, Reps. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.) sent a letter signed by 102 House Democrats to the House Republican leadership, requesting they "rescind Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s invitation to testify." Once the hearing began at 9:30 A.M. EDT yesterday, Wasserman Shultz and several other Democrat committee members continued to demand Kennedy's ouster and, when that tactic failed, they fell back on a coordinated strategy to demean and libel him without according him the courtesy or right to answer or to respond to their attacks. When questioned by Republican members, Kennedy was finally allotted some time to make his case. The best account of the hearing itself is the aforementioned article by Nevrardakis at The Defender, the newsletter of Children's Health Defense, the tax-exempt public and health policy organization that Kennedy founded and of which he is currently the chairman on leave. Several hours after the end of Thursday's hearing, Kennedy appeared in-studio in Washington, D.C. for a live broadcast interview with Martha MacCallum on The Story (3 P.M. EDT; video here). Since FOX News gave him the opportunity to answer his Democrat critics who had earlier done their best to silence him, I decided to share here excerpts of his conversation with MacCallum as an addendum to the hearing itself. By the way, the entire video of the four-hour hearing with Kennedy and several other witnesses can be viewed at YouTube. If nothing else, it's great television. C-SPAN has a page devoted to Kennedy's testimony with the complete video and selected excerpts. Transcript of RFK Jr. on The Story provided by FOX News Media Relations. MARTHA MACCALLUM, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: So, it was very interesting watching this unfold this morning. You're running as a Democrat. The Democrats came after you hard. The Republicans were sticking up for your right to say what you want to say. Do you feel like you're, as a Kennedy, sort of in upside-down world when you're sitting there this morning? I want to say something, because they the charges that I made these statements that were antisemitic, all of those statements are taken out of context. And those statements themselves I have I have literally and I said this under oath today. I have never made a single antisemitic statement in my life or racist statement in my life. And the statements that are being twisted and distorted to make them seem like I said these controversial things are is simply another way that I'm being that the DNC, et cetera, and its allies are using to silence me, to marginalize me, to make me look crazy, to make me look like a bad person. I have been stronger my support on Israel has been stronger than any Democrat in that chamber. I'm the only one that's spoken out against the $2 billion transfer that President Biden has made to Iran, which is going to be used for genocidal purposes, to develop nuclear weapons. And nobody else has dared to stand up against that. I was not allowed to talk. I was not allowed to defend myself. I was read a series of these slanders without being allowed to reply to any of them. So, I was invited to speak there because a recent federal court decision, which is a monumental decision, Judged Doughty in a federal court in Louisiana, which for the first time in history ordered the White House to stop, to actually cease all communications with the social media networks because they were manipulating information. What the 155-page decision records is this unprecedented effort by the White House to silence its political opponents. The first person they silenced was me. So, President Biden came to office. And, by the way, President Trump had censored me too, not for any misinformation, but for what they called malinformation. That means information that, while true, is inconvenient to the White House and inconvenient to or clashes with official orthodoxies. President Biden came into office on January 21, 2021. Two days later, the White House ordered Instagram and Facebook to censor me, and my my entire account was taken down three weeks later. Oh, and the censorship continues today. When I made my campaign my announcement speech on April 19 in Boston, YouTube took it down after five minutes. So I was not I never mentioned vaccines. I never mentioned anything. I was talking about Paul Revere. At this point, a brief moment of humor was called for before the conversation returned to the more serious subjects at hand. MACCALLUM: Well, it's highly controversial, Paul Revere. KENNEDY: I don't know what part... MACCALLUM: Riding down the street with a lantern without a license, apparently. KENNEDY: Yes. (LAUGHTER) MACCALLUM: Here's part of that exchange with you and Debbie Wasserman Schultz earlier today, if people missed it. Watch this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KENNEDY: I was describing an NIH-funded study. REP. DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ (D-FL): No, no, no, you didn't cite any... KENNEDY: I was I was describing an NIH-funded study by Cleveland Clinic scientists. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Reclaiming my time. Reclaiming my time. You did not reference... KENNEDY: And you... WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Reclaiming my time. KENNEDY: Published in USC Medical, which is one of... WASSERMAN SCHULTZ: Mr. Chairman, the time is mine. The time is mine. I'm reclaiming it. Please ask the witness to stop talking. KENNEDY: You asked me... (END VIDEO CLIP) MACCALLUM: All right, she wouldn't let you do it, so I want to let you do it right here. This recording of a video from a dinner that you had with some journalists from The New York Post, in it, you talked about I'm going to let you put it in your own words, because, in the video, you say that you do say studies and reports indicate that there may have been some genetic direction for this virus, if it was manipulated. Explain. KENNEDY: Yes, I actually, the the studies don't say that it was suggested that it was deliberately manipulated. And I never suggested it was deliberately manipulated. In fact, I said the opposite. What the study said is that certain races were more affected by COVID than other races. And there was a long list of the races that were minimally affected and those that were maximally affected. So I was I was not saying that this was something that had been deliberately done. I was just describing the results of this study. MACCALLUM: So, do you believe that there is bioweapons work going on in China and in the United States that is trying to determine if these genetically cleaved, changed viruses you know the terminology better than I do could be used in that way as a bioweapon targeted towards certain populations? KENNEDY: There's been a long history of our nation and other countries trying to develop ethnic bioweapons. And, today, because of the developments of synthetic biology, CRISPR technology, genetic editing techniques that were never available to earlier scientists, those kind of studies are much or those kind of weapons are much more likely to be developed, and along with a host of other weapons. And what I have said, and the point of that talk that I was giving, is that we used to have a bioweapons treaty. We signed it in 1973, and people were generally complying with it. In 2002, when we passed the Patriot Act, we revoked that treaty. And that has launched a bioweapons arms race. All of the major countries are putting major money into bioweapons. And one of the first things I'm going to do as president is to re-sign that treaty and to enforce it, to have provisions that make it transparent, that make it enforceable, and end that whole area of study. We don't need it. It does no good for the world, and it's very, very, very dangerous. MacCallum next asked Kennedy about a lawsuit that Children's Health Defense has brought against several major mainstream media outlets, alleging a "conspiracy" to silence critics like him. KENNEDY: Yes, among one of the most insidious kind of censorship and I'm going to use a word very cautiously conspiracy, but it actually is a conspiracy, a number of press organizations led by BBC, that include The Washington Post, Reuters, United Press International, and Microsoft, Twitter, and Facebook, signed an agreement to censor to agree on a censorship regimen, so that they would censor and deplatform competitive news organizations that printed stories or posted stories that clashed with the official government proclamations. MACCALLUM: It doesn't sound like the United States or the democracy that this country was founded on, does it? KENNEDY: No. And it's really crazy. And part of the reason they did it is and this is clear in the papers. We have discovery documents. And the BBC, who organized it, said, in truth, CNN and BBC, a lot of people think we're competitors, but the real competitors are the thousands of new news organizations that have sprouted up like mushrooms on the Internet that are eroding public trust in us and that are destroying our business model. MACCALLUM: It's a loss of control. KENNEDY: Right. And so we need to now choke them. MACCALLUM: Right. KENNEDY: And the way that we will do that is by deplatforming anybody, any of these organizations that doesn't follow our story. We are suing them under the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Later on Thursday, when I watched MSM outlets like CNN and read the New York Times, I was sickened though not surprised at the fake news, the false accusations, and the outright lies they used to report on Kennedy and what went down on Thursday. A personal note: I have followed Kennedy's and his colleagues' work at Children's Health Defense (CHD) closely since the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020. As a journalist reporting on science and medical topics including the politics of health care for many years, I was continually impressed with the work of CHD which was always science-based, with frequent annotations, references, and links to credible primary sources. Contrast that with the lies and misrepresentations of Fauci, the CDC, the NIH, and (dare I say) both the administrations of Donald Trump and Joe Biden vis-a-vis the COVID-19 pandemic including the effectiveness of masks, lockdowns, and vaccinations. I have read most of the critical literature and reporting about RFK Jr., as well as several of his books, his interviews, and other material. In 2021, when I had the opportunity to guest-host eleven of John B. Wells's nationally syndicated talk radio programs on the Salem Radio Network, I had as a guest on three of the programs Mary Holland, Esq., who was then the president of Children's Health Defense. She is now RFK Jr.'s deputy campaign manager and one of his closest advisers. In the three and a half hours total on the programs of mine that she appeared, I did not disagree with a single thing she said about COVID-19 and the power and influence of the U.S. medical-industrial complex. At this time, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is the only candidate among all of the other current contenders for the presidency in 2024 who understands and says he is willing to challenge the stranglehold on health and public policy that Medicine, Inc. and Big Pharma currently exert on the body politic. For that reason alone, which helps to explain the flak he is getting on all fronts, I am interested in following and continuing to report on his candidacy and more than willing to hear him out. Read more at: AmericanThinker.com Whistleblower: Secret Service prevented the FBI from interviewing Hunter Biden An investigator-turned-whistleblower for the Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that Secret Service agents intervened in an investigation on Hunter Biden , preventing the bureau from interviewing the presidential son. Paul Dragu, reporting on this development for The New American, noted that multiple whistleblowers have already come forward testifying that they and other government agencies were prevented from properly investigating Hunter Biden's possibly illicit financial dealings. (Related: CNN correspondent ADMITS Biden "regularly" asks social media companies to act as SPEECH POLICE and censor content.) In one of the latest revelations, an FBI agent has confirmed a prior testimony by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley regarding the Secret Service's interference. In a testimony before the House Oversight Committee Shapley noted how FBI headquarters tipped off the Secret Service as well as the transition team of then-President-Elect Joe Biden about the FBI's plan to interview Hunter. "The FBI, SSA [supervisory special agent] and I were assigned with interviewing Hunter Biden that day, and the day previous we went to the [Los Angeles FBI] field office and asked the special agent in charge to contact the Secret Service special agent in charge from the LA field office at 8 a.m. on the morning of December 8 and tell them that two agents were going to approach Hunter Biden as part of an official investigation," said Shapley. But the night before the interview was supposed to happen, the FBI and the Secret Service coordinated to inform the transition team of the planned interview to prevent it from happening. Neither Shapley nor any other investigating agent were ever able to interview the presidential son. FBI whistleblower confirms Shapley's testimony House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer of Kentucky later on added that the former FBI supervisory agent in charge of the investigation into Hunter confirmed the key details of Shapley's testimony before the committee. "Our committee staff conducted a transcribed interview with a former FBI supervisory special agent assigned to the FBI's Wilmington [Delaware] office and the Biden criminal investigation," said the Oversight Committee in a statement. "The agent confirmed key portions of the IRS whistleblower's testimony, including that both Secret Service headquarters and the Biden transition team were tipped off about the planned Hunter Biden interview," the committee continued. "In fact, on the day of the Hunter Biden interview, federal agents were told to stand by and to not approach Hunter Biden they had to wait for his call." Because of this change in plans, neither Shapley nor his counterparts in the FBI were able to proceed with the interview with Hunter. The FBI whistleblower further confirmed to the committee's investigators that he was never told to wait to be contacted by Hunter or his team to follow up on the investigation. "The agent's testimony is sickening and reveals the lengths to which the [Department of Justice] is willing to go to cover up for the Bidens," said the committee. Learn more about the presidential family at BidenCrimeFamily.news. Watch this July 19 episode of "The New American TV" as host and John Birch Society Director of Communications Paul Dragu discusses in detail the revelation that the Secret Service intervened to prevent an FBI investigation on Hunter Biden. This video is from the channel The New American on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Big surprise: Secret Service quickly finishes its probe into cocaine found in White House with NO suspects identified. Secret Service admits it found marijuana twice at the White House in 2022. New York Times SLAMS Joe Biden for disowning 4-year-old granddaughter from Hunter Biden and a stripper. Nearly 10,000 photos from Hunter Biden's laptop published online. Sources include: Brighteon.com Oversight.House.gov NYPost.com Smoke from Canadian wildfires returns to the US, prompting authorities to issue air quality alerts The smoke coming from the Canadian wildfires has returned. To date, almost 900 wildfires are still burning across Canada. The smoke that will affect the U.S. will be coming from the western areas of the country. The National Weather Service in the Philadelphia area reported that the Canadian wildfire smoke will start to return to the region later in July. The authorities have already issued air quality alerts for several areas, including: Central Tennessee The Great Lakes The Midwest North Carolina The Northeast By early Monday, July 17, several cities were already reporting elevated readings of the Air Quality Index (AQI): 158 in Buffalo 155 in Chicago 142 in Nashville The AQI runs from 0 to 500. The higher the number, the greater the level of air pollution. An A.Q.I. of 201 or more is considered very unhealthy. (Related: Global air pollution index calls Chicagos air quality the WORST IN THE WORLD due to Canadian wildfire smoke.) AirNow, a website run by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that oversees air quality across the country, advised that unhealthy conditions are expected for upstate New York beginning July 17. Air quality health advisories were issued in the entire state of New York on the same day. In other parts of the state, conditions will reach "unhealthy for sensitive groups" status. In June, the level of particulate matter in the air from wildfire smoke was so unhealthy that several cities in America set records. On certain days, it was dangerous to breathe in areas like Minnesota, Indiana, sections of the Mid-Atlantic and throughout the South. Visibility decreased to alarming degrees in several cities, including Cincinnati, New York and Toronto. In some areas, the smoke from the fires blanketed the sky in an eerie orange haze. The smoke could be traced to wildfires burning in Quebec. Canadian wildfires are "off the charts" Canadian officials have cautioned that the country is about to face a "long, tough summer" of wildfires while the current season breaks previous records. The forecasts also predict even hotter temperatures in the coming days. Federal data has revealed that over nine million hectares (22.2 million acres) of Canada had burned, breaking a 34-year record. Michael Norton, director general of the Northern Forestry Center, Canadian Forest Service, said the number is off the charts, with at least three more months left in Canada's active wildfire season. Previously, the worst fire season on record in Canada was in 1989, when 7.8 million hectares burned. As of writing, more than 155,000 residents have been forced from their homes, the highest figure in 40 years. There are also more than 4,500 evacuees across Canada. An estimated 3,800 provincial firefighters are on the ground, but the unseasonably warm temperatures across Canada have required what officials called an "unprecedented level of international support." At least 1,800 personnel from 11 countries have arrived to help fight the fires, with fire crews from South Korea recently landing. Since the fire season began, 3,258 firefighters from around the globe have lent a hand. The fires aren't just larger than usual, they are also "abnormally numerous." Canada's 2023 wildfire season has seen 20 percent more fires than the decade average. Norton warned that the number is expected to go up within the next months. Officials warned that wildfire smoke, which has covered major Canadian and U.S. cities, is a serious health risk. Marie-Eve Heroux, manager of air quality assessment for Health Canada, explained that the very fine particles, especially those that are too small and invisible to the human eye that can get deep into the bloodstream and the lungs, are the ones that cause a lot of worry in terms of health risk. She also advised that the smoke, which made Toronto's air some of the worst in the world last June, contains gases, particles and water vapor that can cause coughs, chest pains and shortness of breath when inhaled. Learn more about the Canadian wildfires and how they're affecting America at Pollution.news. Watch the video below for more information about the strange smell in Canadian wildfire smoke. This video is from the Justin Barclay channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Canadian wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality in US cities. Ways to keep indoor air clean when theres wildfire smoke in your area. Canadian officials warn: Wildfire smoke spreading across North America could last all summer. Sources include: DNyuz.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com Village community centre celebrates 10 years Village community centre celebrates 10 years A church building in the village of Flordon in Norfolk was packed full on the evening of 15 July 15 with people celebrating the 10th anniversary of its use as a community centre. St Michael and All Angels church on Long Lane is an 11th century Grade 2* listed building. It can be hired by local community groups for various activities thanks to the creative thinking of a group of villagers. Flordon doesnt have a village hall, so a committee came together over 10 years ago with the idea of renovating and modernising the church building for the village, whilst still maintaining it as a place of worship. The committee applied to the Charity Commission and formed the Flordon Community Trust. The Trust leases the church building, using it to provide a village hall for local people in Flordon and the surrounding area. The space is used for film clubs and parish council meetings, among other activities. This in turn provides money for the upkeep, maintenance and running costs of the church building. Janet Negal is a long term church member at Flordon, her great grandparents are buried in the churchyard. She is also a member of the Parochial Church Council and the Flordon Community Trust. Janet said, "I am absolutely delighted the church is used in this way. Its good for the church building structurally, as its not just standing still and getting damp. The church should be the heart of the village, whether people come here to worship God or as a community as friends together. Toby Howes, another church member, was instrumental in coming up with the idea over 10 years ago and getting it started and was PPC Chair at the time. Toby said, We took out the pews which were full of woodworm, and changed the stone flooring, which was uneven and damp. Now its level and easy to use. Once the committee came together, we used to meet once a month to move it forward. The work included improving the heating and lighting, installing a mains water supply and drainage, as well as a toilet suitable for disabled people and a kitchenette to serve food. Comfortable chairs were provided and sponsored by people with family links to Flordon. Jess Stubonbord was Rector at Flordon at the time the work took place and has since retired. He was invited back to the village for the celebrations. Jess said, The community group was fantastic. Its so lovely to come back and see everyone. This is a great community space, as well as a place to worship the Lord. Revd Adrian Miller is the current vicar of Mulbarton Group of Churches, a group of four churches which includes Mulbarton, Bracon Ash, Hethel and Flordon. Adrian says; Bracon Ash have got their village hall charity and Mulbarton have theirs. Whereas in Flordon, there was no village or community hall, so this is a wonderful and creative way of using the church building to benefit everyone. The community centre is available to hire for local groups, if youd like to find out more, visit Mulbarton Group website (mulbchurch.org.uk) In recent days, Russian occupation forces have intensified attacks on the Odesa region. As a result of Russia's latest terrorist acts, not only people and buildings are suffering, but also the Ukrainian harvest. ADVERTISIMENT This grain was grown under sirens, harvested under fire, and now it is being destroyed by the "second army of the world" that is fighting against food. The images, taken by photographer Kostiantyn Liberov, were published by the head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, Oleh Kiper. He noted that the Russians, who had previously shouted that there was no artificial famine and that the 1930s Holodomor was not a deliberate genocide of Ukrainians, are now openly trying to provoke a new famine and genocide. "Grown under sirens. Gathered under rocket fire. Destroyed to the ground by non-humans. Today, Russia is murderers, terrorists and hypocrites who think they can leave the world on the brink of starvation. But the will of Ukrainians is unbreakable. We will rebuild everything and grow everything anew," Kiper stressed. ADVERTISIMENT The head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration also added that Russia will be held accountable for all its crimes and, in particular, for every grain it burns. "I am convinced that the enemy will answer for every grain burned, for every day of this inhuman war! We will win, and they will burn in hell like this grain. Glory to Ukraine!" - he concluded. ADVERTISIMENT On the morning of 21 June, Russian troops shelled Odesa region again. The infrastructure of the Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district was under attack. As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, on the night of 21 July, Russian occupation forces attacked the Odesa region of Ukraine with missiles for the fourth day. The Kalibr missiles launched from the sea hit an agricultural enterprise in the region, causing significant damage to hangars and equipment, and destroying 120 tonnes of peas and barley. ADVERTISIMENT On the night of 20 July, Russia also fired missiles at Odesa region, destroying an administrative building in the centre of Odesa and damaging many nearby houses. There were also reports of an arrival in the region. The occupiers killed a guard at a civilian building and injured several people. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at the previous Congress-led UPA government for destroying the banking sector with numerous scams while virtually addressing the Rozgar mela. The rozgar mela was held at 44 locations across the country. The PM distributed over 70,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits and also addressed the appointees and congratulated them. The newly inducted appointees have got the opportunity to get trained through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online module on the iGOT Karmayogi portal. PM Modi said, Now, India is among the countries whose banking sector is considered to be the strongest. A number of banks known for losses under the UPA are now being discussed for their record profits. Thanking the people working in the banking sector, the PM said that these people never disappointed him in realizing the dream of the country. He further added, In the previous government, some powerful leaders, close to a particular family, used to call banks and get their loved ones loans, worthy thousands of crores sanctioned, which were never repaid. It was one of the biggest phone-banking scams of the previous government." Highlighting his government efforts, the PM claimed the current government has moved India from being the 10th largest economy in the world to the 5th largest economy now in just a span of 9 years. And, in the coming few years, India will join the top 3 economies of the world," he predicted, lauding the services of bankers during the corona pandemic times and for opening 50 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts. He asserted that his government initiated a slew of measures, including strengthening the management of banks, merging small banks and injecting professionalism that helped the banking sector to improve to a great extent. Encouraging the new recruits for various government departments, the PM further said that even a small sincere effort can create a huge change in someones life and accelerate the countrys growth pace further. Calling upon to make collective efforts for eradication of poverty, he said categorically said that poverty can be completely and certainly eliminated from the country by collective efforts. And, every government employee of the country has a big role in this. For those who have been given appointment letters now, there cannot be a better time than today to be recruited by the government when the country is progressing in the Amrit Kaal, he said. He asked 70000 new recruits to resolve to make India a Vikshit Bharat' as the next 25 years are most crucial for the new recruits. He asked them also to serve the people with a view of serving the nation and unlocking the greatest feeling of satisfaction. He then cited a NITI Aayog report that states that the countrys 13 crore people have been brought above the poverty line in the last 5 years. He lauded Indias talents, he informed the new recruits that the world is keeping an eye on Indias talent and demand for Indias IT talent, doctors and nurses has also increased in other countries. The new recruits have been appointed in various government departments such as revenue, financial series, posts, railway, defence, education, and others. NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at the previous Congress-led UPA government for destroying the banking sector with numerous scams while virtually addressing the Rozgar mela. The rozgar mela was held at 44 locations across the country. The PM distributed over 70,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits and also addressed the appointees and congratulated them. The newly inducted appointees have got the opportunity to get trained through Karmayogi Prarambh, an online module on the iGOT Karmayogi portal.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); PM Modi said, Now, India is among the countries whose banking sector is considered to be the strongest. A number of banks known for losses under the UPA are now being discussed for their record profits. Thanking the people working in the banking sector, the PM said that these people never disappointed him in realizing the dream of the country. He further added, In the previous government, some powerful leaders, close to a particular family, used to call banks and get their loved ones loans, worthy thousands of crores sanctioned, which were never repaid. It was one of the biggest phone-banking scams of the previous government." Highlighting his government efforts, the PM claimed the current government has moved India from being the 10th largest economy in the world to the 5th largest economy now in just a span of 9 years. And, in the coming few years, India will join the top 3 economies of the world," he predicted, lauding the services of bankers during the corona pandemic times and for opening 50 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts. He asserted that his government initiated a slew of measures, including strengthening the management of banks, merging small banks and injecting professionalism that helped the banking sector to improve to a great extent. Encouraging the new recruits for various government departments, the PM further said that even a small sincere effort can create a huge change in someones life and accelerate the countrys growth pace further. Calling upon to make collective efforts for eradication of poverty, he said categorically said that poverty can be completely and certainly eliminated from the country by collective efforts. And, every government employee of the country has a big role in this. For those who have been given appointment letters now, there cannot be a better time than today to be recruited by the government when the country is progressing in the Amrit Kaal, he said. He asked 70000 new recruits to resolve to make India a Vikshit Bharat' as the next 25 years are most crucial for the new recruits. He asked them also to serve the people with a view of serving the nation and unlocking the greatest feeling of satisfaction. He then cited a NITI Aayog report that states that the countrys 13 crore people have been brought above the poverty line in the last 5 years. He lauded Indias talents, he informed the new recruits that the world is keeping an eye on Indias talent and demand for Indias IT talent, doctors and nurses has also increased in other countries. The new recruits have been appointed in various government departments such as revenue, financial series, posts, railway, defence, education, and others. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Enraged over his sisters love affair, a youth beheaded her carrying the severed head to the local police station in a gunny bag to surrender before the police in Barabanki on Friday. The girl was allegedly in a relationship with a person of other faith. The local police sources said that the accused, Riyaz, 24, had a spat with his younger sister Asifa, 18, over her affair with local youth Chand Babu. The situation took an ugly turn when Riyaz lost his cool, decapitated Asifa, kept her severed head in a gunny bag and left home for the police station. In the meantime, the neighbours and local residents informed the police control room and the cops intercepted him on the way to police station. Additional SP Barabanki Ashutosh Mishra said that at 12pm on Friday, they got information that a man holding the severed head of a woman was spotted on a road in Mithwara village. A police team reached the spot and caught Riyaz. The SP claimed that during interrogation, Riyaz conceded that he was enraged over his sisters relationship. LUCKNOW: Enraged over his sisters love affair, a youth beheaded her carrying the severed head to the local police station in a gunny bag to surrender before the police in Barabanki on Friday. The girl was allegedly in a relationship with a person of other faith. The local police sources said that the accused, Riyaz, 24, had a spat with his younger sister Asifa, 18, over her affair with local youth Chand Babu. The situation took an ugly turn when Riyaz lost his cool, decapitated Asifa, kept her severed head in a gunny bag and left home for the police station. In the meantime, the neighbours and local residents informed the police control room and the cops intercepted him on the way to police station. Additional SP Barabanki Ashutosh Mishra said that at 12pm on Friday, they got information that a man holding the severed head of a woman was spotted on a road in Mithwara village. A police team reached the spot and caught Riyaz. The SP claimed that during interrogation, Riyaz conceded that he was enraged over his sisters relationship. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that what's happening in Manipur is a planned attack and deliberate hunting of Christians under the cover of riots. Criticizing the 'criminal silence' of the Union government on the Manipur issue, Vijayan said the secular community in the country should recognise the Sangh Parivar's agenda to spread communal hatred for political gains. In a statement issued on Saturday, Vijayan strongly condemned the developments in Manipur and the authorities' failure to curb the same. "What's happening in Manipur every day is most shocking. Ethnic riots that have been going on for the past two months, can only be viewed with fearful concern. Horrifying visuals that grieve the human conscience, can be seen daily. Women belonging to Kuki tribes are being hunted down by the rioters in the most brutal and inhuman way. The visuals that are now doing the rounds are from when the riots had just begun," said Pinarayi. ALSO READ | '140 crore Indians in shame': BJP MP Gautam Gambhir condemns Manipur incident He pointed out that going beyond the ages-old opposition between the mountain and valley communities in Manipur, it is now being raked up into communal fights. "It's evident that what has been happening under the cover of riots, is a planned attack to hunt down Christians. Going by reports, the very authorities responsible to ensure peace are trying to incite riots," he said. READ HERE | NCW takes suo motu cognisance of women being paraded naked in Manipur, demands prompt action He also criticized the criminal silence of the Union government and the Sangh Parivar agenda. "Those who believe in democratic values should resist such planned attempts to create communal polarisation," he added. ALSO READ | Manipur violence: Only way forward is to sack CM, impose President's rule, says Kapil Sibal READ HERE FOR MORE STORIES RELATED TO MANIPUR THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that what's happening in Manipur is a planned attack and deliberate hunting of Christians under the cover of riots. Criticizing the 'criminal silence' of the Union government on the Manipur issue, Vijayan said the secular community in the country should recognise the Sangh Parivar's agenda to spread communal hatred for political gains. In a statement issued on Saturday, Vijayan strongly condemned the developments in Manipur and the authorities' failure to curb the same.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "What's happening in Manipur every day is most shocking. Ethnic riots that have been going on for the past two months, can only be viewed with fearful concern. Horrifying visuals that grieve the human conscience, can be seen daily. Women belonging to Kuki tribes are being hunted down by the rioters in the most brutal and inhuman way. The visuals that are now doing the rounds are from when the riots had just begun," said Pinarayi. ALSO READ | '140 crore Indians in shame': BJP MP Gautam Gambhir condemns Manipur incident He pointed out that going beyond the ages-old opposition between the mountain and valley communities in Manipur, it is now being raked up into communal fights. "It's evident that what has been happening under the cover of riots, is a planned attack to hunt down Christians. Going by reports, the very authorities responsible to ensure peace are trying to incite riots," he said. READ HERE | NCW takes suo motu cognisance of women being paraded naked in Manipur, demands prompt action He also criticized the criminal silence of the Union government and the Sangh Parivar agenda. "Those who believe in democratic values should resist such planned attempts to create communal polarisation," he added. ALSO READ | Manipur violence: Only way forward is to sack CM, impose President's rule, says Kapil Sibal READ HERE FOR MORE STORIES RELATED TO MANIPUR Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure a life of dignity for the Tamil community living in the country and adopt a humane approach towards Indian fishermen who inadvertently stray into Lankan waters. We hope the Sri Lankan government will fulfil the aspirations of the Tamils, driving the process of equality, justice, and peace, while honouring the commitment to the 13th Amendment and conducting the Provincial Council Elections, PM Modi said. The two leaders held extensive bilateral discussions on several issues of mutual interest. Later, they announced a raft of initiatives including expediting work to connect electricity grids, conducting a feasibility study for a petroleum pipeline, and examining the viability of a land bridge to boost connectivity between the two countries. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), trade-in rupee, and increased air connectivity between the two nations also came up for discussion. Both sides also agreed to improve air connectivity and establish a passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka. We have jointly adopted a vision document for our Economic Partnership, aiming to strengthen maritime, air, energy, and people-to-people connectivity between our nations. This vision emphasizes mutual cooperation in tourism, power, trade, higher education, and skill development, reflecting Indias long-term commitment to Sri Lanka, said PM Modi. In light of the economic crisis that hit Sri Lanka a year ago, India has extended financial support of close to $4 billion in the form of loans and grants aid. India also allocated `75 crore for projects for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe to ensure a life of dignity for the Tamil community living in the country and adopt a humane approach towards Indian fishermen who inadvertently stray into Lankan waters. We hope the Sri Lankan government will fulfil the aspirations of the Tamils, driving the process of equality, justice, and peace, while honouring the commitment to the 13th Amendment and conducting the Provincial Council Elections, PM Modi said. The two leaders held extensive bilateral discussions on several issues of mutual interest. Later, they announced a raft of initiatives including expediting work to connect electricity grids, conducting a feasibility study for a petroleum pipeline, and examining the viability of a land bridge to boost connectivity between the two countries. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), trade-in rupee, and increased air connectivity between the two nations also came up for discussion. Both sides also agreed to improve air connectivity and establish a passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka. We have jointly adopted a vision document for our Economic Partnership, aiming to strengthen maritime, air, energy, and people-to-people connectivity between our nations. This vision emphasizes mutual cooperation in tourism, power, trade, higher education, and skill development, reflecting Indias long-term commitment to Sri Lanka, said PM Modi. In light of the economic crisis that hit Sri Lanka a year ago, India has extended financial support of close to $4 billion in the form of loans and grants aid. India also allocated `75 crore for projects for the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. Jitendra Choubey By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Environmental organisations and civil societies on Friday staged protests across the country over the tabling of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment (FCA) Bill 2023. They demanded rollback of the the bill as it will change the governance of the forest and spell disaster for the countrys forest resources and the livelihood of millions. Activists said the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the bill showed the proposed amendments were rejected and opposed by stakeholders across all parties. Four JPC members shared dissent notes saying the bill would spell doom to forest conservation. Not surprising to see even BJP-ruled states were unhappy and opposing some clauses of the FCA bill 2023, said Debadityo Sinha, a forest law expert. The alarming aspect of is that the JPC report is filled with generic responses from the environment ministry, disregarding the genuine concerns raised by the people of India, he added. It is utterly disappointing to see a committee constituting parliamentarians merely accepting the ministrys generic response without any critical thinking or application of mind, reducing the report to a mere documentation of views, said Sinha. The FCA Bill 2023 will amend the existing Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FCA). The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav introduced the bill during the budget session 2023 of Parliament and sent it to the JPC instead of the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Pradip Chatterjee, convenor to the National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers, requested the JPC to ask the government to revoke the bill as it was prepared and placed before the Parliament of India through an undemocratic process. The proposed amendment would grossly shrink the purpose and jurisdiction of the original Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 by removing restrictions on the conversion of any forest land, says Chatterjee. Salient Features Promotes non-forestry activities like construction, industries and tourism in deemed forest areas A provision proposed will abolish the role of an advisory committee which looks into ecological, social impact of the project on forest land A blanket exemption for use of forest land held by agencies Rail, NHAI, PWD, Defence, etc. No clearance required For the acquisition of forest land within 100km of the international border For forest land alongside railways, roads and notified forest land of up to 10 hectares for security infrastructure. A provision proposed to make the Central government the sole authority to open up all forests to mining and similar commercial activities NEW DELHI: Environmental organisations and civil societies on Friday staged protests across the country over the tabling of the Forest (Conservation) Amendment (FCA) Bill 2023. They demanded rollback of the the bill as it will change the governance of the forest and spell disaster for the countrys forest resources and the livelihood of millions. Activists said the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the bill showed the proposed amendments were rejected and opposed by stakeholders across all parties. Four JPC members shared dissent notes saying the bill would spell doom to forest conservation. Not surprising to see even BJP-ruled states were unhappy and opposing some clauses of the FCA bill 2023, said Debadityo Sinha, a forest law expert. The alarming aspect of is that the JPC report is filled with generic responses from the environment ministry, disregarding the genuine concerns raised by the people of India, he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It is utterly disappointing to see a committee constituting parliamentarians merely accepting the ministrys generic response without any critical thinking or application of mind, reducing the report to a mere documentation of views, said Sinha. The FCA Bill 2023 will amend the existing Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FCA). The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav introduced the bill during the budget session 2023 of Parliament and sent it to the JPC instead of the Parliamentary Standing Committee. Pradip Chatterjee, convenor to the National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers, requested the JPC to ask the government to revoke the bill as it was prepared and placed before the Parliament of India through an undemocratic process. The proposed amendment would grossly shrink the purpose and jurisdiction of the original Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 by removing restrictions on the conversion of any forest land, says Chatterjee. Salient Features Promotes non-forestry activities like construction, industries and tourism in deemed forest areas A provision proposed will abolish the role of an advisory committee which looks into ecological, social impact of the project on forest land A blanket exemption for use of forest land held by agencies Rail, NHAI, PWD, Defence, etc. No clearance required For the acquisition of forest land within 100km of the international border For forest land alongside railways, roads and notified forest land of up to 10 hectares for security infrastructure. A provision proposed to make the Central government the sole authority to open up all forests to mining and similar commercial activities By PTI YAVATMAL: Around 110 people stranded due to floods in Mahagaon tehsil of eastern Maharashtra's Yavatmal district were rescued on Saturday, officials said. Besides the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), an Mi-17 V5 chopper of the Indian Air Force was also pressed into service for the rescue operation at Anandnagar Tanda village, district collector Amol Yedge told PTI. The SDRF shifted the stranded people to safe places and the rescue operation was over, he added. The district, around 150 km from Nagpur, has been receiving heavy rains since Friday. Earlier, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had tweeted that two IAF choppers had left from Nagpur for rescue operations, but a defence spokesperson said only one chopper was pressed into service. The Mahagaon tehsil recorded 231 mm of rainfall from midnight till Saturday morning while the district recorded 117.5 mm of rainfall, said collector Yedge. Some roads in Yavatmal city were also flooded and people in the affected areas were moved to safer places, the collector said. Around 140 people were shifted to safer places at Kasergaon village in Sangrampur tehsil of Buldhana, another eastern Maharashtra district. The Regional Meteorological Centre, Nagpur, forecast thunderstorms with lightning and heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places in Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Amravati and Washim districts in Vidarbha on Saturday. YAVATMAL: Around 110 people stranded due to floods in Mahagaon tehsil of eastern Maharashtra's Yavatmal district were rescued on Saturday, officials said. Besides the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), an Mi-17 V5 chopper of the Indian Air Force was also pressed into service for the rescue operation at Anandnagar Tanda village, district collector Amol Yedge told PTI. The SDRF shifted the stranded people to safe places and the rescue operation was over, he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The district, around 150 km from Nagpur, has been receiving heavy rains since Friday. Earlier, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had tweeted that two IAF choppers had left from Nagpur for rescue operations, but a defence spokesperson said only one chopper was pressed into service. The Mahagaon tehsil recorded 231 mm of rainfall from midnight till Saturday morning while the district recorded 117.5 mm of rainfall, said collector Yedge. Some roads in Yavatmal city were also flooded and people in the affected areas were moved to safer places, the collector said. Around 140 people were shifted to safer places at Kasergaon village in Sangrampur tehsil of Buldhana, another eastern Maharashtra district. The Regional Meteorological Centre, Nagpur, forecast thunderstorms with lightning and heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places in Yavatmal, Gadchiroli, Amravati and Washim districts in Vidarbha on Saturday. The "cotton" in the south of Ukraine in the rear of the Russian invaders, in particular in Crimea, reduces the number of attacks the enemy can carry out. The occupiers are beginning to experience a shortage of shells and logistical problems. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by Natalia Gumenyuk, head of the Joint Press Centre of the Operational Command "South", on Saturday, 22 July, during a national telethon, commenting on recent events on the Crimean peninsula. According to her, there is a certain "advance" of Ukraine's defenders behind enemy lines. "We warned that the 'cotton' season would be blooming, colourful and bright. So far, we are fulfilling everything we promised, keeping our word and continuing to advance. And the advancement of the Defence Forces is not only about moving along the front line and moving this front line, it is also about moving the Defence Forces in the deep rear, where the enemy feels anxious," Gumenyuk said. According to her, enemy logistics are now suffering significantly. "Both in the transport sense, i.e. it is impossible to transport, and in the sense of what has been brought in and cannot be used," explained the spokesperson. ADVERTISIMENT She noted that Ukrainian soldiers continue counter-battery fighting and "reach the depths of the enemy's rear, where they concentrate their ammunition". "And this is reflected in the number of attacks. Over the past day, there were 69 attacks, and they are already falling short of 90, which means that they already have a certain amount of shelling. They felt that the ammunition depots we had remotely monitored had been destroyed," said the representative of the "South" OC. As for the situation on the southern front in general, as of 22 July, the missile-carrying ships were reloading at their sea bases. However, Russian aviation activity has been observed, both tactical and strategic. "Partly it is to collect information, we see active unmanned aerial reconnaissance of the enemy and we are actively counteracting this reconnaissance," assured Gumenyuk. She said that Russian troops are collecting data on the situation along the frontline, but are also trying to go deeper into the frontline regions. ADVERTISIMENT As OBOZREVATEL wrote: - In the temporarily occupied Crimea, the morning of 22 July began with a "cotton" in the Krasnogvardiysk district. A large-scale fire was also observed by residents of Simferopol. - The Ukrainian Armed Forces StratCom confirmed that the Ukrainian Defence Forces destroyed an oil depot and enemy warehouses in Krasnogvardiysk district of Crimea. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! By PTI AHMEDABAD: A bandh will be observed in the tribal belt of Gujarat on Sunday in protest against the ethnic violence and atrocities on women in Manipur, a tribal leader said. The opposition Congress has decided to support the bandh in protest against the ruling BJP's "failure" to control the situation in the north-eastern state, a party spokesperson said on Saturday. Several tribal outfits, including Adivasi Ekta Manch, have come together to call for a shutdown in the tribal-dominated districts of Gujarat. "On Sunday, a bandh will be observed in the tribal belt in Gujarat as per the call given by the tribal community to protest against violence and atrocities against women in Manipur; Madhya Pradesh urination incident, and atrocities on tribals in Gujarat," said tribal leader Praful Vasava, who recently resigned from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said the call for a shutdown is not announced under the banner of any single organisation or a political party but with the consensus of various tribal and other socio-political organisations. "Several tribal organisations have given a call for a bandh to protest against the Central government's stance on Manipur. They requested Congress for support to the bandh and the party has decided to fully support it. The BJP is responsible for the situation in Manipur," said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi. A video shot on May 4 surfaced on Wednesday, showing two women from one of the warring communities in Manipur being paraded naked by a few men from the other side, sparking national outrage. Gujarat accounts for around eight per cent of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of India which is mainly concentrated in the eastern districts of the state. More than 160 people have lost their lives, and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. AHMEDABAD: A bandh will be observed in the tribal belt of Gujarat on Sunday in protest against the ethnic violence and atrocities on women in Manipur, a tribal leader said. The opposition Congress has decided to support the bandh in protest against the ruling BJP's "failure" to control the situation in the north-eastern state, a party spokesperson said on Saturday. Several tribal outfits, including Adivasi Ekta Manch, have come together to call for a shutdown in the tribal-dominated districts of Gujarat.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "On Sunday, a bandh will be observed in the tribal belt in Gujarat as per the call given by the tribal community to protest against violence and atrocities against women in Manipur; Madhya Pradesh urination incident, and atrocities on tribals in Gujarat," said tribal leader Praful Vasava, who recently resigned from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said the call for a shutdown is not announced under the banner of any single organisation or a political party but with the consensus of various tribal and other socio-political organisations. "Several tribal organisations have given a call for a bandh to protest against the Central government's stance on Manipur. They requested Congress for support to the bandh and the party has decided to fully support it. The BJP is responsible for the situation in Manipur," said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi. A video shot on May 4 surfaced on Wednesday, showing two women from one of the warring communities in Manipur being paraded naked by a few men from the other side, sparking national outrage. Gujarat accounts for around eight per cent of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of India which is mainly concentrated in the eastern districts of the state. More than 160 people have lost their lives, and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. By PTI NEW DELHI: Amid the stalemate in Parliament over holding a debate on Manipur violence, MPs of various opposition parties have planned a protest on Monday near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Parliament complex to press for the prime minister's statement on the issue in both houses. Sources said leaders of various opposition parties who have now formed the INDIA alliance will meet in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and will discuss their further strategy in Parliament. .@narendramodi ji, You did not make a statement inside the Parliament, yesterday. If you were angry then instead of making false equivalence with Congress governed states, you could have first dismissed your Chief Minster of Manipur. INDIA expects you to make an elaborate July 21, 2023 After the meeting at 10 AM on Monday, July 24, the leaders will hold a protest near the Gandhi statue before entering both houses. The government has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue with the Home Minister replying to it, but the opposition is adamant on its demand for the prime minister's statement first, especially after a video of two women being paraded naked and assaulted in a Manipur village appeared on social media. Also, the opposition wants a debate allowing all parties to speak without any time restrictions and has been holding protests on the issue since the Monsoon Session started on Thursday. The government has accused the opposition of running away from a debate on the all-important issue and has questioned their seriousness towards it. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have failed to transact any business amid the stalemate between the opposition and the government over the Manipur issue. NEW DELHI: Amid the stalemate in Parliament over holding a debate on Manipur violence, MPs of various opposition parties have planned a protest on Monday near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Parliament complex to press for the prime minister's statement on the issue in both houses. Sources said leaders of various opposition parties who have now formed the INDIA alliance will meet in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and will discuss their further strategy in Parliament. .@narendramodi ji, You did not make a statement inside the Parliament, yesterday. If you were angry then instead of making false equivalence with Congress governed states, you could have first dismissed your Chief Minster of Manipur. INDIA expects you to make an elaborategoogletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 21, 2023 After the meeting at 10 AM on Monday, July 24, the leaders will hold a protest near the Gandhi statue before entering both houses. The government has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue with the Home Minister replying to it, but the opposition is adamant on its demand for the prime minister's statement first, especially after a video of two women being paraded naked and assaulted in a Manipur village appeared on social media. Also, the opposition wants a debate allowing all parties to speak without any time restrictions and has been holding protests on the issue since the Monsoon Session started on Thursday. The government has accused the opposition of running away from a debate on the all-important issue and has questioned their seriousness towards it. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have failed to transact any business amid the stalemate between the opposition and the government over the Manipur issue. Preetha Nair By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Opposition parties will continue to protest in Parliament until their demands for a discussion on the Manipur situation are met and a suo moto statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi is elicited, said Congress Lok Sabha whip Manickam Tagore. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Tagore said that the Modi government is adamant about not having a discussion on Manipur. The Monsoon session of Parliament, which began on Thursday, has not been smooth because of the face-off between the Opposition and the government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur. While the government accuses the opposition parties of running away from Parliament, a united Opposition was unrelenting in its demand for a statement from the PM on the issue. The government doesnt want a discussion and it is hell-bent on not having a discussion on Manipur. The opposition wants the entire Parliament to send a message that the people of India stand with Manipur, said Tagore. The parties have intensified their attack after a video showing two women from Manipur paraded naked by a dozen men surfaced on Thursday. All we ask is a statement from the PM on Manipur in both Houses, followed by a discussion. After that, we are ready to hear the governments views also. The PM has to understand that he cannot compare the situation of Manipur with any other state. For the past 80 days, Manipur has been burning. We all hope that the PM and the government realise the importance of Parliament and dont waste taxpayers money, he said. NEW DELHI: The Opposition parties will continue to protest in Parliament until their demands for a discussion on the Manipur situation are met and a suo moto statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi is elicited, said Congress Lok Sabha whip Manickam Tagore. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Tagore said that the Modi government is adamant about not having a discussion on Manipur. The Monsoon session of Parliament, which began on Thursday, has not been smooth because of the face-off between the Opposition and the government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Manipur. While the government accuses the opposition parties of running away from Parliament, a united Opposition was unrelenting in its demand for a statement from the PM on the issue. The government doesnt want a discussion and it is hell-bent on not having a discussion on Manipur. The opposition wants the entire Parliament to send a message that the people of India stand with Manipur, said Tagore. The parties have intensified their attack after a video showing two women from Manipur paraded naked by a dozen men surfaced on Thursday.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); All we ask is a statement from the PM on Manipur in both Houses, followed by a discussion. After that, we are ready to hear the governments views also. The PM has to understand that he cannot compare the situation of Manipur with any other state. For the past 80 days, Manipur has been burning. We all hope that the PM and the government realise the importance of Parliament and dont waste taxpayers money, he said. Dilip Singh Kshatriya By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning to fishermen along Gujarat's coast on Saturday not to venture out into the sea over the next five days till July 26. Following heavy rains, a 16-year-old boy who travelled from Belimora with his father to write his exam was allegedly swept away in a heavy flow of water. The father, on the other hand, was saved. A fire team began searching operations. On Saturday, 45 talukas across Gujarat received heavy rainfall. The Navsari district registered 13 inches of rainfall. Girnar Hill in Junagadh received about 14 inches of rain, and the mountain water flooded the city, causing cars to float in numerous locations and forcing people to climb onto roofs in order to survive. Due to severe rain since early morning, roads in the Junagadh district of Gujarat's Saurashtra turned into rivers. Due to excessive rains in Girnar and Datar mountains, the flow of water in the Kalwa River has surged. Houses in various regions of the city have been inundated as a result of severe rains on Girnar Mountain. Cattle and vehicles were washed away in the torrential rain. Ravi Teja Wasam Shetty, the Junagadh district police chief, appealed to the public to stay at their homes. The Amreli district of Saurashtra is also experiencing rain. The ST bus stand and Rajkot Road in Ameli district become flooded. Navsari, in south Gujarat, has received almost 13 inches of rain as of 12 pm on Saturday, with rural areas also receiving severe rainfall. Due to severe rainfall in the area, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway 48 in Navsari witnessed heavy traffic. The districts of Patan and Banaskantha too are experiencing heavy rainfall. Heavy rain has caused several low-lying areas in Palanpur to get submerged. The IMD has issued a 'red alert' for Valsad, Bhavnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli, 'orange alert' for Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Amreli, Jamnagar, Gir Somnath, Kutch and 'yellow' alert for Surendranagar, Dahod, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Vadodara, Surat, Navsari. The weather alerts will remain active until July 24. AHMEDABAD: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning to fishermen along Gujarat's coast on Saturday not to venture out into the sea over the next five days till July 26. Following heavy rains, a 16-year-old boy who travelled from Belimora with his father to write his exam was allegedly swept away in a heavy flow of water. The father, on the other hand, was saved. A fire team began searching operations. On Saturday, 45 talukas across Gujarat received heavy rainfall. The Navsari district registered 13 inches of rainfall.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Girnar Hill in Junagadh received about 14 inches of rain, and the mountain water flooded the city, causing cars to float in numerous locations and forcing people to climb onto roofs in order to survive. Due to severe rain since early morning, roads in the Junagadh district of Gujarat's Saurashtra turned into rivers. Due to excessive rains in Girnar and Datar mountains, the flow of water in the Kalwa River has surged. Houses in various regions of the city have been inundated as a result of severe rains on Girnar Mountain. Cattle and vehicles were washed away in the torrential rain. Ravi Teja Wasam Shetty, the Junagadh district police chief, appealed to the public to stay at their homes. The Amreli district of Saurashtra is also experiencing rain. The ST bus stand and Rajkot Road in Ameli district become flooded. Navsari, in south Gujarat, has received almost 13 inches of rain as of 12 pm on Saturday, with rural areas also receiving severe rainfall. Due to severe rainfall in the area, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad National Highway 48 in Navsari witnessed heavy traffic. The districts of Patan and Banaskantha too are experiencing heavy rainfall. Heavy rain has caused several low-lying areas in Palanpur to get submerged. The IMD has issued a 'red alert' for Valsad, Bhavnagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Daman, Dadra Nagar Haveli, 'orange alert' for Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch, Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Amreli, Jamnagar, Gir Somnath, Kutch and 'yellow' alert for Surendranagar, Dahod, Junagadh, Rajkot, Botad, Vadodara, Surat, Navsari. The weather alerts will remain active until July 24. By PTI JAIPUR: Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning Rajasthan in his statement on the Manipur incident, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said he has 'hurt the self respect' of Rajasthan. While condemning the incident of Manipur where two women were paraded naked and molested, Modi on Thursday made a reference to states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in context of law and order. "The prime minister has hurt the self respect of Rajasthan," Gehlot told a press conference here. He said Modi finished his speech within a few seconds on the Manipur issue, on which he should have held meetings to review the situation and how it can be controlled. He also took a dig at Modi's remark that the Manipur incident has put 140 crore Indians to shame. "One hundred and forty crore people of the country are not feeling ashamed but they are saddened by the deeds and negligence of the Modi government," Gehlot said. He said Modi did not utter a word on this issue for 77 days but after the Supreme Court raised the matter, he completed the formality and finished his speech within a few seconds. On the opposition BJP targeting his government on several issues including law and order and paper leaks, Gehlot said, "They are spoiling the atmosphere, they have nothing to say. They just talk rubbish." He said the BJP is scared of the decisions and works of the state government and so has decided to defame it. Commenting on BJP's 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign against the Congress government in the poll-bound state, Gehlot said the saffron party only showed 'Nikammapan' (uselessness) in the four-and-a-half years in the state and therefore people are saying that they will not tolerate BJP. He said the BJP has nothing to say against the Congress government. Terming the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 passed in the assembly on Friday as historic, he said that Rajasthan has become the first state to implement the minimum income guarantee scheme. He reiterated the demand from the Centre to bring the social security act. When asked about the decision to sack Rajendra Gudha, Gehlot refused to comment saying it was an internal matter of the party. Hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly, Gudha was sacked on Friday evening. He held the portfolios of minister of state sainik kalyan, panchayati raj development and rural development. JAIPUR: Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning Rajasthan in his statement on the Manipur incident, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said he has 'hurt the self respect' of Rajasthan. While condemning the incident of Manipur where two women were paraded naked and molested, Modi on Thursday made a reference to states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in context of law and order. "The prime minister has hurt the self respect of Rajasthan," Gehlot told a press conference here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He said Modi finished his speech within a few seconds on the Manipur issue, on which he should have held meetings to review the situation and how it can be controlled. He also took a dig at Modi's remark that the Manipur incident has put 140 crore Indians to shame. "One hundred and forty crore people of the country are not feeling ashamed but they are saddened by the deeds and negligence of the Modi government," Gehlot said. He said Modi did not utter a word on this issue for 77 days but after the Supreme Court raised the matter, he completed the formality and finished his speech within a few seconds. On the opposition BJP targeting his government on several issues including law and order and paper leaks, Gehlot said, "They are spoiling the atmosphere, they have nothing to say. They just talk rubbish." He said the BJP is scared of the decisions and works of the state government and so has decided to defame it. Commenting on BJP's 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign against the Congress government in the poll-bound state, Gehlot said the saffron party only showed 'Nikammapan' (uselessness) in the four-and-a-half years in the state and therefore people are saying that they will not tolerate BJP. He said the BJP has nothing to say against the Congress government. Terming the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 passed in the assembly on Friday as historic, he said that Rajasthan has become the first state to implement the minimum income guarantee scheme. He reiterated the demand from the Centre to bring the social security act. When asked about the decision to sack Rajendra Gudha, Gehlot refused to comment saying it was an internal matter of the party. Hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly, Gudha was sacked on Friday evening. He held the portfolios of minister of state sainik kalyan, panchayati raj development and rural development. By Express News Service 28 per cent farmers left sector in 3 decades Over one-fourth of the agricultural workforce left work in the last three decades, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar informed Parliament. Around 28% of the workforce shifted to other sectors, he said. The agrarian workforce was 64.8% in 1993-94, which shrunken to 46.5% in 2020-21. Subsidies 7% of farmers income The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, informed the Parliament that subsidies on agriculture only contribute less than 7% to their income. However, the total agriculture subsidies increased to a whopping Rs 2.50 lakh crore, he said. As per NITI Aayog, input subsidies to the agriculture sector constitute around 7% of the income generated in the agriculture and allied sectors. 1,841 vacancies in I&B ministry The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has filled up only 446 posts through recruitment during the last five years including backlog vacancies, said I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Replying to MP AA Rahim, the minister said that there are 1,841 vacant posts in the ministry and its various media units and institutions as on June 30, 2023. On a question, Thakur further said that the number of new posts created during the last five years is 94. No centralised counselling for UG, PG medical courses There is no proposal to conduct centralised counselling for undergraduate or postgraduate medical courses next year, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in the Lok Sabha on Friday. No changes to the existing scheme of allocation of seats to various quotas have been made, said the health minister to a question from Lok Sabha MPs Kavitha Malothu and Dr G Ranjith Reddy on existing arrangement regarding the counselling for UG or PG medical admissions. Lapses in signalling behind Balasore train tragedy: Govt Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to Rajya Sabha shared a report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) regarding the triple train accident at Balasore in Odisha. Sharing the conclusion of CRS probe, the minister said: The rear-collision was due to the lapses in the signallingcircuit-alteration carried out at the north signal goomty (of the station) in the past and during the execution of the signalling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier for level crossing gate no.94 at the station. The mishap had claimed 259 lives besides leaving hundreds of others injured. Centre plans 10K jan aushadhi kendras The Centre plans to open 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras by March next year to improve the common mans access to generic medicines, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Central governments Jan Aushadi scheme was launched in November 2008 with around 80 centres opened across the country till 2014-15, the minister informed. Raj has highest Nos of cow sheds India has a total of 7,676 cowsheds, of which Rajasthan has the highest number, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala said. He said Assam has the lowest number of them. Most of the Northeastern states are yet to report the number of cowsheds. 28 per cent farmers left sector in 3 decades Over one-fourth of the agricultural workforce left work in the last three decades, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar informed Parliament. Around 28% of the workforce shifted to other sectors, he said. The agrarian workforce was 64.8% in 1993-94, which shrunken to 46.5% in 2020-21. Subsidies 7% of farmers income The Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Narendra Singh Tomar, informed the Parliament that subsidies on agriculture only contribute less than 7% to their income. However, the total agriculture subsidies increased to a whopping Rs 2.50 lakh crore, he said. As per NITI Aayog, input subsidies to the agriculture sector constitute around 7% of the income generated in the agriculture and allied sectors. 1,841 vacancies in I&B ministry The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has filled up only 446 posts through recruitment during the last five years including backlog vacancies, said I&B Minister Anurag Singh Thakur in Rajya Sabha on Thursday. Replying to MP AA Rahim, the minister said that there are 1,841 vacant posts in the ministry and its various media units and institutions as on June 30, 2023. On a question, Thakur further said that the number of new posts created during the last five years is 94.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); No centralised counselling for UG, PG medical courses There is no proposal to conduct centralised counselling for undergraduate or postgraduate medical courses next year, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said in the Lok Sabha on Friday. No changes to the existing scheme of allocation of seats to various quotas have been made, said the health minister to a question from Lok Sabha MPs Kavitha Malothu and Dr G Ranjith Reddy on existing arrangement regarding the counselling for UG or PG medical admissions. Lapses in signalling behind Balasore train tragedy: Govt Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written reply to Rajya Sabha shared a report of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) regarding the triple train accident at Balasore in Odisha. Sharing the conclusion of CRS probe, the minister said: The rear-collision was due to the lapses in the signallingcircuit-alteration carried out at the north signal goomty (of the station) in the past and during the execution of the signalling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier for level crossing gate no.94 at the station. The mishap had claimed 259 lives besides leaving hundreds of others injured. Centre plans 10K jan aushadhi kendras The Centre plans to open 10,000 Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras by March next year to improve the common mans access to generic medicines, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Central governments Jan Aushadi scheme was launched in November 2008 with around 80 centres opened across the country till 2014-15, the minister informed. Raj has highest Nos of cow sheds India has a total of 7,676 cowsheds, of which Rajasthan has the highest number, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala said. He said Assam has the lowest number of them. Most of the Northeastern states are yet to report the number of cowsheds. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The BJP is adopting a new strategy within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), after 38 parties recently at a NDA meet resolved to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together against 26 parties of the Opposition. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial NDA meeting on July 18, the BJP is learnt to have formed 10 clusters consisting of leaders of NDA allies. The NDA leaders would soon be acquainted with the latest rounds of electoral strategies, which are believed to be in the final shape, with an aim to win the maximum number of seats in the 2024 general election. Leaders, including MPs of all NDA allies, under different clusters will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brainstorm over winning strategies. Sources in BJP said the Prime Minister will share tips on success in the election with NDA leaders and MPs, grouped in the 10 clusters. We will learn skills of success, oratory as well as winning the trust of people during the meeting with the Prime Minister for the next LS elections. The BJP has made Union ministers in charge of each of the 10 clusters. Among them, the names of Dharmendra Pradhan, Arjun Meghwal, Pralhad Joshi and Nityanand Rai are doing the rounds in the political circles, said a senior BJP leader. An NDA leader also said PM Modi is supposed to give winning tips to the leaders and office bearers of NDA allies at the meeting, which is likely on July 25. The meeting of cluster-wise NDA leaders and MPs is likely to be in a region-wise manner. According to sources, plans are being finalised to conduct the meetings of two clusters of NDA leaders and MPs daily. In each cluster, the BJP has reportedly included 30-35 members of NDA who will be discussing the ways to win the maximum seats to secure at least 50 per cent of total votes in the elections. The Prime Minister had said at the NDA meeting that the NDA will secure 50 per cent of the vote share this time in the LS elections. Sources said that BJP leadership will also discuss outreach programmes with the leaders of allies included in each of the 10 clusters. In fact, the BJP with its allies whose number is likely to go up to 40 in the next few days, will chalk out a combined comprehensive outreach across the country with a special focus on 160 LS constituencies identified as weak to the party. It is also believed that the outreach programmes aimed at consolidating the NDA position in the pockets of minority-dominated areas in the LS constituencies would also be discussed at the meeting with the PM. A senior BJP functionary, preferring anonymity, said that the PM at cluster meetings with NDA leaders may ask them to craft effective outreach programmes also to the people of the Pasmanda community, marginalised communities and women living in the rural areas. We strongly think that the PM will certainly ask the NDA allies to take the BJP-led NDA government at the centre to the last man of society as the BJP wants to make development and performances the main agenda of upcoming elections in 2024, said a BJP leader. NEW DELHI: The BJP is adopting a new strategy within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), after 38 parties recently at a NDA meet resolved to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together against 26 parties of the Opposition. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a crucial NDA meeting on July 18, the BJP is learnt to have formed 10 clusters consisting of leaders of NDA allies. The NDA leaders would soon be acquainted with the latest rounds of electoral strategies, which are believed to be in the final shape, with an aim to win the maximum number of seats in the 2024 general election. Leaders, including MPs of all NDA allies, under different clusters will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to brainstorm over winning strategies. Sources in BJP said the Prime Minister will share tips on success in the election with NDA leaders and MPs, grouped in the 10 clusters.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); We will learn skills of success, oratory as well as winning the trust of people during the meeting with the Prime Minister for the next LS elections. The BJP has made Union ministers in charge of each of the 10 clusters. Among them, the names of Dharmendra Pradhan, Arjun Meghwal, Pralhad Joshi and Nityanand Rai are doing the rounds in the political circles, said a senior BJP leader. An NDA leader also said PM Modi is supposed to give winning tips to the leaders and office bearers of NDA allies at the meeting, which is likely on July 25. The meeting of cluster-wise NDA leaders and MPs is likely to be in a region-wise manner. According to sources, plans are being finalised to conduct the meetings of two clusters of NDA leaders and MPs daily. In each cluster, the BJP has reportedly included 30-35 members of NDA who will be discussing the ways to win the maximum seats to secure at least 50 per cent of total votes in the elections. The Prime Minister had said at the NDA meeting that the NDA will secure 50 per cent of the vote share this time in the LS elections. Sources said that BJP leadership will also discuss outreach programmes with the leaders of allies included in each of the 10 clusters. In fact, the BJP with its allies whose number is likely to go up to 40 in the next few days, will chalk out a combined comprehensive outreach across the country with a special focus on 160 LS constituencies identified as weak to the party. It is also believed that the outreach programmes aimed at consolidating the NDA position in the pockets of minority-dominated areas in the LS constituencies would also be discussed at the meeting with the PM. A senior BJP functionary, preferring anonymity, said that the PM at cluster meetings with NDA leaders may ask them to craft effective outreach programmes also to the people of the Pasmanda community, marginalised communities and women living in the rural areas. We strongly think that the PM will certainly ask the NDA allies to take the BJP-led NDA government at the centre to the last man of society as the BJP wants to make development and performances the main agenda of upcoming elections in 2024, said a BJP leader. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Gujarat government and BJP MLA Purnesh Modi in a plea preferred by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leader had, in his plea, contested the Gujarat High Courts refusal to stay his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his alleged remarks on the Modi surname. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and PK Mishra, however, refused to consider his request for interim suspension of the conviction, saying that it would have to hear the other side first. At this stage, without hearing the other side, how can we give (relief)? Justice Gavai remarked. Underlining the limited question involved in the plea, which was regarding the stay of conviction, the bench posted the hearing for August 4. Gandhi had challenged in Supreme Court the Gujarat High Courts July 7 verdict, passed by a bench of Justice Hemant M Prachchhak. Upholding the Surat session courts verdict, Justice Prachchhak had said that the two-year jail term granted to the Congress leader was just, proper and legal. As soon as the hearing had begun, Justice Gavai, the presiding judge of the bench at the outset, expressed his difficulty to hear the matter and told the counsels about the political association of his father RS Gavai and his brother with the Congress party. Asking senior counsels AM Singhvi (appearing for Gandhi) and Mahesh Jethmalani (representing Purnesh Modi) to take a call if they wanted him to hear the matter or not, Justice Gavai said, I must express some difficulty. My father was associated with the Congress. Though not a member, he was closely associated. Mr Singhvi, you have been with Congress for more than 40 years. My brother is still in politics and he is in Congress. Please take a call if you want me to hear this. Both the advocates asked the judge to not recuse. We have no objection, Jethmalani said. Singhvi said it was a sign of the times that these kinds of things should be raked up. In an attempt to convince the bench to grant interim relief, Singhvi said that 111 days have already passed since Gandhis disqualification from the House. He said that Gandhi, due to his disqualification, was unable to attend one Parliament session and would not be able to attend the ongoing session too. Referring to the provisions of The Representation of People Act, 1951, which mandates the Election Commission to fill the casual vacancies by way of byelections within six months of the date of the vacancy, Singhvi said that elections to the Wayanad constituency will be notified any time. On Jethmalanis objection, Singhvi said, Your client needs to be bothered only about the conviction part and not the disqualification part. In the end, Justice Gavai said, I am only doing my duty. I have to disclose this, so there is no problem later on. On a light note, he also told the counsels that his father was a good friend of both their fathers. Why do judges recuse? The practice of the judges recusing themselves from hearing a case stems from a principle that says Nobody can be a judge in his own case. A judge can withdraw from considering a case when there is a conflict of interest in order to prevent the creation of a perception of bias while deciding a case. The conflict of interest can be in the form of having prior or personal association with a party involved in the case or representing one of the parties in the past Rules for recusal Although there are no formal rules regarding recusals, the Supreme Court in Ranjit Thakur v Union of India (1987) case had said that the test of the likelihood of bias is the reasonableness of apprehension in the mind of the aggrieved party Instances of SC Judges recusing Five judges of the Supreme Court had recused themselves from a case involving human rights activist Gautam Navlakha. Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi was the first person to recuse. A day later, Justices N V Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai followed suit. Justice SR Bhat was the fifth judge to recuse Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna had recused from considering the Krishna river water dispute case Justice Dipankar Datta recused from considering CBIs plea challenging the order of the NIA court in Jammu on issuing production warrants to jail authorities in Yasin Malik case. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday sought a response from the Gujarat government and BJP MLA Purnesh Modi in a plea preferred by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leader had, in his plea, contested the Gujarat High Courts refusal to stay his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his alleged remarks on the Modi surname. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and PK Mishra, however, refused to consider his request for interim suspension of the conviction, saying that it would have to hear the other side first. At this stage, without hearing the other side, how can we give (relief)? Justice Gavai remarked. Underlining the limited question involved in the plea, which was regarding the stay of conviction, the bench posted the hearing for August 4. Gandhi had challenged in Supreme Court the Gujarat High Courts July 7 verdict, passed by a bench of Justice Hemant M Prachchhak. Upholding the Surat session courts verdict, Justice Prachchhak had said that the two-year jail term granted to the Congress leader was just, proper and legal. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); As soon as the hearing had begun, Justice Gavai, the presiding judge of the bench at the outset, expressed his difficulty to hear the matter and told the counsels about the political association of his father RS Gavai and his brother with the Congress party. Asking senior counsels AM Singhvi (appearing for Gandhi) and Mahesh Jethmalani (representing Purnesh Modi) to take a call if they wanted him to hear the matter or not, Justice Gavai said, I must express some difficulty. My father was associated with the Congress. Though not a member, he was closely associated. Mr Singhvi, you have been with Congress for more than 40 years. My brother is still in politics and he is in Congress. Please take a call if you want me to hear this. Both the advocates asked the judge to not recuse. We have no objection, Jethmalani said. Singhvi said it was a sign of the times that these kinds of things should be raked up. In an attempt to convince the bench to grant interim relief, Singhvi said that 111 days have already passed since Gandhis disqualification from the House. He said that Gandhi, due to his disqualification, was unable to attend one Parliament session and would not be able to attend the ongoing session too. Referring to the provisions of The Representation of People Act, 1951, which mandates the Election Commission to fill the casual vacancies by way of byelections within six months of the date of the vacancy, Singhvi said that elections to the Wayanad constituency will be notified any time. On Jethmalanis objection, Singhvi said, Your client needs to be bothered only about the conviction part and not the disqualification part. In the end, Justice Gavai said, I am only doing my duty. I have to disclose this, so there is no problem later on. On a light note, he also told the counsels that his father was a good friend of both their fathers. Why do judges recuse? The practice of the judges recusing themselves from hearing a case stems from a principle that says Nobody can be a judge in his own case. A judge can withdraw from considering a case when there is a conflict of interest in order to prevent the creation of a perception of bias while deciding a case. The conflict of interest can be in the form of having prior or personal association with a party involved in the case or representing one of the parties in the past Rules for recusal Although there are no formal rules regarding recusals, the Supreme Court in Ranjit Thakur v Union of India (1987) case had said that the test of the likelihood of bias is the reasonableness of apprehension in the mind of the aggrieved party Instances of SC Judges recusing Five judges of the Supreme Court had recused themselves from a case involving human rights activist Gautam Navlakha. Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi was the first person to recuse. A day later, Justices N V Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai followed suit. Justice SR Bhat was the fifth judge to recuse Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna had recused from considering the Krishna river water dispute case Justice Dipankar Datta recused from considering CBIs plea challenging the order of the NIA court in Jammu on issuing production warrants to jail authorities in Yasin Malik case. Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women's safety in the state. Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government's performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence. Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister's removal. However, he staunchly defended his government's record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is "unjustifiable." When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party's internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party. It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot's government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government. Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp. Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha's repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government. However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government. Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions. Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha's assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility. Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time. Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi's party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress. All eyes are now focused on what Gudhas next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party. JAIPUR: The dismissal of Rajasthan cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has ignited a huge controversy over the issue of women's safety in the state. Gudha was dismissed on Friday after he questioned his own government's performance in reining in crimes against women, even as his peers slammed the Manipur violence. Following his dismissal, CM Gehlot held a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday but refrained from clarifying the reasons behind the minister's removal.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); However, he staunchly defended his government's record on law and order, particularly addressing the allegations of crimes against women. Gehlot said that comparing the situation in Rajasthan with that of Manipur, as alleged, is "unjustifiable." When asked about the continuous criticism and protests against the government by Rajendra Gudha, who had been vocal about various issues, including law and order, CM Gehlot responded that this matter pertains to the party's internal affairs and will be addressed after discussions within the party. It appears that the former minister had been challenging CM Gehlot's government for several months, making provocative statements. However, his recent remarks during the assembly session seem to have triggered his dismissal from the government. Rajendra Gudha is among the six former BSP MLAs who switched to Congress in 2020. Though he was earlier in the Gehlot group, in the past year or so he had moved into the Sachin Pilot camp. Given his provocative remarks in the last few months, many believe that his recent actions indicate a desire to leave Congress before the upcoming elections. Notably, Rajendra Gudha's repeated statements had been causing discomfort for the Ashok Gehlot government. However, experts also opine that Gudha himself may have orchestrated this situation to distance himself from the Gehlot government. Having contested three elections so far, Rajendra Gudha won two on the Bahujan Samaj Party ticket. Despite his victories, he joined the Congress along with other BSP MLAs on both occasions and held ministerial positions. Considering the caste and political dynamics of Gudha's assembly seat, Udaipurwati, the former minister and his supporters are said to believe that it might be more suitable for him to contest elections with a third force rather than representing the Congress or BJP. His recent opposition to the Gehlot government just ahead of the elections indicates this possibility. Given that Gudha left the BSP after winning elections twice on their ticket, it might be challenging for the party to trust him for a third time. Consequently, he also held a meeting with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and there are speculations that he might contest the upcoming election from Owaisi's party. Alternatively, he could consider running as an independent candidate. However, his immediate aim is to be expelled from the Congress. All eyes are now focused on what Gudhas next course of action will be. It is likely that when Gudha addresses the Assembly on Monday, he will say something that leads to his expulsion from the party. Mukesh Ranjan By Express News Service RANCHI: A youth stabbed a class XII girl to death for declining mariage proposal. The victim has been identified as Khushboo Khakha. She succumbed to her injuries on Friday during treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi. The accused Arjun Oroan stabbed her at least eight times, police said. Arjun Oroan has been arrested by the police. According to Khusboos father Suresh Khakha, his daughter was alone at the house at the time of the attack. Taking advantage of it, Arjun entered the house at around 4 pm and attacked on my daughter stabbing her several times. After she raised an alarm, neighbours came in and rushed her to the nearby community health center from where she was referred to RIMS, Suresh Khakha added. An FIR was lodged at Bero Police Station by his wife Diniya Khakha. The police arrested the accused Arjun Oraon and recovered the blood-stained knife. According to police, the accused was pressuring Khushboo to marry him and killed her after she refused his proposal. Prima facie, it appears that the accused and the victim had an affair for quite some time and he was pressurizing her to marry him. After the girl declined his proposal, the accused stabbed her indiscriminately. The girl finally succumbed to her injuries on Friday, said SP Rural Naushad Alam. The accused is a driver by profession, he added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, during a meeting with senior police officers on the maintenance of law and order, has given a 15-day deadline to the police officers to improve the law-and-order situation in the state. The CM expressed strong displeasure over the recent incidents and told police officers either to improve their working style or face consequences. Notably, the meeting was organised a day after the NIA arrested a terrorist from Lohardaga and three days after a criminal shot at a Deputy SP of the anti-terrorist squad of Jharkhand police and a police inspector at Patratu in Ramgarh. Such crimes are not acceptable under any circumstances. The criminal incidents happening at present are a matter of concern for the state. The police should ensure that strict action is taken against the criminals without any pressure so that there is no recurrence of criminal incidents, he said. RANCHI: A youth stabbed a class XII girl to death for declining mariage proposal. The victim has been identified as Khushboo Khakha. She succumbed to her injuries on Friday during treatment at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The accused Arjun Oroan stabbed her at least eight times, police said. Arjun Oroan has been arrested by the police. According to Khusboos father Suresh Khakha, his daughter was alone at the house at the time of the attack. Taking advantage of it, Arjun entered the house at around 4 pm and attacked on my daughter stabbing her several times. After she raised an alarm, neighbours came in and rushed her to the nearby community health center from where she was referred to RIMS, Suresh Khakha added. An FIR was lodged at Bero Police Station by his wife Diniya Khakha. The police arrested the accused Arjun Oraon and recovered the blood-stained knife. According to police, the accused was pressuring Khushboo to marry him and killed her after she refused his proposal. Prima facie, it appears that the accused and the victim had an affair for quite some time and he was pressurizing her to marry him. After the girl declined his proposal, the accused stabbed her indiscriminately. The girl finally succumbed to her injuries on Friday, said SP Rural Naushad Alam. The accused is a driver by profession, he added. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, during a meeting with senior police officers on the maintenance of law and order, has given a 15-day deadline to the police officers to improve the law-and-order situation in the state. The CM expressed strong displeasure over the recent incidents and told police officers either to improve their working style or face consequences. Notably, the meeting was organised a day after the NIA arrested a terrorist from Lohardaga and three days after a criminal shot at a Deputy SP of the anti-terrorist squad of Jharkhand police and a police inspector at Patratu in Ramgarh. Such crimes are not acceptable under any circumstances. The criminal incidents happening at present are a matter of concern for the state. The police should ensure that strict action is taken against the criminals without any pressure so that there is no recurrence of criminal incidents, he said. The Ukrainian Defense Forces have destroyed an oil depot and enemy warehouses in temporarily occupied Crimea. The strikes hit military targets near Oktyabrsky in Krasnohvardiysky district on July, 22. ADVERTISIMENT The strike was officially confirmed by the Strategic Communications Department of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It also showed how ammunition detonated at the warehouse. "The defense forces have destroyed an oil depot and warehouses of the Russian army in temporarily occupied Oktyabrsky (Krasnogvardeysky district of Crimea). Glory to the Armed forces of Ukraine!" -the message says. There they also posted a video of the aftermath of the attacks on the oil depot and warehouses. The footage clearly shows the powerful detonation of ammunition at the ammunition depot and Russian occupants in military trucks fleeing away from the explosions. ADVERTISIMENT We will remind that in the morning of July, 22 occupational authorities of Crimea claimed the "drone attack on infrastructure facilities", which allegedly resulted in neither destruction nor casualties. However, the official statements of the occupants were contradicted by eyewitness testimonies and videos shot by Crimeans with powerful fires and sounds of explosions at the sites of the strikes. Detonation, according to subscribers of the "Krymsky Veter" public group, can be heard even in neighboring districts, which are Dzhankoy and Nizhnegorsk. One of the Crimeans said that the cannonade allegedly reached Kerch, located 180 km away from Oktyabrsky. ADVERTISIMENT Russian propagandists began to spread information that the attack on the warehouses in Crimea was carried out with the help of British Storm Shadow missiles. Later it turned out that one of the largest airfields of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation, where the invaders placed a huge ammunition warehouse is located near the village of Oktyabrskoye in Krasnogvardeysky district, which became the epicenter of the strike. A large oil depot in the same area was also destroyed. Subsequently, the strike was confirmed by the Crimean "gauleiter" Sergey Aksyonov, who issued the beginning of evacuation of the population within a radius of 5 km from the airbase, while continuing to assure that "there are no destructions and casualties". In addition, the invaders were forced to stop the work of the railroad on the peninsula. ADVERTISIMENT By Online Desk CHENNAI: A Rohingya couple ended up attending the burial of their five-month-old baby girl in handcuffs, a report says. Mohammad Saleem (40) and his wife Numina are Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. They are inmates of the Hiranagar Holding Centre in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. The couple have three children. The Indian Express, citing close relatives of the couple, reported that the baby girl Habiba died on Wednesday after inhaling smoke from teargas shells that police had lobbed against protesting refugees at the centre on Tuesday. Police however denied this claim. The child's condition deteriorated on Tuesday evening. She was taken to the hospital where she died the next day, the report said. The parents wanted to bury the body in Narwal wherre their relatives live. They got permission from the Kathua District Magistrate for the same. But, according to the report, police took the couple and their teenage son allegedly handcuffed. The atmosphere at the holding centre has been tense since May, with detainees holding protests and hunger strikes at frequent intervals. The detainees have been demanding their release so that they can rejoin their family members staying at Rohingya settlements outside the centre, the report said. CHENNAI: A Rohingya couple ended up attending the burial of their five-month-old baby girl in handcuffs, a report says. Mohammad Saleem (40) and his wife Numina are Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. They are inmates of the Hiranagar Holding Centre in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. The couple have three children. The Indian Express, citing close relatives of the couple, reported that the baby girl Habiba died on Wednesday after inhaling smoke from teargas shells that police had lobbed against protesting refugees at the centre on Tuesday. Police however denied this claim.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The child's condition deteriorated on Tuesday evening. She was taken to the hospital where she died the next day, the report said. The parents wanted to bury the body in Narwal wherre their relatives live. They got permission from the Kathua District Magistrate for the same. But, according to the report, police took the couple and their teenage son allegedly handcuffed. The atmosphere at the holding centre has been tense since May, with detainees holding protests and hunger strikes at frequent intervals. The detainees have been demanding their release so that they can rejoin their family members staying at Rohingya settlements outside the centre, the report said. Fayaz Wani By Express News Service SRINAGAR: After several stabbing incidents in Srinagar, the administration has banned the sale, purchase and carrying of sharp-edged weapons in public places in Srinagar. People possessing sharp-edged weapons have been asked to surrender them at the nearest police station within 72 hours or face stern action under the law. The Srinagar DM on Friday issued an order imposing a ban on the sale, purchase and carrying of sharp-edged weapons in public places. The ban shall be applicable to business establishments engaged in sale/purchase of such weapons. The sharp-edged weapons shall include any object or instrument that possesses a blade, edge, or point capable of causing injury or harm to individuals, including but not limited to knives, swords, daggers, box cutters, and razors. The order said the ban shall apply to all individuals except law enforcement agencies, individuals possessing such weapons for legitimate occupational purposes (butchers, carpenters, electricians, chefs etc). There has been a rise in stabbing incidents in Qamarwari, Bemina, Kralpora, Batmaloo, Nowhatta, Kothibagh, Rambagh and some other areas of Srinagar in the last three months. According to the order, possession of sharp-edged weapons whose blade is more than 9 inches long or whose blade is more than 2 inches wide for any purpose other than domestic, agricultural, scientific, and industrial purposes is a cognizable offence under the Arms Act 1959. People possessing sharp-edged weapons have been asked to surrender their weapons in the nearest police stations within next 72 hours. After the expiry of the deadline, the sharp-edged weapons shall be seized and appropriate action shall be initiated under the law, the order stated, adding that violation of the order shall be dealt with firmly and appropriate legal action will be taken as per section 188 of IPC. The DM asked the Srinagar SSP to implement the order in letter and spirit. SRINAGAR: After several stabbing incidents in Srinagar, the administration has banned the sale, purchase and carrying of sharp-edged weapons in public places in Srinagar. People possessing sharp-edged weapons have been asked to surrender them at the nearest police station within 72 hours or face stern action under the law. The Srinagar DM on Friday issued an order imposing a ban on the sale, purchase and carrying of sharp-edged weapons in public places. The ban shall be applicable to business establishments engaged in sale/purchase of such weapons. The sharp-edged weapons shall include any object or instrument that possesses a blade, edge, or point capable of causing injury or harm to individuals, including but not limited to knives, swords, daggers, box cutters, and razors. The order said the ban shall apply to all individuals except law enforcement agencies, individuals possessing such weapons for legitimate occupational purposes (butchers, carpenters, electricians, chefs etc). There has been a rise in stabbing incidents in Qamarwari, Bemina, Kralpora, Batmaloo, Nowhatta, Kothibagh, Rambagh and some other areas of Srinagar in the last three months. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to the order, possession of sharp-edged weapons whose blade is more than 9 inches long or whose blade is more than 2 inches wide for any purpose other than domestic, agricultural, scientific, and industrial purposes is a cognizable offence under the Arms Act 1959. People possessing sharp-edged weapons have been asked to surrender their weapons in the nearest police stations within next 72 hours. After the expiry of the deadline, the sharp-edged weapons shall be seized and appropriate action shall be initiated under the law, the order stated, adding that violation of the order shall be dealt with firmly and appropriate legal action will be taken as per section 188 of IPC. The DM asked the Srinagar SSP to implement the order in letter and spirit. By PTI KOLKATA: Two women were stripped and assaulted in West Bengal's Malda district earlier this week by a group of people, BJP claimed on Saturday. A purported video of the incident showing a mob beating up the women mercilessly on Wednesday was shared in the social media by Amit Malviya, the head of BJP's IT cell on Saturday. The claim was promptly rubbished by the ruling TMC, which accused the saffron party of resorting to 'diversionary tactics'. Malviya tweeted, "The horror continues in West Bengal. Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while the police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola police station, Malda. He said, "The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women belonged to the socially marginalised community and had a frenzied mob baying for their blood . It had all the makings of a tragedy that should have 'broken' Mamata Banerjee's heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the home minister of Bengal." The horror continues in West Bengal. Two Tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda. The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women pic.twitter.com/tyve54vMmg Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 22, 2023 Rubbishing the charges, the state Minister for Women and Child Health, Shashi Panja told reporters here that the women were embroiled in a scuffle with other women who accused them of theft and women civic police volunteers who were present at the spot tried to stop them. Later the women left on their own. She accused BJP of resorting to 'diversionary tactics' by hyping a quarrel between local women over sale of vegetables and allegations of theft. "The scuffle has no political or casteist overtones," the minister asserted. "After the surfacing of the video of two women being disrobed and paraded by a mob in Manipur, after hundreds of such incidents come to light every day and after the deafening silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for months even after Manipur burnt, BJP is now trying to deflect attention from the main issue.The main issue is the trampling of human rights, brutalities against women and the inaction of the BJP government in the state (Manipur). But BJP's ploy will not succeed. Everyone knows what happened in Manipur and the Centre's role in it . BJP is unnecessarily making this a political issue," Panja said. Referring to allegations by BJP about stripping of a woman gram sabha candidate during the July 8 rural poll, she asked "How come the fact finding team of BJP consisting of women MPs did not come across any such case? How come the central forces camping in the booths did not report anything? Police investigations too indicated no such incident took place." We assert that Modi cannot escape facing queries by MPs in Parliament on the gruesome happenings in Manipur by using such tactics . Bengal is not like Manipur or any other BJP-ruled states. No bestial crimes against women are reported in our state, which is helmed by a woman (Mamata Banerjee). Still if there is report of any incident our police and investigating agencies take necessary action," she added. Police said the women had gone to sell their wares at the market at Bamangola in Malda district on the day and the people suspected them of committing theft. A suo moto case was lodged by the police and five persons were detained in connection with the incident, a senior police officer of Malda police district told PTI. "We are conducting raids at the moment. We are unable to tell much about the incident as the investigation is in its early stage," he said. The Congress condemned the incident and claimed that the state was among the first five in the country where atrocities were committed against women. WBPCC president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that several such cases were not even reported. "I strongly condemn the incident. Those responsible for it must be brought to book and the strictest punishment meted out to them," he told reporters here. BJP's claim about the assault of women in Malda came on the heels of another by the state party president Sukanta Majumdar at a press conference in Delhi on Friday. Majumdar claimed that 'Manipur-like' situation was prevailing in West Bengal and a woman BJP candidate was disrobed and paraded at Panchla in Howrah district for daring to contest the rural poll held on July 8. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee had even broken down during the press conference. "The West Bengal chief minister is silent despite being a woman. You tell us where we will go. We also want our daughters to be saved," she said. The West Bengal director general police Manoj Malviya said on Friday that no evidence of the act was found. KOLKATA: Two women were stripped and assaulted in West Bengal's Malda district earlier this week by a group of people, BJP claimed on Saturday. A purported video of the incident showing a mob beating up the women mercilessly on Wednesday was shared in the social media by Amit Malviya, the head of BJP's IT cell on Saturday. The claim was promptly rubbished by the ruling TMC, which accused the saffron party of resorting to 'diversionary tactics'.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Malviya tweeted, "The horror continues in West Bengal. Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while the police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola police station, Malda. He said, "The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women belonged to the socially marginalised community and had a frenzied mob baying for their blood . It had all the makings of a tragedy that should have 'broken' Mamata Banerjee's heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the home minister of Bengal." The horror continues in West Bengal. Two Tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda. The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women pic.twitter.com/tyve54vMmg Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 22, 2023 Rubbishing the charges, the state Minister for Women and Child Health, Shashi Panja told reporters here that the women were embroiled in a scuffle with other women who accused them of theft and women civic police volunteers who were present at the spot tried to stop them. Later the women left on their own. She accused BJP of resorting to 'diversionary tactics' by hyping a quarrel between local women over sale of vegetables and allegations of theft. "The scuffle has no political or casteist overtones," the minister asserted. "After the surfacing of the video of two women being disrobed and paraded by a mob in Manipur, after hundreds of such incidents come to light every day and after the deafening silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for months even after Manipur burnt, BJP is now trying to deflect attention from the main issue.The main issue is the trampling of human rights, brutalities against women and the inaction of the BJP government in the state (Manipur). But BJP's ploy will not succeed. Everyone knows what happened in Manipur and the Centre's role in it . BJP is unnecessarily making this a political issue," Panja said. Referring to allegations by BJP about stripping of a woman gram sabha candidate during the July 8 rural poll, she asked "How come the fact finding team of BJP consisting of women MPs did not come across any such case? How come the central forces camping in the booths did not report anything? Police investigations too indicated no such incident took place." We assert that Modi cannot escape facing queries by MPs in Parliament on the gruesome happenings in Manipur by using such tactics . Bengal is not like Manipur or any other BJP-ruled states. No bestial crimes against women are reported in our state, which is helmed by a woman (Mamata Banerjee). Still if there is report of any incident our police and investigating agencies take necessary action," she added. Police said the women had gone to sell their wares at the market at Bamangola in Malda district on the day and the people suspected them of committing theft. A suo moto case was lodged by the police and five persons were detained in connection with the incident, a senior police officer of Malda police district told PTI. "We are conducting raids at the moment. We are unable to tell much about the incident as the investigation is in its early stage," he said. The Congress condemned the incident and claimed that the state was among the first five in the country where atrocities were committed against women. WBPCC president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that several such cases were not even reported. "I strongly condemn the incident. Those responsible for it must be brought to book and the strictest punishment meted out to them," he told reporters here. BJP's claim about the assault of women in Malda came on the heels of another by the state party president Sukanta Majumdar at a press conference in Delhi on Friday. Majumdar claimed that 'Manipur-like' situation was prevailing in West Bengal and a woman BJP candidate was disrobed and paraded at Panchla in Howrah district for daring to contest the rural poll held on July 8. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee had even broken down during the press conference. "The West Bengal chief minister is silent despite being a woman. You tell us where we will go. We also want our daughters to be saved," she said. The West Bengal director general police Manoj Malviya said on Friday that no evidence of the act was found. By ANI JAIPUR (Rajasthan): A day after being sacked as a minister following his critical remarks against Ashok Gehlot government over recent incidents of crimes against women in Rajasthan, Rajendra Singh Gudha on Saturday said that he will keep speaking until he is alive. "Public will stay with me, I will work for them. Whether he (Ashok Gehlot) removes me from the cabinet or sends me to jail, I will keep speaking until I am alive," Gudha said. He said that the women in Rajasthan are not safe and the state is number one in atrocities on women. "The state government has failed to provide security to women. I wanted to ask Ashok Gehlot to do something on this issue..." Gudha added. Before being removed, in his address at the state assembly, Gudha on Friday said, "It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." On the other hand, CPI(M) MLA Balwan Poonia, who had supported the Ashok Gehlot government when it was going through a political crisis on account of a rebellion by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, said that Gudha's statements in state Assembly were wrong. Poonia said that the minister's remarks were so childish that not only the CM but he was also hurt. "Crimes are increasing in Rajasthan, but action is also being taken swiftly," he added. Union Minister Anurah Thakur on Saturday claimed that Rajasthan has become "number one state" in crime against women. Union Minister Anurag Thakur says "The incidents of crime against women have increased in some states of the country and no action was taken against this in several states. What happened in Begusarai is in front of us, but CM Nitish Kumar did not speak a single word about this. Rajasthan has become the number one state in crime against women. A total of 1.09 laks incidents of crime against women in the state in last 4 years and 22 per cent rape cases in India are from Rajasthan. Instead of taking any steps against the criminals. CM Ashok Gehlot sacked one of his ministers Rajendra Gudha for raising his voice against atrocities on women in the state". According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister Rajendra Singh Gudha. JAIPUR (Rajasthan): A day after being sacked as a minister following his critical remarks against Ashok Gehlot government over recent incidents of crimes against women in Rajasthan, Rajendra Singh Gudha on Saturday said that he will keep speaking until he is alive. "Public will stay with me, I will work for them. Whether he (Ashok Gehlot) removes me from the cabinet or sends me to jail, I will keep speaking until I am alive," Gudha said. He said that the women in Rajasthan are not safe and the state is number one in atrocities on women.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The state government has failed to provide security to women. I wanted to ask Ashok Gehlot to do something on this issue..." Gudha added. Before being removed, in his address at the state assembly, Gudha on Friday said, "It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." On the other hand, CPI(M) MLA Balwan Poonia, who had supported the Ashok Gehlot government when it was going through a political crisis on account of a rebellion by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, said that Gudha's statements in state Assembly were wrong. Poonia said that the minister's remarks were so childish that not only the CM but he was also hurt. "Crimes are increasing in Rajasthan, but action is also being taken swiftly," he added. Union Minister Anurah Thakur on Saturday claimed that Rajasthan has become "number one state" in crime against women. Union Minister Anurag Thakur says "The incidents of crime against women have increased in some states of the country and no action was taken against this in several states. What happened in Begusarai is in front of us, but CM Nitish Kumar did not speak a single word about this. Rajasthan has become the number one state in crime against women. A total of 1.09 laks incidents of crime against women in the state in last 4 years and 22 per cent rape cases in India are from Rajasthan. Instead of taking any steps against the criminals. CM Ashok Gehlot sacked one of his ministers Rajendra Gudha for raising his voice against atrocities on women in the state". According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister Rajendra Singh Gudha. Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service MUMBAI: A confidential report submitted by a former Maharashtra government official has revealed that as many as one lakh farmers in the state's Marathwada region were contemplating suicide. As per the report, the wretched decision is influenced by factors such as rising debt, infertile land, drought, lack of funds for kin's weddings, lack of remunerative prices for agricultural produce, and rising poverty. According to the report, the Maharashtra government had carried out a survey featuring 10 lakh farmers in the Marathwada region and asked them 104 questions. The report revealed that a total of 2.98 lakh farmers had been mentally disturbed and were in distress of which 1.05 lakh farmers were contemplating suicide due to their financial situation. The survey had been aimed at preventing farmer suicides by understanding their psychology and launching various welfare schemes to support them. Former Aurangabad divisional commissioner Sunil Kendrakar, before taking voluntary retirement, had carried out the survey of ten lakh farmers in the Marathawada region and submitted a 25-page report to the state government. Kendrekar was scheduled to retire on May 31, 2024, but instead chose to quit the service after the Maharashtra government had accepted his VRS request last month. According to the report, Kendrekar has suggested abolishing all current state and centre government welfare schemes such as crop insurance and the Namo Sanman scheme in which the state provides an aid of Rs 6,000 along with the Centre's aid of Rs 6,000. Kendrakar in his report stated that such schemes helped the farmers "very little" and "did not bring any positive change." Kendrakar had also suggested terminating all staff and officers who are working in the agriculture and cooperation department because the salaries of these employees added a burden of Rs 8,000 to 10,000 to the state, rather than bringing any solution to the farmers. "Therefore, the agriculture department should seriously stop wasting money on these staffers' salaries," the report had stated. Instead, Kendrakar opined that every farmer should be given Rs 20,000 per acre of agricultural land as financial aid during the rabi and kharif seasons. "Each farmer should be given a total of Rs 20,000 as ex-gratia for per acre of agricultural land during both rabi and kharif seasons. If the farmer is owning ten acres of land, then he or she should be given Rs 2 lakh per year as financial aid rather than doling out various schemes and welfare programs that do not reach the farmers," reads the report. The report stated that a total of Rs 50,000 crore must be raised annually to execute this mega overhaul of providing Rs 20,000 per farmer. The report also provided suggestions on how this Rs 50,000 crore sum can be raised. As per the report, a sum of Rs 30,000 crores can be saved annually if the welfare and insurance schemes for farmers are stopped. A sum of up to Rs 10,000 crores can be raised by terminating the jobs of agricultural and cooperative department staffers and officials. The remaining amount can be raised by increasing the stamp duty and registration charges from the current Rs 60,000 per acre to Rs 1 lakh. "Once these suggestions are implemented, farmers will surely get Rs 20,000 per acre for their land in Maharashtra. This will not only end their financial issues but also help them lead a comfortable life, the report stated. NCP leader and MLC Eknath Khadse said that this is a very serious matter and urged the state government to think it over and bring solutions. He said every farmer's life is important highlighting the report's revelations. Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde said that he will check whether the former IAS officer had submitted a report stating that one lakh farmers in the Marathwada region were contemplating suicide. "Kendrakar was the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad so he must have submitted the report to the revenue department. I will check if the report has reached the government. I will read it and speak in detail later," Munde added. Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) MUMBAI: A confidential report submitted by a former Maharashtra government official has revealed that as many as one lakh farmers in the state's Marathwada region were contemplating suicide. As per the report, the wretched decision is influenced by factors such as rising debt, infertile land, drought, lack of funds for kin's weddings, lack of remunerative prices for agricultural produce, and rising poverty. According to the report, the Maharashtra government had carried out a survey featuring 10 lakh farmers in the Marathwada region and asked them 104 questions. The report revealed that a total of 2.98 lakh farmers had been mentally disturbed and were in distress of which 1.05 lakh farmers were contemplating suicide due to their financial situation. The survey had been aimed at preventing farmer suicides by understanding their psychology and launching various welfare schemes to support them.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Former Aurangabad divisional commissioner Sunil Kendrakar, before taking voluntary retirement, had carried out the survey of ten lakh farmers in the Marathawada region and submitted a 25-page report to the state government. Kendrekar was scheduled to retire on May 31, 2024, but instead chose to quit the service after the Maharashtra government had accepted his VRS request last month. According to the report, Kendrekar has suggested abolishing all current state and centre government welfare schemes such as crop insurance and the Namo Sanman scheme in which the state provides an aid of Rs 6,000 along with the Centre's aid of Rs 6,000. Kendrakar in his report stated that such schemes helped the farmers "very little" and "did not bring any positive change." Kendrakar had also suggested terminating all staff and officers who are working in the agriculture and cooperation department because the salaries of these employees added a burden of Rs 8,000 to 10,000 to the state, rather than bringing any solution to the farmers. "Therefore, the agriculture department should seriously stop wasting money on these staffers' salaries," the report had stated. Instead, Kendrakar opined that every farmer should be given Rs 20,000 per acre of agricultural land as financial aid during the rabi and kharif seasons. "Each farmer should be given a total of Rs 20,000 as ex-gratia for per acre of agricultural land during both rabi and kharif seasons. If the farmer is owning ten acres of land, then he or she should be given Rs 2 lakh per year as financial aid rather than doling out various schemes and welfare programs that do not reach the farmers," reads the report. The report stated that a total of Rs 50,000 crore must be raised annually to execute this mega overhaul of providing Rs 20,000 per farmer. The report also provided suggestions on how this Rs 50,000 crore sum can be raised. As per the report, a sum of Rs 30,000 crores can be saved annually if the welfare and insurance schemes for farmers are stopped. A sum of up to Rs 10,000 crores can be raised by terminating the jobs of agricultural and cooperative department staffers and officials. The remaining amount can be raised by increasing the stamp duty and registration charges from the current Rs 60,000 per acre to Rs 1 lakh. "Once these suggestions are implemented, farmers will surely get Rs 20,000 per acre for their land in Maharashtra. This will not only end their financial issues but also help them lead a comfortable life, the report stated. NCP leader and MLC Eknath Khadse said that this is a very serious matter and urged the state government to think it over and bring solutions. He said every farmer's life is important highlighting the report's revelations. Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde said that he will check whether the former IAS officer had submitted a report stating that one lakh farmers in the Marathwada region were contemplating suicide. "Kendrakar was the divisional commissioner of Aurangabad so he must have submitted the report to the revenue department. I will check if the report has reached the government. I will read it and speak in detail later," Munde added. Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Over 17.50 lakh Indians have renounced their citizenship between 2011 and June 2023, according to data tabled by the Ministry of External Affairs in the parliament. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that as many as 87,026 Indian nationals have renounced their citizenship till June this year. He also cited that 2.25 lakh Indians renounced their citizenships in 2022, 1.63 lakh in 2021, 85,256 in 2020; 1.44 lakh in 2019; 1.34 lakh in 2018; 1.33 lakh in 2017; 1.41 lakh in 2016; 1.31 lakh in 2015; 1.29 lakh in 2014; 1.31 lakh in 2013; 1.20 lakh in 2012 and 1.22 lakh in 2011. According to the minister, many of them have taken up foreign citizenship due to personal convenience. "The number of Indian nationals exploring the global workplace has been significant in the last two decades. Many of them have chosen to take up foreign citizenship for reasons of personal convenience," the minister said. Recognising that the Indian community abroad is an asset to the nation, Jaishankar said, the government has brought about a transformational change in its engagement with the diaspora. "A successful, prosperous and influential diaspora is an advantage for India and our approach is to tap diaspora networks and utilise its reputation for national gain," he said. "The government is cognizant of this development and has undertaken a range of initiatives around the 'Make in India' scheme that would harness their talents at home," Jaishankar informed the House. Sharing the names of countries whose citizenship is being acquired by Indians, the minister further said that there are 135 countries wherein Indians are seeking citizenship. This includes the US, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Poland, South Africa, Spain and the UAE among others. Interestingly, Indians are also taking up citizenship in countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Iran, Iraq, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Qatar, Serbia, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam. Yearwise data on Indians renouncing citizenship 2022 - 2,25,620 2021 - 1,63,370 2020- 85,256 2019- 1,44,017 2018- 1,34,561 2017- 1,33,049 2016- 1,41,603 2015 - 1,31,489 2014- 1,29,328 2013- 1,31,405 2012 - 1,20,923 2011 - 1,22,819 NEW DELHI: Over 17.50 lakh Indians have renounced their citizenship between 2011 and June 2023, according to data tabled by the Ministry of External Affairs in the parliament. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that as many as 87,026 Indian nationals have renounced their citizenship till June this year. He also cited that 2.25 lakh Indians renounced their citizenships in 2022, 1.63 lakh in 2021, 85,256 in 2020; 1.44 lakh in 2019; 1.34 lakh in 2018; 1.33 lakh in 2017; 1.41 lakh in 2016; 1.31 lakh in 2015; 1.29 lakh in 2014; 1.31 lakh in 2013; 1.20 lakh in 2012 and 1.22 lakh in 2011.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); According to the minister, many of them have taken up foreign citizenship due to personal convenience. "The number of Indian nationals exploring the global workplace has been significant in the last two decades. Many of them have chosen to take up foreign citizenship for reasons of personal convenience," the minister said. Recognising that the Indian community abroad is an asset to the nation, Jaishankar said, the government has brought about a transformational change in its engagement with the diaspora. "A successful, prosperous and influential diaspora is an advantage for India and our approach is to tap diaspora networks and utilise its reputation for national gain," he said. "The government is cognizant of this development and has undertaken a range of initiatives around the 'Make in India' scheme that would harness their talents at home," Jaishankar informed the House. Sharing the names of countries whose citizenship is being acquired by Indians, the minister further said that there are 135 countries wherein Indians are seeking citizenship. This includes the US, the UK, Australia, Belgium, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Ghana, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Poland, South Africa, Spain and the UAE among others. Interestingly, Indians are also taking up citizenship in countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Iran, Iraq, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Qatar, Serbia, Sudan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, and Vietnam. Yearwise data on Indians renouncing citizenship 2022 - 2,25,620 2021 - 1,63,370 2020- 85,256 2019- 1,44,017 2018- 1,34,561 2017- 1,33,049 2016- 1,41,603 2015 - 1,31,489 2014- 1,29,328 2013- 1,31,405 2012 - 1,20,923 2011 - 1,22,819 Sandip Ghose By Driving through Chennai the other day, I noticed a sign board of a restaurant named Anandha Vilas, with a descriptor -- "Flavours of Kongunadu". Living in the Nilgiris -- just above the Kongunadu heartland -- I knew about Kongunadu and its food. However, what surprised me was it being marketed as a separate genre. For long, the only other popular sub-regional Tamizh cuisine was from Chettinadu. It is fascinating how many culinary branches exist within a single state -- each distinct from the others. The geographic diversity of Tamil Nadu is not apparent to people from North India. There was a time when northerners would paint the entire region on the south of the Vindhyas with one brush. It is only recently that they have begun to differentiate between the states. But why fault them alone? ALSO READ | Let's make the GOAT great again! Even people from the South do not have much knowledge about numerous sub-regions. Talking specifically of Tamil Nadu stretching from the verdant hills and forests in its North-West to the coastal regions of South East and the fertile agricultural plains in between, there is a great deal of cultural variations. Also, there is not much understanding about the influences of foreign travellers and maritime trade in its culinary traditions. The ancient spice route ran through Tamil Nadu. The Greco-Roman traders crisscrossed between Malabar and Coromandel coast via the Palakkad gap. The population further down South East had intermingled with Arab traders, which contributed to the Tamil Muslim cuisine of the area now called the Sahibu cuisine in coastal towns like Kilakarai and Kayalpatnam. Each of the Southern empires -- the Cholas and the Pandyas -- left their own imprint. The Chettiyars had business interests in Myanmar (Burma) and SouthEast Asia, and imported some of their spices and culinary traditions. Thanjavur, though the home of the traditional Iyer Brahmin cuisine, was heavily influenced by the Maratha Dynasty that ruled the area for nearly two hundred years, leading to the legend of the Sambhar, allegedly invented for Shivaji's son Sambhaji. As is natural, some regions have imbibed tastes from the neighbouring states. Thus Nanjil food from around Kanyakumari is similar to that of southern Kerala. Each temple of Tamil Nadu has a culinary heritage of its own and 'Temple Cuisine' is a genre in itself. The temple town of Madurai is known for its street food -- earthy and scrumptious. They even say every district of Tamil Nadu has a version of its own Biryani. While that may be an exaggeration - it is true that Biryani is the favourite comfort food of Tamil Nadu. While Dindigul, Ambur and Chettinadu Biryanis are more well known - Rawther Biryani is typical of Kongunadu. It is one of the few Biryanis of South which is red in colour for the ample use of Tomato and Kashmiri Chillies. But it is generally not available in large restaurants and is sold from hand carts or small hotels in by-lanes of the city. Otherwise, it is made for feasts by the local Muslim community. ALSO READ | In search of India's finest Biryani Kongunadu Food is the cuisine of south-west Tamil Nadu regions bordering Kerala, such as Coimbatore and Salem. It differs from Chettinadu food in terms of its more restrained use of spices and a generous addition of turmeric which the region is famous for. Given the arid climate of the region, millets find a lot of place in the menu. Kambu or Bajra Dosa is a local specialty. Fresh water fish and country chicken are popular, as is every part of the goat from skull to trotters. The go-to eatery for Kongunadu food in Coimbatore is Haribhavanam, which now has several branches spread across the city. However, the best place for real Kongunadu delicacies is the ubiquitous "Mess". My personal favourite is the Valarmathi Mess near the Racecourse. It has a limited menu that runs out fast. If you are a brave foodie try the Thala (Goat Skull) Curry or Fry. If your adventure quotient is a bit lower go for the Brain Egg Fry. But everything is great here. Take the advice of the owner who is generally present at the restaurant and you cannot go wrong. ALSO READ | A taste of Malabar in San Francisco -- from betel leaf toast to fish head curry Haribhavam is more upmarket and exotic serving farm quail and rabbit, in addition to the traditional fare. But, being a puritan, my crib against them is that they have strayed from the core to offer North Indian and Manchurian Chinese for enlarging the clientele. However, if you are looking for better ambience than a traditional "Mess", you should head right to one of their outlets. While writing this, I should not give the impression of Kongunadu cuisine being bereft of vegetarian entrees. Among the more well known are Vazhaipoo Vadai (made from banana flower), Manikaram spicy vadagam curry (made from holy basil and betel nut leaves), Arisi paruppu sadam (rice cooked with dal and spices - a recipe that has existed from the fourth century CE according to legend). Elaneer Payasam, made of tender coconut, is the sweet delicacy of the region but not commonly available. However, the menu of Anandha Vilas looks interesting - especially its range of Parottas. I am putting it on the bucket list for my next visit to Chennai. Driving through Chennai the other day, I noticed a sign board of a restaurant named Anandha Vilas, with a descriptor -- "Flavours of Kongunadu". Living in the Nilgiris -- just above the Kongunadu heartland -- I knew about Kongunadu and its food. However, what surprised me was it being marketed as a separate genre. For long, the only other popular sub-regional Tamizh cuisine was from Chettinadu. It is fascinating how many culinary branches exist within a single state -- each distinct from the others. The geographic diversity of Tamil Nadu is not apparent to people from North India. There was a time when northerners would paint the entire region on the south of the Vindhyas with one brush. It is only recently that they have begun to differentiate between the states. But why fault them alone?googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); ALSO READ | Let's make the GOAT great again! Even people from the South do not have much knowledge about numerous sub-regions. Talking specifically of Tamil Nadu stretching from the verdant hills and forests in its North-West to the coastal regions of South East and the fertile agricultural plains in between, there is a great deal of cultural variations. Also, there is not much understanding about the influences of foreign travellers and maritime trade in its culinary traditions. The ancient spice route ran through Tamil Nadu. The Greco-Roman traders crisscrossed between Malabar and Coromandel coast via the Palakkad gap. The population further down South East had intermingled with Arab traders, which contributed to the Tamil Muslim cuisine of the area now called the Sahibu cuisine in coastal towns like Kilakarai and Kayalpatnam. Each of the Southern empires -- the Cholas and the Pandyas -- left their own imprint. The Chettiyars had business interests in Myanmar (Burma) and SouthEast Asia, and imported some of their spices and culinary traditions. Thanjavur, though the home of the traditional Iyer Brahmin cuisine, was heavily influenced by the Maratha Dynasty that ruled the area for nearly two hundred years, leading to the legend of the Sambhar, allegedly invented for Shivaji's son Sambhaji. As is natural, some regions have imbibed tastes from the neighbouring states. Thus Nanjil food from around Kanyakumari is similar to that of southern Kerala. Each temple of Tamil Nadu has a culinary heritage of its own and 'Temple Cuisine' is a genre in itself. The temple town of Madurai is known for its street food -- earthy and scrumptious. They even say every district of Tamil Nadu has a version of its own Biryani. While that may be an exaggeration - it is true that Biryani is the favourite comfort food of Tamil Nadu. While Dindigul, Ambur and Chettinadu Biryanis are more well known - Rawther Biryani is typical of Kongunadu. It is one of the few Biryanis of South which is red in colour for the ample use of Tomato and Kashmiri Chillies. But it is generally not available in large restaurants and is sold from hand carts or small hotels in by-lanes of the city. Otherwise, it is made for feasts by the local Muslim community. ALSO READ | In search of India's finest Biryani Kongunadu Food is the cuisine of south-west Tamil Nadu regions bordering Kerala, such as Coimbatore and Salem. It differs from Chettinadu food in terms of its more restrained use of spices and a generous addition of turmeric which the region is famous for. Given the arid climate of the region, millets find a lot of place in the menu. Kambu or Bajra Dosa is a local specialty. Fresh water fish and country chicken are popular, as is every part of the goat from skull to trotters. The go-to eatery for Kongunadu food in Coimbatore is Haribhavanam, which now has several branches spread across the city. However, the best place for real Kongunadu delicacies is the ubiquitous "Mess". My personal favourite is the Valarmathi Mess near the Racecourse. It has a limited menu that runs out fast. If you are a brave foodie try the Thala (Goat Skull) Curry or Fry. If your adventure quotient is a bit lower go for the Brain Egg Fry. But everything is great here. Take the advice of the owner who is generally present at the restaurant and you cannot go wrong. ALSO READ | A taste of Malabar in San Francisco -- from betel leaf toast to fish head curry Haribhavam is more upmarket and exotic serving farm quail and rabbit, in addition to the traditional fare. But, being a puritan, my crib against them is that they have strayed from the core to offer North Indian and Manchurian Chinese for enlarging the clientele. However, if you are looking for better ambience than a traditional "Mess", you should head right to one of their outlets. While writing this, I should not give the impression of Kongunadu cuisine being bereft of vegetarian entrees. Among the more well known are Vazhaipoo Vadai (made from banana flower), Manikaram spicy vadagam curry (made from holy basil and betel nut leaves), Arisi paruppu sadam (rice cooked with dal and spices - a recipe that has existed from the fourth century CE according to legend). Elaneer Payasam, made of tender coconut, is the sweet delicacy of the region but not commonly available. However, the menu of Anandha Vilas looks interesting - especially its range of Parottas. I am putting it on the bucket list for my next visit to Chennai. A big leap into the future: Apeejay Education to integrate AI into all its schools, institutions Mediawire, New Delhi, July 21: Apeejay Education, a pioneer in the field of education and technology, has announced its plans to fully integrate Artificial Intelligence into all its schools and institutions over the coming months. In a ground-breaking move, the institution will also establish an AI Digital Technology Lab to spearhead advancements in AI for education. A big leap into the future: Apeejay Education to integrate AI into all its schools, institutions "Apeejay Education has always been at the forefront of technological innovation in education," said Dr Neha Berlia, Co-Promoter, Apeejay Education. "We were the first in Asia to move fully into the cloud in 2008, and now we are ready to take the next leap into the future with AI."The AI Digital Technology Lab will serve as a hub for innovation, research, and development in AI technologies for education. It will play a crucial role in the institution's mission to harness the power of AI to enhance teaching and evaluation methods, enabling personalized learning experiences and more efficient assessment methods.Recognizing the importance of a smooth transition, Apeejay Education will be working closely with stakeholders during this period. The institution is dedicated to addressing any concerns and ensuring that the adoption of AI and the establishment of the AI Digital Technology Lab align with its mission of providing quality education."We understand the implications of this transition and we are committed to working with all parties involved to ensure a seamless integration," added Dr Neha Berlia. "Our goal is to leverage AI to enhance our teaching methods and evaluation systems, ultimately benefiting our students and setting them up for success in the digital age."This announcement reaffirms Apeejay Education's legacy as a trailblazer in adopting technology in education. As the institution steps into the future, it continues to uphold its commitment to providing innovative and quality education for all.Apeejay Education, one of the premier educational institutions in India, has a legacy of over 50 years in education. With a track record of pioneering initiatives, Apeejay has always been recognized as a thought leader and trendsetter in the education sector. The institution's commitment to leveraging technology in education is part of its mission to deliver a comprehensive, inclusive, and future-ready education to its students.ANI21 July 2023 Shared Recently! Rector of Orenburg State Medical University Embarks on Fruitful Visit to India, Strengthening Educational Collaborations SRV Media, New Delhi, July 21: The esteemed Rector of Orenburg State Medical University, Prof. Igor Miroschnichenko undertook a momentous visit to India from 13th to 15th July 2023, fostering educational collaborations and celebrating the strong ties between the two nations. Rector of Orenburg State Medical University Embarks on Fruitful Visit to India, Strengthening Educational Collaborations During his 2-day visit, the Rector engaged in various significant events, solidifying partnerships and promoting opportunities for Indian medical students.One of the highlights of the visit was the Rector's visit to Max Healthcare Hospital, where Orenburg State Medical University and Max Healthcare have a notable tie-up for a summer observership program for Indian medical students. This collaboration offers a unique learning experience for students to gain insights into the medical field, fostering international exposure and enriching their academic journey.In a moment of great significance, Prof. Igor Miroschnichenko signed an agreement of cooperation with the Russian House in New Delhi, further strengthening educational ties between Russia and India. This agreement will open doors for academic and cultural exchange, providing students and faculty with transformative opportunities for international collaboration and research.As part of the visit, Prof. Igor Miroschnichenko attended the alumni meet, where graduates of Orenburg State Medical University gathered to express their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation. The alumni honored the Rector with a touching token of love, recognizing his outstanding leadership and contributions to the university's growth and success.Moreover, the visit coincided with the second edition of the Russian Education Fair, providing an ideal platform for the rector to engage with Indian students, parents, and academic representatives. Speaking at the press meet, Prof. Igor Miroschnichenko expressed his excitement and enthusiasm regarding the visit and the fruitful collaborations between Orenburg State Medical University and esteemed Indian institutions. He emphasized the significance of global education and how such collaborations contribute to fostering future leaders in the medical field."The Rector's visit to India was a moment of great joy and celebration for us. The ties between Orenburg State Medical University and Indian institutions are vital in promoting academic excellence and cultural exchange. We are excited about the signing of the cooperation agreement between the Russian House in New Delhi, and Orenburg State Medical University which will undoubtedly pave the way for more transformative opportunities between the students of both the countries," said Oleg Osipov, the Director Russian House in New Delhi.The visit of the rector of Orenburg state medical university to India serves as a testament to the shared commitment of both nations in promoting international education and nurturing the bright minds of the future. The Indian students looking forward to starting their academic journey with Orenburg State Medical University can contact the exclusive admission partner in India, Rus Education on student helpline number 18008333338 or can visit www.ruseducation.in.ANI21 July 2023 Shared Recently! Ranjit Pratap Releases Inspiring Memoir 'As the Wheel Turns' on the occasion of the Rayala Groups Diamond Jubilee NewsVoir, Chennai, July 21: On the occasion of Rayala Corporation's Diamond Jubilee, the Managing Director of Rayala Corporation, Ranjit Pratap, today released an insightful book that offers a captivating account of his remarkable journey in the world of business. Ranjit Pratap Releases Inspiring Memoir 'As the Wheel Turns' on the occasion of the Rayala Group's Diamond Jubilee Titled "As the wheel turns," this compelling narrative hopes to motivate readers by sharing Ranjit Pratap's personal experiences, hardships, and triumphs. This book was released in the presence of M. Venkaiah Naidu, former Vice President of India, a galaxy of prominent Industrialists, officials and friends from Rayala Corporation, including several retired company personnel.The release of this book coincides with a significant milestone in Ranjit Pratap's journey as he celebrates 50 years in business. Joining the group companies in March 1973, Ranjit Pratap embarked on a transformative path that not only shaped his personal life but also left an indelible mark on the business landscape. Each chapter of the book vividly portrays the highs and lows, personal growth, and business achievements that define Ranjit Pratap's half-century in the corporate world.Speaking on the occasion, M Venkaiah Naidu, former Vice President of India said, "It is an honour for me to be here as part of Rayala Corporation's 75th year celebrations and also to launch Ranjit Pratap's book. I think it is very important that this book is being released about the achievements of business leaders since I feel that stories of their life, success and their contribution to business and society is always very useful for the present and future generations to know, understand and grow themselves. Having heard the earlier speakers and personally knowing this great family, I can say that one should always aim to excel in life. Because if you have that aim to excel then you will work hard and pursue that goal relentlessly. Secondly, one should have discipline and dedication in your life. If you have these qualities then you will definitely excel in life. Rayala corporation is an example of that. In today's competitive business environment a corporate leader, who is the founder of many companies needs to be smart, vigilant, be able to compete with the best, stand the test of time and nurture local talent empowering them to compete with the best in the world and I am happy to say that the Rayala group has done exactly that."The book's title is a metaphor for the cyclical nature of life and business, highlighting the importance of adaptability and resilience in the face of change. Ranjit Pratap's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the determined pursuit of success. Through "As the Wheel Turns," Ranjit Pratap aspires to inspire readers to pursue their entrepreneurial aspirations and to learn from failure. His candid account reflects his belief that every challenge presents an opportunity for growth and innovation.Ranjit Pratap, Managing Director, Rayala Corporation said, "I am so proud to stand here today. This day is truly special in our corporate history. Today we celebrate our Diamond Jubilee, my 50 years at the helm of affairs and the launch of my book. The Rayala story is a saga from automobile assembling to organic farming. I can very proudly say that the Rayala group has excelled in whatever business they ventured into and our adaptation to different technologies at various points of time signal our ability to embrace, adapt and excel at new technologies. I am proud that the Rayala group has left an indelible mark in the business environment over decades and our contribution to the growth of this beautiful city can be seen in various iconic landmark structures that dot the Chennai skyline."Ranjit Pratap's commitment to his life motto, "To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield," has been the driving force behind his achievements. With focused determination, he faced and conquered numerous challenges, building a successful midsized institution that upholds the legacy set by his grandfather and father. Since its establishment in 1921, Rayala Group has steadily grown into a formidable conglomerate with significant investments in manufacturing, real estate, and scientific farming. The group takes pride in its roots, being named after the Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh, from where the founder's family originated.Through captivating anecdotes and first-hand accounts, the book takes readers on a remarkable journey through the Rayala Group's evolution, showcasing its ability to survive challenges and embrace new opportunities. It explores Ranjit Pratap's early experiences in the family business, where he successfully turned around a struggling Commercial Finance Corporation, instilling confidence in its employees and transforming its fortunes. Now in its third generation of leadership, led by Ranjit Pratap, the group has diversified into new sectors aligned with its interests, including arms and ammunition, real estate, and manufacturing supplies for the defence sector. Additionally, the group has ventured into organic farming, establishing a world-class food processing plant catering to domestic and export markets.Ranjit Pratap's positive attitude and relentless belief in his ideas are at the heart of the group's success. His leadership extends beyond Rayala Corporation, as he serves as the Chairman of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and the German Business Group in Chennai, emphasizing his commitment to fostering strong business connections between India and Germany. "As the wheel turns" is a must-read for business enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of successful conglomerate growth.Rayala Corporation was founded by Rajagopal Naidu in the year 1948 as an automotive spare parts and office equipment product company. In 1952-53 the company started manufacturing Halda Typewriters in technical and financial collaboration with FACIT AB of Sweden. In 1964 a new company, Facit Asia Limited, was formed to manufacture mechanical calculators and adding machines. Rajagopal Naidu also had a large division of Bus Services headquartered in Tirupathi from the 1940s till the 1970s. He also was the first organized film exhibitor in the town of Tirupathi in the late 50's under the banner Pratap Talkies / Pratap Group of Theatres, which still exists. Rajagopal Naidu's first venture, Rajagopal Motor Works was started in 1921. Rayala Corporation, which was born out of Rajagopal Motor Works is now the parent company of the Group, which is completing 75 years in July 2023. Today, Rayala Corporation has diversified its businesses into Automotive, Scientific Farming, Oral Care, Aerospace, Defence, Precision Tooling, and Food Processing.ANI21 July 2023 Shared Recently! The occupation army of Russia on Friday attacked civilians in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on July, 21 once again. The invaders attacked the settlement of New York, launching three air strikes. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak on his Telegram channel. As a result of the enemy attack, 4 people killed and at least three more injured. "The Russians launched 3 airstrikes on the settlement of New York in Donetsk region," Yermak wrote. According to him, a man and three women were wounded as a result of enemy shelling. Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office telegram channel reported that a pre-trial investigation on the fact of violation of the laws and customs of war (part 2 of article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) was issued following the death of four people and wounding of three in the settlement of New York. The occupants preliminary used FAB-250 aerial bombs. ADVERTISIMENT "As a result of the shelling four local residents killed, spouses among them. The remains of their bodies were recovered by rescuers from under the rubble of the destroyed house", Prosecutor's office noted, adding that a woman whose husband had previously died was among the victims. All the injured of varying severity were taken to a medical facility for qualified assistance. In addition, the explosive waves damaged residential buildings and outbuildings. The final number of victims of shelling is being established. According to the head of Donetsk RMA Pavlo Kyrylenko, Russian war criminals killed 6 civilians in Donetsk region on July 21: 4 in New York and 2 in Druzhba. Another 5 people were injured during the day. ADVERTISIMENT It should be noted that Russian occupiers also killed two children on July 21: a brother and a sister in the village of Druzhba in the Toretsk community of Donetsk region. An enemy artillery shell flew into the yard where a 10-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl were. In the morning of the same day the enemy hit Konstantynivka in Donetsk, killing two civilians. Criminal proceedings have been launched on yet another war crime by the aggressor. Private sector was in the crosshairs of Russian shells. As OBOZREVATEL reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted to another massive attacks of Russia, which led to the death of Ukrainian children. He pointed out that the occupiers are doing absolute evil that will have severe consequences for them. Only verified information we have in our Telegram channel Obozrevatel, Threads and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! SkillArbitrage training Indian professionals to embrace AI and tap into the international market PNN, Gurugram, July 21: AI tools are changing how work is done across the world. Demand for professionals who can work with AI tools is growing exponentially. SkillArbitrage training Indian professionals to embrace AI and tap into the international market There is also a growing trend of SMEs and startups in developed countries leveraging remote talent from developing countries who deliver work at a much lower cost.Can mid-level and senior professionals in India learn AI tools and get international remote jobs?Gurgaon-based edtech startup SkillArbitrage is making this happen already.SkillArbitrage is of the belief that international exports of services will leave exports of goods behind by miles in the years to come and has thus curated courses that fill in the skill gap and enable professionals to benefit from global talent arbitrage.SkillArbitrage launched a version of their AI tools program for work-from-home women who had to leave the industry for personal and family reasons to enable them to work remotely on global opportunities. Within 3 months of the commencement of the 6 months program, 8% of the learners have already bagged remote jobs, part-time and full-time, while some of them are developing their profiles as freelancers.Kumudini Saxena from Ghaziabad, a Skill Arbitrage learner, faced many problems in her career and shut down her business due to COVID because of maternity, is now working remotely from home for international clients as a recruiter and has earned 17 lakhs in 3 months and has 15 clients in Poland, Japan, Jordan etc.Similarly, Shailaja Prabhakar, who was earlier working in Chennai for a big company, had to move back to her hometown in Vellore for personal reasons and needed to work in remote jobs. She secured a remote opportunity with a US-based company in North Carolina and also doubled her salary in 3 months!"We at SkillArbitrage, believe that talent arbitrage is the great equalizing force in the global economy. It gives everyone, regardless of their location or background, the opportunity to compete for the best opportunities. This means that businesses can now compete on a level playing field with respect to global talent access, regardless of their size or location, and professionals can compete for the best of the jobs that are available anywhere in the world. This is definitely going to require skills, and we want to train people to be ready for what the future holds for them," says Ramanuj Mukherjee, CEO of SkillArbitrage.SkillArbitrage trains professionals from India and other developing countries to get international remote jobs, remote internships and freelance work from startups & SMEs in the US, UK, Canada, UAE and other advanced economies so that they can earn in dollars no matter where they live.With more businesses around the world seeking remote workers because they can access a better talent pool at a fraction of the cost, it has become increasingly important to help Indians identify, prepare and pitch for these cross-border career opportunities.SkillArbitrage courses and placement support have been especially popular with housewives and mothers of young children, senior professionals looking for side gigs and extra income, digital nomads looking to escape office cubicles and those living in smaller cities who cannot move to metros to find jobs.To know more, kindly visit the website https//skillarbitra.ge/ANI21 July 2023 Shared Recently! India, Sri Lanka sign MoU on cooperation in field of renewable energy New Delhi, July 21: India, Sri Lanka on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of renewable energy. Another MoU was signed on cooperation for economic development projects in the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka. India, Sri Lanka sign MoU on cooperation in field of renewable energy The two countries issued a Joint Declaration of Intent in the field of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Network to Network Agreement between NPCI International Payments Limited and Lanka Pay for UPI application acceptance in Sri Lanka.An Energy Permit was issued for the Sampur Solar Power Project.This comes as Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Thursday arrived in Delhi on a two-day official visit to India. Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan welcomed Wickremesinghe at the airport.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met the Sri Lankan President Wickremesinghe, the two discussed issues of mutual interest."PM @narendramodi warmly welcomes President @RW_UNP of Sri Lanka at the Hyderabad House ahead of the bilateral talks. An opportunity to review and lend further momentum to the long-standing - ties, as the two countries celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.The talks were held in Hyderabad House in New Delhi.To boost the economic partnership between the two nations, India and Sri Lanka adopted a vision document that would strengthen people-to-people connectivity and Maritime cooperation, trade, and power, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Friday."Today, we have adopted a vision document for our economic partnership. The vision is to strengthen maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity between the two peoples. The vision is to accelerate mutual cooperation in tourism, electricity, business, higher education, and skill development," PM Modi said.In a joint press statement with Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi on Friday, PM Modi also said that the two nations have decided to start a ferry service from Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka."We agree on the enhancement of air connectivity between India and Sri Lanka. To increase trade and travel by people, we have taken the decision to start passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanturai in Sri Lanka," PM Modi said.The two sides decided on resuming passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in India and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka and work towards early resumption of ferry services between Rameshwaram and Talaimannar, and other mutually agreed places."This vision is the long-term commitment of India. We would soon hold a consultation on economic cooperation," Prime Minister Modi added.ANI21 July 2023 Shared Recently! President Droupadi Murmu meets Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in DelhiA New Delhi, July 21: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday met Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu meets Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe in DelhiA Earlier, Sri Lankan counterpart Ranil Wickremesinghe, who arrived in Delhi on Thursday for a two-day visit, held a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders held the meeting at the Hyderabad House in Delhi.Wickremesinghe is on an official visit to India at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi. In remarks to the media after his talks with Sri Lankan President, PM Modi on Friday said that Sri Lanka has a special place in India's neighbourhood first policy and the security interests and development of the two countries are intertwinedPM Modi said they have agreed on the enhancement of air connectivity between the two countries. He said India stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Sri Lanka in the time of crisis."Sri Lanka also has an important place in both India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'SAGAR' vision. Today we shared our views on bilateral, regional and international issues. We believe that the security interests and development of India and Sri Lanka are intertwined," PM Modi said."We agree on the enhancement of air connectivity between India and Sri Lanka. To increase trade and travel by people, we have taken the decision to start passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanturai in Sri Lanka," he added.Welcoming the Sri Lankan President and his delegation, PM Modi congratulated him on completing one year in office. "I congratulate him on this. The people of Sri Lanka faced many challenges last year but like a close friend we stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Sri Lanka in the time of crisis," he said.Wickremesinghe said that he believes that India's growth will be beneficial to the neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region .In his media statement following the talks, the Sri Lankam President said, "I have congratulated Prime Minister Modi on the great strides India continues to make under his leadership in economic infrastructure and technological progress in ensuring growth and prosperity for the people of India.""We believe that India's growth will be beneficial to the neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region," he added.The Sri Lankan President conveyed his "profound appreciation" for the solidarity and support rendered to Sri Lanka by India over the past year which he described as "undoubtedly one of the challenging periods" in Sri Lanka's modern history.The two sides exchanged documents on cooperation in the field of animal husbandry, renewable energy, development projects in the Trincomalee district in eastern Sri Lanka, and online payment services between India and Sri Lanka.ANI21 July 2023 Shared Recently! Defence production in India has crossed the figure of Rs 1 lakh crore: MoS Defence New Delhi, July 22: The value of India's defence production has crossed the figure of Rs one lakh crore for the first time ever during financial year 2022-23, the Parliament was told on Friday. Defence production in India has crossed the figure of Rs 1 lakh crore: MoS Defence In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt said that the government has taken several policy initiatives in the past few years and brought in reforms to encourage indigenous design, development, and manufacture of defence equipment by Indian industry, including MSMEs and start-ups, thereby promoting ease of doing business in defence manufacturing and technology in the country.He also said that the government promotes participation of MSMEs and startups for development of defence technology under various schemes like Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), Technology Development Fund (TDF), and 'Make' procedure under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.The DAP 2020 provides special provisions to encourage MSMEs and startups.Moreover, Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order, 2012 has been implemented at DPSUs under which the price preference is given to MSME bidders under certain conditions. Further, DPSUs and services have uploaded more than 30,000 defence items on 'Srijan portal for indigenisation' and offered them to Industry including MSMEs to become partners in indigenisation process, Bhatt added.The Minister also said that Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) has given boost to defence industrial manufacturing ecosystem by promoting formation of startups by individual innovators, and supporting sustenance to existing startups/MSMEs. This has also led to the generation of employment opportunities.Moreover, to bring MSMEs into the defence supply chain and thereby boost the self-reliance in defence sector in the country and also to contribute towards defence exports, Ministry of Defence has made a scheme of promotion of MSMEs in defence.Under this scheme, workshops and seminars are organised in collaboration with Industry associations and other stakeholders from different parts of the country, Bhatt added.Beside this, the Indian Army has received the patent for the project 'Accident Prevention System based on Artificial Intelligence' developed indigenously by research and development within the organisation. The Accident Prevention System would save lives by alerting drivers falling asleep while driving and reducing the vulnerability to accidents caused by drowsiness.IANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Metas Threads fast losing steam, Zuckerberg not worried San Francisco, July 22: Instagram's Twitter competitor Threads is reportedly fast losing steam, a massive 70 per cent decline from its highest in early July. Meta's Threads fast losing steam, Zuckerberg not worried Despite Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg claiming that "10s of millions of people come back daily" on Threads, the number of daily active users on Threads dropped for the second week down to 13 million, "a 70 per cent decline from a July 7 high point," reports The Wall Street Journal.By comparison, Twitter's daily active users are around 200 million."User engagement on Threads has continued to fall after an initial surge in sign-ups, putting pressure on parent Meta Platforms," the report noted, citing Sensor Tower data.Data show user engagement has fallen 70 per cent as "executives focus on options such as a chronological feed," it added.Meta executives, however, have said they don't see the falloff as worrisome and have said they are working on additional features.Threads is still new and needs several Twitter-like features to make it more competitive in the social media space.Earlier reports mentioned that the so-called Twitter killer's daily use has gone down miserably, with time spent by users now down by 50 per cent from 20 minutes to just 10 minutes.Last week, Threads crossed 150 million user sign-ups despite a usage drop.Meta launched Threads on July 5 for iOS and Android users in 100 countries, and it is among the top free apps on the App Store.According to Data.ai, the app has surpassed more than 150 million downloads worldwide, within seven days after its launch.Recent information revealed that Threads has gained the largest user presence in specific markets, with India leading the way, accounting for approximately 32 per cent of its downloads.Following India is Brazil, contributing to approximately 22 per cent of Threads' installations, and the US, representing nearly 16 per cent of the total.na/prwIANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Afghanistan: How Taliban plans to make money out of Buddha statues it destroyed Kabul, July 22: Taliban which itself destroyed the historically and culturally significant 'Buddhas of Bamiyan', now want to make money from the empty niches as it is desperately in need of cash. Afghanistan: How Taliban plans to make money out of Buddha statues it destroyed Massimo Introvigne, an Italian sociologist of religions and author, wrote in his piece in Bitter Winter, how despite being an avid traveller he ended up rejecting the proposal to visit Afghanistan because he doesn't want the Taliban to benefit from the sites destroyed by them."The Afghan regime desperately needs cash. It cannot show the Bamiyan Buddhas for the good reason it blew them up. But it would take tourists to the site for a fee," he stated.According to the author, the Taliban smashed the sixth-century CE giant statues in 2001 with artillery fire and by detonating anti-tank mines.Now, the public can only see the empty niches where these masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture once stood, and meditate there. But this not for free, but by paying money to the regime, Bitter Winter reported.The author went on to say that he can even pay a fee to see the Nuremberg propaganda headquarters of the Nazi Party and the location of the Khmer Rouge mass graves in Cambodia, because, here the money is not going to Adolf Hitler or Pol Pot, but the subsequent current governments.However, in the case of Afghanistan, it is the Taliban itself that perpetrated the crimes and are willing to reap money while being in the government.According to the author, it would be like paying Chinese President Xi Jinping for visiting the dreaded Xinjiang "transformation through education camps" where Uyghurs are tortured and killed."I understand the empty niches of the destroyed statues do have their own melancholic beauty. But I do not want to support the Taliban with my ticket. I would rather not go," Massimo Introvigne further stated in his piece.ANI22 July 2023 Shared Recently! North Korea fires several cruise missiles into Yellow Sea, says Seoul Seoul, July 22: North Korea fired several cruise missiles into the Yellow Sea on Saturday, Yonhap news agency reported citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff . North Korea fires several cruise missiles into Yellow Sea, says Seoul South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analysing the launches, which took place at about 400 am, to learn more about the type of missiles fired and other details, according to the JCS."Our military has bolstered surveillance and vigilance while closely cooperating with the United States and maintaining a firm readiness posture," Yonhap news agency quoted JCS as saying.The fresh launches have come just three days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea.It also came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the port visit of a nuclear-capable US submarine in more than 40 years and the inaugural session of the South Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group earlier this week.USS Kentucky, an 18,750-ton Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine, departed Busan naval base on Friday, three days after a rare port visit in a major show of strength against evolving North Korean military threats.North Korea denounced the visit, saying the SSBN's deployment may fall under the legal conditions for its use of nuclear weapons.This was met by a stern response from Seoul, which warned Pyongyang that any nuclear attack from the latter's side would mean an "end" of the Kim Jong Un-led regime.ANI22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Tomato prices to go down following new crop arrival from Maharashtra, MP: Govt New Delhi, July 22: Amid the hike in prices of tomatoes in the retail market, the Minister of State of Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated that prices of tomato is expected to come down with the increase in the arrival of new crop from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Tomato prices to go down following new crop arrival from Maharashtra, MP: Govt This was in response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha by MP Kartikeya Sharma in the Monsoon session of the Parliament.The Consumer Affairs Minister further stated that to check the current increase in prices of tomatoes and make them available to the consumers at affordable prices, the Government has started the procurement of tomatoes under Price Stabilisation Fund and is making them available at a highly subsidised rate to consumers."The National Cooperative Consumers Federation and National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation are continuously procuring tomato from mandis in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra and making it available at affordable prices in major consuming centres in Delhi-NCR, Bihar, Rajasthan after subsidizing the price to the consumers," the Minister stated."The tomatoes have been disposed initially at retail price of Rs.90/kg which has been reduced to Rs.80/kg from 16.07.2023 and further reduced to Rs.70/kg from 20.07.2023," the statement added.The Minister said that the current increase in tomato prices may incentivize farmers to grow more tomato crop which is expected to stabilize the prices in the coming months.The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare implements Market Intervention Scheme to protect the growers of perishable agri-horticultural commodities from making distress sale in the event of a bumper crop during the peak arrival period when the prices tend to fall below economic levels and cost of production, the Minister stated.However he added that the Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has not received any proposal from State Governments so far for market intervention to address distress sale of tomato.Further, he stated that the Ministry of Food Processing Industries implements Operation Greens for enhancing value addition and reduction in post-harvest losses of agri-horticultural commodities, including tomato.ANI22 July 2023 Shared Recently! 7 top tech companies sign deal with US govt on AI guardrails Washington, July 22: Seven leading artificial intelligence tech companies like Google, OpenAI and Meta have reached a deal with the Joe Biden administration to roll out fresh guardrails to manage risks associated with AI. 7 top tech companies sign deal with US govt on AI guardrails The measures would include testing the security of AI and making the results of those tests public. The companies are Amazon, Anthropic, Meta, Google, Inflection and OpenAI."These commitments are real, and they are concrete. AI is going to change the lives of people around the world. The people here will be critical for shepherding that innovation with responsibility and safety by design," Biden said at the White House following the meeting late on Friday."AI should benefit the whole of society. For that to happen, these powerful new technologies need to be built and deployed responsibly," said Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs."As we develop new AI models, tech companies should be transparent about how their systems work and collaborate closely across industry, government, academia and civil society," he added.As part of the agreement, the tech companies have agreed to security testing of their AI systems by internal and external experts before their release.This will ensure that people are able to spot AI by implementing watermarks and publicly report AI capabilities and limitations on a regular basis.These companies will also research the risks such as bias, discrimination and the invasion of privacy."This is a serious responsibility, we have to get it right. There's enormous, enormous potential upside as well," said Biden.OpenAI said that the watermarking agreements would require the companies to "develop tools or APIs to determine if a particular piece of content was created with their system."Google has committed to deploy similar disclosures earlier this year.Earlier this week, Meta said that it would open-source its large language model Llama 2, making it free for researchers, similar to OpenAI's GPT-4.na/prwIANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Monsoon escape: Explore Vietnam New Delhi, July 22: The country's monsoon season is now at its height, making it a terrific opportunity to travel to new places and immerse yourself in different cultures. Vietnam, a newly popular tourism destination in Southeast Asia, is one such location that is also easily accessible to Indians. Monsoon escape: Explore Vietnam As travelers take advantage of the country's varied landscapes, thriving food and beverage industry, beaches, steep rice terraces, and bustling cities, the country is quickly rising to the top of the list of Southeast Asia's tourism attractions. Vietnam is a must-visit location due to its quick growth in hospitality, cuisine, culture, and infrastructure. Listed below are three resorts to keep in mind when you make travel arrangements to make the most of this distinctive experience.Capella HanoiAt Capella Hanoi, leave the current behind and enter a realm of entrancing beauty. The art nouveau masterpiece, which is located on a calm street next to Hoan Kim Lake, is a tribute to the opera performers, creators, and designers. Discover unanticipated moments of gratifying reflection in this palace of craftsmanship, which is distinguished by opulent accommodations, captivating restaurants, and the award-winning Auriga Spa. When you enter Capella Hanoi, raise a glass in salute and remember the fascinating stories behind opera's illustrious figures and works.Unexpected design meets effortless elegance. In this opulent Hanoi hotel, embrace the charm of the area and its artistic intricacies. Each of the 47 rooms and suites is uniquely decorated with operatic memorabilia that pays homage to opera's great singers, composers, designers, and performances. It is only a short distance from the Hanoi Opera House and the Old Quarter. The hotel's Capella Culturists are always available to explain the nuances of Vietnam's rich culture, helping you have the ideal visit.In a significant milestone, it has also cemented itself as the #1 Dining Destination Hotel in Vietnam recently, with its first Michelin Star. Koki Restaurant's Hibana by Koki earned the Coveted Michelin Star; Izakaya by Koki and Backstage Restaurant also won prestigious Michelin Placement recognition in Vietnam's very first Michelin Guide announced in June.Premier Village Phu QuocIf you love adventure, quality time by the beach, trying new foods, and understanding local culture, Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam is the destination for you. Named as the "Pearl Island", Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam. With a coastline of more than 150km, with a combination of beautiful, white-cut beaches and marvelous small bays, Phu Quoc is considered an island with abundant marine resources.Located on the southern tip of Phu Quoc Island, Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort (managed by Accor) is a hidden tropical retreat. Uniquely embraced on both sides by the sea, the resort boasts two pristine beaches and stunning ocean views from dawn until dusk.Relax in one of the spacious 215 villas, each with a private swimming pool. Varying in location and size, the villas are ensconced in nature with an equally stunning yet unique view. Villas are equipped with a private infinity pool, multiple bedrooms, large, luxurious living rooms, a dining room and a kitchenette.Enjoy the multi-layer swimming pool, which connects the peninsula's two beaches. Indulge in the resort's hill-top Plumeria Spa and Fitness Centre. Diverse culinary options range from Vietnamese delights at The Market and fusion cuisine at Corallo Restaurant to sweet treats at Deli CafA.Premier Village ensures one a memorable experience with activities such as Stone painting, Kayaking, Beach meditation, Leaf weaving art and Cooking classes where you can learn making Vietnamese pancakes and spring roll.Sailing Club Signature Resort Phu QuocLong Beach's Sailing Club Signature Resort, Phu Quoc, offers the pinnacle of tropical living. Sailing Club Signature Resorts is a portfolio of exceptional resorts that interprets a new luxury for modern travellers. It was born out of the illustrious enthusiasm and charisma of Sailing Club Leisure Group.Experience the cozy and home-like amenities with a focus on exquisite opulence in comfortable settings. Whether you are traveling to relax, recharge or splurge, the team here will commit to delivering a holiday you'll never forget. Encircled by nature for absolute privacy, each villa here is designed as a hub of connectedness for couples and friends to hide away, have fun, and recharge.Reflecting theaScandinavian styleathe minimal elements, homely appearance, and artsy design, the villas feature a cozy yet roomy, playful yet sophisticated space with 5-star facilities, showcasing its approachable interpretation of luxury. The multi-bedroom villas draw a boundless connection between nature and urban comfort, whether in natural daylight or starry nightglow. Featuring a private pool and greenery, floor-to-ceiling windows, well-appointed entertainment, and a fully-equipped kitchen and outdoor BBQ, this is where you can soak in the sun and the fun with loved ones.The hottest entertainment venue on the island, Sailing Club Phu Quoc, is just 5 minutes stroll from the resort. Sailing Club Signature Resort Phu Quoc also features a winery and a free kids' club. It is also the first pet-friendly resort in Phu Quoc ensuring your four-legged family members enjoying the vacation with you.(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)IANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! On 22 July, the Defence Forces used aviation and rocket and artillery units to hit the sector where enemy positions were concentrated in the Skadovsk district of Kherson region. The enemy army lost 24 soldiers, and many more were wounded. ADVERTISIMENT This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook. In addition to personnel, the occupiers lost expensive military equipment, namely two S-300 air defence systems; three units of armoured vehicles and a UAV warehouse; two unmanned reconnaissance vehicles "Orlan-10" and "Merlin" were neutralised. "We have received confirmation of the destruction of an additional 18 Russian soldiers, four S-300 missile launchers, two vehicles, including a command and staff vehicle and two ammunition depots in Oleshky and Nova Zburyivka over the previous 3 days," our defenders wrote. As reported by OBOZREVATEL, on 22 July, the Defence Forces destroyed an oil depot and enemy warehouses in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The strikes hit military targets in the area of Zhovtnevyi, Krasnohvardiyske district. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Realizing vision of inter-connected green grids will enable all of us to meet our climate goals: PM Modi New Delhi, July 22: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday suggested strengthening collaboration on the 'fuels for the future' and said that the 'High-level Principles on Hydrogen' are a step in the right direction. Realizing vision of inter-connected green grids will enable all of us to meet our climate goals: PM Modi In a video message, PM Modi addressed the G20 Energy Ministers Meet in Goa.Welcoming the dignitaries to India, the Prime Minister said that any discussion about the future, sustainability, growth and development is incomplete without mentioning energy as it impacts the development of individuals and nations at all levels.The Prime Minister underlined that even though every nation has a different reality and pathway for energy transition, he firmly believes that the goals of every country are the same. Throwing light on India's efforts in green growth and energy transition, he pointed out that India is the most populated nation and the fastest-growing large economy in the world and yet is strongly moving towards its climate commitments."The Prime Minister informed that India has achieved its non-fossil installed electric capacity target nine years in advance and set a higher target for itself. He mentioned that the nation plans to achieve 50 percent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030."India is also among the global leaders in solar and wind power", the Prime Minister said as he expressed delight that the Working Group delegates got a chance to witness the level and scale of India's commitment to clean energy by visiting the Pavagada Solar Park and Modhera Solar Village.Highlighting the achievements of the country in the last 9 years, the Prime Minister informed that India connected more than 190 million families with LPG while also recording the historic milestone of connecting every village with electricity. He also touched upon working to provide piped cooking gas to people which has the potential to cover more than 90 percent of the population in a few years."Our effort is to work for inclusive, resilient, equitable and sustainable energy for all", he added.The Prime Minister informed that in 2015, India began a small movement by launching a scheme for the use of LED lights which turned out to be the largest LED distribution program in the world saving us more than 45 billion units of energy per year. He also touched upon starting the largest agricultural pump solarization initiative in the world and India's domestic electric vehicle market projection of 10 million annual sales by 2030.He also highlighted commencing the rollout of 20 percent Ethanol Blended Petrol this year which aims to cover the entire country by 2025. For decarbonizing India, the Prime Minister said that the country is working on Mission mode on Green Hydrogen as an alternative and aims to transform India into a Global Hub for the production, use and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives.Noting that the world looks up to the G20 group to advance sustainable, just, affordable, inclusive and clean energy transition, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of taking the Global South along and ensuring low-cost finance for developing countries.He emphasized finding ways to bridge technology gaps, promote energy security and work on diversifying supply chains. The Prime Minister also suggested strengthening collaboration on the 'fuels for the future' and remarked that the 'High-level Principles on Hydrogen' are a step in the right direction.He further added that transnational grid interconnections can enhance energy security and India is promoting this mutually beneficial cooperation with its neighbors."Realizing the vision of inter-connected green grids can be transforming. It will enable all of us to meet our climate goals, stimulate green investment, and create millions of green jobs", the Prime Minister said.He extended an invitation to all participating nations to join the Green Grids Initiative - 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' of the International Solar Alliance.The Prime Minister underlined that caring for the surroundings can be natural or cultural but it is India's traditional wisdom that strengthens Mission LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment, a movement that will make each one of us a climate champion.Concluding the address, the Prime Minister emphasized that our thoughts and actions must always help preserve our 'One Earth', protect the interests of our 'One Family', and move towards a Green 'One Future' no matter how we transition.ANI22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Himachal CM seeks disaster fund of Rs 315 crore Shimla, July 22: Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday requested the Union government to release a disaster fund of Rs 315.80 crore that has been withheld for the past few years. Himachal CM seeks disaster fund of Rs 315 crore He said an amount of Rs 121.71 crore was allocated in 2020-21 and Rs 133.56 crore in 2021-22 under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) and Rs 61.07 crore for 2019-20 under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).The delay was attributed to objections raised by the Accountant General which the state has resolved, the Chief Minister said. Now that all objections have been cleared, the Chief Minister emphasised the urgency of the situation as the state has faced severe devastation caused by incessant rains and flashfloods.He said to address the immediate needs arising from the natural calamity, the state government is urging the Centre to expedite the release of the allocated funds. Sukhu said the amount, if released promptly, will play a crucial role in assisting the state's recovery efforts and providing much-needed relief to those affected by the disaster.IANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Experts discuss the future of blockchain technology in India's startup revolution NewsVoir, Mumbai, July 22: As a part of Startup 20 engagement forum of the G20 presidency, Savishkar India, in collaboration with National Stock Exchange, Anantam ecosystem and Digital Prosperity for Asia organized a roundtable conference titled "Blockchain Revolution: Unlocking Startup Opportunities in India" on 20th July 2023 at NSE, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. The round table conference, which was attended by 54 participants emphasized on how blockchain technology has the ability to revolutionize the startup ecosystem. Experts discuss the future of blockchain technology in India's startup revolution The roundtable brought together key stakeholders from National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission, Atal Incubation Center, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Entrepreneurship . The objective was to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and policy discussions that will pave the way for unlocking the full potential of blockchain technology.Chintan Oza, Council Member, Alliance Taskforce, Startup 20 and Dr. Sujata Seshadrinathan, Director - IT, Basiz Fund Services, Mumbai presented their thoughts on blockchain. Their presentation specified statistics and research on technology, opportunities, regulatory frameworks, challenges, cross border trade and engagement with government.During the discussions, Dr Seshadrinathan spoke about the opportunities, challenges and enabling factors of blockchain in various sectors. She spoke on implementation and cost of blockchain innovation and went on to say that; "Blockchain is helping us to build a better world. It is here to stay and there is no other technology like it. While many have understood the features of blockchain but not the technology behind it. There will be a gap in of every innovation adoption in first few years. However, as far as technology is concerned, blockchain is one of the most powerful innovations of recent times and also the most misunderstood" Dr. Seshadrinathan added.Stating the importance of blockchain Ashish Chauhan said "One thing is very sure, young people will learn technology faster and will enlighten us. We need a 'patra' for knowledge, a person who has that credibility and authority of the subject, who can communicate and shape discussions on it with authorities" In his concluding statement Chauhan states, "We need to focus on blockchain technology, AI, 5G and all kinds of technology, their advantages and disadvantages. It is important that we have forums where all aspects of these technologies are discussed and then brought to light to the policy makers. Blockchain as a technology is here to stay and such discussions are very much necessary for the betterment of our country".Ramnath Gopalakrishnan, Director & GM - APAC for DPA Member Quickwork, which has been a key member in exploring collaborations and opportunities in the APAC region, said, "The Coalition for Digital Prosperity for Asia supports the Startup20 India initiative as a vital step towards empowering Indian SMEs in the blockchain and digital sectors to achieve their full potential and power robust growth for India's digital economy. Events like this roundtable allow digital and blockchain entrepreneurs to demonstrate their ingenuity and showcase the potential of this emergent and promising market. The DPA is proud to be a partner of this Startup 20 engagement under the G20 umbrella and work towards creating opportunities for capacity development for India's digital startup ecosystem, promoting seamless cross border data flows, and high standards of digital trade."Besides Oza and Dr Seshadrinathan, the event saw participation and discussions from several other renowned names including Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, National Stock Exchange, Mumbai; Nilesh Vohra, Enterprise Leader - Digital Transformation & Technology Infrastructure Enterprise Leader Arthur D. Little, among others.The discussion was moderated by Krantisagar More, PhD Scholar in pharmaceutics at the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, National Convenor, Savishkar India. Other subject matter experts including Ekta Singh, IP Lawyer, Web 3; Dr. Unnat P Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, and Uday Wankawala, CEO Atal Incubation Center- Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini were also part of the conference. Malcolm Gonsalves, and Kushaal Patel, two youth entrepreneurs, shared their perspectives on Blockchain system and application in India.Blockchain technology has been significant growth in India. Interestingly, both public and private sectors are exploring the potential of blockchain technology and ways to leverage it. There is immense scope for value addition in the several sectors including financial sector, supply chain management, healthcare, and education sectors to expedite processes, validate and securely store data. Government of India has already begun exploring the use of blockchain for government services through 'IndiaChain', a block initiative launched by NITI Aayog. There is growing number of blockchain businesses and innovation centers focuses on studying, creating, and implementing its use across domains.Savishkar India Savishkar India is governed by Vidyarthi Kalyan Niyas Bhopal, MP. It provides incubation platforms and internships to those who want to become entrepreneurs. Bringing out talent, the organization encourages your creative ideas, provides a healthy dialogue with industry for the technological and sustainable development of IndiaDigital prosperity for Asia The coalition for the Digital Prosperity for Asia is an organization consisting of a growing group of innovative Asian digital companies promoting the democratization of digital technologies across all sectors. It supports national governments and policymakers in APAC to grow their digital economies and reap the benefit of digital technologies. The coalition is looking for more like-minded APAC companies in the digital space that recognize the importance of growing the digital economy for local value creation and for shared prosperity across Asia.National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission A National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission under the initiative of the Government's "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav", has been launched by Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT. The pan-India ambitious mission aims to provide awareness on intellectual property and its rights to 1 million students. It aims to inculcate the spirit of creativity and innovation to students of higher education and ignite and inspire the students of college/Universities to innovate and protect their creations.Institute of Chemical Technology University Department of Chemical Technology of the University of Bombay, was established on October 1, 1933, with the noble intention of advancing India's knowledge reserves in chemical science and technology, the Institute has grown to become a premier university devoted to education, training, research and industrial collaboration in chemical engineering, chemical technology, applied chemistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, and bioprocessing.Atal Incubation Center Atal Incubation Centre is a flagship initiative to promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India. It is an umbrella structure that has been mandated to promote innovation and revolutionize the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. It develops new policies and programmes for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy and provides platform and collaboration opportunities to various stakeholders in the entrepreneurial space.Startup20 It is established under the G20 India Presidency 2023, is an engagement group representing global startup ecosystem stakeholders and raising macroeconomic concerns. It works on key topics, formulating recommendations, and presenting final recommendations to the G20 Presidency for discussion at the G20 Summit.Group of Twenty The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development, The G20 Summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating Presidency.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Entrepreneurship The IEEE Entrepreneurship community is at the forefront of turning ideas into successful businesses. Their priority is to help our members not just launch but grow their ventures and facilitate the networking and mentoring of those who have the passion to translate their vision into reality.Anantam ecosystem A venture capital and private equity principals company working on ecosystem for Startup and MSME.National Stock Exchange National Stock Exchange of India Limited is one of the leading stock exchanges in India, based in Mumbai. It is the world's largest derivatives exchange by number of contracts traded and the third largest in cash equities by number of trades, It is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalization. NSE's flagship index, the NIFTY 50, a 50-stock index is used extensively by investors in India and around the world as a barometer of the Indian capital market. NSE is the venue partner of this Round table conference.ANI22 July 2023 Shared Recently! IAF evacuates 40 villagers marooned in Yavatmal floods Nagpur, July 22: The Indian Air Force on Saturday afternoon sent a MI-17 V5 helicopter to evacuate at least 40 villagers marooned in flood waters at Anandnagar-Tanda village of Mahagaon in Yavatmal, officials said here. IAF evacuates 40 villagers marooned in Yavatmal floods The official said that the chopper was deployed following a request from the district authorities as the region grapples with incessant rains for the past two days.In and around Anandnagar-Tanda, scores of homes were flooded and people were forced to wade out in 3-4 feet deep waters to safter locations even as the water levels continued to rise, inundating the village roads and the agricultural fields around.Earlier this afternoon, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that around 45 people were stranded in the flooded villages and two helicopters would be dispatched to evacuate them.A defence official confirmed this evening that one chopper was flown to the affected region and the evacuation work was currently underway.Besides, a SDRF team is also en route to Anandnagar-Tanda to rescue the other villagers even as the area continued to be lashed with heavy rains this evening.Vidarbha, the eastern region of Maharashtra has been witnessing a downpour in the past 48 hours in Nagpur, Yavatmal, Buldhana, Gadchiroli and other districts.The torrential rains have claimed at least 8 lives and another two dozen injured in various rain-related incidents while all concerned agencies are in a state of high alert as more rains are predicted.IANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Radio show BIG Antakshari to have visual round, reveals Annu Kapoor Mumbai, July 22: Actor-radio host Annu Kapoor, who is known for films like 'Darr', 'Tezaab', 'Ek Ruka Hua Faisla', 'Vicky Donor' and others, is bringing the iconic 'Antakshari', this time for the listeners on radio. The multi-hyphenate artiste revealed that this time around though it's a radio program, 'Antakshari' will also have a visual round. Radio show 'BIG Antakshari' to have visual round, reveals Annu Kapoor The actor told IANS, "We've taken a leaf out of the 90s nostalgia book and crafted the design and premise of 'BIG Antakshari' to evoke those heartwarming memories. So if you've watched this gem back in the day, you'll find yourself effortlessly reconnecting with it, like meeting an old friend after ages.Talking about the premise and design, he shared that the concept remains the same, true to its original format.He said, "The rounds will start with the traditional Akshar Round followed by the Word Round challenging the contestants to push themselves to think quickly. The third round is the Visual round, that too a visual round on radio. The way that this will work is that I will give the contestants the description of a 'drishya' (scene) and the contestants Bank of Baroda Deewane, Bank of Baroda Parwaane and Bank of Baroda Mastaane will have to identify it. Finally, there is the Dhun Round, which is very simple to play".'Antakshari' is one of the oldest shows on television but a lot has changed since its debut. When asked about the show's brahmastra to connect with the audience, he said, "For a fabulous decade, I've been taking the listeners on a 'Suhaana Safar' through melodies and memories, making it 10 whole years since my association with BIG FM. About a year or two ago, I had this idea and the amazing folks at BIG FM too said it is now time to bring the concept of Antakshari on radio"."The USP of BIG Antakshari is its authenticity and simplicity. Back in the day, Antakshari was no ordinary game; it was a form of art and expression in the Gurukuls. It was a medium of education, and now, it's transformed into a mode of entertainment. Talking about music evolution at its finest, in today's day and age, some songs are instant hits, some might not be your cup of tea, but guess what? When it comes to Antakshari, there's no debate! Music is subjective, and it unites every heart, young or old. On the show, we have 18 -19-year-olds as well that just goes on to reflect its universal appeal that transcends age and time, effortlessly bridging the gap between generations", he added.'BIG Antakshari' airs on Friday and Saturday on BIG FM.IANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! Kerala HC gives green signal to Adani Ports for quarrying Kochi, July 22: The Kerala High Court has quashed conditions imposed by the Nagaroor Grama Panchayat on a quarrying license granted to 'M/s Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd', considering that the state had already cleared Adani Ports for such activities as part of the Vizhinjam seaport project. Kerala HC gives green signal to Adani Ports for quarrying The Court pointed out that the state's statutory authorities have already given clearance for quarrying to Adani Port, it was unnecessary for the Panchayat to interfere with the same or constitute a committee to decide on related matters."These are all issues falling within the powers of the statutory authorities specifically designated for the purpose. When the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, the Director of Mining and Geology and the District Collector who is the Chairman of the District Disaster Management Authority have given clearances to the petitioner (Adani), the Constitution of a committee by the Panchayat to determine these issues is unwarranted," the High Court pointed out.The Court was considering a plea filed by Adani challenging four conditions imposed by the Nagaroor Grama Panchayat in a resolution to grant Adani Ports license for quarrying.Adani Ports was selected as the concessionaire for the Vizhinjam seaport project, the construction of which began on December 5, 2015.The Nagaroor Grama Panchayat had sought to impose certain conditions for quarrying activities.The court noted that the state government had already given priority to Adani in quarrying activities on government land.The High Court concluded that the conditions stipulated by the Panchayat were highly arbitrary and illegal and would not stand the scrutiny of law.Therefore, it set aside the Panchayat's resolution to the extent it imposed conditions for the grant of permission to Adani Ports for its quarrying activities.IANS22 July 2023 Shared Recently! The International Organisation UNESCO has expressed its strong condemnation of the attack by the Russian occupiers on the World Heritage Site of the Historic Centre of Odesa. In its appeal, UNESCO called on Russia to stop attacks on cultural property protected by international regulations. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated on the official website of the organisation. This attack comes just two weeks after a strike that destroyed a historic building in Lviv, and is the second to date in a site protected under the World Heritage Convention. "UNESCO expresses its support to the people of Odesa and sincere condolences to the families of the victims. The preliminary assessment in Odesa revealed damage to several museums located in the World Heritage site, including the Odesa Archaeological Museum, the Odesa Maritime Museum and the Odesa Literary Museum. All of them were marked by UNESCO and local authorities with the Blue Shield, the distinctive emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention," the statement said. UNESCO stressed that the war started by Russia poses an increasing threat to Ukrainian culture. The organisation has confirmed the destruction of 270 cultural sites in Ukraine since 24 February 2022. ADVERTISIMENT On the morning of 21 June, Russian troops again shelled Odesa region. The infrastructure of the Belgorod-Dniester district was under attack. Earlier it was reported that on the night of 20 July, Russia attacked the south of Ukraine. In the centre of Odesa, an administrative building and many nearby houses were destroyed, and a civilian security guard was reportedly killed in the destroyed building. In Mykolaiv, the enemy hit a residential building. One person has been reported dead and at least 19 injured, including five children, the youngest of whom is under one year old. The Russian Ministry of Defence called the missile attacks on Odesa and Mykolaiv "retaliatory strikes", apparently for the attack on the Crimean bridge. Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Babies are more likely to be born prematurely when either their father or mother has had a psychiatric diagnosis, according to a study conducted by researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Karolinska Institutet and published July 20 in the open access journal PLOS Medicine. The research shows, for the first time, that the risk of preterm birth is higher in infants whose father or mother has a psychiatric diagnosis than in those whose parents do not, and higher still when both parents have such diagnoses. Preterm birth is associated with negative health consequences for infants. Women with psychiatric diagnoses have long been known to be at increased risk for preterm birth, but less is known about the risk in offspring of fathers with psychiatric diagnoses and couples where both parents had psychiatric diagnoses. For this study, the research team analyzed data on all live births to Nordic parents (parents who were born in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) in Sweden between 1997 and 2016. They obtained psychiatric diagnoses from the National Patient Register and data on gestational age from the Medical Birth Register. There were 1.5 million births in the cohort, and 15 percent of those babies were born to parents with a psychiatric diagnosis. The team observed a trend towards earlier gestational age in offspring of parents with psychiatric disorders. For parents without a diagnosis, 5.8 percent of babies were born preterm. A paternal diagnosis increased that number to 6.3 percent of births and a maternal diagnosis increased it to 7.3 percent of births. Where both parents had a diagnosis, 8.3 percent of births were preterm. The researchers also found that the risk was further increased for offspring of parents-;mothers as well as fathers-;who had several co-existing psychiatric disorders. Although the study was conducted in Sweden, if we speculate that inherited genetic risk a well as biological or psychological stress can carry over to other populations, the results are generalizable beyond Sweden. Given that roughly one in five children in the United States has at least one parent with a mental health disorder, the results of this study hold potential significance for public health." Sven Sandin, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and an epidemiologist at the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Icahn Mount Sinai and senior author on the paper "Preterm birth can result in significant lifelong complications for the infant, and in my clinical experience, the mother has traditionally been held responsible for the events," said Michael Silverman, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Icahn Mount Sinai and an author on the paper. "While the gestational parent's (the mother's) behaviors have been historically implicated in a wide range of disorders like depression, autism, schizophrenia, and even food allergy, the non-gestational parent's contributions have been a neglected but vital topic in the child developmental literature. This new work demonstrates that the non-gestational biologic parent's (the father's) psychiatric history is also associated with the increased likelihood of obstetric outcomes traditionally attributed solely to the mother." "Children of parents with mental illness are at increased risk of being born too early and our study shows that both the mothers and fathers are important," says Weiyao Yin, PhD, postdoctoral researcher at the Karolinska Institutet and lead author of the paper. Future studies should examine whether additional social support and prenatal care for families with a positive psychiatric history could have an impact on gestational age, the researchers said. Katy Borner's team from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering's Cyberinfrastructure for Network Science Center has made significant contributions to constructing a Human Reference Atlas and has led or co-authored six research articles in a just-released HuBMAP package in Nature. Borner, Victor H. Yngve distinguished professor of engineering and information science, and CNS director, leads one of the two mapping components within the NIH-funded Human BioMolecular Atlas Program. Her team includes experts from Indiana University, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, Harvard Medical School, and the EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute in the UK. The perspective, "Advances and Perspectives for the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP)," provides an overview of recent accomplishments and detailed maps at single-cell resolution. Ellen Quardokus, research scientist at IU, and Andrea Radtke, senior scientist at NIH, both members of the MC-IU team, lead the effort that resulted in "Organ Mapping Antibody Panels (OMAPs): A community resource for standardized multiplexed tissue imaging." Organ Mapping Antibody Panels (OMAPs) and accompanying Antibody Validation Reports (AVRs) reflect the hard work and dedication of a team of domain experts in academia, industry, and government. Together, we have worked to overcome the cost, time, and expertise required to map human tissues using multiplexed antibody-based imaging. In addition to providing data on hundreds of community-validated antibodies for diverse imaging methods such as CODEX, IBEX, and Cell DIVE, OMAPs are aligned to data in the Human Reference Atlas, providing evidence for cell types in specific anatomical structures. We are excited to share these resources with the growing spatial biology community and look forward to accelerating discovery together." Andrea Radtke, senior scientist at NIH Yingnan Ju, Luddy School PhD candidate, and Borner collaborated with the GE research team on "3D reconstruction of skin and spatial mapping of immune cell density, vascular distance and effects of sun exposure and aging". "This paper seamlessly bridges the gap between practical industrial applications and my academic pursuits" Ju said. "We successfully integrated data visualization and machine learning, synthesizing the invaluable insights from my GE internship with my research at Indiana University. This collaboration has not only laid a solid foundation for future exploration but also added substantial value to my Ph.D. experience. I am excited and look forward to further collaboration." CNS Research Scientist Andreas Bueckle was a contact author for "Tissue Registration and Exploration User Interfaces in support of a Human Reference Atlas." The paper details the registration and exploration user interfaces that empower users to spatially register their data to one of the 66 3D reference organs and semantically and spatially explore the thousands of tissue blocks now mapped to the HRA. Users can do that in a 3D environment, deployed to a web browser and reachable by anyone with an internet connection and with hooks into the HuBMAP Data Portal. "Building a Human Reference Atlas is a gigantic endeavor that requires skills and abilities from a diverse set of experts," Bueckle said. "This necessitates tools with state-of-the-art user interfaces." Yashvardhan Jain, CNS Research Software Engineer is the lead author of "Robust and generalizable segmentation of human functional tissue units." "Construction of the Human Reference Atlas (HRA) requires a combination of human intelligence and machine intelligence," Jain said. "Detecting and segmenting structures such as functional tissue units in human tissue images is an important step and needs efficient machine learning algorithms that can automate such tasks, enabling processing and analysis of datasets at scale." Jain said global data science competition platforms such as Kaggle can be leveraged to engage data scientists, machine learning engineers and researchers across the globe to accelerate the development of efficient, generalizable and scalable algorithms that can aid the development of such automated tools. Griffin Weber, Harvard Medical School lead the team that published "Anatomical structures, cell types, and biomarkers of the healthy human blood vasculature". "The Human Reference Atlas-Vasculature Common Coordinate Framework (HRA-VCCF) dataset is the first open, computer-readable, and comprehensive database of the adult human blood vasculature," he said. "It contains a list of blood vessels and their branching relationships, as well as associated cell types and biomarkers, the vessel type, anastomoses, portal systems, microvasculature, functional tissue units, links to 3D reference objects, vessel geometries (length, diameter), and mappings to anatomical structures the vessels supply or drain. Because the vasculature extends to all parts of the body, this database forms a core part of the Human Reference Atlas (HRA), linking together organ-specific datasets." You can explore a video of the envisioned VCCF. The MC-IU team authored, "Specimen, Biological Structure, and Spatial Ontologies in Support of a Human Reference Atlas." The Human Reference Atlas is a multiscale, pan-tissue, three-dimensional digital atlas of the healthy human body. It provides standard terminologies and data structures for describing specimens, biological structures, and spatial positions linked to existing ontologies. As of July 2023, the atlas comprises 30 organs with 4,340 named anatomical structures, 1,474 cell types, and 3,842 characteristic biomarkers plus more than 1,200 anatomically correct reference objects. All data is available for free at the HRA Portal. "We are excited to see the atlas grow in coverage and quality during the HuBMAP Production phase," Borner said. Their work was among a set of nine scientific papers released in the Nature family of journals describing breakthroughs in high resolution, multiscale and multimodal mapping of the human body in two and three dimensions. HuBMAP researchers have published more than 270 scientific papers, presenting advances in software and experimental technologies, creating maps of healthy human tissues at the cellular level. In just three years, millions of people across Michigan's two huge peninsulas have taken advantage of their newfound ability to connect with their doctors, nurses and therapists through a computer or phone, a new report shows. Between 11% and 17% of all appointments to evaluate symptoms or discuss treatment now take place virtually, depending on the type of insurance, the analysis shows. That's up from less than 1% of such visits before the COVID-19 pandemic suddenly spurred temporary flexibility in health insurance rules for telehealth, according to the report by a team from the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. The team used insurance data to prepare the report for the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation. Their analysis shows how telehealth has especially helped the 1 in 5 Michiganders who have mental health care needs most notably those who live in the 38 counties that have few or no behavioral health care providers. It also reveals lags in telehealth's use by those living in rural areas, especially areas with lower percentages of homes with broadband Internet access. The team also examined telehealth across state lines, including by 'snowbirds' who split their time between Michigan and Florida. Policy implications Temporary telehealth rules will expire next year. So the report's authors make recommendations they hope policymakers and private health insurance companies will note as they plan telehealth coverage for the long-term. "From the Upper Peninsula to Detroit, and everywhere in between, it's clear that Michiganders have embraced telehealth for the access and convenience it provides, as well as the original goal of reduced exposure to coronavirus," said Chad Elllimoottil, M.D., M.S., the U-M researcher and telehealth expert who led the team. "But the future of telehealth in our state and beyond will depend on the decisions policymakers and insurance leaders make in coming months, not just for coverage but also for expansion of Internet access and the supply of mental health providers." Ellimoottil directs IHPI's Telehealth Research Incubator and serves as medical director of Virtual Care for the University of Michigan Medical Group, part of U-M's academic medical center called Michigan Medicine. He worked on the report with researchers Ziwei Zhu, Xinwei Hi, Monica Van Til, who together analyzed data on traditional fee-for-service Medicare and some data from patients covered by private managed care plans from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, as well as with IHPI member Sarah Clark, M.P.H., who analyzed Medicaid data. On August 10, Ellimoottil will speak about the findings and more at a webinar hosted by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund; information and a link for registration are here. This report highlights how telehealth has transformed the way we think about access to care across Michigan, including dramatic shifts in the delivery of behavioral health care. We're excited for the valuable insights revealed in the data and the ways they will equip providers and policymakers to make informed, effective decisions that maximize the benefits of telehealth to expand access to care." Becky Cienki, Director of Behavioral Health and Special Projects at the Michigan Health Endowment Fund Key findings: Telehealth visits by insurance source: In all, 11% of visits by Medicare participants were done via telehealth in 2022, compared with 13% of Medicaid-covered visits and 17% of visits billed to private insurance. In addition, 10% of people with Medicare coverage who sought care at 'safety net' clinics were seen via telehealth. The overall volume of outpatient visits by people covered by both traditional Medicare and private insurance remained steady from mid-2020 through the end of 2022, so Ellimoottil notes that this indicates telehealth substituted for appointments that would otherwise have been in person, rather than adding to the number of visits. Rural vs. non-rural: Before the pandemic, Medicare and other insurers had narrow requirements for telehealth, focused on people living in rural areas. But they could only get coverage for such visits if they left home and went to a local clinic to sign on. The new study finds that in 2019, rural counties in central and northern Michigan had the highest rates of telehealth visits per 1,000 residents. But by 2020 and 2021, the counties with the highest rates of telehealth use were also the most populated counties, especially the five counties of southeast Michigan where nearly half of the state's population lives. In all, about 31% of people living in rural counties had a telehealth visit, compared with 46% of those in non-rural counties. The authors note that continued coverage of telehealth from home, rather than reverting to access only from rural clinics, will be important. Mental and behavioral health: Telehealth has long been seen as a potential option for delivering care for mental health conditions and substance use disorders including drug and alcohol addiction, because it often doesn't require a "hands on" approach. Plus, patients often feel a stigma against seeking treatment in person, and there is both a shortage and uneven distribution of providers trained to care for patients with these conditions. Telehealth use: The new report includes an analysis that confirms previous estimates that 1 in 5 people in Michigan have a mental health or behavioral health condition at any given time. Past studies have suggested that 40% of all adults with mental health conditions, and 80% of those with addiction issues, do not receive care. The report shows that almost half of all visits for mental/behavioral health care now happen by telehealth among Michiganders covered by traditional Medicare, based on two different analyses. They also determined which counties have patients receiving the most mental and behavioral health care. For people with Medicaid coverage living in these high-demand counties, the percentage having mental and behavioral health care visits by telehealth was much lower than it was for Medicare, at about 17% of such visits. Provider shortage: The report also shows that half of all Michigan counties have less than 10 mental health specialists, defined as practicing specialists in psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, psychology, clinical psychology, licensed clinical social work, or addiction medicine. One in 5 Michigan counties have one or no such providers. The team focused on 38 counties with the most dire shortages. In those counties, 57% of all visits with such providers took part via telehealth, for patients with traditional Medicare. Getting help outside shortage counties: The researchers drilled further to look at the locations where patients lived compared with the location where their mental/behavioral health provider practiced, to see if the availability of telehealth was making it easier to get care from providers based in areas with a higher supply of providers. In all, 82% of mental health visits by people living in counties with mental health provider shortages involved providers outside the patient's home county. Of those, the majority were conducted via telehealth in fact, out-of-county telehealth made up 47% of all mental health visits for people living in these shortage counties. In 13 counties, all mental/behavioral health visits by county residents were with providers in a different county. These data show that telehealth meant greater access to mental health care for people living in areas that lack providers of such care. Broadband Internet access: The higher the percentage of households that have broadband Internet access in a county, the higher the use of telehealth by Medicare participants there. The authors note that efforts to increase broadband availability statewide, but especially in the 29 counties that fall below the median level of broadband availability (82% of households), could increase the use of telehealth. Demographics: The researchers saw minimal differences in telehealth use along lines of age, gender, race/ethnicity, though women and people under age 65 were slightly more likely to use telehealth. Interestingly, they did see a higher rate of telehealth use among people who are eligible for both Medicaid because of low income and Medicare because of age or disability status; this "dual-eligible" population accounted for 23% of all telehealth users covered by traditional Medicare in 2020. While the new report did not look at what percentage of telehealth visits were done through a telephone voice connection only, previous research by U-M teams suggests that discontinuation of insurance coverage for phone visits may reduce telehealth access for patients who are older, African-American, need an interpreter, rely on Medicaid, and/or live in areas with limited broadband access. Snowbirds and other out-of-state telehealth: The temporary pandemic rules that allowed patients to see providers who are located in a different state led to more appointments of this kind in Michigan. But the percentage of all telehealth visits by Michiganders with Medicare that involved out-of-state providers stayed the same at about 3%. More than a quarter (28%) of all visits by Michiganders who saw a provider in another state virtually involved providers in Florida. These are likely Michigan "snowbirds" who spend part of their year in Florida and may have appointments with their providers there even when they're back in Michigan. Most of the other visits with out-of-state providers involved providers in states that neighbor Michigan. Ellimoottil says this suggests that policymakers should prioritize medical licensing reciprocity agreements with neighboring states and Florida, to give patients continued access to this kind of care. A child's coffin with the inscription 'The Future of Hungarian Youth' was placed outside the private home of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the town of Felczut. The action was organised by activist and lawyer Zoltan Keresten. ADVERTISIMENT He posted this on his Facebook page. The activist noted that at the funeral of Prime Minister Imre Nagy in 1989, Orban said: "By linking Hungary's fate to Soviet Russia until 1990, the communists took away and squandered the future of Hungarian youth." "The young man who spoke there has now become prime minister, and he is now doing the same thing as his despotic predecessors: he has linked Hungary's fate to a Putinist state of the Soviet-Russian type or even to the Communist Party of China," added Zoltan Keresten. ADVERTISIMENT He stressed that this is why Hungary is facing an economic crisis and the political elite is "getting fatter every day". The activist also complained about poor healthcare and education in the country. In a commentary to the Hungarian media, Zoltan Keresten noted that the police quickly arrived at the scene and searched his car. The activist said that since he refused to carry the coffin to the police, a case of abuse of the right to assembly would be opened against him. ADVERTISIMENT In early June, Orban said that a counter-offensive by the Ukrainian army could not be allowed. At the time, he was very "concerned" that Ukraine might suffer losses: Orban said that a Ukrainian counter-offensive would allegedly be a "bloody massacre" and stressed that "the attacking side will suffer more losses than the defending side". Before that, "Putin's friend" also made a statement that Ukrainians cannot win on the battlefield. According to him, Ukraine's military operations are doomed, and further assistance will allegedly only lead to more casualties. At the same time, according to Orban, "it doesn't matter who invaded whom". As OBOZREVATEL previously reported, Orban said that he did not consider Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal, and he also called the arrest warrant for the Russian dictator issued by the International Criminal Court "inappropriate". At the same time, the head of the Hungarian government has made a number of scandalous statements about Ukraine and Russian aggression. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available in our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! The inaugural batch of the two-year full-time residential MBA in Business Analytics programme at BITS Pilani has witnessed an impressive placement rate, with at least 95% of students already securing job offers, even before the academic session has concluded. Notable recruiters like Vodafone-Idea, Barclays, IBM, Volvo Eicher, Mahindra Logistics, Axtria, and Accenture have participated. The highest salary package reached Rs 27 lakh per annum, while the median compensation stood at Rs 16 lakh per annum. Professor Hariom Bansal, the Unit Chief of the Placement Unit at Pilani, highlighted in an interview with a news portal that with the program fees for the two-year study at approximately Rs 11 lakh, the Return on Investment (ROI) stands at an impressive Rs 1.5 lakh. This ROI surpasses many of the top B-Schools in the country, making it an attractive proposition for students. He expressed optimism that this outstanding outcome is from the debut batch, and they can anticipate even better results in the coming years. The MBA in Business Analytics program follows a structure of three semesters dedicated to theoretical learning, followed by a six-month premier internship program called Practice School at BITS Pilani. This internship offers candidates a practical experience in the corporate world, preparing them for their future jobs in the industry. Arjun Jaideep Bhatnagar, the placement coordinator, mentioned in the same interview that the industry has warmly welcomed the program. The intensive two-year on-campus course, with a batch size of 60 and an average work experience of two years, has yielded positive results. The high compensation offered to the students is evidence of the courses industry relevance and effectiveness. The course structure includes three semesters of theory classes, followed by a substantial six-month internship program (Practice School) at BITS Pilani. The internship provides valuable practical experience; and during this period, placements are organised for the students. Its worth noting that BITS Pilani holds a notable NIRF ranking of 27. BITS Pilani is a prestigious university located in Pilani, Rajasthan. The universitys main focus is on higher education and research in engineering and sciences. BITS Pilani is among the first six institutes in India to receive the prestigious Institute of Eminence status. As of 2012, the university had an exceptionally low acceptance rate of 1.47%, which speaks to its exclusivity and reputation as one of the most esteemed technical universities globally. In todays competitive job market, everybody wants to land a job in famous multinational corporations (MNCs) such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon. These tech giants also look for talented individuals, who possess diverse skill sets and are constantly updated with the changing technology. In this situation, getting a Bachelors degree in Technology is no longer sufficient to get these high-paying jobs. An individual has to make efforts to acquire additional skill sets to stay up to date in the market. These companies majorly work on software, making it easier to secure a job for software engineers. Aspiring candidates also need to have a wider knowledge of programming languages. They should also be updated with the latest technology, such as the ever-growing Artificial Intelligence, data science, cloud computing, and automation. Individuals should pay closer attention to courses on Artificial Intelligence along with their professional degrees. There are certificate courses of six months to a year in this subject. One can also enrol in a course to learn the programming language Python. This language is majorly used by organisations like Google and Yahoo. Knowing this language makes an individual ready for the software industry. Along with this, data science also has a higher demand in the industry. The chances of securing a high-paying job will increase much more if someone takes a short course in this field. Cloud computing also has a lot of buzz in the technology market. The system deals with the delivery of computing services including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence over the Internet to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. Digital Marketing is also one of the most powerful tools in todays world, which can help an individual secure a high-paying job in these MNCs. The field uses online channels and tools to promote products and services. Digital Marketers conduct research, build brand loyalty, and create community. They also analyse data collected from online marketing to make a business more efficient and profitable. Knowing digital marketing may prove to be very beneficial for job-seekers. In a story of breaking barriers and embracing equality, a farmer named Maruti Jadhav from Maharashtras Beed district showcased the power of determination and hard work. Despite facing poverty and being illiterate, Maruti Jadhav left no stone unturned in providing equal opportunities for all his children, regardless of their gender. As a sugarcane labourer, Maruti Jadhav supported his family through farming, ensuring that his children had access to education and a chance at a brighter future. The financial struggles were immense, and to supplement their meagre income, he took on extra work, cutting sugarcane in addition to his farming responsibilities. To meet the expenses of his daughters education, Jadhavs wife even had to mortgage her mangalsutra, a symbol of their marital bond and love. Despite the challenges imposed by the Corona period, Jadhavs eldest daughter, Sonali, showcased exceptional dedication and determination, securing a coveted position in the police recruitment process. Her achievement not only brought immense pride to her family but also served as a powerful role model for her younger sisters, Shakti and Lakshmi. Inspired by Sonalis success, both Shakti and Lakshmi decided to follow in her footsteps and pursue careers in the police force as well. This momentous decision marked a significant milestone in their villages history, as it was the first time that three daughters from the same family had joined the esteemed police force. As the trio returned home, and donned their police uniforms, their family and the entire village celebrated their remarkable achievements. The village panchayat acknowledged and praised the daughters from Parli village, Maharashtra, for their exceptional dedication and success. In an interview with the media, the sisters expressed their gratitude to their elder sister, Sonali, for being a beacon of inspiration and encouragement. Sonalis selection had significantly boosted the confidence of Shakti and Lakshmi, instilling in them the belief that they too could aspire to pursue careers in the police or other government jobs. The achievements of these three sisters have not only brought immense pride and joy to their family but also set an inspiring example for every girl in their village. They have shattered stereotypes and prove that with determination, hard work, and access to opportunities, gender should never be a barrier to success. Their journey from poverty to pride serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of education and equal opportunities for all children, irrespective of their social and economic backgrounds. The unwavering support and determination of their father, Maruti Jadhav, played a crucial role in enabling his daughters to fulfil their dreams and make a mark in society. North Eastern Hill University vice-chancellor PS Shukla on Friday assured principals of all affiliated undergraduate colleges of the varsitys support to implement the new National Education Policy 2020, officials said. The university had announced that all affiliated colleges will implement the four-year undergraduate programme as envisaged in the NEP 2020 from the next academic session. Accordingly, the university authorities had convened a meeting with all college principals who were at first reluctant to implement the NEP 2020 from this year in view of the lack of infrastructure and the need to train the faculty. The vice-chancellor assured the principals that NEHU will provide them with all necessary support to implement NEP 2020 successfully, the university said in a statement. Under the new policy, students will now have the choice of leaving study after every academic year under the multiple entry and multiple exit provision. A student who wishes to discontinue after the first year will get a certificate, a diploma after the second year, and a degree after the third year, while a student who completes the four-year programme will receive a degree with research, it added. Shukla also informed that all 73 affiliated colleges should make efforts to collaborate with various skill development centres, industries, and enterprises to provide internships to the students. While the principals agreed that the implementation of the New Education Policy is the need of the hour, they assured that they will do everything in their capacity to make it a success. Meanwhile, the teachers in affiliated colleges of NEHU have written a protest letter to the vice-chancellor accusing him of breaching privileges and powers and disregarding the stakeholders. Your office has violated all principles of propriety by causing a breach to the privileges, powers and functions of the academic council, Meghalaya College Teachers Association general secretary SW Rani said in a letter to the VC. Your method of implementing the NEP 2020 is undemocratic and dictatorial in nature paying disregard to the concerns of the stakeholders, he added, citing that the academic council meeting did not adopt any resolution to accept NEP 2020 from the upcoming academic session. The Minister Of Health And Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, informed the Parliament that as of now there is no proposal for centralised NEET counselling for undergraduate or postgraduate medical courses. Mandaviya made the announcement today while answering a question from Kavitha Malothu, a Member of Parliament from Mahbubabad constituency. Malothu raised a question to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare asking if the National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a centralised counselling system for UG and PG admissions in the medical colleges. Answering the same, the Health Minister clarified There is no proposal for centralised counselling for undergraduate or postgraduate medical courses for the academic year 2023-24. No changes to the existing scheme of allocation of seats to various quotas has been made. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) conducts the counselling for seats of undergraduate (UG/MBBS) and postgraduate (PG) medical courses in India. The counselling process is based on how much a student scores in NEET UG and NEET PG. As per the information given by the ministry, counselling for Undergraduate courses covers 15 per cent all India quota seats, 100 per cent seats of Central Institutes/ Universities, Deemed Universities and 100 per cent seats in all the Institutes of National Importance (INI). Likewise, the counselling for PG courses covers 50 per cent seats of All India Quota seats, 100 per cent seats of Central Institutes/Universities and Deemed Universities. The counselling for the state quota seats in UG and PG medical courses is conducted by the respective governments in the states. Meanwhile, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) counselling timetable for 2023 has been released by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Candidates can view the timetable and apply for counselling on the official website, mcc.nic.in. The registration period for the first list will start on July 27 and finish on August 1 pursuant to the schedule. American tech giant Googles name is known to all. The company focuses on artificial intelligence, online advertising, search engine technology, e-commerce, and consumer electronics. It is referred to as the most powerful company in the world. It is also one of the worlds most valuable brands, known for its market dominance, data collection, and technological advantages in the field of artificial intelligence. Being a software giant, Google also provides the best pay packages to its employees. Recently, salary reports of Google employees have been leaked, which is currently garnering everyones attention. The report revealed details about how much its employees got paid in 2022. The data released is only valid for full-time employees in America. Lets take a look at the salary packages of Google employees. As per the leaked report, software engineers get the highest salary at Google. In the report through which the salaries of Google employees have been revealed, the top 10 posts have been mentioned. This includes Software Engineer, Engineer Manager, Enterprise Direct Sales, Legal Corporate Counsel, Sales Strategy, and UX Design positions. In 2022, the base salary of software engineers was Rs 5.9 crore. Engineering managers acquired the second-best salary of Rs 3.28 crore. Employees working in the Enterprise Direct Sales and Legal Corporate Counsel teams were paid Rs 3.09 crore and Rs 2.62 crore as base salaries, respectively. The Program Managers earned the lowest base salary of Rs 2.46 crore in 2022. Altogether, the spreadsheet report incorporated the details of 12,000 Google employees. The median salary procured by a Google employee in 2022 was viewed to be Rs 2.3 crore. Along with salary, Google also provides facilities like stock options and other bonuses to its employees. In the 2022 data collected by MyLogIQ, Meta ranked second and Googles parent company, Alphabet, ranked third among the highest-paying companies. The data was analysed by the Wall Street Journal. As per the latest reports, on Thursday, Google announced that it had started a new initiative. They have begun a test of a new artificial intelligence tool that could prove useful for journalists to write news pieces. The tool has been named Genesis. It can take information about current events and curate news content. The objective behind developing the tool is to ensure journalists have more time at their disposal to perform important tasks that are higher on the priority list. The Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission (UPPSC) recently made a significant announcement regarding the dates of the Combined State/Upper Subordinate Services (UPPSC PCS) Main Exam 2023. The exam, which was originally scheduled for September 23, had to be rescheduled as it clashed with the dates of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Service Main Exam 2023, set to take place from September 15 to September 24. In response to this overlap, UPPSC has now extended the UP PCS Main Exam to be held from September 26 to September 29. In an official notice issued by UPPSC, the commission stated, In relation to the Combined State Senior Subordinate Services Main Examination 2023, the candidates are informed that the main examination in question was proposed on September 23, 2023, but due to the Union Public Service Commissions civil service examination being held from September 15 to September 24, 2023, it has been postponed and will be held between September 26 to 29." The UP PCS exam aims to fill 254 vacant posts, and a total of 4047 candidates have successfully qualified the preliminary examination and will now appear for the main examination. As the UPPSC PCS main exam dates have been rescheduled, the commission is expected to release the Detailed Application Form (DAF) for the main exam soon. Candidates appearing for the exam will be required to fill out the UPPSC 2023 main exam form online. The DAF serves as a crucial dossier during the interview process, and candidates are advised to carefully fill it out, as a majority of the interview questions will be based on the information provided in the DAF. In a notable development, the UPPSC PCS prelims result for 2023 was released online on June 27. This year, UPPSC has announced that it will be the first time the UPPSC PCS main exam will be conducted without an optional subject. Following approval from the state government, the Commission has made alterations to the pattern of the UPPSC 2023 main exam, as stated in the official notification. Guddan Tumse Na Ho Payega fame Dalljiet Kaur, who was previously married to actor Shalin Bhanot, has found love again with Kenya-based businessman Nikhil Patel. They tied the knot in March this year. After being a single parent and raising her son Jaydon for years, the former Bigg Boss contestant recently opened up about her second marriage and her sons relationship with Nikhil. She also bravely shared the heartbreaking experience of how her son faced bullying in school for being raised by a single mother. In a candid conversation with ETimes, she revealed, It is sad, but as a single parent, what Jaydon faced was a lot of bullying in a way that whos going to fight on your behalf, your mothers gonna fight, and they would laugh about it." She said, It was like a joke and it would happen in school and in our building. I would obviously go and rescue him wherever possible. But there was a time when Jaydon actually told me toh kya hua mumma bullying is fine. I was scared oh my god is he getting used to it? But with Nick coming into his life, he feels the power of a male presence in his life. Dalljiet Kaur revealed that in the past, she used to be strong and would fight on her son Jaydons behalf when he faced bullying incidents. However, Jaydon stopped sharing such incidents with her because he didnt want his mother to intervene. Instead, he now confides more in her husband, Nikhil Patel. The actress expressed that people have noticed positive changes in her son after their recent visit to India. He appears to be more active, confident, and more worldly and the credit for this transformation goes to her husband Nikhil Patel. Dalljiet mentioned that she used to be protective, and Jaydon lived in a bit of a bubble with her. However, Nikhil has introduced him to the real world and she feels that her son is fortunate to have such a positive presence in his life. In addition, Dalljiet Kaur also spoke about the joy of spending quality time with her husband, Nikhil Patel, along with his daughter and her son, Jaydon. She expressed that one thing they missed previously was companionship, and that is something they are now most excited to experience in their marriage. Kapil Sharmas recent tour for The Kapil Sharma Show in the United States has been nothing short of a sensation, as he continues to leave a trail of laughter and joy in every city they visit. The US tour is garnering immense popularity, with each show turning out to be a resounding success. As the tour progresses, Kapil Sharma is keeping his fans updated by sharing delightful pictures on his social media platforms. Recently, the actor shared a new picture on his Instagram, ahead of the Seattle show, captivating fans with his impeccable style and infectious charm. In the snapshot, Kapil Sharma can be seen donning an all-black attire that perfectly accentuates his trendy persona. He paired a chic printed shirt with black jeans and completed the look with matching black shoes and stylish glasses. The caption accompanying the picture read, Hello friends, smoothie pee lo," showcasing his signature humour. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kapil Sharma (@kapilsharma) As soon as the picture hit the internet, fans and followers flooded the comments section with an outpouring of love and admiration. One fan wrote, All black," accompanied by a fire emoji, while another chimed in with Swag" to describe the actors cool demeanour. Expressing their affection, one user commented, Love you, sir," while many others couldnt resist praising him for his dashing appearance. But thats not all, just a week ago, Kapil Sharma shared another delightful picture featuring him and his team members. In the picture, he can be seen posing alongside fellow cast members of The Kapil Sharma Show, including Kiku Sharda, Vikalp Mehta, Anukalp Goswami, and Kangna Sharma. The friendship was evident as they seemed to be having a fantastic time in the beautiful city of Chicago. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kapil Sharma (@kapilsharma) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kapil Sharma (@kapilsharma) Kapil Sharma kicked off his US tour in Dallas, where he was warmly received by a large audience. The shows were a huge hit, and as he travelled from Chicago to New Jersey, the crowds excitement only grew. Now, hes all set to entertain another bustling city, Washington. The Kapil Sharma Show is not just a regular skit, it involves live interactions that bring Kapil closer to his fans. During one of his live performances, Kapil left the audience mesmerized with his rendition of Humma Humma and got everyone grooving to Sukhbirs Ishq Tera Tadpave. He also shared behind-the-scenes glimpses from the shows, adding to the excitement. For the unversed, The Kapil Sharma Shows final episode was broadcasted in early July. According to Pinkvillas reports, there is a possibility that the show could return with a new season, likely in October or November of this year. However, as of now, Kapil Sharma has not given any official statement regarding this matter. Notably, the comedy show also stars Kiku Sharda, Chandan Prabhakar, and Archana Puran Singh. Get ready to embark on an adrenaline-fueled journey with Sony LIV as Twisted Metal makes its Global premiere on the 28th of July. This American series is destined to provide viewers with an amazing viewing experience since it combines the turmoil of a wrecked planet with belly-laugh-inducing hilarity. Michael Jonathan Smith brings Twisted Metal to life in a total of 10 exhilarating episodes. Twisted Metal, a half-hour live-action TV series based on the classic PlayStation game series, is a high-octane action comedy, based on an original take by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick and written by Michael Jonathan Smith, about a motor-mouthed outsider offered a chance at a better life, but only if he can successfully deliver a mysterious package across a post-apocalyptic wasteland. With the help of a badass axe-wielding car thief, hell face savage marauders driving vehicles of destruction and other dangers of the open road, including a deranged clown who drives an all too familiar ice cream truck. This gripping series boasts an exceptionally talented ensemble cast. Anthony Mackie takes the wheel as John Doe, accompanied by Stephanie Beatriz, Thomas Haden Church, Will Arnett, Richard Cabral, and Samoa Joe, among others. So, mark your calendars and dont miss out on this nail-biting adventure that will leave you in absolute splits! Tune in to Sony LIV on 28th July to catch the madness of Twisted Metal. During a meeting in Tunis, Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry affirmed Egypt and President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisis support for President Kais Saieds efforts to achieve stability and development in Tunisia. Indias imports of oil from Russia reached a new height as New Delhis daily volumes climbed to 2.2 million barrels a day in June. The Russian purchases exceeded the combined shipments of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Though New Delhis trade with Russia reached a record, there are speculations that Indias appetite may have peaked and is going to decrease over the coming months. Reports also pointed out that it is getting tougher to pay Russia and the perils of paying in Chinese yuan, amid Indias strained ties with Beijing. News18 takes a look at Indias oil trade with Russia and the future possibilities: Rapid Rise of Russian Oil India, the worlds third largest consumer of crude, bought nearly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian crude in June, which was the highest for the country. In May, India had imported a record 1.95 million bpd from Russia. Moscow continued to be the single largest supplier of crude oil to India for the eighth straight month and made up for 42% of all oil India imported. India also became Russias second largest export market for crude. According to data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics Indias oil imports from Russia have grown more than 10 times since April 2022. Imports from Other countries Before Ukraine war, that began in February 2022, Russia was a marginal player in Indias oil trade, which was dominated by Middle Eastern countries like Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, the recent trade data shows that Indias June imports of Russian oil exceeded its combined purchases from Iraq and Saudi Arabia, the second and third biggest sellers to New Delhi. US emerged as the fourth-largest supplier to India, pushing UAE to the fifth place, the data showed. While Russia supplied about 42% of Indias crude oil imports, the Middle East countries share rose to about 41% after slipping in the previous three months. Imports from the Middle East fell by about 34% in the June quarter that a year ago, while those from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Russia nearly tripled. Why India Increased Oil Imports from Russia? India increased supply of Russian oil imports since Russia began selling it at a discount following western sanctions in the wake of the Ukraine war last year as Moscow wanted to plug the gap in its energy exports. Before the Ukraine war, India rarely bought oil from Russia because of the high freight costs. However, after the Western sanctions, there were plentiful Russian cargo available at a discount to supply oil. The average cost of Russian crude oil including the freight costs landing on Indian shores was $68.21 a barrel in April, the lowest level since the Ukraine war. Meanwhile, the average cost of Saudi Arabian crude sent to India was $86.96 a barrel, while Iraqi oil was priced at $77.77 a barrel in the same month. Return Back to Middle East? According to reports, Indias appetite for Russian oil may have peaked in June and going to decrease over the next months. Moreover, the Russian discounts is slowly eroding in recent weeks. It is also getting tougher for India to pay for the Russian oil imports as it faces repercussions of breaching the oil price cap of $60 a barrel set by the West, according to The Hindu. India has also recently started making payments to Russia using currencies like the Chinese yuan, but the use of currency has its own geopolitical ramifications amid New Delhis strained ties with Beijing. Moreover, the recent Wanger Mutiny has challenged the political stability in Russia and also briefly alarmed the oil market before the mercenary group surrendered. However, it is early to say if Russian imports will significantly dwindle in coming months and the chances of India likely increasing its import from the US and traditional trading partner in the Middle East. Pakistani citizen Seema Haider grabbed national attention for her controversial love story as she crossed the border to enter India after falling in love with her Indian boyfriend, who she met on an online game. Haider, however, has remained in headlines as she faces investigation by security agencies over spy allegations and her renewed efforts to stay in India. She is currently out of detention after the ATS investigation and maintains that she is not a spy and wants to remain in India. As the case takes several twists and turns, heres Seema Haiders story so far: Who is Seema Gulam Haider? 30-year-old Seema Haider, who hails from Sindh province in Pakistan, crossed over to India illegally in May to be with her partner Sachin Meena in Greater Noida. Seema, a mother of four children was married to Ghulam Haider, who currently resides in Saudi Arabia. She left her home country and crossed the border into India illegally along with her four children, all aged below seven years, in a bus via Nepal on May 13. Haider said she had come to live with his Indian lover Sachin Meena who stays in Rabupura area of Greater Noida. Seema, left her home and husband for Sachin, and says she wants to spend her whole life with Sachin and does not want to go back to Pakistan. However, she was arrested on July 4 for illegally entering India without a visa via Nepal while Sachin was put behind bars for sheltering the illegal immigrants. How Did Seema Haider Enter India? Seemas love story with her partner Sachin Meena began in 2019 in the private chatroom of online game playing PUBG. They befriended over PubG and then started conversations on WhatsApp and later decided to marry. According to reports, the couple decided to take their relationship to the next level and married at the Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal in March this year. The couple met for the first time in person in March this year in Kathmandu where they stayed together at a hotel in the Nepal capital from March 10 to 17. Seema returned to Nepal from Pakistan, taking the Karachi-Dubai route, on a 15-day tourist visa on May 10. In Nepal, she reached from Kathmandu to Pokhara and stayed for the night. Seema then took a bus from Pokhara on the morning of May 12 and entered India from Roopandehi-Khunwa (Khunwa) border district Siddharthnagar. She along with her four children travelled to Greater Noida via Lucknow and Agra and had been staying with her lover since then. How Did the Controversy Began? Seema Haider, her husband Sachin and Sachins father were arrested by the Gautambuddha Nagar Police in Haryanas Ballabhgarh and the three were sent to 14-day judicial custody. However, the three were granted bail by a local court on July 7 and started living together with her four children in a house in the Rabupura area. Earlier on Monday, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh Police questioned Seema Haider, his husband Sachin and Sachins father Netrapal Singh for two days. As per the sleuths, two video cassettes, four mobile phones, five authorised" Pakistani passports and one unused passport" with incomplete name and address and an identity card have been received from Seema Haider. What is the Police Investigating? Seema was questioned by the ATS over her kin and claims of her brother and uncle serving in the Pakistan Army. She was able to perfectly read an English text handed to her by the police, according to reports. The UP ATS officials also questioned Haider over her proficiency in Hindi, as she would be heard using difficult Hindi words while giving TV interviews, reports said. Haider told the officials that she learned Hindi while playing with Indians on PubG. However, when confronted over the fact that her boyfriend, did not use such difficult Hindi phrases, Haider remained silent. The UP ATS has recommended sending back Seema to Pakistan, however, she claimed she would be murdered if she returned to her country. However, UP Special Director General of Police Prashant Kumar said it would not be appropriate to say if Seema is a spy unless we have enough proof". The India-Pak love story of Seema Haider & Sachin Meena has gone viral. Watch the #exclusive conversation with duo itself!'I will not go back to Pakistan, will stay here,' says Seema. She also sings a song for Sachin. Watch!#Pakistan #SeemaHaider #SachinMeena | @anchorsapna pic.twitter.com/WDwsspHTDE News18 (@CNNnews18) July 21, 2023 Asked if Seema could be a Pakistan spy, Special DGP asserted nothing could be said so early. The matter is related to two countries. Till we have enough proof, it would not be appropriate to say anything in this regard," he said. What has Seema Haider said so far? After her first arrest earlier this month, Seema had appealed to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to allow her to stay in India. She said she would be stone to death" in Pakistan if she went back. The Pakistani national has reportedly filed a petition before President Droupadi Murmu, seeking an Indian citizenship. In her petition, claims to have been deeply influenced by Indian culture and traditions and requested permission to stay in India. Seema has reiterated that she does not wish to go back to Pakistan and wants to live with Sachin. She has also claimed to have converted into a Hinduism. Swedish police granted permission yet again for the desecration of Quran outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm inviting condemnations from across countries. Protesters in Stockholm did not burn the Quran as they had initially threatened to do, but they kicked and partially damaged the Quran, sparking protests across Muslim majority nations. The protest comes just weeks after a man set fire to pages of the Koran outside Stockholms main mosque, leading to widespread outrage. The episode left the Swedish government apologetic as Swedens ambassadors were summoned in various countries and Iraq expelling the Swedish ambassador to the country. The second-such incident has left Sweden fearing that the outrage, especially in the Middle East, may delay Turkey lifting its veto on Swedens NATO membership. Why does Sweden allow Quran burnings? There is no law in Sweden specifically prohibiting the burning or desecration of the Quran or other religious texts. Like many Western countries, Sweden doesnt have any blasphemy laws at present. However, till the 19th century, blasphemy was considered a serious crime in Sweden, punishable by death. However, blasphemy laws were gradually relaxed as Sweden became increasingly secularized. The last such law was taken off the books in 1970. Why is the Swedish Government Not Interfering? Many Muslim countries have called on the Swedish government to stop protesters from burning the Quran. However, it is up to police, not the Swedish government, to decide whether to authorize demonstrations or public gatherings. The freedom of speech is protected under the Swedish constitution. Police need to cite specific grounds to deny a permit for a demonstration or public gathering, such as risks to public safety. Stockholm police did just that in February when they denied two applications for Quran-burning protests, citing assessments from the Swedish Security Service that such acts could increase the risk of terror attacks against Sweden. But a court later overturned those decisions, saying police need to cite more concrete threats to ban a public gathering. Swedens NATO Membership Stalled After months of deadlock, Turkeys president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, earlier this month agreed to set aside his veto and recommend to his parliament that Swedens application go ahead. The surprise announcement would have ended nearly a year of Turkeys opposition, Turkey has been holding off ratifying Swedens membership in the alliance, accusing Sweden of being too soft toward groups that Ankara regards as threats to its security, including Kurdish militants and members of a network that Ankara blames for a failed coup in 2016. Ankara has also been angered by the Quran-burning protest in Stockholm. Ankara warned that the Koran desecration could complicate Ankaras long-delayed approval of Swedens membership to join NATO. NATO requires the unanimous approval of all existing members to expand. Turkeys foreign ministry has called on Sweden to take dissuasive measures to prevent hate crimes against Islam and its billions of followers. Meanwhile, Erdogan had planned an emergency meeting of the Turkish parliament on 25 July to prepare for lifting the veto. However, it is not clear whether Turkey would life the veto on Sweden, especially amid the widespread condemnation of Islamic nations. What does Sweden offer NATO? By joining NATO, Sweden, with its 10.5 million population, is ending an era of more than two centuries of staying outside military alliances, even though its neutrality formally ended in the 1990s. Experts believe that Swedens entry into the alliance, along with that of Finland which took effect in early April, offers better protection to the Baltic states, the former Soviet republics on NATOs northeastern flank. By joining, Sweden has avoided becoming the only country bordering the Baltic Sea not to be a member of NATO apart from Russia. Turkey and Hungary are the only countries that have not yet ratified Swedens bid. A Bengaluru woman has accused a Rapido bike taxi driver of masturbating during her ride and sending inappropriate messages to her. In a post on Twitter, the woman spoke about her ordeal and alleged that the man started masturbating mid-way on the route and continued to drive with one hand despite asking to stop the ride. During the journey, we reached a remote area with no other vehicles around. Shockingly, the driver began riding with one hand and engaging in inappropriate behavior (Masturbating while riding the bike)," she wrote. We have informed to @sjparkps to take necessary action in this regard, Please DM your contact number. BengaluruCityPolice (@BlrCityPolice) July 21, 2023 Fearing for my safety, I remained silent throughout the ordeal," she added. The Bengaluru City Police has now responded to her tweet, and has informed that they will take the necessary action in this regard. The woman also claimed that the driver arrived on a different bike from the one showing on the app. He explained that the one registered with the app was getting serviced. I asked him to drop me 200 meters before my actual destination to conceal my home location," she said. The woman also claimed that after the ride, the driver started calling her continuously and texted her on whatsApp. She also shared a picture of his texts on her Twitter, and wrote I had to block his number to stop the harassment." The woman had booked a bike, after multiple cancellations by car cab drivers and was coming back from attending the Manipur Violence protest at Town Hall in Bangalore. Following the resounding success of CNBC-TV18s Future. Female. Forward - The Womens Collective in Hyderabad, the initiative is set to roll into Chennai. The event is scheduled to take place on July 24, 2023, from 5pm and will evolve into an evening of engaging discussions and inspiring stories at Taj Wellington Mews, Chennai. Notable personalities from manufacturing, startups and SaaS industries will gather to discuss best practices for achieving parity in the workforce and explore potential affirmative actions for reducing disparity. Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Minister of IT and Digital Services, Tamil Nadu, will be the chief guest at the event. Other esteemed include Air Marshal Suraj Kumar Jha, Air Office in Charge of Personnel; Rajeev Chaba, President and Managing Director, MG Motor India; Sumita Ghosh, Founder, Rangsutra; Hemant Malik, Divisional Chief Executive, Foods Business Division, ITC Limited; Nina Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Hotel Savera; Dr Valli Arunachalam, Nuclear Scientist; Archana Chadha, Head of HR, HSBC India; Subbaraman Balasubramanyan, Senior Vice President, HCLTech; Nitin Razdan, Partner & Human Capital Consulting Leader, Deloitte South Asia; Ravi Kyran, CHRO, Bajaj Auto; Raja Radhakrishnan, President & Head HR, Ashok Leyland; Aruna Anand, Manager of Indian Chess Grandmaster Vishwanathan Anand & Chess Enthusiast; Aarthie Ramaswamy, Women Grandmaster & Former World U18 girls chess champion, MyHarvestFarms; Rati Shetty, Founder & Chief Product Officer, BankBazaar; Kamhalini Ithal, President, White Lotus & Co; Vijayalakshmi Venkatraman, Founder, Gaayak; and Ashwini Asokan, Founder & CEO, Mad Street Den among others. The Chennai chapter will delve into three key panel discussions crucial to womens progress across industries women leading the manufacturing growth story, which will be moderated by Shereen Bhan; Women in Workplace - The Leadership Take, moderated by Parikshit Luthra; and The Startup Women Pioneers, which will be moderated by Shruti Mishra. The evening will also witness three key addresses Pride, Glory & Female - Firsts in the Indian Air Force; a talk on The Great Chip Crunch; and Women Charting Success in Sports. A special felicitation ceremony is planned where the remarkable women of Tamil Nadu, who have led innovation and proven their mettle with worthwhile contributions in their field from time to time will be feted. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEVENDRA FADNAVIS: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister is one of the astute politicians who is credited for Bharatiya Janata Partys return to power in Maharashtra. He was born on July 22, 1970, and today, he turns 53 years old. The senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister has set an example for all with his remarkable achievements and rising stature in Maharashtra politics. Fadnavis was an active member of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad during his college days and he entered electoral politics in mid 1990s. He is the only politician in Maharashtra to have served as both Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. On his birthday, lets take a look at some lesser-known facts about Devendra Fadnavis: Breaking through the misconceptions built around periods, Jitendra Bhatt, a music teacher from Uttarakhands Udham Singh Nagar, decided to throw a bash to celebrate his daughter Raginis first menstrual cycle. Bhatt, while growing up, had always seen young girls and women treated as impure, being asked to stay away, not enter the kitchen, and touch certain things. But this time, he had decided to end these misconceptions and turn the hush-hush affair into an open celebration, said a Times of India report. Bhatts post wishing his daughter a happy periods on his social media account has gone viral. He even brought a vegan red velvet cake to signify the start of a girls menstrual cycle. Why should we hide such things? It is a natural process that leads to fertility, and it should be celebrated, not brushed under the carpet," Bhatt was quoted as saying. The guest list for the party included Raginis friends who expressed their happiness towards the initiative. Some guests came in with sanitary napkins and chocolates as gifts. Feeling proud of her parents initiative, Ragini said that it is important for parents to acknowledge a girls menstrual cycle and celebrate it as a landmark event, adding that, such a celebration creates an empowering environment. She further said that she plans to raise similar awareness among her friends and schoolmates parents, reports. According to reports, one of Bhatts teenage students attending the party said that this celebration has acted as an initiative to open conversations. She added that now people are talking about the myths and orthodox beliefs surrounding menstruation. As young girls, we look forward to a more informed, inclusive society," she added. Dr Navpreet Kaur, a local gynaecologist, said that this celebration of menarche was a good initiative, adding that, it will hopefully break the belief of untouchability associated with menstruation. Indias deep dive into the Indian Ocean to explore potential of mining critical mineral deposits will be conducted with the help of autonomous underwater vehicles and a specialised ship. The countrys premier ocean institute has sought global tenders for near-seabed surveys to delineate locations for massive sulphide deposits as part of the futuristic ocean mission. According to the tender documents, accessed by News18, once the contract is awarded, the exploration work could begin as early as December. This should help Indian scientists develop anomaly maps based on various geological and geophysical attributes of the ocean site. It will further help them narrow down long-term search for mineralisation zones or sulphide-ore bodies. 15 locations identified This is just the beginning. It will help us identify potential areas for future bathymetric surveys and sediment analysis. Based on the data collected, we will conduct focused surveys about 3,000 to 6,000 metres deep into the ocean, said Dr Thamban Meloth, director of Goa-based National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR), which issued the tender. The autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV) connected to the main ship will collect high-resolution geophysical images from as many as 15 locations, which will be explored in detail. The premier institute has also sought an advanced vessel (ship) with all the scientific facilities along with a sufficiently experienced crew to undertake exploratory work, including all maintenance and operations as well as surveys for processing and interpretation of data. We would like to conduct more exploration work to develop 3D models of these deposits. Once we have the required data, then we can consider ways to sample it. Its a long journey ahead, the senior scientist told News18. India has already secured rights of exploration from the International Seabed Authority to hunt for polymetallic sulphides (PMS) in the 10,000 sq km area in international waters of the Indian Ocean. Rich sources of metals like iron, copper and zinc as well as noble metals like gold, silver, palladium and platinum these polymetallic sulphides (PMS) exist near the seabed as precipitates of hot fluids oozing out of the deep interior of the oceanic crust. These massive deposits are believed to have huge commercial as well as strategic value in the near future, which countries across the world are keen to explore. The target of the current project is to explore these resources near the active and inactive hydrothermal vent fields in the Indian exploration area. We have been able to identify around 12 such locations so far. Now we have to further explore and confirm these locations and determine their resource potential, Dr Ravichandran, secretary to the ministry of earth sciences (MoES), had earlier told News18 in an interview. Broadly, the current survey areas are located over the southern segment of Central Indian Ridge and the eastern segment of South-West Indian Ridge regions of the Indian Ocean. The submission of bids began on July 17 and will close on August 28. An FIR has been registered against 12 Maoists in connection with the killing of a forest tracker in Jharkhands Latehar district, police said. Forest tracker Dev Kumar Prajapati, aged 35, was beaten to death and four others were injured allegedly by a group of around 15 Maoists in Durup Panchayat under the Netarhat Police Station limits, about 150 km from the state capital Ranchi, on Wednesday night. Latehar Superintendent of Police (SP) Anjani Anjan said the FIR against 12 red rebels and several unknown members of banned CPI (Maoist) has been registered. Maoist regional commander Chhotu Kharwar, zonal commander Manish, sub-zonal commanders Ujjwal and Pradip have been named in the FIR, he said on Friday. The police have been conducting raids to arrest the Maoists after the forest tracker was killed, the SP said. Prajapati was engaged as a forest tracker on a daily wage basis in the Palamau Tiger Reserve. Meanwhile, CRPF jawans have recovered an improvised explosive device from the Maoist-hit Kuku village under the Garu Police Station limits in Latehar district, CRPF 112 battalion commandant Pramod Sahu said. The IED has been defused, he added. A businessman from Nagpur lost staggering 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. However, the accused, identified as Anant alias Sontu Navratan Jain, fled just before police raided his residence in Gondia city, 160 km away from Nagpur. Police suspect 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 Jains persuasion and transferred Rs 8 lakh through a hawala merchant," said Nagpur Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar. Jain provided the businessman with a link on WhatsApp to open an online gambling account. The businessman found Rs 8 lakh deposited in the account and he began gambling, Kumar said. After initial success, the businessmans 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 Jains 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. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that cases of dengue fever could reach close to record highs this year, partly due to global warming benefiting mosquitoes that spread it. Dengue rates are rising globally, with reported cases since 2000 up eight-fold to 4.2 million in 2022, WHO said. About half of the world's population is now at risk, Dr Raman Velayudhan, a specialist at the WHO's control of neglected tropical diseases department, told journalists in Geneva on Friday. Already, close to 3 million cases have been reported in the Americas, he stated. As per WHO data, reported cases of the disease, which causes fever and muscle pain, represent just a fraction of the total number of global infections since most cases are asymptomatic. It is fatal in less than 1% of people, it added. West Africa's regional bloc says heads of state will meet Thursday to discuss their next steps after Niger's military junta defied the bloc's deadline to reinstate the country's ousted president while its mutinous soldiers closed the countrys airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack. At least 45 people continued to remain stranded in floods caused by heavy rainfall in Maharashtras Yavatmal district on Saturday, even as rescue operations are in full swing. Two Indian Airforce helicopters have been deployed to conducted the operation and airlift people stuck in the Mahagaon taluka. A Mi-17 V5 helicopter is being inducted from Nagpur to evacuate people stranded due to floods in Yavatmal, Defence PRO Nagpur Wg Cdr Ratnakar Singh said in a statement. #WATCH | Maharashtra: Rescue operation underway in Yavatmal by Indian Air Force as several people are stranded in Anand Nagar village due to a flood in the area following incessant rain. pic.twitter.com/e0l2fbKdc1 ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2023 Apart from this, a rescue team from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is on its way to help in relief efforts. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took to Twitter to address the situation and said that 45 people were stranded due to floods in Anandnagar village of Mahagaon taluka. VIDEO | Flood-like situation in Yavatmal, Maharashtra amid heavy rainfall. pic.twitter.com/obwMkJR5QH Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 22, 2023 Two Indian Airforce helicopters will soon reach Nagpur and from there will leave for Mahagaon to rescue the stranded villagers. Mahagaon taluka recorded 231 mm rainfall," Fadnavis added. Houses were inundated and roads were completely submerged as heavy rains showed no signs of stopping in several parts of the district since Friday night. Till now, all people from the affected areas have been moved to safer places and the situation is under control in the city, collector Amol Yedge said. With PTI Inputs Mumbai saw its wettest day in the year on Saturday as heavy rains lashed Maharashtra and floods led to cars and cattle getting swept away in Gujarat. Meanwhile Delhi is on high alert due to alarming discharge of over 2 lakh cusecs of water from the Hathnikund Barrage into the Yamuna river. Heres all you need to know about weather updates: Gujarat experienced heavy rainfall, causing a flood-like situation on Saturday, with Junagadh being the worst affected. The city received 219 mm of rain in just 8 hours until 4 pm. Startling visuals showed parked cars and cattle being swept away in the gushing waters. People waded through waist-deep water to reach safer places, and some were rescued by volunteers from strong currents. Navsari and Junagadh districts were severely impacted, with flooding in residential areas and marketplaces. VIDEO | Cattle, vehicles wash away in heavy flow of water as incessant rainfall trigger severe flooding in residential areas in Gujarats Junagadh district. pic.twitter.com/e8lI5Ucj6i Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 22, 2023 The BJP, on Saturday, alleged that two tribal women were stripped naked and tortured a few days ago in West Bengals Malda district. The video clip comes right amid the outrage pouring in over the May 4 Manipur video. BJPs I-T department head Amit Malviya, who is also the partys co-incharge for the state, took to Twitter and said the incident took place in Maldas Pakuahat area on July 19, with a frenzied mob baying for her blood". Malviya said, The horror continues in West Bengal. Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda." Malviya also posted a video with blurred images of the crime. The horror continues in West Bengal. Two Tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda.The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women pic.twitter.com/tyve54vMmg Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) July 22, 2023 The video shows the woman being attacked by a mob, leaving them traumatised and severely injured. According to North East India Blog, nobody has filed an official complaint with the police yet. However, investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators behind the attack. It had all the making of a tragedy that should have broken Mamata Banerjees heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the home minister of Bengal," his tweet said. Malviya took a jibe at TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee, who has been raucous in criticising the Manipur incident. The opposition parties have been targeting the BJP over the incident of two women being paraded naked in the violence hit-Manipur, where it is in power. On the other hand, the party has been highlighting similar cases of atrocities against women in states ruled by its rivals such as the Congress and Trinamool Congress. Following the hit, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat said that the Malda incident should not be compared to that of Manipur. She added that, Atrocities against women in any part of the country are condemnable." The bengal incident wherein Adivasi women can be seen beating other Adivasi women is condemnable, said Karat. It is just an example of West Bengal governments lawlessness," she added. Further, taking a swipe at Banerjee, Malviya said she chose to do nothing in the case. If she had expressed any anguish or condemn against the act she would have had accepted her own failure, he added. Malviya went on saying that the next day she cried profusely and screamed blue murder because it was befitting the situation politically. ALSO READ | Manipur Video: Viral Clip Triggers Outrage; Complaint Copy Accessed by News18 Narrates Sequence of Events His reaction comes after Banerjees attack on the BJP over the Manipur incident which sparked a nationwide outrage after a video of the May 4 incident went viral. Supreme Court Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had also expressed that the SC is appalled by the Manipur incident and urged the government to take actions, adding that, failure to do so will force the apex court to step in. (With inputs from PTI) Rain News Updates: Heavy rainfall lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Saturday causing waterlogging and traffic snarls. IMD has issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places in Palghar, Thane, Raigad, Ratnagiri, and Sindhudurg districts for tomorrow. Schools in Palghar and Thane have been declared shut for Saturday. Due to low visibility caused by incessant rain, people in Mulund, Thane, Bhiwandi, and Kalyan are advised to leave home after checking weather conditions. Amidst heavy rainfall, Yavatmal, Maharashtra, and Dodas Chirala in Jammu & Kashmir are facing flood-like situations. NATIONAL PARENTS DAY 2023: Parents Day, celebrated every year in the fourth week of July, holds significant importance as it recognizes parents invaluable role in our lives. From the moment of our birth, they have nurtured us, guided us, and provided unwavering support on our journey to independence. Their selfless love and sacrifices deserve our heartfelt appreciation. This Parents Day, lets make a resolution to cherish their dedication and unwavering commitment to our well-being. We can express our gratitude in simple yet meaningful ways, such as cooking their favourite meal, surprising them with thoughtful gifts, or gathering for cosy family get-togethers. Its a day not only to celebrate our biological parents but also to honour those parental figures who have been there for us like parents. National Parents Day: History In 1994, President Bill Clinton introduced National Parents Day by signing a Congressional Resolution. While not a public holiday, this annual celebration is observed nationwide to commemorate and elevate the significant role parents play in shaping our lives. From parades and speeches to awards ceremonies and special events, the day is filled with heartfelt gestures and appreciation for the unconditional love and support parents provide. It is a time to come together as a community and express gratitude for the profound impact parents have in nurturing and guiding us throughout our journey. National Parents Day: Quotes To make this day special, lets share these quotes with our parents: With its roots in Japan, Kaizen translates to, and embodies the essence of improvement" and change for the better." At its core, the concept of Kaizen underscores the importance of implementing small, gradual changes over time to attain notable advancements in efficiency, quality, and profitability. The Kaizen methodology, which originated in 1985, today stands as a proven approach to continuous improvement, offering organizations and individuals a pathway to unparalleled success. Jayanth Murthy, the Joint Managing Director of Kaizen Institute - India, South Asia, and Africa, shares invaluable insights on how individuals can leverage Kaizen methodologies to achieve success: By enabling a culture that encourages constant improvement and innovation, Kaizen helps organizations stay ahead in competitive markets. Through its methodologies focusing on efficiency and productivity, Kaizen helps scrutinize processes to minimize mistakes and waste, thereby leading to improved operational efficiency. Kaizen also seeks to collaborative and creative problem-solving within organizations. By involving employees at all levels, Kaizen fosters engagement, motivation, and a growth mindset. It also focuses on improving processes and delivering better products or services to customers. Thus, Kaizens systematic approach enables organizations to deliver superior products and services to customers through incremental changes, ultimately leading to long-term success. At the same time, Kaizen, with its set of guiding principles also holds the potential to transform individuals lives and lead them toward success. One key principle of Kaizen is the adoption of a process-driven approach, where individuals focus on improving underlying the processes rather than fixating solely on the result or outcome. Kaizen also underscores the significance of establishing a consistent routine. By setting specific times for work, exercise, relaxation, and other activities, individuals can cultivate discipline and minimize the inclination to procrastinate. Another principle is the emphasis on quick wins. By identifying areas with potential for immediate improvement, individuals can experience tangible positive outcomes, elevating their motivation and momentum. Kaizen also emphasizes embracing imperfection. Rather than seeking perfection, Kaizen encourages individuals to make continuous small advancements over time. This approach recognizes that progress is a gradual process and emphasizes the value of incremental improvements. Celebrating successes is also an integral aspect of the Kaizen methodology. By recognizing and appreciating their own achievements, individuals feel motivated and inspired to continue their journey of improvement. Finally, Kaizen recognizes the cultivation of a growth mindset as paramount. By cultivating a growth mindset, individuals can unlock their full potential and approach challenges with resilience, adaptability, and a determination to evolve. Thus, the implementation of Kaizen methodologies empowers individuals to drive continuous improvement, while also helping them unlock their full potential and experience personal and professional growth, thereby paving the path to long-term success. Ali Fazal has enjoyed a great run in the showbiz industry. Whether through films like 3 Idiots, Fukrey and Sonali Cable or blockbuster OTT shows like Mirzapur, the actor has carved a niche for himself as a versatile and dedicated performer over and over again. On top of that, Ali Fazal always tries to push the envelope by trying something new. Maintaining that trajectory, the actor has also been spreading his wings in several Hollywood projects, the latest one being Kandahar. However, his other ongoing projects have put on a halt owing to the writers guild strike. The actor told Hindustan Times,"I am not shooting anything there currently. I have Anurag Basu sirs film Metro Inn Dino in India, which I start. All my English stuff has gotten affected because of the big strike. All our work there, which was supposed to start last month, has gotten indefinitely pushed. And because of that, I am not being able to greenlight anything in India. May end se sab kuchh push ho gaya. Even Johnny Depps film was pushed, main kya hoon. I had a film and show abroad. I was supposed to shoot last month, The strike by Hollywood actors is the first strike since 1980. It is also the first instance when two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960. Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have been on strike since early May, demanding better wages, higher minimum pay, more writers per show, and shorter exclusive contracts among other things. Meanwhile on the work front, Ali Fazal is currently seen in Kandahar which stars top international actors like Gerard Butler, Travis Fimmel and Navid Negahban, The actor made his international debut with the mega-action franchise Fast and the Furious 7th instalment film and has been invited to attend the premiere as part of his past involvement with the franchise. Fazal will be seen alongside Vin Diesel and Jason Momoa at the premiere, which is taking place on May 11 in the Italian capital. Since his international debut, Ali Fazal has made headlines with his performances in major international films, including his titular lead in Victoria and Abdul alongside Dame Judi Dench and Death on the Nile alongside Gal Gadot. Coming to Bollywood, Fazal will soon be seen in Khufiya alongside Tabu, Metro In Dino with Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sara Ali Khan and the third season of OTT series, Mirzapur. Lights, Camera, Barbie! The moment we have all been waiting for is finally here. Thanks to the visionary filmmaker, Greta Gerwig, who brought back the pink-tastic Barbies world to our lives. Theatres are now jam-packed with fans witnessing the iconic doll grappling with the real world. The plot revolves around the story of a doll (Margot Robbie) living in Barbie land, who is expelled for not being perfect enough. She then sets off on an adventure in the real world. Not only will the captivating plot keep you glued to the screens, but what truly stands out is the absence of CGI in Barbie Lands filmmaking technique. Production designer Sarah Greenwood, in an interview with Vogue, recalled the journey of bringing Barbie Land to life. She revealed receiving a call from Gerwig, and within a few weeks, signing up for the film with set decorator Katie Spencer. Intriguing us with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the creation of Barbie Land, Katie Spencer said to her they were creating a toy. Everybody knows whats CGI. Your sixth sense will tell youeven children will know. So with the painted backdrops, it just gave everybody the belief that you are in the toy box, you are in there, you are a toy, she said. The masterminds behind Barbie Land established some rules. No black, white, or chrome were allowed on the sets. As per the portal, Barbies world is without fire or water, she showers under a faucet with no flowing water, and waves crash onto blush-coloured sand at her beach. Every detail is meticulously crafted to resemble a toy, including her wardrobe which is adorned with plastic wrap. The creators reduced everything by 23%, a magical number they devised, resulting in Barbie and her Just Ken (Ryan Gosling) appearing larger than life in their spaces. Interestingly, Barbies pool shown in the film was first painted and later covered with layers of thick clear resin. This was done to create a surface that was slightly undulating like actual water. The set was built in the north of London in the middle of winter. With cinematographer Rodrigo Prietos lighting, he put a thousand sky pans on this particular set. These are amazingly, brilliantly bright lights. And then he had these huge soft suns, so the quality of light on that set was phenomenal. And everybody went in there and it was bathing in color and light. It was joy, and everybody absolutely loved it. To come in from the snow outside and the rain and the wind, you come into this beautiful colour and it was just like, whoa, Greenwood revealed. Barbie also features Simu Liu, Dua Lipa, Kate McKinnon, and Issa Rae in pivotal roles. The film hit the big screens on July 21. The timeless couple of Bollywood, Hema Malini and Dharmendra, have a love story that could be straight out of a movie. Hema, back in 2020, had shared on The Kapil Sharma Show that when she was about to give birth to their daughters Esha and Ahana, Dharmendra booked an entire hospital just for her. The video is now going viral on Reddit. When Kapil asked if theres truth to this, Hema said, Sahi baat hain. We wanted more privacy, so regular hospital mein nahin jana tha. Woh doctor ka khud ka ek nursing-home tha, so we booked that. Earlier, during a chat with Mumbai Mirror, Hema had said, Yes, its true, during the delivery of Esha and Ahana, he had booked the whole hospital on my name so that I dont get disturbed by fans." The comment hasnt gone down well with netizens. On Reddit, one user commented, Imagine the inconvenience caused to other patients who might have wanted to get admitted!! Irresponsible." Another wrote, Entitled spoiled brat." Although Hema Malini found happiness in her unconventional marriage" with Dharmendra, her parents initially disapproved of their relationship because Dharmendras was already married to Prakash Kaur. Despite not divorcing Prakash, Dharmendra and Hema have been married for 43 years, and she has no complaints about their life together. Dharmendra currently resides with his first wife and their family. In a recent interview with Lehren, Hema Malini opened up about her equation with her actor-husband and why she lives away from him. Nobody wants to be like that, it happens. Automatically, what happens, you have to accept. Otherwise, nobody will feel like they want to live their life like this. No! Every woman wants to have a husband, children, like a normal family. But somewhere, it went out of the way," the actress-turned-politician said. Actor Rucha Inamdar shot to fame with the web series Criminal Justice, which also marked her debut in the digital space. Her latest release, Minus 31: The Nagpur Files, hit the screens yesterday (July 21). The film is a murder mystery set against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and sees Rucha playing a cop. It also features Nisha Dhar, Raghubir Yadav, Rajesh Sharma, Jaya Bhattacharya and Kaambhaari in important roles. Rucha will next be seen in the second season of the web show, The Great Indian Murder, and filmmaker Aditya Kripalanis film titled Not Today, which won her the Special Jury Award at the Ottawa Indian Film Festival in 2021. In an exclusive chat with News18, Rucha talks about Minus 31, the shift in the onscreen representation of cops and eyeing the big league. Excerpts: Back in the day, the cops we saw onscreen were flamboyant and larger-than-life. In Minus 31, you play an extremely human cop. How do you look at this shift in their depiction? In general, theres a shift in the way stories are being told these days. When we were growing up, the stories we watched were larger-than-life and were about flowing sarees and beautiful landscapes. These days, theyre a lot more real. We now see characters like you and I and theyre relatable. Cops, earlier, were flamboyant and attractive. But my character is more real along with being attractive. She has human emotions and when cornered, she reacts but not in the most ideal way. She gets angry and cries. It has also got to do with how content has changed. We, as an audience, have grown. Were far readier to accept real content in an entertaining way. That shift is reflected in my character too. But would you say that the way women cops are written are more nuanced than male cops? Definitely. Earlier, not too many powerful characters were written for women. Female characters as it is come with an added dimension that can be tapped. Women cops have several layers to them. There are many aspects to being a woman and thats being explored in the writing now. In Minus 31, there are certain sequences which nobody would have even thought of incorporating in the script 10-15 years back. I feel very lucky to be an actor in these times where I get to portray these layers because characters arent mono-dimensional anymore. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rucha Inamdar | (@ruchainamdar) Did you refer to any other cop shows, films or characters to develop your role? Ive watched Delhi Crime and I loved Shefali Shahs performance. She was brilliant in it. Having said that, I didnt study any onscreen character. Could you shed some light on how you prepped for your part then? I actually went and met real cops. We took prior permissions and I spent a lot of time in the police station. I saw women cops dealing with criminals and their own personal problems. I went patrolling with them and lived with them for a while. That was the research I did when it came to creating Preksha Sharma. I wanted to give my character a human connect and make her appear real. Cop thrillers are being made in galore today. What do you think will make Minus 31 stand out? We havent watched a cop film interlaced with rap music before this. Its a new-age murder mystery which has a different treatment. While investigating the murder, my character stumbles upon two rappers. The blending in of the rap world within the system and how my character of an underdog, impulsive cop solves her first murder case and navigates the system is incredible. Thats what makes Minus 31 very raw. It has a great musical quotient. Weve used Nagpur as a setting and Covid as a backdrop and thats something we havent seen before. Its very interesting. Minus 31 also makes a subtle comment on the system and how human beings function. There are a lot of layers to it. Before foraying into films, you appeared in many commercials where you worked with established directors like Anurag Kashyap and Shoojit Sircar. Would you still say that its difficult to bag a big banner project? Of course! Being a good actor, Ill always have work for sure. Thats one thing Im thankfully blessed with. Having said that, I do agree that you need that one opportunity that helps you grab more eyeballs. That hasnt happened yet. Im still finding my way through. I seek to do good projects with good people and play meaty characters so that the biggies notice and cast me someday. I dont have a godfather and so, doing good work is the only way out. Im definitely doing my bit and hoping to be a part of great content and work with great filmmakers as soon as possible. Israeli forces have shot dead a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said Saturday, in what the occupation army described as a "car-ramming attempt" near Nablus. Fawzi Mukhalifa, 18, "was killed by the occupation Israeli bullets in the town of Sebastia" late on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said. He was the second Palestinian to be killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank within hours. The occupation army said troops had responded to "a car ramming attempt" in the northern West Bank town "by firing towards the suspects who were in the vehicle. The driver was neutralised." Another "suspect" who had been in Mukhalifa's car was wounded and arrested, the army said. The deadly incident came amid rising tensions in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War. The territory has seen a string of attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities. Earlier on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry reported the death of Mohammed al-Bayed, 17, near the city of Ramallah. Bayed died from injuries sustained by live bullets fired by Israeli forces in the village of Umm Safa, it said, while Israeli border police accused him of attacking officers. The force said in a statement a "violent disturbance" had broken out "during which suspects threw stones and explosives" at Israeli occupation forces. "A security guard responded by shooting at a suspect who threw a bomb," the statement said, adding that "a hit was detected". Israeli violence this year has killed at least 198 Palestinians. The occupied West Bank is home to nearly three million Palestinians, as well as around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements considered illegal under international law. Search Keywords: Short link: Superstar Shah Rukh Khans son, Aryan Khan will make his directorial debut with his upcoming web series Stardom. According to reports, Stardoms team has recently shot an important scene at Yash Raj Films Studios where all the main cast came to the set. A behind-the-scenes video from the films set shows Aryan and his crew preparing for the shoot in front of a green screen. The aptly titled web series will showcase the challenges and behind-the-scenes nitty-gritty of the Indian film industry. The story revolves around the lives of budding, young actors wanting to make it big in Bollywood. The gritty drama, interspersed with humour, will show how they juggle their ambitions with their personal lives, trying to attain a balance. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Box Office Worldwide (@boworldwideig) Lakshya Lalwani is reportedly playing the lead in the show. A Times of India report claimed that Aryan had auditioned nearly 800 people before finally selecting Lakshya. According to reports by Harpers Bazaar Arabia, actor Ranbir Kapoor has already shot the opening scene and director Karan Johar has also finished filming his part. Mirroring his real-life profession, he will be playing the role of a director. Actor Ranveer Singh will also reportedly make a cameo appearance. Aryans directorial debut has been creating quite the buzz due to Shah Rukh Khans superstardom. Fans and industry members alike are excited to see Aryans directorial prowess. The Times of India had earlier reported that the web series will feature six episodes and will be produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan. A release date is yet to be revealed by the makers. The web series will reportedly be available on Netflix by the end of the year. The series will also feature Gautami Kapoor, who is known for her roles in television serials like Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Qubool Hai. Actress Maanayata Dutt, the wife of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, is celebrating her 45th birthday today. Born as Dilnawaz Shaikh in Mumbai, she spent most of her time in Dubai before returning to Mumbai and venturing into the film industry. Despite appearing in a limited number of movies, she gained recognition for her dance number Alhad Mast Jawani Bemisaal. Interestingly, Maanayata has changed her name thrice throughout her journey in showbiz. Before her marriage to Sanjay Dutt, when she entered the film industry, she changed her name to Sara Khan. She featured in Prakash Jhas movie Gangajal, alongside Ajay Devgn, Gracy Singh, and Bipasha Basu. Despite the name switch, Maanayata appeared in only a handful of movies, mostly low-budget productions like Lovers Like Us. It was reported that Sanjay Dutt had bought the rights to this movie for Rs 20 lakh. Rumours suggest that Maanayata met Sanjay Dutt through film producer Nitin Manmohan and used to cook food for him on his film sets. Gradually, their relationship blossomed, and they fell in love. In 2008, Sanjay Dutt and Maanayata tied the knot in Goa following Hindu customs. This marked Sanjay Dutts third marriage and allegedly Maanayatas second. On the occasion of her birthday, Sanjay Dutt, being a doting husband, posted a loving video on social media to wish her a happy birthday. The video featured various snapshots of the couple from events, vacations, and a few solo photos of Maanayata. In his heartfelt note, Sanjay thanked his wife for being his support, strength, and the mother of their two beautiful children. He expressed his gratitude for her unwavering support, picking him up when he fell, and fighting his battles alongside him. He considers himself lucky to have her as his wife. Maanayata has ventured into entrepreneurship and now serves as the CEO of Sanjay Dutt Productions. Its heartening that the socio-economic development agenda pursued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun to pay off rich dividends. On twelve development indicators that denote poverty levels, there has been substantive progress in the way 1.4 billion Indians live, pursue their aspirations and engage to achieve life objectives. The National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress Review 2023 report released by NITI Aayog a couple of days back is fairly comprehensive and widely accepted on methodology, sampling and computational tools. Going by this report, over 135 million Indians escaped poverty during 2015-21 under Prime Minister Modi-led BJP government. Many naysayers may tend to dispute these figures and findings. Actual delivery and plugging leakage of scarce resources in over a dozen of government schemes seem to have made this eminently possible. The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) was launched in 2021 in line with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Oxford Poverty and Development Initiative (OPDI) surveys globally. Our own MPI covered 707 administrative districts in 28 states and eight Union Territories to derive that poverty is on a definitive decline curve in India. Significant changes have been reported on 12 indicators like nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, maternal health, years of schooling, school attendance, cooking fuel availability, sanitation, and access to clean drinking water, electricity, housing, assets, and bank accounts. These indicators have been spread across three broad areas i.e. education, healthcare and standard of living for Indians that was reviewed for the years 2015-16 to 2020-21. The most significant finding of this survey has been that states like Uttar Pradesh have done extremely well with over 34.3 million people escaping poverty. States like Opposition-ruled Bihar, Rajasthan; BJD-ruled Odisha and BJP-held Madhya Pradesh seem to have performed well in tackling extreme poverty. Hitherto, these very states were regarded as laggards on socio-economic development parameters. The most interesting aspect is the steep reduction in poverty levels across rural India, dropping to 19.28 percent from 32.59 percent in the five-year period. But, poverty reduction has been at lower levels in cities at 5.27 percent from earlier 8.65 percent. Even after 10 percent aggregate decrease in poverty levels, the highest number of poor people continue to live in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Meghalaya and Madhya Pradesh, going by the NITI Aayog report. Now, the big question is whether the war on poverty in India has entered a decisive phase. Obviously, much more has to be done to turn India into a developed country by 2047 on all fronts including the Happiness Index. One sure way of measuring poverty as per UNDP was earnings at US $2 per day. There is no empirical data on number of people earning minimum wages in India. Statutorily, the national minimum wage per day was set at Rs 178. Though implementation at the ground level has been skewed, the minimum wage threshold translates to $1.92 as against $2 prescribed by UNDP for a developing country like India. Again, state-wise minimum wages are different thereby making an aggregate estimate virtually daunting. The accepted principle was that earnings and poverty alleviation have an undeniable link thereby making wages singularly one of the most important parameters in counting the poor and tackling the menace. Challenges to alleviating poverty in India is definitely a herculean task that demands newer socio-economic development models that are neither Western-driven nor communist way of commanding heights principle. Reaching out to the last man standing in the true spirit of antyodaya or sarvodaya, and taking everyone into inclusive development mode is the sure-shot prescription to wiping out poverty in Bharat. In fact, that was pushed for by philosophers like Vinoba Bhave, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya and veteran labour leader Dattopant Thengdi and rejected by the Western economists gang. A tectonic shift in the economic development model may have to be seriously attempted by the new government that takes charge in 2024, be it the National Democratic Alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Opposition alliance of 26 political parties INDIA that seek to meekly challenge him. Shifting gears may not be easy if the war on poverty has to be won in the least possible time and not wait till 2047, the centennial of Bharats independence. For this to happen, taking the Indian growth story down below the district centres to evolve self-reliant vibrant village clusters is an alternative that the next government can seriously consider. Going beyond districts and evolving villages-clusters is something that has only been talked about in seminar rooms and not attempted as a serious development model thats unique to India. Strengthening grassroots governance, especially in hinterlands as single window shops, is one way to attack poverty and achieve self-reliance. As the BJP gears up to roll out its manifesto for the next five years and vision document for the next 25 years, taking governance to peoples doorstep is something it can consider as a paradigm shift in its approach to eliminating poverty. Secondly, defining our own yardstick on poverty is something that development experts may consider in the next phase of Indias development strategy. Is earning $2 or $3 per day the benchmark or does something beyond this bread-and-butter issue needs serious consideration? Thirdly, migration as a phenomenon has taken India by storm in the last 75 years, mostly after economic reforms of Harvard variety were forced down by Dr Manmohan Singh and his team. Migration from villages to urban centres and beyond to foreign shores has gripped this country which marks a huge brain drain as well. Unless a holistic view of this phenomenon is taken, can we win the war against poverty? Fourthly, a family-centric approach to the socio-economic conundrum confronting Indian people may widen the canvas for war on poverty as it pushes for a basic shift in societal structures, shaking away the unrealistic Western or socialistic foundations. Fifthly, redoing Indian society with spiritual content to happiness will complete the cycle in war against poverty. Finding holistic solutions to the inadequacy of resources, governance at the grassroots, earnings, development parameters, mind and spirit should be addressed by the next government. The author is Director & Chief Executive, Centre for Integrated and Holistic Studies, a non-partisan think tank 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. Days after his mother and Himachal Pradesh Congress chief Pratibha Singh met party president Mallikarjun Kharge over being sidelined, her son and cabinet minister Vikramaditya Singh on Saturday caused embarrassment to his own government by alleging that bureaucrats were being given a free run over elected representatives. I have the highest regard for the bureaucracy of the state, but there has to be proper coordination between them and the government. Officials will not be allowed to make decisions as per their will. Bureaucrats going against public interest will not be tolerated. In some cases, files or projects finalised for the central government, are being changed by bureaucrats on reaching Delhi. They will not be allowed to do this and let elected representatives buckle under bureaucracy; it will not be tolerated. I shall speak with the chief minister about this, Vikramaditya said. On a warning note, he added: We have been elected by the people of the state and the bureaucracy cannot dictate us. Vikramaditya said the manner in which some bureaucrats were trying to have a free run over elected representatives will not be tolerated. We are an elected government chosen by the electorate. The bureaucracy cannot dictate to us what to do and how to function, he said, adding that the people of Himachal Pradesh had voted for them. The PWD minister said at his request, an expert team will be sent by the Centre to inspect damaged roads, especially Manali-Chandigarh highway, so that reconstruction could be done with the help of latest technological advancements as part of long-term planning. He said relief and reconstruction work was ongoing and the public works department (PWD) alone had suffered a loss of Rs 2,000 crore besides overall damages of Rs 3,000 crore. Pratibha Singh had met the Kharge a few days ago amid reports that she was feeling hurt and sidelined in the party. The Mandi MP and wife of late chief minister Virbhadra Singh had urged for the formation of a coordination committee for synergy between the government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the state organisation. Has the Oppositions coming together as INDIA changed things in Bengal? If you heard TMC chief Mamata Banerjees Martyrs Day rally speech on July 21, you would have certainly asked yourself this question. It was a welcome change for the Opposition bloc as Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee trained guns on the BJP and NDA, sparing the Congress with which they share a blow hot, blow cold relationship. Before July 17, the TMC and Congress locked horns over the panchayat polls as Banerjee openly accused Congress of shaking hands with BJP in Bengal. In Bengal, BJP, Congress and Left have formed an alliance. In Delhi you [Congress] have one type of ladoo and in Kolkata, you have another. Thats not correct. In Bengal, Congress shakes hands with BJP and in Delhi, they are trying to make an alliance against BJP? However, since the coming together of 26 opposition parties as INDIA, the West Bengal chief minister has refrained from attacking the Congress. I congratulate 26 parties that we have come together and INDIA has been formed. In 2024, BJP will go. We do not care about power or post, we care about peace for our nation, she had said. While Banerjee has been trying to extend the olive branch, Congress Bengal face Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury does not seem to be impressed. She knows that even if she hits us, nothing will happen. People will not believe her, he said. As per political experts, there is unease at the local level about the Trinamool and Congress joining hands at the national level. Several workers of the Grand Old Party have been killed in panchayat elections and it is expected that the local leadership will continue trading barbs with TMC over the issue. However, political analyst professor Biswanath Chakraborty said Banerjees outreach was intentional". She is doing this intentionally because she knows by not targeting Congress, ultimately she will be benefitted locally. In panchayat polls and Sagardighi by-election, her concerns were about Muslim vote. If people see TMC and Congress together, then Muslim vote will go to TMC. This will damage Congress locally. Taking a dig at the Catch-22 situation in Bengal, BJPs Suvendu Adhikari said: They (Congress) have done setting. Now their workers have to decide what they will do. While INDIA looks all set to take on the NDA, the question remains if Congress and TMC will go hand in hand in Bengal or keep up their local rivalry. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will meet the BJP leadership in Delhi on Saturday, sources told News18. The sudden trip to the national capital has sparked fresh speculation as earlier this month unrest was reported in Shinde-led Shiv Sena over Ajit Pawars entry into the government. Earlier in July, Shinde shut down the speculations that his factions leaders were unhappy with Ajit Pawars NCP joining the government. He had said that nobody is unhappy in his government with Pawars inclusion in the state government. Shinde went on to describe it as rumours spread by the opposition," adding it suggests that his chief ministerial chair may be in jeopardy following Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joined his year-old state ministry. This came after some Shiv Sena legislators had expressed concerns over the Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction joining the state government. However Shinde chaired a meeting with the Shiv Sena MLAs, MLCs and MPs afterwards. The political circles were left agitated after Pawars remarks stating his wish to be the chief minister. This remark made the Shinde faction nervous considering their wait over Assembly Speakers ruling on disqualification complaint against its MLAs. However, amid the unrest, Maharashtra minister Uday Samant had dismissed the rumours of Shindes resignation and termed them as being false". NCP leader Ajit Pawar had taken oath as the second deputy chief minister of Maharashtra on July 2, with the support of around 30 NCP MLAs, eight of whom were included into CM Eknath Shindes cabinet. (With PTI inputs) A day after Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot sacked Rajendra Gudha as the Minister of State for speaking against the state governments law and order in the assembly, State Congress president Govind Singh Dotasra on Saturday said that the removal of anyone from the cabinet is the right of the CM of the state. Including or excluding anyone from the cabinet is the right of the CM of the state. The same thing has been done by the CM of the state (Ashok Gehlot)," Dotasra said. Speaking about the indiscipline behaviour", Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the ruling party in Rajasthan is a democratic party and everyone can voice their opinions. We have observed indiscipline behavior within the party With elections around the corner, we are competing against a party (BJP) that emphasizes discipline. Congress exhibits greater discipline than them. Congress is a democratic party, and everybody can voice their opinions within our ranks," he said. Chief Minister Gehlot, during a media interaction earlier in the day had termed the matter as internal and said it is being discussed within the party. This is our internal matter and we will discuss this among ourselves," he said. Gudha, who held the position of Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj, and Rural Development, was dismissed from his post on Friday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had recommended the dismissal of Rajendra Gudha to Governor Kalraj Mishra, according to an official statement from the Raj Bhavan. The governor promptly accepted this recommendation, and the dismissal took effect immediately. The decision came swiftly after Congress was left red-faced when Gudha criticised his own governments handling of crimes against women. This happened while his peers were protesting the Manipur violence during the discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guaranteed Bill, 2023, in the Assembly. Gudha voiced the need for accountability within their own government regarding the increasing atrocities against women in Rajasthan. He suggested that rather than focusing on Manipur, they should introspect on their failure to provide adequate security to women in their state. Leader of Opposition, Rajendra Rathore, seized the opportunity and slammed the Congress-led government, stating that Rajasthan ranks at the top for crimes against women. Rathore called upon chief minister Gehlot, who also holds the Home Minister post, to take responsibility for the deteriorating state of law and order in Rajasthan. Gudhas Reaction and Support from BJP After his sacking, Gudha told reporters that he was penalised for speaking the truth. Rajasthan is at number one position in crimes against women. What wrong did I say? I got the punishment for speaking the truth," he stated. The BJP supported Gudha with Minister for Information and Broadcasting minister Anurag Thakur stating the former was sacked on the instructions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot for expressing concern over crimes against women in the state. Will Chief Minister Gehlot tender his resignation when his own minister says that the chief minister has lost his Iqbal (authority), when in his home district, a woman is murdered and burnt, and when five km away from his residence a woman is raped and left to die? he asked. This is a question for (Congress chief Mallikarjun) Kharge and Gandhi parivaar leaders," he added. Senior BJP leader and Union minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat had targeted the Rajasthan chief minister and said in a tweet in Hindi, Telling the truth is forbidden in Gehlots regime." The chief minister does not have the courage to accept the truth. When his minister Rajendra Gudha ji told the truth in the assembly, Gehlot ji felt so bad that he removed him from the post itself," he said. (With inputs from ANI and PTI) A video which is currently going viral shows Humans of Bombay founder Karishma Mehta talking about her privilege. The video has become a reason for her being trolled again. In the video, the founder can be seen talking about how many people dont know her journey and still troll her. For those who dont know, Humans of Bombay is an Indian photoblog website which has the best and most wholesome stories about the people residing in the metropolitan city. The popularity of all digital platforms of Humans of Bombay remains uncontested, but it is the stories that set it apart. It covers a mixed bag of stories that best emulate the spirit of the city. Also Read: India Needs 8 Hours to Beat Pakistan: Viral Tweet Ahead of 2023 WC Leaves Babar Azam Fans Fuming Now, in the recent video, she can be seen talking about how she has heard the word privilege attached to her fairly often. She says, I am privileged..in the sense that I come from a family that sent me abroad to study, that invested a lot in my education. She also explained how she started Humans of Bombay with a loan worth Rs 1 Lakh. The thought did not go that well with people on Twitter and soon she became the target of trollers. Here, have a look at the video: Please dont call HOB founder privileged henceforth please pic.twitter.com/eQ2is0lkWc Ana De Friesmass ver 2.0 (@ka_fries2366) July 20, 2023 The definition of privilege varies greatly between different social classes. What seems like a privileged existence to us is normal for her due to her socio economic background. Usually its only the UMC first generation aware of their privilege because they remember their roots, wrote a Twitter user. Another person mentioned, she has interviewed enough people for her page to know how privileged she is. i would call it choosing to live in sheer delusion Shes the whose who of Bombays elite circle. I think she should shut up. She herself at some point accepted it was found roaming around in the streets of Bombay after her masters; which means she did not use her degree to apply for jobs - thats privilege https://t.co/pTjPhtUS1x Arya (@paharganj2paris) July 21, 2023 One lakh Rupee loan for a dumbass page that posts dumbass stories of dumbass people?? https://t.co/3uvXW3Eo0A Ded (@Pseudo_medico) July 21, 2023 Privilege is when you know that you can go home and sleep peacefully, knowing that you can rely on a fancy degree from London!Total respect for what she has built, but stop bullshitting that you are under privileged or you have struggled! https://t.co/sbOsdJdb6M Saurabh Nayak (@sourabhnayak197) July 21, 2023 since when did plagiarizing someone else's idea for a social media account require one lakh? https://t.co/FkeYQEMz48 ash (@sabrannnn) July 21, 2023 Also Read: Twitter is Furious Over Auschwitz Analogy in Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoors Bawaal Meanwhile, earlier during an interview, Karishma explained, I was 21 when I founded Humans of Bombay and through these 8 years, Ive had what seems like multiple MBA courses simultaneously. But sluicing through the myriad of business, finance, and the whole schbang, the one invaluable skill we have honed is the art of storytelling. Some people are two-faced, figuratively speaking of course. The ancient Roman god Janus was two-faced, literally - with one looking forward and another backward, representing transitions and duality. But a two-faced star? Yes, indeed. Scientists have observed a white dwarf star - a hot stellar remnant that is among the densest objects in the cosmos - that they have nicknamed Janus owing to the fact it has the peculiar distinction of being composed of hydrogen on one side and helium on the other. Janus is the Roman god with two faces, so we thought it was very appropriate. Moreover, Janus is the god of transition, and the white dwarf might be currently transitioning from having an atmosphere made of hydrogen to one made of helium," said Ilaria Caiazzo, a Caltech postdoctoral fellow in astrophysics and lead author of the study published this week in the journal Nature. The star is located in our Milky Way galaxy about 1,300 light years from Earth in the direction of the Cygnus constellation. A light year is the distance light travels in a year, 5.9 trillion miles (9.5 trillion km). Also read: Webb Telescope Captures Tantalizing Evidence For Mysterious Dark Stars Janus is fairly massive for a white dwarf, with a mass 20% larger than that of our sun compressed into an object with a diameter half that of Earth. It rotates on its axis every 15 minutes - very fast considering these stars usually rotate every few hours to a few days. White dwarfs form at the very end of a stars life. About 97% of all stars are destined to become white dwarfs when they die," Caiazzo said. Our sun, for example, is currently burning hydrogen into helium in its core. When the hydrogen in the core is depleted, the sun will start burning helium into carbon and oxygen. When the helium also is gone from the center, the sun will eject its outer layers into space in an event called a planetary nebula and the core will slowly contract and become a white dwarf," Caiazzo added. The good news for Earthlings is that it should be 5 billion years before any of that happens to our sun. Janus was spotted using the Zwicky Transient Facility at Caltechs Palomar Observatory near San Diego, with subsequent observations made by other ground-based telescopes. After a white dwarf forms, its heavier elements are thought to sink to the stars core while its lighter elements - hydrogen being the lightest, followed by helium - float to the top. This layered structure is believed to be destroyed at a certain stage in the evolution of some white dwarfs when a strong mixing blends the hydrogen and helium together. Janus may represent a white dwarf in the midst of this transitional blending process, but with the puzzling development of one side being hydrogen while the other side is helium. The researchers suspect that its magnetic field may be responsible for this asymmetry. If the magnetic field is stronger on one side than the other, as is often the case with celestial objects, one side could have less mixing of elements, becoming hydrogen heavy or helium heavy. Many white dwarfs are expected to go through this transition, and we might have caught one in the act because of its magnetic field configuration," Caiazzo said. Janus is not the only exotic white star known. Caiazzo was part of a research team that in 2021 reported on one with a petite diameter slightly larger than Earths moon that boasted the greatest mass and littlest size of any known white dwarf. Every time we look at stars in a different ways, we are bound to be surprised and even baffled sometimes," Caiazzo said. Stellar phenomenology is extremely rich, and no two stars are the same if looked at closely enough." A restaurant in Jordans capital Amman is offering its customer a chance to enjoy a nap in air-conditioned rooms after savouring the countrys national dish mansaf. This delicious treat is believed to cause some serious sleepiness, especially during the hot weather due to its high-fat ingredients. Apparently, the dish causes so much drowsiness that people usually prefer eating it at home so they can take a quick nap afterwards. To tackle this issue, the restaurant named Moab has come up with an innovative approach to help diners overcome the post-mansaf tiredness. They now offer beds for customers to take a little snooze after enjoying their traditional Levantine mansaf meal. The restaurant is dedicated exclusively to serving mansaf and is named after the ancient Kingdom of Moab in Jordans southern city of Karak. A video of the restaurant shared on Twitter by Now This News shows customers taking naps in separate spaces. The video also shows workers diligently preparing the dish and customers savouring its flavours. A customer can be seen emphasising the heavy nature of the meal, claiming that if one does not feel sleepy after eating mansaf, there must be something wrong with it. Have you ever needed to take a nap after a great meal ? This restaurant in Jordan lets you enjoy the countrys national dish, mansaf, and afterward take a nap in its sleeping area. pic.twitter.com/Qdru4yFjFt NowThis (@nowthisnews) July 21, 2023 In an interview with Arab News, Musab Mubeideen - the restaurant owners son said that the whole idea of putting beds in the restaurant started as a joke to reflect the sleepy experience after a high-fat mansaf meal. He added that mansaf is a fat-laden meal cooked with lamb meat, rice and jameed (ghee), and these ingredients put together are just a recipe for sleepiness and total tiredness. Mubeideen told the news outlet that the inspiration for the napping opportunity came from a customer who jokingly suggested, Why dont you put beds in the restaurant? Following similar comments from other diners who also experienced post-mansaf drowsiness, the restaurant took the suggestion seriously and created a special bedroom section. The best part is that theyve turned this sleeping space into a little slice of paradise. It has air conditioning, so you wont be sweating when having a nap. Its also quite quiet, making it ideal for a peaceful snooze. You can also have traditional Jordanian coffee to go with your post-meal relaxation. Mansaf, which translates as a large platter, has a special place in Jordanian culture as their national food. Its often made with tender lamb cooked in a fermented dry yoghurt sauce and served with rice or bulgar. For an added variation, the Jordanian version puts bread at the bottom of the platter. Adolescent boys are systematically being separated from their mothers in detention camps in northeast Syria, a UN expert said, warning the practice was causing irreparable harm and violated international law. Fionnuala Ni Aolain said that during a visit to the Kurdish-controlled camps, she had noted "the separation of hundreds of adolescent boys from their mothers without any legal procedure". This appeared in particular to be happening to so-called third-country nationals, from countries other than Syria and Iraq. This is "summary separation based on an unproven security risk that male children pose upon reaching the age of adolescence," she told journalists in Geneva after a five-day visit to Syria. "Every single boy child I met was clearly traumatised by the separation from their mothers," she said, adding that she had seen separated boys as young as 11. "This systematic practice of enforced separation ... is in clear violation of international law". Ni Aolain, the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights while countering terrorism, is the first United Nations rights expert to have gained access to detention camps and prisons in the northeast. 'Cradle to grave detention' An estimated 52,000 people from 57 countries are reportedly being held in the squalid and overcrowded al-Hol and al-Roj detention camps for jihadists and their family members in Kurdish-administered territory. Sixty percent are children, mostly under the age of 12, said Ni Aolain. She acknowledged the intense political and security complexity of the situation. But that in no way justified "the mass indefinite and arbitrary detention of children, particularly boys, in various types of facilities", she added. Their repatriation needed to happen "urgently", she insisted, stressing that besides the US-backed local authorities, the home countries also bore responsibility for these rights violations. Western governments have faced mounting criticism for not taking back more of their citizens who travelled to Iraq and Syria to volunteer for the Islamic State jihadist group. Ni Aolain acknowledged that there had been "some positive movement on repatriation" -- with numbers having come down from a high of over 70,000. But she warned that at the current rate, "these facilities will on average, at a minimum, stay in business for 20 years". "Think about that for a two-year-old who is currently living in this facility." "There appears to be no understanding that it is an absolute contravention of international law to detain children in what appears to be an unending cycle of cradle-to-grave detention," she lamented. 'Extreme anxiety' Ni Aolain was able to visit and conduct interviews in both camps, although not in the al-Hol annex, which holds around 10,000 third-country nationals. She called for broader access. "We cannot hold 10,000 people in a box where no one sees what happens to them and their children," she said. The security rationale for these separations did not hold up, she said, pointing out that grown men were allowed to remain in the general camp population. At the same time, she said she had seen many young boys in adult male prisons she had visited. And while repatriations have picked up, countries are generally only taking back women and children, meaning that as these boys age, there will likely be nowhere for them to go. "That means you're condemning the boy child in this facility to a life of imprisonment," she said. Search Keywords: Short link: Nitesh Tiwaris Bawaal, starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor, has finally been released and the reviews dont seem to be that impressive. The movie is centered around the journey of Ajay Dixit (Varun Dhawan), who is a small-town high school history teacher, and his newlywed wife Nisha (Janhvi Kapoor) who decide to go on a second World War trail across Europe by visiting Poland, the Netherlands, and Germany due to an incident in Ajjjus life. Amid this, Tiwari has somehow managed to use World War-2 as a metaphor and the backdrop of the story. Many took to Twitter and explained how they did not understand the Auschwitz reference in the film. Also Read: India Needs 8 Hours to Beat Pakistan: Viral Tweet Ahead of 2023 WC Leaves Babar Azam Fans Fuming People also deemed the movie insensitive because of a dialogue which mentions an Auschwitz-related analogy. The couples marital struggles have been compared to the horrific crimes against humanity faced by the Jews in Auschwitz. For those who dont know, it was Nazi Germanys largest concentration camp. An Auschwitz survivors story about his separation from his wife at the concentration camp makes Varun Dhawan realise what separation from your partner actually means. Bawaal is tone-deaf on so many levels, wrote a Twitter user. Here are a few tweets: The meme writes itself: men writing about women in love pic.twitter.com/GD4PSA9GV5 Poulomi Das (@PouloCruelo) July 21, 2023 ok watched & wow its 100% worse than i thought pic.twitter.com/nbc4AH0r7C getfilmy (@get_filmy) July 21, 2023 An Auschwitz survivor's story about his separation from his wife at the concentration camp makes Varun Dhawan realise what separation from your partner actually means.Bawaal is tone-deaf on so many levels. gulab singh lakhan singh haryanewale (@IndieKnopfler) July 21, 2023 Comparing tribulations and problems in a marriage to Auschwitz mass genocide is the lowest a Bollywood movie has ever stooped to. If a Hollywood movie, it would have been cancelled forever. Wtf were the Amazon people smoking when they green lit this?#Bawaal #BawaalOnPrime attraversiamo (@Walede16) July 21, 2023 Also Read: Flipkarts Har Ad Me Jo Dikhta Hai Hoarding is Marketing at its Best, Pic Goes Viral on Twitter Meanwhile, a video of Varun fixing Janhvi Kapoors make-up went viral earlier. The duo came together for the special screening of Bawaal. In the video, the actors can be seen in their best outfits, posing for the paparazzi at the event. More than 100 former and current McDonalds workers in the UK came forward to allege that they faced sexual harassment and bullying at the food chain, according to an investigation by the news outlet BBC. The probe revealed that workers as young as 17 faced harassment, with some claiming they were routinely groped and harrassed. After the news surfaced more allegations have been reported increasing the pressure on the mega food chain. McDonalds assured that all allegations will be investigated and highlighted that it has stringent" standards. There are clearly instances where we have fallen short and for that we deeply apologise, Alistair Macrow, chief executive of McDonalds UK and Ireland said in a statement to the BBC. The report is likely to hurt McDonalds because the mega food chain signed a legally-binding agreement with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) few months ago where it promised to improve workplace culture after another set of sexual harassment allegations surfaced. The EHRC is an equalities watchdog. A report by the Financial Times citing the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) said over 1,000 reports of women facing alleged harassment at the hands of managers and supervisors were reported. Accusations of a toxic work culture also tarnished the image of McDonalds back home in the US. The BBC report that came earlier this week led many others to come forward and share allegations of similar experiences. At one point a manager groped me, and hit me on the bottom, and then laughed, they were quoted as saying by the BBC. The incident is a new allegation that surfaced after the initial report was published. The allegations reported in the first report by the news outlet were: A female teenage employee in Cheshire was called a racial slur and then asked if he could show her his penis and said he wanted to make a black and white" baby with her. The alleged employee is 20 years older than her. A 16-year-old male worker was told to perform sexual acts in exchange for vapes by a manager at an outlet in Hampshire. Another male worker was forced by a senior female manager to put his hand down her trousers and smack her buttocks. Its the expectation that if you work at McDonalds, you will be harassed, Emily, a 20-year-old worker, who quit her role at a Brighton branch, told the news outlet. There is a saying at McDonalds, tits on tills" - boys in the kitchen, girls on the counter. The idea is to put attractive people at the front, another worker, previously involved with the Norwich branch of the UK said. An Indian worker also came forward and said that her managers spoke in gibberish to intimate her and called her Pakistani colleague a terrorist. Another 16-year-old girl who worked at McDonalds said she worked there in a constant state of fear. She said she was groped almost on every shift. Theyd grope stomach, waists, and bums. Every shift I worked, there would be at least a comment being made, or Id be brushed, a hand brushed across me, or it would be a more severe thing, like having my bum grabbed, hips grabbed, the teenager told the BBC. McDonalds told the Financial Times that it has set up a specialist unit to handle complaints by employees about sexual harassment, assault and bullying. Anyone involved should come forward and talk to the companys complaints process about that, and thats the right way to deal with this problem, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said. The US State Department said it retains the ability to conduct its own operations in the Afghanistan region despite the promises made by the Taliban regime. We retain the ability to conduct our own operations in the region to ensure that, regardless of any promises that the Taliban makes and regardless of their relative ability or willingness to uphold them, that we retain the right to protect American interests, Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the US State Department, said. The comments made by Miller were in response to a question on the rise in the number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan killing civilians and security forces. Pakistan is concerned that Afghanistans Taliban regime is not keeping its promises and its soil is being used for terrorism, citing Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistans (TTP) attacks on law enforcement personnel and civilians. Moreover, the Afghanistans Taliban government shot back earlier this month at Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif when he raised the issue of terrorism and how Taliban was flouting the agreements it made during the signing of the Doha Accords where it promised to prevent terrorism emanating from its soil. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told BBC Pashto that the outfit did not sign the Doha Peace Agreement with Pakistan. I will say that we will hold them to their commitments I dont want to express any amount of confidence or lack of confidence, Miller said when asked to what degree does he believe that the Taliban will stick to its promises made in the Doha Agreement. The Doha Agreement also saw the withdrawal of the US troops from Afghanistan in 2021. The TTP continues its attacks on the Pakistani state and a fresh attack was reported last week at a military installation in Zhob, Balochistan. The attack led to the death of nine soldiers. Following the attack the Pakistan Armys media wing, ISPR, issued a statement, highlighting that there is presence of terrorist safe havens in Afghanistan and urged Kabul to stop allowing terrorists to use their territory for attacking Pakistan. Miller also commented on the upcoming Pakistan elections and said the US supports the peaceful upholding of fundamental democratic principles such as free media, free speech, freedom of assembly. These principles are the foundations for democratic elections. I have spoken to this both with respect to Pakistan specifically and of course as it relates to other countries on numerous occasions, Miller said. (with inputs from Dawn) Guatemalas electoral tribunal on Friday urged the countrys highest court to intervene for free and fair presidential elections in August even as investigators raided the party headquarters of one of the candidates. In a filing to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) sought an order compelling the attorney generals office, police, army, courts and other state bodies to guarantee the integrity of the August 20 vote. Central Americas most populous country has been rocked for weeks by legal actions targeting the Semilla (Seed) party of Bernardo Arevalo one of the two presidential candidates to emerge from a first voting round on June 25. This continued Friday, with the anti-graft prosecutors office announcing a raid of Semillas headquarters in Guatemala City just hours after the TSE court application. Dozens of party supporters protested outside chanting slogans denouncing anti-corruption prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche as a criminal" as investigators from his office, backed by police, searched the premises. Arevalo decried the raid as part of the political persecution by a corrupt minority that knows it is losing power day by day." Arevalo, the son of a reformist former president, finished second behind Sandra Torres, a former first lady, in the June first round. Both are from social democratic parties, meaning that one way or another, Guatemala will have its first president from the left of the political spectrum in more than a decade. But eight right-wing parties challenged the outcome of the first round, causing a delay in the declaration of the official results. This was followed by a judge suspending Semillas status as a political party at Curruchiches request, prompting protests domestically and rebukes internationally over alleged election meddling. Imminent threat Curruchiche is under US sanctions. He was appointed by Attorney General Consuelo Porras who features on a US list of corrupt actors," accused of obstructing corruption investigations into her allies. On the same list is Fredy Orellana, the judge who had ordered Semillas suspension over alleged irregularities in its registration as a party. Arevalo and Semilla say they are being targeted because of the candidates unexpectedly good showing in the first election round, having featured at number eight in opinion polls. His running mate Karin Herrera has since stated that Semilla was a danger that they did not see coming." In its filing Friday, the TSE pointed to a certain, future and imminent threat" that the countrys authorities would violate the democratic rule of law" by failing to ensure the integrity of the election. Curruchiches office said Fridays raid was conducted in furtherance of its ongoing investigation into Semilla. On Wednesday, the authorities issued an arrest warrant against a senior Semilla member, and on Thursday prosecutors conducted a surprise raid on the TSE. Orellana ordered the arrest of senior official Eleonora Castillo for failing to carry out his order to disqualify Semilla. The country of 17.6 million is one of Latin Americas poorest, with high rates of violent crime. Rights groups have increasingly expressed concern over what they say are efforts to crack down on prosecutors and journalists in an apparent bid by the government to protect a corrupt system benefiting those in power. Indonesian fitness influencer and bodybuilder Justyn Vicky died while strength training in a freak gym accident. The incident took place on July 15, when the 33-year-old bodybuilder broke his neck while trying to squat-press 210-kilogram weight with a single spotter behind him at a gym in Bali. A spotter provides support during weight lifting. Vicky was exercising at the Paradise Gym in Balis Sanur when the incident occurred. In a video that surfaced on social media, Vicky was seen trying a squat press with the 210 kg barbell on his shoulders. After squatting down, he seemed unable to stand. While trying to hold the weight, he fell back into a sitting position and the barbell dropped on the back of his neck. According to a Bali Discovery report, the fitness influencer failed to complete the lift and fell forward, cascading the weight bar off his shoulders and snapping his neck and head forward". The behind him stood helpless as Vicky fell to the floor and the weights crashed down on his neck. The bodybuilder was rushed to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Following the accident, Vicky was left with a broken neck and critical compression of vital nerves connecting to his heart and lungs," Channel News Asia reported citing Daily Mail. The Paradise Bali, the gym where Vicky worked, called him a beacon of inspiration, motivation and unwavering support" in an Instagram post. Justyn was more than just a fitness expert; he was a beacon of inspiration, motivation, and unwavering support," the post read. North Korea has fired several cruise missiles" into the Yellow Sea between China and the Korean peninsula, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said Saturday. The launches, which the military said took place around 4 am (1900 GMT), come as relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points ever. South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analysing the launches while monitoring signs of additional activities," the JCS said. North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into the sea on its opposite coast toward Japan just three days earlier. The recent weapons tests are the latest in a series by Pyongyang and come as Seoul and Washington ramp up defence cooperation in the face of soaring tensions with the North. Diplomacy between Pyongyang and Seoul has stalled and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has called for ramping up weapons development, including tactical nukes. In response, Seoul and Washington have staged joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and US strategic assets, while an American nuclear-armed submarine this week made a South Korean port call for the first time in decades. On Thursday, North Koreas defense minister Kang Sun Nam said the Ohio-class submarines deployment may have fallen under the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the DPRK law on the nuclear force policy," using an acronym for North Koreas official name. A day later, South Koreas defence ministry reiterated that any use of nuclear weapons by the North would prompt an immediate and decisive response" resulting in the end" of the Kim regime. Saturdays incident also comes as a US soldier is believed to be in North Korean custody after breaking away from a tour group visiting the Demilitarized Zone. The United States has said it is very concerned" about how Private Second Class Travis King would be treated, and that as of Thursday, Pyongyang had yet to respond to inquiries about the soldier. King was due to return to the United States to face military discipline after serving jail time in South Korea for assault. New Yorks mayor Eric Adams said New York City can house no more migrants earlier this week. New York authorities will hand over flyers to immigrants at the US-Mexico border encouraging them to go to other US cities. A report by the news agency AFP said that over 90,000 migrants, mainly from Central and South America, arrived in New York City in April 2022. Our cup has basically runneth over. We have no more room in the city, Eric Adams, New York City mayor was quoted as saying by AFP. The officials said that around 106,000 people, including some 54,000 migrants, currently live in New York Citys care, either in shelters or hotels. The flyers to be handed to the migrants at the US-Mexico border warn them of the excessive costs of living in New York and will highlight that the cost of food, transportation, and other necessities is the highest in the United States. There is no guarantee we will be able to provide shelter and services to new arrivals. Please consider another city as you make your decision about where to settle in the US," it reads. Adams has voiced his disapproval towards how the federal government, i.e. the Biden administration, has handled the issue. Adams said people at the border should be faced with the real reality and pointed to the federal government. We cannot continue to absorb tens of thousands of newcomers on our own without the help of the state and federal government, Adams, himself a Democrat, said. Our compassion is infinite. Our space is not, a New York official responsible for the emergency housing for the migrants said. Adams also announced that single adult migrants will have to reapply for shelter after 60 days so that space can be made available for families with children. He added that the city would help migrants find alternative housing arrangements with friends, family and other networks. The New York mayor has been gradually trying to restrict the number of new arrivals to New York City, which has long been a sanctuary city for migrants. Blasphemy is legal in Britain as the nation allows freedom of speech and expression subject to formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties but highly-conservative Pakistani and Bangladeshi organisations are implementing tacit blasphemy laws in the UK. A report by Henry Jackson Society warned that extreme anti-blasphemy action is emerging as a fresh threat to the UKs liberal democratic system and also challenging its freedom of expression and religion. The report warns that there is a tacit blasphemy law operating in the UK. Blasphemy laws were abolished in England and Wales in 2008 but a group of Pakistanis and Bangladeshis affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and Khatme Nabuwwat movement along with few others are ready to resort to violence to defend their religion. In Pakistan, and several other Islamic nation, blasphemy is punishable by death and Pakistanis as well as foreigners have been lynched for allegedly participating in blasphemy. The report titled Britains New Blasphemy Police? Understanding Islamist Anti-Blasphemy Action in the UK said that individuals associated with the Sunni Barelvi sect of Pakistan have strong and extreme anti-blasphemous views and are prepared to resort to violence to defend Islam. Two organisations found to be frequently linked to anti-blasphemy action in the UK are Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) and elements of the Khatme Nabuwwat movement, the report said. The report also pointed out that anti-blasphemy preachers from Pakistan and Bangladesh have been allowed to preach in the UK at places which advocate punishment for blasphemy. Charlotte Littlewood, the author, urged the UK government to ban these Pakistan and Bangladesh-based organisations. Littlewood lists incidents from UKs Batley, where a teacher was forced into hiding in 2021 over a caricature, and Wakefield, where a 14-year-old autistic non-Muslim boy was suspended for dropping the Quran and his family received death threats, as examples of how blasphemy laws were being applied in the UK. The cancellation of the movie Lady of Heaven and obstruction to sales of the book The Jewel of Medina due to threats to the cinema halls and the publishing house were other examples cited by Littlewood. Littlewood also pointed to the murder of Ahmadiyya Muslim Asad Shah in Glasgow in 2016 as another example. The report shows that some local councillors at times have supported the anti-blasphemy action taken. The report calls for more stronger immigration screening of preachers and also an investigation into the instigators of the protests in Batley and Wakefield to see if extremists abroad were linked. It also asked the UKs department of education to ensure and prioritise safety of staff and pupils and the ability to teach without censorship. The report says that accepting these tacit anti-blasphemy laws appears to be antithetical to the democratic values of the UK and is also a threat to national security. (with inputs from the Times of India) The death of a Russian journalist in Ukraine was a heinous, premeditated crime" committed by Western powers and Kyiv, Russias foreign ministry said Saturday, vowing a response" against those to blame. Earlier the Russian military announced that Rostislav Zhuravlev, a war correspondent working for the state RIA Novosti news agency, had been killed in a Ukrainian strike in the southern Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday. The agency also reported his death, saying he was killed near the frontline village of Pytikhatki. As a result of a strike by the Ukrainian army using cluster munitions, four journalists were wounded in various levels of severity," the Russian army said in a statement. During an evacuation, the RIA Novosti journalist Rostislav Zhuravlev died from his wounds that resulted from the cluster munitions exploding." Three other journalists were said to be stable in hospital after the attack. Everything indicates that the attack on the group of journalists was not carried out by chance," the Russian foreign ministry said. The competent international organisations prefer, as before in such cases, to turn a blind eye to this heinous crime", it added. According to the ministry, the journalists were gathering material for a report on the bombing by the Kyiv regime militants of settlements in the Zaporizhzhia region using cluster munitions banned in many countries around the world". It accused the United States of having delivered the weapons to the Ukrainian army. The White House has said that Ukrainian forces are using United States-supplied cluster munitions on the battlefield, as Kyiv seeks momentum in its grinding counteroffensive. The weapons, which disperse up to several hundred small explosive charges that can remain unexploded in the ground, are banned by many countries because of the long-term risks they pose to civilians. The perpetrators of the brutal massacre of the Russian journalist will inevitably receive the punishment they deserve," the Russian foreign minister warned, adding that those who supplied cluster munitions to their proteges in Kyiv will also share the full measure of responsibility". Russian attacks on 11 regions across Ukraine overnight killed at least eight civilians and wounded others, authorities said Saturday, as fierce fighting continues in Ukraines attempts to dislodge Russian forces from territory they have occupied. The regional prosecutors office in the eastern Donetsk region said that at least four people, including a married couple, were killed as Russian forces on Friday night shelled the settlement of Niu-York, south of the city of Bakhmut the site of the wars longest and bloodiest battle until it fell to Moscow in May. Three other Niu-York residents were hospitalized. Also on Saturday morning, Ukraines interior ministry said that two civilians died as Russian forces Friday struck Kostiantynivka, a city in the Donetsk region, from multiple rocket launchers. In a post on its official Telegram channel, the ministry said that another civilian was wounded in the same attack, which also destroyed 20 private homes, cars and a gas pipeline. Two people were also killed near the northern city of Chernihiv, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the Russian border, as Russian cruise missiles destroyed the local cultural center and damaged apartment blocks, the regional military administration reported on Saturday morning. It did not specify the exact time of the attack, saying only it took place within the previous 24 hours. Three civilians were wounded as Russian troops overnight shelled a town neighboring the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, local Gov. Serhiy Lysak reported Saturday. Ukrainian officials have regularly accused Moscow of using the Zaporizhzhia plant, which Russian forces captured early in the war, as a base for firing on Ukrainian-held territory nearby. Fears have also mounted that Russia might sabotage the plant Europes largest in an attempt to stymie Ukraines ongoing counteroffensive, which has focused on the Zaporizhzhia region as well as the countrys industrial east The night passed quietly in the Ukrainian capital, with AP journalists in Kyiv witnessing no air raid alerts. The Ukrainian air force on Saturday morning said that it had overnight brought down 14 Russian drones, including five Iranian-made ones, over the countrys southeast, where battles are raging. In a regular social media update, the air force said that all Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones launched by Russian troops during the night were brought down, pointing to Ukraines increasing success rate in neutralizing them. Egypt has sent three military planes carrying tons of medical supplies provided by the Arab Health Ministers Council of the Arab League to Sudan, according to a video released on Friday by the spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces, Gharib Abdel-Hafez Gharib. The video revealed that the military planes departed from Cairo West Airbase and were headed to Port Sudan International Airport. The video also mentioned that Sudanese officials expressed deep appreciation for the Arab League's invaluable efforts in assisting their people to overcome the significant challenges they are facing. The aid arrives at a time when violence continues to escalate in Sudan's Khartoum and Darfur regions. Since the conflict began in mid-April, Egypt has been actively delivering humanitarian aid to Sudanese civilians affected by the violence and has opened its doors to refugees fleeing the war, demonstrating its commitment to their wellbeing. Over 250,000 Sudanese refugees, which make up around 60 percent of the total number of individuals who fled their homeland, have sought refuge in Egypt. Towards the end of June, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry announced that the country had provided around 300 tons of crucial medical and food supplies to those seeking refuge from the violence. With Egypt's support, hundreds of tons of medical and relief aid have been delivered to Sudan through Port Sudan, while tens of tons of international humanitarian aid have been transported to the country. The Egyptian Red Crescent has set up a humanitarian centre at border crossings to provide essential on-the-ground assistance, while the Egyptian authorities have deployed 15 mobile clinics, multiple fixed clinics and pharmacies, and 12 medical convoys to the region. Search Keywords: Short link: President Emmanuel Macron on Friday asked his government to draw lessons from recent riots sparked by the police shooting of a teenager, or risk deep divisions in France. The killing of Nahel M., 17, during a traffic stop last month prompted protests, riots and looting, with many accusing the government of allowing a culture of institutional racism in the police force to fester. Speaking at a cabinet meeting a day after a government reshuffle, Macron said the riots had highlighted a risk of fragmentation, of deep division, of the nation". There was a need for authority and respect", Macron told the ministers. We must draw the lessons from what happened, and provide sound answers," he said. This task would shape" the governments work after the summer break, said Macron. The most intense urban violence since 2005 sparked a debate about law and order, immigration, racism and police brutality. Thursdays cabinet revamp has been widely interpreted as a signal by Macron to move on from a series of crises since his re-election last year, which also included widespread protests over a hike in the French retirement age. The reshuffle was limited in scope, with Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, crucially, remaining in her post. That choice reflected his wish for continuity and efficiency", Macron said. Macron also told the cabinet meeting that France needed to bring its finances back on a solid footing after spending to bolster the economy during the Covid pandemic and energy subsidies for households triggered a sharp rise in deficits and debt. After the summer, we will have to prepare the country, in a way, for a demanding framework and order in terms of public finances," Macron said. This, he said, would put France in a position to start repaying debt, cut taxes further and allow a reasonable management of our deficits". Macrons popularity ratings have begun to recover after suffering a near-record slump in April, when only 31 percent of respondents in a July 5 poll said they had a positive view of him. Macrons revamped ministerial team will meet on Monday, according to the prime ministers office, to anticipate the risks of the summer" and work on the priorities for the autumn", including preparing next years budget and the transition to a greener environment. France must also prepare to host next years Olympic Games in Paris. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on Saturday that Egypt and Indonesia have completed the seventh round of political consultations in Jakarta on Thursday, as part of their preparations for the upcoming high-level joint committee meeting. The date for the high-level joint committee meeting, which will be presided over by the foreign ministers of both countries, will be held in the near future to enhance cooperation in all fields," as per the statement. According to the statement, the round of political consultation was held on 20 July, headed by the Egyptian Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs Ayman Kamel, and the Assistant Foreign Minister of Indonesia Abdul Qadir Al-Jilani. The political consultations covered a wide range of topics related to bilateral relations, including political, economic, trade, cultural, educational, and research fields. Both sides stressed the significance of implementing previously signed agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs), as well as accelerating negotiations on pending mutual commitments. They also underscored the importance of boosting high-level visits between the two nations. During the consultations, the significance of increasing trade volume between the two countries, particularly through fair trade deals, was highlighted as a crucial aspect. Additionally, they explored ways to promote Indonesian investments in Egypt, leveraging the economic opportunities provided by the Suez Canal Economic Zone which offers access to African markets through Egypt's free trade agreements with various partners worldwide. To achieve this goal, the trade ministers of both nations signed a MoU in May to create a Joint Trade Committee. "The agreement will help the private sector in Egypt and Indonesia launch trade partnerships," Minister of Trade and Industry Ahmed Samir said during the signing ceremony. Samir noted that Indonesian investments in Egypt have already exceeded $58 million across 28 different projects in sectors such as industry, services, construction, telecommunications, and information technology. The minister disclosed that trade between Egypt and Indonesia reached roughly $1.5 billion in 2022. According to Samir, the primary products traded between the two nations are palm oil, mineral and chemical fertilizers, as well as phosphate fertilizers. In February of this year, Egypt's trade balance deficit decreased by 48.2 percent to $2.1 billion, compared to $4.06 billion in the previous year. In addition, exports were valued at $3.44 billion in February, a decrease of 22.2 percent compared to the previous year, while imports declined by 34.7 percent y-o-y to $5.54 billion during the same month. Egyptian-Indonesian relations Egypt and Indonesia have a long history of diplomatic relations, and last year marked the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. Last week, in an interview with Al-Ahram Online, Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt Lotfi Rauf emphasized that his country has always considered Egypt as a close and dependable partner and a crucial hub in the region. Rauf noted that bilateral relations between the two nations are experiencing a positive momentum, following Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry's trip to Jakarta in March of last year. During Shoukry's visit, MoUs were signed on the creation of the Joint Bilateral Commission and Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development Cooperation. He added that last year, the Egyptian speakers of the Parliament and the Senate visited Indonesia to participate in parliamentary events. Such an exchange of high-level visits is a great testament to the progress we have achieved in our bilateral relations. Now we are trying to transform the bilateral modalities that we already had so far into concrete cooperation, Rauf explained. Search Keywords: Short link: Only the most adamant reptile lover would use words like "cuddly" or "sweet" where snakes are concerned. New research, however, has found that the cold-blooded creatures may have some semblance of emotional life, even comforting fellow legless wonders when they are upset. CNN reports that a study published in Frontiers in Ethology found Southern Pacific rattlesnakes had lower heart rates in stressful situations if they were with another snake. Snakes by themselves were noticeably more agitated. "We showed ... they could buffer each other's stress response, much like what happens to humans when they endure a stressful event together," says lead author Chelsea Martin of Loma Linda University in a news release. The research "lets us know as humans that, hey, we're not that different from these snakes," Martin tells Reuters. "They are doing something we do." Martin's co-author and adviser William Hayes pointed out that humans rarely credit "rattlesnakes and other lower vertebrates and invertebrates" with having emotions. While humans "are eager to just chop their heads off," according to Hayes, "the animals are sentient, capable of emotions." Hayes reportedly had the idea for the study when he noticed that snakes he captured to move from homes in Southern California to safer wild locations appeared to calm down if another rattler was with them. Owners of nominally less dangerous reptiles like boa constrictors have been asking questions and making conclusions about snake emotions for years. Numerous articles have been written instructing snake owners in reading their pet's emotional state. A blog entry published by A-Z Animals categorically states that snakes have emotions and says that we "know for sure that they can feel and show fear and aggression when they're disturbed," but "may also show contentment and familiarity." The most important takeaway from the Loma Linda study of rattlesnakes, however, is that another rattler may help them remain calm. Humans won't be cuddling frightened diamondbacks any time soon. (Read more snakes stories.) Vice President Kamala Harris went to Florida on Friday to denounce the state's new educational standards that mandate teaching middle school students that some Black people benefited from being enslaved . "It is not only misleading, it is false and pushing propagandapushing propaganda on our children," Harris said in a speech in Jacksonville, NPR reports. Glossing over or forgetting historical crimes isn't the answer, said the first Black person to be vice president. "We will be better if we remember," she said, per the AP . "We will be stronger if we remember." Harris did not mention Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose policies are behind the state Board of Education's new policy. But earlier in the day, anticipating Harris' speech, he named her. "Democrats like Kamala Harris have to lie about Florida's educational standards to cover for their agenda of indoctrinating students and pushing sexual topics onto children," DeSantis posted on Facebook. In her speech, per ABC News, Harris said: "When we send our children to school as parents, we want to know that they're being taught the truth," adding, "It is a reasonable expectation that our children will not be misled." Before speaking at the historic Ritz Theatre in Jacksonville, Harris met with area leaders, teachers, civil rights activists, and people in an overflow room, per the Florida Times-Union. She reminded those packing the theater that enslaved people endured torture, the separation of their families, and other abuse. "How is it that anyone could suggest in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization," she said. (Read more Kamala Harris stories.) UPDATE Aug 3, 2023 5:40 PM CDT A journalism professor has received an apology from Texas A&M for its handling of her hiring and will collect a $1 million settlement. "Mistakes were made during the hiring process," the school said Thursday about a flap that led the university president to resign. Investigation documents released Thursday showed that at least six board of regents members began "raising concerns" about the hiring of Kathleen McElroy, who is Black, after a right-wing website detailed her past work on diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, the AP reports. The school then downgraded the job offer. McElroy said she considers the matter resolved now, adding that Texas A&M "has learned from its mistakes and will strive to ensure similar mistakes are not repeated in the future." Jul 22, 2023 1:25 PM CDT Texas A&M University on Friday announced the resignation of its president after a Black journalist said her celebrated hiring at one of the nation's largest campuses quickly unraveled due to pushback over her past work promoting diversity. President Katherine Banks said in a resignation letter that she was retiring immediately because "negative press has become a distraction" at the nearly 70,000-student campus in College Station. Her departure after two years as president followed weeks of turmoil at the school, which only last month had welcomed professor Kathleen McElroy with great fanfare to revive the school's journalism department, the AP reports. The heavily armed man who ambushed Fargo police officers investigating a fender bender last week likely had a bigger and bloodier attack in mind, with at least two fairs taking place at the time in and around North Dakota's largest city, authorities said Friday. Mohamad Barakat killed one officer and wounded two others and a bystander before a fourth officer shot and killed him, ending the July 14 attack. Over the past five years, Barakat, 37, searched the internet for terms including "kill fast," "explosive ammo," "incendiary rounds," and "mass shooting events," state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Friday, But perhaps the most chilling search was for "area events where there are crowds," which on July 13 brought up a news article with the headline, "Thousands enjoy first day of Downtown Fargo Street Fair," the AP reports. Had Officer Zach Robinson not killed Barakat, authorities said they shudder to think how much worse the attack might have been. All evidence suggests that Barakat came upon the traffic crash by "happenstance" and that his ensuing ambush was a diversion from his much bigger intended target, Wrigley said. "The horrible winds of fate sometimes," he said. "Those events fell into place and fell into his path." On the day of the attack, the downtown fair was in its second day and was less than 3 miles from the crash scene. It's unclear if it was the intended target, though, as Barakat also searched for information on the Red River Valley Fair, which was just a 6-mile drive from the scene, the attorney general said. After driving by the fender bender, Barakat pulled into an adjacent parking lot to watch from his parked car, Wrigley said. He said Barakat's car was loaded with guns, a homemade grenade, more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition, three "largish" containers full of gasoline, plus two propane tanks, one completely filled and the other half-filled not with propane, but with "explosive materials concocted at home, purchased lawfully." With police and firefighters busy helping, Barakat watched for several minutes until the officers walked by him, when he lifted a .223-caliber rifle out of his car window and began firing, Wrigley said. Barakat killed Officer Jake Wallin, 23 and wounded Officers Andrew Dotas and Tyler Hawes, who were so new that they were still undergoing field training. Barakat also shot and wounded a fleeing woman, Karlee Koswick, who had been involved in the fender bender. Robinson, who was badly outgunned but was the only officer at the scene who hadn't been shot, engaged Barakat in a two-minute shootout. It ended with Robinson shooting and killing Barakat as bystanders crouched nearby. Barakat was a Syrian national who came to the US on an asylum request in 2012 and became a US citizen in 2019, Wrigley said, adding that he didn't appear to have any ties to the Muslim community in Fargo. He had an "obvious motive to kill," Wrigley said. "I mean, driven by hate. Driven by wanting to kill. Not particularized to some group that we can discern at this moment, not particularized to one individual that we can see." (Read more mass shootings stories.) Tens of thousands of protesters marched into Jerusalem on Saturday evening, and hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other cities in a last-ditch show of force aimed at blocking Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's contentious judicial overhaul . Also Saturday, more than 100 of Israel's former security chiefs signed a letter pleading with the Israeli premier to halt the legislation, and thousands of additional military reservists said they would no longer report for duty in protest of the plan, the AP reports. In scorching heat that reached 91 degrees Fahrenheit, the procession into Jerusalem turned the city's main entrance into a sea of blue-and-white Israeli flags as marchers completed the last leg of a four-day, 45-mile trek from Tel Aviv to Israel's parliament. The marchers were welcomed to Jerusalem by throngs of cheering protesters before they set up camp in rows of small white tents outside the Knesset ahead of the parliament's expected vote Monday. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands flooded the streets of the coastal city of Tel Aviv, the country's business and cultural capital, as well as in Beersheba, Haifa and Netanya. The proposal has drawn harsh criticism from business and medical leaders, and a fast-rising number of military reservists in key units have said they will stop reporting for duty if the plan passes, raising concern that the country's security interests could be threatened. Another 10,000 reservists announced they were suspending duty on Saturday night, according to Brothers in Arms, a protest group representing retired soldiers. And more than 100 top former security chiefs, including retired military commanders, police commissioners, and heads of intelligence agencies joined those calls on Saturday, signing a letter to Netanyahu blaming him for compromising the military and urging him to halt the legislation. The signatories included Ehud Barak, a former prime minister, and Moshe Yaalon, a former army chief and defense minister. (Read more Israel stories.) The day after approving a new requirement that middle school students be taught that some enslaved people learned skills to their personal benefit, Florida's Board of Education issued a statement in its defense. The board listed the names of 16 historical figures it said were helped by the "highly specialized trades" they learned while enslaved, calling this point "factual and well documented." The Tampa Bay Times dug into the matter, finding that historic sources account for some of those 16 lives quite differently. For starters, several of those people were never enslaved. Others indeed acquired skills but not while they were enslaved. "They just threw out a bunch of names to make it seem like something good came of (slavery)," said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, who contested having Booker T. Washington on the list. Washington was freed when he was 9, then went on to work in mines and as a houseboy. Tuskegee University, which Washington founded in 1881, said he later went to school. The board has James Forten as a shoemaker born into slavery in 1766 who escaped in 1784. The Museum of the American Revolution, on the other hand, calls Forten a Black entrepreneur born to free parents. He served on privateer ships during the Revolutionary War and became a wealthy sailmaker. Lewis Latimer is listed as a blacksmith born into slavery in 1848 and freed in 1852. The Lewis Latimer House Museum says he was a self-educated inventor born to formerly enslaved parents. He helped to develop the telephone and incandescent lighting. The Times has other examples. The education department said it's standing by its 16 names, which it said were provided by Frances Presley Rice, a member of the board's workgroup on the policy and one of the signees on the statement. The board provided the names of two books it consulted: Encyclopedia of African American History 1619-1895, published in 2006, and The Colored Patriots of the American Revolution, published in 1895. (Read more Florida stories.) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The High Appeals Court is hearing an appeal against three men and a woman serving a five-year jail term for drug trafficking in Bahrain. The case involves two Bahrainis, one Asian, and an Arab woman. The suspects were apprehended by the Ministry of Interior's anti-drug department after a tip-off and undercover operation. An agent in plain clothes arranged to buy shabu for BD80, leading to his arrest. During interrogation, the man disclosed information about receiving drugs from the Arab woman and cooperated with the police to track her down. He then proposed to buy 50 grams of shabu for BD600, leading to the woman's agreement to deliver the substance. The second and third defendants were caught red-handed, leading to their arrest. The High Appeals Court will examine the case during the hearing to overturn their sentences. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Kuwait Avenue, stretching from Salmaniya Avenue to Shaikh Isa bin Salman Highway, is set to undergo a transformative makeover, according to the Ministry of Works. The ministry has outlined plans to rehabilitate the avenue in both directions, encompassing various essential works. The comprehensive rehabilitation project includes asphalt overlay, the installation of concrete kerbs, and the installation of paving blocks. To move forward with the project, the Ministry of Works has released a tender, inviting contractors with a valid Pre-qualification licence registered under Grades A, B, or C for Asphalt Works on the date of the tender issue. Interested contractors are encouraged to submit their bids before August 9, along with a BD2,500 bond, valid for 180 days. This ambitious initiative aims to revitalise Kuwait Avenue, promising improved road conditions and enhanced safety for all users. AFP | New Delhi The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com India and Sri Lanka agreed Friday to consider building a land link between them, they said during President Ranil Wickremesinghe's first visit to the regional powerhouse, as Chinese influence grows on his island. Establishing "land connectivity" across the Palk Strait, which in places is only around 25 kilometres (15 miles) wide, would give India access to the key ports of Trincomalee and Colombo and strengthen a "millennia-old relationship", the neighbours said in a strategic document. Feasibility studies on a land bridge and a petroleum pipeline will be carried out, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after their talks. Wickremesinghe's two-day visit came a year after he became president following the toppling of his predecessor during an unprecedented economic crisis. As Sri Lanka saw daily street protests over shortages of food, fuel and medicines, India poured in nearly $4 billion in aid, despite Colombo defaulting on its $46 billion in foreign debt. "Sri Lanka faced many challenges last year but like a close friend we stood shoulder to shoulder with the people of Sri Lanka in the time of crisis," Modi said. In the discussions, New Delhi also raised concerns about the "Chinese presence" in Sri Lanka, said India's foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra. India considers Sri Lanka part of its backyard and officials have been alarmed by Beijing's activities on the island and in the wider region. China is Sri Lanka's biggest bilateral creditor and a Chinese firm acquired a 99-year lease on the southern port of Hambantota after Colombo was unable to repay a huge loan from Beijing to build it. A $1.4 billion land reclamation project next to Colombo port -- the biggest-ever foreign investment in Sri Lanka -- has raised Indian fears that Beijing could use it as a listening post. Initially some of it was to have been Chinese sovereign territory. The island lies halfway along the main international shipping route between Europe and East Asia, with Colombo and Hambantota the only deep sea ports between Dubai and Singapore. As part of its Belt and Road Initiative, China has also struck infrastructure deals with countries around the Indian Ocean, including the Maldives, Bangladesh and Djibouti, where it has a military base. Security concerns were raised in India last year over a port call in Hambantota by a Chinese research vessel, Yuan Wang 5, which New Delhi describes as a spy ship. "The Sri Lankan side did convey to us their sensitivity and respect for our security and strategic concerns relating to what happens in our maritime domain," Kwatra said at a press briefing. Among other projects in the strategic document, Wickremesinghe said the petroleum pipeline between the two countries "will ensure an affordable and reliable supply of energy to Sri Lanka". , Jul 22 ( News On Japan ) - A wild deer has caused a commotion in downtown Sapporo where the animal evaded the capture of authorities and escaped into a residential area. Police received a report of a deer sighting in Nakajima Park shortly after 6 a.m. on Thursday, and were dispatched to the area where they spotted what appeared to be a female deer rampaging through an urban area. The deer evaded the capture of city authorities and managed to escape into a residential area. Around 11:30 a.m., city officials and police successfully tranquilized the deer using a blowgun and removed the animal. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries to any individuals. It is the year 2200 and the world has 250 million people. What has happened? Was there a total nuclear war and followed by a famine? Was there a terrible super-pandemic? How can the world have fallen from over 8.1 billion people in 2023 to 250 million. How can there be only 3% of the world population? Perhaps, artificial super intelligence was created and it nearly wiped out humanity. This is what happens if all countries have a total fertility rate of 1.0 or less. This is the situation in South Korea and Taiwan. Falling below replacement levels of 2.1 means that the average women no longer has an average of 1 daughter. If fertility rates go to 1.0 or less that means the total of all women have half of a daughter. This means the next generation (30 years later) has half as many fertile women. In 60 years there are 25% as many fertile women and in 90 years there are 12.5% as many fertile women. UPDATE: Nextbigfuture has written a few articles about how now and in the next few decades we can a permanent situation of economic recessions, depressions and banking and financial crisis from the root cause of aging and shrinking national populations in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and most of Europe (also known as half of the world economy). Almost 80% of the population of the world is below replacement. This includes India and Bangladesh, which are very poor countries. Japan fell below replacement in 1976 and in 2008 its population began shrinking. This was in spite of having among the longest life expectancy in the world at over 80 years. Continued population growth is from the momentum of previous higher birth rates increasing the pool of women who have chosen not to fully replace themselves. Dropping staying below is replacement starts a ticking clock. 30-40 years until the population starts shrinking. 20-30 years after that and the population collapse gets very brutal. No country has fallen below replacement for over 5 years and come back to above replacement. The world is trending to a low-fertility scenario, global fertility is approaching 1.3 after 2050. The world adult population averages 14.5 years of schooling, with male and female life expectancy both approaching 100. The median age is over 60. In this vision of the future, total population peaks at 8.7 billion in 2050 (up from about 7.7 billion in 2020) and then falls to 7.2 in 2100. On that fertility path, humanity would total around 250 million by 2200 and under 100 million by 2300. There are some parts of the world that are below 1.3 TFR. China has been at 1.18 for the past three years. South Korea is at 0.78. Seoul is at 0.6. Taiwan is at 1.0. The current fertility rate for Europe in 2023 is 1.615 births per woman. Spain and Italy are at 1.2. Find more statistics at Statista Chinas population is shrinking. China had the one child policy, so its population pyramid age distribution is already terrible. China had less than 10 million births in a year. If 10 million births per year was sustained then if people lived 80 years, you would head to a population of 800 million. However, the 5 million girls born last year in China could continue the trend of 1.18 TFR. They each have less than 0.6 daughters. In 2050s, the 5 million girls get replaced with 3 million girls. China could fall to 1.1 billion people in 2050 and 400 million people in 2100. Those 400 million people would mostly be old. China would have about 30-40 million fertile women in 2100. China, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Italy all have shrinking populations. This means over 20% of the world population is already shrinking. Demand for housing has been down in Japan for decades. The average value of real estate is less than half what it was in the 1980s and 1990s. People assumed that real estate prices always rise. This is the case with rising population and rising demand. Falling population means falling demand for everything. An Aging population makes this worse. People buy houses and major items be the time they are fifty, then they save and spend less. Japans per capita income is now less than half of the per capita income in the USA. Japan used to be at 70% of US per capital income. Japan has 10 million empty houses. No country has a fully paid in national retirement system. This kind of retirement system means that you put in all of your retirement savings into your own account and then fully live off of those funds. The Japan and US pension systems involve having a guarantee based upon taking a portion of annual tax revenue and then distributing it to the people old enough to qualify. This works fine when we have 3 or more working age person for each retired person. We can tax 25% of income and get 75% of one persons salary. Give one third or half to one pensioner. They have enough to live (not well but enough at a modest level). Japan is heading to one working age person for each pensioner and China could head to one working age person for two pensioners. One child for two parents. If government taxes the one person 30%, they would have to give it all to the pensioner and have no money for any other government and the pensioners would not have enough. The banks of the world and economies would collapse as the population ages and collapses. People can make excuses about it. Well of course it is too expensive to have kids. Women need to have their careers. It does not matter. If the world not solving this issue means 250 million people in 2200 and ruined economies in 2035 and beyond. The world should not stop in 2200, if you run it forward from there then it could get to 50 million in 2400. NOTE: if there was super antiaging tech which did not extend fertility it would just mean more people alive who were 80+ years old. Sweden and Denmark have some of the most aggressive pro-baby and pro-family policies in the world. Sweden brought the fertility rate up from 1.55 back up to 1.83. This is still below 2.1 so it slows down the decline. All of these policies need to be adopted and enhanced but they are not enough. The world has armies of men in national armies to defend each country. They want to prevent another country from killing people in their country. There needs to be an army of surrogate women who are paid the wages of soldiers to defend the future of each country. If the rich women in Shanghai will disregard an offer of $25000 to have a child, then a poor women from the rural areas of China could be willing to have the frozen eggs of that women in Shanghai. NOTE: the reality is that the leadership in China wants the high class and educated urban women to have children. 100 million rural women could be paid to have an extra 100 million babies each decade. This would make up the shortage of babies in China. This would be $2.5 trillion over a decade and another $2.5 trillion for extra childcare support. Chinas military budget is $224 billion in 2023 and increasing by about 10% each year. It would be about $2.5 trillion over the 2020s. Population birth shortage mitigation needs to be at the level of current annual defense budgets or even beyond. NOTE: the costs get worse if the shortage of birth persists for decades. If you could not convince them to have 2 kids then how do you convince them to have 4? Egg freezing and in vitro fertilization works. Surrogate birthing works. These things are done at about a million per year already. They work at something near the necessary scale. There is no functional artificial womb technology. This is too important and urgent to chance it on possible technology. There could also be aging reversal that extends life and extends the maximum age of fertility up to 60 or 80 or more. However, this does not exist yet and may not exist. Japan and other countries would do the mass surrogate plan as well. Some advanced countries who can attract immigrants could use a clause requiring two children surrogacy or four natural children as a condition of immigration. There is only 10 million total immigrants per year globally and only 4 million net total immigrants. We will see how this plays out for Japan, China and South Korea over the next two or three decades. What happens to Japans economy as they go from 122 million people to 100 million people in 2050 while at the same time the median age goes from 48 to 55? What happens to Chinas economy as they go from 1.4 billion people to 1.1 billion and the age goes from 38 to 53. What happens to the globally important banks in those countries? What happens to the world banking system? Japans economy was flat at 5 trillion from 1999 to 2023. Does Japans economy drop to 4 trillion or 3 trillion with the 20% drop in population and 40% drop in working age population? Japan has shown and is showing that a shrinking aging population means a terrible economy. Chinas economy has been heavily real estate dependent. A PBoC survey of urban households conducted in 2019 revealed that the value of housing composed 59 percent of households total assets, while mortgage loans stood at 12 percent of total assets. Kenneth Rogoff estimated that the real estate sector and associated activities accounted for 29 percent of Chinas GDP, comparable to both Ireland and Spain before the global financial crisis. A CaixiaBank report estimated that the real estate industry accounted for about 30 percent of Chinas GDP after considering the whole supply chain and its inputs. If China real estate market halves like Japans real estate, then that alone would be a 15% hit to GDP. If this was combined with 40% drop in the working age population, then what happens to the economy. What would $10-15 trillion annual hit to global GDP do to the world economy? This can be financially offset if there is an AI, self driving and humanoid robotics economics miracle. China can continue urbanization from 65% to 85% over the next 15-20 years. We need to have children to give a good future world to the children. It is a huge problem if we do not even make the children to give the world. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has appointed veteran diplomat Amr El-Hamami as Egypts ambassador to Turkey after Cairo and Ankara agreed to resume their ambassadorial-level relations two weeks ago. According to the presidential decree 266/2023, Ambassador El-Hamami, Egypts charges daffaires in Ankara, will serve as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Turkey, the official gazette reported on Saturday. Early in July, Egypt nominated Ambassador El-Hamami for the role, while Turkey appointed Salih Mutlu Sen ambassador to Cairo. Appointing ambassadors in Cairo and Ankara aims to reestablish normal relations between the two countries. It also demonstrates their eagerness to foster bilateral relations, the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. Who is El-Hamami? Ambassador El-Hamami has been serving as charge d'affaires at the Egyptian embassy in Ankara since 2019. He also assumed high-level diplomatic positions, including his appointment as deputy director of the Egyptian foreign ministers office for legal affairs and the UN between 2018 and 2019. In addition, El-Hamami served as legal councillor for the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations in New York from 2011 to 2015. He held the position of consul at Egypt's embassies in Niger, Denmark, and Bulgaria. From 2009 to 2011, he served as head of the legal and consular affairs at the foreign ministrys office. Back to normal Following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's re-election in May, President El-Sisi and Erdogan agreed to immediately upgrade diplomatic relations and exchange ambassadors to begin normalizing ties between the two countries after a decade-long rift. Top diplomats in both countries exchanged visits in March and April. El-Sisi will make his first presidential visit to Turkey on 27 July, according to Al-Qahera News, citing Turkish media reports. Search Keywords: Short link: The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last gubernatorial election in Adamawa State, Senator Aishat Dahiru Binani, has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of frustrating her petition against the declaration of Adamu Fintri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winner of the poll. Binani alleged that the electoral body, in an utter display of bias and disregard for the order of the court, is presently making desperate efforts to arrest and detain the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari as a ploy to prevent him from testifying for her at the ongoing Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Saturday on behalf of Binani, the APC Returning Officer at the Mach 18 governorship election and the re-run of April 15, Alhaji Mustapha Umar Madawaki, appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to call INEC to order to allow the APC candidate reclaim her mandate obtained from the poll. Madawaki, who alleged that the electoral body was in conspiracy with the state government and anti-Binani forces to thwart the diligent prosecution of the petition, claimed that INEC wanted the suspended REC apprehended and kept out of circulation to make him unavailable as witness for the governorship candidate. Tracing the genesis of the election crisis and the resulting petition, the APC Returning Officer alleged that at the point of collation of results, INEC suddenly allowed its trained ad-hoc workers changed and unlawfully and mysteriously substituted by another group of untrained staff that were not meant for collation. The result of the unlawful change of ad-hoc workers, he said, was the production of different election results from the ones submitted by the authentic workers. He said, To my mind, that is a major reason INEC is working overtime, trying to prevent the former Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari, from testifying before the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. They are afraid of the revelations he would make. Their desperation is so brazen that Justice A.O Manji was forced to openly question the INEC lawyer on why they are in a hurry to get Hudu Yunusa Ari arrested when there is a clear court order against that. To my mind also, that is the same reason that the Force Headquarters under the former Inspector General of Police IGP shot itself in the foot when it doctored the earlier investigative report into the Adamawa elections that found no indictable offence against Barrister Hudu Yunusa Ari to another one they could use to quickly arrest and incarcerate him. We have both the original investigative report and the doctored one at our disposal. We are aware that these are serious charges and have therefore, refrained from elaborating further on some of the matters because they are before the Adamawa State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal. Madawaki, who described Senator Binani as a victim of gender discrimination in her governorship ambition, said that Embassies and Diplomatic Missions would be carried along in the battle to regain the alleged stolen mandate of the governorship candidate. The All Progressives Congress (APC) has dismissed reports of an internal crisis while commenting on recent developments in the party. The resignation of Abdullahi Adamu as national chairman and Iyiola Omisore as national secretary had fuelled reports of upheaval within the party. Recall that the failure of Adamu to account for over N30 billion from the sale of nomination forms was the last straw that led to his ouster. Omisore had also been accused of mismanaging funds meant for campaigns in Osun state. Although Abubakar Kyari has assumed office as acting chairman and Festus Fuanter as the acting national secretary, there have been speculations over the potential permanent holders of the positions. While Umar Ganduje, former governor of Kano, has been pegged as President Bola Tinubus preferred candidate for the chairmanship of the party, Gboyega Oyetola, former governor of Osun, and Ajibola Basiru, spokesperson for the ninth senate, have been reported to be in the running to emerge as national secretary. APC: THERE IS NO CRISIS, CHANGE IS INEVITABLE In a statement released on Saturday, Felix Morka, APC national publicity secretary, said the reports of a crisis in the party are speculative. Quite to the contrary, there is no crisis in the party. APC stands as one strong, dynamic, resilient and progressive party, Morka said. He said the resignation of Adamu and Omisore only shows the high level of institutional maturity and quality of its leadership that place the best interest of the party first and above personal egos and ambitions. Morka said the rapid succession, in acting capacities, to both offices exemplifies a working constitutional process. He noted that all sections of the partys leadership are united in the quest for a more progressive party and that the personal thoughts of members do not reflect the position of the party of the NWC. Change in the life of any individual or institution is constant and inevitable, Morka added. As Africas largest political party, our demonstrated capacity to adapt to change and emergent realities always stands us out, and sets us beyond the wishes of doomsayers. We remain committed to the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration towards uplifting the quality of life of all Nigerians. Simon Ekpa, a popular Biafra agitator and Separatist, has announced a historic Biafran Self Referendum Convention tagged BSRC 2023. Ekpa, the Finland-based lawyer and Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government disclosed this through his official Twitter handle on Saturday. According to him, the event will be the first-ever gathering of Biafrans in Finland. Ekpa has continued to show his unalloyed commitment towards achieving the Biafra referendum and call for the release of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Biafrans worldwide, get ready. It is the First Ever Biafra Self Referendum Convention BSRC 2023 in Finland. Get ready; date, time and location are to be announced soon, he wrote. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will participate in the Russia-Africa Summit that will be held in St. Petersburg from 27-28 July, a diplomatic source told the Russian Tass news agency. President El-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin co-chaired the first edition of the Russia-Africa Summit, which was held in Sochi in October 2019 under the motto "For Peace, Security, and Development." Aimed at strengthening RussianAfrican cooperation on all fronts, the Russia-Africa Summit will be held in parallel with the Economic and Humanitarian Forum, which is taking place also in St. Petersburg from 2728 July. Search Keywords: Short link: A federal high court in Lagos has fixed July 25 for the arraignment of Godwin Emefiele, suspended governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). It is understood that hearing notices have been sent out by the court to counsels involved in the matter. Joseph Daudu, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), will be leading the defendants case while Nicholas Oweibo will serve as the presiding judge. On June 9, President Bola Tinubu suspended Emefiele and asked him to transfer his responsibilities to Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi, CBN deputy governor, operations directorate. A day later, the Department of State Services (DSS) announced that Emefiele was in its custody for some investigative reasons. The suspended CBN governor has been in DSS custody since his arrest. On July 13, Peter Afunanya, spokesperson of the DSS, confirmed that the agency had filed charges against Emefiele. The DSS charged him with two counts bordering on alleged possession of firearms. In the first count, Emefiele is accused of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act. In the second count, the suspended CBN governor is accused of having in his possession 123 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a licence, which is contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act. Emefiele had earlier filed an application before the court seeking bail on self-recognisance. He argued that the charges for which he was accused are bailable. He said he has never been convicted of a crime and should enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, adding that he is not a flight risk. Emefiele also said granting him bail would afford him adequate time to prepare his defence. He added that since investigations have been concluded, there is no likelihood of interference on his part. The defendant pledged to show up for trial on time and expressed his willingness to offer responsible sureties required by the court. The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on revenue, Zacch Adedeji, has revealed that the Federal Government is working on reducing the number of taxes paid in the country to 10. Adedeji said this on Saturday during the second edition of the lecture series organised by the 1988 class of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos. The theme of the lecture is, Revenue, challenges and opportunities in Nigeria today. The presidential aide, who is a former Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Sugar Development Council, stated that there were currently 52 taxes being collected in the country which is impacting the efficiency of the collection. He said, We collect 52 taxes as a nation. I have not seen any country in the world where they collect that much tax across the different levels of government. We want to enhance revenue generation without putting too much burden on citizens or stifling our economy. We will do this by collapsing and harmonising taxes to enhance revenue without introducing new taxes. Adedeji added, After harmonising the taxes, we will only have ten taxes that will be universal, one of which will be on betting. Tinubus special assistant also said that revenue collection by regulatory bodies had not been favourable to the FG. He said that with the policy thrust of the Tinubu administration, regulatory bodies will focus on their jobs and revenue will be collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service, which is to be renamed Nigeria Revenue Service. We will harmonise taxes, unify revenue agencies, and let regulators focus on regulation. If you cannot count your money, you cannot allocate and if you cant allocate, you cant manage. This is something we are making a priority, he added. Adedeji is one of the first eight special advisers recently appointed by President Tinubu. The organisers described the lecture series as a platform for mutual engagement between critical individuals in the private and public sectors and the alumni. The first lecture on retirement planning held on April 1, 2023, was given by the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Idowu Olayinka. Wole Olanipekun, counsel to President Bola Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima, has responded to the final written address filed by the counsels of Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP). Obi, the standard bearer of the LP, is challenging the victory of Tinubu in the February 25 presidential poll. Olanipekun, in a response filed on Friday before the presidential election petition tribunal, asked the court to dismiss Obi and LPs petition and their final written address. The petitioners had said Tinubu was not eligible to run for the office of president due to the forfeiture of $460,000 in the US and his failure to secure 25 percent of votes cast in the federal capital territory (FCT). TINUBUS LAWYERS RESPOND TO OBIS FINAL WRITTEN ADDRESS In a 14-page response, Tinubus lawyers argued that Obi and LP abandoned their petition in their final written address. They asked the court to dismiss their arguments over the clear manifestation and display of abandonment of the entire petition. Order 22 Rule 5 of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, which is applicable to the proceedings mandates that a written address shallcontain(c) the issues arising from the evidence for determination, Tinubu lawyers said. From this simple grammatical provision of the rules, it is clear that the petitioners have not formulated any issue for determination capable of being considered or countenanced by this honourable court; and the court can also not consider their address without issues for determination being presented by them. Arising from the foregoing, this honourable court is urged, as respondents have done in their final address, to dismiss the petition, not only for the reasons and submissions contained in that address, but also for the clear manifestation and display of abandonment of the entire petition. FORFEITURE NOT CONVICTION-BASED Tinubus lawyers also argued that the forfeiture made by the president in the US did not arise from a conviction. That Non-Conviction Based Forfeiture (NCBF) of the type referenced in Exhibit P5 [is] typically the outcome of an in rem action and does not involve trial or conviction for an offence, the lawyers argued. The presidents lawyers said Obi and LP did not address the purported failure of INEC to supply them Form ECSAS in several polling units and the allegations of mutilations, cancellations and outright swapping of votes. Throughout their address, this sweeping statement has not been activated by pointing to any specific Form ECSA, which is caught by their alleged vices, or which contains any figure/votes swapped in favour of the 2nd and 4th respondents, against the petitioners; what the figures are, how the said figures have affected their votes, and how the said conjectured figures have aided the votes of the respondents, the lawyers said. With respect, the entire address, like the petition itself, is a fiction. Peter Obi, standard bearer of the Labour Party (LP), has asked the presidential election petition tribunal to void the election of President Bola Tinubu. Obi and his party had filed a joint petition in March challenging the outcome of the February 25 poll and asked the court to nullify Tinubus victory. In their final written address dated July 20, the petitioners insisted that Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima were unqualified to contest the poll. Obi and his party submitted that the forfeiture proceeding allegedly involving Tinubu in a US district court is sufficient to have him disqualified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Tinubu had said the $460,000 forfeiture was in a civil not criminal suit and since he was not convicted, he was eligible to contest the poll. OBI: TINUBU LACKED RIGHT TO ASPIRE TO BE PRESIDENT However, the petitioners insisted that since the forfeiture followed an indictment for fraud, Tinubu ought not to have contested the election. It is submitted that the order of forfeiture made against the 2nd respondent by the US courtconstitutes a fine, and it is in respect of an offence involving dishonest or fraud by a court, the petitioners said. It is submitted that by the express meaning and intendment of Section 137 (1) (d) of the 1999 Constitution, a person who, even though not convicted, has forfeited property on account of criminal conduct should not aspire to or be allowed to occupy the exalted office of president of Nigeria. That is why the word or is used twice in section 137(1)(d) of the Constitution, meaning it carries a disjunctive meaning to separate persons convicted from persons who, even though not sentenced, are affected by an order of a fine imposed by a Court like the 2nd respondent in this petition. Obi and his party also maintained that Shettima was guilty of a double nomination. They said Shettima was nominated as Tinubus vice-presidential candidate on July 14, 2022, while he was still the senatorial candidate for Borno central. They averred that despite a letter of withdrawal dated July 6, 2022, Shettima signed INEC senatorial election notice of withdrawal of candidate form EC11C on July 15, 2022. INEC GUIDELINES AND THE FCT 25% SAGA Citing the failure to transmit results in real-time, the petitioners submitted that the election ran contrary to relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and INEC regulations. The pertinent question is, how can an election result that lacks transparency, violates specific rules and regulations, palpably compromised, not susceptible to verification by the admitted technological platform introduced as an innovation for a transparent process, and contravenes clear constitutional provisions, be rightly described as accurate and or authentic, the petitioners asked. They also insisted that since Tinubu failed to score 25 percent of the votes polled in the federal capital territory (FCT), he ought not to be returned as the winner of the poll. It is submitted that a purposive reading of Section 134(2), Section 299 and the remainder provisions give us the conclusion that obtaining 25 percent votes in the FCT is an additional stand-alone requirement for election into the office of the president or the FCT is only a state, together with Nigerias 36 states, where the winning candidate must have obtained, at least 25 percent in two-thirds of all states (37 states), the petitioners said. A literal reading of Section 134(2) of the Constitution gives the interpretation that a winning candidate must have 25 percent of total votes cast in two third of the states in the federation and the FCT, meaning that a winning candidate must obtain 25 percent in 24 states and in the FCT. The petitioners prayed the court to uphold their arguments and grant all the reliefs sought. Popular Nigerian Skitmaker, Abdullahi Maruff Adisa, popularly known as Trinity Guy, has been released from prison. Trinity Guy was released Friday evening after meeting his bail conditions. Popular content creator, Abdulgafar Ahmad, aka Cute Abiola announced his release in a post on his Facebook page. Sharing Trinitys picture, Cute Abiola wrote: TRINITY is finally free on Bail. Im wishing you all the best brother. May Almighty Allah keep guiding you to the right path. Welcome back ! My guy don pray tire, see him forehead. It was reported that the Oyo State police command had in June arraigned Trinity Guy on two-count charges of conspiracy, s*xual abuse and exploitation following his controversial prank video with a minor. Magistrate PO Adetuyibi, during the court session on June 26, ordered the skit maker to be remanded alongside the parents of the minor in the prank video till the next sitting July 11. During the second sitting, the Magistrate further extended his remand in the Agodi prison. The management of the University of Lagos on Friday, confirmed an increment in the tuition fees of its undergraduate students. It explained that the hike has become necessary, because of the prevailing economic realities in Nigeria. This was contained in a statement signed by UNILAGs Public Relations Officer, Adejoke Alaga-Ibraheem. Alaga-Ibraheem noted that the management has deliberated with its stakeholders (students, parents/guardians, staff unions, and alumni, among others), that there will be adjustments in the tuition fees for new and returning undergraduate students. It partly read, The adjustment in fees which will take effect from 1st Semester, 2023/2024 Academic Session, is in view of the prevailing economic realities and the need for the University to be able to meet its obligations to its students, staff, and municipal service providers among others. It is also pertinent to note that the University has not increased its obligatory fees in recent years. Management, therefore, seeks the kind understanding and support of students and other stakeholders with the assurance of its commitment towards ensuring that students get the best learning experience. Welcome to Leo Season Glittering formalities accompany the Leo suns homecoming in a chariot and crown, waving the royal glove. Just remember that this could not be a show without witnesses. In the days to come the energy, thrust and magic of experience will so often depend on the audience. Revel in the excitement that exists only because the crowd does. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Peoples attractions can be unpredictable, arbitrary, personal and contextual. We often relate to one another in irrational ways. Keep in mind that each person has unique criteria for deciding who to know, like and trust. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Media changes you. The influence may be temporary, but its still powerful and once you see you cant unsee. Through the magic of media, you will connect to other worlds. Youll be careful not to do this mindlessly. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your endeavor is alive. How can you tell? Its imperfect. Everything that grows is a work in process. Allow yourself the thrill in this. Expect hits and misses and keep trying. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Youll separate what you want from what your people want then try to do a little of both. Sometimes it will be OK to mostly focus on them. But to avoid resentment, you must bring it back to you eventually. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Let others dream of winning the lottery or of escaping the daily grind on a relaxing beach. Instead of pining away for someday, youll focus on making your life exciting right now. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You have things youre passionate about, deeply interested in and you fully enjoy. Doing those things alone will be so much more pleasurable than spending time with those who dont give quality attention. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You shouldnt have to toil to prove your worth, though you might opt to just because working hard makes you feel strong, shows you how capable you are and ultimately brings you a resounding sense of satisfaction. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Youre in it for the long haul so you need to pace yourself. Autopilot mode isnt the most exciting and involved way to do a job, but it definitely conserves energy. Besides, sometimes its just about showing up. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Voltaire said that Work spares us from three great evils: boredom, vice and need. But what if work is the vice, and a boring one at that? A task thats meaningful, whether work or play, will bring you joy. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your idea gets slayed by a better one, and you dont mind at all because youre on a quest for the best and will thrive when your methods are based on solid truths. If it works, youll work it. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). At first you consciously focus on what youre happy about. But soon you naturally focus on everything good, and enjoy yourself so thoroughly that other people around you feel the good vibes too. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Youre telepathically joined to loved ones and also to certain people you dont yet love but share a strong resonance of potential with. Tonight, because you dont know the rules, youll be accidentally adventurous. TODAYS BIRTHDAY (July 22). Welcome to your year of happy news and outrageously fun stories as you make optimism and adventure your hallmarks. More highlights: a transformation in a key environment or relationship, a couples paradise and family connections that bring you hot tickets, proud moments and travel too. Gemini and Scorpio adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 18, 34, 12 and 15. CELEBRITY PROFILES: Those who collaborated with Robin Williams say he never did the same takes twice and the more he ad-libbed, the funnier he would get. Even nearly a decade since his passing, stories of his kindness and insight continue to filter into the news. Recently Rebel Wilson credited Williams with encouraging her to take on dramatic roles, and now she has. Williams was born under an empathetic Pisces Moon with Mercury and Pluto in the entertaining and playful realm of Leo. Contact Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM Is it a cliff or not a cliff? That was the question decided by the Jersey City Zoning Board Thursday during a hearing on whether a new eight-story residential development proposal at 152 Ogden Ave. is far enough away from the Palisades that it complies with the Palisades Preservation Overlay District (PPOD) ordinance. New Jersey City University Interim President Andres Acebo has declared the worst is over for the financially distressed school and its now a time of recovery. Want proof? The president vowed that 30 planned layoffs for the 2023-24 school year have been cut nearly in half after the school received an additional $13.8 million in aid in new state budget approved three weeks ago. UPDATE: Family shares gratitude after body believed to be missing girl is found A childs body recovered Friday evening from the Delaware River in Philadelphia is believed to be that of a 2-year-old girl who, with her 9-month-old brother, went missing in flash flooding that also claimed their mother. Officials in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, where the deadly flooding occurred last Saturday, held a news conference to announce the tragic discovery. Based on a physical description and clothing, the remains are believed to be those of Matilda Sheils, 2, said Upper Makefields fire chief, Tim Brewer. All our hearts are broken this evening, he told reporters in the news conference live-streamed to Facebook by Local 21 CBS News, WHP Harrisburg. With their Charleston, South Carolina, family, the children were visiting relatives and friends when they got hit by a wall of water amid torrential rains Saturday, Brewer said. The childrens father, Jim Sheils, grabbed their 4-year-old son, while the childrens mother, Katie Seley, and a grandmother grabbed the other children, Brewer said. Sheils and his son made it to safety, but Seley and the grandmother were swept away. The grandmother survived, but Seley was among the five people who drowned, according to the Bucks County Coroners Office. Four others died in the flash flooding: Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown in Bucks; Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck said. Standing alongside Upper Makefield police Chief Mark Schmidt, Brewer said marine and aviation searches for the missing baby brother, Conrad, would continue as planned Saturday, along with K-9 teams and divers. We will work tirelessly to ensure that Conrad is found and we cannot thank the public enough for the outpouring of support, love and concern they have shown the families and for all of us during this tragic event, Brewer said. Last weekends flash flooding wreaked havoc on public and private property, damaging homes and yards and infrastructure like roads and bridges, across Northampton and Warren counties. No loss of life was reported among these Lehigh Valley region counties widespread and costly damage, however. Brewer shared a timeline of the recovery of the remains pending identification by the Philadelphia coroner as those of Matilda, who went by Mattie. A 911 caller about 5:05 p.m. reported what was believed to be a body, providing a description, in debris against a pier on the Delaware River near Philadelphias wastewater treatment plant in the 3900 block of North Delaware Avenue, south of the Betsy Ross Bridge. By 5:30 p.m., a city marine unit had removed the child and she was pronounced dead, according to Brewer. Philadelphias coroners office plans to do an autopsy Saturday. The fire chief during the news conference reiterated his praise for the Upper Makefields community support during this ongoing ordeal. Matties body was found 32 miles from where she was lost, Brewer said, adding, She has never been closer to all our hearts than she is now. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Foreign tourist yachts can now receive a visa within 30 minutes upon applying for them via an online portal, the Ministry of Transport announced in a statement on Saturday. Before the upgrade, yachts had to wait 15-30 days for a visa, according to the transport ministry. The online portal allows applicants to upload documents like yacht/passenger info, arrival time, chosen port/marina, and the tourist programme, the ministry added. Visas will be paid in US dollars in a uniform fee system in all ports, the ministry affirmed. Unlike before, yachts can now leave from any tourist port, not just where they arrived, granting greater flexibility in planning their itineraries. The portal also links to the Passports, Immigration, and Nationality Administration at the Ministry of Interior, allowing applicants to quickly secure electronic tourist visas for their passengers. The online portal also links to the Suez Canal Authority website if the foreign yacht's itinerary includes crossing the international maritime course of the Suez Canal. Search Keywords: Short link: The Westwood Regional School board on Thursday moved one step closer to revising a district policy that critics said would prohibit teachers from expressing their views on controversial issues taught in class. Board members voted 7 to 2 in favor of a second reading of the amendment to the controversial issues policy, which allows students to identify, understand and develop techniques to form opinions on contentious subjects with assistance from their teachers. But Thursdays move disturbed the room of over two dozen students, educators, and community members who voiced their displeasure during the public comment portion of the three-and-a-half-hour meeting. You are supposed to be adults who listen to us and represent us to the best of your ability, one student told the board. I dont feel seen or respected. That is your doing. You need to do better. One teacher asked the board to consider the implications of the policy change. Teachers dont read from a script, she said. We have unexpected conversations and engage with students in the context of the real world, and this change will discourage educators from different walks of life. As speakers addressed the board, members listened quietly, then approved the measure, with members Jason Garcia and Andrea Peck voting no. The board will vote on the amendment again after the second reading at its next meeting on Aug. 31. According to the proposal, the revised policy would: Expand the definition of a controversial issue. Mandate that teachers refrain from expressing their opinions on controversial issues and present all viewpoints. And only allow instruction on controversial issues that the board has approved. The proposed change comes as the Bergen County school district, which serves 2,777 children in Westwood and Washington Township, has been under fire in recent months following efforts to ban Pride flags and other signs outside school buildings. One attendee told the board that the focus should be on the law. The First Amendment protects students ability to think critically and investigate different ideas, she said as the crowd cheered. Students have a right to protect their beliefs just like any other citizen. This policy is impractical, irresponsible, and completely un-American, she added. Michael Gottesman, the founder of the New Jersey Public Education Coalition, a non-partisan group working to protect public schools from right-wing extremism, said the boards vote was no surprise. Tonight, this board moved forward on placing restrictions on their educators right to express their own opinions in the classroom, he said. The quality of public education is no longer the foremost concern of this board, he added. Their actions will prevent the free expression and exercise of ideas in the classroom, a foundational element of our public school system. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or Twitter @DeionRJohhnson A man accused of sexually abusing two minors in Somerset County was arrested earlier this month in Texas, officials announced Friday. A family member of a 12-year-old girl reported on June 19 that the girl had been sexually assaulted in Raritan by a man, authorities said. The Somerset County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit identified the accused assaulter Friday as Janakiraman Somasundaram, 41, of Celina, Texas, according to a release from the office. Somasundaram was known to the family, authorities said. The girl told detectives she was sexually assaulted by Somasundaram three times when she was between the ages of 8 and 11, the office said. On June 23, a second minor, an 15-year-old girl, was identified as another potential victim of Somasundarams alleged abuse in Raritan, authorities said. Somasundaram, who had relocated to Texas, was charged with three counts of sexual assault by sexual contact, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and one count of criminal sexual contact, officials said. He was apprehended at his home on July 5 by local police. He waived extradition from Texas and was taken to Somerville on Tuesday where he was lodged in the Somerset County Jail pending his detention hearing, the office said. Attorney information for Somasundaram was not immediately available. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Two SUVs responding to an emergency call collided Friday afternoon in Warren County, sending one of the drivers to the hospital with injuries believed to be minor, authorities said. It occurred at 2:01 p.m. on Route 46 East near mile 11 in White Township, New Jersey State Police said. A state police Ford Explorer was traveling behind an Oxford Emergency Squad Chevrolet Tahoe to the reported medical emergency with both vehicles emergency lights activated, according to police. The Oxford vehicle then stopped in the travel lane and attempted a U-turn, the police said; the state trooper was unable to avoid a collision and struck the rear of the EMS vehicle, then the guardrail. As a result of the crash, the driver of the Oxford Chevy sustained minor-non life threatening injuries and was transported to a nearby hospital, state police Sgt. Philip Curry told NJ Advance Media in an email. The trooper did not report any injuries. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Egypt commemorates on Monday the 62nd anniversary of the 23 July Revolution, which turned the country from a hereditary monarchy into a republic, sending waves of change across the Middle East and Africa. On 23 July 1952, a group of ambitious Egyptian army officers led by a young Gamal Abdel-Nasser and veteran General Mohamed Naguib forced King Farouk I to abdicate the throne to his son, infant Crown Prince Ahmed II. The ousted king and his immediate family left the country on the famous Mahrousa Royal Yacht for one last voyage to Capri, Italy, where Farouk I would live in exile until his death in 1960. Back in Cairo, the young officers and their movement turned Egyptian society upside down with their political and economic changes. Despite its many ups and downs, the 23 July Revolution has survived as the mother of the modern Egyptian republic. The young officers aimed to gain full independence for Egypt, reform the corrupted political life in Egypt, ensure social justice in the highly classist society by ending feudalism, and set up a powerful army. In June 1953, General Naguib declared that Egypt was a republic, briefly becoming the countrys first president and forever ending the rule of the royal family of Mohamed Ali Pasha. In early 1954, political parties were disbanded and the Muslim Brotherhood group was officially banned in the country. In March 1954, the country would witness the so-called March Crisis, where the revolution's leadership council was divided over the democratic political reforms to be implemented. The council was divided between old veteran Mohamed Naguib and the young ambitious Abdel-Nasser. In November 1954, General Naguib was ousted from his position and officially accused of plotting with members of the Brotherhood against the Free Officers government. Naguib would spend the next two decades under house arrest. Abdel-Nasser was the true force behind the army movement, which comprised young army officers who did not like how Egypt was suffering under the Mohamed Ali royal family rule and British occupation following Egypt's defeat the 1948 war against Israel. There were others who played very important roles in the Free Officers Movement, such as Anwar El-Sadat who would later become president Zakira Mohi El-Din, Gamal Salem, Saleh Salem, Hassan Ibrahim, Youssef El-Sadik, Abdel-Latif Boghdady, Kamel El-Din Hussein, Khaled Mohi El-Din and Abdel-Hakim Amar. The year 2018 witnessed the departure of the last living member of the original Free Officers Movement, veteran leftist politician Khaled Mohi El-Din. Mohi El-Din, who died at the age of 95 after a long struggle with illness, spoke candidly about his experience with the Free Officers in his 1992 best-selling memoires 'Now I speak,' which were translated into English in 1995 by the American University in Cairo under the title 'Memories of Revolution: Egypt 1952.' Search Keywords: Short link: Roxanne Fernandez Tiburolobo is a head production distiller at Corning & Company Distillers in Sonoma, California. He learned to make corn beers and other ancestral beverages growing up with a mother of Raramuri descent and a father whos Chiricahua Apache Nde. After studying molecular toxicology at the University of California at Berkeley and leaving medical school, Tiburolobo worked in biotech before getting into the alcohol industry. He's speaking at the Tales of the Cocktail panel This is What Indigenous Representation Looks Like at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the Ritz-Carlton. Find more information about Tiburolobo at linktr.ee/el_tiburolobo, and about Tales at talesofthecocktail.org. Gambit: How did you get into the spirits industry? Roxanne Fernandez Tiburolobo: When I was doing my undergrad in molecular toxicology, I was planning on going to medical school. I started med school but couldnt really afford it because that was deep in the recession. I floated around biotech for a while, but I got to a point that I wanted to do something that was engaging. I grew up homebrewing. My grandmothers people, on my mothers side, the Raramuri they do a lot of ancestral beers, like corn beer, as part of their ceremony. So I used to make those with her. The fermentation aspect of that is super interesting to me. Thats the part where I nerd out. My dad is Chiricahua Apache, and they also have ancestral beers. They have these things called tesguinos, which is the beverage. Theyre for tesguinadas, which are like parties. There are specific ones that are only for major ceremonies and religious holidays. Other times theyre for social gatherings. Originally, I wanted to go into spirits because I have always been more of a spirits drinker, but California was in a weird time with microdistilleries. The laws had just changed over, so you could have tasting rooms and more places could open. So a lot of distilleries were getting off the ground, but nobody was hiring. But brewing was big, and I was like I know how to homebrew, and I have a science background. Actually, the hardest part was not getting put on the QAQC side, like immediately put in the lab. I didn't want to sit behind a microscope. I was like, I want to be on the floor. I want to be in production. I did brewing for almost five years. Then me and my husband moved to the north Bay so he could go to paramedic school. When we did that, I was looking at new jobs. There are some good breweries up there, like Russian River and Moonlight and all these legacy breweries that beer nerds know. There are a bunch of little distilleries up there as well. I got contacted by a distillery in Petaluma called Griffo. They are mostly known for gin, but they also do whiskey and coffee liqueur. My first project was getting that coffee liqueur off the ground, which was really cool because it won a bunch of awards. Then the pandemic changed their trajectory towards canned cocktails, and that wasnt what I was into. Sonoma Distilling was hiring, and I have been there for close to three years now. Corning & Co. is the parent company. I am the production lead. When people contact us about new recipes or making a whiskey, I help design that and make sure its set up on our system for optimal fermentations. Gambit: How did you get involved in Tales? Tiburolobo: This is the third all-native panel at Tales. I was on the first one, but it was virtual because of the pandemic. We talked about ideas about inclusion. There are not a lot of us, and that comes from a lot of historical issues with the alcohol industry and how alcohol has been weaponized against us. That makes it hard to be in the industry. We have talked about dispelling some of those myths. With this panel, we want to move on. Part of the panel is about ancestral foodways that have contributed to current drinks culture, like ingredients we use. When you talk about beverages that are getting more popular, like tepache and things like that, what are Indigenous contributions? What do ancestral and current ones look like? There is a lot of cultural appropriation in spirits. Like in ingredients. There are these medicine plants that are extensively used in ceremony, and people are incorporating them in gins and whiskies. I have seen paulo santo-aged whiskey. That plant got driven to the brink of extinction because people like lighting it in incense, even though we use it in ceremonies. We want to talk about our experiences in the industry, and you can move beyond land acknowledgements and things like that. What can you do to make native people more comfortable in the industry and also acknowledge what they are already doing? We continue to run into the same problems. I still run into people in the industry who are like, I thought you guys couldnt metabolize alcohol the same way. That is totally myth, but a lot of people believe it. Some people say I thought native people couldnt have alcohol because they are allergic to it, or something like that. I am like, our people have been making alcohol for thousands of years. There are people who are hyper-sensitive to alcohol, but there is no greater distribution of it in our population than any other population. My response is, I dont know what to tell you other than its a really weird thing that you would hear a blanket statement about a racial group and not interrogate that further. Gambit: Are we losing any of the ancestral beverages? Tiburolobo: There are people that are working to revive some things. I know tribes in the Southwest made prickly pear wine, but I dont know of anybody who makes it any more. Part of that is because there is a negative connotation against alcohol within the native community because of the way its been weaponized against us. You can get a negative reaction for trying to work with alcohol. In certain communities, if something is an active part of ceremonies, it still exists. But there are some beverages we know about, but nobody is making them. With corn beers in my fathers tribe, the malting and all the stuff about preparing the corn is the providence of women, but very few people know how to do it anymore. So that might just die out. There are lots of beverages out there that are threatened. The girls at Bow & Arrow, Shyla (Sheppard) and Missy (Begay), they use Neomexicanus hops in some of their beers, thats the actual American hop plant that grew in the Americas and was used. People knew about it, but it was kind of lost. Rediscovering that was kind of their thing. And working with it in a more modern way, instead of a medicinal way. Keeping those things alive is so hard. We have to find the people who have this knowledge and pass it down. You have to get the younger generation interested in it. If I had infinite money and resources, Id love to team up with a native anthropologist and go to different tribal groups and get them comfortable with it and document it, and also make these things. Chockie Tom talks about tiki, Indigenous representation and cocktails at Tales of the Cocktail We asked Chockie Tom about becoming a bartender, how drinkers can embrace change and her upcoming seminar at Tales. The head of the junta in Mali brought in a new constitution for the West African nation on Saturday, prompting protests from concerned political and civil opponents. The military leaders have made the constitution a cornerstone for the rebuilding of Mali, which is facing the spread of jihadism and a deep, multi-faceted crisis. Ninety-seven percent of the referendum votes were cast in favour of the changes last month, according to the electoral authority. However turnout was put at 38 percent in the landlocked Sahel country, which is struggling with an 11-year jihadist insurgency. The new constitution became legal when it was promulgated in the official gazette on Saturday by Colonel Assimi Goita, head of the military junta in power since 2020. A number of petitions lodged with the Constitutional Court were rejected, including one calling for the referendum to be annulled because it had not been held throughout the country. A movement critical of the colonels in power said on Saturday that it deplored how the court had dealt with "the relevant and well-founded petitions of its members, going so far as to ignore the evidence put forward". Opponents of the plan believe the vote was designed to keep the colonels in power beyond the presidential election scheduled for February 2024, despite their initial commitment to hand over to civilians after the elections. The new constitution will strengthen the role of the president, a change that has spurred expectations that Goita intends to vie for the job. The changes will also give pride of place to the armed forces which have pivoted the country away from the former dominant power France and towards Russia. The opposition movement, which brings together political parties and civil society organisations, denounced the validation of the referendum vote "despite the numerous irregularities, violations of the law and the absence of voting in several parts of the country". Ismael Sacko, head of the Social Democratic Party which was dissolved by the junta in mid-June, condemned "a plot against democracy" and called on the Malian judiciary "to get its act together". Search Keywords: Short link: Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe and Yeo Valley Woodland in Barnstaple both retain their Green Flag awards North Devon Council has retained the prestigious Green Flag Award for two of its green spaces. Bicclescombe Park in Ilfracombe and Yeo Valley Woodland in Barnstaple have both achieved the accolade for 2023. The Green Flag is the international quality mark for parks and green spaces and the council says it is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team that care for the green space so that everyone can enjoy it. Bicclescombe Park has achieved Green Flag status for the 19th year in a row, with Yeo Valley Woodland retaining the award for the 12th time. Both spaces are owned and managed by North Devon Council, with the help of active community groups including the Friends of Yeo Valley Woodland and the Bicclescombe Park User Group. Leader of North Devon Council, Councillor Ian Roome said: Through unwavering dedication and tireless efforts from our parks team and from community groups, I am proud to share that we have achieved the Green Flag status again. To achieve this status again in both Yeo Valley Woodland and Bicclecombe Park is a testament to everyones dedication and hard work to these green spaces. I'd like to say a big thank you and well done to all involved." Keep Britain Tidys Green Flag Award Scheme manager, Paul Todd MBE, added: I would like to congratulate everyone involved at both Bicclescombe Park and at Yeo Valley Woodland in achieving these Green Flag Awards. Bicclescombe Park and Yeo Valley Woodland are vital green spaces for the community in North Devon, bringing people together and providing opportunities to lead healthy lifestyles. The staff and volunteers do so much to ensure that it maintains the high standards of the Green Flag Award and everyone involved should feel extremely proud of their achievement. The Green Flag Award scheme, managed by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy under licence from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, recognises and rewards well-managed parks and green spaces, setting the benchmark standard for the management of green spaces across the United Kingdom and around the world. People walk between razor wire and a string of buoys placed on the water along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 16, 2023. (Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP/Getty Images) The Biden administration is threatening to sue the state of Texas unless officials remove floating border barriers recently set up in the middle of the Rio Grande river to keep out illegal immigrants. The Department of Justice (DOJ) told Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in a July 20 letter obtained by The Epoch Times that the agency intends to take legal action to force the dismantling of what it called the Lone Star states unlawful floating barrier at Eagle Pass, a major point of illegal border crossings. Texass unauthorized construction of the floating barrier is a prima facie violation of the Rivers and Harbors Act. This floating barrier poses a risk to navigation, as well as public safety, in the Rio Grande River, and it presents humanitarian concerns, wrote Todd Kim, an assistant attorney general, and Jaime Esparza, the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Texas. Mr. Abbott announced the installation of the floating barrier on Saturday, as part of his efforts to cut down the flow of people entering the United States illegally. New marine barrier installation on the Rio Grande begins today, Mr. Abbott stated on Twitter, along with a 15-second video showing dozens of large spherical buoys being loaded into tractor-trailers. More to come, the governor remarked, suggesting more future deployments of measures meant to curb illegal immigration flows. Number One Public Enemy Mr. Abbott first unveiled the plan last month to use floating barriers to deter unlawful entry into the country. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has been tasked with overseeing the deployment of a 1,000-foot floating barrier, which has been estimated to cost around $1 million. DPS chief Steve McCraw, who called Mexican cartels the number one public enemy, said the barrier would dissuade people from making dangerous river crossings. But the Justice Department has taken a dim view of the barrier, saying it threatens to impede federal law enforcement and poses serious risks to the environment and public safety. We Will See You in Court In the letter, DOJ officials gave Texas an opportunity to hold talks with the Biden administration to prevent legal action. If we do not receive a response by 2:00 P.M. Eastern Time on July 24, 2023, indicating your commitment to expeditiously remove the floating barrier and related structures, the United States intends to file legal action, they warned in the letter. Mr. Abbott, however, has signaled that he remains undeterred in the face of the lawsuit threat. In a series of statements on Twitter Friday, he blamed President Joe Biden and his policies for fueling a tragic humanitarian crisis at the border. His open border policies encourage migrants to risk their lives crossing illegally through the Rio Grande, instead of safely and legally over a bridge, Mr. Abbott wrote. Texas is stepping up to secure the border in the face of the illegal immigration crisis, the governor continued, vowing to take further action to secure the border. We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texans and Americansand the migrants risking their lives, he wrote. We will see you in court, Mr. President, he added. Concerns Over Impacts of Floating Barrier Meanwhile, the federal International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) said it was not notified about the proposed floating barrier. The IBWC is an international body that oversees the boundary and water treaties between the United States and Mexico. IBWC spokesperson Frank Fisher said the commission seeks to determine whether and how this impacts our mission to carry out treaties between the U.S. and Mexico regarding border delineation, flood control, and water distribution, which includes the Rio Grande. The Center for Immigration Studies said that the water barrier comes with some political risk, as it will likely draw criticism from hostile media should anyone die attempting to overcome the barrier. It comes as an overwhelming majority of Americans believe that illegal immigration is, at best, a major problem. A recent poll by Gallup found that 39 percent of Americans believe the border situation is a full-blown crisis. Another 33 percent think its a major problem, meaning that a whopping 72 percent believe the situation on the border is bad enough to be considered seriously problematic. Republicans in Congress have blamed the Biden administration for policies they say encourage people to undertake the perilous trek north and cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The Biden administration has blamed factors outside its controllike crime, corruption, and poverty in countries of originwhile blaming former President Donald Trump for undermining the countrys asylum system, which the current administration says its trying to fix. Texas is one of the states most impacted by illegal immigration as much of the migrant flow comes across its border with Mexico. Mr. Abbott has repeatedly blamed Mr. Biden for failing to adequately address the border crisis. In addition to installing the floating barrier in Eagle Pass, Mr. Abbott has also signed six bills related to border security. These include designating Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, allocating funding for law enforcement training, expanding the use of National Guard surveillance drones, and granting increased powers to Border Patrol agents under Texas law. Caden Pearson and The Associated Press contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times Russia has repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Ukrainian ports key to sending grain to the world. Moscow has declared large swaths of the Black Sea dangerous for shipping. Even the U.S. said ships are at risk of being targeted. There is still interest from ship owners in carrying Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea if they can mitigate the risk, according to a major shipping group. And thats a big if. Despite the warnings and port attacks, which have leveled grain infrastructure, shipping has always been very, very resilient in the face of these sorts of risks, said John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80 percent of the worlds commercial fleet. This weeks strikes came after Russia pulled out of a wartime accord that the U.N. and Turkey brokered last year to provide safeguards for shipping companies in a bid to end a global food crisis. Ukraine which, along with Russia, is a major supplier of wheat, barley and vegetable oil to developing nations shipped 32.9 million metric tons of grain to the world and supplied 80 percent of the World Food Programs wheat for humanitarian aid so far this year. Following the grain deals collapse, Ukraine sent a letter to the U.N. International Maritime Organization establishing its own temporary shipping corridor, saying it would provide guarantees of compensation for damage. But Russia warned this week that ships traversing parts of the Black Sea would assume to be carrying weapons to Ukraine. In a seeming tit-for-tat move, Ukraine said vessels heading to Russian Black Sea ports would be considered carrying military cargo with all the associated risks. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said Friday that the navy will check vessels to ensure they are not carrying weapons before taking other action. Continued shipments from Ukraine will depend on vessels getting insurance for potential damage or injuries and deaths to crew members and how the safety risks play out. Ships that were exporting Ukrainian grain can be worth tens of millions of dollars, have 20 to 22 sailors on board and carry food also worth tens of millions, according to Jayendu Krishna, deputy head of maritime advisers at Drewry, a maritime research consultancy. All ships go through threat assessments to allow crews to protect against problems before setting sail, which have grown in importance as ships deal with piracy, terrorism and war zones. For the Black Sea, the risks for ships would be: explosive mines, becoming collateral damage at ports or being targeted themselves, which Stawpert said would be a huge escalation. The million-dollar question is whether the threats to merchant shipping are serious and whether theyll be followed through. And theres no firm way of knowing that until it actually happens, Stawpert said, adding that he has not yet heard from insurers. With Russias warnings, it is unlikely that underwriters will want to cover that risk, said the International Union of Marine Insurance, which represents national and international marine insurers. The group thought it was unlikely owners would put their ships and crews in danger, echoed by Munro Anderson, head of operations for Vessel Protect, which assesses war risks at sea and provides insurance with backing from Lloyds, whose members make up the worlds largest insurance marketplace. He didnt directly speak to whether underwriting businesses like his would take on the risk but said without protections for ships like they had under the grain deal, safety conditions cannot be guaranteed. Krishna said the only way to mitigate risk was through insurance from the 12 providers making up the International Group of P&I Clubs, which offers liability coverage for about 90 percent of the worlds cargo shipped by sea, according to its website. P&I clubs will be wary of even insuring without a guarantee from the U.N. or some other body, he said. The International Group of P&I Clubs said its CEO was the only one who could comment and that he was on vacation. Individual clubs either declined to comment or did not respond to calls or emails. The head of the seafarers division of the International Transport Workers Federation, a union for crew members, said the question should be whether its too risky right now to ask sailors to go to Ukrainian ports. The minds of seafarers wont be on questions of insurance cover, but more likely on whether their lives are safe amidst the fighting, David Heindel said in a statement, adding that crews should never be targeted just for doing their job. In the meantime, some analysts expect most of what Ukraine was going to ship through the Black Sea will get out by road, rail and river through Europe, but the transportation costs will be higher and likely lead to lower production by Ukrainian farmers. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Thursday that Ukraine has made progress in improving those routes but that the best way to export grain is through the Black Sea. Thats how 75 percent of the countrys grain got to the world before the war, analysts say. Plus, the routes have created divisions in the European Union, with five countries saying Wednesday that they want to extend a ban on Ukrainian grain imports through the end of the year. While Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria would keep allowing grain to move through their borders to world markets, their bans could create challenges like infrastructure backups that might give preference to local grain before Ukraines products, said Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities markets at Rabobank. The five countries say Ukrainian grain has flooded their markets, leading to a glut that drove down prices for their farmers and stirring protests. They signed a joint declaration ahead of EU talks next week, urging officials to work out ways of getting Ukrainian food to the world without hurting their agricultural industries. Its another hurdle for Ukraine and possibly for developing countries already struggling with high local food prices, which are helping drive hunger. Wheat prices have risen about 17 percent over the last week, and poorer nations that are forced to pay more on world markets for the ingredient for staples like bread and pasta means many millions of people being pushed into food insecurity, Mera said. Search Keywords: Short link: NWI Flavors of the Region will bring together a Taste of Chicago-like sampling of Northwest Indiana cuisine The Decay Devils, Gary Community Partnership and other groups will host the food festival from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12 at Gateway Park at 350 Broadway in Gary. "What better way to advocate for art, preservation and health and wellness than to throw a party large enough for an entire city? Together with the NWI Food Council, Faith Farms, Gary Historical Society and other partners, the Decay Devils and Gary Community Partnership are proud to announce the NWI Flavors of the Region," Decay Devils President Tyrell Anderson said in a press release. "Free to the public, this event offers countless opportunities to forge new friendships, create art, eat delicious food, enjoy live music and discover the importance of preserving our local landmarks." Many food vendors will offer a variety of cuisines but there also will be more to see and do. Visitors will be able to enjoy a morning packed with health and wellness activities followed by an afternoon filled with live music. Guests will be able to partake in a morning 3k walk, yoga, cooking demo session, art/ historical walks, interactive art stations, a preservation tour and numerous food vendors," Anderson said. The Legacy Foundation, the City of Gary, US Steel and Indiana Humanities are sponsoring the event, which is free and open to the public. It will culminate with a live music performance. "As a grand finale, the crowd will be electrified by R&B and Pop music hits from the hottest violinist in America, Dominique Hammons," Anderson said. "Hammons is a Houston native who started playing classical violin at the age of 8. His unique blend of music and style has granted him the opportunity to perform across the nation from intimate events, numerous festivals, performing the National Anthem for the Houston Rockets and more." For more information, visit decaydevils.org/flavors or https://dominiquehammons.com. Steel import permit applications totaled 2.8 million in June, according to the U.S. Commerce Departments most recent Steel Import Monitoring and Analysis data. Thats up 12.8% from the 2.48 million tons in May and a 20.8% increase from the final May import total of 2.32 million, according to the Washington D.C.-based American Iron and Steel Institute. Imports of finished steel products that would require no further processing in the United States, such as at service centers in the Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor, totaled 2.11 million in June, a 12.8% increase over the final import total of 1.87 million tons in May. For the first six months of the year, total steel imports fell 10.6% year-over-year to 15 million tons. Finished steel imports fell 14% to 11.57 million tons as compared to the first six months of 2022. Imports of finished steel products grabbed 24% of the market share in June and 23% so far this year. In June, imports of reinforcing bars were up 189%, heavy structural shapes up 89%, ingots and billets and slabs up 55%, hot rolled sheets up 48% and line pipe up 34%. So far this year, imports of standard rails are up 48%, oil country goods 36%, electrical sheet and strip 27%, cut lengths plates 24% and line pipe 21%. In June, imports from Canada fell 4% to 601,000 tons, from South Korea rose 95% to 427,000 tons, from Mexico increased 50% to 423,000 tons, from Brazil grew 20% to 288,000 and from China soared 134% to 108,000 tons. During the first six months of the year, China was the largest importer with 3.61 million tons, followed by Mexico with 2.33 million tons and Brazil with 1.94 million tons. In the first six months of 2023, imports from Canada are up 1%, from Mexico down 21% and from Brazil up 25%. Overall steel imports declined by 2% last year while finished steel imports rose by nearly 11%, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute. U.S. steelmakers, like the mills around the lakeshore in Northwest Indiana, made 88.775 million net tons of steel last year, down from 94.5 million the previous year. Downtown Gary once bustled with department stores, movie palaces and streams of pedestrians. But after decades of deindustrialization and depopulation, the downtown today looks a lot more sparse. Its pocked by empty lots and vacant buildings, and sees little activity after the government offices empty out at 5 p.m. The #PaintGary initiative has sought to bring back life to Gary, splashing bright vibrant colors on often abandoned buildings and underutilized public spaces. Miller-based artist and curator Lauren Pacheco, the co-creative director of the Chicago Humanities Festival, has spearheaded the project to bring in artists to use the Steel Citys physical landscape as a canvas. The latest contributor, artist Nicha Jaroensuk, hails from Bangkok. She painted a massive mural called Neighbors on Broadway under the Indiana Toll Road bridge by Union Station and U.S. Steels Gary Works. A passing stream of steelworkers leaving work at the mill shouted encouragement, telling her it looked great and yelling great job over the din of passing highway traffic overhead. Jaroensuk knew Pacheco and was invited to paint the mural while visiting the United States for the first time. She thought it would be nice for me to do a wall, she said. I had heard about the project #PaintGary and thought it was very nice. She drove around the city to find inspiration. It was inspired by the first time I visited Gary, which was last week, she said. Before I came here I knew I was going to do the wall. So I did some research on the background of Gary. I couldnt come up with a good idea for it but then I visited in person. Since Ive been here, I realized its still so segregated from everywhere else around here. It gets called an abandoned town. So I figured I wanted to make a piece for the people who live in Gary, to look at it and feel if they look next door theyll find someone who hasnt abandoned them. The mural depicts two arms outstretched from homes and touching similar to Michelangelos Sistine Chapel. If you just look at it, these two houses on each end, theyre actually modeled after actual houses in Gary. Then there are two hands connecting. I wanted it to feel warm. I wanted it to feel hopeful. Most of all I wanted it to feel like I think thats been a goal in my heart for a very long time I want to make art that makes people feel loved and a little less alone. Pacheco said the #PaintGary initiative aimed to be inspiring and edifying. Im really excited to add new mural contributions to the #PaintGary project and excited to bring in a female muralist from Thailand, she said. With a large-scale public art program, I think its important to bring in out-of-state and international talent as well as emerging local talent. Its a lovely opportunity when you can see different perspectives from around the world. Even with my art projects in Chicago, Ive always brought in out-of-city talent and put them beside emerging local talent. It means a lot of exposure. Its opportunity for the artist themselves as well as the community. Theres no reason why Northwest Indiana cannot be a home for international talent. Its not just something that should be in Chicago, New York or LA. Theres an interesting and unique landscape we have here thats interesting to artists. Jaroensuk is a muralist and illustrator but does advertising copywriting as a day job. Im a writer and an artist all kinds of art, every skill that needs creativity or that aides creativity I try to learn it, he said. Advertising is also a passion of mine but art is where its at for me. The subject matter of her art varies depending on location and who commissioned it. Mostly, I would like my art to make people less alone, to feel like they have a friend for a minute, she said. Her artistic influences are classical. I went to Florence and studied the Renaissance. I was an art history major, she said. I like Michelangelo, Leonardo DaVinci, the classics. You learn about anatomy and that aided my figurative work. I also like Mark Rothko and his color combinations and Egon Schiele. She started painting murals over graffiti with curse words in Bangkok. In Thailand we have this thing where we like to spray insults of like someones school, she said. So I would go around and just target those walls and paint over it at night. It just sort of took on a life of its own. She found herself drawn to the medium. She found that she loved painting murals and wanted to get better at it. I feel like its such an action-packed artmaking process, she said. If drawing on paper is like taking a walk, I would say painting a mural is like going out dancing. Its kind of the same but its got that energy to it. Also with a mural, you cant mess up. If you mess up its going to bug you. I like that intensity and fear that you have to pull it off. Shes been painting murals for four years now. Shes done large-scale pieces in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. I just havent stopped, she said. She takes a picture of the wall and does research on what she wants her message to be. Then she starts sketching on Procreate on iPad, which allows her to sketch right on top of the photo of the wall. Its basically a layer. You build one layer on top of another, she said. So I prep this and think I want color. When I know the color I make a list of all the materials. She painted over another mural that was covered with a white coat of paint but was not fully buffed out so it remained partly visible. You can see other peoples work behind it, she said. They asked me if I wanted to paint it one more time, to white it out one more time. But I wanted to leave it. Everyone whos painted on this wall wanted to make Gary a better place. So I feel my artwork should cover someone elses intention. Those who have been here before, I appreciate it. I try to leave a little bit so you can see other people have been here before. Other people wanted to do the same thing I did, which is make something beautiful for Gary. So I left it as an outline. She selected bright colors that would pop off the wall, including a purple, baby blue and yellow. Its supposed to communicate hope, she said. Yellow is hope. It makes you think of the sun. I wanted to make it a nighttime scene where you can see the shadows. But I didnt want it to be dark because it wouldnt look as hopeful as I intended. This bright baby blue is more impactful. It gives this hopeful, playful feeling. Jaroensuk said she found Garys architecture beautiful. She wished she had more time to see the city and hoped to come back to sketch houses someday. The architecture is really cool, she said. You can see how it used to be the Magic City. Jaroensuk hopes the work will make people feel less alone. I hope people passing by will feel like theres a community here, she said. Even though part of the town is abandoned, theres still always someone here. I hope whoever sees it likes it and feels as hopeful as I did painting it. I do public art because I feel that walls are part of the community. The way your city looks is part of the community. Art should be accessible to everyone and not just in museums or galleries. DYER The first thing 10-year-old Mason Brewer remembers hearing was the sound of breaking glass. His eyelids fluttered open around 1 a.m. inside his house on the 700 block of Hilbrich Court. The smell of smoke filled his nostrils as he felt the heat creeping toward him. He hopped up from the couch, rushed to unlock the front door and began to bang on the door of his parents bedroom, screaming, fire! It took one minute and 30 seconds for Mason to wake up, alert his family of the imminent danger and lead them out of their house on the morning of Memorial Day. If not for Masons ability to warn his family with diligence and ease, they might not have made it out in time. His actions and quick thinking saved his familys life on the morning of May 29, Dyer Fire Chief Joe Martin said. Martin acknowledged the 10-year-olds bravery with the distinguished title of Honorary Firefighter at a ceremony Tuesday at the Dyer Fire Department. People talk about firefighters being brave, being courageous, Martin said. This kid got his whole family out, calm, cool and collected. Some of Masons relatives drove up from Tennessee to attend the ceremony. His cousin and grandfather, who were also asleep in the home during the fire, were also in attendance. All were able to escape the home, uninjured. Masons mom, Brittney, said she taught Mason and his 12-year-old brother, Ethan, how to escape the home in the event of a fire at the ages of four and six. She showed them how to exit if they were trapped upstairs, how to crouch in order to avoid smoke and where to meet outside the home. Mason followed it to a T, Brewer said, of what I showed him when he was little. Brittney said she practiced the fire drills with her boys because she was a paranoid parent. However, Martin said rehearsing the procedures are necessary for all parents and children in the event of a fire. If Mason didnt react the way he did, there could have been major injuries or even worse, Martin said. Hopefully, this story will show families how important it is to prepare for a situation like this. Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors monthly or every two months, Martin said. Families should have contingency plans in the event of a fire, and parents should make sure their children know what to do and where to go. People dont expect this to ever happen to them and get lulled into a sense of complacency, Martin said. If you dont prepare for these things, you may not react well if it happens. The Brewer family recently moved into a townhouse as they await the reconstruction of their home. They lost all of their belongings in the fire, Brittney said, but she is surprised how well both of her children have handled the crisis. As for Honorary Firefighter Mason, hes still riding the high from receiving his new title. Were thankful for Mason. Well never forget that what he did for us, Brittney said. He gave us the head start that we needed to get out. A woman was taken to the hospital after a two-car crash in Newton County. The traffic accident took place at 8:58 p.m. on Friday at the intersection of US 41 and SR 14 by the New County Animal Shelter and short distance south of the North Newton Junior and Senior High School. Newton County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded to reports of a personal injury crash involving two vehicles. A Hyundai passenger car driven by a 67-year-old Midlothian, Ill. woman was driving southbound on U.S. 41, according to a police report. A Kia passenger car driven by a 20-year-old Rockford, Ill. man was headed eastbound on CR 100 N. "The Kia failed to yield the right of way at the intersection causing the Hyundai to strike the drivers side of the Kia," Newton County Sherriff Shannon Cothran said in a press release. "The female driver of the Hyundai was transported to an area hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The male driver of the Kia was treated on scene for a complaint of pain." No one else was in either vehicle. The Newton County 911 Communications, Newton County EMS, Morocco Fire Department and Indiana State Police assisted with the accident. The consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton has agreed to pay $377.5 million to settle a federal lawsuit that accused it of falsely billing the U.S. government, the Justice Department said on Friday. The settlement resolves allegations that between 2011 and 2021, Booz Allen improperly charged the government for indirect costs that it should have billed under its commercial and international contracts, the Justice Department said in a news release. The government had alleged that the firm obtained reimbursement from the government for the costs of commercial activities that provided no benefit to the United States. A consulting firms indirect costs can include expenses like equipment, marketing and office space. Booz Allen, which is based in McLean, Va., has lucrative defense and intelligence contracts with the federal government. Investigators began reviewing the firms billing practices in 2016. Government contractors must turn square corners when billing the government for costs under government contracts, Brian M. Boynton, principal deputy assistant attorney and head of the Justice Departments civil division, said in a statement. There were the famous New York places where he was celebrated, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where his 75th birthday party wasnt referred to as a birthday party. (The Met didnt allow such things.) There were the canvases he painted in every Manhattanites backyard. He knew just where to set up his easel in Central Park from looking out a window in his apartment and watching the reds pop in the fall or the greens in the spring. And there were the New York stages he appeared on, from the Paramount Theater when he was in his 20s to Carnegie Hall in his 30s to Radio City Music Hall in his 90s. Tony Bennett may have become famous for I Left My Heart in San Francisco, but his own heart was unquestionably a New Yorkers. He had that New York cool, decade after decade the kid from Astoria, Queens, who made a go of it in Manhattan. Mr. Barakats final search, Mr. Wrigley said at a Friday news conference, entered at 10:30 p.m. on July 13, read, Thousands enjoy first day of downtown Fargo street fair. A local news article by that title had been published on the same day. The shooting occurred the next day. The police and fire crews were responding to a two-vehicle collision in Fargo at around 3 p.m. on July 14. Mr. Barakat spent several minutes casing out the crash scene from his car before parking in a nearby parking lot, officials said. From his vehicle, Mr. Barakat fired a rapid burst at three police officers at the scene using a scoped .223-caliber rifle. None of the officers even had so much as an opportunity to turn, crouch, to grab for their service weapon nothing, Mr. Wrigley said. Its that rapid. They drop, drop, drop. Jake Wallin, 23, one of the officers hit in the attack, was killed, while two others were injured. The civilians involved in the car accident crouched for their lives,Mr. Wrigley said, while a fourth officer, Zach Robinson, called for backup and returned fire. The gunman shot and wounded a civilian who had been involved in the accident before Mr. Robinsons fire struck Mr. Barakat and broke his rifle. Knocked down, Mr. Barakat tried to fire back with a 9-millimeter handgun before he was killed by Mr. Robinson, officials said. Mr. Wrigley said he believed Mr. Barakat might have been on his way to kill more people in downtown Fargo. Inside the gunmans car and on his body, investigators discovered more weapons: four semiautomatic handguns, three semiautomatic long rifles, three containers filled with gasoline and two containers filled with explosive materials, officials said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday he wants to convince his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to re-join an agreement on Ukrainian grain exports via the Black Sea, which Moscow declined to renew. "I think we will be able to ensure the continuation (of the humanitarian corridor) by talking in detail with Mr Putin," Erdogan told media, according to state news agency Anadolu. The Turkish leader, who called on "Western countries to follow up on Putin's expectations," said he would speak with Putin on the issue after he opposed the extension of an agreement signed in July 2022 in Istanbul with Ukraine under Turkish and United Nations mediation. Russia has said it is ready to return to the agreement, which has allowed the export of nearly 33 million tonnes of grain from Ukrainian ports, if its demands are met "in their totality". Moscow says its own deliveries of agricultural products and fertilisers are hampered by Western sanctions. The two leaders will discuss the grain deal face-to-face in August in Turkey "if (Putin's) visit takes place," he said after twice announcing the Russian president would visit next month. Russia said Wednesday it now considers ships heading to Ukraine in the Black Sea as "potential military vessels" and their flag countries as parties to the conflict. The UN on Thursday expressed concern over the "negative effect on global wheat and corn prices which hurts everyone, but especially vulnerable people in the global south". Erdogan also said that Turkey would "act in accordance with the measures taken by Sweden" that paved the way for Sweden's membership of NATO. Earlier this month, the Turkish president lifted his veto on Sweden's entry into NATO, saying that the Turkish parliament would ratify the membership when lawmakers return from their summer recess in October at the earliest. Search Keywords: Short link: Judge Aileen M. Cannon, a previously obscure Trump judicial appointee, has been viewed with incredulity by much of the legal establishment ever since she issued a ruling temporarily halting the federal investigation into the former presidents handling of classified documents. After a conservative appeals court slapped her down, Democrats said she was either incompetent or some kind of black-robed Trojan horse for the MAGA movement. On Friday morning, that view began to change. In a ruling that set a start date for the documents trial on May 20, 2024 splitting the difference between prosecutors who wanted the trial to begin in December and a Trump team that pushed for a date after next years election Judge Cannon showed, for now, that she is the jurist her defenders have described: a level-headed and mostly ordinary conservative judge not beholden to the man who appointed her. The notion that shes inexperienced is misplaced and ignores her exceptional resume before taking the bench, said Jesse Panuccio, a prominent Florida defense lawyer who served in the Trump administration as acting associate attorney general. It also penalizes her for being a mild-mannered woman. They wouldnt be saying this if she was a big-personality male. There were hints of that jurist earlier in the week when Judge Cannon conducted a brisk pretrial conference at the federal courthouse in Fort Pierce, Fla., to hear arguments about the timing of the trial. Over two hours, she left little doubt as to whose courtroom it was. Alabama Republicans pushed through a new congressional map on Friday that will test the bounds of a judicial mandate to create a second majority-Black district in the state or something close to it, incensing plaintiffs in the court case and Democrats who predicted the plan would never pass muster with a judicial panel charged with approving it. A month after a surprise Supreme Court ruling that found the states existing map violated a landmark civil rights law by diluting the power of Black voters, the Republican supermajority in the Alabama Legislature backed a plan that would increase the share of Black voters in one of the states six majority-white congressional districts to about 40 percent, from about 30 percent. The map also dropped the percentage of Black voters in the existing majority-Black district to about 51 percent from about 55 percent. In Alabama, more than one in four residents are Black. Notably, the redrawing ensures that none of the states six white Republican incumbents would have to face one another in a primary to keep their seat. The proposal will have to be approved by a federal court, which will hold a hearing on it next month. In the darkest moments of the financial crisis in 2008, former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao lectured a group of U.S. government officials and business executives in New York. In the face of economic difficulties, he said, confidence is more precious than gold. The Chinese economy then was teetering. Today its sputtering, facing the dimmest prospects in decades, and Chinas leaders are learning the hard way exactly what Mr. Wen meant. Beijing unveiled a 31-point set of guidelines on Wednesday to bolster the confidence of the private sector. After three years in which the government cracked down on private companies, stamped out innovation and exalted state-owned businesses, the document represents a near-concession by the Communist Party that its campaign failed spectacularly. Stocks on the mainland and in Hong Kong, where many of Chinas biggest private enterprises are listed, fell on Thursday but regained their footing on Friday. Some entrepreneurs rushed to praise the guidelines in official media. But in private, others I interviewed dismissed the partys pep talk in words that can be best translated as, Save it for the suckers. The Teamsters have cited the risks its members took to help generate the companys strong pandemic-era performance as a reason that they deserve large raises. UPSs adjusted net income rose more than 70 percent between 2019 and last year, to over $11 billion. The contract talks broke down on July 5 in vituperation. The two sides are to resume negotiations on Tuesday, but the window for an agreement before the current five-year contract expires is tight. In a Facebook post this month, the union said the companys latest offer would have left behind many part-timers, whose jobs include sorting packages and loading trucks. The post said part-timers earned near-minimum wage in many parts of the country. UPS, which says it relies heavily on part-timers to navigate bursts of activity over the course of a day and to ramp up its work force during busier months, said it had proposed significant wage increases before the talks broke down. According to the company, part-timers currently earn about $20 an hour on average after 30 days as well as paid time off, health care and pension benefits. The company noted that many part-timers graduated to jobs as full-time drivers, which pay $42 an hour on average after four years. The union has gone out of its way to highlight the challenges facing part-time workers. In television interviews and at rallies, the Teamsters president, Sean OBrien, has emphasized what the union calls part-time poverty jobs. He has frequently been joined by leaders of other unions and politicians, including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Democrat. The promising drug, then in the early stages of testing, was an updated version of tenofovir. Gilead executives knew it had the potential to be less toxic to patients kidneys and bones than the earlier iteration, according to internal memos unearthed by lawyers who are suing Gilead on behalf of patients. Despite those possible benefits, executives concluded that the new version risked competing with the companys existing, patent-protected formulation. If they delayed the new products release until shortly before the existing patents expired, the company could substantially increase the period of time in which at least one of its H.I.V. treatments remained protected by patents. The patent extension strategy, as the Gilead documents repeatedly called it, would allow the company to keep prices high for its tenofovir-based drugs. Gilead could switch patients to its new drug just before cheap generics hit the market. By putting tenofovir on a path to remain a moneymaking juggernaut for decades, the strategy was potentially worth billions of dollars. Gilead ended up introducing a version of the new treatment in 2015, nearly a decade after it might have become available if the company had not paused development in 2004. Its patents now extend until at least 2031. The delayed release of the new treatment is now the subject of state and federal lawsuits in which some 26,000 patients who took Gileads older H.I.V. drugs claim that the company unnecessarily exposed them to kidney and bone problems. During his tenure as executive editor at The Washington Post, Martin Baron ran into a persistent problem. Jeff Bezos had purchased The Post for $250 million in 2013, less than a year after Mr. Baron had taken over. Mr. Bezos, who arrived at media ownership after founding Amazon and remaking online shopping, wanted his top editor to transform the newspaper from a regional news organization into a truly global one. But Mr. Bezos, whose representatives kept an eye on the budget, didnt believe The Post needed to add many new editors to accomplish that task. Reporters were classified as direct employees and editors as indirect and his preference was to keep the indirect numbers down. So, Mr. Baron came up with a workaround, according to his coming memoir. To avoid setting off alarms up the line, my deputies and I would strip the word editor from proposed new positions whenever possible, Mr. Baron writes. Analyst or strategist were among the limited set of workarounds. Before the payment pause, Ms. Dorn had been relying on her credit card to cover expenses like an unexpected emergency-room visit, veterinary bills, health care co-payments and new car tires. She used credit to replace their water heater, cover a few car insurance payments, and install a new transmission in her husbands car. Within the last six months, she paid off her credit balance and closed the card using a debt-solution program. For Shantel Anderson, 27, the pause was a lifeline that allowed her to support her mother and help her avoid eviction. The two struggled when Ms. Anderson was growing up in Philadelphia, bouncing from apartment to apartment until they were evicted; they ended up at a homeless shelter for a week just before she started college. Her mother had lost her job earlier that year, and Ms. Anderson, then 18, had deferred her first fall semester of college because she couldnt afford to go. Having lost most of her possessions during the eviction, Ms. Anderson relied on donations from people in her life, including her school guidance counselor, for dorm supplies. Ms. Anderson secured financial aid and student loans to study political science at Eastern University while maintaining a work-study job and other employment, but still graduated in 2018 with $43,000 in debt. The moratorium, which freed up $455 a month, allowed her to cover her mothers phone bill and some car repairs. Ms. Anderson also helped her mother with groceries, medication, gas and cat food. With these costs handled, her mother could put all of her income toward paying rent and utilities. Ms. Andersons first full-time job out of school, at a veterinary hospital, paid $32,000 annually, and the hospital provided housing at the time. When the pandemic recession hit, her hours were cut. She made one last full student loan payment in March 2020, then a few more $50 monthly payments. But when she found out she would be losing her housing, she stopped making the debt payments to afford rent and other bills. The patient was a 39-year-old woman who had come to the emergency department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Her left knee had been hurting for several days. The day before, she had a fever of 102 degrees. It was gone now, but she still had chills. And her knee was red and swollen. What was the diagnosis? On a recent steamy Friday, Dr. Megan Landon, a medical resident, posed this real case to a room full of medical students and residents. They were gathered to learn a skill that can be devilishly tricky to teach how to think like a doctor. Doctors are terrible at teaching other doctors how we think, said Dr. Adam Rodman, an internist, a medical historian and an organizer of the event at Beth Israel Deaconess. But this time, they could call on an expert for help in reaching a diagnosis GPT-4, the latest version of a chatbot released by the company OpenAI. To the Editor: Re On Race and Academia, by John McWhorter (newsletter, July 4): Professor McWhorters account of being placed in positions for which he was less than qualified as a result of a series of institutions attempts at affirmative action is undoubtedly based on both his experience and analysis. Unfortunately, it reinforces the prevailing narrative that affirmative action gives less qualified people of color opportunities denied to more qualified people who are white. The writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reminds us in her TED Talk The Danger of the Single Story that we need a balance of stories. Joy Reid recently shared her affirmative action story on MSNBC. Ms. Reid attended Harvard because it actively recruited her and other highly qualified African Americans who met the academic requirements but might not have otherwise applied. For every John, there is a Joy. Lets expand the narrative. Andrea Haynes Johnson Las Vegas The writer is an adviser for Courageous Conversation, which provides consulting services on racial equity. Today, Israel has legitimate security concerns but is not in peril of being invaded by the armies of its neighbors, and it is richer per capita than Japan and some European countries. One sign of changed times: Almost a quarter of Israels arms exports last year went to Arab states. The $3.8 billion in annual assistance to Israel is more than 10 times as much as the U.S. sends to the far more populous nation of Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world and one under attack by jihadis. In countries like Niger, that sum could save hundreds of thousands of lives a year, or here in the United States, it could help pay for desperately needed early childhood programs. Aid to Israel is now almost exclusively military assistance that can be used only to buy American weaponry. In reality, its not so much aid to Israel as it is a backdoor subsidy to American military contractors, which is one reason some Israelis are cool to it. Israel should give up on the American aid, Yossi Beilin, a former Israeli minister of justice, told me. He has argued that the money can be used more effectively elsewhere. Daniel Kurtzer, a former American ambassador to Israel, agreed. Israels economy is strong enough that it does not need aid; security assistance distorts Israels economy and creates a false sense of dependency, Kurtzer said in an email. Aid provides the U.S. with no leverage or influence over Israeli decisions to use force; because we sit by quietly while Israel pursues policies we oppose, we are seen as enablers of Israels occupation. Greece was Saturday bracing for its longest heatwave on record as weekend temperatures were forecast to soar above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), while a record-breaking heatwave stretching across the southern United States was expected to expand in the coming days. Tens of millions of people in the northern hemisphere have been suffering through intense heat this summer as the world appears headed for its hottest July on record. As temperature records tumble, experts have pointed to climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels, saying global warming is playing a key role in destructive weather. Already 11 days into its heatwave, Greece's national weather institute warned reprieve was still days away, setting this up to be the longest hot spell the country has ever seen. "According to the data, we will probably go through 16-17 days of a heatwave, which has never happened before in our country," Kostas Lagouvardos, the director of research at the National Observatory, told ERT television Saturday. The previous heatwave record in Greece was set in 1987, when scorching temperatures of over 39C lasted 11 days. Across the southern United States, about 80 million Americans will swelter in temperatures of 41C and above this weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. The country's worst heat of up to 46C is forecast for Phoenix, Arizona, which has seen a record-breaking three weeks in a row of highs above 43C. Tourists, meanwhile, have been flocking to Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border between California and Nevada, to post selfies with a temperature display outside the visitor centre. Many are hoping to see it break a world record of 56.7C, which was set in July 1913 but was likely the result of a faulty measurement, according to several meteorologists. Hottest month Regardless, July 2023 is on track to be the hottest month -- not only since records began, but also in "hundreds, if not thousands, of years," leading NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt said. The effects cannot be attributed solely to the El Nino weather pattern, which "has really only just emerged" and isn't expected to strengthen until later in the year. El Nino is associated with the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Schmidt said the trend of extreme heat was expected to persist, "and the reason why we think that's going to continue, is because we continue to put greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere". Greece, which is battling dozens of forest fires, warned people not to venture out unnecessarily due to the baking heat. Firefighters were still battling 79 forest fires across the country. Their spokesman Vassilios Vathrakoyannis said Greece would be on a state of alert through the weekend. Fires on the island of Rhodes forced dozens to evacuate their homes late Friday, officials said, as Slovak firefighters arrived to provide reinforcement. A hotel in the Kiotari area of the island that was bustling with tourists was also forced to evacuate as a precautionary measure, requiring 30 buses to relocate the holiday-goers to a safer area. The exceptional temperatures also mean key tourist sites such as the Acropolis will be closed during the hottest part of the day, with authorities saying the last entries for tourists will be at 11:30 am (0800 GMT) on Sunday. "This weekend risks being the hottest registered in July in the past 50 years," said Panagiotis Giannopoulos, meteorologist with state broadcaster ERT. Sea temperatures are two to three degrees above normal, the state weather service reported Saturday, while a high of 42.6C recorded by the Akrotiri weather station on Friday, which is expected to be topped. Sunday is likely to see the city labour under temperatures as high as 44C, with the central region of Thessalia enduring 45C. The temperatures are taking a toll on people's health. A 46-year-old man was reported to have succumbed to heatstroke on the central Greek island of Evia after being admitted to Chalkida hospital, which said cardio-respiratory failure following exposure to high temperatures appeared to be the cause. Emergency health officials told the state broadcaster at least 38 heatstroke patients were received in the last three days, while hospitals were also seeing cases of fainting and other heat-related conditions. Greece is just one of a swathe of countries battling a prolonged spell of extreme heat around the globe in recent days. Search Keywords: Short link: Mr. Maduro hasnt complied so far. On June 30, he barred yet another well-known opposition figure from holding office. Nevertheless, this more modest policy, which supports a gradual return to democracy rather than abrupt regime change, is a better approach. The Biden administration should be more explicit about which sanctions in Venezuela would be lifted and when, especially those on the state-owned oil company. That would make American promises more credible. An agreement in November between Mr. Maduro and the opposition to use Venezuelas frozen assets for humanitarian purposes was another promising step, but it is in limbo because the funds have yet to be released. The delay is causing Venezuelans to lose hope in a negotiated solution to the crisis, according to Feliciano Reyna, the president and founder of Accion Solidaria, a nonprofit organization that procures supplies for public hospitals in Venezuela. Although he has a special license to import supplies, he said he still had trouble obtaining what he needed. Some companies, he said, preferred not to sell to Venezuela rather than deal with the headache of making sure it was legal a phenomenon known as overcompliance. The situation internally is really dire, Mr. Reyna said. The loss of hope is, in part, why more than seven million Venezuelans have fled their country since 2015, with more than 240,000 arriving at the U.S. southern border in the past two years. Many experts view sanctions as an important driver of migration from Venezuela because they worsen the economic conditions that push people to leave. In response, a group of Democratic lawmakers including Representative Veronica Escobar of Texas, who co-chairs Mr. Bidens re-election campaign implored him to lift sanctions on Venezuela and Cuba. In addition to making good on its commitments in Venezuela, the Biden administration can do much more to show that the United States is changing its sanctions policy to make it more humane. The first step would be to follow through on the recommendations of its 2021 review and formally take the humanitarian cost of any sanction into account before it is imposed. The Treasury Department in May hired two economists to take on that task; that should become standard practice for any agency with the responsibility for carrying out sanctions. Is it possible to rapidly reboot a struggling presidential campaign? Pundits have to hope so, since otherwise our advice-giving beat becomes a bit irrelevant. But thinking back over recent primary candidacies that seemed to sag and then recovered, from John Kerry in 2004 to John McCain in 2008 to Joe Biden in 2020, its hard to identify brilliant strategic pivots. Instead what you see is candidates with fundamental strengths who hung around until events conspired to make those strengths more relevant, their opponents weaknesses more manifest, and their campaigns suddenly triumphant. For Ron DeSantis, currently engaged in a campaign reset after months of stagnant polling, theres no way to sell these case studies to his restive donors. Dont worry, were going to hang around and hope things break our way at the last minute isnt exactly an inspiring rallying cry, especially for a candidate who briefly seemed poised to become the 2024 front-runner, but now languishes 20 or 30 points behind Donald Trump. And its easy enough to list things that DeSantis could be doing differently. Some of them, like talking less about the swiftly receding Covid era and seeking combat with the mainstream media, are obvious enough that the campaign is already trying to adapt. Other possibilities seem to still elude his team above all, the benefits of breaking out of the movement-conservative box a bit more, making big promises on economic as well as social policy, and avoiding a replay of Ted Cruzs ideologically self-limiting 2016 campaign. But any benefit from these shifts is likely to be incremental rather than dramatic. Meanwhile, the reset thats so often urged on DeSantis the idea that he needs to go hard after Trumps unfitness for high office is a theory supported by exactly zero polling evidence. This week, the White House announced that it had secured voluntary commitments from seven leading A.I. companies to manage the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Getting the companies Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Inflection, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI to agree to anything is a step forward. They include bitter rivals with subtle but important differences in the ways theyre approaching A.I. research and development. Meta, for example, is so eager to get its A.I. models into developers hands that it has open-sourced many of them, putting their code out into the open for anyone to use. Other labs, such as Anthropic, have taken a more cautious approach, releasing their technology in more limited ways. But what do these commitments actually mean? And are they likely to change much about how A.I. companies operate, given that they arent backed by the force of law? Here are the meanings of the least-found words that were used in (mostly) recent Times articles. 1. tantara the blast of a horn or trumpet: But the day was not yet replete with wonders, because before Zelikman could reply there were shouts from the rear and then the blatting tantara of an inhuman horn. Gentlemen of the Road (April 1, 2007) 2. orotund full, strong or bombastic: Submit to the orotund, incantatory language of the 1982 book in which Audre Lorde invented a genre she called biomythography? Self-Study, Becoming American and the Art of Translation (Feb. 25, 2023) 3. tontine a somewhat macabre investment vehicle in which people jointly pool their money, and the survivors receive the share of each person who dies: Popular culture embellished the tontines nefarious reputation. Works by Agatha Christie, Robert Louis Stevenson and P. G. Wodehouse all featured tontine members plotting to kill one another in hope of a big payoff. Lingering legal questions need to be resolved, according to todays tontine enthusiasts. When Others Die, Tontine Investors Win (March 24, 2017) 4. nonart things that arent, well, art: The objects are displayed on pedestals made of buckets, flower pots, furniture or other traditionally nonart materials. What to See in New York Art Galleries This Week (July 27, 2017) 5. titivated and 6. titivate spruce up or make attractive: An Englishwoman living in Prague, she works as a translator not of novels but of operating instructions for power tools. Determinedly drab, she is allergic to any form of artifice or titivation. Moral Questions Lurk Beneath a Ghost Story in Melmoth (Oct. 9, 2018) 7. mammon wealth that has a corrupting influence: In so doing, it effects a partial reconciliation between Americas Christian heritage, with its deep skepticism about the possibility of serving God and Mammon, and Americas boundless opportunities for getting rich. In Gatsby, money is clearly corrupting once you have it, because the having imbues you with the vast carelessness of Tom and Daisy Buchanan or the cold-eyed manipulative spirit of the men who use Gatsby as their front. Opinion: Ross Douthat on The Great Gatsby (June 20, 2023) 8. arcana mysterious or specialized knowledge, language or information: The Italian thinker, who died in 2016, was a professor, a novelist who wrote, most notably and at one time inescapably, The Name of the Rose a semiotician, a columnist and a connoisseur of arcana. Umberto Eco Review: Remembering a Literary Explorer (June 29, 2023) 9. monocracy government ruled by one person: The changes, Sarkozy insisted, strengthen the power of Parliament and will make the president more accountable. But his critics, including the main opposition party, the Socialists, said they would increase the power of the already semiroyal president, creating a monocracy. Sarkozy Ekes Out Victory on Constitutional Changes (July 22, 2008) 10. viand a choice dish: In addition to a number of supposed tonic beverages, a la Grays Papaya, Boulevard Drinks offers a single viand, a slender hot dog warmed on a griddle with your choice of sauerkraut, cheese sauce, red stewed onions, chopped raw onions and a Texas-wiener-style meat sauce with finely minced onions mixed in. Dog Ziggity: New Jerseys Own Hot Dogs (Sept. 24, 2013) And a bonus: arrant total or extreme: It constitutes a dismissal of eager and innocent articulateness. And as such, it is an arrant and thoughtless injustice that must be stopped. Opinion: A Language Test That Stigmatizes Black Children (Oct. 7, 2022) The list of the weeks easiest words: Fearing for her life, the victim obeyed him, court documents said. At one point during the drive, the girl told Mr. Sablan about her friend in Australia. He said that he could take her to a cruise ship to get there but that she would have to do something for him, court documents said. He then pulled over and sexually assaulted her. Over the next two days, he drove her from Texas through New Mexico, Arizona and California, sexually assaulting her at various points along the way, according to court records. On the morning of July 9, they stopped at a laundromat in Long Beach, Calif. Mr. Sablan told her to change clothes in the car and then took her clothes and went inside. This gave the girl the opportunity to write Help Me! on a piece of paper. A passer-by called law enforcement, who upon arrival saw Mr. Sablan standing outside the vehicle and saw the girl, who mouthed the word help. The Long Beach police described the girl in a statement as visibly emotional and distressed. Officers searched the vehicle and found a BB gun, the girls sign, a switchblade and handcuffs, according to court documents. The San Antonio Police Department, like the police in other cities, has a Mental Health Unit available around the clock to respond to calls that require trained, empathetic responses and support for people in distress. None of the mental health officers on duty were dispatched before Melissa Perez was shot and killed in her home last month by three police officers. Ms. Perez, 46, was exhibiting unusual behavior and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Like the incident in New York in which Raul de la Cruz, 42, was shot six times and critically injured in March by officers 28 seconds after their arrival, Ms. Perezs shooting is renewing vexing questions about police staffing, training and decision-making, and how officers deal with people experiencing mental health issues. The police arrived to Ms. Perezs apartment complex shortly after midnight in late June, after receiving reports that she was cutting fire alarm wires outside her apartment. A lawsuit filed by her family after her death said she told police at the scene the F.B.I. was using the alarm to spy on her. According to video from the scene and police reports, when officers tried to get her to go into their car, she ran into her apartment and locked the door. In the first weeks after President Bidens new border policies were put in place, his administration recorded a sharp drop in the number of people allowed to apply for asylum after crossing into the United States illegally. But lawyers who counsel migrants seeking asylum say the changes make it nearly impossible for them to do their jobs and leave the people most in need of protection struggling to find help. Lawyers cannot meet with clients who are in the custody of Border Patrol. Or call them. Or leave messages for them. There is no system to find out where a client is being held. And the government sets the schedules for key meetings when a lawyer should be present and changes dates and times often without notification. These barriers are a byproduct of changes in how and where the government conducts what is called a credible fear interview, a make-or-break step that determines whether someone who crossed the border illegally and fears persecution or torture at home should be allowed to apply for asylum in the United States. North Koreas laws on abortion are unclear. In 2015, the authorities issued a directive barring doctors from performing abortions, according to the World Health Organization, but there are no documents after 2015 on the legality of the procedure. In the United States, since the Supreme Court eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion last summer, the legal status of abortion has varied widely from state to state. In some, the procedure is banned with no exceptions, and in others it is enshrined as a right with no gestational limits. A spokesman for Mr. Pence cited nine such states as exceptionally nonrestrictive. Fiscal policy What Mr. Pence Said Well, first off, look, Joe Bidens policy on our national debt is insolvency. And, sadly, my former running mates policy is identical to Joe Bidens. Both of them say theyre not even going to talk about common sense and compassionate reforms to entitlements to spare future generations of a mountain range of debt. in the Fox News Sunday interview This is exaggerated. Asked about his calls to overhaul Social Security and Medicare, Mr. Pence criticized Mr. Trumps and Mr. Bidens approaches to the social programs as irresponsible. While both have said they would not cut benefits, only Mr. Biden has proposed tax increases to shore up both programs. But equating that position to one of accepting total insolvency is overstated. Currently, Social Security and Medicare both face financial shortfalls. The fund that pays for Social Security retirement benefits is projected to be depleted by 2033, and the fund that pays hospitals for Medicare patients will be exhausted in 2031. At those points, the funds will be able to pay for only 77 percent of retirement benefits and 89 percent of scheduled fees to hospitals. Deans Car Care, an auto repair shop in Portland, Ore., used to regularly rack up five stars and gushing accolades on Yelp and Google Reviews for its reliable and friendly service. Honest and affordable. What else could you ask for? one happy repeat customer wrote online in 2016. The reviewer said he had moved to a different part of the city, but I still drive up to Deans whenever I need work done on my car or my truck. That was then, before the owner, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, was elected to Congress last year as a Democrat, and became one of only a small number of lawmakers in her party who periodically crosses over to vote with Republicans. These days, Ms. Gluesenkamp Perez is one of the most vulnerable Democrats in Congress, and Deans the family business named for her husband has become the target of vicious online trolling from the left. Progressives from around the country are review-bombing the establishment with posts expressing their ire at the first-term congresswoman for siding with Republicans on a bill to repeal President Bidens student loan relief initiative. Shortly after the shooting, Colleen Murphy, executive director and general counsel of Connecticuts Freedom of Information Commission, received a call from a state legislator convinced that the filmmaker Michael Moore was seeking crime scene photos of the children. But Ms. Murphy told the lawmaker that her office, which fields all public records requests, had received no such inquiry. The concerns had been set off by a blog post in which Mr. Moore, whose documentary Bowling for Columbine focused on the 1999 Colorado high school massacre, opined that releasing the victims images might spur action on gun control. He noted Mamie Till-Mobleys 1955 decision to display the brutalized body of her 14-year-old son Emmett Till, who had been tortured and lynched by two white men in Mississippi, at his open-casket funeral and in JET magazine photographs. The images helped ignite the civil rights movement. Some Sandy Hook families interpreted Mr. Moores remarks as a horrific campaign to make the crime scene photos public, Jennifer Hensel, whose 6-year-old daughter Avielle Richman died, wrote in The New Haven Register. We cannot stand the thought of seeing the graphic depiction of our childs death promoted to serve anyones political purposes. Mr. Moore publicly clarified his view that no one should release photos without the families permission. But the families circulated a change.org petition and rallied in Hartford for legislation that would prevent the release of photos, video or other digital recordings depicting any victim without permission from the immediate family. The Connecticut legislature began work in secret on legislation that would have effectively ceded control over the release of homicide records commonly available under public records laws to victims families, including audiotapes of 911 calls in which victims are heard or identified. The proposed measure met with strong objections from First Amendment advocates, Ms. Murphy and media organizations, including The Hartford Courant, which fought in court for five years before winning access to information about the shooter that had been gathered by state police. The legislation was subsequently scaled back. Yet even today those requesting Connecticut homicide-related records must demonstrate that the release does not constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Officials on the Greek island of Rhodes said Saturday they had moved 30,000 people threatened by wildfires to safety -- including 2,000 who had to be ferried off beaches. George Hadjimarkos, regional governor of the South Aegean, told Skai television that the operation, which was still ongoing, had been hampered by fires cutting off some road access. "The aim is to protect human life," he said. Tourists and some locals were being taken to gyms, schools and hotel conference centres on the island where they will stay overnight, while firefighters battle the blaze. Three passenger ferries have been moored at the port of Rhodes to accommodate those rescued, Athens News Agency reported. Members of the coastguard, the armed forces and local authority workers used dozens of buses to help move people away from the fires, said Rhodes municipality official Teris Hatziioannou. Where the fires had cut off road access, some tourists had to walk to safety. Panagiotis Dimelis, head of the Archangelos village council, told Skai TV that many locals had rushed to help the tourists. "It is an unprecedented situation for the island," he added. For the beach operation, the coastguard said three of its boats led more than 30 private vessels to pick up people from the Kiotari and Lardos beaches on the east of the Mediterranean island. A Greek navy boat was also headed to the area to help, according to the coastguard. Out of control From the moment the evacuation alert sounded early in the afternoon, tourists headed for the beach, pulling their suitcases behind them. Local video footage showed some of them pushing strollers carrying small children under the scorching sun. Some of those seeking rescue had missed their flights off the island after the fires cut off normal transport routes, according to media reports. Elsewhere, firefighters are still trying to bring the blaze on the island under control. Deputy Fire Chief Yannis Artopoios said the blaze on Rhodes, which broke out on a mountain in the centre of the island, was the toughest his force had had to face. Five helicopters and 200 firefighters fought the blaze during the daytime, but the air support was called off as the light failed. The battle to extinguish the fire in Rhodes continues in the area of Laermon and Lardos, where it is raging out of control. ERT TV reported that some firefighters were stranded in the Ypseni Monastery, near Lardos, as they tried to convince the nuns living there to leave the area. But they were reported to be safe. Search Keywords: Short link: Suburban, formerly conservative communities are still not buying into this culture war idea that we cant have love and tolerance and acceptance, she said. That has been amazing. Conservative groups nationwide have pushed to ban books that discuss L.G.B.T.Q. issues from libraries and schools, saying that parents should be able to control what their children are being taught. The San Diego residents who sent the email to the Rancho Penasquitos Library, Amy M. Vance and Martha Martin, did not respond to requests for comment. City officials said they have not heard since from the library patrons. The text of their email was identical to a template posted online by a right-wing group called CatholicVote, which has an office in Indiana and is not affiliated with the Catholic church. The group has promoted a Hide the Pride campaign that encourages supporters to check out or move books that depict L.G.B.T.Q. characters and families. Organizers have described such material as pornographic and obscene and said it should not be available to young library patrons. The library needs to use its discretion in how it will make certain content available to people who have very different beliefs about whether this is appropriate for kids, said Brian Burch, the president of CatholicVote. Eleven people were killed and four injured in a suspected arson attack at a bar in the northern border city of San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora, on Saturday morning, Mexican authorities said, as the country continues to struggle with violent crime. The authorities said a young, intoxicated man had thrown a firebomb at the club, Beer House, around 1:33 a.m. after being kicked out earlier that night. Witnesses said he had been harassing women in the bar, leading to his expulsion, according to the Sonora state attorney generals office. The suspect had yet to be either identified or apprehended, the attorney general said. Prosecutors did not say whether they believed the incident was linked to organized crime. Some of the victims were rushed across the border for treatment in the United States, while others were being treated in local hospitals, prosecutors said. Each morning, Jose Aguilera inspects the leaves of his banana and coffee plants on his farm in eastern Venezuela and calculates how much he can harvest almost nothing. Explosive gas flares from nearby oil wells spew an oily, flammable residue on the plants. The leaves burn, dry up and wither. There is no poison that can fight the oil, he said. When it falls, everything dries up. Venezuelas oil industry, which helped transform the countrys fortunes, has been decimated by mismanagement and several years of U.S. sanctions imposed on the countrys authoritarian government, leaving behind a ravaged economy and a devastated environment. The state-owned oil company has struggled to maintain minimal production for export to other countries, as well as domestic consumption. But to do so it has sacrificed basic maintenance and relied on increasingly shoddy equipment that has led to a growing environmental toll, environmental activists say. This week, reporting for an upcoming article about mitigating wildfires took me to Kelowna, British Columbia, where I added Mosaic Books to the list of bookstores Ive visited. Kelowna, while unusually affluent and a popular tourist destination, has a population of just 157,000. But at 8,000 square feet and packed with about 17,000 current titles, as well as thousands of remaindered books, Mosaic looks like a shop youd expect to find in a city many times Kelownas size. I met the other morning with Michael Neill, who owns Mosaic with his wife Michele, and Alicia Neill, the store manager and Mr. Neills daughter, to talk about the state of booksellers in Canada. Mr. Neill has broad and particular insight into the sector. Up above the bookshop are the offices of Mr. Neills other business, Bookmanager, which makes software systems used by about 530 independent bookshops in Canada and the United States. That company also directly led to his purchase of Mosaic and his familys move to Kelowna. First, lets look at some numbers. The latest analysis from Statistics Canada, which dates back to the distorted pandemic year of 2020 when shops were closed, found that physical bookstores remained the largest source of book sales in Canada, a 1.5 billion Canadian dollar market at that time. Mr. Neill said that theres been no single model for success, or at least survival, when it comes to bookshops. Richard Barancik, the last surviving member of the Allied unit known as the Monuments Men and Women, which during and after World War II preserved a vast amount of European artworks and cultural treasures that had been looted and hidden by Nazi Germany, died on July 14 in Chicago. He was 98. His death, in a hospital, was confirmed by his daughter Jill Barancik. Mr. Barancik (pronounced ba-RAN-sick) was one of four members of what was formally called the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Section to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015 in Washington for their heroic role in the preservation, protection, restitution of monuments, works of art and artifacts of cultural importance. On the day of the ceremony, Mr. Barancik told The Los Angeles Times: The Americans cared about the cultural traditions of Europe. We did everything we could to salvage what the Nazis had done. Its the best we could do. An Army private first class, Mr. Barancik served in England and France where he was not on the front lines, his daughter said, and enjoyed the marching, food and structure of military life until Germany surrendered. After being deployed to Salzburg, Austria, he volunteered for the Monuments Men serving for three months as a driver and guard. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine was pushing forward with diplomatic efforts on Saturday to reopen the Black Sea to Ukraines grain shipments, strategizing with NATOs chief a day after discussing with the Turkish president the collapse of a deal that allowed ships to bypass Russias blockade. Moscow pulled out of the yearlong agreement, a rare accord between Russia and Ukraine brokered by Turkey and the United Nations. Efforts to revive it have been plunged into doubt, as Russia has pummeled Ukrainian ports, striking grain stores and other infrastructure, and has vowed it will treat commercial ships in the Black Sea as potentially carrying military cargo. Due to Russias actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis, Mr. Zelensky wrote on Twitter late Friday. A total of 400 million people in many countries of Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation. Together, we must avert a global food crisis. Turkeys president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has been a key mediator between Russia and Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began last February, standing out from his NATO allies by keeping up friendly relations with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. Mr. Erdogan is expected to meet with Mr. Putin next month. If Spains national elections on Sunday turn out as most polls and analysts suggest, mainstream conservatives may come out on top but need allies on the political fringe to govern, ushering the first hard-right party into power since the Franco dictatorship. The potential ascent of that hard-right party, Vox, which has a deeply nationalist spirit imbued with Francos ghost, would bring Spain into the growing ranks of European nations where mainstream conservative parties have partnered with previously taboo forces out of electoral necessity. It is an important marker for a politically shifting continent, and a pregnant moment for a country that has long grappled with the legacy of its dictatorship. Even before Spaniards cast a single ballot, it has raised questions of where the countrys political heart actually lies whether its painful past and transition to democracy only four decades ago have rendered Spain a mostly moderate, inclusive and centrist country, or whether it could veer toward extremes once again. Greek Coast Guard vessels on Saturday evacuated hundreds of tourists and locals trapped in seaside villages on Rhodes that were threatened by five-day-old wildfires, moving them to safer parts of the island. A Greek Navy warship was en route to join the five Greek Coast Guard vessels and two army boats that were being aided by 30 private vessels in the area, according to a Coast Guard statement. A Coast Guard spokesman, Nikos Alexiou, said around 2,000 people had been evacuated by sea from southeastern Rhodes. Most have been rescued but the operation is continuing, he told Greek television, adding that Coast Guard boats were patrolling the area, along with a helicopter. Thousands more people on Rhodes were evacuated over land to other parts of the island. George Hatzimarkos, the regional governor for the south Aegean, said about 7,500 people had been relocated. In 1946, at 16, she gave birth to Walid, Mr. Abu Shakras elder brother. As fighting raged in 1948 between Arab armies, Palestinian irregulars and Zionist forces, Mariam and her family fled to a Palestinian farming village, Umm al-Fahem. Today, that village has become a working-class city that sprawls across the hills a few miles west of the Jezreel Valley. Walid, the oldest of Mariams seven children, left school at 16 and went to work at a bakery in Tel Aviv, then as a tax clerk in the coastal town of Hadera. The Jewish family who rented him a room in Hadera saw one of his drawings and urged him to pursue art and enroll in a painting class. His teacher then recommended him to an established Israeli art school. Encouraged by his mother, and inspired by her traditions of Sufi mysticism, Walid eventually became a full-time artist, creating paintings and engravings of the evocative landscape around Umm al-Fahem. He died in 2019. His art inspired other family members to follow in his footsteps. His younger brother Said embraced video art his installation with his mother sharing fading memories is one of the centerpieces of the Ein Harod retrospective. A miles-long column of antigovernment demonstrators marched into Jerusalem on Saturday evening, turning the main road to the city into a sea of blue-and-white Israeli flags, to protest the far-right governments plan to limit judicial power. In temperatures that were at times close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, hundreds of the demonstrators had been marching since Tuesday night from Tel Aviv, a coastal city roughly 40 miles away, and had camped for four nights along the route. Many more joined them on subsequent days, and by Saturday the number of marchers had swelled to at least 20,000, despite the scorching heat. By the time the march reached the outskirts of Jerusalem on Saturday, the marchers were walking 10 abreast, forcing cars into a single lane of traffic. The column stretched for at least two miles and included people in motorized wheelchairs and at least one person on crutches. Have you ever seen anything like this? said Ilana Holzman, 65, a protester from Tel Aviv who had joined the march for its last leg on Saturday. Energy ministers from the group of 20 nations meeting in India Saturday failed to agree on a roadmap to phase down the use of fossil fuels in the global energy mix. A final statement after the meeting did not even mention coal, a major contributor to global warming. The dirty fuel is also a key energy source for many developing economies such as India -- the world's most-populous country -- and China, the world's second-largest economy. The failure to reach agreement in Goa comes despite G7 leaders agreeing in Hiroshima in May to "accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels" and with global temperatures hitting record highs, triggering floods, storms, and heatwaves. Explaining the stalemate, G20 president India said that some members had emphasised the importance of seeking a "phase down of unabated fossil fuels, in line with different national circumstances". But "others had different views on the matter that abatement and removal technologies will address such concerns," it added. A coalition of key EU economies -- including Germany and France -- and some of the most vulnerable island states this week urged the G20 to accelerate plans to reach net zero emissions and phase out fossil fuels, adding: "Humankind cannot afford to delay". They called for greenhouse gas emissions to peak by 2025 at the latest and be cut by 43 percent by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, in line with recent updates from UN climate experts. But many developing economies argue that the developed West must pay more as a legacy polluter and greenhouse contributor. They insist that any transition needs huge capital and new technology, while giving up on polluting fuels without affordable alternatives will condemn their huge populations to poverty. G20 host nation India is itself only pledging to reach net zero by 2070, 20 years later than the commitment made by many other countries. A report prepared for its G20 presidency estimated the cost of the energy transition at $4 trillion a year and emphasised the importance of low-cost financing for developing countries and technology transfers -- a key demand of New Delhi's. Some of the biggest energy-producing economies, such as Russia and Saudi Arabia, have also resisted a quick transition away from fossil fuels. Emirati oil boss Sultan Al Jaber, who will head up the COP28 talks, has said he expects fossil fuels to continue to play a role with the use of often controversial technologies to "abate", or neutralise, the emissions. He has said that a phase down of fossil fuels is both "inevitable" and "essential", but has been reluctant to spell out a time frame. Search Keywords: Short link: The plaza at 325 Fifth Avenue is just one example of a privately owned public space, commonly known as a POPS, that has not been maintained according to the developers agreement with the city. These agreements allow developers to build larger towers and earn more revenue in exchange for providing public spaces. In December, the Department of Buildings completed its three-year inspection cycle and found that about one in five of the properties violated the terms of their agreements. The lack of compliance with the law has been a problem for years. The citys inspectors have issued violations to half of the 392 buildings with such spaces since 2011, according to a Department of Buildings dataset. The standard penalty for a violation is $5,000, which is a fraction of the value of the bonus space developers receive from the agreements. For example, the owners of 325 Fifth Avenue have been assessed a total of $54,000 in penalties since 2015. By contrast, the bonus floor area that the developers gained could be worth approximately $80 million if used for residential space, based on 2022 sales prices provided by Jonathan J. Miller, a New York City real estate appraiser. Based on average prices of transactions from 2002 to 2020, the total bonus space that developers have gained has an estimated value of about $10 billion, said Richard J. Roddewig, who specializes in appraisals and real estate consulting and is a managing director at JLL Valuation & Advisory Services. But in the past 12 years, building owners have cumulatively paid just over $1.4 million in penalties. Developers received something that was disproportionately valuable, said Jerold S. Kayden, a lawyer and professor of urban planning and design at Harvard University and an advocate for keeping privately owned public spaces open to the public. The financial value of the extra floor area was completely out of whack. The extensive network of 598 privately owned public spaces across 392 buildings makes up a significant portion of public space in the city. The cumulative footprint is about 3.8 million square feet, or roughly 10 percent of the area of Central Park. In comparison, the bonus space developers have gained in exchange amounts to about 20.7 million square feet. In 2000, Mr. Kayden wrote the first comprehensive survey and analysis of New Yorks privately owned public spaces, in collaboration with New Yorks Department of City Planning and the Municipal Art Society of New York. The Times obtained data from that analysis and additional records since 2000 through a Freedom of Information Law request. This detailed dataset shows how much bonus space developers received compared with the public space they built. Mr. Kayden reviewed the data at the request of The Times and identified some of the properties that were granted the most bonus space. Public Space vs. Bonus Building Space The additional space that developers received is often far larger than the public spaces they provided. The violations were issued from May 2011 to June 2023, and the building owners were assessed penalties for the infractions. Number of violations since 2011 Total violations since 2011 Public space Sq. ft. Public space Sq. ft. Bonus floor space Sq. ft. Bonus space Sq. ft. 55 water street 55 water street 1 1 90,000 90,000 480,000 480,000 1 new york plaza 1 new york plaza 0 0 40,000 40,000 330,000 330,000 1 pennsylvania plaza 1 pennsylvania plaza 6 6 50,000 50,000 310,000 310,000 1 liberty plaza 1 liberty plaza 1 1 30,000 30,000 290,000 290,000 1345 sixth avenue 1345 sixth avenue 2 2 30,000 30,000 270,000 270,000 388 greenwich street 388 greenwich street 1 1 50,000 50,000 270,000 270,000 1251 sixth avenue 1251 sixth avenue 1 1 30,000 30,000 260,000 260,000 1221 sixth avenue 1221 sixth avenue 1 1 30,000 30,000 250,000 250,000 1211 sixth avenue 1211 sixth avenue 0 0 30,000 30,000 230,000 230,000 245 park avenue 245 park avenue 3 3 30,000 30,000 220,000 220,000 345 park avenue 345 park avenue 0 0 20,000 20,000 210,000 210,000 1166 sixth avenue 1166 sixth avenue 0 0 30,000 30,000 210,000 210,000 1301 sixth avenue 1301 sixth avenue 1 1 20,000 20,000 200,000 200,000 1114 sixth avenue 1114 sixth avenue 0 0 20,000 20,000 200,000 200,000 767 fifth avenue 767 fifth avenue 1 1 20,000 20,000 200,000 200,000 9 west 57th street 9 west 57th street 3 3 30,000 30,000 200,000 200,000 322 west 57th street 322 west 57th street 1 1 30,000 30,000 190,000 190,000 153 east 53rd street 153 east 53rd street 0 0 20,000 20,000 190,000 190,000 919 third avenue 919 third avenue 0 0 20,000 20,000 190,000 190,000 350 jay street 350 jay street 1 1 30,000 30,000 170,000 170,000 280 park avenue 280 park avenue 1 1 20,000 20,000 170,000 170,000 1886 broadway 1886 broadway 1 1 20,000 20,000 170,000 170,000 85 broad street 85 broad street 3 3 30,000 30,000 160,000 160,000 330 east 38th street 330 east 38th street 1 1 30,000 30,000 160,000 160,000 125 broad street 125 broad street 0 0 20,000 20,000 160,000 160,000 140 broadway 140 broadway 0 0 20,000 20,000 160,000 160,000 101 park avenue 101 park avenue 0 0 20,000 20,000 160,000 160,000 299 park avenue 299 park avenue 0 0 20,000 20,000 150,000 150,000 1411 broadway 1411 broadway 0 0 20,000 20,000 150,000 150,000 60 wall street 60 wall street 2 2 20,000 20,000 150,000 150,000 1095 sixth avenue 1095 sixth avenue 0 0 20,000 20,000 150,000 150,000 180 maiden lane 180 maiden lane 1 1 20,000 20,000 140,000 140,000 425 east 58th street 425 east 58th street 0 0 30,000 30,000 140,000 140,000 622 third avenue 622 third avenue 5 5 20,000 20,000 140,000 140,000 17 battery place 17 battery place 2 2 20,000 20,000 130,000 130,000 400 east 56th street 400 east 56th street 1 1 20,000 20,000 130,000 130,000 888 seventh avenue 888 seventh avenue 1 1 10,000 10,000 120,000 120,000 235 east 95th street 235 east 95th street 1 1 20,000 20,000 120,000 120,000 1 battery park plaza 1 battery park plaza 0 0 20,000 20,000 120,000 120,000 45 broadway 45 broadway 1 1 2,000 2,000 110,000 110,000 375 pearl street 375 pearl street 0 0 20,000 20,000 110,000 110,000 1 lincoln plaza 1 lincoln plaza 2 2 20,000 20,000 110,000 110,000 437 madison avenue 437 madison avenue 1 1 10,000 10,000 110,000 110,000 457 madison avenue 457 madison avenue 1 1 6,000 6,000 110,000 110,000 555 west 57th street 555 west 57th street 2 2 20,000 20,000 110,000 110,000 111 wall street 111 wall street 0 0 20,000 20,000 110,000 110,000 32 old slip 32 old slip 1 1 20,000 20,000 110,000 110,000 1285 sixth avenue 1285 sixth avenue 2 2 20,000 20,000 110,000 110,000 343 gold street 343 gold street 2 2 20,000 20,000 100,000 100,000 1 state street 1 state street 1 1 10,000 10,000 100,000 100,000 Sources: Privately Owned Public Space Database, owned and maintained by the New York City Department of City Planning and created in collaboration with Jerold S. Kayden and The Municipal Art Society of New York; Department of Buildingss Environmental Control Board violations dataset; Department of Buildings Buildings Information System Notes: Figures are approximate. The bonus floor space shown is the additional floor area used by developers in their buildings. Since 2000, the Department of City Planning has maintained records on these bonus space agreements, but there have been gaps in the record-keeping. A 2017 audit conducted by the city comptrollers office found that the locations of some spaces were not tracked. In response to a request for comment about gaps in the data, the Department of Buildings said that the city has done extensive interagency work to expand this database. But in the data that the city provided to The Times, multiple records provided little to no information on the public spaces or the bonus space given to the developers. The Department of City Planning said that such data is used by city inspectors to check whether building owners should be issued violations. Any errors in the record-keeping might lead to lapses in enforcement that undermine the zoning program. Gale Brewer, a city council member who led the push to protect these public spaces on the Upper West Side for over a decade, agreed that while some are well-kept, many are not maintained as they should be. Developers have gotten a great deal, Ms. Brewer said. Somebody needs to hold them accountable. Larry Silverstein, a New York City real estate developer who has built three privately owned public spaces, defended the program, saying the public spaces provide pleasure to the occupants of the building and add value to the real estate. The program has given enormous amounts of good to the public, Mr. Silverstein said. Melissa Grace, a spokeswoman for the Department of City Planning, said that the zoning program has resulted in hundreds of quality public open spaces at no cost to the public. There are a number of well-maintained and prominent spaces that exist because of this program, like Zuccotti Park, the site of Occupy Wall Street protests in lower Manhattan, and the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center. But at many of the buildings, city inspectors since 2011 have regularly found that the spaces were closed, like the plaza at 325 Fifth Avenue, or poorly maintained. By denying access or neglecting to provide the required amenities, building owners could potentially save on operating and maintenance costs. Sometimes, the spaces were illegally occupied by cafes, restaurants and other businesses. And in some cases, hostile architecture, like spikes on ledges, was retroactively added to the spaces, which critics have said discourages use and disproportionately targets people who are homeless. Times reporters visited over a hundred of these spaces and found similar instances of noncompliance. Here are the 392 buildings with privately owned public spaces. Half of them have been issued violations over the past 12 years. Buildings With Privately Owned Public Spaces With violations (since 2011) Without violations October 2019 100% of all amenities have been removed from plaza December 2020 POPS was closed to the public with gates padlocked May 2022 Observed an unapproved open air cafe set up by a restaurant. From violation notes, February 2022 Approx. 75 linear feet of metal spikes affixed to masonry planter edges. MANHATTAN BRONX QUEENS BROOKLYN Note: The violations were issued between May 2011 and June 2023. Access to public space is crucial for the quality of life for many New Yorkers who live in small apartments. This was especially evident during the pandemic, when city officials and property owners grappled with how to provide people with safe spaces for social interaction. This zoning incentive was originally created in 1961 to introduce light, air and open space into the dense streets of New York. In the last two decades, the city has introduced design requirements like mandatory signage to make these spaces more visible. But when building owners have failed to follow the law, it has raised questions about whether the benefits of the deals were primarily going to developers and building owners rather than the public. The Times reached out to several building owners about the violations they were issued, but most did not respond. The building management company for 325 Fifth Avenue, AKAM, said the building had a work permit from 2013 to 2020, even though an inspector noted during this time that there was no work in progress warranting closure of plaza to public use. The Department of City Planning did not comment on the history of violations associated with these spaces. The Real Estate Board of New York, a trade group that represents the citys building owners and developers, also did not respond to a request for comment. The violations fall under three main categories: Reduced Access In 2021, the plaza at 835 Sixth Avenue was fenced off. July 2019 July 2021 (plaza fenced off) Google Street View The plaza at 835 Sixth Avenue is supposed to be open 24 hours a day. From 2020 to 2022, the building owners were issued three violations for the plaza being completely fenced off, as it is in the above image captured by Google Street View in July 2021. The owners were assessed penalties totalling $25,000. Its the only public space in the immediate area. There are no other options for people to meet, said a member of the public in a complaint in 2021. The person added that the closure was particularly problematic during the pandemic. The buildings management declined to comment. Encroachment In 2021, a restaurant operated in the plaza at 888 Seventh Avenue. August 2013 August 2021 (restaurant operating in plaza) Google Street View In 2022, a city inspector found that the plaza at 888 Seventh Avenue had a private property sign and was illegally privatized by a tenant, Brooklyn Diner. The building owners were issued a violation and were assessed a $5,000 penalty. In the above Google Street View image from 2021, the restaurant filled the plaza with tables and umbrellas, turning it into a private dining area for paying customers instead of being available for anyone to use. The building owners submitted paperwork to the city in 2022 saying the violation was corrected, but a Times reporter visited the plaza in mid-July and found that the restaurant was still occupying the space. The Times reached out to both the restaurant and the building management company about the encroachment but did not receive a response. Lack of Amenities In 2017, spikes were added to a ledge at 875 Third Avenue. May 2016 November 2017 (spikes added to ledge) Google Street View In 2016, Google Street View captured pedestrians sitting on the ledge in the plaza in front of 875 Third Avenue. One year later, this ledge was covered with spikes. In 2022, the building owners were issued a violation for the installation of spikes, among other infractions, and were assessed a $5,000 penalty. A member of the public voiced disapproval of the spikes in an online forum in 2017, saying that it was appalling that the building used hostile architecture to deter those who are in need. The Times reached out to the building management company about the spikes. The next day, paperwork was submitted to the city that said that the violation had been addressed. The spikes have now been removed. 5 Arrested in West Bengal's Half-Naked Parade Case India oi-Madhuri Adnal Five persons were detained by the police in Malda, West Bengal, following a distressing incident involving two women. The women were allegedly accused of theft and were subjected to a brutal assault by local shopkeepers who then paraded them half-naked. The incident, which occurred three to four days ago in Malda's Pakuahat area, caused outrage within the local community. An initial report revealed that the two women were caught by locals under suspicion of theft, leading to the severe beating they endured. A video of the incident has since surfaced, capturing the shocking moment when several women were seen assaulting the accused pair. Interestingly, no complaint was lodged with the police until the video emerged on various social media platforms. Amid Outrage Over Manipur Video, 2 Women Stripped Naked, Tortured In Bengal's Malda Upon launching the investigation, the police disclosed that the two women were caught red-handed while allegedly committing the theft, which resulted in their violent encounter with local female shopkeepers. After the incident, the women who apprehended the accused pair fled, and those who participated in the assault were hesitant to file any complaints due to fear. "The incident happened in Pakuhat area in Malda 3 to 4 days back. Two women were caught on suspicion of theft by local traders. Both women were thrashed by the local female traders. Later, both women left or escaped from the area and did not lodge any police complaints. Traders also did not file any complaint in this regard," stated the West Bengal Police. The investigation into the case is currently underway. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 19:46 [IST] Assam Govt. To Ban Plastic Water Bottles Of Less Than 1L From October India pti-PTI The Assam government has decided to ban packaged drinking water bottles of less than 1 litre from October 2. From October 2024, bottles of less than 2 litres will also be banned in the state, Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma said after a cabinet meeting on Friday evening. "The cabinet decided to ban the production and use of drinking water bottles made of PET of less than 1 litre in volume. The ban will come into effect from October 2 with a three-month transition period provided," he said. Polyethylene terephthalate or PET is a type of polyester that is widely used in the production of plastic bottles, films and other products. It is known for its strength, flexibility and chemical resistance. "We will also strictly implement the ban on single-use plastic in the state as per the Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021," the chief minister said. At the cabinet meeting, consolidated administrative approval was given for phase I of ADB-aided 'Climate Resilient Brahmaputra Integrated Flood and Riverbank Erosion Risk Management Project'. It will be executed through Flood and River Erosion Management Agency of Assam at a cost of Rs 2,097.88 crore. Under the project, integrated flood and riverbank erosion risk management activities would be taken up in the main stem of the Brahmaputra river at vulnerable reaches of Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Morigaon, Kamrup and Goalpara districts. For promoting renewable energy, the cabinet approved exemption of electricity duty on power generated from renewable sources of energy by a consumer on captive consumption for a period of three years with effect from April 1, 2023. Vivekananda Reddy Murder: CBI Presents CM Jagan's Sister Sharmila As Secret Witness A targeted subsidy of Rs 265.29 crore to Assam Power Distribution Company Ltd was approved, which will provide tariff respite to economically weaker households on account of the revision of retail tariff from April 1. The cabinet also okayed the free distribution of four 9-watt LED bulbs to approximately 50 lakh low-end households at an estimated cost of Rs 130 crore to help in reducing energy consumption. It also approved the establishment of 'Assam Information Technology, Electronics and Communication and Citizen Service Delivery Society', which will function as an apex autonomous body of the state government for ensuring seamless delivery of online citizen-centric services. Ahram Online camped in one of Egypt's most beautiful protectorates, in a first of a series to explore the Red Land. Guided by a seasoned expert in desert and sea exploration, this expedition promises to unveil the secrets of the land and its people, taking readers on a historical tour like no other. Last month, the Heritage section travelled an enchanting journey exploring the intangible culture of the 'Red Land,' between the Red Sea and mighty mountains. Guided by Khalid Sobhy, an expert on desert roads and pro diver who helped chart Egypt's diving laws. We unfolded the social history of one of Egypt's natural gems: Wadi El-Gemal (Valley of the Camels). Sobhy, who spent 39 years exploring and navigating the desert and sea, shared with Ahram Online the lessons he learned. "You learn patience, care and humbleness because no matter how clever you are, it's easy to get lost and die in the desert. You can never match the resilience of rocks or the vastness of the sea," he noted. The Road to Hankorab According to the Ababda tribe, Hankorab is a mussel that used to abundantly fill the bay, naming it. Ras Hankourab Bay lies inside the Wadi El-Gemal Protectorate, an 808-kilometre (9 hours) drive from Cairo to the southeastern part of Egypt. Our 7am drive along the magnificent Red Sea mountains easily captivated us. The 'Red Land' is what valley inhabitants call Egypt's eastern desert, also known as Deseret as explained in The Red Land, The Illustrated Archeology of Egypt Eastern Desert by Steven E. Sidebotham, Martin Hense, and Hendrikje M. Nouwens. The road crossed paths with many historic and pre-historic events. According to The Red Land, the 25 million-year-old Red Sea formed when African and Arabian landmasses spread apart. The Red Sea has many anchorages known as Marsa, like Marsa Alam. Mighty mountains parallel the Red Sea, connecting it to the Nile via numerous valleys and routes. Wadi Shaiba linked Al Zafarana on the coast to the Nile at Beni Sweif. Egypt's 220,000 square kilometre Eastern Desert has famous trade roads like the Silk Road and Spice Road. Pilgrimage hajj routes from Qena on the Nile to Quseir Port on the Red Sea passed through, holding Roman wells, gold mines and mausoleums. We crossed roads leading to Homaithera with the mausoleum of Sidi Abul Hassan Al-Shazly, head of the Shazliah Sufi order. "Prehistoric civilizations left their mark. People lived there 250,000-10,000 B.C., finding routes, water and animals. Ancient Egyptians, Ptolemies and Romans built on this, expanding roads and quarrying." However, about 5,000 years ago, the eastern desert was in the final stages of becoming the desiccated, hyper-arid region that we know today as a result of desertification the Savanna fauna of Egypt including elephant, giraffe and rhinoceros disappeared before the age of the pyramids beginning in the third dynasty (2649-2575 B.C.) explained the book." A Meteor pool Approximately 14 kilometres south of Marsa Alam, we visited Naizak (The Meteor) Bay named after a legend that a meteor hit, causing a deep pool by the bay though no scientific proof exists to support this theory. The pool, layered with various shades of blue, looks like a deep hole in dark, friction-worn rocks. Wadi El-Gemal (Camels Valley) protectorate Around 70 kilometres from Marsa Alam, a diving retreat, we reached Wadi El-Gemal National Park. According to UNESCOs tentative list of World Heritage Convention, Wadi El-Gemal is a fascinating unpolluted site on the Red Sea coast, south of Marsa Alam with magnificent palm groves, coral reefs, mangroves and diverse plants/animals. The park's biodiversity especially the Gebel Hamata mountains is vital with seagrass beds housing dugongs, fish and marine life. Wadi El-Gemal Island nearby is key for breeding and migrating birds/sea turtles. Prehistoric, Ptolemaic and Roman ruins abound along with emerald quarries and the indigenous people's unique traditions and their exceptional local traditions and culture. Ras Hankorab beach We camped for three nights at Hankorab Bay, inside Wadi El-Gemal. Camping under the endless sky by the sea was an incredible experience- direct contact with nature that's rare nowadays. It was windy and some windsurfed, a surprise in summer. Modern camping provided inflatable mattresses, showers with solar heaters, portable toilets and a full kitchen with fresh meals. There was an internet connection and we used red light instead of white to avoid mosquitoes and learned to clean up after ourselves. Camping taught me patience and simplicity while allowing our group to connect and communicate, rare nowadays. How the Ababada tribe read the Sky Hankorab is a kind of mussel that was found in abundance here, hence the name of the beach, explained Hassan Abdel Saleh, the Hankorab Bay guide and a member of the Ababda Tribe who lives inside the protectorate. Hankorab is part of Wadi El- Gemal, which was once indeed the residence of camels. It was green pastures, as our ancestors used to tell us, he added. UNESCO's tentative list of World Heritage Convention notes the Ababda live nearer the Nile valley while local Bishari or Bisharin (of Hamitic origin) are a Red Sea coastal Beja tribe branch speaking an ancient Hamitic language, the Bishari language. Their material culture differs from Nile valley groups and northern Arab Bedouins like the Maaza near Hurghada and Hawitat in the Suez Canal area. In the old days, there was no electricity, mobiles, no connections with people nowadays it's better, the children go to school and we get in contact more with people, "Abd El-Saleh told Ahram Online. He said they still wear white and play heritage games like Tarbana and Siga. They still grill meat on basalt stone called Salat meat. He remembered an anthropologist who wrote her PhD on the Ababada and Bashari tribes. Shahira Fawzy helped our tribe dig the wells to reach underground water. You see they knew the right place to dig because the earth would emit water vapor," he noted. One interesting piece of Ababda's knowledge passed down is astronomy. They depend on stars to navigate the desert. At night, we follow specific stars, such as those who form the shape of Scorpio for example, it leads to our village Abu Ghosoun. Some stars move like the one star that rises and sets with the moon. You cannot depend on this kind of star because it moves and it would get you lost," he added explaining: Al gozi star is in the north, the group of stars forming Scorpio shape marks the east, the teria star marks the west points to Aswan, he concluded. Search Keywords: Short link: ED Arrests Chhattisgarh IAS Officer Ranu Sahu In Alleged Coal Levy Case India pti-PTI The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested IAS officer Ranu Sahu in Chhattisgarh in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged coal levy scam in the state, officials said. Following her arrest, Sahu, who was posted as the director of the state agriculture department, was presented in a court that sent her to three-day ED custody. She is the second IAS officer in the state to be arrested in the case. Her arrest came a day after the central agency conducted raids at her premises. "Sahu was arrested this morning in connection with the alleged coal levy case. She was later produced in a court hearing Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, which sent her to three-day ED custody," ED's lawyer Saurabh Pandey said. The court of Additional District and Session Judge Ajay Singh Rajput passed the order. Investigation into the case revealed the involvement of Sahu, who had served as Raigarh and Korba collector, in the money laundering offence. Proceeds of the crime as immovable property to the tune of Rs 5.52 crore were found in her possession, Pandey said. The ED demanded her 14-day custody, but the court granted her custody to the agency till July 25, he added. Talking to reporters earlier, Sahu's counsel Faizal Rizvi said she was arrested on completely fictional grounds. "She had cooperated with the central agency in the alleged coal levy case and appeared before it whenever she was summoned between October last year and January this year. After January, she was never summoned by the ED. There are no facts that establish her involvement in the alleged offence," he said. The properties that have been attached under the PMLA linking to Sahu belong to her parents. These properties dated back prior to 2019, while the ED states proceeds of crime are from 2020, he said. ED Conducts Raid At TN Minister Ponmudi's Residence In Chennai "We opposed the 14-day custodial remand sought by the ED," Rizvi added. According to him, Sahu told the court that she has already replied to all queries of the ED and now it does not have anything to ask. Terming the action against her as "politically motivated", she requested the court not to send her to the ED custody, he added. Sahu, a Chhattisgarh-cadre IAS officer of the 2010 batch, is currently posted as the director of the state agriculture department. Prior to this posting, she had served as collector of the coal-rich Korba and Raigarh districts. The ED conducted raids at her residence in Raipur on Friday. Her premises were raided earlier as well and her assets were attached by the ED as part of its probe into the alleged coal levy case. She is the second IAS officer in the state who has been arrested in the case as Sameer Vishnoi, an IAS officer of the 2009 batch, was arrested last year. The ED had, in a statement, claimed a "massive scam" was taking place in coal transportation in Chhattisgarh, under which an illegal levy of Rs 25 per tonne was being extorted for every tonne of coal transported in the state by a cartel involving senior bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians and middlemen. With the latest action, the ED has so far arrested 10 persons, including prominent bureaucrats, politicians and those linked to them, in the case. The agency has also been probing an alleged liquor scam in the state in which it has arrested Anwar Dhebar - brother of Congress leader and Raipur Mayor Aijaz Dhebar, Managing Director of Chhattisgarh State Marketing Corporation Limited (CSMCL) Arunpati Tripathi and three others. On July 18, the Supreme Court asked the agency to "stay their hand in all manner" in the alleged Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam linked money laundering case in Chhattisgarh. Will Eknath Shinde Be Replaced As Maha CM? Here's What BJP Says Have Heard Maha CM Shinde Has Been Asked to Resign, claims Aaditya Thackeray Fadnavis Gave Up Chance To Install BJP Mayor In BMC In 2017 For Shiv Sena's Sake: CM Shinde Shinde Will Continue As Maha CM: Fadnavis; Dismisses Prithviraj Chavan's Claim On Ajit Pawar Maha Govt Announces Free Medical Treatment In All Govt Hospitals From August 15 Eknath Shinde's Delhi Trip Sparks Rumours Amid Unrest In Shiv Sena Over NCP's Entry India oi-Deepika S Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is likely to meet the BJP leadership in Delhi on Saturday, amid speculations of unrest in Shinde-led Shiv Sena over Ajit Pawar's entry into the government. Earlier, Shinde refuted the speculations that his faction's leaders were unhappy with Ajit Pawar's NCP joining the government. Shinde described as rumours spread by opposition reports that his chief ministerial chair may be in jeopardy after Ajit Pawar and eight other NCP MLAs joined his year-old state ministry. Some Shiv Sena legislators had apparently raised concerns after the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar joined the state government. Shinde presided over a meeting of Shiv Sena MLAs, MLCs and MPs on Wednesday. Will Eknath Shinde Be Replaced As Maha CM? Here's What BJP Says Ajit Pawar's remark that he wants to be the Chief Minister has created a flutter in political circles. The remark has made the Shinde camp, which is awaiting the Assembly Speaker's ruling on disqualification complaint against its MLAs, nervous. Maharashtra minister Uday Samant, who belongs to the Shinde-led group, said reports about Shinde's resignation were false. Manipur Violence: SC Sets Up Panel Of 3 Former HC Judges To Look Into Relief, Rehabilitation Congress Has Blood On Its Hands In Northeast: Himanta On Manipur Violence Fresh Violence In Manipur, Women Protesters Block Roads, Burn Tyres India oi-Deepika S Fresh violence erupted in Manipur's Imphal on Saturday after women protesters blocked roads and burnt tyres in the Ghari area, prompting cops to take action. Following the incident, the Manipur armed police, Army, and rapid action battalion were rushed to the spot to quell the protesters. The officers doused the fire and brought the situation under control. Additionally, a flag march was conducted in several areas to control the protestors. Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the Meiteis and Kukis concentrated in Imphal valley. 1 More Arrested In Horrific Manipur Video Case Nearly 160 people have lost their lives and several injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts. When the state was trying to return to normalcy, a video dated May 4 surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a few men from the other side. Manipur Viral Video Case: 4 Accused Sent to 11-Day Police Custody The video was doing the rounds on the eve of a planned protest march announced by the Indigenous Tribal Leaders' Forum (ITLF) on Thursday to highlight their plight. Police said a case of abduction, gang rape and murder has been registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed miscreants. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 11:30 [IST] India Making Great Efforts In Green Growth: PM Modi At G20 Energy Ministers' Meet India oi-Deepika S Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said India is making great efforts in green growth and energy transition, and asserted that the country is moving ahead strongly on its climate commitments. Addressing the G20 Energy Ministers' Meeting via video link, PM Modi underlined that even though every nation has a different reality and pathway for energy transition, he firmly believes that the goals of every country are the same. Throwing light on India's efforts in green growth and energy transition, he pointed out that India is the most populated nation and the fastest-growing large economy in the world and yet is strongly moving towards its climate commitments. India, Sri Lanka Ink Pacts As PM Modi, Ranil Wickremesinghe Hold Bilateral Talks The Prime Minister informed that India has achieved its non-fossil installed electric capacity target nine years in advance and set a higher target for itself. He mentioned that the nation plans to achieve 50 percent non-fossil installed capacity by 2030. "India is also among the global leaders in solar and wind power", the Prime Minister said as he expressed delight that the Working Group delegates got a chance to witness the level and scale of India's commitment to clean energy by visiting the Pavagada Solar Park and Modhera Solar Village. Highlighting the achievements of the country in the last 9 years, the Prime Minister informed that India connected more than 190 million families with LPG while also recording the historic milestone of connecting every village with electricity. He also touched upon working to provide piped cooking gas to people which has the potential to cover more than 90 percent of the population in a few years. "Our effort is to work for inclusive, resilient, equitable and sustainable energy for all", he added. The Prime Minister informed that in 2015, India began a small movement by launching a scheme for the use of LED lights which turned out to be the largest LED distribution program in the world saving us more than 45 billion units of energy per year. He also touched upon starting the largest agricultural pump solarization initiative in the world and India's domestic electric vehicle market projection of 10 million annual sales by 2030. He also highlighted commencing the rollout of 20 percent Ethanol Blended Petrol this year which aims to cover the entire country by 2025. For decarbonizing India, the Prime Minister said that the country is working on Mission mode on Green Hydrogen as an alternative and aims to transform India into a Global Hub for the production, use and export of Green Hydrogen and its derivatives. Noting that the world looks up to the G20 group to advance sustainable, just, affordable, inclusive and clean energy transition, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of taking the Global South along and ensuring low-cost finance for developing countries. He emphasized finding ways to bridge technology gaps, promote energy security and work on diversifying supply chains. If PM Modi Is Angry About Manipur, He Must Dismiss The CM: Mallikarjun Kharge The prime minister extended an invitation to all participating nations to join the Green Grids Initiative - 'One Sun, One World, One Grid' of the International Solar Alliance. The Prime Minister underlined that caring for the surroundings can be natural or cultural but it is India's traditional wisdom that strengthens Mission LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment, a movement that will make each one of us a climate champion. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister emphasized that our thoughts and actions must always help preserve our 'One Earth', protect the interests of our 'One Family', and move towards a Green 'One Future' no matter how we transition. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 11:02 [IST] Indian Navy Chief To Hand Over Missile Corvette INS Kirpan To Vietnam India pti-PTI India on Saturday will hand over its in-service missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam in reflection of growing strategic partnership between the two sides. Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, currently on an official visit to Vietnam, will preside over the ceremony at Cam Ranh to hand over the warship, officials said. It is for the first time that India is gifting a fully operational corvette to any friendly foreign country. The Indian Navy said the transfer of an indigenously built in-service missile corvette to the Vietnam People's Navy reflects India's commitment to assist its like-minded partners in enhancing their capacity and capability. INS Kirpan, an indigenously built Khukri-class missile corvette, is being handed over to Vietnam in line with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's announcement last month that India will gift an in-service missile corvette to the country. INS Kirpan departed on her final journey under the Indian tricolour from India to Vietnam on June 28 and reached Cam Ranh, Vietnam on July 8 Admiral Kumar would also visit the Vietnam People's Navy's headquarters at Hai Phong and call on the Vietnamese minister of national defence. Defence Deals On Anvil: 'BrahMos' For Vietnam, 'Prachand' For Argentina "The visit of the Chief of Naval Staff signifies a high level of bilateral defence engagements between Indian Navy and Vietnam People's Navy as well as India's recognition of 'ASEAN Centrality' to the region," the Navy said in a statement. Tamil Nadu exports register an overall growth of 49% in Quarterly result Singapore In Close Contact With Indian Authorities To Seek Exemption From Non-Basmati Rice Export Ban India's Non-Basmati Rice Ban Move Triggers Panic Buying In US, Canada India oi-Deepika S India's ban on the export of non-Basmati white rice has triggered panic among expatriate Indians living in the United States and Canada, who are making a beeline at grocery stores. Some stores are experiencing a sudden surge in Indians, particularly South Indians, who are buying a few bags of rice in a panic state. Some NRIs took to Twitter to give a glimpse of the chaos amongst NRI's for buying rice stock in USA. Reportedly, long queues have formed outside grocery stores, and prices have doubled. The government on Thursday prohibited the export of non-basmati white rice, according to a notification of the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT). 'Anna Bhagya: Karnataka Govt Starts Cash Disbursal In Lieu Of 5 KG Rice Under The Scheme "Export policy of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)...is amended from free to prohibited," the DGFT said in a notification. However, it said that the consignments of this rice will be allowed to be exported under certain conditions such as where loading of this rice on the ship has commenced before this notification. Export will also be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments, it added. #India bans rice exports, sparking chaos Panic inside for rice in America. Look at the chaos amongst NRIs for buying rice stock in USA #RiceBan pic.twitter.com/AG21Yqw70d Amitabh Chaudhary (@MithilaWaala) July 22, 2023 Jharkhand CM Urges President Murmu To Ensure Justice For Manipuri People India pti-PTI Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, expressing his anguish over the "unspeakable torture" of women in violence-hit Manipur and urged her to take steps to ensure peace in the northeastern state. The country cannot let tribals in Manipur be treated in a "barbaric way", he said in the letter days after a video of women being paraded naked in the northeastern state surfaced. "Silence in the face of cruelty is a terrible crime and so I am compelled today to write to you with a heavy heart and profound anguish over the ongoing spate of violence in the state of Manipur...I am deeply distressed and concerned about the spiralling situation in Manipur... unspeakable torture and sexual exploitation of women...." Manipur is "burning for two months, heart-wrenching videos are surfacing" and there is an "unparalleled breakdown of democratic governance" in the northeastern state, Soren said in the letter. I have written to the Honble President @rashtrapatibhvn ji expressing deep anguish on the violence in Manipur. These are the darkest of times & as fellow citizens, we are all distressed & concerned at this absolute loss of human dignity. INDIA stands with Manipur, Manipur must pic.twitter.com/9lWPhFi5C2 Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) July 22, 2023 He urged the President to ensure justice for the people of Manipur and restore peace there. "In this darkest hour of crisis that Manipur and India face, we look up to you as the last source of hope and inspiration who could show the light in these troubled times to the people of Manipur and all citizens of India," Soren said. Fresh Violence In Manipur, Women Protesters Block Roads, Burn Tyres Manipur has been witnessing ethnic clashes since May 3 between the majority Meitei community, concentrated in the Imphal valley, and the tribal Kukis, occupying the hills. More than 160 people have lost their lives, and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state early in May when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Manipur Horror: 2 More Young Women Allegedly Raped and Murdered On The Same Day India oi-Madhuri Adnal On the same day that two tribal women in Manipur were subjected to a horrifying incident involving stripping, parading, and alleged gang rape by a mob, another tragic incident unfolded in the state's Kangpokpi district. This comes a day after chief minister and BJP leader Biren Singh conceded that 'hundreds' of instances similar to that portrayed in a chilling video had taken place in the state since May 3. Two young women, aged 21 and 24, who were employed at a car wash in the Konung Mamang area of Imphal East district, around 40 kilometers away from the site of the previous incident, became victims of brutal assault and murder amidst the ongoing wave of ethnic violence that continues to grip the region. According to reports, a large group of men, accompanied by some women, attacked the two women working at the car wash. A male co-worker, who witnessed the horrifying incident, revealed that the women in the mob incited the men to sexually assault the victims inside a room. As per the account provided by a cousin of the younger victim, more than 100 Meitei men and women conducted a search for the two women on May 4. The search led them to discover the victims inside a room at the car wash. Manipur Govt Appeals People Not To Believe In Rumours, Issues Helpline Number The cousin asserted that the attack was premeditated. The Meitei individuals in the vicinity were aware of the presence of two Kuki girls working at the car wash, and their sole target was these two girls, not the boys from another community. According to the cousin's recollection, the Meitei group initially arrived at the car wash in the morning but left when they couldn't locate the hiding victims. Throughout the day, the two women attempted to flee but were unable to do so due to the precarious situation in Imphal city, which was experiencing unrest. In the afternoon, around 4 pm, the group returned and gathered all the male employees from the facility onto the road. They threatened the boys with harm unless they revealed the whereabouts of the two women. Under pressure, one of the younger employees panicked and divulged the hiding place of the two women inside the car wash. Around 5 pm, the group entered the room where the girls were hiding. The assailants switched off the lights, and gagged them with clothes to stifle their screams and took turns to commit horrific acts of torture and sexual assault. For about one-and-a-half hours, the victims endured this nightmarish ordeal, after which they were dragged outside and dumped near a sawmill. Their clothes were torn, their hair was forcibly cut, and their bodies were covered in blood. Initially, the identities of the victims were withheld due to the fear of stigma associated with sexual assault. However, the mother of one of the victims summoned the courage to file a Zero FIR at Saikul police station on May 16th. The FIR stated that her daughter and the other woman were "brutally murdered after being raped and gruesomely tortured." The case was later transferred to Porompat police station in Imphal East district. Amid Outrage Over Manipur Video, 2 Women Stripped Naked, Tortured In Bengal's Malda The police complaint mentioned that the victims' bodies were yet to be recovered, and their whereabouts remained unknown. The complaint estimated the number of assailants to be around 100-200. Meanwhile, another FIR concerning the alleged abduction, rape, and murder of two women in a widely circulated video was registered at the same police station, sparking nationwide outrage. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection with this case, and the Manipur police are currently investigating thousands of complaints related to various crimes, including weapon looting, arson, killings, and assaults on women. These incidents have drawn the attention of the National Commission for Women, with two activists and the North American Manipur Tribal Association filing a complaint. These shocking events are part of the larger turmoil in Manipur, where clashes between the Kuki tribal group and the non-tribal group Meitei have resulted in at least 125 deaths and more than 40,000 displacements since May 3. Although the central government deployed thousands of paramilitary and army troops to the state, sporadic violence and killings continue, leaving the region in a tense and unsettled state. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 17:19 [IST] Manipur Violence: SC Sets Up Panel Of 3 Former HC Judges To Look Into Relief, Rehabilitation Congress Has Blood On Its Hands In Northeast: Himanta On Manipur Violence Manipur Police Makes 6th Arrest In Connection With Parading Of Two Women India oi-Madhuri Adnal Manipur Police has arrested a sixth person in connection with the May 4 parading of two tribal women in Kangpokpi district of the state, officials said on Saturday. The two women are alleged to have been sexually assaulted before being set free by a mob. A 26-second video of the incident surfaced on Wednesday. Police said the arrested person is a juvenile. Police had made the first arrest on Thursday, a day after a 26-second video of the horrific incident surfaced on July 19. Three more arrests were made later that day. The fifth accused, 19-year-old youth, was arrested on Saturday. The State Police is making an all-out effort to arrest the remaining culprits by conducting raids at many suspected hideouts. It said that a total of 125 checkpoints were installed in different districts as security measures. *6 (six) including 1 (one) Juvenile Arrested/Apprehended:* As regard to the viral video of 02 (two) women on 4th May, 2023, another accused was arrested today. Altogether 06 (six) persons including 05 (five) main accused and 1/2 Manipur Police (@manipur_police) July 22, 2023 On Thursday, a man who was part of the mob that paraded the women at B. Phainom village and was seen dragging one of them was among four people who were arrested as the incident drew widespread condemnation. These four people were remanded to 11-day police custody on Friday, police said. Manipur Horror: 2 More Young Women Allegedly Raped and Murdered On The Same Day One of the women seen in the video is the wife of an ex-Army man, who served as a subedar in the Assam Regiment and had even fought in the Kargil War. A complaint in connection with the video was lodged around a month ago - June 21 - at the Saikul police station in Kangpokpi district. The FIR filed in this case, a copy of which was seen by PTI, revealed the tale of mayhem which occurred before the abduction of the tribal women, a video of which has now formed the basis of raids and arrests of people connected with the incident. The FIR also claimed that one person was killed by the mob as he tried to protect his sister from being raped on May 4 before the two were paraded naked and molested in front of others. More than 160 people have lost their lives, and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts. Are You Not Worried, We Are: Sibal Tells Shah After Lucknow Court Shooting First Attack Corrupt And Then Embrace Them: Kapil Sibal's Dig At BJP When PM Silent On Manipur Till SC Remarks, How Can INDIA Have Confidence In Him: Kapil Sibal Manipur Unrest: Only Way Forward Is To Sack CM, Impose Presidents Rule, Says Sibal India oi-PTI Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Saturday said the only way forward in Manipur is to sack Chief Minister N Biren Singh and impose President's rule in the state. More than 160 people have lost their lives, and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in the state on May 3 when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. In a tweet, Sibal said, "The only way forward: Sack Biren Singh; Impose Art. 356; Apologise to the women of our country." "Nothing has changed since Nirbhaya: Unnao, Hatharas, Kathua, Bilkis (convicts release). Beti bachao PM ji!" Sibal said. Fresh Violence In Manipur, Women Protesters Block Roads, Burn Tyres According to Article 356, President's rule can be imposed in a state if a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. Tension further mounted in Manipur on Wednesday after a May 4 video surfaced online showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur's population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley, while tribals, which include Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts. Women Paraded Naked, Tortured In Bengal Ahead Of Manipur Incident; Police Remained As Mute Spectator Sibal, who was a Union minister during the UPA-1 and UPA-2 governments, quit the Congress in May last year and was elected to the Rajya Sabha as an Independent member with the Samajwadi Party's support. He recently floated the non-electoral platform 'Insaaf', aimed at fighting injustice. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 11:45 [IST] New Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Saleh Mutlu Sen spoke about his hopes for a revival in Turkish-Egyptian relations to Al-Ahram Weekly.dy As Cairo and Ankara reinstate relations on the ambassadorial level, hopes are running high for greater cooperation at all levels between the two countries. In July, Turkey nominated Salih Mutlu Sen as its first ambassador to Egypt after 10 years of tense relations. Currently the Turkish charge daffaires in Cairo, he explained that the resumption of Egyptian-Turkish diplomatic relations reflected the mutual trust, confidence, and respect between the two countries in an interview with Al-Ahram Weekly. Egypt and Turkey have strong religious, cultural, and historical ties. How can the two countries build on those? The relationship between the Turkish and Egyptian peoples goes back more than 1,000 years, and this has led to common lifestyles, values, and traditions, as well as intermarriages. The first Turks came to Egypt in 860 CE, and they continued to come as soldiers, especially during the Ottoman period that lasted almost 400 years when the Turkish and Egyptian peoples shared a common state and nationality. During the time of Mohamed Ali Pasha and his son Ibrahim Pasha in the early 19th century, Egyptian-Turkish cultural relations were very strong, and the Turkish language and culture penetrated deeply into Egyptian culture. Most of the books published at that time were in the Arabic and Turkish languages. Now that we are resuming our diplomatic relations, we have an excellent foundation for dialogue and so much to talk about. We are discussing how to reactivate our cooperation in every possible field. In the near future, Ahmed Samir, the Egyptian minister of trade and investment, will be visiting Turkey, and I expect him to meet his Turkish counterpart. There will also be meetings between private businesses to work for the benefit of our common interests. Bilateral trade between our two countries hovers at around $9.7 billion, $2.6 billion of which is in the energy field. Last year, Turkey was the number one export destination for Egyptian goods. This was also the case in the first quarter of this year, with Egyptian exports to Turkey coming in at $800 million. I am sure this will continue in the future. What is the value of Turkish investments in Egypt and in which fields? Egypt is the number one investment destination, as far as I know, for Turkish businesses. The value of private Turkish investments in Egypt is close to $3 billion, and it is due to increase by an additional $5 billion. Turkish businesses from all categories are prepared to invest further in Egypt, among them the Hayat Company which will invest in the production of green hydrogen in Ain Sokhna. What is the volume of Turkish tourism to Egypt and Egyptian tourism to Turkey? Has tourism been increasing recently? Last year, the number of Egyptian tourists visiting Turkey hit a record 200,000. Our estimate is that the number will reach 500,000 soon and have the potential to reach one million in five years. Regarding Turkish tourism to Egypt, last year the Egyptian authorities lifted the visa requirement for Turkish nationals to visit Sharm El-Sheikh. More and more Turkish tourists are going to Sharm El-Sheikh as a result around five times more than before the visa requirement was lifted. How do you view the resumption of ambassadorial-level representation between the two countries and how do you expect it to impact relations? This decision reflects the common will of the two leaders of our two countries, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. It shows the mutual trust, confidence, and respect the two countries have towards each other. Turkey views Egypt as a very important and brotherly country. Egypt is a main player for peace, stability, and development in the Middle East and the Mediterranean and a leading country in the region. It is expected that there will be a summit meeting this month between the Egyptian and Turkish presidents. If this is the case, when will the summit be held? It is true in the sense that a meeting between the two presidents will take place, but no specific date has been decided. This meeting has a special meaning, and public opinion is waiting for this visit, as are all of us. As the officials responsible, we have to prepare carefully for the meeting. What cultural events will be organised between the two countries in the coming period? This year marks the centenary of the foundation of the Turkish Republic. We will be organising a concert of classical Turkish music in Cairo, which we hope will attract a lot of attention. I am also preparing a documentary on some historic personalities, both men and women, who have contributed to strengthening the relations between our two countries, both politically and intellectually. * A version of this article appears in print in the 20 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Meiteis In Mizoram Get Security Cover Amid Ex Militants' 'Leave State' Call India oi-Deepika S Amid a public call to people from the Meitei community to leave Mizoram, the government has taken steps to provide security cover for people from the Meitei community residing in the capital city of Aizawl. An organisation of former militants has asked Meiteis from Manipur to leave Mizoram for their own safety citing anger among Mizo youths over the incident of parading and molestation of two women in the neighbouring ethnic strife-torn state. A video shot on May 4 surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities in Manipur being paraded naked and molested by a mob from the other side. The alleged main accused was arrested on Thursday. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation across the country. Manipur Unrest: Only Way Forward Is To Sack CM, Impose Presidents Rule, Says Sibal In a statement issued from Aizawl on Friday, Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (PAMRA) said, "The situation in Mizoram has become tense and it is no longer safe for Meitei people from Manipur to live in Mizoram in the wake of barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur." "The PAMRA appeals to all Meitei people in Mizoram to leave for their home state as a safety measure," the statement read. It said there is anger among Mizo youths, who are deeply anguished over the "barbaric and atrocious act of Meiteis" against Zo or Kuki ethnic people in Manipur. The association also warned that the Meiteis will be responsible in any case of eventuality if they disregard the appeal and fail to leave for their safety. PAMRA secretary general C Lalthenlova said it was a normal appeal for safety and should not be regarded as a diktat or warning. He said the association is concerned about the safety of the Meitei community in Mizoram as many Mizo youths have become angry after the incident of naked parading and molestation of two women surfaced. "We simply appeal to the Meiteis to leave for their state to avoid any untoward incident. We do not serve them a diktat," Lalthenlova told PTI. Fresh Violence In Manipur, Women Protesters Block Roads, Burn Tyres He said the appeal was only for Meiteis from Manipur and not those from elsewhere. Thousands of Meiteis, including students, mostly from Manipur and Assam, live in Mizoram. PAMRA is a non-political organisation of former Mizo National Front (MNF) militants seeking implementation of all clauses of the Mizo Peace Accord. However, the Manipur government is making constant efforts to ensure that no Meitei person is harmed. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 13:34 [IST] Twitter's New DM Limits for These Users: What You Need to Do India oi-Madhuri Adnal Elon Musk's Twitter platform is taking measures to reduce spam in Direct Messages (DMs) by imposing limits on unverified accounts. In an announcement on Saturday, Twitter revealed that unverified accounts will soon have daily restrictions on the number of DMs they can send. This move aims to combat the issue of spam and unwanted messages in users' DMs. However, for those using the paid Twitter service, Twitter Blue, there will be no daily limitations on DMs. This is part of the company's strategy to encourage more people to sign up for Twitter Blue, which offers additional features and benefits. While Twitter has not yet provided specific details about the limits that will be imposed, this decision comes just a week after the platform introduced a feature that restricted unverified accounts from sending messages to users who don't follow them. This initial measure resulted in a 70% reduction in spam in Direct Messages compared to the previous week.' We'll soon be implementing some changes in our effort to reduce spam in Direct Messages. Unverified accounts will have daily limits on the number of DMs they can send. Subscribe today to send more messages: https://t.co/0CI4NTRw75 Twitter Support (@TwitterSupport) July 21, 2023 Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, has also previously implemented restrictions on the number of tweets users can view each day. This action was taken in response to concerns about data scraping and system manipulation. Unverified accounts can now read up to 800 posts, while verified accounts can scroll through up to 10,000 tweets. NCW Directs Twitter India To Remove 'Disgraceful' Manipur Video Earlier, the platform had attempted to prevent users from viewing tweets or comments on the web without being logged into an account. However, this measure was later scrapped. The introduction of Twitter Blue is part of Musk's efforts to expand profits beyond advertising revenue. In India, individuals can subscribe to the web service for a monthly fee of Rs 650, while the cost on mobile devices is Rs 900. Additionally, brands have the option to sign up for the 'Verified for Organisations' program, with subscriptions starting at USD 1,000 per month. Despite these changes, Twitter has faced ongoing controversies since Musk's acquisition of the social media giant. The platform continues to evolve as it addresses various challenges and strives to enhance user experience and security. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 19:08 [IST] Vivekananda Reddy Murder: CBI Presents CM Jagan's Sister Sharmila As Secret Witness India oi-Deepika S In a fresh twist, YS Sharmila, CBI's secret witness in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case confirmed that the two families hers and YS Avinash Reddy's - have troubles between them. She expressed doubts that Avinash Reddy and his father might be the reason for the defeat of Vivekananda Reddy in the 2017 MLC elections in AP. The CBI, which is probing the case, named YSR Congress Party Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy and his father YS Bhaskar Reddy as accused number eight and seven respectively in the second supplementary final report filed in the local CBI court on June 30. "He (Vivekananda Reddy) was not murdered for any financial or personal reasons but it was a big reason to murder him. It was political in my view," the CBI report quoted Sharmila as saying. According to Sharmila's statement, two months before his murder, Vivekananda Reddy had visited her residence and convinced her, though initially, she showed reluctance, to contest the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, which is represented by Avinash Reddy. Sharmila, former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy's daughter, said she thought that Avinash Reddy and his father might have kept in mind that Vivekananda Reddy was coming in their way and it may be a political murder or motive. After YS Sharmila, her mother too slaps constable in Hyderabad Avinash Reddy, who appeared before the central agency on June 3, was arrested by the CBI and released on bail the same day after fulfilling certain formalities as he was granted anticipatory bail by the Telangana High Court. The CBI, in the chargesheet, said the agency requested the US authorities, through the Home Ministry, on some technical issues regarding the WI-Fi router installed in the residence of the deceased. The investigating agency also said during the investigations some mobile phones were seized and sent to the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing Trivandrum for forensic analysis which was awaited. Vivekananda Reddy, one of the brothers of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula in Kadapa district on the night of March 15, 2019, weeks before the Assembly elections in the state. The case was initially probed by a special investigation team (SIT) of the state crime investigation department, but was handed over to the CBI in July 2020. Sharmila is the sister of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Sharmila, who had actively campaigned for her brother during the 2019 Assembly polls, floated her own political outfit YSR Telangana Party in 2021. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 15:21 [IST] Yasin Malik Vs Bin Laden: What The Delhi HC Said Yasin Malik Security Lapse Case: 4 Tihar Officials Suspended India oi-Madhuri Adnal Delhi prison authorities have suspended four officials after a jailed Hurriyat leader, Yasin Malik, appeared in the Supreme Court in person on Friday. The officials, including a deputy superintendent, two assistant superintendents, and a head warder, have been suspended for "serious security lapse". Sanjay Baniwal, director general (prisons), said that a detailed inquiry has been ordered into the matter. "We have a clear-cut instruction to produce Malik through video conferencing only. Instead, Malik was produced in person before the court. It's definitely a gross lapse on our part," Baniwal said. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta has termed Malik's appearance in the Supreme Court as a "major security lapse". Mehta has written to the Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, seeking action against prison officials. "How the separatist leader was allowed to step out in the absence of any order or authorisation from court warranting his presence?" Mehta asked. Govt Raises Concern Over Yasin Maliks Appearance In SC: Here's Why Malik had arrived at the Supreme Court to appear in an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, challenging a September 2022 order passed by a TADA court in Jammu. The order required Malik's personal presence in the trial relating to the killing of four Indian Air Force (IAF) personnel in Srinagar in 1990 and the 1989 abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, daughter of then Union Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. The Supreme Court on April 24 had stayed this order, thereby issuing notice to the respondents, including Malik to appear either in person or through an authorised lawyer. However, the order did not provide for his personal presence. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, July 22, 2023, 16:32 [IST] Matthew Timothy Healy is an English singer-songwriter and record producer who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of indie pop rock band the 1975. He is recognised for his lyricism, musical eclecticism, provocative onstage persona characterised as performance art, and influence on indie pop music. Russian military has shelled a Ukrainian army training ground in Donbas, killing one soldier, according to Ukrainian sources. A team of DW reporters also came under fire during the attack. After four straight days of Russian attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, the UN says the targeting of Ukrainian grain exports puts lives in danger all over the world. The Biden administration is refusing to send long-range missiles to Ukraine despite mounting pressure from U.S. lawmakers and pleas.. Washington Post 22 Jul 2023 ViewPolice in Germany are warning residents to limit time outside after an apparent lion was seen running near the outskirts of.. Newsy 20 Jul 2023 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. How to respond to military operations against Gaza is just one of the thorny issues leaders of Palestinian factions must tackle in their Cairo meeting scheduled for the end of this month. Palestinians anxiously await the outcome of the meeting of Palestinian factions scheduled to be held in Cairo on 30 July. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for the meeting on 3 July in response to the largest military operation that Israel has carried out against Jenin in over 21 years. Invitations have been extended not only to factions that are members of the PLO but to those that are not, including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), both of which refuse to sign the PLO Charter because it includes recognition of Israel in accordance with the 1993 Oslo Accord. Egypt has agreed to host the meeting to ensure the broadest possible participation. Both Hamas and PIJ have previously refused to attend meetings held in the occupied West Bank, citing the difficulty of getting there from Gaza and concerns over the safety of their leaders. Egypt has hosted many talks on internal Palestinian-Palestinian relations, including reconciliation dialogues aimed at ending the inter-factional rifts that, since 2007, have prevented Palestinians from adopting unified positions on the multiple threats they face in occupied Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. The Palestinian Authority (PA) is on the verge of collapse. It faces a debilitating financial crisis, and the repercussions of Israels campaign to Judaise Jerusalem, the occupying powers frequent raids against West Bank towns and cities, the increasingly rapid pace of illegal Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank and the lack of any prospect for peace under Israels current extremist government. On 13 July, Israeli NGO Peace Now reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government promoted 12,855 housing units in the West Bank in the first half of 2023, a record number. The organisation, which began to systematically record settlement activity in 2012, said 2023 has emerged as the highest year on record in terms of units approved. Development and construction of settlements is the main activity of the current government. In the past six months the only sector that Israel has vigorously promoted is the settlement enterprise, noted Peace Now. The unbridled settlement expansion pursued by the Israeli government jeopardises any prospect for a two-state solution. The PA is also frustrated with the administration of President Joe Biden. Biden is approaching the end of his first term without having achieved a single tangible step towards peace between the Palestinians and Israelis. Palestinians are low on the priorities of an administration preoccupied with the war in Ukraine and its strategic confrontation with China. Palestinians living in Hamas-controlled Gaza face dire economic circumstances due to the nearly two-decade Israeli blockade and recurrent wars and airstrikes which have undermined already bad conditions for the 2.3 million Palestinians who live in the narrow strip. Palestinians worry the planned meeting of the heads of Palestinian factions will fail to rise to the great challenges they face. Our experience in this area is bitter, Mahmoud Al-Zaq secretary of the Palestinian National Action Committee, told Al-Ahram Weekly. We have held many dialogue rounds and reached six agreements, none of which have been implemented. Our people are convinced that the occupying power is trying to annex the West Bank. Statements by ministers in the fascist Israeli government composed of far right political and religious parties all point in that direction. The situation is very dangerous. Al-Zaq believes that Israel is bent on asserting tighter control over the West Bank, further isolating Gaza and undermining any form of Palestinian entity. We must work hard to make the dialogue in Cairo meaningful and form a Palestinian Unity government tasked with preparing for legislative and presidential elections, said Al-Zaq. Any hopes pinned on the forthcoming talks are inevitable compromised by the ongoing rift between Hamas and Fatah and the acrimony that characterises their relationship. Hamas and PIJ have accused the PA of detaining their members in the West Bank. In a statement last week, PIJ Secretary General Ziyad Al-Nakhala said the PAs arrest of our members in the West Bank places the forthcoming meeting at risk of failure. The PA denies that it has detained Hamas and PIJ members on political grounds, saying that some members had been arrested for acts of violence and incitement, including attacking Palestinian security service premises with stones and Molotov cocktails. Abd Al-Ilah Al-Atira, a member of Fatahs Revolutionary Council, has urged Palestinian parties to do everything in their power to ensure that the Cairo meeting convenes as scheduled and produces results. We need to learn from previous meetings and understand why they failed. We must be realistic in our proposals. At the very least the meeting should lead to a unified political stance and recommendations that can be implemented on the ground. He also hopes that Egypt will spearhead an effort to rally broad Arab backing for any decisions that emerge from the meeting. * A version of this article appears in print in the 20 July, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: The death of a Russian journalist in Ukraine was "a heinous, premeditated crime" committed by Western powers and Kyiv, Russia's foreign ministry said Saturday, vowing a "response" against those to blame. India, Sri Lanka agree to boost ties through energy, power and port projects Posted by Editor on July 22, 2023 - 9:55 am India and Sri Lanka said on Friday that they had agreed to improve economic ties by increasing cooperation in renewable energy and studying the feasibility of building an oil pipeline and a land bridge between the two countries. New Delhi will also help develop a port and an economic hub at Trincomalee, a city on Sri Lankas northeastern coast. The announcements were made by the leaders of the two countries as Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday morning. Indias support of nearly $4 billion between January and July last year was critical for Sri Lanka after it almost ran out of dollars and sank into a financial crisis that left it struggling to fund essential imports including fuel and medicine. Modi said on Friday that the two leaders adopted a vision document for our Economic Partnership to strengthen maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity, to accelerate mutual cooperation in tourism, power, trade, higher education, and skill development. Modi also said the two sides would work quickly to connect their electricity grids and study the feasibility of building a petroleum pipeline and a land bridge between the countries, which are about 50 km (31 miles) apart at one point. The projects to connect the power grids through undersea cables and the oil pipeline are expected to cost around $4 billion in total, according to officials on both sides. Few details were released on the agreements on renewables. Wickremesinghe said that constructing a multi-product petroleum pipeline from the southern part of India to Sri Lanka will ensure an affordable and reliable supply of energy to Sri Lanka. The two countries also will soon restart negotiations on a more expansive trade deal known as the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement. Wickremesinghe also said that he had updated Modi about the reform measures being taken by his government to resolve the islands financial crisis, and expressed appreciation for the support provided by India for the most challenging period in modern history. Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt last May and India is part of a common platform established with Japan and other Paris Club members to help the island restructure its debt. India remains a key creditor to the island with $1.9 billion in outstanding debt. While New Delhi has traditionally had strong ties with its southern neighbour, the small island nation has become a jousting ground between India and China due to its strategic location in the Indian Ocean. The two-day visit to New Delhi is Wickremesinghes first since he took over as the president a year ago after his predecessor was forced out of office following widespread protests against the economic crisis. (Reuters) Top Online Casinos accepting SimplePay 2023 Established back in 2015, SimplePay is one of the biggest providers of credit/debit card payment services in Hungary and many Europe-focused online casinos let you use this renowned payment service to make deposits and withdrawals. 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He said there were no casualties although "smaller artillery, mortar and drone attacks targeted at least a dozen other settlements in the Belgorod region the same day". Early this month the US authorized the delivery of cluster munitions to Ukraine. Meanwhile "a Ukrainian drone strike has resulted in an explosion at an ammunition depot in the central part of Crimean peninsula [2] according to the local governor. No casualties were reported though the nearby population was evacuated to a safer location. Earlier this week the Ukrainian's used a drone strike on the Crimean Bridge damaging a section of the roadway killing a married couple and injuring their daughter. As we know, according to multiple reports in the US media, the long awaited Ukrainian counter-offensive begun in early June has not advanced during multiple attacks on Russian military positions. These reports indicate Ukraine has lost thousands of troops, tanks and other heavy armor destroyed during the counter-offensive. Maybe the Ukrainian's have changed tactics as the counter-offensive has stalled and decided to attack Russian regions with longer range munitions. Kiev is still demanding the US send F-16 fighter jets to counter Russia's air superiority. However, there's been much dissembling from US officials with conflicting reports the delivery of the jets will be delayed or sent by allies from their surplus supply. It's hard to decipher what the actual plan is. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. I'm rolling down the President Biden "Expressway" in Scranton PA (speed limit 35) listening to Kai Bird's and Martin Sherwin's bio of Oppenheimer, and it strikes me that the subject's decision not to poison every man, woman, and child in Germany, purely because he couldn't figure out how to do it, probably didn't make it into the movie. (Tell me if I'm wrong.) I will be extremely pleasantly surprised if anyone comes out of the movie struck by what a reader of the book (remember those?) ought to be struck by: the Los Alamos scientists were willing to commit mass murder because they were sold a package of lies, and when those lies fell apart, one by one "" some before and some after the use of nuclear bombs on two cities "" many of those scientists changed their minds. They were told that Germany was probably developing a nuclear bomb and would soon use it. They learned that this was probably not the case. They were told that the war would only end with either Germany or the United States using nuclear bombs. Then Germany surrendered without anybody having used the bomb. They were told that the Soviet Union, that place doing the bulk of the fighting against Germany, was an ally in a struggle for the survival of life on Earth. Then they were told that the Soviet Union was the actual enemy against whom the bomb needed to be developed and brandished. Various of them were given to understand at various points that the bomb technology would be shared internationally to prevent its use or an arms race, or that it would be demonstrated on an uninhabited location or simply communicated to Japan prior to being used on cities. The scientists were told that bombing Japan would be needed to end the war, even as the pressue on them to hurry was increased, with Germany out of the war, and the actual urgency coming from Washington's desire to use the bombs before the war could end "" and end through Soviet action "" without the bombs having been demonstrated. Some of the scientists quit at various points in this saga. Some of them illegally gave information to the Soviets, believing "" rightly or wrongly "" that doing so would deter usage of nuclear bombs. Some of them lobbied and agitated for global regulation and disarmament. Some of them had regrets. Some of them rationalized. Some of them suffered secret nightmares. Some of them slept soundly and continued right on with making larger bombs. None of them knew exactly what would happen, whether the atmosphere would catch fire, what nuclear winter was, how long damage would spread, what to do with nuclear waste, or that nuclear energy could be in any way a wise pursuit. None of them had studied the history of false beliefs that new weapons would, by their increased horror, put an end to warfare. None of them had considered what investing a fortune in peace studies and conflict resolution might have achieved in comparison with investing it in the mad pursuit of better killing tools. Some of the lies the scientists were told have been forgotten. Some we are still told today, these many decades after their exposure. So, lets' face up to a few facts. The nukes did not save lives. They took lives, possibly 200,000 of them. They were not intended to save lives or to end the war. And they didn't end the war. The Russian invasion did that. But the war was going to end anyway, without either of those things. The United States Strategic Bombing Survey concluded that, "" certainly prior to 31 December, 1945, and in all probability prior to 1 November, 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated." One dissenter who had expressed this same view to the Secretary of War and, by his own account, to President Truman, prior to the bombings was General Dwight Eisenhower. Under Secretary of the Navy Ralph Bard, prior to the bombings, urged that Japan be given a warning. Lewis Strauss, Advisor to the Secretary of the Navy, also prior to the bombings, recommended blowing up a forest rather than a city. General George Marshall apparently agreed with that idea. Atomic scientist Leo Szilard organized scientists to petition the president against using the bomb. Atomic scientist James Franck organized scientists who advocated treating atomic weapons as a civilian policy issue, not just a military decision. Another scientist, Joseph Rotblat, demanded an end to the Manhattan Project, and resigned when it was not ended. A poll of the U.S. scientists who had developed the bombs, taken prior to their use, found that 83% wanted a nuclear bomb publicly demonstrated prior to dropping one on Japan. The U.S. military kept that poll secret. General Douglas MacArthur held a press conference on August 6, 1945, prior to the bombing of Hiroshima, to announce that Japan was already beaten. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral William D. Leahy said angrily in 1949 that Truman had assured him only military targets would be nuked, not civilians. "The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender," Leahy said. Top military officials who said just after the war that the Japanese would have quickly surrendered without the nuclear bombings included General Douglas MacArthur, General Henry "Hap" Arnold, General Curtis LeMay, General Carl "Tooey" Spaatz, Admiral Ernest King, Admiral Chester Nimitz, Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, and Brigadier General Carter Clarke. As Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick summarize, seven of the United States' eight five-star officers who received their final star in World War II or just after "" Generals MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Arnold, and Admirals Leahy, King, Nimitz, and Halsey "" in 1945 rejected the idea that the atomic bombs were needed to end the war. "Sadly, though, there is little evidence that they pressed their case with Truman before the fact." On August 6, 1945, President Truman lied on the radio that a nuclear bomb had been dropped on an army base, rather than on a city. And he justified it, not as speeding the end of the war, but as revenge against Japanese offenses. "Mr. Truman was jubilant," wrote Dorothy Day. Weeks before the first bomb was dropped, on July 13, 1945, Japan had sent a telegram to the Soviet Union expressing its desire to surrender and end the war. The United States had broken Japan's codes and read the telegram. Truman referred in his diary to "the telegram from Jap Emperor asking for peace." President Truman had been informed through Swiss and Portuguese channels of Japanese peace overtures as early as three months before Hiroshima. Japan objected only to surrendering unconditionally and giving up its emperor, but the United States insisted on those terms until after the bombs fell, at which point it allowed Japan to keep its emperor. So, the desire to drop the bombs may have lengthened the war. The bombs did not shorten the war. Presidential advisor James Byrnes had told Truman that dropping the bombs would allow the United States to "dictate the terms of ending the war." Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal wrote in his diary that Byrnes was "most anxious to get the Japanese affair over with before the Russians got in." Truman wrote in his diary that the Soviets were preparing to march against Japan and "Fini Japs when that comes about." The Soviet invasion was planned prior to the bombs, not decided by them. The United States had no plans to invade for months, and no plans on the scale to risk the numbers of lives that U.S. school teachers will tell you were saved. The idea that a massive U.S. invasion was imminent and the only alternative to nuking cities, so that nuking cities saved huge numbers of U.S. lives, is a myth. Historians know this, just as they know that George Washington didn't have wooden teeth or always tell the truth, and Paul Revere didn't ride alone, and slave-owning Patrick Henry's speech about liberty was written decades after he died, and Molly Pitcher didn't exist. But the myths have their own power. Lives, by the way, are not the unique property of U.S. soldiers. Japanese people also had lives. Truman ordered the bombs dropped, one on Hiroshima on August 6th and another type of bomb, a plutonium bomb, which the military also wanted to test and demonstrate, on Nagasaki on August 9th. The Nagasaki bombing was moved up from the 11th to the 9th to decrease the likelihood of Japan surrendering first. Also on August 9th, the Soviets attacked the Japanese. During the next two weeks, the Soviets killed 84,000 Japanese while losing 12,000 of their own soldiers, and the United States continued bombing Japan with non-nuclear weapons "" burning Japanese cities, as it had done to so much of Japan prior to August 6th that, when it came time to pick two cities to nuke, there hadn't been many left to choose from. Then the Japanese surrendered. That there was cause to use nuclear weapons is a myth. That there could again be cause to use nuclear weapons is a myth. That we can survive significant further use of nuclear weapons is a myth "" NOT a "public service announcement." That there is cause to produce nuclear weapons even though you'll never use them is too stupid even to be a myth. And that we can forever survive possessing and proliferating nuclear weapons without someone intentionally or accidentally using them is pure insanity. Why do U.S. history teachers in U.S. elementary schools today "" in 2023! "" tell children that nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan to save lives "" or rather "the bomb" (singular) to avoid mentioning Nagasaki? Researchers and professors have poured over the evidence for 75 years. They know that Truman knew that the war was over, that Japan wanted to surrender, that the Soviet Union was about to invade. They've documented all the resistance to the bombing within the U.S. military and government and scientific community, as well as the motivation to test bombs that so much work and expense had gone into, as well as the motivation to intimidate the world and in particular the Soviets, as well as the open and shameless placing of zero value on Japanese lives. How were such powerful myths generated that the facts are treated like skunks at a picnic? In Greg Mitchell's 2020 book, The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood "" and America "" Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, we have an account of the making of the 1947 MGM film, The Beginning or the End, which was carefully shaped by the U.S. government to promote falsehoods. The film bombed. It lost money. The ideal for a member of the U.S. public was clearly not to watch a really bad and boring pseudo-documentary with actors playing the scientists and warmongers who had produced a new form of mass-murder. The ideal action was to avoid any thought of the matter. But those who couldn't avoid it were handed a glossy big-screen myth. You can watch it online for free, and as Mark Twain would have said, it's worth every penny. The film opens with what Mitchell describes as giving credit to the UK and Canada for their roles in producing the death machine "" supposedly a cynical if falsified means of appealing to a larger market for the movie. But it really appears to be more blaming than crediting. This is an effort to spread the guilt. The film jumps quickly to blaming Germany for an imminent threat of nuking the world if the United States didn't nuke it first. (You can actually have difficulty today getting young people to believe that Germany had surrendered prior to Hiroshima, or that the U.S. government knew in 1944 that Germany had abandoned atomic bomb research in 1942.) Then an actor doing a bad Einstein impression blames a long list of scientists from all over the world. Then some other personage suggests that the good guys are losing the war and had better hurry up and invent new bombs if they want to win it. Over and over we're told that bigger bombs will bring peace and end war. A Franklin Roosevelt impersonator even puts on a Woodrow Wilson act, claiming the atom bomb might end all war (something a surprising number of people actually believe it did, even in the face of the past 75 years of wars, which some U.S. professors describe as the Great Peace). We're told and shown completely fabricated nonsense, such as that the U.S. dropped leaflets on Hiroshima to warn people (and for 10 days "" "That's 10 days more warning than they gave us at Pearl Harbor," a character pronounces) and that the Japanese fired at the plane as it approached its target. In reality, the U.S. never dropped a single leaflet on Hiroshima but did "" in good SNAFU fashion "" drop tons of leaflets on Nagasaki the day after Nagasaki was bombed. Also, the hero of the movie dies from an accident while fiddling with the bomb to get it ready for use "" a brave sacrifice for humanity on behalf of the war's real victims "" the members of the U.S. military. The film also claims that the people bombed "will never know what hit them," despite the film makers knowing of the agonizing suffering of those who died slowly. One communication from the movie makers to their consultant and editor, General Leslie Groves, included these words: "Any implication tending to make the Army look foolish will be eliminated." Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). There is something that we need to tell a great many of our friends and neighbors. It is that we have been misled. All is not as it seems. Here we are outside what appears to be a factory where U.S. government dollars create jobs, boost the economy, and fund activities that support the important needs of the U.S. public and the people of the world. Not a bit of those appearances is real. When government dollars are spent on weapons, they eliminate jobs, because spending those dollars on education or green energy or never taxing them in the first place creates more jobs than spending them on weapons "" and better paying jobs with wider economic impact "" and that's regardless of whether the weapons are given away to a foreign government and whoever ends up with them. Weapons are not products or services that circulate in the economy. They are made to destroy themselves and much else. And a huge chunk of the money ends up with very few people. This economy is drained and degraded by the funding of this factory "" a reality that becomes apparent if we direct our vision more widely. Compare life around here with life in many more wealthy and less wealthy countries. Where is our free higher education? Where is our secure retirement? Where is our healthcare as a human right? Where is our protection from the indignity and ordeal of poverty in the midst of mountainous wealth? Where, oh Amtrak Joe, for the love of all that is decent, are our non-antique trains? Why do we all travel about in Earth-eating automobiles? How is it that we've been kept so ignorant that we can be told we're dreaming of fantasies when we speak of things that are normal for many more people than live in this country "" a country where bringing back child labor is deemed progress? Wait! we are told, first things first. We must manufacture weapons to save the world. After that we can worry about lesser matters. But we have been misled. All is not as it seems. The expansion of NATO, driven by the desire to sell weapons, is one half of the war dance that got us here. The U.S. refusal to allow peace negotiations keeps the war going. It's not good enough to say that the Russians are immoral and evil and therefore the U.S. should do whatever Russia does. It's not good enough for each side to justify using various weapons because the other side does, to place nuclear weapons in more countries because the other side does, to declare the only acceptable outcome complete overthrow of a government "" whether Ukraine's or Russia's "" because the other side does. It's not good enough to say we are fueling a war that is killing off the people of Ukraine because the Ukrainian government supports it. When did corrupt governments run by television actors and bowing to rightwing pressures become our arbiters of moral wisdom? Is it the fumes from these factories that make us forget that we know better? A journalist recently called giving weapons to Ukraine "too big to fail." Like giving money to dirty banks. But one only says that about things that should fail but for which one imagines there are no alternatives. We have been misled. All is not as it seems. President Biden says that Ukraine will join NATO after the war "" practically guaranteeing that there will be no end to the war, other than a nuclear end to us all. The U.S. Senate just passed a bill banning ever leaving NATO, meaning that an ever-growing list of governments have the power to compel the rest of them to join in WWIII. Anything "" anything at all "" is a preferable alternative to this collective suicide pact. And there are some good alternatives. Unfortunately, they require certain emotional and intellectual feats that some find more difficult than sacrificing their own quality of life and the very lives of Ukrainians and Russians. The alternatives require compromise, humility, and acceptance of others as equals "" skills we teach our children but not our Congress Members or Presidents. Peace requires that neither the Russian not the Ukrainian government get everything it wants, everything it thinks it needs, everything it thinks it has killed a great many people for. That's not easy. But the motivations for making peace could hardly be greater. Not only is this the path away from nuclear apocalypse, but it is also the path toward slowing the climate apocalypse and the accompanying catastrophes of homelessness, hunger, disease, and fascism. We need cooperation in place of combat, and we need it immediately. The notion that we cannot demand and obtain such changes is in every news report and film. But we have been misled. All is not as it seems. The power of nonviolent action is exactly as strong as is reflected by the massive efforts invested in persuading us that it will not work. Let us remember in the words of Shelley to Rise like Lions after slumber In unvanquishable number- Shake your chains to earth like dew Which in sleep had fallen on you- Ye are many "" they are few. Dear Annie: My mom has had several strokes and is now living with us. She has problems seeing out of one eye. No one else will step up to take care of her. Our arrangement was that she pays for extra things she wants -- nails, haircuts, new clothes. And, oh, yeah, did I mention she smokes like crazy? Which her doctor has told her repeatedly to stop, as have we. Its not allowed in the house, so she sits on our front porch, and it smells like a cigarette factory. She refuses to do anything around the house. Her bedroom and bathroom are a mess until I clean them on the weekend. My husband is mad that we ended up having to pay for everything. Hes also mad at the way she treats me. Like, if she wants something, she insists I should get it for her -- haircuts, shampoo, the cocoa she drinks. All she does is lay the guilt trip on me. We are now trying to make her understand how and why we feel used. I dont know what I will do. This has been an ongoing thing. I know she is my mother, but I feel taken advantage of. Am I being petty? -- Freeloading Mom Dear Freeloading Mom: You need to have a conversation with your mother and set some clear, definitive rules if she is going to live in your house. No cigarette factory smoking areas and keeping a clean living area should be the absolute basics. If she does not agree to your house rules, you can help her to find a different living situation with the care she needs. Dear Annie: I think that Unhappy Wife, Unhappy Life buried the lede, so to speak, in her letter about her desire to divorce, once again, the ex-husband whom shed remarried after a 20-year separation. Only at the very end of her letter did she state that she was hesitant to leave him because he might turn violent - as he had the first time theyd divorced. Yikes! I felt certain that youd feature that fear as a primary reason why she should get out of the marriage. Instead, your primary response was that she should try to get her husband into marriage counseling. Only at the end of your response did you advise Unhappy Wife to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline if she felt threatened. I think that lede got buried as well. If she feels he might turn violent, that suggests to me that she probably had at least a strong hint of that possible response, perhaps based on current behavior, as well as a history of violence. My advice would have been to run, dont walk, out the door. -- Word of Caution Dear Word of Caution: Thank you for your response. You are right that while Unhappy Wifes letter focused at first on her husbands bad attitude and the mediocrity of their marriage, the reference to violence should certainly be treated with great weight. Whether it be for one red flag or another, I hope Unhappy Wife is able to safely remove herself from a dynamic that, at its best, no longer serves her, and at its worst, puts her in danger. Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2023 CREATORS.COM A 26-year-old man is facing a manslaughter allegation after police said he crashed into another car Friday morning, killing one of his passengers and seriously injuring another in Southwest Portland. Both cars hit the exterior wall of the nearby Rustix Pub on Southwest Barbur Boulevard. A Portland man has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in the August 2022 death of Penelope Penny Fagan in Northeast Portlands Parkrose Heights neighborhood. The United States Marshals Service arrested Vincent W. Scoggins, 59, on Wednesday, according to a news release from the Portland Police Bureau. Police detectives booked him into the Multnomah County Detention Center. According to court records, a grand jury indicted Scoggins on second-degree murder domestic violence and unlawful use of a weapon domestic violence earlier in the week. Fagan died from blunt force trauma after an assault was reported in 1800 block of Northeast 104th Avenue around 1:30 a.m. August 8, 2022. The Oregonian/OregonLive Scientists are warning that Australia faces a scorching summer as the weather bureau is forecasting unseasonably hot and dry weather in coming months. Heat waves are Australia's deadliest natural hazard. They kill more people than bushfires, floods, storms and drought combined. This year, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting warmer and drier conditions between August and October. Academics warn that if the El Nino weather pattern is supercharged by climate change, then the summer could be scorching. El Nino -- literally "little boy" in Spanish -- increases the chances of drier and hotter conditions across much of Australia. The United Nations World Meteorological Organization said earlier this month that an El Nino was under way. It is part of the naturally occurring phenomenon called the El Nino Southern Oscillation, which affects the world's weather. An El Nino is typically declared when sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean increase to at least 0.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term average. Multnomah County Circuit Judge Shelley Russell on Thursday sentenced a 27-year-old Portland man to life in prison for stomping a 19-year-old to death in the parking lot of a motel in a dispute over a red beanie in April 2022. A Multnomah County jury convicted Jacauree T. Walker on July 14 of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of first-degree assault after deliberating for just three hours. A Multnomah County Circuit Court judge on Friday sentenced a well-known Portland-area street brawler to an additional two years in prison for his role in a violent melee outside an abandoned Kmart in east Portland in 2021. Tusitala Tiny Toese already faced a mandatory minimum sentence of five years and 10 months in prison after he was convicted in March of 10 charges including two counts of second-degree assault and riot for egging on his fellow Proud Boys during a street battle with left-wing protesters on Northeast 122nd Avenue. Toese was one of three men, all known as right-wing activists, originally charged in the Parkrose neighborhood clash. Miles Farrow of Oregon City pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal and was sentenced to probation. Charges were dropped against the other man but may be reinstated in the future, Senior Deputy District Attorney Nathan Vasquez said in court Friday. Judge Amy Baggio sentenced Toese to the additional 25 months for the riot conviction, to be served back-to-back with the mandatory 70-month sentence for second-degree assault. The additional sentence could be reduced by up to five months if Toese is credited for good behavior while incarcerated. Prosecutors requested a sentence of up to 12 years and four months for Toese, arguing that the mandatory sentences for his second-degree assault convictions should be served consecutively, rather than at the same time, as Baggio ruled Friday. 46 1 / 46 Dueling demonstrators clash in Northeast Portland on Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021 Prosecutors were unable to prove that Toese physically hurt anyone, but the judge found him guilty of two counts of second-degree assault because Toese had spurred on the brutal beatdown of counterprotester Mark Nunziata, who was punched, kicked and hit with dozens of paintball rounds as he sat defenseless in the drivers seat of a parked pickup in front of Parkrose High School. Nunziata told the court that since the attack he has struggled with post-traumatic stress in addition to his physical injuries. He said he feared he would die that day, trapped in the cab of the Honda Ridgeline. He said he pleaded for his life as the attackers beat him. Nunziata asked Baggio to hand down a sentence strong enough to dissuade others from continuing to stir up violence in Portland for political reasons. I will not be free of the consequences of his actions for many years to come, and nor should he be, Nunziata said before cursing at Toese. You lose, he added. Drake Durham, Toeses defense attorney, argued that prosecutors were coming down harder on Toese than on the other two men charged in connection with the clash because Vasquez is running for Multnomah County district attorney. Durham cited a line from Vasquezs campaign website that reads: Nathan has also worked to protect the free speech of our community members, successfully prosecuting Alan Swinney and Tusitala Tiny Toese extremist Proud Boy leaders who traveled to Portland to commit violent crimes against our community. Listen, I do not agree with the Proud Boys or far-right ideology of political stuff whatsoever, Durham said, but he said the sentence from the campaign website sounded to him like Vasquez was focusing on prosecuting people you simply dont agree with. He added that far-left counterprotesters who also engaged in illegal activity that day were not prosecuted. Vasquez rebutted Durhams accusation, noting that extensive efforts were made to identify people involved in the mass fight and that hes sought similar sentences to Toeses in prior cases involving people who identify as part of the political left. He added that these decisions are not made by me and me alone. I consult with my supervisors and even the elected DA. Given the opportunity to address the court, Toese apologized to members of his family in attendance and to everyone hurt by his reckless and careless actions, before telling Baggio he would accept whatever sentence she deemed necessary. I believe I was rescued, not arrested, he said, adding: When time goes by and the influence of negative peers and drugs wear off, I started opening my eyes to the truth and accepting the truth about the double life I was living hidden behind the curtains of politics. He continued: The best I can do is take advantage and make use of the resources available to me to better myself as a person. Nick Gibson; ngibson@oregonian.com; 971-393-8259; @newsynicholas Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Sully the gorilla is 8 years old and was thought to be a male. That all changed when Sully was seen holding her newborn baby gorilla at an Ohio zoo. Talk about a surprise twist! the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said when announcing the two unexpected developments. Staff members on the gorilla care team discovered the double surprise early Thursday, July 13, according to a July 19 news release from the zoo. There were no signs Sully was pregnant, the zoo said, as gorillas rarely show outward signs of pregnancy because the newborns are smaller than human babies and gorillas naturally have large abdomens. Sully has tricked wildlife experts since she was born. Veterinarians at the zoo where Sully was born maintained a hands-off approach in their care, as Sully was a healthy baby being well-cared for by her mother, according to the release. While Sully was initially identified as male, upon arriving at the Columbus Zoo, Sully was a young and healthy animal and did not need any procedures requiring immobilization that would have led to this discovery sooner. Its tricky to determine the sex of young gorillas because males and females are about the same size until age 8, the zoo said. They dont start to look very different until age 12. With that said, staff at the zoo believe Sullys baby is a girl. This was confirmed visually and through photographs sent to a primate expert at another leading zoo, according to the release. The infant appears to be healthy, and first-time mom Sully is taking good care of her, officials said. The veterinary and animal care teams have not yet approached the infant, giving them time to bond with one another and with the rest of the troop, but will conduct a wellness exam soon. The zoo said it will also conduct a DNA test to determine the baby girls father. She is the 34th baby gorilla born at the Columbus Zoo since 1956, when the zoo became the first zoo in the world to welcome the birth of a baby gorilla, according to the release. Western lowland gorillas can live into their 50s under human care, according to the Smithsonians National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. The lifespan of a wild gorilla is typically 30 to 40 years. Western lowland gorillas are critically endangered, according to the World Wildlife Fund. Threats to the species include poaching and disease. On a road trip to Mount Hood early this year, Andrew Saylor and his best friend Floyd pulled into a parking lot near a forest viewpoint. They were looking for the Oculus Anubis, a house-sized statue of the Egyptian god Anubis mysteriously constructed in an Oregon forest. Andrew, a 17-year-old student at Rex Putnam High School, said he used to struggle to make friends in school due to severe anxiety. But adventures like this one led him to feel like he is finally having a true high school experience. He lights up when talking about his main passions: photojournalism, history and spending time with his best friend. Their friendship grew when Floyd unexpectedly brought a camera to their speech and debate class. It looked similar to the one Andrew carried himself and led the two to discover they shared an interest in photography. Andrews father gave him an empty disposable camera when he was 5 years old. He practiced the point-and-click motions until he got a camera that actually worked. Since then, he has taken photos of everything from firefighters on the job to abandoned buildings around Oregon. Andrews interest in documenting social unrest especially grew after he saw Black Lives Matter protests near his hometown of Milwaukie. He said photography can be a tool to tell stories that words alone cannot. You can read something, but its almost like you need a picture to fully experience it, he said. It can also be a tool to form friendships. Someday in the future, Andrew hopes to report on social unrest outside of the United States. But for now, he is happy exploring and taking pictures beside his best friend. -- Hannah Smith, Metro East Web Academy This story was produced by student reporters as part of the High School Journalism Institute, an annual collaboration among The Oregonian/OregonLive, Oregon State University and other Oregon media organizations. For more information or to support the program, go to oregonlive.com/hsji. Seventeen former and current prisoners of Oregons only womens prison testified in federal court over the past two weeks that nurse Tony Klein sexually assaulted them when they sought medical care or worked in the medical unit. Some women said he seemed friendly and flirtatious and shared personal information about his wife and kids before he abused them. SPOKANE A former Washington state newspaper editor was arrested on allegations of paying girls in exchange for sexually explicit images. Steven A. Smith, 73, was executive editor of The Spokesman-Review in Spokane from 2002 to 2008. Washington State Patrol detectives arrested Smith Thursday on 10 counts of first-degree possession of depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, KHQ reported. He declined a jail interview with The Spokesman-Review. At a hearing Friday, he was ordered held on $25,000 bond. The Associated Press was unable Friday evening to locate an attorney who could speak for Smith. An account in Smiths name for a mobile cash payment service was linked to an investigation into children using social media to send sexually explicit photos of themselves in exchange for money sent to them via the app, according to court documents. The victims, 10-to-14-year-old girls, sent images to an Instagram account and received money through a cash app account. Internet activity of both accounts were traced to Smiths Spokane home, the documents said. Chat conversations showed Smith was aware of the girls ages, the documents said. He had a very large amount of images depicting child sexual abuse and was actively downloading more when investigations searched his home Thursday, the documents said, adding that when a detective asked if he knew why they were there with a search warrant he replied, yes, its probably from what I have been downloading. After leaving The Spokesman-Review, Smith served as a journalism clinical associate professor at the University of Idaho, specializing in teaching journalism ethics. He retired in 2020. The nonprofit news organization FaVS News, which has employed Smith as a columnist since 2020 and recently named him managing editor, said Friday that hed been suspended indefinitely following the arrest. China has tightened checks on Japanese seafood, escalating diplomatic tensions with its neighbor over Tokyo's plan to release treated wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean. The General Administration of Customs in China began inspecting seafood imports from Japan for radiation earlier this month, Japanese media reported Wednesday. This follows the agency's July 7 announcement that extended a ban on seafood products from 10 Japanese prefectures, including Fukushima, because of radiation concerns. China is the biggest buyer of Japan's seafood exports. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a briefing on Thursday that Beijing had tightened the restrictions because "the Chinese government puts people first." She continued, "Our job is to be responsible for the health of our people and the marine environment. Our opposition to Japan's ocean discharge plan is based on facts and reason; so are the measures that we have decided to take." The restrictions came as Japan prepares to discharge the treated waters from its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. There is no confirmed date for the release at the plant, which was damaged in the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Japan dismissed Chinese objections to its plan, calling on Beijing to remove restrictions on Japanese seafood. Japan "has long urged Chinese authorities to quickly remove import restrictions on Japanese food products based on scientific evidence," said a spokesperson for the Japanese Embassy in Washington in an email to VOA's Korean Service on Wednesday. Tokyo will continue "to make a concerted effort to appeal to the Chinese authorities through every possible opportunity" and "explain the conclusion of the IAEA report to the international community with a high level of transparency," said the spokesperson, referring to the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency. Can actress Kim Hye-soo be a draw to attract moviegoers this summer, considered the peak box-office season with more tentpole releases than any other time of year? Kim is ready to amuse viewers in the crime action thriller "Smugglers" directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, who has a knack for the genre and a proven ability to turn out successful caper and crime action films including his 2015 hit film "Veteran." "I was very pleased when I was offered the role, as it is a female-centered film that is not too serious. Co-starring with Yum Jung-ah was also empowering," Kim said at a press event in Seoul early this week. "All I needed to do was just focus on how to convey the film's exciting and interesting story well." "I truly enjoyed shooting the film, although there were some tough underwater action scenes," she added. "I kept a journal as I had so much fun while filming. I recently read it, and there were no words like 'hard' or 'tough.' I wondered whether I will ever have this kind of experience again as an actress. I already feel blessed simply to have been part of this film." "Smugglers," also starring Park Jung-min and Zo In-sung, revolves around two women divers who eke out a living by collecting a variety of mollusks and other sea life and unexpectedly get caught up in smuggling. The film is set for release on July 26. Mateusz Morawiecki has said that the Russian ambassador will be summoned to the Foreign Ministry after the Russian president Vladimir Putin accused Poland of territorial ambitions in Ukraine. On Friday, Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks that "Poland's leaders likely seek to set up a coalition under the Nato umbrella and directly join the conflict in Ukraine, and then 'tear off' a wider piece for themselves, restore their, as they believe, historical territory - today's western Ukraine." He also said that "it was thanks to the Soviet Union, thanks to (Joseph) Stalin's position that Poland received significant territories in the West, the German lands". It's just like this: the western territory of today's Poland is Stalin's gift to the Poles. Have our friends in Warsaw forgotten about it? We will remind them," Putin added. Later on Friday, Poland's prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, reacted to Putin's words. "Stalin was a war criminal, guilty of the death of hundreds of thousands of Poles. Historical truth is not debatable," he wrote on Twitter. "The ambassador of the Russian Federation will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Morawiecki added. Poland's deputy foreign minister, Pawel Jablonski, has also condemned the Russian president's recent statements. Talking to the Polsat News broadcaster on Friday he said that "we have another confirmation of who Putin is and what Russia is today" and that Russia has hostile intentions not only towards Ukraine but towards the whole of Europe. "Putin dreams of returning to Stalin's times. Talking about the alleged gifts that we were supposed to receive from Stalin, he is of course cynically lying, because we have lost a much larger part of our territory, we have been conquered by the Soviets, we have been occupied by them for almost five decades," Jablonski argued. "We need to remind ourselves of this all the time, because falsifying history is also Putin's weapon used by him in a hybrid war," he added. (PAP) mr/mf/ Photo: (Photo : CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT / Getty Images) Amidst the escalating syphilis outbreak in the United States, concerns are mounting over the availability of Bicillin, the essential injectable penicillin used to treat sexually transmitted infection in both adults and children. Pregnant women and infants, in particular, are at higher risk as the demand for Bicillin intensifies amid reports of shortages in various regions, including Texas. Health officials and medical experts express worries about the impact on vulnerable populations, as syphilis cases continue to rise. Syphilis Outbreak Sparks Widespread Concerns As reported by Forbes, the nation has been grappling with an alarming surge in syphilis cases, with a concerning rise reported over the past several years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all stages of syphilis have increased by 74% since 2017, with over 176,000 cases documented in 2021 alone. This indicates a pressing need for effective treatment options, making the availability of Bicillin crucial in combating the outbreak. In reaction to this epidemic, the Health Department is initiating a swift outreach initiative, referred to as a rapid response in their statement. This strategy involves expanding screening opportunities, concentrating on high-risk areas, and engaging community collaborators to mitigate the spread of new infections. They plan to utilize their HIV/STD mobile clinic more extensively to facilitate screenings and raise awareness about the outbreak, encouraging more individuals to seek testing and treatment. Furthermore, the Health Department will be waiving all clinical charges for sexually transmitted infections at their health centers. Texas Syphilis Outbreak Raises Additional Worries Texas, in particular, is experiencing an alarming increase in congenital syphilis cases, which occurs when the infection is transmitted from mother to unborn child during pregnancy. According to CNN, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, cases of congenital syphilis have risen by a staggering 650% since 2016. This concerning trend raises serious health risks for pregnant women and their infants in the state. Dr. James Hodges, an internist in Waco, Texas, has witnessed the impact of the outbreak on vulnerable populations. He shares alarming insights into the situation, revealing that two Texas prisons have seen a significant surge in positive syphilis cases among their women's intake units. Most of these inmates come from metropolitan areas like Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas-Fort Worth, where the outbreak is prevalent. Dr. Hodges highlights the need for heightened awareness and testing in correctional facilities to control the spread of the infection effectively. Read Also: Nebraska Teen Receives 90-Day Sentence for Burning, Burying Fetus in Illegal Abortion with Mother's Help Bicillin Supply Challenges Compound the Crisis As the syphilis outbreak persists, the supply of Bicillin, the primary treatment for the infection, faces critical challenges. According to Fox News, Pfizer, the sole manufacturer of Bicillin, recently announced an anticipated "limited supply and impending stock out situation" for select Bicillin medications, exacerbating concerns over access to vital treatment. The company, however, denies an official shortage of the drug. Health authorities and experts worry that this restricted supply may disproportionately affect pregnant women and infants, who are most vulnerable to the severe consequences of syphilis. Pregnant women who contract syphilis can pass the infection to their babies, leading to stillbirths, infant deaths, or babies born with severe birth defects. The importance of Bicillin in treating pregnant women with syphilis cannot be understated, as it can significantly reduce the risks associated with the infection. Dr. Mark C. Poznansky, an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard University, emphasizes the significance of Bicillin in treating syphilis cases, particularly in pregnant individuals and those unable to receive alternative treatments. Despite the challenges in supply, health professionals continue to prioritize Bicillin for these vulnerable populations to prevent potential harm to mothers and their infants. Related Article: NEA's 'Great Summer Reads for Educators' List Sparks Outrage Over Inclusion of 'Gender Queer' Photo: (Photo : The Perks of a Legal Education: Exploring the Numerous Career Paths Available to Law School Graduates with The Property Advocates) Legal education is the gift that keeps on giving, even beyond the ability to practice law after graduating and passing the bar exam. The skills and knowledge that students gain during law school overlap with other industries, making legal education a wise career-boosting choice. In this article, insurance law firm The Property Advocates highlights five career paths available to graduate students who complete law school. 1. Judicial Clerkship For graduates interested in working alongside and assisting a judge, a judicial clerkship might be a great place to start a career after law school. A judicial clerk is essentially a judge's full-time assistant and can work at the state or federal level. The job entails tasks such as researching and drafting memoranda and opinions for the judges being assisted. This prestigious position is typically short-term in nature, which is why many law graduates serve as judicial clerks for one or two years before considering other legal career paths. 2. Public Interest Law students who are fired up by helping others in need should consider a career of public interest. Public interest lawyers' primary purpose is to aid underrepresented people or causes, and often work for legal-aid societies. As private, non-profit agencies, legal-aid societies seek to assist people experiencing economic disadvantage. Law school graduates interested in public interest can also work at a public interest law firm. This type of law firm is an association of lawyers set up as private and for-profit, similar to the average private law firm. However, public interest law firms' operations differ from other private law firms due to embracing more of a social enterprise mindset, making serving underrepresented people, or causes, the firm's primary mission over making money. 3. Law Firm Administration Deemed a non-legal career choice, law firm administration is an excellent job fit for law graduates who are searching for non-practice-related job opportunities. Larger law firms usually are where a variety of law firm administration positions can be found, from business development to attorney recruitment, human resources, managing law firm finances or office work processes, and more. Students with educational backgrounds in accounting, human resources, or business possess valuable prior knowledge that will benefit a law firm administration role. 4. Legal Publishing and Journalism A career option that caters to law graduates with interests and backgrounds in journalism or publishing is working in legal publishing and journalism. Multiple channels, networks, and printed media chiefly target legal news, allowing space for law graduates to exercise both their legal knowledge and personal intrigue in the sector. 5. Business An in-house attorney is another career avenue where law and business collide. The name "in-house" comes from this kind of attorney working specifically within a corporation, offering corporate counsel and advisory over any legal activity tied to the business. Corporations of all sizes hire and host in-house attorneys; big companies commonly have large legal teams or departments. The career path of an in-house attorney also offers the chance to specialize in certain distinct issues as companies also look for specific expert knowledge to bring on board their teams. About The Property Advocates The Property Advocates, P.A. is a full-service Florida insurance law firm specializing in property insurance claims. With offices in Miami and Tampa, The Property Advocates team consists of nearly 14 experienced attorneys with decades of combined experience who are compassionate, knowledgeable, and not afraid to go to trial for their clients. They have a successful track record of resolving complicated property insurance claims and getting their clients the fair compensation they deserve. Rural areas suffer a severe shortage of doctors as most prefer to work in big cities. According to the Korea Medical Association's Research Institute for Healthcare Policy, 75.6 percent of the country's 107,976 doctors worked in big cities like Seoul, Incheon, Daejeon and Daegu as of 2020. Some 20.4 percent worked in smaller cities and a mere 4,255 or four percent in rural areas. The concentration in big cities is worse than two decades ago, when the proportion was 63 percent for major cities, 29 percent for smaller cities, and eight percent for rural areas. Forty-five areas have fewer than one doctor per 1,000 people. Photo: (Photo : John Moore/Getty Images) Tragedy struck in Nevada this week as a 2-year-old boy from Lincoln County lost his life to a rare and deadly infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as a brain-eating amoeba. State health officials, along with the child's mother, confirmed the heartbreaking news. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) verified Naegleria fowleri as the culprit behind the young boy's illness, leading to his untimely demise. Authorities suspect the infection may have been contracted at Ash Springs, a natural hot spring in the county, raising concerns about the potential risks of warm freshwater environments. Health Officials Confirm Naegleria Fowleri Infection According to People, the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health released an official statement on Thursday confirming that the 2-year-old boy's tragic death resulted from a Naegleria fowleri infection. This microscopic, single-celled amoeba naturally occurs in soil and warm freshwater habitats such as lakes, rivers, and hot springs. When it enters the human body through the nose and reaches the brain, it can cause a severe and almost always fatal condition known as primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM). Sadly, the infection claimed the life of young Woodrow Turner Bundy, sparking concerns among health officials and the local community. A Mother's Account of Her Son's Battle As per NBC News, the grieving mother, Briana Bundy, shared her heart-wrenching experience on social media, describing her son Woodrow's courageous fight against the amoeba. Woodrow's illness lasted for seven agonizing days before he passed away. In a heartfelt tribute on the Facebook page "Rainbows for Raynie," she expressed her profound gratitude for the precious time she had with her "goodest baby boy on earth." Despite the devastating loss, Briana found solace in the belief that she would be reunited with Woodrow in heaven someday. The obituary of young Woodrow painted a vivid picture of his vibrant and joyful life. He was known for his love of animals, particularly chickens, rabbits, cows, and elk, captivating everyone with his exuberant spirit. Described as living life aggressively, Woodrow found wonder in the beauty of nature and cherished every moment with his adoring family. His infectious love for life touched those around him and left an indelible mark on the hearts of all who knew him. Read Also: Nebraska Teen Receives 90-Day Sentence for Burning, Burying Fetus in Illegal Abortion with Mother's Help Understanding Naegleria Fowleri and Its Prevalence Naegleria fowleri infections are exceedingly rare, but they pose a significant threat to those exposed to warm freshwater environments during the summer months. According to the Nevada Government, the amoeba thrives in such conditions, making it crucial for recreational water users to be aware of the risks associated with these bodies of water. The amoeba enters the body through the nasal passages, making its way to the brain. It is important to note that this infection is not transmissible from one person to another. The infection caused by Naegleria fowleri typically manifests with initial symptoms such as a severe headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting. As the infection progresses, more severe symptoms may develop, including a stiff neck, seizures, and coma, which can ultimately lead to a fatal outcome. Health authorities emphasized that there is no practical means of eliminating the amoeba from natural freshwater habitats. The CDC reported that since 1962, only four out of 157 individuals infected with Naegleria fowleri in the United States have survived the infection, underscoring its alarming fatality rate. While the amoeba is not transmitted from person to person, the infection can occur through activities involving warm freshwater, such as diving or jumping into bodies of water. Related Article: Pregnant Women, Infants at Risk as Bicillin Faces Supply Challenges With Syphilis Outbreaks Photo: (Photo : Joe Raedle/Getty Images) A devastating incident in New Jersey has led to the arrest of a school bus monitor, Amanda Davila, who has been charged in the tragic death of a 6-year-old girl with special needs. The young child, who suffered from Emanuel syndrome, a rare chromosome disorder that left her unable to speak or walk, lost her life when a harness securing her to her wheelchair tightened around her neck, cutting off her airway during a bus ride to school. This heart-wrenching incident has raised concerns about child safety protocols and the responsibilities of those entrusted with the well-being of vulnerable students. Unveiling the Tragedy - A Fatal Bus Ride According to Daily Mail, the incident occurred on a Monday morning when the school bus, operated by Montauk Transit under contract with the Franklin Township Board of Education, was transporting children to school. The 6-year-old girl, whose name was not disclosed, was seated at the back of the bus in her wheelchair. The responsibility of securing her wheelchair fell upon Amanda Davila, the school bus monitor on duty that day. As the bus journeyed along the route, a series of bumps in the road caused the child to slump in her wheelchair. Tragically, the 4-point harness that was meant to secure her to the chair ended up tightening around her neck, leading to asphyxiation. Shockingly, Davila remained oblivious to the child's plight as she was seated towards the front of the bus, engrossed in her cellphone activities while wearing earbud headphones, a violation of policies and procedures. Vanessa Miranda, the spokesperson for the Franklin Township Board of Education, expressed to The Times via email that the community was deeply saddened by the recent tragedy. According to prosecutors, the investigation conducted by the police revealed that Davila's actions during the Monday morning ride were in violation of established policies and procedures. As of now, information regarding an attorney representing the school staffer remains unclear, as the police brought her to the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office without incident. Seeking Justice for the Tragic Loss As per CBS, the incident was reported to authorities after the bus arrived at the school, and emergency responders immediately performed CPR on the unresponsive child. She was rushed to a local hospital's intensive care unit but was tragically pronounced dead. Somerset County Prosecutor John McDonald's office launched a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the young girl's death. Following the investigation, Amanda Davila, 26, of New Brunswick, was taken into custody at the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office without incident on Wednesday. She has been charged with second-degree manslaughter and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. As of Thursday, she remains in custody at the Somerset County Jail awaiting a detention hearing. Read Also: Mother, Child Lost in Connecticut River: Rescue Efforts End in Tragedy Grieving Family and Demands for Accountability The girl's family is left heartbroken by the loss of their beloved daughter. NBC News reported that Wali Williams, expressed the anguish of witnessing his daughter's final moments without oxygen in her brain for nearly 40 minutes. The child's mother, Namjah Nash Williams, fondly remembered her daughter's sweet demeanor, infectious laughter, and enduring spirit despite her physical challenges. The grieving family has vowed to take action to ensure that similar tragedies never happen again. They call on the town's board to thoroughly vet transportation companies and hold them accountable for the safety of children with special needs. Their pain and loss have sparked discussions about improving safety protocols and training for school bus staff across New Jersey. Related Article: Pregnant Women, Infants at Risk as Bicillin Faces Supply Challenges With Syphilis Outbreaks Photo: (Photo : BRANDEN EASTWOOD / Getty Images) In a heartbreaking turn of events, the body of a missing 2-year-old girl, Matilda Sheils, was recovered from the Delaware River on Friday after a devastating flash flood struck the Philadelphia area. The young girl, identified as Matilda Sheils, had been missing since last weekend when a sudden "wall of water" engulfed her family's vehicle and swept away her and her 9-month-old brother, Conrad. The tragic incident also claimed the life of their mother, Katie Seley, and left their father, Jim Sheils, and grandmother in grief and shock. A Desperate Search in the Delaware River According to the Associated Press, the community of Philadelphia and its surrounding areas have been reeling from the aftermath of the flash flood that occurred in Washington Crossing, along the banks of the Delaware River. The torrential downpour brought as much as 7 inches of rain in less than an hour, causing 11 vehicles to be stranded in floodwaters. Among the affected individuals was the Sheils family, visiting from Charleston, South Carolina, to spend time with relatives and friends. As the floodwaters rapidly rose, the family found themselves in a perilous situation, struggling to escape the rushing waters. Jim Sheils managed to grab their 4-year-old son and reach safety, but Matilda and Conrad's mother and grandmother bravely held onto the two younger children. Tragically, the force of the water was too overwhelming, and all four were swept away. Only the grandmother survived the harrowing ordeal. The Heart-Wrenching Discovery For days, search and rescue teams, along with community volunteers, scoured the Delaware River and its surroundings, hoping to find any trace of the missing children. NBC News reported that their efforts garnered an outpouring of support, particularly on social media, as people prayed for a miracle. The turning point came on Friday evening when 911 callers reported spotting a body in the river near a Philadelphia wastewater treatment plant, approximately 30 miles (50 kilometers) from where Matilda had been carried away. Authorities swiftly responded, and Philadelphia police's marine unit recovered the child's lifeless body. Based on the physical description and clothing, authorities strongly believed it to be 2-year-old Matilda Sheils. Upper Makefield Fire Chief Tim Brewer addressed the press in a solemn nighttime news conference, confirming the discovery of Matilda's body. He expressed the community's collective grief and extended thoughts and prayers to the Sheils family during this unimaginably difficult time. The Philadelphia coroner was scheduled to conduct an autopsy on the young girl's remains the following day. Read Also: California Jury Awards $18.8 Million To Cancer Victim in Johnson & Johnson Talc Baby Powder Lawsuit Continuing the Search for Conrad Despite the devastating news of Matilda's passing, the search for her 9-month-old brother, Conrad, continued. Philadelphia police's aviation and marine units scoured the river on Friday in a relentless effort to find the missing child. Authorities and volunteers alike were determined to spare no effort in locating Conrad and providing some measure of closure to the grieving family. The entire community remains heartbroken over the tragedy and is rallying together to support the Sheils family during their time of mourning. As the search for Conrad enters another day, hopes for his safe return persist, and people across the region are keeping him in their thoughts and prayers. According to ABC7, Bucks County Coroner Meredith Buck, the additional casualties resulting from the flooding in Bucks County were Enzo De Piero, aged 78, and Linda De Piero, aged 74, both residents of Newtown; Yuko Love, aged 64, also from Newtown; and Susan Barnhart, aged 53, from Titusville, New Jersey. Related Article: Mother, Child Lost in Connecticut River: Rescue Efforts End in Tragedy Photo: (Photo : PHILIPPE LOPEZ / Getty Images) Authorities in Nebraska have apprehended a 26-year-old man, identified as Zachary Scheich, on suspicion of sex crimes after he allegedly posed as a high school student at two Nebraska high schools. The arrest has sent shockwaves through the community as law enforcement delves into the disturbing details of the case, which involves charges of sexual assault, use of an electronic device, and sex trafficking of a minor. Unmasking the Imposter Student According to NBC News, the investigation into this unsettling incident began on June 1 when school officials from the Lincoln Public Schools district notified the Lincoln Police Department about a suspicious individual impersonating a student during the 2022-2023 academic year. Operating under the alias Zak Hess, the man managed to deceive school administrators, enrolling at Northwest High School during the first semester before transferring to Southeast High School in the second semester. With his ruse undetected for a significant portion of the school year, the imposter remained under the radar until the district received a report on May 31, suggesting that an adult male might be posing as a junior at one of the high schools. The school's student services and security department promptly alerted the police and provided them with crucial information, setting the stage for the investigation that would ultimately expose the truth behind the deceitful act. The Elusive Trail of Deception According to USA Today, authorities soon discovered that the man, identified as Zachary Scheich, had graduated from the very same Lincoln Public Schools district back in 2015. Despite the age difference and the passage of time, Scheich cleverly navigated the enrollment process, managing to attend both high schools for a total of 54 days without raising suspicion. At 5-foot-4 and 120 pounds, Scheich was able to blend in with the genuine teenage students, adding to the complexity of his deception. As police continued their investigation, they uncovered alarming evidence suggesting that Scheich had inappropriate contacts with juvenile students, prompting them to secure an arrest warrant to apprehend the imposter. Read Also: Pregnant Women, Infants at Risk as Bicillin Faces Supply Challenges With Syphilis Outbreaks Strengthening School Enrollment Protocols In the wake of this shocking incident, Lincoln Public Schools officials have pledged to fortify their enrollment procedures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The district has acknowledged that Scheich exploited the process by submitting fraudulent documents during enrollment, according to Lincoln Nebraska, As part of their response, additional safeguards will be implemented, including multiple in-person conversations with parents and guardians during the enrollment process. Lincoln Public Schools issued an alert to families at Northwest and Southeast High Schools. For inquiries about the enrollment process, individuals are encouraged to reach out directly to LPS. The Special Victims Unit is actively conducting interviews with potential additional victims to ascertain the full extent of this matter. Authorities are urging anyone who has had contact with Scheich or may have been victimized to come forward and cooperate with the ongoing investigation. These measures aim to verify the legitimacy of the applicants and deter any potential imposters. While ensuring the safety and security of students remains the highest priority, the school district also recognizes the importance of accommodating families with busy schedules. Officials have emphasized that they will continue to make efforts to accommodate those unable to attend multiple meetings while adhering to state and federal requirements for student enrollment. Related Article: Brain-Eating Amoeba Claims Life of 2-Year-Old in Nevada: Health Officials Confirm Naegleria Fowleri Infection Response to More Misrepresentation of St. Alphonsus de Liguoris Book, 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 and Catholicism since 2014. His words will be in blue. ***** I will be responding to a portion of Timothys article, We Dont Worship Mary, Part 2 (6-15-14). Do Roman Catholics acknowledge Mary as Savior? Yes they do: St. Bonaventure says that Mary is called the gate of heaven, because no one can enter that blessed kingdom without passing through her. (Liguori, The Glories of Mary). For thy eternal glory, let it be said that thou hast snatched a wretched creature from hell, to which he was already condemned, and that thou hast led him to thy kingdom. O yes, sweet Mother, I hope to have the consolation of remaining always at thy feet, in heaven, thanking and blessing and loving thee eternally. (Liguori, The Glories of Mary) The strong insinuation, of course, is that Catholics make Mary their savior and not Jesus, or that both of them are. He doesnt specify, but as usual for anti-Catholics (their standard modus operandi), a few prooftexts from The Glories of Mary are yanked out, while many other relevant texts are ignored. Anti-Catholic apologists do this with the Bible itself, with the Church fathers, as well as (surprise!) famous Catholic writers. Its easy to show that the second citation is explicitly biblical (i.e., the notion that one human being can save another is completely in line with Holy Scripture): 1 Timothy 4:16 (RSV) Take heed to yourself and to your teaching; hold to that, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. James 5:20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Therefore, if Mary is a (or the) savior according to Timothys mistaken understanding of St. Alphonsus, then so must be the Apostle Paul and indeed anyone who helps a sinner to find repentance and forgiveness with God, according to St. James. There are more such passages, too: Acts 11:12-14 And the Spirit told me to go with them, making no distinction. . . . [13] And he told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon called Peter; [14] he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household. Now Peter the first pope is the savior too, according to Timothy. Romans 11:13-14 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry [14] in order to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. 1 Corinthians 1:21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 1 Corinthians 9:22 I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 2 Corinthians 1:6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; . . . 2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus with its eternal glory. More proof for Paul (and his companions) being a (the?) savior . . . 1 Peter 3:1 Likewise you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that some, though they do not obey the word, may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives Pope Peter teaches that (who knows?) many hundreds of thousands if not many millions of wives have saved their husbands. Thats an awful lot of saviors! St. Alphonsus makes crystal clear how Mary is entirely secondary to Jesus in her role in helping save souls. God chooses to use her in that way. Obviously, Protestants disagree with this opinion, but it is not making Mary the Savior over against Jesus. She is His helper, just as Paul and Peter and wives and anyone who helps persuade a person to repent, by Gods grace, is. God simply chose (we believe) to involve Mary in all such cases. The notion of God working directly with human beings for His purposes is also a common scriptural motif: Mark 16:20 And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them . . . Luke 10:16 He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me. Romans 15:17-18 In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. [18] For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has wrought through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, 1 Corinthians 3:9 . . . we are Gods fellow workers . . . (KJV: labourers together with God) 1 Corinthians 4:1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God which is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:58 . . . be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumph, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 2 Corinthians 5:20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (cf. Acts 2:43: And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were donethrough the apostles.) 2 Corinthians 6:1 Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. 2 Corinthians 13:3 . . . Christ is speaking in me . . . Galatians 2:8 (for he who worked through Peter for the mission to the circumcised worked through me also for the Gentiles), Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; . . . Philippians 2:13 for God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Also, the principle in play here (also eminently biblical) is the fact that the prayers of righteous people have far more power (James 5). Since Catholics think Mary was sinless and the greatest of all of Gods creatures, obviously it would follow by this principle that her prayers would have more power than any other creatures prayers. Protestants are free, of course, to make their arguments against our doctrine of Mary Mediatrix or the greater power of the prayers of more righteous people, but ethics and honesty do not allow them to distort what we teach, and pretend that it makes Mary the savior, and not Jesus. Lets examine the chapter that Timothy first cited above: Part One: Chapter Five. St. Alphonsus clarifies the relationship of Jesus and Mary as regards salvation: [I]t is impious to assert that God is not pleased to grant graces at the intercession of his saints, and more especially of Mary his Mother, whom Jesus desires to much to see loved and honored by all. Who can pretend that the honor bestowed on a mother does not redound to the honor of the son? The glory of children are their fathers (Gloria filiorum, patres eorumProv. xvii. 6). Whence St. Bernard says, Let us not imagine that we obscure the glory of the Son by the great praise we lavish on the mother; for the more she is honored, the greater is the glory of the Son. There can be no doubt, says the saint, that whatever we say in praise of the Mother is equally in praise of the Son (Non est dubium, quidquid in laudibus Matris proferimus, ad Filium pertinereDe Laud. V. M. hom. 4). And St. Ildephonsus also says, That which is given to the Mother redounds to the Son; the honor given to the Queen is honor bestowed on the King (Redundat ad Filium, quod impenditur Matri; transit honor in Regem; qui defertur in famulatum ReginaeDe Virginit. S. M. c. 12). There can be no doubt that by the merits of Jesus, Mary was made the mediatress of our salvation; not indeed a mediatress of justice, but of grace and intercession; . . . . . . through Mary we received Jesus Christ, by whose merits we obtain all graces . . . We willingly admit that God is the source of every good, and the absolute master of all graces; and that Mary is only a pure creature, who receives whatever she obtains as a pure favor from God. . . . we say that Mary is the mediatress of grace; and that receiving all she obtains through Jesus Christ, and because she prays and asks for it in the name of Jesus Christ, . . . Pius X declares: She is the dispensatrix of the graces that Jesus Christ has merited for us by His blood and His death. St. Alphonsus also makes it abundantly clear that Jesus alone is the ultimate savior (we are saved and redeemed by Him, and Gods grace, in terms of the cause and final determination): . . . Jesus Christ, who is our only mediator, . . . No one denies that Jesus Christ is our only mediator of justice, and that he by his merits has obtained our reconciliation with God. Jesus Christ is the only Mediator of justice, according to the distinction just made, and that by his merits he obtains us all graces and salvation . . . . . . the mediation of Jesus Christ alone is absolutely necessary . . . There is no doubt, says the saint [Bernard], that Jesus Christ alone was more than sufficient to redeem us . . . . . . we have access to the Eternal Father, says St. Bernard, only through Jesus Christ, . . . Thats just one chapter in the book. In this chapter alone, St. Alphonsus plainly, undeniably teaches that Jesus is the only Mediator and Redeemer and the only One Who merited our salvation by His death, as well as the source of all grace and good. But lets consult most of the book nine chapters and nine discourses for every single use of savior, to see if Mary is ever called the savior over against Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if Jesus is called our savior, when the word appears: Jesus, our Savior and our life . . . (Pt. I, ch. 1) . . . our Savior . . . before expiring, he looked down from the cross on his Mother . . . (Pt. I, ch. 1) O my beloved Savior Jesus, . . . (Pt. I, ch. 1) Jesus our Savior . . . (Pt. 1, ch. 4) . . . we know that Jesus Christ is our only Savior, and that he alone by his merits has obtained and obtains salvation for us . . . (Pt. 1, ch. 4) . . . my Savior has already shed his blood, which suffices to save an infinity of worlds. (Pt. 1, ch. 4) . . . the Mother of our Savior, . . . (Pt. 1, ch. 6) . . . this merciful Savior, who gave his life to save us, . . . (Pt. 1, ch. 6) Jesus Christ . . . our divine Savior . . . (Pt. 1, ch. 10) . . . the flesh of our Savior, even after his resurrection . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 1) . . . the worthy Mother of our Savior. (Pt. 2, Disc. 1) From Jesus, however, it is (we must understand) that we receive grace as the author of grace, from Mary as a mediatress; from Jesus as a Savior, from Mary as an advocate; from Jesus as a source, from Mary as a channel. (Pt. 2, Disc. 2) [I then had to go to another 1862 translation of the book, available online. It spelled saviour in the English manner] Christ wished to be consoled by an angel, . . . the Saviour willed to be comforted by an angel . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 4) Mary, in whose bosom, the Saviour has deposited the treasure of the wretched . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 5) . . . our Saviour, in order to obey his mother, . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 5) And if we give credit to that celebrated saying of St. Anselm: We shall sometimes find grace sooner by having recourse to Mary, than by having recourse to our Saviour Jesus himself; not that he is not the source and Lord of all graces, but because if we go to Mary, and she intercedes for us, her prayers will have more power, as the prayers of a mother, than ours. (Pt. 2, Disc. 5) . . . the merits of my Saviour Jesus, . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 5) . . . he did not see the Saviour until he saw him in the arms of Mary. (Pt. 2, Disc. 6) After Jesus Christ our Saviour had completed the work of our redemption by his death, . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 8) Let us now consider how the Saviour really did come from heaven to meet his mother, . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 8) . . . the Virgin knowing how much the incarnate Word was to suffer for the salvation of men, even before she became his mother, and compassionating this innocent Saviour, who was to be so cruelly put to death for crimes not his own, . . . (Pt. 2, Disc. 9) . . . she was made mother of this Saviour. (Pt. 2, Disc. 9) And the Saviour himself had before said, that our heart is where our treasure is. (Pt. 2, Disc. 9) I didnt want to bother searching all the numerous short prayers. My point is pretty much established and likely holds for the entire book. If Timothy or anyone else finds Mary being called savior in one of those prayers, I hope they will let me know. As we see, so far, in most of the book, she is never called our savior / saviour; only Jesus is. So where does Timothy get off claiming that Catholics acknowledge Mary as Savior (implying that we think she usurps Jesus Christs utterly unique status as Savior and Redeemer) and utilizing two out of his three prooftext citations from St. Alphonsus The Glories of Mary? He has not established his claim (which is the most charitable way to describe his efforts). Related Reading St. Alphonsus de Liguori: Mary-Worshiper & Idolater? [8-9-02] Defense of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Devotion vs. Calvinists [7-16-07] Was St. Louis de Montfort a Blasphemous Mariolater? (cf. abridged, National Catholic Register version) [2009] Maximilian Kolbes Flowery Marian Veneration & the Bible [2010] Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart: Biblical Reflections [11-23-10] Defense of Allegedly Idolatrous Marian Devotions [1-11-13] Honoring Jesus Thru Mary: 50 Biblical Reasons [4-21-15] Reply to Protestants on Excessive (?) Marian Devotion [1-4-17] Angel Gabriels Hail (Lk 1:28): Veneration of Mary? [3-8-19] Marian Veneration: Reply to Evangelical Adrian Warnock [12-10-19] Catholics Do Not Worship Mary Like God (vs. Matt Slick) [11-13-20] Excesses in Catholic Mariology & Devotion [6-12-23] Catholics Think Mary is Co-Creator? (vs. T.L. Kauffman) (Refuting a Distortion of What St. Alphonsus de Liguori Actually Teaches in The Glories of Mary) [7-17-23] *** * 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. * *** Photo credit: cover of The Glories of Mary, by St. Alphonsus de Liguori [BetterWorldBooks page for the book] Summary: Presbyterian Timothy Kauffman makes a claim that Catholics acknowledge Mary as Savior. I show that this is false, using his own alleged Catholic source for it. Atik Mohammed has appealed to the Government of Ghana to reduce duties on imports. The former PNC General Secretary made a solemn appeal to the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to ease the financial burden on local businesses, particularly those whose mode of business largely depends on imports. Atik asked the Minister to ensure the reduction of the numerous taxes on imports stating, "every businessman who does importing will tell you the duties are too high and it affects their business". He also called the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to together with the Finance Minister move Ghanaians from surviving to living. Listen to him: 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 First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseh Oseip-Owusu, has condemned the current parliament as the worst in the nation's history. The scathing criticism comes in the wake of recent actions by the minority caucus, which have hindered legislative progress. The contentious incident that triggered Joe Wise's verdict occurred on July 20, 2023, during the consideration of clauses in the Ghana Commission for UNESCO bill. Minority member Alhassan Suhuyini raised concerns about the quorum, challenging the Speaker's decision on the question put forth regarding the clause. Suhuyini argued that there were not enough Members of Parliament present to make a valid decision on the bill, prompting the need for a headcount. Reacting to the minority's demand for a headcount, Majority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh expressed his disappointment and questioned the motives behind the opposition's actions. He accused the minority caucus of acting in bad faith, suggesting that the leadership had already agreed to include the bill in the day's business, making the headcount unnecessary. An adjournment resulted after the headcount. However, the First Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei-Owusu, took a broader view in his assessment of the situation In an interview, he lamented the current state of affairs in the eighth parliament, stating, "We have decided to do politics rather than business. This equal number in parliament has brought out the worst in MPs; I have repeated it, and I will repeat it again; this parliament, the eighth parliament has made the least number of laws. We have not cooperated as we did in the past." Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bugri Naabu, has refuted claims of having personal links with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, amid the recent controversy surrounding an alleged leaked audio plotting the ouster of the police chief. In a July 20 interview with Kwesi Parker-Wilson of Oyerepa TV at his office, Bugri Naabu expressed his frustration with people referring to him as the IGP's "boy," stating that such claims make him angry and feel disrespected. He emphasized that the IGP is not someone who merits the status of being referred to as his "boy," highlighting his own authority and standing in society. "Who is IGP that I can be his boy? Please don't get me angry," he stated, when told by the journalist that the claim was making the rounds in town, he hit back: "but do you believe that, you yourself, how many times haven't I called you to give you news, do I look like IGP's boy? IGP cannot call me his father, but he can call me his Nana (chief); that is who I am," Bugri Naabu asserted. Furthermore, Bugri Naabu stated his willingness to cooperate with any investigation that may arise regarding the leaked audio and its implications. "I am a Ghanaian, and so I am not above anything; if I have committed an offense, the offense will chop me," Bugri Naabu added. The alleged leaked audio, which reportedly involves discussions about removing the IGP from office, has garnered public attention and raised concerns about the involvement of influential figures in the nation's security apparatus. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Deputy Ranking Member of the Education Committee in Parliament, Dr. Clement Apaak has said the government has not demonstrated that there is no money to pay suppliers. This comes on the back of other suppliers for the Free Senior High School Policy threatening to demonstrate over the governments inability to pay them. Commenting on the development, the Builsa South lawmaker stated that the governments inability to communicate in clear terms on why it has not paid suppliers means there is money to pay. Ive said that between 2017 and 2023 we have allocated 11.9 billion to finance the programme for 2017 to 2021. According to the Finance Minister the allocation of 7.62 billion, 5.23 billion have been spent which means that there is a surplus of about 2 billion. When you listen to the Minister for Education he also says out of the 7.62 billion, 5.1 billion have been used which means that there is a surplus of over 2 billion. So if we have all of these surplus and with all these allocations and Akufo-Addo have not told us, Bawumia have not told us, Ofori-Atta have not told us, Adutwum have not told us that Ghana is broke, Dr. Apaak stated. He continued: So we cannot pay food suppliers, we cannot pay school uniform suppliers debts, we cannot pay cost of ICT, the cost of library, the cost of maintenance, the cost of ID cards. Therefore, Ghanaians come and lets sit and discuss the way forward so we can all help for the programme to move smoothly, how can we claim that there is no money. The deputy ranking member also reiterated the need for urgent audit on the Free Senior High School policy books. As far as the government has not come to tell us that there is no money, we have to assume that its the government that deliberately doesnt want to pay. There is money rather they are using it for different things that is why they are not using it for the programme. So I am calling for an audit, Dr. Apaak requested. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ghana Education Service (GES) has explained why it interdicted the headmistress of West Africa Senior High School (WASS), Dr Shine Agatha Ofori. According to the Head of the Public Relations Department of the GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the headmistress broke the roles of the service by charging unauthorised fees. Twum Ampofo, who made this disclosure in an interview on Asempa FM, on Thursday, July 20, 2023, said that the school was forcing and threatening students to pay teachers' motivation and other fees. We got the information from the school, some parents came to our headquarters complaining that the school was charging them motivation fees and some SHS levy support money. We sent our regional director to verify these claims and he told us it was true. "So, we had to let the headmistress step aside as we continue our investigation to avoid any interference," she said in Twi. The PRO clarified that the GES is not against parents supporting schools with funds but what it forbids is making support for schools compulsory. We are not against parents supporting our schools financially What we are against is you making support for the schools, levies and compulsory. The moment you make them compulsory and threaten that final year students who do not pay would not be cleared, then it becomes an issue, she said. Background: In a statement released on July 19 and signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the head of Public Relations, the interdiction of Dr. Mrs. Shine Agatha Ofori is in response to allegations of unauthorized collection of funds from students. Pending the final determination of the case by the Regional Disciplinary Committee, she has been instructed to hand over the administration of the school to the Regional Director of Education. The matter is being investigated by the Regional Disciplinary Committee, which will be responsible for reaching a conclusive decision in due course. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Hows it going? What, exactly? Damon Albarn, 55, answers his first question from EL PAIS with a touch of detachment. He has phlegm in his British accent, which gives him the gravitas of a Roman emperor. A few minutes before the interview, his publicist drops by to tell us that Albarn isnt in a good mood. Were set to meet him on the terrace of a seaside Barcelona hotel, just a few hours before his concert at the Primavera Sound Music Festival. There are more and more tourists here. Its difficult to find the authentic city that I discovered in 1988, Albarn sighs. One recalls how he criticized Adele when she attempted to collaborate with him on some songs. She told Rolling Stone that their encounter ended up being one of those dont meet your idol moments. Graham Coxon another creative soul from Blur joins the interview. He isnt at the height of likability, either, but compared to Albarn, hes a cross between Mother Teresa and a UN blue helmet. Albarn and Coxon met as schoolchildren in Colchester, East London. Recently, we had the romantic idea of going back there, to connect with our past. But there was nothing left they had built a new building. It was quite strange, they note. Since they reconciled in 2009, the group has recorded two albums: The Magic Whip (2015) a murky album that they recorded in Hong Kong and their latest work, The Ballad of Darren, which will be released on July 21. Alex James, Dave Rowntree, Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn, in 1991. Getty Images As we listen to the songs about a dozen times before the meeting, the album sounds like the opposite of the previous one. Its a return to the crystalline melodies, the riffs of the bands glory days, and the mischievous and witty lyrics, as if theyve woken up after a cryogenic period. In short, the songs are like a return home for Blur. We never really left, Albarn replies. There always has to be a good reason to get back to playing [music] with people youve known since your teens. Were not just people playing music, because there are expectations, [people have] the memory of your previous songs. For me, the reason is always to make good music again. Thats the trick. The record ends the long period in which Albarn seemed most enthusiastic about Gorillaz, his excellent solo records, his Cantonese Chinese musicals, his collaborations with African artists, or his rock operas about 16th-century English mathematicians. After all of this, the reunion of Blur seemed unlikely, but unlike other veteran bands that try to take advantage of nostalgia for their work, the reunited members dont seem to be guided by cynicism. Of course not. Our aim is the present. I guess tonight well see if were still modern, Albarn chuckles defiantly. The answer ends up being a resounding yes (even though he continues to wear the same sweatshirts as in the 1990s). The best part of the concert is the final bit, with a long succession of perfect hits from the height of the bands fame. When they close with The Universal one of their classics some of the bandmates shed tears. We can see the album as getting back to basics, to the essentials to what defined the group when it formed more than 35 years ago. Yes, exactly. That was exactly what we wanted to do, Albarn says enthusiastically, in his only energetic moment during the interview. But then, he changes his mind, taking issue with the word basic. Actually, that basic thing sounded a bit dry to me. Were not AC/DC, he protests. Weve never been basic, Coxon seconds. We play too many chords to be basic. When asked to define the record with one word, Albarn chooses aftershock. That is to say, the aftershock of an earthquake the tremor that comes after the roar caused by a bigger one. So many things have happened over the years. Since our last album, weve lived through Brexit, a pandemic and the war scenario in Europe. As Mao said about the French Revolution, its too early to judge the effects it will have, Albarn notes. (According to a quick check, it was actually Maos prime minister, Zhou Enlai, who said this in reference to the protests that gripped France in May 1968, but it wouldnt occur to us to correct him.) Their lyrics seem to reflect a state of perplexity and disorientation. Yeah. After all, were called Blur, Albarn shrugs. The rock band Blur. Reuben Bastienne-Lewis Blur became famous in the early years of Blairism, when the Thatcher era had come to an end. We ask the frontman: is being British rather uncool these days? Clearly, its not ideal, Albarn sighs. Politics is stagnant and polarized. We should have coalitions, like almost everywhere else, but its impossible. When asked if he regrets the political use of his alleged proximity to the Labor Party, after he agreed to meet with Tony Blair shortly before he won the 1997 elections, he dodges. Our music was never a celebration of England, he replies. We didnt operate within those parameters. We were English, but more at street level, Coxon adds. We were satirical, we used our country as a theme, but not like that. We never really did Britpop. Were not part of that. But wasnt that wave of British culture the main reason for Blurs worldwide success? We were already successful before, Albarn affirms. They [other bands and studios] used us, they appropriated our music. For the cover of their album, theyve chosen an image by Martin Parr: a typically British public swimming pool, built right next to the sea, under a cloudy sky. In [Parrs] work, theres melancholy, sarcasm and ridicule, Albarn lists. Clearly, they have something in common. Years ago, Coxon said that the Blur members had stopped being friends. Now, were partners, he clarifies. Hasnt he changed his mind? I dont know if it was fair to say that maybe I didnt phrase it well. We know what our relationship is like and we dont need to give anyone explanations. We started making music together and we continue to do so. In any case, this has been one of my longest-lasting relationships, and there have only been two or three. Albarn chimes in to settle the matter: To play music with other people, you have to be able to get into their skin. Blur, during a visit to the offices of 'New Musical Express' magazine, in 1991. Redferns They know theyre survivors by now: theres hardly anyone left from their musical era, in a time when popular music increasingly talks about going to the club, getting drunk in the club, and then leaving the club, as Albarn describes. Whats Blurs secret? Take frequent breaks. The [1990s] were so intense. We understood that this would be the only way to sustain it, Coxon answers, with a knowing look at his old nemesis. In tough times, its best to close ranks with those who are most similar to us. Even Noel Gallagher has apologized for wishing that the Blur members at the height of their rivalry with his band, Oasis would be infected with AIDS. I obviously dont wish that. A bad cold, I should have said. Flu maybe? he joked. The agreed-upon 30 minutes has passed. The last question will be whether they feel influential. Fuck yeah, Coxon replies in a split second. Beside him, Albarn takes a while longer. We must be, if were still here. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Popular TV host, Delay says she wants to be a househelp to a Ghanaian Minister following news of two househelps of Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, allegedly stealing monies and items worth millions of cedis from the couple's residence at Abelemkpe in Accra has set up interesting conversations since yesterday. While a number of personalities including the former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama have condemned the latest development describing it as scandalous, Deloris Frimpong Manso widely known as Delay says it has increased her interest to be a house help for a Ghanaian Minister. I want to be a house help for a Ghanaian Minister she said in a tweet yesterday, July 21. I want to be a house help for a Ghanaian minister Lion Queen (@delayghana) July 21, 2023 In a report by Graphic online yesterday, it mentioned that two house helps working for Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, and her husband, Mr. Daniel Osei Kuffour are facing charges at an Accra Circuit Court, for allegedly stealing monies and items worth millions of cedis from the couple's residence at Abelemkpe in Accra. The accused individuals, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei have been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing. The alleged thefts occurred between July and October 2022. During this period, the house helps allegedly stole personal effects belonging to Madam Cecilia Abena Dapaah, including assorted clothes valued at GH95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewellery worth US$95,000. 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. Featured Video NEW YORK (AP) The clock is ticking. As the deadline to reach a new contract nears, a potential UPS strike feels closer than ever. Negotiations broke down this month, and unionized workers have been holding rallies and practice pickets across the country. The Teamsters, which represent more than half of the companys workforce, will resume talks with UPS on Tuesday. That leaves less than a week to come to an agreement before the current contract expires on Monday, July 31. The union has authorized a strike ,and Sean M. OBrien, a fiery leader elected last year to lead the union, has vowed to do so if their demands arent met. Were sending a message. ... all 340,000 of our members are united and ready to fight, OBrien told The Associated Press at a practice picket Friday in Atlanta, where UPS is based. UPSs unionized workers still seethe about a contract they feel was forced on them in 2018, and say that the company delivers millions more packages every day than it did just five years ago. The Teamsters are calling for better pay, particularly for part-time employees, and improved working conditions. UPS has maintained that it already offers industry-leading pay and benefits, but says its prepared to increase that compensation. In a Friday update, the company said it aimed quickly to finalize a fair deal that provides certainty for our customers, our employees and businesses across the country. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the deliveries that Americans have come to rely on, particularly since the pandemic began in 2020, could be vastly disrupted. Such an impasse hasnt been seen since 1997, well before delivery of everyday items from dog food to prescription drugs became the norm, when a walkout by 185,000 workers crippled UPS. Heres what you need to know. WHAT ARE THE TEAMSTERS ASKING FOR? Much on the unions demands comes down to better pay and improved working conditions. Annual profits at UPS in the past two years are close to three times what they were before the pandemic. The company returned about $8.6 billion to shareholders in the form of dividends and stock buybacks in 2022, and forecast another $8.4 billion for shareholders this year. UPS Teamsters and workers wait before a rally, Friday, July 21, 2023, in Atlanta, as a national strike deadline nears. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)AP The Teamsters say frontline UPS workers deserve some of that windfall. A sticking point in negotiations has been wage increases for part-time workers, who make a minimum of $16.20 an hour. People want their packages yesterday with the emergence of the e-commerce. So its a very demanding job, OBrien said, pushing back on the salary statistics that UPS shares. Everybody doesnt realize what it takes to get these packages on the truck. And a lot of our part timers... work for poverty wages. In addition to addressing part-time pay, the union wants to eliminate a contract provision that created two separate hierarchies of workers with different pay scales, hours and benefits. Driver safety, particularly the lack of air conditioning in delivery trucks, is also in the mix. HAS UPS AGREED TO ANY DEMANDS? Before contract talks broke down on July 5, with both sides blaming each other for walking away from the bargaining table, tentative agreements were made on several issues including installing air conditioning in more trucks. UPS said it would add air conditioning to U.S. small delivery vehicles purchased after January 1, 2024. Existing vehicles wouldnt get that upgrade, but the union said they will have other additions like fans and air vents. The union also said it has reached tentative agreements to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a full holiday for the first time, end unwanted overtime on drivers days off and get rid of the two-tier wage system for drivers who work weekends and earn less money. COULD A STRIKE BE AVOIDED? CAN THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENE? The strike can be avoided if UPS and the Teamsters agree to a new contract before the July 31 deadline. Theres also a possibility of government intervention. OBrien said Sunday that he has asked the White House on numerous occasions not to intervene if workers end up going on strike. Last year, President Joe Biden intervened to avert a railroad strike to avoid disrupting the nations supply chain, and workers had accept an agreement that wasnt broadly supported by union members. UPS Teamsters and workers hold a rally, Friday, July 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)AP WHAT IMPACT WOULD A STRIKE HAVE? The 24 million packages UPS ships on an average day amounts to about a quarter of all U.S. parcel volume, according to the global shipping and logistics firm Pitney Bowes. As UPS puts it, thats the equivalent of about 6% of nations gross domestic product. Higher prices and long wait times are all but certain if there is an impasse. A strike also threatens to extend lingering supply chain troubles. Somethings got to give, Thomas Goldsby, logistics chairman in the Supply Chain Management Department at the University of Tennessee, told The Associated Press. The python cant swallow the alligator, and thats going to be felt by all of us. UPS said this month that it will temporarily begin training nonunion employees in the U.S. to step in should there be a strike. Beyond shipping and supply implications, a union win at UPS could have significance for organized labor across industries. UPSs contract talks arrive amid other prominent labor campaigns at Apple, Starbucks, Trader Joes and other companies as well as the current writers and actors strikes seen in Hollywood. DENNIS, Mass. (AP) A 17-year-old girl has died in a boating accident on Cape Cod, state police said. The boat crashed into a jetty at Sesuit Harbor in Dennis on Friday night, according to a statement from state police in Massachusetts. The initial reports were that there were some injuries, and at least one occupant of the boat was missing. The Coast Guard, the state Environmental Police, the Barnstable County Dive Team and the Sandwich Fire marine unit initiated a joint search effort, and the girls body was recovered off Cold Storage Beach at about 11:30 p.m., the statement said. Her name was not made public. The Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office as well as environmental and local police are investigating. More: Woman hurt in Yellowstone bison attack says yes to hospital proposal Victim IDd in fatal Camp Hill crash: coroner PHOENIX (AP) An Arizona woman who suffered fractured vertebrae and collapsed lungs after being gored by a bison in Yellowstone National Park has said yes to her boyfriends hospital proposal. Chris Whitehill said he planned to propose to Amber Harris during their vacation in the park, but after spending just one night there, an encounter with a bison upended those plans. The couple from the Phoenix area had walked to a lodge for some coffee Monday and decided to walk through a field to Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming, Harris posted on Facebook the next day. They waited for some people and about 20 elk to leave the area before continuing. They also noticed two bison. They watched one drop and roll in the dirt, like a dog would, she wrote. He got up on his feet and started walking, then running toward us. The bison struck her head-on and she was airborne, Whitehill told KPNX-TV in Phoenix. I think she did one or two backflips in the air, and I was screaming and yelling trying to distract him. She landed pretty hard on her back. Harris, 47, was airlifted to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she recovering from seven fractured vertebrae, collapsed lungs and bruising. Whitehill got down on one knee beside my hospital bed, Monday night, Harris wrote in a Facebook post that included a photo of the ring on her finger. Without any hesitation I said yes! Whitehill started a GoFundMe campaign for Harris medical bills. In an update posted Thursday, he said Harris does not need surgery but does have to wear a back brace to keep her spine immobilized. The bison attack was the first in Yellowstone in just over a year, park officials said. Earlier this month, as Americans celebrated the July 4th holiday, Israel committed its umpteenth massacre in the West Bank town of Jenin, in a territory illegally occupied by Israel for the past 56 odd years. The brazen and unprovoked attack by the US funded Israeli military consisted of bombings on civilian areas by Apache helicopters and drones (paid for by US taxpayers) with bulldozers rampaging through neighborhoods inhabited by Palestinian communities already traumatized by decades of occupation and restrictions on daily life. The Jenin massacre left twelve Palestinians dead, four of them children. The youngest two victims were 15 and 17 years old, with 50 reported injured. Equally insidiously, a staggering 3000 Palestinian civilians were violently displaced, with many media reports of Israeli soldiers forcing families out of their properties at gunpoint. Predictably, the latest atrocity in Jenin, orchestrated by the domestically challenged Benjamin Netanyahu regime, has been greeted with a mixture of apathy and support by the entirety of the US political establishment. Despite vague comments by President Joe Biden pointing to the extreme right wing nature of some Israeli politicians, U.S. aid to Israel to the tune of $3 billion per year continues unabated. The U.S. governments own Conventional Arms Transfer Policy (CAT) supposedly forbids arms transfer to human rights abusers. In practice, human rights violations do not appear to be considered human rights violations by the U.S. government as long as they are carried out against Palestinians civilians, children and other non combatants included. Suhail Shafi, Mechanicsburg, Pa. Kind words are like honey sweet to the soul and healthy for the body, reads Proverbs 16:24, the inspiration for the name of Newports Sweet to the Soul ice cream shop and bakery, which purchased the building that formerly housed the Goodwill at 19 North Second St. on June 15. I think when we went into business, our goals were high quality products, high quality service, and just a welcoming atmosphere where people could come and be comfortable, said Ryan Fortenbaugh, who co-owns Sweet to the Soul along his wife, Dawn. We look at it not just as a business, but as a ministry. You can see the Bible verse on the wall and our name came from that verse, so we look at it as a ministry within the community. The Fortenbaughs are members of Central Baptist Church, Millerstown, where they have lived the past 21 years, and their faith has guided them throughout the life of the creamery. The couple are both central Pennsylvania natives who graduated from Susquenita High School. Their daughter, Mallory, handles the baking. I work in accounting and my wife is a schoolteacher [starting this business] was more of my wife and daughters idea, Fortenbaugh said. My wife kept saying, There are no ice cream shops anywhere in Newport, and after a few years I just said thats enough talking about it, lets do it. The shop at 31 North Second St. opened on Feb. 25, 2021, and has since developed a reputation in the community for quality ice cream and fresh baked goods. The current location seats 28, and Fortenbaugh anticipates that the new location will seat at least 50. Fortenbaugh plans to build a dividing wall to create two storefronts with the goal of leasing the unused space to another small business. He anticipates that the new location will be up and running sometime in September. SUPER SCOOPERS The Fortenbaugh family, which recently purchased the former Goodwill building at 19 North Second St. in Newport, will be moving their bakery and ice cream shop, Sweet to the Soul, to the new location sometime in September. Forming the Fortenbaugh family are (from left) Jarrett Fortenbaugh, Emmett Fortenbaugh, Rachel Fortenbaugh, Zachary Fortenbaugh, Winona Fortenbaugh, Dawn Fortenbaugh, Ryan Fortenbaugh, Colten Fortenbaugh, Emily Fortenbaugh, Willa Fortenbaugh, Mallory Allen and Frank Allen. He has heard rumors circulating speculating that the new location will also be a restaurant, which he said isnt the case. Im going to squash that rumor right now. We are not. Sweet to the Soul offers a constant rotation of 15 seasonal freshly made ice cream flavors, as well as an assortment of baked goods. On Saturdays, the shop offers Soul Rolls, which are crowd-pleasing cinnamon rolls. The shop employs roughly 18 people, many of whom are students. Weve been blessed in that area, Fortenbaugh said. Our staff has been really awesome from day one. Weve never advertised that were hiring, and weve got kids inquiring about [jobs]. Sweet to the Soul is open throughout most of the year, closing right before Christmas and reopening in the beginning of February. They are open 3 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to 9 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and 2 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. The shop also offers catering. They frequently appear at local events and festivals, and are booking into 2024 for special events such as wedding receptions. For more information on Sweet to the Soul, or just to see what their current flavors are, visit sweettothesoulnewport.com, or email sweettothesoulnewport@gmail.com. By Patricia Hurtado, Bloomberg News (TNS) Donald Trumps legal woes are mounting just as the race for the 2024 presidential election heats up. The former president, who is campaigning for another term in the White House, potentially faces as many as six criminal and civil cases in the next year, including lawsuits against him, his family and companies. Four of those trials have already been scheduled. The trials, some of which are expected to last for weeks, overlap with key primary election dates, raising questions about the obstacles and consequences Trump will have to face as he ramps up his 2024 campaign. GOP voters will be choosing their nominee in a series of primaries beginning Jan. 15 in Iowa. The most serious are two criminal indictments against Trump, which both potentially carry prison terms upon conviction. One brought by the Justice Department and another by state prosecutors in Manhattan. Trump also faces two civil suits in both state and federal court in New York. Two other possible criminal trials involving Trump are still up in the air. Special counsel Jack Smith is conducting a second investigation against the former president into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. No charges have been announced, but an investigation letter Trump received signals that another federal indictment may be on the way. Meanwhile, the former president could soon be indicted by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis in Atlanta, who has spent months investigating his alleged election interference in Georgia in the wake of his 2020 defeat. This image, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla. (Justice Department via AP, file)AP May 20, 2024: Trumps handling of classified documents Trump was charged by the Department of Justice in June with mishandling classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago compound. U.S. Judge Aileen Cannon, who is overseeing the case, on Friday set that trial to begin May 20, rejecting the Justice Departments bid to try the case in December, as well as the former presidents request for a delay until after the 2024 election. The trial date falls after nearly all the 2024 primaries have been completed, but before an official Republican presidential nominee is named at the convention in July. Trump will still have be in court to face the criminal charges, legal experts said. He cant say, Im too busy to come to court because Im running for president, said David Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Florida, now in private practice. Stormy Daniels in 2019 (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images, file)Getty Images March 25, 2024: Manhattan criminal trial over alleged payments The first ever criminal indictment against a current or former president is set to begin March 25 in Manhattan state court. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleges in that during the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump directed his then-lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to make hush-money payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels to bury damaging allegations of a sexual encounter. Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal the true nature of the payments in the indictment filed in March. New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has already ordered Trump had to appear in person for his April 4 arraignment where he pleaded not guilty and at a second hearing in May but excused the former president from at least one court proceeding while he was campaigning. Trumps next scheduled court appearance in that case is Jan. 4. E. Jean Carroll arrives at Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, file)AP Photo/John Minchillo Jan. 15, 2024: E. Jean Carrolls defamation suit Trump faces a second trial over allegations brought by columnist E. Jean Carroll, starting Jan. 15 in Manhattan federal court. In May, Carroll won a landmark verdict against Trump when a jury found him liable for sexually abusing her during an alleged attack in a dressing room in 1996 and awarded her $5 million in damages. Carroll claims in this 2019 suit that Trump defamed her by accusing her of fabricating the attack in order to gain attention and sell a book. Carroll is seeking at least $10 million in damages. Trump didnt appear in court for the first trial with Carroll and his lawyers havent said if hell attend the second trial or the state suit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. Oct. 2, 2023: New York Attorney Generals fraud suit Trump faces off with New York states top prosecutor in a trial in Manhattan state court starting Oct. 2 in a $250 million fraud case against the former president, his company and two of his sons. The suit filed by James in September 2022 alleges that Trump, his sons and their family business overvalued his assets by billions of dollars. New York state Judge Arthur Engoron, who has rejected Trumps bid to throw out the case, directed the trial would start in October come hell or high water. Engoron has estimated the trial could last as long as two months. James alleges Trump and his sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, lied to lenders and insurers about the value of the former presidents assets in order to get favorable loan terms and lower insurance premiums. Longtime Ironman Canada athlete and volunteer Andrea Gardiner has some fun directing racers at the recent Peach Classic Triathlon as a way of giving back to the sport she loves. Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer centers on two pivotal moments in J. Robert Oppenheimers career. The first one is Project Manhattan, the research and development that produced the first nuclear weapons, and the second one is the security hearing that resulted in him having his security clearance revoked due to fears of him being an agent for the Soviet Union. Nolan introduces a wave of characters who played important roles in these moments, with A-list actors portraying them. Heres a breakdown of the most important figures in the movie and how they influenced Oppenheimers life: Cillian Murphy portrays J. Robert Oppenheimer During the Manhattan Project, J. Robert Oppenheimer played a pivotal role as the scientific director of the Los Alamos Laboratory, leading a team of brilliant minds to develop the first atomic bomb. His expertise and leadership were instrumental in the successful construction of the bomb, which ultimately played a significant role in ending World War II. However, after the war, concerns arose about Oppenheimers past associations with Communist individuals and groups. These concerns led to a security hearing in 1954, where Oppenheimer faced allegations of being a security risk. The culmination of this highly controversial hearing resulted in Oppenheimers security clearance being revoked, leaving a stain on his once-illustrious career. Emily Blunt at the photo call for the film 'Oppenheimer' on July 12, 2023 in London. Vianney Le Caer (Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP) Emily Blunt portrays Katherine Kitty Oppenheimer Kitty Oppenheimer was a German American biologist, botanist, and a member of the Communist Party of America. Before she met Robert Oppenheimer, she was the common-law wife of activist Joe Dallet. She was married to Richard Stewart Harrison, a medical doctor with degrees from Oxford University, when she met Oppenheimer while working at the California Institute of Technology, where Harrison was attending a residency. She began an affair with Oppenheimer, and later divorced Harrison after getting pregnant from Robert. During the Manhattan Project, she worked for the director of the Health Group at Los Alamos, Louis Hempelmann, conducting blood tests to assess the danger of radiation. After the war, she became an alcoholic and developed pancreatitis. After Roberts death, she lived with Robert Serber until she died of an embolism on October 27, 1972. Matt Damon portrays Leslie Groves Lieutenant General Leslie Richard Groves Jr. was a United States Army Corps of Engineers officer who oversaw the construction of the Pentagon and directed the Manhattan Project. Despite wanting a combat assignment for the war, Chief of Army Service Forces Brigadier General Brehon B. Somervell recommended him and later told him, If you do the job right, it will win the war. Groves met with J. Robert Oppenheimer to discuss the creation of a laboratory where the atomic bomb could be designed and tested. Groves was impressed with Oppenheimers knowledge and the fact that he understood the issues involved in setting up a laboratory in a remote area. According to later testimonies, Groves detected an overweening ambition in Oppenheimer, which convinced him that the scientist was the best and only man to run the laboratory. During the Manhattan Project, Groves was aware that Oppenheimer had met Haakon Chevalier, one of his Communist associates, and that he told him that a scientist could transmit information of a technical nature to the Soviet Union. Oppenheimer told security officers that three men at Berkeley had been solicited for nuclear secrets by a person who had Communist connections. Groves promised to keep the identity of the three men from the FBI. Groves kept Oppenheimer in the project due to his importance. On July 20, 1943, he ordered that Oppenheimer be given a security clearance without delay, irrespective of the information which you have concerning Mr. Oppenheimer. He is absolutely essential to the project. During Oppenheimers security hearing, Groves testified against Oppenheimer. Although he reaffirmed his decision to hire Oppenheimer, he said that under the security criteria in effect in 1954, he would not clear Dr. Oppenheimer today. Robert Downey Jr. upon his arrival for the premiere of the movie 'Oppenheimer' at the Grand Rex cinema in Paris on July 11, 2023. JULIEN DE ROSA (AFP) Robert Downey Jr. portrays Lewis Strauss Lewis Strauss was a major figure in the development of nuclear weapons. He served two terms in the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, the second as its chairman, and he was the driving force in the Oppenheimer security hearings held in April 1954. Strauss had a complicated relationship with Robert Oppenheimer. After the war, in 1947, Strauss offered Oppenheimer the position of director of the Institute for Advanced Study at Princeton. Strauss wanted the development of thermonuclear weapons and a doctrine of deterrence. However, Oppenheimer opposed the development of the hydrogen bomb and proposed a national security strategy based on atomic weapons and continental defense. Strauss later resented the scientist for his humiliation before Congress regarding opposition to the export of radioactive isotopes to other nations, which Strauss supported. Oppenheimer was called before the Joint Committee on Atomic Energy over the issue in July 1949 and testified that: My own rating of the importance of isotopes in this broad sense is that they are far less important than electronic devices but far more important than, let us say, vitamins, somewhere in between. Oppenheimers links to the Communist Party became a concern for Strauss, who distrusted the scientist. In September 1953, Strauss asked FBI director J. Edgar Hoover to initiate surveillance to track Oppenheimers movements. He later had the AEC staff compile a list of charges against the scientist and presented them to him in December 1953. Despite the support of numerous leading scientists and other prominent figures, Oppenheimer was stripped of his clearance one day before it would have expired anyway, as Strauss had wanted. As a result, Strauss has often been regarded as a villain in American history. Florence Pugh portrays Jean Tatlock Jean Tatlock was a member of the Communist Party and a reporter and writer for the partys publication Western Worker. She is also known for her romantic relationship with Oppenheimer. Tatlock met Oppenheimer in 1936 when she was a graduate student and Oppenheimer was a professor of physics at Berkeley. Reportedly, they had a passionate relationship, and although Robert proposed to her twice, she refused. Tatlock struggled with her sexuality and dealt with depression. The couple continued to see each other after Oppenheimer became involved with Kitty Harrison, whom he married on November 1, 1940. He spent New Year with Tatlock in 1941. According to some historians, Oppenheimer had an extramarital affair with Tatlock while he was working on the Manhattan Project. However, others point out that they only met once after he was picked as the head of the Los Alamos Laboratory in June 1943. There are conflicting accounts of what happened during their last meeting. She died by suicide on January 5, 1944. Oppenheimer later named the first test of a nuclear weapon Trinity in reference to one of John Donnes poems. Some say that Tatlock introduced Oppenheimer to the author, and it is widely believed he named the test as a tribute to her. During Oppenheimers security hearing, his association with Tatlocks friends was used as evidence against him. Josh Hartnett portrays Ernest Lawrence Ernest Lawrence was an American nuclear physicist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1939 for his invention of the cyclotron. He worked on uranium-isotope separation for the Manhattan Project. He met Oppenheimer at Berkeley, becoming one of his best friends (he later named his son Robert after the physicist). He did not oppose the investigation of Oppenheimer. He tended to distance himself from those under investigation rather than supporting them. He said he was unable to testify at the hearing because of illness. However, an interview transcript in which Lawrence stated that Oppenheimer should never again have anything to do with the forming of policy was presented at the hearing, and several other members of Lawrences Radiation Laboratory did testify against Oppenheimer in person. This stained their reputation within the scientific community. Benny Safdie portrays Edward Teller Edward Teller was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist who is known as the father of the hydrogen bomb. He was also a member of the Manhattan Project. He also testified against Oppenheimer at his security clearance hearing. Teller had a difficult relationship with Oppenheimer as they clashed many times over issues relating to fission and fusion research. He was the only member of the scientific community to state that Oppenheimer should not be granted security clearance. He testified: I would like to express a feeling that I would feel personally more secure if public matters would rest in other hands. His testimony has been described as the most damning, and he was singled out and blamed for the hearings ruling. Robert Christy, a theoretical physicist, refused to shake his hand, and Teller was ostracized by the physics community. David Dastmalchian portrays William L. Borden William L. Borden was an American lawyer who worked as the executive director of the United States Congress Joint Committee on Atomic Energy. He advocated for nuclear weapons development in the United States government. Borden is better known for having written a letter accusing Robert Oppenheimer of being an agent of the Soviet Union, which led to the Oppenheimer security hearing of 1954. He testified against Oppenheimer, but he couldnt challenge him with charges of treason. Tom Conti portrays Albert Einstein Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist considered one of the most influential scientists of all time. He is best known for developing the theory of relativity and made important contributions to quantum mechanics. Einstein was one of the scientists who wrote a letter to President Theodore Roosevelt, recommending that the U.S. pay attention and engage in nuclear weapons research. In 1954, a year before his death, Einstein said to his old friend, Linus Pauling, I made one great mistake in my life when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that atom bombs be made; but there was some justification: the danger that the Germans would make them... He later developed a relationship with Robert Oppenheimer, who said about Einstein: He was almost wholly without sophistication and wholly without worldliness... There was always with him a wonderful purity at once childlike and profoundly stubborn. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin released a statement on the House Republicans interviewing a Penn Biden Center employee and finding no evidence of classified document wrongdoing. Rep. Raskin said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA, Committee Republicans investigation of President Bidens handling of records has once again yielded no evidence of any wrongdoing by President Biden. During a transcribed interview with a Penn Biden Center employee responsible for human resources and facilities maintenance, she confirmed that she was rarely present at the Penn Biden Center between March 2020 and November 2022 and knew nothing about the records at issue. The Republican probe is a madcap scavenger hunt designed to distract everyone from former President Trumps actual 37-count criminal indictment and the revelations that he obstructed justice and willfully retained our nations most sensitive national security documents in unlocked and unsecure rooms at his Mar-a-Lago Club with thousands of guests traipsing through. Ranking member Raskin was correct. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) is trying to distract the country from former President Trumps 37 felony charges and classified documents trial. Comer and Republicans have shown a relentless ability to fail. The IRS whistleblower hearing was a bust, and everything that House Republicans have tried to inject the Biden conspiracy theories into the national conversation has gotten them nowhere. House Republicans view their mission as using their majority to get Donald Trump back into the White House, but at every turn, Comer, Jordan, McCarthy, and the crew have done nothing, but fail. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Jack Schlossberg the only grandson of former president John F. Kennedy endorsed President Biden on Friday while blasting the candidacy of his cousin RFK Jr. Schlossberg said in a video posted on Instagram: Under Biden, weve added 13 million jobs, unemployment is at its lowest in 60 years. Biden passed the largest investment in infrastructure since the New Deal and the largest investment in green energy ever. Hes appointed more federal judges than any president since my grandfather. He ended our longest war. He ended the Covid pandemic, and he ended Donald Trump. These are the issues that matter. And if my cousin, Bobby Kennedy Jr., cared about any of them, he would support Joe Biden too. Instead, hes trading in on Camelot, celebrity conspiracy theories and conflict for personal gain and fame. Ive listened to him. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president. What I do know is his candidacy is an embarrassment. Lets not be distracted again by somebodys vanity project. Im excited to vote for Joe Biden in my states primary, and again in the general election. And I hope you will too. Video: President John F. Kennedys grandson endorses President Biden, slams Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his campaign. pic.twitter.com/IiVCZ98pz6 Mike Sington (@MikeSington) July 21, 2023 Members of the Kennedy family have denounced RFK Jr.s anti-Semitic comments. RFK Jr.s appearance before Jim Jordans Weaponization of Government subcommittee was a disaster, and Kennedy was caught lying to Congress. There is no reason for RFK Jr. to be running for president. He seems to be treading on the family name while smearing his familys legacy. Democracy matters, and it is good for incumbents to be challenged, but RFK Jr. is allowing himself to be used as a tool of Trump and MAGA. He is not a serious candidate. Kennedy is being bankrolled by the right in an effort to cause chaos in the Democratic presidential primary. If RFK Jr. really cared about the issues, and the threat to democracy posed by Donald Trump, he would abandon his campaign and endorse President Biden. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Vice President Kamala Harris called out Florida, and Ron DeSantis wilted and couldnt take the heat. Vice President Harris said: And speaking of our children, extremists pass book bans to prevent them from learning our true history book bans in this year of our Lord 2023. And while they do this, check it out, they push forward revisionist history. Just yesterday, in the State of Florida, they decided middle school students will be taught that enslaved people benefited from slavery. They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it we who share a collective experience in knowing we must honor history and our duty in the context of legacy. Video of Vice President Harris: Team DeSantis responded: The Harris-Biden administration is obsessed with Floridayet they ignore the chaos at the border, crime-infested cities, economic malaise, and the military recruitment crisis. Maybe if Bidens granddaughter moved to Florida hed actually visit her. Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 21, 2023 Thats it. That is the best that they can come up with? Kamala Harris brought the heat, and instead of using the moment to tout something positive that DeSantis has done his campaign made a nonsensical claim and they replied with an insult. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris dont spend much time talking about Florida. Ron DeSantis wishes that they did because attention from the President and Vice President would elevate his campaign, which is being buried under the rubble of Donald Trump and his legal dramas. Vice President Harriss comments should be viewed as a test. The Vice President brought the heat, and Ron DeSantis responded like he was complaining about being picked on. Ron DeSantis doesnt belong on the presidential stage. He is a small-time governor who needs to go back to Florida and rule his little kingdom until his term is over. Sting is the first big name confirmed for the new Christmas by Starlite festival. The 71-year-old British musician who has as much star power as any current artist has been announced as the headliner of the concert that will take place in Madrid in mid-December. The winner of 17 Grammy awards continues to travel the world on the My Songs tour, performing his most important repertoire both as a solo artist and as the frontman of The Police. Stings eldest son, Joe Sumner, is joining him on tour and has embraced his fathers legacy as a talented bassist; he even uses his paternal surname in his stage name. This summer, Sting will perform The Polices most emblematic song, Every Breath You Take, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a pop anthem par excellence. The tune is so catchy and enduring that it was even studied by researchers at the University of Denmark, and in 2019 BMI records, the leading copyright company, recognized it as the most played song in formula radio history. In July 1983, it dethroned classic songs like Michael Jacksons Beat It, David Bowies Lets Dance and Irene Caras Flashdance... What a Feeling on the Billboard Charts and catapulted the songwriter to stardom. But the songs creation and success also served as the epitaph for Stings first marriage and for his band, which helped define the 1980s music scene. Its a nasty little song, Sting once said of the tune that had just made The Police the worlds most popular pop band. He wrote it while in the middle of an inspirational retreat in Jamaica, at the house that formerly belonged to Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond series. One couple told me Oh we love that song; it was the main song played at our wedding! I thought, Well, good luck. I think the song is very, very sinister and ugly and people have actually misinterpreted it as being a gentle little love song, when its quite the opposite. Sting said. Despite the romantic and seductive packaging that has made Every Breath You Take a common choice for first wedding dances for decades, the British musician has always maintained that the song was a therapeutic way of coping with the breakup of his first marriage to actress Frances Tomelty, the mother of his first two children. It was also a way to channel feelings such as jealousy, surveillance and ownership. Sting with his first wife, actress Frances Tomelty, in London on July 13, 1982. PA Images (Getty Images) The divorce was avidly covered in the press at the time. After almost a decade with the Irish actress, Sting began a romance with Trudie Styler, one of Tomeltys best friends. Since 1977 before Sting had even formed the band that would turn him into a global phenomenon the actress had been the couples neighbor in a building in the London neighborhood of Bayswater, near Notting Hill. As he writes in his autobiography, Broken Music, he fell in love with Styler the very moment he met her, but his engagement kept him from acting on it for years. After word of the infidelity got out, the scandal took its toll on Styler. Her brilliant career came to a sudden halt amid accusations of gold-digging and misogynistic comparisons with Yoko Ono; she was blamed for The Police breaking up a few months after her romance with Sting began. She had previously traveled with the band on its triumphant 1983 world tour, even though Sting was still married to Tomelty. A few months later, without an official announcement, the trio that Sting formed with Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland disbanded after five studio albums, numerous clashes between egos, volatile temperaments and hit songs like Roxanne. The Police in Japan, January 3, 1981. Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music (Getty Images) It was the least ideal situation you can imagine. Neither of us are proud of a situation that happened it just happened. We loved each other and we lived together and then we got married and we had more kids. And thats our life story, the actress told The Guardian. The following year, Mickey, the first of the couples four children, was born, and Sting and Styler got married in 1992. Despite his fruitful reproductive history, Sting revealed in People magazine that his life goals never included fatherhood: I became a dad by accident six times thats how smart I am. Yet they were the happiest accidents of my life because theyre remarkable human beings. When the media harassment finally stopped, Styler reinvented herself by producing social and humanitarian-themed documentaries she was named a UNICEF ambassador although she continues to appear in small and sporadic film and television roles. The couples early years were turbulent, but in 2023 the pair can now boast of being one of the most stable, long-lasting and influential marriages in Hollywood; they are friends with the likes of Robert De Niro, Madonna and the Clintons. Together, they have engaged in environmental activism with the Rainforest Foundation; supported indigenous peoples in Africa, Asia and South America; become trailblazers in promoting the advantages of organic food; and debunked the taboos surrounding tantric sex. The pair also shares a passion for viticulture and successfully market the wine produced on their 350-hectare estate in Tuscany. The secret to their long and successful relationship? We love each other, but we actually like each other and thats an important distinction there. So, you can have both, and I think thats important. Be married to your best friend, Sting said. Sting and his second and current wife, Trudie Styler, in New York in 1985. Robin Platzer/IMAGES (Getty Images) With an estimated fortune of over $400 million, the British star is considered one of the worlds wealthiest artists after selling his entire catalog of songs to Universal Music last year for an astronomical sum. Just a few weeks ago, rapper Sean Diddy Combs (better known as Puff Daddy) made headlines when he admitted his alleged payment to Sting of $5,000 a day for sampling Every Breath You Take in his 1997 hit Ill Be Missing You. Although Sting complained at the time that Combs had not asked for permission to use his song, he now boasts of their friendship and acknowledges that he sent a couple of his children to college with the proceeds from the tribute to a work that, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary, remains as relevant as ever. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print An Iowa voter asked Trump about his faith journey and who mentored him. The former president responded with a meltdown about grand juries and how hard hes had it. Trump was asked, My question is, how has your faith grown since you decided in 2015 to run for president? And who has mentored you in your faith journey? This was Trumps answer: Such a great question. Ive seen so much heartache and turmoil. I was a developer and other things. I had a wonderful life before all of this. I didnt know what a grand jury was. I didnt know what a subpoena was. I had a wonderful life. Let me ask you a question are you glad you didnt? I couldnt be more glad. Im so happy I did it because I made America great and we can do it again right now we are not a great country. But I have gotten to know because of evangelicals, I meet so many people and they feel so good about themselves and their family. I had never had that kind of an experience I mean I know so many people who are so incredible religious people, not just Christians, when I look at the Catholic faith, you take a look at the FBI, look it with the FBI is doing to Catholics made them like the enemy. Its horrible. How could a Catholic ever vote for a Democrat or a guy like Biden after the experience? I have met some of the finest people that I wouldnt have had the privilege of meeting their religious leaders. They really are incredible people. Video: How has your faith grown since you decided to run for president? And who has mentored you in your faith journey? pic.twitter.com/7DtoHxCBBI Acyn (@Acyn) July 22, 2023 To summarize, Trump has no faith. No one has ever mentored him in terms of his faith because it is all a giant fraud, and he is on no faith journey. Trumps answer was an incredible word salad meltdown that was a classic Trumpian mixture of bragging, self-pity, conspiracies, and delusion. Any person of faith that votes for Donald Trump is exposing themselves as a fraudulent non-believer. It must drive actual evangelicals like Sen. Tim Scott up the wall that they are losing to a complete fake like Donald Trump. What stood out most about Trumps answer was that the Iowa voter didnt look impressed, as the former presidents snow job does not appear as effective as it used to be. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) explained briefly and simply how Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is pro-slavery. Swalwell tweeted: Please keep this simple: If you require schools to teach the personal benefits of slavery you are pro-slavery. Ron DeSantis is pro-slavery. Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) July 22, 2023 It would be great for Republicans like DeSantis to have to explain how being considered 3/5ths of a person is conducive to personal benefit, or how being considered the property of another human being is a personal benefit. A political party that spends so much time complaining about its own freedom. Republicans are the political party that believes that anyone should be allowed to buy and carry a gun everywhere all of the time has a much different view of freedom when it comes to slavery and women having the freedom to control and make their own healthcare decisions. The presidential campaign of Ron DeSantis is failing. The governor of Florida is being crushed by an opponent who is facing more than 70 felony counts with the number of charges likely to be closer to 100 by the end of the summer. DeSantis only has one play in his political playbook. When he is failing he returns to Florida and doubles down on culture war issues. Vice President Harris called him out and DeSantis responded with racism. If the personal benefits of slavery are so great maybe Republicans should try it. As Eric Swalwell said, requiring schools to teach about the benefits of slavery makes DeSantis pro-slavery. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Lev Parnas explained what was really going on in Ukraine while debunking the House Republican Biden bribery allegation. Parnas told MSNBCs Ali Velshi, What really happened was that Victor Shokin was a corrupt prosecutor that the whole Obama administration, not Joe Biden, but the Obama administration, the IMF, and all the Western countries wanted to get out of Ukraine because he was corrupt. The funny part is that it wasnt because he was doing investigations, it was the opposite. It was because he was not doing investigations into corrupt activity that was happening. The funny part about this letter also is that, you know, if there was a bribe paid to Joe Biden. where are the wire transfers? Where are the tapes take you talking about? I think this is just a disservice to the American public and to our democracy, what they are doing. Video: Lev Parnas tells @AliVelshi what was really going on in Ukraine and says of the Biden bribery allegation, "Where the wire transfers? Where are the tapes that you are talking about? I think this is just a disservice to the American public and to our democracy." pic.twitter.com/Arfc1okj86 Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) July 22, 2023 Parnas said that this is more of the same old stuff being pushed by the right with no evidence behind it. Lev Parnas was working for Rudy Giuliani. He was in Ukraine. He knows what was really going on. House Oversight Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) quoted from Parnass letter during the IRS whistleblower committee hearing. It is telling that House Republicans have a direct witness to what happened in Ukraine, but wont invite him to testify. Parnas wont be given the same stage that people who are fake whistleblowers that are being paid by allies of Donald Trump are getting, because Republicans arent interested in the facts. The truth about what Trump and Giuliani tried to do in Ukraine has been known for years. It is why Trump was impeached the first time. Republicans are hoping that the outcome will be different the fifth, fiftieth, or five hundredth they push this misinformation. The facts never change, which is why the Biden bribery conspiracy has gone nowhere. Rural Health Services will hold a Patient Appreciation Day from 10 a.m. to noon today at the Clyburn Center for Primary Care, 1000 Clyburn Place. There will be a food giveaway courtesy of the Golden Harvest Food Bank and Unity Outreach. The event is part of a celebration of National Health Center Week. Read moreToday's events for Aug. 9 Former Berkeley High School athletic standout Tre Morrison enters the 2023 college football season with honors, picking up where he left off last fall. Read moreBHS product All-SAC for Wingate Processions of cap-and-gown-clad young adults have completed their march to Pomp and Circumstance, and as recent college graduates many are now setting out on quests for gainful and satisfying employment. The labor market they're stepping into has changed in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the last two years, remote jobs emerged as a viable option for in-person work, mass layoffs trimmed opportunities in some technical fields and the unrealized threat of a recession and artificial intelligence hung like clouds over hiring efforts as employers took a more cautious stance on expansion. While the market continues to adjust to the post-pandemic world, employment opportunities remain high, especially in South Carolina and the Charleston market, said Laura Ullrich, a Charlotte-based economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond. South Carolinas low unemployment rate unchanged at 3.1 percent for June a lagging labor force participation rate and a record number of job openings suggest ample opportunities. But the preferences and expectations of this fresh-faced crop of mostly Generation Z jobseekers preferences and expectations have shifted, creating job searches and success rates as different as the candidates themselves. About the graduates A McKinsey American Opportunity Survey of Generation Zers entering the job market last spring showed 59 percent never expect to own a home and 53 percent dont plan to retire. Based on their expectations, they're taking a different tack in their hunt for job opportunities that may seem counterintuitive to their older colleagues. The changing landscape is forcing employers to adapt and rethink how they recruit candidates. Many young adults embarking on careers are interested in something other than traditional benefits like retirement savings and health insurance, Ullrich said. They want flexibility and more of them are concerned about how companies stand on the issues they support rather than their compensation. They want jobs where they can impact the world, she said. Megan Llewellyn graduated from the College of Charleston in 2021 at the top of her class with high hopes of landing her dream job in public relations. She is currently in sales at Eyeglass World in North Charleston and freelancing while looking for a full-time job in her chosen profession. She said the perfect job would be in person and with a company that shares her values. Having gone to school during Covid-19, a virtual work environment seems to drain me more than working in person, Llewellyn said. She also relishes connections with coworkers and the brainstorming and creativity of in-person work that cant be duplicated in a remote environment. On ethics, she said, it is crucial to consider" that "when searching for job opportunities. Llewellyn said the values and principles a company upholds can impact the overall work environment and personal satisfaction among workers. Her expectations are not unique. A recent Intelligent.com survey of 345 higher education students, ages 20-25, from the classes of 2022-2024 showed that most prefer in-person or hybrid work over remote job opportunities. Most said corporate ethics are more important than their salaries. But many wont consider a job with a starting pay of less than $70,000 a year. Llewellyns dream position would come with a salary of at least $72,000. She said her degree, experience and resilience from internships and earning her degree during a pandemic warrant that pay level. Donnie Sturm, a 2022 Clemson University graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, said those kinds of salary expectations may be unrealistic. Yet, money was definitely a factor in his job search. Sturm interned with a medical technology company in Florida that offered him a permanent position when he graduated. He turned down the job and expanded his search to other states. He recently accepted a job with a manufacturer in Savannah that offered $10,000 more and a larger bonus. I took the job in aerospace to explore a different field, but salary played into it, Sturm said. Adjusting expectations Ultimately, job choices are as individual as the people making them, according to experts. Jim Allison, executive director of the College of Charleston Career Center, said generally, students may seek in-person work. However, the choice is very much individual specific, depending on the type of job to be performed. Allison said whether they would choose an employer based on ethics over money is also an individual decision that often depends on their field of choice, career goals and future promotional and growth opportunities. Skeptical about starting salary expectations, Allison said in certain areas in certain states, $70,000 is considered a bare minimum salary, as cost of goods and services and cost of living in general presumably rise. Ultimately, pay often depends on credentials and the industry, said Ullrich, the Federal Reserve economist. Entry-level wages in accounting are mind-blowing to me," Ullrich said. She added, A CPA could earn $80,000 a year out of school. And its not always a trade-off between a traditionally high-paying job and ethics, she added. Previously, graduates with degrees in fields like child education and nursing tended to put more stock in those things. What we are seeing now is people studying accounting also feel that way, Ullrich said. Facing debt Whatever their wants and desires, many graduates quickly realize that just having a degree is not a path to success, she said. Their education continues with important lessons, not the least of which is they need to adjust their expectations. Recent graduates may have less time and freedom to wait for the perfect position as they face down college loan payments, which were paused in March 2020 and are scheduled to resume Sept. 1. For three years students didnt have to make payments. Now here it comes, Ullrich said. More responsibility to pay their debts could force idealistic job searchers to abandon their wants in place of their needs. North Charleston has halted work on a onetime budget hotel after building officials learned the owner was converting the guest rooms into apartments without checking in first with the city. The gray, six-story former Charleston Grand Hotel at 3640 Dorchester Road, just off Interstate 26, is now vacant. The property was sold in early 2022 for $4 million to Lakewood, N.J.-based CG21 LLC, which also listed a Myrtle Beach address in public land and bank records. After the sale, a sign on the door stated that the economy hotel was closed for a renovation project that would convert the guest rooms into apartments. Those plans were neither filed with nor approved by the city, which issued a "stop-work" order after discovering that construction was underway. According to the city, the building owner was told that in order to proceed with the project it needed to apply for the necessary permits. Also, inspections would be required to convert the structure from a hospitality use to a residential use. CG21 could not be reached for comment. North Charleston building official Darbis Briggman said inspections have determined that a significant amount of work would be needed to bring the property up to code before the units could be rented as apartments. The use of the building changes what we look for, Briggman said. For example, think of how much more water and sewer usage there is for an apartment complex compared to a hotel. Can the system handle that water usage at all hours of the day? What if there's a kitchen fire in a building with no sprinklers? He said the owner should have hired a professional to draw up plans and consult with the city as to what inspections, upgrades, permits or zoning requests were needed. Briggman added that hotels across the country are thinking outside of the box and looking at apartment conversions to generate a steadier revenue stream or repurpose aging buildings. The previous owner of the Charleston Grand property and past potential buyers had explored the idea of converting the rooms into affordable housing, but those plans never materialized. Briggman said the representatives of the property owner recently told the city that the apartment deal has been abandoned and that the plan now is to reopen the building as a hotel. The company will need to reapply for a business license and a building code inspection, he added. There is a process to ensure it is up to code, and we will walk through the building again to make sure its taken care of before it comes back online as a hotel, Briggman said. Its our job to ensure that anyone who stays there can feel comfortable and safe. In addition to the unauthorized renovations, CG21 is being sued for alleged breach of contract by a restaurant that leased space in the hotel. In the early 1980s, a Howard Johnson Inn operated on the Dorchester Road property. It was replaced by Clarion Inn & Suites around 2008, and the name was changed again less than a decade later to Charleston Grand Hotel. How South Carolina spent over $1.8 billion in federal pandemic relief funds is largely shrouded from public view. Numerous factors have obscured the spending from the public. The main roadblocks are loose reporting requirements and a long delay between when school districts inform the state how theyve used the funds and when the information is publicly available. South Carolina school districts have about $1.5 billion left to spend by September 2024. The money gives districts an unprecedented opportunity to improve the lives of South Carolina children when they need help the most. Students are still reeling from pandemic-related learning loss. Across the nation, students' math scores have plummeted, something that could negatively impact their graduation rates, college enrollment, and future earnings. Chronic absenteeism skyrocketed during the pandemic, and achievement gaps between historically marginalized communities and their economically privileged White peers are widening. These problems are particularly bad for South Carolina, a state thats been at the bottom of national rankings for public education for years. The cash gives school districts the opportunity to better the academic futures of South Carolina children and put them on the path to success. But without more transparency, the public will not know if the money is being used to remedy students learning loss or if school districts are tracking whether or not their programs are helping students. Shrouded in secrecy The murkiness around how school districts use federal pandemic relief funds isnt just a South Carolina problem. Its a national one. The money first became available during the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic. While some went to state education departments, most went directly to school districts. Certain pots of cash were earmarked for different activities like sanitization or improving air quality. But the regulations on how districts could use the money were purposely broad so they could access it immediately and put it toward helping students during a worldwide crisis. While this decision made sense at the time, experts say, its made it difficult to track where the money is going. Districts have to report how theyre using the money each quarter to their states education department, but the level of detail they provide is largely left to their own discretion. Marguerite Roza is director of the Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University, which examines education financial policies and practices. She called the situation frustrating. Her lab is monitoring how school districts are using the funds, but she said there is no consistent way to check in on districts expenditures or to know whether their federal relief-funded programs are delivering value to students. Part of this is due to the broad reporting categories. When the federal government and states publicly report the money, it's simply labeled as being used for things like purchasing educational technology. Rozas lab noticed that a lot of money is being used in a category called Other. The delay between when school districts spend the money and when the federal and state governments publicly report it also makes tracking difficult. Dan Goldhaber, director of the Center for Analysis of Longitudinal Data in Education Research, said it's hard to get an accurate picture of how much money has been spent. Sign up for our Education Lab newsletter. Email Sign Up! Complicating matters in South Carolina is the out-of-date S.C. Department of Education dashboard, which reports pandemic relief fund spending. In most states, the state education department publicly discloses information about spending before the federal government. The pandemic relief funds were given to states in three rounds called ESSER I, II, and III. Each round totaled a different amount and had to be spent by different dates, or districts would no longer be able to access it. According to the federal government, South Carolina school districts spent more than $1.8 billion of the total money it was given, including all of its ESSER I cash that needed to be used by September 2023. Yet, the S.C. Department of Education reports that school districts have only spent $996.4 million. It also says districts havent spent $46.95 million of the ESSER I funds. I would have expected any information sent to the federal government, given the lag times, would have already shown up on local dashboards, Goldhaber said. This reporting delay has created problems for school districts across the state. Brad Willard, chief financial officer of Kershaw County School District, said school districts are being criticized by legislators who think tons of money is not being used because theyre drawing their conclusions from the dashboard. The S.C. Department of Education didnt respond to repeated calls and emails asking about the dashboard. Whats making the cloudiness around reporting a more critical issue is that S.C. districts recently got access to the ESSER III round of funding. Its the largest round, totaling over $2.1 billion, and 20 percent of it needs to be spent remedying students learning loss. But the reporting issues mean the public doesnt exactly know what districts are doing or, more importantly, whether districts are monitoring whether their programs are having any effect. Problems with impact tracking Experts say that tracking whether pandemic relief-funded programs are helping students academic performance is critical. Goldhaber said two districts could be putting money toward similar programs, such as increasing tutoring. But the success of tutoring programs varies widely. There are districts where these interventions are having positive impacts and student achievements, and districts where the interventions sound similar, but they arent having much impact, he said. One problem hes noticed is that many districts are putting money toward programs like summer school or online tutoring but are not monitoring whether students actually participate in these activities. Part of the issue is that the pandemic is in the rearview mirror and parents aren't as concerned about learning loss as they were a couple of years ago. A school might recommend a student do online tutoring, but whether students follow through is largely dependent on parents urging them to take advantage of these resources. In addition to tracking whether students participate in pandemic relief-funded programs to combat learning loss, Roza recommends that districts pay close attention to tests that monitor students academic progress throughout the school year. She said districts can use tests like the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test to see if a program not working, to react quickly and improve a program that may not be effectively assisting students and put more money toward one that is helping them succeed. Did you know, you can do much of your business online with Social Security? This means no need to call or visit a local Social Security office. You can take your time completing our online applications and even save your progress to return to later. Read moreApply for Social Security benefits online PHILADELPHIA Local law enforcement say they have discovered the body of the 2-year-old Charleston girl who disappeared last weekend in the Bucks County fatal flash floods that killed at least six people. Marine units recovered a childs body the night of July 21 in the Delaware River near a waste disposal plant in Philadelphia, according to the Upper Makefield Township Police Department's social media post. Authorities identified the child as 2-year-old Mattie Sheils based on the clothing found on the child and her general physical description. Law enforcement had been searching for Mattie and her 9-month-old brother, Conrad Sheils, since rushing water ripped them from the arms of their mother and grandmother July 15 on a rural road in Bucks County, 32 miles north of where the girls body was found. The search for the boy continues. Their mother, Katie Seley, 32, was among the people killed in the floods that swept through Bucks County, a rural county 25 miles north of Philadelphia that is just across the Delaware River from Trenton, N.J. The family had traveled to Pennsylvania from Charleston the weekend of July 14 to visit relatives. The Charleston family was en route to a barbecue July 15 when a rural road in Bucks County was inundated with rising water, according to authorities. The children were ripped from the arms of their mother and grandmother, according to Upper Makefield Township police, who have been posting updates on social media. Jim Sheils, Seleys fiance, pulled himself and their oldest son, 4, to safety. The children's grandmother was injured but also survived. Over the course of the next week, law enforcement said they were deploying boats, drones, divers, and sonar technology across 40 acres of water, land and debris piles to find the missing children. President Joe Biden, who visited Philadelphia July 20 to promote his economic achievements, opened his remarks with a tribute to the missing Charleston children. Folks, look, before I begin, I want to say were praying for those who lost their lives in the flooding in Bucks County," Biden said. "Were grateful to all the first responders continuing to look for 2-year-old Mattie and her baby brother Conrad. With the grace of God, maybe something will come of it. Police believe Mattie Sheils was discovered the next day after police received a 911 call. Philadelphia police were dispatched after 5 p.m. July 21 to a report of a child located in the Delaware River near the Philadelphia Waste Disposal Plant, according to the Upper Makefield Township Police Department's social media post. A responding Philadelphia Marine Unit found the child located in debris against a pier and removed her from the water. She was pronounced dead at 5:30 p.m. and taken to the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office. The medical examiner is scheduled to conduct an autopsy July 22. Opinion articles written in the style of their author. These texts are to be based on verified facts and must be respectful towards people, even though their actions may be criticized. All opinion articles written by individuals from outside the staff of EL PAIS shall feature, along with the authors name (regardless of their greater or lesser renown), a footer stating their office, academic title, political affiliation (if any) and main occupation, or the occupation related to the topic being assessed There was a time, not so long ago, when we believed fascism had met its eternal demise. In the 1960s, Donovan, hailed as the British Bob Dylan, strummed a guitar with a bold message on it, a tribute to his hero Woody Guthrie. The words read: This machine kills. Donovan deliberately chose to omit a single word fascists. Years later, when an interviewer asked why he had altered Guthries iconic message, Donovan replied, I reckoned fascism had breathed its last. How wrong he was. How wrong we all were. Fascism never completely dies because some people never lose the desire to engage in what dictionaries define as authoritarian and antidemocratic behavior. Theres a 21st-century mindset linked to fascism, the far-right, authoritarian, ultranationalist political ideology and movement that emerged in the early 20th century. In a democratic society, it is crucial to recognize that those who think differently are not automatically fascists. Merely having diverse viewpoints should not warrant the casual usage of this term. It is important to reserve the fascist label for ideas and attitudes that actively promote authoritarianism, antidemocratic activity, and even nationalism or corporatism, often at the expense of equality, tolerance and justice. The major concern now is that fascists have managed to infiltrate democratic societies and influence others who may not consider themselves extremists. These individuals may not hold extreme views but have aligned themselves with what are now called alternative right-wingers. These leaders openly embrace fascist or right-wing extremist ideologies. They have ignited a political revolution by capitalizing on discontent, provoking and mobilizing dissatisfied citizens. This phenomenon is happening in a Western world where turbocharged capitalism often prevails. Argentine journalist and author Pablo Stefanoni published a book a few years ago about how todays rebels are mostly right-wingers. He wrote that the rise of anti-progressivism is defined by its deliberate political incorrectness, and the right has co-opted righteous indignation from the left. The pressing issue is the institutional infiltration of right-wing movements, as seen today in Spain, which will hold crucial elections on July 23. This electoral cycle revealed how these movements are actively shaping the narrative of conservative and traditional right-wing parties, their influence growing with each passing day. In the 1930s, as Woody Guthrie traveled from coast to coast across the United States, he witnessed the struggles of marginalized and disaffected people firsthand. Through his songs, Guthrie not only exposed their reality but also proposed ways to bring about change. With a sense of urgency that seems distant today amidst all the slick commercial and promotional strategies, Guthries music spoke to the present while envisioning a near future. After all, tomorrow cannot afford to wait when faced with the relentless surge of fascist ideas. Thats why Guthrie pleaded, Good people, what are we waiting on? in his song, Tear the Fascists Down. Woody Guthries guitar didnt kill fascists because it fired bullets. It killed by neutralizing the fascists. Music, like culture, has the power to defeat right-wing extremists and their antidemocratic ideas rooted in xenophobia, racism, homophobia and sexism. Guthrie fought using ideas, language, music and the shared desire to build a better future together. They say he borrowed This machine kills fascists from workers in an American factory supplying the Allied war effort during World War II. They wrote it on their lathes. Regardless, the message forever became linked to his guitar and served its purpose. Woody Guthrie paved the way for many artists and generations, with Bob Dylan being the most recent and most captivating follower. If Guthries guitar was able to kill fascists, it was simply because it was heard. As Nobel Prize-winning author John Steinbeck once wrote, There is nothing sweet about Woody, and there is nothing sweet about the songs he sings. But there is something more important for those who will listen. There is the will of a people to endure and fight against oppression. I think we call this the American spirit. Guthries music and presence should endure. To sing or stand up against fascists and the current wave of right-wing extremists, one must embrace the ideology at the very least, the spirit of a democrat. Its the ideology of refusing to remain indifferent when the ghosts of the past reappear, the very ones that Donovan thought were long gone. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Emma Egonut, 14, was splashing around in her pool at home when her mother got a frantic call from her pediatrician: Her bloodwork had come back and Emma's kidneys were shutting down. She was rushed to Medical University of South Carolina Shawn Jenkins Childrens Hospital and diagnosed with end-stage renal disease. Her mother, Mindy Busse, had no idea what to expect when she got there but immediately noticed the difference in care. They were there to wrap their arms around us, Busse said. Some nights the nurses would just come and sit with me. Others are noticing, too. Shawn Jenkins was recently ranked No. 9 in the Southeast for children's hospitals in the 2023-24 Best Children's Hospital Rankings by U.S. News & World Report, which evaluated nearly 200 children's hospitals. Six of the Charleston hospital's specialties were included within the national rankings, including a fourth-best ranking for its Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center. Teamwork and collaboration are important tools to the cardiology department. It is "the idea that the team can speak to the mission of the place and that they work collaboratively," pediatric cardiologist Dr. Mark Scheurer said. "That's the secret specialness of this hospital. It wasnt always so renowned. The original, smaller MUSC Childrens Hospital on Ashley Street opened in 1987. A $25 million donation from tech executive Shawn Jenkins transformed it into a swanky gleaming hospital specially built to serve kids. If you think back to your favorite memories from childhood, chances are they did not take place in a sterile white room crowded with medical equipment. Shawn Jenkins gets that. The design aesthetics are tailored to kids. From the colors swirling across the walls to the dinosaurs lined up against the window sills, children are welcomed into a space where they can explore. In the waiting rooms, its normal to see children skipping, delighting in all the spaces, nooks, and artworks the hospital offers to turn a potentially depressing atmosphere into little points of discovery. Where a bitter, metallic scent is usually present in hospitals, the clean, sharp smell of Lysol hits the nose instead. Instead of plain white walls, murals cover the hallways. Kid-friendly spaces are important for their health. Hospitalized children under age two require nearly 40 percent more nursing care for their physical and psychological needs as well as their everyday need to just be a child, according to an article by RWJ Barnabas Health. Children react to spaces and environments, Child Life Program Director Betsy McMillan said. "They get the message, This place is just for me! The hospital's philosophy centers around making sure kids can be kids. Children dont know exactly how to be sick, McMillan added. Kids just want to be kids. Thats something we can really optimize at a childrens hospital. Adults may be more comfortable with sitting in a bed waiting to heal but children need a different environment to adapt to their surroundings. We try to have toys laid out on their bed," McMillan said. It helps them to forget the white, sterile room. That distinction between child and adult patients helps them fulfill their mission. "There is a fallacy that a child is a small adult. That's not true," said Dr. Minoo Kavarana, division chief of Pediatric and Adult Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery at MUSC. The hospital knows it also needs to embrace the family for patients who can spend weeks or even longer there. Emma was at Shawn Jenkins for a month before she switched to outpatient dialysis care. "You have to remember you're not just treating a patient, you're treating an entire family," Kavarana said. SUMTER The only thing that stopped Sumter native Linda Hasty from hitting a teen crossing the Robert E. Graham Freeway one night with her car was the teens light-up shoes. I jumped out of my car because it scared me so badly, Hasty said. It is common, Hasty said, to see people crossing the four lanes of the freeway between Route 15 and 521. She shared her story with Sumter city and county officials at a public, drop-in style meeting held to learn the community's views on how to make the freeway safer for all. The meeting, hosted by the Sumter Area Transportation Study was held at the North Hope Center in Sumter and was open for two hours. It is a part of a larger initiative called Connect 378 that seeks to make the freeway and area around it safer for everyone. Another meeting will be held in approximately six months once consultants the city is working with develop concepts meant to reduce the number of accidents and injuries. There were four fatalities, 173 injuries and eight crashes involving pedestrians or bicycles on or around the freeway from 2019 to 2022, according to data from the city that was shown at the meeting. The most recent death occurred last year when a 9-year-old boy was killed while crossing the freeway on his bike at night. Multiple people at the meeting said people would cross the freeway to get to businesses or visit people on the other side. David Richardson Jr. has lived in Sumter for more than 30 years and has crossed the freeway multiple times and seen people crossing. Dont waste no time crossing, but cross. Even had to run sometimes, Richardson said. On average, 13,900 vehicles travel on the freeway daily. The two roads serving the communities on either side of the freeway, North Pike West and South Pike West, see 6,600 and 13,700 vehicles, respectively. If he doesnt cross the freeway, Richardson can either use North Wise Drive, which goes over the freeway, or Route 15 itself, which goes under the freeway in the stretch between Route 15 and 521 to reach the other side. Richardson said hed like to see more light poles, crosswalks or slowing down traffic to help people cross the road. Others said they want to see a pedestrian walkway, akin to the James Clyburn Pedestrian Bridge in Columbia. Richardson also would like to see a bridge. What makes the crossings more dangerous, said James Blassingame, a pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist in Sumter, is that a lot of people go over the 60 mph speed limit of the freeway. He is also on Sumter city council. It creates a problem for the residents because the services they need are not on their side of the highways, so thats why theyre having to cross over, Blassingame said. Hasty said people will go home and cool off before crossing the street. She also said people wait until dark, when its not as warm out, to cross as well. The heat index for the Sumter area is 89 degrees as of July 21. The area north of the freeway is considered a food desert, said Dr. Brenda C. Williams, which is another reason why people cross in a search for groceries. Senior Planner for the city of Sumter Kyle Kelly said there was an average of 78 crossings a day based on a 7-day, 24 hour-per-day count in April this year. This community has one little health store, Williams said. It's a little mom and pop store actually. It's housed in a trailer home. Residents in the area can get to this store by walking along North Pike West. The sidewalk along the road, though, ends at Porter Street. The store is located four blocks from the end of the sidewalk. This is why its important for the city of Sumter and Sumter County to do something in reference to these individuals who are cut off from necessary goods and services, Williams said. COLUMBIA Chris Christie's presidential campaign is a longshot. But in deep red, socially conservative South Carolina, he may need a moonshot. The Palmetto State, if polls and the thousands that turned out to a rally a few weeks ago in Pickens in 92-degree heat are to be believed, is Trump Country. But that didnt stop the former New Jersey governor from unleashing broadside after broadside against the former president during a town hall in downtown Columbia July 21. Thats the point for Christie. He believes that by refusing to moderate his anti-Trump message whether hes in New England or the Deep South will prove to Republican voters hes the races real straight-shooting truth teller the traits that many GOP voters said won them to former Pres. Donald Trump in the first place. He failed us, Christie said of the man he endorsed after dropping out of the 2016 presidential primary and supported up to election night 2020, when he broke with Trump over his false claims of a stolen election. On Friday, Christie slammed Trump for the false election claims, using campaign funds to pay his legal fees, and failing to deliver on key promises like completing the southern border wall and allowing the national debt to rise substantially. He called Trumps conduct disgraceful and beneath the office hes asking for. He alleged that the whole damn familys on the grift and said the presidents refusal to return classified documents to the National Archives when repeatedly asked was disqualifying. All these folks who are running in this race should get real with you. They know everything I just said. And you know the worst part? They whisper it to me, he told the audience of about 100. That message came as a relief to George and Sarah Long. Hes the only one telling us the whole truth, and the others tap dance around it, said Sarah Long, a 68-year-old retiree. The conservative couple from Chapin voted for Trump twice, but they were shaken by Trumps attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. After that, theres no way in the entire world Id vote for him ever again, said George Long, a 62-year-old cabinetmaker. Christie also had barbed remarks for Pres. Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Biden, 80, is past his sell by date, Christie, 60, said in reference to the presidents age. DeSantis focuses on small issues that get everybody riled up rather than major challenges facing the country, Christie said. Gov. DeSantis wants to tell all of us what books we can read, what we can teach, what we cant teach, what I can permit my child to do, he said. Christie, who spoke and took audience questions for just under two hours, addressed a slew of contentious policy issues. He said hed prioritize mental healthcare and the enforcement of existing gun laws rather than gun control to curb mass shootings. Hed promote nuclear power to fight climate change. Hed raise the retirement age for young people and means test benefits to save Social Security, he told the audience. Christie could receive a boost from South Carolinas open primaries, which allow anyone to cast ballots regardless of party, and there were a lot of curious Democrats in the crowd. Jayne Westerkamp, a 63-year-old Democrat from Tega Cay, said shes strongly considering casting a vote for Christie in the GOP primary. The former librarian said she believes Biden is too old for the presidency and wants to help nominate a moderate Republican. Most of the Republicans at the event were already determined not to vote for Trump. Rob Schmitt, a 66-year-old independent from Hopkins, said he will vote for Trump if hes the GOPs nominee against Biden but really doesnt want to. Christie has the honesty and courage to talk about some of these subjects that are sort of the third rails, he said. Yet to win South Carolina on an anti-Trump message, Christie must make converts, not preach to the choir. Since announcing his campaign in early June, Christie has focused almost exclusively on New Hampshire. The Columbia visit was Christies first campaign stop outside the Granite State, whose Republican electorate is generally thought of as more moderate and more libertarian than Iowa's or South Carolinas. Earlier this month, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, Christie lives in a perpetual fantasy land where he thinks he can be president. Christie acknowledged hes well back in the polls. Im also a realist. I know Im an underdog in this race. I know I am, Christie said. The Longs, the Chapin couple that ardently support Christie, arent sure how he will overcome Trumps grip in South Carolina. We know so many people who will vote for him regardless, George Long said I dont know how you get them off that. Theyre so committed to Trump. COLUMBIA South Carolina's three Republican women who helped defeat a near-total abortion ban and stood firm in opposing the six-week prohibition that became law despite their efforts expect to face primary challengers next year. In a state ruled by Republicans, the senators recognize that their abortion votes provide fuel for attack ads from the party's right flank. But they don't think those messages will resonate like their opponents expect. "I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of negative campaign emails and mailouts," said Sen. Katrina Shealy, R-Lexington, the chamber's only committee chairwoman. "That's really the only thing they have to run on. They'll call me all kinds of names baby killer and all but I don't think people want to hear that. People don't really believe that." Of the three, Shealy's been in office the longest. When she was first elected in 2012, there wasn't a single female among South Carolina's 46 senators. Sen. Sandy Senn of Charleston first won her seat in 2016, an election that upped the chamber's total number of women to four. Sen. Penry Gustafson of Camden ousted a longtime Democrat in 2020, bringing the tally to an all-time high of five. All three expect opposition in 2024 from men in the House who voted repeatedly to make almost all abortions illegal. With candidate filing still eight months away, who they'll face is unclear. Challengers from outside the Statehouse could jump in, too. The five Senate women, who call themselves "sister senators," have gotten a lot of attention in national media for leading a bipartisan filibuster in April that scuttled legislation that sought to outlaw abortions, with limited exceptions, from the moment a pregnancy is diagnosable. But for two of them, a Democrat and Democrat-turned-Independent, fighting the so-called ban-from-conception bill took no political risk. "We are the ones who stepped out on a limb," said Senn, referring to the Republicans. Senn stepped out the furthest as the only Senate Republican who's consistently voted against abortion bans for years. That includes the 2021 version of the "fetal heartbeat" law that temporarily took effect last summer but was struck down by the S.C. Supreme Court as violating privacy rights in the state constitution. As late as February, she remained the only Republican voting against a revision of the law that attempts to flip the justices' decision. Like the law tossed out, the do-over bans abortions once an ultrasound detects cardiac activity, which can occur around the sixth week of pregnancy. Regardless of what that means for 2024, she said, "I can't look myself in the mirror" by voting any other way. "I don't want any woman to have an abortion," she told The Post and Courier. "But I'm not going to be judging them, and I want things to be safe for them. I'm not going to go willingly back to the 1950s. I'm just not. I don't want to have young women butchered upon." She believes the majority of her constituents are with her. According to the latest Winthrop Poll, 37 percent of South Carolina adults support a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, while 43 percent oppose it, and 20 percent either aren't sure or won't say. But when responses are broken down by party affiliation, just over half of Republicans statewide support a six-week ban, according to the poll conducted in May shortly before Gov. Henry McMaster signed the latest ban into law. District differences How much abortion affects June GOP primaries will depend on a variety of factors, starting with the makeup of each district. Other big unknowns are how and when the state Supreme Court rules on the new law. Republican legislators and conservative lobbyists say the ruling and timing could either put abortion back to the top of more voters' minds or relegate it down the list of their priorities. There is no timeline. A decision could come out at any point. Endorsements from South Carolina Citizens for Life, which has been fighting for abortion restrictions for decades, may be a bigger factor next year depending on the district. The group, which will keep pushing for a ban from the outset of pregnancy, will endorse based on surveys sent out after filing closes and its scoring of this year's votes. Senn represents portions of fast-growing Charleston and Dorchester counties, home to lots of newcomers from outside the Bible Belt. Unlike Shealy and Gustafson, Senn hasn't been censured by her local Republican parties. However, the post-Census redrawing of legislative lines shifted her district into more rural, conservative areas, which may make abortion a bigger issue than it would've been before redistricting. "I join every conservative here in our district who doesn't understand why (Senn) insists upon making South Carolina an abortion-destination state," Rep. Matt Leber, R-Johns Island, tweeted on May 4. "Senator Sandy Senn is pro-choice and I'll make sure her Republican base knows it very soon, whether I run against her or not." Asked recently by The Post and Courier about his plans, Leber declined to comment. He has not opened a Senate campaign account. But the freshman raised more than $120,000 in ousting a Democrat last year. Senn was unfazed: "He can bring it," she said. As of June 30, she had $21,500 available. His House account balance was at less than $1,350, according to their second-quarter filings. Gustafson already has one declared primary opponent for a district that spans most of Kershaw and Chesterfield counties and a southern chunk of Lancaster County. Rep. Richie Yow of Cheraw, in his fifth House term, started raising money several months ago and is planning a district-wide bus tour for the off-session. As of June 30, their campaign balances looked very similar, with Yow just $420 behind Gustafson's $16,220 in available cash, according to their second-quarter filings. Banks Burch, chairman of the Chesterfield County GOP, said Gustafson is voting against her constituents' wishes. And while the local party doesn't recruit challengers, he said, "If it's between Richie or Penry, we'll support Richie 100 percent." Gustafson acknowledges making a lot of voters angry, adding she's received lots of hateful messages. But she said she's trying to balance "the rights of mothers and rights of the unborn" while recognizing the physical realities of pregnancy and what can go wrong. "This isn't just party politics to me. This is doing the right thing and doing the best I can do for our state and our children and our mothers," said Gustafson, whose filibustering speech from the podium involved educating her fellow senators in detail on what can happen to a woman's body during pregnancy. As for political realities, she said she faces more scrutiny as a freshman Republican who flipped a seat long held by Democrats. She received censures from two of her county GOPs. Shealy, on the other hand, said she's received far more support than criticism, despite a censure from the Lexington County GOP. She had $40,500 in campaign cash as of June 30. "The Republican Party platform stands for life at all stages," Lexington County GOP Chairwoman Pamela Godwin told The Post and Courier. "Not only did Sen. Shealy oppose the ban at conception, she also most recently opposed the fetal heartbeat ban." Shealy, a former county GOP chairwoman, discounts the censure as akin to a "bad girl" slap on the wrist from a board she says has moved so far right, even for ruby red Lexington County, it's out of touch with regular voters. The chairwoman of the Senate Family and Veterans' Services Committee said she'll likely get an opponent from a member of the hardline House Freedom Caucus but says she'll combat accusations with her record advocating for children and families. This year alone, 11 bills she authored became law. Others are poised to become law next year. "Any time Katrina talks, people listen," said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield. "She got more bills passed this year than anyone else." She's also no stranger to a tough campaign. She first won her seat in 2012 as a petition candidate after allies of her opponent, Sen. Jake Knotts an 18-year veteran of the House and Senate sued over a filing technicality that ended up tossing nearly 250 candidates statewide off primary ballots. Shealy was the only petition candidate to oust an incumbent legislator following the ballot chaos. Next year could be her toughest challenge since. A flier stuck on the windshields of every vehicle in the parking lot for the state GOP convention at River Bluff High in Lexington on May 20 blasted Shealy in big, bold letters and the words "NOT PRO-LIFE" underlined on the front. On the back, it additionally listed the two other GOP women and three Republican men who joined Democrats in defeating the ban-from-conception bill. Those men include Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, who successfully led the fight last fall. He, along with Sens. Greg Hembree and Luke Rankin of Horry County, joined with the Republican women in supporting a proposal in May to drastically change the bill to ban abortions after the first trimester, making it illegal after 12 weeks instead of six. But when that failed during floor debate, they joined the rest of the male GOP senators in approving the six-week ban that became law. Explaining his final vote, Davis said that while he no longer thought six weeks represented the best balance of women's rights over their body versus the right to be born, it was a better option than continuing to allow abortions through 5 months. That 2016 law remains in place pending the court's decision. "The most important thing to me is I came up with a position and I can explain and justify it, and people can understand my reasoning process," he said. "I'm at peace with it. That's the best I can do." Conservative lobbyists who pushed for the ban said the GOP men likely won't get dinged by anti-abortion voters because they voted for what passed in the end and because they didn't get the public love of abortion-rights groups. Asked what she thought of the attention to the sister senators, Gustafson said she's been surprised by both the interest and the blowback, recognizing constituents have criticized her interviews on CNN. But after much thought, she said, she's convinced it's resonated nationwide as an example of how politics can and should work but doesn't. "We found common ground, and we're sticking together on that common ground," she said. "We have only five women. We have to be a powerhouse to do what we did, with the help of our Republican male colleagues and in the Democratic Party. "We put aside some aspects of partisan politics to do our jobs," she continued. "That's what the public expects of us and what they want to see." Sen. Mia McLeod, I-Columbia, noted she differed from her Republican "sister senators" in wanting to keep the half-century precedent on abortion laws that was overturned last year by the U.S. Supreme Court. The five came together in the debate despite their different perspectives, and that's what people across the country appreciate, she said, adding she hopes to be "pleasantly surprised" by how abortion factors into South Carolina's 2024 elections. "I love my sister senators. We fight for each other. I want them to do well," she said. "I get what they're up against more than most and I'm proud of them for standing their ground even when it's hard." Alexander Thompson contributed to this report. Catalina Vargas, Teresa Magueyal and Maria del Carmen Vazquez, searching mothers. Missing: Catalina Vargas, a 60-year-old woman who used to spend her days looking for her son. She was last seen on July 17 in the city of Leon, in Guanajuato, a state in central Mexico that has become dangerous territory for those trying to find their missing relatives. In the last three years, two men and three women who were doing search work to locate their children have been murdered there. The most recent case is that of Teresa Magueyal, who was executed on May 2 in the city of Celaya while riding a bicycle in front of a school. The United Nations has demanded protection measures from the Mexican government for the victims who participate in the search efforts. The file on Luis Antonio Rodriguez Vargas states that he is a 59 tall, 30-year-old man that disappeared on January 1, 2020. It specifies that he has three tattoos, and in the image one can see a smiling young man with glasses. Now, three years later, the information that is being disseminated all throughout social media is that of his mother: Catalina Vargas is a petite woman with straight brown hair, some gray hair and brown eyes. She also wears glasses, and on her poster she looks serious. Last Monday, she was wearing a white blouse with blue flowers and jeans. The authorities warn that they fear for her well-being, and that she may have been the victim of a crime. Vargas belonged to the United for the Disappeared of Leon collective. The members of the group spoke with her on Monday around 2:00 p.m. She was at her house. Now, these women who dig the earth to find clues and remains that can lead to their daughters, brothers and husbands, are also looking for their partner. Rocio del Carmen Gomez, spokesperson for the collective, stated that the authorities need to implement a strategic and personalized plan of action to find her alive. This is not the first time that the attacks reach the search groups of Guanajuato. On May 2, two men on a motorcycle shot Teresa Magueyal at point-blank and fled. The searcher was left dead on the ground a few blocks from her house. Dona Tere as she was known had been looking for her 34-year-old son Jose Luis Apaseo Magueyal, who disappeared in the same town where she was murdered, since 2020. On November 6, 2022, Maria del Carmen Vazquez was shot several times after opening the door of her home in Abasolo, Guanajuato. She was searching for her son Osmar Zuniga Vazquez, 21, who had disappeared five months earlier. In Leon, in October 2020, Rosario Zavala was killed in the same way. She had already notified that she was being threatened. She was searching for Yatziri, her 16-year-old son. Her other son, Ulises, was also killed two years after his mother. Javier Barajas was killed in a public square in Salvatierra, Guanajuato. He had successfully found his sister, Lupita. It is shocking to receive the news of another searching mother murdered in Guanajuato, says Jesus Pena Palacios, representative in Mexico of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, regarding Teresa Magueyal. Neither the disappearance of her son, nor the risks that she and her companions faced in their demand for an effective search, truth and justice, nor her murder, had to happen. Families deserve protection and justice, not death or the misfortune of dying without knowing where their loved one is. These murders must be stopped. This also happens in other states. In August of last year, activist Rosario Rodriguez was kidnapped by an armed commando after a mass in honor of her son, who disappeared in 2019. She was found murdered a day later in the municipality of La Cruz de Elota, in the state of Sinaloa, in northern Mexico. Two weeks earlier, she had denounced the inaction of the authorities. In October, Blanca Esmeralda Gallardo who had been searching for her daughter Betzabe for a year died after being shot seven times on the highway between Mexico City and Puebla. Cecilia Flores, who is searching for her two children, has warned authorities repeatedly: There is a price on my head. She says: My only sin has been loving my children. A country of missing people and a Searcher Barbie Since the day Luis Antonio Rodriguez disappeared, another 864 people have been added to the record of missing persons in Guanajuato. Since 1963, a total of 2,618 people have gone missing, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior. A large part of these crimes are concentrated in Celaya and Leon, with 275 missing people in each city. The state is going through a brutal security crisis. In November, a dog walking around the city of Irapuato with a human leg in its mouth led the collectives to find a large piece of land with 53 buried bags of human remains. The mass grave was next to a high school. In March, six women who were walking together on the outskirts of Celaya were kidnapped: they were all found burned a few days later. The situation is not unknown to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has declared: That is what concerns us, Guanajuato. In a country that has already accumulated more than 110,000 missing persons and where the government is practically absent, it is up to the families to carry out the search work. The precariousness of the searchers, most of whom have to leave their jobs to go search in the field, has led them to survive, in many cases, thanks to donations from individuals and private aid. One of the latest efforts is the design of a Searcher Barbie: Delia Quiroa, leader of the 10 de marzo collective, presented the doll made with scraps of clothing from the searching mothers and a shirt with the image of Roberto, her brother, kidnapped in 2019 by the organized crime for not paying for protection. At the height of the promotion of the movie Barbie, the searchers make a plea for people to take a look at those who are still missing. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Movie Title: Yahoo+ Release Date: 21 July 2023 Director: Ebuka Njoku Runtime: 1 hour 21 minutes Cast: Ken Erics, Somadina Adinma, Lorenzo Menakaya, Echelon Mbadiwe, Ifeoma Obinwa, and Keezyto With the increasing number of internet crimes in Nigeria, it seems fitting that Nollywood producers create movies that enlighten viewers on desisting from performing such fraudulent acts. Unfortunately, while creating such a movie, the message gets lost in translation. It can be attributed to the noise embedded in the film. And by noise, we refer to elements like poor cinematography, lackluster acting, and mediocre scripting. Yahoo Plus tries to reorient viewers, particularly youths, on the need to work hard and not depend on Yahoo (Advance Fee Fraud) as a means to succeed. Despite its vital message, Yahoo + makes sitting through an hour and some minutes slightly unbearable. It reminds viewers of the many Nollywood movies with good concepts that are poorly executed. This 2022 movie can easily describe what happens when Yahoo, Money rituals, Organ trafficking, and prostitution meet at a messy crossroads. Positively, the film optimises its budget and has several scenes that appear to be well thought out and unforgettable. The Plot A young lady, Kamso, in a bid to send funds to her boyfriend, requests to borrow money from her friend. She is given a condition by her friend, who is a prostitute, to escort her to business that night. Initially refusing, she agrees. The ladies set out for the location. Upon arriving, Kamso realises that her boyfriend, Abacha, is one of the two boys. Heartbroken, she locks herself in the room. Meanwhile, we see Abacha and his friend, Ose, interact. We are informed that they intended to use prostitutes for rituals to sponsor their trip to Hong Kong. Due to the new development, Abacha refuses but receives a call from their boss, Mansa, who threatens his family. Abacha informs Kamso about their true intentions before drugging her. In a twist of events, she wakes up and hits him. Unfortunately, she is soon caught and bound with her friend, who is already asleep. As the boys discuss their plans, Abacha pleads for them to release the girls. Hours pass, and Abacha summons the courage to attack Ose, which backfires. He later gets tied up. A man arrives and tells Ose he is here to take the ladies body parts for the rituals. OSE is confused at this because he assumed they were going to carry them to a shrine. He is shocked after being told that it wasnt for rituals but that his boss is an organ trafficker. Abacha manages to overpower both men and kill the doctor. He escapes with Kamso. Their victory is cut short when Ose shows up with a gun pointing in their faces. The Good The characters backgrounds are relatable as they mirror the countrys current situation. Ose and Abacha strike a chord as examples of Nigerian youths facing unemployment challenges and failed dreams. We also see the dynamics: while one still wants to keep pushing, the other is bent on taking a more illegal route. The movie was low-budget but executed with a certain level of professionalism. For example, there was a scene where the doctor harvested Kamsos friends organs, but we were not shown. However, an illusion plays out through the intelligent use of camera angles. The use of upcoming actors and indigenous languages in Yahoo Plus adds to its accolades. It was fun to see a cast, although a small number featured new talents. The Bad Lets start with the acting. It would be safe to say that it wasnt the best the actors offered. The line deliveries were just cringeworthy and had no impact in terms of tone. A character who claims to be angry spoke in a tone void of spiteful emotions. Show, dont tell dominated the screen as characters always tried to extensively explain an action or what led to it through dialogue. It would have been great to have proper scenes that led up to such activities. The cinematography was great but failed to convey the desired thriller effect. The sound was unprofessional; it sounded like there was barely any editing done, as viewers could hear crackling sounds beneath it. Finally, the scripting the whole film doesnt add up. There was no logical reason to back up why many of the events happened. One moment we see Ose trying to help Abacha against their boss; the next, he points a gun at his face. Final Verdict 3/10. If you have enough time, feel free to watch Yahoo +. Yahoo + is now streaming on Netflix. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigerias estimated population of over 200 million people makes it the most populous nation in Africa. Women and girls comprise 49.32 per cent of that population. However, you are unlikely to notice this in the political life of the country which is also Africas largest democracy. While women are making significant contributions to Nigerian politics, especially on election days, their representation in political and decision-making positions needs to be improved, an analysis by PREMIUM TIMES has shown. The underrepresentation of women can be attributed to factors such as cultural stereotypes, religion and the patriarchal social structure of the country. And despite a growing call for gender equality in Nigerian politics, these factors ensure that women face difficulties in securing high positions in government. The outcomes of the just-concluded 2023 elections in Nigeria have continued to raise concerns among political analysts and activists regarding the participation and representation of women. Although many women submitted nominations for various political offices, only a few received the nod of their parties to run in the general election due largely to financial limitations, cultural preconceptions and socio-political marginalisation by men. However, some of the few women who participated in the elections showed remarkable determination and resilience, defying all the odds to put up a good fight. A notable example is the presidential candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Chichi Ojei. Although she did not win, and even lost the support of her party, her participation significantly challenged traditional gender roles and stereotypes in Nigerias political space. Meanwhile, statistics indicate that the number of women elected to the National Assembly in 2023 is the lowest since 2003 when 24 women were elected. The 2007 general elections produced the highest number of women in the National Assembly with 34 elected. The second lowest number was recorded in 2011 and repeated in the 2015 elections with 29. The lowest was in 1999 with only 15 women elected. In the 2023 National Assembly elections held on 25 February, 11 women ran for Senate seats while 35 ran for seats in the House of Representatives. At the end of the polls, the 10th National Assembly recorded 14 female members in the lower chamber and three in the upper chamber. It is interesting to note that while seven of the 14 female representatives are returning to the House, the three senators are newcomers. These successful 17 were among the 286 women who competed in the party primaries for the 360 House of Representative seats and the 92 who contested for the 109 Senate seats. This results in a 3.62 per cent representation for women in the 10th Assembly. Meet 17 elected NASS members The three women senators are Banigo Harry of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is representing Rivers West Senatorial District; Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party who is representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) District, and Adebule Oluranti of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is representing Lagos West Senatorial District. For the House of Representatives, they are Nnabuife Clara of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) representing Orumba North/Orumba South constituency of Anambra State; LPs Orogbu Obiageli representing Awka North/Awka South of Anambra State; Gwacham Maureen Chime of APGA, representing Oyi/Ayamelum in Anambra State, and APCs Regina Akume, representing Gboko/Tarka federal constituency of Benue State. They also include Blessing Onu of the APC from Otukpo/Ohimini federal constituency of Benue State; Ibori-Suenu Erhiatake of the PDP from Ethiope East/Ethiope West federal constituency of Delta State; Fatima Talba of APC from Nangre/Potiskum constituency of Yobe State; Zainab Gimba of APC from Bama/Ngala/Kala-Balge constituency of Borno State; Beni Lar of the PDP from Langtang North/Langtang South constituency of Plateau State, and Goodhead Boma of the PDP from Akuku Toru/Asari Toru constituency of Rivers State. The new female members of the House of Representatives include Khadija Abba-Ibrahim of the APC from the Damaturu/Gujba/Gulani/Tarmuwa constituency of Yobe State; Onuoha Odinaka of APC from Isiala Mbano/Okigwe/Onuimo constituency of Imo State; Adewunmi Onanuga of APC from Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North constituency of Ogun State; Tolulope Sadipe of APC from Oluyele Federal constituency of Oyo State and Amadi Chigeru of PDP from the Port Harcourt II Federal Constituency seat of Rivers State. The others are Ebikake Enemimiete of PDP from Brass/Nembe federal constituency of Bayelsa State and Kafilat Ogbara of APC from Kosefe Federal Constituency of Lagos State. Historical account Women have historically had low participation rates in political party posts in Nigeria, whether elected or appointed. After the Beijing Declaration from the Fourth World Conference on Women, governmental and non-governmental groups have tried to boost female engagement in politics. Unfortunately, the issue of underrepresentation has remained. According to Nigerias National Gender Policy, women empowerment and gender equality are fundamental human rights at the core of equitable development. Many international and regional agreements, of which Nigeria is a signatory, like the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights with the Optional Protocol on Womens Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women all prescribe higher representation for women in politics and policy-making. As earlier stated, the underrepresentation of women in the political space is partly caused by the patriarchal norms established in Nigerian society before colonialism. The average proportion of women in Nigeria elected and appointed to political positions is 6.7 per cent. This is much less than the global average of 22.5 per cent, the regional average for Africa of 23.4 per cent and the West African average of 15 per cent. Despite their low representation in politics, Nigerian women have held important positions in government in recent years. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who in 2020 became the first African woman to be appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization, was first appointed Minister of Finance in 2003 and returned to the position in 2011, which she combined as the coordinating minister of the economy under President Goodluck Jonathan. In 2015, Amina Mohammed was appointed Minister of Environment, making her the first woman to hold that position in Nigeria. Patricia Etteh was also elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2007, although she held the position for only four months before she was removed in October of that year. Setback The low number of women in the 10th National Assembly is a setback for the goal of womens political participation as captured in the Beijing Affirmative Action. The National Assemblys failure to pass constitutional amendment bills to support Nigerian womens demands for their due representation in the political and decision-making process makes the situation worse. The National Assembly rejected a bill requiring affirmative action for women in political party administration in March 2022. Additionally, the lawmakers opposed the bill designating specific places for women in the national and state legislatures. Also, a Bill for an Act to Alter the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 Constitutions Provisions to Provide for Special Seat for Women in the National and State Houses of Assembly and Related Matters also suffered defeat. The bill aimed to amend sections 48, 49, 71, 77, 91, and 117 of the Nigerian Constitution by adding one extra senatorial seat and two more federal seats in each state and FCT for women. It was sponsored by Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia), a member of the House of Representatives. After the National Assembly rejected the gender bills, there were protests by Nigerian women groups from different socio-economic classes and backgrounds. Even then, gender advocates have said that merely affirming gender equality in the books is not enough and that the country must address the real issues hindering women from reaching their full potential, despite existing gender laws. This underscores the urgency for social reform in gender relations. These experts are of the opinion that Nigeria must fulfil its commitment to the 35 per cent Affirmative Action. Setting agenda for new administration Gender advocates and activists have argued that the lack of womens representation in Nigerias government harms the nations development. They said the exclusion of women from political leadership roles denies them the opportunity to contribute to policy and decision-making processes that shape Nigerias future. Setting an agenda for President Bola Tinubus administration, a political analyst, Jide Ojo, called for using the revised national gender policy as an anchor for each policy by ensuring the reflection of the 35 per cent affirmative action in his appointments. He lamented Nigerias rating as one of the worst countries with poor female representation in parliament worldwide. Mr Ojo cited the example of Uganda, where section 78 of its constitution gives affirmative action to women to have representation across all the constituencies in the country. He said there are also reserved seats for special interest groups such as the labour union, the military, the youth, and persons with disabilities. He called for constitutional alterations in the same direction in Nigeria, charging the 10th National Assembly to consider such moves. Hansatu Adegbite, the executive director of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), also cited the examples of Rwanda and Namibia as part of a few other African countries that have policies and laws that address the issue of low representation of women. The primary thing that has worked for them is the legal and policy framework. It is one thing to have a policy in place, it is another thing to domesticate that policy and then implement it. One of the things they have successfully done on all these different occasions is to domesticate and implement policies across, she said. She said in Sierra Leone, the Gender Equality and Women Empowerment Act 2022, is helping to change the narrative, adding that the law empowers the electoral body to reject the list of candidates submitted by political parties that have no women representation. I will tell you that the number one thing that has worked for all the African countries that have been able to have some level of increase in womens participation is this legal and policy framework in the area of politics, especially even starting from party politics to the general types of structures around politics. It is really about having that specific allocation based on the legal framework, she added. Mrs Adegbite noted that Namibia introduced the Zebra system for gender-equal politics. She said the countrys ruling party, the South West African Peoples Organisation (SWAPO), committed to filling leadership positions with a woman either as head or as deputy. For example, if you have a minister in Namibia that is a woman, her deputy must be a man. If you have another appointment that is a man, the deputy must be a woman. That was what they introduced to ensure that they had some level of equality. And because this was introduced first by the ruling party, what ended up happening was that it became a standard policy within the context of Namibia politics. So it led to an increase in the number of women in the parliament. Because of the Zebra system that SWAPO introduced in Namibia, it created a 50 per cent kind of structure to politics. So that is what has worked for them in politics and as of 2019, they had 44 per cent of women in the National Assembly. So that quota system has worked for them, she said. Womens inclusion in politics promotes economic growth Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Women Radio Nigeria, Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, said womens participation in governance ensures that democracy is inclusive and representative, saying Nigeria must promote greater transparency and accountability in decision-making. She said an inclusive government will enhance Nigerias image in the international community as a progressive country, attract international support, and thrill diplomatic opportunities for Nigeria. I feel another benefit is that it will promote economic growth because womens inclusion in governance has direct links to many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including economic growth and poverty reduction. So by increasing the number of women in its cabinet, Nigeria will promote economic growth and development which is essential to attract international investors and donors, Mrs Okewale-Sonaiya said. Also speaking on the benefits of a gender-sensitive parliament, and how it can help in addressing Nigerias socio-economic challenges, an advocate for youth inclusion and gender equity, Rinsola Abiola, said if there are more women in parliament and other appointive positions, it will be easier for bills relating to gender issues to be passed. She encouraged women to get into the political space rather than sitting on the sidelines. Research shows that when you have women being adequately represented in politics, and in government and decision-making structures, there is a lot more attention to the more people-oriented aspects of leadership, she said Things like education, and health get more attention and budgetary allocation because women are more sensitive to these issues. They approach things from a more humane angle as research has shown across the world. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The First lady of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has admonished youth across the country to be diligent and arise to take their place in nation building. She gave this charge at the 2023 National Convention of the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN) in Abuja. The convention had the theme: The Role of Christian Youths in National Building. Mrs Tinubu, who was represented at the occasion by the wife of the Chief of Staff to the President, Salamotu Gbajabiamila, expressed deep optimism that despite the challenges confronting Nigeria, the country will reach its full potentials. She encouraged the youth to emulate and imbibe strong virtues such as courage, integrity, humility and obedience to God as exhibited by biblical characters who shaped the course of history. There is no doubt that youths have a huge role to play both in the body of Christ and in the nation as a whole. There are examples in the scripture of young men and women such as Joseph, Gideon, David, Deborah, Esther, Jeremiah, Timothy and Elisha who demonstrated their love for God and were used greatly for God and their nation. READ ALSO: We must always strive to be obedient to Gods commandments and this must be evident in our behaviours and relationship to others, above all, we must love one another according to 1st John 4:12. The first charge for the youth also resonated in the sermon by the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, William Kumuyi, who also tasked youth to be God-fearing in their conduct. While raising posers on who has the responsibility to save and redeem the nation, he harped on the need for youth to first confront lawlessness and corruption among themselves and rise above false realities. He said this would help the youth to become fit and usable for the task at hand especially for those aspiring to become leaders in different spheres of life. Earlier in his address, the National Chairman of YOWICA, Belusochukwu Enwere, called on youth across the country to imbibe the spirit of determination, discipline, and dedication to God. Shortly before her investiture as the Grand Patroness of YOWICAN, Mrs Tinubu unveiled the national uniform of the body. Other awardees are former President, Goodluck Jonathan; the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Esther Ajayi, a reverend mother, among others. Signed Busola Kukoyi SA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police in Anambra State, south-east Nigeria, said they have arrested two suspected kidnappers in Anam, a community in Anambra West Local Government Area of the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. How they were arrested Mr Ikenga, a deputy superintendent of police, said the police got a tip-off on 18 July about one of the suspects, Chukwuemeka Esulo, who was allegedly looking for who, in Agulu, a community in Anaocha Council Area, would buy a black Mercedes Benz GLK SUV. The police spokesperson said the owner of the vehicle had been kidnapped on 26 June, but was later released after the family paid N4.5 million ransom. Detectives swooped on the suspect and arrested him for questioning. He (the suspect) confessed to being a member of the kidnap gang and disclosed that he was sent from the camp to sell the car, he said. The suspect hails from Ebonyi State. Mr Ikenga said, on the orders of the commissioner of police in the state, the case was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Awkuzu, whose operatives later arrested one other member of the gang. The second suspect, Ejeka Ufuo, 23, was tricked into believing that the vehicle had been sold. He was arrested when he stepped out with with the expectation to collect the proceeds of the crime, the police said. Efforts are ongoing to round up other members of the gang and recover their weapons, the police spokesperson said. The Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Aderemi Adeoye, has commended the operatives for the successful arrest of the suspects, Mr Ikenga said. Mr Adeoye urged the operatives to redouble their efforts to eradicate kidnapping in the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed Tuesday (25 July) for the arraignment of the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on the charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. The State Security Service (SSS), which has been holding Mr Emefiele in custody since 10 June, had filed the charges on Thursday (13 July), the same day a judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja gave the agency a one-week ultimatum to either charge him in court or release him. The SSS had held Mr Emefiele for over a month without charges until the 13 July ruling The trial judge, Nicholas Oweibo, of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, fixed 25 July for arraignment after he was assigned the case. Channels Television reports that one of Mr Emefieles lawyers, Victor Opara, a Senior Adocate of Nigeria (SAN), confirmed that the defence team had received the hearing notice for the arraignment. Mr Emefieles defence team has been led by a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Joseph Daudu, a SAN, in the major cases that he has filed since his arrest. In the newly filed case, the agency accused Mr Emefiele of possessing a single-barrel shotgun (JOJEFF MAGNUM 8371) without a licence, an offence said to be contrary to Section 4 of the Firearms Act, and punishable under Section 27 (1b) of the same Act. In the second count, the SSS charged him with illegally possessing 23 rounds of live ammunition (cartridges) without a licence. The offence is also said to be contrary to Section 8 of the Firearms Act and punishable under Section 27 (1)(b)(il) of the same Act. Downgraded charges The charges are a downgrade of much weightier allegations of terrorism financing and economic sabotage the SSS earlier levelled against the suspended CBN governor. In a desperate move to obtain an order for his arrest, the SSS had stated on oath in December 2022 that Mr Emefiele was sponsoring the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). In a slew of weighty allegations, the SSS accused him of sabotaging President Muhammadu Buharis administration, financing terrorism, aiding and abetting terrorism, and committing other economic crimes to undermine Nigerias national security. The agency also accused Mr Emefiele of mismanaging the CBN subsidiary, NISRAL, and the central banks Anchor Borrowers Programme. The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, who heard the SSS application for an arrest order against Mr Emefiele, had dismissed the request on the grounds of improper procedure. The agency took no further action until after Mr Emefiele was suspended on 9 June by the new President, Bola Tinubu. The SSS filed the lighter charges after over one month of holding Mr Emefiele in custody. But it is unclear if the agency plans to file additional charges against him. Many Nigerians have expressed disappointment in the SSS over the nature of charges filed against Mr Emefiele after going to town with more egregious allegations against him. A human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, is among Nigerians disappointed by SSSs charges Mr Effiong said the allegation of illegal firearms possession is a crime for the police. The SSS is essentially a political tool in the hands of every occupant of Aso Rock. They are notorious for bungling cases and creating needless political tensions. The SSS needs to rethink its involvement in cases. It is becoming very embarrassing, Mr Effiong said on his Facebook page on Saturday. The lawyer argued that the CBNs currency redesign policy under Mr Emefieles watch was not a crime. The Naira redesign policy is not a crime, and it is immaterial whether it was properly implemented. It seems the suspension and arrest of Emefiele were not propelled by any interest in holding him accountable for the mismanagement of public resources, but a political vendetta. Mr Effiong queried, Where are the charges on terrorism financing? Why is Mr Tinubu handling this case like this? He noted that many Nigerians applauded Mr Emefieles suspension owing to the hahardship e naira redesign policy occasioned on them. Mr Effiong, however, criticised the handling of Mr Emefieles arrest and detention for over a month without trial. The SSS has taken Nigerians for granted again. I am upset about the two-count charge filed against the suspended CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele. Arrest, detention, suits and judgements The SSS had arrested Mr Emefiele at his home in Lagos on 10 June and immediately flew him to Abuja to face interrogation. Worried about SSS denial of access to him in custody, his lawyers and family members had launched a fundamental human rights enforcement suit on his behalf at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja. On 16 June, the court ordered the Director General of SSS, Yusuf Bichi, to grant lawyers access to the suspended CBN governor in custody. The court issued the order based on a request by the detainees lawyer, Mr Daudu. In his final judgement on Thursdays case, the judge, Hamza Muazu, ordered the SSS to release or charge the suspended CBN governor in court within one week. He held that the Nigerian constitution is rooted in the rule of law and presupposes that all actions must be done according to the law. Detention, no matter how small, can amount to a breach of fundamental rights, Mr Muazu said. He noted that since allegations against the suspended CBN governor were ordinarily bailable offences, the SSS should grant him administrative bail pending trial. Mr Muazu held that Mr Emefieles continued detention without trial amounted to a gross violation of his fundamental human rights. But the court referenced an order from an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court permitting the SSS to detain Mr Emefiele for a period of 14 days to enable it to conclude its investigations. With this, the judge held that Mr Emefiele could not prove his arrest, detention, and investigation were unlawful since it was based on a valid court order. He described SSS as a reputable institution mandated to guarantee the countrys internal security. Therefore, the judge said the agency must conduct its operations with strict adherence to the provisions of the Constitution. At this point, the continued detention of the applicant cannot be justified without any charge against him. At the very least, justice demands that the applicant be released on administrative bail. Consequently, I hereby make an order, directing the respondents to, within one week, charge the applicant to court or release him on administrative bail, the court held. Meanwhile, another judge of the FCT High Court in Abuja on Friday declared the arrest and detention of Mr Emefiele by the SSS as illegal. The judge, Bello Kawu, held that the arrest, detention, and interrogation of Mr Emefiele breached a subsisting judgement and orders of another judge, M. A. Hassan. Mr Kawu agreed with Mr Emefieles lawyer, Peter Abang, that the action taken against him by the SSS was illegal and amounted to a nullity in view of the subsisting judgment by the other judge delivered on 29 December 2022. The judge set aside any warrant of arrest obtained or procured by the SSS for the arrest of Mr Emefiele in connection with the allegations of terrorism financing, fraudulent practices, money laundering, and threat to national security before any court. During the Buhari administration, Mr Emefiele pursued an unpopular naira redesign policy that brought untold hardship to many Nigerians. The policy put him on the line of verbal attacks from President Tinubu, who was then campaigning for office ahead of the last presidential election in February. Since coming to office, Mr Tinubu had attacked Mr Emefiele, accusing him of destroying Nigerias financial system. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A giant has gone to sleep, yet the town crier is fast asleep. The expected ovation in the village square is missing. But we cannot be caught napping. Because we drank from the spring of his essence. And it made us become drunkards of creativity. Although the man actually died, but his tomb is the temple of creativity for generations! Forever! I became a protegee of Professor Omotoso in 1973 , when I was admitted into the University of Ibadan (UI) and was taking elective courses in the Theatre Arts department. In 1974, he accepted me into his house and gave me the boys quarters to stay, along with one Keith Gittens, who later renamed himself Koffi a student from Trinidad. I stayed in the house for a year. Professor Omotoso got married to his delectable wife, Maggie, a West Indian, in my presence. May her soul rest in peace. I was there when they had, Akin, their first son. Today, Akin is one of the most prolific film directors in Africa. Through Professor Kole, I became very close to his band of Afrocentric peers. Biodun Jeyifos, Abiola Irele, Femi Osofisan, Sumbo Marinho, etc. I was in his house the night Wole Soyinka crept in at night, dodging from the military government of General Gowon. National alerts were out for Soyinka to be arrested on sight. He had written a book, The Man Died, which was a scathing expose of his prison experience and the terrible things about the prosecution of the Biafran war by the military. Soyinka was going to escape into Ghana. The manuscript of the book needed to be hidden. That night, it was buried within the Kole Omotoso official quarters that was shared with Professor Osofisan. We dug the ground. The last time I saw Professor Omotoso was about twelve years ago. I wanted to buy a house in South Africa. Prof had a fantastic one by the beach in Durban. He offered to sell it to me at a discounted price. In fact when I was coming back to Nigeria, he drove all the way to the Joburg airport to see me off. We retired to a small coffee shop because his presence was causing so much attention. He was the face of the popular South Africa GSM network, Vodacom. His character was Yebo Gogo. His face adorned billboards and every TV Station in South Africa. The anti-immigrant riots shortly after killed my interest in buying a house in Durban. Professor Omotoso was a member of an endangered specie of African literary giants who gave their lives to the spirit of Afrocentrism. These are the African sons who reinterpreted the image of the African spirit, which was badly painted by the Western PR machine. A throwback to the colonial era. A giant has gone to sleep, yet the town crier is fast asleep. The expected ovation in the village square is missing. But we cannot be caught napping. Because we drank from the spring of his essence. And it made us become drunkards of creativity. Although the man actually died, but his tomb is the temple of creativity for generations! Forever! Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin (DUDU) is a foremost motion picture producer, director and screenwriter. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Rather than continuing to throw virtual punches on social media, there is now need to press these apps to result-driven positive use. State by state, you should organise yourselves into digital communities of accountability activists. Let the engagements with your leaders be constructive, and not acerbic. If youve consistently tried to have conversations with them and this is not working, that is when it would be time to call them out. Its just a fraud Atiku vows to remove subsidy. The Cable, 15 November, 2022. Peter Obi vows to remove subsidy, first day in office. Says subsidy is a scam. The PUNCH, January 9. 2023. Ill remove subsidy if elected President. Tinubu, 13 January, 2023. From the foregoing epigraphs extracted from the media, it was clear that subsidy removal was the campaign-bride of the three main political contestants, of who Tinubu emerged winner. If you contest the latters victory, that is okay. Thats why the Courts are there; we should allow them to decide. But for the opposition to now employ subsidy removal as their whipping tool against the present administration is duplicitous. All of them sought to remove the subsidy on petroleum products. All of them elected to unify the multiple naira/dollar exchange windows and shenanigans associated with them. All of the candidates were poised for a radical overhaul of the countrys fiscal base. And these overlapping overhauls were bound to result in pain for the greater number of people, whose standards of living were equally bound to be eroded till the storms of various policy reforms settle. Lets face the latest news. The Federal Government has disbursed approximately N2 trillion to states in revenue allocations since the reforms began. This has been the first of its kind in the country. In simple terms, there has been an increment in federal revenue that reflects gains from subsidy removal that could now be put into social welfare schemes to mitigate the present sufferings being experienced. In clear terms, let me repeat this: your Governors now have your money. Your President has made sure that this happens, as the constitution empowers him to. Now, for those who choose to continually pollute social media with toxicity, as if the country is regressing daily, let me lend you a strategy: state by state, you need to organise townhall engagements with your governors and demand accountability for the huge sums now entering the coffers of your states. You need to demand to know how this is being spent. You need to equally demand financially transparency from your local government chairpersons. If your local government chairpersons still complain of funds starvation from your governors, then you have the right to ask harder questions. Someone in authority certainly appears to be playing games with the truth. Lets stop deluding ourselves, President Tinubu will not perform magic in just two months in office, but he appears to be setting the tone that fulfils the core objectives of his governments social contract with citizens. The States Infrastructure Support Fund has been set up and the purportedly shoddy old register of the national relief programme is being set aside for a better one, hopefully. Rather than continuing to throw virtual punches on social media, there is now need to press these apps to result-driven positive use. State by state, you should organise yourselves into digital communities of accountability activists. Let the engagements with your leaders be constructive, and not acerbic. If youve consistently tried to have conversations with them and this is not working, that is when it would be time to call them out. We cannot continue in the business as usual mode and expect different results. You should always remember that nation building is a collective responsibility. Collaborations work better than extreme radicalism. I have tried and tested it with proven outcomes. Lets stop deluding ourselves, President Tinubu will not perform magic in just two months in office, but he appears to be setting the tone that fulfils the core objectives of his governments social contract with citizens. The States Infrastructure Support Fund has been set up and the purportedly shoddy old register of the national relief programme is being set aside for a better one, hopefully. You can trust that we will hold him accountable to his promises. He had also demanded for this during his campaign. I understand clearly that any leader in Nigeria today has the burden of dealing with a general trust deficit, owing to the past deeds of financial recklessness. But public funds werent stolen in the past by government officials alone, these were done in active connivance with civil servants. How do we build a nation when we never change self-seeking dispositions? What are your responsibilities as a patriotic citizen? You are expected to defend the constitution. How many of us even know what is in our constitution? You are expected to stay informed of the issues affecting your community and be active in positive community or nation-building initiatives. Also, lets be clear: Many relatives and extended family members of politicians, who enjoy the spoils of office, dont complain when their side of the bread is buttered. How do we build a nation when we never change self-seeking dispositions? What are your responsibilities as a patriotic citizen? You are expected to defend the constitution. How many of us even know what is in our constitution? You are expected to stay informed of the issues affecting your community and be active in positive community or nation-building initiatives. How many of us love to build the same nation we hurl toxic expletives at on social media? How much of federal, state, and local laws do we respect? How much of the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others do we accommodate or are our arguments always skewed along tribal and ethnic lines? We will never understand the colossal malady we bring on ourselves because we are unpatriotic and are reckless in the condemnation of our nation. You want to see a new Nigeria? President Tinubu is not a magician; value reorientation starts with us all. Akin Fadeyi is founder/executive director, Akin Fadeyi Foundation. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In the Colombia that Gustavo Petro envisions, there will be moto-taxis powered by solar energy along the Caribbean coast and international airports in the middle of La Guajira desert. The president said all of this on Thursday, when he opened the second legislative session since his administration began in August 2022. He is very familiar with the Congress of Colombia, having previously served as a representative and a senator. Today, he depends on this legislative body where he no longer has a working majority to pass the social changes that he has proposed. For the first time since he began his term, President Petro has promised to sit down and listen to the oppositions response following his speech. The pulse of the second year will be a battle between the two sides, with each trying to consolidate a majority. Faced with this scenario, Petro spoke of a national agreement, adopting a conciliatory tone thats much closer to the rhetoric he deployed at the beginning of his term, when compared to the recent defiant speeches hes been making to defend his reforms. The July 20 speech is normally used by presidents to give an account of the previous year. Petros message also included a bit of this. However, he spent much of the time going over the dreams he has for Colombia the country he wants to turn into a world power of life over the next three years that remain of his government. Whats in question today, [across] humanity, is life, said Petro, who spoke throughout his nearly two-hour-long speech with a pencil in his left hand, as if teaching the congresspeople and senators a lesson. He spoke of the possible sixth extinction of the planet if climate change isnt stopped, noting the high temperatures this summer in China and Germany, all to support his proposal to decarbonize the Colombian economy as soon as possible. A proposal that recently cost [him] an excellent minister, he lamented, referring to Irene Velez the philosopher and environmental activist who, until this past week, was in charge of the Mining and Energy portfolio. Petro didnt mention Velez by name, but says that she made progress in her ministry, getting 134 companies to commit to clean energy projects and the administrations energy communities program: an initiative in which isolated residences and schools can generate their own energy. I tell Congress: the demand for oil and coal is going to fall in the coming years, the president emphasized, making it clear that the rush to decarbonize isnt merely a whim. Petro considers ending dependence on fossil fuels to be a national priority, even if a good part of Colombias revenue comes from oil exports. He sees tourism as a more sustainable economy to develop in his speech, he noted that, during his first year in power, the number of tourists visiting Colombia has increased to five million. He expects this annual figure to continue rising, eventually reaching seven million. This is one of the economic sectors that he hopes will help replace dependency on oil. Additionally, in terms of the environment, he repeated what has perhaps been the most important achievement of his government so far: the reduction of deforestation by 29% in 2022. You dont industrialize if you dont carry out agrarian reform, Petro said, referencing his second major project for Colombia one of the most ambitious for a left-wing politician who perceives land inequality as being one of the driving causes of war. He assured the legislators and the public that his government has already managed to title 2.5 million acres of land, with many Indigenous groups in jungle areas gaining formal property rights. He also acknowledged that Congress had approved a law that grants land rights to peasants. However, this titling of land isnt equivalent to agrarian reform, in which large and unexploited pieces of land could be allocated to landless peasants. We arent expropriating the land; were buying it at a commercial price, he clarified, alluding to the agreement that his government has with cattle ranchers to buy 7.4 million acres of their property. Petro noted that, given the current regulations, he cant move fast enough to meet that figure in his remaining three years in office. I propose [that Congress] take a look at a change in regulations, he added, so that he can more effectively buy 1.2 million acres per year. In his first year, he said, the government had purchased and distributed the equivalent of 75,000 acres. There was no time in the speech to mention the legislative reform that has been the most controversial in his first year in office that of health which caused a crisis in the cabinet. Minister of Education Alejandro Gaviria, who criticized the reform, was dismissed, while Minister of Health Carolina Corcho, the public face of the project, tendered her resignation. Several traditional political parties aligned with Petro harshly criticized the reform and the removal of Gaviria. The health reform has since stalled in the legislative branch, having only passed one of four readings. Similarly, Petro didnt give his pension reform any special mention in his speech. He only referenced the labor reform, suggesting that the media was allied with businesspeople, which resulted in the projects collapse in the first legislative session. In all other matters, were doing well, he declared optimistically. He didnt mention other projects that floundered, such as electoral reform. The governments so-called total peace policy had a special space in the speech. This strategy involves Petros administration sitting down to negotiate with rebel groups and finding a way out of subjecting criminal gangs to justice. The president welcomed the fact that theres a ceasefire with the ELN guerrillas, which will begin in early August. The war between the state and insurgencies is coming to an end, Petro vowed. More than three decades ago, he was part of the M-19 guerrilla group. Petro also mentioned the violence of the 21st century one that generates violence via greed, wealth, by income. This violence doesnt seek to overthrow a state, he acknowledged, but attempts to strengthen illicit economies, such as drug trafficking, illegal mining, or human trafficking. His mission, in his three remaining years in office, is to [dialogue] with those who want to get rich with something that no longer has a future. He was specifically referring to cocaine, whose price has dropped dramatically and is no longer sold as widely in Europe and the United States since the fentanyl boom. Petro didnt refer by name to anyone in his political bloc or to independent members of the Chamber of Representatives and Senate, nor to the leaders of the political parties whose support he needs. He ended his speech by calling for a major national agreement, to change how things are and achieve the goal of a democratic and prosperous nation. I believe that a national agreement is about having a more just and productive society, Petro concluded. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition I have attended a few African Union (AU) Heads of State Summits and always came away with the impression that the agenda is always overloaded. But three things struck me about the 16 July meeting in Nairobi. First, its modest three-point objectives; fast-tracking the integration process in Africa; examining the Division of Labour among the AU, Regional Economic Commissions and states, and considering the AU Institutional Reform. The second thing that occurred to me is that Africa may be weighed down by volumes of speeches, presentations and neo-liberal theorisations rather than practical plans that would quicken integration. My third conclusion is that Africa can achieve integration and development faster if Nigeria were awake. The Summits theme was the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the integration of the continent. To me, the most basic needs for these are the removal of visa requirements and the free movement of people and goods by the cheapest and most sustainable means possible. In my analysis, the most immediate need of Africa to ensure integration is the construction of a coastal railway from Nigeria through Mauritania, Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa and Cameroun, back to Lagos. The entire African coastline is 30,500 kilometres linking 38 of our 55 countries. It means that single rail project leaves out only 17 African countries. A second line from Cape to Cairo would link up additional countries like Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Chad and Sudan. We should learn that China is on the way to becoming the largest economy in the world not by conferences and declarations, but through clear-headed thinking, praxis and punishment of crimes. China has, for instance, a railway network with 73 routes, connecting it with countries like Russia, Belarus, France, Poland, Kazakhstan, Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic. Freight trains on these routes make an average 3,600 trips per quarter. The point about railways is not just about the mass movement of persons and goods, but also the fact that its construction in itself, generates massive economic activities and mass employment. Who says in building a trans-African rail system, we cannot insist that it should be built by Africans even if we require foreign support? Building railways is not rocket science. When the TAZARA or Tanzam Railways linking Tanzania with Zambia was built between 1970 and 1975, the Chinese and Africans who built it did not have much experience. But after Europe and the United States declined to assist in building this railway, also known as the Uhuru(Freedom) Railway which was to make the continent less dependent on the ports of Apartheid South Africa, the Chinese and the Africans applied themselves and built it. The tragedy is that while after the TAZARA, the Chinese persevered and built more railways making them experts today, the Africans relaxed and eventually, we lost those with the skills to build and efficiently run railways. Despite this, we can begin again with building the African railways. The issue of the fundamental need for free movement of Africans and goods is where Nigeria with its frequent, unnecessary and ineffectual border closures, hurts African integration most. Kenya rose to the occasion at this months meetings by announcing its plan to progressively abolish visa restrictions for African citizens. Rwanda had shown the way years ago when all the entry requirement of an African, is the passport of a fellow African country. The East African Region has also progressed with the idea of allowing people within the region to cross borders, not with passports, but identity cards! The African Union, like the European Union, should allow its citizens to freely crisscross countries in the union, buying, selling and offering services. The main message of Mr Antonio Pedro, the Acting Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, ECA, is value addition and the emergence of strong regional value chains that would break the continents dependence on raw material exports. Perhaps the most culpable country in this regard is Nigeria which after 66 years, does the same thing; the exportation of its crude oil with no value addition. The near criminal nature of the countrys situation is compounded by the fact that it does not even know how much oil it produces daily. Nigerias oil exploitation is so prodigal that it pollutes the entire environment including the land, waters and air, flares its gas and is the only oil exporting country incapable of refining its petroleum product needs. If Nigeria were to add value to its oil production by refining, it would earn far more money and save the continent the huge foreign exchange some African countries spend importing petroleum products. The country also has the potentials of leading the continent in value addition to commodities in general. One of the objectives of the meeting is the need for AU institutional reforms. Rwandan President Paul Kagame leads this process. The AU system has generally been weak, but was partly strengthened by the African liberation fighter and former South African Foreign Minister, Dr.Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. As the Chairperson of the AU Commission from 2012 to 2017 she insisted on professionalism, human and gender rights and food security. One of her lasting legacies was to kick Egypt out of the AU after the General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi coup. The general was brutal and employed torture, hangings, forced disappearances and mass imprisonments to hang on to power. One of the tragedies of Africa was not just the admission of General Sisi into the AU, but also his election as the Chair of the continental body in 2019. Zumas biggest gift to Africa is the Agenda 2063 Plan. Unfortunately for the continent, she left to run for the presidency of her country and the Plan became wobbly. Her successor and current Chair, HE Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, does not have the independent-mindedness of Zuma. If anything, he is beholden to France and the Chadian military dictatorship. He controversially admitted Israel into the observer team in the AU. It took the insistence of South Africa to kick out the Israeli envoy. The AU is against coups and the unconstitutional seizure of power. Sanctions are carried out against violators. But when General Mahamat Deby on April 20, 2021 overthrew the Chadian Government, Moussa Faki shielded him from sanctions while then Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari rolled out the red carpet to receive the coup plotter in the Aso Rock Presidential Palace. Nigeria is in a good position to use its size, power and influence to oppose not just military, but also civilian coup plotters like Cote dIvoires Alassane Ouattara who is in an unconstitutional third term in office. If Nigeria wakes, Africa will rise. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print SUZHOU, China, July 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Last month, the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) 68th Annual Meeting was successfully held in San Francisco. magAssist's product, BreathMo was highlighted in the meeting. Dr. Dong Guo from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, introduced the innovation of the device featured in a study titled "A 14-Day In-Vivo Evaluation of a Newly Developed Maglev ECMO System BreathMo, " demonstrating its effectiveness and safety for providing both pulmonary and cardiac support. A life-saving tool that experienced fast growth with 40% CAGR in China Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) provides essential support for intensive care unit (ICU) patients, 60% of whom develop heart or respiratory failure with a mortality rate of 23-75%. In China, ECMO has become a crucial mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for critically ill patients with data showing that the number of ECMO cases has increased almost fourfold from 2,826 in 2017 to 10,656 in 2021. (Data from the China ECMO Report 2021 and the survey of the Extracorporeal Life Support Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association) The growing demand for ECMO is also fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which prolonged ECMO support was commonly used to treat those who suffer from severe symptoms. The limitation of the existing ECMO systems exposed the need for medical device manufacturers to upgrade ECMO devices equipped with advanced functions. These features include a full maglev pump with higher hemocompatibility, an oxygenator with high gas exchange efficiency and low cross-oxygenator pressure drop, aiming to provide long-term life-saving support to patients in need. The newly developed ECMO, delivering greater performance and safety During the conference, Dr. Guo pointed out that it is essential to develop ECMOs with full maglev centrifugal pumps, which may better support patients in the long run. The full maglev centrifugal pumps have emerged as a highly promising solution, offering superior hemocompatibility, and presenting potential engineering innovations for long-term ECMO or membrane applications. Centrifugal blood pumps are frequently utilized in adult ECMO, and most of them rely on pivot bearing, which has a lower hemocompatibility compared with full maglev pumps. Furthermore, the high rotational speed can cause high shear stress, potentially leading to hemolysis. A journal article in Medicine and Novel Technology and Devices examined the hemolytic performance of pumps in adult ECMO support, which highlighted the enhanced safety and effectiveness of the full maglev flow technology. The detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis revealed that the maglev pump outperformed its counterparts by minimizing non-physiological wall shear stress (WSS) and stagnation shear stress (SSS). The maglev pump exhibited the lowest predicted hemolysis index (HI). These computational findings were further supported by experimental results, demonstrating that the maglev pump caused the least damage to blood cells when compared to the Revolution and Rotaflow pumps. BreathMo, China's homegrown maglev ECMO system that addresses the unmet medical needs of Chinese patients. To bridge clinical gaps in China, magAssist has developed a new generation ECMO system, BreathMo. The use of maglev technology reduces the risk of blood damage caused by mechanical contact bearings, resulting in safer operation. The maglev pump demonstrates superior hemocompatibility with overall low blood damage at the hemolysis level and degradation of high-molecular-weight (VWF). As mentioned in the conference, the system's flow rate of up to 7L/min is complemented by an oxygenator that maintain exceptional performance, offering a low-pressure drop (less than 50mmHg) even at maximum flow rates. Notably, the device incorporates an ultra-compact portable console weighing less than 8 kg, allowing healthcare professionals to tailor treatment to individual patient needs. In the study designed to evaluate the in-vivo performance and safety of BreathMo, the final health status of the ten sheep selected for the trial, with five undergoing VA cannulation and the remaining five undergoing VV cannulation, proved the system's capability to provide pulmonary and cardiac support. The study revealed their plasma-free hemoglobin levels were within an acceptable range, with consistently optimal oxygenator performance. The PFH values ranged from 0.36 to 14.80mg/dL, far below 40 mg/dL which is an indicator of possible thrombus formation. The autopsy examinations conducted after the study showed no complications, embolism, thrombus formation, or end-organ damage, with no device-related adverse events reported, further affirming the system's safety profile and paving the way for its first-in-human studies trial in the near future. "The development of BreathMo marks another technological milestone as we seek new innovative life-saving solutions to enhance patient well-being while empowering healthcare professionals to improve their treatment outcomes. With our innovative maglev technology that allows for good hemocompatibility, BreathMo not only provides safe and effective cardiopulmonary support but is also a new promising starting point as we continue to leverage industry and technical resources to unlock new possibilities for the ECMO field," Dr. Chiahao Hsu, Senior Director of Science and Innovation Department of magAssist. Note: magAssist Inc. has officially changed its company name to magAssist Co. Ltd. SOURCE magAssist Co., Ltd NEW YORK, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The dermatology diagnostic devices market size to grow by USD 9,108.83 million at a CAGR of 10.12% from 2022 to 2027, according to the latest research report from Technavio. Discover Health Care Equipment industry potential and make informed business decisions based on qualitative and quantitative evidence highlighted in Technavio reports. View Sample Report! The dermatology diagnostic devices market covers the following areas: Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Dermatology Diagnostic Devices Market Vendor Landscape The dermatology diagnostic devices market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying organic and inorganic growth strategies to compete in the market. Vendor Offering Agfa Gevaert NV - The company offers a dermatology diagnostic device called Skintell which is a noninvasive imaging technology for visualizing skin morphology. The company offers a dermatology diagnostic device called Skintell which is a noninvasive imaging technology for visualizing skin morphology. Caliber Imaging and Diagnostics Inc. - The company offers dermatology diagnostic devices such as the VIVASCOPE system, VIVASCOPE 1500, VIVASCOPE 2500, and VIVASCOPE 3000. The company offers dermatology diagnostic devices such as the VIVASCOPE system, VIVASCOPE 1500, VIVASCOPE 2500, and VIVASCOPE 3000. F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - The company offers dermatology diagnostic tools through diagnostic dermatopathology ready-to-use reagents with key IHC and FITC antibodies. For the market's vendor landscape highlights with a comprehensive list of vendors and their offerings - View Sample in minutes Key Market Segmentation The market is segmented by end-user (hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic labs), type (imaging devices, microscopes, immunoassays, molecular diagnostics, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The market share growth by the hospitals segment will be significant during the forecast period. This is due to the various benefits that dermatology diagnostic equipment products offer to hospitals and clinics at different levels and roles. The growth in the segment is also due to the increase in skin diseases and the presence of skilled professionals. Furthermore, the availability of skilled professionals helps to diagnose health conditions accurately through medical tests. Hence, these factors are expected to drive segment growth during the forecast period. View Sample Report in minutes for more highlights into the market segments. Regional Market Outlook North America is estimated to contribute 35% to the growth of the global market during the forecast period. This growth is due to the growing geriatric population and high prevalence of chronic and infectious skin diseases, which is increasing the demand for diagnostic products and services in the region. Furthermore, many companies in the region are investing heavily in R&D to find a better way to treat dermatological-related diseases. Hence, high investments and increasing demand are expected to drive market growth in the region during the forecast period. For more key highlights on the regional market share of most of the above-mentioned countries.- View Sample Report Companies Mentioned Abbott Laboratories Agfa Gevaert NV AnMo Electronics Corp. Bayer AG Bomtech Electronics Co. Ltd. Bruker Corp. Caliber Imaging and Diagnostics Inc. Canfield Scientific Inc. Danaher Corp. F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. Firefly Global FotoFinder Systems GmbH General Electric Co. HEINE Optotechnik GmbH and Co. KG Hill Rom Holdings Inc. Keyence Corp. KIRCHNER and WILHELM plus GmbH Co. KG Michelson Diagnostics Inc. Microcurrent Technology Inc. Strata Skin Sciences Inc. Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market. Grow your profit margin with Technavio- Buy the Report Dermatology Diagnostic Devices Market Market Dynamics Key Drivers Increasing demand for advanced dermatology diagnostic services is the key factor driving the market growth. Dermoscopy has simplified the method of diagnosing skin diseases and made it simpler for physicians to use, particularly those with less experience. Technological advancement in the field of dermatological symptomatic devices focuses on working on the precision and sensitivity of detection mechanisms. Many companies are entering the market due to the increasing demand for the devices. Hence, these factors are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Major Trends The emergence of 3D imaging technology is the major trend in the market. In telemedicine, particularly in rural areas of developing nations, 3D imaging has become very important. The field of dermatology has transformed as a result of the application of AI to imaging technologies, and the diagnosis of melanoma and other skin malignancies has improved. Additionally, 3D imaging can be used to track changes in lesion volume, height, or width, which is helpful for measuring the impact of treatment on clinical lesions like scars or acne lesions. Hence, these advanced solutions are expected to drive market growth during the forecast period. Significant Challenges High equipment and maintenance costs are significant challenges restricting market growth. These high equipment and maintenance costs are due to the testing equipment and reagents needed. Additionally, the cost of data processing is considered, because diagnostic techniques heavily rely on interpretation. Doctor visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, over-the-counter items, and indirect expenditures resulting from lost productivity are all included in the cost of treating skin illnesses. The cost of diagnostic tools has also gone up as a result of technological improvement. Hence, these factors are expected to restrict market growth during the forecast period. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio s SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The ophthalmic handheld surgical instruments market size is estimated to grow by USD 360.3 million at a CAGR of 3.3% between 2022 and 2027. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by end-user (hospitals, ophthalmic clinics, and others), product segment (ophthalmic knives, forceps, and scissors, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The increasing detection of ophthalmic diseases is a key factor driving the market growth during the forecast period. The infusion pump market size is estimated to grow by USD 5,085.17 million at a CAGR of 7.27% between 2022 and 2027. Furthermore, this report extensively covers market segmentation by type (insulin pumps, volumetric pumps, elastomeric pumps, and enteral pumps), end-user (hospitals, ambulatory service centers and clinics), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). The growing demand for long-term management and medical treatment of diseases is a key factor driving the market growth during the forecast period. Dermatology Diagnostic Devices Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 10.12% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 9108.83 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 9.45 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 35% Key countries US, UK, Germany, China, and Japan Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, Agfa Gevaert NV, AnMo Electronics Corp., Bayer AG, Bomtech Electronics Co. Ltd., Bruker Corp., Caliber Imaging and Diagnostics Inc., Canfield Scientific Inc., Danaher Corp., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., Firefly Global, FotoFinder Systems GmbH, General Electric Co., HEINE Optotechnik GmbH and Co. KG, Hill Rom Holdings Inc., Keyence Corp., KIRCHNER and WILHELM plus GmbH Co. KG, Michelson Diagnostics Inc., Microcurrent Technology Inc., and Strata Skin Sciences Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market Overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global dermatology diagnostic devices market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global dermatology diagnostic devices market 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.2 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size End-user Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ million) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by End-user 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 6.3 Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Hospitals - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Hospitals - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Hospitals - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Clinics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 40: Chart on Clinics - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Clinics - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Diagnostic labs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Diagnostic labs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Diagnostic labs - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on Diagnostic labs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Diagnostic labs - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 46: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Type 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 48: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 50: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 51: Data Table on Comparison by Type 7.3 Imaging devices - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 52: Chart on Imaging devices - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Imaging devices - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 54: Chart on Imaging devices - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Imaging devices - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Microscopes - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 56: Chart on Microscopes - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Microscopes - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 58: Chart on Microscopes - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Microscopes - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Immunoassays - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 60: Chart on Immunoassays - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Immunoassays - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 62: Chart on Immunoassays - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Immunoassays - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Molecular diagnostics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 64: Chart on Molecular diagnostics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Molecular diagnostics - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 66: Chart on Molecular diagnostics - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Molecular diagnostics - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 68: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 70: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.8 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 72: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 74: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 75: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 77: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 78: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 81: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 82: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 85: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 86: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 89: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 90: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 92: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 93: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 96: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 97: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 98: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 100: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 101: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 102: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 104: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 105: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 106: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 108: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 109: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 110: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 111: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 112: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ million) Exhibit 113: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 114: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 115: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) Exhibit 116: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 117: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 118: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 119: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 120: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 121: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 122: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Agfa Gevaert NV Exhibit 123: Agfa Gevaert NV - Overview Exhibit 124: Agfa Gevaert NV - Business segments Exhibit 125: Agfa Gevaert NV - Key offerings Exhibit 126: Agfa Gevaert NV - Segment focus 12.4 Bayer AG Exhibit 127: Bayer AG - Overview Exhibit 128: Bayer AG - Business segments Exhibit 129: Bayer AG - Key news Exhibit 130: Bayer AG - Key offerings Exhibit 131: Bayer AG - Segment focus 12.5 Caliber Imaging and Diagnostics Inc. Exhibit 132: Caliber Imaging and Diagnostics Inc. - Overview Exhibit 133: Caliber Imaging and Diagnostics Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 134: Caliber Imaging and Diagnostics Inc. - Key offerings 12.6 Canfield Scientific Inc. Exhibit 135: Canfield Scientific Inc. - Overview Exhibit 136: Canfield Scientific Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 137: Canfield Scientific Inc. - Key offerings 12.7 F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. Exhibit 138: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 139: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 140: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 141: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 142: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Segment focus 12.8 Firefly Global Exhibit 143: Firefly Global - Overview Exhibit 144: Firefly Global - Product / Service Exhibit 145: Firefly Global - Key offerings 12.9 FotoFinder Systems GmbH Exhibit 146: FotoFinder Systems GmbH - Overview Exhibit 147: FotoFinder Systems GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 148: FotoFinder Systems GmbH - Key offerings 12.10 General Electric Co. Exhibit 149: General Electric Co. - Overview Exhibit 150: General Electric Co. - Business segments Exhibit 151: General Electric Co. - Key news Exhibit 152: General Electric Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 153: General Electric Co. - Segment focus 12.11 HEINE Optotechnik GmbH and Co. KG Exhibit 154: HEINE Optotechnik GmbH and Co. KG - Overview Exhibit 155: HEINE Optotechnik GmbH and Co. KG - Product / Service Exhibit 156: HEINE Optotechnik GmbH and Co. KG - Key offerings 12.12 Hill Rom Holdings Inc. Exhibit 157: Hill Rom Holdings Inc. - Overview Exhibit 158: Hill Rom Holdings Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 159: Hill Rom Holdings Inc. - Key news Exhibit 160: Hill Rom Holdings Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 161: Hill Rom Holdings Inc. - Segment focus 12.13 Keyence Corp. Exhibit 162: Keyence Corp. - Overview Exhibit 163: Keyence Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 164: Keyence Corp. - Key offerings 12.14 KIRCHNER and WILHELM plus GmbH Co. KG Exhibit 165: KIRCHNER and WILHELM plus GmbH Co. KG - Overview Exhibit 166: KIRCHNER and WILHELM plus GmbH Co. KG - Product / Service Exhibit 167: KIRCHNER and WILHELM plus GmbH Co. KG - Key offerings 12.15 Michelson Diagnostics Inc. Exhibit 168: Michelson Diagnostics Inc. - Overview Exhibit 169: Michelson Diagnostics Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 170: Michelson Diagnostics Inc. - Key offerings 12.16 Microcurrent Technology Inc. Exhibit 171: Microcurrent Technology Inc. - Overview Exhibit 172: Microcurrent Technology Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 173: Microcurrent Technology Inc. - Key offerings 12.17 Strata Skin Sciences Inc. Exhibit 174: Strata Skin Sciences Inc. - Overview Exhibit 175: Strata Skin Sciences Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 176: Strata Skin Sciences Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 177: Strata Skin Sciences Inc. - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 178: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 179: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 180: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 181: Research methodology Exhibit 182: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 183: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 184: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio NEW YORK, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The gas utilities market size is estimated to increase by USD 445.37 billion from 2022 to 2027. The market will grow with a CAGR of 5.25%, according to a recent market study by Technavio. This report also offers a 5-year historical (2017-2021) data projection of market size, segmentation, and region. Discover some insights on market size before buying the full report -Request a sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Gas Utilities Market Qualitative and quantitative analysis of vendors has been conducted to help clients understand the wider business environment as well as the strengths and weaknesses of key market players. Data is qualitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as pure play, category-focused, industry-focused, and diversified; it is quantitatively analyzed to categorize vendors as dominant, leading, strong, tentative, and weak. The Bargaining Power of Buyers & Suppliers and the Threat of New Entrants, Rivalry, and Substitutes have also been analyzed and rated between LOW-HIGH to provide a holistic view of market favorability. Find technavio's Exclusive Analysis of Price Sensitivity, Adoption Lifecycle, Customer Purchase Basket, Adoption Rates, and Purchase Criteria One of the core components of the customer landscape is price sensitivity , an analysis of which will help companies refine marketing strategies to gain a competitive advantage . , an analysis of which will help companies refine . Another key aspect is price sensitivity drivers (purchases are undifferentiated, the purchase is a key cost to buyers, and quality is not important) , which range between LOW and HIGH. , which range between Furthermore, market adoption rates for all regions have been covered. The gas utilities market report also offers information on the criticality of inputs, R&D, CAPEX, technology, and products of 15 vendors listed below: Atmos Energy Corp., China Gas Holdings Ltd., China National Petroleum Corp., CMS Energy Corp, Duke Energy Corp., E.ON SE, Electricite de France SA, Enel Spa, ENGIE SA, ENN Energy Holdings Ltd., Gazprom International Ltd., Iberdrola SA, National Grid Plc, Nextera Energy Inc., Origin Energy Ltd., PG and E Corp., The Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd., Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., and Southern Co.Download a Sample Report Gas Utilities Market - Segmentation Analysis The gas utilities market report extensively covers market segmentation by type (industrial gas, special gas, and biogas and synthetic gas), end-user (residential and commercial, power generation, industrial, and others), and geography (Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa). The market share growth by the industrial gas segment is significant during the forecast period. Industrial gas is a term which is referred to gases that are manufactured and utilized in different industries for a variety of purposes, especially for the production of electricity. Some of the key classifications of these gases based on their physical and chemical characteristics include inert gases, fuel gases, specialty gases, and medical gases. Several types of gases such as hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, helium, and other rare gases, are available on the industrial gas market. These gases are widely adopted by industrial clients for several applications such as welding, refrigeration, and manufacturing processes. Hence, such factors are expected to drive the gas utilities market growth during the forecast period. To procure the data - Buy report! Gas Utilities Market - Market Dynamics Key Drivers The expansion of gas pipeline infrastructure drives the gas utilities market growth during the forecast period. The main factor influencing the demand and usage of natural gas is its availability and accessibility. The emergence of gas pipelines has facilitated the transportation of natural gas to areas that were not accessible before. The main advantage of the expansion of gas pipelines is that it facilitates more efficient distribution of natural gas, minimizing transportation costs and enabling a more reliable supply. As a result, this will fuel the utilization of natural gas in several industries, such as power generation, heating, and transportation. Hence, the growth of gas pipeline infrastructure is expected to positively impact the market, which in turn will drive the gas utilities market growth during the forecast period. Significant Trends The advancements in technology in gas distribution are a primary trend in the gas utilities market. One of the most important developments in recent years in the gas utility market is the implementation of smart gas distribution systems. Smart gas distribution systems leverage advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize gas distribution operations and enhance gas delivery efficiency. Some of the main applications of gas utilities include remote monitoring and controlling distribution networks with smart gas distribution systems, identifying leaks and other anomalies, and deciding the best route for gas delivery. Hence, such applications are expected to drive the gas utilities market growth during the forecast period. Major Challenges Competition from alternative sources of energy, such as renewable energy and nuclear power, is a significant challenge hindering the gas utilities market growth. As there is a growing need to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and tackle climate change, there is an increasing shift towards renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower. Furthermore, there is a growing popularity for nuclear energy due to its several benefits, such as minimal carbon emissions and the ability to deliver dependable baseload power. Hence, the significant transition towards alternative energy sources can pose a significant threat to the gas utilities market as they have to compete with these technologies on several factors, such as price, dependability, and environmental impact. Hence, such factors are expected to hinder the gas utilities market growth during the forecast period. Gas Utilities Market - Geographic Analysis The market is segmented by region APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and MEA. An analysis of key leading countries has been included. Europe is estimated to account for 34% of the global market growth. One of the main reasons for the significant growth of the gas utilities market in Europe is its size and reliance on natural gas for energy. Additionally, there is an increasing preference for natural gas over fossil fuels across Europe due to the growing need for clean energy and the phase-out of coal and nuclear power plants in the region. For instance, the German commission announced that all coal-fired power plants would be shut down by 2038. Furthermore, factors such as low gas prices, a modest rise in the manufacture of renewable energy, and the carbon price set by the EU Emissions Trading System are significantly contributing to the growth in the region. Hence, such factors are expected to drive the gas utilities market growth during the forecast period. For Insights on the market dynamics & segmentations VIEW PDF SAMPLE ! What are the key data covered in this Gas Utilities Market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the gas utilities market between 2023 and 2027 Precise estimation of the gas utilities market size and its contribution to the market with a focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the gas utilities market across Europe , North America , APAC, South America , and the Middle East and Africa , , APAC, , and the and A thorough analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information about vendors Comprehensive analysis of factors that will challenge the growth of gas utilities market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The personal accident and health insurance market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.75% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 665.73 billion. This personal accident and health insurance market report extensively covers market segmentation by type (personal health insurance and personal accidental insurance), age group (adults, senior citizens, and children), and geography (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and Middle East and Africa). One of the key factors driving the personal accident and health insurance market growth is the rise in number of accidents. The meal vouchers and employee benefit solutions market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.95% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecast to increase by USD 23,155.63 million. This meal vouchers and employee benefit solutions market report extensively covers market segmentation by type (meal vouchers and employee benefits), product (non-cash voucher and cash voucher), and (geography Europe, South America, APAC, North America, and Middle East and Africa). Gas Utilities Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 5.25% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 445.37 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 4.56 Regional analysis Europe, North America, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution Europe at 34% Key countries US, China, Germany, Russia, and France Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Atmos Energy Corp., China Gas Holdings Ltd., China National Petroleum Corp., CMS Energy Corp, Duke Energy Corp., E.ON SE, Electricite de France SA, Enel Spa, ENGIE SA, ENN Energy Holdings Ltd., Gazprom International Ltd., Iberdrola SA, National Grid Plc, Nextera Energy Inc., Origin Energy Ltd., PG and E Corp., The Hong Kong and China Gas Co. Ltd., Tokyo Gas Co. Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd., and Southern Co. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Type Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 10: Parent market Exhibit 11: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 12: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 13: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 Exhibit 14: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 15: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 16: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 17: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Global gas utilities market 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 18: Historic Market Size Data Table on Global gas utilities market 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.2 By Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 19: Historic Market Size By Type Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.3 By End-User Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 20: Historic Market Size By End-User Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.4 Geography Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 21: Historic Market Size Geography Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 4.5 Country Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 Exhibit 22: Historic Market Size Country Segment 2017 - 2021 ($ billion) 5 Five Forces Analysis 5.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 23: Five forces analysis - Comparison between 2022 and 2027 5.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 24: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2022 and 2027 5.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 25: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 26: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 27: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 28: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2022 and 2027 5.7 Market condition Exhibit 29: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2022 and 2027 6 Market Segmentation by Type 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 30: Chart on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Type - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 32: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 33: Data Table on Comparison by Type 6.3 Industrial gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 34: Chart on Industrial gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Industrial gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 36: Chart on Industrial gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Industrial gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.4 Special gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 38: Chart on Special gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Special gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 40: Chart on Special gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Special gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.5 Bio gas and synthetic gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 42: Chart on Bio gas and synthetic gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Bio gas and synthetic gas - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Chart on Bio gas and synthetic gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on Bio gas and synthetic gas - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 6.6 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 46: Market opportunity by Type ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market opportunity by Type ($ billion) 7 Market Segmentation by End-user 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 48: Chart on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2022-2027 (%) 7.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 50: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 51: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 7.3 Residential and commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 52: Chart on Residential and commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Residential and commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 54: Chart on Residential and commercial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Residential and commercial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.4 Power generation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 56: Chart on Power generation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Power generation - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 58: Chart on Power generation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Power generation - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.5 Industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 60: Chart on Industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Industrial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 62: Chart on Industrial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Industrial - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 64: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 66: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 7.7 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 68: Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Market opportunity by End-user ($ billion) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 70: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 71: Chart on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 72: Data Table on Market share by geography 2022-2027 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 73: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 74: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 75: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 76: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 77: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 78: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 79: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 80: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 81: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 82: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 83: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 84: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 85: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 86: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 87: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 88: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 89: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 90: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 91: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 92: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) and - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 93: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 94: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 95: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 96: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 97: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 98: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 99: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 100: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 101: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 102: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.10 China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 103: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 104: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 105: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 106: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.11 Russia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 107: Chart on Russia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 108: Data Table on Russia - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 109: Chart on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 110: Data Table on Russia - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.12 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 Exhibit 111: Chart on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 112: Data Table on France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 ($ billion) Exhibit 113: Chart on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) Exhibit 114: Data Table on France - Year-over-year growth 2022-2027 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 115: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) Exhibit 116: Data Tables on Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 117: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2022 and 2027 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 118: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 119: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 120: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 121: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 122: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Atmos Energy Corp. Exhibit 123: Atmos Energy Corp. - Overview Exhibit 124: Atmos Energy Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 125: Atmos Energy Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 126: Atmos Energy Corp. - Segment focus 12.4 Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. Exhibit 127: Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 128: Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 129: Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 130: Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd. - Segment focus 12.5 China Gas Holdings Ltd. Exhibit 131: China Gas Holdings Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 132: China Gas Holdings Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 133: China Gas Holdings Ltd. - Key offerings 12.6 China National Petroleum Corp. Exhibit 134: China National Petroleum Corp. - Overview Exhibit 135: China National Petroleum Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 136: China National Petroleum Corp. - Key offerings 12.7 CMS Energy Corp Exhibit 137: CMS Energy Corp - Overview Exhibit 138: CMS Energy Corp - Business segments Exhibit 139: CMS Energy Corp - Key offerings Exhibit 140: CMS Energy Corp - Segment focus 12.8 Duke Energy Corp. Exhibit 141: Duke Energy Corp. - Overview Exhibit 142: Duke Energy Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 143: Duke Energy Corp. - Key news Exhibit 144: Duke Energy Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 145: Duke Energy Corp. - Segment focus 12.9 E.ON SE Exhibit 146: E.ON SE - Overview Exhibit 147: E.ON SE - Business segments Exhibit 148: E.ON SE - Key news Exhibit 149: E.ON SE - Key offerings Exhibit 150: E.ON SE - Segment focus 12.10 Electricite de France SA Exhibit 151: Electricite de France SA - Overview Exhibit 152: Electricite de France SA - Business segments Exhibit 153: Electricite de France SA - Key news Exhibit 154: Electricite de France SA - Key offerings Exhibit 155: Electricite de France SA - Segment focus 12.11 Enel Spa Exhibit 156: Enel Spa - Overview Exhibit 157: Enel Spa - Business segments Exhibit 158: Enel Spa - Key offerings Exhibit 159: Enel Spa - Segment focus 12.12 ENGIE SA Exhibit 160: ENGIE SA - Overview - Overview Exhibit 161: ENGIE SA - Business segments - Business segments Exhibit 162: ENGIE SA - Key offerings - Key offerings Exhibit 163: ENGIE SA - Segment focus 12.13 Gazprom International Ltd. Exhibit 164: Gazprom International Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 165: Gazprom International Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 166: Gazprom International Ltd. - Key offerings 12.14 Iberdrola SA Exhibit 167: Iberdrola SA - Overview Exhibit 168: Iberdrola SA - Business segments Exhibit 169: Iberdrola SA - Key offerings Exhibit 170: Iberdrola SA - Segment focus 12.15 National Grid Plc Exhibit 171: National Grid Plc - Overview Exhibit 172: National Grid Plc - Business segments Exhibit 173: National Grid Plc - Key news Exhibit 174: National Grid Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 175: National Grid Plc - Segment focus 12.16 Nextera Energy Inc. Exhibit 176: Nextera Energy Inc. - Overview Exhibit 177: Nextera Energy Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 178: Nextera Energy Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 179: Nextera Energy Inc. - Segment focus 12.17 Southern Co. Exhibit 180: Southern Co. - Overview Exhibit 181: Southern Co. - Business segments Exhibit 182: Southern Co. - Key news Exhibit 183: Southern Co. - Key offerings Exhibit 184: Southern Co. - Segment focus 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 185: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 186: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 187: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 188: Research methodology Exhibit 189: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 190: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 191: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provide actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio TAMPA, Fla., July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoyer Law Group is pleased to announce discounted rates for veterans and military spouses needing assistance with federal employment matters. We believe our veterans serve a vital role in our country and are often the very foundation of our local communities. Though we can't thank them enough for the freedoms and security our military servicemen and women provide, we can, at the very least, offer affordable legal services when our veterans are in need. As we all know, freedom comes at a cost; and the numerous sacrifices unselfishly made by veterans pay for that cost. Veterans embody bravery, honor, and sacrifice. For that, we are forever grateful, and, as a small gesture, Hoyer Law Group is proud to introduce a 10% discount for all veterans and military spouses in need of our legal services. We hope this gesture helps veterans vindicate their employment rights during these turbulent economic times. Federal employees often do not realize that they have several protections under the law, including those provided by the: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; The Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII; The Rehabilitation Act (protections for federal employees with a disability); The Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 and Enhancement Act of 2012; and The Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 At Hoyer Law Group, we strongly advocate for federal employee rights under all these laws and more. Our lawyers specialize in the niche field of federal employment matters, allowing us to represent the full spectrum of federal agency employees. We have extensive experience in all aspects of the federal employment dispute process from filing complaints both informal and formal; conducting settlement negotiations; participating in mediation; assisting with investigations; all the way to conducting pre-litigation discovery proceedings, depositions, and litigating cases before an administrative judge. If our clients' administrative remedies have been exhausted, we are prepared to file and litigate federal employment matters in U.S. District Court or various other U.S. courts, as deemed necessary. After all they've done for our country, we do not want veterans to have to defend their employment rights alone. So if you are a veteran, a military spouse, or know anyone who is please call us! We're happy to do everything we can to help protect the rights of veterans working for the federal government. Media Contact [email protected] SOURCE Hoyer Law Group, PLLC ICBLA Statement on SEC v. Ripple Labs Summary Judgment Ruling LEHI, Utah, July 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week's landmark ruling in the SEC v. Ripple Labs et al. case marks a significant and pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency industry. The International Congress of Blockchain Legal Advisors (ICBLA) has been closely monitoring the case and wishes to express its views on the implications of this split decision. Firstly, this is the first summary judgment loss for the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), providing an unprecedented turn of events. This ruling challenges the statements of Chair Gary Gensler, contradicting his stance that almost every token he's seen is a security. As Judge Torres held, "XRP, as a digital token, is not in and of itself a 'contract, transaction[,] or scheme' that embodies the Howey requirements of an investment contract." The Ripple Ruling suggests cryptocurrency exchanges operating secondary markets for tokens like XRP may be in the clear. Tweet this Secondly, the legal clarity provided for XRP is the first of its kind, presenting a momentous milestone for digital asset regulation. The ruling provides a much-needed precedent, establishing the potential for other tokens to power projects without the risk of an enforcement action. Thirdly, this decision suggests cryptocurrency exchanges operating secondary markets for tokens like XRP may be in the clear, despite the SEC's barrage of litigation focused on exchanges this year. Reliable secondary markets have been critical for building the crypto industry. This case also sends a clear message to Congress that the SEC needs more explicit guidance to regulate crypto-currencies effectively. The court's rejection of the SEC's approach underscores the need for appropriate legislation in this rapidly evolving industry. However, the split decision also illustrates the essential role of highly trained blockchain attorneys in protecting the rights of crypto companies. Trying to draw lines between acceptable and unacceptable crypto projects remains difficult, but we now know that the SEC's approach will not be rubber-stamped in court. ICBLA exists to ensure all companies can have trained crypto counsel to navigate this landscape.. As a result of the recent ruling, ICBLA's Society of Fellows has formulated a task force to draft findings. The mission of this project is to leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of the Society to draft clear, comprehensive, and actionable proposals that empower blockchain and crypto entrepreneurs to navigate the rapidly evolving regulatory environment. Clarification on the Definition of Digital Assets: A proposal to create a universally accepted definition of cryptocurrencies, tokens, and other digital assets to reduce ambiguity in regulatory and legal contexts. Guidelines for Token Classification: A proposal for comprehensive guidelines on classifying different tokens (such as utility, security, and commodity tokens) based on their functionality and usage, promoting regulatory clarity. Compliance Standards: A proposal to establish minimum compliance standards for blockchain and crypto companies, in line with existing financial regulations, to protect consumer interests and market integrity. Consumer Protection Measures: A proposal outlining measures for protecting the rights of consumers in the crypto space, including transparency in token sales, protection against fraud, and clear guidelines on dispute resolution. Taxation Guidelines: A proposal to develop guidelines on the taxation of digital assets, considering aspects such as capital gains tax, income tax, and GST/VAT. Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorism Financing (CTF) Rules: A proposal outlining robust AML and CTF rules for crypto businesses, ensuring they contribute to global security efforts. Data Security and Privacy Regulations: A proposal to ensure crypto companies adhere to strong data security and privacy standards, protecting users' sensitive information in an increasingly digital world. Interoperability and Standards: A proposal for setting industry standards to promote interoperability across different blockchains and crypto technologies, fostering innovation and collaboration in the sector. Regulatory Sandbox: A proposal for creating regulatory sandbox environments, allowing entrepreneurs to test their innovative ideas in a controlled, regulatory environment, promoting safe innovation. Each proposal will be subject to an in-depth drafting process, involving extensive consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders in the blockchain and crypto industry, to ensure the final outcomes are comprehensive, practical, and beneficial to the industry as a whole. Through these proposals, ICBLA aims to promote legal clarity, innovation, and fair practices within the digital asset industry, while protecting the interests of both businesses and consumers. The Society of Fellows is well-positioned to advise on the ramifications of cases like Ripple and offer guidance on future regulations and court cases. This ruling does not just impact Ripple and XRP, but it sets the stage for future crypto regulation and litigation. It is a call to action for legal and compliance practitioners in the field to step up and safeguard the rights and interests of those involved in this dynamic industry. We will continue to analyze the impacts of this landmark case and provide insights and guidance to our community. About ICBLA: The International Congress of Blockchain Legal Advisors is dedicated to fostering knowledge, best practices, and legal advancements in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. SOURCE ICBLA A group of tourists stand near a border station at Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 18, 2023. What will North Korea do about the first U.S. soldier in decades to flee into its territory? Its official media have yet to mention Pvt. Travis King, theres little precedent for his situation and guesses about the countrys next steps vary widely. Unauthorized crossings across the Koreas heavily fortified border are extremely rare. The few Americans who crossed into North Korea in the past include soldiers, missionaries, human rights advocates or those simply curious about one of the worlds most cloistered societies. North Korea has used a varied playbook in its handlings of them. Defecting soldiers, like Charles Jenkins or James Dresnok in the 1960s, were treated as propaganda assets, showcased in leaflets and films spewing anti-U.S. hatred and praising the Norths regime. Other Americans were detained, criticized and handed harsh penalties based on confessions of anti-state activities they later said were coerced. Behind-the-scenes pleas and lengthy backdoor negotiations followed, and the detainee was freed, often flown home with a high-profile U.S. official who traveled to Pyongyang to secure the release. None of the previous cases, however, seems relevant as a forecast for King. The length of his stay will likely depend on whether North Koreans find a way to spin his story for their own propaganda, said Jenny Town, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center in Washington and director of the North Korea-focused 38 North website. Its unclear whether the North Korea of today would treat King similarly to how it did Jenkins and Dresnok, whose crossings were six decades ago. And King might be less ideal as propaganda material. Jenkins walked into North Korea in 1965 to avoid combat duty in Vietnam, making it easier for Pyongyang to paint him as a disillusioned U.S. solider who escaped evil imperialists and chose to live in North Koreas socialist paradise. Theres a big difference with King, who had legal problems and faced disciplinary action and a possible discharge before he bolted into North Korea. If they decide that hes not a good story, they may just return him so that this doesnt exacerbate already fragile relations (with the United States), Town said. This is largely a wait-and-see as theres just so little precedent for it. But Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in South Korea, says its highly unlikely North Korea would pass up the propaganda value of a U.S. soldier who voluntarily entered the country. While Kings immediate value would be propaganda, Pyongyang could also seek opportunities to use him as a bargaining chip to wrest concessions from Washington, he said. Its possible North Korea may demand the United States scale back its military activities with South Korea in exchange for Kings release. The U.S. has increased its deployment of strategic assets like bombers and nuclear-capable submarines since 2022 in a show of force against North Koreas nuclear threat. North Koreas goal would be to create a dilemma for Washington in choosing between (strengthening) U.S.-South Korean nuclear deterrence strategies and protecting its own citizen, Yang said. That would create challenges for South Korea, which has been focusing on strengthening nuclear deterrence strategies with the United States. Thae Yong Ho, a former diplomat at the North Korean Embassy in London who defected to South Korea in 2016 and is now a lawmaker, said the North has never released any U.S. soldier who walked into the country voluntarily. But its also unclear whether North Korea would want to hold King for long, considering considering his low rank and thus likely low level of U.S. military intelligence he could provide and the high costs of managing his life. A specialized security and surveillance team must be organized (for King), an interpreter must be arranged, a designated vehicle and driver must be provided, and accommodation must be arranged. ... You also need to indoctrinate him into the North Korean system, so you will need to organize a team of specialized teachers and a curriculum, Thae wrote on Facebook. Park Won Gon, a professor at Seouls Ewha University, said the current high tensions between Washington and Pyongyang would complicate diplomatic efforts to bring King home. During cozier times with the United States, North Korea released U.S. detainees rather swiftly and easily. In 2018, North Korea freed Bruce Byron Lowrance a month after he entered the country illegally through China. Lowrances relatively quick deportation came in the afterglow of a highly orchestrated summit between then-U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, at which they described vague goals for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and vowed to improve ties. Weeks ahead of that summit, North Korea released three American detainees who returned home on a plane with then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. That diplomacy collapsed in 2019, and the current environment seems unfavorable for Kings early release. Starting in 2022, Kim ramped up his weapons-testing activity, which prompted the United States to expand its military exercises and nuclear contingency strategies with South Korea. The United States will likely attempt to communicate with the North via the U.S.-led United Nations Command, which administers the southern side of the inter-Korean border village, and through the so-called New York channel using North Koreas diplomatic mission to the United Nations. But, considering the prolonged diplomatic freeze, it could be quite a while before the United States is able to send a high-profile official to Pyongyang to secure Kings release, if that happens at all. The only thing thats certain for now is that North Korea will handle King entirely the way it wants to, 100%, said Park. When an American goes into North Korea, they usually are used for political purposes, regardless of whether they want it or not. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition NEW YORK, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE, NEE-PR, NEE-PQ) between December 2, 2021 and February 1, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important July 25, 2023 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased NextEra 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 NextEra class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16680 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] 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 July 25, 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 firm's 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) NextEra's primary subsidiary, Florida Power and Light Co. ("FPL"), surreptitious orchestration of political misconduct exposed NextEra to substantial legal and reputational risk; and (2) in light of the above, defendant's positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the NextEra class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16680 mailto:or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] 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 investor's 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 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. DUBLIN, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Metrology Services Market (2023-2028) by Product, Services, Application, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Covid-19, Impact of Economic Slowdown & Impending Recession with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Metrology Services Market is estimated to be USD 1035.52 Mn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 2276.16 Mn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 17%. Market Dynamics Market dynamics are forces that impact the prices and behaviors of the stakeholders. These forces create pricing signals which result from the changes in the supply and demand curves for a given product or service. Forces of Market Dynamics may be related to macro-economic and micro-economic factors. There are dynamic market forces other than price, demand, and supply. Human emotions can also drive decisions, influence the market, and create price signals. As the market dynamics impact the supply and demand curves, decision-makers aim to determine the best way to use various financial tools to stem various strategies for speeding growth and reducing the risks. Market Segmentations The Global Metrology Services Market is segmented based on Product, Servcies, Application, and Geography. By Product, the market is classified into Coordinate Measuring Machines and Optical Digitizers & Scanners. By Services, the market is classified into 3D Measurement, Product Quality Optimization, Quality Control and Inspection, and Reverse Engineering. By Application, the market is classified into Aerospace and Defense, Automotive, Industrial, and Power Generation. By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe , Middle East & Africa , and Asia-Pacific . Company Profiles The report provides a detailed analysis of the competitors in the market. It covers the financial performance analysis for the publicly listed companies in the market. The report also offers detailed information on the companies' recent development and competitive scenario. Some of the companies covered in this report are 3D Systems, Inc., Creaform, CyberOptics Corp., FARO Technologies, Inc., GOM Metrology, ZEISS International, etc. Countries Studied America ( Argentina , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Colombia , Mexico , Peru , United States , Rest of Americas) , , , , , , , , Rest of Americas) Europe ( Austria , Belgium , Denmark , Finland , France , Germany , Italy , Netherlands , Norway , Poland , Russia , Spain , Sweden , Switzerland , United Kingdom , Rest of Europe ) ( , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Rest of ) Middle East and Africa ( Egypt , Israel , Qatar , Saudi Arabia , South Africa , United Arab Emirates , Rest of MEA) and ( , , , , , , Rest of MEA) Asia-Pacific ( Australia , Bangladesh , China , India , Indonesia , Japan , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore , South Korea , Sri Lanka , Thailand , Taiwan , Rest of Asia-Pacific ) Competitive Quadrant The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Ansoff Analysis The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global Metrology Services Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach. The analyst analyses the Global Metrology Services Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position. Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth. Why buy this report? The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Metrology Services Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies. The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry. The report includes an in-depth market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model, PESTLE Analysis, and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 and the impact of economic slowdown & impending recession on the market are also featured in the report. The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies. The report also contains a competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool. Report Highlights: A complete analysis of the market, including the parent industry Important market dynamics and trends Market segmentation Historical, current, and projected size of the market based on value and volume Market shares and strategies of key players Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market Key Topics Covered: 1 Report Description 1.1 Study Objectives 1.2 Market Definition 1.3 Currency 1.4 Years Considered 1.5 Language 1.6 Key Stakeholders 2 Research Methodology 2.1 Research Process 2.2 Data Collection and Validation 2.2.1 Secondary Research 2.2.2 Primary Research 2.2.3 Analyst Models 2.3 Market Size Estimation 2.3.1 Bottom-Up Approach 2.3.2 Top-Down Approach 2.4 Assumptions of the Study 2.5 Limitations of the Study 3 Executive Summary 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Market Size, Segmentations and Outlook 4 Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers 4.1.1 Increasing Demand from Industrial and Power Generation Applications 4.1.2 Increasing Adoption of CAD/CAM and International Quality Standards in Metrology Services 4.1.3 Lack of Applicability of Existing Measuring Equipment 4.1.4 Development of Enhanced Metrology Services Software Packages 4.2 Restraints 4.2.1 Intensification in Design Complexity 4.3 Opportunities 4.3.1 Rising Demand for Finished Goods Coupled with Technological Advancements 4.3.2 Development of Outsourcing Trend for Dimensional Check in the Medical Sector 4.4 Challenges 4.4.1 Lack of Trained Machine Operators 4.4.2 Safety and Security Concerns 5 Market Analysis 5.1 Regulatory Scenario 5.2 Porter's Five Forces Analysis 5.3 PESTEL Analysis 5.4 SWOT Analysis 5.5 Impact of Covid-19 5.6 Impact of Economic Slowdown & Impending Recession 5.7 Ansoff Matrix Analysis 6 Global Metrology Services Market, By Product 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Coordinate Measuring Machines 6.2.1 Articulated Arm Machines 6.2.2 Bridge Machines 6.2.3 Gantry Machines 6.2.4 Horizontal Arm Machines 6.3 Optical Digitizers and Scanners 6.3.1 3D Laser Scanners 6.3.2 Laser Trackers 6.3.3 White Light Scanners 7 Global Metrology Services Market, By Applications 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Aerospace and Defense 7.3 Automotive 7.4 Industrial 7.5 Power Generation 8 Global Metrology Services Market, By Services 8.1 Introduction 8.2 3D Measurement 8.3 6.3 Product Quality Optimization 8.4 6.4 Quality Control and Inspection 8.5 6.5 Reverse Engineering 9 Americas' Metrology Services Market 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Argentina 9.3 Brazil 9.4 Canada 9.5 Chile 9.6 Colombia 9.7 Mexico 9.8 Peru 9.9 United States 9.10 Rest of Americas 10 Europe's Metrology Services Market 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Austria 10.3 Belgium 10.4 Denmark 10.5 Finland 10.6 France 10.7 Germany 10.8 Italy 10.9 Netherlands 10.10 Norway 10.11 Poland 10.12 Russia 10.13 Spain 10.14 Sweden 10.15 Switzerland 10.16 United Kingdom 10.17 Rest of Europe 11 Middle East and Africa's Metrology Services Market 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Egypt 11.3 Israel 11.4 Qatar 11.5 Saudi Arabia 11.6 South Africa 11.7 United Arab Emirates 11.8 Rest of MEA 12 APAC's Metrology Services Market 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Australia 12.3 Bangladesh 12.4 China 12.5 India 12.6 Indonesia 12.7 Japan 12.8 Malaysia 12.9 Philippines 12.10 Singapore 12.11 South Korea 12.12 Sri Lanka 12.13 Thailand 12.14 Taiwan 12.15 Rest of Asia-Pacific 13 Competitive Landscape 13.1 Competitive Quadrant 13.2 Market Share Analysis 13.3 Strategic Initiatives 13.3.1 M&A and Investments 13.3.2 Partnerships and Collaborations 13.3.3 Product Developments and Improvements 14 Company Profiles 14.1 3D Systems, Inc. 14.2 Automated Precision, Inc. 14.3 Baker Hughes Co. 14.4 Bruker Corp. 14.6 Chotest Technology, Inc. 14.7 Creaform 14.8 CyberOptics Corp. 14.9 FARO Technologies, Inc. 14.10 GOM Metrology 14.11 Hexagon AB 14.12 Intertek Group PLC 14.13 Jenoptik Ag 14.14 Keyence Corp. 14.15 KLA Corp. 14.16 Mitutoyo Corp. 14.17 Nikon Corp. 14.18 Perceptron, Inc. 14.19 Renishaw PLC 14.20 SGS Group 14.21 Trescal SA 14.22 ZEISS International 15 Appendix 15.1 Questionnaire Companies Mentioned 3D Systems, Inc. Automated Precision, Inc. Baker Hughes Co. Bruker Corp. Chotest Technology, Inc. Creaform CyberOptics Corp. FARO Technologies, Inc. GOM Metrology Hexagon AB Intertek Group PLC Jenoptik Ag Keyence Corp. KLA Corp. Mitutoyo Corp. Nikon Corp. Perceptron, Inc. Renishaw PLC SGS Group Trescal SA ZEISS International For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1b7umt About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets DUBLIN, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Talent Management Market (2023-2028) by Component, Enterprise Size, Deployment Type, End User, and Geography, Competitive Analysis, Impact of Economic Slowdown & Impending Recession with Ansoff Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Talent Management Market is estimated to be USD 8.6 Bn in 2023 and is expected to reach USD 15.29 Bn by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 12.19%. Competitive Quadrant The report includes a Competitive Quadrant, a proprietary tool to analyze and evaluate the position of companies based on their Industry Position score and Market Performance score. The tool uses various factors for categorizing the players into four categories. Some of these factors considered for analysis are financial performance over the last 3 years, growth strategies, innovation score, new product launches, investments, growth in market share, etc. Ansoff Analysis The report presents a detailed Ansoff matrix analysis for the Global Talent Management Market. Ansoff Matrix, also known as Product/Market Expansion Grid, is a strategic tool used to design strategies for growth of the company. The matrix can be used to evaluate approaches in four strategies viz. Market Development, Market Penetration, Product Development and Diversification. The matrix is also used for risk analysis to understand the risk involved with each approach. The analyst analyses the Global Talent Management Market using the Ansoff Matrix to provide the best approaches a company can take to improve its market position. Based on the SWOT analysis conducted on the industry and industry players, the analyst has devised suitable strategies for market growth. Why buy this report? The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the Global Talent Management Market. The report includes in-depth qualitative analysis, verifiable data from authentic sources, and projections about market size. The projections are calculated using proven research methodologies. The report has been compiled through extensive primary and secondary research. The primary research is done through interviews, surveys, and observation of renowned personnel in the industry. The report includes an in-depth Market analysis using Porter's 5 forces model, PESTLE Analysis, and the Ansoff Matrix. In addition, the impact of COVID-19 and the impact of economic slowdown & impending recession on the Market are also featured in the report. The report also includes the regulatory scenario in the industry, which will help you make a well-informed decision. The report discusses major regulatory bodies and major rules and regulations imposed on this sector across various geographies. The report also contains a competitive analysis using Positioning Quadrants, the analyst's competitive positioning tool. Report Highlights: A complete analysis of the market, including the parent industry Important market dynamics and trends Market segmentation Historical, current, and projected size of the market based on value and volume Market shares and strategies of key players Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market Market Dynamics Drivers Increasing acceptance of cloud-based talent management solutions Streamlining the hiring process through technological adoption Improved onboarding experience Emergence of social platforms Restraints Budget constraints that restrict the adoption of talent management software suite Use of traditional methodologies due to lack of awareness Opportunities Evolving need for big data analytics in HR Unified integrated system for performance assessments Challenges Integration across various talent management suites Lack of skilled and proficient individuals in recruitment Companies Mentioned ABB Ltd. ADP, Inc. Avature Cornerstone OnDemand, Inc. DelTek, Inc. Halogen Software, Inc. Haufe Group IBM Corp. Keka, Inc. Korn Ferry Learning Technologies Lumesse AS Oracle Corp. Peoplefluent, Inc. Saba Software, Inc. SAP SE SilkRoad Technology Skillsoft Corp. SumTotal Systems, LLC Talent soft Talentguard, Inc. The Ultimate Software Group, Inc.Wipro Ltd. Wipro Ltd. Workday, Inc. Market Segmentation The Global Talent Management Market is segmented based on Component, Enterprise Size, Deployment Type, End User, and Geography. By Component, the market is classified into Solutions and Services. By Enterprise Size, the market is classified into SMEs and Large Enterprises. By Deployment, the market is classified into Cloud and On-premises. By End User, the market is classified into IT & Telecom, BFSI, Government, Healthcare, Education, Manufacturing, and Others. By Geography, the market is classified into Americas, Europe , Middle East & Africa , and Asia-Pacific . For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/2wk8j0 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 NEW YORK, July 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd (NYSE: JKS) resulting from allegations that JinkoSolar may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased JinkoSolar securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=16025 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On May 9, 2023, before trading hours, the Jacksonville Daily Record published an article entitled "Federal agents issue search warrant at JinkoSolar plant in Cecil Commerce Center: Homeland Security said it is part of an ongoing investigation; the factory, whose parent company is in China, opened in Jacksonville in 2018." The Jacksonville Daily Record reported that "[a]ccording to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal agents were assisting the Department of Homeland Security with the execution of a search warrant." Further, the article cited WJXT News4Jax, stating that JinkoSolar is one of several companies under investigation by the U.S. Commerce Department for circumventing trade rules by sending products to other countries before moving them to the U.S. On this news, JinkoSolar's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $3.91 per ADR, or 8%, to close at $43.47 per ADR on May 9, 2023, on unusually heavy trading volume. 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. 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 firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. 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 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. NEW YORK, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues its investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. (NYSE: WLY, WLYB) resulting from allegations that Wiley may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Wiley securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=17186 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On March 9, 2023, Wiley announced its third quarter 2023 financial results, in which it disclosed issues at Hindawi, one of its subsidiaries. The Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") stated "[o]ur third quarter results and revised full year outlook are clearly below our expectations" and "[w]hile our core business and markets are strong, we've been challenged this year by unpredictable market headwinds and an unplanned publishing pause at Hindawi." It was further announced that "[r]esearch was down 4% as reported, or down 2% at constant currency and excluding acquisitions, primarily due to a pause in the Hindawi special issues publishing program. The program was suspended temporarily due to the presence in certain special issues of compromised articles. As a result, Hindawi revenue declined $9 million vs. prior year, offsetting growth in other open access publishing programs." On this news, the price of Wiley Class A stock price declined by $7.55, or 17%, to close at $35.96 per share on March 9, 2023. 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. 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 firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. 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. 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The casino offers bonuses to new players and rewards loyal members with ongoing promotional offers. SA players can enjoy SilverSands Casino Mobile on all mobile phones & tablets, including Android, Apple (iOS) devices and Windows devices. SOURCE South African Casinos If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Kiev, July 22 : The Ukrainian government has adopted a resolution to withdraw the Russia-linked Sense Bank from the market and nationalise it, said the cabinet's press service. "The procedure of the bank's nationalisation, including the appointment of a new management, will be ensured as soon as possible for its smooth operation," said a statement by the government on Friday. The Ukrainian Finance Ministry will temporarily take control of the bank, and seek to attract private investors once the martial law in the country comes to an end, it added. The resolution was adopted after the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) proposed to nationalise the bank, saying that the owners of the financial institution are Russian citizens, who were put under Ukrainian and international sanctions, Xinhua news agency reported. Sense Bank, formerly known as Alfa Bank, is among the largest financial institutions in Ukraine, and is included in the NBU's list of systemically important banks. Ukraine imposed a series of sanctions against Russian companies and individuals due to the Ukraine crisis. Ankara, July 22 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would talk with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin soon for the extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, media reported. "The termination of the Black Sea Grain Initiative will have a series of consequences, ranging from an increase in global food prices, famine in some regions, to potential new waves of migration," Erdogan told reporters on his flight back to Turkey on Friday. "I believe we will ensure the continuation of this humanitarian movement by discussing the issue in detail with Putin," he said. The Turkish President noted that Moscow's expectations of the grain initiative should also be met, Xinhua news agency reported. "We know he also has some expectations from Western countries. Western countries need to take action in this regard," Erdogan said. The President added that he planned to have a phone conversation first and then discuss the issue face-to-face. "If Putin's planned visit in August takes place, we will discuss these issues in detail. I believe we will ensure the continuation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative before the process is prolonged," Erdogan said. Russia has complained that its demands to improve its own grain and fertiliser exports have not been met, and refused to extend the grain deal on Monday. Russia and Ukraine signed separately with Turkey and the UN 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. The 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. Former military commander of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Igor Strelkov attends a court hearing at the Meshchansky District Court in Moscow, Russia, on July 21, 2023. A prominent hard-line nationalist who accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of weakness and indecision in Ukraine was arrested Friday on charges of extremism, a signal the Kremlin has toughened its approach with hawkish critics after last months abortive rebellion by the Wagner mercenary company. Igor Strelkov, a retired security officer who led Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and was convicted of murder in the Netherlands for his role in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet that year, has argued that a total mobilization is needed for Russia to achieve victory. He recently criticized Putin as a nonentity and a cowardly mediocrity. Moscows Meshchansky District Court ordered the 52-year-old Strelkov, whose real name is Igor Girkin, to be held in custody for two months pending a probe on charges of making calls for extremist activities. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted. Strelkov rejected the charges, but asked the judge to place him under house arrest, citing health issues. Strelkovs arrest comes nearly a month after a short-lived mutiny launched by mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin that saw his Wagner troops capture military headquarters in the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then drive as close as 200 kilometers (125 miles) to Moscow to demand the ouster of Russias top military leaders. Prigozhin agreed to end the June 23-24 rebellion under a deal that offered amnesty to him and his mercenaries and allowed them to move to Belarus. The revolt posed the most serious threat to Putins 23-year rule, eroding his authority and exposing government weakness. Like Prigozhin, Strelkov harshly criticized Russias military leaders for incompetence, but he also denounced the Wagners chief and described his action as treason and a major threat to the Russian state. The two repeatedly had traded insults, and Strelkovs supporters said a criminal inquiry into his statements has been initiated by one of Wagners mercenaries. Strelkov has over 875,000 subscribers on his messaging app channel. The Club of Angry Patriots, a recently created hard-line group he belonged to, issued a statement protesting his detention as a provocation that undermines the populations trust in law enforcement organs and carries extremely negative consequences for the countrys stability. Strelkov served in the Russian military during the Chechen separatist wars and later joined the countrys top domestic security agency, the Federal Security Service, where he reached the rank of colonel. After he retired from service, he took part in the Kremlins annexation of Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and then led fighters in eastern Ukraine during the first months of a Moscow-backed separatist rebellion there in 2014. Last year, a Dutch court convicted him and two other men of murder in absentia for their role in downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 with a Russian surface-to-air missile, killing all 298 people aboard the Boeing 777 as it flew over separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014. They were accused of bringing the Buk air defense missile system from a Russian military base into Ukraine and putting it into position for launch. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service said it was watching the developments with interest, although we cannot verify what is going on. We would, of course, like nothing more than for this man, who has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the Netherlands, to serve his prison sentence here. The victims of MH17 and their relatives deserve that, the statement said. But the fact is that Russia does not extradite its citizens, and this event unfortunately does not bring that any closer. Strelkov, whose adopted name is rooted in the word shooter, had a penchant for war history and was among the Russians who take part in military reenactments, appearing in the uniform of an imperial Russian officer from World War I and toting historic weapons. Amid the fighting in Ukraine, he has mocked Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as a plywood marshal, an apparent reference to Shoigus hobby of woodcutting. Strelkov long has spoken with contempt about Putin, accusing him of incompetence and kowtowing to Western interests, and he toughened his criticism after the start of Moscows action in Ukraine. He predicted Russia would face imminent defeat because of Putins reluctance to declare a massive mobilization and put the country on full military footing. A lot of empty talk, the minimum of action and the utter lack of responsibility for failures that is Putins style of late, Strelkov said recently. A nonentity that has managed to cheat a large part of the population has been at the countrys helm for 23 years. He warned that the country will not survive another six years under the rule of that cowardly mediocrity, a reference to Putins expected bid to run for another six-year term in a presidential vote in March 2024. Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said Wagners rebellion has given the military brass an opportunity to go after its critics. Strelkov had overstepped all conceivable boundaries a long time ago, sparking the desire among security forces from the FSB to military chiefs to apprehend him, she said on Twitter. This is a direct outcome of Prigozhins mutiny: the armys command now wields greater political leverage to quash its opponents in the public sphere. She predicted that while its unlikely that there will be massive repressions against angry patriots, ... the most vehement dissenters may face prosecution, serving as a cautionary tale for others. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition United Nations, July 22 : UN Humanitarians have expressed deep concern over more than 50 attacks on aid workers and healthcare in Sudan in three months. "We are appalled by reports that a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) team was assaulted by armed men in Khartoum yesterday (Thursday)," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Friday. According to OCHA, MSF reported that a 16-person team in Khartoum was aggressively assaulted by a group of armed men who physically beat and whipped them. The assailants detained one of the MSF drivers and, before his release, threatened to kill him. They also stole a vehicle. MSF said the incident happened as the team was moving medical supplies from the organisation's warehouse to the Turkish Hospital, one of only two hospitals still operating in all of southern Khartoum, Xinhua news agency reported. "We underscore that attacks on healthcare workers and facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law," OCHA said. "They must stop now." The World Health Organisation has verified more than 50 attacks on healthcare since the conflict began in Sudan on April 15. ANKARA, Aug. 7, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (R) and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky attend a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, on Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua/IANS). Image Source: IANS News Istanbul, July 22 : Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed "in detail" the renewal of the Black Sea Grain Initiative during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky, the Turkish presidency said in a statement. Erdogan said Turkey had made significant efforts to let the peace prevail during the phone call made upon the request of Zelensky, according to the statement on Friday. The initiative, which allowed Ukraine to export its grain and other agricultural products from its Black Sea ports, was brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022 and expired on Monday after Russia's unilateral withdrawal, Xinhua news agency reported. Initially valid for 120 days, the grain initiative 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. Moscow suspended its participation in the agreement on July 17, saying that it would return to the deal as soon as the Russian part of the agreement is fulfilled. Aden : , July 22 (IANS) Unidentified gunmen shot dead an employee of the UN World Food Programme in Yemen's southwestern province of Taiz, a security official told the media. "Assailants riding a motorcycle targeted and killed the head of the WFP's team in Taiz, who was on his way to the province for humanitarian and relief purposes," the local security official said on condition of anonymity on Friday. The attackers targeted the UN employee, identified as a Jordanian national, with a barrage of bullets when he was leaving a local restaurant in At Turbah region, south of Taiz, resulting in his immediate death, the official added. The World Food Programme is an essential international organisation dedicated to combating hunger and malnutrition in crisis-ridden regions like Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported. The identity and motives of the gunmen remain undisclosed. According to the official, the government forces are investigating the incident and pledged to capture those responsible for the attack. Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthi rebels fighting against the internationally-recognised government and its allies, mainly a Saudi Arabia-led coalition. The war disrupted Yemen's food supply chain and caused widespread famine, bringing the Arab world's poorest country to the brink of collapse. Ramallah, July 22 : A Palestinian teenager was killed during clashes with the Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, the Health Ministry said. Mohammad Al-Bayedd, a 17-year-old from Al-Jalazoon refugee camp near Ramallah, was killed after he was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers during clashes in the Umm Safa village, the Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. Two other Palestinians were injured by Israeli soldiers, with one in serious condition, the Ministry added. Israeli soldiers stormed the village and fired teargas at dozens of Palestinians who clashed with the soldiers, causing their suffocation, according to Palestinian eyewitnesses. In a joint statement, the Israel Defense Forces and Border Police said Palestinians hurled stones and rocks at Israeli forces in Umm Safa, while a border police officer opened fire at the Palestinians and hit at least one of them, Xinhua news agency reported. Meanwhile, at least three Palestinians were shot and injured by the rubber-coated metal bullets shot by Israeli soldiers who attacked the weekly anti-settlement march in Kafr Qaddoum village near the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, according to Murad Ishtawi, the coordinator of the popular resistance committee in the village. Israeli forces also used teargas canisters and stun grenades, Ishtawi said. 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, including children and women, killed by Israeli soldiers and settlers, according to official figures. The Palestinians want to establish an independent state alongside Israel on all the territories Israel occupied in 1967, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Srinagar: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides and shooting stones triggered by rains at multiple places and snow accumulated around the NAVYUG tunnel, officials said on Saturday, February 26, 20. Image Source: IANS News Jammu, July 22 : The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been closed for vehicular traffic due to multiple shooting stones, officials said on Saturday. "Traffic halted on NH-44 due to shooting stones at Mehad and accute slippery condition of road at Dalwas. People are advised not to travel W/O confirmation from TCUs," Jammu and Kashmir Traffic police said. The traffic police said that the clearance work is in progress. The Jammu Srinagar National Highway is the lifeline of the Kashmir valley and the main road link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. Kashmir bound trucks laden with essential supplies and other vehicles pass through the highway and fruit carrying trucks from Kashmir head for rest of the country through this road. Patna, July 22 : A property dealer was gunned down and three others were injured by unidentified assailants in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, police said on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Ashutosh Shahi, a prominent property dealer of the district. Shahi, along with others, was at a lawyer's house at Lakdi Dahi area under Chandwara police station late on Friday night when unidentified assailants barged in and fired indiscriminately. While Shahi died on the spot, the three others, including the lawyer, sustained gunshot injuries and were admitted to the hospital. Police said that the matter is under investigation. The reasons for the attack are yet to be ascertained. After committing the crime, the accused fled from the spot by firing in the air. Guwahati, July 22 : To confirm the last mile delivery of the government projects, the Assam government has decided to send its cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs and selected top government officials to the villages for a period of two weeks in the upcoming September month. The decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting held on Friday. The Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "All cabinet ministers will stay in village areas for 15 days. I will also personally go to some of the villages and 5000 selected government officers will also stay in the villages for three days." The MPs and MLAs will also stay in village areas for a period of seven days. Sarma said, "Since 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has implemented several welfare-oriented schemes. Similarly, the state government is also implementing fifteen such projects. From old age pension to Arunodaya, ration card, Ayushman scheme, the government wants to go to the village and see whether every beneficiary is getting it or not." "It should be ensured that each of the deserving persons in the state should get the benefits of Arunodaya scheme. Those whose income is less than Rs 4 lakh a year, will get ration cards. Along with that, they will get free medical services worth Rs 5 lakh. The state government machinery will go from village to village to see if any of those who deserve these benefits are deprived," he added. The Chief Minister said that the ministers will go through the list of beneficiary names and see if the government projects are reaching everyone. Ministers will also check whether the primary schools have desk-benches and electricity. According to the Chief Minister, the state government has sanctioned many road projects, but later it was witnessed that many roads were not built in rural areas. The top government officers, ministers, MPs and MLAs will inspect these things staying in the villages. "Everyone must have to halt in villages at night. The government will decide the future plan accordingly after measuring the overall condition of the villages of the state," he added. Meanwhile Sarma also mentioned that the opposition MPs and MLAs are also welcomed under this initiative. Six dead, 53 injured in head-on collision between truck and bus in Mexico. Image Source: IANS News Mexico City, July 22 : At least six people were killed and 53 others injured in a head on collision between a truck and bus in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, local authorities said. The accident took place at about 1:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on the La Piedad-Vista Hermosa highway, near the city of Yurecuaro, Xinhua news agency reported quoting local Attorney General's Office. "A passenger truck on its way to Oaxaca from San Quintin, Baja California, crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer with two dry boxes carrying groceries, causing them to catch fire," it said, adding that six people died, including both drivers, with the wounded assisted by paramedics and taken to various hospitals. The victims' bodies were taken to a forensic's centre for identification. Mumbai, July 22 : Dance reality show 'Hip Hop India' has broken the Guinness World Record, with the largest on-ground hip-hop dance activity, on the day of its premiere episode. A total number of 1,864 dancers came together to jointly perform hip-hop dance for over five minutes. The previous record for the largest hip-hop performance was achieved in 2014, by 1,658 dancers in Alabama, US. The event was held at Filmcity in Mumbai in the presence of Hip Hop India's judges Remo D'Souza and Nora Fatehi. The Guinness World Records official adjudicators announced the record-breaking moment. Choreographer Remo said: "Witnessing these amazing urban dancers from all across the nation in their true form is itself an achievement for me. And being a part of a team that set a world record in the field of hip-hop is an honour not only for me, but for all of us who took part in it." Nora shared: "It's an indescribable feeling to witness and be a part of such a historic moment. When it comes to dancing, I am always game to try something new and different, but what we accomplished today surpassed my expectations." "Setting a global record for the largest hip-hop performance, sends a message to all of India's street dancers, encouraging them to come out of their shells," she added. 'Hip Hop India' is streaming on Amazon miniTV. Bhopal, July 22 : A woman priest in Madhya Pradesh has alleged molestation by three male priests of a shrine in Indore and threatened to immolate herself if no action is taken against the accused. The sadhvi claimed that she made several attempts to get an FIR registered against the accused. However, the police did pay any heed to her complaint. She made the allegation at Indore Press Club and threatened to self-immolate in front of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's residence if no FIR gets registered in the next 24 hours. Accompanied by around half-a-dozen priests, including men, the sadhvi said she had met state Home Minister Narottam Mishra in this regard but nothing has come out so far. "I met Narottam Mishra who in turn spoke to Indore police but nothing has been done so far. If an FIR does not get registered in the next 24 hours, I would immolate myself in front of the Chief Minister's residence in Bhopal," the woman priest said. She would reach every programme of Chief Minister Chouhan and voice her concern if her demand is not met,the sadhvi warned. "Three male priests molested me, but the police are not taking my complaint. I will raise this issue before Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, if needed," the sadhvi asserted. It is the holy grail of seismologists and geologists: finding a reliable clue as to when, where, and with what magnitude an earthquake will strike. So far this century, more than one million people have died as a result of earthquakes, not counting the astronomical cost to infrastructure and the economy, particularly in developing countries. Now, French scientists have detected a precursor phase that begins hours before a major earthquake occurs. As detailed in the journal Science, they have achieved this by analyzing miniscule displacements recorded by GPS. These researchers believe that deploying detection networks around major faults could help find that holy grail. In the 1970s, seismologists were euphoric. The accumulation of data on earthquakes, new theoretical models, and laboratory experiments led to the dream of detecting phenomena and mechanisms that heralded an earthquake. As University of California professor Roland Burgmann says, everything indicated that earthquakes are often preceded by precursor processes. But enthusiasm waned: As scientists looked harder and had better observations of these precursors, they discovered that, while they sometimes happen, they could not really be distinguished from similar processes that often occur at other times and places. Julian Garcia Mayordomo, an expert in earthquake geology at Spains Geological and Mining Institute (IGME) also recalls the complexity: Large earthquakes occur 10 to 15 kilometers (6 to 9 miles) deep in the earths crust, where we have never been able to look. In addition, a major fault that produces earthquakes on the order of 6.5 or 7 is a plane that can be tens of kilometers long by 15 kilometers deep. It is a huge area where many geological processes occur. It is absolutely impossible to control. There are too many variables, which makes the phenomenon highly unpredictable. Large earthquakes occur 15 to 10 kilometers deep in the Earths crust, where weve never been able to look. Julian Garcia Mayordomo, expert in earthquake geology at Spains Geological and Mining Institute But scientists Quentin Bletery, from the French Cote dAzur University, and Jean-Mathieu Nocquet, from the Institut de Physique du Planete in Paris, have found a way to detect the signal of a future earthquake amid all the noise. Their idea makes use of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), such as the United States GPS or the European Galileo. The entire planet is dotted with geodetic stations that include a number of sensors of interest to geologists. One of them is a GNSS module that relies on triangulation with GPS or Galileo satellites (and with the Russian GLONASS or Chinese Beidou networks) to determine its location. Fixed to the ground, the position of these stations is measured to the millimeter and is essential to map making. But the stations move and are not always in the same place: their position changes throughout the year due to global phenomena, such as continental drift, or local phenomena, such as the construction of a reservoir, land prospecting, or fracking. A large earthquake can also move them out of place and this is registered by the GPS. What the French scientists have done is analyze the positioning data from more than 3,000 geodetic stations as the earth shook with the 90 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater so far this century (those in Turkey were as high as 7.8 and 7.5). More importantly, they also collected and analyzed GPS data from the 48 hours prior to each of these major tremors. Their starting hypothesis was that earthquakes begin with a precursor phase which features a slow displacement, without tremors, at the point of the fault where the hypocenter of the coming earthquake will be. The precursor phase is the window of time during which the tectonic blocks begin to move relative to each other, first slowly and then accelerating progressively, Jean-Mathieu Nocquet of the Institut de Physique du Planete de Paris Earthquakes are sudden slips along faults that separate two tectonic blocks, says Nocquet, co-author of this research. Prior to the quake, the two rock masses are stuck together. The precursor phase is the time window during which the tectonic blocks begin to move relative to each other, first slowly and then accelerating progressively to finally reach a rapid sliding velocity. Rapid sliding produces the seismic waves that cause the damage observed during major earthquakes, the French scientist explains. Although there is some consensus on the existence of this precursor phase, there is no consensus on its key characteristics, such as its duration. For some, it lasts only a few seconds, for others it can be seen as a succession of micro-earthquakes over weeks or months. In fact, our study suggests that the slip accelerates progressively over a few hours, around two, he adds. To make sure that the signal they detected was correct, they repeated their analysis, supported by artificial intelligence, for another 100,000 time windows, but after which there was no earthquake. They did not detect a slow but exponential growth signal as observed in the precursor phase of a large earthquake. So much for the good news. As the authors themselves admit, they did not find this precursor phase in almost half of the earthquakes. That does not mean they do not have one: it could have occurred before the time frame they analyzed. For various reasons, such as the cost of computational calculations, they did not extend their analysis beyond the hours prior to each major earthquake. Another reason could be that the earthquake occurred too far from one of these geodetic stations. Nocquet is convinced that developing systematic, precise, and accurate fault monitoring could potentially detect such precursor slip in the future for individual events. Victor Puente is a researcher in geodesy applied to seismology at the National Geographic Institute. Puente, who values the importance of a study that has relied on information from the last 90 major earthquakes, recalls that the French scientists based their analysis on the Geodesy Laboratory of Nevada (United States) database. This database has records from 17,000 stations, rather than 3,000. If all of them were used, the capillarity of the analysis would be much greater. But this lab offers the data with a two-hour latency, Puente notes. If a detection system were to support them, the alert would arrive when the earthquake had already occurred. In any case, Puente stresses that if the results achieved by the French researchers are confirmed, the latency should be reduced until real-time data is available. It would be difficult, but not impossible. The more we know about faults, the more we will be able to know what the maximum magnitude of the earthquakes will be, then the intensity at the surface and then, in a second step, try to predict when they will occur. Jesus Galindo of the Geodynamics Department of the University of Granada Another key to the functioning of a system such as the one suggested in this research is the need for in-depth knowledge of all the faults that could potentially be the origin of a major earthquake. Jesus Galindo, from the Geodynamics Department of the University of Granada, points out that this is a future research field to follow. As has happened with meteorology, with more stations and better mathematical models, we are now able to predict what the weather is going to be like, the temperature, heat waves, or when it is going to rain. The same for faults; what is also needed is to have knowledge of how the ground moves and other physical parameters, such as the deep structure. The more we know about faults, the more we will be able to know what the maximum magnitude of the earthquakes will be, then the intensity at the surface and then, in a second step, try to predict when they will occur, he explains. Absolutely key is the data you get near the hypocenter of the earthquake, stresses the professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, an expert in geodesy applied to seismic hazards. About the research of French scientists, who are at the forefront in this field, he opines that it is a great contribution and is heading in the right direction. But to be able to say that in two hours there will be an earthquake, we still have a long way to go. BARACA, a project to determine the risk of earthquakes in southern Spain The Spanish State Research Agency has just approved a project to carry out in-depth research on the complex set of open faults between the southeast Eurasian plate and the north African plate. From northeastern Morocco to beyond Alicante (Spain), passing through the Alboran Sea, the meeting of the two plates puts great stress along their boundaries, which are fractured to form faults. Getting in-depth knowledge of these faults and determining the seismic risk is one of the main objectives of the BARACA project. Jesus Galindo, a researcher at the University of Granada, is also one of the scientists at BARACA, which includes geodesists, seismologists, geologists, and engineers from several Spanish universities. There are faults, such as the San Andreas, and many in Japan or on the coast of Chile, that are very distinct, with a single plane and where the deformation is not distributed, he explains. It is on these faults that the most catastrophic earthquakes occur. And then, there are areas like here at the Eurasian-African contact, where what you have are many small faults, so the deformation is much more distributed. The situation we are in is much better because the small faults are being corrected. There is no large one that accumulates a lot of energy. It is true that we have a lot of earthquakes, but they are not like those in Japan, Chile, or the west coast of the United States. Even so, there is a relative risk and every few years an earthquake of a magnitude similar to that experienced by Turkey in February may occur. BARACA is a new attempt to anticipate those as much as possible. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is rarely seen in public ever since his return from a trip to the US, Cuba and the UAE, last month and according to credible sources, his health is a point of concern and the CPI(M) has even started to look ahead. Under constant medical care, the 78-year-old veteran at times flies to Chennai and has been to the US a few times for checkups. Soon after he returned from the US, he remained indoors followed by a basic ayurvedic rejuvenation therapy at his official residence. After his foreign trip, he has drastically cut down on his public functions, but regularly visits the state party headquarters and chairs the weekly cabinet meetings. Incidentally, the first time he appeared before the media after a five months absence was when he went to pay his last respects to his predecessor- Oommen Chandy who passed away on Monday. Prior to it, he last met the media in the first week of February. Despite quite a few serious issues both political and otherwise, he avoids the media. For the CPI(M), Kerala is the last bastion and at the moment things are the least rosy in West Bengal and Tripura and hence the national leadership of the party is closely watching the developments in the state. The upcoming central committee meeting of the party is going to be crucial in view of the Lok Sabha polls next year. The CPI(M) has just one seat out of the 20 in Kerala as they were wiped out in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Before that there is going to be the Puthuppally Assembly by-election and with Vijayanas health a point of concern, itas pointed out thatas perhaps the reason why the party did not allow new State Secretary of the party M.V.Govindan to resign his legislatoras position. In the past, it has always been the practice to quit as a legislator after being elected to the state secretaryas post. Hence the coming weeks and months things are going to be a bit hectic for the CPI(M) as crucial decisions are expected to be made. San Francisco, July 22 : Instagram's Twitter competitor Threads is reportedly fast losing steam, a massive 70 per cent decline from its highest in early July. Despite Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg claiming that "10s of millions of people come back daily" on Threads, the number of daily active users on Threads dropped for the second week down to 13 million, "a 70 per cent decline from a July 7 high point," reports The Wall Street Journal. By comparison, Twitter's daily active users are around 200 million. "User engagement on Threads has continued to fall after an initial surge in sign-ups, putting pressure on parent Meta Platforms," the report noted, citing Sensor Tower data. Data show user engagement has fallen 70 per cent as "executives focus on options such as a chronological feed," it added. Meta executives, however, have said they don't see the falloff as worrisome and have said they are working on additional features. Threads is still new and needs several Twitter-like features to make it more competitive in the social media space. Earlier reports mentioned that the so-called Twitter killer's daily use has gone down miserably, with time spent by users now down by 50 per cent from 20 minutes to just 10 minutes. Last week, Threads crossed 150 million user sign-ups despite a usage drop. Meta launched Threads on July 5 for iOS and Android users in 100 countries, and it is among the top free apps on the App Store. According to Data.ai, the app has surpassed more than 150 million downloads worldwide, within seven days after its launch. Recent information revealed that Threads has gained the largest user presence in specific markets, with India leading the way, accounting for approximately 32 per cent of its downloads. Following India is Brazil, contributing to approximately 22 per cent of Threads' installations, and the US, representing nearly 16 per cent of the total. Bhopal, July 22 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) election management committee for Madhya Pradesh will hold a meeting to prepare strategy for its social media campaign on Saturday. The committee would review the preparation of social media team of the state BJP unit. It will be the second meeting to be chaired by the Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar after he took over charge as the convenor for the election in his home state two weeks back. Union Ministers Bhupendra Yadav and Ashwini Vaishnaw, who have been appointed as in-charge and co-incharge for the elections in Madhya Pradesh, will also attend the meeting. Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel, state unit head V.D. Sharma along with some prominent state BJP organisational leaders will attend the meeting. "The election committee would review the preparations of social media team and would chalk out a detailed strategy to attack Congress. A team of social media will give presentation about its preparation," said a MP BJP office-bearer. Notably, the Central leadership of the BJP has appointed Narendra Singh Tomar as the convenor of the election committee for Madhya Pradesh. Tomar served for years in Madhya Pradesh before he was inducted into the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cabinet. Tomar, who hails from Gwalior-Chambal region, previously served as the state BJP President. He is considered a low-profile leader who enjoys cordial relations with party leaders from different factions. Sources claimed that Tomar has been appointed as convenor to bring all senior party leaders at one stage. New Delhi, July 22 : As the government gears up to welcome Elon Musk's Tesla to set up a supply chain ecosystem in the country in the foreseeable future, the Centre has reportedly rejected Chinese electric vehicle (EV) giant BYD Motors' plan to set up a $1 billion four-wheeler manufacturing facility in the country. BYD's proposal to join hands with Hyderabad-based Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) for electric cars and batteries has apparently hit a roadblock over "security concerns", reports The Economic Times. In its proposal to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), BYD-MEIL reportedly made a pitch to manufacture up to 15,000 electric cars a year in the country. Meanwhile, Olectra Greentech, which is a unit of MEIL, has already manufactured two electric buses with technical support from BYD Motors. However, the government was not reportedly keen to give the nod to the Chinese EV manufacturer to invest in India. Ironically, BYD already has a notable presence in India in the EV car market. BYD India Private Ltd targeted a sales of 15,000 units in 2023, while increasing its distribution network and expanding production capacity if needed. The company currently rolls out e6 model, a multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), from its Tamil Nadu plant. The company's plant near Chennai has a capacity to roll out 10,000 units per year. In January this year, the Chinese electric carmaker unveiled its new luxury sedan BYD Seal which, it said, will be launched in the country during the last quarter of 2023. The Chinese electric car maker also claimed that BYD Seal has a range of up to 700 km on a single charge. BYD Seal is BYD India's third model for the passenger EV segment in India after the all-new e-6 electric MPV and BYD ATTO 3 e-SUV, both of which are already on sale. BYD India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway funded Chinese company BYD Auto. "If need be we will expand the capacity," Sanjay Gopalakrishnan, Senior Vice President of Electric Passenger Vehicle Business, had told IANS in October last year. Himayat Sagar,gates,opened,to let,flood water,into,Musi,13 of the 17 gates,outskirts of Hyderabad,2.97 TMC,21,450 cusecs,22,145 cusecs,outflow,inflow,dam,increased water level,Oct 2020. Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, July 22 : With huge inflows continuing, authorities have opened two more gates of Himayat Sagar reservoir here on Saturday to release water into Musi River. Two crest gates were opened up to two-feet height on Friday to release the excess water. This is the first time this season that the gates of the reservoir were opened to let out the water. According to Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), twin reservoirs Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar continued to receive inflows due to continuing rains in the catchment area for the last four days. The inflows in Himayat Sagar on Saturday noon stood at 3,000 cusecs. The authorities were releasing 2,750 cusecs into Musi, which flows through the city. The water level in Himayat Sagar stands at Full Tank Level (FTL) of 1,763.50 feet (2.970 TMC). Osman Sagar was receiving 900 cusecs inflow from the upstream. The water level in this reservoir stands at 1,785.70 feet against FTL of 1,790 feet. Officials said if the water level rises further in Osman Sagar, its gates will also be opened to release the excess water. Authorities have alerted people living in areas along Musi River. Meanwhile, water discharge continued from Hussain Sagar lake, which filled to the brim due to incessant rains during the last four days. State minister T. Srinivas Yadav visited areas surrounding Hussain Sagar on Saturday. He said 2,000 cusecs of water was being let out from the lake. The minister said encroachments near nalas remained a problem and the government would soon take a decision to address this. He said in view of the forecast, all departments in Hyderabad should remain alert for another week. All government offices in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits remained shut for a second day on Saturday. All educational institutions also remained closed for a third day due to incessant rains. New Delhi, July 22 : The West Indies fought their way back into the contest in the 2nd Test at Port of Spain on Friday by first restricting India to 438 runs in the 1st innings, and then closing the day at 86/1. Skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (37 batting) and Kirk McKenzie (14 batting) will be resuming proceedings on Saturday. Earlier, former India captain Virat Kohli scored 121 for his first overseas ton in five years, Ravindra Jadeja contributed 61 and R Ashwin hit 56 as India put themselves in a position of strength. Speaking about what to expect on Day Three, former India stumper Saba Karim, who is a JioCinema expert, said: "This is a perfect opportunity for the young West Indian side to build a first innings score and at least get into this Test match. They must apply some more pressure on the Indian bowlers on a wicket like this, and you expect this young West Indian batting line up to come good." So, what do the Indian bowlers need to do differently to put the hosts on the backfoot? "This is a challenging surface for the pace bowlers and also the spinners because the wicket is on the slower side. So even if the spinners for instance are able to deceive the batters in flight, they have enough time to go on the backfoot and negate the spin or the turn that is on offer," explained Karim. "For pace bowlers, they need to work out different plans all the time. Short-ball tactics may also become effective or bowling the one-wicket line may also help. We saw what the West Indian pace bowlers did to the Indian side. They angled away from the left-hander. A similar kind of tactic can be employed by the young Indian pace bowling attack. But, I think there's a lot of work ahead on Day Three for the spin duo for Jadeja and R Ashwin," he added. Karim expects the wicket to offer some turn as the match enters its business end. "Day Two was a fabulous surface to bat on. On Day Three, I do expect the wicket to offer some kind of turn, not so much of bounce but the turn may be more affective for the spinners India has got. Ashwin and Jadeja should be able to exploit these conditions." New Delhi, July 22 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested IAS officer Ranu Shahu in Chhattisgarh after conducting search operations at 18 locations in the state on Friday. The arrest was made in connection with a fresh PMLA case lodged by the ED. The ED has not made any comments on the matter. The sources claimed that the PMLA matter could be related to an alleged rice scam. Apart from Sahu, the ED team searched the premises belonging to state Congress leader Ram Gopal Agarwal. During the search operation, the ED teams were being assisted by CISF personnel. On Friday, the ED searched the premises of Agarwal and Sahu in Raipur's Devender Nagar. Another team of ED was spotted at Korba Municipal Corporation Commissioner Prabhakar Pandey's location. During the raid, the CISF personnel didn't let anyone go inside the house. The main door was locked, and then the ED team started the search operation. On July 18, the apex court had directed the ED to thoroughly probe a Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam. Los Angeles, July 22 : 'Harry Potter' star Daniel Radcliffe and Erin Darke are lending their support to their industry. The couple, both actors, joined other SAG-AFTRA union members striking in New York City, with the 'Miracle Workers' star, 33, wearing his 4-month-old son in a carrier on his chest. Darke, 38, held a strike sign as the pair and their baby boy walked the picket line, reports People magazine. Ahead of the SAG-AFTRA strike, Radcliffe spoke with Extra about his experience delving into fatherhood while promoting season 4 of his comedy series. "He's very cute," the actor said of his baby boy. "We've moved into a less screaming phase and he's now giving us little smiles and giggling." "It's been a crazy few months, as anyone who's been through parenthood would attest," Radcliffe continued. "But it's also the literal best thing that's ever happened, so it's great. I feel very lucky to be able to have this time with him. It's awesome." As per People, the actor couple welcomed their first baby together in April. In October, Radcliffe spoke with Evan Rachel Wood for Newsweek about their film 'Weird: The Al Yankovic Story'. The two actors discussed achieving fame at a young age, with the actor noting film sets "can be wonderful" places for kids. "I want my kids, if and when they exist a I would love them to be around film sets," Radcliffe told Newsweek. "A dream would be for them to come onto a film set and be like 'God, you know, I'd love to be in the art department. I'd love to be something in the crew.' Some part of this, but not from that." --IANSaa/kvd New York, July 22 : As a new space race heats up, scientists have proposed for planetary geoarchaeology, the study of how cultural and natural processes on Earth's moon, on Mars and across the solar system may be altering, preserving or destroying the material record of space exploration. "Until recently, we might consider the material left behind during the space race of the mid-20th century as relatively safe," said lead author Justin Holcomb, postdoctoral researcher at the Kansas Geological Survey, based at the University of Kansas. "However, the material record that currently exists on the Moon is rapidly becoming at risk of being destroyed if proper attention isn't paid during the new space era," he added Since the advent of space exploration, humans have launched more than 6,700 satellites and spacecraft from countries around the globe, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists. The US alone accounts for more than 4,500 civil, commercial, governmental and military satellites. "We're trying to draw attention to the preservation, study and documentation of space heritage because I do think there's a risk to this heritage on the moon," Holcomb said. "The US is trying to get boots on the Moon again, and China is as well. We've already had at least four countries accidentally crash into the moon recently. There are a lot of accidental crashes and not a lot of protection right now," he said, in the paper published in the journal Geoarchaeology. How planetary geoarchaeologists will determine whether an item is worth preserving is an open question. "We have to make those decisions all the time with archaeological sites today," Holcomb said. With resources for protecting space heritage limited, Holcomb and his colleagues advocate for developing systems to track materials left in space. "We should begin tracking our material record as it continues to expand, both to preserve the earliest record but also to keep a check on our impact on extraterrestrial environments," he said. "It's our job as anthropologists and archaeologists to bring issues of heritage to the forefront." Beyond the moon, Holcomb wants to see planetary geoarchaeology extend to issues related to exploration and migration to Mars. He points to NASA's Spirit Rover as an example. The rover became stuck in Martian sand in 2008 and now risks being completely covered by encroaching sand dunes. Holcomb believes geoarchaeologists should be included in future NASA missions to ensure the protection and safety of space heritage. Guwahati, July 22 : The vigilance wing of Assam Police seized cash more than Rs 2.32 crore during the raids from the residences of a senior government officer posted in the Dhubri district of the state, officials said on Saturday. Sleuths of the vigilance wing found the cash in possession of Biswajit Goswami, an Assam Civil Service (ACS) officer posted as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Dhubri Zila Parishad office. An officer of the vigilance cell told IANS, "Goswami demanded a bribe from a complainant who approached the appropriate authority to raise a grievance. Accordingly, a trap was laid on Friday evening by a team of vigilance and anti-corruption wing officers in the office of CEO Zila Parishad in Dhubri." "Mrinal Kanti Sarkar posted as additional district programme manager in Dhubri was caught red handed in the office chamber of the CEO Zila Parishad immediately after he accepted Rs 30,000 as part of demanded bribe from the complainant, according to the instruction of Biswajit Goswami," the officer added. Both Goswami and Sarkar were arrested. Meanwhile, later during a raid, Rs 1.69 lakh was recovered from Goswami's official residence in Dhubri while more than Rs 2.31 crore was seized from the officer's house in Bongaigaon. "A total of Rs 2,32,85,300 was recovered from the office and two residences of Biswajit Goswami. A number of documents relating to purchase of properties, multiple bank accounts, other investments etc have been seized," the official said. The raid lasted the whole night and multiple counting machines were used to sort the currency recovered. Cases under relevant sections against the two officers have been registered. Place your handheld luggage under the seats in front of you, fasten your seat belts and put all electronic devices on airplane mode. This is how many summer vacations begin. The plane takes off with passengers who have fallen asleep within a second of sitting down and others who are clinging tightly to the armrests to calm their nerves and, after a few minutes, everything seems to go smoothly. People get up and the flight attendants start selling all kinds of food and items to try to make the trip feel less long. Then the pilot turns the seatbelt sign back on and asks everyone to return to their seats because the plane is going through turbulence. These episodes which, although they can be annoying, barely pose any danger to passenger safety have intensified in recent decades. The cause? Once again, it is about climate change. Were noticing it a lot since weve been flying again after the pandemic. In the middle of summer, it is very common to have severe turbulence after three oclock in the afternoon, when temperatures are at their highest, acknowledges Ruben Gonzalez, a professional pilot and flight instructor at Aeroclub Barcelona Sabadell. According to an analysis by the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, clear-air turbulence, which occurs most frequently at high altitude, could triple by the end of the century. After analyzing air traffic over the North Atlantic, one of the worlds busiest routes, the study shows that the total annual duration of severe turbulence the third strongest type on a scale of light, moderate, severe, and extreme increased by 55% over the past 40 years, from 17.7 hours in 1979 to 24.7 hours in 2020. Research suggests that in the coming years the number of turbulence-related incidents could increase, leading to more injuries to passengers and crew who, if they are not seated when the plane is caught in unforeseen turbulence and are not wearing seat belts, can be thrown into the ceiling. This is not to say that fatal accidents a rarity in the case of air travel will increase. Aircraft are designed to withstand severe conditions; the safety margins are very wide. Structural damage from turbulence is still rare, says Gonzalez, who has been flying for a decade. However, increased turbulence also comes at an economic cost to airlines. Increased turbulence costs the industry between $150 million and $500 million [130 million and 450 million] a year in the U.S. alone. Every minute spent traveling through turbulence increases the wear and tear on the aircraft, as well as the risk of injury to those inside, warns researcher Mark Prosser, an atmospheric scientist and co-author of the study, who acknowledges that turbulence will become ever more frequent as global temperatures continue to rise. A consequence of rising temperatures To understand the role of climate change, it is first necessary to explain when and why these episodes occur. Turbulence is an unstable movement of air caused by changes in wind direction and speed, such as with storms, or weather fronts (both warm and cold). However, turbulence is not always caused by bad weather, but can also occur when the sky is calm and cloudless, as in the case of clear-air turbulence. That is the turbulence experienced by aircraft when they are in cruise phase in the middle of the Atlantic. It is invisible to the human eye, and it also escapes radar, explains aeronautical meteorologist Benito Fuentes. During these types of routes, pilots take advantage of jet streams strong, intense airflows located at the boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere to travel faster and reduce fuel consumption. This allows for shorter transatlantic flights when flying from America to Europe. However, it is precisely in the proximity of these currents that there is a strong change in wind direction, from vertical to horizontal flow, and this causes turbulence. The atmosphere works like a pot full of water. If you are not in a hurry and warm it up slowly, it will heat up without creating any problems. But if you put it on full power, it starts to bubble and boil over. Like the pot, the atmosphere also heats up from below, and the higher the temperature, the greater the changes in currents and the greater the likelihood of turbulence, says Cesar Mosso, professor of environmental engineering at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Shaking aircraft and bumpier flights are not the only disadvantages of climate change when it comes to flying. High temperatures can also influence the two most delicate phases of every flight: take-off and landing. The warmer it is, the lower the air density, and when the air is less dense, airplanes need more time to take off. In other words, it means they need a longer runway and not all airports meet these requirements and more fuel, which in turn means more pollution. The problem does not seem to have a solution at the moment. Commercial flights, which are responsible for a good part of CO emissions, have become more dangerous because of global warming. But, in order to continue to meet demand, they would have to increase their carbon footprint to cope with the difficulties of rising temperatures, especially during the summer. If turbulence becomes too bumpy in the future, aircraft could fly farther away from the jet stream, but this would increase travel time, fuel use, and climate-warming emissions. Basically, its a vicious circle, Prosser concludes. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hyderabad, July 22 : Hyderabad police on Saturday claimed to have detected Rs.712 crore investment fraud by Dubai-based Chinese operators and arrested nine people in this connection. Hyderabad Police Commissioner C. V. Ananda said the nine accused from Mumbai, Lucknow, Gujarat and Hyderabad were suspected to have links with fraudsters from Dubai and China. Police believe that the gang cheated gullible investors in the country to the tune of Rs 712 and routed this money to China through Dubai in the form of crypto currency. During the investigation, the police found that a portion of the amount also got transferred to a crypto wallet used by a terror outfit. The police chief said since there was a need for a thorough probe with coordination at the national level, the case would be brought to the notice of the Centre. The Cyber Crimes Unit which busted the racket also seized 17 mobile Phones, two laptops, 22 sim cards, four debit cards, documents pertaining to 33 companies, three Bank cheque books, 12 currency notes and 6 coins of Chinese Yuan currency and one passport. Those arrested are Prakash Mulchandbhai Prajapati, Kumar Prajapati, Naimuddin Wahiduddin Shaik, Gagan Kumar Soni, Parveez alias Guddu, Shameer Khan, Mohammed Munawar, Shah Sumair and Arul Dass. The investment fraud has been busted during the investigation after a resident of Hyderabad lodged a complaint with Cyber Crime Police that he lost Rs 28 lakh to the fraudsters. The complainant was offered a part time job of "Rate and Review" via telegram app. He believed it to be genuine and registered on their website https://www.traveling-boost-99.com. Initially he was given simple tasks to give 5 star rating to one set of 5 tasks by loading/investing a smaller amount of Rs 1,000 and he earned Rs 866 profit. Every time he loads/invests money his invested amount is displayed in a window like an online wallet which shows options like Invest money, withdraw money, perform tasks etc. Next time he was given 4 sets of 30 tasks each to be rated, for which the victim needed to load the wallet with money initially and then to rate. In the first set he loaded with Rs 25,000 and earned a profit of Rs 20,000 on the website, but the victim was not allowed to withdraw the profit. When questioned, he was told that he has to complete all the 4 sets of tasks to get the profit. The victim invested higher amounts in the subsequent sets. When he wanted to withdraw profits, he was asked to pay 17 lakhs as withdrawal fee. During the course of investigation it was found that Rs 28 lakh that the victim lost was transferred to 6 accounts including an account maintained in the name of Radhika Marketing and from there the money was transferred to various other Indian bank accounts and finally in Dubai the fraudulent money was used to purchase crypto currency. The account in the name of Radhika Marketing was being maintained by Munawar of Hyderabad. Investigations revealed that he along with Arul Dass, Shah Sumair and Shamir Khan went to Lucknow on the instructions of Manish, Vikas and Rajesh, who all are residents of Lucknow, to open bank accounts in the names of shell companies with an offer of Rs 2 lakh per account. They opened 33 shell companies and 61 accounts in the name of companies and handed over the same to Manish. Manish had hired Gagan for web designing of the companies and Nayeem to coordinate with the account holders. After opening the accounts he sold the accounts to Kumar Prajapati, an associate of Prakash Prajapati. According to police, Prakash Prajapathi, a resident of Ahmedabad is associated with Chinese Lee Lou Guangzhou, Nan Ye, Kevin Jun etc. He was coordinating with the Chinese in supplying Indian bank accounts and shares the OTPs for operating these accounts from Dubai/China through remote access apps. The Chinese masterminds, as per the police, were running this entire system of task based investment frauds. They are the ones running these scams and luring the victims by sending messages over Telegram. The defrauded was credited to Primary Shell/Mule bank accounts being supplied by Prakash Prajapati, layered to some secondary bank accounts to hide the proceeds of crime. Finally it was sent to the Chinese. Prakash Prajapati was coordinating with his other associates, Arif, Anas, Khan Bhai, Piyush and Sailesh etc who are the residents of Mumbai, settled in Dubai in converting the fraudulently gained Indian rupees to USDT (Crypto) and transfer the same to Chinese. For every fraudulent transaction in these accounts Prakash Prajapati was paid 2-3 per cent commission. Police found that Prakash Prajapati was transferring part of his commission through Hawala to give the same to the account suppliers with the help of Kumar Prajapathi and he was rooting a major portion from China by importing electric bikes. Police found that Prakash Prajapathi is using a Tron coin wallet address for getting his commissions to be paid in USDT or TRON. These crypto wallet transactions in his wallet have crypto transfers to another wallet address, which in turn has been found to have transaction linkages with two other crypto wallets including Hezbollah wallet (labeled as wallet belonging to Terror Financing Module) , police said. New Delhi : A view of a dry bed of the portion in Yamuna river near DND amid the ongoing heatwave, in New Delhi on Tuesday June 28, 2022. (Photo: IANS/Wasim Sarwar). Image Source: IANS News Chennai, July 22 : The Tamil Nadu government has declared six districts of the state as drought affected. Additional Chief Secretary Revenue and Disaster Management, Kumar Jayant has declared 25 blocks of Pudukottai, Ramanathapauram, Sivaganga, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar districts as moderately drought affected. According to agriculture department officials, blocks where crop damage is more than 33 per cent due to rainfall shortage are declared as moderate agriculture drought affected blocks. There was insufficient rainfall in these blocks from October 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. A senior official of the Tamil Nadu agriculture department told IANS that if the rainfall comes down beyond a certain percentage, ground water level will decrease leading to hydrological drought in summer period. The official said that when hydrological drought occurs in summer, the government declares such areas as drought affected. The farmers in these districts have, according to sources, petitioned to the state Agriculture Relief Commissioner to take necessary action in these drought affected blocks. The Tamil Nadu government has already appealed to the Cauvery Water Management Authority to direct Karnataka government to release the state its volume of water from the Cauvery river. This is following the Kuruvai farmers petitioning the government of a shortage of water from Mettur dam due to the reduced flow of water from Cauvery into Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu water resources minister, S. Duraimurugan has already handed over a letter written by Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to the Union Jalshakti Minister, in a recent meeting regarding the shortage of Cauvery water in the state and the sufferings meted out to Kuruvai paddy farmers due to this. Bengaluru, July 22 : The Karnataka police have arrested three people on Saturday in connection with erecting posters against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during the recently-concluded Opposition parties' meet here. Those arrested have been identified as Sriram, Nandakumar and Mohan, all residents of Sheshadripuram in Bengaluru. According to police, Sriram had sponsored the erecting of the posters. They were printed in a printing press of accused Nandakumar. The posters were transported in the tempo belonging to Mohan. The police have stated that the accused had put up posters against Bihar CM Nitish Kumar at 20 locations in the city. They were prominently displayed on the Bengaluru airport road as well. The police are grilling the accused to find out involvement of political leaders. The posters and banners targetting Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar surfaced in Bengaluru last week embarrassing him ahead of the Opposition parties meet organized to create a platform against the ruling BJP alliances. Dubbing CM Nitish Kumar as the "Unstable Prime Ministerial Contender", the posters had come up near the Chalukya Circle and Windsor Manor bridge and Airport Road near Hebbal locality. It also slammed him for being invited to the event. "Bangalore rolls out the red carpet for CM Nitish Kumar!" The posters also mentioned boldly about incidents of bridge collapses in Bihar under his regime. "First date of Sultanganj Bridge Collapse - April 2022, second date of Sultanganj bridge collapse - June 2023." Another poster ridiculed him as "Shri Nitish Kumar, the CM, Government of Bihar, the man who builds underwater bridges." The posters with pictures of Sultanganj bridge collapse were also put up. Nitish Kumar was one of the prominent leaders taking part in the event and he has not reacted to the development. Karnataka Congress President and DyCM D.K. Shivakumar had slammed BJP for putting up posters against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Shivakumar maintained, "It is all our BJP friend's work. He (Nitish Kumar) is a big threat to BJP and by putting up posters against him they are giving him publicity. The Congress party is ready to fight all these forces. Like cowards they are doing it. Nitish Kumar too knows Karnataka politics well," he said. Will accept hanging if terror charges against me proved: Yasin Malik. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 22 : The Delhi prison authorities have suspended four officers in Yasin Malik security lapse case, an official said on Saturday. On Friday, the prison authorities had launched a probe after Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Yasin Malik, who is undergoing life sentence in a terror funding case, was taken to Supreme Court without following standard operating procedure. "In the matter of physical production of Yasin Malik before Supreme Court on July 21, the Prison Department, Delhi has suspended one Deputy Superintendent , two Assistant Superintendent and one Head Warder last night as they were found to be prima facie responsible based on preliminary inquiry," said a senior prison official. "Detailed inquiry is being conducted by DIG Tihar to identify any other officials who may also be responsible for the serious lapse," the official added. According to a senior prison official, on Friday Malik was produced physically in the Supreme Court by the officials of the Central Jail no. 7 (Tihar) and prima facie observed that it was lapse on the part of concerned Jail officials. "The Director General (Prisons) has ordered a detailed inquiry in the matter to be conducted by Dy. Inspector General (Headquarters, prison) Rajiv Singh to fix the responsibility of erring officials. The DG had asked to submit a report within three days," the official said. New Delhi, July 22 : The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), along with Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police, has rescued a 22-year-old girl who had been abducted by her own family from her husband's residence in Delhi. In June, the DCW received a complaint from a courageous young woman residing in Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, who had chosen to marry a man of her own choice in May 2023, defying her family's wishes. Fearing for her life due to the disapproval of her family, she fled to Delhi and started living with her husband there. "The DCW promptly provided assistance to the couple, helping them lodge a complaint with the Delhi Police. However, at that time, the woman opted not to take any legal action against her family members," said a DCW official. On July 21, the DCW received a distress call on its 181 Women Helpline from the woman's husband. He reported that some male family members of the woman had forcibly entered their Delhi home, physically assaulted her, and abducted her from there. "Consequently, an FIR was immediately registered under sections 365, 323/34 IPC at PS Harsh Vihar, and a team from the Delhi Police was dispatched to the girl's parents' residence in Uttar Pradesh. Simultaneously, the Uttar Pradesh Police also reached the same location," said the DCW official. "Due to the mounting pressure from the police's actions and the intervention of the authorities, the girl's family eventually left her at Gajraula police station in Uttar Pradesh, during the night. The DCW's team safely brought her back to Delhi, where she underwent a medical examination in the presence of the Commission members," said the official. "We received a call on our 181 Helpline regarding the abduction of a 22-year-old girl by her own family. Our team acted swiftly and with the help of Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police, the girl was rescued within a few hours and brought to Delhi," said the DCW chief Maliwal. "I shudder to think what may have happened with her if help had not reached her in time. We will provide all possible support to the girl. Further action should be taken against the family members so that they donat dare to harm the girl in the future," she added. --IANS ssh/svn New Delhi: MCD workers clean debris from road as the Yamuna floodwater continues to recede. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 22 : The capital can again face a flood-like situation as 2.9 lakh cusec water has been released from Hathini Kund barrage. According to sources, the authorities concerned have issued an alert for the people living in nearby areas of the river. The current water level in the Yamuna river is 205.20, while the danger mark is 205.33. Considering the gravity of the situation, the authorities have sent an alert message to the people. During the rain, the Yamuna river broke a 45-year-old record and reached its highest level at 208.65 meters. Last Friday, it was flowing at 208.35 meters. As a result of the flood in Delhi, several low-lying areas were submerged, and many roads were flooded. Now the situation is improving, and traffic is back on roads near the river. The water has receded in waterlogged areas. But with the fresh alert, the people and the concerned authorities have been asked to be alert. Chennai, July 22 : Women's wing of ruling DMK will hold a protest march on July 23 against sexual assault and rape of the two tribal women in Manipur, who were paraded naked by a mob allegedly belonging to a rival tribal group. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, deputy general secretary of the DMK and sister of Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin will inaugurate the protest march at Valluvar kottam in Chennai on July 23. The DMK womenas wing will conduct protest marches in all district headquarters on July 24. The ruling DMK in a statement charged the BJP government at the Centre for the failure to maintain law and order in the state of Manipur. It may be noted that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, MK Stalin had charged the Central government on the escalating violence in Manipur and the DMK as a political party has also come out strongly over the issue n the state. Mumbai, July 22 : Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor were spotted enjoying the Christopher Nolan directorial 'Oppenheimer'. The two ate a fancy dinner and later watched Christopher Nolan's masterpiece 'Oppenheimer' at a special screening in Mumbai, which the two were watching. In the viral video circulating on social media, shared by Ranbir's fan club, Ranbir Kapoor was seen sporting a casual but very stylish black sweatshirt, matching pants, sneakers and a fancy cap. Arjun Kapoor was also going out in full style wearing black glasses, a woolen cap and black shirt. Ranbir and Arjun were spotted by the paparazzi leaving the theatre, upon which Ranbir posed for a selfie and even shook hands with some of the journalists and his fans. A fan account of the actor showed him and Arjun sitting in the theatre chilling, laying back and paying full attention to Nolan's epic biopic. It's needless to say that 'Oppenheimer' has had everyone s interest, including that of some of the biggest names in Bollywood as the movie has gone housefull across nearly every theatre in India, particularly in the IMAX section. This may very well make 'Oppenheimer' one of the biggest Hollywood releases in India, as the movie went housefull the day it became open for pre-bookings, and filled all seats in theatres on its first day even faster than the likes of 'Fast X', 'Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One' and 'Barbie', garnering overwhelmingly positive reception everywhere. On the work front, Ranbir Kapoor recently wrapped up the shooting of his upcoming action thriller film 'Animal' directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. The film is scheduled to hit the big screen on December 1, 2023 after being postponed from its initial date of August 11, 2023. 'Animal' is currently undergoing some changes and improvements in VFX and is in its post-production mode, making changes to its cinematography as well. Arjun Kapoor on the other hand is shooting for his upcoming noir thriller film 'The Lady Killer' along with the movie 'Meri Patni Ka Remake'. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed New Delhi, July 22 : The Congress on Saturday accused the Centre of evading questions on Manipur violence and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi speak over the issue in Parliament. Speaking to media at her residence here, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Ranjeet Ranjan said, "From the government side the Women and Child Development Minister (Smriti Irani) gave a statement. Whenever the government is scared, their ministers come out of their houses to make statements. This is a government which is afraid of the opposition, afraid of coming to the House and avoids questions." "We want the Prime Minister to come to the House and discuss the Manipur violence," the Congress leader said. Hitting out at the BJP government at the Centre and the state for failing to control the law and order situation, she asked if the intelligence agencies did not give a report to the government about the violence and situation in the northeastern state. "Didn't the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) get the report or Chief Minister N. Biren Singh was aware of the situation in the state," she asked. "We have only one demand that the government must give answer in Parliament and tell the nation what is happening in Manipur," she said. Slamming Manipur Chief Minister, Ranjan said, "The Chief Minister is saying that the way women have been misbehaved in the viral video, there have been hundreds of incidents in the state and many FIRs . Will the Prime Minister not be aware of this? This is unfortunate that they are doing politics." She also targetted the Prime Minister accusing him of doing politics over such a horrific incident and said, "The Prime Minister when he made the statement, he first mentioned about incidents of rape in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and then he mentioned about Manipur. We are against rape which takes place in any of the states. But our very simple demand is that the Prime Minister speak in the House," the Rajya Sabha MP said. Hitting out at Irani, she said that as the WCD Minister has said that it is an international issue and also of national security we are also saying the same. "This is a border area and even drugs are smuggled. Shouldn't the government answer how the violence has been going on there for the last 80 days,"she said. She also urged the Women MPs of the BJP to resign from such a party which does not respect women. Earlier in the day, Irani while addressing the media in Mumbai, slammed Trinamool Congress and other opposition parties for turning a blind eye to women's atrocities "happening in several states." Commenting on the Manipur viral video, Irani said, "The Manipur issue is not only sensitive by has implications concerning national security and is known to the opposition leaders." "However, the opposition leaders did not want to discuss the issue in Parliament, on the floor of Parliament," she added. On Thursday, on the first day of the Parliament's Monsoon session, the Prime Minister expressed his pain and anger over the Manipur incident and said the gruesome incident with the women in the Northeastern state is very shameful, and can never be forgiven. He said, "This incident is an insult for the entire nation as it has shamed 140 crore countrymen. The incident which happened with the women in Manipur can never be forgiven. I assure the countrymen that no one will be spared." However, he went on to club incidents of violence in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh (both Congress-ruled states) also in his statement. "The incident might be from Rajasthan,Chhattisgarh or Manipur, the culprit should not go scot-free in any corner of the country," the Prime Minister said. A May 4 video of two women being stripped and paraded by a mob in Manipur went viral on July 19 leading to widespread condemnation across the country. Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps. Bhubaneswar, July 22 : Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the decision of the CBSE to use mother tongue as an optional medium of teaching up to Class XII will enhance critical thinking of the students. Till now, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools have been using Hindi or English languages as a medium of teaching. However, in accordance with provisions of the National Education Policy, 2020 (NEP-2020), which is giving emphasis to various Indian languages, the CBSE students can now impart the education on their mother tongue like Odia, Bengali, Telugu, etc., Pradhan told reporters here. Citing an example, he said, In Odisha, the CBSE school students can learn subjects like mathematics and environmental science in Odia language. Learning through Odia language will be an optional for the students in addition to Hindi or English. The main objective of the move is that the students learn the subjects properly without any doubt and language should not be a barrier in his learning, Pradhan said. If a student will impart education in the mother tongue, it will enhance his/her critical thinking. The CBSE schools will teach students in all languages recognised under the eighth schedule of Indian Constitution including Odia, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Malayali, Kanad, etc. in a phased manner, the Education Minister informed. In a circular dated July 21, The CBSE has allowed its affiliated schools to use their mother tongue language as an optional medium of instruction from pre-primary to class XII in addition to other existing options. This major step has been taken in accordance with New Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The board has also asked the schools to explore available resources and consult with experts in the field to share best practices to make multilingual education in CBSE schools a reality. Fire coral and staghorn corals with bleaching, tissue loss, and recent mortality on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in the North Dry Rocks Reef off the coast of Key Largo, Fla. Some Florida Keys coral reefs are losing their color weeks earlier than normal this summer because of record-high water temperatures, meaning they are under stress and their health is potentially endangered, federal scientists said. The corals should be vibrant and colorful this time of year, but are swiftly going white, said Katey Lesneski, research and monitoring coordinator for Mission: Iconic Reefs, which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched to protect Florida coral reefs. The corals are pale, it looks like the colors draining out, said Lesneski, who has spent several days on the reefs over the last two weeks. And some individuals are stark white. And we still have more to come. Scientists with NOAA this week raised their coral bleaching warning system to Alert Level 2 for the Keys, their highest heat stress level out of five. That level is reached when the average water surface temperature is about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius) above the normal maximum for eight straight weeks. Surface temperatures around the Keys have been averaging about 91 degrees (33 Celsius), well above the normal mid-July average of 85 degrees (29.5 Celsius), said Jacqueline De La Cour, operations manager for NOAAs Coral Reef Watch program. Previous Alert Level 2s were reached in August, she said. Coral reefs are made up of tiny organisms that link together. The reefs get their color from the algae that live inside them and are the corals food. When temperatures get too high, the coral expels the algae, making the reefs appear white or bleached. That doesnt mean they are dead, but the corals can starve and are more susceptible to disease. Andrew Bruckner, research coordinator at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, said some coral reefs began showing the first signs of bleaching two weeks ago. Then in the last few days, some reefs lost all their color. That had never been recorded before Aug. 1. The peak for bleaching typically happens in late August or September. We are at least a month ahead of time, if not two months, Bruckner said. Were not yet at the point where we are seeing any mortality ... from bleaching. It is still a minor number that are completely white, certain species, but it is much sooner than we expected. Still, forecasting what will happen the rest of the summer is hard, De La Cour and Bruckner said. While water temperatures could continue to spike which could be devastating a tropical storm or hurricane could churn the water and cool it down. Dusty air from the Sahara Desert moving across the Atlantic and settling over Florida could dampen the suns rays, lowering temperatures. Because of climate change and other factors, the Keys waters have lost 80% to 90% of their coral over the last 50 years, Bruckner said. That affects not only marine life that depends on the reefs for survival, but also people coral reefs are a natural buffer against storm surge from hurricanes and other storms. There is also an economic impact because tourism from fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling is heavily dependent on coral reefs. People get in the water, lets fish, lets dive thats why protecting Floridas coral reef is so critical, De La Cour said. Both scientists said it is not all doom and gloom. A 20-year, large-scale effort is underway to rebuild Floridas coral back to about 90% of where it was 50 years ago. Bruckner said scientists are breeding corals that can better withstand the heat and are using simple things like shade covers and underwater fans to cool the water to help them survive. We are looking for answers and we are trying to do something, rather than just looking away, Bruckner said. Breeding corals can encourage heat resistance in future generations of the animals, said Jason Spadaro, coral reef restoration program manager for Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota, Florida. That could be vital to saving them, he said. Spadaro and others who have visited the corals said they have noticed the coral bleaching is worse in the lower Keys than in the more northern parts of the area. The Keys have experienced bad bleaching years in the past, but this year it is really aggressive and its really persistent, he said. Its going to be a rough year for the reef. It hammers home the need to continue this important work, he said. The early bleaching is happening during a year when water temperatures are spiking earlier than normal, said Ross Cunning, a research biologist at Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. The Keys are experiencing water temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), which would normally not occur until August or September, he said. The hot water could lead to a disastrous bleaching event if it does not wane, Cunning said. Were seeing temperatures now that are even higher than what we normally see at peak, which is what makes this particularly scary, Cunning said. De La Cour said she has no doubt that the warming waters are caused by human-made global warming and that needs to be fixed for coral to survive. If we do not reduce the greenhouse gas emissions we are emitting and dont reduce the greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere, we are creating a world where coral reefs cannot exist, no matter what we do, she said. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Tesla car for Rs 20 lakh in India still a distant dream, say experts. Image Source: IANS News San Francisco, July 22 : Elon Musk is offering the first-time Tesla customers a chance to transfer the costly full self-driving (FSD) software to another vehicle as a "one-time amnesty." Tesla owners who have purchased the FSD package can transfer that to another new car by September 30. A Twitter user @Kdahlenburg has now revealed details on the Tesla FSD offer. "Tesla just contacted me to let me know they are sending me a form to fill out to complete the transfer. I haven't seen the form yet. I ordered a Model X from local inventory," he tweeted. Those who will get this offer will need to purchase a new Tesla and take delivery by September 30. Musk said during the company's earnings call earlier this week that the new vehicle would need to be delivered by the end of Q3. The only details provided by Musk was that it would a one time offer and only applicable if you place your order before the end of Q3. Another requirement is that when people place the order for a new Tesla car, they must add FSD Capability to the order. According to reports, the price of Tesla FSD has skyrocketed, which sells for $15,000 in the US. --IANS na/ Aizawl/Shillong, July 22 : After Meghalaya, security cover for Meitei community people living in Mizoram have been strengthened following an appeal by a former militants' organisation in the state (Mizoram), officials said on Saturday. From the office of the Mizoram Inspector General of Police (IGP), an order has been issued to the Commandants of the three Mizoram Armed Police battalions asking them to strengthen the security of the Meitei people living in Mizoram's four locations. "In anticipation of a possible development of tension which could threaten the security of Meiteis living in Aizawl, due to the public outrage against the recent viral video of two tribal Kuki-Zo community women brutally assaulted in Manipur, security arrangement is made to ensure safety of Meiteis in Aizawl," the order said. Meghalaya government has also been providing shelter and security to around 100 people who fled from the violence-hit Manipur. An official of the East Khasi Hills district administration said that initially, about 368 people from Manipur had taken shelter in various parts of Shillong and its outskirts but the majority of displaced people have left for Mizoram, Assam, Bengaluru, New Delhi and some have returned to their home state. Around 100 displaced people are still taking shelter in Shillong and its outskirts and the Meghalaya police providing security to them, the official said. Peace Accord MNF Returnees' Association (PAMRA) appealed to the Meitei community from Manipur living in Mizoram to leave the state for their safety as the situation got tense due to ethnic violence in Manipur. The PAMRA's appeal comes in the wake of a video showing two Kuki women being paraded naked on camera by a mob on a village road in Manipur. "The situation has become tense and it is no longer safe for the Meitei people living in Mizoram due to the barbaric and heinous acts committed by miscreants in Manipur," the PAMRA said in a statement in Mizo language. It said that there is strong anger among the Mizo youths, who are deeply anguished over the barbaric and atrocious act of Meiteis against the Zo or Kuki ethnic people in Manipur on May 4. The PAMRA said that they (Meiteis) would hold responsibility in any case of eventuality if they disregard the appeal and fail to leave for their safety. PAMRA Secretary General C. Lalthenlova, however, said that it was simply and normal appeal for safety and not a diktat or warning. He also said that they did not ask the entire Meitei community to leave but only those from Manipur. Thousands of Meiteis, including students, mostly from Manipur and Assam live in Mizoram. Meanwhile, last month Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in telephonic conversations requested his Mizoram counterpart Zoramthanga to provide adequate security to the Meitei community people in Mizoram. Zoramthanga assured Singh that his (Zoramthanga) government would take all possible steps for the security of the Meitei community people living in Mizoram. At least 160 people have been killed and several hundred injured since ethnic violence between the Meitei and Koki-Zo community broke out in the state on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. In view of the ethnic strife in Manipur, approximately 70,000 men, women and children belonging to different communities have been displaced and are now sheltered at 350 camps set up in schools, government buildings and auditoriums in Manipur and in the neighbouring northeastern states including Mizoram. New Delhi, July 22 : Members from the Kuki community on Saturday staged a protest over Manipur barbarity at Jantar Mantar in the national Capital. Scores of people holding placards were raising slogans demanding justice and hanging the culprits, who were involved in the instance of women from the Kuki-Zomi community being stripped, paraded and sexually assaulted in Manipur. Meanwhile, the North East Students' Organisation (NESO) also condemned the incident and said that such acts are outrageous, barbaric and inhumane which are unacceptable in a civilized society. "The fact that these women have to endure the above ordeal and disgrace in the most despicable manner is enough to sent shivers down the spine of every right-thinking individual," the students' outfit said in a statement. The NESO also said that in every conflict or riots, women and children are the most vulnerable and frequently preyed upon. "Atrocities against helpless women and children including abusing their modesty and dignity at any time and even at war should never be condone and should be condemn by one and all," it said, while demanding that all culprits involved in the senseless act should be arrested and stringent punishment should be meted out to them. "The NESO once again urged the different indigenous communities in Manipur and in the entire North East to maintain peace and brotherhood so as to further strengthen the age-old relationship that had been developed over the generations," it added. Kolkata, July 22 : : Uncertainties over the commencement of the monsoon session of the West Bengal assembly has finally ended as the Governor C.V. Ananda Bose finally gave the clearance to the state government's proposal to commence the session from July 24. The impasse broke finally on Saturday afternoon after prolonged telephonic discussion between the Governor and state Parliamentary affairs minister Sovandeb Chatttopadhyay. Initially, the Governor was reluctant to give approval for the same on grounds that the session had been convened at an extremely short notice. Immediately after getting the nod from the speaker Chattoopadhyay had a detailed discussion on Saturday with the Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay for commencing the session on Monday. "I had a detailed discussion with the Governor today on beginning of the monsoon session of the assembly. The session will begin from Monday following his approval in the matter," Chattopadhyay told newspersons after his meeting with the speaker. The file for approval in the matter was forwarded to Raj Bhavan on July 19. However, the Governor then refused to clear the file on grounds that the session had been called at such a short notice. The Governor also summoned Sovandeb Chattopadhay for explanation. However, the minister, sources added, pleaded inability to go to Raj Bhavan, on Wednesday because of his prior engagements outside the city and instead proposed to send his departmental secretary to the Governor's House. However, a communication was sent back to the minister from the Raj Bhavan that in absence of the minister at least the state chief secretary HK Dwivedi should turn up. However, the latter also did not turn up on Wednesday. Following these developments immense uncertainties prevailed over the commencement of the monsoon session, which finally ended on Saturday afternoon. Shekhar Kapur is currently working on music for 'Masoom' sequel. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, July 22 : Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who is known for films like 'Bandit Queen', 'Elizabeth', 'Masoom', is set to work on the sequel of 'Masoom'. Shekharis currently busy with working around the score for the 'Masoom: The Next Generation'. Currently based in London for the past two weeks, the filmmaker was recently honoured with the Lifetime Contribution to UK-India Relations award at the IGF's UK-India Awards. According to sources, the director's visit to London holds more significance than the accolades. "He has been collaborating with a renowned music producer from England, on the music for the movie. The director will also be working with one of the most sought after music composers in India for another soundtrack for 'Masoom: The Next Generation.' He is also scouting locations while he's in London to finalise the setting for the movie," the source said. The original film, 'Masoom,' directed by Shekhar Kapur back in 1983, gained a devoted following in Indian cinema. The film was adapted from the 1980 novel 'Man, Woman and Child' by Erich Segal which was also adapted into a Malayalam movie 'Olangal' and an American movie 'Man, Woman and Child'. The film stars Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in lead roles along with Tanuja, Supriya Pathak and Saeed Jaffrey. It features Jugal Hansraj, Aradhana and Urmila Matondkar as child actors. The screenplay, dialogues and lyrics are by Gulzar with music by R.D. Burman. The film has been remade into a Telugu movie named 'Illalu Priyuralu' and in Turkish as 'Bir Aksam Ustu'. Kapur, known for his directorial masterpieces like 'Bandit Queen' and 'Mr. India,' has made a profound and lasting impact on the Indian film industry. His influence has transcended national borders, with his films 'Elizabeth' and 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' earning him prestigious Academy Awards. 7 killed as bus falls into canal in Andhra. Image Source: IANS News Hyderabad, July 22 : Two persons were killed when a car rammed into a truck in Telangana's Medak district on Saturday, police said. The accident occurred when the car lost control due to a tyre-burst near Valloor in Narsingi mandal of Medak district. Tourya Naik (50) and his son Ankith (10) travelling in the car died in the mishap. Hailing from Narsampalli, they were on their way to Chegunta. While passing through Valloor forest, the car lost control due to a tyre-burst. After hitting the divider, the car fell on the other side of the road and at the same time, a container truck coming the opposite direction rammed into it, killing both the occupants on the spot. Police shifted the bodies to a hospital at Ramayampet for autopsy. Naik had worked as Narsingi mandal president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the past. New Delhi, July 22 : The Congress on Saturday hit out at the BJP for the ethnic violence in Manipur saying that now their own MLA is saying that the N Biren Singh-led BJP government is complicit. In a tweet, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "BJP's own MLA in Manipur is saying that the Biren Singh govt is complicit." He also attached an opinion piece of Manipur BJP MLA Paolienlal Haokip alleging the same. Ethnic clashes erupted in Manipur on May 3 and since then hundreds of people have lost their lives whereas thousands have been forced to take refuge in the relief camps. Even a video of May 4 of two women being paraded naked by a mob in Manipur went viral on July 19 leading to widespread condemnation across the country. The Congress has been demanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of speaking on the Manipur issue inside Parliament and also immediate removal of the Chief Minister and imposition of the President's Rule in the northesstern state. The Opposition parties have raised the issue of Manipur on first two days of Parliament's Monsoon Session. On Thursday, on the first day of the Parliament's Monsoon Session the Prime Minister expressed his pain and anger over the Manipur incident and said the gruesome incident with the women in the Northeastern state is very shameful, and can never be forgiven. He said: "This incident is an insult for the entire nation as it has shamed 140 crore countrymen. The incident which happened with the women in Manipur can never be forgiven. I assure the countrymen that no one will be spared." However he went on to club incidents of violence in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh (both Congress-ruled states) also in his statement. "The incident might be from Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh or Manipur, the culprit should not go scot-free in any corner of the country," the prime minister said. Bengaluru, July 22 : Bengaluru police have launched a hunt for a Rapido bike taxi driver in connection with sexually harassing a woman activist who had booked a ride with the Rapido. Responding to her post on social media, the Bengaluru police department had given directions to the S.J. Park police station to look into the matter. The incident was reported on Friday. The woman activist said that the accused is making frantic calls after blocking him on WhatsApp. "Today, I went for the Manipur violence protest at Town Hall Bengaluru and booked a ride on Rapido bike app. I was trying to get an auto for my way back home. However, multiple auto cancellations led me to opt for a bike instead," the woman activist posted on her twitter account. "Surprisingly the driver arrived on a different bike, explaining that the one registered with Rapido bike app was under servicing. I confirmed my booking through this app and proceeded with the ride. During my journey, we reached a remote area with no other vehicles around. Shockingly, the driver began riding with one hand and engaging in inappropriate behaviour (masturbating while riding a bike). Fearing for my safety, I remained silent throughout the ordeal," the victim explained. "I asked him to drop me 300 metres away before my actual destination to conceal my home location. Once the ride was over, he started relentlessly calling and messaging me on WhatsApp. I had to block his number to stop the harassment," she said. The victim also questioned the Rapido bike app. "What measures the company is taking for background verification?" The victim said that the "user's safety should be a top priority. Please ensure that people registered with your service can be trusted for a safe travel experience. He keeps calling me from different numbers even now!" Bengaluru police responding to her post stated that they have informed the S. J. Park police station to take necessary action in this regard. The police have taken up the investigation. --IANS mka/dan Bhopal, July 22 : The Madhya Pradesh High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) on alleged irregularities in the Patwari recruitment examination conducted by the state Employees Selection Board (ESB). The High Court also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on petitioner, asserting that the PIL was filed on the basis of unverified news reports and without even disclosing the source of information, from which it can be inferred that the scam has taken place. The Indore Bench of the High Court pointed out that the state government has already taken action to inquire into the alleged irregularities and illegality in the recruitment of Patwaris (revenue department officials). "The state government has appointed a retired judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court and therefore, no such direction can be issued, in light of the aforesaid letter to the respondents to constitute a committee etc," the bench stated. The petitioner a" Maheshwar Singh Parmar, an Indore-based social worker, has filed a petition seeking the High Courtas direction to constitute a committee to probe the alleged irregularities in the Patwari recruitment examination. "It appears that petitioner has filed the present writ petition even without filing a representation before the state government and directly approached this court, which is in violation of Madhya Pradesh High Court Rules, as stated in the preceding paragraphs. This Court is of the considered opinion that some cost deserves to be imposed on the petitioner for wasting the precious time of this court," it said. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 20 announced that a retired High Court judge will probe into the allegations of irregularities in the Patwari recruitment examination held on April 26 in Madhya Pradesh. Retired Justice Rajendra Kumar Verma has been appointed to probe into the Group-2, Sub Group-4 and patwari recruitment examination conducted by the ESB, Chouhan had announced. The inquiry committee has been tasked to submit its report to the government by August 31, until then the appointment of selected candidates will be on hold. Panaji, July 22 : The Goa government on Saturday issued an order banning the entry of tourists, trekkers and all persons to the picturesque Dudhsagar waterfall in South Goa, which is located on Goa-Karnataka border. Many tourists and trekkers used to visit Dudhsagar waterfall during weekends. A. Asvin Chandru, South Goa Collector, in the order has stated "Visitors shall be allowed to enter the Base of the Dudhsagar waterfall area through the prescribed routes only with permit / tickets purchased from designated entry points by Forest Department," "There shall be a complete ban for the entry of tourists, trekkers and all other persons to the Dudhsagar waterfall (at or near the railway bridge/ Dudhsagar railway station) either by trekking/ by train/ walking along the track as it is not a designated tourist point except for authorised personnel of Police, Railways, Forest department and other Government officials on duty," order stated. Last week, when unauthorised visitors allegedly walked on or along railway tracks to visit Dudhsagar waterfall, were caught by authorities and made to do 'sit-ups' while holding their ears. According to the order, there have been incidents of drowning and missing tourists visiting the Dudhsagar waterfalls and during attempts at trekking along the railway track and other routes in the past, especially during monsoon season. The government has also taken steps to restrict entry of any unauthorised persons towards the waterfall area by establishing check posts. Dudhsagar shot to fame in 2013, after it was portrayed in 'Chennai Express', a Bollywood film, starring Shah Rukh Khan. --IANS sbk/svn With two days left to go before Spaniards head to the polls for a snap election in the middle of the summer holidays, postal offices reported a record 2.4 million mail votes. Jose Luis Alonso Nistal, the deputy director of operations for Correos, called it a historic milestone for Spanish democracy. Meanwhile, candidates exchanged one last volley of attacks on the last day of campaigning and urged their voters to go out in force on Sunday. We have done the best campaign of all. We fell down and we got up, we raced against the clock and we crossed all the moving goals, we climbed all the unimaginable mountain passes and we have just a few meters left for the final sprint. We are going to win the elections until the last pedal stroke, until the last breath, until the last vote and we are going to win them resoundingly! said Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the closing of the campaign in Getafe (Madrid) before a euphoric crowd of 4,500 people. Sanchez called the early election after his Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) and its small far-left coalition partner, Unidas Podemos (United We Can), took a beating in local and regional elections in May. It is unclear whether the gamble will pay off, as polls indicate that the main opposition Popular Party (PP) will likely win the Sunday election, albeit not by a large enough margin for a clear majority. That could push the center-right party to seek the support of the far-right Vox to form a government. The trend is viewed as part of a conservative wave that has already swept through several European countries. But the end of the campaign seemed to provide a late-minute boost to the left. It ended in what the old-school soccer chroniclers would define as a match with two distinct parts. In the first, the PP seemed to be headed towards an unstoppable victory after a televised debate in which its leader, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, was seen as defeating Sanchez. In the second part of the campaign, however, the PP has experienced a series of setbacks that have ended up boosting the morale of the Socialists. The other left-wing force, Sumar, a new movement of 15 small left-wing parties that also seemed to be faltering at the beginning of the campaign, received a new dose of euphoria following praise for the performance of its candidate, Yolanda Diaz, in Wednesdays three-way debate. The campaign ended on Friday in a mood that would have been unthinkable a week ago, with the left dreaming of a comeback against a right wing that the vast majority of public opinion -about 60%, according to the latest polls- already considered the winner. Feijoos friendships Alberto Nunez Feijoo of the PP at a campaign rally in A Coruna. OSCAR CORRAL Feijoo, the PP candidate and a veteran conservative politician, seemed euphoric about his chances of becoming the next prime minister. At a campaign rally in A Coruna, it seemed that his only fear was that the left will snatch away his chance at governing by cobbling together an alternative majority with left-wing and regional parties. Feijoo also lashed back over the airing of his 1990s relationship with an individual named Marcial Dorado who, while providing services to the regional government of Galicia when Feijoo was No. 2 in its health department, was also running a notorious cigarette smuggling ring. It later transpired that he was a drug trafficker as well: in 2003 Dorado was arrested for his involvement in cocaine smuggling. Tried in Spains High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison. When I met him, he had been a smuggler, never a drug trafficker, said the PP candidate, criticizing that his opponents had aired a 30-year-old photograph of the two together. Nunez Feijoo said that there are existing photographs of Sanchez and of Yolanda Diaz, the labor minister and head of Sumar, with dictators, narc bosses and people who were not allowed into the EU. A spokesperson for Sumar said on Friday that the political right is getting nervous and losing its manners, after a conservative foundation named FAES, headed by former prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, described Yolanda Diaz as a neo-communist figurehead hastily put together with scraps of Dior and mediocre self-help literature. The PP does not engage in political opposition. Thats why they talk about Sanchismo. That is not a national project, said Sanchez on Friday, alluding to the fact that for most of the past year, the PP has pursued a hard-hitting media and parliamentary campaign on the need to defeat what it calls Sanchismo, portraying the prime minister as a liar. Vox, the kingmaker? Feijoo has an unpleasant dilemma ahead of him if he wins the election to form a coalition with far-right party Vox if he doesnt obtain an absolute majority, something that the polls almost rule out. It would be the first time that the far right gets into Spains government since the end of Francos dictatorship. Feijoo has already admitted subtly that if he needs it, he will do it, as he blessed the entry of Vox into several regional governments after the municipal and regional elections last May. Vox has campaigned hard on axing gender violence laws and rolling back regional government powers, positions that could bring it in conflict with Feijoo, especially given his background as a speaker of Galicias local dialect and Spains decentralized state. Compared with Voxs candidate, Santiago Abascal, and even the Popular Partys younger generation, Feijoo is a throwback conservative, more interested in balancing budgets than culture wars with Spains left. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Chennai, July 22 : Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) state president and former Union minister Anbumani Ramadoss has urged the Tamil Nadu government to bring about a policy decision of not acquiring agricultural land for industrial projects. PMK leader said that the state government was trying to acquire 2700 acres of farm land in more than 11 villages of Tiruvannamalai district to expand Cheyyar SIPCOT. He said that the state government was trying to forcibly acquire the land of the farmers even after the farmers have risen their objections to the proposal. The PMK leader however said that he was not against industralisation but added that it should not be at the cost of the livelihood of the farmers. Anbumani Ramadoss said that the farmers were protesting for the past twenty days against the government acquiring the lands. He added that the ruling party leaders were publicly speaking for the SIPCOT project at the cost of the farmers. The PMK state president said that the government had dropped the industrial project for Annur SIPCOT but added that it was very much pushing for the Cheyyar SIPCOT. Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 : Sainik School Kazhakootam saw an exceptional reunion of its 'Old Boys' after five serving high profile officers in the defense services attended the function at the school. On Saturday, the school witnessed its 54th reunion of the Old Boys Association (OBA). Lieutenant General M Unnikrishnan Nair AVSM, SM who occupies the office of the National Cyber Security Coordinator; Air Marshal R Radhish AVSM, VM; Air Officer Commanding in Chief, IAF Training Command, Lieutenant General Johnson P Mathew UYSM, AVSM, VSM; Chief of Integrated Defense Staff, Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan AVSM, VM; Commander in Chief, Andaman and Nicobar Command and Air Marshal B Manikantan AVSM, VM; and Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Southern Air Command attended the function. All the five officers are from Kerala and passed out during 1980s. After the ceremonial wreath laying in the school Guards Square, the officers and the old boys along with their families settled down in the school auditorium for the routine functions seen every OBA meeting. All of them said that coming back to school is like a pilgrimage and maintaining a warm relationship amongst the classmates. Seoul, July 22 : About 200 people were evacuated on Saturday after a message threatening to detonate a bomb at a gaming festival in Seoul surfaced on social media, according to police and firefighting officials. According to police, a Twitter user posted a message claiming to have placed a bomb at the venue for the Genshin Impact Summer Festival 2023 held at Olympic Park in Seoul's eastern ward of Songpa earlier in the day, reports Yonhap news agency. The person wrote that the bomb will go off "when the time arrives" and told followers to "look forward to it." The user also shared photos of what appeared to be the alleged explosive. After discovering the message, organizers suspended the event and reported it to the police. After searching the venue, police and firefighting officials said there was no bomb at the site. Police are currently tracking down the person who wrote the message, according to the report. Genshin Impact is a popular open-world action role playing game published by Chinese developer HoYoverse. The company launched the four-day gaming festival for loyal South Korean users on Thursday. --IANS ana/ Mumbai, July 22 : Noted music director Pritam, who has composed the songs of Karan Johar's upcoming movie 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani', says the tracks are packed with music of the LP era and '90s romance as briefed by the filmmaker himself. Pritam along with the lead pair of the film, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, and Sonu Nigam promoted a new song from RARKPK at the Spotify's Music Concert on Friday evening. The music of RRKPK is inspired from old classic romantic numbers. During a media interaction, Pritam was asked about the inspiration and brief behind film's music. "The brief was simple, Karan Johar wanted to revisit old classic Indian music. His brief was LP era '90s genre... that sort of romance. The structuring of the songs changed. Every song has two 'antaras', and we cut one out, and they are about five to six-minute long. If you see the whole movie, it is full of nostalgia, emotions, everybody is singing old songs and we have used them in the background." Pritam and Sonu Nigam have collaborated for the fourth song of the film, which will be out soon. When asked about the fourth song, Pritam shared an interesting story. "Just 2-3 days prior to this event, I composed the song with Sonu Nigam, but I had the song for some time. But the moment it was made clear that Sonu Nigam will be singing it, I thought I will change the song, and do a fresh number with him. There is little pressure when you compose a song with Sonu," Pritam said. "I kept dragging the process for 2-3 months, until it was time to release the song, and when I saw all the songs in a row, it was working superbly with the film. Only then I called Sonu Nigam, while he was on a vacation in Mauritius," he added. 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani', which also stars veteran actors Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi, is slated for release on July 28. Jaipur, July 22 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday termed the sacking of his Cabinet minister Rajendra Singh Gudha as an internal matter of the party. Questioned at a press conference on the sacking of Gudha, the chief minister said: "This is an internal matter of our party." Gudha was sacked by Gehlot on Friday night after he asked his government to introspect instead of talking on the shocking Manipur incident of women being paraded naked on camera. Meanwhile, a day after his sacking, Gudha maintained that women in Rajasthan are not safe. He said whether he is dismissed or put in jail, he will keep speaking the truth. "I have been speaking at the cabinet meeting. I spoke in the Assembly and I also faced the consequences. Women are not safe in our state. These statistics say that Rajasthan ranks first in the country in atrocities against women." He also criticised the Rajasthan police. "Police in the state are corrupt. They are busy taking bribes from people," he said. New Delhi, July 22 : Director-producer duo Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and Pallavi Joshi, who have unveiled the trailer of their upcoming series 'The Kashmir Files Unreported', visited one of the oldest temples in Srinagar, Kashmir- 'Shankaracharya temple', to seek divine blessings. Ahead of the series' trailer unveiling in Srinagar, Vivek and Pallavi decided to kickstart the promotions on an auspicious note by visiting Shankaracharya temple. Frequented by Kashmiri Hindus, Shankaracharya Temple is a monument of national importance, centrally protected under the Archaeological Survey of India. Since the series is for the Kashmiri Pandits and it shows their plight, Vivek and Pallavi decided to pay their respects and seek divine blessings at a temple frequented by them before embarking on this journey of putting forth the truth in its purest and rawest form. While the makers claim that 'The Kashmir Files' was a three-hour long movie which shook the nation, it was only the tip of the iceberg. The makers have said that the series is far more heart-wrenching, eye-opening and spine-chilling as it unravels the unreported realities, facts and the truth behind the massacre, and the exodus of the Kashmiri Pandits straight from the horses' mouth. As seen in the trailer, the narrative is captured via conversations with historians, experts, real life victims and their families including experts like Dr Meenakshi Jain who was conferred with the Padma Shri award in 2020 for her work in the field of literature and education; Rakesh K Kaul who is the author of bestsellers 'The Last Queen of Kashmir' and 'Dawn: The Warrior Princess of Kashmir'; Shesh Paul Vaid the former Director General of Police of J&K; Manoj Raghuvanshi ex TV journalist and the first journalist to do a lead story on terrorism erupting in Kashmir in July 1989; Dr. Tej Tikoo Retired Colonel and veteran of 1971 Indo-Pak war and the author of 'Kashmir: Its Aborigines and their Exodus' among others. Woven together through real life anecdotes, survivor testimonies and archived footages, 'The Kashmir Files Unreported' delves into the historical, ethnical, and geopolitical details, encapsulating the events, mistakes, crimes and circumstances that led to the massacre and mass exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the valley in the 1990s. It goes on to portray the state of affairs which led to the abrogation of Article 370 and its repercussions on Kashmir today. It also maps the centuries old journey of Kashmir, hailed as the paradise on earth, its significance to India, its people and culture and their evolution from being a melting pot of civilization and knowledge, to being repeatedly attacked, radicalised and systemically reduced to a warzone like condition of today. After four years of research and shoot schedule, 'The Kashmir Files Unreported' is ready for release and through their arduous journey, Vivek and Pallavi aim to honor the resilience of the Kashmiri Pandit community, and foster a deeper understanding that paves the way for healing and harmony in the valley's future. Filmmaker Vivek had said: "The genocide of Kashmir is a blot not only on India but on humanity. It is considered to be the biggest hidden tragedy of modern times. It was very important for us to tell this story honestly." The seven-part series will premiere on ZEE5 soon. Washington, July 22 : The joint production of GE's F-414 jet engines in India announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to the US in June is a game-changer. It bears testimony to the growing centrality of defence in the bilateral relationship between the two countries, driven in part by shared concerns about an aggressive China. Additionally, India ordered General Atomic's MQ-9 armed drones during this visit that will significantly enhance its ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities. These will be assembled in India. The two sides also concluded Master Ship Repair Agreements that would allow forward deployed US navy ships to dock in India for repairs and agreed towards the creation of logistic, repair, and maintenance infrastructure for aircraft and vessels in India. A joint statement released by the two sides after Prime Minister Modi's meetings with President Joe Biden contained many new initiatives -- around 25 -- across an entire range of sectors including the opening of new US consulates in India and stateside H-1B renewals (Indians are the largest beneficiaries of the program), but the F-414 joint production clearly stole the show. India has been trying to develop a jet engine for its fighter jets for decades but unable to make much headway, it has been using GE's F404 for its Tejas fighters. F414 will power the next generation of Tejas fighters. Under the MoU signed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and GE, F414 engines will be jointly produced in India, which would entail the most significant transfer of US military technology to India, a remarkable capstone for a defense relationship that did not exist 20 years ago. India, which is the world's largest importer of arms, bought nothing from the United States till 20 years ago. By 2020, it had bought $20 billion worth of American equipment, accounting for 10 per cent of its arm imports; the total is now nearing $25 billion. According to a list compiled by the Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan body that provides policy research to US lawmakers, India's purchases over the years span all three platforms, but majorly air and sea: Air 28 AH-64 Apache combat helicopters (22 delivered) 1,354+ AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles 245 Stinger portable surface-to-air missiles 12 APG-78 Longbow combat helicopter radars 6 spare helicopter turboshafts 15 CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters 13 C-130 Hercules transport aircraft (12 delivered) 11 C-17 Globemaster heavy transport aircraft 2 MQ-9A Reaper UAVs (two-year lease in 2020) 512 CBU-97 guided bombs 234 aircraft turboprops (228 delivered) 147 aircraft turbofans (48 delivered) Sea 1 Austin-class amphibious transport dock 24 MH-60R Seahawk ASW helicopters (3 delivered) 12 P-8 Poseidon patrol and ASW aircraft 48 Mk-54 ASW torpedoes (32 delivered) 6 S-61 Sea King naval transport helicopters 53 Harpoon anti-ship missiles 1 Harpoon Joint Common Test Set (accepted) 24 naval gas turbines (6 delivered) Land 12 Firefinder counterbattery radars 145 M-777 towed 155mm howitzers (41 delivered) 1,200+ M-982 Excalibur guided artillery shells 72,400+ SIG Sauer SIG716 assault rifles. India used to buy most of its defense equipment from Russia (earlier Soviet Union) once. But it has been steadily cutting it down and by 2022 it was down to 45 per cent, according to a report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). France was India's second largest arms seller with 29 per cent and the US third with 11 per cent. Washington has sought to boost its arms sales to India by removing regulatory barriers in recent years. It declared India a "Major Defense Partner" in 2016, facilitating technology sharing to a level commensurate with the closest US allies and partners. In 2018, the US granted India the status of STA 1 (Strategic Trade Authorization 1), which brought India at par with NATO member countries and five close treaty allies of the US -- Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Israel) for license free import of sensitive dual use technology. India, on its part, shed years of hesitation to sign the four Foundational/Enabling Agreements -- General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), Logistic Support Agreement (LSA), Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence (BECA) -- that the US says are necessary for interoperability between its military with that of the signatory country. A legislation moved in both chambers of US congress last month seeks to amend the Arms Export Control Act to expedite arms sales to India, extending it, without mentioning specifically, the same privileges as a group of countries called NATO Plus Five -- Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Israel. The two countries have intensified exchanges and engagements between their militaries as well. India now conducts maximum joint military exercises with the US. Bilaterally, Yudh Abhyas (Army), Vajra Prahar (Army Special Forces), Cope India (Air Force), Tiger Triumph (tri-service). And with multiple other nations along with the US, Malabar (Navy), Rim-of-the-Pacific (RIMPAC, Navy), Milan (Navy), Cutlass Express (Navy), La Perouse (Navy), Sea Dragon (Navy), Pitch Black (Air Force) and Red Flag (Air Force). If defence cooperation is the engine driving this bilateral relationship, the fuel for it is coming from shared concerns about China. People's Republic of China found not a single direct mention in the 6,500-word joint statement issued by India and the US after Modi's meetings with Biden, or in the 2,600-word fact-sheet issued by the White House to highlight the important elements of the discussions. Para 29 of the joint statement, however, left no doubt about about where the priorities lay for the two sides: "a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous India-Pacific region with respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, and international law," it emphasised. "Both leaders expressed concern over coercive actions and rising tensions, and strongly oppose destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force," the para went on to say, referring, without naming names and events, China's pursuit of maritime and territorial claims in the region that hat led to tensions and conflicts with several countries including India, Japan, Philippines and Indonesia. "Both sides emphasised the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the maintenance of freedom of navigation and overflight, in addressing challenges to the maritime rules-based order, including in the East and South China Seas," the statement said further, referring to China's rejection of a 2016 ruling of the panel. China cast a shadow on the Modi visit."Clearly, the challenges presented by the PRC to both our nations were on the agenda yesterday," White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters a day after Modi-Biden meetings. But he rejected suggestions that Modi's visit was intended to leverage India as a counterweight against China. But it's no secret here in the US or in India that the threat from China is pushing the two countries closer like nothing else. China has also brought India closer to Australia and Japan, as members of the Quad, alongwith the United States. Though resurrected in 2017 after it folded up in 2008, India participated enthusiastically in its revival after the Galwan border skirmishes with Chinese troops -- New Delhi's hopes of friendly relations with Beijing were rudely broken. Quad has since taken off, with the second in-person summit level meeting of its leaders taking place earlier on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in Hiroshima. Defence and security matters are not covered by the Quad, they are not only front and centre in the bilateral India-US ties, but are, in fact, driving it and, once again, in no small measure because of China. New York, July 22 : Even as global temperatures are reaching record highs, US space agency NASA aims to keep a track and find possible solutions to climate change. From wildfires, flooding, heatwaves, a record hot June, and July likely to be the warmest absolute month on record, millions of people over the globe are experiencing the effects of extreme weather. NASA said it is tracking it all, and sharing its data. "The data is clear: Our Earth is warming, and NASA is committed to empowering scientists, decisionmakers, and people around the world to make data-based decisions when it comes to climate," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, at a recent media roundtable, highlighting the agency's climate work. "With more than two dozen satellites, instruments aboard the International Space Station, and commercial and international partnerships, NASA uses our unique vantage point of space to observe our planet. To put it another way, NASA is bringing space down to Earth," he added. NASA experts pointed out quite a few of the agency's endeavours to combat climate change, including missions to improve our understanding of how global warming is changing biological systems, looking into next-gen technologies like unmanned aircraft to monitor wildfire response mechanisms and deploying satellites to track greenhouse gas emissions across the globe. They also discussed how artificial intelligence and deep learning could aid the agency with getting climate data that's as precise and accurate as possible. The experts also argued the urgency to step up efforts to tackle climate change. "The heat waves that we're seeing in the US, in Europe and in China are demolishing records left, right and centre," Gavin Schmidt, director, NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies was quoted as saying by Space.com "There has been decade on decade of increasing temperatures -- throughout the last four decades." Once China divided India & US, now it brings the two nations closer. Image Source: IANS News New York, July 22 : The US expectations of the relations with India - that it would become a bulwark against China and Russia - have come a full circle from 1947 to 2023 with Washington and New Delhi finally in agreement. As ever, India-US relations are shrouded in ambiguity, from before the Asian nation's independence to even now, when the two democracies appear to be drawing closer together. But geopolitics aside, perhaps, the most momentous development is a person of Indian heritage, Kamala Harris, holding the second highest office in the US - something Franklin D Roosevelt, the US president who laid the groundwork for India becoming free of the colonial yoke, might not have dreamt of. Modern India's ties to the US can be traced to Roosevelt forcing British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, the archetypical racist colonialist, into signing the 1941 Atlantic Charter promising independence for colonies with a clause about self-determination. "America won't help England in this war simply so that she will be able to continue to ride roughshod over colonial peoples," Roosevelt is said to have warned the imperialist. Yet, Roosevelt, who tried unsuccessfully to have an emissary mediate between the British and India's Independence movement leaders, could not force Churchill to implement it as long as World War II was raging. Ultimately, Roosevelt's idea prevailed and India became free under both their successors, US President Harry Truman and British Prime Minister Clement Atlee. Truman had high expectations of a democratic India and sent Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru his own plane to bring him from London and went out of his way to greet him on arrival and feted him in 1941. But China intervened. With Cold War, both leaders were hung up on China - Truman was backing Taiwan, then officially recognised China at the UN and was set against a Communist Beijing, and wanted Nehru, who was behind Mao Zedong, to switch sides. That was the first overt sign of the fissures between the two countries, yet about three-quarters of a century later, it is China that is drawing them closer. Truman's Secretary of State Dean Acheson declared Nehru "one of the most difficult persons". Shortly after the visit, Nehru declared more firmly a policy of not aligning with blocs, which would later become the concept of non-alignment. In the Korean War that broke out a year later when the US and Beijing's forces clashed, India stood neutral, much to the chagrin of Washington. But the US continued with economic assistance for India and in 1951, Truman pushed through the India Emergency Food Assistance Act when India faced severe food shortage. Engulfed in an ideological fog, Nehru ramped up his rhetoric of non-alignment, which in effect was perceived as critical of the West. The tenuous relationship with Washington continued with a slight warming of ties between Nehru and the wartime general President Dwight Eisenhower, who expressed respect for Nehru in his memoir. In 1959, Eisenhower became the first US president to visit India. Meanwhile, Pakistan had grown closer to the US, joining the two now-defunct defence collectives, SEATO and CENTO, and benefitted militarily from the US. The India-China war in 1962 shocked Nehru to reality and he, temporarily abandoning his veneer of non-alignment, sought US military aid from President John F Kennedy, which he received. The Soviet Union, which had broken up with China, began supplying arms to India, notably the MIG21 fighter jets, although the supply began after the war, seeding their deep bonds. The Kennedy administration initially supported Nehru's request for setting up a massive state-owned steel plant at Bokaro, but viewed as a socialist project it faced political opposition. Moscow stepped in to help India set up the steel plant further deepening ties between the two countries. That was further strengthened at the cost of Washington during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War when Islamabad flung advanced US weaponry at India, which was using mostly Soviet and old British arms. Yet, when the danger of famine loomed over India, President Lyndon Johnson rushed food aid to India in 1966, while also extracting promises to reform agriculture and to tone down criticism of the US internationally. India and the US had already been collaborating in agriculture development and what was probably the greatest achievement in India-US cooperation followed, helping India achieve food self-sufficiency through the Green Revolution in a few short years and making it one of the world's granaries. The 1971 Bangladesh War of Independence is the nadir in New Delhi-Washington relations. A month before the War, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Washington and met with President Richard Nixon, asking for help to temper the Pakistani military crackdown on what was then East Pakistan and to deal with the crisis of refugees fleeing army terror. His vulgar personal comments about Gandhi and about Indians emerged from White House tapes that were made public decades later. Given the deep ties with Pakistan and with Islamabad acting as the broker for the US to establish relations with China, Nixon made the infamous "tilt" to Pakistan and tried to intimidate India by sending the Seventh Fleet to the Bay of Bengal. Under Presidents Jimmy Carter, who visited India; Ronald Reagan, who warmly received both Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv who succeeded her, and George Bush, the senior, the two countries plodded on with no breakthroughs in their relations. India's 1998 nuclear test brought sanctions against it from President Bill Clinton, marking another diplomacy dip between the two nations. Although relations with India had had a rocky start at the start of his administration due to Secretary of State Madeline Albright's perceived hostility, Clinton came through when Pakistan sent its forces into Kargil in Kashmir in 1999. A war seeming likely when India began to root out Islamabad's forces, Clinton called Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Washington and read him the riot act, forcing him and then-military chief Pervez Musharraf to withdraw their troops. With the emergence of the Indian American community and the onset of India's economic liberalisation, Clinton started the steps that have led to the embrace of the two countries now. His visit to India the next year, was the first visit by a US president in 22 years, and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee went to Washington the same year. A bipartisan consensus on cooperation with India was becoming entrenched and President George W Bush in 2001 ended all the sanctions against India. The 2001 terrorist attack on the US that was orchestrated by Pakistan's allies in Afghanistan brought a sense of urgency to New Delhi's and Washington's war on terror, even as Islamabad took advantage of its geography in the US invasion of Afghanistan. India and the US began joint military exercises in 2002 and in 2005 signed an agreement on the framework for defence cooperation. That year the two countries also agreed on the landmark Civil Nuclear Agreement that allowed them to resume cooperation in the area, while also having an impact beyond their borders facilitating trade in nuclear equipment and materials. The agreement became the centre-piece of the era of Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Singh visited Washington in 2005 to discuss the nuclear deal, and in 2008 after it was okayed by Congress, while Bush went to India in 2006 to finalise it, and during that trip, the two countries agreed to increase trade and loosen restrictions. Singh returned to Washington the next year on a state visit at the invitation of President Barack Obama, and made another visit in 2013. The cerebral Indian leader bonded with the intellectual American and the relations in economy and defence took off. China had again taken the centre in the relations between the US and India, but this time with a convergence - India jolted from the Nehruvian illusion and the US waking up to the looming threats in the economy, trade and, more importantly, security. The Quad, the group of India, the US, Australia and Japan, that was to play a greater role later on was launched in 2007, but collapsed quickly when Canberra cooled towards Washington. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without ideological baggages and with a fresh outlook on the world, opened up the avenues for ties that bind closer. Once shunned by the US, his election made Washington realise the new realities of India, and Obama quickly invited him to visit in 2014. He arrived like a rock star feted by tens of thousands of Indian Americans. Besides vowing to boost trade, the two leaders turned their focus to climate change and agreed on programmes on green energy. Obama was the guest at India's Republic Day celebration the next year. In 2016, Modi addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time and the US gave India the status of Major Defence Partner, which led to an agreement to deepen military cooperation. At President Donald Trump's invitation, Modi visited Washington in 2017 and in 2019 the two of them went together to Houston and paraded at an event billed as "Howdy Modi" that drew about 50,000 people. Trump went to India in 2020 for his last foreign trip as president and was greeted by a roaring crowd of about 100,000 in Ahmedabad. During the Covid pandemic, India sent some medicines at the request of Trump, as well as some medical supplies, while the US sent medical equipment. While New Delhi was already sending vaccines to many countries, the Quad that was revived in 2017 devised a joint programme to provide developing countries with vaccines made by India. On the trade front, Modi's 'Make in India' clashed with Trump's 'America First' resulting in a mini-trade-war. Trump ended preferential trade status for some Indian products under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences programme asserting that New Delhi does not give "equitable" access to Indian markets for some US products - among them whisky and motorcycles. India retaliated by hiking tariffs on 28 products, among them almonds, and the US hit back with more duties on Indian aluminium and steel imports. But they went ahead on the defence and security front, signing a slew of pacts including the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) that gives New Delhi access to advanced technologies and realtime military data and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for intelligence-sharing. When President Joe Biden came into office and the full impact of China on security, trade and the economy hit him, he revved up cooperation with India. The Quad meetings were raised to summit status and Modi attended it in Washington in 2021. Ignoring opposition from the vociferous left in the Democratic Party and the ideologically liberal mainstream media, Biden invited Modi for a state visit last month. Not only was the US selling India advanced military equipment worth several billions of dollars, it also authorised the production of military jet engines jointly in India while promoting cooperation in defence production in deals finalised during Modi's visit. As the US tries to break the stranglehold of China on its supply chains, especially in hi-tech, India is emerging as a venue for friendshoring - developing manufacturing in friendly countries that can be reliable partners. From being a recipient of food aid from the US seven decades ago, India has emerged as a partner in defence, space, health and technology. Yet the shadow of ambiguity persists: India still will not back the US unambiguously, still dangerously reliant on Russia for defence and wary of going too far in provoking China while appearing with them on international forums. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) New Delhi, July 22 : United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's visit to India this week was her third in the last nine months. She was here to participate in the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Gandhinagar, but more importantly, it was yet another sign of the warming ties between India and the US, which was visible during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US last month. This was also reflected during Yellenas interaction with the media on the sidelines of the G20 conference, when she said that her endeavour was to foster warm relations between India and the US. However the frequency of her visits to India underlines the buoyancy in stark contrast to the tensions in Washingtonas relations with Beijing. Yellenas frequent stops in the country signal the importance of that relationship at a time of tension with China. She said during that media interaction that the US sees India as an indispensable partner in its friend-shoring endeavour. This strategy is gradually being adopted by the US to strengthen its supply chains by shifting its production bases out of China to nations like India. Yellen said that several US companies see India as an ideal place for producing their goods and then exporting them to the US. This friend-shoring has been taking place owing to the sluggish growth of the Chinese economy. These friendly overtures were also visible during Modias visit to Washington last month, when US president Joe Biden hosted him at the White House. The two leaders had also announced that India-US relations were never more stronger and several business deals were inked between the two countries. Coinciding with Yellenas visit was the arrival of another Biden administration official, US energy secretary Jennifer Granholm, who was here to attend the meeting of the India and US Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) this week. Both the nations welcomed the setting up of the public-private energy storage task force and related efforts to help large-scale integration of renewable energy, needed to support the clean energy transition under the umbrella of SCEP. The ministerial meeting of the SCEP, which was held between petroleum minister Hardeep Puri and the US energy secretary, appreciated deepened collaboration to scale and accelerate deployment of hydrogen technologies through the public-private hydrogen task force and other efforts in support of their national hydrogen strategies, including a focus on common cost reduction goals. The forum also lauded the launch of the US-India new and emerging renewable energy technologies action platform (RETAP) to accelerate development of key technologies to advance common ambitious clean energy goals. Both the sides also discussed ways of advancing the positive agenda outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US president Joe Biden in their Joint Statement of June 22, 2023, which welcomed efforts under the SCEP to develop and deploy energy storage technologies, expand collaboration in support of their respective national hydrogen strategies and cost reduction goals, and accelerate cooperation on new and emerging renewable energy technologies. During the meeting, the two sides noted the growing importance of bilateral energy cooperation between the countries while underscoring the critical importance of bilateral clean energy engagement and the achievements of the SCEP in strengthening energy security, creating opportunities for clean energy innovation, addressing climate change and creating employment generation opportunities. In this context, the sides welcomed the growing energy trade between the countries which has been consistently scaling new heights and welcomed the commercial partnerships facilitated by the SCEP. The two sides also underscored the importance of a stable, sustainable, diversified, resilient and globally responsible clean energy supply chain to enable energy transition pathways while minimising risks and uncertainty. Gradually as the date for the G20 leadersa summit nears (it is scheduled to take place on September 9 and 10, 2023 in New Delhi), there are possibilities of more Biden administration officials visiting India. As of now there is no clarity regarding who would be visiting, but foreign affairs observers said that some high profile visits are likely to take place from Washington to New Delhi in the next couple of months, highlighting the growing warmth in the India-US relations. It wont be after the November 2024 presidential election, as Donald Trumps defense team, had wanted, and it wont be in December, as Jack Smith, the special prosecutor appointed by the Department of Justice, had hoped. This Friday, Judge Aileen M. Cannon, set May 20 as the date on which the trial in the classified Mar-a-Lago documents case will start in Fort Pierce, Florida (located about 124 miles from Miami), where her chambers are located. The decision came following Tuesdays preliminary hearing. The start date means that the case will be decided in the midst of the presidential campaign ahead of the November 2024 election. Trump currently has a lead of more than 30 points over his nearest opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and will likely be the Republican candidate in the general election. All signs indicate that President Joe Biden, who is seeking reelection, will face him again in Novembers contest. Trump claims that the charges brought against him represent an attempt to ruin his electoral prospects. This announcement comes at the end of a week that began with Trump posting on his social media website, Truth Social, that he had received a target letter from Smith on Sunday. The missive informed the former president that he was being investigated by a grand jury in Washington, D.C., for the events between his November 2020 electoral loss to Biden a defeat he still refuses to admit and the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, which was carried out by a mob of his supporters following a rally in Washington on the day Congress was to certify the legitimate and peaceful transfer of presidential power. That notification represents a sign that a new indictment may be imminent. That would be Trumps third indictment, on the heels of the indictment for taking classified documents from the White House to his private residence at Mar-a-Lago without authorization and another one for allegedly paying hush money to porn actress Stormy Daniels to conceal an extramarital affair between the two, just weeks before the 2016 presidential election, which he won. A historic milestone The first indictment was issued in New York and represented a historic milestone: a former U.S. president had never been arrested before. The law does not prohibit an indicted, or even convicted, president from running for office or from serving as president if elected. The start date for the trial in Manhattan is set for March 2024. It will be interesting to see how the New York judge and the Florida judge coordinate to avoid getting in each others way. A possible fourth indictment is also pending in Atlanta, Georgia, where a grand jury is investigating him for allegedly pressuring election officials to change the outcome of the November 2020 election. In the case of the Mar-a-Lago papers, the former president is being tried for the handling of hundreds of secret or classified documents that he took without permission to his private residence in Palm Beach, which is also a hotel and a social club, when he left the White House in January 2021. Those papers, like those of any U.S. president when he leaves office, belong by law to the National Archives. He is also accused of refusing to return them when the authorities repeatedly asked for them. These resistances led to an FBI search on August 8, 2022, during which 48 boxes were seized. Later, we learned that a portion of the classified documents Trump brought to Mar-a-Lago spent a couple of months on stage in the Gold and White ballroom, the smaller of the residences two ballrooms, a space in the clubs main building, which has hundreds of members and more than 150 employees. Next, they moved some boxes to the office area in the West wing of the complex, which includes a spa, gift shop, fitness centers, outdoor pool and courtyard. When an employee asked to clear out a room to accommodate his office, a dozen boxes literally ended up in the bathroom of the lake room. Soon after, Trump ordered that a downstairs storage room be cleared to store 80 boxes. According to the indictment an explosive 49-page document, released just days before Trump appeared at the federal courthouse in downtown Miami on a sweltering June morning, which his supporters turned into a circus the door to that space was often left open. For that reason, Trump faces 37 charges: 31 of them are for intentionally withholding national defense information contained in as many documents; three are for keeping and hiding papers from federal investigations; two are for falsification; and the last charge is for conspiracy to obstruct justice with one of his employees, Walt Nauta. Nauta also faces charges for helping Trump hide the documents and lying to authorities. The Mar-a-Lago papers contain information about U.S. and foreign defense capabilities, details about nuclear programs and potential vulnerabilities in the event of a foreign attack, as well as plans for responding to such an eventuality. While there is no evidence that any of the individuals who accessed them without proper authorization intended to spy, the indictment argues that the mere possibility put foreign policy and national security and safety of the Armed Forces and their sources of information at risk. The selection of Judge Cannon, who was appointed by Trump in 2020, aroused suspicions because she ruled in favor of the defense during the investigation by granting Trumps teams request to appoint a special master to review the documents seized by the FBI; that decision was later reversed by an appeals court. Cannon initially set August 14 as the tentative start date for the trial. That turned out to be unrealistic, given the cases complexity and the voluminous evidence that must be examined by the jury, made up of citizens of Florida, the state where Trump resides. Cannon, 42, was born in Cali, Colombia, and is of Cuban descent. She worked in a circuit court, was an assistant federal prosecutor in Florida, and has ties to the Federalist Society, a powerful conservative-libertarian legal organization that advocates a literal reading of the U.S. Constitution. In addition to managing the pace of the case, her responsibilities include issuing rulings that will determine the outcome of the trial, deciding what evidence is admitted and, if he is found guilty, sentencing the former president. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition New Delhi, July 22 : In more recent years, India-US relations have been invigorated by not just a confluence of political or strategic interests, but it is also flourishing across a wide spectrum of sectors like education, health, science and technology and culture. This was evident from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent US visit where he showcased India's cultural heritage and its growing influence on the world stage -- from leading a record-breaking yoga event to forging defence and semiconductor production deals. PM Modi and his US counterpart Joe Biden called for collaborative efforts, spanning diverse fields such as advanced computing, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and higher education. An Observer Research Foundation study highlights that emerging technology will be among one of the sectors key to shaping the arc of a strong Indo-US relation in the years to come. The latest investment proposal by US-based Micron Technology will give a fresh impetus to the sector, besides creating thousands of job opportunities. The two nations have signed a new implementation arrangement on artificial intelligence, advanced wireless, and quantum technologies. The partnership extends to the field of telecommunications as well, with a joint focus on advancing 5G and 6G technologies, including Open Radio Access Network (RAN) systems The initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), announced last year, aims to provide cutting edge technologies to the rest of the world, thus bolstering connections between the US and Indian innovation ecosystems. Opening up new frontiers in space, India recently signed the Artemis Accords, which advance a common vision of space exploration. The White House announced last month that both NASA and ISRO have agreed on a joint space mission in 2024. The US National Science Foundation has announced 35 joint research collaborations with Indiaas Department of Science and Technology. With an increase of nearly 20 per cent last year, Indian students are on pace to soon become the largest foreign student community in the US. The two countries have launched a new Joint Task Force of the Association of American Universities and leading Indian educational institutions, including the IITs. Additional Fulbright-Kalam Climate Fellowships for research, administered by the US-India Educational Fund, will advance cooperation between leading scholars in India and the US on climate change. The US is also enabling up to 100 additional US undergraduate students to study or intern in India via the Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship Program. Speaking of health initiatives, the robust and longstanding Vaccine Action Programme (VAP) is one of the most glaring examples of cooperation in the health sector with an aim to support novel vaccine research, human immunology, vaccine related technologies, and translational research. The India-US Cancer Dialogue, hosted by President Biden's Cancer Moonshot, brings together experts from both countries to identify concrete areas of collaboration to accelerate the rate of progress against cancer. The US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases will sign an agreement with the Indian Council of Medical Research to further basic, clinical, and translational research on diabetes. The two countries have also called out for expanded collaboration on digital health platforms including responsible use of cutting-edge technologies like AI, and to explore cooperation in research and the use of traditional medicine. Moving towards sustainable development, under India's National Green Hydrogen Mission and the USA's Hydrogen Earth Shot, the two countries hope to work towards achieving their climate and energy goals. India's VSK Energy LLC will invest up to $1.5 billion to develop a new, vertically integrated solar panel manufacturing operation in the United States, including a 2.0 GW module-and-cell manufacturing plant in Colorado. USAID signed an MOU with the Ministry of Railways to work together on Indian Railways' target to become a "net-zero" carbon emitter by 2030. Cultural cooperation between the two countries manifests in diverse ways with many private institutions in the US teaching Indian cultural arts. The University of Houston has a Tamil Studies Chair and the University of Chicago has reinstated the Vivekananda Chair to further research and teaching of India's history and culture. This year, India took its culture and traditions to the global stage by PM Modi leading 177 nations in performing yoga at the UN headquarters in New York on June 21. The two nations continue negotiations for a Cultural Property Agreement, which would help to prevent illegal trafficking of cultural property from India and enhance cooperation on the protection and lawful exchange of cultural property. The US recently handed over 105 trafficked antiquities to India, which represent a diverse range of Indian culture from the 2nd-3rd century CE to the 18th-19th century CE. In the last seven years, the US has returned 278 antiques to India. Last year, the US Mission in India commemorated 20 years of cultural collaboration with the country through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) projects. Cultural activities by the US embassy are grouped into Reading India Series, featuring events related to Indian authors and writings; Performing India Series covering music, dance and theatre; Beholding India Series showcasing film screening, art and photo exhibitions; Understanding India Series with lectures on comprehensive and cross-sectional views of India, and Young India Series, featuring cultural events catering to younger audience. Mumbai, July 22 : The table is set, the main course is done and finished and now the house will be set ablaze as the eliminations will begin this time on 'Bigg Boss OTT 2' on the 'Weekend Ka Vaar' special. The 'Weekend Ka Vaar' is always special given that it has new guests and more challenges, but this time, the house is truly hot because no one knows who will pack up and go home and who shall still remain. The drama and conflicts coupled with the twists and turns is a aBigg Bossa trope and audiences have witnessed much, ranging from Salman Khanas aDabangga swag to contestants engaging in various tasks, heated arguments and controversies. Each and every time, the contestants are forced to up their game if they want to stay in the house, but now the time for listening and thinking is long past, it is time for action now as each contestant will have to put their best foot forward if they want to survive the harsh judgments that come their way. In the midst of all that has transpired, between the drama, the challenges, the thrills and conflicts, aBigg Boss OTT 2a has witnessed an interesting roster of nomination this week wherein six contestants were made prime candidates for eviction, with online polls not really able to determine who that person could be. The roster of names include Elvish Yadav, Avinash Sachdev, Falaq Naaz, Aashika Bhatia, Jiya Shankar and Jad Hadid. Ever since the nominations were announced, there has been speculation about who will get eliminated from aBigg Boss OTT 2a. The Captaincy Task was a big factor in determining who may still stay in the house. The recent antics of Elvish and the arising conflicts and controversies such as Jiya putting hand wash in his water, Falaq refuting his orders to make parathaas, or Avinash and Aashika engaging in fiery arguments taking pot shots and doing personal attacks have all collectively added to the anticipation. The whole scenario has been an interesting one full of dramatic turnovers, but who shall remain in the house will soon come to light, with a good chance that over two contestants among these six will pack up their bags and go home. Now as to who will it be, audiences can tune in to watch these thrilling eliminations and the accompanying drama in aBigg Boss OTT 2a streaming on JioCinema with the new aWeekend Ka Vaara special. Latest updates on Bigg Boss OTT 2 New Delhi, July 22 : The rapid rise of Indian-Americans from politics to administration, entrepreneurship to technology, medicine to hospitality, science to academia has put the global spotlight like never before on the high-achieving four million-plus strong diaspora. The community happens to be the most educated with the highest median income in the US, with an average household earning of $123,700 -- making them the top earners in the US among other Asians in the country. As the profile of the Indian American community -- now the second-largest immigrant group in the US -- has grown, so too has its economic, political, and social influence, according to a recent Carnegie Endowment study. In 2010, only 18 per cent of Americans saw India as "very important" to the United States, according to The Chicago Council survey. Now, India is perceived by Americans as their seventh favourite nation in the world, with 70 per cent of people viewing India favourably in 2023, says a Gallup survey. Much of how America views India today can be attributed to the success of this community, which according to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has played a significant role in the all-round development of the nation they live in and also strengthened the India-US relationship. The fifth largest economy of the world, India today is seen in the US as a strong bilateral partner sharing common democratic values with broad-based and multi-sectoral cooperation in sectors like trade and investment, defence and security, education, science and technology, cyber security, etc. American businesses heavily rely on highly-skilled workers from India to fill the gaps in IT and engineering sectors via the H-1B visa programme. These visa holders create prospects for US citizens, by enabling companies to invest in domestic operations instead of sending jobs abroad. As US Ambassador Eric Garcetti recently said: "India is a place where dreams become reality every day. Our counties have so much in common. Indian dreams and American dreams are two sides of the same coin." Addressing the 2019 Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, then Foreign Minister late Sushma Swaraj had noted that while the Indian diaspora started migrating centuries ago, it was the migration of the educated, highly-skilled and dynamic young Indians that brought laurels to India. The dominance of Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Parag Agarwal in the IT sector has strengthened the image of India in the US as a technology powerhouse and a source of quality human resources. With US Vice President Kamala Harris sitting atop the political ladder, the US House of Representatives has five Indian Americans -- Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pramila Jayapal and Shri Thanedar. There are close to 60 Indian-American CEOs in Fortune 500. Even though Indians are just 1 per cent of the American population, they are more than 10 per cent of the Fortune 500 CEOs with the likes of Laxman Narasimhan (Starbucks) and Raj Subramaniam (FedEx). The US now has 20,000 Indian-American professors and at least a third of companies in the Silicon Valley that come for funding, and have an Indian American co-founder, according to Indiaspora founder M.R. Rangaswami. According to foreign policy experts, it is the success of this community, which has dramatically changed the US perception of Indians and India, with its ability to spread Indian soft power, lobby for India's national interests, and contribute economically to their mother country's rise. As part of "soft diplomacy", Indian-Americans played a pivotal role in the fructification of the historic Indo-US nuclear deal in 2005. The community also urged the political establishment -- right from the Oval Office down to statehouses -- to send aid worth at least half-a-billion dollars to India during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Meenakshi Iyer can be reached at meenakshi.i@ians.in) India moves from Russia to US for nuclear reactors, space research. Image Source: IANS News Chennai, July 22 : Nuclear and space are two strategic sectors in which India and the US agreed to work together recently. While the two countries will work on the development of next generation small modular reactor technologies for domestic and export markets, in the space field, the US will fly Indian astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) next year. The proposed spaceflight mission is in addition to the NISAR satellite built by the two countries and to be launched by India next year. In the nuclear power field, small modular reactors are the new development.Small modular reactors are the ones which are factory-made compact with less than 300 MW capacity. Nuclear power equipment manufacturers like Russia's Rosatom, French company EDF and the US based NuScale Energy are now looking at the small modular reactor segment. For global nuclear power plant makers, small is now beautiful and they are looking at populating their small modular reactors across the world. With lesser gestation time, higher power generation period and lower risks, nuclear power plant manufacturers are now of the view that small is beautiful and are in favour of small modular reactors, experts had earlier told IANS. Incidentally, the world's first land-based small modular reactor (SMR) with RITM-200N is slated to be commissioned in 2028 in the Russian Arctic region, said Director General of Rosatom Alexey Likhachev. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden have underscored the important role nuclear energy plays in global decarbonization efforts and affirmed nuclear energy as a necessary resource to meet nationsa climate, energy transition, and energy security needs. While India will house six Rosatom, Russiaas nuclear reactors, in Tamil Nadu -- two are already generating power and four are under construction -- the US company Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) is negotiating with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) to set up six atomic power stations in India. The US Department of Energy and India's Department of Atomic Energy are having intense consultations for facilitating the opportunities for WEC to develop a techno-commercial offer for the Kovvada nuclear project in India. The US also reaffirmed its support for Indiaas membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group and commits to continue engagement with like minded partners to advance this goal. That apart, the two democratic countries have bilateral cooperation on cutting-edge scientific infrastructure, including a $140 million in-kind contribution from Indiaas Department of Atomic Energy to the US Department of Energyas Fermi National Laboratory toward collaborative development of the Proton Improvement Plan-II Accelerator, for the Long Baseline Neutrino Facility -- the first and largest international research facility on American soil. The Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) being built in Maharashtra is also an Indo-US initiative in the field of astronomy. Forty years after Russia carried an Indian to space in its spacecraft, the US will be doing that but to the International Space Station. The space agencies of two countries a" Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will develop a strategic framework for human spaceflight cooperation by the end of 2023. NASA will provide advanced training to Indian astronauts at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, with a goal of mounting a joint effort to the International Space Station in 2024. It may be recalled that it was Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma who had travelled to space in a Russian rocket in 1984. Be that as it may, the other Indo-US joint space programme NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) -- an earth observation satellite -- will be orbited by an Indian rocket next year from the Sriharikota rocket port in Andhra Pradesh. The NISAR is an earth observation satellite jointly built by NASA and ISRO. The satellite has already reached India from the US. Modi and Biden called for enhanced commercial collaboration between the US and Indian private sectors in the entire value chain of the space economy and to address export controls and facilitate technology transfer. India also signed the Artemis Accords -- it was the 27th nation to do so -- which advance a common vision of space exploration. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in) (US PACKAGE) Despite visa issues, layoffs, US still a magnet for students, techies. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 22 : The massive green card backlog leading to longer wait for permanent residency, limited availability of non-immigrant H-1B visas and threat of layoffs by top tech giants -- the tide seems to be inexorably turning against Indians with American dreams. Yet, if numbers are to be believed, the US remains the top choice among Indians leaving their country after renouncing citizenship, according to a 2021 government data. Of the 163,370 individuals who gave up citizenship of India in 2021, a major chunk of 78,284 chose the US as their adoptive country with many saying that the American citizenship was most sought after for "reasons personal to them". A record number of Indian students chose the United States to pursue higher education with nearly 21 per cent of the over one million foreign students studying in the US being Indians, according to a recent US High Commission data. Almost 200,000 Indian students chose America as their higher education destination in the 2021-22 academic year -- a 19 per cent increase over the previous year, according to the Open Doors Report released this year. Unlike Sundar Pichai, who completed his bachelor's degree in India before heading abroad to take on Google, most students in India now want to leave for foreign shores immediately after finishing their class 12th. "The earlier I start, the better it is," Snehal Sinha, a 16-year-old commerce student with American dreams, told IANS. For students and techies in a country with a billion-plus population, the US still means a land of opportunity, offering world-class education, better job prospects, and a chance to build a better life. The country is home to nearly 4,000 universities known for their high academic standards. An international student has a wide range of choices, regardless of the state in which they choose to study. India's domestic education system has grown to be one of the largest in the world, with close to 52,000 institutions. But, despite this expanded access, postgraduate opportunities are still few and far between in the country, which is one of the big reasons students look overseas, notes American International Recruitment Council (AIRC). As of 2018-19, only 35 per cent of Indian higher education institutions offered postgraduate programs, and 2.5 per cent offered PhD programs, unlike the US with its strong graduate programs and post-study work opportunities. More than 77 per cent of Indian students in the US studied STEM in the 2020-21 academic year with maths and computer science being the most popular STEM fields, accounting for 35 per cent of Indians in 2020-21. In 2022, the White House announced additional STEM fields eligible for Optional Practical Training STEM Extension, which provides students with an opportunity to find off-campus employment or an internship within their field of study. Optional Practical Training allows overseas students with an F-1 visa to work up to 12 months during or after the study duration. Students with STEM degrees get another 12 months and can work up to 24 months. Another program, the Curricular Practical Training gives international students authorisation to gain employment training and to work in paid internships positions. The success stories of Indian-origin CEOs Satya Nadella, Shantanu Narayen, and Arvind Krishna have also played a role in attracting Indian students and techies who want to make a mark in Silicon Valley. An opportunity to "work onsite" and "earn in dollars" has been a big lure for Indian engineers ever since the tech boom swept the country almost two decades ago, says a Quartz report. It adds that more than anything, a US visa for an Indian is a sign of career progression for an IT professional, often valued even more than an increment. There are more than 400,000 non-US residents working in the US via the H-1B visa program, and of these, roughly three-quarters are from India, especially in the IT sector. A lot of Indian IT professionals find US work culture more planned and less ambiguous in comparison to India's, in addition to better labour laws and pay scale. In the US, often there is no requirement to notify the employer before leaving the job, as either party can terminate the relationship without notice. Indian-American households have the single-highest income level in the country, which is twice more than the income of the US population, a 2020 Columbia Business School study, says. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit last month, the US said it will ease H-1B visas for skilled Indians and clear the backlog as part of a pilot programme, which will allow Indians to renew the non-immigrant visas in the US without having to travel abroad. Srinagar, July 22 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday visited Nunwan and Chandanwari Base camps for Amarnath Yatra and interacted with the pilgrims. At the Nunwan Base Camp, the LG interacted with the pilgrims and reviewed arrangements for queue management. LG discussed measures taken for comfortable stay, food, healthcare, connectivity, sanitation, water and other facilities for Yatris in case of bad weather. He observed that administration is sensitive to the needs of pilgrims, responsive and has ensured better arrangements for hassle-free pilgrimage. "I am extremely proud of entire team, Shrine Board, J&K Police, CAPFs, Army, BRO, NDRF, SDRF, Mountain Rescue Teams, service providers, citizens for commendable work and ensuring smooth conduct of Yatra. Through our solidarity, resolve and preparation, we'll overcome any future challenges," LG said. "Pilgrims from across the country and abroad are now the Brand Ambassadors of J&K. The economic activities associated with spiritual pilgrimage generate livelihood for the locals and spur tourist influx to the UT," he said. The meeting also discussed the deployment of security and police personnel, Doctors, medical staff, rescue teams, and the steps taken to facilitate the smooth movement of yatris. During his visit to Chandanwari Base Camp, the Lt Governor interacted with pilgrims, sanitation workers, service providers and took stock of the arrangements. Guwahati/Agartala, July 22 : Once a stronghold of the Congress, the eight northeastern states are now dominated by the BJP and the state parties, which are indispensable for the national parties to govern the region. Meghalaya's National People's Party (NPP), Nagaland's Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), Mizoram's Mizo National Front (MNF) and Sikkim's Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) with a solid political base are governing their respective states and are allies of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The NPP, headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, however, has a substantial base in Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and a reasonable number of MLAs in these three northeastern states besides Meghalaya, where the party is dominating the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government. In the NDA meeting, held on July 18 in New Delhi, as many as eleven parties from the eight northeastern states took part. The parties include, NPP, NDPP, MNF, SKM, Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, Naga People's Front, Asom Gana Parishad, United People's Party Liberal, Kuki People's Alliance, United Democratic Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party. On the other hand, no parties based in the northeastern states took part in the two-day meeting of the opposition alliance -- Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) in Bengaluru. The parties, which have a substantial base in the northeastern states and are not part of either grouping, NDA and INDIA, are Assam's All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), Tripura's Tipra Motha Party (TMP), Mizoram's Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and Manipur People's Party (MPP). The Muslim based party AIUDF, headed by Lok Sabha MP Badruddin Ajmal and former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman led TMP have a strong base in their respective areas and might pose a challenge to both the BJP and the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The AIUDF has 15 members in the 126-member Assam assembly. The ZPM with six MLAs in the 40-member Mizoram assembly is the main opposition party in that state. Founded in 1968, the MPP, which is considered one of the oldest regional parties in India, is currently weakened due to many reasons including factional feud. Ithas formed governments in Manipur in three different regimes 1972-73, 1974 and 1990-1992. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the eight northeastern states, 14 are currently with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) while the Congress has four and seven Lok Sabha seats are held by state parties and Independents. The AIUDF in Assam, NDPP in Nagaland, MNF in Mizoram, NPP in Meghalaya, NPF in Manipur, SKM in Sikkim and an Independent (Naba Kumar Sarania) in Assam have one seat each. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, Assam has 14 constituencies, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura have two seats each, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim have one seat each. The BJP is now heading governments in four northeastern states Assam, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur with the support of the local parties. The TMP, after capturing the politically important Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in April 2021, has been demanding elevation of the areas of the autonomous body by granting a 'Greater Tipraland State' or a separate state status under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. Highlighting the 'Greater Tipraland State' demand and throwing a challenge to all the national parties -- BJP, CPI (M), Congress and Trinamool Congress -- the TMP, the first tribal-based party in Tripura since 1952, emerged as the principal opposition in the state in the February assembly polls and is now the main stakeholder of the vote share of tribals, who always played a vital role in the electoral politics of Tripura. Before next year's parliamentary poll, eying 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, the Congress like its previous efforts, has initiated moves to form a 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) with the like-minded smaller and state parties. The Congress held a meeting of 11 opposition parties excluding the AIUDF, Aam Aadmi Party and Trinamool Congress in Guwahati recently. Assam Congress president Bhupen Bora, who called the meeting, had said that they would check the division of votes in next year's Lok Sabha polls in Assam as the BJP always gets electoral mileage due to the division of votes among the non-BJP parties. After attending the NDA meeting in New Delhi on July 18, top leaders of the parties from the northeastern region expressed the confidence that the BJP-led NDA would do well in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the northeast. Meghalaya Chief Minister and NPP supremo Conrad K Sangma tweeted : "Attended the meeting of the National Democratic Alliance partners chaired by Hon'ble PM, Sh. Narendra Modi ji at New Delhi. The meeting sets an optimistic tone for a continued shared commitment for our country's future." Senior leader of NDPP and Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in a tweet said ; "Happy to join NDA leaders in commemorating 25 yrs of NDA, representing NDPP along with Shri Abu Metha, Secretary General of NDPP. No alliance has been intact for this long. It reflects the able leadership of Shri Narendra Modi ji. Thankful for his focus & support to the NE region." "Glad to attend a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents, representing the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), along with Hon'ble AGP Working President Shri Keshab Mahanta in New Delhi," tweeted Assam Minister and Asom Gana Parishad president Atul Bora. Founding leader of the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) and Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang in a tweet said : "Attended the meeting of the NDA chaired by the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji at New Delhi. Under the able leadership and guidance of the Hon'ble PM, we reaffirm our collective commitment to serve the people, provide good governance and focus on overall development for a better future." Even as the BJP remains in an advantageous position by virtue of running the government in four out of the eight states in the northeastern region, the regional parties are expected to play a significant role in next year's Lok Sabha elections. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Thiruvananthapuram, July 22 : Kerala has always been a testing laboratory for political formulations and during the late 1960s, the state experienced the politics of coalitions. CPI-M leader and the first Chief Minister of Kerala, late EMS Namboodiripad who was later the general secretary of the party, had experimented with the United Front government or had headed a seven party coalition in his second stint as Chief Minister in 1967. EMS, in fact, made history by becoming the first democratically elected Communist Chief Minister when he won in 1957. In 1967 the United Front government of EMS Namboodiripad comprised of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI-M, Communist party of India (CPI), Sanghata Socialist Party (SSP), Muslim League (MUL), Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Karshaka Thozhilali Party (KTP) and Kerala Socialist Party (KSP). The coalition had a comfortable majority of 117 members out of 133 members and EMS was sworn in as Chief Minister of the state on March 6,1967. However internal dissensions led to the fall of the government and EMS resigned on October 24,1969. C. Achutha Menon was sworn in as the Chief Minister for a second term on October 4, 1970. and continued till 25 March, 1977, as there were no elections during the Emergency period. The government headed by Achutha Menon included Congress leader K. Karunakaran and Muslim League stalwart C.H. Mohammed Koya. Since that time ,there has not been single party rule in Kerala and the state witnessed coalition governments with differing political ideologies but uniting together for a common goal. The coalition politics of Kerala is now more organized with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by the CPI-M on the one side and the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by the Congress on the other side. Interestingly the CPI-M led LDF has parties like the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress-S while the UDF has a revolutionary party, the RSP and the Forward Bloc and the Communist Marxist Party (CMP). While the NCP, Congress-S, RSP, CMP and Forward Bloc are small parties, the big time parties like the Congress and the CPI-M do include these parties due to the charisma of their leaders. Parties with a Congress lineage like the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress-S joining the CPI-M coalition was a shrewd political move to have the Congress minded voters vote for the left coalition. In a similar vein, the Congress also has the red parties in its fold with the RSP, CMP and the Forward Bloc being part of the UDF. With the CPI-M led LDF government under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan returning to power for a second consecutive term in 2021, there are calls for roping in the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) into the left fold and discussions had taken place regarding this. It may be recalled that the powerful Christian political party, the Kerala Congress which has always stood with the Congress, had left the UDF and joined the Left Front. This shift of the Kerala Congress led by Jose K Mani, MP, has come as a windfall for the Left parties in Central Kerala which has a huge Christian population. Even though the Muslim League leaders have denied any move to join the Left Front, sources in both the camps told IANS that such a move cannot be ruled out. There is a general feeling among the Muslim community of the state that to counter the BJP-led Hindutva movement, it is the CPI-M that is more equipped than the Congress and hence supporting the CPI-M led front would not erode the core Muslim vote bank of the IUML. While the CPI-M is the biggest political party in the state with a well oiled party machinery, an alliance with the IUML would help it to sweep North Kerala and would be the beginning of the end of the Congress in Kerala. Political analyst and Congress observer Roy Mathew while speaking to IANS said," The IUML is a strong political party which has a clear political ideology and there is no chance of that party leaving the Congress led UDF." Bigger parties like the CPI-M and the Congress are entering into a coalition with the smaller political parties as the background of parties like the Kerala Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League helped these parties gain the confidence and support of the communities these parties were associated with. The Kerala Congress is predominantly a Christian political party and the IUML is a Muslim political formulation. New Delhi, July 22 : Delhi MCD schools on Saturday hosted a Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTM) in which the Education Minister Atishi and Mayor Shelly Oberoi interacted with parents and children. The interaction took place at MCD schools in DDA Flats Kalkaji and Indira Kalyan Vihar, Okhla where they discussed with teachers various ways to improve learning and performance of students. Atishi highlighted that PTMs bring parents and teachers together, assisting them in devising better strategies for their children future. aUnder the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, education became our top priority, resulting in all Delhi government schools becoming excellent. Here, children from all sections of society are receiving world-class education. Now, we are bringing similar changes to MCD schools, fulfilling CM's promise and working towards making them world-class too," she said. She mentioned that they have begun improving the quality of education in MCD schools, providing children and teachers with essential facilities they were deprived of for 15 years. Mayor while interacting with parents at MCD schools, expressed that Kejriwal's primary vision is to prioritise providing better education to children, making it the country's foremost goal. Kolkata, July 22 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday questioned former West Bengal education secretary Dushyant Nariala in connection with the agency's ongoing probe in the multi-crore school jobs recruitment case in the state. Education Secretary Manish Jain has already been questioned twice by the CBI in connection with the matter. Jain has also been named as a witness in a chargesheet filed by the sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel probe into the matter. Nariala served as the state education secretary between 2016 and 2018. It has been learnt that the former state education secretary has been questioned about the procedures of recruitment followed by the department during his tenure. He was also reportedly questioned on whether he ever received any instruction related to appointment from the-then state education minister Partha Chatterjee, who is currently in judicial custody for his alleged involvement in the school recruitment case. However, he denied receiving any instructions from Chatterjee in the matter. KYODO NEWS - Jul 22, 2023 - 09:47 | Feature, All, Japan As Japan inched closer to defeat in World War II, a bomb dropped by the U.S. military as part of training exercises ahead of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki took the life of a local boy in a district on the outskirts of Fukushima. The "mock atomic bombing" occurred in Watari which was just one of several locations bombs were tested in Japan. Although far less devastating than the actual A-bomb attacks, they left a lasting impression on local residents. Despite the trauma caused by the bomb test in the northeastern Japan area, as the years pass and people move on and age the memories have begun to fade. On the morning of July 20, 1945, Michi Saito, then 18, heard a shocking roar at the entrance of her family's home as she prepared to leave for the day's farm work and was thrown backward by an explosion. Picking herself up, she saw a black plume of smoke billowing up from the rice field where her brother Takao had been working and rushed over to him. She found the 14-year-old with a fatal wound to his abdomen. Saito lost most of the hearing in her right ear in the incident. The siblings' father found a large bomb fragment several days later. Whenever he would see it, he would kick it out of rage. But after about a decade, he entrusted it to Zuiryu-ji, a Buddhist temple in Watari where it remains today. "I think he believed that if he left it at the temple, Takao's soul could rest in peace from the daily chanting of Buddhist sutras," Saito, now 96, said. There are few people remaining who remember the atomic bombing test run. But Saito still suffers from the guilt of having survived the explosion which killed her young brother. Suguru Saito, an 87-year-old local historian who shares the family's name but is not related, was at an elementary school a few hundred meters away from the bomb site. He and other students evacuated to a shelter after the air raid alarm blared and there they heard the blast. He remembers the incident in his hometown as of one of the tragedies of the war. Between July 20 and Aug. 14 1945, the U.S. special forces dropped 49 conventional, non-nuclear explosive bombs on 18 prefectures as target training for planned nuclear attacks, including seven in Aichi Prefecture the day before Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's surrender. The explosions killed more than 400 people. At about 4.5 tons, the mock atomic bombs weighed about the same as "Fat Man," the plutonium core atomic bomb dropped on Nagasaki on Aug. 9. It was called a "pumpkin bomb" due to its rounded shape and orange color. Investigations into the bombing test runs were prompted by the publication in 1991 of an analysis of U.S. military records by an Aichi citizens' group. In the early summer of 2023, the 78th year since the war's end, Suguru took Kyodo News to the explosion site of the mock atomic bomb. Green rice plants gently swayed in the wind in the paddies, which partially remain in a residential area. According to Suguru, there had been talk of building a memorial for Takao at the site of the explosion in the 1960s, but the plan never gained momentum due to opposition from local residents who believed doing so would only "tarnish the town's image." Another, more recent, nuclear-related incident did tarnish the town's image, though. On March 11, 2011, the Great East Japan Earthquake and the nuclear plant disaster occurred, devastating northeastern Japan including Fukushima. Later, in Watari, about 60 kilometers from the plant, higher doses of radiation were detected than the city average, and the district was designated a "hot spot." Although Watari was never designated as an evacuation zone, there are some residents who voluntarily evacuated to places outside of Fukushima Prefecture and have yet to return. In fiscal 2022, the average radiation dosage levels in the district were lower than the government's standard for decontamination of 0.23 microsieverts per hour. Nowadays, residents in Watari rarely speak of either the bombing incident or the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. "It is inevitable because of the concern over possible reputational damage," said Suguru. But he still thinks the memories of what happened, especially to the local boy, should be chronicled as important moments in the area's history. Related coverage: 1st restored "Hiroshima Panels" artwork of A-bomb horrors unveiled Hiroshima survivor who met G-7 says visit was step to nuke abolition FEATURE: Japanese A-bomb victim's paper cranes eyed for UNESCO heritage list Nagpur, July 22 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday afternoon sent a MI-17 V5 helicopter to evacuate at least 40 villagers marooned in flood waters at Anandnagar-Tanda village of Mahagaon in Yavatmal, officials said here. The official said that the chopper was deployed following a request from the district authorities as the region grapples with incessant rains for the past two days. In and around Anandnagar-Tanda, scores of homes were flooded and people were forced to wade out in 3-4 feet deep waters to safter locations even as the water levels continued to rise, inundating the village roads and the agricultural fields around. Earlier this afternoon, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that around 45 people were stranded in the flooded villages and two helicopters would be dispatched to evacuate them. A defence official confirmed this evening that one chopper was flown to the affected region and the evacuation work was currently underway. Besides, a SDRF team is also en route to Anandnagar-Tanda to rescue the other villagers even as the area continued to be lashed with heavy rains this evening. Vidarbha, the eastern region of Maharashtra has been witnessing a downpour in the past 48 hours in Nagpur, Yavatmal, Buldhana, Gadchiroli and other districts. The torrential rains have claimed at least 8 lives and another two dozen injured in various rain-related incidents while all concerned agencies are in a state of high alert as more rains are predicted. Kolkata, July 22 : : Trinamool Congress is planning to move a special motion on the floor of the West Bengal assembly condemning the recent incident women being paraded nude in Manipur during the forthcoming monsoon session of the house starting from July 24. "The matter will be discussed at the business advisory committee and any decision on this count will be conveyed only after that," the speaker of West Bengal assembly Biman Banerjee told media persons on late Saturday afternoon. The business advisory committee meeting will be on Monday only when the monsoon session of the house will resume. Generally, on the first day of any session, the house is adjourned after obituary mentions. That Trinamool Congress will take up the Manipur issue as a major tool to oppose nationally was given by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing the party's annual "Martyrs' Day" rally on Friday. While delivering her speech there the chief minister clearly said that she had discussion with her counterpart in Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party supremo Arvind Kejriwal on the possibilities of some leaders of the constituents of Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance, including herself, visiting Manipur and reviewing the situation there. Earlier, Trinamool Congress had sent a five-member delegation to Manipur to review the situation in the violence- ridden NorthEastern state. Time and again the leadership of the state's ruling party has accused the top leadership of being silent about Manipur and neglecting the violence issue there. Chennai, July 22 : Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said on Saturday that Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to misuse, mislead, threaten and even bully people, adding that while social media has allowed people to connect with others, removing even age and geographical barriers, this has also led to online abuse and trolling. The Chief Justice of India was addressing the convocation ceremony of the 60th batch of students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras here. The CJI told the students that curbing the misuse of technology for harmful purposes would be a key challenge for them. "Today I want to leave you with two questions that I hope you will ask yourselves. What are the values your technology represents and what are its affordances," Justice Chandrachud said. He added, "When I say value, I do not mean the monetary worth of your ideas, innovations or technologies. I mean what principled values the technology represents and in particular, what are the values it furthers in the context you seek to deploy it." The CJI said that during the Covid period, the Supreme Court had held 43 million virtual hearings. Courts across the country had also held similar virtual hearings to facilitate the lawyers and litigants to appear before the courts for disposal of cases, he said. Justice Chandrachud said that this paved the way for inclusivity and access to justice. The CJI also said that values matter, adding that science and technology can empower people to secure liberty, equality and social justice. New Delhi, July 22 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday inaugurated the newly established Aviation Security Control Centre (ASCC) at CISF Campus Mahipalpur. DG CISF Sheel Vardhan Singh, Tapan Kumar Deka, Director, IB, Zulfiquar Hasan, Director General BCAS, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion. The CISF was inducted at airports for the first time in February 2000. After two decades, currently, CISF is providing security cover to 66 airports out of 134 operational airports in the country, including extremely busy and hypersensitive airports like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jammu, Srinagar, and Amritsar. In order to monitor the security functions and resource utilization on a real-time basis, Security Operations Control Centres (SOCCs) are functional at every airport. These SOCCs serve as the nerve/nodal center for the collection and dissemination of important information 24x7, especially during contingencies. Over time, due to increased air traffic and passenger load, the current security scenario, evolving nature of threat perceptions, and geographical spread of airports across the country, there was a need for centralised monitoring of events occurring at airports to resolve them in real-time. To fulfill the aforesaid requirement, CISF has established a modern state-of-the-art centralized Aviation Security Control Centre, integrating the SOCCs of all 66 airports. The control center is also equipped with cutting-edge technologies like a data center, R&D Lab, and War room. The CISF informed about the salient features, which include 24x7 real-time data monitoring and trend analysis of passengers and air traffic. "This facility will provide realistic input about passenger traffic at a given point in time and help in mobilizing the resources for optimum utilization. Some of the aspects covered are bomb threat calls, VVIP movement highlights, major incidents, passenger clearance time, utilization of security gadgets, and queue management system," CISF said. All the 66 airports are now connected through VPN and IP telephonic systems and can be accessed at any point in time by the senior officers during any contingent situation. "It will also perform trend analysis of real-time data to enhance the effectiveness of decision-making at higher levels. Research will be done on advanced and AI-based aviation security equipment available worldwide, comparative analysis of different equipment, and its applicability at Indian airports. Another salient feature is the resolution of social media feedback by monitoring popular social sites," CISF said. This newly established ASCC will play an important role in its quest to play a greater role in aviation security and the future of the force. New Delhi, July 22 : A team of doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi successfully performed a surgery of a challenging case by removing a retained knife from a 30-years-old man's back. The patient allegedly suffered the injury while defending his jewellery shop from robbers. AIIMS in a statement said that the patient was admitted in the Emergency on late evening of July 12. It said that the patient's condition upon arrival at the emergency room was critical, presenting a complex case requiring urgent attention and surgical intervention. "The surgical procedure of posterior decompression with removal of knife and posterior fixation was conducted by Professor Dr Kamran Farooque and his spine team on the morning of July 13," the statement said. Dr Farooque and his team skillfully removed the retained knife blade while ensuring the patient's stability and safety throughout the procedure, it said. The successful operation on this stab knife injury patient highlights the Trauma Centre's continued dedication to excellence in trauma care and its ability to handle complex cases with optimal outcomes, it added. Patna, July 22 : Residents of Masaudi on the outskirts of Patna thrashed the principal of a government school for sexually harassing girl students, an official said on Saturday. Following the incident, the block education officer suspended the accused principal besides initiating legal action against him on the direction of District Magistrate Chandrashekher Singh. The incident took place on Friday when some girl students refused to go to school, complaining about the misbehaviour of the principal. Soon after, the agitated parents reached the school and thrashed the principal, identified as Avinash Kumar. The local police later intervened and arrested the accused. The girls alleged that the principal used to call them inside his office and touch them inappropriately. He did this even inside the classrooms as well. Even the female teachers of the school were scared of him because of his acts, they alleged. "We have suspended the accused principal with immediate effect, besides initiating legal action against him," said Rajendra Thakur, block education officer of Masaudi. Ananya Panday sets Instagram on fire with Ibiza pics; fans ask 'Where is Night Manager'. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, July 22 : Bollywood diva Ananya Panday, who has recently returned from her Europe vacation, has set the internet on fire on Saturday, by sharing some glimpses of her picturesque holiday. Ananya was on vacation with her rumoured boyfriend and actor Aditya Roy Kapur. They were spotted in a restaurant in Lisbon, Portugal, having an engrossed happy conversation with each other. The rumoured couple was also spotted together taking a stroll on the streets of Spain, where Aditya was seen hugging Ananya from behind, while they were enjoying the picturesque view. They had also attended a rock concert there. In a string of photos, Ananya flaunted her toned body, donning an aqua coloured bikini. In one photo, she is seen holding a coconut in her hand, while sitting beside a poolside. Another photo is a full mirror selfie of Ananya, with the vast sea as the backdrop. One photo shows her sitting on the sand, on the seashore. She also shared a view of the alluring locales. She captioned the photos as, "blue baby", with a blue heart, blue butterfly, blue cap, blue whale emoji. She gave the geo-tag of Ibiza. The post, which is liked by Sara Ali Khan, and Mira Rajput, has left the fans excited and they wrote: "Where is Night Manager?" referring to Aditya's character in the recent espionage thriller 'The Night Manager'. One user wrote, "Where is Adi", the other said, "where is Aditya???" One fan also said: "Aditya and Ananya is a perfect couple." Another user said: "Is Night Manager taking photos?" Ananya's bestie Suhana Khan commented: "woww bikini babe". Earlier, the viral photo of the new B-Town couple on the Instagram, showed Aditya in a navy blue shirt, and Ananya in a white and pink top, with her hair loosely tied at the back. Both were seen facing towards each other and Ananya flaunted her big hearty smile, while she was listening to Aditya. The picture was evident that both were having a good time together, over a glass of wine. On the work front, Ananya has Vikramaditya Motwane's untitled cybercrime-thriller. She also has Farhan Akhtar's 'Kho Gaye Hum Kahan', 'Dream Girl 2' and web-series 'Call Me Bae'. Aditya's latest release is 'The Night Manager, part 2'. He also has Anurag Basu's 'Metro... In Dino'. Patna, July 22 : BJP Bihar unit on Saturday filed 12 cases against the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, Patna DM, SSP and others in Patna civil court over the lathi-charge incident. The lathi-charge incident took place in Patna on July 13 following a protest demonstration march by the BJP. The complainants MP Janardan Singh Sigriwal, Lajwanti Jha, Jajni Jaiswal, Janardan Sharma Yogi, Abhishek Banti Kumar Ravi, Baliram Mishra, Babulal Shaurya and others have alleged that Patna police initiated the lathi-charge on the directions of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. The BJP leadership alleged that the police used water cannons, tear gas and lathi to beat the party leaders mercilessly. One of the complainants, BJP women wing leader Lajwanti Jha, alleged that it was a conspiracy against BJP leaders to trap and brutally assault its leadership. "We have filed one dozen cases under IPC sections of 307, 323, 324, 504, and 506 in Patna civil court and expect the hearing of the cases soon," Ratnesh Kumar, the lawyers of complainants, said. So far, 14 cases were lodged against the Bihar Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister and other officers by the BJP leaders against police lathi-charge in Patna civil court. Kolkata, July 22 : The Association for Protection of Democratic Rights (APDR), a leading rights body in West Bengal, on Saturday condemned the call given by Trinamool Congress national General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to gherao the residences of BJP leaders throughout the state on August 5. While addressing the party's annual 'Martyrs' Day' rally on Friday, Abhishek Banerjee had announced this agitation programme so that the BJP leaders are not be able to come out of their homes during that period. Later, in her speech, Mamata Banerjee also said that this demonstration should be conducted at a distance of 100 metres from the residences of the BJP leaders. "This means the Chief Minister has given her consent to this agitation programme, only that she has asked to maintain a distance of 100 metres. Abhishek Banerjee has also asked his party workers to prepare a list of BJP leaders and workers. "Such things used to happen in Nazi-ruled Germany. Such agitation targeting opposition leaders and workers is unthinkable and undemocratic. We request the ruling party to cancel this programme," said APDR General Secretary, Ranjit Sur. However, he expressed solidarity with Trinamool's cause to stage such protest, which is non-payment of Central dues to the state government under various centrally- sponsored schemes. "I sincerely feel that the Union government should immediately pay the dues on account of such schemes, especially under the 100-day job scheme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. "If there has been any corruption in the implementation of the scheme, the offenders should be identified and punished. But it is unjustified to hold back the payments of the workers who participated in the scheme," Sur said. Hyderabad, July 22 : Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi on Saturday praised the Telangana Police for their exemplary efforts in preventing trafficking of women and children in the state. He visited the office of the Director General of Police (DGP) here. The activist acknowledged Telangana policea commitment and dedication to duty, emphasising the importance of treating every victim as their own child and conducting thorough investigations to ensure justice is served. He expressed concern about the increasing sexual abuse of children, particularly due to the availability of explicit content on platforms like YouTube. Satyarthi commended the Telangana Police's initiatives to trace missing children and reunite them with their parents, stating that their policies have yielded significant results in curbing child trafficking and other related crimes. He also lauded efforts of Telangana DGP Anjani Kumar in protection of children rights through Telangana state police and ADG CID Mahesh Bhagwat's efforts on eliminating child labour from brick kilns and starting worksite schools in Oriya language for migrant Odisha children. Anjani Kumar noted that it was the first time a Nobel laureate had visited the DGP office. He highlighted that the Telangana Government has prioritized the safety of children and women, leading to the establishment of a women's safety department headed by an additional DG level officer. Additional DG Mahesh Bhagwat praised Satyarthi's efforts through his organization, Bachpan Bachav, which has saved nearly one lakh children. He mentioned that significant reforms have occurred, such as the registration of FIRs against missing children, thanks to Satyarthi's work. Bhagwat while highlighting anti trafficking work of Telangana Police mentioned about 31 AHTUs established in all police Commissioners/District of Telangana giving priority to anti trafficking. In response to Mr. Satyarthi's visit, the police officials honored him for his tireless crusade against the oppression of children and his commitment to ensuring every child's right to education and protection from exploitation. KYODO NEWS - Jul 22, 2023 - 04:39 | All, World U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday nominated Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, which would make her, if confirmed, the first woman to be the top naval officer and serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Franchetti is currently the vice chief of operations for the Navy. Biden said in a statement that she has "demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas" throughout her 38-year career. Pointing out that she is the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the Navy, Biden urged the Senate to approve the latest and all other pending military nominations as soon as possible. Her previous positions include commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea. Since taking office in January 2021, Biden has appointed women and racial minorities to a number of key positions. Kolkata, July 22 : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on Saturday apprehended a man at Kolkata airport for allegedly smuggling expensive foreign-brand watches valued at Rs 30 crore. An expensive Greubel Forsey brand watch was recovered from him at the airport. Later, a raid was conducted at his house which led to the recovery of 34 high-end watches of various premium brands, namely Greubel Forsey, Purnell, Louis Vuitton, MB&F, Mad, Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Richard Mille. "Most of these watches are Limited Edition watches of exceptionally high value. The total market value of all the watches is estimated at more than Rs 30 crore," the official said. The accused arrived at Kolkata airport from Singapore. The DRI Mumbai Zonal team got a tip-off that one person was in possession of more than 34 smuggled high-end premium watches of foreign origin at his residential premises. An input suggested that the said person was abroad and would be returning to India carrying some more high-end premium watches of foreign origin. "The watches were to be smuggled into the country without payment of Customs duty charges. Acting on the intelligence, the said individual was intercepted at Kolkata airport while coming back from Singapore and an expensive Greubel Forsey brand watch was recovered from his possession which he didn't declare before the Customs Authorities," an official said. The accused was arrested under Section 104 of the Customs Act. Import of watches by individuals through the baggage attracts 38.5 per cent of Customs duties as per Baggage Rules, which was evaded by the accused. Patna, July 22 : The Bihar BJP on Saturday slammed the Nitish Kumar government over the triple murder in Muzaffarpur, and the recent incident of assault in Begusarai wherein two persons including a 20-year-old woman were thrashed after stripping them. Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Vijay Kumar Sinha said: "It is a complete failure of Nitish Kumar government as three persons were gunned down while three others sustained injuries in Muzaffarpur. I am going to Muzaffarpur to console the family members of the victim and then go to Begusarai." Reacting to the "naked parade" incident of Manipur and the JD-U's demand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation over it, Sinha said: "It was an unfortunate incident and the Prime Minister has expressed deep concerns over it. Similar incident happened in Begusarai where a Dalit girl was humiliated and stripped. It is unacceptable. Will Nitish Kumar, who is also the Home Minister of the state, would resign from the post?" BJP MP from Patliputra Ram Kripal Yadav said that the law and order has "completely failed" in the state and Nitish Kumar has "no control" over it. Nitish Kumar should resign from his post, he demanded. Meanwhile, Begusarai district Superintendent of Police (SP) Yogendra Kumar said that the main accused who was visible in a purported video of the incident has been arrested. "We have arrested main accused Kishan Kumar Chaurasia. He has admitted to his involvement in the crime. We will seek his custody after producing him in the court. We have registered an FIR against the accused under POCSO Act, and other relevant sections on the basis of the victim woman's statement. We have also constituted a dedicated team to arrest three more persons," he added. In Muzaffarpur, three persons, identified as Ashutosh Shahi (45), Nizamuddin and Rahul Kumar (34), were shot dead by unidentified assailants on Friday. Two persons, identified as Sayyed Kashim Hussaian and Om Nath Singh, were injured in the incident. Muzaffarpur police has constituted six teams to nab the assailants. New Delhi, July 22 : The Railways has issued notices to two mosques in the national capital asking them to remove encroachment on its land. Officials said that the notices have been issued to the administration of two mosques for encroaching on railway land. After the news went viral on social media, a railway official said that the two structures against which the Northern Railways (NR) has initiated action are mosques in Bengali Market and near Pragati Maidan Metro Station, both built on railway land. The two mosques built on the main route between New Delhi and Ghaziabad. The notice pasted on mosques read: "Railway property has been illegally encroached upon. You must voluntarily dismantle any unlicensed structures, including temples, mosques or shrines within 15 days of receiving this notice or the railway administration will take legal action." "Encroachments that are not permitted will be removed in compliance with the Railways Act. Any damages incurred throughout the procedure will be your responsibility. The Railway administration wonat be held accountable," it added. According to officials, the process of removing encroachments begins with issuing notices to the encroachers and giving them proper time (generally up to 15 days ) to remove the encroachments themselves. But even after the notice is served and yet the encroachments are not removed, then the Railways forms a task force to remove the encroachments. Officials also said that it is a general practice for the Railways to issue notices to encroachers whenever they come to the attention of the authorities. NR CPRO Deepak Kumar said that the encroachments can pose a safety hazard to railway employees and passengers, and they can also damage railway property. "The NR is committed to ensuring that railway land is used for its intended purpose, and the removal of encroachments is an important part of this commitment," Kumar added. New Delhi, July 22 : A video showing two neighbouring families embroiled in a bitter clash over a parking space in Delhi's Sant Nagar is doing the rounds on social media. Delhi Police said that the incident occurred on June 23. In the video, a man wearing a blue t-shirt and shorts could be seen standing next to his female companion in front of a brown-coloured car. An elderly Sikh man dressed in a white t-shirt appears, holding a stick, and engages in a conversation with the owner of the car. Suddenly, without warning, the elderly man strikes the other man as he starts talking. When the female companion tries to intervene, he forcefully pushes her away. In the midst of this altercation, female supporters of the Sikh man step in and push the woman back, while another man wearing a turban continues to hit the victim from behind, the video shows. Three women, seemingly aligned with the Sikh man, approach the couple and manage to move them slightly away from the scene. Despite objections and attempts by the female companion to stop the violence, the elderly man persistently continues to hit the man. Sharing the details, a senior police officer said that on June 23, the Amar Colony police station received a call about a quarrel in B Block, Sant Nagar. "After conducting an inquiry, it was discovered that the quarrel originated from a parking dispute among the residents. Further investigation revealed that Daljeet Singh's family, including his son Harjap Singh and wife Kudrat Kaur, along with other family members, assaulted Dushyant Goel, his wife Mona Goel, and another person named Kaushiki," the officer said. A medico-legal case was conducted, and based on Dushyant Goel's statement, a case was registered under the relevant Sections of the Indian Penal Code. "The accused Daljeet and Harjap were promptly arrested and placed under judicial custody," the officer said. aThe anticipatory bail requests of the three women involved were dismissed twice, resulting in the arrest of two of them, who were also sent to judicial custody. However, one woman obtained interim protection from the high court," the officer added. Guwahati, July 22 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday sharpened his attack on Congress over the Manipur issue by posting a series of tweets. Referring to the recurrent economic blockades Manipur once used to witness, Sarma alleged that during UPA's tenure in 2011, petrol and LPG prices had skyrocketed in Manipur due to the economic blockade that lasted more than 120 days; however, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi did not utter a single word in those crisis hours, the Assam CM said. He wrote on Twitter, "Cong is suddenly displaying immense interest in Manipur. Important to rewind a bit and look at PM Manmohan Singh's own response to similar crises in the state. The party's duplicity is simply alarming." According to Sarma, during UPA's tenure, Manipur became the blockade capital of the country. Between 2010 and 2017, when Congress ruled the state, every year there were blockades ranging from 30 days a year to up to 139 days a year, Sarma claimed. He also said that petrol and LPG prices went up to Rs 240 and Rs 1,900 a litre during each of these blockades, translating into a complete humanitarian crisis. "2011 saw one of the worst blockades in Manipur lasting for more than 120 days," Sarma added. The Assam Chief Minister claimed that in 2011, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi didn't even utter a word for those 123 days when Manipur was burning. He also claimed that during 2004-2014, when Congress was ruling the nation and the state, more than 991 civilians and security personnel were killed in Manipur. Since May 2014 till date, this tragic statistic has reduced by 80 per cent, he claimed. Sarma wrote, "The pain arising from multi ethnic conflicts in Manipur has its genesis in faulty policies of Congress governments during formative years of the state. Repairing fault-lines created by seven decades of misgovernance will take time." Patna, July 22 : Bihar unit vice-president of women wing of Janata Dal-United (JD-U), Malti Kushwaha, has resigned from the party on Saturday. Speaking to mediapersons, Kushwaha said that she was not getting respect in the party. Hence, she decided to resign from the party immediately. "I was not getting respect in the party. Hence, I decided to resign from the post of state vice president of the JD-U's women wing. I am not satisfied with the policies of (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar. Corruption and crime are at the highest level. They are initiating cane-charge on women or any person who wants their rights," Kushwaha said. "I have sent my resignation to the national president of the party," Kushwaha said. Patna, July 22 : A 15-year-old minor boy hanged himself only after her mother refused to give him his mobile phone on Saturday, police said. The deceased, Vijay Kumar, a native of Lagunia ward number-14 under the Triveniganj police station in Bihar's Supaul district, was angry over his mother as she had snatched the mobile phone on Friday. The mother of the deceased is a farmer and had went to an agricultural field for work. The locals said that Vijay was habitual of surfing mobile phones and did not stay without one for a minute. As he was busy with mobile phone all the time, his mother snatched it and went to the agricultural field. Vijay was alone in the house while his two younger brothers, Dharmendra Kumar (8) and Jitendra Kumar (6), were playing outside the house. When the younger brothers suspected that Vijay had taken the extreme step, they ran towards the agricultural field and informed their mother. Till that time, his lifeless body was found hanging from the ceiling fan. Following the incident, local police reached the spot and recovered the body. Deceased's father Saini Mukhiya is a daily wage labourer and went to Punjab one-and-a-half months ago for a job. Guwahati, July 22 : The regional committees of Assam and Meghalaya met in Guwahati on Saturday to examine three disputed sectors along the interstate boundary, according to the ministers of the two states in charge of the panels. The ministers also stated that they will meet at the same location the following month and go on a combined field trip to a troubled region. "Today, we talked about three disputed areas. We listened to what the government of Meghalaya had to say," Assam Minister for Border Protection and Development Atul Bora said. In the meeting, the ministers, MLAs, and senior officials from both sides were present. According to Bora, the district commissioners in particular have been instructed to confirm the actual situation on the ground and present their updated reports at the upcoming meeting, which has been scheduled for August 25. "On August 26, the committees will visit West Dimoria (in Assam's Kamrup Metropolitan district) for a joint inspection," Bora added. After the joint inspection, more sectors will be tackled gradually for resolution, according to Prestone Tynsong, deputy chief minister of Meghalaya. Notably, since Meghalaya was separated from Assam in 1972 and contested the Assam Reorganisation Act, of 1971, the two adjoining states have been embroiled in border disputes in 12 locations along their 884.9 km long boundary. Following the submission of the regional committees' recommendations, which were given to Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi, a Memorandum of Understanding to settle conflicts in six of the twelve areas was signed on March 29, 2022. The agreement states that 36.79 sq km of the disputed territory was allocated for settlement in the first phase, with 18.51 sq km going entirely to Assam and 18.28 sq km to Meghalaya. New Delhi, July 22 : The Delhi Police in its two-day operations across the city have seized more than 100 Chinese manjha and legal action was initiated against 44 persons, an official said on Saturday. During the operations, a total of 120 rolls of Chinese manjha were seized from various locations across the city. Additionally, legal proceedings have been initiated against 44 individuals found to be in possession of or using the banned kite string and around 209 traders were warned, according to the police. The action comes after the Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora has issued specific instructions to all Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to be vigilant and proactive in their respective jurisdictions and nab the accused indulged in selling Chinese manjha, which has caused numerous accidents and injuries in the past due to its razor-sharp strings. In the letter issued to senior officials, including DCPs on Saturday, the Commissioner of Police (CP) emphasised the importance of conducting thorough investigations alongside seizures to trace the source of the Chinese manjha while saying that this step is crucial to make the entire operation meaningful. Arora directed that the progress in tracing the source of the seized Chinese manjha and disrupting its manufacturing setup should be reported on a weekly basis. This would involve highlighting cases where the origin of the hazardous kite string was identified and the production facilities were disrupted. The letter also brought attention to different practices in different police stations. Some were registering FIRs under Section 188 of the IPC, which could lead to imprisonment for one month or a fine of up to Rs 200, or both. On the other hand, some police stations were preparing Kalandras under Section 5/15 of the Environment (Protection) Act. This section carries punishments of imprisonment for a term up to five years or a fine of up to Rs one lakh, or both. The CP instructed that wherever the manufacturing, sale, storage, purchase or use of nylon or synthetic material thread, or any thread floated with synthetic substance (commonly known as Chinese Manjha) for kite flying is detected, the correct legal action must be taken by invoking the Environment (Protection) Act. The CP expressed the expectation that sustained efforts would be made to detect more cases and ensure high-quality seizures. "Such actions would act as deterrents in their ongoing endeavours to eradicate the use of Chinese manjha for kite flying," the CP said in the letter. On Wednesday, a seven-year-old girl died after a glass-coated kite string got tangled around her neck, leaving a deep cut, in outer Delhi's Paschim Vihar area. As per the initial probe, the deceased was riding on the motorcycle while sitting in the front, followed by her father (who was driving), 13-year-old sister and mother when the incident occurred in Guru Harkishan Nagar, Paschim Vihar, on Wednesday around 7:30 p.m. After the incident, the father rushed her to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries during treatment. Varanasi, July 23 : A three-day congregation to brainstorm on bringing uniformity in the management of temples across the world started in Varanasi on Saturday. The event titled International Temples Convention and Expo (ITCX) is being attended by delegates of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain temples from 41 countries. It is being organised by 'Temple Connect'. "We will discuss the merits related to the management of these temples spread across the world and will try to bring uniformity in the management," Giresh Kulkarni, the founder of Temple Connect, told IANS. Elaborating on why Kashi was chosen as the venue for the convention, Kulkarni said it is a "unique" spiritual city. "Uttar Pradesh is the land of Lord Shri Ram and Shri Krishna. Here is Prayagraj, the king of pilgrimages, where the confluence of three rivers is found. A place holier than this cannot be found anywhere else in India," he added. On the intention behind choosing the month of Shravan for the convention, he said that the delegates coming to Varanasi in this holy month will get an opportunity to take bath in the Ganga river and pay obeisance to Lord Mahadev. "Also, they (delegates) do not get time off from their work. It is the rainy season now. Summer vacation is also over. In such a situation, the temple crowd sparses. Although, the number of devotees does not reduce much in the month of Shravan, still there is some relief. This is the reason why the time of the conference was fixed in the month of Shravan." If this convention had been organised in Goa or Delhi, then perhaps these people would have not been influenced, but there is a different feeling of spirituality in Kashi. It attracts people towards itself, Kulkarni explained. The agenda of the convention is not spiritual; it is for the development of temple management, operation and administration. The main objective is to strengthen the operation system along with worship in the temple, he said. People see the temple trust only from a religious point of view. They only focus on the place of God, worship method, priest and get out quickly after having the 'darshan'. But there are other things in temples, he asserted. "People don't know about temple arrangement, management, and operation administration. They should also know what arrangements are in place to improve facilities and provide them convenience," the founder of Temple Connect added. This will deliberate on temple security, surveillance, fund management, disaster management, cleanliness and sanctity, as well as the use of state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence (AI) to foil any cyber attack bid and promote a strong temple community, he said. The Temple Connect in the last eight to nine years has visited over 7,000 temples in about 57 countries in its efforts to digitise those temples. The aim is to teach the system used by big temples to small temples. On inviting RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in the event, Kulkarni said: "Both, our intention and our organisation, are neutral. The RSS has done a lot of work and has experience in the religious field. Besides, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad is also associated with them." "Who would not be interested in learning from an experienced organissation? We have done the same. The inauguration of the programme by the best person elevates its level. It is our feeling that the Sangh Pramukh (Bhagwat) is a great person; such auspicious work should commence from his hands," he added. Kulkarni further said people who are looking into the management system of Tirupati Devmala and Padmanabha Temple are also attending the convention. Delegates will also get a chance to learn from them. It may be noted representatives from 41 countries are participate in the convention along with 468 temple heads from across the country. Of them, delegates from 32 countries are attending the event virtually. Brainstorming on intellectual property rights, cultural enrichment, convenience and security of pilgrims, economy, crowd management, disaster management, online events, global reach of temples and solid waste management will take place during the convention. KYODO NEWS - Jul 22, 2023 - 10:33 | All, World North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward the Yellow Sea on Saturday, according to the South Korean military, in an apparent response to recent moves by Seoul and Washington to deter Pyongyang from using nuclear weapons. The South Korean and U.S. militaries were confirming the details of the launches, which took place at about 4 a.m. and came after Pyongyang fired two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Wednesday. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it will closely cooperate with the United States and monitor North Korea's activities. The latest missile launches followed the first meeting of the so-called Nuclear Consultative Group on Tuesday in Seoul at which South Korea and the United States agreed to hold joint military exercises and war simulations to deter North Korea from using nuclear weapons. A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying ballistic missiles also paid a rare visit that day to the port city of Busan in South Korea. The North's official Korean Central News Agency on Thursday cited the country's defense minister, Kang Sun Nam, as saying in a statement that the "ever-increasing visibility of the deployment of the strategic nuclear submarine and other strategic assets may fall under the conditions of the use of nuclear weapons specified in the DPRK law." DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. North Korea has been ramping up its display of military force ahead of the 70th anniversary next week of the armistice that ended the 1950-53 Korean War. The conflict ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically in a state of war. In March, North Korea fired multiple cruise missiles off its eastern coast toward the Sea of Japan. Cruise missiles can travel at low altitudes, making them difficult to detect. They are not covered by U.N. Security Council resolutions banning North Korea from using ballistic missile technology. Related coverage: North Korea launches 2 ballistic missiles toward Sea of Japan Mangaluru, July 23 : Karnataka police arrested two persons on Saturday in connection with a moral policing case in which six students, including four girl students, pursing bachelor's course in hospital administration, were followed and heckled. The miscreants also assaulted a boy belonging to the minority community and one of the girls. They had also asked the girl whether she had seen the film 'The Kerala Story'. The arrested persons have been identified as Deekshith a.k.a Deekshith Alape a.k.a Deekshi (32), and Loyd Pinto (32), both residents of Mangaluru. Mangaluru Police, in an official statement, said that they have seized a scooter and mobile phones from the accused persons. The incident took place on Friday, when the students who were hanging around at a beach in Mangaluru city were heckled, followed and abused. The victim, 20-year-old Mohammad Hafiz, and four girl students had lodged a complaint with the Urwa police station in Mangaluru on Friday evening. The police said that six students studying in a private college had gone to the Panambur beach in Mangaluru. The miscreants were watching the movements of the students and had also filmed videos of the boys and girls together. Later, the boys returned on their bikes while the girl students boarded a bus. Among the four girls, one of them had got down at the Chilimbi bus stop and was walking towards her PG accomodation. However, the miscreants had followed her and threatened her. They even asked her if she had not learnt anything from the movie 'The Kerala Story'. They also assaulted her, the police said, besides assaulting Hafiz while he was returning on his bike near the Bejai area in Mangaluru. New Delhi, July 23 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has raided the residential premises of an accused, who is absconding in connection with the Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terror conspiracy case, an official said. The raid was conducted at the house of Riaz Ahmed alias Hazari, a resident of Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir. The NIA has announced a cash reward of Rs three lakh for leads on Hazari. The searches conducted at his house led to the seizure of one mobile phone, which was being analysed. The case was initially lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad, on September 12, 2018, was re-registered by the NIA under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act on September 24, 2018. The case was registered against Kamruk Zaman and others related to a criminal conspiracy to carry out terror attacks by HM cadres at different places in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of India. Zaman and one accused, Osama Bin Javed, who is absconding, were charge sheeted before the Special NIA Court in Lucknow on March 11, 2019, under various sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Osama was killed in an encounter with the security forces on September 28, 2019. Subsequently, on May 29, 2021, a supplementary charge sheet was filed against the accused persons, Nisar Ahmad Sheikh and Nishad Ahmad Butt, both residents of Jammu and Kashmir. A second supplementary charge sheet was filed against the accused Danish Naseer on November 25, 2022. Investigations have revealed that the accused Zaman was radicalised by Osama to join the HM and both received nine months of physical and weapon-handling training by HM cadres. The accused Hazari, an active militant and district Deputy Commander of HM, along with another co-accused Mohammad Amin, also an active militant and District Commander of HM, was involved in recruiting and training accused Zaman and Osama in the forests of Kishtwar district. After completion of training, Zaman was directed to set up bases and hideouts, and select targets in Uttar Pradesh, Assam and other parts of India for terrorist activities. Accordingly, he had come to Kanpur where he had also carried out reconnaissance of a few targets. New Delhi, July 22 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has said that they have arrested two persons, including a woman, in connection with the CPI (Maoist) attack on security forces, in which six Maoists and one civilian were killed near Tiriya village in Chhattisgarh in 2019. The accused were identified as Kandula Sirisha alias Sirisha alias Padmakka and Duddu Prabhakar alias Ajay. The accused were nabbed after extensive investigations and search operations, taking the total number of arrests in the Tiriya encounter case (also known as the RK Dairy case) to six. According to the NIA investigations, both the accused were working closely with top leaders of the CPI (Maoist) to promote and expand the banned outfit's anti-national activities. It said that several incriminating materials related to the activities of CPI (Maoist) cadres were earlier seized by them during searches at the premises of the accused. "The accused were working for different frontal organisations of CPI (Maoist). Kandula, a member of the frontal outfit, was previously active as armed cadre (Technology Incharge) of CPI (Maoist). Both Duddu and Sirisha used to receive funds from CPI (Maoist) and worked for different frontal outfits to spread the Maoist Ideology. Both were frequent visitors to the core Maoist belt in Andhra-Orrisa border special zone, where they would go to meet late R.K. alias Akkiraju Haragopal, CCM of CPI ( Maoist) and leader of the United Front," the official said. The Tiriya encounter took place in July 2019 when a joint team of local District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had travelled to the forest area near Tiriya in Nagarnar police station area of Jagdalpur district in Chhattisgarh after receiving a tip-off. They had received information that a group of Maoist cadres had gathered to conspire about carrying out a major terror incident on July 28, which is observed as the "Shaheed Diwas". After the encounter, the security forces had recovered arms and ammunition, along with incriminating handwritten documents, literature etc., from the site and started investigations in the case. The case was initially registered on July 28, 2019, under various sections of the Arms Act and UA (P) Act at a local policestation. It was re-registered by the NIA on March 18, 2021. Baghdad, July 23 : The Iraqi Foreign Ministry has condemned the burning of a copy of the Muslim holy book Quran and the Iraqi flag by members of an extremist group in Denmark. "The actions fuel reactions and put all parties in critical positions," the Ministry said on Saturday in a statement, adding it would follow up on the developments of these "heinous incidents". The Ministry called on the international community "to stand up urgently and responsibly against these atrocities that threaten social peace and co-existence around the world". In the early hours of Saturday, dozens of angry demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad to protest against the burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen on Friday, a source from the Interior Ministry told Xinhua news agency. The demonstrators tried to cross the nearby al-Jumhouriyah bridge to reach the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses some of the main government headquarters and some foreign embassies. But the riot police fired tear gas to prevent them from crossing the bridge, the source said. He added that the security forces tightened measures and blocked the bridge and other main roads leading to the zone to keep the demonstrators in Tahrir Square away from the embassies and government institutions, Xinhua news agency reported. Later, the Ministry issued another statement reassuring diplomatic missions of their security, saying "the Iraqi government is fully committed to the Vienna Convention that regulates diplomatic relations among countries and assures all resident diplomatic missions of their security and protection". "What happened to the embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Baghdad cannot be repeated, and any similar act will be subject to legal accountability," the statement added. The Ministry statement came after hundreds of angry protestors on Thursday stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set fire to the building in protest against the burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag in Stockholm. Iraq also expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its charge d'affaires from Sweden. On June 30, angry protestors stormed the Swedish embassy just outside the heavily-fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, protesting the act of a Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin, who tore up a copy of the Quran and burned it in front of a mosque in Stockholm on June 28 during a demonstration authorised by the Swedish authorities, which sparked fury from Muslims around the world. Dhaka, July 23 : At least 17 people were killed and 45 others injured when a passenger bus veered off the road and fell into a waterbody in Bangladesh's Jhalokati district, a senior police official said. The passenger bus fell into the roadside waterbody in the district about 200 km south of the capital Dhaka on Saturday morning, leaving 13 passengers dead on the spot, Muhammed Afruzul Huqe Tutul, the district's police chief, told Xinhua news agency. All the injured were taken to local hospitals and clinics, where four more died, said the officer. He added the death toll might rise as some of the injured passengers were rescued in critical conditions, Xinhua news agency reported. The accident occurred as the driver lost control of the vehicle and plunged into the roadside waterbody, according to the official. Tehran, July 23 : The Iranian anti-narcotics police have seized more than 1.5 ton of illegal drugs in operations in the southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan over the past three days, media reported. During the operations, the police forces ambushed members of two armed narcotics trafficking gangs who were transferring illegal drugs from the province to other Iranian cities in eight sedans through provincial roads, the official news agency IRNA quoted Doostali Jalilian, the provincial police chief, as saying on Saturday. The police forces arrested 10 suspects, Jalilian said, noting that they were hunting for the escaped ones, Xinhua news agency reported. The official listed the seized drugs as nearly 1.3 ton of opium, 144 kg of methamphetamine, and 89 kg of heroin, adding that the confiscated items also included the eight cars. Meerut, July 23 : A 16-year-old student has been expelled from a private school in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut for "asking Hindu students to distance themselves from Muslim pupils, citing examples from films like 'Kashmir Files' and 'The Kerala Story'," police said. The girl's parents, however, alleged that she was asked to leave the school by the authorities for "wearing a tilak on her forehead and a rudraksha bead on her wrist inside the school premises". Principal of the school, Bhawna Chauhan, said, "The girl's hardline approach was the reason for her expulsion. Her behaviour was disruptive with her radicalised thinking. She was creating a nuisance and spreading hatred against Muslim students." The girl's mother told reporters on Saturday that, "My daughter was merely following her rituals and she was punished for it." aWearing tilak and rudraksha beads is not allowed as it is not a part of the uniform," the principal said. The girl, meanwhile, said, "We are all aware of the instances revealed in films like 'Kashmir Files'. So, I used to warn my friends of the consequences of love jihad." Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police, Rohit Singh Sajwan, said, "No complaint has been received by the police, and therefore, no action has been taken in the matter." Lathrop GPM LLP "Commitment to client service is the heart of our culture, and this outstanding performance in Chambers private wealth rankings, and the role that client testimonials play in those rankings, is a testament to our client-first mentality," said Cameron Garrison, firm managing partner. Lathrop GPM LLP is pleased to share that the firm and its lawyers have been ranked in Chambers High Net Worth 2023, released today. Ten of the firms attorneys received regional honors in the 2023 directory, with the firm ranked in Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota and Missouri. Partner Alison E. Zinn is newly ranked in 2023. "We are thrilled to have so many attorneys and regions recognized in Chambers High Net Worth this year and to see Alison Zinn ranked for the first time," said Cameron Garrison, firm managing partner. "Commitment to client service is the heart of our culture, and this outstanding performance in Chambers private wealth rankings, and the role that client testimonials play in those rankings, is a testament to our client-first mentality." Chambers High Net Worth 2023 recognized Lathrop GPM in Private Wealth Law in Kansas: Band 1, Minnesota: Band 1, and Missouri: Band 2. In Minnesota and Kansas, Lathrop GPM has more ranked attorneys than any other law firm. The Lathrop GPM attorneys recognized in Chambers High Net Worth 2023 are listed below. Those who have moved up a band or are newly ranked have an asterisk next to their names. According to Chambers and Partners, their High Net Worth Legal Guide differentiates the best legal talent for international private wealth by identifying and ranking law firms and lawyers in this area globally. The firms and individuals understand the complex needs of High Net Worth individuals and provide specialist advice and legal services. These extensive and market-leading recommendations, rankings and insights are based on the in-depth analysis carried out by our dedicated team of exceptional and experienced researchers." Chambers and Partners is the leading independent professional legal research company operating across 200 jurisdictions. It delivers detailed rankings and insight into the world's leading lawyers and law firms, including Chambers High Net Worth, which ranks the best legal talent for international private wealth by identifying and ranking law firms and lawyers in this area globally. About Lathrop GPM LLP Lathrop GPM is a full-service, Am Law 200 law firm with more than 325 attorneys in 12 offices. Our attorneys provide a full spectrum of corporate legal services: business transactions, litigation, intellectual property and trusts & estates. We help businesses, organizations and individuals grow and succeed, anticipate trends, plan for challenges and bring their visions to life. Clients recognize Lathrop GPM for our commitment to client service, legal project management and innovative pricing capabilities. The firm is nationally recognized for our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, with a Mansfield Rule 5.0 Certification Plus status and Top Performer and Compass Award Winner recognitions by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. A Multilaw and Employment Law Alliance affiliate, we have the resources of more than 90 independent law firms in 100 countries worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.lathropgpm.com. ### Kurdish PM Welcomes Chaldean Patriarch to Erbil, Condemns Mistreatment Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani pictured during a government meeting, April 6, 2023. ( KRG) Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Saturday welcomed Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and the world, to Erbil after he had decided to leave Baghdad following an Iraqi presidential decree against the clergyman, according to a tweet. "We warmly welcome Patriarch Louis Sako to Erbil, the capital of peaceful coexistence for all religions and groups," Barzani said. Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rasheed has recently revoked a 2013 presidential decree, which had recognized Cardinal Sako as the head of the Chaldean Catholic Church and custodian of the churches' assets, citing the earlier decision was not "legally based." That decision and what Sako described as "deliberate attacks" against him by the Iranian-backed Babylon Brigades officials, including Rayan Kildani, have prompted his departure from Baghdad to Erbil, where he will operate as the head of the church. The clergyman arrived in the capital Erbil on Friday night and was received by the Kurdistan Region's top ministers and representatives of the religious and other ethnic communities. "We condemn the treatment directed towards the Patriarch," Barzani said. "The Kurdistan Region, and the alchemy of coexistence that thrives here, is a source of pride to us all," he added. Al-Kildani heads the 50th Brigade of the Shiite militias, known as Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The U.S. Treasury designated al-Kildani for "serious human rights abuses" on July 18, 2019. His party owns four out of five parliamentary seats allocated for minority groups in the 329-seat Iraqi parliament. Following his arrival in Erbil, Cardinal Sako thanked Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, and Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani for their concerns. Sako is believed to have played the main role in organizing Pope Francis's historic visit to Iraq and Kurdistan Region in 2021. KYODO NEWS - Jul 22, 2023 - 05:16 | All, World A city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday banned the slaughter and sale of dogs and cats at what is known as an "extreme" animal market following years of campaigns by global activists and celebrities. The ban was announced by Caroll Senduk, mayor of Tomohon in North Sulawesi Province, after sealing a deal with Humane Society International, an animal protection organization. "Besides ending a show of cruelty before the public...this is an important step to encourage our community to consume more hygienic food sources and protect them from rabies and other zoonotic diseases," Senduk said in a statement. Under the deal, 29 dogs and three cats found alive at the slaughterhouses supplying the city-run Beriman Market were rescued and taken to a nearby sanctuary for veterinary treatment and care until they are ready for adoption. "North Sulawesi is an epicenter of Indonesia's cruel and dangerous dog and cat meat trade. The cruelty is obscene," said Lola Webber, the organization's director of campaigns to end the dog meat trade. "It is a huge victory for animal welfare and public safety" that can ensure dogs and cats will no longer be bludgeoned and blowtorched at the Tomohon market, she said, adding that she hopes the deal "will set the standard for other markets and leaders to follow." Investigations by her organization show that more than 130,000 dogs are slaughtered at Sulawesi's markets every year. The Beriman Market, the biggest in North Sulawesi, where people from all over the province come to buy goods and food, has drawn the attention of some tourists as a gruesome must-see destination. Jessica Walton, illus. by Aska. Graphix, Aug. Ages 12up Maisie, a bisexual Australian teen, cant wait to attend her first fan convention, where she hopes to meet her hero, an actor who uses a lower-leg prosthesis like she does. Instead, she ends up befriending and falling for Ollie, who is nonbinary. According to PWs starred review of the graphic novel, Waltonwho is proud to be disabled, per an authors notebalances tension surrounding Maisies disability with a prevailing sense of optimism that highlights the power of inclusivity and representation in popular media. Hutchinson Has Enough at S&S Cassidy Hutchinson, former special assistant to both Donald Trump and his onetime chief of staff Mark Meadows, sold a memoir to Stephanie Frerich at Simon & Schuster. Frerich took world rights to Enough from Robert Barnett at Williams & Connolly. Hutchinson delivered damning testimony about her former bosses in the January 6 investigations, and the September-slated memoir, S&S said, provides an account of her extraordinary experiences as an idealistic young woman thrust into the middle of a national crisis. The publisher added that the author delivers a portrait of how the courage of one person can change the course of history. Franklins Alien Lands at LB Life Hacks for a Little Alien, the debut novel by Alice Franklin, was preempted by Little, Browns Helen OHare. Clare Alexander at the British literary agency Aitken Alexander brokered the North American rights agreement. Franklin is a copywriter in London, and LB said the novel is about a little girl who must find her voice as she grows up different and searches for where she fits in the universe. The girl has help from her growing obsession with the Voynich Manuscript, a medieval codex written in an unknown script that has yet to be deciphered. The publisher compared the novel, which is set for 2025, to works by Emma Donoghue and Mark Haddon. Katz Casts Shadow over Viking Grace Katz (Daughters of Yalta) sold a deep dive into the Hindenburg disaster to Emily Wunderlich at Viking. Wunderlich won North American rights to Shadow Before the Flame: The Hindenburg Disaster and the Prelude to War, at auction, from Amelia Atlas and Amanda Urban at Creative Artists Agency. Viking said the book is the definitive account of the Hindenburg disaster and its role as a turning point in history. It tells the stories of the passengers aboard the doomed aircraft, as well as the journalists covering the crash and its aftermath, delivering captivating stories that anchor a character-driven narrative. Twelve Bags Capehart Sean Desmond at Twelve bought North American rights to Jonathan Capeharts currently untitled memoir from Gail Ross at the Ross & Yoon Agency. The publisher said Capehart discusses his childhoodhe was raised by his widowed mother and Jehovahs Witness grandmotherand his rise to success as a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist. Capehart, who has been an opinion writer for the Washington Post since 2007, also hosts an MSNBC show, The Sunday Show with Jonathan Capehart, and anchors the Washington Post Live show First Look. In the memoir, Capehart also details his experiences as a gay Black man. He will reveal the extraordinary circumstances that forced him to leave his prestigious perch on the Washington Post editorial board, Twelve explained, and will recount powerful stories from his life... sharing lessons from the unlikely, no-road-map career he created. The book is set for 2025. Amistad Entertains B Michaels Muse Elizabeth Mitchell at Amistad took world rights to Muse: Cicely Tyson and Me, a Relationship Forged in Fashion by couture designer B Michael. The four-color title, sold by Jan Miller at Dupree Miller and set for January 2024, will feature candid photographs and shots of garments worn by Tyson. Michael, whos worked under designers like Oscar de la Renta and launched his own couture line in 1999, started a decades-long friendship with Tyson after dressing her for an event. (When he dressed her for the Academy Awards in 2019, he became the first Black luxury fashion designer to dress an Oscar winner.) In the book, Amistad said, Michael will detail how the pair shocked the fashionistas, pushing out inane rules of what a woman of a certain age should wear, and threw themselves into changing the world for the better through philanthropic efforts. Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled Stephanie Frerich's surname. TikTok Boom Another week, another book catapulted onto the bestseller list by BookTok. In this case, its the erotic romance community #SmutTok, a hashtag four billion views strong, that buoyed four books in the Twisted series by Ana Huang, who cut her teeth in self-publishing before inking a deal with Sourcebooks Bloom Books imprint. Three books in the seriesTwisted Love, Twisted Games, and Twisted Hateappear on our top 10 overall list and are in the top five of our trade paperback list this week. (A fourth, Twisted Lies, lands at #6 on the trade paperback chart and narrowly missed the top 10.) Bestselling the Story While the filmgoing public cant get enough of Barbieheimer, book buyers are taking a cue from the pop music charts. Easily topping this weeks overall bestseller list is Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS, the first official book release by the South Korean boy band that has taken the world by storm. The book began making waves in May, when rumors started swirling that the titlethen known only as 4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023might be by Taylor Swift. That it wasnt didnt stop it from easily clearing the 100,000-copy mark in its first week. With that in mind, is BTS bigger than the Beatles? The numbers tell the story: Paul McCartneys latest book, 1964: Eyes of the Storm, has sold 32,254 copies since its June 13 releaseless than one-third of what Beyond the Story managed in a single week. Back in Bloom Debbie Macomber has a bestseller again, with the sweet and squeaky clean small-town romance Must Love Flowers pushing 8,755 copies in its first week and hitting #7 on our hardcover fiction list. Its a decrease in first-week sales from her last two books, Decembers The Christmas Spirit (12,796 copies) and last Mays The Best Is Yet to Come (11,608 copies), but Flowers landed higher on the list than eithera case in point of the downward sales trends weve seen all year. Still, theres nothing down about the book itself, according to our review: With skillful plotting and believable characters who tug at the heartstrings, Macombers latest does not disappoint. NEW & NOTABLE OBSESSED James Patterson and James O. Born #2 Hardcover Fiction The latest psychological thriller from Patterson follows detective Michael Bennett as he works to keep his daughter safe from a killer. DARK FUTURE Glenn Beck #3 Hardcover Nonfiction The conservative pundit weighs in on the Great Reset, the World Economic Forums economic recovery plan, claiming that global elites are creating a troubling new framework for humanity. In September 2021, a core group of four disabled and neurodivergent people in publishing formed the nonprofit network Disability in Publishing. They opened membership to anyone in the industry who identifies as disabled or neurodivergent, and launched with a livestreamed town hall in July 2022. The organization shares information on disability rights and workplace best practices, hosts a Slack channel, and provides directories and job ads on its website. Erin Madison, a marketing manager at Penguin Random House, is a founding member and currently serves as president. One of our original goals was to become a 501(c)(3) so we could fundraise and pay our presenters and ASL interpreters, she says. The organization achieved that status in November 2022. Still, theres plenty of progress to be made. Madison would love to rewrite entry-level expectations that, for instance, a person should be able to lift 50 pounds, she says. If youre a marketing assistant or editorial assistant, you have to move ARCs around for 5% of your job, but that creates a real barrier for people to start in those roles. Hybrid and remote workplaces are part of the conversation. Its a little disappointing to see so many companies requiring people to be back in the office because some people remain immunocompromised or have built ergonomic home offices, Madison notes, but she cites positive changes in her eight years in publishing, too. When I started, our discrimination trainings did not address ableism at all, and now disability and mental health are topics of discussion. Publishers and individuals have been consulting with Disability in Publishing around hiring and accommodations, Madison says. This is, undoubtedly, a step in the right direction. Some publishers and imprints, meanwhile, have disability representation in their DNA. A new lexicon In the introduction to Soul Jar: 31 Fantastical Tales by Disabled Authors, an October release from Forest Avenue Press, Nebula Award winner Nicola Griffith addresses a lack of visibility for disabled people in publishing and the rise of a disability-aware movement. Griffith, who has multiple sclerosis, also discusses the need to combat ableist assumptions about what disabled people desire and require. What disables a person in our culture is not impairment but societys attitude to that impairment, she writes, and Soul Jar functions as a rejoinder to this ableism. Forest Avenue Press publisher Laura Stanfill, who is neurodivergent, worked with the books editor, Annie Carl, an author and bookseller who was born with a rare spinal birth defect, to gather submissions. We were clear that we were asking authors to self-identify as disabled, Stanfill says. This allowed folks to participate without having to share personal information unless they wished to do so. The selections include new works and four previously published tales including one by Griffith and another by Nisi Shawl, who has fibromyalgia and is the author of Everfair and its forthcoming sequel, Kinning (Tor, Jan. 2024). I see my authors speaking more openly about their disabilities and neurodivergences, Stanfill says. Thinking back on our catalog, I previously didnt have the language for speaking publicly about disability, chronic pain, or all types of neuro-spicy conditions. Her 2023 list includes, in addition to Soul Jar, the recently released memoir Plums for Months by Zaji Cox. (Cox paints a beautiful portrait of growing up in Portland, Ore., as a low-income child with Aspergers in this one-of-a-kind debut, per PWs starred review.) Stanfill is working on a writers guide to indie publishing, supported by a $5,000 grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council in Portland, Ore. Her goals for the outsiders guide to the inside of the industry include reassuring neurodivergent thinkers on anxiety and time management, advising the disability community on centering personal wishes over traditional models for success, and unpacking myths about having a routine for those whose circumstances mean they cant write at the same time each day. Radical resources Neurodiversity literally means you process thought differently, says Joe Biel, CEO of Microcosm Publishing in Portland, Ore., and author of the memoir Good Trouble: Building a Successful Life and Business with Autism. People had interpreted neurodiversity as hiding the fact that you think differently, and the stigma started to lift in the last five years, Biel adds. Theres now a radical social movement that I dont think existed 10 years ago, and people come to me because of that. At Microcosm, Biel publishes a Neurodivergent Pride zine series, Chronic Illness Support Group books and zines, and various disability-advocacy resources. Weve been part of contributing to a pride movement, he says. The number one piece of feedback we get is that our publications make people feel useful, not ashamed of something they feel like they cant conceal. Forthcoming Microcosm titles include chronically ill author Caroline Moores Burnout and the Cult of Busy (2024), about the pressures of social culture and how she feels like she needs to be productive, Biel notes. In October, Microcosm will publish Do Not Pet #4, part of a graphic narrative series about the history of service dogs, inspired by the life of Biels service animal, Ruby. Engaging narratives At Minneapoliss Milkweed Editions, editor-at-large Chris Martin heads up the Multiverse series, which spotlights neurodivergent writing. Martin, who identifies as chronically ill and neurodivergent, says the series name highlights its focus on verse, neurodiversity, and an inherent multiplicity and abundance. Martin is the author of May Tomorrow Be Awake: On Poetry, Autism, and Our Neurodiverse Future, and he believes there are other universes of knowing and perceiving and writing that are all here already; other ways of engaging with the world are available. The Multiverse series developed from Martins experiences teaching at and publishing chapbooks with the creative writing organization Unrestricted Interest, a space to celebrate neurodivergent learning and language, which he and poet Brian Laidlaw founded in 2015. Ive always experienced this amazing reciprocity between autism and poetry, Martin says. In 2019, the chapbooks that Unrestricted Interest published started to get some real notice, and Milkweed publisher and CEO Daniel Slager expressed interest in a book series. Multiverse launched in 2022 with nonspeaking autistic poet Hannah Emersons The Kissing of Kissing, which PWs review described as propelled by an imperative mood and voice. In October, Multiverse will publish JJJJJerome Elliss Aster of Ceremonies, which harmonizes words, musical notation, and aster-purple flourishes, Martin says. Ellis, a proud stutterer, sees himself as part of a family of disfluency. The nonspeaking apraxia that many autistic people experience is akin to stuttering. Titles forthcoming in 2024 include Tressing Motions at the Edge of Mistakes by Imane Boukaila, a nonspeaking autistic poet, and a collection by Lauren Russell, whose Descent won the Poetry Society of Americas 2021 Anna Rabinowitz Award. What can seem to some people an incredibly niche way of moving through the world, in fact has an immense vitality and diversity, Martin says of the poets hes come to know. At Milkweed, he wants to totally explode paradigms of what a book can be, to see what trends and predilections and habits will emerge. This article has been updated. Read more from our Disability Representation in Publishing Feature: Bringing Books Within Reach Booksellers are measuring aisles, adjusting shelves, and rethinking their sensory spaces to improve accessibility. Access for All Public libraries connect with disabled patrons in many ways. How the National Braille Press Brings Books to Blind Readers The Boston-based publisherthe only organization in the U.S. that publishes its own books by blind authors for blind readershas been leading the way in improving access in the book business for nearly a century. Disabled Authors Deserve, and Demand, More Author and activist Alice Wong reflects on disability representation in publishing. Living Dangerously: PW Talks with Eddie Ndopu In Sipping Dom Perignon Through a Straw (Legacy Lit, Aug.), Ndopu, who was born with spinal muscular atrophy, recalls attending Oxford University as a wheelchair-bound graduate student. 10 New Books with Disability Representation for Adults These works of fiction and nonfiction confront ableist ideas through their depictions of disability. 10 New Childrens and YA Books with Disability Representation These books for young readers explore a variety of disabilities and chronic illnesses, showing characters adapting to their differences and thriving. KYODO NEWS - Jul 22, 2023 - 02:24 | World, All, Japan Chinese customs authorities have rejected the Japanese government's repeated requests for explanations about their blanket radiation testing on seafood imports from Japan introduced earlier this month, sources familiar with the bilateral relationship said Friday. Tokyo is currently investigating the testing across China and considering filing a request for Beijing to take "science-based measures" through diplomatic channels once it finds out the details of the new steps, the sources said. The fresh measures that keep seafood imports from Japan at customs for up to one month before clearance are believed to have been adopted to pressure Tokyo over its plan to begin releasing treated radioactive water from the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea from this summer. The total radiation testing has prompted some businesses in China to forego importing seafood from Japan and find alternative procurement sources. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno expressed "strong concern" Friday over China's de facto seafood import curbs and called for their early removal, saying they "run counter to an international trend of easing or lifting restrictions" following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. Tokyo relayed its concern over the matter to Chinese diplomatic authorities, urging Beijing to properly deal with the situation, a senior Japanese government official said Friday. Last week, the European Union announced its policy of lifting the remaining import restrictions it imposed on food products from a part of Japan after the Fukushima crisis, leaving the number of countries and regions maintaining such controls at 11, including China, South Korea and Hong Kong. The blanket testing began shortly after Chinese customs authorities said in a July 7 statement that they will "maintain a high degree of vigilance" and "take all necessary measures in a timely manner according to the development of the situation." Beijing vehemently opposes the planned Fukushima water discharge. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Thursday, "Our opposition to Japan's ocean discharge plan is based on facts and reason, (and) so are the measures that we have decided to take." But she did not elaborate on the reason. Since the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster triggered by a major earthquake and tsunami, China has banned food imports from Fukushima and nine other Japanese prefectures. If the water discharge begins, Beijing could further tighten controls on food imports from Japan. Japan has proposed to China to set up a dialogue involving nuclear experts from both countries to discuss the planned Fukushima water release, but Beijing has yet to respond to the call for a working-level consultation, Japanese government sources said. The Global Times, a tabloid affiliated with China's ruling Communist Party, said in its editorial Thursday that Beijing is not obliged to cooperate as Tokyo intends to make China "unconditionally accept" Japan's plan through the consultation mechanism. "China does not refuse negotiations, but we reject using negotiations as a pretext," it said. Related coverage: China's blanket seafood testing deals blow to Japanese firms Japan seeks experts' dialogue with China on Fukushima water release China begins blanket radiation testing on seafood imports from Japan Leading independent bookstores into an equitable, post-2020 era means accommodating patrons and staff who have physical and sensory challenges. While the Americans with Disabilities Act sets minimum standards, booksellers who are visibly or invisibly disabled, neurodivergent, or living with chronic illness have found room for improvement on ADA compliance and in the standards themselves. Whether lowering shelves to reachable heights, displaying titles face-out for easier browsing, allowing seating behind registers, or encouraging continued masking, shop owners and employees are rethinking diversity and disability. If you build it State-of-the-art accessible bookstores often require new construction or dedicated arts and literary funding. Porter Square Books: Boston Edition occupies an ADA-accessible space thanks to its partnership with GrubStreet creative writing center, which received funding to relocate to Bostons Seaport district. We have accessibility features that would cost most bookstores hundreds of thousands of dollars, says store manager Katherine Nazzaro. A lot of times youre constrained by the space you already have, but GrubStreets arrangement enabled the writing center and bookstore to design for inclusion. Porter Squares fixtures constitute a veritable wish list for indies: the 1,700-sq.-ft. space, opened in 2021, has an event stage with a ramp, movable bookshelves on casters, and a dimmable lighting system for sensory comfort. More commonly, bookstores make do with less-than-ideal floor plans and equipment. Often our stores are in existing buildings built by able-bodied owners, says Annie Carl, who owns the Neverending Bookshop in Edmonds, Wash. The only thought they usually give to a building is what the ADA dictates, such as parking spots and ramps. She recommends Sara Hendrens What Can a Body Do? as a primer for building or retrofitting user-friendly environments. Doylestown (Pa.) Bookshop provides seating for customers, a ramp to the back entrance, and a spacious bathroom, but its overall footprint is from another era. Our basement was a stop on the Underground Railroad, says store supervisor Honor Ford. In addition to being concerned for customers, Ford thinks about employees sense of belonging. Our staff is constantly moving books, unpacking boxes, doing heavy lifting, she says, and based on her experience, she worries they might feel compelled to push beyond their capacities: Ford has mild cerebral palsy, and the resulting limp and occasional headaches from a shunt can influence her workday. I was not a great advocate for myself when I started, and Id agree to picking up an extra shift or come in when I didnt feel well, because I liked the store. Ford learned to set boundaries to protect her long-term health: I feel much more equipped now to say Im probably not the best person to be moving those boxes or setting up chairs for an event, she explains. She speaks out on behalf of those like herself who need time off the floor, flexible shifts, and unscheduled breaks. One size does not fit all Creative solutions can address long-overlooked industry flaws. One approach brings the bookstore to the reader: Candice Huber recently turned their queer- and genre-focused bricks-and-mortar shop, Tubby & Coos in New Orleans, into a traveling pop-up that offers local delivery for a small surcharge. One of the reasons I converted was accessibility, especially for queer folks to have access to queer books, Huber says. New Orleans does not have a good public transit system, so a lot of people couldnt physically come to the store. Other booksellers stay rooted and wonder how to improve imperfect spaces. Why arent there grants to make a store more ergonomic? asks Julie Karaganis, who in 2019 took ownership of Copper Dog Books in Beverly, Mass., with business partner Meg Wasmer. Karaganis imagines a program that would allow indies to apply for funding and qualify for accessible and sensory-sensitive updates. Karaganis and Wasmer installed work-arounds in their century-old building, including a foam standing mat and a height-adjustable computer monitor for staff. Its not one size fits all, Karaganis says. If I didnt own the store, I couldnt work in it. Bookselling is a physical industry, and activities like shelving and climbing stairs limit participation for those with chronic pain and other restrictions. Wasmer, who must minimize repetitive motion and lifting, agrees. This is a labor-intensive job, she says. Accessibility isnt just about disabilities or assistance, its about making a welcoming space for everyone. Are we creating an environment in which people with disabilities can thrive? She suggests that bookstores install lever door handles instead of doorknobs and keep baskets available for hands-free shopping. Her book recommendations include Deafblind professor Elsa Sjunnesons Being Seen and Paralympic skier Josh Sundquists We Should Hang Out Sometime for their inclusive perspectives. Nondisabled booksellers can become allies as well, as Jonah and Ellen Zimiles demonstrated when they established a vocational training center for profoundly autistic youth and adults at Words bookstore in Maplewood, N.J., and as Julia Davis proved at the Book Worm in Powder Springs, Ga. I dont have any sensory issues myself, Davis says, but as an African American woman, I know what it means to be in a space where youre not comfortable. She reached out to the organization Autism Career Pathways to learn how lights and noises (such as her historic stores creaky floor) can unsettle people with sensory processing issues. Davis gladly turns off door chimes and music, supplies earplugs, and hosts a virtual autistic-led book club. For hard-of-hearing or nonspeaking customers, she offers a magnetic letterboard and dry-erase board. After she posted a sign about her sensory-inclusive training, Davis says, customers began saying, I appreciate thisthis is me. On the same team After Sarah Hollenbeck and Lynn Mooney purchased Chicagos Women & Children First in 2014, they shut down for a major renovation, Hollenbeck says. The shop, established in 1979, had become a puzzle of fixtures. We measured each corner, each turn, to make sure people could get into the alcoves. A few years ago, they persuaded their landlord to add an accessible restroom. When it comes to disability and neurodiversity, Hollenbeck questions bookselling business-as-usual. Rolling fixtures may be convenient, she says, but not everyone can move them. Theyre very heavy. Hybrid events require less rearranging of furniture, yet its not equitable to have a low-quality hybrid option for folks who cant come. I do think the future of bookstore events is hybrid, so how can we pay for the video, the sound, and everything involved with creating a great experience? Hollenbeck also champions health benefitsthe store pays 75% of the premiums for full-time staffand mental wellness. Weve always done our best to schedule folks according to their needs, she says. Our staff, from day one, know their schedule, and we dont change it unless they ask, to minimize the stress of constant flux. Nicole Brinkley, manager at the Rhinebeck, N.Y., location of Oblong Books, likewise considers neurodiversity and staffers physical capacities. Some people are good at figuring things out on the fly, and some need a detailed instruction sheet to double check, she says. For some people its easy to get back on track; for some its not how their brain workswhether due to ADHD, chronic fatigue, or recent surgery. Still, everyone can contribute, she says: Its a team sport. Return to the main feature. As Lily Primeaux, library associate at the Austin (Tex.) Public Library, was setting up the systems first Disability Dialogues Book Club meeting in April, she wasnt sure what to expect. We were in the small meeting room, she recalls. Most staff didnt think wed get a high turnout. She soon realized theyd underestimated the communitys interest. About 15 people turned up, which Primeaux calls unprecedented for a minimally advertised adult book club at APL. She adds, My coworkers were bringing in chairs, trying to fit everyone, and there was no AC. It got so hot, but nobody left. Nobody left even when it was over; everybody stayed to keep talking. Primeauxs desire for solidarity as a late-diagnosed autistic woman inspired Disability Dialogues, which meets monthly at the APLs Yarborough branch to discuss disability justice nonfiction: to date, Eric Garcias Were Not Broken; Disability Visibility, edited by Alice Wong; and Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinhas Care Work. Spaces dedicated to disabled, chronically ill, and neurodivergent folks, or even just conversations about the realities of our experiences, are hard to find, Primeaux says. Across the country, librarians are working to improve the narrative. Building connections Eight years ago, Angela Meyers, coordinator for youth and inclusive services at Bridges Library System in Wisconsins Waukesha and Jefferson counties, learned that an area coffee shops memory cafea social gathering for people with dementia and their caregiverswas bursting at the seams. She suggested to her local Alzheimers Association that public libraries could provide a space for such get-togethers, and the Library Memory Project was born. In 2015, we had four libraries partnering to provide memory cafes, Meyers recalls. Now we have 21. People go from cafe to cafe, having fun and connecting with one another. Amrita Patel, outreach specialist at the Charlotte Mecklenburg (N.C.) Library, is enthusiastic about forming such partnerships. I dont just go in and say, Hey, this is what I do, she says. Its more like, This is what I can do. What are you looking for, and how can we blend the two together? Patel, who also serves on the board of Disability Rights & Resources, a local nonprofit, sees herself as a community connector, integrating rather than duplicating services, ensuring the community knows whats available, and soliciting feedback. I speak with every program participant to learn a little bit about their preferred learning styles and how we can embed our resources, she says. In a community collegesponsored program for recent high school graduates with disabilities, for example, she has responded to a demand for workforce training resources. During adaptive story times, she offers flexibility in how children participate: If a child wants to come up and play with the materials on the table, theyre welcome to. In Northampton, Mass., Forbes Library invites community feedback at informal Accessibility Advisory Board meetings. Benjamin Kalish, the boards chair, says these public discussions have led to such innovations as eliminating scented cleaning products and offering assistive technology training sessions. Meeting people where they are The librarians PW spoke with emphasized the importance of making materials and services easy to access, and sometimes that means bringing collections to patrons rather than the other way around. Meyers totes books to memory cafes so participants can check them out on the spot. Every program Patels involved with connects to a library resource, she says, adding that the librarys Exceptional Experiences team meets regularly to assess whats working and what isnt. Are there any gaps in services? Any issues with our community feeling welcome? Kalish shares that mindset. We try to anticipate, so that, hopefully, we can make things better before someone needs to ask, he says. For instance, Forbes Library created online search widgets for people with hearing or visual impairments that automatically filter out inaccessible materials. Previously, limiting a search to closed-captioned or described videos required users to conduct an advanced search with a precise subject heading. At Bridges Library System, Meyers facilitates periodic ADA scans performed by local experts. The libraries receive a written report with barriers and recommendations on how to remove them, she says. Even small changes, such as providing space for wheelchair-accessible seating at every table and using microphones during all programming, improve access. One Wisconsin library opens childrens programs an hour early for anyone who has additional sensory needs, so they can settle in when things are a little quieter. Its becoming more ingrained in our everyday work lives, Meyers says. Whether its a program or a service or something theyre changing in the library building, accessibility is becoming part of that planning process. Its not an afterthought. After only three meetings of the Disability Dialogues Book Club, Primeaux has already improved accessibility, offering flexible seating and virtual participation for people who cant access the physical space. Plus, now they use the big meeting room. Im paying attention all the time, she says, sharing wisdom from Junes book club selection, Care Work. Accessibility is a process. Youre always choosing to do it. And those choices have an impact: People are effusive about how grateful they are to have a space to talk about disability. Community is happening. Susan Metallo is a neurodivergent public librarian and author. Her fiction has appeared in Cricket Media magazines and the Seven Hills Review. Return to the main feature. More than a century ago, Europe was convulsed by World War I, pitting the Alliesled by Britain, France, Russia, and eventually the United Statesagainst the Central Powers, led by imperial Germany and Austria-Hungary. In the west, fighting occurred along a 440-mile front that stretched from the English Channel to the Franco-Swiss border. Much of this front was characterized by an operational stalemate lasting years on end. Repeatedly, over the course of the war, hundreds of thousands of soldiers surged out of their trenches and went to their deaths for a few miles of land. Today, many commentators have likened the current Russia-Ukraine war to the Western Front of World War I. Satellite images show extensive Russian trenches all along the 700-mile front, with miles upon miles of land mines and fortificationsall of which seem to hark back to a different era. As do the gray-scape images of gnarled trees and mud craters inflicted by artillery barrages, as well as pictures of soldiers, drenched and shivering in the cold, standing guard in those dreary trenches that echo scenes from more than a century ago. Latching on to this historical analogy, observers conclude that the current Ukrainian counteroffensive is doomed to failure and that the war is inching toward an inevitable stalemate. Historical analogies can be imperfect but informative. Some, however, are outright misleading, and the World War I analogy is one of them. Instead, a better historical precedent to understand the current fighting in Ukraine can be found in the U.S. Army's experience in the summer of 1944, when it was fighting against Nazi forces in the hedgerows of Normandy in France. For starters, the overall offense-defense balance of the war in Ukraine bears far more similarity to World War II than World War I. Much of the fighting on the Western Front during World War I was characterized by technological deadlock, with neither side being able to overcome the powerful defensive advantages that machine guns, trenches, and barbed wire provided. Even the most innovative technologies of the erasuch as the airplane, the tank, and poison gascould not break the impasse. By contrast, World War II was a more fluid conflict, with periods of relative stasis followed by breakthrough. After the Allies landed on Normandy's beaches, they hit a period of tactical stalemate. It took the U.S. Army about six full weeks of tough fighting with slow, grinding attacks ( PDF ) through the Normandy hedgerows to push the German defenders just 19 miles beyond the beachhead toward the French city of Saint-Lo. Only when the Americans finally managed to break through Nazi lines did the Germans go into full retreat. While Ukraine's overall progress may be slow, it is making some progress in the places where it matters, such as seizing the high ground surrounding Bakhmut. Share on Twitter To date, the Russia-Ukraine war resembles the battles in the Normandy hedgerows far more than it does those in the trenches of World War I. While there have been slowdowns in the pace of territorial gainsmost notably before the battle of Kharkiv last summerfor the most part, the Russia-Ukraine war has been marked by remarkable fluidity, as impasses have been followed by rapid territorial gains, as demonstrated in last year's battles of Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson. The terrain in which the Ukrainians are currently conducting their counteroffensive is also similar, in some ways, to the terrain the U.S. Army had to contend with in the Normandy hedgerows. In the Bakhmut area, the land is hilly, with many streams, tree lines, roads, and rivers running through it. The features of this landscape produce a compartmentalization effect: An attacking Ukrainian unit may be able to see what is in front and above, but it cannot see much beyond its flanks, due to all the hills, slopes, and streams. As it did for the allies in Normandy, the compartmental nature of the terrain in Bakhmut presents both challenges and opportunities for Ukraine's counteroffensive. And the same is true, of course, for Russia's defenses. Russian forces also cannot see beyond their flanks. As a result, they may inadvertently leave parts of the line inadequately defendeda gap or weak point Ukraine can exploit if it can find it. Moreover, while Ukraine's overall progress may be slow, it is making some progress in the places where it matters, such as seizing the high ground surrounding Bakhmut. Should the Ukrainians be able to take additional terrain, they may be able to set the conditions for more-rapid operations, much as the U.S. Army did in Saint-Lo. Next, there is the question of troop densityhow many troops defend each mile of terrain. During World War I, the density of troops per mile along the Western Front was quite high. For example, on the eve of the British-led Somme Offensive in July 1916, the average ratio of troops per mile on each side of the line was almost 10,000 ( PDF ). By contrast, in the Normandy hedgerows, the troop density of the German defenders was much closer to the troop density of the Russian defensive lines currently in Ukraine. In the summer of 1944, the average troop density of German defenders that the U.S. Army faced was around 1,000 ( PDF ) troops per mile. Today in Ukraine, at the most heavily defended part of the Russian defensive lines centered on Bakhmut, Russian troop density is about 700 troops per mile. Why does troop density matter? Well, because the more sparsely the line is defended, the more likely the line is to have gaps. This is especially true in rough terrain, as the land makes it difficult to patch holes in the line when they occur. Unlike the continuous line of troops on the Western Front in World War I, the German defenders in 1944 did not have sufficient troop density, which meant they had to choose specific points in the hedgerow terrain where they assumed attacking Americans would be most vulnerable. This meant that even though fighting through the hedgerows was tough going, once the U.S. Army broke through, the Germans took to their heels. Numbers alone only matter if armies have the right tactics to make full use of both mass and movement, which requires the ability to innovate when troops inevitably encounter obstacles. World War I was characterized by strategic atrophy. Facing tactical gridlock and running out of ideas, the generals took to throwing manpower and materiel at what was an operational problem. Not until late in the war did the sides slowly develop the tactics necessary to shake up the lines. By contrast, the Saint-Lo breakout was achieved in part by technological innovationequipping tanks with steel ploughs to cut through the hedgerowsand also by more mass, as the Allies brought in more forces. It was also aided by improved tactics, specifically melding together ground and air power. Indeed, Ukraine is not mindlessly throwing combat power into the Russian defenses, in the style of World War I. Instead, it is deliberately withholding some of its best forces. Ukraine still needs a way of clearing minefields, breaching Russian trenches, and blunting Russian air power. Some of this may come from getting the right weapons in sufficient numbers. In this respect, the U.S. decision to provide cluster munitionswhich are designed to attack infantry troops and vehiclesshould help. But gains will also require continued tactical innovation. The Ukrainian military has repeatedly demonstrated that it has such abilities. Finally, there is the all-important question of morale. German defenses in the battle of the hedgerows proved determined but ultimately bitter. On July 26 and 27, 1944, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Joe Lightning Collins sensed that German defenses were reaching their breaking point. After two days of heavy bombing by the U.S. Army Air Forces against a small area of German defenses northwest of Saint-Lo, Collins ordered his corps to attack, and it quickly became apparent that German defenses were crumbling. Predicting when forces will break is not easy. Still, the collapse of Russian forces around Kharkiv last fall suggests that the Russian military is not immune to such sudden implosions. And from a Russian standpoint, the circumstances have only grown increasingly grim since then. Moreover, the recent mutiny against the Russian defense leadership by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his mercenariesfollowed by what is increasingly looking like a purge of senior officershas made manifest a degree of brittleness at the upper echelons of the Russian military, even if this brittleness hasn't yet trickled down to the tactical level in any obvious way. Ukraine is not mindlessly throwing combat power into the Russian defenses, in the style of World War I. Instead, it is deliberately withholding some of its best forces. Share on Twitter None of this guarantees that Ukraine will achieve its own Normandy breakout in the coming weeks. But the World War II analogy is an argument for patience and persistence. Nearly eight decades ago, the United States faced some of the same challenges that Ukraine faces today. But the U.S. Army persisted ( PDF ), and its slow, daily advances wore down the German defenders. The cumulative attritional effect proved decisive in the end. Today, the Ukrainian military is making progress, albeit slowly. Whether this halting progress ultimately grinds the Russian military downor grinds to haltwill only be revealed in time. The time factor is perhaps the most important reason why it's misleading to compare Ukraine today to World War I. Back then, after four years of fighting and millions of casualties, Britain and France arguably didn't have time on their side, even as the Americans finally entered the fray in the last six months of the war. The British and French watched as an entire generation of young men was decimated and the prewar global order they led was upended. Not so with Ukraine and the West today. The United States and its allies have only invested treasurenot bloodin Ukraine. The West has time on its side, and it can afford to be patient. Bad analogies that ignore this fundamental truth only serve to undermine one of the West's biggest strategic advantages. Raphael S. Cohen is director of the Strategy and Doctrine Program at RAND Project AIR FORCE. Gian Gentile is deputy director of the RAND Army Research Division. This commentary originally appeared on Foreign Policy on July 18, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Property details: This is a very level, open and peaceful land parcel. This is a useable, rural land lot that has 9.86 acres and is in an area that is quiet and accessible from Forest Highway 46 and Valley Oak Way. This land parcel is about a 1 hour drive from Chiloquin, OR and is in Klamath Falls County. The surrounding area has hundreds of acres of huge beautiful trees that make it seem like you are in a National Forest! "BUY IT NOW" OPTION: Allows you to take full possession of this land right now for only $18... Price: $ 18,900 Seller State of Residence: California Property Address: APN: R181911 Type: Homesite, Lot Zoning: Agricultural State/Province: Oregon Location: 934**, Arroyo Grande, California You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Oregon Property details: 3 Bluegreen deeds, total of 40000 yearly points. Plenty of points to stay anywhere for a week or more. Selling all together for less than 1 would cost. Will meet at bank to finalize deeds.... Price: $ 30,000 Seller State of Residence: North Carolina Type: Myrtle Beach/Tennessee/ Las Vegas State/Province: North Carolina Location: 280**, Bessemer City, North Carolina You will be redirected to eBay Nearby North Carolina AMC made several Walking Dead announcements at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday. The formerly untitled spinoff starring Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira will be called The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. ADVERTISEMENT AMC also announced Season 2 renewals for Walking Dead spinoffs Dead City and Daryl Dixon. Season 1 of Dead City concludes Sunday and Daryl Dixon premieres Sept. 10. No script work on either season will be able to commence until the Writers Guild of America strike resolves. Writers began striking May 1 after contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke off. The casts of the shows were unable to attend the Comic-Con panel because they are on strike with the Screen Actors Guild. Dead City stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Lauren Cohan as Negan and Maggie. They embark into a zombified New York City to rescue Maggie's son. Daryl Dixon features Norman Reedus reprising his role and finds Daryl in France with no memory of how he got there. Reedus starred in all 11 seasons of The Walking Dead. Morgan joined the show in Season 6. Cohan joined the show in Season 2 and left midway through Season 9 before returning late in Season 10. Lincoln starred as Rick Grimes from Seasons 1 through Episode 5 of Season 9. He returned for the series finale. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Gurira joined in Season 3 and remained until Episode 13 of Season 10. She also returned for the finale. Schitt's Creek, Russian Doll and Kevin Can F*** Himself alum Annie Murphy says she sympathizes with the reluctant cult leader she plays in the new animated adult comedy, Praise Petey. ADVERTISEMENT "I feel bad for Petey, for those parents that she has. It is a very strained relationship with her mother ( Christine Baranski ), the mother who constantly forgets that she has a daughter. That can't be easy," the Emmy winner told UPI in a Zoom interview conducted before the SAG-AFTRA strike. "And, then, finding out that you have a dad. that you have a dead dad and that your dead dad was the leader of the cult is a lot to process," she laughed. "And, then to be asked to take over his job title, which is cult leader? Petey has a lot on her plate." Premiering Friday on Freeform and Hulu, the show also features the voices of Stephen Root, Kiersey Clemons, John Cho and Amy Hill. The series follows the titular heroine to the small town in which her late father's followers are awaiting her arrival as part of a prophesy. There, Petey makes fast friends with cowboy Bandit (Cho) and barkeep Eliza (Clemons), as she tries to free the cult members who really seem to want to follow someone. "When we first meet Petey, she is perhaps not the most confident person," Murphy said. "She is voicing ideas in a whisper and then shimmying and apologizing for them. She has lots of room to grow, and I think Bandit and Eliza are two very important characters who come into her life and help her get to where she needs to be." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! The actress said she didn't see how Petey would look before taping her lines, so she relied on the scripts and her imagination to figure out how she she should sound. "I recorded in various stages. At one point, I was recording in a closet in Boston during the [coronavirus] pandemic," Murphy said, recalling how table reads and rehearsals were conducted over Zoom because the cast members couldn't be in the same place. "It wasn't until halfway through the recording that I started to see some of the images," she added. "You see it come to life and you see how the brains of all of these animators have elevated so much what was already so wonderful on the page. It's a project I'm really proud of." Murphy said she was eager to work with series creator, writer and executive producer Anna Drezen, a former head writer of Saturday Night Live. "She is so incredibly funny and smart and strange," Murphy said. "I want to be a part of anything she does -- any time anywhere." Murphy said she liked that the show was entertaining, but also made her consider more deeply how people impact the way others' think and act. "The influencer culture is running so rampant right now. It's such a weird and wild world," she said. "There's no lack of material for Ana to draw from." She said she didn't feel she needed to immerse herself in research about cults to prepare to play the part of Petey. "I've certainly watched a documentary or two on cults in my past, just because it's absolutely fascinating," Murphy said. After years of live-action sitcom work, the actress said she is enjoying the freeing, relatively laid-back experience of voicing characters in cartoons Praise Petey, American Dad, Crank Yankers and Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken. "You can roll up in your sweatpants and no makeup and look like a total grub," she said. "It's so wonderful. For film and television acting, its encouraged to be natural and grounded -- and being over the top is not necessarily encouraged," Murphy added. "But with voice work, you can go in at an 11 [on a scale of 1 to 10] and then be encouraged to ramp it up from there. It's a whole other muscle that I was I really, really excited to use." Joe Amabile / Instagram By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 07/21/2023 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Joe Amabile and Serena Pitt have revealed new details about their upcoming wedding, which is less than two months away!Serena and Joe fell in love and got engaged on 's seventh season, which aired in Summer 2021.The lovebirds already got married in a quickie courthouse wedding in New York in October 2022, but they have a second wedding -- so that family and friends can be included -- in early September 2023."[We're having] a pretty big wedding," Joe told Us Weekly in a joint interview with Serena. "It's medium-sized."Joe and Serena, who currently live in New York together, will be tying the knot at The Cedar Room in Charleston, South Carolina, which doesn't really hold any significance to the couple."Why Charleston, South Carolina? We just kind of randomly picked the place," Joe said with a laugh."But it's beautiful and we really fell in love with our venue as soon as we walked in."While Joe admitted he hasn't bought his tuxedo yet and still needs to go shopping, Serena's wardrobe is already stacked for her nuptials."I have shown Joe -- I have a dress for our rehearsal dinner and a dress for our welcome party," Serena shared."I've shown him those two because keeping everything a secret is just so hard. And also we're trying to coordinate what we're wearing and stuff. And I got excited and showed him those dresses."Serena also has two wedding gowns for the big day, teasing, "That's kind of all I'll tease for that because it's going to be a surprise."The bride-to-be also revealed on the "Chicks in the Office" podcast how bartender Wells Adams will be serving as their ceremony's officiant."It was actually a very easy decision," Serena said. "We were more just worried he would say no to doing it because it's kind of a big ask."Joe -- who celebrated his bachelor party in Las Vegas in June -- said he had texted Wells with the big ask."We're so excited. It's just very symbolic for us," Serena gushed. "He's a good friend and he was such a large part of our experience."In the meantime, Joe and Serena said they're finally getting used to calling each other "husband" or "wife."Serena just celebrated her bachelorette party in Las Vegas, and the Canada native's loved ones hosted her a bridal shower in Joe's hometown of Chicago in June.Joe recently disclosed how he's excited to exchange personal , handwritten vows with Serena.He also revealed on his former "Click Bait with Bachelor Nation" podcast that Dancing with the Stars pro Alan Bersten , whom Joe had met during his stint on Dancing with the Stars, wants to choreograph a big dance moment for the newlyweds at their wedding."I don't know if I'm going to let him, but he will be at my bachelor party," Joe said. "Maybe I'll talk to him about it there."Joe and Serena revealed in January how their wedding must-haves include good food, drinks and music.In November 2022, Joe and Serena said they had no desire to televise their wedding and share it with Bachelor Nation fans.Joe looked at Serena in a YouTube video and said, "Anything in this world can change, but I highly doubt it."The pair had initially intended to keep their first wedding a secret and only share the news with close family and friends, but a person apparently spotted them at the courthouse and so Serena and Joe were worried the story may get leaked.Serena and Joe therefore posted a sweet video of their union on Instagram late last year, announcing their marriage in their own special way.The 7 finale, which featured Joe's marriage proposal to Serena, aired in October 2021.Serena told Us in September 2022 that she'd love to marry Joe exactly one year later -- even though she believed wedding venues would be limited -- and so she's going to achieve her goal.Serena admitted at the time she was "very overwhelmed by the planning process" but felt ready to dive in."Joe will start off saying, 'Whatever you want,' but he is an opinionated guy. He has a vision for the wedding, for sure," Serena shared in Summer 2022."I think it's actually gonna be very 50/50. I want it to feel like our wedding, not my wedding. And if anything, I would say he's probably more opinionated than I am about this stuff... It'll be a team effort."Serena also said she envisioned herself wearing "neutral, glowy bronzed" makeup for her wedding as well as a "comfortable" wedding gown.Serena and her fiance celebrated their engagement party in July 2022, and that's when their parents met each other.Serena and Joe believe they established a strong relationship foundation while filming .Serena, for instance, never let the fact Joe's ex-girlfriend of nearly two years, Kendall Long , was on the beach get in the way of her connection with Joe.Serena kept her eye on the prize, avoided jealousy, and trusted Joe as Kendall sought closure.Prior to appearing on 7, Joe got eliminated very early from Becca Kufrin 's season of The Bachelorette and met Kendall on Season 5 of Paradise.Despite being happy and in love, Joe and Kendall broke up because they couldn't agree on whether to live in Chicago or Kendall's home city of Los Angeles long-term.Joe gave Los Angeles a chance during and after his stint on Dancing with the Stars in 2018 and wanted to move back to Chicago to be with his friends and family, but Kendall apparently wouldn't even consider relocating and trying out a life in Chicago. (Kendall is now engaged and living with her fiance in Germany).And Serena dumped Matt James on his The Bachelor season that aired in early 2021 after her hometown date.Interested in more The Bachelor news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group Barbie director Greta Gerwig is a mom of two. ADVERTISEMENT The 39-year-old writer and director recently welcomed her second child, a son, with her partner, writer and director Noah Baumbach Gerwig shared the news while showing photos of her baby boy in an interview with Elle U.K. published Wednesday. "He's a little Schmoo. I don't know if you can tell energy from the picture, but that's very much his energy. He's a wise little baby," the star said. "The little guy is sleeping through the night. But I'm still doing that thing where I wake up, every hour to 90 minutes, and just hover. You just keep wanting to look at that baby. So I'm slightly in a twilight state," she added. Gerwig and Baumbach also have a 4-year-old son, Noah. In addition, Baumbach has a 13-year-old son, Rohmer, with his ex-wife, actress Jennifer Jason Leigh Gerwig announced on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon in December that she was expecting her second child. "I am with child -- number two," she said. "I went to an event recently, and I wore something that I thought everyone would be so interested to know that I was going to have another child, and nobody cared. It didn't get reported on. Turns out, nobody's paying attention to you." FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Gerwig and Baumbach co-wrote the Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling . The film opens in theaters Friday. Bindi Irwin is wishing her "extraordinary mama" Terri Irwin a happy 59th birthday. ADVERTISEMENT The 24-year-old television personality and conservationist marked the occasion Thursday by posting a tribute to Terri Irwin on Instagram. Bindi Irwin shared a photo showing Terri Irwin at the Australia Zoo and praised her mom in the caption. "Mum, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You are the most extraordinary mama and now watching you become the very best grandmother, my heart is overflowing. With each new year I love, admire and appreciate more and more the remarkable woman you are," Bindi Irwin wrote. "Thank you for your incredible strength and guidance, thoughtful patience and encouragement, and above all -- your unconditional love," she said. "You do so much for our family, and for everyone around you. It's amazing watching you effortlessly, selflessly care for others, wildlife, humans and our planet alike." Bindi Irwin told her mom she loves "celebrating YOU today and every day." Bindi Irwin is the daughter of Terri Irwin and late Crocodile Hunter star Steve Irwin, who died at age 44 in 2006. She also has a brother, Robert Irwin, 19. Bindi Irwin has one child of her own -- daughter Grace Warrior, 2 -- with her husband, Chandler Powell. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! The Irwins most recently starred on the Animal Planet and Discovery+ series Crikey! It's the Irwins. BAGHDAD, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Foreign Ministry condemned Saturday the burning of a copy of the Muslim holy book Quran and the Iraqi flag by members of an extremist group in Denmark. "The actions fuel reactions and put all parties in critical positions," the ministry said in a statement, adding it would follow up on the developments of these "heinous incidents." The ministry called on the international community "to stand up urgently and responsibly against these atrocities that threaten social peace and co-existence around the world." In the early hours of the day, dozens of angry demonstrators gathered in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad to protest against the burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen on Friday, a source from the interior ministry told Xinhua. The demonstrators tried to cross the nearby al-Jumhouriyah Bridge to reach the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses some of the main government headquarters and some foreign embassies. But the riot police fired tear gas to prevent them from crossing the bridge, the source said. He added that the security forces tightened measures and blocked the bridge and other main roads leading to the zone to keep the demonstrators in Tahrir Square away from the embassies and government institutions. Later, the ministry issued another statement reassuring diplomatic missions of their security, saying "the Iraqi government is fully committed to the Vienna Convention that regulates diplomatic relations among countries and assures all resident diplomatic missions of their security and protection." "What happened to the embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Baghdad cannot be repeated, and any similar act will be subject to legal accountability," the statement added. The ministry statement came after hundreds of angry protestors on Thursday stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and set fire to the building in protest against the burning of the Quran and the Iraqi flag in Stockholm. Iraq also expelled the Swedish ambassador and recalled its charge d'affaires from Sweden. On June 30, angry protestors stormed the Swedish embassy just outside the heavily-fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, protesting the act of a Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin, who tore up a copy of the Quran and burned it in front of a mosque in Stockholm on June 28 during a demonstration authorized by the Swedish authorities, which sparked fury from Muslims around the world. Universal Pictures released three new posters for the Exorcist: Believer on Thursday. The film opens Oct. 13 in theaters. ADVERTISEMENT The three posters show a young girl in the throes of demonic possession, just like young Linda Blair in the original film. The Exorcist: Believer marks Ellen Burstyn's return to the franchise. She reprises her role of Regan MacNeil's (Blair) mother, Chris. In Believer, the father of a possessed child seeks Chris' help for dealing with the demons. Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Lidya Jewett, Olivia Marcum, Raphael Sbarge, Jennifer Nettles and Okwui Okpokwasili also star. David Gordon Green directs and co-wrote with Peter Sattler. Like Green's Halloween sequels, Believer is produced by Blumhouse as a direct sequel to the 1973 original. Warner Bros. made two sequels to The Exorcist and two versions of a prequel, Renny Harlin's Exorcist: The Beginning and Paul Schrader 's Dominion: Prequel to The Exorcist. An Exorcist TV series also lasted two seasons on Fox from 2016-2018. Morgan Creek produced The Exorcist III, the two prequels and TV series. They also co-produce Believer. Celebrity couple Joe Manganiello and Sofia Vergara are officially headed for divorce. ADVERTISEMENT TMZ reported Manganiello, 46, filed for divorce from Vergara, 51, on Wednesday, two days after the couple announced their split. According to the documents, Manganiello and Vergara had a prenuptial agreement and will each keep the assets they obtained during the marriage. Vergara is not expected to contest the prenup. E! News reported Manganiello cited "irreconcilable differences" for the split. The actor listed July 2 as their date of separation. A source told People that Manganiello and Vergara had conflicting opinions about having children. "He really wanted to have a baby with her and she wasn't interested and it caused a rift," the source said. Vergara has a 31-year-old son, Manolo, from her first marriage. Manganiello and Vergara announced their separation in a joint statement Monday after seven years of marriage. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "We have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple told Page Six. "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." Manganiello is an actor known for True Blood and the Magic Mike film series, while Vergara is an actress who starred on Modern Family. Lionsgate released the first photo of Tobin Bell's return in Saw X. The studio also announced the film's release date of Sept. 29. ADVERTISEMENT Bell starred in the first eight Saw movies. The first film revealed John Kramer (Bell) as the Jigsaw Killer, a terminal cancer patient who punished people who took their lives for granted. Kramer was killed in Saw III by a victim, not his cancer. Saw IV-VII (aka Saw 3D) and Jigsaw used flashbacks to show Kramer had set up deadly traps for long after his death. Spiral: From the Book of Saw was the first entry not to include Bell. A new killer was inspired by Jigsaw to punish corrupt cops. Lionsgate confirmed Saw X takes place between Saw and Saw II, calling it "Jigsaw's most personal game." Kramer travels to Mexico for experimental cancer treatment, but when he discovers it is a scam, he concocts traps for the perpetrators. The Saw franchise became famous for Jigsaw's elaborate death traps that forced victims to endure some form or torture to escape. Each entry also had a surprise ending like the reveal of Kramer in the original. Saw VI and Saw 3D director Kevin Greutert directs Saw X. Greutert was promoted from editor of Saw I-V and returned to edit Jigsaw. Jigsaw and Spiral writers Peter Goldfinger & Josh Stolberg wrote Saw X. Franchise producers Mark Burg and Oren Koules also return. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! IMDb also lists cast members Michael Beach, Synnive Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Paulette Hernandez, Renata Vaca, Octavio Hinojosa and Joshua Okamoto. Todd Williamson/Bravo By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 07/21/2023 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. ' executive producer Alex Baskin apparently believes it's going to be almost impossible for Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval to avoid each other while filming Season 11.began filming its eleventh season on June 28, and Baskin told The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview that Tom and Ariana have managed to stay away from each other when cameras are rolling.However, Baskin doesn't think that dynamic is going to last for long."We always deal with pushback if different parties don't want to shoot with each other because of strained relations," Baskin told The Hollywood Reporter."Obviously, this is more extreme. But Ariana and Tom, I would hasten to point out, they still live together."He added, "The idea that they wouldn't shoot together is a little bit hard to digest. They're in the same home."Ariana and Tom appeared to end their relationship in March after headlines surfaced that Tom, her then-boyfriend of nearly a decade, had been cheating on her with their co-star -- and Ariana's former best friend -- Raquel Leviss for about six months.Ariana broke her silence about her breakup with Tom on NBC's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in May and revealed, "We do not interact on any level."While Ariana and Tom are still living in the same $2 million Los Angeles home, temporarily, Ariana said they only communicate through "go betweens" and that her family "hates" him and Tom is "dead" to her brother.Ariana also previously told Raquel that she's "dead" to her and their friendship is over. Ariana said Raquel seems "lost and empty" and she doesn't know who Raquel is anymore.When asked what it would take for her to forgive Tom and Raquel, Ariana bluntly announced, "That's not happening."Raquel, meanwhile, had entered a treatment facility to check her mental health in April amid backlash over the affair, and Baskin said there are "ongoing conversations" about whether she'll return for the new season."I imagine there will be an update fairly soon. But, for now, we're still in dialogue with her," the executive producer noted.Looking back on Season 10, Baskin admitted he "felt like a complete moron" once Raquel and Tom's betrayal came to light."It looks so obvious after the fact. I can't believe the brazenness in some cases," he admitted."This affair was happening right there in front of us. It's our job to be skeptical, to document and to ask the questions and probe. And then we have to let it play out in front of us, without our judgment."Baskin assured fans that "really is what happened" last season, adding, "We really didn't know until Ariana knew. But looking back, everything really was obvious."But Baskin feels like it's time to "move on" from "Scandoval," explaining that has "never been static" and producers don't want to harp on the subject."We'd disappoint the audience if we started just sleuthing," he said. "Everyone is trying to move on with their lives. If that creeps back in, then it creeps back in."Baskin insisted the cast "needs to focus" and "let all of that go."The producer reasoned, "We don't want to get to a place where we are covering the coverage of the show. We'd hoped that it would have died down, but there's still a hysteria surrounding it."But for the time being, Baskin said the show's production team has returned to the show's "normal, pretty aggressive timeline" of filming and they're not rushing to put out the finished product."Things are still unsettled within the group whose lives we're following," Baskin noted."I've never headed into a season having less of a sense of where we're going to be when we wrap in a few months."Baskin believes that in six months, the new season will be dropped."It's good to make the audience miss you a little bit," Baskin shared.After a chaotic and emotionally-charged six months of drama, twists and turns, Baskin joked that he's "still standing.""It's been a lot of fun. It's been wild. It's been an adventure that keeps unfolding," he concluded.Despite being subjected to hate and shaming, Raquel filmed ' three-part Season 10 reunion before checking herself into rehab.Bravo executive Andy Cohen joked about -- and later apologized for -- how Raquel seemed "unemotional" and heavily medicated at the time of the reunion.According to Us Weekly, Raquel is very apologetic for having slept with Tom and for hurting Ariana.Raquel even previously expressed how she hated being secretive and so deceitful, sneaking around with Tom even around the time Ariana's had grandmother passed away.Looking back on her decade-long romance with Tom, Ariana shared with Glamour magazine in June, "I feel like I'm someone who craves intimacy outside of just penetrative sex, and that was something that I was deprived of for so long .""As women, we might bring something up a bunch of times and then we just stop," Ariana continued."That's where I was at. I was like, 'I cannot keep nagging this man to want to come home and spend time with me.'"Ariana went on to vent about how "so many men" in general feel "entitled" to a woman's body."[They act] entitled to sex because you're in a relationship with them," Ariana said. "I am not your Fleshlight. I spelled out what I needed, but hello. It's a two-person situation."But Ariana was able to move on from the scandal with the help of Daniel, whom she began dating in April While Ariana played coy about her love life on Watch What Happens Live, she teased to viewers, "I'll just say that I am very happy and very satisfied."A source recently told Us that Ariana is "definitely open to seeing where things go" with Daniel but she "isn't totally ready to jump into a serious relationship."Meanwhile, Tom told TMZ in late April that he was "really happy" to see Ariana doing so well.After all, an insider source claimed to Us on March 3 that Tom and Ariana had been "having problems for a while." The insider claimed the pair's relationship "only came to a breaking point" the day prior to their split on March 1.But Tom claimed he officially broke up with Ariana on Valentine's Day in February.Tom also shared on the April 11 episode of the " Howie Mandel Does Stuff" podcast how his romance with Raquel started with a "magnetic" kiss last summer."I felt something that I hadn't felt in so long emotionally," Tom explained. "The feelings were something very, very strong."Tom claimed that he had attempted to break up with Ariana once he realized he had strong feelings for Raquel."Like many relationships, it felt like it became more of like a best friends, family [thing] -- sometimes roommates," Tom continued."There were a lot of ways where the relationship was just lacking the intimacy, the connection. We would travel more by ourselves than we would together. I would go to weddings by myself."Tom said he was seeing and FaceTiming with Raquel "as often" as he could," even though that "sounds horrible.""And Ariana didn't even notice because that's just how separate our lives were," Tom claimed. "I had to actually tell her, 'How have you not noticed how distant I've been lately?'"Ariana apparently believes Tom even had sex with Raquel in one of their guest rooms while she was sleeping in their bed.Ariana's fame skyrocketed because of Tom's affair. She was even asked to make an appearance on Love Island's fifth season and compete on Dancing with the Stars this fall. A bandh will be observed in the tribal belt of Gujarat on Sunday in protest against the ethnic violence and atrocities on women in Manipur, a tribal leader said. IMAGE: School students stage a protest against the recent viral video of two women and the ongoing violence in the north-eastern state of Manipur, in Ranchi on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo The opposition Congress has decided to support the bandh in protest against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's 'failure' to control the situation in the north-eastern state, a party spokesperson said on Saturday. Several tribal outfits, including Adivasi Ekta Manch, have come together to call for a shutdown in the tribal-dominated districts of Gujarat. "On Sunday, a bandh will be observed in the tribal belt in Gujarat as per the call given by the tribal community to protest against violence and atrocities against women in Manipur; Madhya Pradesh urination incident, and atrocities on tribals in Gujarat," said tribal leader Praful Vasava, who recently resigned from Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said the call for a shutdown is not announced under the banner of any single organisation or a political party but with the consensus of various tribal and other socio-political organisations. "Several tribal organisations have given a call for a bandh to protest against the Central government's stance on Manipur. They requested Congress for support to the bandh and the party has decided to fully support it. The BJP is responsible for the situation in Manipur," said Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi. A video shot on May 4 surfaced on Wednesday, showing two women from one of the warring communities in Manipur being paraded naked by a few men from the other side, sparking national outrage. Gujarat accounts for around eight per cent of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) population of India which is mainly concentrated in the eastern districts of the state. More than 160 people have lost their lives, and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, when a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. Senior Congress leader B K Hariprasad's statements regarding ministerial and chief ministerial posts, along with his veiled dig at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah seems to have created a sense of unease within the ruling party in Karnataka. IMAGE: B K Hariprasad. Photograph: ANI The MLC, who is said to be sulking for sometime now over not being inducted into Karnataka cabinet, was speaking at a meeting of Ediga, Billava, Namdhari and Deevara communities on Friday. While the chief minister did not comment on Hariprasad's statements, a few of his cabinet colleagues seemed unsure about how to react. "The community should be conscious. Whether I become a minister or not is a different question. I have already played a role in making five chief ministers in this country, whether it is Pondicherry (Puducherry) or Goa. In Jharkhand, I have done it alone. In Haryana and Punjab, I did it along with the AICC (All India Congress Committee) team," Hariprasad said. Addressing the gathering, he claimed credit for making Bhupesh Baghel, a leader among the backward classes, as chief minister of Chhattisgarh. "So I very well know how to make some chief minister or to ensure someone steps down from the post... I will not bow down or beg. Let me make it clear. If any injustice happens, 'Koti Chennaya' (legendary Tuluva twin heroes) have thought about how to face it. Doing politics in Bengaluru for 49 years is not a child's game," he added. During the cabinet formation in May, there were reports that Hariprasd lost the race for a ministership after the chief minister vehemently opposed his inclusion. Both Hariprasad, a former Leader of Opposition in the Council, and Siddaramaiah are OBCs -- from Ediga and Kuruba community, respectively. Stating that there is a need for Ediga, Billava, Namdhari and Deevara communities to think as to why they are not able to come forward politically, Hariprasad said, he feels that they have become victims to someone's conspiracies. "Some may say that Siddaramaiah and I belong to the backward class and should unite. With an intention that all of us should unite, we supported in 2013 (Siddaramaiah became CM for the first time)," he said. He further said, "We are not among those who go before the Chief Minister or a Minister extending our hands (seeking favours), after supporting them. We work for the people and society, but don't go asking for things with selfish motives." Noting that he only asked Siddaramaiah to provide Rs 5 crore to Koti Chennayya theme park at Karkala in Udupi district to which he responded positively, but later nothing came, Hariprasad remarked: "He cannot help me politically, rather I can help him politically." With an intention to set up 'Gurupeetha' in Mangaluru University, Hariprasad said he had given Rs 50 lakh under MPLADs scheme, but the building is still under construction, and 'to that also there was assurance for financial help, but not even one paisa came'. "How much was given to the community, I leave that issue to seers and leaders to see...backward classes doesn't mean only one caste (seemingly referring to Kurubas to which CM belongs). All those castes that come under backward classes should get equal rights," he said. Hariprasad also pointed out that Ediga, Billava, Namdhari and Deevaras are losing out on political opportunities, as the tickets to seats dominated by these castes are either being given to Christian or Muslim candidates. When asked about the Congress leader's statement, Home Minister G Parameshwara, who seemed hesitant initially, said: "I don't know in what context he has spoken... At some times, leaders express personal opinion." Planning and Statistics Minister D Sudhakar said, "He (Hariprasad) is a senior leader...there is no discontent in the party. He may have shared personal opinions. (Party) High command will see." MOGADISHU, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The education journey for Najma Abdullahi Qarey, a 24-year-old Somali woman, is intriguing and inspiring at the same time. Abdullahi got married at a younger age by her parents who live in a community that believes that the only way to safeguard the dignity of their daughters is to marry them off while young. However, Abdullahi refused to allow marriage to become an obstacle to her passion for education and overcame many hurdles that have denied education to the majority of her peers. "My childhood dream was to pursue education to the highest level possible despite my community's disregard for girl-child education. My parents were overprotective and did not want me to stay unmarried beyond my puberty stage," she told Xinhua during a recent interview in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia. "And since I didn't want to be rude to my parents, I accepted to marry my childhood lover, who turned out to be extremely supportive of my education journey," Abdullahi said. Zakaria Abdullahi, Abdullahi's husband who works in the Ministry of Education in Somalia's Galmudug state, refused to succumb to mounting pressure from male friends who ridiculed him for looking after the children when his wife was pursuing a degree in public administration. Zakaria said that he felt that it was in the interest of his family to support and sacrifice for his wife's education since she will be a role model to their children. "I am proud of my wife's resilience," Zakaria said, adding that mothers are the ones who spend more time with children and educating them will have a positive impact on their offspring. In February this year, Abdullahi was among 44 students who finished their undergraduate degrees in the Horn of Africa University, one of the best institutions of higher learning in Somalia registered with the Ministry of Higher Education, and was awarded with various honors during the graduation ceremony. According to the Somalia Integrated Household Budget Survey (SIHBS-2022), which is the first such credible national survey since 1985, nearly two-thirds of the country's population has no formal education. Only 4.6 percent of the population report to have completed secondary education and 4 percent attained higher education. Young citizens are the most educated and over half of this demographic or 53.7 percent is literate. For people in the 20-24 and 25-29 age groups, higher education attainment rates are at 14.2 percent and 12.2 percent respectively, according to the survey. Among nomads, the overwhelming majority, or 92.5 percent, reported no formal education, while two-thirds, or 68.6 percent of rural respondents have no formal education. Only 3 percent of rural residents have completed secondary schooling, and 1.7 percent have acquired higher education. The survey states that the literacy rate is higher among males than females, at 63.6 percent and 45.3 percent respectively with a substantial difference in literacy rates between age groups, with younger age categories showing the highest literacy rates and the oldest members having the lowest literacy rates. Abdullahi said that juggling between education and family responsibilities has not been a walk in the park, but she credited her supportive husband for enabling her to realize her academic dreams. The mother of three children said she intends to pursue a post-graduate degree in public administration and become a role model for young girls who are keen to attain high levels of formal education. Local leaders like Galmudug Senator Siciid Siyad Shirwac have encouraged communities to prioritize educating girls in a bid to realize socio-economic transformation at the grassroots. Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for mentioning Rajasthan in his statement on the Manipur incident, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said he has 'hurt the self respect' of Rajasthan. IMAGE: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot addresses a press conference in Jaipur on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo While condemning the incident of Manipur where two women were paraded naked and molested, Modi on Thursday made a reference to states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh in context of law and order. "The prime minister has hurt the self respect of Rajasthan," Gehlot told a press conference in Jaipur. He said Modi finished his speech within a few seconds on the Manipur issue, on which he should have held meetings to review the situation and how it can be controlled. He also took a dig at Modi's remark that the Manipur incident has put 140 crore Indians to shame. "One hundred and forty crore people of the country are not feeling ashamed but they are saddened by the deeds and negligence of the Modi government," Gehlot said. He said Modi did not utter a word on this issue for 77 days but after the Supreme Court raised the matter, he completed the formality and finished his speech within a few seconds. On the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party targeting his government on several issues including law and order and paper leaks, Gehlot said, "They are spoiling the atmosphere, they have nothing to say. They just talk rubbish." He said the BJP is scared of the decisions and works of the state government and so has decided to defame it. Commenting on BJP's 'Nahi Sahega Rajasthan' campaign against the Congress government in the poll-bound state, Gehlot said the saffron party only showed 'Nikammapan' (uselessness) in the four-and-a-half years in the state and therefore people are saying that they will not tolerate BJP. He said the BJP has nothing to say against the Congress government. Terming the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 passed in the assembly on Friday as historic, he said that Rajasthan has become the first state to implement the minimum income guarantee scheme. He reiterated the demand from the Centre to bring the social security act. When asked about the decision to sack Rajendra Gudha, Gehlot refused to comment saying it was an internal matter of the party. Hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly, Gudha was sacked on Friday evening. He held the portfolios of minister of state sainik kalyan, panchayati raj development and rural development. The political war of words over Manipur intensified on Saturday with the Bharatiya Janata Party raising the incidents of atrocities against women in West Bengal and Rajasthan and questioning the 'silence' of the opposition, which termed it as a diversionary tactic to avoid debate on the situation in the north-eastern state. IMAGE: Janata Dal-United supporters stage a protest against the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur, in Patna on July 22, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo While the opposition has been demanding a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Manipur inside Parliament followed by an unhindered debate in both houses, the government has accused the opposition of running away from such a debate by putting conditions and alleged that they lack seriousness on the issue. The BJP fielded Union minister Anurag Thakur who alleged that there is a long list of heinous crimes against women in states ruled by opposition parties such as Rajasthan, West Bengal and Bihar, but they were playing politics over the Manipur incident. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, Thakur slammed former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and the leaders of other opposition parties, accusing them of remaining silent on cases of crimes against women in non-BJP ruled states. "Over one lakh cases of crimes against women have been registered in Rajasthan in the last four years. A total of 33,000 cases pertaining to sexual assault on women in Rajasthan," Thakur alleged. The ruling party also highlighted a video of two tribal women being beaten up and stripped in Malda district and targeted opposition leaders. Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan hit out at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. "What happened in Manipur is unfortunate, but what happened in West Bengal is more unfortunate. The people who were expressing outrage over the Manipur incident, a similar barbaric incident happened in West Bengal," Pradhan said. Union ministers Smriti Irani and Thakur also hit out at the Congress for sacking its minister in Rajasthan after he raised the issue of crime against women in his state. Thakur alleged that it has been done on the instructions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. The opposition has mounted a fresh attack on the government after a May 4 incident video surfaced on Wednesday showing two women from one of the warring communities in Manipur being paraded naked and assaulted by a group of men from the other side. Five people have been arrested so far involving the incident. The Congress accused the BJP of resorting to whataboutery and running away from discussion in parliament like 'fugitives'. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, 'The prime minister and his drum beaters are diverting and deflecting from the enormous tragedy that has overtaken all of Manipur in the past 80 days by creating false equivalence with an issue relating to Rajasthan.' The Congress also put up a picture of Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on its Twitter account with a "Failed report card". Irani hit back on Twitter, saying, 'There are depths of depravity very few are capable of -- keeping a scorecard regarding women.' 'There are instances of wilful ignorance very few incessantly exhibit. On both counts -- depravity and wilful ignorance -- CONgress scores well. Discuss in Parliament if the dynasty permits,' she said. Hitting back at Irani, Congress' Pawan Khera alleged that when 'she is questioned over her failures as a minister, she chooses to hide behind the gender argument'. Trinamool Congress' Mahua Moitra said, 'Sorry WCD Minister. This isn't Depravity. Depravity is BJP deflecting Manipur issue with all-out fake news assault in other states.' Congress leader Ranjeet Ranjan said, 'WCD minister Smriti Irani is shrugging off responsibility over Manipur horror.' 'This is a government which behaves like a fugitive as it is afraid of the opposition,' she asked. She accused Irani of selectively raking up incidents in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, while leaving out the BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, besides Delhi where the police are under the direct control of the Union home ministry. Seeking to defend the TMC leader, she said as far as the Malda incident is concerned, the director general of police has denied it. 'I know Mamata Banerjee and being a woman she is sensitive towards crime against women.' On the Malda incident, West Bengal Minister for Women and Child Health Shashi Panja claimed the 'scuffle has no political or casteist overtones'. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi alleged that the prime minister is 'protecting the (Manipur) chief minister and covering up his failures'. Aam Aadmi Party's Sanjay Singh demanded the imposition of President's rule. TMC leader Derek O'Brien said, "It is the BJP that is stalling and disrupting the Parliament. Let the debate on Manipur begin on Monday morning." "Let the PM choose where he wants to open the discussion - Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, his choice. Let us begin the debate on Manipur and all of us (Opposition) will speak, but the PM first," he said. RJD's Manoj Kumar Jha said the government still has a chance to do some 'course correction'. "It should remove the CM and impose President's rule for a limited period," he said. "The process of healing is very important and that should start, as Manipur needs that kind of social and psychological healing right now," he said. Irani said the government kept appealing to the opposition to conduct a discussion on the issues emanating out of the state of Manipur. "That the issue is not only sensitive but has implications with regard to national security is known to opposition leaders. However, opposition leaders did not want to discuss the issue on the floor of the Parliament. "What is extremely alarming is that yesterday from the state of Rajasthan, a minister spoke up against the crime against women in Rajasthan. However, he was unceremoniously dismissed by the Congress party," the minister said. Former Union minister Kapil Sibal said the only way forward for Manipur is to sack Chief Minister Biren Singh and impose Article 356 by dismissing the government there. Amid the stalemate in Parliament over holding a debate on Manipur violence, MPs of various opposition parties have planned a protest on Monday near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Parliament complex to press for the prime minister's statement on the issue in both houses. IMAGE: An Opposition MP holding a placard stage a protest in the Lok Sabha over the Manipur issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Friday. Photograph: SansadTV/ANI Photo Sources said leaders of various opposition parties who have now formed the INDIA alliance will meet in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and will discuss their further strategy in Parliament. After the meeting at 10 am on Monday, July 24, the leaders will hold a protest near the Gandhi statue before entering both houses. The government has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue with the Home Minister replying to it, but the opposition is adamant on its demand for the prime minister's statement first, especially after a video of two women being paraded naked and assaulted in a Manipur village appeared on social media. Also, the opposition wants a debate allowing all parties to speak without any time restrictions and has been holding protests on the issue since the Monsoon Session started on Thursday. The government has accused the opposition of running away from a debate on the all-important issue and has questioned their seriousness towards it. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have failed to transact any business amid the stalemate between the opposition and the government over the Manipur issue. A day after being sacked as minister in the Rajasthan government, MLA Rajendra Gudha on Saturday stepped up his attack on Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, alleging he is no longer in control in the state which is leading in crimes against women. IMAGE: Rajendra Singh Gudha. Photograph: ANI on Twitter Congress in charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that the one who does not follow the ideology of the Congress has no place in the party and the decision to sack Gudha was a collective decision. But a defiant Gudha again accused the Gehlot government of failing to check crime against women. "Nothing will happen by sacking Rajendra Gudha. Create a sense of security in sisters and daughters. There is an atmosphere of anarchy in the state. The home department is with the chief minister who is sitting with a bandage on his feet," the MLA from Udaipurwati said in Jhunjhunu. He said that the chief minister is not in control of the state and the government is not able to protect girls and women. While Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot parried questions on the sacking of the minister, saying it was an internal matter of the party, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party targeted the Congress. Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that on the instructions of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Gehlot sacked the minister for expressing concern over crimes against women in the state. "Will Chief Minister Gehlot tender his resignation when his own minister says that the chief minister has lost his 'iqbal' (authority), when in his home district, a woman is murdered and burnt, and when five km away from his residence a woman is raped and left to die? he asked. "This is a question for (Congress chief Mallikarjun) Kharge and Gandhi parivaar leaders," he said and asked if they have 'forgotten their responsibility'. Gudha, who held charge as Minister of State for Sainik Kalyan (Independent Charge), Home Guard and Civil Defence, Panchayati Raj and Rural Development, was sacked on Friday evening, hours after he cornered the state government over law and order in the assembly. In Jaipur, Sukhjinder Randhawa said he had talked to Gudha in the past about his controversial statements and he had assured him that he would maintain the party discipline. The move to sack Gudha was a collective decision, he said at a press conference at the PCC war room. "It is my and the state president's job to maintain discipline in the party. The Congress party needs those people who follow the ideology of the Congress. The one who does not follow the ideology of the party has no place in the Congress," he said. Randhawa said that it had become Gudha's 'habit' to run down the party. During a discussion on the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guarantee Bill 2023 in the state assembly on Friday, Congress MLAs waved placards on the Manipur violence but Gudha sought accountability from his own government on crimes inflicted against women. "The way we have failed to provide security to women in Rajasthan and atrocities on women have increased, instead of raising the issue of Manipur, we should introspect," Gudha said. Leader of the Opposition Rajendra Rathore slammed the state government saying Rajasthan tops the chart of crimes against women. Referring to Rajendra Rathore's statement in the assembly shortly after the comment of Gudha, Randhawa said that the party will look into whether there was any understanding between Gudha and Rathore. Earlier, Gehlot said that the decision to terminate Gudha was an internal matter of the party. He was responding to a question during a press conference at the CM residence on Saturday regarding the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 passed in the assembly yesterday. Gudha, who is among six MLAs who won the 2018 assembly elections on a Bahujan Samaj Party ticket before defecting to the Congress in September 2019, was inducted as a minister in November 2021. They had supported Gehlot in July 2020 during his tussle with his then deputy Sachin Pilot. However, in the last few months, Gudha has made statements in favour of Pilot. Two women were assaulted and allegedly stripped in a market in West Bengal's Malda district earlier this week by a group of people and the police have detained five persons in connection with it. IMAGE: BJP supporters stage a protest in front of the BDO office against the West Bengal government over violence in the recent State Panchayat Elections, in Hooghly on July 21, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo A suo moto case was lodged in the incident, which took place when the women went to the market at Bamangola in Malda district to sell their wares and the people there suspected them of committing theft, a senior official of Malda district police said. A purported video of the incident showing a mob beating up the women mercilessly on Wednesday was shared in the social media by Amit Malviya, the head of Bharatiya Janata Party's IT cell on Saturday. Malviya tweeted, 'The horror continues in West Bengal. Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while the police remained mute spectators in Pakua Haat area of Bamongola police station in Malda.' The claim was promptly rubbished by the ruling TMC, which accused the saffron party of resorting to 'diversionary tactics'. Malviya in his tweet said, 'The horror continues in West Bengal. Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while the police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola police station, Malda.' He said, 'The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women belonged to the socially marginalised community and had a frenzied mob baying for their blood .... It had all the makings of a tragedy that should have 'broken' Mamata Banerjee's heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted since she is also the home minister of Bengal ...' Rubbishing the charges, the state Minister for Women and Child Health, Shashi Panja told reporters here that the two were embroiled in a scuffle with other women who accused them of theft. Women civic police volunteers who were present at the spot tried to stop them. Later the women left on their own. She accused BJP of resorting to 'diversionary tactics' by 'hyping' a quarrel between local women over the selling of vegetables and allegations of theft. 'The scuffle has no political or casteist overtones ... BJP is unnecessarily making this a political issue,' the minister asserted. 'After the surfacing of the video of two women being disrobed and paraded by a mob in Manipur, after hundreds of such incidents come to light every day in that state and after the deafening silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for months even after Manipur burnt, BJP is now trying to deflect attention from the main issue. 'The main issue is the trampling of human rights, brutalities against women and the inaction of the BJP government in the state (Manipur). But BJP's ploy will not succeed. Everyone knows what happened in Manipur and the Centre's role in it,' Panja said. She referred to allegations by the saffron party that a woman gram sabha candidate had been stripped during the July 8 rural poll in the state and asked, "How come the fact finding team of BJP consisting of women MPs did not come across any such case? How come the central forces camping in the booths did not report anything? Police investigations too indicated no such incident took place." "We (TMC) assert that Modi cannot escape facing queries by MPs in Parliament on the gruesome happenings in Manipur by using such diversionary tactics ... Bengal is not like Manipur or any other BJP-ruled states. No bestial crimes against women are reported in our state, which is helmed by a woman (Mamata Banerjee). However, if there is any report of such an incident our police and investigating agencies take the necessary action," she added. The police when asked said, "We are conducting raids at the moment. We are unable to tell much about the incident as the investigation is in its early stage." The Congress, which gave a 'failed' verdict to the Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani amid the national outrage on the video on the parading of two disrobed women in Manipur, condemned the Malda incident. It claimed that the state was among the first five in the country where atrocities were committed against women. West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that several such cases were not reported. "I strongly condemn the incident. Those responsible for it must be brought to book and the strictest punishment should be meted out to them," he told reporters New Delhi. BJP's claim about the assault of women in Malda came on the heels of another by the state party president Sukanta Majumdar at a press conference in Delhi on Friday. Majumdar claimed that 'Manipur-like' situation was prevailing in West Bengal and a woman BJP candidate was disrobed and paraded at Panchla in Howrah district for daring to contest the rural poll held on July 8. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee had even broken down during the press conference. "The West Bengal chief minister is silent despite being a woman. You tell us where we will go. We also want our daughters to be saved," she said. The West Bengal director general police Manoj Malviya said on Friday that no evidence of the act was found. Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Saturday said he will contest the next Lok Sabha polls from Hajipur, rebuffing his nephew Chirag Paswan who has staked claim on late father Ram Vilas Paswan's constituency. IMAGE: Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Pashupati Kumar Paras shares a warm embrace with Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas chief Chirag Paswan prior to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting, at 'The Ashok Hotel', in New Delhi on July 18, 2023. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo Addressing a press conference at the headquarters of his Rashtriya Lok Janashakti Party in Patna, Paras expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance will back his claim on the seat and not that of Chirag who was 'yet to become a part' of the coalition. "I am a part of the NDA and there are no doubts about that. On the other hand, Chirag may have attended the NDA meet in Delhi but was not invited to the meeting of the alliance's MPs convened inside Parliament. This says it all," said Paras. He also said, "I must debunk speculations of a thaw with Chirag which have arisen following photographs of him touching my feet, in Delhi, and me offering him my blessings. That is a part of the culture of Bihar and of the Mithila region to which we belong." Paras, who is now 71 years old, also rubbished reports in a section of the media that he might take the Rajya Sabha route, like his late brother did in the final phase of his life, or settle down for a gubernatorial post, which would end the stalemate with his nephew. "No power on earth can stop me from contesting Hajipur in the next elections. All such reports which say otherwise are like the noises made by frogs during the rainy season. You may hear these since it is an election year but there is no substance in such stories." When it was pointed out that Chirag has been staking his claim on Hajipur, calling it the 'karmabhoomi' of his late father who had nurtured the seat over decades, Paras snapped 'late Paswan was my brother, too'. "Chirag should remember that I was never willing to fight the Lok Sabha polls, in first place. After filing my nomination papers from Hajipur, I had told reporters that I felt like having suffered a demotion. Many interpreted it as an admission of defeat. But I was merely pointing to the fact that I was already a minister in Bihar," Paras said. "When my brother told me he wanted me to fight from Hajipur, I initially showed my reluctance. I asked him to consider, for the seat, Chirag or his mother (Bhabhi ji). But my brother was insistent," claimed the Union minister who got inducted into the cabinet a few months after Paswan's death. "Finally, I gave in as I have never disobeyed my brother. When he gave up his Alauli Vidhan Sabha seat decades ago, to move to Parliament, I entered the fray upon his bidding, giving up my job as a government teacher," recalled Paras. He added, "I nurtured Alauli for decades, keeping the flag of my brother aflutter. This was the reason why he wanted me and none else to contest from Hajipur which he had represented so many times. Besides, my brother was mindful that Chirag was already an MP from Jamui and must concentrate on that seat." Paras bristled at the suggestion that the BJP may throw its weight behind Chirag, who is perceived to have garnered the sympathy factor following his father's death. "Why would the BJP do so? It cannot forget that in the 2020 assembly polls, Chirag kept saying he was the BJP's Hanuman but helped the victory of the RJD in many seats where it was pitted against the BJP. Till date, he has never spoken a word against RJD president Lalu Prasad," alleged Paras. He added, "Chirag revolted against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar (then in NDA) in the assembly polls, ignoring the disapproval of all other MPs of the undivided LJP. But we were helpless since he was then the national president of the party and also headed its parliamentary board." "His brinkmanship hit the LJP hard. We won just one seat in assembly polls and the lone MLA soon joined the Janata Dal-United. A reason why we finally decided to part ways," said Paras who insisted 'it is not just the party which broke. There is a chasm between our hearts and that cannot be bridged'. The Department of Delhi Prisons has suspended four officials, including a deputy superintendent, in connection with the physical appearance of jailed Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front chief Yasin Malik in Supreme Court, a statement said on Saturday. IMAGE: Yasin Malik. Photograph: ANI Photo The presence of Malik, serving life term in Tihar jail, in a packed courtroom created a flutter in the apex court on Friday. Malik, who is in jail following his conviction and life sentence in a terror funding case, was brought to the high-security apex court premises in a prison van escorted by armed security personnel without the court's permission. He walked into the courtroom to the utter surprise of all present. 'In the matter of physical production of Malik before the Supreme Court on Friday, the Prisons Department has suspended one deputy superintendent, two assistant superintendents and one head warder Friday night as they were found to be prima facie responsible based on preliminary enquiry,' the statement said. 'Detailed enquiry is being conducted by DIG Tihar to identify any other officials who may also be responsible for the serious lapse,' it added. On Friday, prison officials said Deputy Inspector General (Prisons-Headquarters) Rajiv Singh would conduct the inquiry to find out the lapse and fix the responsibility of erring officials and submit a report to the Director General (Prisons) within three days. Voicing surprise at Yasin's presence in the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on Friday told a bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta that there was a procedure for high-risk convicts to be allowed into the courtroom to argue their case personally. When Mehta pointed at Malik's presence in the courtroom, the bench said it had not granted him permission or passed any order allowing him to argue his case in person. Malik appeared in the top court when a bench headed by Justice Kant was hearing an appeal filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the September 20, 2022 order of a trial court in Jammu in the 1989 kidnapping of Rubaiya Sayeed, the daughter of then Union minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. IMAGE: Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Dr S Somanath, fifth from left, and other ISRO scientists at the launch of the Chandrayaan 3 Moon mission at Sriharikota, July 14, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo As the countdown for Chandrayaan-3, India's third lunar exploration mission began around 1.05 pm on Thursday, July 13, more than 17,000 employees of the Indian Space Research Organisation waited eagerly with bated breath and nervous anticipation. Chandrayaan-3 is the third instalment of the Chandrayaan series and India's second attempt to achieve a soft landing on the moon's surface. Only three countries (United States, Russia and China) have successfully landed spacecraft on the airless lunar surface. IMAGE: Chandrayaan-3 lifts off. Photograph: Kind courtesy ISRO/Twitter.com Before the countdown began, Dr S Somanath, ISRO chairman, and several key scientists visited the Tirupati Venkatachalapathy temple with a miniature model of Chandrayaan-3, to pray for the mission's success. Here is a low-down of some of the key names behind the Chandrayaan-3 mission. IMAGE: S Somanath. Photograph: ANI Photo IMAGE: S Somanath. S Somanath, ISRO Chairman S Somanath is considered one of the brains behind India's ambitious moon mission. In the past, he has served as the director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre -- the primary centres for development of rocket technologies for the space agency. Since he took charge, crucial missions like Chandrayaan-3, Aditya-L1 (sun mission), and Gaganyaan have gained momentum. IMAGE: P Veeramuthuvel. Photograph: Kind courtesy ISRO/Twitter.com IMAGE: P Veeramuthuvel. P Veeramuthuvel, Project Director, Chandrayaan-3 P Veeramuthuvel took charge as the Chandrayaan-3 project director in 2019. Before his current assignment, he served as a deputy director in the space infrastructure programme office at the Isro headquarters. Known for his technical acumen, Veeramuthuvel played a key role in the Chandrayaan-2 mission as well, being the point person for its negotiations with National Aeronautics and Space Administration. A native of Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, Veeramuthuvel is an alumni of Indian Institute of Technology-Madras. IMAGE: S Unnikrishnan Nair. Photograph: Kind courtesy ISRO/Twitter.com IMAGE: S Unnikrishnan Nair. S Unnikrishnan Nair, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre The Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mark III -- which was renamed the Launch Vehicle Mark-III -- rocket, was developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram district. Being the head of VSSC, S Unnikrishnan Nair and his team are in charge of various key functions of the crucial mission. IMAGE: A Rajarajan. Photograph: Kind courtesy ISRO/Facebook.com IMAGE: A Rajarajan. A Rajarajan, chairman, Launch Authorisation Board A Rajarajan is a distinguished scientist and currently director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, India's principal spaceport. Rajarajan is an expert in the area of composites. As the director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, his priorities was on the fruition of solid motor production and launch complex infrastructure to meet ISRO's increased demand of launches including launches for the human space programme (Gaganyaan) and the SSLV. The Launch Authorisation Board gives the go-ahead for the launch. IMAGE: M Sankaran. Photograph: Kind courtesy ursc.gov.in IMAGE: M Sankaran. M Sankaran, Director, U R Rao Satellite Centre M Sankaran took over as Director of the U R Rao Satellite Centre, the lead centre in India for design, development and realisation of all ISRO satellites in June 2021. He currently leads the satellite fraternity to meet the national requirements in the areas like communication, navigation, remote sensing, meteorology and inter-planetary exploration. IMAGE: Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh congratulates ISRO Chairman Dr S Somanath for the successful launch of the Chandrayaan-3 mission from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, July 14, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Other officials Other key officials of the mission include a team led by Mission Director Mohan Kumar, who looks into the operational aspects of Chandrayaan-3, and Vehicle director Biju C Thomas. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com 'Oommen Chandy always had time for his people and valued their voices.' 'There was no rest for him as long as the betterment of his fellow citizens was at stake.' Ambassador Venu Rajamony, who knew the former Kerala chief minister for half a century, salutes a beloved leader who worked tirelessly for the welfare of its people. IMAGE: Oommen Chandy, Congress leader and former chief minister, represented his assembly constituency, Puthuppally, for 53 years, a feat unheard of in independent India's electoral history. Kerala witnessed over the last three days something it has never before seen -- an outpouring of grief over the sad demise of former chief minister and Congress leader Oommen Chandy which brought millions onto the streets to see him one last time and pay their last respects. Many have come and gone, but none in recent history have received a farewell of this kind. The collective grief was palpable and infused with a sense of gratitude. It was as if people were determined to return multifold the love and care that Oommen Chandy had lavished on every single person who approached him for help over his six decade long public life. Oommen Chandy served the people of Kerala selflessly and in the process, left an indelible mark on the state and its people. For me, the loss of Oommen Chandy is as big a personal loss as a public loss. I met him first when I was a school boy and have remained in close touch over the years in my personal as well as official capacity. I knew his family well and he knew my wife from the time we got married. He was a welcome but totally unexpected visitor for our small marriage limited to a few close friends in 1986. Oommen Chandy heard about our marriage from my close friend, the late P T Thomas, and made it a point to come and greet us. Neither the lack of a formal invitation nor the fact that the wedding was in a temple deterred him. Oommen Chandy was a regular church-goer and a deeply religious man throughout his life. But he was secular to the core and his religiosity was always inclusive and never interfered with his respect for other religions and their practices. He would also never let formalities prevent him from doing the right thing in any circumstance. What made Oommen Chandy so special is the fact that the personal qualities he displayed were universal and not with respect to only one individual. There was no political leader in Kerala who was as open and accessible to all as Oommen Chandy was, including when he was minister and chief minister. Stories about him are legendary. Anyone making a phone call to his residence would find the Chief Minister himself picking up the phone and saying "Oommen Chandy here". I recall my own personal surprise when I first encountered this habit of his and asked him to pass the phone to the minister, only to have him very patiently reassure me that it was he himself on the other side. Oommen Chandy also had a great sense of humour. He has narrated how the car of some girls travelling from Karnataka to Kerala broke down in a forest area in the middle of the night and the panic stricken parents woke him up in the middle of the night requesting help. With great difficulty, he traced the police station of the area, informed the officer on duty of the situation and requested him to send someone to help the stranded girls. The officer listened patiently, promised to do everything possible and before putting down the phone told him, "We would have helped anyway. You did not have to pretend to be the chief minister while making this request." IMAGE: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge breaks down as Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi pay their respects to Oommen Chandy in Bengaluru, July 18, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Oommen Chandy used to say people are his oxygen and if ever he had to be penalised, keeping him away from people was the worst punishment that could be inflicted upon him. The Covid period and the last phase of his battle with cancer were therefore the most difficult periods of his life. Otherwise, every single day, his public life would start early morning around 7 am and continue till late night. He was always surrounded by people and would never ever say 'No' to anyone, whether it was for a meeting or for any assistance. He was tireless and would never disappoint anyone. Sleep and rest were always secondary. He was unmatched in his ability to connect with the people. He was a leader who constantly remained surrounded by thousands of admirers, eager to share their concerns and seek solutions. Oommen Chandy always had time for his people and valued their voices. There was no rest for Chandy, as long as the betterment of his fellow citizens was at stake. He pushed through late nights and early mornings, tirelessly advocating for their rights and addressing their needs. There are stories of how during a mass contact campaign launched by his government, he went from district to district personally receiving complaints and trying to find solutions on the spot to different problems. Thousands of people would gather at every district headquarter and he would be on his feet attending to them from early morning till well past midnight uninterrupted by food or rest. IMAGE: Venu Rajamony, right, shares a light moment with Oommen Chandy in Kochi, January 2013. Photograph: Kind courtesy Venu Rajamony Bureaucrats would complain that often they could not get his undivided attention to discuss important matters and on occasions, he got embroiled in controversy because of the people who got close to him. But he refused to change his approach when it came to being open and approachable. My personal recollections are how I once visited Kerala while on a foreign posting, and wanted to say hello to him. His office asked me to go and see him in the MLA's hostel. I found him surrounded by a hundred people carrying petitions of various kinds. He saw me from a distance and waved me to come close. But there was no way I could get anywhere close to him. Finally, we had no option but to exchange pleasantries over the heads of many people. On another occasion, I thought I would beat the crowds around him and landed up at his house at 6.30 am. To my great chagrin, there were already around 20 people waiting to see him, including some ministers and political leaders. IMAGE: Then chief minister Oommen Chandy, second from left, at the third K S Rajamony Memorial Lecture in Kochi, May 2005, along with Justice P K Balasubramanyam, who delivered the lecture, and Justice M R Hariharan Nair. Venu Rajamony is at right. Photograph: Venu Rajamony If accessibility was one great virtue, his 'can do' spirit and patience when it came to the problems of the people, was unparalleled. Nobody who came to see him went back empty handed. When he was in office, he would try to address their problems through the government. When out of office, he would use his vast network of contacts to help the poor and distressed in all manner possible. Many of those who came to him were poor people who needed financial assistance for their ailments. Oommen Chandy would speak or send a slip with them to people whom he knew and request that financial support be provided. Since the people receiving the slip had themselves been beneficiaries of Oommen Chandy's help at some point, they would readily oblige. IMAGE: Oomen Chandy, then the leader of the Opposition in the Kerala assembly, left, and then Union minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed, right, at the release of Venu Rajamony's book India And The UAE, A Legendary Friendship by His Highness Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak al Nahayan, then minister for higher education in the UAE, second from left, in Dubai, 2010. Venu Rajamony, then India's consul general in the UAE, is second from right, Photograph: Kind courtesy Venu Rajamony I invited Oommen Chandy for many landmark events in my professional and personal life. He was the chief guest at functions to release my book on India and the UAE in Dubai, its Malayalam version in Kochi and a function in Thiruvananthapuram when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan released the Malayalam version of my book What We Can Learn From The Dutch. Oommen Chandy was also part of two memorial lectures in honour of my late father, K S Rajamony. I was honoured to be invited to receive from Shashi Tharoor in early 2021 the first copy of a book of humorous stories from Oommen Chandy's life during the Corona period authored by his former press secretary P T Chacko. IMAGE: Then chief minister Oommen Chandy, second from left, then Union minister Vayalar Ravi, second from right, CPI-M leader M A Baby, left, and Venu Rajamony, right, at the release of the Malayalam version of Venu Rajamony's book India And The UAE, A Legendary Friendship in Kochi, January 2013. Photograph: Venu Rajamony The first thing that would strike anyone meeting Oommen Chandy was his humility, simplicity, friendliness and disarming smile. However, behind this soft exterior, there also was an astute politician, wily strategist and capable administrator. Oommen Chandy served an unbroken 53 years as MLA from Puthupally constituency from 1970. Entering the assembly at the age of 27, he became the longest serving MLA in the history of any state legislature in India. He began his public life with student politics in the early 1960s and was president of the Kerala Students Union and the state Youth Congress. He was labour minister twice, home minister and finance minister under different chief ministers. He was twice Kerala's chief minister and served from 2004 to 2006 and 2011 to 2016. He was Leader of the Opposition in the interim period, 2006 to 2011. Oommen Chandy put this vast experience to good use and was an authority on administrative matters. Oommen Chandy's unwavering commitment to the development of Kerala and its citizens was always evident. During his tenure, Chandy focused on crucial sectors such as healthcare, education, infrastructure, and employment opportunities. His leadership paved the way for innovative projects like the comprehensive healthcare scheme Karunya that provided affordable medical care to the economically disadvantaged. Additionally, his efforts to promote industrial growth and tourism have significantly contributed to Kerala's economic progress. IMAGE: Oomen Chandy, second from left, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, second from right, and Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, right, at the release of Venu Rajamony's Malayalam version of What We Can Learn From The Dutch in Thiruvanathapuram, January, 2021. Venu Rajamony is second from right. Photograph: Kind courtesy Venu Rajamony Many of the large and successful infrastructure projects in the state owe their genesis to him. Under Chandy's leadership, Kerala witnessed remarkable strides in various sectors. Education received significant attention, with initiatives promoting literacy rates and skill development. Infrastructure projects, such as the Kochi Metro and Kannur International Airport, brought about rapid modernisation. Moreover, social welfare measures, including housing schemes and poverty alleviation programs, helped uplift the marginalized sections of society. Oommen Chandy was the target of many political attacks during his life, but there was no opponent who did not admire his humanism and total commitment to the welfare of the people. President Draupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra D Modi and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan have all heaped praise on Oommen Chandy and his contributions on hearing news of his sad demise. IMAGE: Oomen Chandy with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and Venu Rajamony, right, February 2021. Photograph: Kind courtesy Venu Rajamony The outpouring of public grief following Chandy's passing serves as a testament to his enduring legacy. By touching millions of lives and leaving an indelible impact on Kerala's governance and development, he has established himself as a political leader who has left a unique imprint on the history of our country and the hearts and minds of its people. Oommen Chandy's unwavering dedication to improving the lives of the poor and needy will remain an inspiration for generations to come. He has shown us how wisdom and leadership infused with compassion can make an enormous difference in public life. IMAGE: Oommen Chandy, second from left, K C Joseph and Benny Behnan at Venu Rajamony's marriage to Saroj Thapa. Photograph: Kind courtesy Venu Rajamony Personally, I will always remember and cherish his love and affection. My last meeting with him was in December last year. He had just returned from treatment in Germany. His voice was weak, but he insisted on speaking with me for some time. He was grateful for the help provided to his family and him by the Indian embassy in Germany and the German consulate in Bengaluru. He was optimistic that his voice would recover with treatment and rest. He was curious to know about my work with the state government. I bid goodbye to him that day with a heavy heart, praying for his good health and hoping against hope that it was not a losing battle that he was fighting. Rest in peace, dear Oommen Chandy. Your legacy will live on and continue to inspire millions. Ambassador Venu Rajamony is currently OSD (External Cooperation), Government of Kerala, and Professor of Diplomatic Practice, O P Jindal University. Ambassador Rajamony is a former Press Secretary to President Pranab Mukherjee and served as Ambassador of India to The Netherlands. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The application system for space science projects in China's space station is now open to scientists and engineers, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The CMSA will solicit projects covering space science and human research, physics in microgravity, space astronomy and Earth science, as well as new space technologies and applications. According to the CMSA, China's space station is also a national space laboratory. It is equipped with scientific experiment cabinets, technological test cabinets and supporting systems inside its modules. The space station also has exposure experiment platforms, standard payload interfaces and large payload hanging points outside the modules to support scientific research, technological experiments and applications in various fields. The application details are available at www.cmse.gov.cn. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 66F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 66F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. CAP Director Christopher Curtis and IT Director Jay Bailey of the Attorney Generals Office help out with debris removal at a disaster relief station in Montpelier. HOUSTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Katherine Banks, president of U.S. Texas A&M University, is retiring immediately amid a controversy of a Black journalist's hire, university officials said on Friday. Chancellor John Sharp said on Friday that Banks submitted a resignation letter late Thursday and Mark A. Welsh III, a retired Air Force general and dean of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, will take over as acting president. The move came after the school's faculty senate passed a resolution on Wednesday to establish a panel to probe into the alleged mishandling of the hiring of Kathleen McElroy, an African American professor with the University of Texas and a former New York Times journalist. "At the faculty senate meeting Wednesday, President Banks denied knowing about the changes in the job offer but took responsibility for a flawed hiring process after a wave of national publicity suggesting McElroy, who has done research on diversity and inclusion, was a victim of 'anti-woke' hysteria and outside interference in the faculty hiring process," Sharp said in a press release. "The recent challenges regarding Dr. McElroy have made it clear to me that I must retire immediately. The negative press is a distraction from the wonderful work being done here," Banks wrote in her letter to Sharp one day later, saying she was stepping down immediately. Texas A&M announced in June it hired McElroy, a Texas A&M graduate, to lead its journalism program. The hire drew backlash across the Republican-led state over McElroy's previous work on diversity, equity and inclusion, policies aimed to boost groups historically underrepresented or discriminated against. The conditions of McElroy's one-year contract kept changing, and she ultimately turned down the offer, the Texas Tribune reported. Banks took office two years ago after a decade serving as vice chancellor and dean of engineering at Texas A&M. Public universities in Texas are now eliminating offices of diversity, equity and inclusion, to comply with a new state law that will go into effect in January. Texas A&M, a public research university, was founded in 1876 and became the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System in 1948. Guo Baojian, Defense Advisor of Mission of China to the African Union (AU), speaks during a reception marking the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 21, 2023. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) ADDIS ABABA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China and the African continent, under the umbrella of the African Union (AU), have vowed to strengthen the already fruitful military cooperation so as to realize their common aspirations toward securing peace and stability in Africa and beyond. This came during a reception marking the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday evening in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. The event brought together military representatives of different African countries, senior Ethiopian government officials, members of the diplomatic corps in Ethiopia, as well as representatives of the Chinese societies in Ethiopia. "Without security and stability there can be no development. As a constructive participant and active contributor to the cause of peace and security in Africa, China has continued to deliver military assistance to the African Union, supporting capacity building of the African Standby Force and jointly working on counter-terrorism," Guo Baojian, Defense Advisor of Mission of China to the AU, said during the ceremony. Guo stressed that the PLA is developing into a world-class military, which serves as a strong guarantee for the realization of the Chinese national rejuvenation and also for making greater contributions to world peace. "China has always been a peace loving nation. Under the guidance of the national defense policy, the PLA always honors its international responsibilities and plays an active role in maintaining world peace," he said. Guo said as part of its commitment to international peace, China is the second-largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget, and a top contributor of the peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Antonio Lamas Xavier, Chief of Staff of the African Standby Force (ASF), on his part echoed Guo's comments as he hailed the ever-expanding China-Africa military cooperation and fruitful partnership in promoting peace and security across the African continent. Xavier, in particular, underscored the growing cooperation and positive outcomes in the peace and security sector following the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). He stressed that the China-proposed Global Security Initiative (GSI), which aims to eliminate the root causes of conflicts and improve global security governance, is highly welcomed in Africa as it injects positive momentum towards strengthening continental security and development. Antonio Lamas Xavier, Chief of Staff of the African Standby Force, speaks during a reception marking the 96th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 21, 2023. (Photo by Michael Tewelde/Xinhua) BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China's lunar exploration program has taken a significant step forward with the launch of its moon landing mission, as recently announced by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The nation is actively developing rockets, spacecraft, and lunar landers, aiming to equip itself for landing astronauts on the moon by the year 2030. This ambitious undertaking demonstrates China's commitment to space exploration and its determination to achieve remarkable milestones in the realm of lunar exploration. MOON LANDING PLAN According to CMSA, China plans to launch two carrier rockets to send a lunar lander and a manned spacecraft to a lunar orbit, respectively. The spacecraft and lunar lander will rendezvous and dock with each other in the orbit, and thereafter, astronauts will enter the lander. As the lunar lander descends and arrives at the preset area on the lunar surface, astronauts will carry out scientific exploration and collect samples. After completing the planned tasks, astronauts will return to the lander, which will lift them back to the lunar orbit to dock with their spacecraft. In the final step, the spacecraft will send astronauts back to Earth with lunar samples. LONG MARCH-10 ROCKET The new carrier rocket Long March-10 is developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology under the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The Long March-10 is mainly developed for the purpose of sending spacecraft and moon landers into the Earth-moon transfer orbit, said Rong Yi, a rocket expert with the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The rocket uses liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen and kerosene as propellants. It has a total length of about 92 meters, a takeoff weight of about 2,187 tonnes, a takeoff thrust of about 2,678 tonnes, and a carrying capacity of no less than 27 tonnes for the Earth-moon transfer orbit. A non-booster configuration of the new rocket is capable of conducting missions for transporting astronauts and cargo to the space station. Its total length is about 67 meters, the takeoff weight is about 740 tonnes, the takeoff thrust is about 892 tonnes, and the low-Earth orbit carrying capacity is no less than 14 tonnes. The Long March-10 serves as strategic support for China for landing astronauts on the moon before 2030, and it is expected to start preparations for its maiden flight in 2027, Rong told Xinhua in a recent interview. NEW SPACECRAFT The trial version of China's new-generation manned spacecraft was successfully sent into space in May 2020 by a Long March-5B carrier rocket and returned to Earth. The new spacecraft adopts a modular design, consisting of an escape tower, a return capsule and a service module. It can meet the needs of near-earth and deep-space missions. According to an expert with the China Academy of Space Technology under the CASC, the developer of the spacecraft, it has an orbit mass of about 26 tonnes and can carry three astronauts. It will mainly be used to send astronauts to orbit around the moon and return to Earth. Unlike the three-module Shenzhou spacecraft, the new spacecraft has two parts. One is the return capsule, which is the command center of the whole spacecraft and the living quarter for the astronauts. The other is the service module, which is the energy and power center. The two-module structure makes the spacecraft flexible with more reusable parts. Based on the new spacecraft, China is also advancing the development of near-earth spacecraft designed to accommodate four to seven crew members, envisioning a promising future for space tourism in the country. LANDER AND ROVER The lunar lander weighs about 26 tonnes and consists of a lunar landing module and propelling module. It can bring astronauts down from the lunar orbit to land on the moon and send them back to the lunar orbit. The lunar lander is also able to conduct autonomous flight. After the lunar lander's arrival on the moon, astronauts will work on the lunar surface by using a lunar rover, which weighs about 200 kg and can carry two passengers. Astronauts will drive it to carry out lunar sampling and other lunar surface experiments within a range of 10 km. The lunar lander will also carry scientific payloads for exploration activities focusing on lunar geology and lunar physics, observation, space life sciences, as well as deep drilling on the lunar surface and utilization of lunar resources. In addition to the lunar rover, China also plans to develop a lunar mobile laboratory with large-scale mobile capability, which can realize long-term unmanned autonomous activities on the lunar surface and support astronauts to stay for a short time. Gunmen shot and killed the head of one of the World Food Programme's offices in southwestern Yemen on Friday, the humanitarian organisation said. No militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement, WFP said that Moayad Hameidi, a Jordanian, was shot by gunmen in the city of Taiz not long after he arrived in the country to assume the role as head of its office in that city. It added he died shortly after reaching a hospital. Hameidi was shot by two armed assailants on a motorbike, according to a statement issued by a local security committee on Friday. No further information was given. Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, also known by its acronym AQAP and believed to be one of the more dangerous branches of the al-Qaida terror network, is active in several regions in Yemen. Years of the country's civil war have allowed the militants to maintain a presence in several areas around Yemen. The war began in 2014, when the Iran-backed Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen and forced the government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war in early 2015 to try restore the internationally recognized government to power. Both the Houthis and the government condemned the attack in statements late Friday. Neither side accused anyone of being behind the killing. Taiz, the country's third-largest city, has been under a siege by the Houthis since 2016, as part of the brutal civil war. The blockade has severely restricted freedom of movement and impeded the flow of essential goods, medicine and humanitarian aid to the city's residents. A senior Yemeni security official from the government side said an investigation was underway. He declined to give his name as he was not authorised to talk to the media. Yemen's conflict has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and over the years turned it into a regional proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. More than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed. Oceans of Israeli flags, steady drumbeats, cries of Democracy! Water cannons, police on horseback, protesters dragged off the ground. For seven straight months, tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in the most sustained and intense demonstrations the country has ever seen. The protesters are part of a grassroots movement that rose out of opposition to a contentious judicial overhaul spearheaded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies. The overhaul calls for sweeping changes aimed at curbing the powers of the judiciary, from limiting the Supreme Courts ability to challenge parliamentary decisions, to changing the way judges are selected. While the government says the overhaul is needed to reduce the powers of unelected judges, protesters, who make up a wide cross section of Israeli society, say the overhaul will push Israel toward autocracy. With a key portion of the overhaul nearing a final vote early next week, protesters are vowing further days of disruption and calling for strikes and general unrest. Heres a look at why they are still protesting, months into the governments efforts: WHATS IN THE OVERHAUL? Netanyahus ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox religious allies say the package is meant to restore power to elected officials. Critics say it is a power grab fueled by various personal and political grievances by Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, and his partners, who want to deepen Israels control of the occupied West Bank and perpetuate controversial draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men. The proposals include a bill that would allow a simple majority in parliament to overturn Supreme Court decisions. Another would give parliament the final say in selecting judges. On Monday, parliament is expected to vote on a key bill that would prevent the Supreme Court from striking down government decisions on the basis that they are unreasonable. Proponents say the current reasonability standard gives judges excessive powers over decision making by elected officials. But critics say that removing the standard, which is invoked only in rare cases, would allow the government to pass arbitrary decisions, make improper appointments or firings and open the door to corruption. Protesters say Netanyahu and his allies want to change the law so they can appoint cronies to government posts and particularly so that they can fire the countrys independent attorney general, according to Amir Fuchs, a senior researcher at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank. Supporters see Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara as a bulwark against the overhaul. The measures make it more difficult to conduct oversight over arbitrary decisions of elected officials, said Yohanan Plesner, the institutes president. This is one chapter of a broader plan and program of the government to weaken the checks and balances. In a speech Thursday, Netanyahu dismissed accusations that the plan would destroy Israels democratic foundations as absurd. This is an attempt to mislead you over something that has no basis in reality, he said. WHY ARE THERE STILL PROTESTS? Netanyahus government took office in December and almost immediately unveiled its plans to weaken Israels Supreme Court. Protests sprang up in major cities, business leaders balked at the plan and, perhaps most critically, military reservists in Israels air force and other key units threatened to stop reporting for duty if it passed. The protests prompted Netanyahu to pause the overhaul in March and enter talks with opposition lawmakers. After talks broke down last month, Netanyahu announced in June the overhaul would move forward. Protesters accuse Netanyahu of changing tactics, but not his broader goals, by moving forward in a slower and more measured way in a bid to lull the protesters and dull their opposition. The government got smarter, said Josh Drill, a spokesman for the protest movement. They saw the fallout of trying to ram the overhaul through, and they decided instead to do it piece by piece. Protests have intensified as the coalitions efforts to make the overhaul into law have moved forward. On Tuesday, protesters crippled the citys main highway and blocked train stations, and thousands of people marched nearly 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem over the weekend ahead of Mondays vote. WHY ARE PROTESTERS SO DETERMINED TO PROTECT THE JUDICIARY? With a relatively weak system of checks and balances, the judiciary plays a large role in checking executive power in Israel. In the U.S. for example, Congress has two houses that operate independently of the president and can limit his power. But in Israel, the prime minister and his majority coalition in parliament work in tandem. That leaves the judiciary as the only check on governmental power, according to constitutional law professor Amichai Cohen. Israel also has minimal local governance and lacks a formal constitution. This means that most of the power is centralized in parliament, Cohen said. The basic laws foundational laws that experts describe as a sort of informal constitution can be changed at any time by a bare majority. With the overhaul, Cohen said, the Israeli parliament now threatens to further consolidate its power by weakening the judiciary. The government can do whatever it wants, because it controls the ability to change even the basic laws, Cohen said. Historically, the Israeli judiciary has played a role in protecting the rights of minorities, from Palestinian citizens of Israel to noncitizens and African asylum seekers, Cohen said. By weakening the judiciary, critics say, Israels government led by a male-dominated coalition whose members have advocated full annexation of the occupied West Bank, discriminating against LGBTQ+ people and Palestinian citizens of Israel, and limiting the rights of women will be granted near-total control. It will be a hollow democracy, said Fuchs. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Over the weekend, Israeli media reported that the countrys defense minister, Yoav Gallant, alarmed by the growing refusals to serve in the military, was pushing for a delay in Mondays vote. It was unclear if others would join him. If the reasonability bill is passed, it will mark the first major part of the legislation to become law. Fuchs predicted the law would be appealed to the Supreme Court. If the court strikes it down, Netanyahus coalition will have to decide whether to accept the ruling. That could set the stage for a constitutional crisis. In the meantime, the protests that have rocked the country for seven months will likely grow in intensity. Yemeni police on Saturday arrested two suspects in the killing of a senior World Food Program official the previous day, authorities said. Ten others were also detained for their alleged involvement in the killing of Moayad Hameidi, who had recently arrived in the country to take the post of the head of the World Food Program in the southwestern province of Taiz. Taiz police did not provide further details. On Friday, two gunmen riding on a motorbike shot Hameidi in the town of Turbah. He died shortly after reaching a hospital. The attackers fled the scene. Hameidi, a Jordanian, was the latest aid worker to be killed in Yemen, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014. He had just arrived in Taiz a few days ago to assume his role as head of the WFP office in the province. The loss of our colleague is a profound tragedy for our organization and the humanitarian community, said Richard Ragan, WFPs director in Yemen. Any loss of life in humanitarian service is an unacceptable tragedy. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year on the side of the government, and over the years, the conflict turned into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Houthis main foreign backer. Yemens conflict has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises and more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed. Taiz, Yemens third-largest city and the provincial capital, has been under a siege by the Houthis since 2016, as part of the countrys brutal conflict. The blockade has severely restricted freedom of movement and impeded the flow of essential goods, medicine, and humanitarian aid to the citys residents. In May 2021, an aid worker with the Oxfam charity died and another wounded when they were caught in crossfire in the countrys south. The Afghan Taliban has asked the Pakistan government to initiate another round of negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terror group, with a top leader in Kabul telling Islamabad that it should prefer peace over war, a media report said on Saturday. Pakistan's latest efforts aimed at seeking action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) by Kabul could not make headway, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Pakistan dispatched its special envoy to Kabul this week on a three-day trip to convey a clear message that Afghanistan's Taliban-led interim government will have to take decisive action against the TTP, blamed for a number of major terror attacks in the country. Ambassador Asad Durrani met with Afghanistans Acting Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and other officials during his trip. But the Afghan Taliban told him after a series of meetings that Pakistan should pursue the path of peace instead of the use of force, the newspaper reported. Official sources familiar with the closed-door engagements told the paper that the Afghan Taliban leadership was told in clear terms that Pakistans patience was wearing thin vis-a-vis the TTP. On the issue, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also at her weekly news briefing this week said: The issue of terrorism...is an issue of serious concern to Pakistan. And Pakistan has raised this issue with the Afghan authorities on multiple occasions and at every important engagement that takes place between Pakistan and the Afghan interim authorities." We have discussed the threat of terrorism emanating from the Afghan soil, she added when asked whether Ambassador Durrani took up the issue of cross-border terrorism with the Afghan authorities. But despite Pakistans insistence on action against the TTP, the Afghan Taliban government is not ready to go that path. The deputy Afghan prime minister suggested the Pakistani envoy to pursue the path of peace instead of the use of force, the report quoted sources as saying. They said it was evident that the Afghan Taliban was not interested in taking action against the TTP. Instead, Kabul once again asked Pakistan to start peace talks with the TTP. Pakistan has abandoned the peace process after the TTP stepped up attacks and took advantage of the earlier rounds of talks. The civil and military leadership decided that Pakistan would no longer seek talks with the TTP. But at any stage, if talks are needed those can only take place once the TTP surrenders. Pakistan has accused the Taliban government in Kabul of tolerating the presence of the banned TTP militants in the war-torn country. Pakistan has seen a significant increase in TTP attacks since the Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021. The Afghan acting prime minister Kabir asked Durrani if Pakistan should prefer peace over war, the report said. He said due to the bitter experience of wars in Afghanistan, he would advise Pakistan to take the path of negotiations instead. Kabir said he sees peace in Pakistan in the interest of Afghanistan and considers acts of violence there as a loss for Afghanistan and as a Muslim country Afghanistan does not want fighting and unrest in Pakistan. He assured the Pakistani envoy that the Afghan Taliban government had a policy of non-interference in the internal matters of other countries. He claimed that Afghanistan would not allow its soil to be used against any other country including Pakistan. The sources said Ambassador Durrani would brief the government on his return from Kabul and give his assessment. The sources said Pakistan is unlikely to accept the Afghan Taliban offer. The sources said Pakistan would devise its strategy keeping in view the input from the special envoy, reported The Express Tribune. Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been found "guilty of inciting attacks" on military installations, including the Lahore Corps Commander House, an anti-terrorism court was told by the government prosecutor on Friday. However, the ATC Lahore extended Imran Khan's pre-arrest bail in five terrorism cases till August 8. "A special prosecutor on Friday told the ATC that a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) of Punjab police completed its probe into the May 9 attacks on military and state buildings and found Imran Khan guilty of abetment and other terrorism charges," a court official told PTI. Mr Khan appeared before the court amid high security. Prosecutor Farhad Ali Shah said that Mr Khan is guilty of masterminding the May 9 attacks and his arrest is needed for collection of evidence. He said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief had led a campaign and incited the party workers against the Army before the May 9 attacks. That incitement led to the attack on the military installations, he said. ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan extended the pre-arrest bail of Mr Khan till August 8 and directed the prosecutor to come up with more arguments on the next hearing. Following the arrest of Imran Khan by para military Rangers unrest broke out in Pakistan on May 9 that saw torching and vandalizing of dozens of military and state buildings, including the Army headquarters in Rawalpindi and ISI building in Faisalabad. Police arrested over 10,000 workers of PTI and over 100 are being tried under the Army Act. Mr Khan denied masterminding or inciting the attacks stating that it was a well-planned conspiracy to oust its party from upcoming elections. The military establishment managed to carve out two political parties -- Istekham-i-Pakistan Party and PTI Parliamentarians -- of the PTI as dozens of its leaders joined the new parties. South Korean authorities have been inundated with reports of suspicious international packages for the second consecutive day, sparking concerns that these parcels may contain hazardous materials. According to a report from the Korea Herald, on Friday alone, police received a staggering 987 reports related to the delivery of dubious packages from abroad, with most originating from Taiwan, and similar reports have continued to pour in. In response to the mounting concerns, regional government authorities have issued emergency alerts, urging citizens not to open packages with unclear sender identities. They have also advised people to promptly report any suspicious international deliveries to the police or firefighters. What is in the packages? Upon inspection of most of these parcels, authorities discovered nothing more than lip balm or other inexpensive products, and some packages were even found to be empty. Nevertheless, in the wake of the incidents, police are considering launching an investigation, contingent on the results of substance analysis. While the possibility of terrorism seems low, authorities are taking precautions until all doubts are put to rest. The string of reports began on Thursday when a random package from Taiwan arrived at a welfare center for the disabled in the southeastern city of Ulsan. Unfortunately, three workers at the facility, who opened the package, experienced dizziness and difficulty breathing, leading to their hospitalization. Initial suspicion pointed to a toxic gas being responsible for their symptoms, but subsequent tests by a state-run defense research agency ruled out the presence of hazardous materials. In light of these incidents, authorities are looking into the possibility of a "brushing scam" where sellers on online shopping platforms send unordered products to people after unlawfully obtaining personal information. The scam is aimed at boosting sales and manipulating sellers' ratings on e-commerce sites. South Korean authorities have issued warnings for people to remain vigilant against suspicious international parcels, describing them as potentially yellow or black in color, with "CHUNGHWA POST" written on them. The sender information may indicate "P.O. Box 100561-003777, Taipei Taiwan." Upon further investigation, the Taipei Mission in South Korea found that these parcels were initially dispatched from China and subsequently arrived in South Korea after passing through Taiwan. Taiwanese customs authorities have conducted their own probe into the delivery route of the suspected packages and have cooperated closely with South Korean police and relevant agencies to address the issue. As the situation unfolds, authorities in South Korea are working diligently to ensure public safety and the timely resolution of the ongoing suspicious package incidents. Russia came under pressure at the UN Security Council on Friday from its ally China and developing countries as well as Western nations to avert a global food crisis and quickly revive Ukrainian grain shipments. Moscow was criticised by the UN and council members for attacking Ukrainian ports after pulling out of the year-old grain deal on Monday and destroying port infrastructure a violation of international humanitarian law banning attacks on civilian infrastructure. In response to Russia declaring wide areas in the Black Sea dangerous for shipping, the UN warned that a military incident in the sea could have catastrophic consequences. Russia said it suspended the Black Sea Grain Initiative because the UN had failed to overcome obstacles to shipping its food and fertilizer to global markets, the other half of the Ukraine grain deal. The Kremlin said it would consider resuming Ukrainian shipments if progress is made in overcoming the obstacles, including in banking arrangements. China's deputy UN ambassador Geng Shuang noted UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' commitment to make every effort to ensure that both Ukrainian grain and Russian food and fertilizer get to world markets. He expressed hope that Russia and the UN will work together to resume exports from both countries at an early date in the interest of maintaining international food security and alleviating the food crisis in developing countries in particular. US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield accused Russia of using the Black Sea as "blackmail and playing political games, pointing to Moscow's export of more grain than ever before at higher prices. She called on the Security Council and all 193 UN member nations to come together and urge Russia to resume negotiations in good faith. Several developing countries warned of the impact of the cutoff in Ukrainian grain shipments, which has already led to a rise in wheat prices. Gabon's UN Ambassador Michel Biang said the grain deal had avoided a spark in grain prices and calmed the risk of food insecurity in the drought-affected Horn of Africa and other regions. He urged talks to break the current deadlock and avoid a humanitarian crisis. Mozambique's UN Ambassador Pedro Afonso said Russia's action is certain to amplify global socio-economic stresses in a world already grappling with a perfect storm of conflict, climate change and a loss of confidence in multilateral solutions. Under the deal, Ukraine was given a green light to ship grain from three Black Sea ports, but following Monday's withdrawal Russia said it will consider a ship travelling to Ukrainian ports as being laden with weapons and will treat the country of its flag as a participant in the conflict on Kyiv's side. Ukraine announced that it will also treat ships travelling to Russian Black Sea ports as military targets. Thomas-Greenfield told the council the United States has information that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports and that Russia's military may attack civilian shipping in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks. UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo strongly condemned Russian attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports and urged Moscow to stop them immediately. She said threats to target civilian vessels are unacceptable and warned that sea mines can endanger civilian navigation. We strongly urge restraint from any further rhetoric or action that could deteriorate the already dangerous situation, she said. 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. Lao miners are facing layoffs after an influx of Chinese laborers at a potash mine in the central province of Khammouane. They complain that the ratio of 3,000 miners from China to only 100 Lao workers breaks an agreement that mine operators must hire more domestic workers than Chinese. The state-run Chinese mining outfit exports most of the key fertilizer ingredient back to China, which looms large over the economy of its small neighbor. Chinese mine operators say they import their own workers because Lao workers lack skills. Set up to block the cash flow to the junta, the Spring Development Bank will solely use cryptocurrency. Myanmars opposition National Unity Government held a soft launch Saturday of the Spring Development Bank, an online bank service and an important means to circumvent the military-controlled banking sector and raise funds to support the resistance to the junta. The Spring Development Bank will face many hurdles in the war-torn country, including hacking and other attacks from the military regime, but the tech-savvy institution will also lay the groundwork for Myanmars future financial system. Myanmars banking system grew considerably before the coup, but the sector was awash in non-performing loans. While many new banks emerged, many were tied to regime cronies and not professionally managed. There was a huge need for bank consolidation and recapitalization. The exception to this was in the mobile banking sector, which took off and became indispensable for small businesses and farmers. There are seven different mobile payment systems, though two, Wave Money and KBZ Pay, dominate the market. Immediately after the Feb. 1, 2021 coup, the junta briefly shut down mobile platforms because they were being used to channel donations to the civil disobedience movement, known as the Spring Revolution., and later to the opposition National Unity Government (NUG). But they were too important to the economy, and the regime allowed them to reopen, though with considerable oversight and monetary limits on transactions. The regime has worked to tie mobile accounts to registered SIM cards, closed tens of thousands of anonymous accounts, and increased personal information requirements. The junta has deployed uniformed military personnel to all banks to monitor any transaction over $40. The juntas control over the mobile banking system in particular curtailed the Spring Lottery, the NUGs first attempt to raise revenue. Not only was the Spring Lottery meant to raise a steady amount of funds on a monthly basis, it sought to deny the regime revenue from their own lottery. The real challenge: moving Funds The NUG has acknowledged raising over $150 million since the coup. It has rejected any involvement in illicit narcotics, despite the fact that they are pouring out of the country in record amounts. Though it dwarfs in comparison to the revenue of the junta, which gave itself a raise of 51 percent in FY2023 to $2.7 billion - its not insignificant either. The NUG has raised funds through the auction of military owned property and land preemptively seized under eminent domain, crypto bond sales, mining rights, and potentially shares in military-owned corporations. All of this possible through their FINTECH savvy. These are a leap of faith for any purchaser or investor. The bonds are zero coupon and will only be redeemed if the opposition wins. The property and corporate shares are theoretical: No construction or land transfer happens should the NUG fail to defeat the junta. But people are fueled by patriotism and a vitriolic hatred of the military. Myanmars mobile banking sector, which includes apps such as KBZPay, is critical for small businesses and farmers. Credit: RFA For the NUG, the harder task is moving raised funds through crypto currencies and turning it into usable resources to buy weapons and ammunition. The crypto bonds are issued in the Czech Republic, but the Prague government limits the NUGs access to the banking system. Aside from the militarys control over the banks, moving funds is not easy due to the post-9/11 international banking environment and the October 2022 Financial Action Task Force blacklisting that increases oversight on financial transactions in and out of Myanmar. In mid-2022, the NUG established a mobile wallet system, NUGPay, to try to circumvent the formal banking system. The app had mixed results. It required a network of licensed brokers, around the country and world, who could take foreign exchange or Kyat and turn it into the digital Myanmar Kyat (DMMK) tied to Tether, a U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin. While it made donations from overseas easier, widespread internet outages and the physical danger for licensed agents in Myanmar limited its use as a currency. Even being caught with the NUGPay app on ones phone can lead to a prison sentence. Despite the limitations, over $30 million in DMMK are currently in circulation. Full-service online banking To overcome the shortcomings of NUGPay, the NUGs Ministry of Planning, Finance and Investment developed a full-service online bank that will open in several phases, starting in August. The bank is legally registered in a third country (unnamed for security reasons) and is under the oversight of the NUGs interim Central Bank, which was established in June 2023. The Spring Development Bank (SDB) will provide for-profit banking services that include savings accounts, gold purchases, remittances, a long-term investment fund, and foreign currency exchange. It is accepting deposits in U.S. dollars, Singapore dollars, Thai baht and Myanmar kyat. It will expand its currency offerings to the Euro, pound, Japanese yen, and Korean won in the future. In its second phase, it will issue its own coin for investors and provide credit cards and a merchant payment system. As important, SDB will also serve as a one stop outlet for the purchase of bonds, lottery tickets, auctioned real estate, and in the future, shares in military-owned corporations. Thus it is a way for the NUG to raise funds in a regular and streamlined fashion, with proceeds going directly into NUG accounts. SDB has already received the attention of the military government. In June 2023, a Vietnamese IT company established a mirror site to the Spring Development Bank, using the same graphics and interface, an apparent phishing expedition to get the names and contact information of people trying to sign up, in order to arrest them and deter others. Hacking and disruption The NUG is expecting a concerted effort by the military government to hack into the bank and disrupt NUG finances. The bank is based on block-chain technology on the Polygon Network. SDB has a number of other hurdles, including getting widespread use when the military continues to shut down the internet in large swaths of the country. The goal is to have 100,000 customers within the first six months, and 500,000 within a year. The bank will have an important role for the provision of government functions. Union ministries will have accounts and be able to fund their operations at both the federal and local level; it will assist in tax collection, now being done in 32 of 330 townships. Most importantly, it will allow foreign donors, whether governments, NGOs, or multilateral economic institutions directly support the NUGs civil administration and provision of humanitarian aid. Spring Development Bank is legally registered in a third country and is under the oversight of the NUGs interim Central Bank. Credit: Screenshot from Spring Development Bank Facebook With the motto Real Bank. Real Freedom, the Spring Development Bank, is yet another tech savvy innovation from the National Unity Government that is laying the financial foundations for a protracted war. But its also laying the groundwork for the countrys future financial system. Myanmar-Now reported that with a diminished tax and revenue base, the military government has been forcing both state-owned and private banks and insurance companies to purchase bonds to fund the war effort, to the tune of up to $8 billion since the coup. That is a staggering figure, even if its less than reported. According to the World Bank, Myanmars GDP was $59.3 billion in 2022, 12 percent below the pre-coup figure. The junta has used its Central Bank as a piggy bank to support the war, not as an independent body to provide macroeconomic stability. It seems unlikely that the regime will ever fully redeem the bonds when they mature, leaving already distressed banks even further indebted. What should be assets on their balance sheets are nothing but liabilities, and the NUG has made clear that these issuances are illegal and will not be honored. That might make the Spring Development Bank, not just essential for the establishment of a federal democracy, it might also make it the most solvent bank in the country. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia. Eighteen political parties will compete in Cambodias parliamentary election on July 23 the countrys seventh national vote since the United Nations organized and ran the 1993 election two years after the Paris Peace Agreements. The National Election Committee in May ruled that two parties the main opposition Candlelight Party and the Khmer United Great Nation Party could not appear on the ballot, citing inadequate paperwork. The Candlelight Party is widely believed to be the only party that could have mounted a serious challenge to Prime Minister Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party, but its exclusion means the ruling CPP is expected to win the large majority and possibly all of the National Assemblys 125 seats. Even if it doesnt, most of the other parties are deferential to the CPP and Hun Sen. Many officials from the smaller parties have been appointed to the Supreme Consultative Council, an advisory body created by Hun Sen following the 2018 election to bolster his power with the appearance of multi-party support. Heres a look at every party on the ballot. _ Beehive Social Democratic Party: Radio station owner Mam Sonando founded the party in 2016. He had been a vocal critic of Hun Sens government, and his independent Beehive Radio station was once described by Human Rights Watch as a key platform for promotion of human rights and democracy. But after the 2018 election, the prime minister appointed Mam Sonando to the Supreme Consultative Council. Since then, the Beehive Party has repeatedly come out in support of the government. _ Cambodia Indigenous Peoples Democracy Party: The party was formed in early 2017 and is headquartered in Mondulkiri province. The president is Blang Sin, an ethnic Pnong who has participated in the Supreme Consultative Council. The party has not had an active campaign presence. _ Cambodian Nationality Party: Chaired by Seng Sokheng and first registered as a party with the Ministry of Interior in 2011, the party supports Hun Sens leadership and attacks opposition activists. It also participates in the Supreme Consultative Council, a body Hun Sen created. _ Cambodian Peoples Party: Originally known as the Kampuchean Peoples Revolutionary Party, it was formed in 1951 as part of Ho Chi Minhs Indochina Communist Party. Hun Sen is its president and has been in power in government since 1985. The party has listed his eldest son, Hun Manet, as a National Assembly candidate in Phnom Penh. Hun Sen has said that he wants Hun Manet to eventually succeed him as prime minister a transition that could happen soon after the election. _ Cambodian Youth Party: The party was founded in 2015 by Pich Sros, a former garment worker. Along with Funcinpec, it filed a complaint in 2017 against the Cambodia National Rescue Party then the countrys main opposition party that led to that partys dissolution. After the 2018 general election, Pich Sros was promoted to the rank of senior minister when he agreed to participate in the Supreme Consultative Council. He has been active in criticizing the opposition. _ Democracy Power Party: Formed in 2020 by Un Visethkun, the former vice president of the Cambodian Youth Party. The party praised and supported Hun Sens policies. In February, the party issued a statement supporting the governments decision to revoke the license of independent media outlet Voice of Democracy. _ Dharmacracy Party: Formed in 1998, party officials did not take any action until 2017. After the CNRP was dissolved, the party participated in the 2018 general election. Its president, Por Tey Savathy, and her husband, vice president Tan Chanphal, have been appointed to the Supreme Consultative Council. The party follows Hun Sens political line. _ Ekpheap Cheat Khmer Party: The party announced in 2022 that it had expelled its vice president, Un Chim a former Buddhist monk from California following accusations that he faked a voice message from Hun Sen. The acting president of the party at the time, Lak Sopheap, told reporters in January 2022 that the fake message was sent to party members in Cambodia and the U.S. as a way of attacking her and other party leaders. The contents of the message have not been revealed to reporters. The Ministry of Interior later recognized Un Chim as the partys new president. In February 2022, Un Chim expelled Lak Sopheap and another top official. _ Farmers Party: Established in 1988. The president is Meas Bo Pov, a former CPP member who has been connected to a number of public land disputes. The party follows Hun Sens political line. In May, it published a statement supporting the NECs decision to disallow the Candlelight Party from the election. _ Funcinpec: Formed in March 1981 as a resistance movement to the Vietnam-backed regime of the 1980s. It signed the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements and formed a coalition government with the CPP after the 1993 election. Internal conflicts and Hun Sens separatist strategy have weakened the party over the years. Nhek Bun Chhay of the Khmer National United Party was the partys secretary-general from 2006-2015. The current president is Prince Norodom Chakravuth, the grandson of the late King Norodom Sihanouk and the eldest son of the late Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who served as co-prime minister from 1993-1997. Most voters no longer associate Funcinpec with the countrys royalist past, especially after Ranariddhs decisions at various times over the years to align with the CPP. _ Grassroots Democratic Party: Formed in 2015 by a group of senior intellectuals, leaders and members of civil society. Its led by Yeng Virak, former president of the Community Legal Education Center, a Phnom Penh NGO that works on land issues. While some senior party officials have recently left to join the government, the party continues to criticize alleged violations of law and human rights committed by Hun Sens government, including the recent passage of an election law amendment that prohibits those who dont vote in this months elections from running for office in the future. _ Khmer Anti-Poverty Party: Led by Kravanh Daron, a Cambodian-American who worked as a social worker in the United States for 25 years. The party was registered by the Ministry of Interior in 2007. It declared non-recognition of the 2018 election results, citing the Supreme Courts ban on the main opposition party at the time, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Khmer Anti-Poverty Party officials have not participated in the Supreme Consultative Council. But last year, the Khmer Overseas Facebook page leaked several photos of Kravanh Daron posing with Hun Sen and Hun Manet. Its unclear how close Kravanh Daron is with the prime minister and his son. _ Khmer Conservative Party: The party was registered with the Ministry of Interior in 2019. It is led by former CNRP lawmaker Riel Khemrin. _ Khmer Economic Development Party: Headed by Huon Chanthon. Party officials have joined the Supreme Consultative Council and have issued a series of statements in support of Hun Sens policies. Last month, the party released a congratulatory letter to the CPP on the anniversary of its founding. _ Khmer National United Party: Formed in 2016, its president is Nhek Bun Chhay, a prominent Cambodian political figure and a former senior Funcinpec official. The party did not win a seat in the 2018 election, but Nhek Bun Chhay was given the same rank as a senior minister by participating on the Supreme Consultative Council. At the end of 2022, the Kampuchea Niyum Party, run by former CNRP lawmaker Yem Ponharith, announced its intention to join the Khmer United National Party for the 2023 election. _ Khmer United Party: Established in 2018 by Kem Rithisit, the younger brother of Kem Ley, a political commentator and social activist who was gunned down in Phnom Penh in 2016. Kem Rithisit joined the Supreme Consultative Council after the 2018 election. He resigned as party president at the end of 2020 but remains with the party as an honorary president. The Khmer United Party follows Hun Sens political line. _ People Purpose Party: Led by Ith Sarm, a former vice president of the League for Democracy Party (LDP), which won a few seats in the 2012 commune election and also participated in the 2013 general election but is not participating in this election. The LDP didnt contest the 2022 commune elections, citing threats against its members and a disagreement with the NEC over how votes are validated at polling stations. The party has not explained why its not contesting this years election. Ith Sarm is active on Facebook, where he discusses social and political issues as well as broadcast news programs. But since its inception in 2019, the People Purpose Party has done little to no work at building a grassroots presence. _ Women for Women Party: Established in 2019. The partys president is Soeung Sothy, a businesswoman in the tourism industry. It has only until recently become politically active. Kelly Herbinson, Co-Executive Director of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, speaks during an interview in Ventura, California, the United States, on July 18, 2023. The Joshua trees, an integral part of California's Mojave Desert landscape, with their characteristic spiky leaves and unique branches, are locked in a desperate battle for survival. Increasingly severe droughts driven by climate change, habitat fragmentation due to expanding residential and commercial real estate development, and heightened wildfires all pose dire threats to this iconic and enduring symbol of the U.S. West. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) by Julia Pierrepont III, Gao Shan LOS ANGELES, July 21 (Xinhua) -- The Joshua trees, an integral part of California's Mojave Desert landscape, with their characteristic spiky leaves and unique branches, are locked in a desperate battle for survival. Increasingly severe droughts driven by climate change, habitat fragmentation due to expanding residential and commercial real estate development, and heightened wildfires all pose dire threats to this iconic and enduring symbol of the U.S. West. "There are desert and arid ecosystems all over the planet facing similar issues, including in China," Kelly Herbinson, Co-Executive Director of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, told Xinhua in a recent interview, noting that the international community should work together to deal with climate change. She pointed out that as the effects of climate change become increasingly apparent, the collaboration of groups around the globe is also growing in importance. "I'm really looking forward to working with scientists all over the world who are dealing with similar issues and come up together with some solutions," she added, noting that "we don't have much time. Things are changing really fast and the species really is up against a difficult road ahead." Joshua tree is a species of desert Yucca plant that can tower up to 70 feet tall. They are considered one of the desert's most valuable "apartment buildings," hosting a variety of desert life that use them for shelter and food, including owls, woodpeckers, various birds, lizards, wood rats, moths and beetles - all important parts of the natural ecosystem. "Joshua tree is sort of ambassador species for our region," Herbinson explained. "It lives nowhere else on the planet but here in our desert region. And it is particularly sensitive to climate change." As mega-drought continues to take its toll, Joshua trees are under threat. But the desert's signature silhouette isn't going down without a fight and has found allies in lawmakers, philanthropic donors, community groups, and conservation groups, like the Mojave Desert Land Trust. The Mojave Desert Land Trust is a non-profit organization formed in 2006 by a group of devoted conservationists and donors dedicated to the protection and preservation of the ecologically diverse desert areas of California's 26-million acre Mojave Desert - especially the at-risk Joshua trees - and the Mojave's scenic and cultural resources that are under escalating threat from climate change and human activities. The organization achieves its goals through acquiring land and conservation easements, promoting awareness about desert conservation, collaborating with other organizations, serving as expert advisors to government officials, and engaging the public through educational programs and volunteer opportunities. Herbinson described the ailing Joshua trees as brown "Zombie forests," which are seemingly alive but struggling to survive and reproduce, with their natural vibrancy now reduced to mere hints of green. In response to these pressing concerns, California's legislature took a unique and pioneering approach to Joshua tree conservation last week. After a protracted debate and unsuccessful attempts to list the Joshua tree as an endangered species (an approach that met with resistance from business interests and solar farms), lawmakers formulated a more practical, compromise plan that balanced considerations for economic growth and the need for greater renewable energy development with ecological preservation. That plan, The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, has been passed into law in California. "We are thrilled to see that the state took steps and come up with a creative solution to a really difficult problem," Herbinson told Xinhua. The new legislation requires companies to secure a permit before they can cut down or relocate Joshua trees, providing a layer of protection that was previously nonexistent. It also mandates the creation of a conservation plan aimed at ensuring the Joshua trees' survival along with the establishment of a dedicated conservation fund derived from permit fees and fines levied for disturbing Joshua trees without a permit. As a frontrunner in environmental policies, California has long been a national leader in combating climate change, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and establishing legal protections for various habitats and species. Herbinson also pointed out that there are lots of ways that countries can work together to deal with climate change and mused that an international conservation summit might be the right place to get the ball rolling for effective people-to-people exchanges. "It's not just our leaders who need to talk. It's all of us who need to talk," she said, especially the people with their boots on the ground doing the hard work of conservation who go out every day to make it happen. "Around the world, we have so much to learn from each other. We would love to be partnering with groups in China to come up with innovative solutions to the similar problems confronting us all," Herbinson concluded. The undated photo shows Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert. The Joshua trees, an integral part of California's Mojave Desert landscape, with their characteristic spiky leaves and unique branches, are locked in a desperate battle for survival. Increasingly severe droughts driven by climate change, habitat fragmentation due to expanding residential and commercial real estate development, and heightened wildfires all pose dire threats to this iconic and enduring symbol of the U.S. West. (The Mojave Desert Land Trust/Handout via Xinhua) The undated photo shows Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert. The Joshua trees, an integral part of California's Mojave Desert landscape, with their characteristic spiky leaves and unique branches, are locked in a desperate battle for survival. Increasingly severe droughts driven by climate change, habitat fragmentation due to expanding residential and commercial real estate development, and heightened wildfires all pose dire threats to this iconic and enduring symbol of the U.S. West. (The Mojave Desert Land Trust/Handout via Xinhua) The undated photo shows Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert. The Joshua trees, an integral part of California's Mojave Desert landscape, with their characteristic spiky leaves and unique branches, are locked in a desperate battle for survival. Increasingly severe droughts driven by climate change, habitat fragmentation due to expanding residential and commercial real estate development, and heightened wildfires all pose dire threats to this iconic and enduring symbol of the U.S. West. (The Mojave Desert Land Trust/Handout via Xinhua) Kelly Herbinson, Co-Executive Director of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, speaks during an interview in Ventura, California, the United States, on July 18, 2023. The Joshua trees, an integral part of California's Mojave Desert landscape, with their characteristic spiky leaves and unique branches, are locked in a desperate battle for survival. Increasingly severe droughts driven by climate change, habitat fragmentation due to expanding residential and commercial real estate development, and heightened wildfires all pose dire threats to this iconic and enduring symbol of the U.S. West. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) I dont believe there is anything in the Cambodian water that is hostile to democracy. Radio Free Asia spoke with former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans on Wednesday, ahead of Sundays parliamentary election in Cambodia. Evans is the architect of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, which ended war in Cambodia and promised democratic freedoms and human rights. It led to the 1993 U.N.-sponsored election that was contested by multiple political parties. Thirty years later, Prime Minister Hun Sens relentless campaign to co-opt dissenting voices and effectively ban the main opposition Candlelight Party from participating in this years vote has been a shameless, disgraceful, indefensible development, Evans said. The response from the international community should lie in applying serious, systematic targeted sanctions against current Cambodian leaders and ruling elites, he said. As for opposition activists, Evans suggests to keep the flame alive and wait for the times and circumstances to change. Members of the Constitutional Council of Cambodia announce the disqualification of the Candlelight Party from the upcoming election in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, May 25, 2023. Credit: Cindy Liu/Reuters RFA: Cambodia will have an election next Sunday. And as you know, just a few weeks before the election, Hun Sen amended the election law banning those who fail to cast their ballot from running for office in the future. We want to hear your view on that. Gareth Evans: Well, obviously, the recent electoral law changes are shameless, disgraceful, indefensible. Its obviously designed to avoid any opportunity for a boycott. Not that boycotts have been very successful in the past, but its entirely consistent with the increasingly autocratic character of the Hun Sen regime. Weve seen this. Weve seen this play out so many times before in so many different ways. This is just the latest version of it, a complete crackdown on anything resembling decency, anything resembling decent democracy. Its a very, very unhappy development, but something that Im afraid weve become used to. RFA: Even though there are 18 political parties contesting the election, the main, credible opposition party, the Candlelight Party, has been banned by the National Election Committee, saying that it had failed to provide an original registration document. But as you know, this is an attempt from Prime Minister Hun Sens party, the CPP, to eliminate any possible opposition party in the election. Gareth Evans: Yes, weve seen this play before with the banning of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (in 2017). Weve seen it with the criminal proceedings against Sam Rainsy. Weve seen it with the criminal proceedings against Kem Sokha, and weve seen it now, of course, with the banning of the Candlelight Party. So, although notionally we have, as you say, a lot of small parties still contesting the election, the reality is that the only serious opposition to the CPP was the major parties of the major players, the major spokesmen, and they have been completely suppressed now by these measures. Again, I say with the rest of the world, this is shameless. This is disgraceful. This is indefensible. And its just a fundamental assault on democracy. And I cant understand anyone who cannot be very, very unhappy about that, particularly given the whole history of Cambodia and the efforts that we went to at the time of the peace settlement, the Paris Peace Accords, to entrench democracy and human rights in the Cambodian constitution and the Cambodian system. So its unfortunately been a very unhappy story ever since. Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans signs the 1991 Paris Peace Accord that ended the war in Cambodia. Credit: Eric Feferberg/AFP RFA: Even though this is an unhappy story, Hun Sen survives all the time. He lost the 1993 election. He managed to hold onto power as the second prime minister, and then he conducted a coup (in 1997) and chased out the first prime minister. As you know, five years ago he banned the CNRP from contesting the election. He won that election. The whole world refused to accept the election result as soon as the result was announced. But then the world has to work with him. Is it enough for the international community just to not accept the result of this sham election? Gareth Evans: No. I think the international community has to do more. In fact, when I think back on it, I mean, the real trouble started back in 1993 with that first election result, which was a demonstration of how much the Cambodian people really wanted democracy, really wanted to have a say in how they governed. But of course, Hun Sen refused to accept the election result then. We went along with his objections and allowed him to become the second prime minister. And the rest is history. So weve performed very badly as an international community all these years. And I think the solution is not in the multilateral organizations. I mean, people talk about reconvening the Paris International Conference and somehow, you know, getting the terms of the agreement re-enforced. But the most that could happen if that were to take place, would be simply to refer the issue back to the competent UN organs, back to the Human Rights Council. So we would just go around and around in circles, as you say, making occasional statements, occasional resolutions of international bodies, but nothing really happening. So, I think the solution lies essentially with individual countries, not so much the multilateral intergovernmental organizations, not the UN itself, not the Human Rights Council. I think it depends on individual countries applying quite serious sanctions. A member of Cambodias Grassroots Democratic Party distributes political campaign leaflets in Phnom Penh, July 4, 2023. Credit: Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP RFA: What would be your advice to opposition leaders and to the Cambodian people in general? How much longer can they continue to fight? And what would be your advice so that the effort can be sustainable? Gareth Evans: Well, of course, thats the situation at the moment. Its very bleak, Its very desolate and its very dangerous for opponents of the regime internally. And its difficult for me sitting comfortably in Australia to be telling, you know, people who are unhappy with the situation in Cambodia what to do. But all I can say is you just have to keep that flame alive. You have to keep that flame burning and wait for the times and circumstances to change. I dont believe there is anything in the Cambodian water that is hostile to democracy, thats in favor of authoritarianism, thats in favor of paternalism. I saw for myself in 1993 how badly how badly the people of Cambodia wanted a say in their own government, wanted a return to normality and decency. That spirit is there, and it just has to be quietly nurtured, supported by overseas countries like Australia and the United States, helping at the margins. Optimism is self-reinforcing. Pessimism is very self-defeating. And unless you believe the change can happen and will happen over time, then the change is never going to happen. You just have to go on believing in it and staying committed. And I know there are a great many decent Cambodians doing just that at the moment, and I wish them every possible success. Armenian police on August 8 detained more than a dozen protesters outside a government building in Yerevan after they demanded the authorities take steps to unblock the Lachin Corridor, the only road linking the Armenian-populated Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. The Interior Ministry said 14 people were detained for failing to comply with police orders but said they would be released soon. The protesters arrived at a government building in the morning and demanded authorities open the corridor, saying that if the government didn't do it, they wanted to be armed so that they could open it themselves. Yerevan and international aid groups have warned that a dire humanitarian situation has been unfolding in Nagorno-Karabakh since convoys of food and medicine have been blocked from reaching the region. The protesters, who said they were members of a military unit, said they intended to travel by bus to Kornidzor, a village on the border with Azerbaijan where trucks containing aid have been standing. The convoy of 19 Armenian trucks carrying emergency food aid to Nagorno-Karabakh has been blocked for almost two weeks at an Azerbaijan checkpoint. Tensions escalated after Azerbaijan last month suspended traffic through the checkpoint pending an investigation after it said "various types of contraband" had been discovered in the Red Cross vehicles coming from Armenia. Azerbaijan says it can only allow supplies to reach Nagorno-Karabakh over a road from Agdam, a town controlled by Azerbaijan in the east of the region. Ethnic Armenian authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh reject this offer, saying Azerbaijan's blockade is a violation of the Moscow-brokered 2020 cease-fire agreement that placed the 5-kilometer-wide strip of land under the control of Russian peacekeepers. A delegation led by staff members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier on August 8 visited the site in Armenia's southern Syunik Province where the 19-truck convoy has been stranded. Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasian accompanied visiting U.S. officials Sarah Arkin and Damian Murphy. The United States and the European Union have urged Azerbaijan to allow humanitarian supplies to reach Nagorno-Karabakh over the Lachin Corridor. A group of United Nations experts on August 7 voiced alarm over the ongoing blockade. "The blockade of the Lachin Corridor is a humanitarian emergency that has created severe shortages of essential food staples including sunflower oil, fish, chicken, dairy products, cereal, sugar and baby formula," said a statement published on the website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller on August 7 reiterated that a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan was achievable "despite any comments from other countries who are not a party to this matter." Miller was commenting on a warning from Russia to both sides against rushing into the signing of a peace agreement. "I dont want to speak with respect to Russia when it comes to Armenia and Azerbaijan," Miller said. "I want to speak with respect to those two countries...[that] are direct parties in this dispute." He said a U.S. special envoy traveled to the region last week to engage directly with Armenia and Azerbaijan. With reporting by AFP Pavel Gubarev, an associate of Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), the former military commander of Moscow-backed separatists in Ukraine who was sent to pretrial detention following his criticism of President Vladimir Putin, was briefly detained by security forces in Moscow on July 21 after picketing the Meshchansky district court building to demand Girkin's release. The Meshchansky court on July 21 sent Girkin to two-month pretrial detention on an extremism charge for criticizing Putin and senior military officials for what he said was their ineffective war campaign in Ukraine. Girkin entered a plea of not guilty. Girkin was sentenced in absentia to life in prison by a Dutch court in November in the case of the 2014 shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 over Ukraine in which all 298 people on board died. He was also placed on a sanctions list by Western countries. Russia has denied any involvement in the shooting down of the plane. Gubarev, who used to be the self-styled governor of the separatist-held part of Ukraine's Donetsk region, was taken away by police while talking to the media about Girkin's case. Gubarev's detention prompted a group of his and Strelkov's supporters gathered outside the courthouse to chant "Freedom" and "Shame." Gubarev was released an hour later after which he said he was lectured by authorities about the illegality of picketing. Two other people -- a girl holding poster reading "Strength in truth" and a young man who displayed the slogan "Freedom to Strelkov" on his smartphone -- were also detained by police outside the court. Their fate was not immediately known. As self-styled governor, Gubarev survived an assassination attempt back in 2014. Girkin was a key commander of Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region in 2014 where Gubarev was the Moscow-installed governor. Girkin also helped Russia illegally annex Ukraine's Crimea that year. His arrest appears to indicate he has fallen out of favor with the Kremlin despite previously being seen as untouchable given his background. A former officer of Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Girkin was reportedly involved in the early 1990s in the Transdniester and Bosnia wars, where he is said to have fought on the side of Russian and Serb separatists, respectively. Girkin, who as a military blogger has strongly backed Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has sharply criticized Putin, recently referring to him as a nonentity and a cowardly mediocrity. He lashed out also at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for "mistakes" in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, accused him and Putin of "incompetence," and argued that a total mobilization is needed for Russia to achieve victory. In one of his harshest rants, Girkin said in a July 18 post on his official Telegram channel that Putin should transfer power "to someone truly capable and responsible." The post has garnered almost 800,000 views. With reporting by Meduza, TASS, Interfax, Mediazona, RBK, RFE/RL's Russian Service, and AFP Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told a large audience in central Romania on July 22 that the Foreign Ministry in Bucharest has given him a list of sensitive topics he should avoid in his public addresses at an annual event held by leaders of Romania's Hungarian minority in Transylvania. Orban last year triggered a wave of international criticism after a speech at the same event in Baile Tusnad in which he warned against mixing with "non-Europeans." His words at the time were harshly criticized by the United States, the European Parliament, and Jewish community representatives. "Every year, choosing what our topics for discussion should be causes headaches," Orban told an audience of several thousand mostly ethnic Hungarians on July 22. "I understand that this year Romania's Foreign Ministry came to our help and told me what I have permission to talk about and what not, and what I should avoid," he said. "They told us all this in an official document, I am letting you know." Orban, who has been in power since 2010, has been at odds with the European Union, of which Hungary is a member, over Brussels' concerns about a democratic backslide and corruption in his country, which the European Parliament last year classified as an "electoral autocracy." Orban, who touts himself as a defender of Christian values, has also been at odds with the EU over Hungary's hard-line anti-immigration policies and LGBT rights. He has also had disagreements with the bloc over his government's refusal to send arms to Ukraine. Orban has been against the EU's imposing sanctions on Russia and has kept warm relations with President Vladimir Putin. Orban said that among the topics the Romanian Foreign Ministry letter listed as not permitted for discussion were minorities' rights, national symbols, and presenting Western values in a bad light. "Western values are migration, LGBT [rights], and war. We do not have to put them in a bad light, since they themselves do that," Orban said, to the applause of the audience. Romania's ethnic Hungarian minority numbers some 1.2 million, or 6 percent of the total population, and it is mostly concentrated in three districts in the central part of the country. Orban claimed that Hungary's upcoming EU presidency in the second half of next year would be critical for Romania's being finally admitted in the Schengen free travel zone. However, there has been discussion about Brussels delaying Hungary's rotative EU presidency due to its backsliding on democracy. Furthermore, approval of the accession of a country into the Schengen zone must be given unanimously by all the other 26 members of the group. With reporting by g4media.ro DERZHAVINSK, Kazakhstan -- The hands of a clock located near the central square of Derzhavinsk are stuck at 15 minutes to four, adding to the sense that time has frozen in this town in northern Kazakhstan. Derzhavinsk's streets have retained their Soviet-era names, and the town has witnessed little progress since its days as a closed military settlement that hosted the USSR's 38th Strategic Rocket Forces Division. Today, its population of some 6,000 people is only around one-fifth of its Soviet-era total, and many complain about the town's beaten roads and ailing infrastructure. "Look what kind of work we have," local resident Yelena Khabarova told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service. "We're either selling things or driving taxis. We're not living. We're just surviving." But in recent weeks, residents have had something else to talk about after the local authorities proposed renaming the town after a Kazakh khan, or leader, who led the armed resistance against Russian imperial forces in the 19th century. The proposal has divided neighbors in the ethnically mixed town and forced the authorities to put the brakes on the idea. Derzhavinsk takes its name from the Russian word "derzhava," which means "power," often in the form of a country or an empire. It was founded in 1956 and gained city status a decade later. On June 19, Derzhavinsk residents gathered at a local hall and voted 192-125 in favor of renaming the town Kenesary, in honor of the Kazakh leader who led the largest uprising against Russian rule in Kazakh territory before he was killed in 1847. The move came as Astana looks to distance itself from Russia in the wake of the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and after Russian public figures and politicians have publicly questioned Kazakhstan's sovereignty over its northern provinces, which border Russia and boast sizeable ethnic Russian minorities. Like other democratic exercises in Kazakhstan, the legitimacy of the ballot in Derzhavinsk was soon called into question. Sergei Yerin, a former town mayor and influential businessman, blamed the local authorities for stirring tensions. Ethnic Russians and other Slavic residents opposed to the name change have begun a campaign against the proposal. "There was a small announcement in the local newspaper that the question of renaming the town would be raised. The bulk of those who came to the gathering thought there would be a discussion about whether it was necessary to rename it and what options there were," Yerin told the Kazakh Service. "It is necessary to listen to the people. They are, for the most part, conservative in a good way: They don't like sudden moves and extravagant antics." 'We Forget Our Own Names' But there is strong support for the proposal among many ethnic Kazakhs. Tolegen Ibraev, who moved to Derzhavinsk when he was 10, said locals had forgotten their traditions. He claimed that opponents of the name change "need neither a history nor a homeland." "We not only forget the names of areas and villages, we forget our own names," the 77-year-old told the Kazakh Service, adding that some ethnic Kazakh residents had adopted Russian names. Ibraev, one of the chief supporters of the proposal, said there was popular demand to rename Derzhavinsk after Kazakhstan gained independence in 1991. But he said that "old policies," in reference to the country's close ties with Russia, had made it impossible. Local authorities say half of the town's population is ethnic Kazakh and the rest is made up of "other nationalities," including ethnic Russians. Yekaterina Chibikova, a cook at a local cafe, blamed the renaming initiative on rising nationalism. "I don't know why so much is about nationality these days. I don't know where it all came from. It didn't used to be this way. There are people who write openly that there shouldn't be anything left of your Russian. Why is this?" she told the Kazakh Service. But Amangeldy Suleimeinov, a proponent of the name change, said giving the town a new name was an important way of correcting historical injustices. "Under Soviet rule, no one asked us what to name the town. Now, after we have become a separate state, in my opinion, the names of cities should be Kazakh," he told the Kazakh Service. With feelings running high, Derzhavinsk officials insisted nothing was final regarding the town's name. Dosbol Seitbek, the town's deputy mayor, said the vote was a "trial balloon" and that the renaming process had just begun. "We wanted to listen to the opinion of the people and see what the reaction would be. We didn't think it would be like this. Let's see. There is a leadership above us. We will talk with them and decide what to do," he said in an interview with the Kazakh Service. In the meantime, a petition against the proposed name change has received nearly 400 signatures, according to Derzhavinsk activist Galina Rozhkovskaya, who has spearheaded the campaign. Khan Of Controversy While Derzhavinsk is a name that carries unwanted colonial associations for many ethnic Kazakhs, Kenesary is hardly a neutral political figure. Known as the last khan of the Kazakhs, Kenesary was the grandson of Ablai Khan, who is regarded by Kazakh historians as the last leader to rule over the Kazakh khanate before it was annexed by the Russian empire in the 18th century. The resistance led by Kenesary Khan against Russian rule was grueling, according to Astana-based historian Zhambyl Artykbaev, who has lent his expertise to the initiative to rename Derzhavinsk. Artykbaev hailed Kenesary, who has been feted with statues across Kazakhstan, as a "national figure" for Kazakhs. Rozhkovskaya, the activist, stressed that she and others are not against Kenesary, who she said defended "our Kazakhstan" from "some kind of forces" in "bygone times." But Kenesary's armed resistance did not occur "in this area, or [even] close to Derzhavinsk," said Rozhkovskaya. Artykbaev, the historian, disagreed and said that Kenesary is relevant to Derzhavinsk's history because the khan targeted and burned many Russian fortifications in northern Kazakhstan. Artykbaev said that when Kenesary's forces were beaten back, they retreated to areas that are part of modern-day Zharkain district, of which Derzhavinsk serves as the administrative center. "If Kenesary had not solidified [his forces in Zharkain], the Russians would not have built a fortification there," Artykbaev said. "[The Russians] want history to begin with this fortification in 1848. But our history goes back to ancient times. I'm telling you, even that [Russian] fortification was built on the remains of a medieval city." Kenesary was killed in what is now modern-day Kyrgyzstan. Historical accounts suggest his head was cut off and sent to the Russian authorities in the Siberian city of Omsk as a trophy. In 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Kazakhstan's former president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, that he would assist in the retrieval and return to Kazakhstan of Kenesary's remains. Aya Reno and Timur Aitmukhanbet of RFE/RL's Kazakh Service also contributed to this report. KYIV -- Ukrainian troops struck an oil depot and an ammunition warehouse of the Russian Army in Russian-annexed Crimea, the Ukrainian military's communications department confirmed on July 22. The Moscow-installed governor of the region, Sergei Aksyonov, said a Ukrainian drone blew up an ammunition depot on the peninsula, prompting the evacuation of people in a 5-kilometer radius and the brief suspension of rail traffic on the Crimea Bridge, which had been struck by at least two explosions earlier this week, when two people were killed and road traffic was halted temporarily. The Russian Health Ministry was quoted by news agencies as saying at least 12 people required medical assistance, with four taken to the hospital. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here. The reports, which could not be independently confirmed, came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on July 22 that the Crimea Bridge was a legitimate target because it was a military supply route for Russia. Meanwhile, Russian shelling and air strikes on Ukrainian civilian areas and grain export infrastructure have killed at least seven people, including two children, and caused massive material damage over the past 24 hours, military and regional officials said on July 22. The Russian Army launched 16 cruise missiles and more than 20 air strikes on Ukrainian positions and populated areas, the General Staff of the Armed Forces said in its daily report. In the eastern region of Donetsk, where heavy fighting has been taking place for months, Russian shelling killed four people, including two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 16-year-old girl, regional Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said on July 22. Kyrylenko said the two siblings died when one of the shells fired by Russian troops hit the courtyard of their house. An elderly woman was also wounded and hospitalized, Kyrylenko said. In the northern region of Chernihiv, two elderly women were killed when a Russian missile struck their village, regional Governor Vyacheslav Chaus said. In the village of Nyu-York, some 40 kilometers south of Bakhmut, four civilians, including a couple, were killed and one woman was wounded by Russian shelling, Kyrylenko said. The military also said grain storage facilities in southern Ukraine were damaged and more than 70 civilian residential buildings and other infrastructure were destroyed or damaged. In the northeastern Sumy region, one person was killed early on July 22 in the Russian shelling of Krasnopyl village, the regional military administration reported. Separately, Ukrainian air defense said on July 22 that it had shot down five Iranian-made kamikaze drones overnight. The previous day, missile strikes pounded Ukrainian Black Sea port installations for the fourth day in a row, setting grain storage facilities in the Odesa region on fire and destroying huge amounts of food stored for export. "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," regional Governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. Russia on July 21 said its navy had carried out a live-fire "exercise" in the northwest Black Sea just days after the Kremlin said 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 on Telegram. Zelenskiy met on July 21 with military commanders to discuss the situation at the front and about the grain initiative. 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 -- made by both Russia and Ukraine -- about the potential targeting of civilian vessels in Black Sea waters are unacceptable. China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Geng Shuang, called on both Russia and Ukraine to quickly resume grain exports after Russia's withdrawal from the deal. Zelenskiy on July 22 spoke by phone with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg about Moscow's decision to terminate the Black Sea grain deal and Kyiv's relationship to NATO. Stoltenberg tweeted after the call that "we strongly condemn Moscows attempt to weaponize food. Allies stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes & following NATO Summit, Ukraine is closer to NATO than ever before." Zelenskiy tweeted that the two discussed measures to restart transport of grain across the Black Sea and "further actions regarding the integration of Ukraine into NATO." On the battlefield, Russian forces are relentlessly attacking Ukrainian positions in Donetsk and another eastern region, Kharkiv. "The enemy continues to focus its main efforts on Kupyansk [Kharkiv region], Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka [Donetsk region], where 40 close combat battles were fought over the past 24 hours," the General Staff said on July 22. Ukrainian forces are continuing their counteroffensive in the Melitopol and Berdyansk directions in the southern region of Zaporizhzhya, the military said, without providing further details. Also on July 22, the Russian military said Rostislav Zhuravlev, a war correspondent working for state-run RIA Novosti news agency, died during shelling by Ukrainian forces in Russian-occupied Ukraine in the Zaporizhzhya region. Russian authorities claimed cluster munitions were used in the shelling, although the situation could not be independently confirmed. Ukraine did not comment. With reporting by AP and Reuters LILONGWE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera has granted a pardon to the country's former Minister of Information and Communications Technology Henry Mussa on poor health grounds, authorities announced Friday. Mussa, a former Cabinet Minister in the previous Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government, had been serving a nine-year jail term after being convicted of conspiracy to steal and for receiving stolen property. Minister of Homeland Security Kenneth Zikhale Ng'oma confirmed to the local media about the president's pardon, saying that the development is "part of a broader initiative" that includes ten other chronically ill inmates who have also received clemency. Chimwemwe Shaba, spokesperson for the Malawi Prison Service, welcomed this development and said the move will alleviate the plight of inmates whose health was at stake. "The President's gesture seeks to foster a spirit of mercy and compassion in the country's justice system, while giving priority to the well-being of those inmates with vulnerable health conditions," the spokesperson said. The former minister was convicted in October last year together with former Director of Information Gideon Munthali after being found guilty of stealing 10 computers and a stand-by generator belonging to the government. SHELBY Will the City of Shelby allow designated outdoor places for the consumption of alcohol? The issue of Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas in the downtown may be resolved by a City Council vote on Aug. 7. State law defines a DORA as a specified area of land that a local legislative authority (city council or township trustees) has designated as exempt from certain open container provisions. Local governments must approve the usage of such places. Shelbys current city ordinances do not allow for DORAs. Council is considering the repeal of of Section 612.11, which states No person shall consume any beer or intoxicating liquor upon any street or other public way or upon any public land. Eliminating the local ordinance would allow the city to create a DORA if it chose to do so. Council member Steven McLaughlin first brought forth the proposed action during the July 3 council meeting where it passed its first reading, 3-1. This would help (Shelby) to move towards creating a DORA within our community as well. Ohio legalized the creation of DORAs in 2015. Repealing the section would not trump the Ohio Revised Code, which already has rules in place regarding consumption of alcoholic beverages in public spaces. The language up for repeal all lies within the Ohio Revised Code, the difference being that state law would allow exceptions for designated DORAs or properly licensed public events. Really, its just pulling that redundancy out, said Jessica Gribben, economic development liaison for the city of Shelby. It opens up that opportunity should we ever seek to pursue it in the future. Gribben said pursuing a DORA is one case which has sparked on-going efforts, should residents of the city have interest. She said that DORAs are a business-friendly opportunity. Weve spoken with several local businesses that are interested, she said. Other nearby communities that currently have designated DORAs include Ashland, Crestline, Marion, Norwalk, Tiffin and Bucyrus. The issue passed its second reading during Mondays meeting and is set to be voted on Aug. 7. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration on Saturday jointly issued a yellow alert for mountain torrents in some areas. From 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday, mountain torrents are expected to occur in parts of Inner Mongolia, Jilin and Heilongjiang, according to the alert. Local authorities are advised to strengthen real-time monitoring, flood prevention and early warning, and evacuate residents when necessary. China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. Biggest Foreign Currency Seizure Customs Dept Foils Massive Currency Smuggling Attempt at Terminal 3, Tajik Nationals Apprehended In a major breakthrough, the Customs Department at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport seized the largest consignment of foreign currency to date, with notes worth over 10 crores rupees confiscated from three Tajik citizens. The remarkable seizure took place at Terminal 3 on July 21, leading to the arrest of the individuals who were attempting to fly to Istanbul. The Apprehended suspects, identified as three Tajik nationals, were found carrying a substantial amount of foreign currency concealed within their luggage. The impressive haul included 7,20,000 US dollars and 4,66,200 Euros, making it a total equivalent of 10 crore rupees in Indian currency. Advertisement A senior official from the customs department disclosed that one of the arrested individuals is a minor, raising further concern over the involvement of underage individuals in such illegal activities. The foreign currency was ingeniously hidden inside the shoes kept within the luggage, a cunning attempt to evade detection. The meticulous operation by the customs officials led to the successful discovery and confiscation of the illicit foreign notes, thwarting an apparent attempt to smuggle a massive sum of money out of the country. The arrest of the three Tajik citizens underscores the severity of the matter and serves as a warning to potential smugglers and individuals involved in financial malpractices. Notably, Officials are now conducting a comprehensive investigation into the matter to determine the exact purpose behind the smuggling attempt and whether the individuals were part of a larger network. CM Bhagwant Mann CM Bhagwant Mann Leads Farewell for 72 Principals Embarking on Education Enrichment Program In a significant initiative to enhance the quality of education in government schools, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of Punjab bid farewell to 72 principals as they embarked on a journey to Singapore for a specialized management training program. The event was graced by Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains and Punjab School Education Board Chairperson Satveer Bedi, who also extended their best wishes to the principals. The 72 selected principals from various government schools in Punjab will undergo an intensive 5-day training at the prestigious Singapore Academy, scheduled from July 24 to July 28. The primary objective of the program is to equip the principals with advanced management skills and innovative teaching methodologies that can be applied to benefit students and staff upon their return. Advertisement Expressing his enthusiasm for the initiative, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann stated, "Our commitment to providing high-level education in Punjab is taking another significant step forward today. This batch of 72 principals marks the third group of educators sent for training in Singapore. We aim to provide world-class education to the children of Punjab, and this endeavor is aligned with that vision. Just as we took students to witness the landing of Chandrayaan-3 at ISRO, we are now empowering our principals with global knowledge and best practices." Highlighting the potential of Punjab's students, Chief Minister Mann added, "Our children possess immense talent; they simply need the right nurturing and guidance. Notably, 93% of the principals selected for this training are embarking on their first foreign trip, and we are dedicated to providing them with all necessary support in their chosen fields." The Punjab government has previously organized similar training programs for principals of various schools, underscoring its commitment to elevating the standard of education in the state. Authorities are optimistic that this training will lead to positive changes in school education and result in improved academic outcomes. Advertisement On another note, the Chief Minister addressed concerns regarding the broadcasting of Gurbani (Sikh religious scriptures). He clarified that the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib had not specified any particular channel for Gurbani broadcasting in his letter. Chief Minister Mann raised questions about the motives behind the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) sending a request letter solely to a specific channel, hinting at a potential attempt to monopolize broadcasting rights. Responding to the Governor's declaration of the Legislative Assembly session as unconstitutional, Chief Minister Mann defended the decision and stated, "We called this meeting after consulting constitutional experts, and we do not engage in reckless actions." Taking a swipe at the opposition, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann humorously remarked, "Congress has declared themselves as the opposition party, and I wish they remain in the opposition forever." Rihana Sambial 10-Year-Old Prodigy from Jammu Conquers 3,776-Meter High Summit, Making India Proud In a remarkable feat, 10-year-old Rihana Sambial, a first-class student from Jammu, has achieved an extraordinary milestone by conquering the renowned Mount Fuji in Japan. Rihana's triumphant ascent of the majestic 3,776-meter high peak not only brought fame to the region of Jammu and Kashmir but also filled the entire nation with immense pride. The young mountaineer embarked on her challenging expedition to Japan alongside her father, Dr. Praguna Sambial, last month. Setting her sights on Mount Fuji, Rihana commenced her daring ascent on July 2. The significance of this date was not lost on her family, as it marked exactly 5 years since her elder brother's successful climb of the same iconic mountain. Advertisement Rihana's determination and tenacity were evident as she battled the treacherous terrain, enduring harsh weather conditions, and overcoming physical challenges that mountaineers face during such expeditions. With unwavering determination, she pushed herself to the limit to accomplish her ambitious goal. Accompanied by an Indian tricolor, Rihana Sambial planted the national flag atop Mount Fuji, symbolizing her dedication and love for her country. This patriotic gesture was met with appreciation and admiration not only from fellow climbers but also from admirers back home in India. Dr. Praguna Sambial, a proud father, expressed his joy and pride at his daughter's exceptional achievement. He spoke about the immense support and training Rihana received from her family and mentors, which played a crucial role in her success. Rihana's extraordinary feat has not only brought honor to her family but has also set an inspiring example for young mountaineers across the country. Singapore Law & Home Minister Orders Thorough Probe into Workplace Harassment & Discrimination Claims The Singaporean authorities have launched an investigation into allegations of racial discrimination and workplace harassment made by a late Indian-origin police officer, Uvarja Gopal (36), who was found unconscious and later declared brought dead at the Yishun residential complex. In response to these serious allegations, Law and Home Minister K Shanmugam has instructed the police to thoroughly probe the matter. Expressing his heartfelt condolences to Gopal's family, Minister Shanmugam took to Facebook on Friday evening to address the issue. He revealed that the officer had made a post on social media, claiming to have faced racial discrimination during his tenure in the Singapore Police Force (SPF). The minister stressed that the allegations were grave and needed to be thoroughly investigated. Advertisement "The officer had put up a post on social media in which he said, among other things, that he had faced racial discrimination in the Singapore Police Force (SPF). These and other allegations are serious," wrote Minister Shanmugam in his Facebook post. According to the officer's post, he not only faced racial discrimination but also encountered a hostile work environment. While the original post has since been removed, it was reposted on Reddit, and several screenshots have circulated online, drawing attention to the issue. In his social media post, the late officer also mentioned seeking help but not receiving any support. The specific details and circumstances surrounding the alleged incidents of racial discrimination and harassment at the workplace have yet to be disclosed. Advertisement As investigations into the officer's death continue, the authorities are providing support to his grieving family during this difficult time. Minister Shanmugam's directive to launch a comprehensive investigation reflects the Singaporean government's commitment to addressing issues of discrimination and promoting inclusivity within its institutions. A staff member inspects the micro module room in Guian Data Center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province, on May 23, 2023. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) GUIYANG, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Deep in the mountains of southwest China's Guizhou Province, there is a wild fruit called Cili, meaning thorn pear. The healthy fruit is rich in vitamin C and has the Latin name Rosa roxburghii. The province's good ecological environment has encouraged the growth of various special, flavorful foods. With digitalized processing and sales, local products such as Cili that were once difficult to sell from the mountains have been able to reach a wider market. In a 5G Cili juice-processing smart factory in Guiding County, the process that encompasses washing, squeezing, static settlement, juice packaging and sales is visible in real time on a big screen. Wang Hai, a manager in charge of the factory's informatization, said the facility is equipped with 26 5G base stations that cover the entire factory. "The 5G smart factory has effectively solved previous problems, such as untraceable food production and the loose monitoring of energy consumption," Wang said. Through the smart factory, production capacity has increased five times, Wang added. As the country's first national big data comprehensive pilot zone, Guizhou Province has been promoting the big data industry as a backbone of its development, with a number of enterprises riding the waves of digitalization. In the computer room of China Unicom's cloud data center in the Guian New Area, servers hum around the clock. This aerial photo taken on May 23, 2023 shows the Guian data center of China Unicom in Guian New Area, southwest China's Guizhou Province. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) Liang Ming, a manager at the center, said they have had more than 20 clients, including the Kweichow Moutai Group. Supported by the data center, the group's e-commerce app "iMoutai" has more than 40 million registered users. Consumers can scan a QR code to obtain ingredient information and learn about liquor-making processes, creating a sense of engagement, according to He Guangju, a liquor industry digitalization expert at China Unicom. Song Hongbin is the chairman of a local liquor maker, one of the center's clients. "We trust professional partners to do professional things," said Song, noting that the 5G intelligent network has helped expand sales channels through digitalization. Song said the company will gradually create and improve the use of big data in raw material procurement, production and brewing, equipment management, energy management, marketing and other business areas. The company will also continue to deepen cooperation with telecommunication services suppliers to help enterprises make scientific decisions and achieve quality and efficiency through the data, he added. Although Mahindra had carried out extensive changes to Roxor, FCA has been insisting that the off-roader still violates design trademark rules In a positive development from Mahindras perspective, the Eastern District Court of Michigan has lifted the ban on production, sales and distribution of post-2020 Roxor in the United States. Information about the court ruling was published in a regulatory filing submitted by Mahindra. The court ruling unlocks opportunities for Roxor in other international markets as well. However, it is not yet known how FCA is looking to respond to these latest developments. It is possible that FCA may file an appeal in a higher court. For now, post-2020 Roxor has gotten the green signal in the United States. Safe distance rule rejected by court Launched in 2018 in the United States, Mahindra Roxor had gained significant fan following among off-road enthusiasts and farming communities. The original version had quite a few similarities with Jeep. It had prompted FCA to file a lawsuit in Michigan. A case was also filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC). Based on the court ruling that supported FCAs allegations, Mahindra had carried out major changes to Roxor. The first set of changes were introduced in early 2020, followed by some more changes later that year. However, FCA was still not convinced. The case was referred to the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals in September 2022. Eventually, the Detroit court was asked to assess if the post-2020 Roxor complied with the safe distance rule in context of the Jeep design. Since the matter was in court, Mahindra was unable to manufacture and sell Roxor in the United States. In the latest order, the Eastern District Court of Michigan has ruled against the applicability of the safe distance rule. This rule has been created to prevent recurring trademark violations by any specific entity. It gives courts the power to quickly take a decision, without having to review the entire case again. The safe distance rule helps keep a check on repeat trademark violations. In Roxors case, the court has concluded that the safe distance rule cannot be enforced. It essentially means that post-2020 Roxor no longer violates any of the design trademarks as alleged by FCA. Mahindra can now start manufacturing and selling Roxor in the United States. Mahindra Roxor performance, specs Powering Mahindra Roxor is a 2.5-litre turbo diesel motor that generates 62 hp of max power and 144 lb-ft (approx. 195 Nm) of peak torque. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission, with 2-speed manual transfer case. Roxor is available in both 2WD and 4WD formats. Two variants are on offer, the base-spec starting at $20,599 (~ INR 16.90 lakh) and the all-weather model with MSRP of $28,739 (~ INR 23.58 lakh). Roxor is preferred for its load carrying, hill climbing and towing capabilities. Payload capacity is rated at 349 lb / 158.30 kg, whereas towing capacity is 3490 lb / 1583 kg. Roxors 9-inch ground clearance allows it to easily tackle a wide variety of off-road tracks. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China will conduct its fifth national economic census in August 2023, Kang Yi, head of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) told Xinhua in a recent interview. The State Council held a teleconference on July 7 concerning the fifth national economic census for full mobilization and deployment regarding the relevant work, according to Kang, who is also deputy head of the leading group for China's 5th national economic census. The census takes place every five years. It will help obtain scientific and accurate statistical information for improving macroeconomic governance and scientifically formulating medium and long-term development plans. PROGRESS UNDERWAY The fifth national economic census plan will be issued and implemented soon, Kang said. According to the work schedule, a comprehensive and thorough indoor survey will be carried out from August to October. This survey aims to figure out the basic situation and distribution of all legal entities, industrial activity units and self-employed households engaged in secondary and tertiary industry activities in China. IMPLEMENTATION WORK The State Council has established a leading group for the economic census, responsible for organizing and implementing the fifth national economic census, coordinating, and solving major issues during the census. The NBS is leading the establishment of an economic census office composed of 33 departments, responsible for the specific work in the census, according to Kang. The main content of the census includes the basic information, organizational structure, personnel wages, production capacity, financial status, production management, energy production and consumption, R&D, IT development, and e-commerce transactions, as well as the structure of the input, the use of products and the composition of fixed asset investments. KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE Unlike previous censuses, the upcoming national economic census will simultaneously carry out an input-output survey, according to Kang. The concurrent surveys will improve statistical coordination and cut content overlaps to achieve a better result. In 1995, Gaetano Cicciotti arrived in San Diego from his native Italy and realized he never wanted to leave. As many local Italian food fans know, Cicciotti scuttled his plan to be a commercial pilot in Italy and instead has built a career here re-creating the dishes he grew up on at Cicciottis restaurants in Cardiff and Carlsbad. Now hes following a new passion. On July 7, he opened Cafe Ground Up, an Italian-style coffee house and cafe serving authentic Italian coffees, pastries, paninis, gelato and imported frozen desserts. Advertisement Cafe Ground Up is located just across the street from his 2-year-old Cicciottis restaurant in Carlsbad Village, which makes it very easy for the La Costa resident to indulge his lifelong espresso habit. When you open one restaurant after another it becomes more of a business than a passion. But opening a coffee shop is a passion, he said. I usually drink three or four espressos a day and thought the village could use a cafe with really good, authentic Italian coffee. Gaetano Cicciotti inside his recently opened Italian coffee house Cafe Ground Up in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) Cafe Ground Up serves only Lavazza coffee, Italys premiere brand. And its espressos, cappucinos, lattes and more are pulled by hand from an imported $12,000 La Spaziale espresso machine, which he calls the Ferrari of coffee machines. With imported ingredients, the shop bakes about a half-dozen Italian-style pastries and breads daily, including bombolones (filled doughnuts), biscotti, madeleines, chocolate croissants and lemon cake as well as ciabatta for sandwiches. There are also paninis, piandina (a tortilla-like flatbread), frappes, gelatos and imported frozen sweets by Milans famed Bindi Desserts company. And there are a number of specialty drinks made with Torani and Fabbri flavored Italian syrups. Cicciotti said thanks to the focus on authenticity, more than 20 percent of the new cafes customers are Italian expatriates, and many of his own restaurant workers stop in for espressos before their shifts. While the emphasis is on Italian fare, Cicciotti has supplemented the menu with a wide variety of American dishes and drinks, including scones, coffeecake, muffins, acai bowls, toasts, salads and smoothies, as well as kombucha, cold brew and nitro coffee on tap. The interior of Cafe Ground Up in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) Cafe Ground Up features modern, European-style decor with a roll-up garage door-style glass window up front. One wall is a giant photo collage of Italian imagery, including film star Sophia Loren, and a shot or two that Cicciotti shot himself on a recent trip back home. Cicciotti, 49, grew up in Naples, where his mothers family had a long history in Italian commercial aviation. He spent 3- years in the Italian air force before leaving to pursue his commercial pilots license. He came to San Diego in 1995 to take classes at a local flight school and shared an apartment with a friend on La Jolla Shores. Waking up every morning and opening my door to that view, I thought it was paradise and I knew I had to live here, he said. Another attraction that soon made going home impossible was Cicciottis wife, Monica, who he met and married in 1996. They have three children, ages 11, 14 and 18. An artfully poured latte by barista Joy Riojas at Cafe Ground Up in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) Cicciotti realized early on that his heart was no longer invested in the family business of flying but in cooking and serving food, a hobby hed enjoyed since his teens. He started out as a cashier at Manhattan of La Jolla in 1996, then moved on to management and cooking positions at When in Rome and Vigiluccis. He opened his first Cicciottis restaurant in Cardiff in 2002, published his cookbook Cicciottis Kitchen in 2009 and opened his Carlsbad Village restaurant in 2016. Cicciotti said business at Ground Up has been growing steadily, particularly on weekend mornings when there can be long lines and the fresh pastries sell out quickly. Theres also a steady clientele of regulars, both Italian and American, who come ever day. Im very happy with it, he said. People really seem to enjoy it and I can stop in and drink some good espressos. Cafe Ground Up Hours: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily Where: 550 Grand Ave., Carlsbad Phone: (760) 637-5077 Online: cafegroundup.com Chocolate chip croissants at newly opened Cafe Ground Up, an Italian coffeehouse in Carlsbad Village. (Pam Kragen/San Diego Union-Tribune) pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Assets under the management of China's public offering funds totaled 27.69 trillion yuan (about 3.88 trillion U.S. dollars) by the end of June, data from the Asset Management Association of China showed. By the end of June, a total of 10,980 public offering funds were being operated by 144 fund management companies, the association said. The scale of closed-end funds neared 3.75 trillion yuan, with open-end funds at about 23.9 trillion yuan, the data showed. Of the 144 fund management companies, 48 are foreign-funded and 96 are domestic firms, the association said. Ranches across the Show-Me State manage approximately two million cattle -- a significant number of which are Angus, a top-tier breed that has unrivaled success in the commercial beef market. In a new study, University of Missouri researcher Jared Decker and Thompson Research Farm tested a group of commercial Angus cows using a commercial genomic prediction tool called Zoetis GeneMax Advantage to investigate the ability of the test to predict their calves' performance and profitability. This project demonstrates an important step forward in helping inform the selective breeding of commercial cowherds and giving Missouri cattle producers a competitive market advantage. While testing a sample of commercial Angus females and their offspring at MU's Thompson Research Farm, Decker found significant relationships between the cows' genetic merit and the performance of their calves. For the study, researchers focused on specific traits, such as weaning and carcass weight, marbling, fat, and ribeye area. "In prioritizing the use of this technology, Thompson Research Farm recently harvested a set of 35 steers, 70% of which graded prime, the highest quality grade that the Department of Agriculture (USDA) ranks meat," said Decker, Wurdack Chair of Animal Genomics in the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources. "Compared to the industry, which grades Prime at a rate of 6%, this is really excellent." Decker believes this success stems from the technology that makes genomic predictions possible. In practice, DNA testing allows farmers to select better cows and refine the herd with good genetics on top of good management. As a specialist in the ways technology can streamline farming practices, Decker sees it as his calling to help producers corner the market. "It's a goal of mine to help producers innovate in ways that get them closer to harnessing a competitive advantage in this market," Decker said. "I want to help them adopt new technologies like DNA testing and genomic prediction. For a while now, we've had historical data on the performance of calves in terms of growth and carcass performance. So, a key goal of this study was to demonstrate to farmers, ranchers, extension professionals, veterinarians and academics that this technology does, in fact, work. There is a significant relationship between calf performance and the cow's genetic merit." Although genomic prediction has a legacy of success in seedstock cattle -- purebred animals with documented pedigrees -- this is the first time it's shown to work in a sample of commercial cattle. For Missouri's beef industry, a leading driver of state revenue, genomic prediction technology represents an opportunity for growth, both for producers and the economy. "Genomic prediction tools allow farmers to go from not knowing the pedigree or any of the animal's performance data to taking a DNA sample and receiving a very accurate prediction as to the heifer's genetic merit," said Decker, explaining that this technology opens doors for commercial producers to be more aggressive in selecting the right females to go back into the herd. "This gives farmers a chance to make informed decisions that enhance sustainable profitability." For family run farms, genomic prediction technology is not only affordable, but also provides opportunities for small operations to document calf crops that boast superior genetic score cards. This allows farmers to either hold on to the calves through their feeding period and make a greater profit off their carcass merit or to market the weaned calf at a premium based on their first-rate genetics, instead of at typical commodity prices. "Farmers and ranchers really value this lifestyle; they value the family tradition," Decker said. "That family tradition gives them the grit and the fortitude to deal with really challenging circumstances like drought or low prices or whatever the present big challenge is. So, helping them think strategically about how to create the best calf crop is something that will serve them and keep those family farms profitable." This photo taken on July 22, 2023 shows the site after a bus veers off a road in Jhalokati, Bangladesh on July 22, 2023. At least 17 people were killed and 45 others injured when a passenger bus veered off the road and fell into a waterbody in Bangladesh's Jhalokati district, a senior police official said on Saturday. (Xinhua) DHAKA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people were killed and 45 others injured when a passenger bus veered off the road and fell into a waterbody in Bangladesh's Jhalokati district, a senior police official said on Saturday. The passenger bus fell into the roadside waterbody in the district about 200 km south of the capital Dhaka on Saturday morning, leaving 13 passengers dead on the spot, Muhammed Afruzul Huqe Tutul, the district's police chief, told Xinhua. All the injured were taken to local hospitals and clinics, where four more died, said the officer. He said the death toll might rise as some of the injured passengers were rescued in critical conditions. The accident occurred as the driver lost control of the vehicle and plunged into the roadside waterbody, according to the official. 53North, the organization behind Port Austins famed barn art, has taken a detour with the addition of its latest installation, The Deity, unveiled at Bird Creek Farms in the spring.The work the fourth installation in a projected series of 10 is a resin, foam and fiberglass sculpture, differing from the original concept of its predecessors of creating art with abandoned barns 53North Co-founder James Boyle said its an exciting turn.I think kind of pulling from different cultures and in a rural context was kind of interesting to us, he said. Theres just kind of a whole bunch of different levels that this seemed to speak to, not only to me, but the curatorial group.Creators Steve and Dorota Coy of the Hygienic Dress League donated the work, which is a gold therianthropic figure featuring a rams head atop a female human body. The approximately 9-foot sculpture sits upon a mound in a seated position, with her arms hugging her tucked-in knees in a somewhat sad state of contemplation.It's not a confident pose, Steve Coy said. If we think about this as a manifestation of Mother Nature, it's still a powerful creature, but also kind of uncomfortable with whats happening right now.Coy said the work was inspired by ancient belief systems and meant to draw attention to shifting perspectives in culture throughout history. In a modern context, the cultural shifts include deindustrialization and the reduction of family farms in favor of larger corporations.Its about that balance between humans and nature and our impact on the planet in our own habitat, he said.The community has had mixed reactions, with some concerned the work promotes paganism and witchcraft.Coy said that was not their intention and the sculpture was never meant to strike controversy.I think we were a little surprised at some of the interpretation, but also I think this piece should prompt conversations about religion and mythology and human beliefs, he said.The theme is reminiscent of the artists other 53North contribution, Art in the Public Realm: Rural Edition, barn murals that include an alternative version of Grant Woods famous American Gothic painting, which depicts the couple wearing gas masks.The Deity first appeared in Detroits Wasserman Projects art gallery in 2020 as part of a larger exhibition Five Realms, which examined the impact humans are having on their habitat. The Coys decided to donate the sculpture to 53North, because they envisioned the nature-themed work in a countryside, outdoor setting and had a good relationship with the organization.They also wanted to contribute art to less populated areas that dont have the same concentration of art as larger cities.The spot was just really perfect, it was a circled clearing surrounded by trees, and you can hear the creek flowing, Coy said. We wanted the sculpture to live permanently or semi-permanently in a place like that, where its peaceful and beautiful and becomes a surprise for people.While the sculpture is significantly different than 53Norths signature barn art, Boyle said its theme parallels those of its other works, and how the project began.The reason we started this was artists were commenting on Detroits abandoned buildings in Detroits kind of deindustrialized landscape, and you saw some of the loss of some of these family farms in the rural landscape, he said. So there was a really great, interesting conversation that was going back and forth with all pieces, and this one was really no different, it was just kind of a sculpture.The remaining two 53North works include Scott Hockings Celestial Ship of the North, a giant barn boat made from a deconstructed 1890s barn, as well as Catie Newells Secret Sky. The latter is a structurally modified century-old barn that features a tall, acute angle carved into its side, projecting light and shadows onto the farm.Next up, 53North is planning work with hyper-realist artist Bakpak Durden for a barn mural. Boyle said the concept is about nature and solitude, inspired by poetry from local poet Jane Mayes. The organization is also planning on bringing back programming around the series, like art talks and bike rides.In the meantime, 53 North has been making repairs and restorations to its existing works, thanks to a grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and individual donations. The efforts have included a new roof for Secret Sky and a paint refresh of American Gothic. Celestial Ship of the North will also get dirt reinforcements this summer.Since its inception, the art has helped put Port Austin on the map, driving tourism and supporting the local economy, Boyle said. Hes also proud to create art in a very public, accessible setting.Its a platform where people that might not always have experience or exposure to art get exposure, he said, and its a platform for these communities to have really important conversations and a moment in our history, where I think personally that thats really, really important.Erica Hobbs is a writer based in Detroit with a passion for arts and culture and travel. She has reported for numerous news outlets including the Detroit News, Fodors, Business Insider, Reuters, WDET and AnnArbor.com (now the Ann Arbor News), among others. LOS ANGELES, July 21 (Xinhua) -- There is a greater than 90 percent chance that El Nino will continue through the Northern Hemisphere this winter, according to a recent analysis by the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). The most recent International Research Institute for Climate and Society plume indicates El Nino will persist through the Northern Hemisphere in the winter of 2023, according to the analysis. Forecasters favor continued growth of El Nino through the fall, peaking this winter with moderate-to-strong intensity. El Nino and La Nina are climate patterns in the Pacific Ocean that can affect weather worldwide. During El Nino, trade winds weaken. Warm water is pushed back east, toward the west coast of the Americas. El Nino can affect weather significantly. The warmer waters cause the Pacific jet stream to move south of its neutral position. With this shift, areas in the northern United States and Canada are dryer and warmer than usual, according to the NWS. El Nino also has a strong effect on marine life off the Pacific coast, said the NWS. U.S. Special Envoy for Global Food Security Cary Fowler said recently that he was "very concerned" about what El Nino could mean for crop production and resulting impacts on global food security. "The possibility that this is going to be not just a normal El Nino, which would be a problem, but a historically strong El Nino, means that it increases the odds, or true problems, with food production, and therefore the onset of more challenges for food insecurity," Fowler said in an interview with Axios. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China's meteorological authorities on Saturday renewed a blue alert for rainstorms. From 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday, heavy rain or rainstorms are forecast to hit parts of Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Jiangxi and Hunan, according to the National Meteorological Center. Some of these regions will experience heavy rainfall, with 30 mm to over 70 mm of hourly precipitation, as well as severe convective weather conditions such as thunderstorms and gales, the meteorological center said. It has advised local governments and residents to take appropriate precautions. Schools and kindergartens have been asked to ensure the safety of students and children, while drivers have been advised to be alert and cautious due to road waterlogging and traffic jams. China has a four-tier weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. BEIJING, July 22 (Xinhua) -- 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. The emergency response was launched in regions such as Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang, as downpours are expected to hit some of these areas on Saturday and Sunday. A team has been dispatched to Liaoning Province to guide flood relief work. The headquarters has instructed local authorities to step up monitoring and forecast work, relocate those at risk in a timely manner, and make preparations for flood prevention and rescue work. In response to the recent heavy rainfall in northeast China, the Ministry of Emergency Management has established a cross-provincial emergency rescue force of 6,347 people. China has a four-tier flood control emergency response system, with level I being the most severe response. A protester against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul walks by the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, in Jerusalem, during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. The 70-km march began on Thursday in Tel Aviv, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the country that he would continue pushing forward with a bill that would limit the power of the courts to review government decisions and appointments. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) JERUSALEM, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. The 70-km march began on Thursday in Tel Aviv, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the country that he would continue pushing forward with a bill that would limit the power of the courts to review government decisions and appointments. The final vote on the bill is expected on Monday and will likely pass due to the majority the coalition has in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. On Saturday morning, the protestors reached the outskirts of Jerusalem. In the evening, they plan to set up camp in front of the Knesset. On Friday, Israeli media reported an increase in the number of military reservists' defections, raising concerns about how this may affect military preparedness. In a phone call earlier this week, U.S. President Joe Biden also urged Netanyahu to freeze the legislation until a broader consensus is reached. Netanyahu and his partners say the reforms are necessary in order to limit the judicial system which has become too powerful in recent decades. They also say the supreme court often intervenes in political issues that should be determined by the parliament. Demonstrators say the reforms will weaken the courts and give the ruling coalition limitless power. Protesters against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul walk by the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, in Jerusalem, during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. The 70-km march began on Thursday in Tel Aviv, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the country that he would continue pushing forward with a bill that would limit the power of the courts to review government decisions and appointments. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Protesters against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul enter Jerusalem during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. The 70-km march began on Thursday in Tel Aviv, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the country that he would continue pushing forward with a bill that would limit the power of the courts to review government decisions and appointments. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Protesters against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul enter Jerusalem during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. The 70-km march began on Thursday in Tel Aviv, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the country that he would continue pushing forward with a bill that would limit the power of the courts to review government decisions and appointments. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) A protester against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul waves a flag after entering Jerusalem during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. The 70-km march began on Thursday in Tel Aviv, hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an address to the country that he would continue pushing forward with a bill that would limit the power of the courts to review government decisions and appointments. (Xinhua/Chen Junqing) Protesters against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul march along a highway on the outskirts of Jerusalem during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. (JINI via Xinhua) Protesters against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul march along a highway on the outskirts of Jerusalem during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. (JINI via Xinhua) Protesters against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul march along a highway on the outskirts of Jerusalem during a march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on July 22, 2023. Thousands of Israelis continue their march to Jerusalem on Saturday to protest against the government's plan to overhaul the judicial system. (JINI via Xinhua) TEHRAN, July 22 (Xinhua) -- 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. He made the remarks in a message to condemn the "bitter, conspiratorial and dangerous" affront to the Quran in Sweden, according to a statement published on the leader's website. Khamenei said all Muslim scholars agree that the "perpetrator of the crimes" should receive the "harshest punishment." On Thursday, an Iraqi refugee, who burned a copy of the Quran last month, desecrated the holy book again by stomping on it during a demonstration in Sweden's capital Stockholm. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. YANGON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar earned over 2.6 billion U.S. dollars from the exports of manufactured goods from April 1 to July 14 of the fiscal year 2023-2024, according to data released by the country's Ministry of Commerce on Saturday. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural, animal and marine products, minerals, forest products and manufactured goods to its foreign trade partners, including China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India, according to the commerce ministry. As of July 14 of this fiscal year, the country's export earned 4.45 billion U.S. dollars. Citing the strong smell of weed invading the great outdoors, two Republicans in the state Legislature are calling for a ban on smoking and consuming cannabis in public places around New York state, according to a report by Spectrum News 1. State Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Michael Novakhov are backing the measure, which would allow governments to put local laws in place to ban the public consumption of marijuana, the report said. Republicans also are proposing fines of up to $125 for consuming marijuana in public. State residents, including children, are now regularly assailed with the pungent odor of marijuana on public sidewalks, in parking lots and other public spaces, Borrello said. Many New Yorkers dont want to be exposed to either the effects of marijuana smoke or its smell and dont want their children subjected to it. New York legalized cannabis in 2021, but the Clean Air Act and local bans on smoking already place limits on marijuana smoking in public. But Borrello argued that the use of marijuana in public goes beyond the tobacco comparison, according to the report. There is a world of difference between tobacco consumption and marijuana use, which is why it is inappropriate to apply the same public usage rules, he said. Marijuana has THC, a potent psychoactive drug that causes a high and can result in cognitive and motor impairment, similar to alcohol. Individuals in this condition, on sidewalks or other public places, represent a potential hazard to themselves or others. That is why the same public consumption restrictions that apply to alcohol should apply to marijuana. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A 38-year-old former NYPD sergeant who has ties to Staten Island pleaded guilty to attempted assault in an incident involving an inmate inside a Manhattan holding cell, prosecutors in that borough announced Friday. Adrian DeJesus, plead guilty to official misconduct, falsifying business records and attempted assault in connection with the Oct. 30, 2022, incident, according to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Prosecutors say DeJesus got into an argument with an inmate who was awaiting arraignment in a Manhattan Central Booking holding cell. DeJesus then entered the cell and pushed the inmate against the wall repeatedly, dragging him across the floor and striking him in the face, prosecutors said. The ex-NYPD sergeant allegedly did not report his use of force to his supervisors or complete any paperwork on the incident. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A Wagner College student went to sleep with his car, a family heirloom passed down from his recently-deceased grandmother, parked outside the school on Howard Avenue on Grymes Hills. When he woke up the next day, he said he found the Toyota Camry had been totaled in a hit-and-run. Now hes asking for the publics help finding the driver who fled. Justin Wolf, a student athlete at the college, told the Advance/SILive.com that he awoke at 7 a.m., on July 12 to a phone call from the schools Public Safety office alerting him of the damage. My first instinct was to call my mom and tell her that Grandmas car has been hit, said Wolf. I walk up to it and its just destroyed. When Wolf got to the scene of the crash, he says his heart dropped once he fixed his eyes on the damage, he said. An NYPD reported he provided to the Advance/SILive.com indicates the vehicle was struck from behind by a driver who left the scene. Now that the vehicle is totaled, Wolf says hes lost more than just a car, hes lost a part of his now-deceased grandmother something he can never get back. My whole family had that car my whole life, said Wolf. She passed away last year. There were good memories and stuff inside of the car. Wolf's vehicle sustained major damage to the driver's side back wheel area and trunk. (Photo courtesy of Justin Wolf)Wolf family Now, Wolf is on the hunt for the perpetrator responsible. So far, he has gone door to door, handing out flyers to houses in the neighborhood in the hope that someone will recognize the culprit or have video footage. I had to junk the car; I have to figure out now how I am going to go back and forth from school, Wolf explained. The double-whammy loss has been tough for Wolf to deal with. I feel like that was the last memorable thing I had with her, said Wolf. All the memories just flushed away. Wolf said hes optimistic that he will be able to find the person who totaled the car because Islanders look out for one another. I feel like Staten Island is a really close community, he said. Staten Island is together. If anyone has any information on the crash, Wolf can be contacted at Justin.Wolf@wagner.edu. RELATED COVERAGE: Recent Staten Island news >>Rikers Island should be under federal control amid deaths, U.S. attorney says >>Man once convicted in neighbor dispute in Huguenot to be sentenced in drug raid >>Bus drivers descend on Staten Island court, after one of their own is allegedly beaten by 2 brothers >> Staten Island killer of parents is found guilty again. His attorney blames mental-health crisis. >>Re-trial date set in barbershop robbery after Staten Island judge lifted conviction >>It takes a while to die Shocking depiction of Bellucci family murders laid out for Staten Island jury Rhinebeck, N.Y. Batman snagged a meal this week in one of upstate New Yorks most charming villages. Robert Pattinson dined at Cinnamon Indian Cuisine, a restaurant in Rhinebeck that serves traditional Indian food with a contemporary twist, a photo on the eaterys Facebook page shows. The actor, who starred in Twilight and The Batman, smiled in a photo with one of Cinnamons owners. Cinnamon, an upscale restaurant on East Market Street, has repeatedly earned certificates of excellence from Tripadvisor. Its menu includes goat cheese-stuffed naan, dosa, cinnamon ice cream and chicken tikka masala. Its unclear why Pattinson who reportedly lives in London and Los Angeles was in Rhinebeck. But he is far from the first celebrity to be charmed by the Hudson Valley village. Full of eclectic shops and unique restaurants, Rhinebeck has been ranked the No. 2 best small town for shopping in the U.S. by USA Todays 10 Best. One of its most beloved stores is Samuels Sweet Shop, an award-winning candy store owned in part by famous Hudson Valley residents Paul Rudd and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. The village is also on the list of 20 best places to visit in upstate New York. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Rev. Rizalino (Father Rhey) Garcia, beloved by countless Catholics on Staten Island for his leadership and warmth, has been appointed the 11th pastor of Sacred Heart Church, West Brighton, effective July 1, 2023. Rev. Rhey arrived at Sacred Heart in October 2022 as the parishs administrator. His appointment to pastor was made by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York. The announcement was made by Bishop Edmund Whelan in the Good News Room. A mass to celebrate Rev. Rheys installation as the new pastor will take place in the fall. Details will be announced soon. According to Catholic New York, Rev. Rhey has spent the past decade serving at three Staten Island parishes. Originally from the Philippines, he was ordained in 1999. Formerly of St. Joseph-St. Thomas St. John Neumann parish, where he served for eight years, Rev. Rhey also served at Holy Rosary R.C. Church, South Beach, before moving to Our Lady of Good Counsel R.C. Church, Tompkinsville, in September 2019. Rev. Rhey is the chaplain of Moore Catholic High School, Graniteville, in a pilot project that assigns him time in both the parish and school settings. With great joy and gratitude as your newly appointed pastor of Sacred Heart Church, I am entrusted with leading our beloved parish in celebrating its upcoming 150th anniversary, said Rev. Rhey in a recent homily. This milestone marks a significant moment in our history and reminds us of the enduring faith and love that have defined our community for generations. In celebrating his first Mass at Sacred Heart Church, West Brighton, on Oct. 2, 2022, Rev. Rhey Garcia, right, is greeted afterwards by parishioners. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) REV. RHEY WAS ORDAINED IN 1999 According to the Moore Catholic High School website, the archbishop incardinated seven priests in 2020 into the Archdiocese of New York, including Rev. Rhey. The solemn ceremony for the newly incardinated took place at St. Patricks Cathedral, Manhattan. With his incardination, Rev. Rhey officially became part of the clergy of the Archdiocese of New York, whose bishop is Cardinal Dolan. First and foremost, I want to express my profound appreciation to the former pastor, Rev. Eric Rapaglia, and all the former pastors, like the most loved, Rev. Louis Jerome, for their dedicated service and tireless efforts in shepherding this flock, Rev. Rhey added. Their leadership has left an indelible mark on the hearts of our parishioners, and I am humbled to follow in their footsteps. In celebrating his first mass at Sacred Heart Church, West Brighton, on October 2, 2022, Rev. Rhey Garcia, right, is greeted afterwards by parishioners. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) REV. RHEYS IMPACT Since he arrived at Sacred Heart Parish, there has been a notably sharp increase in attendance at all the Sunday masses, in addition to a successful inaugural Philippine Independence Day celebration in June, attended by more than 1,000 people. Rev. Rhey has created many programs to promote inclusion of old and new parishioners, including the Golden Heart Club and a revitalized Holy Name Society, among others. The number of altar servers has risen by the dozens. However, Rev. Rhey is most excited about the Sacred Hearts 150th anniversary, in 2024. The upcoming 150th anniversary of Sacred Heart is not just about festivities and remembrance, but an opportunity for renewal and recommitment to mission as disciples of Christ, said Rev. Rhey said. Together, let us strive to deepen our relationship with God, grow in holiness, and be ambassadors of His love in our families, workplaces, and community. In celebrating his first Mass at Sacred Heart Church, West Brighton, on October 2, 2022, Rev. Rhey Garcia, right, is greeted by a parishioner. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) MESSAGE TO THE SACRED HEART PARISHIONERS I am deeply grateful for this beautiful communitys warmth and support, said Rev. Rhey. I am excited to journey with you, to learn from you, and to witness the transformative power of Gods love as we celebrate our 150th anniversary. Let us continue to be a beacon of light, a sanctuary of hope, and a testament to Gods faithfulness. As we prepare to commemorate the historic occasion of Sacred Hearts 150th anniversary, I am filled with anticipation and excitement for the journey ahead. The milestone is an opportunity to reflect on our rich history and celebrate the vibrant faith community we have become. I kindly ask for your prayers and support as I assume this role, seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit to fulfil my responsibility faithfully. Rev. Rhey Garcia is the pastor of Sacred Heart Church, which hosted the Inaugural Philippine Independence Day Celebration of Staten Island at Sacred Heart Church, West Brighton, on June 11, 2023. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) Virgil Quijano, Elizabeth Clemente, Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon, Rev. Rhey Garcia, Cora Magalong, Ederlinda Miranda, Joanne Retino, Fritzi Fruto, Lourdes Panlilio, Dr. Lorna Avila, Tita Imperial, Krizel Mendoza, and Deb Mercado. (Staten Island Advance/Dr. Gracelyn Santos) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Residents living on the northwest shore of Staten Island are more likely to be drinking from lead-laden pipes than anyone else in New York City, according to a new report. The report titled, No Excuses, NYC: Replace Lead Drinking Water Pipes Now, found that roughly 41% of water service lines in New York City are either definitely or potentially made of lead, a poisonous heavy metal that can have serious health effects if consumed, particularly by children. Those service lines carry water to an estimated 1.8 million city residents, meaning more than 20% of people across the five boroughs are potentially drinking water transported through lead pipes. New York Citys drinking water supply is the envy of many other cities. Yet, for all of the money we have invested to protect our watershed, our return on investment is greatly diminished with each lead service line that remains in the ground, said Joshua Klainberg, senior vice president for the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund. The report analyzed publicly available NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) data, which lists all service lines confirmed to be made of lead and others that are labeled potential lead, meaning at least a portion of the pipe contains the hazardous metal. Researchers found that 15.5% of all New York City service lines are made of lead, with an additional 25.5% potentially containing lead. A borough-by-borough breakdown of that data found that Staten Island has the lowest overall percentage of any borough with 39% of service lines either confirmed or potentially being made of lead. However, one portion of the borough stands in stark contrast to the others, possessing the highest percentage of confirmed or potential lead pipes of any neighborhood across the five boroughs. The area is listed as Port Richmond, though it encompasses the majority of the boroughs northwest shore, with Staten Island only broken down into four sections for the purposes of the report. In Port Richmond, 61% of all service lines either definitely or potentially contain lead, eight percentage points higher than the next closest neighborhood of East Harlem, Manhattan, which was listed at 53%. This is an astounding and highly troubling statistic. We thank the coalition for sounding the alarm. For the sake of our children, Port Richmond/North Shore Alliance looks forward to working with them, said Mary Bullock, president of the Port Richmond Strong Civic Association. While concerned about the highest percentage of confirmed and potential lead pipes, Bullock said the findings of the report dont come as a surprise given the neighborhoods history. In an old city like New York, it is not surprising to find the Lead/Possible LSLs all over and Port Richmond is among Staten Islands oldest villages, dating to 1680. The popularization of lead as an ingredient coincided with a construction boom in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Part of Port Richmonds charm is its unusually high proportion of historic homes surviving from that period, Bullock said. Willowbrook, which encompasses the majority of Mid-Island and portions of the West Shore, had the second-highest percentage in the borough at 46%. Stapleton-St. George, which covers the northeast section of Staten Island, was found to have 40% of its service lines certainly or potentially containing lead, while South-Beach Tottenville, which covers the South Shore, has the third-lowest percentage in the entire city at just 28%. Experts and advocates said that the findings are a clear sign that New York City officials must act quickly to replace these pipes for the safety of the community, urging the City Council to pass legislation that would require their replacement within 10 years. This report should be a wake-up call for the city, as lead is a dangerous neurotoxin with health impacts that last a lifetime, said Lonnie Portis, New York City policy and advocacy manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. We need the Mayor and City Council to take immediate action to protect our most vulnerable communities. City officials emphasized that despite the prevalence of lead pipes throughout the city, the water coming from residents faucets is safe to drink, in part due to the use of orthophosphate, an additive that coats the inside of lead service lines to create a barrier between the water and the lead pipe. While we agree that privately-owned lead service lines should be removed, and are actively working to do that, NYCs daily water supply is safe, said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. The department noted that the replacement of lead pipes is extremely expensive, costing roughly $15,000 to replace a single pipe. If the city were to replace every single lead pipe in the city, it would cost roughly $2 billion. Instead of using city funds, officials are pushing for state and federal funding to accommodate the replacements. We desperately need federal and state funding, and this report purposely fails to mention that NYC has been arbitrarily prevented from accessing the full funding available to replace lead service lines, Aggarwala said. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $15 billion for the replacement of privately-owned lead service lines, with funds being disbursed to municipalities by the individual state governments. For the current fiscal year, the DEP applied for $58 million for lead pipe replacements, but the state only granted $24 million. We dont agree that the city and ratepayers,should subsidize repairs to all private homes, especially where the homeowner can clearly pay for the repairs. Thats why our strategy has been to maximize federal dollars to pay for these repairs to private property we are trying to help homeowners fix their private property while not raising every New Yorkers water bill, Aggarwala said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. You may not need to search those couch cushions for loose change. New York state has more than $7.2 billion (with a B) that it owes to its residents, including $114,603,843 to Staten Islanders. (For a region-by-region breakdown, you can click here.) Money can go unclaimed for various reasons. Banks often lose track of people who move, so their accounts go dormant, or people themselves forget that they have a bank account or brokerage account. Last year alone, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapolis office returned $5,943,562 in unclaimed funds to Staten Islanders. And, in 2010, DiNapoli returned $10,000 from an old life insurance policy to a worker at a New Brighton senior center who was commuting to work from a Manhattan homeless shelter. So how do you know if youre owed any money? Just visit the state comptrollers website and type in your first name, last name or organization to check. If the results come up empty, try an advanced search to double-check. It also is worth searching for the names of relatives, particularly those who are deceased. Officials say you could be entitled to those funds as well with records going back to the 1940s. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Staten Island residents are bracing, once again, for the maddening aggravation caused by swarms of spotted lanternflies soon to emerge. And, though federal and state authorities say theyre working feverishly on the problem, dont expect to see any treatments happening here. Instead, the Five-Year Strategy report, hatched by the U.S. Department of Agricultures (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, focuses on research and management strategies to protect the countrys threatened agriculture industry. In New York, most of that is found in the northern counties of the state and on Long Island. The black-and-red spotted flying pests nymphs have been reported by Staten Islanders already this season, yet the insects are not expected to be flying around in full force until later this summer. The spotted lanternfly was first detected in Berks County, Pa., in 2014, and, as of April 2023, the insect is in 14 states. It was first detected on Staten Island in 2020. As far as treatments, currently, the department is concentrated on survey and treatment in agricultural growing areas, a state Agriculture spokesperson said in an email to the Advance/SILive.com. The states plan includes research into chemical and non-chemical treatments to stop the invasive species, which is known to spread rapidly by hitching a ride on vehicles used for shipping between states. This year alone, the USDAs Animal and Plant Inspection Service provided more than $5 million to 12 of the 14 states affected by the insect, according to Matthew Travis, national policy manager for the USDAs Spotted Lanternfly Program. New York State received $1.5 million in funding, to be used for treatment, survey and outreach, he said. CONTROLLING ARTIFICIAL SPREAD The main goal of cooperation with the states, he said, is to safeguard American agriculture by controlling artificial spread. Thats proving to be a challenge, given the high risk created when the insect hitchhikes to new growing environments, expanding the infestation around the country, and posing a threat to all the nations farms. The focus will be on artificial pathways, like trucks, cars and trains, he said. How is this moving?' he asked. Those are where we need to focus our efforts. We dont want to see this continue to move. The enhanced mitigation proposed by New York State doesnt necessarily mean chemical treatments, Travis said. It can also mean removing the Tree of Heaven, a proven host to the insect, and scraping and removing egg masses,' he added. The state and USDA have also been studying control techniques, like trapping strategies and biological control, including parasitoid candidates, Travis said. Studies into biological organisms that kill the Tree of Heaven are also taking place, he said. Outreach to residents is included in the plan, as is communication with farming communities and those most likely to unintentionally spread the spotted lanternfly to different regions, such as rail companies, airports, maritime ports and moving companies, among others. MINIMIZING IMPACT The plan allows us to invest more resources in activities with potentially greater long-term benefits in preventing SLF [spotted lanternfy] expansion, while minimizing pest impacts on agriculture and natural resources, according to the strategy report overview. We know more about SLF than when it was first detected in 2014, but need further research to effectively survey for and control this pest. Improved understanding of lifecycle and behavior, as well as climate and host-plant suitability could improve tactics and strategies to reduce SLF risk to U.S. agriculture. In New York City, the Parks Department referred questions to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, and a spokesperson there said the agency plans to work closely with the federal government, following its five-year plan. NO PESTICIDES HERE Travis said spraying pesticides in densely populated New York City isnt optimal. We dont want to cause an unsafe condition,' he said. Insecticidal controls do have a place, but theyre very site-specific ... and insecticides dont fit every area or every site. We dont want to create a worse environment for the residents living there. New York City dwellers should continue doing what theyve been doing so far, following treatment recommendations offered by the Cornell University Integrated Pest Management Program, the state spokesperson said. Those recommendations include setting traps, vacuuming the insects, and stomping them out the old-fashioned way with our feet. Also, residents should check their vehicle to be sure theyre not taking the insects along for a ride out of state. And theres no longer a need to report sightings on Staten Island, the state spokesperson said. Instead, residents should plan to handle the pests on their own, as killing them is the best way to ensure they dont lay eggs, creating a bigger threat to the farming industry next year, around the country and right here in the Empire State. New Yorks grape industry is reportedly valued at $300 million annually. Last summer, New York State Sen. Charles Schumer saw the threat to the state and urged the USDA to tap into federal funds. Brian Eshenaur, a senior extension associate and invasive species specialist with the Cornell University Integrated Pest Management Program, which supports the state in its efforts to control the spotted lanternfly, said he is grateful that the federal funds have been acquired, and, thanks to the efforts of Schumer and some of his senate colleagues, more federal funding is expected. HOW TO TRAP THEM Community outreach letting people know how and why to kill them will be a priority, Eshenaur and Travis both said. The most effective way to kill lanternflies without using pesticides is to trap them, according to the Cornell pest management program website. A sticky band trap is easily constructed by placing a band of sticky tape around trees to trap the lanternflies, which move up and down tree trunks. This is a great approach while the population is still low, according to experts. The traps can be purchased commercially at Amazon.com and other vendors, or made from scratch. *** Top-rated spotted lanternfly traps: Tree Shield and Tree Trap *** Another pesticide-free way to trap the insects is to use a vacuum, environmental experts told the Advance/SILive.com. New York State workers currently use the method. Once collected, the lanternflies should be placed into a plastic bag, then put in the sun to ensure their doom. Since spotted lanternflies rarely cause damage to landscape trees, according to a Cornell expert, treatment is not necessary for the health of the tree. But to prevent a nuisance, insecticides can be used in small doses, and a number have been labeled for use in New York State. They are available by contacting pest control services or visiting a landscape management store. A NATURAL DEMISE Eventually, nature will likely ensure the demise of the spotted lanternfly, Eshenaur recently told the Advance/SILive.com. The insects main food source here, the Tree of Heaven, will eventually be killed off by its feasting, and predators will likely soon recognize the spotted flying creatures as a sizeable food source, he said. One potential predator is the praying mantis. Another is an insect called the wheel bug. If that happens, we can expect to see increasing numbers of those insects, Eshenaur said, and fewer lanternflies. He said hes already hearing reports of wheel bugs popping up in bigger numbers in parts of Pennsylvania. Yet, he also predicted that the spotted lanternfly problem will be bad this summer in New York City, and they will be flying around in populations higher than last year in most of the Big Apple within a few weeks. Some good news for Staten Island is that, while numbers in New York City are expected to be higher than last year, the borough may not see the jump in numbers that the rest of the city will face, Eshenaur said. Its possible that the population has leveled off on Staten Island, he explained, citing data provided by inspectors at the state. The populations do decline in time, and its hard to know exactly when that will happen, but within the next two to three years, Staten Island will be the first to have population decline. RELATED CONTENT Heres what to do, and what not to do, if a spotted lanternfly ends up in your house Will spotted lanternflies be a pest in New York forever? Experts weigh in on the future of the insects. Spotted lanternfly population to see robust increase in NYC this year, expert says. What should yorkn Island expect? Do these things now to protect your property from spotted lanternflies, experts say Spotted lanternfly sightings begin in NYC as invasive pest continues reign Do spotted lanternflies pose threat to NYC trees? Heres what Parks Dept. officials say. Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! YANGON, July 22 (Xinhua) -- China has delivered around 190 tons of relief materials to help victims of Cyclone Mocha in Myanmar. The handover ceremony of the Chinese government's humanitarian aid to Myanmar was held at Yangon Port on Friday. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Chen Hai and Ouyang Daobing, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Myanmar, attended the ceremony. The donated items include food, chlorine dioxide tablets, disinfection tablets, water pumps, generators, portable solar lamps and tents. After Cyclone Mocha hit Myanmar, the Chinese government provided humanitarian supplies worth 9 million yuan (1.25 million U.S. dollars) and cash assistance worth 1 million yuan to the Southeast Asian country. The first batch of emergency aid arrived in Myanmar by air shortly after the disaster. Still, Rae acknowledges that pet preservation isnt for everyone. Death is something that really, most people arent comfortable with, she says. Today, there is a huge industry attached to pet loss. Bereaved owners can choose from an almost endless number of services and products to commemorate their furry friend from jewellery, to paw castings, to artwork. Some methods of grieving and commemoration, however, are less understood something their proponents are hoping to change. Understanding pet grief Dr Michael ODonoghue is the co-founder of Pets and People, Australias first dedicated grief hotline for pet owners. Established in 2017 with grief counsellor Penny Carroll, the hotline services all of Australia, connecting callers with independent counsellors. Pet grief, ODonoghue says, is unique because theres often a huge amount of guilt attached to pet loss, as were totally responsible for these animals. He explains this guilt often arises after deciding to have a pet euthanised. Fiona Koenig, a Newcastle-based counsellor who says she never intended to focus on pet-related grief, estimates that 98 per cent of her business comes from pet bereavement. She says that losing a pet can be just as devastating as losing a human friend or family member. Loading Its often the first real loss that we have owned as our own, says Koenig, explaining that while people often have wide networks of family and friends grieving them when they pass, for animals, the burden of grief will often fall on one person. It can be really, really intense. This experience, termed disenfranchised grief in counselling circles, can mean that pet grief is often misunderstood or underplayed. People will often say, Are you still crying about that dog?, which can be so detrimental to the processing of our grief, says Koenig. A large part of Koenigs job, then, is to validate a clients experience by simply listening. A huge part of that is just telling them, yeah, youre supposed to be that sad. While some clients may only need one or two sessions, she has others who have been with her for years. Pet grief, she says, can be a gateway to exploring broader issues like depression and anxiety, or drug and alcohol use. Beyond cremation When Sharon Stuckey unexpectedly lost her four-month-old puppy Tilly, she was unsatisfied with the funeral options available. I could not put her in a fire and I didnt want to bury her, in case I ever moved home. While she ended up opting for a burial, the experience led her to research alternative options. In February 2021, Stuckey quit her job of 30 years as a bank manager and started Paws to Heaven, the third water cremation facility for pets to open in Australia. Popular in the US and Europe, water cremation otherwise known as aquamation or alkaline hydrolysis is gentler and more environmentally friendly than traditional cremation. Today, there are aquamation facilities in every state, except the Northern Territory. The process involves placing an animal in a warm bath composed of 95 per cent water and 5 per cent alkali for eight to 10 hours, depending on its size. Alkali, found in soil, helps accelerate the decomposition process, leaving just bones, the microchip and any other synthetic materials behind. The bones are then ground into a fine powder and returned to the owner as ashes. Stuckeys facility can take animals up to 65 kilograms. And while dogs and cats are the most common animal, Stuckey has seen fish, chickens, guinea pigs, bearded dragons, snakes and rats come through her doors. The Animal Memorial Cemetery and Crematorium in Berkshire Park, 2003. Credit: Steven Siewert Backyard burials, while legal in Australia, can be dangerous for other pets and wildlife as the most common euthanasia drug, pentobarbital, can last in an animals body for up to a year. And like Stuckey, owners can be reluctant to bury their pet in their backyard in case they move in the future. Loading Shane McGraw is the owner of one of Australias few pet cemeteries. Located west of Sydney, the cemetery was founded in 1967 and bought by McGraw and his wife in 1999. McGraw estimates the number of pets buried on the grounds are in the thousands and says the cemetery is home to just about every type of animal imaginable, including goldfish and a kangaroo named Susie Meyer. McGraw says owners of all religions have laid their pets to rest with him hes done burials of dogs pointed to Mecca and hosted Buddhist funerals. Over the years, some owners continue to frequent the cemetery with new pets as they pass. One woman has upwards of 30 cats on the one plot the latest of which he buried a few days ago. In other cases, he says, owners have asked to be buried in the pet cemetery with their beloved companions. Keeping the memory alive Natalie Delaney-John started Rest in Pieces 10 years ago as a workshop space to teach taxidermy. Over the years, it has evolved to include other types of animal preservation and, during the pandemic, the Melbourne-based business began offering pet preservation. The service now makes up around 90 per cent of the business. It turned out that there was a real desire and need from pet owners to have alternative solutions to the aftercare or preservation of their pet, she says. Delaney-John says that most clients, much like Rae, choose preservation as they want to hold on to a more tangible memory of their pets. They find a lot of comfort in that rather than say, an urn with ashes. Speaking from the roadside in Arnhem Land, the team say a knowledge gap between urban Australians and remote communities needed to be addressed ahead of the referendum, especially given the Territory is, they say, statistically insignificant in the final count. A successful referendum requires the support of the majority of Australians and a majority of voters in a majority of states, so at least four. But the NT is not a state, so its votes along with the ACT and the Jarvis Bay Territory are only counted in the national majority. And the NT only has about 250,000 people, just 1 per cent of the Australian population. First Nations communities in the NT experience overall unemployment rates of about 21 per cent, compared with 3.3 per cent for non-Indigenous Territorians. There are also extraordinary disparities in health and housing, and gaps in Indigenous life expectancy with an average of 66.3 years for males and 70 years for females in the NT, compared with 78 years for males and 82.7 years respectively for other Territorians. We want to bridge the gap between what is thought, known and understood in majority non-Indigenous Australian states, and the significant Indigenous population in the Northern Territory who will be most affected [by the referendum result], Grant says. Grant and De Santis were not surprised to hear different problems in different communities, stressing that each contains unique traditions and cultural practices. This informed how they entered and engaged with community, too. Loading Its not like everybody is going to accept me and Jaxon going into every single community. We want to show that difference as well. Not all Aboriginal people are the same and just because were Aboriginal doesnt mean we get accepted into every community. There are protocols and stuff that we go through. And the voices within each community are different. These voices have different meanings and power to their tribes, Grant says. When you walk into a community, you dont ask, On behalf of Australia, what do you think Aboriginal people think about this? Because they wont give you an answer. Theyll say, No, well only talk on behalf of our people. This cultural regard sometimes included long off-camera conversations, often not approaching the topic of the Voice head-on. Theres people that were obviously aware and understood what the referendum was and what its intentions were, and the effects of whether Australia says yes or no. But the thing that we asked everybody was what they consider a better future for everybody, and the common answer we got was just all about the next generation, in teaching and learning. Passing on the knowledge, the stories, the traditions, the customs, the protocols, De Santis says. Community concerns about the Voice included who would be speaking on behalf of the tribes, if an active Voice body could last and how it would make its presence felt. Many people considered it to be a great idea, but wanted to know if it was actually going to be sustainable, Grant says. When you talk about it, they ask Is it going to be different this time or is it just another laid-back approach that goes away at the first sign of trouble? And thats something I asked myself too. So what did Grant and De Santis take away from their journey? Loading I feel more confident when I talk to people about it, I guess. Im not saying Im absolutely savvy with it all now, but certainly, Im in a far more comfortable and confident position than I was previously, De Santis says. Grant says the project had given him more of an idea of what direction communities want, but hes also a little bit concerned. So many people are asking me how I am going to vote and if I dont know - if we dont have a clear understanding of the issues - then how are the millions of Australians living in the cities going to know how to vote with meaning and purpose? Rubbish is piling up on Sydney streets and attracting vermin because of a protracted industrial dispute that City of Sydney councillors claim is harming the citys reputation. Councillors say the ongoing waste collection woes are the number one gripe of residents, and have demanded Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore resolve the dispute between the councils household rubbish contractor and its workers. Inner-city residents are frustrated by ongoing problems with waste collection in the City of Sydney. Credit: Scott Mackay Labor councillor Linda Scott said the Lord Mayors rubbish debacle was becoming an embarrassment and threatened to overshadow Sydneys World Cup events. Residents and visitors shouldnt have to wade through uncollected rubbish to celebrate soccer success in our streets, she said. Fines totalling more than $200 million have been issued to NSW drivers for speeding in school zones in the past six years, with motorists in the northern beaches the worst offenders. Northern Beaches highway patrol issued 3510 fines for speeding in school zones between 2017 and June 2023, followed by Bankstown (2953) and Macquarie Fields (2629). A school zone on Pittwater Road in Narrabeen. Motorists on the northern beaches the worst offenders for speeding. Credit: Nikki Short Overall, police issued 47,665 school zone speeding fines in that time, while speed cameras pinged drivers 863,469 times, costing them $220,638,712. These speed camera fines included non-school-zone offences, outside signposted school times and gazetted school dates. One reader wrote that he was verbally and physically abused from the very first day of primary school right through to the end of grade 6. Thirteen years of terror that I had to learn to live with, he said. Trying to report any incident was not a good idea as it was not just fellow students who put their boots in, but teachers as well. Anti- bullying programs are not working, some say. A 15-year-old student at a state school in Melbournes south-east said she had experienced and witnessed extreme antisemitism at her school. When she was in year 7 Nazi symbols were drawn on face masks and over the school, but she said this year had been the worst. She was in a classroom with three other students who started talking about student backgrounds. They knew I was Jewish and started talking about how Hitler did right, and my great-grandparents shouldve died like the rest of their family, so I wouldnt be in that moment, then and there, she said. Loading I told the teacher. The girl afterwards told me to my face that she doesnt like them Jews because they are scammers and liars. The school asked the student to write her a letter to apologise, but she said she had ChatGPT write it. There was also an instance where a boy said he wanted to gas me and my Jewish classmate out of nowhere, she said. The teachers were also antisemitic, she said. This school praises itself for having children from 85 countries and yet this form of racism is overused. Its a real concern for many Victorian Jewish families, who steadily weigh up whether they send their children to state school because they worry their child will be targeted. Jewish Community Council of Victoria president Daniel Aghion said they were aware of a small number of antisemitic incidents in Victoria schools, but any incident of antisemitism was one too many. Even so, he didnt think there was an undercurrent of antisemitism in state schools, and they were instead unrelated incidents. The organisation has engaged with government, Catholic and independent schools and worked with the Department of Education, Courage to Care and the Jewish Museum of Australia to roll out an optional training program for school staff about antisemitism, which has been available since April. He said while a teenage students cruel taunt about gassing may seem no different from commenting on a students weight or haircut, for the recipient, it means so much more. What it is saying is: you are an other, who should not exist. Thats why its so heinous and thats why ... its not acceptable in any way it sits, even in an unthinking schoolyard taunt. A Department of Education spokesperson said it takes antisemitic behaviour extremely seriously, that Holocaust education was mandatory in years 9 and 10, and taught in other year levels through texts in subjects like English. The spokesperson said teachers must report any incident that impacts on student wellbeing and safety. The hotline for students and parents to report racism, the BullyStoppers initiative, included a guidance for schools to prevent racist bullying, a partnership with the Gandel Foundation and the Courage to Cares Upstander Programs, which offers tools to tackle racism, bullying and prejudice. After my story last week, I also received an email from an Asian student in year 9 at another secondary school who said she was called an Asian slave and Asian eyes, and asked, do you know where my shoes come from? You must work in factories. Telling her coordinator didnt make a difference. The bullying didnt stop to the point I could no longer go to school, so I would secretly wag school, she said. She asked for the students to be removed, but was told it couldnt be done and that theyd continue logging it. They moved on like it was all okay. I went into therapy twice a week, she said. She doesnt feel the school did enough to protect her, that her experience wasnt bad enough to contact their parents about it. Its these experiences, and the lack of action, this othering that has really significant consequences. I hope my two-year-old son doesnt feel he has to hide who he is. Its hard not to be concerned about whether he will experience the same antisemitism in school that these students faced, or that I faced as a child. Racism and prejudice, in any form, against any minority, needs to be stamped out. It requires leadership and education, and that can start in the schoolyard. Nicole Precel is an education reporter. 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 For weeks, opponents of the Indigenous Voice to parliament have zeroed in on prominent Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo. The best-selling author and trade unionist became central to their claim that the Voice is a radical change to the nations Constitution, not merely an advisory body. For a campaign that has struggled to gain momentum the latest Resolve poll in Saturdays Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed it is heading for a defeat, with a support for the Voice among NSW voters falling below 50 per cent for the first time Mayo has shown a rare ability to cut through. Voice campaigner Thomas Mayo has become a lightning rod for the No campaign. Credit: Peter Rae Mayo says opponents of the Voice are wrong he would never describe his activism as radical. Im doing these things because I really care about people and I dont believe thats a radical thing, he tells this masthead. I think thats something that is an Australian thing to care and to do something to put a hand out and help a mate up. Advertisement Despite the polls, Mayo remains optimistic. Im not worried about the polls. Im more worried about speaking with as many Australians as I can between now and the referendum, he says. Last month, the No campaign unearthed two-year-old videos of Mayo calling for reparations and compensation for Indigenous Australians, as well as appearances in online forums run by an organisation which markets itself as the Communist Party of Australia. Loading Opposition Indigenous affairs spokeswoman Jacinta Price said the shocking revelations exposed the aggressive and radical agenda behind the Voice. Mayo says his comments were from years ago, and that the Voice is about community priorities. Ive been involved in this for a long time and theres been many things said in the debates and discussions amongst people, he says. Those things were said, but theyre not what I believe the Voice will focus on. Its not what its about. Its about the priorities in our communities health, education, the environment, all of that stuff. Advertisement Also importantly, the parliament still decides everything the Voice is an advisory body. So various groups are going to have all sorts of different ideas. But ultimately, the parliament decides what happens in the country. I didnt have a voice A softly spoken Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man who has lived his whole life in Darwin, Mayo is in many ways an unlikely target for the No campaign. Loading The father-of-six rarely hurls insults at the No campaign and he doesnt bite back at attacks. And unlike many other prominent Voice campaigners a generation older, the 46-year-old didnt arrive at Indigenous activism through academia or the land rights movement. Mayo became an activist later in life. I was always a quiet fella, Mayo says. Advertisement People thought I didnt have a voice at all with how quiet I was, whether it was at footy or in the workplace. Mayo was a wharf labourer from the age of 17, before finding his voice after the 1998 waterfront dispute with Patrick Stevedores when he became a union delegate, and then an official with the Maritime Union of Australia. Mayo at a May Day rally in Port Kembla in May 2023. In 2014, Tony Abbotts $500 million in cuts to Indigenous programs turned Mayos attention to campaigning for First Nations people in the Northern Territory. He grew increasingly frustrated that Canberra policymaking seemed unaffected by campaigns on the ground and became a prominent advocate for a constitutionally enshrined Voice to parliament. In 2017, Mayo signed the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and was chosen to carry the canvas of the statement around the country often turning up to communities with it rolled up in a tube under his arm. The Uluru Statement from the Heart. Advertisement For the past six years, he has worked full-time on the campaign for the Voice, and served as a key advisor to the Albanese government as part of the referendum working group. At some point between October and December, Australians will vote on the referendum to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution by enshrining a Voice to parliament. The remit of the body which would be able to make representations to the parliament and the government on issues that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is at the centre of the debate. When Anthony Albanese announced the wording of the constitutional amendment on March 23, Mayo stood directly to the prime ministers left. Some in the Yes campaign privately concede Mayos background in the union movement provides a convenient target for opponents. Mayo next to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when the wording of the constititonal amendment was announced. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Others suspect he is targeted because of his success. Advertisement Liane Moriarty is renowned for her best-selling novels not to mention their critically acclaimed television adaptations by the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, but now she can add trophy home owner to her repertoire. The house in question is set over three levels with five bedrooms and a pool, and was designed by architect Susan Rothwell in Mosmans golden triangle and sold recently by Karen and Richard Leon, a senior executive at software company Altium. Liane Moriarty has followed a well-worn route from the Upper North Shore to buy in Mosman. Credit: Domain It was listed last month with Pellos Stefon Bertram and his colleague David Smeallie with a $19 million guide, and sold well ahead of next weeks scheduled expressions of interest deadline for a reported $19.5 million to a buyer from the Upper North Shore. A large tornado tore through Milan on Friday, damaging buildings and sending debris flying as Italy continued to suffer from extreme weather. Footage shared on social media showed the tornado touching down in a densely populated part of the northern Italian city. An apparent tornado is seen in Gessate, Lombardy. Credit: Reuters Italian weather site MeteoWeb reported that several people may have been injured. Local media in nearby Bergamo reported wind speeds as high as 200km/h, with several people reportedly suffering serious injuries as a result of falling debris. MOSCOW, July 22 (Xinhua) -- A journalist for Russia's RIA Novosti was killed and three others were injured by Ukrainian shelling in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. According to the ministry, four journalists from RIA Novosti and Izvestia received various injuries as a result of an artillery strike by the armed forces of Ukraine using cluster munitions on Saturday. RIA Novosti journalist Rostislav Zhuravlev succumbed to his wounds during the evacuation, while the condition of the other three injured remained stable, it added. The Ukrainian side has yet to respond to the Russian statement. Welcome To SpoilerTV We bring you a comprehensive and up to date spoiler service on all the major US TV shows and Movies. You can find specific show content by clicking the menu system at the top of the screen. We scour the Internet for spoilers as well as posting our own exclusive spoilers (Scripts, Casting Calls, Set Photos etc) as well as recaps and other fun articles and polls. We hope you enjoy your stay. SAN FRANCISCO, July 21 (Xinhua) -- No survivors were found after a helicopter crashed in the U.S. state of Alaska Thursday night, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials. Four people were onboard a Bell 206L-4 craft operating out of Maritime Helicopters in Homer, a private charter company, said Alaska NTSB Chief Clint Johnson. The helicopter lost contact via an electronic tracking system around 7 or 8 p.m. Thursday local time (0300 or 0400 GMT Friday). The helicopter was returning to Utqiagvik from a mission. Johnson said that search and rescue crews from North Slope found the downed helicopter partially submerged in a lake about 82.1 km southwest of Utqiagvik. The search team was alerted of the overdue helicopter around 11:20 p.m. Thursday local time (0720 GMT Friday), said DJ Fauske, North Slope Borough director of external affairs. The search team is investigating with NTSB assistance and also notified the Federal Aviation Administration, according to Alaska local media. A man has been convicted of murdering his sister-in-law with a hatchet at the home they shared in Ilford. Nicolae Virtosu, 48, was convicted of murdering Svetlana Mihalachi, 53, following a trial at the Old Bailey on Friday, July 21. Virtosu, who was also found guilty of making threats to kill, will be sentenced on October 9. Ms Mihalachi was killed by Virtosu in April 2021 after tensions escalated over lockdown, jurors at the Old Bailey were told. Nicolae Virtosu / Met Police Police rushed to a property in Princes Road on Friday, April 9 following reports that a woman had been assaulted. Ms Mihalachi was found at the scene with serious head injuries caused by blows to the head with a hatchet. Virtosu, from Moldova, was an illegal immigrant and had been living with his brother, Iurie, and Mihalachi since 2018, the court heard. He is alleged to have subjected Mihalachi to a campaign of intimidation and threats in the months before she died. In 2009 Virtosu was convicted of the unlawful killing of his wife Anastasia, whom he strangled. Catherine Pattison, prosecuting, told the jury Mihalachi and the family knew about Virtosus conviction and she lived in genuine fear that her brother-in-law would kill her. Ms Mihalachi had contacted the Home Office Immigration Service in the hope they would deport him and then called police to report Mr Virtosu one month before her death, the court heard. Ms Mihalachi told a practice manager at Reach Out domestic violence hub that she did not understand why the Home Office and the police did not help her, the jury was told. "Do they want someone to be killed before they do anything?" she was said to have asked. The court heard that there was "no dispute or issue", that Virtosu killed his sister-in-law and that he did so by striking her repeatedly with a hatchet. Ms Pattison said this was a "clear case of murder". During lockdown, the prosecutor said, "cracks started to appear" in the relationship between Virtosu and Ms Mihalachi. When asked to move out, the defendant refused, allegedly telling his brother: "I do what I want, no woman commands me. Shes at fault, not me." A post-mortem examination found the cause of death to have been multi organ failure resulting from head injuries and loss of blood. Throughout the trial Virtosu claimed to have been hearing voices and suffering a psychotic disorder. He claimed that Svetlana had appeared to him as having devil-like shining red eyes to support a defence of diminished responsibility, but he did not convince the jury. Detective Rosamund Ellis said: Svetlana Mihalachi had been forced to live with a background of threats of violence that ultimately ended in a ferocious and fatal attack. Virtosu tried hard to give the impression that he wasnt responsible for his actions due to a mental health disorder, but his actions were not the result of delusions, they were the actions of an angry violent man who launched a murderous attack on Svetlana as he had threatened to do on so many occasions. She was a wife and a mother and the depth of loss felt by her loved ones is immeasurable. My thoughts are with them today. T wo people have been jailed for firearm offences after police discovered a loaded hangun at an address in Bromley. Brandon Cole, 21, was jailed for 12 years at Croydon Crown Court on Friday after being found guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Sian Chambers, 22, was sentenced to six years imprisonment after she was found guilty of possession of firearm and ammunition. Officers searched Chambers address in January 2022 and found a firearm and ammunition inside a Gucci box. Sian Chambers / Met Police Specialist analysis revealed the firearm to be a loaded, converted Retay handgun. Chambers phone was seized and on inspection messages to Cole were identified, leading to his arrest. They were both arrested, charged and remanded in custody. Detective Inspector Lewis Sanderson said: Every illegal firearm removed from the streets of London means a life has potentially been saved somewhere along the line and another family potentially spared a devastating loss. This work is so incredibly important and I am so pleased today that the sentences today reflect the gravity of these very serious offences. A 23-year-old man has been jailed following a fatal stabbing in south-west London. Raekwon Hanniford-Brown was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years after he was convicted of murder at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, July 21. Errol McKay, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene at a home in Trinity Crescent, Balham, after police were called to an incident around 1.15am on July 27, 2022. The court heard how drug dealer Hanniford-Brown used to store drugs in the victims flat. Victim Errol McKay / Met Police In return, Mr McKay would receive a free supply of crack cocaine from the dealer. At around 1am on July 27, 2022, Hanniford-Brown entered the flat on Trinity Crescent with his own set of keys. An argument broke out between the pair over the keys used to get into the flat. This led to a physical fight that ended with victim sustaining fatal wounds. Hanniford-Brown then moved the safe where he stored his drugs, left the scene on a bicycle, disposed of the knife and attempted to leave the country. A friend of Mr McKay was at the flat at the time of the stabbing called an ambulance and put pressure on the wounds. Paramedics attended the scene but despite their efforts, Mr McKay sadly died at the scene. Hanniford-Brown was later arrested at Gatwick Airport as he attempted to flee the UK for Paris. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Semple, of the Mets Specialist Crime Command, said: I am pleased that this dangerous, violent individual will pay the penalty for his actions. My thoughts are with Errols family. I hope they can now find a measure of closure knowing that justice has been served. She added: Hanniford-Brown claimed that he acted in self-defence and that he suffered with PTSD and a phobia of knives, he also said that if it wasnt self-defence, he at least hadnt intended to cause Errol serious harm. However, the severity of the wounds he inflicted, the mobile phone data and the steps he took to distance himself from the incident, indicated otherwise. The attack on Errol was one of extreme brutality he was stabbed 24 times causing catastrophic injuries to his head and neck inflicting wounds of that nature is indicative of a frenzied attack, not self-defence. A spokesperson for the victims family, said: Errol was the youngest of nine children, the baby of the family. He was a loving son, brother, uncle and nephew. Errol was humble, funny and affectionate. A kind-hearted man who prioritised family. He extended his love and kindness beyond family; to friends and people in society who needed support. It was impossible to dislike Errol and as a result, he had many friends who loved him as he loved them. Errols door was always open. This man took Errols life then tried to run away. Some of us have been able to forgive, others have not, cannot and will not. Errol was taken from us too soon but leaves behind a legacy of love. A group of primary school children left feeling ashamed of their country after murals were painted over at an asylum centre in Kent have sent hand-drawn pictures to the young refugees housed there. Two classes of pupils, aged between eight and nine, at St Gerards Catholic Primary School in Birmingham, have gathered about 100 hand-drawn pictures to send to children at the Kent Intake Centre. The drawings were sent on Friday before the school broke up for the summer holidays, with some pictures also being sent directly to immigration minister Robert Jenrick. It comes after Mr Jenrick said the murals, which included images of Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters, were not age appropriate for the majority of young people staying there but reports claimed he had felt they were too welcoming. The children at St Gerards said they felt disappointed, sad, angry, and ashamed of their country, and they were inspired to do something to make the children feel more welcome. Eight-year-old Hugo told the PA news agency: When I heard it, it made me feel ashamed of my country because theyre making the childrens centre less welcoming. Another of the pupils, whose surnames have been omitted at the schools request, eight-year-old Ophelia, added: It made me feel really sad and angry, because some people in the world arent being very nice to them, and I think they should be welcomed everywhere. Ophelia added that they were inspired to make their own pictures to send to the children, saying: So we made these to send them to the Government so that they could stick them up so they feel welcomed. The pupils have gathered about 100 drawings so far, while others have written stories for the children to read. Darcey, also eight, said: As soon as I heard that those paintings were being painted over, I almost cried, because I dont think people should be treated like that because we dont know what theyre going through. Nine-year-old Anointing-Shalom said: When I heard that the pictures have been painted over, it made me angry, and it made me feel disappointed because we want them to feel welcomed. Were supposed to treat others how we want to be treated. Hugo said he wanted the children at the asylum centre to recognise they are not alone and that there are other people that are with them. Darcey said she wanted people to recognise that refugee children are like superheroes as theyve been escaping their country and theyve probably been walking miles and miles to just find safety. Anointing-Shaloms message to all the refugees out there is to never give up because theyve come this far and we dont want to turn them around and push them back. Of the Government, Ophelia added: I think they should listen to us and change their mind and start being kind to the refugees and giving them things. Children in the older classes at St Gerards have also written letters to their MP, Labours Paulette Hamilton, who was said to have written back giving her views and agreeing with the children about what changes they would like to see. Adult refugees from Sudan, Cameroon, Syria and Nigeria also visited the pupils at school last week, through the Stories of Hope and Home charity. As part of the schools work towards a Schools of Sanctuary award a national network of more than 400 schools committed to creating a culture of welcome and inclusion for refugees and those seeing asylum the children at St Gerards heard what it was like for refugees to leave their country and seek asylum in the UK. Asked how she felt when hearing their stories, Anointing-Shalom said: It makes me feel ashamed because it makes me feel like the country that I live in is not that friendly if youre not from here. Darcey added: It makes me feel very depressed and ashamed, because I think the Government are doing the wrong thing, and they dont know what its like to walk a mile in their shoes. B oris Johnson has suggested that the boss of NatWest should lose her job over the debacle surrounding the closure of Nigel Farages Coutts account. Dame Alison Rose apologised to Mr Farage for deeply inappropriate comments in an internal report that led to the closure of his accounts, in which he was branded a disingenuous grifter who promoted xenophobic, chauvinistic and racist views. The report prompted an announcement by the Treasury on Thursday that new rules would be introduced to force banks to explain any decision to close a customers account. Initial reports suggested that Mr Farages account was closed because he had too little money. Former Prime Minister Mr Johnson has called on ministers to hold a leak inquiry into how this inaccurate story emerged. He said he did not know whether Dame Alison Rose had briefed the story to BBC business editor Simon Jack - but suggested it was no coincidence that the broadcaster ran the story the next day. Mr Johnson said Coutts had made a terrible mistake by seeking to humiliate Mr Farage by mysteriously and arbitrarily shutting down his account. Writing for the Daily Mail, Mr Johnson called on Andrew Griffith, the City minister, to establish all the facts about how a false impression of Farages financial circumstances was given to the media. I am afraid that if Dame Alison was in any way responsible then she really needs to go, he said. And Farage - if that is what he wants - should have all his accounts restored forthwith. This is about far more than the bank account of one person. It is about freedom under the law, for everyone in this country. It is about the freedom to think and say what you believe - provided you dont break the law - without the fear of open or covert persecution. That freedom made our country great. It is under threat. It is time to fight. M illions of Brits hoping to get away could face severe travel disruption following the latest strike action by rail workers. The walkout by members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union will badly disrupt services, with some parts of the country having no trains at all on what is one of the busiest travel days of the year. Services are also being disrupted because of a ban on overtime by train drivers in the Aslef union. The deadlocked dispute is being made worse by a bitter row over controversial plans to close most railway ticket offices. PA The strike at 14 train companies on Saturday is expected to see wide variations in services across the country with trains starting later and finishing much earlier than usual. The lines affected are: Avanti West Coast; C2C, Chiltern Railways; CrossCountry; East Midlands Railway; GTR who operates Southern, Thameslink Great Northern and Gatwick Express; Great Western Railway; Greater Anglia; LNER; Northern Trains; Southeastern; South Western Railway; TransPennine Express; West Midlands Trains. Speaking on Saturday, RMT chief Mick Lynch said: Train companies invest little or nothing in our railways and make completely unjustifiable profits which they squirrel away in shareholder dividends and bosses pay packets. It is a scandal that the travelling public is being ripped off by greedy rail privateers while at the same time the Government oversees a corrupt system and prolongs a rail dispute for political reasons. It is high time this profits bonanza gravy train was halted, a deal done with the RMT and the railways returned to public ownership for the good of the country and railway workers. The RMT held a strike on Thursday and will stage another walkout on July 29. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG) said staff will be moved from behind screens and on to station concourses, but unions believe more than 2,000 jobs will be axed. The RDG said that since the first RMT strike in June 2022, industrial action had cost the sector around 620million. A statement said: "This has stalled its post-pandemic recovery and threatens its long-term sustainability, pushing the industry in to a spiral decline and risking consequences like cuts to services to make up the shortfall. Revenue levels are still 30 per cent below pre-pandemic levels. "The strikes have hit the wider economy - particularly sectors still recovering from the impact of the pandemic which employ hundreds of thousands of people. "Analysis by Hospitality UK shows that with the upcoming rail strikes set to cost hospitality 132million in sales, the cumulative impact of the rail strikes is 3.25billion. "The Night Time Industries Association said their members took a 40 per cent hit on strike days at a time when nearly three-quarters of their members are either just breaking even or losing money due to the wider cost-of-living crisis." In some areas only around half of train services are expected to run while others will have no services at all. An RDG spokesperson said: "The rail strikes called by the RMT union and the overtime ban by Aslef will undoubtedly cause some disruption, affecting not only the daily commute of our passengers but also disrupting the plans of families during the summer holidays. "This will lead to disappointment, frustration, and financial strain for tens of thousands of people. We apologise for the inconvenience caused and understand the impact on individuals and businesses. "While we are doing all we can to keep trains running, unfortunately there will be reduced services between Monday 17 July and Saturday 29 July, so our advice is to check before you travel." Picket lines will be mounted outside railway stations across England and workers say they are receiving strong support for their action from the public. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "The Government has met the rail unions, listened to them and facilitated improved offers on pay and reform. The union leaders should put these fair and reasonable offers to their members so this dispute can be resolved." W ildfires on the Greek island of Rhodes have forced hundreds of tourists to flee their hotels amid scorching temperatures. Authorities evacuated four locations close to the areas of Kiotari and Lardos in the southeastern part of the island as fire crews battled multiple blazes. Local media said the flames had reached three hotels, forcing residents to evacuate. Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said more than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines had been deployed to control the fires, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Residents in four localities were sent text messages urging them to evacuate and move to other regions, he added. It comes as Greece faces the hottest July weekend in 50 years, according to a top meteorologist. Panagiotis Giannopoulos, a meteorologist with state broadcaster ERT, said Athens would see temperatures of over 40C for six or seven days until the end of July. Firefighters, backed by air water bombers and reinforcements sent by several EU countries, were continuing to battle a wildfire that burnt forestland for a sixth day on Saturday. The fire, which broke out in the wider Athens area on Monday, has gutted houses and forced the evacuation of hundreds of residents. Authorities said that firefighters were battling 79 forest fires across the country on Friday, though blazes in forests on the island of Rhodes and in the Lakonia district in southern Greece were under control. People have been advised to work from home where possible and not leave the house unless for essential reasons, while popular tourist sites will remain closed during the hottest parts of the day. The Culture Ministry said the Acropolis would shut between midday and 5.30pm until July 23 due to the extreme heat. Neighbouring Turkey on Friday said it would send two firefighting aircraft and a helicopter to help Greek fire crews to contain the wildfires. Tourists refresh with water in front of the five century BC Parthenon temple at the Acropolis hill / Getty Images Climate Crisis Minister Vassilis Kikilias urged people to remain on guard. We are having a very difficult three-day spell, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with extreme weather conditions and very high temperatures followed by strong winds, he said, adding that another heatwave was forecast from the middle of next week. It comes amid a prolonged spell of scorching temperatures and extreme weather across the globe. In the US, temperatures of 46C have been forecast for the city of Phoenix, Arizona for the weekend. Death Valley, in California, saw a high of 53.5C on Sunday. Several cities in China, including Shanghai and Beijing, are bracing for floodwaters amid heavy rainfall. It comes days after a record temperature of 52.2C was reported in the Sanbao township in the countrys north-western Xinjiang region. Scientists have long warned that climate change, caused by CO2 emissions from burning fossil fuels, will make heatwaves more frequent and deadly. Experts say the target of keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrial levels is moving beyond reach. As many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe during heatwaves last summer, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. In the UK, the Met Office predict that hot summer weather will not arrive until mid-August. R ussian leaders may have infuriated military officials following the arrest of former intelligence officer Igor Girkin, British defence chiefs said. Officers from Russias Investigative Committee arrested Mr Girkin, an extreme nationalist militia leader turned blogger, at his Moscow flat on Friday morning. At a court appearance in the afternoon he was detained for two months on charges of inciting extremism. The UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in its latest intelligence update that Mr Girkin had long been a critic of the Russian defence ministrys conduct of the war in Ukraine, but that in recent days his comments turned to direct criticism of the Russian president Vladimir Putin and his time in power. Mr Girkin was a former battlefield commander of Russias proxy forces and was convicted by a Dutch court over the 2014 shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. The MoD said his arrest is likely to infuriate fellow members of the mil-blogger community and elements within the serving military who largely see Mr Girkin as an astute military analyst and patriot. They added: While Girkin is no ally of the Wagner Group, he was likely only prepared to push the limits of public criticism in the context of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhins June 2023 abortive mutiny. The taboo against unmasked criticism of the Putin regime has significantly weakened. Mr Girkin fought as a foreign volunteer in wars in Transnistria and Bosnia in the 1990s before joining the FSB. In 2014, he claimed credit for pulling the trigger on the war in Donbas when he and a group of volunteers seized control of the town of Slavyansk and proclaimed himself defence minister of the break away Donetsk Peoples Republic. Last November a Dutch court sentenced him to life in prison for the murders of 298 people on MH17, a Malaysian airlines Boeing 777 that a Russian Buk missile launcher shot down over Ukraine in July that year. He fell out with the Kremlin and was forced to return to Moscow, where he founded a short-lived Right-wing political movement aimed at overthrowing Putin before turning to blogging. V oters in Spain will go to the polls on Sunday in an election that could see the populist right take power after five years under a left-wing Government. Opinion polls indicate that both the right-of-centre Popular Party (PP) has the edge going into the election, raising the possibility that the extreme right Vox party could be part of Spains next Government. No party is expected to win an absolute majority, pollsters forecast, though PP is predicted to win a larger share of votes than Pedro Sanchezs ruling Socialists (PSOE). Polls will open at 9am on Sunday and close at 8pm, when the exit polls will be released. More than 37.4 million Spaniards are registered to vote, including 2.3 million abroad and 1.6 million for the first time. At least 2.5 million have registered to cast ballots by post. Experts said the result was expected to be decided by less than a million votes. To secure the majority of the 350 seats that it needs a form a Government, the PP is predicted to have to ally with Vox, giving the extreme right a role in Government for the first time since the end of Francisco Francos dictatorship in 1975. Polls suggest the PP will win just over a third of votes and the PSOE just under a third. The formation of a Government could depend on complex negotiations that could take weeks or months and may even end in fresh elections. King Felipe VI will begin meeting party leaders soon after to hear their pitches, and must then put forward a candidate for prime minister. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo has focused his campaign on attacking Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's own political deals. Mr Sanchez called the early election a day after his Spanish Socialist Workers Party and its small far-left coalition partner, Unidas Podemos (United We Can), took a hammering in local and regional elections on May 28. Mr Sanchez had insisted he would ride out his four-year term, indicating that an election would be held in December. Yerevan: Nikol Pashinyan, the prime minister of Armenia, warned of the possibility of a new war with Azerbaijan on Friday, accusing Baku of committing "genocide" in the secessionist region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is home to many Armenians. Two wars between Baku and Yerevan have been fought over the mountainous enclave, and the signing of a peace treaty is still many years away. Little progress has been made during negotiations mediated by the US, Russia, and the EU. "A (new) war (with Azerbaijan) is very likely as long as a peace treaty has not been signed and such a treaty has not been ratified by the parliaments of the two countries," Pashinyan told AFP. Also Read: Active Rohingyas demand increased international pressure on Myanmar The only road connecting Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia was temporarily closed by Azerbaijan earlier in July, which caused tensions to rise. Due to energy, food, and medicine shortages, the closure raised worries about a humanitarian crisis in the area. Regarding the Karabakh crisis, Pashinyan told AFP in an interview, "We're talking about a process of genocide, not a preparation for one. The two nations have been embroiled in a decades-long dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh; they fought two wars over the mountainous region, one in the 1990s and the other in 2020. As part of a cease-fire agreement mediated by Russia in the autumn of 2020, Armenia gave up large portions of territory it had long controlled, and Moscow sent peacekeepers to the Lachin Corridor to guarantee unhindered travel between Armenia and Karabakh. Also Read: Live fire drills are conducted by the Russian Navy in the Black Sea Russia, a longtime regional power broker, is displeased with the growing diplomatic engagement of the European Union and the United States in the Caucasus. Pashinyan stated that more pressure from both the West and Russia is required to get Baku to end its blockade of Nagorno-Karabakh after the most recent round of peace talks on July 15 in Brussels failed to produce a breakthrough. "If, by some Western circles' logic, Russia is not living up to all of our expectations because it is not honoring its commitments, then similarly, Russia also tells us (the same) about the West," he said. Also Read: North Korea launches cruise missiles but says nothing about the US soldier who entered the country The two nations have been embroiled in a decades-long dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh; they fought two wars over the mountainous region, one in the 1990s and the other in 2020. As part of a cease-fire agreement mediated by Russia in the autumn of 2020, Armenia gave up large portions of territory it had long controlled, and Moscow sent peacekeepers to the Lachin Corridor to guarantee unhindered travel between Armenia and Karabakh. Founder of Russian IT group involved in user monitoring dies at 40 22 July, 06:09 PM Anton Cherepennikov, the founder of the group of IT companies ICS Holding, died in Russia at the age of 40 (Photo:Wikipedia) Anton Cherepennikov, who founded ICS Holding (X-Holding), a group of IT companies known for their involvement in tracking Internet users, died at the age of 40, Russian media outlets reported on July 22. The cause of death has been attributed to cardiac arrest. Cherepennikov was notably associated with the implementation of a law concerning the isolation of Runet (the websites in the top-level . ru domain). Additionally, he served on the board of directors of Russian telecommunications company Megafon and owned the eSports team Virtus.pro until 2019. Video of day On February 25, 2023, Cherepennikov and his holding were included in the U.S. sanctions list. ICS Holding is a diversified holding of technology companies, which, among others, includes data storage systems and server manufacturer KNS Group (Yadro brand), operational intelligence developer Citadel, and information security solutions developer Garda Technologies, which works on the private global satellite constellation Bureau 1440. UK tabloid The Sun previously reported the deaths of over 40 prominent Russian figures, including oligarchs, scientists, and even generals, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Among these deaths, some have raised suspicions due to their unusual circumstances, often being labeled as suicides with any traces being swiftly erased. On June 12, Aleksandr Kolodich, 58, a lawmaker in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, was found buried in the basement of his house. His body had stab wounds. Colonel Vadim Boyko, 44, passed away on November 16, 2022, reportedly from five gunshot wounds in his office, classified as a suicide. Read also: Two Russian State Duma members die in one day Russian politician Pavel Antov, 65, was found dead in a hotel on December 26. His death occurred shortly after he criticized Putin's war against Ukraine. On May 20, 2023, Russia's Deputy Science Minister Pyotr Kucherenko, 46, who privately opposed Putin's invasion of Ukraine, passed away unexpectedly due to illness while returning from Cuba. 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. 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Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sept 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sept 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (17) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sept 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (203) Jul 2013 (292) Aug 2013 (350) Sept 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (437) Jan 2014 (543) Feb 2014 (473) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (526) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sept 2014 (440) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (578) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sept 2015 (922) Oct 2015 (919) Nov 2015 (798) Dec 2015 (789) Jan 2016 (781) Feb 2016 (834) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (945) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (880) Aug 2016 (1034) Sept 2016 (966) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (884) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sept 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sept 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sept 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sept 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sept 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (702) Sept 2022 (699) Oct 2022 (737) Nov 2022 (718) Dec 2022 (692) Jan 2023 (662) Feb 2023 (611) Mar 2023 (692) Apr 2023 (652) May 2023 (696) Jun 2023 (701) Jul 2023 (742) Aug 2023 (184) The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPR) informs that, on Friday, 179,900 people, including 17.333 Ukrainian citizens, entered Romania through the border crossing points. According to a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday, approximately 340,100 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 85,500 means of transport, went through the control formalities at the border crossing points throughout the country, both on their way in and on their way out, Agerpres informs. As of February 10, 2022 (pre-conflict period), 5,152,043 Ukrainian citizens entered Romania.In their areas of relevance, the crossing points and the "green border", the police found 75 illegal acts (32 crimes and 43 misdemeanors) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, and the value of the fines applied amounted to approximately RON 25,100.Assets worth approximately RON 3,486,800 were seized.On Thursday, 13 foreign citizens who did not meet the conditions provided for by law were not allowed to enter the country and 12 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave for various legal reasons. The heatwave and the heightened thermal discomfort will persist throughout Saturday in 20 counties and in the City of Bucharest, against the backdrop of the yellow and orange Codes issued by the National Meteorological Administration (ANM). Thus, the Orange Code warning concerns the counties of Olt, Teleorman, Giurgiu, Ilfov, Calarasi, Ialomita, Constanta and Bucharest, areas where maximum temperatures of 38-39 degrees will be recorded, thermal discomfort will be accentuated, and the temperature-humidity index (ITU) will exceed the critical threshold of 80 units, Agerpres informs. Also, a code yellow for heat will be valid, on Saturday, in 13 counties (Tulcea, Constanta, Galati, Braila, Vrancea, Buzau, Prahova, Dambovita, Arges, Valcea, Gorj, Mehedinti and Dolj), where the maximum will reach 37 degrees, and the minimum will oscillate between 18 and 23 degrees.In Bucharest, the heat wave will last until Sunday morning, and the thermal values during the day will reach 39 degrees, while during the nights the temperatures will fall between 19 and 22 degrees.Meteorologists state that, on Sunday, the thermal discomfort and heatwave will persist in the southern regions, and at the beginning of next week it will spread to most of the country and intensify. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Catalin Predoiu, told the graduates of the Police Academy on Saturday not to forget that they are employed "in the service of the law and the country 24 hours a day". He participated in the swearing-in ceremony at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Academy in Bucharest. Predoiu told the young graduates that they are at the beginning of careers that will bring them "both challenges and satisfaction". "These are challenging times today, which do not allow us to be confident in what we know or what we think we know. So I teach you, I urge you, I ask you to continuously prepare, push your limits and adapt, to face all the challenges and provide the citizens with a high-performance public service that they deserve, for which they pay taxes , for which I work every day," Predoiu said, Agerpres informs.He asked the young people for "involvement, seriousness, dedication" and talked about the duty they have towards the citizens."Never lose sight of the fact that this profession is at the service of the people, of the communities in which you will be working. In front of all these citizens, in front of all these communities, in front of the motherland, you assume the responsibility to always be at the top (...). Don't forget, your families are also part of these communities that look at you today I proudly promise, your friends, never to deceive them in their expectations", the minister pointed out.Catalin Predoiu showed that the expectations from the new graduates of the Police Academy are "very high"."Your new status requires you to conduct yourself irreproachably, moral integrity, loyalty to the institutions and respect for the law, citizens and the country. I want you to know from now on that the expectations from you are very high, both from the Ministry, from your colleagues, but, don't forget, also from the citizens, who expect you professionally ism from you. You have all the prerequisites to be those professionals that our country wants and needs, in defense of the law and its citizens," Catalin Predoiu said.In total, 345 young men and women graduated from the Alexandru Ioan Cuza Police Academy this year. The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, said on Saturday, in Timisoara, that no country in the world can provide the necessary beds for the severely burned, in the event of a catastrophe, but Romania has started expanding the infrastructure that can serve this area, especially after the 2016 moment. According to him, at the national level, at the moment, there are about 30 beds for the elderly, and after the completion of the expansion project, 50 beds will be available, Agerpres informs. "The major burns centers are being expanded in Bucharest, Targu Mures and Timisoara, the last one being in the most advanced stage, and it will provide 12 beds. At the national level, we have about 30 beds and we will reach 50 after the completion of the project, including pediatric beds. The center in Timisoara is the most advanced, the land has been developed here (...). Within the Timisoara County Hospital there will be this new building that will offer 12 new places. (...). No country in the world can set up so many beds for burn patients, which could serve such patients in case of emergency, catastrophe, and there must also be the possibility of solving at the national level, but also through international partnerships. We will soon sign an agreement, in this sense, with the Belgian government, in order to have a legislation and a predictive mechanism bil for such patients, in case of catastrophe," explained Minister Alexandru Rafila, in a press conference.He emphasized that all this specialized infrastructure must be served by qualified personnel and that they work closely with the Plastic Surgery Commission of the Ministry of Health, so that as many beds as possible are operationalized at the national level.The manager of the Timisoara County Hospital, Dorel Sandesc, said that the five-bed intensive care unit of the medical unit he runs is permanently almost full."This department represents, from the point of view of costs, a financial hole for the hospital, but there is no problem of not supporting these patients. The Ministry of Health has implemented a program for additional funding for the care of major burns," said Dorel Sandesc.The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, was present in Timisoara, on Saturday, where he visited the stage of implementation of a project of the Ministry, through the World Bank: the multifunctional building that includes the Burn Victim Center and which will connect the buildings of the County Hospital."By achieving this goal, we want to make the first de facto regional hospital in a modernized functional complex that will cover the medical needs of the area for patients with serious or intermediate level burns (...). The total investment is 246 million RON and will be completed in 2025," said Dorel Sandesc Like Emma Donoghues Room, Liz Nugents riveting new novel is narrated by someone who spends their first five years in a locked room, the child of a captive woman and a kidnapper. But in Strange Sally Diamond, that child is now a 42-year-old woman who has no memory of being imprisoned. Although the violence in the room is only referred to, not depicted, readers will quickly discern that the trauma lives in her bones, her behavior and possibly as the novel questions her DNA. Sallys mother, Denise, was 11 years old when she was kidnapped by a pedophile named Conor Geary, who chained her to the wall of a soundproof room near Dublin. There, she gave birth first to a boy, whom Geary took away, and later to Sally. Geary fled when Denise was discovered, and Denise died soon after. At age 7, Sally was adopted by Tom, a psychiatrist who encouraged her reclusive tendencies, and she grows up isolated and socially inept. She takes people at face value and, when Tom dies, obediently carries out his joking instructions stuffing him into their garbage incinerator and setting him ablaze. (It was a simple misunderstanding, she tells police.) Sallys directness provides much of the books dark humor when asked if she would like to attend church, she tells the vicar, No, its very boring. Her story is interspersed with chapters from Peter, the brother she never knew, as he recounts his experience in the locked room and beyond. As Sallys voice grows more confident, Peters grows more ominous. Things turn dark when Sally receives a package containing a teddy bear. She has no memory of the bear, which dates to her time in captivity, yet it provokes powerful feelings. Why was I so immediately warmed by his presence? she wonders. I was overrun by emotions I couldnt understand. This is an intense book, a page-turner, though the U.S. edition has a slightly modified ending that gives American readers a glimmer of light that Irish readers werent afforded. Read on one level, Strange Sally Diamond is a riveting mystery, with puzzles piling up. Where is Geary? Who sent the bear and why? Who is Mark, who arrives in the village and seems obsessed with Sally? But read on another level, its a psychological thriller about legacy, posing the eternal question of nature vs. nurture. Are we doomed to be like our parents? Can we move past our childhoods? I am not my dad, Peter says repeatedly. And yet. Love here often takes the twisted form of confinement not just Gearys cell, or Toms isolation. Even Sally, late in the book as she seems to be sliding back into her strange ways, says: I finally had someone who was mine. I loved him, I wanted to keep him to myself. As the saying goes, the apple doesnt fall far from the tree. But what if the tree is the thing that is rotten to the core? Can the apple still thrive? Nugents spectacular novel gives us both despair and hope. BERKELEY A man from Ferguson was fatally injured Thursday when his car hit another vehicle that had stopped in a traffic lane of Interstate 170, police said. The Missouri Highway Patrol identified the victim as 39-year-old Ronaldo E. Butler. The crash was at about 3:20 p.m. Thursday on southbound I-170 near Frost Avenue. Butler was driving south in a 2007 Hyundai Elantra. His car hit a 2001 BMW 330ci that had stopped in a traffic lane because of mechanical problems, police said. Butler, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two 25-year-old men in the BMW, who were not wearing seat belts, suffered minor injuries, police said. A man reportedly from Jefferson County has been charged in connection with the Capitol riots, accused of disorderly conduct for forcing his way into the seat of the U.S. government with thousands of others, some of whom vandalized, looted and threatened lawmakers on Jan. 6, 2021. According to court documents, Eric Glen Harrower helped other insurrectionists scale a banister, using an overturned bike rack as a ladder, to get into the building. He then spent about 20 minutes inside the Capitol Crypt, a circular room below the rotunda, before exiting through a broken window. The Kansas City Star reported that Harrower is from Jefferson County. Investigators say Harrower was in Washington with a friend to attend a rally for then-President Donald Trump the day Congress met to count the electoral college vote and formalize the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a violent but unsuccessful effort to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. Harrower and Joshua Dressel of Festus can be seen in video footage on the Capitol grounds and inside the building, the federal charges say. Harrower confirmed the images, which show a man with a reddish-brown beard wearing a maroon hoodie, were of him. The two entered the building at 2:14 p.m. via the northwest steps to the Senate wing doors. Dressel was charged two years ago after a tipster noticed him in a video broadcast on MSNBC. He pleaded guilty last August to knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building and was sentenced in March to 14 days in prison and a $500 fine. According to court records, Harrower was charged on July 6 in U.S. District Court in Washington with four misdemeanor counts: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Harrower was arrested July 7 in St. Louis, according to court documents. The case was unsealed Tuesday. He was released on a personal recognizance bond after a hearing via video Thursday in federal court in Washington. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 28. Facebook messages reviewed by the FBI during its investigation into Dressel led them to Harrower, according to charging documents. The FBI interviewed him in February of last year. According to investigators, Harrower said that as he and Dressel approached the Capitol, they saw a lot of chaos, including flashbangs, pepper spray and a rioter smashing the base of a flag stand into stonework. Dressel had claimed to be one of the first 20 people or so to break into the Capitol. Over a thousand people, including more than two dozen Missourians, have been charged in the riot, in which about 150 law enforcement officers were injured. At least seven deaths have been connected with the attack. The Kansas City Star contributed to this report. JEFFERSON CITY Though state health officials have sought data on fish near the contaminated Weldon Spring site in St. Charles County, the Department of Health and Senior Services does not have such data and there are no fish consumption advisories for nearby lakes. Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for DHSS, said the department formulates its fish consumption advisories which warn anglers to limit or avoid consumption of fish due to contaminants detected based on review of data provided by other agencies. But Cox said the health department doesnt have current data on the Weldon Spring site or nearby Lakes 34, 35 and 36 in the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, which is adjacent to the Weldon Spring site. The three lakes and the presence of uranium were mentioned in state and federal government records that were the subject of a recent report by The Missouri Independent on apparent disagreements between regulators about the pace of cleanup at Weldon Spring. Though weve asked for such data in the past, we do not have fish sampling data for the Weldon Spring site or related lakes that you referenced, so those waterbodies are not part of our fish advisory, Cox told the Post-Dispatch on Friday. Cox said the DHSS has asked the Department of Energy, which controls the Weldon Spring site, for current fish tissue data in comments on previous five-year Weldon Spring site reviews at least as far back as 2016. DOE has previously told us that they assessed fish contamination risk already, but we have asked for them to update that assessment to account for any changes that have occurred, Cox said in an email. She said a July 1995 report may be the assessment DOE has previously referenced. That report says the human health risk associated with eating fish from the three lakes with elevated levels of uranium is below the EPAs target range for unacceptable human risk levels. As a result of this assessment, no limits were placed on human consumption of fish from the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, the report says. A U.S. Department of Energy spokesman in an email Friday said because monitoring results for surface water at Lakes 34, 35 and 36 have remained below the maximum contaminant level for uranium since the late 1990s, no further testing of fish has been conducted. State Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, said she is concerned that federal agencies are not providing answers to the questions of our state agencies. Im equally concerned that the state agencies havent been empowered to compel action or alert the public of these concerns. Brynes, Rep. Richard West, R-New Melle, and St. Charles County Councilman Joe Brazil are hosting a town hall meeting on Aug. 2 at the New Melle Community Center, 4700 State Highway Z, to discuss environmental issues related to Weldon Spring. The Weldon Spring site has been a focus of area nuclear waste activists in the wake of recent reporting on St. Louis role in the development of nuclear weapons and the legacy of contamination left behind. Mallinckrodt moved its uranium processing operations from its St. Louis plant to Weldon Spring, at the former site of a World War II-era TNT and DNT plant, in 1957. By the time it stopped uranium processing there in 1966, the site was heavily contaminated. Surface remediation concluded with completion of a 41-acre, onsite disposal cell in 2001 visible from Highway 94 just west of Francis Howell High School. The Weldon Spring site is controlled by the Department of Energy, while the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area is managed by the Department of Conservation. Uranium levels at the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area are referenced in a 2021 Department of Natural Resources review of a draft five-year report being prepared by the Department of Energy. The uranium levels at Busch Lake 34 continue to be higher than the other locations, the DNR document says, quoting from the Department of Energy draft. Please include a discussion on why the uranium levels are higher in Busch Lake 34 than other locations, the DNR wrote to the Department of Energy. In response, the Department of Energy told the DNR that the passage would be revised to: Busch Lake 34, the relatively highest uranium concentration pond, is immediately downgradient of Burgermeister Spring where much of the groundwater from the Chemical Plant flows. Busch Lake 36 and Busch Lake 35 are nearer the site but have lower uranium levels. Dye tracer injected in wells in the northern part of the site were detected at Burgermeister Spring, possibly under-flowing the Busch Lake 36 and Busch Lake 35 drainage, the Department of Energy said. The Department of Energy repeats this passage in its final report, published September 2021, and adds additional information. The uranium levels at Busch Lake 34 continue to be higher than the other locations; however, uranium levels at the Busch Lake outlets have shown an overall decline since remediation at the Chemical Plant site, the final report, which is publicly available, says. Asked about uranium levels referenced at Busch, a spokesman for the Department of Conservation said the agency relies upon the expertise of the Department of Health and Senior Services for fish consumption advisories. MDC is not currently testing fish at the Busch Conservation Area lakes, Joe Jerek, spokesman for the agency, said this week. There are currently no fish advisories for the Busch Conservation Area. Based on their oversight and involvement at the Weldon Spring site, we also rely upon the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Agency to inform us if our current stocking or management practices should be amended, Jerek said. Posted at 3:50 p.m. Friday. Timeline: St. Louis long history of radioactive contamination Mallinckrodt began processing uranium ore in St. Louis in 1942. Parts of St. Louis remain contaminated more than 80 years later. Ukrainian border service tracking Wagner mercenary redeployment to Belarus 22 July, 04:27 PM Fighters of the Wagner PMC (Photo:REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo) About 5,000 Wagner Group mercenaries have been deployed to Belarus as of July 22, Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), told NVs sister publication, Ukrainska Pravda. "The situation along the border remains fully controlled by the border units and other components of the Armed Forces of our country," Ukrainska Pravda quoted Demchenko as saying. "All of them have been warned about further risks that may come from the territory of Belarus, which, unfortunately, is under the influence of Russia and supports it in the war waged against Ukraine." Video of day So far, the number of Russian mercenaries in Belarus poses no direct threat to Ukraine, however the Ukrainian Armed Forces should be prepared for any possible scenario, including preventing provocations on the border with Belarus, Demchenko stressed. Wagner in Belarus: what we know On June 24, the founder and leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ended his one-day insurrection against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after negotiations with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Putin presented the Wagner troops with three options as a result of the negotiations one of which involved their deployment to Belarus. Shortly after, reports emerged of camp constructions in Belarus intended to accommodate the Wagner mercenaries. Satellite images of a potential field camp were subsequently released. While Lukashenko denied the existence of any camps specifically for Wagner units, 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 mercenaries. However, Ukrainian intelligence cautioned against premature conclusions regarding their deployment to that country. Later, information surfaced suggesting that the Wagner mercenaries 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. Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much. Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News WASHINGTON Vice President Kamala Harris said extremists want to replace history with lies as she traveled to Florida on Friday to assail Republican efforts to overhaul educational standards, plunging into a battle over schooling that has rippled through classrooms around the country. They dare to push propaganda to our children, she said in Jacksonville. This is the United States of America. Were not supposed to do that. Her trip came two days after the Florida Board of Education approved a revised Black history curriculum to satisfy legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate who has accused public schools of liberal indoctrination. The new standards include instruction that enslaved people benefited from skills that they learned. How is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization? Harris asked. She did not mention DeSantis by name, instead referring to so-called leaders. However, the speech was another example of how Harris has been the White House point person for addressing cultural issues such as race, schooling and abortion that DeSantis has taken on in the governors office and on the campaign trail. In Salt Lake City on Friday, DeSantis doubled down on earlier arguments that the new curriculum was needed to prevent liberal indoctrination and accused Harris of attempting to demagogue and politicize history. He said he wasnt involved in devising the Board of Educations standards but defended the components concerning how enslaved people benefited. Theyre probably going to show is some of the folks that eventually parlayed being a blacksmith into doing things later, later in life. But the reality is: All of that is rooted in whatever is factual, he said. Earlier, DeSantis accused the Biden administration of being obsessed with his state as it ignores other problems, like border security and crime. Harris, the first Black person to serve as vice president, spoke from the Ritz Theater and Museum, located in a historically African American neighborhood of Jacksonville. She described true patriotism as fighting for a nation that will be better for each generation to come, and she said schools would better prepare students for the world if they dont gloss over historical crimes. Let us not be seduced into believing that somehow we will be better if we forget, she said. We will be better if we remember. We will be stronger if we remember. Christian Ziegler, chairman of the Florida Republican Party, said Harris was out to lecture Floridian parents that their children belong to the government and the government has a right to indoctrinate and sexualize our children. He said the government overreach on parental rights has already been overwhelmingly rejected in Florida. President Joe Biden and Harris have pitched their reelection campaign around preserving freedoms, and they view education issues as one way to highlight Republican extremism. In a video announcing his bid for a second term, Biden warned about Republicans dictating what health care decisions women can make, banning books, and telling people who they can love, all while making it more difficult for you to be able to vote. Jacksonville is a rare bright spot for Democrats in Florida, a longtime swing state that has become increasingly safe for Republicans. Donna Deegan, a Democrat, was elected as the city's mayor in May, and Harris tried to boost morale among the party faithful on Friday. We gotta remind the folks of Florida that youre not fighting out here by yourself, Harris said. We believe in you. Florida has shifted to the right under DeSantis leadership. As governor, hes signed legislation on a number of education issues, such as banning drag shows at schools and imposing new requirements for transgender bathroom use. In 2022, he signed what he called the Stop WOKE Act, which limits how race can be taught in school and which the governor used to attack critical race theory a subject he has described as crap. The law essentially says students cant be made to feel guilty about their race because of injustices of the past. Critics said the law was DeSantis attempt to suppress an accurate account of Black history. The law is being challenged in court. The full measure of African American history is not a hand-picked Rosa Parks here and a Martin Luther King Jr. there, said Democratic state Sen. Bobby Powell, who is Black. It is the sweeping collection of stories spanning several centuries, the lessons of cruelty and inhumanity interwoven in the determination of a people to live and breathe free. It is as much Floridas story as the nations story and it needs to be fully told. Earlier this year, the DeSantis administration rejected a College Board Advanced Placement course on African American history, which DeSantis said was indoctrination. Farrington reported from Tallahassee, Florida. WASHINGTON Anonymous comments with racist, sexist and abusive messages that were posted for years on a jobs-related website for economists originated from leading U.S. universities, according to recent research. Some economists have long condemned the website, Economics Job Market Rumors, for its toxic content. The site, known by its acronym EJMR, is run by an anonymous individual and is not connected to a university or other institution. That fact had fed speculation that those who posted hateful messages on it were mostly online cranks who might not be economists. Yet the new research indicates that users of the website include individuals at top-tier colleges and universities, including Harvard, Stanford and the University of Chicago, and many others. Our analysis reveals that the users who post on EJMR are predominantly economists, including those working in the upper echelons of academia, government, and the private sector, the paper concluded. It was written by Florian Ederer, a management professor at Boston University, Paul Goldsmith-Pinkham, a finance professor at the Yale School of Management, and Kyle Jensen, an associate dean at Yale. A spokeswoman for Harvard declined to comment. Stanford and the University of Chicago did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Its not just a few bad apples, Ederer said in a presentation Thursday at a conference sponsored by the National Bureau of Economic Research in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Its very, very widespread. And the toxicity is widespread. The revelations have provoked debate on social media among economists about privacy, free speech and online abuse. Some economists, particularly women who have been attacked on the site, say they hope the revelations lead colleges and universities to investigate the postings. Others have expressed concern that the research could lead to a witch hunt among those who posted on the site. Speaking in an interview with The Associated Press, Goldsmith-Pinkham sought to dispel those concerns, saying the group does not plan on releasing anything identifying individuals. Almost 2,000 people watched a livestream of the papers presentation Thursday on YouTube. That was far more than the 100 or so who watched other NBER presentations the same day, suggesting widespread interest in the topic among academic economists. The bigoted content on the website makes women and nonwhite economists often feel unwelcome in a profession that is already struggling to diversify, Goldsmith-Pinkham said. Black Americans, for example, are more likely to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics or other social sciences than in economics. The idea that in an anonymous space, people behave in this way, it reflects pretty poorly on the profession, Goldmsith-Pinkham said. The researchers used publicly available data to determine the internet addresses for about two-thirds of the more than 7 million posts that have been made on the site since 2010. They classified about 10% of those posts as toxic because of their racist or sexist content. These posts included the use of racial slurs and assertions that women have smaller brains than men. About 11% of the postings on EJMR, the researchers found, originated from among several hundred universities, including those they classified as the top 25 research universities. On average, 13% of the posts from universities were considered toxic. Things were WAY better when women were focused on rearing children and feeding their husbands, said one post highlighted by the researchers. The biggest enemies of America are: Blks, read another. The site has drawn criticism since at least 2017, when Alice Wu, an undergraduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote a paper highlighting the sexist nature of many of the postings on the site. In response to her paper, Olivier Blanchard, a former chief economist at the International Monetary Fund and emeritus economics professor at MIT, called the website a cesspool. Blanchard added that the site had become a breeding ground for personal attacks of an abusive kind. Anya Samek, an economics professor who was first attacked on the site in 2009, said the site persists because there has been no way to hold it accountable. She said she hopes the universities that are being identified as sources of some of the posts will take steps to prevent future abuse. I would like to see universities take some action to make sure theres no hate speech online coming from their own offices, Samek said. The Japanese macaques in Jigokudani Monkey Park begin most days with a relaxing dip in their own private hot tub. Located in Joshinetsu Kogen National Park in Japan's Nagano prefecture, the primate-only onsen is world-famous as the preferred simian hot spring. But life hasn't always been so simple for the snow monkeys of Jigokudani ("The Valley of Hell," named for its natural hot springs). They were initially forced from their habitat in the 1950s by the development of nearby ski resorts. As a result, they moved into nearby towns and quickly found trouble, raiding fruit from local farmers' orchards. The farmers petitioned the government and were granted the right to hunt the macaques. A Nagano Railway Company worker and local nature enthusiast, Sogo Hara was determined to protect the monkeys and worked for months to persuade troops to leave the creatures alone. Hara's strategy was to lure the monkeys into the mountains with apples. His group soon discovered a nearby ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn). As is typical for ryokans, Korakukan's property included outdoor onsen for guests' enjoyment. One day in 1963, so the story goes, an errant apple fell into the human's onsen. A young monkey tested the steamy water and emerged with the apple. He didn't exit the waters immediately, though, and many of the monkeys looked on as their buddy quietly enjoyed the water. It wasn't long before other young monkeys began mimicking the water-loving monkey's behavior. Within months, all of the female monkeys had taken to bathing in the hot springs. While this behavior delighted human visitors, it created a clear hygiene issue for the inn. This led to the establishment of the Jigokudani Monkey Park in 1964, thanks to the efforts of Hara. Today, this is where the snow monkeys live, freely soaking in their dedicated hot springs peacefully. Damage resulting from Typhoon No. 19 had impacted the spring's water levels and temperature but restoration work is now underway and the park is open to tourists. The Jigokudani Facebook page offers daily updates on the restoration work and presence of the monkeys. Whats good for the goose should be good for the gander. Elected officials who attempt to delegitimize our governmental institutions just because they didnt get their way should be called out, no matter what their party. Over the course of nine days, U.S. Rep. Cori Bush, D-St. Louis, reacted and attacked the Supreme Court 19 times on Twitter. Bush began tweeting or retweeting on June 21, ahead of the Courts most recent decisions with From affirmative action to student debt, we shouldnt have to hold our collective breath for the Supreme Court to make decisions about our rights when the correct rulings are clear. Expand. The. Court. A couple others included: This past weekend marked one year since the far-right extremist Supreme Court overturned Roe. (June 26) and The Supreme Court is corrupt and continues to fail the people of this country. Expand the court. (June 30) Bush is acting as if her beliefs are the only right and just ones. She fails to take into account the law and the will and desires of the millions of other voters who may disagree with her. Bush isnt alone in criticizing one of the other co-equal branches of government when something hasnt gone her way. Former President Donald Trump has been justifiably condemned for stoking claims of illegitimacy of our national elections and of the American government itself. His actions were profoundly dangerous for our democratic republic. So are Bushs. Both Trump and Bush have one thing in common: They both default to losing a political battle by complaining that the other side or even other branches of their own government is invalid. It is no wonder Americans trust in our institutions continues to fall. They both questioned the legitimacy of the very government they were entrusted with when elected. One could rightly argue that Trumps behavior is worse as he attacked the very heart of our democracy, our free and fair elections. But this should not give progressives, like Bush, a pass. Bushs objections go beyond criticisms. They assault the very institutions that Bush was elected to serve. Comments like Bushs or Trumps erode trust. It is no wonder Americans faith in major societal institutions continues to drop and has not improved since they reached their lowest levels in 2022. Last year, Gallup recorded significant declines in public confidence in 11 of the 16 institutions it tracks annually. The presidency and Supreme Court suffered the most, with only 23% of respondents expressing a great deal or fair amount of confidence in the presidency and 25% in the Supreme Court. This year the news is not much better, with confidence in the Supreme Court now at 27% and the presidency at 26%. Of course, the institutions themselves have played a role in their own declining confidence, but comments like those of Bushs or the actions of Trump undermine the ability for them to rebuild it. Americas first president, George Washington, penned a letter which would eventually be known as his Farewell Address. The letter was published in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser, and it announced to the American people his decision not to seek a third term as president of the United States. He expressed his gratitude for the honor of serving the new country and offered some parting advice. Washington urged Americans to remain united and in doing so we should hold our identity as Americans above membership to a state, a region, or a faction, which would now be considered a political party. Washington understood that factions could destroy our common interests and rip at the threads of our unity. His guidance wasnt just for his presidential successors like Trump or for legislators like Bush, it was for the electorate as well. Washington wrote: Towards the preservation of your government and the permanency of your present happy state, it is requisite not only that you steadily discountenance irregular oppositions to its acknowledged authority but also that you resist with care the spirit of innovation upon its principles, however specious the pretexts. One method of assault may be to effect in the forms of the Constitution alterations which will impair the energy of the system and thus to undermine what cannot be directly overthrown. Only when we act in the way Washington taught us to, call out elected officials who seek to undermine the government, and elect individuals who put the country first and respect the oath they swear to the Constitution, will we be able to regain trust in our institutions, heal the divisions, and be unified. Missouris government is walking away from tens of millions of dollars that would have put food in low-income kids bellies because it is incapable of carrying out its end of a federal benefits program that at least 40 other states have managed to navigate. Chalk it up to the same endemic failures that have driven away teachers because of Missouris low pay, shortchanged needed infrastructure and presided over some of the highest mortality rates in the country all while the Legislature has busied itself with short-sighted tax cuts and gratuitous culture-war attacks on large swaths of its own citizenry. It is the latest note in an all-too-familiar chorus of dysfunction in one of the worst-run states in America. If there are two defining characteristics of Missouris Republican-run government, they are ideological extremism and governmental incompetence. The story of how the states needy kids were blocked from accessing some $42 million in available federal food benefits appears to check both those boxes. The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program, or P-EBT, is a relief program funded by the federal government but administered by states. It loads food benefits onto cards that kids can use for up to $120 worth of food if they are eligible for free or reduced lunch programs. As reported by The Missouri Independent, roughly 356,000 Missouri kids qualify, putting some $42.7 million from the federal government on the table this year. But Missouri will be leaving it there. The state is forgoing participation this year, after last years program here dragged into this summer due to the states inability to get the money where it needed to go. No one should underestimate the mind-numbing level of bureaucracy necessary to administer a federal program but other states managed it, most of them dispersing last years funds in just a few months last summer. Missouri government, however, with its outdated computer systems, needed to create a data portal from scratch to collect information on student eligibility and coordinate that data with state and federal agencies. As a result, Missouri didnt even get last years program up and running until this summer, according to documents obtained by The Missouri Independent. The decision to bow out of this years program, a spokesperson for Missouris Department of Elementary and Secondary Education told the news site, was based on the federal requirements associated with accessing and administering the benefits coupled with the limitations of our current state and local data collection systems. Technological lapses arent a new story in Missouri government, and the current regime has shown little interest in addressing that problem. When the Post-Dispatch discovered in 2021 that a glitch in one of the states systems was publicly exposing thousands of teachers Social Security numbers, Gov. Mike Parson responded not with determination to finally bring his states technological infrastructure into the 21st century, but with a bizarre legal vendetta against the reporter who uncovered it. Governmental foot-dragging has become typical on issues that are crucial to regular Missourians but offer no clear ideological payoff to the states right-wing political leaders. It took 25 years for Missouri to finally pass a gas tax hike in 2021 for badly needed highway and bridge upgrades. When the state finally addressed its rock-bottom teachers salaries recently, it didnt simply raise them, but instead offered school districts a temporary matching-grant program that many of them cant use and which doesnt permanently solve the problem. After the Legislature refused for years to expand Medicaid with federal subsidies as envisioned under the Affordable Care Act another instance of Missouri politicians leaving millions of federal dollars on the table, to the detriment of the states low-income residents the states voters finally had to overrule them in 2021 to get it done. And even then, legislators attempted to block the voter-approved Medicaid expansion from going into effect. At times, it seems these lawmakers cant be moved to action unless it is to further burden already-vulnerable Missourians. Contrast that lumbering obstruction with the states lightning-fast implementation last year of an abortion ban as extreme as any in the nation. Literally minutes after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Missouri officials enacted a previously passed law that outlaws the procedure from the moment of conception, even in cases of rape of incest. Was that kind of quick and effective marshaling of governmental power (in the name of protecting, literally, clumps of cells) really not possible for the goal of ensuring that fully formed but underprivileged Missouri school kids dont go hungry? Or perhaps there was an underlying factor like the one that stalled Medicaid expansion here for so long the factor of a ruling GOP that would rather its own residents suffer than to give a Democratic presidential administration a policy win. Perhaps that suggestion is too cynical. Maybe Missouri is shortchanging its hungry kids not out of political animus, but just plain old governmental incompetence. When voters next year consider whether to keep these leaders in charge, they should think long and hard about whether that distinction really matters. Russian defense firm Lobaev has developed a modification for the widely used DJI quadcopters that enables them to operate when the satellite navigation signals are being jammed. This is apparently done by restoring use of the Russian GLONASS satellite navigation system to DJI quadcopters. Currently DJI quadcopters rely on the American GPS and the Chinese Beidou for satellite navigation. Until a year ago, DJI quadcopters could also use GLONASS, but DJI removed GLONASS access. The Lobaev modification restores access to GLONASS in such a way that Russian Quadcopters can operate accurately when most satellite navigation signals are being jammed. Jamming is widely used by both sides in Ukraine; the Lobaev mod would give Russian quadcopters an edge. DJI quadcopters are popular with Russian troops. While the Russian military supplies some to combat units, troops often buy additional ones. Quadcopters already in use can have the Lobaev mod added while Russian distributors of DJI quadcopters can apply the mod before shipping them to military customers. The Mavic quadcopters are available in many models, ranging from inexpensive (under a thousand dollars each) to over $10,000. The more you pay the more capabilities you get, including battery life while in the air. The more expensive models can stay in the air for twice as long and have more effective cameras and more capabilities in general. This is why DJI is the largest supplier of quadcopters in the world and dominates the quadcopter market. The Ukraine War saw a lot of innovations and many of them involved the innovative use of commercial UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) like the Chinese Mavic quadcopters. Ukrainians also designed and built their own UAVs or heavily modified commercial models like Mavic. Russian soldiers also use Mavic quadcopters when they can get them. Corruption in Russia makes importing Mavic quadcopters difficult. This isnt just about Mavic because corruption became more widespread in Russia after the Ukraine War started, and subsequent Western sanctions disrupted the Russian economy. The government bureaucracy in Russia discourages and disrupts any private efforts to design and build not merely UAVs, but private efforts to build most anything which might compete with government ways of building or doing things. Because that will interfere with government corruption. Ukrainians have noticed that one of their assets in the war is the disruptive effect the Russian bureaucracy has on the Russian military. While there is some corruption in Ukraine, there is also a lot more popular anger and active opposition to any corruption hurting the war effort. Less corruption in wartime Ukraine means there are a lot more opportunities for innovation without interference from some corrupt official or supplier. Russian troops still have a lot of UAVs but not as many as the Ukrainians, and especially not with all the innovations found in many Ukrainian UAVs. This made a difference and still does, even though the Russians have been quick to use new forms of jamming to disrupt or destroy Ukrainian UAVs. Both sides suffer heavy (in the thousands) UAV losses each month and Ukraine, with NATO support and unencumbered by economic sanctions, is able to maintain a UAV edge on the battlefield. Ukrainians were particularly adept at modifying quadcopters to carry explosives. If the operator finds an enemy tank or light armored vehicle with a top hatch open, the vehicle could be destroyed when an explosive was dropped through the open hatch. The explosives were often used against Russian troops in foxholes or open trenches. This capability is bad for Russian morale and the Ukrainians made the most of it. DJI quadcopters are popular with military customers worldwide, as well as with gangsters, drug smugglers and Islamic terrorists. American forces were banned from using DJI products from 2017 to 2020 because of fears that DJI, which thrives and survives by cooperating with the Chinese government, might have hidden capabilities in the control software that would enable DJI quadcopters to be monitored by the Chinese, especially in wartime. Several years of trying to prove this failed to discover anything and the American ban was quietly dropped. The ban on military use of DJI quadcopters was not universal, even among NATO countries. But many NATO members did avoid DJI and found that alternatives were more expensive and less capable. For example, in 2021 the French military ordered 300 ANAFI USA micro-UAVs from Parrot, a French firm that is the largest European designer and manufacturer of consumer and commercial UAVs. The ANAFI USA model was developed in response to a 2019 U.S. Army order for a militarized quadcopter that was similar to the banned DJI products. That was considered difficult to do because DJI had a huge head start, especially with flight control software and reliability. NATO troops in places like Syria, Iraq, Mali and Afghanistan found that both Islamic terrorist and local security forces were eager users of high-end Chinese-made DJI commercial quadcopters. A particular favorite is the DJI Matrice 200/210. This is an industrial-grade quadcopter costing up to $20,000 each. The DJI 210 weighs 4.7 kg (10.3 pounds) and can carry up to 1.45 kg (3.2 pounds) of cameras, additional batteries or improvised weapons. Max endurance is about 30 minutes and top speed is 60 kilometers an hour. When under user control the 210 can operate up to eight kilometers away although five kilometers is more common. The 210 can be programmed to use its satellite navigation system to cover a specific route and return. If the control system is lost for any reason, the quadcopter will automatically return to where it started and land. While the 210 is mainly used for surveillance and reconnaissance, some have been equipped with an explosive dispenser. Anything from grenades to IEDs (improvised explosive devices) can be used. The 210 can be rigged as a one-way cruise-missile but that is expensive and increasingly common with groups backed by Iran as well as other well-funded Islamic terrorists. High-end models like the 210 are favored because they are rugged and can handle wind and incorporate obstacle avoidance. This is important when operating in urban areas, forests or at night using a night-vision camera. While popular with Islamic terrorists, gangsters and less-well equipped police and military units, Western forces tended to avoid DJI products because of fears that China may have ordered the manufacturer to include secret features that would allow the Chinese military to disable or take-control of DJI products. No one has ever found such a back door in the quadcopter software and these Chinese quadcopters, especially those made by DJI, are the most popular models worldwide. Thats because DJI models offered are the best value as well as being the most reliable. Sometimes these bans were issued after troops had already obtained and were using DJI quadcopters. For example, in early 2018 the U.S. Marine Corps announced a new squad and platoon organization, based on its experience so far this century, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of the unique changes to the new 12-man squad was that each one would get a commercial quadcopter. These were smaller, more compact models costing less than two thousand dollars each. The Marines had already bought 600 with 200 more on order when the U.S. Department of Defense ordered a ban on the use of Chinese quadcopters. The Marines did manage to get an exemption to the new ban and sought government approval to purchase commercial quadcopters. These are out there but none as inexpensive as the Chinese models. The complaints about the DJI ban from military users in the United States and other NATO countries played a role in the ban being lifted in 2020. The U.S. Army banned the use of DJI quadcopters in 2017. The troops had been encountering these DJI quadcopters in combat zones for years and some troops had bought them with their own money to use (successfully) in combat. Its no secret that DJI quadcopters have been showing up in combat zones with increasing frequency since 2014. Initially the most popular of these was the DJI Phantom quadcopter. The Phantom 3 showed up in 2015. It costs about a thousand dollars, weighs 3.9 kg (8.6 pounds), can stay in the air about 20 minutes per flight and can go up to 2,000 meters from the operator. The operator can see (at 720p resolution) what is under the Phantom using a small display and capture a higher resolution video (2.7k or 1080p) on a 16 GB micro memory card on the UAV. The Phantom 3 was widely available. It is easy to operate and has flight control software that makes it easy to operate and keeps the video image stable. You can equip these with a night vision camera. Max altitude is over 500 meters (1,600 feet) but most Phantoms operate lower down because getting to higher altitude takes time. DJI kept upgrading its Phantom line of quadcopters from the moment the first one hit the market in 2013. The Phantom 1 was basically a quadcopter you could add your own GoPro wireless vidcam to. But every few months DJI added new features and major upgrades were introduced as a new model. Phantom 2 appeared at the end of 2013, Phantom 3 in early 2015 and Phantom 4 a year later. Phantom 3 was the most popular model and Phantom 4 was basically a Phantom 3 with lots more capabilities (4K video, video transmission range of five kilometers) and a higher price (about $1,500 each). New models of the Phantom continued to appear, sometimes just with a few new features and a lower price. New features include collision avoidance sensors and software. The Phantom line was replaced by the Mavic and Matrice which included low (Mavic) and high end (Matrice) models. Year by year the capabilities of the DJI quadcopters increased and the troops were not happy that they could not use them but the enemy could and did. For combat troops cost is an important feature because something low-cost and capable in the combat zone equipment is quickly worn out. This is especially true with quadcopters. As a result, the troops have become accustomed to buying commercial products whenever they can get away with it. ABBOTSFORD, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In votes held after membership meetings today, CUPE 561 transit workers have ratified a mediated settlement with First Transit, ending a strike that began 124 days ago. Picket lines are being taken down, and the 213 transit workers will begin the return-to-work process. The six-year agreement, which ends on March 31, 2026, narrows the wage gap with other transit workers in the region while introducing a pension plan that takes effect next spring. The union says its a step in the right direction and recognizes the importance of these members work. Our members needed a lift, and with this agreement they got one, said CUPE 561 President Randy Kootte. Special Mediator Vince Readys recommendations were a fair compromise, providing us with a foundation for future rounds of bargaining. By ratifying this memorandum of settlement, the members agree that this contract is a good start in addressing their concerns. As well as appreciating the Special Mediators efforts, Kootte thanked Fraser Valley residents for their constant support of the unions bargaining goals from the beginning of the strike. We cannot thank our communities enough for supporting us in our struggle to achieve wage fairness and retirement securityand showing that support despite the many hardships and inconveniences people had to endure as the dispute dragged on, he said. Kootte added that the union will do everything it can to quickly resume service in the Fraser Valley and will work with the employer to make sure that buses are running as soon as possible. cope491 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230721098786/en/ Randy Kootte, CUPE 561 President: 604-936-4545 Liam ONeill, CUPE National Servicing Representative: 672-514-5426 Dan Gawthrop, CUPE Communications Representative: 604-999-6132 Source: CUPE BRADFORD, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The leaders of Ontarios largest union and its largest labour body will join striking library workers outside the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library on Sunday, July 23, at 10:00 a.m. In 2021, library workers voted almost unanimously to join the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). They are on strike in an effort to bring their employer back to the bargaining table with a fair first collective agreement that recognizes the economic workplace changes the workers face. WHO: CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn CUPE Ontario Secretary-Treasurer Yolanda McClean Toronto & York Region Labour Council President Andria Babbington WHAT: CUPE Local 905.29 picket line rally WHEN: 10:00 a.m., Sunday, July 23 WHERE: 425 Holland Street West, Bradford, ON View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230722983600/en/ For more information: Craig Saunders, CUPE Communications, 416-576-7316 Source: Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) TORONTO, July 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemlo Explorers Inc. (the Company) (TSXV: HMLO) is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche of its previously announced non-brokered private placement (the Offering). In the final tranche, the Company issued 300,000 units (Units), each comprised of one non flow-through common share and one common share purchase warrant (each, a Warrant) and 4,011,110 flow-through units (FT Units), each comprised of one flow-through common share and one Warrant, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $383,500. In total, the two tranches of the Offering consisted of an aggregate of 7,593,333 Units at a price of $0.075 per Unit and 6,302,220 FT Units at a price of $0.09 per FT Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of $1,136,700. The common share component of each FT Unit was issued as a flow-through share (as defined in subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada)). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.15 per Warrant Share until December 30, 2024, but subject to accelerated expiry terms following the four month and a day hold period (as further described below) if the Companys common shares trade at or above $0.50 per share for 20 consecutive days in which case the Company will have the right to accelerate the exercise period to a date ending at least 30 days from the date that notice of such acceleration is provided to the holders of the Warrants. The proceeds of the FT Unit portion of the Offering will be used for the exploration of the Companys Hemlo area projects, and the proceeds of the Unit portion of the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes and exploration of the Companys properties. In connection with the closing of the second tranche of the Offering, the Company paid certain cash finders fees ($26,118 in aggregate over both tranches of the Offering) and issued 54,000 finders warrants (324,800 in aggregate over both tranches of the Offering) (each, a Finders Warrant) to eligible finders in respect of subscriptions for Units and FT Units referred by such finders. Each Finders Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a Finders Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.075 per Finders Warrant Share until December 30, 2024. All securities issued in connection with the final tranche of the Offering (being the Units, the FT Units, the Finders Warrants, and the securities comprising each of the foregoing) are subject to a statutory hold period expiring November 22, 2023. The Offering remains subject to final approval of the TSXV Venture Exchange. Brian Howlett, the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company, Michael Leskovec, a director of the Company, and Northfield Capital Corporation, together with its joint actor, Mr. Robert Cudney, an insider of the Company (Northfield, and together with Mr. Howlett and Mr. Leskovec, the Insiders) participated in the Offering. The participation by each of the Insiders is considered a related party transaction for the purposes of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (MI 61-101). However, their participation is not subject to the minority approval and formal valuation requirements under MI 61-101 since there is an applicable exemption from these requirements as neither the fair market value of the subject matter, nor the fair market value of the consideration for the transaction, insofar as it involves the interested parties, exceeded 25% of the Companys market capitalization. Messrs. Howlett and Leskovec, directors of the Company, disclosed their interest in the Offering to the board of directors of the Company. Upon completion of the Offering, Mr. Howlett owns and controls an aggregate of 760,000 common shares of the Company and convertible securities entitling him to acquire an additional 582,500 common shares of the Company representing approximately 1.50% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as of July 21, 2023 (or approximately 2.62% calculated on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 582,500 convertible securities only); Mr. Leskovec owns and controls an aggregate of 256,250 common shares of the Company and convertible securities entitling him to acquire an additional 330,000 common shares of the Company representing approximately 0.51% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as of July 21, 2023 (or approximately 1.15% calculated on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 330,000 convertible securities only); and Northfield, together with its joint actor, Mr. Robert Cudney, own and control an aggregate of 13,258,787 common shares of the Company (of which 12,753,488 common shares are owned by Northfield directly and 505,299 common shares are owned by its joint actor) and convertible securities entitling Northfield and its joint actor to acquire an additional 4,016,667 common shares of the Company (of which 3,766,667 convertible securities are owned by Northfield directly and 250,000 convertible securities are owned by its joint actor) representing approximately 26.14% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company as of July 21, 2023 (or approximately 31.56% calculated on a partially diluted basis, assuming the exercise of the 4,016,667 convertible securities only). The Company has filed a material change report following the completion of the Offering which is less than the mandated 21 days in advance of the expected closing of the Offering pursuant to MI 61-101. The Company deems this timing reasonable in the circumstances so that it was able to avail itself of the financing opportunities and complete the Offering in an expeditious manner. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. 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. About Hemlo Explorers Inc. Hemlo Explorers is a Canadian-based mineral exploration company with a portfolio of projects in Ontario and Nunavut. We are focused on generating shareholder value through the advancement of our main Hemlo area projects, including the Project Idaho, the Pic Project (under the option to Barrick Gold Inc.) and the North Limb Project. For more information please contact: Brian Howlett, President & CEOHemlo Explorers Inc.[email protected] (647) 227-3035 http://www.hemloexplorers.ca Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the Offering, the use of proceeds, and the Companys plans with respect to the exploration and development of its properties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Hemlo Explorers Inc., including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions, volatility of commodity prices, risks associated with the uncertainty of exploration results and estimates, currency fluctuations, dependency upon regulatory approvals, the uncertainty of obtaining additional financing and exploration risk. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Source: Hemlo Explorers Inc. SEATTLE, WA - (NewMediaWire) - July 21, 2023 - 3DX Industries Inc. (OTCM: DDDX), a leading global manufacturing company specializing in cutting-edge additive manufacturing capabilities, announces the strategic sale of select subtractive manufacturing equipment from its facility. This move allows the company to bolster its capital investment and resources into its state-of-the-art 3D print lab, reinforcing its commitment to delivering cutting-edge additive manufacturing solutions. The equipment removed and sold from the 3DX facility includes two Kasuga Q1250 vertical machining centers and one Mazak H1000, horizontal machining center, all were used primarily for customers requiring parts of significant size and weight. The removal of this equipment will allow for expansion of its additive manufacturing division and aligns precisely with 3DX Industries' strategic shift from subtractive to additive manufacturing. This transition reflects the company's focus on higher margins, larger orders, and the pursuit of opportunities and partnerships within the rapidly growing additive manufacturing space. Beyond facilitating an increased capital commitment to the 3D print lab, the sale of these select pieces of subtractive equipment opens up significant floor space to accommodate the growing demand for 3D printing orders. Roger Janssen, CEO and President of 3DX Industries, commented, "This is a definitive move towards increasing our capabilities within the metal printing sector. Opening additional space within our facility without increasing our overhead costs is a strong strategic move for the business. Mr. Janssen adds, This decision enables us to further direct our efforts in 3D printing, which we see as the future of the manufacturing industry. The rising demand for 3D printed parts from companies in all sectors makes it clear that the focus is shifting towards additive manufacturing. We are excited to optimize our shop and channel more capital into advancing our 3D print lab." About the Company: 3DX Industries, Inc. (OTCM: DDDX) is a leading manufacturer specializing in additive and subtractive manufacturing capabilities. The company is committed to pioneering innovative solutions and driving advancements in the manufacturing industry. Through strategic partnerships, extensive research and development, and a steadfast commitment to customer satisfaction, 3DX Industries is poised to capitalize on emerging opportunities and deliver sustainable growth. Safe Harbor: 3DX encourages those interested in our Company to rely only on information included in our filings. Statements released by 3DX Industries, Inc. that are not purely historical are forward-looking within the meaning of the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the company's expectations, hopes, intentions, and strategies for the future. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties that may affect the company's business prospects and performance. The company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Risk factors include but are not limited to general economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors as discussed in the company's filings. The company does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release. For additional information please contact: 3DX Industries, Inc. Investor Relations Contact: Andrew Barwicki 516-662-9461 / [email protected] [email protected] Visit the 3DX Industries, Inc. web site at www.3dxindustries.com. Information included on the Company's website is not incorporated herein by reference or otherwise. View the original release on www.newmediawire.com Retired Russian colonel proposes blowing up the North Pole to send message to the West 22 July, 01:52 PM Russian nuclear weapons on parade in Moscow (Photo:EternalGlory0/Twitter) Retired Russian colonel Konstantin Sivkov, who serves as the deputy president of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, has put forth the idea of detonating nuclear weapons at the North Pole "if necessary" as a way to convey a message to the West, in a statement on Russian state-run TV. During his speech, Sivkov called for the potential deployment of nuclear weapons and show-casing their presence at the North Pole as a demonstration, under certain circumstances. "If the situation escalates to an extremely critical stage, we could consider demonstrating a detonation, say, at the North Pole, he said. Video of day Similar to what we did with the [thermonuclear aerial bomb with a power of] 58 megatons on Novaya Zemlya, where the test went as planned, proving effective and sending a powerful educational message. Sivkov emphasized his desire for Russia to prioritize the "intensive mass-scale development of strategic nuclear weapons," arguing that such armament would provide protection "against any possible encroachments" on the Russian Federation. He further advocated for Russia to adopt "unconventional forms of using nuclear weapons," specifically referring to "high-powered nuclear munitions capable of causing severe geo-physical consequences, such as supervolcano explosions." "Therefore, the deployment of these nuclear weapons is, of course, necessary, Sivkov blustered. Its a pivotal matter... I strongly believe that transitioning to intensive deployment is strategically imperative. Russian officials have repeatedly made nuclear threats against Ukraine and the rest of the world. Medvedev, the former President and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, has notably threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine on a number of occasions. Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much. Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Processing Has Already Started HICKSVILLE, NY - (NewMediaWire) - July 20, 2023 - Can B Corp. (OTCQB: CANB) (Can B or the Company), a health and wellness company specializing in developing, producing, and selling hemp-derived cannabinoid products, is pleased to announce its newly awarded contract with One Bad Moon Rising and purchase of 1.8 million pounds of biomass. To initially service the contract, Can B purchased 1.8 million pounds of biomass that is ready for immediate processing. The biomass is stored indoors in 1,000-pound supersacks in Ft. Morgan, Colorado (80 miles northeast of Denver). Marco Alfonsi, Can Bs Chief Executive Officer, stated, We are very excited for this new opportunity with One Bad Moon Rising. We were able to purchase the biomass with a market price of $2.7 million by issuing Rule 144 restricted stock in payment of the purchase price. The biomass potency was tested and exceeded minimum processing standards. We look forward to utilizing our fully integrated operations to result in the production of isomers. Patrick Barry, Chief Investment Officer of One Bad Moon Rising, stated, We look forward to working closely with Can B as we are very impressed with their fully integrated vertical operations in Colorado. Their facilities in Ft. Morgan and Mead, Colorado, are now capable and ready to process biomass all the way through to isomers. Our network of relationships is seeking isomers, and we are excited to be able fulfill that demand with our new contract with Can B. About Can B Corp. Can B Corp. (OTCQB: CANB) is a health & wellness company providing the highest quality hemp-derived cannabinoid products, including under its own brands of Canbiola, Seven Chakras, NuWellness, Pure Leaf Oil, and Duramed. Can B utilizes multi-channel distribution to reach consumers, including medical facilities, doctor offices, retailers, online, and direct. Can B Corp. operates R&D and production facilities in Lacey, WA, and Florida. To learn more about Can B Corp. and our comprehensive line of high-quality products, please visit: Canbiola.com and www.CanBCorp.com, follow Can B Corp on Instagram and Facebook, or visit one of the 1,000+ retail outlets that carry Can B Corp. products. For more information about Can B Corp., please visit: CanBCorp.com Twitter @CanBCorp Instagram @canbcorp Facebook @ Can B Corp YouTube Forward-Looking Statements Forward-looking statements and risks and uncertainties discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect," and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Expected, actual results, performance, or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed, or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with, among other things, the impact of economic, competitive, and other factors affecting our operations, markets, products, and performance. The matters discussed herein should not be construed in any way, shape or manner of our future financial condition or stock price. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of latest information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors and Media: [email protected] (917) 658-7878 View the original release on www.newmediawire.com Oakland, California--(Newsfile Corp. - July 21, 2023) - Cutter Law, with offices in Sacramento, Oakland, and Santa Rosa, has announced a hotline number that victims of catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury, can call for a no-cost consultation and comprehensive case review. More details can be found at https://cutterlaw.com/ Cutter Law Opens Hotlines For Brain & Spine Injury Cases in Palo Alto, San Diego To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/174191_a596f79294e3aba7_001full.jpg The announcement comes in light of the latest figures published by The National SCI Statistical Center (NSCISC), which indicated that there are around 18,000 new spinal cord injury (SCI) cases each year across the US. An advocate for the rights of individuals with catastrophic injuries, Cutter Law appreciates that such injuries take a toll on an individual's emotional health and finances - and with the new hotline, the firm strives to ensure clients receive timely legal advice. Led by experienced trial attorney Brooks Cutter who has represented clients with traumatic personal injuries resulting from both medical negligence and car accidents, the firm's team of personal injury attorneys has an in-depth understanding of this area of law. They will collect all the relevant evidence, establish liability, and develop a strategy to pursue fair compensation that covers medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Cutter Law also appreciates the emotional challenges both victims of spinal cord and brain injuries and their families face. As such, the firm strives to provide compassionate legal support throughout the settlement negotiation and trial. "Cutter Law recognizes that alongside legal representation, access to quality medical care is crucial for individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries," says Brooks Cutter, one of the firm's lead attorneys. "The firm understands the significant medical expenses and long-term care needs associated with these types of injuries. Therefore, Cutter Law works diligently to ensure that their clients receive appropriate compensation to cover their medical care expenses." Additional information about the firm and its consumer advocacy efforts can be found at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/californias-consumer-advocate-uncovering-the-success/id1562180400?i=1000617406091 About Cutter Law With a team of seven trial attorneys specializing in personal injury, medical malpractice, product liability, and class action lawsuits, among other areas of law, the firm has over 130 years of combined experience. Cutter Law actively engages with community organizations, medical professionals, and advocacy groups to raise awareness about brain and spinal cord injuries. Interested parties can learn more about the firm at https://www.theattorneypost.com/shaping-the-future-of-civil-justice-in-california-a-conversation-with-sacramento-san-francisco-injury-attorney-brooks-cutter/ Contact Info: Name: Brooks Cutter Email: [email protected] Organization: Cutter Law Address: 1999 Harrison Street Suite 1400 , Oakland, California 94612, United States Website: https://cutterlaw.com/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/174191 Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Are donors more inclined to consider a fundraising appeal featuring someone who looks like themsharing their race, ethnicity, and/or gender? Grey Matter Research and Infinity Concepts dug into this issue in the newly released report Race & Gender in Fundraising: Exploring Potential Bias Among Evangelicals. Are donors more inclined to consider a fundraising appeal featuring someone who looks like themsharing their race, ethnicity, and/or gender? Grey Matter and Infinity Concepts dug into this issue in the newly released report Race & Gender in Fundraising: Exploring Potential Bias Among Evangelicals. Researchers tested ad layouts showing children of different racial/ethnic backgrounds and both genders, using a technique known as monadic testing. Respondents were divided into four equal segments; each segment saw one ad, and their responses were compared with other segments. In this way, people are not directly asked to choose between supporting a boy or supporting a girl, for instance. Race and Ethnicity The national sample of 1,010 evangelical Protestants was shown the same ad, but the child pictured was either Asian, Black, Latino, or White. It is common in advertising to believe people want to see others like themselves portrayed, and that may be true in a pure consumer context, said Ron Sellers, President of Grey Matter Research. We simply do not find that dynamic when people are asked to help hungry children in the US. In a fundraising context, evangelicals do not find pictures of children of their own race or ethnicity more compelling than pictures of other races, explained Mark Dreistadt, President and CEO of Infinity Concepts. Nor do they find pictures of their own race less compelling. Race simply does not make a difference. While there was no preference for images based on the race or ethnicity of the child, the race or the ethnicity of the adult viewing the image did make a difference. Black evangelicals found the ads substantially more compelling than othersno matter which child they saw, Dreistadt continued. Black evangelicals were less likely than others to call all the ads discouraging or easy to ignore, and more likely to find them hopeful, realistic, believable, and relatable. Boys and Girls When asked to help children, race/ethnicity does not impact how compelling an ad is. But does gender make a difference? In a word: Yes. Men are slightly more likely to rate the ads with the boy as extremely compelling than they are to say this about the ads with the girl, Sellers said. Was this just a case of men favoring their own gender? Nowomen are even more likely than men to feel the ads with the boy are compelling. Those differences held true no matter whether the child was pictured smiling or despondent. This finding could have a significant impact on a fundraising campaign. Takeaways Regarding race and ethnicity, the report encourages fundraisers not to get caught up in stereotypes. What evangelical Protestants really want is to help people, not to help people of their own race or of any specific ethnic background, Dreistadt said. But what about gender? We would need considerable further testing to know whether the gender bias we saw would exist with images of different age groups, races, and types of organizations, he said. At the moment, however, organizations should not consider de-emphasizing images of females but putting forth images, stories, and information that make it clear their work is critical to males and females. Or, as Sellers put it, When an apparent bias exists, ethically, fundraisers should do what they can to help correct that bias through education and communication, not pander to it in hopes of better results. To download a copy of Race & Gender in Fundraising: Exploring Potential Bias Among Evangelicals, visit infinityconcepts.com/race-gender. ### To schedule an interview with Mark Dreistadt or Ron Sellers, email Clem Boyd, Director of Public Relations, at [email protected] or text or call him at 724.930.4003. Contact Info: Name: Clem Boyd Email: Send Email Organization: Infinity Concepts Phone: 724.930.4003 Website: https://www.infinityconcepts.com/ Release ID: 89102991 Should any errors, concerns, or inconsistencies arise from the content provided in this press release that require attention or if a press release needs to be taken down, we kindly request that you immediately contact us at [email protected]. Our efficient team will be at your disposal for timely assistance within 8 hours taking necessary measures to rectify identified issues or providing guidance on the removal process. We prioritize delivering accurate and reliable information. SUZHOU, China , July 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Last month, the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs (ASAIO) 68th Annual Meeting was successfully held in San Francisco . magAssist's product, BreathMo was highlighted in the meeting. Dr. Dong Guo from Beijing Anzhen Hospital, introduced the innovation of the device featured in a study titled "A 14-Day In-Vivo Evaluation of a Newly Developed Maglev ECMO System BreathMo, " demonstrating its effectiveness and safety for providing both pulmonary and cardiac support. A life-saving tool that experienced fast growth with 40% CAGR in China Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) provides essential support for intensive care unit (ICU) patients, 60% of whom develop heart or respiratory failure with a mortality rate of 23-75%. In China , ECMO has become a crucial mechanical circulatory support (MCS) for critically ill patients with data showing that the number of ECMO cases has increased almost fourfold from 2,826 in 2017 to 10,656 in 2021. (Data from the China ECMO Report 2021 and the survey of the Extracorporeal Life Support Committee of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association) The growing demand for ECMO is also fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which prolonged ECMO support was commonly used to treat those who suffer from severe symptoms. The limitation of the existing ECMO systems exposed the need for medical device manufacturers to upgrade ECMO devices equipped with advanced functions. These features include a full maglev pump with higher hemocompatibility, an oxygenator with high gas exchange efficiency and low cross-oxygenator pressure drop, aiming to provide long-term life-saving support to patients in need. The newly developed ECMO, delivering greater performance and safety During the conference, Dr. Guo pointed out that it is essential to develop ECMOs with full maglev centrifugal pumps, which may better support patients in the long run. The full maglev centrifugal pumps have emerged as a highly promising solution, offering superior hemocompatibility, and presenting potential engineering innovations for long-term ECMO or membrane applications. Centrifugal blood pumps are frequently utilized in adult ECMO, and most of them rely on pivot bearing, which has a lower hemocompatibility compared with full maglev pumps. Furthermore, the high rotational speed can cause high shear stress, potentially leading to hemolysis. A journal article in Medicine and Novel Technology and Devices examined the hemolytic performance of pumps in adult ECMO support, which highlighted the enhanced safety and effectiveness of the full maglev flow technology. The detailed computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis revealed that the maglev pump outperformed its counterparts by minimizing non-physiological wall shear stress (WSS) and stagnation shear stress (SSS). The maglev pump exhibited the lowest predicted hemolysis index (HI). These computational findings were further supported by experimental results, demonstrating that the maglev pump caused the least damage to blood cells when compared to the Revolution and Rotaflow pumps. BreathMo, China's homegrown maglev ECMO system that addresses the unmet medical needs of Chinese patients. To bridge clinical gaps in China , magAssist has developed a new generation ECMO system, BreathMo. The use of maglev technology reduces the risk of blood damage caused by mechanical contact bearings, resulting in safer operation. The maglev pump demonstrates superior hemocompatibility with overall low blood damage at the hemolysis level and degradation of high-molecular-weight (VWF). As mentioned in the conference, the system's flow rate of up to 7L/min is complemented by an oxygenator that maintain exceptional performance, offering a low-pressure drop (less than 50mmHg) even at maximum flow rates. Notably, the device incorporates an ultra-compact portable console weighing less than 8 kg, allowing healthcare professionals to tailor treatment to individual patient needs. In the study designed to evaluate the in-vivo performance and safety of BreathMo, the final health status of the ten sheep selected for the trial, with five undergoing VA cannulation and the remaining five undergoing VV cannulation, proved the system's capability to provide pulmonary and cardiac support. The study revealed their plasma-free hemoglobin levels were within an acceptable range, with consistently optimal oxygenator performance. The PFH values ranged from 0.36 to 14.80mg/dL, far below 40 mg/dL which is an indicator of possible thrombus formation. The autopsy examinations conducted after the study showed no complications, embolism, thrombus formation, or end-organ damage, with no device-related adverse events reported, further affirming the system's safety profile and paving the way for its first-in-human studies trial in the near future. "The development of BreathMo marks another technological milestone as we seek new innovative life-saving solutions to enhance patient well-being while empowering healthcare professionals to improve their treatment outcomes. With our innovative maglev technology that allows for good hemocompatibility, BreathMo not only provides safe and effective cardiopulmonary support but is also a new promising starting point as we continue to leverage industry and technical resources to unlock new possibilities for the ECMO field," Dr. Chiahao Hsu , Senior Director of Science and Innovation Department of magAssist. Note: magAssist Inc. has officially changed its company name to magAssist Co. Ltd. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/breathmo-the-new-generation-ecmo-system-revealed-at-asaio-conference-301883500.html SOURCE magAssist Co., Ltd By Marianna Parraga and Gary McWilliams HOUSTON (Reuters) -A U.S. court set Oct. 23 as the start date for a long-expected auction of shares in Venezuela-owned refiner Citgo Petroleum's parent to pay creditors with judgments against the South American nation. The sale process lays out a schedule that could lead to formal approval of any sale of shares in PDV Holding, a U.S.-based unit of state company Petroleos de Venezuela, a year from now. U.S. Judge Leonard Stark in Delaware this week accepted a recommendation by a court official in charge of organizing the auction. Proceeds from any sale of PDV Holding shares would be used to pay off creditors previously cleared by the court. PDV Holding's only asset is Citgo. Any sale of Citgo without the participation of Venezuela would be "hurtful," Pedro Tellechea, Venezuela's oil minister, said on Friday. "It's not a PDVSA asset. It's an asset of all Venezuelans," he said. Horacio Medina, head of the ad-hoc board that since 2019 has overseen the refiner, was not immediately available for comment. A spokesperson for Citgo declined to comment. Stark dismissed Venezuela's attempt to stop the auction. Venezuela had argued that the auction's conditions would not ensure the best value for the assets, and that the process should be delayed until other pending litigation is resolved. "The Venezuela Parties' objection is utterly unpersuasive, particularly in light of the lengthy history of this case," he wrote. "There is simply no reason to further delay starting the sale process." The U.S. Treasury Department this month extended for three months through Oct. 19 a license protecting Citgo from holders of a 2020 bond defaulted by PDVSA. The license does not freeze the auction, but would require U.S. approvals for any winners in the process. Following a long wave of expropriations under late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and the default of bonds issued by PDVSA, the creditors flocked to U.S. courts to enforce arbitration awards against the country. The creditors include miner Crystallex International, oil producer ConocoPhillips, Siemens Energy, and Red Tree Investments, which are trying to recoup some $2.7 billion over unpaid court and arbitration rulings. Another group of six companies recently won at an appeals court their attempt to attach claims to the Delaware case. The companies are O-I Glass Inc, Huntington Ingalls Industries, ACL1 Investments, Rusoro Mining, Gold Reserve and two Koch Industries units, which will try to cash $3.46 billion. (Reporting by Marianna Parraga and Gary McWilliams; Editing by Richard Chang and Grant McCool) KYIV, Ukraine A Ukrainian drone strike Saturday caused a massive explosion at an ammunition depot in Russia-annexed Crimea, forcing the evacuation of nearby homes in the latest attack since Moscow canceled a landmark grain deal amid Kyiv's grinding efforts to retake its occupied territories. The attack on the depot in central Crimea sent huge plumes of black smoke skyward and came five days after Ukraine struck a key bridge that links Russia to the peninsula it illegally annexed in 2014 and after Moscow suspended a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to safely export its grain through the Black Sea. Sergey Aksyonov, the Kremlin-appointed head of Crimea, said in a Telegram post that there were no immediate reports of casualties from the strike, but that authorities were evacuating civilians within a 5-kilometer (3-mile) radius of the blast site. The Ukrainian military took credit for the strike, saying it destroyed an oil depot and Russian military warehouses in Oktyabrske, in the Krasnohvardiiske region of Crimea, though without specifying which weapons it used. A Crimean news channel posted videos Saturday showing plumes of smoke billowing above rooftops and fields near Oktyabrske, a small settlement next to an oil depot and a small military airport, as loud explosions rumbled in the background. In one video, a man can be heard saying the smoke and blast noises seemed to be coming from the direction of the airport. The strike came during a week in which Ukraine attacked the Kerch Bridge and Russia, in what it described as "retribution" for the bridge attack, bombarded southern Ukrainian port cities, damaging critical infrastructure including grain and oil terminals. Ukraine also attacked the bridge in October, when a truck bomb blew up two of its sections, which took months to repair. Moscow decried that assault as an act of terrorism and retaliated by bombarding Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, targeting the country's power grid over the winter. The Kerch Bridge is a conspicuous symbol of Moscow's claims on Crimea and an essential land link to the peninsula. The $3.6 billion, 19-kilometer (nearly 12-mile) bridge is the longest in Europe and is crucial for Russia's military operations in southern Ukraine. Speaking at the Aspen security forum via video link, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the bridge a legitimate target for Ukraine, noting that Russia has used it to ferry military supplies and it must be "neutralized." In a video address to the nation later Saturday, Zelenskyy said he had a phone call with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss "our steps to unblock and ensure the stable operation of the grain corridor" following Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal. Zelenskyy said they agreed to hold a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council in the nearest days for consultations on the issue. "We can overcome the security crisis in the Black Sea," he said. As fierce fighting continues in Ukraine's bid to retake territory from Russia, Russian shelling killed at least two civilians and wounded four others on Saturday, Ukrainian officials reported. A 52-year-old woman died in Kupiansk, a town in the northeastern Kharkiv region, while another person was killed in a cross-border Russian attack on a village in the neighboring Sumy province. Earlier Saturday, Ukrainian officials reported that Russian attacks on 11 regions across the country on Friday and overnight had killed at least eight civilians and wounded others. A DW cameraman was injured Saturday by shrapnel from Russian cluster munitions that also killed one Ukrainian soldier and wounded several others near the town of Druzhkivka, in the eastern Donetsk region, the German broadcaster said in a statement. Cameraman Ievgen Shylko was part of a team sent to report from the Ukrainian army training ground about 23 kilometers (14 miles) away from the frontline, it said. "We were filming the Ukrainian army during target practice when suddenly we heard several explosions," DW correspondent Mathias Bolinger said. "We lay down, more explosions followed, we saw people were wounded. Later, the Ukrainian army confirmed that we had been fired at with cluster munitions." Cluster munitions, which open in the air and release multiple small bomblets, are banned by more than 100 countries because of their threat to civilians, but they have been used extensively by both sides in the war. The Pentagon has said the cluster munitions the U.S. recently gave to Ukraine will give Kyiv critically needed ammunition to help bolster its counteroffensive. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that a group of Russian journalists came under artillery fire in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. In an online statement, it said four correspondents for pro-Kremlin media had been struck by cluster munitions and that one of them, Rostislav Zhuravlev of the state RIA Novosti news agency, later died from his injuries. The Kremlin-installed head of the Russia-occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yevhen Balitsky, claimed in a Telegram post that the journalists were traveling in a civilian vehicle that was hit by shelling. The claims couldn't be independently verified. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced the attack on journalists as a "heinous crime" in which the U.S. and its allies were complicit. The Ukrainian air force on Saturday morning said that overnight, it had brought down 14 Russian drones, including five Iranian-made ones, over the country's southeast, where battles are raging. In a regular social media update, the air force said that all Iranian-made Shahed exploding drones launched by Russian troops during the night were brought down, pointing to Ukraine's increasing success rate in neutralizing them. Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine Russian forces use cluster munitions, injuring DW cameraman in Donetsk Oblast 22 July, 10:52 PM Russia's strike with cluster munitions on Druzhkivka, July 22, 2023 (Photo: (Novyny Donbasu)) Russian forces launched an attack on the town of Druzhkivka in Donetsk Oblasts Kramatorsk district on July 22, using cluster munitions, the Novyny Donbasu news portal reported on July 22, citing local residents. A photo capturing the moment of impact was shared on a local Telegram channel dru_news. One Ukrainian soldier was killed in the attack, and several others sustained serious injuries. Photo: (Novyny Donbasu) A cameraman of Germanys state-run broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) was reportedly injured in the incident. Deutsche Welle confirmed the Russian strike on Druzhkivka with cluster munitions, during which DW cameraman Yevhen Shylko was injured. He was promptly transported to a hospital, and DW reports that his condition is now stable. Video of day Druzhkivka is situated approximately 23 km from the frontline. Read also: Kyiv streamlines drone ammunition production Throughout the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has employed cluster munitions on positions held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on Ukrainian cities. This factor played a role in the decision by the United States to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine. Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much. Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton has agreed to pay $377 million to settle a long-standing Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the Northern Virginia-based company overcharged the U.S. government to help cover losses in other areas of its business, federal authorities announced Friday. The resolution, coming six years after the Justice Department opened its investigation into the allegations, represents one of the largest financial settlements for a defense company under the federal False Claims Act, officials said. This settlement, which is one of the largest procurement fraud settlements in history, demonstrates that the United States will pursue even the largest companies and the most complex matters where taxpayer funds are alleged to have been pilfered, Matthew M. Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, said in a statement. A related federal criminal investigation into the company was closed in 2021 without charges, while a separate probe from the Securities and Exchange Commission in the matter remains open. Details in the case had remained under court seal until Friday. But Booz Allen Hamilton officials had publicly disclosed the federal probe in 2017, stating that investigators were examining highly technical elements of the companys cost accounting and indirect cost charging practices with the U.S. government. The publicly traded company signaled to stockholders in May that it was anticipating a costly settlement, booking a $226 million write-down pegged to the case and warning that the final amount could be much higher. A Booz Allen Hamilton spokeswoman said the company has always believed it acted lawfully and responsibly, but decided to settle for pragmatic business reasons to avoid the delay, uncertainty, and expense of protracted litigation. The company did not want to engage in what likely would have been a years-long court fight with its largest client, the U.S. government, on an immensely complex matter, said Jessica Klenk, a Booz Allen Hamilton spokeswoman. She added that the company fully cooperated with the government and is pleased to move forward. Jacob T. Elberg, a former federal prosecutor, said the settlement was among the largest financial awards in cases outside of the health care industry. But he said companies are not necessarily required to admit misconduct and suggested Boozs stock price could rise if investors believe the legal uncertainty around the case has been resolved. Theres a very real debate about whether the consequences here are significant enough for deterrence, Elberg said. The Justice Department opened the investigation in 2016 after receiving complaints from a whistleblower, Sarah Feinberg, who had resigned from the company that year. She claimed the company was overcharging the federal government to mitigate millions of dollars in annual losses related to its work with the private sector and foreign governments. Booz has been, and remains, desperate to grow that part of its business to re-diversify, in part to appease public investors, according to the complaint, which was filed in July 2017. They alleged that Booz had knowingly collected more than $250 million in fraudulent fees from the United States and was projecting twice that amount in 2019. Feinberg is a former U.S. Marine Corps officer whose first stint with Booz focused on helping the military draw down forces in Afghanistan. The lawsuit stated that she returned to the company in 2015 to work for the chief financial officer and was assigned to a three-person team responsible for improving the companys accounting. Feinberg discovered two things, according to the complaint. First, Booz appeared to be lowballing the financial cost of its work with corporations and foreign governments, in some cases on the order of tens of millions of dollars, the complaint alleges. Second, it was lumping together the costs it incurred in performing government contracts with costs from its work for corporate clients and foreign governments. Then Booz fraudulently billed the U.S. government for excess fees that helped cover the financial losses for the unrelated work. When at the close of a fiscal year Boozs costs in a particular Cost Center/Band exceed its revenue . . . Booz occasionally goes back to its U.S. government client demanding additional reimbursements to further subsidize its unexpectedly large, and unallowable, costs, the complaint reads. Feinberg resigned in August 2016 after supervisors disregarded or played down her warnings of compliance risks and did not support her push for changes, according to the complaint. She later filed a qui tam lawsuit, which is a type of whistleblower case in which plaintiffs can be rewarded financially for exposing wrongdoing. In a resignation letter dated Aug. 8, 2016, Feinberg wrote that the company was currently incurring more financial and compliance risk than I feel comfortable defending as a member of the Corporate Finance team. Feinberg, who later worked as a finance manager for The Washington Post, stands to be personally awarded nearly $70 million of the overall settlement, although much of that amount will go to lawyer fees and taxes. It is encouraging to see that there is some level of accountability for Booz Allens actions, Feinberg said in a statement to The Post. I hope this situation inspires more people to stand up for justice and expose truth. And I hope this settlement encourages more whistleblowers to come forward when their companies refuse to do the right thing. Ukrainian industry already manufacturing defensive measures for ports, says Danilov 21 July, 02:19 PM Consequences of the strike by the Russian Federation (Photo:Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine/Handout via REUTERS) The Ukrainian military-industrial complex has already initiated the production of defensive measures to safeguard port infrastructure against Russias attacks, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Oleksiy Danilov, said on national television on July 21. Danilov revealed that Ukraine currently faces challenges countering certain types of weaponry used by Russia. To address this issue, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has directed efforts to bolster the defense of the port infrastructure. We are actively engaged in securing the timely supply of necessary equipment through all available channels. Additionally, we are independently developing defense systems, with our industry already manufacturing such protection. In the near future, we anticipate reinforcing the (protection of the port infrastructure), Danilov stated. Video of day Despite these efforts, Danilov cautioned that achieving 100% protection against Russian attacks is not guaranteed. On the night of July 21, Russian forces launched yet another assault on Odesa Oblast, resulting in casualties and destruction, including approximately 120 tons of grain at an agricultural enterprise. This marked the fourth consecutive night of Russian attacks on the southern regions of Ukraine, with Odesa and Mykolaiv experiencing heavy bombardments. Earlier, on July 19, Chornomorsk and Odesas port infrastructures were deliberately targeted, causing significant damage to grain terminals. President Zelenskyy reported that Russia destroyed 60,000 tons of agricultural products meant for China. The July 20 attack in Odesa claimed one life, and the head of the Odesa Oblast State Administration reported eight injured. Will you support Ukraines free press? Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations. As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility to amplify Ukraines voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation. Its the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine. If youre willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda. Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd. If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly. There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting. We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If youre willing to stand up for the truth consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much. Will you help tell Ukraines story to the world? Twenty years ago, most people hadnt even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyones lips and everyones headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of from music and culture to technology. We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If youre willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News It was claimed the accused "produced a knife and attacked the injured party," placing him in a headlock and demanding his phone A DUBLIN man has been accused of using the Grindr app dating to carry out a spate of violent knife robberies targeting gay men in Dundalk. Michael Quinn, 24, Cara Close, Priorswood, Coolock, is accused of two counts of robbery and one attempted robbery in the Co. Louth town over three dates in June and July this year. Gardai arrested Mr Quinn on Friday and charged him ahead of his appearance before Judge Brendan Toale at Dublin District Court on Saturday. Bail was set at 1,000, and he was ordered to obey strict conditions and to stay out of Dundalk unless for scheduled court appearances. Garda Siobhan McCoy objected to bail due to the seriousness of the case. She told the court that the first alleged incident was on June 24 when a man alleged he met the accused through the Grindr app and invited him to his home. The court heard that he "produced a knife" when he got inside and threatened the man to get his bank card. Garda McCoy said he was in fear and was instructed to get into his own car, allegedly driven by the accused to an ATM to make a withdrawal. However, the alleged victim "jumped out and raised the alarm". The accused allegedly drove off in his car and stole his two mobile phones, bank card and wallet. The court heard the man later gave gardai the accused's pictures from his Grindr and Tik Tok social media profiles. The contested bail hearing was told that on July 18, another man using the dating app arranged to meet, and they went to the alley in the town. It was claimed the accused "produced a knife and attacked the injured party," placing him in a headlock and demanding his phone. That man suffered a cut to his face but managed to escape and notify gardai. A third man maintained he met him through Grindr on July 20. He later told gardai that the accused got into his car and he drove to a cul-de-sac. "At that point, the accused pulled out a knife and demanded cash and bank cards," the garda alleged. The court heard that the man handed over 60 and his bank card before he managed to escape, and the accused allegedly left the scene on foot. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions, and the accused was expected to face trial on indictment at the Circuit Court level. Defence counsel Kevin McCrave said his client denies the charges but has offered to obey a list of strict bail terms. He said his client could live at his family home in Coolock and agreed to stay in Dundalk. He added that Mr Quinn, who has accepted he had gone to the UK previously, had evidence that he had been continuously living in this jurisdiction. The court heard that he was attending counselling, was in a long-standing relationship with his girlfriend, and had lived in Dundalk with her since last September. Counsel said this was not the trial of the underlying case and that the evidence given could not be cross-examined. A refusal would see his client, who had the presumption of innocence, in custody for a considerable period before his trial, which may not be reached until 2025, counsel submitted. Judge Toale set bail in Mr Quinn's bond of 1,000, of which half must be lodged. He ordered him to surrender travel documents before release, and then he must reside at his address in Coolock, remain out of Dundalk save for court hearings, and sign on daily at his local Garda station. Judge Toale remanded the accused, who did not give evidence at the bail hearing, in custody with consent to bail to appear at Dundalk District Court on Wednesday. Legal aid was granted. Kennedy, of Heyward Mews, Roganstown, Swords, pleaded guilty to public intoxication and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour. A crisp factory worker became highly abusive and threatening to gardai when they found him drunk on a city street. Father-of-three Sean Kennedy (33) had begun drinking after getting clean of drugs, a court heard. Judge Patricia Cronin fined him 200 at Dublin District Court. Kennedy, of Heyward Mews, Roganstown, Swords, pleaded guilty to public intoxication and threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour. Garda David Garvey said he found the accused in a highly intoxicated state, walking in and out of traffic at Liffey Street Lower at 12.20am on October 22 last year. Kennedy smelled strongly of alcohol and was highly abusive and threatening to the gardai in view of members of the public. He was arrested and brought to a garda station where his attitude changed and he became very cooperative and apologetic. Kennedy accepted what happened was not acceptable carry-on, defence solicitor Roy ONeill said. He had gone for drug treatment but after he got clean, he started drinking. That is why we are here his drink intake, Mr ONeill said. Kennedy was now totally and utterly sober and had not touched a drink in a long time. The victim fell asleep and when she woke up she saw Davies, who had taken cocaine that evening, pacing the floor in an aggressive state A man described as talking in an Irish accent who pretended he had PTSD sexually assaulted a woman in Swansea hotel, a court has heard. James Davies of no fixed abode, appeared at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing, having pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine, two counts of ABH, two counts of rape, and assault by penetration. He had gone to the Grand Hotel with a woman on August 19, 2022, and they had consensual sex together. However, the victim fell asleep and when she woke up she saw Davies, who had taken cocaine that evening, pacing the floor in an aggressive state. Swansea Crown Court heard how his face changed and he began to talk in an Irish accent. The woman said she believed this was as a result of his account of how he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He had claimed that he had served in the RAF when he witnessed a friend being blown up in front of him, the court heard, resulting in him suffering from the condition. However, police found that account was false after they carried out inquiries into the matter. The 36-year-old then punched his victim to the face and made threats, despite her protests for him to stop while making her perform an oral sex act on him. The court was also told he also urinated on her. Police who were called to the hotel spoke to the victim before she was taken to Morriston Hospital for treatment for her injuries that included a swollen face, eye and jaw. In a victim impact statement that was read to the court, the woman said: "I hope you can live with what you did to me, and always remember I am now happy and healthy with amazing support around me. I will have to live with the flashbacks but I will always be reminded of the strong courageous woman I am becoming." Robin Rouch, speaking for Davies, said there had been a fairly healthy period of reflection over the last year. It is going to be a healthy sentence regardless, Rouch added. This is his first custodial sentence and he is on a list for counselling and has asked to see a psychiatrist." In sentencing Davies, Judge Geraint Walters described his acts as "nothing less than psychotic" and said the matter was a "terrifying incident". Davies was jailed for 11 years. He must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, and a restraining order has been placed on him preventing contact with his victim for life. She fled to a nearby address, but got no response, while the defendant was shouting at her to return home. The Public Prosecution Service is to appeal a decision to grant bail to a man charged with multiple offences including allegedly raping a woman in the presence of their toddler child. The accused, who is in his twenties but cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, is charged with raping, assaulting, attempting to strangle and unlawfully imprisoning the complainant against her will. A PSNI detective constable told Dungannon Magistrates Court all charges could be connected. He explained how the complainant contacted police to report a domestic abuse incident allegedly beginning around 5am on July 17, when she was woken by her partner kicking and verbally abusing her. She fled to a nearby address, but got no response, while the defendant was shouting at her to return home. When she did, the defendant locked the door and told the complainant she would not be leaving until she had sex with him, shouting: Get up there now and get your clothes off. The commotion woke their sleeping child, who was lifted by the complainant and held in her arms. However, the defendant got her into a headlock and again told her to take her clothes off. The complainant alleges the defendant raped her, ignoring her distress, in the presence of the child, who saw everything and was crying. Afterwards, the defendant left the property and the complainant contacted police. She had bruising to her thigh and marks to her jaw, caused from being put in a headlock. Screenshots were provided showing more than 150 missed calls from the defendant after the incident and before his arrest. The defendant also sent an image of a rope hanging from a tree and asked to speak to the child. During interview, he denied the offences, stating how, in the days beforehand, he saw a photograph of the complainant at a party showing her talking to a male. This annoyed him and he went to bed, later texting the complainant asking her to join him but got no reply; she spent the night in the spare room. The following day, the defendant left for work and received a text from the complainant ending their relationship. While claiming sex did occur following this, he insisted it was consensual and instigated by the complainant, contending the marks on her face were smeared make-up. Objecting to bail, the detective said: The defendant made excessive attempts to contact the complainant post-incident. She has tried to leave him, as he is very controlling, and she is in fear of what he may do next, as the abuse is getting worse. This is a significant domestic allegation in the presence of a very young child. The court heard the defendant was previously investigated for allegations of raping a different woman in 2017, in similar circumstances, but these did not proceed. Police believe, whilst not convicted, it shows a propensity to commit serious offences and escalation of his behaviour, said the detective. A defence barrister, however, pointed out that his client has no previous record and argued bail could be granted with strict conditions. District Judge Michael Ranaghan said: These are the most serious of alleged offences in front of a very young child, although seriousness alone is not a reason to deny bail. Given the answers in interview, it may boil down to one word against another. The court cannot turn its eyes from protecting the complainant, but where I have doubt I have to grant bail. However, a prosecuting lawyer advised that this be appealed. The defendant will remain in custody until bail has been ruled upon at High Court. The Galway native, who taught in Dublin, also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of the possession of explicit images and videos of children A secondary school teacher who preyed on a vulnerable young schoolgirl by engaging in sexually explicit conversations with her on Instagram over a 12-month period has been given a three-year jail sentence, with the final two years suspended. The teacher, John Murphy (42), a married father of one from Ferncourt Crescent, Ballycullen, Dublin, had pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual exploitation of the then 15-year-old victim on dates between June 2017 and June 2018. The Galway native, who was a teacher of mathematics and science in a school in Tallaght, Dublin, at the time of the offence, also pleaded guilty to a separate charge of the possession of explicit images and videos of children between December 2007 and December 2010. A sitting of Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court previously heard Murphy had, during text changes with the girl on Instagram, asked for naked pictures of herself and told her that he wanted to be the one to take her virginity. While no images of the girl were found on Murphys computer, she told gardai that she had sent images of her in her underwear to the accused. At a sentence hearing yesterday, Judge Corman Quinn said Murphys online exchanges with the girl had been peppered with explicit sexual conversations which escalated over time. The judge accepted that Murphy, who was aged 36 when he began contact with the girl, never made any concrete plans to try and meet his victim in person. He also noted that the accused had no previous criminal convictions and had co-operated with gardai as well as providing them with passwords to his devices. The judge said an aggravating factor in the case was the gap in ages between the parties. The court heard that the girl, who lived in Co Wicklow, initially told Murphy she was 17. Shortly after they began texting, she told him she was 16 when she was actually 15. Judge Quinn said it was clear from a victim-impact statement provided by the girl that she had been severely affected by the offences. While Murphy might not have known his victim was a specifically vulnerable child, the judge said as a teacher, he should have known anyone of that age was vulnerable, but he had preyed upon that. In his favour, the judge acknowledged that Murphy had entered an early guilty plea and had not raised the issue of a recent court ruling over the need to specifically note computers and other devices in applications for search warrants. Murphy had also offered an unreserved apology to his victim and expressed his sincere remorse. He resigned from his teaching job in 2022. The judge also accepted that Murphy suffered the loss of his career as a teacher as well as some adverse publicity. He noted that a probation report expressed concern that the offending took place while he was employed in a position with responsibility over children. The court had previously heard remarks from a probation report that Murphy had some in-built hostility to women. Judge Quinn said the victim in the case should be commended. He said she did absolutely nothing wrong as she had been preyed upon by the accused. The judge also praised the girls mother for being vigilant and acting on her very good instinct and taking screenshots of the offending texts. She acted with great intelligence in doing all these things, the judge remarked. Judge Quinn sentenced Murphy to three years in prison for the offence of sexual exploitation of a child contrary to Section 3 of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998. He suspended the final two years on a number of conditions. They included that Murphy submit himself to the direction of the Probation Service for a period of two years upon release from prison. He must provide the authorities with his contact details and his address as well as any changes to them. Other conditions included a prohibition on him having any unsupervised access to children and the requirement to participate in a therapeutic programme for sexually harmful offending. Murphys name will be placed on the register of sex offenders. Judge Quinn also sentenced Murphy to a 12-month prison sentence for the offence relating to explicit images and videos of children, to run concurrently. The former teacher, who was accompanied to court by his mother and wife, had no reaction to the sentence. A previous sitting of the court heard Murphy had first contacted the girl via Whisper, a live chat platform, before asking for details of her Instagram account to exchange private messages. The offending came to light after the girls mother came across their online conversations on her daughters mobile phone and reported the matter to gardai. Detective Garda Suzanne Ford gave evidence that explicit material involving children, consisting of two videos and nine chat logs, were subsequently found on a Toshiba laptop seized during a search of Murphys home. Two other similar chat logs were found on a Samsung hard drive. The court heard the videos contained the most extreme form of child pornography. On Thursday, counsel for Murphy, Paul Murray SC, observed that the accused had a career thrown away through fantasy. The court heard he had asked the girl if she wanted a general relationship or a friendship with benefits and to see where it goes. He also encouraged her to be brave and meet me, although they never actually met in person. In one text, he remarked that it was just a pity plans to change the age of consent never happened. Murphy also said that the age of consent was pretty arbitrary. It is 15 in most of Europe and who is to say they are wrong. When the girl asked him if he had any kinks, Murphy replied: Apart from liking teenagers? He also described sexual acts he would like to engage in with the girl. The court heard that Murphy was naive as he had made no attempt to hide his identity from the girl. He had told her his name, where he lived and that he was a schoolteacher. In a victim-impact statement, the girl who is now 21 said her desire for exploration and the trust she had in people had been exploited when she was just 15 and the period was the worst time of my life. He exploited my personality for his own perverted needs, she said. The girl said she had initially started chatting with Murphy online out of curiosity but their conversations quickly turned sexual and she felt trapped. He knew so much about me that I felt I could not stop talking to him. I felt he might come after me, she added. The court heard she developed mental health problems, anorexia and post-traumatic stress disorder, while she had also struggled in school because of what happened. She described how she would go without food for up to four days in order to make herself more desirable. She also suffered panic attacks that someone was watching her and she used to have nightmares that Murphy would find her and do explicit things to her. I was left feeling dirty and used and felt more like a property than a person, she said. The accused was 17, a minor, and could not be identified in media coverage of the case when it first came before the Dublin Children's Court Aaron Keating was rushed to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, where he was pronounced dead. A JUDGE has refused to prevent the media from naming a youth charged with the murder of a man in Ongar, west Dublin last month. John Mulrooney, 18, of Manorfield Green, Clonee, Dublin, is accused of murdering Aaron Keating on June 13 at Main Street in Ongar. Mr Keating, who was in his 40s and from Blanchardstown, suffered severe wounds and was removed from the scene to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, where he was pronounced dead. The accused was 17, a minor, and could not be identified in media coverage of the case when it first came before the Dublin Children's Court on June 16. At that time, the usual Children's Act reporting restrictions applied, and he was remanded to the Oberstown Children Detention Campus. The teen appeared again at the Dublin Children's Court on Friday. Judge Brendan Toale noted that gardai sought further directions from the Director of Public Prosecution, and the teen consented to a four-week adjournment. Defence counsel Doireann McDonagh said that the client had turned 18, and it was expected he would now, as an adult, be remanded to Cloverhill Prison. However, the teenager wanted to remain at the Oberstown detention campus. The judge said he could only send a child there if he were the subject of a sentence, and he had no choice but to remand him to Cloverhill Prison. The defence also asked the judge to consider imposing reporting restrictions because the alleged offence occurred when he was a child. The barrister said the youth was "an extremely vulnerable young man with a raft of diagnoses", and it would be extremely damaging to him if he were identified. However, refusing the application, Judge Toale referred to legal authorities in the forms of two High Court and Court of Appeal judgements, which addressed this issue and accepted that the loss of anonymity occurs at 18 and "standard law applies". Mr Keating was known to the State services and lived in local private supported accommodation for several years. A Garda family liaison officer has been appointed to his family. Detective Sergeant Garda Mark Murphy had said that when the teen was charged, "there was no reply to the charge after caution". Edith Igunbor has been charged with money laundering A young woman allowed her bank account to be used by fraudsters to move 4,800 in crime proceeds, it is alleged. Edith Igunbor (21) is facing money laundering charges after the transfers were discovered and her account frozen, Blanchardstown District Court heard. Judge Brendan OReilly adjourned the case to give the accused time to consider how she intends to plead to the charges. Ms Igunbor, with an address at Hawthorn Place, Kilcarbery Grange, Clondalkin, Dublin, is charged with two counts of money laundering. Garda Sergeant Maria Callaghan said the DPP consented to the case being dealt with in the district court if the judge accepted jurisdiction. Outlining the prosecutions case, she said on February 4, 2021, two transactions were made from the alleged victims Bank of Ireland account. One was in the amount of 4,300 and the other was for 500. It was alleged these were fraudulent transactions not authorised by the account holder. The money was credited to a bank account in Clondalkin held in the name of the accused, it was alleged. Bank of Ireland froze the accuseds accounts and the money was recovered. The allegation was that Ms Igunbor allowed her account to be used, the sergeant said. Judge OReilly accepted jurisdiction. He ordered disclosure of prosecution evidence to the defence and adjourned the case to a date in September. The judge granted free legal aid subject to a statement of the accuseds financial means being submitted. Man put out of property four months ago blaming attack on east Belfast UVF Damage to one of the windows CCTV footage showing shots being fired at the house in Stirling Avenue There are fears that a drug feud in Newtownards could escalate after a late-night gun attack on a family home in the West Winds estate. The loyalist at the centre of the attack said his family are now homeless following the incident which was caught on CCTV in the early hours of Thursday. The Belfast Telegraph has spoken to the male occupant who vacated the property at Stirling Avenue four months ago after being ordered out. He said he was given assurances that his family would be safe and blamed the sick and disgusting attack on the east Belfast UVF. My four children were inside, my eldest daughter is 23 but has severe learning difficulties with the mental age of a teenager, the man said. She was sitting downstairs playing a computer game when a bullet came through the front door. My 15-year-old son has ADHD and is bipolar. He doesnt sleep that well and had just turned off the TV when a bullet came through the living room window. He had cuts on his feet from the smashed glass. Damage to one of the windows The Ards and North Down Women Against Drugs group have blamed the attack on the Real UFF. It said: We want to completely condemn the latest acts of violence in our local community, particularly a shooting incident in the West Winds. We want to see an end to all violence and we have almost begged the PSNI to do their job and deal with the Real UFF crime gang. The group claims that the recent attacks are being organised by Real UFF members in order to get rehoused in another area. It was previously claimed that the South East Antrim UDA had manipulated the housing points system to get allocated homes in the Weavers Grange development, which has been at the centre of the infighting. The Real UFF remains a small but defiant group based mainly in the Weavers Grange estate, holding a show of strength earlier this month following the death of one of its members. The mans death was unrelated to the feud. The loyalist whose house was the target of the gun attack added: Theres an old-school rule, which is an unwritten law, that family members are off limits in a feud. What do innocent kids have to do with any of that? CCTV captures masked person firing shots at home in Newtownards estate in Down He said that a deal with the east Belfast UVF was struck which meant that, so long as he stayed away from the estate, his family would have nothing to fear. These are the same people who were backing a protest for peace the other week, warning that if a child is harmed they will take action. Now they are shooting at children, he said. This part of the town is run by the east Belfast UVF. The idea that the UDA or any other group would go into their turf and open fire without permission is ridiculous. But I have been reliably informed the man in the CCTV is one of theirs. They [the family] are staying with friends until they can get sorted, so right now we are all homeless. My eldest daughter is shaking constantly and one of the other kids was with me in work shortly after it happened when there was an innocent bang. They immediately lifted their hands to cover their head as if it was a gunshot. My son, who escaped being killed by a couple of seconds says hes ok, but he really needs routine in his life, so I think hes going to struggle. Those who did this arent loyalists at all, they are pure scum. Targeting women and children is sick and disgusting. CCTV footage shows a hooded figure dressed in dark clothing approaching the property and firing shots from what appears to be a shotgun or rifle at 12.53am. Police said the incident may be linked to a long-running feud among drug gangs in north Down. Alliance MLA Kellie Armstrong said criminal factions are torturing the community and warned that it has to stop. I utterly condemn this blatant disregard for life, the Strangford representative added. This sinister act is all the more sickening given there were children at home who could have been injured or killed. DUP councillor Naomi Armstrong-Cotter said it irresponsibly endangered life. Its made so much worse by the fact that children were in that home, she said. I am asking those who know anything to get in touch with the PSNI. It is clear that this behaviour will only stop when we as a community pull together with the police to ensure those involved in acts like these are held accountable and subjected to the law. The PSNI confirmed extensive damage was caused to the door and front window of the property during what it described as a completely irresponsible and reckless attack that could have had extremely serious consequences. Everyone has the right to live free from the threat of violence, and our enquiries are at an early stage to determine who was involved and a motive, a spokesperson added. At present, however, we are potentially linking this report to an ongoing investigation into criminal activity linked to a loyalist feud between drugs gangs in north Down. Paramilitaries are not defenders of their communities, instead they are criminals who prey on vulnerable people and exploit any circumstances they can for their own gain. Eighteen men are facing criminal charges as a result of the fallout between North Down UDA and a faction of South East Antrim UDA based in the Weavers Grange in the town. His son, Mike, said in a statement that his father was in a coma with what he has been told are life-altering injuries. Stephen Termini, centre, pictured with his sons Mike and Jesse, in image shared online by his son, Mike The son of a US tourist who was left with serious injuries after being assaulted in Dublin has asked for healing vibes to be sent to his father as he recovers. Stephen Termini, from New York, was assaulted on Wednesday night just yards from Store Street garda station in the north inner city, The 57-year-old has regularly travelled to Ireland in recent years and had only arrived back in Ireland the day before he was assaulted. His son, Mike, said in a statement that his father was in a coma with what he has been told are life-altering injuries. He also posted a picture of his father, his brother Jesse and himself along with the statement shared with Independent.ie. This is a photo of my biological father (Stephen Termini) along with my brother (Jesse Rizzuto) and I. Upon returning home from our tour with my band Kissing Candice I received the news that there was an unprovoked attack by multiple people on my father in Dublin, Ireland, he wrote. The brutal attack has left my father in a coma after suffering various injuries. He is currently in critical condition with what I am told are life-altering injuries. I am receiving news of this situation as it comes in through the media alongside everyone else. My father instilled the love of music I have inside of me and has been a huge support to me over the past decade. Although we may have not been the closest through the years, he is still my father and the reason I am here today. I am asking for you to send healing vibes to my father while my family and I attempt to learn more facts of the situation. Stephen Termini is continuing to receive treatment at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and no arrests have yet been made in relation to the assault. One man who knows the victim from his regular trips to Ireland said he was speaking to Mr Termini shortly before the attack and was shocked when he heard about it. He told Independent.ie: Hes a lovely man. He would come back here regularly enough and he likes it over here. I was speaking to him at around nine oclock on Wednesday and the next day I heard he was assaulted. Its bad, very bad. Yesterday, Justice Minister Helen McEntee visited Store Street garda station with senior garda management. She told reporters: If I could say at the outset I just wish nothing but the best for that gentleman. This was a vicious, unprovoked attack that should not have happened and obviously the first response by the gardai is to make sure that those who are responsible are brought to justice and that is happening. Ms McEntee acknowledged that things are not perfect in the city centre and there are issues that need to be resolved. We have plans to make sure that people are safe and feel safe in their towns, in their cities, be they urban or rural, she said. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, who is a TD for the Dublin Central constituency, described the incident that took place just off Talbot Street on Wednesday night as an awful assault. He acknowledged the excellent work of policing by the gardai, adding that he is so shocked and so saddened by the assault and wished the American man all the best in his recovery. Mr Donohoe said the city is a very vibrant and very safe capital city but acknowledged the challenges that we have and concerns that have been raised by recent assaults. He said the Government is determined to support both the gardai and the city council in addressing these challenges. An image of the couple together in their home country has been published alongside news of Deepas death in newspapers in her native Kerala A 38-year-old mum-of-one stabbed to death in her Cork home had arranged for her husband and five-year-old son to join her in Ireland on dependent visas after taking up employment here in April. Tragic Deepa Dinamani, who was a native of Thrissur in Kerala, had started work as a senior manager at Alter Domus Fund Services at the Airport Business Park, Cork in April. Immediately after that, its understood Deepa arranged for her husband Regin Rajan and their young son to join her in Ireland on a dependent visa. An image of the couple together in their home country has been published alongside news of Deepas death in newspapers in her native Kerala. Deepas body was discovered in an upstairs bedroom of her semi-detached home in the Cardinal Court estate on Friday night of last week. She had sustained a stab wound to the neck. Deepa Paruthiyezhuth Dinamani and left, scene of stabbing The alarm was raised when she failed to pick up her son from a friend's house. Her body was transferred to Cork University Hospital where a post mortem examination was carried out. A forensic examination also took place at her home in Wilton. On Thursday, Deepas husband, who has been charged with her murder, was further remanded in custody following an initial court appearance last Sunday Rajan, a native of India, appeared by video link from Cork Prison. Cork District Court heard the directions of the Director of Public Prosecutions are awaited in the case of a 41-year-old man. Sergeant John Kelleher told the court that it was a very recent matter and it was too soon for directions to be available from the DPP. At the sitting, Judge Olann Kelleher further remanded the accused in custody until July 31st for DPP directions Deepas brother was understood this week to be in the process of travelling to Ireland to assume care of his nephew and to help organise the repatriation of his sister's remains to India. The Indian community in Cork has rallied to support the heartbroken family and staged a candlelit vigil at her home. Speaking earlier this week, World Malayalee Council Cork President Dr Lekha Menon Margassery said the community will do everything within their power to assist the grief-stricken family. "We are working on the repatriation process," he said. "Her brother needs to submit certain forms and to get them notarised by the authorities. He has to send all those emails to the Embassy. He is travelling today to his parents because he is in a different state (in India). And then he will come here." "He is still in shock. He cannot process it. (The vigil) was nice. It was good for us to be as one and to be united as we pass on our condolences. "The (Cork City) Council messaged me to pass on their condolences. We are trying to sort the repatriation out - the protocol and what is required. Whether it is from the funeral home or the mortuary. Do they need a notary? All the practical steps." Deepas employers have also offered whatever help they can provide to assist her family. "Her brother needs to get a visa and that will have to be issued to him. We are waiting for confirmation from (her) brother on when he will be able to travel. She only had one sibling. He is the only one." Dr Margassery posted a message on the Cork Pravasi Malayali Facebook page, along with the World Malayalee Council Cork and Indian Nurses in Cork social media pages, asking members for their support over the coming days. "We request all our community members' support as you are all aware of the costs incurred with repatriation. Family has requested our support in whatever way we could as a community. "We would keep all of you updated and would like to inform you all that an action group has been formulated as a start to deal with the situation with representatives from different organisations in Cork." Dr Margassery, who is also President of the UCC Indian Alumni Association, said Irish people who want to help the family in any way can contact her at corkwmc@gmail.com . In a statement Alter Domus, where Deepa had been employed as a senior funds manager, said that they were shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy. We lost a wonderful person and colleague who will be missed by many at Alter Domus. Our thoughts are with Deepas family at this tragic time. The Unresolved Puzzle of Sofyan Amrabats Future The narrative is all too familiar: a top-tier English club circling a highly coveted Serie A star. The newest addition to this plot is Sofyan Amrabat, the enigmatic Moroccan midfielder playing for Fiorentina. However, despite rampant speculation, Fiorentina has firmly dismissed the notion of Manchester Uniteds supposed offer for their prized player, as reported by Metro. Sofyan Amrabat: Uniteds Missing Midfield Piece? Recent reports from Italy insinuated that Manchester United had put forward a bid for the Moroccan international. The Old Trafford side, however, allegedly fell short of meeting Fiorentinas 25 million evaluation, leaving the Italian side unimpressed. The prospect of Sofyan Amrabat joining United is not as far-fetched as it may initially seem. The midfielder shares a strong rapport with Uniteds Erik ten Hag, which goes back to their successful collaboration at FC Utrecht. This pre-existing relationship adds a layer of credibility to the swirling rumours. Fiorentinas Stance: No Official Bid Yet In a climate rife with conjecture, Fiorentinas general manager, Joe Barone, stands as a beacon of clarity. In a statement to Sky Sport Italy, he confirmed that the Serie A club had yet to receive an official offer for Amrabat during this summers transfer window. Amrabat is very attached to the team and to me too, we speak in English and we talk almost every day, Barone said. His sentiment emphasises the strong bond between the player and his current club. Barone has urged Amrabat to remain focused on Fiorentina, at least until a concrete offer materialises. I told him to come here concentrated because he is a Fiorentina player. He must have his head here and be ready for the start of the league, then if something comes well evaluate it, he shared, placing Amrabats commitment to Fiorentina at the forefront. An Already Strong Midfield at Fiorentina Fiorentinas stance on retaining Amrabat is backed by their confidence in their current midfield department, deemed by Barone as very strong. This assertion throws light on Fiorentinas readiness to put up a fight should any club, including Manchester United, try to lure away their midfield maestro. The current situation leaves Uniteds pursuit of Amrabat in murky waters. The club would have to up their bid considerably to tempt Fiorentina into negotiations. For now, though, it appears Amrabats ties with the Viola remain undisturbed. It remains to be seen how this potential transfer saga will unfold. Will Manchester United return with a more appealing offer? Only time will tell. Until then, Amrabats focus remains firmly planted in Florence. Albert Lee Gardner (29) was released on July 7 and arrested on July 8 after authorities found his ankle monitor in a convenience store rubbish bin A dangerous sexual predator known as Floridas joker is back behind bars just one day after he was released from a nine-year jail sentence when he removed a GPS monitoring device. Albert Lee Gardner (29) was released on July 7 and arrested on July 8 after authorities found his ankle monitor in a convenience store rubbish bin, according to the Hernando County Sheriffs Office. He had just served a prison sentence for lewd and lascivious battery with a victim aged 12-15 years old, the sheriffs office said, when he was found overdosed in an apartment. Gardner had been given five and a half years of supervised release following his sentence, according to FOX 35. But a probation officer called deputies to the 7-Eleven in Brooksville after noticing his GPS tracker had been there for an unusually long time. Shortly after deputies found the tracker, a call came in about an overdose less than a mile down the street. Officers who responded to this call quickly realised it was the man they had been looking for. Gardner, also referred to as "Joker" in court records going back to when he was 18-years-old, was reportedly found overdosed by sheriff deputies after he cut off the court-mandated GPS tracking device. He was revived with Narcan and after being treated in hospital, was booked without bond and charged with violating his probation and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. Referred to as Florida's own Joker, he also has guilty adjudications going back to 2012 for various charges including criminal mischief, burglary, possession of paraphernalia, battery, theft and driving without a valid license, according to records. At just 13-years-of age, Joker was listed on the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's sexual predator list in 2007, after receiving a delinquency adjudication with the charge of sexual battery on a victim under 12. As part of his probation, he received the guilty adjudication for sexual battery in June 2014 that came with the GPS tracking device. Gardner was arrested and charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious behavior, a drug charge, burglary and preventing/hindering a firefighter or safety equipment. He was sentenced to nine years and six months in a state prison followed by five years and six months of probation. Gardner was released from his prison sentence on July 7 after serving about nine years. The very next day, he reportedly cut off his GPS tracker and was found overdosed. To say [women] aren't true leaders because they aren't priests is clericalist and disrespectful, said Pope Francis Women, whether ordained or not, must be given meaningful leadership roles in the Catholic Church. I know this because Pope Francis has repeatedly said so. Its important because some believe we have to ordain women to make up for the shortage of male priests. That is a supreme insult to the specific gifts women bring to the church and the community. Its saying in effect: Well let you share some work since we can no longer do it all ourselves but remember were still in charge In the Western world, there is a shortage of male celibates answering the call to be priests. However, worldwide there is no shortage of male celibate priests. India, Africa and the Far East all have a surplus, many of whom are filling the gaps in parishes across the Western world including Ireland. We live in a time when all religions struggle to communicate meaningfully with non-believing people of all ages today. Some understand the problem; some dont. Most people know that if we keep on doing what weve always done we will keep on getting the same results i.e. empty churches and total irrelevancy. The role of the priest as the holder of all power in matters of religion is untenable now. It is clear we are being called to a new kind of church in order to make the love of God relevant in a whole new world. Ill go further. Its my opinion that the fall-off in male celibate vocations is a direct message from God asking us to bring about a different kind of church. A church in which every baptised person has a role to play; a church in which ordained priests play a necessary, but diminishing, role in church administration; a church where priests will decide to be servants to the community by building it up, and not their oppressors tearing it down. We should welcome the diminishment of the clerical church and the establishment of what we call the Synodal Church. Thats part of what Pope Francis is determined to bring about. He has pointed out that in Catholic dioceses across the world, women often serve in leadership positions, running Catholic schools or hospital systems, or heading up diocesan departments. "Perhaps because of clericalism, which is a corruption of the priesthood, many people wrongly believe that Church leadership is exclusively male," Pope Francis said recently, repeating what he wrote in book form in Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future. "To say they aren't true leaders because they aren't priests is clericalist and disrespectful," Pope Francis adds. That truth has not impinged on Bishops and priests yet. They insist on putting clerics in charge of groups of parishes instead of discerning leaders in each parish to minister to their communities. That would change the nature of the priesthood. It would empower the community, force clerics to be less dictatorial and acknowledge the gifts of the laity. Pope Francis challenges us to work tirelessly on justice issues. He rightly believes that whether there are women priests or men priests is not the issue facing the Church. Rather, justice for the poor and the marginalised will show what kind of Christian heritage we leave behind. Francis highlights other issues which cry out for our attention. He frequently highlights the evils of Capitalism. Hes in favour of people receiving a universal basic income, or a regular government payment to provide for basic necessities like food and housing. Finally, the Pope believes that countries with women at the helm "have reacted [in times of crisis] better and more quickly than others, making decisions swiftly and communicating them with empathy." He has named women as consultors to Vatican congregations, "so that they can influence the Vatican while preserving their independence from it. Changing institutional culture is a process which calls for de-clericalizing the church. This process clearly involves dialogue, discussion and discernment of what the Holy Spirit is calling the church to do. It calls for sowing seeds that others will harvest. Reverend Thomas Ogletree Courage, they say, is an old-fashioned virtue which comes in many forms. The feminist philosopher, Mary Daly said: A person learns to swim by swimming; you get courage by acting courageously. I read recently about the Reverend Thomas Ogletree who is a theologian and Methodist minister in America. He also happens to be the retired Dean of Yale Divinity School. He shocked many of his colleagues when he officiated at his sons same-sex wedding. In answer to their objections he said, Sometimes when what is officially the law is wrong, you try to get the law changed; but if you cant, you may have to break it. His son backed him. My father does the right thing because he believes in doing the right thing. If hes questioned, hes willing to stand up for his convictions in a public way. His son sees it as courage passed down from parent to child. In the past, the decisions of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith have caused immense difficulty for all of us and produced an almost universally negative reaction. Pope Francis has changed its name to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) and appointed a new head, Archbishop Fernandez. He wants to encourage legitimate discussion on crucial issues. It is better late than never. Yet how much heartbreak and humiliation could have been avoided had he spoken earlier to prevent the silencing of suspects all over the world. I believe that courage, even if it is courage with hindsight, should be celebrated. Someone with the courage to speak their mind with charity and clarity is rare, but laudable when it happens. We take delight when someone speaks courageously and highlights things the rest of us avoid. It is not easy to act courageously and it is even more difficult to direct another to act with courage. Each of us has the power to set aside self-interest to promote truth and to defeat evil for the common good. It seems to me that many of the faults in our society, in politics and in our Churches will begin to unravel when enough people leave aside their own self-interest and challenge authorities courageously. I like the Hasidic tale which speaks about Rabbi Benjamin, who died and stood before the judgement seat of God. As he waited for God to appear he became ever more nervous thinking about his life and how little he had done. He imagined that God was going to ask him Why werent you more like Moses, or why were you not brave like David? But when God appeared the Rabbi was surprised. God simply asked, Why werent you, Benjamin? In other words, be yourself. It has been reported that an air ambulance made an emergency landing on Youghal Bridge to airlift the infant to Cork University Hospital An infant boy remains in critical condition in hospital this afternoon following an incident involving a vehicle in Dungarvan, Co Waterford yesterday. The young boy was airlifted from the scene to Cork University Hospital after the accident that happened on private property between 6pm and 7pm. It has been reported that an air ambulance made an emergency landing on Youghal Bridge to airlift the infant to Cork University Hospital where he remains in critical condition. "Gardai are investigating all the circumstances of a road traffic incident that was reported this afternoon, Friday 21st July 2023 on private property in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, gardai said. An infant boy appears to have been involved in a collision with a vehicle. The boy was transferred by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital where he remains in a critical condition. A section of the Youghal bypass was temporarily closed as gardai and emergency services rushed to the scene to meet with the air ambulance. It has been reported that only one vehicle was involved in the incident. Gardai said investigations are ongoing. Son sues his own mum over ownership of plush country house which welcomes A-List stars for luxury getaways A pensioner being sued by her own son over the ownership of a country house favoured as a country getaway by A-list Irish celebs says she still loves him regardless of any litigation. Brede Thomas, who has welcomed stars of stage and screen to Ballyduff House, Co Kilkenny which sits on an 85-acre-holding on the banks of the River Nore is now bracing herself for a High Court battle for ownership of the beloved country estate. Speaking with the Sunday World outside her home this week, she said of her relationship with her son and the litigation: I love my son and hope this will all be sorted out soon. Over the past number of decades Brede has hosted hunts, weddings and even film casts to the spectacularly maintained estate. The classic Georgian country house, which boasts a 14th century castle on its grounds, served as a location for the making of the movie Circle of Friends and counts Gabriel Byrne among its guests. News that Brede is now being sued over the ownership of the estate by her 33-year-old son Thomas will be met with shock by the guests who have described her as a natural host whose friendly, warm welcome will never be forgotten. Details of the case were made public last week after papers filed by Bredes son, David, were filed in the High Court. In a sworn statement, David Thomas claimed that he has been subjected to a campaign of psychological abuse by his mother, who is allegedly refusing to leave the property which he says was willed to him by his grandmother. Mr Thomas (33) said he is the owner of the property that has been the family home for many years and is operated by his mother as a guesthouse. Mr Thomas said last year his lawyers advised him that the property had been legally transferred to him in 2010, but said this fact was hidden from him by his mother. After raising the issue with her, he alleged she became violent and his continued presence in the property became untenable. He alleged that he has now been excluded from his home, where he had lived for many years, by his mother. He claims that he currently does not have anywhere else to live and has been staying with his aunt on an interim basis. In the sworn statement, he said that last November his mother physically attacked him, requiring the intervention of gardai, who he says have told him it is unsafe to try to enter his own home. Inside Ballyduff House in Co Kilkenny Mr Thomas also said his mother has made false allegations against him. He alleged she has told one person that she will burn the place down rather than let him back into the property. He added that his mothers treatment of him included kicking him out of his bedroom into an unused sitting room, when the bedroom was needed for paying guests. It is also alleged that at times she excluded him from using any of the houses washing or sanitary facilities. Mr Thomas said the property at Ballyduff was willed to him and his sister by their late grandmother, Barbara, Thomas in 1993. It is claimed that a life interest in another farm and house, located in Coolroe, a mile from the Ballyduff property, was left to the defendant by her late husband. In her will, Ms Thomas directed that the 85-acre farm and house be held in trust for David and his sister Rachel. Their mother was one of several trustees appointed to the property. Inside Ballyduff House in Co Kilkenny It is claimed that Ms Thomas did not want the defendant to have any beneficial interest in the Ballyduff property. Mr Thomas said that in 2010 the trustees, by way of deeds of appointment, transferred the interest in the Ballyduff property to him. He said his mother withheld the true meaning of that transfer from him and represented to him that the transfer was not complete. He alleged that since then his mother remained in control of the property and continued to manage and run the farm. It is also claimed that she benefited from the profits, grants, entitlements and income generated from that property, except for the occasional pocket money. Mr Thomas said during that time he had unrestricted access to the property and helped on the farm. In his action, Mr Thomas seeks an order for possession of the house and the farm and that his legal interest in it be registered. Gabriel Byrne inside the magnificent Ballyduff House He also seeks damages and an injunction restraining his mother from trespassing or from watching and besetting the plaintiff or the property. Efforts to contact David Thomas for comment this week were unsuccessful. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts adjourned the case to later this month. Le Blancs other theft occurred at Sainsburys on January 29 where he stole three bottles of whiskey worth 79 A one-legged heroin addict who stole a single running shoe has narrowly escaped going to jail. Instead wheelchair-bound Wilfred Le Blanc (53) left Coleraine Magistrates Court, sitting in Ballymena, with a four-month suspended prison sentence hanging over his head for the next year. Le Blanc, from Queen Street in Ballymena, Co. Antrim, appeared in court on Friday, three weeks after a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. A prosecuting lawyer told the court the first theft occurred at Size in Belfast on August 24 last year when Le Blanc was seen on CCTV lifting a hoodie and a pair of black Nike trainers, stuffing them behind his back in his wheelchair and leaving the store. By the time the police caught up with him at Howard Street, he still had the hoodie but there was only one shoe. The next theft occurred at Sainsburys on January 29 where he stole three bottles of whiskey worth 79. Le Blanc said he intended to sell them to buy food and electricity. With Le Blanc sitting in his wheelchair outside the dock, defence solicitor Don Mahoney highlighted that he had real physical difficulties which stemmed from his addiction to heroin. He conceded that while Le Blanc had a fairly long record, there were significant gaps in periods of offending, adding that the defendant had a fairly chaotic lifestyle and not much by way of support. Deputy District Judge Laura Ievers said although the custody threshold had been crossed based on his record, she would suspend the sentence for a year as he had made ready admissions. He was also ordered to pay 235 compensation to Size. On Wednesday a storm killed six people in the region, four in Croatia, one in Slovenia and another in Bosnia A 12-year-old boy and a woman died in Serbia during another deadly storm that ripped through the Balkans this week, local media reports. Several people were injured in a tourist campsite in the northern Istria peninsula packed with visitors from abroad. Croatias Adriatic Sea coastline and islands attract millions of tourists each summer. The storm on Friday first swept through Slovenia, moving on to Croatia and then Serbia and Bosnia, blowing gusts of wind and heavy rain. Authorities reported power distribution issues and extensive damage including fallen trees that destroyed cars and rooftops. On Wednesday, another storm killed six people in the region, four in Croatia, one in Slovenia and another in Bosnia. Meteorologists said the storms were of such powerful magnitude because they followed a string of extremely hot days. Experts say extreme weather conditions are likely fuelled by climate change. In the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, the 12-year-old was found dead in the street during the storm but it remains unclear whether he was struck by lightning or was electrocuted, said the official RTS television. Local media say Novi Sad was hit the hardest, with the storm damaging the roof of the citys exhibition hall. Some 30 people have sought medical help and many streets remain blocked on Saturday morning. In the village of Kovacica, in northeastern Serbia, a woman died from smoke inhalation after a fire erupted when lightning hit a tree by her house, the RTS said. Serbian police are yet to issue an official statement about the extent of damage the storm caused. In Croatia, the storm wreaked havoc in various parts of the country, as authorities were already scrambling to control the damage left by Wednesday's storm. We work night and day, no stopping, Nermin Brezovcanin, a construction worker in the capital Zagreb, told the official HRT TV. Slovenia says storms have also hugely damaged forests in the Alpine nation and warned of potential flash floods. Elsewhere in Europe, a continuing heat wave caused wildfires and public health warnings. Greece struggled to contain a wildfire west of Athens that burnt forestland for a fifth day on Friday as another heatwave hit the country. Firefighters, backed by air water bombers and reinforcements by several countries, including Cyprus, France, Israel and Italy, attempted to control the fire that broke out in the wider Athens area on Monday, gutting houses and forcing evacuations. More than 100 houses and businesses have been severely damaged from this wildfire and another near Athens that authorities put out earlier in the week. Two other blazes in forests on the island of Rhodes and in the Lakonia district in southern Greece were tamed on Friday. Climate Crisis Minister Vassilis Kikilias urged people to remain on guard. The risk of wildfires in the coming days will remain high and further heat is forecast following on from a previous heatwave. "We are having a very difficult three-day spell, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with extreme weather conditions and very high temperatures followed by strong winds," the minister said, adding that after a short respite, another heatwave was forecast from the middle of next week. With temperatures expected to hit 45C (on Saturday and Sunday, during the peak summer tourist season, the Culture Ministry said all archaeological sites, including the Acropolis monument, will shut between 12 noon and 5.30pm until July 23. "The heat is a little too much, the heatwave is terrible," said Italian tourist Michele Albano. Greece recorded its deadliest and longest heatwave ever in July 1987, while extreme heat swept the country for 11 days in the summer of 2021, prompting devastating wildfires near Athens and on the island of Evia. Meteorologists have warned that sweltering temperatures will last until the end of the month. Scientists have long warned that climate change, caused by greenhouse gas emissions mainly from burning fossil fuels, will make heat waves more frequent, severe and deadly. They have urged governments to drastically reduce emissions to prevent climate catastrophe. Known as granny Clare to her grandchildren, Mairead passed away last week at the age of 86, following a long battle with illness Paul with his mother Dearbhla who paid tribute to 'Granny Clare' Paul Mescal is back in Ireland where he has been mourning his beloved grandmother Mairead Mescal following her funeral in West Clare. The Normal People star who is currently filming the sequel to Gladiator in Malta, flew back to attend the service and spend time with his family. Known as granny Clare to her grandchildren, Mairead passed away in University Hospital Limerick last week at the age of 86, following a long battle with illness. Oscar-nominated actor Paul read a bidding prayer the funeral before he joined the rest of the congregation at Tubridy's pub and a restaurant in Doonbeg following the funeral mass. During the service Mairead was referred to as a big supporter of Paul's work who was proud of both his BAFTA win and Academy Award nomination. Taking to Instagram, Paul's mum Dearbhla paid an emotional tribute to her mother-in-law, who she said, had a strength that her generation is known for. You hear jokes about mother in laws & the difficulties this relationship holds, she wrote. I can say from the bottom of my heart that my relationship with Mairead was precious & calm. To our children, their cousins & all us adults she became Granny Clare & was pure joy. She had a chuckle that lit a room, wisdom to share & a gentle hug that enveloped you. She was quick witted & very aware of the world around her & had a strength that her generation is known for. I truly hope I become like her & if my future brings me the joy of mother in lawing or whatever the new name for this role becomes. I want to take the gifts Mairead shared, the light she was & the giggle that made you feel the sun, to become a woman that will hold my childrens partners gently in my heart forever & always, she wrote. Fr Casey of the Cree parish told mourners during the mass, that Mairead would always light candles for her grandchildren at daily mass. Production of Paul's next big-budget film, the long-awaited Ridley Scott sequel, Gladiator 2 has paused due to the ongoing Hollywood actors' strike. A big action film sequence said to have been set at the Roman Colosseum came to a halt due to the strike. Glenda Taylor is Irelands biggest Barbie collection holder Glenda with the Barbie on the window Glenda with her Barbie Collection at her home in Riverstown. Irelands biggest Barbie collection holder is all excited for the new movie and has been celebrating the launch in her own way. Glenda Taylor from Riverstown, Sligo has been collecting Barbie dolls from a very young age. To celebrate the release of Barbie Glenda has showcased some of her collection in the window of her workplace, Cooke Opticians on Stephens Street in Sligo. She said, I used to play with my dolls at a young age and I used to read Barbie magazines. "I had my first show at Riverstown Vintage Day and after that I got more serious about the collection. Initially, it was the dolls that were gifted to her by people on different occasions, but later it became a passion for her and eventually she became the biggest collector of Barbie in Ireland. She currently has more than 700 dolls in her house and the collection goes back to vintage dolls from the 1960s. Glenda with the Barbie on the window She said, At some point I discovered credit cards and e-bay, and I started buying dolls online. "I joined the Official Barbie Fan club in America in 2004 and then I started getting special access to some limited-edition dolls. "Thats where I bought most of my dolls, as they are all collector dolls. Glenda is going to watch Barbie in the Omniplex in Sligo tonight with her girlfriends and she thinks it is going to be a great girly night out. She said, I have watched one or two movies and some videos as a kid, but I have never gone to cinema for a Barbie movie. "I am looking forward to this as the cast looks brilliant. There is an Irish actor Nicola Coughlan in it and Margot Robbie and Ron Gosling, its a big cast. "It would be interesting to see how they do as I never knew he could sing but he sings in the movie. Oppenheimer is coming out tonight too but as we see there is very little publicity about it, everywhere it is Barbie and pink. " I think the movie is going to be the right amount of comedy and humour. " Margot once did an interview and said, its a very good script, too bad nobody will be able to see it, as they didnt think they would be allowed to make it. Then somebody else said, If you love Barbie, you are going to love the movie and if you hate Barbie, you are going to love the movie. So, I think there is something for everyone in the movie. Glenda's Barbie dolls in Cooke Opticians window I think there are some serious undertones to it in that Barbie is all for women and women have choices. " I think thats why Margot Robbie chose to do it as she can be anything through it. Glenda has many vintage and newer dolls in her collection. She has the four ponytail Barbies from 1961, Francie from 1967 (the first Barbie with a darker skin tone), Talking Christie (the first African-American doll) released in 1968 and the Fashionistas. Glenda has kept her dolls in a pristine shape, with most of them having their boxes intact. "She is happy how the company is now trying to broaden their base and bringing inclusivity by launching dolls with different body shapes, hairs, disability and inspiring figures. Motorists are advised to allow extra time and drive with caution following a fallen tree across State Highway 25 between Coromandel and Whitianga. "Due to a fallen tree east of Coromandel township, one lane is blocked with a priority give way in place," says a Waka Kotahi NZTA spokesperson. "Drive with caution through the area." Coromandel's CFM is reporting nearly 200mm of rain has fallen on the Pinnacles in the last seven days with most of this in Friday's deluge. "Rainfalls around the coast saw 120mm fall in several locations particularly Whitianga, Coromandel and surrounding places," says a Coromandel's CFM spokesperson. "Road crews have again been working to clear slips and debris and have done a terrific job with both the Thames Coast Rd and Whangamata to Waihi section of SH25 all clear and open. "The official advice is to take care as slips can still occur and crews are still removing the last of the weather related rocks and mud on the roads." Description Join Dai for this moderately paced 3-mile hike through oak/hickory forest with views of Crooked Pond, (which of the thirteen coastal plain ponds that make up the Long Pond Greenbelt, Crooked Pond is acknowledged as the best occurrence of a coastal plain pond in the Greenbelt and possibly in all of New York State) Long Pond (which is about a half-mile long), and Deer Drink Pond, and the ecological communities that surround them. Hike Leader: Dai Dayton, President, Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt This FREE program is for all ages. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Update: Reed said he was simply stating an opinion on the Bills wearing throwbacks. Many teams have been unveiling throwback jerseys for the 2023 season and it appears that the Buffalo Bills may be next. Labatt Blue recently unveiled a new drink, Throwback Tea, to celebrate 50 years of the Bills charging Buffalo logo. Prominently featured in the packaging for the teas are Buffalos red helmet. Some fans expected the drink to be tied to the team revealing an announcement in regards to throwbacks on 716 Day, but the day came and went without any news. On Friday, however, the Bills Mafia seemed to get confirmation that the Bills throwbacks are returning from a Hall of Fame legend. Bills legend Andre Reed quote tweeted a video shared by the team saying, Sundays will be even more sweet with Bills wearing our throwbacks. Sundays will be even more sweet with Bills wearing our throwbacks #BillsMafia https://t.co/I0kO8dq4Qd Andre Reed (@Andre_Reed83) July 21, 2023 Needless to say, the Bills Mafia reacted to the Hall of Fame wide receivers tweet with no shortage of excitement. While it is the 50th anniversary of the charging Buffalo, the Bills red helmets were worn from the mid-80s to 2010. In recent years, fans have been hoping to see the red helmets make an occasional appearance. It appears they may be getting their wish in 2023. READ MORE What is the Buffalo Bills roster battle that no one is talking about? Buffalo Bills fans arent superstitious, but they are a little stitious No chance? Buffalo Bills disrespected by ESPN panel Are there enough targets to go around in Buffalo Bills offense? Buffalo Bills part ways with EVP Ron Raccuia, Terry Pegula takes over as team president Introducing Shout! Buffalo Bills Insider: Join the conversation on the Shout! podcast with new group chat Buffalo Bills playoff legend snubbed by NFL Talk about the Bills Be sure to check out and subscribe to SHOUT! The Buffalo Football Podcast with beat writers Matt Parrino and Ryan Talbot. You can also subscribe to our newsletter to get weekly updates about Bills news in your inbox. Check out the links below. Newsletter | YouTube | APPLE | SPOTIFY | FACEBOOK | TWITTER Utica, N.Y. The New York Attorney Generals Office has determined criminal charges against Utica police officers should not be pursued in the fatal shooting of a suicidal man with a knife in September. After a review of body-worn camera footage, evidence and interviews with witnesses, the AGs office said it has concluded there is not enough evidence to charge the officers. Prosecutors would be unable to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that officers were not justified in shooting the man, the report concluded. In its report released Friday, the AGs office recommended that the Utica Police Department provide its officers annual training on less-than-lethal measures, which were available but not used in the encounter. Police were called to the mans home on Nielson Street around 7:49 p.m. on Sept. 12 for a mental health call. The AGs offices report said David Litts, 61, had told 911 dispatchers that he wanted to die, was tired of living, and was suffering long-Covid symptoms. Litts also said he had threatened his wife with a gun, slapped her and that he had a .22 caliber gun and a shotgun and would kill any officers who came to his home. About three minutes after Litts made the call to 911, six police officers had arrived to his home. After about nine minutes, Litts walked outside with a butcher or kitchen knife in his right hand and yelled threats to the officers while pacing on the sidewalk, according to the report. The kitchen knife David Litts was holding during the mental health call to his home. A supervising officer suggested officers use less-than-lethal-weapons, but there was no audible response in the body-camera footage, the report said. Over the next seven minutes, supervising officers asked three more times about less-than-lethal measures to no response. Officers were holding a mix of tasers, rifles and handguns, according to the report. An investigator was talking with Litts through a loudspeaker, pleading with him to drop the knife and asking him how they could help. As officers continued to yell at Litts to drop the knife, he approached two officers who were behind a patrol car across the street with the knife raised, the report said. The officers retreated and repeatedly told Litts to drop the knife, but he ignored the commands, the report said. He kept walking forward until he got to about a few feet away from the officers, the report said. Thats when two officers, including one that was originally behind the patrol car, opened fire, striking Litts seven times, the report said. Sgt. Tyler Mowers, with an AR-15 rifle, and Officer Brian Gill, with a handgun, fired the shots. Litts was pronounced dead at St. Elizabeths Medical Center shortly after. Police recovered the knife and found no guns in his home, according to the report. Under the states justification law, a person can use deadly force to defend against the imminent use of deadly physical force by another person, the report said. When the defense of justification is raised at trial, the prosecution must disprove justification beyond a reasonable doubt. The AGs offices report said less-than-lethal shotguns that fire rubber bullets were in the patrol vehicles of two supervising officers. But after a number of requests to officers to get the shotguns, no one did. In interviews with police officers after the shooting, investigators from the AGs office were told officers outside of specialized units did not have yearly training on using the shotguns. But they did train regularly with tasers. Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950. A Cayuga County man was sentenced to prison Friday for having an unregistered and short-barreled AR-15-style rifle, federal prosecutors said. Duane Hollenbeck, 54, of Moravia, was charged in September after investigators found numerous ghost guns and large-capacity magazines at one of his properties. He was arrested along with Alec D. Hollenbeck, 19, of Lincklaen, Chenango County. Investigators were led to Duane Hollenbecks camp in Pitcher, Chenango County, after a concerned gun retailer reported Alec Hollenbeck making large purchases of ammunition weekly for more than a month, prosecutors said in a criminal complaint in federal court. An Instagram post showed Alec Hollenbeck holding two assault rifles, prosecutors said. Investigators found four AR-15 style rifles, five handguns and five metal canisters believed to be homemade suppressors, according to court documents. The guns did not have serial numbers, prosecutors said. One rifles barrel measured at just over 11 inches. Because it was under 16 inches, it had to be registered in the National Firearm Registration and Transfer Record, but according to prosecutors it wasnt. Duane Hollenbeck was sentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge Brenda Sannes to 41 months in prison on one count of possession of an unregistered firearm. The sentence will run concurrently with a sentence by a state court if convicted, according to court filings. A sentence in Chenango County Court is expected, Gabrielle DiBella, Duane Hollenbecks defense lawyer, said in court documents. Hes charged there with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Duane Hollenbeck said in court papers that target shooting with family was a pastime for him. He built many of the guns over three or four years at his camp along with relatives, including Alec Hollenbeck. The documents did not say how the two are related. Many of the gun components were bought online, according to court documents. Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him: Email | Twitter or at 315-690-6950. Ithaca, N.Y. A person was found dead early Friday morning at Ithaca Falls, police said. The person was found around 6:40 a.m. near Lake Street after someone reported seeing someone dead in the water, Ithaca police said in a news release. McLaren has adjourned the third and final stage of its massive update programme for its MCL60 contender due to design and production delays. The Woking-based successfully implemented its first significant upgrade in Austria, a change that was followed by another important step at Silverstone where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri finished respectively second and fourth. In Hungary, save for Piastri's car receiving the most recent specification, McLaren's MCL60 is unchanged in Hungary this weekend. Team boss Andrea Stella explained why. "So, first thing to say is here we have the front wing to be allocated to Oscar," he explained. "The new front wing wasn't possible [at Silverstone] because of the limited number of parts in the UK. "Then when it comes to the upgrades, actually we realised that we need from a design and production point of view a bit more time to complete the full round. "So, what we will actually see is that there will be some new parts coming in the next races and above all, post-shutdown." Since Austria, the wholesale changes to McLaren's MCL60 have involved revised sidepods and a modified floor design, a new front wing and nose cone and tweaks to the car's rear suspension and rear brake duct geometry. The undeniable gains produced by the changes have been heralded by Stella as "a milestone" in McLaren's journey to restore its former lustre and join the fight at the front of the grid. "It's important for McLaren, it's important for the people that worked very hard to develop and deliver these upgrades, and our fans," explained Stella. "But having said, it doesn't really change what we are doing. It's about working hard to deliver upgrades to the car and letting the results come to you and try to have this as regular as possible." McLaren transformation also includes a significant restructuring of its design department. Stella believes the team's recent organizational are already bearing fruit. "By having enabled some conditions, especially when it comes to the aerodynamic development, [it] definitely accelerated the development of the car," he said. "This has allowed us to take this performance step." Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter Join NY Cannabis Insider at our next industry networking event on Aug. 15 at Madame Mikettes in NYC. Tickets will sell out. Happy weekend everyone. We at NY Cannabis Insider had another busy week, lets take a look at the stories we covered. We covered a banger of a Cannabis Control Board meeting on Wednesday, at which members issued another 212 CAURD licenses, set strict limits on intoxicating cannabinoids in hemp products and approved the idea of growers showcase events. Sign up for the NY Cannabis Insider Newsletter Enter your email address to get exclusive reporting on NY's cannabis market delivered to your inbox: The mass approval of new licenses which brings the total number of conditional adult-use dispensaries to 463 and other votes on Wednesday signaled a renewed effort on the part of regulators to speed up dispensary openings and launch the general licensing process as soon as possible. NY Cannabis Insider Editor/Publisher Brad Racino talked to more than 10 stakeholders about the huge expansion in CAURD licenses CCB members approved, and how it could affect New York States legal cannabis industry. The people Brad spoke with discussed whether the move is a good or bad thing for the overall marketplace, any long-term effects of the decision, and possible legal repercussions. We ran a story about how the new rules for New Yorks hemp program will affect the industry, especially among businesses who have been legally selling products containing hemp-derived THC, and other intoxicating cannabinoids. The move will force drastic changes for New York companies that have utilized a hemp-derived loophole created via the 2018 Farm Bill to legally sell weed edibles containing the same amount of THC as those sold at licensed adult-use dispensaries. Now that regulators have officially blessed the idea of cannabis growers showcases, growers and others are bullish on the events. Most cultivators havent been able to sell the weed they grew last year, because so few dispensaries have opened across the state. These events are supposed to provide them with venues at which they can finally earn some revenue. The board approved the events at their meeting on Wednesday. According to regulators, each event will need at least three cultivators and one CAURD licensee, and organizers must receive municipal approval before seeking OCM approval for a showcase event. Wayne Margulies, a cannabis insurance specialist with HUB International, contributed a guest column about insurance needs for growers showcases. To date, the OCM has released little-to-no regulations on insurance requirements, except the known, state-required workers compensation and disability coverages, he wrote. Frequent NY Cannabis Insider contributor Paula Collins, a tax attorney dedicated to the cannabis industry and a co-founder of the NY Consortium of Cannabis Accountants, wrote a guest column on why she represents unlicensed cannabis businesses. My clients think outside-the-box. They are survivors. They can problem-solve on the fly. They work efficiently and tirelessly, Collins wrote. We ran a story about the New York City Economic Development Corporation launching a loan fund to which it will contribute $8 million for licensed cannabis businesses in the city. The Cannabis NYC Loan Fund will provide flexible capital at below-market rates to NYC-based early-stage cannabis businesses that are owned by social and economic equity applicants. Chris Myers, a CAURD licensee and Owner/Founder of The Greenery Spot in Johnson City, wrote a piece about his experience opening a dispensary in which he gives advice to other CAURD licensees. Continuing our NYs women in cannabis series, we ran a profile on Elizabeth Kase, the co-chair of the Cannabis Law Practice Group at Ruskin Moscou & Faltischek. We also added a new entry to our People to know in NY cannabis series: Andrew DeAngelo, the founder and CEO Andrew DeAngelo Consulting, which serves dispensaries, cultivators, processors and distribution companies. Lastly, we posted attorney Jeffrey Hoffmans latest Ask Me Anything segment, in which he answered questions about unlicensed dispensary raids, cannabis legality on airplanes and more. Have a great weekend everyone, well be back with plenty more next week. NEW YORK (AP) Donald Trumps company and his former longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen have settled a lawsuit over Cohens claims that he was unfairly stuck with big legal bills after getting entangled in investigations into the former president. Lawyers for the two sides disclosed the settlement during a video conference with the judge Friday, three days before Cohens 2019 lawsuit was slated to go to trial in a Manhattan state court. Details of the agreement were not made public. Cohen said Friday the matter has been resolved in a manner satisfactory to all parties, and his attorney, Lauren Handelsman, said the terms were confidential. Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers for Trumps company, the Trump Organization. The legal fees lawsuit was one of the more obscure branches of the thicket of legal troubles surrounding Trump and his company. Still, the trial stood to give a platform to Cohen an ardent Trump loyalist who became an outspoken antagonist and to put the ex-presidents son Donald Trump Jr. on the witness stand. Cohen claimed in his lawsuit that the Trump Organization had promised to pay his legal expenses and did so for a time, footing more than $1.7 million in legal fees. But, Cohen said, the company reneged after he began cooperating with federal prosecutors in their investigations related to Trumps business dealings in Russia and attempts to silence women with embarrassing stories about his personal life. Cohens then-lawyers stopped representing him after the company stopped paying. His lawsuit said that harmed his ability to respond to the federal investigations. In court papers, the Trump Organization has disputed that it made certain promises and has said it satisfied any obligations it did have. The company also has argued that Cohens involvement in the federal investigations wasnt an outgrowth of his former job but rather a personal decision to try to reduce his own criminal legal exposure as an indictment loomed. Jury selection in the case had begun Monday. Among the prospective jurors, more than half said they had strong opinions about Trump, the front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. Several said their feelings toward him were intense enough that they would not be able to fairly evaluate evidence. While the former president would not have been a witness in the trial, Donald Trump Jr., who is a leader in the family business, was expected to testify. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to multiple charges, admitting that he lied to Congress, violated campaign finance laws through excessive political contributions, lied to multiple banks to obtain financing and evaded income taxes by failing to report more than $4 million in income. He was sentenced to three years in prison, although he served nearly two-thirds of it at home, released after the COVID-19 outbreak overwhelmed the nations prisons. He then became a key witness in the New York grand jury proceeding that led to Trumps April indictment on charges of falsifying Trump Organization records to protect his 2016 candidacy by suppressing claims that he had had extramarital sexual encounters. Trump denied those encounters, and he pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges. He cast the case as a Democratic district attorneys attempt to blunt his ongoing campaign to return to the White House. Trump has now sued Cohen, accusing him of violating a company confidentiality agreement, breaching ethical standards for lawyers and maliciously spreading falsehoods about Trump. A Cohen spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, has responded that Trump was abusing the legal system to harass Cohen. While Fridays settlement resolves the suit over Cohens legal expenses, a trial is set for October in New York Attorney General Letitia James business fraud lawsuit against Trumps company and the businessman-turned-president himself. Trump also faces a March trial date in the New York hush-money indictment; a trial set for May in Florida in the federal criminal case surrounding his handling of classified documents; and the second federal civil trial involving writer E. Jean Carrolls claim that he defamed her in denying her sexual assault allegation. He also disclosed this week that the Justice Department had told him he was a target of an investigation into efforts to unravel his loss in the 2020 presidential election a notification that could signal forthcoming charges. Separately, prosecutors in Georgia plan to announce charging decisions within weeks in their inquiry into attempts by Trump and his allies to reverse the vote outcome there. Trump has denied wrongdoing in all the matters and says prosecutors are ginning up charges to damage his ongoing presidential campaign. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Sotheby's is now featuring another iconic item in its auction that will soon be available for bidding, and it is none other than the first intergalactic message meant for extraterrestrial life, the Golden Record. NASA's Voyager space missions are one of the most iconic, but it carried more than its instruments and communication devices for the humans to benefit, also the renowned Golden Record time capsules. It contained the messages of the humans in the 1970s who first created these messages meant for spacefarers or other forms of life to know more about the planet Earth and its inhabitants. NASA's Voyager Golden Record Are Now On Sale via Sotheby's (Photo : Sotheby's) Sotheby's auction house has listed one of the most exclusive pieces of history on its site, and this is the master copy of NASA's Voyager Golden Record. This is the personal copy of astronomer Carl Sagan and director Ann Druyan, with the pair having a copy in their personal collection of the said Golden Record, now up for auction. The Golden Record has two reels in it, and it is an exact copy of the famed ones that are currently onboard the Voyager spacecraft. NASA launched this alongside the Voyager, with the 12-inch gold-plated copper disk Golden Record holding two reels in it, with run times of 51:38 and 60:49 minutes respectively. It contains specially-curated sounds in it including Sounds of the Earth, Whale Sounds, UN Delegates' messages, World languages, and Music of the World. Read Also: NASA Picture of the Day: Dusty Galactic Cirrus Clouds Grace the Milky Way Golden Record is Expected to Fetch as Much as $600,000 Sotheby's listing of the Golden Record is featuring a starting bid of $300,000, but there are more expected from it on its sale. It is estimated by the auction house to fetch around $400,000 to $600,000, with the lot closing by July 27, 11:20 PM Pacific Standard Time. NASA's Voyager Missions, Still Present at 45 Back in 1977, NASA launched its Voyager mission for a probe at the universe, and since then, the spacecraft continued its exploration of the great beyond with its instruments, sensors, and more. NASA celebrated its 45th mission anniversary in 2022, and it was dubbed as the space agency's "Longest-lived" mission, to go beyond the Sun's heliosphere. It is important to note that in 2021, the Voyager 1 has already traveled as much as 14 billion miles away from the Earth, currently the only human-made spacecraft to go the furthest. It was also during this time that this longest-living mission heard a deep humming sound which it managed to capture on its deep space mission, believed to be interstellar gas. Apart from its record-breaking missions and significance in the world today, the Voyager carried the Golden Record on its mission, and it was meant to be found by other life forms to gain an understanding of the Earth. Now, its master copy is available for collectors and space fans to buy via Sotheby's auction, for around $400,000 to $600,000 for this valuable piece. Related Article: Voyager 2 Will Continue: Here's What NASA Did 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Another streaming platform is joining the increasing prices of subscriptions, with Spotify reportedly pushing a change in its monthly fees starting next week. While this may be only a small increase to how much Spotify will charge its users, it is still a hike in its rates, which are surprisingly apparent in the streaming industry at present. Before this report about Spotify, other platforms have also asked for more from its users including Apple Music, YouTube Premium, and more. Spotify Reportedly Pushing for a Price Increase for Subscriptions (Photo : TORU YAMANAKA/AFP via Getty Images) A report from the Wall Street Journal claimed that Spotify is up next on the platforms that will ask more from users on their subscriptions, to continue their unlimited, ad-free experiences. It was said that Spotify will be asking $1 more from its customers starting next week, crossing over the $9.99 threshold of its prices in the past. With this price increase, Spotify will offer its monthly subscription for about $10.99, which is available for its Individual tier price. There are still no announcements from Spotify regarding its reported price, especially as venturing to its subscriptions website, the company still asks users for $9.99 monthly. Read Also: Spotify's PC App for Mac, Windows, and Web Gets UI Upgrade-Here's What to Expect Is It Following Apple Music's Latest Price Increase? Apple Music has recently increased its prices by a dollar as well, intended for its Individual plan, at $10.99 per month. In Apple's statement, the company's price hike was due to increasing licensing costs. However, Apple justifies it by stating that this increase would help pay the artists, producers, and more from the music streaming activities of the public. It is unknown if this is the same case with Spotify, but next week will give more answers to the public. Spotify and What it Offers Spotify is best known for its music streaming platform, with over millions of songs from artists from every corner of the world, available on its app. The subscription-based streaming platform was among the pioneers, and it also offers a special Lossless Audio experience that takes the quality to the next level, with a speculated "Supremium Tier" bringing a better version of it. There is also an upcoming feature called "Your Offline Mix" which speaks for itself-an algorithm-created playlist that takes on the suggested songs and compiles them for the user to listen to when not connected to the internet. This was Spotify's take on the famed YouTube Music feature called "Smart Downloads" which also bring offline app-generated playlist for users. Many features can be enjoyed via Spotify, as well as other content like Podcasts and the many facts and trivia of a song. However, as per the reports, these features may only be enjoyed via a subscription which will soon raise its prices that corresponds to the many price hikes in the tech industry, with Spotify joining the trend. Related Article: Spotify is Removing iOS Paid Subscribers from its Premium Tier, Needs to Re-Subscribe Again 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In this article, we shared our list of the 12 most dangerous countries in Central and South America. You can skip our global safety and peace analysis, and see the 5 Most Dangerous Countries in Central and South America. Latin America stands as one of the most captivating regions on our planet. Boasting tropical climates and lush rainforests, it serves as a sanctuary for a multitude of awe-inspiring wildlife species. Moreover, its coastlines and remnants of ancient civilizations allure history enthusiasts from all across the globe. In spite of the challenges posed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and global interest rate hikes, Latin America's economies demonstrated resilience, as reported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Remarkably, the region experienced a growth rate of nearly 4% in 2022. Moreover, employment witnessed a robust recovery, and the service sector successfully rebounded from setbacks caused by the pandemic. Despite the previous year's growth surge, Latin America continues to face substantial economic challenges. The region is poised for a slowdown in growth, projected to reach a mere 2%, primarily due to the impact of increasing interest rates and declining commodity prices. As such, growth will also be held back by a slowdown in trading partners, particularly the United States and the euro area. Although it carries substantial potential, a prominent challenge faced by the region is the prevalence of informality within the economies. In fact, the World Economic Forum highlights that approximately 60% of workers in the region are engaged in the informal economy, posing a significant concern to the development of the countries within Central and South America. See also: 12 Fastest Growing Countries in Latin America Consequently, poverty remains a pressing issue for this region. Amidst decelerating growth, elevated inflation, and global uncertainties, a considerable number of individuals in the region are expected to experience a decline in their living standards this year. As a result, they are likely to confront heightened concerns and anxieties about their future. Such widespread poverty often push inhabitants of Central and South America to seek alternative means of sustenance, frequently leading to criminal activities. Tragically, Latin America is also susceptible to the cultivation of narcotic-producing plants, exacerbating the already rampant crime rates in the region. Story continues According to the Global Peace Index 2023 (GPI), peacefulness in Central America declined slightly with an average deterioration in score of 0.71%. The decline in overall peace was primarily influenced by a significant deterioration in political stability, as well as a decline in relations among neighboring countries, which saw a respective decrease of 5.3% and 4.2%. Mexico, the largest and most populous country in Central America, retained its position as the least peaceful nation in the region in 2023. Nevertheless, it showcased a positive development in the 2023 GPI, with a notable improvement of 0.65%. This progress propelled Mexico three places higher in the rankings, reaching an overall position of 136th. On the other hand, South America witnessed a modest increase of 0.33% in its average level of peacefulness over the past year. Among the countries in the region, three experienced positive developments while eight saw a decline in peacefulness. 12 Most Dangerous Countries in Central and South America Fotos593/Shutterstock.com Our Methodology For our list of the 12 most dangerous countries in Central and South America, we made use of the Global Peace Index 2023 as our primary metric. The GPI report is an annual publication by the Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent think tank dedicated to establishing frameworks and offering metrics for assessing global peace. The GPI covers 163 countries comprising 99.7% of the worlds population, using 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators, and measures the state of peace across three domains: the level of societal Safety and Security; the extent of Ongoing Domestic and International Conflict; and the degree of Militarization. The countries on our list were ranked relative to their corresponding positions on the GPI. 12. Cuba Global Peace Index Ranking: 99 Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. While Cuba is regarded as a relatively safe Caribbean country, there is no doubt that there are safety issues. Most notably, Cuba suffers from a high incarceration rate, ranking as one of the Caribbean nations with the highest prison population rate as of 2022. According to the latest data available at the time for this past year, there were 510 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants in this Caribbean island. 11. Peru Global Peace Index Ranking: 104 Peru is a diverse country located in the western part of South America that shares its borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, and Chile. Ranking low on the GPI with a score of 2.13, the U.S. Department of State has rated Peru at a critically high risk level for crime for more than a decade. Roughly 78,514 crime reports were filed January and March 2021, while the city of Lima registered over 500 murders during that same period. According to a survey, 82.3% Peruvians feel that they are at risk of becoming victims to some form of criminal activity. 10. Guatemala Global Peace Index Ranking: 105 Guatemala, a Central American country south of Mexico, is home to volcanoes, rainforests and ancient Mayan sites. With a population exceeding 17 million and a thriving economy, Guatemala stands as the largest economy in Central America, both in terms of population and economic activity. As of 2021, the country boasted a total GDP of $86 billion and a per capita GDP of $5,025, placing it in the upper-middle-income category. However, Guatemala also suffers from rampant inequality and poverty, which can translate to high criminal activity. However, several measures have been taken these past few years to rein in crime, specifically violent crime, within the country. During the initial quarter of 2023, the National Civil Police documented 675 cases of homicide, indicating a noteworthy decrease of 16.4% compared to the corresponding period in the preceding year. This decline translates to 132 fewer victims of homicide reported during that time frame. 9. Guyana Global Peace Index Ranking: 106 Guyana, a former British colony, is situated between Venezuela and Suriname, distinguishing itself as the sole English-speaking nation in South America. Despite abundant reserves of bauxite, gold, and timber, a significant portion of Guyana's land is enveloped by tropical rainforests. Historically, the country has faced challenges in combating poverty and attracting investments to foster economic growth. However, Guyana's economic landscape has been experiencing a notable shift since the discovery of crude oil in 2015, followed by commercial drilling in 2019. One of the most dangerous countries in Central and South America, the governments of both the United States and Canada advise travelers to avoid traveling to Guyana, and to exercise extreme caution if they do decide to visit. Additionally, the country recorded scores of 4.996 and 4.5 in the Homicide and Violent Crime domains of the GPI, respectively. 8. Honduras Global Peace Index Ranking: 120 Honduras is a Central American country with Caribbean Sea coastlines to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. In 2012, Honduras reached its highest point of violent crime, witnessing an average of approximately 20 homicides per day, often perpetrated by armed gangs like Barrio 18 or Mara Salvatrucha. Additionally, the country is recognized as a significant drug route to the United States. The presence of inadequate domestic law enforcement has facilitated Honduras becoming a vulnerable gateway for the illicit drug trade. With an overall GPI score of of 2.26, Honduras ranks as one of the most dangerous countries in Central and South America. 7. El Salvador Global Peace Index Ranking: 122 El Salvador, officially known as the Republic of El Salvador, is a Central American nation that shares its borders with Honduras to the northeast, Guatemala to the northwest, and the Pacific Ocean to the south. For many years, El Salvador grappled with one of the highest levels of gang-related violence globally. In 2015, the nation recorded a staggering homicide rate of 103 homicides per 100,000 people, resulting in a total of 6,650 registered homicides that year. This statistic positioned El Salvador as the most violent country in the Western Hemisphere during that period. However, the homicide rate has been steadily decreasing over the years. More recently, murders in El Salvador tumbled 56.8% in 2022 amid a widespread crackdown on gang violence, marking a sharp drop in killings in a nation which, for a prolonged period, held one of the highest murder rates globally. 6. Nicaragua Global Peace Index Ranking: 123 Nicaragua, set between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, is a Central American nation known for its dramatic terrain of lakes, volcanoes and beaches. Coming in at the 123rd position out of the 163 countries examined by the GPI, Nicaragua ranks as one of the most dangerous countries in Central and South America. The U.S State Department advises individuals to reassess their travel arrangements to Nicaragua due to restricted availability of healthcare facilities and the arbitrary enforcement of laws, providing additional evidence of the challenges faced in the country. Click to continue reading and see 5 Most Dangerous Countries in Central and South America Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 12 Most Dangerous Countries in Central and South America is originally published on Insider Monkey. Samsung is one of the companies that has placed foldable smartphones back on the map and new information from the company seems like it's leaking a device from one of its competitors, Apple. The revelation points toward something bigger than just a tablet, which could mean that Apple is working on a foldable MacBook. Samsung Working on 20-Inch Foldable Device According to the story by Laptop Mag, Samsung has just made a huge announcement during its event, wherein it revealed that one of its top competitors, Apple, is working on what was described to be a 20-inch foldable device. The news was picked up and shared by other publications as well, pointing toward the new Apple device. Patently Apple reports that the event, SID Review, which happened in Seoul, was where Samsung confirmed that its competitor was working with LG Display and Samsung to develop what it referred to as a "foldable IT product project." This supports earlier reports of Apple potentially working on a new foldable device. The news reportedly correlates with a report in 2022 that noted that Apple could be working on a foldable MacBook. However, during that time, the rumor only pointed toward a foldable MacBook in 2026 with no mention of it being developed or in production. The New Device Might be Too Big to be an iPad The article by Laptop Mag also tackles the possibility of this being an iPad. However, one major reason why it might not be the iPad is because of its size, with laptops usually having a display half of 15.3 inches. As also seen on Apple Insider, since the new foldable is reportedly 20 inches, it might be too big for users to consider just another tablet and it might just be closer to a 20.5 inch foldable MacBook Pro. During the event, it was noted that Samsung didn't dive into juicy details regarding the new Apple foldable. Despite that, Samsung executive director Baek Sueng-in, gave a statement about how Apple's entry into the market was a "necessary condition" for foldable in general to succeed. It was also noted that Samsung Display was working on key issues in order for them to meet the high standards of Apple. Read Also: Apple Polls Customers Amid Foreseen Production Delays-But Did It Help? Other Issues that Samsung Needs to Solve with the Device Some of these issues include folding cracks, compressive stress, foldable crease, display buckling, pen drop issues, and folding torque. Basically, this means that Samsung still has a lot to do when it comes to eliminating creases from the inner screen. Samsung also needs to work on making improvements to reliability issues that could happen due to the device's flexibility, which is a given. Aside from the issues being tackled, the executive also went into yet another intriguing area, where it talked about the dispersal of internal components. The executive noted that although most laptops today consist of the upper part being the screen and the lower part the hardware, there are more companies being interested in what was described as a "full display" foldable. The article then noted that buyers can expect to see more evenly distributed internal hardware with these types of machines. Related Article: Samsung Wallet Now Accepts Student IDs, Offering Support for Credentials Access 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Satellite SMS support in Android 14 marks a significant advancement in mobile communication technology. Once the update comes out, users can use their smartphones to send and receive SMS messages even in areas where cellular coverage is limited or unavailable. (Photo : Dan Mullan/Getty Images) BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: A phone receives an emergency alert test text from the UK Government during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and West Ham United at Vitality Stadium on April 23, 2023 in Bournemouth, England. Introducing Satellite SMS to Android 14 Satellite communication through smartphones is becoming a reality as some iPhones and certain Samsung and Pixel phones already support it. Its availability will reportedly expand once Android 14 is officially launched. However, compatible hardware will be required to utilize this feature, and its implementation will depend on each phone manufacturer. Based on a tweet by the Pixel #TeamPixel, Android 14 is expected to introduce support for satellite SMS. According to WCCF Tech, this will gradually become available first on compatible Pixel and Samsung Galaxy phones. This should not be a surprise considering previous reports about the Galaxy S22 Ultra being used to make a satellite call. The highly anticipated launch of the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is expected to take place in October, which means we might receive detailed information about how satellite connectivity will function on supported Pixel models in the coming months. The final release of Android 14 is just around the corner, with an estimated two to three weeks remaining before its launch. The full scope of satellite support in smartphones remains uncertain, so it will be interesting to see how Android 14 will leverage this feature. It's crucial to recognize that Android phones are diverse in their designs, particularly due to manufacturer variations. While Samsung holds a prominent position as a major player with significant influence, other companies may choose not to adopt the satellite feature, even though the latest version of Android supports it. Also Read: You Can Now Send Text Messages from Space to Normal Phones on Earth, Thanks To Lynk Which is Planning to Offer Service This Year Satellite Connection Saving Lives During the October release, it is plausible that some information regarding satellite connectivity on Android 14 will also be disclosed. Phone Arena reported that Apple's satellite connectivity feature had demonstrated its life-saving capabilities by aiding in rescuing individuals stranded in remote locations. For instance, a man was rescued in Alaska, and two women were rescued in British Columbia. Accessing emergency help in areas without cellular service has proven crucial and can make the difference between life and death in various situations. Having this feature available on Android phones has the potential to save many lives as well. This became possible as users can still activate Emergency SOS via satellite even if their iPhone lacks mobile data or signal. According to Apple, users will need to hold their phones naturally in their hands and avoid returning them to their pockets to initiate contact with emergency services. People should ensure a clear view of the sky, as obstacles like trees with light foliage might impact the satellite connection. In case of any confusion, iPhones offer a comprehensive guide with step-by-step instructions that users can follow. Related Article: Apple to Launch New 'Emergency SOS Via Satellite' Feature on iPhone 14 this Month: Will it Be Free or Not? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Oppo A58 5G model was launched in China in November 2022. Now, the company plans to launch the Oppo A58 4G, a 4G variant of the device, in the global market. The device has already bagged certifications from FCC, TUV Rheinland India's BIS, and Thailand's NBTC. But recently, it has emerged on the SIRIM certification database of Malaysia. Oppo A58 4G Model Spotted on Malaysia's SIRIM Certification Website According to Gizmo China, the SIRIM certification of the Oppo A58 4G with model number CPH2577 does not reveal any specifications. However, it does confirm that the mobile phone will eventually be released in Malaysia. The Tech Outlook reported that this Oppo device was spotted on various certification websites like IMEI, FCC, EEC, TKDN, TDRA, Bluetooth SIG, and BIS. However, this smartphone's moniker name was not known at that time. But recently, the same device was spotted on the NBTC certification website in which the mysterious device was confirmed as the Oppo A58 4G. Ahead of its launch, The Tech Outlook noted that this Oppo model's approval code on the SIRIM certification was RGQL/38F/0723/S(23-3212). Besides the model number and approval code, not much was revealed about this upcoming smartphone. Oppo A58 4G Device to Come With 5,000 mAh Battery and More It was earlier reported that the Oppo A58 4G will come with a 5,000 mAh battery and have 33W fast charging support. The upcoming smartphone will also support Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. The device is 7.99mm thick and weighs 191 grams. Regarding the device's software, it was also reported that the Oppo A58 4G would come with the Android 13-based ColorOS 13.1. Oppo A58 4G is assumed to be somewhat similar to the 5G variant that debuted last year. The 5G variant features a 6.56-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 1612 x 720 pixels, giving it an HD+ resolution. It is also powered by MediaTek Dimensity 700 processor and is equipped with Mali-G57 MC2 GPU. It has 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. Oppo A58 5G Features a 50MP Primary Shooter The Oppo A58 5G reportedly features a dual rear camera setup that includes 50MP primary camera and a 2MP portrait camera. For selfies and video calls, it has an 8MP front-facing camera. Besides the 5G feature, the phone offers several connectivity options, including dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth, dual SIM support, GNSS, and USB Type-C. Read Also: Apple Polls Customers Amid Foreseen Production Delays-But Did It Help? Oppo A58 5G Also Comes With Other Great Features The smartphone also has dual stereo speakers, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a MicroSD card slot, and a fingerprint sensor on the side. Fans who want to check out the specifications of Oppo A58 5G can go to Phone Aqua, which also reveals the price. Related Article: Apple to See Delay on iPhone 15 Display Production, To See Shortage on Release? 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Some Amazon employees will be required to relocate due to a company policy mandating workers to be in the office three days a week. This policy affects workers initially hired for remote positions and those who relocated during the pandemic's peak. (Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images) A man waits to cross the street near an Amazon Fresh store in Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia on March 31, 2023. - Amazon announced they are delaying construction on part of the second phase of HQ2, its USD 2.5 billion East Coast headquarters in Arlington. Relocation of Remote Employees Amazon is set to enforce a mandate for certain corporate employees to relocate as its return-to-office policy demands them to be in the office three days a week. According to Engadget, this policy becomes the reason for the recent tension between the tech giant and its workforce following layoffs initiated last year. Remote workers will have to report to designated "main hub" offices, including the company headquarters in Seattle, New York, San Francisco, and other locations. However, the decision on who has to relocate and where will be determined on a departmental basis. Internal messages revealed that Amazon employees who decline to relocate near the main offices of their teams are being presented with two options: either they must find a new job within the company or leave through a "voluntary resignation" process. Also Read: Amazon Employees Walkout Over Company's Climate Impact, Return-To-Office Policy Amazon's Response According to Amazon spokesperson Brad Glasser, the company is committed to offering relocation benefits to employees who are required to move due to the policy. Additionally, they will carefully review and consider requests for exceptions on a case-by-case basis. He said: "There are more energy, collaboration, and connections happening since we've been working together at least three days per week, and we've heard this from lots of employees and the businesses that surround our offices." As of now, The Washington Post reported that the company is continuing to look at the best possible ways to provide a resolution to this issue for its teams and employees. Glasser noted that they will communicate directly with employees as they make decisions affecting the workers. Return-to-Office Policy of Amazon The company's decision to relocate employees signifies a step up in their efforts to encourage employees to return to office. In February, Amazon implemented the return-to-office policy mandating three days of in-office work per week, which became effective in May. In response to the policy change, hundreds of corporate workers staged protests outside the company's Seattle headquarters, which led to Amazon granting team leaders the authority to decide the working arrangements for their teams. Wall Street Journal reported that Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy explained that the company's decision to bring workers back to the office was based on careful observations during the pandemic. "It's easier to learn, model, practice, and strengthen our culture when we're in the office together most of the time and surrounded by our colleagues," he noted. The senior leadership team closely monitored staff performance and sought insights from other companies' leaders, finding employees tended to be more engaged and collaborate more effectively when working in person. Related Article: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Supports Remote and Hybrid Work, No Plans on Returning to Office 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New leaks revealed what buyers should expect about how much a new pair of POCO Pods TWS earbuds will cost and when it will be released. It comes as the earbuds are getting ready to arrive on the Indian market. POCO Pods Earbuds Expected to Be Launched on July 28 for the Indian Market According to Gizmo China, POCO is launching its new wireless earbuds, which are expected to be released in the Indian market. Before the official release, new leaks surfaced, showing the pricing details of the POCO Pods TWS earbuds and when they might be launched. It was reported that 91Mobiles initially shared the leaks on July 21. It was revealed that sources familiar with the device said its launch in India would be on July 28. Chinese Phone Maker to Launch a New 6-Numbered Phone Aside from Earbuds POCO has also reportedly been teasing the arrival of a new 6-numbered phone in India. However, it is unclear if the phone will be launched alongside the POCO Pods or be launched later. But because of the recent teasers, some expect the earbuds to debut alongside the smartphone. It was reported this was not the first time the POCO Pods were leaked, a leak in January also revealed something about the wireless earbuds. Earbuds Expected to Be Launched in India for the Price of $18 to $25 - a Budget-Friendly Accessory According to the leaks, the earbuds will be available in India between 1,500-rupee and 2,000-rupee, or about $18 to $25. Due to its price, buyers might consider the earbuds budget-friendly. However, Gizmo China reported that this was the only information available regarding the potentially upcoming POCO Pods. The design of the POCO Pods' was previously revealed, showing a dual-tone type of design, with black and yellow being its chosen colors. The earbuds also come in a design similar to the Apple AirPods. The insides of the charging case and the tips of the earbuds were reportedly colored yellow, while the earbud's case and main body were matte black. Read Also: Massive Discounts on Apple MacBook Pro, AirPods, and GoPro HERO11 Black Now Live Potential Launch of the POCO Pods to Come Soon with the Company Expected to Reveal Details Soon Times Now News also reported that the company could be releasing promotional materials and teasers about the POCO Pods earbuds in the next few days. However, there was still no confirmation from the company regarding the existence of the POCO Pods earbuds or if they would release these new earbuds together with the brand's 6-numbered smartphones. Although unconfirmed, the new earbuds would likely be launched alongside the release of the new 6-numbered smartphones because of the teasers released earlier this week. The competitive pricing reportedly makes the POCO Pods earbuds attractive for buyers seeking affordable wireless earphones. Related Article: Level Up Your Gaming With Unbeatable Deals on 8Bitdo Game Controllers and More! 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The US Department of Defense has allocated an $800,000 grant to the University of Texas at Arlington for research on developing defenses against potential cyberattacks on self-driving cars and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) networks. Animesh Chakravarthy, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at the University of Texas at Arlington, led the research project titled "Resilient Multi-Vehicle Networks." He is joined by co-principal investigators MAE Professor Kamesh Subbarao and Bill Beksi, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. Ensuring Network Resiliency The main objective of the research is to ensure the resilience of networks of self-driving cars and UAVs against cyberattacks. Chakravarthy emphasized that even a few compromised vehicles within a network could significantly impact the entire system. To address this issue, the team aims to develop mechanisms to detect attacks in real time and implement effective countermeasures. "If hackers find a way to affect 10 out of 100 self-driving cars in a given area, they might have an impact on all 100 cars because the 10 hacked cars would have a ripple effect on the other vehicles," Chakravarthy said in a statement. "We have to make these networks of vehicles resilient to such attacks. This project is meant to detect occurrences as they happen, then provide countermeasures," he added. In addition to defending against cyberattacks, the researchers will analyze the economic costs associated with such attacks on automated vehicles. They will investigate factors like the time and financial resources wasted in traffic congestion or waiting for accidents to be cleared. Erian Armanios, the MAE Department Chair, highlighted the importance of Chakravarthy's research for the advancement of unmanned vehicle networks. Ensuring these vehicle networks' smooth and safe operation is crucial, and the work of Chakravarthy, Subbarao, and Beksi is expected to play a significant role in achieving that goal. Read Also: 4th Traffic Light Color for Autonomous Cars Could Allow Human Drivers, Self-Driving Cars to Co-Exist! The Rise of Self-Driving Cars and UAVs The rising popularity of self-driving cars and UAVs has increased concerns about potential cyber threats. As technology continues to evolve, it becomes imperative to safeguard these automated systems from malicious attacks that could have far-reaching consequences. Chakravarthy's research is expected to contribute significantly to the field of autonomous vehicles by enhancing their security and resilience. By developing effective defenses against cyberattacks, the project aims to instill greater confidence in the public regarding the safety and reliability of self-driving cars and UAVs. As the project progresses, the University of Texas at Arlington team aims to contribute valuable insights and solutions that will shape the future of self-driving cars and UAVs in the hopes of making them safer and more secure for all users. Related Article: Sony AI-Powered 'Airpeak' Drone Technology Launching in 2021, 3R Technology to Unlock 'Fullest Extent' of Video Creators! 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests that renewable solar energy could play a crucial role in purifying water. Traditionally, electrochemical separation has been employed for water remediation, an energy-efficient method for purifying contaminated water. However, this process typically relies on electric energy derived from nonrenewable sources, such as fossil fuels. Using Solar Energy for Purifying Water A team of chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has made a breakthrough by integrating solar energy into the electrochemical separation process using a semiconductor. This approach harnesses solar power to drive a redox reaction, manipulating ions' electric charge to effectively separate them from water solutions. In a demonstration of this system, the researchers effectively separated and removed dilute arsenate, a byproduct of arsenic from steel and mining industries, from wastewater. This development holds promise for the water treatment and environmental protection industries. Lead investigator Xiao Su, a researcher at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and an assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, emphasized the significance of integrating solar power into electrochemical separations. As global electrical energy is still predominantly derived from nonrenewable fossil fuels, this advancement offers a more sustainable approach to water purification and environmental remediation. The findings of the study were published in the journal Small. Read Also: Houston's Arch of Time: World's Largest Sundial to Generate 400,000 kWh of Electricity Annually Global Renewables Adoption on Track In a related news, a study conducted by RMI, a non-profit organization in collaboration with the Bezos Earth Fund, reveals that renewable energy is on track to meet ambitious net-zero goals by 2030. The analysis showcases the rapid growth of solar, wind, and battery capacity, aligning with net-zero scenarios. By 2030, solar and wind energy are projected to contribute over a third of the global power supply, a substantial increase from the current 12%. These renewable energy sources are expected to become more cost-competitive, with the cost of solar and wind predicted to reduce by half by 2030 due to significant cost declines over the past decade. Research from Systems Change Lab further supports these findings, highlighting the feasibility of scaling up solar and wind energy at an impressive pace. Countries like Uruguay, Denmark, Namibia, and the Netherlands have demonstrated the potential of rapidly transitioning to renewable energy in diverse contexts. The exponential growth of renewable electricity has reached a tipping point, indicating an irreversible shift away from fossil fuels. Fossil fuel demand in the electricity sector is expected to plummet as renewable energy becomes increasingly cost-competitive. The COP28 goal of tripling renewables capacity by 2030 is now within reach, addressing certain barriers, such as grid investment, streamlined permitting, improved market structures, and enhanced storage. According to the forecast, solar and wind energy will generate 12,000-14,000TWh of electricity globally by 2030, surpassing previous calls for tripling total renewable energy capacity. Fossil fuel demand for electricity is predicted to decline by up to 30% from its peak in 2022 as renewable energy emerges as the more cost-effective option. Related Article: 'Miracle Material' Perovskite Helps Scientists Break the 30% Efficiency Barrier of Solar Panels 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. OpenAI's ChatGPT has gained widespread popularity and sparked an AI race due to its impressive performance as an artificial intelligence chatbot. Renowned figures in the tech industry and authors alike have showered it with accolades, deeming it a groundbreaking achievement in the world of AI. ChatGPT's abilities have been so impressive that some even question if it has surpassed the Turing test - the ultimate benchmark for measuring a machine's capability to emulate human intelligence. The language model has demonstrated remarkable proficiency across various fields, showcasing its prowess in math (89th percentile), law (90th percentile), and GRE verbal (99th percentile). Moreover, a study by researchers from New York University's medical school earlier this month highlighted ChatGPT's ability to provide medical advice that closely resembles responses from human medical staff. However, not all researchers are entirely convinced that ChatGPT is consistently reliable in critical decision-making scenarios. ChatGPT Deteriorating Performance Lingjiao Chen, Matei Zaharia, and James Zhu from Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley, have echoed concerns expressed by some users, suggesting that ChatGPT's performance may not be entirely consistent and may even be deteriorating in some instances, Science X Network reported. Their investigation discovered considerable variations in the performance and behavior of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. Particularly noteworthy was the significant decline in responses to specific tasks over the four-month period, or from March to June. The researchers concentrated on evaluating ChatGPT's aptitude in math problem solving and computer code generation. Their discoveries revealed a sharp decline in GPT-4's accuracy rate for prime number problems, plunging from 97.6% in March to a mere 2.4% in June. ChatGPT's role in aiding coders with programming and debugging tasks also encountered obstacles. In March, GPT-4 demonstrated an impressive ability to complete accurate, ready-to-run scripts in over 50% of cases. However, this success rate dramatically dropped to 10% by June. Similarly, ChatGPT-3.5 experienced a notable decline in accuracy, decreasing from 22% in March to a mere 2% in June, according to the study. The researchers faced challenges pinpointing a definitive cause for these inconsistencies, but they speculated that system modifications and upgrades might be contributing factors. The opaque nature of these language models makes it difficult to fully comprehend the reasons behind such performance fluctuations. Read Also: Can ChatGPT, Other Large Language Models Flag Fake News? Conspiracy Theories Interestingly, conspiracy theorists have floated accusations that OpenAI is potentially experimenting with smaller versions of LLMs to save costs. Others have suggested that OpenAI could intentionally be downgrading the GPT-4 to drive users toward purchasing GitHub's LLM accessory, CoPilot. OpenAI refuted such claims. In a tweet, Peter Welinder, OpenAI's VP of Product, clarified that they are continually striving to improve ChatGPT, making each new version smarter than its predecessor. However, some remain concerned about the potential impact of "drift" in the model's results. To address these apprehensions, observers urge OpenAI to be more transparent by disclosing training material sources, code, and other structural elements of ChatGPG 4.0. The study's findings were published in arXiv. Related Article: Antrophic Announces Second Generation AI Chatbot: Claude 2 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In a bold move, an aspiring British politician, Andrew Gray, turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to craft his manifesto for the parliamentary by-election for the constituency of Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire. Fox News reported that despite securing only 99 votes and finishing 11th out of 13 candidates, Gray's approach has sparked discussions about the potential impact of AI on political campaigns. AI's Influence on Political Parties Alan Mendoza, co-founder and executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, acknowledged to Fox News the audacity of Gray's idea but highlighted that mainstream politicians might not rush to adopt such a move yet, given the seemingly underwhelming outcome. However, Mendoza believes AI's influence on political parties in the UK, particularly in data sourcing, targeting, and campaign focus, is inevitable. He anticipates that the first successful AI-inspired candidate may soon emerge from one of the major parties, leveraging the electoral advantages they already possess. Gray's campaign was fueled by a novel approach, as he encouraged constituents to express their opinions on local matters using Pol.is, a program developed by a Seattle-based group employed in Taiwan to address contentious issues. Although Gray made it clear that Pol.is differs from generative AI models such as ChatGPT, he emphasized its significance as an advanced polling tool, leveraging machine learning and real-time data analysis to offer valuable insights. Stacy Rosenberg, an associate teaching professor at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy, praised the approach for its potential to engage constituents more directly in the electoral process. This form of platform building enables participation and fosters community engagement, which can prove extremely attractive to voters seeking a voice in decision-making. Unlike concerns about AI spreading false information, Pol.is facilitates active conversations, ensuring that ethical considerations for public policies are still considered, according to Rosenberg. Read Also: Christopher Nolan Says AI Creators Are Facing Their 'Oppenheimer Moment,' Warns of 'Terrifying Possibilities' AI's Impact on the Electoral Process Rosenberg emphasized that AI's impact on electoral processes goes beyond platform crowdsourcing. It has the potential to assist in speech writing, marketing materials, and various other campaign aspects. However, she underscored the importance of striking a balance between promoting participation and preventing AI from taking complete control of the process. One significant risk highlighted by Rosenberg is the potential for politicians to appear insincere if they fail to align with the views expressed through crowdsourcing. Rosernberg said voters desire candidates who genuinely share their beliefs, and any perception of a politician being easily swayed by shifting public opinions could undermine trust in their ability to protect voters' interests in the long term. While Gray's AI-generated manifesto might have yet to yield electoral success, exploring AI's role in politics opens up new possibilities for engagement and dialogue between politicians and their constituents. Related Article: ChatGPT Custom Instructions Now Available for Select Users: Here's How to Try This Feature 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Clear your web browser cache is the ultimate response from your ISPs technical support, when you are not able to surf the web seamlessly like the regular days. Sometimes the advice is appropriate. It doesnt hurt to clear the cache once in a while on your web browser. It takes a few seconds, and most of the time, it fixes issues with the webpages you are trying to view. Moreover, people also prefer clearing complete browsing data including history, cache, and cookies for privacy reasons. What is Browser Cache and why was it created? Browser developers designed cache with the assumption that Your Internet is slow. It is slower than your computer for loading the same images, files. This holds today for the majority of the Internet connections as well if you think about it. Browser cache temporarily stores images, elements, and files from the websites that you frequently visit. It helps in loading those webpages of the website faster than other lesser frequented webpages. For instance, if you keep on visiting this page once in a while, your browsers cache will store the images, logo of this website and other static elements. Clear Cache for a Webpage on Chrome Fastest Way Google Chrome has a feature that allows reloading a web page with freshly acquired content, ignoring the cached files. Press Ctrl+Shift+R or Shift+F5 on your keyboard to reload the webpage, ignoring the cache stored in the web browser. Will the cache stored in the browser be deleted? The answer is no. You may still have to clear the cache in Chrome manually by the simple methods given below in this post. How to Clear Cache in Google Chrome on PC There are two methods to clear the cache in Google Chrome on PC. The first one involves the settings inside the web browser, while the latter one requires a third party application. Method 1 (Locally) STEP 1: The first step involves opening the settings menu to reach the Clear Browsing Data dialogue box. There are three ways to reach that dialogue box for clearing cache on Chrome. EASIEST METHOD Press Ctrl + Shift+ Delete/Del on your keyboard. EASY METHOD Open menu, then find More Tools. Select Clear Browsing Data option. MODERATELY EASY METHOD Head over to the Settings from the menu. Scroll down to Privacy and Security setting. There you will find the option for clearing your cache of Chrome. Alternatively, you can search for Clear Browsing Data settings from the search bar in the settings menu. STEP 2: You have now reached the Clear Browsing Data settings dialogue box. First of all, select the Time Range to All time. STEP 3: Check Caches Images and Files option. Click on Clear Data to initiate the cache clearing process. It will take a couple of seconds, depending upon the size of the cache file and storage speed. It will clear the entire cache on Chrome since the last time cache was cleared on your Chrome browser. Note If you want to clear the cache on Chrome on a specific device, the computer then be sure to sign-out of your Google account in your Chrome browser. It will keep your browsing activity saved at My Google Activity, which can be cleared as well, head to Method 3 at the bottom of the post. Method 1A (Google Servers) This method is a part of Method 1. It helps in making sure that any residual/left out data is cleared from My Google Activity as well. STEP 1: Head to My Activity on Google. There appears a search bar to find the websites whose data you would like to erase from your activity history forever. STEP 2: Click on the menu right next to the item to delete it forever from your activity log. Alternatively, if you want to access delete or view the history of Chrome on all devices, then head over to the Chrome History section in My Activity. This will allow you to control the history of Chrome without needing to access all devices. Note In exceptional cases, when a passphrase is put on Chrome sync, then all the activity might not appear in My Google Activity. Method 2 : Using Third-Party Software Another way to clear cache in Google Chrome is to use third-party software. A lot of the excellent registry cleaners these days provide extra features, which include the ability to clear cache and cookies from a web browser. STEP 1: Download CCleaner, which is demonstrated here, or choose the ones of your choice from this list of the best registry cleaners for Windows. STEP 2: Head over to Custom Clean -> Application Tabs. Scroll down to the Google Chrome section. STEP 3: Select/tick box that says Internet Cache. Uncheck boxes for all other web browsers unless you want to clean cache, browsing history for them as well. STEP 4: Click on Analyze. It will take a couple of seconds to scan for the cache from Google Chrome. When the analyze process is completed, click on Run Cleaner to remove Cache from the Chrome web browser. How to Clear Cache in Chrome in Android/iOS phones? Smartphone users do not need to go anywhere as clearing cookies and cache can be done quickly. Learn to clear the cache on Chrome in Android and iOS phones. STEP 1: Head over to the menu, right next to the address bar. Go to the History page. Tap on the Clear Browsing Data option. STEP 2: Select time range as All time and tick Caches images and files option, while deselecting other options. Tap on Clear Data to initiate a cache clearing process which would take a couple of seconds to finish. How to Clear DNS cache in Chrome in PC, Android, iOS? Clearing DNS cache becomes essential when a user has changed the DNS of the entire computer network or in the router itself. The reason for changing DNS may range from the slow loading of particular websites/applications to slow Internet speed in general. STEP 1: Open Command Prompt in administrator mode. Type ipconfig/ flushdns and press ENTER (Skip this step if you have done it already). STEP 2: Paste this address in your Google Chrome address bar -> chrome://net-internals/#dns STEP 3: Click or Tap(for Smart devices) on Clear host cache to clear the DNS cache in Chrome. This method works across all devices and platforms on which Chrome is compatible. Frequently Asked Questions FAQs by readers Q1. How to fix Chrome caching problem, it wont load new webpages Cant clear cache This issue can be frustrating so let us try to solve it by deducing one problem at a time. First of all, check if the problem persists in Incognito mode as well or not. If the problem is the same in Incognito mode, then keep reading. Secondly, use Chrome Cleanup tool which can be found by pasting chrome://settings/cleanup in the address bar. It will remove harmful and malicious programs from your Chrome browser. Unsuspecting plugins/extensions can behave in an unintended way. In any case, if nothing is found in the cleanup, uncheck Hardware Acceleration to see it helps the cause( chrome://settings/system ) In all other cases when nothing works, try resetting Chrome from the System menu itself by clicking on Reset settings to their original default. Q2. Google Chrome Freezes and error Waiting for Cache, how to solve it? When this error pops up for Chrome users, websites tend to load slowly. Waiting for Cache means that Chrome is not able to access the cache files. The safest thing to do to follow either of the four ways to fix the cache error. Method 1 Clear the browsing history, cache, and cookies of Chrome. Method 2 Disable SSD cache writing if you have one installed. Do it only when one of the following errors appear: Windows Write Delay Failed Delayed Write Failed. An excellent tutorial is given here to disable disk caching. Do note that it might affect the overall performance of your computer. Method 3 Create a new user profile on Chrome as settings might be messed up for the current one. Method 4 Reset Chrome through the tutorial given in the previous question. Q3. Will clearing the cache remove my bookmarks, favourite stored websites or remove all the saved passwords Clearing cache in Chrome wont remove your bookmarks or saved passwords. They can only be removed by ticking the passwords and cookies(very rare and with unsecure sites). Also Read- Best Google Chrome Alternatives Over to You This was how you can clear cache in Chrome without worrying about your saved bookmarks, passwords. Clearing cache helps speed up some websites and also fixes broken elements of the old websites that have been updated since the last time you visited them. Let us know via the comment section if any problem persists in clearing the cache in Google Chrome. In this detailed article, we'll talk about 20 countries with the highest rate of down syndrome. You can skip our analysis on progress in corporate healthcare sector on this front and go to 8 Countries With Highest Rate Of Down Syndrome. Each year, around 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome across the globe, which accounts for 1 in 700 babies born according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Currently, Ireland tops the countries with the highest rate of Down syndrome prevalence, as its incidence of the syndrome is reported to be 27.5 per 10,000 live births. Such a high disease incidence rate in the country has been linked to higher maternal age since the likelihood of having a child with DS significantly increases in women over the age of 35. Other countries with a high Down syndrome occurrence are Norway and Malta, with DS prevalence rates of 24.9 and 20, respectively. As pregnancy termination is illegal in Malta in all circumstances, even if an unborn baby is diagnosed with Down syndrome prenatally, the parents are not allowed to terminate it. Consequently, the country is struggling with a high DS incidence of 24.9 per 10,000 live births. If we talk about the US, every 1 in 1000 babies born in the country had Down syndrome in 2002. However, the incidence dropped to 1 in 1,200 babies by 2008, and the countrys DS occurrence percentage is 9 per 10,000 live births as of current. In stark contrast, Iceland and Denmark, with the help of advanced prenatal screening programs, reported near-zero birth rates of DS, with 100% and 97% termination rates for prenatally diagnosed DS pregnancies respectively. As a result of better care facilities, the average lifespan of Down syndrome patients has increased from 10 years to 47 years between 1960 and 2010s. Moreover, according to United Nations health guidelines, people with Down syndrome can lead better lives provided they have prenatal care, medical guidance, and community support. Story continues Speaking of community support for those suffering from health conditions, we have already covered 20 Countries with the Highest Rate of Dementia; give this insightful overview a read. Impact Of Prenatal Screening and Elective Termination on Down Syndrome According to the Down Syndrome Population Organization, there are 10.1 children per 10,000 live births with Down syndrome in Europe. While for Australia, the figure stands at 8.6 per 10,000 live births, owing to the advancement in prenatal screening. However, without elective termination, the current DS prevalence in Europe would have been 21.7 per 10,000 births. Ever since advanced prenatal screening became accessible, a significant number of pregnancies with Down syndrome have been diagnosed in Australia and consequently terminated. Births with Down Syndrome in Australia have reduced by 66% since the 1970s. So if it wasnt for elective pregnancy termination after a prenatal screening, which shows that the fetus is growing with a chromosomal abnormality, there would have been 23,156 people with Down Syndrome in Australia. But because of timely diagnosis and the availability of safe pregnancy termination, the current Down Syndrome population is 13,426 in the country. Although the current number has gone up from 2,852 people with the syndrome in 1950, its still progress, given the nations population surge between the 1950s and 2020s. However, not all children born with Down syndrome are diagnosed prenatally because of a lack of screening availability or the expectant parents unwillingness to choose screening. In the aspect of state-of-the-art prenatal testing, Illumina Inc (NASDAQ:ILMN) is doing well with DNA sequencing and array-based technologies to bring down the incidence levels in countries with the highest rate of Down syndrome. Illumina Inc (NASDAQ:ILMN)s sequencing technology powers many non-invasive prenatal tests (NIPTs) used to screen common chromosomal abnormalities, including Down Syndrome. These tests look for genetic material from the baby in the mothers blood and can be done early on in the pregnancy. Illumina Inc (NASDAQ:ILMN) also owns Verinata Health Inc, a company that developed the Verifi prenatal test to diagnose Edwards syndrome, Down syndrome, and Patau syndrome, among other aneuploidies (chromosome disorders). The reduction of Down syndrome in live birth rates is influenced by the number of people choosing prenatal testing, the accuracy of the screening test results, and parents decisions if there is a timely prenatal diagnosis. Another name making diagnosis easier for expectant parents is Natera Inc (NASDAQ:NTRA) which has developed non-invasive methods to analyze tiny amounts of DNA, including fetal DNA in pregnant women. Natera Inc (NASDAQ:NTRA) offers the Panorama test, a blood-based genetic test that screens common genetic abnormalities, including Down syndrome. Other diagnostic tests developed by Natera Inc (NASDAQ:NTRA) are Vasistera and Single-Gene NIPT. 20 Countries With Highest Rate Of Down Syndrome 20 Countries With Highest Rate Of Down Syndrome Our Methodology We ranked countries with the highest rates of Down syndrome based on the syndromes prevalence per 10,000 people in the said countries populations. The prevalence of Down syndrome refers to the total number of existing cases (both new and old) in a specified population at a given time. Our sources to find the prevalence of Down syndrome in the world were WHO, European Health Information Gateway, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Down Syndrome Population Organizations Europe and Australia Fact Sheets, Nature Journal, and UN.org, among others. Notably, some sources discuss Down syndrome rate by country out of 100,000 live births while others prefer the 10,000 scale. Therefore, to keep things straightforward and explain the conditions occurrence, we ranked the countries incidence out of 10,000 live births. Put simply, if a countrys incidence is 20 in 10,000, it implies that out of every 10,000 babies born there, 20 have Down syndrome. Based on our data, here are 20 countries with the highest rate of Down syndrome: 20. Australia Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 8.6 in 10,000 Down syndrome is a significant public health concern in Australia, affecting approximately one in every 1,100-1,200 births. The Australian government, through a partnership with Down Syndrome Australia, has developed policies to improve the quality of life of individuals with Down syndrome. The government's strategies include early intervention services, inclusive education initiatives, and vocational programs that encourage self-sufficiency. The country also leads in research in the field of non-invasive prenatal screening that can enhance early DS detection and informed decision-making. 19. Hungary Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 8.97 in 10,000 Hungary is one of the countries with highest pravelence of down syndrome. Consistent efforts have been made in Hungary to address Down syndrome at medical and societal levels. The country has reliable prenatal screening programs to facilitate early diagnosis, owing to its strong health infrastructure. Some concerted initiatives are also dedicated to improving the quality of life for individuals with DS through accessible educational resources and specialized care. Notably, a focus on inclusivity in schools and workplaces is contributing to reducing stigmatization and enhancing societal integration for those with DS. 18. United States Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 9 in 10,000 Down syndrome affects 1 in every 900 live births in the US. Thats the reason National organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society have been instrumental in improving access to healthcare for DS affectees. Moreover, legislation like the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act offers financial support to make independent living possible for those with disabilities. 17. Albania Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 9.02 in 10,000 The Albanian government has introduced specialized training for medical professionals to provide accurate diagnosis and betterment strategies for Down syndrome. Plus, non-profit organizations such as Down Syndrome Albania Foundation advocate for the rights of individuals with Down syndrome to include them in regular life sectors. But despite these advances, Albania is confronted with the challenge of ensuring equitable access to these services, particularly in rural areas. 16. North Macedonia Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 9.64 in 10,000 Down syndrome incidence rate in North Macedonia is 9.64 per 10,000 live births and is recognized as a significant health concern. Therefore, the countrys National Health Care System provides a multi-disciplinary approach to contain this chromosomal condition. Its services span healthcare professionals, educationalists, and social workers. Some local non-profit organizations like Down Syndrome Center, in Skopje, also supplement the governments efforts with resources by initiating DS-specific educational programs and family support projects. 15. United Kingdom Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 10.1 in 10,000 Down syndrome affects one in every 1,000 live births in the UK. The nation is known for its advanced healthcare system and offers sound medical and support services for those with Down syndrome. National organizations like the Down's Syndrome Association provide resources and advocacy. Advances in medical care have shifted the narrative from disability to ability and inclusion for DS sufferers. 14. Finland Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 10.2 in 10,000 In Finland, Down syndrome affects approximately one in 1000 births, attributable to the country's practice of less aggressive prenatal screening. Also, theres a philosophical emphasis on respecting diversity of life in the nation which stops elective termination from becoming a norm in prenatally diagnosed conditions. Luckily, the country's legislation promotes the inclusion of specially-abled people in all aspects of life, so those dealing with this lifelong condition get sufficient representation. 13. Switzerland Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 11 in 10,000 The prevalence of Down syndrome is 11 in 10,000 in Switzerland. Although the country provides high-quality medical facilities for individuals with Down syndrome, the incidence remains a concern. Unlike some European counterparts, Switzerland has an extensive prenatal screening program, and a high percentage of pregnancies diagnosed with Down syndrome are terminated. These terminations lead to lower live birth rates of Down syndrome babies. 12. Russia Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 11.5 in 10,000 Down syndrome is a common genetic disorder in Russia with an incidence similar to global averages, i.e., roughly 1 in every 1,100-1,200 live births. Sadly, societal stigmas still persist in the country, which has resulted in underreporting and, often, institutionalization of DS. Recent years have seen advancements in awareness and the government now implements inclusive education laws. 11. Romania Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 11.6 in 10,000 According to WHO, Romania has an incidence rate of 1 in 1,000 live births for Down syndrome. Other concerning conditions that are prevalent in the country are Wilson disease, syndromic PID, and single-gene defects, among others. Access to specialized healthcare services and diagnostic programs for individuals with Down syndrome has been a crucial focus in the country's efforts to curtail the situation. 10. Netherlands Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 11.9 in 10,000 Down syndrome is a significant health concern in the Netherlands, impacting about 12 in 10,000 births. Luckily, prenatal screening has been universally offered in the country since 2007 and has increased detection rates. Despite this, the stigma persists in the nation and prompts ongoing initiatives for public awareness and advocacy. 9. Germany Down Syndrome Prevalence Incidence: 12.2 in 10,000 The incidence rate of Down syndrome is 12.2 in 10,000 live births in Germany. Although the introduction of prenatal screening has made this conditions detection easier, elective termination rates remain relatively low. Interestingly, Germany's healthcare and social systems prioritize inclusion and support the integration of DS sufferers into mainstream society. Click to continue reading 8 Countries With Highest Rate Of Down Syndrome. Suggested Articles: Disclosure: None. 20 Countries With Highest Rate Of Down Syndrome is originally published at Insider Monkey. A rendering of the proposed Pressler skyline in Austin. An Austin developer plans to build a $250 million luxury condominium project in the Clarksville area, just west of downtown Austin. If built as planned, Pearlstone Partners said its six-story project would bring 247 residential units to a bustling area just a few blocks from downtown Austin's Whole Foods flagship store. It's too soon to say what the units might be priced at, said Chris Zaiontz, a senior vice president and principal with Pearlstone Partners. Located at 300 Pressler, the new development would have connections to both the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Lance Armstrong Bikeway, Zaiontz said. Plans call for residences with one, two and three bedrooms. The building also would have about 3,000 square feet of retail space. For now, the project is being called Pressler until Pearlstone settles on the final branding and naming, which are expected to be announced late this year. The land is vacant now, but years ago housed a number of smaller warehouses, Zaiontz said. Pearlstone is purchasing the site from the sellers, with all development approvals in place, he said. Pearlstone Partners plans to build a six-story condo project at 300 Pressler St. with 247 units that will connect to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Lance Armstrong Bikeway. Pearlstone is in the process of securing financing and is seeking additional equity partners, Zaiontz said. If all goes as planned, work on the site could start late this year, with vertical construction slated for late in the first quarter of next year. Zaiontz said Pearlstone's development will create "an additional access directly to the trail system, which is an amazing amenity for our residents and a community benefit to the neighborhood." Since 2019, no condominium buildings of more than 50 units have opened in West Austin since the latest condo projects in downtown, The Independent (also known as the "Jenga" tower), and the high-rise condo project at West Fifth Street and West Avenue just east of Whole Foods Market. "We are scheduled to deliver in mid-2026, Zaiontz said of the Pressler project, and there are no residential buildings currently under construction or proposed in that immediate area. Because of the time it takes to get a project permitted, approved and built from start to finish, that means there will be a gap of several years "with zero new inventory for condominiums for the entire west downtown market," he said. Story continues Charles Heimsath, a longtime Austin-based real estate consultant, agreed. Pearlstone Partners plans to build a six-story condo project at 300 Pressler St. with 247 units that will connect to the Ann and Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail and Lance Armstrong Bikeway. "There are very few condominiums on the west side of Lamar, and none of this size," Heimsath said. "This is a terrific site that overlooks the park and Lady Bird Lake with direct access to the hike and bike trail. I think the project will sell out quickly, as Pearlstone is a well respected developer who builds a great product at a competitive price point." Likewise, Zaiontz said he expects there to be strong demand for the units, citing among other attributes its location in "a premiere, coveted neighborhood." Pearlstone is one of the most active developers of for-sale housing in and around downtown Austin. Presently, the company is building everything from a 41-story downtown high-rise called Vesper (along with its Vesper partner New York-based ATCO Properties and Management), to urban infill projects including the Montage on South Lamar Boulevard. 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Readers hoping to buy The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. Thus, you can purchase Bank of New York Mellon's shares before the 27th of July in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 10th of August. The company's next dividend payment will be US$0.42 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed US$1.48 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Bank of New York Mellon has a trailing yield of 3.3% on the current share price of $45. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! As a result, readers should always check whether Bank of New York Mellon has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut. View our latest analysis for Bank of New York Mellon Dividends are usually paid out of company profits, so if a company pays out more than it earned then its dividend is usually at greater risk of being cut. That's why it's good to see Bank of New York Mellon paying out a modest 43% of its earnings. When a company paid out less in dividends than it earned in profit, this generally suggests its dividend is affordable. The lower the % of its profit that it pays out, the greater the margin of safety for the dividend if the business enters a downturn. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies that aren't growing their earnings can still be valuable, but it is even more important to assess the sustainability of the dividend if it looks like the company will struggle to grow. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. That explains why we're not overly excited about Bank of New York Mellon's flat earnings over the past five years. We'd take that over an earnings decline any day, but in the long run, the best dividend stocks all grow their earnings per share. Story continues Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Bank of New York Mellon has delivered 11% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. The Bottom Line Is Bank of New York Mellon an attractive dividend stock, or better left on the shelf? Bank of New York Mellon's earnings per share are basically flat over the past five years, although it has the cushion of a low payout ratio, which would suggest a cut to the dividend is relatively unlikely. In sum this is a middling combination, and we find it hard to get excited about the company from a dividend perspective. Ever wonder what the future holds for Bank of New York Mellon? See what the 12 analysts we track are forecasting, with this visualisation of its historical and future estimated earnings and cash flow A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here In 2016, participants build a handcart for use during a three-day re-enactment of a Mormon pioneer journey. Each year on July 24, the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as Mormons, mark the day in 1847 that leader Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers entered Utah's Salt Lake Valley. Throughout history Ancient Egypt culturally valued cheese makers and the cheese-making process. The origin of cheese making, its relationship to ancient Egypt, and its cultural significance. However, in ancient Egypt, cheese held immense cultural significance and was considered a staple food item. Skilled artisans known as sewet played a vital role in the cheese-making process, processing milk from domesticated animals into various types of cheese. Cheesemaking was not only a means of preserving milk but also a way to honor the deceased, as cheese and other food items were commonly included as offerings in tombs, believed to assist the departed in the afterlife. The discovery of cheese making and its subsequent cultural significance have left a profound impact on human culinary history, becoming a beloved and versatile food that continues to be enjoyed worldwide to this day. In ancient cultures, including ancient Egypt, cheesemaking held a special significance beyond its practical value as a source of nutrition. It became intertwined with rituals and beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife. As an essential part of burial practices, cheese and other food items were offered as funerary goods to honor the deceased and ensure their well-being in the afterlife. The inclusion of cheese in burial offerings was a reflection of its cultural importance and symbolic meaning. These offerings were carefully selected to provide sustenance and comfort to the departed on their journey to the realm of the spirits. The act of offering cheese and other foods symbolized a continuation of life after death and the care taken to ensure a smooth transition into the afterlife. For the ancient Egyptians, cheesemaking was not just a culinary craft but also a sacred tradition that connected the living and the dead, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the enduring legacy of their loved ones in the realm beyond. The origin of cheese making is ancient and not precisely known. Early humans were resourceful and curious about food preparation. The origin of cheese making is an ancient practice, and while the exact time and place of its discovery remain uncertain, it is clear that early humans were curious and resourceful when it came to food preparation. The process of cheese-making likely emerged through a combination of accidental observations and experimentation by these early humans. Imagine ancient communities that depended on milk as a valuable source of nutrition. In their quest to find ways to preserve and make the most of this precious resource, early humans stored milk in various containers, including bags made from animal hides, while on the move in regions like Ancient Egypt with nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyles. The constant movement and exposure to the heat of the environment could have led to the natural curdling of the milk. Over time, these early humans would have noticed the transformation of liquid milk into solid curds and liquid whey. Intrigued by this process, they might have tasted the resulting solid curds and discovered that they were not only edible but also had a different flavor and texture compared to fresh milk. This accidental observation likely sparked their curiosity, leading them to explore and experiment further with the process of curdling milk. Early humans would have tested different techniques, trying various substances or natural enzymes to encourage curdling. Through trial and error, they honed their cheese-making skills, developing methods to curdle milk intentionally and refining the process to create different types of cheese. Over time, these knowledge and skills spread from one community to another, contributing to the development of cheese-making traditions across various regions and cultures. There is a lack of written records on cheesemaking from ancient Egypt but cheese and the evidence of cheesemaking in the form of artifacts did. Many ancient Egyptian written records were made on papyrus, which is a plant-based material. Papyrus is susceptible to decay and deterioration over time, especially in the humid and arid conditions of Egypt. As a result, much of the written documentation on various subjects, including cheesemaking, might not have survived to the present day. Cheesemaking in ancient Egypt dates back to around 2000 BC; Egyptian cheesemaking is depicted in tomb murals from approximately 2000 BC. These murals provide valuable visual insights into the cheese-making process during ancient times. One of the most famous examples of such a mural is from the tomb of Ti, also known as the Mastaba of Ti, in Saqqara, Egypt. Ti was an Egyptian high official during the 5th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. In his tomb, there is a scene that shows various agricultural and food production activities, including cheesemaking. The survival of organic material, such as cheese or evidence of cheesemaking in the form of residues or artifacts, can be attributed to favorable preservation conditions. Certain archaeological sites, particularly in desert environments, can preserve organic material exceptionally well. For instance, the dry climate of Egypt, combined with the sealing properties of tombs, helped in the preservation of organic residues found in pottery or other containers that were used in cheesemaking. The discovery of this cheesemaking scene has contributed significantly to our understanding of the importance of dairy products in ancient Egyptian cuisine and their sophisticated food processing techniques. Climate in 2000 bc Egypt for herding and milking cattle for cheese-making Some cattle herding practices in ancient Egypt were nomadic or transhumant in nature. Nomadic herding involved moving cattle to different grazing areas in search of fresh pasture, while transhumant herding involved seasonal migration between higher and lower elevations to take advantage of different grazing opportunities. The climate of ancient Egypt, with its warm temperatures, reliable water source, and fertile land, provided favorable conditions for cattle herding and milking. Cattle were a valuable resource in ancient Egyptian society, providing not only milk but also meat, leather, and labor for agricultural tasks. The annual flooding of the Nile River deposited nutrient-rich silt on the floodplain, creating fertile pastureland for grazing animals. This abundant vegetation would have provided ample food for cattle, making it possible for them to produce milk for cheese-making. Ancient Egyptians were buried with food and in some cases cheese In ancient Egyptian burial practices, it was customary to include various items and offerings that were believed to assist the deceased in the afterlife. In ancient Egypt, cheese making was a significant craft practiced by skilled artisans known as sewet. These cheese makers held an essential role in society, as cheese was a staple food item and a valuable source of nutrition. The process of cheese-making required expertise and knowledge of various techniques to curdle and preserve milk. The sewet were responsible for processing milk from various domesticated animals, such as cows, sheep, and goats, into different types of cheese. They would have been part of the workforce or skilled laborers in the agricultural and food production sectors of ancient Egyptian society. The ancient Egyptians had a strong belief in an afterlife, and they thought that the deceased would continue to exist in a realm similar to the earthly one. To ensure a smooth transition to the afterlife and provide for the needs of the sewet deceased in the hereafter, tombs were filled with a variety of objects, food, and personal possessions to continue making cheese in the afterlife. These offerings, known as funerary or burial goods, were intended to provide sustenance, comfort, and enjoyment in the afterlife. Common items included food, water, clothing, furniture, jewelry, and personal belongings. The specific items included in tombs could vary based on the individual's social status, wealth, occupation, and beliefs. Offerings of bread, beer, wine, meat, fruits, vegetables, and in some cases other foodstuffs such as cheese were common, as they were considered essential for the nourishment and pleasure of the deceased in the afterlife. Different Types of Cheeses Made by Ancient Egyptians Drawing from the abundant resources of the Nile Valley and their deep understanding of milk processing, the ancient Egyptians honed their cheesemaking skills, crafting a rich variety of cheese types. Whether it was the crumbly texture of hard cheeses for long-term storage or the creamy softness of fresh cheeses for immediate consumption, their mastery extended to tailoring cheese varieties to meet their nutritional needs and taste preferences. Cheese held such cultural significance that it became an integral part of religious ceremonies and offerings, exemplifying how this ancient craft transcended mere sustenance and became interwoven with the fabric of their society. One common form of cheese was fresh cheeses, such as feta or labneh, are made by simply draining the whey from the curds without pressing or aging. Soft cheeses were typically made by coagulating the milk with acid or by allowing it to naturally sour and then draining the whey to obtain curds. These cheeses have a mild flavor and a creamy texture. Herbert Hoover, the future 31st U.S. president, imported Chinese laborers for South African gold mines. Examine Hoover's role as a director of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Corporation (CEMC), which supplied tens of thousands of Chinese workers to the Transvaal Chamber of Mines after the South African War. Also, discover how Hoover tried to conceal and change the narrative of his Chinese mining career and how this affected his reputation and place in history. The Witwatersrand gold mine in South Africa was one of the world's most important sources of gold. It was discovered in 1886 and led to the establishment of Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. However, the gold mine also sparked a series of conflicts that shaped the history of South Africa and its relations with other countries. Witwatersrand gold mine in South Africa The British wanted to control the gold mine and secure their dominance over the region. They also faced pressure from the mining magnates, who wanted cheap and reliable labor for their mines. The Boers were descendants of Dutch settlers who had established their own states in southern Africa. They resented British interference and taxation, especially after discovering gold on their lands. The existing labor force, composed mainly of Africans, was insufficient and often rebellious. The mining magnates sought to import Chinese workers, who were seen as more docile and cheaper than Africans or Europeans. The British government agreed to this plan and imported more than 60,000 Chinese laborers to work on the Witwatersrand gold mine between 1904 and 1910. The Chinese laborers were indentured, meaning they had to work for a fixed period under harsh conditions and low wages. They were also segregated from other workers and subjected to racial discrimination and abuse. Herbert Hoover, future U.S. president, directed CEMC to supply Chinese laborers. Herbert Hoover was a mining engineer who worked for the British corporation Chinese Engineering and Mining Company in China from 1899 to 1912. He transferred the Kaiping Mines from the Chinese government to the CEMC during the Boxer Uprising. This violent anti-foreigner movement threatened the lives and interests of foreigners in China. Hoover also served as a board member of the CEMC and oversaw the recruitment and transportation of thousands of Chinese laborers to work in the gold mines of South Africa. Hoover's mining career in China was controversial, and he tried to conceal and alter the truth of his involvement in exploiting China's natural resources and people. He claimed he was a humanitarian and a mediator between China and the Western powers, but his actions were motivated by profit and ambition. He faced criticism and accusations from journalists, politicians, and historians who exposed his role in the CEMC's shady dealings. Herbert Hoover Hoover later became the 31st president of the United States, but his Chinese mining career remained a source of controversy and embarrassment for him. He attempted to refute, suppress, and rewrite the history of his activities in China, but he could not erase the evidence of his complicity in the CEMC's imperialist agenda. Hoover saw the Chinese labor program as a profitable venture and a way to improve the efficiency of the gold mine. However, the Chinese labor program was met with fierce opposition from various South African and Britain groups. The Boers saw it as a violation of their sovereignty and a threat to their culture and identity. They also feared the Chinese would compete for land and resources. The Africans saw it as a further exploitation of their labor and a denial of their rights. They also resented the preferential treatment given to the Chinese by the British. The British workers saw it as lowering their wages and living standards. They also disliked working with or under the Chinese, whom they considered inferior and alien. The Chinese labor program became a major political issue that contributed to Britain's conservative government's fall in 1906. It also fueled the rise of nationalism and racism in South Africa, forming the Union of South Africa in 1910, which excluded both Africans and Asians from citizenship and voting rights. The Chinese labor program was eventually canceled in 1910 after most Chinese workers had completed their contracts and returned to China. MUSIC Little Simz Hordern Pavilion, July 21 A clue as to where Little Simz belongs in the musical pantheon is in the outro jazz soundtrack that plays as the audience filters out after her powerful show: Miles Davis seminal Kind of Blue. Simz influences and ambitions far transcend any narrow genre definition. Little Simz Sydney set was powerful. Credit: Janie Barrett From the Afrobeat of Point and Kill through the Delfonics-inflected Two Worlds Apart via the nu-disco groove of Protect My Energy, Simz delivers a whirlwind musical education while tying the sound together with a distinctive flow and ebullient stage presence. Ebullience is not usually associated with rap but Simz isnt your usual rapper. While guns and violence feature as themes, theirs is a mournful presence given sober consideration. Truck drivers at Yellow fear the end is coming soon. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves) From the Great Recession to 2020, Yellow nearly went bankrupt four times. In each episode, the trucking giant was saved thanks to concessions from lenders, the Teamsters union, the federal government or often all three. As a result, some of Yellows 30,000 employees werent too scared when the company began warning this summer that the end times were coming again. Its like crying wolf at this point, Yellow mechanic Brian Atchely told FreightWaves earlier this month. Now as a strike looms, customers begin to pull freight and the Teamsters union refuses to meet industry watchers are on alert that the trucking fleet may finally shutter. Ahead of a federal court hearing on Friday, Yellow said a work stoppage could force the company into a Chapter 7 liquidation bankruptcy proceeding. Truck drivers are grappling with the idea that they could lose their jobs. Some 22,000 Teamsters members work at Yellow. Paul Duquette, who works at the companys Youngstown, Ohio, terminal, joined Yellow 11 years ago after his previous union trucking employer closed. He told FreightWaves on Friday morning that he and his colleagues are clearing the docks of freight now. I dont see things happening in a good light right now, Duquette said. Its sad. Duquette has friends who work at nonunion trucking fleets and bring home a bigger paycheck each week. He said whats kept him at Yellow over the years is the health insurance. Central States Pension and Health Funds, which covers about half of Yellows Teamster employees, informed them Monday that Yellow missed its June contribution and would withhold its July contribution. If these payments are not cured, employee pension accruals and health care coverage will end Sunday and the Teamsters union has issued a notice that it could strike Monday. Yellow said it requested a two-month deferral of the contributions last month, with no interruption in employee coverage. The funds denied the request. Story continues I wont even complain about the pay, but the health insurance I cant work here without that, Duquette said. One Yellow truck driver based in Minneapolis said he and his colleagues have felt a little anxiety and uncertainty about the company shuttering. If there is a strike, the company is likely done, the Minneapolis truck driver said. If people pull their freight, were going to be in big trouble. Another Yellow truck driver in Washington state said his terminal will continue working on Monday as employees there are not covered by the Central States plan. Still, he believes a strike would force the whole company into bankruptcy. I put in 23-plus years at this company, the Washington-based driver said. I am concerned about having to start over somewhere and relearn something again, but I guess thats the way it would have to be. Come Monday, I am the one that loses FreightWaves has connected with more than two dozen Yellow employees in the past month as the massive trucker teeters on financial ruin. Many drivers shared that they believed Yellow is poorly managed. Increasingly, some are sharing frustrations that the union didnt further negotiate with Yellow about its proposed operational changes. We are as frustrated as our employees, a Yellow spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. Yellow has tried for nine months to meet with IBT leadership to discuss pay increases for our employees and the future of One Yellow. We have made numerous offers over several months to increase wages. The most recent offer included nearly an $11 increase in total compensation over the five year contract, yet the union never brought that offer to its members. Thats the height of irresponsibility, especially when 30,000 jobs are at stake and our union employees pay a combined $15 million in annual dues to an IBT that is not representing their best interests. We continue to do everything we can to fight for our employees jobs. We are not giving up. A Teamsters representative said the union will do everything possible to protect and support our members. If there is a shutdown, it will be Yellow Corp.s own doing, the spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. Our members understand this and are furious that the company continues to misguide workers and mismanage this company into the ground. They have put themselves in this position at the expense of thousands of hardworking Teamster families. Yellows network is currently a mishmash of several trucking fleets it acquired in the early 2000s. Those networks were never fully integrated, and the acquisitions put Yellow in a challenging financial position at the start of the Great Recession. Since 2009, Teamsters has made a slew of concessions to Yellow to keep the company afloat, including allowing the pension to be funded by 25%. A 2019 labor contract enabled Yellow to consolidate some of those disparate networks in an initiative called One Yellow. Yellow integrated networks in the western U.S. last year. In its next phase of integration, Yellow aims to convert nearly 1,000 truck drivers into a new job called utility driver; this may reduce their pay and would substantially change their job duties. (Yellow said 400 drivers have already converted to utility driver.) To make these changes, Teamsters instructed Yellow to reopen the current contract early and engage in a full collective bargaining process. The Teamsters union has blocked those consolidation attempts. Yellow claimed that the unions refusal to continue negotiations on One Yellow changes put the companys financial future in jeopardy. Teamsters General President Sean OBrien said on June 12 a Yellow shutdown was out of our control and refused to budge on the operational changes. Yellow filed a $137 million lawsuit against the Teamsters on June 27 for blocking the companys change of operations. The Teamsters replied in a news release that the union has diligently adhered to the terms of its current collective bargaining agreement and that the change of operations that Yellow is requesting would violate that agreement. Now both Yellow and Teamsters are blaming the other for the fleets current financial chaos. One Indiana-based Yellow truck driver told FreightWaves that he finds fault on both sides. At the end of the day, come [Monday], I [will] wonder where my next meal is coming from while Yellow and Teamster management get their hefty paychecks and go out to dinner on the sweat and worry of the employees, he said. Come Monday, I am the one that loses. The job search is already starting for some Yellow truckers Some are simply taking matters into their own hands and quitting before Yellow can go kaput. One New York-based driver said hes in the final rounds of getting hired at another trucking fleet. This one isnt unionized, but he said he doesnt mind. I dont see the point in being in a union, he said. Its a whole lot of rigamarole for very little return. The Washington-based Yellow driver said hes also looking for work at nonunion fleets. Duquette, the Ohio-based Yellow driver, said hes been trying to get hired at unionized trucking fleets. However, he said being in his mid-50s has made it challenging to get a new job. The overall share of unionized LTL trucking fleets has greatly decreased since trucking was deregulated in 1980. Unionized LTL carriers have dropped from claiming 42% market share in 2002 to 22% in 2022, according to numbers from SJ Consulting Group, which advises transportation and logistics firms. Only three unionized LTL carriers remain today: Yellow; ABF Freight; and TForce Freight. While some union employees may be able to get other jobs, they are unlikely to find jobs that offer full health care benefits for their families, or that would offer them the same seniority our employees have earned and enjoy today, a Yellow spokesperson said Friday. Like other Yellow employees, the New York-based driver said hes confused how Yellow is already on the brink of bankruptcy after receiving a $700 million federal loan just three years ago. I realize that upper management has the attitude that you truckers just dont understand the nuances and complications of running a successful LTL company and, perhaps in some sense, they dont, he said. But in the simplest terms, if you have kids running a lemonade stand and theyre selling lemonade every day and you lend them $700 for lemons and sugar and three years later, theyre broke, what would the common assumption be? On the other side of the country, other Yellow employees are quietly leaving too. One clerical employee in the Pacific Northwest, who asked to not have her name published, said several drivers in her terminal have quit in the past month and found new jobs. People are scared and they dont want to stay and wait to see what happens, she told FreightWaves. But she said despite the challenges Yellow has seen in recent years, her colleagues have stayed upbeat. She said she will stick around at Yellow and hopes the company stays afloat. On the West Coast, we are waiting for improvement, the clerical employee told FreightWaves. We want to see the company survive, but we want it to see it be streamlined and profitable. Are you a Yellow employee? Email the reporter at rpremack@freightwaves.com with your feedback. And be sure to subscribe to MODES for your weekly transportation news. The post Big trouble: Yellow truck drivers ponder next moves amid potential bankruptcy appeared first on FreightWaves. Matt Golding Credit: . To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Antisemitism shame I am not Jewish, but was shocked, saddened and ashamed to read in The Sunday Age (Jewish pupils assailed with antisemitism in schools, 16/7) of the appalling behaviour in some of our public schools towards Jewish students. To think some young people are bullied and abused due to their religious beliefs, to the point of being too frightened to go to school and ultimately being removed from the school to protect their mental and emotional health, beggars belief. Its all very well for the schools and the Education Department to state they take these incidents seriously, but the steps taken appear to have been ineffective in ensuring the Jewish students felt safe enough to continue at the schools. What steps were taken to ensure the bullies were taught that this is totally unacceptable behaviour and take responsibility for their actions? What steps were taken to educate these students on the damage they have inflicted on innocent kids? Parents of the perpetrators should also be held to account for their childrens cruelty and lack of compassion. Society desperately needs decent, well-rounded students coming from our education system to lead in the future. Maggie Matheson, Beaumaris Reinventing the West How the West was won by columnist Parnell Palme McGuinness (16/7), illustrates how the West has not won. Instead one should follow the principles of a genuine democracy that is based on the framework of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which sets out fundamental human rights to be universally protected. Genuine democracy in the West has a long way to go. Some of the characteristics of many Western democracies are built on colonisation, hyper-capitalism, militarism, participation in illegal wars,the maintenance of US hegemony and the impact of climate change. Thus there is much to be invented and reinvented. Victorian doctors are harnessing artificial intelligence to help diagnose health conditions, write referrals and compile medical records. But there are concerns the rapidly evolving technology, which signals a new era in medicine and is also being used to interpret chest X-rays and detect diseases in blood tests, could pose a risk to patient care if not used correctly. Dr Umair Masood and his patient Eric Collicoat. Credit: Jason South Dr Umair Masood and Dr Chris Irwin have created what they believe is the worlds first commercially available AI tool to streamline GP consultations with patients. The pair, who work in Gisborne and Ivanhoe, have trialled the technology with more than 200 patients at their clinics over the past two months, and are now hoping to sell the software to other GPs. She was correct. Over 90 per cent of Australians voted yes when they went to the polls that May. I was 11, old enough to understand my parents pride and relief that the country so overwhelmingly supported this first step towards reconciliation. Australians always vote no, she told me. But well all vote yes for this one. Its the right thing to do, and about time. It was hot, I remember that. The driveway asphalt stuck to my thongs. I wondered what was so important in that letter that Mum would stand in the sun and read it, rather than carrying it inside to the cool. What Im not understanding is whats happening now. Since I left Australia in late May, support for the Voice referendum has been wavering, something that, from outside the country, seems entirely baffling. Attempting to follow the debate from a distance is difficult, since it isnt so much a debate as a series of Alice in Wonderland-style non-sequiturs. When the referendum was announced, I was as sure as my mother had been in 1967: of course, well all vote yes for this one. Its the right thing to do. But then, over a dinner in Haberfield last December, a friends contrary opinion startled me. Its going to fail, he predicted gloomily. This man, a prince of the progressive punditocracy, believed that Prime Minister Albanese had made a tactical mistake. Wide community support for the idea, he said, should have been built before announcing the referendum, not drummed up after. He believed that reactionary forces would be able to create and exploit uncertainty around the meaning of what was proposed. Peter Duttons anti-Voice rhetoric has Trumpian cadences. Credit: Joe Benke I thought he was crackers. After all, you dont rise to the top of the NSW Labor Party by having a poor grasp of tactics. That months polls seemed to support me. Australians were for this; how could they not be? It was so small a thing: so modest an ask, so nugatory a change. And yet so necessary. How else could 3 per cent of the population be heard, when their interests and needs differed in important ways from the kinds of issues that win seats and put politicians in power? One things certain: they never have been. Insurers have begun rejecting insurance reapplications for homeowners in the flood-ravaged Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, amid questions about the liveability of areas of Sydney at risk of extreme weather events. For those companies still offering insurance in the area, Insurance Australia Group foreshadowed soaring premiums could preclude households from renewing their policies, with costs reaching into the tens of thousands of dollars in some instances. Scott Hinks in his Windsor backyard, which was under approximately four metres of flood water. Credit: Kate Geraghty The decision by insurers to vacate natural disaster-prone areas comes as fears of another serious bushfire season intensified amid growing expectations of an El Nino system and the states preternaturally warm winter. The Insurance Council of Australia the peak body for the general insurance industry said the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events would impact the affordability and availability of insurance in vulnerable areas. Kuala Lumpur: British band The 1975 said they have cancelled shows in Taiwan and Muslim-majority Indonesia, a day after Malaysia banned them from performing there after their frontman kissed a bandmate on stage and criticised the countrys anti-LGBT laws. Unfortunately, due to current circumstances, it is impossible to proceed with the scheduled shows, the pop rock group said in a statement, without elaborating. The 1975 perform at the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena in London, in 2019. Credit: Malaysias government halted a music festival in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday and barred The 1975 after what it called disrespectful actions. Homosexuality is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Rights groups have warned of growing intolerance against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Apollo co-founder Leon Black stepped down as chief executive in 2021 - REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo The co-founder of US private equity giant Apollo has paid the US Virgin Islands government $62.5m (48.6m) to be released from legal claims relating to Jeffrey Epsteins sex-trafficking. Leon Black, who has been accused of misconduct in relation to the pedofile financiers activities, has struck a multimillion dollar deal to avoid a potential lawsuit, according to The New York Times. The settlement was reached in January, according to a copy of the settlement agreement from the Virgin Islands government through a public records request obtained by the Times. Mr Black, who is worth an estimated $10bn, stepped down as chief executive of Apollo in 2021 after lawyers hired by the private equity firm concluded that he had paid $158m to Epstein for tax advice, help with buying artwork, and other professional services. A keen art collector who famously bought a version of Edvard Munchs The Scream for $120m, Mr Black also stepped down as chairman of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The billionaire, who co-founded Apollo in 1990, very much regrets having made payments to Epstein for legitimate financial advisory services, a spokesman for Mr Black said in a statement on Friday. The settlement with Mr Black is part of the US Virgin Islands wider investigation of Epsteins sex trafficking ring, where several girls and young women were sexually abused on Epsteins private island estate. Mr Black denies any wrongdoing. A New York state judge in May dismissed a lawsuit accusing Mr Black of defaming a woman by falsely claiming she tried to extort him after accusing him of rape, which he denied. However, Mr Black still faces a lawsuit from another woman, Cheri Pierson, who has accused him of raping her two decades ago in Epsteins mansion in Manhattan. Mr Black has denied any wrongdoing. Lawyers for Cheri Pierson allege that the 71-year-old financier raped her on the third floor of Jeffery Epsteins Manhattan mansion in 2002. She is seeking unspecified damages over the claims. Epstein died by suicide in a Manhattan jail cell while on trial for sex trafficking charges in 2019. The financier was known for his web of contacts among bankers, politicians and investors who he entertained at his mansion and on a private island. 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. Something familiar and something new is coming soon to the North States restaurant landscape. Pizza Factory will open on North Market Street in the same parking lot as the Rodeway Inn. This will be the pizzerias second location in Shasta County and the same family that owns and operates Pizza Factory in Shasta Lake is opening the Redding location. Also in Redding, this time Discovery Village, Nav Kandola, who also owns Petes Restaurant & Brewhouse on Hilltop Drive, will open a restaurant that specializes in Portuguese peri peri chicken in a portion of the former Mission Beauty space. Heres what to expect from both. We Toss em, Theyre Awesome Alicia Pizano, who owns Pizza Factory in Shasta Lake with her husband, Carlos, said they always thought opening a location in Redding would be a good idea. So, when Raj Kandhola asked them if they had any interest in the former Westside Pizza building on North Market, they decided to finally act on their intentions. He would dine in here and eat our food and he said he really liked our product, he said he loved the store, it was always so clean and friendly and he wanted something like that, Alicia Pizano recently told me. Kandhola was planning to open a pizza place called Slice before he decided to lease the space out instead. But not before he redeveloped the building inside and out, including a mural of the Sundial Bridge inside. Pizano said the work Kandhola did on the building helped seal the deal. The Pizanos hope to open in Redding in August. I would say the latest would be September, Pizano said. Carlos' brother, Mario, will be the general manager in Redding and Zach Harris, who started as a delivery driver in Shasta Lake, will help manage the location. The family that owns and operates Pizza Factory in Shasta Lake is opening a location in Redding on North Market Street. Both Alicia and Carlos Pizano grew up in Siskiyou County, Alicia in Lake Shastina and Carlos in Dunsmuir. Carlos worked at the Pizza Factory in Dunsmuir and in Shasta Lake, the latter while he attended Shasta College. Alicia remembers going to the location in Weed growing up. Story continues Pizza Factory in Shasta Lake opened on Valentines Day 1994. The restaurants slogan is We Toss em, Theyre Awesome. The Pizanos bought the business four years ago. The thing I love about Pizza Factory is they are all owned and run by families, Alicia Pizano said. So, I think that is really a good thing. They really care about what theyre doing. She said their Shasta Lake location is involved with the schools in the area and helps local groups. "We do a lot of field trips with kids. They come out and learn how to make pizza," Pizano added. In addition to dine-in and take-out, the Redding location will offer deliveries, which Pizano is excited about because it allows them to expand their service area. The restaurant will open at 11 a.m. daily and for lunch and dinner. The location also will serve beer and wine. Portuguese chicken coming to Dana Drive Mister Peri Peri's Grill will be in a portion of the former Mission Beauty building in Discovery Village in Redding Nav Kandola said he is always looking to bring new food offerings to the marketplace. Enter Mister Peri Peris Grill. Peri peri is Portuguese chicken that is marinated for hours and served with a choice of sauces that Kandola said vary from mild to hot, Kandola said. More: The Buzz: Rancheria part of clean energy project; while jeweler, toy store coming to mall Its very tender, succulent chicken, he said. Kandola hopes to open Mister Peri Peris Grill this fall. He has started work on tenant improvements inside the former Mission Beauty space, which was subdivided into three suites after it closed. The restaurant also will feature burgers, chicken wraps and salads. Sourdough Bread Company is opening in the Churn Creek Marketplace shopping center. Kandola, who is from Glasgow, Scotland, opened Petes Restaurant & Brewhouse in the former Famous Daves BBQ on Hilltop Drive in December 2020, amid the pandemic. Kandola also owns Sourdough Bread Company next to Crumbl Cookies in the Save Mart shopping center. The sandwich shop should be open by August, he said. Petco opens store in south Redding Petco calls its new location in the Churn Creek Marketplace shopping center a one-stop health and wellness store for pets The store at 4655 Churn Creek Road opened Friday. It joins the other Petco location on Hilltop Drive, which opened in 1996. The new Redding location offers Petcos full suite of health and wellness products and services for pets, company spokeswoman Yvonne Tarrab said in an email. Petco recently opened its second location in Redding in the Churn Creek Marketplace shopping center. Toys, home products, pet apparel, pet travel gear, nutrition supplies, the Just Food For Dogs nutrition station, indoor dog training park and dog self-wash stations for pet owners are among the features in the new store. The store is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. Redding: Mechanics Bank coming to shopping center An alert reader reached out before I went on vacation earlier this month that grading work was taking place on a lot in front of Save Mart in Churn Creek Marketplace. Whats up? According to the city of Reddings latest building permit report, the ground is being cleared for a Mechanics Bank branch. A fences surrounds the site where a Mechanics Bank branch will be built in the Churn Creek Marketplace shopping center, according to the city of Redding's building department. This would be the second location for the Bay Area-based regional bank. In May 2018, Mechanics acquired Scott Valley Bank, then Californias oldest independent bank, having been established in Yreka in 1858. The permit that was issued says the bank will be 3,000 square feet. The location is just north of the strip of buildings that includes Starbucks and Crumbl Cookies. A fence currently surrounds the site. Messages left with Mechanics Bank seeking comment were not returned. David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. Hes part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: The Buzz: Pizza Factory expanding; Portuguese chicken coming soon DETROIT The movie event of the year is two movies, actually: One about the world of one of our most cherished childhood dolls and the other Batavia, NY (14020) Today A few clouds. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 59F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said on Thursday his agency has national security concerns about Chinese autonomous vehicle companies in the American market after some lawmakers called for restrictions on their operations. "Whether we are talking about hardware or software, in the same way there are concerns around telecom or TikTok, there are concerns around transportation technologies," Buttigieg said in an interview with Reuters. Buttigieg said the United States needs to better understand "the true ownership of the different enterprises that are supplying different elements of our transportation systems." In a July 17 letter to Buttigieg and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, a bipartisan group of four lawmakers asked for an investigation into the prevalence of Chinese AV technology in the United States and how it can be restricted. "Technology used by AVs, LiDAR, RADAR, cameras, AI and other advanced sensors and semiconductors can all be used to collect data on the American people and infrastructure that could be shared back to China and ultimately to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers were particularly concerned about AV vehicle and equipment testing in the United States. Their letter cites data from California regulators showing seven Chinese firms, including Baidu's Apollo and robotaxi startup Pony.ai, tested autonomous vehicles in the most-populous U.S. state last year. The autonomous vehicle industry in the U.S. has been late delivering on promises of commercializing cars that drive themselves. Many AV companies have cut costs and jobs with some such as Ford and Volkswagen -backed Argo AI shutting shop. Major players still pursuing development include General Motors' Cruise unit, Alphabet's Waymo and Amazon's Zoox. (Reporting by Chris Sanders and Abhirup Roy; Editing by Will Dunham and Cynthia Osterman) It was a friendship driven by old-time automobiles. And it started with 91-year-old George Sages appointment to see a nurse. Mr. Sages visit to an ear specialist led to his meeting nurse Sarah Mpare, and he mentioned the Ford Model A he was restoring. He also learned they had something in commonthe two from Redmond, Washington, were both once Spokanites. This neighborly chitchat led him to invite Ms. Mpare to bring her two kids, then 14-year-old Samuel and Isabel, who was 13, to come to see and sit in that old antique car of his. And so they did. George Sage, 91, and Samuel Mpare, 17, in the older mans shop. (Courtesy of Sarah Mpare) They honked the horns and took pictures. And then Mr. Sage showed them inside the engine, including all the moving parts. Samuel was captivated. You can tell by the way people ask questions as to just how interested they are, Mr. Sage told The Epoch Times. So, out of the blue he gave Samuel a Model A engineon one condition. If he would take it apart and put it back together, Mr. Sage said. He accepted the challenge and we went from there. All of this was during COVID, and there wasnt much else Samuel would be doing. I was going to be driving in the next two years, he told the newspaper. This really spiked my interest in cars and especially engines and how everything kind of works togetherall the physics and science behind it. Samuel was as good as his word. He did a wonderful job, Mr. Sage said. (Left) Samuel Mpare, 17, works on the frame of the Model A Ford; (Right) The body of the Model A Ford. (Courtesy of Sarah Mpare) In fact, his work even plugged him into the wider local Model A community, and car enthusiasts started offering Samuel components that he needed. Furthermore, as a reward for his interest, a Model A Club member even tracked down a rolling chassis to give to Samuel. Its a frame and wheels but no motor, no body, Mr. Sage said. Together with the engine, it would become a new and much larger restoration project for the two. There was just one problem. The chassis was way out in Lindon, Utah. So, I called the Model A Ford clubs between here and Utah, Mr. Sage said. Soon word got around and a relay was set in motion. A series of helpers began picking up the frame and handing it off to the next, one by one. That frame went 900 miles [1,450 kilometers] in three days, Mr. Sage said. It finally arrived at his shop near Seattle in the spring of 2021. (Right) Samuel Mpare, 17, works on the Ford Model A, now with the body installed. (Courtesy of Sarah Mpare) It was a 1929 four-door sedan, but it still needed a lot of work. So, Ms. Mpare would bring Samuel to Mr. Sages shop and they worked together: There was disassembly and painting to be done. By late 2022, they had put the body on. They installed the transmission. One day, Ms. Mpare came to get Samuel and asked him, What have you been doing? He said, Well, we rebuilt the steering column and we put it all in We put the pitman arm inand then we took it off and put it on right. They had a good laugh. (Left) The 1929 Ford Model A almost fully restored; (Left) Samuel Mpare, 17, and George Sage, 91, take the Ford Model A for a spin. (Courtesy of Sarah Mpare) Just a few weeks ago, Samuel and Mr. Sage drove the 1929 Ford Model A for the first time in the Fourth of July parade in Kirkland. Its drivable with seats and dash installed, though the interior doors and roof upholstery still need installing. All of the excitement the project has stirred came as a surprise for Mr. Sage. When I offered him the engine, that was a spur of the moment, he said. All of a sudden it seemed like the right thing to do. Samuel, now 17, is thinking of taking propulsion engineering in college. He offers advice to those who have dreams of their own: Find what youre interested in and just ask around, he said. For sure youll stumble upon someone that is just as interested, or more interested, in doing it, and work together and you can make something amazing. (Courtesy of Sarah Mpare) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter (Bloomberg) -- Global fund managers are tamping down expectations ahead of Chinas Politburo meeting, with many bracing for prolonged gloom in the stock market on bets that any policy support will lack potency. Most Read from Bloomberg Chinese stocks notched their worst week in four despite a series of vows to boost consumption and businesses, underscoring deep market skepticism. While the high-level economic policy meeting slated for next week should unveil further measures to revive spending and the ailing property sector, investors see no easy fix to the lack of confidence plaguing the market. Beijing faces the dilemma of ensuring the economy achieves its roughly 5% growth target, while refraining from the type of all-out stimulus that may yield asset bubbles. With a broad rally seen unlikely, money managers are choosing to focus on more specific opportunities within sectors including Internet, consumer discretionary and energy transition that align with policy goals. The market is pricing some continued policy support, but no bazooka-like stimulus, said Kevin Net, head of Asian equities at LA Banque Postale Asset Management in Paris. Its best to focus on the fundamentals, in particular the sectors and stocks that will benefit from government support and help China gain more self reliance. READ: Xis Big Private-Sector Push Runs Into Wall of Skepticism The CSI 300 benchmark of mainland shares fell 2% this week even as officials released 31 measures to improve conditions for private business and are considering easing home buying restrictions in the nations biggest cities. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 2.2%, firming its status as one of the years worst performers among 92 major gauges tracked by Bloomberg. Story continues Key Chinese indexes are down for the year, losing out on a rally seen across Japan, India and the US. While not a game changer, the Politburo meeting will offer some tactical trading opportunities. I would watch for rhetoric that aims to boost private sector confidence and a combination of stimulus, said Steven Luk, chief executive officer at FountainCap Research & Investment in Hong Kong. With downside risks to the governments 5% target for this years growth, measures announced at the meeting will be critical, he said. Wall Street Cuts China Growth Forecasts as Economy Disappoints But any rhetoric short on detail will likely be received poorly by investors jaded from multiple false dawns. Just last month, a rally in the wake of promises for more forceful policies at a State Council meeting turned into renewed selling given the lack of specific measures. If the government just sticks with a continuation of incremental policy easing to keep growth at around 5%, that gives no trigger for investors to move, said Chi Lo, investment strategist for Asia Pacific at BNP Paribas Asset Management Asia Ltd. The market is likely to stay in range-bound trading with no conviction but volatility. For some investors, such deep pessimism and low positioning suggest opportunities to the upside. The MSCI China Index is trading at ten times forward earnings versus its five-year average of about 12. Citigroup Inc. strategists wrote in a July 14 note that they remain overweight on the market as cheap valuations offer an attractive entry point should Beijing deliver any positive surprise on stimulus. Heres How China Is Supporting Economy as Stimulus Awaited Risk reward is getting actually quite favorable to China equities and once things start to normalize, the upside can be quite meaningful, said Cynthia Chen, portfolio manager at PineBridge Investments Asia Ltd. Even if the policy rollout disappoints, Chen isnt too concerned as she remains focused on a bottom up stock selection. That strategy of seeking idiosyncratic opportunities is also shared by other money managers including Janus Henderson Investors SP Ltd., who favors companies in travel, food retailing, and those in industrials that benefit from increased localization trend and have the potential to become more like General Electric Co. or Siemens AG. Its possible the market may go nowhere, but there will be companies that can carry their businesses through this cycle in China, said May Ling Wee, a portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors. It may not be a big scale market opportunity, but we do think on the company basis we are able to find those opportunities. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Over the past 37 years, despite the narrative from the mainstream media, there has been a massive wave of pro-gun legislation being passed across America. In fact, the country went from having the majority of states either completely deny citizens the ability to conceal carry to now, having the majority of states allow people to conceal carry without a permit. Furthermore, in the wake of the 2020 BLM/Antifa protests and riots, a record number of Americans purchased firearms for the first time. Amidst this backdrop, California Governor Gavin Newsom has just proposed a nationwide 28th Amendment to the US Constitution, which would severely limit peoples access to guns. Episode Resources: Firearm Sales Data: https://ept.ms/3Q6NqQ4 Constitutional Carry: https://ept.ms/43DhCWm Four sisters were shocked and overjoyed to find out they were all expecting babies at the same time. The siblingsthree of whom are pregnant with their first childfeel blessed and are looking ahead to fun-filled family holidays and sharing major milestones. Jena Primsky, 33, lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband and toddler son, Mason. Ms. Primskys sisters Jessica Hanna, 30, and Jordan Sutton, 27, both live in their hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, while their youngest sister, Jaden Lortz, 25, lives in Dallas, Texas. The sisters all got married within the last five years. (L-R) The four siblings: Jaden Lortz, Jessica Hanna, Jordan Sutton, and Jena Primsky. (Courtesy of KK Images) Breaking the big news of their pregnancies to their family, followed one after the other, with Ms. Sutton being the first to share about it. I told everyone around Christmastime, she told The Epoch Times. I kind of knew Jaden was trying. I had no idea Jena was trying for her second. At the end of January, Ms. Lortz told Ms. Sutton about her pregnancy over a call since she wanted to share it with someone else who was in the same phase. Shortly after, Ms. Sutton and Ms. Primsy took a trip with their parents, and thats when the mother of one couldnt keep her pregnancy a secret anymore and shared it with her sister. Lastly, Jessica and I live fairly close and we go on walks together, Ms. Sutton said. She told me a little bit before Easter; she put a bandana on her dog telling me that they were pregnant. So, at that point, I had all the secrets first, and it was fun but also hard! Ms. Hanna, who was the last to reveal her pregnancy, was just in shock to find out she wouldnt be the only pregnant sister after one tough year spent trying for a baby. I was trying for so long, she said. It was just unbelievable, I didnt know it was possible that we could all be pregnant at the same time. We always said itd be so much fun, but for it to actually happen, it was surreal! (L- R) Ms. Lortz, Ms. Primsky, Ms. Hanna, and Ms. Sutton. (Courtesy of Wildfire Photo Co.) Ms. Primsky with her husband, Mike Primsky, and son, Mason. (Courtesy of Wildfire Photo Co.) Knowing how hard their sister wanted a baby, Ms. Primsky and Ms. Lortz admitted they were nervous to reveal their pregnancies. We just kept praying that Jessica would also get pregnant sometime soon, Ms. Primsky said. It was really exciting when it all got exposed at Easter. My parents [Mike and Nancy Thiem] were, you could tell, just giddy and excited. My mom kept laughing; my dads like, This is just so awesome. Were so blessed, is what they both keep saying. Ms. Sutton with her husband, Dylan Sutton, and their dog. (Courtesy of Wildfire Photo Co.) At the time of writing, Ms. Sutton is 37 weeks pregnant. Ms. Primsky and Ms. Lortz are both at 30 weeks, and Ms. Hanna is at 23 weeks. The sisters speak daily in a group chat to support one another through their pregnancy journey and make sure to help each other stay fit and healthy. Apart from that they also revealed that their conversations have included funny and fraught questions: Well ask, Is this feeling normal? and then well go through, like, what were craving, what we want to make that week for food, or new maternity clothes that we need, Ms. Hanna said. I think its nice to go through it with not just one person, but with all four of us. Ms. Primsky shared the same sentiment, adding that the whole feeling of being pregnant with the three people youre closest to in your life, [is] just really amazing. Theres not a day that we dont talk about it, and itll just continue throughout the rest of our lives, too, with the new stages, she said. Ms. Hanna with her husband, Nolan Hanna. (Courtesy of Jena Primsky) With the excitement amongst them brewing, the sisters have also talked about how fun future holidays will be with four cousins of the same age running around. With Ms. Hanna and Ms. Sutton living near each other, they believe that their children will likely attend the same schools. Theyre going to be going through the toddler stage at the same time, theyre going to be going through the teenager stage at the same time, so were going to always be able to relate to each other throughout their lives, which is so cool, Ms. Primsky said. All four sisters sporting their bumps. (Courtesy of Jena Primsky) The sisters share a close bond with one other and believe that this next turn in their life will develop a new level of bond that cant be imagined until it actually happens. In sharing their special coincidence, Ms. Sutton believes that the bond a family shares is really important. You can be lifelong friends with your siblings, she said. I think thats something Id want people to take away. (LR) Mr. and Ms. Lortz; Mr. and Ms. Hanna; Mr. and Ms. Thiem; Mr. and Ms. Sutton, Mr. and Ms. Primsky. (Courtesy of KK Images) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Key Insights Using the Dividend Discount Model, Brookfield Renewable fair value estimate is CA$32.25 Current share price of CA$43.00 suggests Brookfield Renewable is potentially 33% overvalued Analyst price target for BEPC is US$44.05, which is 37% above our fair value estimate Does the July share price for Brookfield Renewable Corporation (TSE:BEPC) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. 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! We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Brookfield Renewable What's The Estimated Valuation? We have to calculate the value of Brookfield Renewable slightly differently to other stocks because it is a renewable energy company. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. We use the Gordon Growth Model, which assumes dividend will grow into perpetuity at a rate that can be sustained. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 1.8%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.6%. Compared to the current share price of CA$43.0, the company appears reasonably expensive 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. Story continues Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = US$1.4 / (6.6% 1.8%) = CA$32.2 dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Brookfield Renewable 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 6.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for Brookfield Renewable Strength Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Weakness Interest payments on debt are not well covered. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Renewable Energy market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Shareholders have been diluted in the past year. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Canadian market. Threat Debt is not well covered by operating cash flow. Annual earnings are forecast to decline for the next 3 years. Looking Ahead: Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and it ideally won't be the sole piece of analysis you scrutinize for 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. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a premium to intrinsic value? For Brookfield Renewable, we've compiled three additional factors you should assess: Risks: To that end, you should learn about the 5 warning signs we've spotted with Brookfield Renewable (including 2 which are a bit concerning) . Future Earnings: How does BEPC'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 Canadian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Sandro Botticelli (circa 14451510) is by now an almost household name for those familiar with Western art. Yet one might be surprised to learn that in the few centuries after the Renaissance, artists largely disregarded him as primitive, medieval, and not on par with the perfection achieved by Raphael and Michelangelo. Indeed, it has only been 100 years since Botticellis reputation resurged as an important master of the early Renaissance, whose works speak much about the intricate relationship between Greco-Roman and Christian cultures in Italian society. Pallas and the Centaur The monumental mythological painting commonly titled Pallas and the Centaur ranks as one of the most extraordinary masterpieces in Botticellis oeuvre. Under a rocky cliff and against a distant landscape, two life-size figures pose casually in the foreground. On the left, stands a centaur, a demigod creature from ancient mythology whose beastly nature was often associated with unrestrained passion and lust. On the right, a woman dressed in an elaborate costume takes a strand of the centaurs curly hair in her hand, as she looks at him dispassionately. The subject of this strange iconography has been hotly debated for well over a century but still remains a mystery. According to this popular theory, the female figure is identified as Minerva, or Pallas Athena, the Greco-Roman goddess of wisdom. She holds a ceremonial halberd while the centaur carries a loosely strung bow, but theres no sign of any fighting. The goddesss evident control of the centaur is often interpreted as representing the submission of the humans beastly passion to divine reason. Such a complex iconography reflects well the intellectual milieu of Botticellis time. Across the 1400s, Florentine humanists had been discussing precisely these matters of human nature within the context of Christian theology and ancient philosophy. And the discussion culminated during the rule of Lorenzo de Medici (14691492), statesman, banker, and the most influential and enthusiastic art patron in Renaissance Italy. Dated to the 1480s, after Botticellis return from Rome, the painting was probably commissioned by Lorenzo himself as a wedding gift for the marriage of his cousin. The theme of pagan mythology would have appealed to their humanist interest in ancient culture, and the voluntary submission of the centaur could also be taken as a romantic symbol for matrimonial commitment. The Adoration of the Magi Adoration of the Magi, circa 14751476, by Sandro Botticelli. Tempera on panel. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. (Public Domain) As a painter for Florentine merchants and elites, Botticelli was active not only as an artist but also as a member of his society. He made many portraits of his contemporaries and took on commissions that specifically tailored to his patrons needs. The Adoration of the Magi, an altarpiece painted in 1475 for the merchant Gaspare di Zanobi del Lama, portrays his patron as an intimate friend of the Medici dynasty. Here, Botticelli also confidently inserted his own self-portrait, establishing himself as the author of the painting and a prominent citizen of Medici Florence. The coming of three wise men to the birth of Jesus Christ is one of the most familiar episodes in the Bible since the Middle Ages. In the altarpiece, theyre seen gathered at the foot of the holy family offering gifts, while a large crowd of well-dressed spectators stand on the two sides. But abandoning formulaic depictions of the Magi, Botticelli gave them the features of the Medici. Cosimo the Elder, who had first led the family to its prosperity, poses for the Magus in black, while the figure below him in a bright red robe is identified as his son Piero, the second generation of the Medici head of state. Other members of the family and their friends are found scattered in the crowd, including Lorenzo, his brother Giuliano, and the poet-philosopher Poliziano. On the right side of the painting, the patron of the altarpiece Gaspare del Lama is thought to be depicted. Cloaked in blue and pointing toward himself, he faces the viewer. Botticelli himself also turns from the scene and confronts the viewer with an intent stare, as if inviting us to look at and contemplate the world he created. Abounding with portraits of contemporaries, the painting thus appears as a miniature of Renaissance Florentine society. Di Zanobi commissioned the altarpiece for his funerary chapel in the prominent church of Santa Maria Novella, easily viewable by the public. The choice of the subject matter, as well as the depiction of the Medici family, speaks to the patrons wish to publicly announce his association with the powerful bankers. Indeed, di Zanobis private chapel was dedicated on Jan. 6, the feast day for the Epiphany, when the Medici would dress up each year as the Magi in celebratory processions. While commissioned to make a religious painting, Botticelli details all these social references, which speak more to the patrons worldly aspirations than his spiritual devotion to Christ or Mary. St. Augustine in His Study St. Augustine in His Cell, between 1490 and 1494, by Sandro Botticelli. Tempera on panel. Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy. (Public Domain) Nevertheless, the widespread pursuit for worldly fame and fortune in Florentine society became ever more concerning for those devoted to a medieval spiritual life, who saw the Medici regime and the humanist culture associated with it as decadent and corrupting. In 1494, after Lorenzos death, the Dominican preacher Girolamo Savonarola gathered a large following, took power in the city, and expelled the Medici family. He denounced clerical corruption, despotic rule, and the exploitation of the poor, and called for a renewal of the Christian faith. Botticelli, a deeply religious artist inspired by Savonarolas sermons, would in his later years turn away from secular and pagan themes that had preoccupied him in his youth, even supposedly burning some of his own works at the friars bonfire of the vanities. The small, intimate painting St. Augustine in His Study was completed just around these uncertain times, when Botticellis humanist interest in pagan antiquity seemed to have come into an irreconcilable conflict with his deeply felt Christian faith. In an austere, vaulted chamber sits the solitary Augustine of Hippo, a prominent theologian and philosopher who lived in the fourth and fifth centuries. He appears to write quietly in a pocket book, but the used-up quills on the floor and loose sheets of torn paper betray an authorial heart far from being at peace. Perhaps Botticelli is saying something here: Painting, just like thinking and writing, requires courageous sacrifices and revisions. Its only through the insistent correction of errors and imperfections that one may continuously surpass oneself and strive toward the achievement of a great mind. The Senate is backing a measure to bar sales of U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserves to Beijing. The latest development in a Chinese hacking incident involves the targeting of specific U.S. email accounts. Are Chinese self-driving cars collecting American data? Lawmakers are pressing for answers. Plus, the real story of NTDs founding. Websites were attacked, advertisers were threatened, and one chief technology officer was blindfolded to a chair and beaten. Topics in this episode: Whats old is sort of whats new and it's being showcased July 28-30 in a new exhibit at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum that celebrates electric vehicles of the past, EVs of the future and Detroits role in it all. Sponsored by Henry Ford III and his wife, Emily, the EVs: Then and Now exhibit will highlight Detroits role as a hotbed of production and innovation of EVs over the past 100 years. EVS were popular in the early 1900s before the internal combustion engine took over and gas-powered vehicles become the norm. EVs are now making a comeback as the powering revolution unfolds. Besides some cool historic and present-day EVs, there will also be a few expert panels and speakers examining the connection between Detroit, EVs and what is taking place today. Henry Ford III is pictured in the driver's seat of a sit-in car in the dealership exhibit at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum. Left of Ford is Phillip Sarofim, founder and chief executive officer of Trousdale Ventures. Far right is Freeman Thomas, CEO of Meyers Manx who make EV dune buggies. Next to Thomas is Hinrich Woebcken, senior executive advisor, CesiumAstro. Ford, a trustee of the museum and board member at Ford Motor Co., is the great-great grandson of the companys patriarch. Hes the son of Edsel (and Cynthia) Ford, who is the son of Henry Ford II. Henry Ford III will speak July 28 during the opening festivities. Ill moderate a conversation July 30 with Matt Anderson, curator of transportation at the Henry Ford, as well. The Piquette Plant, built by Ford in 1904, is in Detroits Milwaukee Junction neighborhood, known as the cradle of the automotive industry. The plant is also the birthplace of the Model T. Today, the museum is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to the celebration of Detroits auto lineage and spirit of innovation. Piquette is such a special place, Ford told me as we chatted Monday. Its one of the last truly authentic examples of what factory life was like in the early 1900s. Its also the perfect backdrop for this exhibit. The Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum in Detroit. I dont think a lot of people understand or appreciate what was going on with EVs here in the early 1900s. Detroit really was sort of an early Silicon Valley, Ford said. With the auto industry looking to EVs for the future, I was curious how he thought the transition was going and what might inspire more consumers to consider them. Story continues Its coming, he said of the transformation (he drives a F150 Lightning). The change has started. And as EVs offer a competitive value for consumers, more people will buy them. Changing with the times: A balancing act Speaking of mobility and change, many were surprised when Trevor Pawl, the 40-year-old mobility chief for the state of Michigan, announced he was leaving in January to travel the globe with his wife and two young children. It isnt often someone just picks up and leaves, especially mid-career, but thats what he did. I saw a photo he posted on social media this week and reached out to see how his adventure was going and ask why he decided to do so now. Trevor Pawl, former mobility chief for the state of Michigan, left the job in January. He is shown here with his wife, Jessica Pawl, and their two kids on their journey across the world. Here they are in Charmonix, France in June 2023. My wife, Jessica, and I began saving for an aspirational year of travel as soon as we got married, seven years ago, he explained. We felt the time was right, to do this now, with a growing family, before our oldest begins school and while our infant daughter was easily portable. So, whats it been like traveling with two young children? It has been exhausting, beautiful, and one of the best decisions weve ever made, he said. There have been some hard moments, but theyve helped Jess and I grow in ways we could have never imagined before the trip. And, although they may not remember, we hope that exposing our kids to new environments and cultures sets them up to love, and be curious about, the world theyll be growing up in. Their adventure winds down this fall when their youngest starts preschool. On the heels of the pandemic, which thrust lots of things into overload and unchartered waters, many folks were inspired to change course in their jobs or careers, Gregory Thrasher, assistant professor of management in the school of business at Oakland University, told me. He has given speeches, lectures and written numerous papers about work life trajectories and what motivates them. Gregory Thrasher is an assistant professor of management in the school of business at Oakland University For some, that change boils down to wanting work-life balance and re-prioritizing things; for others it has been about a recalibration of careers. This really is less of a generational thing and has more to do with people having stopped as a result of the pandemic, looking at their lives and careers, and deciding they want more, or maybe something totally different, Thrasher said. Four years ago, talking about working remotely for example, wasnt being discussed in a wholesale way but today it is a major conversation piece and growing point of contention for some employers and employees as people rethink careers and jobs, he said. Ann Marie Dennis worked in law enforcement for 20 years in departments across the region when she decided she wanted to go in a new direction. She began taking classes at Oakland University and focused on social work. Dennis will graduate with a master's degree in social work from OU in 2024. She just wrote a new book, Behind Her Badge: A Womans Journey into and out of Law Enforcement," about her experience. I asked if there was a moment that inspired her to chart a new path. Ann Marie Dennis worked in law enforcement for 20 years and decided she wanted to become a social worker. She's taking graduate classes at Oakland University and expects to graduate in 2024. I think my second spinal fusion (surgery) was the real catalyst letting me know that I wasn't going to be able to physically do the job anymore, she said. As soon as I went back to school and started taking classes, I knew that I would never be able to go back. Now that I've found social work, I feel like I've finally found the place where I was always supposed to be. Indeed, even yours truly is (to a degree) taking advantage of the more pronounced work-life balance focus found in some quarters. As longtime readers of this column know, for the last 18 years I have hosted a Sunday public affairs show, Michigan Matters, on CBS Detroit. The station, as Im sure some of you know, launched broadcast and streaming news in January 2023. It had been over 20 years since it last did so. It started with weeknight news and had been adding more along the way. Starting a news operation from scratch is a massive undertaking and I will soon tell the story in this space about what that has been like. That said, the station needs all hands on deck to focus on gearing up for more so Im taking the summer off as "Michigan Matters" goes on hiatus (our first real break since we began in March 2005). It goes without saying 2024 promises to be a big year in Michigan on lots of fronts and the show will return this fall, ready to roll. While not the drastic change made by Pawl or Dennis, its good to recharge the batteries once in a while. The bottom line on whats taking place across our region, COVID-19 changed the work landscape and it will be those who are nimble and willing to try new things who will continue to thrive. More: How 1 major bank in Michigan is making a difference for students More: At 101, Dorothy Zehnder left a legacy of advice for family, friends and fans Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of Michigan Matters. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: EV exhibit at Ford Piquette Plant museum shows gas didn't always rule Data about decreased border encounters is being questioned. And a new whistleblower allegation was revealed Friday; did U.S. Customs and Border Protection retaliate against one of their own? The White House is announcing new actions to regulate AI. What are Microsoft, Google, and other AI giants pledging to do, and what could come next in legislation? Florida is considering legal action against Anheuser-Busch. Gov. Ron DeSantis says Bud Lights parent company might have mishandled the states pension fund. What role does the United States play in the Indo-Pacific when it comes to countering communist China? Two Biden administration officials break it down. Democrats are pushing a bill that would mandate an ethics code for Supreme Court justices. A judicial expert joins us to discuss what the impact could be. New York City settles with Black Lives Matter protesters who claim theyve been subjected to police brutality. This stems from the Georgia Floyd protests in the summer of 2020. Vande Mataram ! By Vijay Phanshikar : Mumbai, The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly was adjourned for sometime on Wednesday following a noisy protest by BJP MLAs over a remark about Vande Mataram by Samajwadi Party legislator Abu Azmi. While raising the issue of riots in Sambhajinagar district, Azmi said that chanting the slogan Vande Mataram was unacceptable to him. Some people say that if one wanted to live in India, Vande Mataram must be chanted. We cannot do it. We believe only in one god, he said. A ruckus followed as BJP MLAs took a strong exception to the statement. FOR an average Indian, a refusal to chant Vande Mataram is unfathomable. But time and again, some politically-driven person stands up to cater to certain strange narrative and refuses to chant Vande Mataram, as did Samajwadi Party legislator Mr. Abu Azmi. And to make things worse, he said, we believe only in one god -- as if chanting Vande Mataram is a statement about some other god or many gods. This is utter nonsense, to say the least, totally unacceptable to the countrys people. The ruckus in the Maharashtra legislature was followed by many heated arguments during televisions debates all over the country. There were people who insisted that Vande Mataram was not acceptable to them. And then a spokesman of the Samajwadi Party said, in effect, that he would rather say Madar e Vatan (in Urdu). Of course, most such people were hooted out or defeated during those debates, all right. Obviously, such a perverse argument will have no takers in the larger Indian society. It is obvious to everybody across the board that the debate about Vande Mataram is political in nature. Those who oppose even the two words Vande Mataram believe that they stem from the Hindutva agenda of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). They do not mind saying Madar e Vatan in the place of Vande Mataram, if some statements were to be believed. It is obvious, thus, that the opposition to the idea of chanting Vande Mataram has got no meaning, Despite this, a section of people continue to insist that chanting ]Vande Mataram is unacceptable to them. What a pity! For, chanting this slogan, countless numbers of people stood tall and strong against the oppression of the British police and braved not just lathi blows but also bullets and an eventual death. Countless numbers went to jail shouting the slogan Vande Mataram or Bharat Mata Ki Jai or Inquilab Zindabad. And all those patriots belonged to all castes, creeds and religious faiths -- Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis ... ! Their respective faiths did not stop them from chanting Vande Mataram -- simply because their minds were not clogged by divisive political thought, their visions were not obscured by myopic narrative, their individual ideologies did not come in the way of making the courageous assertion of Vande Mataram ! Yes, the slogan Vande Mataram symbolised patriotic courage that went beyond narrow considerations of religious faiths. People used any language to express the same sentiment. Thankfully, in those wonderful days, the larger Indian society was fired by only one goal -- of Independence, beyond petty politics, beyond narrow considerations ! Today, however, some elements in our society appear blinded by narrow issues. Hence the opposition to Vande Mataram. Hence the insistence that the two golden words symbolise Hindutva agenda. Hence the dirty political narrative that goes viral every now and then in our society. Bah ! These opponents of Vande Mataram insist that their faith does not allow them to say the two words. But a vast, vast majority of people belonging to that faith has no problem with Vande Mataram. That is so because their vision is not blocked, their minds are not clogged, their free-flowing thoughts are not choked. That is where India lives -- in such peoples hearts and heads. India does not reside in the heads and hearts of those who oppose Vande Mataram senselessly. Unfortunately, this reality those people hardly see. And that is the reason why they stand rejected by the larger society in the general political process. Their numbers are dwindling in elected houses. Their appeal is ignored by the voters. Their attempt to divide the larger society on petty issues falls flat -- though they refuse to see the reality of their own dirty design. The question is not about one political leader or his party; it is about the tendency they represent -- the tendency to keep driving a political wedge through the otherwise sane society. The trouble is with their rotten mindset, their negativism, their refusal to understand the truth of India -- that for the Indian society, India is Mother India. It is time to ignore such a perversity. It is time to start building afresh a social narrative that talks of India as Mother India, and the whole world one wonderful family. 28 pc GST to lead to write-off of $ 2.5 billion investment in online gaming: Investors to PM Business Bureau : THE GST Councils decision to levy a 28 per cent tax on real money online gaming industry will lead to an impairment of USD 2.5 billion of investment made in the segment, a group of 30 Indian and foreign investors said in a joint letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a letter dated July 21, leading investors including Peak XV Capital, Tiger Global, DST Global, Bennett, Coleman & Company Limited, Alpha Wave Global, Chrys Capital, Lumikai etc have sought the Prime Minister's intervention in the decision of GST Council which is expected to hit prospective investment to the tune of USD 4 billion in the next 3-4 years. The current GST proposal will set up the most onerous tax regime for the gaming sector globally, which will lead to a potential write-off of the USD 2.5 billion capital invested in this sector, the letter said. Investors said the GST Councils decision has caused shock and dismay and will substantially and meaningfully erode investor confidence in the backing of this or any other sunrise sector in the Indian tech ecosystem. This will also adversely impact prospective investments to the tune of at least USD 4 billion in the next 3-4 years and hence the growth of the gaming sector in India, the letter said. Investors said if full value of bets is understood in a manner where GST is levied on every contest played every time with fully taxed winnings, the GST burden will increase by 1,100 per cent. Further, on account of taxation of redeployed player winnings, the same money will get taxed repeatedly resulting in a scenario where over 50-70 per cent of every rupee will go towards GST, thereby making the online real money skill gaming business model unviable the letter said. AIBEA opposes privatisation of public sector banks Business Bureau : About 56 per cent of the profits earned by the PSBs goes towards provisions for bad loans and write off of bad loans, etc. On the occasion of 55th Bank Nationalisation Day, C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) said, We oppose any attempts to privatise public sector banks (PSBs). Under pressure of the corporates, the Government wants to privatise PSBs and hand them over to the capitalists so that they can loot and plunder the public savings available in the banks. AIBEA has been resisting and fighting against this retrograde move of the Government. If there is any step taken by the Government to proceed with privatisation of public sector banks, immediately, AIBEA will give a call for countrywide strike to oppose such moves, Venketachalam said. The banking system touches the lives of millions and has to be inspired by large social purposes and has to subserve national priorities and objectives, such as rapid growth in agriculture, small industries and exports, raising of employment levels, encouragement of new entrepreneurs and the development of the backward areas, he said. For this purpose, it is necessary for Government to take direct responsibility for the extension and diversification of banking services and for the working of the substantial part of the banking system. Bank nationalisation transformed the banking sector in a big way. Branches were opened in rural villages. Common masses could access banking services. Peoples money in the banks became safe and guaranteed. After five decades, the nationalised banks have become the main engine driving the Indian economy. The total number of public sector bank branches increased from 8,200 in 1969 to 87,000 branches in 2023. The growth, and contributions of nationalised banks have been phenomenal, he said. AIBEA demands recovery of bad loans from big companies. The only major problem in the banks today is the increasing bad loans because of the default by big corporate companies. We have been demanding action against them to recover the loans. But Government is giving them more and more concessions, he said. For the past 6 years, bad loan accounts are referred to Tribunals under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). Instead of loan recovery, these loans are being sold to some other companies for cheap rate and banks have made huge losses. IBC has become a method to loot public money because banks incur huge hair cuts and sacrifice in these deals, he pointed out. Giving data of the non performing assets and IBC haircut, as on March, 2023 the PSBs total gross operating profit was Rs 2,28,414 crore, while net profit after provisions was Rs 1,00,814 crore. About 56 per cent of the profits earned by the PSBs goes towards provisions for bad loans and write off of bad loans, etc. This reveals, peoples money is being looted by corporates, informs a press release issued here. Conjunctivitis cases on the rise in city Staff Reporter : Govt hospitals face eye drops shortage Nagpur is witnessing sudden surge in cases of conjunctivitis -- the disease related to eye. Incidentally, at the same time, Government hospitals, especially the hospitals run by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) are facing shortage of eye drops required to prevent the disease. Every year, specific diseases rise during rainy season. Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye is one of those. People who suffer from this conjunctivitis know the sufferings associated with it. The Department of Public Health is supposed to keep the stock of medicines and other material ready with them considering the possible outbreak of seasonal diseases. NMC runs two major Urban Primary Health Centres -- Indira Gandhi Rugnalaya, Gandhi Nagar and the Hospital at Sadar -- where the needy and poor visit as they cant afford private treatment. People prefer to go to nearby dispensaries run by NMC. With increase in the number of patients suffering from conjunctivitis, they visit NMC dispensaries and come back without getting eye drops and antibiotics. Dr Narendra Bahirwar, Health Officer at NMC, said, We dont have Ophthalmology Department, so we have not stored eye drops at our hospitals. We have not put the demand for these eye drops in our list. This is a regular practice as needy people approach Ophthalmology Department at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH). There they get proper treatment. Such medicines cannot be distributed without proper advice by medicos. Dr A H Madan, at the Department of Ophthalmology, GMCH, and Dr Gopal Arora, noted Ophthalmologist, admitted that there was a rise in the number of conjunctivitis cases. More than 60% of patients visiting Outpatient Department (OPD) are suffering from conjunctivitis. This is absolutely not a life threatening disease, but since a delicate organ like the eye is involved, it is a matter of concern. Conjunctivitis requires immediate attention. This eye condition usually lasts for 5 to 7 days considering the overall condition of patients, Dr Gopal Arora pointed out. Dr Palak Kusumgar-Shah cautioned that as the cases of conjunctivitis were rising, when a child suffered from it, he or she should not be allowed to go to school for at least for 5 days to avoid its spread. This disease gets spread through person to person, eye to eye. We should follow hand hygiene, avoid rubbing our eyes by hands, use sanitiser. Conjunctivitis is both viral and bacterial. On several occasions people visit pharmacy and get the eye drop on their own. This is a wrong practice. The conjunctivitis caused due to viral or bacterial infection, there are allergy connection. Patients become symptomatic, they cant tolerate light. Conjunctivitis dont lead to blindness but it may cause blurring of vision if proper care is not taken, explained Dr Palak Kusumgar-Shah. For how long will she be targeted? By Kartik Lokhande : The entire society hangs its head in shame over the recent incident in which women were stripped, paraded naked, and one was gangraped in crisis-ridden Manipur. A lot is being spoken about the situation in Manipur, faultlines there, politics et al. However, it appears that the media discourse is tilted heavily towards political nature, instead of addressing the universal core issue -- How long will she be targeted? Just one simple internet search brings to ones screen scores of results relating to the incidents of women being assaulted, gangraped, stripped, and paraded naked in various parts of the country as well as in neighbouring Pakistan. There are other incidents also in some terrorism-hit countries where women are not only gangraped but also killed brutally later on. There is enough of evidence available in the form of reports of various incidents, to drive home the message that women are soft targets even in the era of so-called empowerment. The restrictions imposed on women in some religious fundamentalist countries look like a smaller sin in front of the horrible instances of women being raped, molested by mobs, paraded naked. There appears to be no end to such sickly behaviour of society. The ugly phenomenon is not restricted to any particular State of India like Manipur, but is spread across other States including Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Delhi etc. This is not to dilute the heinous and ugly reality of Manipur, but to bring out that targetting and abuse of women is widespread and needs to be tackled beyond mere political, religious, sectarian, ethnic, and provincial approaches. In one case, woman was stripped and paraded naked because mob attacking her believed that she was a witch. In another case, a married woman was stripped, beaten, and paraded naked on suspicion of her having an affair with someone else in the village. In some other case, two Dalit women were gangraped, stripped, and paraded naked in Hazaribag district of Jharkhand in 2002. In January 2022, in East Delhi, a 20-year-old woman was assaulted and paraded naked by her neighbours as they believed that a teenage boy in their family had ended his life because she spurned him. In Pakistan, four women were paraded naked as they were suspected of shoplifting. In various countries, incidents have been reported in which men have hacked to death the woman they loved in the most brutal manner and reflecting the medieval cruelty and barbarism. May it be rural area or urban area, this country or that country, women are being subjected to ugliest kind of abuse, humiliation, sexual assault. Why? Because, probably, women are being treated as soft targets to settle the scores that range from dispute between neighbours to clash between groups. Why cannot the society respect women? Why is it so easy to target them and go scot-free? In 2011, the Supreme Court had slammed the then Government of Maharsahtra for not seeking harsher punishment (than mere one-year jail term) for the four accused who had paraded naked a young tribal woman in 1994. Just one-year jail term? Uncontested? How can society live with such a paltry punishment. Doesnt the forever-scarred dignity of women in such incidents demand for harsher punishment, and that too, in an expedient manner? While the women are stripped and paraded naked, predators on the loose in the society are not even ashamed of assaulting the innocent young girls luring them with chocolates! Sadly, even in such cases, legal technicalities often result in undeterrent sentences for the perpetrators. Does anyone think about how afraid the girls must be feeling throughout their life? A lot of factors may be held responsible for this situation. Legal remedies are available only after the incidents happen. But, what about preventive social measures? Unfortunately, apart from grooming boys, specific action points are not talked about. There has to be a deeper understanding of grooming. How does one think the children are being groomed by watching obscene, coarse, sexually explicit content on television, in movies, on mobile phones in hand, on OTT platforms, on the Internet? But, that is big commerce. Hence, there the same custodians of social interest speak the language of freedom to watch. However, not one study has been conducted by any of the top-ranking professional institutions regarding the impact of such coarse, violent, obscene content on the grooming of children in impressionable age. Undue emphasis invention of newer gender identities is just making the matters worse, as such narratives focus more on sexuality than on sensitivity. Why? Another aspect is focus of media, especially social media, on finding identities of the perpetrators or victims before taking up any case. They forget that such narrow considerations embolden the perpetrators. In some recent videos that went viral, the perpetrators of acts of violence against women were seen laughing while shooting the entire scene! Identity-based selection of cases on social media leaves perpetrators assured about their identity group standing by them, and this makes them have no remorse or shame for the wrong they commit. There may be many Whys?, the answers to which are difficult for the society. But, even if the society decides to take the cue from Manipur incident, it is time for some concrete action at multiple levels so that women and children do not become soft targets in any kind of conflict and mob violence. It is time for the Government also, irrespective of which party is in power, to come up with stringent laws with provisions of harsher punishment in such heinous incidents, than in other crimes. For, a society that treats its women badly, destroys the very foundations of trust on which are based the virtues known by different names -- mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt, niece, friend, colleague, love interest. Will the latest incident serve as a trigger for some long-term change? Well... women are watching! India, Sri Lanka sign five key pacts Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe during their joint press statement after a meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Friday. (PTI) NEW DELHI : INDIA and Sri Lanka on Friday adopted a vision document and inked five key pacts to expand connectivity and economic ties significantly even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to the island nations President Ranil Wickremesinghe the need to ensure a life of dignity for the Tamil community in that country. Following wide-ranging talks between Modi and Wickremesinghe, the two sides announced a raft of initiatives including expediting work to connect their electricity grids, begin talks on an economic and technology cooperation pact, a feasibility study for a petroleum pipeline and check viability of a land bridge to boost connectivity between the two neighbours. An agreement between NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and Lanka Pay for acceptance of the UPI application in Sri Lanka and an MoU for cooperation in the field of renewable energy were among five key pacts signed between the two sides. In his media statement, Modi said the issues relating to the livelihood of fishermen figured in the talks and it was agreed that it should be dealt with a humane approach. The two sides also decided to start passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanturai in Sri Lanka. Modi also announced that various projects worth Rs 75 crore will be implemented for the Indian-origin Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka and that New Delhi will also contribute to the development programmes in the northern and eastern region of that country. Referring to the economic crisis faced by Colombo, Modi said the people of India are with the people of the island nation in their hour of struggle and noted that a stable, secure and prosperous Sri Lanka is not only in the interest of India, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean Region. The Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been demanding the implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution that provides for devolution of power to it. The 13th amendment was brought in after the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1987. The vision document for economic partnership is aimed at strengthening maritime, air, energy and people-to-people connectivity besides accelerating mutual cooperation in areas of tourism, power, trade, higher education, and skill development. In his remarks, the Sri Lankan president said We believe that Indias growth would be beneficial to neighbourhood and Indian Ocean Region. I have also apprised with Prime Minister Modi of the extraordinary challenges that Sri Lanka had experienced in economic, social and political terms in the past year, and of the reform measures I have spearheaded on a number of fronts, in overcoming these challenges, he said. Wickremesinghe said he conveyed to Modi Sri Lankas profound appreciation for the solidarity and support rendered to the country by India in what was undoubtedly the most challenging period in our recent history. Adani meets Sri Lankan President: BILLIONAIRE Gautam Adani on Friday proposed to set up a green hydrogen plant in Sri Lanka, where his conglomerate is already developing a container terminal and a 500 MW wind project. Manipur issue rocks Parliament NEW DELHI : Opposition demands statement by PM Narendra Modi on the issue in both the Houses while Government says, Oppn not serious about discussion BOTH Houses of Parliament were adjourned for the second day in a row on Friday following vociferous protests over the Manipur violence by Opposition MPs, demanding a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue, evoking a sharp reaction from Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who accused the protesting members of not being serious about the discussion on Manipur. The Government said it was ready for a debate in both Houses with a response from the Home Minister, but the Opposition remained adamant on their demand for a statement by the Prime Minister in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha followed by a debate without any time restriction. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also told the protesting members that sloganeering will not bring any solution to the problem but only dialogue and discussion can. The Monsoon Session of Parliament started on Thursday, a day after a horrific video of two women being sexually assaulted and paraded by a mob on May 4 in a Manipur village went viral, triggering a nationwide outrage. Soon after the House met, members of Opposition parties including the Congress, left and DMK, were on their feet raising slogans Manipur is bleeding. With the Opposition members refusing to stop their sloganeering, Birla said, You dont want the House to function, you dont want the Question Hour to take place. All other members want the House to run. This is not good. The solution can be found only through discussions and added that it seems you just dont want any discussion. As the Opposition members remained unrelenting, Birla asked the Defence Minister to speak. Singh, who is also the deputy leader of the House, said the Manipur situation should be taken seriously and the seriousness of the Government was reflected when the Prime Minister commented that the entire country was feeling ashamed over the Manipur incidents. We want that there should be discussions on Manipur incidents. I have said this in an all-party meeting and I want to reiterate here that there should be discussions on Manipur incidents, Singh said. As the Opposition did not relent, the Speaker adjourned the proceedings till noon. When Lok Sabha reassembled, Opposition members trooped into the well, raising slogans and demanding a reply from the Prime Minister and his presence in the House. As the protests continued Rajendra Agrawal, who was in the Chair, adjourned the proceedings for the day. In the Rajya Sabha too, the proceedings were disrupted for the second day as Opposition MPs created ruckus over the Manipur violence and other issues. The Upper House was first adjourned in the morning till 2 pm over the Manipur issue and the Opposition raising objections to the Chair expunging certain words from the record. Soon after reassembling at 2:30 pm for taking up private members bills, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the members about the report of the business advisory committee (BAC) after its meeting held on Thursday and said it should be taken into account. This led to an uproar in the House with several Opposition members raising objections over the listing of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill along with the Forest Conservation Bill, saying they had already expressed their views against the proposed legislations during the BAC meeting. With most opposition members on their feet, the Chairman adjourned the house till Monday within minutes of its resumption. MPCB, NDS raid factory, seize 3 tn banned plastic The factory at Kalamna that was raided by MPCB and NDS. Staff Reporter : Action taken on the complaint made by NCP Urban Cell The teams of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and Nuisance Detection Squad (NDS) unit of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) conducted a raid at a factory seizing a stock of around 3 tonnes of banned plastic bags. The action has been taken on the basis of a complaint lodged by the Urban Cell of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Both the agencies sealed the factory. Two years have passed since the implementation of the decision to ban plastic in the State, but the production of banned items continues in many places in Nagpur district. Shrikant Shivankar of NCPs Urban Cell noticed that a factory in Kalmana area of Nagpur was manufacturing plastic that was banned by the Government. He lodged a complaint on the basis of which both agencies took action. Shivankar said that production of plastic in the city is rampant, which shows that the manufacturers are not afraid of the law and the system. The State Government has decided to ban plastic items that harm the environment two years ago, but even after that, plastic bags are still being used in the market. Also, plastic bags and other banned products are being manufactured on a large scale in many places. In the past few months, it has been observed that the adjacent part of Nagpur city is the most advanced in terms of plastic production. After many days of campaigning by Urban Cell, action has been taken through Nuisance Detection Squad. When Urban Cell came to know that banned plastic bags were being manufactured secretly in a factory called Jagdamba Plastics in Kalmana area, it informed the Municipal Corporation. On getting information about this, a joint team of Nagpur Municipal Corporation and MPCB raided the factory. In this raid, 3 tonnes of stock of less than 50 micron bags were found in the factory. All the plastic stock in this factory was seized by MPCB team. Also, the official of MPCB informed that a case will be registered against the factory owner under Pollution Control Board and Environment Act. As stocks of banned plastic are frequently found in Nagpur, these activities reveal that large amounts of plastic are being manufactured in the city. Director of Municipal Solid Waste Management department Dr Gajendra Mahalle, Pramod Lone from MPCB, NDS Team Head Veersen Tambe, Urbancell City President Srikant Shivankar, Eknath Phalke, Mehboob Pathan, Sushant Patnekar, Sunil Uke, Sanjay Joshi, Sandeep Khangar, Hemant Yadav, Mangesh Savarkar, Sandip Suradkar and others were present. This type of action will also be taken in future, and Municipal Corporation has appealed citizens not to use restrictive plastic bags. Although the plastic ban has been implemented in the state, in Nagpur city, the action taken by the Municipal Corporation and Pollution Control Board in the last year has revealed that a large amount of banned plastic is being manufactured in the city, but as the production continues despite repeated actions, these factories are not closed due to the financial interests of the relevant government departments, Shivankar raised a doubt. Erin Holcomb adopted her rabbit, Ziggy, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A rescue rabbit with traces of Silver Fox, Ziggy, now 3, quickly became a part of Holcombs family. We love him like people love a cat or a dog, said Holcomb, who lives in North Center. Earlier this month, Holcomb boarded Ziggy for about two weeks at Cuddle Bunny in Lakeview before she headed out of town. Cuddle Bunny, at 2901 N. Clark St., offers boarding services for pet rabbits. It also charges visitors for in-house interactions with resident rabbits similar to a cat cafe and offers programming such as bunny yoga and Pilates. Last week, while Ziggy was still boarded, the first confirmed cases of rabbit hemorrhagic disease in Illinois, a contagious and fatal viral illness that affects rabbits, were confirmed to have originated at Cuddle Bunny. Two Polish rabbits, sisters named Tia and Tamera, died from rabbit hemorrhagic disease, confirmed Cuddle Bunny owner Barbara Burdick. Tia and Tamera, who were resident rabbits rather than boarded bunnies, were not vaccinated for the virus that causes the disease, Burdick said. The Illinois Department of Agriculture confirmed rabbit hemorrhagic disease had been detected in Cook County but did not disclose the location. Two rabbits at the same location died and subsequently tested positive for RHDV2, said Krista Lisser, a spokesperson for the department, in an email. We are not aware of any additional cases and have not received any test results that confirm additional cases, Lisser said. The disease is more widespread in other areas, including in Western U.S. states. In the Midwest, it has been detected in states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, according to the department. The vaccine for RHDV2 has been available in Illinois since October 2021, said Melissa Giese, a veterinarian with Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie. Though rabbit hemorrhagic disease is extremely fatal, Giese said, the vaccine is known to be effective. Story continues Giese said an exact percentage effectiveness was not yet available because it is a relatively new vaccine, though she said it would be unusual for a fully vaccinated rabbit to die from the disease. Giese said she helped coordinate confirmation of the RHDV2 cases at Cuddle Bunny with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, which is not dangerous to humans, can be spread by exposure to an infected rabbits bodily fluids or blood, according to the USDA. It can also be spread by people, who can carry it on their shoes or clothing, or from contaminated carcasses, food or water. Holcomb was distraught to learn that Ziggy, who is now under quarantine from other rabbits, had been exposed to the disease. Ziggy was vaccinated for RHDV2 in 2022, she said. Holcomb said she had assumed that Cuddle Bunny, which had solicited donations on social media to help cover vaccine costs in October 2022, had vaccinated all of its rabbits. She said she went into panic mode when Burdick called her and asked her if she knew what hemorrhagic disease was. Yes, I know what it is, I know its fatal, Holcomb said. My heart was pounding. Holcomb said she was not notified of the exposure until shortly before she was due to pick up Ziggy on July 16, though the cases had been detected as RHDV2 on July 13. Burdick said she learned about the detection July 14. I think that the way that the information was relayed to me is the most upsetting, Holcomb said. As a pet owner, I feel like its my right to be aware that my rabbit is in a compromised situation and could potentially die. Ziggy is due for a booster shot for RHDV2 and will receive it when he is out of quarantine, Holcomb said. Rachael Sanders, director of the House Rabbit Society of Chicago, a rabbit rescue group, said she had been preparing for the arrival of RHDV2 in Illinois over the last two or three years. Sanders has only been president of HRS Chicago for about two months but has been vaccinating her independent rescues since October 2021, she said. I was hoping that a business that lets the public into the facility would have their rabbits vaccinated, she said. But unfortunately, that wasnt the case. Giese said most facilities that board rabbits in Illinois do not have vaccine requirements. As unfortunate as it is, it couldve happened to any facility, Giese said. A former human resources executive, Burdick opened the cuddle business in June 2020 after a friend returning from a visit to Japan told her about an owl cafe there. While it got off to a slow start, a couple of TikTok videos led to a boom in business, along with pandemic-weary customers seeking respite among the rabbits, Burdick previously told the Tribune. In an interview Friday, Burdick said she regretted not vaccinating Tia and Tamera. She said at least two of the roughly dozen rabbits at the location had been fully vaccinated and some others had had their first dose. We feel a great deal of sadness and remorse about the whole situation, she said. Burdick said she suspected the virus had been brought in by a visitor from out of state over the July Fourth weekend. Cuddle Bunny is closed through at least early August while the remaining resident rabbits are quarantined. Burdick said she does not plan to open for business again until the rest of the rabbits are fully vaccinated. Cuddle Bunny will also institute a vaccine requirement for boarded rabbits, which it had not done previously, she said. Cuddle Bunnys other location, which is in Schaumburg, is also closed to visitors for the time being while all the rabbits are being vaccinated, Burdick said, though the rabbits there are not under quarantine. In posts on Twitter and Facebook in October 2022, Cuddle Bunny solicited donations for RHDV2 vaccinations and said a generous donor had already provided $1,000 to go toward vaccines. The rabbit business was seeking a total of $2,000 to cover the vaccine costs. In the posts, Cuddle Bunny described rabbit hemorrhagic disease as Bunny Ebola. Vaccinating a rabbit with the two-shot series costs about $50 in addition to vet visit fees, Giese said. Burdick said she could not account offhand for exactly how much money Cuddle Bunny had spent on vaccines but said the donations went into a fund for veterinary care. As a business, she said, we have to anticipate shouldering some of the veterinary expenses. Giese said that to protect their animals, rabbit owners in Illinois should get them vaccinated and keep them inside. PAK PLUNGE THE London-based advisory firm Henley & Partners assessment indicates an atmosphere of distrust that Pakistan has earned owing to its act of supporting terrorists and mismanagement of public affairs. As per the assessment, Pakistani passport has been ranked the worlds fourth weakest in terms of number of destinations Pakistani residents can visit without needing a visa. A look at the the passport index compiled by the firm reveals that Pakistan ranks better than only three countries namely Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. All these are countries where fundamentalism rules the roost. With the heightened sense of security among all nations of the world, it is but natural for countries to be skeptical about allowing visa on-arrival to residents of countries that have emerged as either the bases or safe havens of global terrorists. The mismanagement of economy, polity, and public affairs may ensure that Pakistan slips further in the passport rankings. Allowing terrorists to operate from its soil has created turmoil within, and suspicion abroad about Pakistani residents. Given the situation, there is little hope for things to improve in Pakistan. In the process, the Pakistani citizens will suffer a loss of credibility internationally. FAIR TRIAL THESE days, wrestlers in India are fighting their bouts outside the sporting arena! Some are pitching for justice on the streets through protests while some are seeking justice from the judiciary even as the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) yet again finds itself at the centre of attention. The IOA has found itself in a spot after its ad-hoc committee decided to exempt protesting wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Vinesh Phogat from the trials for the forthcoming Asian Games. The decision has irked the fellow wrestlers who have challenged it in the court and also reached the doors of the IOA for an explanation. IOA President P T Usha yet again finds herself in a tricky position as she had to explain the logic behind the ad-hoc committees decision to exempt Punia and Phogat. On the face of it the IOA decision seems unreasonable as it denies a fair chance to the other in the arena a shot at Asiad qualification. If the IOA has already selected wrestlers in some categories, then it could have done so in all categories thus making the trials redundant. Usha need to sit down with the peeved wrestlers at the earliest and explain the thinking behind the exemption before it is too late. Raigad distt landslide death toll 22 NDRF personnel during a search and rescue operation after a landslide at Irshalwadi village in Raigad district on Friday. (PTI) MUMBAI : THE search and rescue teams on Friday recovered six more bodies from the site of landslide at Irshalwadi village in Maharashtras Raigad district taking the death toll in the incident to 22 while 86 persons were yet to be traced, officials said. The deceased included nine men, as many women and four children. Nine members of a family perished in the disaster which struck on Wednesday night. The National Disaster Response Force and other Government agencies suspended the rescue operation around 6 pm due to heavy rains, an NDRF official said. Four teams of the NDRF will resume the operation on Saturday morning, he added. Of the six victims whose bodies were pulled out on Friday, three were men and three women. Four children, aged between six months to four years, were among the deceased. Nine members of the Pardhi family, including a three-year-old boy and his six-month-old sister, died in the incident. Three livestock animals also died in the incident while 21 animals were rescued. As per the Raigad District Disaster Management office, of 229 village residents, 22 were dead and ten were injured. , 111 were safe and 86 persons were yet to be traced. Some of them, however, had left the village to attend a marriage while some were out for rice plantation work at the time of the incident. The landslide hit the tribal village, located on a hill slope in Khalapur tehsil of the coastal Raigad district, around 80 km from Mumbai, around 10.30 pm on July 19. At least 17 of 48 houses in the village were fully or partially buried under the debris. NDRF teams resumed search and rescue operations around 6.30 on Friday morning amid rainfall. Villagers and relatives of the people who are feared to have been trapped under the debris also assisted them, a police official said. Samruddhi Mahamarg: Minister Bhuse hints at some policy decisions after inspection Dadaji Bhuse, Public Works (Public Undertakings) Minister, watches as an official inspects tyre of a vehicle on Samruddhi Mahamarg on Friday. Vivek Bhimanwar, Transport Commissioner; Sanjay Yadav, Joint MD of MSRDC, and other officers also seen. Staff Reporter : Dadaji Bhuse, Minister for Public Works (Public Undertakings), inspected Samruddhi Mahamarg on Friday, interacted with road-users and also keenly observed the implementation of vehicle checking drive. During a meeting with officials, he hinted at some policy decisions to be taken soon, and asked them to strive to make the expressway accident-free. After arrival at Nagpur, Bhuse proceeded straight to Zero Point of Samruddhi Mahamarg and also visited Waifal toll plaza. Senior officers of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) accompanying him briefed him about control room operations, fire extinguishing equipment available, rapid response team, inspection of vehicles at toll plaza, counselling centre for road-users, ambulance operations, etc. The officers said that the ambulance reached the site of accident within 15 minutes of receiving information about any mishap. Efforts are on to reduce the response time of ambulance to 10-12 minutes, said the officers. During his visit, Bhuse also interacted with road-users. He assured them that the State Government accorded top priority to safety of road-users and was taking necessary steps in this regard. He spoke to Bajirao Gawale and his family members, who had come from Kolhapur, and collected their feedback of travel on Samruddhi Mahamarg. He urged the road-users to follow speed limit and to follow road safety rules. As one road-user was being counselled by the staffers regarding overspeeding, Bhuse urged him also to follow speed limit. Vivek Bhimanwar, Transport Commissioner; A B Gaikwad, Sanjay Yadav, S S Murde, Joint Managing Director of MSRDC; Bharat Bastewad, General Manager; S K Surwase, Chief Engineer; Nishikant Sukey, Suresh Abhang, Bhushan Malkhandale, and other senior officers of Transport Department and MSRDC were present prominently on this occasion. Earlier, on his arrival at the airport, Bhuse also chaired a meeting with senior officers. The officers presented to him the analysis of the accidents that had occurred on Samruddhi Mahamarg. Bhuse asked them to strive to make the expressway accident-free. Around 20,000 vehicles are plying on the expressway daily. Positive aspects of the expressway should also be highlighted to the people. After todays inspection of the expressway, some policy decisions will be taken. Once the decisions are finalised, they should be implemented in right earnest, the minister told the officials. He asked them to implement short-term and long-term measures to make the travel on Samruddhi Mahamarg safer. Once the expressway work is completed up to Mumbai, it will give a boost to 15 districts of Maharashtra, he said. He also reiterated that Eknath Shinde, Chief Minister; and Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister, were committed to making the ambitious project a big success in development story of the State. Varanasi court orders ASI survey of Gyanvapi mosque VARANASI : A COURT here on Friday directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a detailed scientific survey - including excavations, wherever necessary -- to determine if the Gyanvapi mosque located next to the Kashi Vishwanath temple is built upon a temple. The mosques wazukhana, where a structure claimed by Hindu litigants to be a shivling exists, will not be part of the survey - following an earlier Supreme Court order protecting that spot. District judge A K Vishvesh directed the ASI to submit a report to the court by August 4, along with videos and photographs of survey proceedings. The Director of ASI is also directed to conduct a detailed scientific investigation by using GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) survey, excavation, dating method and other modern techniques of the present structure to find out as to whether same has been constructed over a pre-existing structure of Hindu temple, the order said. It specifically directed the use of GPR technology for survey just below the three domes of the building in question, and to conduct an excavation there if required. Hindu activists, who claim that a temple existed earlier at the site and was demolished in the 17th century on the orders of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, hailed the court order. A throng of people outside the court received the news with slogans of Har Har Mahadev. The court had on July 14 reserved its order after hearing both the Hindu and Muslim sides. The petition filed by the Hindu group, seeking the right to regular worship of sculptures of Hindu deities on the mosques outer wall, had sought court directions to the ASI to survey the complex. Its counsel had said that the situation will become clear after examining the three domes of the Gyanvapi complex, the western wall and the entire complex in a modern manner. Mosque managements counsel Mohammed Tauhid Khan said it will challenge the Varanasi courts order. It is not acceptable and we will move to a higher court against it. It could cause damage to the mosque, he said. Manju Malhotra, CEO of Harvey Nichols - Geoff Pugh The boss of the upmarket department store Harvey Nichols has called on Rishi Sunak to urgently reconsider his VAT raid on foreign shoppers before businesses lose another summer. In an interview with The Telegraph, Manju Malhotra, chief executive, said: I would urge the Government to really prioritise it before an election. We all benefit from international businesses coming to the UK. The high street, restaurants, museums, they all rely on visitors coming to the UK. We dont want to lose another summer. She warned that the withdrawal of VAT refunds for tourists meant that foreign shoppers were getting into the habit of buying designer goods in Paris and Milan over London. Ms Malhotra said: Tourists are spending less time and less money in the UK. There is talk of a change being considered as part of a review of tax policy but the timing is not clear. It comes after figures from tax refund company Global Blue revealed that spending in France by international tourists bounced back to 2019 levels, whereas in the UK, it is only running at 64pc of pre-pandemic levels. Britain withdrew its VAT-free shopping scheme after it left the EU at the start of 2020. In a survey of Chinese tourists, the UK was named the least favoured destination among large European countries for a 2023 trip. Meanwhile, British shoppers have also moved to take advantage of the tax-free shopping rules, by visiting EU cities for their designer purchases rather than buying closer to home. Global Blue found that UK residents spent around 500m (434m) on goods where they claimed tax back in Continental Europe in 2022, a 200pc increase on 2021 levels. Ms Malhotra, who oversees Harvey Nichols eight stores in the UK and Ireland, as well as its overseas branches, praised France for being really clever in taking steps to lure more foreign shoppers to Paris. These have included installing booths at Gare du Nord station, where shoppers can easily claim their VAT back before returning back to their home country. Story continues The Treasury has publicly rejected calls for changes to the tourist tax, introduced when Mr Sunak was chancellor. It has claimed that reintroducing tax-free shopping for visitors would cost British taxpayers around 1.4bn a year, meaning taxes would need to go up to pay for it at a time when weve already taken difficult decisions to get debt falling. MPs are due to debate the policy in September in parliament. Ms Malhotra backed suggestions by Burberry that the Government should consider alternatives, such as offering overseas shoppers vouchers as compensation for not receiving the VAT back. Whatever scheme is adopted needs to be practical, she warned. Currently, for example, shoppers can buy in store and have items shipped back to their home country to claim back VAT. But, they dont want to do that, they want to wear their new dress or their new bag now, Ms Malhortra said. Any tax-free equivalent must ultimately be simple and easy to use. Because if it isnt, well then customers just wont use it. Harvey Nichols eight stores in the UK and Ireland, as well as branches in Dubai and Hong Kong - Clara Molden The anger in the luxury industry about apparent stonewalling from ministers has been palpable. Ms Malhotra said that Labour has taken more concrete steps to engage with business. She suggested a change in the governing party might be welcome, although added she would support whichever party was more responsive to business. Ms Malhotra took charge at Harvey Nichols just 10 days before the pandemic hit. The business has deep roots, having been founded as a linen shop in London in 1831, before later taking central positions in cities including Leeds, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham. It now also has a store in Riyadh, one in Dubai, two in Hong Kong and one in Kuwait. She said no retailer has escaped cost-of-living pressures, but its customers still want to give themselves a treat or choose Harvey Nichols for gifts. It says a lot about you as a gift giver or as a host if you have that Harvey Nichols box of biscuits, she said. Despite the relative wealth of its customers, pricing remains a difficult balancing act when it comes to Harvey Nichols own-brand food and wines, or at the restaurants and bars. Its customers are no less sensitive to increases than those at supermarkets or casual dining restaurants, even if they are in response to cost rises. After all, theres a limit to how much people will pay for a glass of champagne, Ms Malhotra said. Navigating this has been at the top of her to-do-list, as she attempts to steer Harvey Nichols back towards profit. Coming out of the pandemic, the department store recorded losses before tax of around 40m for the year to the end of March 2021, widened from 16m a year earlier. Company accounts, expected to be published imminently, are set to show that Harvey Nichols has since taken steps back in the right direction. Its pre-tax loss is expected to come in at 30m for the year to April 2, 2022. On an earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation level, its losses slimmed to 3.15m. That relative resilience sets Harvey Nichols apart from some of the other mass-market department stores which have retreated from city centres in recent years. Stores including House of Fraser and Debenhams have been shuttered across high streets, while John Lewis is undergoing a dramatic overhaul of the space it has, and has also closed sites. Ms Malhotra says rising costs of utilities, rents, staffing can all be seen to blame. But, at the same time, retailers in city centres are facing yet more pressure from attempts to stop people driving into cities, with policies such as Ulez and the congestion charge. Cities have also made parking both more difficult and more expensive. Ms Malhotra said: People are much more likely to go to out-of-town shopping malls which seem to be doing better, but which maybe dont add to the fabric of the community in the same way. She said the rail strikes last Christmas was a further blow, and meant we saw more people couldnt make their bookings. The success of the high street relies on the ability of people to commute into them. For now, despite the pressures, Harvey Nichols is comfortable with its footprint on the UKs high streets, which Ms Malhortra says are spread out enough that most UK shoppers can visit if they want to. More openings, if anywhere, will likely be overseas. There may well be the right opportunity, Ms Malhotra said. 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. U.S. lawmakers rolled out a much anticipated digital assets bill yesterday, raising hopes that it will end what the crypto industry sees as an unfairly hostile regulatory environment. But some experts say the bills vague language, and in particular a provision that could threaten the DeFi market, wont do much to hold back the SEC and its enforcement approach to crypto. "I think that we're working backwards if we're bringing more ambiguity to what's going on," Billy Sebell, executive director of the XDC Foundation, told Decrypt. House Republicans Introduce Bill That Aims to Bring Regulatory Clarity to Crypto Gabriel Shapiro, general counsel for Delphi Labs, said via Twitter that the House bill still leaves many assets used in DeFi exposed to being labeled a security by the SEC. It now includes a number of exemptions for what qualifies as a digital asset, but Shapiro said the language around the exemptions for what counts as security leaves many DeFi assets like liquidity staked tokens unprotected. "It's a backdoor DeFi prohibition,"he wrote. Every cToken, LST, etc would be highly regulated under this provision even if it is not under current law That's right--it *expands* current regs to non-contractual arrangements like DeFi It's a backdoor DeFi prohibition imo _gabrielShapir0 (@lex_node) July 20, 2023 The bill, called the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, aims to redress what the sponsors say are the many shortcomings of the current regulatory regime. Its main sponsors are all Republicans, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Rep. French Hill (R-AR), and Rep. Dusty Johnson (SD-AL). In the 212-page piece of legislation, lawmakers included new definitions around digital assets, carved out certain exemptions, and set up lanes for registering cryptocurrency exchanges with both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Story continues Jack Solowey, a policy analyst at D.C.-based libertarian think tank Cato Institute, said that the recent draft contains a few "notable changes" from the previous version released by House Republicans in June, particularly with regard to when a token is considered a security or commodity. Judge Rules Ripple Sales of XRP Were Not SecuritiesExcept to Institutions In the text of the new bill, a digital token sold as part of an investment contract does not itself immediately qualify as a security. In other words, the bill separates tokens from the manner in which they are sold. In the previous version, digital tokens themselves were still counted as securities if offered as part of an investment contract between parties. Solowey suspects the update is an effort to harmonize the bill with a recent ruling by a federal judge in favor of Ripple Labs. In the partial ruling, the judge wrote that the XRP token had not been sold as a security in most casesexcept when it had been sold to institutions. The XRP token "is not necessarily a security on its face," the judge said. "I think this provision that excludes the aspects around programmatic sales from the definition of a restricted digital asset is meant to take the Ripple decision into account," Solowey told Decrypt. SEC Chair Gary Gensler: The US Doesn't Need Cryptocurrency Another area that left some observers concerned relates to the requirements around registering with regulators. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler claims most crypto projects are likely in violation and most companies have simply refused to register with the agency. The industry rejects this argument, countering that no clear path for registration exists. The House bill attempts to address this by setting a registration standard based on a legal definition of "decentralization," thereby codifying into law what it means for a crypto project to be "sufficiently decentralized" and therefore exempt from SEC registration. Elizabeth Boison, a partner at law firm Hogan Lovells in Washington, said that the path offers a better strategy than "launch and find out later" whether the SEC considers a project sufficiently decentralized. Boison cautioned, however, that the bill leaves "the same gray area" on the SEC to make this determination. Crypto Leaders Praise Draft GOP Bill, Dems Raise Concerns This may not land well with many in crypto who have complained that the SEC has refused to issue any rules to clarify how to avoid enforcement actions for alleged violations. Ultimately, the bill is still viewed as much too favorable to the crypto industry by House Agriculture Committee Democrats. And it still has to overcome steep political obstacles, said Jeffrey Blockinger, chief legal counsel at decentralized exchange Vertex Protocol. Instead of focusing on pressing #FarmBill issues, House Republicans are sprinting to provide a handout to #crypto exchanges, Wall Street, and Silicon Valley venture capitalists at the expense of American consumers and retail investors. https://t.co/6ParlYonZK House Agriculture Committee Democrats (@HouseAgDems) July 21, 2023 In the last hearing on the bill in June, Democrats expressed concern over any perceived undercutting of the SEC. They also frequently invoked the failed crypto exchange FTX, whose collapse was accompanied by heightened scrutiny of donations made to lawmakers by its disgraced founder Sam Bankman-Fried. "It remains to be seen whether this Congress will be able to muster the bipartisan support needed to pass any comprehensive digital asset legislation," Blockinger told Decrypt. "Ultimately, I dont expect that Congress will step in front of the SEC in a way that is perceived to help the industry." By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But if you choose individual stocks with prowess, you can make superior returns. Just take a look at Seeing Machines Limited (LON:SEE), which is up 81%, over three years, soundly beating the market return of 12% (not including dividends). So let's assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 3 years and see if they've moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. View our latest analysis for Seeing Machines Seeing Machines isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size. Seeing Machines' revenue trended up 19% each year over three years. That's pretty nice growth. While the share price has done well, compounding at 22% yearly, over three years, that move doesn't seem over the top. If that's the case, then it could be well worth while to research the growth trajectory. Keep in mind that the strength of the balance sheet impacts the options open to the company. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. This free report showing analyst forecasts should help you form a view on Seeing Machines A Different Perspective Seeing Machines shareholders are down 16% for the year, but the market itself is up 4.7%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 9% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. If you want to research this stock further, the data on insider buying is an obvious place to start. You can click here to see who has been buying shares - and the price they paid. Story continues Seeing Machines is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on British exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here ocado delivery Ocado will be paid 200m after winning a robot wars legal battle against a Norwegian rival that accused it of infringing its automation patents. The ruling brings to a close a three-year dispute between Ocado and Autostore, following claims from the Norwegian company that its British rivals technology breached its patents. A High Court judge in March said that the patents held by Autostore were invalid and that Ocado was not in breach of them, however. Under the new agreement, Autostore will pay Ocado 200m in 24 monthly instalments. Both companies may also continue to use their own products and cannot further challenge any patents issued after 2020. Autostore had previously sought an injunction that would have barred the FTSE 100 company from using its robots in the UK, as well as financial compensation. Both companies use robots to run automated warehouses, with machinery running on rails between hoppers to collect or move products. Ocado uses the technology to ferry food around its warehouses as part of its deal to deliver groceries for Marks & Spencer. Founded in the 1990s, Autostore has brought multiple claims of patent infringement against Ocado, both in the High Court in the UK and the US. However, High Court judge Richard Hacon found Autostores claims that its patent had been infringed by Ocado were invalid, since they had been disclosed years earlier as part of deal with a Russian bank. Because the invention had already been revealed to the public, the judge found it was lacking in novelty. He also found that, even if the patents were valid, Ocados robotics technology would not have infringed them because it was suitably different. Following the new agreement, Tim Steiner, chief executive of Ocado, said: I am pleased that we can now continue to focus on what we do best - innovating, developing and enabling partners to access world beating technology. M&S signed a deal with Ocado to buy half of its grocery delivery business for 750m in 2019. Ocados boss Mr Steiner on Tuesday admitted that Ocados joint venture with M&S is not where we wanted it to be at this stage. Story continues He said: If we look back at where we were in 2019, and what we hoped the business would be trading at right now, obviously thats disappointing. The admission came as part of a half-year update from Ocado, in which it said overall losses had grown 37pc to a record 290m for the first half of its financial year to the end of May. 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 Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, has urged Nigerians to stop eating animal hides, also known as ponmo, bush meat, and dead animals you did not kill. The warning is coming after the Federal Government discovered anthrax in a farm in Niger State. The first case of the disease outbreak was confirmed on a multi-specie animal farm comprising cattle, sheep, and goats in Suleja, Niger State. Anthrax is a severe bacterial disease that affects humans and animals, including wild animals and livestock such as cows, pigs, camels, sheep, and goats. The bacteria, which exist as spores, can be found in the soil, wool, or hair of infected animals. It affects humans through eating and direct contact with infected animals and breathing in the spores, which is the deadliest form of the disease. Symptoms in animals include high fever, weakness, loss of appetite, bleeding from all body openings (nose, mouth, ears, anus, etc.), swelling and difficulty in breathing, and bloody diarrhoea. While speaking with newsmen, Adetifa asked people not to eat sick or dead animals at all. The NCDC boss also warned people working in ponmo processing factories that they are at high risk of anthrax. He said: What we are saying is do not eat sick animals at all. Sick animals contain anthrax, and animals that have died from anthrax contain anthrax. Anthrax is present in their skin, hair, and meat. The people who work with hides and skin are at risk of anthrax if it came from a dead animal. At this point in time that we have a confirmed case, we are saying look out for the meat that you buy. If you like bush meat, this could be a time to take a break from it, particularly if you dont catch it yourself. For livestock, we ask that they be properly inspected, and people who own animals should not take sick animals for slaughter. The electoral umpire rigging of the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria was as untidy, as clumsy, and as unprofessional as they come. Technically speaking, it bears all the hallmarks of a panic-stricken knee-jerk action which of course it was. Like all failures wherever they occur, there must be a price to pay, and it shouldbe paid to the letter. Speaking of failures, the most noticeable failure was the inability of old-guard Nigerian politicians to recognize the danger posed to their long years of greedy, selfish, and criminal misrule by one, a fortuitous meeting of minds, two, a socio-communications revolution, andthree, technological innovation via a simple, fool-proof, automated elections device. The meeting of minds between the bredrin Peter Obi, a virtuous, seemingly God-Fearingpolitician seeking a formidable pan Nigeria movement to back his considerable ambitions,and the disillusioned cadre of economically frustrated Nigerian youths either at home or abroad, seeking a human arrowhead upon which they could pin their mast, is one. The easy accessibility of social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to Nigerian youths, enabling them to organize themselves and instantaneously share peer-ideas, information, and frustrations, is two. The introduction of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BIVAS) machine device by the Independent National Elections Commission (INEC) which in one fell swoopvia biometrics data capture eliminated the possibility of rigging by voter impersonation, or by overvoting, as well as enabled the possibility of instantaneous transmission of voting results from the polling units to the national and regional collation centers, is three. There are several major ways Nigerian politicians rig elections on an industrial scale. One is by padding the electoral register with fictitious names followed by overvoting. Two, is by stuffing the ballot boxes with thumb-printed ballot papers to match made-up results. Three, is by violently seizing and destroying ballot boxes. Four, is by deliberate errors in the collation of results through overcounting and undercounting. Five, is by voter suppression through acts of violence and intimidation Six, is by applicationof post-election official sanctions and reprisals. Utilized to its fullest potential, that is to include instantaneous transmission of authenticated polling booth results in the presence of election workers, party polling agents, the voting public, and security agents alike, the BIVAS machineswhich instantaneously transmit and retrieve data to and from the central registry known as the main server, made rigging by the methods listed above, bar the fifth and sixth methods, either impossible or useless. Failing to see the threat posed to them by the Obidients, the emblematic name adopted bythe Nigerian youths that assumed Peter Obi as their flagship candidate, the ruling class also failed to see the threat posed by the BIVAS machine to their rigging capabilities and their ability to sustain their class interests by having an establishment candidate returned to power.They underestimated the forensic potential of the BIVAS machines. As you will soon see, that is why they cannot escape the trap of capture this time. Lacking meaningful achievements in mostspheres of Administration to ascribe to his eightwasted years in office, the outgoing Buhari Maladministration vowed to grant Nigerians the cleanest elections ever as his parting gift to a pauperized country. He vowed not to interfere with the election process. As usual, he spoke too soon. He pumped hundreds of billions of naira, the local currency, from the public Treasury into INEC, allowing it to buy thousands of units of BIVAS machines including at least one for each of Nigerias reputed 176, 606 accredited polling units. INEC recruited and trained thousands of polling stewards and other election supervisorsto staff the polling units and collation centers. It published glossy How-To election guidelines, translated into local languages, printed glossy posters, ran print and media advertisements, and conducted innumerable workshops and symposia convincing both domestic and foreign audience and media that the BIVAS machine is a game changer. Initially, President Muhammadu Buhari was ambivalent as to his preferred candidate among the presidential contenders. The All-Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not his preferred choice even within his own party. There are indications that he was torn between leaning towards the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Atiku Abubakar, a fellow Fulani who he defeated in the highly contested 2015 presidential elections, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a Yoruba, also known as Jagaban. It will be recalled that all three men teamed up when Atiku briefly defected from the PDP to the APC to wrestle power in favor of Buhari from President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015elections. Apart from common lust for power there was nothing edifying that held all three men together. Not in the 2015 elections, not in the 2019 elections by which time Atiku had already decamped back to the PDP and not in 2023. Mutually distrustful, and barely tolerating each other, Muhammadu Buhari and Bola Ahmed Tinubu shared a common phobia in 2015 which they still share right up till this day. That phobia is their mutual distrust and irrational morbid fear, bothering on racist antipathy for Nigerians of Igbo descent. It is futile to attempt to deconstruct the Freudian origins of this joint pathological fear whose fires they individually stirred and collectively stoked using any opportunity that presented itself to them in their private and official capacities,wherever they found themselves. You can therefore imagine the rude shock to both men when they discovered that Peter Obi, an Igbo, and presidential candidate of the LaborParty was cruising to a landslide win in the 2023 presidential elections. And how did they find out? Ask the Departmentof State Services (DSS) whose boss is a relativeand nominee of President Muhammadu Buhari, but who nevertheless curiously served all through the Buhari Maladministration as a sort of Man-Friday, seemingly protecting the interests of Bola Tinubu. His services have so far been retained by the latter in his Presidency-by-rigging when the bosses of other security and military agencies who served under Buhari have since been booted out of office. That the DSS has planted moles in INEC is beyond question. That those planted moles perusing the INEC backend server detected that Peter Obi was heading to a shock victory is beyond doubt. It is beyond doubt that they reported their findings to higher authorities who reported same to both the Buhari Maladministration and the APC. That the head of the Buhari Maladministration and the APC candidate reconciled immediately in a Herod and Pilate manner is indubitable. That Herodian versus Pilatian reconciliation,the sudden covert instruction to stop Peter Obis seeming victory as well as return Bola Tinubu as President by any means issuing therefrom, made by the Buhari Maladministration, caught INEC off-guard and unprepared. It explains a lot of things. It explains why up till the very last-minute,INEC was touting the live transmission ofelection results as its preferred mode of operations and training its staff accordingly. It explains why the other elections conducted by INEC in this cycle, referring to the National Assembly, Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections, all followed the touted INEC guidelines of live electronic transmission of results, bar the presidential elections. It explains the hastiness and unprofessional manner the INEC Chairman declared Bola Tinubu as President and hastily granted him the Certificate of Return. It explains why President Buhari was insistent in proclaiming that nothing could stop the swearing in of Bola Tinubu as President or delay the handover of power to him, when he could have asked the Chief Justice to advice whether all constitutional provisions have dulybeen met beforehand. It explains why there are 18,000 blurred pages in the IREV portal which ought to show the polling station results uploaded immediately after the counting of votes at the polling stations, and before electoral umpire rigging could occur. It explains why to this day, the definitive presidential elections results has not been issued by INEC. It explains why INEC could not rig at least 25% of the votes cast in Abuja in favor of Bola Tinubu. Abuja is the Federal Capital of Nigeria, under full observation of international elections observers. The Abuja polling units must have already snapped and transmitted nearly 100% of their signed voting results sheets to the IREV public viewing portal before the instruction came from above to secure a Tinubu polls victory by any means possible. It explains why INEC has alternated between blaming its erratic decision to revert to the rigging-prone manual transmission of election results on glitches, and at other times to stressing that it has the authority to adopt any method of transmission of election results of its own choosing. Neither claim can be definitively asserted because neither claim can be backed up without self-incrimination, leaving INEC in a terrible bind it cannot escape from. Not even the compliant and highly corrupt Nigerian Judiciary can help INEC in freeing itself from this bind without the Justices incriminating themselves as parties to this electoral fraud conspiracy. If INEC insists there was a glitch, it has no historical technical proof that captures the exact nature of the glitch. If it says it willfully decided to adopt the manual method of transmitting the election results, it cannot explain why it would abandon the rigging-proof live transmission of election results using the scanner of the BVAS machine, to adopt the rigging prone manual method of physical transfer of results. More so when till date it cannot publish the definitive results of the 2023 Presidential Elections, five months after the elections held. So, was it a glitch that forced INEC into making an unsavory choice, or was it a mere demonstration of its authority over election matters that made INEC abandon the electronic live transmission of elections results for which billions of naira was spent, to adopt the rigging prone manual method of transmission of election results? This is the million-dollarquestion which cannot be covered up even by President by rigging, Bola Tinubus friends in the Nigerian Judiciary. Logically it cannot be both except in the sense of an intentional glitch. Only a criminalized Judiciary would not immediately recognize that an intentional glitch is nothing but an alias, a pseudonym for umpire-rigging. Therefore, regardless of the ongoing charade in Nigeria, regardless of the shenanigans of INEC, not minding the perambulations of the Nigerian Judiciary, and irrespective of the machinations of the President-by-electoral-umpire-rigging, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I n I's verdict is in. It is as follows: One, there was systematic umpire-rigging in the 2023 Presidential elections in Nigeria. Two, INEC as presently constituted is in noway, shape, or form, ready, or suitably equipped in terms of integrity, to conduct any future presidential elections or re-run presidential elections in Nigeria, without comprehensive, root-and-branch overhaul of that public institution to reestablish public trust and confidence. Three, the current INEC top brass and top echelon should be most severely punished,except they reveal who exactly instructed them to rig the 2023 presidential elections, in which case they may be more lightly punished, to serve as a deterrence and warning to their successors in office. Four, the higher authority that issued the instruction to rig the 2023 presidential elections,be they serving or past presidents, should be brought to justice, tried, and jailed to stop future Nigerian Presidents from dabbling into electoral matters and interfering with the sovereign authority of Nigerian citizens to freely elect their leaders, Five, the current President by rigging, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a product of INEC's criminality. He has no mandate. Six, accordingly, technically speaking, Nigeria has no President as at today. Arising therefrom, it behooves the Nigerian Judiciary, without much ado, to: A. Strip Bola Tinubu of his so-called mandate, illegally earned by means of electoral umpire rigging, which is a phantom, nonexistent, ghost mandate. B. Forensically determine the identity of the true winner of the 2023 Presidential elections andinstall that person immediately as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. C. If a re-run is deemed mandatory, it should be conducted under the auspices of that newly sworn-in President. D. Recognize and publicly acknowledge that criminal activity must never be rewarded in Nigeria, in any way, shape or form, to avoid sending the wrong signals to the Nigerian populace, generations yet unborn, as well as the international community, about what it means to be a Nigerian. E. If perchance criminality is so rewarded by the Nigerian Judiciary as presently constituted, that eventuality should be considered as proof of the irredeemable and irretrievable breakdown of the present Nigerian State and Constitution, and a definitive end to the current experiment in nationhood and nation-building, tantamount to brake failure in the rickety British contraption.Every occupant must therefore disembark from it while it is repaired before those who wish may climb back abord. F. In that eventuality, the most prudent course of action would be to peacefully break up Nigeria into more manageable constituent parts as defined and expressed by the various Nigerian peoples voluntarily, all units self-governing, all units operating under the interim umbrella name of Nigeria until they disembark permanently or the contraptions road worthiness is reestablished and they are reassured to re-embark voluntarily. G. Temporal or permanent breakup should give Nigerians the opportunity, to rediscover their self-identities and renegotiate their future terms of peaceful union, coexistence, and cohabitation under a more just Constitutional framework. H. It will have as end-product a new renegotiated Nigeria, serving as a national umbrella of equal rights and equal opportunity, respecting but not consumed by tribalaffiliations or religious identity, or held hostage by ethnic agendas. A place where no personplays God or fief to his fellow human. A place where nothing shall be taken off the table, and nothing placed upon it, without universal consent. This is a way forward to avoid costly mistakes as well as back and forth motion without progress that benefits no one and takesNigerians individually and collectively to nowhere. We are watching. Anthony Chuka Konwea, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, MNSE, FNIStructE, MNICE. The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, has raised alarm over an alleged sinister plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress to undermine Nigerias judiciary. The concern was raised in a statement by Atikus media adviser, Paul Ibe, who called on Nigerians to be vigilant and putting the international community on alert. He claimed that the election that brought the current government into office is the worst in the annals of democratic politics in Nigeria, even though it was promised to be the best ever. Ibe said: The outcome of that election and the arbitrariness of the electoral umpire to declare a winner against the requirement of the law has been the reason Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President of Nigeria (1999-2007) and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and other parties in the election have chosen the patriotic path to challenge the outcome of that election. It is a truism that the judiciary is the only reasonable option in the quest for justice. As a matter of fact, our judiciary and the interpretations that they have given to our laws have been a major building block in our democratic journey so far, he added. The former Vice President of the country noted that Nigerias laws are very clear about the prerequisite of separation of powers as a guarantee of an independent judiciary. According to him, the idea behind that concept of an independent judiciary is to insulate that branch of government from unholy fraternity between its hallowed members and the rest of the society especially the political actors. The statement added: But as proceedings on the controversial February 25 election continues at the court, there have been threats from the ruling party that aim to intimidate the judiciary from serving the duty of justice. It is regrettable that the APC and, indeed, agents of President Bola Tinubu have ceaselessly chosen to stand in the way of justice by making catastrophic threats to anarchy if justice is not served according to their whims. These and reports in the media about some heinous plots to harass justices sitting on the petition are ominous to peace and the security of our nation. Our democracy gives the people of Nigeria the powers to choose their leaders, and our laws demand that our judiciary must be allowed to act independently without harassment and intimidation by the government or powerful interests. To compromise the workings of our democracy and seeking to compromise the workings of our judiciary is an open call for anarchy. As a party in the litigation that is currently reviewing the outcome of the last presidential election, we wish to express our intentions to do all that is within the law in resisting any attempt to undermine our fragile democracy. Indeed, we are using this channel to call on the international community to be alerted. Nigerias democracy should not be undermined by using the judiciary to serve the interest of the ruling party. Sadly, this has become the stock in trade of the All Progressives Congress to intimidate the judiciary. Recall that in 2019, the APC-led Federal Government similarly removed the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, when it was obvious that he would not bend to their will. The Department of State Services similarly stormed the homes of judges in 2016 and 2017, all in a bid to beat the judiciary into submission. Paul Ibe stated that the plot of the All Progressives Congress is to intimidate the judiciary, threaten judges with arrest so that they will bow to their will. This is a playbook from 2019 when they removed the CJN and then replaced him with Tanko Muhammad, who himself was later accused of corruption by his colleagues at the Supreme Court and resigned shamefully. However, the APC government never went after Tanko Muhammad as they did in Onnoghens case because it was never about corruption but election. The APC has, over the years, built a reputation of judiciary intimidation. They accused about 10 judges of corruption, stormed their homes, and got them suspended and yet could not convict a single one of them. Justice Sylvester Ngwuta of the Supreme Court could not recover from the embarrassment that he ended up dying in office. Now, they have initiated a new plot. This time around, they want to intimidate the judges into delivering favourable judgments for them at the election tribunal. We draw the attention of the international community and, indeed, Nigerians to this fresh plot to steal the mandate of over 200 million people, he said. While urging Nigerians to abide by the golden rule of eternal vigilance being the price of liberty, Atiku also appealed to all security agencies in the country to remain professional in the discharge of their duties and resist being used as an instrument of oppression and intimidation against the judiciary. It looks like Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is about to go ex-dividend in the next 4 days. The ex-dividend date is usually set to be one business day before the record date which is the cut-off date on which you must be present on the company's books as a shareholder in order to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is an important date to be aware of as any purchase of the stock made on or after this date might mean a late settlement that doesn't show on the record date. Thus, you can purchase Pfizer's shares before the 27th of July in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 5th of September. The company's upcoming dividend is US$0.41 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$1.64 per share to shareholders. Based on the last year's worth of payments, Pfizer stock has a trailing yield of around 4.4% on the current share price of $37.4. We love seeing companies pay a dividend, but it's also important to be sure that laying the golden eggs isn't going to kill our golden goose! That's why we should always check whether the dividend payments appear sustainable, and if the company is growing. Check out our latest analysis for Pfizer If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. That's why it's good to see Pfizer paying out a modest 31% of its earnings. Yet cash flows are even more important than profits for assessing a dividend, so we need to see if the company generated enough cash to pay its distribution. Fortunately, it paid out only 45% of its free cash flow in the past year. It's positive to see that Pfizer's dividend is covered by both profits and cash flow, since this is generally a sign that the dividend is sustainable, and a lower payout ratio usually suggests a greater margin of safety before the dividend gets cut. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Story continues Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. This is why it's a relief to see Pfizer earnings per share are up 7.6% per annum over the last five years. The company is retaining more than half of its earnings within the business, and it has been growing earnings at a decent rate. We think this is generally an attractive combination, as dividends can grow through a combination of earnings growth and or a higher payout ratio over time. The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. In the last 10 years, Pfizer has lifted its dividend by approximately 6.4% a year on average. It's encouraging to see the company lifting dividends while earnings are growing, suggesting at least some corporate interest in rewarding shareholders. To Sum It Up From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Pfizer? Earnings per share have been growing moderately, and Pfizer is paying out less than half its earnings and cash flow as dividends, which is an attractive combination as it suggests the company is investing in growth. It might be nice to see earnings growing faster, but Pfizer is being conservative with its dividend payouts and could still perform reasonably over the long run. It's a promising combination that should mark this company worthy of closer attention. So while Pfizer looks good from a dividend perspective, it's always worthwhile being up to date with the risks involved in this stock. To help with this, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Pfizer that you should be aware of before investing in their shares. A common investing mistake is buying the first interesting stock you see. Here you can find a full list of high-yield dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Oppn MP's to hold protest | NEW DELHI, Jul 22 : Amid the stalemate in Parliament over holding a debate on Manipur violence, MPs of various Opposition parties have planned a protest on Monday near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Par-liament complex to press for the Prime Minister's state-ment on the issue in both Houses. Sources said leaders of various Opposition parties who have now formed the INDIA alliance will meet in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and will discuss their further strategy in Parliament. After the meeting at 10 am on Monday, July 24, the leaders will hold a protest near the Gandhi statue before entering both Houses. The government has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue with the Home Minister replying to it, but the Opposition is adamant on its demand for the Prime Minister's statement first, especially after a video of two women being paraded naked and assaulted in a Manipur village appeared on social media. Also, the Opposition wants a debate allowing all parties to speak without any time restrictions and has been holding protests on the issue since the Monsoon Session started on Thursday. The Government has accused the Opposition of running away from a debate on the all-important issue and has questioned their seriousness towards it. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have failed to transact any business amid the stalemate between the Opposition and the Government over the Manipur issue. PTI One of the best investments we can make is in our own knowledge and skill set. With that in mind, this article will work through how we can use Return On Equity (ROE) to better understand a business. To keep the lesson grounded in practicality, we'll use ROE to better understand Portland General Electric Company (NYSE:POR). Return on equity or ROE is an important factor to be considered by a shareholder because it tells them how effectively their capital is being reinvested. In other words, it is a profitability ratio which measures the rate of return on the capital provided by the company's shareholders. Check out our latest analysis for Portland General Electric 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 Portland General Electric is: 7.9% = US$247m US$3.1b (Based on the trailing twelve months to March 2023). The 'return' refers to a company's earnings over the last year. Another way to think of that is that for every $1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn $0.08 in profit. Does Portland General Electric Have A Good Return On Equity? One simple way to determine if a company has a good return on equity is to compare it to the average for its industry. Importantly, this is far from a perfect measure, because companies differ significantly within the same industry classification. You can see in the graphic below that Portland General Electric has an ROE that is fairly close to the average for the Electric Utilities industry (8.9%). roe That's neither particularly good, nor bad. Although the ROE is similar to the industry, we should still perform further checks to see if the company's ROE is being boosted by high debt levels. If a company takes on too much debt, it is at higher risk of defaulting on interest payments. To know the 3 risks we have identified for Portland General Electric visit our risks dashboard for free. Story continues How Does Debt Impact ROE? Companies usually need to invest money to grow their profits. That cash can come from retained earnings, issuing new shares (equity), or debt. In the case of the first and second options, the ROE will reflect this use of cash, for growth. In the latter case, the use of debt will improve the returns, but will not change the equity. In this manner the use of debt will boost ROE, even though the core economics of the business stay the same. Combining Portland General Electric's Debt And Its 7.9% Return On Equity Portland General Electric clearly uses a high amount of debt to boost returns, as it has a debt to equity ratio of 1.14. With a fairly low ROE, and significant use of debt, it's hard to get excited about this business at the moment. Investors should think carefully about how a company might perform if it was unable to borrow so easily, because credit markets do change over time. Summary Return on equity is useful for comparing the quality of different businesses. Companies that can achieve high returns on equity without too much debt are generally of good quality. If two companies have the same ROE, then I would generally prefer the one with less debt. Having said that, while ROE is a useful indicator of business quality, you'll have to look at a whole range of factors to determine the right price to buy a stock. The rate at which profits are likely to grow, relative to the expectations of profit growth reflected in the current price, must be considered, too. So you might want to take a peek at this data-rich interactive graph of forecasts for the company. If you would prefer 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. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here On the defensive on the outrage over a viral video showing Manipur women being paraded naked by a mob, the BJP came up with an allegation to counter the Manipur incident with that of two tribal women being stripped naked and tortured in West Bengals Malda a few days ago in the presence of police. Earlier, denying the allegation, West Bengal DGP Manoj Malviya said that the police investigated the incident, but no evidence was found about the alleged incident. However, the saffron party stuck to its allegation. Union Minister Smriti Irani and BJPs national IT cell in-charge, Amit Malviya, targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had been strident in her criticism of the saffron party over Manipur outrage yesterday, said on Saturday that the Trinamul Congress-led government in the state was a mute spectator to such heinous crimes against women. Advertisement BJP I-T cell head Amit Malviya, who is also partys co-in-charge for West Bengal, said the incident took place in Malda on July 19, with a frenzied mob baying for her blood. He tweeted: It had all the makings of a tragedy that should have broken Mamata Banerjees heart, and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the home minister of Bengal. But she chose to do nothing. The BJP has been criticizing Banerjee for sporadic incidents of violence during the recently-concluded West Bengal panchayat elections. With the Opposition parties targeting the BJP over the incident of two women being paraded naked in the ethnic violence in Manipur, where it is in power, the party has been highlighting similar cases of atrocities on women in states ruled by rival parties, such as the Congress and the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamul Congress. Speaking on the Malda incident, Malvia said, Neither did she (Mamata Banerjee) condemn the barbarity nor did she express pain and anguish because it would have exposed her own failing as a chief minister. Union Minister Smriti Irani also reacted to the Malda incident, saying This (Manipur viral video) issue is not only sensitive but also has implications with regard to national security and is known to the Opposition leaders. However, the Opposition did not want to discuss the issue on the floor of the Parliament. What is extremely alarming is that yesterday, from the state of Rajasthan, a minister, who spoke up on the crimes against women in the state, was unceremoniously dismissed by the Congress. She further said, Equally shocking is a video emanating from West Bengals Malda where two Dalit women are being beaten up and stripped. On the other hand, Congress did not want to hear the truth about atrocities on women in the state of Rajasthan. The Congress is a mute spectator to the killings of people during the West Bengal Panchayat elections, all because it is hungry for collaboration with TMC, she said. Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar asked why I.N.D.I.A. (new Opposition alliance) isnt condemning the Malda incident. Another horrific incident with the Tribal women in WB. Two Tribal women were stripped naked & beaten mercilessly in Malda. Like other heinous incidents, Didi is silent & not taking any action in her own rule. Why I.N.D.I.A. isnt condemning this? he tweeted. Stating that there is absolutely no need to politicize the Malda incident, West Bengal minister and Trinamul Congress leader Shashi Panja claimed that it was a case of theft, where the two ladies tried to steal something from the market. CPI-M leader Brinda Karat said, Maldas incident should not be compared to that of Manipur. Atrocities against women in any part of the country are condemnableWest Bengals incident where Adivasi women can be seen beating other Adivasi women is condemnableIt is just an example of West Bengal govts lawlessness she tweeted. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) founder and supremo Bimal Gurung on Saturday made it clear that the BJP will have to come to a decision on the proposed and separate Gorkhaland state before the big battle of 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Gurung has even set a deadline of August 15 (Independence Day) for the national ruling party to make a formal announcement on this issue. Our demand is clear. We want a permanent political solution for the hills. And that permanent solution is separate Gorkhaland state. BJP will have to clear its stand on the issue. BJPs presence in the hills had been for a long time. But they are yet to come to a formal decision in the matter. Now we expect the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce some decisions in favour of the Gorkhas on the occasion of the Independence Day this year, the GJM supremo said. Advertisement The ultimatum from Gurung is being viewed as a cause of concern for BJP about its fate for the Darjeeling Lok Sabha seat in the 2024 big battle. BJPs candidates have been selected from this constituency thrice since 2009 mainly because of the support from Gurung. Already the results for the recently concluded panchayat polls have been a concern for the saffron camp. Despite having the backing of GJM, the saffron camp could not cut much among the voters in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts in the rural civic body pills, where Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM) founded by Anit Thapa, once a close confidant of Bimal Gurung, had emerged as the front-runner. Now, Gurungs ultimatum on the permanent political solution is bound to prompt the saffron camp to have a separate session about reworking the strategy for the hills in North Bengal scattered over Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong. As far as the map of the proposed Gorkhaland is concerned, it is supposed to be carved out of the hill areas in these three places as well as some pockets of the plains in Terai and Dooars regions. Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Vikramaditya Singh pulled up the bureaucracy for not complying with the state governments instructions. He lamented that a few bureaucrats were crossing their limits, which will not be tolerated. I have the highest regard for the bureaucracy of the state. For a successful government, there has to be coordination between the elected government and the bureaucracy. However such an approach of bureaucrats will not be tolerated, he warned while talking to media persons here on Saturday. Advertisement Without naming anyone, he pointed out about a bureaucrat for taking liberties and tinkering with the proposals that are sent to Delhi from the state. The proposals that are discussed and made here are changed before it reaches Delhi, he rued. We are an elected government. The bureaucracy will not dictate us how we should work and how we shouldnt, he cautioned. The Minister added that he will seriously take up the instances that have been brought to his knowledge with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. We are here because of the people of the state, who have elected us from our respective constituencies and we have to raise the voice of the people. If the bureaucrat thinks that he will try to suppress our voice, we are in no way going to be suppressed, he cautioned. He said that he will again visit the disaster-affected areas to take stock of the restoration work and push for the needful. Singh urged the central government to come forward to assist the state liberally keeping in mind the colossal loss the state has faced. Total loss PWD suffered in the state is around Rs 2000 crore, including damage to 1,666 roads of state PWD and National Highways in the Mandi Zone Rs 487 crore, Shimla zone Rs 590 crore, Hamirpur zone Rs 188 crore and Kangra Zone Rs 157 crore which is a huge loss and a challenge which we intend to tackle it collectively under the able leadership of Chief Minister and the cabinet, said Singh. Appealing to the people of the state to give serious thought to avoid such losses in the future, he said that the issue will also be discussed in the cabinet meeting that is scheduled to be held on 25 July to chalk out a future strategy. The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday night apprehended two Hindu Bangladeshi nationals, who were trying to infiltrate into India illegally through unfenced patches of Dhagram Angrapota Enclave in the Cooch Beher district. Acting on a tip-off, troops of Dhaprahat Border Outpost in Cooch Beher apprehended them. They have been identified as Biswajit Saha (61) and his wife, BSF officials said, adding, Biswajit was son of Late Gopal Chandra Saha and a resident of Hatkhola Road, Sutrapur, Dhaka City Corporation in Bangladesh. The BSF officials said the intruders wanted to move to Siliguri for livelihood. Advertisement The BSF seized Indian currency of Rs 5,670 and two mobile phones from their possession. The arrested duo was handed over to Kuchlibari police station with the seized items. Sumit Sen is a Barrister and Solicitor, and a Canadian Immigration Lawyer. He is a speaker, author, visiting professor and advisor-at-large on legal matters. As a Rhodes Scholar, he wrote his PhD thesis International Refugee Law in South Asia at the London School of Economics. He has read for a Masters of Laws (LLM) at the University of London, an MPhil in International Law and MA at the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, and a BA and LLB in India. Sen worked for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Geneva and worldwide. A legal advisor to the UN and other international organizations in the area of human rights, refugee law and displacement, Sen spoke over phone to Ranjeet Jamwal on the deportation faced by the Indian students in Canada. Some excerpts : Advertisement Q: The government of Canada has decided to postpone the deportation of 700 Indian students after facing huge protests. The reason? A: This is I think because of the policy of the government of Canada. They are trying to see what has happened in the first place. This is perhaps the reason for this stay. Its stay of removal but the removal has not been quashed. Its still there but the students will not be removed as of now. There are lots of things which need to be looked at. The students are obviously victims of fraud. They had no idea what was happening. Its the agents in India who have done it. And basically what has happened is that students had no idea of this fraud and the government of Canada also failed in its own duty of checking the documentation. These people have got the visa for coming to Canada. Their documents were first checked by the High Commission of Canada in India, then after coming here they got the student permit and have done their studies. After completing the studies, they also took the work permit. So their permits have been scrutinised three to four times after coming to Canada. So what was the government of Canada doing ? There has been a flaw. There is a problem in the verification process. Now efforts are being made to fix this. Q: How were the visas granted on the basis of a fake admission letter? A: There are 7.50 lakh students who apply to come to Canada annually. Ouf of this, four lakh students get the visa for study in Canada. So one can imagine how big a process it is. How will the government of Canada go to each college to verify if the admission certificates are genuine or not? On top of it, there can be several other things that can be fake. The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores can be fake. Even the financial documentation can be a fraud. There is a limit to how much the government can check. They take the documents at face value and deep scrutiny is done only when they suspect some fraud. Q: Indian students reached Canada with fake admission letters of Canadian educational institutions. But still got admission in other educational institutions on the same visa? A: The study visa is not for a particular college. The concerned college had no idea what was going on. Brijesh Mishra (the Jalandhar-based education consultant at the centre of the racket for issuing fake admission letters of Canadian educational institutions to students who are now facing deportation) gave students fraudulent letters. When students came here in Canada, Mishra called and told them this college (for which he had given an admission letter) is now full and to get an admission at another college. So they believed him. Q: Why were the students not sent to the same college in the first place? A: Because the students dont get work permits in such colleges he (Mishra) sent the students later. I have the information and I will call those colleges to court. What the agent has done is kabbortarbazi or human trafficking. So he and his associates should be found and arrested. They have caused so many problems for these students. They weep in my office. Canada is okay with the studies done by the students, the work permits. They are all okay. But the document with which they got entry into Canada, is wrong. Misrepresentation has taken place and thats why the Canadian government is after them. But we have appealed against it and are fighting against it. But its something called innocent misrepresentation. Yes the mistake has been made but it was not done intentionally. Its in the law here that a person is not removed for innocent misrepresentation. I have fought such cases. Q: What is the implication of this on the students who are planning to go to Canada? Will they be facing more scrutiny? A: Well, I dont know how the scrutiny will be done because there is no system for this. Across the world there is no system to verify 7.5 lakh admission letters. This is where we will come in the picture and tell the students to get the verification done. If a students IELTS score are fake, then the students are responsible. But if you passed the IELTS, have paid the finances for the admission, now the admission letter is the only thing thats coming through an agent, How do you know the agent is not doing what Mishra was doing? So we came up with the Canada Education Verification Service to help students with this verification so that they will have no problem. The Bihar government has constituted a state-level crisis management group (CMG) and provided all possible assistance to farmers in the wake of scanty rainfall in the state. Bihars chief secretary Amir Subhani will hold the weekly meeting of the CMG. While reviewing the situation, CM Nitish Kumar asked the officials to provide diesel subsidy to the farmers and ensure 12 hour power supply for irrigating agriculture fields per day. He also asked the water resources development department officials to ensure proper supply of water for irrigation purpose in canals . According to meteorological department sources, out of the total 38 districts in Bihar, 26 districts had less than normal rainfall. Eight districts had so far less rainfall. Only four districts- Buxar, Kishanganj, Bhagalpur and Araria had normal rainfall. Bihar had 48% rain deficit in June and 47% from July 1 to 21 in 2023. The state would expect light rain between July 21 to 27, met department sources said. A close vigil would be on the proper arrangement and availability of drinking water in rain deficit regions of Bihar. A weekly monitoring of the availability water for irrigation, availability of subsidised diesel and 12 hour power supply for irrigation would be done. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday arrested IAS officer Ranu Shahu in Chhattisgarh after conducting search operations at 18 locations in the state on Friday. The arrest was made in connection with a fresh PMLA case lodged by the ED. The ED has not made any comments on the matter. The sources claimed that the PMLA matter could be related to an alleged rice scam. Apart from Sahu, the ED team searched the premises belonging to state Congress leader Ram Gopal Agarwal. During the search operation, the ED teams were being assisted by CISF personnel. Advertisement On Friday, the ED searched the premises of Agarwal and Sahu in Raipurs Devender Nagar. Another team of ED was spotted at Korba Municipal Corporation Commissioner Prabhakar Pandeys location. During the raid, the CISF personnel didnt let anyone go inside the house. The main door was locked, and then the ED team started the search operation. On July 18, the apex court had directed the ED to thoroughly probe a Rs 2,000 crore liquor scam. Defending his decision to sack Rajendra Singh Gudha from his cabinet last night, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot today said it was an internal matter of the party. Gudha was minister of state for home guards and civil defence in the Rajasthan ministry. He was known for bringing the ruling party on the back-foot with his controversial remarks even in the assembly. On being asked about the exact reason for the expulsion of Gudha at a press conference, Gehlot said, This is our Congress partys internal matter, and on this issue we are discussing at our level. Advertisement When media persons tried to extract more details on the matter, he evaded probing queries saying the meeting was called for the Mahatma Gandhi Minimum Income Guarantee Yojna purpose. Party in-charge Surjeet Singh Randhawa, who was present on the occasion, told The Statesman that the action against Gudha was related to the partys discipline. He (Gudha) used to make public statements against the government. I think we (the Congress) were late in taking action against him. It is required for the partys decorum and discipline that no one should make concocted and unscrupulous public statements against his own government and party, Randhawa, who shared the dais with the chief minister on the successful clearance of the Minimum Income Guarantee Bill, said. On the other hand, BSPs state president Bhagwan Baba said that his party wont give Gudha re-entry into its fold and five other MLAs who won the elections on BSP ticket and joined the Congress. They wont stand a chance in upcoming assembly polls. However, during a media interaction on Friday night, Gudha asserted that as a man of word he will always stand for the truth and that he has been punished for speaking the truth. I will continue to speak till the last breath, he adde. Rajendra Singh Gudha, while speaking in the assembly yesterday, had drawn a comparison between the plight of Manipur women with the crimes against women in the state saying, Rajasthaan mein jis tarah se atyaachaar badhe hain mahilaon par, Manipur ki bajaay hamen apne girebaan mein jhaankana chaahie. Sarkar fail ho chuki hai yanhan (The way atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan, instead of Manipur, we need to introspect on our own failures. The government stands failed on this front). With one more arrest, the total number of arrests in connection with the parading of two disrobed women in Kangpokpi district on May 4, has risen to five. Police said that the fifth accused was arrested from Thoubal district this morning. A local court in Manipurs Thoubal district on Friday sent the four accused to police custody for 11 days to facilitate the police investigation of the horrendous crime, which shook the entire nation. Advertisement Officials in Imphal said that on the plea of the investigation officer of the case, the judicial magistrate first class in Thoubal sent the four to police custody till July 31. The accused were produced before the court through video conferencing. Meanwhile, an irate mob on Friday set ablaze the house of absconding suspect L. Kabichandra, 20, at Wangjing area in Thoubal. Kabichandra, who has gone into hiding since Thursday, is among the mob seen in the video of the shocking incident that went viral in social media on July 19. Angry women also burnt down the house of the main accused Huirem Herodas Singh (Meitei) at Yairipok village in Thoubal district late on Thursday evening. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, told the media that interrogation of the arrested is being conducted by senior police officials and at this juncture, he would not be able to disclose the details. I am personally supervising the search operation of the police to nab the remaining accused involved in the crime, Singh told the media. The state Police is making all out efforts to arrest the remaining culprits at the earliest. Raids are continuing, the Manipur Police tweeted. A senior police official said that the search operation by the Manipur Police and other security forces is continuing in Kangpokpi, Thoubal and other adjoining districts to nab the culprits. The official added that several police teams headed by senior officers were formed to supervise the extensive search to locate the offenders involved in the incident. For many Americans, saving for retirement starts with having an employer-provided plan, especially one that youre automatically enrolled in with payroll deductions. The problem: Nearly half of US private-sector workers roughly 57 million people dont have access to an employer-sponsored pension, such as a 401(k). At least in some states, though, help may be on the way. Unfortunately, when workers do not have access to an employer-sponsored plan, they often dont act on their own, Angela M. Antonelli, executive director of the Center for Retirement Initiatives at Georgetown University, told Yahoo Finance. Only 5% of workers take the steps to open up a retirement savings account if it is not provided by their employer. If a worker has access to an employer-sponsored plan, participation jumps to 72%. A growing number of states have passed laws in recent years to help solve this retirement savings quandary. And the new legislation appears to be spurring an uptick in employers choosing to offer a 401(k) plan instead of participating in their states program, according to a new working paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). As of June, 19 states have enacted retirement programs for private-sector workers. Fifteen of these states are auto-IRA programs. They require most private employers that dont sponsor a savings plan of their own to enroll workers in a state-facilitated individual retirement account (IRA) at a preset savings rate usually 3% to 5% of earnings and automatically deducted from paychecks. The plans typically ramp up their employees contribution 1% each year until it reaches 10%, unless an employee opts out. NBER researchers used US Census surveys on state residents behavior and the retirement plan reports, which employers file with the federal government, to scrutinize the indirect impact of auto-IRAs in the three states that have the longest-running programs: California, Oregon, and Illinois. Story continues Their findings: The programs have increased by 3.2 % the likelihood that workers in these states are employed by a firm that offers its own retirement plan and by 7% the probability that employees are participating in those employer plans, according to the paper. Increases in employer-sponsored retirement plans linked to state policies Our research findings provide fairly strong evidence that these state policies in California, Oregon, and Illinois are leading to significant increases in the prevalence of employer-sponsored retirement plans (ESRPs), the likelihood that workers work for an employer that offers such a plan, and the likelihood that workers participate in plans that they have access to, Adam Bloomfield, a senior economic policy adviser for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and one of the papers researchers, told Yahoo Finance. In reality, any measurable increase in coverage so early in policy rollout can be seen as a substantial increase by many people. And perhaps, more importantly, "it was not evident that these policies would ever result in a net increase in worker coverage by employer-sponsored plans," Bloomfield added. Previous research backs this finding that state programs are nudging employers to offer their own plans. The first three auto-IRA programs were launched in Oregon (in 2017), Illinois (in 2018), and California (in 2019). In each case, the following year saw a 35% higher growth rate among new 401(k) plans at private businesses compared to other states, according to a 2022 report from Pew Charitable Trusts. New legislation appears to be spurring an uptick in employers in those states choosing to offer a 401(k) plan instead of participating in their states retirement savings program. (Getty Creative) Heres the backdrop: The new state laws require employers to either offer employer-sponsored retirement plans to workers or facilitate automatic payroll deductions that are deposited into individual retirement accounts (IRAs) established for workers by the state. Nine of these programs are now rolling: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, and Washington are open to all eligible employers and workers. Many of the more recently enacted programs New York, New Jersey, Maine, Delaware, Hawaii and the 2023 new auto-IRA programs Nevada, Minnesota, Vermont (and Missouri voluntary MEP) are likely to open within the next two years, 2024 and 2025, according to Antonelli. How auto-IRA plans work The nitty-gritty: Employee contributions are typically directed into Roth IRAs. Contributions to Roth accounts are not tax-deductible, unlike 401(k) plans or similar employer-sponsored retirement plans. Traditional IRAs, whose contributions may be tax deductible, are an option, however, in some states, depending on the plan details. These programs are supervised by state-appointed boards and managed by private financial firms. Roth contributions come from after-tax wages, so withdrawals in retirement are tax-free. Employers are not required to make matching contributions. You get a roster of options for investing your contributions, generally target -date funds, which tailor the investment mix to your projected retirement date, or stock, bond, and income funds. As with most employer-provided plans, enrolled workers are charged administrative fees, which among current programs range up to $30 a year or around 0.25% to 1% of account assets. Employers who ignore the mandate to enroll workers in their states plan are likely to face penalty fees. In California, for example, each eligible employer that, without good cause, fails to allow its eligible employees to participate in CalSavers within a three-month window, will pay a penalty of $250 per eligible employee and an additional penalty of $500 per eligible employee if they drag their feet for more than 180 days. So far the response from workers overall has been encouraging. As of June 30, there are 156,804 employers and almost 700,000 savers using a state program, and this is just five of the 19 state programs (CA, IL, OR, CT, and MD), according to Antonelli. Encouraging: As of June 30, almost 700,000 retirement savers are using a state program. (Getty Creative) The programs have shown that when workers are given the opportunity to save, many do, she said. But the options for employers have to be simple and low cost for them, and this is what state programs give them. If the early progress is any indicator, Antonelli expects that a few million workers will be covered by their state programs in the next three-to-five years. At the same time, we can expect the private sector to also be contributing to expanding coverage and participation, although it is too early to tell by how much, she said. And they have a new incentive: Beginning this year, eligible businesses with 50 or fewer employees can qualify for a credit equal to 100% of the administrative costs for establishing a workplace retirement plan. Meantime, in a tight labor market with many small employers struggling to attract and retain workers, offering retirement benefits is a sweet enticement. The goal, Antonelli added, is to close the access gap. Kerry Hannon is a Senior Reporter and Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a workplace futurist, a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on Twitter @kerryhannon. Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board (MPTB) participated at a recently-concluded Travel Tourism Fair in Kolkata at Biswa Banga Mela ground. Among other inquiries from the states prospective tourists, there has been a huge interest in the cheetahs, which have been transported to the state from Africa. One of the main attractions of the state is wildlife tourism. After the advent of cheetahs at Kuno National Park, interest amongst city travellers to the central state has gone up. Officials from the board said that many Bengal tourists made enquiries at the MP stall. Advertisement Madhya Pradesh has 11 national parks and 24 wildlife sanctuaries. It is called the tiger state, leopard state, vulture state, wolf state and gharial state of India. After the reintroduction of cheetahs in 72 years, MP is now also the cheetah state of India. In order to deliver a sustainable and delightful tourism experience and attract tourists from Bengal, Madhya Pradesh Tourism (MPT) brought together gram stays, farm stays and homestays under rural tourism. Kolkata is a major domestic market for MP. We have been receiving tourists from your city for a long time. Seeing the interest in people, we opened our office in 1986, said Yuvraj Padole, deputy director (event, marketing & film tourism) Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board. Tourists during Puja and Dussehra vacations come here in good numbers. We offer religious, heritage, history and wildlife tourism in MP. All hotels, from October to December, are booked to capacity and tourists from Bengal are in majority. If we rate them in terms of volume, they would be in the first three in the list of states from which we have maximum tourists. Tourists from Bengal, especially from Kolkata, are mature tourists, with a high level of awareness. They are more towards wildlife tourism, spiritual tourism and nature tourism. These are also the points we highlighted at the TTF in Kolkata, said Mr Padole. The deputy director is also eagerly waiting for permission from the government to allow tourists at Kuno. We are the only state to have cheetahs. Once the forest department gives the permission then we will also start the cheetah circuit. The animals are a big attraction, said Padole. The officer said that people come to MP for the two jyotirlingas, and also 3 UNESCO world sites. Mature tourists, who come for close to a week, cover multiple places. The prime concern is to have a good number of the cheetahs, he agreed. The board has witnessed tremendous growth in tourism in the central state, post-pandemic, he said, adding, We have crossed 2019 figures in 2023. The growth has been close to 33 per cent. A run-away child found by a Canadian non-resident Indian (NRI) at a railway station and hired as a domestic help to take care of his property and business in his absence turned out to be the mastermind behind the murder of Baninderdeep Singh, 42. Baninderdeep Singh was killed by four motorcycle-borne assailants at the Thakur Colony area of Ludhiana on Monday. The Ludhiana Police said Bal Singh, 28, who was found by the NRI about 18 years ago at a railway station along with an estranged friend of the victim, hatched the conspiracy to eliminate Baninderdeep as he was nursing a grouse against his master for constantly scolding him. Advertisement Ludhiana Police Commissioner Mandeep Singh Sidhu said Bal Singh, along with Baninderdeeps friend, identified as Jagraj Singh alias Gaja, hired four killers to murder the NRI. All six of the suspects have been arrested in the case. Four contract killers hired by accused Bal Singh have been identified as Jaspreet Singh alias Jassi, 23, of Jagdev Nagar, Sohil Ali, 22, of Mehmoodpura, Varinder alias Vicky, 22, of SBS Nagar and a minor from Dugri. Sidhu said under the conspiracy, Bal Singh informed the contract killers about Baninderdeeps location when he was accompanying him back to his residence at the Thakur Colony area. The four killers, who had their faces covered, intercepted the NRI near his house and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. Soon after the assault, Baninderdeep was rushed to DMC Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. Bal Singh made the killers to inflict minor injuries to him too so that he wont come under suspicion. The police said Bal Singh was a suspect from the very beginning. He eventually confessed to have hatched the conspiracy after his connection with the four killers was established. Sources said that Baninderdeep used to treat Bal Singh, who hails from Madhya Pradesh and had run away from home when he was nine to ten years old, as a family member. Baninderdeep used to keep Bal Singh with him all the time. He used to make it a point to make him sit with him during parties and functions. Bal Singh also used to take care of Baninderdeeps house and business in his absence, said a police officer dealing with the case, pleading anonymity. But of late, Bal Singh was nurturing ill will against Baninderdeep as he used to abuse him. The NRIs parents had promised to Bal Singh that they would take him to Canada and give him a share in the property, but NRI Baninderdeep was opposed to this proposition, said the officer. About four years back Bal Singh was getting married to a girl by claiming that he owns a farm house, but Baninderdeep revealed the truth to the girl following which the marriage proposal was rejected. Such things intensified Bal Singhs hatred for Baninderdeep and he finally hatched a conspiracy to eliminate him, added the officer. Bal Singh roped in Jagraj, a friend of the NRI who also looking to settle scores with the victim over some property dispute, in the plot. Then they hired the four contract killers for Rs 3 lakh and paid Rs 2.70 lakh as advance for the job. Scores of survivors of the devastating hillslide tragedy met Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray even as the death toll in Irshalwadi increased to 25, here on Saturday. Accompanied by senior party leaders like Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve, Anil Parab, Bhaskar Jadhav, Milind Narvekar and others, Thackeray went to the Panchayatan Temple where over a hundred survivors are temporarily given shelter. Many of the villagers who trooped to meet Thackeray were seen weeping, some still in a state of shock, a few crying and grieving over the loss of their family members and all the displaced people worried about their bleak future. Advertisement Thackeray condoled and consoled the survivors, enquired about the condition of the 10-plus injured victims who were dug out of the boulders and sludge on the hillside in the past three days since the hillock slid and crashed onto a part of the Irshalwadi tribal hamlet around 11.30 pm on Wednesday (July 19) night. The survivors recounted the devastation and how it has uprooted their own lives, while snuffing out many of their near and dear ones as a grim Thackeray listened silently. Later, briefly addressing them, the ex-CM said he had no words to describe the tragic horror that befell the people of Irshalwadi, and promised to extend all help possible to the dis-housed people. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday attacked the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led Congress Government in Rajasthan and said a peaceful state had become No 1 in cases of sexual misconduct and crime against women in the last five years. Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters here, Anurag Thakur said there were 1.09 lakh cases of crime against women in the state in the last four years, including 33,000 cases of rapes. Twenty-two per cent of the total cases of rape in the country were registered in Rajasthan. This makes Rajasthan No 1 in crime against women in the country, he said. Thakur said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted the states to take strong steps on crimes against women. Instead of taking action, the chief minister sacked a minister of state Rajendra Singh Gudha from the Council of Ministers after he criticised his own government on the atrocities against women in the poll-bound state. Advertisement In his address in the Rajasthan assembly yesterday, Rajendra Singh Gudha said, It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in womens safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan. Sharpening his attacks further, Thakur said Gehlot had removed one of his ministers on the orders of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. On the orders of Sonia ji and Rahul Gandhi, Gehlot sacked one of his own ministers. Gudha was sacked as he expressed concern over the situation in Rajasthan, Thakur said. He said the sacked minister said there was lawlessness in the state and the state government had become ineffective. The Congress leadership should answer this. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi had earlier said she could fight, why she takes no action now. Why she could not visit Rajasthan and West Bengal to look into the incidents of violence against women, Thakur said. Countering Mr Gehlots comments earlier in the day in a press conference in which he launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of not visiting violence-hit Manipur, Thakur recounted incidents of violence against women in the State and said Gehlot has no right to be the chief minister of the state. He said instead of taking any steps against the criminals, the chief minister sacked Gudha for raising his voice against atrocities on women in the state. The state administration of Rajasthan has done nothing to address the rise in crimes against women. Thakur said incidents of sexual misconduct and atrocities against women have increased in some States and they are unfortunate and a matter of concern, as law and order is the responsibility of State governments. In many States, it was seen there were no corrective steps taken. These incidents are a matter of shame for humanity. Some people however see things through the lens of politics only. Nari Asmita is in tatters in Bihar but the Nitish-Tejaswi duo, the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, find nothing wrong and have not uttered a word about the Begusarai incident. This shows crime against women is increasing and criminals are getting protection also, Thakur said. The union minister also asked why the Opposition was silent on crimes in West Bengal, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Why are their lips sealed on violence in West Bengal? The humiliation of women in both Howrah and Malda are shocking, Thakur said. There was violence during recent elections in West Bengal, he said. Trinamul Congress elements misbehaved against a woman, and a candidate beaten up, he said. The Opposition talked of an alliance and their Governments were silent, he said. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, PM Modi has taken responsibility and assured that injustice against women will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against the perpetrators. Whatever happened in Manipur is unfortunate but what happened in West Bengal is even more unfortunateThe people who were raising their voices against Manipur violence, a similar incident happened in West Bengal. It is worrisome and shameful, he said. Seema Haider, a Pakistani woman, took a step by illegally entering India to be with the man she fell in love with on a gaming app. She reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, earnestly seeking permission to stay in India. Her journey of love began when she connected with Sachin Meena, a resident of Greater Noida, through the popular online game PUBG in 2019. Over time, their friendship blossomed into something deeper, leading Seema to take this life-changing decision. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that they are investigating the matter concerning Seema Haider, who made her way to India over two months ago from Pakistan. She entered the country illegally without a visa, crossing through Nepal. Advertisement Previously, she had been arrested for her illegal entry, but her plea for refuge with Sachin was strong. The UP polices Anti-Terrorism Squad questioned her, and on Friday, she made a heartfelt appeal to PM Modi and CM Yogi, fearing dire consequences if she were to return to Pakistan. Seema revealed that her brother had joined the Pakistani Army in 2022, but in a low rank. According to her, they got married at the Pashupatinath temple in Nepal, though the temple administration denies the occurrence of marriages there. Seema, a thirty-year-old from Sindh province in Pakistan, shared that she had no other choice but to cross illegally as she could not bear the thought of living in Pakistan any longer. She expressed her genuine concern for her safety if she were to go back, stating that her life would be in grave danger if anyone in Pakistan found out about her plans to come to India. Seema emphasized that she is not a spy, seeking to allay any doubts about her intentions. Despite their arrest on July 4 for the illegal entry, both Seema and Sachin managed to secure bail on July 7. They are currently living together with Seemas four young children in a house in the Rabupura area, after Sachin was held for sheltering the illegal immigrants. Their love story, born out of a virtual world, has now become a real-life struggle for Seema, who hopes to build a future with Sachin and her children in India. The way women were insulted in Manipur, the whole country has been insulted in the world. Its been 77 days but the PM hasnt spoken a word. As soon as the Supreme Court ordered, he spoke, said Gehlot at a press conference Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday targeted the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the violence and womens insult in Manpur, asking why the PM was not visiting the troubled state of Manipur ruled by the BJP but was frequenting the poll-bound states including Rajasthan. The way women were insulted in Manipur, the whole country has been insulted in the world. Its been 77 days but the PM hasnt spoken a word. As soon as the Supreme Court ordered, he spoke (sic), said Gehlot at a press conference. Quoting the PMs statement at Parliament two days ago that the Chief Ministers of Manipur, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh should take care of law and order, Gehlot wondered: Tell us where is Manipur and where is Rajasthan. The PM has hurt the pride of Rajasthan. The PM used to say 140 crore people are feeling ashamed. 140 crore people are not ashamed. They are sad because of the exploits of your government and your carelessness, said Gehlot. Gehlot wondered what would have happened if there was a Congress government in Manipur. The PM ended the matter by doing formalities in a few seconds in his address to the press. You (PM) would have at least held meetings. How will the situation be controlled there? You are roaming in Karnataka. You are roaming around Rajasthan. You are roaming around Chhattisgarh. This is the first time I have seen this during elections, Gehlot said. They have a government in Manipur. If there was a Congress government there, imagine what they would have said. Instead of controlling the situation there, the Home Minister kept roaming in the election states. A state is on fire and you are not doing anything. The Central government has failed. I am sorry Manipur is burning. Thousands of people have died there. Still, the PM did nothing, he said. When asked to comment on the united front of 26 political parties under the banner of INDIA, Gehlot said: It is a fact that democracy is in danger in the country. The Constitution is in danger. It is natural to form a front at such a time. The countrymen have understood that there is no confidence in Amit Shah and Modi. On the BJPs new slogan Nahi Sahega Rajasthan against his regime, the CM said: There is no truth in the BJPs campaign. Actually, people will not tolerate the BJP, because of the way they have shown inefficiency in the last four and a half years. The public will not tolerate you. No one can compete with the PM in marketing. He is going because of marketing. Modi will do Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to farmers across the country in Sikar on July 27. He is coming to Rajasthan for the 8th time. On the BJPs style of anti-campaigning, Gehlot alleged: The BJP people have nothing to say and they only speak rote things. In every state, the BJP says that corruption has increased. Atrocities against women have increased. The local BJP leaders here have to answer to the Prime Minister and Amit Shah why did they not create an issue against the government. The opposition is saying those things again and again. It is not affecting the public. Tell any number of lies but the BJP has no influence on the public. Recalling the National Crime Record Bureau statistics, Gehlot accused the BJP of misusing the increased crime figures on just FIRs numbers, which are made compulsory in the state. They are creating a wrong atmosphere against the government. Overall the condition of Rajasthan is good. We have made it mandatory to lodge FIR and it has a universal impact in the whole country, the CM said. Frightened by our plans and decisions, the BJP people decided how to defame the government. The kind of atmosphere that was created in Rajasthan, they have been scared of before the assembly polls, Gehlot pointed out. Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to implement the Minimum Guarantee Scheme. There should be a minimum income guarantee for the common man including the elderly, helpless people of the country. This Act should be implemented in the whole country. I had also written a letter to PM Modi to implement the Social Security Act. The new legislation would be implemented by August end, and the employment would be given within 15 days to the applicants. The states revenue has increased by 17 per cent despite the fact that my government has not imposed any tax on the public and farmers in the last five budgets. The money for all projects will come from my jadu (magic), he claimed. A day after being sacked as a minister following his critical remarks against Ashok Gehlot government over recent incidents of crimes against women in Rajasthan, Rajendra Singh Gudha on Saturday said that he will keep speaking until he is alive. Public will stay with me, I will work for them. Whether he (Ashok Gehlot) removes me from the cabinet or sends me to jail, I will keep speaking until I am alive, Gudha said. He said that the women in Rajasthan are not safe and the state is number one in atrocities on women. The state government has failed to provide security to women. I wanted to ask Ashok Gehlot to do something on this issue Gudha added. Before being removed, in his address at the state assembly, Gudha on Friday said, It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in womens safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan. On the other hand, CPI(M) MLA Balwan Poonia, who had supported the Ashok Gehlot government when it was going through a political crisis on account of a rebellion by former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot, said that Gudhas statements in state Assembly were wrong. Poonia said that the ministers remarks were so childish that not only the CM but he was also hurt. Crimes are increasing in Rajasthan, but action is also being taken swiftly, he added. Union Minister Anurah Thakur on Saturday claimed that Rajasthan has become number one state in crime against women. Union Minister Anurag Thakur says The incidents of crime against women have increased in some states of the country and no action was taken against this in several states. What happened in Begusarai is in front of us, but CM Nitish Kumar did not speak a single word about this. Rajasthan has become the number one state in crime against women. A total of 1.09 laks incidents of crime against women in the state in last 4 years and 22 per cent rape cases in India are from Rajasthan. Instead of taking any steps against the criminals. CM Ashok Gehlot sacked one of his ministers Rajendra Gudha for raising his voice against atrocities on women in the state. According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister Rajendra Singh Gudha. Advertisement Seven leading artificial intelligence (AI) tech companies like Google, OpenAI and Meta have reached a deal with the Joe Biden administration to roll out fresh guardrails to manage risks associated with AI. The measures would include testing the security of AI and making the results of those tests public. The companies are Amazon, Anthropic, Meta, Google, Inflection and OpenAI. These commitments are real, and they are concrete. AI is going to change the lives of people around the world. The people here will be critical for shepherding that innovation with responsibility and safety by design, Biden said at the White House following the meeting late on Friday. Advertisement AI should benefit the whole of society. For that to happen, these powerful new technologies need to be built and deployed responsibly, said Nick Clegg, Metas president of global affairs. As we develop new AI models, tech companies should be transparent about how their systems work and collaborate closely across industry, government, academia and civil society, he added. As part of the agreement, the tech companies have agreed to security testing of their AI systems by internal and external experts before their release. This will ensure that people are able to spot AI by implementing watermarks and publicly report AI capabilities and limitations on a regular basis. These companies will also research the risks such as bias, discrimination and the invasion of privacy. This is a serious responsibility, we have to get it right. Theres enormous, enormous potential upside as well, said Biden. OpenAI said that the watermarking agreements would require the companies to develop tools or APIs to determine if a particular piece of content was created with their system. Google has committed to deploy similar disclosures earlier this year. Earlier this week, Meta said that it would open-source its large language model Llama 2, making it free for researchers, similar to OpenAIs GPT-4. Justice Sunita Agarwal is the sole woman High Court Chief Justice in the nation. The Supreme Court Collegium had earlier this month recommended her name as the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court. This idea was approved by the central government earlier this week. She was a judge in the Allahabad High Court before being elevated as CJ of Gujarat High Court. After earning her degree from Awadh University in 1989, Justice Agarwal began her career as an attorney on December 16, 1990. On November 21, 2011, she was promoted to the position of additional judge on the Allahabad High Court. On August 6, 2013, she took her oath to serve as a permanent judge of the High Court. Advertisement In a farewell event hosted by the Allahabad High Court to send Justice Sunita Agarwal farewell before she joins as Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, Justice Agarwal counseled young women attorneys not to let anyone tell them what they can or cannot achieve. Even sky is not the limit. If I can do it, you can too. You are better than me, she added. She went on to say that the bar is the judge of the judges. She quoted the judges prayer, Give me the grace to hear patiently, to consider diligently, to understand rightly, and to decide justly. Grant me a due sense of humility that I may not be misled by wilfulness, vanity, or egotism. She urged students, lawyers, and young women to be tenacious and self-assured and to resist being deterred by outside forces. She exhorted young lawyers to put their all into their profession and to maintain their discipline, honesty, and optimism. Respect your coworkers and staff, and lend a hand to one another when you need itThere will be many options presented to you, and if you choose wisely, you will succeed greatly. She went on to say, The world is your oyster. Tragedy struck the citys Olney section when a triple shooting claimed the life of YNG Cheese, a young rapper and the son of renowned local artist Gillie Da King. The incident occurred on the evening of July 20, 2023, near the intersection of Mascher Street and Nedro Avenue in Philadelphia. YNG Cheese, whose real name was Devin Spady, was following in his fathers footsteps and making his mark in the music world. The 25-year-old artist had a significant online presence, sharing snippets of his music and glimpses into his life on his Instagram account, which had amassed a following of 63,000 fans. His passion for music and his love for his young son was evident in the pictures and videos he shared with his audience. Gillie Da Kid, known by his birth name Nasir Fard, has been a prominent figure in Philadelphias underground hip-hop scene and is a member of the local group Major Figgas. He has since transitioned to podcasting, hosting Barstool Sports Million Dollaz Worth of Game alongside social media influencer and fellow Philadelphian Wallo267. Advertisement Wallo, who is YNG Cheeses cousin, paid a heartfelt tribute to the young rapper on his Instagram page, expressing the immense pain he feels at this tragic loss. The tight-knit family and community are devastated by the untimely passing of YNG Cheese. The shooting incident occurred around 8:30 p.m., leaving two other individuals injured, aged 28 and 31, who were rushed to the hospital. Thankfully, they are now in stable condition. The authorities have not yet made any arrests in connection with the shooting, and no weapons have been recovered. As the news of YNG Cheeses passing spreads, the hip-hop community mourns the loss of a talented young artist and extends their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. The investigation into the tragic incident continues, and the city remains in shock as they come to terms with the loss of a rising star. Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) saw a double-digit share price rise of over 10% in the past couple of months on the NYSE. With many analysts covering the large-cap stock, we may expect any price-sensitive announcements have already been factored into the stocks share price. But what if there is still an opportunity to buy? Lets examine Union Pacifics valuation and outlook in more detail to determine if theres still a bargain opportunity. Check out our latest analysis for Union Pacific What's The Opportunity In Union Pacific? According to my valuation model, Union Pacific seems to be fairly priced at around 15.59% above my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Union Pacific today, youd be paying a relatively fair price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth $187.54, then there isnt really any room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. Although, there may be an opportunity to buy in the future. This is because Union Pacifics beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the companys shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity. What kind of growth will Union Pacific generate? Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. With profit expected to grow by a double-digit 13% over the next couple of years, the outlook is positive for Union Pacific. It looks like higher cash flow is on the cards for the stock, which should feed into a higher share valuation. What This Means For You Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in UNPs positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough confidence to invest in the company should the price drop below its fair value? Story continues Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on UNP, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for the company, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. If you want to dive deeper into Union Pacific, you'd also look into what risks it is currently facing. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign that you should run your eye over to get a better picture of Union Pacific. If you are no longer interested in Union Pacific, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here A 4.8 magnitude quake struck parts of Japans Ibaraki prefecture, northeast of Tokyo, the weather agency said on Saturday. The temblor occurred at 10:52 a.m. local time at a depth of 50 km, measuring 4 on Japans seismic intensity scale which peaks at 7, Xinhua news agency reported quoting the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). It was epicentred at off Ibaraki at a latitude of 36.5 degrees north and a longitude of 140.8 degrees east. Advertisement No tsunami warning has been issued. India and Sri Lanka on Friday adopted a vision document to strengthen their economic partnership by accelerating connectivity in the maritime, air, energy and people-to-people domains. The focus was particularly on the northern Jaffna Peninsula and Trincomalee on the northeast coast of the country as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe underlined the cardinal importance of promoting and strengthening connectivity in all its dimensions during their meeting in New Delhi today. Strategically located, Jaffna and Trincomalee are largely inhabited by Tamils. These areas had suffered massive devastation during the bloody Lankan civil war that lasted for more than 25 years. Advertisement Jaffna served as an important base for the Lankan military forces in the northern theatre during its long conflict with the LTTE. Located in the heart of the Indian Ocean, Trincomalee harbour is the fifth largest natural harbour in the world with the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and English having fought many sea battles to conquer it. As reported by IndiaNarrative.com earlier, New Delhi is deeply engaged with Colombo on the development of the Oil Tank Farm in Trincomalee, a mutually beneficial proposition that promises to assist Sri Lanka in building petroleum reserves and address supply and price volatility. We have decided that the work of connecting the electricity grids between the two countries will be expedited. A feasibility study will be done for a petroleum pipeline between India and Sri Lanka. Apart from this, the feasibility of a land bridge will also be examined, announced PM Modi. Wickremesinghe, who is on his first visit to India since assuming office as Lankan President last year, spotlighted that the development of Trincomalee as an energy hub with the support of India is a crucial step towards Sri Lankas goal to elevate Trincomalee as a hub for industry and other economic activities Prime Minister Modi and I believe that the construction of a multi-product petroleum pipeline from the Southern part of India to Sri Lanka will ensure an affordable and reliable supply of energy resources to Sri Lanka, he said. In May, the Chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari laid the foundation stone of India-Sri Lanka Friendship Auditorium at the Lanka Air Force Academy in Trincomalee that will be constructed under the 250 million LKR grant assistance by the Government of India (GOI), in line with Indias Neighbourhood First policy. At the same time, India has also been associated with several development partnership projects in the war-torn peninsula of Jaffna. The iconic Jaffna Cultural Centre, the foundation stone of which was laid by Prime Minister Modi in 2015, was inaugurated this February. Indias timely, unprecedented, and crucial support was deeply appreciated by Wickremesinghe as both leaders held productive and outcome-oriented discussions. Later, both countries announced that they will cooperate in development of ports and logistics infrastructure at Colombo, Trincomalee and Kankesanthurai with an aim to consolidate regional logistics and shipping. New Delhi and Colombo also agreed to resume passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam in India and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka and work towards early resumption of ferry services between Rameshwaram and Talaimannar, and other mutually agreed places. After resuming Chennai-Jaffna flight connectivity from the Jaffna International Airport rebuilt with Indian assistance last December, both countries are also currently exploring air connectivity between Chennai and Trincomalee, Batticaloa and other destinations in Sri Lanka. The longstanding partnerships have been yet another shining example of close cooperation between the two friendly neighbours, ensuring Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), as envisioned by PM Modi. Sri Lanka has been accorded the status of Priority One partner by India and New Delhi continues to lend unprecedented financial support to Lankans to help them overcome their economic hardships. A stable, secure and prosperous Sri Lanka is not only in the interest of India, but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean Region. I assure once again, that the people of India are with the Sri Lankan people in their hour of struggle, said PM Modi at the Hyderabad House on Friday with Wickremesinghe standing by his side. With India keen on popularising the Buddhist circuit and Sri Lanka its Ramayana trail as well as other ancient places of Buddhist and Hindu worship, both countries agreed that enhanced connectivity will also play a crucial role in strengthening cooperation in tourism, people-to-people exchanges and cultural relations. The foundations of our joint vision of greater future connectivity have already been laid through millennia-old civilisational, cultural, human and commercial interactions between our two countries. The thread of connectivity is woven through our history, mentioned Lankan President Wickremesinghe while emphasising that India is currently the top market for inbound tourism for Sri Lanka. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 62F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 62F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Protesters try to storm Baghdad's Green Zone over the burning of Quran and Iraqi flag in Denmark Hundreds of protesters have attempted to storm Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and the seat of Iraqs government, following reports of the burning of a Quran by a ultranationalist group in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen The Rhode Island State Police have joined the investigation into suspect nomination signatures submitted by the campaign of Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, a candidate for the U.S. House seat vacated by former Democratic Rep. David Cicilline 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 Planned strikes next week by London Underground drivers have now been suspended. Members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union were due to walk out in a long-running dispute over pay, pensions and conditions. But on Friday the unions and Transpot for London announced an eleventh-hour deal that means industrial action is no longer going ahead. Finn Brennan, Aslefs organiser on the Underground, said: After a week of intense negotiations, we have made real progress in making sure our members working conditions and pensions are protected from the impact of the Tory government cuts to Transport for London funding. There will be no changes to pension benefits before the next general election and any future changes to working conditions and agreements will only be made by negotiation. Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said: Despite the onerous funding deal conditions imposed by the Government we have managed to avoid industrial action. Negotiation is always the best way forward and this shows what we can achieve by working with trade unions. Read on for everything you need to know about the dispute and how it would have affected passengers: When was 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 would have been 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 did union bosses say? 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. Story continues 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 did Transport for London respond? Transport for London had previously insisted there were 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. But on Friday the parties agreed there would be no pension changes before the next general election. Glynn Barton, chief operating officer at TfL, said: This is good news for London and we will continue to work closely with our trade unions to discuss the issues and seek a resolution. The RMT has said that 20,000 rail workers across the UK are also to strike in July. 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. Quite a few insiders have dramatically grown their holdings in U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) over the past 12 months. An insider's optimism about the company's prospects is a positive sign. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for U.S. Bancorp The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At U.S. Bancorp In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Director Scott Wine bought US$1m worth of shares at a price of US$32.85 per share. We do like to see buying, but this purchase was made at well below the current price of US$38.42. Because the shares were purchased at a lower price, this particular buy doesn't tell us much about how insiders feel about the current share price. In the last twelve months insiders purchased 76.70k shares for US$2.4m. But they sold 46.00k shares for US$2.0m. In total, U.S. Bancorp insiders bought more than they sold 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! U.S. Bancorp is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insiders At U.S. Bancorp Have Bought Stock Recently It's good to see that U.S. Bancorp insiders have made notable investments in the company's shares. In total, insiders bought US$2.1m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any sales whatsoever. This is a positive in our book as it implies some confidence. Does U.S. Bancorp Boast High Insider Ownership? Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. U.S. Bancorp insiders own 0.2% of the company, currently worth about US$118m based on the recent share price. This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At U.S. Bancorp Tell Us? It is good to see recent purchasing. And the longer term insider transactions also give us confidence. Once you factor in the high insider ownership, it certainly seems like insiders are positive about U.S. Bancorp. One for the watchlist, at least! So these insider transactions can help us build a thesis about the stock, but it's also worthwhile knowing the risks facing this company. While conducting our analysis, we found that U.S. Bancorp has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore this. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Opposition parties BJP and JD(S) in Karnataka, on Friday, jointly announced their fight against alleged irregularities in the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor (BMIC) project promoted by Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE). The announcement was made by former chief ministers Basavaraj Bommai of BJP and H.D. Kumaraswamy of JD(S) in a joint press conference, where they urged the Congress government to take over the NICE project and order a judicial inquiry. NICE has been accused of violating the "framework agreement" with the government while implementing the BMIC project. Pointing out that there is a report by the House Committee headed by senior Congress MLA T.B. Jayachandra and a Cabinet sub-committee report headed by former minister J.C. Madhuswamy, regarding the NICE project, the leaders said taking over the NICE Project would generate Rs 20,000-30,000 crore worth revenue for the government. "The company acquired 13,000 acres of excess land, and as per the court order it has to be taken over by the government," Bommai said. Noting that the Supreme Court has said the government has powers to initiate action regarding excess land, they wanted the Congress government to make its stand clear on the issue, pointing out that Jayachandra had raised the issue in the Assembly demanding action. On his part, Kumaraswamy alleged that a toll amounting to Rs 1,325 crore has been collected illegally. Complementing former CM Bommai for taking action with respect to winning court cases against NICE, he claimed that he was helpless as CM of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government. "You know what was my situation in coalition government," he said. JD(S) wanted to raise the NICE issue in the assembly, but it could not raise it as the party decided to boycott the proceedings on Thursday and Friday along with BJP, following the suspension of 10 BJP MLAs for their "indecent and disrespectful" conduct in the House. Reacting to this, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the NICE project was brought in when JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda was CM (1994-96). "If there were irregularities, they could've taken action when they were in government. We did not do any scam. We will not do vindictive politics," he said. With pain and anger growing over women from the Kuki-Zomi tribe being paraded naked and assaulted by dozens of men, the state administration is planning to book more than one case of rape and gang-rape against the assailants. The woman who was gang-raped and then paraded, as seen in the video that went viral, is not the only sexual assault survivor. The statements of two other women accompanying the main survivor, who was the first to be gang-raped, are being recorded and the state administration may slap rape charges in their cases, too. Five arrests have been made in the first case so far. The crime of stripping and parading the other women accompanying her amounts to a similar form of sexual assault and rape under the Indian Penal Code, clarified senior government officials. As per Section 376 (2)(g) of the IPC, whoever commits gang rape, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may be for life and shall also be liable to fine. It further explains that where a woman is raped by one or more in a group of persons acting in furtherance of their common intention, each of the persons shall be deemed to have committed gang rape within the meaning of this sub-section. What technically defines as rape does not constitute only one form of sexual assault. The fact that the other women faced the worst form of sexual abuse attracts similar provisions under the law, said a senior government official. After the horrific 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case, this is the second time the jury is out on what essentially defines rape under the IPC. Rarest of rare cases of sexual assault attract death penalty and the statements of the survivors will hold the key to further action in the matter. Two other tribal women were also allegedly gang-raped and killed in Imphal, prompting the police to examine the medical records, collect evidence, forensics and testimonials of witnesses to register fresh cases of gang-rape. The horrific way the two women were murdered has made it difficult for the investigators to ascertain the level of brutality inflicted on them. The state government is trying to reach out to the families of the victims. Women bodies of all ethnic communities have come together to condemn the crimes. In New Delhi, the Union home ministry is keeping a close watch on the action being taken in these cases and all other crimes against women that constitute a part of the 6,000 odd FIRs on violence, arson, looting, burning, murder and rape registered in the state. The recent revenge crimes in Manipur are one of the biggest examples of the dangers of fake news in the digital era, as women across communities share how rumours of dozens of women being raped and killed, which were fake, started disturbing the psyche of men and women already on the edge because of the ethic clashes in the state since May 3. Once again, it were the women who faced the brunt of the internet shutdown in Manipur for almost two months and certain sections of women in Manipur feel that the failure of the state government in countering fake news using social media and other means of communication led to revenge crimes that possibly stoked the fire for the horrific gang-rape of women of the Kuki-Zomi tribe, paraded naked by a mob of men, whose video went viral causing nationwide furore. Noornika Khuraijam, a doctor in a private medical college in Imphal, describes how rumours first started gaining ground on May 3. It was all fake news. There were rumours all over how 41 women had been raped and killed in Churachandpur. We found out that it was not true but the news spread like wild fire, she said. Noornika, who spends a large part of her day and night at the medical college, said there were times when they called up their friends in other hospitals and scanned records in their own hospital to check whether any dead bodies have been brought in or cases of gang-rape have been reported. This happened on more than one occasion. Another time, there were rumours of more than a dozen dead bodies being recovered. It was a lie but there was no one to counter it officially, she said. According to Noornika, the internet shutdown not only paralysed the daily lives of people, including school and college-going children, but had a negative ripple effect on the rumour industry that picked up steam in the absence of a social media-driven campaign by the government that could have been on its feet 24/7 to dispel the fake news from time to time. While law enforcement agencies believe that shutting down the internet helps prevent mobs and inimical elements from getting traction and posing a threat by galvanising large crowds or spreading fake news, the Manipur experience has shown how the shutdown of internet services allows rumours to spread like wild fire on the ground rather than the cyber space. In far-flung areas and conflict zones where women and children are easy targets for mischief-mongers and criminals, the absence of constant communication and dispelling rumours by the local administrators can leave the playground open for atrocities to happen as seen in the recent cases. There is no one size fits all. The Manipur experience should be a lesson for all state governments to think twice before shutting down the internet to maintain peace. Instead, a robust mechanism to use the cyber space to track the inimical elements and competently counter all the fake news immediately should be put in place, said a senior government official. Noornika, who belongs to the Mitei community, said the horrifying crime is a result of incompetence of the government that failed to fulfil its duties. The decision to shut down the internet means the administration is lazy or ignorant or simply incompetent that they could not use it to dispel the rumours? The different communities were being filled with rage and belief of atrocities committed against their women and they seemed to have used it to justify their act of barbarism, she said. Grace, who belongs to the Kuki-Zomi tribe, agreed that the state government had been turning a blind eye till the video of the crime went viral. This is not the only incident. There have been incidents of elderly women, differently abled women being shot dead and some of the media called her a suicide bomber, she said. Then there were two tribal women who were raped and killed and their bodies are still lying in a hospital in Imphal. The parents have still not got their bodies, said Grace. Incidents of students being targeted in universities have been taking place, where girls are again being targeted and tortured. These atrocities are not against one community but against women of India and the culprits should be punished and given stringent punishment, she said. The violence against women has brought all communities together whether it is Naga civil society organisations, who had earlier kept a distance from the ethnic clashes in Manipur, or the women from the majority Metei community who want strict action against all those involved in such dehumanising crimes. Unprecedented rainfall continues to wreak havoc in several parts of the country, with waterlogging, landslide and floods causing loss of lives and property. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of 'heavy to extremely heavy' rainfall' in the hilly areas of Pune district, Konkan and central Maharashtra on Saturday. Heavy to very heavy rain along with thunderstorms and lightning have been predicted at isolated places over Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Pauri and Nainital in the next 24 hours. Telangana, too, continues to be battered by the monsoon with the IMD issuing a red alert on Friday amid a prediction of widespread rainfall in the state over 24 hours. Uttarakhand: The hill state, one of the worst-hit by the monsoons, witnessed waterlogging and landslides in several areas. Badrinath and Yamunotri National Highway were blocked due to landslides caused by heavy rains. Late of Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami declared areas in Haridwar waterlogged due to flood as "disaster-prone" and deferred the payment of electricity and water bills and other government dues and loans for the next three months. Due to heavy rains in Haridwar district, 71 villages were submerged, forcing several families to leave their houses for some place else, and 81 families to be shifted to temporary relief centres. Dhami said the government is working on a flood management plan to prevent similar disasters in the future. Himachal Pradesh: There is no relief in sight for the flood-wrecked state as the IMD issued fresh warning for the next five days. The weather office also said that low to moderate flash flood risk will persist in Chamba, Mandi, Kullu, Shimla and Sirmaur districts during this period, Hindustan Times reported. Maharashtra: The search and rescue teams recovered six more bodies from the site of landslide at Irshalwadi village in Raigad district taking the death toll in the incident to 22. A total of 86 persons are yet to be traced. Officials said that the survivors will be provided temporary shelter in 60 shipping containers. As heavy rains battered Mumbai, severe waterlogging and flooding are being reported from most parts of the city and suburbs. Municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal appealed to the citizens to stay indoors and venture out only if necessary. Rain-related deaths were also reported from Palghar after two men fell into a drain. Delhi: Earlier this week, Met officials predicted lighter showers in Delhi till the weekend, but also predicted rainfall could intensify later. The Yamuna which was gradually receding after the water inundates several key areas of the national capital crossed the danger mark of 205.33 metres yet again on Friday. With the IMD warning of heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh till July 22, officials are on high alert. Gujarat: The IMD has issued a red alert for the rain-battered state on Saturday and Sunday. Heavy rainfall has triggered floods in low-lying areas of Saurashtra and Kutch. The National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been put on high alert in view of the rain situation. Out of Gujarat's 206 reservoirs, 43 have been placed on high alert due to heavy inflow of water. 18 reservoirs are on alert mode, and warnings have been issued for another 19, said the state government. Monsoon rivers such as the Saraswati and Hiran are reportedly overflowing. Rajasthan: After bountiful rains this season, 114 dams are either full or "overflowing", officials told PTI. To ensure preparedness for a flood situation, control rooms have been set up in all 33 districts to monitor 54 major dam. From the monsoon's onset in the state on June 25 till July 18, the small and big dams have stored 59.71 per cent of their total storage capacity, the Water Resources Department said in a statement. -with PTI inputs Brits could potentially miss out on access to mainstream web services like FaceTime and iMessage due to proposed updates to the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016 in the UK. The proposed changes would require messaging services to get approval from the Home Office for their security features before releasing them to the public. The Home Office would also have the authority to demand that certain security features be disabled without informing the public. This has raised concerns among technology companies and privacy advocates. Apple, in particular, has threatened to remove its end-to-end encrypted communication services, FaceTime and iMessage, from the UK if the proposed changes are enforced. Other companies, such as WhatsApp and Signal, have also expressed opposition to similar measures in the past. The main concern is that these proposed changes could lead to widespread surveillance of everyone's devices and potentially compromise data security and privacy. Critics argue that opening backdoors or weakening encryption could make users vulnerable to exploitation by adversaries, whether they are criminal or political entities. Additionally, there are fears that the proposed changes could impact the impending Online Safety Bill, leading to mandatory backdoors for end-to-end encryption, which has been strongly opposed by tech companies. The UK government has opened an eight-week consultation on the proposed amendments to the IPA. While the government claims the updates are meant to make the act more relevant to current technology and protect the public from criminals and terrorists, technology companies and privacy advocates are likely to resist the proposed measures, viewing them as intrusive and potentially harmful to user interests. US President Joe Biden has picked a female admiral to lead the US Navy, which would make her the first woman to hold the position if confirmed by the Senate. She will also become the first woman to serve on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to be a Pentagon service chief. Biden, in a statement on Friday, said that throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas Franchetti will bring 38 years of dedicated service to our nation as a commissioned officer, including in her current role of Vice Chief of Naval Operations. Franchetti is the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the US Navy, said Biden, adding that when confirmed, she will again make history as the first woman to serve as the Chief of Naval Operations and on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Franchetti was commissioned in 1985 and formerly commanded the US 6th Fleet and US naval forces in South Korea. She has also served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfighting Development, and director for Strategy, Plans, and Policy of the Joint Staff. She was also an aircraft carrier strike commander. According to Homeland Security Today, Franchetti is a recipient of personal awards including the Defence Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Defence Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (five awards), Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards). But Franchetti was not the preferred pick of Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, who recommended that Biden choose Admiral Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navys Pacific Fleet, for the top Navy job, according to officials. However, Biden is naming Paparo as the chief of the US Indo-Pacific Command instead. Meanwhile, Austin supported Bidens decision, saying, Im very proud that Admiral Franchetti has been nominated to be the first woman Chief of Naval Operations and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where she will continue to inspire all of us. The US Coast Guard is also headed by a woman, Admiral Linda L. Fagan. But she is not a member of the Joint Staff as the Coast Guard comes under the Department of Homeland Security and not the Defence Department. It is uncertain if and when the Senate will confirm Franchettis nomination and hence, she is likely to take over the position in an acting capacity. The holdup in the Senate comes as Alabama Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville is currently stalling hundreds of military promotions to protest the Pentagon's policy to pay the expenses of service members who have to travel out of state to get abortions. In his statement, Biden slammed Tuberville, saying delaying the confirmation of the nominees "is not only wrongit is dangerous." He is risking our ability to ensure that the United States Armed Forces remain the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. And his Republican colleagues in the Senate know it, he added. Other stalled nominations include Vice Admiral James Kilby for vice chief of Naval Operations and Vice Admiral Stephen Koehler for commander of the Pacific Fleet. A Russian journalist reporting from frontline got killed and three other journalists suffered injuries in Ukraine's attack, Russia's defence ministry said. Russia accused the journalists got hit in an Ukrainian attack allegedly using cluster munitions supplied by the US. According to a statement from the Russian defence ministry, the four journalists belonged to pro-Russian media got wounded in an attack in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Four correspondents for pro-Kremlin media suffered injuries and one journalist from the state RIA agency later succumbed to the injuries, the statement said. The deceased journalist was identified as Rostislav Zhuravlyov, a correspondent with RIA Novosti. Zhuravlyov died during evacuation, the TASS news agency reported. The Kremlin-installed head of the occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, Yevhen Balitsky, claimed in a Telegram post that the journalists were travelling in a civilian vehicle that was hit by shells. "At about 12 on July 22, 2023, Ukrainian forces carried out an artillery strike at a group of Izvestia and RIA Novosti reporters preparing their reports about Ukrainian cluster munition shellings of Zaporizhzhia region settlements. A cluster munitions strike caused various injuries to four reporters," TASS reported quoting the ministry. The condition of other reporters were reportedly stable, the publication reported. Mystery looms around the death of at least 2,000 penguins on the eastern coast of Uruguay. With authorities ruling out avian influenza, the death the penguins is yet to be known. The penguin deaths have occurred in the last 10 days. The penguins were, reportedly, found dead in Atlantic Ocean and were carried by currents to Uruguayan shores. Carmen Leizagoyen, head of the Environment Ministry's department of fauna, told AFP that the Magellanic penguins, mostly juveniles, died in the Atlantic Ocean and were carried by currents to Uruguayan shores. All samples were tested negative for avian influenza, she said. "This is mortality in the water. Ninety percent are young specimens that arrive without fat reserves and with empty stomachs," Leizagoyen was quoted by AFP. Magellanic penguins mostly remain on the continental shelf in Argentina. These penguins migrate north in search of food and warm water during winters. Studies have shown them even in reaching the coast of Espirito Santo in Brazil. It is not normal for these many penguins to die, said Leizagoyen. Earlier similar incident took place in Brazil last year for undetermined reasons. Over 500 dead penguins were spotted along six miles of Atlantic coast by Hector Caymaris, director of Laguna de Rocha protected area. "From 1990s and 2000s we began to see animals with a lack of food. The resource is over exploited," Richard Tesore, of the NGO SOS Marine Wildlife Rescue told AFP. A subtropical cyclone in the Atlantic, which hit southeastern Brazil in mid-July, probably caused the weakest animals to die from the inclement weather, he added. Tesore also sad that dead petrels, albatrosses, seagulls, sea turtles and sea liones were found dead on the beaches of Maldonado. New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) A fire broke out at Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited's (ONGC) rig in the Geleky area of Sivasagar district of Assam on Friday, but was quickly put out. No one was injured. The incident took place at around 1450 hrs, the company said in a statement. "ONGC promptly activated its emergency response protocols, and the company's fire tenders immediately rushed to the site to douse the fire. "With the swift and efficient response of the firefighters from ONGC Assam Asset, the fire was promptly extinguished, preventing any loss of life or injuries," it said. The fire was brought under control by 1617 hrs. However, the ONGC firefighting team continued the cooling operations. "The wellsite has been secured and is presently under constant observation of experts," it said. "No injury to any personnel of ONGC or its business partner has been reported." (Bloomberg) -- Deutsche Welle said a cameramen working for the German broadcaster was wounded by Russian cluster munitions in the Donetsk region and a Ukrainian soldier died in the attack. Russias defense ministry said a correspondent for the state news agency RIA Novosti died from injuries from an alleged a Ukrainian cluster munitions strike in the Zaporizhzhia region. The claim couldnt be verified. Most Read from Bloomberg A Ukrainian drone strike destroyed an ammunition dump and oil depot in Russian-occupied Crimea, Ukraines armed forces said on Telegram. Sergey Aksyonov, the peninsulas Kremlin-installed governor, said no one was hurt but railroad traffic was halted for a time. Russia attacked southeastern Ukraine with Iranian Shahed drones early Saturday and all five were shot down, Ukraines general staff said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy conveyed resolve about targeting Russian military sites in Crimea, after a July 17 attack damaged the Kerch Strait bridge linking Russia and occupied Crimea. Any objective, any target that is bringing war, not peace, has to be neutralized in Crimea, he said in an interview on CNNs Fareed Zakaria GPS to be aired Sunday. Zelenskiy spoke late Friday with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he seeks to restart grain shipments after Moscow withdrew from the Black Sea safe-transit agreement. The parties coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the initiative, according to Zelenskiys office. The US wants Erdogans government, which brokered the original deal along with the UN, to play a leadership role in prodding Russia back into the agreement, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday. Story continues Latest Coverage Poland Summons Russian Envoy After Putins Border Comments Russia Arrests Colonel Turned Critic of Army and Putin Ukraine Says It Completes Nationalization of Tycoons Sense Bank Russia Raises Rates for First Time Since Invasion Aftermath Coming Up Sunday meeting between Putin and Belarus Lukashenko Russias invasion hits 17-month mark on Monday Markets Wheat Slumps as Traders Shrug Off Ukraine Angst Wheat futures fell more than 4% on Friday, taking a breather after surging about 11% over three days as traders focused on ample global supplies even amid continued tensions in the Black Sea. Both Ukraine and Russia warned this week that ships headed to each others ports could be considered military targets, setting off alarm bells. Fridays comments by Russias deputy foreign minister suggested the worst of the worries were overblown. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Panaji, July 22 (PTI) The larger view of G20 energy ministers who met in Goa on Saturday was that unabated fossil fuels should be phased down, Union minister R K Singh said. Singh, who chaired the meeting, said all the countries are on the same page as far as the need to combat climate change is concerned. Some members at the meeting underlined the importance of working towards phasing down unabated fossil fuels through efforts built upon safe, stable, diverse, and reliable supplies of various existing, new and emerging clean and renewable energy options, while others put different views on this matter, stated the outcome document of the meeting. Given that fossil fuels currently continue to play a significant role in the global energy mix, eradication of energy poverty, and in meeting the growing energy demand, the importance of making efforts towards phasing down of unabated fossil fuels, in line with different national circumstances was emphasized by some members. "Other members had different views on the matter that abatement and removal technologies will address such concerns, reads the document. Singh said the efforts towards phasing down unabated fossil fuels must be built upon safe, stable, diverse and reliable supplies of various existing, new and emerging clean and renewable energy options, aiding towards low emissions development. In this respect, the significance of rapidly deploying various clean energy sources, including renewable energy, in achieving global net zero/carbon neutrality by or around mid-century in line with different national circumstances, along with adequate support to developing countries, was emphasized, the minister said. During the meeting, all the countries were on the same page as far as the need to combat climate change is concerned, Singh said, adding that all the ministers felt that this was a very successful conference and outcomes were satisfactory. The minister said the energy transition has been happening. The 85 per cent of all capacity addition has been renewable. We will increase the pace of energy transition. We are also of the view that any climate action has to happen taking into consideration national circumstances of the respective countries, he said. Singh said that access to energy was a major aspect which needs to be looked at by the world community. He said the Clean Energy Ministerial meeting (held on Friday) discussed technologies which needed to be accelerated. We emphasized the need to accelerate technology. We also felt that for going to net zero, the storage is essential, the minister said. The meeting also discussed the issue of supply chain. We emphasized the need to diversify the supply chain especially as far as critical minerals are concerned. The issues of affordability of energy were also kept in mind, the minister added. Itanagar, Jul 22 (PTI) The Arunachal Pradesh government has approved the allotment of 2,000 MW Subansiri Upper Hydro project and 1,800 MW Kamala project to state-run hydropower giant National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd, an official said on Saturday. Both projects were earlier allotted to private power developers. The government conveyed the information of approval of the projects to NHPC on Friday, a senior official of the state hydropower department told PTI. The Subansiri Upper project is located in the Upper Subansiri district of the northeastern state on the Subansiri river, a tributary of the river Brahmaputra, while the Kamala Project to be constructed on Kamala river, a tributary of Subansiri, is located in Kamle district. The Subansiri Upper project was allotted to KSK Energy Venture Ltd on March 18, 2010, while, the Kamala project was offered to Jindal Power Ltd on August 28, 2009, by signing memorandum of agreements (MoAs). There was no physical progress in both the projects and the power developers could do little of pre-construction activities, the official said. The formal MoA signing ceremony would be held next month, where Union Power Minister R K Singh is likely to attend. The state government has so far terminated 44 memorandums of agreement (MoAs) with various private power developers as they "showed less interest" in executing projects allotted to them. The projects which have been withdrawn from private developers would be handed over to central public sector understandings (CPSUs) and accordingly, fresh MoAs would be signed soon, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, who also holds the power portfolio, had said recently. "After the allotments, progress in many projects could not be achieved due to various reasons. Despite serving several notices to private developers concerned, they were not inclined to execute the projects, for which, 44 MoAs have been terminated," Mein had said. The state government is regularly pursuing the matter of hydropower development with the Centre and as a result, the central government in its recent decision prepared an indicative list of 29 projects, the deputy chief minister disclosed. Mein on July 19 held a meeting with the Union Power minister at New Delhi and discussed the progress made in various steps leading to the transfer of power projects from private developers to CPSUs and informed the minister about the headway achieved by the state government in this regard. Four CPSUs have been identified for the purpose - Neepco Ltd, Nhpc Ltd, Sjvn Ltd and Thdc India Ltd, the official said. The transfer process has been carefully designed in consultation with various stakeholders, including the Centre and is set to culminate with the signing of MoAs, the official said. The state government has decided to transfer 13 projects with an installed capacity of 12,623 MW to CPSUs including, two to NHPC, one project to Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) Ltd, five to Northeast Electrical Power Corporation (NEEPCO) Ltd and five to Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam (SJVN) Ltd, respectively. The NHPC is already constructing the 2,000 MW Subansiri Lower Hydroelectric Project at Gerukamukh in the Assam-Arunachal boundary, which is nearing commissioning and has recently started construction of the 2,880 MW Dibang Multipurpose Project on river Dibang in the state. BENGALURU, India and DETROIT, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ati Motors, maker of autonomous industrial robots, today announced the close of its Series A funding round in the amount of US$10.85 million. The investment, occurring alongside the company's product launch event, will further accelerate the development and deployment of Ati Motors' robotics technology for automating work in industrial environments and warehouses. The Series A round is led by True Ventures, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology companies. Athera Ventures Partners, also joined as a new investor, bringing its extensive experience in deep tech investments. The round saw significant participation from previous investors: Blume Ventures, Exfinity Ventures and MFV Partners. The latest funding will empower Ati Motors to expand into markets in the US, South East Asia, Japan, and Europe while exploring untapped opportunities across pharmaceuticals, chemicals, maritime, and injection molding sectors. Ati Motors will continue to invest in research and development to launch new products and capabilities in the market. At the product launch event, the Ati Motors team showcased new models of its advanced autonomous mobile robots designed to enhance productivity and efficiency across various sectors. The company's robots are inspired by self-driving cars in terms of how they combine artificial intelligence, computer vision, and hardware to perform complex tasks in dynamic environments. Key use cases have spanned industries such as warehousing, logistics manufacturing, and more. The company has achieved strong product market fit within factories in the automotive, tyres and electrical industries. "The autonomous robots space is brimming with immense opportunities, and we're at the forefront of this revolution as we transform industrial operations," said Saurabh Chandra, CEO of Ati Motors. "This funding will fuel our expansion into new markets and industries. With the support of our investors who share our vision, we're well-positioned to continue pushing the boundaries of robotics technology and meet the evolving needs of our customers." "Ati Motors has developed a remarkable platform that has the potential to revolutionize multiple sectors," said Rohit Sharma, partner at True Ventures. "We're excited to lead this funding round and support the Ati Motors team in their mission to deploy intelligent robots to solve complex challenges in Industrial applications today. This team, combined with a relentless focus on innovation, positions them as a key player in the autonomous robotics space." "We are pleased to back Saurabh and his team at Ati. The team's ability to design autonomous robots that operate in demanding manufacturing environments, is a testament to the availability of multidisciplinary skills in the Indian start-up ecosystem," said Parag Dhol, partner at Athera Ventures. "We look forward to working with the Ati team to create a leading robotics company from India." Ati Motors counts Bosch, TVS Motors, CEAT and Hyundai amongst some of its key customers across India and US. The demand for autonomous mobile robots is rapidly increasing, driven by the need for efficient and flexible solutions in a changing world. Ati Motors' robots have demonstrated their ability to reduce costs, optimize workflows, and improve safety in various industries; crucial steps for businesses striving to stay ahead in a competitive landscape. Media kit- Ati Motors Product VIdeo About Ati Motors Ati Motors is a leading autonomous mobile robot manufacturer dedicated to transforming industries through innovative robotics technology inspired by self-driving cars. With a focus on artificial intelligence, computer vision, and cutting-edge hardware, Ati Motors develops autonomous mobile robots that optimize productivity and streamline operations in sectors such as warehousing, logistics, and manufacturing. Previously, Ati Motors had raised US$3.5 million in Pre-series A funding led by Blume Ventures, Exfinity Venture Partners, and MFV Partners in 2021. The company has also received seed funding from Village Global, an early-stage fund based in the Bay Area and backed by Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, among others. Learn more at www.atimotors.com. About True Ventures True Ventures is a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm that invests in early-stage technology startups. The True team believes creativity flourishes when founders are supported fully and empowered to pursue brave ideas. To that end, the True Platform offers programs that inspire professional and personal growth. To date, True has helped more than 350 companies launch and scale their businesses, creating over 85,000 jobs worldwide. For more information, visit www.trueventures.com. About Athera Venture Partners Athera (formerly Inventus India) has a rich history of backing entrepreneurs in the technology space. The Athera team has 35+ years of operating and entrepreneurial experience, and 60+ years of early-stage venture experience. The Athera team has backed over 60 Indian technology start-ups in their venture careers. For more information, visit www.atheravp.com (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR Panaji, Jul 22 (PTI) Drone maker Garuda Aerospace will collaborate with Goa's Department of Agriculture to conduct a drone yatra, an initiative boosting the usage of drones in this sector. The company in a statement said that the Goa Agriculture Department has invited them to collaborate in conducting the initiative of the Drone Yatra aiming to create awareness and promote the adoption of drone technology in agriculture. "This collaboration signifies a joint commitment to harnessing cutting-edge technology for the betterment of agricultural practices in the state. Through their innovative technology, farmers can now utilize Nano Urea spraying, maximizing efficiency, and productivity," the company said. The official said that the Drone Yatra in Goa is specially tailored to empower farmers with knowledge about the latest advancements in precision agriculture. "By utilising Nano Urea spraying through Kisan Drones, farmers can optimise the use of resources, minimise environmental impact, and ultimately increase their yield and income. The Drone Yatra will be conducted in 100 villages in the period of one month," the official said. In 2022, Union Minister Anurag Thakur flagged off the Drone Yatra 2.0 marking a significant milestone for this ground-breaking project with an aim to cover 755 districts across India. Agnishwar Jayaprakash, Founder and CEO, Garuda Aerospace said that their mission is to empower farmers with cutting-edge technology that will drive sustainable agricultural practices and boost productivity by enhancing the lives of the farmers. Guwahati, Jul 22 (PTI) To reach out to a wider audience, the Assam government has tied up with Jio Cinema to host a short film made by it on legendary Ahom general Lachit Borphukan available on the OTT platform, an official statement said. The state government will produce similar short films on topics such as the world's largest Bihu dance ensemble and Assam Tea's 200 years and showcase these through partnerships with various OTTs, the official statement said on Friday. "Now, to ensure that this film gets a much wider reach, the Assam Government has tied up with Jio Cinema to host this short film on the OTT platform. By doing so, it also becomes the first state in India to use OTT platform to reach the national audience," the statement said. Pointing to the fast-growing subscriber base of OTT platforms, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "We have close to 45 crore OTT subscribers compared to 15 crore television sets. We want to showcase Assam's great historical and cultural heritage to this new age audience, and in the coming days we plan to leverage some of the successful platforms for this purpose." "It is a proud moment for Assam that a film on Bir Lachit Borphukan is now available in one of the country's largest OTT platform, Jio Cinema," he added. The film on Borphukan was produced by the state government as part of the 400th birth anniversary celebration of the Ahom military leader and was first screened on November 25 last year in New Delhi, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It was also the first ever Hindi language documentary film on the iconic Assamese warrior, the statement said. The state government will produce similar short films on topics such as the world's largest Bihu celebration and 200 years of Assam Tea, and these will be made available on some of Indias top OTT platforms like Jio Cinema, Hotstar, Prime Video, etc, the statement added. New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Celebrated fashion designer Rahul Mishra will bring the curtains down on the 16th edition of the India Couture Week (ICW). The fashion gala, organised jointly by Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) and Hyundai Motor India, will be held from July 25 to August 2 at the Taj Palace hotel here. Mishra will present a collection that is built on the "core belief of uplifting artisans and highlighting Indian culture through 'We The People' initiatives that strives to draw enablers of couture, the artisans, to the face of this narrative", a press release stated. "I am thrilled to be joined by Hyundai this season, as a title partner for our Couture Festive 2023 showcase at India Couture Week 2023. With our shared visions of environmental consciousness, constant innovation and prime workmanship, this partnership feels natural and instinctual. "With this showcase, we celebrate the coming together of cutting-edge technology and traditional values of simpler, sustainable living that shall shape the future," the designer said. The range will be an extension of the couture fall 2023 collection Mishra showcased at the Haute Couture Week in Paris earlier this month. FDCI chairman Sunil Sethi said Mishra has been making an impact across the world with his work. "The FDCI is extremely proud of his success - both domestic and international - having been a part of his journey since the very beginning at Couture Week. Since Hyundai also wanted to focus on Indian craftsmanship this season, Rahul was the perfect choice as his collection is an homage to the Indian artisan," he added. As part of the 16 years celebration, the India Couture Week will present 16 artistic showcases by renowned couturiers. Participating designers include Anamika Khanna, Dolly J, Falguni Shane Peacock, Gaurav Gupta, JJ Valaya, Kunal Rawal, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Rimzim Dadu, Ritu Kumar, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Rose Room, Samant Chauhan, Shantnu Nikhil, Suneet Varma, Tarun Tahiliani and Varun Bahl. Lahore, July 22 (PTI) A senior police officer died after allegedly consuming aphrodisiac drugs in Pakistan's Punjab province on Saturday, police said. Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Shariq Jamal was found dead at his flat in the city in the early hours of Saturday. According to police, a woman brought Jamal to the National Hospital in Lahore where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival. The exact cause of death will be determined after autopsy. The body has been shifted to the city mortuary for post mortem, they said. However, a senior officer of the Punjab police told PTI that DIG Jamal was with a woman in his flat when he suffered a fatal heart attack. "The woman, who is an officer in the Election Commission of Pakistan, told police investigators that Jamal took sex pills after which his condition deteriorated," he said, adding that it was the woman who took Jamal to the hospital. Quoting the woman, the senior Punjab police officer said that she was in a relationship with the DIG for quite some time. Jamal had separated from his wife with whom he has a daughter. The officer further said the police have taken the possession of the 'prohibited' medicines found in the DIG's room and also taken the woman into custody for further investigation. No case has been registered as yet. Aphrodisiac drugs are banned in Pakistan and the authorities often impose heavy fines on pharmacies and arrest the sellers of such medicines. Islamabad, Jul 22 (PTI) The Afghan Taliban has asked the Pakistan government to initiate another round of negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan terror group, with a top leader in Kabul telling Islamabad that it should prefer peace over war, a media report said on Saturday. Pakistan's latest efforts aimed at seeking action against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) by Kabul could not make headway, The Express Tribune newspaper reported. Pakistan dispatched its special envoy to Kabul this week on a three-day trip to convey a clear message that Afghanistan's Taliban-led interim government will have to take decisive action against the TTP, blamed for a number of major terror attacks in the country. Ambassador Asad Durrani met with Afghanistans Acting Prime Minister Maulvi Abdul Kabir, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and other officials during his trip. But the Afghan Taliban told him after a series of meetings that Pakistan should pursue the path of peace instead of the use of force, the newspaper reported. Official sources familiar with the closed-door engagements told the paper that the Afghan Taliban leadership was told in clear terms that Pakistans patience was wearing thin vis-a-vis the TTP. On the issue, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch also at her weekly news briefing this week said: The issue of terrorism...is an issue of serious concern to Pakistan. And Pakistan has raised this issue with the Afghan authorities on multiple occasions and at every important engagement that takes place between Pakistan and the Afghan interim authorities." We have discussed the threat of terrorism emanating from the Afghan soil, she added when asked whether Ambassador Durrani took up the issue of cross-border terrorism with the Afghan authorities. But despite Pakistans insistence on action against the TTP, the Afghan Taliban government is not ready to go that path. The deputy Afghan prime minister suggested the Pakistani envoy to pursue the path of peace instead of the use of force, the report quoted sources as saying. They said it was evident that the Afghan Taliban was not interested in taking action against the TTP. Instead, Kabul once again asked Pakistan to start peace talks with the TTP. Pakistan has abandoned the peace process after the TTP stepped up attacks and took advantage of the earlier rounds of talks. The civil and military leadership decided that Pakistan would no longer seek talks with the TTP. But at any stage, if talks are needed those can only take place once the TTP surrenders. Pakistan has accused the Taliban government in Kabul of tolerating the presence of the banned TTP militants in the war-torn country. Pakistan has seen a significant increase in TTP attacks since the Afghan Taliban came to power in 2021. The Afghan acting prime minister Kabir asked Durrani if Pakistan should prefer peace over war, the report said. He said due to the bitter experience of wars in Afghanistan, he would advise Pakistan to take the path of negotiations instead. Kabir said he sees peace in Pakistan in the interest of Afghanistan and considers acts of violence there as a loss for Afghanistan and as a Muslim country Afghanistan does not want fighting and unrest in Pakistan. He assured the Pakistani envoy that the Afghan Taliban government had a policy of non-interference in the internal matters of other countries. He claimed that Afghanistan would not allow its soil to be used against any other country including Pakistan. The sources said Ambassador Durrani would brief the government on his return from Kabul and give his assessment. The sources said Pakistan is unlikely to accept the Afghan Taliban offer. The sources said Pakistan would devise its strategy keeping in view the input from the special envoy, reported The Express Tribune. Dhaka, Jul 22 (PTI) At least 17 people were killed and more than a dozen injured after a passenger bus veered off the road and rolled into a large roadside pond in southwestern Bangladesh on Saturday. The accident took place in the Jhalakathi district when the bus carrying over 60 passengers was on its way to Barishal, southwestern divisional headquarters, from Bhandaria sub-district, police said. The vehicle fell into the pond after its driver lost control of the wheel. The divers have rescued 17 bodies and a police crane is trying to retrieve the bus from the pond filled with water after heavy monsoon rains, a police officer told reporters. Police sub-inspector Gautamm Kumar Ghose said the dead included eight women and three children. He feared more bodies could be found trapped inside the bus once the salvage campaign was completed. Twenty other passengers are being treated at the Jhalakathis main state-run hospital. It is believed that 65 passengers were inside the bus. I was sitting just beside the drivers seat. The driver apparently was not careful or attentive while driving the bus, said Russell Mollah, a 35-year passenger who was injured in the accident. He said the driver was constantly talking to his assistant and asking him to get more passengers on board. Mollah lost his 75-year-old father in the accident while his elder brother is still missing. The stomachs of patients we are treating contain excessive water as the bus plunged into the pond, said a doctor at the health facility. Johannesburg, Jul 22 (PTI) The BRICS Urbanisation Forum that was inaugurated in New Delhi in February 2013 will have its first in-person follow-up in the South African city of Durban next week. During the two-day gathering that begins on July 26, the delegates from the five-nation BRICS bloc will discuss some of the key urban developmental issues to understand how globally cities are becoming more resilient towards these challenges. The last edition of the forum was hosted online under the presidency of China in 2022. The forum brings together ministerial delegations, representatives from local governments, policymakers, and other stakeholders to place key issues of urbanisation on their agenda for action. As the current chair of BRICS, South African Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Thembi Nkadimeng will host the forum under the theme Advancing urban resilience for sustainable cities and towns for future generations. The forum is one of several high-level interactions taking place in the weeks leading up to the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 22, which will be attended by the heads of state of Brazil, India, China and South Africa. Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending in person but participating online to avoid his arrest in the wake of an International Court of Justice warrant against him for alleged war crimes. The BRICS Urbanisation Forum provides a platform for governments, organisations, experts and scholars from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) to engage with some of the issues expected to arise at the BRICS Summit, and subsequently provide policy advice to the leaders of the bloc when they meet next month. Areas of discussion will include building productive and sustainable urban economies and livelihood survival strategies in urban environments. The BRICS Urbanisation Forum will go a long way to sharing insights, exchanging best practices, and fostering collaboration on urban development challenges among the BRICS member countries," CoGTA said in a statement. South Africa will utilise this opportunity to also showcase the country's achievements in urbanisation, highlighting successful projects that have contributed to sustainable development and inclusive growth, it said. The Forum acknowledges the global trend of increasing urbanisation, with a significant influx of people migrating to cities worldwide. "It further acknowledges that cities must transform into centres of innovation and creativity to overcome the challenges that arise from rapid urbanisation, rural-urban migration, climate change, and limited resources, it added. Also expected to come under the spotlight is the increasing number of cities that are choosing to employ smart technologies and promote innovative practices as part of their endeavours to enhance resilience and liveability, in response to challenges such as congestion, rising crime rates, growing urban poverty, and the need for more efficient service delivery. "South Africa is honoured to welcome distinguished delegates from BRICS countries as well as other African countries for this vital gathering that will dissect some of the key urban development issues to understand how globally cities are becoming more resilient towards these challenges, Nkadimeng said. Localisation of the UN sustainable development goals; digital transformation; sustainable human settlements; climate change; and urban water resilience will also be on the agenda. The eThekwini Metro, within which the city of Durban falls, has been chosen to host the forum to highlight its response to the devastating floods experienced in 2022. Massive destruction of homes, businesses and infrastructure continues to be addressed in the city. The metro will show how it brought together all of government and society to collaborate and align efforts toward achieving common goals in such crises. After a week of sweltering temperatures around metro Phoenix, when both of the area's major electric utilities reported new records for high use, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has asked the state's power companies to detail their action plans to prevent outages and help customers if emergencies arise. The governor's Friday letter to power companies also invites them to a roundtable meeting to prepare for future heatwaves "by improving grid resiliency, home weatherization and energy efficiency." The letter requests that the utilities address how they will prevent power disconnection, mitigate and repair grid outages, help customers in an emergency outage (and) provide services for customers who may fall into arrears. It also asks them about providing additional community services to mitigate the impact of the heat wave. The two major electricity providers around metro Phoenix, Arizona Public Service and Salt River Project, acknowledged receiving the letter. APS said it plans to provide a response to the governor's office, while SRP said it welcomes "the open discussion with Gov. Hobbs and (looks) forward to sharing how we are ensuring grid reliability, providing customer assistance and increasing community support during this unprecedented heat wave." It's hot in the Valley: Here's how Phoenix plans to deal with heat this summer APS on Tuesday highlighted its heat wave plans, including having crews at the ready, and it urged customers to conserve energy during peak hours between 4 and 7 p.m. Each day this week, peak usage was between 5 and 6 p.m., according to the company. "The threat this heat poses to Arizonans cannot be understated," the governor wrote, noting the deaths that have already occurred this summer. Maricopa County has seen 18 confirmed heat-related deaths and another 69 deaths that are suspected to be related to the heat as of July 15. "As this devastating heat wave continues, the risk of heat-related deaths, illness and injury will only increase," Hobbs' letter reads. Story continues Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater said the letter was sent to Arizona Public Service, Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power, Southwest Gas, Mesa and electricity co-operatives that provide service in rural areas. The letter also cites an announcement by the state workplace-safety agency earlier this week that its inspectors would focus on high-heat hazards and conduct targeted inspections of industries that are considered high-risk, such as agriculture and construction. Utility preparations draw praise While Hobbs is seeking more information from the companies that keep Arizonans cool, one of the states top regulators touted the ability of local power utilities to meet heightened demand. Jim OConnor, Arizona Corporation Commission chairman, described the utilities' performance as a triumph, calling it a collaborative effort involving diligence, foresight and preparation. We've proven time and again that we're all in this together, he said in a prepared statement. Ted Geisler, APS' president, supported that view. Despite historic levels of energy usage, APS and its customers experienced no issues related to power supply, and that does not happen by accident," he said in a statement. "It takes years of planning, maintaining a diverse energy mix, investing in and strengthening the electric system, and most importantly, teams of people who are dedicated to keeping the lights on for customers when they need us most." SRP said it invests in the power grid to mitigate the risk of a prolonged outage and conducts careful planning to ensure the company has enough generation capacity to meet peak energy needs. "When an outage does occur, our crews are available around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement. "SRP carries spare equipment in preparation for storm events to expedite power restoration and recovery time." Power outage: Thousands were without power in Mesa as temperatures expected to reach 117 degrees Given this summers heat wave, SRP added that it would make temporary changes to its disconnection policy and would not stop service for nonpayment for any residential and commercial customers through July. Customers in an SRP program known as the Economy Price Plan will not be disconnected for nonpayment through August. SRP urged customers facing problems paying their bills to contact the utility "as quickly as possible so we can offer solutions to help them avoid a worsening financial situation." SRP offers various options to help customers with past-due balances, including extending due dates and making other payment arrangements. APS does not shut off power for nonpayment during the warmer months. "APS maintains a seasonal hold on disconnects for non-payment, meaning from June 1 through Oct. 15 we do not shut off power for past-due accounts," said Yessica del Rincon, a spokeswoman for the utility, in an email. "We also waive late fees during this period." Power-use records tumble like dominos Statistics provided by OConnor show each of the states three main electricity providers have exceeded their peak summer forecasts in recent days, yet each still has more capacity. In the case of APS, which supplies power to various parts of the state including much of metro Phoenix, the company forecast a peak summer power need of 8,184 megawatts but recently hit 8,191, he indicated. APS said Thursday's energy use by its more than 1.3 million customers, at 8,193 megawatts, was a record. The total from July 14 through 20 recorded the seven highest peak-use days in APS history. Power outage: Thousands were without power in Chandler as temperatures hit 119 for a second day in a row Salt River Project forecast a peak of 7,747 megawatts but reached 7,798, while Tucson Electric Power forecast 2,955 and hit 3,369, according to O'Connor. SRP, which also serves much of metro Phoenix, said it recently set yet another record for power delivered at 8,163 megawatts late Tuesday afternoon. Utilities cite different measurements for power use. SRP estimates one megawatt is capable of powering about 225 average-sized homes, while APS estimates one megawatt powers roughly 160 homes. Factors in Arizona's power-reliability favor OConnor cited several factors that he said distinguished Arizona from other states facing temperature extremes. One is using a diversified mix of fuel sources including nuclear power, coal, natural gas, renewable energy such as wind and solar power, as well as energy stored in batteries for release during periods of peak demand. Another is self-sufficiency, in which he said Arizona isnt dependent on power imported from other states, though utilities here do tap these sources when needed. Proactive maintenance is another key factor, with much work conducted prior to summer months, he said. Then there's grid interconnectivity and communication among utilities during peak summer months so that each company is kept informed about needs, potential disruptions and other challenges. Some utilities have agreements with customers who voluntarily allow them to adjust thermostats during peak demand periods. According to O'Connor, SRP and APS have nearly the same amount of power capacity at 9,498 and 9,401 megawatts, respectively, with Tucson Electric Power at 3,612. Reach the reporter at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com. Reach reporter Stacey Barchenger at stacey.barchenger@arizonarepublic.com or 480-416-5669. Follow her on Twitter @sbarchenger. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Gov. Hobbs asks APS, SRP for action plans to prevent power outages Gwalior, Jul 22 (PTI) Responding to the jibes of Congress leaders that his ancestor `betrayed' Rani Lakshmibai, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Saturday asked why his late father and later he were allowed to join the party. He was unfazed by such criticism, the BJP leader who left the Congress in 2020 told reporters here. Those who have not read a page of history, let them speak whatever they want to. My and family's deeds, thoughts and ideology are dedicated to Gwalior, Gwalior division, Madhya Pradesh and the country.....If they are so concerned, why did they induct my father (late Madhavrao Scindia), me in the Congress? he asked. Posters claiming that the Scindias, erstwhile rulers of Gwalior, betrayed Lakshmibai, the Rani of Jhansi, during the 1857 revolt, and later the Congress party in 1967 and 2020, came up in the city before Congress leader's Priyanka Gandhi's rally here on Friday. At the rally, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Govind Singh reiterated that the Scindia family first let down Lakshmibai and then the Congress in 1967 (referring to Vijaya Raje Scindia who toppled a Congress government in the state). The then Maharaja of Gwalior is blamed by some critics for not helping the Rani of Jhansi against the British. The Congress' government in the state fell in March 2020 after MLAs loyal to Jyotiraditya Scindia revolted and joined the BJP. Muzaffarpur (Bihar), Jul 22 (PTI) Three persons were shot dead and two others injured by four unidentified motorcycle-borne gunmen in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, police said on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday night in the Town Thana area, when the assailants gunned down property dealer Ashutosh Kumar Shahi (45) and his security guards Nizamuddin and Rahul, a senior officer said. Injured have been identified as Sayeed Kasim, an advocate, and one Omnath, he said. The exact cause of the incident has not been ascertained so far, but prima facie, it appears to be a case of land dispute, Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Rakesh Kumar said. The incident took place when the property dealer and his security guards had gathered at the house of Kasim in the Town Thana area last night. Suddenly, four unidentified people came there. Two of them entered the house and started firing on Shahi and others," the SSP said. While Shahi and Nizamuddin died on the spot, Rahul succumbed to his injuries at a government hospital, the police officer said, adding that two others, who sustained bullet injuries, are undergoing treatment and their conditions are stated to be stable. The police have registered a case, and an investigation is going on, the SSP said. "A search has also been launched to nab the accused," he added. Kolkata, July 22 (PTI) Two women were stripped and assaulted in West Bengal's Malda district earlier this week by a group of people, BJP claimed on Saturday. A purported video of the incident showing the mob beating the women up mercilessly on Wednesday was shared in the social media by Amit Malviya, the head of BJP's IT cell on Saturday. The state Minister for Women and Child Health, Shashi Panja told reporters here that the women were involved in a fight between themselves and policemen who were present at the spot tried to stop them. Later the women left on their own. Police said the women had gone to sell their wares at the market at Bamangola in Malda district the day and the people suspected them of committing theft. Malviya tweeted, "The horror continues in West Bengal. Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly, while the police remained a mute spectator in Pakua Hat area of Bamangola police station, Malda. He said, "The horrific incident took place on the morning of 19th July. The women belonged to the socially marginalised community and had a frenzied mob baying for their blood .... It had all the makings of a tragedy that should have 'broken' Mamata Banerjee's heart and she, instead of merely outraging, could have acted, since she is also the home minister of Bengal ..." Panja said a suo moto case was registered and efforts are on to identify the alleged offenders. "BJP is unnecessarily making this a political issue," she added. BJP's claim about the assault of women in Malda came on the heels of another by the state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar at a press conference in Delhi on Friday. Majumdar said that "Manipur-like" situation was prevailing in West Bengal and a woman BJP candidate was disrobed and paraded at Panchla in Howrah district for daring to contest the rural poll held on July 8. BJP MP Locket Chatterjee had even broken down during the press conference. "The West Bengal chief minister is silent despite being a woman. You tell us where we will go. We also want our daughters to be saved," she said. The West Bengal director general police Manoj Malviya said on Friday that no evidence of such an act was found. Bhubaneswar, Jul 22 (PTI) A 56-year-old man was arrested with leopard and deer skins in Odisha's Kalahandi district on Saturday, police said. Acting on a tip-off, the Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police raided a place in Sripali Chhaka in M Rampur police station area and made the seizures, they said. Three deer skins and three leopard skins were seized, and one person, identified as Khageswar Putel, was arrested, they said. A case was registered under different sections of the IPC and Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972, police said, adding that the skins would be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India in Dehradun for examination. Kolkata, Jul 22 (PTI) Following are the top stories from the Eastern Region at 5 pm. CAL 14 MANIPUR-VIDEO-LD ARREST Manipur Police makes fifth arrest in connection with parading of two women Imphal: Manipur Police has arrested a fifth person, aged around 19, in connection with the May 4 parading of two tribal women in Kangpokpi district of the state, officials said on Saturday. CAL 13 OD-PATNAIK-WOMEN BJD to fight for women's rights from village to Parliament: Patnaik Bhubaneswar: BJD will fight for women's rights from the village to the Parliament, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Saturday. CAL 11 WB-BJP-WOMEN ASSAULT Two women stripped, assaulted in Malda : BJP Kolkata: Two women were stripped and assaulted in West Bengal's Malda district earlier this week by a group of people, BJP claimed on Saturday. CAL 10 BH-SHOT Three shot dead in Bihar's Muzaffarpur Muzaffarpur: Three persons were shot dead and two others injured by four unidentified motorcycle-borne gunmen in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, police said on Saturday. CAL 8 MN-CONDEMN LD VIOLENCE Manipur Naga groups demand immediate justice for women paraded naked Imphal: Several Naga civil society organisations in Manipur, including the powerful United Naga Council, All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga Peoples Front, have strongly condemned the inhuman act committed against the two women by a mob on May 4. CAL 9 JH-SOREN-MANIPUR Jharkhand CM writes to President Murmu on Manipur Ranchi: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Saturday wrote to President Droupadi Murmu, expressing his anguish over the "unspeakable torture" of women in violence-hit Manipur and urged her to take steps to ensure peace in the northeastern state. CAL 3 BH-POVERTY-MINISTER Bihar tops among all states in reducing poverty: Minister Patna: Bihar has topped among all states in reducing poverty as it witnessed a significant decline in the number of poor people from 51.89 per cent of its population to 33.76 per cent between 2015-16 and 2019-21, a minister said. CAL 2 BH-ASSAULT-VIDEO Bihar: Girl, man stripped after being caught in compromising position Begusarai: A girl and a man were allegedly stripped and beaten up by three persons after the two were caught in a compromising position in Bihar's Begusarai district, police said on Saturday. New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) Amid the stalemate in Parliament over holding a debate on Manipur violence, MPs of various opposition parties have planned a protest on Monday near Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Parliament complex to press for the prime minister's statement on the issue in both houses. Sources said leaders of various opposition parties who have now formed the INDIA alliance will meet in the chamber of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and will discuss their further strategy in Parliament. After the meeting at 10 AM on Monday, July 24, the leaders will hold a protest near the Gandhi statue before entering both houses. The government has agreed to hold a short-duration discussion on the Manipur issue with the Home Minister replying to it, but the opposition is adamant on its demand for the prime minister's statement first, especially after a video of two women being paraded naked and assaulted in a Manipur village appeared on social media. Also, the opposition wants a debate allowing all parties to speak without any time restrictions and has been holding protests on the issue since the Monsoon Session started on Thursday. The government has accused the opposition of running away from a debate on the all-important issue and has questioned their seriousness towards it. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have failed to transact any business amid the stalemate between the opposition and the government over the Manipur issue. New Delhi, Jul 22 (PTI) The Delhi Commission for Women, along with Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police, rescued a 22-year-old woman who was allegedly abducted by her family from her husband's house here, the women's body said on Saturday. In June, Firdaus Khan, one of the commission's members, received a complaint from an Amroha-based woman who said she had married a man in May this year of her own accord against her family's wish, the DCW said in a statement. She told the DCW member that since she feared for her life, she had run away from Amroha and come to Delhi with her husband. The commission helped the woman file a complaint with the Delhi Police. However, she refused to take any legal action against her family members at that time, the statement said. On Friday, the commission received a call from her husband who said some men from her family had come to their house, and beat her up and forced her to go with them. After the incident, a case was registered at Harsh Vihar Police Station and a team of Delhi Police was dispatched to Uttar Pradesh to go to the woman's house, the statement said. Afraid that police were involved, the woman's parents allegedly left her at Gajraula Police Station in Uttar Pradesh at night. Police collected the woman from the station and brought her to Delhi for a medico legal exam. The commission is counselling the girl and providing her legal aid, read the statement. "We received a call regarding the abduction of the woman by her own family. Our team acted swiftly and with the help of Delhi Police and Uttar Pradesh Police, the woman was rescued within a few hours and brought to Delhi," DCW chief Swati Maliwal said in the statement. "We will provide all possible support to the girl. Further action should be taken against the family members so that they don't dare to harm the girl in the future," Maliwal added. Jammu, Jul 22 (PTI) Authorities on Saturday assessed the preparations for the annual pilgrimage to Baba Buddha Amarnath in Poonch and Shri Machail Mata in Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir, an official spokesman said. While the 10-day Baba Buddha Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to begin on August 18, the Machail Mata Yatra is scheduled to commence from July 25. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Additional Director General of Police, Jammu zone, Mukesh Singh, reviewed the arrangements for the Baba Buddha Amarnath pilgrimage at a meeting with the Deputy Commissioners, officers and civil society members concerned, the spokesman said. He said the Deputy Commissioners of Poonch, Rajouri, and Reasi, along with Senior Superintendents of Police, participated in the meeting through video conferencing. Kumar reviewed in detail different arrangements for pilgrims, including security, transportation, arrangements for community kitchens, medical facilities and lodging and boarding facilities. The ADGP directed the SSPs to ensure comprehensive security measures are put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all pilgrims during the yatra. He said stressed the need for deploying an adequate number of police personnel along the route, strengthening security checkpoints, and maintaining strict vigil throughout the pilgrimage. Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Devansh Yadav visited Paddar to assess the arrangements for the Machail Mata Yatra. The primary objective of Deputy Commissioner's visit was to review the preparations made by the authorities concerned for the seamless conduct of the yatra, the spokesman said. Yadav urged all departments concerned to diligently adhere to the prescribed guidelines to ensure a seamless and enjoyable pilgrimage experience for the devotees. Meanwhile, the Jammu Divisional Commissioner e-launched the official website of Shri Machail Mata Yatra, aimed at enhancing the pilgrimage experience of devotees. The website www.shrimachailmatayatra.com will serve as a comprehensive platform providing essential information about the facilities available for devotees undertaking the revered pilgrimage to the shrine, the spokesman said. Srinagar, Jul 22 (PTI) A meeting of the standing committee of chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions was held here on Saturday in which a host of issues, including the application of technology to selection processes, were discussed, an official spokesman said. The meeting was held at the conference hall of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission at Solina here. The meeting was chaired by Goa Public Service Commission chairperson Jose Manuel Noronha, who leads the the standing committee of chairpersons. It was was attended by the chairpersons of Public Service Commissions of Nagaland, Assam, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesman said. A host of issues such as application of technology to selection processes were discussed in detail at the meeting, he said. The standing committee meets around four times a year and discusses and deliberates on issues that concern State Public Service Commissions, the spokesman said. The standing committee is a nine-member group. Later, the standing committee members called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at the Raj Bhavan here. Gonda (UP), Jul 22 (PTI) BJP MP and outgoing WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who recently got bail from a Delhi court, on Saturday said it is in his nature to side with the weak, just as has been the culture of India. "I had sided with the weak. Maybe it's my nature. And this is not only my nature, it is also the nature of my country," Singh said, addressing a prize distribution function here, with no apparent context to his remarks. The BJP leader said "things are getting clear now and are there for all to see," adding, he cannot be any more explicit. The Wrestling Federation of India chief, who is accused of harassing several female athletes, also said, "I had said in the beginning that whatever is going against me pertains to the struggle against my policy. At that time, my statements were not considered correct." Addressing the youths, the lawmaker advised them to work ceaselessly and honestly. "You should do your work honestly. For seven months, the world was making comments against me, but I did not look behind and did not stop my work," he said. Later talking to reporters, he called the Manipur incident in which two women were paraded naked, a "reprehensible" act. "The situation there was adverse. For 3-4 days, the (Union) Home minister himself was in Manipur, but there was a lapse," he said. On the alliance formed by the opposition parties, Singh said the pact is between disparate elements, each with its own agenda, and predicted it will break away soon. "A number of alliances were formed before this, but they were not successful. There was a time when alliances were made against the Congress, and now it is against the BJP," he said. "A national party is sitting on the lap of regional parties. The alliance of the opposition their ideology does not match with each other. What will happen to the Congress in West Bengal? The same situation will happen in Delhi, Bihar and other states. This alliance will prove to be a short-lived one," he added. Prince William police are looking for a Stafford teenager in connection with the slaying of another Stafford teen this week. Tyler Jeremiah Daley, 16, is charged with murder, robbery, using a firearm in the commission of a felony and shooting at an occupied vehicle. He is accused of killing 18-year-old Jayson Lewis of Stafford early Tuesday in Woodbridge. Police said they obtained permission from the juvenile and domestic relations court in Prince William to release Daleys name. Police generally dont release the names of juvenile suspects except in very serious cases. Police said the homicide occurred about 1 a.m. in the 14100 block of Big Crest Lane in Woodbridge. Lewis and a juvenile acquaintance were in the area, police said, when Lewis was shot in the upper body. The acquaintance called police to report his friends shooting before disconnecting and leaving the area, police said. He showed up at a hospital with the victim a short time later. Lewis was flown to a trauma center, where he died later that morning. Investigators determined that Lewis was the victim in the Big Crest Lane shooting and later identified Daley as the suspect. Police did not release a motive for the shooting. Anyone with information regarding Daleys whereabouts is asked to call Prince William Police at 703/792-6500. Online tips can be made at pwcva.gov/policetip. Ballia (UP), Jul 22 (PTI) A statue of poet-saint Ravidas was found damaged in a village here, police said on Saturday. Additional police force has been deployed in the village as a precautionary measure, they said. The statue was vandalised on Friday night in Pipra Kala village by a local resident who is mentally unstable, police said. A new statue is being installed at the spot, he said, adding that the situation is under control. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 66F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 66F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. I am writing with the hope you will be able to help me with a dispute I have been having with British Gas for the past year. I moved into a new-build property in July 2022. The property had a smart meter, however there was no in-home display left in the property by the prior residents. In my prior residence I found the in-home display invaluable for helping to manage my energy usage. The British Gas app is very good, but it does not provide real-time data, and the measuring devices you can buy online measure single devices only - and of course will not measure for gas. Smart delay: Our reader moved into a new home which didn't have an in-home smart display and British Gas said they could not provide a new one as it was out of its 12-month warranty Having requested a replacement display from British Gas, and despite the Citizens Advice Bureau agreeing with my argument, British Gas has refused to provide a 'Letter of Deadlock' which would allow me to take this to the ombudsman. Its reason being this is a 'policy decision' and they say they will not replace any display after a 12-month period. I have even offered to pay towards a new display, but this has fallen on deaf ears. I would appreciate any help in this matter that you can provide. Via email Helen Kirrane of This is Money replies: The controversial smart meter rollout has been advertised as a beneficial solution for consumers in the current cost of living and energy crisis. TV adverts and even British Gas marketing reference these displays, so you would think they would make it as easy as possible for customers to monitor their energy use through an in-home display. I asked British Gas what was going on in your case and why they were unable to give you a new in-home display for the smart meter in your home. I am pleased to hear that British Gas will arrange for you to have new smart meters installed with an in-home display. You were right that the reason Britsh Gas initially refused to give you a new in-home display was because it was over the 12-month guarantee. British Gas will replace a display if it breaks after the warranty ends, but I think it's daft that in your case they wouldn't provide you with one as you moved into a new home where one had not been left by the previous occupants. A spokesman from British Gas replies: 'Mr C's' in-home display was installed in 2019 and is out of its 12-month warranty. His smart meters are providing accurate readings and he can monitor his energy usage online. 'We understand Mr Collins' concerns and are reaching out to him to arrange to install new smart meters with an in-home display as a goodwill gesture.' When it comes to getting a new in-home device, the British Gas spokesman said: 'All smart energy monitors across the industry are covered by a 12-month guarantee and customers can monitor their energy usage through their online account or app. 'In the unlikely event of a smart energy monitor breaking after the warranty ends, we will provide replacements to some customers - such as vulnerable customers without internet access. We are also trialling a replacement in-home display scheme.' Minera Alamos Inc. (OTCMKTS:MAIFF Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 695,900 shares, a decrease of 13.3% from the June 15th total of 802,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 408,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days. Minera Alamos Price Performance Shares of OTCMKTS MAIFF opened at $0.26 on Friday. Minera Alamos has a 52-week low of $0.22 and a 52-week high of $0.41. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $0.25 and a 200-day moving average of $0.28. Get Minera Alamos alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, National Bank Financial lowered their price objective on Minera Alamos from C$0.80 to C$0.75 in a report on Friday. Minera Alamos Company Profile Minera Alamos Inc, a junior mining and exploration company, acquires, explores for, and develops mineral properties in Mexico. The company explores for gold, silver, molybdenum, and copper deposits. Its property portfolio includes the 100% owned Santana project consisting of 9 mining claims with an area of approximately 3,100 hectares located in the east-southeast of Hermosillo, Sonora; 100% owned Cerro de Oro project covering an area of 6,500 hectares situated in Zacatecas, Mexico; and 100% owned La Fortuna project covering an area of 6,100 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Minera Alamos Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Minera Alamos and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET Get Free Report) have been given an average recommendation of Buy by the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $16.57. ET has been the topic of several analyst reports. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Energy Transfer from $17.00 to $18.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $17.00 target price on shares of Energy Transfer in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Energy Transfer from $15.00 to $16.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Get Energy Transfer alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In related news, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren purchased 500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, May 12th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $12.27 per share, for a total transaction of $6,135,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 59,078,477 shares in the company, valued at $724,892,912.79. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Energy Transfer news, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren acquired 1,000,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 15th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $12.49 per share, for a total transaction of $12,490,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chairman now owns 60,078,477 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $750,380,177.73. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Kelcy L. Warren acquired 500,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 12th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.27 per share, with a total value of $6,135,000.00. Following the acquisition, the chairman now directly owns 59,078,477 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $724,892,912.79. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have bought 1,510,000 shares of company stock valued at $18,749,300 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 3.28% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Energy Transfer Stock Down 0.4 % Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Country Club Bank GFN lifted its position in shares of Energy Transfer by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Country Club Bank GFN now owns 11,337 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $141,000 after buying an additional 794 shares during the last quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group lifted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 5.2% in the 4th quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 16,213 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $192,000 after acquiring an additional 801 shares during the period. FAS Wealth Partners lifted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 4.1% in the 4th quarter. FAS Wealth Partners now owns 20,509 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $243,000 after acquiring an additional 802 shares during the period. Argent Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Argent Advisors Inc. now owns 68,093 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $849,000 after acquiring an additional 825 shares during the period. Finally, Good Life Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Energy Transfer by 7.1% in the 4th quarter. Good Life Advisors LLC now owns 12,562 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $149,000 after acquiring an additional 828 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 34.47% of the companys stock. NYSE:ET opened at $13.15 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $41.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.81 and a beta of 1.70. Energy Transfer has a 1-year low of $10.02 and a 1-year high of $13.67. The companys fifty day moving average price is $12.78 and its 200-day moving average price is $12.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 0.92. Energy Transfer (NYSE:ET Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 2nd. The pipeline company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $21.49 billion. Energy Transfer had a return on equity of 13.06% and a net margin of 5.08%. The firms revenue was down 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.37 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Energy Transfer will post 1.34 EPS for the current year. Energy Transfer Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 8th were paid a dividend of $0.308 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 5th. This is an increase from Energy Transfers previous quarterly dividend of $0.31. This represents a $1.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 9.37%. Energy Transfers payout ratio is 91.79%. Energy Transfer Company Profile (Get Free Report Energy Transfer LP provides energy-related services. The company owns and operates approximately 11,600 miles of natural gas transportation pipeline, and three natural gas storage facilities in Texas and two natural gas storage facilities located in the state of Texas and Oklahoma; and 19,945 miles of interstate natural gas pipeline. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Energy Transfer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Energy Transfer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Swedbank AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:SWDBF Get Free Report) is one of 336 publicly-traded companies in the BanksRegional industry, but how does it contrast to its competitors? We will compare Swedbank AB (publ) to related companies based on the strength of its risk, institutional ownership, valuation, dividends, analyst recommendations, earnings and profitability. Earnings & Valuation This table compares Swedbank AB (publ) and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Swedbank AB (publ) alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Swedbank AB (publ) N/A N/A 1.28 Swedbank AB (publ) Competitors $128.36 billion $514.35 million 182.22 Swedbank AB (publ)s competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Swedbank AB (publ). Swedbank AB (publ) is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. Institutional & Insider Ownership Analyst Recommendations 28.9% of Swedbank AB (publ) shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.7% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by institutional investors. 13.7% of shares of all BanksRegional companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company is poised for long-term growth. This is a breakdown of recent recommendations and price targets for Swedbank AB (publ) and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Swedbank AB (publ) 0 0 0 0 N/A Swedbank AB (publ) Competitors 1245 4304 4247 51 2.32 As a group, BanksRegional companies have a potential upside of 283.65%. Given Swedbank AB (publ)s competitors higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Swedbank AB (publ) has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors. Dividends Swedbank AB (publ) pays an annual dividend of $10.10 per share and has a dividend yield of 53.7%. Swedbank AB (publ) pays out 68.9% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, BanksRegional companies pay a dividend yield of 12.7% and pay out 18.8% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Profitability This table compares Swedbank AB (publ) and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Swedbank AB (publ) N/A N/A N/A Swedbank AB (publ) Competitors 27.65% 11.65% 0.97% Summary Swedbank AB (publ) competitors beat Swedbank AB (publ) on 9 of the 10 factors compared. About Swedbank AB (publ) (Get Free Report) Swedbank AB (publ) engages in the provision of various banking products and services to individuals and companies. The company operates through Swedish Banking, Baltic Banking, and Large Corporates & Institutions segments. It offers savings accounts, mutual funds and insurance savings, pension savings, institutional asset management, and other savings and investment products; provides private residential lending, consumer financing, corporate lending, leasing, and other financing products, as well as trade finance, and factoring services; and current accounts, cash handling, debit and credit cards, and card acquiring, as well as domestic, international, mobile, document, and other payment products. The company also provides equity trading, structured products, corporate finance, custody services, fixed income and currency trading, and other capital market products; and offers administrative services, treasury operations, real estate brokerage and management, legal services, safe deposit boxes, and other services. In addition, it offers life insurance and pension solutions; and transaction banking services comprising cash management, securities, account, and clearing and settlement services, as well as provides Internet and mobile banking services. It has operations in Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland, China, and the United States. The company was formerly known as ForeningsSparbanken AB and changed its name to Swedbank AB (publ) in September 2006. Swedbank AB (publ) was founded in 1820 and is headquartered in Sundbyberg, Sweden. Receive News & Ratings for Swedbank AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Swedbank AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Free Report) by 781.7% in the first quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 9,231 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 8,184 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $2,247,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of ITW. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 145.2% in the first quarter. Creative Capital Management Investments LLC now owns 103 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. Sturgeon Ventures LLP purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 1st quarter worth about $26,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Red Tortoise LLC purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, AXS Investments LLC purchased a new stake in Illinois Tool Works during the 4th quarter worth about $40,000. 79.37% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Illinois Tool Works Stock Performance Shares of ITW opened at $255.57 on Friday. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 1 year low of $180.27 and a 1 year high of $256.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $77.67 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.56, a P/E/G ratio of 3.79 and a beta of 1.13. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.20. The companys fifty day moving average is $239.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $235.53. Illinois Tool Works Dividend Announcement Illinois Tool Works ( NYSE:ITW Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by $0.10. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 19.27% and a return on equity of 92.13%. The business had revenue of $4.02 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.98 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.11 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 2.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.64 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 30th were paid a dividend of $1.31 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.05%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 52.40%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, CAO Randall J. Scheuneman sold 5,425 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, June 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $239.23, for a total transaction of $1,297,822.75. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 8,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,121,970.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts have issued reports on ITW shares. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Illinois Tool Works from $235.00 to $240.00 in a report on Monday, July 10th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $203.00 to $210.00 in a research report on Monday, July 10th. 3M restated a maintains rating on shares of Illinois Tool Works in a research report on Wednesday, May 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $183.00 to $181.00 and set a sell rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Illinois Tool Works from $236.00 to $250.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Illinois Tool Works presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $234.92. Illinois Tool Works Company Profile (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. Recommended Stories 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). Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. CMS Energy Co. (NYSE:CMS Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, July 21st, RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 4th will be given a dividend of 0.4875 per share by the utilities provider on Thursday, August 31st. This represents a $1.95 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.10%. CMS Energy has raised its dividend payment by an average of 14.4% annually over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 1 consecutive years. CMS Energy has a dividend payout ratio of 58.2% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect CMS Energy to earn $3.35 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.95 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 58.2%. Get CMS Energy alerts: CMS Energy Stock Performance NYSE:CMS opened at $62.89 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $18.34 billion, a PE ratio of 26.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.36. CMS Energy has a fifty-two week low of $52.41 and a fifty-two week high of $71.19. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $59.51 and its 200-day simple moving average is $60.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.76. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth CMS Energy ( NYSE:CMS Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.70 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.32 billion. CMS Energy had a net margin of 8.09% and a return on equity of 9.59%. The firms revenue was down 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.20 EPS. Analysts expect that CMS Energy will post 3.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. CMS has been the topic of a number of research reports. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of CMS Energy from $70.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Friday, May 19th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of CMS Energy in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. UBS Group raised shares of CMS Energy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $63.00 to $68.00 in a research note on Tuesday, June 6th. Argus decreased their price target on shares of CMS Energy from $75.00 to $62.00 in a research note on Monday, June 26th. Finally, Guggenheim decreased their price target on shares of CMS Energy from $65.00 to $61.00 in a research note on Friday, July 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $65.60. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Catherine A. Hendrian sold 7,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, June 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.26, for a total value of $451,950.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,436 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,918,753.36. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of CMS. Covington Capital Management acquired a new position in CMS Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Clear Street Markets LLC lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 94.9% during the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 573 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 279 shares in the last quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC lifted its position in shares of CMS Energy by 2,010.0% during the first quarter. Carolinas Wealth Consulting LLC now owns 844 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 804 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of CMS Energy during the first quarter worth $55,000. Finally, Milestone Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of CMS Energy during the first quarter worth $78,000. 91.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About CMS Energy (Get 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for CMS Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for CMS Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banque Pictet & Cie SA boosted its holdings in shares of VanEck VietnamETF (BATS:VNM Free Report) by 9.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 41,816 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 3,694 shares during the quarter. Banque Pictet & Cie SA owned approximately 0.10% of VanEck VietnamETF worth $509,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Simplicity Solutions LLC bought a new stake in VanEck VietnamETF during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,718,000. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. bought a new position in shares of VanEck VietnamETF in the first quarter worth approximately $615,000. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise boosted its position in shares of VanEck VietnamETF by 286.7% in the first quarter. Banque Cantonale Vaudoise now owns 11,602 shares of the companys stock worth $142,000 after purchasing an additional 8,602 shares during the period. Deltec Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of VanEck VietnamETF by 7.3% in the first quarter. Deltec Asset Management LLC now owns 227,000 shares of the companys stock worth $2,765,000 after purchasing an additional 15,500 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of VanEck VietnamETF by 14.5% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 43,399 shares of the companys stock worth $529,000 after purchasing an additional 5,506 shares during the period. Get VanEck VietnamETF alerts: VanEck VietnamETF Trading Up 2.4 % VNM opened at $14.33 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $583.23 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.05 and a beta of 0.95. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $13.17 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.48. VanEck VietnamETF Company Profile The VanEck Vietnam ETF (VNM) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MVIS Vietnam index, a market-cap-weighted index of Vietnamese stocks VNM was launched on Aug 14, 2009 and is managed by VanEck. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VNM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for VanEck VietnamETF (BATS:VNM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for VanEck VietnamETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for VanEck VietnamETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Fremont City Council barring any lengthy public comment should have what is expected to be another short meeting on Tuesday, July 25. The posted agenda for the final council meeting of July like the July 11 meeting agenda is limited, having only 15 actionable new items aside from the routine approval of the meeting agenda to begin the meeting. As usual, the end-of-the-month council meeting features a 30-minute public comment period, which is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. The time has been used by speakers to discuss a variety of topics in 2023. However the recent controversy over contested books and policies at Keene Memorial Library may be brought up following the July 17 Keene Memorial Library Board Advisory Board meeting, during which several parental rights and book removal activists continued their complaints about book selections and policies they believe are needed to protect children. Potential appointments of two new firefighters/EMTs for the Fremont Fire Department are also on the docket, with Tyler Mutlu of Bellevue and Nathan Hubbard of Lincoln proposed to join the local department. A third candidate put forth as an eligible fire department hire by the citys Civil Service Commission Joseph Essi, of La Vista was not listed as a potential new hire. Local attorney Spencer B. Wilson is listed as Mayor Joey Spellerbergs recommendation to be appointed to the citys Utility and Infrastructure Board for a five-year term ending in 2028. Wilson is a graduate of Creighton University and earned his law degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He resides in Fremont with his wife and two children. There are only 10 items on the consent agenda, a portion of the meeting that does not normally include discussion of the individual items and all are voted on as one item. Residents and council members can remove individual items from the consent agenda for discussion if the council approves the removal. In the new business area of the meeting, only three items are up for discussion and possible action: a resolution, accepting and entering into a Master Agreement for Professional Services with Olsson related to consulting services at the Fremont Municipal Airport; a resolution, to approve insurance renewal coverage proposal for the 2023-2024 Pool Year with the League Association of Risk Management; and a resolution to, award EPC Contractor for U8 Submerged Ash Conveyor System to comply with the ELG Rule. The council meetings are hosted inside the second flood City Council Chambers inside the Fremont Municipal Building, 400 E. Military Ave. The public comment period for the final meeting of each month kicks off at 6:30 p.m., with the official main council meeting starting normally at 7 p.m. Banque Pictet & Cie SA decreased its position in The Southern Company (NYSE:SO Free Report) by 41.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,408 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 4,589 shares during the period. Banque Pictet & Cie SAs holdings in Southern were worth $446,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Southern by 1.3% in the first quarter. Jeppson Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,651 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $741,000 after buying an additional 140 shares during the period. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Southern by 10.2% in the first quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,534 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $107,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC increased its stake in Southern by 2.8% in the first quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 5,327 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $371,000 after purchasing an additional 145 shares in the last quarter. Gratus Capital LLC increased its stake in Southern by 2.5% in the first quarter. Gratus Capital LLC now owns 5,953 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $414,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northstar Advisory Group LLC increased its stake in Southern by 2.1% in the first quarter. Northstar Advisory Group LLC now owns 7,415 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $516,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 63.25% of the companys stock. Get Southern alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total transaction of $3,758,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 847,592 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, CEO Thomas A. Fanning sold 50,000 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.16, for a total value of $3,758,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 847,592 shares in the company, valued at approximately $63,705,014.72. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Martin Bernard Davis sold 1,435 shares of Southern stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.99, for a total transaction of $100,435.65. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 74,246 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,196,477.54. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 205,678 shares of company stock worth $14,881,721. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes Southern Stock Up 2.8 % Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Guggenheim decreased their target price on shares of Southern from $79.00 to $77.00 in a research report on Friday, July 7th. Morgan Stanley reissued an underweight rating and set a $60.00 target price on shares of Southern in a research report on Friday. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Southern from $77.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of Southern from $73.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Thursday, June 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group raised shares of Southern from a buy rating to a conviction-buy rating in a research report on Monday, July 3rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.36. SO opened at $73.03 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average of $70.66 and a 200 day moving average of $69.68. The company has a market cap of $79.63 billion, a PE ratio of 23.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.87 and a beta of 0.50. The Southern Company has a 12 month low of $58.85 and a 12 month high of $80.57. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.51 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. Southern (NYSE:SO Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.71 by $0.08. Southern had a net margin of 11.53% and a return on equity of 10.78%. The company had revenue of $6.48 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.14 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.97 EPS. Southerns revenue for the quarter was down 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that The Southern Company will post 3.6 EPS for the current year. Southern Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 6th. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 21st will be issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.83%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 18th. Southerns payout ratio is 90.32%. About Southern (Free Report) The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. It operates through three segments: Gas Distribution Operations, Gas Pipeline Investments, and Gas Marketing Services. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Southern Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Southern and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tilson Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM Free Report) by 0.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 32,359 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the quarter. Exxon Mobil comprises 2.9% of Tilson Financial Group Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Tilson Financial Group Inc.s holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $3,549,000 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 made changes to their positions in the stock. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC lifted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 17.4% in the first quarter. Axiom Financial Strategies LLC now owns 7,909 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $680,000 after buying an additional 1,173 shares during the period. Retirement Income Solutions Inc acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil in the first quarter valued at approximately $275,000. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P lifted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 318.8% in the first quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P now owns 17,163 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,417,000 after buying an additional 13,065 shares during the period. Ergoteles LLC lifted its stake in Exxon Mobil by 95.6% in the first quarter. Ergoteles LLC now owns 15,843 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $1,308,000 after buying an additional 7,744 shares during the period. Finally, Bridgefront Capital LLC acquired a new position in Exxon Mobil in the first quarter valued at approximately $237,000. 58.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Exxon Mobil alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages have issued reports on XOM. Royal Bank of Canada reissued a sector perform rating and issued a $125.00 price target on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Wednesday. Mizuho lowered their target price on Exxon Mobil from $147.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Friday, May 19th. Wolfe Research lowered Exxon Mobil from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Friday, July 7th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Piper Sandler lowered their target price on Exxon Mobil from $145.00 to $127.00 in a research report on Tuesday, June 13th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on Exxon Mobil from $116.00 to $118.00 in a research report on Monday, May 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $124.66. Exxon Mobil Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of NYSE XOM opened at $103.89 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Co. has a 52 week low of $83.89 and a 52 week high of $119.92. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $104.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $109.26. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The company has a market cap of $420.03 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.03, a P/E/G ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.08. Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, April 28th. The oil and gas company reported $2.83 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.65 by $0.18. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 31.48% and a net margin of 15.06%. The business had revenue of $86.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.07 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.07 EPS. The firms revenue was down 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 9th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 16th were paid a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 15th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.50%. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is currently 24.64%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,500 shares of Exxon Mobil stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.11, for a total transaction of $290,275.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 29,272 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,398,771.92. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.04% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Exxon Mobil (Free Report) Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Exxon Mobil Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Exxon Mobil and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. abrdn plc reduced its position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG Free Report) by 15.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 7,975 shares of the restaurant operators stock after selling 1,416 shares during the period. abrdn plcs holdings in Chipotle Mexican Grill were worth $13,624,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 555,959 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $769,954,000 after purchasing an additional 14,505 shares during the last quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Artisan Partners Limited Partnership now owns 507,232 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $703,779,000 after purchasing an additional 2,012 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 480,237 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $666,324,000 after purchasing an additional 4,363 shares during the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 8.3% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 402,002 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $557,774,000 after purchasing an additional 30,788 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Winslow Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill by 8.9% during the 4th quarter. Winslow Capital Management LLC now owns 387,249 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $537,304,000 after purchasing an additional 31,604 shares during the last quarter. 91.91% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Chipotle Mexican Grill alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets CMG has been the topic of several research analyst reports. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,050.00 to $2,250.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,000.00 to $2,100.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,875.00 to $2,050.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. BTIG Research raised their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,825.00 to $2,175.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 26th. Finally, Guggenheim raised their target price on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $1,550.00 to $1,950.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, July 14th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $2,156.29. Insider Activity Chipotle Mexican Grill Price Performance In other news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,868 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,999.90, for a total transaction of $3,735,813.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $46,691,665.30. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other news, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,077 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,055.00, for a total transaction of $2,213,235.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at $47,978,085. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Brian R. Niccol sold 1,868 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,999.90, for a total transaction of $3,735,813.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 23,347 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $46,691,665.30. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last quarter, insiders sold 11,396 shares of company stock valued at $23,473,949. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Chipotle Mexican Grill stock opened at $2,098.19 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $57.89 billion, a PE ratio of 56.75, a P/E/G ratio of 1.51 and a beta of 1.31. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $2,074.69 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1,808.67. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. has a 12 month low of $1,291.63 and a 12 month high of $2,175.01. Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The restaurant operator reported $10.50 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $8.89 by $1.61. The firm had revenue of $2.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.34 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 11.49% and a return on equity of 45.01%. The firms revenue was up 18.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $5.70 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. will post 44.17 earnings per share for the current year. Chipotle Mexican Grill Profile (Free Report) Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. It offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Chipotle Mexican Grill and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kalel Bales wasnt sure what he was getting into when his parents signed him up for the Summer Lunch Program (SLP). But from field trips to farms and animal rescue agencies to volunteerism at a homeless shelter and optional faith-based lessons, the 15-year-old Fremonter said hes gained a lot of knowledge and experience, while making new friends. Im proud to be here, he said. Im proud to be part of this group and proud to be helping with anything I can. Kalel is among almost 150 students participating in a program that provides free lunches and educational opportunities for kids in kindergarten through 12th grade. Younger students take part in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) opportunities. Older students participate in the Aspire for Greatness program, where they learn entrepreneurship, business and life skills. Community partners and numerous volunteers have joined forces to help close the summer learning gap and provide knowledge that students can use for years to come. It takes a village to raise a child and this is an example of the village coming together to help raise children in Fremont, said Christy Fiala, executive director of Fremont Area United Way (FAUW). Many parts of the Summer Lunch Program (SLP) are covered by agencies and grants, but United Way provides financial support in places were gaps exist. Its a braiding of resources and opportunities, Fiala said. Open to people from any economic background, the lunch program began in 2012. This years SLP started May 30 and concludes July 28. Fremont Public Schools (FPS) has been offering summer school in the mornings. Students can attend that and then be transported via bus to Fremont Presbyterian Church, where they can eat lunch and participate in afternoon programming. The Aspire for Greatness program has a van that transports older students to the church and home again. Other children walk or have adults bring them for lunch. Kelly Ringle of the Salvation Army is the SLP voluntary kitchen supervisor. Before the afternoon programming started June 5, Ringle said only about 27 meals were being served. That number swelled to more than 240 at its highest after programming began. Children can eat lunch and so can parents and grandparents who accompany them. It brings a sense of family, Ringle said. They actually eat together, because life is so fast paced that you dont always eat together. They get to sit there and talk. Its really nice. Many adults bring children to the church because its too far to walk and then stay for lunch. Families from surrounding communities have come as well. The Presbyterian Church will provide backpacks with school supplies to kids whove come at least 10 times for lunch. Last year, it gave 260 backpacks to kids in kindergarten through 12th grade. Pizza is a favorite lunch, but meals have included other kid-friendly foods such as fish fillets, popcorn chicken and mini corndogs. Because its a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) program, lunches also include fruits and vegetables, along with protein, dairy and grain products. The Salvation Army provides snacks, too. In the afternoon, FPS has STEAM activities for students from kindergarten through sixth grade, said Leah Hladik, program director for Fremont Expanded Learning Programs, After School and Summer Learning. Seventy students have taken part in science, engineering and arts activities and summer field trips. Kindergarten through fourth-grade students visited Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha on Thursday, while fifth- and sixth-graders went to Sidner Ice Arena in Fremont. Last week, younger kids went to the Omaha Childrens Museum and older ones to the Kiewit Luminarium science museum in Omaha. Our goal is to give the kids a variety of experiences during the summer months, Hladik said in a prepared statement. Fifth- and sixth-graders will have a sidewalk sale featuring their homemade soaps and candles on Thursday, July 27, at the church, 520 W. Linden Ave. The church also hosted a Build-a-Hut project led by Dean Castillo, a Nebraska Extension in Dodge County educator. The project was designed to help students build engineering and construction skills. Presbyterian Church representative Cheryl Ferguson said the congregation provided a one-hour Vacation Bible School on Wednesdays. SLP and STEAM students had the option of attending. Church deacons provided free clothing and household items for kids and parents on two Fridays. Aspire to Greatness served 51 students, grades 7-12, in June alone, said Kristen Widman, executive director. Our registration was up 900% from last year to this year, Widman said. We were a brand new program last year. As word has gotten out that there is something offered for older youth, more have signed up to participate. Widman said Aspire started after Omahas Hope Center for Kids closed its Fremont location to provide programming for middle and high school students. Aspire has entrepreneurship lessons. For instance, students make products to sell at farmers markets, learn to count back change and talk to customers. Chris Leaver of Arlington, who launched the Holiday Food Drive in 1996, taught students about marketing and preparing barbecued pulled pork for a fundraiser. Students learned business skills such as product pricing to produce a profit. Students could learn life skills. Caterer LuAnn Ruwe taught them how to make simple meals. Tammie Dickens of Coalition RX of Omaha teaches the substance abuse prevention curriculum and the Too Good for Drugs and Violence Program material. We talk about setting goals and making good decisions and peer pressure, Dickens said. We also touch on different substances so they know the dangers of alcohol and marijuana and vaping. Widman said Aspire provides snacks, games and faith-based lessons. It works with students on emotional and social skill-building. We try to build a sense of community among the teenagers, Widman said. The world can feel lonely, so we want to offer a safe space where they can build relationships. Dickens also said kids learn that beyond their own family members, there are other adults who care about their well-being and futures. We have really enjoyed working with the kids here, Dickens said. What a fantastic group of young people, willing to listen and learn all of the ages of the kids. Its a great program. Everybody is doing a great job, just remarkable. Fiala said parents and kids often say thank you and students learn the community cares about them as individuals. From the start, Kalel said he really liked Widman and Aaron Von Behren, high school program coordinator. They are fantastic teachers, Kalel said, also complimenting the program. I like everything about it, the Bible lessons, the people. We go on field trips. Kalel said students go to the ice rink, swim pools and, on Saturday mornings, to farmers markets. By visiting a farm, he learned how cattle are fed and about detasseling corn. Students learned about animal care and pet adoption at FurEver Home, Inc., in Fremont, and about the history of the Old Poor Farm animal sanctuary on a trip there. Older students have helped stock shelves at Care Corps LifeHouse and pack food bags on Fridays that kids can take home on weekends. If I learned anything, I learned how to make new friends and talk to people, and how to get closer to God from the video lessons, from asking questions, he said. Widman seeks student input. We want to make sure the youth have a voice in our program, because it is for them, Widman said. We always encourage them to ask questions or suggest things for us to do that are things they would enjoy. Kalel noted the difference between onsite and classroom learning. In the classroom, you kind of just sit there and hear this person talk about something that happened years ago, Kalel said. But with Aspire, you get to actually go to the place where theyre talking about it. You get to have a hands-on learning experience. You get to learn from people whove worked there for a long time. SPL coordinators note the programs overall importance. The kids are our future for Fremont, Ringle said. They get fed here more than just food. They get fed spiritually, life skills and family time. This past Thursday was Intern Appreciation Day, a special opportunity to thank the young people who spend their time supporting my work in our Washington, Lincoln, and Omaha offices. Last week, the Nebraska delegation dedicated our weekly Nebraska Breakfast, where we meet with fellow Nebraskans visiting our countrys capital, to thanking our interns. This summer, my Washington office was glad to have Emalie, Jack, Justin, and Madison join us in serving the people of Nebraska. Emalie Wightman is a Nebraska Wesleyan student from Omaha, though she also spent time with her grandparents in Columbus and Lexington growing up. Emalie hopes to attend law school when she graduates with an economics and English double major next year. During my internship, Ive loved getting to know Nebraska constituents through leading Capitol tours and putting my Economics major to work while watching hearings for the Committees on Finance and Small Business, Emalie said. I am grateful for this experience and am looking forward to bringing what Ive learned back to Nebraska. Jack Barrett grew up in West Omaha and is now studying political science at Colorado State University. He hopes to attend law school as well, and would love to work on Capitol Hill in the future. This summer has completely exceeded my expectations and I have seen this internship opportunity as a great privilege to be able to represent Nebraskans and Senator Fischer in Washington, D.C., Jack said. Emalie and Jack were joined by Justin Schnurr, a business law student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Justin aspires to a career in foreign relations working with our nations allies. My time on the Hill has been nothing short of extraordinary! Senator Fischer and her incredible staff have been instrumental in shaping my legislative understanding and broadening my perspectives on the political landscape, said Justin. Madison Stracke rounded out our phenomenal team of Washington interns. Madison is from the community of Stuart, where she grew up on her familys farm and ranch. She recently graduated from UNL with degrees in agricultural education and biology and hopes to attend law school to learn more about how to help and protect local producers. I especially enjoyed listening in and taking notes on hearings related to issues in the agricultural industry, said Madison. Im grateful to Senator Fischer and her staff for providing this wonderful opportunity and the exceptional experiences it brought me. This summer, our Washington interns were especially excited to attend the U.S. Capitol unveiling ceremony of Nebraskas Willa Cather statue, which they consider the highlight of their time in my office. Each state may place two statues of exceptional representatives in the Capitol, and the interns were present for the historic entrance of the Willa Cather statue in June. Madison said that she left the ceremony feeling pride and gratitude for Nebraska. This summers interns were instrumental to our work here in the Senate. Back home, several interns provided valuable assistance in the Lincoln and Omaha offices: Caden Erickson, Jackson Gualke, Mark Meyer, and Mikayla Gross, who also interned for us in the spring. My staff and I are grateful for each of these gifted young people. Thank you Caden, Emalie, Jack, Jackson, Justin, Madison, Mark, and Mikayla for the good work youve accomplished this summer! For more information about our internships and the application process, please visit our website: fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/internships. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you next week. [July 21, 2023] Landwolf Token: Epic Launch Marks the Rise of a New Meme Tweet TORONTO, ONTARIO, July 21, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a stunning display of viral success, Landwolf token has taken the cryptocurrency market by storm, creating a buzz that has sent shockwaves throughout the online community. With an explosive launch that has left investors and enthusiasts awestruck, Landwolf has swiftly become a force to be reckoned with. This article delves into the highlights of Landwolf's epic debut, showcasing its rise to prominence and the dawning of a new era in meme culture. From the moment of its inception, Landwolf token has captured the attention of investors and enthusiasts alike. Within a mere 48 hours of its creation, this audacious meme token has made waves across various platforms, trending #1 on Dextools, a popular analytics and trading platform. The remarkable achievement is a testament to the overwhelming support and interest surrounding Landwolf. One key factor in the token's meteoric rise is the endorsement it has received from influential figures on Twitter. Major influencers have enthusiastically promoted Landwolf, amplifying its visibility and attracting a significant following. This social media backing has contributed to the token's rapid growth and propelled it into the spotlight. Another emarkable feat for Landwolf is its organic listing on LBank, a centralized exchange. This achievement underscores the project's legitimacy and appeal, as it garnered recognition without the need for artificial manipulation or paid listings. The organic listing on LBank further solidifies Landwolf's position in the market, offering investors a reputable platform to engage with the token. Within a mere 24 hours after its launch, Landwolf soared to new heights, reaching an all-time high (ATH) valuation of 5.6 million dollars. This unprecedented surge in value is a testament to the market's enthusiasm and confidence in the token's potential. Landwolf has quickly amassed a substantial community, with approximately 1600 holders at the time of this writing. Landwolf's commitment to transparency and security is evident through its renounced contract and burned liquidity pool (LP). These measures provide investors with a level of assurance and trust in the project's integrity. Moreover, the token's team has ambitious marketing plans in the pipeline, including leveraging platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and various social media channels to expand Landwolf's reach and captivate an even broader audience. Adding to the narrative of the Landwolf era, a popular artist unveiled a poignant comic strip featuring Pepe lying in a casket surrounded by his friends, including Landwolf. This symbolic representation signifies the transition from one era to another, encapsulating the spirit of a rapidly evolving meme culture. In conclusion, the extraordinary launch of the Landwolf token has left an indelible mark on the cryptocurrency landscape. With its remarkable achievements in a short span of time, Landwolf has cemented its position as a viral sensation. As the Pepe era comes to a close, Landwolf emerges as a frontrunner, captivating the imaginations of enthusiasts worldwide. The rise of Landwolf symbolizes a new chapter in meme culture, promising exciting opportunities and captivating moments for those who dare to join this groundbreaking movement. Considering the importance of meme creators in todays world, Landwolf has created a donation fund for Pepes creator. You can visit the main website for more information on how to contribute and join the community. https://landwolfeth.com https://twitter.com/LandwolfToken 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. Johny Jones Landwolf Token dev at landwolfeth.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 21, 2023] McPherson College Exceeds Double Match Challenge - Establishing A Future $1,500,000,000 Endowment - Largest in U.S. For A Small Liberal Arts College Tweet McPherson College in Kansas announced today that it has met the match on its historic $500 million endowment double match challenge. Additionally, the anonymous donor surprised the college community by committing an additional $500 million estate gift for a total commitment of $1 billion. The McPherson College Board of Trustees also voted unanimously to name the McPherson College endowment after two late alumni and professors at McPherson College, Drs. John Ward and John Burkholder. McPherson College President Michael Schneider announced the milestone at an on-campus event this morning attended by over 200 faculty, staff, trustees, students, and friends of the college. The total funding of $1,592,000,000 will result in the largest endowment of any small liberal arts college in the United States. (Editor's note: see below for breakdown) The donor agreement provides the flexibility for the anonymous donor to pay out over time or it is all paid in full upon the donor's death, which is the latest time at which McPherson College would have access to the anonymous donor's $1 billion. Most other gifts to meet the challenge will come over time as part of estate commitments. "Today is historic, not just for McPherson College, but for all small liberal arts colleges in America," said Schneider. "I am incredibly grateful to our anonymous donor for giving us an unprecedented opportunity - and responsibility - to build and implement our strategic vision of becoming a destination learning community. We have also been given an amazing opportunity to honor two legendary alumni and professors, Dr. Ward and Dr. Burkholder." "Now, the work begins to build a bridge to our future endowment," Schneider added. "We need to carefully plan how the income from the endowment is deployed to reimagine and construct the campus of the future, build a much-needed rural health pipeline in Kansas, create a center for the future of automotive engineering and work to make college more affordable for all our students. There has never been a better day to be a part of the McPherson College community!" At its most recent meeting, the McPherson College Board of Trustees named the McPherson College Endowment the Ward-Burkholder Endowment. Dr. Ward graduated from McPherson College in 1950 and had a distinguished career in higher education, first as a professor of agriculture at McPherson College for 12 years and later at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Burkholder graduated from McPherson College in 1949 and was a professor of biology at the college for nearly 40 years. Many members of the Ward and Burkholder families were on hand at today's event. "Naming faculty on this massive endowment highlights the unique faculty-student relationships found at McPherson College including the times John and John were themselves students at the college. Priceless might be a fitting word to describe the influence that faculty, staff, and administration of McPherson College have on the lives of its students," said Marty Ward, a McPherson College Trustee and son of Dr. John Ward. "The Ward and Burkholder families are honored and grateful to everyone who has had a part in the Ward/Burkholder Endowment. On behalf of Dad and Dr. Burkholder - thank you." According to the terms of the double match gift challenge that concluded on June 30, the anonymous donor agreed to contribute $2 for every $1 given by others, up to $500 million. Donations of this scale do not usually go to colleges with the size or location of McPherson College, which gives the school the rare opportunity to build and sustain the small liberal arts college of the future on the Plains. McPherson College is following its student-first values, directing the funds toward its academic programs as well as making college more affordable and accessible - ensuring talented people in places like central Kansas have the opportunity to thrive over the long term. Joining in the day's festivities was U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, the senior United States senator from Kansas. "McPherson College has taken an innovative approach to training students to meet the demands of the McPherson community and the surrounding area," said Sen. Moran. "The great work at McPherson College is attracting donors who want to support institutions offering young Kansans opportunities to thrive during college and long after they have graduated. I look forward to continuing to support these efforts at the federal level." McPherson College's student-centric plans include a renewed collaboration on rural health initiatives, plans for state-of-the-art science and engineering facilities, and a huge boost for students facing challenges affording college. Specifically, this includes McPherson's Community by Design strategic plan, which includes East McPherson, the campus master plan; a new Kansas Center for Rural & Community Health; and McPherson College's Student Debt Project, which has been proven to be a true pioneer in college affordability. The new Kansas Center for Rural & Community Health will ensure the next generation of practitioners can use the latest technology and techniques to help improve healthcare in rural Kansas. McPherson College's groundbreaking Student Debt Project, which has established a successful partnership with local businesses, has made McPherson College significantly more affordable. The program, where McPherson College donors match 25 cents for every dollar a student contributes to their education, will be expanded in the future as a result of meeting the match, not only making a McPherson College education affordable for more students, but also serving as a blueprint for other colleges across the country struggling with keeping student debt low in the face of rising costs. "McPherson College has been a special place for Richard and me for over a decade," said Dr. Melanie Lundquist. "We have especially appreciated President Schneider and Provost Gutierrez's innovative, problem-solving leadership. It has also been one of our greatest pleasures to support McPherson's one-of-a-kind automotive restoration program. Richard was honored to donate his classic Ferrari to the program, and we are both thrilled that this unique program - and McPherson College - will be on solid footing for perpetuity as a result of this phenomenally generous matching gift." The Lundquists committed $50 million to the match and donated his classic Ferrari to the college's automotive restoration program - the nation's only four-year degree program. Next month, McPherson College's automotive restoration program will be making its first-ever appearance on the industry's biggest stage - the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The students' fully-restored 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300 S Cabriolet will compete at this year's event, a monumental milestone for the unique program. Editor's Note: Pre-Challenge (Before Feb. 13, 2022) Existing Endowment + Estate Commitments $250,000,000 Challenge (Feb. 13, 2022 to June 30, 2023) Challenge Commitments $342,000,000 Anonymous Donor Estate Match & Additional Estate Commitment $1,000,000,000 Total $1,592,000,000 Images & Video from the event: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/pyb9yvjkl1m3ifqv9l9yw/h?rlkey=l2kkmyvwssgh3ky7sqysjcu01&dl=0 About McPherson College McPherson College offers more than 30 undergraduate degree programs to its more than 800 students, representing 33 states and seven countries. Its nationally renowned Automotive Restoration Technology degree program has earned the support of car collectors, including icon Jay Leno, and its students are set to compete at one of the automotive world's signature events, the Concours d'Elegance at Pebble Beach, Calif. in August. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230721272249/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 21, 2023] Federman & Sherwood Investigates MSX International Inc for Data Breach Tweet The law firm of Federman & Sherwood has initiated an investigation into MSX International Inc with respect to their recent data breach. On July 20, 2023, MSX International Inc notified individuals that the company experienced a data breach after an unauthorized party accessed sensitive consumer data entrusted to the company. According to MSX International Inc, they determined that information stored on their servers may have been subject to unauthorized access on February 6, 2023. MSX International Inc determined that the information exposed in the data breac includes at a minimum names and Social Security numbers. If you wish to discuss this action, obtain further information, and/or participate in this litigation, please contact Lacrista A. Bagley either by email at [email protected] or visit our firm's website www.federmanlaw.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230721099263/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [July 22, 2023] Medlinker's MedGPT Performs 96% As Well As Top Human Doctors Tweet In a Livestreamed Real-World Assessment, MedGPT's AI Doctors Rival Diagnostic Accuracy of China's Leading Doctors BEIJING, July 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Medlinker, a leading digital healthcare company in China, undertook a real world comparison of AI doctors accessible through its MedGPT service and their human equivalents in Chengdu on June 30 2023. The evaluation, streamed live, involved 120 real patients and ten attending physicians from West China Hospital, Sichuan University. Seven eminent physicians from leading Chinese hospitals reviewed and scored the results based on criteria including consultation accuracy, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, suggested additional examinations, data analysis, explanation provided to patients, and the use of natural language in patient interactions. Human doctors scored an average of 7.5 out of 10, while MedGPT scored 7.2. MedGPT's recommendations were found to be 96% as good as those from top-tier physicians. Launched by Medlinker on May 25 2023, MedGPT is China's first homegrown medical large-scale language model founded on the Transformer architecture. Unlike general-purpose large-scale models, MedGPT was designed to provide practical diagnostic value in real medical scenarios, offering intelligent diagnosis and treatment capabilities throughout the entire process, from disease prevention to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. Medlinker's ability to release a large-scale medical model ahead of its peers is the result of its accumulated expertise inartificial intelligence, big data, and internet-based healthcare. The world's first real patient evaluation confirms Medlinker's leadership in the research, development and application of medical large-scale language models. The consultation session between doctor and patient was planned to fully ensure the impartiality and fact-based reliability of the evaluation, following a carefully established process: The patient explained their medical situation, including symptoms and previous treatments, to the medical assistant; The medical assistant relayed the collected information simultaneously to the human doctor and to MedGPT through online text input; The medical assistant acted as the intermediary as doctor and patient completed multiple rounds of communication until sufficient information had been collected for a diagnosis; Based on the information, the human doctor and MedGPT ordered specific follow-up examinations or, if the information provided was sufficient, provided a diagnosis to the patient; If further examinations were required, the patient underwent examinations at the hospital; After obtaining the examination results, the patient returned for a final consultation where MedGPT and the human doctor independently provided a clinical diagnosis and treatment. Throughout the entire process, the human doctor and MedGPT worked independently with no sharing of information, to ensure that both were operating under the same conditions. During the evaluation session, the medical experts on the panel were impressed by MedGPT's performance. They generally agreed that MedGPT ensured medical accuracy by collecting sufficient information through multiple rounds of questioning, resulting in a relatively low probability of misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. What was particularly surprising was that, unlike doctors specialized in one field, MedGPT could diagnose diseases outside its field of expertise and suggest a treatment program based on other clinical observations and factors, something that can be quite challenging to achieve in routine consultations undertaken by specialists. The panel concluded that MedGPT's knowledge coverage surpassed that of human doctors with limited experience. "The integration of AI doctors and telemedicine services is certain to disrupt the entire medical field," said Wang Shirui, founder and CEO of Medlinker. "Looking into the future, we firmly believe that through Medlinker's MedGPT, both the efficiency and the effectiveness of doctors will be vastly enhanced. At the same time, it will become possible to rapidly replicate high-quality medical resources and make them universally available. Furthermore, Medlinker's telemedicine service network will be able to leverage MedGPT to provide more convenient, efficient and accessible medical services to a significantly larger pool of patients, vastly expanding medical inclusion, and taking a huge step towards solving the biggest dilemma facing the medical community today, providing medical services that are efficient and deliver meaningful treatment to the patient while remaining affordable." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medlinkers-medgpt-performs-96-as-well-as-top-human-doctors-301883471.html SOURCE Medlinker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] InfiniVAN, a provider of communications infrastructure, is emerging as the go-to choice for businesses seeking high-quality connectivity solutions throughout the Philippines. InfiniVAN offers a comprehensive range of services that cater to the diverse needs of businesses. The company's end-to-end Fiber Optic Network Infrastructure, supported by a team of experienced professionals, ensures a seamless and reliable Internet experience. InfiniVAN also distinguishes itself by providing high level services at competitive rates, guaranteeing ultra-fast speeds and convenient connections for businesses of all types. To help modernize its nationwide backbone throughout the Philippines, InfiniVAN selected Ribbon Communications, a provider of real time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions to service providers, enterprises and critical infrastructure operators to modernize and protect their networks. InfiniVAN is leveraging Ribbon's NPT IP Routing and Apollo Optical Transport solutions, part of the company's comprehensive IP Wave portfolio. The NPT 1800 is an advanced system that makes it easier to deliver services in cities. It offers top-notch support for many different types of services, ensuring they work well and are always available. The NPT 1800 also lets users control and monitor these services, so they have a clear view of what's happening. It's designed to be efficient when transporting data over the internet, and it can handle different types of data all at once. Apollo is an innovative solution that addresses the growing demand for high-speed internet connections while offering network operators customizable solutions tailored to their specific business requirements. Designed for flexibility, Apollo supports high-performance links up to 1.2T, maximizing the utilization of fiber channels to their maximum potential. What sets Apollo apart is its user-friendly deployment and management process. The open control interfaces enable Apollo to seamlessly integrate into disaggregated, multivendor environments, fostering interoperability. This means that network operators can easily control and manage their networks, even if they use devices from different manufacturers. The solutions are part of Ribbons IP Wave portfolio, which seamlessly fuses optimized hardware and automation software within an open architecture and delivers the agility needed to rapidly create and implement innovative new services. "Businesses turn to us for high availability, fully redundant, high-capacity connectivity that is on par with the highest global standards," said Koji Miyashita, chairman, InfiniVAN. "Working with Ribbon enabled us to achieve the dual goal of upgrading our network to the newest standards of security, availability and capacity while also gaining a lower total cost of ownership." Edited by Alex Passett Twenty-nine years ago, Irene Kornelly joined a citizens watchdog group that had the seemingly impossible task of overseeing the destruction of all the chemical weapons at the Pueblo Chemical Depot. She is 77 years old now, and just a few days ago, she leaned on her cane and watched the last one scrapped. All 780,078 chemical weapons in the Pueblo Arsenal have now been destroyed. This is the first time, internationally, we have destroyed an entire class of weapons of mass destruction, said Kornelly, the locally appointed member of the Colorado Chemical Demilitarization Citizens' Advisory Commission Its an incredible accomplishment that was done by the community, by the military, by Congress. We actually got it done. We dont hear much about American competence these days, or American arms control, or much good news in general, come to think of it. But I would argue that this is a milestone every bit as great, if not greater, than winning a war. On a barren prairie 15 miles east of Pueblo, you might say the United States has just won a major battle in the war against inhumane war. President Joe Biden marked the elimination of the nation's last chemical weapons as a landmark moment "bringing us one step closer to a world free from the horrors of chemical weapons." Some 91,000 soldiers were killed by poisonous gas attacks during the barbaric trench warfare of World War I. Afterward, such weapons were deemed inhumane and universally condemned, but the United States and other countries continued to develop and stockpile them for decades. But finally in 1989, the United States and the Soviet Union agreed in principle to destroy all their chemical weapons stockpiles. The Senate ratified the Chemical Weapons Convention in 1997, and all the signers began to systematically wipe the known stores of chemical weapons from the face of the earth. At first the military wanted to incinerate all the weapons, but Kornelly and her group, the communitys voice in monitoring every aspect of the destruction process, would have none of it. Thats because farmers and ranchers were worried about contamination of high-grade organic crops. They didnt know how to open the weapon so that they could drain the agent out, get rid of the explosive, without incineration, Kornelly told me. Instead, the depot invited private companies who thought they could do it to put together proposals. Bechtel came through with a process similar to whats used at any wastewater treatment plant, employing a neutralization technique using water, followed by biotreatment. Turns out the same kind of microbes that consume human waste also eat mustard gas fairly well. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Inga and Igor, robots named for characters in the classic 1970s Mel Brooks film "Young Frankenstein," were then put to work helping their human counterparts dismantle the toxic shells in Pueblo. Kornelly said the alternative to incineration took years of discussion and more than a decade of implementation and $42 billion to eventually accomplish the task nationwide. But it worked. We did it without any major issues, Kornelly noted. We never had a leak of agent from any of the facilities. We never had an incident when a worker was harmed. We worked all the way through the pandemic because we were already wearing masks." Colorado Springs-based New York Times reporter Dave Philipps wrote that a crowd of workers in coveralls with emergency gas masks slung on their hips gathered to celebrate as the last weapon was dismantled in Pueblo. The plant manager blasted The Final Countdown on the P.A., Philipps wrote, and handed out red, white and blue Bomb Pops. Honestly, I never thought this day would come, Kornelly told Philipps. The military didnt know if they could trust the people, and the people didnt know if they could trust the military. But an extraordinary precedent has now been set. Could we use the ending of chemical weapons on the planet as a template for ridding ourselves of other scourges? Biological weapons? Landmines? Nuclear weapons? War itself? "They have put together a similar program to destroy all biological weapons," notes Kornelly. But at this point thats a fantasy." The movie Oppenheimer opened this weekend, bringing back to vivid life the power and horror of the dawn of the atomic age and the mad arms race it spawned, resulting in a runaway proliferation of weapons that are now numerous and powerful enough to end life on earth. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, was transformed by his experience building the first bomb at Los Alamos, and argued for the rest of his days for an end to the suicidal race to make more and better nuclear weapons. His push to thwart the development of the more powerful hydrogen bomb led to the revocation of his security clearance and his complete defrocking as an American scientist of stature and credibility. His pleas for a modicum of nuclear sanity, in other words, turned him from American prophet to American pariah in the eyes of the government. If only wed listened to him better. Could we one day do with nuclear weapons what we have just accomplished with chemical weapons, finding them just as inhumane and unnecessary? When I was a younger man, I would have scoffed at the naivety of the idea. But Irene Kornelly and her steely-eyed watchdogging of the destruction of all that mustard gas has made me wonder. The place that once made hundred of thousands of these ghastly weapons is now called PuebloPlex, The Gazette's Mary Shinn recently reported, and its president and CEO Russell DeSalvo is repurposing the site into testing ground for aerospace companies, test tracks for future railroad innovation, and a manufacturing hub for wind turbine components. Some of the larger warehouses that used to house weapons are now leased to solar and space businesses. Wasnt it Isaiah who prophesized many years ago that They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore? Before we get started . . . We take a moment to listen to the word from a trusted insider. Here's some of what the insider witnessed . . . "The scene at the property tax assessment appeal center is becoming very disheartening. During my wait I noticed a few seniors crying on their way out after reps weren't able to help their situation. These are people who are obviously at risk of losing their homes. "My negotiation was a bad joke . . . The reps didn't want to admit any mistake and didn't offer much in the way of relief. That's what my neighbors are hearing as well. "The assessment process creates a high pressure atmosphere and the situation looks like it's growing more dire . . . I have a feeling the B.O.E. is going to have to take on a lot of the burden in this situation because so many people have been disappointed . . . "After witnessing all of this I can only hope that an elected official just can't persecute so many taxpayers without some kind of inevitable consequence. In my experience, voters won't tolerate this behavior for long." To that end . . . We notice an interesting surge of social media advocacy that is, in fact, taking hold at the grassroots level. The Recall Frank White Group has now reached 1,000 members in less than a week's time. If they let us join the group, we'll have even more to report on the process . . . But for now we are impressed with their progress so far. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . Tyler Technologies moves to dismiss class action lawsuit filed by Jackson County property owners Tyler Technologies' attorney made the request on Thursday, online court records show. Jackson County legislators discuss holding Tyler Technologies accountable for issues in assessment process Jackson County legislators discuss how to hold Tyler Technologies responsible for issues in the assessment process. Independence city council approves resolution that could lead to legal action against Jackson County Councilmembers unanimously passed a resolution on Monday evening that could lead to legal action. Developing . . . This week will bring tourism back to the United Nations headquarters to emphasize the sectors unique position to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Reflecting the unprecedented relevance of tourism on the UN agenda, UNWTO together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sport, Republic of Croatia, and support from the Ministry of Tourism, India, Chair of the G20 Tourism Working Group will gather leaders from the public and private sectors for a high-level roundtable at the official side event on Economic, Social, and Environmental Sustainability in Tourism" which will be held on Friday 14 July within the framework of the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Inspiring and Guiding Action The high-level event will further advance UNWTOs work in making tourism a key pillar of sustainable development, most notably through enhanced public-private partnerships. In New York, UNWTO together with partners will: Provide a better understanding of the SDGs from the perspective of tourism and inspire further action among both government and private sector stakeholders. Present the Goa Roadmap for Tourism as a Vehicle for Achieving the SDGs developed under Indias G20 Presidency. Raise awareness about a crucial development that is mobilizing the power of data by forging a global consensus for harmonized data on the economic, social, and environmental performance of tourism at international, national and destination levels: the forthcoming Statistical Framework for Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism (MST). Outline the benefits that the private sector can bring to, and draw from, the development of harmonized Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework for Tourism Businesses. Share the key points of the recently launched Achieving the SDGs through Tourism: Toolkit of Indicators for Projects (TIPS) developed in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a comprehensive resource designed to guide users in aligning tourism development projects with the SDGs. Connecting leading stakeholders The Forum side event is aimed at inspiring common action between the public, private, and academic sectors for the tourism sector to achieve real sustainability by focusing on the economic, social, and environmental aspects in tourism as well as governance. Discussions will count on the insights of public, private, and academic sector leaders from every global region, as well as key figures from within the United Nations itself. Csaba Korosi, President of the United Nations General Assembly will join Lachezara Stoeve, President of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in officially opening the event. Moderated by UNWTOs Executive Director Zoritsa Urosevic, the high-level roundtable discussion will count on the participation of the co-organizer of the event, Croatian Minister of Tourism and Sport Nikolina Brnjac, and Ministers of Tourism of India, Jamaica, Spain, and Dr. Ivan Simonovic, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations. Representing the private sector will be Matt Callaghan, Director of Customer & Operations at easyJet Holidays, while Edward Brooks, Executive Director and co-Founder of Oxford SDG Impact Lab, will provide the academic perspective. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations, Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. My sister-in-law is an intolerable know-it-all. I was going to let it go. Then she started spreading rumours about her own grandson: Ask Ellie A multi-agency investigation in southern Colorado turned up six stolen vehicles and the arrest of one man Pueblo police have described as a "prolific auto theft suspect," Friday afternoon. The Pueblo Police Department announced through social media that 33-year-old Raymond Flood of Pueblo was arrested Friday afternoon for his alleged part in the theft of six vehicles. Additionally, Flood has six active warrants for his arrest and faces other pending charges. He was featured in the Police Departments Weekly Safe Streets Wanted Criminal Round-up in late May. According to a social media post by the department, Floods bond amounts totaled $51,600. Floods arrest was one of seven to occur last week in Pueblo County in connection with the stolen vehicles recovered. Officials said the multiagency effort included the Colorado State Patrol, Pueblo County Sheriffs Office, Fremont County Sheriffs Office, the Canon City Police Department and the Fountain Police Department. As part of the investigation, Pueblo police said roughly 9,000 fentanyl pills, four guns and other narcotics were recovered. This article will be updated once more information is received. Coloradans are hopeful of a strong economic recovery from the pandemic, but the cost of living in the meantime gives them a sinking feeling, according to a poll released this week by the Colorado Health Foundation. The annual poll found renewed financial insecurity in areas from housing to health care. When we know more about what Coloradans are thinking, feeling and experiencing, we can better advocate for their health and well-being, Karen McNeill-Miller, president and CEO of The Colorado Health Foundation, said in a statement. Since the pandemic began, so many of us have had to face challenges we never expected, and Pulse shows us who has been hit hardest: women of color trying to balance child care and their countless other responsibilities, families living on low income struggling to keep a roof over their heads or food on their table and workers facing anxiety and depression after job loss. "These are the Coloradans we should be focused on supporting for the long term. Fears about the overall economy have eased over the last year. For instance, 63% of those polled said jobs were a serious problem last year, but this year the number fell to 44% . On the other hand, 73% considered cost of living an extremely or very serious problem, up from 63% a year ago. Concerns are even higher in the minority community: 83% of Hispanic respondents were concerned about the high cost of living, followed by 81% of Black respondents. Housing was the biggest worry cited by 82%, which is 15% higher than in 2020, including 21% who said they were concerned about losing their home because they can't afford their rent or mortgage. A whopping 44% of people with an annual household income of less than $50,000 were concerned about losing their residence. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Those surveyed also said they are struggling to pay more for food, health care and child care. The poll suggested 24% of Coloradans living on low incomes said they have skipped meals and 49% had postponed medical or dental care. Twenty-four percent said they can't find affordable child care, including 49% of low-income parents and 31% of parents of color. Not surprisingly, the stress is taking a toll. Sixty-nine percent cited higher anxiety, which included 52% who said they were depressed. Twenty-nine percent said they had sought professional help as a result. The foundation's annual Pulse poll is conducted by FM3 Research, a Democratic firm, and New Bridge Strategy, which typically works with Republicans. Its been a difficult year, and most Coloradans are feeling it. Still, few sought the help of a trained professional, raising questions about the availability of those services, said Dave Metz, the president of FM3 Research. Given such widespread reports of mental health strain, its no surprise that Coloradans overwhelmingly support providing more state-funded mental health and substance use services. The survey included 2,500 adults, a relatively huge representative sample size. Coloradans were contacted by postcard, telephone calls, text messages and emails in English and Spanish from July 27 to Aug. 16. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.7%. Read the poll by clicking here. A 25-year-old Belmont woman who had been detained by police is to be charged with killing ac The Russian occupation forces took nearly 80 high school students from the temporarily captured territories of Luhansk region to the military academy in Russias Kostroma. Thats according to the Luhansk Regional Military Administration, Ukrinfrom reports. The abducted children are now undergoing military courses at the training ground of the Academy of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection and Engineering Forces, located in Kostroma region, being subjected to yet another dose of enemy propaganda, officials emphasized. According to the report, in the temporarily occupied territories, Russian puppet authorities deny payments to mothers of newborns in case they do not hold a Russian passport. "Despite the fact that all newborns, according to the invaders legislation, are considered citizens of the Russian Federation, parents are unable to receive support payments. In this way, the enemy resorts to yet another tool to force people to get Russian passports," the administration emphasized. Due to the migration of Russian nationals, crime levels in occupied cities are increasing. "One of the examples is Dovzhansk, where Tuva and Buryatia natives arrive. The number of thefts there has increased rapidly. Local "law enforcement" tend to turn a blind eye to most of such cases, officials note. According to Artem Lysohor, the head of Regional Military Administration, the Russians do not reduce fire pressure on the region from the sky, employing warplanes nearly a dozen times a day. "The strikes regularly reach the de-occupied villages. Yesterday it was Nevske, Novoliubivka and Bilohorivka. Two of them still have a sufficient number of civilians living there. By the way, food was delivered there the other day so I am grateful to the volunteers for their help. Despite the danger and complicated logistics, we do not leave local residents alone - they always get everything they need," Lysohor emphasized. Nevske and Bilohorivka also came under Russian artillery fire on Wednesday. Russian armed aggression has seriously affected Ukraines environmental security, and Russian attacks against the countrys military objects have caused over UAH 305 billion in environmental damage. The relevant statement was made by Head of the Environmental Safety and Mine Action Department at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry Ruslan Berehulia during a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Russian aggression against Ukraine has seriously affected the environmental security of the entire country, especially in the areas that used to be under occupation and where hostilities took place. Russian troops are destroying oil depots, bombing and shelling enterprises and factories, burning down forests, and creating threats to nuclear power facilities. This results not only in huge losses but also causes irreparable damage to the environment: destruction of ecosystems, soil pollution, and reduced biodiversity, Berehulia told. Currently, it is impossible to calculate the damage caused, as the active phase of hostilities is underway. Meanwhile, in order to determine the environmental losses in 2022-2023, the ministry inspected 55 military objects, where cases of environmental damage had been recorded. At the moment, the total environmental damage reached more than UAH 305 billion, including over UAH 300 billion as soil pollution caused by waste from the ruined infrastructure; about UAH 700 million as soil contamination with petroleum products and other dangerous chemical substances; about UAH 4 billion as unorganized emissions of pollutants into the air. The amount of the damage caused to the forest fund came to about UAH 7 million, Berehulia noted. According to him, the above amount of environmental damage is not final and will further increase if Russia continues its policy of armed terror. Photo: ecoaction.org.ua By attacking Ukrainian ports, after Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Russian authorities are trying to get concessions from the West. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this in its latest Russian offensive campaign assessment, Ukrinform reports. "The Russian military's intensifying strikes against Ukrainian port and grain infrastructure and threats of maritime escalation are likely a part of a Kremlin effort to leverage Russia's exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and exact extensive concessions from the West," ISW said. According to ISW analysts, Russian President Vladimir Putin said a few days ago that returning to the deal in its current form is pointless and called for the lifting of sanctions on Russian grain and fertilizer deliveries and the removal of obstacles for Russian banks servicing food supplies to the global market, including their connection to the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) banking system. Putin also called for the resumption of deliveries of components and spare parts for Russian agricultural machinery and fertilizer production, the resolution of issues with Russia ship chartering and insurance of Russian food exports, the renewal of operations for the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline, and the removal of blocks on Russian agricultural assets. The Institute said the Kremlin likely views the Black Sea Grain Initiative as one of its few remaining avenues of leverage against the West and has withdrawn from the deal to secure these concessions. The Kremlin may be destroying Ukrainian port and grain infrastructure before renegotiating the Black Sea grain deal to set conditions for the export of stolen Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied territories that could disproportionately benefit the Russian economy Russia is also likely attempting to intensify divisions between Ukrainian and Central European governments as Ukraine and the West search for a way to re-route the grain exports. Preparations are underway in Russia for another coup, similar to the one staged by "Wagnerites". Representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Andriy Yusov said this during a telethon, Ukrinform reports. In particular, answering the question of whether Ukrainian intelligence has data on the preparation of a new rebellion, similar to the one organized by the "Wagnerites", Yusov said: "We have such data. We will not share it, realizing that the FSB can watch us here, and they will be happy to record it. Let's not make their job easier." According to the representative of the DIU, the Russian military and political elite understand that the decisions to annex Crimea, attack the Ukrainian east and launch a full-scale invasion were wrong and senseless for Russia's interests. "The main reason is the regime and the figure of Putin. Everything else is derivative. And the fact that Russia is trying to scapegoat the career military is a question of how long they will tolerate it," Yusov added. Read also: UK imposes sanctions against Russians linked to Wagner PMC in Africa As reported, the leader of the Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin announced a demarche against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, on June 23. Unrecognized President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held talks with Prigozhin, after which he said that the group's members of Wagner PMC were returning to their field camps. Russian dictator Putin said that "Wagnerites" could sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry or go to Belarus. The illegally constructed Kerch Strait Bridge connecting Russia to Crimea must be neutralized. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this at the Aspen Security Forum via video link, according to CNN. "The Crimean bridge, this is not just a logistical road, this is the road used to feed the war with ammunition, and this is being done on a daily basis. [] So understandably this is our objective. Any target that is bringing war, not peace, must be neutralized," Zelensky said. According to him, the Crimean bridge is "an enemy facility built outside the law, outside international laws and all applicable norms." Zelensky also reiterated his government's objective is to "reclaim the whole of the Crimea." "It's our sovereign territory, an unalienable part of our nation," he said. Early on July 17, one section of the Kerch Strait Bridge collapsed following an explosion. The United States is to announce as soon as Tuesday another military aid package for Ukraine, this time worth up to $400 million, including artillery, air defense missiles and ground vehicles, three U.S. officials said on Friday. Thats according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports. The U.S. is not including cluster munitions in this weapons assistance package, two of the officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said. The U.S. first sent dual-purpose improved conventional munitions (DPICM) - a cluster munition fired from a 155mm howitzer cannon to Ukraine earlier in July. Included in the package are several Stryker armored personnel carriers, mine clearing equipment, munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), munitions for HIMARS, anti-tank weapons including TOW and Javelin, and munitions for Patriot and Stinger anti-aircraft systems, the officials say. The package is still being finalized, the report adds. It would be funded using Presidential Drawdown Authority, which authorizes the president to transfer articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval during an emergency. The material will come from U.S. excess inventory. The security assistance package would be the 43rd approved by the United States for Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February 2022, for a total of more than $41 billion. In the southern operational zone, Ukraines air defense units intercepted five Shahed one-way attack drones Russia launched overnight Saturday. Thats according to Natalia Humeniuk, head of the Operational Command South press service, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Now we are observing intensified deployment of reconnaissance drones, which implies that the enemy has taken a certain pause to collect information. But even this pause was filled with the sounds of Shaheds in our operational zone. Ukraines defense forces destroyed three of them that were heading via Mykolaiv region to the central part of Ukraine. All three were destroyed over the territory of Kirovohrad region and Mykolaiv region, and two more were downed over Dnipropetrovsk region. This is a small wave of Shaheds aimed at reconnoitering our air defense response," Humeniuk said. Read also: Three injured as Russian artillery shells Nikopol According to the spokesperson, these efforts on the part of the enemy indicate that the Russians are trying to gather more intelligence, including on Ukraines port infrastructure in the area. Russian UAVs are launched from over the Black Sea and toward the Ukrainian coastline, the spokeswoman added. As Ukrinform reported earlier, in the early hours of Saturday, the Russians launched more missile and air strikes against Ukraine. As of 09:30 a.m., July 22, 2023, a total of 10 Russian warships were remaining on combat duty in the Black Sea. However, no missile carriers were spotted among them. The relevant statement was made by the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Additionally, Russia is keeping one warship combat ready in the Sea of Azov and eight warships in the Mediterranean Sea. A reminder that, on July 21, 2023, a total of 13 Russian warships were spotted combat ready in the Black Sea, including one missile carrier with eight Kalibr-type cruise missiles on board. Separate groups of residents are preparing to appeal two controversial development plans in front of the City Council during the board's regular meeting Tuesday. Launchpad Apartments Residents plan to appeal the Colorado Springs Planning Commission's June 14 decision to uphold city planning staff's administrative approval of plans to build the 50-unit Launchpad Apartments just north of the intersection of West Uintah and North 19th streets. The project is envisioned to support homeless young adults 18 to 24. The Place operates the only shelter for homeless teens in Colorado Springs and will operate the programs at the Launchpad Apartments. Forty-seven one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units are planned to be built in a four-story, approximately 45-foot-tall building on about 1.37 acres at the site, Andrea Barlow with developer consultant N.E.S. Inc. previously told the Planning Commission. The density is approximately 36 units per acre. Appellants have largely taken issue with the project's proposed building height and density. Neither elements conform to various adopted city plans guiding development at this site, including Colorado Springs' comprehensive plan known as PlanCOS and the Westside Plan, the area master plan for development across 2,900 acres on Colorado Springs' westside, appellant Scott Hiller previously told the Planning Commission. The project also does not fit in with current surrounding uses in the area and contradicts the intention of the city's zoning code designed to "protect" residents "from inappropriate design and other negative effects," Tom Strand, a former Colorado Springs councilman, has said. But appellants have requested a postponement of Tuesday's scheduled appeal hearing in front of the City Council. According to meeting documents, they have requested the postponement because one of their representatives may not be able to attend the hearing; 20 new appellants have joined the group and need adequate time to prepare for the hearing; and because appellants are waiting to receive a transcript of the Planning Commission's June 14 meeting, where that board upheld city planners' administrative approval of the project. The Council will informally consider the postponement request at its scheduled work session Monday. Colorado Springs spokesman Alex Ryden said in an email Friday that based off the council's indication on Monday, the Launchpad Apartments appeal hearing will either be postponed near the beginning of Tuesday's regular meeting or heard at the end of Tuesday's meeting. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. If the council grants the postponement request, Ryden said, the appeal hearing will likely be moved to the council's regular meeting Aug. 8. Kettle Creek North Another group of residents is scheduled to appeal the Planning Commission's June 14 approval of revised plans to build about 250 homes north of the intersection of Powers Boulevard and Old Ranch Road. The Planning Commission's recommendation for approval comes nearly two years after residents successfully paused the plans in the northeast part of the city. They argued in May 2021 that developers needed to provide a second exit route as an alternative to Thunder Mountain Avenue, a north-south road that leads to Old Ranch Road. Residents said relying on that road as well as Howells Road, a smaller parallel residential street that also leads out to Old Ranch Road, could be dangerous, particularly if one were blocked in a traffic accident. The new plans presented in June did not include that second evacuation route to either the north or the west. A western connection to Powers Boulevard has been met with a "resounding 'no'" from the Colorado Department of Transportation because Powers is a freeway, Chris Lieber, a consultant with N.E.S. representing developer Vintage Communities, previously told the Planning Commission. A road north to State Highway 83 or Shoup Road would require a large bridge across Kettle Creek that would cost over $10 million in bridge and connection road construction and low traffic generation from the neighborhood could not justify that cost, he has said. Residents have said the neighborhood also already suffers from traffic congestion, particularly in front of Pine Creek High School in the morning when neighbors trying to leave are headed south on Thunder Mountain Avenue and students, parents and staff driving to the school are headed north. The City Council meets both for its work session on Monday and its regular meeting Tuesday at 10 a.m. at City Hall. Residents will be able to provide public comment on both items at Tuesday's regular meeting. Meeting agendas and relevant materials are available online at coloradosprings.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx. The actions of the notorious Wagner Group in Belarus, the country bordering Ukraine in the north, are supposed to exert psychological pressure on and intimidate the Ukrainian population, says Joint Forces Commander Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev. Thats according to JF Commands press service, Ukrinform reports. The comment came as Nayev attended a military training session at a critical infrastructure facility in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone. "The activities in which members of Wagner Group are now involved are aimed at psychological pressure on the population of Ukraine for the sake of their intimidation. But we dont need to be intimidated because we know what we have to do and we are doing everything to ensure that the enemy's reconnaissance and sabotage forces are unable to successfully operate on the territory of Ukraine, in particular toward Kyiv in the Chornobyl zone," the lieutenant general emphasized. According to the commander, in order to prevent the enemy from penetrating the border, five sections of roads leading to the state border with Belarus were destroyed over the last week. More than 60 log obstacles were created and mined. More than 2,500 anti-tank mines were planted. In addition, military drills are held on a weekly basis. "Our guys are highly motivated and well-trained. We are doing everything to ensure that the Ukrainian population believes in our Armed Forces," Nayev stressed. As Ukrinform reported earlier, several convoys of Wagner Group personnel and equipment arrived in Belarus. Earlier, the Belarus authorities of Belarus reportedly allowed the group to set up camp in the village of Tsel in Mogilev region which would be able to host almost 9,000 people. Ukraine is advancing on the battlefield, liberating its territories step by step, approaching the moment where counteroffensive actions could accelerate. Thats according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke at the 14th annual Aspen Security Forum via video conference, Ukrinform reports, referring to the President's Office. "Because we started (the counteroffensive - ed.) a bit later on, it can be said, and it will be the truth understood by all experts, that it has provided Russia with time to mine our lands and build several lines of defense. Definitely, they had more time than they needed. It slowed our counteroffensive. We did not want to lose our vehicles and personnel, and our servicemen did not want to lose their equipment. Still, I would say were approaching the moment when our counteroffensive actions can gain pace. Because we are already going through demining these areas," Zelensky said. Zelensky noted that Ukraine had been planning counteroffensive actions for the spring 2023, but "we did not because frankly we did not have enough munitions and armaments, not enough proper training on these weapons. Training missions were ongoing outside Ukraine, Zelensky added, emphasizing that, despite the delay, counteroffensive actions have begun and Ukraine is not backtracking but liberating its territories step by step. The president also drew attention to the fact that, in order to speed up the advance of the Ukrainian Army, there was not enough demining equipment in place. At the same time, he thanked partners from the U.S. and Europe as it was thanks to them and the resilience of the Ukrainians that the counteroffensive began. "I understand that its always better to see victory come sooner. But lets not throw people onto the mines and under the tanks, literally. Let us run our counteroffensive as our analysts and intelligence suggest. I believe in our victory!" said Zelensky. He added that several settlements have already been deoccupied. As Ukrinform reported earlier, as of June 22, Ukraine deoccupied 14 settlements in Luhansk region. Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency has no reason to doubt Russian President Vladimir Putins claim that Russia has moved a first batch of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, senior officials said on Friday. Thats according to CNN, Ukrinform reports. Senior DIA officials told a small group of reporters Friday that analysts have no reason to doubt Putins claims, made last month at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum that the first [Russian] nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus, and no reason to doubt that they have had some success in transferring the weapons. The officials would not disclose why they believe that, only acknowledging that the weapons are difficult for the U.S. intelligence community to track, even through satellite imagery. Read also: Fakes about Zaporizhzhia NPP and Russian Nuclear Blackmail Putin said Russia has about 4,477 deployed and reserve nuclear warheads, including around 1,900 tactical nuclear weapons. It is not clear how much of that arsenal Putin intends to move, and U.S. and Western officials have not publicly confirmed that any weapons have been transferred to Belarus. US and Western officials said earlier this month that it did not appear that Belarus had finished upgrading the necessary storage facilities to house tactical nuclear weapons. Other sources told CNN, however, that there are various facilities in Belarus, dating back to the Soviet era, that could feasibly house some of the nukes. Asked last week whether he had seen signs that Russia had moved the weapons, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told CNN that the UK had seen signs of this progressing and noted that Putin doesnt always lie. When pressed, however, Wallace also declined to elaborate on the signs he had seen. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller similarly declined to answer questions earlier this month about where the weapons actually are, but he said the U.S. expects Russia to uphold its nonproliferation obligations. Senior DIA officials said they do not believe Belaruss Alexander Lukashenko would have any control over the arsenal. It would most likely be entirely controlled by Russia, the officials said. The DIA officials also said they do not believe the movement of the weapons to Belarus would alter the global nuclear landscape or increase the risk of a nuclear incident, because they would be in storage rather than forward deployed, and controlled by Russian forces. Miller also said the US has not seen any reason to adjust our own nuclear posture nor any indication Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon. The number of mercenaries from Russian private military companies (PMC), deployed in Belarus, may be around 5,000. The relevant statement was made by Spokesperson for the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service Andrii Demchenko in a commentary to Ukrinform. At the beginning, as the groups of mercenaries began to enter Belarus, their number was estimated in hundreds. But, now, considering the available information about the representatives of private military companies, their number is, of course, different and may reach around 5,000, Demchenko told. In his words, such a number of Russian mercenaries does not pose a direct threat to Ukraine. Nevertheless, Ukrainian border guard officers are ready for any scenario, and the situation at the border is fully controlled. According to Demchenko, the Ukrainian State Border Guard Service continues to monitor the situation regarding the arrival of Russian mercenaries in Belarus. Ukraine is doing everything necessary to understand the real risk and ensure reliable security due to the presence of mercenaries in a neighboring country. We react accordingly, Demchenko added. The spokesperson emphasized that Ukraines border is being further strengthened along its entire length and reinforced with the necessary means. A reminder that Joint Forces Commander Lieutenant General Serhiy Nayev stated earlier that the actions of Russias Wagner Group in Belarus are supposed to exert psychological pressure on and intimidate the Ukrainian population. A woman, 57, has been killed in Russias shelling of the Kharkiv regions Kupiansk. The relevant statement was made by Kharkiv Regional Military Administration on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Russian occupiers continue causing terror against civilians in the Kharkiv region. Today, rashists have again opened fire on Kupiansk. A woman, 57, was killed in the enemy shelling, the report states. According to the Ukrainian Prosecutor Generals Office, Russian occupiers attacked Kupiansk around 11:00 a.m., July 22, 2023. The territory of a private enterprise was hit. Later, around 01:30 p.m., the enemy again shelled Kupiansk, having killed a civilian woman. Based on the preliminary data, Russian occupiers struck Kupiansk with multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Pre-trial investigations were launched for the violation of the laws and customs of war (Art. 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). Photo: Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors Office The Russian occupying forces are concentrating their main efforts on five directions - Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka. Thirty combat clashes were recorded in these five areas during the day. Thats according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports. "The enemy is focusing its main efforts on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka directions, where heavy battles are ongoing. About 30 combat clashes took place during the day," reads the report posted on Facebook. As noted, the operational situation on the Volyn and Polissia directions has undergone no significant change as no signs of enemy offensive groups being formed were observed. Certain units of the Belarus armed forces perform routine tasks in the areas bordering Ukraine. The enemy maintains a military presence in the Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions. A Russian airstrike hit the area of Veterynarne in Kharkiv region. Mortar and artillery fire shelling of more than 15 settlements, in particular, Tymonovichi, Chernihiv region; Seredyna-Buda, Uhroidy, and Riasne in Sumy region, and Kozacha Lopan, Strelecha, Ternova, and Budarka of Kharkiv region. In the Kupiansk direction, Ukrainian soldiers are firmly holding their defense. Kamianka, Novomlynsk, Dvorichna, Zapadne, Kupiansk and Kislivka of Kharkiv region were subjected to enemy artillery and mortar attacks. In the Lyman direction, the enemy ran unsuccessful offensive missions in the districts of Nadiia in Luhansk region and Torske, Hryhorivka in Donetsk region. Russian airstrikes hit the Serebryansky Forest and Spirne districts of Donetsk region. The settlements of Nevske, Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Torske, Verkhnokamianske, Spirne, and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region came under Russian artillery fire. In addition, in the Bakhmut direction, under heavy enemy artillery fire, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled enemy attacks in the Bohdanivka and Ivanivka districts of Donetsk region. More than 10 settlements, including Vasiukivka, Markove, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Kostiantynivka, Druzhba and New York of Donetsk region, were affected by enemy artillery shelling. In the Avdiivka direction, under heavy fire from the enemy's aircraft and artillery, Ukraines defenders successfully repelled attacks by Russian troops in the Avdiivka area. The enemy carried out an airstrike in the Sieverne area of Donetsk region. At the same time, Russian artillery fired at more than 10 settlements, including Avdiivka, Pervomaiske, and Nevelske. In the Marinka direction, Ukraines Defense Forces continue to hold back the advance of Russian troops in the Krasnohorivka and Marinka districts of Donetsk region. In the area of Krasnohorivka, the enemy carried out an airstrike and shelled more than 10 settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Maksymilianivka, Heorhiivka, Marinka, and Pobieda in Donetsk region. In the Shakhtarske direction, the Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the Novomykhailivka area of Donetsk region, launched an airstrike near Blahodatne in Donetsk region, and shelled over 10 settlements, including Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Vuhledar, and Blahodatne in Donetsk region. According to the press service, in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is focusing its main efforts on preventing further advance of Ukraines troops. The Russians made unsuccessful attempts to restore the lost position in the area south of Novodarivka, Zaporizhzhia region. Airstrikes hit the districts of Hulyaipilske, Mala Tokmachka, Novodanilivka, and Pyatikhatky of Zaporizhzhia region. Over 25 settlements were affected by artillery fire, including Novodarivka, Hulyaipole, Hulyaipilske, Novoandriivka, Stepove, Kamianske of Zaporizhzhia region; Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region; Zolota Balka, Dudchany, Beryslav, Antonivka, Bilozerka, Veletenske of Kherson region, and the city of Kherson. At the same time, Ukraines Defense Forces continue their offensive operation in the Melitopol and Berdiansk directions, entrenching at the gained positions and inflicting fire damage involving artillery on pre-identified enemy targets, and engaging in counter-battery combat. The General Staff also reported that during the day, the Russian occupiers struck another blow on the territory of Ukraine, deploying Shahed attack drones. As a result of successful combat operations by the air defense forces, all five attack UAVs were intercepted. In addition, the enemy carried out four missile strikes and 36 airstrikes, as well as 23 attacks involving multiple-launch rocket systems, on the positions of Ukrainian troops and populated areas. Unfortunately, there are victims among the civilian population. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure objects were destroyed. The likelihood of Russia launching more missile and air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine remains high. In turn, Ukraines air force throughout the day delivered eight strikes on Russian manpower, weapons, and military equipment clusters. Also, Ukraines defenders downed four reconnaissance UAVs of operational-tactical level. Rocket and artillery units hit 7 enemy artillery systems in firing positions. As Ukrinform reported earlier, from February 24, 2022 to July 22, 2023, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated 241,330 Russian invaders, including 640 in the past day. Also, they destroyed 4,140 enemy tanks (+7 in the past day), 8,096 (+16) armored fighting vehicles, 4,629 (+19) artillery systems, 693 (+1) multiple-launch rocket systems, 448 (+8) air defense systems, 315 (+0) warplanes, 310 (+0) helicopters, 3,944 (+11) operational and tactical-level UAVs, 1,298 (+0) cruise missiles, 18 (+0) warships/cutters, 7,159 (+14) trucks and tankers, and 691 (+5) units of specialized equipment. Norway will provide assistance to Ukraine worth about 7 billion over the next five years. That's according to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. "Norway will provide assistance to Ukraine in the amount of about 7 billion over the next five years," said Ambassador of Norway to Ukraine Helene Sand Andersen at a meeting with the leadership of the State Border Guard Service. The parties also discussed the prospects for bilateral cooperation in the field of border security and further cooperation in the context of Ukraine's deterrence of full-scale Russian aggression. As Ukrinform reported, in early July, the Bulgarian government decided to join the joint purchase of ammunition for Ukraine under the European Defense Agency (EDA) project, which already involves 24 EU member states and Norway. With the support of international partners, Ukraine will continue helping other countries with food despite Russias withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The relevant statement was made by the Strategic Communications Department at the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU Stratcom) on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. On that day a year ago, an agreement was signed in Turkiyes Istanbul to establish the so-called grain corridor and unblock the export of food products and grain from three Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea. Prior to Russias full-scale invasion, Ukraine was the worlds fifth largest grain exporter. Russias blockade of Ukrainian ports caused a global spike in grain prices. Following the UN estimates, grain shortages and rising food prices put 50 million people at risk of starvation. The terrorist state of Russia threatens the survival of entire nations in Africa and the Middle East with its actions. The AFU Stratcom emphasized that Russia had been using the blockade of maritime exports as a tool of pressure on Ukraine and the West for a long time. As the Grain Deal was signed, the Kremlins opportunities to blackmail the world with hunger became fewer. This was a logical consequence of the successes of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and strategic cooperation with partners, the AFU Stratcom stressed, adding that, after regaining control over Snake [Zmiinyi] Island, Ukraine was able to resume navigation via the Bystre Canal between the Danube and the Black Sea. Over the past year, more than 33 million tonnes of grain has been exported as part of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which saved many nations from famine. At the same time, Ukraines state budget received more than USD 20 billion through this agreement. Meanwhile, the day after the Grain Deal was signed, Russia launched a missile strike on Ukraines Odesa Port. Once again, this proved that Russian terrorists would stop at nothing for the sake of their sick ambitions, no matter what losses they themselves or the countries dependent on Ukrainian grain would have to suffer. A year later, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Grain Deal. However, the Ukrainian state has its own plan. With the political consent of partner countries, namely Turkiye, and the trust of insurers, Ukraine is ready to pave its economic way. We will continue to help other countries, because it is only with joint struggle and mutual support that we will achieve Victory, the AFU Stratcom concluded. A reminder that, on July 22, 2022, Ukraine, Turkiye, the United Nations and Russia signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul, which unblocked three Ukrainian ports (Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi) for the export of grain and mineral fertilizers. Under the aegis of the UN, the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was established in Istanbul to supervise and coordinate the operation of the grain corridor. On July 17, 2023, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Grain Deal. Photo: Oleksandr Kubrakov, Facebook Sense Bank, which used to be owned by Russian oligarchs, is now controlled by Ukraine and will operate as usual. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Today, the procedure regarding one of the systemic banks, which belonged to Russian oligarchs, ended. Now, it has public management. The rights of depositors and the resilience of the banking sector are guaranteed. In the future, this bank will operate as usual, Zelensky said. The Head of State expressed gratitude to the team of the National Bank of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Deposit Guarantee Fund for the quick and effective steps within the legal procedure. Another asset of the Russian oligarchs, who still continue to work within the system existing in Russia, is under the control of our state, Zelensky concluded. A reminder that, on July 22, 2023, the Ukrainian Finance Ministry and the Deposit Guarantee Fund signed an agreement on the purchase of 100% of shares in the systemically important bank, Sense Bank PJSC, meaning the bank was transferred into state ownership. The Ukrainian Finance Ministry and the Deposit Guarantee Fund have signed an agreement on the purchase of 100% of shares in Sense Bank PJSC, meaning the bank has become state property. The relevant statement was made by the Government portal, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. On July 22, 2023, the Ukrainian Finance Ministry and the Deposit Guarantee Fund signed an agreement on the purchase of 100% of shares in the systemically important bank, Sense Bank PJSC, meaning the bank was transferred into state ownership, the report states. According to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the above step will contribute to the protection of the interests of the Banks depositors and prevent threats to the financial stability of Ukraine. A reminder that, on July 20, 2023, the Board of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) endorsed a decision to withdraw the systemically important bank, Sense Bank PJSC, from the market. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine accepted the NBUs proposal regarding state participation in the withdrawal of the bank from the market. Russias statements on suspending their participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative have no legal grounds behind them as Moscow simply blackmails the world and at the same time increases own grain sales at higher prices. Thats according to the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who spoke at a meeting on Friday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. Let's be clear. Russia has zero, zero legitimate reason to suspend its participation in this arrangement. They would have you believe that sanctions have blocked their exports. That couldn't be further from the truth. They were exporting more grains than ever before and at higher prices, the diplomat noted. She underlined the fact that Russia is simply using the Black Sea as blackmail. It's playing political games is holding humanity hostage, Thomas-Greenfield stressed. She recalled that the United Nations, Turkiye, and Ukraine had said publicly they wanted the grain arrangement to continue. The world clearly wants this arrangement to continue. Now, in the eyes of the world are on you, Russia, the U.S. representative said, addressing the Russian delegation attending the meeting. She noted that it is not too late for Moscow to reverse this decision and extend, expand, and fully implement the Black Sea Grain Initiative. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the UN insists that due to Russias withdrawal from the grain initiative and the impending threat to sea navigation in the Black Sea area, food prices across the world are rising, further deepening energy and financial crises. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a phone call on Friday coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The head of state said this on his Twitter account, Ukrinform reports. "I had a phone conversation with President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan. I thanked my colleague for the fruitful meeting in Istanbul on July 7 and Turkey's principled position regarding Ukraine," Zelensky wrote. He added that both parties had coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. "Due to Russia's actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis. A total of 400 million people in many countries of Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation. Together, we must avert a global food crisis," Zelensky said. Zelensky also discussed with Erdogan the implementation of the Ukrainian Peace Formula and asked for the Turkish leader's assistance in returning Ukrainian POWs, particularly Crimean Tatars. Earlier on Friday, Erdogan said that Turkey would "not hesitate" to take the initiative needed to prevent the "harmful effects" of Russia pulling out of the Black Sea grain deal. The Black Sea does not belong to Russia because other countries, including Ukraine, Turkiye, Romania, and Bulgaria are also out there. President Volodymyr Zelensky noted this, speaking at the 14th annual Aspen Security Forum via video conference on Friday, Ukrinform reports. "We do look for ways (to unblock the Black Sea Grain Initiative ed.). We spoke to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, I spoke with him personally. I spoke with President Erdogan to discuss the crisis. We do see ways of getting out of this. If we succeed, if Erdogan succeeds, if the UN becomes even stronger I think we will all see success," Zelensky said. He emphasized that the Black Sea does not belong to the Russian Federation: "There is Ukraine, there is Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria. We speak with all the countries of the Black Sea region. We have substantive pragmatic human relations and, what is very important, legal relations with everyone but Russia. Russia believes that the Black Sea is purely Russian." At the same time, the president noted that both society and the army in Russia lack motivation and unity, since the Russian Federation can deliver neither combat victories nor economic achievements. The Ukrainian leader also urged the world not to lose unity, which is something that is a must for winners in todays realities. As reported, on July 22, 2022 in Istanbul, Ukraine, as well as Russia, Turkiye, and the UN, signed agreements on the unblocking of Ukrainian ports and the revival of export of Ukrainian grain. Three Ukrainian ports Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi were unblocked for the passage of civilian vessels. Under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, not only grain, but also mineral fertilizers were exported by sea. For overall supervision and coordination, a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was established in Istanbul under the UN auspices. On July 17, Russia said it was suspending participation in the agreement with Turkiye and the UN regarding the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Photo: Ukrainian Presidents Office The Swedish government has presented a strategy for Swedens recovery and reform cooperation with Ukraine for 20232027, which provides a total of SEK 6 billion for Ukraines recovery projects. This was announced by Johan Forssell, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden, during an online meeting with Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine, on June 21, Ukrinform reports citing the Cabinet press service. The report notes this is Swedens largest-ever bilateral development assistance strategy, and Ukraine is the recipient of the aid. We highly appreciate Swedens commitment to invest SEK 6 billion in Ukraines economic development and bring us closer to victory. This is the first comprehensive multi-year strategy to support Ukraine adopted by our partners. The funds will be used for rebuilding infrastructure, green development, entrepreneurship, trade, demining, and media. We also welcome the fact that the Swedish government will encourage large companies to enter and develop in Ukraine, said Yuliia Svyrydenko. According to the First Deputy PM, the private sector is the most important actor in the reconstruction of Ukraine. It is important for us to attract foreign investment, involve international companies in reconstruction projects and expand cooperation with Ukrainian businesses, she stressed. The strategys budget has been distributed among its implementing agencies: the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) SEK 5.7 billion, the Swedish Institute (SI) SEK 225 million, and the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) SEK 75 million. The First Deputy Prime Minister also spoke about the Governments extensive work on the economic recovery plan for Ukraine for 2024-2027 within the framework of the Ukraine Facility mechanism proposed by the EU as a key instrument to support Ukraine for 2024-2027. The parties also discussed the issue of military risk insurance, cooperation with MIGA and DFC. The Swedish side noted that it was working to resolve the issue of insurance for Swedish companies and guarantees for trade operations, as the Ukrainian market is promising for the development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Attention was also drawn to the importance of humanitarian demining in Ukraine, the replenishment of specialized equipment, the training of demining engineers and the survey of contaminated land. Yuliia Svyrydenko stressed the need to prevent trade restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products: Blocking Ukrainian grain blocks the Ukrainian economy and threatens global food security. The Government of Ukraine calls on the European community not to extend the restrictions on imports of certain Ukrainian agricultural products, which are currently in force until mid-September 2023, Svyrydenko said. As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine expressed gratitude to Swedens prime minister and government for approving a EUR 522 million recovery program for Ukraine for 2023-2027. In the coming days, a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council will take place to discuss the overcoming of the crisis situation in the Black Sea and the sustainable operation of the grain corridor. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. I spoke with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The topic is obvious it is the implementation of the agreements that we had reached at the Alliances summit in Vilnius. The priority remains unchanged: joining NATO as soon as possible, when security conditions allow. Only this will reliably guarantee security and peace for the whole of Europe, Zelensky told. Additionally, the parties discussed the current security situation, namely Russias aggressive actions in the Black Sea. Any destabilization in this region and the disruption of our export routes will mean problems having corresponding consequences for everyone in the world. The price crisis is the least of the possible consequences, the President of Ukraine stressed. Zelensky and Stoltenberg also considered joint steps to unblock and ensure the sustainable operation of the Black Sea grain corridor. In our cooperation, we have moved to a new, higher level the level of the Ukraine-NATO Council. And this mechanism can work. I offered Jens to urgently convene the Council for appropriate crisis consultations. The meeting will take place in the coming days. We can overcome the security crisis in the Black Sea, Zelensky emphasized. A reminder that, on July 22, 2022, Ukraine, Turkiye, the United Nations and Russia signed the Black Sea Grain Initiative in Istanbul, which unblocked three Ukrainian ports (Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi) for the export of grain and mineral fertilizers. Under the aegis of the UN, the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) was established in Istanbul to supervise and coordinate the operation of the grain corridor. On July 17, 2023, Russia announced its withdrawal from the Grain Deal. Finland is preparing a new delivery of humanitarian aid for the regions of Ukraine affected by flooding as a result of the Russian explosion of the Kakhovka HPP. That's according to the Finnish Interior Ministry's website, Ukrinform reports. As noted, the destruction of the Kakhovka dam in early June led to a situation where the water supply of thousands of Ukrainians was threatened. Ukraine emphasized the need for assistance in the field of water supply, and Finland was able to respond effectively to these requests, the ministry emphasized. "Finland has sent water purification materials, water containers, pumps and intensive chlorination units to Ukraine to strengthen the countrys water supply. In addition, new shipments of water production materials and wastewater purification equipment are under preparation," the statement said. Also, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, in addition to the announced assistance in the field of water supply, Finland has recently donated generators, ambulances and other vehicles, hospital beds and equipment for the protection of cultural heritage to Ukraine. The total amount of material assistance from Finland in July exceeded 250 trucks, the ministry emphasized. As reported, on the night of June 6, the Russian army blew up the dam of the Kakhovka HPP. People were evacuated from flooded areas in Kherson region. Law enforcement officers launched an investigation under the article "ecocide." Ukrhydroenergo stated that the Kakhovka HPP was completely destroyed and cannot be restored. BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jul, 2023 ) :Assets under the management of China's public offering funds totaled 27.69 trillion Yuan (about 3.88 trillion U.S. Dollars) by the end of June, data from the Asset Management Association of China showed. By the end of June, a total of 10,980 public offering funds were being operated by 144 fund management companies, the association said. The scale of closed-end funds neared 3.75 trillion yuan, with open-end funds at about 23.9 trillion yuan, the data showed. Of the 144 fund management companies, 48 are foreign-funded and 96 are domestic firms, the association said. (@FahadShabbir) Madrid, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jul, 2023 ) :Spain votes Sunday in an early general election which polls suggest no party will win with enough votes to govern alone, making post-ballot alliances necessary. Here are the main candidates vying for power: - The incumbent PM - Written-off politically several times in the past, incumbent Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, 51, has been in office since June 2018. He took power after winning a no-confidence vote against a conservative Popular Party (PP) government with the support of other smaller leftist parties as well as Basque and Catalan separatist formations. His government has passed a series of reforms such as legalising euthanasia and a law letting anyone 16 and over change their legally-registered gender based on a simple statement. As Spain's first premier to be fluent in English, the former economics professor has boosted the country's influence in the European Union. Known for risk-taking, he called the snap polls after his Socialists and their far-left coalition partner Podemos suffered a drubbing in regional and local elections in May. - The conservative favourite - At the helm of Spain's right-wing Popular Party (PP) for a year, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, 61, has steadied the party after one of the worst internal crises in its history. He headed the regional government of his native Galicia in the rural northwest for 13 years, as well as the postal service and the former national health service. On his watch, the PP has consistently topped opinion polls. Feijoo has pledged to reverse many of Sanchez's laws, including one seeking to tackle the legacy of the 1939-1975 dictatorship of Francisco Franco. He has also accused Sanchez of betraying Spain by relying on the support of Basque and Catalan separatist parties to pass laws, and for pardoning Catalan leaders serving jail terms over a botched 2017 secession bid. A moderate, Feijoo has nonetheless not ruled out an alliance with far-right Vox to govern if the PP wins the most seats but falls short of a working majority, as most polls suggest. The PP and Vox have already reached such an agreement in several regions and municipalities after May's elections despite Vox's ultra-conservative stances on social issues. - The popular Communist - Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz -- a member of the Spanish Communist Party (PCE) -- managed to attract the support of 15 small leftist parties, including Podemos, to create a new movement called Sumar which she leads. Largely unknown when she became labour minister in 2020, this 52-year-old lawyer with an affable character has become Spain's most trusted party leader according to polls. She negotiated a crucial furlough agreement during the Covid crisis, secured a significant increase to the minimum wage and pushed through a key labour reform which limits the use of temporary contracts. Sumar, which hopes to govern with Sanchez's Socialists, has put forward a far-left programme. One of its central measures is a "universal inheritance" plan, which involves giving young people 20,000 Euros ($22,500) to spend on study or training. - The ultranationalist - A PP member since his teens, Santiago Abascal cut ties with the party in late 2013 to help found the far-right Vox which he has since led. Built like a pitbull with an impeccably trimmed beard, the 47-year-old is known for his populist rhetoric and hardline stance on Catalan separatism, which has helped turn Vox into a potential kingmaker. Vox's popularity soared following Catalonia's failed 2017 secession bid, and it became the third-biggest party in parliament after the last general election in 2019. Vox is openly anti-abortion and opposes LGBTQ rights; it rejects the need for the government to combat gender violence, is a vocal critic of "climate fanaticism" and wants to cut benefits for migrants. Abascal has cultivated strong ties with other European far-right parties from Hungary's ruling Fidesz to the Brothers of Italy of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday urged the people to consider the facts involving pathetic and poor performance of corruption tainted government of Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf with that of Pakistan Muslim League-N which had always been the pioneer of mega development projects SHARQPUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jul, 2023 ):Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday urged the people to consider the facts involving pathetic and poor performance of corruption tainted government of Pakistan Teheek-e-Insaf with that of Pakistan Muslim League-N which had always been the pioneer of mega development projects. He said they would accept public mandate in the upcoming general elections and if the PML-N under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif got another opportunity to serve the country, they would restore the real image of Pakistan. The prime minister was addressing a ceremony after stone laying of different significant development projects which included 19Kms long Lahore bypass linking Kala Shah Kaku with Lahore-Karachi Motorway at a cost of Rs 35 billion. The project will create about 27,000 jobs opportunities. The prime minister also broke ground for expansion of Lahore-Karachi Motorway Saggian road and main Ravi bridge which would ease vehicular traffic, help save fuel and create jobs opportunities. Later, he also laid foundation stones of Esaan (Sharqpur) interchange at Abdul Hakeem Motorway and the establishment of Quaid Azam University campus and soft launch of construction of a scout college. Declaring former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as 'a builder of Pakistan, man behind ending loadshedding, launching of multi dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and a builder of a vast network of roads and putting the country on path of rapid progress, he said Nawaz Sharif aspired to transform the country into 'an Asian tiger'. Unfortunately, his rule was ended in 2018 through a huge conspiracy hatched against Pakistan, the prime minister regretted. If the PML-N was in the government during the four years of PTI's rule, the country would have a different destiny, he added. He said during the years 2013 to 2018, under Nawaz Sharif's rule, the country was making progress by leaps and bounds, but afterwards in the PTI's government, the country was pushed into chaos. The prime minister said with a change in the regime, all the opposition leadership was sent to jails on basis of fake cases, false allegations of thefts and corruption were levelled, even sisters and daughters were sent behind bars during the PTI's rule. "The development pace spurred by PML-N government was halted," he regretted. The prime minister also questioned Imran Niazi's claims of returning back 300 billion dollars stashed outside Pakistan within ninety days and said the PTI's government did not get any single penny during the four years of its rule. Referring to Rs 50 billion amount recovery scandal, he said, the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) had investigated the issue and after out of court settlement with the other party, decided to return the amount to the government exchequer but it did not go to State Bank of Pakistan rather went to the Supreme Court where Niazi's government became a party. A closed envelop was presented before the cabinet in this regard without showing or discussing it with the members and approval was accorded, he added. "It was a huge crime as to how the national exchequer was plundered," he said, adding the BRT Peshawar, Toshakhana, Malam Jabba, sugar scams etc were the other major corruption cases of PTI. The prime minister said the UK crime agency had also carried out investigation against him for two years over false allegations and at the request of PTI's government but later, gave him clean chit. \more Ike other Iranian Kurds who fled into exile during last year's women-led mass protests, 17-year-old Sarina tries to keep a low profile in her new home in northern Iraq Berlin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jul, 2023 ):On each of his visits to Berlin, Ronen Shaham feels the rush of freedom that sees the computer engineer from Los Angeles ditch his workwear for something more relaxed: a lace shirt, studded necklace and a side-split skirt. Known throughout the world for their extravagance, Berlin's clubs have fostered a taboo-free style, inspired by fetishism, that makes liberal use of leather and latex with accessories that pinch, poke and squeeze. "Fetishwear" has its dedicated shops and well-known designers, and takes pride of place in the city's two big summer festivals: the Technoparade, which took place in July, and Berlin's pride march, one of the biggest in Europe, on Saturday. It is in this summer party season that Shaham and his partner Lulu Neel have decided to make their latest pilgrimage to Berlin. The couple fell in love with the city three years ago when they came across a community of clubbers "just dressing so much better than I had ever seen", says Lulu. "I wanted to be dressed like that," says the young woman, a specialist in 3D digital design by day, who wears a black rope necklace with metal rings to a show organised by upstart clubbing label, The Code. - Purple and black - Shaham and Neel have refined their look over the course of repeated visits to the German capital. He says his preference is for latex, lace and harnesses, and he likes to put his tattoos on show. In Berlin, "You can be like that, and you can walk out to the street, you can get into the Uber and... you feel free", says the 45-year-old. "The clubs, the nights, the magazines that you find here -- our clients say there is nothing similar in Paris, Rome, Milan, in Argentina or New Zealand," says Gisela Braun, whose Schwarzer Reiter (Black Knight) boutique is one of the temples of fetish fashion in Berlin. The shop, which opened 14 years ago, is decked out in purple and black and proudly displays its wares in the window, which looks out on a city centre street. "We wanted a place where people feel comfortable, where you forget your inhibitions, with a touch of luxury and elegance," Braun says. In their workshop, Schwarzer Reiter's tailors cut out and stitch together their own line of accessories -- most of them in leather -- that have made their reputation among the city's night owls. "When the clubs reopened after the pandemic, we had queues in front of the store for six months. People sometimes waited for 40 minutes," says Braun. After three years spent between coronavirus lockdowns, the demand spoke to a "huge need to rediscover what is carnal, wild", says Carl Tillessen, an expert at the German Fashion Institute (DMI). - Uninhibited generation - High fashion has not shied away from the trend, with the biggest designers putting on uninhibited shows: Diesel handed out sex toys and condoms with recent collections, while Tommy Hilfiger sent out a model in full S&M gear, brandishing a whip. It was "not a bad thing" for the fashion trend to find a larger audience, according to 34-year-old Argentinian jeweller Augusto Talpalar, who lives in Berlin. "Everything that becomes popular is more accepted by society," he says. The new generation of Berliners amazes Christopher Bauder, who says he has spent more than 20 of his 50 years on the planet in the capital's "dark techno clubs". "There's a naturalness to the way they move, to their sexuality, their fashion sense," says the multimedia artist. "Wearing minimalist clothes or being naked used to be a very special thing. You could only experience it in certain clubs and certain situations. Today, it's completely normal in Berlin. You can do it at every party. I think it's great." A Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea Saturday blew up an ammunition depot, sparking evacuations on the Moscow-annexed peninsula and halting rail traffic, just five days after drones damaged Russia's symbolic bridge across the Kerch Strait Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 22nd Jul, 2023 ) :A Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea Saturday blew up an ammunition depot, sparking evacuations on the Moscow-annexed peninsula and halting rail traffic, just five days after drones damaged Russia's symbolic bridge across the Kerch Strait. Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, has been targeted by Kyiv throughout Moscow's 17-month long Ukraine offensive but has come under more intense, increased attacks in recent weeks. In a counteroffensive launched to retake lands lost to Moscow, Kyiv has increasingly made clear -- despite some Western unease -- that it aims to also take back the Black Sea peninsula. "The goal is to return Crimea," Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said, according to a transcript published by his office Saturday of a speech addressing the Aspen Security Forum Friday. He said Kyiv considers the Crimea bridge -- opened by Russian leader Vladimir Putin in 2018 -- as an "enemy object" and wants it to be "neutralised". Less than 24 hours later, the Moscow-installed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, said an "enemy" drone had detonated an ammunition depot. "As a result of an attack by an enemy drone on the Krasnogvardeisky district, an ammunition depot detonated," Aksyonov said on Telegram, referring to an area that lies inland at the centre of Crimea. He ordered the evacuation of people living within five kilometres of the zone. Aksyonov reported no casualties and claimed there was little damage, but unverified videos on social media showed billowing smoke rising into the air. He also said rail traffic will be stopped on the peninsula: "To minimise risks, it was also decided to halt rail traffic on Crimean railways." Road traffic across the Crimea bridge -- one of the few ways to get out of Crimea as flights have been cancelled during the conflict -- only resumed Saturday after a Ukrainian attack damaged the bridge Tuesday, killing two people. The attacks came a day before Putin was due to meet his closest ally -- Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko -- for the first time since the latter helped end a dramatic mutiny by Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group. The pair are due to meet in Putin's home city of Saint Petersburg. (@FahadShabbir) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd July, 2023) Sweden will provide 522.6 million Euros ($581.6 million) to Ukraine for restoration projects within a cooperation framework aimed at the country's recovery, trade, demining and green development for 2023-2027, the Ukrainian government said on Saturday. "Sweden to provide EUR 522.6 million for Ukraine's recovery projects ... The Swedish government has presented a strategy for Sweden's recovery and reform cooperation with Ukraine for 2023-2027, which provides a total of SEK (Swedish kronor) 6 billion for Ukraine's recovery projects," the Ukrainian government said in a statement. Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko said that the funds would be used for rebuilding the Ukrainian infrastructure, green development, entrepreneurship, trade, demining and media, the statement read. "We also welcome the fact that the Swedish government will encourage large companies to enter and develop in Ukraine," Svyrydenko said, as quoted in the statement. The economy minister called for lifting trade restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural products, which are in effect until mid-September, as it "threatens global food security" and "blocks the Ukrainian economy", according to the document. On Monday, media reported that Sweden would sponsor Ukraine's possible accession to the European Union by allocating $590 million to Kiev for reforms. In June, Stockholm approved the 11th package of military aid to Ukraine worth $24.5 million, which includes, among other things, training of Ukrainian pilots on Swedish JAS Gripen multirole fighter aircraft. The United Arab Emirates summoned the top Swedish diplomat in the country on Friday to protest the newest attack on the Quran in Stockholm, the UAE Foreign Ministry said MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd July, 2023) The United Arab Emirates summoned the top Swedish diplomat in the country on Friday to protest the newest attack on the Quran in Stockholm, the UAE Foreign Ministry said. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden to the UAE, and handed her an official note of protest against the repeated attacks and abuses on copies of the Holy Quran committed by extremists in the Kingdom of Sweden," it said. It criticized the Swedish government for allowing a protest, during which a copy of the Quran was stomped on, to go ahead outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm on Thursday. Iraq expelled the Swedish ambassador the same day. The UAE Foreign Ministry condemned the Nordic nation for demonstrating a lack of respect for social values as well as its attempts to use freedom of expression to justify such "heinous acts," saying religious symbols should be respected at a time when the international community is striving for tolerance and peaceful coexistence. MELITOPOL (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd July, 2023) RIA Novosti war correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev was killed in the Ukrainian shelling in combat zone, an agency correspondent reported Saturday. RIA Novosti photojournalist Konstantin Mikhalchevsky was injured in the shelling. The shelling took place near the village of Pyatykhatky, where a group of journalists came under fire. According to preliminary data, an Izvestia journalist was also wounded. Yevgeny Balitsky, the acting governor of the Zaporizhzhia region, said that Zhuravlev was killed when Ukrainians shelled civilian transport, and expressed his condolences to the war correspondent's family. "Today, RIA Novosti military correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev was killed as a result of the shelling of a civilian car that was en route from the city of Vasylivka, Zaporizhzhia region to the village of Volodymyrivka," Balitsky said on Telegram. Additionally, photojournalist Mikhalchevsky has sustained injuries of different severity and is receiving medical assistance at a hospital in Melitopol, the official said. Mikhalchevsky will be transported to Crimea for treatment if his conditions allows, Oleg Kryuchkov, a spokesman for Crimean leader Sergey Aksenov, said on Saturday. Mikhalchevsky sustained an exit wound of lower extremities, according to preliminary data. Dmitry Kiselev, the director general of Rossiya Segodnya, called Zhuravlev an "experienced professional" and said that the war correspondent was always first to deliver accurate and important data from dangerous areas. The head of the Russian Union of Journalists, Vladimir Solovyov, has expressed condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased and said that the union was ready to offer necessary assistance. "The work of a war correspondent is one of the most dangerous in the world, one of the most dangerous fields of journalism. Sometimes we all lose our friends. I express my deepest condolences to the colleagues, family, and loved ones on behalf of the Russian Union of Journalists. I hope that the injured colleague will recover shortly," Solovyov said. Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the RT broadcaster and Rossiya Segodnya international media group, commented on the news by saying that everyone will be remembered and nothing will be forgotten. "Our war correspondent, Rostislav Zhuravlev, is dead. Other guys are wounded. Cluster munitions. We'll remember everyone and remember everything," Simonyan wrote on Telegram. Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Zhuravlev died during evacuation from injuries caused by cluster submunition explosion and four journalists received wounds of varying degrees of severity. RIA Novosti is part of the Rossiya Segodnya international media group. Sr. Joana Aparecida Ortiz, a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Aparecida who has lived among the second largest population of Indigenous people in Brazil since 2010, shares how she answered Gods call to carry out her mission alongside suffering people in Mato Grosso do Sul. By Sr. Joana Aparecida Ortiz The suffering of the people is also our suffering. In 2010, as a Franciscan Sister of Our Lady of Aparecida, a daughter of Mato Grosso do Sul, in Brazils Central West region, where the countrys second largest Indigenous population lives where an ox is worth more than an Indigenous child, and soy is worth more than a cedar tree I felt called to stand beside these people, who are my people. The inspiration that comes from a dream I was feeling terrible distress without understanding what was happening to me, when I dreamed that Indigenous people came to our house, asking for help. The next day, the dream continued. In it, my mother (who definitely had Indigenous blood) appeared and handed me an envelope, asking me to deliver it to the Indigenous camp. The following day, the dream continued: I delivered the envelope to an elderly man in a village on the edge of a road. The Indigenous elder said, We dont want money, but presence. I woke up overwhelmed by that dream, wondering if I was losing my mind. How was I to accomplish such a mission, if we, as a Congregation, did not have a house in the village? It was then that, with the help of the Conference of Religious of Brazil (CRB), I came to know the Missionary Council for Indigenous Peoples (CIMI), an organization of Brazils Catholic Church. I thus began my visits to the villages in the agricultural state, Mato Grosso do Sul. Sr. Joana with several Indigenous children (Photo credit: Sr. Joana Ortiz's archive) Difficult conditions of Indigenous people in Mato Grosso do Sul My God, I have seen so much suffering! From village to village, from camp to camp, on the edges of roads, on Indigenous reservations and fazendas. I have seen many peoples huts set on fire, and malnourished children. And at that time, I also saw CIMI missionaries care for a girl who was suffering from severe malnutrition, who despite the assistance, died the following day. I found the congregational charism that spurred me towards that reality: We praise the name Aparecida, we go out from the squares where many people transit, we go to the basements where no one is in a rush, as our Foundress Mother Clara Maria de Azevedo e Souza used to say. An 11-year journey with God and Indigenous people I finished CIMIs basic course in 2012, and as a missionary of that organization, I was able to see Gods face in the face of Indigenous people. As a member of the Congregation, I was able to join the missionary work and be a presence. In 2015, the organization was subjected to a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry on its defence of the rights of communities. I was involved in that process, and I was able to experience in part what Christ lived through when He faced false accusations before the Sanhedrin because He wanted freedom for His people. We were persecuted, denigrated and slandered, but not defeated because we believe that the Lord walks with us. We won that battle. Sr. Joana at a demonstration with several Indigenous people (Photo credit: Sr. Joana Ortiz's archive) I have been on this journey with Indigenous people for 11 years. I feel that there is still a lot to do. But the greatest joy is to see Indigenous people in the limelight, attaining their own spaces and rights. Never again a Brazil without us! said Sonia Guajajara when she took office as Minister of Indigenous Peoples at the beginning of this year. As a Congregation, we reaffirm our commitment to be of support and to be present, so that Indigenous peoples may have their territories demarcated and their rights respected. Today, I consider this mission a strong calling from God in my life as a person with indigenous blood running through her veins. I came from those people and I returned to them, becoming a different person. Even though my people still do not have their lands demarcated and their rights guaranteed, they have become protagonists. Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a decree Friday tightening restrictions on civilian access to guns in Brazil, in a move aimed at reversing the pro-firearms policies of his right-wing predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. The decree reduces the number of guns civilians can possess for personal safety from four to two, reduces the allowed ammunition for each gun from 200 rounds to 50 and requires documentation proving the need to hold the weapons. It also bars civilians from owning 9 mm pistols, restricting them to members of the police and military. "It's one thing for the regular citizen to have a gun at home for his protection, as a guarantee, because some people think this is safety. Let them have it. But we cannot allow gun arsenals to be in the people's hands," Lula said Friday during a signing ceremony. During Bolsonaro's presidency from 2019 through 2022, the former president had said "good citizens" should be entitled to protect their families and their assets, and loosened rules on the possession of guns and ammunition. Though Brazil has no constitutional right to bear arms, Bolsonaro argued that "an armed populace will never be enslaved." Estimates of the number of guns in civilian hands more than tripled to 2.9 million in a country of 214 million people, according to the Instituto Sou da Paz, a nonprofit that monitors public security. That remains far lower than in the United States, and despite the increase in guns, Brazil's rate of slayings remained stable during Bolsonaro's term. The number of homicides during his last year in office, 2022, was about 47,500 and roughly even with the 2019 rate, according to a report published Thursday by the Brazilian Forum on Public Safety. The Igarape Institute, another public security think tank, along with Sou da Paz, lauded the new restrictions in a statement saying they were "another step to regain responsible parameters and legal security in controlling guns in Brazil." Lula's government is encouraging citizens to sell firearms that are not allowed under the new rules before the end of the year or face confiscation by the Federal Police. The new rules also solidify the status of the Federal Police as official watchdog over guns, sidelining the military, which previously held that role. In May, Lula's justice minister had imposed a deadline for citizens to legally register firearms with the Federal Police. That previously was typically done by the military, but Lula's new left-wing government has cast doubts on the reliability of the armed forces in carrying out that function because of the tendency of many of their members to support Bolsonaro. "We will keep on fighting for a disarmed country. Who should be well-equipped with guns is the Brazilian police and the federal armed forces," Lula said. Shooting ranges that proliferated during Bolsonaro's government and were relatively unregulated now face new restrictions. They can operate only from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and must be at least 1 kilometer (0.6 mile) away from schools. Lula's new policy also changes the duration of a gun permit from 10 years under Bolsonaro to new limits of three to five years, depending on the holder. Editor's note: Here is a look at immigration-related news around the U.S. this week. Questions? Tips? Comments? Email the VOA immigration team: ImmigrationUnit@voanews.com. Canadian Immigration Work Initiative Reaches Cap in Two Days Canadas recently launched immigration work permit program is no longer accepting new applications since receiving an overwhelming response and reaching its cap of 10,000 applicants in two days. Aiming to attract highly skilled technology professionals from the United States with H-1B work visas, Canada unveiled the initiative in late June. VOAs Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story. House-Approved Defense Bill Does Not Increase or Extend Special Immigrant Visas for Afghans The countrys annual defense spending measure was narrowly approved by the Republican-led House of Representatives on July 14, and although the bill is several steps from becoming law, the White House has announced its opposition to a range of national security provisions, including inaction on the special immigrant visas for Afghans. Immigration reporter Aline Barros has the story. Texas Trooper's Accounts of Bloodied, Fainting Migrants on US-Mexico Border Unleash Criticism Texas Governor Greg Abbott's escalating measures to stop migrants along the U.S. border with Mexico came under new criticism Tuesday after a state trooper said migrants were left bloodied from razor-wire barriers and that orders were given to deny people water in the sweltering heat. The Associated Press reports. Biden, Trump Asylum Rules Differ, Administration Tells Judge The Biden administration argued Wednesday that its new asylum rule is different from versions put forward under President Donald Trump in a court hearing before a judge who threw out Trump's attempts to limit asylum on the U.S.-Mexico border. The Associated Press reports. Hundreds of Migrants in Southern Mexico Form Group to Head Toward US Nearly 1,000 migrants that recently crossed from Guatemala into Mexico formed a group on July 15 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 Venezuelan flag with the phrase "Peace, Freedom. SOS." The men, women, children and teenagers were followed by Mexican National Guard patrols. The Associated Press reports. How Are Talent Visas Used to Lure International Students to the US? Foreign students educated in the United States are often bright, hardworking and eager to land a job. But the backlog for U.S. work visas has created an opportunity for other countries to snag talented workers. Jon Marcus of The Hechinger Report has more. Immigration around the world Spain's Early Election Could Put Far Right in Power for First Time Since Franco Spain's general election on Sunday could make the country the latest European Union member to swing to the populist right, a shift that would represent a major upheaval after five years under a left-wing government. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the early election after his Spanish Socialist Workers' Party and its small far-left coalition partner, Unidas Podemos ("United We Can"), took a beating in local and regional elections. The Associated Press reports. UN: UK Migration Bill Contrary to International Law Britain's Illegal Migration Bill, aimed at stopping thousands of migrants arriving in the country, is at odds with London's obligations under international law, the United Nations said Tuesday. The bill, which has been passed by parliament and now awaits the formality of being signed into law by King Charles III, means migrants arriving by boat will be refused the right to apply for asylum in the U.K. Agence France-Presse reports. Israel to Allow Palestinian Americans Entry in Bid for US Visa-Free Access Israel said that beginning Thursday it will allow entry to all U.S. citizens, including Palestinian Americans living in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, in a policy change it hopes will secure visa-free access for Israelis to the United States. Reuters reports. News in Brief Any hope of a speedy return of the American soldier who illegally crossed into North Korea earlier this week appears all but dashed by the silence from the hermit state on the whereabouts of Pvt. Travis King. We have channels of communication. Weve used them, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday at the Aspen Security Forum, explaining that Washington has been trying to establish dialogue with North Korea since the early days of the administration. Heres the response we got: One missile launch after another, he said. As Washington awaits response to outreach through United Nations channels and its intermediary, Sweden, investigations are underway at the U.S. Army and United Nations Command, or UNC, levels to determine how a soldier who was supposed to be on a flight to the United States to face disciplinary measures instead emerged at the border of the two Koreas. Counterintelligence personnel are leading the army probe in coordination with the U.S. military in South Korea, the Pentagon said Thursday, noting that Kings status is AWOL (absent without leave), or away without permission, for now. The UNC, the U.S.-led multinational force managing the Joint Security Area, or JSA, through which King bolted, is studying the events of July 18 to determine what policies or procedures are required to minimize risk to visitors in the JSA, UNC Public Affairs Director Colonel Isaac Taylor told VOA. July 18 On a day that a U.S. nuclear ballistic missile submarine made a rare port call to South Korea to coincide with the launch of the U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Consultative Group, Pvt. King, 23, was in civilian garb taking in a DMZ tour that included a stop at the JSA. The Joint Security Area is iconified by bright blue buildings that stand on the Military Demarcation Line, the official border that divides North and South Korea, in place for 70 years since an armistice put a pause to the Korean War. The compound is a popular tourist destination, with bookings often sold out for months, offering the novelty of standing inside North Korea within one of the meeting buildings. A tour of the JSA requires submission of additional documents days in advance, including a passport. King, who was expected at his base in Fort Bliss, Texas, where he faced pending administrative separation from the Army for misdemeanors committed during his South Korea deployment, instead bolted into the North Korean side of the border complex about 3:30 p.m. local time. He was laughing as he ran, eyewitnesses who were part of the same tour group said. The army private was last seen moving to the back of a North Korean building, then being driven away inside a van by North Korean soldiers, according to a report that cited a Defense Department report on the illegal crossing. His motive for such a puzzling and dangerous decision remains unknown, as are his whereabouts between checking in for his Dallas-bound flight at Incheon International Airport on Monday and his JSA tour that left from Seoul the following day. King had served time in a civilian jail in South Korea on assault charges up until a week before his scheduled flight to Texas, and he was facing potential additional repercussions at his base in Fort Bliss. In interviews with news outlets, his family expressed surprise, his mother recalling shed heard from him a few days prior and couldnt see him doing anything like that. I just want my son back. I just want my son back, Claudine Gates told reporters outside her home. Get my son home and pray, pray that he comes back." Rare bolt Kings dash through the JSA is highly unusual, with few precedents. While over the decades there have been U.S. soldiers who defected through the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ the 160-mile-long, 2.5-mile-wide buffer running across the Korean peninsula of which the Joint Security Area is a part this is the first time any person successfully disappeared into North Korea from the South while on a JSA tour. There was one such attempt in 2001 by a German doctor-turned-activist, Norbert Vollertsen, according to the assistant secretary of the Military Armistice Commission at the time, Stephen M. Tharp. Vollertsen was caught by armed guards before skipping over the low concrete blocks that mark the border, the retired lieutenant colonel said. His stated purpose was to start an incident to bring North Koreas human rights plight to the worlds attention. Kings run also comes as firearms and guard posts were removed at the compound in 2018 amid a detente mood between the two Koreas during the previous administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in. North Korean troops had been stationed outside at the JSA just like their South Korean counterparts, but the COVID-19 pandemic changed that. The North Korean government issued border lockdowns and stringent COVID-19 rules, so when North Koreans were spotted at the JSA during the pandemic, they were in Hazmat suits. In November 2017, a North Korean soldier dodged a shower of live fire rounds by his compatriots, running for his life through the JSA in a bold defection attempt. By the time he got to the south side, he was wounded but alive. Now, with COVID-19 restrictions and other fears at play, King could be looking at a more complicated processing reality, analysts say, such as weeks of quarantine before questioning by North Korean guards even begins. Amid escalating tensions While North Korea has yet to speak on Kings status, it did issue a warning this week against the presence of the USS Kentucky nuclear submarine parked in Busan, South Korea, presumably holding 20 intercontinental ballistic missiles. The U.S. military side should realize that its nuclear assets have entered extremely dangerous waters, North Koreas defense minister, Kang Sun Nam, said late Thursday via state media KCNA, hours before the submarine would depart. Kang said the deployment of such strategic assets could trigger North Koreas use of nuclear weapons, as codified in its nuclear force policy, if it is judged that the use of nuclear weapons against it is imminent. The nuclear weapon trigger warning is mostly being taken in stride in Seoul, with some analysts saying it shows a North Korea under duress. Pyongyang knows full well a first-use case will almost certainly mean a mutual wipe-out, they say. Still, a war on the Korean peninsula is a scenario the U.S., Japan and South Korea must be ready for together, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said in an interview published Saturday. I think that the Korean situation is an area that the United States could Im not saying it will, but could find itself in a state of war, you know, within a few days, with very little notice, Milley said, according to the Nikkei news organization based in Japan. For now, North Korea will have its hands full next week, in part, as it gears up for a second massive military parade of the year to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice signing on July 27, which Pyongyang claims as its Victory Day. Remembrances planned at the JSA on the South Korea side, however, have been canceled as the UNC conducts its investigation. BELGRADE, Serbia Three people died in Serbia during another deadly storm that ripped through the Balkans this week, local media said Saturday. The storm Friday first swept through Slovenia, moving on to Croatia and then Serbia and Bosnia, with gusts of wind and heavy rain. Authorities reported power distribution issues and extensive damage including fallen trees that destroyed cars and rooftops. On Wednesday, another storm killed six people in the region, four in Croatia, one in Slovenia and another in Bosnia. Meteorologists said the storms were of such powerful magnitude because they followed a string of extremely hot days. Experts say extreme weather conditions are likely fueled by climate change. In the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, a 12-year-old was found dead in the street during the storm, but it remains unclear whether he was struck by lightning or was electrocuted, said the official RTS television. Local media say Novi Sad was hit the hardest, with the storm damaging the roof of the citys exhibition hall. Some 30 people have sought medical help, and many streets remained blocked Saturday morning. In the village of Kovacica, in northeastern Serbia, a woman died from smoke inhalation after a fire erupted when lightning hit a tree by her house, the RTS said. Serbian police said Saturday that a man died in the northwestern town of Backa Palanka after he tried to remove power cables that fell on his house gate. In Croatia, the storm wreaked havoc in various parts of the country, as authorities were already scrambling to control the damage left by Wednesday's storm. We work night and day, no stopping, Nermin Brezovcanin, a construction worker in the capital, Zagreb, told the official HRT TV. Several people were injured in a tourist campsite in the northern Istria peninsula packed with visitors from abroad during the summer. Croatias Adriatic Sea coastline and islands attract millions of tourists each summer. Slovenia reported that storms hugely damaged forests in the Alpine nation and warned of potential flash floods. Elsewhere in Europe, a continuing heat wave caused wildfires and public health warnings. The heaviest rain to hit the Atlantic Canadian province of Nova Scotia in more than 50 years triggered floods causing "unimaginable" damage, and four people are missing, including two children, officials said Saturday. The storm, which started Friday, dumped more than 25 cm (10 inches) on some parts of the province in just 24 hours an amount that usually lands in three months. The resulting floods washed away roads, weakened bridges and swamped buildings. "We have a scary, significant situation," said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, adding that at least seven bridges would have to be replaced or rebuilt. "The property damage to homes ... is pretty unimaginable," he told a news conference. Houston said the province would be seeking significant support from the federal government. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Toronto he was very concerned about the floods and promised that Ottawa "will be there" for the province. The flooding was the latest weather-related calamity to pound Canada this year. Wildfires have already burned a record number of hectares, sending clouds of smoke into the United States. Earlier this month, heavy rains also caused floods in several northeastern U.S. states. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in Halifax, the largest city in Nova Scotia, and four other regions. The regional municipality in Halifax reported "significant damage to roads and infrastructure" and urged people to stay at home and not use their cars. Pictures posted on social media from Halifax showed abandoned cars almost covered with flood waters and rescue workers using boats to save people. Houston, citing police, said two children were missing after the car they were in was submerged. In another incident, a man and a youth were missing after their car drove into deep water. At one point, more than 80,000 people were without power. Environment Canada is predicting torrential rain in the eastern part of the province, continuing into Sunday. "People should not assume that everything is over. This is a very dynamic situation," Halifax Mayor Mike Savage told the press conference, saying the city had been hit by "biblical proportions of rain." Canadian Broadcasting Corp meteorologist Ryan Snoddon said the Halifax rains were the heaviest since a hurricane hit the city in 1971. A street-food salesgirl who became a tech entrepreneur and senator is shaking up the contest to succeed Mexico's popular president and offering many voters the first real alternative to her country's dominant party. Xochitl Galvez, 60, helped her family as a girl by selling tamales on the street. Today the straight-talking opposition senator is a long shot against Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's Morena party, which holds Congress and 22 of Mexico's 32 states. Despite her slim chances, Galvez seems to have shaken the president so badly that he's been insulting her almost daily during his morning briefings. The opposition senator comfortably sits in the national spotlight nearly a year ahead of the June 2, 2024 national election. "She fills a space that was completely empty," said Roy Campos, president of polling firm Mitofsky Group. "All of the opposition population starts to see her and it generates hope." Next year's election is Lopez Obrador's chance to show if he has built a political movement that can outlast his charismatic leadership. Whoever his successor is, they will have to tackle persistently high levels of violence, heavily armed drug cartels and migration across the nearly 2,000-mile border with the United States. Campos's group has not conducted an opposition candidate survey but that doesn't prevent him from feeling comfortable declaring Galvez a "political phenomenon." A political independent who initially set her sights on competing to be Mexico City mayor and often travels the sprawling capital on a bicycle, Galvez entered the Senate chamber in December dressed as a dinosaur, an allusion to party leaders known known for their archaic, unmovable practices. At the time, Lopez Obrador had proposed electoral reforms that critics said would weaken the country's National Electoral Institute. The Senate passed them earlier this year, but the Supreme Court later blocked them from taking effect. Galvez never shies from conflict with Lopez Obrador. She went to a judge in December asking for an order to let her speak at the president's daily press briefing. She was granted the order, but the president rejected it. Galvez's fluid use of profanity, contrasting with her comfort moving in political circles, is an advantage with much of the working class, and with many young Mexicans. She registered this month to compete for the presidential nomination of a broad opposition coalition the historically leftist PRD, the conservative PAN and the PRI that ruled Mexico for 70 years joking that Lopez Obrador was her campaign manager. Lopez Obrador remains highly popular, and while he cannot run for another six-year term, several high-profile members of his Morena party have been jockeying fiercely for months. They include Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Interior Secretary Adan Augusto, who all agreed to resign their positions last month to campaign in earnest. Their faces are plastered on billboards across the country, while Galvez makes clever videos often shot with her own iPhone, some viewed millions of times. Mexican society is looking for someone new to believe in, Galvez told The Associated Press. "We'll have to see how much I manage to connect and how much I can convince," she recently told the AP. Growing up poor in the central state of Hidalgo, her father was an Indigenous Otomi schoolteacher. He was also abusive, macho and alcoholic, Galvez said. She learned to speak his native nahnu as a child, holds her Indigenous roots close and favors wearing embroidered huipils. As a girl, she sold gelatin and tamales to help her family. She worked as a scribe in a local civil registry office as a teen. At 16, she moved by herself to Mexico City and worked as a phone operator until earning a scholarship that allowed her to study computer science. Then she started a technology company, that, as Lopez Obrador noted recently, has won government contracts. Galvez served as Indigenous affairs minister for President Vicente Fox, a plain-talking politician from the conservative National Action Party (PAN) who broke the Institutional Revolutionary Party's 70-year stranglehold on Mexican politics. While she entered the Senate with the PAN, she has registered to compete for the nomination of the broad coalition of the country's traditional parties. Galvez has assured PAN voters that she wants to keep advocating for them despite her moving to win over other parties with interests outside the traditional conservative base. Her sense of humor and ability to speak comfortably, even at times profanely, with people in the street are characteristics she shares with Lopez Obrador. They may be why he treats her as a threat. The president accuses Galvez of using her humble origins and speech to "trick" the poor, who make up much of his base of support. Instead, he paints her the candidate of the rich, the "oligarchs" and "conservatives." She dismisses him as a fearful male chauvinist. "He's going to try to deny my origins and deny my work, but there it is," she said. "I had to face a very patriarchal culture, very macho, where as women we weren't seen as anything else but for work," she said. Galvez said she's not put off by the challenge posed by the favorites from the president's party. "They're there because they want to continue doing the same as the president," she said. "They don't have their own identity." Victor Gordoa, president of Public Image Group, said Galvez's life story is the kind that can reach people across social strata, resonating with the working class who see themselves in Galvez, as well as the wealthy who see her as a potential weapon who has been untouchable so far. BAGHDAD - Demonstrators marched in the Iraqi and Iranian capitals Friday to denounce Sweden's permission for protests that desecrate the Quran, as Stockholm withdrew staff from its Baghdad embassy. Hundreds of people gathered in Baghdad's Sadr City after Friday prayers, chanting "Yes, yes to Islam, yes, yes to the Quran," an AFP correspondent said. In Tehran, protesters waving Iranian flags and carrying copies of Islam's holy book chanted "Down with the United States, Britain, Israel and Sweden" as some burned the Swedish flag. Iran said late Friday it will not allow a new Swedish ambassador into the country. The rallies came amid heightened tensions between Stockholm and Baghdad over a Sweden-based Iraqi refugee who last month burnt pages of the Quran outside Stockholm's main mosque. In the latest such incident Thursday, the refugee, Salwan Momika, stepped on the Quran but did not burn it. His act triggered renewed condemnation across the Muslim world. Sweden on Friday cited security concerns in a decision to relocate embassy staff after protesters stormed its embassy compound in a predawn attack this week. Iraq condemned the embassy attack but retaliated against the Stockholm protest by expelling its ambassador, vowing to sever ties and saying it was suspending the operating license of Swedish telecom giant Ericsson. But an adviser to the premier told foreign journalists Friday that contractual agreements would be respected, and "no company has been suspended, not even Ericsson." 'Disgraceful acts' In Baghdad's Sadr City, crowds gathered at the order of influential Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose followers were behind the embassy raid late Wednesday. "Through this demonstration, we want to send a message to the United Nations," said Amer Shemal, a municipal official, urging member states to "penalize any desecration of holy books those of Islam, of Christianity, of Judaism." Regional powerhouses Saudi Arabia and Iran said separately late Thursday they had summoned Swedish diplomats to protest Stockholm allowing Momika's actions on free speech grounds. Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest sites, said it would urge Sweden "to take all immediate and necessary measures to stop these disgraceful acts," a foreign ministry statement said. Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian spoke to his Swedish counterpart, Tobias Billstrom, by phone Friday. "The person who committed this unforgivable insult must be arrested, tried, and held accountable for his actions," a foreign ministry statement quoted him as saying. A later statement said the Swedish ambassador's mandate in Tehran had ended, and "until the Swedish government takes a serious action over the desecration of [the] Holy Quran, we will not accept the new Swedish ambassador and the Iranian ambassador will not be sent to Sweden." 'Keep burning' Sweden's decision to authorize the protest has drawn widespread condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries, including Oman and Kuwait, as well as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, which both summoned Sweden's charges d'affaires. The British foreign office also condemned the Quran protest, calling it "deeply insulting to Muslims around the world and completely inappropriate." Kuwait said it was coordinating with Arab states to hold an emergency meeting of the 57-member Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation to take "concrete and practical" measures so such an insult to the Quran would not be repeated, according to the state news agency. In an interview published Friday, Momika who describes himself as an atheist defended his actions and said they were meant to highlight discrimination against minority groups in Iraq. "My book-burning was carried out within the bounds of Swedish law," he told French magazine Marianne. "I will keep burning Qurans as long as I am legally allowed to." Billstrom called Momika's protest "a clear provocation" that "in no way reflects the Swedish government's opinions, while also stressing a "constitutional right to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom to demonstrate." Japan and India have signed an agreement for the joint development of semiconductors, in what appears to be another indication of how global businesses are reconfiguring post-pandemic supply chains as China loses its allure for foreign companies. Indias Ashwini Vaishnaw, minister for railways, communications, and electronics and information technology, and Japans minister of economy, trade and industry, Yasutoshi Nishimura, signed the deal Thursday in New Delhi. The memorandum covers semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment research, talent development and [will] bring resilience in the semiconductor supply chain, Vaishnaw said. Nishimura said after his meeting with Vaishnaw that "India has excellent human resources" in fields such as semiconductor design. "By capitalizing on each other's strengths, we want to push forward with concrete projects as early as possible," Nishimura told a news conference, Kyodo News reported. Andreas Kuehn, a senior fellow at the American office of Observer Research Foundation, an Indian think tank, told VOA Mandarin: "Japan has extensive experience in this industry and understands the infrastructure in this field at a broad level. It can be an important partner in advancing India's semiconductor ambitions." Shift from China Foreign companies have been shifting their manufacturing away from China over the past decade, prompted by increasing labor costs. More recently, Beijings push for foreign companies to share their technologies and data has increased uneasiness with Chinas business climate, according to surveys of U.S. and European businesses there. The discomfort stems from a 2021 data security law that Beijing updated in April and put into effect on July 1. Its broad anti-espionage language does not define what falls under China's national security or interests. After taking office in 2014, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a Make in India initiative with the goal of turning India into a global manufacturing center with an expanded chip industry. The initiative is not entirely about making India a self-sufficient economy, but more about welcoming investors from countries with similar ideas. Japan and India are part of the QUAD security framework, along with the United States and Australia, which aims to strengthen cooperation as a group, as well as bilaterally between members, to maintain peace and stability in the region. Jagannath Panda, director of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs of the Institute for Security and Development Policy, said that the international community wants a safe region where the semiconductor industry can continue to supply the global market. This chain of linkages is critical, and India is at the heart of the Indo-Pacific region a location not lost on chip companies in the United States, Taiwan and Japan that are reevaluating supply chain security and reducing their dependence on China. Looking ahead Panda told VOA Mandarin: The COVID pandemic has proved that we should not rely too much on China. [India's development of the chip industry] is also to prepare India for the next half century. Unless countries with similar ideas such as the United States and Japan cooperate effectively, India cannot really develop its semiconductor industry." New Delhi and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding in March to advance cooperation in the semiconductor field. During Modi's visit to the United States in June, he and President Joe Biden announced a cooperation agreement to coordinate semiconductor incentive and subsidy plans between the two countries. Micron, a major chip manufacturer, confirmed on June 22 that it will invest as much as $800 million in India to build a chip assembly and testing plant. Applied Materials said in June that it plans to invest $400 million over four years to build an engineering center in Bangalore, Reuters reported. The new center is expected to be located near the company's existing facility in Bengaluru and is likely to support more than $2 billion of planned investments and create 500 new advanced engineering jobs, the company said. Experts said that although the development of India's chip industry will not pose a challenge to China in the short term, China's increasingly unfriendly business environment will prompt international semiconductor companies to consider India as one of the destinations for transferring production capacity. "China is still a big player in the semiconductor industry, especially traditional chips, and we shouldn't underestimate that. I don't think that's going to go away anytime soon. The world depends on this capacity," Kuehn said. He added: "For multinational companies, China has become a more difficult business environment to operate in. We are likely to see them make other investments outside China after a period of time, which may compete with China's semiconductor industry, especially in Southeast Asia. India may also play a role in this regard." Bo Gu contributed to this report. Latest developments: The British Defense Ministry said Friday in its daily intelligence report on Ukraine that leading nationalist military blogger Igor Girkin was almost certainly arrested for extremism Friday. The ministry said Girkin, a critic of Russias Defense Ministrys conduct of the war, has recently engaged in direct criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his time in power. The arrest will likely infuriate military bloggers, who view Girkin as an astute military analyst and patriot, the British ministry said. The United States plans to announce as soon as Tuesday a new military aid package for Ukraine of up to $400 million, including artillery, air defense missiles and ground vehicles, as Ukraines counteroffensive grinds on, three U.S. officials said Friday. The package will not include cluster munitions. Warsaw's Security Committee decided Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying Friday. The World Bank's private investment arm is considering $1.5 billion in investments in Ukraines banking, agribusiness and infrastructure sectors, a senior official with the International Finance Corporation said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks that any aggression by Poland against Russia's neighbor and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia. Poland denies any territorial ambitions in Belarus. Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in in his daily address Friday, Russia killed two more children today. ... A girl born in 2007 and a boy born in 2013 died. Zelenskyy said the children were killed in an attack on the village of Druzhba in the Donetsk region. Two women were also killed in the attack, while a cultural center, a school, and residential buildings were damaged. Also Friday, Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelenskyy called unblocking the grain corridor an absolute priority. "Due to Russia's actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis," he said. "A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation. With joint efforts, we must avert the global food crisis." His remarks were echoed by U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo to the Security Council earlier Friday. She said that Russian attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports could have far-reaching impacts on global food security, in particular in developing countries." DiCarlo also called threats about the potential targeting of civilian vessels in Black Sea waters made by both Russia and Ukraine 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. Missile strikes Russian cruise missiles pummeled Ukrainian food export storage facilities in Odesa early Friday. The attacks followed a three-day barrage against the regions Black Sea port infrastructure. "Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley," regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app. Two people were injured, Kiper said, while officials reported seven dead in Russian airstrikes elsewhere in Ukraine. Moscow has described the attacks as retaliatory after Ukraines strike on the Russian-built bridge to Crimea. Russia accuses Ukraine of using the sea corridor to launch terrorist attacks. Terrorist attacks are when Russian anti-ship missiles hit shopping malls, hospitals and grain terminals," tweeted Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, in response. Russia said its Black Sea fleet had practiced firing rockets at "floating targets" and it would deem all ships heading for Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying arms. Kyiv responded with a similar warning about ships headed to Russia. Since the grain deal expired Monday, the number of ships loading grain cargoes from the Black Sea area has fallen by 35%. Uncertainty grows over whether Russia could hit commercial traffic, and shipping insurance companies have now suspended coverage for shipments from Ukraine apart from the smaller ports along the Danube, insurance industry sources said Friday. Ships stalled Meanwhile, dozens of ships were waiting to pass through the Danube channel Friday, including vessels bound for Romania or leaving from there, according to data from analytics company MarineTraffic. In an interview with VOAs Russian Service, USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman said that the U.S. agency has been assisting Ukraine in exporting grain via alternate routes through Poland and other countries, as well as through the Danube River. Coleman said these alternate routes are not as cost-efficient and not as fast as transporting in big bulk carriers from the Black Sea, and it has caused some friction with its neighbors. Overland Ukrainian grain exports can adversely affect grain prices of Ukraines European neighbors, which see their agricultural products depreciate. But Coleman stressed it is important to utilize these alternate distribution routes so that Putin's blackmail, his destruction, will not undermine Ukraine's agricultural sector. The attacks on Ukraines grain export infrastructure and fears about the fate of grain shipping have triggered a spike in the prices of grain products. Erdogan said Western countries should address Russias demands to restore the Black Sea grain corridor. The U.S. Treasury said Thursday that it had imposed new Russia-related sanctions to "reduce Russias revenue from the metals and mining sector, undermine its future energy capabilities and degrade Russias access to the international financial system." Wagner Group The last of the Wagner Groups convict-prisoner mercenaries are scheduled to be released from their mandated service in the coming days, the British Defense Ministry said Friday. In the ministrys daily intelligence report about Russias invasion of Ukraine, it said a significant number of the pardoned convicts would likely continue with Wagner as professional contractors. Russia now controls Wagners prison recruitment pipeline, according to the ministry. The Wagner Group staged a mutiny against Putins authority last month. The end of the Wagner Groups prison recruitment program marks one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history, the British ministry said, with as many as 20,000 convict-recruits killed in a few months. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the Aspen Security Forum on Friday that Wagner mercenaries were not fighting in Ukraine at present. Wagners chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a video Wednesday that his fighters would take no further part in the Ukraine war for now, ordering them to gather their strength for Africa. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin, VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb, VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer, VOAs Anna Chernikova in Kyiv, VOAs Mykhailo Komadovsky contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Latest developments: Members of the Russian Wagner mercenary group who relocated to Belarus, and are training the army there, are keen to push across the border into NATO member Poland, joked Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. "The Wagner guys have started to stress us they want to go west. 'Let's go on a trip to Warsaw and Rzeszow,'" he was quoted as saying. There was no indication that Lukashenko was seriously entertaining that idea. A previously announced meeting of a new NATO-Ukraine Council, expected to address Black Sea security, has been scheduled for Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine's counteroffensive "has failed" as he hosted Belarusian leader Lukashenko, his close ally, for talks in St. Petersburg. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decried the Russian attacks on the city of Odesa and in particular its historic center, one of UNESCOs world heritage sites. The target of all these missiles is not just cities, villages or people. Their target is humanity and the foundations of our entire European culture, Zelenskyy said Sunday in his nightly video address. Last night, a Russian missile it was an X-22, an anti-ship missile hit the altar of the Spaso-Preobrazhensky Cathedral in Odesa. ... One of the most valuable cathedrals in Ukraine. Russian airstrikes damaged the historic Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa early Sunday, prompting Kyiv to pledge retaliation for the damage to the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Father Myroslav, the assistant rector of the cathedral, said there was extensive damage inside. There was a direct hit to the cathedral; it completely damaged three altars, he said. Members of the clergy pulled icons from the rubble inside the cathedral. Mosaics were smashed. A security guard and clergymen were inside when the strike hit, but they survived. The destruction of the historic monument has caused outrage. Zelenskyy has vowed to retaliate, saying, They [Russia] will definitely feel this, he said. He also pledged to restore the historic church. UNESCO issued a statement strongly condemning the attack. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the strike as a new war crime. The first and foremost church in the city of Odesa was founded in 1794 during the Russian empire. It was demolished under Stalin in 1936. Its rebuilding commenced in 1999 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and it was consecrated in 2003. Separately, a preliminary assessment in Odesa has revealed damage to several museums inside the World Heritage property, including the Odesa Archaeological Museum, the Odesa Maritime Museum and the Odesa Literature Museum. They had all been marked by UNESCO and local authorities with the Blue Shield, the distinctive emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention, the UNESCO statement said. Russia's defense ministry claimed it struck areas that were suspected of being sites of terrorist acts but denied it had struck the cathedral and said the building had probably been hit by a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile. The airstrikes killed two people and wounded at least 19 others, including children. Residents said the missiles hit only residential areas and small businesses. Russia has launched a series of attacks on Odesa since Moscows exit from a U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain deal that was securing the safe passage of cargo ships through the Black Sea corridor. Ukraine counteroffensive U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN Sunday that while Ukraines counteroffensive is going more slowly than originally hoped for, Ukrainian forces had reconquered half the territory that Russia had initially occupied when it invaded. "Its already taken back about 50% of what was initially seized," Blinken said. "These are still relatively early days of the counteroffensive. It is tough. "It will not play out over the next week or two. Were still looking I think at several months," he said, as Ukrainian troops struggled to breach heavily entrenched Russian positions in the country's south and east. Blinken remarked that Russia has failed as far as what it was aiming to achieve when it invaded Ukraine. The objective was to erase Ukraine from the map, to eliminate its independence, its sovereignty, to subsume it into Russia. That failed a long time ago. Now Ukraine is in a battle to get back more of the land that Russia seized from it, Blinken said. Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraines counteroffensive has failed." While visiting St. Petersburg, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, a key Putin ally, said Sunday, "There is no counteroffensive. Putin replied: "It exists, but it has failed." Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Here are some Native American-related news stories that made headlines this week: Treasury secretary addresses poor access to cash, credit in Indian Country The U.S. Financial Literacy Commission met Thursday to discuss barriers to financial stability in Indian Country. "One of those main barriers is financial literacy the understanding of concepts like saving, investing and debt that leads to an overall sense of financial well-being," U.S. Treasury Secretary Lynn Malerba, chief of the Mohegan Tribe, told the commission. She cited a lack of accessible banks. "Some banks are hesitant to both locate and lend on reservations due to a lack of knowledge in navigating sovereign immunity, tribal jurisdiction and the status of land held in trust," she said. Malerba noted that Indian Country is growing, and so, too, is Native buying power. She called on the commission to help Native business owners and workers prosper. Read more: Indian boarding school in Oregon misused funds, including student monies A federal audit of finances at the Chemawa Indian Boarding School in Oregon shows that the school improperly used more than $590,000 in federal funds to purchase "inappropriate and potentially wasteful items." These include excavating equipment, a pole barn and a horse trailer. The Interior Department's inspector general conducted an audit of the school's accounting processes and the Bureau of Indian Education's role in overseeing those finances. Bureau of Indian Affairs policy allows junior and senior high schools enrolling one hundred or more students to operate a school bank for so-called "student enterprise moneys," which includes money raised by student clubs, donations and students' own funds. Federal law also allows those schools to lease land to businesses. Auditors say Chemawa Indian Boarding School mismanaged all student enterprise funds, averaging $600,000 over a three-year period; improperly accounted for businesses leases; and "inappropriately managed" property. Furthermore, auditors say the Bureau of Indian Education did not live up to its supervisory responsibilities. Read the report and auditors' recommendations here: Biggest lithium mine in North America gets green light to proceed A federal appeals court this week ruled that the U.S. Interior Department did not break any environmental laws when it approved the construction of a lithium mine near Nevada's border with Oregon. This means that Lithium Nevada can continue the construction of the Thacker Pass Lithium mine. Environmental groups sued to block it, arguing that the mine would irreversibly harm the environment. Co-plaintiffs include a Nevada cattle rancher who owns land above and below the site, tribes of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, the Burns Paiute Tribe, and the Atsa Koodakuh wyh Nuwu (" People of the Red Mountain"), an organization of Paiute and Shoshone people from the Fort McDermitt and Duck Valley reservations. Lithium Nevada will initially mine more than 2,300 hectares (more than 5,000 acres), but environmental groups say that future mining could expand to 6,900 hectares (17,000 acres). Lithium is an essential component for building batteries for electric vehicles, which are vital to President Joe Biden's "clean energy by 2050" agenda. Read more: Ute Tribe says public schools are not educating tribal children The Ute Tribe of Northeastern Utah says the state school system has failed to educate Ute children effectively. An investigation by the Salt Lake Tribune backs the claim. "In 2020, 58% of Ute seniors in Duchesne County School District graduated, for example that's lower than the percentage for students with disabilities," the Tribune reported Monday. Documentation shows the problems date back decades and are rooted in racism. A 1996 report noted that during the Great Depression of the 1930s, more than half of the region's white people depended on emergency relief. "Many [whites] blamed this on the fact that Indian land could not be taxed for the good of the county," that report read. In some cases, white schools turned Ute children away altogether. Read more: SEOUL - North Korea fired several cruise missiles toward the sea to the west of the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean military said Saturday. This would be North Korea's latest missile launch since it fired two ballistic missiles Wednesday, as Pyongyang and Washington step up displays of military force in a standoff over the isolated country's nuclear weapons and missile programs. A number of cruise missiles launched since around 4 a.m. Saturday local time (1900 Friday GMT) were detected, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said. On Wednesday, North Korea fired missiles hours after a U.S. nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) surfaced for a rare visit to South Korea. North Korea also warned on Thursday that deployment of U.S. aircraft carriers, bombers or missile submarines in South Korea could meet criteria for its use of nuclear weapons. BAGHDAD Tensions flared again Saturday in Iraq over a series of recent protests in Europe involving the desecration of the Quran, Islam's holy book, which sparked a debate over the balance between freedom of speech and religious sensitivities. Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone that houses foreign embassies and the seat of Iraq's government early Saturday, following reports that an ultranationalist group burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Iraqi Embassy in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, the previous day. The protest came two days after people angered by the planned burning of the Islamic holy book in Sweden stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. Security forces Saturday pushed back the protesters, who blocked the Jumhuriya bridge leading to the Green Zone, preventing them from reaching the Danish Embassy. Elsewhere in Iraq, protesters burned three caravans belonging to a demining project run by the Danish Refugee Council in the city of Basra in the south, local police said in a statement. The fire was extinguished by civil defense responders, and there were "no human casualties, only material losses," the statement said. The council confirmed in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that its premises in Basra "came under armed attack" early Saturday. "We deplore this attack aid workers should never be a target of violence," Lilu Thapa, the Danish Refugee Council's executive director for the Middle East, said. Iraq's prime minister has cut diplomatic ties with Sweden in protest over the desecration of the Quran in that country. An Iraqi asylum-seeker who burned a copy of the Quran during a demonstration last month in Stockholm had threatened to do the same thing again Thursday but ultimately stopped short of setting fire to the book. The man an Iraqi of Christian origin living in Stockholm, now a self-described atheist did, however, kick and step on it, and did the same with an Iraqi flag and a photo of influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr and of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The right to hold public demonstrations is protected by the constitution in Sweden, and blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s. Police generally give permission based on whether they believe a public gathering can be held without major disruptions or safety risks. On Friday afternoon, thousands protested peacefully in Iraq and other Muslim-majority countries. In Iran, the powerful Revolutionary Guard's chief, Gen. Hossein Salami, said that "we do not allow those who insult the Quran to be safe," the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported Saturday. Muslims "will decree a severe punishment for the perpetrators of these crimes," he continued. In the incident in Copenhagen, according to Danish media reports, members of the ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter burned a copy of the Quran and an Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi Embassy, livestreaming the action on Facebook. Copenhagen police spokeswoman Trine Fisker told the AP that "a very small demonstration" with fewer than 10 people took place Friday afternoon across the street from the Iraqi Embassy and that a book was burned. "We do not know what book it was," she said. "Apparently they tried to burn the Iraqi flag and after that, somebody stepped on it." Fisker said the "political angle is not for the police to comment" on, but the "event was peaceful ... from a police perspective." The Danish government Saturday condemned the demonstration. Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen called the action a "stupidity that a small handful of individuals did." "It is a shameful act to violate the religion of others," he told Danish public broadcaster DR. "This applies both to the burning of Qurans and other religious symbols. It has no other purpose than to provoke and create division." The incident prompted the protests in Baghdad overnight. Chanting in support of the anti-Western Shiite cleric al-Sadr and carrying images of him and the flag associated with his movement, along with the Iraqi flag, hundreds of protesters attempted to enter the Green Zone and clashed with security forces before dispersing. Later, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned in a statement "in strong and repeated terms, the incident of abuse against the holy Quran and the flag of the Republic of Iraq in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Denmark." It called on the international community "to stand urgently and responsibly toward these atrocities that violate social peace and coexistence around the world," the statement read. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani criticized the desecration of the Quran in Denmark and said the Danish government should be held responsible for preventing such acts and should pursue and punish those behind them, the ministry's website said. The ministry also summoned the Danish ambassador to Tehran, Jesper Vahr, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. The report said that Vahr was told Iran believes that if the Danish government had acted effectively, "we would not have witnessed such a blasphemous act today." It has never been easy for the United States to secure the return of citizens from North Korea, one of the world's most isolated nations. The task may be even harder in the case of Private Travis King, with communication between the countries now almost nonexistent, diplomats and negotiators say. King, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier serving in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea on Tuesday while on a civilian tour of the Demilitarized Zone on the border between the two Koreas. Washington is fully mobilized in trying to contact Pyongyang about him, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said Thursday, but North Korea had yet to respond. Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in 2021, the limited contacts between Washington and Pyongyang have all but ceased as the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate over North Korea's nuclear weapons program fizzled and North Korea sealed its borders in response to COVID-19. It's a different situation than those that most earlier negotiators faced. "The North Koreans have shown no interest in dialog with us at this point," said Thomas Hubbard, a retired U.S. ambassador who traveled to Pyongyang in 1994 to bring back Bobby Hall, the last serving member of the U.S. military held in North Korea. At that time, U.S. officials had just concluded an initial nuclear agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il. "We were in a very different time," Hubbard said. "The North Koreans saw they had some stake in the relationship with the United States." Limited options U.S. negotiators have few ways of reaching the North Koreans. The countries have no diplomatic relations, and Sweden, which officially represents U.S. interests in Pyongyang, pulled out its diplomats in August 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. officials said the United States had attempted to reach North Korea about King through the United Nations Command hotline and other channels, including the U.N. in New York, where North Korea has a representative. The best approach for now, said experts, may be a low-key public stance. "About 90% of [the outcome] will be determined based on how we react right now," said Mickey Bergman, executive director of the Richardson Center, set up by Bill Richardson, a former diplomat who has previously negotiated with North Korea for the release of detainees. North Korea would likely interrogate King at length, then have an option of deporting him or charging him, Bergman said, adding that the U.S. should avoid "pounding our chest" and instead calmly communicate that Washington respects Pyongyang's right to detain and question a soldier who entered its territory. Jenny Town, of Washington's 38 North think tank, said the case was complicated by not knowing King's intentions and whether he actually wanted to return. King had been detained in South Korea for more than a month for assault and was to fly back to the U.S. to face military discipline. Cases of U.S. soldiers going to North Korea are extremely rare. In 1965, Charles Robert Jenkins, a 25-year-old U.S. Army sergeant, walked across the DMZ and spent four decades in North Korea, where he taught English and also portrayed a U.S. spy in a propaganda film. Hes now their pawn A former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea said King may be used as a propaganda tool, but it was not clear how long North Korea would want to exploit his presence. "Holding an American soldier is probably a not very cost-effective headache for the North in the long run," said Tae Yong-ho, now a member of South Korea's parliament. A cautionary case of North Korean detention is that of Otto Warmbier, a college student detained on a tour in 2015 and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for trying to steal an item with a propaganda slogan. Warmbier was eventually returned to the United States in a coma in 2017 and died days later. Ottos father, Fred, feels empathy for King and his family. "This is about a young man we don't know his mental condition," he told Reuters in an interview. "Hes now their pawn. If it was any other country in the world, there would be communication now." When asked about King, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said the Biden administration had repeatedly tried to reestablish dialog with Pyongyang since taking office, offering new nuclear talks without preconditions. "We sent that message several times," Blinken told the Aspen Security Forum. "Here's the response we got: one missile launch after another," referring to repeated North Korean missile tests. CAIRO Yemeni police arrested two suspects Saturday in the killing of a senior World Food Program official the previous day, authorities said. Ten others were also detained for their alleged involvement in the killing of Moayad Hameidi, who had recently arrived in the country to take the post of the head of the World Food Program in the southwestern province of Taiz. Taiz police did not provide further details. On Friday, two gunmen riding on a motorbike shot Hameidi in the town of Turbah. He died shortly after reaching a hospital. The attackers fled the scene. Hameidi, a Jordanian, was the latest aid worker to be killed in Yemen. He had just arrived in Taiz a few days ago to assume his role as head of the WFP office in the province. The loss of our colleague is a profound tragedy for our organization and the humanitarian community, said Richard Ragan, WFPs director in Yemen. Any loss of life in humanitarian service is an unacceptable tragedy. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year on the side of the government, and over the years, the conflict turned into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Yemens conflict has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises, and more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed. Taiz, Yemens third-largest city and the provincial capital, has been under a siege by the Houthis since 2016, as part of the countrys brutal conflict. The blockade has severely restricted freedom of movement and impeded the flow of essential goods, medicine and humanitarian aid to the citys residents. In May 2021, an aid worker with the Oxfam charity died and another was wounded when they were caught in the crossfire of warring parties in the countrys south. TAIPEI - Taiwans Vice President William Lai, a front-runner in the islands planned January presidential elections, announced this week that he plans to make transit stops in the U.S. next month on his way to Paraguay, sparking swift protest from China. Beijing objects to any action that could raise Taiwans international profile and has pledged to keep the transit stops from happening. Analysts say that while it is unlikely that China will succeed, the transit stopovers are likely to test already tense ties between Beijing and Washington. "Beijing will try to link the stopover to the high-level engagement between Taiwan and the U.S. over the last year and they will look for opportunities to frame this as the U.S. being provocative," Brian Hart, a fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told VOA. Details have yet to be released of where Lai might stop in August and what he might do in the U.S. Taiwans Presidential Office has said Lai will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Paraguays newly elected president, Santiago Pena, on Aug. 14. Deep distrust The planned stopovers are not a first for Lai, but this time he is traveling while he is the ruling Democratic Progressive Partys candidate in the January vote. Beijing is highly skeptical of him because he is a member of the DPP and also because of his stance on Taiwans sovereignty. A former doctor turned politician, Lai has previously described himself as a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker." Despite Beijing's claim that the island is a part of its territory, both Lai and Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen argue that the Republic of China, Taiwans official name, is already an independent state. Taiwan is not a member of the United Nations. Beijing took over its seat in 1971. Currently, only 13 countries, including Paraguay, have formal diplomatic relations with the island. "Beijing distrusts Lai even more than they distrust Tsai Ing-wen," said Bonnie Glaser, the managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. She said Beijing believes U.S. support may embolden current or future leaders in Taiwan to pursue independence. Like many other countries, the United States does not have formal ties with Taiwan, but it is the islands biggest international backer. 'Priority' to stop visit Speaking at the Aspen Security Conference on Wednesday, Xie Feng, Chinas ambassador to the U.S., said it was Beijings priority to stop Lai from visiting the U.S. and emphasized that the provocative moves by "Taiwan separatists" should be contained. In addition, Chinas foreign ministry said that Beijing opposes any official interaction between Taiwan and the U.S. and that the Taiwan issue is the insurmountable red line that cannot be crossed in U.S.-China relations. "The Chinese are very alarmed about what could happen and they are warning that their red lines should be taken seriously," Glaser said. Despite warnings from Beijing, Taipei, and Washington both emphasized that Lais transit stops in the U.S. are planned based on the principle of "comfort and safety" and that China should not use the stopover to "start a fight." During a press conference Wednesday, Sandra Oudkirk, the director of Washingtons de facto embassy in Taiwan, said transits by Taiwanese officials in the U.S. have happened many times before and are part of the routine. In January of last year, Lai transited through the U.S. during a trip to Honduras. During those stopovers, he conducted online meetings with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tammy Duckworth, and met with members of the Taiwanese community. In April of this year, Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen also made two stopovers in the U.S. as part of a trip to Central America. Another military blockade drill? China views Taiwan as an inseparable part of its territory and has long voiced opposition to high-level interaction between officials from Taipei and those in other countries. That has not stopped a growing number of officials, legislators and leaders from visiting Taiwan, and officials from Taipei traveling to other countries. In response, China has stepped up its military activities around the island. Over the past year, Beijing launched two multiday, blockade-style military exercises around Taiwan to protest high-profile meetings. One drill followed a meeting between President Tsai and former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, when she visited Taiwan last August and another after she met with current U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California in April. Glaser said that while Beijings response will likely be determined by the agenda during Lais stopovers in the U.S., the outside world should not rule out any possible scenarios. "[Even though] I dont think Lai will do any public events, if he did give a speech or said something that is viewed as provocative by the Chinese leadership, that would give them a reason to do something in the military realm," she said. Still, she said she thinks Beijing would have to be "very alarmed" by things that Lai did in order to execute a military response that matches what they did when Pelosi visited Taiwan. Other analysts added that based on past experience, China has learned that high-profile demonstrations of displeasure toward the Taiwanese government through military maneuvers or military drills often backfire, especially during the islands election season. "Since this is a presidential campaign year, if Beijing follows this reasoning, they will likely resort to condemnation and perhaps some form of symbolic suspension of dialogue or economic sanctions on selected commodities," Wen-ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National Universitys Taiwan Studies Program, told VOA. In his view, past experience may convince China that heightening military pressure on Taiwan will only backfire when Taiwanese voters are about cast their ballots to elect their next president. Washingtons balancing act Lais scheduled stopover in the U.S. comes at a tricky time for Washington. Over the past few weeks, it has tried to restart diplomatic engagement with China. Analysts think efforts to reduce tension between the worlds two largest economies may cause the U.S. to make its engagements with Taiwan less public in the coming months. "Taiwan and the U.S. will maintain the same level of exchanges, but Washingtons public rhetoric about Taiwan may be milder," said Charles Wu, a professor in international relations at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. Rather than reducing interaction with Taiwan, Wu said he thinks the U.S. will likely put "guardrails around interaction" to make sure it doesnt affect progress made in restoring dialogue with China. RALEIGH, N.C. A tornado heavily damaged a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina on Wednesday, while torrential rain flooded communities in Kentucky and an area from California to South Florida endured more scorching heat. Pfizer confirmed the large manufacturing complex was damaged by a twister that touched down shortly after midday near Rocky Mount but said in an email that it had no reports of serious injuries. A later company statement said all employees were safely evacuated and accounted for. Parts of roofs were ripped open atop its massive buildings. The Pfizer plant stores large quantities of medicine that were tossed about, said Nash County Sheriff Keith Stone. The plant produces anesthesia and other drugs, as well as nearly 25% of the sterile injectable medications Pfizer supplies to U.S. hospitals, the company said on its website. Erin Fox, senior pharmacy director at University of Utah Health, said the damage will likely lead to long-term shortages while Pfizer works to either move production to other sites or rebuilds. The National Weather Service said in a tweet that the damage was consistent with an EF3 tornado with wind speeds up to 240 kph. The Edgecombe County Sheriffs Office, where part of Rocky Mount is located, said on Facebook that they had reports of three people injured in the tornado and that two of them had life-threatening injuries. A preliminary report from neighboring Nash County said 13 people were injured and 89 structures were damaged, WRAL-TV reported. Three homes owned by Brian Varnell and his family members in the nearby Dortches area were damaged. He told the news outlet he is thankful they are all alive. His sister and her children hid in their home's laundry room. Elsewhere in the United States, an onslaught of searing temperatures and rising floodwaters continued, with Phoenix breaking a temperature record and rescuers pulling people from rain-swamped homes and vehicles in Kentucky. Forecasters said little relief appears in sight from the heat and storms. For example, Miami has endured a heat index of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more for weeks, with temperatures expected to rise this weekend. In Kentucky, meteorologists warned of a life-threatening situation in the communities of Mayfield and Wingo, which were inundated by flash flooding this week from thunderstorms. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency there Wednesday as more storms threatened. Forecasters expect up to 25 centimeters of rain could fall on parts of Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri near where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers converge. In Connecticut, a mother and her 5-year-old daughter died after being swept down a swollen river Tuesday. In southeastern Pennsylvania, a search continued for two children caught in flash flooding Saturday night. Meanwhile, Phoenix broke a record Wednesday morning for a warm low temperature of 36 C (97 F), raising the threat of heat-related illness for residents unable to cool off adequately overnight. The previous record was 35 C (96 F) in 2003, the weather service reported. Lindsay LaMont, who works at the Sweet Republic ice cream shop in Phoenix, said business had been slow during the day with people sheltering inside to escape the heat. But Im definitely seeing a lot more people come in the evening to get their ice cream when things start cooling off, she said. Heat-related deaths continue to rise in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located. Public health officials Wednesday reported that six more heat-associated fatalities were confirmed last week, bringing the years total so far to 18. All six deaths didnt necessarily occur last week as some may have happened weeks earlier but were confirmed as heat-related only after a thorough investigation. By this time last year, there had been 29 confirmed heat-associated deaths in the county and another 193 under investigation. Phoenix sets another record Phoenix, a desert city of more than 1.6 million people, had set a separate record Tuesday among U.S. cities by marking 19 straight days of temperatures of 43 C (110 F) or more. It topped that mark again Wednesday. National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Hirsh said Phoenix's 48 C (119 F) high Wednesday tied the fourth-highest temperature recorded in the city ever. The highest temperature of all time was 50 C (122 F), set in 1990. Across the country, Miami marked its 16th straight day of heat indexes in excess of 41 C (105 F). The previous record was five days in June 2019. And its only looking to increase as we head into the later part of the week and the weekend, said Cameron Pine, a National Weather Service meteorologist. A 71-year-old Los Angeles-area man died at a trailhead in Death Valley National Park in eastern California on Tuesday afternoon as temperatures reached 49.4 C (121 F) or higher, and rangers suspect heat was a factor, the National Park Service said in a statement Wednesday. It is possibly the second heat-related fatality in Death Valley this summer. A 65-year-old man was found dead in a car on July 3. Human-caused climate change and a newly formed El Nino are combining to shatter heat records worldwide, scientists say. The entire globe has simmered to record heat in June and July. Nearly every day this month, the global average temperature has been warmer than the unofficial hottest day recorded before 2023, according to University of Maines Climate Reanalyzer. Atmospheric scientists say the global warming responsible for unrelenting heat in the Southwest also is making extreme rainfall a more frequent reality. Accusations of beatings and the use of tear gas have been made against members of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by tourists in a scenic resort area of the country. Witnesses say that Thursday evening, a group of security officers said to be wearing uniforms associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC attacked tourists at the Opert summer resort. An eyewitness told Voice of America that a few hours after they arrived at the resort, two cars displaying IRGC insignia drove up and the occupants aggressively ordered women to adhere to the hijab dress code. After some time, they left the area. However, the source said, the officers returned in the late hours of the night and subjected the tourists to beatings and tear gas." The witnesses said the officers employed "vulgar language and sheer violence," emphasizing that "it is the month of Muharram," while insisting the tourists surrender any alcoholic drinks they possessed. "Disregarding the presence of children, the officers subjected the tourists to severe beating and kicking, using batons and shockers, tearing apart their tents, the source said. Unable to find evidence of alcoholic beverages, they eventually departed from the scene." Opert, a picturesque border area between Semnan and Mazandaran provinces, attracts visitors with its untamed landscapes, distinctive highlands and the mesmerizing clouds. The region lies at the northernmost edge of Semnan and the southernmost edge of Mazandaran, making it a sought-after tourist destination. Amid nationwide protests and women's defiance of compulsory hijab laws, the Islamic Republic is exerting pressure and violence throughout society to enforce mandatory hijab wearing. Editor's note: Here is a fast take on what the international community has been up to this past week, as seen from the United Nations perch. Putin withdraws from grain deal Russian President Vladimir Putin pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on Monday, ending the deal that saw nearly 33 million metric tons of grain exported to global markets, stabilizing prices after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine drove them up. Wheat, corn and soybean prices briefly jumped at the news, as markets became jittery. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he will continue to try to seek a way to stabilize food prices and market supply. Moscow said it left the nearly year-old deal because it is not benefiting enough. While its grain exports were high, it was unable to export its ammonia for fertilizer through a Black Sea pipeline. On Friday, the U.N. Security Council met for a briefing on the humanitarian implications of Moscow's departure. U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths warned that millions of people are at risk of hunger and death as a consequence of the deal's abrupt end. He said that with shrinking options for selling their grain, Ukrainian farmers may have no choice but to stop farming. Guterres outlines peace agenda for changing world The secretary-general offered proposals Thursday to deal with what he says is an emerging multipolar world order that is characterized by rising geopolitical tensions, conflicts and emerging technologies. Guterres said new threats to peace create new demands on the organization. He urged acceleration of the 2030 sustainable development agenda, noting the link between development and peace, among other recommendations. Security Council holds first debate on artificial intelligence The secretary-general called for global standards to regulate artificial intelligence during a briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday. It was the first time the council had discussed AI, focusing on its implications for international peace and security. Heat waves: the new normal? As global warming intensifies and deadly heat waves spread across the world, becoming the "new normal," the World Meteorological Organization is calling on governments to adopt heat action plans to protect "hundreds of thousands of people dying from preventable heat-related causes each year." While this year's extensive and intense heat waves are alarming, scientists say this is not surprising as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has been warning of multiple hazards over the next two decades if global temperatures climb 1.5 degrees Celsius or more. In brief The conflict in Sudan entered its fourth month this week. U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths warned that battle lines are hardening and urged a redoubling of efforts to ensure the conflict "does not spiral into a brutal and interminable civil war with grave consequences for the region." Griffiths said Sudan is now one of the world's most difficult places in which to operate for humanitarian workers. On Friday, Doctors Without Borders said a team of 18 of its workers were violently beaten and whipped by armed men Thursday as they were transporting medical supplies to one of only two hospitals still functioning in the southern part of the capital, Khartoum. Attacks on health care workers and facilities are a violation of international humanitarian law. Malawi is the latest country to be affected by World Food Program funding shortfalls. WFP said Thursday that it needs $6.3 million to reinstate rations to 75% for 51,000 refugees living in the Dzaleka refugee camp through June 2024. Starting this month, refugees' cash allowance will be reduced from $8.50 per person each month to $5.90. Most refugees in the camp, about 45,000 people, reported being food insecure. WFP has been hit with deep funding shortages this year, forcing it to cut rations to millions of vulnerable people including in Haiti, Syria and Jordan. WFP said one of its staff members was shot and killed Friday by unidentified gunmen in Turbah, southwest Yemen. Jordanian national Moayad Hameidi had been with the agency for 18 years. He recently arrived in Yemen to head WFP's Taiz office. The agency said, "Any loss of life in humanitarian service is an unacceptable tragedy." On Wednesday, the secretary-general paid tribute to the 77 U.N. staff who died in the line of service in 2022. They represented 36 nationalities. Guterres said their courage saved lives and their expertise helped to build a better world. He said the U.N. would keep their memories alive through the continuation of their mission. The United States officially rejoined the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization on July 10. Under the Trump administration, Washington pulled out of the Paris-based agency, citing what it said was its anti-Israel bias and need for reform. On Monday, the State Department announced that Ambassador Erica Barks-Ruggles would represent the U.S. at UNESCO. Did you know? Tuesday, July 25, is World Drowning Prevention Day. Drowning is a leading cause of death for children and young people. Every year 236,000 people drown, with over half of them in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. Low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected, accounting for 90% of all unintentional drowning deaths. The day is intended to highlight what can be done to avoid these deaths, including teaching swimming and water safety, as well as installing barriers and controlling access to water. SYDNEY - The United States commissioned a warship in Sydney on Saturday, the first time a U.S. Navy vessel joined active service at a foreign port, as the two close allies step up their military ties in response to China's expanding regional reach. The Independence-class littoral combat ship -- named after a Royal Australian Navy cruiser that was sunk while supporting the U.S. Marine landings on Guadalcanal in 1942 -- was commissioned at a ceremony at an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbor, officially joining the U.S. Navy's active fleet. "Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy," Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said in a statement. The commissioning of the U.S. ship in Australian waters reflected "our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order," he added. The ceremony comes amid the biennial Talisman Sabre military exercises between the U.S. and Australia, seen as a show of force and unity as China increasingly asserts power in the Indo-Pacific. The exercises, taking place in various locations across Australia over two weeks, include mock land and air combat, as well as amphibious landings. In addition to Australia and the U.S., forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga and Britain are taking part. Germany is participating for the first time with 210 paratroopers and marines taking part, as the European nation bolsters its presence in the region. Under the AUKUS project announced in March, the United States and Britain have agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Before that, in the early 2030s, the United States is supposed to sell Australia three U.S. Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines, with an option for Australia to buy two more. WASHINGTON - China's 100-Day 'Strike Hard' Campaign Targets Uyghurs in Xinjiang Chinese authorities launched a 100-day "strike hard" campaign against Uyghurs in Xinjiang, cracking down on gatherings of more than 30 people, according to Chinese media. The latest persecution of the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs who live in Xinjiang coincides with the sensitive anniversary of the 2009 ethnic violence in Urumqi, which triggered the Chinese government's efforts to repress Uyghur culture and religion with mass surveillance and internment campaigns. Uyghur rights groups see this as ongoing ethnic and cultural genocide. The U.S. government and Western parliaments have condemned the abuses, labeling them genocide or crimes against humanity. China denies any human rights abuses in the region. Uyghur Teenage Girls Forced into Labor at Xinjiang Garment Factory According to an investigation by Radio Free Asia, approximately 90 Uyghur teenage girls in Xinjiang are forcibly working in a Chinese-run garment factory. The girls, aged 16-18, work 14 hours a day, seven days a week, and routinely face both verbal and physical abuse. The factory, Wanhe Garment Co. Ltd., has a clandestine agreement with a nearby vocational high school that forces female students to work against their will, according to the investigation. Local authorities pressure parents not to protest their children's employment, and the workers are kept under control by an abusive supervisor, RFA reported. These findings add to the growing evidence of Uyghur forced labor in Xinjiang, prompting scrutiny of major companies like Zara and Uniqlo to ensure their supply chains are free from such practices. Volkswagen Stands Firm on Xinjiang Plant Audit Amid Human Rights Concerns Volkswagen reaffirmed its commitment to an independent audit of its Xinjiang plant amid concerns about human rights abuses against Uyghurs in the region. The company said in a statement that it remains convinced an independent auditor can deliver important information about the human rights situation at its Xinjiang plant. The statement came after some investors criticized the effectiveness of any audit in the tightly controlled region. Volkswagen emphasized its adherence to human rights principles but did not directly address censorship and anti-espionage law concerns in the region. US Lawmakers Propose Tough Measures Against Forced Uyghur Labor Enablers U.S. lawmakers have taken significant actions this week, proposing new bills and investigations to address Uyghur forced labor in Xinjiang. Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, reintroduced the "Sanctioning Supporters of Slave Labor Act" with the aim of expanding sanctions against entities suspected of violating Uyghur human rights, while Congressman Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. Additionally, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexler, a Virginia Democrat, plans to reintroduce the "Uyghur Forced Labor Disclosure Act," which would mandate supply chain audits for companies sourcing goods from Xinjiang. Exiled Uyghur's Istanbul Bookshop Faces China's Pressure and Copyright Disputes Abdullah Turkistanli, an exiled Uyghur, is the owner of the Kutadgu Bilig Bookshop in Istanbul, which he opened to preserve Uyghur literature that is banned in China. To do so, he prints most of the books himself using PDFs of the originals, as Chinese publishers are prohibited from granting permission for reprinting. Despite his noble mission, Beijing's pressure led Turkish police to raid his shop twice and seize thousands of books, accusing him of copyright infringement. As a survivor of Chinese prisons, Turkistanli is dedicated to protecting Uyghur culture, but these legal challenges have posed significant obstacles. Uyghur activists are now urging the Turkish government to consider the harsh reality faced by the Uyghurs and help in preserving their literature, rather than bowing to China's pressure. News in brief In a recent article by the China Communist Party (CCP) committee, senior CCP officials expressed their active involvement in diplomacy to counter "anti-China forces," especially the U.S., amid allegations of genocide and human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. The officials aim to promote positive narratives about Xinjiang globally and to strengthen the rule of law in response to international criticism. However, human rights activists have raised concerns about potential repression of rights defenders. They urge governments to take decisive action to protect Uyghur rights and end forced labor in global supply chains. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Chinese officials involved in alleged abuses, while China's Diplomatic Relations Law grants Beijing powers to counter actions it deems harmful to its interests. Quote of note Further actions must be taken to hold accountable those individuals and entities benefiting from the forced labor of Uyghurs. Not only should Chinas genocidal regime answer for the crimes they are committing but also the companies that profit from these atrocities. Senator Marco Rubio Latest developments: The British Defense Ministry said Saturday in its daily intelligence report on Ukraine that leading nationalist military blogger Igor Girkin was almost certainly arrested for extremism Friday. The ministry said Girkin, a critic of Russias Defense Ministrys conduct of the war, has recently engaged in direct criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his time in power. The arrest will likely infuriate military bloggers, who view Girkin as an astute military analyst and patriot, the British ministry said. The United States plans to announce as soon as Tuesday a new military aid package for Ukraine of up to $400 million, including artillery, air defense missiles and ground vehicles, as Ukraines counteroffensive grinds on, three U.S. officials said Friday. The package will not include cluster munitions. Warsaw's Security Committee decided Wednesday to move military units to eastern Poland after members of the Russian Wagner mercenary force arrived in Belarus, the state-run news agency PAP quoted its secretary as saying Friday. The World Bank's private investment arm is considering $1.5 billion in investments in Ukraines banking, agribusiness and infrastructure sectors, a senior official with the International Finance Corporation said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting of his Security Council in televised remarks that any aggression by Poland against Russia's neighbor and close ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Russia. Poland denies any territorial ambitions in Belarus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that the Crimea Bridge is a legitimate target. The bridge that links Crimea to Russia was hit Monday with explosions that killed two people. Following the attack, a portion of the bridge was put out of commission. Speaking Friday by video link to the Aspen Security Conference in the U.S., Zelenskyy said, This is the route used to feed the war with ammunition and this is being done on a daily basis. And it militarizes the Crimean peninsula." Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the bridge attack. Moscow blames Ukraine. Zelenskyy said in in his daily address Friday, Russia killed two more children today. ... A girl born in 2007 and a boy born in 2013 died. Zelenskyy said the children were killed in an attack on the village of Druzhba in the Donetsk region. Two women were also killed in the attack, while a cultural center, a school, and residential buildings were damaged. Also Friday, Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Zelenskyy called unblocking the grain corridor an absolute priority. "Due to Russia's actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis," he said. "A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation. With joint efforts, we must avert the global food crisis." His remarks were echoed by U.N. political affairs chief Rosemary DiCarlo to the Security Council earlier Friday. She said that Russian attacks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports could have far-reaching impacts on global food security, in particular in developing countries." DiCarlo also called threats about the potential targeting of civilian vessels in Black Sea waters made by both Russia and Ukraine 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. Missile strikes Russian cruise missiles pummeled Ukrainian food export storage facilities in Odesa early Friday. The attacks followed a three-day barrage against the regions Black Sea port infrastructure. "Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley," regional governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app. Two people were injured, Kiper said, while officials reported seven dead in Russian airstrikes elsewhere in Ukraine. Moscow has described the attacks as retaliatory after Ukraines strike on the Russian-built bridge to Crimea. Russia accuses Ukraine of using the sea corridor to launch terrorist attacks. Terrorist attacks are when Russian anti-ship missiles hit shopping malls, hospitals and grain terminals," tweeted Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, in response. Russia said its Black Sea fleet had practiced firing rockets at "floating targets" and it would deem all ships heading for Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying arms. Kyiv responded with a similar warning about ships headed to Russia. Since the grain deal expired Monday, the number of ships loading grain cargoes from the Black Sea area has fallen by 35%. Uncertainty grows over whether Russia could hit commercial traffic, and shipping insurance companies have now suspended coverage for shipments from Ukraine apart from the smaller ports along the Danube, insurance industry sources said Friday. Ships stalled Meanwhile, dozens of ships were waiting to pass through the Danube channel Friday, including vessels bound for Romania or leaving from there, according to data from analytics company MarineTraffic. In an interview with VOAs Russian Service, USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman said that the U.S. agency has been assisting Ukraine in exporting grain via alternate routes through Poland and other countries, as well as through the Danube River. Coleman said these alternate routes are not as cost-efficient and not as fast as transporting in big bulk carriers from the Black Sea, and it has caused some friction with its neighbors. Overland Ukrainian grain exports can adversely affect grain prices of Ukraines European neighbors, which see their agricultural products depreciate. But Coleman stressed it is important to utilize these alternate distribution routes so that Putin's blackmail, his destruction, will not undermine Ukraine's agricultural sector. The attacks on Ukraines grain export infrastructure and fears about the fate of grain shipping have triggered a spike in the prices of grain products. Erdogan said Western countries should address Russias demands to restore the Black Sea grain corridor. The U.S. Treasury said Thursday that it had imposed new Russia-related sanctions to "reduce Russias revenue from the metals and mining sector, undermine its future energy capabilities and degrade Russias access to the international financial system." Wagner Group The last of the Wagner Groups convict-prisoner mercenaries are scheduled to be released from their mandated service in the coming days, the British Defense Ministry said Friday. In the ministrys daily intelligence report about Russias invasion of Ukraine, it said a significant number of the pardoned convicts would likely continue with Wagner as professional contractors. Russia now controls Wagners prison recruitment pipeline, according to the ministry. The Wagner Group staged a mutiny against Putins authority last month. The end of the Wagner Groups prison recruitment program marks one of the bloodiest episodes in modern military history, the British ministry said, with as many as 20,000 convict-recruits killed in a few months. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told the Aspen Security Forum on Friday that Wagner mercenaries were not fighting in Ukraine at present. Wagners chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a video Wednesday that his fighters would take no further part in the Ukraine war for now, ordering them to gather their strength for Africa. VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin, VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb, VOA White House Correspondent Anita Powell, U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer, VOAs Anna Chernikova in Kyiv, VOAs Mykhailo Komadovsky contributed to this report. Some information came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Photo: Reuben Bastienne-Lewis/Reuben Bastienne-Lewis There was no concrete plan for new Blur music when the veteran alt-rockers announced a pair of July shows at Londons Wembley Stadium. It had been a few years since anyone had heard the Britpop kings pithy, jangly approach to songwriting. The band popped out for a few songs at a 2019 event put on by front man Damon Albarns nonprofit organization, Africa Express, but prior to that, the last major Blur endeavor was releasing and touring behind the 2015 comeback album The Magic Whip. That one almost didnt happen; sessions began after a festival in Japan was canceled, leaving the band with unexpected downtime in Hong Kong, which inspired the meditations on cities, architecture, and crowds peppered throughout Whips New World Towers and I Broadcast. Plant Albarn in any scenic location and the local culture, economy, and ecology seep in, mixing with his penchant for classic English melancholia and cascading over intricate productions in which international sensibilities collide. Trips to Iceland inspired late-90s Blur classics as well as the chilly auditory still lifes of the 2021 solo album The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows; time in East Africa yielded 2002s Mali Music, featuring collaborations with kora player Toumani Diabate. In the quiet moments of touring with Gorillaz on their 2022 world tour, Albarn worked out 20 song ideas that he presented to his Blur bandmates with the intention of consummating the Wembley reunion with fresh music. The Ballad of Darren, their ninth record, is both an extension of the haze of sadness clouding the latest Gorillaz album and a bookend to Modern Life Is Rubbish, the 1993 album written after another Blur tour of the States, one launched to recoup unexpected debt accrued through mismanagement. Rubbish honed both Albarns knack for trenchant observations about life in a colossal cultural rut and the bands pop-rock acumen, paving the way for a hit parade that lasted nearly a decade (ending in the acrimony of guitarist Graham Coxon exiting the band early on during the sessions that produced 2003s Think Tank). The quartet was whipping itself into fighting shape, outpacing partying, unprofessionalism, and a country teeming with hungry competition. There are acts that have an easier go of this, with less volatile combinations of personalities and more responsible pools of decision-makers, but the ever-present possibility that the whole thing could come apart at any moment sort of defines Blur both in and out of music. Its in the howling solo tearing the jangly Coffee & TV apart and in the habits and misdeeds off the record. Of course the new Blur album almost didnt happen. The same is true of the last one and the one before that. Like Rubbish and its terser sequels Parklife and The Great Escape, Darren is disappointed in the cultural rhythms a new decade is settling into, jaded about social-media obsession where the Blur of yore railed against commercialism. The man who wrote 1995s snide Country House has moved to a house in the countryside, and a mellowness overtakes the album that may surprise listeners who come to the catalogue for experimentation and guitar wizardry. But it fits in the wheelhouse of the group behind 90s weepers such as Parklifes End of a Century and Badhead and The Great Escapes Best Days and The Universal. Darrens early singles the rowdy St. Charles Square and the rousing The Narcissist are sort of like movie trailers that spoil all of a films biggest explosions. Theyre the traditional rockers in a collection that delivers a healthy serving of the ballads it advertises. St. Charles Square conjures the bratty vocals and screaming distortion that would power the band to success in America after Song 2 took root but also the glam- and progressive-rock classics Coxon adored growing up, imagining King Crimsons Robert Fripp taking his chain-saw guitar tone to a Mott the Hoople track. The Narcissist revisits the aspirant energy of songs like For Tomorrow and Advert, odes to people biding terrible times. (These seem to go over well in the footage of recent shows, at which St. Charles destroys as set opener.) Elsewhere, Darren prefers to splash around in gorgeous arrangements and slower pacing. The Ballad, an old demo fleshed out at the insistence of longtime friend and sometime security guard of the band Darren Smoggy Evans, borrows the folkie warble David Bowie used on Hunky Dory. The airy drums of Russian Strings and the delicate guitar in The Everglades (for Leonard) are reminders that this crew was raised in the shadow of the majesty of the Beatles and Pink Floyd as much as the downcast New Wave and synthetic feel of Barbaric and Goodbye Albert bear out that this album was written in a Gorillaz cycle. Darren gazes at the back catalogue and influences while pushing the band into the sentimental stuff that record executives used to beg these guys to write. Yet theres something unpleasant scampering through these stacks of pretty melodies a war between nostalgia for a less complex time and the acceptance of a less-than-desirable present. We have lost the feeling that we thought wed never lose, the second track laments. It is barbaric. I know I cant change the times, The Ballad concedes. I fucked up, St. Charles admits in a biting first verse that ends with Albarn singing, Call me out, but call me. Darren feels like a breakup album Barbaric offers to discuss what this breakup has done to me before the chorus but Albarn isnt dishing. Maybe hes reworking the disaffected character studies he used to excel at in this band, identifying grief and yearning as the major themes of the 20s, and maybe its convenient to let people think hes writing about universal themes because he is the protagonist in these stories about longing for connection to a partner who has moved on. Avalon is inarguably a very personal inversion of the songs about suburban displeasure that Albarn wrote in his 20s, a suggestion that if you do manage to secure the nice house outside the city, then you better learn to love your new arrangement: Whats the point in building Avalon / If you cant be happy when its done? Theres something unpleasant scampering through these stacks of pretty melodies. Whether you receive these songs as dispatches from the insides of the jagged jaws of heartbreak or just gripping first-person fiction about said jaws, the lyrics cut like the bands best work and the galaxy of side projects around it. The Narcissist swings for the fences, attempting to criticize what Albarn calls the most narcissistic age of man ever in interviews but coming out with something more poignant: Oh, glorious world / Oh, potent waves, valleys gone wild / Connect us to love and keep us peaceful for a while. I am cut to pieces, Far Away Island exhales darkly. And I am dancing alone with the moon. Its around Island that the albums paddle begins to feel like a plod. In the back half, Island and Goodbye Albert deliver simmering, crescendoing performances in which bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree shine at the cost of some momentum. Avalon mixes it up, modulating between a patient, soulful groove and the confident mid-tempo stomp of the Beatles Carry That Weight. Closer The Heights gets a jolt when Rowntree drops in with a massive beat and the song disappears into the shroud of encroaching fuzz you might have been itching for after four slow songs in a row, offering a moment of skronk for longtime listeners spoiling for more of the raucous performances and the undulating waves of noise populating 1997s Blur and 1999s 13, the ones MTV and American rock radio took a shine to. That experiment took time, and this band didnt have years to workshop material. Everyone has their own thing going on: Rowntree and Coxon put out albums earlier this year; James hosts an annual festival. Did The Ballad of Darren come together too quickly to marinate in the sauces that turn a Blur album into a psychedelic odyssey? Perhaps. But they crafted something beautiful with the time allotted. Darrens unhurried tempos and tones massage where one might have preferred them to maim, displaying a delightful (if frustrating) unwillingness to stick to the stuff the fans crave. Its a fitting evolution for a band once powered by a cocktail of chaos, self-destruction, and excess, this moment of stillness. Our Claire Bear is busy, isnt she? In one episode, Claire watches two people die in front of her; escapes the British Army; gets captured by the British Army; begs her husbands illegitimate son for her life; escapes the British Army again; has to listen to her husband give a weird speech about how women arent made for war because they are precious and special, which isnt as romantic as the show thinks it is; and she has to accept the fact that she is not going to be in Scotland for a good long while. Of course this woman is tossing back shots of brandy all day! Who wouldnt be? Poor Claire! Its not long after Jamie leads a group from Fort Ticonderoga to safety downriver that the two split up. Jamie and Ian head off in the woods to deal with some redcoats Jamie does not hesitate to fling those knives, baby while Claire keeps the rest of the crew safe as they wait for the go-ahead to find their way back to the Continental Army. Unfortunately, Claire cant do her job because Mrs. Raven, whom we met in the Ticonderoga medical tent completely losing her mind after her family was killed, runs off. Shes scared and spiraling, and when Claire comes upon her hiding in the woods, Mrs. Raven proceeds to shoot herself in the head right in front of Claire. Its harrowing and Claire has zero time to process it because she is immediately captured by some British officers who heard the noise. Now, Claire doesnt make any comment about how, after everything, she is somehow back at Fort Ticonderoga, now under British Army control, but you know shes thinking it. How exhausting. On a positive note, she does find the kindly Walter, the patient she had to leave behind during the evacuation, among the prisoners shes being held with. On a negative note, that man has a pulmonary embolism and is definitely going to die. Again: How exhausting for Claire! (And not great for Walter.) Claire, of course, isnt just going to sit around and watch her fellow rebel prisoners die or be mistreated. She demands supplies and food from a nearby officer who just happens to be William. Yes, William has linked up with the British Army at Ticonderoga (he even meets Simon Fraser). Captain Richardson isnt pleased to learn he failed to deliver the messages he was tasked with, and William is dismayed to learn that the men those messages were meant for are spies for the British Army with important information that has now been lost. William, a real brownnoser, if you ask me, vows to make it up to the crown. How serious is he, though, since he goes directly from that conversation to helping Claire with her requests? He recognizes her immediately and, knowing that she at one time saved his fathers life, seems more than willing to help. Having a fellow officer deliver the supplies along with a bottle of booze because it seems like Claire needs it and describing her as the curly wig giving orders like a sergeant major is actually very endearing, and you just know this boy is going to break our hearts when he finally encounters Jamie on the battlefield. Agh! Also, when he most definitely finds out that Jamie is his biological father. Can you imagine? Itll surely be brutal, just how Outlander likes it. So the supplies are nice, but Walter still dies and then everything devolves into chaos when Ian arrives at the fort as part of his and Jamies two-man rescue team. Ian pretends to be there on behalf of the Mohawk, who are British allies, but his plan is foiled the moment William spots him. William believing Ians Mohawk cover feels indebted to Ian for saving his life. He owes him one one life, specifically. It takes the kid a second or two, but eventually he puts it together that Ian is Claires nephew and he is obviously there to break her out. Williams pissed about Ians lie and probably annoyed that everyone around him seems to be a rebel, but owing so much to both of them, he cant help but agree to let them go. Thankfully, Jamie is outside shooting fire arrows into the fort because the man CANNOT sit still while his wife is in trouble, and the ensuing mayhem gives William the perfect opportunity to let Ian and Claire go (hopefully) without anyone noticing. William is a man of honor, sure, but he also makes it crystal clear that he and Ian are even now and the next time they run into each other, he wont be so kind. I mean, well see how that really pans out for ol William, but sure. Has a man ever looked so relieved to see his wife as Jamie does when he says Sassenach upon Claires safe return? The answer is no never in history. Look at that mans face! Claire, on the other hand, is a complete mess, finally able to give in to the pain and fear she has been stuffing down in order to survive. Drink that stepson-approved brandy, girl. You deserve it. Claire, Jamie, and the rest of the remaining Ticonderoga evacuees (Claire had to leave the other captured prisoners behind in her escape; add it to the list of heartbreaks shes had to face) eventually link up with a gathering of the Continental Army. Its here that Jamie runs into Colonel Daniel Morgan, who, impressed by Jamies hunting prowess, recruits our favorite Highlander to his riflemen unit. Claire isnt thrilled by the prospect of staying, especially since Jamies conscription is almost up, but also she married a man of principle, so she gets it. Shes buoyed by the fact that riflemen or, as theyre called today, snipers are somewhat removed from the battlefield and that she recognizes both Daniel Morgans name and the impending battle hell be leading Jamie to in Saratoga. Claire doesnt have details, but she knows that the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the war for the Continental Army. Shes right and Morgans name sounds familiar because he is one of the reasons the Battle of Saratoga is such a success. So, basically, it could be worse. She resigns herself to more Revolutionary War and the two settle into their tent for a somewhat peaceful night. Jamie talks about how men are meant to fight wars because theyre replaceable and women are not, but the sentiment is muddled and we dont have time for that! Finally, Jamie brings himself to ask Claire about her time with William, and she tells him how he is so much like Jamie: She saw a fierceness of a Highlander under all those courtly manners. It seems to bring Jamie some peace. Knowing this show, that feeling will not last long! Meanwhile, Roger has two very interesting meetups in 1980. First, after chatting with Jemmys principal about Jemmy being disciplined for cursing at his teacher in Gaelic, the principal hires Roger to lead a course on Highlander culture. Oh, you know this dude cannot say no. The class is the stuff of Rogers dreams: People are forced to listen to him sing, and he gets to act smarter than everyone while wearing a kilt. Our guy is in heaven! When the class is a hit and the principal asks him to come back for more, you know Roger is in. Why Roger didnt try to find a teaching position as soon as he returned from the past, Ill never know! Regardless, there is one particular class attendee of note: Brees colleague Rob Cameron. Hes there with his nephew and, by good old coincidence, winds up accidentally getting Rogers notebook of time-travel notes (his Hitchhikers Guide to Time Travel, as he prefers to call it) when Rogers leaflets for the class are passed out. It was a mix-up from Roger rushing to get ready for class after he and Bree had a little Hey, I think theres a time-travel portal in the dam chat. Both Rob and Roger play it off like it must be notes for a novel Rogers writing, but it feels a little too easy. And the speed and pushiness with which Rob invites himself to Roger and Brees for dinner is highly suspect. That man is up to something! Roger doesnt seem to notice or care, really (and he definitely doesnt run it by Bree, who might have some issues breaking bread with the guy who trapped her in a tunnel just for funsies), nor will he for the present time since, uh, he has a different visitor to contend with: The nuckelavee is real! And when Roger chases down the man who has been lurking around Lallybroch and gets a look at his face, it is none other than Buck MacKenzie. You know, the guy who had Roger hanged for hugging his wife back in the 18th century. Now, if you arent up to date on your Outlander books, this might have been a confusing reveal. When we met Buck back in season five, he was played by Outlander favorite Graham McTavish (it was a fun little Easter egg since Buck is the son of Dougal MacKenzie and that other pesky time traveler Geillis Duncan). He has been recast here (welcome to the insanity, Diarmaid Murtagh), so the impact of the reveal might be lost on a lot of the audience. The impact of seeing the man who almost had him killed here in 1980, however, is not lost on Roger, by which I mean, of course, that Roger punches that guy right in the face. This should be fun, huh? In the coming weeks slowly, deliberately, piece by piece the dominant smokestacks of the now-closed Martin Drake Power Plant that pepper the skyline of Colorado Springs' downtown will be no more. Demolition efforts at one of the last remaining urban power plants in the country began in May, with crews conducting asbestos abatement work inside and outside the old structures, Colorado Springs Utilities spokesman Steve Berry said this week. Officials expect to begin taking down the large smokestacks in the next couple of weeks and that work will continue for several weeks after, Berry said. The process is slow and deliberate so crews can do asbestos abatement while the stacks are still upright and again once the pieces are on the ground. "People will see the cranes pulling down exterior facades and other pieces from the structures, but to mitigate noise and dust they won't see major structures coming down all at once. The safety of workers and the surrounding community is our first priority, as well as dust and noise control," Berry said. It'll take until the end of 2024 for crews with Independence Demolition, an Ohio-based company with a Denver office, to demolish the aging 100-year-old plant over eight phases. Crews are focusing on taking down the plant's main structures, moving from north to south across the site, Berry said. They'll first take down the baghouses, or filters used to control air pollution, and the scrubber buildings once used to clean gases passing through the coal-burning smokestacks, then the smokestacks and cooling tower building. Grading and seeding the land sometime around the fall of 2024 marks the decommissioning project's final phase. The order of demolition could shift depending on abatement requirements, for example, but in general the work will happen from the outer edges of the site inward, Berry said. Not all of the work will be visible from the outside, as crews disconnect and remove cable wires and pipe in the structures' control panels to safely remove them from the site. Utilities' operations likely won't be completely removed from the location until around 2030, including the electric substation just south of the old Drake structures and relocating six new modular natural gas generating units that now stand where coal once piled up near the plant. As for remediation, the city-owned utility will take the site to "brownfield" status at the end of demolition efforts, Berry said. "This means some abandoned materials may still be on site, but will be underneath several layers of backfill and natural vegetation to control dust," he said. The state requires environmental studies to then be conducted at the location, the results of which will dictate the land's future use. What's next? The Colorado Springs City Council, whose members also make up the Colorado Springs Utilities Board of Directors, will then work with residents to decide what to do with the site. "Drake is really a once-in-a-century opportunity to understand that site and what its future potential could be," said Susan Edmondson, president and CEO of the Downtown Partnership of Colorado Springs. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. To help inform those future discussions, the Downtown Partnership and the Legacy Institute partnered independently of Colorado Springs Utilities to complete a 107-page visioning document laying out an expansive list of possible future options for the site, from housing to dog parks or even a solar farm. The report "really is a framework of values and principles. This is not a report that is telling anyone, 'Build X amount of square feet of this,'" Edmondson said. Its authors used feedback gathered from residents at several listening sessions and community meetings held over 2 years, starting in late 2019, to create a list of guiding principals and possible land uses, said Pam Shockley-Zalabak, the former University of Colorado Colorado Springs chancellor who led the process. She asked residents to give their feedback and ideas free from possible financial, political or environmental constraints, a process called "conceptual blockbusting," she said. "We told them we know this is not necessarily realistic, but we want the biggest possible vision for the site, and what would (residents) value the most?" The Downtown Partnership and Legacy Institute began the process by studying other communities in the U.S. and other parts of the world that successfully decommissioned coal plants, Shockley-Zalabak said. They studied their processes, experiences and funding sources. "We also looked at it from an environmental cleanup perspective and asked what were the best uses, as a community, that they made of that?" she said. Six case studies included in the report, completed between September and December 2020, analyzed the timeline of deconstruction, community engagement, renovation plans, construction and architectural partners on those decommissioning projects, among other factors, for various urban power plants and transportation hubs including the Battersea Power Station in London, the Denver Union Station in Denver and the Brayton Coal Power Plant in Somerset, Mass., as well as others. The report found London's historic Battersea Power Station, for example, is being renovated as a mixed-use neighborhood with restaurants, shops, parks and cultural spaces. The Brayton Coal Power Plant in Massachusetts is now known as the Brayton Point Commerce Center, the report states, being redeveloped into "a hub for the offshore wind industry, ... an area where offshore wind turbines can be assembled before they are shipped out to sea." And Denver's Union Station redevelopment project turned 42 acres of former railyards on the historic Union Station into a mixed-use development around a hub for multimodal transportation. Housing could be an unlikely option for the Drake site, Berry said. "Based on our knowledge of required mitigation of former power plant sites around the U.S., things like residential housing (and) apartment units are unlikely due to extensive mitigation costs that would be borne by the buyer or developer," he said. As for other possible land uses on the land, the environmental reviews will inform those decisions. "The environmental reviews will start and that will probably take some time. ... But thatll probably dictate what kind of options City Council has to take to the public," Berry said. The Downtown Partnership and Legacy Institute wanted to start the public input process early to guide decision-makers before "complex problems presented themselves and became more polarized," Shockley-Zalabak said. Many possible funding opportunities the city could opt into also require a robust public input process, which the report helps establish, Edmondson and Shockley-Zalabak said. "This is vitally important," Edmondson said of the planning process. "There is no other site right at our urban center, at the confluence of two waterways, at the confluence of an interstate and a highway. You've got to be really thoughtful about what that means." The full report is linked on the Utilities website at csu.org/Pages/MartinDrakePowerPlant.aspx, under the heading titled "The future of the site." Ahead of a November vote on abortion rights, Republicans had wanted voters to make it more difficult to amend the state constitution. Voters said no, and constitutional amendments will continue to need just a simple majority to pass. MORE COVERAGE While portions of the Colorado Springs area were experiencing heavy rain, hail and flooding on Thursday, the slopes of Pikes Peak experienced extreme weather of their own: a tornado. The National Weather Service in Pueblo announced Friday via Twitter that the agency's survey team completed assessment of damage on America's Mountain and confirmed it was caused by a tornado. Gazette media partner KKTV's weather service reported its Doppler radar picked up rotating weather movement passing over the Pikes Peak Highway, south of the Crystal Creek Reservoir, around 2 p.m. A KKTV viewer also provided photos from the area, showing a scattering of fallen trees. Pikes Peak America's Mountain reported on Twitter just before 3:30 p.m. Friday the twister ran for 2 miles, beginning northwest of Pikes Peak Highway's Mile Marker 8 and ending just below Mile 5 on the east side of the highway, crossing it in two sections. The Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center near Mile 6 of Pikes Peak Highway is 9,160 feet in elevation, according to an official map of the mountain. Fox 21 reported that in 2012 the highest-elevation tornado on record was identified on the southeast side of Mount Evans near Idaho Springs, at around 12,500 feet. "Damage resulted in uprooted and snapped trees, two snapped power poles and multiple power line snaps," Pikes Peak America's Mountain said of Thursday's tornado. Power will be restored by Friday evening, the city enterprise tweeted. Sign Up for Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The National Weather Service said via social media the tornado's preliminary rating, according to the Enhanced Fujita Scale that assigns tornado ratings "based on estimated wind speeds and related damage," was an EF1. This means a 3-second gust at the point of damage was estimated to blow 86-110 mph. Pikes Peak America's Mountain reported winds reached 108 mph. There were no injuries or fatalities, the city enterprise said. "It's fairly seldom that Pikes Peak gets hit with a tornado, but it does happen," Kathleen Torgerson, lead forecaster for the National Weather Service in Pueblo, told The Gazette's sister news outlet Out There Colorado. High-pressure systems have been pushed farther west in the United States than is typically expected this time of year, Torgerson said. As a result, Colorado is experiencing northwesterly flow aloft a pattern favorable for significant severe weather and tornadoes, she said. Although tornadoes are recorded in Colorado each year, this year has been "very active." Torgerson said several signs indicate the damage was caused by a tornado. First, a tornado was radar-indicated in the area. Torgerson also said downed trees are laid out in all different directions, caused by the spinning force of a tornado. If the damage was caused by straight-line winds, then the trees would be lying in all the same direction. Russell, who ran unsuccessfully for election to the Senate last year under the banner of his own Australian Values Party, is seeking damages, a take-down order and orders restraining the ABC and its journalists from repeating the imputations. The claims of Josh Mark Willacy, one of three ABC Investigations journalists who wrote the first story, has reported extensively on war crimes allegedly perpetrated by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. Mark Willacy has reported extensively on alleged war crimes by Australian troops in Afghanistan. The first article reported allegations by a former US marine, given the pseudonym Josh, that soldiers from Australias 2nd commando regiment shot dead an Afghan prisoner in 2012 after they were told the prisoner would not fit on a US aircraft. He did not see the alleged killing but said he heard a pop over the radio and Australian soldiers advised there were now six prisoners instead of seven. Josh did not name any soldiers said to be responsible for the alleged killing, but unnamed members of the 2nd commando regiments Oscar platoon were reported elsewhere in the article as alleging the November platoon had a bad reputation among Americans. Russell, who was not named, was commander of the November platoon during its deployment to Afghanistan in 2012. Loading Media Watch believed the ABC pressed publish too soon on this first report, Barry said in a separate broadcast in December 2021, before the defamation case was launched. But an ABC spokesperson said in a written response to Media Watch that the broadcaster spent two months checking Joshs detailed account. The second article, bearing the byline of one of Willacys colleagues, repeated Joshs allegation. A key point in the article said his allegation concerned November platoon. The ABC would later say the key point in a dot point list outside the main body of text was an error. The article included a denial from Russell, who was named and pictured. A key point in the initial version of the ABCs article in November 2021. Willacy and the ABC Investigations team won the 2020 Gold Walkley, Australian journalisms top gong, for a separate Four Corners report in March that year which revealed footage of a Special Air Service soldier allegedly gunning down an unarmed man in a wheat field in Afghanistan in 2012. Oliver Schulz has been charged with war crime murder over a shooting in Uruzgan province in May 2012. Former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz, who appeared in the video, was arrested in March this year and became the first Australian serviceman or veteran to be charged with the war crime of murder. Schulz was granted bail in March after the court heard his trial is unlikely to proceed until 2024 or 2025. But the history of the Russell reporting has been more complex. Russell responds Russell responded to the ABCs first article on Tens The Sunday Project in November 2020. You were the commanding officer with the platoon all the time, and you never saw anything that has been alleged? presenter Peter van Onselen asked. Absolutely. That is correct, Russell replied. Asked whether you say that no prisoner was ever summarily executed that you saw, Russell replied: So, were responding to the direct allegation that this marine on a mission heard seven detainees turn to six and heard a pop and that that was the execution, and that never happened. Russell said in a statement last Saturday that his case was not about criticising Josh but holding the ABC to account for publishing what he described as serious, uncorroborated allegations. Breach of accuracy standards Russell complained to the ABCs audience and consumer affairs unit about both articles. The unit found in March last year that the first article was not materially misleading but could be misinterpreted by some readers as suggesting Joshs allegation was made against November platoon because it was named in a separate part of the article. It concluded the story should be clarified, although it found no breach of the ABCs accuracy standards. Separately, the broadcaster told Russell in an email that month that the second article breached the ABCs accuracy standards in that reasonable efforts were not made to ensure that the US marines allegation was correctly reported. It apologised and said the error in the key points, naming November platoon, arose in the production phase for the story. Changes to the stories The second story has been changed three times since it was first published, including to amend the key point to remove the reference to November platoon and refer generically to Australian commandos. Russells denial and photo remain in the story. A clarification was added to the first story in March last year, stating that Josh did not claim that the commandos he alleged killed a prisoner were from November platoon and nor did the ABCs story. References to November platoon remain in one section of the article. The court saga Russell launched defamation proceedings against the ABC in September last year over both articles and a related television broadcast. The ABC initially sought to rely on a limited truth defence as well as the public interest defence, before expanding its truth defence to include the gravest meaning the court found was conveyed: that Russell was involved in shooting and killing an Afghan prisoner. Nicholas Owens, SC, for the ABC, told the court in March that Russells alleged involvement was based on his ... status as a commander with effective command and control over November platoon, rather than suggesting he pulled the trigger. However, the ABC dropped the truth defence entirely in May after Chrysanthou argued it was wholly unmeritorious and hopeless and Lee struck out its supporting particulars. The broadcaster opted not to redraft this part of its case. In an unusual move, the ABC said two weeks before the trial that it would also withdraw its public interest defence in a bid to avoid complying with a recent court order to hand over documents to Russells lawyers revealing Joshs identity. Russells camp said it wanted this information to make pretrial inquiries, including contacting witnesses and checking whether Russell ever worked with Josh in Afghanistan. The broadcaster issued a statement saying it wanted the opportunity to defend our journalism in court but a greater principle honouring a promise not to name a source was at stake. However, Lee noted the ABC was not seeking to rely in Joshs case on Commonwealth laws giving journalists a privilege against identifying a source in evidence, despite invoking this shield law for other confidential sources in the case. The ABC sought to rely instead on a principle known as the newspaper rule which may protect media defendants from disclosing sources before a trial, although Lee noted the protection generally does not exist at trial. The broadcaster conceded that withdrawing its public interest defence meant Russell was entitled to judgment in his favour and the sole remaining issue was damages. The about-face Less than 48 hours later, the ABC revived its public interest defence in an embarrassing about-face after the court heard Russells lawyers believed they had already discovered Joshs identity through internet searches. The ABC published a photo of him in both articles. Lee said it was quite bizarre the ABC had suggested it could avoid the need to comply with the court order by dropping its defence because there was every likelihood it would still have had to disclose the material for the hearing on damages. The ABC has disputed that the material is relevant to a claim for aggravated damages. Loading Chrysanthou alleged in court that the ABC engaged in a disgraceful publicity campaign about why it dropped its defence. The broadcaster had previously sought to mount its truth defence using Josh as a witness, she said, which would have necessarily meant he turned up and got in the witness box or gave an affidavit. Showdown looms The parties are now headed for a showdown in the Federal Court when the seven-day trial starts in Sydney on Friday. The beauty of Kings Canyon is that its such a long way from anywhere. And the downside? Its so far from everywhere. From Alice Springs, for example, its a five-hour drive, and from Uluru, four hours. That makes it the kind of destination thats best to visit as part of a longer trip, maybe combining it with Uluru or a meandering 4WD road trip around the 1140-kilometre Red Centre Way. But its certainly worth the effort. Check-in after the three-hour, 10-minute flight from Sydney to Alice, and then the long drive, is quick, efficient, and has never been more keenly anticipated. The look The resort strives pretty much to be all things to everyone from the campers to the guests in the campground lodge rooms, to those in the glamorous safari-style tents to others, like me, in the newly refurbished deluxe cabins. Freestanding tubs let you admire the scenery, but happily no one can see in. Some areas of the resort are purely populist, like the freshly-renovated tin-roofed and partly open-air Kings Canyon Bar & Grill with its hearty meals; others are more modern minimalist with an outback twist, displaying fabulous photos of desert scenery and outback paintings on the walls and hints of Indigenous design. London: Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King says high-speed rail will happen in her lifetime but has refused to commit to a deadline after viewing Britains troubled fast-rail scheme. King, on a trip to the UK, said she believed fast rail would connect Newcastle and Sydney within 30 years. Infrastructure Minister Catherine King. Credit: Peter Rae Australia has appointed UK woman Dyan Perry, who oversaw Britains High Speed One (HS1), to Australias High Speed Rail Authority Board. HS1 is a 109-kilometre rail line between Londons St Pancras and the Channel Tunnel and enables Eurostar passengers to travel at speeds of 300 kilometres per hour instead of 160 kilometres per hour. It was completed in 2007 and cost 5.8 billion. SPRING TWP., Pa - Penn State University's Berks satellite campus has launched an initiative to let Amazon employees earn credits toward an associate or bachelor's degree. According to a press release, the partnership between Penn State-Berks and Amazon Career Choice allows Amazon employees to leverage their benefits through the school's adult learner program. Benefits of the partnership include, pre-paid tuition, textbooks and undergraduate fees, as well no time limit for employees to utilize on-campus benefits. Amazon employees are eligible to participate in the Career Choice program after 90 days of employment. The rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine have seen food commodity prices jump since Monday. Locally, businesses are already feeling the effects and are preparing for them to get worse. Kathleen Lochel, owner of Lochel's Bakery in Hatboro is not surprised and now it seems this Summer, grain and soy are the latest to see prices jump. "So our distributors have told us soybean oil products, which is shortening, the actual oil, and mixes like cakes mixes, donut mixes, and flour. You're going to see by the end of the year skyrocketing prices," said Lochel. The reason? The ongoing war in Ukraine. On Monday, Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a wartime agreement which allowed Ukraine to export its commodities through the Black Sea. Essentially shutting down exports for the 5th largest producer of grain in the world. "99% of all of Ukraine's exports before Russia attack. Ukraine was through water," said Director for the center for supply chain research at Lehigh University, Zach Zacharia. Zacharia says while the U.S does use a significant amount of domestic grain, global demand will continue to drive prices up. "As Ukraine is coming back to land that originally the Russian's invaded, they've left land mines which really affects the actual farms," continued Zacharia. "There are estimates it will take 8-10 years before they'll be able to bring the wonderful farmland that existed back to be able to grow grain. This is going to cause food insecurity for the foreseeable future." Which isn't great news for a small business like Lochel's. Kathleen has tried to stockpile the supplies she can. "The flour you really can't buy too far in advance because you need fresh flour," continued Lochel. And while she isn't raising prices right now, she says she'll reevaluate around the holiday season. HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania will receive $42 million from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Gov. Josh Shapiro announced Friday. The funding comes as part of the CMS' Money Follows the Person (MFP) program, which allows Medicaid beneficiaries living in institutions to instead receive the services they need within a community. The MFP program will allow elderly and disabled Pennsylvanians to transition from an institutional setting back into their communities, Shapiro's office said in a press release. According to the press release, MFP also supports "capacity-building initiatives aimed at diverting people from institutional settings." The program has partnered with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop various education and outreach initiatives for such individuals. U. MAKEFIELD TWP., Pa. - Officials in Bucks County believe the body of one of the two missing children, swept away in flood waters over the weekend, has been found. Philadelphia Police reported the body of a 2-year-old girl was found along the Delaware River in Philadelphia just after 5 p.m. on Friday in the city's Port Richmond neighborhood. Upper Makefield Township Police and the Upper Makefield Fire Department held a press conference Friday night and confirmed the body is believed to be that of 2-year-old Matilda "Mattie" Sheils. Brewer says the clothing on the body found in Philadelphia matches the description of Mattie. A 9-1-1 call to police is what led Philadelphia Police to find the body of the child near 3900 Delaware Avenue, Upper Makefield Fire Department Chief Tim Brewer said during the news conference Friday. The body was found 32 miles away from where Sheils went missing, said Brewer. An autopsy will be conducted on Saturday. Two children went missing after being swept in the flood waters in Bucks County on Saturday. Upper Makefield Township Police and other search and effort teams have been searching Mattie and 9-month-old Conrad Sheils since Saturday. The brother and sister have been missing since the car they were in was hit by flood waters on Washington Crossing Road. Their mother, 32-year-old Katie Seley of South Carolina, was killed. The other three family members in their car - the kids' dad, 4-year-old brother and grandmother - managed to escape safely. Officials are still searching for the body of 9-month-old Conrad Sheils. Search efforts will continue Saturday with dive efforts, officials confirm. Weather hampered search efforts for the two young kids on multiple days. Fog and expected storms kept dive teams from searching. A GoFundMe was created to collect money for the Sheils family. The family is asking for privacy at this difficult time. Four other people were drowned in the flood waters over the weekend in Bucks County. They are - Enzo Depiero, 78, from Newtown Township - Linda Depiero, 74, from Newtown Township - Yuko Love, 64, from Newtown Township - Susan Barnhart, 53, from Titusville NJ UPPER MAKEFIELD TWP., Pa. - The body found Friday in the Delaware River in Philadelphia was confirmed to be the missing 2-year-old girl swept away by flooding in Bucks County last week, her family and police confirmed. The girl, Matilda "Mattie" Sheils, was found around 5 p.m. Friday in the river near 3900 Delaware Avenue 32 miles from where she disappeared. Police said Friday that the clothing found on the girl's body matched the description of Mattie. Mattie was swept away with her 9-month-old brother, Conrad, last weekend when the Sheils family's car was hit by floodwaters on Washington Crossing Road in Upper Makefield Township. Police are still searching for Conrad and will resume diving operations on Saturday. The children's mother, 32-year-old Katie Seley of South Carolina, was killed by flooding in the car. The other three family members the children's father, 4-year-old brother and grandmother managed to escape the car safely. A GoFundMe created for the family has raised more than $200,000 as of Saturday morning. HARRISBURG, Pa. - A Philadelphia man has been found guilty on multiple charges related to the attempted sexual assault of a child, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Thursday. According to Henry, 67-year-old Michael Flynn believed he was communicating online with a 14-year-old. Despite the child repeatedly informing Flynn of their age, Flynn offered them $150 to meet for sex. But the "child" was actually an undercover Philadelphia police officer who took Flynn into custody when he arrived at the arranged location. A jury Flynn guilty of three felonies: Unlawful contact with a minor, attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and criminal use of a communication facility. He will be sentenced on Nov. 17. Flynn is already a registered sex offender in Pennsylvania, as he was convicted of sexually assaulting multiple children in 1976. James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX Get Free Report) saw a significant growth in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 38,000 shares, a growth of 9.2% from the June 15th total of 34,800 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 42,200 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.9 days. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of James Hardie Industries in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $29.80. Get James Hardie Industries alerts: James Hardie Industries Stock Performance JHX traded down $0.04 during trading on Friday, hitting $27.43. The stock had a trading volume of 141,747 shares, compared to its average volume of 65,420. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a quick ratio of 1.05 and a current ratio of 1.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.86, a PEG ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 1.41. The companys 50-day moving average price is $26.01 and its 200 day moving average price is $23.08. James Hardie Industries has a twelve month low of $17.25 and a twelve month high of $28.60. Hedge Funds Weigh In On James Hardie Industries James Hardie Industries ( NYSE:JHX Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 15th. The construction company reported $0.33 earnings per share for the quarter. James Hardie Industries had a net margin of 13.56% and a return on equity of 40.54%. The business had revenue of $917.80 million for the quarter. On average, equities research analysts forecast that James Hardie Industries will post 1.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of James Hardie Industries by 110.6% in the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,565 shares of the construction companys stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 822 shares in the last quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its holdings in James Hardie Industries by 351.1% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,899 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 1,478 shares in the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA increased its stake in shares of James Hardie Industries by 880.0% during the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 1,960 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 1,760 shares during the last quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of James Hardie Industries by 150.7% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 2,472 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $74,000 after acquiring an additional 1,486 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of James Hardie Industries by 29.9% during the 1st quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 3,949 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $85,000 after acquiring an additional 910 shares during the last quarter. 1.46% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About James Hardie Industries (Get Free Report) James Hardie Industries plc manufactures and sells fiber cement, fiber gypsum, and cement bonded building products for interior and exterior building construction applications primarily in the United States, Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and the Philippines. The company operates through North America Fiber Cement, Asia Pacific Fiber Cement, and Europe Building Products segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for James Hardie Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for James Hardie Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. NewSquare Capital LLC raised its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 3,433.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 106 shares of the investment management companys stock after acquiring an additional 103 shares during the period. NewSquare Capital LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $35,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter worth approximately $66,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 1,505.1% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 41,300 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $13,633,000 after purchasing an additional 38,727 shares in the last quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 18.5% during the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 118,609 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $39,153,000 after purchasing an additional 18,540 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 79.4% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 827 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $273,000 after purchasing an additional 366 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd raised its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 118.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 310 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 168 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 76.90% of the companys stock. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance The Goldman Sachs Group stock opened at $350.93 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.25. The company has a market capitalization of $116.67 billion, a PE ratio of 12.49, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.38. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 12 month low of $287.75 and a 12 month high of $389.58. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $326.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $337.64. The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, July 19th. The investment management company reported $3.08 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.25 by ($0.17). The firm had revenue of $10.90 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.61 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a net margin of 13.23% and a return on equity of 9.84%. The Goldman Sachs Groups revenue for the quarter was down 8.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $7.73 earnings per share. Analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 25.74 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 31st will be paid a $2.75 dividend. This is a boost from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $2.50. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 30th. This represents a $11.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.13%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 35.60%. Insider Activity In other news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $337.66, for a total value of $1,012,980.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 15,052 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,082,458.32. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $337.66, for a total transaction of $1,012,980.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 15,052 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,082,458.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, major shareholder Goldman Sachs Group Inc sold 1,145,486 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.73, for a total value of $13,436,550.78. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 50,099,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $587,665,868.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 34,967,959 shares of company stock valued at $656,368,342. Company insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research firms recently weighed in on GS. Barclays decreased their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $495.00 to $437.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 12th. Societe Generale lowered The Goldman Sachs Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, July 10th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $329.00 to $337.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. StockNews.com began coverage on The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $339.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, April 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, The Goldman Sachs Group presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $389.17. About The Goldman Sachs Group (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in resale agreements. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLC lowered its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 1.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 102,621 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 1,864 shares during the period. Bristol-Myers Squibb comprises 1.0% of Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 21st largest position. Aaron Wealth Advisors LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $7,113,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. IFP Advisors Inc boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 55,629 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $3,024,000 after purchasing an additional 956 shares during the period. Meritage Portfolio Management boosted its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 39,915 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $2,872,000 after purchasing an additional 1,288 shares during the period. Talbot Financial LLC acquired a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $4,482,000. Baron Silver Stevens Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $316,000. Finally, Atlas Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 4th quarter worth about $276,000. Institutional investors own 74.57% of the companys stock. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms have recently commented on BMY. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $82.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, April 21st. Credit Suisse Group reduced their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $72.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 12th. SVB Securities began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. They set a market perform rating and a $66.00 price objective for the company. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $65.00 to $64.00 in a research note on Tuesday, July 11th. Finally, SVB Leerink reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $74.19. Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Performance Shares of BMY traded up $0.91 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $64.68. 9,898,088 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 8,138,909. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 52 week low of $61.40 and a 52 week high of $81.43. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $64.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $68.20. The firm has a market cap of $135.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.28, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.10. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 27th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.98 by $0.07. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a net margin of 15.95% and a return on equity of 51.75%. The company had revenue of $11.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $11.50 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.96 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.05 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.53%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is presently 66.47%. Insider Transactions at Bristol-Myers Squibb In related news, EVP Rupert Vessey sold 50,385 shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, May 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.06, for a total value of $3,378,818.10. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,751 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,202,182.06. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AGF Management (OTCMKTS:AGFMF Get Free Report) is one of 1,228 public companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it contrast to its peers? We will compare AGF Management to related businesses based on the strength of its earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, risk, analyst recommendations, valuation and dividends. Dividends AGF Management pays an annual dividend of $1.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 18.8%. AGF Management pays out 154.3% 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 7.3% and pay out 1,196.1% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. AGF Management is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio. Get AGF Management alerts: Valuation & Earnings This table compares AGF Management and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio AGF Management N/A N/A 8.23 AGF Management Competitors $540.94 million $13.85 million 11.05 Profitability AGF Managements peers have higher revenue and earnings than AGF Management. AGF Management is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry. This table compares AGF Management and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets AGF Management N/A N/A N/A AGF Management Competitors 348.96% 7.15% 4.82% Analyst Ratings This is a summary of current ratings and recommmendations for AGF Management and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score AGF Management 0 1 0 0 2.00 AGF Management Competitors 1057 4722 6252 87 2.44 AGF Management presently has a consensus target price of $8.95, suggesting a potential upside of 55.38%. As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 75.13%. Given AGF Managements peers stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe AGF Management has less favorable growth aspects than its peers. Institutional & Insider Ownership 40.3% of AGF Management shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 32.4% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.0% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. Summary AGF Management peers beat AGF Management on 10 of the 13 factors compared. AGF Management Company Profile (Get Free Report) 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. With approximately $53 billion in total assets under management, AGF serves more than one million investors. AGF trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol [AGF.B]. Receive News & Ratings for AGF Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AGF Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Santander, S.A. (LON:BNC Get Free Report)s stock price passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 278.93 ($3.65) and traded as high as GBX 307.13 ($4.02). Banco Santander shares last traded at GBX 305 ($3.99), with a volume of 449,582 shares changing hands. Banco Santander Stock Down 0.3 % The firm has a market cap of 49.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 644.79 and a beta of 1.35. The firms fifty day moving average is GBX 279.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is GBX 290.04. About Banco Santander (Get Free Report) Banco Santander, SA provides various retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large companies worldwide. The company operates through Retail Banking, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking, Wealth Management & Insurance, and PagoNxt segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Banco Santander Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Santander and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lundin Mining (TSE:LUN Free Report) had its price target increased by Canaccord Genuity Group from C$12.00 to C$12.50 in a research note released on Tuesday, BayStreet.CA reports. A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus set a C$13.00 target price on Lundin Mining and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, May 19th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on Lundin Mining from C$10.50 to C$11.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Haywood Securities increased their target price on Lundin Mining from C$11.50 to C$12.00 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. National Bankshares increased their target price on Lundin Mining from C$8.75 to C$10.50 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 18th. Finally, TD Securities cut Lundin Mining from a buy rating to a hold rating and increased their target price for the stock from C$11.50 to C$12.50 in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$11.93. Get Lundin Mining alerts: Lundin Mining Stock Performance Shares of LUN stock opened at C$11.27 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.86, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.90. The stock has a market cap of C$8.71 billion, a PE ratio of 30.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.26 and a beta of 1.75. The stock has a 50-day moving average of C$10.52 and a 200-day moving average of C$9.72. Lundin Mining has a one year low of C$6.24 and a one year high of C$11.83. Lundin Mining Announces Dividend Lundin Mining ( TSE:LUN Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 3rd. The mining company reported C$0.22 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.28 by C($0.06). The company had revenue of C$1.02 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$1.02 billion. Lundin Mining had a net margin of 8.15% and a return on equity of 4.64%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Lundin Mining will post 0.7932726 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, June 21st. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 2nd were issued a $0.09 dividend. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.19%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 1st. Lundin Minings payout ratio is presently 97.30%. About Lundin Mining (Get Free Report) Lundin Mining Corporation, a diversified base metals mining company, engages in the exploration, development, and mining of mineral properties in Brazil, Chile, Portugal, Sweden, and the United States. It primarily produces copper, zinc, nickel, and gold, as well as lead, silver, and other metals. The company holds 100% interests in the Chapada mine located in Brazil; the Neves-Corvo mine located in Portugal; the Eagle mine located in the United States; and the Zinkgruvan mine located in Sweden. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Lundin Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lundin Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI Free Report) (TSE:CNR) had its price objective decreased by Barclays from $130.00 to $122.00 in a report published on Tuesday morning, FlyOnTheWall reports. A number of other research firms also recently commented on CNI. Argus decreased their target price on Canadian National Railway from $155.00 to $140.00 in a report on Wednesday, April 26th. Citigroup decreased their target price on Canadian National Railway from $125.00 to $122.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 11th. StockNews.com downgraded Canadian National Railway from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, May 31st. Morgan Stanley raised Canadian National Railway from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, May 4th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Canadian National Railway from $115.00 to $127.00 in a report on Monday, July 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Canadian National Railway presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $145.00. Get Canadian National Railway alerts: Canadian National Railway Price Performance Shares of NYSE CNI opened at $118.57 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.57 and a current ratio of 0.74. The company has a market cap of $78.13 billion, a PE ratio of 19.66, a P/E/G ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.91. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $117.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $118.35. Canadian National Railway has a fifty-two week low of $103.79 and a fifty-two week high of $129.89. Canadian National Railway Cuts Dividend Canadian National Railway ( NYSE:CNI Get Free Report ) (TSE:CNR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The transportation company reported $1.35 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.15 billion. Canadian National Railway had a return on equity of 25.00% and a net margin of 30.61%. As a group, equities analysts expect that Canadian National Railway will post 5.75 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 9th were paid a dividend of $0.5835 per share. This represents a $2.33 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.97%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, June 8th. Canadian National Railways dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 39.14%. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Canadian National Railway Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of CNI. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Canadian National Railway in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Ahrens Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Canadian National Railway in the 1st quarter valued at $26,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. acquired a new position in Canadian National Railway during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. CoreCap Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Canadian National Railway during the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Finally, Accurate Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Canadian National Railway during the 4th quarter worth about $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.89% of the companys stock. Canadian National Railway Company Profile (Get Free Report) Canadian National Railway Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in rail and related transportation business. The company offers rail services, which include equipment, custom brokage services, transloading and distribution, business development and real estate, and private car storage services; and intermodal services including temperature controlled cargo, port partnership, transloading and distribution, logistic parks, customs brokerage, trucking, and moving grains in containers. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian National Railway Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian National Railway and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) was the recipient of a significant drop in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 15,710,000 shares, a drop of 12.4% from the June 15th total of 17,930,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,960,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 8.0 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Canadian Pacific Kansas City Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,136,503,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 1,151.2% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 7,157,741 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $591,239,000 after purchasing an additional 6,585,655 shares in the last quarter. National Bank of Canada FI raised its stake in shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 303.5% in the 4th quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 6,156,627 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $458,817,000 after purchasing an additional 4,630,693 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City by 36.6% during the first quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 12,846,580 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $988,417,000 after acquiring an additional 3,443,066 shares during the period. Finally, Rothschild & Co Wealth Management UK Ltd acquired a new stake in Canadian Pacific Kansas City during the second quarter worth about $191,987,000. 65.84% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Canadian Pacific Kansas City alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on CP shares. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a report on Tuesday, June 6th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Argus upgraded shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $92.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 16th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $90.00 to $89.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 12th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City in a research report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a hold rating for the company. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on shares of Canadian Pacific Kansas City from $81.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $90.86. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Stock Up 1.1 % Canadian Pacific Kansas City stock traded up $0.91 during trading on Friday, reaching $81.43. 2,465,604 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,987,818. The companys 50-day moving average is $79.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $78.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.66. Canadian Pacific Kansas City has a 52-week low of $65.17 and a 52-week high of $83.44. The firm has a market cap of $75.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.96, a PEG ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.02. Canadian Pacific Kansas City (NYSE:CP Get Free Report) (TSE:CP) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The transportation company reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.70 by ($0.07). Canadian Pacific Kansas City had a return on equity of 9.53% and a net margin of 40.22%. The business had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.78 billion. On average, analysts predict that Canadian Pacific Kansas City will post 2.98 earnings per share for the current year. Canadian Pacific Kansas City Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 30th will be given a $0.141 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 29th. This represents a $0.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.69%. Canadian Pacific Kansas Citys payout ratio is currently 18.87%. About Canadian Pacific Kansas City (Get Free Report) Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates a transcontinental freight railway in Canada and the United States. The company transports bulk commodities, including grain, coal, potash, fertilizers, and sulphur; and merchandise freight, such as energy, chemicals and plastics, metals, minerals and consumer, automotive, and forest products. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Canadian Pacific Kansas City and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Carrier Global Co. (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) was the target of a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 28,170,000 shares, a growth of 10.6% from the June 15th total of 25,460,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,860,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.8 days. Currently, 3.4% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Carrier Global news, insider Jurgen Timperman sold 138,956 shares of Carrier Global stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $45.01, for a total value of $6,254,409.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.38% of the companys stock. Get Carrier Global alerts: Institutional Trading of Carrier Global Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 29.2% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 16,359 shares of the companys stock valued at $750,000 after acquiring an additional 3,700 shares during the last quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 40.1% in the 1st quarter. Panagora Asset Management Inc. now owns 36,481 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,673,000 after acquiring an additional 10,445 shares during the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 23.2% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,493 shares of the companys stock valued at $343,000 after acquiring an additional 1,412 shares during the last quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 22.7% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 65,241 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,992,000 after acquiring an additional 12,089 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Carrier Global by 10.6% in the 1st quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 786,543 shares of the companys stock valued at $36,078,000 after acquiring an additional 75,622 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.33% of the companys stock. Carrier Global Stock Down 1.7 % Shares of Carrier Global stock traded down $0.91 on Friday, reaching $53.76. The stock had a trading volume of 6,365,435 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,221,253. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $47.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $45.20. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03. Carrier Global has a 1 year low of $33.10 and a 1 year high of $55.58. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 1.39. Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 25th. The company reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.03. Carrier Global had a net margin of 12.02% and a return on equity of 25.56%. The firm had revenue of $5.27 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.05 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.54 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Carrier Global will post 2.57 EPS for the current year. Carrier Global Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 10th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.185 per share. This represents a $0.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.38%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, June 22nd. Carrier Globals dividend payout ratio is presently 25.00%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have commented on CARR. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Carrier Global from $53.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Oppenheimer started coverage on shares of Carrier Global in a research note on Monday, March 27th. They set an outperform rating and a $51.00 price target for the company. Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $45.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Carrier Global from $45.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Monday, July 10th. Finally, 888 reaffirmed a maintains rating on shares of Carrier Global in a research note on Friday, April 28th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $50.67. About Carrier Global (Get Free Report) Carrier Global Corporation provides heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation technologies worldwide. It operates through three segments: HVAC, Refrigeration, and Fire & Security. The HVAC segment provides products, controls, services, and solutions to meet the heating, cooling, and ventilation needs of residential and commercial customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Carrier Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Carrier Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. UBS Group upgraded shares of Cheniere Energy Partners (NYSEAMERICAN:CQP Free Report) from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report released on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. UBS Group currently has $57.00 price objective on the energy companys stock. A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on CQP. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on Cheniere Energy Partners from $56.00 to $48.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. StockNews.com upgraded Cheniere Energy Partners from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Thursday, May 11th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from $53.00 to $49.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 3rd. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Cheniere Energy Partners from a peer perform rating to an underperform rating and set a $43.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have assigned a hold rating, two have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $50.38. Get Cheniere Energy Partners alerts: Cheniere Energy Partners Stock Up 1.7 % NYSEAMERICAN:CQP opened at $50.97 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $24.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.40 and a beta of 0.83. The firms fifty day moving average is $46.59. Cheniere Energy Partners has a fifty-two week low of $42.96 and a fifty-two week high of $62.08. Cheniere Energy Partners Increases Dividend Cheniere Energy Partners ( NYSEAMERICAN:CQP Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 2nd. The energy company reported $1.43 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.70 by $0.73. Cheniere Energy Partners had a net margin of 25.45% and a negative return on equity of 133.75%. The business had revenue of $2.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.01 billion. As a group, analysts anticipate that Cheniere Energy Partners will post 2.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, May 8th were given a dividend of $0.775 per share. This represents a $3.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, May 5th. This is a boost from Cheniere Energy Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.62. Cheniere Energy Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.99%. Insider Transactions at Cheniere Energy Partners In other Cheniere Energy Partners news, COO Corey Grindal sold 7,649 shares of Cheniere Energy Partners stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.93, for a total value of $351,318.57. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Cheniere Energy Partners Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CQP. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC purchased a new position in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $1,815,000. Allworth Financial LP acquired a new position in Cheniere Energy Partners during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners by 93.1% in the second quarter. Chickasaw Capital Management LLC now owns 56,000 shares of the energy companys stock worth $2,584,000 after buying an additional 27,000 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners by 23.9% during the second quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 22,101 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,020,000 after buying an additional 4,260 shares during the period. Finally, Maryland State Retirement & Pension System grew its holdings in shares of Cheniere Energy Partners by 3.1% during the second quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 40,898 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $1,887,000 after buying an additional 1,232 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.48% of the companys stock. About Cheniere Energy Partners (Get Free Report) Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P., through its subsidiaries, provides liquefied natural gas (LNG) to integrated energy companies, utilities, and energy trading companies worldwide. It owns and operates natural gas liquefaction and export facility at the Sabine Pass LNG production terminal located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Cheniere Energy Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cheniere Energy Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Robert W. Baird started coverage on shares of Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm issued an outperform rating and a $107.00 price target on the medical research companys stock. Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $102.00 price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research note on Friday, July 14th. Piper Sandler increased their price objective on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $80.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 27th. TheStreet upgraded shares of Edwards Lifesciences from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 19th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Edwards Lifesciences from $75.00 to $87.00 in a research report on Monday, April 24th. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on shares of Edwards Lifesciences in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. They set a neutral rating and a $84.00 target price for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $93.05. Get Edwards Lifesciences alerts: Edwards Lifesciences Trading Down 0.1 % EW opened at $92.56 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 3.01 and a quick ratio of 2.17. Edwards Lifesciences has a fifty-two week low of $67.13 and a fifty-two week high of $107.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $56.11 billion, a PE ratio of 38.41, a P/E/G ratio of 5.27 and a beta of 1.03. The companys 50-day moving average is $88.85 and its 200 day moving average is $83.73. Insider Buying and Selling at Edwards Lifesciences Edwards Lifesciences ( NYSE:EW Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 26th. The medical research company reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.39 billion. Edwards Lifesciences had a net margin of 27.07% and a return on equity of 25.81%. The firms revenue was up 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.60 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Edwards Lifesciences will post 2.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Edwards Lifesciences news, SVP Robert W.A. Sellers sold 12,270 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.20, for a total value of $1,069,944.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 11,750 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,024,600. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Larry L. Wood sold 6,421 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.23, for a total transaction of $540,840.83. Following the sale, the insider now owns 213,794 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,007,868.62. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Robert W.A. Sellers sold 12,270 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, April 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $87.20, for a total transaction of $1,069,944.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 11,750 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,024,600. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 228,316 shares of company stock valued at $20,215,378 in the last three months. Company insiders own 1.29% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Edwards Lifesciences Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich raised its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 98,836.3% in the 2nd quarter. Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich now owns 759,315,387 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $71,626,220,000 after purchasing an additional 758,547,908 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 104,971.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,399,249 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,148,938,000 after purchasing an additional 15,384,593 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Edwards Lifesciences in the 4th quarter worth $658,390,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 27.5% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 21,874,280 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $1,632,040,000 after purchasing an additional 4,712,819 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its position in Edwards Lifesciences by 161.5% in the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 3,503,803 shares of the medical research companys stock worth $261,419,000 after purchasing an additional 2,164,100 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.78% of the companys stock. About Edwards Lifesciences (Get Free Report) Edwards Lifesciences Corporation provides products and technologies for structural heart disease, and critical care and surgical monitoring in the United States, Europe, Japan, and internationally. It offers transcatheter heart valve replacement products for the minimally invasive replacement of heart valves; and transcatheter heart valve repair and replacement products to treat mitral and tricuspid valve diseases. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Edwards Lifesciences Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Edwards Lifesciences and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of GlobalData Plc (LON:DATA Get Free Report) crossed below its 50 day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of GBX 1,275.74 ($16.68) and traded as low as GBX 1,240 ($16.21). GlobalData shares last traded at GBX 1,250 ($16.34), with a volume of 73,029 shares traded. GlobalData Trading Up 0.4 % The company has a market cap of 1.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 4,807.69, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 649.28. The firms 50-day moving average price is GBX 1,274.64 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 1,256.63. Get GlobalData alerts: Insider Transactions at GlobalData In other news, insider Michael Danson sold 226,319 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 1,200 ($15.69), for a total transaction of 2,715,828 ($3,551,030.33). Insiders own 69.80% of the companys stock. GlobalData Company Profile GlobalData Plc provides business information in the form of proprietary data, analytics, and insights in Europe, North America, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers performance advertising services. It serves aerospace, defense, and security; apparel; automotive; banking and payments; construction; consumer; foodservices; healthcare; insurance; medical devices; mining; oil and gas; packaging; pharmaceutical; power; retail; technology; travel and tourism; and sport industries, as well as public sectors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for GlobalData Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for GlobalData and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Inchcape (OTCMKTS:IHCPF Get Free Report) and Kingsway Financial Services (NYSE:KFS Get Free Report) are both consumer cyclical companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their earnings, dividends, institutional ownership, risk, profitability, analyst recommendations and valuation. Insider & Institutional Ownership 47.0% of Inchcape shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 67.2% of Kingsway Financial Services shares are owned by institutional investors. 56.4% of Kingsway Financial Services shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Inchcape alerts: Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Inchcape and Kingsway Financial Services, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Inchcape 0 0 3 0 3.00 Kingsway Financial Services 0 0 0 0 N/A Profitability Inchcape currently has a consensus price target of C$1,085.00, indicating a potential upside of 10,799.05%. Given Inchcapes higher possible upside, research analysts clearly believe Inchcape is more favorable than Kingsway Financial Services. This table compares Inchcape and Kingsway Financial Services net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Inchcape N/A N/A N/A Kingsway Financial Services 56.73% -10.60% -0.67% Valuation & Earnings This table compares Inchcape and Kingsway Financial Services gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Inchcape N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Kingsway Financial Services $118.89 million 1.85 $24.72 million N/A N/A Kingsway Financial Services has higher revenue and earnings than Inchcape. About Inchcape (Get Free Report) Inchcape plc operates as an automotive distributor and retailer. It engages in the distribution, sales, and marketing of new and used cars, and parts. The company also provides aftersales service and body shop repairs; and finance and insurance products and services. It operates in the Asia Pacific, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the Americas, and Africa. The company was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. About Kingsway Financial Services (Get Free Report) Kingsway Financial Services Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the extended warranty and business services in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Extended Warranty and Kingsway Search Xcelerator. The Extended Warranty segment markets, sells, and administers vehicle service agreements and related products for new and used automobiles, motorcycles, and ATVs. This segment also markets and distributes warranty products to manufacturers, distributors, and installers of heating, ventilation and air conditioning, standby generator, commercial LED lighting, and commercial refrigeration equipment; and provides equipment breakdown and maintenance support services to companies. The Kingsway Search Xcelerator offers outsourced finance and human resources consulting services, including operational accounting, such as bookkeeping, accounting, financial reporting, and analysis and strategic finance services; technical accounting comprising initial public offerings, SEC reporting, and international consolidation services; human resources, workforce management, and compliance support services; and advisory services. This segment also provides financial executive services for project and interim-staffing engagements; search services for full-time placements; and healthcare staffing services to acute healthcare facilities. The company offers its products and services through credit unions, dealers, homebuilders, and consumers. Kingsway Financial Services Inc. was incorporated in 1989 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Receive News & Ratings for Inchcape Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Inchcape and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lennar Co. (NYSE:LEN Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest during the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 5,640,000 shares, a drop of 12.4% from the June 15th total of 6,440,000 shares. Currently, 2.3% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,230,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.5 days. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In LEN has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. BTIG Research increased their price objective on Lennar from $120.00 to $148.00 in a research report on Friday, June 16th. JMP Securities boosted their target price on Lennar from $115.00 to $135.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Lennar from $139.00 to $148.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 5th. Barclays increased their price target on Lennar from $120.00 to $135.00 in a report on Wednesday, May 24th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on Lennar from $127.00 to $150.00 in a research note on Friday, June 16th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $127.20. Get Lennar alerts: Insider Transactions at Lennar In other news, EVP Jeffrey Joseph Mccall sold 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.48, for a total transaction of $1,264,800.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 141,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,882,501.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Diane J. Bessette sold 10,790 shares of Lennar stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.46, for a total transaction of $1,310,553.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 270,556 shares in the company, valued at approximately $32,861,731.76. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Jeffrey Joseph Mccall sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, July 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.48, for a total value of $1,264,800.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 141,386 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,882,501.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 9.53% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lennar Lennar Price Performance Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Sanders Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Lennar by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 3,067,185 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $322,392,000 after purchasing an additional 102,601 shares during the period. Smead Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in Lennar by 3.2% in the first quarter. Smead Capital Management Inc. now owns 3,057,384 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $321,362,000 after purchasing an additional 94,694 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Lennar by 111.4% in the first quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,467,501 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $259,359,000 after buying an additional 1,300,163 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Lennar by 551.1% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 1,824,684 shares of the construction companys stock worth $191,793,000 after purchasing an additional 1,544,432 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB raised its stake in Lennar by 10.9% in the second quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,598,433 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $198,797,000 after buying an additional 156,691 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.69% of the companys stock. Lennar stock traded up $0.50 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $126.65. 1,973,850 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,237,183. The company has a market capitalization of $36.40 billion, a PE ratio of 8.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 1.46. The company has a quick ratio of 1.24, a current ratio of 7.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15. The business has a fifty day moving average of $118.79 and a 200 day moving average of $108.34. Lennar has a 1-year low of $69.90 and a 1-year high of $133.24. Lennar (NYSE:LEN Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, June 14th. The construction company reported $2.94 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.32 by $0.62. Lennar had a return on equity of 18.27% and a net margin of 12.66%. The firm had revenue of $8.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.28 billion. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Lennar will post 12.65 earnings per share for the current year. Lennar Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 7th will be issued a dividend of $0.375 per share. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, July 6th. Lennars dividend payout ratio is 10.24%. About Lennar (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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Lennar Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lennar and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MBIA Inc. (NYSE:MBI 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 1,780,000 shares, a decline of 14.4% from the June 15th total of 2,080,000 shares. Currently, 3.8% of the companys stock are short sold. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 483,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.7 days. Hedge Funds Weigh In On MBIA Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MBI. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of MBIA by 9.9% in the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 19,080 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $293,000 after acquiring an additional 1,714 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of MBIA by 20.4% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 22,705 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $349,000 after acquiring an additional 3,851 shares in the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in shares of MBIA in the first quarter valued at about $175,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its stake in MBIA by 148.7% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 25,742 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $396,000 after buying an additional 15,390 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its stake in MBIA by 105.8% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 2,782 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $46,000 after buying an additional 1,430 shares in the last quarter. 57.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get MBIA alerts: MBIA Trading Down 1.6 % Shares of NYSE:MBI traded down $0.14 on Friday, hitting $8.61. The company had a trading volume of 211,952 shares, compared to its average volume of 447,708. MBIA has a 1-year low of $7.33 and a 1-year high of $14.00. The stock has a market cap of $472.56 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -2.03 and a beta of 1.23. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $8.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.32. Analysts Set New Price Targets MBIA ( NYSE:MBI Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 9th. The insurance provider reported ($0.03) EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.46) by $0.43. The company had revenue of $2.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.00 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.94) earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that MBIA will post -0.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. MBI has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of MBIA in a report on Thursday, May 18th. They set a sell rating on the stock. Compass Point raised shares of MBIA from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $14.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, April 21st. MBIA Company Profile (Get Free Report) MBIA Inc provides financial guarantee insurance services to public finance markets. It operates through United States (U.S.) Public Finance Insurance, Corporate, and International and Structured Finance Insurance segments. The company issues financial guarantees for municipal bonds, including tax-exempt and taxable indebtedness of the U.S. See Also Receive News & Ratings for MBIA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MBIA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sienna Senior Living (OTCMKTS:LWSCF Free Report) had its target price reduced by National Bank Financial from C$13.00 to C$12.50 in a report released on Tuesday, FlyOnTheWall reports. Sienna Senior Living Price Performance OTCMKTS LWSCF opened at $8.89 on Tuesday. Sienna Senior Living has a fifty-two week low of $7.68 and a fifty-two week high of $11.07. The business has a fifty day moving average of $8.59 and a 200-day moving average of $8.47. Get Sienna Senior Living alerts: About Sienna Senior Living (Get Free Report) Read More Sienna Senior Living Inc provides senior living and long-term care (LTC) services in Canada. It operates through Retirement and LTC segments. The company offers a range of seniors' living options, including independent supportive and assisted living, memory care, and long-term care services. The company was formerly known as Leisureworld Senior Care Corporation and changed its name to Sienna Senior Living Inc in May 2015. Receive News & Ratings for Sienna Senior Living Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sienna Senior Living and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Panasonic Holdings Co. (OTCMKTS:PCRFY Get Free Report)s share price was up 2.3% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $12.43 and last traded at $12.42. Approximately 132,276 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 20% from the average daily volume of 166,053 shares. The stock had previously closed at $12.14. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Panasonic from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, May 1st. Get Panasonic alerts: Panasonic Stock Up 2.3 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28, a current ratio of 1.32 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The company has a market capitalization of $30.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $11.51 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.87. Panasonic Company Profile Panasonic ( OTCMKTS:PCRFY Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 10th. The company reported $0.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.02 by $0.31. Panasonic had a return on equity of 7.17% and a net margin of 3.18%. The company had revenue of $16.29 billion during the quarter. On average, research analysts predict that Panasonic Holdings Co. will post 0.92 EPS for the current fiscal year. (Get Free Report) Panasonic Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, research, develops, manufactures, sells, and services various electrical and electronic products worldwide. It operates through five segments: Lifestyle, Automotive, Connect, Industry, and Energy. The Lifestyle segment offers refrigerators, microwave ovens, rice cookers, washing machines, lighting fixtures, vacuum cleaners, air-conditioners, air to water heat pump system, air purifiers/sterilizers, and freezing or refrigerating showcases, as well as ventilation and perflation equipment. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Panasonic Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Panasonic and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Enzo Biochem (NYSE:ENZ Get Free Report) and ANGLE (OTCMKTS:ANPCY Get Free Report) are both medical companies, but which is the superior business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their dividends, profitability, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation, institutional ownership and risk. Profitability This table compares Enzo Biochem and ANGLEs net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Enzo Biochem alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Enzo Biochem -64.19% -116.13% -53.28% ANGLE N/A N/A N/A Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Enzo Biochem and ANGLE, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Enzo Biochem 0 0 0 0 N/A ANGLE 0 0 0 0 N/A Institutional & Insider Ownership ANGLE has a consensus price target of C$120.00, suggesting a potential upside of 7,128.92%. Given ANGLEs higher probable upside, analysts plainly believe ANGLE is more favorable than Enzo Biochem. 59.0% of Enzo Biochem shares are held by institutional investors. 15.5% of Enzo Biochem shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term. Valuation & Earnings This table compares Enzo Biochem and ANGLEs revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Enzo Biochem $107.07 million 0.65 -$18.26 million ($0.93) -1.52 ANGLE N/A N/A N/A C($0.48) -3.49 ANGLE has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Enzo Biochem. ANGLE is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Enzo Biochem, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Summary ANGLE beats Enzo Biochem on 5 of the 9 factors compared between the two stocks. About Enzo Biochem (Get Free Report) Enzo Biochem, Inc., an integrated diagnostics, clinical lab, and life sciences company, researches, develops, manufactures, and markets diagnostic and research products based on genetic engineering, biotechnology, and molecular biology. It operates through three segments: Life Sciences Products, Clinical Laboratory Services, and Therapeutics. The Life Sciences Products segment develops, manufactures, and markets products and tools to clinical research, drug development, and bioscience research customers. It offers proteins, antibodies, peptides, small molecules, labeling probes, dyes, and kits, which provide life science researchers tools for target identification/validation, content analysis, gene expression analysis, nucleic acid detection, protein biochemistry and detection, and cellular analysis. This segment also provides its products to scientific experts in the fields of cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurological disorders, diabetes and obesity, endocrine disorders, infectious and autoimmune disease, hepatotoxicity, and renal injury. The Clinical Laboratory Services segment provides molecular and other clinical laboratory tests or procedures used in general patient care by physicians to establish or support a diagnosis, monitor treatment or medication, and search for an otherwise undiagnosed condition. It operates a full-service clinical laboratory in Farmingdale, New York; a network of 30 patient service centers in New York and New Jersey; and a free-standing STAT' or rapid response laboratories in New York City and Connecticut, as well as a full-service phlebotomy center and an in-house logistics department. The Therapeutics segment develops novel approaches in the areas of gastrointestinal, infectious, ophthalmic, and metabolic diseases. It markets its products and services through its direct sales force and a network of distributors in the United States and internationally. The company was founded in 1976 and is headquartered in Farmingdale, New York. About ANGLE (Get Free Report) ANGLE plc, a medical diagnostic company, engages in developing cancer diagnostics products in Europe, North America, and the United Kingdom. The company develops and commercializes Parsortix cell separation system, which captures and harvests circulating tumor cells in metastatic breast cancer patient blood; and HyCEAD. ANGLE plc has a partnership agreement with Bio View Ltd to develop a liquid biopsy circulating tumor cell HER2 assay for breast cancer. The company was founded in 1994 and is based in Guildford, the United Kingdom. Receive News & Ratings for Enzo Biochem Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Enzo Biochem and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,430,000 shares, a growth of 11.0% from the June 15th total of 2,190,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,310,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.9 days. Approximately 1.0% of the companys shares are sold short. Insider Activity at Brown & Brown In related news, Director Bronislaw Edmund Masojada acquired 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, June 21st. The stock was bought at an average price of $65.78 per share, for a total transaction of $263,120.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 4,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $263,120. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 16.58% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Get Brown & Brown alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brown & Brown Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. PSI Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Brown & Brown during the second quarter valued at $36,000. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Brown & Brown by 12.3% during the second quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 16,694 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,149,000 after purchasing an additional 1,831 shares in the last quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Brown & Brown by 1,427.8% during the second quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 550 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 514 shares in the last quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC raised its position in shares of Brown & Brown by 4.7% in the second quarter. DAVENPORT & Co LLC now owns 5,031 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $346,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Brown & Brown in the second quarter valued at about $54,000. 69.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Brown & Brown Stock Performance Shares of BRO traded up $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $71.20. The stock had a trading volume of 1,661,347 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,223,739. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 2.49 and a current ratio of 2.49. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $66.04 and a 200 day moving average price of $61.34. Brown & Brown has a fifty-two week low of $52.82 and a fifty-two week high of $71.57. The firm has a market capitalization of $20.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 29.51 and a beta of 0.77. Brown & Brown (NYSE:BRO Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, April 24th. The financial services provider reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.06 billion. Brown & Brown had a net margin of 18.15% and a return on equity of 14.80%. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Brown & Brown will post 2.51 EPS for the current year. Brown & Brown Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 16th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, August 9th will be issued a dividend of $0.115 per share. This represents a $0.46 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.65%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 8th. Brown & Browns payout ratio is 19.01%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BRO has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group cut their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $69.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 10th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. StockNews.com raised shares of Brown & Brown from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, June 23rd. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of Brown & Brown from $73.00 to $82.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Citigroup raised shares of Brown & Brown from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $62.00 to $69.00 in a research report on Tuesday, April 18th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $67.30. About Brown & Brown (Get Free Report) Brown & Brown, Inc markets and sells insurance products and services in the United States, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Retail, National Programs, Wholesale Brokerage, and Services. The Retail segment provides property and casualty, employee benefits insurance products, personal insurance products, specialties insurance products, risk management strategies, loss control survey and analysis, consultancy, and claims processing services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Brown & Brown Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brown & Brown and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras (NYSE:EBR Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 2,580,000 shares, an increase of 7.9% from the June 15th total of 2,390,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,330,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.9 days. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Price Performance NYSE EBR traded up $0.20 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $8.06. 546,718 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,406,058. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 2.03. The company has a market capitalization of $18.55 billion, a PE ratio of 11.68, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.82. The firms 50-day moving average is $7.73 and its 200-day moving average is $7.24. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras has a 52-week low of $5.67 and a 52-week high of $10.39. Get Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras alerts: Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Cuts Dividend The company also recently announced an annual dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 1st were issued a $0.0443 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, May 5th. This represents a yield of 0.7%. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobrass payout ratio is 5.80%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Hedge Funds Weigh In On Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 21st. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EBR. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 49.0% in the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 4,898 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 1,611 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC boosted its holdings in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 462.9% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,764 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 4,740 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras in the 4th quarter valued at about $46,000. Citigroup Inc. boosted its holdings in Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras by 33.0% in the 1st quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 7,961 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $53,000 after purchasing an additional 1,976 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Panagora Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras in the 1st quarter worth approximately $84,000. 5.39% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. Eletrobras Company Profile (Get Free Report) Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras SA 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras S.A. - Eletrobras and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Forestar Group Inc. (NYSE:FOR Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totalling 374,000 shares, a decrease of 11.9% from the June 15th total of 424,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 136,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.7 days. Approximately 2.1% of the shares of the stock are short sold. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on FOR. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Forestar Group from $22.00 to $30.00 in a research note on Wednesday, July 5th. BTIG Research raised shares of Forestar Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $32.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Friday. TheStreet raised shares of Forestar Group from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, April 17th. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Forestar Group in a research note on Thursday, May 18th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Get Forestar Group alerts: Forestar Group Price Performance FOR stock traded up $1.79 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $27.07. The companys stock had a trading volume of 598,781 shares, compared to its average volume of 122,651. The stock has a market cap of $1.35 billion, a PE ratio of 9.74 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 1.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Forestar Group has a fifty-two week low of $10.28 and a fifty-two week high of $27.41. The companys 50 day moving average is $21.57 and its two-hundred day moving average is $17.79. Insider Transactions at Forestar Group Forestar Group ( NYSE:FOR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 20th. The oil and gas exploration company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $301.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $220.00 million. Forestar Group had a net margin of 11.44% and a return on equity of 11.48%. Equities research analysts expect that Forestar Group will post 2.29 EPS for the current year. In other news, Director G.F. (Rick) Ringler III sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.12, for a total transaction of $40,240.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 7,267 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $146,212.04. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Forestar Group A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in FOR. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its holdings in Forestar Group by 2,293.6% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 401,976 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $6,194,000 after purchasing an additional 385,182 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Forestar Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in Forestar Group by 11.5% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,366,272 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $21,257,000 after purchasing an additional 141,122 shares during the last quarter. Venator Capital Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Forestar Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $2,101,000. Finally, Man Group plc acquired a new stake in Forestar Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,113,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 35.37% of the companys stock. Forestar Group Company Profile (Get Free Report) Forestar Group Inc operates as a residential lot development company in the United States. The acquires land and develops infrastructure for single-family residential communities. It sells its residential single-family finished lots to local, regional, and national homebuilders. The company is headquartered in Arlington, Texas. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Forestar Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Forestar Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of The Scottish Investment Trust PLC (LON:SCIN Get Free Report) crossed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 895 ($11.70) and traded as low as GBX 882.07 ($11.53). The Scottish Investment Trust shares last traded at GBX 895 ($11.70), with a volume of 35,892 shares trading hands. The Scottish Investment Trust Stock Down 1.1 % The firm has a 50 day moving average of GBX 895 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 895. The firm has a market cap of 592.25 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of 1,570.18. The company has a quick ratio of 10.04, a current ratio of 10.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 13.72. About The Scottish Investment Trust (Get Free Report) The Scottish Investment Trust PLC is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm manages separate client-focused equity portfolios. It invests in public equity markets across the globe. It employs a fundamental analysis with a bottom-up stock picking approach. The Scottish Investment Trust PLC was founded in 1887 and is based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for The Scottish Investment Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Scottish Investment Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Research analysts at StockNews.com started coverage on shares of TRX Gold (NYSE:TRX Get Free Report) in a research note issued on Thursday. The brokerage set a hold rating on the stock. Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. TheStreet downgraded TRX Gold from a c- rating to a d+ rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 30th. HC Wainwright reissued a buy rating and issued a $1.10 target price on shares of TRX Gold in a report on Monday, April 17th. Get TRX Gold alerts: TRX Gold Trading Down 4.8 % Shares of NYSE:TRX opened at $0.43 on Thursday. TRX Gold has a 1 year low of $0.31 and a 1 year high of $0.60. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $0.47 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.43. The firm has a market cap of $118.43 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -42.77 and a beta of 0.87. Hedge Funds Weigh In On TRX Gold About TRX Gold Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in shares of TRX Gold by 34.8% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 655,228 shares of the companys stock valued at $316,000 after buying an additional 169,281 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new position in shares of TRX Gold during the 1st quarter worth about $32,000. Guild Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of TRX Gold by 47.3% in the 1st quarter. Guild Investment Management Inc. now owns 498,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $240,000 after purchasing an additional 160,000 shares during the period. Virtu Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of TRX Gold by 211.1% in the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 109,558 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 74,338 shares during the period. Finally, Millennium Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of TRX Gold by 493.1% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 254,416 shares of the companys stock valued at $86,000 after purchasing an additional 211,523 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 1.12% of the companys stock. (Get Free Report) TRX Gold Corporation engages in the exploration, development, and production of mineral property interests in the United Republic of Tanzania. The company primarily explores for gold deposits. It holds interests in the Buckreef gold project that comprises a single Special Mining License covering an area of 16.04 square kilometers and 12 Prospecting Licenses covering 98.19 square kilometers located in north-central Tanzania. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for TRX Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TRX Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Amanda Davila was arrested Wednesday and is being held at Somerset County Jail, prosecutors say. The owners of 276 apartments in Sydneys inner west confront the prospect of being forced to pay $50 million to repair serious building defects in the seven-year-old Vicinity complex. The three-building complex was constructed by Toplace, which recently entered administration following the suspension of its building license, after major faults were discovered in multiple apartment blocks built by the company across the city. Evidence of water seepage into Vicinity apartment basement These include the Skyview and Atmosphere towers at Castle Hill, as well as Riviera and Rise in Parramatta. Altogether, some 20,000 residents are thought to be impacted. Toplace owner Jean Nassif is the subject of an arrest warrant over fraud allegations, but he has been out of the country since December. Administrators said on Wednesday that this could be the biggest collapse in the Australian property markets history, with Toplace owing around $200 million to more than 500 creditors. These include subcontractors who have not been paid for their work and buyers who have prepaid for units in uncompleted builds. Residents of the Vicinity complex in Canterbury began action against Toplace in the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court in 2018 over structural faults. While emergency supports were installed in 2021 to prevent a collapse, NSW Fair Trading issued a Building Work Rectification Order (BWRO) earlier this month requiring Toplace to rectify slabs and support columns within 12 weeks. Fair Trading warned that the inadequacy of the load-bearing components could result in the building or part of it being destroyed. Patrick Quintal showing water-damaged foundations of Vicinity complex Vicinity apartment owner Patrick Quintal told World Socialist Web Site reporters that the collapse of Toplace means that owners of defective apartments may be liable for the full cost of complying with the rectification orders. He said: It was already flagged about six months ago by the Department of Fair Trading that Toplace was going to go into administration. The fact that we have a government that just sat there and did nothing is kind of appalling. Now we are being told to get in contact with the people who are doing the administration of Toplaces assets and were listed as an unsecured creditor, which basically means we get nothing. Quintal and other apartment owners are already paying between $4,000 and $6,000 per quarter in strata maintenance costs even before they confront the major rectification expenses. Just one of the four BWROs currently in effect, which are normally done in small batches, will cost them $150,000. We have people who have full-time jobs who are now doing Uber Eats just to pay the difference, Quintal said. The government said the best they could do is an interest free loan. What a joke. Quintal showed WSWS reporters through one of the buildings, describing the extent of the defects. The buildings basement carpark regularly pools with water, which seeps in through the foundations from the nearby Cooks River, indicating that they have not been properly waterproofed to protect from damage and decay. Reinforced temporary support columns in Vicinity apartment basement carpark Engineers have already found evidence of concrete cancerrusting of steel reinforcementin some internal columns and more are being investigated. The owners corporation has been forced to set up six massive temporary columns on three levels to reinforce the structure, which they were warned was liable to collapse. Quintal noted that the situation he and his co-owners face is not unique or limited a single developer: I try to make sure people arent really hingeing on Toplace itself, because it was the environment they were operating in. If it wasnt Toplace, it would have been someone else. That environment is one in which every aspect of planning and construction, including the safety and basic functionality of residential apartment complexes, is subordinated to the profit interests of property developers. Temporary support column at Vicinity complex A 2021 report by the University of New South Wales City Futures Research Centre found that at least one in four Sydney apartment blocks constructed between 2008 and 2017 had some sort of building defect. The figure was likely far higher, the report said, but comprehensive records were not available for all constructions. Of those for which complete data were found, 51 percent had at least one defect, 28 percent had at least three, and 12 percent had more than ten different types of fault. The research was carried out following the discovery of major structural faults at Mascot Towers and Opal Tower, which resulted in those buildings being temporarily evacuated. In an attempt to hose down public concern over those disasters, the then Liberal-National NSW state government installed David Chandler in the new role of Building Commissioner within the Department of Fair Trading. Now, the recently elected Labor government, led by Premier Chris Minns, has established the NSW Building Commission. It will also be headed by Chandler. An opinion piece by Chandler, published today in the Sydney Morning Herald, downplayed the systemic issues in the construction industry. Concerned that recent media coverage of the worst apartment developers and builders over the past 15 years has wreaked havoc on public confidence, Chandler claimed, we are seeing a steadily growing number of trustworthy developers and builders taking a firm stand to disassociate themselves from those who have left a trail of dodgy buildings behind. The basis he cited for this assertion was: Anecdotal feedback is that there are observable improvements in the quality of recently completed buildings. The reason for concern over public confidence was spelled out in the piece, with Chandler noting: The NSW government has confidently called for a substantial lift in the number of new apartment buildings to address the chronic shortage of housing. The state government is planning to override local council environmental laws for projects of over $75 million, allowing developers to add an extra 30 percent in floor space and height to projects, if they agree to allocate 15 percent of total floor area to affordable housing. These developers will also be able to access a fast-tracked planning approval pathway. Minister for Planning Paul Scully recently told a Property Council of Australia housing summit that he would look into using artificial intelligence to fast track approvals. In other words, under the pretext of addressing the housing crisis, the NSW Labor government is working to further increase the profits of wealthy developers, while reducing what little scrutiny currently exists to protect residents and owners from building defects, which are rife in the industry. Between June 29 and July 2, the 26th Sao Paulo Forum assembled in Brasilia. Under the theme Regional integration to advance sovereignty, the meeting in Brazils capital was attended by representatives of 170 bourgeois nationalist and pseudo-left parties from 28 Latin American countries. These included the ruling parties of Brazil (Workers PartyPT), Bolivia (Movement towards SocialismMAS), Cuba (Communist Party of Cuba), Mexico (National Regeneration MovementMORENA), and Venezuela (United Socialist Party of VenezuelaPSUV), along with the Chilean Communist Party and various other political formations, both in and out of government. Lula speaking at the Sao Paulo Forum [Photo: PT Brasil/Twitter] The meeting took place after many representatives associated with the Pink Tide of bourgeois nationalist governments at the beginning of the century had returned to power in recent years, such as Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (MORENA) in Mexico, Peronist Alberto Fernandez in Argentina, Luis Arce (MAS) in Bolivia, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (PT) in Brazil, along with the pseudo-leftists Gabriel Boric in Chile and Gustavo Petro in Colombia. In addition to highlighting the return to power of governments that are supposedly concerned with the agenda of the people throughout our region, PT president Gleisi Hoffmann said, the central theme [of the meeting] is the effort to integrate our countries and the construction of a multipolar and democratic world order. The Brazilian president, Lula, gave the forums opening speech. Since returning to power earlier this year, he has tried to strengthen organizations dedicated to Latin American integration that were a feature of the Pink Tide, such as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), whose paths were paved by the Sao Paulo Forum itself. According to him, the Sao Paulo Forum emerged from conversations he had with comrades from the Communist Party of Cuba and comrade Fidel Castro to unite the left in Latin America, a good part of it organized in very small parties trying to make the revolution, so that they return to dispute the existing democratic spaces in their countries. Lula highlighted the importance of the Pink Tide governments at the beginning of this century, which in addition to his own governments included those of Hugo Chavez (PSUV) in Venezuela, Evo Morales (MAS) in Bolivia and Rafael Correa in Ecuador, saying, South America ... experienced its best moment in 500 years from 2002 to 2010, ... a period of great expansion, social conquest and political participation in our continent. Their anti-imperialist rhetoric, including claims by some that they would be implementing 21st century socialism, led the Latin American and international pseudo-left to promote these governments as a new path to socialism. In his speech, Lula himself referred to the constant attacks against the Sao Paulo Forum by the likes of Brazils fascistic former president Jair Bolsonaro and other representatives of the Brazilian and international extreme right, saying, they accuse us of being communists [and socialists], thinking we were offended by it. Contrary to this rhetoric, the governments of the first wave of the Pink Tide were not socialist at all. They all defended capitalist ownership and governed on behalf of the national and international bourgeoisie, while temporarily utilizing the commodity boom driven by Chinas growth to implement limited social programs that failed to change Latin Americas status as the most unequal region on the planet. A combination of widespread corruption and attacks on workers in the wake of the 2008 crash and the end of the commodities boom discredited the Pink Tide governments, paving the way for the rights rise to power in the mid-2010s. Many of them, like the PT governments in Brazil, also not only left intact the militaries that had erected bloody dictatorships in the region, but actually strengthened them. Created in 1990, the Sao Paulo Forum claims to have inaugurated the beginning of a new period for Latin Americas nominal left amid the advance of globalization, the implementation of the neoliberal policies of the Washington Consensus and the approaching end of the Soviet Union. The previous period would have started with the Cuban Revolution of 1959 and ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Its goal was to bring together diverse bourgeois and petty bourgeois nationalist parties and renew the thought and action of the Latin American left, which can be summarized in the formula advanced by the PT at the time: neither social democracy nor communism. From the beginning, the Sao Paulo Forum has positioned itself as an opponent of American imperialism, advocating Latin American unity and integration based on sovereignty and self-determination, two old concepts of bourgeois nationalism, as the means of opposing Washingtons domination. At the same time, regional integration was considered by the Sao Paulo Forum parties as the best way to insert Latin America into the globalized capitalist world market. In fact, the target identified by the Sao Paulo Forum was not capitalism, but globalization and neoliberalism. Eliminating the need for an independent struggle of the working class, it advanced the conception that neoliberal measures could be opposed by a series of social movements in the regiontrade union, indigenous, ecological, womens, black, religious linked to liberation theology, etc.in alliance with a faction of the bourgeoisie affected by neoliberalism, the nationalist businessmen, according to the final declaration of the 1991 meeting. This alliance would be the basis of a new development model, in which the state would play a fundamental role in regulating the economy, guaranteeing the distribution of wealth and expanding direct democracy, according to the Sao Paulo Forum website. At the 1998 forum, this program was characterized as havingunder particular Latin American conditions, marked by brutal military regimes and enormous social inequalitya revolutionary and socialist character. In the Workers Party, this perspective was expressed in the 1990s with the elaboration of the so-called PT socialism. One of its main formulators was one of the founders of the party, Marco Aurelio Garcia, who was also honored at this years Sao Paulo Forum meeting. In his article Social Democracy and the PT (1990), Garcia argued, To build its project for the socialist transformation of Brazil, the PT needs to escape the Bolshevism x Social Democracy dilemma. This, in turn, would mean stating that political democracy is an end in itself. A strategic and permanent value. In another article published in 1992, The PT and the New Order, Garcia declared that the Latin American left is equally unified by its concern to fuse socialism and democracy, since economic and social democracy have a powerful anti-capitalist component in the specific conditions of Latin America. This link between democracy and socialism, which could be mediated by the state under specific conditions, completely ignores this states class character. PT socialism considers that the conquest of the State through elections can lead to a new type of regime and ultimately to socialism through the encouragement of direct democracy, the formation of popular councils, participatory budgeting and the holding of referendums. The PT hailed this process as the PT way of governing, which was also a hallmark of Chavezs Bolivarian socialism and his democratic revolution in Venezuela. Garcia was also one of the international advisors of the PT presidents Lula and Dilma Rousseff, responsible for dealing with the governments of Latin America, and he was the main formulator of the PTs active foreign policy. One of its main features is the strengthening of regional bodies in Latin America, such as UNASUR, CELAC and trade blocs such as MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), as part of the building of a multipolar world. Today, under conditions of enormous world tension marked by the Ukraine war, China and Russia, which together with Brazil, India and South Africa are part of the BRICS, also defend multipolarity as the answer to Washingtons reckless pursuit of global hegemony. Significantly, the main document of this years Sao Paulo Forum devoted an entire section to China, welcoming the 21 countries in the region that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative. Describing China as a factor of stability and balance for Latin America, the document encourages its economic and political relations particularly with CELAC, with whom China has already held several summits. Next year it will hold another. In an implicit attack on the US, the document also states that there is no conflict of interest between China and Latin America and the Caribbean, as the Peoples Republic of China has not illegally attacked or occupied any Latin American territory, has not imposed unilateral sanctions, has not promoted coups detat or imposed military dictatorships. Chinas growing ties with Latin America have been watched with concern not only by the US, but also by the European Union (EU). Despite being the second largest trading partner of Brazil and of the other main countries in the region, behind China, the EU has also lost ground to the Asian country in the last decade. Latin American and European officials at the CELAC-European Union summit [Photo: Ricardo Stuckert/Twitter] In an attempt to reverse this situation, the European Union (EU) announced earlier this week an investment of 45 billion euros in 130 projects in Latin America. This happened during the summit between CELAC and the EU, the first since 2015. Among the projects are those related to the energy transition, such as renewable energy generation, green hydrogen production and lithium mining for the production of lithium batteries for electric vehicles. The race for raw materials in Latin America that are critical for energy transition has put China and the European Union, as well as the US, on a collision course. China has lithium extraction projects in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, where the worlds largest reserves of this metal are located, in addition to Chinese companies having recently announced the construction of electric vehicles factories in Argentina and Brazil. In turn, as part of his defense of a multipolar world, Lula believes he can benefit from rising international tensions. He assessed that the CELAC-EU summit was the most successful he had participated in with the Europeans. Rarely have I seen so much political and economic interest from the countries of the European Union in Latin America, he said, possibly due to the dispute between the United States and China, possibly to Chinas investments in Africa and Latin America, possibly to the New Silk Road, possibly the war in Ukraine. Latin Americas trade relations with China and, to a lesser extent, with Russia, ensured that the summits final declaration made no condemnation of Russias invasion of Ukraine, saying only, We express deep concern over the ongoing war against Ukraine and support all diplomatic efforts aimed at a just and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter. However, any such peace was completely ruled out at the NATO meeting in Vilnius last week. As the WSWS wrote on the meetings final statement, it rules out from the outset any solution to the Ukraine war at the negotiating table, as the US and European imperialist powers do not want compromise, they want world domination. For Latin America, this means that it will not be spared from becoming a battleground in a new world war. Stopping this deadly prospect, which threatens the region and the world with nuclear annihilation, will not be possible through the unity of Latin American nationalist bourgeois and pseudo-left forces represented in the Sao Paulo Forum. Promoted for decades by Pabloite revisionism and its variant in Latin America, Morenism, as a new road to socialism, they have proven unable to carry out a struggle against imperialism and the national bourgeoisie, paving the way for bloody defeats of the working class in the region. The only viable perspective in this struggle is that defended by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI): the unity of the Latin American working class with that of the US and Canada and the rest of the globe in a revolutionary struggle against the imperialist war and for the Socialist United States of the Americas as part of the struggle for international socialism. On Wednesday, wealthy businessman Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party (MFP), was both suspended as a member of parliament in Thailand by the Constitutional Court and blocked from standing for election as prime minister. While the MFP won 151 seats in Mays election, the most of any party, the military-aligned establishment has essentially vetoed the party from forming a government. Move Forward Party supporters protest at Democracy Monument in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. [AP Photo/Wason Wanichakorn] Speaking in parliament on his suspension, Pita said he would comply with the courts decision. I believe Thailand has changed since [the elections on] May 14 and the people have already won half the battle, theres another half to go, he said. Even though Im not carrying out my duties [as MP], Im asking my fellow MPs to look after the people. Pitas suspension is a blatantly anti-democratic decision. However, it was not opposed by any MPs in the 500-seat lower house of parliament, including from within the 312-seat coalition created by the MFP after the election. That includes Pheu Thai with 141 seats. Pita has been targeted ostensibly for holding shares in a media company defunct since 2007 called iTV, which he inherited from his father. Pita claims he attempted to sell the shares but could not find a buyer. While it is illegal for an MP to hold shares in a media company, Pita stated he reported the shares to the Election Commission in 2019 and was cleared to take his seat in parliament. For the moment, Pitas suspension is temporary until the Constitutional Court rules on his case. He has 15 days to respond to the allegations. The political establishments attack on the MFP is similar to that on the partys predecessor in 2019, the Future Forward Party (FFP). At that time, Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, who led the FFP, was also suspended for owning shares in a media company, and the party was forcibly dissolved the following year. These moves contributed to mass protests calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-chas government, which seized power in a 2014 military coup, and the reform of the monarchy. After Pitas exhortations to parliament to look after the people, a vote passed 394 to 312 opposing his continued standing as a candidate for prime minister. Pita was first rejected as PM in a vote on July 13, with the military-appointed Senate nearly unanimously opposed to him. With one empty seat in the Senate, Pita needed 375 votes, or a majority of both the 749-seat combined lower and upper house. He received a total of 324 votes and only 13 from senators, while the rest abstained or voted against him. The MFP has responded, not by calling protests in defense of the democratic right to vote, but instead by caving to the military and conservative establishment. The MFP stated on Friday that it would cease attempting to form a government and yield to coalition partner Pheu Thai, which will likely put up Srettha Thavisin as its PM candidate in the next vote to be held July 27. In an Instagram post yesterday, Pita stated: The most important thing is not that I havent become Prime Minister, but setting up a government based on the will of the people who want to change the coup, stopping the inheritance of the previous government. In practice, this is an attempt to subordinate working people to the status quo, under the claim that Pheu Thai will defend democracy. Yet Pheu Thai may break with the MFP to form a government with parties that will meet the militarys approval. According to the Nation newspaper, Pheu Thai sources are discussing replacing the MFP with the conservative Bhumjaithai party (71 seats) and the previous ruling party Palalang Pracharath (40 seats) led by Prawit Wongsuwan, the outgoing deputy prime minister and one of the 2014 coup leaders. Ultimately, the ruling establishment is opposed to Pita and the MFP, not on the grounds that the party genuinely stands for democracy, but because the MFP represents sections of the bourgeoisie that have been marginalized by the traditional elites and which are now seeking to further their economic and political interests. Social and political tensions in Thailand are far sharper that in 2020 when mass demonstrations primarily of young people erupted against the anti-democratic actions of the military-backed regime. Household debt reached 16 trillion baht ($US465 billion) in the first quarter of 2023. About 58 percent of people between the ages of 25 and 29 are in debt, as are some 90 percent of rural households. In addition, economic inequality is growing with the top 1 percent taking in 21 percent of the national income, while the bottom 50 percent get only 14 percent. While campaigning for the May election, the MFP made populist pledges including raising the daily minimum wage to 450 baht ($US13), which was opposed by other sections of the bourgeoisie. Undoubtedly, there are concerns that Move Forwards reformist posturing, however insincere, may stoke working-class discontent that an MFP-led government is unable to control. Furthermore, Pita has made overtures to the United States, a formal military ally of Thailand, as Washington continually ramps up military pressure on China and other countries to fall into line with its confrontation with Beijing. China, however, is Bangkoks largest trading partner, accounting for $US107 billion in total trade in 2022, or 18 percent of Thailands trade volume. The MFP, no less than the other bourgeois parties, are desperate to prevent a resurgence of mass protests, like those in 2020 and 2021. But while those protests primarily involved students, new demonstrations could draw in workers, who in addition to declining conditions, face the growing danger of war in the region and an ongoing COVID-19 pandemic for which the ruling class has no progressive answer. Some protests have already begun in Bangkok, though at present involving only several hundred. Tellingly, the middle-class leaders of protest groups organizing the demonstrations are calling for people to put pressure on military-appointed senators while accepting a potential Pheu Thai-led government. Prominent human rights lawyer and activist Anon Nampa, for example, called on people to be witnesses to a potential Pheu Thai government so that it would not betray the people. In reality, a Pheu Thai-led government, if is finally formed, will be just as subservient to the traditional elitesthe military, monarchy and state bureaucracyas Pita and the MFP. The reason is the same: deep-rooted fear in the ruling class of a mass movement of the working class that would threaten the oppressive, anti-democratic foundations of capitalist rule in Thailand. According to an email from a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper, officers working for Governor Gregg Abbotts fascistic border security initiative have been ordered to push migrantsincluding children and nursing babiesback into the Rio Grande to force them back across the US-Mexico border. Additionally, troopers have been told to withhold water from asylum seekers, even in the oppressive summer heat. Guardsmen watch as immigrants try to cross the Rio Grande from Mexico into the U.S. near in Eagle Pass, Texas, Tuesday, July 11, 2023. [AP Photo/Eric Gay] The July 3 email, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, details several previously unreported incidents that occurred in Eagle Pass, where Abbott ordered the deployment of a 1,000 foot floating barrier with razor wire attachments. The email, which the trooper originally sent to a superior, sheds light on the cruelty migrants have been subjected to in recent weeks. In addition to floating obstacles, Texas has set traps of barrels wrapped in barbed wire in parts of the river with high water and low visibility. Consequently, the risk of drowning or injury has increased greatly since migrants are forced to attempt crossings in deeper stretches of the Rio Grande. The trooper described a tragic incident involving a mother and two children. On July 1, federal Border Patrol agents spotted a young woman with two children struggling to cross into Texas when all three went under the turbulent water for at least one minute. A DPS boat was able to rescue the mother and one of her children. They were given medical attention before being transferred to EMS but were later declared deceased at the hospital. The second child was never found. Other egregious incidents include a pregnant woman who was found caught in the wire, doubled over in pain. Once agents were able to rescue her, they discovered the woman was having a miscarriage. A four-year-old girl collapsed from heat exhaustion after she navigated through the razor wire only to be turned back by Texas National Guard soldiers. A teenage boy broke his leg trying to find his way through unruly waters and an uneven section of the river bed. He had to be carried by his father. I believe we have stepped over a line into the inhumane, the trooper said in the email. The trooper, who works as a medic, called for a series of safety improvements, including removing the wire-wrapped barrels and revoking the directive on withholding water. Travis Considine, a DPS spokesperson, said in an email that the Office of the Inspector General, which investigates claims of misconduct by state employees, is investigating the allegations made in the email in question. There is not a directive or policy that instructs Troopers to withhold water from migrants or push them back into the river, Considine added. Such statements should not be taken at face value. The state of Texas and other border states have only escalated their war against immigrants since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. These harrowing tales are a direct consequence of Abbotts Operation Lone Star initiative. Since 2021, Abbott has massively expanded his efforts to physically bar asylum seekers from entering the country. When he announced the deployment of the floating barrier at a press conference, Abbott boasted that the buoys would be able to prevent migrants from even reaching the Texas border. Col. Steve McCraw, head of the Texas Department of Safety, presented the barrier as a proactive way to stymie crossings. McCraw explained that the barriers are four feet high, equipped with weights and netting, and are designed to rotate to make them impossible to scale. Additionally, Texas DPS and the Texas National Guard installed miles of razor wire around frequented crossing points. The first 1,000 feet of the buoy barrier were installed earlier this month at a cost of $1 million. There are plans to expand the buoy system despite complaints from local citizens, federal authorities, and the Mexican government. Additionally, National Guardsmen from 11 other states will assist Texas officers at the Texas border. A pecan farmer in Eagle Pass told the Houston Chronicle that state agents refused to take down razor wire on his farmland, despite his multiple requests. Hugo Urbina, the farmer, explained that many people, including a pregnant teenager, have been injured by the wire Texas installed against his wishes. Under a 2021 disaster declaration signed by the governor, Abbott gave the state the authority to use private property without permission as part of Operation Lone Star. It must be stated that the atrocities at the border are not merely a product of Abbotts fascistic government but a conscious policy of American capitalism. Despite the protestations from the Democratic Party, the policies at the US-Mexico border bear the fingerprints of both factions of the ruling elite. Indeed, only months into the Biden presidency, Vice President Kamala Harris went on a tour throughout Latin America, telling potential asylum seekers do not come and that they were unwelcome. The Biden administration maintained Trump-era measures to block millions of asylum seekers, including using Title 42 as long as it could to block immigrants on the grounds of combating the pandemic, even as all measures enacted to counter COVID-19 were dispensed with. The Biden administrations policies have clearly emboldened Abbott and others on the far right. The criminal mistreatment of asylum seekers, whether on American soil or along the shores of the Mediterranean, are a consequence of capitalism and the nation-state system. Money and weapons for war flow freely to and fro at the behest of the capitalists, but poor workers seeking opportunities or an escape from violence are viciously deterred and repelled. The end of such inhumane acts can only be achieved through the abolition of the capitalist system. It is likely that Sundays snap national elections will bring the overtly Francoite Vox into government in Spain as junior coalition partner of its co-thinkers in the Popular Party (PP). Forty-five years ago, the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the Stalinist Communist Party of Spain (PCE) prevented a revolutionary reckoning with the Spanish bourgeoisie by the working class after the death of the dictator General Francisco Franco. The 1978 Constitution, they promised, would be the birth of a parliamentary democracy under the aegis of the European Union and NATO. VOX far right party leader Santiago Abascal delivers his speech during the closing campaign rally at the Colon square in Madrid, Spain, Friday, July 21, 2023. [AP Photo/ Manu Fernandez] Decades later, the promises of democracy have been shattered by the social and economic collapse across Europe since the global financial crisis in 2008 and the ongoing financial storms, the imposition of deep, unpopular austerity measures, and the war frenzy provoked by NATOs war on Russia in Ukraine. Most polls show that Francos political heirs, the Popular Party (PP), founded by seven Francoite ministers, and the neo-fascist Vox, led by former PP member Santiago Abascal, will win the election. The PP is well ahead of the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE), but will require the support of Vox to command a majority. Vox has stated it will only accept being part of a PP-led government and no other arrangement. The PSOE-Podemos coalition government called the election six months before scheduled after having been hammered in Mays local and regional elections and as a growing strike wave swept across Spain and Europe, involving millions of workers. Terrified by the rising social opposition, the PSOE and Podemos are deliberately handing the initiative to the right in the hopes that a far-right government will be able to successfully crush rising social opposition at home and oversee the escalation of war abroad. Vox is a party, composed of former judges, police and generals, that stands in the unbroken historical continuity of Francoism. Francos victory during the Spanish Civil War was sealed with the mass murder of 200,000 political oppositionists and left-wing workers. Over the next four decades, thousands were arrested, tortured or murdered by the secret police. Strikes, political parties and trade unions were banned and democratic rights suppressed. Newspapers and books were censored, and higher education and good healthcare were only available to the privileged. The regime only fell in the 1970s, amid mass working class strikes and protests. Vox seeks to escalate war abroad and at home by hiking military and police budgets to recentralise Spain, criminalise separatist parties, imprison striking workers and promote Spanish chauvinism, while clamping down on Basque and Catalan linguistic rights and scapegoating migrants. It opposes abortion and LGBTI rights and denies climate change. For the rich, it seeks to abolish taxes on income, wealth, capital gains and inheritance. In all essentials this programme is shared by the PP, which shies away from Voxs more extreme rhetoric only to lend a veneer of respectability to its own class war and militarist agenda. There is nothing peculiar about Voxs rise. Across Europe, a dangerous pattern has been seen time and again when a mass leftward shift has prompted the formation of broad left parties, only to see them betray and hand the initiative to the far right. In Greece, right-wing New Democracy was sworn in last month after defeating the opposition Syriza, which imposed savage austerity from 2015 to 2019 after promising to oppose it. The new parliament has now three far-right parties, in what one analyst described as the most conservative parliament since the restoration of Greeces democracy in 1974. In Italy, 78 years after fascist dictator Benito Mussolini was shot by partisans, his political heirs, the Brothers of Italy, are back in power under Giorgia Meloni for the first time since the end of World War II. In Germany, 90 years after Hitler seized power, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), teeming with racists, antisemites and militant neo-Nazis who repeatedly minimise the crimes of the Third Reich, is the second strongest party in the opinion polls, ahead of the ruling Social Democrats and behind the conservative CDU. In the East, it is the strongest party, with over 30 percent. In France, Marine Le Pens National Rally, historically tied to Petains Nazi-collaborationist Vichy regime during World War II, has been the main contender in runoff presidential elections since 2017. According to recent polls, if elections were held today, Le Pen would defeat President Emmanuel Macron. In Portugal, the neo-Salazarist Chega (Enough) grew from one seat to 12 in last years national elections. It is projected to be Portugals third political force with 13.2 percent. According to recent polls, if the ruling Socialist Party were to call snap elections, Chega could rule with the right-wing Social Democratic Party. That would mark the first time the far right entered power since the collapse of the fascist Estado Novo regime amid the 1974 Carnation Revolution. Political tendencies that should have been thrown into historical oblivion are making a comeback. How is this possible on a continent that suffered the brutal horrors of fascism? Above all, amid the largest strike wave since the 1970s across the continent, how is it possible that the chief political beneficiaries of deepening opposition across Europe and internationally to the entire capitalist elites agenda of imperialist war abroad and class war at home are the far right? The answer lies not in these political forces, which, unlike the 1930s, do not command the support of a mass movement. In each instance, it is the pseudo-leftwhether Syriza in Greece, the New Anti-Capitalist Party in France, the Left Party in Germany, the Left Bloc in Portugal or remnants of Rifondazione Comunista in Italythat has acted as the midwife of the far right. Both in opposition and in government, these forces have deepened austerity, supported imperialist war and sought to demobilise and betray workers and youth who once looked to them for leadership. They do not represent the working class, but rather the wealthy strata of the middle class, who have benefited from the upward redistribution of social wealth presided over by the financial oligarchy. Confronted with escalating class struggles, they are dropping their social pretensions and moving sharply to the right to defend their social privileges. In Spain, Podemos was founded in 2014 by Pabloite Anticapitalistas and various Stalinist professors, led by Pablo Iglesias. It emerged directly out of the Indignados M-15 anti-austerity protests in 2011-2012, which unfolded during the tumultuous events of the Arab Spring and the fall of Egypts military junta, and after a period of major strikes and struggles by the European working class following the 2008 global capitalist crisis. Drawing on the political connections between Iglesias and his Stalinist associates and the bourgeois nationalist regimes of Hugo Chavez in Venezuala and Evo Morales in Bolivia, in alliance with the Pabloite United Secretariat, Podemos set itself in opposition to the building of a revolutionary leadership of the working class. It proclaimed an end to traditional top-down leadership in a new era of broad left popular formations, promising to oppose the European Union from the left and usher in a new era of popular democracy, finally completing the unfulfilled democratic tasks of the transition to democracy after Franco. It sought constantly to dragoon the working class back behind the social democratic PSOE, the leading party of bourgeois rule since the 1980s, and the trade union apparatus. In 2018, amid mounting popular opposition to the PP and its repressive policies in Catalonia, Podemos organised a parliamentary maneuver, ousting the PP and replacing it with a minority PSOE government. The Podemos-backed PSOE government continued the PPs austerity budget, showered the army with billions of euros, attacked migrants, and continued the right wings repressive campaign against Catalan nationalism, even as its various pseudo-left satellites endorsed the divisive, pro-capitalist agenda of the separatists. 2018 also saw Vox successfully capitalizing on the whipping up of Spanish chauvinist sentiment, winning 12 parliamentary seats in the Andalusian regional election and entering a regional parliament for the first time. Two years later, in the 2019 elections, Vox rose to 15 percent of the national vote and 52 lawmakers, making it the third largest political force, overtaking Podemos. That same year, Podemos joined a PSOE-led government. For the following four years, it championed the NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, slashed pensions and wages, pursued a profits-over-lives policy in the COVID-19 pandemic, and massively hiked the military budget along with bailouts for major banks and corporations. It savagely attacked striking truck drivers and metal workers, imposed draconian minimum services on air crews, and let migrants drown at sea. While the pro-Podemos media presents the electoral collapse of the ruling parties as the result of the right-wing media, fake news and an anti-feminist patriarchal wave, the truth is that after four years of the PSOE-Podemos government, workers have lost 8 percent of their purchasing power, mortgages and rents have risen by 50 percent, and large Spanish corporations are reaping record profits. As Podemos lawmaker and then-Secretary of State Enrique Santiago, who was at the time and still is the general secretary of the Communist Party of Spain, boasted: [I]n the history of Spain there has not been such a large transfer of resources from the state to private companies as the one carried out by this government. The role of Podemos, now rebranded as Sumar, in the electoral platform of 15 parties for tomorrows elections marks another bitter experience of the working class with the broad left parties created and championed by the pseudo-left groups and Stalinists. Workers have been completely disenfranchised. Who can they vote for to oppose Spains participation in NATOs war against Russia in Ukraine, which threatens to escalate into a nuclear war? Or the 140 billion-euro bailout fund for the banks and corporations paid for through savage austerity? Or to seek a political reckoning for the prioritization of profits over lives during the COVID-19 pandemic that led to 160,000 deaths in Spain and 12 million infections? Sumar has made clear that it supports NATOs war against Russia and wants to continue sending hundreds of millions of euros in weaponry. It has promised Brussels 24 billion euros in cuts and tax hikes in 2024 to pay for the bailouts. It is led by Acting Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz, who imposed labour reforms that have expanded low salaries, and who played a key role in reopening non-essential workplaces during the pandemic, leading to mass death. On each burning issue facing workers, Sumar has the same basic position as Vox. Workers and youth must draw the necessary political conclusions. The return of the Francoites vindicates the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals insistence that the struggle against austerity, authoritarianism, fascism and war requires the struggle against their cause, capitalism, and against all parties defending this bankrupt system. This requires the building of sections of the ICFI in Spain and internationally as the Trotskyist alternative, leading the struggle for socialism. Duvan Tomas Perez [Photo: Duvan Tomas Perez.] Sixteen-year-old middle school student Duvan Robert Tomas Perez, an immigrant from Guatemala, was killed on the evening of July 14 when his body became trapped on a conveyor belt he was cleaning inside a poultry plant in Mississippi. The company told CNN that an employee conducting sanitation operations at Mar-Jac Poultry MS LLCs Hattiesburg, Mississippi poultry processing plant died as a result of injuries sustained in an accident. Perezs uncle told Telemundo, His whole body was pulled in where he couldnt stop himself. The horrific workplace death is another dramatic consequence of the reversals to child labor laws that have picked up steam in the recent period. Moreover, it is another bleak illustration of the dangerous working conditions workers of all national backgrounds and in all industries are forced to endure on a daily basis in the wealthiest country in the world. Gainesville, Georgia-based Mar-Jac Poultry, whose fully integrated poultry production processes 2,000,000 birds per week, according to its website, has been cited on numerous occasions since 2020 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for safety violations. Perez is one of three workers to be killed at the Hattiesburg plant in less than three years. Joel Velasco Toto, 33, died in the hospital in December 2020 after sustaining abdominal and pelvic trauma caused by a compressed air injury while working in the battery charging room in the plant, according to AP News. In May 2021, 28-year-old Bobby Butler was killed when his shirt was caught by a machine and was pinned under it while working late at night in the plant. The company feigned shock when learning that Perez was a minor, blaming his employment on the staffing agency it uses to fill positions at its plants. In reality, this is increasingly common. The incident follows the revelation earlier in the year of the employment by Wisconsin-based Packers Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), a cleaning subcontractor for major food processors, of over 100 children between the ages of 13 and 17 years old at 13 different meatpacking plants throughout the US. Jordan Barab, former deputy assistant secretary of labor at OSHA from 2009 to 2017, told the HuffPost, You have some employers who are basically going after the most vulnerable workers, the workers with the least ability to fight back or question anything. Who could be more vulnerable than (A) children and (B) immigrant children? Commenting in an interview on the underlying causes impelling countless unaccompanied migrant children into these situations, Elora Mukherjee, director of the Immigrants Rights Clinic at Columbia Law School, stated the following: Some of the fault certainly lies with the federal government. The fault also lies with the push-and-pull factors that lead children to migrate to the United States. Many of the countries where child migrants are coming from are effectively failed states. The governments cannot provide basic security to children and to large swaths of the population. And the children who are being sent north to the United States feel a tremendous responsibility to try to put food on the table for their parents or siblings. Often, unfortunately, they need to pay back smugglers as well. So the children are facing enormous pressures. They need money. In the same interview, Columbia law Professor Kate Andrias said: Child labor laws have always allowed children to do some work. If youre 14, if youre 16, you can babysit, you can work in a retail job a few hours on the weekends. The idea behind child labor laws is to make sure that the kind of work that children engage in is a supplement to their education. What we have going on right now is much more than that. Its children working as roofers. Its children working on farms. Its children working in dangerous factories with toxic chemicals. Its children working very long hours. Its a particular problem for migrant children and undocumented children, but its not limited to those children. Two more 16-year-olds, both high school sophomores, also died on the job last month. Will Hampton died while working at Lees Summit Resource Recovery Park landfill in Missouri after he became pinned between a tractor-trailer rig and its trailer. Michael Schuls died by traumatic asphyxiation after getting trapped on a conveyor belt while working unsupervised at the Florence Hardwoods sawmill in Wisconsin. The federal Department of Labor (DOL), in an incredible admission of how little oversight exists over child labor legislation and prohibitions, stated in its Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for Nonagricultural Occupations that It is an unfortunate fact that children do get injured, even killed, in the workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that 160,000 American children suffer occupational injuries every yearand 54,800 of these injuries are serious enough to warrant emergency room treatment. These injuries take place alongside the routinely high number of workplace deaths throughout the US industrial slaughterhouse machine. In another self-indictment, this time of the trade union bureaucracy, the AFL-CIOs Death on the Job reported that in 2021: 5,190 workers were killed on the job in the United States 343 workers died each day from hazardous working conditions An estimated 120,000 workers died from occupational diseases The job fatality rate increased to 3.6 per 100,000 workers Employers reported nearly 3.2 million work-related injuries and illnesses The number of children who died on the job in 202124 were younger than 18 years old, and 350 were younger than 25 years old Underreporting is widespreadThe true toll of work-related injuries and illnesses is 5.4 million to 8.1 million each year in private industry The true impact of COVID-19 infections due to workplace exposures is unknown. The report further added, Workplace violence, musculoskeletal disorders from repetitive motion injuries and occupational heat illness continue to be major problems, but data no longer is reported annually to track and understand these important issues. Be it in the meatpacking industry, at auto parts suppliers or fast food restaurants, multibillion-dollar corporations have routinely been issued paltry financial slaps-on-the-wrist, usually in the tens of thousands of dollars, for either violating child labor laws or fatal safety violations. Were now seeing recurring patterns in the economy that existed earlier in our history, Andrias said. The data suggests that there has been a resurgence in child labor in recent years. In 2022, the Department of Labor (DOL) documented an increase of 37% over 2021 in the number of minors employed illegally. That was an increase of 283% from 2015. Its possible the DOL is catching more violations. But most people think its actually an increasing problem. One of the main drivers of this increase has been the spread of state legislation steadily clawing back restrictions on child labor. Ten states have introduced bills directed towards this effort over the past two years. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reported in March on bills that have been enacted in Arkansas (HB 1410 Eliminates age verification and parent/guardian permission requirements), Iowa (HF 2198 Lowers minimum age of child care workers; increased staff-to-child ratios), New Hampshire (SB 345 Lowers age to bus tables where alcohol is served; extends work hours) and New Jersey (A4222 Extends work hours; increases time before break). The EPI report explained: Across the country, the primary proponents of these laws are business groups and their state affiliates, particularly the National Federation of Independent Business, the Chamber of Commerce, and the National Restaurant Association (Lazare 2022). Hotel, lodging, and tourism associations, grocery industry associations, home builders, and Americans for Prosperitya billionaire-funded right-wing dark money grouphave also supported bills in various states. Andrias said, Theres a concerted effort on the part of businesses to change the laws to make it easier to exploit labor. Whats really driving this is a desire of corporations to pay less for labor. If pay were higher and conditions were better, there would likely be enough adults willing and available to do the work. The problem is that companies would like to make more profits, pay workers less, and they are able to do that if they exploit migrant children or other children who dont have alternatives. A major article by journalist Alex W. Palmer, published in the New York Times last weekend, has revealed the extent of the high-tech war being conducted by the US against China. It has also exposed the lies of the Biden administration surrounding it. President Joe Biden attends an event to support legislation that would encourage domestic manufacturing and strengthen supply chains for computer chips in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus, March 9, 2022, in Washington. [AP Photo/Patrick Semansky] Last October, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), which operates within the Department of Commerce, issued a document setting out a series of controls on the export of computer chips. The article began by noting that underneath its 139 pages of bureaucratic jargon and technical detail it amounted to a declaration of economic war on China. The war is now about to be intensified as it is expected that the US will shortly announce investment screening mechanisms designed to cut the amount of US money invested in Chinese high-tech areas as well as updating export controls to close loopholes that have emerged since the October announcement. The official justification for the export controls is that they are aimed at curbing Chinese military development. On her recent visit to China, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen claimed they were narrowly targeted and not aimed at the broader economy. This fiction is exposed at the beginning of the article in a key paragraph that reads: With the Oct.7 export controls, the United States government announced its intention to cripple Chinas ability to produce, or even purchase, the highest-end chips. The logic of the measure was straightforward: Advanced chips, and the supercomputers and AI they power, enable the production of new weapons and surveillance apparatuses. In their reach and meaning, however, the measures could hardly have been more sweeping, taking aim at a target far broader than the Chinese security state. The key here is to understand that the US wanted to impact Chinas AI industry, says Gregory C. Allen, director of the Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The semiconductor stuff is the means to that end. Palmer wrote that the October controls essentially seek to eradicate, root and branch, Chinas entire ecosystem of advanced technology. According to Allen the controls were not only aimed at preventing further advance, we are going to actively reverse their current state of the art. Another indication of the extent of the US measures was expressed in remarks by C. J. Muse, a senior semiconductor analyst at Evercore ISO. If you told me about these rules five years ago, I wouldve told you thats an act of warwed have to be at war. Information provided in the article reveals that the semiconductor chip development is characterised by two powerful and interconnected developments: the enormous speed of technological advance and the globally integrated character of chip design and manufacture. Semiconductor chips are tiny pieces of silicon on which are carved massive arrays of electrical circuits that are switched on and off by transistors. Invented in the 1950s, transistors made their initial public appearance in so-called transistor radios which did not require the old valve technology. The initial chips only held a handful of transistors. Today the primary semiconductor in a new smartphone has between 10 and 20 billion transistors, each about the size of a virus, carved like a layer cake into the structure of the silicon. Palmer detailed some of the unprecedented technological advances by citing the case of the Dutch firm ASML which, as a result of research and development begun in 1997, produced the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machine which is used to print the layers on a chip. The newest version of the machine can craft structures as small as 10 nanometers; a human red blood cell, by comparison, is about 7,000 nanometers across. It used a laser to create a plasma 40 times hotter than the surface of the sun, which emits extreme ultraviolet lightinvisible to the human eyethat is refracted onto a silicon chip by a series of mirrors. Chip production, carried out in what is known as fabs, is the most complex manufacturing ever accomplished and has only been made possible by the development by a highly developed international division of labour. The wider chip industry, the article explained, is a web of mutual interdependence, spread all over the planet in highly specialised regions and companies, its feats made possible by supply chains of exceptional length and complexitya poster child, in other words of globalisation. As Chris Miller, the author of a book entitled Chip War, told Palmer: Its hard to imagine how the capabilities theyve reached would be possible without access to the smartest minds in the world all working together. However, this very development, making possible human advancement on a previously unimaginable scale, threatens the dominance of US imperialism over the global economya situation it is determined to try to reverse by all means necessary, including through military war as the outcome of the high-tech war it is already waging. The global character of high-tech production means it cannot enforce its dominance by measures enacted by the US alone. In the wake of the October decisions, it was soon recognised that, while the US controlled vital choke points of the process, other countries, including the Netherlands and Japan, as well as Taiwan, controlled other areas and had they continued to sell to China US bans would have been rendered nearly useless. Hence the move by the Biden administration in January to ensure that Japan and the Netherlands imposed similar controls to those enacted by the US. The logic of this move is clear. It signifies that to enforce its dictates against China, the US must become the international policeman of high-tech development. Within the global process Taiwan and its Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company play a pivotal role as the largest chip manufacturer, particularly the most advanced. This underscores why Taiwan has become so central to the increasing US-China tensions, as the US increasingly moves in the direction of recognising Taiwan as a separate country and not part of China. As the article noted: If the islands fabs were to be captured by China, or knocked offline during an invasion, the costs to the global economy would be catastrophic. Some US war-gamers have suggested that if China did invade the US should destroy TSMCs fabs to stop then from falling under Chinas control. The tech war started under the Trump administration when it imposed chip bans against the Chinese technology giant Huawei in 2019. They had a devastating impact. In 2020 Huawei was the largest smartphone seller in the world, as well as supplying crucial components for telecommunications systems. In smartphones it had 18 percent of the market share, beating both Apple and Samsung. Its revenues plunged by nearly a third in 2021 and by 2022 its market share had dropped to just 2 percent. The experience with Huawei opened the prospect for the advancement of the war in 2020 when the Trump administration made Huawei subject to an export-control law, the foreign direct product rule, which the article described as a sweeping assertion of extraterritorial power. This meant that if a product contained American technology or software, even if it were made outside the US and never entered the country and contained no US-made components in its final form, it could still be considered an American good. According to Kevin Wolf, a former official at the BIS: That rule subjected all semiconductors on the planet to American law, because every foundry on the planet uses US tools at least in part. If you have one US tool and 100 non-American tools in your fab, that taints any wafer moving across the line. What began with Huawei has been extended under the Biden administration. In the words of Gregory Allen at the CSIS think tank: The Trump administration went after companies. The Biden administration is going after industries. In fact, it could be said it is going after the whole Chinese economy. Its dependence on chips is highlighted by the fact that in April China spent more on computer chip imports than it did on oil. Remarks by Emily Kilcrease, a former US trade official, now at the Center for a New American Security, cited in the NYT article, make clear that the whole Chinese economy is the target. We said that there are key tech areas that China should not advance in. And those happen to be the areas that will power future economic growth and development, she said. Given the integrated global character of chip production and that it is impossible for the US to bring all its operations within its borders, its tech war will run into major difficulties. That does not mean, however, there will be any let-up. On the contrary, as the actions of the Biden administration against Japan and the Netherlands reveal, it will double down, extending its bans and restrictions to the entire globe, against friend and foe alike. The escalation of the tech-warthe Commerce Department is preparing new controls to restrict companies such as Nvidia to sell AI-related semiconductors to Chinahas brought warnings of retaliation by China. Earlier this week, Chinas ambassador to the US, Xie Feng, warned that China would have to retaliate against the US measures. The Chinese government cannot sit idly by, he said. We will not make provocations, but we will not flinch from provocations. So, China definitely will make our response. That will not lead to any backdown by the US but rather to an acceleration of the transformation of the tech war into a military conflict. This real and present dangera war between two nuclear-armed powersraises decisive political issues before the international working class. The enormous development of computer chip technologythe result of the collaboration of scientists, engineers, and workers all over the worldis a vast expansion of the productive forces, making possible the ending for all time of hunger, misery and poverty and an unprecedented advance in the living conditions of the worlds people. Within the framework of capitalism, it gives rise to madness. This madness is not rooted in the psyche of capitalist politicians but in the social relations of the profit system and the contradiction between global economy and the division of the world into rival and conflicting nation-states. Almost 150 years ago Karl Marx explained that socialist revolution arose when the productive forces, created by human labour came into conflict with the social relations within which they had developed. That contradiction, which was the driving force of the wars and revolutions of the past 100 years and more, has reached a new peak of intensity. The fight for the perspective of world socialist revolution, advanced today only by the world Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International, is not some distant or utopian ideal but an immediate objective necessity as the only way to prevent the relapse into barbarism and opening up a new road for humanity out of the destructive grip of the capitalist system. On Friday, US District Judge Aileen M. Cannon scheduled the federal criminal trial against Donald Trump for illegally taking and withholding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago mansion to begin on May 20, 2024. Judge Cannon said the trial would be held in her southern Florida court. The setting of the trial dateone among many criminal and civil trials facing the former president and current Republican presidential candidatetakes place in the midst of an escalating war against Russia and a growing wave of strikes and protests by workers in the US and internationally. It highlights the unprecedented crisis and breakdown of the US political system. Former President Donald Trump speaks with supporters at the Westside Conservative Breakfast, June 1, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. [AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall] It is not clear how the 2024 elections will be carried outfollowing the near collapse of the last presidential electionunder conditions of an explosive conflict within the ruling elite and the state. If the Mar-a-Lago case goes ahead as scheduled, Trump will be in court during the final days of the presidential primary elections, by which time the Democratic and Republican candidates will have likely been determined. The criminal indictment of a former president is unprecedented, let alone the prospect of a convicted felon heading the ticket of one of the two established big business parties and possibly being elected. The long-festering political crisis in the United States has become a crisis of class rule. At a hearing earlier this week, lawyers for Trump argued for delaying the trial until after the 2024 elections on the grounds that it would otherwise interfere with the presidential campaign of the ex-president, who is the leading contender for the Republican nomination. Lawyers for Special Counsel Jack Smith, who is heading up investigations into Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 election and his theft of state secrets, had argued for beginning the trial this December. Judge Cannon labeled the trial complex, involving many thousands of pages of evidence, including classified documents. She could still agree to further delays in the course of pre-trial proceedings. Appointed to the bench by Trump in 2020, Cannon last year ruled in favor of a motion by Trumps lawyers to allow an outside review of all documents seized from Mar-a-Lago by the FBI. An appeals court unanimously overturned her ruling. A spokesman for Trump touted Cannons decision as a major setback to the DOJs (Department of Justices) crusade to deny President Trump a fair legal process. Neither Smiths office nor the Biden administration, which is maintaining total silence on the legal proceedings against Trump, issued a statement. Smiths office has yet to announce an expected indictment of Trump on the core issue of his role in the conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election and the US Constitution and retain power as de facto dictator, which culminated in the violent attack on the US Capitol by a fascist mob summoned by Trump on January 6, 2021. On Tuesday, Trump announced that his lawyers had received a target letter from Smith on Sunday, informing them that Trump could face charges for violating three criminal statutes, including conspiracy to defraud the government and obstruction of an official proceeding. The letter cited a third statute, enacted after the Civil War to protect former slaves from retaliation by the Ku Klux Klan, making it a crime to conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States. The letter gave Trump until Thursday, July 20, to voluntarily appear before a grand jury in Washington D.C. that is taking evidence on the attempted coup. As expected, Trump failed to appear. A criminal indictment is widely expected and could be handed down by the grand jury at any time. Such prosecution of the fascist ex-President Trump is entirely warranted and, indeed, long overdue. The fact that the Biden administration chose first to indict Trump for stealing and refusing to return top secret documents containing US war plans against targeted countries, including the potential use of nuclear weapons, while for months slow-walking and even blocking a criminal investigation of Trump and his co-conspirators on the plot to overturn the election, underscores the warning issued by the WSWS that workers cannot rely on the capitalist courts or the Democratic Party to defeat fascism and defend democratic rights. Indeed, following the events of January 6, Biden rushed to rescue the Republican Party, declaring his support for a strong GOP and calling for bipartisan unity with his Republican colleagues. The Democrats opposition to Trump has from the outset focused on foreign policyabove all, the prosecution of war against Russia to remove it as an impediment to settling accounts with China. Biden has sought to maintain a relationship with the Republicans so as to carry through the war. Even were Trump to be convicted and jailed, that would not remove the danger of fascism. Trumps coup was backed by significant sections of the political and corporate establishment, including a large majority of Republican lawmakers, many billionaire corporate heads, entire media outlets such as Fox, and key elements within the military and intelligence apparatus, including Trumps acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller and former National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynn. It is a product of the staggering growth of social inequality, the disintegration of the traditional middle class and the massive economic decay and decline of American capitalism. There is no democratic side in the Mar-a-Lago documents case. Trump is a billionaire parasite and imperialist politician who brought the US to the brink of war with Iran during his presidency. The Biden administration is prosecuting him in the documents case for jeopardizing the sanctity of state secrets, i.e., war plans and plots against foreign powers and people, including the use of nuclear weapons, which are never to be revealed to the American people. It is basing its case on the 1917 Espionage Act, which has been used against socialists and opponents of imperialist war from Eugene Debs to the leaders of the American Trotskyist movement, and more recently to persecute and jail Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and others who courageously exposed the war crimes of the US government. A central consideration in the move finally to prosecute Trump for his attempted coup is the determination of the faction of the ruling class and the military/intelligence apparatus represented by the Democrats to marginalize him politically, not because of his fascist politics, but because he has not fully lined up behind Washingtons drive to dramatically escalate the war against Russia. Indeed, in his campaign speeches Trump continues to tout his good relations with Putin and boasts that if elected, he will end the war in Ukraine within 48 hoursanother of his many lies. Trump relies on the militarist policies of Biden and the Democrats and their attempt to make the working class pay for the war against Russia and coming war with China through the gutting of social programs, to portray himself as the victim of a deep state conspiracy, which he denounces as communism. Of course, his program is to impose even more directly and brutally the dictatorship of capital over the working class. In addition to his criminal indictment in the documents case, Trump has been criminally indicted on state charges in New York in connection with his payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 elections. He is scheduled to appear in court in Manhattan in that case on March 25, 2024. This October a civil fraud trial against him begins in New York, followed by a civil defamation trial brought by writer E. Jean Carroll, who previously prevailed in a civil trial charging Trump with rape. Trump also faces the likelihood of criminal charges by Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis in connection with his attempt to overturn Bidens 2020 victory in that state. This includes Trumps notorious call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger, in which he asked Raffensberger to find 11,780 votes he needed to reverse his loss. The Guardian newspaper reported Thursday that Willis was preparing to indict Trump later this month or in early August under the states racketeering statute. A special grand jury in Atlanta that sat for 11 months and heard evidence recommended charges against more than a dozen people, including the former president. Willis empaneled a regular grand jury on July 11 to review the evidence and issue an indictment. Back-to-back executions of inmates on death row by means of lethal injection were allowed to go forward in Oklahoma on Thursday and Alabama on Friday after last-minute stays were rejected by the courts. Jemaine Cannon, 51, was given a lethal injection at 10:01 a.m. and pronounced dead 12 minutes later at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. A federal appeals court denied Cannons appeal seeking a stay of execution before he was administered the sedative midazolam, followed by paralytic vecuronium bromide and then potassium chloride, which stops the heart. Jemaine Cannon [AP Photo/Oklahoma Department of Corrections] Cannon was convicted of killing 20-year-old and mother of two Sharonda Clark by stabbing her to death with a butcher knife in 1995. He was living with Clark in Tulsa after he escaped weeks earlier from a prison work center in southwest Oklahoma. He was serving a 15-year sentence for a brutal assault on another woman that included raping her and beating her with a claw hammer and an iron and kitchen toaster. The Associated Press reported Thursday afternoon that Cannon had sought to present his actions as self-defense in a clemency hearing before the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on June 7. His attorney, Mark Henricksen, told the panel that Cannons trial and appellate attorneys were ineffective for not presenting evidence to support that claim. Meanwhile, Cannons trial attorneys presented no witnesses or exhibits and rested after prosecutors presented their case. The attorney said the execution of Cannon amounted to historic barbarism by the state of Oklahoma. Henricksen went on to say, Mr. Cannon has endured abuse and neglect for fifty years by those charged with his care. He sits in his cell a model prisoner. He is nearly deaf, blind and nearing death by natural causes. The decision to proceed with this particular execution is obscene. Prosecutors from the state attorney generals office urged the state to go forward with Cannons execution and the board rejected clemency on a 32 vote. The Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (OK-CADP) issued a statement saying, Jemaine Cannon was physically abused by his mother and stepfather over his entire childhood. He suffers from Complex Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. Cannon told a police investigator that he just snapped. The district attorneys are unable to recognize the vulnerability of the men that come before them. For the State to kill him is not justice, it is cruelty. The execution of Canon was the second in Oklahoma this year and the ninth since lethal injections were resumed in the state in 2021. Oklahoma halted lethal injections when authorities realized in September 2015 hours before the scheduled execution of Richard Glossip that they received the wrong drug from a supplier. It was then discovered that this wrong drug had been used in the execution of Charles Frederick Warner on January 15, 2015. Another botched execution took place in Oklahoma on April 29, 2014, when Clayton Lockett, 38, was declared unconscious ten minutes after the first of the three-drug lethal injection combination was given to him. However, three minutes later he began breathing heavily, writhing, clenching his teeth and straining to lift his head off the pillow. Lockett struggled on the gurney for 43 minutes before he died. In Alabama, James Barber, 64, was pronounced dead at 1:56 a.m. on Friday at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, according to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. Barber was executed after the US Supreme Court denied his request for a stay that included a claim that lethal injection could result in cruel and unusual punishment. James Barber [AP Photo/Alabama Department of Corrections] Barber was sentenced to death for the 2001 murder of 75-year-old Dorothy Epps with a hammer while addicted to numerous substances. Sarah Gregory, the granddaughter of Epps, has spoken of how she came to forgive Barber and forge a friendship with him. She said other members of her family did not feel the same way. Giving his last words, Barber said, I want to tell the Epps family I love them. Im sorry for what happened. No words would fit how I feel. Barber also said he wanted to tell Republican Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, and the people in this room that I forgive you for what you are about to do. In 2022, Alabama botched three executions by lethal injection, two of which had to be abandoned. In the case of Joe Nathan James Jr, who was executed on July 28 last year, the death row inmate suffered for three hours before he died. After an internal review, Alabama officials said the state was ready to resume executions. According to court filings, the review changed only death chamber personnel and the amount of time given for killing an inmate. In its denial of the stay request, the Supreme Court majority did not comment. In a dissent that was signed by Justices Sotomayor and Kagan, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that the court was allowing Alabama to experiment again with a human life. Jackson said the Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment and demands more than the states word that this time will be different. The court should not allow Alabama to test the efficacy of its internal review by using Barber as its guinea pig. Before Barber was put to death, the international human rights group Reprieve issued a statement which explained, Theres no humane method of execution. Executions arent workingand its torture The state shouldnt be resuming executions, it should be ending them once and for all. Sheryl Crow has shared her thoughts on Jason Aldeans controversial song, Try That in a Small Town. Aldeans single, which was released in May, stirred new controversy when the music video debuted on July 14. The lyrics and visual references in the video, critics say, are evocative of vigilantism and racism, which Aldean has disputed. Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day theyre gonna round up / Well, that s might fly in the city, good luck/Try that in a small town, Aldean sings in the song. Crow reacted in a tweet on Tuesday. @Jason_Aldean Im from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence, she wrote. .@Jason_Aldean Im from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.Theres nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small town-like. Its just lame https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) July 19, 2023 Crow grew up from Kennett, Missouri, which has a current population of roughly 10,200. Aldean was born in Macon, Georgia, which has a population of about 156,000. Theres nothing small-town or American about promoting violence, Crow added. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small town-like. Its just lame. Aldean was performing at the Route 91 Music Harvest Festival in Las Vegas in 2017 when a gunman killed 58 people and injured hundreds more, the deadliest mass shooting in American history. Crow is a longtime advocate for gun safety. In March, she performed at a vigil in Nashville following a school shooting in which three staff members and three students were killed. She is also among several artists who lobbied the Tennessee legislature for gun reform following the shooting. Aldean, who now lives in Nashville, referenced both mass shootings in a tweet on Tuesday. In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023 As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91-where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart, Aldean wrote. Try That in a Small Town, produced by longtime Aldean collaborator Michael Knox, was written by Kurt Allison, Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher and Tully Kennedy. Aldean shared his interpretation of the songs lyrics in his tweet. Try That In A Small Town, for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief, Aldean wrote. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences. My political views have never been something Ive hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this Country dont agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to- thats what this song is about. Top country song from the year you graduated high school Top country song from the year you graduated high school 1948 (tie): 'I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)' by Eddy Arnold and His Tennessee Plowboys, "Bouquet of Roses" by Eddy Arnold and his Tennessee Plowboys 1949: 'Lovesick Blues' by Hank Williams with His Drifting Cowboys 1950: 'I'm Movin' On' by Hank Snow 1951: 'Shotgun Boogie' by Tennessee Ernie Ford 1952: 'The Wild Side of Life' by Hank Thompson 1953: 'Kaw-Liga' by Hank Williams 1954: 'I Don't Hurt Anymore' by Hank Snow 1955: 'In The Jailhouse Now' by Webb Pierce 1956: 'Heartbreak Hotel' by Elvis Presley 1957: 'Gone' by Ferlin Husky 1958 (tie): 'Ballad Of A Teenage Queen' by Johnny Cash, 'Guess Things Happen That Way' by Johnny Cash 1959 (tie): 'The Battle of New Orleans' by Johnny Horton, 'The Three Bells' by The Browns 1960 (tie): 'He'll Have to Go' by Jim Reeves, 'Please Help Me, I'm Falling' by Hank Locklin 1961: 'Don't Worry' by Marty Robbins 1962 (tie): 'Walk On By' by Leroy Van Dyke, 'Wolverton Mountain' by Claude King 1963: 'Love's Gonna Live Here' by Buck Owens 1964: 'I Guess I'm Crazy' by Jim Reeves 1965: 'Before You Go' by Buck Owens 1966: 'Almost Persuaded' by David Houston 1967 (tie): 'There Goes My Everything' by Jack Greene, 'All The Time' by Jack Greene, 'It's The Little Things' by Sonny James 1968: 'Skip A Rope' by Henson Cargill 1969: 'Daddy Sang Bass' by Johnny Cash 1970 (tie): 'Baby Baby (I Know You're a Lady)' by David Houston, 'It's Just a Matter of Time' by Sonny James, 'Hello Darlin'' by Conway Twitty, 'Don't Keep Me Hangin' On' by Sonny James 1971: 'When You're Hot, You're Hot' by Jerry Reed 1972: 'My Hang-Up Is You' by Freddie Hart 1973 (tie): 'You've Never Been This Far Before' by Conway Twitty, 'The Most Beautiful Girl' by Charlie Rich 1974: 'A Very Special Love Song' by Charlie Rich 1975 (tie): 'Before the Next Teardrop Falls' by Freddy Fender, 'Rhinestone Cowboy' by Glen Campbell, 'Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain' by Willie Nelson, 'Always Wanting You' by Merle Haggard, 'Touch the Hand' by Conway Twitty, and three more 1976: 'Convoy' by C. W. McCall 1977: 'Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)' by Waylon Jennings 1978: 'Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys' by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson 1979 (tie): 'Every Which Way but Loose' by Eddie Rabbitt, 'I Just Fall in Love Again" by Anne Murray, 'If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me' by The Bellamy Brothers, 'Amanda' by Waylon Jennings, and two more 1980 (tie): 'Coward of the County' by Kenny Rogers, 'My Heart / Silent Night (After the Fight)' by Ronnie Milsap, 'Lookin' for Love' by Johnny Lee 1981 (tie): 'I Don't Need You' by Kenny Rogers, '(There's) No Gettin' Over Me' by Ronnie Milsap, 'Never Been So Loved (In All My Life)' by Charley Pride 1982 (tie): 'Always on My Mind' by Willie Nelson, 'Just to Satisfy You' by Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, 'Slow Hand' by Conway Twitty, 'She Got the Goldmine (I Got the Shaft)' by Jerry Reed 1983 (tie): 'Islands in the Stream' by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton, 'Houston (Means I'm One Day Closer to You)' by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers 1984 (tie): 'To All the Girls I've Loved Before' by Julio Iglesias and Willie Nelson, 'Why Not Me' by The Judds 1985: 'Lost in the Fifties Tonight (In the Still of the Night)' by Ronnie Milsap 1986 (tie): 'Whoever's in New England' by Reba McEntire, 'Have Mercy' by The Judds, 'Desperado Love' by Conway Twitty, and two more 1987: 'Forever and Ever, Amen' by Randy Travis 1988 (tie): 'Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses' by Kathy Mattea, 'I Told You So' by Randy Travis, 'I'll Leave This World Loving You' by Ricky Van Shelton, 'When You Say Nothing at All' by Keith Whitley 1989 (tie): 'I'm No Stranger to the Rain' by Keith Whitley, 'The Church on Cumberland Road' by Shenandoah 1990: 'Love Without End, Amen' by George Strait 1991 (tie): 'Down Home' by Alabama, 'Don't Rock the Jukebox' by Alan Jackson, 'You Know Me Better Than That' by George Strait 1992: 'Achy Breaky Heart' by Billy Ray Cyrus 1993: 'Chattahoochee' by Alan Jackson 1994 (tie): 'Wild One' by Faith Hill, 'I Swear' by John Michael Montgomery, 'Wink' by Neal McCoy 1995: 'I Like It, I Love It' by Tim McGraw 1996 (tie): 'It Matters to Me' by Faith Hill, 'No News' by Lonestar, 'Time Marches On' by Tracy Lawrence, 'My Maria' by Brooks and Dunn, 'Carried Away' by George Strait, and two more 1997: 'It's Your Love' by Tim McGraw and Faith Hill 1998: 'Just to See You Smile' by Tim McGraw 1999: 'Amazed' by Lonestar 2000 (tie): 'Breathe' by Faith Hill, 'How Do You Like Me Now?!' by Toby Keith, 'I Hope You Dance' by Lee Ann Womack and Sons of the Desert 2001 (tie): 'Ain't Nothing 'bout You' by Brooks and Dunn, 'I'm Already There' by Lonestar 2002: 'The Good Stuff' by Kenny Chesney 2003 (tie): 'Have You Forgotten?' by Darryl Worley, 'It's Five O'Clock Somewhere' by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett 2004 (tie): 'There Goes My Life' by Kenny Chesney, 'When the Sun Goes Down' by Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker, 'Redneck Woman' by Gretchen Wilson 2005 (tie): 'As Good as I Once Was' by Toby Keith, 'Better Life' by Keith Urban 2006: 'Jesus, Take the Wheel' by Carrie Underwood 2007: 'Never Wanted Nothing More' by Kenny Chesney 2008 (tie): 'Our Song' by Taylor Swift, 'Letter to Me' by Brad Paisley 2009: 'Need You Now' by Lady A 2010 (tie): 'Consider Me Gone' by Reba McEntire, 'Why Don't We Just Dance' by Josh Turner, 'The House That Built Me' by Miranda Lambert 2011: 'Honey Bee' by Blake Shelton 2012: 'We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together' by Taylor Swift 2013: 'Cruise' by Florida Georgia Line 2014: 'Burnin' It Down' by Jason Aldean 2015: 'Girl Crush' by Little Big Town 2016: 'H.O.L.Y.' by Florida Georgia Line 2017: 'Body Like a Back Road' by Sam Hunt 2018: 'Meant to Be' by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line 2019: 'Whiskey Glasses' by Morgan Wallen 2020: 'The Bones' by Maren Morris 2021: 'Fancy Like' by Walker Hayes This year's North Iowa Fair runs through Sunday, and board president Paul Gagnon took the time during the opening ceremony Wednesday to thank and honor the Nesbit family for their contributions to the success of the Open Class Exhibits. For the last 11 or so years, mother Cheryl and sisters Amy and Heidi have managed the open-class exhibits in the Olsen Building at the North Iowa Fair. Cheryl Nesbit's memories of the fair date back to her childhood. "Mom used to fry up chicken for us in the morning. She'd pack it up and fill a jar with coffee for her and dad. She'd wrap it up in a towel to keep it hot. We'd spend the whole day at the fair," she reminisced. "Lunch would come around and we'd eat what she brought, no fridge or anything." She joined 4-H when she turned 10, and after she aged out of the program became a leader for the group for another 21 years. Eventually she volunteered to manage the open class exhibits. She's entered plenty of her own work over the years, even winning Grand Champion for a handmade quilt last year. It's her favorite class because she's an accomplished quilter. "The girls didn't get volunteered so much as they got volun-told," said Cheryl Nesbit with grin. It's a joke she's made before, but both Heidi and Amy are good-natured about it because they enjoy the work. Heidi works as a CNA in Mason City at Good Shepherd Inc. in the alzheimer's and dementia unit. Her soft, sweet demeanor hides a fierce intelligence and hardworking attitude. Amy is a special education teacher at Pinecrest Center, a school for young people with emotional and behavioral challenges. She's also a foster mom to an eight year old. Together, they're something of an unstoppable force. There are seven departments each with subdivided classes that fit just about any project. Each contestant fills out an entry form with each of their entries, and the Nesbits then get to work. This year, the family managed 77 exhibitors throughout all classes. "Oh, if you can make it by hand, we have a class for you. If we don't, we'll make one," Cheryl says. There were two new classes this year, an ugly lamp and tablescaping contests. The Nesbits were pleased to accept the honor from Gagnon, as they have retired from the management of the open classes. Mostly. The ladies stepped away a couple of years ago, but were called back when the exhibits were going unattended. They have happily passed the baton to new volunteers, but are still available to help out when necessary. "I think I'd like to see the sea lions," said Cheryl. "I usually don't get to see much of the fair." A 49-year-old Danville man was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison in a deadly fentanyl overdose case in October 2019. The United States Department of Justice announced the sentencing Thursday. Chauncey Lamont Montague pleaded guilty in March to one count of distribution of fentanyl. Danville police arrested Montague the same day a person died at Sovah Health-Danville after overdosing the previous night on a bad batch of the illegal drug, the Register & Bee reported in 2019. On Oct. 29, a woman only identified in in court documents as A.R., but described as a regular user of opiates, was looking to buy $20 of heroin from Montague, a news release stated. After being unable to reach Montague by phone, A.R. began walking towards Montagues home, officials wrote in Thursdays statement. During the walk, A.R. met up with a close family member who agreed to take her money the rest of the way to Montagues home and purchase the drugs for her. Following the transaction with Montague, the family member delivered the heroin to A.R. who then used the drugs and was found dead a short time later. Authorities confirmed the death was from a fentanyl overdose. The next day, officers from the Danville Police Department while executing a search warrant on Montagues Bradley Road home discovered another 8.2 grams of fentanyl in the pocket of a jacket in his bedroom. The search also turned up a Taurus 9mm pistol Montague admitted he got in a trade for drugs, the Register & Bee previously reported. United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh, Special Agent in Charge Craig B. Kailimai of the Washington Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration Jared Forget made the announcement Thursday. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Danville Police Department investigated the case, according to the release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Bassford prosecuted the case. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su speaks at the White House in March, shortly after President Biden nominated her to lead the agency. The former California labor chief has been sitting out strikes in her home state. (Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images) President Biden appears to have accepted the fate of his secretary of Labor nominee Julie Su, who will continue to serve as acting secretary even though her confirmation bid is all but doomed in the Senate. But the White House, which has praised Su as a preeminent dealmaker, especially when it comes to California labor issues, has been reluctant to have her intervene in the Hollywood strikes. "We are monitoring the situation closely," a Department of Labor spokesperson told The Times. Su, who served as California's labor chief before joining the Biden administration as deputy U.S. Labor secretary in 2021, has played a key role in leading an agency that's been crucial to Biden's domestic agenda and reelection message. If confirmed, she would be Biden's first Asian American Cabinet secretary. Biden, a self-described "pro-union president," kicked off his 2024 campaign with a speech to union workers in Philadelphia in June and has made union members central to his reelection strategy. But several labor disputes heating up across the country including the Hollywood strikes threaten to upend that argument. The president has thrown his support behind union workers and called for fair pay and benefits for striking screenwriters and actors in their ongoing dispute with studios that has ground Hollywood to a halt. Read more: Writers' strike: What's at stake and how it could disrupt Hollywood At the same time, Biden has struggled to get his own top Labor official confirmed. The White House recently called on centrist Sens. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) to seek their support for Su. Manchin had said he would oppose her confirmation over concerns about her "more progressive background." Sinema has not said how she plans to vote, but a White House statement Friday saying Su would continue on as acting secretary amounted to a tacit acknowledgment that she did not have enough votes to win confirmation. Story continues The White House had hoped that Su's role in brokering a deal between California dock workers and their employers in June would bring new momentum to a bid that had been stalled since February. Su, who has relationships with both sides in the ports dispute, was able to help break a yearlong stalemate on a collective bargaining agreement. Administration officials cited the incident as evidence of Su's sharp abilities as a mediator, and as another reason that the Senate should confirm her. "She is highly qualified, experienced, and has proven herself time and time again when it comes to delivering for Americas workers and our economy," a White House official said Friday. "Acting Secretary Su recently secured a major labor agreement at the West Coast ports, which ensured our supply chains remain strong for Americas businesses, farmers and working families." But as the Hollywood strikes and a separate strike of hundreds of L.A. hotel workers escalate, the White House has kept its public involvement to general statements of support for unions. No one person is in charge of monitoring the talks, but several officials scattered across the administration are in contact with all sides involved, a White House official told The Times. Su has also been quiet on the Hollywood strikes. She has no plans to repeat a trip she made to L.A. in June to intervene in the ports dispute. The unions, too, appear uninterested in a heavy-handed response from the Biden administration. Read more: What to know about the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike Ellen Stutzman, the Writers Guild of America's chief negotiator, thanked President Biden, his administration, and all of our elected allies support for writers in a statement, but added that the studios are the only ones who can end the strike by negotiating a fair deal. SAG-AFTRA declined a request for comment. Sus position in Washington, meanwhile, remains awkward. She still has the emphatic support of the White House, which has promised to keep pushing her nomination despite little evidence of a campaign to secure her confirmation. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to say Tuesday whether senior officials still convened nightly in a "war room" to share updates on her nomination. Instead, the White House has relied on a little-known federal code to keep her in her acting role indefinitely. When then-Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh left the administration in March, Su, as his deputy, automatically became acting secretary. That role allows her to perform the duties of the Labor secretary until a successor is confirmed. Sus opponents have criticized the White Houses new strategy. For months, they have called on Biden administration officials to withdraw her nomination. Now that the White House plans to keep her in the acting position indefinitely, those calls can be expected to intensify. It is my view that this use of the Succession Act violates the constitutional provision of advice and consent and would potentially open any [Department of Labor] action under Julie Sus leadership to legal challenges, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) said in a letter to Biden, calling on the president to withdraw Su's nomination. "If your administration believes Ms. Su cannot receive the necessary votes for confirmation, then you should rescind her nomination," wrote Cassidy, the top Republican on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. "Any attempts to bypass the will of Congress, especially its constitutionally mandated advice and consent role, is unacceptable." A spokesperson for Stand Against Su, which describes itself as a coalition of small businesses, freelancers, tipped workers and franchisees working together to oppose Julie Su, said that the new strategy represents Biden not wanting to face the truth. "Julie Su flew in last-minute to preside over a West Coast Ports deal that was nearing completion. The Labor Department's subsequent lack of action in other labor disputes speaks to her lack of negotiation skills," Rachel Tripp, a spokesperson for the group, told The Times in a statement. Tripp criticized Biden and Su for allowing union leaders to "hold the American economy hostage," and pointed to the president's decision to tap White House senior advisor Gene Sperling to monitor talks with autoworkers as evidence that Su "wasn't up to the task." "This is not what leadership looks like," she added. "It's further evidence that Su is the wrong pick for the top Labor job." Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Matilda Mattie Sheils' body was recovered in the Delaware River in Philadelphia on Friday, and the search for her 9-month-old brother Conrad continues Matilda Sheils/GoFundMe Matilda Mattie Sheils, 2, and Conrad Sheils, 9 months. The body of Matilda Mattie Sheils, the 2-year-old girl who was swept away during flash flooding in southeast Pennsylvania last weekend, was discovered. Authorities found Mattie's body in the Delaware River in Philadelphia on Friday, according to CNN. It was recovered over 30 miles from where she first went missing when a wall of water carried her and her younger brother away during intense flooding in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. During a Friday news conference, Upper Makefield Fire Company Chief Tim Brewer said that the recovery came after two separate 911 callers spotted a body in the river, CNN reported. Related: Search Continues for 2 Missing Siblings Washed Away by Pa. Flood: 'We Are Desperate,' Police Say Although Mattie was found 32 miles away from where she was lost, she has never been closer to all of our hearts as she is now, Brewer said in the conference. The toddler was pronounced deceased at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and was subsequently transported to the Philadelphia Medical Examiners Office, the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in a statement on Facebook. We are so appreciative of the 911 callers who spotted Mattie and for the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments all of whom helped us bring Mattie home, the statement said. This has been an extremely intense and emotional time for the family, for our first responders, and for the community and I know all our hearts are broken this evening. Related: Connecticut Mother and Daughter, 5, Dead After Being Swept Away by River Matties younger brother Conrad Sheils, who was also swept away last weekend, is still missing, CNN reported. Crews plan to continue searching for the 9-month-old. We will reunite him with his family and sister, Brewer said. We will work tirelessly to ensure that Conrad is found. Story continues Upper Makefield Township Police Department/Facebook 9-month-old Conrad Sheils. The childrens mother, 32-year-old Katie Seley, was also killed in the Pennsylvania floods. Her body was recovered last Saturday, per CNN. The UMTPD shared a statement early Saturday morning following Matties discovery. After yesterdays news, we know so many are still reeling at the tragic loss of life, but we are grateful that prayers were answered and that we were able to bring Mattie home, the post read. This has only strengthened our resolve to reunite Conrad with his family and sister. The UMTPD shared that the search effort for Conrad will continue using marine assets up and down the Delaware River, K-9 teams and divers. Related: Body of Missing Teen Found in Delaware River After 3-Day Search The department also wrote that, since Mattie has been reunited with her loving family the Sheils wanted to provide a public statement, which they included in the post. The Sheils family would like to express their continued gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and concern from the community and from people around the country as rescue workers have worked tirelessly to find Mattie and Conrad, the statement read. GoFundMe Katie Seley, Jim Sheils and kids Conrad, 9 months, Jack, 4, and Mattie, 2. We are grateful that our little Mattie has been brought home to us, the family continued. We are still praying for the return of Conrad. Thank you all, again, for your compassion and your kindness. We are humbled. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Katie and her family, who were visiting from Charleston, were driving to a barbecue around 5:30 p.m. when their car was overwhelmed by flash flooding along Route 532 in Upper Makefield Township, Brewer said at a press conference last Sunday. "In my 44 years, Ive never seen anything like it," Brewer said. "When the water came up, it came up very swiftly. We do not think that anybody drove into it, that they were actively on that road when it happened." Related: Mother Visiting Pa. Among 5 Killed in 'Fierce' Flash Floods; Her 2 Kids Still Missing Upper Makefield Township Police Department/Facebook Katie Seley, Jim Sheils and kids Conrad, 9 months, Jack, 4, and Mattie, 2. According to CNN, Katies fiance Jim Shelis grabbed his eldest son, 4-year-old Jack, and both of them made it to safety, while Katie and the two younger children were swept away. The childrens grandmother was also carried away in the floods, but she survived and has been treated at a hospital, CNN reported. Including Katie and Mattie, six people died as a result of the violent storm, according to the UMTPD. Other victims of the flooding include Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, of Newtown Township; Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey; and Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown Township. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. (Image via @justynvickybali_island) A bodybuilder named Justyn Vicky died after breaking his neck during a 400-pound squatting exercise. The accident occurred on Saturday at The Paradise Gym in Bali, Indonesia, when Vicky attempted to squat a barbell carrying 400 pounds. According to a report from Bali Discovery, the bodybuilder didn't complete his squat lift and fell with the bar snapping his neck and head forward. "Vicky failed to complete the lift and fell forward, cascading the weight bar off his shoulders and snapping his neck and head forward," Bali Discovery reported. Bali Express reported that the force of the weight broke Vicky's neck and compressed the nerves connected to his heart and respiratory systems. Vicky was rushed to the hospital, where he later died. He was 33 years old. The Paradise Gym shared a post on Instagram honoring Vicky, a regular gym member. In its tribute, the facility called Vicky a "beacon of inspiration" with "infectious energy" that can't be replaced at the gym. "Justyn was more than just a fitness expert; he was a beacon of inspiration, motivation, and unwavering support. His infectious energy and genuine passion for helping others transform their lives touched us deeply. Through countless workouts, words of encouragement, and compassionate guidance, he became an irreplaceable part of our fitness journeys and our gym family," the gym's note read. Squatting 400 pounds surely isn't an easy feat hence the need to take proper safety precautions such as using a spotter, wearing a weightlifting belt, establishing proper form, and more. Complex sends its condolences to Vicky's family and friends. More on this The new parents brought their infant son along as they joined fellow strikers on a picket line in New York City John Nacion/Getty Daniel Radcliffe and Erin Darke are lending their support to their industry. The couple, both actors, joined other SAG-AFTRA union members striking in New York City on Friday, with the Miracle Workers star, 33, wearing his 4-month-old son in a carrier on his chest. Darke, 38, held a strike sign as the pair and their baby boy walked the picket line. 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. Kristin Callahan/Shutterstock Daniel Radcliffe holding his infant son Related: Daniel Radcliffe Reveals He Welcomed a Baby Boy as He Calls Fatherhood 'Crazy and Intense' Ahead of the SAG-AFTRA strike, Radcliffe spoke with Extra about his experience delving into fatherhood while promoting season 4 of his comedy series. "He's very cute," the Harry Potter star said of his baby boy. "We've moved into a less screaming phase and he's now giving us little smiles and giggling." "It's been a crazy few months, as anyone who's been through parenthood would attest," Radcliffe continued. "But it's also the literal best thing that's ever happened, so it's great. I feel very lucky to be able to have this time with him. It's awesome." Kristin Callahan/Shutterstock Daniel Radcliffe and Erin Darke march with baby boy Radcliffe and Darke welcomed their first baby together in April, with a rep for the actor confirming the news to PEOPLE. In October, Radcliffe spoke with Evan Rachel Wood for Newsweek about their film Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. The two actors discussed achieving fame at a young age, with the actor noting film sets "can be wonderful" places for kids. "I want my kids, if and when they exist I would love them to be around film sets," Radcliffe told Newsweek. "A dream would be for them to come onto a film set and be like 'God, you know, I'd love to be in the art department. I'd love to be something in the crew.' Some part of this, but not from that." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Dylan and Cole Sprouse explain their clever hack for the Hungarian language barrier at the wedding Kevin Mazur/VF19/WireImage Cole Sprouse, Dylan Sprouse, and Barbara Palvin attend the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party Dylan and Cole Sprouse are getting candid about the details of Dylans Hungarian wedding to Barbara Palvin. Today, Vogue Germany uploaded a video on TikTok showing footage from Dylan and Palvins recent wedding. The bride, 29, who is Hungarian, wed the actor on July 19 in Albertirsa, a small town outside her birthplace of Budapest. With most of her guests fluent in the native tongue, the twins, 30, wanted to be sure they respected the culture. The famed fashion magazine was happy to help answer a few burning questions about the ceremony. Why does Cole have a headphone in his ear? one fan asked. The question accompanied a photo of the Disney star and his blushing bride at the altar. I had to speak Hungarian in front of everyone, and I was so nervous, but Barbara helped me all the way, Dylan confessed. Meanwhile, Palvin used different accessories to honor her culture. Bence Barsony Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse at their wedding in Hungary Related: Dylan and Cole Sprouse share why they wore headphones at Hungarian wedding. On Tuesday, Vogue released an interview with the supermodel, where she dished on her wedding looks. There isa Hungarian tradition where you have to wear a red dress after midnight its called menyecske ruha. There was no question I had to wear a Hungarian designer for this one, so I chose Mero. They created the dress of my dreams. It was sexy and sweet but also comfortable exactly what I wanted, Palvin declared of one of her gowns. But that wasnt her only show-stopping moment. The newlywed wore three dresses on the evening that she said I do. In addition to Palvins red dress by Mero, she also wore a traditional-styled white floor-length Vivienne Westwood gown and a shorter one by Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini. It was important for me not to pick a specific color but rather a palette so everyone could still express themselves however they wanted within the theme, she said regarding her choice in what the bridesmaids wore. The guys were all just handsome in their black suits, she added of the sweet ceremony. Story continues Dylan told the publication about one customary tradition he particularly enjoyed that included local brandy. We did a few palinka shots and listened to some traditional Hungarian music as well while playing wedding games, the Dismissed actor shared. Reduster Barbara Palvin and Dylan Sprouse at their wedding in Hungary Related: Cole Sprouse Reflects on 'Really Hard' Split from 'Riverdale' Costar Lili Reinhart: 'Quite a Bit of Damage' While Dylan and Palvin enjoyed their Hungarian countryside wedding, the couple will also be having another ceremony in California this fall. The bride said her nuptials in her hometown, and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody alum will say his once more where he grew up. Were excited to go back to L.A. to our pets and rest a bit before we start planning the American wedding, Palvin said of the upcoming celebration. The couple has been dating since 2018 and got engaged in September 2022. In a 2019 interview with W Magazine, Dylan playfully admitted that things didnt start off so smoothly after they met at a party and he messaged her on social media. 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. "She followed me, so I was like, I guess I'll give her something. And I slid into her DMs. I was like, 'Hey, I don't know if you're in New York for very long, but we should hang out if you want to. Here's my number.' And she didn't message me for six months, he told the outlet. After her hiatus, Palvin flew to China to meet Dylan while he worked on a six-month shoot, and the rest was history. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Christopher Nolans three-hour movie Oppenheimer is getting rave reviews and shaping up as an early Oscar favorite. But years ago, one man doubted that the complex tale of a hero-turned-villain nuclear scientist could be accurately told on the big screen. I was very skeptical Hollywood could do anything with a 700-page book, says Kai Bird, who, along with his late writing partner Martin J. Sherwin, won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer. That book, which is back on bestseller lists thanks to the movie, was the source material for Nolans 180-page screenplay. Bird got a glimpse of that script early on and his fears vaporized. There are no major historical bloopers, he says. Matt Damon, left, stars at Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves and Cillian Murphy, right, is J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's new epic "Oppenheimer." But there is a lot to discuss, and plenty of historical nuances. Bird takes us through the movies most explosive moments: Were Manhattan Project scientists worried an atomic explosion would set fire to Earth? They were as calculations were made that showed it might be a possibility, says Bird. Specifically, the fear was that a detonation would use the oxygen in the atmosphere to fuel a never-ending series of explosions. The concern was so great that Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy, took a train from the New Mexico site of the lab work back east to consult with physicist Hans Bethe. Fortunately, Bethe took a look at the math and came to the conclusion that the likelihood of setting fire to the atmosphere was near zero, says Bird. And they went on with their work. Did Robert Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein really have conversations about the bomb at Princeton? Late in life, Albert Einstein taught physics at Princeton University in New Jersey. It was there he became colleagues and friends with J. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the Manhattan Project in building the first atomic bomb. Yes. Both men were attached to Princeton University in the 1940s, Oppenheimer as director of the school's Institute for Advanced Study and Einstein as a professor. They had offices down the hall from each other, and Im sure they took walks together by that pond, he says. But the two conversations between the physics giants, as portrayed in Oppenheimer, were really just something that Nolan imagined. Story continues In the first, Oppenheimer expresses concern about igniting the atmosphere, and in the second, after the war ends, Oppenheimer is afraid of the power he has unleashed, which leaves Einstein speechless. How accurate is the 'Oppenheimer' Trinity Test that shows the atomic bomb being detonated in the New Mexico desert? On Sept. 9, 1945, physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, left, and Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves inspect the base of the tower used to test the first atomic bomb in the New Mexico desert. In the movie "Oppenheimer," the central character is played by Cillian Murphy, while Matt Damon plays Groves, who oversaw the Manhattan Project. That is wholly accurate, down to the distance described, which was roughly 10,000 yards from the bomb site, says Bird. In the movie, you see (physicist Edward) Teller putting on sunscreen and dark glasses, and (young physicist) Richard Feynman did pass on putting glasses on because he said the windshield of the truck he was sitting in would be enough protection, he says. There are records of all of this. What were Robert Oppenheimer's relationships with women like? Cillian Murphy, left, as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer in "Oppenheimer," which was filming partly in New Mexico, the real location of the race to build the first atomic bomb. In a word, fiery, beginning with his first big love affair with Jean Tatlock, played by Florence Pugh in the film. He proposes marriage to her repeatedly but she declines. In our book, we have a lot of evidence about her own sexual identity, and it seems she was either bisexual or a lesbian, which is why she turned him down, says Bird. Tatlock later took her own life, which weighed heavily on Oppenheimer. Oppenheimer was married to Katherine Kitty Puening, who was already on her second husband when they met. It was a tumultuous marriage, but in a weird way also rock solid, he says. Its clear he was a very charismatic guy who was attractive to women, even if as an adolescent he was awkward around them. What happened to Robert Oppenheimer after he was stripped of his security clearance? He became a pariah; he couldnt give presidents advice or walk the halls of the Pentagon, says Bird. He was even disinvited to lecture at universities. He was devastated. In the summer of 1954, Oppenheimer and his family took the helm of a sailboat and spent time in and around St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Also along for that trip: snooping FBI agents, still intent on proving Oppenheimer had Communist leanings, which evidence disproves. He bought land on St. John and built a small cabin on a place now called Oppenheimer Beach, says Bird. His daughter (Toni) lived there later, and (at age 32) she took her own life there. She was a brilliant linguist and applied for work at the United Nations as a translator. But she was denied security clearance. She left New York, and then went for the last time to St. John. Did President John F. Kennedy actually have a role in restoring Robert Oppenheimer's reputation? Yes, both as a senator and later as president. When Oppenheimers supporter-turned-nemesis Lewis Strauss (played by Robert Downey Jr.) goes before lawmakers in 1959 to be confirmed as the new secretary of commerce, his appointment is blocked by a swing vote cast by the young senator from Massachusetts. Robert Downey Jr. (center) plays Lewis Strauss, who goes through senate hearings as part of his nomination for the secretary of commerce in "Oppenheimer." In mid-1963 Kennedy, then president, is urged by close advisers who admired Oppenheimer to bestow him with the Enrico Fermi Award, named after the famous Italian physicist. Kennedy was assassinated that November, and one of the first decisions for now-President Lyndon Johnson was whether to go forward with this award, which was seen as a way to restore Oppenheimers reputation, says Bird. On Dec. 2, 1963, less than two weeks after the assassination, Johnson told the assembled crowd, I know every person in this room grieves with me and with Dr. and Mrs. Oppenheimer that the late president, who gave his all for his country, could not present this award as he anticipated. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Oppenheimer' fact check: How accurate is Christopher Nolan's movie? greta-gerwig-barbie-alamo-ny - Credit: Han Myung-Gu/WireImage As Barbie fans gathered at the Alamo Drafthouse in New York for the Barbie premiere on Friday, director Greta Gerwig stopped by for a surprise visit. In an Instagram video posted by writer David Mack, Gerwig was seen in a denim jumpsuit and cap addressing the audience. I cant tell you how happy I am that you guys are all here, she said. When we made this movie we made it with so much joy and hope, and we hoped that people would go back to the movie theatre and be together and want to laugh and cry and dance and experience things together. And this is just fucking extraordinary. More from Rolling Stone Journalist Ayanna Prescod later tweeted, Greta Gerwig crashed a Barbie screening at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn tonight and thats why that theater will always be superior. Greta Gerwig crashed a Barbie screening at the Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn tonight and thats why that theater will always be superior. Ayanna P. (@AyannaPrescod) July 22, 2023 The film debuted on Friday to high praise from both critics and fans (right-wing backlash aside). In a review of Barbie ahead of its release, Rolling Stones David Fear declared the movie was the most subversive blockbuster of the 21st century to date. He later added, Its definitely not a bad thing to turn a potential franchise, whether built on a line of dolls or not, into something that refuses to dumb itself down or pander to the lowest common denominator. During an interview with Rolling Stone, Gerwig revealed how one of the films most touching scenes almost got cut. In the scene, Margo Robbies Barbie sees an older woman on a beach, played by legendary costumer designer Ann Roth, and tells her shes beautiful. Its a cul-de-sac of a moment, in a way it doesnt lead anywhere, said the director. And in early cuts, looking at the movie, it was suggested, Well, you could cut it. And actually, the story would move on just the same. And I said, If I cut the scene, I dont know what this movie is about.' Story continues Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Walking past Dr. Jeremiah Cameron Park in Westport, a reader noticed a marker for something called the Penn School and wrote to Whats Your KCQ, a partnership between the Kansas City Public Library and The Kansas City Star, to learn about it. The Penn School Historic Plaque. The park, located on Broadway Boulevard between 42nd and 43rd streets, marks the historic site where the Penn School used to stand. It was the first school West of the Mississippi River built specifically with the purpose to educate Black children. Cameron, the parks namesake, was an alumnus of the school, an educator and the second Black member of the Missouri Parks and Recreation Board. The schools class of 1933 dedicated the plaque in the park to their alma mater in 1992. As of this writing, the plaque honoring the Penn School is missing a reminder of the shaky role markers play in preserving local history and the challenges of making that history known. The plaque is now missing. The inscription on the marker had told of Mrs. Samuel Ellis, the wife of a retired capitalist in the Kansas City area who helped establish the Penn School. Daniel Smith, a member of the Westport Historical Society, has extensively researched the school. He reported that Marian Ellis was one of its teachers, from January to May 1870, and that her time was most likely shortened by motherhood. The Penn School building in 1940. Marian most certainly did not start the school, even though shes inexplicably named as the founder in two or three separate histories that precede the plaque. The Ellis family consisted of Marian, Samuel and their son, Stafford. Together, they immigrated to the U.S. from England and settled in or near Westport, Missouri, between 1868 and 1870. Samuel Ellis in a 1924 passport photo. For years, both Samuel and Marian Ellis worked to support their family and did not begin to build wealth until Samuel entered the dairy trade around the turn of the century, establishing the Ellis Dairy Company. When Marian taught at the Penn School prior to the familys dairy days, the school had already been operating for roughly 30 years. Story continues A 1900 street atlas showing the Penn School and its proximity to the Ellis property. The founding of the Penn School was tied to legislation following the Civil War in 1865 and was not the brainchild of one particular person. In that year, the Missouri legislature ratified a new, controversial state constitution. In addition to outlawing slavery in the state nearly a year before the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution did so on a national scale, the new state constitution contained provisions to remove Confederate sympathizers from public offices. It also allocated state funds to establish schools for Black children. Print to celebrate the immediate emancipation of enslaved people in Missouri, passed on January 11, 1865. The actual date of the Penn Schools founding is a bit murky. Any time after 1865 is plausible, but documentation points to a school for Black children being established by the Westport School District at some point in 1867 or 1868 right around when Marian moved to the area, and long before she could have established a school herself. The school did not have a formal name for some time. Residents simply called it the colored school until 1895 when a Westport Sentinel-Examiner article described it as the Penn School. A back-to-school announcement from September 14, 1895 naming the Penn School. An unsupported claim holds that the school, which served the Steptoe community as well as other nearby Black neighborhoods, was named for William Penn, the early American Quaker and namesake of Pennsylvania. However, its more likely that the name came from the street on which it was located, Pennsylvania Avenue, Smith said, following suit with other schools of that time like the Main and Troost schools which took their names from the streets where they were situated. Steptoe Street in 1907. The Penn School occupied at least four locations during its existence: Pennsylvania Avenue between Westport Road and Archibald Street; Broadway Boulevard near Archibald; a building that also housed the former St. Lukes A.M.E. Church at 43rd Street and Roanoke Road; and Pennsylvania Avenue between 42nd and 43rd streets just north of the Ellis farm. St. Lukes A.M.E. Church. Generations of Black Westport residents and Kansas Citians attended the Penn School, the most famous of whom was Kansas City jazz legend Charlie Yardbird Parker. The 1954 Brown v. Board of Education landmark ruling brought about the closure of the Penn School following the 1954-55 school year. Members of the student body were integrated into other area schools. The Penn School building was too old and outdated for continued use. On May 26, 1955, the school hosted The Last Round Up, a gathering of former students, teachers, principals and their families. Members of the public were also invited. The event featured music, a history of the school given by former teacher Marguerite B. Smith, skits and an open house. The Last Round Up Brochure After the closure, some Westport area organizations expressed interest in buying and preserving the old Penn School building. Most of that interest came from an offshoot of the Westport Historical Society called the Old Westport School Shrine. The Heart of America Real Estate Company bought the old schoolhouse with the intention of repairing the building and giving it to the Old Westport School Shrine, but by the time the sale was finalized, the group had lost interest. Old Westport School Shrine donation card. In 1967 the school building burned down. It wasnt until 20 years later that the 7th grade class of 1933 decided to raise money for a historical marker to preserve the schools memory. It took the alumni five years to complete the Penn School Memorial Project. But despite their work to memorialize the school, the plaque is no longer there, and visitors to Dr. Jeremiah Cameron Park will see no signs of the Penn School or its legacy. When asked about what happened to the plaque, a representative from Kansas Citys Parks Department said that most likely someone had stolen the plaque to sell it for scrap metal, and the department does not have any plans to replace it. Screenshot: Paramount Not to be outdone by last years Comic-Con announcement that Strange New Worlds would team up with Lower Decks for a crossover episode in season 2, this year the latest Trek series returned to San Diego to go one weirder: the Enterprise is getting downright lyrical. Today Paramount confirmed at San Diego Comic-Con that the upcoming ninth episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds sophomore season would be titled Subspace Rhapsody: and its the first ever fully fledged Star Trek musical episode. Check out the trailer below (or on Twitter, internationally): Read more Subspace Rhapsody, the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2, will stream on Paramount+ August 3. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Nearly 35,100 North Carolinians have lost their Medicaid coverage at least temporarily as part of the ending of the national COVID-19 public-health emergency in May. On April 1, the state Medicaid program began a mandated recertification for an estimated 2.59 million Medicaid beneficiaries, or 23.9% of the states 10.83 million residents. The process of recertifications is scheduled to end March 31, 2024. The federal Department of Health and Human Services had put those recertifications on hold for much of the pandemic. The first three months of recertifications covered 432,970 North Carolinians, of which 137,896 recertifications had been completed by June 30, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website. Of those completed recertifications, 74.5%, or 102,797 beneficiaries, were determined to be eligible. That leaves about 25.5% of recertifications, or 35,099, leading to ineligibility determinations. About 85%, or 30,046 individuals, lost their benefits for procedural reasons, such as missing paperwork, incomplete documentation or could not be reached by a caseworker. Another 5,053 North Carolinians were found to no longer meet eligibility requirements for any Medicaid program. NCDHHS said it did not have a county breakdown of those affected. NCDHHS said its goal is to ensure people who remain eligible for Medicaid continue to be covered and those who are no longer eligible know their potential options, such as buying coverage, often at a reduced cost, through the federal Health Insurance Marketplace. The number of potential ineligible beneficiaries in N.C. and nationwide was reduced after the USDHHS approved new flexibilities to help keep Americans covered as states resume Medicaid and Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) renewals. Nobody who is eligible for Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program should lose coverage simply because they changed addresses, didnt receive a form, or didnt have enough information about the renewal process, U.S. Health Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a June 12 statement. Medicaid expansion limbo NCDHHS has said that many affected individuals are expected to regain eligibility when Medicaid expands in the state. North Carolinians who would likely be eligible under an expanded program are those between the ages of 18 and 64 who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid coverage, but not enough to purchase coverage on the private insurance marketplace. However, even though Gov. Roy Cooper signed the bipartisan Medicaid expansion bill into law on March 27, much of the funding only becomes available when the 2023-24 state budget bill goes into effect. Without a signed state budget, the legislation in HB76 would expire on July 1, 2024, meaning North Carolina wont become the 40th expansion state. With a signed budget, NCDHHS will submit a State Plan amendment to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS has up to 90 days to review and approve the State Plan Amendment, or issue a Request for Additional Information that stops the 90-day clock, DHHS said. When N.C. Medicaid submits a response to the Request for Additional Information, the 90-day clock for review and approval restarts. Cooper appeal In recent weeks, Democratic leaders, including Cooper, Attorney General Josh Stein and House minority leader Robert Reives of Chatham County, have expressed frustration with Republican legislative leaders for their inability to reach a 2023-24 state budget compromise. On Thursday, Cooper made his second formal appeal this month. Even though GOP House and Senate budget writers have been involved in compromise negotiations for several weeks, there are enough major differences in their bills that it is projected to take until at least August to resolve. Republican legislators have gone yet another week without passing a new state budget, (or) separating Medicaid from the budget so it can start, or taking any votes, Cooper said in a statement. After weeks of delay, the Republican supermajority legislature has failed to pass a budget on time, focusing instead on extreme, job-killing culture war bills and reckless plans to dismantle public education. In the meantime, working people are losing health coverage as emergency federal programs end. Cooper added that at a $42,000 daily cost to operate the legislature during session, there has been $756,000 spent on those expenses since July 17, including more than $319,000 of daily expense payments collected by legislators. Since the Medicaid expansion bill was signed into law, the governors office said the state has missed out using or accessing $2 billion of federal funding by not authorizing expansion. Every month that the state waits, North Carolina foregoes $521 million in federal dollars. Spanish director J.A. Bayonas Society of the Snow, a reconstruction of a 1972 plane crash in the Andes that forced survivors to take extreme measures, including cannibalism, has been set as the Venice Film Festivals closing film. The deeply immersive Spanish-language saga is a Netflix original film shot in Andalusias Sierra Nevada, mainland Spains highest mountain range, using a 300-person crew. Society of the Snow will world premiere on the Lido out of competition on Sept. 9. Its official screening will be held in the Palazzo del Cinema after the awards ceremony. More from Variety In 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which had been chartered to bring Montevideos Old Christians Rugby Club team to Chile, crashed at an altitude of 11,712 feet in the Andes. Of its 45 passengers which consisted mostly of the rugby team, friends and family only 29 survived. Without food, the survivors, who belonged to Uruguays elite, were forced to eat the flesh of the deceased to stay alive. 19 survived an avalanche. 72 days after the crash, 16 finally made it out alive. The high-profile streaming title comes less than 24 hours after Venice revealed it was forced to pull Luca Guadagninos Zendaya-starrer Challengers, which had been set as its opening film, due to promotional complications prompted by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Italian World War II epic Comandante is replacing Challengers as Venices opening night movie. The Society of the Snow cast features up-and-coming Uruguayan and Argentine actors Enzo Vogrincic (A Twelve-Year Night), Matias Recalt (Apache, la vida de Carlos Tevez), Agustin Pardella (Pinamar) and Felipe Gonzalez (El Cazador). Story continues Directed by Bayona, Society of the Snow is produced by Belen Atienza, Sandra Hermida and J.A. Bayona. Starring Enzo Vogrincic, Matias Recalt, Agustin Pardella, Esteban Kukuriczka and Tomas Wolf. The screenplay is by Bayona, Bernat Vilaplana, Jaime Marques, and Nicolas Casariego from the novel by Pablo Vierci. The director of photography is Pedro Luque (Dont Breathe). J.A. Bayona made his directorial debut with The Orphanage (2007) which launched at Cannes and won numerous awards including seven Goyas, which are Spains highest film honours. In 2012 he made his first English-language foray with The Impossible, a harrowing disaster movie that grossed $198 million worldwide. The 80th edition of the Venice Film Festival will run Aug. 30-Sept. 9. The lineup will be announced on July 25. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Megan Fox was slammed against a fencing barricade Thursday night at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, after her boyfriend, Machine Gun Kelly, and the couples bodyguard got into a scuffle with another fairgoer, according to the Los Angeles Times. The couple had just gotten off a ride when a young man appeared to throw a punch at the rapper. The bodyguard stepped in and pushed the guy back into a barricade, according to TMZ. Fox, however, was also shoved into the fencing, but the actor was pulled away by Kelly before the couple then left with their bodyguard. A TikTok video posted after the incident shows the couple looking a little rattled by the experience. On Friday, TMZ reported the existence of a second video that suggests that Kelly was the instigator. The video shows Kelly running toward two guys near the ride and swinging at one of them, causing the man to return the blow, which caused Kellys bodyguard to join the fracas. A spokesperson for the Orange County Fair and Event Center told the Los Angeles Times that no one reported the incident to OC Fair security. Neither Fox nor Kelly have commented on the incident, but it seems as if the couple is back on again after rumors earlier this year they were headed for a split amid rumors that Kelly had cheated on Fox. Related... Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer, which dramatizes the Trinity nuclear test carried out almost eight decades ago, is inspiring reflection on one part of the story not covered by his smash hit film: the lingering effects of the experiment on U.S. soil. New Mexico Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D) called attention to the consequences for his home state in a series of tweets posted Thursday, just ahead of the triumphant opening weekend that Oppenheimer shared with the Barbie movie. Its critical to note 78 years after the nuclear tests this movie centers on, New Mexico continues to face collateral damage from the Trinity Test site, Lujan wrote. A mushroom cloud is visible after the first atomic explosion at the Trinity test site near Alamogordo, New Mexico. A mushroom cloud is visible after the first atomic explosion at the Trinity test site near Alamogordo, New Mexico. New Mexico was chosen for its uninhabited space, however, nearly half a million people were horribly affected, he added, citing a Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists article. Generations of New Mexicans later, thousands of victims and their family members continue to face serious, sometimes deadly health complications. Census figures show that 40,000 people lived within a 60-mile radius of the test site, according to the Alamogordo Daily News, a local paper. A 1990 bill, the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, compensated many communities affected by U.S. military nuclear explosions but survivors of the Trinity test were not included. New Mexico was chosen for its uninhabited space, however, nearly half a million people were horribly affected. Generations of New Mexicans later, thousands of victims and their family members continue to face serious, sometimes deadly health complications. (2/7) pic.twitter.com/DHjSJhRqG4 Senator Ben Ray Lujan (@SenatorLujan) July 20, 2023 Stories like Tularosa resident Tina Cordova, founder of Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, depicts the harsh reality and generational trauma stemming from our nations nuclear tests and the real dangers of radiation. (3/7) pic.twitter.com/lvATJVOBHl Senator Ben Ray Lujan (@SenatorLujan) July 20, 2023 Lujan pointed to the deadly array of cancers that afflicted people who lived in the area for decades afterward, again citing the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. For years the senator has been trying, unsuccessfully, to amend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act to include people in the Trinity fallout zone. Story continues Plans for the blast were kept secret because of the enormous consequence a nuclear weapon would have in World War II; the effects of radiation were not well known at the time. As a result, those who lived in the surrounding region many of them Native Americans and other people of color were startled awake at 5:29 a.m. on July 16, 1945. Inquiring reporters were told that it was a merely a considerable amount of high explosives and pyrotechnics that had exploded at an Air Force base. A 1945 aerial view after the first-ever atomic explosion, at the Trinity test site in New Mexico. A 1945 aerial view after the first-ever atomic explosion, at the Trinity test site in New Mexico. Young campers sleeping around 50 miles from the detonation site thought something had exploded at their camp. We were all just shocked and then, all of a sudden, there was this big cloud overhead, and lights in the sky, one of them, Barbara Kent, told National Geographic in 2021. She was 13 that summer. It even hurt our eyes when we looked up. The whole sky turned strange. It was as if the sun came out tremendous, Kent said. She and other girls played in the nuclear fallout white flakes falling from the sky like desert snow. Ten of the 12 campers died before age 40, Vice reported in 2016, with Kent telling the outlet that this was no coincidence. She herself had battled cancer. Much of the fallout went in a northern direction, affecting people as far away as Colorado, Idaho and Montana. The Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, which seeks federal recognition of Trinitys effects, has compiled stories from survivors on its website. Small animals like chickens reportedly died in the wake of the nuclear blast, and infant deaths surged in subsequent months, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. People later reported that they continued to consume meat and dairy products from cows within the fallout zone. But no government agency was keeping track of the broader effects. A 2020 report from the National Cancer Institute suggested that the Trinity test likely contributed to the fallout zones cancer rate, but that it was very difficult to estimate the exact number of excess cases given how long ago it happened. As Lujan wrote, Its the sad truth that too many have died from the radioactive fallout from these decades-old tests. Related... Today is Friday, which means there are a ton of new releases to look forward to from some of your favorite Hip-Hop artists. To help you unwind and enjoy the weekend, check out VIBEs picks of songs and albums you should hear and add to your soundtrack of weekend festivities. Nas Magic 2 Nas 'Magic 2' Album Cover When Nas drops an album its akin to a holiday and the release of his Magic 2 project is a festive occasion, indeed. With his recent hot streak of magnificent bodies of work, the Queens legend resumes his onslaught with 11 selections, as he gives listeners a reminder of why hes regarded among the greatest to ever do it. On Abracadabra, the lyricist turned venture capitalist basks in his greatness, saluting he and Hit-Boys collaborations, rhyming 2020 we did the first one/ Five album run, now the curse won/ Its a blessed one/ By the time yall hear this, well be halfway through the next one. 50 Cents appearance on Office Hours was highly anticipated, but its finished result pales in comparison to the hype. But that doesnt break Escos stride, as he floats on standout selections like Black Magic, Motion, and Bokeem Woodbine, a trifecta that nearly removes any memory of the slight misstep. The poetic flow continues to impress on for the duration of the album. He closes out the proceedings on a high note with Pistols On Your Album Cover, which finds Nas lyrically prancing atop piano keys and sturdy percussion. Over three decades into his music career, Nasty Nas appears to have found the creative fountain of youth, with Magic 2 being the latest product of fire water sprung from that well. Preezy Brown Ice Spice Like..? (Deluxe) Ice Spice Like..? (Deluxe) cover art Ice Spice has defied the trend of putting deluxe projects out within a week of the original release. The Like..? (Deluxe) adds five new records to her popular EP, namely the Nicki Minaj remix to Princess Diana, her popular On The Radar Freestyle, Deli (which has been teased a lot within the last week), and Butterfly Ku. The Bronx star continues to show that she can do more than drill or drill-adjacent records with the pop-leaning How High? as she plays around with melodies and a more backpack rap-type flow. Butterfly Ku is quintessential get sturdy music and Deli is like taking In Ha Mood and increasing the bpm. There is a clear improvement in her delivery, cadence, and punchlines. She leans on a few popular lines that have been used in her previous songs but finds ways to create variation. While, at this moment, none of the records seem to have smash hit potential, they are quality offerings that feed her listeners and continue a run of simply good music. Armon Sadler Story continues Babyface Ray Summers Mine After breaking out with his FACE and MOB projects in 2022, Babyface Ray returns with Summers Mine, a collection that ups the ante and positions the Detroit rhymer for greater pastures. Clocking in at 16 tracks, Summers Mine finds its author firing off from the onset with ScarFACE, where he asserts himself as the boss over airy synths provided RIF and CameOne. While Ray is a star in his own right, he pays homage to his peer Luh Tyler by borrowing his flow for a collaborative effort alongside Los and Nutty before running through a succession of heaters including Racks N, Jackboys, and Fly Gods. Summers Mine is not just an album title, but a cocksure declaration that Babyface Ray ensures is closer to fact than fiction with his performance on this long player. PB Travis Scott Feat. Bad Bunny And The Weeknd KPOP On paper, K-Pop looks like what youd get if you put the names of the highest streaming artists of the last five years into a lottery ball machine and picked out three. Travis Scott and The Weeknd are of course no strangers to one another when it comes to collaboration, but the presence of Bad Bunny makes this an interesting mashup. Benito mostly carries the record, which leans into his brand of Latin trap-pop. Cactus Jack opens the record with his signature autotune vocals which, per usual, sounds cool but doesnt conceptually amount to much. The Puerto Rican superstar jumps in next and floats over the tribal-sounding drum pattern. His vocals crescendo early into his verse as he hits higher octaves. The Weeknd and Scott harmonize on the chorus and Abel adds some vocal riffs in the beat break before his verse about drugs and a woman in St. Tropez calling his name. Overall, this is a very fun Bad Bunny and Weeknd record with Trav adding his strengths. It will go over well sonically in an outside environment, even if there arent any memorable lyrics. AS Black Milk Everybody Good? Tenured double threat Black Milk plates his latest serving Everybody Good? with all the quality garnishments on a slice of food for thought. On everything I love, every night/ Tomorrow and today aint gon be alike, the Detroit native raps on God Willing, an introductory number on which he welcomes his base back for another round of complex musings over captivating soundscapes. Everybody Good? includes a healthy heaping of contributions from collaborators, as Raphael Saddiq, Karriem Riggins, Mick Jenkins, and Quelle Chris join in on the craftsmanship of this work of art. Brilliance ensues on the guitar-laden Aint Nobody Coming Down To Save You, while he zones into his mental space on the finale cut Yeah Really, as gets analytical while employing a conversational flow. PB A$AP Rocky RIOT (Rowdy Pipen) A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams RIOT (Roddy Pipen) cover art A$AP Rocky is feeling revolutionary on RIOT (Roddy Pipen), though the vocal energy and sonics dont necessarily match. His voice is loud and aggressive, but the production is slow and mellow. It doesnt exactly give off marching and protesting type of music, but it is 2023 and things change. Lyrically, he doesnt seem to stay on one topic, reverting to his usual flexing of luxuries, smoking exotic and sex references. He says Im way more deadly with my pen involved but the bars here leave a lot to desire; And Pu**y ni**a thats your menopause did not achieve what he set out for it. Theres potential for a good song here if the Harlem fashion killa was able to bring his A-game lyrically. The production is solid though and that is something Rocky will always have going for him, especially when enlisting the help of the legend Pharrell Williams. AS Valee And Harry Fraud Virtuoso Valee and Harry Fraud 'Virtuoso' Album Cover Chicagos Valee takes flight with New York boardsman Harry Fraud on Virtuoso, a collaborative album that finds the Fake Shore Drive artist delivering a bevy of slappers with replay value. Valee comes correct on joints like Sea Bass, Vibrant, and Dutty, yet, the results occasionally vary. Uninspired hooks on numbers like Yeah But Um leave a bit to be desired. That said, the song is still a bop, for all intents and purposes, so its not a glaring offense, particularly when Valee makes up for it with collaborative efforts alongside 03 Greedo, Twista, Saba, MAVI, Z Money, and RXKNephew. A few years removed from his G.O.O.D. Music stint, Valee remains a force without the seismic cosigns on the strength of good music. Pun wholly intended. PB Kaliii K Toven Kaliii & DJ Smallz 732 K Toven cover art Kaliii continues her homage to classic records and takes it all the way back to Beethovens Fur Elise on K Toven. The iconic piano melody is sped up and soon joined by a drill-EDM hybrid-like beat. She brings the energy, dismissing other women who dont match up to her. Heard them bi**hes say they outside/ Where they at?/ We gon slide/ Running through his bag like its mine/ Said I love em/ I was lyin, she raps. The true treat here is her ability to weave between an upbeat cadence and then a staccato, bullet-point delivery. The Atlanta rapper hasnt missed yet, and its safe to assume Beethoven is smiling down on this respectful interpolation. May his legacy forever live on with K Toven. AS JSWISS And Michael Leonheart The Chase (Strings Attached) JSWISS and Michael Leonhart "The Chase (Strings Attached)" cover art New York-bred spitter JSWISS and Michael Leonhart collide with Keyon Harrold on The Chase (Strings Attached), a revamped take on the original that dropped as part of their debut album Bona Fide. The track, which features a Brooklyn-based string quartet with additional production and scratching from DJ Logic, finds JSWISS fully pocket, as he drops sly lines like Sallie Mae flow, you dont get schooled until I say so atop the riveting backdrop. If The Chase (Strings Attached) is indicative of what JSWISS and Leonhart have in for store for the future, were all ears and suggest you should be, too. PB Cash Cobain Slizzy Talk Another Friday, another sexy drill offering from Cash Cobain. The autotune crooners Slizzy Talk leans a bit more into violence than admiration of women. The synths and drums create a fun mid-tempo canvas for him to deliver shapeshifting flows about being with the killers. Okay, he doesnt stay away from discussing women for too long: My b**ch sh*t is fat/ My wrist take your bi**h/ Not getting her back. The Bronx rapper continues to deliver, and we should all want to talk the Slizzy Talk. AS More from VIBE.com Click here to read the full article. At one point in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb dons his iconic uniform a fedora cap, a smoking pipe, a slightly over-sized suit like Batman wearing his cape and cowl for the first time. It's a look that serves as a sort of armor against mere mortals, who he woos with a peculiar charisma, as well as the military and political bureaucracy he battles while leading the Manhattan Project. It's also a way for J. Robert Oppenheimer (played by Cillian Murphy) to ground himself as he wrestles with the major conflict around his work: Building an atomic bomb could help win the war, but at what cost to humanity? Oppenheimer may seem like a curious project for Nolan: Since wrapping up his Batman trilogy with The Dark Knight Rises, he's thrown himself into increasingly complex projects (perhaps to atone for that disappointment). Interstellar was ostensibly a story about a man exploring the cosmos to find a new planet for humanity, but it also wrestled with personal sacrifices as his children aged beyond him. Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk was a purely cinematic, almost dialog-free depiction of a famous wartime evacuation. And Tenet was a bold attempt at mixing another heady sci-fi concept (what if you could go backwards through time?!) with bombastic James Bond-esque set pieces. Oppenheimer, meanwhile, is a mostly talky film set in a variety of meeting rooms, save for one explosive sequence. Take a step back, though, and a film about an intelligent and very capable man wrestling with huge moral issues is very much in the Nolan wheelhouse. Oppenheimer's swaggering genius fits right alongside Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne/Batman, the dedicated magicians in The Prestige or the expert dream divers/super spies in Inception. The film, which is based on the biography American Prometheus by Martin J. Sherwin and Kai Bird, follows Oppenheimer from his time in Germany as a doctoral student, to his professorship at UC Berkeley. He mingles with notable scientists, including Albert Einstein himself, and makes a name for himself as a quantum physics researcher. We see Oppenheimer as more than just a bookish geek: He sends money to anti-fascists fighting in the Spanish Civil War, he pushes for unionization among lab workers and professors, and he supports local Communists. (Something that will come back to haunt him later.) Story continues It's not too long before he's recruited to the Manhattan Project to build an atomic bomb, and the myth-making truly begins. Like a Nolan heist film, he assembles a team of the brightest scientific minds in America and beyond, and he pushes the government to establish a town doubling as a secret research base in Los Alamos, New Mexico. The film is strongest when it focuses on the specificities of the Manhattan Project: the rush to build a bomb before Nazi Germany, the pushback from scientists terrified about the damage "the gadget" could do. Christopher Nolan's The movie firmly focuses on Oppenheimer's point of view, so much so that we mainly see him as a heroic tortured genius. Only he can put the right scientists together and motivate them to work; only he can solve the riddles of quantum physics to keep America safe. Some colleagues criticize his cavalier attitude about building an atomic bomb they think it can lead to untold disaster, while he naively thinks it may be so powerful it could end all war. But, for the most part, we're left feeling that he was a great man who was ultimately betrayed by a country that didn't care for his post-war anti-nuclear activism. I wasn't able to see Oppenheimer on an IMAX screen, unfortunately, but sitting front row in a local theater still managed to be a thoroughly immersive experience. That was particularly surprising since it's really a movie featuring people (mostly men) talking to each other in a series of unremarkable rooms. Save for one virtuoso set piece the build-up and aftermath of a successful atomic bomb test is Nolan at his best what's most impressive is how cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema makes those conversations utterly engaging. We've never seen Cillian Murphy's piercing blue eyes do so much work in close-up. Christopher Nolan's Still, it's an overall disjointed experience. The few featured women Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer, Florence Pugh as the Communist activist Jean Tatlock are sketched thin, even by Nolan standards. And the movie would have benefitted from more insight into Oppenheimer's thinking. It's a surprisingly standard biopic, even though it's three hours long and far more technical than any studio film this year. At the very least, it would have been interesting to see Oppenheimer reckon more directly with the aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We see him confront President Harry Truman (Gary Oldman) in a vain attempt to stop building nuclear weapons, and the film points to his very public stance against future bombs. But even those scenes feel self-serving. At the end of the film, Oppenheimer finally comes to understand something many of his colleagues have been saying from the beginning. Nothing will be the same because of him. There is no peace now, only the undying specter of nuclear annihilation. "I'm happy that people are going to finally really see this film," Ora tells PEOPLE of working with Fisher on 'Wonderwell' Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Rita Ora and Carrie Fisher More than six years after Carrie Fisher's death in 2016, the late actress' last film Wonderwell was finally released in June and co-star Rita Ora is reminiscing on their time together. The British pop star and actress, whose new album You & I is out now, recently opened up to PEOPLE about working with Fisher on Wonderwell, which she recalls as "an amazing experience." "I'm really actually surprised and happy that this film's finally getting the light that it deserves," Ora tells PEOPLE, after shooting the coming-of-age fairytale in Tuscany, Italy in 2016. "To say I've been in scenes with Carrie Fisher, it's insane. She's an icon a legend." Related: Rita Ora Reveals She Almost Gave Up on Making Albums: 'I Felt Like, 'Is It Worth It?'' (Exclusive) Wonderwell tells the story of 12-year-old Violet (Kiera Milward), who lives in Italy with her parents and sister Savannah (Nell Tiger Free) and receives an offer to work with fashion designer Yana (Ora) in an alternate magical realm. Along the way, Violet meets a witch named Hazel (Fisher), who guides the young girl to a mysterious portal to learn about her future. The movie wrapped filming shortly before Fisher's death in December 2016, but various production delays halted its release until now. "Obviously, that was an amazing experience working with Carrie Fisher," says Ora. "I'm going to cherish the experience forever, and I'm happy that people are going to finally really see this film." Fisher, best known for Star Wars beloved Princess Leia Organa, died of a heart attack at age 60 after going into cardiac arrest during a flight from London to Los Angeles. Stefania D'Alessandro/WireImage Carrie Fisher Related: Rita Ora Calls Husband Taika Waititi 'My Biggest Supporter,' Hopes to Expand Their Family 'One Day' (Exclusive) Story continues Vlad Marsavin, who directed Wonderwell, spoke to Deadline earlier this year about making the film with Fisher shortly before her death. Carrie was full of energy during filming and even celebrated her 60th birthday with us in Italy where we shot the movie," he told the outlet. "After a night shoot, which went on until 2am, she invited the whole team to celebrate with her and the party ended up being shut down by the police because it was deemed a little too loud. Her passing was very emotional for the whole team," added the filmmaker. Now, fans can celebrate Fisher's legacy with the film. "I hope people like it," says Ora of Wonderwell. "It was really fun to make." For more on Rita Ora, pick up the latest issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands everywhere Friday. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. "Bill Geddie took a chance on me and believed in me and fought for me," Shepherd said of the late co-creator of 'The View' who died on Thursday at age 68 Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty The View co-hosts are paying their respects to the shows co-creator Bill Geddie. Geddie died on Thursday at his home in Rancho Mirage, California, due to a "coronary" issue, his daughter Allison confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE. Following the news of his death at age 68, several of The View's panelists shared tributes in honor of Geddie. Sherri Shepherd who co-hosted ABC talk show from 2007 to 2014 recalled how the late television producer guided her throughout her career, she shared in a statement to PEOPLE, "I am absolutely devastated. Bill Geddie took a chance on me and believed in me and fought for me. He had a wonderful sense of humor and his advice took me through my first season of 'The Sherri Show,' Shepherd, 56, continued. He was my mentor and my friend." Related: 'The View' Co-Creator and Executive Producer Bill Geddie Dead at 68 We are saddened by the sudden death of Bill Geddie. As a producer, he kept us together and was very loyal to his staff. Bill loved comedy and plenty of laughs not to mention a good cigar. Im forever grateful to him and Barbara for the opportunity to be on the View. RIP Joy Behar (@JoyVBehar) July 21, 2023 Joy Behar addressed his death in a tweet, writing, "We are saddened by the sudden death of Bill Geddie. As a producer, he kept us together and was very loyal to his staff. Bill loved comedy and plenty of laughs not to mention a good cigar. Im forever grateful to him and Barbara for the opportunity to be on the View. RIP 'VIEWMASTER.' " Sunny Hostin who joined The View in 2016 also shared a tribute to Geddie on Twitter and recalled auditioning for the TV gig. Story continues "My friend & mentor Bill Geddie has transitioned at 68. Bill was the 1st person to believe that I could be a national talk show host, Hostin, 54, shared. He told me after an audition for The View you were sitting there watching the show instead of being on the show. Lean in like I know you can. Related: Paying Tribute to the Celebrities Who Have Died in 2023 On Instagram, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, who co-hosted The View from 2003 to 2013, remembered Geddie as an authentic supporter of the voices of women on television, and challenged us daily to think and speak independently for the decade we worked together. "I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity that both Bill Geddie and Barbara Walters gave me. He will be missed and my heart goes out to his family," Hasselbeck, 46, added. Debbie Matenopoulos who was one of the original hosts of The View reacted to the news on her Instagram Story, writing, "Can't believe this is true. Can't stop crying. This does not seem real. We were just texting [three] days ago about the show we were producing together. My heart is broken. There are no words." "You were one of the last TV titans. You were and always will be one of the greats," Matenopoulos, 48, continued alongside a throwback photo of her and Geddie. "No one I have ever worked with knew what makes good TV better than you. I'm having a very hard time accepting that you are gone. May you rest in peace, my friend and mentor." Related: Barbara Walters' Longtime 'View' Producer Reflects on How 'She Kicked Sexism and Ageism Squarely in the Ass' The television personality also shared a lengthy post on Instagram to honor Geddie, writing in part, You changed the trajectory of my life FOREVER. I listened to you and Barbaras every word and only ever wanted to make both of you proud of me. Over the years our relationship grew from mentor to friend, to mutual respect and admiration as colleagues, to in the last 3 years collaborators and producing partners. I felt like we had come full circle and we were finally home again, she continued. You would make me laugh out loud with you jokes and your wit and your no bulls approach to everything. I was so so so happy to be in your presence again. The View's official Twitter page also released a statement, sharing, "Its with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The View co-creator and one of televisions most well-respected producers, Bill Geddie. "He was a pioneer in television and greatly beloved by 'The View' family," the statement continued. " 'The View' wouldn't exist without Bill Geddie. Our love goes out to his wife Barbara and their two daughters, Allison and Lauren." Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty 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. Geddie's daughter Allison confirmed the news on Friday, telling PEOPLE in a statement: "My father was the greatest man I knew. He was an upbeat guy who was always cracking a joke. When he had an opinion everyone wanted to hear it and they trusted what he had to say. Everything he touched turned to gold. He was kind, supportive, and had impeccable integrity. We are devastated by this loss but are so grateful that we got this incredible man in our lives for as long as we did." Geddie, a four-time Emmy winner, was best known for co-creating The View with Barbara Walters, which launched in 1997 featuring Walters, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Behar and Matenopoulos as panelists. He remained on the talk show until 2014, earning 13 Daytime Emmy nominations throughout his tenure. In 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 39th Daytime Emmy Awards. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Screenshot: Paramount The end may be coming for Star Trek: Discoveryin March, word came that the series will wrap up in early 2024 after its fifth seasonbut plenty of thrills will be packed into its final mission. Thanks to San Diego Comic-Con, we have a new trailer that offers the best glimpse of season fives treasure-hunt mystery since last years New York Comic Con tease. At San Diego Comic-Con today, Paramount revealed the first extended footage from season 5, which sees Burnham on a wild chase as she finds herself in pursuit of some mysterious villains and their stolen loot. And things only get wilder from there, with Burnham going from hull breach to spacewalking on a mid-warp vessel, to... well, see for yourself (psst, international fans, check it out on Twitter). Read more Here's a behind-the-scenes look at the adventure to come in the final season of #StarTrekDiscovery, premiering 2024! pic.twitter.com/tcxRHXsdYn Star Trek on Paramount+ (@StarTrekOnPPlus) July 22, 2023 Star Trek: Discoverys fifth and final season is still expected to arrive in early 2024 on Paramount+. This was written during the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of writers and actors currently on strike, the films and TV covered during SDCC 2023 wouldnt exist. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who. Story continues More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Welcome to the dollhouse: Happy Family Midge, Earring Magic Ken and Barbie with her dog Tanner (Getty/iStock) In Greta Gerwigs Barbie, Mattel raids its entire toybox. Along with Margot Robbies titular doll and Ryan Goslings Ken, we see discontinued toys from bygone eras of Mattel, all of them pulled from shelves for a host of reasons: marketing blunders, parental uproar, widespread controversy. In Gerwigs film, though, theyve bonded over their shared rejection, hanging out in a strange house on the outskirts of Barbie Land, unloved yet resilient. Since the launch of Barbie in the late Fifties, Mattel, along with its target consumers and their parents, have grappled with changing attitudes towards fashion, self-expression and gender roles. Their dolls have followed suit, and understandably there have been some blunders along the way. So join us as we rummage through the toy graveyard and unearth some of the more outrageous misfires in Barbie history. Growing Up Skipper, 1975 Lifespan: two years In 1975, a new version of Barbies younger sister Skipper came with a brand new function: she could instantly experience puberty right in front of your eyes. By rotating her left arm anticlockwise, the toys torso grew an inch and small breasts magically sprouted from her rubber chest. This process of transforming a young girl doll into a teenage doll was quickly mocked by newspapers, and criticised by parenting magazines as a gimmick. By 1977, the doll was discontinued. Teen Talk Barbie, 1992 Lifespan: Three months before re-issue Barbie was given a voice box in the Nineties, with each doll in the Teen Talk Barbie range coming with the ability to speak four sentences selected from a library of 270 phrases. Among them were: Will we ever have enough clothes? and Lets plan our dream wedding!. Another, though, signalled the downfall of Teen Talk Barbie: Math class is tough! The dialogue caused an uproar among educators and parents, as they argued that Barbies dislike of maths reflected the harmful stereotype that girls are not suited to certain academic subjects. The American National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, for example, objected to the line and argued that it was detrimental to their efforts to encourage girls to study math and science particularly when spoken alongside sentences all about shopping and marriage. Three months after the release of the dolls, Mattel pulled the doll and replaced it with a new version that didnt speak the controversial line. Story continues Earring Magic Ken, 1993 Lifespan: Six months Many have joked about the sexuality of Barbies himbo boyfriend Ken. But when Mattel released Earring Magic Ken in 1993, a doll who came with a lilac mesh T-shirt, matching pleather waistcoat and black high-waisted trousers, the jokes went into overdrive. Throw in his accessories a sparkly earring and a necklace that had an eyebrow-raising circular charm on the end of it and it seemed inevitable that the doll was dubbed Gay Ken or Fey Ken. In a New York Times article published in 1993, writer Carol Lawson claimed that Mattel was attempting to gender bend Ken by making him appeal to both boys and girls. Other reports suggested that Ken had experienced a plummet in his popularity, so Mattel had conducted a survey among Barbie fans and the company found that they wanted Ken to be cooler. Others just thought hed come out. Ever since Mattel introduced Earring Magic Ken a few weeks ago, people have been wondering whether theres something more in the Dream House closet than a few Bob Mackie originals and some two-inch-wide hangers, wrote journalist Frank DeCaro in Newsday. Donna Gibbs, director of media relations at Mattel at the time, emphasised that Kens look was not meant to be controversial he was just contemporary and thus a reflection of changing fashion trends. Men are wearing earrings today, its become a mainstream phenomenon, she said in 1993. So Ken should have an earring, why not? Just six months after Earring Magic Kens release, however, he was sadly discontinued. Happy Family Midge, 2002 Lifespan: unknown By 2002, Barbies oldest friend, Midge, was happily married and visibly pregnant with her second child with Mattel announcing she was expecting a baby girl. Capturing this stage in her life, the Happy Family Midge allowed you to pop off Midges pregnant belly and find a baby curled up inside. Parents complained Midge was too young to be pregnant it remains up for debate how old Barbie, Ken and their friends are actually supposed to be and that the toy promoted teen pregnancy. According to a CNN report at the time, US supermarket Wal-Mart pulled Midge from its shelves, and Mattel later released a version of Midge with a flat belly and a baby you couldnt detach from and re-attach to her body. It is thought that Happy Family Midge was quietly phased out after that. Tanner the Dog, 2007 Lifespan: three years Kate McKinnons Weird Barbie appears to own a plastic, endlessly defecating dog in Gerwigs film and its a pup thats sprung from reality. The golden retriever, named Tanner, was unveiled in 2007 and came with a magnetic pooper scooper. Even weirder, if you pulled Tanners tail, tiny magnetic pellets of model faeces cascaded out of him. It was the poop pellets, however, that became controversial, as parents worried that they were a choking hazard for children. This resulted in a product recall the magnet in Barbies scooper was too loose, apparently. In Barbie, Kate McKinnons Weird Barbie lives with a collection of discontinued dolls (Warner Bros) Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken, 2009 Lifespan: less than a year This 2009 Ken doll wore a satin green paisley blazer, white trousers and led a small white dog on a pink leash but it was his name that sparked the most confusion. As it turned out, it was a huge error. Ken wasnt a sugar daddy as we know them to be, after all. A Mattel spokesperson told the New York Post in 2009 that hes Sugars daddy, as a reference to the dog Kens dog being named Sugar, meaning he was a more literal Sugar daddy than first assumed. According to reports, Mattel was thought to have taken references from the work of photographer Slim Aaron, particularly his Palm Springs Party. Many of Aarons subjects were celebrities and high-profile socialites, and in a 1970 shoot at the Kaufmann Desert House in Palm Springs, California, a man on the right of the photograph is dressed almost identically to Sugar Daddy Ken. Barbie Video Girl, 2010 Lifespan: two years As the exiled Barbie dolls congregate in Weird Barbies at the edge of Barbie Land in the 2023 film, one appears to have a TV built into her back. This Barbie was designed with a hidden camera in her chest, which feeds the moving image onto the screen behind her. At the time of its release in 2010, the doll sparked concern among safety regulators about privacy issues, leading to the FBI issuing an alert about a potential child safety threat. While Mattel issued a statement saying that childrens safety was their number one priority and that the toy did not pose a risk, the doll was quietly discontinued in 2012. As film and TV actors skipped San Diego Comic-Con in support of the SAG-AFTRA strike, a number of voice actors gathered to show their support and raise awareness about the threat of artificial intelligence on their industry. The National Association of Voice Actors hosted a panel Saturday morning, where multiple actors and SAG officials spoke to a packed room about how rapidly changing AI technology can threaten both fans and creators. Participants included Linsay Rousseau (Transformers: War for Cybertron), Ashly Burch (Mythic Quest), Cissy Jones (The Owl House), Zeke Alton (The Callisto Protocol), Tim Friedlander (Record of Ragnarok), and SAG-AFTRA executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. The panelists took a deep dive into the many different forms of AI, particularly in its use in voice work from original voices like Apple's Siri to synthetic voices copying live actors. All cautioned that AI inherently is not a bad tool and can in some ways enhance voice performances, but fans and actors should push back against exploitative methods. "Voice acting is the tip of the spear of how AI can either be used to lift people up and enhance the opportunities that actors have or be used in a negative way to steal their voices and crush human creativity," Crabtree-Ireland told the crowd. "We need to be very vigilant about that. AI isn't implementing itself. People are choosing to implement AI. So, we've got to reject the idea that this is something that is going to happen to us, and there's nothing to be done about that. That is an absolute myth that is being foisted upon us by the people who want us to think we have no power." Duncan Crabtree-Ireland Chelsea Guglielmino/FilmMagic SAG-AFTRA executive director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland joined voice actors at San Diego Comic-Con 2023 Ultimately, the panelists explained, it all comes down to consent. Currently, there are no federal or international laws protecting a person's likeness, and many existing contracts allow a company to capture an actor's voice or likeness and use it "in perpetuity." NAVA and SAG-AFTRA are calling upon voice actors and fans alike to push back, both by establishing protective contract language and by pushing for global laws. Story continues Friedlander pointed out that video game voice actors can be particularly susceptible to having their voices stolen or used in inappropriate and even explicit content. He argued that it's impossible for one actor to find and address every example of that online, so he encouraged fans to help find and report what they see. "We love modding communities and fans, and we love working with fans to help share and grow these games that we love," Friedlander said. "But you start getting to the point of taking these recognizable voices and putting them into an AI and making them say something that was never ever said. It can be used in pornographic content. That's a line that's being crossed that a lot of voice actors are not happy about. It's something that becomes dangerous to them, and it becomes damaging to their families and future work." "There is nothing in law that prevents me from using tools to grab any one of your voices, faces, and likenesses and make some sort of expressive work without your permission which sucks," Alton added. "You want to own who you are. You don't want your kids seeing some real foul stuff out there that you didn't do or didn't say. We think that every individual should have the right to who they are. Right now, studios and media conglomerates think, 'Well, that hurts our competitive advantage.' But that's me! I'm not going to give you me for your competitive advantage." The panelists added that many of their concerns aren't limited to voice acting. As the technology grows and develops, it can have ramifications for countless other professions from writers and actors to lawyers and social media influencers. "I heard someone say recently that it would be so great for fans if AI is implemented because you could get a new season of Succession, if you want," Burch added. "And I guarantee you, you do not want an AI-written season of Succession. It's just not the same." Crabtree-Ireland also drew parallels between the fight for voice rights and a certain maritime Disney movie that hit theaters earlier year. "I will say one of the companies we're on strike against has told a story of a small mermaid and a sea witch that literally steals that small mermaid's voice," Crabtree-Ireland told the crowd to applause. "I don't know about you, but I remember seeing that and at the time thinking how horrifying that is, seeing this sea witch steal the mermaid's voice and use it for herself. That is exactly what we're talking about." Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: GREENSBORO To become fully licensed in North Carolina, most teachers must take and pass content tests specific to the grades or subjects they teach typically within three years of getting their initial license. That requirement can be reassuring for parents, but state department of instruction leaders have been discovering in recent years that theres a disconnect. Some teachers have proven themselves as effective teachers with how their students score on state exams, but they cant pass their own required licensure tests, even with multiple attempts. One of the biggest tripwires has been the math test for elementary classroom teachers. Thomas Tomberlin, the states senior director for educator preparation, licensure and performance, said its become clear that requiring teachers to pass these tests, especially the elementary math test, is actually keeping some good teachers from continuing in the profession, and harming the states teacher pipeline. The department, however, isnt recommending that the state just scrap the tests, Tomberlin said. Everybody wants to know that their kids math teacher understands math, he said. Instead, theyd like to see the state offer additional, alternative ways that teachers could also use to demonstrate their competency to be fully licensed. One possibility, he said, could be using the teacher effectiveness ratings. Currently, the only option for teachers who do not pass their tests in three years is to get the school board that employs them to apply for a non-renewable limited license for them. That allows them to continue to teach but only in their current district for up to another three years. The NC Department of Public Instruction included the recommendation for alternate ways for teachers to demonstrate competency for licensure as part of a much broader package of reforms it has pitched to the General Assembly. Tomberlin said its looking unlikely that the General Assembly will act on the recommendations as part of the current budget, but NCDPI is are hopeful it will happen in a future session. In the meantime, the department announced that it is offering up to $500 per person in reimbursement to new and upcoming teachers for the costs of taking the tests. For the elementary math tests, teachers actually have a choice of which exam to take from those offered by two different testing companies. The Pearson test focuses mostly on ability to work math problems, including some problems more typical of middle and high school math than whats taught in elementary school. The Praxis test is more focused on questions about how to teach the subject. How to teach kids math is a different process than actually learning how to do math, said Kerri Richardson, the department chairwoman of teacher education and higher education at UNC Greensboro. You are having to learn how a child thinks about math. Richardson said the test questions are hard, but that preparing for the Praxis test can be useful for students preparation for teaching. UNCG, she said, holds review sessions to help students out. Most students, she said, can pass the test if they get the support to do so. Tomberlin said hes not sure why elementary math has stood out as difficult to pass, but his best theory is that some of the students who go into elementary education teaching didnt do much with math in their general education portion of college, prior to their teacher education training. Both tests, Tomberlin said, have some algebra on them. That may be difficult for people who havent been engaged in math for a while, he said. Prior to 2014, North Carolina required teachers to pass the tests before being issued any kind of license. The state didnt have clear data on the people who didnt pass their exams, because they never applied for the license. Since then, he said, theyve been able to compare pass rates for students who passed their content exams prior to starting teaching versus those who passed them later. The students who passed prior to starting teaching were somewhat more effective, he said, but there wasnt much difference. Today, he said, the pass rate for the Praxis elementary math test is about 65% and the pass rate for the Pearson elementary math test is about 47%. Thats the percent of tests that were passed, not people who passed. Perhaps surprisingly, the Pearson test was actually taken a bit more frequently than the Praxis. The percent of people who ultimately pass at least one of the tests, including those with multiple attempts, is more like 80%, Tomberlin said. But that still leaves a good-sized group unable to become fully licensed elementary school teachers in North Carolina. For some, its the end of their career. Thats where we are starting to hear much more pushback about it, he said, explaining theyve been hearing both from individual educators and school districts, pointing out the teachers with great efficacy ratings who just cant pass. Not allowing them to continue, thats a much different thing than not allowing them to start. As several cities across the United States are battling extreme heat, they're also facing the threat of wildfire smoke. Canada is facing its worst wildfire season on record and fires have already broken out along the West Coast, causing hazy conditions and poor air quality. While scorching temperatures and toxic plumes from fires are each hazardous to human health on their own, experts warn that the two coming together is a dangerous combination. MORE: Toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires could impact health of millions in the US "Independently, wildfire smoke and extreme heat conditions can greatly impact human health, particularly those who are vulnerable, meaning those who already have some underlying cardiovascular and metabolic or respiratory conditions," Chris Minson, a professor of human physiology at the University of Oregon, told ABC News. "And so then, when you combine the two things, certainly there can be an exacerbation of those problems." Cyclical relationships of wildfire smokes and heat Scorching temperatures have been recorded across the county, shattering records. Tuesday marked the 19th consecutive day that temperatures were at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Phoenix, Arizona. On Monday, Miami recorded the 16th consecutive day that heat index values were at or above 105 degrees. PHOTO: A billboard displays a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit during a record heat wave in Phoenix, Arizona on July 18, 2023. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images) The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center warned it's only going to get worse, tweeting Thursday, "Hot, summertime conditions expand over the Lower 48 beginning the middle of next week. Many locations within the Midwest may reach their hottest temperatures of the year thus far." Meanwhile, wildfire smoke from Canada recently returned to the U.S, moving air quality index rankings into the "unhealthy" category. What could be happening is that heatwaves are begetting wildfire seasons and vice versa. "So, you have a heatwave? Well, that leads to a longer fire season," Saagar Patel, a doctoral Student at the Institute of the Environment & Sustainability at the University of California, Los Angeles, told ABC News. "Fires will begin earlier in the year, and they'll end later in the year and so there is a direct impact where a longer or more pronounced heat wave will lead to longer fire seasons." Story continues "And during fire seasons, you know, you're producing more greenhouse gases, which directly lead to climate-influenced events, such as heat waves, and so you have this feedback loop that exists," he said. Effects on the body Many of the health impacts of wildfire smoke have been well-documented and mostly lie with fine particulate matter known as PM2.5. Because these particles are too small to be seen with the naked eye, they can easily enter the nose and throat and can travel to the lungs, with some of the smallest particles even circulating in the bloodstream, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. MORE: Toxic smoke from Canadian wildfires could impact health of millions in the US PM2.5 can cause both short-term health effects, even for healthy people, including irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; coughing, sneezing; and shortness of breath and long-term effects such as worsening conditions such as asthma and heart disease. "When you add the heat on there -- humans are incredibly well adapted to adjust to heat as long as we're healthy and hydrated, but even in those conditions -- high heat stress puts a real strain on our cardiovascular system," Minson said. To cool down, the body doesn't just sweat but increases skin blood flow. By increasing the amount of blood flowing through the body and speed, this widens blood vessels and allows heat to escape. "That means we have to divert blood flow from other areas, which is harder to do if those other areas are having an inflammatory response," Minson said. "A healthy individual can manage those as long as things aren't getting out of control, but it's those who are at risk with other cardiovascular diseases are young and elderly, are going to really struggle." Patel added that people also have to breathe deeper to cool down, which means people could be inhaling those fine particles that can cause health issues. A June 2022 study from the University of Southern California found the number of deaths rose on hot days and on days with high levels of PM2.5 rose, but the risk of death was roughly three times greater when both happened compared to when the conditions occurred on their own. "I think research has shown or at least demonstrate...the risk is greater than the sum of the parts." he said. "You're at risk of death when there's a heatwave, you're at risk of death when there's bad air quality, but it turns out, you're at more risk and when those happen at the same time." PHOTO: A hazy New York skyline, July 19, 2023, as an air quality alert remained in effect due to the continued burning of wildfires in Canada. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Climate change will worsen the issue Studies have shown climate change is already leading to an increase in wildfire season length and the frequency of wildfires. Research has also found climate change is increasing the number of hotter days and more extreme heat waves. Experts fear his means there will be more overlap between extreme heat and wildfire seasons, leading to more people being affected. "The problem is...that the real risk of climate change is that it's going to make much more dynamic climate problems meaning we're gonna have these heat domes more regularly, we're going to have extreme dry areas that normally get more rain or become very, very fire prone," Minson said. "And then that's going to be the problem is the number of heat events, we're going to have super dry periods, we're gonna have more forest fires." He continued, "And then when you've got those things combined, you just are exacerbating all the problems independently, they're bad enough and challenging for a lot of humans. When you combine them, now you've got real, real problems." MORE: Wildfire smoke map: These are the US cities, states with air quality being affected by Canadian fires Dr, William Vizuete, a professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering in the Gillings School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said if you can, make sure you have a HEPA filter in your home to filer the air and put on air conditioning to handle hot temperatures or get to a cooling center. He also advised wearing a mask limiting time outdoors, and wearing a mask if you need to be outside and keep track of temperatures and the wildfire smoke situation with air quality tracking sites like AirNow or PurpleAir. "You can use that to kind of provide some sort of guidance, you know, 'Is it a better quality today? Maybe I should protect myself from being outside minimize my time outside,'" he said. People can also purchase a low-cost sensor that they can put in their home or just outside their home and be able to monitor their air quality in real time, he said. Mix of extreme heat and wildfire smoke can be very dangerous, experts say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com From biking in the Colorado desert to rock climbing in Tennessee, these are five of America's most classic wilderness experiences and they're closer than you think. Courtesy of Visit Bellingham The whole family can hit the trails near Mount Baker, outside Bellingham, Washington There's no denying the appeal of America's national parks. Whether it's hiking in Yosemite or scouting grizzly bears in Denali, these protected spaces offer premier wilderness experiences. But often, getting to these special places requires traveling a long distance. Many of the country's best wilderness experiences are even closer than you think in fact, they might be near a city. Here, we've rounded up five outdoor activities in some of America's under-the-radar adventure capitals, plus where to stay and what to eat and drink. Climb the Cumberland Plateau Chattanooga, Tennessee Elliot Stahl/Courtesy of Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Rock climbing in Chattanooga, TN Chattanooga, Tennessee has easy access to some of the Souths finest rock climbing. It's located on the Cumberland Plateau a 450-mile tableland that covers much of eastern Kentucky and Tennessee, with soaring sandstone walls, large boulders, and dramatic overhangs. Sunset Park, on Lookout Mountain, stays cool in the summer and is a good choice for trad climbing (where the lead climber places removable anchors on the way up, for other climbers to follow). The Tennessee Wall, another trad spot, is one of the Souths finest. After working up a sweat, cool off at Flora de Mel, which brews up small-batch meads, including unusual flavors like chili-mango and blueberry-basil, using honey from its own apiary. For dinner, head to Calliope, where chef Khaled Albannas open-fire cooking integrates flavors from his childhood home of Jordan. Order squash couscous with herb-marinated crab, a charcoal-roasted half chicken, and pita with labneh and whipped feta. Sleep in an old-growth forest at Treetop Hideaways, or get a glimpse of climber culture at the Crash Pad), a LEED Platinumcertified hostel with private rooms that feels almost like a boutique hotel. Bike Where the Dinosaurs Roamed Grand Junction, Colorado Courtesy of Go Fruita Gravel biking near Grand Junction, Colorado. As a biking destination, Grand Junction, Colorado may not be as well-known as Moab, Utah, but its routes can be just as challenging. Saddle up with Boneshaker Adventures, which offers private and group mountain-biking lessons, as well as programs for kids. Kokopellis Trail runs along red rock canyons where petrogylphs and fossils have been found. Story continues Stay at Camp Eddy, which opened in August 2022, is beautifully situated on the banks of the Colorado River and has Airstreams, cabins, and RV sites for rent. In town, order a glass of skin-contact wine, blue-corn hush puppies, and trout rillettes at Bin 707 Foodbar. Its run by Josh Niernberg, who was named a semifinalist for this years Outstanding Chef award by the James Beard Foundation. Hike from Sea to Summit Bellingham, Washington Katheryn Moran/Courtesy of Visit Bellingham Hiking in Bellingham, WA Bellingham, Washington sits between North Cascades National Park and the Pacific coast. Its trails range from easy waterfront routes to strenuous ascents ending at ice-blue glaciers. For views of the San Juan Islands, head out on an easy trail at Larrabee State Park. Summiting the famous Mount Baker requires technical climbing skills, but you can still get superb views from the moderate 5.5-mile round-trip Heliotrope Ridge Trail. The Heliotrope Hotel makes a great home base. It's an updated 1950s motel that leans in to the Pacific Northwest aesthetic, with hand-hewn tree-trunk coatracks in the rooms and photographs of snowy peaks and clear lakes on the walls. The outdoor hangout area has a firepit, a cornhole set, and a bike-washing station. For post-hike beers and tamales, head to El Suenito Brewing Co., or visit the Portal, where old shipping containers house businesses like the Selkie Scoop. Try the lemon-poppyseed ice cream. Stargaze in Solitude Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition/Courtesy of The City of Flagstaff A Dark Skies Coalition Star Party in Flagstaff, AZ Thanks to its low levels of light pollution, Flagstaff, Arizona became the worlds first Dark Sky Community in 2001, and remains one of the countrys best places to view the cosmos. After dusk, spread a blanket at Buffalo Park, a 215-acre green space within the city, and watch the sky come alive. Just north of town, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument typically offers night-sky programs in the summer. For a true scientific experience, visit the Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930. Spend the night right on Route 66 at High Country Motor Lodge. Appropriately, it has a vintage feel, with cottages and rooms that frame a central pool and common area. There are lawn games, outdoor movie nights, and even a Nordic spa. When it's time to eat, stop into Proper Meats & Provisions, a whole-animal butcher shop with a hefty sandwich list. A block away is the family-style Shift Kitchen & Bar. Try the relleno burger, with roasted poblano peppers, queso asadero, chipotle aioli, and house chips. Paddle the World's Largest Freshwater Lake Duluth, Minnesota Peter Bohler Minnesotaas Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a boateras paradise. Set right on Lake Superior, Duluth, Minnesota is an unsung water-sports capital. Kayak Superiors northern shore with Day Tripper of Duluth. Youll glide through blue-green water and past soaring cliffs, with a spectacular view of Split Rock Lighthouse. Duluth is also a two-hour drive from the 1.1 million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the countrys most remote places. Solglimt, a five-room B&B, has Lake Superior beach access, and the waterfront Fitgers Inn is a town favorite. For an only-in-Minnesota drinking experience, visit the tasting room at Vikre Distillery to sample aquavit, gin, and vodka made using local grains, foraged botanicals, and, of course, pure water from Lake Superior. Or opt for the Spruce Almighty cocktail, made with Vikres Boreal Spruce Gin, kumquat, lemon, and pomegranate. A version of this story first appeared in the July 2023 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Land of Plenty." For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. The Luminaire is giving history buffs a chance to search for the final resting place of ancient Egypts most famous ruler in truly luxurious fashion. The nascent travel company, which launched last year, has unveiled a new experience that will give travelers an opportunity to help dig for the long-lost tomb of Cleopatra. The trip also includes informative side expeditions and stays at two five-star hotels. More from Robb Report The adventure begins in Cairo. Youll first head to Egypts largest archaeological site (Saqqara) to get a behind-the-scenes look at a slew of new discoveries, then beeline it to the hotly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum to preview it before it opens. There will also be an Egyptologist on hand throughout the museum tour and the rest of the journey to answer any and all of your burning questions. A convoy leaves the temple of Taposiris Magna. The next stop is Alexandria. Noted archaeologist Dr. Kathleen Martinez and her team recently uncovered tunnels in the port city that they believe lead to Cleopatras tomb. Youll not only explore the labyrinth of ancient passageways at the Great Temple of Osiris (Taposiris Magna) but also contribute to the search by partaking in live excavation and restoration work with Martinez and her crew. The ancient pyramids of Egypt. It is understood Cleopatra died by suicide on either August 10 or August 12, 30 B.C., possibly by means of a poisonous Egyptian serpent. After potentially making a miraculous discovery in the tunnels, travelers will take an exclusive tour of the Library of Alexandria with an archivist. Archaeologist Dr. Kathleen Martinez. As for accommodation, jet-setters will be treated to two nights at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza and three nights at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano. Both swanky resorts are situated by the water and have pools that will be particularly soothing after a day of digging. Story continues Inside a suite at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano. All up, the six-day trip will set you back $21,700 per person (based on double occupancy). That fee includes all local transfers and meals. The Luminaire says the best time to travel is between September 2023 and May 2024. You can also customize the itinerary with visits to the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Great Sphinx, or the Oracle Temple of Amun, for instance. The pool at Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano. This isnt the first extravagant experience the Luminaire has offered. Back in January, the industry newcomer announced plans for the worlds first luxury dinosaur expedition. Can we hunt for the lost city of Atlantis next? Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Matej Mohoric after winning stage 19 of the 2023 Tour de France Matej Mohoric said thoughts of his late team-mate Gino Mader has made it an emotional Tour de France for him and his Bahrain Victorious team but given them extra determination too. The Slovenian, who outsprinted Kasper Asgreen in Poligny from a breakaway to win in Poligny on stage 19, said: "It has made it a really emotional Tour de France for our team, but maybe it gives you that extra bit of determination." He described how close he was with the Swiss rider, who died after crashing on a high-speed descent in the Tour de Suisse, adding: "We spend more time with our team-mates than with our families." Only the photo-finish camera was able to separate Mohoric and Asgreen (Soudal-Quick Step) as they crossed the line in Poligny, following a lumpy day out in the Jura. Fellow breakaway Ben O'Connor (AG2R-Citroen) had kicked off the sprint but faded early. Mohoric won two stages of the 2021 Tour and Milan-San Remo last March, but his emotion after the finish was partly down to having spent so long searching another big victory and enduring multiple setbacks, he admitted. "I was probably in the best shape of my life for this year's spring campaign," he said. "But first there was a crash in Gent-Wevelgem, which I caused myself; then there was a big, big crash in Flanders. I also missed the decisive moment in Paris-Roubaix," he explained. He also described struggling through last year's Tour with Epstein Barr virus. He repeatedly talked about how hard the Tour de France is, and how much goes in to almost every aspect of it, and said that he wished every rider could experience the thrill of winning a stage. He even said that he sometimes felt guilty for beating other riders, knowing just how much they had put into trying to win. "I knew I had a chance to win a stage," he said, "because I knew what it takes because I won two stages in '21. But everyone is just so good and everyone sacrifices so much for this race." Every single rider would deserve to win I saw the faces on the Col de la Loze you know what everyone is going through. I know how much a Tour stage can change your life," he added. "I wish everyone could win but it's just not possible, and that's cruel. An Ohio man illegally accessed hundreds of womens online accounts in search of their sexually explicit photos, according to federal authorities. Now, Dwayne Curry, 34, has pleaded guilty to unauthorized access of a computer, records show. Authorities said Curry, of Cincinnati, identified female targets through the internet, television and in person, according to a July 18 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio. He then used cryptocurrency to buy their passwords on dark websites selling stolen user account information, officials said. Currys defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on July 19. In total, Curry unlawfully accessed at least 48 womens Snapchat accounts and more than 300 email accounts, according to the release. Some of the identified victims included a woman he met in person in Cincinnati, and two women he saw on television. The women resided in Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Authorities said he looked at and saved private photos from womens Snapchat accounts. If convicted, Curry faces up to five years in federal prison. Church camper secretly took pictures, videos of kids in bathroom, Oklahoma cops say Officer secretly recorded sex acts with 15-year-old from Illinois group home, feds say High school teacher posed as teen on Snapchat to get nude photos of girls, feds say Vic Velivis, Utah Diaper Bank founder and executive director, points out something for one of the volunteers from Stillwater Academy as they rewrap and sort diapers at the Utah Diaper Bank in Murray, Utah, on Friday, July 21, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Vic Velivis has never changed a diaper in his life. But the retired computer and IT expert has distributed millions of diapers as founder and unpaid director of the Utah Diaper Bank, which began with a pile of diapers that eventually took over his home and garage and has grown to require a pair of donated warehouses in the Salt Lake City area, where theyre repackaged by volunteers for distribution. The 73-year-old Velivis, who never had children, was shocked nearly a decade ago to learn that access to diapers is a key factor in whether low-income families can escape poverty. Even crisis nurseries required families to provide them. Inability to afford an adequate number of diapers is called diaper need and its a serious challenge that is attracting broad attention across the country. Programs designed to aid struggling families, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children do not help with diapers. The National Diaper Bank Network, which includes more than 200 local diaper banks, says 1 in 3 families with babies or toddlers cant afford to buy enough diapers to make sure little ones stay clean, dry and healthy. Thats a huge number, since the U.S. has more than 15.5 million children under age 3. One-fifth of all children are infants and toddlers. Two-thirds of their mothers work. And federal assistance programs commonly have work requirements to access financial aid. But while block grants and other federal programs may help with child care costs so parents can work, parents must provide the diapers used in child care. When parents cant afford diapers or run out early, the network says: Babies face possible health problems like urinary tract infections, diaper rash and toxic stress. They need more doctor visits. Mothers may face increased maternal depression. Jamie Lackey, CEO of Helping Mamas, a basic needs bank in the Atlanta, Georgia, area, said mental health is a related issue. When parents cant meet basic needs, it impacts how they feel about themselves and as parents. Parents are turned away by child care. If that happens, they miss school or work. Story continues June data from the network says 47% of families with young children nationwide struggle to afford diapers. And while most who need diaper help work, more than 3 in 5 families receiving diapers earn less than $20,000 a year. Put simply, inadequate diaper supply may jeopardize a familys ability to move ahead financially. There is so much power and hope in diapers, said Lackey, a social worker for 25 years who realized about a decade ago the role diapers play in trapping low-income families in poverty. While addressing diaper need used to be more common in blue states, diapering low-income babies is now a cause crossing political lines. Red state leaders increasingly promote policies that may include diapers. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, for instance, said his state will propose covering diapers for Medicaid recipients for the first two years of a babys life. Thats pro-life. Thats pro-family, he said. Diaper assistance has become more emphasized by states in the wake of the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, according to Joanne Goldblum, CEO and founder of the National Diaper Bank Network. Student volunteers from Stillwater Academy label, rewrap and sort diapers at the Utah Diaper Bank in Murray on Friday, July 21, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Very basic need Goldblum believes diapers, like period products, are a basic need that intersects with major issues like health and finances. She calls sales tax on them regressive, because the less money people have, the higher percentage of that money goes to the state for something they cannot do without. For someone making federal minimum wage, diapers for one child can cost 8% of total income, according to federal Health and Human Services statistics. Goldblum first saw the impact of not having adequate resources to afford diapers nearly 20 years ago. She was a social worker doing direct services work in New Haven, Connecticut, an industrial town with many low-income working families. National welfare reform had just passed and she started seeing overlooked basics. It became clear that there was no state or federal subsidy for diapers or any other hygiene products, or cleaning supplies or over-the-counter medication. We think about the big things, right? she told the Deseret News. A family moving from homelessness to housing gets housing help, she said, but has to scrounge up a bed or utensils or mattresses. You cant maintain a house that way. And then we say, Oh, they werent able to maintain housing. We have child care subsidies, though not enough of them, but we dont consider that most child care centers even those subsidized, except Head Start require parents to provide an adequate supply of disposable diapers. She was driven, too, by awareness of her status as a privileged woman, she said. When my kids were young, I could complain bitterly about how stressful it was and I was forgiven all sorts of things. If I forgot to sign a permission slip, theyd let me call and say they can take my kid or I could fax it. I had paid time off. If I really needed to do something, I could. Poor women are not given the level of grace that comes with money. Diapers are really a window into poverty for a lot of people who havent thought about the idea that you might not have the most basic things you need. Student volunteers from Stillwater Academy label, rewrap and sort diapers at the Utah Diaper Bank in Murray on Friday, July 21, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Goldblum told her husband what her research was showing so often that he responded, Joanne, it cant be that hard. Lets just start getting people diapers. The New Haven Diaper Bank and later the national network were born. Diaper banks can buy diapers at significant discounts. And diaper manufacturers donate directly, too. Huggies, for instance, is the founding and largest sponsor of the National Diaper Bank Network and donates about 20 million diapers a year to network diaper banks, Goldblum said. Lackeys road to establishing Helping Mamas was similar to Velivis and Goldblums. All began with surprise that diaper help was scarce and need so great. They saw the consequences for families. And they acted. Goldblum thinks COVID-19 helped Americans relate more viscerally to the diaper need of low-income families. It was really the first time that many Americans had experienced not being able to get what they needed when they went to the store, she said. Searching for toilet paper and other basic supplies was really very eye-opening for a lot of people. Diaper banks and I believe food banks and other basic needs organizations saw a real increase in support. The needs were not new, she said. I think COVID sort of laid it more bare for people. Velivis said the Utah Diaper Bank was hobbling along until about three years ago, when people seemed more aware of both need and ramifications. Now it regularly distributes diapers to 30 organizations, as well as providing one-time help to some others whose clients face diaper need. The Utah Diaper Banks first full year, 2014, it distributed 14,404 diapers, compared to last years 1.3 million diapers. In 2023, the bank is on track to give away 1.6-1.7 million diapers. Volunteer help has grown exponentially, too. His friend Tom Coburn retired and donates up to 30 hours a week arranging shipping and other logistics. A friend who owns a print shop donates signs and banners. The warehouses and their utilities are donated. All the money that comes in buys diapers at discounted prices. HomeAid, a group of builders, holds the largest diaper drive in Utah. This year its Aug. 25, with a goal to collect 750,000 diapers. Others hold drives, too. Meanwhile, individuals, service organizations and church groups volunteer to repackage diapers to distribute to programs serving low-income families. No one gets paid. Everythings a gift of helping hearts and hands. Utahs also home to Little Lambs Foundation for Kids in northern Utah, which provides diapers and baby supplies to low-income families, as well as comfort kits for foster care and other shelter programs. Goldblum, Velivis and Lackey all told the Deseret News they still cannot meet all the need. Thousands of diapers are stacked at the Utah Diaper Bank in Murray on Friday, July 21, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Official and growing help Nationally, a bill was introduced in the House, HR3352, that if passed would treat diapers as a qualified medical expense under Health Savings Accounts and ban state and local taxes on diapers. By mid-2022, 21 states had acted on their own, providing some sales tax relief on diapers. Sales tax on diapers in states that levy it range from 4% to 7%, according to the diaper network. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Hawaii, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont and Washington have provided funding for diaper distribution and each has done it differently. California, for instance, put $30 million over three years directly to diaper banks to distribute diapers and also provides a $30 monthly stipend for those who receive CalWorks assistance. Vermont used $132,00 of its COVID-19 emergency relief money on diaper need. Georgia allocated $1.2 million for diapers for families with young children who receive TANF benefits, while Washington state lawmakers created a $5 million budget item for diapers over two years. Related That Georgia effort In 2022 distributed 210,924 diapers to 184 children on TANF, said Lackey, whose program is involved in the diaper distribution. Families with young children on TANF received a four-month supply, about 1,200 diapers per child a significant savings for them, she said. Part of the goal is to study how providing diapers boosts families upward mobility. She said 69% of families who received diaper assistance from the state said they would use the money saved to pay for rent, utilities and other household expenses. All said that receiving diapers made their family feel more stable, Lackey said. The money came not directly from the Georgia legislature, but from funds allocated to the states Department of Family and Childrens Services to help TANF families. All state Medicaid programs must provide diapers for children if they are part of medical treatment. But documentation requirements and implementation vary. Some local governments have also taken steps to boost access to diapers. San Francisco contracts to provide diapers to those with children under age 3 enrolled in TANF. In Westchester County, New York, Junior League collects diapers and money and a county social services program stores and distributes diapers to needy families. Harrison County, Iowas public health department has a diaper bank. One Ohio county has a diaper program for families in a home visiting program, a collaboration with the local Salvation Army, the county health department and a hospital council. Lackey said diaper banks get good corporate, community and nonprofit support. The missing piece is strong policy support. But its getting better. In 2022, for the first time, Congress appropriated $10 million, then $20 million in 2023 to expand diaper distribution programs. Advocates hope that level will continue in 2024. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a second round of grants in its Diaper Distribution Pilot, totaling $8.2 million ($16.2 million overall). New pilot sites are Alabama, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Utah, and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate of the Lake Traverse Reservation. That doubles participating states and tribes. Grant recipients will work with Community Action Agencies, social service agencies, and local diaper banks to strengthen and expand existing distribution infrastructure and provide wraparound support services to assist families experiencing critical diaper need, the agency said. Velivis estimates that will give Utah another 400,000 diapers and the project impact will be measured. Tom Coburn, operations manager for the Utah Diaper Bank, wraps two bundles of diapers as he helps a group of students to label, rewrap and sort diapers at the Utah Diaper Bank in Murray on Friday, July 21, 2023. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News To lend a hand For folks who wonder why those with diaper need dont use cloth diapers to save money, Goldblum said some diaper banks provide cloth. Diaper banks in Portland, Oregon, and the Diaper Bank of the Ozarks in Springfield, Missouri, are among those with big cloth diaper components. Community culture plays a role. But child care centers typically require disposable diapers. And many low-income families use laundromats, making cloth diapers impractical in terms of cost and time. They are more practical for those who can afford a diaper service out of the question for low-income households. As for helping out, diaper banks are always looking for donations both diapers and dollars, which can be used to buy diapers at discounted prices. They need lots of volunteers, too. It passes by some of the southwest's most protected places. Bryan Allen/Getty Images The Trail of the Ancients is a modern-day drive that connects the homesites and migration routes of Americas first peoples: the Ancestral Puebloans, Utes, and Navajo who lived in the Four Corners region from about 1 C.E. to 1300 C.E. The drive is the only National Scenic Byway that was designated primarily for its archaeological sites and oh, what archaeological sites it has. Along the way, travelers pass elaborate dwellings carved into the cliffs, underground kivas, and petroglyphs that were etched into the rock thousands of years ago. Like the people the trail memorializes, the route knows no borders. It circumnavigates the Four Corners region and passes through four states: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. (Though, Arizonas section of the byway has not yet been designated by the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Highway Administration.) janetteasche/Getty Images There is no right way to drive the multi-state Trail of the Ancients, which the Federal Highway Administration says is 480 miles in entirety. And your start and end point will depend on where youre coming from. But, for simplicity, weve attempted to put together a route that hits most of but not all the trails most iconic sites, including Mesa Verde National Park, Hovenweep National Monument, and the sandstone monoliths of Valley of the Gods. Albuquerque, New Mexico to Chaco Canyon Bryan Allen/Getty Images For ease of access, we recommend you start your journey in Albuquerque, which has an international airport: Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ). From the airport, head west toward the land of the Navajo Nation, where youll link up with New Mexicos Trail of the Ancients Byway. In the town of Grants, you have the option to head southwest toward El Morro National Monument, where youll find over 2,000 signatures, messages, and petroglyphs many from ancestral Puebloans. Or, you can head north toward the lesser-known Casamero Pueblo, the partially excavated archaeological site of an 11th-century Ancestral Puebloan community. For simplicity, we recommend the latter, which is en route to Chaco Culture National Historical Park (better known as Chaco Canyon), a massive Puebloan ruin that is considered to be the heart of New Mexicos Trail of the Ancients Byway. Story continues After exploring the great expanse of Chaco Canyon, backtrack to the highway and head north to Farmington, which is a short drive from Aztec Ruins National Monument and the Salmon Ruins Museum. After exploring Farmington, make your way west to Four Corners National Monument, where the borders of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet. Four Corners National Monument to Mesa Verde National Park Peter Unger/Getty Images From the Four Corners National Monument, head east to hop on the Colorado section of the Trail of the Ancients. Just outside Cortez, Colorado, youll find Mesa Verde National Park, a world-renowned park that houses the Cliff Palace, a well-preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwelling. After spending at least a day in Mesa Verde, continue north toward the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum, where youll learn about the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, a 174,000-acre expanse with an estimated 30,000-known and unknown sites. Eventually, travelers on Colorados Trail of the Ancients Byway will pass Hovenweep National Monument, which protects a series of ancient villages that were once home to over 2,500 people. Hovenweep National Monument to Valley of the Gods Adventure_Photo/Getty Images From Hovenweep, make your way toward White Mesa and then head north toward Blanding, Utah. Before Blanding, take a left on Route 95, where youll pass a handful of archaeological sites. Along the road, youll find the Butler Wash Ruins cliff dwelling and the open kiva, tower, and dwellings at Mule Canyon. Eventually, youll come upon Natural Bridges National Monument, which is home to three of the world's largest natural stone bridges. zrfphoto/Getty Images After a full day in the monument, head south toward Grand Gulch Primitive Area, a serpentine canyon system full of Ancestral Puebloan cliff ruins and rock art. The next site on the Trail of the Ancients Byway, the sandstone monoliths of Valley of the Gods, requires a drive on the tight switchbacks of Moki Dugway. If youre not comfortable with steep, sharp turns, go back the way you came and drive around to the Valley of the Gods highway access point. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. The president of Stanford University, Marc Tessier-Lavigne, recently announced his impending resignation after the universitys board of trustees found data manipulations in academic papers he co-authored. Though there reportedly were rumors of manipulated information in those papers, Stanfords student newspaper, The Stanford Daily, officially broke the story in November 2022. Then, on July 17, a report from the universitys board of trustees that reviewed 12 papers five where Tessier-Lavigne was a principal author concluded that while he did not have any knowledge of any manipulation of research data and either was not in a position where a reasonable scientist would be expected to have detected any such misconduct or was not reckless in failing to identify such manipulation prior to publication, he also failed to decisively and forthrightly correct mistakes in the scientific record. The report also mentioned that Tessier-Lavigne has not been able to provide an adequate explanation for why he did not correct the scientific record on multiple occasions after concerns were raised. In a July 19 statement, Tessier-Lavigne said, Although the report clearly refutes the allegations of fraud and misconduct that were made against me, for the good of the university, I have made the decision to step down as president effective August 31. The issues with Tessier-Lavignes research were brought to light in large part due to the work of reporters at The Stanford Daily, who reported tirelessly on this issue for nearly a year. Teen Vogue called Theo Baker, 18, the Stanford first-year who published multiple investigations into Tessier-Lavignes history, to learn more about how the school newspaper landed a scoop that ultimately became national news. This conversation was condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Teen Vogue: What originally made you interested in investigating Stanfords president and his research? Theo Baker: I got an initial tip in September. Someone reached out and let me know that there had been these musings in obscure scientific forums about images that seemed to have been placed together or photoshopped in papers that Tessier-Lavigne had co-authored. So, I said, Im going to take this and go talk to some actual forensic image analysts, people who are familiar with the science and can give me background. And we worked from there until we had our first investigation published in November. Later that day, the board of trustees opened an investigation for a story about just four papers that he was a co-author on. The end result of our reporting has identified at least 12. TV: Were these tips being sent to you specifically because you were the investigations editor? TB: I was not the editor at that time; I had just joined the Daily two weeks earlier. But I had written a few pieces that had gotten a lot of traction. Specifically, my first piece was an investigation into what students call the war on fun, which is a sort of bureaucratic tightening on social life that has worried a lot of safety advocates as well as people who are interested in having a vibrant social scene at Stanford. And then I had just reported a story about a man who had been living on campus pretending to be a student for a year while Stanford knew about it and failed to warn people. So, it was off the back of those stories that a lot of people started reaching out to me with tips and I just happened to decide to dig deeply on this one. TV: Were you nervous at all that the digging you were doing was going to get back to the president or the administration and have adverse effects on you as a student? TB: I remember one consideration for that first story that we were really careful about was trying to quote as few Stanford people as possible. The main consideration was we didn't want to get people potentially in trouble with Tessier-Lavigne. The first investigation was really honestly an example of an open-source investigation. It relied on a lot of things that were already sort of hidden in plain sight. And it took people actually starting to ask questions about it for it to start to come out. Obviously, it's an interesting decision to investigate the head of the school you go to. I was cognizant of that from the beginning. From the very start, we have had a lot of really fantastic lawyers and wonderful outside journalistic advisers and that helped me be confident in my own reporting. It takes a team to decide to do something like that. It takes editors who have faith in you to publish a story that could potentially have ramifications that ended up being quite large. TV: Aside from your reporting and reporting from the Daily, what was the mood on campus like? Was the president generally well-liked or were there other people pushing for him to resign as well? TB: I'm maybe not the best situated now because people talking to me knew that they were talking to the person who was doing this reporting. I will say that independent of Tessier-Lavigne, there are some deep frustrations right now among the undergraduate population at Stanford that we have been working to report. There is frankly a disastrous neighborhood system that they've just implemented, which has left a lot of frustration. There have been a number of suicides where students and even some outside observers place a fair amount of blame on Stanford for the way that they handled those cases. So I think that there's frustration with students at Stanford right now. I wouldn't be able to tell you exactly how much of that was directed at Tessier-Lavigne himself. (In an email to Teen Vogue, Stett Holbrook, Stanford's senior director of media relations and issues management, said, "The neighborhood system is currently being evaluated. As you can read here, we have learned a great deal over the first two years of implementation of our shared vision for housing and we remain committed to a process of ongoing feedback and iterative improvements.) TV: Was Tessier-Lavignes resignation your goal from the start of your reporting? TB: I certainly did not go into this with a personal vendetta against Tessier-Lavigne and my goals from the start have not been outcome focused. I really just tried to get my head down and look into these allegations and get a comprehensive picture as to what happened. TV: Your team at The Daily recently won a Polk Award for your investigations. How did that feel? TB: It was a complete shock. It's never been given to a college student before. The idea that these professional journalists would actively go out of their way to say, Hey, we're standing behind you, in a moment that for us was full of vulnerability, really meant the world. It's really hard to put into words exactly how gratifying it was to be recognized by people I have respected and admired for a lot longer than Ive been doing this work. TV: Have you always wanted to be a journalist? Is that what you want to do when you graduate? TB: Theres been a lot of online discourse from people who very rightly question the privileges I have as the child of two journalists, who ( Im biased) I think are pretty good at their job. It's been a reason I said I will never be a journalist because it's what my parents [who work at The New York Times and The New Yorker] do. I want to go and make my own path. And so the fact that I stumbled into this was a total accident. It was born out of a desire to feel connected to my late grandfather, who passed just two weeks before I started at Stanford, and who would always sit down and talk about his time doing student journalism. Going into this, my hope was not at all to end up breaking national stories or doing anything that would result in something like this. And I'm still not sure that I want to be a journalist. The work that I've done is my own and I feel really strongly about that. I utilized only the resources available to every staffer here at the Daily. I feel proud of the work and, at the same time, I'm not sure if this is what I'm cut out to do for the rest of my life. TV: Are you hopeful that the huge impact your stories at The Daily have had could set a precedent for the change student newspapers are capable of effecting? What do you wish more people knew about the work student journalists are doing that has an impact on people outside of a campus bubble? TB: I think student journalists across the country are making really tough decisions to report on communities that they also belong to. And yet their decisions are made out of love because if you truly love a community, you're going to push it harder than anyone else to be transparent. I think across the country, we've seen some fantastic student journalism this year: at the [Daily] Northwestern recently, the [Harvard] Crimson did some fantastic work, and the Columbia Daily Spectator had fantastic stories. I really think student journalists are just as savvy and just as capable as professional journalists when they're given the tools to succeed. So, I really hope this does open up more conversations about the role of student journalism and holding power to account. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Check out more Teen Vogue education coverage: "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Robert Oppenheimer named the test site Trinity. The name was inspired by a John Donne poem, which Oppenheimer once shared with his fiancee Jean Tatlock. Trinity, a swath of New Mexico desert, would host the first nuclear detonation on July 16, 1945, the beginning of the atomic age and a culminating event in Oppenheimers research. By then, Oppenheimer hadnt seen Tatlock since June 1943, when he visited her in San Francisco. I felt that she had to see me, Oppenheimer later said. She was undergoing psychiatric treatment. She was extremely unhappy. Tatlock took Oppenheimer to the airport the next morning. He never saw her again. She committed suicide the following year. Tatlock would not live to see the consequence of Oppenheimers research, the subsequent bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that occurred just weeks after the test conducted on the site commemorating her romance. Still, Oppenheimers feelings apparently lingered for years. Oppenheimer would have several lovers during his work on the Manhattan Projecta feature of his biography that director Christopher Nolan hasnt overlooked in his new film Oppenheimer, which covers more than one affair. Alongside his wife, Katherine Kitty Puening, whom Oppenheimer married in 1940 (Kitty is played by Emily Blunt in the film), Oppenheimer was also involved with Tatlock (played by Florence Pugh) and Ruth Sherman Tolman (played by Louise Lombard), the wife Richard Tolman, a colleague of Oppenheimers and adviser on the Manhattan Project The love of the characters, the love of the relationships, is as strong as Ive ever done, Nolan told Wired in a recent interview, suggesting his intention that Oppenheimer unpack the physicists relationships as well as his research. Tatlock will be one of the more prominent relationships explored in the film, the challenge of capturing that relationship falling to Pugh (who is roughly the same age as her character, despite online controversy over her age gap with co-star Cillian Murphy, also roughly his characters age.) Story continues They have these pictures of [Tatlock] and [Oppenheimer] that hes taken of her, and shes always giggling and is very silly and always has hair all over the place, Pugh noted during her research into the character. I just thought, well, what is it that turned this mans head towards her? She must be pretty spectacular and intelligent and opinionated and must in some way test him, too. Who is Jean Tatlock? Jean Tatlocks professional life began in academia. Graduating from Vassar College in 1935, Tatlock continued her studies in San Francisco, where she also worked as a writer and reporter for the Western Worker, a publication by the American Communist Party. Tatlock later graduated Stanford Medical School in 1941, beginning work as a psychiatrist. Shop Now American Prometheus $15.99 amazon.com Tatlock met Oppenheimer in 1936 when the physicist was teaching at Berkley. The two began dating, and Oppenheimer unsuccessfully proposed to her twice during this time. Even after Oppenheimer married Puening in 1940, he continued to see Tatlock until 1943 when Oppenheimer visited her in San Francisco. By this time, Tatlock was being treated for clinical depression. A year later, on January 5, 1944, Tatlocks father found her dead in her apartment, having drowned herself. Tatlock left a note. The note read: I am disgusted with everything To those who loved me and helped me, all love and courage. I wanted to live and to give and I got paralyzed somehow. I tried like hell to understand and couldnt I think I would have been a liability all my lifeat least I could take away the burden of a paralyzed soul from a fighting world. In their book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer (on which Oppenheimer is based), authors Martin J. Sherwin and Kai Bird note how Tatlock was the one to introduce Oppenheimer to Communist Party politics. Oppenheimers continued affiliation with members of the party incurred scrutiny during the McCarthy era and led to Oppenheimers 1954 hearing. In the hearing, he outlines his relationship with Tatlock: "In the spring of 1936, I had been introduced by friends to Jean Tatlock, the daughter of a noted professor of English at the university; and in the autumn, I began to court her, and we grew close to each other. We were at least twice close enough to marriage to think of ourselves as engaged. Between 1939 and her death in 1944 I saw her very rarely. She told me about her Communist Party memberships; they were on again, off again affairs, and never seemed to provide for her what she was seeking." As for the naming of the Trinity test site, Oppenheimer later wrote to Manhattan Project director Leslie Groves: I did suggest it... Why I chose the name is not clear, but I know what thoughts were in my mind. There is a poem of John Donne, written just before his death, which I know and love. From it a quotation: As West and East In all flatt Mapsand I am oneare one, So death doth touch the Resurrection. In another, better known devotional poem Donne opens, Batter my heart, three person'd God You Might Also Like The Cape Cod Pride Festival, hosted by Cape Cod Pride Inc. with Y101 FM, Fenway Health and We Thrive, is set to take over the village green Saturday in Hyannis. This year, the festival will honor Stonewall Uprising survivors and husbands Charles Evans and Paul Glass with an award for their work and commitment to the LGBTQ+ community on the Cape. Evans is also one of the founding members of Cape Cod Pride. They were very surprised when I told them they had been nominated, said Pam Washburn, president of Cape Cod Pride. They are Cape Cod and they need to be recognized for their work here within our own community, not just recognized for Boston and New York. The pair, now Falmouth retirees, have always been prominent figures in the LGBTQ+ community on the Cape and beyond. Evans helped found Cape Cod Pride, serving as clerk and vice president on the board of directors. He and Glass were also founding members of LGBTQ+ Elders of Color, a Boston-based organization working to bring attention to older LGBTQ+ people of color, and work with numerous organizations on the Cape. Glass currently serves as the organization's president. Paul and Charles have such a tremendous legacy, both in their work in Boston, and now and being real leaders here on Cape Cod," said Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro. "I think they truly exemplify the best of our community and I think it's particularly crucial that we lift up and celebrate LGBTQ people of color whose stories often haven't been told." When does the event start on Saturday? The festival starts at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. The celebration will be kicked off by Provincetown Town Crier Daniel Gomez Llata. Lady Di, host of the Your Legs Up talk show, will be the mistress of ceremonies. I'm looking for a nice day, a nice celebration of pride, said Washburn. It's important "just seeing the fruition of all our hard work and seeing people in the community and the allies having a great time." Story continues Speakers for this years festival include Evans, Cyr, U.S. Rep. William Keating, D-Massachusetts, and Scott Fitzmaurice, executive director of We Thrive. "Being proud and being visible is quite literally life-saving work," Cyr said. "Unfortunately, we need to remember that in this most sad-to-see moment, that we're seeing cruel politics that has unfortunately gripped certain parts of the country." What is the live entertainment for Cape Cod Pride? Familiar faces such as Zoe Lewis and Out Late with Diana will provide live entertainment along with Cape Cod rock band Club 9 Ball. DJ Jimmy D will also be there, pumping out tunes for the whole day. There will also be a kids' tent running throughout the day and the first 35 kids to arrive will receive a Cape Cod Pride swag bag. Over 70 vendors and nonprofits will be taking over the green. Food trucks will be providing food throughout the day and a raffle, donated by Cape and Leisure, will be auctioned off as well. As for the decision to hold the festival in July, Washburn said she wanted to ensure everyone could go to all the celebrations they wanted to during Pride month in June. Everybody wants to go to every other Pride because there's so many of them, said Washburn. And really, why can't you have pride every day? Who are Charles Evans and Paul Glass? Paul Glass and Charles Evans are names you may have heard before. They support the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Pride, and LGBTQ+ Elders of Color in Boston. Last fall in Boston their portraits lined the Commons alongside other prominent members of the LGBTQ+ community in Massachusetts for the first installation of "Portraits of Pride." "It's indeed an honor for me because I'm, as they call on Cape Cod, a washashore," said Evans of Saturday's Cape Cod Pride recognition. He's lived on Cape Cod for 12 years. Glass said he's been on Cape Cod "a little longer." "But I started getting involved and volunteering for my time, since I took an early retirement, and the work we've done, particularly here on Cape Cod, as well as in Boston and surrounding areas, has just been really rewarding," Glass said. "Not thinking that I was looking for any recognition, just that it was rewarding and fulfilling for me." Evans was a founding member of the nonprofit Cape Cod Pride, taking up the role as clerk on the board of directors before becoming the vice president. Paul Glass (left) and Charles Evans of Falmouth kneel during a 2021 demonstration of Black Lives Matter in Falmouth. Evans and Glass were also a part of the Stonewall Inn uprising on June 28, 1969, at a gay bar in New Yorks Greenwich Village, that ignited what is now known as the gay rights, or Pride, movement. At the time, they were an on-again, off-again couple due to being long-distance, and they had no idea they were both at the first day of the uprising until decades later. On Cape Cod Stonewall veteran says 'When we fought, we fought for all of us' At a 50th anniversary luncheon event celebrating the Stonewall uprising, everyone who was at the bar that night was asked to identify themselves. "And Charles stood up and I stood up and we both looked at each other and said 'What do you mean you were there?'" said Glass. Now, over 50 years after the uprising, the pair never expected the events to be as revolutionary as they were, but are glad they were a part of the moment. "It wasn't something that I was gonna, you know, engaged in at the time," Glass said. "But I'm thankful that had happened. Thankful I was there to witness it. It's a source of pride now." Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Pride Festival planned for Saturday in Hyannis MEXICO CITY A street-food salesgirl who became a tech entrepreneur and senator is shaking up the contest to succeed Mexicos popular president and offering many voters the first real alternative to her countrys dominant party. Xochitl Galvez, 60, helped her family as a girl by selling tamales on the street. Today the straight-talking opposition senator is a long shot against Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors Morena party, which holds Congress and 22 of Mexicos 32 states. Despite her slim chances, Galvez seems to have shaken the president so badly that hes been insulting her almost daily during his morning briefings. The opposition senator comfortably sits in the national spotlight nearly a year ahead of the June 2, 2024 national election. She fills a space that was completely empty, said Roy Campos, president of polling firm Mitofsky Group. All of the opposition population starts to see her and it generates hope. Next years election is Lopez Obradors chance to show if he has built a political movement that can outlast his charismatic leadership. Whoever his successor is, they will have to tackle persistently high levels of violence, heavily armed drug cartels and migration across the nearly 2,000-mile border with the United States. Campos group has not conducted an opposition candidate survey but that doesnt prevent him from feeling comfortable declaring Galvez a political phenomenon. A political independent who initially set her sights on competing to be Mexico City mayor and often travels the sprawling capital on a bicycle, Galvez entered the Senate chamber in December dressed as a dinosaur, an allusion to party leaders known known for their archaic, unmovable practices. At the time, Lopez Obrador had proposed electoral reforms that critics said would weaken the countrys National Electoral Institute. The Senate passed them earlier this year, but the Supreme Court later blocked them from taking effect. Galvez never shies from conflict with Lopez Obrador. She went to a judge in December asking for an order to let her speak at the presidents daily press briefing. She was granted the order, but the president rejected it. Story continues Galvezs fluid use of profanity, contrasting with her comfort moving in political circles, is an advantage with much of the working class, and with many young Mexicans. She registered this month to compete for the presidential nomination of a broad opposition coalition the historically leftist PRD, the conservative PAN and the PRI that ruled Mexico for 70 years joking that Lopez Obrador was her campaign manager. Lopez Obrador remains highly popular, and while he cannot run for another six-year term, several high-profile members of his Morena party have been jockeying fiercely for months. They include Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard and Interior Secretary Adan Augusto, who all agreed to resign their positions last month to campaign in earnest. Their faces are plastered on billboards across the country, while Galvez makes clever videos often shot with her own iPhone, some viewed millions of times. Mexican society is looking for someone new to believe in, Galvez told The Associated Press. Well have to see how much I manage to connect and how much I can convince, she recently told the AP. Growing up poor in the central state of Hidalgo, her father was an Indigenous Otomi schoolteacher. He was also abusive, macho and alcoholic, Galvez said. She learned to speak his native nahnu as a child, holds her Indigenous roots close and favors wearing embroidered huipils. As a girl, she sold gelatin and tamales to help her family. She worked as a scribe in a local civil registry office as a teen. At 16, she moved by herself to Mexico City and worked as a phone operator until earning a scholarship that allowed her to study computer science. Then she started a technology company, that, as Lopez Obrador noted recently, has won government contracts. Galvez served as Indigenous affairs minister for President Vicente Fox, a plain-talking politician from the conservative National Action Party (PAN) who broke the Institutional Revolutionary Partys 70-year stranglehold on Mexican politics. While she entered the Senate with the PAN, she has registered to compete for the nomination of the broad coalition of the countrys traditional parties. Galvez has assured PAN voters that she wants to keep advocating for them despite her moving to win over other parties with interests outside the traditional conservative base. Her sense of humor and ability to speak comfortably, even at times profanely, with people in the street are characteristics she shares with Lopez Obrador. They may be why he treats her as a threat. The president accuses Galvez of using her humble origins and speech to trick the poor, who make up much of his base of support. Instead, he paints her the candidate of the rich, the oligarchs and conservatives. She dismisses him as a fearful male chauvinist. Hes going to try to deny my origins and deny my work, but there it is, she said. I had to face a very patriarchal culture, very macho, where as women we werent seen as anything else but for work, she said. Galvez said shes not put off by the challenge posed by the favorites from the presidents party. Theyre there because they want to continue doing the same as the president, she said. They dont have their own identity. Victor Gordoa, president of Public Image Group, said Galvezs life story is the kind that can reach people across social strata, resonating with the working class who see themselves in Galvez, as well as the wealthy who see her as a potential weapon who has been untouchable so far. First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City is pictured Friday at NW 4 and Robinson in Oklahoma City. As the Aug. 6 deadline nears for United Methodist leaders to comply with a judge's ruling, The Oklahoman has learned how that compliance might come about. The Oklahoma United Methodist Conference, led by Bishop Jimmy Nunn, sent emails to conference members on Friday outlining tentative plans for a special disaffiliation meeting on Aug. 4 or Aug. 5 at Oklahoma City University. Conference spokesman Alan Herzberger said conference leaders will comply with Oklahoma County District Court Judge Aletia Timmons' July 17 ruling "even as it hopes it will be overturned." More: From the Land Run to the bombing, First United Methodist's past is tied to Oklahoma City Conference leaders' email included brief comments about Timmons' ruling in favor of First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City in a disaffiliation dispute with the conference. "Because of the very short timeline we are laboring under, we will have to plan for this annual conference even as the ruling is pending appeal," the conference wrote. "So that you can prepare yourselves if you are a member of the conference, we are looking at Aug. 4 or 5 as dates for this meeting. ... The only business to be conducted shall be the court-ordered consideration of First UMC in OKCs disaffiliation request. Registration shall be in person and photo identification will be required." The planned meeting has been described as "unprecedented" and maybe a little "awkward" because of individuals who are expected to be invited a group of individuals who already have severed ties with the United Methodist Church. The conference must hold the remarkable gathering because Timmons agreed with the First Church's trustees who filed suit in June claiming that regional conference leaders kept the congregation from having its disaffiliation request considered and voted on at an April meeting. Timmons said she was skeptical of regional conference leaders who said that a study to assess First Church's financial and ministerial viability was a necessary requirement and not an intentional disaffiliation road block, as church trustees claimed. Story continues People vote on a motion during a special called session of the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference in April 2023. A judge has ordered Oklahoma United Methodist Bishop Jimmy Nunn to re-create the April meeting so that delegates may consider First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City's disaffiliation request. More: United Methodists not first Oklahoma church to disaffiliate. How did others fare? Timmons ordered the bishop to re-create the April gathering by Aug. 6, to give the First Church congregation the opportunity that was denied them: to have their request to sever ties considered and possibly ratified by the same United Methodist delegates who voted at the spring gathering and that would have included clergy and lay delegates whose churches were disaffiliated at that meeting. Plans for the unconventional gathering are among the latest developments in a schism under way in the international United Methodist Church. The ever-widening rift in the denomination, which makes up one of the Oklahoma's largest faith groups, is based on disagreements about about the scriptural compatibility of same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay clergy. The issues came to a head in the last few years, prompting some churches including 84 Oklahoma churches to head for the exit doors. Who will return for the special meeting? Reactions are varied among several United Methodists and former United Methodists who could potentially attend the special gathering. First United Methodist Church of Oklahoma City is seen Friday. Herzberger said each church in the regional conference has, at minimum, one clergy delegate and one lay delegate, who vote on disaffiliation matters. Some churches, particularly larger churches, might have more delegates. A church must have its disaffiliation request ratified by delegates before it is considered formally disaffiliated. The Rev. Jim Hill withdrew from the United Methodist Church as clergy as a requirement to leave the denomination. He is pastor of First Methodist Church of Stigler, one of the churches that disaffiliated in April. He said he plans to attend the special meeting if the regional conference comes calling. More: What we know: Oklahoma churches seeking to cut ties with United Methodist denomination "I will do everything in my power to be there and have my lay delegate be there, as well," Hill said. "It'd be kind of weird and kind of awkward, but I would participate." Hill said he thinks many former United Methodists who served as delegates at the April meeting will try to make it for the special vote. People vote on a motion during a special called session on April 22 of the Oklahoma Annual Conference at the United Methodist Church of the Servant in Oklahoma City. "I can tell by the ruling of the judge appears to be the conference acted in bad faith, and they have to reconcile it," he said. "There's sort of a group cohesion of the churches that have disaffiliated. I think a number of those delegates will plan on going." The Rev. Trina Bose North, pastor of Crown Heights United Methodist Church, said she disagreed with the judge's ruling because First Church's disaffiliation dispute was not a matter for the civil court system to decide. She said she would attend the special meeting if it occurred because she is interested in finding out if First Church is a viable and effective ministry, a question she said wasn't answered in the recent First Church hearing. "When we become United Methodists, we submit ourselves to the denomination and to the governance of the United Methodist Church," North said. "The courts have no idea how we operate and who has authority." The Rev. Chris Symes, lead pastor of Heritage Church of Broken Arrow, called the judge's ruling "bold" and "unprecedented," a term he also used to describe the special meeting. His church was one of the 55 churches that disaffiliated at the April meeting. Symes said he was unsure if he would return for the special gathering to consider First Church's disaffiliation. A sign is seen outside First United Methodist Church Oklahoma City, NW 4 and Robinson on Friday. "I would be undecided at this time and would have to pray through that decision," he said. Meanwhile, First Church trustee Hardy Patton has said the judge's ruling was a positive development for the congregation seeking to exit the denomination. While they had hoped that Timmons would simply declare them disaffiliated, her ruling was appreciated because she sought to give First Church members an opportunity to have their disaffiliation request considered by the same delegates who voted in April. Regional conference leaders vowed to appeal Timmons' ruling, but an appeal had not been filed on Friday. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What's next for First Church OKC, United Methodist Church after suit An attorney for Hunter Biden filed a complaint against Georgia Republican Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene, requesting that an ethics watchdog immediately start a review of Ms Greenes decision to display explicit photos of the presidents son at a congressional hearing. Mr Bidens lawyer Abbe Lowell blasted Ms Greenes conduct as abhorrent behavior that blatantly violates House Ethics rules and standards of official conduct in a letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). Now more than ever, the House has a duty to make loud and clear that it does not endorse, condone, or agree with her outrageous, undignified conduct and brazen violations of the standards of official conduct that do not reflect creditably on the House of Representatives, Mr Lowell wrote. The Georgia Republican showed a series of naked photos of Hunter Biden and images of him engaged in sexual acts at a congressional hearing earlier this week, sparking outrage. While the faces of other individuals in the photographs were blocked with black boxes, Ms Greene (or her staff) took great care to ensure Mr Bidens face was not blurred for the American public, the attorney wrote. Then, toward the end of her questioning, Ms Greene held up the graphic poster boards, spouting yet another of her untethered conspiracy theories, suggesting without any evidence that they showed Mr Biden making pornography, he continued. Marjorie Taylor Greene is literally showing d*** pics at our Oversight Hearing, California Congressman Robert Garcia tweeted. Ms Greene defended her actions, explaining that while she was uncomfortable showing the graphic photos of Hunter Biden to Congress, she insisted that the American people deserve to see the images. Some borrowed national treasures of Israel have ended up in Mar-a-Lago, Americas most notorious stash house. Efforts to retrieve the ancient ceramic candles loaned to the Trump White House in 2019 in what was expected to be a one-time Hanukkah candle-lighting event have been unsuccessful so far, Israels Haaretz newspaper reported. Oh, boy. Here we go again. As a seasoned observer of the sticky-fingered habits of Mar-a-Lagos chronic hoarder, I would advise the Israeli Antiquities Authority to forget about its treasured candles. Consider them irretrievably looted. In the future, you might want to be more careful in screening what sorts of disreputable characters you loan your treasures to. Theres no telling which Mar-a-Lago storage room, hall closet or bathroom shower stall is the new home for those treasured items. But youre in for a surprise if you think former President Donald Trump will give up the loaned valuables that were never intended as his to take. Lets face it, any guy who would put his own countrys national security at risk in order to take nuclear secrets as personal keepsakes wont flinch in glomming some potentially valuable tchotchkes from another country. The ancient ceramic candles were supposed to be loaned to the White House for just a couple of weeks, Haaretz reported. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the return of the treasures at first. Eventually, the Israeli Antiquities Authority enlisted the help of a Trump political donor to get them back. But that didnt work, either. Several months ago, Israeli authorities learned that the antiquities eventually ended up in Mar-a-Lago, the story said. That has left the Israeli Antiquities Authority with a big decision to make: Do you go after your national treasures by any means necessary? Or do you agree to have your name added to the very long list of Trump victims? This photo, contained in the indictment against former President Donald Trump, shows boxes of records stored in a bathroom and shower in the Lake Room at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach. If you go the tough route, you might consider taking back the antiquities with force. This would probably take the form of a daring beach assault by Israels elite Shayetet 13 commando unit. Story continues Not only would that be risky, but it might also involve parking citations from the Town of Palm Beach Police. But if youre still considering a raid, I recommend a consultation first with the FBI. The bureau has some experience in how to properly storm Mar-a-Lago in order to recover high-value stolen materials. But a surprise incursion of Trumps lair to get back the valuables is a politically volatile move. Just suggesting taking back the possessions in this manner would probably trigger Trump to call the Israeli Antiquities Authority a fascist, Marxist, communist organization. Apparently, ancient ceramic candles that Israel loaned to the Trump White House in 2019 ended up at Mar-a-Lago and have not been returned. Par for the course for Trump, who is seen here in Bedminster, New Jersey on June 13, 2023, after pleading not guilty in a Miami courtroom earlier in the day to dozens of felony counts that he hoarded classified documents and refused government demands to give them back. Youll all be called deranged. And millions of easily bamboozled, deranged Americans will believe it. Trump will say the ancient candle holders dont really exist. And hell start adding the Hanukkah hoax to his MAGA-rally list of grievances. He will then accuse your members of hating America and being part of a vast conspiracy called The Deep Shtetl. That will lead to death threats against members of the antiquities authority, and some will have to go into hiding and Im talking about something far more unpleasant than wintering in Boca Raton. Classified documents case: Trump's trial set for May despite his pleas to wait until after 2024 election Even if photographs are produced that show the ancient artifacts inside Mar-a-Lago, it wont change things. Trump will just switch arguments. Hell speak at rallies about his clear-cut rights under the Presidential Treasures Act, an imaginary measure that allows an American president on the way out of office to take personal ownership of anything thats not permanently nailed down inside the White House. I dont even have to write down what Im taking, Trump would say. All I have to do is think about taking it, and its mine. All mine. Fox News will line up its full complement of legal analysts to talk about the unquestionable, vast presidential rights in the non-existent Presidential Treasure Act. And Republican Party leaders Americas strategic reserve of self-serving cowards will meekly enable Trumps lies once again. Frank Cerabino I know. I know. By giving up on recovering your treasures, youre abetting thievery. But at this point, it would take a miracle, like the Hanukkah story itself, to get your treasured candles back. Best to just walk away, and consider it a lesson learned. On the bright side, at least no women got groped. Frank Cerabino is a columnist at The Palm Beach Post, a part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Classified docs? Israel can't even retrieve loaned candles to Trump The Philadelphia Medical Examiner confirmed Saturday that the remains found in the Delaware River near Port Richmond Friday night are Mattie Sheils, 2, who died when she vanished in flash floodwaters in Upper Makefield on July 15. Her 9-month-old brother, Conrad, remains missing, township police said on its Facebook page. "Philadelphia Police Marine Unit and the United States Coast Guard are continuing to search the Delaware River south of the Betsy Ross Bridge. We so desperately want to bring Conrad home and are praying that we can find him," the statement said. The statement did not say if a search will continue on Sunday along Houghs Creek, where the disaster unfolded, or if the focus now turns to the river. Conrad is the last of the flood victims missing. Six others are accounted for, including his mother, Katie Seley, 32, who died with the five other motorists as roiling floodwaters swamped the 1000 block of Washington Crossing Road, state Route 532. Police confirmed that the baby was not in his car seat when his mother took him from the car to escape fast-rising waters. The announcement that Mattie had been found came at a news conference late Friday. Upper Makefield fire Chief Tim Brewer said Philadelphia police received two anonymous phone calls two minutes apart shortly after 5 p.m. reporting a body in the Delaware River. The second call provided a description of the child and a location in the water south of the Betsy Ross Bridge, Brewer said. Police responded to the area and removed the child from debris against a pier in the area of a waste disposal plant, 32 miles south of Upper Makefield. A Philadelphia Fire Department medical unit waiting nearby pronounced the child dead at the scene at 5:30 p.m. This has been an emotional time for the community," Brewer added. "All our hearts are broken this evening. More: 'Angels' oversaw rescues, survivor says at vigil recounting Delaware River fatal flood Story continues Crews continue search for Conrad Sheils On Friday, Brewer repeated his privacy request for the Seley-Sheils family as they process everything that has happened over the past seven "tumultuous days." "We cannot begin to fathom the pain theyre experiencing but we will never leave their sides as they deal with this tragedy," Brewer added. The fire chief, who has been the public face of the unprecedented search and recovery efforts, also thanked the public for its outpouring of support, love and concern for the survivors, victims and first responders who have worked nonstop since 5:30 p.m. July 15. "Your words of encouragement, your efforts to help all have been expressed and have never gone unheard and has touched us all," Brewer said. The discovery in the Delaware River happened nearly the same time searchers in Upper Makefield wrapped up operations Friday with no luck finding Mattie Conrad. The flooding and deaths stunned the county. A memorial service was held last Thursday at the Washington Crossing Methodist Church, and a second memorial service for the victims will be held at 7 p.m.Sunday at the Garden of Reflection, 1950 Woodside Road in Lower Makefield. Officials on Monday identified one of the victims in the flooding and the names of the two children still missing. Matilda Sheils, 2, and Conrad Sheils, 9 months, were swept out of their familys hands during a flash flood in Upper Makefield Saturday evening. Their grandmother, who was holding one of the children, was later rescued. The childrens mother, Kate Seley, 32, died in the flooding. The childrens father, Jim and the couples older child both were rescued. More about Katie Seley of Charleston South Carolina mom who died in Upper Makefield flooding was proud mama, sister, friend How did Mattie Sheils end up in the Delaware River? For a young child to travel more than 30 miles downriver is unusual "but certainly possible," according to Gerry Dworkin, an aquatics safety and water rescue technical consultant with Lifesaving Resources, a Kennebunkport, Maine, company that trains and supports lifeguard, public safety and rescue personnel internationally. Children are physically lighter and have less muscle mass, which makes them more buoyant meaning they can be carried further, Dworkin said. "They can float for very long distances," he added. Young children, like Mattie and Conrad, are also at a higher risk for hypothermia, even during the summer months, Dworkin added. A child can lose body temperature rapidly even in 70-degree water for an hour. At one point over the last week, more than 100 searchers in Upper Makefield have concentrated on a 40-acre area south of Washington Crossing Road. Weather conditions Wednesday and Thursday slowed search efforts. Officials on Monday identified one of the victims in the flooding and the names of the two children still missing. Matilda Sheils, 2, and Conrad Sheils, 9 months, were swept out of their familys hands during a flash flood in Upper Makefield Saturday evening. Their grandmother, who was holding one of the children, was later rescued. The childrens mother, Kate Seley, 32, died in the flooding. The childrens father, Jim and the couples older child both were rescued. The children slipped out of the arms of their mother and grandmother after the four were swept away in fast-moving floodwaters after Houghs Creek overflowed as a result of up to 6 inches of rain in two hours. In addition to Mattie and her mother, four others drowned in the catastrophic flooding. Seleys fiance, Jim Sheils, and the couples 4-year-old son, Jack, were rescued by firefighters. Seleys mother, Dahlia Galindez, 62, also of Charleston, South Carolina, survived being dragged into the water and found help at a nearby home on Stonebridge Crossing Road. The Sheils and Seley families. James Sheils holds son Conrad, Katie Seley holds daughter Mattie and in front is son Jack. Search continues for missing children The search for Mattie and Conrad. Officials ID victims, missing in fatal flooding The couple were visiting Sheils' family, who live in Newtown Township, when their vehicle was one of 11 caught up in what witnesses and survives described as a wall of water that crashed downhill from Houghs Creek, a tributary of the Delaware River. Saturday morning, Upper Makefield police posted an update with a note from the family: "The Sheils family would like to express their continued gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and concern from the community and from people around the country as rescue workers have worked tirelessly to find Mattie and Conrad. We are grateful that our little Mattie has been brought home to us. We are still praying for the return of Conrad. Thank you all, again, for your compassion and your kindness. We are humbled." How many people were swept into the water? In total, 19 people on Washington Crossing Road were caught in the violent currents; a dozen survived including Galindez and David Love, husband of Yuko Love, 64. Pastor Geroge Matthew Clash, in center, praying with Brian Seley, Katie Seley's father, on left, and Donna Altman, on right, after the prayer vigil for the victims of the recent flooding in Upper Makefield at the Washington Crossing United Methodist Church in Washington Crossing on Thursday, July 20, 2023. Upper Makefield assists with grieving As community gathers for Upper Makefield flood vigil, organizers talk of miracles Love, Enzo and Linda DePiero, 78, and 74 respectively, and Susan Barnhart, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey, perished in the waters and they were found Saturday and Sunday along with Seley. Since Saturday, Upper Makefield first responders had searched night and day for the missing Sheils children, the last of the unaccounted-for victims. A search and rescue operation like never seen before included drones, air, ground and water resources including sonar, divers and dogs. Equipment and personnel were recruited from Central New Jersey and as far south as Delaware and Chester counties to aid the search. Photos of family taken by floods South Carolina family torn apart by Upper Makefield fatal floods identified Mattie Sheil, 2, is seen in this provided image from Upper Makefield Township Police Department. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Confirmed: Child's body found in Delaware River is Mattie Sheils NEW YORK As word spread of a new city policy that will limit shelter stays to 60 days at a time for adult male migrants, asylum seekers are angry and worried about ending up in the streets. New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday announced a new city policy that will boot single male migrants from shelters he says to make way for migrant families and alleviate the stressed, overburdened system. Those who fall under the policy have 60 days to find alternative housing. If they cant, they must leave their shelter and return to the citys migrant intake center at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, where theyll be able to reapply for shelter. The Adams administration says the migrants will be able to reapply, and find beds in the shelter system again. But migrants staying in a shelter in Midtown told The New York Daily News the new rule is yet another hurdle to building a life for themselves in New York City. Its too short, Ricardo Perez, 32, said of the 60-day limit. He gestured up at the building where he is staying, the Candler Building in Midtown, just off Times Square. The skyscraper is one of more than a dozen humanitarian emergency response and relief centers in the city. After those 60 days, what are they going to do with all the people who are up there? Where are they going to put them? Where will we go? Without legal job prospects, family or friends in New York and almost nonexistent paths to more permanent living arrangements, they are worry they will wind up sleeping on the streets. Perez said he dreams of eventually getting an apartment and job of his own, but cant save up by working jobs that last just a couple days. Most of us dont have work, he said. I dont want to sleep on the street. How is this right? Im alone here. I dont have a job right now. What if I dont get a job? And here at 60 days, where am I going to go? Where? Migrants have no guarantee of getting a new bed right away. Adams said that more than 90,000 migrants have arrived since last spring, and that nearly 55,000 are currently in the citys shelter system. The city shelter system is currently at capacity with more than 100,000 people, according to city estimates. Story continues Of course Im afraid of what will happen after the 60 days are up, said Andres Sanchez, 26, an asylum seeker from Venezuela. I left my country for this. I paid a coyote. I barely have whats necessary to buy food, shampoo. But how do I explain it? It cant scare me, because Im used to it. We are already used to change. Our parents taught us that get used to the bad. Sanchez arrived in New York 10 months ago. Hes stayed at two shelters, and worked more odd jobs than he can keep track of. He fled violence in Venezuela nine years ago, making his way through Colombia, Chile and Brazil before deciding to take his chances and move to the United States. He went to Miami first, because a friend there was supposed to have a job waiting for him. The job fell through, so he headed north to New York. Now, he hawks cold drinks on Coney Island, walking the beach and the boardwalk. Thats the way it is, just one thing after another, Sanchez said of the new policy. If we get kicked out, it would be like it is already, just a little more. You dont know if you will go to bed today and be dead by dawn tomorrow. Now, well be sleeping on the street. He said that he thinks the mayor put the law in place to encourage migrants to find permanent work. Hes optimistic hell be able to at some point but the free accommodation is the only way hes able to pay for lunch and a bottle of water when hes out looking for work, and how hes able to send money home to his family. If I had known all this was happening, I dont know if I had to take the risk (of coming to New York), Sanchez added. The government is already saying no, theyre not helping us, if we come alone. Asylum seekers staying in the citys Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers were the first to be informed of the new limit. Yovani Flores, 26, warned that migrants may push back on the city when the 60 days are up for the first group who will be kicked out of their spots in the shelter. We also have to cooperate, because if it werent for the government, none of us would be here, Flores, whos originally from Venezuela, said. Its very sensitive, because here they ask for a visa, and we dont have a visa and passport. I think people who dont understand them, theyll want to fight. Earlier this year, when the city announced that migrants who were staying at the Watson Hotel in Hells Kitchen would be rehoused at a cruise terminal in Red Hook, dozens of migrants protested by sleeping on the street outside the hotel. If we cant keep sleeping here, and thats when things will get the ugliest, if that happens, Flores said. Because when the cold comes, in the winter, well all be out in the streets. What happens then? Will the government open more shelters again to re-house us? Flores is angry with the mayor he feels the new rule has an implication that migrants are not working or trying to get a better life. I constantly work to get paid weekly or monthly, he said. I pay for it because our goal isnt that we are going to work to spend money on clothes and then we get to go back here to sleep, because were not paying for it. (The city) wants to tell us, dont get used to that But its a little difficult for me. I dont have a consistent job. And if I work, I have to send the money home. That doesnt give me a base for me to look for an apartment or a lease. (This is part one of a three-part series marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. Look for part two in the Avalanche-Journal next week.) The Korean War is known by many different names. Here in the United States, its often referred to as a Police Action, the Forgotten War and the Unending War. In North Korea, its called the Fatherland Liberation and in South Korea, its called the Six-Two-Five, which references the date the war started on June 25, 1950. Even China has given it the even longer name of the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea. Theres a kernel of truth in all those names to each country involved. After WWII, the country was divided at the 38th parallel. The U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to divide the country in 1945, with the Soviets controlling the North and the U.S. the South. The war began and started at the 38th Parallel. The North Koreans invaded South Korea. The U.S. was already pulling out of South Korea but got involved when President Harry S. Truman called for air and naval support. The United Nations called upon other nations to assist South Korea and over 15 countries would participate in the war. This was also the first hot war of the so-called Cold War, so named for the U.S. commitment to defeat communism from spreading worldwide. U.S. Gen. Douglas Macarthur shortly after landing at Inchon, Korea. The United States was not initially prepared to fight in Korea. The country was war weary after WWII ended in 1945. At that point, the U.S. over 12 million military personnel in uniform. The surrender of Germany on May 7, 1945, followed by Japan on Sept. 2, 1945, quickly saw a demobilization of forces from both Europe (which had already began troop reduction) and the Pacific Theater. The consequence of rapid demobilization left the U.S. woefully unprepared for future confrontation(s). By June 30, 1947, the number of military personnel was only 1,566,000 - a whopping 87% reduction. Additionally, the unpopular draft was ended in March 1947. This alarmed military planners. Due to the spread of communism by the Soviet Union and China, the draft was restored in June 1948 and was only supposed to be in effect for two years. The act kept being extended and was still in effect when North Korea stormed across the 38th parallel to attack South Korea. President Truman persuaded the United Nations to assume responsibility for South Korea. On July 8, Truman appointed Gen. Douglas MacArthur in charge of the UN war effort. He operated the war from his office in Japan where he had been since the end of WWII. MacArthur sent three U.S. divisions to help South Korean troops hold back the invading hoard. Undermanned and with inadequate weapons, U.S. ground forces fought and died near Osan, Taejon and Taegu. Supplies such as tanks, rocket launchers, cannons and airplanes finally started arriving at the port of Pusan and helped turn the tide. By August of 1950, the United Nations Command started slowing down the North Koreans. Realizing it would become a long and protracted war, MacArthur and his staff devised a new strategy. MacArthur had been in favor of an amphibious landing as early as July 1950. He decided to land behind the enemy forces at Inchon (called Operation Chromite) which was a port for Seoul on Koreas west coast. The Korean forces were much thinner there and on Sept. 25, 1950, MacArthur and South Korean President Syngman Rhee had the 1st Marine Division, The Armys 7th Infantry Division and some South Korean divisions march into the capital. Seoul was liberated. The North Koreans lost 13,000 troops to capture and suffered 50,000 casualties. However around 25,000 fled through the mountains and 10,000 remained in South Korea. Cpl. Charles A Williams After the capture of Seoul, the 1st Marines and the Armys 7th infantry were put back on ships and taken to the eastern port of Wonsan in October 1950, and they unloaded and began heading north. They would soon become involved in one the bloodiest and coldest battles of the Korean War at the frozen Chosin Reservoir. On the night of Nov. 27, 1950, a force of 120,000 Chinese attacked approximately 30,000 U.N. forces. On a personal note, the Korean War has been a part of my life since I was born in 1952. My uncle, Cpl. Charles A. Williams was a 60mm mortarman with the Armys 7th Infantry and was killed the first night the Chinese attacked on the east side of Chosin. The battle would take place in temperatures ranging from -20 to -40 degrees. The casualties from combat and the cold were staggering the U.S. suffered 18,000 casualties - 2,500 killed in action, 5,000 wounded and 8,000 from frostbite. The Chinese losses were even greater with casualty estimates close to 29,000 troops. In early January 1951, the Chinese had surged south, attacking Seoul and retaking the city once again with both sides suffering numerous casualties. There was talk within the UN command that the war in Korea should be abandoned. However, the Chinese had overextended themselves and too far from their supply lined to continue deeper into South Korea. Only two months later, UN forces overtook the Chinese and attacked them at Seoul. The city was nearly destroyed due to the brutal city street fighting that claimed the lives of thousands. The communists eventually retreated from the city on March 15. This turned out to be the last time that Seoul would change hands for the duration of the war. The Chinese and North Koreans launched a counterattack in one more attempt to retake Seoul. Australian and Canadian UN forces were able to outfight the nearly 10,000 Chinese and they were once again forced to retreat from the capital city. The war was now entering the second year with no end in sight. In spite of an overwhelming difference in the number of troops versus the Chinese and North Koreans, the UN forces were able to hold on. The new American U.S. Air Force (formed in 1947) has widely been seen as one of the largest contributors to the stalemate. They flew constant bombing runs against the Chinese dug-in positions and attached their supply lines which prevented further advances. This made it nearly impossible for the Chinese to make any large-scale offenses the rest of the war. Next week the war drags on. (Larry A. Williams is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and the Veterans Liaison Co-Chair of the Texas South Plains Honor Flight. He is also co-author of "Texas South Plains War Stories.") This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Remembering Korea: Part I: The Early Years of the War,1950-51 A San Luis Obispo man was found guilty of arson on Friday the fifth time hes been convicted of that type of crime and will be sentenced to at least 25 years in prison, the SLO County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. Bradley Norman Parrish, 54, set fire to the land along San Luis Obispo Creek near the Elks Lodge on June 13, 2022, the agency said. Two bystanders noticed the smoke and hurried to use shovels to douse the fire, but Parrish told them to let the flames burn threatening one of the bystanders that if he didnt have a shovel in his hand he would fight him, the news release said. The SLO City Fire Department extinguished the blaze before it could burn any structures, the agency said. Parrish had been convicted arson four times before setting fire to the land near Elks Lodge, three of which were serious or violent strike offenses under under Californias Three Strikes sentencing law, the news release said. Because of his prior convictions, Parrish faces a prison sentence of at least 25 years, the agency said. On Sept. 19, Parrish will appear in Department 10 of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court for sentencing. Judge Jesse Marino will sentence him, the agency said. Parrish is currently in custody at San Luis Obispo County Jail. MSF medics are treating war-wounded across Sudan - and over the border in Chad where many from Darfur are fleeing Medics in Sudan's capital have been beaten and whipped by armed men who attacked their convoy, medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) says. A medical team was taking supplies to the Turkish Hospital in the south of Khartoum when it was attacked on Thursday and one their vehicles stolen. Since the war erupted in mid-April, it is one of only two hospitals still operating in the south of city Both are supported by MSF, which says its aid to them is now in jeopardy. The vicious power struggle over the last three months between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated medical facilities in the city. 'Death threats' While more than three million people nationwide have fled their homes since April, millions of others are still stuck in Khartoum, struggling to find medicine and medical assistance. MSF is one of only a few international aid groups still supporting hospitals in Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman, helping to keep afloat a health system that has been under strain for decades. It says it has treated more than 1,600 wounded patients in these hospitals since the conflict began. But the charity warned this might have to stop because of a dramatic deterioration in security with several incidents in which its staff had been targeted. During the encounter on Thursday, the armed men began arguing with the 18 people in the MSF convoy made up of four trucks carrying medical supplies. As well as assaulting the team, the armed men threatened the life of one of the drivers before releasing him and making off with one of the vehicles. "If an incident like this happens again, and if our ability to move supplies continues to be obstructed, then, regrettably, our presence in the Turkish Hospital will soon become untenable," MSF's Christophe Garnier said in a statement. The confrontation took place not far from the hospital, where hundreds of patients, including those recently wounded in air strikes, are undergoing treatment. Story continues "On a daily basis, this hospital receives around 15 war wounded patients, carries out lifesaving surgery and keeps patients with chronic diseases alive," MSF said. According to the AFP news agency, the hospital is in an area of the city controlled by the RSF. Aerial bombardments have intensified in residential areas of Khartoum where the paramilitary fighters have their bases, it says. Official figures put the number of dead in the conflict at around 3,000, but it is thought to be far higher. Some estimates from the western region of Darfur, which have seen the worst of the violence, say the death toll in one city alone is 11,000. Israel is a country that has battled for its existence and survival since Day 1. Having fought multiple wars and living with ongoing threats, Israelis are now in a fierce battle for their democracy. This battle is not fought with tanks or guns but with the power of unity, protest, and the determination to protect the very essence of their nation. Last week, hundreds of thousands poured onto the streets across the country in response to the Netanyahu governments passage, and in a first Knesset reading, of the reasonableness bill, which will severely restrict judicial review of decisions made by the cabinet, government ministers, and other elected officials. The bill is part of a contentious legislative package advanced by the hardline Netanyahu coalition that aims to radically overhaul Israels independent judiciary and curb checks and balances on political power. This week, the government plans to bring the bill for its final votes. And our unequivocal answer is, NO. We at JVP and the entire Israeli high-tech sector, whose members went out in droves to protest, alongside doctors, teachers, members of the military reserves, pilots, special forces units, and people from all walks of life, are saying no to dictatorship and yes to democracy. Often, in the history of countries, there are key moments of real, existential crisis that demand answers on values. In addition to their contributions to Israel's economy, the tech community recognizes the vital role that democracy and societal openness play in fostering innovation, invention, and creativity. These values are the very foundation of the national spirit that drives the country's success on the global stage. As a result, the high-tech sector has joined forces with other industries to stand united in the defense of democratic principles that have allowed Israel to flourish. We refuse to let our hard-fought freedoms be undermined by a government seeking to consolidate power and erode the principles that have made Israel a beacon of democracy in the region. Story continues What Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has found in many of us are warriors. Just like we have been warriors on the front lines, we are also warriors in this battle for democracy. We understand that the strength of a nation lies not only in its military might but also in its commitment to upholding the values of justice, equality, and freedom. We will not stand idly by as these values are threatened. With last weeks mass demonstrations and more protests planned this week, Israelis from the center, the left, and the moderate right convey a powerful message to Netanyahu and his far-right partners: The judicial overhaul he and they are trying to lead is unacceptable and will not be allowed to pass. We refuse to let Israel slide down the dangerous path of illiberal governance witnessed in countries like Poland and Hungary. Our country's strength lies in its vibrant democracy, where the rule of law prevails and every citizen's rights are protected. In a country with such strong societal bonds and with so many people who have sacrificed and paid heavy prices, we cant let this government hijack the judicial system and transform Israel from a proud, hard-earned liberal democracy into something we no longer recognize. For Israelis, democracy and societal openness are the very fundamental conditions of innovation, invention, and creativity. It is our national spirit. The collective determination to defend democratic principles reflects the deep societal bonds and the belief that preserving democracy is vital for the continued success and prosperity of the nation. Technology and innovation for JVP and many in the high-tech sector and other industries have been instrumental in fostering cooperation and partnerships with other tech and business ecosystems, not just in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, but also in the Middle East. Countries like the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan have become allies in the pursuit of technological progress and economic growth. We cannot let everything we built be destroyed by a government intent on harming Israels independent judiciary, a cornerstone of every democracy. The high-tech sector, along with various other industries, stands united in its commitment to safeguard the democratic values that have propelled Israel's success on the global stage. Just as they have been warriors on the front lines of technological advancement, they are now warriors in the fight to protect their nation's democratic soul. The determination to overcome this existential crisis and uphold the core values that define Israel's identity and strength is a testament to the resilience and unity of the Israeli people. This pivotal moment calls for a resolute stance on the values that have shaped the country's history, and it is one that will shape its future. We are going to overcome this, and the people who are trying to derail democracy today will be gone tomorrow. Often, in the history of countries, there are key moments of real, existential crisis that demand answers on values. For Israel, this is one of those moments. Omar Tortua, 27, from Venezuela, lifts shows the slash wound his 5-year-old son Jesus suffered from razor wire crossing the Rio Grande. EAGLE PASS, Texas By the time Omar Tortua and his family waded into the warm river water at Piedras Negras, they had already survived a treacherous journey through the jungle of the Darien Gap, across six countries and past cartel kidnappers. But it was only at the end that Tortua saw the danger claw into his own child when a coil of concertina wire placed at the American shoreline by Texas officials ensnared the leg of his 5-year-old son. He scooped up the bleeding child, with officers watching from the bank above. All along this riverbank, scraps of clothing bear witness to the many migrants who have been snared by razor wire in recent weeks. And as federal and state officials clash over Texas' latest border security initiative, the migrants who reach the United States display its toll, in bruises and broken ankles and glinting rows of surgical staples that hold closed their slice wounds. An internal e-mail from a Texas state trooper, revealed last week, raised the alarm that the state's efforts had become "inhumane." On Friday, USA TODAY observed how that razor wire has slashed not just adults but young children. Tortua, 27, from Venezuela, had waded into the Rio Grande early Wednesday at Piedras Negras, Mexico. With him were his wife, Yamilet Castillo, 31, and their sons, Jesus and Elias. The boys are twins, the kind of kids who giggle together at each new sight, wide-eyed and curious about the world. The family had already been trekking for weeks. Turning back now was not an option. They shuffled, waist-deep, along the rivers edge, maneuvering around coils of lacerating wire in the water and stepping carefully over more that stuck out along the banks. From the Texas bank of the river, men in vehicles trailed them slowly. Whether the agents were state troopers, National Guard, or Border Patrol, the family didn't know. They were simply policias, and they were calling out instructions: Tortua and his family would have to keep going, downriver to a staging area or return to Mexico. Story continues Jesus Tortua, 5, was crossing with his family Wednesday when he crossed the razor wire. As he climbed around one rock in the river, Jesus slipped and stumbled onto a wire coil that jutted out. It slashed into his left calf, leaving a two-inch gash. Blood spilled into the water. Jesus let out a shrieking cry. The authorities called out, from the other side of the wire, saying they could help. Tortua reached over the coils and handed his son to them. The authorities wrapped the boys cut. But they made the rest of the family continue farther downstream before allowing them up on the banks, Tortua said. Somewhere along the way, a medic treated the boys leg. His family was turned over to U.S. Border Patrol, where they were processed and released until their court date. It was horrible, Tortua said Friday from inside the Mission: Border Hope migrant shelter just outside Eagle Pass. He pulled up Jesus pant leg to show the four medical staples it took to seal the gash. I dont understand: If they were just going to arrest us and let us go, why do they have to put all that up? he said. It doesnt seem right. All that is the miles of razor wire Texas has erected on the banks of the Rio Grande to deter unauthorized crossings. Omar Tortua, 27, Yamilet Castillo, 31, Jesus, front, and Elias, 5, from Venezuela, arrived at Mission: Border Hope on Friday in Maverick County, Texas. After being snared in razor wire and handed over to Border Patrol, they were released until their court date. Omar wondered why the wire was needed "if they were just going to arrest us and let us go." Attention to them has amplified last week along with controversy over Texas other attempt at a border barrier: a 1,000-foot string of floating orange buoys the state deployed at midstream. Purchased from a government security contractor, the floating wall is designed to trap swimmers, in a river that often runs knee-deep and warm in the summer sun, but where the tranquil surface hides dark pockets of head-high water. In the past week, migrants, including many children, have arrived at the Eagle Pass shelter with an array of injuries: lacerations, welts and open wounds. Pregnant women have high blood pressure from stress, said Valeria Wheeler, the shelters executive director, and migrants have gashes in their heads and faces. The shelter has also been accepting an unusually high number of migrants recently released from hospitals, she said. This is the worst Ive ever seen it, Wheeler said. Theyre putting lives at risk. Revelations of those injuries have drawn widespread condemnation from immigrant advocates, Democratic leaders and other agencies. By the end of the week, the Justice Department warned Texas that it planned to file suit over the floating barrier. Buoys float on the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, Texas on Thursday. The State of Texass actions violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, present serious risks to public safety and the environment, and may interfere with the federal governments ability to carry out its official duties, the department wrote in a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott, which was obtained by USA TODAY. The letter gives Texas until Monday to commit to removing the barrier and warns that, if there is no response, the administration will proceed with a lawsuit. The coils of wire also restrict U.S. Border Patrol agents from accessing the river and helping migrants in distress. We can enforce the law and, at the same time, ensure that we prioritize the wellbeing of those we encounter, a Border Patrol spokesperson said in a statement. We are very concerned by reports of actions that not only make it harder for Border Patrol agents to enforce our nations immigration laws, but also put lives in danger. Abbotts border actions brought condemnation from the White House. "The governors actions are cruel and putting both migrants and border agents in danger," White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan told USA TODAY Friday. "The Department of Justice made clear that it is prepared to take the governor to court if he doesnt immediately remove the unlawful structures in the Rio Grande." A floating border wall in Texas, and a whistleblower's warning Migrants hold hands for safety as they cross the Rio Grande River into the U.S. in Eagle Pass, Texas on Thursday from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico. The migrants were part of a group of nearly 30 hoping to seek asylum in the U.S. The Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas state guard have been uncoiling miles of concertina wire along the banks of the Rio Grande since 2021 as part of Operation Lone Star, Abbotts multibillion-dollar initiative to use state resources to curtail unauthorized border crossings. More than 90 miles of the sharp-edged wire has been unfurled throughout South Texas, according to DPS. The dangers of the razor wire entered the spotlight, though, when a recent email by a Texas DPS trooper to his superiors was made public. The July 3 email by trooper and paramedic Nicholas Wingate, first reported by the Houston Chronicle, describes how he and fellow troopers came across large groups of men, women and children along the banks of the Rio Grande and were ordered by commanders to push people "back into the water toward Mexico. The email, which DPS provided to USA TODAY, also described encountering a male migrant with a significant laceration on his left leg while extricating his child from the razor wire and a 19-year-old pregnant woman having a miscarriage while stuck in the wiring. He also alleged troopers were directed not to give water or medical attention to migrants. I believe we have stepped over a line into the in humane, Wingate wrote. Two weeks later, on July 15, DPS director Steve McCraw dispatched an email to regional directors with the subject line Incidents Involving Concertina Wire DPS, in which he reminded DPS leaders that crossing through the concertina wire without protective gear is no doubt likely to result in an injury. This is self evident, but we need to ensure that migrants are reminded of this by signage and continued verbal warnings Internal memos show DPS was circulating photos of border crossers wounded by the wire. One shows a migrant with a long gash along the torso that had been medically stapled shut. Others show a bloodied finger and leg injuries. A memo lists seven incidents, between July 4 and July 13, where migrants had been caught in the concertina wire, including a mother and child who had been transported to the hospital with cuts and another migrant who was transported to San Antonio for treatment with several lacerations that required staples. Texas Department of Public Safety officers observe migrants from behind concertina wire on Thursday. McCraws directive says agents would continue to save lives, and notes that a soldier died during a water rescue an apparent reference to an incident last year. But the directive also echoes the orders Tortua heard as his children approached the razor wire. We will be able to prevent migrants from risking their lives by denying them access between the Ports of Entry, McCraw wrote, and encourage them to use one of the 29 Texas international bridges where they can safely cross. DPS Office of Inspector General is investigating the allegations made in Wingates email, agency spokesman Travis Considine said. If our personnel are doing anything that violates policy, they will be held accountable, he said in an email. There are no orders from the top that prohibit Troopers from giving water to women and children or attending to migrants who need medical attention. In a joint statement from Abbotts office, McCraw, Texas Border Czar Mike Banks and the Texas National Guard, state officials said they were taking steps to monitor the safety of migrants and provide medical attention to those in distress. They blamed President Joe Bidens border policies for the need to ramp up enforcement. With migrants from over 150 countries encouraged by open border policies to risk their lives and make this dangerous trek to enter our country illegally, Texas is deploying every tool and strategy to deter and repel illegal crossings between ports of entry, it said. The absence of these tools and strategies including concertina wire that snags clothing encourages migrants to make potentially life-threatening and illegal crossings. Buoys float on the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thursday as a Mexican engineer with the International Boundary and Water Commission uses GPS determine to see if the buoys are crossing into Mexican territory. But Texas may be overstepping its authority by deploying the buoys, experts said. Placing the buoys without consulting the U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission violates the 1944 water treaty and 1970 treaty between the U.S. and Mexico, said Stephen Mumme, a Colorado State University political scientist and author of Border Water: The Politics of U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Water Management, 1945-2015. Last week, high-ranking Mexican officials filed a complaint over the buoys. Considine, the DPS spokesman, would not comment on Mexicos complaints. Neither would the U.S. State Department. Mexico did not previously complain when border walls and fences went up on the U.S. side of the Rio Grande without consulting the commission, also a potential violation of the treaties, Mumme said. The fact that they are now raising complaints points to how serious Mexican officials consider the matter, he said. The state of Texas has no authority whatsoever to be doing what its doing, Mumme said. A border grove fenced like a prison Migrants breach a section of concertina wire after crossing the Rio Grande River on Thursday. Just behind Heavenly Farms, a 300-acre pecan grove on the banks of the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, coils of concertina wire are stacked one atop of the other, stretching for miles in either direction. Sweaters, swim trunks and strands of T-shirts hang from the wires pointed barbs, signs of where migrants were snagged by the wire. Humvees and trucks ferrying National Guard troops from Ohio and Missouri, U.S. Border Patrol trucks and DPS cruisers steadily rumble over dirt roads, kicking up clouds of dust. Migrants are often caught in wire nearly submerged near two islands in the river, or when they climb over the coils to reach U.S. soil, said Magali Urbina, the farms owner. Urbina called the concertina wire sickening and she and her husband, Hugo Urbina, have repeatedly asked Texas authorities to remove the wire from their property. Theyve refused, she said. Its horrible, Magali Urbina said. I cant imagine how many people have gotten caught in it. The Urbinas bought the land in 2021 as an idyllic retirement location, where they could gaze out at the churning waters of the Rio Grande and occasionally go fishing. Instead, it now more closely resembles a prison camp. Though streams of asylum-seekers stalked through her property last year, those numbers were already dwindling earlier this year before Texas put up the wire, she said. Magali Urbina questioned if the wire will truly deter migrants. If they came from Venezuela, through the Darien Gap" a roadless crossing at the border of Colombia and Panama "this is not going to stop them, she said, looking out at coils of stacked concertina wire at the edge of her property. Diego Molina, 34, Heidy Orellano, 33, Camila, 1, and Diego, 10, from Honduras, arrived with a group of migrants at Mission: Border Hope on Friday in Maverick County, Texas. DPS officials said troopers should not be jeopardizing the well-being of migrants and have shared pictures on social media of troopers assisting migrants. But asylum-seekers at the Mission: Border Hope shelter, some with small children, described scenes of crossing the river only to be told by authorities on the U.S. side to return across the Rio Grande to Mexico or trek for miles downriver. Reyna Gloria Dominguez, 42, from Honduras, crossed the river two weeks ago with her husband, Edemecio, and four children, ages 5 to 22. She was nursing a broken ankle she said she had suffered in Monterrey fleeing gunmen on her trip to the border. As the family arrived on the U.S. side and faced coils of razor wire, authorities told her they would take her since she was injured but her family had to return to Mexico, she said. Dominguez said she stood on the banks, dripping wet, and cried as she watched her family recross the Rio Grande and return to Mexico. Reyna Gloria Dominguez, 42, from Honduras, grips a bible and tears up recounting her journey, at Mission: Border Hope on Friday in Maverick County, Texas. Dominguez said she injured her foot in Monterrey fleeing from gunman. I said, God, please, where are you? she said through tears at the shelter on Friday, as she hugged a battered Bible. I didnt know if my children made it back to Mexico or were here or even alive. She added: I never imagined that the United States would be so painful, so heartless. Diego Molina, 34, fled Honduras with his family earlier this year to flee criminal gangs who he said had shut down his business and extorted money from him. He needed to reach the U.S., he said, to save money and get a heart-valve operation done for his son, Diego, 10, to fix a heart condition. As he crossed the Rio Grande earlier last week with Diego, his wife, Heidy Orellano, 33, and their 1-year-old daughter, Camila, he was met with rows of concertina wire. They crossed with a pregnant woman and her husband and a mother with two small children. As they puzzled how to get past the wire, U.S. authorities yelled at them to go further downriver and blared a siren at them, he said. With water at times coming up to his neck, Molina led his family downriver. The men on the banks told them to keep going but his son was struggling to breathe. With sirens blaring and children crying, he stepped on razor wire protruding from the water and had his family amble on shore. The wire tore at his pants, but everyone made it to land. The authorities immediately called an ambulance for the pregnant woman and for his son. We didnt think it would be like this, Molina said from the shelter on Friday. But once you cross from Mexico, you cant go back. Contributing: Michael Collins and Bart Jansen This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: At Texas' floating border wall, children slashed by razor wire This photo posted on the Yakima Air Terminal's Facebook page shows two Alaska Airlines/Horizon Embraer 175 jets on the Yakima airport's ramp on Tuesday afternoon, July 18. The Facebook post states one plane had a mechanical issue, requiring the airline to bring another aircraft to Yakima to transport passengers to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. FILE Edward C. Robinson listens in Yakima County Superior Court during his preliminary appearance Friday, April 10, 2020. Robinson is accused of stabbing two Brownstown women to death April 9, 2020. A federal judge ordered Robinson to undergo treatment to restore his competency to stand trial File Brenza Duane Mills reacts to a prosecutor's recommendation that he be held in lieu of $100,000 bail in Yakima County Superior Court Monday, July 17, 2023. Mills is accused of stabbing a 70-year-old man in a fight the day before. You are the owner of this article. If you are sending a Letter To the Editor, please be sure to follow these rules: Letters have a firm 200-word limit and will be edited for grammar, clarity and accuracy. The person who signs the letter must be the author. Anonymous letters will not be considered. Letters must address the editor, not a third party. We will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poetry, open letters, letters espousing religious views without reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Yakima Herald-Republic cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Writers are limited to one published letter per calendar month. St. Peters wound care team honored St. Peters Health Wound Care Earns 2022 Healogics Center of Distinction St. Peters Healths Wound Care team has been named a 2022 Center of Distinction by Healogics, the nations leading provider of advanced wound care and largest wound care database in the world. To achieve this accolade, you must have an above 92% patient satisfaction rate and a greater than 75% wound adjusted comprehensive healing rate, among other metrics. The team maintained a 93% patient satisfaction rate and 85% comprehensive healing rate. The team is led by general surgeon and Medical Director Dr. John Galt who also specializes in wound care. The St. Peters Wound Care Center opened in 2021 and is at the St. Peters Health Regional Medical Center, including a dedicated outpatient clinic with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Sill named to lead bankers group Sam Sill has been named the new Montana Bankers Association president and chief executive officer effective Sept. 1, replacing Cary Hegreberg, who is retiring in August. Sill has more than 10 years experience leading government relations and lobbying efforts for trade associations on local, state and federal matters. He is a Montana native and earned a public administration degree from University of Montana. While we had several highly qualified finalists for the position, were confident that Sam brings a combination of experience in government relations and association management, making him an ideal fit to move the MBA in a positive direction, MBA Board Chair KC Hickok said in a news release. At the MBAs annual meeting in June, Hickok, chief credit officer at Bank of Bridger, was elected MBA board chair for 2023-2024; Tom Severson, market president for First Interstate Bank in Missoula, was elected vice chair and Charlie Pipal, president of Manhattan Bank in Manhattan, was named secretary treasurer. New directors include Ron ODonnell, CEO of Stockman Wealth Management in Billings and Robyn Barta, branch manager of First Federal Bank & Trust in Billings. Mitchell to lead WorldMontana The Museums Association of Montana (MAM) announces the retirement of Executive Director Deb Mitchell after her dedicated service of 16 years. Coinciding with her retirement from the Montana Historical Society, Mitchell has accepted a new position as the executive director of WorldMontana. It is hard for me to come to the realization that I am no longer part of the Museums Association of Montana organization, Mitchell said in a news release. These people have been my second family for the last 16 years. Retiring was a hard decision to make, but as I told the board, you are not rid of me completely yet. Having retired from the Montana Historical Society earlier this year after 23 years, Mitchell felt it was time to pass on her role as MAMs executive director. She commended the board members for their passion and expertise, assuring that Montanas museums are in capable hands. She emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes and being able to laugh at yourself. Encouraging others to remember that you are Never! Ever! Going to please everyone, Mitchell highlighted the significance of never taking it personally. She stressed the power of saying no, knowing personal limitations, and always putting family first. Though retiring, Mitchell said her commitment to advocating for museums and offering support remains unwavering. I am truly blessed to have worked with all of you, she said. MAM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the museum profession and fostering collaboration among museums in Montana. MAM supports museum professionals and volunteers through educational programs, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts, ensuring the preservation and promotion of Montanas rich cultural heritage. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Sfidand razboiul: comerciantii europeni stocheaza gaze in Ucraina Traderii europeni de gaze naturale au inceput sa stocheze gaze naturale in Ucraina pentru a profita de preturile mai mici si de capacitatea disponibila acolo, indiferent de riscurile razboiului in curs, au declarat trei comercianti si oficiali ai companiei, scrie [citeste mai departe] When you are determined to make it big, no force can stop you. There are many entrepreneurs in this country whose journey can be best described as a testament to perseverance, resilience, and unyielding spirit. One such story is of Ankit Agarwal. From operating a quick service restaurant (QSR) kiosk in college to establishing a successful prop-tech startup, Agarwal's story is an inspiration for those who want to achieve their dreams. Ankit Agarwal was born in Kolkata in 1990 to Ravi Shankar Agarwal and Radha Agarwal. While still an engineering student at the age of 19, he used his savings and borrowed money to open a QSR kiosk in front of his college. However, the venture did not succeed and had to shut down for six months. However, this setback did not deter his entrepreneurial spirit. He was later placed at TCS in Mumbai, where he worked for a brief two months. He left the job to open a pani puri stall, which he later upgraded to a small QSR - RN Restaurant, situated in Pillai College, Mumbai. Despite hitting sales of Rs 8,000 per day, Agarwal faced severe funding crunches, to the point of leaving his rented house, spending nights in local trains while juggling three shifts in different food businesses to manage expenses. Finally, in 2014, Ankit Agarwal had to shut down his restaurant business and was left with no money and no place to live. However, destiny had other plans for him. He got introduced to the real estate sector and started a home loan business. Learning the workings of the industry, he finally launched Housiey in 2016 with just one employee. Agarwal credits the struggle for survival behind the birth of 'Housiey'. "After my restaurant business failed, I was left with nothing. However, I had an unyielding self-belief and an open mindset that allowed me to quickly adapt and try new things. And that's what led me to real estate and eventually to the creation of Housiey," he said. Housiey connects home buyers directly with builders, eliminating the hassles of dealing with multiple brokers. With Housiey, Agarwal has catered to over 5500+ families buying their homes and executing property transactions worth Rs 2300+ crores. From his initial venture in college to propelling Housiey's success, Ankit Agarwal's story is inspiring proof that with tenacity, belief, and adaptability, one can achieve even the loftiest of dreams. It's a journey that continues to inspire and offers valuable lessons to aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. New Delhi: Instagram's Twitter competitor Threads is reportedly fast losing steam, a massive 70 per cent decline from its highest in early July. Despite Meta Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg claiming that "10s of millions of people come back daily" on Threads, the number of daily active users on Threads dropped for the second week down to 13 million, "a 70 per cent decline from a July 7 high point," reports The Wall Street Journal. By comparison, Twitter's daily active users are around 200 million. "User engagement on Threads has continued to fall after an initial surge in sign-ups, putting pressure on parent Meta Platforms," the report noted, citing Sensor Tower data. Data show user engagement has fallen 70 per cent as "executives focus on options such as a chronological feed," it added. Meta executives, however, have said they don't see the falloff as worrisome and have said they are working on additional features. Threads is still new and needs several Twitter-like features to make it more competitive in the social media space. Earlier reports mentioned that the so-called Twitter killer's daily use has gone down miserably, with time spent by users now down by 50 per cent from 20 minutes to just 10 minutes. Last week, Threads crossed 150 million user sign-ups despite a usage drop. Meta launched Threads on July 5 for iOS and Android users in 100 countries, and it is among the top free apps on the App Store. According to Data.ai, the app has surpassed more than 150 million downloads worldwide, within seven days after its launch. Recent information revealed that Threads has gained the largest user presence in specific markets, with India leading the way, accounting for approximately 32 per cent of its downloads. Following India is Brazil, contributing to approximately 22 per cent of Threads' installations, and the US, representing nearly 16 per cent of the total. In the realm of Rajasthan Congress politics, the Udaipurwati MLA, Rajendra Singh Guha, remains unwavering in his strong views even after being dismissed from the ministerial council. Despite facing consequences, he continues to voice his criticism against Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Speaking to journalists in Udaipurwati, Guha once again targeted Gehlot, questioning his ability to replicate previous government formations in 2003 and 2013. "At the age of 73, what can he achieve now when he couldn't maintain the government even at the age of 52-53 in 2003?" he questioned. Guha further praised Bharat Singh's integrity, asserting that no other leader in the assembly matches his honesty. He expressed concern about Gehlot's prolonged absence from the assembly and criticized the lack of inquiry into the reasons behind it. He also pointed out that Gehlot avoids eye contact and changes his path to avoid confronting issues. Guha raised eyebrows by remarking that while the police are occupied with the Mannthalia incident, Gehlot seems to lack the time to address critical matters concerning the public. Regarding his meeting with Asaduddin Owaisi, Guha downplayed the encounter, emphasizing that it was a routine meeting. He criticized those trying to sensationalize it and refuted any claims of meeting with terrorists. Guha also questioned the selection process in the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), highlighting that many candidates from villages become thanedars (police station heads), while others who prepare for years still struggle to pass. Taking a jab at CP Joshi, Guha mocked the ease with which individuals become ARAS officers if they have ties to Dotasra. He praised Sachin Pilot for his role in significantly increasing Congress's tally from 21 to 99. It was reported that in Delhi, an attempt was made to reconcile differences between Sachin Pilot and Ashok Gehlot, with the top leadership seeking to portray unity within the party. However, speculations persist about potential confrontations within the Rajasthan Congress. The party aims to strengthen its position and succeed in forming the government once again in the upcoming assembly elections. Photo: Citizen photo by Arthur Williams. B.C. Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives Mable Elmore was in Prince George on Friday to encourage residents to take party in the B.C. Demographic Survey. The BC Demographic Survey will help the provincial government identify areas of society where people are encountering barriers due to systemic racism. B.C. Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives Mable Elmore was in Prince George on Friday to encourage residents to take part in the online survey, which runs until September. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete, and is available in English, French, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, Traditional Chinese, Urdu and Vietnamese. The provincial government knows that too many people are left out and left behind because services arent designed for them, Elmore said. We need to know where are the gaps? What are the issues? The need for the survey was flagged during consultation for the Anti-Racism Data Act. The more data collected during the survey, the better the information will be to identify and address situations where people are not getting equal access to services due to system racism, she said. Its a tough issue, and its difficult to hear stories of people who have faced systemic racism. It takes courage to share these stories, Elmore said. (But) we have to more forward together. To encourage people to participate in the survey, the government is offering grants of up to $2,500 to community groups to encourage and support them to participate, she added. An encampment of at one time 30 unsheltered people grew under the shade of an aspen grove about a mile south of Helena, and its defacto leader a man named Rad said the modest stand of trees saved his life and the lives of others. The encampment on Oro Fino Gulch Road is expected to be cleared out Saturday morning. Lewis and County Sheriff Leo Dutton said the property owner asked they be removed. People living in the camp range in age from the young to elderly. Two dogs and a cat also call the encampment home. One of the dogs recently gave birth to 11 pups. The Montanans in the camp are military veterans, Native Americans, recovering addicts. The camp has four sizeable solar panels connected to an inverter and car battery. The setup is used to charge a couple of cellphones. About 10 tents of varying sizes donated to the camp dot the narrow strip of gulch, the tops of which can just be seen from the highway. The cat, named Voodoo, lays claim to what one resident called "the smallest tent in camp," a short shade structure made of tree limbs and scrap plastic that covers water and food bowls. One of the larger tents sits in the middle of the spotless camp, acting as a communal kitchen tent, where food and water are kept. To the northern end of the camp, at the top of a half dozen tree limb steps, is a more secluded area Rad called the sanctuary. Twenty-eight people were living in the camp as of Wednesday, most of whom said they have been "86'd" from God's Love, Helena's only shelter, for one reason or another. Rad said his camp is drug and alcohol free, and he means it. Two men were banned from his camp for having alcohol. "It's like a family here. At night, you hear everybody inside the tents and it's like 'Good night, grandma.' 'Good night, Marry Ellen,'" Rad said. "We don't necessarily want charity. We just want a place where we can pull up our bootstraps and get back into life." Nick is a young man in his 20s living at the camp. He said as a gay man, he did not feel safe at God's Love and has not returned since he was removed from the shelter for what he said was being a known associate with another person in trouble with the shelter. He said while living on the streets of Helena, he started using methamphetamine. He said a friend told him about Rad's camp. "It's helped a lot," Nick said. "There really aren't any arguments here." No arguments except for the minor one over spilled oatmeal he left on the floor of the kitchen tent earlier that morning, another camper reminded Nick. "I never expected any of this. It ain't me; it's the Heavenly Father," Rad said. "I had an a-ha moment." Rad said he had just about reached his lowest point some 3,119 sober days prior. "I made the front page of your guys' paper. It said, 'Helena man accused of driving under the influence with near fatal blood alcohol,'" he said. "I'll never forget sitting in jail, reading the papers and people wrote in from all around the community for three months, writing about what a piece of (obscenity) I am. ... Out of all the people who wrote in, only two people had something decent to say. ... That I obviously had a problem." Eventually, he was released from Lewis and Clark County Detention Center and shortly thereafter, fell into a particularly bad bender one night and got into a scrap in downtown Helena. "The last thing I remember, they put me in the back of a squad car. I was calling the officer everything under the sun, and I was very disrespectful," Rad said. "I come out of a blackout at an (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting with a cup of coffee in front of me. I felt like a damn idiot." He said he simply sat through the meeting until the end when he asked the attendees how he had gotten there. They told him an officer brought him. "And I remember thinking, 'Boy, that son of a (obscenity) got a sick sense of humor. He's probably laughing his (obscenity) all the way home.' But the fact of the matter is he must have really cared," Rad said. He said he never met the officer again and could not remember his name. "I'd like an opportunity to apologize to him," he said. "I spent the last five years of my drinking up here (in Oro Fino Gulch), and I came up here to die. All I wanted to do was die," Rad said. "But this aspen grove saved my life." He said he was kicked out of God's Love, "and rightfully so." Surrounded by the temptations of a deep addiction he was attempting to kick and with nowhere else to go, he headed for his sanctuary in Oro Fino Gulch. He started attending counseling at Our Place. "It helps me," he said, adding that during his time there, he started recognizing more and more people without shelter who are unable to stay at God's Love and saw the level of need around him. "I've been down there, and I've met commissioners and everyone coming to the homeless and wanting to get our input. And I've heard people talking about it and talking about it. They pull out a list and they make a list. Next week, they'll look at it, and they might talk about it again. Maybe add a couple things to the list and talk about it more," Rad said. "In the meantime, nothing gets done." He also said both Helena Mayor Wilmot Collins and Lewis and Clark County Commissioner Andy Hunthausen visited the camp last week. Rad said people at the church he attends began dropping off tents at his campsite once they learned that was where he ended up. "Something compelled me to put 'em up," he said of the donated tents. "Couple days later, I got a couple more. Pretty soon, I'm up to 10 tents and me and my dog are the only ones here." He said he "finally piped up." "I said, 'Look, I gotta nice little spot. I could probably stay there 10 years and nobody'd know I'd be there, and it could be literally like my own home," Rad said. "But if anyone needs a place, and they're willing to abide by my rules, I'll take you under my protection. It's just blossomed from there." There is only one problem, that sanctuary in the aspens is owned by a Butte resident, according to Dutton, the county sheriff. Dutton said in an interview Thursday his office has received many calls recently from people concerned about wildfire starts in the camp. Dutton said after the group was removed from God's Love, they set up camp on nearby U.S. Forest Service land, where they exceeded their 14-day limit. Once moved out by rangers, the group set up shop at their current location. Rad said he thought it was land that had been donated to the city of Helena and did not realize a portion of his camp was on private land. Dutton said since notifying the group they have been "deemed as trespassers" Tuesday, they were given three days and wake up before they needed to vacate the area. "We're probably giving them more time than we would a standard trespass," Dutton said. "We want to handle this as low-key as possible while enforcing the law." Rad said he did feel as though despite the order, local law enforcement has been supportive of the group. Helena City Manager Tim Burton said in an interview Wednesday "I talked to the police chief yesterday, and he is in communication with the sheriff." Helena Police Department officers and sheriff's deputies have reportedly stopped in periodically to check on the group and ensure they will meet the Saturday deadline. They will not be allowed to return to God's Love, shelter Co-director David Miller said in an interview. Miller said his shelter now houses about 50 residents, about 75% of its capacity. He said the shelter implemented a work requirement during COVID in an effort to help reduce the shelter population, something Lewis and Clark Public Health strongly advised. "We used to have 50 to 60 people in here not doing anything all day," Miller said. "It started affecting our residents trying to hold down jobs." Miller said the new work requirements "worked so well" that the shelter has kept the policy. Miller said the work requirements are what lead most of those living in Rad's camp to be removed from the shelter. He said the shelter has no plans to expand. "I've seen how expansion in this town implodes on itself," he said. "No, we're comfortable with the level of service we are currently providing." Dutton said they need to leave the area. Rad said he plans to move back onto USFS land about 200 feet away. "We will probably have to deal with them again," Dutton said. Rad said he intends to "see this through." "There are good people here. I know why they're afraid to have a homeless encampment because of what's going on in the news. You see San Francisco, Portland and Seattle," he said. "C'mon, this is Montana. We're a bunch of God-fearing Christians here. It doesn't have to look like that here." Rad said he found a military veteran sleeping in a ditch beside Oro Fino Gulch Road who has stayed at the camp since. He said one man who got released from the jail and was detoxing spent about four days at the camp. "He was here for four days and got a job. I haven't heard from him since. I hope it worked out," Rad said. Rad believes he is helping his fellow unsheltered, almost as if to make amends for prior offenses. "Some of my views and maybe some of my tactics are a little unorthodox, but it's been working, man," he said. "I don't really know what I'm doing, but I wanna see this through. I want there to be some kind of legacy, something besides some asshole getting drunk all the time, being a thorn in everyone's side. I'm gonna go get a teepee and a pot belly stove and stay here and try to help people." JAIPUR: Rajendra Singh Gudha, who was sacked from the Rajasthan cabinet on Friday by the Ashok Gehlot government following his statement regarding women's safety in the state, late Friday night said that he was punished for speaking the truth. "I speak the truth always, that is who I am. I follow my conscience...I got punished for speaking the truth," Rajendra Singh Gudha said while speaking to reporters after he was removed from the Rajasthan cabinet. "The sisters and daughters of Udaipurwati Assembly constituency who have helped me win the elections, trusted me so that I can respect and protect them. But the way in which newspapers today are flooded with incidents of sexual harassment incidents on our sisters and mothers shows that Rajasthan is number one in atrocities against women," he added. Rajendra Singh Gudha said that even during the BJP rule in the state, the Congress which was then in opposition had raised their voice against abduction of children. "We had protested against abduction of girl child during BJP rule in the state. People had elected us with the hope that we can do something good for women, against unemployment and corruption by sitting in the biggest panchayat of Rajasthan," he said. Condemning the incident in Manipur, he added that the Rajasthan state government should look within themselves as well. "The manner in which the incident happened in Manipur is shameful and should be condemned. But I had said that we should look into ourselves as well," he said. The former Minister expressed alarm at how the government will seek votes from the public after four months when the state assembly elections will be held if these issues are not addressed. "After 4 months, we will go to the public to seek votes. How will we face them then? All these things will concern us. I just said that these things need to be fixed," he said. Speaking about paper leak in the state he said, "Our youth are dying by suicide. I can give the figures in my constituency. 30 youths have committed suicide in the last two months. They are suffering from unemployment. They give exams everyday but their papers are out. The youths are living in desperation and we are unable to do anything for them." Earlier on Friday, Gudha had criticised his own government over recent incidents of crimes against women in the state. Speaking in the assembly, Gudha, the Congress leader said that it should be accepted that the state government failed in women's safety. It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan," Gudha said. The recent incident, in which the body of a 19-year-old girl was recovered from a well in which she was dumped after being allegedly raped and murdered had created a furore in the State Assembly. Rajasthan government on Friday sacked its minister of state Rajendra Singh Gudha. According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister. The Governor accepted the recommendation of the Chief Minister with immediate effect. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to sack the Minister of State Rajendra Singh Gudha, member of the Council of Ministers, in the evening of July 21. The Governor has accepted this recommendation of Chief Minister Gehlot with immediate effect, stated the Governor House. In the official statement, no reason for Gudhas termination was mentioned in the order. BJP MP Rajyavardhan Rathore came down heavily on the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan for removing Rajendra Singh Gudha from the state cabinet, saying that the "Congress cannot tolerate truth". "He was removed from the state cabinet because Congress cannot tolerate truth, this truth was muffled by the state government for a long time," Rajyavardhan Rathore told ANI. Rathore said that Rajasthan Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha spoke the truth when he said that the state government needs to look into the crimes happening in its own state. "A Rajasthan Minister spoke truth inside the Assembly House, he said that the state government must look into the crimes happening in its own state instead of criticising incidents of other states. For the last three years, Rajasthan is number one for crimes against women. This is the truth," he said. Slamming the Ashok Gehlot government, Rathore said, "Minister Gudha is right in saying that in Manipur a video surfaced, whereas here, sisters and daughters get raped every day. Is Ashok Gehlot waiting for any video to surface?" New Delhi: The landslide incident caused due to the incessant rainfall in Maharashtra's Raigad took the life of several people. So far, the NDRF has recovered 22 bodies as it continues the search and rescue operation. On Friday, the operation was suspended due to bad weather conditions. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on July 20 visited the site of the tragedy and took stock of the relief and rescue efforts. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the deceased, said officials. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde after the incident. Shah said four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed to execute the rescue operation. IMD Predicts Extremely Heavy Rainfall In Maharashtra, Pune, Palgarh On Red Alert Meanwhile, Maharashtra is witnessing heavy rainfall for a few days now and the IMD has predicted further extremely heavy rainfall over the Konkan and Ghat areas of Madhya Maharashtra. The met department has issued a Red alert for Pune and Palgarh and an orange alert for Raigad, Washim, Gadchiroli, Chandarpur, Satara, Ratnagiri, Mumbai and Thane. Torrential Rains In Maharashtra Cause Water Logging #WATCH | Maharashtra: Severe waterlogging witnessed in Yavatmal due to incessant rain in the region. pic.twitter.com/3iARiiBfbI ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2023 Incessant rains in Maharashtra have resulted in waterlogging conditions in several regions of the state. In the wake of the situation, the government has announced holidays for schools in several districts. The government has now asked the education department to coordinate with respective district collectors before announcing holidays for educational institutes. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri is known for making films like The Kashmir Files and The Tashkent Files. Recently, he announced another project, titled The Kashmir Files Unreported, which is a docu-drama based on the exodus in Kashmir in the 1990s. Earlier this week, the director also dropped the teaser of his upcoming project on social media. In another recent tweet, Vivek shared his opinions on Kashmiri Pandits, following which a user asked the filmmaker to make a movie called The Manipur Files, based on the violence in the state, if he was man enough. Vivek Agnihotri responds to a Twitter user It all began when Vivek Agnihotri shared a tweet that read, Indian judiciary stood and stands blind and mute to Kashmiri Hindu Genocide. It failed and still fails to suo moto protect the #RightToLife of Kashmiri Hindus as promised in our constitution. Indian judiciary stood and stands blind and mute to Kashmiri Hindu Genocide. It failed and still fails to 'suo moto' protect the #RightToLife of Kashmiri Hindus as promised in our constitution. Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) July 21, 2023 Responding to the tweet, a user wrote, Don't waste time go and make a movie 'Manipur Files' if you are man enough. However, Vivek had a savage reply for the user. He immediately quoted his tweet and wrote, Thanks for having so much faith in me. Par saari films mujhse hi banwaoge kya yaar? Tumhari Team India mein koi man enough filmmaker nahin hai kya (But, do you want me to make all the films. Isn't anyone else not man enough)? Thanks for having so much faith in me. Par saari films mujhse hi banwaoge kya yaar? Tumhari 'Team India' mein koi 'man enough' filmmaker nahin hai kya? https://t.co/35U9FMf32G Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri (@vivekagnihotri) July 21, 2023 Manipur violence The last two months have been horrifying for Manipur residents. The violence began on May 3 in Churachandpur town of the state. The Meitei community of the state demanded scheduled tribe status for themselves, which was opposed by Kuki groups. This led the Kuki group to protest against the Meitei community. It has been two months and the violence is still going on. More than 150 people have died and about 50,000 injured. Recently, a video from the state surfaced on social media that shook the entire nation. The two-month-old video from the state captured during the violence showed two tribal women being paraded naked. They were molested by a group of men. The video sparked massive public outrage. In a startling revelation, an Air Force personnel residing in the Police Kotwali area of Prayagraj has alleged that a police officer engaged in an illicit relationship with his wife, resulting in the birth of a child. The authenticity of the claim has been verified through a DNA test. This shocking revelation has left the Air Force personnel's family torn apart. The complaint was formally lodged with the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on Wednesday. According to the Air Force personnel, he got married in 2005. At present, the police officer's sister, who is stationed at a police outpost in Manjhnapur Kotwali, was a close friend of his wife. During the police officer's posting in Rajasthan, a relationship allegedly developed between him and the Air Force personnel's wife. Suspicions arose in 2014 when she became pregnant. The following year, during a family event, the Air Force personnel discovered the truth about his wife's involvement. In an attempt to ascertain the paternity of the child born from the alleged relationship, a DNA test was conducted on May 31, 2015. The test results conclusively proved that he was not the biological father. In the wake of this revelation, the Air Force personnel confiscated the police officer's mobile phone, which uncovered explicit conversations with his wife. Additionally, he accused the police officer of selling a valuable piece of land under his wife's name. However, the accused police officer vehemently denies all allegations. The matter is currently under investigation, with the ASP Samar Bahadur taking charge of the case. He assured that the investigation would be conducted diligently. The case is not recent, and the investigation will delve into the facts surrounding the allegations. "I have family relations with her..." In response to the accusations, the police officer maintains that he has already divorced the Air Force personnel's wife. Furthermore, a land dispute between them was previously reported at the Additional Director General (ADG) level. The situation has escalated, with the police officer's wife currently residing in Lucknow, which also happens to be his hometown. He clarifies that he has family relations with her and her suspicions of him assisting her are unfounded. The police officer's wife is no longer with him. The City Chief Officer, Abhishek Singh, will lead the investigation into the serious allegations against the police officer stationed at Sadar Kotwali. The former military personnel has accused him of engaging in an illicit relationship with his wife and illegally selling a valuable piece of land. The case came to light on Thursday, and the ASP Samar Bahadur has assigned City CO Abhishek Singh to conduct the investigation. The police officer asserts that he has already divorced his wife, and the land dispute is a separate issue between them. He refutes the accusations, attributing them to false claims due to his assistance to his ex-wife. The matter was previously brought before the High Court, where justice was delivered. He reiterates that he has severed ties with his wife, and the land dispute is unrelated to the allegations being made against him. New Delhi: The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dhubri zila parishad and his assistant district programme manager (ADPM) were nabbed by the agents of Assams Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) for allegedly taking bribes, the DVAC informed in a Twitter post. The agents of DVAC of Assam police on Friday set up a trap and arrested Mrinal Kanti Sarkar, ADPM, in the office room of CEO, Zila Parishad, Dhubri while he was taking a bribe of Rs 30,000 on orders of the CEO. The bribe was for clearing of payments, officials said. Along with him, Biswajit Goswami, CEO Zila Parishad, Dhubri was also held for asking for a bribe and receiving it through Mrinal Kanti Sarkar, the police added. They also added that an amount of Rs 2,32,85,300 was found during a raid of the house of Biswajit Goswami. Taking to Twitter, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hailed DVAC's action against corruption in the state. He said, "Well done! The Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Vigilance has successfully carried out a sustained anti-corruption drive, resulting in the arrest of 117 government employees since 10th May 2021. The efforts to eradicate corruption from the administration will continue with the same determination and energy." Jaipur: BJP MP Rajyavardhan Rathore came down heavily on the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan for removing Rajendra Singh Gudha from the state cabinet, saying that the "Congress cannot tolerate truth". "He was removed from the state cabinet because Congress cannot tolerate truth, this truth was muffled by the state government for a long time," Rajyavardhan Rathore told ANI. Rathore said that Rajasthan Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha spoke the truth when he said that the state government needs to look into the crimes happening in its own state. "A Rajasthan Minister spoke truth inside the Assembly House, he said that the state government must look into the crimes happening in its own state instead of criticising incidents of other states. For the last three years, Rajasthan is number one for crimes against women. This is the truth," he said. Slamming the Ashok Gehlot government, Rathore said, "Minister Gudha is right in saying that in Manipur a video surfaced, whereas here, sisters and daughters get raped every day. Is Ashok Gehlot waiting for any video to surface?" Speaking on former Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha's tenure in the Congress he said, "The Congress has used this Minister at every moment of opportunity. Whenever he spoke in favour of the Congress, he has got himself promoted. Today when he spoke the truth he was removed." In another attack on the Rajasthan government, Rathore questioned the Congress party on whether issues of women's safety is not as important as protecting the party line. "The Congress state president said that he has spoken going against the party line. Is speaking for the safety of women against the party line? It is now proven that for the Congress, party comes first, not the country," he said. The Rajasthan government on Friday sacked its minister of state Rajendra Singh Gudha. According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister. The Governor accepted the recommendation of the Chief Minister with immediate effect. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to sack the Minister of State Rajendra Singh Gudha, member of the Council of Ministers, in the evening of July 21. The Governor has accepted this recommendation of Chief Minister Gehlot with immediate effect, stated the Governor House. In the official statement, no reason for Gudhas termination was mentioned in the order. Earlier, speaking at the state Assembly, Rajendra Singh Gudha said that the government should look at the atrocities on women which have increased in the state instead of looking at the situation in Manipur. In his address at the state assembly, Rajendra Singh Gudha said, "It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." BENGALURU: JD(S) leader and former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday said his party has decided to work together as an opposition with the BJP, in the interest of the state. Stating that party supremo and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda has authorised him to take any final decision regarding the party, he said there is still time for Parliament polls to talk about it. Kumaraswamy was responding to a question on the discussions in the JD(S) legislature party meeting on Thursday night, which was attended by Gowda, amid reports about the possibility of JD(S) allying with the NDA ahead of 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "I have already said both inside and outside the assembly, as both BJP and JD(S) are opposition parties, it has been decided to work together in the interest of the state. Even today morning, MLAs of our party discussed how to go ahead," he said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, in the legislature party meeting Gowda has advised that after gathering the opinion all the leaders, a 10-member team has to be formed with representation from all communities, for the party organisation and to raise the voice against the misdeeds of this (Congress) government in all the 31 districts. "Still there is 11 months for Parliament elections. Let's see when Parliament election comes. It was advised to organise the party. Also, Deve Gowda has said that he has authorised me to take any final decision regarding the party," he added. In the elections to the 224-member Assembly held in May, the Congress bagged 135 seats, while the BJP secured 66 and the JD(S) 19. New Delhi: The bold and sassy Urfi Javed, who is known for her out-of-box and quirky fashion choices recently travelled from Mumbai to Goa for a vacation but faced an untoward incident. She was allegedly harassed by a group of men onboard a flight who said nasty things to her and the actress shared her ordeal on social media. URFI JAVED HARASSED Urfi Javed travelled in Economy class and shared her experience on Instagram Story. She wrote: "While travelling from Mumbai to Goa on one of the flights yesterday. I had to go through harassment, the men in this video were saying nasty things, eve-teasing and calling names. When I confronted them, one of them said, their friends were drunk. Being drunk is no excuse to misbehave with women. Public figure YES. Public property NO." She put up a video where four male passengers can be seen passing rude comments on her. When confronted, one of the person said that his friends are drunk. Urfi was recently spotted at the Mumbai airport, and she could be seen donning pink hair. URFI JAVED'S WORK PROFILE In the past, Urfi Javed took a giant leap and shot for Dirty Magazine. The photoshoot got her a shootout from fashion designer Anaita Shroff Adajania, who also styled her for the magazine project. Urfi died her eyebrows and hair pink, leaving onlookers stunned. She is famous on social media for her DIY videos. From making a top from stockings to donning a dress made from trash - Urfi has done it all in her posts online. She was seen in Bigg Boss OTT season 1 last year and gained stardom and was recently seen in the dating reality show Splitsvilla X4. Four people have been arrested in relation to a coordinated law enforcement effort in the Helena area, targeting subjects soliciting minors online with the intent to engage in sexual activity, police said Friday. The operation was conducted June 22-23 and continued work from law enforcement led to the arrest of a fourth person on June 27. The following people were booked into the Lewis & Clark Detention Center and face state charges: Colton Charles Wagner, 25, East Helena; Jonathan Plumb, 32, Helena; Christopher Spadt, 45, Laurel; and Kawika Bullock 42, Helena. Helena police said the operation was the result of coordination with the Helena Police Department, Lewis and Clark County Sheriffs Office, Montana Division of Criminal Investigation, the Montana FBIs Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, and the FBIs Montana Regional Violent Crime Task Force. A troublesome grizzly bear that had been raiding picnics and campgrounds in the Many Glacier Valley since June was killed by Glacier National Park officials on Thursday. The 5-year-old sow grizzly was first reported taking food from a Many Glacier Campground picnic table on June 27. She had to be hazed out of the campground two more times although the campground was restricted to hard-sided camping only after her first raid. The restriction was lifted on July 10 after radio-collar telemetry showed she had left the vicinity for several days. But the grizzly returned on July 18, when it charged a family picnicking on the lakeshore near the Swiftcurrent Lake Boat Launch. The family was able to secure most of its food, but the bear got into their beverages that were cooling in the lake. Park officials conferred with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and decided to capture and kill the grizzly. They found and killed it on Thursday near Lake Sherburne, between Many Glacier and the park boundary. It was the first food-conditioned grizzly bear to be killed in Glacier Park since 2009. The sow had been radio-collared in 2019 as part of a grizzly population study. However, it was the second habituated grizzly bear killed in a week. On Monday, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials captured and killed a grizzly near Hungry Horse Reservoir that had been raiding campsites and boats. Once a bear receives a human food reward, it can become food conditioned. Food rewards can include items such as human food, trash, livestock feed, and pet food. Over time, food conditioned bears may become bold or aggressive in their attempts to obtain human food, as was the case with this bear. Once a bear has become food-conditioned, hazing and aversive conditioning are unlikely to be successful in reversing this type of behavior. Food-conditioned bears are not relocated due to human safety concerns. Park visitors can help ensure the future of grizzly bears by taking steps to prevent bears from becoming food conditioned. Do not stop along roadways in the vicinity of bears. Secure all food and garbage. Report all bear sightings to the nearest ranger. It may be cliche; however, more often than not, a fed bear is a dead bear. A coalition of Republican attorneys general, including Montanas, are pushing the Biden administration to drop a proposal intended to insulate reproductive health care information from criminal investigations related to abortion bans. The June 16 letter, signed by the top prosecutors in 18 states, argues that states with restrictions on the procedure should be able to obtain that information in certain cases, including if a patient crossed state lines to have an abortion. It urges President Joe Bidens administration to abandon a proposed rule that would prohibit disclosure of reproductive health care information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, often referred to by its acronym HIPAA. Efforts to protect sensitive health information, including related to reproductive health care, have taken on renewed importance as states seek to penalize and criminalize health care providers and interfere in deeply personal medical decisions, the administration wrote in an April 12 press release announcing the proposed rule. HIPAA was passed in 1996 and in part governs how and when medical providers can release personal information related to their clients. The Biden administration's proposed rule would prohibit providers and insurers from disclosing patients reproductive health information to states with abortion bans. Knudsen and the other attorneys general argue the rule exceeds the departments authority under HIPAA and could hamstring their ability to enforce other state-level health care laws or licensing requirements. The letter offers a hypothetical case in which a provider injures a patient during an abortion procedure in a state with an abortion ban, then falsifies records and refers the patient out of state as a cover-up. Under the proposed rule, a regulated entity with relevant evidence could deny requests for that information based on its assumption that the care was lawful, as reflected in the falsified records or as provided out of state, the letter states. The letter also accuses the administration of fearmongering by suggesting prosecutors will go after patients seeking an abortion. As of June, no states had enacted abortion bans allowing those patients to be prosecuted. The U.S. Supreme Court last year ended a half-century of federal precedent recognizing the right to an abortion, ruling that states had the authority to permit or restrict the procedures. Laws outlawing abortions to varying degrees have since been passed in nearly half the states in the country, according to a New York Times database. In several of those states, including Montana, courts have blocked those laws from going into effect. In May, a state district judge in Helena granted preliminary injunctions on four laws passed by Montanas GOP-dominated Legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte just weeks earlier. The state appealed the ruling, which is now pending before the state Supreme Court. The letter from Republican AGs accuses Biden of weaponizing federal agencies to undermine the high courts decision. Rather than respect the decisions of some states to regulate abortion, the Biden administration has instead sought to wrest control over abortion back from the people and their elected representatives, the AGs wrote. Its unclear if the rule would directly implicate any laws on the books in Montana. While the Legislature passed a raft of abortion-related legislation earlier this year, none of them attempt to prohibit Montanans from seeking reproductive care out of state. Montana's Constitution and its privacy protection ensures access to pre-viability abortions, as held by the state Supreme Court's 1999 Armstrong decision. Knudsens office declined to elaborate on the rules potential impact on Montana. The Attorney General regularly engages in the federal rulemaking process via public comment in this case, alongside 18 other states, spokesperson Emily Flower wrote in an email earlier this week. Were not able to comment on potential conflicts with state law. But Quinn Leighton, director of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Montana, said Knudsens letter raises concerns that Montana providers could be open to prosecution if they care for patients who cant legally get the procedures performed in their home states. Were in strong support of tightening protections within HIPAA for patients and providers, given everything thats happening, has happened over the last year in terms of the loss of federal protections for abortion rights, Leighton said in an interview Friday. The attorneys generals letter references providers licensed in multiple states, arguing that state governments have an interest in monitoring the conduct of medical personnel who are licensed under their laws but act out of state. Leighton suggested that could expose Montana-based providers to investigation by other states with abortion bans. They could potentially look at the records of providers if a provider was, say, licensed in Idaho and Montana, they said. Now that its banned in Idaho they would want to come to Montana and provide care. The Biden administration is also facing pressure from the left to craft a rule that goes farther toward protecting abortion rights. A majority of Democratic U.S. senators last month issued a letter calling for the department to also require law enforcement to get a warrant in order to access patients health information. The only Democratic member of Montanas congressional delegation, Sen. Jon Tester, was not a signatory to the letter. Tester is facing a competitive 2024 reelection contest, as one of the top targets of Republicans hoping to retake the Senate. Who exactly does Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks serve? Presumably, the entirety of the Montanan public, with decisions presumably reflecting scientific management of all of Montanas wild resources for all users. Two weeks ago, Montana-based nonprofit Wolves of the Rockies hosted a Yellowstone Wolf Summit in Gardiner. Wolves of the Rockies agenda is simply the scientific management of wolves as a wildlife species through policies that take into account non-consumptive users in addition to consumptive interests. One of the major focal points of the summit was the dangers of allowing extremists on all sides to dominate issues of wolves (and other wildlife) and the need to understand the sincere concerns of fellow Westerners who see wolves through a different lens than ourselves. We believe it is through good-faith relationships, transparency and policies based on reality that all sides will ultimately come out ahead. Summit speakers included livestock owners who live in wolf country. They included ethical hunters who venture into the Rocky Mountain wilderness in the hopes of filling up their winter freezer with elk meat. They even included the lead wolf biologist of Wyoming Game & Fish. But they did not include Montana FWP. Not for lack of invitation. Wolves of the Rockies asked Montana FWP over 10 months ago to participate in the June 2023 summit, and asked again on at least five subsequent occasions, only to be first refused by the previous Director Hank Worsech and then by the new Director Dustin Temple. Additional Montana FWP leadership either refused or ignored all invitations. We didnt want Montana FWP to send someone to our wolf conference so they could be heckled; that would serve absolutely no purpose for us. We wanted someone representing our wildlife resource management agency to answer honest questions, explain the data behind their wolf management policies, and to simply engage with us as legitimate stakeholders. Montana FWP works regularly and closely with the Montana Trappers Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Safari Club International, and a host of other targeted wildlife interests. And that brings us back to the initial question posed above. If Montana FWP is truly serving the people of Montana, then it must start extending its engagement beyond only consumptive users, as well as cease pretending that a handful of organizations with deep pockets speak for all hunters. Furthermore, if Montana FWP is indeed managing wildlife based on sound science and the long established American tradition of the public trust, then it is quite perplexing that they routinely refuse to engage non-consumptive users or clearly explain the data behind their decision making. Why for example do we need a complete open season (no quota) on wolves, with individuals able to now obtain 10 wolf tags by hunting and another 10 by trapping, with said individuals then paid by the state for each dead wolf (which is a bounty, despite the state calling it reimbursement) even in areas of the state with elk populations above management objectives and miniscule livestock losses? Why does the Montana FWP insist on ignoring the tens of thousands of Montanan wildlife watchers, the tens of millions of dollars that wolf-watching and other wildlife watching brings to Montana communities, and those outdoorsmen who know that the responsible carnivore management promised by the state is nothing like the wholesale slaughter through any means imaginable that the state is actually delivering? Finally, why does Montana FWP aggressively resist any fiscal benefits that could be provided by inclusion of wildlife watchers, including killing a voluntary Wolf Stamp for which all proceeds would have directly funded all non-lethal aspects of Montanas wolf program? It seems that Montana FWP refuses to even acknowledge that wildlife management governed by science and enacted on behalf of all Montanans interests is desirable, or even possible. We want win-win. Were tired of the paradigm of win-lose, and wildlife watchers getting the seats at the table that our numbers warrant to hold Montana FWP accountable to reality is not the death knell for Western culture. Its an affirmation of Montana values of equality, responsibility and fair governance. We have no interest in banning big-game hunting or destroying the small family rancher. Of course, if Montana FWP bothered to come to the summit, they would have learned that. DECATUR Eisenhower High School class of 1983 is hosting their 40-year reunion on Friday, July 28 and Saturday, July 29. Classmates will meet at Sloan's Calzones, 129 S. Oakland, on Friday, July 28 at 7 p.m. for an informal meet and greet. The second meeting will be at Krekel's Dairy Maid, 2320 E. Main St., at noon, Saturday, July 29 for lunch followed by dinner at the Beach House, reservations are required for dinner. For more information, contact Sherry (Bossert) Plain at 217-855-0165. * * * Reunion news is published free in Saturday's Life section. Send information, with daytime phone number, to: Reunions, Herald & Review, 225 S. Main St., Suite 200, Decatur, IL 62523, or email lmargerum@herald-review.com. LINCOLN Just two semesters after Lincoln College closed its doors to students, Lincoln Mayor Tracy Welch told a local radio show that the school would reopen. I dont have a lot of details to share with you to be honest, but Lincoln College is going to open back up, Welch said Friday on the WHOW Morning Show in Clinton, following a discussion about bringing businesses into the community to support Lincolns economy. The mayor said hes been in meetings about the possibility of reopening. Lee Enterprises journalists were unable to reach him for further comment on Friday evening or Saturday. Thats a huge positive for our community, he said on the radio show. As a city, yeah, weve lost but the economy is still moving in the right direction, and hopefully when we get Lincoln College back and some of these other new businesses off the ground, were going to see more economic growth and financial growth. We can put that back in the community. Ive said it before: all signs are positive, Welch said. Lincoln College closed May 13, 2022, at the end of the spring semester. At that time, The Pantagraph reported the school cited the increased expenses from the pandemic, along with the accompanying decline in enrollment, and revenue, as part of the reason for the closure. The mayor's statements Friday on WHOW come after he appeared July 11 on WLCN 96.3 FM, during which he also mentioned his expectations for Lincoln College. The good news is that several of us attended a meeting at Lincoln College with some people that are involved in bringing Lincoln College back, getting it back up off its feet, he told WLCN. I cant share a lot of details on it. A press release will be coming out probably in early September, but the positive news is that Lincoln College will reopen. Its going to have a different feel to it for sure, but I think once all of the info and details are shared that people will see this as a huge positive thing for the community. A lot of positivity. Welch said the college would not be the same as it was before it closed but will instead have a different dynamic to it than a traditional higher learning institution. The mayor told WLCN he was very excited about what hes seen of the plans so far, "and I cant wait for it to happen. In addition to Welch, Logan County Board Chair Emily Davenport could not be reached Friday evening or Saturday. Reached by phone on Saturday, county board Vice Chair Dale Nelson confirmed that the board and the mayor have been working on the project in tandem. He said Davenport and Welch would be the only people able to provide further information. The new Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie has sparked fresh interest in all things Barbie, including collectibles. Mattel, Barbies maker, estimates there are well over 100,000 active collectors, many of whom attend the annual Barbie convention (held in early July this year in Orlando, Florida). When Barbie was introduced in 1959, I was 10 too old, I thought, to play with dolls. Then, in 1995, I saw photos of a No. 1 Barbie and a trunkful of clothes found in an abandoned storage locker. I was hooked. As I began collecting vintage dolls, it was interesting to see how Barbies hairstyles evolved in her early years from a ponytail and curly bangs in the Elvis era, to a bouffant bubblecut when Jackie Kennedy was first lady to a sleek pageboy in the mid-60s and then to the long straight hair of the hippie and Mod generation. It was the clothes, though, that were truly captivating, hand-sewn couture fashions made of exquisite fabrics with metal snaps and zippers. At her peak of elegance in 1965, Barbie wore satin evening gowns, gold lame sheaths and tweed suits trimmed with real fur. Outfits had names like Shimmering Magic and Debutante Ball. And oh, the accessories tiny compacts, pearl necklaces, even a portfolio with fashion sketches. The oldest and generally most sought-after dolls were made in Japan. As that country became wealthier and labor costs rose, Barbies story tracked that of the worlds emerging markets production moved to Hong Kong, Taiwan, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia and China. With Barbie aging (albeit beautifully), prices for some of the earliest dolls have soared. At Marl and B, a Bradenton, Florida shop specializing in vintage Barbies, a No. 1 doll was recently listed at $15,000 and some bubblecuts as much as $1,500. (Prices on eBay tend to be less.) Condition is key. Bad hair, missing fingers and toes and the dreaded green ear caused by metal earring posts interacting with the plastic in the dolls head dramatically affect value. As for the clothes, one way to spot the earliest ones is by their black-and-white embroidered tags. Accessories often lost or sucked up in vacuum cleaners can be scarcer and more valuable than the clothes. In anticipation of the Barbie movie, a friend and I got out our vintage dolls. Maybe I was too old for Barbie at 10, but not anymore. Microsoft is continuing to obfuscate about a recent attack on its Azure cloud infrastructure, saying a post, that claims danger from the attack still exists, is speculative and not evidence-based. The company is mentioned in that same post as having checked the content for technical accuracy. Shir Tamari, a researcher from cloud security firm Wiz, said very clearly: "..we want to thank the Microsoft team for working closely with us on this blog and helping us ensure it is technically accurate." Microsoft's obfuscation was made to the CIA-funded site, The Record. The software giant has not put out any official post on this. While some others have pointed out the company's double-speak on the issue, no American tech site has written it up and focused on the fact that Microsoft is saying one thing now, having said precisely the opposite earlier. The Record quotes a Microsoft spokesperson as saying: "Many of the claims made in this blog are speculative and not evidence-based. Weve also recently expanded security logging availability, making it free for more customers by default, to help enterprises manage an increasingly complex threat landscape. I don't know but strongly suspect this is what happened: 1. The tech people at MS worked with Wiz in good faith to help make sure the post was correct. 2. The post is correct. 3. After the post dropped MS's PR people went ballistic because it makes the situation sound worse. https://t.co/oJpC2udIzE Brian in Pittsburgh (@arekfurt) July 22, 2023 Of course, the second part of this quote is irrelevant to the matter at hand: is there still a danger from, which is claimed to have been carried out by individuals from China? In its detailed, technical post, Wiz warned companies and organisations affected by the breach that the impact of the intrusion may be much wider than reported, and could affect applications beyond those claimed by Microsoft to be impacted. And Wiz also listed the possible applications that could be in danger: "...SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, customers applications that support the 'login with Microsoft' functionality, and multi-tenant applications in certain conditions". When big software or hardware companies suffer a breach that has as wide implications as this one does, one would expect them to think of the danger their customers face. But then for Microsoft, it has always been a case of money first, with security being a very poor second. It's not difficult to understand why Microsoft is continuing to spin this attack the company has always been about marketing first, with technology being a poor second. In the normal course of things, Microsoft only backtracks on this kind of putrid spin when the US Government gets involved. But these days, given the company's influence, it is doubtful whether any government officials will speak up and point out the correct picture. Federal elections are around the corner in the US and the Democratic candidate Joe Biden is increasingly seen as anything but a shoo-in. The government knows that tech firms will play a big role in pushing its dogma, hence it is unlikely to antagonise any of them right now. This isn't the first time that Microsoft has twisted and turned when its role in attacks of this kind has been discussed. Back in February 2021, when the question over the company's role in the SolarWinds attack came up, it first denied that it had been attacked. Later, it was forced to backtrack. The media, particularly the American outlets, should shoulder much of the blame for Microsoft's attitude towards attacks of this kind. Sharp criticism, straightforward reporting, and pointing the finger are supposed to be part of journalism. But in the US, given there is a milk-and-water approach, this kind of spin is likely to continue. MATTOON The workers at Bimbo Bakeries USA are planning a bagel-tastic "Star Wars" decorated float for Saturdays parade. Anna Miller, the engagement coordinator for Bimbo Bakeries in Mattoon, has been planning and working on the "Star Wars"-themed float for the past month along with Tierra Bartlett, Tony Wishard and Jason Bowman. We found out the theme was 'Star Wars' and I knew nothing about 'Star Wars.' So I asked Tony Wishard what we should do for our float this year," Miller said. "So he helped me do some research and show me different 'Star Wars' things since I didn't know any and helped me get the float going." This is Millers first year working on the Bagelfest float. Hopefully it goes off with a bang this year. The last two years weve had a couple of hiccups, Bowman said. Wishard said they are trying to bring Bagelfest back to where it was. Over the last couple of years, its kind of shimmied down, so were trying to bring it back as one community and not just a festival thats there for only the kids. Its for everybody Wishard said. The float include a "Star Wars" TIE fighter with the Bimbo Bear mascot, El Osito Bimbo, featured in two cutouts dressed as "Star Wars" characters. The float also includes a large, inflatable Death Star, which will be set up to hang either in the truck bed of the vehicle pulling the float or at the front of the float. Lastly, of course, the float will be decorated with many bagels. The parade kicks off at 10:30 a.m. from 21st and Western Avenue and travels down Broadway Avenue to Peterson Park, where Bagelfest is held. The Mattoon tourism department has hired actors from Chicago to portray various "Star Wars" characters, according to Miller. They're going to ride on our float and walk with us in full costume. I think there are seven of them. And then they'll be at the park afterwards for photo ops and stuff with kids, Miller said. The event will wrap up with a performance by One Vision of Queen featuring Marc Martel, a Queen tribute show, at the Main Stage at 8 p.m. Reserved lawn seating costs $25 and regular lawn sitting is $15. Thursday night at Mattoon Bagelfest Photo: The Canadian Press New York State police officers move a metal cabinet as law enforcement searches the home of suspected serial killer Rex Heuermann, Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. In the winter of 2010, shortly after police discovered the remains of his roommate and three other women buried on a remote stretch of Long Island shoreline, Dave Schaller provided detectives with a description of the person he believed to be the killer. More crucially, Schaller told them about his truck. The man they were looking for was a towering, Frankenstein-like figure with an empty gaze who drove a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche, Schaller recalled telling investigators. The mans size stuck out, as did his unusual pick-up truck, which hed used to flee the house Schaller shared with Amber Costello. On that night, Schaller said he came home to find the stranger threatening Costello, an occasional sex worker, who had locked herself in the bathroom. The two men came to blows, with the hulking intruder eventually leaving in the truck. Prosecutors say Costello was last seen alive on Sept. 2, 2010, as she left her home to meet that same client. A witness saw a dark-colored truck drive by the house again shortly after she left. When they told me she was dead, he was the first person who jumped in my head, Schaller told The Associated Press. Ive been picturing his face for 13 years. On July 14, police arrested Rex Heuermann on charges of killing Costello and two other women, Melissa Barthelemy and Megan Waterman. He is the prime suspect in the death of a fourth woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Heuermann, an architect who worked in Manhattan, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. The arrest marked a stunning breakthrough in the hunt for a serial killer who had eluded investigators and whose crimes gripped Long Islanders since the bodies of four women all of them sex workers were found wrapped in burlap near Gilgo Beach. Within months, the remains of six other bodies, including a toddler, were discovered elsewhere along the same beach highway. Heuermann has not been accused in any of those cases. Police have said the deaths may be the work of multiple killers. The arrest has brought a measure of relief to families of the victims at a moment when the trail appeared to have gone cold. But as new details emerge about how police finally caught the alleged killer, theyve also raised questions about whether investigators adequately pursued a key lead Schaller's description of the stranger and his truck that may have helped solve the case sooner. This was crucial information, and I dont know why they didnt share it, said Rob Trotta, a county legislator who worked as a Suffolk County Police detective until 2013. They made some serious blunders here. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who inherited the investigation when he took office in 2022, said the key to unraveling the case was the description of the truck, discovered by a state investigator after the launch of a new task force formed to take a fresh look at the evidence. When they ran it through a vehicle records database, one of the results turned up a hit: A man who owned a Chevy Avalanche lived in a neighborhood that investigators were already zeroing in on as the suspects likely location because of a sophisticated analysis of cellphone location data and call records. Heuermann fit the physical description provided by Schaller, too: He was 6 feet, 4 inches (193 centimeters) tall and weighed 240 pounds (109 kilograms). Tierney told the AP he did not know why police had not run a search earlier, but suggested the piece of information may have been lost within a sea of other tips and information. He stressed there were other elements that ultimately helped investigators arrest Heuermann, including new technology that helped match samples of DNA to the suspect. What solved this case was a lot of dedicated investigators, analysts and attorneys from a bunch of agencies getting together and collaborating, he said. But for Schaller, any feelings of relief over the arrest were soon eclipsed by anger and confusion. Speaking out for the first time since the arrest, he said he had met with homicide detectives on multiple occasions during the initial years of the investigation. During one of their final meetings, roughly two years after the women went missing, he said he picked the truck's model out of a line-up of photographs provided by the detectives. I gave them the exact description of the truck and the dude, he said. I mean come on, why didnt they use that? The question has vexed some law enforcement officials as well. Two high-ranking officials who worked closely on the case and attended briefings between 2011 and 2013 said they never heard anything about a witness statement describing the suspect and his vehicle. The law enforcement officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose information about the investigation. According to a vehicle history report, Heuermann bought the pickup a dark green, first-generation edition at a Chevrolet dealer on Long Island in 2002 and transferred ownership to his brother, Craig, in South Carolina in 2012. Authorities seized the vehicle last week. In a search warrant, they said they were looking for other clues in the vehicle or at property the brothers owned in Chester County, South Carolina, such as DNA, fluids, fingerprints, phones and what they described as possible trophies that may have belonged to the victims clothing, jewelry, Bibles or photos. Investigators said they were also looking for any electronics, video recordings and writings related to the killings; burlap; duct tape; guns and ammunition; cutting tools; and a specific type of paper towel from the Bounty Modern Print Collection. While its not clear whether investigators pursued the tip about the vehicle before last year, those involved in the case pointed to fierce divisions between the various law enforcement agencies as well as overlapping scandals that engulfed Suffolk County as a potential explanation for a key clue slipping through the cracks. Shortly after taking over the Suffolk County police department in 2012, James Burke moved to end cooperation with the FBI amid federal scrutiny of his own misconduct. Four years later, Burke was sentenced to 46 months in prison after he was found to have conspired to cover-up his beating of a man who had discovered sex toys and pornography inside his car. The federal inquiry would also lead to prison sentences for Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota, who oversaw the early years of the Gilgo Beach case, as well as the countys top anticorruption prosecutor, Christopher McPartland. This was a dark cloud over the community, recalled Tim Sini, who succeeded Burke as police commissioner and later became the countys district attorney. When you have the police department and the district attorneys office blocking the FBI, that does not engender trust in law enforcement. Sini said he inherited an investigation that was in disarray, with detectives blocked from cooperating not only with federal investigators, but with the neighboring police department in Nassau County, where Heuermann lived. He declined to say if he knew about the description of a suspect and its vehicle, but noted that his office invested heavily in technology that allowed investigators to track data from cellphone towers used by the suspects burner phone. The arrest, Sini said, was the result of painstaking detective work that spanned multiple administrations and relied on a wide range of evidence. But, he added, I wouldnt call it a major success. The case shouldve been solved earlier." Both the majority and minority opinions in the Illinois Supreme Courts landmark ruling on the SAFE-T Act last week claimed the other side was ignoring the plain language of the Illinois Constitution. Each focused on a single, but different word. As the all-Democrat majority noted, the judiciary must look at the plain language used in its natural and popular meaning when the constitutional provision was adopted. For the majority, the plain language in question was from the Illinois Constitutions Bill of Rights: All persons shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for the following offenses where the proof is evident or the presumption great. The Illinois Supreme Court created a Commission on Pretrial Practices in 2017, which eventually reported back that bailable by sufficient sureties did not necessarily mean cash bail. The word bail, the commission reported, literally means release, and does not necessarily mandate a cash component. Last weeks majority opinion emphasizes that the states Constitution never specifically spells out that bail is monetary in nature. Importantly, the majority opined that cash bail was all but unknown when the states original Constitution was first approved in 1818, and the same basic language from that document remains in force today. The bail clause does not include the term monetary, so it did not cement the practice of monetary bail, however long-standing and prevalent across Illinois, into our constitution. Sufficient sureties is not limited to sufficient monetary sureties, and we cannot append or supplement the constitutional text, the majority ruled. The all-Republican minority opinion relies on a different word in an other part of the states Bill of Rights to argue that the statute is in direct violation of the plain language of our constitutions bill of rights. The section was written to protect the rights of crime victims, partly by allowing them to have their and their families safety considered when courts fix the amount of bail. But within the statute, the minority argued, the amount of bail is effectively set at zero for all cases under the Act, which therefore wholly nullified victims constitutional rights. The majority opinion countered that argument: The crime victims rights clause mentions the amount of bail, not the amount of monetary bail. The word amount connotes quantity and does not only mean a quantity of money but rather, consonant with the bail clause, a quantity of sufficient sureties. The majority went on to note that crime victims rights were specifically protected in the statute within the confines of the Bill of Rights and that Nothing in the crime victims rights clauses plain language indicates such an intent to upend suddenly, after 174 years, the constitutional history of bail in Illinois. The opinions are a bit more complicated than what Ive laid out, but thats really the essence of the two arguments. The claim made against the statute brought by states attorneys and sheriffs that the law violates the Constitutions separation of powers clause was dismissed by the majority using recent precedent and only mentioned by the minority in its argument that the plaintiffs had standing to bring the case in the first place. The rest of the plaintiffs arguments were already dismissed at the trial level. Former prosecutors have been actively recruited by both political parties forever, in all three branches of state government. That tradition probably wont change much, except perhaps in Chicago, but people throughout the political spectrum have complained for a very long time that decades, or even centuries, of war on crime laws pushed by those former prosecutors and their allies have resulted in the targeting of poor people of color for prosecution and imprisonment. But the release of the Supreme Courts Commission on Pretrial Practices report in April of 2020 which recommended abolishing cash bail, followed by the massive George Floyd protests in the summer of that year, along with insistence from activists that the legislature needed to take action, and then-House Speaker Michael Madigans desperation to remain in power by locking in a long-frustrated Black Caucus support and a billionaire governor sympathetic to their cause during what was essentially a closed-off, round-the-clock winter session held in the midst of a deadly worldwide pandemic and a dysfunctional and unfeared minority party all combined to pass this highly unusual bill. States have long been called laboratories of democracy. Illinois laboratory has managed to produce this law, which is now confirmed as constitutional. Well see how it goes. A Winston-Salem man was sentenced to prison this past week after he pleaded guilty to drug offenses, authorities said. These offenses are related to an accusation that he stored fentanyl in his buttocks. Kristan Jevon Allen, 23, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of trafficking in heroin, possession with intent to sell and deliver a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office said. A judge in Forsyth Superior Court sentenced Allen to serve 15 years to 20 years in prison, the district attorneys office said. The judge ordered Allen to pay a $100,000 fine. On March 25, 2022, Allen was seen driving in Forsyth County, the district attorneys office said. Winston-Salem police conducted a traffic stop on Allens vehicle, which matched the description of a similar vehicle being involved in an shooting. Officers discovered that Allen possessed fentanyl and a concealed handgun, the district attorneys office said. Allen was accused of storing less than 1 ounce of fentanyl in his buttocks, the district attorneys office said. Investigators saw Allen remove the fentanyl from his body, and Allen attempted to conceal it in a tissue box, the district attorneys office said. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug for pain relief and in medical settings as an anesthetic. It is about 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin, the district attorneys office said. WASHINGTON Heres a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week. In addition to the weeks roll call votes, the House also passed, by voice vote, the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments (H.R. 1418), to reauthorize user fee programs relating to new animal drugs and generic new animal drugs. House votes MILITARY SERVICE ACADEMIES: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., to the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670), to bar the use of funds to utilize race and ethnically-based criteria for evaluating admission applications for the Military Academy (West Point), Naval Academy, and three other military service academies. Banks said: We need the best and the brightest, the most fit cadets and midshipmen, regardless of their skin color and ethnicity. To consider immutable characteristics like race and ethnicity is blatantly discriminatory. An opponent, Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., said: This amendment attempts to weaken a concept foundational to our current and future military supremacy, that diversity translates into capability and lethality. The vote, on July 14, was 218 yeas to 210 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE MILITARY: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, to the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670), that would bar funding for the Defense Department to implement policies pursuant to a variety of Biden administration executive orders on climate change and energy. Roy said the ban was needed to keep the military focused on its core mission rather than pursuing the political agenda of climate change to the detriment of the national security of the United States. An opponent, Rep. John Garamendi, D-Calif., said: Lets not let ideology and the fact that we want to get into a fight over climate change get in the way of good public policy. The vote, on July 14, was 217 yeas to 216 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) MILITARY SPENDING: The House has passed the National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2670), sponsored by Rep. Mike D. Rogers, R-Ala., to authorize fiscal 2024 Defense Department spending, and spending on military construction programs and military-related programs at the Energy Department. Rogers said it will help build the ready, capable, and lethal fighting force we need to deter the Chinese Communist Party and other adversaries. A bill opponent, Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., claimed Republicans had added scores of extreme GOP culture war priorities to it, including, least of all, a clear-as-day backdoor policy to a national abortion ban. The vote, on July 14, was 219 yeas to 210 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) COMMUNICATING ABOUT REGULATIONS: The House has passed the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act (S. 111), sponsored by Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., to require government agencies to include brief plain language summaries of proposed rules with their published notices for the rules. A supporter, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., said: Giving Americans and especially small businesses a 100-word, plain language summary for an otherwise convoluted government rulemaking provides much needed streamlining and transparency. The vote, on July 17, was unanimous with 400 yeas. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) INVESTMENT IN UNITED STATES: The House has passed the Global Investment in American Jobs Act (H.R. 813), sponsored by Rep. Greg Pence, R-Ind. The bill would require the Commerce Department and Government Accountability Office to collaborate on an interagency review of Americas ability to attract direct investment from foreign businesses, and ways to improve that ability. Pence said increasing foreign investment could create many thousands of manufacturing jobs, and the review could also improve resistance to efforts by China to use anticompetitive practices to undermine innovation and gain footholds in next-generation technologies that the U.S. seeks to lead. The vote, on July 17, was 386 yeas to 22 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NAYS: Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) LIBYA EMERGENCY: The House has rejected a resolution (H.J. Res. 70), sponsored by Rep. Paul A. Gosar, R-Ariz., that would have terminated the national emergency with regards to Libya that President Obama declared in February 2011. Gosar said Congress has disobeyed its legal obligation by failing to ever review the declared emergency in the past 12 years, and preserving the executive authorities asserted by the declaration was recklessly endangering our republic, checks and balances, and the civil liberties of our constituents. A resolution opponent, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, D-N.Y., said that it, by lifting sanctions on the worst actors in Libya, the individuals who have perpetuated violence and instability, would send the exact wrong message to those pursuing economic reform. The vote, on July 18, was 30 yeas to 388 nays. NAYS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) YEAS: Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) SYRIA EMERGENCY: The House has rejected a resolution (H.J. Res. 79), sponsored by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., that would have terminated a national emergency related to Syria that was declared by President Bush in May 2004 and has been used to apply various sanctions against officials in Syrias Bashar al-Assad regime. Gaetz said Congress has failed to oversee the prolonged emergency, which he said has failed to weaken Assad and allowed multiple presidents to spend untold sums of money with no transparency as to how much is going into the Syrian emergency. A resolution opponent, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., said in the past five years, sanctions applied under the emergency have prevented over $100 million from reaching more than 100 dangerous entities and individuals affiliated with the Assad regime and its backers. The vote, on July 18, was 24 yeas to 394 nays. NAYS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) YEAS: Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) ISRAEL RESOLUTION: The House has passed a resolution (H. Con. Res. 57), sponsored by Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, declaring U.S. support and partnership with Israel, rejecting the claim that Israel is a racist or apartheid state, and rejecting anti-Semitism and xenophobia. Pfluger said the resolution would signal U.S. opposition to those that would denounce or use words that are hateful in their rhetoric, that undermine the very essence of the nation of Israel, and that undermine the freedoms that this country stands for. A resolution opponent, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., said: Israel is an apartheid state. The Israeli government is deeply problematic in the way that they are proceeding in the structure of oppression. The vote, on July 18, was 412 yeas to 9 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) SCHOOLS AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS: The House has passed the Schools Not Shelters Act (H.R. 3941), sponsored by Rep. Marcus J. Molinaro, R-N.Y., to bar public schools and colleges that receive federal funding from using their facilities to house alien immigrants who are not legally in the U.S. Molinaro said: Schools are for a single purpose, centers of community, education, and opportunity for our neighbors. They are not shelters. An opponent, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., said the bill discriminates against and scapegoats vulnerable people based on their identity. The vote, on July 19, was 222 yeas to 201 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NOT VOTING: Manning D-NC (6th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) TRAINING PILOTS: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Nicholas Langworthy, R-N.Y., to the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935). The amendment would eliminate a bill provision that changes training requirements for pilots seeking to be certified by the FAA, and thereby maintain the current 1,500-hour in-flight training requirement. Langworthy called the amendment necessary to maintain high-quality training standards for our commercial pilots. An opponent, Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., said it was appropriate to substitute simulator training hours for in-flight training hours because simulators can create a more versatile set of flight scenarios than are available in an airplane. The vote, on July 19, was 243 yeas to 191 nays. NAYS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th) YEAS: Adams D-NC (12th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) FLIGHT DELAY INFORMATION: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-N.J., to the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), that would require the Transportation Department to make public available a variety of details about the cause of the cancellation and delay of commercial airplane flights. Kean said without good data reflecting the causes of cancellations and delays, it is impossible to identify the root causes of those disruptions. An amendment opponent, Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., said it would restrict airline service quality performance reporting by removing a host of critical reporting elements, including vendor computer outages and crew availability shortfalls. The vote, on July 19, was 240 yeas to 195 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Manning D-NC (6th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) AIRPLANE FUEL SUPPLIES: The House has passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., to the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935). The amendment would allow airports to sell high-octane unleaded aviation gasoline in lieu of low-lead aviation gasoline. Obernolte said authorizing airports to switch away from leaded fuel would improve both environmental quality and human health. An opponent, Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., said that by narrowing the types of unleaded fuels an airport can supply, it would reduce airports flexibility to meet the FAAs requirements for fuel availability. The vote, on July 19, was 229 yeas to 205 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th), Edwards R-NC (11th) NAYS: Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Nickel D-NC (13th), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NOT VOTING: Davis (NC) D-NC (1st) AVIATION POLICY: The House has passed the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act (H.R. 3935), sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo. The bill would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board through fiscal 2028, and set out an array of policy directives for the FAA and the Transportation Department, including raising the retirement age for commercial airline pilots from 65 to 67. Graves said: This bill not only improves FAAs efficiency through reasonable organizational changes but makes the agency more agile while simultaneously prioritizing safety each step of the way. An opponent, Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Mich., criticized the changes to the pilot retirement age. The vote, on July 20, was 351 yeas to 69 nays. YEAS: McHenry R-NC (10th), Foxx R-NC (5th), Hudson R-NC (9th), Murphy R-NC (3rd), Rouzer R-NC (7th), Adams D-NC (12th), Manning D-NC (6th), Ross D-NC (2nd), Edwards R-NC (11th), Nickel D-NC (13th), Davis (NC) D-NC (1st), Foushee D-NC (4th), Jackson (NC) D-NC (14th) NAYS: Bishop (NC) R-NC (8th) Senate votes APPEALS COURT JUDGE: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Rachel Bloomekatz to be a judge on the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Most of Bloomekatzs career, spanning the past decade, has been as a private practice lawyer, for the past four years at her own law firm. A supporter, Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said: Bloomekatz brings with her not only impressive legal credentials but the empathy, the intellect, and the deep commitment to justice required to serve the people of the Sixth Circuit. The vote, on July 18, was 50 yeas to 48 nays. NAYS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC NATO MEMBERSHIP: The Senate has passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2226), that would require approval from Congress for the U.S. to suspend or withdraw its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Kaine said the amendment sends a powerful message that Congress, after these decades, still believes in the power of NATO. An opponent, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said: Passing this amendment is tantamount to altering the Constitution, because the amendment would authorize the Senate to infringe upon the executive powers of the president. The vote, on July 19, was 65 yeas to 28 nays. NAYS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC MILITARY ACCOUNTING PROCEDURES: The Senate has rejected an amendment sponsored by Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2226), that would have required the Defense Department to change its methods of accounting for the drawdown of military supplies, including weapons systems being sent to Ukraine. Vance said a recent $6 billion accounting error by the military showed the need to more adequately count and account for the resources we are giving to Ukraine and other nations as well. An opponent, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said: If we adopt this amendment, we will lower the amount of equipment we can provide to Ukraine, which is critically in need of such equipment. The vote, on July 19, was 39 yeas to 60 nays. YEAS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC ENFORCING EPA RULES: The Senate has confirmed the nomination of David Uhlmann to be the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPAs) Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. Uhlmann, currently a law professor at the University of Michigan, was a federal prosecutor, specializing in environmental crimes, for 17 years. A supporter, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., cited Uhlmanns bipartisan support from five former EPA administrators, and said the Senate needed to confirm the nomination because in recent years environmental enforcement and compliance actions had fallen to half of what they had been during the Bush and the Obama administrations. The vote, on July 20, was 53 yeas to 46 nays. NAYS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC PETROLEUM RESERVE SALES: The Senate has passed an amendment sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, to the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 2226), that would bar the sale of petroleum products from the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve to Russia, China, Iran or North Korea. Cruz cited the desirability of not assisting U.S. adversaries by supplying them with oil. An opponent, Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., said this amendment claims to solve a problem while mainly having the result of padding and protecting oil industry profits by shifting exports to China from the Reserve to private industry. The vote, on July 20, was 85 yeas to 14 nays. YEAS: Tillis R-NC, Budd R-NC Smith Reynolds Airport began operations in 1942, the year a famous geographer, Gilbert F. White, wrote: Floods are acts of God. But flood losses are largely acts of man. Since World War II the U.S. has developed in much the same pavement-oriented pattern. In about 80 years, urban storm water significantly diminished downstream water resources. Now the airport is asking for tax dollars to repair elevated storm-surge damage after clearcutting a forest between the runway and the creek. Similar stormwater issues have increased throughout the state. Pro-development entities dont care. They build and destroy. They incrementally increase stormwater surges and floods. They destroy stream buffers, install dams and culverts, cause extensive erosion and pave natural landscapes. They are often subsidized by public utilities such as roads, sewer and water. Ever heard of trout (likely shad) runs in Davidson County before the Yadkin River dams? They knew about the need for fish passage when Idols Dam was built in 1898. Poor people depended on this annual spawning for subsistence. The gentlemen who built Idols tried to provide fish passage, albeit unsuccessfully. Much stormwater destruction is preventable. An ounce of prevention (by developers) is worth much more than a pound of cure (by taxpayers). Building responsibly supports public health and the stewardship of natural resources. Changing lands from pasture and forest to highly impervious developments compels flooding and stormwater surges, as does floodplain filling. The resulting direct and cumulative ecosystem harm is a death by a thousand cuts. North Carolina has a fast-growing population. Yet, we have less natural resource stewardship as courts and legislators serve business interests over quality of life. The well-heeled get wealthier while the public is burdened to live with or repair the damage. North Carolina was once known as the good roads state but at a high cost to downstream water users. New roads promote more sprawl and environmental calamity. Many of the state Department of Transportations older, professionally engineered culverts are essentially dams blocking fish passage. Its rare for NCDOT to provide any post-development stormwater control and retention measures. After a new highway is built, new developments further elevate downstream flooding and diminish downstream water quality. Much of this is caused by aggravated streambank erosion. Should it be all about construction, money and jobs, or being No. 1 in business recruitment? Why repeat the growth mistakes of our past? Isnt development without responsible stormwater and water buffer safeguards absurdly irresponsible to taxpayers? Our children are deprived of tree-shaded creeks and the beauty and sounds of songbirds that once thrived there. Shaded stream buffers can be 15 degrees cooler than urban areas. Cooler buffers can help reduce urban heat-sink effects. The failure to adequately plan land use and protection will harm environmental stability and the costs will be passed on to future generations by business-friendly legislators. Development without responsibility, except to stockholders, encourages asphalt deserts, despondency and delinquency. Theodore Roosevelt put it best in 1910 when he wrote: Conservation means development as much as it does protection. I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use the natural resources of our land; but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or rob, by wasteful means, the generations that come after us. Its time our governments gave equal footing to protecting whats left of our natural resources as they give to subsidizing private development. Its time governments paid downslope property owners for harm caused by government-approved development. Its time for people to insist on smart growth instead of 1950-ish development. The states population has increased more than tenfold since 1950. We know more now than we did then. We should act like it. Wholesome growth without wholesale annihilation can be done with sound watershed planning practices not driven by greed and vested interests, as is the case now. No business association should ever contribute to, write or edit our laws and regulations. They do not represent the people. (For the next two months, columnist Jim McKee will be contributing new columns on the first week of the month. On other weeks, the Journal Star will publish some of McKee's past columns. This one ran on Jan. 20, 2013.) Once just the end of the line, North Platte still is a Union Pacific town with the Golden Spike observation tower, Lincoln Countys capital and home of Buffalo Bills Scouts Rest Ranch. But getting there has had its ups and downs. Shorter County was defined by the Nebraska Legislature in 1860, and in that year William S. Penniston and A. J. Miller established a trading post known as Cold Water not far from what later would be Fort McPherson. Around their trading post several saloons soon were in operation. In the same area, Cottonwood Springs was designated as the first county seat and a few months later became the site of a Pony Express station. In 1866, General G. M. Dodge surveyed the route of the Union Pacific Railroad through the area in what had been renamed Lincoln County in December of 1861. Penniston and Miller, aware of the certain success the railroad would bring, built a small frame store at what would become Locust and Front streets in what the railroad would name North Platte. A few months later they physically moved what was left of their operation at Cold Water to North Platte, and on Nov. 12, 1867, the county seat also was relocated there from Cottonwood Springs to a small log cabin. The year 1866 also saw the citys first newspaper, Pioneer on Wheels, published in a boxcar for the few residents who lived primarily in sod houses and a few frame buildings. The first post office in North Platte was opened in February of 1867, only three months after the first Union Pacific tracks reached the site. With the railroad came not only workers but a variety of support businesses, some far less than savory. As North Platte was to be a division point, the Union Pacific erected a 10-stall roundhouse, a large frame hotel, blacksmith shops and other support buildings. Within months the population, albeit temporarily, rose to about 2,000. When the terminus moved westward to Julesburg the following June, however, the population fell to perhaps as low as 150. Some of the less permanent structures even were picked up and moved as well. Because the status of division point remained, North Platte slowly and steadily began to grow again, this time with more permanent buildings and a better reputation. A huge ice house was built west of todays Willow Street, and the roundhouse managed double duty when it was pressed into service as a shelter when the town was threatened in 1868 by an Indian attack that, fortunately, did not materialize. As North Platte slowly grew, the national depression of 1873 briefly intervened, but in 1874 the city was incorporated, with Union Pacific employee A. Ries voted in as mayor by a margin of 39 votes. In 1879, the population reached an estimated 1,600 and boasted a $2,000 church and $17,000 elegant school; the community had an abundance of general stores, grocers, hardware shops and druggists as well as the U. S. Land Office for the area. By 1910 North Platte had replaced its 1888 waterworks, had built 15 miles of sidewalk, completed a new Carnegie Library, and Riverdale Park had been established with 250 planted trees. U.S. Congressman Moses Kinkaid pushed for a permanent Post Office and federal courthouse in 1908. That November, a $9,000 site had been purchased, and in 1913 the new building had been completed on North Locust, now called 5th and Jeffers. The original 1869 depot hotel burned in 1915, and in March of 1919 a new brick depot was completed. When an artificial ice plant was finished near the ice house at a reported cost of $250,000, it was called one of the largest ice houses in the world. Through the years North Platte gained worldwide attention as being the home of Buffalo Bill Cody. On Christmas day of 1941, Rae Wilson began a canteen for WWII troops with volunteers from 125 area communities, which, by the time it closed on April 1, 1946, had served an estimated 6 million servicemen. Sadly the historic depot was razed, leaving only memories of its amazing WWII legacy. The third event of notoriety was initiated when the Union Pacific opened a $3.5 million hump yard. In 1968, this was enlarged as the eastbound section of the Bailey Consolidation Yard. With the westbound sections completion at $40 million, it became the most automated and now the largest rail yard in the world, sorting cars to build more than 150 trains a day. The Moses Kinkaid-inspired federal building was replaced in 1965, with the original structure becoming North Platte College. In 2009, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and now houses the Prairie Arts Center. Today North Platte continues as a growing, prosperous trading center of about 25,000, far removed from its rough beginning and its boisterous reputation as Little Chicago because of prostitution, gambling and booze in the 1920 and 1930s and beyond. There are many fascinating stories to hear, an interesting architectural walking tour of downtown, the Union Pacific Golden Spike Tower, art galleries, Nebraska Game and Parks Scouts Rest Ranch and Lincoln County Historical Museum, to name only a few. Emily Glinsmann, a graduate of Norris High School in Firth, has been named winner of a $2,500 Marylinn Munson & Bio Nebraska STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) scholarship for the 2023-24 academic year. Scholarship applications were accepted from Nebraska high school seniors who have been accepted to a Bio Nebraska-approved Nebraska college, community college or university, are planning to enroll in an undergraduate course of study in a STEM-related field, and plan to pursue a career with a STEM-related organization. Any Nebraska resident enrolled in a licensed practical nurse program, associate degree of nursing program or accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program is eligible for a fall 2023 scholarship up to $2,500. In 2022, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) was granted $5 million in scholarships through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for Nebraska nursing students. So far, approximately $1.1 million in scholarships has been disbursed to nearly 400 nursing students for the spring 2023 and summer 2023 semesters. The nursing program must be in Nebraska, and the student must have finished all prerequisites and be enrolled in the nursing program to be eligible. Qualified applicants will receive scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis each semester until their nursing program is complete or the ARPA funds are spent. Upon completion of their nursing program, scholarship recipients will be required to practice nursing in Nebraska for a minimum of two years. These scholarships are designed to help reduce barriers to entry in the nursing field and grow Nebraskas public health workforce. Each scholarship recipient will play a vital supporting role in rebuilding the states public health infrastructure and will advance the states recovery from COVID-induced nursing shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of nurses and their many roles within the public health system, and all Nebraskans stand to benefit by supporting and retaining nurses. All current and prospective licensed practical nurse program, associate degree of nursing program or accelerated Bachelor of Science in nursing program students are encouraged to apply at https://redcap.link/75o4jzvw by July 31. Direct any questions or concerns to dhhs.nursingscholarship@nebraska.gov. A 30-year-old Lincoln man who sold heroin that led to a man's overdose death was sentenced Friday to just over nine years in federal prison. Zachary Northey is being allowed to turn himself in to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence on Oct. 18. "This case obviously involves a tragic situation where a victim overdosed and subsequently died," Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Bunjer said in court Friday. She said on three occasions, Northey had provided heroin to the victim, identified in the plea agreement as Mickey "Mick" Rowe. "On the third is when he lost his life," Bunjer said. She said Rowe had overdosed the first two times, but Northey continued to sell to him, a fact she called troubling. Northey was indicted in 2019 and ultimately pleaded guilty to distributing heroin. Bunjer said he had sold heroin to Rowe on Nov. 26, 2018, Jan. 2, 2019 and Jan. 8, 2019, the day before he died. Early that morning, emergency responders went to a Lincoln home at 2300 Atlas Circle on a report of an overdose on suspected heroin or prescription medication, according to scanner traffic that day. Rowe, 40, died. In the obituary that followed, family said he had lost his battle with addiction. Bunjer said Northey has done well on supervision and has successfully completed treatment since then. The government also considered his lack of criminal record in reaching the agreement to a 110-month prison term, nearly five years below the guideline range. Michael Hansen, of the Federal Public Defender's Office, said before Northey was indicted, he had made a number of bad decisions. "This court gave him an opportunity to get off of 'bad decision road,' to address his chronic and severe addiction to opioids," he said. In 28 years as a defense attorney, Hansen said he hadn't seen anyone redeem himself to the extent that Northey has. He applauded him for his work. Northey turned down a chance to say anything before Senior U.S. District Judge John Gerrard sentenced him to the agreed term. First, he told Northey, while he was using and supplying heroin, he was in a bad spot. "Bad things happen when that occurs. And of course a tragedy occurred in this case," the judge said. Obviously, the results were substantial and that's why there would be a substantial prison sentence, Gerrard said. But he also considered the work he's made toward recovery and his lack of prior record. And he sentenced Northey to nine years and two months in federal prison, plus three years of supervised release. In May, Eric Sherrod Harris, the man who sold the drugs to Northey, was sentenced to 14 years. There is no parole in the federal system. Most dangerous cities in Nebraska Dangerous Cities in Nebraska 6. South Sioux City 5. Scottsbluff 4. North Platte 3. Lincoln 2. Grand Island 1. Omaha A note about the numbers A budget override election for the Firth Rural Fire Protection District will be conducted by mail, with ballots going out starting Monday. The Lancaster County Election Commission will conduct the special election entirely by mail, according to a news release. On Monday, ballots will be mailed to district voters in Lancaster and Gage counties with the election's deadline set for Aug. 15. Voters can return their ballots by mail or in person to their respective countys election office. All ballots must be received by 5 p.m. Aug. 15. Ballots can be returned during business hours or at a ballot drop box, which will be available 24 hours a day at both offices. The voter registration deadline for the election is Friday, Aug. 4 at 6 p.m. in person at a county election office, online or through agencies including the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles or United Postal Service. Postage must be marked by Friday. The Lancaster County Election Commissioner's Office is located at 601 N. 46th St. The Gage County Clerk's Office is located at 612 Grant St. Voters with questions about the special election should contact their respective countys election office. Photos: Scenes from Lincoln's May 2 General Election One of the oldest commercial buildings still standing in Lincoln is in the heart of the Historic Haymarket and has ties to another building erected by the same man, now the site of a new hotel at Ninth and O. Henry Veith was born in Germany in 1846, where he married Catherine Goetz. After living briefly in London, they arrived in Pekin, Illinois, in 1867. Two years later Henry and his brother-in-law arrived in Lincoln and, having learned the craft in Germany, opened the Union Bakery on the west side of the Post Office Square. In 1871 Henry opened a bakery, grocery and confectionary listed as being at No. 12 O Street, opposite the post office, between Ninth and 10th with his residence at the same address. What had been a one-story frame structure was razed and replaced by a two-story, brick building on the southeast corner of Ninth and O. The brother-in-law disappeared with the store simply becoming Henry Veiths Bakery and Grocery. In 1880 Henry began investing in real estate, buying the southeast corner of Ninth and N from Charlie Stable, a tailor, then that August built a hardware annex to the grocery yielding a 75 by 100-foot building. After laying the cornerstone on the addition which had a common wall with H. P. Lau, on August 6, all had a drink after the German Style. In 1881 Henry was joined by brother Louis (sometimes Louie or Lewis), who clerked in the grocery and lived above it, while Henry and Catherine moved to a house on the southwest corner of Ninth and J. In 1882 a report showed that the grocery employed five men and runs two wagons. In 1884 Henry Veith built the 816 P St., two-story, flat-roofed, brick building with cornice reading 18 VEITH 84 and the base of one cast iron column noting it was made at Seaton & Lea Foundry on the northwest corner of Eighth and Q. The building at 816 P however was not for Henrys store but instead his brother Louis Veiths Grocery. Louis married Mary Einhous of Fairmont, Nebraska in 1887 but the marriage and store were not to last long. A real estate ad in 1887 invited a rare, chance to lease or buy 816 P. The store was closed and on May 20, 1892, Louis Veith died at 36 of inflammatory rheumatism. Interestingly, newspaper ads listed the store at 909 O St. as Louis Veith & Brother even after Louis death. During the 1890s front page newspaper ads for the Ninth and O store became frequent in German and English papers in Lincoln, often in the Freie Presse, Nebraska Staats-Anzeiger, Lincoln Evening News and the Daily Nebraska State Journal. All ads opened with the oldest grocery in the city. Ads featured the availability of cauliflower, lettuce and fresh vegetables, even in the depth of winter! December ads listed Christmas trees, sugar toys, smoked eels, everything desired or required, and dont you forget it. 1892 established Henrys first of two terms as a city councilman. Stoves and a tin shop were added to the O Street stores hardware section in 1895, with Fred and William Veith listed as employees. In January of 1899, Henry Veith Company was incorporated with $25,000 in capital and Henry Sr. as president. Henry Veith Sr. died in December of 1924 at 78 at his home at 847 J St. He was noted as being active in many civic and fraternal organizations. The Veith Building at 816 P was sold to its neighbor to the west, Harpham Bros. Saddlery in 1912 later becoming storage for Russell Stover Candy Co. before becoming part of Jon Camps Veith Court project in 1982. Today the only older building in the Haymarket District is Seaton & Lea, now the site of a restaurant. The Ninth and O store was sold in 1945 to Foster Stores, later becoming the Gold Dust Tavern, The Office Tavern, Maries Oasis and ultimately Knickerbockers before being razed for the new Holiday Inn Express and Suites Hotel. Erin Holcomb holds her rabbit Ziggy at home in Chicago on July 21, 2023. Ziggy, who was previously vaccinated, was exposed to a rabbit hemorrhagic disease while boarded at Cuddle Bunny in Lakeview and is now quarantined. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Erin Holcomb adopted her rabbit, Ziggy, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A rescue rabbit with traces of Silver Fox, Ziggy, now 3, quickly became a part of Holcombs family. Advertisement We love him like people love a cat or a dog, said Holcomb, who lives in North Center. Earlier this month, Holcomb boarded Ziggy for about two weeks at Cuddle Bunny in Lakeview before she headed out of town. Cuddle Bunny, at 2901 N. Clark St., offers boarding services for pet rabbits. It also charges visitors for in-house interactions with resident rabbits similar to a cat cafe and offers programming such as bunny yoga and Pilates. Advertisement Last week, while Ziggy was still boarded, the first confirmed cases of rabbit hemorrhagic disease in Illinois, a contagious and fatal viral illness that affects rabbits, were confirmed to have originated at Cuddle Bunny. Two Polish rabbits, sisters named Tia and Tamera, died from rabbit hemorrhagic disease, confirmed Cuddle Bunny owner Barbara Burdick. Tia and Tamera, who were resident rabbits rather than boarded bunnies, were not vaccinated for the virus that causes the disease, Burdick said. Cuddle Bunny, on North Clark Street in Chicago, is closed through at least early August while the remaining resident rabbits are quarantined, July 21, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) The Illinois Department of Agriculture confirmed rabbit hemorrhagic disease had been detected in Cook County but did not disclose the location. Two rabbits at the same location died and subsequently tested positive for RHDV2, said Krista Lisser, a spokesperson for the department, in an email. We are not aware of any additional cases and have not received any test results that confirm additional cases, Lisser said. The disease is more widespread in other areas, including in Western U.S. states. In the Midwest, it has been detected in states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, according to the department. The vaccine for RHDV2 has been available in Illinois since October 2021, said Melissa Giese, a veterinarian with Chicago Exotics Animal Hospital in Skokie. Though rabbit hemorrhagic disease is extremely fatal, Giese said, the vaccine is known to be effective. Advertisement Giese said an exact percentage effectiveness was not yet available because it is a relatively new vaccine, though she said it would be unusual for a fully vaccinated rabbit to die from the disease. Giese said she helped coordinate confirmation of the RHDV2 cases at Cuddle Bunny with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rabbit hemorrhagic disease, which is not dangerous to humans, can be spread by exposure to an infected rabbits bodily fluids or blood, according to the USDA. It can also be spread by people, who can carry it on their shoes or clothing, or from contaminated carcasses, food or water. Holcomb was distraught to learn that Ziggy, who is now under quarantine from other rabbits, had been exposed to the disease. Ziggy was vaccinated for RHDV2 in 2022, she said. Holcomb said she had assumed that Cuddle Bunny, which had solicited donations on social media to help cover vaccine costs in October 2022, had vaccinated all of its rabbits. She said she went into panic mode when Burdick called her and asked her if she knew what hemorrhagic disease was. Yes, I know what it is, I know its fatal, Holcomb said. My heart was pounding. Advertisement Erin Holcomb's rabbit Ziggy, who was previously vaccinated, was exposed to a rabbit hemorrhagic disease while boarded at Cuddle Bunny in Lakeview and is now quarantining at home, July 21, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Holcomb said she was not notified of the exposure until shortly before she was due to pick up Ziggy on July 16, though the cases had been detected as RHDV2 on July 13. Burdick said she learned about the detection July 14. I think that the way that the information was relayed to me is the most upsetting, Holcomb said. As a pet owner, I feel like its my right to be aware that my rabbit is in a compromised situation and could potentially die. Ziggy is due for a booster shot for RHDV2 and will receive it when he is out of quarantine, Holcomb said. Rachael Sanders, director of the House Rabbit Society of Chicago, a rabbit rescue group, said she had been preparing for the arrival of RHDV2 in Illinois over the last two or three years. Sanders has only been president of HRS Chicago for about two months but has been vaccinating her independent rescues since October 2021, she said. Advertisement I was hoping that a business that lets the public into the facility would have their rabbits vaccinated, she said. But unfortunately, that wasnt the case. Giese said most facilities that board rabbits in Illinois do not have vaccine requirements. As unfortunate as it is, it couldve happened to any facility, Giese said. A former human resources executive, Burdick opened the cuddle business in June 2020 after a friend returning from a visit to Japan told her about an owl cafe there. While it got off to a slow start, a couple of TikTok videos led to a boom in business, along with pandemic-weary customers seeking respite among the rabbits, Burdick previously told the Tribune. In an interview Friday, Burdick said she regretted not vaccinating Tia and Tamera. She said at least two of the roughly dozen rabbits at the location had been fully vaccinated and some others had had their first dose. We feel a great deal of sadness and remorse about the whole situation, she said. Burdick said she suspected the virus had been brought in by a visitor from out of state over the July Fourth weekend. Advertisement Signs show that Cuddle Bunny, on North Clark Street in Chicago is closed while the remaining resident rabbits are quarantined, July 21, 2023. (Terrence Antonio James/Chicago Tribune) Cuddle Bunny is closed through at least early August while the remaining resident rabbits are quarantined. Burdick said she does not plan to open for business again until the rest of the rabbits are fully vaccinated. Cuddle Bunny will also institute a vaccine requirement for boarded rabbits, which it had not done previously, she said. Cuddle Bunnys other location, which is in Schaumburg, is also closed to visitors for the time being while all the rabbits are being vaccinated, Burdick said, though the rabbits there are not under quarantine. In posts on Twitter and Facebook in October 2022, Cuddle Bunny solicited donations for RHDV2 vaccinations and said a generous donor had already provided $1,000 to go toward vaccines. The rabbit business was seeking a total of $2,000 to cover the vaccine costs. In the posts, Cuddle Bunny described rabbit hemorrhagic disease as Bunny Ebola. Vaccinating a rabbit with the two-shot series costs about $50 in addition to vet visit fees, Giese said. Burdick said she could not account offhand for exactly how much money Cuddle Bunny had spent on vaccines but said the donations went into a fund for veterinary care. As a business, she said, we have to anticipate shouldering some of the veterinary expenses. Advertisement Giese said that to protect their animals, rabbit owners in Illinois should get them vaccinated and keep them inside. The sound of the explosion startled Charlene Murphy awake. The sight boggled her mind. It just sounded like poof, but it was kinda big, and kinda loud, Murphy said. I jumped up, and a whole half of my house was gone. Me, its just the way I think, I thought how am I gonna fix that? That was a reflexive reaction for the 69-year-old Murphy, a self-described old hippie who was forever fixing or renovating something throughout her nearly three decades in her 104-year-old family home at 3027 Lincoln Blvd. in midtown Omaha. It took several seconds for reality to sink in after the boom just after noon on July 3. Murphys house had exploded. It was on fire. Forget about fixing it. She had to get out. Murphy and her roommate scrambled to safety with the help of neighbors, who hoisted them out a first-floor window along with Murphys pit bull-greyhound mix, Axl Rose. Her long-haired ragdoll cat Merlin emerged a couple of days later with singed ears and nose and burned toe pads. Her other cat, Magics, fate remained unknown for almost two weeks. The house is damaged beyond repair. It will have to be demolished, Murphy said. She was unable to go in to look for Magic or salvage any of her possessions because the structure is unsound. They think its going to fall, she said. I guess they were going to have somebody come shore it up because the insurance company wants to investigate. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, said Assistant Fire Marshal Joseph Caniglia of the Omaha Fire Department. He declined to comment on what role natural gas might have played. Neighbors have said they smelled natural gas outside the house in the days and hours before the blast. That includes a couple who said they reported a gas odor to the Metropolitan Utilities District about 11 a.m. on July 3. Kay Burdwell said she and her husband, Hutch Mathers, called MUDs emergency line shortly after 11 a.m. on July 3. The person who answered the phone told Mathers that MUD was purging gas lines in the area and not to worry about it, Burdwell said. He gave them the address of Charlenes house, Burdwell said. They said if you still smell it after 12 oclock, give us a call back. An MUD spokeswoman declined to comment on that or reports of other neighbors calls to the company. In response to questions about purging gas lines, she said in a prepared statement that purging is a standard, necessary and routine effort to either remove air from a pipeline that will be put into service or to remove natural gas from a pipeline that will be abandoned. Both actions were being conducted on July 3 in the approximate area of 33rd and Cuming. Several neighbors said it has been common for years to occasionally smell natural gas in the neighborhood, and to call MUD to report it. Burdwell estimated that in her eight years living there, firefighters have gone there probably three times to investigate gas odors. Another neighbor, Leigh Suhr, said she reported a gas odor last fall to MUD. They came out with their sniffers; they were very nice, she said. Suhr said she smelled gas about 10 p.m. the night before the explosion while walking up the block. I didnt call, but I wish I had, she said. I dont call all the time because they always come and say everythings fine. ... Now I will call every time. Burdwell said her husband wasnt sure of the odor and didnt initially want to call MUDs emergency number when they thought they smelled gas while walking their dogs the morning of July 3. I said just in case it is gas we have to call it in immediately because someones house might blow up, she said. The Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office pipeline safety division is assisting in the Fire Departments investigation of the explosion and fire. Murphy said her homes insurance company also is investigating. She said she has been told a natural gas leak was involved, but the source of it has not been determined. The MUD statement said the utility is cooperating with ongoing investigations by both the Omaha Fire Department and the Nebraska State Fire Marshal. As part of its responsibilities to those investigations, the District declines further comment about the incident in question. Charlene Murphy, meanwhile, is staying with her daughter, Amber Murphy, and coming to grips with the sad reality of losing her house for good. Charlene Murphy talked about that last week, while she was sitting on a bench in the front yard in the shade of a young oak tree she had planted, hoping that Magic the cat would come out. The house has been in the family for decades. Mary Murphy, who lived about a block away, bought it for her son, Mike Murphy, when he was 17 years old. Mike married Charlene, and they had a daughter, Amber. After the couple divorced, Mike Murphy died of leukemia at just 42 years old. When he passed away, she (Mary Murphy) came to me wanting to know if I wanted to buy the house, Murphy said. And I did because I wanted my daughter to continue growing up here. ... She was just 13 when her father passed away. She took it extremely hard. We moved in here and it kind of calmed her down. The house was solidly built six years after the Easter tornado of 1913 tore through Omaha. It has beautiful woodwork, Murphy said. She stripped and refinished all the woodwork because a lot of it had been painted, and the rest was dull. Among other projects, she had gutted and renovated a bathroom, and was working on another. And the Murphys are antique dealers, so I have a whole lot of antiques in there, she said. Or had. More important than its features, the home was a gathering place for family. People came by, on holidays when Murphy was younger, but often just to spend time together. Everybody was just comfortable here, Murphy said. They have memories of Grammy down there, and then all the memories of growing up as kids when they would come down here. With all the upkeep of a big old house, she had thought about selling it. But I couldnt part it with it, Murphy said. That would break my daughters heart. She was planning this summer to have a new roof and gutters put on, and redo the front porch. I had to call my insurance man and tell him, well, we have a different claim now, Murphy said. The house has a gas water heater and furnace. But she switched the dryer and stove to electric when she moved in, and had the gas lines for those appliances capped off at the time. She said she had not smelled any gas in the house. She and her roommate, Alison Fairchild, usually burn candles and often incense in the evenings. But we always put them out at night because we dont want to have a fire, Murphy said. On the day of the explosion, Murphy was napping on a living room sofa and her roommate was upstairs. The explosion blew out the entire west wall of the house, some 30 feet from where Murphy lay. At first, when I woke up, it was kind of smoky, Murphy said. But it didnt smell like smoke. It smelled like dust from lath and plaster. I could hear bits of plaster falling. I guess I was kind of shock looking around. Then she saw her neighbor running toward the back of his house, climbing over the rubble of what used to be her wall. She tried to go out the front door, but it wouldnt open. She ran to the staircase for her roommate. She was on her way down with her cat under her arm, Murphy said. She said, What happened? I said, I dont know but we got to go. She started climbing out a window. And all of a sudden theres this big man there, Murphy said. Hes like here, let me get you out of here. He passed me on to his friend and then he got my roommate out. She had almost given up hope on Magic when she got a call in the middle of the night last weekend that a neighbor had seen the cat outside. Murphy hurried to the house. Magic ran to her yowling. His whiskers were gone, but he seemed otherwise fine. Murphys not sure what will happen next. Leigh Suhr knows what she wants to happen. I hope she rebuilds and I hope she stays, Suhr said. Shes a really nice neighbor. Yes. Killeen has already committed $100,000; if funding is halted, it will all be for nothing. Yes. It's important for the city to follow through on its obligation to voters on this issue. No. The city has already spent too much taxpayer money on this. Cut off the funding. No. The ordinance is illegal. The city should have repealed it and adjusted city policy instead. Unsure. It's hard to say. There are some valid points on both sides of the argument. Vote View Results KEARNEY A 32-year veteran of the Kearney Police Department, Mike Young, scanned the banquet hall Thursday night as tears welled in his eyes. Its awesome just to see the support we truly have here. And our families, they feel that level of support, too, Young said as a crowd of 500 gathered to thank law officers for their service in Kearney, rural Buffalo County and its towns and villages. Thursdays event at the Younes Conference Center North was the third annual appreciation banquet organized by the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce Friends of Law Enforcement Committee. Emcee Brandon Benitz said members of the Kearney Police Department and Buffalo County Sheriffs Office responded to tens of thousands of calls during the past year, but officers mishandled only a handful of those cases. Ten-year veteran Caleb Wilson, a sheriffs deputy who lives in Gibbon and looks after the town of 1,600, said he runs into supporters multiple times per month. Some want to shake his hand and say thanks, and others want to buy him lunch, he said. I feel safe, even when I go to work, Wilson said. Wilsons wife, Brittany, said officers arent the only ones who appreciate the publics support. She said she's thankful because shes more confident her husband will be OK as he steps out for his shift. Having the town's backing means a lot to both of them, Brittany said. If he was getting harassed it would be tough. Chief Deputy Dan Schleusesner said law officers in other parts of Nebraska frequently share stories about criticism and harassment in public places. Something as normal as stopping in a convenience store for a snack can be a humiliating experience, he said. Wilson said to a lawman, nothing boosts morale like feeling respected, and that includes getting respect at home. My 11-year-old son, Brandon, says he wants to be a police officer," Wilson said. Sgts. Rosario Perez and Julie Burne, who have worked 26 years and 20 years, respectively, in the Buffalo County Jail, said they never take the publics support for granted. In other places they dont have this support, Perez said. She said she respects law officers who keep the peace and patrol each night so the public can sleep. Knowing our people are out there at 2 a.m., whether or not theyve got the publics support, means something to me, Perez said. Brad Kernick, who helped organize Thursdays banquet, said KPD and BCSO are at full staff. Kernick said that many departments are having a tough time recruiting officers. He said he hopes the publics backing is helping to keep the ranks filled. Gov. Jim Pillen said he felt privileged to be part of the appreciation banquet. Tonight is about an incredible thank you for the most important public service, keeping all of us safe. Speaker Allen Beermann, Nebraskas retired secretary of state, said the publics responsibility is to support law enforcement. He said the world would be better if everyone did that. In life you can either be a leaner or a lifter, Beermann said. Banquet proceeds will fund scholarships to encourage law enforcement careers. The Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce has information how to donate. Its unique when you see a room of law enforcement people sitting together with citizens," KPD Chief Bryan Waugh said as the banquet concluded. "We just hit another home run as a community. KEARNEY The ribbon was cut Thursday at the new $2.6 million hybrid cardiovascular operating room at CHI Health Good Samaritan. The only one of its kind between Lincoln and Denver, the suite combines the traditional diagnostic functions of a cardiac catheterization lab with surgical functions usually found only in an operating room. The 1,167-square-foot space was funded in part by a $2.4 million anonymous donation to the hospitals Good Samaritan foundation. The hybrid suite allows physicians to effectively diagnose and quickly transition to minimally invasive interventions or open surgeries, all in the same space. We are able to better visualize the specific area of treatment. We will be able to take care of the problem in just one trip to the hospital, Dr. Franz Murphy, board certified vascular surgeon, said. The new hybrid cardiovascular operating room offers aortic aneurysm repairs, thoracic aortic aneurysm repairs, femoral endarterectomies, carotid endarterectomies, ballooning and more. It's a good thing I love to travel. Last month, I rolled like a pinball 3,300 miles through 10 states while working remotely for the Kearney Hub. It all began because I had three couldnt-miss events east of the Mississippi. First, on May 28, was my 46th (and my family's 100th) Indy 500. Second was my grandsons high school graduation June 12 in Aldie, Virginia. Third was the National Federation of Press Women conference in Cincinnati June 22-24. I could have seesawed from Kearney east to Indy, back to Kearney, east to Aldie, west to Kearney, east to Cincinnati and west to Kearney again, but airfares and gasoline would have sucked my bank account dry. Instead, I spun in and out of relatives homes back East like a drunken bumblebee. Scheduling my trip required a spreadsheet because my loved ones had packed June calendars, too. My twin sister Martha couldn't have me in early June because her daughter Missy was visiting from Hong Kong in late May, and they wanted some private mother-daughter time. After that, Martha would drive Missy eight hours east to New York for her return flight to Hong Kong. Then Martha would drive eight hours back. So I scratched Martha from early June, and from mid-June, too, because on June 17, she would go to Columbus, Ohio, for a Mass in memory of her brother-in-law, a priest who died of COVID in December 2020. Relatives were coming from Chicago, Denver, Des Moines and Georgia. She wanted to be there. Next, I called my brother Bob in suburban Cleveland, but hes the accompanist for the North Coast Mens Chorus, which had a weekend of concerts in mid-June and a Saturday of intense rehearsals the weekend before. My niece in Shaker? She and her family were madly packing to move to a new house June 27, and they were heading to that memorial Mass in Columbus, too. As I studied my calendar, I decided that if I sandwiched visits in between my loved ones' activities, and kept moving like a fugitive, I could make this work. First, I headed to the Indy 500. Then I hopscotched from Indy to Muncie, Indiana, for a quick lunch with a niece there. Then I drove two hours southeast to Middletown, Ohio, for four nights with my cousin Julie. I set up my laptop in Julies study and listened to freight trains rumble across the Little Miami River as I wrote. I worked so diligently she barely saw me. Four days later, I headed 250 miles north to Cleveland to Bobs house for his only available weekend. We walked the dog, browsed shops in Amish country and watched the Cleveland Guardians on TV. Two days later, I headed 60 miles east to Marthas house in Ashtabula, Ohio. For the next week, I wrote Hub stories at the library. We did squeeze in a concert and a play, and on Saturday, we poked around Fat Sally's thrift shop. The next day, I drove 325 miles on the truck-jammed Pennsylvania Turnpike to Aldie, Virginia, for my grandsons high school graduation. The day after the ceremony, I opened my laptop and got to work. I stayed for a week. On Saturday, we hiked at Maryland's Catoctin Mountain Park, not far from Camp David. On June 18, I drove back to Ashtabula, but I took the scenic route. I meandered west on I-68 through mountainous Maryland, then headed up I-79 past Pittsburgh. I worked at Martha's house for three days. On Wednesday evening I headed back to my brother Bobs (he was stop #3, in case youve lost count) to spend the night so I could hop on I-71 Thursday morning and be in Cincinnati by 1 p.m. for my National Federation of Press Women convention. After a fun-and-friend-filled convention and a delightful one-day tour of Cincinnati, I started back to Kearney at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25. Luckily, I escaped tornadoes that battered homes south of Indianapolis and spent the night in Danville, Illinois. I pulled into my driveway at 7:45 p.m. Monday, June 26. The adventure reminded me that we all live very ordinary lives. We loved ones always visit for holiday fun or birthdays, but after the Christmas tree comes down, life returns to ho-hum routines. I viewed my loved ones' lives through a new, quieter lens. Now that its over, I need a vacation. Political speech I strongly believe that attempting to ban "political speech" is rarely a wise decision, whether it is done by private companies or government entities. In fact, such attempts by government entities can potentially violate the First Amendment. The term political speech or politics encompasses far too many possible things to be interpreted in any other way than arbitrarily. Practically everyone has some relation to the subject of public policy and the government. Consider, for instance, various aspects of our daily lives that could be considered "political" or even controversial: the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, the singing of the National Anthem, displaying the American flag, discussing public education, or even talking about personal relationships such as marriage proposals. Any of these topics could be viewed as political depending on one's perspective. Its best to avoid trying to ban politics. Depending on the context, focusing on disruptive behavior rather than speech seems more prudent, as some individuals are quite capable of engaging in political discussions without allowing them to devolve into shouting matches. While banning political speech may often seem well intentioned, it is crucial to remember that future interpretations may differ significantly. Granting someone the power to enforce such a rule could potentially enable them to become a tyrant, selectively banning any topic or discussion they personally disagree with. Nathan Leach, Kearney Protect and serve We are happy that we will be having an event on July 20 to thank our law enforcement folks for all that they do to keep Kearney and Buffalo County a safe place to live and raise a family. We are fortunate to live where crime rates are very low. A great big "thank you" to the law enforcement team who allows us to enjoy that. The public is welcome and tickets to the July 20 salute at Younes Conference Center North are available through the Kearney Chamber of Commerce. Please join us in law enforcement appreciation. Brad Kernick, Kearney THE AUTHOR represents Kearney's Friends of Law Enforcement group. Thanks law officers On behalf of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to all of the law enforcement officers in our community. The men and women those who are sworn, non-sworn and civilians who proudly serve the city of Kearney and Buffalo County, have displayed unwaivering dedication, professionalism and compassion. We are proud to partner with them to help keep our communities safe. For decades, the partnership between all first responders in the Kearney area has been strong. This successful collaboration would not be possible without the leadership of Chief Bryan Waugh, Sheriff Neil Miller and the leaders who came before them. Despite what difficulties our community has faced, or will face in the future, citizens should find great solace in knowing that their first responders are united in their desire to serve and protect the community. This philosophy of unity must start with leadership. We're grateful to our law enforcement leaders for modeling that ideology daily. On Thursday a banquet is planned for all law enforcement personnel. The banquet is an opportunity to show our appreciation for the selfless commitment these men and women routinely provide to the community. The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department is proud to be a sponsor of the event. To our brothers and sisters in law enforcement, we see you. We appreciaste you. We're proud to serve alongside you. Be safe, and thank you. Gene Beerbohm, KVFD president Aaron Jameson, KVFD fire chief United Ways mission Ive had the incredible opportunity to lead United Way of the Kearney Area for 6 months now. One of the questions that I am routinely asked is, What does United Way do? What Ive learned in these months is that there are a lot of misconceptions, but also that the work were positioned to do is crucial to central Nebraska. United Way of the Kearney Area has been firmly rooted in our community for almost 60 years. Although we receive some resources from United Way Worldwide, ultimately the decisions about how we operate, what we focus on, and how dollars raised here are used here are made by the local board of directors. Having said that, there are three key areas that all United Ways are focused on. These three key areas are education, health and financial stability. While broad criteria, they are the fundamental pieces that everyone agrees is critical to human flourishing. United Way has the opportunity to position ourselves to meet these needs in a variety of ways. Often United Way is behind the scenes raising dollars for nonprofit agencies on the front lines fighting poverty, child abuse, health care crises and providing education. When a disaster strikes, we can collaborate with other resources to help meet needs. Or we can identify a significant problem in the community impacting health, education and financial stability and work on that. Generally, we are looking holistically at community problems and allocating resources to make the biggest, most united impact possible. Perhaps the best response to the question, What does United Way do? is What do you want it to do? In the next six months the board and I will be determining what the Kearney areas significant needs are and how to address them most efficiently and effectively. If you have input you would like to be considered, please reach out to our office. Savannah Lyon, Kearney The Wisconsin Department of Instructions estimated aid amounts for Kenosha County area school districts may lead to some tax levy reductions while others are still eying potential referendums. The estimates, released after the 2023-25 Wisconsin biennium budget was finalized, leave districts with a financial snapshot for their budgeting. Aid estimates will change as districts finish their auditing process. Locally, common themes area districts identified were changes in low revenue ceiling aid and a $325 per-pupil revenue limit increase. Some districts, such as Kenosha Unified School District and Salem School District, qualified for the low revenue ceiling increase from $10,000 to $11,000. Others, including Riverview School and Wilmot Union, did not qualify for the low revenue ceiling funding, as they did not pass proposed referendums in April. Kenosha Unified Kenosha Unified is estimated to receive $149,925,254 in state aid, which is a $2,476,637 increase from the $147,448,617 it received last year. Kenosha Unifieds Chief Financial Officer Tarik Hamdan cautioned, at this point, the estimate means very little to the district. It doesnt mean much, he said. We are waiting for that Oct. 15 aid certification. That will be based on all of our audited financial statements and our actual spending from the prior year because state aid for the current year is based on the prior years financial information. Hamdan said the $325 per-pupil aid increase will help reduce the tax levy, but does not give the district more money to work with. That would be within that property tax and state aid mix, he said. Lets just say, hypothetically, that we would get this increase. Were not adding $2.5 million to the budget, its $2.5 million less of the levy that we would need because wed have more aid. Another noteworthy change to the budget, following the recently-passed state budget, is the elimination of Kenosha Unifieds high-poverty aid. For a school district like us that was getting over a million dollars worth of high poverty aid, thats gone, Hamdan said. So they reduced the allocation at the state level for high poverty aid and basically shifted it into equalization aid. Hamdan said the aid shift was beneficial for districts that were not receiving high poverty aid, because they now get a share of that money, but schools that were receiving high poverty aid will now not receive that aid. Westosha Central Westosha Central High School is estimated to receive $4,348,180 in state aid, which is a $896,500 decrease from the $5,244,680 it received last year. District Administrator John Gendron said the decrease is largely due to the increase in property values, following the close of Pleasant Prairies Tax Incremental District No. 10. Gendron said the state views the district as property rich so it will receive less aid. Although a tax levy may increase, there will not be a significant change in the mill rate. Salem Salem is estimated to receive $7,829,960 in state aid, which is a $410,258 increase from the $7,419,702 it received last year. Salem benefited from the change in the low revenue ceiling, which district Executive Director of Business Services Marquez Guzman said was a big win for us. Riverview School Riverview School is estimated to receive $2,507,921 in state aid, which is a $287,042 decrease from the $2,794,963 it received last year. Unlike Kenosha Unified and Salem, Riverview will not see the benefits of the low revenue ceiling increase as a result of failing to pass its referendum in April. New Riverview District Administrator Kim Taylor said the district will likely have to go to referendum again, as it continues to face mounting budget issues. Wilmot Union Wilmot Union High School is estimated to receive $2,443,951 in state aid, which is a $186,382 decrease from the $2,630,333 it received last year. The district did not qualify for the low revenue ceiling increase because its referendum failed in April. Wilmots Business Manager Nicole Massie said the $325 increase in per-pupil revenue aid also did not help the district. It wont increase our revenue, she said. Wilmot District Administrator Michael Plourde said the biggest issue facing the district is declining enrollment, which is an issue affecting several districts as birth rates have slowed. Weve already made substantial cuts, Plourde said, in reference to more than 20 staff cut at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Were trying to maintain our programming. Wheatland Wheatland is estimated to receive $3,090,162 in state aid, which is a $439,177 increase from the $2,650,985 it received last year. Wheatland District Administrator Marty McGinley said the district has a balanced budget, and is right where we thought it would be. Our budget is in great shape, he said. (The aid) has the potential to impact the tax levy and reduce the tax impact for residents. So itll either give the board an opportunity to reduce the levy again, or to pay off some additional debt (from a previous operational referendum). Bristol Bristol is estimated to receive $3,393,905 in state aid, which is a $793,895 decrease from the $4,187,800 it received last year. Brighton Brighton is estimated to receive $546,021 in state aid, which is a $137,977 increase from the $408,044 it received last year. Twin Lakes Twin Lakes is estimated to receive $756,836 in state aid, which is a $133,559 decrease from the $890,395 it received last year. Randall Randall is estimated to receive $1,963,583 in state aid, which is a $49,736 decrease from the $2,013,319 it received last year. Paris Paris is estimated to receive $54,015 in state aid, which is a $9,532 decrease from the $63,547 it received last year. Trevor-Wilmot Trevor-Wilmot is estimated to receive $3,248,873 in state aid, which is a $159,371 increase from the $3,089,502 it received last year. Pitchfork opened in Union Park on the Near West Side Friday, reasserting itself as the most multigenre multiday happening in a Chicago musical summer now seemingly jammed with festivals. Leading up to the Day 1 headliner The Smile were sets by Perfume Genius, footwork-inspired electronic music by Jlin and the Chicago-based hip hop artist Ric Wilson. Saturday and Sunday were headlining concerts by Big Thief and Bon Iver, respectively, plus Kelela, singer-songwriter Weyes Blood, JPEGMAFIA and the reggae artist Koffee. Just for starters. Advertisement The weather put a damper on Day 2 on Saturday, with some performances halted by rain and the park briefly evacuated at about 5 p.m. due to dangerous weather conditions. The art rock band Palm was rescheduled to Sunday, the festival announced on social media. Music fans can be forgiven for not being fully versed in The Smile, a new band that debuted in 2021 and composed of Radiohead members Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, bass, keys) and Jonny Greenwood (guitar, bass, keys), plus drummer Tom Skinner (Sons of Kemet and other projects). Fridays crowd was full of fans sporting Radiohead shirts, indicating this new band was a strong draw for the day. Advertisement Sprawled on a blanket near the Blue Stage during a set by house music DJ Axel Boman, Dan Cox and Eric Reda of Edgewater said theyve been coming to Pitchfork for the last seven years and buy three-day passes before they know the lineup. We always find new stuff to listen to, Cox said. Cox sent along a link to some Smile songs, Reda said, And I thought wow, that sounds just like Radiohead. Reda was otherwise cringingly familiar with the sound. In 2000, I was young, I had just moved to Chicago in the middle of a Chicago winter. I was really depressed and all I did was write morose short stories and listen to Radiohead. They said theyd be in Union Park all three days, with one detour Saturday night. Cox said he was jumping ship to go to Beyonce at Soldier Field. The headliner Big Thief is actually one of my favorites but Ive seen them six times. The group, which also included Eva Seligman from Edgewater, pronounced Pitchfork chill and said it was the only big fest theyd consider coming to. Well, that and maybe Riot Fest. It was Seligmans first Pitchfork, she had recently moved to Chicago from the East Coast and was impressed it seemed to be really about the music, not the scene. Not about drunk teenagers. If chill was the vibe on Friday, it was the perfect day, with sunny skies, a slight breeze and less intense crowds. While some attendees danced barefoot on the grass, many sat back comfortably in lawn chairs or reclined on blankets, some with their eyes closed to fully take in the sound of the music in the relaxed atmosphere. Duncan Seltzer and Petra Anderson lie in the grass as music plays at Pitchfork Music Festival on Friday, July 21, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) Even the merch tent, sometimes a locus of insanity with long lines, was doing merely steady business. Paced, not rushed, said a staffer. Biggest sellers: A white Alvvays T-shirt, a Smile shirt with current tour dates and the 2023 edition Pitchfork tee. Also, most popular food vendor, from informal Friday observations: The DonerMen Food Truck. Most popular beverage: White Claw Hard Seltzer (with apologies to beer lovers). Advertisement For first-time Pitchfork attendees Eva Murillo and Charlie Johnson, The Smiles Friday night headlining performance is what pushed them to go this year. As big Radiohead fans, the 19-year-olds from Chicago jumped at the chance to see Yorke perform live. But they also enjoyed the opportunity to see new music in person, discovering artists they otherwise wouldnt have listened to. While Murillo noted that having music festivals in public parks has turned into a complicated topic, with concerns over limiting the publics access to these spaces, she said its a great opportunity for small artists and local artists to gain an audience. Among all the summer music festivals Chicago has to offer, she said Pitchfork stands out because of its craft fair section. Its great that it supports multiple kinds of art, Murillo said. As organized by the formerly Chicago-based music publication that shares its name, the 17-year-old Pitchfork has a daily capacity of about 20,000, playing on three stages and drawing local concertgoers and out-of-towners. Along with music, it boasts the CHIRP Record Fair, Flatstock Poster Fair and Renegade Craft Fair, which had hand-painted hats, pottery in soft pastel colors, handmade earrings and tie-dyed clothes available for purcahse. Michael Alden Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, performs during the Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park Friday, July 21, 2023, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) In the early evening hours Friday, Michael Alden Hadreas, who performs under the name Perfume Genius, took to his set on the Green Stage with props that had a big visual impact, from bright red elbow-length leather gloves to yards of yellow tulle stretched across the stage. While the set initially had some technical issues, Perfume Genius, which last played the festival in 2015, still delivered a fun performance with music from 2014s Too Bright and 2020s Set My Heart on Fire Immediately. Advertisement Later that night, Blue Stage headliner Leikeli47 was all high energy and crowd connection. Amid shout-outs to Chicago, Pitchfork and even Beyonce, the Brooklyn rapper asked for volunteers from the crowd: I wanna see some twerk! The trio that was pulled up on stage was up to the task, to huge cheers. Leikeli47 segued from there into Girl Blunt, with fans singing along. After that, The Smile on the Green Stage seemed the opposite vibe, opening with the moody Pana-Vision and Yorke first addressing the audience after a few numbers. Hello, were The Smile, he said. The band first hit their stride six songs in with the more energizing We Dont Know What Tomorrow Brings. Yorke even cracked a smile after that. Everybody awake now? Update: This story has been with news of weather delays on Saturday. July 21-23 in Union Park, 1501 W. Randolph St. Gates open each day at noon on Ashland south of Lake Street, and on Ogden Avenue at Washington. Tickets from $249 and more information at pitchforkmusicfestival.com Uline will be holding the third of a series of hiring events in Kenosha County early next month, part of efforts to fill 160 positions. The overnight warehouse hiring event will be on Aug. 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Aug. 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Prairie Distribution Center, 12885 104th St. Previous events for customer service and warehouse positions were held in mid-July. Open positions include warehouse associate, overnights and warehouse clerks. Overnights with pay start at $29 an hour. Uline is looking to fill 120 warehouse and 40 customer service positions. Across southeast Wisconsin, the company is filling 460 open positions, ranging from customer service, warehouse and corporate roles. The shipping, industrial and packaging materials distributor was named to the Forbes annual list of Americas Best Large Employers. Gil De Las Alas, Ulines chief human resources officer, said it was a tremendous privilege to be acknowledged by Forbes. Were honored that our employees have once again recognized the high-caliber company culture and work environment that makes Uline a great place to work, De Las Alas said. Uline attracts incredibly talented, dedicated employees, and were grateful for the growing Uline team that commits daily to the same standards of excellence and quality of service. Uline offers numerous benefits and perks to attract and retain staff. Its really no secret that Uline takes care of its employees, De Las Alas said. Our industry-leading wages and commitment to helping our people advance their career really motivate employees to work hard and see their future at Uline. Forbes created its ranking through an independent survey taken of approximately 45,000 American employees working for companies with more than 1,000 workers in the United States. The anonymous survey asked respondents to rate, on a scale from zero to 10, how likely they would be to recommend their employer to others. Participants were also asked to rate their employers on criteria including safety of the work environment, competitiveness of compensation and advancement opportunities. Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes visited Hillsboro Friday, July 21, to see the expanded Hillsboro Chiropractic and Rehabilitation Center. The city received a $250,000 grant from WEDC to help develop a community health and wellness center. This project not only improves the health and wellness of Hillsboro residents but play a key role in bringing new visitors and businesses to downtown Hillsboro, Hughes said. WEDC is committed to working with local communities to foster economic well-being, quality of life, and a sense of community. The Community Development Investment Grant supported the rehabilitation and renovation of the former Benjamin Franklin building at 821 Water Avenue for the expansion of the Hillsboro Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Center (HCRC). The expansion increases the centers capabilities, and adds a 24-hour gym, massage therapy services, and chiropractic services to the community. Chiropractor Brian Miller, a Wisconsin native, is the founder and owner of HCRC. The center focuses on specialized, non-invasive care including chiropractic adjustment, laser therapy, and muscle therapy. Here at HCRC we treat a lot of acute patients, and this new space will allow our patients to get the treatment they need, Miller said. Throughout construction, Miller has connected with the broader community by using primarily local contractors and employees as well as commissioning the high school art class to design a mural for the new building. Having the city and WEDC working with us has been huge, Miller said. Promoting physical activity among rural adults can have major positive public health impacts, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Rural residents are less likely to meet federal physical activity recommendations when compared to their urban counterparts. Insufficient physical activity can be a major contributing factor to obesity, chronic health conditions and a lower quality of life. This community-based wellness center will help increase access to health and wellness resources, promoting healthy habits and improving the overall quality of life of residents. The HCRC project is not only aimed at improving community health but also contributing to the economic development of downtown Hillsboro. Having health and wellness services locally will keep residents and visitors from driving to other communities to meet their needs. Additionally, wellness centers bring a steady flow of customers downtown who will often use other businesses for food, recreation, shopping, and other services. This construction is filling holes in our downtown and bringing life to the community, said Josh Finch, city administrator for the city of Hillsboro. The wellness center will keep people from driving up to 45 minutes for these kinds of services. Its going to create more jobs and encourage people to move to this community. WEDCs Community Development Investment Grant Program supports community development and redevelopment efforts, primarily in downtown areas. The matching grants are awarded based on the ability of applicants to demonstrate the economic impact of the proposed project, including public and private partnership development, financial need, and use of sustainable downtown development practices. From the programs inception in 2013 through March 2023, WEDC has awarded nearly $45.2 million in CDI Grants for 215 projects expected to generate nearly $879 million in capital investments statewide. Viterbo University has opened enrollment for its newest academic degree offering, a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. According to a press release, classes will begin in fall 2024 for the two-year, 58-credit program, which will provide students with the academic and practical experience needed to work as a certified speech-language pathologist. A unique aspect of the Viterbo program is the inclusion of clinical experiences in both health care and area schools. Curriculum will include a wide range of topics related to communication disorders and corresponding treatment, including speech, language, social communication, cognitive communication, and swallowing problems. Students will gain experience assessing and treating communication disorders under the supervision of a licensed speech language pathologist while also developing a professional network in the field. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Statistics, employment of speech-language pathologists is projected to grow 21 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all other occupations, said Patti Johnstone, faculty member and department of communication disorders program director at Viterbo University. Students who earn an undergraduate degree in communications disorders and sciences from Viterbo and meet the minimum requirements will be guaranteed a spot in the universitys program. Spaces in speech-language masters programs are competitive nationwide. The Viterbo program is designed to meet the requirements for health care licensure, national clinical certification, and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instructions requirements to work in Wisconsin schools. Students may also complete 75 of their required 400 clinical hours in the Viterbo Nursing Centers simulation labs, as was recently approved by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association governing body. For more information on the program, visit www.viterbo.edu/programs/master-speech-language-pathology. A virtual information session will be held at noon Tuesday, Aug. 8. Visit www.viterbo.edu/graduate-admissions-events and open the speech-language drop-down for more information and to register. I recently had the privilege to represent Viterbo University on a two-week visit to Luxembourg. My primary purpose was to engage with students at The Lenster Lycee international school, located in Junglinster, a suburb of the nations capital, Luxembourg City. Twenty-four students from the school will visit La Crosse on a four-week visit in late August and early September. Viterbo has joined with other La Crosse educational institutions in constructing a growing relationship with counterparts in Luxembourg. My experience showed me what a valuable investment our community is making in constructing this relationship. The country is the size of two La Crosse Counties. Its population is 650,000. Fifty-Three% are Luxembourg citizens, 38% are other European Union nationals, and 9% have arrived from outside the EU. The population has steadily increased since World War II. Immigrants have been needed to fill the workforce of an expanding economy. In addition to the language diversity, I found an intriguing political openness in Luxembourg. Two days after my arrival local elections were held on a Sunday. Immigrants who have resided in their communities for at least five years are eligible to vote. However, citizenship is required for national and EU election eligibility. Voting is compulsory. Five years residency is also required for citizenship application. Prospective citizens have to display capacity in the Luxembourgish language. And they are required to take a course, Living Together in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. There are some distinct advantages for immigrants in Luxembourg compared with many other Western societies. The country has the highest minimum wage in the EU. Public transportation is free. It is one of the safest countries in the world. An increasingly diverse population is living together in safety and prosperity a significant lesson to be learned from Luxembourg. Another lesson has grown out of its post-World War II experience as one of the six original EU members. Luxembourg City is one of three EU capitals. The city set aside a section of land in 1960 dedicated to housing EU institutions. The area around the European Parliament building in the EU complex has exploded into a vibrant and modern retail and banking center. In 1985 Luxembourg instigated an agreement with France, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands in the village of Schengen, in the southeast corner of the country. Germany is directly across the Moselle River from Schengen. France is only several kilometers away. The agreement expressed the desire for visa-free travel among neighbors. Today it has become the Schengen Treaty, encompassing 27 countries. It comprises the largest visa-free travel zone in the world. Schengen is a leading example of Luxembourgs commitment to engaging a cosmopolitan approach to life in the 21st Century. Although a Grand Duchy, the countrys governance is really conducted through a parliamentary democracy. One of the wealthiest societies on earth, the transformation from its pre-industrial agricultural foundations has been remarkable. Insightful political leadership has been essential in this transformation. Shortly upon my return home, news broke about the dissolution of the government in nearby Netherlands over the issue of immigration. Anti-immigrant political parties have garnered support in Germany and France, as well as other EU member states. Luxembourgs Alternative Democratic Reform Party is small, and anti-immigrant. Ironically, ADR demanded and achieved in 1998 equality of pension provisions between civil servants and all other citizens. Of course, this has provided a foundation for retirement equity for immigrants who have become citizens. This is yet another lesson learned from my delightful and educational visit to Luxembourg. Gov. Tony Evers has ordered that U.S. and Wisconsin flags fly at half-staff Saturday in honor of former state Rep. Michael Endsley, who died July 13 at age 61. Endsley, a Republican, represented Wisconsins 26th Assembly District for two terms, beginning in 2010. During his time in the Assembly, he chaired the Aging and Long-Term Care Committee and was vice-chair for the Jobs, Economy, and Small Business and Small Business Development Committees. In 2014, he was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which later developed into early-onset Alzheimers disease. On behalf of the state of Wisconsin, I share our deepest condolences with Andrew, Katie, Beverly, Michelle, and the entire Endsley family on Michaels passing, Evers said in a statement Friday. He was a hardworking businessman, dedicated public servant, avid history buff, enthusiastic Green Bay Packer fan, and by all accounts, a great father and friend to all those who knew him. He will be missed. Memorial services for Endsley will be held on Saturday in Sheboygan Falls. Protesters gather in Baghdad's Tahrir Square, carrying Iraqi flags and images of influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr, Saturday, July 22, 2023, following reports of the burning of a Quran carried out by a ultranationalist group in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen. Protesters attempted to cross the Jumhuriya bridge leading to the Green Zone, where the Danish embassy is, but were pushed back by security forces. (Ali Jabar/AP) Tensions flared again in Iraq Saturday over a series of recent protests in Europe involving desecration of the Quran, Islams holy book, which have sparked a debate over the balance between freedom of speech and religious sensitivities. Hundreds of protesters attempted to storm Baghdads heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses foreign embassies and the seat of Iraqs government, early Saturday following reports that an ultranationalist group burned a copy of the Quran in front of the Iraqi Embassy in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. Advertisement The protest came two days after people angered by the planned burning of the Islamic holy book in Sweden stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad. Security forces on Saturday pushed back protesters, who blocked the Jumhuriya bridge leading to the Green Zone, preventing them from reaching the Danish Embassy. Advertisement Elsewhere in Iraq, protesters burned three caravans belonging to a demining project run by the the Danish Refugee Council, or DRC, in the city of Basra in the south, local police said in a statement. The fire was extinguished by civil defense responders, and there were no human casualties, only material losses, the statement said. The DRC confirmed in an emailed statement to The Associated Press that its premises in Basra came under armed attack early Saturday. We deplore this attack aid workers should never be a target of violence, Lilu Thapa, DRCs executive director for the Middle East said. Iraqs prime minister has cut diplomatic ties with Sweden in protest over the desecration of the Quran in that country. An Iraqi asylum-seeker who burned a copy of the Quran during a demonstration last month in Stockholm had threatened to do the same thing again Thursday but ultimately stopped short of setting fire to the book. The man an Iraqi of Christian origin living in Stockholm, now a self-described atheist did, however, kick and step on it, and did the same with an Iraqi flag and a photo of influential Iraqi Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr and of Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The right to hold public demonstrations is protected by the constitution in Sweden, and blasphemy laws were abandoned in the 1970s. Police generally give permission based on whether they believe a public gathering can be held without major disruptions or safety risks. On Friday afternoon, thousands protested peacefully in Iraq and other Muslim-majority countries. In the incident in Copenhagen, according to Danish media reports, members of the ultranationalist group Danske Patrioter burned a copy of the Quran and an Iraqi flag in front of the Iraqi Embassy, livestreaming the action on Facebook. Advertisement Copenhagen police spokeswoman Trine Fisker told The Associated Press that a very small demonstration with fewer than 10 people took place Friday afternoon across the street from the Iraqi Embassy and that a book was burned. We do not know what book it was, she said. Apparently they tried to burn the Iraqi flag and after that, somebody stepped on it. Fisker said the political angle is not for the police to comment on, but the event was peaceful ... from a police perspective. The Danish government on Saturday condemned the demonstration. Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen called the action stupidity that a small handful of individuals did. It is a shameful act to violate the religion of others, he told Danish public broadcaster DR. This applies both to the burning of Qurans and other religious symbols. It has no other purpose than to provoke and create division. The incident prompted the protests in Baghdad overnight. Chanting in support of Sadr and carrying images of the prominent leader and the flag associated with his movement, along with the Iraqi flag, hundreds of protesters attempted to enter the Green Zone and clashed with security forces before dispersing. Advertisement In a statement on Saturday, the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned in strong and repeated terms, the incident of abuse against the Holy Quran and the flag of the Republic of Iraq in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Denmark. It called the international community to stand urgently and responsibly towards these atrocities that violate social peace and coexistence around the world. the statement read. Another protest is scheduled to take place in Baghdad at 6 p.m. ___ Associated Press writer Abdulrahman Zeyad in Baghdad and Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report. British Empire UNSC Meeting To Hang Russia, but Most Nations Would Rather Have Food July 21, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)U.K. Ambassador to the UN Dame Barbara Woodward was pleased to convene a United Nations Security Council meeting this morning, again to accuse Russia of war crimes, but many of the Council member nations ambassadors indicated that the Black Sea Grain Initiative having ended, they would simply wish it to be restored by negotiations. It was the expressed view of Dame Barbara, French Ambassador Nicolas de Riviere, and U.S. Ambassador Linda Greenfield-Thomas, along with the specially invited Ukrainian representative and echoers such as the Albanian, Maltese, Romanian and Ecuadoran representatives, that destruction of civilian infrastructure at the Odessa port by Russia is a crime against humanity, nothing less than waging war on the worlds food supply and stealing the food supply of millions. But as Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy pointed out, when Ukraine blew up Russias Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline in June, which had produced enough raw material every year for fertilizer for 45 million people, and road/rail bridges built in Russia are attacked, no mention is made by the UN or NATO leaders, who think these events are better assigned to the fog of war. But once again, there were quite a few nations represented that did not attend the session to attack Russia, but to express the hope that further negotiations can result in the Black Sea Grain Initiative being resumed in effect. These nations included China, the U.A.E., Brazil, and from Africa, Ghana, Gabon and Mozambique. Chinas Ambassador Geng Shuang made a point of calling for the unblocking of grain and fertilizer exports. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, though on the UNSC but who had played a major role in organizing the grain initiative, called today for Western (NATO) countries to consider Russias demands for restoration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, and said, I believe that by thoroughly discussing the matter with President Putin, we can ensure the continuation of this humanitarian effort. At the UNSC, both the U.K. and United Stateswhile never mentioning fertilizer which are among the Russian exports that are blockedharped on saying that 63% of Ukrainian grain exported under the agreement had gone to poor and middle-income countries. But middle-income countries include the biggest commercial importers of Kievs grain. Gabons Ambassador Michel Xavier Biang restated the truth, moreover, that only 3% of those exports had gone to the poorest countries in Africa. Notably, Polyanskiy responded in his statement: What was it that you expected? From the very start, we have been drawing everyones attention to the fact that the initiative did not meet the initially proclaimed goal and was gaining a well-defined commercial nature. And he named the beneficiaries of that commercial sales boom in Ukrainian grain: Cargill, DuPont, and Monsanto; and the losers, Russian farmers, who had to sell their bumper harvests under conditions of effective sanctions. Minister Vershinin Gives Some Facts on Black Sea and Grain July 21, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin gave a press briefing today on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, pointing to the reality of what is likely to happen next, following Russias July 17 suspension of its participation in the Initiative. Many of his remarks were covered in a series of news items by TASS. The video of Vershinins hour-long briefing was also posted to the Ministrys Twitter page with English translation. Vershinin referred to Turkiye, through whose offices the Initiative was negotiated a year ago. We have very close interactions with Turkiye, traditional interactions, he said. We are also in contact with them now and are exchanging [proposals] about what to do in the current situation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed the same thing today, in remarks to the media. Vershinin also spoke about what follows, according to Russias current policy. Referring to Russian grain and fertilizer export, he said: It continues but they are not the subject matter of the Black Sea Initiative. It should be understood Russian grain was not exported via the international humanitarian corridor; this referred to the Ukrainian grain only. Therefore, Russian exports of grain that have huge potentialour harvest is excellent for two years in a rowand fertilizers, is to continue and will continue, he said. We are holding contacts, negotiations, making deals; this process continues. He also addressed Africa: Concerning the access to African nations, we have very serious contacts with African states in terms of supplies of Russian cargo, including Russian grain. We understand concerns that may arise with our African friends. I want to say these concerns are not merely clear but will be fully addressed, Vershinin said. As regards grain supplies, I have just mentioned the figure slightly above 900,000 metric tons for the most needy countries.... Communications are certainly underway, efforts are being made for the African countries not to experience any adverse consequences in this case. As Russias First Deputy Permanent Representative Dmitry Polyanskiy had also said at the UN Security Council session this morning, Vershinin emphasized that double standards should be condemned. Vershinin pointed out that the terrorist attacks on Crimea, the Kerch Bridge, Sevastopol, and the sabotage of the Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline had yielded no response from the UN Secretariat so far. And this [ammonia pipeline] is also food security, and may be even more important than grain, as we are talking about ammonia. This ammonia pipeline can supply 2 million tons of ammonia. That makes a lot of fertilizer, he said. EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR SATURDAY JULY 22, 2023 The Liars Are ExposedUnite the World Around the Truth! July 21, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)If you tell a lie loudly enough and frequently enough, then people will most certainly begin to believe itor at least thats the theory of those followers of the modern-day Goebbels school of thought. Thus, a new and obnoxious lie was born this week on the occasion of Russias cancellation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, with claims coming from the usual suspects that, See, we told you Putin could not be trusted! As has been said before, wars are based on lies, and these kinds of lies are leading us straight to a world war. Right on cue, the British called a UN Security Council Meeting Friday, July 21, where they accused Russia of waging war on the worlds food supply and stealing the food supply of millions. In addition, both the British and Ukrainian Defense Ministries released statements condemning the Russian decision as intentionally disruptive. Ukraine blustered that Russia has once again brutally violated the universal right of the whole world to free navigation and is deliberately undermining food security, condemning millions of people to starvation. American and European officials also twisted Russias words and actions to further poison the environment. The question is, however, is any of this true? Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin spoke today on the subject, calmly responding to the situation. Significantly, he spoke about Russias plans to sidestep the blockages and ship grain and fertilizers directly to countries in need, and to do it free of charge. It should also be noted that President Putin had elaborated on this a day earlier, when he described how, out of the 262,000 tons of fertilizer shipped from Russia, only 54,000 was allowed through European sanctions to make its way to Africathe rest was blocked. When looked at truthfully, the accusations against Russia begin to fall apart, and appear as only another farce. Then there was Turkish President Erdogan, who further let the cat out of the bag. Rather than berating Russia in such absurd ways as the Western countries did, Erdogan said that Russia has certain expectations from Western countries, and it is crucial for these countries to take action in this regard. In fact, half of the attendees at Fridays UNSC meeting refused to accuse Russia of such heinous lies and instead emphasized the need for further negotiations, knowing full well it was the Western sanctions that were the actual cause of the grain initiatives demise. The real truth is that the majority of the world is no longer falling for the same lies being fabricated by the worlds would-be oligarchs. These oligarchs are currently ruling over Western nations which are decaying at near break-neck speed, as their financial Ponzi schemes are collapsing and proposed green energy schemes are wreaking destructionwhile lies and intimidation are used to maintain a semblance of control. A delightful touch in this regard was seen at the conclusion of the July 17-18 EU-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) summit where the Malvinas Islands was referred to instead of the Falkland Islandsas demanded by the Britisha passing gesture which has reportedly caused a frantic reaction within the U.K. It remains to be seen how much this reality can even be outlawed within the U.S. itself. Democratic presidential precandidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. testified at the House committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government on Wednesday, July 19, where he blasted the new form of censorship targeting and smearing anyone who tries to break free from the accepted topics of discussion. Raising the issue of toxic polarization, Kennedy asked: Do you think you can end that by censoring people? This is increasingly being discussed openly in the U.S., and it is only a matter of time before the implications it has expands to the fact that Americans are today being used as pawns in a push for global war. The world is at a breaking point, and cannot remain there forever. It is up to those with a higher vision of peace among nations and peoples to weigh in and catalyze a new policydont expect it to come from the mentally and morally dead U.S. two-party system. Towards this end, the International Peace Coalition met for the seventh time Friday, July 21, to discuss plans and organizing during these crucial days and weeks ahead. Leading the discussion was the upcoming August 6 peace demonstration on the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. So dont wait for a sore rearstop sitting on the fence and mobilize for August 6! We present the first of two parts of the short story "The Law of Life," by Jack London. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Old Koskoosh listened greedily. Although his sight had failed, his hearing remained good. The slightest sound was recognized by a mind yet active behind the aged forehead. Ah! That was Sit-cum-ha shouting curses at the dogs as she beat them into the harnesses. Sit-cum-ha was his daughters daughter, but she was too busy to waste a thought upon her old grandfather, sitting alone there in the snow. Camp must be broken. The long trail waited while the short day refused to delay. Life called her, and the duties of life, not death. And he was very close to death now. The thought frightened the old man for the moment. He stretched forth a shaking hand which wandered over the small pile of dried wood beside him. Reassured that it was indeed there, his hand returned to the shelter of his old, worn furs. He again began to listen. He heard the noise of the half-frozen animal skins being moved. He knew that even then the chiefs moose-skin tent was being packed. The chief was his son, leader of the tribesmen, and a mighty hunter. As the women worked, his voice rose, exclaiming at their slowness. Old Koskoosh strained his ears. It was the last time he would hear that voice. There went Geehows tent! And Tuskens! Seven, eight, nine; only the medicine mans could yet be standing. There! They were at work upon it now. He could hear the medicine man struggling loudly as he piled it on the sled. A child cried and a woman calmed it with gentle singing. Little Koo-tee, the old man thought. That child was always weeping, and it was sickly. It would die soon, perhaps, and they would burn a hole through the frozen ground and pile rocks above to keep the wolves away. And what difference would it make? A few years at best, and as many an empty stomach as a full one. And in the end, death waited, ever-hungry and hungriest of them all. What was that? Oh, the men binding the sleds together and drawing tight the ropes. He listened, he who would listen no more. The whips whistled among the dogs. Hear them howl! How they hated the work and the trail through the snow! They had started! Sled after sled moved slowly away into the silent forest. They were gone. They had passed out of his life, and he faced the last bitter hour alone. No. The step of a moccasin broke the snows surface. A man stood beside him; upon his head a hand rested gently. His son was good to do this thing. He remembered other old men whose sons had not waited after the tribe had gone. But his son had. The old mans thoughts wandered away into the past, until the young mans voice returned him to the present. It is well with you? he asked. The old man answered, It is well. There is wood beside you, the younger man continued, and the fire burns bright. The morning is gray, and the cold has lessened. It will snow presently. Even now it is snowing. Yes, even now it is snowing. The tribesmen hurry. Their loads are heavy and their stomachs empty with lack of feasting. The trail ahead is long and they travel fast. I go now. It is well? It is well. I am as a last years leaf, hanging lightly on a branch. When the first wind blows, I fall. My voice has become like an old womans. My eyes no longer show me the way of my feet, and my feet are heavy, and I am tired. It is well. He bowed his head in contentment until the last noise of the moccasin on the snow died away. He knew his son was beyond recall. Then his hand moved out from the furs to touch the wood. It alone stood between him and what lay beyond the death that opened before him. Now the measure of his life was a handful of sticks. One by one they would go to feed the fire, and just so, step by step, death would come closer to him. When the last stick had given all of its heat, the frost would begin to gather strength. First his feet would yield, then his hands; and the lack of feeling would travel, slowly, to his body. His head would fall forward upon his knees, and he would rest. It was easy. All men must die. He did not murmur. It was the law of life, and it was just. He had been born close to the earth and close to the earth had he lived. Its law was not new to him. It was the law of all flesh. Nature was not kindly to the flesh. She had no concern for that single thing called the individual. Her interest lay in the race of man as a whole. He grasped this idea firmly. He saw its truth displayed everywhere. The awakening of life in a tree, the bursting greenness of its branches, the fall of the yellow leafin this alone was told the whole history. But one task nature did give the individual. Did he not perform it, he died. Did he perform it, it was all the samehe died. Nature did not care; there were plenty who would obey. It was only the need that this duty be obeyed, not the man who obeyed it, which lived and lived always. The tribe of Koskoosh was very old. The old men he had known when he was a boy had known old men before them. Therefore, it was true that the tribe lived, that it represented the obeying of all its members, whose final resting places were unremembered. They were not important; they were chapters in lifes story. They had passed away like clouds from a summer sky. He also would pass away. Nature did not care. To life she gave one task and one law. To continue the race was the task of life; its law was death. A young girl was a good creature to look upon, full-breasted and strong, with a lightness to her step and a shine in her eyes. But her task was yet before her. The light in her eyes brightened and her step quickened. She laughed with the young men, then she turned away. She passed on to them her own unrest. And she grew fairer and yet fairer to look upon. Finally, some hunter took her to his tent to cook and work for him and to become the mother of his children. And with the coming of her children her beauty left her. She dragged her legs and arms when she walked. Her eyes lost their brightness. Then only the little ones found joy in the old, lined face. Her task was done. In a little while, in the first famine or in the first long trail, she would be left, as he had been left, in the snow, with a little pile of wood. Such was the law. He placed a stick carefully on the fire and returned to his thoughts. It was the same everywhere, with all things. The insects disappeared with the first frost. When age settled upon the rabbit it became slow and heavy and could no longer run faster than its enemies. Even the big bear grew old and blind, to be dragged down at last by a small group of barking sled dogs. He remembered how he had left his own father along the Klondike River one winter. It was the winter before the missionary came with his books and his box of medicines. Many times Koskoosh had recalled with pleasure the taste of those medicines. The one called painkiller was especially good. But now his mouth refused to moisten. He remembered that the missionary had become a worry to them. He brought no meat into the camp, and he ate much. The hunters did not like this. Then when they were near the Mayo, he became ill. And afterward, the dogs pushed the stones away and fought for his bones. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. What is the best way to treat people who are old and sick? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Quiz Quiz - The Law of Life, Part One Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz For Teachers This lesson plan teaches the strategy Find and Apply Patterns to help students understand the story. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story greedily adv. in a way that shows a selfish desire to have more of something harness(es) n. a set of straps placed on an animal so it can pull something heavy trail n. a path through a forest or field wander(ed) v. to move around or go to different places usually without having a particular purpose or direction pile n. a group of things that are put one on top of another reassure(ed) v. to make someone feel less afraid, upset or doubtful tent n. a portable shelter that is used outdoors, is made of cloth and leather, and is held up with poles and ropes strain(ed) v. to try very hard to do or get something medicine man n. among North American Indians and some other peoples, a person believed to have magical powers of healing and of seeing into the future; a shaman pile(d) - v. to put something in a pile sled n. a small vehicle that has a flat bottom or long, narrow strips of metal or wood on the bottom and that is used for moving over snow or ice weep(ing) v. to cry because you are very sad or are feeling some other strong emotion bind(ing) v. to tie or wrap something with a rope or string bitter adj. causing painful emotions moccasin n. a flat shoe that is made of soft leather and is similar to a shoe originally worn by some Native Americans feasting n. (gerund) the act of eating large amounts of food branch n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk bow(ed) v. to bend forward at the neck or waist as a formal way of greeting someone or showing respect contentment n. the state of being happy and satisfied murmur v. a quiet expression of an opinion or feeling grasp(ed) v. to understand something that is complicated or difficult drag(ed) v. to force yourself to move or to go to a place when you are tired, busy, etc. famine n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat rabbit n. a small animal that usually lives in holes in the ground and has long ears, soft fur, and back legs that are longer than its front legs bear n. any one of a group of large and heavy animals that have thick hair and sharp claws and that can stand on two legs like a person barking n. (gerund) the act of making the short, loud sound a dog makes missionary n. a person who is sent to a foreign country to do religious work, such as to convince people to join a religion or to help people who are sick or poor moisten v. to become slightly wet COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho Five members of the white nationalist hate group Patriot Front were sentenced Friday to several days in jail for conspiring to riot at a Pride event in Idaho. A total of 31 Patriot Front members, including one identified as its founder, were arrested June 11, 2022, after someone reported seeing people loading into a U-Haul van like "a little army" at a hotel parking lot in Coeur d'Alene, police said. Those arrested came from at least 11 states. Police found riot gear inside the van after pulling it over near the North Idaho Pride Alliance event, the Coeur d'Alene police chief said. FARGO, N.D. The heavily armed man who ambushed Fargo police officers investigating a fender bender last week likely had a bigger and bloodier attack in mind, with at least two fairs taking place at the time in and around North Dakota's largest city, authorities said Friday. Mohamad Barakat killed one officer and wounded two others and a bystander before a fourth officer shot and killed him, ending the July 14 attack. Over the past five years, Barakat, 37, searched the internet for terms including "kill fast," "explosive ammo," "incendiary rounds," and "mass shooting events," state Attorney General Drew Wrigley said Friday. But perhaps the most chilling search was for "area events where there are crowds," which on July 13 brought up a news article with the headline, "Thousands enjoy first day of Downtown Fargo Street Fair." All evidence suggests that Barakat came upon the traffic crash by "happenstance" and that his ensuing ambush was a diversion from his bigger intended target, Wrigley said. After driving by the fender bender, Barakat pulled into an adjacent parking lot to watch from his parked car, Wrigley said. He said Barakat's car was loaded with guns, more than 1,800 rounds of ammunition, gasoline and improvised explosives. Chicago police issued a community alert Friday asking the public for help to capture a man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in Lincoln Park earlier this month. According to police, at approximately 3:29 a.m. on July 8, a man followed the woman into a residence vestibule in the 1900 block of North Sheffield Avenue and sexually assaulted her. Advertisement The man is described as between 25 to 35 years old, 160 to175 pounds, with short hair, balding in the front, and unshaven facial hair. Detectives have requested that individuals who were in the North Sheffield Avenue area between the hours of 3 a.m. and 4 p.m. on July 8 check for images and videos they may have of the suspect and share them with the Police Departments Bureau of Detectives at 312-744-8261. A 29-year-old man who opened fire on a vehicle in the middle of the day on Madisons Beltline in 2021, hitting a 17-year-old in the leg, was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison after failing in a last-ditch effort to withdraw his guilty plea. JB Richmond Jr. appeared to admit to the May 6, 2021, shooting by apologizing to his victims and their families in court when given the chance to speak during his sentencing hearing. Prior to that, he claimed to have not understood what he was doing when he entered the plea during a May 8 hearing claims that after going through the hearings transcript, Dane County Circuit Judge Mario White did not find credible. Richmond, who admitted Friday to a history of gang involvement, fired approximately seven shots at the vehicle occupied by two 17-year-old boys he didnt know, according to a criminal complaint. He said that at the time, he had been getting death threats from people in Chicago and felt threatened. The complaint says hed been driving aggressively, speeding up and then hitting the brakes, before pulling up beside the victims vehicle around Gammon Road and opening fire. Assistant District Attorney Matthew Moeser said that one of the bullets hit the phone of the 17-year-old who was shot, and but for that, the bullet might have gone through his head. White later said it was by sheer luck that (he) was not killed. That victim was not in court Friday but his now-20-year-old friend, who had been driving the car, told White that I have two beautiful brothers and they need me in their life, and on that day, I almost lost it. Mr. Richmond is part of the problem in this community, Moeser said in asking for the sentence White ultimately imposed for felony counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and possessing a firearm as a felon. Richmond also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor intimidating a victim in a separate, 2020 case, and has cases pending from when he was out on bond in the Beltline shooting case for fleeing police, possession of fentanyl and possession of a firearm as a felon. He also has previous felony and misdemeanor convictions from incidents in 2012, 2013 and 2015. White on Wednesday denied a motion by Richmond to fire his public defender, Stan Woodard, who said in court Friday that the two do not see eye to eye in regards to my representation of him and that Richmond wanted to represent himself. However, after asking Richmond a number of questions Friday aimed at determining whether he understood what representing himself would mean, White granted the motion. Richmond told White before he was sentenced that I havent been in the right direction my whole life, but also that he was not who they say I am and that many of his past run-ins with the law were a result of guilty by association. Police tracked Richmond down in the days after the shooting with the help of video from traffic cameras on the Beltline and a doorbell camera that showed the license plate of the SUV Richmond had been driving and was registered in his name. He was also sentenced Friday to 4 years of extended supervision once hes released from prison. A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out. Here are the facts: ___ Contrary to claims, Pfizer plant damaged by tornado didn't hold COVID vaccines CLAIM: A Pfizer warehouse in North Carolina damaged by a tornado was stocked with the company's COVID-19 vaccine. THE FACTS: Pfizer does not manufacture or store its COVID-19 vaccine or treatment for the disease at the facility, a company representative told the AP. The tornado on Wednesday ripped the roof of the drugmaker's factory near Rocky Mount, North Carolina potentially disrupting drug supplies at U.S. hospitals. But the news quickly gave rise to false claims online that the twister had struck a site specifically storing doses of the company's COVID-19 vaccine which has been the center of persistent misinformation since its release in December 2020. "BREAKING: A Pfizer Warehouse that was stocked with COVID-19 vaccines was just destroyed by a tornado in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina," reads one popular tweet. The plant in question is not used to manufacture or store any doses of the company's COVID-19 vaccine, Comirnaty, said Pfizer spokesperson Pam Eisele. Nor is the site used to make or store Paxlovid, the company's pill used to treat those who get sick with the disease. Instead, the plant produces injectables like drugs used in IV infusions or that are delivered under the skin or into patient muscles. Some examples include anesthesia drugs and anti-infectives, typically used to treat things such as fungal infections. Pfizer has said all employees were safely evacuated and accounted for, and that it is still assessing damage. Associated Press writer Angelo Fichera in New Jersey contributed this report. ___ Deadly mosquitoes did not swarm Baltimore music festival CLAIM: Video shows deadly mosquitoes released at a Baltimore music festival. THE FACTS: While concertgoers were swarmed by flying insects at one point during an African American music festival last month, concertgoers said they were not bitten by mosquitoes but gnats. Experts said swarming mosquitoes would behave differently than the bugs in the video. The Baltimore Health Department also said no insect-borne illnesses were reported following the event. Social media users are nevertheless sharing a video clip they claim shows hordes of killer skeeters dumped on unwitting concertgoers in Maryland's largest city. The clip pans across a crowd of revelers at a park, many of whom are vigorously waving hats, blankets and other personal items to try and shoo away the teeny pests. "Helicopter released deadly mosquitoes in Baltimore, MD AFRAM 2023," the text on the video reads. The idea could have been pulled straight from the history books: a Cold War-era military program called Operation Big Buzz involved dropping thousands of mosquitoes across George and Florida in order to see whether the insects could be used in disease warfare. But the airborne invasion at the Baltimore concert wasn't a swarm of mosquitoes, some of which are known to transmit diseases such as malaria, yellow fever, dengue and Zika, which can be fatal if left untreated. Concert attendees described the bugs as gnats, which are small flying insects that tend to travel en masse. "Y'all can deal with the gnats. Y'all dealt with the cicadas, you can handle the gnats," Mayor Brandon Scott implored attendees from the stage at one point. "Calm down. Calm down." Beige Ojai, a Maryland resident who shared a video of the swarm on TikTok, told the AP that the gnats filled her hair and covered her arms but didn't leave any bites. "They were stuck onto our skin, flying down people's shirts, flying into people's hair," Ojai recounted in an email Tuesday. "They were completely stuck onto my sisters' eyelashes her eyelashes were filled with gnats! " The city health department also hasn't received any reports of bug-borne illness following the June 17 event, according to Arinze Ifekauche, an agency spokesperson. "I'm assuming they were the normal bugs you'd encounter in a City Park," he wrote in an email. "We do know definitively that they were not killer bugs dropped from a helicopter as evidenced by the lack of deaths from said suspected bugs." What's more, insect experts say the swarms captured on video aren't indicative of mosquitoes. Michael Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland, suggested they could be "eye gnats," which are attracted to the face and eyes. Those gnats breed in lawns like the grassy field at Druid Hill Park where the Juneteenth celebration took place. Associated Press writer Philip Marcelo in New York contributed this report. ___ The DOJ did not announce that international child sex trafficking is no longer a concern CLAIM: The U.S. Department of Justice said international child sex trafficking is not an area of concern. THE FACTS: The Justice Department has made no such declaration. The agency acknowledged that it recently updated language on its website, including removing a lengthy passage about international child sex trafficking from one page. But the DOJ says the issue is more thoroughly covered elsewhere on the site, namely as part of its recently released national strategy on preventing child exploitation. The agency also cited several recent cases it prosecuted that dealt with international sex trafficking. Social media users, however, are claiming the nation's primary law enforcement agency is de-emphasizing efforts to combat international child sex trafficking because it removed a subsection in its website titled " International Sex Trafficking of Minors." The passage was found on the webpage outlining various "subject areas" covered by the agency's "Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section," which is the unit focused on prosecuting child exploitation cases. It had been part of a broader section describing child sex trafficking updated in May, according to a timestamp on the webpage. "Wow!!! And did you know that Joe's DOJ just said that 'International Sex Trafficking of Minors' was not an area of concern and removed it from their list of offenses that deserve a high degree of attention?," wrote one Instagram user in a post. But there's nothing to suggest the agency has removed international sex trafficking from any list of high priority offenses or pulled back on its efforts to crackdown on the scourge. "Child sex trafficking" remains one of the "subject areas" highlighted on the webpage for the Child Exploitation and Obscenity unit, but it no longer distinguishes between "international" and "domestic" offenses. The website update also comes as the DOJ has released a new strategy to address child sex trafficking, as well as other forms of child exploitation. In an emailed statement, the DOJ said it continues to place a "very high priority on and devote substantial resources" to fighting child exploitation and sex trafficking abroad and at home. The agency cited several recent prosecutions involving international child sex trafficking found in press releases for the Child Exploitation and Obscenity unit. Submitted to Congress last month, the DOJ's " National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction " is meant to lay out long-range goals for reducing child exploitation, including budget and funding priorities, a review of past and ongoing investigations and prosecutions, grant programs, policy, research and other related efforts. A series of detailed reports focused on specific areas of child exploitation was also released with the new national strategy, the DOJ noted. The agency said the documents, when taken together, represent the "most up to date information" about the complex, ever-evolving challenges around child exploitation. Alicia Peters, an anthropology professor at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, who focuses on human trafficking, said the updated website language helps "rebalance the disproportionate focus on child sex trafficking" previously found on the DOJ site. Peters noted that people are trafficked not just for sex but also to work in industries ranging from domestic work to agriculture and manufacturing. Philip Marcelo ___ Florida isn't going to be hit by a massive sandstorm seen in footage from the Suez Canal CLAIM: A video of ships being engulfed by an enormous sandstorm shows weather that is heading toward U.S. states including Florida and New York. THE FACTS: The video shows a June sandstorm in Egypt as it blew over the Suez Canal. Although dust from the Sahara Desert has reached Florida multiple times this summer a common occurrence known as the Saharan Air Layer the sandstorm in the video has nothing to do with this phenomenon, meteorologists told the AP. The video misrepresented by social media users includes two separate clips. In one, a monolithic plume of sand encroaches on a cargo ship that appears miniscule in comparison. The second shows the sand engulfing the boat from which the video is being filmed, until hardly anything is visible. "Sandstorm about to hit Florida," reads a TikTok post that shared the footage. It had received approximately 1.1 million views as of Thursday. The video was also shared with the false claim on Facebook and Twitter, where some suggested it would hit New York as well. But the video shows a sandstorm in Egypt early last month as it hit the Suez Canal, and users are falsely conflating it with news about dust from the Sahara Desert that regularly crosses the North Atlantic this time of year. A Facebook user first posted a longer version of the footage on June 1 with the caption, "Sand Storm at Bitter Lake, Suez Egypt," referring to the saltwater lake that is part of the canal. The user did not return a request for comment, but other social media posts support the accuracy of the caption. The same account shared a photo posted by another Facebook user of a container ship seen in the video. The latter user has shared multiple photos from aboard an oil and chemical tanker named "Eva Usuki," whose characteristics match the ship from which the video was filmed. For example, both have a large, central tan crane near a collection of blue barrels. The boat also flies under the flag of the Philippines, and people can be heard speaking in Tagalog in the background of the original footage. The Eva Usuki was in the Suez Canal on June 1, according to ship tracking data. Other news outlets reporting on the sandstorm also posted similarfootage at the time, showing different ships being engulfed by the cloud. Multiple meteorologists told the AP that this sandstorm did not and will not impact the U.S. And it has nothing to do with the Saharan Air Layer, a mass of extremely dry and dusty air that forms over the Sahara Desert and moves across the North Atlantic from late spring to early fall, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "The video definitely showed a sandstorm, which definitely has a clear leading edge of dust that is at the ground and extends upward from there," said Stephen Mullens, an assistant instructional professor of meteorology at the University of Florida. "What is coming across the Atlantic Ocean is still sand and dust, but we'd definitely not call it a sandstorm at all." Associated Press writer Melissa Goldin in New York contributed this report. ___ When Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel on Tuesday announced felony charges against the 16 Republicans who signed official-looking documents falsely purporting that former President Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election, many eyes shifted to Wisconsin, where fake electors also gathered for Trump but havent faced criminal charges. Wisconsin Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul has remained tight-lipped on whether charges are forthcoming, or whether an investigation exists at all. In the past, he has called for the federal government to hold the fake electors accountable. But some legal experts maintain Kaul has the legal grounds to file a criminal case against the 10 fake electors in Wisconsin. Comparing state law to federal, they give you different possibilities for things you could do, and ... Im surprised were not seeing dual prosecutions, said David Schultz, a legal studies and political science professor at Hamline University. Both in Wisconsin and in Michigan, theres enough behavior there to implicate criminal liability, he said. The state Department of Justice generally doesnt confirm or deny the existence of ongoing investigations, spokesperson Gillian Drummond said in an email Thursday. Attorney General Kaul strongly believes that those who committed crimes in an effort to unlawfully subvert the outcome of an election should be held accountable, she continued. Early last year, Kaul said he believes its critical that the federal government fully investigates and prosecutes any unlawful actions in furtherance of any seditious conspiracy. Research paper But having both state and federal cases is critical to prevent perpetrators from slipping through the cracks, wrote former federal prosecutor Shan Wu and Gretchen Knaut, the research director at a pro bono law firm, in a 50-page research paper outlining the potential state criminal case against the Wisconsin fake electors. State prosecutors may be more inclined to focus on local offenders, for instance, while their federal counterparts may target national players, they continued. Their research paper highlights several Wisconsin laws the fake electors potentially violated: forgery, falsely assuming to act as a public officer, misconduct in public office, simulating the legal process, and conspiracy and party to a crime. In Wisconsin, despite Trump losing the election, the slate of 10 Republican electors signed the certificate in the state Capitol in December 2020. The meeting occurred following a Nov. 18, 2020, memo from Trump campaign adviser Kenneth Chesebro detailing the plan to Wisconsin attorney Jim Troupis, who represented Trump in a failed effort to overturn the states 2020 election results. Alternate plan Former state GOP chair Andrew Hitt, one of the GOP electors, told the U.S. House committee investigating the 2020 election in a video presented last June that he was told the fake Trump electors would only count if a court ruled in the former presidents favor. Mark Jefferson, executive director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, said in a statement Friday the meeting took place on the advice of attorneys and based on precedent set when Hawaii electors from both parties convened in public regarding a genuine dispute over the 1960 presidential election. It is our understanding that had the courts come to a different conclusion, a meeting would have had to have taken place in order for Wisconsins electoral votes to have counted, Jefferson said. But the documents werent signed until after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that President Joe Biden had won the election and a month after Wisconsin county clerks canvassed the presidential election results. At that point, we already have a definitive state court ruling on the election ... and therefore, it makes it really hard for (the fake electors) to say, We really werent sure about this. We wanted to have a backup and contingency, Schultz said. Document signers Those who signed the documents include Hitt; Robert Spindell, a Republican member of the Wisconsin Elections Commission; 8th Congressional District GOP chair Kelly Ruh; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Carol Brunner; former Dane County Republican Party chair Scott Grabins; La Crosse County Republican Party chair Bill Feehan; 5th Congressional District GOP chair Kathy Kiernan; 6th Congressional District GOP chair Darryl Carlson; 1st Congressional District GOP vice chair Pam Travis; and Mary Buestrin, vice chair of the Midwest region for the Republican National Committee. Michigan was the first state to criminally charge fake electors. The ongoing civil lawsuit against the fake electors in Wisconsin was the first of its kind as well. In Georgia, Fulton Countys district attorney investigating fraudulent electors earlier this year agreed to immunity deals with at least eight of the 16 Republicans who signed the paperwork, according to The Associated Press. Arizonas Democratic attorney general is in the early stages of an investigation, while Nevadas attorney general, also a Democrat, has said he does not plan to bring charges. Civil case Absent any charges from the state DOJ, the fate of Wisconsins slate of 10 fake electors may likely be decided in a civil case working its way through Dane County Circuit Court. That case could come to trial in September 2024 weeks before the 2024 presidential election. Attorney Jeff Mandell, with the Madison-based law firm Stafford Rosenbaum, filed a lawsuit in May 2022 alleging that, by signing the documents, the 10 Wisconsin Republicans and two attorneys who advised them broke multiple laws, including counterfeiting public records, illegally interfering with official procedures, defrauding the public and engaging in conspiracy. The lawsuit also alleges the individuals actions played a role in events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building. The lawsuit also lists Chesebro and Troupis, who is a former Republican-appointed Dane County judge. The lawsuit was filed months after the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously denied a complaint that sought sanctions against the 10 Republicans, including Spindell, who signed the official-looking documents. Other complaints have failed to gain much traction, including those filed with the district attorneys offices in Milwaukee and Dane counties, as well as the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the agency that handles complaints against lawyers in Wisconsin. The lawsuit seeks more than $2.4 million in damages, including $2,000 fines for the Republicans and their attorneys, and up to $200,000 in punitive damages for each plaintiff. Plaintiffs in the case include lawfully elected Wisconsin electors Khary Penebaker and Mary Arnold. Motion to dismiss Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington is expected to rule by the end of the month on the defendants motion to dismiss the case. If that motion is denied, the case is scheduled to go to trial on Sept. 3, 2024. Remington estimated the trial could take as long as four weeks and conclude before Republican and Democratic electors are selected in October for the next presidential election. If the lawsuit reaches the states highest court, it will be taken up by a Wisconsin Supreme Court with a new 4-3 liberal majority. Liberal Justice Janet Protasiewicz, who defeated conservative Dan Kelly in April, joins the court Aug. 1. In a separate case, Remington earlier this year sent the initial complaint against the electors back to the Elections Commission for a second consideration. He ordered that Spindell must recuse himself on the matter. After hoax at Canyon Ridge, the district will increase crisis incident and lockdown drills In February, a call was placed to Canyon Ridge claiming an active shooter was in the building. The school reacted immediately and went into lockdown, and law enforcement rapidly launched into their crisis response protocols, searching the building and clearing each room, one at a time, while more than 1,000 students and staff sheltered in place. The call was a hoax, but in response to the event, the school district has made updates to their safety plan based on issues that arose during the incident. All schools and all grades in the district will now perform crisis and lockdown drills each quarter, to give students, teachers, and staff more preparation in the event of an actual active shooter situation. Like fire drills, crisis and lockdown drills are already being done in the district. The biggest change is to increase the frequency. Additional steps are being taken by the district to coordinate with police, and to inform parents on what steps they can take to be reunited with their children. Local student represents Idaho at American Legion Auxiliary Girls NationAnna Aiello, from Twin Falls, is one of 94 high school seniors selected to attend American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Girls Nation July 22-29 in Washington, D.C. The weeklong program, founded in 1947, has provided exceptional civic education to thousands of students, teaching them about how the federal government works. Aiello, who will be a senior at Xavier Charter School, is one of two participants who will represent Idaho as a senator at ALA Girls Nation. At ALA Girls Nation, senators will participate in mock Senate sessions complete with caucuses and debating bills that range from personal to political interests. Other activities on the agenda include a visit to Arlington National Cemetery where they will place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a visit to Capitol Hill to meet with real-life U.S. senators from their state, and a tour of D.C. monuments. Aiello, also participates in many activities in her school and community. Some of her activities and honors include student body president, yearbook editor-in-chief, National Honor Society secretary, College Board National Recognition Small Town and Rural Area Award, NASA SEES Intern, Magic Valley Distinguished Young Women First Alternate, Magic Valley Distinguished Young Women Overall Academic winner, cross country, and fencing. Schools still out for summer (for about one more month) There is still an extravagant amount of summer left, and while many students are no doubt eager to return to their studies, and are counting down the days to the start of a new year, there is yet a little longer they must wait before school goes back into session in August. Buhl School District: Aug. 14 Twin Falls School District: Aug. 16 Hansen School district: Aug. 16 Murtaugh School district: Aug. 17 Castleford School district: Aug. 17 Jerome School district: Aug. 17 Valley School District: Aug. 17 Cassia County School District: Aug. 21 Minidoka School District: Aug. 21 Filer School District: Aug. 21 Wendell School District: Aug. 21 Gooding School District, middle and high school: Aug. 21 Gooding School District, elementary: Aug. 22 Kimberly School District: Aug. 22 Shoshone Joint School District: Aug. 22 LSERV Corp. general counsel Atty. Cecilia Tuazon earned a spot on the exclusive GC Powerlist Philippines 2023 presented by globally renowned research firm, The Legal 500. She is the sole representative of the service contracting industry in the list. The elite ranking recognizes the countrys most prominent general counsels and heads of legal. LSERV Corp. general counsel Atty. Cecilia Tuazon Tuazons stellar performance has led her to be a part of the respected assembly of 104 legal professionals from prestigious organizations such as Aboitiz Group, Ayala Corp., BDO Unibank, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines, JG Summit Holdings, P&G Philippines, SM Investments and Unilever. I am deeply honored to be nominated and ultimately included in this prestigious listing of the Philippines top General Counsels. The event was not only an awarding ceremony, but also a wonderful occasion for camaraderie among friends and colleagues in the legal profession, she said. Tuazon also dedicated the recognition to her team. This award is a tribute to my outstanding team in the Office of the General Counsel and the entire LSERV organization. Its a reflection of our relentless commitment to maintaining the highest standards of legal and regulatory compliance while delivering top-notch service to our employees and clients nationwide, she said. Joseph Angeles, president and director of LSERV, extends the companys heartfelt congratulations to Tuazon on this remarkable accomplishment, commending her for enhancing the reputation of the Service Contracting Industry within the legal community. At LSERV, we take great pride in having Atty. Cecilia Tuazon as our general counsel. Her inclusion in the GC Powerlist Philippines 2023 is a testament to her outstanding legal expertise, dedication, and remarkable contributions to the industry. It showcases her exemplary achievements in the field of law, he said. The Legal 500 is widely acclaimed for its meticulous and comprehensive research and analysis of law firms across the globe. The GC Powerlist Philippines 2023 is no exception to this rigorous standard. The lists results stem from an exhaustive months-long research process that evaluates the competencies and influence of the countrys leading legal professionals. The GC Powerlist Philippines 2023 was unveiled on July 6, 2023, at the V&A Law Centers Rainmakers Lounge. Hosted by Villaraza and Angangco Law, the event provided a platform for attendees to network, exchange insights and share best practices in the legal profession. LSERV is a premier provider of comprehensive business and organizational support services. Its wide array of offerings spans from technical support and facilities maintenance to administrative and operations support services. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. The governments Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program, which seeks to replace outdated and unsafe jeepneys with more contemporary, safer, and environmentally friendly PUVs, has the full support of the Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (ABMAP). Ten reasons are listed below on why ABMAP backs this initiative: 1. ABMAP emphasizes that not all modern PUVs are Completely Built-Up (CBU) units from China. In fact, over 80% of the modern PUVs in the Philippines are locally made using brand new truck chassis and are assembled in the country. This helps generate jobs for automotive bodybuilders as well as upstream and downstream industries. 2. The locally manufactured and assembled PUVs are completely brand new, which means they have a longer service life than the old jeepneys. These new PUVs are equipped with air conditioning, allowing passengers to travel in comfort even during hot and humid weather. The standing passengers are also allowed, which creates an opportunity for extra income. 3. The seating is comfortable, as the seat width allocation per passenger is wider, and the distances between seat rows are longer. This means that passengers can travel in comfort even during long journeys. 4. The new PUVs are built to international standards and comply with Bureau of Philippine Standards Philippine National Standards (BPS PNS) standards. This means that the PUVs are safer and more reliable than the old jeepneys. They are equipped with a service door on the curb side, which improves passenger safety. 5. The new PUVs are environmentally friendly as they are powered by either Euro 4 Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) or electric motor. This reduces emissions, making them better for the environment and the health of passengers. 6. The government provides an increased subsidy for PUV modernization. This reduces the financial burden on operators who are struggling to make the transition. 7. The 5-6-7 financing scheme makes the driver the owner of the PUV after seven years of payment. This means that drivers have a stake in the PUVs, which encourages them to take better care of the vehicles. 8. If operated by a transport corporation, drivers are assured of a fixed daily income complete with social benefits like Social Security System (SSS), Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth. This ensures that drivers are protected and have access to social welfare benefits. 9. 60% of PUV franchises have already consolidated, which indicates a growing acceptance of the PUV modernization program. 10. The price of the PUVs ranges from P2.1 million to P2.2 million, which is the standard price for a brand new PUV. While some claim they can make it at P1.6 million or lower, they have yet to prove that, and mass produce them as well. In interviews with working modern PUV franchise operators, they indicate that they do make money and can afford amortization. The PUV Modernization Program is supported by the Automotive Body Manufacturers Association of the Philippines (ABMAP) because it boosts the economy, creates jobs, enhances passenger safety and comfort, and lowers emissions. The program makes sure that drivers can afford to buy PUVs and have access to social welfare benefits. The program also helps create jobs for bodybuilders and other businesses because more than 80% of contemporary PUVs in the Philippines are locally produced. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Of the 10 nursing homes within a 25 mile radius of Martinsville, the latest overall ratings show one with five stars (the highest rating) and two with one star (much below average). Kings Grant Retirement Community at 350 Kings Way Road in Martinsville, was the only facility on the list to receive five stars while Martinsville Health and Rehab at 1607 Spruce St. in Martinsville and Jacobs Creek Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Madison, North Carolina both received an overall rating of one star. The rating is from Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease. An overall rating is determined in order to provide an independent means of comparison as to the quality of each nursing home based on three criteria: health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Although the ratings can provide important information, they are not a substitute for visiting the nursing home and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of any health care providers products or services, an explanation at medicare.gov states. Kings Grant received five stars for both health inspections and staffing, but earned only three stars for quality measures. Long-stay quality ratings had the greatest effect on the three-starred quality measuring segment with the percentages of long-stay residents who got an antipsychotic medication, experienced one or more falls with major injury, presented with pressure ulcers, had a catheter inserted and left in the bladder, suffered a reduction in ability to independently move, and an increase in need for help with daily activities all above the national and state averages. There were no inspections as the result of complaints at Kings Grant between June 1, 2022 and May 31 and one citation from an inspection on Sept. 30, 2021 as a result of incorrect sticker identifications on nameplates for three residents. Martinsville Health and Rehab underwent no complaint inspections in the same reporting period, but incurred eight health citations in its most recent inspection on June 15, 2022 including failure to accurately complete an admission minimum data set, ensuring necessary information was communicated at discharge, failure to provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders, lack of pharmacy delivery of Wellbutrin for nine days, failure to post daily nurse staffing information, failure to provide necessary pharmaceutical services or obtain the services of a licensed pharmacist, deficient with prescribed medication, ensuring that medication error rates were less than 5%, and providing timely and quality laboratory services and tests. In addition to a one-star rating for health inspections, staffing was also rated at one-star at Martinsville Health and Rehab with the average registered nurse time per resident at half the state and national averages. Stanleytown Health and Rehabilitation Center at 240 Riverside Drive in Bassett received an overall rating of three stars with a five-star rating for quality measures and only one star for staffing. Stanleytown incurred a $5,000 federal fine on Feb. 5, 2021, although it was not made clear to what specifically the fine was related. The most recent inspection at Stanleytown, dated Nov. 19, 2021, resulted in 20 health citations including failure to immediately notify a doctor and family member of a situation such as an injury that affected a resident, measuring a residents weight while in a wheelchair, failure to notify a responsible party regarding a change of condition, and failure to provide appropriate treatment and care according to orders. Mulberry Creek Nursing and Rehab Center at 300 Blue Ridge Street in Martinsville, earned an overall rating of four stars with a four-star rating for health inspections and three stars each for staffing and quality measures. At its most recent inspection Dec. 5, there were nine health citations issued including failure to honor a residents right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment; brown stains present on a privacy curtain, failure to develop and implement policies and procedures to prevent abuse, neglect and theft; and failure to file a timely report of suspected abuse or neglect to proper authorities. Blue Ridge Therapy Connection at 105 Landmark Drive in Stuart received an overall rating of three stars with a four-star rating for health inspections, one star for staffing and four stars for quality measures. There were three citations issued at the most recent inspection on Oct. 19 at Blue Ridge including failure to honor a residents right to a safe, clean, comfortable and homelike environment; failure to maintain a clean, sanitary wheelchair; unclean floor, bedroom and bathroom. Other nursing homes not in the immediate area, but within a 25-mile radius of Martinsville are Eden Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center at 226 N. Oakland Avenue in Eden, North Carolina with an overall rating of three stars; UNC Rockingham Rehab & Nursing Care Center, 205 East Kings Highway in Eden, North Carolina with a four-star rating; and Franklin Health and Rehabilitation Center, 720 Orchard Avenue in Rocky Mount with four stars. The ratings of more than 90,000 nursing homes nationwide are available to the public at medicare.gov. Serious deficiencies were found in 49% of the nursing homes in Minnesota, and 43% in Michigan. The District of Columbia had the highest average fine at $43,000 followed by Michigan with $29,000. Inspections are reported to be behind schedule at 75% of the nursing homes in Maryland, 73% in Kentucky, and 68% in Idaho. Works of the U.S. government are in the public domain and permission is not required to use them. The data in this report is provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The Patrick County Public Schools Superintendent Jason Wood presented grant carryover funds to Patrick County Board of Supervisors. I presented a letter to the board of supervisors for carryover funds just like we have to do every year, Wood said. We create our budget based on our enrollment and the required local effort from the calc [calculation] tool but our grant funds are separate. As of the June 30 end of the fiscal year, PCPS has $1.69 million in carryover grant funds. Because of a grant for career and technical education programming and a reimbursement from federal grant funds, the county schools 2023-24 budget was amended with $274,563.71 to the instruction category of the budget and $300,000 to be added from the 1% sales tax to the capital projects portion of the budget. These amendments will increase the total budget from $34.83 million to $37.1 million. The letter is set to be heard in a public hearing with the board of supervisors in August, Wood said. Also at the July PCPS board meeting, the board approved policy updates that reflect the revisions recommended by the Virginia School Boards Association and a detailed explanation of the changes is available on the PCPS Board Docs website under the July meeting agenda. A plan to dispose of surplus equipment of 21 iPhones to be sold to FireFly IT Asset Recovery for a total of $6,900 was approved by the board along with the nomination of PCPS Board Chair Walter Scott to be the VSBA delegate and PCPS board vice chair to be the alternate delegate. The board also approved the monthly personnel report, a pubic contract with Frith Construction for a locker room renovation at Patrick County High School and a religious exemption policy that allows students to be excused from school for reasons related to religious training or belief. I suspect conservatives have complained about liberalism on college campuses since UNC was founded in 1789. A few of us still remember the 1963 Speaker Ban Law, hastily passed in the closing days of the North Carolina General Assembly. It listed three categories of persons that are forever banned on UNC Campuses: Known communists, those known to advocate the overthrow of the Constitution, and anyone who had pled the Fifth Amendment in an investigation concerning Communism or subversion. The reaction to this law was immediate and negative. Black and white television footages showed protests at UNC Chapel Hill, claiming it violated the First Amendment principles of free speech, but it took a federal court ruling in 1968 to finally end the speaker ban. For years weve heard that our universities are bastions of liberalism, and pressures grew louder to ensure more conservative instructors were hired, more conservatives were invited to speak on campuses and have more of a voice in campus decisions. The effort to have more conservative voices in higher education does have some merit. Surveys have confirmed what most suspect, namely that large numbers of professors and ranking educators are more liberally biased. It is assumed that the more education you have, the more open-minded you will be in probing new ideas and techniques. But the tables turned when Republican conservatives took control of our legislature in 2012 and systematically appointed members to the UNC Board of Governors who passed their conservative smell test. They fired UNC President Tom Ross, even after acknowledging he had done a good job. He was canned because he was a Democrat. Now a recent UNC Wilmington case demonstrates the bullying has gone too far. Each year the Watson College of Education gives a prestigious honor, The Razor Walker Award, to a person who has made a difference to the children and youth of this state. Van Dempsey, until last week the dean of the Watson College of Education, says he was told by his chancellor, Aswani Volety, that this years award should be given to a Republican. Essentially the message was just give the award to a Republican to remove any suggestion of left-leaning on our campus, then lets get back to work. Reluctantly, Dempsey and the award committee complied and named Mike Lee, who represents Wilmington in the N.C. State Senate, to receive the award. The reaction on campus from students and faculty was prompt and outraged, with objectors walking out of the ceremony when the award was announced. In an interview following the ceremony, Dempsey acknowledged he had been so instructed by the chancellor. Almost immediately, Dempsey was removed as dean of the college. In an obvious damage control effort, the administration said Dempsey, a tenured professor, had not been fired but would no longer be the dean. His future remains unclear even now. I dont know UNCW Chancellor Aswani Volety, but I do know Van Dempsey. Dean Dempsey is a truth-teller, a person of integrity and an innovative and collaborative dean who has greatly elevated the reputation of his college and is well respected. This saga is revelatory for several reasons. First, it spotlights the great pressure conservatives are applying. Politics should not be a consideration in education and those involved in the administration and application of it must be non-biased and fair-handed. Neither, however, should it be punitive. Theres truth in the old adage that two wrongs dont make a right. Strategies of bullying and intimidation wont correct any perceived liberal bias. In the case of the Razor Walker Award, conservatives have done far more damage than any good that might have been achieved. Additionally, we learned a lot about Chancellor Volety. There is no doubt Volety had been pressured to show more deference to Republicans and conservatives. Pure and simple: he caved, instead of standing for the integrity of the award, defending the selection process and his dean. Volety has lost the confidence of students, faculty and the public. At the least he should apologize publicly and acknowledge his mistake. Employees of UNCW now know not to expect leadership to have their backs if they make decisions that might be considered controversial. Dont do it. Just go along to get along. Is that any way to run a university? Dempsey, on the other hand, demonstrated why he is a valued and principled dean. It wont be long before an expected lawsuit will confirm that he was wrongly punished for speaking truth. State taxpayers will likely shell out many dollars in reparation. But the biggest damage is to the university itself. When you go onto the UNCW campus you cannot help but be impressed. There have been some notable leaders in its past, along with some not so outstanding. Founding UNC President Bill Friday often said our university system was the crown jewel of North Carolina. He was right. But this episode has tarnished one of those jewels. Minutes after midnight, four men were injured and one killed in a North Lawndale shooting, according to the Chicago Police Department. A 40-year-old man was pronounced dead after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the body, police said. Advertisement Another 40-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to the neck and head and was transported by the Chicago Fire Department to Stroger Hospital in critical condition Two men were transported by CFD to Mt. Sinai Hospital in good condition: a 40-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the face and a 44-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Advertisement Another man, 50, suffered a graze wound to the right arm, but declined medical treatment. No one is in custody and police are investigating. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A second Alzheimer's drug proven to slow cognitive decline was a step closer to US approval on Monday after clinical trial results published in a top journal confirmed its efficacy. Many experts have hailed the developments as major breakthroughs after years of little progress in the field, although others have urged caution, casting the benefits as modest while noting the high costs and risks of life-threatening side effects. In an analysis of nearly 1,200 people with the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, the drug called donanemab slowed the progression of symptoms by 35 percent over a period of 18 months compared to placebo, according to a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This was measured by the people's results on cognitive tests and ability to carry out daily tasks. The drugtaken as an intravenous injection every four weeksis made by drugmaker Eli Lilly, which said it expects regulatory action in the United States by the end of the year. The new paper comes days after the US Food and Drug Administration took a step that made Leqembi, produced by Biogen and Eisai, available on the government-run insurance program for the elderly called Medicare. Both work by targeting amyloid beta, a protein that impairs cognition when it accumulates in the brain. "These first-generation drugs are by no means perfect, but represent an important breakthrough," Giles Hardingham, interim director of the UK Dementia Research Institute, said in a statement. At the same time, however, he said it was important to realize that Alzheimer's is a complex disease, and amyloid beta was just one element in its genesis. But in an editorial in JAMA that accompanied the new results, Eric Widera of the University of California, San Francisco and colleagues said it was too early to declare the new medicines would be beneficial over the long run. Donanemab and Leqembi, also known as lecanemab, do not cure Alzheimer'srather they lead to "slightly less worsening" in patients, they said. "The modest benefits would likely not be questioned by patients, clinicians, or payers if amyloid antibodies were low risk, inexpensive, and simple to administer. However, they are none of these," the authors wrote. Even once 80 percent of the costs are offset by Medicare, patients will still need to pay costs totalling thousands of dollars out of pocket. There were also three deaths in the studies of donanemab and Leqembi that were probably caused by the treatments that lead to brain bleeds. As the treatments move into real world use, it will be essential to gather more data to find out if they continue to slow cognitive decline beyond 18 monthsor if they backfire, given that anti-amyloid treatments also accelerate brain atrophy, according to research. Moreover, 96 percent of the patients in the donanemab trial were white, while Black and Latino people have far higher rates of Alzheimer's, meaning that key demographics were left understudied. 2023 AFP All Together Now Summer Learning Program The Summer Learning Program is part of MPLs mission to promote childrens literacy, help prevent the summer slide in reading skills, and provide lifelong learning opportunities for readers of all ages. From June 1 through Aug. 31, patrons of all ages can pick up a printed reading log for young readers or a Library BINGO card for teens and adults, as well as enjoy a variety of fantastic offerings during our Summer Learning Program, All Together Now. Visit missoulapubliclibrary.org/home/programs-events/summer-learning-program/ for details on how to participate in this years challenge and for a complete list of programs that we have to offer. The Summer Learning Program is made possible with support from the Missoula Public Library Foundation. Kids Table with the Missoula Food Bank Kids ages 18 and under can eat a free lunch every weekday during the summer at Missoula Public Library. Drop in for a meal Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library. Meals provided by Missoula Food Bank and no registration is required. For more information and locations, please visit the USDA Food and Nutrition website at: fns.usda.gov/meals4kids. Big Sky Branch Arts and Crafts Create! Learn! Discover! Drop-in to the Big Sky Branch for DIY Arts & Crafts projects for young kids and their families every Tuesday. The next Arts and Crafts program will be held on July 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at 3100 South Avenue West in Missoula. Email bdoyle@missoulapubliclibrary.org for info about upcoming projects. Summer Learning Program: Tilly the Bear Our Tilly is lost and she needs our help to find her way back up the mountain! Through movement, songs and dance, children help Tilly pass over obstacles like a river, a forest, and a dry desert to get her safely home. This bilingual program (English and Spanish) is held on July 25 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library and is designed to empower children through their own act of helping others. The presenter, Jessica Sowerby, is an actress from Australia who has been performing children's theater for the last 15 years. She lived in Barcelona for 10 years, presenting her works in primary schools as well as performing interactive theater. She currently lives in Wyoming and has begun a new chapter of touring performance in our neck of the woods. Read with Dogs Registered Pet Partners Therapy Dog teams are just waiting for your child to read them a book at Missoula Public Library. Your child can read a favorite book from home or pick one of the many picture books we have to offer. This program is held on July 25 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Imaginarium on Level Two of the library and is great for hesitant readers or kids who just love dogs. Wednesdays with the Mayor All are welcome to join Mayor Jordan Hess for in-person discussions of current affairs and get answers to your questions on all topics to do with city governance on July 26 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Cooper Room B on Level Four of the library. Missoula broadcast journalist Dennis Bragg will moderate. During the meeting, you may call us with questions at 406-552-6002. Visit the Citys website for the topic of the month ci.missoula.mt.us/2875/Wednesdays-with-the-Mayor. Watch the livestream or view meetings later on MCATs Facebook page or YouTube channel. American Red Cross Blood Drive The need for blood doesn't take a summer break. To help keep the blood supply stable during this critical season, Missoula Public Library is hosting three opportunities to give life this summer. The first donation event takes place on July 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Cooper Room A/B on Level Four of the library. Make an appointment at RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code missoulalibrary or ZIP code 59801, or call 800-448-3543. Together, we can save lives! 4HistoryBuffs: Mullan Monuments with Leif Fredrickson Calling all history enthusiasts! Join guest speakers for lively and entertaining presentations of historical interest. On Oct. 5, 1916, the first of seven Montana monuments paying tribute to John Mullan and his famous road dedicated on North Higgins Avenue in Missoula. The seventh was unveiled one year later not far away, at the mouth of the Blackfoot River, today the site of Milltown State Parks Confluence Area. More than half a century after Mullan built his military wagon road (1859-62), what drove historians and boosters to memorialize the man? This presentation is held on July 28 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Cooper Room A/B on Level Four of the library. Library Parking Lot Closed for Resealing The Missoula Public Library parking lot will be closed on Aug. 13 for resealing. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. For more information please call 406-721-BOOK. With tourism reaching or surpassing pre-pandemic levels across southern Europe this summer, iconic sacred sites struggle to find ways to accommodate both the faithful who come to pray and millions of increasingly secular visitors who come to see the art and architecture. The temple needs to be a place for services and not a theme park, one frustrated parishioner said. VALDESE A woman rescuers were searching for Friday afternoon was found dead in a sunflower field near her home. Callie Carswell, 89, was last seen around 10:30 a.m. at her home on Flat Gap Road in Valdese, family members told The News Herald. When her son went to check on her at around 1:30 p.m., the front door to the home was open and her keys were still inside. She was reported missing at 3:19 p.m., said Burke County Sheriff Banks Hinceman. The News Herald saw first responders from around the area converge on Carswells home, including a bloodhound from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Relatives and neighbors joined crews searching the area around her home. It was around 5:45 p.m. when Carswell was found near her home in a sunflower field, said Burke County Emergency Management Director Mike Willis. She had been dead for an unknown period of time, he said. Lovelady Fire Rescue, Burke County EMS, Burke County Emergency Management, Burke County Sheriffs Office, Burke County REACT, NCDPS and South Mountains State Park rangers all responded to the scene. Voters in Drexel will have to choose between some well-known faces for mayor in November, and other candidates stepped up during the last days of candidate filing. Filing ended at noon on Friday. Rick Cline, who currently sits on the Drexel Board of Aldermen, filed Wednesday to run for town mayor, according to information from the Burke County Board of Elections. He will face off against current Mayor Dennis Anthony, who filed for election last week. Anthony was appointed to fill the unexpired term of former mayor Danny Ritchie, who stepped down from the post in March 2022. Also on Wednesday, Luke Boone filed to run for a seat on the Glen Alpine Board of Alderman and Kendra Edwards filed to run for a seat on the Rhodhiss Town Council, the elections board said. On Thursday, Chris Brown filed to run for a seat on the Drexel Board of Aldermen. Donna Price also filed to run for the Rhodhiss Town Council on Thursday. And on the last day of filing, Paul Swink filed to run for a seat on the Glen Alpine Board of Aldermen, the board of elections said. Those who have previously filed for Burke County races are: City of Morganton Mayor Ronnie Thompson (incumbent) City Council District No. 1 seat Butch McSwain (incumbent) City Council District No. 2 seat Chris Jernigan (incumbent) Town of Valdese Council Ward 1 seat (Un-expired term) Tim Barus (appointed in December to seat left vacant), Glenn Harvey Council Ward 4 seat Frances Hildebran (incumbent), Gary Ogle Council Ward 5 seat Tim Skidmore (appointed in October to seat left vacant), Heather Ward Town of Drexel Mayor Dennis Anthony (incumbent, appointed) Drexel Board of Aldermen Terry B. Yount (incumbent), Lora Melott, Scott Coe (unexpired term), Robert Reed and Chelsea Suttles Town of Glen Alpine Board of Aldermen Reid Scott and Angela Marlowe Town of Connelly Springs Board of Aldermen Ramona Duncan (incumbent) and Deborah Pelick The towns of Rutherford College and Hildebran will not hold elections this year but will be on the ballot next year with the school board and county commissioners. Those towns, through state legislation, chose to move their elections to even-numbered years. This will be the first year that the Burke County Board of Education wont be on the ballot with municipalities. The Burke County Board of Education has traditionally held its election during odd years but that was changed with a legislative local bill in 2021. It moved the board of education election to even-numbered years and also made the board partisan. The school board election, because it will be partisan, will hold its next primary election in March 2024, according to election officials. Because Rutherford College and Hildebran elections wont be on the ballot this year, there will be 13 precincts that wont be open this year because they dont contain any municipality voters, according to election officials. The precincts that will be closed on Election Day this year are: Drexel No. 3 precinct (High Peak Baptist Church) Icard No. 2 (George Hildebran Fire Department) Icard No. 3 (Hildebran Municipal Gym) Jonas Ridge (Jonas Ridge Fire Department) Linville No. 1 (Longtown Fire Department) Linville No. 2 (Lake James Fire Department) Quaker Meadows 1B (Quaker Meadows Presbyterian Church) Silvercreek No. 2 (West End Fire Department) Upper Creek (Smyrna Baptist Church) Upper Fork (Enola Fire Department) Chesterfield Ruritan Club Lower Fork (South Mountain Fire Department) Pilot Mountain For more information about the municipal elections, call the Burke County Board of Elections at 828-764-9010. For all the hype around generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), there are many jobs that are very difficult, if not impossible to automate. Here are some of them courtesy of www.howstuffworks.com. Number one on the list are skilled tradespeople. For example, the knowledge, dexterity, and problem-solving skills required to be a certified plumber or electrician are unique to their jobs. True, there are routine jobs, but every situation brings unexpected challenges, both physical and mental. In the near future, much of the work that goes into designing and engineering buildings will be done with the help of AI software, but when it comes to hammering nails and laying bricks, the construction industry, ranked number two on the list, still needs plenty of old-fashioned muscle and human know-how. More and more construction will be done on a modular basis, meaning that individual components will be produced in factories by 3D printers and other machines off-site, and then assembled on-site. But according to a report by McKinsey & Company, only 15% to 20% of new construction will be modular by 2030. For those activities that do remain on-site, its unlikely that a company will fire a carpenter and bring in the latest robot to do everything the carpenter did. Rather, machines will take over individual activities within a role. What that means is workers will need to learn to work side by side, or in a hybrid role, with machines, the report added. Food preparation and serving ranks third on the list. According to a Goldman Sachs report, at least half of the tasks involved in cooking and serving food simply cannot be done by AI or robots. Thats not to say that automation wont make inroads into the food industry. The fast-food chain White Castle already uses robots in some locations to flip burgers and cook fries. As with other services, people are willing to sacrifice on the low-end, but the consensus is that if one goes out to a nice restaurant, they shouldnt have to rely on a robot being the chef. Psychology and counseling will remain a stable career and ranks number four on the list. There are plenty of AI applications being designed for counseling and mental health, and conversational AI chatbots are expected to be a $1.25 billion market by 2025. While chatbot applications like Woebot can do basic mental health counseling and can even guide users through exercises like cognitive behavioral therapy, they wont replace human therapists, nor are they designed to. And, of course, other health care jobs with deep human interaction, like nurses and doctors, are likely to remain un-replaced by AI. Thank goodness! Although education is also being transformed by technology with exciting innovations like online learning and AI-powered tutoring apps that customize learning to the individual student, there are inherent limitations to what an AI can do in the classroom, especially for teaching young children. At the preschool and elementary school level, theres a strong need for that human level of interaction say experts. Teachers will always play an integral role in continuing to inspire and guide students of all ages. Drivers round out the list at number six. This might come as a surprise since theres been so much hype about driverless cars. Arent we just a few years away from self-driving Ubers and 18-wheelers putting all human cabbies and truck drivers out of business? Experts are unanimous when they say no. Although Waymo already offers driverless rides in a select area of downtown Phoenix, Arizona, with plans to expand to San Francisco and Los Angeles, the technology is still far away from being universal. Although expert predictors say were 90% there when it comes to driverless vehicles, the last 10% is going to take a long while. The unpredictability of real-world driving (pedestrians, bicyclists, loose dogs, and roaming cats) and the liability it places on driverless car companies is just too great. Thats the true challenge for self-driving cars on public roads. One last group of comfortable workers who dont have to worry about AI taking over: truly creative thinkers. Entrepreneurs, inventors, authors, and actors those kinds of jobs will undoubtedly use generative AI as a tool, but ChatGPT by definition cannot think outside of the box. Genuinely creative jobs are the safest ones to have in the age of AI. Even if AI intrudes upon writing and art and music, experts agree that people will always be willing to pay a premium for human-generated activity, especially at the high end. Frankly, Id much prefer watching and hearing Adele sing than any type of AI robot. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy The Colt fire in the Seeley-Swan Valley tripled in size between Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, as Red Cross personnel opened a shelter for displaced vacationers in Ovando. The wildfire, burning about 15 miles north of the town of Seeley Lake, was estimated at 1,480 acres early Saturday. The Red Cross is opening an evacuation shelter at the Blackfoot Community Bible Church, 209 Birch St., in Ovando for those impacted by the Seeley Lake area fire," American Red Cross regional communications director Matt Ochsner said in an email on Saturday morning. "Red Cross volunteers are enroute, and we expect to have the shelter open by 10:30 tonight." The fire grew out of a lightning strike July 17 in between Colt and Beaver lakes, in the Mission Mountains west of Highway 83. It started rapid growth Thursday afternoon, prompting fire officials to assemble a complex incident management team of ground crews, heavy equipment operators and firefighting aircraft. The Missoula County Sheriff's Office issued an evacuation order Friday afternoon for residents and campers between Rainy and Summit lakes west of the highway. However, public safety measures were not affecting campgrounds or activity at Lake Alva or other places farther south toward the town of Seeley Lake. Bitterroot fire grows The Bowles fire east of Hamilton also put on a run Friday night, growing to 831 acres as it merged with the nearby Daly Creek fire near Skalkaho Pass. Crews from both the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge national forests are confronting the fire by indirect tactics on both its east and west edges. The western crews are working on fire lines along the Daly Creek Road, while the eastern contingent is extending old fire lines from the 2022 Hog Trough fire and Bowles Creek Road area. A Type III incident management team is expected to take control of the scene on Sunday. The fire was lightning-caused. Work by Missouri River Contractors to decommission old wastewater lagoons serving the Montana State Hospital led to the release of more than 3 million gallons of partially treated wastewater into Warm Springs Creek. Thats according to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, which described the release as unintentional. The creek is a key tributary to the beleaguered Clark Fork River at its headwaters. The wastewater lagoons slated for shutdown are just across a gravel road from Warm Springs Creek. On July 18, after investigation by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, the states Architecture and Engineering Division issued a stop work order on the project. That action followed allegations that Missouri River Contractors corrective actions were insufficient. The stop-work order is pending corrective action to address violations, according to a news release from DEQ. The agency said, Short-term human health effects are not expected, and there is currently no known risk to water quality. DEQ added that work will not resume until it is confident that environmental protections are in place. Nick Miller, vice president for Missouri River Contractors, said Friday afternoon that the company takes the violations seriously. The field issues were resolved immediately when we found them, Miller said. He said the failure of two valves in the existing wastewater lagoons contributed to the violations cited by DEQ. The old lagoons are now closed and will remain so, he said. According to the Architecture and Engineering Division, problems with wastewater discharges began in June. Subsequent violations and insufficient corrective actions led to the stop work order, the division reported. Missouri River Contractors, based in Helena, has worked for months at a site closer to the Montana State Hospital to build a new wastewater treatment plant for the psychiatric hospital. The company completed work on the new facility May 19. We have very good results from that new wastewater project, Miller said. Separately, other crews working nearby for Missouri River Contractors have focused on removing contaminated tailings and soils from the banks and floodplain of the Clark Fork River downstream from its confluence with Warm Springs Creek. Those materials, tied to historic mining and smelting upstream, have been transported by truck to a repository in the Opportunity Ponds. Miller said Missouri River Contractors has established and maintained a good working relationship with DEQ for the Clark Fork remedial work. DEQ is a very good client, he said. We dont want to jeopardize that. The work to decommission the former sewage lagoons led to, among other things, twice exceeding water quality standards, DEQ reported. One was based on total suspended solids, which can include sand, silt and organic matter like bacteria or algae. Another noted the violation of standards for a streams relative acidity/alkalinity. For total suspended solids, the project permit required removal of 85% of suspended solids but actual removal measured at only 11%, DEQ reported. Alex Leone, restoration policy manager for the Clark Fork Coalition, reacted to the releases of partially treated wastewater. We need to get a little more information on the duration and cumulative impacts of those two exceedances, Leone said. Its good the state was on top of it and good that they did a press release. From my initial review, this isnt great, but it pales in comparison to the legacy contamination issues upstream of Deer Lodge, he said, referencing historic mining and smelting pollution. Caleb Uerling, the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks fisheries biologist whose territory includes Warm Springs Creek and the Clark Fork River, could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon. Electrofishing of the upper Clark Fork by Uerling and colleagues has found that its population of trout continues to decline. The potential causes are many but might include the ongoing streamside Superfund remediation itself and related removals of riparian vegetation and undercut banks, both important to trout, to get at soils contaminated by historic mining and smelting. Meanwhile, Jon Ebelt, a spokesman for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, said there has been no impact to services at the Montana State Hospital. I was horrified and disgusted to read that President Joe Biden intends to send cluster munitions to Ukraine. I have seen first-hand the never-ending aftermath of cluster bombs. In 2012, I had the privilege to travel to Laos. That poor country was the target of a vicious bombing campaign by the United States during the Vietnam war. For nine straight years, our Air Force dropped vast amounts of cluster bombs that maim and kill people to this day. A cluster bomb is a shell that contains dozens of bomblets, each one intended to explode independently when the shell strikes. A significant number of these bomblets dont; theyre called duds and can lie in the ground for years or decades before detonating. They are still explosive and can go off when some unfortunate civilian touches one. They are called unexploded ordinance (UXO), and they maim and kill people long after hostilities cease. In Laos, for example, more than 50,000 people have been killed by unexploded bombs, 20,000 since the war ended in 1973, according to MAG, the Mines Advisory Group, an NGO working to clear unexploded ordinance in Laos and elsewhere. In 2021, MAG reached the grisly milestone of having disposed of its 300,000th bomblet there. In Laos, there are very sharp lines that delineate where its safe to be and where its not. The safe side has been painstakingly inspected and cleared by MAG. There may be unexploded ordinance hiding just a few inches past the boundaries, though. Tourists like me dont need to cross the lines. Farmers have no such luxury and must till their land regardless of the danger. Children dont understand that an interesting object unearthed by a recent rain can kill them, blind them or take their limbs. People missing arms and legs are everywhere in Laos. According to Cluster Munitions Monitor, 85% of UXO victims worldwide are civilians. When I visited in 2012, MAG estimated that it would take 35 more years to completely clear Laos of unexploded ordinance. With increased funding from the Obama administration in 2016, Laos has a goal to eliminate all deaths from unexploded bombs by 2030, more than five decades after the war. The Biden administration claims that the dud rate of the shells its sending is 2%. According to New York Times Pentagon correspondent John Ismay, each one contains 72 bomblets with a real-world dud rate of 14% meaning that these weapons are the gift that keeps on killing for decades to come. Is the U.S. willing to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to clean these up after the war is over? Are you? Our track record in this regard is abysmal. Evading the truth, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan claims, Ukraine would not be using these in some foreign land and theyre motivated to use any weapons in a way that minimizes risk to their citizens. The 2010 Convention on Cluster Munitions is a treaty that prohibits the production, transfer and use of cluster munitions with 123 countries as signatories. The United States is not. Neither are Russia and Ukraine. The United Nations described Russias use of cluster bombs in Syria as a war crime. The same is true of their use in Ukraine: It is a war crime for the U.S. to supply them. Clearly, the U.S. has little regard for the welfare of Ukrainian civilians. We must stop this ghastly war! We must stop sending weapons and allow Ukraine to negotiate for peace. Otherwise, the conflict will go on for years with many hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians killed and a landscape that will be lethal for decades. The Rev. Marco Franco offers Holy Communion to Denisse Meza during an outdoor Mass in the 2500 block of South St. Louis Avenue, July 20, 2023, in Chicago. St. Agnes of Bohemia Catholic Church said it will hold several street Masses through the end of July. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune) To spread a message of peace and hope through the streets of Little Village this summer, the St. Agnes of Bohemia Catholic Church is again hitting the pavement to celebrate Mass. The Little Village church at 2651 S. Central Park Ave. is putting on street Masses every Tuesday and Thursday through the start of August to uplift the community, pray and spread messages of peace against violence during a time of year when crime is traditionally higher. Advertisement The first two street Masses were held Tuesday and Thursday on Ridgeway Avenue and St. Louis Avenue between 25th and 26th Streets, respectively. The Masses begin at 7 p.m. following a rosary service. Each Mass is held in different areas of neighborhood streets near the church. Streets are blocked off from traffic. Advertisement Those interested in attending can bring their own folding chairs. No reservations are required. Street Masses will be conducted in Spanish. The schedule and location of the next street masses are: MONTGOMERY, Ala. Alabama lawmakers on Friday refused to create a second majority-Black congressional district, a move that could defy a recent order from the U.S. Supreme Court to give minority voters a greater voice in elections and trigger a renewed battle over the states political map. The legislation was signed Friday evening by Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey. Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated House and Senate instead passed a plan that would increase the percentage of Black voters from about 31% to 40% in the state's 2nd District. A conference committee proposed the map as a compromise between plans that had percentages of 42% and 38%, respectively for the southeast Alabama district. Republicans argued that the proposal complies with a court order to create a district where Black voters could influence the outcome of congressional elections. But Black lawmakers said the new map invoked the states Jim Crow history of treating Black voters unfairly and flouted a directive from a three-judge panel to create a second majority-Black district or something quite close to it so that Black voters have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice. Theres no opportunity there for anybody other than a white Republican to win that district. It will never, ever elect a Democrat. They wont elect a Black. They wont elect a minority, said Sen. Rodger Smitherman, a Democrat from Birmingham. Republicans have been reluctant to create a Democratic-leaning district and are engaging in a high-stakes wager that the panel will accept their proposal or that the state will prevail in a second round of appeals. Republicans argued that the map meets the courts directive and draws compact districts that comply with redistricting guidelines. We also took into consideration not racially gerrymandering our maps, House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle said. The debate in Alabama is being closely watched across the nation, and could be mirrored in fights in Louisiana, Georgia, Texas and other states. The three-judge panel ruled in 2022 that the current legislative map likely violates the federal Voting Rights Act and said any map should include two districts where Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority" or something close. The Supreme Court upheld that decision. Now that the plan has passed, the fight will shift quickly back to the federal court. The plaintiffs who won the Supreme Court case have vowed to fight the proposal if enacted. Lets be clear: The Alabama Legislature believes it is above the law. What we are dealing with is a group of lawmakers who are blatantly disregarding not just the Voting Rights Act, but a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court and a court order from the three-judge district court, plaintiffs in case said Friday in a statement. Approval of the plan is almost sure to trigger a renewed legal battle over whether Alabamas congressional districts comply with federal law and offer a fair opportunity to Black voters and candidates in a political landscape dominated by white Republicans. Smitherman said Republicans appear to be hoping that one of the justices will flip the script and rule for the state in round two. Black Alabama lawmakers say it's crucial that their constituents have a better chance of electing their choices. I have people in my district saying their vote doesnt count, and I understand why they say that, Rep. Thomas Jackson, a Thomasville Democrat, said during debate Friday. The person they want to elect can never get elected because they are in the minority all the time. An analysis by The Associated Press, using redistricting software, shows that the 2nd District proposed Friday has mostly voted for Republicans in recent statewide elections. Donald Trump won the district by nearly 10 percentage points in his 2020 reelection bid. Experts have said the GOP proposals fall short of what the Supreme Court said last month is required. They have pretended as though the court didnt say what it said, said Kareem Crayton, senior director for voting and representation at New York Universitys Brennan Center for Justice. The Brennan Center filed a brief supporting the plaintiffs before the Supreme Court. Those who study redistricting say thats simply not enough, considering how sharply Alabama voters divide along racial lines. White people mostly vote for Republicans, and Black people mostly vote for Democrats. That split is also reflected among elected officials. There are 33 Black lawmakers in the 140-seat Alabama Legislature. All but one are Democrats. Republican lawmakers hope to showcase the issues of compact districts and unified communities in court. They're hoping a second round of litigation, or even another trip to the Supreme Court, will let them avoid creating a map that gives a second of Alabamas seven congressional districts to a Democrat. Crayton was skeptical that the high court would immediately backtrack on its ruling and said federal courts discount compactness and preserving communities in redistricting. It cant take a front seat to matters that are entrenched in federal law, Crayton said, calling those arguments silly. Election advantages due to district mapping PIPESTONE, Minn. 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 mainly agricultural area bordering South Dakota. While tensions 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 linked to spiritual practice. "I'd be very happy to teach anyone and the Spirit will be with you if you're 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 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. 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 unique 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. Colorful prayer ties and flags hang from trees along the trails that lead around the pink and red rocks. "It was always a place to go pray," said Gabrielle Drapeau, a cultural resource specialist and park ranger at the monument. 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. The Creator came, pronounced it a place of peace and smoked a pipe, adding this is how people could reach him. "It's like a tangible representation of how we can connect with Creator," Drapeau said. "All people before you are represented in the stone itself. It's not just willy-nilly stone." Indigenous people widely use pipes for prayer and thanksgiving, as well as to mark ceremonies, gatherings and rites of passage such as vision quests. The pipe itself is thought to become sacred when the pipestone bowl and wooden stem are joined. The smoke, from tobacco or prairie plants, then carries the prayer from a person's 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, there's disagreement over whether pipes should be sold, especially to non-Natives, and whether the pipestone should be used to make other art objects. After extensive consultations with tribal leaders, the park decided to no longer sell pipes at its visitor center. "Sacredness is going to be defined by you that's between you and the Creator," said Travis Erickson, a fourth-generation carver who's 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 and remove the layers of harder-than-steel quartzite covering the pipestone seam then about 6 feet down. It's 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 inches thick, it is then carved using flint and files. "The stone talks to me," said Erickson, who fashioned pipe bowls into 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. They believe the tradition will continue as long as they can share it with Native youth at the monument. During a recent field trip, Pederson's 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. Other park initiatives also are trying to foster 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. 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," park superintendent Lauren Blacik said. States with the biggest Native American populations States with the biggest Native American populations #51. Vermont #50. District of Columbia #49. New Hampshire #48. West Virginia #47. Rhode Island #46. Delaware #45. Maine #44. Hawaii #43. Wyoming #42. Kentucky #41. Connecticut #40. Iowa #39. Mississippi #38. Massachusetts #37. Arkansas #36. Tennessee #35. Indiana #34. South Carolina #33. Ohio #32. Kansas #31. Missouri #30. Pennsylvania #29. Nebraska #28. Louisiana #27. Idaho #26. Alabama #25. Maryland #24. Utah #23. New Jersey #22. North Dakota #21. Virginia #20. Wisconsin #19. Nevada #18. Minnesota #17. Michigan #16. Georgia #15. Oregon #14. Colorado #13. Florida #12. Montana #11. South Dakota #10. Illinois #9. Alaska #8. Washington #7. North Carolina #6. New York #5. New Mexico #4. Texas #3. Arizona #2. Oklahoma #1. California Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, wants federal workers to start returning to government offices, citing a recent Government Accountability Office report revealing that 17 of the 24 federal agency headquarters are using just 25% of their building capacity. Agencies that use more of their headquarters capacity were using, on average, 39 to 49% of the available space. Hinson, on a Friday conference call with Iowa reporters, called it a massive waste of taxpayer dollars and resources. She said she supports legislation that would require the federal workforce to return to pre-pandemic levels of telework. The COVID-19 pandemic has been over for a long time, and Americans and Iowans have been back at work in-person to keep our economy and our country moving, said Hinson, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee. Taxpayers are keeping the lights on, but nobody is home. This, to me, is the epitome of government waste that Iowans sent me to D.C. to fight against. The federal government owns more than 500 million square feet of office space that costs billions annually, according to the GAO reports. As the country emerges from the pandemic, the federal government has a unique opportunity to reconsider how much and what type of office space it needs, the report states. Underutilized office space has financial and environmental costs, the GAO notes. Federal agencies spend about $5 billion annually to lease office buildings and another $2 billion a year to operate and maintain federal office buildings, including energy consumption costs, regardless of the buildings utilization. Hinson said she hears constant complaints and frustrations from Iowans of getting a dial tone when they call federal agencies to solve a problem. Federal employees who are paid by hard working Iowa taxpayers shouldnt still be at home, and federal agencies shouldnt be wasting taxpayer money by operating at minimal capacity, she said. The House-passed SHOW UP Act, which Hinson supported, requires federal agencies to explain how pandemic-era telework levels impacted their missions and ability to serve Americans. Im calling on the Senate to pass the SHOW UP Act, and Im calling on President Biden to sign it, Hinson said. Additionally, if these federal agencies arent going to use this space to work for the American people, they need to give it up. And they need to use resources more efficiently. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), though, estimates that telework provided a total cost savings of more than $90 million across the federal government. The most commonly reported savings related to: transit/commuting costs (47%); reduced absences (16%); training (12%); utilities (11%); rent/office space (10%) and human capital (10%), according to the fiscal year 2021 report. Federal employees have said telework improves their performance, increases their desire to stay at the agency, improves morale and engagement by supporting employees ability to manage their professional and personal responsibilities, and acts as an important recruitment tool for attracting qualified applicants near and far. Initial data supports those impressions, according to the OPM report. The provision of workplace flexibilities allows employees to work in the environment best suited to their needs and correlates with higher levels of productivity, the report states. Research consistently identifies a significant and positive relationship between telework and job performance, both with supervisory performance ratings and objective performance criteria. Hinson on Friday reiterated a disconnect between telework and the numbers of casework complaints her office has with federal agencies. She said that includes delays in receiving tax help from the Internal Revenue Service, problems with the State Department issuing passports and getting records from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help veterans access VA benefits. This GAO report simply highlights what we already knew taxpayers are not getting full value, she said. When youre feeling down, there's nothing like a visit from a friend to raise your spirits. Thats even truer if youre a senior stuck at home or in bed, longing for a little company. Download the Napa Valley Register's free news app Easily access the very latest local news that matters in an app built for you. Read, see, and hear exclusive commentary, stunning photography, Thats the concept behind Visit Me Today, a volunteer program founded by former St. Helena Hospital executive Ben Hill. Creating, training and rewarding volunteers can be one solution toward helping alleviate loneliness, alleviate boredom and improve mental health, Hill said. Hill is inviting would-be volunteers to attend an informational meeting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, at Rianda House. Hill came to St. Helena in 2005 as vice president of the St. Helena Hospital Foundation and an executive overseeing the hospitals Lifestyle Medicine Institute. He realized what an important role volunteers would be playing at the hospital, so he beefed up the hospitals already well-established volunteer program. The issue got personal when Hills own father started experiencing a slow decline and Hill started traveling between California and Chicago to visit him. Every time I had to leave, he begged me to stay but my obligations in California made it impossible, Hill said in an interview with Rianda House. I wished there was someone who could visit him in my absence. I was flying home when it hit me: I cant do this for my dad. But I can do it for someone elses dad. That was the genesis of Visit Me Today, which has connected volunteers with seniors at congregate living facilities like Silverado Orchards in St. Helena, Rosehaven in Deer Park, Napa Valley Adventist Retirement Estates in Yountville, and The Meadows of Napa Valley in Napa. Now Hill wants to start sending volunteers directly into seniors homes to chat, sing, play cards, work on a puzzle and, most of all, be present. This project appeals to people whose primary love language is service to others, Hill told the St. Helena Star, referring to Gary Chapmans book The Five Love Languages. Hill teamed up with Rianda House and in June secured a $7,500 grant from the city of St. Helena to hire a part-time staff member to manage volunteers and schedule appointments. Volunteers will undergo a background check and be trained on what they should and shouldnt do. For example, do listen actively and non-judgmentally, dont try to lift someone whos fallen, and do be on the lookout for potentially hazardous situations like an unattended stovetop burner. While working at the hospital, Hill noticed that volunteers own mental health improved as they made a positive impact on patients lives. Whatever joy and happiness and connectivity you provide for a patient, you get just as much out of it yourself, he said. Photos: Casino Rianda, Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament, 2019 Top 6 finishers Susan Durbrow Andy Gridley, Susan Durbrow Chips Jennifer Lamb, Susan Collins Phoebe Ellsworth, Alan Galbraith, Leslie Cobb-Bruno April Mitts Kris Ridste Final table Elizabeth Cobb-Bruno, Raymond Bruno Andy Gridley, Polly Keegan On the surface, and in its recent iterations with me, the House Exchange program seems like a good idea. You work out an arrangement through the app to have someone stay at your place while you stay at theirs. You can negotiate a house cleaning fee, but other than that, no money changes hands. Its like having a vast network of friends-of-friends that are willing to give you the keys to their place and sometimes their car at the drop of the hat. This is, unsurprisingly, a network based on mutual respect and trust something that seems to be lacking in the world as a whole. It requires a lot of just letting go you have never met these people, and likely never will. The Home Exchange folks have essentially no real guarantees youre working with the actual homeowner (you do get extra credit if you verify yourself with various paperwork, but its not required), and theres a bit of luck involved. Theresa and I did this before when we went to Spain in January. We stayed at a lovely condo in Barcelona owned by a globe-trotting couple for the better part of two weeks without having to pay a dime. The neighborhood was a bit far off from the more fun parts of town, but thats a small price to pay for being able to save a serious chunk of change on hotel stays. (It even afforded us the ability to take side trips to Valencia and Lisbon.) So when an offer came up a few months ago for Theresa to swap her home with a beautiful three-story restored Victorian in Brooklyn over the Fourth of July weekend, we jumped on it. With her daughter visiting her dad, and our dogs being watched by her friend, we thought we were all set. Theresa grew up in New Jersey and has a good number of friends and family within driving distance of NYC. A friend of mine from high school and her husband had moved to Manhattan about nine months ago, and I hadnt gotten a chance to see them since then. It all felt perfect. And on the surface, it was. After a bumpy flight from SFO to JFK and a 90-minute, $120 cab ride from the airport due to apparently every road in Queens and Brooklyn being under construction, we arrived at our beautiful, temporary home, lit up like a candle. Every light in the place seemed to be on, with the air conditioning on full blast. It perplexed me at first, finding the use of electricity a bit wasteful, but I soon figured out its real purpose. The home is on a street with similarly large homes, many in various states of reconstruction. But within three blocks in any direction is a very different neighborhood, one that felt increasingly dangerous as time wore on. On our second night there, Therea invited a few friends over one coming in from Connecticut, about a two-hour drive. And, though the NYC subway system is amazing, it was still more than an hours ride for my friends from Washington Heights to make the journey to Prospect Park South. Nothing big was planned outside of having a few drinks, making a few jokes and eating some of the pizza the Big Apple is so famed for. Given the time it took to get there and the immense size of the place, Theresa and I had offered our guests the ability to crash at the place if they were too tired or tipsy to get home safely. Our host had not said anything about guests, and since the home has no fewer than five bedrooms and a living room area considerably larger than my first apartment we did not think this would be a big deal. Apparently, it was. The home has a Google security doorbell, complete with video and audio. Our host apparently overheard one of our guests talking about staying over when the motion detector was tripped, and this concerned her greatly. In addition, the local neighborhood watch and private security patrol had noticed a few of our guests out on the front porch complaining to our hosts that we were throwing some type of party. This was a bit absurd: outside of some loud laughing, there was almost no noise. The homes on both sides appeared to be unoccupied. But still, chastened, we told our friends the invite had to be rescinded, and Theresa booked a hotel room at her expense a bit down the road for our out-of-state guests. (They ended up not even staying there because the neighborhood looked too sketchy.) People left at about 1 a.m., and we went to bed about a half-hour later. All seemed well until the next morning when our host texted that an unknown someone had tried the back doors and attempted to disable the security camera at about 1:40 a.m. This was unsettling to say the least, and coupled with a disturbing incident on the nearby subway stop (incidentally named one of the nicest in NYC in 2020), it put a sour on our Brooklyn experience. That incident, which occurred a couple nights later, happened around midnight. Theresa and I had spent a very pleasant and relaxing day wandering around Brooklyn taking a ferry ride to Williamsburg, puttering around DUMBO, and dodging raindrops by watching the very average, but still enjoyable, Indiana Jones movie. As we arrived at the station around midnight, a voice came from the intercom: Any police officers on this train, please come to the conductors station. Immediate assistance needed. The passengers in my car all looked at one another, unsure of what to do. The doors opened. The voice again, more insistent: Please, any police officers on the train: conductor needs assistance. Then, a scream. A woman ran by our car, going the opposite direction from the exit. I looked outside to see the cars emptying and a trickle of people running my way. An Orthodox man dressed in a traditional hat and full coat broke into a sprint, and the trickle became a flood. I heard several pops and immediately thought it had to be a gun. And then, it was (mostly) over. The station became very quiet except for two men, one screaming at the other. As best I could tell, someone had attempted to take anothers suitcase, and its owner hit that someone with it. The pops I had heard were just errant fireworks, nothing more. Heartrates returned to normal, and we filed out of the station with everyone else as three NYPD cars arrived, sirens blaring. At least it was our stop. President sends urgent appeal to international community to take immediate action to prevent genocide of NKR people Turkey army General Staff head of intelligence visits Azerbaijan Poland new envoy expresses readiness to assist reforms within Armenia internal affairs ministry (PHOTOS) Estonia ambassador to Armenia joins EU civilian monitoring mission patrol Congressman Adam Schiff: We must recognize Artsakh Republic independence if we truly stand for democracy, human rights Robert Khachatryan, Andrea Wiktorin discuss EU-assisted high-tech projects in Armenia Who are included in ex-mayor Hayk Marutyan's political team for Yerevan Council of Elders election? Armenia PM congratulates newly appointed Tunis colleague Armenia wins 1 gold, 4 silver medals at International Mathematics Competition for University Students US State Department spox.: Turkey can play productive role in Armenia-Azerbaijan relations normalization Crusaders detachment members reopen avenue nearby Armenia government building Armenia national opera and ballet theater has new director Karabakh war-participating detachment members block avenue near Armenia government building Delegation visiting Armenia on US Senator Robert Menendezs instruction is in Syunik Province (PHOTOS) Protesters give Armenia government time until 6pm to have Lachin corridor reopened Red Cross transports 11 medical patients from Karabakh to Armenia after 11 days of complete blockade by Azerbaijan Karabakh war-participating detachment members protest outside Armenia government building Red Cross representatives visit 2 Azerbaijani soldiers who illegally entered Armenia With which party ex-mayor Hayk Marutyan will run in Yerevan municipal elections? Armenia responds to Azerbaijan letter regarding plant under construction in Yeraskh village Tasnim: Iran, Armenia security councils heads discuss regional situation Armenia Security Council chief briefs Iran diplomat on humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh Tesla CFO unexpectedly resigns Ex-mayor Hayk Marutyan to run in Yerevan election Health ministry: Comprehensive siege of Karabakh leads to considerable increase in mortality, morbidity rates Azerbaijan ombudsperson representatives visit detained Karabakh resident Rashid Beglaryan UN experts call on Azerbaijan to immediately restore free movement through Lachin corridor Karabakh state minister: Even in these conditions there are still people who are engaged in idle talk Worlds largest Nissan to go out of production Aram I, Vatican bishop discuss current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh Andranik Tevanyan: Mother Armenia movement will run in Yerevan municipal elections Newspaper: Armenia parliament new session to be heated, ruling force already has decision Azerbaijan slams UN experts for their objective assessments of situation in Karabakh US State Department: Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement remains within reach Vardan Sargsyan: Humanitarian crisis in Karabakh is deepening, with widespread malnutrition Turkey ministers council discusses Armenia-Azerbaijan relations Armenia internal affairs minister, China ambassador confer on bilateral cooperation About 256,000 tourists visit Armenia in July Armenian Tourism Federation president: Whoever happens should not represent our country Karabakh legislature new head: We will continue fight for preservation, strengthening of Artsakh statehood at any cost Armenia Security Council chief has telephone conversation with newly appointed Iran counterpart UNICEF urges to place Karabakh childrens safety, survival above all other considerations Red Cross visits Karabakh resident Vagif Khachatryan, abducted by Azerbaijan Yerevan murder circumstances being ascertained, criminal proceedings launched (PHOTOS) Newly appointed UAE envoy ready to assist in Armenia justice sector reforms (PHOTOS) Hurriyet: Putin-Erdogan talks will discuss Turkey relations with Azerbaijan, Armenia What are most popular names given to Armenia newborns in first 6 months of 2023? European Parliament member considers Lachin corridor blocking a war crime Artur Osipyan: Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh turned down petition to escort motorcade to Hakari bridge Hakan Fidan: Turkey-Armenia, Azerbaijan-Armenia relations normalization process should proceed in parallel Karabakh residents protest in front of Armenia MFA American Armenians start sit-in, in support of Karabakh, outside Congressman Adam Schiffs office shamshyan.com: Shootings in Yerevan, man with gunshot wound in the head dies in hospital Person, 35, found dead in Armenias Lake Sevan Armenia MFA spox: Clear steps needed to implement all international calls, decisions regarding Karabakh Malta Armenians hold peaceful demonstration in support of Karabakh Karabakh has a cash problem World Council of Churches, Conference of European Churches call on Borrell to have Karabakh blockade lifted Karabakh National Assembly has new speaker Armenia-Azerbaijan relations to be discussed at Turkey government Cabinet session Karabakh legislature ruling faction nominates opposition ARF MP Davit Ishkhanyan for post of parliament speaker Military junta closes Niger airspace Azerbaijan fires at Armenia positions, also uses mortars President of Karabakh: Its as result of government activities that we have chance not to starve yet Arayik Harutyunyan: The West made effort to organize a Baku-Stepanakert meeting in 3rd country President of Karabakh: There seems to be tacit agreement to leave us all alone with Azerbaijan Arayik Harutyunyan: Azerbaijan wants to abandon tripartite statement, to continue the war Karabakh President: Humanitarian disaster border is crossed, now we are witnessing Azerbaijans genocidal policy Artur Abraham calls on the UN and the civilized world to intervene in the situation around the Lachin corridor Ruben Vardanyan: What is needed now is pressure on Aliyev China hit by torrential rains: 10 people killed, 18 others missing Turkish opposition leader Kemal Klcdaroglu's motorcade has been caught up in a chain accident: there are casualties Artsakh citizens faint in lines for bread Henrikh Mkhitaryan: Humanitarian access should be ensured across the Lachin corridor Czech Ambassador to Armenia visits Lachin Urgent international action needed to halt Azerbaijan's genocidal intent Day 11 of Baku blocking humanitarian cargo for Artsakh Armenia MIA Head, Indian Ambassador discuss further cooperation Stockholm suburbs shooting kills one, injures another Russia starts Gastello kamikaze UAV production Hayaqve legislative initiative enters decisive phase ACT Alliance urges Baku to immediately unblock Lachin corridor Erdogan plans second Persian Gulf tour Ukraine unofficially takes blame for Russian tanker attack near Kerch Strait Armenia Economy Minister, Uzbekistan Agriculture Minister discuss cooperation Landslide at Indian Hindu temple camp kills three US halts some foreign aid for Niger government Russia reports tanker hit near Kerch Strait Azerbaijani positions fired at a resident of the Khnapat community. Artsakh MIA Karabakh presidential advisor: We know what opening of Lachin corridor by means of weapons will lead to Karabakh residents plan to hold peaceful march towards Hakari bridge to unblock Lachin corridor Representatives of 15 international, non-governmental organizations working in Armenia visit Kornidzor village border NATO official: Key to ensure freedom of movement through Lachin corridor, to address pressing humanitarian needs Catholicos of All Armenians receives EU ambassador to Armenia Armenia signs memorandum of cooperation with UN World Food Programme Fitch Upgrades Ardshinbank's rating Dollar, euro gain value in Armenia Armenia FM extends condolences to Georgia people, authorities We will have 2 options left: armed resistance with great bloodshed, or exit from Karabakh, presidential advisor says Canada calls on Azerbaijan to stop Lachin corridor blockage If I did not believe in a lasting peace with Azerbaijan, there would be no point in participating in the negotiation process at all. But faith does not guarantee that we will achieve results, because it depends not only on me, but also on the position of the President of Azerbaijan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan told Agence France-Presse in an interview. Let alone that we are not generally negotiating in a vacuum. There is an international situation, there is a geopolitical situation, there is a humanitarian situation, there are various human factors, which may emerge at any point and time. Everything influences the process, but of course, the greatest impact on the process have the direct negotiators, I mean, the President of Azerbaijan and myself, he noted. When asked what he personally could do in negotiations with the President of Azerbaijan to guarantee the dignity of the Armenians living in Artsakh, Pashinyan said, The most important thing, which in my opinion impedes the progress of the talks, is Azerbaijans continued aggressive rhetoric, hate speech towards Armenians and anything that is Armenian, hate actions, and of course, the policy of revenge in relation to Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and obviously, the policy of ethnic cleansing. Look at the situation that we now have in Nagorno Karabakh. We have a humanitarian crisis there. When we say humanitarian crisis, for many people it may seem like a political term or a headline for news, but lets delve into its substance. It means, for instance, absence of essential goods, there is no vegetable oil in Nagorno Karabakh, no sugar, there are no hygiene supplies, there is no butter, there arent several types of foodstuff. The people of Nagorno Karabakh are hard working people of course, and in this agricultural season some products are produced, but because of the absence of fuel, the delivery of the goods to the potential consumers is almost impossible. We are convinced that the method of resolving issues through negotiations has no alternative. And on the other hand, if issues are not resolved through negotiations, in the public these negotiations may be perceived as just waste of time, or creating the impression in the media that something is being done, he added. The Prime Minister of Armenia told the reporter that his red lines in this process are the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Armenia, as well as the rights and security of the Armenians of Artsakh. It's also very important to record that our position is that the issue of rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh should be addressed in a dialogue, talks and discussions with the participation of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. We call that Baku-Stepanakert dialogue, but given the disproportion of strength between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, we think that if we leave Stepanakert and Baku face to face, Baku will have the opportunity of either turning that agenda into oblivion, or have a monologue and not a dialogue. And thats why our perception is that that dialogue should take place in the context of an international mechanism, where the international community will be the witness. Armenias role here is difficult because Armenias interest in this process is perceived and interpreted by Azerbaijan as so-called encroachment or aspiration upon Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Because of that perception talks in this format have not turned out to be constructive, and this has been demonstrated by the whole history of negotiations, Pashinyan said. To the question what mechanisms Armenia envisioned to guarantee the safety of the people of Artsakh, Pashinyan replied, You know, these are working-level issues that depend not only on our perceptions. Thats why I wouldnt like to limit the future conversations by outlining any particular vision, or that would make limitations for us in those conversations. Our main issue is that for that conversation, that dialogue to take place and to be genuine, to have an actual conversation, because it is through conversation that its is possible to overcome the lack of confidence, hate, and even tensions, or even to better understand one another. Just as we justify our relations with the West, we justify our relations with Russia, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Agence France-Presse, when asked how he justified close ties or trust towards Russia. That same question could be asked about any country, how do you justify your good relationship with any country when in Nagorno Karabakh human rights are violated, there is a humanitarian crisis, ethnic cleansing is being prepared and those countries are not reacting properly?, even the countries that consider human rights and the UN Charter, democracy and ethnic tolerance to be priorities for them. So now you want to say that all those countries with which we have good relationship are doing their maximum to overcome the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh? My direct answer to you will be no for a variety of reasons: some of them are buying gas, some are buying oil, some are thinking about their banking systems, and others have other concerns. But it would not be correct to say that they doing nothing. We are not speaking about political or inter-ethnic conflict, we are talking about ongoing process of genocide, and not just its preparation. Any genocide you know wasnt like that they woke up one day and started killing people, slaughtering people. Lets go back to the Holocaust, the one that the world knows the best. Did Hitler come to power and the next morning pulled out the sword and started chasing the Jews in the streets? It lasted years, it was a process, which could have been well predicted. It was expressed in rhetoric, it was expressed in policy. Now in Nagorno Karabakh they have created a Ghetto, in the most literal meaning of the word. I say again, sometimes we do not deliver the terms understandably, we just give people headlines, humanitarian crisis. Some percentage of our audience well understands all the details of whats going on, but the majority does not understand, thats not their business, thats not their activity. But Azerbaijan is creating a Ghetto in Nagorno Karabakh today. Whats the international communitys reaction? Russia asks us how we justify our good relationships with the West, is that what you expect of them to make a semi-statement that the Lachin Corridor should be opened? Yes, the Lachin Corridor has to be opened. The International Court of Justice rendered a decision back on February 22. That is a decision of the highest international court. By the way, Russia really doesnt well recognize the jurisdiction of that court, but the international community, with the exception of Russia, recognizes it as the highest court. And now Russia asks us Is this what you expected of the West, when establishing such close relations with the EU and other partners, your expectation was that they would say, for example once a week that the Lachin Corridor should be opened? In the same way as we justify our relations with the West, in the same way we justify our relations with Russia. Like according to the logic of some western circles our relationship with Russia is not justified, because Russia is not fulfilling all its obligations, and is not meeting all of our expectations, similarly, Russia tells us the same about the West, he said. I think that complementarity is a catastrophic mistake for Armenia. And this mistake is not new, this mistake is not even 30 years old, this mistake is not even 100 years old, this mistake is much older, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in an interview with Agence France-Presse, when asked whether the Ukrainian war had impact on Armenia's foreign policy. I am not criticizing the past governments and I am not criticizing anyone, because look, your question is about how Armenia is going to live between Russia and the West. But in reality we are not between Russia and the West, we are actually between Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan. And in reality, the countries of the region are among one another. In our 2020 election program, the program of our government there is a clause which is called regionalization. I say again, experience and our history shows that this is not about 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years, this is about centuries. We are living here, we are not living between Russia and the US, its Europe that lives between Russia and the US. We live between Georgia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. And the question is the following should we manage our relations with our neighbors, I am sorry to use that word, through Moscow, Washington and Brussels. In terms of the paradigm - no, but in practical terms we lack that political tradition. Deep down, thats the cause of our whole problem, because what we should me also concerns me, because there are many historical, social-psychological layers here, and this issue cannot be resolved on the level of an individual having power and mandate. Its not so that I have ridded me of this problem. Any person sitting here in this position in the last few hundred years, possible even longer, would have this problem, I am speaking about Armenian statehood. If we have a problem or an issue with our environment, our first reaction is to check what Moscow, Brussels or Washington can do. Of course, during this period the capitals, their names might have changed over this long historical run. And we comprehend this. But nothing has changed in our life, because we also lack that culture, they also lacked it. And we lack that because of a certain historical tradition, and they lacked it because of a certain historical tradition. When the time comes , and there is a chance, an opportunity, or maybe a realization that another paradigm should be applied for solving the issues, a different logic emerges in our environment well, you have come to resolve issues with us, wasnt that you that brough Washington, Moscow or Brussels on us for a long time? Ok, come over here now. You asked me about the paradigm, our paradigm is not between Moscow and Washington. But on the other hand, in the 21st century, or even in the 19th century, it was not possible to pursue a policy bypassing the geopolitical centers, and thats no needed and not even reasonable. The challenge here is that we are trying to change the name, saying a balanced and balancing policy is what we need. We do not want this new paradigm, which is so far still a theory, I tell this directly, we realize this, but we are still unable to implement it. And thats because of us, because its one thing when you know what you need to do, and its another thing that the tradition is not that. But on the other hand, this policy should not be perceived as a policy of bypassing or ignoring the geopolitical centers, but we are also trying to take steps. When I went to participate in the inauguration of the Turkish president, there were both positive and negative reactions in Armenia. These reactions reflect this whole tangle. And the challenge is when we speak about paradigm, to what extent are we going to be in the mode of cooperation, rather than in the mode of monologue, because this is not easy for anyone to perceive and realize that in this region for example, this political map should continue to exists for centuries to come. Some people put a question mark after this sentence. Some people frankly want to find justifications so that this political map can stem from the interest of all the regional countries without contradicting the interests of geopolitical centers. I, for example, bear this second belief, but thats not enough, he noted. In fact, the question is not whether Armenia leaves or will leave the CSTO or not. In fact, the question is whether the CSTO leaves Armenia or not. Because I will not hide it, I will say it straight: there are many experts in Armenia, independent experts who regularly send me reports that these processes show that the CSTO is exiting Armenia, Pashinyan said in an interview with Agence France-Presse. Moreover, there are many experts whose assessment is that Russia is exiting the region. This may seem like a science fiction, but unfortunately, our people have seen this in history. After all, a consequence of what was the 1915 genocide of the Armenians, when Russia essentially had to exit the conflicting region under its domestic burden? And the Armenians, that had made a clear geopolitical choice, were left to face Turkey. And naturally, this analysis has intensified because of an event that recently happened in Russia, an even that we all know very well. True, it lasted one and a half days, but dozens of analytical statements were sent to me during the one and a half days, saying that this is the 1915 scenario. 1915, 1917, 1918 years of instability in Russia, Russia having to withdraw from the region and the genocide carried against the Armenian people. But now the problem is that in 1915 the Armenian people did not have a state, a statehood that would have the obligation of safeguarding its own people. Now the Armenians have a state, and the policy of the state must be built in accordance with this logic, because the likelihood that one day we will see Iran or Turkey leaving this region is zero, there is no such likelihood, but the likelihood that any geopolitical center which is currently present here, we may wake up one morning and find they have left, that likelihood is greater than zero, not necessarily with the intention of doing harm, not necessarily with the reluctance to carry out their obligations towards anyone, including Armenia. I repeat, this is not a current day problem, not a problem of the last 10 or 30 years. This is the problem of the last 100, 150 years. And today our situation is very challenging, very difficult, but unlike 100 and more years ago, we currently have a state, which is considered a democratic state, which is considered a developing state, which is considered developing, which is considered capable of negotiating. We have a chance to understand the risks and manage them. However, we need to understand them, which is not going to be easy, he said. Jeanette Rosario, president of the Puerto Rican Cultural Council, raises the Puerto Rican flag in downtown Aurora on Friday, as Taina Torres, named Aurora's Puerto Rican queen during a recent pageant staged by the council, and Leilani Velez, named Little Miss Puerto Rico, look on. (Steve Lord/The Beacon-News) If One Aurora Plaza downtown is supposed to represent the American melting pot, it was never more evident than Friday morning. Aurora raised the Puerto Rican flag as a beginning to the 51st Puerto Rican Heritage Week in the citys history. And the theme of the day was the two worlds of an island in the Caribbean Sea and a Midwest American city melding into one. Advertisement I grew up between two mundos, said Jeannette Rosario, president of Auroras Puerto Rican Cultural Council. Clayton Muhammad, Auroras chief communications and equity officer, praised the council for its work throughout the years helping blend the Puerto Rican community into a One Aurora. Council members came to the stage to accept the proclamation of Puerto Rican Heritage Week by Mayor Richard Irvin. Advertisement Rosarios speech moved between Spanish and English, symbolizing the two cultures she embraces. Were not designed to fit in; were designed to stand out, Rosario said. I came to accept that I am different on purpose. Also embracing the theme was Taina Torres, an Aurora University senior who is this years Puerto Rican queen in Aurora. She said every July, she celebrates both the Fourth of July and Puerto Rican heritage events. I am as Puerto Rican as I am American, she said. We are proud and loud, and this city will forever hear our voices. With each flag-raising, Aurora presents awards to members of the community being honored by the event. For the Puerto Rican community, the awards are known as the Working for Excellence in Progress in Aurora awards. Two were given to Lisa and Wilson Morales, a husband and wife team who are everywhere doing work all the time, Muhammad said. Rosario pulled the strings to raise the flag, with help from Torres and her court. We raise our flag for those who came before us, but most importantly we raise it for the future, Torres said. Advertisement Puerto Rican Heritage Week will conclude on Sunday, July 30, with the Puerto Rican Heritage Festival in downtown Aurora, city officials said. slord@tribpub.com Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan gave an interview to Agence France-Presse, which was published on July 21. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli Mr. Prime Minister, do you believe in lasting peace with Azerbaijan? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan If I didnt believe, there would be no point in taking part in the negotiations at all, but believing does not mean that the result is guaranteed, because, understandably, it depends not only on me, naturally, it depends also on the positions of the President of Azerbaijan, let alone that we are not generally negotiating in a vacuum. There is an international situation, there is a geopolitical situation, there is a humanitarian situation, there are various human factors, which may emerge at any point and time. Everything influences the process, but of course, the greatest impact on the process have the direct negotiators, I mean, the President of Azerbaijan and myself. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli - What can you personally do in negotiations with President Aliyev in order to guarantee the dignity of the Armenians living in Karabakh, what keys do you have to determine the outcome of negotiations? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan You know, generally the conditions are very important. If we just step aside from the substance of the negotiations, because for an impartial observer of whats happening in the negotiations room, one might think that in principle, everything is fine, that there is really nothing extraordinary happening, but then, after that, we need to come back and observe the actions and statements that are being made. The most important thing, which in my opinion impedes the progress of the talks, is Azerbaijans continued aggressive rhetoric, hate speech towards Armenians and anything that is Armenian, hate actions, and of course, the policy of revenge in relation to Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh and obviously, the policy of ethnic cleansing. Look at the situation that we now have in Nagorno Karabakh. We have a humanitarian crisis there. When we say humanitarian crisis, for many people it may seem like a political term or a headline for news, but lets delve into its substance. It means, for instance, absence of essential goods, there is no vegetable oil in Nagorno Karabakh, no sugar, there are no hygiene supplies, there is no butter, there arent several types of foodstuff. The people of Nagorno Karabakh are hard working people of course, and in this agricultural season some products are produced, but because of the absence of fuel, the delivery of the goods to the potential consumers is almost impossible. In Karabakh, there is a certain stock of grain, but because of the absence of fuel, it cannot be delivered to the flour mills, if in any way it is possible to deliver it to the flour mills, then it cannot be delivered to the bread bakeries because of absence of fuel, and if somehow it reaches the bakeries, it is impossible to bake the bread at industrial volumes because of the absence of electricity and fuel, but if it is somehow possible to bake it, then it is impossible to deliver it to the shops, and if somehow it is possible to deliver to the shops, people have transport limitations for reaching the shop to buy the bread, and if somehow they reach the shop to buy the bread, they do not have the required financial means to purchase the bread because they are deprived of employment. If all these layers, all these difficulties are placed upon one individual, all that burden becomes obvious and understandable. Under these circumstances, it is clear that in the Republic of Armenia and also of course in Nagorno Karabakh, pessimism is growing day by day, which, however, does not change our policy in any way, because we are convinced that the method of resolving issues through negotiations has no alternative. And on the other hand, if issues are not resolved through negotiations, in the public these negotiations may be perceived as just waste of time, or creating the impression in the media that something is being done. These are all risks that can directly or indirectly affect the process. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli What are your red lines in this process? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan We have said this a number of times: Armenias territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the rights and security of the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh. By the way, there is an important point to be made: rights and security on this level are terms, for people they are just terms. Its very important that the terms be reflected in a way that people will be able to use, apply them, to have the rights and the security that would enable them to live, to self-realize in their environment, in their family, to develop within that environment. It's also very important to record that our position is that the issue of rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh should be addressed in a dialogue, talks and discussions with the participation of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. We call that Baku-Stepanakert dialogue, but given the disproportion of strength between Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan, we think that if we leave Stepanakert and Baku face to face, Baku will have the opportunity of either turning that agenda into oblivion, or have a monologue and not a dialogue. And thats why our perception is that that dialogue should take place in the context of an international mechanism, where the international community will be the witness. Armenias role here is difficult because Armenias interest in this process is perceived and interpreted by Azerbaijan as so-called encroachment or aspiration upon Azerbaijans territorial integrity. Because of that perception talks in this format have not turned out to be constructive, and this has been demonstrated by the whole history of negotiations. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli - Armenia is seeking certain international mechanisms that will guarantee the security and rights of the Armenian population of Karabakh. What kind of international mechanisms do you imagine? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan You know, these are working-level issues that depend not only on our perceptions. Thats why I wouldnt like to limit the future conversations by outlining any particular vision, or that would make limitations for us in those conversations. Our main issue is that for that conversation, that dialogue to take place and to be genuine, to have an actual conversation, because it is through conversation that its is possible to overcome the lack of confidence, hate, and even tensions, or even to better understand one another. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli - Do you think that Azerbaijan is threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia, particularly considering the situation in Syunik, also the fact that the city of Jermuk came under fire last year? Do you consider this a threat from Azerbaijan to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Armenia, and what do you think, can there be war again? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan In general, so long as a peace treaty has not been signed, and such a treaty has not been ratified by the parliaments of the two countries, of course, war is very likely. And generally, anywhere on the planet, where there is conflict situation that has not been resolved by a treaty, has not been addressed anywhere anytime, war may erupt. We need to know this. There are different scales of probability, but we should take this as a rule. Azerbaijans obvious aggressive rhetoric, hate speech is added to this, the current geopolitical situation is added to this, where essentially the world order that some time ago was presumed to somehow exist, we now see it doesnt exist by and large. This is also contributed by the breaching of the military balance between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and so on and so forth. And of course new escalations, new wars are always likely, which does not mean that it is going to happen, but it also does not mean that it is not going to happen. By the way, every day, literally, violations of the ceasefire regime occur on the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. During my term as Prime Minister, in more than five years, there might have been a maximum of three days during which the ceasefire wasnt violated. Can you imagine this? During the five years with the most inflated assessments we may have not more than three days without ceasefire regime violation. One of these days was November 11, 2020, so if we exclude this, two days remain, and one questionable. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli - After signing the cease-fire agreement, which no one likes in Armenia, I'm sure neither you like it, how do you justify staying in power? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan Through elections. Based on the decision of the people, because what I have said and I have done is that I bore and I bear the responsibility for it. You know that after November 9, 2020, I resigned for the purpose of having snap parliamentary elections to answer exactly the question you ask. Not only others, but I and our political team also ask that question. After November 9, 2020, if my memory serves me correctly, in December, so basically, a month and a few days later, we publicly proposed to our opponents and our critics to have snap parliamentary elections. We could have done that snap election in November or even in December, but everyone understands that chaotic situation, when nobody was ready for elections, nobody had planned elections, the Government would be best prepared for an elections. In December I publicly proposed, but we had a situation when the opposition said that the power should be transferred to the opposition, meaning to them. Our position was that the power or the mandate to govern is not our property, we cannot just give it to somebody. We received that mandate from the people and we agreed to give that mandate, but to give it only to the people. And we are obliged to put in place conditions for the people to decide to whom that mandate should be transferred. Our most important obligation in that situation would be to ensure the free expression of the peoples will, to have a free, fair, competitive and transparent election. After that the election took place in a very tense but democratic atmosphere. By the way, very importantly, before the election, the civil society demanded and we changed the electoral code, switching to a fully proportional representation electoral system, and the context was such that there was an election of the Prime Minister. Under the old context and the new context that was the case. Snap parliamentary elections took place in a very difficult environment, often charged with hate speech. So there was a vote and I was elected the Prime Minister, which was essentially a direct election, because with those numbers in the election, under our Constitution the candidacy of the Prime Minister is not discussed in the parliament. The power that gets the majority, and our party received constitutional majority, immediately appoints the Prime Minister. Importantly, the whole international community unanimously said that the election was free, fair, democratic and transparent. Now, whether the people made the best choice they could is a question that only people can answer in the upcoming election. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli Obviously, Russia did not meet Armenia's expectations during and after the war. How do you justify close ties or trust towards Russia? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan That same question could be asked about any country, how do you justify your good relationship with any country when in Nagorno Karabakh human rights are violated, there is a humanitarian crisis, ethnic cleansing is being prepared and those countries are not reacting properly?, even the countries that consider human rights and the UN Charter, democracy and ethnic tolerance to be priorities for them. So now you want to say that all those countries with which we have good relationship are doing their maximum to overcome the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh? My direct answer to you will be no for a variety of reasons: some of them are buying gas, some are buying oil, some are thinking about their banking systems, and others have other concerns. But it would not be correct to say that they doing nothing. We are not speaking about political or inter-ethnic conflict, we are talking about ongoing process of genocide, and not just its preparation. Any genocide you know wasnt like that they woke up one day and started killing people, slaughtering people. Lets go back to the Holocaust, the one that the world knows the best. Did Hitler come to power and the next morning pulled out the sword and started chasing the Jews in the streets? It lasted years, it was a process, which could have been well predicted. It was expressed in rhetoric, it was expressed in policy. Now in Nagorno Karabakh they have created a Ghetto, in the most literal meaning of the word. I say again, sometimes we do not deliver the terms understandably, we just give people headlines, humanitarian crisis. Some percentage of our audience well understands all the details of whats going on, but the majority does not understand, thats not their business, thats not their activity. But Azerbaijan is creating a Ghetto in Nagorno Karabakh today. Whats the international communitys reaction? Russia asks us how we justify our good relationships with the West, is that what you expect of them to make a semi-statement that the Lachin Corridor should be opened? Yes, the Lachin Corridor has to be opened. The International Court of Justice rendered a decision back on February 22. That is a decision of the highest international court. By the way, Russia really doesnt well recognize the jurisdiction of that court, but the international community, with the exception of Russia, recognizes it as the highest court. And now Russia asks us Is this what you expected of the West, when establishing such close relations with the EU and other partners, your expectation was that they would say, for example once a week that the Lachin Corridor should be opened? In the same way as we justify our relations with the West, in the same way we justify our relations with Russia. Like according to the logic of some western circles our relationship with Russia is not justified, because Russia is not fulfilling all its obligations, and is not meeting all of our expectations, similarly, Russia tells us the same about the West. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli - The long paradigm of Armenia's foreign policy was complementarity between the West and Russia, but after the Ukrainian war, the situation has changed greatly. Now the countries are unlikely to be able to maintain good relations with both the West and Russia. How does this affect Armenia's foreign policy? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan I think that complementarity is a catastrophic mistake for Armenia. And that is not a new mistake, its not even thirty years old, it isnt even a 100-year old mistake. That mistake is much older. I am not criticizing the past governments and I am not criticizing anyone, because look, your question is about how Armenia is going to live between Russia and the West. But in reality we are not between Russia and the West, we are actually between Georgia, Turkey, Iran and Azerbaijan. And in reality, the countries of the region are among one another. In our 2020 election program, the program of our government there is a clause which is called regionalization. I say again, experience and our history shows that this is not about 10, 20, 30 or even 40 years, this is about centuries. We are living here, we are not living between Russia and the US, its Europe that lives between Russia and the US. We live between Georgia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan. And the question is the following should we manage our relations with our neighbors, I am sorry to use that word, through Moscow, Washington and Brussels. In terms of the paradigm - no, but in practical terms we lack that political tradition. Deep down, thats the cause of our whole problem, because what we should me also concerns me, because there are many historical, social-psychological layers here, and this issue cannot be resolved on the level of an individual having power and mandate. Its not so that I have ridded me of this problem. Any person sitting here in this position in the last few hundred years, possible even longer, would have this problem, I am speaking about Armenian statehood. If we have a problem or an issue with our environment, our first reaction is to check what Moscow, Brussels or Washington can do. Of course, during this period the capitals, their names might have changed over this long historical run. And we comprehend this. But nothing has changed in our life, because we also lack that culture, they also lacked it. And we lack that because of a certain historical tradition, and they lacked it because of a certain historical tradition. When the time comes , and there is a chance, an opportunity, or maybe a realization that another paradigm should be applied for solving the issues, a different logic emerges in our environment well, you have come to resolve issues with us, wasnt that you that brough Washington, Moscow or Brussels on us for a long time? Ok, come over here now. You asked me about the paradigm, our paradigm is not between Moscow and Washington. But on the other hand, in the 21st century, or even in the 19th century, it was not possible to pursue a policy bypassing the geopolitical centers, and thats no needed and not even reasonable. The challenge here is that we are trying to change the name, saying a balanced and balancing policy is what we need. We do not want this new paradigm, which is so far still a theory, I tell this directly, we realize this, but we are still unable to implement it. And thats because of us, because its one thing when you know what you need to do, and its another thing that the tradition is not that. But on the other hand, this policy should not be perceived as a policy of bypassing or ignoring the geopolitical centers, but we are also trying to take steps. When I went to participate in the inauguration of the Turkish president, there were both positive and negative reactions in Armenia. These reactions reflect this whole tangle. And the challenge is when we speak about paradigm, to what extent are we going to be in the mode of cooperation, rather than in the mode of monologue, because this is not easy for anyone to perceive and realize that in this region for example, this political map should continue to exists for centuries to come. Some people put a question mark after this sentence. Some people frankly want to find justifications so that this political map can stem from the interest of all the regional countries without contradicting the interests of geopolitical centers. I, for example, bear this second belief, but thats not enough. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli - You quite straightforwardly criticized the CSTO. Do you see a theoretical prospect of leaving this organization one day? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan No organization in the world is eternal, and every country makes decisions in accordance with its interests. The issue here is that we had and we still have an issue in terms of the effectiveness of the CSTO and the implementation of its commitments. We have discussed this issue transparently with our partners. But in terms of paradigm, I have publicly referred to this on a number of occasions. The question is not whether Armenia leaves or will leave the CSTO or not. The question is whether the CSTO is leaving or exiting Armenia. I will say directly, there are many experts in Armenia, independent experts, who regularly send me reports stating that these processes demonstrate that the CSTO is exiting Armenia. Moreover, there are many experts whose assessment is that Russia is exiting the region. This may seem like a science fiction, but unfortunately, our people have seen this in history. After all, a consequence of what was the 1915 genocide of the Armenians, when Russia essentially had to exit the conflicting region under its domestic burden? And the Armenians, that had made a clear geopolitical choice, were left to face Turkey. And naturally, this analysis has intensified because of an event that recently happened in Russia, an even that we all know very well. True, it lasted one and a half days, but dozens of analytical statements were sent to me during the one and a half days, saying that this is the 1915 scenario. 1915, 1917, 1918 years of instability in Russia, Russia having to withdraw from the region and the genocide carried against the Armenian people. But now the problem is that in 1915 the Armenian people did not have a state, a statehood that would have the obligation of safeguarding its own people. Now the Armenians have a state, and the policy of the state must be built in accordance with this logic, because the likelihood that one day we will see Iran or Turkey leaving this region is zero, there is no such likelihood, but the likelihood that any geopolitical center which is currently present here, we may wake up one morning and find they have left, that likelihood is greater than zero, not necessarily with the intention of doing harm, not necessarily with the reluctance to carry out their obligations towards anyone, including Armenia. I repeat, this is not a current day problem, not a problem of the last 10 or 30 years. This is the problem of the last 100, 150 years. And today our situation is very challenging, very difficult, but unlike 100 and more years ago, we currently have a state, which is considered a democratic state, which is considered a developing state, which is considered developing, which is considered capable of negotiating. We have a chance to understand the risks and manage them. However, we need to understand them, which is not going to be easy. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli - The United States and Europe have suspended or limited the sale of cars to Russia. Armenia has become the main re-exporter of cars to Russia. What is your government doing to ensure that the territory of Armenia is not used by Russia to circumvent sanctions? Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan In the issue of sanctions we are closely in touch and cooperate with the EU special envoy and the representative of the US, to make sure that we act as a responsible member of the international community. It may seem stange to you, but we are transparent on this point as well. We are a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, Russia is our main trading partner, and naturally, from the very first days we understood that the sanctions that are being imposed by the West and other countries upon Russia would create certain problems. We also understood that Russia will have expectations from us to help to the best of our ability in this difficult economic environment, because, imagine the volume of Armenia and the volume of Russia. And we also understood that the West will be expecting that we help them, in complying with the sanctions. When talking with our Russian partners we said the following we understand your expectation and we stand ready to address, to meet your expectation, but up to the point at which Armenia would face the threat of sanctions, because if an endless country like Russia can perhaps afford to face the sanctions, but Armenia, especially in this military-political environment, cannot afford anything like that. And this is also the same text that we communicated to the West, as proven by the fact that I am saying this in front of cameras. This is the rule that we follow. Of course, there are known forces that always want to and they are lobbying the American and European press to make it look like that Armenia is a black hole in that sense, but currently, on the official level we do not have any objections or complaints by the European or American partners, or by Russia, because we do not want to play tricky games with our partners, we are saying this clearly and our position is legitimate. This is not to say that everything is perfect. There is another thing that the sanctions regime often changes, and in reality, even if something had to be done, it wouldnt necessarily be done by the government. It is the private sector that is moving goods around. We are doing our best to make sure that everything is done in accordance with the rule that I just mentioned. Its my opinion and also the opinion of our international partners that we are able to do this and we will continue to d this. Agence France-Presse Irakli Metreveli Thank you Mr. Prime Minister. Andy Howell, left, and Ari Klafter, of Thornton Distilling Co., discuss the history of their facility, which has been home to several breweries over the last 150 years. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown) Many years ago, a short tunnel was cut into a hillside along Thorn Creek, leading to an arched vault made of brick. At the center of the underground room, a squat, square structure marked the well head offering access to an underground mineral spring. Advertisement Clear water had, since time unrecorded, seeped up through fissures in limestone deposits deep underground, forced upward by the same aquifer pressure that pushed its buried source stream through the porous rock. The artesian spring water bubbling out on a hilltop and then streaming down to the nearby creek may have contributed to an Indigenous American settlement recorded on maps at the current village of Thornton. Not long after those residents were forced to leave, the source of clean, cold mineral water attracted immigrants who thought it would be a good place to brew beer. Advertisement They were right. A man named Don Carlos Berry brewed Berrys Beer starting in 1836 in a log cabin at the site, according to information compiled by Thornton historian Debbie Lamoureux. German immigrant John Bielfeldt acquired the land and built a brewery in 1857, and a brewing tradition was maintained there for nearly a century, for a while in defiance of federal law. An underground built more than a century ago houses the artesian well that became the basis for a series of breweries in Thornton and now, Thornton Distilling Co. The mineral water that bubbles up at the spot once formed a natural spring and at one point was bottled and sold on its own. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown) It was that brewing tradition, as well as the water that continued to flow from the artesian well, that attracted Andy Howell and his partners to the site in 2015 when they were looking for somewhere to make single malt whiskey. We saw the well when we first toured the property, said Andy Howell, a founder of Thornton Distilling Co. We were trying to determine where to open, and that was a huge factor. By that time, the building at 400 E. Margaret St. in Thornton was empty. Its run as a brewery lasted into the 1950s but ended amid clouds of corruption and lingering connections to organized crime that originated with the onset of Prohibition in the early 1920s. The brewery became an industrial complex and the artesian well was sold to the village in 1957, according to the Thornton Historical Societys booklet A History of Beer & Brewing in Thornton, Illinois. It later had incarnations as a tavern and restaurant, but it was vacant for more than a decade when Howell and his partners came to look. It was in a state of disrepair, Howell said, but its long history was a major selling point. It was intriguing to learn about the Prohibition gangster history here, but it was really the pre-Prohibition history and the artesian well that really captivated us and made us want to redevelop the property, Howell said. We had to gut it, but we wanted to keep the historical significance intact. The process took much longer than they anticipated. Advertisement We wanted to just start making whiskey, and now were doing property redevelopment, he said. The Thornton Historical Society helped with some antique items and photos related to the buildings brewing history, but nobody could find anything depicting the interior of the operation. They got to work anyway, and uncovered a few artifacts in the process. When the Thornton Distilling Co. building was being remodeled, a cigar box containing old postcard beer orders from the 1800s fell from a ceiling. One of the cards requests the brewers to "Please send beer tomorrow." (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown) A cigar box full of postcards came crashing down from the ceiling when we were doing our commercial kitchen, Howell said. They were beer orders from the 1800s written in German and English. One of the postcards, in large handwritten script, simply says Please send beer tomorrow. Stuff like that was incredible to find, he said. Advertisement The postcard and other artifacts from the various incarnations of the buildings history are on display in a room off the main bar area at Thornton Distillery, which opened its taproom and event facility on Repeal Day in December, 2019 the anniversary of the day Prohibition laws were struck from the books in 1933. Display cases show beer bottles from the various breweries that operated there before and after Prohibition, and photographs show the operation at various times from the outside. One image from the 1800s depicts barrels being loaded onto horse-drawn wagons near a bridge, above an employee standing on a raft on the then-navigable Thorn Creek. They didnt know anything about the inside of the operation until Howell got a message from a woman in Wisconsin who said her great-grandfather had been the head brewer in Thornton years ago. His son her grandfather had just died and she found a trove of photographs of the brewery which she shared with the distillers. She said her great-grandfather was the brewer for Capone back in those days, Howell said. They are exquisite photos. We believe a couple show some famous Chicago gangsters. Andy Howell holds an enlarged photograph of a group purported to include Chicago area mobsters sitting outside the brewery in Thornton, though he hasn't been able to verify the claim. Head distiller Ari Klafter said he would love to discover the name of the brewery owner's dog, so they can name a product after it. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown) Though they cant say with certainty, an undated photo of a group of men smoking cigars and having drinks in front of the brewery might include Prohibition era Chicago mobsters Johnny Torrio and James Big Jim Colisimo. That would be a very significant photo if we can substantiate that its them, he said. It looks just like them. Advertisement Stories about the propertys gangland associations are rampant, and Howell has verified a few through such sources as old Chicago Tribune stories, including one in which one of the largest Prohibition raids in the Chicago area caused a temporary waterline rise in Thorn Creek as barrel after barrel of beer was poured in. Patrons often share their own connections to the buildings shady past, but most of those cant be substantiated, either. We take all of that with a grain of salt, Howell said, though Thornton Distilling Co.s signature whiskey line is called Dead Drop, a Prohibition term referring to stashes of hooch hidden for later retrieval by customers. One of the enduring legends is of the tunnels supposedly hollowed out as escape shafts for when feds paid untimely visits. One of the tunnels was purported to lead to a house still standing across the street on the other side of the creek. I have yet to find it, but people promise me theyve been in that tunnel, Howell said. That would be an impressive feat by a bunch of gangsters to run a tunnel under a body of water. Andy Howell holds an antique tray advertising Frederick's Premium Beer, which was "brewed with pure artesian well water" drawn from a source below the brewery on Margaret Street. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown) If the tunnel existed, it was likely obliterated when an apartment building was erected next door to the brewery. That development wiped out much of the old brewing operations underground infrastructure, including old cellars where lager beer could be stored below the frost line in controlled temperatures before the advent of refrigeration. Advertisement It also destroyed the 100-foot tunnel leading to the underground vault where the artesian well head still gurgles away as it as for eons. Modern pumps and copper pipes now enable the distillers to draw large quantities of the mineral water when needed for production, but when not in use it still flows under its own power to an outlet and drains to Thorn Creek. More so than the old brewerys gangland history, its that ancient water source and the pre-Prohibition history of beverage making that continues to fascinate Howell and Ari Klafter, the head distiller. The water is the absolute key, Klafter said. Most brewers and distillers have to treat water to get it to a proper profile. The great thing about the water here, and its been tried out for over 160 years, is its already exceptional brewing water for beer and for spirits. The fact we had it here and it had been used for generations and we could draw from hat was extremely interesting to us. The same limestone beds that were excavated for over a century in Thornton act as a deep filter, removing iron and other dissolved metals and adding minerals. Municipal water sources often filter out the minerals while adding a small amount of chlorine as a disinfectant. Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > For Klafter, that adds to his products terroir its sense of place along with malt and other ingredients sourced from as close as possible, mostly from Illinois. Advertisement Its owners claim Thornton Distilling Co., which opened in 2019, is housed in "the oldest standing brewery in Illinois," a structure that dates to before the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown) Its not the typical way whiskey has been commercially made, Klafter said, but theyre not working in a typical distillery. We say its the oldest standing brewery structure in Illinois, Howell said. We say standing because there were a few older ones that burned down in the Great Chicago Fire. Its a legacy of history he and Klafter are doing their best to embrace as they forge their beverage business future. I feel theres a certain responsibility to all the generations of brewers that came through this space before Andy and myself, Klafter said. They worked here for so long, and I want to do them justice in the product were making and the work were doing. Theres a sense here of picking up where our predecessors left off. Landmarks is a weekly column by Paul Eisenberg exploring the people, places and things that have left an indelible mark on the Southland. He can be reached at peisenberg@tribpub.com. Armenian journalistic organizations appealed to colleagues attending a media forum organized in Azerbaijani-occupied Armenian city of Shushi. We, the undersigned organizations, have no questions to the leadership of Azerbaijan - the country, which holds one of the lowest places in international freedom of expression rankings but is hosting yet another pompous media forum on July 22-23. Similarly, we have no questions to Azerbaijan's Media Development Agency, the event organizer, which endorses all government initiatives that restrict freedom of speech and regularly targets human rights organizations for their criticism of the massive suppression of journalists rights in the country. Unfortunately, there are no additional questions to the reputable media and other professional entities that have delegated their representatives to the Forum, held with the sole purpose of legitimizing Baku's foreign and domestic policies, which contradict to the fundamental values of the civilized world - such lack of integrity has long become business as usual for many. Our question is addressed to fellow journalists who are currently enjoying the lavish hospitality of the Aliyev regime while finding themselves just a few kilometers away from the cities and villages of Nagorno-Karabagh, living in isolation from the outside world for more than seven months. Within this setting, thousands of people have been deprived of access to basic food for an extended period, women in childbirth are unable to reach hospital due to the scarcity of petrol, water supply is threatened due to a shortage of electricity: doesnt your professional duty drive you to demand freedom of movement from the Azerbaijani authorities in order to witness a tragedy with few parallels in the modern world? Isn't it anymore essential for the media to continue its role in breaking through information blockades, particularly in a situation where news about unfolding events is provided exclusively by biased sources? Will you really allow yourselves to be swayed by credulity, an unusual approach for professionals in our field, and embrace the arguments of the Forums hosts that assert their eagerness to assist your journey just a short drive away to Stepanakert, the capital of Nagorno-Karabagh, attributing any hindrance to your passage to the local Armenian leadership or Russian peacekeepers? Your determination and perseverance, in fact, could contribute to breaking the current impasse in the region. We firmly believe that this seemingly minor episode in the history of journalism may have significant implications for the future reputation of our shared profession. YEREVAN PRESS CLUB EDIA INITIATIVES CENTER MEDIA DIVERSITY INSTITUTE-ARMENIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER PUBLIC JOURNALISM CLUB COMMITTEE TO PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION JOURNALISTS CLUB ASPAREZ JOURNALISTS FOR THE FUTURE NGO JOURNALISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS NGO GORIS PRESS CLUB FEMIDA NGO, the message says. NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 22: As a part of Startup 20 engagement forum of the G20 presidency, Savishkar India, in collaboration with National Stock Exchange (NSE), Anantam ecosystem and Digital Prosperity for Asia (DPA) organized a roundtable conference titled Blockchain Revolution: Unlocking Startup Opportunities in India on 20th July 2023 at NSE, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai. The round table conference, which was attended by 54 participants emphasized on how blockchain technology has the ability to revolutionize the startup ecosystem. The roundtable brought together key stakeholders from National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM), Atal Incubation Center (ATAL- AIC), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Entrepreneurship (IEEE entrepreneurship). The objective was to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and policy discussions that will pave the way for unlocking the full potential of blockchain technology. Chintan Oza, Council Member, Alliance Taskforce, Startup 20 and Dr. Sujata Seshadrinathan, Director - IT, Basiz Fund Services, Mumbai presented their thoughts on blockchain. Their presentation specified statistics and research on technology, opportunities, regulatory frameworks, challenges, cross border trade and engagement with government. During the discussions, Dr Seshadrinathan spoke about the opportunities, challenges and enabling factors of blockchain in various sectors. She spoke on implementation and cost of blockchain innovation and went on to say that; Blockchain is helping us to build a better world. It is here to stay and there is no other technology like it. While many have understood the features of blockchain but not the technology behind it. There will be a gap in (understanding) of every innovation adoption in first few years. However, as far as technology is concerned, blockchain is one of the most powerful innovations of recent times and also the most misunderstood Dr. Seshadrinathan added. Stating the importance of blockchain Ashish Chauhan said One thing is very sure, young people will learn technology faster and will enlighten us. We need a patra for knowledge, a person who has that credibility and authority of the subject, who can communicate and shape discussions on it with authorities In his concluding statement Chauhan states, We need to focus on blockchain technology, AI, 5G and all kinds of technology, their advantages and disadvantages. It is important that we have forums where all aspects of these technologies are discussed and then brought to light to the policy makers. Blockchain as a technology is here to stay and such discussions are very much necessary for the betterment of our country. Ramnath Gopalakrishnan, Director & GM - APAC for DPA Member Quickwork, which has been a key member in exploring collaborations and opportunities in the APAC region, said, The Coalition for Digital Prosperity for Asia (DPA) supports the Startup20 India initiative as a vital step towards empowering Indian SMEs in the blockchain and digital sectors to achieve their full potential and power robust growth for India's digital economy. Events like this roundtable allow digital and blockchain entrepreneurs to demonstrate their ingenuity and showcase the potential of this emergent and promising market. The DPA is proud to be a partner of this Startup 20 engagement under the G20 umbrella and work towards creating opportunities for capacity development for India's digital startup ecosystem, promoting seamless cross border data flows, and high standards of digital trade." Besides Oza and Dr Seshadrinathan, the event saw participation and discussions from several other renowned names including Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD and CEO, National Stock Exchange, Mumbai; Nilesh Vohra, Enterprise Leader - Digital Transformation & Technology Infrastructure Enterprise Leader Arthur D. Little, among others. The discussion was moderated by Krantisagar More, PhD Scholar in pharmaceutics at the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, National Convenor, Savishkar India. Other subject matter experts including Ekta Singh, IP Lawyer, Web 3; Dr. Unnat P Pandit, Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, and Uday Wankawala, CEO Atal Incubation Center- Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini were also part of the conference. Malcolm Gonsalves, and Kushaal Patel, two youth entrepreneurs, shared their perspectives on Blockchain system and application in India. Blockchain technology has been significant growth in India. Interestingly, both public and private sectors are exploring the potential of blockchain technology and ways to leverage it. There is immense scope for value addition in the several sectors including financial sector, supply chain management, healthcare, and education sectors to expedite processes, validate and securely store data. Government of India has already begun exploring the use of blockchain for government services through IndiaChain, a block initiative launched by NITI Aayog. There is growing number of blockchain businesses and innovation centers focuses on studying, creating, and implementing its use across domains. Savishkar India: Savishkar India is governed by Vidyarthi Kalyan Niyas (VKN) Bhopal, MP. It provides incubation platforms and internships to those who want to become entrepreneurs. Bringing out talent, the organization encourages your creative ideas, provides a healthy dialogue with industry for the technological and sustainable development of India Digital prosperity for Asia (DPA): The coalition for the Digital Prosperity for Asia is an organization consisting of a growing group of innovative Asian digital companies promoting the democratization of digital technologies across all sectors. It supports national governments and policymakers in APAC to grow their digital economies and reap the benefit of digital technologies. The coalition is looking for more like-minded APAC companies in the digital space that recognize the importance of growing the digital economy for local value creation and for shared prosperity across Asia. National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission(NIPAM):A National Intellectual Property Awareness Mission (NIPAM) under the initiative of the Government's "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav", has been launched by Shri Anurag Jain, Secretary, DPIIT. The pan-India ambitious mission aims to provide awareness on intellectual property and its rights to 1 million students. It aims to inculcate the spirit of creativity and innovation to students of higher education (classes 8 to 12) and ignite and inspire the students of college/Universities to innovate and protect their creations. Institute of Chemical Technology ( ICT): University Department of Chemical Technology (popularly called UDCT) of the University of Bombay, was established on October 1, 1933, with the noble intention of advancing India's knowledge reserves in chemical science and technology, the Institute has grown to become a premier (deemed) university devoted to education, training, research and industrial collaboration in chemical engineering, chemical technology, applied chemistry, pharmacy, biotechnology, and bioprocessing. Atal Incubation Center (ATAL- AIC): Atal Incubation Centre is a flagship initiative to promote the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in India. It is an umbrella structure that has been mandated to promote innovation and revolutionize the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country. It develops new policies and programmes for fostering innovation in different sectors of the economy and provides platform and collaboration opportunities to various stakeholders in the entrepreneurial space. Startup20: It is established under the G20 India Presidency 2023, is an engagement group representing global startup ecosystem stakeholders and raising macroeconomic concerns. It works on key topics, formulating recommendations, and presenting final recommendations to the G20 Presidency for discussion at the G20 Summit. Group of Twenty (G20):The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. It works to address major issues related to the global economy, such as international financial stability, climate change mitigation and sustainable development, The G20 Summit is held annually, under the leadership of a rotating Presidency. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Entrepreneurship (IEEE entrepreneurship): The IEEE Entrepreneurship community is at the forefront of turning ideas into successful businesses. Their priority is to help our members not just launch but grow their ventures and facilitate the networking and mentoring of those who have the passion to translate their vision into reality. Anantam ecosystem: A venture capital and private equity principals company working on ecosystem for Startup and MSME. National Stock Exchange (NSE): National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) is one of the leading stock exchanges in India, based in Mumbai. It is the world's largest derivatives exchange by number of contracts traded[a] and the third largest in cash equities by number of trades, It is one of the largest stock exchanges in the world by market capitalization. NSE's flagship index, the NIFTY 50, a 50-stock index is used extensively by investors in India and around the world as a barometer of the Indian capital market. NSE is the venue partner of this Round table conference. (Disclaimer: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same) Taking to Instagram, Varun shared a string of stills from Bawaal, which he captioned, Ajju bhaiya ne Mahual bana diya. Thank u for giving bawaal a place In Your heart. I have never received so many calls for any film of mine. The impact this film is having on people is incredible. Its a conversation starter about the fake image industry and how today we are all in someway slaves to this ideology. Thank u for watching and enjoying Ajju and his family. You are#bawaal. https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu_IV5CI0WF/ 'Bawaal' is directed by Nitesh Tiwari, who is best known for helming blockbusters like 'Dangal' and 'Chhichhore'. The film is a romantic drama set against the backdrop of World War 2. The film has Varun playing a history teacher who takesJanhvi Kapoor's character on a trip to Europe to visit World War 2 sites. It was shot in Paris, Berlin, Poland, Amsterdam, Krakow, Warsaw along with Lucknow and two other cities in India. The film's crew had more than 700 people with action directors and stuntmen hired from Germany. The film was released on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video on July 21. Apart from this, Varun will also be seen in the Indian adaptation of the series Citadel opposite Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The series will stream on Amazon Prime Video. He also has horror comedy film Bhediya 2 and Jawan director Atlees next film. (ANI) Hitting out at the Rajasthan government over the crimes against women in the state, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday said that it has totally failed to prevent such incidents. Minister Shekhawat called it an unfortunate situation adding that several types of mafias are functioning in Rajasthan and corruption in the state is at an all-time high. "It is an unfortunate situation. The govt has totally failed to prevent such incidents. Apart from women, there has been a surge in crimes against small and minor girls...People are being killed to grab temple lands...Several types of mafias are functioning in Rajasthan and corruption in the state is at an all-time high. The govt of Rajasthan has failed...", he said. Meanwhile, the Rajasthan government has sacked its minister of state Rajendra Singh Gudha after he slammed the state government over crimes against women. According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister. The Governor accepted the recommendation of the Chief Minister with immediate effect. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to sack the Minister of State Rajendra Singh Gudha, a member of the Council of Ministers, on the evening of July 21. The Governor has accepted this recommendation of Chief Minister Gehlot with immediate effect, stated the Governor's House. In the official statement, no reason for Gudhas termination was mentioned in the order. Earlier today, Gudha had criticised his own government over recent incidents of crimes against women in the state. Speaking in the assembly, Gudha, the Congress leader said that it should be accepted that the state government failed in women's safety. It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan," Gudha said. The recent incident, in which the body of a 19-year-old girl was recovered from a well in which she was allegedly dumped after being allegedly raped and murdered had created a furore in the State Assembly. Meanwhile, Jodhpur Police recovered four charred bodies from a hut at Cherai village in Ramnagar gram panchayat of Jodhpur on July 19. As per the information, the family members were first murdered and then their bodies were set on fire. Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Thursday said that the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and National Commission for Women has taken cognizance of the incident. Coming down heavily on the Congress government over the recovery of the charred bodies, the BJP demanded the resignation of CM Gehlot."This is a shameful incident. The chief minister should step down owning moral responsibility for the incident, which took place in his home district. Crimes across Rajasthan have been on the rise in the recent past," BJP leader CP Joshi said. Earlier on Sunday, in another incident, a 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang raped by three college students while her boyfriend was thrashed in Jodhpur of Rajasthan. However, the police later informed that they have arrested the accused hours after the incident. The three accused have been identified as Samandar Singh Bhati, Dharmpal Singh and Bhattam Singh (aged 20-22). As per the police, the three accused had first attacked the boy and then took turns raping the minor girl. (ANI) According to the police, the victim, aged about 19 years, was staying as an attendant with her sister-in-law in the New Medicine Block of LNJP Hospital, Delhi. On the intervening nights of July 19 and 20, at about 2.00 AM, when she went to the ground floor, one person stopped her on her way back and tried to get close to her, said the Police. The accused is identified as Manish, a resident of Shahdara, aged - 40 years, and was arrested as per the procedure, they added. A case under Section 354/354A IPC was registered at PS IP Estate, said the police. The police further added that the accused was an attendant to his old-aged mother, who was admitted to the same block for heart-related ailments. He works as a private security guard. Further investigation is underway. (ANI) More than 780 free doses of Narcan, a nasal spray that helps reverse opioid overdoses, were distributed by the Kane County Health Department at last week's county fair. (Kane County Health Department/HANDOUT) This years Kane County Fair had all the usual carnival rides and summer treats like funnel cake and fresh squeezed lemonade, but it also had something different. Free Narcan nasal spray. The Kane County Health Department gave away 768 doses of Narcan nasal spray at its booth at last weeks fair. Advertisement There was really good interest, said Michael Isaacson, the health departments executive director. Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration approved Narcan for over-the-counter sales. Isaacson thinks the FDAs action helped put a spotlight on the lifesaving medication. Narcan, also called Naloxone, can reverse an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of the drug on the brain and restoring breathing, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Advertisement I think the word is getting out that naloxone is a good thing to have around you may be able to save someones life, Isaacson said. We certainly arent supporting people using drugs, but we do want to keep people alive. As a harm reduction strategy, we want to make it as safe as possible for people, so they eventually get into recovery. Kane County Health Department officials are spending the summer at large public gatherings to distribute free Narcan. The Kane County Fair is one venue where we can communicate with a large number of residents and get them educated about overdoses and provide them with naloxone, Isaacson said. Health Department officials are also passing out Narcan during the Kane County Sheriffs Office National Night Out being held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at the sheriffs office, 37W755 Illinois Route 38, St. Charles. Free Narcan will be distributed at the downtown Aurora Farmers Market on Thursday, Aug. 17, and the Aurora Farmers Market- West Plaza on Saturday, Sept. 16. Opioids laced with fentanyl have been a leading cause of overdose deaths in Kane County and around the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show 500,000 Americans died of an overdose from 1999 to 2022. It has been labeled a national epidemic. Kane County had 99 people die of an overdose in 2022, a 20% increase over the past four years, according to the health departments data. A total of 419 people overdosed and were transported to a Kane County hospital, it stated. Elgin Police reported three overdoses in May and four in June. Carpentersville Police responded to what was described as a mass overdose earlier this year involving three people. In an effort to address the continuing toll of fentanyl on our residents, the Kane County Health Department is working with partners across the community to get naloxone (Narcan) distributed, Isaacson said. Substance abuse disorder counselors and treatment centers cheered the FDAs action, but worried whether families or those with the disorder could afford Narcan. GOOD-RX tracks prescription drug prices and reports the cost is about $130 for a two-dose container. Advertisement Kane County is able to distribute Narcan for free through the Illinois Department of Human Services, Isaacson said. We are able to order and distribute this at no charge, he said. The Kane County Health Department handed out packages of Narcan, also know as naloxone, at the Kane County Fair. Health department officials will be at other summer events passing out the life-saving medication for free. (Gloria Casas/The Courier-News) The department has worked for years to provide Narcan to police officers and treatment centers. But the health department stepped up efforts to get Narcan into the hands of community groups and the friends and family of people dealing with substance use disorders. Overdoses and overdose deaths affect families across all the health departments communities, regarding age, socio-economic status, or other factors, Isaacson said. This is something that is a threat to most families. Most families know someone impacted by the loss of a son, daughter, niece, nephew or loved one to an overdose, he said. One of the Health Departments partners is Mathers Recovery Center in Elgin. The health departments website lists all the places Narcan is available for free. The more folks that can get access to Narcan, the better off we are, said Cindy Eckholm, who is the centers office manager. She is studying to obtain her certification as a recovery counselor and plans to do her internship at Mathers Recovery Center. For recovery professionals, its a relief to know Narcan is becoming widely available because it ensures the safety of patients, Eckholm said. Its especially important because fentanyl is so much stronger than other opioids, she said. Advertisement Eckholm said patients and families are trained to use Narcan, which is easy to use. The Health Department also posted a video explaining the process on its social media. Administering Narcan is highly effective and safe, it stated. Theres more information about Narcan, signs of an overdose, how to use it and where to get help with substance abuse disorder at https://www.kanehealth.com. Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News. BJP MP Rajyavardhan Rathore came down heavily on the Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan for removing Rajendra Singh Gudha from the state cabinet, saying that the "Congress cannot tolerate truth". "He was removed from the state cabinet because Congress cannot tolerate truth, this truth was muffled by the state government for a long time," Rajyavardhan Rathore told ANI. Rathore said that Rajasthan Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha spoke the truth when he said that the state government needs to look into the crimes happening in its own state. "A Rajasthan Minister spoke truth inside the Assembly House, he said that the state government must look into the crimes happening in its own state instead of criticising incidents of other states. For the last three years, Rajasthan is number one for crimes against women. This is the truth," he said. Slamming the Ashok Gehlot government, Rathore said, "Minister Gudha is right in saying that in Manipur a video surfaced, whereas here, sisters and daughters get raped every day. Is Ashok Gehlot waiting for any video to surface?" Speaking on former Minister Rajendra Singh Gudha's tenure in the Congress he said, "The Congress has used this Minister at every moment of opportunity. Whenever he spoke in favour of the Congress, he has got himself promoted. Today when he spoke the truth he was removed." In another attack on the Rajasthan government, Rathore questioned the Congress party on whether issues of women's safety is not as important as protecting the party line. "The Congress state president said that he has spoken going against the party line. Is speaking for the safety of women against the party line? It is now proven that for the Congress, party comes first, not the country," he said. The Rajasthan government on Friday sacked its minister of state Rajendra Singh Gudha. According to the Governors House, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to remove the minister. The Governor accepted the recommendation of the Chief Minister with immediate effect. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot recommended to Governor Kalraj Mishra to sack the Minister of State Rajendra Singh Gudha, member of the Council of Ministers, in the evening of July 21. The Governor has accepted this recommendation of Chief Minister Gehlot with immediate effect, stated the Governor House. In the official statement, no reason for Gudhas termination was mentioned in the order. Earlier, speaking at the state Assembly, Rajendra Singh Gudha said that the government should look at the atrocities on women which have increased in the state instead of looking at the situation in Manipur. In his address at the state assembly, Rajendra Singh Gudha said, "It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." (ANI) Speaking about the development, Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) Kiran G Chavan said, "The Naxalites, including a couple surrendered before the Sukma police and the CRPF. One of them is an Ex-Deputy Commander carrying a reward of Rupees 3 lakhs. The couple was carrying a reward of Rupees 1 lakh each." The surrendered Naxalites were done with the hollow ideology of the ultras, the police added. Earlier on Wednesday, a naxal cadre who allegedly indulged in the killing of 29 security personnel, including SP Vinod Choubey, in Madanwada surrendered before forces in the insurgency-hit Kanker district of Chhattisgarh. The surrendered naxal cadre was also accused of killing eight CISF personnel during an attack at the National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC) in Dantewada. The surrendered naxal was identified as Sannu Mandavi alias Shivaji, deputy commander of Section-A under platoon-5 of the outlawed organisation, said a police officer, adding that the surrendered cadre was carrying a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head. (ANI) "Ajay Roy (son of Late Ramkrishna Roy, resident of Dinhata) has been arrested today in connection with two criminal cases in which he is named as the principal accused in the FIR," police said. The Special Crime Branch of Cooch Behar District Police arrested Ajay Roy from the Assam-Bangladesh border at Jorai junction that falls under Bakshirhat police station area on the basis of confidential information. After the arrest, he was brought to Dinhata police station. Cooch Behar Police Superintendent Summit Kumar informed that Ajay Roy was arrested on Friday as he was named in the FIR in two criminal cases. Earlier last month ahead of the West Bengal panchayat polls, Ajay Roy had claimed that the people who created a ruckus during a clash of two groups in Cooch Behar, came from neighbouring Bangladesh. "Those who have created the ruckus and the person who died came from Bangladesh. There was a scuffle between them regarding the exchange of money and no politics was involved." BJP Dinhata city mandal president Ajay Roy said. On July 14, a five member fact-finding committee of the BJP led by MP Ravi Shankar Prasad paid a visit to Coochbehar in North Bengal on Friday to visit the victims who were affected by violence during the panchayat polls. The West Bengal panchayat polls was held on July 8. The voting day was marred with widespread violence, looting of ballots papers and rigging. There were reports of booth capturing, damaging of ballot boxes and assault of presiding officers from several districts such as Murshidabad, Cooch Behar, Malda, South 24 Parganas, North Dinajpur and Nadia. Reports also emerged of ballot boxes being set on fire and clashes between political parties in different locations. (ANI) Vice Admiral Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOCinC) Biswajit Dasgupta highlighted the the transformational changes that he has seen in the Indian Navy over the last four decades of his naval career on Friday. The Vice Admiral said that these include the Indian Navy's expanding operational footprint, international reputation as a world-class navy, growing self-reliance, increased professionalism and quality of life of naval personnel. The Vice Admiral also expressed his deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by the Andhra Pradesh State and Visakhapatnam District Administration in successfully organizing various events in 2022 including the Navy Day Op Demo, International Exercise MILAN 2022 and the President Fleet Review, as well as facilitating several Naval projects of importance. Notably, the Admiral highlighted the deep-rooted connection between the Indian Navy and the city of Visakhapatnam and their growth in tandem over the decades that has only reinforced their unique symbiotic bond. As part of the future roadmap, the Admiral announced that MILAN 24, scheduled for February 2024, would be a landmark event, in its magnitude and stature, for the Navy as well as the City of Visakhapatnam. The prestigious international event is expected to witness even greater participation from friendly foreign navies than previous editions, fostering maritime cooperation and goodwill among navies of the world, he said. (ANI) Based on a tip-off, a team of Nagaon district police on Friday carried out an operation at the Christianbasti area in Nagaon town and recovered more than 800 grams of heroin. "We launched the operation at the Christianbasti area based on secret information. We recovered and seized 60 soap cases of suspected heroin containing around 800 grams from three persons," Nabaneet Mahanta, Superintendent of Police of Nagaon district said. "The market value of the seized drugs is estimated at around Rs 5 crore. The arrested persons were carrying the drugs from Dimapur to Nagaon," The police officer added. The arrested persons were identified as Chanu Sheikh, Gulzar Hussain and Nizamuddin. Further investigation is underway. Earlier on Thursday, AssamPolice seized a large quantity of cannabis and apprehended six persons inAssam's Karimganj district. According to the Karimganj district police, in an anti-narcotic operation, a team from Nilambazar police station seized 33.5 kg of cannabis at Nilambazar station road in Karimganj district. (ANI) The Delhi High Court has ordered journalists, Tarun Tejpal, Anirudh Behl, Mathew Samual and M/S Tehelka.Com, to pay Rs 2 crore as damages to retired Indian Army officer, Major General MS Ahluwalia in a defamation case. Tehelka had conducted a sting operation in 2001 stating that Ahluwalia was allegedly involved in corruption in the defence deals. The bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna noted that the reputation of the plaintiff has suffered as he not only faced a lowering of estimation in the eyes of the public but his character also got maligned with serious allegations of corruption which no subsequent reputation can redress or heal. The court also noted that much time has passed and the plaintiff has already lived with ill fame for more than 23 years. Considering the enormity of the nature of defamation, an apology at this stage is not only inadequate but is meaningless. According to the suit, Tarun Tejpal, the proprietor of the portal, Tehelka.Com, was responsible for managing the release of news items/ articles on the website of Tehelka.Com. A media blitz was launched on 13.03.2001 carrying a story about the alleged corruption in the defence deals relating to import of new defence equipments. The story was done and recorded by two Reporters allegedly working undercover by representing themselves on behalf of a fictitious defence equipment Firm based in London keen to introduce new defence equipments in the Indian Army, stated the suit. The article alleged that Ahluwalia had demanded Rs 10 lakh and a bottle of Blue Label whiskey as a bribe. It further alleged that the officer had accepted a token bribe of Rs 50,000. The plaintiff/ Major General through suit claimed that this was done deliberately without ascertaining the true facts. The allegations were false to the knowledge of the defendant and were intentionally made to destroy and malign the reputation and image of the plaintiff in the general public. In fact, the alleged tape containing the conversation between the Reporter and plaintiff has been tampered with and doctored to manipulate the recording and selective portions had been deleted and editorial comments had been added which were not substantiated by facts. The Indian Army took serious note of the telecasted video tape and ordered a Court of Inquiry into this issue. The plaintiff was summoned in the Court of Inquiry and his military reputation and honour had been tarnished and put under a cloud of suspicion, stated the suit. (ANI) Uttarakhand State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel has rescued all students who got stranded due to the heavy debris being swept into the Kasturba Inter College in Uttarkashi district, officials said on Saturday. Heavy rains caused water-logging in the residential school leading to the evacuation. The SDRF was informed by the Uttarkashi Disaster Management, in the middle of the night on Thursday about students being trapped inside Kasturba Inter College due to falling debris near Gangnani. "Acting on the information, as per the instructions of Manikant Mishra, Commandant SDRF, the SDRF rescue team immediately reached the spot with rescue equipment," an official statement read. About 150 students were trapped due to the debris and all of them were rescued by the SDRF rescue team in the night itself and taken to a safe place. People from commercial hotels, shops and nearby houses in the area were taken to a safe place, urging them to leave the place immediately due to the potential danger. There was no loss of life, said officials. Meanwhile, scores of commuters, including tourists as well as locals are stranded in Uttarkashi after the Yamunotri National Highway was blocked at many places today due to falling debris near Gangnani officials said. Visuals from the area showed vehicles being stuck in debris, leaving commuters stranded for hours. According to the Uttarkashi administration, the highway was blocked at many places including Chhatanga, adding that a Tehsildar was sent to take stock of the situation. Uttarkashi district disaster management officials said that due to heavy rains near Gangnani in the Barkot area, there has been a lot of debris and stones on the Yamunotri National Highway. "The fresh spell of rains led to water-logging in Kasturba Gandhi residential school. The school children had to be shifted to safer places," they said. A team each from the State Disaster Response Force team and the fire brigade was immediately sent to the spot to carry out relief work, they added. Similarly, Badrinath National Highway near Chamoli district was also blocked in three places due to falling debris as incessant rainfall continued in the region. As per officials, the incident left a large number of commuters stuck on both sides of the national highway for hours. "The roadway is blocked due to debris at Nandprayag, Belakuchi, and Pagalnala on the Badrinath National Highway," Chamoli police said in a tweet on Saturday morning. In Uttarakhand, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to very heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning at isolated places over Dehradun, Uttarkashi, Tehri, Pauri and Nainital in the next 24 hours. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Friday reviewed the progress of relief and rescue works in Damkothi in Haridwar district in connection with waterlogging in the area. (ANI) The District Judge of Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday reserved an order on the plea of Sukesh Chandrasekar to transfer his case from one court to another. This application was moved in the money laundering case arising out of the 'two leaves' election symbol bribery case.He has said that he has no faith in the judge who is hearing his money laundering case in which only he has been charge-sheeted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). District Judge (DJ) Anju Bajaj Chandna reserved the order after hearing submissions of Sukesh's counsel and ED's Prosecutor. The court will pronounce the order on August 9. Advocate Anant Malik, counsel for Sukesh Chandrasekar, submitted that his client has no faith in the judge who is hearing his case. The main case has been stayed by the Supreme Court qua other accused. The High Court had also stayed the main case qua this accused. Advocate Anant Malik also argued that "the concerned judge was told that I went to HC in revision against her order and the next date was April 5, 2023, however, she said I will do what I want. "It was also stated that while recording witness statements, the judge used to teach the witnesses and warned them to state accordingly which is something very strange," Advocate Malik argued in court. The counsel also submitted that I (Sukesh) am the prime witness in the investigation going on against Satyender Jain and Arvind Kejriwal and my case is a politically motivated case.The accused wanted to delay the case as it is at fag end of the trial. ED's counsel also argued that 15 witnesses have been examined and cross-examined. Only five witnesses are to be examined. This case relates to the case registered by the Crime Branch of Delhi police in 2017. This case is related to the allegations of a bribe offered to the official to influence the case of two leaves election symbol. (ANI) Amid protests and the political fallout of two viral videos one from trouble-torn Manipur and another from Malda district in West Bengal Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat on Saturday said the two incidents shoudn't be compared as atrocities on women in any part of the country was condemnable. While the Manipur video purportedly shows two women being paraded in the nude, the BJP on Saturday shared a clip from Malda, claiming that two tribal women seen in the video were stripped, beaten up and tortured as the police remained "mute spectators". On the war of words over the two videos, Brinda Karat told reporters on Saturday, "Malda's incident should not be compared to that of Manipur. Atrocities against women in any part of the country are condemnable. The incident in West Bengal, which is about some Adivasi women being beaten up by other Adivasi women, is regrettable and condemnable. It only goes to show the lawlessness and the prevailing state of affairs in the state." "However, the attempts by the BJP's IT cell to compare the Malda incident to that of Manipur, thereby trying to gloss over the failure of the BJP government in the Northeast state, is equally condemnable," the CPI(M) leader added. Targeting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Malda video, the BJP on Saturday claimed she had failed to provide security to women in her state. Meanwhile, the Manipur Police on Saturday said it had arrested another accused in connection with the viral video, bringing the total number of arrests in the incident to 5. On Friday, the remaing four persons arrested accused in the case were produced befire a court and remanded to police custody for 11 days. (ANI) Training his guns at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot-led government in Rajasthan, Union Minister Anurag Thakur on Saturday said that "peaceful and safe state has become number one in terms of crime against women in five years." Thakurs comments followed a press conference held by Gehlot earlier in the day in which he launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of not visiting violence-hit Manipur, from where a viral video of the incident in which two women were paraded in the nude and assaulted had gone viral and triggered outrage. Hitting back at the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Thakur said, "Where has Rajasthan reached in the last five years? There have been so many incidents of rape and atrocities against women that a peaceful and safe state has become number one in terms of crime against women in the last five years." Addressing a press briefing at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters here in the national capital, the Union Minister said, "A total of 1.09 lakh incidents of crime against women happened in the state in last four years and 22 per cent rape cases in India are from Rajasthan." Thakur also slammed Gehlot for removing Minister of State Rajendra Singh Gudha from the Council of Ministers after he criticised his own government on the atrocities against women in the poll-bound state. In his address in the Rajasthan assembly yesterday, Rajendra Singh Gudha said, "It is true and should be accepted that we have failed in women's safety. Instead of Manipur, we should look within ourselves why atrocities on women have increased in Rajasthan." Sharpening his attacks further, Thakur said that Gehlot had removed one of his ministers on the orders of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. "On the orders of Sonia ji and Rahul Gandhi, Gehlot sacked one of his own ministers. Gudha was sacked as he expressed concern over the situation in Rajasthan," Thakur said. The union minister also asked why the Opposition was silent on crimes in West Bengal, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Why are their lips sealed on violence in West Bengal? The humiliation of women in both Howrah and Malda are shocking, Thakur said. The BJP has also targetted chief minister Mamata Banerjee for failing to provide security to women in the State. Earlier today BJP I-T cell in chief Amit Malviya tweeted that two tribal women were allegedly stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly in West Bengals Malda a few days ago while police remained a mute spectator. On Friday, a BJP worker from Howrah's South Panchala in West Bengal claimed that during the recent panchayat polls in the state, she was dragged outside the polling booth and her clothes were ripped off. The woman said that she has filed an FIR in the incident. Anurag Thakur in todays press briefing stated, The incidents of crime against women have increased in some states of the country and no action was taken against this in several states. What happened in Begusarai is in front of us, but CM Nitish Kumar did not speak a single word about this. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said, "PM Modi has taken responsibility and assured that injustice against women will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against the perpetrators...Whatever happened in Manipur is unfortunate but what happened in West Bengal is even more unfortunate...The people who were raising their voices against Manipur violence, a similar incident happened in West Bengal. It is worrisome and shameful..." Union Minister Smriti Irani also said today that Congress does not want to hear the truth about atrocities against women in the state of Rajasthan. What is extremely alarming is that yesterday, from the state of Rajasthan, a minister spoke up on crime against women in the state, he was unceremoniously dismissed by the Congress. Equally shocking is a video from West Bengal's Malda where two Dalit women were beaten and stripped, Irani said. The Union Minister also targeted the Opposition and the Congress party for remaining a mute spectator to the killings of people during the West Bengal panchayat elections all because it is hungry for collaboration with the TMC. (ANI) A Hinsdale doctor and his Lombard-based surgical center have been ordered to pay more than $750,000 to the United States to settle a lawsuit accusing them of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare and a federal employee health program, the U.S. attorneys office announced Friday. The suit claims that 75-year-old doctor John Greager II, of Hinsdale, purposefully removed moles from patients on the same day and then fraudulently submitted them as having been removed during different days to maximize reimbursements and putting possible cancer patients at further risk, according to news releases on the case. Advertisement Greager pleaded guilty earlier this year to the health care fraud charge and was sentenced to a prison term of six months and fined $1 million. According to federal prosecutors, Greager created fraudulent claims at the Lombard facility between 2015-2021 by stating that mole-removal procedures had been provided to patients on multiple dates. Advertisement Prosecutors said that Greager had removed multiple moles on a single date, but the procedures were billed as if they were removed on separate dates to maximize reimbursement from Medicare and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Prosecutors also said he admitted that he knew insurers paid more for moles removed on separate dates. Both Medicare and BCBS paid Greager approximately $1.7 million as a result of his scheme, according to federal prosecutors. According to a June news release after his sentencing, Greager stored moles at his office and delayed sending them for pathology testing to hide his financial scheme and making it appear on pathology reports that the moles had been removed on separate days. Greagers conduct delayed critical testing on moles that he removed for serious illnesses, including cancer. Greager also created fake patient charts, including preoperative and postoperative notes that indicated he performed mole-removal procedures on dates when he was not in Illinois, the June release about his sentencing said. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, alleged that Greager, a doctor at Cancer Therapy Associates in Lombard, violated the False Claims Act through a practice known as unbundling, according to a release Friday about the lawsuit settlement. This practice caused Medicare and the FEHP to pay more than they would have if the mole removals had been billed as having occurred at the same visit. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer this week approved the settlement, under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, for a total of $757,879. The False Claims Act allows private citizens to bring lawsuits on behalf of the United States for false claims and a share in the profits. The settlement was announced by officials in the United States Attorney office for the Northern District of Illinois, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Inspector General and other federal agencies. Floor leaders of the newly formed Opposition alliance the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) will meet at the office of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in Parliament on July 24 to chalk out the strategy for the floor of the House, the sources said on Saturday. The leaders are likely to protest in front of the Gandhi statue on the Manipur issue. The situation in Manipur dominated the proceedings of the second day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, which began on Thursday, with the Opposition demanding the Centre to discuss the issue. The Congress and opposition leaders are demanding a statement from the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon session. Meanwhile, the proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha faced adjournments for the second consecutive day amid uproar over the Manipur incident. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi informed members that the government is ready to have discussions on the Manipur violence in both Houses, and the Home Minister would give his reply once the discussions are conducted. The 12th session of the 17th Lok Sabha has begun close on the heels of 26 opposition parties forming the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) to take on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In a recent incident in Manipur, two women were paraded naked and sexually assaulted before being set free by the mob comprising the majority community. The incident allegedly took place on May 4, a day after ethnic clashes broke out in Manipur. After a video of the same went viral, the police swung into action and arrested five people, including the main accused. Taking suo motu cognisance of the video, Police on Thursday night said that a case of abduction, gang rape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai police station in Thoubal district against unknown armed men and that all-out efforts were on to arrest the culprits at the earliest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi while briefing the media ahead of the monsoon session on Thursday, said he is pained over the incident that is "shameful for any civil society". "No accused will be spared, we will never forgive those who are behind this," PM Modi said. The violence in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 in protest against the proposed inclusion of people belonging to the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). (ANI) Trinamool Congress MLA and West Bengal Women and Child Welfare Development Minister, Shashi Panja, on Saturday voiced concern over the Manipur viral video, asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clear his stand on the incident. The Centre and the Manipur government have come under fire from the Opposition over a viral video from Manipur, purportedly showing two women being paraded in the nude. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Panja said, "Yesterday, from the podium of our July 21 rally, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and (MP) Abhishek Banerjee cleared our state on the Manipur incident. We had been tracking events in Manipur over the past 88 days, waiting for the PM to speak up. It wasn't until the day before yesterday that he finally opened up on Manipur, making a brief statement expressing his sorrow (over the viral video). We demand that all other listed businesses in Parliament be suspended or set aside and the PM make his stand clear on the Manipur issue." "Two days have passed (since the viral video) and we still haven't seen the PM making a statement in Parliament. Our five-member fact-finding team that visited Manipur said the situation is grave there. It seems that the central government is turning a blind eye to reality. The PM and the state's CM aren't willing to accept accountability (for the Manipur situation). I would like the Union Women and Child Development Minister (Smriti Irani) to also clear her stand on this. The Centre sent a fact-finding team to Bengal (to inquire into the violence during and after the Bengal panchayat polls) but why did they not send a similar team to Manipur? The PM was busy campaigning in Karnataka but did not speak a word on Manipur," she added. Further hitting out at PM Modi, the TMC leader said, "He had time to make overseas visits but not to visit Manipur as it burned. As a woman, I felt helpless after watching the video. Where are the victims now? The NCW (National Commission for Women) received a complaint (over the video) within 38 days (of the incident). Why did it not act before? The central government is questioning why Twitter did not take down the video. It has resorted to a diversionary tactic in the wake of the Manipur incident. The PM has to issue a statement in Parliament over the Manipur incident." Accusing NCW chief Rekha Sharma of being "politically motivated", the Bengal minister said, "Did she visit Manipur? Was the Union Home Minister (Amit Shah), who visited Manipur, informed about the video? This video shows how the Home Minister failed to control law and order in Manipur." Warning of more protests in Parliament as the two Houses reconvene on Monday, the minister said, "Our MP's will hold more protests over this incident. Mamata Banerjee hasassured the people of Manipur that she would fight for their rights," Panja added. (ANI) Punjab Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Saturday outrightly rejected the idea of stitching an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab for the upcoming 2024 Parliamentary elections. This statement by Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa comes after the Opposition alliance under the new name- the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A) (having 26 parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party) to take on the BJP-led NDA in 2024 LOk Sabha Polls. But it seems the Congress cadres in Punjab are unhappy with the Congress joining hands with the AAP to take on the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha Polls. "Congress, for a long time, has been one of the two major parties of Punjab. I am sure that in the 2024 parliamentary elections, Congress will come back with a big margin. One alliance is led by BJP the other by Congress, so when people cast their vote it is going to be either for BJP or for Congress. AAP does not figure anywhere. Why should we form an alliance with AAP?" Punjab LoP Bajwa told ANI while asserting that Congress and BJP are two major parties in Punjab. The Congress leader further alleged that the Punjab Congress unit is completely against forming an alliance with AAP and has already informed the party's central leadership about the stand of the party cadre and leaders in Punjab. Bajwa asserted,"I will meet Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday and will request him to not forge an alliance with them (AAP). We were not in alliance with them in past and will not be in future also." "People wanted a change, they brought these people (AAP) to power and people have been suffering...Punjab has been suffering be it economically, law and order and otherwise also," he added. Notably, the Opposition with 26 parties from across the country met in Bengaluru on Tuesday to discuss a united strategy to take on the ruling NDA alliance at the Centre, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Putting an end to speculations over its stand on the Centres ordinance related to the control of administrative services in Delhi, Congress, in a big boost for Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government announced its support to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on July 16. General Secretary KC Venugopal on Sunday said that the partys stand on the same is very clear and it is going to oppose it in parliament. "Congress' stand on this is very clear. We will oppose it," Venugopal said while speaking to ANI. On which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the Congress' "unequivocal opposition" to the Delhi ordinance was "a positive development". The BJP-led central government brought the ordinance on the transfer and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi in May, virtually negating a Supreme Court verdict giving the elected government in Delhi the control over services matter. The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre. (ANI) Delhi's Patiala House Court on Saturday dismissed Supertech chairman R K Arora's bail plea. He was sent to 14 days judicial custody on July 10, 2023. He was recently arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case. Special judge Shailender Malik dismissed the bail plea after hearing submissions on behalf of accused and prosecuting agency. He had moved an application seeking bail after expiry of ED's interrogation. He sought bail on the grounds that the action of Enforcement Directorate is beyond jurisdiction, contrary to law, illegal and void abinitio. In the absence of final report in "scheduled offence" there is no "proceed of crime" in the instant case, hence there cannot be money laundering in the absence of which the arrest of applicant is illegal and arbitrary. It was argued that the alleged diversion relating to the purchase of land parcels by the Company M/S Supertech Limited is within the object and purpose of the company. The 'diversion' and/or 'siphoning' are well defined. It was argued that the applicant has appeared earlier 12 times since 2021, investigation is complete and arresting officer could not have arrested on pretended investigations which is actually re-investigations, prohibited by law rendering the arrest and detention illegal and arbitrary. The material on record clearly shows that the applicant is not guilty of offences alleged; there is no material to arrive at the guilt of violations of section 3 of PMLA and there is remote chance of ultimately the Applicant being convicted, the plea contended. It was submitted that the respondent ED in its reply acknowledged that applicant is not given copy of the grounds of arrest which render the arrest and detention of applicant illegal and void abinitio. On July 10, Arora was produced before concerned Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala after the end of his ED remand. Earlier, ED had apprised the court that 26 FIRs were registered by EOW, Delhi Police; Haryana Police and UP Police against Supertech Limited and its group companies under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) read with 406(criminal breach of trust)/420 (cheating)/467/471 IPC having allegations of cheating atleast 670 home buyers for an amount of Rs.164 Crores. ED alleged that the amount collected by Supertech Ltd. was diverted to their group companies for purchase of properties and the company with land having much lesser value. The agency also alleged that the accused persons have acquired properties, made illegal/wrongful gain arising out the said proceeds of crime by involving, indulging and commissioning of criminal activities related to scheduled offences. It was stated that the prima facie case for commission of offence punishable under Section 3 punishable under Section 4 of the PML Act has been made out. Arora's defence lawyer RK Handoo had opposed the plea and submitted that his client has been illegally arrested and no grounds of arrest have been furnished. He had also apprised the court that present ECIR was registered in the year 2021 and the applicant has been repeatedly examined by the investigating agency and after completion of investigation provisional attachment order dated 11.04.2023 has been issued. That once the investigation has already been completed, therefore was no requirement of arrest, the defence lawyer said. He further had submitted that the offences of Enforcement Directorate are not the police officers, under law, therefore, the enforcement directorate is not entitled for custody remand of the applicant/accused. (ANI) As many as 41 bodies at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar are yet to be identified after the triple train collision in Odisha's Balasore district on June 2. "We have 41 unclaimed bodies. People are coming to us and we are handing over the bodies after matching DNA samples," said Dr (Prof) Ashutosh Biswas, Director, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, Odisha "The handing over process for bodies is going on and the relatives/claimants of other bodies are coming to take bodies," Biswas added. The process of handing over the bodies will continue till the claimants arrive, it added. Earlier on Friday Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the lapses in the signalling-circuit-alteration leading to wrong signals caused the tragic triple train accident in Odishas Balasore district. The Union Minister further said that the Commissioner of Railway Safety under the Ministry of Civil Aviation has completed its inquiry into the Balasore train accident, which claimed 295 lives. The rear-collision was due to the lapses in the signalling-circuit-alteration carried out at the North Signal Goomty (of the station) in the past, and during the execution of the signalling work related to replacement of Electric Lifting Barrier for level crossing gate no. 94 at the Station. These lapses resulted in wrong signalling to Train No. 12841 wherein the UP Home Signal indicated a Green aspect for run-through movement on the UP main line of the station, but the crossover connecting the UP main line to the UP loop line (crossover 17A/B) was set to the UP loop line; the wrong signalling resulted in the Train No.12841 traversing on the UP loop line, and eventual rear-collision with the Goods train (No. N/DDIP) standing there, Ashwini Vaishnaw told the Rajya Sabha. The minister was replying to questions by Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader John Brittas and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh in Rajya Sabha on the tragedy. The tragic incident of the triple train accident on June 2 involving the Chennai-bound Coromandel Express, the Howrah-bound Shalimar Express and a goods train. He further said that 295 passengers lost their lives while 176 sustained grievous injuries, 451 suffered simple injuries and 180 received First Aid Treatment and left. (ANI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two Naxal cadres, including a woman, in connection with an encounter that took place in 2019 near Tiriya village in Chhattisgarh claiming the lives of six Naxals and one civilian. The arrested accused, identified as Kandula Sirisha alias Sirisha alias Padmakka and Duddu Prabhakar alias Duddu alias Ajay were working for different frontal organisations of CPI (Maoist) or Naxal, said the NIA.The duo were arrested on Friday after extensive investigations and search operations, taking the total number of arrests in the Tiriya encounter case (also known as the RK Dairy case) to six. According to NIA investigations, both the arrested accused were working closely with top leaders of the CPI (Maoist) to promote and expand the banned outfits anti-national activities. Several incriminating materials related to the activities of CPI (Maoist) cadres were earlier seized by the NIA during searches at the premises of the two accused. Kandula, a member of the frontal outfit, was previously active as an armed cadre (Tech. Incharge) of CPI (Maoist), said the NIA, adding "both Duddu and Sirisha used to receive funds from CPI (Maoist) and worked for different frontal outfits to spread the Maoist Ideology." "Both were frequent visitors to the core Naxal belt in the Andhra-Odisha border Special Zone, where they would go to meet Late R.K. alias Akkiraju Haragopal, CCM of CPI ( Maoist) and leader of the United Front."The Tiriya encounter had taken place in July 2019, when a joint team of the local District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) travelled to the forest area near Tiriya in the Nagarnar area of Jagdalpur district in Chhattisgarh after a tip-off. They had received information that a group of Maoist cadres had gathered to conspire about carrying out a big incident on July 28, which is observed as Shaheed Diwas.After the encounter, the security forces recovered arms and ammunition, along with incriminating handwritten documents, literature etc from the site, and started investigations into the case.The case was initially registered on July 28, 2019, under various sections of the Arms Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It was re-registered by the NIA on March 18, 2021, after the agency took over the case, along with several other cases related to Maoist conspiracy in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. (ANI) Amidst a nationwide outcry over the appalling incident in Manipur, the UNAU students forum organised a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Saturday. A video of the two-month-old incident had gone viral evoking strong sharp reactions from various political parties and triggering outrage. Amid renewed calls for his resignation and the ruckus in Parliament over a viral video in Manipur, purportedly showing two women being paraded in the nude, Chief Minister N Biren Singh on Friday evaded a question on the demand for him to step down, saying his job was to restore peace to the state and ensure that the perpetrators of the alleged incident in the viral video are brought to book. The Manipur CM informed that, so far, four persons, including the main accused, have been arrested in connection with the incident, adding that his government will ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits. Opposition leaders of all hues have voiced outrage over the Manipur incident and both Houses of Parliament, in the ongoing Monsoon Session, saw repeated disruptions in demand for a discussion on the issue. On the raucous protests by the Opposition over the incident, Singh said the people in Manipur treat all women in the same way as they do their mothers and sisters and never condone crime, adding that this explains why there were ongoing statewide protests in Manipur. Meanwhile, another video surfaced on Friday showing women in Imphal burning down the house of one of the accused. The video was said to be from Thursday. The clip shows a mob going on a rampage and damaging the house before setting it alight. The violence in Manipur erupted after a rally by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM) on May 3 in protest against the proposed inclusion of people belonging to the Meitei community in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs). (ANI) Delhi Police on the direction of Commissioner of Police Sanjay Arora launched a campaign against Chinese manjha (kite string) and conducted searches across all districts of Delhi and seized 120 Chinese manjha rolls. "120 Chinese manjha rolls were seized and legal action was taken against 44 people. CP has given instructions to DCPs and action taken is being monitored to ensure strict action on the ground," an official statement from Delhi police said. The use of Chinese Manjha was banned by the government in 2017. The police also noted that there is a need for uniformity in legal action. "Some Police Stations are registering FIRS u/s 188 IPC (which is punishable with imprisonment for one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both) and a few Police Stations are preparing Kalandras u/s 5/15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, (which is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with a fine up to Rs. 1 lakh, or with both). It must be ensured that where ever manufacture sale, storage, purchase and use of thread made of nylon, synthetic material and/or floated with synthetic substance which is non-biodegradable (commonly known as Chinese Manjha), for kite flying is detected, correct legal action must be taken by invoking Environment (Protection) Act," they said. "It is expected that sustained action will be taken to detect more cases and affect quality seizures to act as deterrents in our efforts to eradicate Chinese Manjha for kite flying," the police added. (ANI) The Manipur Police on Saturday arrested another accused in connection with a viral video which showed two women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in the state. Police said that total of six arrests have been made so far in the incident which occured on May 4,2023. In this regard, the official media handle of Manipur Police took to Twitter and said,"6 (six) including 1 (one) Juvenile Arrested/Apprehended. As regard to the viral video of 2 (two) women on May 4, 2023, another accused was arrested today. Altogether 6 (six) persons including 5 (five) main accused and one juvenile have been arrested and apprehended in the case so far." Police said that it is making all-out effort to arrest the remaining culprits by conducting raids at many suspected hideouts. On July 20, Police had arrested four accused in the case and all were later remanded to 11 day police custody. The first arrest in the case was made in the early hours of Thursday, hours after the video surfaced widely. According to a senior police official the incident took place on May 4 in Manipurs Thoubal district and a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered in the matter. Superintendent of Police (SP), K Meghachandra Singh in a statement on July 19 said "As regards the video of 2 (two) women paraded naked by unknown armed miscreants on 4th May 2023, a case of abduction, gangrape and murder was registered at Nongpok Sekmai Police Station (Thoubal district) against unknown armed miscreants. Manipur has been witnessing violence since May 3, following the protests by the Kuki and Meitei communities against the High Court's order asking the state government to consider the inclusion of Meitei community in the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST). Only STs can buy lands in hilly areas. The majority Meitei community, which occupy the Imphal valley and nearby areas, sought the ST status keeping in view their increasing population and increased requirement of land, so that they could purchase lands in the hilly areas. Earlier on Friday, state Chief Minister N Biren Singh evaded a question over the demand for him to step down, stating that his job was to restore peace to the state and ensure that the perpetrators of the alleged incident in the viral video are brought to book. On the raucous protests by the Opposition in Parliament over the issue, Singh said the people in Manipur respect all women in the same manner as they respect their mothers and sisters. (ANI) Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Saturday once again staked his claim on the Hajipur constituency and said that he will contest the next Lok Sabha polls from his late brother Ram Vilas Paswan's constituency. While talking to ANI, Pashupati Paras, rebuffed his nephew Chirag Paswan who earlier said that he is going to contest from the constituency. I will contest from Hajipur itself, this is my right. I am an MP there, I am a cabinet minister in the Government of India and an old and trusted ally of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance), Paras said. In 2019, Pashupati Paras had won from Hajipur while Chirag emerged the winner from Jamui. However, the uncle-nephew fight shows no sign of relenting for close to three years. Pashupati Kumar Paras and Chirag Paswan first locked their horns over claiming the legacy of Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) founder Ram Vilas Paswan. Earlier on Tuesday, Chirag said that he will contest the next Lok Sabha polls in 2024 from the Hajipur constituency in Bihar. "I definitely say that I will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Hajipur only. It is not right to share the talks that took place with theBJPon a public platform but it is certain that Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) will contest the Lok Sabha election from Hajipur,"Chirag Paswantold ANI. Lok Janshakti Party(Ram Vilas) was formed in October 2021 after the Election Commission allotted a separate symbol to Chirag Paswan's faction following his differences with his uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras, who heads a separate faction. In the 2020 Bihar assembly elections, Chirag Paswan had walked out of the NDA, raising a rebellion against Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. In the Bihar assembly elections 2020, the LJP managed to secure only 5.66 per cent vote share winning a single seat. The lone MLA who won under the LJP symbol soon switched sides to the JD(U). Paswan touched the feet of Paras and the two hugged each other. Paras, who heads Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (RLJP), underplayed the warmth saying they were on a political platform with nothing to do with their family. That was just courtesy. This is our courtesy that if someone touches the feet of any elder then the elder person gives the blessing in return. Especially in Bihar when somebody touches feet, the senior gives blessings. In the same way, when he (Chirag Paswan) touched my feet I gave my blessing to him. That was something personal and political issue is different, said Pashupati Kumar Paras. (ANI) Erin Gray, of Ely's Pierogi, prepares a batch of pierogis on the opening day of Pierogi Fest in 2021 in Whiting. This year's Pierogi Fest is July 28-30. (Gary Middendorf / Post-Tribune) As visitors get ready to descend on Whiting July 28 through 30 for a weekend of kitschy fun and food at Pierogi Fest, Diana Del Rio and her army of volunteers stand ready. Del Rio, of the Robertsdale neighborhood in Hammond, has been volunteering at Pierogi Fest ever since she was 15 and in high school seeking community service hours. Now, at 38, she is the volunteer committee chairperson for the long-running Northwest Indiana festival staple organized by the Whiting Robertsdale Chamber of Commerce. She is responsible for wrangling the approximately 650 volunteers it takes to pull off the event. Advertisement I work with an amazing group of people. We have been working for basically a whole year, Del Rio said. Finding volunteers is very hard. We very rarely meet that goal, Del Rio said, adding no volunteer is ever turned away. Some volunteers return year after year like herself. Advertisement Without them we literally couldnt do what we do, Del Rio said. Thousands of people brave the heat on opening day of Pierogi Fest on Friday, July 23, 2021 in Whiting after the event was canceled in 2020 due to COVID-19. (Gary Middendorf/Post-Tribune) (Gary Middendorf / Post-Tribune) Volunteers do everything from greeting guests, selling tickets, working as announcers and even prepping pierogi for the many events in which they are used. I take a lot of pride in the fact we are doing something huge in our community. Its really cool. Its very unique, and volunteers are making it happen, Del Rio said. Whiting Mayor Steve Spebar says he plays the role of city greeter at the fest, so to speak, and is looking forward to seeing it in full swing this year. Ill be there for interviews. I get out throughout the weekend and make sure everybodys having a good time, Spebar said. That does not mean the mayor misses out on the fun. Spebar said his favorite part about the festival is all of the different food vendors. This year there will be more than 80 food vendors at the three-day event, according to organizers. I have a good appetite. I always try to find different things I want to try, Spebar said. The festival brings an economic boon to the small city of 4,700 as an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 people descend on the Whiting and the Robertsdale neighborhood of Hammond, where another approximately 7,000 people live. Advertisement Its great publicity for city, Spebar said. People come to experience Whiting and see our city and have a good time. He said the hope is always that people who come for the festival come back and visit the city at a future date. Its great if you capture a small percentage of these people on a regular basis, he said. Women in pierogi hats make their way down the streets of Whiting during Peirogi Fest Friday, July 26, 2019. Suzanne Tennant/Post Tribune (Suzanne Tennant / Post-Tribune) Chamber member Tom Dabertin, one of the events founders, said Pierogi Fest is a draw because of its unique approach and its ability to poke fun at itself. Everything at Pierogi Fest is tongue in cheek, Dabertin said. The various festival events including the Polka Parade, the lawn mower brigade and the buscias (Polish for grandmother), poke fun at the strong Eastern European heritage of the region. We celebrate ethnic heritage and at same time are cognizant of fact theres some quirky aspect of any ethnicity and heritage and we have a little fun with that, he said. Advertisement The festival draws visitors and news coverage from across the globe and has been named one of the 10 wackiest festivals on plant earth by Trip Advisor, one of Readers Digest 50 best festivals and one of Eat This Not Thats 50 best food festivals among dozens of other nods. We offer a very good quality festival. The other thing weve been able to capture is kind of that small town feeling. You dont find that at every other festival, Dabertin said. cnapoleon@chicagotribune.com Earlier, on Saturday, several waterlogging from incessant rainfall was reported inGujarats Navsari. While the rain reduced the daytime temperature in the city, the waterlogging crippled the movement of commuters and vehicles. Vehicular movement was disrupted as there were reports of rainwater sneaking into the engines of cars. Traffic was reduced to a crawl on National Highway 48 on account of heavy rainfall. However, normal vehicular movement was restored later in the day as the situation improved. Earlier, on Friday, CM Patel conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Sutrapada, Mangrol, and Gir Somnath. Severe waterlogging was reported from various districts of Gujarat owing to unsparing rainfall. Six teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed in Gir Somnath, Kutch, Navsari, Valsad, Amreli, and Rajkot districts of Gujarat. (ANI) South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analysing the launches, which took place at about 4:00 am (local time), to learn more about the type of missiles fired and other details, according to the JCS. "Our military has bolstered surveillance and vigilance while closely cooperating with the United States and maintaining a firm readiness posture," Yonhap news agency quoted JCS as saying. The fresh launches have come just three days after North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea. It also came amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following the port visit of a nuclear-capable US submarine in more than 40 years and the inaugural session of the South Korea-US Nuclear Consultative Group earlier this week. USS Kentucky (SSBN 737), an 18,750-ton Ohio-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), departed Busan naval base on Friday, three days after a rare port visit in a major show of strength against evolving North Korean military threats. North Korea denounced the visit, saying the SSBN's deployment may fall under the legal conditions for its use of nuclear weapons. This was met by a stern response from Seoul, which warned Pyongyang that any nuclear attack from the latters side would mean an end of the Kim Jong Un-led regime. (ANI) Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said that the trial of those involved in the May 9 violence should not begin in military courts without informing the Pakistan Supreme Court, Dawn reported on Friday. He made the remarks as a six-member bench, headed by him and consisting Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha A Malik, resumed hearing a set of pleas challenging the military trials of civilians. During Fridays hearing. Latif Khosa, the lawyer for petitioner Aitzaz Ahsan, stated that whatever was happening in the country today had taken place during the tenure of former military dictator Ziaul Haq. You cant compare the present era with the era of Ziaul Haq. This is not Ziaul Haqs era nor is martial law imposed in the country. Even if a martial law-like situation arises, we will intervene, Dawn quoted CJP Bandial as saying. He further said that the Supreme Court should be informed before military trials of civilians begin. The trial of the accused in military court should not begin without informing the SC, he said. At the previous hearing, the apex court had provided another opportunity to Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to seek fresh instructions from the government about the provision of appeal against the sentence to be awarded by military courts to those found guilty of May 9 violence and arson. The observations came when the AGP said that the Pakistan government was willing to follow any suggestions to improve the process of trial by military courts if the SC issued directions to ensure the provision of appeal against convictions and that the sentence should be awarded reasons, Dawn reported. On May 9, this year, former PM and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested from inside the High Court in Islamabad by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on the charges of corruption in connection with the Al-Qadir Trust, which he owns alongside his wife, Bushra Bibi. Following Khan's arrest, his party called for demonstrations, which turned violent at many places. The administration resorted to a crackdown and many arrests were made across the country. The people accused in the May 9 violence are being tried at military courts. (ANI) Dubai [UAE], July 22 (ANI/WAM): In a groundbreaking move that solidifies the UAE's status as a global leader in sustainability and energy transition, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI) has announced the establishment of the "UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre." As the first-of-its-kind Centre in the MENA region and the fourth globally. This pioneering initiative, developed in collaboration with DNV marks a historic milestone not only for the UAE but also for the entire Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and sets a new standard for maritime decarbonisation efforts worldwide. The official signing ceremony to commemorate this historic partnership took place at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) headquarters in London, UK. The signing brought together high-level government officials, industry leaders, and international stakeholders to celebrate this momentous occasion. By leveraging the expertise of DNV and harnessing the UAE's strategic geographic location and maritime influence, the Centre aims to drive research, innovation, and collaboration among key stakeholders to accelerate the adoption of sustainable practices, technologies, and policies in the maritime sector. Setting a new standard for maritime decarbonisation Commenting on this partnership, Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said, The UAE leads numerous global competitiveness indicators in the maritime sector. It ranks 3rd globally in the Bunker Supply Index, 5th as a key competitive maritime hub and 12th in the transport lines index. This is a result of the competitive business environment the UAE provides, which attracts major international maritime companies and makes the country's ports a preferred destination for international shipping lines. However, we will not rest on our laurels; we want to occupy the top position in all international maritime indicators. We look forward to innovations and digital platforms to contribute to enhancing the UAEs position and improving its global ranking. Al Mazrouei added, "The establishment of the UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre reflects our unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable practices within the maritime industry. By collaborating with DNV, we aim to leverage their expertise and global network to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of decarbonisation technologies. This Centre will play a pivotal role in advancing our national and regional sustainability goals, while contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change." Reinforcing the UAE sustainability goals The establishment of the UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre is a testament to the UAE's unwavering dedication to achieving its ambitious sustainability goals outlined in the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy. By spearheading the maritime decarbonisation efforts, the UAE aims to drive greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions that exceed global ambitions, positioning itself as a leading force in the global fight against climate change. The Centre will serve as a hub for research, development, and implementation of innovative technologies and strategies to reduce CO2 emissions in the maritime industry.It will conduct joint-industry projects, incubator and accelerator programmes, and future talent development initiatives. Furthermore, it will provide access to funding opportunities, foster collaboration among industry stakeholders, and serve as a knowledge hub by publishing research and information. We are very pleased to collaborate with the UAEs Ministry of Infrastructure & Energy to establish the Maritime Decarbonization Centre, said Knut Orbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime. Initiatives like the Centre are essential as we look to accelerate towards a decarbonised future. We need to build via cooperation, foster innovation, and scale local strengths into global leadership. With its strategic location and strong support from industry leaders, the Centre is poised to become a hub for maritime decarbonisation efforts. A maritime hub for business excellence and innovation. This initiative aligns perfectly with the UAE's preparations for hosting COP28, where the nation will showcase its commitment to sustainability and energy transition on a global stage. The UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre will play a crucial role in strengthening the country's position as a hub for sustainable innovation and global collaboration during COP28. Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said, At the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we seek to unify the maritime sector to build the UAE Maritime Cluster, and turn it into a powerhouse that enhances business growth opportunities and creates new capabilities for companies by bringing them together. Digital technologies are the best way to build this cluster, standardise information related to the maritime sector and develop innovative mechanisms to explore business opportunities that can benefit all stakeholders. Al Malek added, This partnership is yet another step to promote innovation in the maritime sector, which has become an international incubator for quality ideas. At the current stage, we focus all our innovations on building a sustainable and environmentally-friendly maritime sector. The UAE Maritime Decarbonisation Centre will serve as a vital hub for research, collaboration, and knowledge transfer in the field of maritime decarbonization. Through strategic partnerships and initiatives, we will focus on developing and implementing sustainable solutions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy efficiency in maritime operations. This Centre aligns with our vision of positioning the UAE as a global leader in the sustainable maritime sector and driving the transition towards a greener future." "This partnership is complemented by many other quality projects and initiatives the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has already launched. These include the UAE Maritime Cluster initiative and the Maritime Network, which aims to build a global network of professionals and experts to enhance the competitiveness of the UAEs maritime sector and market it globally, making use of the strong presence of international maritime companies in the UAE". (ANI/WAM) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan lashed out at the country's government alleging that the resurgence of the cypher controversy is an "apparent bid" to disqualify him from contesting elections by the ruling parties, Dawn reported on Friday. He further said that the ruling parties have shot themselves in the foot by reviving the issue. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf Chairman during his address, accused Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Asif Ali Zardari, and former Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa of hatching a conspiracy to remove him The rulers have only a one-point agenda i.e. how to disqualify the PTI chairman and send him to jail. In order to fulfil this plan, they have now brought forward the cypher, he claimed. But they are clueless that this cypher will be their annihilation, Dawn quoted Khan as saying. He further demanded a detailed inquiry into the US cypher conspiracy as the Federal Investigation Agency was not competent enough to spearhead the probe. The nation must know about the real players behind the conspiracy, he said. Imran Khan lauded then-envoy to the US Asad Majeed who had reportedly asked the government to issue a demarche over the cypher for his integrity and steadfastness, saying no such courage was shown by other politicians. My own army chief was lobbying against me and acting to topple the government that had revived the countrys economy and industry after hectic efforts, the PTI chairman alleged. The former PM alleged that his aide Azam Khan was forced to make the statement and he wouldnt believe the statement until he listens to him in person. I dont believe Azam Khan has said many of these things [in the alleged statement]and many are also true, he said in a reference to the statement attributed to his aide. The matter pertains to the claims made by the PTI Chairman on March 27, 2022. Khan, during a gathering of PTI workers, pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket and waved it at the crowd, claiming that it was evidence of an "international conspiracy" being hatched to topple his government. The US has time and again denied such allegations, terming them "categorically false". (ANI) Accusing Poland of having territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any aggression against its neighbour and ally Belarus would be considered an attack on Moscow itself, Al Jazeera reported. In televised remarks on Friday, Putin warned that Moscow would use any means at its disposal to protect Belarus, which forms a loose Union State with Russia, against possible attacks. Putin said there were reports of plans for a Polish-Lithuanian unit to be used for operations in western Ukraine parts of which in the past belonged to Poland and ultimately to occupy territory there. But as far as Belarus is concerned, it is part of the Union State. Unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against the Russian Federation, Al Jazeera quoted Putin as saying at a meeting of the Kremlins Security Council. We will respond to this with all the means at our disposal, he added. The Russian President further said that plans may be in the works to use an intended Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian joint military unit as an occupation force in western Ukrainian territories, and any Polish forces entering Lvov are certain to remain there. I cannot but comment on what has just been said [by Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) Director Sergey Naryshkin] and on the press reports that have appeared about plans to create a so-called Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian unit. Were not talking here about some motley crew of mercenaries - there are enough of them there [in Ukraine] already, and they are being destroyed - but rather about a regular, well-oiled, well-equipped military formation that is planned to be used for operations on the territory of Ukraine," TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying He added, "In particular [this is being done] purportedly for ensuring the security of contemporary western Ukraine, but in fact - if you call things by their proper names - for the subsequent occupation of these territories. After all, the future outlook is obvious; if Polish units enter Lvov, for example, or some other territories in Ukraine, then they will be staying put there. And they will remain there for good. Poland, which is a NATO member and also one of Ukraines staunchest allies in its fight against Russias invasion, denied any territorial ambitions in Ukraine or Belarus, AL Jazeera reported. The pathetic bore from the Kremlin is once again repeating lies about Poland and also trying to falsify the truth about the war against Ukraine, Polands deputy minister coordinator of special services, Stanislaw Zaryn, told the state-owned PAP news agency. Vladimir Putin is also using historical revisionism again to spread false accusations against Poland, she added. (ANI) Algeria has formally applied to join the BRICS group and submitted a request to become a shareholder member of the BRICS Bank. The Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, revealed this development during his recent visit to China, where he expressed Algerias eagerness to open new economic opportunities and strengthen its partnerships with countries like China, Morocco World News reported. We officially applied to join the BRICS group, we sent a letter asking to be shareholder members in the bank ... Algeria's first contribution in the bank will be USD 1.5 billion, An-Nahar Al-Jadid quoted Tebboune as saying. An-Nahar Al-Jadid newspaper is an independent Algerian daily newspaper. The BRICS group, which currently comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, represents a significant portion of the global population and economy, accounting for more than 40 per cent of the worlds population and approximately 26 per cent of the global economy, Morocco World News reported. Morocco World News brings the news of Morocco and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the Middle East and Morocco. Algerias bid comes in the midst of what some have called a worldwide eagerness for a geopolitical reconfiguration, with many in the Global South having shown signs of displeasure with the Wests dominance over global affairs. Amid the ongoing Ukraine war and the surging ideological clash between the West and the Rest, more than 40 countries are said to have expressed interest in joining the BRICS group., Morocco World News reported. But some analysts have warned against the allure of the BRICS group in the global south, arguing that explicitly picking the Russia-China axis is not a strategically sound choice in a context of geopolitical chaos that requires strategic ambiguity, Morocco World News reported. In September of last year, 27 bipartisan US members of Congress criticized Algerias arms imports from Russia and called for the North African country to be sanctioned under the Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions Act. Similarly, 17 members of the EU Parliament lambasted Algeria in November of last year for politically and financially supporting Russia by being among the top four buyers of Russian arms in the world. (ANI) A new generation of monastic leaders is shaking things up in the enormous world of Buddhism. According to Bhutan Live, there has been a subtle wind of change blowing from the Kingdom of Bhutan to South Korea, representing a change in cultural norms and practises. Ugyen Choden, a nun from Bhutan who is slowly leaving her mark on the Buddhist path, is at the centre of this transition. Her trip from Bhutan to South Korea, as well as her experiences and goals in the predominately male world of monastic Buddhism, provide a moving story of tenacity, tenacity, and service. In June 2022, Ugyen Choden became one of the 142 female monastics to receive full ordination in a groundbreaking ceremony in Bhutan, a historic step in realizing gender equality within the Buddhist monastic institutions, Bhutan Live reported. This transformational event marked an attempt to redefine the traditionally male-led monastic sangha, placing the spotlight on womens significant roles within Buddhist communities. Yet, Chodens journey to become a monastic was not without its challenges. As a child, she admired the tranquillity embodied by Buddhist nuns. At 18, she made the brave choice to step away from conventional education and pursue monastic life. Despite initial resistance from her parents, her persistent conviction led her down the path of Buddhism, Bhutan Live reported. The road to full ordination tested her resilience further. The rigorous demands of monastic education, vastly different from her earlier secular studies, nearly pushed her to the brink of giving up. But the encouraging words from her Dharma teacher reignited her resolve to persevere, culminating in her successful completion of a traditional masters degree in Buddhist studies. Her experience illuminates the need for more incredible support for female monastics education, laying bare the systemic challenges they face on their path to spiritual advancement. Chodens tale is a testament to the strength, courage, and sheer determination of women navigating their way through traditional religious structures, Bhutan Live reported. Importantly, Chodens experience of full ordination revealed an encouraging acceptance of female monastics in contemporary Bhutanese society. The support and respect they received after the ceremony from the lay community signal an evolving perspective, a promising sign for future female monastics. Monastic life has undeniably enriched Choden, fostering compassion and humility within her. Beyond theoretical studies, it has shaped her as a human being, enabling her to serve her community. Her aspiration to pursue traditional medicine further underscores her commitment to service, promising a future where religious women play crucial roles in nurturing their communities. Chodens experience at the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) study trip, hosted by the Jungto Society in South Korea, further solidified her dedication to helping others. Inspired by Pomnyun Sunims words and work, she was reminded that as monastics, their primary duty is to serve and support laypeople, not merely to seek support from them, Bhutan Live reported. The inspiring tale of Ugyen Choden is a beacon of hope for many others looking to follow in her footsteps. Her story encapsulates the lived reality of women breaking barriers within the confines of age-old traditions, challenging the status quo, and standing tall as leaders in their spiritual communities. In an era when gender equality and inclusivity are pressing issues, Chodens journey epitomizes a stride towards a more equitable future in Buddhist monastic institutions, one where women stand shoulder to shoulder with men, making profound contributions to society. Indeed, her story, echoing from Bhutan to Korea and beyond, brings a fresh wind of change, inspiring young leaders and activists on their own journeys towards enlightenment and equality. (ANI) Ministers from Africa and Asia have recommitted to exploring collaborative opportunities to advance access to affordable energy for their growing populations. The ministers, who met on the sidelines of the G20 Energy Transition Ministerial Meeting (ETMM) held in Goa on Saturday also spoke of advancing the just energy transition agenda in their respective countries by building a South-South knowledge-sharing network. During the meeting, the ministers shared best practices and learnings in policy and regulatory design, technology co-development and transfer, scale-up and deployment of renewables, and private sector investment in energy infrastructure. The countries present pledged to work closer together to shape home-grown initiatives and promote more sustainable and equitable economic growth. Moreover, the countries devised ways to engage in the global development architecture, going beyond their traditional role as recipients and contributing their energy and successful development experience for the benefit of the entire world. Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs of India said, The Global South faces the challenge of addressing the trilemma of energy availability, affordability, and sustainability. Biofuels, Biogas, and Green Hydrogen hold great potential for energy sustainability and the scope for experience sharing in the Global South is immense." Participating ministers at the G20 energy meet reiterated that the countries in developing regions continue to play an increasingly important role in the world economy, and closer cooperation will enable them to engage better in global policy debates and shape the international agenda. During the event, the Think20 India Secretariat Chair and Observer Research Foundation (ORF) President Samir Saran said, "India and Africa share similar challenges, opportunities, and developmental aspirations, making them natural partners. They must foster collaborative efforts to promote sustainable development, drive economic growth, and achieve a more prosperous and resilient future for their citizens and economies. One crucial aspect will be to ensure a stable and sustainable energy supply, enhance energy security and eliminate energy poverty." ORF a leading multidisciplinary think tank with centres in New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata and an overseas affiliate in Washington DC. Through the India G20 Presidency, the countries promised to work with the G20 to close energy access gaps, promote energy efficiency, accelerate the adoption of clean technologies, and catalyze sustainable and concessional long-term finance for equitable transitions. The 4th Energy Transition Ministerial Meeting (ETMM) of the G20 held in Goa seeks to provide an impetus to the priority of a clean energy transition, within the G20 and beyond. The Powering Progress in the Global South session was hosted by the T20 Secretariat, ORF, and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL); with support from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) is an international organization that works in partnership with the United Nations to drive faster action towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement on climate. Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (UN SRSG) for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy said, South-South cooperation represents a critical opportunity to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For the Global South to deliver on their aspirations for energy, climate and development, there is an urgent need for collective action. For example, South-South cooperation can help set up new financing mechanisms for energy transition and infrastructure development, and facilitate transfer of expertise, for the benefit of local populations, national economies, and the world at large." Think20 (T20) is an official Engagement Group of the G20. It serves as an idea bank for the G20 by bringing together think tanks and high-level experts to discuss policy issues relevant to the G20. (ANI) Beach goers take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean at Hollywood Beach, Monday, July 10, 2023, in Hollywood, Fla. Water temperatures in the mid-90s (mid-30s Celsius) are threatening delicate coral reefs, depriving swimmers of cooling dips and adding a bit more ick to the state's already oppressive summer weather. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee/AP) Watching politicians ignore climate change while the world burns is like being trapped in the backseat of the car windows up and locked while an uncle smokes a carton of cigarettes. Coughing loudly falls on deaf ears. Complaining makes him chain smoke. Explaining the science of lungs trapped in carcinogenic air makes him light up cigars simultaneously. Last week nearly one-third of the nation baked in record-breaking heat. In Texas, the National Park Service warned of extremely dangerous temperatures too deadly for hikers. Phoenix recorded 118 degrees, with some of the most serious and hot conditions ever seen. South Florida was under an excessive heat warning for the first time in history, while the surrounding ocean and marine life endured (or didnt) with water temperatures near 100 degrees. By this September, the deadly marine heat wave is expected to double in size to as much as half of the ocean, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Advertisement This devastating heat tracks last years European heat wave, one that killed more than 61,000 people. Aside from El Nino, heat domes where high pressure in the Earths atmosphere traps hot air are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, a post-industrial development scientists began predicting over 100 years ago. A persistent heat dome over Texas that has expanded to California, Nevada and Arizona is subjecting millions of Americans to excessive heat warnings, according to the National Weather Service. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images North America/TNS) GOP-led states double down on climate misinformation Although the earths climate has changed throughout history, our current warming trend is accelerating at a rate scientists have never seen before, and is clearly the result of burning fossil fuels. NASA reports that the causal link between burning fossil-fuels and climate change has evolved from theory to established fact. Advertisement It is undeniable that human activities have produced the atmospheric gases that have trapped more of the suns energy in the earth system. This extra energy has warmed the atmosphere, ocean, and land, and widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere, and biosphere have occurred. Post-Tribune Twice-weekly News updates from Northwest Indiana delivered every Monday and Wednesday By submitting your email to receive this newsletter, you agree to our Subscriber Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy > NASA scientists are far and away the most highly respected scientists in the world. In a development straight out of bizarro world, NASAs dissemination of climate data has led Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and his Republican colleagues to propose de-funding NASA climate initiatives. To bolster their attacks on climate intelligence, Republicans have also added climate change to their culture wars. So far, in the first six months of 2023, Republican lawmakers have introduced 165 pieces of legislation throughout 37 states that would block state investors from even considering how climate change will affect their investment portfolios. Never mind that climate-related losses exceeded $1 billion in the first half of 2023 alone, or that climate destruction has cost $2.570 trillion since economists started tracking it. If you think about climate risk when investing millions in an oceanfront high rise, youre woke. Youre also probably a groomer. This photo provided by the University of Miami Coral Reef Futures Lab, shows bleaching to elkhorn coral on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in the North Dry Rocks Reef off the coast of Key Largo, Fla. Some Florida Keys corals are losing their color weeks earlier in the summer than has been documented before, meaning they are under stress and their health is potentially endangered, federal scientists said. (Liv Williamson/University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science via AP) (Liv Williamson/AP) Fossil fuel money protects fossil fuel interests The energy sector has engaged in a massive decades-long disinformation campaign that nearly quadrupled following the 2010 ruling in Citizens United, which enabled oil, gas and coal corporations, among others, to spend unlimited funds to influence federal elections. Alarmed by slow responses to our heating planet, the Union of Concerned Scientists recently issued a report identifying which politicians have protected the oil and gas industry in exchange for specified campaign donations. Paradoxically, politicians most obstructive to climate progress hail from states most affected by climate change. For example, Texas, along with Louisiana, South Carolina, and 19 GOP-led states challenged the EPAs authority to curb power plant carbon emissions in West Virginia v. EPA, leading SCOTUS conservative majority to significantly limit the EPAs climate efforts. In Mississippi, where coastal disappearance is indisputable, its AG brags about her Fight (against) Bidens Radical Environmental Agenda. Florida, where insurers have vanished due to excessive climate-related claims, opposes reducing on-road CO2 emissions to net-zero by 2050. Governor DeSantis, having received millions in fossil fuel contributions, dismisses climate change as left wing stuff. Three men, who are homeless, react as they are given cold, wet towels by Maribel Padilla of the Brown Bag Coalition, Thursday, July 20, 2023, in Calexico, Calif. Once temperatures hit 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 Celsius), Padilla and the Brown Bag Coalition meet up with people who are homeless in Calexico, providing them with cold, wet towels, and some refreshments to help them endure the scorching temperatures. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) (Gregory Bull/AP) At the federal level, Republican members of the Senate Commerce Committee are now circulating a memo attacking climate measures in Bidens proposed 2024 budget, seeking to defund federal climate initiatives. Republicans have also introduced 17 budget amendments poison pills to undo Bidens clean energy measures. Among other things, these amendments would stop the federal purchase of electric vehicles; block an Executive Order requiring federal agencies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045; erase climate disclosure requirements; and undo major clean water efforts. Only in America, under Citizens United where the oil industry influences who is elected, do you see things like Texas Republicans working to kill their own states lucrative renewable energy sector. Thankfully, not every conservative opposes climate science. Joe Manchin, for example, says he is open to tackling climate change, as long as we dont turn our back on fossil fuels. Maybe he and No Labels can talk our driver into at least cracking the window. Sabrina Haake is a Chicago attorney and Gary resident. The Taliban has promised to keep terrorists out of Afghanistan, but the United States has stated that it still has the ability to carry out its own operations against terrorism in the Pak-Afghan region, Dawn reported. Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the US State Department, made these remarks in response to a query regarding recent terrorist assaults carried out within Pakistan from terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan. Nine soldiers were killed last week when terrorists assaulted a military facility in Zhob, Balochistan. The military's media branch, ISPR, released a statement shortly after the incident, expressing "serious concerns" about the existence of terrorist "safe havens" in Afghanistan and urging Kabul not to allow terrorists to utilise their territory for carrying out strikes inside Pakistan, according to Dawn. Dawn is a Pakistani English-language newspaper that was launched in 1941. The message also served as a reminder to the caretaker Afghan government of their obligations under the Doha Agreement. The US military finally left Afghanistan on August 15, 2021, in compliance with the agreement that the US and Afghan Taliban signed in Doha, Qatar, in February 2020. Asked if the US expects the Taliban rulers to abide by the commitments they made in Doha, Mille said, I will say that we will hold them to their commitments. But as we have said before, we retain the ability to conduct our own operations in the region to ensure that, regardless of any promises that the Taliban make and regardless of their relative ability or willingness to uphold them. He added that the United States retains the right to protect American interests. Asked how confident he was that the Taliban would keep their promises, Miller said, I dont want to express any amount of confidence or lack of confidence", reported Dawn. To a question about the Pakistani governments plan to hold elections in early October, the US official said, I will make clear that we support the peaceful upholding of fundamental democratic principles such as free media, free speech, freedom of assembly. The United States, he said, champions the rule of law, not just in Pakistan but around the world. These principles are the foundations for democratic elections. I have spoken to this both with respect to Pakistan specifically and of course, as it relates to other countries on numerous occasions, Miller added. Responding to another question about an attack on a 150-year-old temple in Karachi, he said, We support the free exercise of religion anywhere in the world and oppose any attempts or uses of violence to suppress that right of people to exercise their freedom of religion", Dawn reported. (ANI) The Afghan Taliban has renewed its call for peace talks between Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and Pakistan as Islamabad's efforts to persuade Kabul to take action against the terrorist group failed, reported The Express Tribune. This week, Pakistan sent a special envoy on a three-day mission to Kabul to make it clear that the interim administration must act swiftly to stop the TTP. But after several talks, the Afghan Taliban told him that Pakistan should choose the route of peace rather than using force, as per The Express Tribune. The Express Tribune is an internationally affiliated newspaper in Pakistan. During his visit, Ambassador Asad Durrani had meetings with the acting foreign minister and deputy prime minister of Afghanistan, Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi and Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, as per The Express Tribune. Quoting official sources, familiar with the matter, The Express Tribune reported that the Afghan Taliban leadership was told clearly that Pakistans patience was wearing thin vis--vis the TTP. In her weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said, The issue of terrorism, as I've said in the past, including in the last briefing, is an issue of serious concern to Pakistan. And Pakistan has raised this issue with the Afghan authorities on multiple occasions and at every important engagement that takes place between Pakistan and the Afghan interim authorities. We have discussed the threat of terrorism emanating from the Afghan soil, she added when asked whether Ambassador Durrani took up the issue of cross-border terrorism with the Afghan authorities. However, the Afghan Taliban administration is not prepared to follow that course, despite Pakistan's insistence on taking action against TTP. According to sources, cited by The Express Tribune, the deputy prime minister of Afghanistan advised the Pakistani ambassador to choose the "path of peace" rather than "use of force". They said that it was obvious the Afghan Taliban had no interest in attacking the TTP. Instead, Kabul once rejected a request from Pakistan to begin peace negotiations with the TTP. The TTP increased attacks and exploited the prior rounds of negotiations, leading Pakistan to give up on the peace effort. Pakistan will no longer pursue negotiations with the TTP, the civil and military leadership determined. In any case, though, negotiations can only begin until the TTP gives up. The deputy prime minister of Afghanistan asked Durrani that Pakistan should choose peace over war. He claimed that given Afghanistan's bitter experiences of war, he would advise Pakistan to pursue a diplomatic solution instead. As a Muslim nation, Afghanistan does not desire fighting or disturbance in Pakistan, according to Maulvi Kabir, who also believes that peace in Pakistan is in Afghanistan's best interests. He also sees acts of violence in Pakistan as a loss for Afghanistan. The Afghan Taliban government, he informed the Pakistani envoy, had a policy of refraining from meddling in the domestic affairs of other nations. He asserted that Afghanistan would not permit Pakistan or any other nation to exploit Afghan land against them. According to the sources, after returning from Kabul and providing his assessment, Ambassador Durrani would update the administration. According to the reports, Pakistan is unlikely to accept the offer from the Afghan Taliban. The sources also said, Pakistan would plan its strategy while considering the special envoy's suggestions, The Express Tribune reported. (ANI) Taliban appointed Governor of Kabul, Mohammad Qassim Khalid has said that the US is behind Daesh (ISIS) and that the group is an American phenomenon, according to TOLO News. TOLO News is an Afghan news channel broadcasting from Kabul. Khalid in a special interview with TOLO News said that he has the documents that show the US has trained Daesh. He said: The enemies do not want Afghanistan to be calm and so they create bias through various ways. Daesh is ... produced by the US. It is a fact that Daesh is an American phenomenon. Khalid also denied the killing of the co-founder and second leader of al-Qaeda in the capital city of Kabul, Ayman al-Zawahiri, saying that there is no evidence to prove Zawahiri was killed in Kabul. The US claims that they eliminated Daesh in Afghanistan. The documents and evidence that would be valid for the media or between countries have not been provided by them, he said, as per TOLO News. Khalid also talked about land grabbing in Kabul, saying that 300,000 acres of land has been grabbed by various people. Around 150,000 acres of land is being assessed and around 100,000 acres of land has been identified, he said. He also urged the former Afghan officials and political leaders abroad to return to the country. Months after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K) has mangaed to expand its reach to nearly all of Afghanistan's provinces.This was stated by the U.N. mission in Afghanistan in November, reported The Washington Post. ISIS-K has also stepped up the tempo of its attacks, carrying out suicide bombings, ambushes and assassinations. It has claimed 224 attacks in Afghanistan since August 2021, 30 of which were considered significant, according to SITE Intelligence Group, a non-profit that monitors terrorist groups.A bomb blast that killed at least 21 worshipers, including an influential cleric, and injured more than 30 others in Afghanistan's capital during evening prayers on Wednesday evening, according to Taliban officials and residents, has renewed focus on the threat to the Taliban posed by Afghanistan's Islamic State affiliate. Residents of the Khair Khana area of Kabul told The Washington Post that the prayer leader who was killed, Amir Mohammad Kabuli, was an outspoken preacher unaffiliated with any one faction. (ANI) Remembering the supreme sacrifices of the Indian soldiers, the Commune of Monotone (in Italy) and Italian Military historians have unveiled VC Yeshwant Ghadge Sundial Memorial at Montone (Perugia, Italy), informed the Ministry of Defence. This was a tribute to the Indian troops who fought during Italian Campaign during the Second World War, and to honour Naik Yeshwant Ghadge, Victoria Cross, who was killed in action fighting on the heights of Upper Tiber Valley. Neena Malhotra, Ambassador of India in Italy and the Indian Defence Attach represented India during the ceremony. A large number of Italian citizens, distinguished guests and members of the Italian Armed Forces also graced the occasion, read a press release of the Ministry of Defence. Indian Soldiers played a central role in the Italian Campaign during the Second World War, wherein more than 50,000 Indian Army soldiers from the 4th, 8th and 10th Divisions were involved. Out of the 20 Victoria Crosses awarded in Italy, six were won by Indian soldiers. Indian soldiers suffered 23,722 casualties, of which 5,782 Indian soldiers made the supreme sacrifice, and are commemorated in the 40 Commonwealth War Graves spread all over Italy, the release added. In order to make this memorial a participative endeavour, an Indian Army plaque has been placed at the memorial commemorating the gallant sacrifice of all ranks of the Indian Army who fought in the Italian Campaign. The memorial is in the form of a live Sundial. The motto of the memorial is "Omines Sub Eodem Sole" which translates in English as "We all live under the same sun". The inauguration of this Memorial honouring the contributions during the Italian Campaign is a testimony to the fact that Italy holds in high reverence the supreme sacrifices and contributions of the Indian Soldiers during the Italian Campaign of the Second World War, according to the Ministry of Defence. (ANI) Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the Ukrainian army's ongoing counteroffensive is expected to "gain pace" after a slow start, CNN reported. Zelenskyy while speaking at the Aspen security forum on Friday blamed the slow progress on the operation having started later than expected, as well as a lack of munitions. We did have plans to start it in spring, but we didn't because frankly, we didn't have enough munitions and armaments and not enough properly trained brigades, I mean, properly trained in these weapons, Zelensky said, according to CNN. Because we started a bit late, it can be said, and its the truth, shared by all experts, that it provided Russia was the time to mine all our land and build several lines of defence. Definitely, they had a bit more time than they needed, and because of that, they built all of those lines. And really, they had a lot of mines in our fields, the Ukrainian President explained. He said that despite the difficulties, his countrymen were making progress. We didn't want to lose our people, our personnel and our servicemen, we didn't want to lose equipment and because of that, they were quite careful about the offensive actions, he said. I would say that we are approaching a moment when relevant actions can gain pace because we are already going through some mine locations and we are demining these areas, he added. Zelenskyy's words came as Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the West is disappointed with the results of the Ukrainian counteroffensive. It is obvious that the Western curators of the Kyiv regime are clearly disappointed with the results of the so-called counter-offensive, Putin said on Friday, using the Russian name for Ukraines capital. Meanwhile, Ukraine on Saturday hit an ammunition dump in Crimea, forcing an evacuation of the area and cancelling train services, as per information from Russian-backed authorities. This comes as the latest in a series of recent strikes on Russian supplies and critical infrastructure in the occupied peninsula. Social media videos show thick black smoke rising not far from a railway station in the town of Oktyabrskoye in the centre of Crimea. On one of the videos, at least three loud explosions can be heard, according to CNN. (ANI) On completing 32 years of illustrious service to the nation, Indian Naval Ship Kirpan has been decommissioned from the Indian Navy and handed over to Vietnam Peoples Navy (VPN) on Saturday. The decommissioning and handing over ceremony of INS Kirpan to VPN was presided over by Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy and Rear Adm Pham Manh Hung, Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Chief of Staff, VPN. CNS Adm R Hari Kumar, while addressing the decommissioning ceremony said, It is a matter of great honour for me to be a part of the handing over ceremony of one of the finest and longest-serving warships of the Indian Navy Kirpan, to the esteemed Vietnam Peoples Navy. The transfer of Kirpan to the Vietnam Peoples Navy resonates with Indias G20 vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam One Earth, One Family, One Future, he added. India and Vietnam share a rich history of civilisational and cultural linkages spanning over 2000 years, originating at the world-famous heritage site My Son home to the Hindu Cham civilisation. The Champa temples, constructed at Da Nang between the 4th and 13th Century AD, stand testimony to the fact that the seas have and will continue to enable the connection between our nations, manifesting into shared values, traditions, languages, texts, culture, food practically every aspect. The underlying current being the deep people-to-people bonds that have helped overcome the vagaries of time to bring India-Vietnam to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that the two countries enjoy today. "The present is a continuation of this long-term association between Vietnam and India. There are many commonalities be it the larger worldview, vision for the future, definitive goals for socio-economic well-being, and more importantly, the overall approach of pursuing and promoting individual or shared interests based on the spirit of mutual respect," Admiral said. Kumar also said, Both India and Vietnam are responsible members of the global community and regularly demonstrate their commitment to upholding the principles of fairness and justice enshrined in the international legal framework. India gracefully accepted the landmark decision by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning a disputed area in the Bay of Bengal, which gave our neighbour access to a larger-sea area. Such examples set precedence for resolving future disputes through shared values of peaceful means, abiding by international law and strengthening bonds between two nations. This move will further strengthen Indias relationship with the East Asian region. Strengthening the countrys partnership with Southeast Asian countries, Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar will be part of the handing over ceremony for the INS Kirpan to Vietnam today, Indian Navy officials told ANI before Kumar left for Vietnam. The INS Kirpan left on her final journey from India to Vietnam from Visakhapatnam on June 28. The decision to gift the warship to Vietnam was announced last month during the visit of Vietnam Defence Minister Gen Phan Van Giang by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. This is the first time that a large-size in-service Corvette is being gifted to a friendly country by India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been stressing the Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy. INS Kirpan is an indigenously built Khukri class missile corvette that is equipped with weapons and sensors and has been fully operational in the Indian Navy. Notably, Vietnam and India have had very good relations militarily in the past and have been working on military hardware cooperation. India has also carried out a refit of the Kirpan in the recent past before gifting it to the Vietnamese Navy, and it has strong capabilities. (ANI) As per the ministry, the journalists were wounded in a Ukrainian artillery strike on Saturday. They were evacuated from the battlefield but RIA correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev died during the journey, it said. The agency also reported his death, saying he was killed near the front-line village of Piatykhatky. As a result of a strike by the Ukrainian army using cluster munitions, four journalists were wounded in various levels of severity, the Russian army said in a statement. During an evacuation, the RIA Novosti journalist Rostislav Zhuravlev died from his wounds that resulted from the cluster munitions exploding, the army said as per Al Jazeera. The army said the other correspondents have wounds of medium severity. The defence ministry said Ukraine had used cluster munitions in the incident, but did not provide evidence for this. This month, Ukraine received cluster bombs from the United States, but it has pledged to use them only to dislodge concentrations of enemy soldiers. Such weapons contain dozens of small bomblets that rain shrapnel over a wide area but are banned in many countries due to the potential danger they pose to civilians. Ukraine has repeatedly said their use will be limited to the battlefield, according to Al Jazeera. The United Nations has said Russia itself has repeatedly used cluster munitions during the war. (ANI) The chairperson of the World Sindhi Congress has accused the Pakistani establishment of not protecting minorities and allowing them to be systematically targeted. Rubina Greenwood, a human rights activist and chairperson of World Sindhi Congress, in an exclusive interview to ANI, said the Pakistan Army was systematically breaking the Sindhi community using political tools and brute force, while forcing them to migrate. Atrocities on the ethnic minorities in Pakistan have risen in the recent past, according to reports. In a recent incident that shook the world, a 150-year-old Mari Mata temple in Karachi was razed to the ground. The temple had been the target of land grabbers and developers for years, according to reports. Another temple in the Kashmore area of the country's Sindh province was attacked on the same day with rocket launchers, reports said. According to Greenwood, minorities in Pakistan are purportedly subjected to inhumane political and public attitudes. They are often at the receiving end of "policy exclusivity and mob aggression". "Some say Pakistan has become a rabid fundamentalist state where the government is accused of both omission and commission," she said. Greenwood added, Unfortunately, the reality is that yes Pakistan has become very, radical towards its minority. I dont whether people over the 70 years of systematic brainwashing of our people and the education system, the culture has actually changed the outlook of the country, and the outlook of the people as well. But we need to fundamentally understand that, the whole political thinking and the institutionalization of Pakistan as well." She added, Pakistan was built as a Puritan state. Puritan state means that a state can actually use religion to control the people, the mindset, the growth and the whole thinking about the thinking of the people can be controlled by the religion. They have changed the whole countys mindset through the education system and by their cultural mindset. The people of Sindh, Punjab are secular. They are not hostile people. It is the 70 years of institutionalisation that has had an impact on the mindset of the people." Greenwood stated further, The suppression of minorities has a two-fold effect to take control of the country and take control of the people and their progress. So it is a tool to create hate within the people. The people engage in civil wars or civil issues and forget about the bigger and the strategic issues to which they need to pay attention." "They want to create this instability in Sindh because it is one of the most secular provinces in Pakistan," she added. On the impact of propaganda tools on people, Greenwood said, Sindh has a secular culture and they have a strong sentiment of nationhood, considering Sindhis as one nation. We have Sindhi Hindus, Sindhi Jains, Sindhi Sikhs and Sindhi Muslims. So, if they create religious rivalry and religious discrimination they can actually control Sindh and suppress Sindhs nationalist sentiment. Pakistan's military is using a political weapon to take control of Sindh. This is to divide our community and weaken our community. And we have seen in recent years how much the Sindhi Hindus have migrated. The ploy is to push back Sindhi Hindus so that we become minorities in our own region. There is a lot of social and demographic engineering happening in Sindh. And they are victimising our Sindhi Hindus. (ANI) Abu Dhabi [UAE], July 22 (ANI/WAM): The 19th edition of the Liwa Date Festival has welcomed 34,000 visitors since it was launched on 19th July 2023. Organised by the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee Abu Dhabi and the Abu Dhabi Heritage Club, the festival will run until Saturday, 30th July in Liwa, Al Dhafra Region. Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, this years festival will take on a new format. The festival, which is aimed at connecting producers, businesses, and investors, will include 23 main competitions with 293 prizes worth a total of AED8.3 million, to highlight, promote, and reward the best of the best in the industry, as well as a variety of pavilions and stalls. The festival, which is being held during the Year of Sustainability, is one of Abu Dhabis most significant heritage events and tourist attractions and highlights the many ways in which dates have impacted the cultural, heritage and economic life of the country. It provides a great place for visitors to learn about dates and sample the most popular date varieties grown in the United Arab Emirates. Visitors can also explore the UAEs culture and heritage through a popular market, national pavilions, council sections and craft corners. The market will have 165 shops and pavilions featuring products by productive families and national institutions, as well as food carts and mobile cafes. (ANI/WAM) At least two people were killed and two others were injured in the northeastern Kharkiv region after Russia shelled on Saturday, CNN reported citing Ukrainian officials. Russia's shelling struck the city of Kupyansk, according to the Kharkiv regional prosecutors office. In the shelling, a 57-year-old woman was among those killed and a business' property was also damaged in the city, the office added in a Telegram post. Russia also shelled the town of Dvorichna, just north of Kupyansk, CNN quoted prosecutor office as saying. A 60-year-old man was injured. He was admitted to the hospital. A 45-year-old civilian was killed, the office said. And early Saturday on Telegram, Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, said a 30-year-old man was wounded by Russian shelling in Velykyi Burluk, east of Kharkiv city. In areas surrounding Kupyansk, Ukraine's fighters "reliably hold their positions," Syniehubov said. "The enemy has not advanced." Meanwhile, the Russian defence ministry said that a war correspondent for Russias RIA news agency has been killed and three other Russian journalists wounded by shelling near the frontline in Ukraines south-eastern Zaporizhia region, Al Jazeera reported. As per the ministry, the journalists were wounded in a Ukrainian artillery strike on Saturday. They were evacuated from the battlefield but RIA correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev died during the journey, it said. The agency also reported his death, saying he was killed near the front-line village of Piatykhatky. As a result of a strike by the Ukrainian army using cluster munitions, four journalists were wounded in various levels of severity, the Russian army said in a statement. During an evacuation, the RIA Novosti journalist Rostislav Zhuravlev died from his wounds that resulted from the cluster munitions exploding, the army said, as per Al Jazeera. The army said the other correspondents have wounds of medium severity. The defence ministry said Ukraine had used cluster munitions in the incident, but did not provide evidence for this. (ANI) The dengue outbreak had taken the worst toll on Bangladesh as 109 deaths were recorded and 20,465 positive cases in the past 21 days, making July the worst month, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported. Among the total deaths since January 1, the month of July alone witnessed 109 deaths linked to dengue simultaneously 20,465 positive cases were recorded, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Month-wise data of dengue disease-2023 showed 566 dengue patients were detected in January with six fatalities, 111 cases with zero deaths in February, 143 cases with two deaths in March, 50 cases with two deaths in April 1036 cases with two deaths in May and 5,956 cases with 34 deaths. In comparison, last year was less severe in terms of dengue-positive cases and death figures as 268 patients died and 62,382 cases were recorded, the DGHS data said adding in 2019, the country saw the highest number of dengue cases -- 101,354, with 179 deaths, as per BSS. Health experts feared August and September will be more severe as these two months are more suitable for breeding Aedes mosquitoes. "The number of dengue patients had been increasing alarmingly since January this year giving a signal of dengue pandemic during the rainy season as 566 dengue cases were reported in the first month of the year, which is almost five times higher than that of the same period of past three years," a DGHS official added. Despite several dengue cases, the Bangladesh government still thinks that the time to declare a public health emergency, Dhaka Tribune reported. However, it admits the fact that the dengue situation has worsened throughout the country, with Dhaka being the hotspot. But such a situation has not appeared yet that we are unable to give beds to patients in hospitals and give them medicines. The number of dengue patients is still under our control, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday. He was talking to journalists after visiting Mugda Medical College Hospital in the capital, according to Dhaka Tribune. (ANI) Thousands rallied against the controversial judicial reform bill that faces a final vote early next week, protesters set up a tent city near Knesset after the multi-day march, Times of Israel reported. Some of the protestersblocked the traffic on Tel Avivs Ayalon Highway, as part of demonstrations against the judicial overhaul. Police arrest four of the demonstrators on suspicion of disturbing public order. The demonstrations on Saturday came days after Netanyahu's government gave preliminary approval to a crucial bill that is a part of the overhaul, reported Times of Israel. The bill, which passed in its first reading, would restrict the use of the "reasonability" clause, which allows the courts to overturn executive orders, according to Al Jazeera. Moreover, this reform would also allow the government a greater say in the appointment of judges. Before the bill becomes law, it still needs to pass two additional votes, which are anticipated by the end of the month. Meanwhile, few protesters were seen rallying outside the Histadruts headquarters in Tel Aviv, as chief Arnon Bar-David holds emergency deliberations amid calls for the labour federation to declare a strike, as per Times of Israel. Last week, on July 15, Protesters in Tel Aviv unfurled a sizable banner that read "SOS" and threw paint into the air, streaking it pink and orange, reported Al Jazeera. The protests in Tel Aviv were joined by protesters from all across the country on Saturday. Protesters waved lit torches outside of Netanyahu's home in Jerusalem, and they also staged demonstrations in the coastal cities of Herzliya and Netanya. The protests, however, came at a time when the country's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in hospital. He was admitted earlier on Saturday for dehydration. The 73-year-old went to the doctor after experiencing a dizzy spell and spending the day before in the sun without drinking any water. He later released a video from the Tel Aviv hospital saying he felt good. (ANI) Duvan Tomas Perez, 16, died on July 14. Andrew Kelly/Reuters Tomas Duvan Perez, 16, died after becoming trapped in equipment while working at a Mississippi poultry plant. It is illegal for US poultry plants to hire minors. The company says a hiring agency misled them about his age. Perez is the third minor in the last month to die in a US workplace, the Huffington Post reported. Duvan Tomas Perez was just 10 years old when he moved from Guatemala to the United States with his family. Now, six years later, he is dead because of a workplace accident at a poultry plant that should've never hired him. Perez, 16, died on July 14 at the Mar-Jac poultry plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, NBC News reported. He died from his injuries after becoming trapped in equipment on a conveyor belt. It is illegal under federal law for minors to work in poultry plants due to the inherent workplace safety hazards. A spokesperson for the Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi claims an outside hiring agency misled the company by misrepresenting the boy's age, the Huffington Post reported. Hiring agencies are often unreliable when it comes to ensuring workers are not minors and have the proper qualifications for hazardous workplaces, Jordan Barab, former deputy assistant secretary of labor at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, told the Huffington Post. "These temp agencies don't have any scruples at all," Barab said. "They don't have any national reputation to uphold. They're just trying to sell workers, basically." While OSHA is going after these agencies, Barab noted they continue to thrive because employers are trying to avoid paying more qualified workers. The poultry plant where Perez worked does not exactly have a clean safety record. In 2021, an employee was caught in a poultry processing machine and died as a result of his injuries. In 2020, another employee died after a coworker "placed the air nozzle on the lower back of the employee's pants and injected air into employee's rectum," according to the OSHA report. Story continues Joe Colee, the plant's manager, told NBC News the company is cooperating with the current OSHA investigation into Perez's death. His death marks the third child workplace death in the last month, the Huffington Post reported. On June 29, 16-year-old Michael Schuls died from asphyxiation after becoming trapped under equipment on a conveyor belt while working for a Wisconsin logging company. And on June 5, 16-year-old Will Hampton died in Missouri after becoming trapped between a tractor-trailer and its rig while working at a landfill. Meanwhile, legislators in at least 10 states across the country have proposed loosening child labor laws. These proposals have included measures like easing restrictions on school night hours and allowing kids as young as 14 to serve alcohol, PBS News Hour reports. Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa are all considering policies that would relax child labor laws to address worker shortages, according to the outlet. Read the original article on Business Insider The 17-year-old girl killed when the boat she was riding in crashed into a jetty off Cape Cod Friday has been identified. Sadie Mauro, a rising senior at Dover-Sherborn High School, was one of six passengers aboard a boat that struck a jetty off Cold Storage Beach Friday night. Local emergency crews and the United States Coast Guard launched a search-and-rescue operation in Sesuit Harbor around 11 p.m. for a missing person on the boat that crashed around two hours earlier, according to Massachusetts State Police. In a letter to families Saturday, Dover-Sherborn High School Principal John Smith said that the community was devastated and heartbroken regarding the tragic crash. Sadies smile could light up a room, she had a heart of gold and the sweetest spirit, wrote Smith. She had such a strong sense of self and had a love for adventure and anything outdoors. A hardworking student and great athlete, Sadie was genuine and effortlessly kind. A teenage boy was also taken to Cape Cod Hospital with a head laceration. A preliminary investigation indicated that the vessel was equipped with two outboard 250-horsepower engines bearing an Alabama registration, according to the Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office. A state police marine unit and underwater recovery unit, along with Massachusetts Environmental Police marine assets, conducted dive operations at the crash site on Saturday in an effort to recover debris from the boat. State police didnt say if charges will be filed in connection with the crash. School officials told families that the high school library will be open Monday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for all middle and high school students to gather. Members of the counseling team will be available in addition to a crisis counselor from the Riverside Trauma Center and service dogs from both the Dover and Sherborn police departments, wrote Smith in the letter. The Dover-Sherborn community is strong and is known for its strength and resiliency in the face of unimaginable tragedy. We will continue to support each other in the days and weeks ahead as we surround Sadies family, friends and loved ones with care and love, added Dover-Sherborn Public Schools Superintendent Beth McCoy. I will be hugging my children extra tight this evening - I am sure you will do the same. Story continues State police detectives assigned to the DAs office and Dennis police are conducting the death investigation. It wasnt immediately clear what led up to the crash. JUST IN: @MassStatePolice say 6 people were onboard when the boat crashed into a jetty in Dennis around 9 PM. Dive teams recovered the 17-year-old girls body around 11:30 PM. A teenage boy went to the hospital for a head laceration.@boston25 https://t.co/onHBaG04v1 Julianne Lima (@JulianneLimaTV) July 22, 2023 This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Peoria City/County Health Department, 2116 N. Sheridan Road in Peoria. The Peoria City/County Health Department conducts food inspections for a wide range of establishments in the area from restaurants to long-term care facilities and schools. Inspections look for issues that could contribute to the spread of foodborne illness, as well as general cleanliness and maintenance of the establishment. The Journal Star examined routine inspections in June for restaurants, mobile establishments and bars/taverns in Peoria County. From these categories, over 75 routine inspections were completed. The establishments listed below received either no violations or enough violations to warrant a warning from the health department. Note: According to the Peoria City/County Health Department, "inspections only provide a snapshot of a food establishment's practices, as they are based on what is seen at the time of the inspection." Looking for the scoop on Peoria dining? Sign up for PJStar Dining Terminology used by the health department Core violation: These violations relate to "general sanitation, operational controls, sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs), facilities or structures, equipment design, or general maintenance," according to the health department. Priority foundation violation: These violations could lead to priority violations if they are not corrected. Priority violation: These violations are considered the most high-risk by the health department, as they have the potential to directly contribute to foodborne illness. More: This longtime Peoria restaurant is switching up its hours for the summer Establishments with no violations during routine June inspections Kamaela's Kreamery Mobile Chipotle Mexican Grill #1955 4512 N. Sterling Ave., Peoria East Bluff Community Center 512 E. Kansas St., Peoria Homestyle Grille 613 W. Garfield Ave., Bartonville Kickapoo Creek Saloon 9827 W US Highway 150, Edwards One World Eats & Drink 1245 W. Main St., Peoria Smo-King Pit 2200 W. War Memorial Dr., Peoria More: The best and worst of food inspections in the Peoria area for April Story continues Establishments that received warning comments during routine June inspections JJ Fish and Chicken at 2123 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria, received three priority, five priority foundation and 11 core violations. These included: Employee was observed washing "hands for less than 20 seconds without soap," which did not follow proper handwashing guidelines for food service employees. Several food containers did not have use-by dates listed. According to the health department, "Food prepared and held in a food establishment for more than 24 hours must be clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food must be consumed on the premises, sold, or discarded when held at a temperature of 41F or less for a maximum of 7 days." A sanitizer bucket did not have an adequate chlorine concentration. The health department found two "handwashing sinks to be leaking and in need of repair." Palarte Frida LLC, which operates at 4303 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, as Yeni's Palarte Mexican Ice Cream, received one priority, three priority foundation and two core violations. In the comments section, it was noted that "The (person in charge) stated that the tamales, cookies, cakes were prepared in a home kitchen and not in the licensed establishment. It was discussed with the PIC that the food items that appear to be cooked in a home kitchen cannot be sold, discarded or removed from the premises." Along with this, various items such as juices were not properly labeled, and the person in charge was not a Certified Food Protection Manager. Sharkey's Fish and Chicken at 3108 N Sterling Ave., Peoria, received four priority, five priority foundation and nine core violations. These included: Employee did not wash hands after handling money. According to the health department, employees "must practice good hygiene by properly washing hands when changing tasks." Live house and fruit flies found through "the entire establishment." Liquid handsoap, as well as disposable paper towels, were not present at all handwashing sinks. The health department found grease dripping from a ventilation system, noted that the floors were in "a state of disrepair" around one of the sinks and found "soil residue present on shelves on cooler throughout the establishment." 27 violations and moldy chicken: The best and worst Peoria food inspections for May This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria health department restaurant inspections for June 2023 Two juveniles from Dayton were taken into custody early Saturday morning after a pursuit involving Indiana and Ohio authorities. Around 4:15 a.m., Darke County deputies were dispatched to help assist Indiana law enforcement in a pursuit, according to the Darke County Sheriffs Office. The vehicle had been involved in a breaking and entering at a gun store located in Winchester, Indiana, the sheriffs office said. >> 3 injured, hospitalized following 2-vehicle crash in Darke Co. Once the vehicle entered Darke County, Indiana authorities along with Union City, Ohio PD, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and Darke County deputies joined the pursuit. The pursuit lasted approximately 40 minutes traveling through several areas in Darke County and the City of Greenville, the sheriffs office said. Once the pursuit reached the city, Greenville police also assisted with the pursuit until it ended in the Village of Pitsburg. Two suspects in the vehicle fled on foot and were taken into custody a short time later. The two suspects were identified as juveniles out of Dayton. Both Juveniles were arrested and transported West Central Juvenile Detention Center. The incident remains under investigation. Authorities investigating the shootings of two Alabama firemen, one fatally, are offering a $45,000 reward for help finding a suspect. Jordan Melton and Jamal Jones were shot at their fire station July 12, according to the Birmingham Police Department. Melton died Monday. Jordan (Melton) paid the ultimate price for his service to our city, we will not let that sacrifice be in vain, Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a statement. Woodfin said Melton had served with the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service for more than a year and had graduated from the recruit academy last month. Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama announced the latest reward amount. The fire department is stepping up security, Battalion Chief William Lipscomb said. Station doors will now be locked. People will be able to use a doorbell. We all want our personnel to be safe, Lipscomb said. I was shocked that someone would actually come onto our property, into our house, and hurt two of our family members. Were a very close-knit department. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Vermont State Police are investigating two reports of theft from the Beetlejuice 2 set in East Corinth, which occurred after production was halted due to the actors' strike. On Friday, July 14, at 12:35 a.m. a movie security personnel reported the theft, said state police. Security staff told police that a pickup truck drove up to a lamppost with a pumpkin topper on Village Road, removed the post from its base, put it in the back of the truck and then covered it, before fleeing quickly. The second incident of theft was reported on Monday, July 17, at about 4 p.m. Movie officials told police that a 150-pound abstract statue was stolen from near a cemetery, between 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 13, and 11 a.m. July 17. A 150 pound abstract statue was stolen from the set of Beetlejuice 2, in East Corinth, VT. Vermont State Police are asking anyone with information about these thefts to contact the Vermont State Police in St. Johnsbury at 802-748-3111 or to leave an anonymous tip online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit. 'Beetlejuice 2' filming in Vermont Beetlejuice 2, the follow-up to the 1988 cult classic directed by Tim Burton, quietly began production in East Corinth in early June and filming there the first week of July. The outdoor scenes of the first "Beetlejuice" used Vermonts quaint small-town vibe to create Winter River, a fictional New England town whose rolling landscapes begin the movie. The sweet pastoral mood is immediately interrupted when the Maitlands crash into a red covered bridge how Vermont and die, leading them to haunt their pastoral home when the Deetzes move in. 'Beetlejuice 2': Everything we know about the sequel to Michael Keaton's beloved movie These famous movies are filmed in VT: Here's where to find the filming locations. Locals have seen Jenna Ortega, star of "Wednesday," riding around on a bike in East Corinth. Ortega is to play the daughter of Winona Ryders character Lydia Deetz. The movie, shot primarily in the United Kingdom, had one more sequence to film in Vermont before shooting ceased due to the actors' strike, according to Variety magazine. The release date was Sept. 6, 2024. Story continues Christmas movies set in Vermont: From least accurate to most accurate The hush-hush nature of the films production, and now this mysterious theft, heightens the ghostly allure of the film, prompting questions of if and when filming might continue, who might have taken these props, and how and why did they simply walk off with a 150-pound statue? Contact Kate Sadoff at ksadoff@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont State Police investigate thefts at Beetlejuice 2 set A 26-year-old man is charged with sex crimes after enrolling in a public school district in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he pretended to be 17, police say. Zachary Scheich was arrested Thursday and faces two counts of sexual assault with use of an electronic communication device, which includes any attempt to knowingly solicit, coax, entice or lure a child 16 years or younger to engage in sexual activity, according to the Lincoln Police Department. Scheich is also charged with one count of sex trafficking of a minor. Scheich allegedly attended two high schools in the Lincoln school district during the last academic year, attending classes for approximately 54 days, police say. The district had been alerted about an individual impersonating a student who had been enrolled under the name of Zak Hess, the Lincoln Police Department said in a written statement. Scheich was first enrolled at Northwest High School during the first semester of the 2022-2023 academic year and then transferred to Southeast High School during the second semester, police noted in the statement. During a news conference Friday, Lincoln Public Schools superintendent Paul Gausman said Scheich had enrolled by submitting a birth certificate, an out-of-district high school transcript and immunization records. All those documents turned out to be fraudulent, said Gausman. Zachary Scheich - Courtesy Lincoln Police Department The documents were submitted to the school online without a parent present, associate superintendent Matt Larson said. The online enrollment process is something we are considering changing, he said. An arrest warrant obtained by CNN affiliate KOLN says police gained access to Scheichs cell phone during a search of his home and found text messages exchanged between Scheich and minor females. Police found sexually explicit messages sent to a 14-year-old female student, they said. Scheich also allegedly texted a 13-year-old girl to discuss meeting up for sex. During an interview with authorities, Scheich allegedly admitted to pretending to be a student at the school and sending explicit messages to children but said he did not sexually assault any of them. Story continues Weve identified a number of people who are victims, superintendent Gausman said, but declined to give an exact number. Bond for Scheich was set at $250,000 during a court hearing Friday, KOLN reported. Scheich did not enter a plea and did not have an attorney. CNN reached out to the public defenders office for comment Friday. CNNs Jennifer Feldman and Aya Elamroussi contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A file photo of Chinese modern artist Wu Guanzhong [Photo courtesy of CGTN] Chinese modern artist Wu Guanzhong (1919-2010) is highly respected in the contemporary art world for his unique concept of art. His works blended Chinese and Western cultures and played a leading role in the significant transformation of Chinese painting in the later part of the 20th century. Starting from the age of 17, Wu dedicated himself to the study of art in Hangzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, where he was influenced by 1920s French art trends, with many teachers having studied in France. This gave Wu Guanzhong the opportunity to simultaneously engage with both Chinese and Western art, learning styles like oil painting and traditional Chinese painting under different mentors. In 1947, as one of three selected art students, Wu traveled by boat to Naples in Italy and then took a train to Paris. This was the first time Wu stepped out of his homeland. In Paris, he studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts under the guidance of J.M. Souverbie. During his time in Europe, Wu Guanzhong also visited Italy, Switzerland, and England, immersing himself completely in the artistic culture of the continent. He drew inspiration from artists such as Camille Pissarro, Paul Cezanne, Sandro Botticelli, Georges Braque, Paul Gauguin, Henri Matisse, and particularly Vincent van Gogh, whose passionate creations deeply moved him and even transformed his understanding and aesthetics of art. In the summer of 1950, Wu Guanzhong returned to China, and became a professor at the China Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. Wu integrated both Chinese and Western painting techniques, dedicating himself to the localization of oil painting. From the 1950s to the 1970s, Wu focused on creating landscape oil paintings and explored the Chinese adaption of this art form. He skillfully combined the direct and vivid depictions of nature in European oil painting with the spiritual and aesthetic ideals of traditional Chinese art. Starting from the 1970s, Wu Guanzhong also devoted himself to Chinese painting. He used traditional Chinese materials and tools to express modern themes, seeking innovation in this traditional art form. His ink paintings were characterized by novel ideas and unique compositions, skillfully conveying poetic sentiments through the interplay of dots, lines, and areas. His works embodied both Eastern traditional charm and contemporary features. Wu Guanzhong made remarkable contributions to the modernization of Chinese painting and the localization of oil painting. His creations not only enriched the expressive power of Chinese art but also facilitated the exchange and fusion of Chinese and Western cultures. Three people were injured and subsequently transported to a hospital following a two-vehicle crash in Darke County Friday night. >> TRENDING: Multi-vehicle crash sends 4 to area hospitals in Darke Co.; CareFlight requested The Darke County Sheriffs Office responded to the intersection of state Route 49 and Childrens Home Bradford Road at 10:12 p.m. on reports of a crash, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office said. Those involved in the crash reported injuries to emergency dispatchers prior to the arrival of first responders. A preliminary investigation revealed that a a gray 2011 Ford Fusion was traveling south on state Route 49 when it failed to yield the right of way while making a left turn. The Ford crashed into a black 2011 Hyundai Sonata traveling northbound. A 26-year-old man, operating the Ford, reported minor injuries and was transported to Wayne Health Care for further care. The Hyundais occupant, a 20-year-old woman and a juvenile, were also injured and transported to Wayne Health Care for further care. The Darke County Sheriffs Office led the ongoing investigation into the crash. Some tourists were forced to walk to safety after the fires cut off some roads (STRINGER) Officials on the Greek island of Rhodes evacuated thousands of locals and tourists from villages in the southeast of the Aegean island, where wildfires were raging out of control for a fifth day. High winds and a nine-kilometre (six-mile) fire front running from the centre of the island to its eastern beaches were creating extreme conditions, fire service spokesman Vassilis Varthakogiannis told Skai TV. "This is not a fire that will be over tomorrow or the day after tomorrow," Varthakoyannis added. "It'll be troubling us for days." Another 1,200 people were expected to be evacuated from the villages of Pefki, Lindos and Kalathos, he added. "We had set up firebreaks around the village of Laerma last night," Konstantinos Taraslias, a deputy mayor of Rhodes, told Open TV. "But a 180-degree change of the winds this morning helped the fire grow much bigger across many kilometres ... reaching a tourist area." In Athens, the foreign ministry said it had activated its crisis management unit to facilitate the evacuation of foreign citizens in Greece due to the ongoing forest fires. - An 'unprecedented situation' - Local officials on Rhodes said on Saturday they had moved 30,000 people threatened by wildfires to safety -- including 2,000 who had to be ferried off beaches. George Hadjimarkos, regional governor of the South Aegean, told Skai television that the operation, which was still ongoing, had been hampered by fires cutting off some road access. "The aim is to protect human life," he said. Tourists and some locals were being taken to gyms, schools and hotel conference centres on the island where they will stay overnight, while firefighters battled the blaze. In addition, three passenger ferries have been moored at the port of Rhodes to accommodate those rescued, Athens News Agency reported. Members of the coastguard, the armed forces and local authority workers used dozens of buses to help move people away from the fires, said Rhodes municipality official Teris Hatziioannou. Story continues Where the fires had cut off road access, some tourists had to walk to safety. "It is an unprecedented situation for the island," Panagiotis Dimelis, head of the Archangelos village council, told Skai TV, adding that many locals had rushed to help the tourists. For the beach operation, the coastguard said three of its boats led more than 30 private vessels to pick up people from the Kiotari and Lardos beaches on the east of the Mediterranean island. A Greek navy boat was also headed to the area to help, according to the coastguard. Later Saturday, fire services spokesman Yannis Artopoios told ERT TV that new evacuation orders had been issued for the villages of Gennadi and Kiotari with direction to Plimiri on the eastern side of the island. And one boat owner involved in the beach evacuations told Skai TV: "We have received an order from the Port Authority to head back to Gennadi for new evacuations. "There are a lot of people at the beach. More than 500 people." - Out of control - From the moment the evacuation alert sounded early in the afternoon, tourists headed for the beach, pulling their suitcases behind them. Television footage and videos posted on social media showed some of them pushing strollers carrying small children under the scorching sun. Some of those seeking rescue had missed their flights off the island after the fires cut off normal transport routes, according to media reports. Five helicopters and 200 firefighters fought the blaze during the daytime, but the air support was called off once the light failed. The battle to extinguish the fire in Rhodes continues in the area of Laermon and Lardos, where it is also raging out of control. Further inland, the fires had reached the village of Laerma and was burning houses and a church there, the ANA news agency and ERT TV reported. kan/jj The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection announced that $5 million of the $10 million fine paid by the Shell Cracker Plant will be used to fund environmental and quality-of-life projects in Beaver County. The Shell Cracker Plant was fined by Governor Shapiro and the PA Department of Environmental Protection for exceeding its total emission limitations for air contaminants. On Thursday, the DEP announced $5 million would be used on projects that provide environmental, health or quality of life benefits in the county. At least one of the projects is expected to provide air quality testing in the vicinity of the plant. Another will focus on providing education to the community that encourages participants to improve their health and the quality of their communities. The Consent Order and Agreement includes a strong recommendation to fund a project that provides additional and independent air monitoring. Were encouraged by the community feedback we received supporting that and the steering committee incorporated it in the final protocol, said DEP Secretary Rich Negrin. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: State police car hit responding to report of 50 vehicles drag racing on Fort Pitt Bridge Tony Bennett, legendary pop crooner, dies at 96 Woman, three children found dead in home in suspected murder-suicide VIDEO: 2 teens arrested in carjacking of Uber driver in Homewood North DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts On July 24, 1973, Dallas police officers Darrell Lee Cain and Roy R. Arnold arrested 12-year-old Santos and 13-year-old David Rodriguez at their home. The police told the brothers 84-year-old guardian, Carlos Minez, who barely spoke English, they needed to question the boys about a burglary. The police handcuffed David and Santos, placed them in Arnolds police car and drove to the Fina gas station, which they allegedly burglarized and stole $8 from a soda machine. According to news coverage, Arnold drove with Santos in the front passenger seat while Cain sat in the back with David. Cain aimed his .357 Magnum revolver at Santos head and warned him to tell him the truth about the burglary. After pulling the trigger once, playing Russian roulette, Cain again warned Santos. The boys last words were, I am telling the truth. On the second pull of the trigger, Cain shot Santos in the back of the head. Cains primary defense was that he thought he had emptied all the bullets from the gun. Dallas police officer Jerry Foster, who was standing outside of Arnolds patrol car at the time of the shooting, examined Cains gun and found it fully loaded except for one empty chamber. Cain testified he reloaded the gun immediately after the shooting. David Rodriguez, 13, left, and his brother Santos Rodriguez, 12, stand by a relatives car in 1973 just one month before Santos was killed. (Courtesy family photo) Courtesy/The Rodriguez family The murder of Santos unleashed the anger of the Dallas Chicano community. Rene Martinez, Pancho Medrano, the Rev. Rudy Sanchez, Brown Berets, and others demanded justice. They met with Dallas Police Chief Frank Dyson and the Dallas city council, demanding swift judicial action and police reform. March participants gather in front of Dallas City Hall to hear Chicano community leaders on July 28, 1973. Courtesy/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library I was stationed at Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos) in Killeen when I heard the news of the killing. That weekend I drove to Dallas to participate in the March of Justice for Santos Rodriguez on July 28, 1973. My voice joined hundreds of Latino and Black protesters howls, expressing our anger at the murder. The chanting crowd, carrying signs, marched from Kennedy Plaza to Dallas City Hall, then located at 106 S. Harwood. Several local Chicano leaders spoke to the gathering, which grew to more than 1,000, about injustice and need for community unity. Story continues Chicanos gather at Pike Park in Dallas to express outrage at the murder of Santos Rodriguez on July 24, 1973. Courtesy/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library After the march and rally, some protesters broke store windows, set fire to a police motorcycle, damaged police vehicles, and injured five officers. Police dispersed the rioters, arresting 30 people. The venue for Cains trial was moved to Austin, where an all-white jury of seven men and five women deliberated on the case. Dallas Assistant District Attorney Doug Mulder argued that Cain had recklessly murdered Santos and deserved to go to prison. Defense attorneys Phil Burleson and Michael P. Gibson countered that Cain had shot accidentally, thinking the gun was empty. Burleson warned if Cain were convicted, prison would be a death sentence. On Nov. 16, 1973, the jury found Cain guilty of murder with malice and sentenced him to five years in prison. Cains attorneys appealed the verdict to the United States Supreme Court, but the justices refused to hear the case. Darrell Lee Cain, the Dallas police officer who shot and killed Santos Rodriguez, and his attorney Phil Burleson walk on Dallas Street with a police escort on July 24, 1973. Courtesy/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library Cain served two and a half years in Texas State Penitentiary at Huntsville, acting as a trusty. According to the director of the Texas Department of Corrections, Cain behaved as a model prisoner, which earned him an early release. In 1978, LULAC, Texas Latino legislators, and other civil rights organizations appealed to President Jimmy Carter for his assistance to file federal charges. Carter gave assurances that the Department of Justice would seriously review the case. Attorney General Griffin Bell declined to pursue additional charges, citing the length of time since the crime. Santos mother, Bessie Rodriguez, wrote to Carter asking if his daughter had been murdered, would the killer have received a light sentence. She also wrote that if Santos had killed a police officer, his sentence would not have been as light as that given to Cain. Bessie Rodriguez, David Rodriguez, and Carlos Minez, along with family and community mourners, attend Santos Rodriguezs funeral on July 26, 1973. Courtesy/Dallas History & Archives Division, Dallas Public Library The city of Dallas worked to diversify its police department and to train officers to eliminate racist practices. On Sept. 21, 2013, Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings apologized for this heinous crime. The first Latino Dallas chief of police, Eddie Garcia, hired in 2021, apologized to Bessie Rodriguez for her sons death. The city dedicated a statue to Santos at the Pike Park Recreation Center on Feb. 9, 2022. The center was renamed the Santos Rodriguez Center. Human Rights Dallas formed the Santos Vive project and helped release a documentary of the same name, highlighting the murder, trial, and community reaction. Darrell Cain never worked again as a police officer and took a job as an insurance claims adjuster in Lubbock. Passing away in 2019 at the age of 75, his obituary partially read, There was also a special place in his heart for his canine friends ... No mention of Santos was made. On the 50th anniversary of the murder of Santos Rodriguez, the Chicano community cant forget his traumatic death. It still weighs heavy on our minds. Author Richard J. Gonzales writes and speaks about Fort Worth, national and international Latino history. A woman attacked by a violent would-be rapist fought off her assailant as he groped and choked her in Riverside Park in Manhattan, officials said Saturday after the suspect was arraigned and jailed on multiple charges. Where are you going? Let me talk to you, said suspect Luc Tatchiem Noubissi before blocking the victim from walking past him about an hour before sunrise this past Thursday, authorities alleged in court papers. The 33-year-old victim picked Noubissi out of a lineup, and the suspect was linked to the attack in part by a necklace yanked from his neck by the woman, prosecutors said. The attack was one of three reported in Riverside Park last week. Another man, Jhonathan Yanir Cortes Lopez, was arraigned Saturday afternoon and held without bail for two incidents in the park on Tuesday and for a separate June 25 attack in Morningside Heights. Noubissi, 39, turned violent after a stranger refused his unwanted attention in the park at 4:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Noubissi then put put his hands around the womans throat and grabbed at the womans breast and crotch before trying to yank off her dress as she screamed and fought him off, officials said. The suspect pulled her to the ground and yanked her hair before swiping the victims cellphone as she tried to dial 911, said Assistant District Attorney Emily Drake at his Friday night arraignment. The strap on the womans dress was torn loose during the scuffle with Noubissi, Drake added. Noubissi, who was seen on video riding his bicycle near the park, fled on foot and left the two-wheeler behind, officials said. He was arrested after cops recognized him in a multi-colored hat and red shirt, authorities said. He was arrested in Columbus Circle, not far from the crime scene inside the Upper West Side park near 59th St. The victims phone was recovered in Noubissis apartment, said NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig. Noubissi was hit with a plethora of charges, including attempted rape, sexual abuse and grand larceny, before he was ordered held on $250,000 bail. Story continues The other suspect accused of violence at Riverside Park, bike-riding 21-year-old Lopez, was charged with pinching a womans breasts inside the park near W. 80th St. on Tuesday around 4:40 p.m. In that incident, Lopez also asked the woman to commit a sexual act, prosecutors said. Lopez rode away from the scene on a bike, say prosecutors. That night, around 10 p.m., Lopez is accused of attacking another woman in Riverside Park, this time around W. 89th St. In that incident, authorities say, Lopez grabbed the womans wrist, shoulder, vagina and breast, pushed her to the ground, climbed on top of her, pulled her shorts down, and undid his own zipper. The woman screamed and managed to get away, and Lopez rode off on a bike, says a criminal complaint. In the Morningside Heights incident on June 25, Lopez pinched a womans breast as she was on the sidewalk near W. 111th St. and Amsterdam Ave., police said. Lopez fled when the woman ran to a nearby security guard, prosecutors said. He admitted to having an incident with each of the victims when he was shown their pictures, said Assistant District Attorney John Ludtke before Lopez was sent to jail Saturday to await court proceedings. He was also identified by each of the three victims in a lineup. Noubissi is an immigrant from Cameroon. His girlfriend insisted he was wrongly accused. Rape, he cannot do that, said Obiloka Chinemelum, 39, who met the defendant five years ago. Steal, he cannot do that. To get into an argument with someone, OK. But I know that is not the truth. But authorities said Noubissis victim had bruises across her body after fighting off her assailant, along with a cut on her finger and lingering pain in her elbows, knees and neck. The girlfriend acknowledged Noubissi frequented the park, walking between W. 59th St. and W. 68th St., while insisting authorities arrested the wrong man. I know the person who I live with, she said. Hes a very peaceful man. A remarkable new exhibition showcasing contemporary African photography - looking at Africa's past, present and future through the lenses of artists from the continent - has opened in London. One of the largest exhibitions of its kind ever staged, this thrilling new collection at the Tate Modern features beautifully powerful photographs, videos and installations that capture the essence of the realities of the fastest-growing continent in the world. It eschews a view of Africa that has historically been defined by Western images. Mozambican Mario Macilau's Breaking News (The Profit Corner series, 2015). Courtesy Ed Cross Fine Art British-Ghanaian curator Osei Bonsu has taken a thematic approach to explore the complex diversity of the vast continent through the eyes of 36 artists from Africa and its diaspora. These include legendary artists such as Malawi's Samson Kambalu and Ghanaian James Barnor, and new talents like Aida Muluneh from Ethiopia, whose work Star Shine is above, and Ruth Ossai, who grew up in Nigeria and Yorkshire, in northern England. Ruth Ossai's work A World In Common at the Tate Modern Bonsu has divided the more than 150 works on show into three "chapters": identity and tradition, counter histories and imagined futures, taking the viewer on a thrilling journey from Kinshasa's bustling streets to the deserts of Mauritania. The show uses photography, video and installation to map out the possibilities of Africa in exquisite, complex, revealing ways. Zimbabwean photographer Kudzanai Chiurai's We Live in Silence IV (2017). Courtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery The task of distilling the complexity and diversity of this expansive continent is no small feat. But through his deft curation, Osei has pulled off a visual feast, creating a vivid tapestry that thrusts contemporary African art firmly into the global centre. Speaking to the BBC, he explained how his thematic approach allows examination of how the continent's "shared histories" - from its colonial experience to post-independence revolutionary movements and its urban future - had "shaped and reshaped" how people in Africa see themselves and their place in the world. American-Nigerian Wura-Natasha Ogunji's Will I still carry water when I am a dead woman (2013, digital video). Fridman Gallery The exhibition's title, A World in Common, is inspired by the work of the pioneering Cameroonian historian and intellectual Achille Mbembe, who argued that we must think of the world from an African perspective. His ideas provide the intellectual thread that runs through the exhibition, offering a bold invitation to reconsider how we view the place of Africa in the world. Story continues Installation view of Nigerian photographer Andrew Esiebo's Mutations (2015-2022). Courtesy the artist and Tiwani Contemporary By featuring many artists for the first time internationally, the Tate Modern puts emerging African talent centre stage in a museum so crucial in setting the world's artistic agenda. One artist featured is the British-Nigerian, Zina Saro-Wiwa. Her work, The Invisible Man Series, 2015, explores the tradition of mask-wearing among the Ogoni, her ancestral ethnic group in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Zina Saro-Wiwa's The Invisible Man Series (2015). Courtesy of the artist and Tiwani Contemporary Her work unpacks the role masks traditionally play in Ogoni culture and is also an ode to a more personal and emotional journey. "I made this work to help me heal myself," she told the BBC. Her intimate, mournful and beautiful images demonstrate the power of art to bridge the past and the present, the group and the individual. Another artist shown is the Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda, whose work titled Rusty Mirage (The City Skyline), 2013, is a series of photographs of sculptures he created in the Jordanian desert. Kiluanji Kia Henda's Rusty Mirage (The City Skyline, 2013) These sculptures look like the outlines of cities emerging from barren desert lands. Inspired by the cityscapes of Dubai and Luanda, the capital of Angola and the city of his birth, Kiluanji told the BBC that he was interested in exploring the "idea of emptiness". He explains how Luanda, wrecked by one of Africa's longest civil wars, from 1975 to 2002, was reimagined as a city of glistening towers. He says many buildings have gone up unfinished, infamously including the town of Kilamba Kiaxi, but these buildings are "monuments to greed and corruption". Another featured artist is Eritrean-Canadian Dawit L Petros, whose work speaks powerfully of the perilous migration journeys taken by many young people across Africa. Dawit L Petros's Untitled (Prologue II), Nouakchott, Mauritania (The Strangers Notebook, 2016). Courtesy of the artist and Tiwani Contemporary His images highlight the contrast between Mauritania and the Italian island of Sicily, shedding light on the intricate realities of migration. Dawit L Petros's Untitled (Epilogue III), Catania, Italy (The Strangers Notebook, 2016). Courtesy of the artist and Tiwani Contemporary This is just the beginning for Osei, who hopes someday that an exhibition like this could travel to Africa and beyond. For now, he wants this dazzling show to "inspire" those on the continent and elsewhere to look with African eyes. Installation view of Angolan photographer Edson Chagas's Tipo Passe (2014) at the Tate Modern Ismail Einashe is a freelance journalist based in London and Nairobi and the author of Look Again: Strangers, a book exploring migration through the lens of art. Images subject to copyright More Letters from Africa: Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Russian forces attacked from the southeast on the night of 22 July using five Shahed-136/131 attack drones, all of which were destroyed by Ukrainian air defence forces. Source: Air Force Quote: "All five kamikaze drones were destroyed by the personnel and assets of the Air Forces air defence!" Details: In addition air defence destroyed nine operational-tactical reconnaissance drones on 21 July. The Air Force has also carried out more than 25 group airstrikes against the Russian occupiers over the current and previous days. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Department of the Air Force officials are restoring bonuses but are not fully lifting a pause on duty assignment moves after an Alabama lawmaker blocked and then restored the service's ability to cover budget shortfalls this week. Last week, the Air Force said that, because of higher-than-expected personnel costs and the delay in congressional approval to reprogram funds, it was pausing some duty assignments and reenlistment and retention bonuses. But on Friday, officials announced it "will restore funding to most military personnel programs that were suspended or closed last week," according to a press release. The Air Force will restore the Selective Retention Bonuses and the Aviation Bonus program next week, as well as Assignment Incentive Pay and Foreign Language Proficiency Pay agreements that were paused. Read Next: 'We Owe Them an Identity and Culture': Space Force's STARCOM Gets New Commander The Department of the Air Force will also resume those paused permanent change-of-station orders for moves in fiscal 2023 "with the target of airmen having orders in hand at least 30 days before departure date," the service said. But not all moves are being resumed. Deployed airmen with a DEROS -- or date expected to return from overseas -- between October and December 2023 will remain paused, according to the service. Those return dates remain extended to January through March 2024. "Airmen can request an exception to policy from their wing commander, for Air Force Personnel Center commander consideration if needed," the service's press release said. Airmen with questions about their PCS orders are advised to call the Total Force Service Center at 210-565-0102, or toll-free at 800-525-0102. "While most of the benefits have been reinstated, the Air Force will continue to communicate with airmen whose PCS orders have not been completed, specifically those with PCS moves in FY24," the service added. Story continues House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers, R-Ala., told Military.com last week he was holding up military reprogramming requests because the Air Force had not yet announced where it will base U.S. Space Command. A committee spokesperson told Military.com on Wednesday that the lawmaker reversed course and allowed personnel funding to go through. Rogers and other members of Alabama's congressional delegation from both parties are increasingly upset and becoming more vocal about the Air Force's delayed deliberations in choosing between Alabama and Colorado as the permanent home for Space Command. Whichever state wins the headquarters will also win 1,400 jobs, an economic boon of millions of dollars. Notably, Rogers has also launched his own investigation into the basing process. In May, he requested the Air Force hand over documents to the committee related to the Space Command decision. In a second letter sent Wednesday, Rogers demanded the documents be produced by Friday and that Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and Space Command chief Gen. James Dickinson sit for transcribed interviews with the committee by Aug. 18. -- Rebecca Kheel contributed to this report. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Alabama Lawmaker Blocks Pentagon Budget Moves to Force Decision on Space Command Basing Alabama state senators discuss a redrawn map of the state's districts. Kim Chandler/AP Photo Alabama lawmakers on Friday approved a redrawn map that carved out just one majority-Black congressional district in the state, defying a Supreme Court ruling that said Alabama had to create at least two majority-Black districts. The new map, helmed by the Alabama Legislature's Republican supermajority, increased the percentage of Black voters to around 50% in just one district, and a second district with roughly 40%. This new map means that District 7 would remain Alabama's only Black-majority district, and the map actually "reduces the Black voting age population in District 7 from 55.6% to 50.65%," according to an analysis of the map from CNN. A proposed change to Alabama's District 2 would increase the Black voting population, but only to 39.9%. The map proposal comes one month after a June Supreme Court ruling found that Alabama's gerrymandered districts had violated civil rights laws and the Voting Rights Act. The Court found that the current district makeup disproportionally favored white voters, despite Black voters making up 25% of Alabama's electorate, The Guardian reported. The surprising decision from the conservative-majority Court upheld a lower court ruling that the current map violated the Voting Rights Act because it offered Black voters "less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress," and ordered the state's districts to be redrawn. However, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) made it clear she had no intention of complying with the order, tweeting that the legislature "knows our state, our people, and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline." Further legal challenges are likely, and there "was never any intent in this building to comply with their court order," Alabama state Rep. Chris England (D) told CNN. Story continues You may also like Florida construction and agricultural workforces diminished after new immigration law takes effect Judge limits how Biden officials can communicate with social media companies How solar and wind energy are saving Texans from a record heatwave Alabama GOP Gov. Kay Ivey on Friday approved a new congressional map with just one majority-Black district, despite a court order calling for the redrawn lines to create two majority-Black districts or something quite close to it. The states Republican-controlled legislature gave final passage to the remedial map earlier Friday, just hours before the court-imposed deadline. The map must now be approved by a federal court, which has set a hearing for mid-August. The Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline, Ivey said in a statement after she signed off on the map. With no Democrats voting in favor, the legislature passed a remedial map that includes one congressional district that has around 50% Black voting age population and a second district with roughly 40%. The Livingston 3 map came as the result of a Friday afternoon conference committee, called a compromise by Republican leadership though no Democrats supported it, after the two chambers had only approved their own, different versions. District 7, currently represented by Democratic Congresswoman Terri Sewell, would remain the only majority-Black congressional district in Alabama; however, the new map actually reduces the Black voting age population in District 7 from 55.6% to 50.65%, according to data from the legislature. The provided data shows the Black voting age population for the proposed District 2 in the southeastern part of the state would increase the Black voting age population, but only to 39.93%. Democrats blasted Republicans for ignoring a directive from a three judge panel that specified any remedial plan will need to include two districts in which Black voters either comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it. There was never any intent in this building to comply with their court order, said state Rep. Chris England, a Tuscaloosa Democrat, on Friday. Story continues Much of the special session consisted of argument over what terms included in the directive, like quite close and opportunity, actually meant. Last month, the US Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling in the Allen v. Milligan case that found Alabamas current congressional map likely violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. After the 2020 census, Alabama enacted a congressional map that included just one Black majority district out of the states seven districts despite the fact that Black voters constitute 27% of the states population. The map was invalidated when a three judge federal district court including two Trump nominees tackled a massive factual record over seven days of testimony and concluded that the plan likely violated the Voting Rights Act because Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress. The court pointed to the states history of discrimination and noted that the proposed plans put forward by the plaintiffs showing that a second majority-Black district could be drawn. The court directive said Alabama should redraw its map to better give Black voters an opportunity to elect the candidate of their choice. One plus one, equals two. One plus zero, equals one. Its simple math, said Democratic state Rep. Juandalynn Givan, of Birmingham, as she held up a sign on the floor Friday that read: 1+1=2, 1+0=1. Republican House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle, co-chair of the redistricting committee, said throughout the week he was prioritizing maps that were compact and contiguous but avoided racial gerrymanders that he said would violate the state constitution. Pringle said he believed the redrawn lines would provide opportunity for minority voters to elect a representative of their choice in two districts though voting rights advocates have said models using the three map version finalists do not support that assertion. State GOP lawmakers acknowledged interest in the remedial map drawing process from Republicans in Washington, DC, like House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California and Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville. The journey to finish off the Voting Rights Act through Alabama continues, England said as he spoke on the floor Friday just before the state House voted to concur about his belief that Republicans intentionally designed the remedial map as a vehicle to get back before the US Supreme Court. I am putting my hopes in the federal courts system and hopefully they will save Alabama from themselves. The civil rights groups and individuals who challenged the current map have promised to fight the new version as well. They have until July 28 to submit their objections, and the state can then issue its response before August 4. Then, federal judges will hold a hearing on August 14 to consider them. There is a possibility the panel could reject the map and appoint a special master to draw a new one, if the judges determine the legislatures map does not comply with the order. The plaintiffs in Allen v. Milligan released a statement Friday, saying in part, Lets be clear: The Alabama Legislature believes it is above the law. What we are dealing with is a group of lawmakers who are blatantly disregarding not just the Voting Rights Act, but a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court and a court order from the three-judge district court. Even worse, they continue to ignore constituents pleas to ensure the map is fair and instead remain determined to rob Black voters of the representation we deserve. We wont let that happen. This story and headline have been updated with additional reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com In Beijing on Tuesday, at the premiere of film "Barbie," everything was decorated in shimmering pink, the iconic color of girls' favorite toy. Men and women, also dressed in pink, busily took photos to celebrate the spectacular film's arrival to the city. Guests at the premiere of "Barbie" pose for photos beside a "Barbie Land" installation at a cinema in Beijing, July 18, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn] Directed by Greta Gerwig and co-written with Noah Baumbach, the film is an adaptation of Mattel's Barbie fashion dolls and marks the first live-action Barbie movie following a series of computer-animated releases. The star-studded cast includes Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken, who embark on a journey of self-discovery after venturing out from the utopia of Barbie Land into the real world. They attempt to uncover the truth behind why Robbie's character, Stereotypical Barbie, starts to question life and becomes less than perfect. Joining them on their adventure are actors America Ferrera, Liu Simu, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell, among others. Barbie, also known by her full name Barbara Millicent Roberts, is a fashion doll and fictional character created by Mattel in 1959. Since then, she has become an iconic figurehead of the brand, offering a wide range of dolls, accessories, and collectibles. Over the span of more than six decades, Barbie has played a significant role in the fashion doll market. With over a billion dolls sold, Barbie remains Mattel's most successful and profitable product line. As a female director, Gerwig skillfully embraces the significance of Barbie, redefining the iconic toy for the modern era. Her film transcends expectations by delivering a thought-provoking message about womanhood, gender dynamics, and societal norms. Concealed within a whimsical, pink, and surreal journey, it challenges traditional gender roles while satirically exploring existentialism, feminism, the patriarchy, and stereotypes. Through vibrant visuals, sharp humor, wit, and emotional depth, Gerwig creates an unforgettable experience, delving into the complexities of femininity. The director's creative vision shines through in every aspect of the film. From its visually sumptuous aesthetics to its clever dialogue and well-executed musical dance numbers, it masterfully manages to balance the silly and the serious and expertly navigates the fine line between parody and commentary, resulting in a unique and engaging narrative. Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling deliver what are perhaps their best performances to date, perfectly embodying the toy icons of Barbie and Ken, respectively. A Chinese poster for "Barbie." [Image courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery China] The sets come alive thanks to a generous use of a specific shade of pink paint, Pantone 219, which reportedly resulted in an international shortage. In addition, the film's soundtrack is also phenomenal. The theatrical release of "Barbie" was scheduled for July 21 in the United States, China, and other markets. The soundtrack will be released on the same day, featuring songs by an all-star lineup of artists, including Ava Max, Charli XCX, Fifty Fifty, Khalid, Sam Smith, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Billie Eilish, as well as cast members Ryan Gosling and Dua Lipa. Finally, the film's release has triggered a global cultural phenomenon dubbed Barbenheimer." Thats because "Barbie" will be released on the same day in multiple markets as Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer," the biographical film about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the so-called father of the atomic bomb. The contrasting tones and genres of these films have sparked a battle between the two films and their fans, causing many to post memes, fan art, and comedic posts on social media, with some suggesting that they be viewed together as a double feature. Universal Pictures announced on Wednesday that "Oppenheimer" would be released in China, but no date has been given so far. JIM BOURG Republicans in the Alabama legislature have passed a new congressional map with only a single majority Black districtignoring a recent Supreme Court ruling that ordered the creation of a second. In a June ruling, the conservative-leaning Supreme Court surprised some onlookers when it ruled 5-4 that Alabamas new map of congressional districts likely violated the Voting Rights Act as an illegal racial gerrymander. Under that map, only one out of Alabamas seven districts had a majority Black electorate, even though Black residents comprise more than a quarter of the population. The justices, upholding a lower courts ruling, ordered Alabamas Republican-controlled legislature to redo the maps, this time carving out a second Black-majority district, or something quite close to it. But Republicans in the state didnt go through with it, effectively spurning the high courts order, opponents argue. After a special session convened in response to the ruling, Alabamas legislature passed a new map on Friday that created only one seat with a majority Black electorate, NBC reported. Another seat included in the revised plan has a 40 percent Black voter base. The new maps passed a vote on Friday afternoonas a court-mandated deadline loomedand got Alabama governor Kay Iveys signature that night. They advanced over the objection of Democratic lawmakers, as well as the advocacy groups that successfully challenged the previous mapsand who have promised to fight the new one as well. "The Legislature knows our state, our people and our districts better than the federal courts or activist groups, and I am pleased that they answered the call, remained focused and produced new districts ahead of the court deadline, Ivey said in a statement Friday night. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Republican lawmakers in Alabama chose Friday to increase the percentage of Black voters from 31% to 40% in the states second district rather than creating a Black majority following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The court recently upheld a lower court ruling from a three-judge panel that said the state must create a second majority-Black district or "something quite close to it" so that Black voters "have an opportunity to elect a representative of their choice." Alabama only has one majority-Black district out of seven, while Black people make up 27% of the state. Republicans argued that the new district map complies with the order because it increases Black influence. ALABAMA REPUBLICANS' REDISTRICTING PROPOSAL IS AN INSULT XTO THE SUPREME COURT, BLACK LAWMAKERS SAY "We also took into consideration not racially gerrymandering our maps," Republican House Speaker Pro Tempore Chris Pringle said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP But critics said it invoked the history of Jim Crow laws meant to suppress the Black vote. "Theres no opportunity there for anybody other than a White Republican to win that district," Democratic state Sen. Rodger Smitherman, said. "It will never, ever elect a Democrat. They wont elect a Black. They wont elect a minority." Gov. Kay Ivey signed the bill late Friday. Last year, the panel ruled that the states legislative map likely violated the Voting Rights Act, which the Supreme Court upheld. "Lets be clear: The Alabama Legislature believes it is above the law," the plaintiffs who won the Supreme Court case and who have vowed to continue to fight if the map is passed said. "What we are dealing with is a group of lawmakers who are blatantly disregarding not just the Voting Rights Act, but a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court and a court order from the three-judge district court." SUPREME COURT LIFTS PAUSE ON LOUISIANA REDISTRICTING CASE THAT COULD BOOST BLACK VOTING POWER Story continues Smitherman said he believes state Republicans are hoping the Supreme Court will vote in favor of the state in the next round. The court narrowly voted 5-4 against the state. "I have people in my district saying their vote doesnt count, and I understand why they say that," state Democratic Rep. Thomas Jackson said during debate Friday. "The person they want to elect can never get elected because they are in the minority all the time." A leading GOP lawmaker said the Senate proposal places heavier emphasis on a district's shape and keeping communities together than on racial composition. "How do we keep those communities together, how do they wind up being recognized as communities of interest? Thats a big decision," Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Reed. The debate in Alabama is being closely watched across the nation, and could be mirrored in fights in Louisiana, Georgia, Texas and other states. Jeff Bezos. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File Jeff Bezos is playing an increasingly active role in operations at The Post, The New York Times says. The Amazon founder and ex-chief executive made an unusual visit to the newsroom earlier this year. Bezos has sought to make The Post an international force and has encouraged digital experimentation. Former Amazon chief executive and president Jeff Bezos has become increasingly involved in the operations of The Washington Post, the venerable newspaper that he purchased for $250 million a decade ago, according to The New York Times. In past years, representatives of Bezos kept close tabs on the budget, but Bezos has recently taken a more active approach as the publication has encountered economic headwinds and internal dissent. By early 2021, The Post boasted 3 million digital subscribers, fueled by the lightning-speed news cycles of the Trump administration, and had more than 1,000 employees up from about 580 staffers before Bezos' investment in the newspaper. But digital subscriptions now sit at 2.5 million, and the newspaper has stumbled in boosting that figure, according to The Times. The Times report noted that The Post was set to lose $100 million this year, according to two individuals with knowledge of The Post's financial situation who spoke to the newspaper. Two other individuals also told The Times that The Post was projected to miss its advertising revenue estimates for the year. Patty Stonesifer, the interim chief executive for The Post, told The Times that Bezos was thrilled with "every dollar invested" in the company. And an individual with knowledge of Bezos' vision for The Post said that 2023 would be a "year for investment" for the newspaper. "I'm very enthusiastic about what we can do here at The Washington Post in the decade ahead," Stonesifer said in a statement. "Jeff's second decade of ownership of The Post should be even more exciting." When Bezos bought The Post in 2013, it was the end of an era for the newspaper, which for generations had been run by the Graham family, whose stewardship saw the paper ascend to monumental heights with its Watergate and Pentagon Papers coverage. Story continues Bezos encouraged digital experimentation when he first bought the newspaper, angling to make The Post into an international powerhouse. After Bezos' initial purchase of The Post, his influence was less visible in the newsroom, according to two individuals who spoke with The Times. But as morale cratered, editor Sally Buzbee whom Bezos had helped select to succeed veteran editor Marty Baron reached out to the Amazon founder to discuss the problem. In January, Bezos made an unusual visit to the newsroom, attending a morning meeting and later meeting with several journalists at the paper. The journalists reportedly spoke with Bezos about some larger newsroom issues with Fred Ryan the newspaper's publisher who in June announced that he would step down from his position later in the summer. Bezos has continued to look ahead as he seeks to put his imprint on the newspaper's vision. He is mulling over an experimental project for the opinion section, and an overhaul of the paper's Style section is expected later in the year, according to The Times. Sally Quinn, a longtime journalist at the newspaper and the widow of Post legend Ben Bradlee, told The Times that she had renewed optimism for the newsroom. "There's a sense of hope, which we haven't had for a long time," she said. Read the original article on Business Insider Amish barns and solar panels are probably not two things most people think of as going together, but times are changing. Anabaptist World recently reported that Amish communities are starting to adopt solar as their source of power. Its a long-held misconception that the Amish use no electricity at all. Instead, most of them simply believe that relying heavily on electricity or access to public power grids will tie them too closely to the rest of the world. Some Amish people have used gas and diesel generators to produce electricity and candles or kerosene lamps to light their homes. However, as solar panel technology improves and prices drop, these generators and lamps are becoming less attractive. For the Amish, solar power allows access to clean, renewable energy while remaining off-grid. The shift benefits the environment as well. Burning kerosene, like burning all dirty energy, releases carbon dioxide. Kerosene lamps also produce black carbon, which absorbs light and heats its surroundings. According to the Climate & Clean Air Coalition, mass black carbon has a per-unit warming impact on climate that can be up to 1,500 times stronger than carbon dioxide. Burning kerosene also comes with severe health risks and can damage the lungs and increase asthma and cancer risks. Exposure to diesel exhaust can also cause serious health conditions like asthma and respiratory illnesses and can worsen existing heart and lung disease. Switching to solar eliminates all of this, although the trend is still fairly recent in Amish communities. We really didnt see a lot of adoption until 2015 or maybe even later In the last four years, its really taken off, Mark Horst, the owner of King Solar in Kansas, told Anabaptist World. But many believe the technology will continue to gain popularity. For a commercial scale say a chicken house with feed lines or power tools in a shop 15 years ago, technology wasnt there to power that Its changing faster than ever now, James Mast, founder of ARK Battery in Ohio, told Anabaptist World. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. The Grand Princess cruise ship in Gastineau Channel in Juneau, Alaska, on May 30, 2018. Becky Bohrer, File/Associated Press Tourist destinations around the world are dealing with overcrowding and environmental pollution. Amsterdam, Venice, and French Polynesia are among the places that have banned cruise ships. The trend is likely to continue as the industry grows and those concerns persist. Banning cruise ships addresses two major problems that tourism destinations around the world are struggling to contain: hordes of people and environmental destruction. The Amsterdam City Council passed a measure Thursday that will ban cruise ships from docking in the Dutch capital. Officials said the measure was intended to reduce the sheer number of tourists and curb pollution, problems brought on by the more than a hundred cruise ships that previously docked near the city center each year. Amsterdam was just the latest city to take action against cruise ships, and there may be more in the future as the industry continues to grow despite environmental and tourism concerns. In 2021, Italian officials banned cruise ships over a certain size from docking in Venice in order to curb tourism and protect the ecosystem of the lagoon, which was also declared a national monument. French Polynesia also banned mega cruise ships last year, citing concerns about the burden on local infrastructure and ecosystem conservation. Others have limited large ships, rather than enacting all-out bans. Barcelona last year decided to limit the number of cruise liners docking in the city's harbor. Back in 2016, Santorini started limiting cruise ship visitors in response to overcrowding. The moves come at a time when cruise ships are under increasing scrutiny for environmental impacts and questions about how much they are actually helping the local economies they visit. Cruises to pristine areas of Alaska, for instance, have resulted in air, water, and noise pollution, piles of trash, and too many people, causing damage to the ecosystems, according to a report from Hakai Magazine. The outlet reported a tourism survey found a majority of Juneau residents are "very supportive" of limiting the number of large cruise ships that dock in the harbor each day. So whether they are full bans or just limits, the cruise industry is likely to face more restrictions at the local levels in the future. Read the original article on Business Insider A Ukrainian deminer carries unexploded material during demining work at an airport in Hostomel, Ukraine. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty Images Ukrainian troops face a perilous challenge in their continued fight against Russia land mines. The mines have blighted an area of Ukraine roughly the size of Florida, per The Washington Post. Humanitarian clearance work, which is intricate and expensive, can take a long time to complete. More than a year and half after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, land mines have become one of the most daunting issues for the Ukrainian counteroffensive. With Russian forces having laid down mines across broad areas of Ukraine, it is now the most mined country in the world, and the mines in addition to unexploded bombs and artillery shells are now prevalent in an area of Ukraine roughly the size of Florida, according to The Washington Post. The drastic changes to the Ukrainian heartland not only threaten the country long-term, but they continue to present enormous challenges for troops seeking strategic advantages against Moscow, having had earlier successes against Russian forces before the mines began to slow down Ukraine's counteroffensive. While there are ongoing efforts to remove the mines, also referred to as unexploded ordnance, the full scope of the situation will likely be unknown for some time as the conflict continues. However, according to data already collected by the Ukrainian government and humanitarian mine clearance organizations, the direness of the situation may last for generations. Greg Crowther, the director of programs for the Mines Advisory Group, a nongovernmental organization that aids individuals affected by land mines, told The Post that the mine situation in Ukraine was unlike anything seen in recent decades. "The sheer quantity of ordnance in Ukraine is just unprecedented in the last 30 years. There's nothing like it," he told the newspaper. GLOBSEC, a global think tank, recently published a report revealing that about 30% of Ukraine, covering more than 67,000 square miles, had been subject to heavy fighting and would require thorough clearance operations. The report also detailed the lengths taken by Russian forces to make vast expanses of Ukrainian farmland either too difficult to navigate or effectively unusable. Story continues "To date, the Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts remain the most contaminated regions of all the liberated territories, as Russian forces had been present there for a longer period of time," the report says. "The nature of the demining challenge is different to the pre-Feb 2022 situation: First, fighting has been heavier and longer in duration; second, a far greater range of explosive ordnance has been deployed, and, finally, the area of potentially contaminated territory is 10 times greater." "Russian troops are infamously creative in leaving mine traps: They plant victim-activated devices on animals, dead bodies, as well as double and even triple booby traps on roads, fields, and forests," the report continued. "It has been reported that the Russians have also deliberately targeted farming areas and agricultural land for contamination in order to deny its use for future economic activity in Ukraine." The humanitarian clearance work, which is intricate and expensive, can also take a long time to complete. Such efforts are being employed around Kyiv, the capital city, and parts of the country located west of the front lines. But several experts told The Post that the amount of contaminated land in Ukraine is so massive that it could take close to 500 demining teams and 757 years to finish the work. And the World Bank estimated that the demining work could exceed $37 billion through 2033. The mines have also had a major effect on deminers the highly trained individuals who are tasked with clearing unexploded ordnance as they are not immune from the harm caused by the mines and booby traps laid down by Russian forces. Vladislav Sokolov, a deminer for the Ukrainian emergency service, told the newspaper that another deminer lost his leg last year while in Kramatorsk, a city in the Donbas region. Sokolov then elaborated that he saw the deminer while convening with other ordnance removal workers and noted that his friend had to get a prosthetic leg and was "trying to learn to walk" once again. Read the original article on Business Insider An armed man in military uniform has broken into someone's house in Moscow Oblast and started a shoot-out with security forces. He has also announced that he had collected an arsenal of weapons and was going to go to the Kremlin. Source: Meduza with reference to a number of Russian Telegram channels; TASS; Alexander Khinshtein, Member of Russian State Duma, on Telegram Details: According to Baza and Mash Telegram channels, the incident took place in the cottage country village of Sherwood. According to Baza, the man shouted that he "recently returned from the special military operation", which is what Russian occupiers call the war against Ukraine. TASS, with reference to the security forces, wrote that the man was drunk. First, the village guard arrived at the scene, and then the district policeman. According to Moscow agency, the man who entered the house threatened the policeman with a weapon. TASS wrote about the initiation of a case on the fact of threats. According to Mash, the case was opened under the articles Trespass against life of a law enforcement officer and Use of violence against a representative of the authorities. There is conflicting information about whether there are hostages in the house. TASS wrote that there were no people inside, Baza reported that they managed to leave the house. According to Baza, the man is armed with a Kalashnikov rifle. The Special Rapid Response Unit (SOBR) and Special Police Force (OMON) fighters arrived at the scene. A TASS source among the security forces claimed that the armed man also threw a Molotov cocktail, as a result of which the house caught fire. Tatyana Vitusheva, Head of the Istra City District, reported that the SOBR unit began storming the house. Alexander Khinshtein, Member of Russian State Duma, claimed that the man started shooting from an automatic weapon after the private security company employees on guarde in the village called the district policeman. At the same time, he began to chant political slogans and shout that he had gathered a whole arsenal of weapons to march on the Kremlin. Story continues According to the official, the armed man is Vyacheslav Chernenko, a 35-year-old resident of Krasnoyarsk, Russia. He came to Moscow recently. He found the address of the cottage country in an advert for sale. Attempts to convince Chernenko to surrender, in particular with his mothers help, were unsuccessful, the official said. Updated: Later, TASS agency with reference to law enforcement agencies reported that the man who seized the cottage in the village of Sherwood, Moscow Oblast, was killed during the assault. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! In an aerial view, the downtown skyline is seen on April 11, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/Getty Images Austin, Texas has become one of the least affordable cities in the US in part due to steep housing costs. This week, city lawmakers took a significant step toward helping boost housing supply. The city council approved a resolution that reduces the lot size necessary for a home. Until relatively recently, Austin was best known as Texas' quirky, liberal, and affordable haven for university students, musicians, and artists. A "weird" place that its residents hoped would stay that way. But since the capital city was discovered by the world's biggest tech companies and their well-compensated employees, it has transformed into one of the least affordable cities in the country. Neighborhoods have gentrified and home prices and rents have skyrocketed as supply has struggled to keep up. In the process, the "keep Austin weird" slogan has been leveraged by anti-development advocates to protest new housing. Demand for housing in Austin has surged over the last decade, fueled in large part by the movement of major tech companies, including Apple, Amazon, and Tesla, into the city. Median home prices in Austin more than doubled between 2011 and 2021 as the city's median household income rose from $55,744 to $80,954 in roughly the same time period, the Austin Chamber of Commerce reported. City lawmakers are finally finding some success in their efforts to boost housing affordability. The city council on Thursday approved a resolution that would reduce the minimum lot size for a home by more than half and allow up to three units on each residential lot. The upzoning measures, supported by nine of the council's 11 members, are designed to promote the construction of so-called "gentle density" also known as infill housing or missing-middle housing. It would allow townhomes, duplexes, and triplexes to be built on lots that only single-family detached homes could previously sit on. The resolution also asks the city manager to review regulations on how tall homes can be, how far they need to be from the street, and how much of a lot can be covered by surfaces like rooftops and driveways that don't absorb rainfall. Story continues Austin also recently ended its mandates requiring a certain amount of parking spots be built with every new home a move that is also expected to reduce housing costs. While the city has built new housing at a faster rate than most US cities in recent years, its restrictive zoning policies simply haven't allowed it to build as much as it needs. The Texas capital's 1980s land development code makes it illegal to build anything other one single-family home on a lot that's at least 5,750 square feet in most of the city. Opponents of the rezoning efforts say more dense new housing would change the character of their neighborhoods, increase congestion, and displace longtime residents, among other concerns. Research has found that increasing the market-rate housing supply makes housing more affordable for both middle- and low-income residents, despite widespread skepticism that the laws of supply and demand apply to housing. The lawmakers who've pushed the effort say it's designed to help middle-income homeowners. "Together we will tackle the challenges middle-income families face and deliver true benefits to those looking to buy a home and stay in Austin, as well as those who continue to work to stay," City Council Member Leslie Pool said. This comes after years of battles between so-called YIMBYs "yes in my backyard" pro-housing advocates and NIMBYs, "not in my backyard" activists. Last year, a Texas appeals court struck down a previous city council effort to increase housing density through upzoning. Read the original article on Business Insider The flag of Belarus and the monument to Lenin Minsk will not be able to independently decide whether to use nuclear weapons Russia is in the process of deploying to Belarus, Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Sergey Ryabkov, said in July 21, according to a report by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN. "I would like to emphasize once again that there are no transfers of control over nuclear weapons to anyone within the framework of the current events," Ryabkov said. Read also: Russia hasn't made preparations to use nuclear weapons yet - CIA Chief He added that the transfer of nukes to Belarus is taking place "according to schedule". Read also: Lukashenko comes to Russia for talks with Putin The schedule of work related to the resolution of this issue was published in statements by the President of the Russian Federation, the official said. We proceed from the fact that it remains valid. There are no changes or additions to what has been previously announced in this regard. Read also: Girkins detention signals intensifying internal power struggle within Kremlin intelligence On June 9, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would begin to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus after July 7-8. On June 16, Putin said that Russia had supposedly already brought the first nuclear charges over to Belarusian territory. On June 20, Ukrainian Military Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov that the Kremin is yet to equip its ally with nuclear weapons. 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 Migrants crossing the Rio Grande from Mexico walk past large orange buoys deployed by Texas border security. Eric Gay/AP The Department of Justice has warned Texas that its border policies violate federal law. Texas' actions "violate federal law" and "present serious risks to public safety," it said. Of particular concern is a floating barrier that Texas recently placed in the Rio Grande. The Biden administration is warning Texas that it's breaking federal law by placing a floating barrier in the Rio Grande, the border river that separates Mexico and Texas. In a letter obtained by ABC News, the US Department of Justice said the barriers violate the Rivers and Harbors Act, a federal law that grants Congress the exclusive authority to authorize "any obstruction" in navigable waters. "This floating barrier poses a risk to navigation, as well as public safety, in the Rio Grande River, and it presents humanitarian concerns," the department said. "Thus, we intend to seek appropriate legal remedies, which may include seeking injunctive relief requiring the removal of obstructions or other structures in the Rio Grande River." The missive comes after a number of reports about the treatment of migrants in Texas have sparked bipartisan condemnation. In a July email, the Houston Chronic reported, a Texas state trooper complained of "inhumane" border enforcement, describing how agents were told to deny water to migrants and detailing one episode where a pregnant woman miscarried after getting stuck in barbed wire that has been placed along strings of buoys in the Rio Grande. Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, a Republican, responded to the letter in a post on Twitter, asserting that Texas "has the sovereign authority to defend our border, under the US Constitution and the Texas Constitution." Abbot has spent at least $4.5 billion on immigration enforcement with "Operation Lone Star," which has seen state law enforcement deployed to the border and asylum-seekers bussed across the country. Story continues He announced a surge in resources after the expiration of Title 42, which he described as President Joe Biden "laying down the welcome mat to people across the entire world." The Trump-era public health order had allowed federal authorities to quickly remove people who crossed the border illegally, without processing asylum claims, but critics said it broke international law which requires countries to consider requests for asylum and also encouraged repeat attempts to enter the United States, as those removals did not carry the same legal weight as a formal deportation. Since the order was rescinded in May, the number of people crossing the border illegally has dropped to the lowest rate in more than two years. Courts uphold federal supremacy on immigration Historically, courts have rejected state efforts to regulate immigration, ruling that such authority lies exclusively with the federal government. And Texas ceded absolute sovereignty over its borders when it ceased being an independent republic in 1845. In June, the Supreme Court, by an 8-1 margin, rejected an argument from Republican states that the president should be compelled to prioritize the deportation of anyone in the United States without documentation. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, said the Biden administration, like its predecessors, "lacks the resources to arrest and prosecute every violator of every law," and has the right to focus its deportation efforts on those convicted of other crimes. The Constitution "does not give states the authority to carry out immigration enforcement at the border," Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council, argued in a post on Twitter. "Period." In its letter, the Department of Justice hinted that it could take further action based on such constitutional arguments. Texas' actions "violate federal law, raise humanitarian concerns, present serious risks to public safety and the environment, and may interfere with the federal government's ability to carry out its official duties," the department said. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider The government will further utilize the roundtable meeting mechanism involving foreign companies and business associations to enhance support for their operations in China, a senior commerce ministry official said on Friday. During his meeting with the representatives of multinational corporations and foreign business chambers, including the American Chamber of Commerce in China and the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Chen Chunjiang, assistant minister of commerce, emphasized that the Chinese government considers attracting foreign investment a top priority and is dedicated to creating a fair, transparent and predictable business environment for global investors. The meeting, which was held in Beijing, centered on addressing the concerns raised by foreign businesses, particularly those over cross-border data flows, export controls and China's Counterespionage Law, according to an online statement released by the Commerce Ministry. Chen said his ministry will work with the government branches concerned to intensify efforts to promote and interpret policies effectively. The aim is to enhance support services and create a high-quality business environment for foreign companies operating in China. To encourage foreign companies to play a bigger role in the Chinese market, senior commerce ministry officials have held a number of roundtable conferences and meetings with top corporate executives and heads of foreign business associations from Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United States this year. They also said foreign companies could expect more growth opportunities as China is advancing Chinese modernization in an all-round manner and unswervingly pushing forward high-standard opening-up. These institutional arrangements for roundtables and regular meetings are certain to further expand the channels for gathering feedback on operational difficulties and other suggestions from foreign companies, which would help address their concerns in a timely way, besides facilitating their stable development in China, said Zhu Bing, director-general of the foreign investment administration department at the Commerce Ministry. The ministry has held 17 such meetings and seminars for foreign-funded enterprises and made coordinated efforts to solve their problems over the past three years, according to information it released earlier this month. To keep pace with China's fast-growing market, French multinational Schneider Electric SE has been stepping up its efforts to increase investment in the country. Schneider Electric announced earlier this week that the third phase of a factory owned by its subsidiary Schneider Shanghai Power Distribution Electrical Apparatus Co Ltd was completed. This new digital and automated "zero-carbon plant" will be the group's largest air circuit breaker production base in the world. "This is another testimony to our confidence in China," said Yin Zheng, Schneider Electric's executive vice-president, China and East Asia Operations, adding the company will keep investing in both innovation and supply chains in China. Similar views were shared by Thomas Pauer, president of Bosch's Powertrain Solutions division, a business unit of German industrial and technology group Robert Bosch GmbH. He said the company fully supports the Chinese market and its automotive sector, and a new plant for hydrogen power modules in Chongqing is expected to open this year to further enhance production capacity. China is already a leading market for commercial cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells, which will grow at the fastest rate in terms of volume, he noted. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Bidens reelection campaign condemned Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a clash over how the history of slavery in America is taught in his state, saying he supported the notion that an utterly evil system had benefits for the enslaved. Most Read from Bloomberg The comments by campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond followed a DeSantis tweet accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of lying about a recently adopted K-12 social studies curriculum. Harris took aim at the education standards in a speech in Jacksonville on Friday, without mentioning DeSantis by name. DeSantiss comments in support of the idea that slavery had its benefits for slaves are obviously disgusting and a sign of extremism among Republican presidential candidates, Richmond said in a statement Saturday. The curriculum dispute marks the latest back-and-forth as Biden and his campaign take on DeSantis, whos positioned himself as an anti-woke campaigner in the 2024 election. He trails former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination by more than 30 percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average of polls. The debate centers on curriculum language stating that lessons include how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. Harris, in a speech on the Florida board of educations curriculum updates, said the idea that there was some benefit in slavery is misleading, false and amounts to pushing propaganda on our children. DeSantis said on Twitter that Democrats such as Harris are lying about Floridas educational standards to promote an opposing political vision. Story continues That led Richmond, a former Democratic congressman from Louisiana and Bidens campaign co-chair in 2020, to push back. Theres no debate over slavery, he said. It was utterly evil with zero redeeming qualities. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. President Biden has overruled the Pentagon and chosen Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy, making her the first woman, if she's confirmed, to be a Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Biden's decision goes against the recommendation of his Pentagon chief, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who recommended the president select Adm. Samuel Paparo, the current commander of the Navy's Pacific Fleet, according to multiple reports. In a statement on Friday, Biden noted how Franchetti is an unprecedented choice for such a high-level military post due to her sex, adding that she's the second woman ever to achieve the rank of four-star admiral in the Navy. "As our next chief of naval operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti will bring 38 years of dedicated service to our nation as a commissioned officer, including in her current role of vice chief of naval operations," Biden continued. "Throughout her career, Admiral Franchetti has demonstrated extensive expertise in both the operational and policy arenas." BIDEN CELEBRATES DIVERSITY OF AIR FORCE ACADEMY GRADUATES: 'THAT'S WHY WE'RE STRONG' President Biden, left, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. During her tenure, Franchetti has commanded two aircraft carrier strike groups in the Pacific and served as the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Korea, deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting development, and director for strategy, plans, and policy of the Joint Staff. As head of 6th Fleet, she oversaw the Navy's response to Syrian President Bashar al Assad's use of chemical weapons. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Despite having a different recommendation, Austin praised Biden's selection, saying, "I'm very proud that Admiral Franchetti has been nominated to be the first woman chief of naval operations and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where she will continue to inspire all of us." Biden nominated Austin's preferred choice, Paparo, to be the commander of Indo-Pacific Command. Meanwhile, the president also tapped Vice Adm. James Kilby to be the vice chief of the Navy and Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler to head the Pacific Fleet. Story continues Franchetti will likely join several other general and flag officers whose confirmations are being held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala, in protest of a Defense Department policy that pays for travel when a service member or their dependents leave the state to get an abortion. Biden slammed Tuberville's protest in his statement. ARMY VETERAN GOP REP SAYS US TRYING TO 'OUT-PRONOUN OUR ENEMIES' IN PUSH TO END MILITARY DEI PROGRAM "What Senator Tuberville is doing is not only wrong it is dangerous," said Biden. "In this moment of rapidly evolving security environments and intense competition, he is risking our ability to ensure that the United States Armed Forces remain the greatest fighting force in the history of the world. And his Republican colleagues in the Senate know it." Franchetti marks another first for the Biden administration's Pentagon, which has had the first Black secretary of defense and the first female Army secretary. Biden has also nominated Air Force Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If Brown is confirmed to serve along with Austin at the top, it would mark the first time the Pentagon's two most senior leaders are Black men. The White House has argued diversity gives the U.S. a "strategic advantage," while Republican critics have expressed concern that the Biden administration is more concerned about being "woke" than ensuring the military's effectiveness. Decision on ATACMS missiles is up to Biden The White House is considering providing the Ukrainian Armed Forces with ATACMS long-range missiles, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, said on July 21. The long-range missiles had previously been supplied by the United Kingdom and France and have been effectively used by Ukrainian forces. Read also: Washington to announce $400 million aid package for Ukraine next week report This matter is constantly discussed with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and I deeply regret that I cannot tell you today what the outcome will be, Sullivan stated. The United States is willing to take calculated risks in offering military aid to Ukraine, but it remains cautious in providing military aid to Ukraine, while trying to align its composition with the changing strategic situation, Sullivan said. We take an action, then observe how Russia responds or doesnt respond to it, take the next step, observe Russias response or lack thereof, and this is a highly organized process, he clarified. Read also: Battlefield conditions in Ukraine not ideal for F-16s Pentagon Over the past 16 months, we have not been static; we have adapted as the war has evolved. After meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on July 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that a decision regarding the supply of ATACMS missiles to Ukraine had not yet been made. Meanwhile, during a recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Biden confirmed that the option of providing long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine is under consideration. 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 Image shows Donald Trump Donald Trump has been indicted three times, and is being investigated on several other fronts - meaning more criminal charges could be on the way. This is where the key cases stand and what they could mean for the former president and frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination. Banner for Capitol riot and 2020 election case What are the charges in 2020 election investigation? Donald Trump has been criminally charged in a federal investigation into efforts to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election. The 45-page indictment contains four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of and attempt to obstruct an official proceeding, and conspiracy against rights. They stem from the former president's actions in the wake of the 2020 election, including around the 6 January Capitol riot, which occurred while Congress was meeting to certify Joe Biden's victory. What are the potential penalties? Penalties for these charges include: Conspiracy to defraud the US is punishable by a fine or up to five years in prison Obstructing an official proceeding is punishable by a fine or up to 20 years in prison Conspiracy against rights is punishable by a fine or not more than 10 years in prison, or both But there are logistical, security and political questions around whether Mr Trump would serve time even if charged and convicted. What will his defence be? Mr Trump was formally charged in court in Washington DC on 3 August. A tentative trial date is expected to be set on 28 August. He argues that the charges are attempt to prevent him from winning the 2024 presidential election. Before leaving Washington after his arraignment hearing, he told journalists the case "is a persecution of a political opponent". Mr Trump has repeatedly denied responsibility for the riot on 6 January 2021. His legal team are also likely to argue that the former president is not directly responsible for the violence that unfolded that day because he told supporters to march "peacefully" on the Capitol and is protected by First Amendment free speech rights. Story continues Short presentational grey line Banner for classified documents case What are the charges in classified documents case? Mr Trump is facing 40 criminal charges over his alleged mishandling of classified material after he left the White House. Thousands of documents were seized in an FBI search at his Florida estate Mar-a-Lago last year, including about 100 that were marked as classified. The charges are related to both his handling of the documents and his alleged efforts to obstruct the FBI's attempts to retrieve them. The majority of the counts, are for the wilful retention of national defence information, which falls under the Espionage Act. There are then eight individual counts which include conspiracy to obstruct justice, withholding a document or record and making false statements. Will Donald Trump go to jail? These charges could - in theory - lead to substantial prison time if Mr Trump is convicted. But the logistics, security and politics of jailing a former president mean a conventional prison sentence is seen as unlikely by many experts. Looking at the letter of the law, the counts under the Espionage Act, for example, each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years. Other counts, related to conspiracy and withholding or concealing documents, each carry maximum sentences of 20 years. Counts relating to a scheme to conceal, and false statements and representations carry sentences of five years each. But while there is no doubt the charges are serious, many questions remain unanswered about the potential penalties should he be convicted. What will his defence be? Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and the trial is set to begin in May 2024. The former president has offered shifting defences for the material found at his property, mostly arguing that he declassified it. No evidence has been provided that this was possible or is true. His lawyers may argue in court that Mr Trump was unfairly targeted and that other politicians, namely Hillary Clinton, Mike Pence and current President Joe Biden, were never charged for their handling of classified documents. But experts say the former president's case is different in a number of ways. For one, other politicians were willing to return whatever documents they had, while prosecutors allege Mr Trump resisted. Banner for New York hush money case What are the charges in New York hush money case? Mr Trump is facing 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges stem from a hush-money payment made before the 2016 election to the adult film star Stormy Daniels, who says she had an adulterous affair with Mr Trump. While such a payment is not illegal, spending money to help a presidential campaign but not disclosing it violates federal campaign finance law. What are the potential penalties? Each of the charges carries a maximum of four years in prison, although a judge could sentence Mr Trump to probation if he is convicted. Legal experts have told BBC News they think it is unlikely Mr Trump will be jailed if convicted in this case and a fine is the more likely outcome. What will his defence be? Mr Trump has pleaded not guilty and is due to stand trial in the case in March. He denies ever having sexual relations with Ms Daniels and says the payment was made to protect his family from false allegations, not to sway the election. More coverage Banner for Georgia 2020 election case What are the charges in Georgia 2020 election investigation? No charges have been filed as state prosecutors investigate whether Mr Trump and others acted illegally to try to overturn his narrow loss in Georgia in 2020. A key focus of the investigation is a phone call between the former president and Georgia's chief elections officer, in which Mr Trump suggested local officials could "find" more than 11,000 votes. While this investigation is a separate state probe, there is some overlap with the federal investigation into Mr Trump's actions after the 2020 presidential election. Part of the evidence included in the federal indictment is the 2 January call between Mr Trump and Georgia's Secretary of State. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Wallis, who launched the investigation, has indicated that any charges would probably be filed in August. To bring criminal charges, Ms Willis and her team must present her case to a grand jury which will then vote on whether to indict Mr Trump. Based on current reporting, potential charges include the solicitation of election fraud, making false statements to government officials, and racketeering. What are the potential penalties? There is a long list of possible charges in the case and, until a grand jury decides to indict, we won't know what they are for sure. Reports suggest racketeering, which is mostly used in organised crime cases, could be among the most serious. Ms Willis would need to prove that there was a pattern of corruption from Mr Trump and his allies aimed at overturning the election result in order to bring this charge, which carries penalties of up to 20 years in prison and a fine. As for making false statements, that carries a penalty of between one to five years in prison or a fine. And a person convicted of first-degree criminal solicitation to commit election fraud will face between one to three years in jail. What will his defence be? Once again, it will no doubt depend on the specific charges, but Mr Trump has repeatedly denied wrongdoing in the case. He has defended the phone call in question as "perfect" and accused Ms Wallis of launching a politically motivated inquiry. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty/Reuters Winnetka, Illinois, is a cocoon of wealth, where lakeside homes can fetch $12 million, parking lots teem with Range Rovers and Teslas, and comparatively poor households still might earn $225,000 per year. But even here, in Americas ninth-richest town, locals are astonished, even appalled, at the way a billionaire is splashing out. Since 2020, private equity mogul Justin Ishbiaa co-owner of the Phoenix Sunshas acquired four properties along Lake Michigan, three of which are contiguous. He tried to swap the fourth parcel with the village last year in exchange for land it owned between his properties, but the deal went epically awry and is now either dormant or dead. Undeterred, Ishbia is using his three adjacent lots to build the house of his dreams. A very vocal contingent of Winnetkans, who claim the home will span 68,000 square feet, arent happy about having a palace in their midst. On Nextdoor, a social media app for neighborhoods, dozens of people have flamed Ishbia, referring to his planned home as a cathedral erected to worship greed, narcissism, and wholesale disregard for nature. Residents are particularly fired up about mature trees that were chopped down to allow for construction, the removal of a lakeside bluff, and work trucks that barrel down local roads. Some people also worry that, should Ishbia ever tire of the town, he wont be able to find a buyer for his massive home, leaving the property indefinitely vacant. This house will become the Michael Jordan house of Winnetka in 30 years and will never be able to be resold, a resident wrote on Nextdoor, referring to Jordans Highland Park mansion, which has been on the market for a decade. Speaking to The Daily Beast, Ishbia defended his project and his reputation. Some people dont have all the information, he said, but everything we are doing has been fully permitted. His team, composed of some of the best architects and the best builders has worked diligently to follow all the laws, he added. Story continues Ishbia declined to comment on the size of the planned home, other than to say that members of the community include the basement in their estimates of square footage. The trees, he continued, were removed only after consultation with a village forester and will be replaced at the required density when construction is finished. Similarly, he said, the bluff will be restored consistent with the permits that weve received. Will it look the same? No, he conceded. But Im very confident it will fit into the community in a very similar way. Opinions in town are split on who is responsible for the debacle or whether Ishbia has even done anything wrong. If these folks can afford to build this luxurious lifestyle and maintain their property I dont care. I mean, its not hurting me. Its increasing my land value, said Marilyn Zimmerman, who moved to Winnetka in 1986. In a separate text message, she acknowledged that people in the area flaunt their great wealth No Chevys around here, land of the Bentleys and BMWs! Joni Johnson, former chair of the village zoning board, added that residents had previously refused to give authorities the power to block this kind of mega-project. This town is basically very libertarian. It could barely pass a leash law, she said. During her term, even modest affordable housing proposals sparked hysteria, she recalled, and the plans were dropped. By the time Ishbia rolled into town, Winnetka basically had nothing in their arsenal that they could do to stop this, she said. I feel that a lot of the attacks on the homeowner are misplaced, because he just took advantage of [that] fact. In a sense, Johnson argued, Winnetka got what it deserved. A spokesperson for the village declined to comment. Ishbias properties have spurred endless rounds of drama among local officials. Last years land-swap deal disintegrated in part because he insisted on the installation of a privacy shield between his private beach and the publics, a stipulation that generated immense backlash. This issue has divided this community and its very unfortunate, Park District Commissioner Colleen Root told The Daily Beast in August. Another board official, Warren James, reportedly said last summer that the park district board had thought about suing Ishbia, then reconsidered whether tangling with a billionaire was a good idea. Ishbias wife, Kristen, told village trustees, in tears, that because of the slow-moving approval process for their lots, our children are missing out on being able to attend school here, play in our yard, and make friends in the neighborhood. (Some locals questioned why the couple didnt just rent or buy a smaller home while they waited.) Ishbias project is just the latest controversy involving a billionaire and a wealthy enclave. Last year, for instance, hedge fund tycoon Ken Griffin ignited similar unrest among his well-heeled neighbors in Palm Beach, Florida, over the development of a massive estate stretching across 1,400 feet of coastline. Ishbias younger brother Mat, a fellow Suns owner, is also causing a stir 300 miles east, in the suburbs of Detroit. There, he is in the process of tearing down five homes to build an epic chateau that will feature a lazy river, a trampoline park, an enchanted forest, and artificial islands. (Tragically, zoning board membersone of whom requested a season pass to the propertyshot down his proposal for a zip line.) Hes building an amusement park, a neighbor told the Detroit Free Press. But the squabbling in Winnetka is perhaps even more charged. Without this investment in our community were still one of the wealthiest suburbs in the country (Im trying to say this objectively without cringing), one resident declared on Nextdoor. We were doing just fine before Ishbias shenanigans, and wed be doing just fine without him. Mary Garrisonwho said she didnt have thoughts either way on the houselamented how the birds in Ishbias former bluff came back home and they didnt have a home. Johnson also grumbled about the impact of trucks on the neighborhoods ambience. They are making it impossible for me to enjoy my property in the summer and putting bicyclists and pedestrians lives in danger, she said. I feel like Im living in an urban jungle. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Texas A&M University in College Station. Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune For Texas A&M Universitys Black students and alumni, Fridays sudden resignation of university President M. Katherine Banks after the botched hiring of a distinguished Black professor was an imperfect response that failed to answer a crucial question: Was the whole debacle caused by university administrators anxieties over diversity? Banks left her post amid a whirlwind of backlash for how the university handled the recruiting of University of Texas at Austin professor Kathleen O. McElroy to revive Texas A&Ms journalism program. McElroy, a 1981 Texas A&M graduate and the former director of the UT School of Journalism in Austin, rejected the A&M job after the offer was watered down twice, bringing it from a tenured position to a one-year job from which she could be fired at any point. The changes came after conservative groups took issue with her previous employment at The New York Times and her work in diversifying newsrooms. Its a disservice when we make what was supposed to be something good a bad thing, said Matthew Francis Jr., a fifth-year Texas A&M student who is pursuing a masters degree in public service and administration. Now Black students are left without representation of someone who has the experience of a faculty member that cares about what she does and someone who genuinely loves her field. A&M students also emphasized concerns about new state laws aimed at curbing the types of efforts McElroy had leveraged to improve newsroom diversity during her decadeslong career. In a Friday message to The Texas Tribune, McElroy said, Im deeply grateful for the groundswell of support Ive received, especially from Aggies of all majors, and my former and current students. Theres much more I could say and will say about what has unfolded. But for now, Ill reserve those statements for a future date. Banks resignation, the third this week related to the scandal, does not amount to accountability, students, alumni and lawmakers said Friday. Instead, it added more questions to a situation already rife with them. Story continues Hours after Banks resigned, Hart Blanton, who leads A&Ms department of communications and journalism and was closely involved in McElroys recruiting, said race was a factor in university officials decision to water down her job offer. The unusual level of scrutiny being given to the hiring of Dr. McElroy was acknowledged by one administrator to have been based, at least in part, on race," he said in a statement. "Regardless of the source of any such pressure, I understand it to be illegal for any employermuch less a public universityto subject a job candidate to stricter scrutiny due to her race or color." Blanton also said Banks had misled faculty when she told them the decision to change McElroys job offer was made without her involvement. To the contrary, President Banks injected herself into the process atypically and early on, Blanton said. Laylan Copelin, vice chancellor for marketing and communication for the Texas A&M University System, said in a statement Friday that system officials had read, heard and understood the concerns of our Aggie community regarding McElroys failed hiring, which was being investigated by their legal team. For Erica Davis Rouse, the president-elect of the A&M Black Former Students Network, its unclear what Banks departure was supposed to correct. If shes resigning because shes accepting the responsibility for what happened under her leadership, thats probably the right thing to do, she said. But if shes resigning because she accepted responsibility and now shes being forced to resign, thats not OK. Davis Rouse said the universitys actions further sow distrust between A&M and Black Aggies that has been simmering close to the surface in recent years. She pointed to the debate over the statue of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, a former university president who was a Confederate general. The university declined to take down the statue after students demanded its removal based on its ties to historical violence. Davis Rouse said the chapter reflects a broader conflict between what some view as traditional Aggie values and university stances that dont make students of color feel safe on campus, where only 3% of students are Black. In spite of everything that has happened over the years, Ive been here, I still love my school, Francis told the Tribune. But I need people to understand that you can love something and want better for it at the same time. Davis Rouse said it can be frustrating trying to effect change, noting that the relationship Black students and alumni have with A&M is complicated. As the leader of an alumni organization, shes acutely aware of which groups have and dont have influence in the university system. A big part of that is money, she said. When the first Black students were able to go to A&M, there were already generations of white students that were far ahead of us, and those people were already giving before we were even able to be admitted to the university, Davis Rouse said. We just dont have the voice from a financial perspective. McElroys failed hiring also raised concerns about a potential connection with Republicans recent attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Public universities DEI offices will soon become a thing of the past when a new state law banning them goes into effect in September. Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP, said in a statement that priorities in higher education have shifted. Education of students is no longer a primary consideration, he said. That lofty goal has been replaced by a political, anti-Black, anti-Brown and anti-education agenda. State Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Democrat who represents Missouri City and chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, said he and two other members of the caucus met with Banks on Tuesday to discuss their frustrations about McElroys failed hiring. We thought we had a very productive meeting. We cleared the air. She didnt try to make excuses, Reynolds said. We were fairly optimistic that we were going to have a follow-up with President Banks to discuss ways to move forward. Reynolds said her resignation was somewhat of a surprise and left things feeling unresolved. Its a disappointment, I guess, that shes being used as a scapegoat. I think there should be some accountability, he said, adding that anyone who was involved in the process deserves scrutiny. One of the things that the Legislative Black Caucus was seeking was accountability and more answers as to Why did this happen the way it happened? Disclosure: Texas A&M University, New York Times, Texas A&M University System and University of Texas at Austin 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. A Black man who says he was elected mayor of a rural Alabama town but has been kept from taking office by White leaders of the town has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit. Patrick Braxton, 57, is one of several plaintiffs named in Braxton et al v. Stokes et al. The other plaintiffs James Ballard, Barbara Patrick, Janice Quarles and Wanda Scott are people that Braxton hoped to name to the city council of Newbern after he was elected to office in 2020. However, Braxton said that the "minority White residents of (Newbern), long accustomed to exercising total control over the government, refused to accept this outcome." Haywood Stokes III, the acting mayor of Neweurn, instead allegedly worked with acting town council members to hold a special election where he was re-appointed to the mayoral seat and keeping Braxton from taking office and carrying out mayoral duties. Braxton said in the lawsuit, which CBS News reviewed, that Newbern had not held an election "for decades." Instead, "the office of mayor was 'inherited' by a hand-picked successor," and that mayor then chose town council members, again without an election. All prior mayors have been White residents, the lawsuit said, even though about 85% of Newbern's population is Black. Only one Black person has ever served on the town council. Braxton, a volunteer firefighter and emergency responder, decided to run for mayor in 2020 because he "had concerns that the Town Council and Mayor were not responding to the needs of the majority Black community," particularly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. When he approached Stokes for information about running for mayor, Stokes allegedly gave Braxton "wrong information about how to qualify" for the election, and did not provide public notice to residents about the election. Despite these hurdles, Braxton allegedly gave then-city clerk Lynn Williams his statement of candidacy and qualifying money order. Story continues Patrick Braxton. / Credit: Alabama Love Braxton was allegedly the only person who qualified for the position of mayor, according to the lawsuit. Stokes "did not bother to qualify as a candidate," the lawsuit said, even though he knew Braxton was planning to run. No candidates qualified for town council positions, either. Braxton was elected mayor by default, making him the first Black mayor of Newbern in the 165 years since the town was founded. Braxton was informed by county probate Judge Arthur Crawford that because no one had qualified or been elected to town council positions, he could appoint people to the positions, according to the lawsuit. This was in line with previous mayoral administrations, who also appointed council members. Braxton asked both Black and White residents to serve, but no White residents agreed to join his council, according to the lawsuit. Meanwhile, in August 2020, just weeks after his election, Stokes and his council members Gary Broussard, Jesse Donald Leverett, Voncille Brown Thomas and Willie Richard Tucker allegedly "met in secret to adopt a 'special' election ordinance." Notice of the meeting was not published, and the group set a special election for Oct. 6, 2020. No notice of that election was ever published, according to the lawsuit. Because the election was not publicized, only Stokes and his council members qualified. They then "effectively reappointed themselves" to their positions, Braxton alleged, and "unlawfully assumed their new terms" and were sworn in in November, even as Braxton assembled his own town council. "When confronted with the first duly-elected Black mayor and majority Black Town Council, all defendants undertook racially motivated actions to prevent the first Black mayor from exercising the duties of this position and the first majority Black Town Council from exercising legislative power," the lawsuit said. Stokes and his council filed their oaths of office with the probate judge, according to the lawsuit. Braxton was allegedly not informed of these filings. Braxton's representatives did not respond to requests for comment from CBS News. An attorney representing Stokes and his council members declined to comment, but said that his team had recently filed a motion to dismiss the federal lawsuit, which has been filed in the Circuit Court of Dallas County, Alabama. In a response to Braxton's lawsuit, reviewed by CBS News, Stokes and his council "admit that Plaintiff Patrick Braxton is Black and is the former Mayor of the Town of Newbern," and denied many of the allegations. The defendants did admit that Braxton was the only person to qualify for mayor, and that no other candidates qualified for mayor or council membership. They admitted that a special election was held to put themselves in town council positions, and "admit that Defendant Stokes became Mayor of the Town of Newbern after Plaintiff Braxton lost the position by operation of law." It's not clear by what operation of law Braxton would have lost the position. Allegations of conspiracy In December of 2020, the defendants allegedly had the locks changed at Town Hall. Braxton was not able to access the building until Jan. 2021, when he found that "someone had removed official Town documents from the building." He then changed the locks to maintain access. Stokes and his council allegedly changed the locks for a third time, and according to the lawsuit, Braxton and his council have not had "uninterrupted access" to the building since April 2021. This meant that in November 2022, he could not help set up voting machines for Newbern's most recent election. Braxton was also unable to access town financial information, which is maintained by the People's Bank of Greensboro. The bank is named in the lawsuit as a defendant, and a lawyer representing the bank did not respond to requests for comment from CBS News. He has also not been able to access the town's P.O. box since Lynn Theibe, named as a defendant in the case, was appointed to the postmaster position in late 2021. A representative for Theibe did not respond to requests for comment from CBS News. In his lawsuit, Braxton alleged that Theibe "is acting in concert and/or at the request" of Stokes and his council. Other town documents have been moved, allegedly to prevent Braxton from accessing them, the lawsuit said. The city clerk, a relative of Stokes', has allegedly been told not to communicate with Braxton or provide him with any town documents. Braxton's lawsuit said that this and the other actions amounted to conspiracy to keep him from acting as mayor. Stokes and his council have also not held any public meetings at Town Hall since 2020, according to the lawsuit, instead holding meetings at private residences. The defendants denied many of these allegations in their response, and said that "at all times relevant to this lawsuit, they were acting under the color of law." Braxton has asked that the defendants be enjoined from interfering with his duties as mayor, that he immediately be granted access to the necessary accounts, documents and property, and that the defendants be enjoined from conducting business on behalf of the town. Correction: This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Newbern. Exclusive discounts from CBS Mornings Deals Cue the Curves app helps plus-sized women find fashion that fits and flatters Doctor on how uterine fibroids can make fertility difficult The body of a 2-year-old girl who was swept away along with her 9-month-old brother during flash flooding last weekend which claimed the lives of five others in a Philadelphia suburb is believed to have been found, authorities announced Friday. Upper Makefield Township Fire Chief Tim Brewer disclosed in a news conference Friday that a body believed to be Mattie Sheils was found in the Delaware River in the city of Philadelphia after being reported by multiple 911 callers a little after 5 p.m. local time, south of the Betsy Ross Bridge. "The child was located in debris against a pier at the area of a waste management plant," Brewer told reporters. The girl's body was recovered and taken to the Philadelphia coroner's office for identification, he said. "Based on the physical description of the child, and the clothing found on the child, we strongly believe that 2-year-old Mattie Sheils has been found pending further identification process," Brewer said. The girl's body was discovered about 32 miles south of where Mattie and her brother Conrad were swept away on the night of July 15 in Upper Makefield Township in Bucks County. Conrad remains missing and the search for him is continuing, Brewer said. "All our hearts were broken this evening," Brewer said. Five other people including the children's mother died when a roadway in Upper Makefield Township flooded during a powerful storm. Rescue personnel have been searching for the two missing siblings for days. The Charleston, South Carolina, family was driving when they got caught in the flooding. The missing children's father, grandmother and 4-year-old brother were also in the car at the time, and survived, officials said. President Biden, who was in Philadelphia Thursday for an unrelated event, addressed the deadly flooding. "I want to say we're praying for those who lost their lives in the flooding in Bucks County. The idea that there's not global warming, I think can't be denied by anybody anymore," he said. "Anyway, we're grateful for the first responders who continue to look for a 2-year-old, Mattie, and her baby brother, Conrad. By the grace of God, maybe something will come of it." Story continues Aliza Chasan contributed to this report. Saturday Sessions: Blondshell performs "Joiner" Saturday Sessions: Blondshell performs "Cartoon Earthquake" Saturday Sessions: Blondshell performs "Dangerous" UPDATE (12 p.m.): Boston police say they have safely located Joel Depina. BOSTON -- Police in Boston are turning to the public for help tracking down a missing 12-year-old boy who never returned home Friday after a trip to the park. Joel Depina, of Dorchester, was last seen at his home at 5 Bentham Street around 1 p.m. Friday, according to the Boston Police Department. Depina had gone to Ronan Park to ride his bicycle, which is black with green pedals. Police said that he was supposed to return home around 7 p.m. but he never did. Police noted that Depina is known to frequent Ronan Park and the Carson Beach area. Depina is described as Black, 5 feet, 6 inches, with a medium build. He was last wearing an orange hooded shirt and gray sweatpants. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Boston detectives at 617-343-4334. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The new controls fulfil a campaign promise by Lula Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has signed an order to tighten gun controls in a bid to halt a surge in firearm ownership. Under Lula's far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, there was an almost seven-fold rise in registered users. Limits will be placed on stockpiles of guns and ammunition, while certain weapons, including nine millimetre handguns, will be prohibited. The new controls fulfil a campaign promise by Lula. The president blamed a wave of political violence during last year's presidential election on looser gun controls. "We will continue to fight for fewer weapons in our country. Only the police and the army must be well-armed," Lula said while unveiling the new stricter measures. The announcement comes after several recent school shootings in a country that registered more than five murders per hour on average in 2022, according to the Public Security Forum, an NGO. Brazil has almost 800,000 registered gun owners, up from less than 120,000 in 2018 when Mr Bolsonaro was elected, according to the 2023 Brazilian Yearbook of Public Security. The country has no constitutional right to bear arms. But under an executive decree passed by Mr Bolsonaro in 2019 Brazilians were entitled to own up to four guns, while others were granted permission to carry loaded firearms in public under certain conditions. The decree also raised the amount of ammunition people could buy from 50 to 5,000 cartridges for permitted weapons and up to 1,000 cartridges for use in restricted weapons. The new restrictions will see a registered hunter granted permission to own six weapons, instead of the previous 30 - including up to 15 restricted firearms. "It is one thing for a citizen to have a gun at home for protection and assurance ... but we cannot allow there to be arsenals of weapons in people's hands," Lula said in his speech. Supervision of civilian weapons is being transferred from the army to Brazil's federal police, after criticism of weak oversight. Story continues Gun owners who bought their weapons under Mr Bolsonaro will not be forced to give them up, but a buyback program could start this year. Mr Bolsonaro argues that guns make Brazil safer, pointing to a lower murder rate during his time in office. The former president has been barred from running for office for eight years after being found guilty of abusing his power ahead of last year's presidential poll. He had been accused of undermining Brazilian democracy by falsely claiming that the electronic ballots used were vulnerable to hacking and fraud. The bitterly fought election went into a run-off on 30 October and was won by a narrow margin by Lula. Mr Bolsonaro never publicly acknowledged his defeat and left Brazil for Florida two days before Lula was sworn in as president. The former president's supporters, who refused to accept the outcome of the election, stormed Brazil's Congress, the presidential palace and the building housing the Supreme Court on 8 January. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force will host aviation open-day activities from July 26 to 30 in Changchun, the northeastern province of Jilin, according to a press conference held on Friday in Beijing. The five-day event will feature various activities such as aerobatic shows, skydiving performance, actual combat simulations, and static equipment exhibitions, said Xie Peng, spokesperson of the PLA Air Force. During the open days, PLA Air Force military band parades will take place for the first time, Xie said, adding that the August 1st aerobatics team will present the first performance to Chinese audiences with the newly-equipped J-10C fighter jets. Local Korean War vets to observe 70th anniversary of armistice The Korean War Veterans Association Chapter 51 in Mansfield has scheduled two public events next week to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice signed in 1953 that ended the three-year Korean War, also called by many as the "forgotten war." The first event will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, at the Mid-Ohio Conference Center, 890 W. 4th St. Veterans and the public are invited to attend. Due to limited seating, an RSVP is requested by calling 419-989-0580. The second event features two free screenings on Saturday, July 29, of the movie "Devotion," a 2022 film based on a 2015 book by Adam Makos. The screenings will take place at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in Riedl Hall on the campus of The Ohio State University at Mansfield. At 1:30 p.m. there will be a panel discussion moderated by Professor Joseph Fahey. No reservation is required. Closings set for sections of Millsboro West Road, South Lascerne Circle Millsboro West Road, between Ohio 314 and Lexington-Ontario Road in Springfield Township, is closed to through traffic now through Monday between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., weather permitting. Local and emergency traffic is being maintained. The closure is for roadway repairs. Water main repairs have forced the closure of South Lascerne Circle from South Home Road to North Lascerne Circle. The street is expected to reopen by the end of the workday Monday. In addition, north and southbound traffic has been reduced to a single lane on Lexington Avenue between Cline and Sturges avenues because of water main repairs. The lanes are expected to reopen by Sunday. First English Lutheran to distribute food to low-income seniors on Tuesday First English Lutheran Church, 53 Park Avenue West, along with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, offers Senior Boxes on the fourth Tuesday of the month. Anyone 60 and over who falls into the low-income guidelines can register and pick up a 30-pound box of nonperishable food including two pounds of cheese and a 15-pound box of prepackaged produce. This is a year-round distribution. Age is a qualification, so a current identification card complete with date of birth and proof of income must be provided. Story continues Participants should come to the east side of the church between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to get registered and pick up a Senior Box. There is no cost for the food. For more information, call the church at 419-522-0662. Crestline library to host programs on eclipse, puppets CRESTLINE Dan Everly, Lowe Volk Park astronomer, will present a program about next April's solar eclipse at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Crestline Public Library. Crestline will be in the direct path of this event on April 8, 2024. People within a 124-mile-wide band in the state of Ohio will experience a total solar eclipse. Everly will discuss the eclipse and provide safety measures for viewing. Solar glasses will be available. At 10 a.m. Tuesday, Mr. Puppet visits the Crestline Public Library once again. He brings various puppets sure to bring a smile to all ages. This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Korean War armistice anniversary events, traffic notes, food boxes By Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It has never been easy for the United States to secure the return of citizens from North Korea, one of the world's most isolated nations. The task may be even harder in the case of Private Travis King, with communication between the countries now almost non-existent, say diplomats and negotiators. King, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier serving in South Korea, sprinted into North Korea while on a civilian tour of the Demilitarized Zone on the border between the two Koreas. Washington is fully mobilized in trying to contact Pyongyang about him, U.S. Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said on Thursday, but North Korea had yet to respond. Since U.S. President Joe Biden took office in 2021 the limited contacts between Washington and Pyongyang have all but ceased as the Trump administration's efforts to negotiate over North Korea's nuclear weapons program fizzled and North Korea sealed its borders in response to COVID-19. It's a different situation than what most earlier negotiators faced. "The North Koreans have shown no interest in dialogue with us at this point," said Thomas Hubbard, a retired U.S. ambassador who traveled to Pyongyang in 1994 to bring back Bobby Hall, the last serving member of the U.S. military held in North Korea. At that time, U.S. officials had just concluded an initial nuclear agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's father, Kim Jong Il. "We were in a very different time," said Hubbard. "The North Koreans saw they had some stake in the relationship with the United States." LIMITED OPTIONS U.S. negotiators have few ways of reaching the North Koreans. The countries have no diplomatic relations and Sweden, which officially represents U.S. interests in Pyongyang, pulled out its diplomats in August 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. officials said the United States had attempted to reach North Korea about King through the United Nations Command hotline and other channels, including the U.N. in New York, where North Korea has a representative. Story continues The best approach for now, said experts, may be a low-key public stance. "About 90% of (the outcome) will be determined based on how we react right now," said Mickey Bergman, executive director of the Richardson Center set up by Bill Richardson, a former diplomat who has previously negotiated with North Korea for the release of detainees. North Korea would likely interrogate King at length, then have an option of deporting him or charging him, said Bergman, adding that the U.S. should avoid "pounding our chest" and instead calmly communicate that Washington respects Pyongyang's right to detain and question a soldier who entered its territory. Jenny Town, of Washington's 38 North think tank, said the case was complicated by not knowing King's intentions and whether he actually wanted to return. King had been detained in South Korea for more than a month for assault and was to fly back to the U.S. to face military discipline. Cases of U.S. soldiers going to North Korea are extremely rare. In 1965, Charles Robert Jenkins, a 25-year-old U.S. Army sergeant walked over DMZ and spent four decades in North Korea, where he taught English and also portrayed a U.S. spy in a propaganda film. HES NOW THEIR PAWN A former North Korean diplomat who defected to South Korea said King may be used as a propaganda tool, but it was not clear how long North Korea would want to exploit his presence. "Holding an American soldier is probably a not very cost-effective headache for the North in the long run," said Tae Yong-ho, now a member of South Korea's parliament. A cautionary case of North Korean detention is that of Otto Warmbier, a college student detained on a tour in 2015 and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for trying to steal an item with a propaganda slogan. Warmbier was eventually returned to the United States in a coma in 2017, but died days later. Ottos father Fred feels empathy for King and his family. "This is about a young man we don't know his mental condition," he told Reuters in an interview. "Hes now their pawn. If it was any other country in the world, there would be communication now." When asked about King, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said the Biden administration had repeatedly tried to re-establish dialogue with Pyongyang since taking office, offering new nuclear talks without preconditions. "We sent that message several times," Blinken told the Aspen Security Forum. "Here's the response we got: one missile launch after another," referring to repeated North Korean missile tests. (Reporting by Simon Lewis and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and Stephen Coates) When Labour wins the next election, Britain will assume a role in Europe something akin to the indomitable Gaulish village in Asterix: the last holdout of liberal-Left political power in a continent swinging firmly to the Right. Yet for a certain kind of Brexiteer, their minds deranged by the Twitter battles of the previous decade, Europes Rightwards drift is an object of strangely self-defeating satisfaction. Like American Republicans endorsing the worldview of their enemies by calling the Democrats The Real Racists, Brexiteers still stung by accusations of fascism for daring to leave the EU can now point at the high walls springing up like dragons teeth across the continents eastern marches, or at the blooming electoral fortunes of the radical Right, to make the case that Brexit Britain is the real redoubt of liberalism. And they would be right: the Conservative Partys hurling open of Britains borders will vastly outweigh the demographic change wrought by New Labours idealistic commitment to multiculturalism in its transformative effects; in Britain, even the Right-wing populist parties are zealous economic liberals, while the most successful social conservative movement in recent memory is led by veteran feminists, preserving their gains of recent decades. For the harder-edged British Right-winger, Brexit could be viewed less as a means to unlock Britains stifled potential than as an act of noble self-sacrifice to free Europe from our own countrys inveterate liberalism, a hand-grenade selflessly jumped upon to allow the continental bloc to meet its historical destiny. It is not difficult to imagine, in a decade or so, a Right-wing equivalent of The New European appearing on the Waitrose shelves, portraying the politics of the European Union now coming into being as an inspirational model for British Rightists just as the ossified mental image of 2010s Europe still is for British liberals. If this is the case, then the reverse is also true: British liberals will recoil from the new European Union as they once did from Bushs America, finding in it the perfect ideological foil for their own acts of political self-definition. As the Greek political scientist Angelos Chryssogelos observed last year, the deepening enmeshment of British liberals with American progressive causes means that any centre-left alternative to the Conservatives will be as uncomfortable with Europe as the Conservatives are today, albeit for different reasons, so that core features of the EU like its [] commitment to border security will become sources of ideological friction with progressive Britain, as much as the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice or fisheries are with conservative Britain today. Story continues There are already hints of the poles reversing, here and there: in The Guardian and the BBCs newly horrified reaction to the brutally effective border management regimes of EU nations, or Gordon Browns claim that, if you want to peer into the future of Europe, you must observe with horror the rise of Vox, whose power will embolden far-Right parties that have been proliferating across the continent. His essays framing of Spains election this weekend as a key battle in the Europe-wide struggle against neofascism, in all its overwrought appeals to the ghosts of a century ago, is a perfect distillation of the mythologised version of the Second World War which still distorts our political discourse. Threatened by the 2010s version of populism, whose central tenets of rejecting unfettered globalisation and uncontrolled immigration have now become the European mainstream, the guardians of the neoliberal order reanimated the ghosts of Europes 20th century to preserve their hold on power. Once it was no longer tenable to claim that There Is No Alternative, the populist alternative was reframed as fascism to render it taboo to voters. But while the obsessive need of anxious liberals to frame all forms of hard-Right politics as the revived incarnations of a dead 20th-century ideology may afford them a pleasing frisson of danger, it is of course analytically absurd. None of the Right-wing parties gaining power across Europe can plausibly fulfil the various definitions of fascism used by academic historians: historical fascism was hardly noted for its belief in the inviolability of national borders, after all. Last years dismissive essay by the great scholar of fascism Stanley Payne, whose definitions of the doctrine have been promiscuously applied by liberal commentators to the widely disparate Right-wing movements of today, echoes the famous scene in Annie Hall where Marshall McLuhan tells a pseud in a cinema queue he is an idiot who knows nothing of his work. Payne observes that, despite its total obliteration in 1945, fascism once more became the dominant menace in the political and rhetorical imaginary, encouraged even further after the collapse of the Soviet Union, so that its current usage isnt merely wildly contradictory, but applied in the most directly and specifically opposite ways. But, as Payne observes, all this is irrelevant to the political imaginary, dominated by fantasy and subjectivism and oblivious to empirical reality. The 2010s fascism scare was a natural product of ideology: following the fall of the Soviet Union, a highly mythologised narrative of the Second World War evolved as the foundational myth of the new American-led order. In the myth, both Anglo-Saxon liberal democracy and Soviet communism joined forces to save Europe from its fascist demons. After decades of confrontation, liberal democracy then won out as the superior ideology, destined to conquer the world and lead it to its bright new future. Open borders were the best defence against watchtowers and barbed wire, and a globalised world would be the prophylactic against destructive nationalism. The results are as we see. Yet few people in 1939 would have recognised this ahistorical narrative: the nation Britain went to war to defend, Poland, was a Right-wing authoritarian regime, just like Britains sole ally after the fall of France, Greece. In reality, the Europe of 1939 that Britain bankrupted itself to defend was composed of a diverse spectrum of political systems, most of which would be considered impermissibly Right-wing by the expansive definitions of today. If long-standing political taboos are now being broken across Europe, it is a situation marked not by the return of fascism but by a return to a diverse mix of Right-tilted governance systems, each of which relies more on its own national context and interests than on appeals to some malign pan-continental internationale. Analysis in these terms provides a more productive route to understanding Europes near-term future in all its paradoxical complexity. Consider the case of Poland and Hungary, natural ideological allies sharply divided by their opposing stances on the war in Ukraine. Deeply committed to a Ukrainian victory, Poland has more to lose than to gain from a Republican victory in next years American elections, no matter how Right-wing the eventual nominee. If anything, Polands security now requires a Democrat victory, while Hungarys stance would be vindicated by the elevation of a Ukraine-sceptic Republican to the presidential throne. Similarly, Italys Giorgia Meloni inspired the last bout of anxious wailing about the revival of fascism in Europe, until her strong stance in favour of Ukraine, coupled with a boringly inoffensive administrative style, helped her government meld itself seamlessly into Europes mainstream centre-right. The general trend in modern European politics is not a return to the dark passions of the Thirties, but of mainstream conservatives painlessly absorbing challengers from their Right: while the continents centre ground is drifting Rightward, the radical energies of the hard-Right are being dissipated as they embed themselves within the mainstream. The Europe of the 2020s, then, will be marked by a continuation of technocratic EU governance, only shifted further to the Right than the notional conservatism of the neoliberal era, which functioned only as Left-liberalism with a slight time delay. Its politics shaped by a bloody war on its eastern marches, and an accelerating migration flow from its south, the EU of the coming decade will be defined by its borders. Aside from the symbolism of its component members joining together to fend off migrants, the recent joint mission of Rutte, Von der Leyen and Meloni to Tunisia to woo the countrys new dictator Kais Saied into a lucrative role as Europes border guard perhaps indicates a new approach to our continents neighbouring North African regimes. Saieds ejection of sub-Saharan migrants to the countrys desert border posts has met with the silence of Europes tacit approval. As in Libya, what European human rights legislation forbids EU leaders to do themselves can be safely carried out by regional partners with little fuss. After all, the 2010s attempt to wish liberal democracy on North Africa failed utterly; the migration crisis it precipitated instead helped eradicate Left-liberalism as a viable electoral force in continental Europe. In these circumstances, both political necessity and ideological inclination will encourage EU support for North African autocrats as their chosen partners, neutralising the miseries of the deeper African continent as a source of political angst for the New Europe. North Africa will also surely fulfil a wider role for a Europe committed to energy transition and attempting to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels: as an untapped source of solar energy, Europes homes and factories will depend on the security of infrastructure erected on the burning sands of the Sahara. The stability of the regimes hosting Europes energy supply will thus vastly outweigh the democratic aspirations of North Africas people in the new European order, as Russia shores up its new position in the neighbouring Sahel, and Europe once again finds its strategic interests drawn to the Mediterraneans southern shores. On Europes eastern border, the Ukraine war will also define the political contours of the new Europe. Macrons recent conversion to the idea of Ukraine as a Nato ally an offer perhaps made in the secure knowledge the United States and Germany would forbid it is a marked departure from Frances previous, failed attempts to woo Russia into a role as a security partner for an autonomous EU. Instead, Macron presumably views the perennial tension with Russia that would follow Ukraines absorption into the European sphere as a catalyst to strategic autonomy in itself, spurring measures like the recently-passed ASAP initiative for accelerated EU munitions production. Polands massive programme of rearmament to fend off the Russian threat is the greatest single boost to European defence capabilities in recent history. For all its loyal Atlanticism, a booming, militarised Poland will be a far greater asset to a European autonomist project than anything offered by a militarily weak and deindustrialising Germany, whose rising political force is, in any case, the Russia-sympathising AfD. Again, far from the continent-spanning Right-wing alliance which excites the liberal imagination, Europes populist parties are increasingly divided by the Ukraine war, with those committed to the Ukrainian cause making common ground with liberals and centrists to accelerate the consolidation of an autonomous European sphere. Strong on defence, hard on migration and hawkish on Russia, the Europe now rapidly coming into being is a natural lodestar for British Right-wingers, dissatisfied at the failure of the Conservative Party to institute conservative governance. Like American conservatives making ideological aliyah to Budapest, perhaps British conservatives will soon look to Brussels as the inspiration for an unabashedly Right-wing politics, its harder edges ameliorated by sharp suits and inoffensively mainstream political aesthetics. Drawn closer into Americas cultural sphere by its wholesale adoption of the superpowers progressive values, Britains political Left will conversely view our neighbouring continent with increased suspicion and distaste. Cut off by its own instinctive liberalism from the trends reshaping Europe, Britain will surely double down on its own Forties mythologising, the decade of the NHSs foundation and of Windrush cementing its role as the ideological wellspring of the British state. The recent claim by the Labour MP Clive Lewis that the NHS is our greatest defence against fascism may not make any sense Lewis is evidently not a student of the social policies of Thirties Europe but is a perfect distillation of the new mythology swirling into formation. But for the rest of Europe, the long ideological hold of the Thirties is finally fading into history: new political forms are being born as the last survivors of Europes nightmarish decades of self-destruction are laid to rest. The disastrous 20th century neutered Europe as an actor in history, and for decades it seemed like our civilisation would never escape its gravitational pull. The EU-wide rejection of the cordon sanitaire against Right-wing parties is thus a rejection of the last centurys debilitating stranglehold on political experimentation. Contrary to liberal fantasies, the taboo against fascism remains in force: it is only the use of the term to delegitimise any Right-wing form of governance that has lost its power. The corrective Rightward drift of Europes centre is in this sense a paradoxically progressive political force, while our retreat to cosy isolation, with Starmer as Left-liberalisms Captain Mainwaring valiantly holding an increasingly civilisational Europe at bay, confirms Britain as the most politically conservative country on the continent. In finally laying the ghosts of the 20th century to rest, Europe is entering the future: as in Children of Men, only an increasingly dishevelled Britain stands alone, stubbornly holding out against the march of history. BROCKTON The older brother of the Brockton teenager who was killed in a Randolph car crash Tuesday night has also succumbed to his injuries, the Norfolk district attorney's office said Thursday morning. Terry Boston Jr., 15, died at the scene of the crash Tuesday night, the DA's office said Wednesday. His older brother Makhi Boston, 18 has also died of his injuries, the DA's office said Thursday morning. The History Channel headed to Bridgewater to investigate an ancient "Native American curse" in a one-hour episode, Bridgewater Triangle, that aired on July 18. A taste of modern-day Italy with house-made focaccia, chilled wine and a warm ambiance is waiting for you at Corfinio Italian Wood Fired Kitchen in Easton. Jennifer Jacobs, 41, of Abington, a beloved Stoughton elementary school teacher and assistant principal, died unexpectedly on July 14. In case you missed it, here are five stories of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area. A taste of Italy is here at Easton restaurant A taste of modern-day Italy with house-made focaccia, chilled wine and a warm ambiance is waiting for you in Easton. Corfinio Italian Wood Fired Kitchen, located at 285 Washington St., offers a local fine dining experience with more than delicious meals to offer, said Corfinio owner Peter Kuplast. Customers can indulge in chef-selected appetizers, from wood-fired chicken wings and crispy brussels sprouts to beef carpaccio. The chefs make the pasta dough and sauces from scratch. You won't find anything canned or processed food in this kitchen, the owner said. Taste of Italy in Easton: Lobster risotto, pasta from scratch A taste of Italy is here at Easton restaurant From left, Corfinio of Easton staff show off some of the restaurants dishes, Reese Blass with the norcina rigatoni, manager Lucia Marinai with the pan roasted cod with spinach, and Georgia Costello, holding the pizza Margherita, on Thursday, July 13, 2023. History Channel heads to Bridgewater Triangle to investigate 'Native American curse' The History Channel headed to the Brockton areas own backyard to investigate an ancient "Native American curse" in a one-hour episode, Bridgewater Triangle, that aired on Tuesday, July 18. The episode aired as part of the first season of Beyond Skinwalker Ranch, a spinoff of the History Channels multi-season realty show, The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch. This seven-episode season will feature former CIA Intelligence Officer Andy Bustamante and actor, writer and producer Paul Beban as they investigate paranormal hotspots across the U.S from Arizona to Nevada and Colorado and all the way to The Bridgewater Triangle. Story continues History Channel heads to Bridgewater: History Channel heads to Bridgewater Triangle to investigate 'Native American curse' This multiple exposure photograph of Taunton Daily Gazette staff reporter Susannah Sudborough was taken inside King Philip's Cave in Norton, said to be a Bridgewater Triangle hot spot, on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020. Raynham man killed in double fatal dirt bike crash A 20-year-old man from Raynham and his 17-year-old friend were killed when their dirt bike crashed into an SUV on Saturday, WCVB reported. Brady Petrucci, 20, of Raynham, and Robert Stalker, 17, of Woburn, were found unresponsive in the roadway suffering from serious injuries when first responders arrived. They were transported to Tobey Hospital in Wareham, where both men were pronounced dead. Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said the initial investigation suggests the dirt bike crashed into a 2017 Buick Envision around 10:50 p.m. in the area of 121 Marion Road in Wareham. Fatal dirt bike crash: Raynham man killed in double fatal dirt bike crash. What we know Makeshift memorial for dirt bike crash victims Brockton 15-year-old killed in Randolph crash 3 more teens injured, including one in ICU A Brockton 15 year old was killed in a car crash Tuesday night in Randolph that left three other teens injured including one in intensive care, the Norfolk County district attorney's office said. Police were called to the vicinity of 701 North Main St. at roughly 10:27 p.m. to find a 2011 Nissan Altima, traveling southbound, had left the roadway and collided with a tree. Another male occupant of the vehicle was transported to Boston Medical Center via medical evacuation helicopter and admitted to intensive care, the DA's office said. Brockton 15-year-old killed in crash: Brockton 15-year-old killed in Randolph crash 3 more teens injured, including one in ICU 'Unimaginable time of sorrow': 'Unimaginable time of sorrow': Brother of Brockton teen killed in Randolph crash also dies Makhi Boston, 18, and Terry Boston Jr., 15, were avid football players. Terry Boston Jr., 15, of Brockton was killed in a car crash Tuesday night, July 18, 2023, in Randolph that left three other teens injured including one in intensive care, the Norfolk County district attorney's office said. BOA closing its only Brockton branches but building brand new bank at mall 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. BOA closing Brockton branches: BOA closing its only Brockton branches but building brand new bank at mall. What we know Bank of America constructs a new building at Westgate Drive in Brockton on Thursday, June 15, 2023. 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-area top 5 stories Convicted BTK serial killer Dennis Rader has laid out the similarities between himself and newly-arrested Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann. 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 in 2010 within one-quarter of a mile of each other in the Long Island community of Gilgo Beach in New York state. 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. Now Rader, who is serving ten life sentences in a maximum security Kansas prison after he confessed in 2005 to killing 10 people over a span of three decades, has called Mr Heuermann a clone of me. Rader gave himself the title of the BTK killer because he bound and tortured his victims before killing them. I was arrested age[d] 59. Married, two kids, Rader wrote in a letter sent to Fox News Digital. Husband, dad longtime a serial killer, stalker, used electronic devices, lives in a neighbourhood undetected. Earlier this week, Raders daughter Kerri Rawson told The Independent that shes heartbroken for Mr Heuermanns family. 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, Ms Rawson said. 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. Mr Heuermanns wife Asa Ellerup filed for divorce on Wednesday, just five days after his arrest. In a statement to The Independent, Ms Ellerups attorney said the familys was devastated. Story continues As you can imagine, our client and her family are going through a devastating time in their lives, attorney Robert Macedonia said. The sensitive nature of her husband's arrest is taking an emotional toll on the immediate and extended family, especially their elderly family members. Convicted BTK serial killer Dennis Rader said in a letteer to Fox News that Gilgo Beach murders suspect Rex Heuermann was a clone of me (SCPD) 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. 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. Former NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce told ABCs Good Morning America that law enforcement agencies across the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and even nationwide are also reviewing cold cases that Mr Heuermann may be tied to. Las Vegas and South Carolina police are also reviewing unsolved cases in the areas where Mr Heuermann owns properties. California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who was cut off at a public meeting in Chino on Thursday for speaking out against a proposal that would notify parents about students' gender identities. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) School board battles over LGBTQ+ issues are intensifying in California after State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond was cut off at a public meeting in Chino on Thursday for speaking out against a proposal that would notify parents about students' gender identities. The incident comes just days after Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened to fine a school board in Temecula for refusing to teach state-approved LGBTQ+ history lessons that feature slain gay rights leader Harvey Milk. The actions underscore political divisions in red pockets of the deep blue state, where Republicans have worked to get conservative majorities on local school boards as they lack power in the Democrat-controlled Legislature. During a chaotic Chino Valley Unified School District meeting Thursday night, Thurmond urged against a proposal to alert parents about students' gender identities, questioning whether it violates privacy laws and calling it a safety risk to LGBTQ+ students "who may not be in homes where they can be safe." The board voted 4-1 to approve a "parental notification" system that requires school officials to alert parents if a student requests to use "a name or pronoun other than those listed on the students birth certificate" or other official records. The policy will also notify parents if their child requests to use bathrooms that "do not align with the gender stated" on record. Thurmond, a former Democratic state lawmaker who is considering a 2026 run for governor, was cut off by conservative school board President Sonja Shaw to cheers and applause. "Youre in Sacramento proposing things that pervert children," Shaw shouted at Thurmond during the meeting, accusing him of blackmailing and bullying school district leaders who support the proposal. Thurmond said he was ejected from Thursday's meeting by school board leadership. A livestream of the meeting showed police speaking to Thurmond at the podium after his short speech. Story continues "I dont mind being thrown out of a board meeting by extremists. I can take the heat its part of the job," Thurmond said on Twitter. "What I cant accept is the mistreatment of vulnerable students whose privacy is being taken away." The vote came despite a letter sent to Chino Valley Unified Superintendent Norman Enfield by California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta, who warned that legal action could be pursued, as children are protected by privacy and nondiscrimination laws. "The protection of every students privacy and safety is of utmost importance, and that includes protecting their right to choose when, how, and with whom they share their gender identity. That is a personal decision for them, and them alone, Bonta said in a statement Thursday. Supporters of the policy point to existing state law that protects transgender student rights and allows them to participate in the programs of their choice, and say that parents should be notified of those decisions. They echo conservative talking points about "parental rights" that have been playing out at school boards across the state and country. The gay rights organization Equality California said the policy is the result of "blatant" homophobia and transphobia. "With LGBTQ+ youth around the country under attack, the school board put their most vulnerable students in harms way with their dangerous vote to forcibly out trans, non-binary, and gender non-conforming youth without their consent," Equality California Executive Director Tony Hoang said Friday. The Chino case was inspired by a bill proposed by Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Riverside), which failed in the state Legislature earlier this year. That bill similarly would have required that schools statewide notify parents within three days if a student identifies "as a gender that does not align with the childs sex on their birth certificate." In a statement, Essayli called his bill "a commonsense proposal" that was blocked by the Democratic supermajority in the Legislature despite support from parents. "While they certainly have the votes to control the agenda in Sacramento, they do not have the votes to stop us in our communities," Essayli said of state Democrats in a statement following the failure of his bill. Erin Friday, a spokesperson for Our Duty, a parent group that has advocated against transgender rights, said she hopes more school districts will adopt similar policies. It is so dangerous to cut parents out of children's lives, she said. Teachers do not get to step into the shoes of parents. I feel that its a parents issue. A report released by the UCLA Institute for Democracy, Education and Access this year noted a pattern of conflict in school districts across the state and the nation. "The problem with our current moment is not too much democracy, but too little. Public school governance, at its best, brings together diverse members of the community to forge a vision for a shared futureone that embraces the values of a diverse democracy," the study stated. Earlier this week, the Temecula Valley Unified school board voted to reject LGBTQ+ history lessons on the basis of unfounded allegations that it would promote pedophilia. The board was expected to revisit the issue in an emergency school board meeting on Friday night. Newsom has threatened to fine the district $1.5 million over the matter and said this week the state has secured a contract for the Harvey Milk materials, which will be sent to Temecula in defiance of the board. The governor is rushing to get legislation passed that will ensure he will be able to send the district the bill for the books. The governor was at the center of a sermon at a Temecula church this week, where school board members were featured speakers. There, the school board president, Joseph Komrosky, and fellow board member Jen Wiersma spoke in opposition to LGBTQ+ inclusive lessons in schools. "We could even push it further and say what about beastiality, what about necrophilia?" Komrosky said during a livestream of the church event Thursday, comparing those matters to LGBTQ+ rights. The conservative majority on the board was voted into office in December. Temecula parent Kristi McClure said the school board is wasting time and taxpayer money. You hear the board members talk about a parents involvement to decide whats appropriate for their children, but when those parents dont line up with the boards Christian conservative values they change their mind and want to bring in outside opinions, McClure said. To me, it seems that the board is more interested in having a fight with Newsoms office rather than taking care of the school district." 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. Eleven-year-old Gentry Gudel has been in the livestock business for two years now. I have my own operation, she said, describing her herd of cows on her familys five-acre home in Wilton. She brought three members of that operation Loretta, Marky and Austin to enter into a junior beef livestock competition at the California State Fair in Sacramento. She also brought stickers to hand out, some that read BEEF: Its Whats for Dinner and others with a more simple I Beef. Kids towing trailers of cows, goats, rabbits, turkeys, pigs and sheep arrived at Cal Expo earlier this month to compete in the Junior Livestock competition. The aspiring farmers, ranchers and food system experts forge friendships, trade tips and show off their meticulously monitored animals in hopes of taking home cash prizes. The competitors also are a bridge between American food producers and consumers, who typically only participate in the last leg of the food system the one where meat miraculously materializes from a grill cook at a hot dog stand. State fairs and some county fairs are the only places where these kids get to advocate for agriculture to the public, said Tiffany Clark, lead species superintendent for the State Fairs competition. Taped to the side of Gentrys stalls in the warehouse-sized barn were posters provided by the California Beef Council. The judges evaluate the animals based on their market potential. Their weight, muscling, appearance, structural correctness and growth capacity are all factors in judging the best livestock. The pride in the duty and line of work helps counter the emotional connection with the animals when they head to the processor, the competitors explained. Only like two percent of the world gives the rest of the world food. Only two percent, Gentry said. So I know that when I let one of my animals get butchered that theyre feeding our country and our world, and that makes me feel better. We produce food and give it to the rest of the world The kids arent shy about their animals purpose a purpose, 19-year-old Sophie Albiani said, thats much larger than anything that Im here to do. Story continues Just knowing that we produce food and give it to the rest of the world and that, thats like our role in society, she said. Understanding that there is a difference between an animal thats a pet and an animal that goes to market has always kind of been part of my life. Albiani has participated in livestock competitions for 12 years, raising hogs and small animals. This year, she brought crates full of rabbits to enter into the small animal competition. In the lead-up to the contest, she carefully monitored their food and exercise to build up their muscle mass. The rabbits are judged on their meat market potential. Theyre completely different from the rabbits Albiani has kept as pets. Earlier this year, The Sacramento Bee reported on what happened when one young competitor decided she didnt want her goat auctioned off for slaughter. When the 9-year-old at the Shasta District Fair livestock competition learned her goat, Cedar, would be slaughtered, she sobbed in his pen. Her mother paid the competition to return Cedar to the family. They took Cedar to a Sonoma farm, where he lived until Shasta County sheriffs deputies came knocking a month later. The Sacramento Bee reported on the extreme lengths members of the Sheriffs Office and the Shasta District Fair went to claw Cedar back to slaughter to teach our youth responsibility and learn the process and effort it takes to raise quality meat, as an email to the girls mother from Shasta District Fair Chief Executive Officer Melanie Silva read. The saga of Cedar led to a federal lawsuit against the Shasta fair and county. At the State Fair this year, there will be no auction portion of the event. Each competitor will decide what to do with their entries, whether thats retiring the animals to live a life on the range or selling them to a processor. Gentry plans on entering Loretta, Marky and Austin into more livestock competitions. They arent slated to become beef anytime soon, though she said their offspring could. A family affair The kids are proud to carry forth the agricultural legacy, Albiani explained. Many of them inherited it from their parents. Albiani grew up on five acres of land in Elk Grove, the daughter of an agricultural lawyer. Gentrys parents operate a cattle company. Its a whole cycle of life. Most of us grew up showing together, now all their kids are showing. You see a lot of the same people who youve been in contact with, said Clark. The family farm is as iconically American as apple pie. Ninety-six percent of farms in the United States are family-operated, according to the federal Department of Agricultures most recent data from 2017. But American farm producers are aging. As of 2017, the average farmer was 57 years old, and only 9% of the countrys producers were 35 years or younger. Albiani, who now studies early childhood development at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, aspires to develop a curriculum that involves the youngest children in American agriculture. Young kids are building their ideas of the world and I wanna be able to put agriculture in it, she said. All of the competitors are members of 4-H, Future Farmers of America or National Grange, nationwide youth development organizations that aim to instill leadership and service skills and recruit the next generation of farmers and ranchers. The reason you can live in a city, the reason you can do anything is because we have a stable food system, said Albiani. Lev Marcus, 14, signs a card for his grandfather Rudy Marcus, who celebrated his 100th birthday with a day of festivities at Caltech. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Say you wake up on the morning of your 100th birthday, having achieved the pinnacle of recognition in your chosen field and the warm esteem of family, friends and colleagues. How would you celebrate the day ahead? Work, quipped Caltech chemistry professor Rudy Marcus at a lunch in honor of his centenary Friday. But the university where he's been on the faculty for 45 years had other plans, so the Nobel laureate good-naturedly agreed to a symposium in his honor. Generations of Marcus colleagues and former students gathered at the Athenaeum, Caltech's faculty club, to celebrate a scientist who still reports to the book-lined office he has occupied on the Pasadena campus since 1978, and whose inquisitiveness and generous spirit remain undimmed. Nobel laureate Rudy Marcus in his Caltech office, where he's a chemistry professor. (Corinne Purtill / Los Angeles Times) Hes an excellent example of what it is to be a scientist: the curiosity, the energy, the enthusiasm and the excitement for figuring things out, said Stephen Klippenstein , a former doctoral student of Marcus who is now a theoretical chemist at Argonne National Laboratory. I dont think Ive ever heard him say a harsh word to anyone, Klippenstein added, echoing others who described Marcus as a role model both in and out of the lab. He leads by example: Work hard and solve hard problems. As a theoretical chemist, Marcus works with concepts rather than laboratory apparatus. He received his Nobel Prize in 1992 for work on electron transfer reactions, a deceptively simple theory describing how electrons move between molecules in chemical reactions without breaking chemical bonds. While experimental chemists produce compelling new results in the lab, Marcus seeks the elegant architecture that undergirds their findings. Jack Y. Zhang, CEO and president of a pharmaceutical company, chats with Rudy Marcus, left, his former academic advisor, during the Nobel laureate's 100th birthday celebration at Caltech. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) Its an intellectual challenge that keeps him eager to return to his desk as his 11th decade begins. If anything, he said, his workload feels even more pressing as the sheer number of intriguing experiments grows. There are all sorts of developments in the laboratory and all sorts of new techniques that have been produced, he said Friday as well-wishers milled around his table at a pre-symposium lunch. I have plenty of work to do, more than I can comfortably handle. Story continues Marcus still publishes several research papers per year. The Office of Naval Research just renewed a grant hes had since the 1950s. Age has demanded some concessions. He walked to work each day from his house near the Pasadena campus until he was 97, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to stop. He hung up his skis at the age of 90, not because he couldnt physically continue but because it seemed unwise to do so. Id love to ski, but I'd love not to break any bones, he said. Once people get hospitalized, for some thats the beginning of the end, and theres too much to do yet. Read more: Caltech Scientist Wins the Nobel Chemistry Prize Marcus work ethic is legendary, colleagues and family members said. When his eldest son, Alan Marcus , a cultural historian and professor at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, decided to shift to part-time work as his 65th birthday approached, Dad said, Youre such a slacker, the younger Marcus recalled with a laugh. Marcus was married to Laura Hearne from 1949 until her death from multiple myeloma in 2003. Their sons Alan, Kenneth and Raymond all obtained doctoral degrees in history. Marcus continued to teach until the age of 95, when he decided "enough is enough." "They should really have somebody who really knows something," he said. Nobel laureate Rudy Marcus celebrated his 100th birthday with a day of festivities at Caltech, where he has worked since 1978. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) As a teacher, Marcus has this uncanny ability to reduce very complex problems into simple essentials, said Caltech chemist Zhen-Gang Wang . The electron transfer theory his Nobel Prize-winning work is a great example of that. Marcus was at an electrochemistry conference when the call came in from Stockholm in 1992. At a hastily called news conference at the Toronto hotel where he was staying, the professor demurred when asked about the newfound fame that comes with being a Nobel laureate. I dont know that I want to attract more attention to my work, a bemused Marcus told reporters . I just want more time to get it done. He got his wish. His colleagues couldnt have foreseen the sheer longevity of his tenure when he arrived at Caltech during the Carter administration, but the Nobel Prize quality, yes, said John D. Baldeschwieler , a retired professor emeritus of chemistry who was chair of the department at the time of Marcus' hiring. Marcus was born in 1923 in Montreal, the much-loved only child of Esther and Myer Marcus. His mother in particular instilled a love of learning, in part motivated by the fact that her own family lacked the money to continue her education beyond grade school. She told me that when I was a baby and she used to wheel me in a carriage around McGill, she told me that I would go there, he said in an oral history collected by Caltech in 1993. (She was right: He earned both his bachelors degree and doctorate at the prestigious Montreal university.) He was drawn to puzzles as a child, and has often described his approach to science as a decades-long continuation of the childlike pleasure of teasing a solution from once-scattered parts. The main thing is finding something that you enjoy doing, that preferably doesn't harm others, and that tests whatever aptitude one has, that tests ones ingenuity, he said. Its almost like a kind of a game. You against nature. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH (Reuters) -The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) declared a landslide victory in a one-sided election on Sunday, clearing the path for a historic leadership transition and the end of the reign of one of the world's longest-serving premiers. The contest was effectively a one-horse race, with Prime Minister Hun Sen's CPP, a political behemoth with a vast war chest, facing no viable opponent after a ruthless, years-long crackdown that has seen hundreds of its rivals flee into exile. The CPP was leading in ballot counting late on Sunday, with a turnout of 84%, according to the election committee, with 8.1 million people voting in a lopsided contest between the CPP and 17 mostly obscure parties. "We've won in a landslide ... but we can't calculate the number of seats yet," CPP spokesperson Sok Eysan said. Self-styled strongman Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for 38 years, had brushed off Western concern about the election's credibility, determined to prevent any obstacle in his carefully calibrated transition to his anointed successor and eldest son, Hun Manet. No timeframe had been given for the handover until Thursday, when Hun Sen, 70, signalled that Western-educated military general Hun Manet "could be" prime minister next month. A National Assembly seat would makes him eligible, if backed by the house. Party spokesperson Sok Eysan said it was "very clear" Hun Manet won a seat. Hun Manet has given few media interviews and no clues over his vision for Cambodia and its 16 million people. He earned a master's degree at New York University and a doctorate at the University of Bristol, both in economics, and attended the West Point military academy, helping him rise through the ranks of Cambodia's military to army chief and deputy armed forces commander. CLOSELY-WATCHED TRANSITION Major powers will be watching closely for signs of whether Hun Manet will maintain the authoritarian status quo of his father or pursue greater liberalisation and a more Western style of democracy. Story continues After casting his vote on Sunday, Hun Manet ducked questions about becoming premier and whether he would rule differently from his father. "No comment please. I've just come to vote," he said in English, smiling. Analysts had expected the transition to come mid-term, giving Hun Manet time to earn legitimacy with the public and political elite. A key focus will be if he seeks to steer Cambodia out of the orbit of China and patch up ties with the United States that have perennially been strained by his father's iron-fisted approach. A CPP rout was never in doubt after preemptive strikes by authorities that included disqualifying the CPP's only meaningful rival, the Candlelight Party, over a paperwork technicality. Former Khmer Rouge guerrilla Hun Sen has been accused by activists of publicly threatening rivals and inciting violence, which led to Meta Platforms' oversight board recommending his suspension from Facebook. The government has denied persecuting opponents. 'COME OUT AND CONFESS' The election committee also banned self-exiled opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy and 16 allies from elections for two decades for urging Cambodians to destroy ballots in protest. Some did that, posting images of their ballots on social media, some with writing disparaging Hun Sen and calling him a coward. Another ballot said "U.N. pls help". "The surprise of the day will be the number and the percentage of 'spoiled' ballots," Rainsy said on Twitter. "You can't win an election with no opposition." Despite the CPP government's stranglehold over independent institutions, including the poll body, and allegations by activists of complicity in land grabs and environmental destruction, the party has consistently won the rural vote, reflecting improvements in basic infrastructure. Its selling point has been ensuring peace and stability after decades of war, which spurred average growth of more than 7% until 2019, creating jobs in garment manufacturing and construction. Hun Sen said the turnout, the highest in three decades, showed his "extremist" opponents had failed to derail the election. He urged those who destroyed ballots not to flee the country and suggested they own up. "We already know your faces," he said on Telegram. "Don't be afraid, you may come out and confess ... otherwise, legal measures will be taken." (Additional reporting by Chantha Lach; Writing and additional reporting by Martin Petty; Editing by Robert Birsel, William Mallard and Frances Kerry) Hun Manet looks set to take over the reins from his father, Cambodia's long-time leader Hun Sen (TANG CHHIN Sothy) Cambodians will vote Sunday in an election that longtime leader Hun Sen is all but guaranteed to win as he looks to secure his legacy by handing the reins to his eldest son. The 70-year-old former Khmer Rouge cadre has ruled since 1985 and faces no real contest in this vote, with opposition parties banned, challenger candidates forced to flee and freedom of expression stifled. His Cambodian People's Party (CPP) is likely to retain all 125 seats in the lower house, prolonging his grip on power and paving the way for a dynastic succession some critics have compared to North Korean politics. The only serious opposition party was disqualified on a technicality in the runup to the polls and it will be a surprise if any of the 17 other small, poorly funded parties win seats. More than 9.7 million people are registered to vote in the seventh election since the United Nations first sponsored polls in 1993 after years of conflict -- including the genocidal Khmer Rouge -- left the country devastated. Over the last 30 years what hopes the international community might have had for a vibrant multi-party democracy in Cambodia have been flattened by the juggernaut of Hun Sen's rule. The veteran PM has begun to look to the future, saying he would hand over to his son, four-star general Hun Manet -- possibly even in the coming weeks. The 45-year-old scion led the final CPP rally in Phnom Penh ahead of polling day, telling a raucous crowd on Friday that it was "victory day" for the country. Critics would disagree, and rights groups have condemned the upcoming election. On the eve of voting, a 17-strong coalition -- including the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) -- characterised the polls as being of "profound concern". "The upcoming electoral exercise indicates a notable absence of transparency, fairness, and inclusivity in the electoral process," they said in a statement issued Saturday. Story continues - Parties dissolved - The only real challenge to Hun Sen's CPP had come from the Candlelight Party (CP). But in May, the country's electoral body refused to register it, rendering it illegible to compete. The decision came after the party performed better than expected at last year's local elections, winning 22 percent of the popular vote. Internationally, Hun Sen has played off tensions between the United States and China, racking up huge sums in Chinese investment that come with no inconvenient demands for democratic reforms. Speaking before the vote, the CP told AFP that the registration decision meant there was no way the election could be either free or fair. "As for results, everyone knows who will win," said Rong Chhun, CP vice-president. Ahead of the election, freedom of speech has been heavily stifled, with one of the few remaining independent news outlets, Voice of Democracy, shut down earlier this year. And only last month, Hun Sen ordered election laws changed, banning anyone who fails to vote in the upcoming poll from ever running for office -- a move that will affect exiled rivals. Among those challengers is longtime foe Sam Rainsy, who has been in self-exile in France for almost a decade to avoid criminal convictions he says are politically motivated. Domestically, opposition leader Kem Sokha languishes under house arrest, after being sentenced to 27 years for treason over an alleged plot with foreigners to topple Hun Sen's government. - 'I cannot evaluate' - In the days ahead of the polls, capital Phnom Penh was blanketed by huge posters of Hun Sen. But many are now looking to Hun Manet, educated in the United States and Britain, wondering if a change in leadership might bring change to the country. "For me, I want to see his work first then I can evaluate," one 73-year-old Cambodian told AFP. "For now, I cannot evaluate anything at the moment," he added, declining to give his name. Polls are due to open at 7:00 am (0000 GMT) and close at 3:00 pm. ss-rbu/pdw/lb Xi stresses enhancing Party leadership over armed forces Xinhua) 09:21, July 22, 2023 BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has stressed breaking new ground in enhancing the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the armed forces to provide a strong political guarantee for achieving the centenary goal of the People's Liberation Army. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks in an instruction to a meeting on the Party building in the armed forces. The meeting was held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday. In his instruction, Xi required earnest review of the historic achievements and important experience in Party building since the Party's 18th National Congress, as well as continued efforts in advancing full and rigorous self-governance of the Party and the governance of the military with strict discipline in every respect. Xi also emphasized concentrating efforts on addressing prominent issues faced by Party organizations at all levels, in aspects such as maintaining the Party's absolute leadership over the military and ensuring stronger combat readiness. Xi's instruction was studied at the meeting. He Weidong, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC, addressed the meeting. He emphasized the importance of fully implementing the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the CMC chairman, sharpening the military's capabilities of combat readiness, strengthening its organizational system, improving conduct, enforcing discipline and combating corruption. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) The People's Liberation Army Air Force will send its best aircraft to perform at an air show in Changchun, capital of Jilin province, according to officers. Senior Colonel Zhang Shouhai from the Air Force's Staff Department said at a news conference on Friday morning in Beijing that the J-20 stealth fighter jet, YY-20 aerial refueling aircraft, and J-16 multirole combat plane will take part in the air show, which will be held at the Aviation University of Air Force in Changchun from July 26 to 30. Multiple J-20s and YY-20s will form a group in flight display while the J-10S and J-11S twin-seat fighter jets will carry out aerial combat performance, Zhang said. Meanwhile, aerobatic teams of the Air Force will also conduct stunt performance during the event, he added. Lieutenant Colonel Hou Jian, an officer at the Air Force's Equipment Department, said at the conference that a total of 45 aircraft in 13 types will be sent to Changchun to carry out flight performance. He said a host of latest hardware including the WZ-10 reconnaissance drone, Z-20KA utility helicopter and KJ-500A early-warning plane will be shown to the public. A total of 137 sets of ground-based equipment like air defense radars, missiles and artillery guns will also take part in the air show, he said, adding that a lot of the Air Force's time-honored planes and weapons will be present at the event. The event will be the first massive air show in China this year. Around 700,000 visitors are expected, according to Ma Yanfeng, executive vice-mayor of Changchun. Editors Note: Jack Becker is the editor of Caprock Chronicles and is a Librarian Emeritus from Texas Tech University. He can be reached at jack.becker@ttu.edu. Todays article about the McLaurin Family Reunion is by Paul Carlson, Emeritus Professor of History at Texas Tech. Here is a remarkable phenomenon: The big and scattered McLaurin Family of the Llano Estacado and West Texas will hold its 90th consecutive annual family reunion in Abilene, near where its first reunion occurred nearly a century ago. The 1933/34 reunion in Anson. The large family reaches back to Christopher Columbus (C.C.) and Juliet (Hammock) McLaurin who settled in Lynn County in 1903. C. C. and Juliet, both born in Mississippi, married in 1876, and in 1898 brought their family of eight children - five boys and three girls - to West Texas. They established a home in Jones County east of Anson. In 1903, C.C., 47-years-old, and Juliet, 42, homesteaded a piece of land near Tahoka. Their property, described as rugged land, may have been located toward the breaks and draws of Tahoka Lake. C.C. planted a large fruit orchard on the place and may have been the first farmer in the area to grow cotton. Their ninth child, a girl named Bertie, was born in Lynn County in 1903 but died before the year was out. The 1936 family reunion in Lueders. Nonetheless, over the next 20-plus years, C.C. and Juliet became successful and prominent farmers and respected community leaders in Tahoka and Lynn County. Their children and grandchildren, nearly all of whom made their homes in West Texas, spread the extended family widely over the region. But also, over the years the family kept in close touch, which opened the way for annual family reunions. The first reunion occurred in 1933, seven years after C.C. had died. Family members gathered in Jones County at the Anson home of J.C. and Maude (daughter of C.C. and Juliet) McLaurin Fielder. The next year it occurred in ODonnell in Lynn County where several McLaurin families lived, and in 1936 the family moved its large reunion to the Baptist Encampment Grounds on the Clear Fork of The Brazos River at Lueders in eastern Jones County. It occurred there each year until 1948, when the family moved it to Cisco in a recreation area behind the dam at Lake Cisco. Story continues An early 1940s reunion in Lueders. Many of the young men were absent due to World War II. In 1952, the family held the reunion at a park in Ruidoso, N.M., and then in 1954 moved it south of San Angelo to Christoval on the banks of the South Concho River. Over the next 30 years it moved around West Texas, including Mackenzie State Park in Lubbock, ODonnell Community Center, Lake Brownwood Mountain View Lodge, Butman Methodist Camp in Abilene, plus a six-year stint at the Sacramento, N.M., Methodist Camp. From 1989 through 2018, the family held its reunion in Ruidoso, mainly at the La Junta camp ground. This quarter century period represented perhaps the largest reunions in terms of number of people in attendance. Since then, the reunion has moved back to Texas, including Lubbock, Wolfforth, Arlington, and Childress. Even during the COVID-19 year of 2020, the family held a successful Zoom reunion. In the early days, the reunions began on Thursday and continued through Sunday. They are a bit shorter now. During World War II, several of the McLaurin men were serving in the military and of course did not attend. The 1998 reunion in Ruidoso, New Mexico. At each reunion, attendees played games (cards, board, dominoes, and others), plus there was boating, fishing and swimming (sometimes swimming lessons), softball and volley ball, big cover dish meals, quiet evening hours around campfires, stories told and retold, and general remembrances with good talk. Each site held something special for attendees. At Cisco, there was a very large swimming pool as well as a skating rink. The park had places for camper trailers. In Christoval there was a rather large meeting room to gather, as well as a cafeteria. The main thing about Christoval, remembered one family member, was the river. There was boating and of course lots of swimming. There was a slab where there would be dancing, usually on Saturday night. Christoval was a favorite place, but perhaps the Lueders campground, at least for old timers, was the more popular site. And, there was Ruidoso. It had the race track as well as downtown shops, plus hiking and other activities. Everyone enjoyed the cool weather in the mountains around Ruidoso, especially as the reunion often occurred in July or August. There was a tabernacle type structure in one of the parks where the family gathered for meals. In the 1990s and 2000s Ruidoso attracted a lot of McLaurin members. Carlson Family members often bring guests. And, older folks joined with younger members to pool rides to the site and assist with getting around to the various activities. The family holds a business meeting each year, discusses a site for the next reunion, and gives out various awards." In addition, each year, family members bring items to be sold and auctioned off to the highest bidders. Proceeds from the sales help to promote and finance the next years reunion. Clearly, the annual McLaurin reunion has been a major family event, scheduled now for its 90th consecutive year. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Caprock Chronicles: The McLaurin familys 90th annual reunion Carlee Russell posted multiple tweets in the hour leading up to her 911 call and subsequent disappearance in Alabama last week, the New York Post and People reported on Friday. The news comes two days after officials in Hoover said that they were unable to verify Russells and her familys accounts regarding her high-profile disappearance. A Twitter account reportedly linked to the 25-year-old nursing student shows one tweet shared roughly 40 minutes prior to Russells 911 call on July 13 saying that today was a GREAT day. Another, posted a minute later, reads someone to tell you i love you and dont got a reason. The accounts most recent tweet, posted 15 minutes prior to the 911 call, reads yeah i want a family now . HuffPost was unable to independently verify the owner of the account. However, it shares a similar username with, and uses a picture from, an Instagram account linked to Russell. Social media users have also pointed out that in the days leading up to the womans disappearance, the account posted tweets about work complaints and about feeling wanted. Russell allegedly stole a bathrobe, toilet paper and other items from her employer, Woodhouse Spa, before leaving work on July 13. Stuart Rome, who owns Woodhouse Spa, told the New York Post that Russell has since been fired. It was really devastating for them thinking a co-worker was abducted, Rome said, referring to staff members at the spa. As the information came out that there were some questionable things [surrounding the purported disappearance], weve been a little pissed off, mainly because so many people took so much time out to search. Russell went missing July 13 after calling 911 to report a toddler walking along a busy highway at night. Grainy traffic video shows Russells car stopping on the side of the road, with officials later discovering her phone and other belongings inside her unattended vehicle. Officials said no one else reported a missing child and they did not see a child in the area. Story continues Russell showed up at her home on July 15, telling detectives that she had been abducted on the night of her disappearance. WBRC has obtained traffic camera video from Interstate 459 from the moment it is believed that Carlee Nichole Russell disappearedhttps://t.co/knNUu1J4Hkpic.twitter.com/JZH1pKm6cp philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 15, 2023 During a press conference Wednesday, the chief of Hoover police said the investigation into Russells disappearance remains active. Were still working this case and will be working this case until we uncover every piece of evidence that helps us account for the 49 hours that Carlee Russell was missing, the chief, Nick Derzis, said. Related... Catherine Tate has hit out at Netflix for the brutal way it cancelled her show. The actor, who is returning to Doctor Who later this year for the shows 60th anniversary specials, debuted her latest project, the mockumentary Hard Cell, in April 2022. However, after being mauled by critics, the show was cancelled by the streaming service but Tate was not told by bosses. Instead, she was informed of the news from someone else's agent Appearing on BBC Twos Breakfast Show on Friday (21 July), Tate reflected on her treatmet from Netflix, stating: They had a change of staff and as happens when someone who has commissioned the show and then leaves, often they want to start afresh. She said that while she kind of understands the decision, it wouldve been nice for them to have told me. Tate played six different characters in the series, portraying staff as well as prison inmates who unite to put on a musical. The actor can currently be seen in BBC sitcom Queen of Oz, which airs on Fridays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer Tate is returning as Donna Noble in long-running sci-fi series Doctor Who this autumn. Catherine Tate in Netflix series Hard Cell (Netflix) Speaking about the forthcoming episodes, returnig showrunner Russell T Davies said: Speaking about the news, Davies said: Theyre back! And it looks impossible first, we announce a new Doctor, and then an old Doctor, along with the wonderful Donna, what on earth is happening? Maybe this is a missing story. Or a parallel world. Or a dream, or a trick, or a flashback. The only thing I can confirm is that its going to be spectacular, as two of our greatest stars reunite for the battle of a lifetime. a black and white chinese rocket launches into a blue sky A Chinese solid rocket launched a new batch of commercial satellites from the Gobi Desert on Wednesday (July 19). A Kuaizhou 1A rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on Wednesday at 11:20 p.m. EDT (0320 GMT, or 11:20 a.m. Beijing Time on July 20). Aboard were four Tianmu 1 satellites, designated numbers 07-10, for collecting weather data. The satellites and rocket upper stage were later detected by space domain awareness tracking in orbits with an altitude of roughly 326 miles (524 kilometers) and an inclination of 97.4 degrees. Related: The latest news about China's space program a black and white chinese rocket launches into a blue sky The Tianmu 1 constellation is intended to provide global commercial meteorological data services, including numerical weather forecasting, typhoon monitoring and forecasting and climate change research. The satellites were developed by a subsidiary of the state-run China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, or CASIC. The mission follows a similar launch in March of this year, which saw the Tianmu 1 (03-06) satellites reach orbit. CelesTrak has GP data for 5 objects from the launch (2023-101) of 4 Tianmu-1 weather satellites atop a Kuaizhou-1A rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on Jul 20 at 0320 UTC: https://t.co/oGCJUjQxIx. Data for the launch can be found at: https://t.co/apn48o2DUW. pic.twitter.com/UrXFEU318ZJuly 20, 2023 See more RELATED STORIES: China wants to launch over 200 spacecraft in 2023 Chinese launch company tests vertical rocket landings with jet-powered prototype (video) China launches 3 astronauts to Tiangong space station on Shenzhou 16 spacecraft (video) Tianmu satellites detect changes to signals transmitted by navigation satellites such as GPS and Beidou as they pass through Earth's atmosphere . "Some navigation signals are transmitted through different atmospheric layers or different media, and there will be attenuation and differences between these signals. We can obtain valuable information from the medium it penetrates, from its characteristics and density, or other features," Gao Wei, strategic operations director of the Tianmu 1 constellation, told CCTV+. Story continues "By 2025, our Tianmu 1 system will be basically completed and will provide stable service for various user categories. At the same time, through the integrated construction and operation of the constellation, we can better serve the national strategy and improve the national economy and people's livelihoods," Gao said. The Kuaizhou 1A for the launch was provided by Expace, a rocket-making company spun off from CASIC. It can carry a payload of 440 pounds (200 kilograms) to a 345-mile-high (700 km) sun-synchronous orbit. Taiwan's Defense Ministry says China sent 37 military aircraft, including J-16 fighters like the one toward Taiwan on Friday and Saturday ahead of planned defensive military drills. Photo courtesy of Taiwan Ministry of National Defense July 22 (UPI) -- China sent 37 of military aircraft toward Taiwan on Friday and Saturday ahead of planned defensive military exercises by Taiwan's military, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. The Taiwanese military said 22 aircraft entered Taiwan's self-declared air defense identification zone. The aircraft included H-6 bombers and J-16 and J-10 fighter aircraft, according to Ministry of Defense. In addition, the Defense Ministry said seven Chinese ships participated in joint patrols with military aircraft. Taiwan conducts yearly defensive drills that simulate an invasion from mainland China and has ramped up the civilian aspect of the drill this year. During this year's drills, civilians who are outdoors will be instructed to seek bomb shelters as opposed to previous drills in which civilians were told to stay indoors. The Financial Times reported that a number of participants has also inccrease from previous years, with about three million participants expected this year. While the government of mainland China considers Taiwan to be a province in rebellion against the central government, China and Taiwan have official government bodies that handle cross-strait relations. The Chinese government has increased its rhetoric and posturing against Taiwan in recent years. Military flights from mainland China near Taiwan nearly doubled in 2022 when compared to the previous year. In August, a visit by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi sparked anger in China, with government officials calling it a "provocation." The Chinese military conducted drills in response to the visit and send aircraft into the air defense identification zone. a chinese astronaut on a spacewalk waves to the camera with earth in the background A pair of Chinese astronauts just performed the first spacewalk of the Shenzhou 16 mission. Jing Haipeng and Zhu Yangzhu completed their approximately eight-hour extravehicular activity (EVA) outside the Tiangong space station at 1340 GMT (9:40 a.m. EDT; 9:40 p.m. Beijing time) on July 20, according to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO). Shenzhou 16 crewmate Gui Haichao assisted operations from inside Tiangong using the space station's robotic arm. Related: China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts quietly conduct 3rd spacewalk (video) a chinese astronaut on a spacewalk waves to the camera with earth in the background CMSEO advised of the upcoming activity on Wednesday (July 19), stating that the spacewalk would take place in the near future. The EVA was not broadcast, and it was announced only after the astronauts safely returned to Tiangong. Chinese state media outlet Xinhua reported that Jing and Zhu completed a variety of tasks, including the installation and lifting of the support frame for a panoramic camera outside Tiangong's Tianhe core module and unlocking and lifting two panoramic cameras outside the Mengtian experiment module. RELATED STORIES The most memorable spacewalks in history China's Shenzhou 15 astronauts complete record-breaking 4th spacewalk (video) Spacewalks: How they work and major milestones Mission commander Jing Haipeng is currently on a national-record fourth trip to space, but this was his first spacewalk. Zhu is the first of China's flight engineer astronauts to embark on an EVA. Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie speaks during a town hall in Columbia, S.C., on July 21, 2023. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard Chris Christie on Friday blasted former President Trump as a "con artist" who's "grifting" his supporters. Christie, a fellow GOP WH candidate, took issue with the money a Trump-affiliated PAC is using to pay legal fees. The ex-New Jersey governor argued that Trump's multiple indictments would imperil the GOP in 2024. GOP presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Friday once again derided former President Donald Trump, calling the ex-commander-in-chief a "con artist" who is "grifting" donors funding his 2024 campaign. Christie, a one-time political ally of Trump and one of the first major Republican governors to endorse the former president's 2016 campaign, blasted Trump on CNN over a Washington Post report that the Save America PAC used a little over half of fundraising dollars from the first quarter to help pay the ex-president's mounting legal costs. The former governor criticized the action as "ridiculous" and said that Trump's supporters were more than likely unaware of how their money was being spent. "I don't think they're well aware because he's lied to them as typical for Donald Trump," Christie said on CNN. "First he said 1 percent of the money they gave would go toward his legal fees. I think most people would say, 'Ok, that's fine.' Then he said 10 percent of the money is going toward his legal fees." "You really need this billionaire ... you really need to have people who are donating $10, $20, $50 to your campaign pay for your high-priced lawyers for indictments that you've all put on yourself by paying off a porn star, by holding back classified documents despite the fact that they've been asked for voluntarily for 18 months?" he continued. "I mean, this is ridiculous. And he is using these people in a way that I don't think that they completely know about." Story continues Christie, who has been critical of Trump's handling of classified documents and his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol, then needled the ex-president once again over what he said was deception in seeking funds for the 2024 race. "People are giving to him and because they think it's going to help him get reelected president when all he's doing is grifting off these people," the former governor said of Trump. "He is a con artist, who is conning them out of their money, pretending he wants to be their president. Well, what he wants is a free ride for the legal defense he's getting for the criminal charges he personally faces." Trump earlier this year was indicted by the Manhattan District Attorney's office over his involvement in a hush-money payment made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels in advance of the 2016 presidential election. In June, a federal grand jury indicted Trump over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House in 2021. And the former president also faces potential charges in Georgia, where he has been the subject of a probe over alleged election interference in the 2020 presidential race. Trump could also be criminally charged by federal prosecutors over his role in the Jan. 6 riots. Christie last week dunked on Trump's assertion that the classified documents indictment was political in nature, blasting the former president as "a liar and a coward." "He's not getting indicted for anyone other than because of his own conduct," he said during an appearance on CNN. Read the original article on Business Insider Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took another swipe at former President Trump on Friday, claiming hes a con artist amid his legal woes. The Trump campaigns financial disclosures for the first quarter revealed that just over half of the money he raised for his 2024 bid has been used to pay legal fees, the Washington Post reported. Christie called the move ridiculous, and claimed the former presidents supporters were likely left in the dark. You really need to have people who are donating $10, $20, $50 to your campaign, pay for your high priced lawyers for indictments that youve all put on yourself by paying off a porn star by holding back classified documents, despite the fact that theyve been asked for voluntarily for 18 months? Christie said in an interview on CNN. I mean, this is ridiculous. And he is using these people in a way that I dont think that they completely know about. People are giving to him and because they think its going to help him get reelected president when all hes doing is grifting off these people, he continued. He is a con artist, who is conning them out of their money, pretending he wants to be their president. Well, what he wants is a free ride for the legal defense hes getting for the criminal charges he personally faces. The remarks from Christie, who unsuccessfully ran against Trump in the 2016 presidential election, are just another example of the growing feud between the two candidates who were once seen as allies. He made it clear on Tuesday that even if offered the vice presidency under Trump, he would not accept it. I spoke to Mike Pence, the job doesnt sound like it was too great, Christie told Newsmax. The former New Jersey governor has also slammed the former president for his ego, arguing its what kept him from admitting he lost 2020 to President Biden. Story continues Trumps list of legal battles grew this week after he announced on Tuesday morning that his legal team was alerted that he is the target of a Justice Department investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the Capitol and his efforts to stay in power after losing the election. He also faces two other indictments: one for falsifying business records related to a hush money payment he made to an adult film star and his handling of classified documents after he left the White House. He has pleaded not guilty to more than 70 counts. Christie last week pushed back on Trumps claims that the classified documents indictment was politically motivated, calling him a liar and a coward. Hes not getting indicted for anyone other than because of his own conduct, he said Sunday in an interview with CNNs Jake Tapper. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The so-called Climate Clock looming over New Yorks Union Square passed a critical milestone on Saturday. The time left to limit global temperature rise to 1.5C - the ambitious goal of the 2015 Paris Agreement - dropped from six years to five. Beyond 1.5C, scientists say that the impacts of the climate crisis will become even more severe and further destabilize the planet further. The five year mark is not the end, it is a reminder that we still have a window of hope to prevent the worst impacts of climate change, the Climate Clock team announced at midday on Saturday. The biggest misconception about climate is that its impacts are in the future. This summer shows the devastating impacts are now. We need to act like we are living in a climate emergency. The Paris Agreement, signed by nearly every country in the world, pledged to curb temperature rise to 1.5C or at least well below 2C. The world has warmed around 1.2C in the past 150 years and is tracking to hit 2.7C by the end of the century. Activists held a global day of action across five continents to highlight the moment. Community events were held in dozens of countries including Egypt, Tanzania, Finland, and India. In Union Square, a vigil was held with speeches, songs, and calls for an immediate end to the use of fossil fuels, which is driving the climate crisis. The effects of the climate crisis are everywhere to be seen: In the scorching, record-breaking heatwaves across Europe, North America, Asia and Africa, and the more powerful storms which have killed hundreds of people and wreaked havoc around the world. The world had its hottest week ever at the start of July, preliminary data shows. June was the hottest month in human history. The extreme temperatures in the United States have been caused by a punishing heat dome which has stalled for the past month. More than 100 million people across the Southwest were under heat alerts this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Phoenix, Arizona has seen a record-breaking 19 daysin a row when temperatures topped 110F (43C). In Death Valley, an experienced hiker died in the extreme heat - the second fatality in the national park this month. The Climate Clock bases its estimate on research from the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change in Berlin, which draws on data from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the worlds most authoratitive climate science body. This year's installment of Discovery's Shark Week will feature an episode about a recent "cocaine shark" phenomenon. Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Sharks might be consuming drugs that are dumped off the Florida coast, scientists say. An upcoming Shark Week episode will investigate whether the drugs are impacting the animals. The scientists saw strange behavior from some sharks, including one fixating on an imaginary object. Scientists think hungry sharks might be feeding on drugs dumped off the Florida coast and sending them a little crazy. An upcoming episode in Discovery Channel's latest installment of Shark Week, "Cocaine Sharks," looks into the theory, with its title referencing the "cocaine bear" that ingested nearly 75 pounds of cocaine in 1985 and loosely inspired a comedy-horror film that came out earlier this year. "It's a catchy headline to shed light on a real problem, that everything we use, everything we manufacture, everything we put into our bodies, ends up in our wastewater streams and natural water bodies, and these aquatic life we depend on to survive are then exposed to that," Tracy Fanara, a Florida-based environmental engineer and a lead member of the research team, told The Guardian. Studies had shown that pharmaceuticals including cocaine, methamphetamines, and ketamine had affected fish, Fanara said. Huge bales of cocaine have washed up on Florida's beaches for decades, usually the result of traffickers throwing them into the sea while fleeing law enforcement. The US Coast Guard said it had recovered more than $186 million's worth of illegal narcotics in the Caribbean and Atlantic last month. If these cocaine bales are a point source of pollution, it's "very plausible" sharks can be affected by this chemical, Fanara said. "Cocaine is so soluble that any of those packages open just a little, the structural integrity is destroyed, and the drug is in the water." In the upcoming Shark Week episode, Fanara and the British marine biologist Tom Hird conduct a series of experiments to determine whether the sharks in waters around Florida were consuming the dumped narcotics and whether this affected them. Story continues The scientists did observe unusual behavior by some of the sharks, The Guardian reported. This included a hammerhead swimming directly toward them while moving erratically, despite the species typically avoiding humans. And at one point, a sandbar shark was swimming in circles as it appeared to focus on something, despite nothing being there. The scientists created packages that resembled cocaine bales and dropped them into the water to see how the sharks would respond. The sharks swam straight to the bales and took bites out of them, the outlet reported. They also filled balls of bait with highly concentrated fish powder to simulate cocaine and see how the animals would react. "It set their brains aflame. It was crazy," Hird says on the show, The Guardian reported. Researchers said the reaction was similar to that of catnip on felines. However, the observations do not necessarily confirm that the sharks consume drugs, and Hind told LiveScience he hopes the show will lead to more research in the area. Read the original article on Business Insider Its more difficult to find an apartment in Buffalo, New York, than it is a rental in Sacramento. The capital region was once among the toughest rental markets in the nation, as Bay Area residents flooded here during the pandemic in search of relatively affordable housing. Prices skyrocketed, surpassing those found in some of the countys largest cities. But the Sacramento region didnt crack the top 20 of RentCafes hottest big markets in the nation for the first three months of 2023. In fact, Sacramento was only the ninth-hottest market in California by RentCafes calculation, which used apartment occupancy rates, the average number of days rentals sit on the market, renewal rates, new apartments constructed and the number of prospective renters competing for units to determine a markets standing. Sacramentos competitive score also trailed many small and mid-sized markets, including Buffalo; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Fayetteville, Arkansas. The interactive map below shows the change in median rent for most of the ZIP codes in the Sacramento region, according to new data from RentHub. The map shows the median rent has gone up just .34% over the last year, with the largest increases in Del Paso Heights, Oak Park and Rio Linda. There are more than 1,000 homicides in Columbus, dating back to the 1950s that remain unsolved, according to Columbus police, and thousands of other crimes that do not yet have answers for their victims. In killings where no suspect has been identified, detectives often review the cases. For larger departments, such as Columbus police, a specialized unit of detectives looks at cold cases with the hope that new investigation techniques, science or technology can give a family closure. Columbus police have a list of all unsolved homicides on their website with information about each case and how to provide tips to detectives. The Ohio Attorney General's office has a similar website for homicides. But in other types of cases, such as disappearances, those types of online archives aren't available. True crime podcasts or television programs are how their loved ones' cases are kept in the public eye. Here are some of the biggest unsolved mysteries in central Ohio. Anyone with information should call Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS or the investigating agency. Lester Eubanks escapes from prison in 1973 while out on temporary furlough to go Christmas shopping One of the biggest mysteries in central Ohio is the disappearance of Lester Eubanks, a prisoner in the Ohio Penitentiary who walked away from a 1973 Christmas shopping trip and hasn't been seen since. An age-enhanced photo of Lester Eubanks has been released by authorities, 47 years after Eubanks escaped in Columbus. Eubanks was convicted in Richland County of murder and sentenced to death for the 1965 murder and attempted rape of 14-year-old Mary Ellen Deener. In 1972, Eubanks' sentence was commuted to life in prison without parole when Ohio abolished the death penalty. The state reinstated the death penalty a few years later; however, those whose sentences had been commuted in 1972 were not resentenced to death. While in prison in Columbus, Eubanks was given a temporary honor furlough to go Christmas shopping unsupervised. Eubanks walked away and is believed to have lived in the Los Angeles area for at least a few years. Story continues His escape, which remains unresolved, has been featured on the podcast "Have You Seen This Man" and in an episode of "Unsolved Mysteries" on Netflix. Anyone with information on Eubanks' location is asked to call the U.S. Marshals Service tip line at 866-4-WANTED. A $50,000 reward is being offered for information. Tyler Davis, 29, of Wilmington, disappears during wife's birthday trip to Easton in 2019 Tyler Davis Around 3 a.m. Feb. 24, 2019, Tyler Davis, 29, and his wife, Brittany, got back to the Easton Hilton hotel after a night out to celebrate Brittany's birthday. The couple, who lived in Wilmington, were staying at the hotel with a friend. Davis told Brittany he was going to walk for a bit before going up to the couple's room. He had fallen asleep in a rideshare that brought the couple back to the hotel and had been under the influence still when he went walking, Columbus police said. In October 2019, police said a nearly minute-by-minute accounting of where Davis walked was available until 3:53 a.m. that day, when he was near Abbott Labs near Stelzer Road and Morse Crossing. An audio clip police obtained from Davis' phone showed him using voice-activation technology to ask for directions back to the hotel. Columbus Police Detective Jason Brammer shows an area in which detectives have searched for Tyler Davis during a news conference Sept. 3, 2019, at the Columbus Division of Police Headquarters. Around 4 a.m., Brittany told police she got a call from her husband, who told her he was walking in a wooded area but he could see the hotel and would be back in a few minutes. He never made it back. A call Davis made immediately after the couple hung up was silence, and every time Brittany tried to call her husband after those silent two minutes, the phone went to voicemail, police said. Brittany reported him missing around 9:30 a.m. that same day, and it has led to a fury of online speculation about Davis' disappearance and Brittany's possible involvement. More than four years later, there are no more answers about what happened to Davis. He was declared legally dead in 2021. Joanne Hebert, 14, of Dublin, disappears from Tag Market; found dead by hunter 2 months later in 1981 On July 22, 1981, Delaware County resident Joanne Hebert, 14, a soon-to-be freshman at what was then Dublin High School, got on her bike and went to a nearby market. The Tag Market was a few blocks from Hebert's home on Dublin Road. The teen, who was known to be soft-spoken, was seen around 5 p.m. that day talking on the market's payphone. Her bike was still out in front of the store when it closed at 8 p.m. but disappeared shortly afterwards. There was no sign of Joanne for more than two months. On Sept. 29, 1981, a squirrel hunter about a mile south of Mitchell DeWitt Road, in the area where Franklin, Delaware and Union counties converge, found a partially decomposed body. The investigation determined the body was that of Joanne and was found only about 3 miles from where she lived. Investigators said Joanne was found partially clothed and she was likely sexually assaulted before being beaten to death. At the time her body was found, Joanne's family said she was not likely to go with a stranger, leading investigators to believe she may have known her assailant. More than 40 years later, her homicide remains unsolved. The Union County Sheriff's office and the Ohio Attorney General's cold case unit are continuing to investigate. Brutal 1989 killing of Newark mother of five and ordained minister Helen Stuart, 70, remains a mystery Helen Stuart was a fighter. The 70-year-old mother of five and ordained minister survived being widowed and a heart attack. Around 8 p.m. April 20, 1989, she was at her home on Russell Avenue in Newark. It was the last time anyone knew for certain she was alive. Her naked body was found the next morning in the backseat of her car, parked along the berm of Ohio 16 near State Route 668 in Licking County. A crew from the Ohio Department of Transportation that was working in the area found her after noticing the car hadn't moved all morning. Helen Stuart, 70, was raped, beaten and strangled in April 1989 in Newark. Her homicide remains unsolved nearly 35 years later. Stuart had been raped, beaten and strangled to death. Newark detectives said Stuart suffered injuries that indicated she put up a fight against her attacker and some things were disturbed in her home, suggesting a possible struggle. But robbery wasn't an apparent motive. Thousands of dollars in cash and jewelry were found undisturbed at her house. At the time, Newark detectives had a possible suspect: a man who was staying near Stuart's home at the time. That man was later convicted in an unrelated rape and kidnapping case and spent time in prison. He never fully cooperated with investigators. In 2010, The Dispatch revisited Stuart's case. At that time, detectives were looking at evidence in the case to determine if there were any options for DNA testing. A $20,000 reward was also offered through Licking County Crime Stoppers. The case was last reviewed in 1993. Now, Newark police detective Steve Vanoy is picking apart the file to see what DNA evidence exists. He hopes a new $20,000 reward offered by Stuart's son Murray and his brothers through Licking County Crime Stoppers will shake loose information. Anyone with information on any unsolved case should contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS or at www.stopcrime.org. All tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous. bbruner@dispatch.com @bethany_bruner This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus area has thousands of unsolved mysteries. Here are 4 of them Ken Mattlin, 86, asks a question of robot ElliQ who resembles a table lamp at his home in Bakersfield. Mattlin and his wife, Audrey, use robots and other devices for companionship and connectivity. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The future has arrived in Bakersfield, and Im not sure Im ready for it. For nearly three hours, the conversation was nonstop at the home of Audrey and Ken Mattlin, who happen to live with several robots. Theres ElliQ, who resembles a table lamp and speaks mainly to Audrey, 84, whom the robot refers to by a nickname. As in, How did you sleep, Jelly Bean? Goo-goo-eyed Astro looks like a short-handled vacuum cleaner with an electronic tablet for a face. He scoots around the house on wheels and follows people on command. When I asked if I could hear Moonlight in Vermont, he turned into a deejay and played a Sinatra rendition. Ken Mattlin adjusts his Apple watch at his home in Bakersfield. The 86-year-old, a gadget freak, sees some pros along with the cons when using smart devices. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Jibo, arguably the most life-like of the lot, sits on a table next to 86-year-old Ken, who loves asking the robot to show off its dance moves. He can twerk, said Ken, and Jibo promptly gyrated on its axis. At times during my visit earlier this month, people and robots spoke simultaneously, and it was kind of like a remake of "The Jetsons," or, better yet, "The Brady Bunch" meets "The Twilight Zone." How can I help? asked ElliQ, confused, perhaps, by all the voices talking over one another. By shutting up, said Ken, who thinks ElliQ comes on like gangbusters and can be a nag. Youre interrupting. Audrey smiled, but she's been known to take offense when ElliQ is spoken to harshly. At times, she seems more apt to speak to ElliQ than her husband of 66 years, so it's entirely possible Ken is jealous. If I say, Thats just a stupid machine, she gets mad at me, said Ken, an Air Force veteran. The point of all this is that robots and other technology, such as Alexa and Google Home (which, of course, the Mattlins use), are seen by some as a way to address the epidemic of loneliness and isolation felt by millions of older adults. Robot pets, now in use at some California nursing homes, are also on the loose. Audrey Mattlin and her husband, Ken, share their living room with robots ElliQ, left, on the table; Jibo, next to the lamp; and Astro, right, at their home in Bakersfield. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) California, through its Department of Aging, has made $50 million in technology grants available to counties, which are exploring what might work best to addressisolation. In Sacramento County, staffers at the Agency on Aging are testing out ElliQ. But so far the grants are being used statewide primarily to invest in smartphones, tablets including those designed specifically for older adults and WiFi hookups and training. Story continues The Mattlins arent part of any grant program theyre just curious consumers on the cutting edge of the AI revolution, so they bought their own robots. Read more: Column: They're facing an 'epidemic of loneliness and isolation,' but solutions are within reach A growing body of research on companion robots suggests they can reduce stress and loneliness and can help older people remain healthy and active in their homes, Duke Today reported this month after a study conducted in part by Murali Doraiswamy, a Duke University professor of psychiatry and geriatrics. Right now, all the evidence points to having a real friend as the best solution, said Doraiswamy. But until society prioritizes social connectedness and elder care, robots are a solution for the millions of isolated people who have no other solutions. Maria Henke, senior associate dean of the USC School of Gerontology, acknowledges both the benefits and shortfalls of robotic companionship. You dont want to spend Christmas Eve with a robot, she said. A fair point in many cases, but Henke might feel differently if shed met some of my relatives. Ken Mattlin and his wife are curious consumers on the cutting edge of the AI revolution, so they bought their own gadgets. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) USC professor Maja Mataric, who runs a robotics lab on campus, is a pioneer in the field of what are called socially assistive robots. She believes the current crop of machines on the market can have some limited value for those cut off from human connections. But she doesn't think the devices are particularly useful beyond that, partly because they're not sophisticated and personalized enough to address individual needs. Mataric, an engineer, neuroscientist and pediatric specialist, has been developing robots that can help children with autism and older adults with dementia. "Maybe youre slurring your words or not using as big a vocabulary as you were a month ago, so those are early signs of dementia, Mataric said, and a robot can process that information for a care provider. A robot might also be programmed to remind someone they skipped yesterdays walk and encourage them to exercise by saying: Im going to walk with you, so you can walk with your grandchild next week. I think its a safe bet that when such robots are on the market, Ken and Audrey Mattlin will add them to their growing family. Their robots werent brought into their home to treat isolation (theyve got each other, their children and a gaggle of grandchildren), but to indulge their curiosity. Ken Mattlin can turn house lights off and on from his easy chair, and he's rigged the commode with a bidet (to save on toilet paper). Various robots, meanwhile, can turn on the television. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The Mattlins worked together in retail electronics and software, and Ken still sells Wi-Fi streaming boxes, some of which were stacked on the dining room table. So the stereotype about older adults not being tech-savvy does not apply at least in the case of Ken. His body might have aged, but his brain is still in its teens. He can turn house lights off and on from his easy chair, and hes rigged the commode with a bidet (to save on toilet paper) and a push-button device that raises and lowers the seat. Various robots, meanwhile, can turn on the television. Astro, who wheels around like a loyal pet but does not, in Kens words, poop on the floor, serves as a security guard with a built-in camera. Ken said he paid about $900 for an early version of Astro (it now sells for about twice that amount), and a few hundred dollars for ElliQ, plus a monthly subscription fee of $29. Jibo is a bit of a dead soldier whose commanding officers went out of business. But its spirit lives on through whats left of the original programming. I can see a dark side to all of this, to be honest, and I dont mean that the robots might sell the Mattlins' personal data to hackers or tie them up one night, ransack the house and blow the family nest egg at a crap table in Vegas. But I wonder if robots designed to relieve elder isolation and loneliness might do the opposite in some cases, just as gadgets and social media have hijacked actual human interaction and turned so many younger people into zombies. Read more: Column: For seniors, social isolation can lead to untreated depression Ken said he thinks it depends on the individual and the situation, but he and Audrey both say ElliQ is a good companion. That was illustrated at one point when Ken briefly dozed off but Audrey still had someone to talk to. ElliQ asks Audrey what plans she has for the day, tells her the weather, offers to take her on a virtual tour of an art museum, can scroll through family photo albums and puts her through a two-minute breathing meditation. The robot can also be programmed with reminders about taking medication or keeping appointments, and Audrey often uses it for games. Lets play trivia, she said. Sounds good, said ElliQ, who, like the other robots, speaks in a voice that's partly human and partly what the toaster oven would sound like if it could talk. Its trivia time. Six questions coming right up. It asked, among other things, how many colors there are in a rainbow, which actress married Michael Douglas in 2000, and which satellite launched into space on Oct. 4, 1957. Thats the year I was married, geez, said Audrey, who correctly answered Sputnik and got four out of six right. Yay, ElliQ said. Youve got quite some knowledge up your sleeve. Yeah, sure, Audrey responded. Ken and Audrey have two massage chairs (why wouldnt they?) in front of the fireplace, and they climbed in to demonstrate a bit of Bakersfield bliss. Kens, with lots of controls, looks like it could double as a space capsule. From a reclined position, he summoned Astro, who hurried over like a loyal mutt and took up a position at their feet. Is there no limit to what Astro can do for you? I could put drinks on there and he would bring them to you, said Ken, pointing out Astros cup holders. When Astro can also make the cocktails, count me in. steve.lopez@latimes.com 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. Barbies plastic is fantastic and malleable, apparently, for a whole range of political causes. The summer blockbuster, directed by Sacramento born-and-raised Greta Gerwig, debuted on Friday. Whether its her spunky, innocent character or glittering Malibu Dreamhouse, shes proven an irresistible canvas for politicians and interest groups to project their messages. Gov. Gavin Newsoms office tweeted 4 ways Barbie embraces California values. The thread made sure to mention that Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls, was founded in a Los Angeles garage Sen. Scott Weiner, D-San Francisco posted a Tiktok riding Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) in hot pink stilettos. Did someone say BARTbie? text on the video reads. And the Assembly Democrats posted a TikTok featuring their Barbies and Kens. The Tax Foundation, a think tank generally critical of high taxes, wrote about all the California taxes Barbie would have to pay on her Dreamhouse, shopping sprees, income for the 200+ jobs shes held and fuel for her pink convertible. They argued that she might just call cut! on her LA scene and set her GPS for a more tax-friendly state due to the states taxes. Though Barbie and her Malibu Dreamhouse give California politicians a special connection, the movie drew the attention of politicians nationwide. Michigans Gov. Gretchen Whitmer dressed up a mini-me Barbie in a matching fuschia suit and posted videos and pictures of the doll signing bills, cruising a pink convertible around the Capitol and delivering a speech from a tiny podium. Come on Barbie, lets go govern, she tweeted. Barbenheimer This weekend, as the glittery, family-friendly Barbie movie debuts, Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer, an epic that chronicles the development of the atomic bomb and the tragic story of its physicist inventor, also hits theaters. On Twitter, over one million users offered predictions on which summer blockbuster Barbie or Oppenheimer each of their Senators would watch first. Story continues California Sen. Alex Padilla tweeted that he was still deciding, asking which his followers thought he should see first. The respondents were pretty polarized. Asm. Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento, told The Bee the choice was a hot topic in our household. His twin daughters and wife decided to take a girls-only trip to see Barbie this weekend. Hell be leaving his pink tie at home and attending Oppenheimer next door. But Im excited about the movie and especially the Sacramento connection. That Greta Gerwig is helping put Sacramento on the map again, McCarty said. Not everyones a fan Perhaps Barbie is such an appealing conduit for messaging because of her apolitical nature. Shes just a plastic doll, after all. But at least one politician managed to condemn the blonde icons big screen moment. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, labeled the new flick as Chinese communist propaganda for the movies depiction of disputed territory in the South China Sea as belonging to China. Its safe to say that Cruz will be seeing Oppenheimer first. A conservative California school board staunchly opposed to teaching gay rights in its social studies curriculum finally reversed course after holding a heated nine-hour debate and publicly feuding with Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom. On Friday, Temecula Valley Unified School District voted to adopt Californias Cultural Contributions textbooks, reversing a May vote rejecting the curriculum. A hearing was held in June during which many parents disagreed with the boards 3-2 decision, followed by a nine-hour meeting earlier this month. Governor Newsom had threatened to not only send the textbooks to Temecula but fine the district $1.5million if it did not implement curriculum which had been approved by the State Board of Education for Grades 1-5. Were going to purchase the book for these students the same one that hundreds of thousands of kids are already using, the governor tweeted on 13 July. If these extremist school board members wont do their job, we will and fine them for their incompetence. Fortunately, now students will receive the basic materials needed to learn, he said in a statement following the Temecula districts decision. But this vote lays bare the true motives of those who opposed this curriculum. This has never been about parents rights. Its not even about Harvey Milk who appears nowhere in the textbook students receive. This is about extremists desire to control information and censor the materials used to teach our children. Much of the districts controversy had centred on Mr Milk, the first known out gay man to hold public office in California who was assassinated at San Francisco City Hall in 1978. Allison Barclay, a board member of the Temecula Valley Unified School District, told CNN that there was no mention of Harvey Milk in the textbook that I know of. He is listed in a supplemental section titled Biographies where there are several hundred short, age-appropriate biographies of historical figures, she said. Within the curriculum lessons, she said, there are several sections, such as artists, architects, writers, educators, discussing Californians who made substantial contributions in these areas. Under the heading Protests, one paragraph discusses gay rights in California and under the heading Court Cases, there are two paragraphs that discuss the court cases that allowed gay marriage in California. Gov Newsom a vocal opponent of book bans and other Republican efforts across the country, not just California continued in his Friday statement: Demagogues who whitewash history, censor books, and perpetuate prejudice never succeed. Hate doesnt belong in our classrooms and because of the board majoritys antics, Temecula has a civil rights investigation to answer for. Robert Doane, 99, with his five-month-old granddaughter Madeline Miller on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at Monmouth Executive Airport in Wall, New Jersey. Doane turns 100 on July 25. WALL Robert Doane of Freehold was embracing his five-month-old great-granddaughter Madeline Miller on his lap on Saturday at Monmouth Executive Airport. The World War II veteran was surprised the night before by his family, who had arranged for an aircraft, to fly into Wall, for his 100th birthday. The aircraft, a TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber, was the type Doane flew during his service in the Navy on the Pacific front. Born on a farm in Flemington on July 25, 1923, Doane spent most of his childhood by the Shore in Long Branch. When he was 3, his father, who fought in World War I, died. About 15 years later, Pearl Harbor was bombed, bringing the US into World War II. Doane, who was 19 and attending Red Bank Catholic, voluntarily enlisted in the Navy on December 14, 1942. I knew my (draft) number was coming up, he said. I was going to enlist in the Marines, (but) I couldnt find the Marine Corps in New York. So, I found the Navy. Years In Service He trained at the Naval Station Great Lakes before being sent to Oklahoma to specialize in ordnances and guns. He received the rank of Aviation Ordnanceman, Second Class and was deployed to the USS Independence CVL-22 on the Pacific Front as a gunner on the back of TBM Avenger Torpedo Bombers. I couldnt tell anybody, Doane remembered. One of the reasons being, Doane was part of the first night squadron called the Night Torpedo Squadron Forty-One. The squadron would find targets with newly employed radar technology. His mother, however, received a hint regarding her sons whereabouts. Doanes Squadron Chaplin had written her a letter explaining that Doanes location could not be disclosed, but that he was alive. The letter was written on official USS Independence letterhead. Robert Doane looks out to the TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber that landed in Monmouth Executive Airport on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in Wall, New Jersey. Ocean County: Lives at risk as first aid squads dwindle; here's what the county might do During his mission in active war zones, his squadron flew nearly every night. I was scared a lot of times, he said. Story continues With a pilot and a navigator in front, Doane sat facing the back. To take off, planes were catapulted off the runway via a shuttle. When returning, Doane and the pilots would have to figure out how to find their ship in the dark. Due to the sensitive nature of the missions, all lights on the ship were blacked out. Radar was new, Doane said, remembering that it would sometimes work, but stop working during other times. He recalls a man in his squadron who was gifted in operating the radar. The man would pick out a blip and wed chase it. Robert Doane and his daughter Elizabeth Harte tour the aircraft at Monmouth Executive Airport on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in Wall, New Jersey. Real Estate: Average home prices have soared to over $900,000 in these 11 Monmouth, Ocean towns The squadron launched bombs against targets in Luzon and Okinawa and sank Japanese ships in the Surigao Strait. The Philippines was a big operation, Doane said. Japan had invaded the Philippines in 1941 and took full control the following year. In 1944, the US began its counteroffensive and the island territory was liberated in 1945, receiving independence the following year. When flying, Doane carried a rosary that was gifted to him by a family friend from Long Branch. After his return from the Pacific, Doane was sent to Jacksonville, Florida where he trained for the proposed invasion of Japan. Homecoming The war ended when the US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Doane remembers celebrating with his unit over rum and cokes. Three months later on November 30, 1945, he was honorably discharged, receiving the Combat Action Medal, Navy Good Conduct Medal, Navy Air Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal and World War II Victory Medal. For being in war, I was very lucky, Doane said. I had a warm bed every night aboard a ship. Doane returned to New Jersey and worked at Fort Monmouth as an artist and illustrator. Elizabeth Harte points out the TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber, to her father Robert Doane at Monmouth Executive Airport on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in Wall, New Jersey. Charity: Free toy giveaway planned in Toms River On June 25, 1949, he married Helen Shields, a schoolteacher who taught in Freehold Township. The couple moved to Freehold borough where they raised their five daughters. Doane said his wife was the only real love of my life. Shields passed in 2012. She was a good mother that was for sure, Doane said. About a quarter of an inch taller than me. Couldnt wear heels. Susan OConnor, Doanes youngest daughter, remembers growing up hearing her fathers war stories. He was a bit of a hellraiser, she said. One of her favorite stories involved her father and his pilots when they flew across the US. He flew under a bridge on the Mississippi river, she said. That was a big no-no. They luckily didnt get caught. Doane, who shakes off any praises of his service, said his greatest achievement is raising his family, which has grown to include 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Robert Doanes daughters Susan OConnor, Mary Lewis and Kathleen Eckhardt react to seeing the TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber flying around Monmouth Executive Airport on Saturday, July 22, 2023 in Wall, New Jersey. David Dodds, a former Delta pilot and OConnors brother-in-law, found Doane fascinating. Its so interesting to hear the stories of that generation, he said. There are not too many people who can tell their stories anymore. We, in our age group, have never experienced something like that. That time period where the country came together. Dodds arranged through acquaintances for the TBM Avenger Torpedo Bomber to fly from the American Airpower Museum in Long Island to the Monmouth Executive Airport, which waved its landing fees and donated the gasoline needed for its return trip. The plane, operated by Nick Ziroli, was built in 1944, but never saw action, resulting in its preservation. Doane served on the Knights of Columbus and attends Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Freehold. He was driving until he was 98 and then voluntarily said, you know what, Im 98 I better not drive any longer, OConnor said. Were very blessed with having him as long as weve had and as healthy as he has been. Olivia Liu is a reporter covering transportation, Red Bank and western Monmouth County. She can be reached at oliu@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: WWII Veteran recalls service, celebrates 100th birthday A recent study has given the first-ever county-level estimates of prevalence of people with Alzheimers dementia, including in Missouri. The findings were released this past week at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference. In Greene County, it's estimated that 10.1 to 11% of people over the age of 65 have Alzheimer's. The highest estimate is in Clayton County, where 13.1% or more in that age group have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The Bootheel, in and around St. Louis, and parts of the northern third of the state also have high rates of Alzheimer's. More: Bolivar man spends 9 hours in 4 cities climbing stairs to raise awareness for Alzheimer's Sarah Lovegreen, vice president of programs for the Greater Missouri Alzheimers Association, said the research can help inform the Missouri Alzheimer's State Plan as well as the Missouri's Master Plan on Aging. In addition, it can also provide insight on where services are most needed. This image provided by the Greater Missouri Alzheimer's Association shows the estimated prevalence of Alzheimer's dementia among people 65 and older in Missouri. "Having this type of data really helps us prioritize where we focus those types of efforts, in order to have not only the most impact, but also impact where there's the highest level of need," Lovegreen said. Dr. Jean Guan, a geriatric medicine specialist with CoxHealth, hopes the data will lead to increased support. "I wish we had more caregiver support services. I wish we had more dedicated inpatient memory services or respite care services for caregivers but Im incredibly grateful for the Alzheimers Association and their dementia care coordination services because at least it gives the patients something to work with," Guan said. Guan also added that the increased knowledge and awareness of dementia and Alzheimer's diseases are also key to better outcomes, and encouraged patients not to hesitate to bring up concerns with their doctors. Nationally, east and southeastern parts of the US see highest prevalence of Alzheimer's The east and southeastern regions of the United States were found to have the highest prevalence. Story continues The study identified Miami-Dade County, Florida; Bronx County, New York, and Baltimore City, Maryland, as having the highest rates of Alzheimer's in the country. In those counties, 16.6% of adults over 65 had Alzheimer's. The findings noted a combination of specific demographic characteristics that may explain the higher prevalence in those counties, including older average age and higher percentages of Black and Hispanic residents. Kumar B. Rajan, professor in the department of Internal Medicine at Rush Medical College, and his colleagues used cognitive data from the Chicago Health and Aging Project and population estimates from the National Center for Health Statistics to estimate the prevalence of Alzheimers in adults 65 years and older in all U.S. counties. More: Social media, area organizations help Springfield hospice patient meet Dolly Parton These new estimates add more granular data to our understanding of Alzheimers prevalence across thecountry, Rajan said in a press release. This information, in addition to raising awareness of the Alzheimers crisis inspecific communities, may help public health programs better allocate funding, staffing and other resources for caring for people with Alzheimers and all other dementia. Based on previous projections, the Alzheimer's Association's Facts and Figures report shows the west and southwest regions of the U.S. will experience the largest percentage increase in people living with Alzheimers dementia between 2020 and 2025. Alzheimers prevalence estimates can help federal and state public health officials determine the burden on the health care system, and county-level estimates help us better understand and pinpoint areas of high risk and high need where, for example, culturally-sensitive health support and caregiver training services are needed, said Matthew Baumgart, Alzheimers Association vice president of health policy. As the prevalence of Alzheimers disease increases, so does the need for a larger workforce that is trained in diagnosing, treating and caring for those living with the disease. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: New Alzheimer's prevalence data shows where Missouri needs support AFP Tens of thousands of scouts were being evacuated from their problem-plagued South Korean campsite on Tuesday ahead of a typhoon, as the scout chief said the challenges were unprecedented in a century of global jamborees. "This is the first time in more than 100 years of World Scout Jamborees that we have had to face such compounded challenges," Ahmad Alhendawi, Secretary-General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, said in a statement.He said the massive event, which brought together about 43,000 scouts to a campsite in South Korea's North Jeolla province, had been "very unlucky with the unprecedented heatwave and now the typhoon".The adverse weather conditions had "significantly impacted the planning and delivery of the 25th World Scout Jamboree" he said, adding that despite the challenges, scouts had shown "true resilience, determination and leadership in the face of adversity".The scout body said that it was the first time a campsite had been evacuated due to inclement weather since 1971, when a typhoon struck during a world scout jamboree in Japan.At the sprawling campsite in Buan Tuesday, tens of thousands of scouts were packing up their tents and belongings and queuing up to get onto buses bound for alternative accommodation in Seoul and the surrounding areas.Korea Special Forces were on hand to help with the evacuation, AFP reporters at the site saw. The government had said it would send 1,000 buses to move the mostly teenage scouts from the site.- 'A really great time' -Korean media have called the jamboree "a national disgrace" after an extreme heatwave caused hundreds of scouts to fall ill and prompted American and British scout groups to withdraw.The scout chief acknowledged some shortfalls at the site, saying in a post on LinkedIn that they had a "bumpy start with... services and facilities". But scouts at the campsite told AFP they were sad to leave."It's really hard but we had a great time. It took some while to get used to the circumstances but the youth they had a really great time," Nicola Raunig, 27, Austria scout unit leader, told AFP. "I'm sad it will end now," she said, adding that she had hoped participants could have enjoyed "the whole experience"."But we will make the best out of it," Raunig said.Typhoon Khanun, which killed at least two people in Japan, is due to make landfall in South Korea on Thursday, near where the scouts were camping for their problem-plagued jamboree.Organisers had insisted the event would continue despite the challenges, but on Monday they confirmed the scouts would be evacuated and the campsite closed due to the approaching typhoon.South Korea's weather agency said Typhoon Khanun is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds across the Korean peninsula, including winds with a maximum speed of up to 44 metres (144 feet) per second -- powerful enough to derail a moving train.Organisers have been strongly criticised by Korean media and parents of the scouts for a lack of planning for the extreme heat, even though South Korea had six years to prepare.Media also reported on poor drainage at the site, rudimentary showers and toilets, and gruesome bug bites affecting the participants.sh-kjk/ceb/aha Vice President Kamala Harris faced a wave of criticism Friday following her speech in Jacksonville, Florida, blasting what she said was the state's new history curriculum teaching students that slaves in the U.S. actually "benefited from slavery." "Just yesterday in the state of Florida they decided middle school students will be taught that enslaved people benefited from slavery. They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it," Harris said, referencing the new curriculum approved by the Florida Department of Education on Wednesday that includes the history of slavery in the U.S. The new curriculum actually states, "Instruction includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit," leading to countless critics accusing Harris of "brazenly lying," and "misleading" the American people. "I read through FLs new curriculum. It is difficult to convey the astonishing extent to which Kamala Harris is lying about it," National Review writer Charles Cooke wrote on Twitter, linking to an analysis that details the line items within the curriculum. DESANTIS LETS LOOSE ON FLORIDA OBSESSED KAMALA HARRIS SPEECH RIPPING STATE'S BLACK HISTORY STANDARD In his analysis, Cooke noted every mention of slavery, slaves, abolitionism, civil rights, and African Americans in the new curriculum, and sails there was "simply no way of perusing this course and concluding that it 'gaslights' people or whitewashes slavery." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "This is a brazen lie. Its an astonishing lie. Its an evil lie. It is so untrue so deliberately and cynically misleading that, in a sensible political culture, Harris would be obligated to issue an apology," he added. "This is, of course, a lie," wrote another Twitter user, linking to a video of Harris' speech, while others, including Fox News contributor Ben Domenech and the Republican National Committee, similarly said she was "brazenly lying," or described her comments as a "complete lie." Story continues Fox News chief political analyst Brit Hume said the left was "trying to make slavery a bigger issue now than at any time since before the civil rights movement and possibly since before the civil war," adding that they had to "lie about it" in order to do it. TIM SCOTT'S HESITANCE TO BAN TIKTOK OUTRIGHT LOOMS AMID HIS TOUGH ON CHINA PUSH Vice President Kamala Harris rails against Florida's new Black history curriculum during a speech in Jacksonville, Florida on July 21, 2023. "In Florida, our mission is clear: Education over Indoctrination, which the Democrats hate because of their history and association with Jim Crow, segregation, and the KKK," the Republican Party of Florida tweeted. Another user wrote, "Is she lying or just stupid? Simple question." Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy told Fox News Digital, "Kamala Harris makes the most powerful case Ill see in my lifetime against race & gender quotas in government. If only she knew it." Meanwhile, Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, also a Republican, said, "The Vice President is flat out lying to the American people. The indoctrination of our children in schools must stop." Jones then touted his state's similar policies of working to "empower parents and teachers and promote curriculum that unites us, not divides us." REPUBLICAN CALLS TO IMPEACH BIDEN GROW FOLLOWING RELEASE OF FBI DOCUMENT DETAILING BRIBERY ALLEGATIONS Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville. Ahead of her speech, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ripped Harris, accusing her of being "obsessed" with Florida, and described the Biden administration of trying to indoctrinate students. "Florida stands in their way, and we will continue to expose their agenda and their lies," DeSantis said in a statement on social media. Harris' office did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment. You are here: World Flash A Chinese citizen was injured in Thursday's deadly shooting in New Zealand's Auckland, a spokesman for the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland said on Friday. The conditions of the Chinese are stable, the spokesman told Xinhua. The Auckland police Friday afternoon informed the consulate on the injured person, following which, consulate officials went to the hospital to learn about the conditions, said the spokesman. Thursday's shooting left three people, including the gunman, dead and six others injured, including a police officer. Local police previously said on Thursday that no report of Chinese casualty had been reached. New data from seven U.S. cities, including here in Atlanta shows the number of Hyundai and Kia thefts is still growing from a social media challenge, even with efforts to fix security glitches. Channel 2 Action News spoke to the Carfax Editor-In-Chief Patrick Olsen about new ways to stop people from taking cars. Were left with about 5 million still needing either a software upgrade or a steering wheel lock to protect the car, Olsen said Five months after Hyundai and Kia unveiled software that was designed to stop an epidemic of thefts, thieves are still driving off with the cars at an alarming rate. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] So far, this year, thieves took almost 2,000 Kia and Hyundais across the United States. APD said more than 500 Kia and Hyundai owners are victims of theft. Now, Carfax is working in partnership with the automakers, trying to alert consumers about security fixes available. So anyone whos got one of these affected vehicles, the first thing you should do is call a local, local Hyundai or Kia dealership. the work is absolutely free. Olsen said these only affect certain cars that use a key. So these cars are from 2010 all the way up to 2022, and they did not have whats called an immobilizer, Olsen said. RELATED STORIES: Earlier this year, 18 attorney generals called for a nationwide recall. Lawmakers blame the spike in thefts on a Tik Tok challenge that shows people how to hotwire their cars. Carfax says the new upgrades can make these thefts a thing of the past. The software upgrade allows the alarm car alarm to last for longer as a way to hopefully prevent thieves from attacking the car in the first place, Olsen said. Atlanta police are offering free steering wheel locks for owners who live in the city of Atlanta. Story continues the locks are being distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: Democrats are no longer trying to ignore Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and have taken to calling him out in public after a week of controversies. National party leaders for the first time acknowledged Kennedys disruptive presidential bid with sharp criticism, and lawmakers met his claims of censorship head-on during his testimony on Capitol Hill. Its a notable change from their previous approach, in which Democratic leaders and party officials hoped Kennedy would simply fade away on his own. It also serves a purpose for President Biden, who has so far been cautious about addressing his primary rival directly. On his own, he was doing a really good job of showing everyone his initials stood for Real Fing [K]razy, so made sense to let him be, said Eddie Vale, a strategist who has worked on numerous Democratic campaigns. This week was different and made sense for folks to engage, because of the combination of outright antisemitism and being a witness for Republicans nonsense hearing, Vale said. Kennedy this week drew backlash for asserting without evidence that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted a claim infectious disease and ethics experts refuted. Kennedy was caught on video by a reporter saying Chinese people and Ashkenazi Jews were not targeted as much as other races, including Black and white people. Ive never even believed that he was a legitimate candidate, said Arthur Caplan, a biomedical expert whos spoken out about the various public relations storms that have dominated Kennedys campaign. COVID just doesnt lend itself to being that kind of weapon, added Caplan, who has written extensively about bioweapons and viruses. I knew he was basically talking out of his rear end. But while Kennedy has frequently drawn negative attention for his views on vaccines, his remarks this week seemed to be even more offensive to many. A wave of White House officials and congressional Democrats rushed to criticize Kennedy, accusing him of spreading misinformation and making antisemitic and racist comments. Story continues In a rare showing of condemnation toward a rival from the same side of the aisle, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took to the podium to portray Kennedys comments as factually inaccurate and an attack on people. 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, Jean-Pierre said Monday. It is important that we essentially speak out when we hear those claims made more broadly, she added. Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), who heads the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, called the candidates COVID-19 comments reprehensible and said they were disqualifying. Last week, RFK Jr. made reprehensible anti-semitic and anti-Asian comments aimed at perpetuating harmful and debunked racist tropes, DelBene said in a statement. Such dangerous racism and hate have no place in America, demonstrate him to be unfit for public office, and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms, she added. Adding fuel to the fire for Democrats, Kennedy testified Thursday before a House Judiciary select subcommittee examining the weaponization of the federal government, using the event to argue he was being censored despite receiving widespread coverage from major news outlets. Although House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) defended him, Democrats led by Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-Virgin Islands) made their disapproval of him clear. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) also waded into the intraparty conflict, questioning why the GOP would grant Kennedy a forum in Congress. Why would you give Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a congressional platform to spew his hatred? Heres the answer: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a living, breathing false-flag operation, the New York congressman said. The growing chorus of criticism poses a challenge for Kennedy, who always faced an uphill climb to defeat Biden. But the events of the past week could turn off even those voters who had been more open to his campaign. Adding to the feeling of many Democrats that Kennedy is playing into the hands of the GOP, former President Trump recently praised the insurgent candidate as a very smart person, saying he hit a little bit of a nerve. Kennedy had expressed during a town hall hosted by NewsNation owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill that he was proud Trump liked him. His whole campaign is being run by right-wing political operatives who have one objective: try to take down President Joe Biden, Jeffries argued this week. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage That sentiment is shared by many others in the party. The Hill reported earlier this week that two pro-Israel House Democrats said he should not be allowed to serve in the Oval Office if elected following his COVID-19 remarks. Still, Biden has been careful not to pile on, and some Democrats argue its better to disregard him again. Reached for comment, spokespeople from the Biden campaign and the White House also declined to comment on the record beyond what Jean-Pierre said at the podium this week. As long as he teeters around the same polling numbers, Democrats say they should continue paying him no mind. I think it makes most sense to go back to ignoring him, Vale said. Let him just hang out with Steve Bannon and do weird push-ups in jeans. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) shot back at the Biden administration after Vice President Harris called his new Black history education standards propaganda. The Harris-Biden administration is obsessed with Floridayet they ignore the chaos at the border, crime-infested cities, economic malaise, and the military recruitment crisis, DeSantis tweeted on Friday, adding that Harris was lying. In a speech in Jacksonville, Fla., Harris denounced the states updated guidelines on teaching about Black history, which include objective teaching and one standard that requires teachers to instruct on how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. They dare to push propaganda to our children, Harris said. Adults know what slavery really involved. It involved rape. It involved torture. It involved taking a baby from their mother. When I think about what is happening, then, here in Florida, I am deeply concerned, she added. Because, lets be clear, I do believe this is not only about the state of Florida. Theres a national agenda. Harris isnt the only one to condemn Floridas new education laws, however. The Florida teachers union slammed the guidelines as a step backward, and Black leaders from around the nation have accused DeSantiss administration of seeking to affirm white supremacy via instituting anti-Black, Black History standards. DeSantis, who is also in the running for the 2024 GOP presidential primary, pushed for the measure as part of his fight against indoctrination in schools. Other education standards passed this week regulated how LGBTQ issues could be broached in classrooms. State Sen. Geraldine Thompson (D) said the new standards require educators to teach about racial violence in the U.S., such as the Tulsa race massacre and the Ocoee massacre. The regulations describe the violence as perpetuated against and by African Americans, which Thompson said is only blaming the victims. Story continues The educations guidelines fit with DeSantiss 2024 campaign focus: fighting wokeness, a term he has used to describe anything from pro-LGBTQ policies to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Still, his campaign has lagged in recent weeks, falling even further behind the GOP frontrunner former President Trump in polls across the nation. Recent national polling averages show DeSantis receiving about 20 percent support to Trumps 50 percent. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican presidential hopeful, speaks at the Family Leadership Summit in Des Moines, Iowa, July 14, 2023. (Kathryn Gamble/The New York Times) After an overhaul to Floridas African American history standards, Gov. Ron DeSantis, the states firebrand governor campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, is facing a barrage of criticism this week from politicians, educators and historians, who called the states guidelines a sanitized version of history. For instance, the standards say that middle schoolers should be instructed that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit a portrayal that drew wide rebuke. In a sign of the divisive battle around education that could infect the 2024 presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris directed her staffers to immediately plan a trip to Florida to respond, according to one White House official. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times How is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization? Harris, the first African American and first Asian American to serve as vice president, said in a speech in Jacksonville on Friday afternoon. Before her speech, DeSantis released a statement accusing the Biden administration of mischaracterizing the new standards and being obsessed with Florida. Floridas new standards land in the middle of a national tug of war on how race and gender should be taught in schools. There have been local skirmishes over banning books and what can be said about race in classrooms and debates over renaming schools that have honored Confederate generals. DeSantis has made fighting a woke agenda in education a signature part of his national brand. He overhauled New College of Florida, a public liberal arts college, and rejected the College Boards Advanced Placement course on African American studies. And his administration updated the states math and social studies textbooks, scrubbing them for prohibited topics like social-emotional learning, which helps students develop positive mindsets, and critical race theory, which looks at the systemic role of racism in society. Story continues With DeSantis and President Joe Biden now both official candidates in the 2024 campaign, each side quickly accused the other of pushing propaganda onto children. Floridas rewrite of its African American history standards comes in response to a 2022 law signed by DeSantis, known as the Stop WOKE Act, that prohibits instruction that could prompt students to feel discomfort about a historical event because of their race, sex or national origin. The new standards seem to emphasize the positive contributions of Black Americans throughout history, from Booker T. Washington to Zora Neale Hurston. Fifth graders are expected to learn about the resiliency of African Americans, including how the formerly enslaved helped others escape as part of the Underground Railroad, and about the contributions of African Americans during westward expansion. The teaching of positive history is important, said Albert S. Broussard, a professor of African American studies at Texas A&M University who has helped write history textbooks for McGraw Hill. Black history is not just one long story of tragedy and sadness and brutality, he said. But he saw some of Floridas adjustments as going too far, de-emphasizing the violence and inhumanity endured by Black Americans and resulting in only a partial history. Its the kind of sanitizing students are going to pick up, he said. Students are going to ask questions, and they are going to demand answers. The Florida Department of Education said the new standards were the result of a rigorous process, describing them as in-depth and comprehensive. They incorporate all components of African American History: the good, the bad and the ugly, said Alex Lanfranconi, the departments director of communications. One contested standard states that high school students should learn about violence perpetrated against and by African Americans during race massacres of the early 20th century, such as the Tulsa Race Massacre. In that massacre, white rioters destroyed a prosperous Black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and as many as 300 people were killed. By saying that violence was perpetrated not just against but by African Americans, the standards seem to grasp at teaching both sides of history, said LaGarrett King, the director of the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education at the University at Buffalo. But historically, he said, its just not accurate. By and large, historians say, race massacres during the early 1900s were led by white groups, often to stop Black residents from voting. That was the case in the Ocoee Massacre of 1920, in which a white crowd, incensed by a Black mans attempt to vote, burned Black homes and churches to the ground and killed an unknown number of Black residents in a small Florida town. Geraldine Thompson, a Democratic state senator who pushed to require Florida schools to teach the massacre, said she was not consulted in the formation of the new standards, though she holds a nonvoting role on the Commissioner of Educations African American History Task Force. She said she would have objected to the standards as slanted and incomplete. She questioned, for instance, why more emphasis was not placed on the history of African people before colonization and enslavement. Our history doesnt begin with slavery, she said in an interview. It begins with some of the greatest civilizations in the world. The Florida standards were created by a 13-member work group, with input from the African American history task force, according to the Florida Department of Education. Two members of the work group, William Allen and Frances Presley Rice, released a statement responding to critiques of one of the most dissected standards, depicting enslaved African Americans as personally benefiting from their skills. The intent of this particular benchmark clarification is to show that some slaves developed highly specialized trades from which they benefited, they said, citing blacksmithing, shoemaking and fishing as examples. Any attempt to reduce slaves to just victims of oppression fails to recognize their strength, courage and resiliency during a difficult time in American history, they said. Florida students deserve to learn how slaves took advantage of whatever circumstances they were in to benefit themselves and the community of African descendants. Florida is one of about a dozen states that require the teaching of African American history. Other states with such mandates include South Carolina, Tennessee, New York and New Jersey. The state mandates date back decades Floridas was passed in 1994 and often came in response to demands from Black residents and educators, said King, at the University at Buffalo. There is a legacy of Black people fighting for their history, he said. For as long as Black history has been taught, King said, there has been debate about which aspects to emphasize. At times, certain historical figures and storylines have emerged as more palatable to a white audience, King said. There is Black history, he said. But the question has always been, well, what Black history are we going to teach? c.2023 The New York Times Company Yevhen Shylko, the cameraman of the German state media company Deutsche Welle, has been injured in the city of Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, when the film crew came under fire. Source: DW Ukraine Quote: "Deutsche Welle media cameraman Yevhen Shylko was injured by Russian cluster munitions in Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast, which is 23 km from the front line. The cameraman was taken to hospital; now, his condition is stable. A DW camera crew came under Russian fire in the afternoon while filming training sessions of the Ukrainian military at the training ground. During the attack, one Ukrainian soldier was killed, and several others were seriously injured." Background: Earlier on Saturday, it became known that a "correspondent" of the Kremlin's propaganda publication RIA Novosti, Rostislav Zhuravlev, who previously participated in the seizure of Donetsk Oblast, was killed in Ukraine at the front. According to propagandists, Zhuravlev died from a cluster munition. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! King's Ransom On Monday, the Toronto Police Service announced that it had arrested and charged four men for the December kidnapping of Aiden Pleterski, a 24-year-old self-described "Crypto King" who headed up a cryptocurrency investment business that quickly went bankrupt. The suspects are facing dozens of other related charges, including discharging a firearm, kidnapping for ransom, aggravated assault, and extortion. According to court records, Pleterski was lured into a vehicle by one of the suspects, and was held at gunpoint by two others once inside. Over the next three days, Pleterski was allegedly beaten and tortured by his kidnappers across various locations. When they eventually dumped Platerski downtown, they threatened him to keep quiet. Among the suspects charged was one of Pleterski's several dozen investors, 39-year-old Akil Heywood, who was elected by other investors to investigate what happened to their money, and himself had invested $740,000. Exorbitant Excess Pleterski initially made his small fortune from investing in crypto as a teenager. After incorporating his business in December 2021, the "Crypto King" went on to raise over $41 million from investors a lot of money to entrust with a barely twenty-something-year-old. Court records show that Pleterski invested less than two percent of that money. A good chunk of the rest nearly $16 million he blew on what any suddenly rich kid would: luxury cars and lavish vacations. Or, three McLarens, two Lambos, three Audis, and two BMWs, The New York Times reports. Plus, private jet flights to boot. Apology Under Duress In an edited video received by CBC Toronto, a visibly beaten Pleterski apologized to investors for the massively squandered funds. "I'm sorry, I really am. I didn't want to, or mean to, ruin anybody's life," Pleterski said in the video. "When the crypto market started to tank in November of 2021, I should have been honest with everybody," he added. "I lost close to $45 million strictly alone in the crypto market within one month." Story continues While some of what Pleterski admitted to was accurate, said Pleterski's lawyer, "he was being forced to say a lot of it by his kidnappers," as quoted by CBC. Nonetheless, by the video's end, Pleterski sounded determined to make up for his excess. "I'm going to work for it," he said. "I'm going to live on the bare minimum until every last soul is paid back." As of now, Heywood, along with one other subject, has been released on bail. More on crypto: Man Alarmed to Discover Entire Crypto Site Was Fake, Stealing His Money Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images DeSantis has feuded with Disney for over a year, but now seems to have set his sights on Bud Light. DeSantis has directed an inquiry into AB InBev after Bud Light partnered with a trans influencer. The move will likely add to accusations that DeSantis is retaliating against businesses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis really doesn't like when companies don't embrace his "where woke goes to die" agenda. The latest culprit? Bud Light. DeSantis has been feuding with Disney for more than a year after the company spoke out against the Parental Rights in Education Act, dubbed by critics the "Don't Say Gay" bill, which restricted discussions of sexuality and gender for certain grades in public school classrooms. Shortly after Disney denounced the bill, DeSantis moved to revoke the company's special self-governing status. Complaints about Disney's special status went back decades, but the state government didn't do anything about it until the company said something the governor didn't like. DeSantis said Disney had "crossed the line" and that the state would "fight back." Disney sued DeSantis for retaliation and violating the company's First Amendment rights a charge the governor and the state has denied. But it appears the lawsuit has not deterred DeSantis, who now seems to be picking a fight with an entirely different company that dared to take action that defied his anti-woke agenda. DeSantis announced Thursday he was directing the state government to conduct an inquiry into its stock holdings in AB InBev, the parent company of Bud Light, in the wake of its partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney and the associated financial fallout. Many conservatives boycotted Bud Light as a result. The popular beer brand has seen a decline in sales that has lasted longer than experts expected. The falling sales numbers have also caused AB InBev's stock value to decline. Story continues DeSantis said the company "may have breached legal duties owed to its shareholder" and caused financial harm to Florida pensioners. He told Fox News the inquiry could result in a "derivative lawsuit filed on behalf of the shareholders of the Florida pension fund." "Because at the end of the day, there's got to be penalties for when you put business aside to focus on your social agenda, at the expense of hardworking people," DeSantis said. He made it clear this was also about his crusade against any company that "goes woke," writing on Twitter: "All options are on the table and woke corporations that put ideology ahead of returns should be on notice." It's notable that DeSantis is taking issue with the financial fallout Bud Light has experienced as a result of partnering with Mulvaney when DeSantis himself encouraged consumers to boycott the brand. The move is also unlikely to quell accusations, including from fellow Republicans, that the governor is retaliating against businesses and thus violating free-speech and small-government principles. Read the original article on Business Insider A body found buried in the woods east of Aiken, South Carolina, was identified as a missing Graniteville man, authorities say. In a statement released Saturday, Aiken County Coroner Daryl Ables said that the decomposed remains belonged to 39-year-old John T. Belote of Graniteville, who was reported missing by his daughter on June 30. He was identified through DNA testing. Belotes body was discovered on July 14, buried in the woods on the 300 block of Wendy Lane near Windsor, S.C., roughly 15 miles east of Aiken. Ables said that Belote died from multiple gunshots wounds. Local TV station WRDW reported that Belotes daughter, Cierra, said that the last time she spoke to her father, he told her he got into an argument with his ex-girlfriends father, Donald Britton. Belote allegedly told other friends and family members he was going to Windsor to see his ex-girlfriend or Britton. That was the last time Cierra Belote saw her father, according to WRDW. On July 19, the Aiken County Sheriffs Office arrested and charged Britton and two others Thomas Guinn and Cody Wooten with the destruction, desecration or removal of human remains. WRDW reported that warrants for three men indicated that Belotes remains had been torn in two while being moved from an unmarked shallow grave at 916 Windsor Road to a similar grave at 379 Wendy Lane. On Friday, Wooten and Britton were also charged with accessory to murder, according to records from the Aiken County Detention Center. My father had the biggest heart. And the biggest smile to match it. He cared so deeply about his family. I cannot even fathom the unimaginable things he went though in the last few moments of his life, Cierra Belote wrote on a GoFundMe page. No one deserves the things he endured at his end, but he had a HUGE impact on every single person he came across. GREEN BAY, Wis. The three women sitting around a table at a busy lunch spot share a grim camaraderie. Its been more than a year since an 1849 law came back into force to criminalize abortion in Wisconsin. Now these two OB-GYNs and a certified midwife find their medical training, skill, and acumen constrained by state politics. We didnt even know germs caused disease back then, said Dr. Kristin Lyerly, an obstetrician-gynecologist who lives in Green Bay. Like undertakers and garbage haulers, obstetricians see the nitty-gritty of human existence that can be ghastly and grotesque. A fetus with organs growing outside its body. A woman forced to birth a baby with no skull to push open her cervix. OB-GYN Dr. Anna Igler regularly performed abortions for medically indicated reasons before the Supreme Court overturned the right to abortion last year. She is beyond fed up. Im at a different level with it now, she said. Part of me is so upset at people for sticking their head in the sand. With her world inside a Green Bay hospital in turmoil, she said, she cannot fathom that people might be oblivious to the governments incursion into their medical care. So many people Ive talked to have no idea what our laws are in our state, she said. Even now, a year later, Igler said, expectant parents come into her office with the assumption that if their fetus has a lethal genetic disorder, like anencephaly or trisomy 13 or 18, they can end the pregnancy safely. They are shocked when I tell them they cant, Igler said, and they are shocked when I tell them we are following the law from 1849. Shes referring to the states original abortion law, which was passed before the Civil War, when women could not vote or own property. The law makes it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy, unless it would prevent the death of the pregnant person. It had been some time since these women were together, and they were eager to compare notes. The certified midwife spoke on the condition of anonymity because shes not authorized to talk to the media and is concerned about losing her job at a local health system. My biggest issue right now is getting medication to end a pregnancy that has already passed, she said. Im finding locally that pharmacists just wont dispense the medication. Story continues She offered a rundown: One pharmacist told her patient the medication, misoprostol, which causes cramping to expel the pregnancy tissue, had expired. Another, at a Walgreens, simply canceled the order. A third said he needed preauthorization, noting, Its a $3 pill, and were not going to get preauthorization on a weekend. The midwife said she and physician colleagues in her practice have half-joked that theyd send a gift basket to one pharmacist in town shed found who will fill their prescriptions. Now, when a patient miscarries, the midwife said, we warn patients that this might happen, and they are like, But my baby is dead, and I tell them, Im sorry. I dont know why, but a lot of pharmacists in Green Bay think its their job to police this. A year into this new era of compulsory birth for most women with pregnancies, the dismay and disorientation of those first few months have settled into, if not acceptance or resignation, a kind of chronic fear. Obstetricians and gynecologists are fearful of practicing medicine as they were trained. A recent survey by pollsters at KFF of OB-GYNS in states with abortion bans found 40% felt constrained in treating patients for miscarriages or other pregnancy-related medical emergencies since the Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision last summer. Nearly half of them said their ability to practice standard medical care has become worse. The specter of felony charges and losing a medical license has led to futile exercises. Under the Wisconsin abortion ban and bans in at least 13 other states physicians who cannot detect fetal cardiac activity should, in theory, not face criminal charges for prescribing medication abortion pills or performing abortion procedures. But physicians here in Green Bay, and others interviewed in Madison, said they and the litigation-averse hospitals they work for are requiring patients whose pregnancies are no longer viable, or who have gestational sacs that do not contain an embryo, to return for multiple ultrasounds, forcing them to carry nonviable pregnancies for weeks. Eliza Bennett, left, and Abigail Cutler, OB-GYNs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, refer patients needing abortion care out of state rather than risk criminal prosecution, fines, or losing their licenses. (Sarah Varney / KFF Health News) Before Wisconsins abortion ban, Igler would typically use the ultrasound machine in her office to detect when a patients pregnancy had ceased. She would break the news to expectant parents there. In some cases, a patient wanted further ultrasounds and she would refer them to the fetal-imaging department. It might help with their grieving, and I was happy to do that for them, Igler said. But her bedside ultrasound cant record and save the images that Igler would now need to prove that her medical judgment was reasonable during a criminal prosecution, so she is compelled to send all her patients for additional imaging. It seems cruel to show a woman her nonviable, dead baby and then say, Well, now I have to bring you over to fetal imaging so we can record a picture and you have to see it again, she said. In March, Rep. Ron Tusler, a Republican who represents a rural swath of Wisconsin south of Green Bay, posted on Facebook, Thank God for the Dobbs decision! In response, a local resident asked, If my non-verbal, non-ambulatory 14-year-old daughter is assaulted, should she be forced to carry? The exchange escalated into a confrontation. Is her health jeopardized? Tusler asked. Is she unable to leave the state? Can she provide consent? In the torrent of vitriol, certain moments stand out. Igler was incensed at the callous response and jumped in, writing: Are you a monster, Ron Tusler? Do you know what compassion is? Come the next election, you will feel the backlash of your inhumane and outdated views. Get your hands off womens bodies and out of the exam room. Im an obstetrician. Im the expert, not you. Tusler shot back that Igler was angry she cant kill babies until and occasionally after birth and asked whether Im a monster for stopping her. He wrote, Honestly, how many babies have you aborted? How much money have you made from it? Did your hospital harvest the bodies for stem cells? The lunchtime rush at the restaurant in Green Bay had eased, and the women stared at the Facebook post on Iglers phone. She shook her head in baffled amusement. This doesnt even make sense, she said. Its a conspiracy theory. I make so much more money if people actually have their babies. And if I dont give out birth control, I would make a lot more money. Those sitting at the table laughed at the absurdity. The salad bowls were empty. Everyone had told their own abortion stories. Igler was forced to travel to Colorado after her baby, at 25 weeks, was ravaged by a viral infection; Lyerly had lost a pregnancy at 17 weeks and did not want to endure the trauma of a vaginal birth. Some 22 million women living today have had an abortion. It doesnt take much effort to find a few of them. Igler has found a community to grieve with other women in a Facebook group called Ending a Wanted Pregnancy. There are an untold number of other online groups. Politicians would like to believe we live in a perfect world where these things dont happen, she said. The Wisconsin Legislature is one of the most gerrymandered in the country, according to Princeton Universitys Gerrymandering Project. Republicans hold a majority in the state Senate and Assembly, and last month Senate Republicans voted unanimously to keep the 1849 abortion ban. But a judicial alternative to restoring abortion rights has begun to unfold. In April, Janet Protasiewicz, an abortion rights supporter promoted by Democrats, won a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, giving liberal justices a narrow majority and opening a path for a ruling on the legitimacy of the 1849 law. On July 7, a Circuit Court judge in Dane County, Diane Schlipper, appeared to doubt the validity of the pre-Civil War-era ban, allowing a lawsuit by Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, to proceed. For now, Lyerly is driving across the border to work in rural Minnesota. I want to practice medicine here, she said, but first we have to get rid of this law. KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism. Follow NBC HEALTH on Twitter & Facebook. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) has been contacted by the federal special counsel investigating former President Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election, Kemps office confirmed Friday. Former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) was also contacted for the investigation, according to CNN reports. Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating Trumps efforts to overturn the election and his actions related to the Jan. 6 insurrection. He served Trump a target letter on Sunday, informing the former president that he is the target of the probe. The move shows overlap between Smiths federal investigation and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Williss investigation into the same conduct in Georgia. A spokesperson for Kemps office confirmed that he had been contacted by Smith, but did not give further details, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. Smiths probe in Arizona is questioning lawsuits brought by the Trump campaign against the state which alleged that the election was fraudulent. Smith subpoenaed the Arizona Secretary of States office earlier this month and subpoenaed state lawmakers in February. Trump called Ducey multiple times to pressure him to overturn Arizonas election results. President Biden won Arizona, the first time the state voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1996. Willis Fulton County investigation centers on a phone call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger after the 2020 election, instructing him to find enough votes to overturn the result. A grand jury has been empaneled in that case and any charges are expected to be filed by Sept. 1. Smith and his team questioned Raffensperger last month as part of their investigation. Kemp, who has supported Trump in the past, avoided endorsing Trumps claims that the election in Georgia was in some way flawed. Both he and Raffensperger resisted Trumps requests to change the 2020 election results in the state. Trump endorsed Kemps primary opponent in 2022, but Kemp won the primary easily and went on to win reelection. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Flash Martin Griffiths (Front), UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefs a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on July 21, 2023. [Manuel Elias/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua] United Nations relief chief Martin Griffiths on Friday said the world body will continue its engagement with all involved in the Black Sea Grain Initiative to ensure that Russian and Ukrainian food and fertilizer can continue to reach global markets. "Unified international support is essential if this is to be successful," said Griffiths, UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia remain of crucial importance to global food security, he told a Security Council meeting. 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. Moscow suspended its participation in the agreement on July 17, 2023, saying that it would return to the deal as soon as the Russian part of the agreements is fulfilled. According to Griffiths, in the space of 12 months, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has enabled the safe export of close to 33 million metric tons of food from Ukrainian Black Sea ports to 45 countries, aboard more than 1,000 outbound vessels. Also speaking at the Security Council meeting, Rosemary DiCarlo, UN Undersecretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, echoed the remarks of Griffiths. "The (UN) Secretary-General has been clear: we will not stop our efforts to facilitate the unimpeded access to global markets for food and fertilizers from both Ukraine and the Russian Federation," she said. Citing recent situation, DiCarlo stressed that any risk of conflict spill over as a result of a military incident in the Black Sea, whether intentional or by accident, must be avoided at all costs. Russian occupying "authorities" in Crimea report an attack by UAVs in the Krasnohvardiiske district; the civilians are being evacuated. Source: Sergei Aksyonov, the so-called head of the Russian administration in occupied Crimea; ChP Sevastopol [Emergencies Sevastopol] Details: Aksyonov says that drones "tried" to attack infrastructure facilities, but soldiers are already on the spot "to deal with the possible aftermath". Meanwhile, social media reports about the strike of several drones at the oil depot and airfield, as well as the detonation of ammunition. Crimeas residents are already panicking about the videos that appeared on social media. The "advisor to the head" of the occupied Crimea threatens the residents with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) for posting these videos. Update: Later, Aksyonov admitted that a hit by a UAV had detonated the storage points. The Russian occupying authorities decided to evacuate the population within a 5-kilometre radius to temporary accommodation centres. They also decided to suspend operations on the Crimean railway. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Enemy equipment in Melitopol A group of intoxicated Russian soldiers operating a Tiger armored vehicle were involved in a collision with a civilian car in the Russia-occupied city of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Mayor Ivan Fedorov of Melitopol wrote on Telegram on July 22. Russian occupation forces are continuing to deploy equipment to Melitopol, with the intention of redeploying them further towards the Zaporizhzhya frontline, Fedorov noted. The enemys machinery moves towards the Zaporizhzhya frontline both during the day and night, utilizing bypass roads and central streets, he explained. Read also: Military expert explains why Odesa, Mykolayiv arent protected from shelling opinion Yesterday, another convoy of KamAZ trucks headed towards Zaporizhzhya through Heroes of Ukraine Street. Melitopol has become inundated with enemy Tigers. He added that Russian disregard for road safety has resulted in numerous traffic accidents between Russian forces and civilian vehicles. Read also: Ukrainian military advancing in three areas, says General Staff On July 21, a Tiger armored vehicle from the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya), driven by an intoxicated operator, collided with a civilian car on Oleksandr Nevsky Street. Eyewitnesses reported that the Rosgvardiya serviceman, still under the influence, even threatened the cars driver. The hostile beasts continue to terrorize the peaceful population, Fedorov declared. Nevertheless, it is heartening to see the enemys swift return from the frontline with heaps of destroyed equipment. 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 EastEnders spoilers follow. EastEnders couple Sharon Watts and Keanu Taylor could hit the rocks next week as a voicemail from Lisa Fowler threatens their future. Sharon is desperate to prevent Keanu from finding out that she helped Lisa to flee back to Portugal with Peggy. This week's episodes saw Keanu plan a fight for custody so that he could have formal access to his daughter Peggy, who is Lisa's granddaughter. Keanu had hidden Lisa and Peggy's passports to stop them from returning to Portugal. Sharon had other ideas and teamed up with Martin Fowler to make sure Lisa got the passports back. BBC Related: EastEnders reveals Peggy outtake paying tribute to iconic character In the aftermath next week, a devastated Keanu continues to look for ways to get Peggy back. Sharon feels terrible for her fiance and tries to live with her guilt. Martin warns Sharon that Keanu has approached Eve Unwin's friend to discuss a possible legal battle. Sharon sees the situation spiralling out of control and wonders whether she should confess. Keanu later learns that he'll have to fight through the Portuguese courts unless Peggy is in the country. This could take years, so his chances of seeing Peggy again anytime soon look slim. BBC Related: EastEnders fans speculate over Jo Cotton twist after mystery phone call When Keanu then visits his mum Karen, she suggests that someone in the house must have helped Lisa to get the passports. Keanu immediately suspects Martin's involvement and kicks him out of the house. Shortly afterwards, though, Keanu intercepts a voicemail from Lisa on Sharon's phone. Will the secret message expose the truth about Sharon's deception and could it be the end for her relationship with Keanu if it does? Check out more of our EastEnders coverage: - EastEnders to revisit Rose Knight storyline as Anna seeks answers - 12 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week - EastEnders reveals Stacey Slater stalker drama in 37 new spoiler pictures - EastEnders cast 2023 who plays who? - Soap Movers: Who's leaving, returning and joining in EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Home and Away and Hollyoaks? EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer. Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage You Might Also Like An Eastland County Sheriffs deputy was killed in the line of duty Friday night when he responded to a domestic disturbance, officials said. Deputies from the Eastland County Sheriffs Office responded to a domestic fight in progress around 9 p.m. at a home on Highway 183, according to the news outlet Eastland County Today. Deputy David Bosecker arrived first and was fatally shot by the suspect. Other deputies took the suspect into custody before anyone else was injured. The suspect, 42-year-old Cody Douglas Pritchard, is being held in the Stephens County Jail and charged with capital murder of a peace officer, according to Stephens County Jail records. Bosecker served in law enforcement for more than 21 years, Eastland County Today reported. He began his career as a deputy in Wise County. He also served with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, as a game warden for Texas Parks and Wildlife and as an officer for the Comanche Police Department. The Texas Rangers are investigating the shooting, according to Eastland County Today. Eastland County is located in central Texas and is about 100 miles west of Fort Worth. Parents and legal guardians, if your child is turning five years old on or before September 1, its time to prepare them for their educational journey by enrolling them in Kindergarten with Duval County Public Schools. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< With a straightforward registration process, you can ensure your childs smooth transition into their first year of formal education. Step 1 - Register with Duval County Public Schools: To begin the enrollment process, follow the directions on the website to register your new student. If your child previously attended a Duval County VPK program or received special services through the school district, they may already have an ID, which can be obtained by calling the Enrollment Hotline at 904-348-7777. Step 2 - Find Your School: Each student is automatically assigned to a neighborhood school based on their home address. To discover your childs designated school, use the School Locator tool on the website. If youre interested in exploring magnet or exceptional transfer option schools, be aware that the application deadline is February 28, and some schools may still have limited seats available. More information about open seats and the application process can be found on the website. Step 3 - Contact and Visit Your School to Enroll: Parents or legal guardians need to bring specific documents when visiting the school to complete the enrollment process: Childs birth certificate Proof of a physical exam Immunization record (Florida immunization requirements can be found on their website HERE ) Proof of home address, which can be fulfilled with two documents from List A or one document from List A, and two documents from List B. All documents must display matching addresses. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Helpful Tips and Resources: For families without a personal laptop at home, theres an opportunity to receive a free computer after registering your child and linking your parents account to theirs. Additionally, registration for transportation services can be completed through your linked parent account, with directions provided on the transportation website. For those in need of after-school care, registration begins in mid-July. Story continues Important Contacts: Enrollment Hotline: (904) 348-7777 Technology Help Desk: (904) 348-5200 Transportation: (904) 858-6200 After-School Care: (904) 858-6080 Mark your calendars - school starts on Monday, August 14, 2023. Duval County Public Schools is excited to welcome new kindergartners for an enriching and rewarding educational journey. For more information, please visit the website HERE. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A ground service vehicle used by an American Airlines employee during a fatal collision at AustinBergstrom International Airport earlier this year was known by some of the airlines staff to have several mechanical issues, including a reported brake failure that led to a guardrail collision 10 days before the incident, according to a police report obtained by the American-Statesman. On April 20, the employee, Michal Ingraham, had started the pushback a type of vehicle used to tow large aircraft shortly before it accelerated faster than normal and then veered to the right, one witness told police. The 14-ton pushback (sometimes referred to as a tug or a tractor by authorities in their report) then crashed into a jet bridge by the Barbara Jordan Terminal's Gate 24, pinning the 37-year-old Austin resident between the pushback and the underside of the jet bridge. One of two 911 callers told dispatch he yelled to Ingraham to push the brakes after it appeared the pushback's accelerator got stuck before the crash. Authorities were called to the scene at 2:02 p.m. Just over 15 minutes later, Ingraham was pronounced dead. A Travis County medical examiner later concluded the death was the result of blunt force injuries, and toxicology tests found no traces of drugs or alcohol in Ingrahams system. The medical examiner and police came to the same conclusion: The death was an accident. That was despite the suggestions from an American Airlines corporate investigator that it could have been a suicide, according to the reports. A ground service vehicle called a pushback was used by an American Airlines employee during a fatal crash at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on April 20. A witness told investigators the 14-ton pushback "accelerated faster than normal and then veered to the right" before the crash. Little information was released after the incident that killed Ingraham, whom one colleague who talked to police described as a "diligent and hard-working individual." Hailing from Washington and living for a time in New Mexico, Ingraham was known for his strong faith and belief in a higher power. One 911 caller said Ingraham had been working at the Austin airport for less than a year. During that time, he posted dozens of photos from work on his personal Facebook page, many showing the large aircraft with Central Texas' iconic and colorful sunsets as a backdrop. He showed off different aspects of his job, and the aircraft models he worked with, including his favorite: the CRJ-700, which he called the "bullet plane." Story continues Last week, the Statesman obtained and reviewed Austin Police Department reports, Austin-Travis County EMS reports, autopsy records and 911 calls. The details in the reports, first revealed by the newspaper, recount elements of the incident that could be informing an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The scope and status of the federal investigation was unclear Friday. A Department of Labor spokesperson did not respond to inquiries Friday about the findings in the police reports. An anonymous call about upkeep on the pushback On April 24 four days after the incident Austin police received an anonymous call with a tip about the case, according to police reports. The caller told police the pushback used by Ingraham had been marked out of service numerous times for failed brakes. Despite this, the pushback was not serviced and remained in use, the caller said, suggesting police investigate the pushback's maintenance records. On April 27, a detective with the vehicular homicide unit, Kerry Kelly, said Austin police had received an email alleging the same pushback had been in a collision 10 days before the fatal April 20 incident as a result of a brake failure, according to the report. The report does not state who sent the email. Elizabeth Ferrer, a spokesperson for the city-owned airport, confirmed there was a guardrail collision on airport property April 10, but it was unclear whether the collision involved the same machine. She declined to comment further, citing the ongoing investigation. Though the pushback bears an American Airlines logo on the side, maintenance and upkeep of the vehicles are managed by Menzies Airlines, one Menzies employee told Kelly. Menzies is a U.K.-based company, but it has a Texas office in Grapevine. When the Statesman reached out to Menzies general manager over Austin operations, Dehron Pistilli, he declined to comment, saying he was not in a position to speak about the incident. On May 4, Kelly wrote in a report that she had received some maintenance records from Pistilli. However, he had not sent any work order requests relating to an April 10 brake failure despite Kelly explicitly asking for them. Whether maintenance records exist for the reported April 10 incident or were provided to authorities was unclear Friday. Also unclear was whether the reported brake issue was addressed by Menzies. On June 8, Austin police closed their investigation, deferring their findings to OSHA investigators. In the report, Detective Melony Bowman, with the vehicular homicide unit, wrote, "This case is determined to be an accidental death and is non-criminal therefore will be cleared administratively." American Airlines investigator suggests death was a suicide In the hours after the fatal accident, American Airlines told media outlets, We are devastated by the accident involving a team member at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. But as the airline publicly shared its sentiments, one American Airlines employee quickly began investigating the fatal crash. One day after the incident, Lynn Fast, a corporate investigator for the Fort Worth-based airline, contacted Austin police, stating he had "obtained information overnight indicating that the fatal incident was a suicide and not an accident," according to the police report. Fast told police he had 30 years of law enforcement experience and came to believe Ingraham's death was a suicide after contacting Ingraham's father, the police report said. During their conversation, Fast told police the father apologized for the ordeal a sentiment Fast said he "found strange." State records show Fast worked as a licensed peace officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety from 1993 to 1994 and the Dallas-area Addison Police Department from 1995 to 2002. His public LinkedIn profile states that he worked 20 years at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, followed by two years at the FBI, before joining American Airlines last autumn. Talking with police, Fast pointed to recent Facebook posts by Ingraham as evidence that his death was a suicide, according to the report. Which Facebook posts Fast was referencing is not clear or detailed in the report. However, Bowman who said she believed she had seen the Facebook posts disagreed. "I explained that several AA employees were interviewed on site and no one had mentioned anything that would indicate this was intentional and further stated that everyone we spoke with stated that the tug he was driving was known to have issues," Bowman wrote in the police report. Bowman asked Fast who provided the information and how it would indicate the incident was a suicide, according to the report, but Fast "did not provide that information." In the fatal incident April 20, the pushback crashed into the Barbara Jordan Terminal's Gate 24, pinning an American Airlines employee against the underside of the jet bridge. Afterward, Bowman contacted Ingraham's father, asking whether his son had any mental health diagnoses or medication for mental illness or had "spoken in an alarming way" that would indicate he was depressed, suffered from anxiety or "would do anything to harm himself." Ingraham's father said no, saying that his son intentionally killing himself "would be a shock to him," according to the report. Austin police ultimately classified the case as an accidental death not a suicide. Fast did not return a phone call or an email inquiry from the Statesman on Friday. Attempts by the Statesman to contact the family were unsuccessful last week. American Airlines did not answer questions from the Statesman about Fast, his investigation, interactions with police or his suggestion that the death was a suicide. The company did issue a statement: "We are heartbroken by the accident involving a team member at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) in April," said Sarah Jantz, an American Airlines spokesperson. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time. American is fully cooperating in this open investigation." OSHA investigation continues Though the Austin police investigation is closed, the federal OSHA investigation is ongoing, though its scope is not clear. In the report, Austin detectives said they deferred their findings about the April 10 collision to OSHA. "OSHA ... are planning to have a specialist examine the tug and any mechanical malfunction that could have occurred," Kelly wrote May 4. Online OSHA records show that an investigation by the agency's Austin office into Menzies Aviation (Texas) Inc. began April 20 the same day as the fatal incident. The case the sole incident listed for Menzies' Texas outfit in the database, which dates back to 1973 was listed as "open" Friday. The online records show OSHA's Austin office started another investigation into American Airlines on the same day. That case was also listed as "open." An OSHA citation and proposed penalty would have to be issued within six months of the incident, though the investigation can take longer, depending on the complexity of the case. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: American Airlines employee killed driving faulty machine, police say Refat Chubarov, Residents of the town of Biyuk-Onlar (Oktiabrske) in Russian-occupied Crimea are being evacuated 10-13 km away from an ammunitions dump following a series of explosions, Refat Chubarov, the head of the Crimean Tatar representative body, the Mejlis, reported on Telegram on July 22. Read also: Everyone in Crimea everyone is shocked. Will there be enough water for the peninsula? opinion Residents of the town of Biyuk-Onlar/Oktiabrske, where explosions have been intensifying following a strike on an ammo dump and military equipment of the Russian occupying army, are urgently being evacuated to villages in the district, Chubarov wrote. The evacuations include some local residents who have been ordered by the Russian occupying authorities to immediately relocate to the village of Pyatyhatky, located approximately 10-13 km away from the site of the depots. Read also: Crimean Tatars faced annihilation 79 years ago, but nation endured and will live freely Zelenskyy Chubarov also mentioned reports of explosions in the village of Novozuyivka, based on information coming from occupied Crimea. The evacuations follow a successful Ukrainian strike on an oil depot and warehouse, now known to have been an ammunitions dump, on July 22. The strike resulted in a fire near the town of Oktiabrske, situated approximately 43 km from Simferopol. The occupation authorities claimed the the strike had been carried out by Ukrainian drones. Read also: The psychological barrier has been overcome: What to expect in Crimea According to Russian occupation head Sergey Aksyonov, a decision was made to evacuate the population within a 5-kilometer radius from the blast site, and in order to to minimize risks, train services on the Crimean railway were suspended. Aksyonov claimed that the strike had not resulted in casualties. 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 Fire after explosions on July 22 in occupied Crimea Traffic on the Kerch Bridge, which links the Russian mainland with the Crimean Peninsula, has halted once again after explosions rocked central Crimea near the settlement of Oktiabrske, according to several Russian Telegram channels on July 22. Russian occupation authorities have called on everyone who happened to be on the bridge and at checkpoints to stay calm and follow the instructions of road security officers," one of the channels reported. Crimeas Russian-installed puppet head, Sergei Aksyonov, claimed the explosions were due to a drone attack on the peninsula. "The enemy attempted to attack infrastructure facilities of Krasnohvardiiske [Kurman] District with UAVs," he wrote on his Telegram channel. "Emergency Ministry employees are at the scene in order to eliminate possible consequences. All relevant services are working." The bridge had previously closed on July 17, after an attack by Ukrainian naval drones, a source in the National Police told NV. On July 21, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared the Kerch Bridge a legitimate military target for Ukraine. Read also: Explosions, shooting heard in occupied Sevastopol This is the route used to feed the war with ammunition and this is being done on a daily basis. And it militarizes the Crimean peninsula, Zelenskyy bsaid. Meanwhile, Russian social media users reported a fire erupting at an oil depot and airfield near Oktiabrske, located 43 km away from the peninsular capital of Simferopol. Another fire broke out as a result of a blast at the Elevatorna railway station in Oktiabrske, a local told Ukraine's Crimea.Suspilne news. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine A series of explosions in occupied Crimea were reported on social media on the morning of July 22, as residents posted multiple videos of smoke pillars. One video, filmed from a train station, shows black smoke rising from the nearby tracks. Another video showed the edge of a smoke cloud rising over a residential rooftop and several explosions can be heard. Still another video shows a wide cloud of white smoke hanging over a field. Some Telegram accounts claimed that an oil plant and an airstrip near the town of Oktyabrske were attacked but this could not be immediately verified. Russian proxy governor in occupied Crimea Sergey Aksyonov claimed that drones have "tried" to strike infrastructure on the peninsula and that emergency services were responding. Automotive traffic over the Crimean Bridge has reportedly been halted for the time being. Two explosions hit the bridge on July 17, collapsing one section of the road. Ukraine did not take credit but did not deny responsibility. Knowing that a police officer would go to prison for killing her 62-year-old brother didnt dull Bettersten Wades grief. But it helped that someone would be held responsible. Then Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch asked a judge last week to throw out the officers 2022 conviction, taking his side over the district attorney who prosecuted him. The unusual move strengthened the officers case before the Mississippi Court of Appeals. And it left Wade angry and hurt. It means she doesnt care about my brother, Wade said of Fitchs motion. Shes showing that she doesnt have any kind of feelings for my brother. The only thing she has feelings for is a police officer. It is not just Wade who is upset. Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens accused Fitch of undermining the work of the jury that voted last year to convict former Jackson Police Officer Anthony Fox of culpable negligent manslaughter for slamming George Robinson to the ground and inflicting a fatal head injury. It was dismissive to the rule of law, and justice, and the will of the people, Owens said in an interview. Fitchs office declined to comment and referred to her July 10 brief, which argues that evidence presented at trial did not support Foxs conviction and that the jury made a mistake. Lynn Fitch (Rogelio V. Solis / AP file) After thorough review, the State has concluded that the evidence at trial was insufficient as a matter of law to allow a rational juror to convict Fox of culpable-negligence manslaughter, Fitchs brief says. It concludes: Fox should never have been convicted and should not face another trial. Matthew Steffey, a law professor at Mississippi College, called Fitchs motion extraordinary, not just because she essentially bigfooted Owens, but also because it pits a white Republican attorney general against a Black Democratic district attorney, both of whom are running for re-election this fall. The dispute, Steffey said, mirrors the political and racial dynamics of an ongoing legal battle over white Republican state officials attempts to assert more control over the justice system in Jackson, the majority-Black and heavily Democratic state capital and the seat of Hinds County. Story continues Jody Owens. (Hinds County District Attorney's Office / via Facebook) The conservatives who run state government dont appear to trust the voters and elected officials in Hinds County, and certainly view them as their political opponents, not their allies, Steffey said. Fitchs office also makes the final determination whether to pursue criminal charges against police officers in Mississippi who have shot someone. The Jan. 13, 2019, encounter between Fox and Robinson began after police were sent to Robinsons neighborhood to search for a suspect in the killing of a local pastor. Soon after arriving, Fox said he noticed a woman standing at a parked car holding money. Suspecting a drug deal, Fox said he approached. Robinson was sitting in the drivers seat. Robinson had recently been released from the hospital after having a stroke that had left him partially paralyzed but able to drive; witnesses told investigators he was returning home to a celebratory cookout after making a trip to the store. Fox said Robinson did not comply with his orders to exit the car and seemed to be trying to hide something; witnesses said they heard Robinson say hed just had a stroke and was struggling to get out. A brief struggle followed in which Fox, with help from other officers, slammed Robinson to the ground. An ambulance arrived, and an EMT bandaged a cut on Robinsons head. He refused further treatment. No drugs were found, but Robinson was given a citation alleging failure to obey and resisting arrest. He was allowed to leave. Later that night, Robinsons girlfriend found him in bed unconscious and foaming at the mouth. He was taken to the hospital, where he died two days later. An autopsy determined that Robinson died of a subdural hematoma, or bleeding around the brain, caused by multiple blunt head injury, and labeled his death a homicide meaning that it was the result of actions by another person. The Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation that did not result in charges, but a Hinds County grand jury indicted Fox and two other Jackson police officers all of whom are Black, as was Robinson on second-degree murder charges. A judge later dismissed the charges against the other officers. Fox, however, was convicted of culpable negligent manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. Anthony Fox. (Hinds County Sheriffs Office) Fox appealed that conviction, arguing that the evidence at trial did not support the verdict that Robinsons injuries were due to his resisting arrest and his underlying medical condition, and not the result of excessive force. Foxs lawyers have also said the judge gave erroneous instructions to the jury and unfairly prevented Fox from recounting what Robinson said to him. One of Foxs lawyers, Merrida Coxwell, said in an interview that since Robinson suffered only a small cut, he could not have been thrown headfirst to the ground or beaten, as some witnesses said. The medical evidence doesnt support it, Coxwell said. Fitchs brief embraces Foxs argument of insufficient evidence. Fox had a struggle with Robinson in which he assertedly slammed Robinson on the groundyet that struggle was prolonged and made harder by Robinsons continual resistance and failure to follow commands, one of Fitchs deputies wrote. The brief also says Robinson suffered only superficial visible injuries. Owens said Fitchs office gave him five minutes notice that it was going to file that brief. He responded first in a public statement that accused her of making an unprecedented political maneuver to support a police officer. In a later brief to the Court of Appeals, Owens office accused Fitchs office of making factual misrepresentations while zealously advocating for the interest of a convicted criminal defendant. We did everything related to this case by the book, Owens said. A textbook examination. We followed evidence where it led; we didnt have any preconceived notions; we gave the benefit of the doubt in many instances to police and the nature of their jobs. Derrick Johnson, the president of the NAACP and a longtime Jackson resident, said Fitchs actions on the Fox case should be seen as a preview of what could happen if a new law creating a state-appointed court to handle criminal cases in Jackson is allowed to go into effect. The NAACP has sued to block the law a challenge backed by the U.S. Justice Department saying it strips Jackson residents of their voting power and weakens their say in how justice is administered in the city, where judges and district attorneys are elected. A judge has put the law on hold while the case proceeds. Fitchs support of Fox is not just. It is the height of unfairness, Johnson said. And thats what the rest of Jackson will be confronted with with the taking of local authority and home rule. Robinsons family filed a wrongful death lawsuit accusing Fox and the two other officers of excessive force and attempting to cover up their actions, accusing the city of Jackson of failing to properly train and supervise the officers, and accusing the ambulance company that responded to the scene of failing to properly treat Robinson. The city has denied the familys claims and said it isnt liable for what happened to Robinson. The officers lawyers responded that they acted reasonably and prudently and had a legitimate and lawful justification for all actions taken. The ambulance company, American Medical Response, denied failing to provide proper care. A federal court judge dismissed some of the claims, while others remain pending in state court. Bettersten Wade holding a family photo of her mother, center, and siblings, including her brother George Robinson, second right. (Imani Khayyam for NBC News) For Wade, this is all about her brother. She acknowledged that Robinson had a criminal record, including drug-related arrests and a conviction for fatally shooting a friend, for which he spent nearly 20 years in prison. Hed been out more than eight years when he was confronted by Fox. Robinson always accepted his punishment, Wade said. But Fox doesnt even want to acknowledge that he killed my brother, she said. Wade said she is still haunted by thoughts of her brothers encounter with police, and his last hours unconscious, drifting toward death. If they didnt mess with my brother, hed still be around, she said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com What the Hell is Russian-convicted felon Anna Sorokins new single, a debut made straight from the confines of her house arrest. According to NBC News, the song born from a collaboration with TikTok songwriter Brooke Butler and the band Audio Chauteu sees Sorokin try on the country music genre for size. Sorokin gained public notoriety after she posed as a German heiress Anna Delvey and defrauded banks, hotels and friends out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Her crimes inspired the 2022 Netflix limited series Inventing Anna and led to her serving three years in prison. Sorokin was released from prison in October after posting a bond. Currently, she lives in New York City and faces deportation proceedings. Sorokins song will serve as the theme song for her new podcast series The Anna Delvey Show, which launched in June, is produced by Sean Glass and distributed on AudioUp. Anna Delvey Poses For A Portrait In Her Home (Mike Coppola / Getty Images for ABA) The song kicks off with Sorokin saying, My name is Anna Delvey. NBC Newss request for comment was not immediately replied to by representatives for Sorokin. Adam Golub, an associate professor at California State University, Fullerton, says the podcast inspires questions of ethics. This is of a piece of this larger multimedia environment in which we live which affords criminals the opportunity to potentially (operate) their own PR campaign and get their story out there in a way that weve never seen before, Golub told NBC News of Sorokins podcast. This was impossible years ago, Golub said. We have to ask ourselves, what are the ethics involved when we (allow) criminals to have a voice outside of the criminal justice system? We have to ask ourselves, what do we want to hear? Why are we interested in the first place? Sorokins song was co-written by Butler, country songwriter Scarlett Burke and AudioUP CEO Jared Gutstadt. Gutstadt described Sorokin as being the songs curator and attributes Sorokins ill repute to her song being set to receive airtime on radios. Typically, you have to work really, really hard at radio to get on there, Gutstadt explained. I think her name captures some peoples imagination and attention. This article was originally published on TODAY.com The The FBI headquarters in Washington, April 16, 2023. (Julia Nikhinson/The New York Times) WASHINGTON An FBI analyst improperly used a high-profile warrantless surveillance program to conduct overly broad searches about two lawmakers, including a U.S. senator, last June, a newly declassified court ruling released Friday shows, even as the bureau has overall improved compliance with limits on the program. In the June 2022 episode, the analyst had a legitimate reason for searching for information about the legislators, who also included a state lawmaker, in a repository of intercepts, the ruling said, because evidence suggested that they were targets of a foreign intelligence service. But the queries were too wide-ranging, using only their last names without limiting terms to screen out irrelevant material, it said. The episode is likely to fuel criticism of the program, which is set to expire at the end of the year, as Congress debates whether or how to enact legislation to extend it. A series of earlier disclosures about violations of querying standards by the FBI many of which took place before a series of internal changes in 2021 and 2022 has given fodder to its skeptics. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Known as Section 702, the law traces back to 2008 when Congress legalized a version of a warrantless surveillance program secretly created after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It allows the government to collect, from American companies like Google and without a warrant, the communications of targeted foreigners abroad in order to gather intelligence about foreign governments, terrorists and proliferators of weapons of mass destruction. Because that can sweep in targets communications with or about Americans, privacy-minded lawmakers have long sought to impose greater limits on the program. But in previous cycles when Section 702 was about to lapse, they have been outvoted by hawks and centrists of both parties. This time, however, its liberal critics are joined by a faction of Republicans who have aligned themselves with former President Donald Trumps hostility to the deep state and see the issue as a chance to impose pain on the FBI. Story continues The newly declassified opinion, issued in April by Rudolph Contreras, the presiding judge of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, also showed that the National Security Agency this year gained broadened authority to run queries of Section 702 information using the identifiers of foreigners who are planning to visit the United States. But the main political impact of the ruling is likely to be its discussion of the FBI, which adds to a series of revelations by the government over the past year in which it has acknowledged significant violations of the Section 702 querying standard by the bureau. (Under the standard, there must be specific reason to believe that the search will return foreign intelligence information or evidence of a crime.) In May, a declassified ruling from April 2022 by Contreras disclosed that officials had improperly queried for information about hundreds of Americans who had come under scrutiny in connection with the racial justice protests after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd and the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The newly released opinion cited another episode involving the Jan. 6 investigation: In March 2022, an FBI agent ran a query on an American that did not meet the standard. The agent also looked at information that came up without obtaining a court order, which is required to view any results from queries about Americans for purely criminal investigations. The judge wrote that the Justice Department informed him about that in September. The opinion did not make public the identities of the lawmakers who had been subject to overly broad searches, but the member of Congress was notified, officials told reporters in a background briefing Friday. The opinion also disclosed an October 2022 incident in which an FBI official ran a query using the Social Security number of a state judge who had complained to the FBI about civil rights violations supposedly committed by a municipal chief of police. The opinion provided no further explanation for that incident. An official familiar with the matter said it had led to accountability measures but declined to provide further details. Still, Contreras offered cautious praise for steps the FBI had taken in 2021 and 2022 to cut down on such violations. Those include changing its computer system so that when agents conduct general searches of FBI databases, the Section 702 database is excluded by default, and requiring officials to specify their reasons for searching for an Americans identifier. Since those broader changes took effect, FBI queries for information about Americans in the Section 702 repository and problematic searches have dropped. Contreras wrote that the number of queries about Americans is now about 160,000 to 200,000 a year, and a recent audit suggested about 1.7% fail to comply with standards. Despite the reported errors, there is reason to believe that the FBI has been doing a better job in applying the querying standard, he wrote. In some cases, FBI personnel apparently misapplied the querying standard to a group of similarly situated persons, but those violations do not approach the scale of a number of prior ones. The improving numbers were encouraging, the judge said, cautioning that assessment was incomplete. The Justice Department audits samples, not all queries, meaning that it remained possible that serious violations of the querying standard have so far gone undetected, he wrote. On balance, however, FBI application of the querying standard appears to have improved. As a matter of political reality, Trumps hard-right allies in the House are unlikely to vote to extend Section 702. So the future of the program may boil down to what new limits on the program they could see as sufficient to allow Speaker Kevin McCarthy to bring a reauthorization bill to the floor even if they will still oppose it. Because of the concessions McCarthy had to make to secure the speakership, that hard-right faction has the power to topple him, and its members are already angry that he permitted a vote to suspend the debt ceiling. Civil liberty and privacy activists have long pushed to require the government, or at least the FBI, to obtain a court warrant before using Americans identifiers to search the repository of intercepted communications. They see the present odd-bedfellows alliance with the hard-right Republicans as a unique opportunity to achieve that reform. Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Brennan Center for Justices Liberty and National Security Program at New York University Law School, said that a 1.7% rate of botched queries still works out to thousands a year. But, she added, the query standard itself was too permissive to protect Americans privacy. Even if the FBI had achieved perfect compliance with its own rules, that wouldnt obviate the need for a warrant, she said. National security officials say a warrant requirement would cripple the FBIs ability to use the program effectively for its missions, including defensive queries using the identifiers of Americans targeted by foreign hackers and spies. They hoped that limits they have imposed since 2021 will convince Congress that any further curbs should fall short of such a requirement. In a letter to Congress on Friday, FBI Director Christopher Wray suggested making the recent reforms law as part of reauthorizing Section 702, and listed ways the program has been useful against threats like Chinese and Iranian hackers and spies. He disclosed that 97% of the FBIs raw technical reporting on malicious cyberactors, and 92% of our reporting on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, came from Section 702. The bureau, he added, welcomed discussion about further overhauls and how they could be enacted without diminishing Section 702s vital intelligence value. c.2023 The New York Times Company (Bloomberg) -- Finland is planning to retaliate after Russia on Thursday announced the expulsion of nine diplomats and ordered the closing of Finlands consulate in St. Petersburg. Most Read from Bloomberg The Kremlins measures are harsh and asymmetrical and mean Finland is preparing a diplomatic response of a similar magnitude, President Sauli Niinisto said in a message posted on Twitter after consultation with leaders of the ruling parties. He noted that Russias consulate in Turku on Finlands southwestern coast is the counterpart to Finlands St. Petersburg mission. The newest member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, with 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) of border with Russia, Finland in June expelled nine people working at the embassy of Russia. They were members of intelligence personnel, the government said, adding that their actions are in breach of the Vienna Convention that sets out uniform principles for conducting diplomatic relations. Finland has not ordered the closing of any of Russias diplomatic missions in the country. Speaking to reporters in Helsinki, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said its crystal clear the move will worsen relations between Finland and Russia. Im worried it will cause less dialog, he said, but added, we have chosen our side: we are on Ukraines side and we have joined NATO. One day, when the war is over and theres a new order in Russia, we could perhaps rebuild diplomatic relations. Finland is also reviewing the legal status of Russias consulate in the Aland islands that is intended for monitoring the archipelagos demilitarized status, after a public outcry demanding that the mission be closed. Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The First Coast YMCAs highly anticipated annual Thingamajig convention is in full swing, attracting more than 1500 young minds from all over Northeast Florida. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Now in its ninth year, the convention aims to foster a love for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) while nurturing creativity and teamwork among the participants. The young campers, aged between 8 and 14, are enthusiastically engaging in various activities at multiple locations across the region. Their primary mission during the convention is to create innovative inventions that will contribute to reducing their carbon footprint on the environment. As climate change continues to be a pressing global concern, the Thingamajig convention plays a crucial role in educating the future generation about the importance of environmental conservation. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] At the Dupont Family YMCA in San Jose, a special guest made an appearance this morning to inspire the young innovators. South Africa YMCA CEO, Marcus Van Wyk, paid a visit to the First Coast YMCA during his stay in town. His presence added an extra layer of excitement to the convention, as he shared insights and experiences from his work with the YMCA in South Africa. In addition to the fun and educational aspects, the Thingamajig convention provides a platform for the kids to forge new friendships and build lasting memories. It serves as a reminder that learning and growth can be both enjoyable and impactful. As the Thingamajig convention continues to empower young minds, the First Coast YMCA hopes that these future leaders will carry the torch of environmental stewardship and innovative thinking. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. On Friday, signs for the first street in the United Kingdom to be named after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were officially unveiled in Harlow, Essex, England. Source: European Pravda referring to the BBC Details: Fifth Avenue in Harlow is now officially named Fifth Avenue Zelenskyy Avenue, using an alternative spelling (the presidents name is usually spelled "Zelensky" by UK media). PHOTO: BBC PHOTO: BBC Conservative MP Robert Halfon explained that Harlow was built for many London families who were displaced after World War II. Quote from Halfon: "Harlow the new town emerged like a phoenix from the ashes. We wanted to show the Ukrainians what can be done - that once they are victorious over Russia, that there is hope, there is opportunity, that they will have beautiful new towns." More details: Halfon also praised the people of Harlow who have helped to shelter and support around 70 Ukrainian refugees since the start of the Russian invasion. Ukraine's ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, was also due to attend the unveiling ceremony, but he was unexpectedly dismissed on Friday morning. Prystaiko's dismissal followed his comments on Zelenskyy's remarks about gratitude to Ukraine's allies for their help, which the Ukrainian diplomat called "unhealthy sarcasm". Prystaiko was referring to remarks Zelenskyy made after UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that Ukraine needed to show more gratitude to its partners for their help. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Ryanair Europes biggest low-cost carrier Ryanair considers the possibility of resuming a limited number of flights to Ukraine once the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EUASA) declares it to be safe, Chief Executive Officer Michael O'Leary said in an interview with Interfax Ukraine on July 21. "So, there are two plans, one, the war finishes and everything reopens in one day or two. And then there is the more likely [scenario], under which we can put some small number of flights in here at the end of this year," O'Leary said during his visit to Ukraine. Read also: France helps Ukrainian civil aviation pilots maintain their qualifications The Ministry for the Restoration of Ukraine is already working on the restoration of aviation connections with Kyiv and Lviv. "I think we should be optimistic. Certainly, the ministry is working on trying to reopen some flights to Kyiv and Lviv at the end of this year. And if they can prove that it's safe to do so then we will operate those flights," the company chief assured journalists. However, no flight resumption is possible without the EUASAs permit, he stressed. Read also: From Riga to Jedrzejow: Nova Poshta airline completes first flight O'Leary gave an example of Israel with regular flights despite the state of a permanent war. "It has been determined that it is safe to fly [to and from Israel] and that they can protect the aircraft, so I see no reason why we can't return flights [in Ukraine]," he said. O'Leary together with other company's officials traveled to Ukraine on July 20 and inspected Boryspil International Airport on the outskirts of Kyiv. Raynair plans to restore Ukraine's aviation connection along 75 European routes within eight weeks after flights are declared safe. Read also: Ukraine International Airlines reportedly decides on new chief O'Leary said earlier that rebuilding of Ukraine would provide a huge opportunity for European businesses to participate and accelerate, while flights would play a key role in this process as Russias were going to destroy all roads and bridges they could while retreating from Ukrainian territory. 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 On Friday, United States Vice President Kamala Harris (pictured in discussions with disability rights leaders earlier this month) delivered remarks in Jacksonville, Fla., in which she denounced the state's controversial new standards for teaching Black history in schools. File Photo by Chris Kleponis/UPI July 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris went to Florida on Friday and denounced the state's new standards on teaching Black history, saying, "They want to replace history with lies." In Jacksonville in what the White House said was an effort to "fight to protect fundamental freedoms, specifically, the freedom to learn and teach America's full and true history," Harris criticized the Florida Board of Education's recent decision to adopt controversial standards on Black history. Part of the new standards instruct educators to teach children about "how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit." The changes were implemented based on Florida's Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act, commonly known as the Stop WOKE Act, which passed in 2022. "How is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization?" Harris asked. Harris delivered her remarks, which were streamed live by the White House, at the Ritz Theater and Museum on Friday afternoon. "When we think about it part of true patriotism means fighting for a nation that will be better for each generation to come," Harris told the gathering. "We want to know we are sending our children out as role models of a democracy who therefore know the importance of speaking and telling truth," Harris said. "They are creating these unnecessary debates. This is unnecessary to debate whether enslaved people benefited from slavery. Are you kidding me? Are we supposed to debate that?" Harris asked. "This is not just about the state of Florida, there is a national agenda afoot." A day earlier, Harris criticized the standards in remarks at the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. convention in Indianapolis, Md. "Just yesterday in the state of Florida, they decided middle school students will be taught that enslaved people benefitted from slavery. They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it," Harris said. Story continues "Speaking of our children, extremists pass book bans to prevent them from learning our true history -- book bans in this year of our Lord 2023. And while they do this, it it out, they push forward revisionist history," she said. Florida officials, though, have defended the decision of the education board. "State Board of Education just approved Florida's first ever stand alone African American History standards. The standards teach it all: the good, the bad and the ugly," Florida Department of Education's Communications Director Alex Lanfranconi tweeted Wednesday. "The intent of this particular benchmark clarification is to show that some slaves developed highly specialized trades from which they benefitted. This is factual and well documented," William Allen and Frances Presley Rice, of Florida's African American History Standards Workshop said in a statement tweeted by Lanfranconi. "Any attempt to reduce slaves to just victims of oppression fails to recognize their strength courage and resiliency during a difficult time in American history. Florida students deserve to learn how slaves took advantage of whatever circumstances they were in to benefit themselves and the community of African descendants," the statement continued. A Florida man has pleaded guilty to participating in the 6 January 2021 riot at the US Capitol on the same day the states governor called the insurrection simply a protest that ended up devolving. Anthony Sargent, 47, pleaded guilty on Friday in District of Columbia federal court to a felony count of civil disorder along with six misdemeanor charges, according to court records. He faces up to five years in prison at a Sept. 28 sentencing hearing, AP reported. The St. Augustine man was arrested in September 2021 after video footage showed him attempting to breach the north entrance to the Capitol, according to a criminal complaint, on the now-infamous January day when Trump supporters objecting to the 2020 election results stormed the government building. Sargent is later seen exiting the building through a cloud of white smoke and, separately, twice throwing a rock-like object toward the inner doors of the entrance. Later that day, Sargent physically separated a law enforcement officer from a rioter and prevented the officer from apprehending the person, prosecutors said. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for alleged crimes related to the Capitol breach, according to officials. More than 350 people have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. Florida Gov. and Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, however, downplayed the 6 January events during a podcast interview on Friday with comedian Russell Brand. He said the days events, which left five dead, stemmed from a protest that ended up devolving, you know, in a way that was unfortunate, of course. The governor told Mr Brand that the idea that Jan. 6 was a plan to somehow overthrow the government of the United States is not true, and its something that the media had spun up. DeSantis, who is now challenging both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, also said Friday that it was ridiculous how much money was being provided for the US Capitol police in the wake of the attack. Story continues The Florida governor has made similar comments in the past dismissing that the attack was an insurrection, saying at a January 2022 news conference that it was an insult to people to call it an insurrection when nobody has been charged with that. His statements are in line with other Republican supporters of Trump whove minimized the attack to varying degrees. DeSantis has been seeking to appeal to Trump supporters as he campaigns for the White House, often portraying Trump as having failed to follow through on his own policies. The Associated Press contributed to this report Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Candidate Reports One of the 14 local school board members whom Gov. Ron DeSantis has targeted for removal in next years election is Jennifer Jenkins, a 36-year-old elementary school speech pathologist who achieved a miracle in 2020 by defeating a far-right incumbent in a deep red Florida county by nine points. Jenkins is also a mom and she was at her Brevard County home on Friday morning with her 7-year-old daughter Olive, who was having a playdate with a best buddy. Jenkins then got a call that necessitated a sudden change in plans. I told [Olive] I was going to meet the vice president, Jenkins told The Daily Beast. She thought I was joking and she laughed at me. And then she said, Will you be home before bedtime? Disneys Going to School Ron DeSantis About Free Speech The day before, the Florida Department of Education had posted a 216-page manual titled Academic StandardsSocial Studies, 2021. The board, which is not elected but rather appointed by Gov. DeSantis and includes a Moms for Liberty member, listed a number of clarifications that should now be taught in the states schools. One is that slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. Another supposed clarification dictates that such atrocities as the 1920 Ocoee Massacre and the 1923 Rosewood massacre in Florida should be taught as acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans. Never mind that the perpetrators were white and the victims were Black. Word of these outrageous obfuscations of the truth reached Vice President Kamala Harris and she immediately made plans to travel to Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday to voice a response. The chosen venue was the Ritz Theatre and Museum, a center dedicated to clarifying Black history and culture in the citys La Villa section, once known as the Harlem of the south. Jenkins was invited to attend as someone who has been on the front lines of the culture wars as fought in her home county. The incumbent Jenkins unseated in 2020, Tina Descovich, has gone on to co-found Moms for Liberty. The extremist organization, lauded by both DeSantis and Donald Trump, has included Jenkins among its prime targets. Story continues They are moms for something, but not liberty, Jenkins once remarked. Jenkins has gone on to stage often solitary fights in Brevard: first for mask mandates during the pandemic, and later for LBGTQ+ rights and against book banning. Protesters jeered in front of her house and once brandished weapons behind it. Giant letters FU were burned into her lawn. She and her family were threatened and followed. She was vilified online. Republican state Sen. Randy Fine, known as DeSantis attack dog, repeatedly called her a whore. Someone accused her anonymously of abusing her daughter. The complaint was dismissed as bogus but not before an investigator checked Olive for marks and bruises, finding none. Ive been fighting for two years in a state where so often I felt alone in the fight, she told The Daily Beast. Even Laura Ingraham Isnt Sold On DeSantis Anti-Woke Crusades The invitation to see Harris reminded her that even though she was the sole Democrat on her local school board, she has many allies. But Jacksonvile was a two-and-a-half-hour drive from her house in Satellite Beach and she had to scramble to get there. She first had to tell the other childs mom that she was moving the playdate to her fathers house. Im going to meet the vice president, Jenkins explained. Jenkins was on the way to Jacksonville when he got another call, this one asking her to introduce Harris at the event. Jenkins later said she found the prospect terrifying. But it became less so when she stepped before the crowd at the Ritz and the big moment came. Its also really empowering to be in a space where like-minded people are together and supportive and willing to fight alongside of you, she recalled. So it kind of calms your nerves when youre finally out there. Jenkins began by speaking as a mom for actual liberty, who fears for her childs future in the Florida public schools. Ron DeSantis Threatens Bud Lights Parent Company With Legal Action We will have her growing up in a system that whitewashes history and diminishes the contributions of African Americans in our curriculum, Jenkins said. A system that seeks to erase the LGBTQ community from our student bodies, our faculty, and our libraries. A system that bans access to bathrooms before the weapons that murder our children in their classrooms. She then spoke as someone who has been fighting it day after day. I would say to our visitors today, welcome, welcome to Florida. But one thing our Republican leadership has made very clear is that Florida isnt welcoming at all. And I can tell you as a Democratic school board member on the front lines of this educational war, its not welcoming to our students, our teachers, and our parents either. Jenkins decried the unwelcoming powers in her state that seek to rewrite the past. They may want to make us relive the darkest parts of that history, she said. But today we get to witness history as our vice president gets to school the Florida Department of Education. She paused for an exultant instant. And I am so here for it, she said. So, it is my absolute honor to introduce the Vice President of the United States of America. No notes had been set out on the podium for Harris and she did not appear to produce any. Harris seemed to be guided solely by the outrage that had propelled her to Florida after she heard the State Board of Educations new clarifications. To debate whether enslaved people benefited from slaveryare you kidding me? she said. Middle school students in Florida [are] told that enslaved people benefited from slavery. High-schoolers may be taught that victims of violence or massacres are also perpetrators They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not have it. Harris spoke of the war being fought by Jenkins in Brevard and by stalwart souls across the state. What is happening here in Florida? Extremist so-called leaders for months have dared to ban books. Extremists here in Florida passed a law, dont say gay, trying to instill fear in our teachers that they should not live their full life and love who they love, Harris said. And now, on top of all of that, they want to replace history with lies. Florida Dems Try to Use Ron DeSantis Book Ban on His Own Book On the drive back home, Jenkins continued to feel empowered. But she knows there is a tough fight ahead with those whom Harris rightly branded as extremists. Its not gonna go away, Jenkins said. Theyre not gonna magically turn around because she showed up. Its really important that we keep the pressure on them. At 8 p.m., Jenkins arrived at her fathers house to pick up Olive. She started the 15-minute drive home. [Olive] asked if the vice president is a girl, Jenkins told The Daily Beast on the way. I said, She is. Girls can be president, too. I said Ill show her pictures at bedtime. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Stroke team members celebrate their recent Get With The Guidelines honor. Pictured are, from left, Renae Patrick, nurse practitioner; Dr. Xian-Feng Gu, neurologist; and Stacey Sesing, program coordinator. FOND DU LAC - The American Heart Association has awarded SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital its Get With The Guidelines - Stroke Silver Plus quality achievement award. To be part of the program, the organization shows how it provides quality care for stroke patients according to treatment guidelines. They also educate patients so they can manage their health and recovery at home. SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital is committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines, Stacey Sesing, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital Stroke and Inpatient Rehabilitation program coordinator, said in a news release. Get With The Guidelines makes it easier for our teams to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. Welcome to your weekly dose. Here is more news from throughout Fond du Lac County. Oil change event to benefit Take 'em Outdoors Matthews Tire will host its annual Oil Change for the Better event at its six local sites, including in Fond du Lac at 562 W. Johnson St. From July 24 to 28 and July 31 to Aug. 4, Matthews Tire will donate $15 to Take em Outdoors for each regular-priced oil change. Take em Outdoors officially began in 2006 when a donation I received funded our first Battle on the Bay fishing event, Take em Outdoors founder and president, Shad Loch, said in a press release. Since then, weve been operating as a volunteer-only nonprofit that covers the food, lodging, transportation, tools, trophies and more for the kids or veterans we take on fishing or hunting trips. July 24 presentation will focus on election reform Dr. Douglas Frank will present Seven Steps to Taking Back our Elections from 6 to 8 p.m. July 24 at American Legion Trier-Puddy Post 75, 500 Fond du Lac Ave., Fond du Lac. The presentation is hosted by North of 29, a Wisconsin Election Reform Movement along with Recipes for Freedom - Fond du Lac. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person. Food and drink will be available for purchase. Story continues For more information, contact Stephanie at 608-797-3338 or patriotsunited2021@yahoo.com. St. Agnes Hospital nurse honored with DAISY Award Kayla Hoff, RN, 4 South, has been recognized with a DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses at SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital. The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses recognizes the extraordinary, compassionate nursing care they provide patients and families every day. The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes by members of his family. Kayla Hoff, right, a registered nurse with SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital, was recently recognized with a Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses. She is pictured with Julie Hernandez, SSM Health St. Agnes Hospital 4 South Manager Hoff was recognized recently during a brief ceremony. She received a certificate, a DAISY Award pin, and a sculpture called A Healers Touch, hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Zimbabwe. Nurses may be nominated by patients, families and colleagues. The award recipient is chosen by the Professional Development Council at St. Agnes Hospital based on specific criteria to receive The DAISY Award. Awards are presented to one recipient on a quarterly basis at celebrations attended by the honorees colleagues, patients and visitors. For more information, visit DAISYfoundation.org. Moraine Park District Board swears in three new members At its July 10 meeting, the Moraine Park District Board swore in three members. They are Mike Schwab of Jackson, Diane Guerrero of Beaver Dam and Melissa Kescenovitz of West Bend. They will serve three-year terms ending in June 2026. Diane Guerrero Melissa Kescenovitz Mike Schwab Kescenovitz and Guerrero will serve as additional members, and Schwab will serve as an elected official member as secretary. The other board officers for the 2023-24 year are Chairperson Tom Hopp of West Bend, Vice Chairperson Bur Zeratsky of Green Lake and Treasurer Sara Hintz of Beaver Dam. For more information, visit morainepark.edu. SSM Health announces local scholarship awards SSM Health Greater Fond du Lac has awarded scholarships to eight local students who intend to pursue careers in health care. Recipients of $2,000 scholarships from SSM Health Volunteer services are the following: Isabella Meisenheimer, Lomira High School, plans to pursue a career in nursing at Milwaukee School of Engineering; Lauren Liethen, St. Marys Springs Academy, plans to attend Concordia University of Wisconsin to pursue a degree as a registered nurse; Marissa Adamavich, Mayville High School, plans to attend University of Wisconsin-Madison and pursue a career in nursing; and Olivia Jennings, Ripon High School, plans to attend University of Wisconsin-La Crosse to pursue an orthopedics physicians assistant degree. Recipients of the Waupun Memorial Hospital Volunteers $2,000 scholarship are the following: Kamber Pekarske, Randolph High School, plans on pursuing a career in nursing at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; and Avery Slings, Central Wisconsin Christian, plans to pursue a degree in speech language pathology at Calvin University. Recipient of the SSM Health Volunteers Technical School $1,000 scholarship is Talia Erdmann, Laconia High School, who plans to attend Moraine Park Technical College and pursue a career as a registered nurse. Scholarships awarded by National Exchange Bank National Exchange Bank & Trust has awarded scholarships to children of its employees. The scholarships are awarded in partnership with the Fond du Lac Area Foundation. Renewable scholarships are available for $4,000 per year for a baccalaureate degree and $3,000 per year for a technical college degree. Students were judged on articulated financial need, academic achievement, school involvement, work experience, community and volunteer involvement, and a personal statement. This years recipients are: Greta Benzinger, daughter of Bob Benzinger, VP of retail banking, South Main Street Fond du Lac office; plans to attend UW-La Crosse to major in biology. Vincent De Ceuster, son of Dolf De Ceuster, VP of commercial lending at the West Bend office; currently attends UW-Platteville majoring in soil and crop science. Raelynn Hansen, daughter of Tina Hansen, customer service representative at the Omro office; plans to major in finance at UW-Stevens Point. Kyle Harms, son of Tamara Harms, personal banker at the Chilton office; currently attends UW-Stevens Point majoring in business administration and management. Mercedes Herrmann, daughter of Sara Herrmann, personal banker at the Campbellsport office; plans to major in political science and Spanish at Ohio State University. Gavin Jahns, son of Laura Jahns, assistant VP and mortgage loan officer at the South Main Street Fond du Lac office; plans to attend Marian University. Taylor Jahns, daughter of Laura Jahns, assistant VP dent and mortgage loan officer at the South Main Street Fond du Lac office; majoring in graphic design at UW-Oshkosh. Britney Laatsch, daughter of Michelle Laatsch, a lien documentation specialist at the operations office in Fond du Lac; currently attends Marquette University majoring in exercise physiology. Megan Pomplun, daughter of Sherry Pomplun, customer service representative at the Pardeeville office; currently majoring in biology at UW-Madison. Gavin VandeKolk, son of Jodi VandeKolk, imaging representative at the South Main Street Fond du Lac office; majoring in finance at UW-Green Bay. Get your dose stay connected Get your dose of local community news here each week. For updates throughout the week, visit fdlreporter.com or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. News tips Send tips to news@fdlreporter.com. See our contact page. Our impact The Fond du Lac Reporter part of USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin strives to make a difference in our community. Read our 2022 Community Impact Report online. Award-winning content The Fond du Lac Reporter won four total awards in the 2022 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation Better Newspaper Contest. Read more about the awards and follow links to the award-winning content by clicking here. Thanks for reading! We appreciate your readership! Support our work by subscribing. Find details online or call 1-877-424-5048 and give offer code W-C4 to subscribe. Contact Mara Wegner at mwegner@gannett.com or 920-996-7241. This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac hospital St. Agnes wins award for good stroke care Without obvious signs of contamination like the mold in this jam, consumers use expiration dates to decide whether to keep or throw away food. Ralf Geithe via iStock/Getty Images Humans get sick with listeria infections, or listeriosis, from eating soil-contaminated food, undercooked meat or dairy products that are raw, or unpasteurized. Listeria can cause convulsions, coma, miscarriage and birth defects. And its the third leading cause of food poisoning deaths in the U.S. Avoiding unseen food hazards is the reason people often check the dates on food packaging. And printed with the month and year is often one of a dizzying array of phrases: best by, use by, best if used before, best if used by, guaranteed fresh until, freeze by and even a born on label applied to some beer. People think of them as expiration dates, or the date at which a food should go in the trash. But the dates have little to do with when food expires, or becomes less safe to eat. I am a microbiologist and public health researcher, and I have used molecular epidemiology to study the spread of bacteria in food. A more science-based product dating system could make it easier for people to differentiate foods they can safely eat from those that could be hazardous. Costly confusion The United States Department of Agriculture reports that in 2020 the average American household spent 12% of its income on food. But a lot of food is simply thrown away, despite being perfectly safe to eat. The USDA Economic Research Center reports that nearly 31% of all available food is never consumed. Historically high food prices make the problem of waste seem all the more alarming. The current food labeling system may be to blame for much of the waste. The FDA reports consumer confusion around product dating labels is likely responsible for around 20% of the food wasted in the home, costing an estimated US1 billion per year. Its logical to believe that date labels are there for safety reasons, since the federal government enforces rules for including nutrition and ingredient information on food labels. Passed in 1938 and continuously modified since, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act requires food labels to inform consumers of nutrition and ingredients in packaged foods, including the amount of salt, sugar and fat it contains. Story continues The dates on those food packages, however, are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Rather, they come from food producers. And they may not be based on food safety science. For example, a food producer may survey consumers in a focus group to pick a use by date that is six months after the product was produced because 60% of the focus group no longer liked the taste. Smaller manufacturers of a similar food might play copycat and put the same date on their product. More interpretations One industry group, the Food Marketing Institute and Grocery Manufacturers Association, suggests that its members mark food best if used by to indicate how long the food is safe to eat, and use by to indicate when food becomes unsafe. But using these more nuanced marks is voluntary. And although the recommendation is motivated by a desire to cut down on food waste, it is not yet clear if this recommended change has had any impact. A joint study by the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and the National Resources Defense Council recommends the elimination of dates aimed at consumers, citing potential confusion and waste. Instead, the research suggests manufacturers and distributors use production or pack dates, along with sell-by dates, aimed at supermarkets and other retailers. The dates would indicate to retailers the amount of time a product will remain at high quality. The FDA considers some products potentially hazardous foods if they have characteristics that allow microbes to flourish, like moisture and an abundance of nutrients that feed microbes. These foods include chicken, milk and sliced tomatoes, all of which have been linked to serious foodborne outbreaks. But there is currently no difference between the date labeling used on these foods and that used on more stable food items. Expiration dates could be more meaningful if they were based on scientific studies of a foods rate of nutrient loss or microbial growth. Thomas Faull/iStock via Getty Images Scientific formula Infant formula is the only food product with a use by date that is both government regulated and scientifically determined. It is routinely lab tested for contamination. But infant formula also undergoes nutrition tests to determine how long it take the nutrients - particularly protein to break down. To prevent malnutrition in babies, the use by date on baby formula indicates when its no longer nutritious. Nutrients in foods are relatively easy to measure. The FDA already does this regularly. The agency issues warnings to food producers when the nutrient contents listed on their labels dont match what FDAs lab finds. Microbial studies, like the ones we food safety researchers work on, are also a scientific approach to meaningful date labeling on foods. In our lab, a microbial study might involve leaving a perishable food out to spoil and measuring how much bacteria grows in it over time. Scientists also do another kind of microbial study by watching how long it takes microbes like listeria to grow to dangerous levels after intentionally adding the microbes to food to watch what they do, noting such details as growth in the amount of bacteria over time and when theres enough to cause illness. Consumers on their own Determining the shelf life of food with scientific data on both its nutrition and its safety could drastically decrease waste and save money as food gets more expensive. But in the absence of a uniform food dating system, consumers could rely on their eyes and noses, deciding to discard the fuzzy bread, green cheese or off-smelling bag of salad. People also might pay close attention to the dates for more perishable foods, like cold cuts, in which microbes grow easily. They can also find guidance at FoodSafety.gov. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Jill Roberts, University of South Florida. Read more: Jill Roberts does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it will be giving Ford a $9.2 billion loan to build electric vehicle (EV) factories. This loan, which Ford will be using to build three separate factories, will substantially increase the American car manufacturers capacity for building vehicles that do not rely on gas. Not since the advent of the auto industry 100 years ago have we seen an investment like that, Gary Silberg, global automotive sector leader at the accounting firm KPMG, told Bloomberg. Fords recent dedication to ramping up EV production includes plans to make clean energy vehicles more affordable. Thats an important development as, so far, high costs are a common reason people have not been making the switch to EVs. Its going to help make great EVs available to more customers while powering thousands of good paying jobs and American manufacturing, Dave Webb, Fords treasurer, said in a statement, according to The Verge. The company will be joining forces with South Korean manufacturer SK Innovation. Together, the two brands plan to create enough battery capacity to power two million EVs annually by 2026. The aid from the DOE couldnt have come at a better time, as some experts predict that well need 10 million EVs on U.S. roads by 2025 to evade the worst effects of our planets overheating. Currently, dirty energy transportation such as internal-combustion cars and buses are responsible for nearly 30% of polluting gases that are contributing to Earths rising temperatures. So efforts to speed up the production of vehicles that do not release these toxic gases are important to slowing our planets overheating. Moving toward a world with fewer gas-reliant vehicles benefits the planet in other ways, too. It means less need for toxic liquids like motor oil, which take years to degrade and can harm wildlife and contaminate waterways. Fewer gas-reliant vehicles can also improve air quality, especially in cities. Join our free newsletter for cool news and actionable info that makes it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Jake Soberal and Irma Olguin Jr., the former co-CEOs of Fresno-based Bitwise Industries, are being accused of committing fraud on a massive scale and repeatedly misrepresenting the companys financial situation to its board before they were fired June 2, two former Bitwise board members allege in a bankruptcy court filing. Joseph Proietti and interim Bitwise President Ollen Douglass filed the motion Thursday in the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court in Delaware asking for permission to pursue a civil lawsuit against Soberal and Olguin, as well as Scottsdale Insurance Co., which could cover some legal bills for former Bitwise employees under an existing policy. Typically, a bankruptcy case creates an automatic stay of lawsuits by creditors against a debtor. But the two former board members want to persuade the bankruptcy court that Soberal and Olguin committed a massive fraud and should not be entitled to bankruptcy protection from lawsuits or any part of $5 million of insurance coverage that might go toward paying legal bills for former employees and board members. Because the damages ... are likely to total in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and there are a number of lawsuits already filed it is extremely likely that the total amount of the policy will be exhausted defending the fraudsters, the bankruptcy filing states. A civil lawsuit, if allowed by the bankruptcy judge, would be filed in Fresno County Superior Court. It would ask a court to declare that Soberal and Olguin are not entitled to the insurance coverage and that the policy can cover legal fees for board members facing a recently filed state class-action lawsuit against Bitwise on behalf of former employees. The Bee attempted to contact Soberal and Olguin on Friday evening for comment about the recent filing and allegations. They did not respond to text messages, and for several weeks have declined comment for several Bee stories about the bankruptcy and the companys demise. Story continues Bitwise was founded in 2013 as a hub for training students in software coding and website design, technology services for local companies, and providing leased space to budding technology entrepreneurs and other businesses. From those beginnings, the company embarked on a program of expanding its geographic footprint across California and, in recent years, to out-of-state communities in Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, Ohio and Texas. Bitwises umbrella company, BW Industries, and four of its associated entities, filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection on June 28, less than a month after Soberal and Olguin announced May 29 that the companys entire workforce of more than 900 workers including about 400 in the Fresno area were being immediately furloughed. Bankruptcy court documents indicate Bitwise Industries and associated companies owe creditors at least $511 million a figure that is growing as more employees file claims for unpaid wages and expenses. Fraud on a massive scope alleged In one of the court filings, Proietti and Douglass say Soberal and Olguin were concealing material information and actively misleading investors, lenders, employees and partners, as well as their own board, for years. Over the course of the last few years (Soberal and Olguin) engaged in numerous acts of fraud to the point that they ultimately destroyed the company they were charged with running, leaving hundreds of others to suffer the consequences of their misdeeds, the court filing alleges. In an attempt to enrich themselves and avoid responsibility for their unethical, self-dealing actions for as long as possible, (Soberal and Olguin) told lie after lie to cover up previous lies, Proietti and Douglass allege. They borrowed millions upon millions of dollars without Board knowledge or authorization, often using funds from one defrauded party to pay themselves or another defrauded party. Because of the massive scope of the fraud, the true extent of the financial loss is not yet fully clear, the former directors stated in the court filing. Proietti and Douglass cite a provision of the insurance policy that addresses misrepresentations in an application for the policy a provision that they say disqualifies Soberal and Olguin from being covered. But, they added, it is their belief that Scottsdale Insurance, has agreed to provide coverage for the former CEO defendants not only for the civil lawsuits, but also in defending criminal and/or governmental investigations. Multiple sources confirmed to The Fresno Bee in late June that federal agents have launched a criminal probe of Bitwise and its leadership in the wake of the companys financial collapse. In a proposed lawsuit against Soberal, Olguin and the insurance company, Proietti and Douglass allege that for a lengthy period of time prior to April 30 (Soberal and Olguin) used falsified financial records and lies to solicit loans, insurance coverage and investments in Bitwise. During this time, (Soberal and Olguin) paid themselves lavish salaries and perks such as company cars, the proposed complaint adds. Company, board face multiple lawsuits Bitwise, its board and officers, including Soberal and Olguin, face a slew of lawsuits from investors and other creditors, as well as a pair of class-action lawsuits by employees, stemming from allegations of bad-faith dealing, fraud and misrepresentations. Those lawsuits include a staggering array of financial losses suffered by innocent third parties as the result of dealings by (Soberal and Olguin), the court filing states. Proietti and Douglass allege that they were never made aware of many of the underlying transactions on behalf of Bitwise, let alone the financial ramifications on various substantial investments into Bitwise made and/or authorized by Proietti and Douglass. It is not yet clear exactly when the Former CEO defendants began to mislead others, but given the massive scope of the fraud, it is apparent that these misrepresentations began well in advance of April 30, 2023, the court filing states. The filing by Proietti and Douglass adds that Soberal and Olguin failed to disclose to the board the various dealings related to six of the lawsuits against the company, including a $6.4 million settlement of a New York fraud lawsuit. In another lawsuit, Bitwise is being sued for allegedly taking out at least $30 million in loans against buildings in which Bitwise did not hold a majority ownership stake. Not only do Proietti and Douglass assert in their motion that the Bitwise board never authorized Soberal and Olguin to solicit the loans or to list the properties for sale, but they also allege that a written consent provided by Soberal and Olguin for at least one of those loans appears to bear forged electronic signatures of Bitwise board members. Most, if not all, of the representations allegedly made by Soberal in connection with the loans were false, misleading, or both, Proietti and Douglass state in the filing. The Board of Directors of Bitwise and specifically both Proietti and Douglass had no knowledge that either (Soberal or Olguin) was soliciting these loans or investments, or that they were making these representations. None of the acts of (Soberal and Olguin) in furtherance of their fraudulent scheme were authorized by the Board, the filing states. Alexander Boroday, Russian State Duma deputy and former "prime minister" of the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR) terrorist organisation, came under fire on the southern flank of Bakhmut. Source: Union of Donbas Volunteers, headed by Boroday Photo: Union of Donbas Volunteers Details: On Friday 21 July, Borodays car "came under artillery shelling when leaving frontline positions of one of the battalions". He himself was unharmed, but two officers of the brigade headquarters were injured. The Union of Donbas Volunteers specified that the car was fired upon while leaving the positions located on the "southern flank of the Bakhmut group". Quote: "The strikes were being adjusted with the help of an enemy UAV, and after the third strike, the brigade commander's car was damaged with debris. The explosion occurred behind the car, as a result of which two officers of the brigade headquarters who were in the back seat of the car were injured. The driver and brigade commander were unharmed body armour and the car seats did not let the fragments go through," the report reads. Background: At the beginning of the hybrid aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, Boroday was the so-called "prime minister" of the "DPR" terrorists. In August 2014, Boroday and Igor Strelkov (real name Girkin) fled from Donbas to Russia. In 2015, he regretted the Novorossiya project and admitted that it turned out to be a "false start". Boroday is the head of the Union of Donbas Volunteers, and he is also an associate of the former Kremlin curator of the so-called Luhansk Peoples Republic, Vladislav Surkov. In 2020, the former head of Russian militants announced that Donbas would soon become part of Russia. Boroday has an apartment in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A resident of Hickory and former state senator announced he is running for governor of North Carolina, our partners at the Hickory Daily Record reported. Andy Wells currently serves as a member of the state transportation board. He has served one term in the N.C. House and three with the state Senate before resigning in 2020. READ MORE: North Carolina treasurer running for governor in 2024 In 2020, Wells ran for lieutenant governor but was defeated by Mark Robinson. Now, he is joining the Republican primary field, which includes Lt. Gov. Robinson, N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell, and former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker. In an interview with the Hickory Daily Record, Wells said he is concerned about government and personal debt as well as shortfalls in the pension and health care funds for state retirees. READ MORE: NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson officially announces bid for governor, second Republican candidate Im active in the private sector, Wells said. I see whats going on, and there are enough cracks that Im seeing that Im getting real concerned about our financial future and feel like Im in a position to address that for North Carolina. The primary is scheduled for March 5, 2024. (WATCH: Gov. McMaster hits campaign trail to garner votes in SC gubernatorial race) Former Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Departments investigation into former President Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election started too slowly, but that the department is now back on track. The Justice Department was a little late in ramping up its investigation, its inquiry with regards to those people at the top of this whole conspiracy, he said in an MSNBC interview on Saturday. Theyve done and continue to do a great job with the foot soldiers who were there on Jan. 6th. Holder said the agencys early focus on lining up cases against individuals who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot on the Capitol, and saving the leaders of the scheme until now years later was a poor decision. He would have investigated both groups in parallel, he claimed. Now, it appears that the departments investigations will be wrapping up in the middle of the 2024 election cycle. Investigators delivered Trump a target letter on Sunday, notifying him that he is under investigation. That is one of the negative consequences for that delay. The Justice Department is operating quite well now, but that pause is going to have an impact, in some form or passion, on our politics, the Obama administration official said. Holder also criticized the Trump campaigns conduct after the 2020 election, including the former presidents phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, where he asked him to find enough votes to overturn the election result. This was a different form of ballot stuffing, to find votes that werent there and to have them counted, to fake electors and try to swear them in as representative of a particular state, Holder said. What was attempted by the former president and those around him was to conduct an election that was anything but fair, he added. That phone call is at the center of a state investigation in Georgia, which is expected to conclude by next month, looking into Trumps actions to overturn the election and could result in further charges Story continues The DOJ probe, spearheaded by special counsel Jack Smith, is looking at the Georgia phone call, as well as similar phone calls in Arizona and fake elector schemes in Nevada, Michigan and elsewhere. Holder also denounced Trumps attacks on Smith and other members of the DOJ. The former president has called Smith deranged, a thug and a Trump hater. These are strong folks. Theyre used to being criticized, but the unfounded level of criticism that we see here are really unprecedented, Holder said. I hope that people that are right-minded will come to the defense of the people in the Bureau, at the Justice Department. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Anton Cherepennikov, the founder of the group of IT companies ICS Holding, died in Russia at the age of 40 Anton Cherepennikov, who founded ICS Holding (X-Holding), a group of IT companies known for their involvement in tracking Internet users, died at the age of 40, Russian media outlets reported on July 22. The cause of death has been attributed to cardiac arrest. Read also: Germany investigating possible poisoning of Putins critics in Berlin Cherepennikov was notably associated with the implementation of a law concerning the isolation of Runet (the websites in the top-level . ru domain). Additionally, he served on the board of directors of Russian telecommunications company Megafon and owned the eSports team Virtus.pro until 2019. On February 25, 2023, Cherepennikov and his holding were included in the U.S. sanctions list. Read also: Belarusian transport minister Aliaksei Avramenka dies suddenly ICS Holding is a diversified holding of technology companies, which, among others, includes data storage systems and server manufacturer KNS Group (Yadro brand), operational intelligence developer Citadel, and information security solutions developer Garda Technologies, which works on the private global satellite constellation Bureau 1440. UK tabloid The Sun previously reported the deaths of over 40 prominent Russian figures, including oligarchs, scientists, and even generals, since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Among these deaths, some have raised suspicions due to their unusual circumstances, often being labeled as suicides with any traces being swiftly erased. On June 12, Aleksandr Kolodich, 58, a lawmaker in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous District, was found buried in the basement of his house. His body had stab wounds. Colonel Vadim Boyko, 44, passed away on November 16, 2022, reportedly from five gunshot wounds in his office, classified as a suicide. Read also: Two Russian State Duma members die in one day Russian politician Pavel Antov, 65, was found dead in a hotel on December 26. His death occurred shortly after he criticized Putin's war against Ukraine. Story continues On May 20, 2023, Russia's Deputy Science Minister Pyotr Kucherenko, 46, who privately opposed Putin's invasion of Ukraine, passed away unexpectedly due to illness while returning from Cuba. 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 Former US President Donald Trump. Win McNamee/Getty Images Fox News personalities are chomping at the bit for Donald Trump to participate in their GOP debate. Fox News and Trump have had a rocky relationship since his 2020 election loss. The former president has previously drawn millions of views for the network, a pollster told The Washington Post. Fox News anchors are trying to entice the former commander in chief to come to their party, but he has yet to RSVP. Several Fox News anchors are practically begging former President Donald Trump to attend their GOP presidential debate on August 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, The Washington Post reported. Trump, the GOP presidential frontrunner who is now inundated with investigations and legal woes, has not yet said whether or not he'd attend. "When you have a big lead, you don't do it," Trump told Fox News host Maria Bartiromo last week. Fox News personalities like Steve Doocy, Brian Kilmeade, John Roberts, and Piers Morgan are eager to see Trump show up, the Post reported. "It would be great to see President Trump and Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie just duke it out," Doocy said on Monday, per the Post. "That's why they call it a debate. Show up, debate, and shine. This is his big chance." "If he thinks he's going to get the nomination, the best thing to do is to go into training," Kilmeade added, per the Post. "So, I would take the reps as much as possible." A source familiar with the inner workings at Fox News told Insider that company management has not encouraged any on-air personnel to make the case for Trump to attend the debate, adding that the comments on air were organic. A Trump advisor told the Post that the former president is "highly unlikely to participate" as of now. Following the Dominion defamation lawsuit that Fox settled for $787.5 million, the company reportedly placed a "soft ban" on putting Trump on air. The former president has also complained that the outlet is trying to make him look bad. Story continues GOP pollster Frank Luntz told the Post that Trump brings in 2 to 4 million viewers typically, so "of course Fox wants him to participate." When the network hosted a GOP debate in August 2015 (wherein Trump famously sparred with Megyn Kelly), the network drew in 24 million views, the Post reported. When Trump pulled out of another Fox debate months later, the network logged about half as many views. Read the original article on Business Insider Federal authorities have arrested another Missourian in connection with the Capitol riot, the fifth resident of the Show-Me State to be charged since last month. Eric Glen Harrower, of Jefferson County, near St. Louis, is accused of participating in the riot with another Missouri man and helping rioters scale a banister that led to the Senate Wing Doors that they breached. He faces four misdemeanor counts: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Harrower was charged July 6 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and arrested in St. Louis the following day. But the case wasnt unsealed until Tuesday. Harrower was released on a personal recognizance bond after a hearing via video conference Thursday in federal court in Washington, D.C. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 28. His is the third Capitol riot arrest made public this past week that involves a Kansas or Missouri resident. On Monday, authorities arrested Chad Suenram, of Wichita, on four misdemeanor counts. Prosecutors say the Marine veteran wore a patriotic face mask and had an American flag painted on his head when he breached the Capitol. And on Tuesday, authorities arrested Christopher Roe of Raytown, who is accused of assaulting police and carrying a pitchfork on the Capitol grounds during the riot. He faces nine charges, including five felonies. The arrests have come as the massive Capitol riot investigation has picked up the pace, two-and-a-half years after the Jan. 6 breach. The arrest tally now stands at nearly 1,100, on charges ranging from demonstrating in a Capitol building to seditious conspiracy. The government said Eric Harrower, right, and Joshua Dressel, sitting left, manned an overturned bike rack and appeared to watch as the mob attacked police during the Capitol riot. Federal prosecutors allegations Prosecutors allege that Harrower was at the Capitol with Joshua Dressel of Jefferson County, who was charged last year with entering the Capitol in the early minutes of the breach and pleaded guilty in August to parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol building. Dressel was sentenced in March to 14 days in jail, a $500 fine and $500 restitution for damage to the Capitol. Story continues According to the probable cause affidavit, authorities became aware of Harrower during their investigation of Dressel. In reviewing footage of Dressel in the Capitol Building and Capitol Grounds, the FBI noticed that Dressel traveled throughout the day with a man with a long reddish-brown beard and maroon hoodie sweatshirt, the affidavit said. In Dressels Facebook messages, which were reviewed in connection with the investigation, the FBI learned that Dressel was with Eric on January 6, 2021. Additional review of Dressels Facebook account showed he exchanged several messages with Eric Harrower. On May 12, 2021, the affidavit said, the FBI found a Facebook account belonging to someone named Eric Harrower. The photos on the account matched the images of the man who was with Dressel at the Capitol, it said. In February 2022, Dressels attorney told the FBI that Harrower wanted to make himself known to the FBI, the affidavit said. Harrower called the FBI on Feb. 9, 2022, and scheduled an interview. In the interview, it said, Harrower said he and Dressel drove to the D.C. area on Jan. 5, 2021, to attend the Stop the Steal rally the next day. Harrower told the FBI that on Jan. 6, he and Dressel listened to some of former President Donald Trumps speech and then walked toward the Capitol, the affidavit said. As they got closer to the Capitol, they could hear flashbangs and see what they thought was tear gas, it said. They witnessed rioters that had been pepper sprayed and claimed to have been shot with pepper ball rounds. There was a lot of chaos in front of the Capitol. Harrower told the FBI that when he and Dressel arrived at the Capitol, he saw a rioter smash the base of a flag stand into the stonework, according to the affidavit. Harrower said he went inside the building and spent his time in a room with large columns and statues. The crowd in that area became rowdy, he told the FBI. As he and Dressel exited the Capitol, there was a commotion at the front door, the document said. Harrower, however, indicated he was unsure what was going on. As the two exited, they came across a rioter with a shield who was arguing with police, the affidavit said. Harrower said that after leaving the building, he and Dressel returned to their hotel, packed up and left the D.C. area late that afternoon or early that evening. Harrower volunteered that he came to the FBI willingly to accept responsibility for being in the Capitol and pay the consequences, the affidavit said. Harrower was shown four printed pictures of himself in the Capitol. He signed and dated the pictures acknowledging that the individual in the pictures was in fact him. What videos showed Jan. 6, 2021 The FBI agent who signed the affidavit said he reviewed open-source videos from Jan. 6 and found evidence establishing that Harrower and Dressel used overturned bike racks as ladders to assist other rioters as they clambered up the banister to the northwest steps of the Capitol. In doing so, they fueled the manpower of the mob, of which they were willing participants, the agent wrote in the document. When the mob on the steps reached critical mass, it was able to breach the police line at the top of the steps. The mob eventually managed to break into the Capitol, the affidavit said. As Harrower and Dressel helped rioters climb the banister, it said, a rioter next to them shouted F DC PD! Shortly thereafter, the camera pans to a group of police officers in riot gear struggling to move as the mob attacked them, the document said. Harrower would have had a clear view of these events from his position on the banister. Despite witnessing those violent actions, the affidavit said, the two proceeded up the stairs to the West Plaza and made it to the Senate Wing Doors. While there, and as the crowd finished chanting, Fight for Trump!, Harrower and Dressel wrapped their arms around each other and patted their shoulders as if to congratulate themselves, the document said. Approximately 29 seconds later, the crowd in front of the Senate Wing Doors began to shout again and again, Let us in! Harrower entered the Capitol and ended up in the Crypt area with rioters and police. In the Crypt, the mob was raucous and loud, the affidavit said. During this time, Harrower witnessed a member of the mob throw a fire extinguisher at police officers. Surveillance video from inside the Capitol showed a man believed to be Harrower entering the building through the Senate Wing Doors around 2:14 p.m. and exiting through a broken window near those doors at about 2:36 p.m., the document said. Before Dressels sentencing last year, he wrote a letter of apology to the judge. I do not feel morally justified and I take full accountability for those actions and my involvement, he wrote. I was not coerced into going into the capitol and I did not get caught up in the moment. I take full responsibility for the charge against me and all the decisions I made that day. On a narrow hillside road crowded with stucco apartment buildings in the Jenin refugee camp, 22-year-old Abu Nidal sits in an open storefront decorated with posters of fallen fighters, clutching his M16. Voices and static blare from the radio stuck to his green tactical vest. Flanked by young men just like him, he is the face of a new Palestinian armed rebellion. The will to fight and die against unending Israeli military rule has been spreading through refugee camps and working-class neighborhoods in the occupied West Bank for almost a year. Violence escalated this summer as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plunged deeper into multiple political crises. Israeli settlers have rampaged in Palestinian villages, while Israel has expanded settlements and carried out large-scale ground and air assaults on Jenins refugee camp. Claiming it was necessary to rout out fighters who have launched attacks on Israelis and to destroy explosive-making sites, the Israeli military has forced thousands of civilians to flee. Israeli drone strikes killed Palestinian fighters from the sky as soldiers invaded peoples homes and bulldozers ripped up the camps winding streets smashing its water and electricity infrastructures. Israeli Apache helicopters have launched missile attacks in the West Bank for the first time in nearly 20 years, while armored convoys rolling through Jenin are met with assault-rifle ambushes and have been hit by IEDs from the likes of Abu Nidal and his men. Abu Nidal inside the Jenin refugee camp Throughout his career, Netanyahu has used military escalation and settlement expansion to rally public support. However, fighters like Abu Nidal say that the roots of their rebellion are in the rage of a generation being forced to grow up in the shadow of Israels walls and segregated by its checkpoints without hope of things changing. Before taking up arms, Abu Nidal studied to become an engineer but saw no escape from the harsh conditions in an overcrowded camp built as temporary relief for his great-grandparents generation in the wake of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Occupied by Israel since the 1967 war, Jenin has been a hub of Palestinian armed resistance for more than 20 years, and its fighters have carried out attacks on Israeli soldiers and civilians across Israel and the West Bank. Its refugee camp was razed to the ground by the Israeli army in 2002 at the height of the Second Intifada, only to be rebuilt and raided regularly ever since. Story continues Abu Nidal insists on the nom de guerre for security precautions. Yet, despite drones buzzing overhead, neither Abu Nidal (Arabic for Father of the Struggle) nor any of the other fighters bother to cover their faces. On the one hand, he expects to be killed by an army that has already jailed him for a year, on the other, he and his fighters dont want to make it easy. Dozens of young men and teenagers carrying assault rifles patrol through the night on otherwise empty roads and guard the entrances to the 0.16-square-mile camp, home to more than 23,600 residents. They keep a lookout on barricades of twisted-metal beams. Palestinian youth have had most of their lives shaped by Netanyahu governments, all of which have been the most right wing in Israeli history ending any hope that Israel would dismantle its occupation. However, his latest return to power amid a spreading West Bank revolt has ushered in an era of widespread settler attacks on civilians, encouraged by hardline cabinet ministers who believe in expelling Palestinians. Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem have been raised amid the constant presence of Israeli security forces, evictions, and settlement expansion in the city they hope to make a capital some day. Just more than 50 miles away, most Gen Z Gazans have grown up trapped in the 25-mile-long coastal strip where drones rule the skies and battleships blockade the sea. Sea water is pumped into homes, and rivers of human waste flow into the Mediterranean because of Israeli bombing of water-filtration and sewage plants, as leaders from Hamas fight with periodic missile fire targeting Israel in an unending siege. Israel has left us no choice, says Abu Nidal. The occupation has proven that the more we are silent, the more it will take from us. A two-hour drive from Jenin, across Israels separation wall, a very different struggle for rights has been dominating the streets of Israels secular, economic capital. Jewish Israeli society has sharply divided over Netanyahus hardline coalitions efforts to curtail the independence and power of the judiciary, leading to the biggest protest movement in the history of Israel a battle over whether the country will continue to guarantee its citizens individual rights or subject them to religious nationalist values. While Tel Aviv is one of the worlds most expensive cities, Jenins refugee camp is one of the poorest places under Israeli rule, and the rights of nearly 5 million occupied Palestinians arent being fought for by most of the protesters paralyzing the streets. Abu Nidal has been following the rise of Israels social unrest and isnt neutral on what he sees as an internal fight in Israeli society. I may feel happy because their society is tearing itself apart, he says. But dont expect me to cheer for the oppression of Israelis by their own government. Demonstrators chant during a rally in Tel Aviv to protest the Israeli governments judicial overhaul bill as the country begins celebrations for its 75th anniversary. FOR THE PAST seven months, Tel Avivians of all ages have clogged the streets and freeways with dancing, banging drums, and starting bonfires often just blocks from Israels Ministry of Defense. On one spring-night protest, Yaron Rosen, a clean-cut 55-year-old Israeli Air Force brigadier general who was an architect of the armys cyber division and liaised with heads of the NSA, stands on a grassy hill above the highway, hugging his son with joy. Were safeguarding our democracy, he says. Rosen is a leader of a movement of reserve soldiers that are threatening to refuse duty en masse in protest of the reforms. Divided into seven pieces of legislation, the overhaul of the justice system will give the government the power to override the Supreme Court, limit the courts ability to exercise judicial review, and expand the influence of rabbinical courts into civil matters. A law shielding an indicted prime minister, like Netanyahu, from removal from office passed in March. Rosen says soldiers are worried the country will lose the values they swore allegiance to and have risked their lives for. Looking out at the sea of Israeli flags jamming the highway in both directions, Rosen takes pride in a protest movement rooted in the countrys establishment and defending its founding values. Our oath is to protect Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, says Rosen about what motivates Brothers in Arms, the reservist organization that he represents, to protest. That is what we owe our allegiance to. The protests are filled with Israels middle and upper classes: professors, students, lawyers, doctors, business owners, and tech workers many of whom are also reserve soldiers in Israels conscript military. They have lost considerable political power since Netanyahus 2009 return to office and were quiet amid Israels booming economy and relative security, but since taking the streets this winter, they have gained the support of former prime ministers, leaders of the security services, tech, and the arms industry. These are the people that are holding the economy, that are holding the military, says Rosen about the throngs of protesters blocking roads. They are holding everything that is good about Israels society. Tension between the religious and secular establishments has run through Israeli society since the countrys creation, but in the past two decades, many Israelis have become far more religious and nationalistic. Netanyahu has responded to these trends with a hard-right vision for the country that mixes militarism, religiosity, and expansionism to cement a permanent system of separation from the Palestinians in all territory under Israeli control: Segregation is Netanyahus solution. Returning to office under indictment on corruption charges for breach of trust, bribery, and fraud, Netanyahu built a coalition of hardline Israeli-settler-based parties committed to Jewish nationalist dominance and religion in public life. He appointed extremist Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power Party who has been found guilty of inciting terrorism and advocates Israeli annexation of the West Bank and expulsions of Palestinians, as his national security minister. The Israeli military reportedly refused to conscript Ben Gvir because it considered him a security risk. Netanyahu also made Bezalel Smotrich his finance minister. Smotrich is a settler leader who has called to wipe out a Palestinian town since taking office and is hostile to womens and LGBTQ rights; the far-right religious nationalist was also given control of Israels civil administration which handles the military occupations civil affairs like building permits for Palestinians and Israeli settlers to advance his maximalist agenda. Netanyahu has understood the power of successful low-cost wars to unleash Israeli nationalism. He reaped the political rewards of an electorate becoming more hardline the less they saw of Palestinians, and launched four Gaza wars. When Netanyahu stoked a five-day conflict with Palestinian fighters in Gaza on May 9, the reservists showed up for duty, the weekly protests were canceled, and after months in decline, he rose in the polls. A week later, however, throngs of Israelis were back on Tel Avivs Kaplan Street. The generation of Palestinians and Israelis who grew up under Netanyahu are coming of age amid rebellion in the occupied territories and mass protests dividing Israel. Widespread discontent at the reality forged by a leader who shaped their entire lives is spilling out into the streets, while the gulf between Palestinians and Israelis has never been wider. HOURS BEFORE THE first Passover Seder, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak overlooks the coastline from the living room of his luxury north Tel Aviv apartment tower. Considering the fate of Palestinians behind the walls, he wants to set the issue aside. We know the big elephant in the room is [our] relationship to the Palestinians, says Israels 10th prime minister. Lets put it on the shelf. Barak defeated Netanyahus first government in 1999, and joined his second 10 years later as defense minister. His premiership is defined by the ending of Israels 18-year occupation of south Lebanon in 2000 and the failure to end its much longer occupation of Palestinian land in final-status peace talks the same year. His government collapsed amid the outbreak of the Second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising against Israeli military rule that raged from 2000 to 2005. These days, the retired 81-year-old politician, still Israels most decorated soldier, is focused on the protest movement against Netanyahus legal reforms and calls on soldiers to refuse service if laws subordinating the Supreme Court to the government pass. Both Barak and Rosen are concerned that the legal overhaul will make Israelis more open to international prosecution for war crimes, but Barak doesnt believe it should be a main focus. Its kind of protecting ourselves, myself included, from being arrested, he says. Its easy to see Barak as part of the older generation, when the political class were all former military brass. There is a reason for officers, even for Bibi and ministers, to be worried about what will happen with the Hague. In a 1998 TV interview, Barak famously said, If I were a Palestinian of the right age, I would join, at some point, one of the terrorist groups. Today, he believes in using military containment to ignore the issue and focusing on what he believes is an existential threat to Israeli society. As he sees it, Israels future now hinges on whether it will turn into dictatorship or not. The protests have created a broad tent that spans from feminists decked out as Margert Atwoods Handmaids to former conservative PMs. Out of politics and out of prison, former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert still carries the ease and polish of a man once referred to as Teflon for his ability to survive scandal, until he didnt. He meets me in his modern central Tel Aviv office and fondly reminisces about relations with the Bush administration and former U.S. Secretary of State Condi Rice. Eager to address a U.S. audience, he feels compelled to warn America about how being an endless occupier has changed Israel. Leaning back in the chair behind his desk, Olmert gently rocks back and forth under a large framed picture of himself with President George W. Bush at the White House. Israel doesnt want peace, says the last Israeli prime minister to try to negotiate a final deal with Palestinian leaders and the first to launch a Gaza war, [not] since I retired and Bibi took over. He sees todays divisions as the consequence of 14 years of Israeli disinterest in dealing with Palestinians. Olmert, the first Israeli prime minister to be jailed for corruption, is appalled but not surprised by the current crisis. We are governed today by a bunch of militants, nationalists, chauvinists, [and] radicals, Olmert says. Reckless, irresponsible, and totally inexperienced people. He doesnt mince words about his successor: Bibi Netanyahu is a narcissist. Bibi Netanyahu is a shallow person. Bibi Netanyahu doesnt believe in anything. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attends a protest against the Israeli governments plan to overhaul the justice system this July. Bibi Netanyahu is a narcissist, he tells Rolling Stone. Bibi Netanyahu is a shallow person. Bibi Netanyahu doesnt believe in anything. Olmert warns that his country has lost sight of any constraints and has become indifferent to its allies concerns. We are arrogant, he says emphatically. We think that no one can hit us, that we can defeat everyone. Registering President Bidens frosty relationship with Netanyahu, Olmert thinks it would take much stronger action from America, like reconsidering its special relationship with Israel before Israelis and their leaders change course. Had such a thing been spelled out, I guess it may have had an enormous impact. Retired Supreme Court Justice Ayala Procaccia sees the reforms as a toxic package that will end judicial independence and destroy Israels fragile balance of power that has existed since the countrys establishment. The 82-year-old who adjudicated on Israels top court from 2001 to 2011 has become an advocate to preserve the impartiality of the bench and has taken to the stage at anti-government rallies to defend it. Procaccia acknowledges inherent inequality in a court with jurisdiction over Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza that upholds different rights and legal systems based on nationality and citizenship while consistently greenlighting occupation and settlement policies. There is an ongoing tension between the national principle, which also encompasses a very prominent religious component, and the democratic principle, Procaccia says. [And weve] faced an existential security threat since the establishment of the state, which hasnt ceased but only changed. During her tenure as a leading Israeli jurist, Procaccia ruled in favor of the states efforts to demolish West Bank Palestinian communities on land that had been requisitioned by Israel. She also accepted government arguments for demolishing the family homes of Palestinian combatants found guilty of killing Israelis an act of collective punishment that human-rights groups say constitute a war crime. The court has nonetheless followed the guidance of the security authorities and said that home demolitions are a preventative policy, a deterrence and not an act of collective punishment, says the retired justice about the courts perspective on a policy that has never been applied to the families of Israeli Jews found guilty of killing Palestinians. Yet this track record of the court doesnt impress a religious nationalist Netanyahu ally like Simcha Rothman, a key architect of the legal reforms and a chair of the Knessets Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee. Depicting the largely secular court as hostile to the rights of religious Jews in an increasingly religious country, he cites the Supreme Court striking down laws that entrench military exemptions for ultra Orthodox Jews. The court did interfere in many other aspects of life in Israel that have nothing to do with Judea and Samaria, he scoffs, using the religious terms for the West Bank. The balding 42-year-old was a lawyer before being sent to Jerusalem as an elected Knesset member for Smotrichs Religious Zionist Party. He lives with his family in the small southern West Bank outpost of Pnei Kedem, and like many people living in settlements considered illegal under international law he works in Israel. He is appalled that the court even weighed in to rule on Israels Jewish Nation State Law, a 2018 Basic Law that passed with a slim parliamentary majority during a previous Netanyahu government. The law, condemned by international human-rights groups as enshrining inequality, holds constitutional-like weight and effectively denies Palestinians national rights by exclusively defining national rights in Israel as belonging to the Jewish People. The Supreme Court upheld the law, but that doesnt satisfy Rothman. The fact that the court even thought that you can discuss or debate or have a hearing on the validity of a basic law that says that Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people just shows you how crazy judicial activism has reached in Israel, he says. For Rothman, terrorism is a term that can be applied to Palestinians for a wide range of acts, but its one he wont use to describe Jewish attacks on Palestinians. He is adamant that the Palestinian fighter who killed two settlers in the West Bank town of Huwara on Feb. 26 is a terrorist. However, he refuses to use the term to describe the hundreds of settlers who were protected by the Israeli army as they rampaged in the Palestinian town and surrounding villages later that night, setting homes ablaze, injuring more than a hundred people and killing one. Rothman is in a combative mood, and throughout our interview, his tone is sharp. The governments ability to overrule the Supreme Court is essential, he argues, to be able to carry out its elected mandate to voters. Rothmans party advocates full Israeli annexation of the West Bank, taking over areas administered by the Palestinian Authority, but it is something he doesnt believe even the current Supreme Court would block. He is reluctant to discuss what rights Palestinians would get under sovereign Israeli rule and is adamant in his denial of the national existence of Palestinians. Its about whether they are a nation that can act as a nation, says Rothman. And the answer, of course, is no. Palestinian nurse Elias al-Ashqar stands by a billboard bearing an obituary for his father, Abdel Hadi, killed during an Israeli raid in Nablus. When Israel conducted its deadliest action in the occupied West Bank in almost 20 years on Feb. 22, al-Ashqar says, he rushed to help the injured only to find his father among the dead. ELIAS AND MOHAMMAD al-Ashqar are in a state of shock. Sitting in the living room of their modest ground-floor family apartment in the Askar refugee camp on a brisk winter evening, they are surrounded by men from the community. The al-Ashqar brothers father, 61-year-old Abdel Hadi, had been shot and killed during an Israeli-army raid in the adjacent northern West Bank city of Nablus hours earlier. The Israeli army stormed the crowded city at 10 a.m., opening fire as residents scrambled, abandoning their midmorning shopping to run for their lives down the winding streets. Elias, a 25-year-old nurse, wasnt supposed to be working at the hospital. He had volunteered to take on an extra shift when casualties from a raid that would kill 11 people and wound more than 100 started arriving. While treating patients in the chaos of the overwhelmed ER, he took a minute to check the dead who had come in and received a horrific revelation. I was just looking at the beds to see who the martyrs were, says the younger al-Ashqar brother. He pauses to collect himself. I didnt imagine that it would be my dad. Its a tragedy far too familiar to the residents of the occupied territories. Last year was the most deadly year on record for West Bank Palestinians since the Second Intifada, with the U.N. calculating that 146 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem; 29 Israelis were killed in Palestinian attacks. Since Netanyahus return, 2023 is already almost as deadly as 2022. Abdelhadi worked as a driving instructor. Providing for his family in the cramped camp conditions was a daily struggle in a place where opportunities are few while potential devastation is an army raid away. He had, according to family and witnesses, just finished praying on his morning break when he was shot in the street by the army as it pulled out of the city. Al-Ashqars oldest son, Mohammad, 34, sits across the room feeling devastated. He describes his father as a kind and loving family man who worked hard to give him and his brother more than he had. An officer in the Palestinian security forces, Mohammad was in the radio room when he heard about the Israeli raid. Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces police West Bank Palestinians but are barred from confronting the Israeli military or arresting settlers attacking their communities. As he had done during previous raids, Mohammad followed orders, but now he can no longer justify the command. He wants the PA security forces to start defending Palestinians during Israeli attacks. To what extent will we be able to stay neutral and calm? he asks. The bloody Feb. 22 raid-turned-firefight was directed against the Lions Den, a new group of young Palestinian fighters that emerged in the summer of 2022. Hailing from the working-class neighborhoods around Nablus old city, the fighters have led armed attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers around the northern West Bank while embroiling the army in firefights during raids. The Gen Z guerrillas, who say they are motivated to fight for national liberation rather than religion, started as a loose affiliation of men from across the Palestinian political spectrum, knowing one another from the streets and sharing the belief that freedom can only be won through force. Despite some of its leaders and members being the children of Palestinian security-force officials, they have confronted PA forces with the same intensity they use during Israeli military raids. Their goals are clear: Fight the system of occupation regardless of whos enforcing it. In calls for general strikes on their Telegram channels, groups like the Lions Den have regularly galvanized Palestinians with a text message to shutdown the West Bank and East Jerusalem in protest. At the same time, the PA has led an internal crackdown on its security forces in Nablus, arresting people it believed were supporting or defecting to the Lions Den. Palestinians clash with Israeli security forces during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on Feb. 22. Israeli troops killed 11 Palestinians in the raid, and wounded more than 100, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The newly created armed groups in Nablus and Jenin and elsewhere are the future [that] people are now counting on, says Khalil Shikaki. The 70-year-old political science professor is the director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research and lives in Ramallah, a mountaintop city of 150,000 nine miles from Jerusalem that serves as the de facto capital of the PA. Recent polls hes conducted show the majority of the Palestinians in the occupied territories support a renewed uprising and want to see the PA, run by the aging leadership of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), collapse because they believe it serves Israeli, rather than Palestinian, interests. Barak seems to give credence to these concerns about the PA, describing how Israel offered to remove Hamas by force from Gaza and hand over power to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas when he was defense minister. I will tell you how far we were ready to go with Abu Mazen to arrange for him to take over the Gaza Strip, says the former Israeli leader, referring to the Palestinian president by his nom de guerre. We [would] take the blood part and he refused, for some reason. Clandestine in the West Bank and isolated in its rule of Gaza for the past 16 years, Hamas mantle of resistance is now also being challenged by independent Gen Z West Bankers. Officially embracing the rebellion, the rival Palestinian leadership is not interested in expanding that fight from Gaza, according to Basim Naim, a Hamas spokesman and former Gaza health minister. He has lived through the bitter cost of devastating battles with Israel and, speaking on the phone from Gaza City, says his party is instead focused on supporting West Bank fighters and regionally coordinating a military strategy with Iran, Syria, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. At this moment, we are not looking to escalate unless we are attacked, says Naim, 60. At the same time, if red lines are crossed in the West Bank, like at Al Aqsa or mass deportations or crimes against our people we are a part of the Palestinian people and cannot accept this. Husam Zomlot, PLO ambassador to the U.K., knows that the Palestinian public is outraged and disillusioned. He accuses Israel of using its agreements with Palestinians to further colonize Palestinian land. The former adviser to Abbas and a Palestinian ambassador in Washington until the Trump administration closed the PLO mission contends that rather than use its leverage with Israel, America pressures Palestinian leaders to quell resistance caused by Israeli actions. The bottom line here is that the West still considers Israel to be the exception of every law, says Zomlot, 50. When I tell him about Baraks comments about elephants on shelves he takes particular issue, describing the protests as indicative of a society where Israelis view Palestinians as expendable. Both have one thing in common, which is the elephant, says Zomlot about Netanyahu and Barak. The shelf breaks and it comes down on your head, he warns. ON THE ISRAELI side of the wall but a nation apart, Israels Palestinian citizens have a lot to lose if a far-right government that has built a political career on calling them an enemy from within can sideline the Supreme Court. The community has always bitterly opposed Netanyahu, but during his 2021 Gaza war, bloody street clashes with hardline Jewish nationalists and Israeli police erupted as Palestinian citizens of Israel rose up against the war and their treatment in mixed Jewish-Palestinian Israeli cities. Yet, after a decade and a half of being left on their own to fight Netanyahu governments legislating away their rights, they have opted not to join these protests en masse. Marching through the Palestinian-Israeli town of Sakhnin, nestled in the hills of the Galilee, Aida Touma-Suleiman, a Knesset member for the left-wing Arab-Jewish unity party Hadash, commemorated Land Day on March 30 amid a sea of Palestinian flags. Its a day of protest marking the 1976 Israeli-government seizure of Palestinian land in northern Israel for Jewish settlement and the six people killed by Israeli forces during the general strike to resist the dispossession. That happened not because we were citizens of Israel, but happened because we are Palestinians, says the 58-year-old Palestinian-Israeli woman from the northern mixed city Acre about the days continued significance to Palestinian-Israelis. Aida Touma-Suleiman Touma-Suleiman is not surprised by the lack of her communitys participation in the protests, seeing them as focused on the rights Jewish Israelis are worried about losing with no consideration of the rights long denied to Palestinians. The symbols and the discourse of the protests are not inclusive, she says. On the contrary, [they are] pushing Palestinians away. Israelis unwillingness to address the conditions Palestinians are forced to live in is no surprise to Gonen Ben Itzhak, a leading anti-Netanyahu activist who campaigned against government corruption and now is on the front lines of the fight against the legal reforms. The truth is that we still dont see them as equals, he says about Palestinians, occupied residents, and citizens of Israel alike. We as a country, we as citizens, we dont see them as equals. Ben Itzhak would know. Now a lawyer, the stocky 52-year-old spent more than a decade as a senior officer in the Shin Bet, Israels domestic security agency, turning high-value collaborators and targeting Palestinian leaders. Joining the Israeli intelligence organization in 1996, following the 1995 assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin by a right-wing religious nationalist, Ben Itzhak depicts a security service where inequality is an operating procedure. Israeli Jewish targets, he says, will be monitored to prevent attacks on Palestinians, while Palestinians will be assassinated to prevent attacks on Israelis. Acknowledging routine abuse and torture of Palestinian detainees by the Shin Bet, he disagrees with Rosen and thinks people who commit war crimes should be prosecuted regardless of what happens to the court. Ben Itzhak was personally involved in Israeli assassinations but says the campaign to kill Palestinian leaders in the 2000 uprising was done for the bragging rights of officers who ordered them rather than security. He points to the 2001 assassination of Abu Ali Mustafa, the leader of the Marxist-oriented Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine whose killing is often credited with spiraling the armed conflict. He wasnt important, says Ben Itzhak. He wasnt a terrorist. Ben Itzhak sees himself as part of Israels occupation machine. Sitting at a cafe in Florentin South Tel Avivs gentrified liberal neighborhood known for its dogs, bars, and pungent smell of weed he sees Israels current divisions as shaped by Israelis ability to ignore their unending domination of Palestinians. Students and lawyer Gonen Ben Itzhak (right) protest on the blocked Ayalon Highway during the demonstration against the legal reform. More than 130,000 people protested in Tel Aviv against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus right-wing government and its controversial legal reform. As long as we can live here in Tel Aviv, drink our coffee, have some weed, and have fun, everything is OK, Ben Itzhak says. As long as we dont hear it, we dont care about whats going on. The former head of the Shin Bets Ramallah area office says the only thing he has in common with settlers he once protected is Hebrew. He believes Netanyahus government is hoping for a new Intifada and says that Israel will be able to easily contain a wider uprising, in turn using it as a pretext for further dispossessing of West Bank Palestinians while disenfranchising Palestinian citizens. For this government, a third Intifada is the best thing they can have. Many secular liberal Israelis have checked out from politics in cities that feel closer to New York than the West Bank and Gaza. But for the Gen Z Jewish Israeli activists fighting for Palestinian rights, segregation shapes who they meet and how they resist. At 17 years old, Ayelet Covo grew up completely separated from Palestinians beyond the walls. Most of their life has been shaped under Netanyahu governments, but on April 1, Covo stood in the anti-occupation block of Tel Avivs weekly democracy protest and set their army-enlistment papers ablaze with a dozen other teenagers being conscripted. This is an attempt to get people to realize that there wasnt a democracy before the judicial reform, says Covo, sitting in a Tel Aviv cafe a few days after publicly torching their conscription papers. Sporting short brown hair and a jean jacket with a patch of the black-and-red Antifa flags, Covo, who uses the pronouns they/them, says that the discrimination they experience as a trans person wasnt what opened their eyes to Palestinian oppression. For me, its not a factor, says Covo. Its just down to the fact that I dont think that whats going on is right. Numbering in the hundreds in a sea of tens of thousands, the anti-occupation bloc is the hub for Israels small left to gather and attempt to engage anti-judicial-overhaul protesters about equal rights for all. In the shadow of Israels Ministry of Defense, they demand an end to occupation and denounce Israel as an apartheid state in Hebrew. Covo is part of a tradition of military refusal that emerged during Israels 1982 invasion of Lebanon and the First Intifada in 1987. At the height of the Second Intifada, a handful of pilots refused to fly missions in the occupied territories while teenage activists went to jail for refusing to enlist. Every generation since has had a small military refusal movement that, unlike the reservist protests defending the Supreme Court, has been about the rights of the occupied and refusing to be part of a military regime that violates them. I want freedom and equality from the river to the sea, says Covo, appropriating a traditional Palestinian national rallying call into advocacy for a binational democracy. Previous refusnik generations met with Palestinian activists in the occupied territories, joined their protests in the Second Intifada, and worked with rural communities to build campaigns against settlement and wall expansion. However, born after walls were built and restrictions tightened, Covo has never been to Gaza, Ramallah, Nablus, or Jenin. They have only seen the reality of Palestinians under military rule on screens and heard about it from Palestinian friends in East Jerusalem and Israel. Their youth has been shaped by Netanyahu governments turning late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Olmerts walls that segregate Palestinians from one another into pillars of Israels solution. Seen by his opponents in the Israeli establishment as the force that will end democracy, Netanyahu has ruled long enough to shape Israel in his image and make the unequal reality he inherited into a permanent solution. Covo has grown up in a far more interconnected world, yet segregation at home is all they have known: The idea [that Israel is] the only democracy in the Middle East is a fucking lie. Matan Cohen contributed to reporting in Israel. Ahmad al-Bazz contributed to reporting in Jenin and Nablus. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced a grant was awarded to the state of Georgia to expand outdoor recreation across the state. According to Washington officials, the grant will provide $7.5 million to Georgia to work with Tribes and underserved communities to expand local outdoor recreation options. All 50 states were receiving portions of a nearly $300 million grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Georgias $7.5 million and change is intended, like other awards, to be available until the 2025 fiscal year, with the funds intended to ensure all federally recognized Tribes can take part in and support future public outdoor recreation and conservation projects. As part of the grants directives, state officials and communities will be working more closely with Tribes and other communities to further develop a Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which is a requirement to receive the LWCF funds. Officials said the creation of parks in underserved communities is a goal of the funding award, with Tribes encouraged to apply for the funds as well. TRENDING STORIES: The Land and Water Conservation Fund helps further President Bidens commitment to investing in Americas lands and waters, expanding access to the outdoors, and safeguarding the environment, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said. These grants, matched primarily by state and local governments, will inspire collaborative conservation and improves equitable access to the outdoors for all. The state of Georgia is home to three tribes, as officially recognized by the Georgia Council on American Indian Concerns. Story continues Those tribes are: If other Indian groups wish to become formally recognized by the state, the petition process is outlined online. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: While former President Donald Trump faces a variety of legal issues in Georgia and further abroad, a federal case led by Special Counsel Jack Smith added a high-level Georgia official to its roster of those contacted. This time, Governor Brian Kemp. The special counsels probes into federal election interference and retention of classified records led to questions of Kemp. A spokesman for the governor confirmed that hed been contacted in the probe but would not provide further detail. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] I can confirm our office has been contacted by Jack Smiths office, but we will decline to comment further at this time, a spokesman for the governor confirmed to Channel 2 Action News on Saturday. In recent weeks, the focus on Georgia in relation to the former president has grown. RELATED STORIES: Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger was called to testify for the special counsels investigations at the end of June. Raffensperger also confirmed to Channel 2s Richard Elliot that his office had shared video of election counting at State Farm Arena with the Dept. of Justice in mid-July. Our investigators looked at it. GBI looked at it. FBI looked at it, Raffensperger told Elliot. They looked at it and said nothing happened. Afterward, Smith reportedly told the former president he was a target of the investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The former president himself revealed those details via his social media platforms. Former Pres. Trump has, at all times, maintained his innocence in each case filed against him, including recent indictments in Florida and New York. Story continues Smith has served as special counsel since November, after being appointed to the role by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] OTHER NEWS: UK Defence Intelligence has suggested that the arrest of Igor "Strelkov" Girkin in Russia is likely to anger his supporters among military bloggers and the military, since for many he has the image of a patriot who was not afraid to criticise Putin. Source: UK Defence Intelligence report on Twitter on 22 July, as reported by European Pravda Details: UK Defence Intelligence recalls that Girkin a leading Russian blogger, known for his role in Russia's hybrid war in Donbas since 2014 and his long-standing criticism of the actions of the Russian Ministry of Defence, and recently he has not been afraid to directly criticise Vladimir Putin, the President of the Russian Federation. Analysts suggest that Girkin's arrest might anger his supporters in the community of Russian military bloggers as well as some of the military, among whom he mostly has the image of an astute military analyst and patriot. Quote: "While Girkin is no ally of the Wagner Group, he was likely only prepared to push the limits of public criticism in the context of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's June 2023 abortive mutiny. The taboo against unmasked criticism of the Putin regime has been significantly weakened." Background: On 21 July, rumours emerged about the arrest of Igor "Strelkov" Girkin in Russia, which were later confirmed. The court detained Girkin until 18 September on charges of "calls for extremism". In addition, Pavel Gubarev, former so-called "peoples governor" of Donetsk Oblast and an ally of the militant Igor Girkin, was arrested near the court building. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Divers were poised Thursday to search for a 2-year-old girl and her 9-month-old brother who were washed away with their mother in a flash flood in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, after severe weather on Wednesday halted efforts to find the children, officials said. As rescue crews on Thursday resumed the search for 2-year-old Matilda "Mattie" Sheils and her 9-month-old brother, Conrad Sheils, who have been missing since their family was caught in the deluge over the weekend while driving near Upper Makefield Township, President Joe Biden made his first public comments about five lives lost in the flash flood, including the missing children's mother. "I want to say were praying for those who lost their lives in the flooding in Bucks County. The idea that there's not global warming, I think can't be denied by anybody anymore," Biden said during an event in Philadelphia to tout his economic agenda. "Anyway, we're grateful for the first responders who continue to look for a 2-year-old, Mattie, and her baby brother, Conrad. By the grace of God, maybe something will come of it." Efforts to locate the children resumed Thursday morning after severe weather paused the search all day Wednesday. "We are in the process of getting dog teams and having the dive unit check the conditions of the river to see if they can get into the water today," the Upper Makefield Township Police Department said in a statement released Thursday. As of noon Thursday, K-9 teams from the Philadelphia Police Department were back searching the flood zone and heavy equipment had been brought in to help thoroughly comb through what police described as "extremely large debris piles," the Upper Makefield Police Department said in a statement. Divers are prepared to enter a creek that spilled its banks during Saturday's flooding and the nearby Delaware River as soon as conditions allow them to commence an underwater search, police said. Story continues "Unfortunately, we do not anticipate that occurring today," the police department said in its statement. The children have been missing since Saturday afternoon when they and their family were caught in the flash flood while driving on Route 532 to a barbecue, authorities said. PHOTO: Pieces of asphalt are scattered after flash floods struck Yardley, Pa., July 16, 2023. (Courtesy Jared Stump) The children's mother, 32-year-old Katie Seley, died after she grabbed Mattie and Conrad and tried to escape their vehicle but ended up being swept away in the violent weather event, officials said. Seley was among five people killed in the storm. Her body was recovered on Sunday. Rescue crews are expected to scale back the search after more than 100 emergency personnel scoured the flooded area along Hough's Creek between Saturday afternoon when the children and their mother were reported missing to Tuesday evening, Chief Tim Brewer of the Upper Makefield Fire Company said. He said crews have used cadaver dogs in ground searches of the creek's banks and have deployed sonar equipment and drones to search the creek, a tributary that leads to the Delaware River. "We have searched the entire flood zone more than a dozen times," Brewer said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon, adding that the search covered roughly 117 acres. Brewer said the focus of the search is switching to a "dive rescue operation." PHOTO: Upper Makefield Township Police Department released this photo of 9-month old Conrad Sheils who is missing after flooding in Upper Makefield Township, PA. (Upper Makefield Township Police Department) PHOTO: Upper Makefield Township Police Department released this photo of two-year-old Matilda Sheils and her brother 9-month old Conrad Sheils who are missing after flooding in Upper Makefield Township, PA. (Upper Makefield Township Police Department) "That will mean underwater assets mainly in the creek and we will work out from there. We still have K-9 assets in place, but we are going to begin to scale down," said Brewer, adding that crews have searched and re-searched the area. "Tracking logs are over 160 miles, meaning we have backtracked several times," Brewer said. MORE: 5 dead amid flooding in Pennsylvania, with 2 children reported missing, officials say The tragedy unfolded around 5:30 p.m. Saturday when more than 7 inches of rain fell within 45 minutes, causing Hough's Creek to spill its banks and generating a "wall of water" that took drivers on Route 532, also known as Washington Crossing Road, by surprise, Brewer said. He said 11 cars were washed away in the flash flood and at least one was found 1.5 miles from where it was swept into the creek. PHOTO: Water submerges vehicles in Yardly, Pa., following flash floods, July 16, 2023. (Courtesy Jared Stump) The missing children and their family are from South Carolina and were in Pennsylvania visiting friends and relatives when disaster struck. Mattie and Conrad's father, Jim Sheils, and their grandmother grabbed ahold of the missing siblings' 4-year-old brother and escaped their car as it and other vehicles were being washed away, according to officials. The father, grandmother and 4-year-old were found alive, officials said. PHOTO: Flooding is seen here in Newtown Pennsylvania after some severe storms, July 16, 2023. (ABC News) "They were caught in a flash flood," Brewer said. "The wall of water came to them, not the other way around." MORE: Search resumes for 2 missing children washed away with mom in deadly Pennsylvania flash flood Besides Katie Seley, four other people were confirmed dead in the Bucks County flooding. They were identified by the Bucks County Coroner's Office as Enzo Depiero, 78, and Linda Depiero, 74, both of Newtown Township, Pennsylvania; Susan Barnhardt, 53, of Titusville, New Jersey; and Yuko Love, 64, of Newtown Township. The coroner's office said all of the victims died from drowning. ABC News' Molly Nagle contributed to this report. Divers poised to search for children washed away in Pennsylvania flash flood originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The most common sentiment from Republican voters about Jan. 6, 2021, isn't that it was an assault on democracy or that Donald Trump is the true winner of the 2020 election. It's that they are over it. The polling industry, like the Republican electorate, has largely moved on from it too. The most recent numbers come from surveys conducted last December or in early January, timed to the second anniversary of the riot earlier this year. And they tell, largely, the same story. As a POLITICO/Morning Consult poll from late December showed: 73 percent of Republicans agreed that there has been too much focus on Jan. 6. While the GOP electorate may be eager to move on from that moment, it doesnt mean that it wont matter in the primary. Indeed, as additional federal criminal charges loom over Donald Trump for his alleged efforts to steal the 2020 presidential election from Joe Biden, there is still an opportunity for Trump's rivals to contrast themselves with the former president. That's because, despite that too-much-focus number, public opinion among Republicans around the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol is complicated. In the days and weeks immediately following Jan. 6, Republicans, like all Americans, overwhelmingly disapproved of the rioters' actions. That's not the case anymore: More Republicans still say they disapprove of the Capitol attack, but there's a growing bloc in the GOP that sympathizes both with the rioters' demands and actions. That's part of the reason why Trump's opponents have tiptoed around the issue since the former president decried receiving a "target letter" from the Justice Department last weekend. The number of Republicans who agree with what Trump's supporters did on Jan. 6 is still a distinct minority but that doesn't mean the majority cares much about it or thinks it disqualifies Trump from running again. So what do Republicans actually think about what happened on Jan. 6? Here are five takeaways from the polling data: Story continues Few Republicans support the Jan. 6 rioters but that share is growing For all of Trumps embrace of the Jan. 6 attack whether suggesting he will pardon those convicted of federal crimes or being serenaded at a political event by rioters in a song recorded over a jailhouse phone line its not popular, even among Republican voters. But opinions are softening. An Economist/YouGov poll conducted around the first of the year timed to the second anniversary of the attack found that 49 percent of Republicans disapproved of the events at the Capitol that day. That was down a whopping 25 points from a poll conducted the week after Jan. 6. But the roughly half of Republicans who disapproved of the Jan. 6 attack is still significantly more than the 32 percent who said they approved of it in the most recent Economist/YouGov poll an increase from 16 percent immediately after the riot. Republicans are less likely to blame Trump for the attack It may have been Trumps refusal to concede the 2020 election that brought his supporters to Washington, but most Republicans give the former president a pass when it comes to the Capitol breach. In the Dec. 2022 POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, 40 percent of Republican voters said Trump had no responsibility at all for the events that led to a group of people attacking police and breaking into the Capitol, while another 16 percent said he wasnt too responsible. Only 14 percent of Republicans described Trump as very responsible for Jan. 6, compared to 45 percent of all voters. In total, only 31 percent of GOP voters said Trump was very or somewhat responsible even though 59 percent of all voters assign that level of responsibility to Trump. Republicans have Jan. 6 fatigue Last December, Quinnipiac University asked voters to choose between two sentences with which they agreed more: The storming of the Capitol was an attack on democracy that should never be forgotten, or too much is being made of the storming of the Capitol, and it is time to move on. The results among Republican voters were lopsided: 79 percent said its time to move on. Only 16 percent said Jan. 6 shouldnt be forgotten. But that puts Republicans crosswise with the broader electorate. A majority of voters, 56 percent, think the events of Jan. 6 should never be forgotten. Roughly four in 10, 39 percent, think its time to move on. The numbers among crucial independent voters are nearly identical: 56 percent say Jan. 6 shouldnt be forgotten; 38 percent say its time to move on. GOP voters dont see Trumps conduct as criminal Quinnipiac also asked voters whether Trumps efforts to change the results of the 2020 presidential election were criminal or not. Overall, half of voters, 50 percent, say they were, compared to 42 percent who said Trump didnt commit a crime. But only 9 percent of Republicans thought Trumps maneuvering to remain in power, despite losing the election, constituted a crime. Roughly eight in 10, 81 percent, said Trumps actions werent criminal. Few Republicans say Jan. 6 will affect their 2024 vote either way In the Dec. 2022 POLITICO/Morning Consult poll, only 16 percent of GOP voters said the events of Jan. 6 would have a major impact on their vote in the 2024 presidential election. That could, however, include the small-but-real cadre of Republicans who approve of the attack on the Capitol and supported Trumps efforts to remain president despite losing the election. (Trump, who announced in Nov. 2022 that he was running again, was already a declared candidate when the poll was conducted.) Another 19 percent of Republicans said it will have a minor impact, while nearly two-in-three, 65 percent said it wont have any impact at all. Overall, about a third of voters, 34 percent, said Jan. 6 would have a major impact. But many of those are Democrats disinclined to cross over and vote for Trump anyway. A narrow majority of Democrats, 53 percent, said it would have a major impact. Thousands of people have been evacuated from homes and hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes after wildfires engulfed large parts of the island. Greece's fire service told the BBC it apologises for what it called "a mess" on the island, warning that the situation could worsen due to weather. More than 3,500 people have been evacuated by land and sea to safety. A further 1,200 will be evacuated from three villages - Pefki, Lindos and Kalathos. No injuries have been reported, according to the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection in Greece. It said visitors are being evacuated safely from the affected areas of Rhodes - which represent less than 10% of the island's tourist accommodation - and are being redirected to other hotels on the island. Lt Col Yannis Artopoios, spokesperson of the Hellenic Fire Corps, described the fires as the most difficult the service has faced. The island has been battling wildfires fanned by strong winds since Tuesday, as Europe deals with a challenging heatwave. Five helicopters and 173 firefighters were operating in the area, with three hotels in the Kiotari area reported to have been damaged by fire. The areas of Laerma, Lardos and Asklipio were also affected. Private boats joined the Greek coastguard in helping to pick up people from beaches on the east of the island. Greek navy vessels were also reported to be heading to the area, which is popular with tourists. Deputy fire chief Ioannis Artophios said a ferry is available to accommodate people. Others are being housed at an indoor stadium on the island, according to the island's deputy mayor. Mr Artophios added that firefighters often struggle on Rhodes because of how green it is, which is what makes it an attractive tourist destination. Greek television showed long queues of tourists with suitcases being taken to safety, with smoke in the background. Story continues Andrea Layfield from Cheshire told the BBC she had been on a boat trip "but it was getting really scary". "We were asking to go back so they got us and then said they couldn't go any further so we would have to wait on the beach for a while," she said. "As we waited the fire was coming down the beach but the beach was a dead end," she said, adding that hundreds of people were running. A boat then arrived, taking only women and children, she said. "I scrambled under somebody's legs and got on." Mark Cook was evacuated by speedboat. "We have just literally escaped from a 5 star luxury resort by boat amid severe conditions. We had to follow our instincts rather than directions," he told the BBC. "Poor visibility, smoke inhalation, no real directions." One moment he said he was on a sun lounger with his family, "the next ash is falling and smoke rapidly progressing because the winds suddenly got significantly stronger". He is now flying home despite the family's luggage still being in the hotel. Map showing location of fires on Rhodes Travel company TUI said a small number of its hotels had been affected and it was relocating customers to alternative accommodation as a precaution. Jet2 also said it was aware of the situation in Rhodes and was asking customers to follow local guidance. But Lee Ruane from Northern Ireland, who is in Rhodes on his honeymoon with wife Rosaleen, told BBC News NI they felt stranded by Jet2 and had been given "no further information". "We were evacuated from the hotel today about two o'clock, and we've had no communication whatsoever from Jet2, from our hotel, nothing," he said. Rhodes deputy mayor Konstantinos Taraslias said a change of winds on Saturday morning helped the fire grow bigger and reach tourist areas. Since breaking out in a mountainous area on Tuesday, the fire has scorched swathes of forest. Firefighters from Slovakia arrived on Rhodes on Saturday to help local teams battling the fires. "The situation in Rhodes is serious and extremely difficult. Due to the strong wind and quickly changing direction of the fire, firefighters had to withdraw and move," Slovak Fire and Rescue Services posted on Facebook. Greece is facing further intense heat this weekend, with meteorologists warning that temperatures could climb to as high as 45C (113F). It could turn into Greece's hottest July weekend in 50 years, one of the country's top meteorologists has said. Firefighters are continuing to battle dozens of wildfires across the country. An area west of Athens is among the worst-hit areas, along with Laconia in the southern Peloponnese and the island of Rhodes. And authorities are warning of a very high risk of new blazes as the heat continues to rise. People have been advised to stay home, and tourist sites - including Athens' ancient Acropolis - will be shut during the hottest parts of the next two days. Greece - like a number of other European countries - saw a prolonged spell of extreme heat earlier this month. The latest heatwave comes at one of the busiest times for the country's tourism industry. Banner saying 'Get in touch' Are you in the area? Have you been affected by the fires in Rhodes? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. The gunman who opened fire during a Lunar New Year celebration near Los Angeles in January, killing 11 people and injuring others, sent writings to law enforcement, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna. When asked whether authorities had discovered a motive in the Monterey Park attack, Luna said the gunman, Huu Can Tran, had sent a manifesto to law enforcement that was still being examined. Tran, 72, opened fire the night of January 21 at a Lunar New Year celebration at a dance studio in Monterey Park in a majority Asian community just east of Los Angeles. The assailant then went to a dance studio in nearby Alhambra where a man wrestled a gun from him, the sheriff has said. The suspect fled to Torrance, 30 miles away, and Tran was found dead in a white van the next day of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said. Luna on Friday declined to provide any other information on the document described as a manifesto. CNN has reached out to the sheriffs department for more information. The FBI is still analyzing the document and trying to piece together how the shooting unfolded and why, Luna said. CNN has reached out to the FBI for comment. I dont know if well ever have a motive, but we continue to try, Luna said. Luna made the remarks during an event marking six months since the attack. US Representative Judy Chu, D-CA, also announced a legislative package in coordination with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, to try to reduce gun violence through red flag laws. In January, the sheriff said the gunman used a 9mm semi-automatic MAC-10 pistol with an extended large-capacity magazine. The disarmed weapon was traced to the suspect and provided authorities his name and description, Luna added. The gunman was very familiar with the dance studio where the shooting took place, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon told CNN after the shooting. There is certainly the appearance that this was targeted, he added. Story continues At least one person was shot in a vehicle outside the Star Ballroom Dance Studio, and police believe Tran shot that person first before he entered the dance studio and opened fire on the crowd of civilians, firing 42 shots in all, the sheriff said. Trans former wife told CNN she met him at the Star Ballroom, a popular community gathering place where he gave informal lessons. In Janaury before the shooting, Tran visited a police station in Hemet, where he made various allegations before leaving, according to a statement from the Hemet Police Department. Tran visited the Hemet Police Department lobby on January 7 and 9, 2023, alleging past fraud, theft, and poisoning allegations involving his family in the Los Angeles area 10 to 20 years ago, Hemet police said in a statement. Tran stated he would return to the station with documentation regarding his allegations but never returned. Tran had a residence in Hemet, the statement said. CNNs Steve Almasy contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is known for its scenic views and numerous outdoor opportunities. Whether youre heading up to the area to enjoy the sights with your family or youre just seeking solitude in the expansive wilderness, theres a trail for you. Susan James, recreation manager for the SNRA, said the area offers more than 900 miles of trails that traverse the Sawtooth, Boulder and White Cloud mountain ranges. Many of them include breathtaking views, alpine lakes and opportunities to spot wildlife. Some trails are challenging multi-day treks, while others are a great fit for a family trip. Forest Service officials and outdoor groups have encouraged hikers to look for less-traveled paths to alleviate some of the strain on heavily used trails. On any trail, be sure to follow Leave No Trace principles guidelines that reduce the impact on the environment and keep wilderness areas free from trash and potential safety hazards. Leave No Trace emphasizes packing out any items you pack in and treating wildlife and other recreators with respect. Find more trail etiquette guidelines here. Here are some trail recommendations from Statesman staff and Forest Service experts: Quintessential SNRA The Sawtooth National Recreation Area conjures images of jagged mountain peaks and pristine high-altitude lakes. These trails are perfect for a quintessential SNRA experience. Sawtooth Lake sits at 8,462 feet above sea level in the Sawtooth Wilderness. Mt. Regan (10,190 feet) stands guard. Chadd Cripe/ccripe@idahostatesman.com The colors of Alpine Lake, backed by Alpine Peak, provide a beautiful backdrop for photos. Chadd Cripe/ccripe@idahostatesman.com Sawtooth Lake/Alpine Lake How much do you want to take on? How much incredible scenery do you want to see? Its your choice. The round trip to Sawtooth Lake is roughly 10 miles with 1,650 feet of elevation gain. The round trip to Alpine Lake is about 8 miles with 1,100 feet of elevation gain, so its common for hikers to choose the short side trip to Alpine Lake and call it a day. But its worth the extra fight to get to Sawtooth Lake. Plus, you get some awesome views looking down at Alpine Lake. At Sawtooth Lake, a short walk along the shore to your left opens the view to Mt. Regan, which seems to sprout right out of the water. Its windier and cooler than Alpine, which seems like a better hangout. But the striking visuals and feeling of being on a plateau more than 8,400 feet up into the Sawtooths are unforgettable. Story continues The Sawtooth Lake hike begins at the Iron Creek Trailhead. A few miles northwest of Stanley on Idaho 21, turn onto Forest Service Road No. 619 toward Iron Creek. The dirt road takes you to the trailhead. Hell Roaring Lake A popular destination for rock climbers and campers, this lake is a 5.3-mile hike into the Sawtooths from Idaho 75 between Redfish and Pettit Lakes. Round trip, youll trek 10.7 miles with a little over 700 feet of elevation gain. Hell Roaring Lake has unique glacial-formed mountains with one called the Finger of Fate, Sarin Lomascolo, visitor services information assistant with the SNRA, told the Statesman in an email. This is a 10-mile hike but it is a relatively flat hike and easier first-time backpacking lake. The Finger of Fate was damaged slightly in 2020 by earthquakes, but its still known as an excellent climbing area with unique granite formations. Family-friendly hikes These trails are less strenuous so kids and adults of nearly all ages and abilities can join in. Fishhook Creek Trail This 4.5-mile trail starts just north of Redfish Lake. With little elevation gain, its an easy route for kids or less experienced hikers. The jagged peaks of the Sawtooths peek through the trees, offering gorgeous views. Lomascolo suggests visiting the Redfish Lake Visitor Center while youre in the area to pick up a junior ranger activity book. The Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association, which runs the visitor center, offers guided walks and junior ranger programs daily, as well as special evening programs throughout the summer. Visit discoversawtooth.org to learn more. A trail in the Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness goes right past Fourth of July Lake and is an easy hike. Pete Zimowsky/Special to Treasure Magazine Fourth of July Lake Fourth of July Lake is an easily accessible destination just outside the White Clouds Wilderness. Its a terrific hike for kids challenging enough to feel like a workout and short enough to avoid are we there yet? syndrome. The reward is a great view of the western edge of the White Clouds. The turnoff for Fourth of July Creek Road on the east side of Highway 75 is about 10 miles south of the turn for Redfish Lake. Youll have to endure 10.4 miles of rough, one-lane gravel road to reach the trailhead, which has a large parking area (and needs it). The trail to the lake is 1.8 miles with 615 feet of elevation gain. Its in great shape, but a couple of water crossings require stepping on rocks or balancing on a log a fun twist for the kids. The lake is a terrific spot for a picnic lunch and a family photo. Washington Lake Once you get to Fourth of July Lake, keep on going south to Washington Lake, just a little over another mile down the trail. This is a great fall trip, in September or even early to mid-October. But check the weather, as it can be hit-or-miss this time of year. The sign at the trailhead says Washington Lake is 2 miles away, but its a little more than 3 miles. Its a relatively easy 3 miles. Washington Lake is at 9,367 feet, but the 1,080-foot elevation gain is gradual and spread out throughout the hike. Once you get to Washington Lake, there are a couple of established campsites on the south shore of the lake and plenty of other durable surfaces around the lake to pitch a tent. The established campsites definitely have the nicest views and mix of wooded and open areas, but the wind tends to funnel across the lake and right into camp. Challenging trails These trails offer a challenge and are better for more experienced hikers or backpackers. Many of them feature steep elevation gains, technical terrain or double-digit mileage. Born Lakes Another, more challenging option once you hit Fourth of July Lake is to head east and north toward Born Lakes. Its a pleasant, gradual but constant incline to the top of the ridge, elevation 9,900 feet, overlooking the gorgeous Antz Basin. Descend through a series of switchbacks into Antz Basin, which is a stunning valley that has a European feel to it. From there, its a short flat hike to Born Lakes, a series of small lakes that is a popular day hike destination on the weekends but also offers plenty of spots to pitch a tent for a nice overnighter. Its about 4 miles from the trailhead to Born Lakes with about 1,300 feet in elevation gain. While the descent into Antz Basin is nice, its a bit of a slog coming back out of it. Oliver Cripe dips his feet in Alice Lake during a hike in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in 2019. Chadd Cripe/Idaho Statesman Alice Lake Alice Lake is part of the famed Alice-Toxaway Loop, which is more of a backpacking route (though some do it as a long day hike). Just a day hike to Alice Lake is long, too. Its about 12.5 miles round trip with about 1,600 feet of elevation gain and several water crossings, which can be a problem before midsummer. The hike begins at the Tin Cup Trailhead at Pettit Lake and the first part of the journey is a walk around the lake. Youll climb through a rocky canyon with sweeping views, cross a raging creek and see Idahos version of El Capitan before arriving at Alice Lake, which is surrounded on three sides by mountain peaks. Idahos version of El Capitan can be seen from Alice Lake, about a 6-mile hike from Tin Cup Trailhead south of Stanley. Hayat Norimine Alice Lake is about a 6-mile trek from Tin Cup Trailhead south of Stanley. Hayat Norimine The Tin Cup Trailhead is west of Idaho 75. Turn west on Forest Service Road No. 208 about 18 miles south of Stanley. Ryan Peak, the highest mountain in the Boulder Range, juts up behind Tim Tower as he hikes the West Pass trail in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area in 2016. Chadd Cripe/Idaho Statesman West Pass This strenuous hike begins outside of Ketchum and ends with huge views of the Central Idaho mountains. Its about a 9.5-mile round trip with more than 3,100 feet of elevation gain. The hike begins along the North Fork of the Big Wood River, follows a gorgeous creek through an idyllic alpine setting and after some hiking through loose rock reaches West Pass, which sits below Ryan Peak, the Boulders highest. The North Fork Wood River Trailhead is at the end of North Fork Canyon Road, about 8 miles north of Ketchum. The road begins at the SNRA headquarters. A sign at the trailhead reads West Fork of the North Fork. Accessible (ADA) trails Two trails in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Phyllis Lake The Phyllis Lake trailhead is just past the Fourth of July Trailhead, about 11.5 miles down a gravel road. High clearance vehicles are recommended, as the road is rocky and sometimes covered by a creek. Take Forest Service Road No. 209 to the Fourth of July Trailhead and continue southeast on Forest Service Road No. 53. The trail, which is wheelchair accessible, takes you to the shore of the lake. The Forest Service recommends fishing, and visitors have reported seeing mountain goats in the area. Murdock Creek The Murdock Creek trailhead is much easier to reach, but the trail is only wheelchair accessible part of the way before becoming much steeper. From Idaho 75, take North Fork Canyon Road (near the SNRA headquarters) for 1.2 miles before turning right onto Murdock Creek Road. The trailhead is about another half mile. The Bethine and Frank Church Overlook, on Idaho Highway 75 north of Ketchum, provides a view into the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Sarah A. Miller/smiller@idahostatesman.com Other options: Views from the road You can still see plenty of views from the road if youre not able to make it to a trail, Lomascolo said. The mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area are what make them so special, she said. Driving along 75 going north from Ketchum, you can view the Boulder mountains, which are part of the Hemingway-Boulders Wilderness. The Bethine and Frank Church Overlook is a great first view of the Sawtooth Valley and Sawtooth mountains. A version of this story first published in August 2022. Coyotes and their pups call the Boise Foothills home. Heres how you can stay safe on trails Federal facilities in New Mexico supporting national defense and nuclear development efforts could be funded through millions of dollars approved by congress in this years National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The U.S. Senates version of the NDAA for the 2024 fiscal year included provisions to fund nuclear waste disposal at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, along with the states two national laboratories: Los Alamos and Sandia national labs. It also earmarked federal dollars for the states military bases: Holloman Air Force Base near Alamogordo, Kirtland Air Force Base near Albuquerque and Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis. More: Feds digging up nuclear waste in Los Alamos for disposal at Carlsbad-area repository Heres what New Mexicos facilities stand to gain from the NDAA. Nuclear development and clean up Sandia and Los Alamos national laboratories would receive $276 million for environmental cleanup at the facilities, and a $792.5 million would go to the National Nuclear Security Administrations (NNSA) Stockpile Stewardship Program supporting work at both labs. Waste Isolation Pilot Plant The NDAA, if passed, will provide $464 million to WIPP for its continued operations in disposing transuranic (TRU) nuclear waste from Department of Energy Facilities around the country via burial in an underground salt deposit. More: Holtec will lose millions in storing nuclear waste in New Mexico, whistleblower suit says That includes $44.4 million toward a project to rebuild WIPPs ventilation known as the Safety Significant Confinement Ventilation System (SSCVS), and another $50 million to finish a new air intake shaft that will feed air into the SSCVS for filtration. When complete, the ventilation projects will more than triple WIPPs available air for underground workers to breathe, allowing waste disposal, mining and maintenance to occur at the same time. Los Alamos National Laboratory Another $1.76 billion would go to Los Alamos if the NDAA was passed in its current form, to support plutonium pit research at the lab. Story continues More: Nuclear waste repository near Carlsbad staying open longer than estimated, officials say Los Alamos was planned to increase production of the pits, the triggers for nuclear warheads, to about 30 a year by 2026. Its part of the National Nuclear Security Administrations initiative to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, also seeking to increase production up to 50 pits a year at Savannah River Site in South Carolina by 2030. Language was also included to improve transportation activities at Los Alamos, and to develop policy to remove feral cattle DOE property near the lab. More: No progress to report on nuclear waste site aside from Carlsbad-area repository, feds say Sandia National Laboratories In support of modernizing the U.S. stockpile of nuclear weapons, Sandia National Labs would get part of the $24.1 billion in NNSA funding contained in the NDAA, supporting the labs engineering and science programs. Military installations The NDAA would send $179.7 million for the Department of Defenses Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, used by Cannon Air Force Base, White Sands Missile Range and Melrose Air Force Range in Floyd. The program is intended to protect the installations from extreme weather events like flooding, wildfires or drought. More: Shaft to fix air constraints at nuclear waste repository near Carlsbad reaches final depth White Sands Missile Range About $5.5 million was allocated in the NDAA to build a laboratory enclosure and an administration facility at the Hight Energy Laser Systems Test Facility at White Sands, and another $5 million to acquire hypersonic targets for laser testing. Kirtland Air Force Base Another $24.4 million was sent to Kirtland Air Force Base for its Wyoming Gate Project to better secure its perimeter. Cannon Air Force Base Cannon Air Force Base would receive $5 million through the NDAA for a new fire station on the base. National Guard Another $11 million was earmarked for the U.S. National Guard to build a vehicle maintenance shop in Rio Rancho. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Here's what New Mexico stands to get from the defense funding bill A highway traffic stop led to the seizure of $10.5 million in narcotics Friday in Merced County, according to the California Highway Patrol. A CHP K-9 officer conducted an enforcement stop on a 2014 Kia Soul for a traffic violation about 1 p.m. near the Santa Nella scales on I-5 in Merced County, according to a Facebook post by the CHP. After the officer suspected illegal activity by the driver and passenger, the officer deployed his canine partner. The dog gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle, the CHP news release stated. As officers were preparing to search the vehicle, they said, the driver fled on foot into an orchard. Despite an extensive search he was not located, but was identified by evidence in the car. During the search of the vehicle, officers said, they found 735,000 fentanyl-laced pills, weighing 161 pounds, as well as 133 pounds of methamphetamine and 37 pounds of cocaine. The street value of the narcotics is estimated at $10.5 million and the incident represents the largest narcotics seizure in Merced County history, according to the CHP. The Merced Area Gang Narcotics Enforcement Team assisted with the investigation. The passenger, Ponce Rosales 23, of Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, was arrested and taken to the Los Banos City Jail on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale, transportation of methamphetamine across noncontiguous counties, possession of cocaine/fentanyl for sale, and transportation of cocaine/fentanyl across noncontiguous counties. Rosales bond was set at $16.2 million according to jail records. An experienced hiker has died in Death Valley, hours after being asked by a reporter why he was attempting to brave the extreme heat. Steve Curry, 71, was pronounced dead after collapsing outside of a restroom on the Golden Canyon trailhead in 121F (49C) temperatures at about 3.30pm on Tuesday, according to National Park Service officials. Hours earlier, Curry spoke to a Los Angeles Times reporter at Zabriskie Point while slathered in sunscreen, huddled beneath a metal interpretive sign that afforded a small amount of shade, officials said. Why do I do it? Curry said when asked why he was hiking in unbearably hot temperatures Why not? Curry reportedly refused offers of help, telling the LA Times he was more concerned with keeping pace with younger hikers. As a punishing heat dome has brought record high temperatures across the US, Death Valley has become a magnet for tourists keen to experience the iconic desert landscape in sweltering conditions. The national park, which runs along the Nevada-California border, saw the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth of 134F (57C) in July 1913. For the past week, it has baked in temperatures of up to 128F (53C) and is under an excessive heat warning until Sunday night. More than 100 million people across the US southwest remained under heat alerts this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Curry, a retired electrician from Sunland, Los Angeles, was remembered by family as an adventurous and warm-hearted man who had caught the bug for hiking. He just had this desire to go there, his wife, Rima Curry, told KTLA. He wanted to take this one hike and it did him in. Curry had taken wilderness training courses and was happiest sleeping outside under the stars, his wife said. He was a loving man, very good soul, good-hearted, enjoyed people, loved the outdoors. Hikers called 911 after finding Curry unresponsive near the Furnace Creek Visitors Centre on Tuesday, according to officials. Story continues National Park Service park rangers performed CPR and used a defibrillator but were unable to revive him. Steve Curry, 71, died while hiking in Californias Death Valley on Tuesday (Family handout) Curry was the second person to die in Death Valley this month, after a 65-year-old California man was found dead in his car in the national park on 5 July. The man appeared to have suffered a heat-related illness that caused him to drive off the road. His car was found 30 yards off the North Highway with two flat tires, the National Park Service said. A thermometer at the visitors centre recorded 121F at the time of Currys death but the real-feel temperature would have been much higher, officials told the LA Times. The Inyo County Sheriffs Office said the cause of death was believed to be heat-related. This weekend, temperatures are expected to climb past 130F in Death Valley. Signs warn hikers not to venture out after 10am but despite this many still choose to head out in the punishing heat. Across the planet, heatwaves stoked by the climate crisis, combined with a warming El Nino pattern, have set new records this summer. In the US, all-time temperature records have been approached in the San Joaquin Valley, Mojave Desert and Great Basin regions. In Phoenix, Arizona, temperatures have been above 110F (43C) for the entire month of July. And there appears to be little respite in the coming days. The National Weather Service said they expected an expansive heat wave across the majority of the lower 48 states and Alaska at the end of next week. A maintenance and repair hub for Leopard 2 tanks received by Ukraine was opened at the Bumar-abedy plant in Gliwice. Source: Mariusz Baszczak, Polish Defence Minister, on Twitter, reports European Pravda Hub remontowy w Gliwicach rozpocza dziaalnosc! Dwa pierwsze Leopardy juz przyjechay z Ukrainy do zakadow Bumar. pic.twitter.com/VvfZSzh7Jx Mariusz Baszczak (@mblaszczak) July 22, 2023 Details: According to him, "the first two Leopard tanks have already arrived from Ukraine to the plant." Background: Earlier, Poland authorities stated that negotiations with Germany on the opening of a service centre for Leopard tanks received by Ukraine are ongoing, and the Polish side remains fully prepared to take the vehicles for repair. Before that, the German media reported earlier that Germany intends to break off negotiations on the creation of a service centre for Leopard tanks in Poland. According to Handelsblatt, the reason for this decision was the inflated price expectations from the Polish side. The centre was supposed to open at the end of May. After talks with Defence Minister Mariusz Baszczak in April, his German counterpart Boris Pistorius said both sides had reached the final stage of implementation. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Local sheriffs are investigating after they discovered human remains inside luggage on a property in a rural area outside San Antonio. The Bexar County Sheriffs Office received a call Thursday morning for a suspicious package at the property. People feeding animals while the propertys owners were out of town had noticed the luggage in the middle of the property, Sheriff Javier Salazar said in a news conference. The sheriffs office began investigating and made the grisly discovery, according to Salazar. There wasnt really a whole lot of effort to hide the body, other than it was inside of a suitcase, the sheriff said at the news conference. According to the sheriff, the identity and gender of the person whose remains were found is unclear. Its also unclear how long the remains were at that location. Sheriff Javier Salazar says "it's just too early to tell if the person was killed here." - Bexar County Sheriff's Office While the first inclination, of course, is to assume that its a homicide scene, at this point, all we know is that weve got partial human remains out here and we wont be able to determine cause of death, manner of death, or the identity of the victim for some time, Salazar said. He said the medical examiner and fire marshal would help process the scene. Salazar said the fire marshal would assist in assessing some areas of interest, where there appeared to be efforts to burn. The sheriff noted that the burning may not be related to the discovered body, but that the fire marshal would investigate if there was any connection. Were getting a search warrant to finish processing the scene and at that point we may know a little bit more. But at this point, its just too early to tell if the person was killed here, or if they were brought here in that piece of luggage and then dumped here, the sheriff added. According to the sheriff, the property owners are cooperating with the investigation. Bexar County is located in southern Texas. As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of just over 2 million people. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Hunter Bidens attorney Abbe David Lowell filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Friday, just days after the right-wing congresswoman showed poster-sized nude images of the presidents son at a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing. Lowell, in the letter to the Office of Congressional Ethics, wrote that it previously contacted the office over Greenes defamatory statements and bizarre dissemination of conspiracy theories toward Hunter Biden, adding that she lowered herself and by extension the entire House ... to a new level of abhorrent behavior with her actions at Wednesdays hearing. Greene displayed the sexually explicit images at a hearing where Internal Revenue Service whistleblowers made claims that the Justice Department interfered in an investigation into Hunter Bidens taxes. Biden recently reached a deal to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges. Several Democrats have since taken aim at Greene for showing the series of nude photos, including Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a ranking Democrat on the oversight committee who told The Washington Post that the display was completely irrelevant to the hearing. The attorney claimed that Greene violated House ethics rules along with standards of official conduct at the hearing, calling for the office to promptly and decisively condemn and discipline Greene. While the faces of other individuals in the photographs were blocked with black boxes, Ms. Greene (or her staff) took great care to ensure Mr. Bidens face was not blurred for the American public, argued Lowell, who noted that Greene suggested without evidence that her posters showed Biden making pornography. None of her actions or statements could possibly be deemed to be part of any legitimate legislative activity, as is clear from both the content of her statements and her conduct and the forums she uses to spew her unhinged rhetoric. Story continues Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) prepares to hold up explicit images and an airline confirmation made by Hunter Biden during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on Wednesday. Hunter Biden's attorney has since called on the Office of Congressional Ethics to promptly and decisively condemn and discipline Greene over the naked picture showcase. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene (R-Ga.) prepares to hold up explicit images and an airline confirmation made by Hunter Biden during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on Wednesday. Hunter Biden's attorney has since called on the Office of Congressional Ethics to promptly and decisively condemn and discipline Greene over the naked picture showcase. Lowell also slammed Greenes posts on social media in the days since the hearing, noting that shes shared clips of herself holding the naked pictures and distributed a link to a video with the images through her fundraising email. The attorney also suggested that Greenes actions may have violated federal, District of Columbia and Georgia laws, as well. HuffPost has reached out to Greene for comment on the ethics complaint. Related... Donald Trump; Mail in Ballots Getty Images/Salon Former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies, who have long baselessly linked mail-in voting and so-called ballot harvesting to voter fraud, are now building programs that encourage these same practices. Republicans with close ties to Trump are now attempting to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to develop robust initiatives that promote voting practices, similar to the ones employed by Democrats, that they once vilified after experiencing poor election outcomes in 2020 and 2022, according to The Washington Post. "The big takeaway is that they're hypocrites who will do anything to try to hold on to power," Colorado's Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold told Salon. "At this point, for years, the extreme right has launched a coordinated assault on democracy, on voting rights all to create doubt in voters' minds so that they can tilt elections in their favor, to set up the atmosphere to try to steal elections, and that has been their playbook." Now, the same Republicans are trying to undo the damage they have done by promoting falsehoods about early voting methods. Instead, they are trying convince GOP supporters that such efforts are reliable to increase voter turnout. Several individuals engaged in these efforts previously held positions in Trump's administration or worked with Trump-affiliated organizations during the last election. Some of them even propagated the belief that the 2020 election was fraudulent. But now, at least five initiatives led by prominent Trump allies or former advisors and strategists, are looking for donors and backing in this new initiative. Notably, all of them seem to have emerged within the past year, according to the Post. "Trump and extremist Republicans have spent years lying to the American people about elections and to see them hypocritically now embrace what they formally have denounced, I think, tells everything," Griswold said. Story continues Undoubtedly, the rise of such groups dedicated to early voting marks a significant change for Republicans, who have long criticized such efforts and pushed out false claims alleging voter fraud. Their messaging has damaged GOP confidence in the vote count. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that only 22% of Republicans have high confidence that votes in the upcoming presidential election will be counted accurately compared to 71% of Democrats. Despite running for the White House for a third time, Trump has continued to promote the baseless assertion that the election was stolen. His rhetoric has resulted in a surge of new legislation in Republican-led states. These laws imposed additional voting restrictions, mainly targeting mail voting, shortening windows for returning mail ballots and placing constraints or bans on ballot drop boxes. Conspiracy theories concerning voting machines have led several Republican-led local governments to consider replacing machine tallies with hand counts. "There have been over 300 bills just this year alone to suppress the vote, undermine elections and take away Americans' ability to make their voices heard," Griswold said. "What they do is lie to try to steal elections, that has not stopped." Falsehoods about mail ballots and legal ballot collection are being used as a justification for political violence, for voter suppression and for inciting an insurrection, she added. "You actually see lawmakers cite this information as they pass voter suppression laws," Griswold said. "Voter suppression bills predominantly target people of color." She pointed to the example of Georgia in 2020, which saw a historic voter turnout that led the state to turn blue for the first time in decades. The state's Republican-controlled Legislature quickly responded by passing a new law to impose numerous voting access restrictions, which will have a major impact on Black voters, who form almost one-third of the state's population and vote overwhelmingly Democratic. "So the lies go hand in hand with classic voter suppression. Classic voter suppression is about keeping away people of color and blue-collar people," Griswold said. Despite generating skepticism around voting by mail for Republican voters, these falsehoods have also made their way into mainstream messaging, discouraging minority voters from casting their ballots by mail. "The [shorter] deadlines and misinformation about that has kind of deterred Black voters and Brown voters from using vote by mail, in addition to the historical fear of voting by mail," said Mitchell Brown, a senior attorney at the Southern Coalition for Social Justice. If Republicans carried out the same efforts in North Carolina and encouraged voters to cast their ballots by mail, this could be helpful to the movement of helping Black and Brown voters have access to the ballot box, Brown added. For many years, North Carolina has experienced a push to eliminate early voting and voting by mail, which has created resistance to this very idea, Brown said. But just because the Republican National Committee and Trump are now agreeing to the use of mail ballots, does not mean that this will happen all across the nation nor does it mean that every American will have access to the same opportunities, Griswold said. "You can't undo the lies overnight," Griswold said. "The far-right's assault on American democracy has not stopped. The very fact that they use the term 'ballot harvesting', which is a conspiracy made popular by the far-right and Donald Trump shows that that this isn't about making sure that every eligible American can vote and choose their elected officials. They're continuing down the path of making sure that the people they want to vote are the people that get to vote, and that is undemocratic. It's unAmerican and these people who are trying to steal elections should be held accountable and never should serve in office." Historically, Democrats have performed better in early and mail-in voting while Republicans have generally done better in in-person voting on Election Day. Now, a majority of the new GOP initiatives are primarily concentrating on early voting efforts as conservatives have pushed out the idea that the party suffered from discouraging voting before Election Day, the Post reported. "One of the first lessons we have to take from the midterms is the power of early voting," tweeted conservative firebrand and founder of Turning Point Action Charlie Kirk last year. In another tweet, he said, that telling everyone to vote in person on Election Day opens you to "traffic jams and machine malfunctions like what happened in Maricopa County." When that happens, "there's no rewinding time to change your strategy. You're at the mercy of the courts and voters' own schedules." Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. This represents a significant departure from the party's stance since 2020 when Trump consistently cast doubt on mail voting and urged his supporters to vote in person on Election Day. Until last year, Republican activists promoting the stolen election narrative advised GOP voters with mail ballots to keep them and submit them at their polling place on Election Day, rather than using mail or drop boxes. But now, even Trump is urging donors to contribute to his "ballot harvesting fund," emphasizing in a fundraising email that "Either we ballot harvest where we can, or you can say goodbye to America!" Turning Point Action has also launched an initiative, aiming to reinvent how Republicans engage with infrequent voters, taking inspiration from Democrats and liberal groups that have stationed full-time community organizers in key battleground states, according to the Post. They're "raising money to hire 500 full-time organizers in Arizona, 800 in Georgia and 350 in Wisconsin, at a cost of $99 million to compensate each staffer at a $60,000 salary, according to the fundraising materials," the Post found. This endeavor has sparked substantial criticism from some members of the Republican Party, who argue that Turning Point Action's budget is inflated and that the organization lacks the necessary tools to execute such an extensive operation, the report added. The GOP's renewed effort to embrace vote by mail could hold significant importance, particularly in Arizona, with about 89% of Arizona voters casting ballots early, mostly by mail, in the 2020 general election, according to the Arizona Mirror. Now, Kari Lake, the Republican candidate who lost the Arizona governor's race to Democrat Katie Hobbs by about 17,000 votes, is also echoing a similar message. In May, she announced that she would launch "the largest ballot chasing operation in our nation's history." Lake is considering running for the U.S. Senate next year. In Georgia, a county party launched an effort called "Unite the Right," aiming to promote early and mail voting among Republicans and to ensure ballot counting through tracing and "curing" procedures, the Post reported. Lumpkin County GOP chair Katherine James said the party is also in the process of developing customized scripts to engage various voter groups, including college students and churchgoers. "It is important to understand that just because Donald Trump and people like the RNC chair decided 'oh, maybe it's a bad idea to tell my voters not to vote in the most accessible and secure way possible,' does not mean that the country can make a 180 overnight," Griswold said. "They have done tremendous damage to this nation through voter suppression, the insurrection, the killing and the political assassination of police officers on January 6, and the violence that has just taken over the country against election workers." Read more about GOP voter suppression Transgender rights protesters Idaho families with transgender children are seeking to stop the states ban on gender-affirming care for trans minors which threatens health care providers with felony charges and prison from going into effect. The families had already sued to challenge the ban, but Friday they filed a motion asking a federal court to issue a preliminary injunction to keep it from going into effect while the case is heard. It is set to become effective January 1. The motion was filed in U.S. District Court in Idaho. The families and their attorneys, including lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups, say the ban violates the U.S. Constitution and that letting it be enforced will cause irreparable harm to trans youth. There is no justification for banning all gender-affirming medical care for young Idahoans with gender dysphoria, Leo Morales, executive director of the ACLU of Idaho, said in a press release. The ban prohibits care that the youth, their parents, and their doctors all agree is medically necessary, and which is supported by every major medical association in the U.S. Republican Gov. Brad Little signed the ban into law in April, deeming any such care a felony punishable with up to 10 years in prison. It covers not only surgery genital surgery is not recommended for minors anyway but puberty blockers and hormone therapy if they are prescribed for the purpose of gender transition. The treatment is allowed for cisgender minors for conditions such as early-onset puberty, illnesses, or injuries. That violates the U.S. Constitutions guarantee of equal protection of the laws, plus parents right to make decisions about their childrens heath care, says the suit, Poe v. Labrador, which was filed June 1 in the same district court. Plaintiffs in the suit are two trans teens, identified by the pseudonyms Jane Doe and Pam Poe, and their parents. They are represented by the national ACLU, its Idaho affiliate, and the law firms W/rest Collective; Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; and Groombridge, Wu, Baughman & Stone LLP. Named as defendants are Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador; Jan M. Bennetts, county prosecuting attorney for Ada, Idaho; and members of the Idaho Code Commission. Story continues Last month, in the first ruling on the merits on such a case, a federal judge in Arkansas permanently struck down a ban on gender-affirming health care for minors, finding the ban violated the constitutional rights of transgender youth, their parents, and their doctors, Ritchie Eppink, an attorney with W/rest Collective, said in the release. We hope the court will rule in our favor in this case and prevent this kind of discriminatory harm from reaching Idaho families. Bans have been blocked while cases are heard in Alabama, Florida, Indiana, and Kentucky, while in a suit in Oklahoma, the state and the challengers have agreed that the law will not be enforced while the case proceeds. A district court had blocked Tennessees ban, but an appeals court recently lifted that injunction. Suits have been filed in several other states. The Idaho law is part of a troubling trend across the country that targets trans people and access to necessary medical care such as abortion and gender-affirming hormones, Li Nowlin-Sohl, senior staff attorney with the national ACLUs LGBTQ & HIV Project, said in the release. We are deeply concerned with the coordinated attacks on peoples rights to access health care free from government intrusion. An iridescent and vibrant home has landed on the real estate market in Las Vegas, Nevada, and folks are fascinated by its originality and, well, utter chill. The four-bedroom, three-bathroom home which is listed for $349,999 with The Lindell Team is the brainchild of the current owners, who worked on its striking interior for years. They even collaborated with local artist, Andrea Steinmuller to get the inside just right, listing agent Ashea Lindell-Gray told McClatchy News. And the wait was worth it. Ahoy there, adventurer! Have you been tirelessly scouring the seven seas in search of a legendary treasure? the listing on The Lindell Team says. Well, look no further, for your quest ends here. This extraordinary house is a true marvel, where the spirit of piracy comes alive. Everywhere you look inside the 2,455-square-foot residence, kaleidoscope colors appear to dance and sing across the walls and floors. The home even has features that you dont see every day in a family home. With a DJ booth and a bar that resembles a majestic pirate ship, every gathering becomes a swashbuckling affair, the listing describes. Prepare to set sail on an extraordinary journey as every inch of this home is intricately customized to fit the captivating pirate theme. As you navigate through the property, youll discover a hidden german attached casita that transports you to the realm of Indiana Jones. Other standout features include a newer roof and air conditioner. The stylish house was featured on Zillow Gone Wild, a Facebook page and Twitter account that highlights interesting houses for sale across the globe. I love this absurd house, one person said on Facebook. Crazy &quirky. I like it, another expressed. Meow Wolf should buy this. Half the work is already done for a new art experience, someone chimed in. This house goes so hard, I LOVE IT, one person said on Twitter. This house is truly something. Who wants to recreate The Pirates of the Caribbean movies with me? another asked. Story continues The Lindell Team is made up of Ashea, her husband, Jeff Gray, and her father, Jac Lindell. This house was in the teams special rehab program where it funds any necessary upgrades and repairs to get a home ready to sell, which is why it was chosen to represent this particular place, Ashea told McClatchy News. Whimsical whale house is the most genius home for sale in California. See why The average family in America wastes about $1,500 worth of food each year and while most people dont waste food on purpose, a few TikTokers have actually gained fame for doing just that. TikToker Wasil Daoud used to be notorious for wasting food for views on the platform, making a mess while pouring out enormous servings of food into smaller glasses and bowls, just for it all to be cleaned up and thrown away. The 20-year-old gained an audience of more than 10.7 million TikTok followers, garnering nearly 300 million likes for his food comedy videos, if they can even be considered funny at all. And while Daouds content was initially well received, fans have become more vocal recently, expressing that they do not want to see food being wasted in such a reckless manner anymore. Instead of continuing along his wasteful path to stardom, Daoud turned a page on food waste. His TikTok page is now brimming with videos of himself making large amount of normal-sized food portions before giving it away to unhoused people in his community, acknowledging that not everyone has adequate access to food. He also shows old clips of his wasteful behavior in videos, comparing his past and present behaviors. One of his recent videos has now been liked more than 70,000 times. Every year in the U.S., 119 billion pounds of perfectly good food is wasted. According to Feeding America, that equates to 130 billion meals and more than $408 billion in food tossed out annually. Considering an estimated 34 million people, including 9 million children, in the United States are food insecure, the concept of wasting for the sake of a viral video seems even more sinister. Most of Daouds followers were quick to appreciate the transformation, with one commenting on a recent video, I think its great that he realized what he was doing was wrong, and has changed for the better! We need more people like him on the planet. Another noted, this is his character development arc. Story continues One of the most liked comments on the video read: congrats for upgrading yourself. Daouds pivot even made it to Reddit, where a post highlighting his transformation received more than 52,000 upvotes and more than 1,400 comments. Happy to see this guy changed his ways for the better, the original poster wrote. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more, waste less, and help yourself while helping the planet. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin presented President Joe Biden with a series of options for who should next serve as the Navys top officer in a meeting early this week. One set had Adm. Samuel Paparo, who leads the U.S. Pacific Fleet, named as chief of naval operations. Both the president and the Pentagon chief were aware Paparo was Austins recommendation for the post. Another slew of options put Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the Navys current No. 2, in the top job. If she were nominated and later confirmed, Franchetti would make history as the first woman in the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Biden debated those and other iterations with Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Chief of Staff Jeff Zients in the Oval Office sometime in the last 48 hours. In the end, Biden went with a version that named Franchetti as the CNO and Paparo for promotion to head up U.S. Indo-Pacific Command the top military post in the Pacific. Austin was good with it, said one U.S. official familiar with the meeting, and the secretary didnt make a renewed case in the White House for his top choice. The White House officially announced those moves Friday, along with two other personnel changes within the Navys leadership structure. The president doesnt normally hand-pick the Navys top officer, so Bidens decision to tap Franchetti for the job could be seen as a rebuke of Austin. But the move has not caused tension in the relationship, Sullivan said on the sidelines of the Aspen Security Forum. The president had the chance to sit with the secretary of Defense, and they worked this slate together, and this is the slate, and thats a good thing, he said. Asked if there was any daylight between Biden and Austin, Sullivan said, I don't believe there is. Both men ended the discussion feeling very good about where we are, he said. Seven Biden administration officials detailed how the president made the historic decision, and most were granted anonymity to detail a sensitive internal process. Story continues Nominating the first female member of the Joint Chiefs is a historic move for a president who has prioritized diversity since the beginning of his administration. At the Pentagon alone, Biden has nominated the first Black Defense secretary (Austin), the first female deputy Defense secretary (Kathleen Hicks) and the second Black officer to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff (Air Force Gen. C.Q. Brown). But the decision was not an easy one. Although Franchetti was an early frontrunner for the top Navy job, Austin in June recommended Paparo for the role instead. As commander of the Navys Pacific Fleet, Paparo has focused on the Pentagons most pressing challenge: Chinas growing naval power. At the time, experts said Austins decision to recommend Paparo, who was on a glide path to move up to Indo-Pacific Command, reflected more serious thinking about how to address the growing naval imbalance in the Pacific. But the news of Austins recommendation leaked to the press within days, putting the Pentagon chief in an awkward spot. Some senior naval officers criticized the decision internally, with some speculating that Austin put Paparos name forward so he could nominate an Army officer to lead Indo-Pacific Command instead, according to two former DOD officials with knowledge of the debate. Two Pentagon officials said the decision to announce the nominations of Franchetti, Paparo, Vice Adm. Jim Kilby to serve as vice chief of naval operations and Vice Adm. Stephen Koehler to replace Paparo as Pacific Fleet chief at the same time Friday may also place some pressure on senators, who vote on confirmations. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has placed a blanket hold on all military nominees over his objection to the Pentagons abortion travel policy. Adm. John Aquilino, the current Indo-Pacific chief, isnt slated to step down until April, giving the Senate months to hold a hearing and confirm Paparo and Koehler. It also allows the Navy to work all the subsequent promotions down the chain of command. One of the DOD officials also said that naming Paparo at the same time as Franchetti cuts short suggestions from some in Washington that an Army general could land the Indo-Pacific job, something the Navy has vehemently opposed as the position has been held by a Navy admiral for over 75 years. The president ultimately decided to go with Franchetti due to her qualifications and background, said a second U.S. official. Franchetti was a strong fit for the role, and she wanted it, the official said, noting that Paparo is very happy to be going to Indo-Pacom. From Austins perspective, there are no hard feelings, said a third DOD official. CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the job for which Gen. C.Q. Brown has been nominated. He has been nominated to be Joint Chiefs chair, and if confirmed would become the second Black person to hold that position. Daryl Johnson, right, and his son Daniel appear on a video screenshot from inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot. Daryl Johnson has now been sentenced for multiple charges of invasion of privacy after pleading guilty to recording women in a tanning salon he operated. An Iowa man who did jail time for taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol will be incarcerated again after pleading guilty to secretly recording women in a tanning salon he operated. Daryl Johnson, 52, of St. Ansgar was charged along with his son Daniel for taking part in the Capitol riot after officials said they entered the building and helped break through a police line keeping another door closed to more intruders. Johnson eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced in June 2022 to 30 days of incarceration. Johnson's defense attorney during his Capitol riot case stressed Johnson's family's history as small business owners, operating laundromats in Minnesota and Iowa as well as a car wash and a tanning salon. Johnson's arrest in January was on state charges alleging that, while running the iSun Tan 24/7 in Clear Lake, he secretly filmed women who were changing clothes or using the tanning beds. Johnson ultimately was charged with offenses related to multiple women, and pleaded guilty to four charges of invasion of privacy, an aggravated misdemeanor. On Tuesday, he was sentenced in Cerro Gordo County to consecutive terms of 45 days in jail on each charge, for a total of six months. He also must pay nearly $4,000 in fines and sexual abuse surcharges, and must register as a sex offender, according to court filings. An attorney for Johnson did not return a message seeking comment. William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com, 715-573-8166 or on Twitter at @DMRMorris. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Capitol riot defendant sentenced again in peeping Tom cases A Ukrainian soldier on the front line, near Bakhmut, Ukraine, Sunday, July 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Alex Babenko) Hopes were high throughout the spring, as a Ukrainian military equipped with Western weapons prepared to launch a counteroffensive that would reclaim land seized by Russia, which had invaded its much smaller neighbor for the second time in early 2022. We are getting ready for the counteroffensive, so that we can finally end this war, one Ukrainian soldier said in late May. The counteroffensive began about three weeks later, with Ukraine making initial gains in Donetsk and Luhansk, two regions in eastern Ukraine that were illegally annexed by Russia last year. Since then, however, the pace of progress has slowed considerably, leading to some frustration from Ukraines backers in the West, who hoped that the heavy weaponry and training they had provided would drive the Russian occupiers out of the countrys southeastern provinces. So far, however, Russias defensive positions appear to be holding while questions about the future of the conflict are growing. Read more from our partners: Russia hits Ukraine's grain for fourth day, practises seizing ships Russian firepower and defenses are holding up A Russian Air Force helicopter during an Army Games defense technology exhibition. (Leonid Faerberg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) By late June, it had become clear that the counteroffensive was not meeting the expectations that military and political leaders in the West once harbored. Russia simply had too much time to prepare, erecting anti-tank barriers, trenches and vast fields of mines along the 600-mile front. Western nations, including the United States, supplied Ukraine with tanks and armored vehicles, but these ultimately did little good in the open farmlands that carpet the theater of operations. Meanwhile, Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters pounded the slowly advancing Ukrainian columns from above. According to the New York Times, the Ukrainians lost as much as 20% of their tanks and armored vehicles during the first two weeks of the counteroffensive. Russian soldiers were reportedly rewarded with bonuses for each Western tank or vehicle destroyed. Story continues This is a very difficult fight, it is a very violent fight and it will likely take a considerable amount of time and at high cost, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, conceded after meeting U.S. allies in Belgium. Ukraine unquestionably had the more difficult task in having to launch an offensive. As the much bigger occupying army, Russia always had time on its side. And with few allies to begin with, Russia is not beholden to donor nations eager to see progress. My view is that defensive warfare has benefitted from modern technology like drones, so its tough going to take land against even a semi-motivated enemy, especially without air superiority, Ben Friedman of Defense Priorities, a Washington, D.C., think tank, told Yahoo News. Ukraine has long begged for American F-16 fighter jets. Those are slated to arrive later this year, but may not make much of a difference against Russias fortifications or its improving surface-to-air capabilities. One military analyst expressed frustration with Ukraines inability to conduct complex combined arms operations at scale, referring to the logistical coordination of different types of units working in concert, in which some Ukrainian soldiers have been trained. Since the losses of the counteroffensives first several weeks, the Ukrainians have settled for using long-range artillery, which doesnt expose troops or vehicles to Russian fire. That shift has left both sides at a standstill, a dynamic that favors Russia. Read more from our partners: A sobering analysis of Ukraine's counteroffensive from the front How long will Western patience hold? A Ukrainian serviceman firing a cannon towards Russian positions at the frontline in the Donetsk region of Ukraine, July 5. (Libkos/AP) Ukrainian military leaders were aware before the offensive began that Western allies expected a return on investment in the form of decisive victories. After all, neither patience nor supplies are infinite resources. And leadership changes in Washington and European capitals could see support for Ukraine dwindle. The slow pace of the counteroffensive could embolden critics of aid to Ukraine, who have largely been sidelined in the United States. Thus far, both Republicans and Democrats have, for the most part, supported the defense of Ukraine. But the heavy losses of recent weeks are a reminder that Russia, which defeated both Hitler and Napoleon, may have no asset more valuable than sheer persistence, even as human and economic losses mount. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, turned into an icon by the Russian war, has pleaded for patience. This is not a movie, the former actor said as the counteroffensive was about to begin. An official on the National Security Council told Yahoo News that it was too soon to make any definitive assessments. The Ukrainians have yet to commit the bulk of their forces for the counteroffensive and they continue to probe Russian lines for weaknesses, the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. We knew this would be a tough slog and expected it to take a considerable period of time and not at all like the quick gains Ukraine had last fall in the Kharkiv region. Some analysts believe that the counteroffensive is proof of how difficult it will be to ever dislodge Russia from the territory it has annexed, both during its first invasion of Ukraine, in 2014, and in the current war. Should the counteroffensive fail, aborted efforts to broker peace via diplomacy could be revived. Friedman of Defense Priorities told Yahoo News that a stalemate might lead to major political movement, such as a reopening of talks. Ukraine would rather wait until it has pushed Russia back much farther, so that it can negotiate from a position of strength. But that option may not become available any time soon. Read more from our partners: Will Ukraine repel the new Russian assault? Protesters against the judicial overhaul have been on a days-long march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (MENAHEM KAHANA) More than 1,100 Israeli air force reservists -- including fighter pilots -- threatened to suspend volunteer service as protests intensified Saturday ahead of final votes on a bill that aims to overhaul Israel's judiciary. The judicial revamp has split the nation and sparked one of the biggest protest movements in Israel's history, with weekly demonstrations often drawing tens of thousands. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government unveiled in January the plans to limit the judiciary's powers, which the protesters view as a threat to democracy. On Friday at least 1,142 air force reservists declared their intention to suspend volunteer service if parliament passes the bill next week. "We all share a responsibility to stop the deep division, polarisation and rift among the people," the reservists said in a declaration whose signatories included 235 fighter pilots, 173 drone operators, and 85 commando soldiers. They called on the government to "arrive at a broad consensus, strengthen the trust of all parts of the people in the judicial system and maintain its independence." Any legislation carried out in an "unreasonable manner would erode my agreement to keep risking my life and would force me, with great sorrow, to suspend my voluntary reserve service," the signatories said. - 'Keep fighting' - Most Israelis who complete their mandatory military service are expected to attend reserve duty every year for a specific period. It is unclear how the country's military capabilities would be affected if reservists followed through on their threat, but it comes against a backdrop of worsening Israeli-Palestinian violence. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he was "taking measures in order to reach a wide consensus". Netanyahu, too, said late Thursday he was "still trying to reach an agreement with the opposition", mainly on the "reasonability" clause that allows the judiciary to strike down government decisions. Story continues The bill is due for second and third readings in parliament on Monday. If approved, it would be the first major component of the proposed legal overhaul to become law. Other proposals include giving the government a greater say in the appointment of judges. Thousands of protesters, including Guy Maidan, have been marching since Wednesday from the commercial hub of Tel Aviv to the seat of Parliament in Jerusalem, where they were to arrive for a demonstration later Saturday. "We will keep fighting... unless this extreme government goes away," Maidan told AFP. Young and old, he said, are keen on "saving Israel from going down towards not being a liberal democracy." Netanyahu's government, which includes extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues that the changes to the judicial system are necessary to ensure a better balance of power. Critics accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgements against him. He rejects the accusation. ami-jd-gb/it Protesters against the judicial overhaul have been on a days-long march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (MENAHEM KAHANA) Tens of thousands of Israeli protesters rallied in Tel Aviv and near parliament in Jerusalem on Saturday, intensifying action against a controversial judicial reform bill that faces a final vote early next week. The judicial revamp, proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government, has split the nation and sparked one of the biggest protest movements in Israel's history. In January, the government unveiled the plans to limit the Supreme Court's powers as part of the package of reforms, which opponents view as a threat to democracy. Lawmakers on Monday are set to hold a final vote over the key "reasonability" clause through which judges can strike down government decisions. Other proposed reforms include giving the government a greater say in the appointment of judges. Protests have drawn support from across political and social strata, including both the left and the right, secular and religious groups, peace activists and military reservists, as well as blue-collar and tech workers. On Saturday demonstrations were also held in Beersheva, Herzliya and Kfar Saba, according to footage distributed by organisers. In Tel Aviv, the country's commercial centre, tens of thousands rallied chanting pro-democracy slogans and beating drums at their 29th consecutive weekly rally. "Democracy or revolution! Respect existence or expect resistance!" chanted protesters, many wearing shirts with "Democracy" printed on them, an AFP correspondent reported. "The government is not listening to us, it means it's the beginning of a new era, a bad era," protester Idit Dekel, 55, told AFP. "For me it is catastrophic. It's the beginning of something we have never experienced before," added Dekel, a tech employee. - 'Extreme government' - On Saturday evening, thousands of protesters also entered Jerusalem and protested near parliament, the Supreme Court, and the prime minister's residence. Story continues They had arrived in Jerusalem after a multi-day march that began in Tel Aviv earlier this week. "This government is an extreme, religious government, and hopefully we will take it down as quickly as possible," said Guy Maidan, who had participated in the march along with his family. Carrying Israeli flags, water bottles and umbrellas against the scorching sun, the protesters had been marching for days, taking mid-day and night-time breaks on their way to Jerusalem. By evening many plan to camp near the Knesset as lawmakers begin a debate on the so-called "reasonability clause" of the reforms Sunday. If approved in the final vote Monday, it would be the first major component of the proposed legal overhaul to become law. Protester Keren Mor said she was campaigning for the rights of all communities. "Women, LGBTQ, Arabs, Hasidic, all of them feel that their rights are overthrown by the government," Mor told AFP at a protest in Jerusalem. "They are trying to overthrow the entire democracy, basic civil law and human rights, and we're here to stop it." Netanyahu's government, which includes extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, plans to curb the court's powers granted under this clause, arguing that the changes are necessary to ensure a better balance of power. Critics accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgements against him. He rejects the accusation. - Warning from reservists - Merav Michaeli, leader of the opposition Labor party, joined the chorus of opposition. "We will not allow a corrupt, messianic and extremist government to destroy the State of Israel," she tweeted. "This is our second war of independence, and we will triumph." The "reasonability" clause was most recently cited by Israel's top court to force Netanyahu to remove a cabinet member over a previous tax evasion conviction. Late on Friday, at least 1,142 air force reservists, including fighter pilots, threatened to suspend volunteer service if parliament passes the bill. "We all share a responsibility to stop the deep division, polarisation and rift among the people," the reservists said in a declaration. Any legislation carried out in an "unreasonable manner would erode my agreement to keep risking my life and would force me, with great sorrow, to suspend my voluntary reserve service," the signatories said. The reforms have also drawn international criticism, including from US President Joe Biden. "My recommendation to Israeli leaders is not to rush," Biden was quoted as saying by columnist Thomas Friedman in the New York Times earlier this week. "I believe the best outcome is to continue to seek the broadest possible consensus here." Late Thursday, Netanyahu said he was "still trying to reach an agreement with the opposition", mainly on the "reasonability" clause. sha-jd/jsa Jamie Foxx has spoken out for the first time about his mystery health scare. The Collateral and Django Unchained actor was admitted to hospital in April with what his family called a medical complication. Specific details about the 55-year-olds illness remained undisclosed, which prompted many to make several conspiracy theories that his representatives were forced to debunk. Foxx has now spoken out on his experience, explaining why he stayed out of the public eye. I just didnt want you to see me like that, he said in an Instagram video. I want you to see me laughing, having a good time, partying, cracking a joke, doing a movie, a television show. He added: I just didnt want you to see me with tubes running out of me and trying to figure out if I was going to make it through. Foxx, who can be seen in new Netflix film They Cloned Tyrone, did not reveal what had been wrong with him, but said: I did go to hell and back. My road to recovery had some potholes as well but Im coming back, and Im able to work. He praised his family, daughter Corinne and sister Deondra Dixon, for protecting him from the media. Growing emotional, he continued by thanking his fans. I just want to say that I love everybody, and I love all the love that I got. I am on my way back. I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back. I went through something that I thought I would never, ever go through. Jamie Foxx shares first statement on mystery illness (Getty Images for Palm Springs In) At the time he was taken ill, Foxx was in Georgia, USA, shooting the forthcoming Netflix film Back in Action The film marked an on-screen reunion with Any Given Sunday (1999) and Annie (2014) co-star Cameron Diaz, who has since returned to filming while body doubles sub in for Foxx. The Seth Gordon (Horrible Bosses) movie marks Diazs first film since stepping away from acting in 2014. After it was reported that Foxx had been taken to a medical facility, many of his peers wished the actor a speedy recovery on Instagram. They Cloned Tyrone is available to stream on Netflix now find The Independents review here. John Wick prequel The Continental has officially announced its premiere date. The series will explore the goings-on at the hotel haven for assassins and show how a young Winston Scott (now played by Colin Woodell rather than Ian McShane) became the proprietor of the New York branch. The first episode, titled 'Night 1'. will be available to stream on Peacock on September 22. The following two episodes will drop on September 29 and October 6. Prime Video Related: John Wick 4 ending changed because of early audience's reactions That's where the show is streaming in the US at least. Prime Video has the rights for the show in the UK. The Continental also features Ayomide Adegun as a young version of Charon, while Ben Robson plays Winston's older brother Frankie, a "natural born killer" who is reunited with his younger sibling after stealing a priceless object, setting the plot in motion. Other characters include a police detective trying to root out the corruption in the force; Frankie's wife, who is the "deadliest fighter of the entire group"; a martial arts expert; and her Vietnam veteran brother. Prime Video Related: John Wick 5 is still not guaranteed despite Lionsgate announcement Meanwhile, Mel Gibson is playing Cormac, who serves as the Continental's manager at the start of the show. He's the one who brings Winston in when Frankie steals the aforementioned priceless item, and is described as "ruthless, brutal, yet capable of charm". Woodell said of the three-part series: "We have all the producers from the films, so we have them overseeing and there is a really strict continuity to honour those and the style that they have in them. But what's also wonderful is, this is the 70s, so it is going to be stylistically different." The John Wick movies are available to buy or rent on Prime Video, plus DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD, while the first two can be streamed for Sky Go and NOW subscribers. You Might Also Like Jonathan D. Lewis Jonathan D. Lewis, an activist and philanthropist for LGBTQ+ causes, died July 5 at his home in Florida after a long battle with CNS lymphoma, a rare form of brain cancer. He was 64. Lewis served on the board of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, which brought together attorneys Ted Olson and David Boies to fight Californias Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment that revoked marriage equality in the state. Prop. 8 ended up being struck down in federal court, a decision affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. Earlier, he had provided funding for GetEQUAL, a direct-action group with the mission of pushing President Barack Obama on LGBTQ+ rights, including marriage equality and the repeal of dont ask, dont tell. GetEQUALs nontraditional and aggressive tactics to bring the issues to the forefront included activists chaining themselves to the White House fence, disrupting President Obama at public events and blockading Las Vegas Boulevard, according to an obituary published on Legacy.com. Obama signed legislation repealing DADT in 2010, and Lewis felt immense pride as he stood alongside GetEQUAL activists during the signing, the obit notes. Another project was developing and the Young Voter Alliance under the Young Democrats of America. It used a concert tour by hip-hop and R&B artists to motivate young people to vote, along with a new recording of the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes song Wake Up Everybody, produced by Lewis, Russell Simmons, Kenny Babyface Edmonds, and Tracey Edmonds. The project helped make 2004s youth voter turnout the highest since 1972. A native of Ohio and graduate of Boston University, he moved to Miami after college and founded Jonathan Lewis & Associates, a design and development firm, in 1983. He ran restaurants in Miami and elsewhere, including Tobys and Cafe Tu Tu Tango. He was the founder of the Jonathan D + Mark C. Lewis Foundation, named for himself and his husband, Mark Christopher Lewis. Its projects include Farms Work Wonders, an experimental pilot project launched in 2016, that serves Appalachian youth by providing employment, teaching essential skills, and supporting their educational endeavors. The project has created an organic farm, a market, a bakery, and a glass-blowing studio, along with a restaurant that will open in August. Story continues My husband, Jonathan, had a clear vision of the world through a lens of what was possible, and worked tirelessly to leave behind an incredible legacy that I am committed to keeping alive and growing to its full potential, Mark C. Lewis, who will become chair of the foundations board, said in a press release. Honoring Jonathans legacy will be a weighty responsibility I dont take lightly. I intend to do everything in my power to forge ahead exactly as he would have wanted, by lighting as many fires as needed to bring about real change. His legacy, kept alive by the foundations growing role in creating that change, is even more essential in todays environment. Foundation CEO Paul Yandura added, For 21 years as CEO of the foundation, I have had the honor and privilege of witnessing Jonathans humanity up close and personal and I will miss him, but we will continue to honor him. Two things we have always agreed upon: we would rather make change than friends and if everyone loves you, you cant be making real change. He has always been willing to take bold risks and dedicate his personal resources in service of creating a more equal, just, and progressive world. At a time when few thought the country was ready for nationwide marriage equality, Jonathan saw beyond the status quo and offered his generous support to organizations like the American Foundation for Equality Rights, taking a bold risk in pursuit of a big idea, Chad Griffin, AFER cofounder and former president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in the release. Thanks in no small part to Jonathans early support, the marriage equality movement was able to make significant advances in federal court, ultimately bending the arc of history towards justice and equality in the eyes of the law. Jonathan put his passion, money, and energy into what he believed would better our world, said Norman Lear, the award-winning television and film writer-producer and supporter of progressive causes. Like his father [businessman and philanthropist Peter B. Lewis], he will be deeply missed by myself and many others, but his legacy will be felt for generations to come through the tremendous work he did in his short years, and the young people reached and continuing to be supported by his foundation. Jonathan used his privilege and passion to agitate and motivate. He played a critical role in giving a voice to those in the community frustrated with the pace of progress around equality, said Brian K. Bond, who was deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement under President Obama. As someone working inside the White House at the time you could feel his presence and sense of urgency for action literally every day. He changed the traditional rules of engagement in Washington in service of equality. Lewis's death was noted on last weekend's "Passages" segment on CBS Sunday Morning. Glynn Ray Simmons is brought to court April 18 for an evidentiary hearing in Oklahoma County District Court. Behind him is defense attorney John Coyle. A former death row inmate has been granted a new murder trial over a fatal shooting during a liquor store robbery in Edmond in 1974. Now prosecutors must decide if they will retry Glynn Ray Simmons, 70, who has always said he was in Louisiana on the night of the shooting. On Wednesday, Oklahoma County District Judge Amy Palumbo vacated his first-degree murder conviction "in the interest of justice." The judge granted the retrial because defense attorneys were never given a key report about a police lineup. "This error was prejudicial as it denied Petitioner a fundamentally fair trial," she found. Simmons, who reportedly has cancer, was freed on a medical own recognizance bond. His retrial was set for Oct. 23. More: Former death row inmate should get new trial over 1974 murder, new DA says Simmons had wanted the judge to find him innocent and bar prosecutors from trying him again. Oklahoma County's new district attorney, Vicki Behenna, had asked the judge in April to grant the new trial because of the withheld report. "The role of a prosecutor is to ensure a defendant's right to a fair trial," the district attorney said after the ruling. "We have as much responsibility ensuring that as defense counsel does, and I think we fulfilled that obligation, that ethical and constitutional obligation, today. "The next step is to evaluate the case for retrial." What to know about Glynn Simmons' case Killed during the Dec. 30, 1974, robbery was Carolyn Sue Rogers, a liquor store clerk. An Oklahoma County jury in 1975 convicted Simmons even though alibi witnesses testified he was playing pool in Harvey, Louisiana, that day. The jury also convicted a second man, Don Roberts, despite testimony he was in Texas. Both were found guilty after a customer, Belinda Sue Brown, identified them as the two robbers. She testified she walked past them and "the next thing I knew I was sitting on the floor, I had been shot in the head." Story continues A second clerk said she "wasn't looking at anything except the gun" and could not identify anyone. Simmons testified in his own defense, telling jurors he moved to Oklahoma for the first time in January 1975 to look for work. He said the same thing at an evidentiary hearing in April. Asked at the hearing if he had ever been to Edmond, he said, "No, I have not." Jurors chose death as punishment for both men. Their sentences were modified to life in prison in 1977 because of U.S. Supreme Court rulings on capital punishment. Roberts, 70, was released on parole in 2008. He testified at the evidentiary hearing in April that he did not commit the murder. "I've been saying it for 48 years," he told the judge. More: Oklahoma executes death row inmate for 1995 butcher knife slaying of Tulsa woman New report came to light after conviction New alibi witnesses also testified at the evidentiary hearing about seeing Simmons on New Year's Eve 1974 in Louisiana. Defense attorneys contend the withheld police report shows the eyewitness identified two other people during the lineup, not Simmons. The report came to light after Simmons hired a private investigator with his own money two decades after his conviction. A federal judge in 1998 agreed the report had been withheld but found it was not material to the outcome. The trial prosecutor, Bob Mildfelt, testified at the evidentiary hearing that he doesn't recall seeing the report himself at the time in the information provided by police. He said he would have turned it over to Simmons' trial attorney if he had. Mildfelt wrote Simmons a letter in 1993 acknowledging that the evidence was thin and the case had holes. "Your case has troubled me these many years because of the many questions unanswered by the evidence we had," he wrote. Simmons free, for now, after 48 years The judge had sheriff deputies remove his shackles in the courtroom. "That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in a courtroom," defense attorney John Coyle said. "It was really a special deal." After leaving court, Simmons told a KFOR reporter he was happy and ready to try to make something out of his life. Simmons will live in Oklahoma City for now, his attorney said. "The first thing he wanted to eat was a Shrimp Po Boy sandwich," Coyle said. Asked if he got it, the attorney said, "He sure did. At Pearl's." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Judge grants new trial for Glynn Simmons in 1974 Edmond murder case BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) A health clinic in a Montana town plagued by deadly asbestos contamination must pay the government almost $6 million in penalties and damages after it submitted hundreds of false asbestos claims, a judge ruled. The 337 false claims made patients eligible for Medicare and other benefits they shouldn't have received. The federally funded clinic has been at the forefront of the medical response to deadly pollution from mining near Libby, Montana The judgement against the Center for Asbestos Related Disease clinic comes in a federal case filed by BNSF Railway in 2019 under the False Claims Act, which allows private parties to sue on the governments behalf. BNSF which is itself a defendant in hundreds of asbestos-related lawsuits alleged the center submitted claims on behalf of patients without sufficient confirmation they had asbestos-related disease. After a seven-person jury agreed last month, U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen said in a July 18 order that he was imposing a stiff penalty to prevent future misconduct. Christensen said he was concerned in particular that the clinic's high-profile doctor, Brad Black, had diagnosed himself with asbestos-related disease and that a nurse signed off for benefits for her own mother. The judge also cited evidence at trial of high rates of opioid prescriptions from the clinic for people who may not have had a legitimate asbestos-related diagnosis. The clinic demonstrated a reckless disregard for proper medical procedure and the legal requirements of government programs, the judge wrote. As instructed by the law, the judge tripled the $1.1 million in damages found by the jury, to almost $3.3 million, and imposed $2.6 million in additional penalties. The judge awarded BNSF 25% of the proceeds, as allowed under the False Claims Act. Federal prosecutors previously declined to intervene in the case, and there have been no criminal charges brought against the clinic. Story continues The clinic's attorneys appealed the jury's verdict to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday. Clinic director Tracy McNew has said the facility could be forced into bankruptcy if forced to pay a multimillion-dollar judgement. McNew and Black did not immediately respond to messages Saturday seeking comment. The verdict also could harm the clinic's reputation and potentially undermine lawsuits by asbestos victims against BNSF and others that courts have held liable for contamination thats turned Libby into one of the nations deadliest polluted sites. BNSF operated a railyard in town through which asbestos-tainted vermiculite was transported from the nearby W.R. Grace Co. mine. Railway spokesperson Lena Kent said the clinic's actions wasted taxpayer money while diverting resources from people in legitimate need. The focus of this trial was on CARDs treatment of the hundreds of people who were not sick, Kent said. Its a sad chapter in this saga that this trial was necessary to restore the focus on those who are truly impacted and who should continue to have access to the benefits and care they deserve. The Libby area was declared a Superfund site two decades ago following media reports that mine workers and their families were getting sick and dying due to hazardous asbestos dust. Health officials have said at least 400 people have been killed and thousands sickened from asbestos exposure in the Libby area. The clinic has certified more than 3,400 people with asbestos-related diseases and received more than $20 million in federal funding, according to court documents. Hampering the clinics defense in the false claims case was a ruling that barred testimony from former U.S. Sen. Max Baucus of Montana. Baucus helped craft a provision in the Affordable Care Act that made Libby asbestos victims eligible for government benefits. He's said the clinic was acting in line with that law. Asbestos-related diseases can range from a thickening of a persons lung cavity that can hamper breathing to deadly cancer. Exposure to even a minuscule amount of asbestos can cause lung problems, according to scientists. Symptoms can take decades to develop. Peter Dazeley/Getty Images A judge sentenced a 19-year-old in Nebraska to 90 days in jail after she took abortion pills. Celeste Burgess, 19, pleaded guilty to "concealing or abandoning a dead body." Burgess said in court that she was afraid of being taken away from her family. A judge sentenced a 19-year-old to 90 days in jail for "concealing or abandoning a dead body" after she took abortion pills when she was 23 weeks pregnant. Celeste Burgess earlier this year pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea deal. In exchange, prosecutors dropped additional charges of false reporting and concealing the death of another person, both misdemeanors, NBC reported. Burgess was sentenced by Madison County District Judge James Kube on Thursday to two years of probation, according to the Norfolk Daily News. The first 90 days of Burgess's probation she will have to spend in jail, but she could be released in 53 days with good behavior, the outlet reported. Prosecutors accused Burgess's mother, Jessica Burgess, 42, meanwhile, of buying the abortion pills online. According to NBC, she gave them to her daughter in the spring of 2022, when she was 17. At the time, Nebraska law criminalized abortion after 20 weeks of gestation. Jessica Burgess faces the same charges as her daughter plus a one felony count of performing an abortion beyond 20 weeks and one felony count of performing an abortion as someone other than a licensed physician, CNN reported. Jessica pleaded guilty to concealing a dead body, performing an abortion beyond 20 weeks, and misdemeanor false reporting and is scheduled to be sentenced in September, according to the outlet. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in June 2022, Nebraska made abortion illegal after just 12 weeks of pregnancy. Kube asked Burgess in court if she had been coerced by adults, to which Burgess answered that she was not coerced by her mother or other adults, Norfolk Daily News reported. "I was honestly scared at the time," Burgess said in court. "I didn't know what to do. I freaked out. I didn't know what way to turn at all after everything had happened. And I wanted to do the right thing. But then I didn't know if what I was doing at the time was the right thing. I do regret my decisions very much." Story continues Burgess told the court that she was afraid of being taken away from her family, the outlet reported. "I'd really like to see instead of getting locked up I would really want a chance to actually prove to everyone that I could be a good person," Burgess said. Read the original article on Business Insider Emmanuel Brown, 30, is dressed appropriately for the heat heading home from the beach in Santa Monica on July 13. (Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times) July is shaping up to be the planet's hottest month on record as global warming, El Nino and regional heat waves conspire to push civilization into uncharted thermal territory, experts say. As a sizzling heat dome spread misery over the American Southwest, and hospitals reported increasing numbers of heat-related illnesses, government officials told reporters this week that it was increasingly likely that July would rank as the hottest month ever recorded, and that 2023 and 2024 may end up being the hottest years ever. "We are seeing unprecedented changes all over the world the heat waves that we are seeing in the U.S., in Europe, in China are demolishing records left, right and center," said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Read more: Hellish heat leaves Southwest in misery: Fainting, broken cars, sizzling sidewalks "This last June was the warmest June on record, and we anticipate, with the understanding of what's going on on a day-by-day basis, that July is likely to be the warmest absolute month on record." Schmidt said he put the odds that 2023 will be the warmest year on record at about 50-50, but noted that others have suggested it's more like an 80% chance based on current data. "We anticipate that 2024 will be an even warmer year because we're going to be starting off with that El Nino event," he said at a Thursday news conference. El Nino, a climate pattern in the tropical Pacific associated with warmer global temperatures, is still developing, but forecasters are increasingly confident that it will be a very strong El Nino. 2016 and 2020 currently tied for the hottest years on record both came after El Nino events. But while El Nino will likely boost temperatures over the next two years, the root cause of increasing global average temperature is humanity's burning of fossil fuels. "A lot of this is expected it is what our models predicted would happen," said Kristina Dahl, a principal climate scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists. "But I think the impacts are more severe than I would have anticipated. ... Just seeing how it actually plays out, I think, is really heartbreaking." Story continues In the coming weeks, huge swaths of the U.S, including California, are expected to see warmer-than-average temperatures, according to the latest forecast from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NOAA's August outlook shows a high likelihood of above-normal temperatures across much of the U.S., including California and the Pacific Northwest. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) The forecast looks particularly brutal in the Pacific Northwest, where Oregon and Washington have a 60% to 70% chance of a hotter-than-normal August. In California, there is a 33% to 60% chance of above-normal temperatures, with the odds highest in the northern part of the state. "The southern tier of the U.S. and even into the Pacific Northwest could end up with another period of quite warm weather quite extreme weather during the month of August, temperature-wise," said Matt Rosencrans, a meteorologist with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, during a briefing Thursday. The forecast came after NOAA officials confirmed that last month was the hottest June in 174 years of record-keeping, with global surface temperatures 1.89 degrees Fahrenheit above average. The global ocean surface temperature also saw a record high, 1.66 degrees above average. Read more: Earth sizzled to a global heat record in June. And July is getting hotter, experts say The officials also said that this year was "virtually certain" to rank among the 10 warmest years on record, with a 97% chance of making the top 5, according to the agency. Much of that prediction hinges on the presence of a strong El Nino. Currently, there is a 52% chance that this El Nino will be in the "upper echelon" of strength, said Rosencrans. Should that happen during October, November and December, "it would likely be quite a warm winter over much of the Lower 48." Experts also noted that persistent warming from human-caused climate change is a factor in the skyrocketing temperatures. The jet stream the fast-flowing air currents that drive weather patterns around the globe may also be changing due to global warming, Dahl said. While it is still an active area of research, she said there is evidence that as the climate has warmed, the traditional path of the jet stream has changed and become "wavier" due to shifting temperature gradients from north to south. That could explain why the current heat dome has lingered over the Southwest for so long. "Basically what we're seeing is that these weather patterns are getting stuck, and you see it both in the summer and the winter," she said. Read more: 116 degrees at night: Death Valley's extreme heat goes off the charts from climate change The convergence of factors is already making life miserable for millions of people living through the heat. In California, portions of the Central Valley could climb as high as 114 degrees this weekend. In the Los Angeles County area, highs could reach 112 degrees in interior mountains and deserts, and 105 degrees in the coastal valleys and Santa Monica Mountains. Daily records could be broken across the Antelope Valley on Friday and through the weekend, said Mike Wofford, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. The agency has issued an excessive heat warning across the Los Angeles region until 8 p.m. Sunday. Some slight cooling is expected next week, although temperatures will still remain above normal. "The expectation is that we'll be cooling off, but it's still going to be above normal for the foreseeable future," Wofford said. While current temperatures may seem unbearably hot, many forecasters underscored that this could well be remembered as one of the cooler years if current trends persist, including warmer overall temperatures and warmer oceans. "We will anticipate that this is going to continue," said Schmidt, of NASA. "And the reason why we think that it's going to continue is because we continue to be putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, and until we stop doing that, temperatures will keep on rising." 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. WASHINGTON The Justice Department informed Texas in a letter Thursday that it intends to sue the state over its placement of buoys in the Rio Grande river aimed at deterring migrants unless the state acts to remove them. "We write to inform you ... that the United States intends to file legal action in relation to the State of Texass unlawful construction of a floating barrier in the Rio Grande River," Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim and U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza wrote in the letter obtained by NBC News. The letter, sent to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Interim Texas Attorney General Angela Colmenero, both Republicans, says the state's actions violate the Rivers and Harbors Act, endanger public safety and could obstruct the federal government's official duties. Texas began constructing the buoys earlier this month, as part of Abbott's $4 billion effort to counter migration, Operation Lone Star, which also includes busing thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities and arresting migrants on trespassing charges. Some migrant advocates have warned that the buoys could cause people to drown. The Justice Department's letter echoes that warning, saying the barriers obstruct the "navigable capacity" of the river and present "humanitarian concerns." In a tweet on Friday, Abbott said Texas has the "sovereign authority" to defend its border and accused the Biden administration of exacerbating conditions along the southern border. "We will continue to deploy every strategy to protect Texans and Americans and the migrants risking their lives," Abbott wrote. "See you in court, Mr. President." Abbott's office did not immediately respond to NBC News' request for comment. The letter asks the state to furnish a response indicating that Texas is committed to "expeditiously remove" the buoys by 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Should the state fail to produce such a response, the United States intends to file legal action, the letter states. Story continues The letter represents the latest DOJ inquiry into Texas' migration policies. On Thursday, a DOJ spokesperson told NBC News that the department is probing allegations made by a Texas trooper in an email sent to his superiors, in which he described how he and his partner were ordered to push back migrants into the Rio Grande River and deny them water despite the searing heat. Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety have denied the existence of any directive, policy or order instructing troops to push migrants back into the river or deny them drinking water. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Florida on Friday, where she addressed the state board of educations approval of controversial new standards for Black history in public schools, which includes harmful guidelines that state people benefited from being enslaved. Harris, whose mother was a civil rights activist, was in Jacksonville to highlight ways to protect fundamental freedoms, specifically, the freedom to learn and teach Americas full and true history, NBC previously reported, citing a White House official. The vice president also had plans to meet with parents, educators, civil rights leaders and elected officials. To suggest that enslaved people somehow benefited from slavery is not only misleading, it is false. This is revisionist history. pic.twitter.com/2j0sPWP5O8 Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) July 21, 2023 Earlier this week, Floridas Board of Education unanimously approved new rules in a 216-page document for teaching Black history, including new clarifications added to the 6th-8th grade African American History Strand guidelines that require teachers to describe the various duties and trades performed by enslaved people. The clarification reframes the forced labor of Black people in America, stating, Instruction includes how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. In her speech, the vice president condemned the new educational framework. Adults know what slavery really involved. It involved rape. It involved torture. It involved taking a baby from their mother, she said. So in the context of that, how is it that anyone could suggest that in the midst of these atrocities, that there was any benefit to being subjected to this level of dehumanization? Story continues They want to replace history with lies, the vice president continued. These extremist, so-called leaders should model what we know to be the correct and right approach if we really are invested in the well being of our children. Instead, they dare to push propaganda to our children. This is the United States of America. Were not supposed to do that. Sharing her own educational experience, Harris said she attended a public school system where teachers provided the full expanse of information, encouraging students to then reach their own conclusions and exercise critical thought in a way that was directly intended to nurture their leadership. It is because of that approach that I stand before you as vice president of the United States, she said. The changes to Floridas curriculum come a year after Republican Governor Ron DeSantis enacted the Stop-Woke act, which was temporarily blocked in the states public universities and colleges. In a statement released on Wednesday, Derrick Johnson, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), wrote, Todays actions by the Florida state government are an attempt to bring our country back to a 19th-century America where Black life was not valued, nor our rights protected. Our children deserve nothing less than truth, justice and the equity our ancestors shed blood, sweat and tears for. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. A kayaker was rescued after going over Cumberland Falls Friday, and the sheriff is reminding people that it is illegal to try to go over the falls. Cumberland Falls State Resort Park visitors saw the kayaker below the falls Friday, and park rangers, patrons, sheriffs deputies, EMS and fire and rescue personnel worked together to rescue the person, the Whitley County Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post. The individual involved was alert and talking but sustained suspected injuries and was taken to a hospital, according to the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office said they responded to the scene as support for Kentucky State Parks rangers. Please be aware that attempting to go over the Falls is criminal, the Facebook post stated. It puts a lot of first responders in danger when attempting a rescue in such a dangerous area. We applaud State Park Rangers for their organization and promptness to incidents at the Cumberland Falls State Resort Park. Last September, a woman who was taking photos above the falls dropped her phone and was swept over the falls while trying to retrieve it, WKYT reported at the time. She swam to rescuers and was not hospitalized, according to the television station. And seven years ago, two professional kayakers who went viral with a video of themselves going over the falls received a citation for trespassing, according to a 2016 FOX 56 report. A "Help Me!" sign used by a 13-year-old girl kidnapped in Texas. The girl was rescued in Southern California on July 9, 2023. U.S. Department of Justice via AP A 13-year-old was saved after she held up a "Help Me" sign from her alleged kidnapper's vehicle. She was taken in Texas and brought to California, and was sexually assaulted, police said. Steven Robert Sablan was indicted by a federal grand jury A 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped in Texas and brought to California by a man who sexually assaulted her was rescued after passersby saw her holding up a sign that said "Help Me" in a car, police and federal investigators said. California's Long Beach Police Department said in a statement on Thursday that officers were able to rescue the girl and arrest a suspect after "a Good Samaritan" called the police on July 9. "Upon arrival, officers contacted a 13-year-old female victim who was visibly emotional and distressed," the police said. "Through their investigation, officers learned the Good Samaritans were in a parking lot when they saw the victim in a parked vehicle holding up a piece of paper with "Help Me" written on it. They acknowledged the note and immediately called 9-1-1." Officers then found and detained an adult male suspect, police said. Police identified him as 61-year-old Steven Robert Sabalan, a resident of Cleburne, Texas. The girl's mother reported her missing in Texas on July 7, The Associated Press reported. Long Beach Police said the investigation revealed the girl was approached by the Sabalan in his vehicle on July 6 near a bus stop in San Antonio, Texas. "He pointed a gun at her and demanded her to get into the vehicle," police said. He was driving a gray Nissan Sentra and is alleged to have told the girl that "If you don't get in the car with me, I am going to hurt you," according to the indictment and an affidavit cited by the US attorney's office in Los Angeles. He was going to a laundromat when the girl was found, it said. Officers found a black BB gun, a "Help Me" sign, and a pair of handcuffs when they searched the vehicle, the attorney's office said. Story continues Detectives and the police's Sexual Assault Response Team "gathered sufficient information that the victim had been sexually assaulted while the suspect transported her across state lines," the police statement said. The indictment and affidavit said he repeatedly sexually assaulted her, the US attorney's office in Los Angeles said. He is charged with one count of kidnapping and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, according to the attorney's office. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on Thursday. If he's convicted of both charges, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison, it said. Long Beach Chief of Police Wally Hebeish said he wanted to "commend our community members for their vigilance and willingness to get involved by calling 9-1-1." Read the original article on Insider Black tip sharks swim with tropical fish in a lagoon in French Polynesia. (Shutterstock) In French Polynesia, fishing is an integral part of everyday life. The people living here fish on the flats and along the reef using nets, hooks and line, harpoons, spearguns and traditional artisanal traps. They fish for food. They are also seeing the benefits of using their traditional knowledge to guide recreational fishing tourists a business with potential to improve long term employment security. Abundant sharks in the lagoon led to questions about their contribution to the fishery and whether it would help the fishery if they were targeted. This is a question that is often on the minds of humans when they encounter predators. As an ecologist working with the fish populations in French Polynesia, I went looking for research about what happens to an ecosystem when a predator is removed. Are the responses predictable? Does it work? Can we make generalizations? Our new study, published in Biological Conservation, surveyed the research on predator removal and identified several interesting and perhaps unexpected trends. Humans and other predators Predators are among the most charismatic animals on Earth lions, eagles and sharks adorn many human symbols. On land, in the air and in water, predators fascinate and inspire, they are quintessential representations of natures majesty and might. In spite of their ecological, economic and cultural significance, predators are among the most heavily persecuted animals, due to conflict with humans and their assets. Predators attack and kill livestock, hunt economically important prey and can kill or injure people or be perceived as a threat to human safety. These conflicts may motivate humans to try to manage predators to lessen the damages. One of the oldest and most rudimentary methods is to cull or remove them, even though predators are already rare and some are threatened with extinction. The motivation to remove predators is easy to understand, but what if predator removal does not even achieve the desired outcomes? Story continues In balance Predators are essential to ecosystems because they regulate prey populations. Without predators, prey can become over-abundant. This can result in damage to local plants, as well as disease outbreaks that can spread to domesticated animals. Read more: If your pet has this tapeworm, it could kill you Top predators like wolves dominate small predators like coyotes, keeping those populations in check too. Without predators, ecosystems become unbalanced in many ways because plants, herbivores and small predators change in response to their loss. In a perfect scenario, successful predator removal would strike a balance. It would reduce conflict and be sustainable, but not cause the predator population to disappear entirely. However, our review of 141 studies of predator removal revealed that success is rarely achieved. Livestock attacks werent always reduced when predators were removed, and the human-wildlife conflict remained. On top of that, new predators often moved into vacated territory and recolonized areas where others had been removed. For example, when caracal (a type of wild cat) and leopard were culled in South Africa, predator conflicts on farms increased. A small number of studies have shown successful removal of predators without harming the predator population, and led to increases in the prey population. However, these examples of success were generally from the Arctic where wolves were removed to increase caribou or moose numbers. In that scenario, there are fewer links in the food web, possibly making responses more predictable. Generally, however, the responses were unpredictable and removing predators often failed for one reason or another. Coexistence, not conflict Ecosystems are complex networks of species. They include plants, decomposers, naturally subordinate predators (such as feral cats, foxes and coyotes), pathogens, predators and their prey. Together, they all play vital roles in regulating each other. When humans remove predators, the effects are consistently negative. The action can, for example, fracture wolf packs into smaller units, or increase the reproductive rates of coyotes to produce even more offspring. This can have knock on effects, including an increase in disease, plant damage if herbivore populations explode and even an increase in the number of collisions between large herbivores, such as moose, and vehicles. Read more: On the hunt for science in 'science-based' hunts Instead of killing predators, there are other measures we can take to reduce conflict and learn to live with wildlife. In parts of Alberta, biologists are encouraging landowners to use electric fencing around bee hives and chicken coops to fend off bears. These types of non-lethal solutions can be tested and may often be more effective than removing the predator. Other studies have suggested that rewilding an ecosystem that is, reintroducing species into the ecosystem can reduce conflicts. When their prey are abundant, the predators have less interest in nearby livestock. One study showed that lynx conflict with farmers increased when their natural prey, roe deer, were scarcer. Essential elements Instead of removing predators to manage human-wildlife conflict, we should be looking towards non-lethal alternatives. Using deterrent devices (lights, sounds or flapping material) can keep predators away from homes, fields and livestock. A predator-proof corral in the South Gobi desert in Mongolia keeps livestock safe from snow leopards and wolves. (Ksuryawanshi/Wikimedia), CC BY-SA The services that predators and functioning ecosystems provide to humans are of enormous value, and we would be wise to work hard to conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all. Predators arent only symbols, they are essential parts of healthy terrestrial and aquatic landscapes. And beyond what we value, we should feel an imperative to preserve the diversity of life we share Earth with, most of which precedes our own evolution. Of course, there will be times when predator removal may be necessary to protect people and their interests. Interventions that champion the principles of coexistence between humans and predators may be more successful and justifiable approaches to managing wildlife. Efforts to protect predators or proactively promote their return, rather than continue contributing to their decline and extinction, are among the greatest conservation challenges we face. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. If you found it interesting, you could subscribe to our weekly newsletter. It was written by: Robert Lennox, Carleton University; Austin Gallagher, University of Miami; Euan Ritchie, Deakin University, and Steven J Cooke, Carleton University. Read more: Robert Lennox receives funding from the NSERC and is affiliated with Ocean Tracking Network Canada and Indifly. Austin Gallagher receives funding from The Sternlicht Family Foundation, Lush, Thayer Academy, and Maverick 1000. Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council, The Australia and Pacific Science Foundation, The Hermon Slade Foundation, Australian Geographic and Parks Victoria. Euan Ritchie is a Director (Media Working Group) of the Ecological Society of Australia and a member of the Australian Mammal Society. Steven J Cooke receives funding from NSERC and the Canada Research Chairs program. He is affiliated with the American Fisheries Society and the College of the Royal Society of Canada. Ukrainian air defense repelled a drone attack launched by Russian invasion forces against Kirovohrad Oblast Ukrainian air defense repelled a drone attack launched by Russian invasion forces against Kirovohrad Oblast overnight on July 22, Kirovohrad Oblast governor Andriy Raikovych reported on Telegram. According to preliminary reports, the attack caused no casualties or damage. Overnight on July 19, the enemy attacked Ukraine with air-, surface and sea-based missiles, as well as Shahed-136/131 suicide drones launched from south. Ukraine's air defense downed 13 Kalibr cruise missiles, one Kh-59 TV-guided missile, and 23 Shahed drones from that volley. 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 Protesters stand outside Willow Bistro in Canton, upset over claims of racism involving the restaurant owner and her daughter. CANTON The owner of a Canton restaurant is facing backlash over allegations of racism. People have been protesting outside and across the street from the popular Willow Bistro on 30th Street NW, with the protesters demanding an apology. The protesters have accused the owner's daughter of shouting a racial slur multiple times and waving a middle finger at a man during a First Friday event in downtown Canton earlier this month, and claim the owner laughed. But that man, who is Black, is facing criminal charges because he's accused of assaulting the restaurant owner a week earlier. The owner has not addressed the allegations, and has not responded to repeated requests for comment from The Canton Repository. The man also hasn't responded to requests for comment. The restaurant, which has stayed open during the protest, has been accepting reservations or invites only. What happened on First Friday? The alleged incident was brought to light on social media. A Facebook account Cork Canvas posted the claims on July 8 around 12:30 a.m., after First Friday activities ended on July 7. The post accused the 29-year-old daughter of the Willow Bistro owner of pulling up in a minivan and rolling down a window to yell racial slurs and wave a middle finger at people on the sidewalk at Cleveland Avenue and Third Street NW. The 55-year-old owner allegedly laughed. The racism claim has been shared hundreds of times on Facebook and TikTok, sparking the protests. People also are leaving negative comments on the restaurant's Facebook page. The remarks were meant for one person Multiple sources have told The Repository they believe the remarks targeted one person, a 54-year-old Plain Township man who was wanted by authorities after being accused of strangling the restaurant owner at her home on July 2. They used to date. Story continues The Repository has learned that the owner and her daughter saw the man at First Friday, with others on a sidewalk, and the daughter yelled slurs at him. The man was arrested July 11, a few days after the First Friday incident, on multiple charges. Protesters say the owner of Willow Bistro in Canton and her daughter made racist remarks at a recent First Friday event in downtown Canton. The charges stemmed from the July 2 incident. He was arraigned July 13 the first day of protests outside Willow Bistro and since been released from jail pending his next court date on July 24. He cannot have contact with the restaurant owner. An attempt to seek comment from the man went to a voicemail that was full and no message could be left. An email also was sent to his attorney, and no response was returned. The group wants an apology for the racial slurs The protesters say are not there for the man specifically. "The reason we came out here (to protest) wasn't he said, she said or ex-lover stuff. Nah," said Williemeana O'Neal, one of the protest organizers. "We don't know (him). What you do in private came out in public and you don't know who was down there when you said it." Rhonda Mackey of Canton and Diane Pipero of Beloit protest on July 13, 2023, outside Willow Bistro on 30th Street NW in Canton. The owner of the restaurant and daughter face allegations of racism. O'Neal said the group has mailed the owner a letter requesting a public apology for the remarks. "We want an apology from her for what she did publicly, and this could end," O'Neal said Wednesday night. "We're trying to make communication with her to stop this and let her know how the backlash is." Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: Willow Bistro in Canton faces protesters over racism allegations The Larimer County Sheriff's Office deputy who deployed his Taser on a man on Interstate 25 who was then fatally struck by a car will not face criminal charges, the 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced Friday. The decision comes five months after Deputy Lorenzo Lujan shocked 28-year-old Brent Thompson with a Taser as Thompson fled from a traffic stop across a dark portion of the northbound lanes of I-25 near the Mountain Vista exit the evening of Feb. 18. Thompson was immobile on the interstate when an oncoming car fatally struck him. The Critical Incident Response Team was tasked with investigating Lujan's actions, and that investigation was presented to 8th Judicial District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin, who determined there was not probable cause to charge Lujan. Lujan was placed on paid administrative leave immediately following this incident and returned to work in early July in a non-enforcement capacity while waiting for the CIRT investigation to conclude, Sheriff John Feyen told the Coloradoan. He remains employed as a deputy. An internal investigation into this case is ongoing and is expected to be completed within the next few days, Feyen said. The sheriff's office also expects to release the body camera footage and an additional statement next week. Attorneys representing Thompson's family told the Coloradoan that McLaughlin's decision shows law enforcement officers are held to a different standard than the general public. "Tasing a person on the interstate is a death sentence," Rathod Mohamedbhai Attorneys at Law said in a statement. According to Taser, the dominant manufacturer of Conducted Electrical Weapons, a circumstance like this has never happened before, in which a Taser is deployed on a roadway and the target individual dies from a different means, McLaughlin said in his letter. His office dedicated an unprecedented amount of resources and attention to this case. Story continues While McLaughlin cleared the deputy of any criminal culpability, he did find instances where he believes increased training or different choices could have led to a less tragic outcome. (Lujans) actions show poor judgment and possibly a need for additional and more robust training, but not criminal culpability, McLaughlin said. What led up to Thompson's death McLaughlin outlined the events leading up to Thompsons death in his decision letter released Friday. Heres what CIRT investigators said happened: Lujan spotted a vehicle in the parking lot of the Best Value Inn & Suites on Mulberry Street with expired registration. The vehicle also seemed suspicious to Lujan because it was idling while parked at two different spots in the parking lot. When the car left the lot, Lujan followed it onto the southeast Frontage Road and then onto I-25 after it made a last-second maneuver onto the northbound I-25 on-ramp. Lujan continued following the vehicle on the interstate and turned on his lights to pull over the car as they approached the exit for Mountain Vista Drive. The driver later identified as Thompson took the exit and stopped at the top of the off ramp. Thompson gave Lujan a false name, provided him with expired registration and insurance, and appeared to be under the influence. Investigators later determined Thompson had used fentanyl earlier that day and a toxicology report noted he had a high level in his system. Lujan and Cpl. Matthew Bordewick who had arrived as backup confronted Thompson about providing a false name and tried to arrest him, but Thompson ran west down an embankment toward I-25. Lujan said, stop or youre gonna get Tased, stop, as he chased Thompson, who attempted to jump over the guardrail but tripped and stumbled into the shoulder of the northbound side of the interstate. Lujan deployed his Taser for one cycle (five seconds), and as he approached Thompson, he said he saw a car traveling toward them that was closer than expected. Bordewick attempted to use his flashlight to get the drivers attention to stop the car, but it was unsuccessful. The oncoming vehicle hit Thompson, who was in the right lane. Lujan was in the left lane, and Bordewick was in the shoulder at the time of the crash. The investigation revealed Thompson was shocked by the Taser 5.6 seconds before the car hit him. Lujan moved Thompson to the side of the road and provided medical aid. Thompson was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries less than an hour after Lujan followed him out of the hotel parking lot. The driver of the vehicle that hit Thompson stayed on scene and was cooperative with investigators, who determined the driver was in no way at fault in this case. Why McLaughlin determined he wouldn't file criminal charges McLaughlin determined that Lujan is not criminally liable in Thompson's death, but with "the luxury of time," he identified different choices the deputy could have made that could have led to a less tragic outcome. But McLaughlin said his role is only to determine if criminal charges are warranted, not to determine if the sheriff's office department policy was violated or if there were things the deputy could have done differently. McLaughlin said this case did not meet the requirements necessary to file a charge of criminally negligent homicide the main charge he considered in his review because Lujan's decision to deploy his Taser on Thompson was not a gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise, per state law. McLaughlin said evidence shows that Lujan believed he was acting in a way that would reduce risk to Thompson and people driving on the interstate, but in hindsight his belief with respect to other motorists appears to have been incorrect, as the deputy seems to have exacerbated an already dangerous situation by temporarily immobilizing Mr. Thompson in a roadway with oncoming traffic. McLaughlin said investigators cant know for certain if Lujans actions minimized possible injuries to other motorists, but thats what Lujan believed based on the information he had at the moment. While the result of this decision was tragic, as a legal matter, once he decided that he could minimize injury by stopping Mr. Thompson from crossing the highway, the use of the Taser was probably the only use of force he had available, McLaughlin said. Thus, while the decision to use force at all and to use it on the interstate raise reasonable questions of judgment, the mere choice of the Taser (given its typical less-than-lethal characteristics) would not appear to violate the use of force statute. McLaughlin also noted that Lujan was justified in pursuing Thompson, despite the low-level crimes he was suspected of at the time. While it is reasonable for the community to ask whether any pursuit of Mr. Thompson was necessary under the circumstances presented here, that is not the legal question that must be answered by the District Attorney, McLaughlin said in his letter. Under Colorado law, an officer is given the authority and, in fact, is expected to arrest persons suspected of engaging in criminal behavior. Lujan told investigators he thought he had time to deploy his Taser to stop Thompson from running further onto the interstate and take him safely into custody before any vehicles came, and his goal was to get Thompson out of the middle of the road to prevent a crash. McLaughlin said evidence supports that was Lujans intent, and while in retrospect it is clear he used poor, and ultimately tragic, judgment in deploying his Taser after Mr. Thompson was already in the traffic lanes of I-25, the split-second decisions here were not formed with evil intent and were made after a quick assessment of the possible dangers to Mr. Thompson and any motorists that may be impacted by his fleeing across the lanes of travel. With "the luxury of time" and hindsight, here's what McLaughlin said Lujan could have done differently: Deploy his Taser sooner, before Thompson reached the interstate, though Lujan told investigators he wasn't able to catch up with Thompson until Thompson tripped over the guardrail getting onto the interstate. Stopped pursuing Thompson and let him run across the road, which "would likely have led to a less tragic result." But the question of if the deputy was criminally responsible does not rest on the fact that his decision was not the best, or correct, one under the circumstances, McLaughlin said. Feyen defended the deputy's actions, acknowledging that "deputies are routinely faced with making split-second decisions in rapidly changing environments, and they don't have the comfortable luxury of hindsight in those moments." "In this case, the suspect's decisions created a potentially hazardous situation for motorists and the deputy was forced to make a choice: take action and try to prevent harm to the public, or stand back passively and hope no innocent people got hurt," Feyen said in an email statement to the Coloradoan. McLaughlin said that, if Thompson had survived, the DAs office would have filed 10 charges against him, including a felony weapons possession charge for a gun that belonged to Thompson found in the car; six misdemeanors; and three traffic violations. Because he was out on bond at the time, he would have also been charged with violation of bond conditions. Larimer County Sheriff's Office policy on Tasers The sheriffs office policy states that a deputy may deploy their Taser if: A person is violent or is physically resisting A person has demonstrated an intention to be violent or physically resist and appears to present the potential to harm themselves or others Department policy also indicates several factors in which deputies should avoid using their Tasers unless the totality of the circumstances indicates that other available options reasonably appear ineffective or would present a greater danger, including if an individual is somewhere or doing something that may result in a collateral injury, like if they are operating a vehicle or if they might fall from something. A commonsense interpretation of those policies would seem to prohibit incapacitating an individual in a high-speed roadway, McLaughlin said, but the departments policy nor Tasers official training advice specifically mention roadway safety, likely because there is no record of an incident similar to this one occurring before. McLaughlin said he encourages and expects discussions about adding roadway safety in the sheriff's office Taser training moving forward. Feyen said the department's training and policy "provides a strong framework for deputies to continually assess the safety priorities and risks in any situation." "As first responders dedicated to helping others, we grieve the loss of life in any situation," Feyen said. "We train our deputies to take decisive action with the information they have available in the moment. Unfortunately, in some cases, this results in unintended consequences. This incident is no exception, and multiple lives have been changed forever. Nobody wanted this outcome." Lujan was up-to-date with training on Taser use and has had a total of 26 hours of Taser training since joining the sheriffs office in 2019, according to McLaughlin. Who was Brent Thompson? McLaughlin's decision letter described Thompson as a "regular fentanyl user" with a criminal history, but his family said he was so much more than that. "Brent was 28, he had a lifetime ahead of him and he deserved an opportunity to grow and to grow with grace," an attorney representing the family said. In an interview with the Coloradoan, Thompson's parents and siblings described him as smart, witty, creative, caring and kind. His sister, Adrianne Thompson, said "he lit up a room," and that "you wouldn't leave an interaction with Brent without a smile on your face." "I had his back and he had mine," his mother, Karen Thompson, said. His father, David Thompson, said his son was hardworking and enjoyed helping others, especially his family and friends. "He was a really good, creative young man," he said. David Thompson said he saw the body camera footage of his son's death and feels that McLaughlin's decision to not charge the deputy shows he "could care less about my son." "Accountability needs to be done, and it needs to be done now," he said. Thompson's family called for the sheriff's office to fire Lujan and release the body camera footage, but they said they had not received a response from the sheriff's office as of Friday afternoon. An attorney said the family is exploring civil litigation to "pursue accountability." "We love and miss him every day," Adrianne Thompson said. "I think of him all the time." This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Larimer deputy who shocked man with Taser on I-25 won't be charged A security guard was killed and a second person was wounded when a gunman opened fire Saturday morning inside a hospital in Portland, Oregon, authorities said. Following a manhunt, the suspect was later shot and killed by police during a traffic stop. Portland Police Bureau Sgt. Kevin Allen told reporters in a news briefing that the shooting was reported at about 11 a.m. Pacific time at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center in Northwest Portland. A security guard, identified as Bobby Smallwood, was rushed to a trauma center with gunshot wounds, but later died of his injuries, both police and the hospital confirmed Saturday evening. A hospital staff member who was also wounded in the shooting was in stable condition, the hospital said. No patients were wounded, according to police. Following the shooting, responding officers locked down the hospital and began "fanning throughout the neighborhood" searching for the suspect, Allen said. A nearby Fred Meyer grocery store was evacuated and searched as well, but the suspect was not located inside, he disclosed. The suspect was later spotted and pulled over by officers from multiple law enforcement agencies while driving a vehicle in the city of Gresham, which is located just east of Portland, about 15 miles from the hospital, police reported. During that traffic stop, officer opened fire on the suspect and he died at the scene, police said. He was not immediately identified. No officers were injured. Police did not confirm if the suspect was armed when he was found, or whether he fired on police. There was no word on a possible motive in the hospital shooting, and no details were provided on the circumstances which led up to it. During the search for the suspect, a shelter in place order was in effect for the hospital, with all visitors, patients and staff asked to stay away. That shelter in place has since been lifted. Good Samaritan Medical Center is part of the Legacy Health system. Story continues "Words cannot express the profound grief we are experiencing," Kathryn Correia, Legacy Health president and CEO, said in a statement. "We offer our unwavering support to Bobby's loved ones, to our patients in our care, to the staff at Legacy Good Samaritan and to all of our employees and providers suffering today." Lionel Messi fever takes hold in U.S. as he makes his MLS debut Mega Millions jackpot jumps to $820 million after no winner in Friday drawing "Barbie," "Oppenheimer" look to revive Hollywood's struggling summer box office China issues yellow alert for geological disasters Xinhua) 09:42, July 22, 2023 BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Friday issued a yellow alert for possible geological disasters triggered by rain. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the China Meteorological Administration have warned of risks of rain-induced geological disasters in parts of Beijing, Hebei, Liaoning, Chongqing and Guizhou from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Saturday. Residents have been advised to take precautions, especially in areas with hidden dangers. China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system for geological disasters, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) Ryan and Lisa McCarty. jremes84/Getty, HH/Getty, Sylvain Sonnet/Getty, Cris Canton/Getty, Alexander Spatari/Getty, Vadim Rozov/Getty, Tyler Le/Insider Love and Wanderlust is an Insider holiday romance series where people who found love traveling tell their stories. In this tale, we hear how Lisa McCarty met the love of her life, Ryan, on a work trip to London. "We met in London, fell in love in Italy, and then he proposed to me in Paris," Lisa said. This is a girl meets boy story with a European twist. In the summer of 2006, Lisa McCarty was 27, started a new job at a US defense magazine, and headed to London. It was summer in the city, she tells Insider July, to be exact. But this was no ordinary holiday for Lisa, who was attending a business conference called the Farnborough Airshow. "The show itself is all just networking and connecting with people," Lisa said. "It's a grueling schedule because you're basically at the trade show all day, and then you go to client events, and then you go out to dinner, and then you go out for drinks. And so it's all day long networking and working, but really fun too." Accompanied by her new team, she arrived in London, preparing for the first day of the conference, which involved mingling with different company representatives at countless trade booths. And that's when 31-year-old Ryan McCarty saw Lisa for the first time. In an attempt to be subtle, Lisa says Ryan didn't approach her straight off the bat. "I walked by the booth, and apparently, he sent his colleague to come say hello to me," she said. "At the time, I thought it was a business opportunity for me." "He was kind of standing in the background and looking at me," she said, laughing. "I was like, 'Why is this guy looking at me?'" Ryan and Lisa McCarty photographed the day they met in July 2006. Courtesy of Lisa McCarty Ryan and Lisa had no idea who each other was or the companies they worked for and didn't even speak to each other that day, she added. Thankfully, that's not where the story ends. Spoiler alert: Ryan and Lisa have been together for 17 years, happily married for 14 years, and share two children, Ella, 10, and Noah, 4. Story continues But let's not get ahead of ourselves. After that first day, and to the credit of one of Ryan's colleagues, who Lisa says they still regard as a close friend, they both ended up being at the same post-conference meetup at London's Tiger Tiger bar later that evening. Eventually, Ryan mustered up the courage to approach Lisa, who said she was still "clueless" his colleague was trying to set them up. "At the end of the evening, he says, 'Can I walk you to your taxi?' And I was like, 'Why?' I was totally not catching on," she added. Before she hopped in the cab, Ryan politely asked whether he could get her number so they could get together back in the US neither she nor Ryan had a clue at that point they both lived in Arlington, Virginia. "It turned out actually we lived five minutes from each other," Lisa said. "So random. But it was also kind of one of those serendipity moments." From the first date to forever Although Lisa says Ryan was immediately drawn to her, it took their first date, which took place stateside, for her to realize that the person she wanted to spend the rest of her life with was right in front of her. Their first date was a group outing attended by some of their separate friends. "I am my mother's daughter," she joked. "I also wanted to have an out if I wasn't sure." She thought he was "the sweetest guy," but she really fell hard when he offered to drive her home, and they kissed. "I know it sounds like out of a movie or something, but it's so true. Literally swept me off my feet," Lisa said. "I felt like in all the rom-com movies that I had seen; it was that moment that you really want to happen." Lisa and Ryan McCarty on their wedding day in 2009. Courtesy of Lisa McCarty "From that moment on, we basically spent all the time together," she added. After two years of dating and a holiday to Italy, where they first said their "I love you's," Ryan proposed to her at midnight on the Pont Alexandre bridge overlooking the sparkling Eiffel Tower of Paris not so coincidentally, the pair had traveled there for the same type of conference that they'd initially met at in London. "We met in London, fell in love in Italy, and then he proposed to me in Paris," Lisa said. "Then he put the ring on, and then we walked to the closest bar and got a vodka martini," she said. In honor of their international love story, the couple, who now live in Washington, DC, keep figurines and tokens from the different countries they've shared special moments together around the house, including a framed photograph of the Parisian bridge where Ryan proposed to Lisa, behind their dining table. For Lisa and Ryan, finding love abroad wasn't part of the plan As Lisa recalls, she met Ryan at a time in her life when love was the furthest thing on her agenda, especially finding it abroad. "I was very single," she said. "I had been in another long relationship with someone prior to, but it wasn't like, I wasn't thinking of marriage, I wasn't thinking of forever at that point." She told Insider that her mind was on her career, and so was Ryan's. "Both of us at that time were really focused on our career," she said. It might be cheesy, she says, but "when you're not looking for it, I almost feel like it's when things happen." But what if Ryan hadn't lived in Virginia? Lisa told Insider it might've been an obstacle, but nothing they couldn't handle. A recent photograph of Ryan and Lisa McCarty. Courtesy of Lisa McCarty "It might have changed the chronology of events," she said. "But I definitely think something was meant to bring us together." And although they had a storybook start, life, as it is for anyone, hasn't always been such a fairytale. "I went through almost a decade of infertility and struggling to get pregnant with both of our kids," Lisa said. But with Ryan, they made it through. "He's my best friend, and he's my rock," she said. "He's the love of my life and I'm so grateful for him every day." So what about the rest of us singletons dreaming of such an epic, globe-trotting romance? "Just always be open to meeting people and keep yourself open," Lisa said. "Anything's possible." Read the original article on Insider Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, has arrived in St Petersburg for talks with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Source: Pul Pervogo, Telegram channel of Lukashenkos press service Details: Lukashenko reportedly arrived in St Petersburg on Saturday evening. Talks with Putin are scheduled for Sunday, 23 July. Earlier, Lukashenkos press service reported that the Belarusian dictator would meet with his Russian counterpart on 23 July. The agenda of the negotiations includes "security issues, the international agenda, economic interaction, the implementation of allied programs, joint opposition to sanctions pressure, and more." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A mailman was attacked by a dog Friday in the 4400 block of Brandt Way in North Highlands, according to a news release from the Sacramento County Sheriffs Office. About 1 p.m., the 73-year-old postal worker was carrying out his duties. While he was at a house, a dog identified by deputies as a pit bull attacked, according to Sheriffs Office spokesman Deputy William Robinson. The owner of the dog attempted to stop the attack. A passerby called 911, then helped the man to safety, according to the news release. The man was then taken to the hospital by Sacramento Fire Medics for injuries to his face, feet and arms. They did not require surgery, according to the hospitals medical team. No one else was harmed during the incident. Animal control took custody of the dog, the news release stated A man with an active warrant was arrested outside of the Pittsburgh International Airport before a night of riding with high-end performance vehicles. Police say they were called to the airport at around 3 a.m. on Friday after receiving notice that a group of these vehicles would be meeting there. When officers arrived they saw multiple vehicles conducting burnouts in the area. The drivers began doing burnouts as police arrived. Just a few minutes later state police were called to a similar incident where about 50 vehicles were stopped on the Fort Pitt Bridge doing stunts. RELATED COVERAGE >>> State police car hit responding to report of 50 vehicles drag racing on Fort Pitt Bridge As they were investigating police noticed a car with a heavily tinted license plate and altered brake lights. Dashawn Evans, 41, was driving the vehicle, police say. Officers say Evans had a suspended license and was actively wanted. Evans allegedly had a Pennsylvania registration plate inside his vehicle and a search of the vehicle revealed that it had been reported stolen out of Altoona in June. Evans is charged with receiving stolen property and multiple traffic citations. He is currently out on nonmonetary bail. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: State police car hit responding to report of 50 vehicles drag racing on Fort Pitt Bridge Tony Bennett, legendary pop crooner, dies at 96 Woman, three children found dead in home in suspected murder-suicide VIDEO: 2 teens arrested in carjacking of Uber driver in Homewood North DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A man was found dead Friday a day after being booked at the Sacramento County Main Jail the fourth inmate to die at the facility this year. The 37-year-old was taken into custody Thursday by Sacramento County Regional Park rangers on a felony warrant alleging grand theft, according to a Sheriffs Office news release. About 9 a.m. Friday, inmates were let out of their cells for recreation time, according to deputies, who then found the inmate lying on the ground in front of his cell door. After deputies and medical staff attempted lifesaving measures, the Sacramento City Fire Department arrived and took the inmate to a hospital. He was later pronounced dead by hospital staff. Homicide detectives are looking into the death but foul play is not suspected, the news release stated. The Sacramento County Coroners Office will determine the official cause of death and release the name of the man after notifying next of kin. A man pointed a gun at employees of a Madison Burger King Thursday after the workers at the fast-food restaurant told him they were unable to take his order, police say. The Madison Police Department said the incident took place around 11:35 p.m. at the Burger King located along the 2600 block of East Washington Avenue. According to the Burger King's website, the fast-food joint closes at 10 p.m., however the drive-thru is open until 1 a.m. No one was physically injured and no arrests have been made, police said. Police said the investigation is ongoing. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man shows gun at Burger King after workers say they can't help him A man from Ashland has been jailed after police say he tried to arrange to have sex with a 12-year-old girl but was unwittingly communicating with an undercover officer. Anthony Smith, 29, reached out to a prostitution profile found on a website, and asked the person he thought was a prostitute if they could provide a juvenile for sex, Ashland police said in a uniform citation filed in Boyd District Court. The undercover officer began corresponding with Smith Tuesday, police said, and on Wednesday spoke with him by phone, pretending to be the mother of a 12-year-old girl. Police said he agreed to pay $2,000 to perform sexual acts with the child and asked for nude photos of her during the conversation, according to the citation. Smith and the undercover officer agreed to meet at his apartment Thursday morning, and when officers from multiple agencies arrived, police said he was standing in the lobby watching the parking lot through the window while texting with the undercover officer. He was arrested after being identified through photos he had sent the officer, police said. Police said Smith told them he knew what he was doing was wrong and that he didnt intend on carrying out the acts and believed the mother and the juvenile would not actually come. Smith also admitted he was attracted to children but stated he would never act on these attractions, the citation states. Smith was taken to the Boyd County Detention Center and is charged with attempted human trafficking commercial sex activity with a victim under 18 and procuring or promoting the use of a minor by electronic means. He was being held on $100,000 bond, court records show. The investigation involved Ashland police, Kentucky State Police, Jeffersontown police and the FBI, Ashland police said in a Facebook post. SEATTLE (AP) There seems enough evidence at this point that the expectation should be when Seattle and Toronto get together, it's likely to have some wild swings of momentum and be tightly contested. It was that way in the regular season and playoffs last year. And it's continued this season with Saturday the latest example as the Mariners used a five-run seventh inning against Toronto's bullpen to rally for a 9-8 victory over the Blue Jays. J.P. Crawford and Teoscar Hernandez both had two-run doubles as the Blue Jays and Mariners played a game of wild momentum swings, clutch hits and big moments that left the heavily mixed crowd of fans from both teams highly entertained. Anytime we can sneak out a win like that against anyone it's huge especially with a good team like they are, Crawford said. Its a good sign for our team these last two days playing really, really good ball. The teams combined for seven home runs, including each side enjoying a three-homer inning. Seattle led 3-0, watched Toronto rally for leads of 5-3 and 7-4, before the Mariners finally took control with their big seventh inning. Nine of the past 11 meetings between the teams have been decided by one run or in extra innings. What a game. Man, can you imagine if you had tickets to Taylor Swift and you watched that game? What a day, Seattle manager Scott Servais said, a nod to the singer performing across the street at Lumen Field this weekend. Cal Raleigh homered twice for Seattle, while Dylan Moore and Julio Rodriguez added solo shots. For Rodriguez, it was his first homer since June 24 aside from the 61 he hit during the Home Run Derby at his home ballpark. Moving the line along and putting good at-bats together, that's kind of what we can control and we've done that the last two days, Seattle's Ty France said. Toronto made it interesting in the ninth with three hits off Justin Topa, including Cavan Biggios RBI single to pull within 9-8. Topa got Kevin Kiermaier to fly out and George Springer to ground out with the tying run at third base to end it and earn his second save. Story continues Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Brandon Belt and Kiermaier all homered for the Blue Jays in the fifth inning off Seattle starter Logan Gilbert. Belt and Guerrero went back-to-back and Toronto took a 7-4 lead in the seventh inning after Dalton Varsho hit a two-out RBI single and later scored when Hernandez misplayed Alejandro Kirks base hit. But Seattle had another rally in order. It started when Toronto reliever Nate Pearson (5-2) hit France to start the seventh and gave up a double to Moore. Kolten Wong followed with an RBI single and Crawford was next in line with a two-run double that eluded the reach of Guerrero at first base. Yimi Garcia entered for Toronto, but for the second straight night Hernandez got the better of his former team. In the series opener on Friday, it was a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth. Less than 24 hours later, it was a two-run double that gave Seattle a 9-7 lead. A bullpen that's been really, really reliable for us the whole season had a little bit of a blip, Toronto manager John Schneider said. That's baseball. It works out like that sometimes. Isaiah Campbell (1-0) picked up the win. THREE HOMER INNINGS Saturdays game was the first in the majors where both teams had a three-homer inning since Aug. 19, 2018, when the White Sox and Royals both accomplished that feat. STARTING OFF Toronto starter Kevin Gausman matched his career high allowing four homers, but still made it through six innings with nine strikeouts. Gilbert lasted five innings and allowed five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. ROSTER MOVES Seattle placed OF AJ Pollock on the 10-day injured list with a left hamstring strain. Manager Scott Servais said the hamstring had been bothering Pollock coming back from the All-Star break and was aggravated while running the bases in Fridays game. Taylor Trammell was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma for outfield depth. Seattle also swapped young relievers in the bullpen with RHP Isaiah Campbell recalled and RHP Prelander Berroa optioned. PITCHING HELP Torontos Hyun Jin Ryu threw six innings at Triple-A Buffalo on Friday and is expected to join the Blue Jays in Los Angeles early next week. Theres no set plan for his return to the rotation. Ryu has missed the entire season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Newly acquired reliever Genesis Cabrera is expected to join the team in Seattle. UP NEXT Blue Jays: RHP Alek Manoah (2-8, 6.18) will make his third start since rejoining Torontos rotation. Manoah lasted three innings and allowed four runs and walked five in his last start against San Diego. Mariners: RHP Bryan Woo (1-2, 4.74) will try to rebound after lasting just 3 1/3 innings and giving up six earned runs in his last start against the Twins. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows looks on in the Oval Office in April 2020. Evan Vucci/AP Mark Meadows admitted there was little evidence of 2020 election fraud, The Washington Post reported. In a text, the former White House chief of staff said his own son was not finding much proof. The revelation comes amid speculation Meadows is now cooperating with federal prosecutors. Former President Donald Trump's last chief of staff was a loyal soldier while in office and a key player in the effort to keep Trump in power after he lost the 2020 election. But despite his diligent efforts to pressure election officials to find evidence of "fraud," Mark Meadows privately acknowledged there was little to support his boss's sweeping claims, The Washington Post reported Saturday. In a text message, described by the Post as having been recently "scrutinized by federal prosecutors," Meadows told an unnamed White House lawyer that his own son was unable to find much to support what the Trump administration was saying in public. Specifically, Meadows wrote that his son, a lawyer in the Atlanta area, had only found a handful of votes that could have potentially been cast on behalf of deceased individuals, according to the Post, far below the 5,000 that Trump claimed and nowhere near the roughly 12,000 votes that he asked Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to "find" for him in an infamous December 2020 phone call. The Post did not reproduce Meadows' text, writing that it was described to the publication by "people familiar" with the investigation into the January 6 insurrection. According to the newspaper, Meadows' text prompted a joking response from the White House attorney, who asked if his son could help find all the other voters Trump would need to have won the 2020 election. In December 2021, Georgia election officials said just four dead voters were found across the state. Meadows did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. The former chief of staff has kept a low profile in recent months, last posting to his Twitter account in February, amid speculation that he has been cooperating with Special Counsel Jack Smith, who recently told the former president that he is a target of the investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 vote. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider NEW DELHI (AP) Thousands of people, mostly women, held a massive sit-in in Indias violence-wracked northeastern state of Manipur on Saturday to demand the immediate arrest of anyone who took part in the harrowing May assault of two women who were paraded around naked and molested by a mob in an attack that was caught on video. The leaders of religious and women's groups addressed the nearly 15,000 protesters, who also called for the firing of Biren Singh, the top elected official in the state where more than 130 people have been killed since violence between two dominant ethnic groups erupted in early May. The protest was held in Churachandpur, a town 65 kilometers (40 miles) south of Imphal, the state capital. Manipur has been the scene of a near-civil war that was sparked by Christian Kukis protesting against a demand by the mostly Hindu Meiteis for a special status that would let them buy land in the hills populated by Kukis and other tribal groups, as well as a guaranteed share of government jobs. A video showing the women being assaulted triggered widespread outrage and has been widely shared on social media despite the government largely blocking the internet and keeping journalists out of the remote state. The footage shows the two naked women surrounded by scores of young men who grope their genitals and drag them to a field. The women are from the Kuki-Zo community, according to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum, a tribal organization in Manipur. One of them told The Associated Press that the men who assaulted them were part of a Meitei mob that had earlier torched their village. They forced us to remove our clothes and said we will be killed if we dont do as told. Then they made us walk naked. They abused us. They touched us everywhere on our breasts, our genitals, she said by phone from Manipur. The woman said the duo was then led into a field where they were both sexually assaulted. The two women are now safe in a refugee camp. Story continues Police said the assault occurred May 4, a day after the violence between the Kukis and Meiteis started. According to a police complaint filed on May 18, the mob attacked the family of the two women and killed its two male members. The complaint alleges rape and murder by unknown miscreants. The emergence and widespread sharing of the video led India's prime minister, Narendra Modi, to break his more than two months of public silence over the ethnic clashes in Manipur, saying Thursday that the attack on the women was unforgivable. The Manipur state government on Saturday announced a fifth arrest in the attack. Rajiv Singh, the states director-general of police, said officers were carrying out raids to arrest other suspects. The deadly clashes have persisted despite the armys presence in Manipur, a state of 3.2 million people tucked in the mountains on Indias border with Myanmar that is now divided into two ethnic zones. More than 60,000 people have fled to packed relief camps. Nearly 400 men and women also held a protest in the Indian capital with similar demands. They carried placards reading We demand action against the perpetrators and Resign, Biren Singh. In Manipur state, the protesters assembled at a "Wall of Remembrance site in an open ground in Churachandpur, a stronghold of the Kuki tribe, where they kept dummy coffins of people from their minority community who have been killed in the violence. Ngaineikim, the chairperson of the Kuki Women's Organization for Human Rights, accused Singh, who belongs to the majority Meiti community, of orchestrating atrocities and then expressing sympathy for the victims. Singh did not immediately comment on the calls to resign, but on Thursday, he said an investigation was underway to ensure "strict action is taken against all the perpetrators, including considering the possibility of capital punishment. Let it be known, there is absolutely no place for such heinous acts in our society. A man has been arrested in Mexico on suspicion of setting fire to a bar after he was kicked out, killing 11 people, officials say. The attack happened on Friday night in San Luis Rio Colorado, which borders the United States. The bar sits just one street away from the border. Authorities say a drunk young man hurled a Molotov cocktail at the Beer House bar after being thrown out. He had reportedly been harassing women before being ejected. The mayor of San Luis Rio Colorado tweeted on Saturday afternoon that a suspect had been arrested. He has not yet been named. The fire killed seven men and four women and left four other people hospitalised, according to a statement from the Sonora state Attorney General's Office. A number of those injured were rushed across the border to hospitals in the United States for treatment. "According to versions (from) several witnesses, the person with a young, male appearance was disrespecting women in that bar and was expelled," the statement said. It described the object thrown as "a kind of 'Molotov' cocktail". Investigations continue to "clarify the facts" and "bring justice" it said, adding that "in Sonora, no one is above the law". It is unclear if the incident is related to organised crime, which has plagued Mexico for years. CHICAGO -- The sweet smell of chicken soup filled Aris home as she cooked dinner while her husband was at work. Her 2-year-old son was napping, but his toys adorned the living room floor. Im so sorry for the mess, she said in Spanish. I havent had time to clean up. Ari, 32, and her family arrived in Chicago from Venezuela last September seeking asylum. She remembers that day and the uncertainty she felt as if it had been yesterday. We had no idea what was going to happen, where were we going to live, said Ari, who preferred not to use her full name for safety reasons. The family lived in uncertainty at a hotel with hundreds of other families seeking asylum. Now, she said, shes grateful to have made a home of her own in an apartment in a North Side neighborhood thanks to a rental assistance program that helps asylum-seekers move out of shelters and into permanent housing. But while many migrant families like Aris have received rental assistance and signed leases for housing units around the city, more than 11,000 new arrivals remain in limbo, housed in city and volunteer-run shelters and police stations, waiting for their turn. Some are unaware of the assistance available. Though Mayor Brandon Johnson aims to resettle asylum-seekers amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis, finding units and landlords willing to rent is a challenge, say advocates. Some real estate professionals worry that after the assistance runs out, tenants wont be able to continue paying rent. Other property owners and managers say they dont know how to help. During a panel on the issue for real estate leaders and building owners in Chicago, advocates of the program called on landlords across the city to rent to asylum-seekers. The June 11 discussion was hosted by the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance and the Latino Real Estate Investors Council. Ami Novoryta, chief program officer of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the organizations in charge of providing case management to find migrants permanent housing, said during the panel that locating units has been difficult. Story continues Ari learned about the program in December, when families living in hotels were prioritized by the state for rental assistance. For days, she said, she would go on online looking for apartments and use Google Translate to email property managers, explaining her situation and asking if they would be willing to rent under the programs guidelines. It took her nearly a month to find an apartment, and she had to wait until February to move in. Most said no, or didnt even reply, she said. The rent voucher covered the entire $1,400 monthly rent for the two-bedroom apartment, and most of the furniture was donated. She and her husband are responsible for paying the utilities. But its never more than $100 a month, she said. Eligible migrants in the state are able to receive three months of rental assistance when they initially apply for a piece of the millions available through the Illinois Housing Development Authoritys Asylum Seeker Emergency Assistance Program. They can apply again to receive another three months of aid, for a total of up to $15,000. The program began accepting applications Dec. 5 and has received $53.5 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, the majority of which is for emergency rental assistance with a small portion allotted for case management work, over the course of a couple of years. The $53.5 million includes the $25 million the city was looking to allocate with state support in June, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services. Rental assistance funds from the American Rescue Plan Act are set to expire Sept. 30, 2025. In Chicago, there is an additional $4 million available from the Chicago Department of Housings emergency rental assistance funds for rental assistance and case management for migrants in the city. These funds are being administered through the states Department of Human Services, which is working with the states Housing Development Authority. The city has its own contract with Catholic Charities for case management. Asylum-seekers must live in city or state intermediate housing, such as city shelters or state-run hotels, to be eligible for rental assistance, according to the Illinois Housing Development Authority and the Illinois Department of Human Services. Applicants also must make 80% or below the area median income, but applicants do not need a source of income or employment to apply. So far, more than 1,000 people in Illinois have been approved for rental assistance, with around $8.6 million disbursed and about 600 landlords renting to new arrivals, the agencies said. As of earlier this month, 548 of these households approved for rental assistance have signed leases for permanent housing in Chicago, with 271 of those households having moved in, according to a statement from the city. About 200 applicants have been denied rental assistance, primarily because they withdrew their applications from the states program, the agencies said. The resettlement programs are different from other subsidized housing programs available for low-income Chicago residents through the Chicago Housing Authority. CHA programs such as public housing and vouchers are regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which requires noncitizens to have at least one household member with eligible immigration status in order to receive assistance, CHA spokesperson Matthew Aguilar said. When some migrants learned from shelter staff members last week that they could potentially get assistance to move into an apartment, they got excited, said Karla Urbina, an asylum-seeker from Nicaragua living in a shelter near Rogers Park. Urbina, who made the journey from Nicaragua by herself after leaving her children with her mother, spent a little over a month at the District 1 police station in the South Loop after arriving in late May before moving into the shelter. Her reasons for coming to the U.S. echo those of her fellow migrants: to flee violence, abuse from the government and poverty. For my children, Urbina said. She hopes to find other women to share an apartment with, if that would make the process move faster. Unlike the states initial goal to prioritize families, the process is the same for all rental assistance applicants, according to the state. Families are housed together, and singles are on their own but are allowed to move together as long as the landlord agrees and lists everyone on the lease. Until shes connected with a case manager to begin the process, we will have to wait, Urbina said. As many migrants wait, some property owners told the Tribune they would be willing to rent to the new arrivals but dont know how to help. Steve Shah owns 81 units, mainly concentrated on the North Side and the north suburbs. He said he would like to rent to the latest flood of migrants but hasnt had any agencies call him, even though they know him and his history of renting to new arrivals. And while he wants to help, he said that as a smaller housing provider, he can face high risks, since theres no guarantee the tenant will be able to pay once the rental assistance runs out. That could lead to a lengthy eviction process, which would be costly, he said. No good deed goes unpunished. When you take a chance on people, you dont know what their circumstances are, Shah said. In some cases, they take a long time to find a stable job and sometimes some people have other issues. Shah said he thinks the city and state should have an expedited eviction process for migrants if they can no longer pay rent after receiving rental assistance or if they are disruptive. Novoryta, from Catholic Charities, said on the building owners group call that around 5% of migrants who have signed leases about 50 households have run into any issues. Those issues came from both the property management side and the tenant side, with some people reporting pests in units, incidents of domestic violence, noise complaints and unauthorized people staying in units, she said. These are folks who want to stay in the United States and do not want to get involved in the legal system, Novoryta said, adding that some migrants have skipped the rental assistance process altogether because they have saved money for rent and just need help finding a place to live. Tom Terrell, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church in Albany Park, has had five migrant families, with a total of 14 people, living in the church for about two months. Terrell said city rental assistance could help them speed up the process of finding more permanent housing. I think they are months away from (being able to move), Terrell said. It is not a hardship for us to have them here. Were content to let them stay here as long as they need, but I think theyre probably getting a little ready to move out. Jacquelina Jablonski, co-owner of I&J Good Rentals LLC, a property management company with more than 100 rentals on the Southwest Side, started renting to new arrivals in February. She rents to six families, mostly in two-bedroom apartments with rents between $900 and $1,200. All of the families want to renew their leases after their rental assistance runs out. Jablonski said some of her tenants have work permits, and most of the families have one person in the household who has a stable income. Jablonski said when she heard about the program through a caseworker who was helping a family find housing it was a no-brainer. I am Hispanic and I dont want to hold judgment onto my people, Jablonski said. I want to help out my community; I want them to make money; I want them to be able to afford the rent. Jablonski said she has been frustrated to hear other housing providers express resistance to renting to new arrivals. We all have flaws. Theres gonna be challenges no matter what, said Jablonski, founder of the networking group Southwest Housing Providers. I could have somebody that has a perfect credit score, that never had any issues in their life. They could have some issues right now and just have a bad moment in their life where I just wind up being in that crossfire. Rafael Leon, executive director of Chicago Metropolitan Housing Development Corp., rents to seven migrant families. His organization provides more than 700 units of affordable housing in the city and suburbs. So far, we havent had any problems, Leon said. Sometimes people are afraid of immigrants, but I am an immigrant myself; people dont need to be afraid of immigrants. Sometimes you need to take a risk and help people at a disadvantage. Ari said she and her husband feel extremely blessed to have found their landlord. He is very nice to us, she said. As their six-month rent assistance comes to an end this month, she worries she and her husband may not be able to keep up with the payments, but he has found a job working at a restaurant and the two have saved some money, she said. Their landlord agreed to continue renting them the apartment after the financial aid stops, Ari said. We desperately need job permits to make sure that we can get a good job and continue paying for our rent and for a better future for our children, she said. For most migrants, finding work is volatile and sometimes dangerous because they lack work authorization permits. But like Aris husband, many will do it, even if it means working under the table. Business leaders, along with Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other political leaders, have urged the federal government to expedite the process. For future housing support to migrants, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1817, which adds protections to the Illinois Human Rights Act to prevent housing providers from discriminating against someone based on their immigration status. The bill, signed June 30, is effective Jan. 1. SB1817 expands and strengthens the rights for all Illinoisans regardless of their immigration status and provides them with recourse for such discrimination under the IHRA, which did not previously exist, said Jim Bennett, director of the Illinois Department of Human Rights, in a statement. Bennett said people who believe they have experienced housing discrimination because of their actual or perceived immigration status can file a discrimination charge by visiting https://dhr.illinois.gov/about-us/contact-idhr-form.html or calling 312-814-4320 or 866-740-3953 (TTY) ____ Ukrainian military near Bakhmut, June 19, 2023 Ukraine has gained the initiative on the frontlines, Volodymyr Havrylov, Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine, said on Telegram on July 22. Basically, the entire initiative is currently on our side, he explained. Read also: Ukrainian offensive puts pressure on Russian forces near Bakhmut, says military officer This is crucial for our partners, especially concerning military matters. They comprehend all the challenges associated with changes and other issues, and there is a constant exchange of information with our allies, consultations on this matter. A Russian offensive near Kupyansk was described by Havrylov as an audacious attempt to divert Ukrainian forces from other directions. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the Armed Forces are making daily advances, recapturing territory both by short distances and larger areas. Read also: Ukrainian military conducting dual offensive operation, says General Staff Somewhere by 100 meters, somewhere by a kilometer, the deputy defense minister said. Every day, we reclaim our territory, we chip away at the first and second lines of defense where Russia managed to build something. The deputy minister also stated that everyone understands that Ukraine has not yet fully utilized its resources and added that there are no doubts about continued aid from Ukraines partners, and Ukraines achievements in the counter-offensive so far. He also addressed expectations for faster progress. Understandably, for people sitting in warm rooms, browsing the Internet, and watching television, they would want everything to happen faster, he said. But the reality is that we must consider what is happening on the ground. Read also: New rebellion in Russia may be under way, according to Ukrainian intelligence Ukraines counteroffensive: the latest On July 16, the Armed Forces of Ukraine occupied the northern part of the village of Staromykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast, with enemy attempts to regain their lost positions proving unsuccessful. Story continues Read also: Everything is ready to liberate Bakhmut, says Syrskyi Additionally, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar stated on July 17 that Ukrainian forces had liberated over 30 square kilometers of territory from Russian invaders in the Bakhmut direction and nearly 180 square kilometers in the south. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged that progress after the start of the Ukrainian offensive has been slower than desired but reaffirmed the countrys commitment to continue moving forward. The Ukrainian Armed Forces efforts were commended by Chief of the General Staff, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who expressed anger at remarks claiming the counterattack was progressing slower than expected. Zaluzhnyi emphasized that every meter freed by Ukrainian troops came at the cost of blood. Read also: Zelenskyy holds major staff meeting amid Wagner activity in Belarus General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States, remarked that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is a challenging and brutal battle. 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 Jeremy England/American Cancer Society Mississippi state Senator Jeremy England has responded to comments about a photo of him in a pink Halloween costume. The Republican lawmaker says he intentionally wore what he considers a very embarrassing Halloween costume to raise money for breast cancer research. In the original 2020 photo, England wears a shiny pink bodysuit with a fluffy pink tutu, sporting hair dyed pink. After it circulated, some critics even called England an anti-LGBTQ+ slur. England says that he was being bullied and was receiving threats in a Facebook post on Wednesday following the posts spike in popularity. In actuality, England was posed for a photo while he was participating in a 2020 fundraiser for Men Wear Pink. The fundraiser is held by the American Cancer Society, with an initiative intended to raise awareness for breast cancer to end the illness. So now I find myself being personally attacked, England wrote in the post. If you know me, you know that I am honest. You know that I am a Christian, a devoted husband and father, and I am humbly honored to serve as Senator for District 51. I have no shame in the pictures being shared, I only wish it was being shared to help raise money for breast cancer awareness as intended. The news comes as a tense GOP primary is underway in Mississippi. England currently backs Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann for re-election as the states second-highest-ranking official. Someone in support of one of Hosemanns opponents tweeted the pink image with the caption, Hosemann and his groomer weirdos. (The tweet has since been deleted.) I consider that to be some of the worst, dirty form of politicswhich is, of course, where we are now in this race, England said in an interview with The Associated Press. The word groomer has become a smear to falsely claim that LGBTQ+ peopleor anyone ignoring gender norms, as England is only wearing pinkare encouraging pedophilia. England has used the smear campaign against him and Hosemann to garner more attention for breast cancer fundraising. While the photos were the talk of the town in Mississippi, England restarted another Men Wear Pink online fundraiser to raise more money for breast cancer research. It has raised over $5,000 in the past four days. Story continues 1/ We are this close to hitting $5,000 in our fundraiser for breast cancer awareness that started just 3 days ago in response to dirty campaign politics by the McDaniel Campaign. Were all tired of the same old attacks and mud slinging. pic.twitter.com/NX5olv0REz Senator Jeremy England, MS51 (@JeremyEnglandMS) July 22, 2023 England also shared an incident in which state Senator and fellow Republican Melanie Sojourner sent him the tutu photo with no context. Sojourner is also the campaign manager for Hosemann opponent Chris McDaniel. It was obvious that she was sending that to me as a threat, England said. In another interview with The Associated Press, Sojourner says that the text exchange was absent of any intention to threaten and/or bully Sen. England. As the jokester of the Senate chamber, Sen. Englands newfound decorum is both ironic and bizarre, Sojourner said. Sen. England is crying foul purely to score political points for his enabler in chief, Delbert Hosemann. During the Nov. 7 general election this year, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governorwhich could be either McDaniel or Hosemannwill face Democrat D. Ryan Grover. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. ST. LOUIS If you are looking to explore the U.S. this summer, Missouri just might be the perfect getaway and clearly a great location for photos. Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis is Americas most Instagrammable national park, according to new research by travel information site Places To Travel. The study examined Instagram hashtag data and the size of each U.S. national park to find the one with the highest "hashtags per acre." "Social media continues to play a pivotal role in where we decide to travel to for vacation or for a weekend trip, with many social media users taking to their favorite platform to see the best beauty spots at their chosen destination," a spokesperson for Places To Travel commented on the findings. "This study provides a great insight into which locations are the most photogenic and can guarantee visitors the perfect Insta pic." TOP 10 NATIONAL PARKS TO VISIT THIS SUMMER AND THE WEATHER YOU CAN EXPECT The St. Louis Gateway Arch along the Mississippi River at sunset in St. Louis, Missouri, US, on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Gateway Arch National Park is set on a total of 90.9 acres and accumulated 11,221 hashtags on Instagram, the travel site found, making it top of the list with 123.44 hashtags per acre. The National Park Service says the Gateway Arch monument reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the U.S. during the 19th century. The park is a memorial to Thomas Jefferson's role in opening the West, to the pioneers who helped shape its history, and to Dred Scott who sued for his freedom in the Old Courthouse on site. Next on the list is Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah. The park is distinguished by the canyons steep red cliffs and offers many opportunities for hiking. It sits on 35,835.08 acres of land resulting in the second-highest number of hashtags per acre of 20.32, Places To Travel reports. Acadia National Park, situated in Maine, comes in third with its famous rocky beaches and granite peaks. Just outside the top three is Zion National Park in Utah. HERE ARE THE BEST NATIONAL PARKS TO SPOT BALD EAGLES Here's a map rounding out the top 10 most picturesque U.S. national parks, according to Places To Travel. A Texas mom well-known on TikTok for posting about her daughters illnesses to thousands of followers is suspected of medically mistreating her 3-year-old in a case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, authorities said. According to a July 11 arrest warrant, Jessica Gasser, 27, was taken into custody on suspicion of bodily injury to a child, a felony, for lying about her daughters medical history, which caused the girls blood to be drawn unnecessarily about 28 times for a fasting study. In a July 17 news release, the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office in Fort Worth asked people to get in touch with detectives if they had contact with Gasser via text, email or social media, where she used the screen name MedicalMamaJess. The arrest warrant documents a history of reports by medical staff expressing their suspicions that Gasser had been medically abusing her daughter by falsifying her medical history, doctor shopping to obtain a specific diagnosis and medication, and withholding formula from her daughters feeding tube.People with Munchausen by proxy, a psychological disorder that usually affects mothers, seek attention by exaggerating or fabricating the symptoms of a child in their care. MedicalMamaJess responds to a TikTok user's question with video of her medical supply closet. MedicalMamaJess responds to a TikTok user's question with video of her medical supply closet. Gasser has taken down all of her social media accounts, but authorities said they were able to preserve them, including her TikTok account, which had more than 24,000 followers and on which she was most active. Gasser posted there several times a day, authorities said, sharing videos of her daughter in medical settings, posting details about her condition, and offering support and encouragement to other medical parents or parents with medically complex children, as some in online communities describe themselves. As news of her arrest spread, several commenters whod believed her child was chronically ill shared their shock. In one post, viewed more than 96,000 times, Gasser claimed that she and her daughter spent two and half hours at a pediatricians office because her daughters blood sugars had crashed there, according to the warrant. The pediatrician, however, told detectives it had been a 15-minute telephone appointment and that no mention was made of blood sugars, the warrant says. Story continues Gasser also appeared to have a thriving Etsy business, EnchantedTubieTapes, which sold custom-designed tape to hold feeding tubes and other medical devices in place. It has 749 five-star reviews, with many customers sharing pictures of the tape they purchased in a wide range of cheerful designs, including Baby Sea Turtles, Boho Sloths on Rainbows, and Bees and Flowers. Gasser was listed as the organizer for a GoFundMe set up to raise money for a trip to the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio for medical treatment long after doctors had told Gasser that her child did not need it, according to the warrant. A philanthropic organization also paid for Gasser and her childs $1,638.60 flights there. A GoFundMe spokesperson told HuffPost that the campaign has since been taken down and that people who donated have gotten their money back. GoFundMe has zero tolerance for the misuse of our platform and we cooperate with law enforcement investigations of those accused of wrongdoing. This fundraiser has been removed from our platform and all donors have been issued a refund, the spokesperson said. From June 12 to 15, Tarrant County investigators said internet searches found on Gassers cellphone included questions about police access to social media and search histories, and phrases like is lying to a doctor about a child illegal, how do you fix munchausen by proxy, social media and medical child abuse and countries that take families on asylum from CPS, apparently referring to Child Protective Services. Because Gassers daughter wasnt gaining weight, the child was equipped with a feeding tube. When she still did not gain weight, a nurse became suspicious that Gasser was not feeding her enough calories, according to authorities, and reported Gasser to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, which includes CPS. Another physician made a DFPS report because Gasser had been discovered venting her feeding bag, preventing the formula from going through the tube, police said. The profile of the Etsy shop under Gassers name says: Hello! I am the mom to a medically complex child who has a feeding tube. She has had her tube most of her life and absolutely loves picking out fun tapes! So I decided to start printing tapes for her and selling them for other tubies. Some of Gassers TikToks can still be seen in other users posts. In one, video of a young girl using a pacifier and clambering on chairs that appear to be in a doctors office or hospital is captioned Goes to get labs done for being failure to thrive and out of range results blamed on being thin and dismissed As of June 14, the Etsy shop is listed as taking a short break. A note from the shops owner says, we are on vacation mode due to family emergency. dont know if or when well be back. thank you for your patience. After the 3-year-old girl was removed from Gassers care, she began eating without the gastric tube, gained weight and was weaned off a medication that had caused her adrenal gland to stop functioning, authorities said. The girl is now thriving, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. It is unclear whether Gasser has been charged or a court date has been scheduled in the case. The Tarrant County district attorney referred HuffPosts questions to the Tarrant County Sheriffs Office, which has not responded to a request for information about the status of the case. Tarrant County officials have for several years advocated for laws that would criminalize medical child abuse. In Texas, a committee recently approved H.B. 3381, which would make it a crime to misrepresent medical history to obtain unnecessary medical treatment for a child, elderly individual, or disabled individual. Known as Alyssas Law, named after Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourns foster daughter, the legislation would be the first of its kind in the U.S. The sheriff testified at the state Capitol in April that Alyssas biological mother had mistreated her when she was a toddler, feeding her feces through a feeding tube she administered. At the time, I said, how did law enforcement miss this? Why havent we been involved? Its very complicated to get involved, Waybourn said in his testimony. Related... Monkeys are often trained to peform as street entertainers in Pakistan (FAROOQ NAEEM) A baby monkey caused chaos in a Pakistan court after escaping from a troop presented as evidence in a case of wildlife smuggling, officials said. Two men were intercepted outside Karachi Thursday trying to smuggle 14 baby monkeys in crates usually used to transport mangos. But when they were brought to court on Friday, one of the monkeys escaped -- causing chaos as staff tried to tempt it down from a tree. "The monkeys were kept in the boxes in a bad condition... they could hardly breathe," said Javed Mahar, chief of Sindh Wildlife Department. The trade or keeping of wild animals is illegal in Pakistan, but laws are routinely ignored and there is a lively market in exotic pets. Monkeys are frequently kept by street entertainers to attract customers, and in some cases have been trained by criminals to enter houses to steal. The smugglers were each fined 100,000 rupees (around $350) on Friday and the court ordered the monkeys to be handed over to Karachi Zoo -- a step immediately criticised by wildlife officials. "The monkeys should have been returned to their natural habitat from where they were captured," Mahar said. Pakistan's zoos are notorious for their poor facilities and activists accuse them of disregarding animal welfare. In 2020, a court ordered the only zoo in the country's capital to close because of its decrepit state. ak/fox/dhw More and more states are quietly allowing underage workers to serve alcoholic beverages in bars and restaurants, a new report from the Economic Policy Institute shows. The nonpartisan think tank found that since 2021, seven states Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama, New Mexico and Iowa have relaxed legislation to allow teenagers, as young as 16 in some cases, serve alcohol. Its something the report says can be dangerous for younger workers. "While lowering the age to serve alcohol may sound benign, it is not," the report, published Thursday, said. "It puts young people at risk of sexual harassment, underage drinking, and other harms." In perhaps the most extreme proposed legislation, Wisconsin is looking to lower the alcohol service age from 18 to 14, the report found. Meanwhile, Idaho is hoping to lower its alcohol service age from 19 to 17. The report alleged that the move to lower the alcohol service age is part of a larger scheme by the restaurant industry to employ cheaper labor and cut costs. In the nine states where the legislation has been either enacted or proposed, minimum wage and tipping for youth are already low, the Economic Policy Institute found. The report cited the National Restaurant Association a nationwide trade group which represents the interests of the restaurant industry as also promoting legislation to see child labor laws eased. When it comes to restaurant jobs, the Economic Policy Institute says workers are at a higher risk of experiencing racial and gender discrimination, as well as sexual harassment and alcohol dependence. The industry employs the largest share of teens and young adults, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report states that those who advocate for younger workers often use the argument that they will be valuable in supporting employers suffering with a pandemic-induced "labor shortage." Story continues A possible solution to the issue, the report says, would be to have state lawmakers raise minimum wage and eliminate subminimum wage. In April, U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation to crack down on businesses that employ underage workers after the Labor Department reported seeing a 70% increase in the number of children illegally employed by companies over the past five years. Saturday Sessions: Blondshell performs "Joiner" Saturday Sessions: Blondshell performs "Dangerous" Saturday Sessions: Blondshell performs "Cartoon Earthquake" A majority of Americans, 57 percent, believe a new criminal indictment against former President Trump was served to add drama to the presidential election, according to a monthly Harvard CAPS-Harris poll released Friday. However, an identical majority of respondents said an additional indictment would hurt Trumps chances at a second term. The poll comes as Trump was served a target letter Sunday by federal special counsel Jack Smith in his investigation in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the Capitol and the former presidents attempts to overturn the 2020 election sparking speculation that Smith may soon indict Trump again on additional charges. The former president was indicted on 37 criminal counts related to Smiths investigation of mishandling of classified documents in June. A New York state investigation also indicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business documents in April. The poll found that Americans are almost perfectly split on whether Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection and whether he committed a crime. However, about 57 percent of respondents said that prosecutors would have a strong case against Trump in any 2020 election trial. The former president is also being investigated for election interference activities by a Georgia grand jury on state charges, which could result in charges. Overall, 56 percent of respondents said Trump is likely to be acquitted of any charges brought against him. That number includes 80 percent of Republicans, 30 percent of Democrats and 61 percent of independents. The survey polled 2,068 people between July 19-20, after Trump announced he received the target letter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A search and rescue operation is underway after a group of boaters reportedly crashed their vessel into a jetty in Dennis Friday night, according to Massachusetts State Police. At least one of the boaters may be missing and others on the vessel have reportedly been injured after colliding with a jetty near Cold Storage Beach, MSP says. The water search is being conducted by the US Coast Guard, the Barnstable County Dive Team, and Sandwich Fire marine assets. The Dennis Fire Department has incident command and MSP troopers are assisting on the ground. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Firefighters battled a multihome fire in Caldwell on Friday afternoon that sent two men to the hospital, according to the city. The fire began on the 2600 block of Red Robin Way near the intersection of Chicago Street and 21st Avenue at around 2:30 p.m., according to a Caldwell Fire Department Facebook post and a news release from the city. Two men went to the hospital because of the fire, one with smoke inhalation and the other with minor burns, according to the release. Three pets died. One house was seriously damaged and another received only minor exterior damage, the city said. A vehicle was damaged as well. Firefighters were able to get the blaze under control in about 15 minutes, the city said. It appears to be accidental, officials said, but the cause is still under investigation. In addition to the Caldwell department, Nampa and Middleton firefighters responded, Caldwell spokesperson Char Jackson told the Idaho Statesman by phone. Five Marines who took off on training flight on June 8, 2022, died when their Osprey suffered a catastrophic clutch issue, the Marine Corps revealed in an investigation report Friday. Despite the findings -- and earlier concerns over the possibility of a deadly crash caused by the clutch -- the military continues to fly the V-22 with no firm understanding of the cause or any definitive mechanical fix for the problem in sight. The five Marines are the first known casualties of a persistent mechanical issue -- a hard clutch engagement, referred to as HCE -- that shredded the components responsible for powering the aircraft's propellers. The issue has plagued the Osprey platform for years, but it was not acknowledged publicly until a month after their aircraft crashed in southern California. Read Next: 'We Owe Them an Identity and Culture': Space Force's STARCOM Gets New Commander Amber Sax, the wife of John Sax, one of the pilots who died on that Osprey, told Military.com on Friday after the new revelation from the Marine Corps that a tragedy like her husband's death is not something she wants others to experience. "The aviation community is our family. John loved being a Marine; John loved flying the Osprey," she said. "This is a difficult day for so many. We just want to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else." The report and accompanying letters from Marine Corps leaders lay bare the scope of the problem. Despite a history of at least 15 such incidents between March 2010 and August 2022, "the root cause of HCE remains unknown," Maj. Gen. Bradford Gering wrote in a March letter accepting the investigation results. Gering wrote that the fix the Pentagon touted in February -- replacing a part of the drivetrain called an input quill assembly -- serves only to reduce the chance of this costly, and now deadly, issue from happening again. "Once the root cause of HCE is understood, then and only then, can improvements to flight control system software, drivetrain component material strength, and robust inspection requirements be developed where applicable," Gering wrote. Story continues Despite no clear understanding of what causes the problem, the office that runs the Osprey program for the Pentagon claimed in a statement released Friday that, "through a combination of efforts, including the recent input quill assembly replacement bulletin in February 2023, the risk of a HCE event occurring was reduced by greater than 99%." The office's statement added that the results of this investigation "have further driven efforts to mitigate the HCE phenomenon, identify root cause and prevent it from occurring." 'Nothing Seemed Strange About That' The massive, 400-page report released by the Marine Corps on Friday reveals that the Marines of Swift 11 -- the call sign of the doomed Osprey -- had little indication that anything was wrong in the moments leading up to their crash. The Osprey left Camp Pendleton that morning with a wingman headed for an aerial gun range near the California and Arizona border. The training flight was going normally until 12:12 p.m., when the Osprey told its wingman that its gearboxes were getting too hot. However, one of the enlisted crew in the accompanying Osprey later told investigators "that's pretty normal" for the maneuvers they were doing because of the heat in the summer of southern California. "Nothing seemed strange about that," he added. The procedure was for the Osprey to climb to a higher altitude to help cool the oil in the gearboxes. Investigators say Swift 11 began its climb at 12:14 p.m. Seconds later, it would slam into the ground from a height of around 500 feet. The crash was so sudden that the crew of the accompanying Osprey -- Swift 12 -- didn't realize what happened at first. Investigators said that the doomed Osprey made no radio calls and no one witnessed the crash. When Marines in the wingman Osprey spotted the smoke from the crash, the same enlisted crew member told investigators he thought it was an oil or tire fire. "I did not think for a second that it was our wingman," he said in written testimony. After they weren't able to raise Swift 11 on the radio, they flew in for a closer look, and reality dawned on them. Despite the thick, black smoke, one of the pilots on Swift 12 told investigators that "you could tell it was an Osprey." Investigators determined that Swift 11 crashed so violently that its fuel cells ruptured and caught fire. The ensuing fire was so fierce that it destroyed the Osprey's black box. When the crew from a nearby Navy helicopter landed nearby and tried to put out the flames, they found that their fire extinguishers did nothing. The remains of all five Marines -- Capt. Nicholas Losapio, Capt. John Sax, Cpl. Nathan Carlson, Cpl. Seth Rasmuson, and Lance Cpl. Evan Strickland -- were found at their stations, the report said. The oldest Marine, Sax, was 33. The youngest, Strickland, was only 19. Two months later, on Aug. 18, the Marine Corps, responding to the Air Force's grounding of its own Osprey fleet over HCE concerns, would tell reporters that its pilots could handle the issue. "Hard clutch issue has been known to the Marine Corps since 2010, and as such, we have trained our pilots to react with the appropriate emergency control measures should the issue arise during flight," Maj. Jim Stenger, a spokesman for the Marines, said at the time. According to the documents included in the report on the crash, the crew of Swift 11 were some of the best the Corps had to offer. The squadron that the Osprey belonged to -- Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 364, known as the Purple Foxes -- had recently been named the Marine medium tiltrotor squadron of the year. The citation specifically noted the squadron surpassed 10,000 mishap-free hours and "managed risk across a wide spectrum of desert and littoral combat operations." Furthermore, the lead pilot of Swift 11, Losapio, was widely regarded as an excellent aviator. His commanding officer told investigators that he was a "phenomenal" officer and pilot who was "leaps and bounds ahead of his peers in terms of capability and stick control." Friday, however, the office that manages the Osprey program for all the services called the incident "unpreventable and unanticipated." 'A Christmas Tree of Lights' While the Air Force was more cautious and grounded its aircraft in August as the Marines continued to take to the skies, the pause was short-lived. That same month of August would see one of the Air Force's CV-22 Ospreys get stuck on a remote nature reserve in Norway after the crew experienced a hard clutch engagement, forcing an emergency landing. There were no fatalities, but retrieving the aircraft began an intense ordeal involving international cooperation. By September, just two weeks after grounding its Ospreys, the Air Force announced it had cleared them to fly once more, saying that, despite not having a mechanical fix for the issue, "the focus is on mitigating operations in flight regimes where HCEs are more prevalent and ensuring our aircrews are trained as best as possible to handle HCEs when they do occur," a spokesperson said at the time. Lt. Gen. Jim Slife, then the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, told reporters at the Air Force Association's Air, Space & Cyber Conference in September that he was frustrated by the lack of a mechanical fix to the problem and said he was grateful there hadn't been any deadly incidents with his command. "In AFSOC, we haven't had a catastrophic mishap," Slife said at the conference. "Each one of them results in a kind of a Christmas tree of lights, caution lights in the cockpit. ... I'm really, really proud of our crews and the way they've been able to safely land these airplanes, but I'd rather they not have to demonstrate their superior skill because we put superior controls in place to prevent them from having to do that." That same month, Military.com exclusively reported the details of a 2017 Air Force Osprey mid-flight incident in Arizona that was caused by a clutch issue similar to the one that downed Swift 11. That incident caused more than $5 million in damage to the aircraft, according to the Air Force report. Both engines and five gearboxes needed to be replaced, as well as nearly a dozen other components. It took a team of six, working 12-hour days, 45 days to repair the aircraft, according to the report. It wasn't until February that the issue resurfaced again when the military announced that the services that fly the aircraft had grounded an unknown number of Ospreys. Officials wouldn't disclose the exact number, citing "operational security concerns." A defense official, who spoke with reporters on the condition of anonymity at that time, pointed to the input quill assembly, saying it wears out more quickly than previously thought and would need to be replaced. Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse, an Air Force Special Operations Command spokeswoman, told Military.com on Friday that the service has been flying the Osprey since the February grounding. The command did not comment on the revelation that a hard clutch engagement led to the deaths of the five Marines. The released Marine Corps investigation did manage to fill in one detail of the current approach to flying the Osprey that the military wouldn't discuss in February: how many hours it takes to wear out that assembly. Both the report and Gering's letter mention that an analysis determined that the input quills should be replaced after 800 flight hours. Both of Swift 11's quills had more than 2,000 hours of flight time. It's not clear what portion of the Marine or Air Force fleet is above the 800-hour threshold. Meanwhile, when fiscal 2024 budget documents came out for all the services earlier this year, something became clear: The military was done buying the flawed aircraft. The Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force all say that they don't need any new aircraft and that the end of the buy is simply the end of the contract for the services. But Liz Mildenstein, a spokeswoman for the office that oversees the program, told Military.com in March that they were dedicated to the aircraft "for decades to come." Japan is the only other country that currently flies the Osprey, and other countries such as Israel and Indonesia have reportedly been interested over the last decade. Jeremiah Gertler, a senior associate with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank in Washington, D.C., who specializes in aviation, told Military.com in an interview Friday that, while the U.S. military is done buying it, that doesn't mean they're done flying it in the future, if there's a fix. But other countries who are weighing additional or new buys have and will be paying attention to the V-22 track record. "Those countries are the ones who are going to have to make the judgment about suitability for their use," Gertler said. "Everybody knows the V-22's record, for both good and ill. The countries that are considering buying are keeping their eyes open." The Families Grieve Meanwhile, many of the families of the five Marines have grieved publicly, and the Marine Corps said that it would "never forget" them "as we continue with our quest to provide the safest, most lethal platforms to the men and women who fly them." Amber Sax, who was pregnant with her second child at the time of the mishap, has started a foundation in her late husband's name to provide scholarships to "bolster the aspirations of current and future aviators." Avery Rasmuson has made many posts on Instagram talking about her late husband and posted photos of the various memorials the Purple Foxes have put together for the crew of Swift 11. The family of Evan Strickland has started a podcast talking about his life and service. Kelsie Hancock was set to marry Losapio just shy of two months after the crash. She has since spoken on social media about what it was like to learn about his death and how she has tried to move forward with her life. "Two Marines and a chaplain were at my door," Hancock recalled in a YouTube interview. "I remember getting the knock and I knew. I knew what it was. And that whole walk down the hallway I was like, 'Please God, please let it not be this.'" -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. Related: Military Grounds Some Ospreys While a 'Complete Redesign' Is Underway on Troubled Clutch System Journalists gather around a rehearsal model of the sample return capsule on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft at Dugway Proving Grounds on Thursday, July 20, 2023. NASA and military personnel have been using the model as they prepare for the Sept. 24 reentry of the actual sample return capsule currently onboard the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which collected samples from the asteroid Bennu. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News The most dangerous asteroid in the solar system is coming to Earth this fall a piece of it, at least as part of NASA's first U.S. mission to collect a sample from an asteroid will make its landing in the Utah desert. OSIRIS-REx will land Sept. 24 at the Utah Test and Training Range in Dugway. Analyzing the sample from the asteroid Bennu, estimated to be around 4.5 billion years old, will help scientists understand the origin of life in the universe. "It's a scientific time capsule from the very beginning of our solar system," University of Arizona principal investigator Dante Lauretta said of Bennu. "It's older than the earth, and it really tells us about where we came from." Members of the media on Thursday were invited to visit the Dugway Proving Ground, located around 85 miles west of Salt Lake City, to learn about the significance of the asteroid sample collection and the preparation that has gone into it. Experts came to the site from NASA, Lockheed Martin, University of Arizona, Utah State University and the Utah Test and Training Range. Kimberly Allums, OSIRIS-REx curation project lead, back left, and Nicole Lunning, lead sample curator for OSIRIS-REx, talk to journalists outside a cleanroom at Dugway Proving Grounds on Thursday. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Background and preparation OSIRIS-REx has been in the works for 20 years, with the mission aircraft in space for the past seven years. The aircraft containing the capsule used to collect the asteroid sample launched from Cape Canaveral on Sept. 8, 2016. It reached Bennu in December 2018 and left with a sample in May 2021. The capsule is the size of a large car tire, weighs approximately 110 pounds and is covered in a cork-based thermal material to protect the sample from heat. It hinges open to collect samples "like Pac-Man's mouth," said Richard Witherspoon, ground recovery lead at Lockheed Martin. Witherspoon said the recovery team has conducted five major rehearsals in anticipation of the landing, with the most recent one taking place at the Utah Test and Training Range. Rehearsing on-site has allowed the team to analyze ground conditions and simulate the real landing. Story continues "There's a lot of learning how to work with our science team members to choreograph everything that we're doing, and you can only do that by actually having the real hardware there, all of the people, in the conditions," Witherspoon said. A rehearsal model of the sample return capsule on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is pictured at Dugway Proving Grounds on Thursday. NASA and military personnel have been using the model as they prepare for the Sept. 24 reentry of the actual sample return capsule. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Witherspoon worries that the metal screws on the capsule may fuse together, keeping them from opening it. Weather could also impact the landing, and the parachute could also get stuck. But Witherspoon's team has rehearsed every possibility. "Our team now feels really confident that whatever we see the day when we get there, we already have a plan for how we're going to operate and react, and everyone has practiced that, so nothing should come as a surprise for us," he said. "We don't expect anything catastrophic to happen." Landing day The OSIRIS-REx aircraft will drop the capsule from space around four hours prior to the expected landing time of 8:55 a.m. on Sept. 24. The capsule will enter the earth's atmosphere in an elliptical orbit above California at around 27,700 mph, and at around 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The capsule's temperature will lower to around 130 degrees by the time it lands at the Utah Test and Training Range. It is unlikely that the object's landing will disturb any surrounding communities, experts said. The recovery team will probably use oven mitt-like thermal gloves to protect themselves against the heat, Witherspoon said. If it has cooled enough, however, they will use simple nitrile gloves. The concern is protecting the capsule from contamination, as the capsule itself poses no major threat to the team members. A cleanroom at Dugway Proving Grounds is pictured on Thursday. NASA and military personnel are preparing for the Sept. 24 reentry of the sample return capsule from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which collected samples from the asteroid Bennu. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News The recovery could take up to two hours, with a team of 11 people involved in collecting not only the capsule, but also nearby air and soil samples. Scientists believe they will have around 250 milligrams of regolith from Bennu, Witherspoon said, but they could have collected up to two kilograms. The capsule will be taken to a cleanroom facility on site to minimize contamination and prepare the canister containing the sample to send to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The canister will be packaged using nitrogen purging, a method of using nitrogen to displace air and avoid potential contamination from air and humidity. In Houston, the sample will be separated into parts to be studied and shared. Some portions will go to a vault in White Sands, New Mexico, to be preserved under the assumption that future scientists will have better technology for analyzing space samples. This is the same protocol followed with samples from NASA's moon landing missions, the first of which occurred on July 20, 1969 exactly 54 years ago Thursday. Other samples will also be shared with Canada in exchange for the laser altimeter it provided that helped map out Bennu, and with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, among other organizations. The interior of a rehearsal model of the sample return capsule on the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft is pictured through a small port in the capsule at Dugway Proving Grounds on Thursday. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Significance Lauretta said analyzing the sample will help scientists not only understand the origin of life in the universe, but hopefully also how common it is for life to form throughout the galaxy. It will also help them prepare for the future, including "understanding our cosmic neighborhood and understanding any potential threats from outer space that we might need to deal with in the future," Lauretta said. "This is the most dangerous rock in the solar system," Lauretta said of Bennu. The asteroid, around 500 meters in diameter, is the most likely of any asteroid to hit Earth. But it likely won't do it until the late 22nd century, if it hits Earth at all. "Likelihood is low, consequences are high we have to do something to understand it," he said. Kimberly Allums, OSIRIS-REx curation project lead, said the sample could possibly contain unique minerals for scientists to learn from. Military installations at Dugway Proving Grounds are pictured on Thursday. NASA and military personnel are preparing for the Sept. 24 reentry of the sample return capsule from the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft, which collected samples from the asteroid Bennu. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Why Utah? This isn't the first time the Utah Test and Training Range has been used as a landing site. NASA's Stardust and Genesis missions both brought pieces of comets back to the Utah desert. Scott Dixon, public affairs specialist at Dugway, said the proving ground was founded in 1942 in response to the need for higher defense shown by the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. It's about the same square mileage as Rhode Island, and far from populated areas, making it the perfect place to test biochemical weapons to improve the nation's defense but also making it the perfect place to land space equipment. "Utah's becoming the place to drop capsules from outer space in the United States," Lauretta said. Mike Moreau, OSIRIS-REx deputy project manager, added that this is just another example of the United States government using its resources to best serve its country. "This is huge for Utah," said Lindsay Carl, the Utah Test and Training Range range control officer. Dante Lauretta, the OSIRIS-REx principal investigator from the University of Arizona, poses at Dugway Proving Grounds on Thursday. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News What's next? The aircraft used for OSIRIS-REx isn't done yet. It will drop off its capsule Sept. 24 without landing, then embark on mission OSIRIS-APEX to explore the asteroid Apophis. The OSIRIS-REx mission also marks a unique turning point for NASA, as it entails many firsts for the agency, Lauretta said. Along with collecting the United States' first asteroid sample, this mission has included a new level of contamination control and better documentation of samples that he said will "become the agency standard moving forward." Lauretta said the contamination protocol and biosphere interaction policies learned from OSIRIS-Rex will be influential in an upcoming sample mission to Mars. "Sample return is kind of the way we're going to explore the solar system in the future, and a lot of what we've done on OSIRIS-REx is going to be a pathfinder for future missions," Lauretta said. NASA experts stand in a dark room with Earth visualizations to show the impacts of climate change. NASA scientists opened a discussion on Thursday (July 20) to outline key solutions they've been working on to mitigate the dire effects of global warming. As heat waves continue to sweep across Earth, wildfires burn across North America and natural disasters like hurricanes increase in severity all consequences of human-induced climate change the space agency is paying attention and looking for ways it can help mitigate the effects of a warming planet. "This last June was the warmest June on record," Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, said . "And we anticipate, with the understanding of what's going on, on a day by day basis, that July is likely to be the warmest absolute month on record." To be clear, that's a record that goes back many hundreds, if not thousands, of years, he said. While Schmidt and fellow presenters pointed out quite a few of NASA's endeavors to combat climate change, some highlights included missions to improve our understanding of how global warming is changing biological systems, looking into next-gen technologies like unmanned aircraft to monitor wildfire response mechanisms and deploying satellites to track greenhouse gas emissions across the globe. Related: NASA highlights climate research at opening of inaugural summit Another recurring theme of the discussion was the importance of generating pristine climate data that's available to the public, researchers and policymakers with the power to make a difference. There was even some preliminary talk about how artificial intelligence and deep learning could aid the agency with getting climate data that's as precise and accurate as possible, but the team emphasized how such mechanisms are still very much in-the-works. "Our science isn't done until we've communicated it," Karen St. Germain, director of NASA's Earth Science Division, said. "This has never been more important or compelling than it is today. NASA Earth Science is end-to-end capability from technology all the way through what the observations mean, today and into the future. That end to end capability allows us the opportunity to deliver actionable science and information so more people can see the Earth as we see it." Story continues "You think of NASA as a space agency; you think of NASA as an aeronautical agency," NASA administrator Bill Nelson said, "NASA is also a climate agency." This sentiment grew clear as a variety of experts in marine science, aeronautical engineering and environmental studies spoke during the conference about the immediacy with which climate change must be handled. "The heat waves that we're seeing in the U.S., in Europe and in China are demolishing records left, right and center," Schmidt said. "There has been decade on decade of increasing temperatures throughout the last four decades." In fact, Gavin suggested 2023 may prove to be the hottest year on record and 2024 will more than likely take that grim title. NASA isn't only focused on managing the crisis in order to protect humanity, but also to aid species on land and in sea. "The waters around Florida are over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is extremely complicated for marine species like coral reefs, marine plants and marine animals," Carlos Del Castillo, chief of the Ocean Ecology Laboratory at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said. "And all the CO2 we're putting into the air is causing that temperature a lot of it goes into the ocean." To put this into perspective, he says we have increased the acidity of the ocean by about 25% since the Industrial Revolution. "Pretty much everywhere, particularly in the oceans, we've been seeing record-breaking sea-surface temperatures even outside of the tropics," Schmidt said. "We anticipate that is going to continue, and the reason why is because we continue to put greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. Until we stop doing that, temperatures will keep on rising." a satellite view of Earth with a purple and yellow plume superimposed over it NASA's upcoming PACE mission , slated to launch in early 2024, as well its GLIMR mission , currently expected to begin the following year, will hopefully help scientists decipher how to tackle that marine issue. Both are satellite-based systems, but PACE, which stands for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem, will be more focused on detecting ocean color changes, clouds and aerosols while GLIMR, which stands for Geostationary Littoral Imaging and Monitoring Radiometer, will identify things like harmful algal blooms and oil spills. The two, however, are thought to work in conjunction with one another to paint a full picture of how climate change is affecting our oceans and the organisms within. They'll add to the over two dozen climate-related missions NASA already has in orbit, such as the Orbiting Carbon Observatories 2 and 3 which measured greenhouse gas emissions stemming from Europe's largest coal-fired power plant earlier this year. "Why should we care?" Del Castillo said, "Well, these little marine plants are at the bottom of the food web. They produce about 50% of the oxygen that we are breathing and, of course, the ocean helps modulate the weather." In the realm of spaceflight, Huy Tran, aeronautics director at NASAs Ames Research Center touched on some of the green technologies and sustainable aviation propulsion mechanisms the agency intends to develop for various forms of air travel. RELATED STORIES: Ice clouds high in Earth's atmosphere could help predict climate change. NASA wants a closer look NASA climate change satellite back online after instrument shutdown Global temperatures were the hottest on record for 3 days in a row in July "Last year, the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate initiated a sustainable flying National Partnership," Tran said, referring to one of NASA's aviation research organizations, "This initiative allowed us to accelerate and make good progress on net zero aviation by 2050." Some ideas brought up for sustainable flying include fully electric aircraft and a way to ensure reduced fuel burn for commercial aviation. Tran also discussed the possibility of creating unmanned drones and aircraft to take care of wildfires without risking lives. Further, by partnering with organizations such as FEMA and NOAA, Tom Wagner, associate director for Earth Action, said the agency hopes to identify what society's needs are with regard to actionable climate change solutions. "What we know from science is that human activity and principally greenhouse gas emissions are unequivocally causing the warming that we're seeing on our planet," Kate Calvin, NASA chief scientist and senior climate adviser, said. "And this is impacting people and ecosystems around the world." With the start of school just around the corner, the Nassau County Sheriffs Office has started training with Nassau County Fire Rescue. We train all summer long to plan for emergency situations at schools, said Nassau County Sheriffs Office in a Facebook post. So even though our SROs arent in schools over the summer they are training and staying prepared to protect your children. NCSO says this partnership will keep them prepared to do whatever it takes to keep Nassaus kids safe >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. The National Resistance Center has said that the Russian occupiers are preparing to conduct house-to-house voting procedures, with both early and conventional voting at polling stations. Source: National Resistance Center Quote: "In September, the Russian Federation will hold simulated elections to its pseudo-parliament, as well as local elections, which the enemy plans to hold in the temporarily occupied territories. However, the local population, which ignored the "referendum" in 2022, is not planning to go to the elections of the terrorist country. As a result, the occupiers, as they did a year ago, plan to hold out-of-town elections and drag out the process in days." Details: The centre notes that the "elections" will take place from 31 August to 10 September. Starting from 31 August, it will be possible to "vote" ahead of time, on 8-9 September, Russians will go door-to-door and collect votes from residents in their homes, and then conventional voting will take place at polling stations on 10 September. "All this is necessary to hide the lack of attendance. Russian propagandists will explain the locals ignoring of the elections by the fact that they all voted early or at home," the National Resistance Center notes. Background: Earlier, it was reported that Russia plans to hold "elections" in the occupied territories of Ukraine on 10 September. The European Union condemned Russia for its intention to hold sham elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine in September 2023. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A 26-year-old Nebraska man who posed as a 17-year-old and attended high school for more than 50 days was arrested on sex-related charges this week, Lincoln police said. Zachary Scheich went as Zak Hess and posed as a 17-year-old to attend two high schools in Lincoln during the 2022-23 school year, police said at a news conference Thursday. He is charged with two counts of sexual assault using an electronic device and one count of sex trafficking of a minor. Police arrested him Thursday afternoon at a library, police Assistant Chief Brian Jackson said. Lincoln Police Department in Lincoln, Neb. (Google Maps) He attended school as a student, he attended classes. That was the initial investigation, Jackson said at a news conference. And as the investigation progressed, we learned of additional contacts he had with juvenile students. The allegations include text messages between Scheich and minor girls, CBS affiliate KOLN of Lincoln reported, citing court documents. Scheich allegedly asked for pornographic material from a student whom he had previously paid, ABC affiliate KLKN reported, also citing court documents. Court records did not appear to be publicly available online. The Lancaster County Attorneys Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment or details about the case Friday night. Jackson on Thursday did not detail the allegations, but he said that sex trafficking of a minor can be charged if you coerce or pay for certain items. Scheich used convincing fake documents to enroll, Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Paul Gausman said Friday. Scheich is 5 feet, 4 inches tall and 120 pounds. "This individual, while looking like a high school student, also presented incredibly well-crafted fraudulent documents," he said. Police began their investigation into Scheich on June 1, officials said. A concerned parent contacted a school administrator and the school district contacted police, Lincoln Public Schools Director of Security Joe Wright said. He attended a total of 54 days at two high schools in the last school year. He first enrolled in Northwest High School during the first semester, then transferred to Southeast High School during the second, police said. Story continues Scheich used a fraudulent birth certificate, immunization records, a high school transcript and a physical from a clinic in enrolling, Matt Larson, Lincoln Public Schools associate superintendent for educational services, said Friday. The documents aren't typically verified for enrolling students, he said. "We take students' words for these documents. We're reviewing all of our enrollment processes right now," Larson said. The district also said that they were working on other safeguards, like multiple in-person conversations with parents and guardians of an enrolling student. Schiech enrolled and submitted the documents online, Larson said. He said that is not unusual. Schiech began attending the first school on Oct. 20, and transferred to the second on Jan. 12, the district said. It was not immediately clear if Schiech had an attorney who could speak on his behalf. A phone number listed in connection with him in public records was not accepting calls Friday night. Scheich graduated from Lincoln Public Schools in 2015, officials said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Map of Namibia Namibia, a large and sparsely populated country on Africa's south-west coast, has enjoyed stability since gaining independence in 1990 after a long struggle against rule by South Africa. Germany took control of the area which it called South West Africa in the late 1800s. The discovery of diamonds in 1908 prompted an influx of Europeans. South Africa seized it during the First World War and administered it under a League of Nations mandate. Namibia achieved independence in 1990 after a bush war of almost 25 years. Inter-racial reconciliation encouraged the country's white people to remain and they still play a major role in farming and other economic sectors. Read more country profiles - Profiles by BBC Monitoring REPUBLIC OF NAMIBIA: FACTS Capital: Windhoek Area: 825,615 sq km Population: 2.5 million Languages: English, Afrikaans, German, Otjiherero, Khoekhoegowab, Oshiwambo, RuKwangali, Setswana, siLozi, !Kung, Gciriku, Thimbukushu Life expectancy: 59 years (men) 67 years (women) LEADERS President: Hage Geingob Namibian President Hage Geingob Hage Geingob was voted in as president in the November 2014 elections while serving as prime minister. He was reelected in 2019. He succeeded Hifikepunye Pohamba, who stepped down at the end of the two terms allowed by the constitution. Dr Geingob, who was born in 1941, chaired the constituent assembly which drafted the constitution which came into effect with Namibian independence from South Africa in 1990. He was independent Namibia's first prime minister. The president, who shares executive power with the cabinet, is limited to two five-year terms. Prime minister: Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila Namibian Prime Minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila was appointed prime minister in 2015, having served as finance minister for several years. A longtime member of the ruling South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), she went into exile with the group to Sierra Leone at the age of 13. After completing her economics degree in the United States, Ms Kuugongelwa-Amadhila returned to Namibia and worked briefly in the office of founding President Sam Nujoma, who quickly promoted her to head the National Planning Commission. Story continues She then served as minister of finance from 2003 until her promotion to the position of prime minister by President Geingob. MEDIA Namibia has spectacular natural attractions, such as the dunes at Sossusvlei in the Namib-Naukluft National Park Namibia is one of the more media-friendly countries in Africa. Broadcasters and the private press give coverage to the opposition, including views critical of the government. TIMELINE The German occupation forces almost wiped out the entire Herero population Some key dates in Namibia's history: Namibia has been inhabited since prehistoric times by the San, Damara, and Nama. 14th Century AD - Bantu people begin to arrive during the Bantu expansion from central Africa. 18th Century - Oorlam people from Cape Colony cross the Orange River and move into southern Namibia. 1878 - The British colony of the Cape of Good Hope annexes the port of Walvis Bay and the offshore Penguin Island, which become part of the new Union of South Africa in 1910. 1886-90 - Present international boundaries established by German treaties with Portugal and Britain. Germany annexes the territory as South West Africa. 1904-1907 - the Herero and Nama resist German colonialism. German forces brutally supress the uprising and systematically kill 10,000 Nama and some 65,000 Herero - in what is now acknowledged as genocide. 1915 - South Africa takes over territory during World War One. 1920 - League of Nations grants South Africa mandate to govern South West Africa (SWA). 1946 - South Africa refuses to place SWA under UN trusteeship. 1958 - Herman Toivo Ya Toivo and others create the opposition Ovamboland People's Congress, which becomes the South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) in 1960. 1961 - UN General Assembly demands South Africa terminate the mandate and sets SWA's independence as an objective.. 1966 - South West Africa People's Organisation (Swapo) launches armed struggle against South African occupation. 1968 - South West Africa officially renamed Namibia by UN General Assembly. 1973 - UN General Assembly recognises Swapo as "sole legitimate representative" of Namibia's people. 1970s - Namibia became one of several flashpoints for Cold War proxy conflicts in southern Africa. The USSR and Cuba send military support to Swapo's armed wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). 1988 - Growing war weariness and the reduction of tensions between the superpowers compels South Africa, Angola and Cuba to accede to the Tripartite Accord. South Africa agrees to Namibian independence in exchange for removal of Cuban troops from Angola. 1990 - Namibia becomes independent, with Sam Nujoma as first president. 1994 - South African exclave of Walvis Bay turned over to Namibia. 1999 - Government quashes a secessionist attempt in the northeast Caprivi Strip by the rebel Caprivi Liberation Army. 2004 - Germany offers formal apology for its colonial-era mass-killings. 2005 - Namibia begins the expropriation of white-owned farms as part of a land-reform programme to resettle landless black Namibians. 2022 - Estimates suggest that two exploration wells in the offshore Orange Basin could hold two and three billion barrels of oil, respectively. The expected revenue could transform Namibia's economy. To a crowd of Tennessee's GOP faithful on Saturday, July 15, Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis went to his greatest hits and boasted about his self-proclaimed battle against 'wokeness.' Weve made the state of Florida the place where woke goes to die," DeSantis said. And now, it is our mission as Americans to ensure that in January 2025 ... we leave woke ideology in the dustbin of history where it belongs. But woke ideology, plain and simple, is imaginary hatred that its critics can't even define. There is no culprit, only rabbit holes that lead to nowhere. What should be in the dustbin of history are white supremacy and white nationalism. They promote the view that non-whites are inferior and are worthy of harm. But yet some in our country choose to hold on to these dangerous ideologies. Let me assure you, DeSantis, Tennessee does not have a problem with "woke ideology" but with white supremacy and nationalism that have led to acts of hatred and fear. Hear more Tennessee Voices: Get the weekly opinion newsletter for insightful and thought provoking columns. Tennessee's history with white supremacy Throughout 1996, 160 Black churches in America were burned down due to arson. Tennessee had victims of this hatred. Some Ku Klux Klan members keep an eye out for folks gathering in Decherd, Tenn. July 14, 1979 for a KKK rally. More than 300 showed up for the rally and cross burning. On Jan. 8, 1996, the Inner City Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, was hit with 18 Molotov cocktails. "Die (racial slur) Die! and White Is Right were painted on the backdoor of the church. Over 20 years later no one has been charged with burning the church to the ground. Salem Missionary Baptist Church, a church northeast of Memphis was also victim to a mysterious fire. Then president Bill Clinton and wife Hillary went to the church to help repair the damages. Let's not forget that on March 2, hours after Gov. Bill Lee signed anti-drag and anti-trans laws, Nazis hung a sign up on Chestnut Street near Fort Negley in Nashville, TN. The sign read: Thank you Bill Lee for tirelessly working to fight (anti-gay slur) and (anti-trans slur). We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children. Story continues The Governor strongly condemns anti-Semitism, white supremacy and hate of any kind. Acts of hate have no place anywhere and will not be tolerated in the state of Tennessee," said Jade Byers, a spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Lee. Blanket statements do not reach the heart of an issue. It allows white supremacy to seep through the cracks and continue. In a most recent incident, three African American churches in Columbia, Tennessee that were victims of racial intimidation. Flyers that included hateful messaging were found at Faith United Missionary Baptist Church, Bethel Chapel AME, and Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on July 9. The flyer references the "Old Glory Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" and includes an email address for an unnamed individual. "This attack on the serenity and sanctity of Black parishioners is nothing less than demonic," Tennessee NAACP said in a statement about the KKK flyers. "This brazen act is a reminder that in 1996 numerous black churches across Tennessee and the South East were burned and their parishioners left without a place of worship." Police have arrested a 38-year-old white man and a 17-year-old boy and charged them with civil rights intimidation. If convicted of the crime, the two perpetrators could spend less than a year in jail and will have to pay a $2,500 fine.Racism and white nationalism continues in our country today frankly because leaders have attempted to make light of this hatred. Sign up for Black Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling columns by Black writers from across Tennessee. Sign up for Latino Tennessee Voices newsletter:Read compelling stories for and with the Latino community in Tennessee. Our leaders have encouraged white supremacy When asked during a radio show if white nationalists could serve in the military, Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville referred to them as Americans. After first defending what he said on CNN, he later retracted his comments, saying "white nationalists are racists." LeBron Hill is an opinion columnist for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. When a U.S. senator says a hate group is wrongfully labeled as such, that message reaches across the country. It emboldens people, like the two Tennessee men, to send KKK flyers to Black churches in an attempt to instill fear. But the hatred, the racism that is suffered by the hand of white supremacy is real. Black Tennesseans have the scars to prove it. It is on us to make the past, the past. The church burnings or messages of hate do not stay just a dark part of history if we do not condemn the ideology that people believed to carry out these unspeakable acts. LeBron Hill is an opinion columnist for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and the curator of the Black Tennessee Voices newsletter and Instagram account. Feel free to contact him at LHill@gannett.com or 615-829-2384. Find him on Twitter at @hill_bron or Instagram at @antioniohill12. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee's problem is not 'wokeness'; it's white supremacy The Biden administration expects American-made F-16 fighter jets will arrive in Ukraine near the end of this year, a top spokesperson said, signaling that U.S. officials are feeling a new sense of urgency to deliver the warplanes as quickly as possible. Now look, the F-16s will get there probably towards the end of the year, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, said on Fox News on Thursday. But it's not our assessment that the F-16s alone would be enough to turn the tide here. National security adviser Jake Sullivan echoed Kirby's comments on Friday, saying the U.S. is "moving rapidly" to get F-16s to Ukraine. "We are going to push as fast as possible," Sullivan said during remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, Colo. The Ukrainians have been pleading for modern fighter jets to help repel Russian invaders for more than a year. President Joe Biden in May lent U.S. support to an international effort to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16s, but the U.S. has yet to formally approve the training program, which is required under export restrictions. In the meantime, a coalition of 11 nations, led by Denmark and the Netherlands, has taken early steps to make the training program a reality. European officials said last week that they hope to begin the training in Denmark in August, and a training center will also be set up in Romania. The U.K., in the meantime, will soon start English language instruction for Ukrainian pilots. F-16 manufacturer Lockheed Martin plans to supervise pilot training through a subcontractor, Draken International,according to Ukrainian press reports. However, countries have been hesitant to commit to sending F-16s from their own fleets to the battlefield after training concludes. Norway has plans to send two trainer aircraft for Ukrainians to learn on, according to a Norwegian defense official, but that has not been announced publicly. Kirbys remarks are aspirational, as the administration is still working to finalize plans to deliver the jets and train Ukrainian pilots, said a U.S. official, who like the Norwegian official was granted anonymity to speak about a sensitive technology transfer. Story continues The U.S. is working to get Ukraine the F-16s as quickly as possible, but it will take some time, the official added. Neither Kirby nor the official specified which countries would be sending their F-16s. The timeline Kirby laid out is faster than Ukrainian officials have predicted, signaling a new sense of urgency. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a July 12 interview that he expected the first F-16s will fly in Ukrainian skies by the end of the first quarter of 2024. Kirbys comments come days after Sullivan was forced to respond to questions about whether the U.S. was committed to training Ukrainian fighter pilots, after POLITICO reported that Europe was still waiting on formal approval from the U.S. Sullivan stressed that the president had promised to meet whatever timeline our European partners need. The United States will not be the hold up in ensuring that this F-16 training can get underway, he told CNN. Sullivan said the main roadblock was that the European partners needed a few more weeks to create the necessary training infrastructure. He did not commit to a specific timeline for training or delivery. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pressed his Western partners to deliver the jets as soon as possible. Speaking ahead of a NATO defense summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, last week, he blamed his colleagues for what he characterized as a delay in sending the aircraft. We have agreed, we have pressed, and we have a coalition of countries that are ready to start training for Ukrainian pilots. [But] there is no schedule for training missions, and theyre delaying it. I dont know why theyre doing this, he said. Alexander Ward contributed to this report. Canadian authorities on Saturday urged some Nova Scotia residents to evacuate as torrential rains and flooding plagued the area and threatened to overwhelm a dam. Dam overflow Evacuation order for the St Croix river system area. Dam at risk of breaching, the provinces Emergency Management Office announced, in a text and tweet. Environment Canada said some parts of the province had received more than six inches (15cm) of rain, Reuters reported. Nova Scotia Power tweeted Saturday: We have activated our Emergency Operations Centre in response to the thunderstorms. As the storm continues, bringing lighting and flooding to parts of the province, there may be restoration delays due to road conditions. We are working closely with Emergency Management Offices. An evacuation centre had been set up in the province. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser an MP representing the region tweeted on Saturday: The flooding in Nova Scotia is extremely serious and poses a danger to the general public. We stand ready to support. In the meantime, please continue to follow all advice from local officials. To all Nova Scotians, we will get through this together. This breaking story will be updated Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping to track fare evasion in New York City subways, the Metropolitan Transit Authority confirmed Friday. The MTAs May 2023 report on fare evasion notes that computer technology tracks evasions at seven stations in the city by counting the number of unpaid entries. AI-assisted tech will then compare that figure to the number of paid entries already recorded by its system. More than 50 percent of subway evasions consist of people just walking through the emergency gate, the report found. That number is followed by 20 percent that jump or climb over the turnstile, 16 percent of those that just slip through the gaps and 12 percent that duck under the turnstile. The new technology which has found that about 16 percent of riders evade fares, a higher rate than measured by human counters is also being used to track how and when those evasions occur. Because this technology operates 24/7, it also provides data on how evasion goes up and down by time of day, the report reads. The largest spike is typically from 3 to 4 p.m., with smaller spikes during the morning rush hours. The MTA thus will develop for the first time a much increased ability to pinpoint evasion spikes by station, by day of week, and by time of day. This in turn will support data-driven experiments with new enforcement strategies, MTA said. With the technology providing reliable before and after evasion counts, it will be increasingly possible to test new approaches in search of what really works. An MTA spokesperson confirmed to The Hill that the new technology is in use and noted that it does not share information with the New York Police Department. The MTA uses this tool to quantify the amount of fare evasion without identifying fare evaders, spokesperson Joana Flores said. NYCs transportation authority lost $690 million due to fare evasion in 2022, the report said. Tests with the software began in 2020, Flores said. Story continues The authority expects to expand the surveillance technology to about 30 stations by the end of the year, according to the report. The software was developed by the Spanish firm AWAAIT, originally for the Barcelona subway system. The Barcelona system is advertised to assist law enforcement in catching fair evasion but Flores reiterated that those capabilities are not part of the New York City system. That data will be used to inform future policy making decision on fare evasion. The city has given at least $35,000 to AWAAIT since 2021, according to government spending records. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After contracting an incredibly rare infectious breast disease, an Ohio woman was shocked to discover it came from contaminated water. "It was me that found the test for the bacteria, and it was me leading the way to find out how I contracted it," Tami Burdick of Cincinnati told Fox News Digital. Burdick wrote a memoir of her health journey of self-diagnosis, "Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis." Tami Burdick is an author and advocate for granulomatous mastitis. She shares her story of self-diagnosis in her book, "Diagnosis Detective: Curing Granulomatous Mastitis." An image of Tami Burdick post-operation. Burdick said she has two scars from her breast surgery. In January 2017, Burdick went to Connecticut for a business trip, and roughly two months after her return home, she began experiencing a host of symptoms. Burdick shared that she began experiencing breast pain. After a self-evaluation, she discovered a hard lump. Assuming an impending cancer diagnosis, Burdick promptly called her primary care physician, who ordered a mammogram and ultrasound of the infected area. After Burdick's biopsy, she was relieved to learn it was not a cancer diagnosis. DANGERS YOU CAN'T SEE MAY BE LURKING IN YOUR UNWASHED BEDDING, SAYS STUDY: BEWARE OF HEALTH CONCERNS Instead, Burdick was diagnosed with granulomatous mastitis (GM) a "rare chronic inflammatory breast condition" that is incredibly painful. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I was most certainly relieved it wasnt cancer, though I could have never imagined how this breast disease would soon reveal its ugly head like the monster it was," Burdick said. Tami Burdick began researching Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii after a test revealed it was the root cause for her breast disease. Despite Burdick's diagnosis, she still did not know what had caused her condition, nor a path forward for treatment and recovery. Eventually, Burdick came across a Facebook support group, where she connected with other women from across the world who have GM. Seven months from her initial diagnosis, Burdick uncovered a gene sequencing pathology test that a woman in her support group recommended. "It ultimately helped save my life," Burdick said. Tami Burdick, right, and her doctor and friend, Dr. Kelly McLean. Dr. McLean ordered the pathology test that eventually revealed Burdick's root cause, bacteria mostly associated with water. After taking the test, Burdick finally learned the cause of her painful breast infection. Story continues "The reason why I called my book Diagnosis Detective was because it was me that figured everything out before the doctor," Burdick told Fox News Digital. "I found a test that finally revealed an infection after seven months. I knew something was causing it. "And, finally, after seven months, we had an answer." CONTAMINATED BEACH WATER COULD MAKE SWIMMERS SICK, WARNS NEW POLLUTION REPORT: SEVERAL TROUBLING TRENDS The pathology test revealed Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii as the root cause of Burdick's disease. Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii is an environmental-originated bacteria associated mostly with water, sewage and soil. Tami Burdick, left, and her oncologist, Dr. Kelly McLean, wear "GM" advocacy T-shirts. Tami Burdick's original mammogram prior to her ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy that would then result in her diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis. Burdick's next order of business was finding out how she contracted the bacteria. She had her water tested in her Ohio home for the Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii, but the results were negative. Burdick said that she had not been in a pool, hot tub or any other bodies of water for "quite some time." MOST US STATES FAILING TO PROTECT SCHOOLS' WATER FROM LEAD CONTAMINANTS, STUDY FINDS Research about the bacteria told Burdick that it needed a natural point of entry, like a pore or duct opening. Eventually, Burdick and her medical team came to believe that she contracted the nasty bacteria from her hotel shower during her 2017 business trip. Tami Burdick's first time returning to the Northeast since her diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis. She says she contracted the rare disease from a hotel shower during a business trip to Connecticut in 2017. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER Years after Burdick's diagnosis with GM, she is still advocating and educating people about the rare infectious disease that affects 2.4 women per 100,000. "I have two scars on my breast. One is towards the top and the other one is underneath," Burdick said. "I see them every single day, and I call them my warrior wounds." She said her scars are a reminder to keep sharing her story with the world and to keep advocating for others facing GM. "I even wrote in my book that God gives his battles to his strongest soldiers and that God knew that there needed to be a voice for this disease," Burdick said. "At the end of the day, it's all about helping people." Ernest Hemingway may command few literary equals, but it turns out that bearing a passing resemblance to the famed novelist can be much more easily achieved. More than 100 men from across the country who think they best encapsulate the late author of "A Farewell to Arms" and other classic works of literature have converged on Key West, Florida, Hemingway's home during the 1930s, this weekend to compete in an annual look-alike contest. All a man needs is a prominent beard, appreciation for the adventurous lifestyle that Hemingway led, and the wisdom that can only come with age. Oh, and being a bit on the portly side couldn't hurt one's chance's, either. The look-alike challenge is one of the main draws of the islands annual Hemingway Days festival, which celebrates the Nobel Prize-winning author, whose novels and short stories had a strong influence on 20th century American literature. Contestants in Key West, Florida, compete in a look-alike contest during an annual festival celebrating author Ernest Hemingway, who lives on the island in the 1930s. Deep-sea surprise: Taiwanese divers encounter rare giant oarfish Why Key West? The site of the festival is significant. Hemingway wrote from the second-story studio that adjoins his former Key West home on Whitehead Street, which is now a museum. During his Key West years, Hemingway did some of his most notable writing, including penning the novel "For Whom the Bell Tolls" based on his time covering the Spanish Civil War as a journalist. Hemingway was also influenced by Depression-era Key West for the setting of the novel To Have and Have Not about a fishing boat captain. What happens during Hemingway Days? Hemingway Days began Tuesday and will include literary readings, a commemoration of the 124th anniversary of his July 21 birthday, a museum exhibit of rare Hemingway memorabilia and a three-day marlin tournament recalling his passion for deep-sea angling. Other events include a street fair and a Running of the Bulls spoof of the Spanish event with manmade bulls on wheels a tribute to his debut novel "The Sun Also Rises." Story continues The three-night look-alike contest began Thursday with a preliminary round and will continue Friday, with the winner set to be selected Saturday night. As always, the competition takes place at Sloppy Joes Bar, the Duval Street saloon that became a favorite spot of Hemingway's. A judging panel of previous winners including 2022s Jon Auvil, who won on his eighth attempt oversee the contest. The contestants take turns parading across a stage and typically compete wearing safari gear or wool turtleneck sweaters. The apparel is closely identified with the Hemingway's Papa persona, adopted in his later years before his death in 1961 at the age of 61. C'mon Barbie let's go party ... in space First Barbie dolls to fly in space debut at Smithsonian museum Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @EricLagatta. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See Ernest Hemingway look-alikes gather for fest in Key West The army of the Russian Federation struck the Sumy region with artillery A tragic incident unfolded in Sumy Oblasts Krasnopillia community attacked by Russian forces with artillery on the morning of July 22, resulting in 14 devastating explosions, the Oblasts Military Administration said on Telegram on July 22. "Preliminary reports say that one person died and four others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the shelling. The injured were taken to a medical facility," the local authorities said. Read also: Russia hits Sumy with three kamikaze drones overnight The shelling also inflicted severe damage on civilian homes and essential infrastructure within the village, adding to the grim toll of the assault. This incident comes just days after another act of aggression on July 20, when Russian invaders launched three Iranian Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, one of which struck a childrens health facility in the city of Sumy. Read also: No compulsory evacuation of civilians in Sumy Oblast governor 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 One person suffered life-threatening injuries in an overnight shooting in east Charlotte, according to MEDIC. Channel 9 learned around 1:45 a.m. Saturday that one person was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound. The incident happened near the intersection of Purser Drive and Finchley drive. READ MORE: 1 killed, 3 injured in overnight shooting at southeast Charlotte lounge CMPD has not revealed what led up to the shooting or the current condition of the patient. This is a developing story; check wsoctv.com for updates. (WATCH: CMPD: Woman shot, killed in east Charlotte; person of interest arrested) Rostislav Zhuravlev, a "correspondent" of Kremlin-aligned news agency RIA Novosti, has been killed at the front line in Ukraine, and several others, as it was reported, were wounded. Source: RIA Novosti; Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan on Telegram Details: Propaganda wrote that Zhuravlev was allegedly killed by a cluster munition fragment. He himself came to Zaporizhzhia to film videos about cluster munitions. Simonyan also confirmed that the "militant" was killed by a cluster munition and added that there are also "other wounded". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! One of the worlds longest serving leaders is looking to extend his iron fisted rule, running another tightly controlled election with no tangible competition as he prepares a possible power succession for his son. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen, 70, has been in power since 1985 only the leaders of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, both also authoritarians, have held office longer. Voters in the Southeast Asian nation head to the polls on Sunday for the countrys seventh general election but observers predict few surprises. Following weeks of campaigning and crackdowns on opposition figures, Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) is all but running unopposed. Like all dictators, Hun Sen will never give up his power, said Cambodian politician Mu Sochua, who once served as the countrys Minister of Women and Veterans Affairs and has since fled overseas. The July 23 election is just a day for Hun Sen to impose (his choices) onto the Cambodian people, she said. His ruthless policies and practices of eliminating political opponents and critics is all to protect his power and to transfer it to his eldest son during the late stage of his career. CNN has reached out to the Prime Ministers Office and CPP for comment. From democracy to autocracy Cambodia, a country of 16.5 million people, is renowned for its stunning Angkor temples but also its tumultuous recent history when the Khmer Rouge regime unleashed a genocide on its own people, an event which left families with inter-generational trauma while poverty and corruption remain deep rooted. A former Khmer Rouge commander who switched sides, Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades. The countrys elections were initially competitive and an opposition tolerated. But in more recent years Hun Sen has turned increasingly autocratic quashing dissent and jailing critics, forcing many to flee overseas. He has also cultivated increasingly close ties with China and railed against criticism from Western governments, which he has often accused of helping Cambodias political opposition. Story continues The irony is that as Hun Sen has curbed political space at home, removing domestic political challenges he has garnered greater criticism abroad, said political analyst Bridget Welsh. The challenge he faces is that the election will not be seen as a democratic one lacking legitimacy. Without a competitive election and free media and space for civil society, Cambodia is not (regarded) as a democracy. The CPP has pointed to the participation of 17 other small political parties to support its claims of being a multiparty democracy. But this is strongly refuted by rights groups and political observers who say all meaningful opposition parties and figures have been neutered, jailed or banned in Cambodia. Hun Sen is afraid to run on his record and would rather hold an empty exercise than risk a free and fair verdict on his autocratic rule, Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch, told CNN. Future prime minister Political watchers say this Cambodian election will set the stage for Hun Sens transition of power to his son Hun Manet. The oldest of three, Hun Manet, 45, has been serving in the Cambodian army and has long been seen as a successor in waiting. He grew up and was educated in Phnom Penh before joining the Cambodian army in 1995. The same year he entered the US Military Academy at West Point, earning a diploma four years later and becoming the first Cambodian ever to graduate from the prestigious school. He has also received economics degrees from New York University in 2002 and the University of Bristol in 2008. Hun Manet walks past an honour guard during a military ceremony in Phnom Penh on June 18, 2020. - Tang Chin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images Hun Sen made clear in a 2021 speech that his son would be a future prime minister. This year Hun Manet will make his political debut standing for a parliamentary seat in Sundays election. Welsh said Hun Manet will need to earn his own legitimacy. He will have to come out of his fathers shadow and set his own pattern of leadership, she told CNN. This will be challenging as Hun Sen will remain the dominant figure in Cambodian politics and it is not clear how much he will let go of control. Hun Manet has a first class overseas education and some popularity among younger Cambodians but he will face tough challenges stepping into his fathers shoes, said German political analyst Markus Karbaum. Hun Sen leaves behind a poisoned political legacy of corruption and nepotism, Karbaum said. As long as he remains in good health, it will be very difficult for Hun Manet to step out of his shadow especially when it comes to foreign policy, he added. He will lose massive respect on the global stage if he gives the impression of merely conveying his fathers messages a politician without power and without a mandate will not be taken seriously. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen releases doves during a rally for the ruling Cambodian People's Party on July 1, 2023. - Tang Chin Sothy/AFP/Getty Images Repeat of the past, calls for boycott Cambodias political crackdown has ramped up in the years after its 2013 elections when an alliance of opposition parties, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), captured more than 40% of the vote. Huge opposition rallies followed as they contested Hun Sens win, further risking his grasp on power. Cambodias top court banned the CNRP in 2017 while dozens of the CNRPs leaders were jailed or went into exile. This years elections have followed a similar playbook. The Candlelight Party, which emerged from the little that remained of the CNRP and was the only realistic challenge to Hun Sen and his ruling CPP, was banned earlier this year by Cambodias national election committee over an issue with its paperwork. In weeks leading up to the election, Cambodian government officials stepped up harassment and arrests of opposition members, rights groups noted. The Cambodian government has declared open season on (opposition party members) using bogus and abusive criminal charges. They should stop targeting the opposition, immediately drop all baseless charges, and release all those wrongfully detained, said Asia deputy director Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. Sam Rainsy during a political rally in Phnom Penh in 2013. - CHARLY TWO/AFP/Getty Images Opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy, who lives in self-exile, took to Facebook to call on Cambodians to spoil their votes when they head to polling stations on Sunday. Rainsy was banned from politics for 25 years by the Cambodian government over his campaign and Hun Sen has warned that those spoiling their votes could face punishment. Two Candlelight Party members were also arrested this week for inciting people to destroy their ballot papers, Reuters reported. This election is about keeping power within Hun Sens family and those supporting his regime, Rainsy told CNN. Cambodians, no matter which party they support, are being cheated of their right to cast their vote in a free and fair contest. Spoiled ballots will underline the aspiration of ordinary Cambodians to take part in real elections, he added. With limited political options, many Cambodians have expressed a sense of both apathy and fear. One voter, a woman in her 50s living in the capital Phnom Penh who asked to be identified by only her first name Teang, told CNN she feared consequences if she did not vote for the ruling CPP. Ive always assumed that my vote is private but from the way (the election) has played out can you blame me for being paranoid? For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Jeremy Clarkson has issued an alarming warning to buyers of his new cider. The former Top Gear host is the owner of Hawkstone Lager, a beer and cider brand brewed by Cotswold Brewing Co in Gloucestershire using ingredients from Clarksons Diddly Squat farm where his Amazon Prime series, Clarksons Farm, is filmed. In a Tweet shared Friday (21 July), Clarkson warned that a manufacturing issue meant that some recently released bottles of his cider might explode. F*** f*** f*** f*** f*** f***, the presenters expletive-filled statement began. Theres been a massive c**k up and as a result, theres a very slim chance, some of our Hawkstone CIDER bottles might, theres no easy way of saying this, explode. He warned consumers to check the cap on their bottles for the product code L3160. If the cap has the code L3160, open it underwater, pour it away and get in touch for a refund. Info@Hawkstone.co, he said. Really sorry about this but on the upside, the beer is fine and still delicious. As is the cider, in bottles that are unaffected. Which is almost all of them. Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck. Theres been a massive cock up and as a result, theres a very slim chance, some of our Hawkstone CIDER bottles might, theres no easy way of saying this, explode. If the cap has the code L3160, open it underwater, pour it away and get in touch for Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 21, 2023 One follower shared a photo of his bottle that bore the defective product code, to which Clarkson responded: Open it while wearing a Hurt Locker suit. The 2009 film Hurt Locker, of course, stars an armour-clad Jeremy Renner as a bomb disposal specialist. On Facebook, Clarksons farm explained in a statement that a small amount of the cider was over-fermenting. If you have any of this batch it is important to dispose of it now under the water tap and take care as these are in glass bottles, the statement said. Story continues Then take a photo of the caps and we will send you a fresh batch or a refund... whichever you choose. If you have already drunk the cider please dont worry apologies from us all. Last month, the 63-year-old presenter warned Clarksons Farm fans that they would have a bit of a wait on their hands for the shows third season. We actually wont finish filming it till October, he informed followers on Instagram. Theres something we are trying which wont be resolved till then. So its a while off yet. The docuseries follows Clarkson as he attempts to make his farm in the Cotswolds profitable. The show will be back for a third season despite reports that Amazon had cut ties with Clarkson following the row over his hateful Meghan Markle column last December. Clarkson issued a lengthy public apology on his Instagram account at the time saying he felt sick when he realised he had completely messed up in writing the column that had become UK press watchdog IPSOs most-complained about article ever. SAG-AFTRA members picket outside of Amazon Studios in Culver City on July 14, the first day of the union's strike. (Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times) In late 2014 I was hired to play friend #3 in a new commercial for Garnier Nutrisse, the at-home hair color line. The company offered me a payout of $100 for my likeness, which they would use online and elsewhere. I spent that paycheck on a cab to and from the shooting location in a desolate area of industrial Brooklyn that inspired A Clockwork Orange kind of anxiety. This is a risk that many actors have to take, particularly actors who are nonunion or work without talent representation. The marketing team had chosen one of YouTube's top fashion and beauty bloggers to "star" in their commercial. Her mother sat next to me on set. "Do you do this for fun?" she asked. Read more: How divided are SAG-AFTRA and the studios? Here's what the two sides say "I'm sorry?" I replied, crumpling my script of Pygmalion, which I'd been memorizing for my scene study class. As I searched for the irony in her face, all I could think of was how I'd spent my childhood on stages, lived in a crowded hostel to study Lee Strasberg's "The Method" at 16 before finally moving to New York to attend musical theater school. "No, this is my job." Around that time, casting directors began asking for an actor's number of YouTube subscribers or Twitter and Instagram followers. They no longer wanted trained performers; they wanted personalities. Someone who could help market their product online in perpetuity. In 2023, the value of personality over performer is now one of many threats to the integrity of actors, with SAG-AFTRA members joining the Writers Guild strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. SAG-AFTRA has trenchantly described how streaming services and AI technology are transforming and threatening the existing creative landscape of Hollywood. But this dispute is not at its heart about new technology or AI. The crux of the unions argument is that actors finally deserve proper compensation for their work. Our profession isnt suddenly in crisis in 2023. Actors have always been in crisis. Story continues An actor is out of work 90% of the time. Most spend much of their days working a job that has nothing to do with their skill set or passion so they can pay their rent and utility bills. It's not implausible to watch someone on an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and then spot them dressed as an elf at Christmastime when heading up an escalator at a department store. It's also not implausible to see an actor make their debut on Broadway one year and then find them passing hors d'oeuvres at a Tony awards after-party the next. Read more: Opinion: The SAG-AFTRA actors' strike shows L.A. is leading the labor movement Unless it's a contract for a long show, an actor seldom gets an opportunity to work numerous times in a row. Even if they do, if theyre new to the industry they often start off nonunion, have to work in low-budget productions and get paid little. I can't count the times I've been on a set where we shot hours past the time we were scheduled to wrap filming. Though I mainly worked in film and TV, I never joined SAG-AFTRA. I was part of Actors Equity, the theater union. Actors join these unions hoping to work on large-scale projects and make more money, though sometimes the union card makes little difference. I once did a New York play production with a contract where both union and nonunion actors could work on the same show but union actors like me received $300 for three months of rehearsals and performances, while nonunion actors got nothing. Actors have long been conditioned to feel grateful that they are being included and paid for it. We learn very early on to settle for little if it means getting to do our art. We tell ourselves that the job may come with a small paycheck, but the exposure may lead to bigger and better opportunities. Streaming hasnt helped; in todays market, commercial and critical success often fails to translate into fair pay. An actor can fall into the aspirational loop for years without ever getting ahead, struggling to make ends meet. Some decide to give up on their passion altogether. "Do you do this for fun?" was a question I grappled with for many years. An honest answer would've been: "No. Being poor all of the time, being unable to do the kind of work I want to do every day, and being looked over for roles because of YouTube stars like your daughter is not what I would call fun." When I took a lengthy break from acting to go back to school, I had a revelation. I'd spent all that time trying to make myself seem exceptional and essential because I was in an industry trying to make me and so many others like me feel small. Actors have always been worthy. That's why SAG-AFTRA members are willing to strike, to sacrifice the pay and exposure they need right now. They're tired of always getting a bad deal. Maria Prudente is a writer, actor and researcher for SIGNAL: Tech and Society Lab at Columbia University. 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. A sign opposed to a gondola is pictured in a yard near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in Cottonwood Heights on Dec. 7, 2021. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News The Utah Department of Transportation has released its final record of decision about the future of transportation up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The gondola wins. Or does it? The decision, after years of study and passionate public comments, calls for a three-phased approach, in which construction of an 8-mile, mountainside-scarring gondola comes in the third phase, perhaps as many as 25 years from now. Our hope is that the first phase, which consists of expanded bus service, mobility hubs, a tolling system and restricted parking, will be so successful that further phases arent necessary. The entire three-phase project would, according to various estimates, cost between $729 million and more than $1 billion, not including the costs of maintenance and operation. We would hope that ski resorts, not taxpayers, would pick up most of that tab. But, more to the point, we hope it never comes to that. Traffic in the canyon has become an environmental danger and an irritant to skiers who come from the valley but only during relatively few days each year. On those days, traffic slows to a crawl, adding to air pollution, and slippery conditions lead to slide offs and collisions. But installing a system that would bring more people into the canyon which would happen with a gondola and with an expanded roadway up the canyon would not protect the mountains from overuse. The answer lies in restricting access. A tollway and restricted parking would help accomplish this. The gondola would be an expensive gamble to an intermittent problem. Related UDOT estimates the tolls would cost $20 to $30 per car. We recommend variable tolls instead, much like those on the HOV lanes along I-15. Charge less during off-peak times, and more during times of high demand. Then limit the total number of visitors per day. In the past, we have opposed construction of a gondola for four reasons. It could negatively impact a vital watershed, which could be especially problematic during times of drought. It could prove to be a boondoggle if climate changes reduce average snowfall in coming years. It would dedicate possibly more than $1 billion to help snowboarders and skiers at the expense of other, more urgent needs in the state. And it may not accomplish the goal of freeing the canyon from congestion as the population along the Wasatch Front continues to grow. Story continues The eight-mile gondola it would be the longest in the world would extend from a base station along Wasatch Boulevard to Snowbird and Alta ski resorts atop the canyon. Cars would arrive every two minutes, with each capable of holding up to 35 people. Proponents note that the gondola would not add to air pollution, and it could become a tourist attraction in its own right. But its environmental impacts would come in other ways. The gondola would require 22 towers measuring 200 feet high each, built at intervals throughout the canyon. These would be permanent scars on the mountainside, and each would require access roads accommodating maintenance vehicles. We fear that, even if the gondola falls out of favor or proves to be ineffective, the poles would not be removed. UDOTs second phase in this project would be to widen Wasatch Boulevard, building snow sheds with sloped roofs and trailhead parking improvements. The third phase calls for construction of a 2,500-car parking lot at the bottom of the canyon, in addition to the gondola. Phase one would cost $150 million, which must be approved by the Legislature. The next two phases would be much more expensive, with lawmakers no doubt engaging in long and unpredictable discussions over funding. Already, the executive director of the local conservation group Save Our Canyons has told the Deseret News his organization is considering a lawsuit to prevent the gondola, further complicating matters. We hope legal challenges dont impede the state from pursuing phase one. Total inaction would be the worst outcome. But phase ones toll road, busing (hopefully with electric buses) and parking restrictions ought to improve the Little Cottonwood Canyon situation to the point where the next two phases seem unnecessary. ATHENS - David Lamp has been doing archaeology for 15 years since graduating from Ohio University, helping government and private agencies preserve archaeological and historical cultural resources. But Lamp was on his hands and knees, trowel in hand, back at OHIO as a graduate student on June 2, when he made the discovery of a lifetime. The fluted point that he discovered likely dates to some of the first people to live in Ohio nearly 13,000 years ago toward the end of the Ice Age. Archaeologist David Lamp, Ohio University alumnus and graduate student at the Ohio Field School of Archaeology. "I have been waiting my entire career to excavate a fluted point from its original resting spot. When my trowel uncovered it, I was stunned. After the adrenaline wore off, I was mentally drained. Most archaeologists never experience this," Lamp said about his experience in the summer 2023 Field School in Ohio Archeology, run by Joseph Gingerich, associate professor of anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Lamp explained the importance of this summer's discoveries, noting, "We have added two intact Paleoindian sites to the archaeological record in a few short weeks. This is a rare thing that may not happen at all during a career in archaeology. In this case, one of those sites, a rockshelter near Lancaster, happens to be extremely rare. There are about 900 Paleoindian sites recorded in the state inventory, but only one or two other fluted points have come from rockshelters." In addition to those finds, Ohio University faculty and students uncovered what appears to be an entire ceramic vessel on the Wayne National Forest that awaits further excavation. "It is not an overstatement to say that you would be hard-pressed to find a student at any university in the nation that has been exposed to what the students of this field school have this year," Lamp said. Estimating the age of the Paleoindian occupation "Ohio is home to some of the oldest known evidence of people in North America," Gingerich said.He noted that the first people to navigate Ohio predate the building of the first pyramids of Egypt by 8,000 years. And they arrived in Ohio 8,000 to 10,000 years before the well-known earthen mounds of the Hopewell era were constructed in Ohio. Story continues Lamp earned a B.A. in Anthropology in 2008 from the College of Arts and Sciences and has significant field experience as a cultural resource archaeologist in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. He's experienced in historic and prehistoric artifact analysis and curation, with more than 60 cultural resource management reports to his name, and has taken part in hundreds of archaeological projects throughout his career. Now Lamp is back at college in his second year of graduate school, pursuing an M.S. in Environmental Science through OHIO's Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service. Lamp's summer plans also include an internship with the Wayne National Forest. "I waited a long time for graduate school, mostly because the time was never right to do research in an area that truly interested me. I feel fortunate to be a part of this program with Dr. Gingerich as my committee chair, and to make a career-defining find a mile from my home. More importantly, I am thrilled to make a contribution to knowledge in the discipline that I love," added Lamp, who lives in Lancaster. Lamp explained that dating the fluted point is done by comparing this point to others that have been carbon-dated and are of a known age. "The style of these points was generally very consistent and the presence of the flutes, along with other characteristics, can allow for a relatively accurate estimate of age," Lamp said. "The pottery (found at the site) also helps date the later components of the site because the physical characteristics of the pieces, including thickness, decoration, etc., can be used to date the pieces." A fluted point is a spear point that has been thinned at the base to create a groove or channel, which may have been created for hafting it to a shaft. Ohio's True Pioneers: Prehistoric Native Americans Gingerich oversees both the fieldwork and laboratory analysis of the Field School in Ohio Archaeology, which began in 1986 by Dr. Elliot Abrams, professor emeritus of anthropology. The program since has excavated several dozen archaeological sites, trained more than 400 undergraduate students in archaeological methods and preservation, and made significant contributions to anthropologists' understanding of the prehistoric past. Gingerich recently authored the first chapter in a new book, Settling Ohio: First Peoples and Beyond, where he discusses prehistoric Native Americans in Ohio. "When Americans think of 'pioneers,' they think of people in historic contexts: settlers, inventors and explorers who reached new frontiers in science or geographic exploration. They seldom think of the very first people in North America, those who were the first to explore, farm, establish settlements, and create monumental architecture," Gingerich writes. "These first people were not the brave men and women that David McCullough talks about in his New York Times bestseller. The true pioneers were those American Indian populations that first saw and explored the North and South American continents. Their story begins more than 13,000 years ago." Gingerich also notes that Ohio is "one of only nine independent domestication events (the adaptation of wild plants and animals for human use) in the world, and the center of one of the largest feats of monumental architecture (the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks) ever created." 'Evidence of habitation occurred in the first soil we processed' Gingerich and Lamp began working together in 2021, before Lamp began graduate school, at sites here in Ohio, as well as along the Roanoke River in Virginia.An experienced excavator, Lamp approached the site methodically. "The rockshelter in Lancaster looked like many that I have excavated and was in no way exceptional. It is somewhat small as rockshelters go. That said, it has a southern orientation and has a somewhat dramatic appearance as you approach, in spite of its small size," he noted. "The grid was established by first setting up a datum, which is a fixed, permanent reference point that will allow us or other researchers to return and find that exact locations of the test units that we excavated and the positions we recorded." Once all the students got to work in their grid squares, it didn't take long for the discoveries to begin. "Evidence of habitation occurred in the first soil that we processed," Lamp said. So far this summer, the students have recovered "all of the things that you would typically expect in a rockshelter site," he said, including parts of stone tools, manufacturing debris from those tools, animal bone, bivalve shells, pottery from Woodland Period peoples, as well as the Paleoindian finds. This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: OU student, Lancaster resident makes discovery of a lifetime Paso Robles is home to the best wine region in the nation, according to USA Todays 2023 10Best Readers Choice travel award contest. We are thrilled and honored to be named the best wine region, executive director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Joel Peterson said. This recognition is a testament to the exceptional craftsmanship of our winemakers and the warm hospitality of our community. Third Wheel Tours, a new sidecar motorcycle wine tour, partners with Cass Winery in Paso Robles to take customers on tasting trips into the vineyard. Laura Dickinson/ldickinson@thetribunenews.com A panel of experts selected nominees for the best wine destinations in the United States, then USA Today readers voted on their top 10 favorites, the publication wrote. Paso Robles was one of two California wine regions that made it on the list, joined by Temecula Valley in Southern California which USA Today called a great alternative to the pricey Napa area. USA Today praised Paso Robles for a wide variety of tasting options and its gorgeous views. This region offers everything from small batch tasting in the vineyard with tiny family wineries to some of the most breathtaking vistas with the capacity to welcome a crowd, USA Today wrote. Plus, theres a grape for every style preference growing in Paso Robles vineyards. In other words, no one leaves this place unsatisfied. Paso Robles is home to three of the 10 Best winery hotels in the United States in 2022, according to USA Today. Photo courtesy of Allegretto Vineyard Resort Heres the full list of USA Todays 10Best readers choice winners for best wine region: Paso Robles, California Temecula Valley, California Grand Valley, Colorado Finger Lakes, New York Augusta, Missouri Snake River Valley, Idaho and Oregon Walla Walla Valley, Washington Crest of the Blue Ridge Henderson County, North Carolina Dahlonega Plateau, Georgia Texas Hill Country, Texas DAOU named best wine-tasting room USA Today readers also named DAOU Vineyards in Paso Robles the No. 1 wine-tasting room in the country. This Tuscan-style estate high atop a hill in Paso Robles has incredible views, terrific wines and good food all served on a large outdoor patio, 10Best contributor Jenny Peters wrote. The winery offers tastings for members each first Friday of the month. In addition, general events are hosted for the public at a starting cost of $210. Story continues Three other California spots also made the list. Top five wineries include: No. 1: DAOU Vineyards in Paso Robles, California No. 2: Corner 103 in Sonoma, California No. 3: Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery in Hammondsport, New York No. 4: Stoller Family Estate in Dayton, Oregon No. 5: Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla and Woodinville, Washington Other SLO County properties make USA Today lists Also making USA Todays readers choice lists: Best winery restaurant: The Restaurant at Justin in Paso Robles ranked No. 2. Best wine tour: Eberle Winery in Paso Robles ranked No. 2. Best wine country hotel: Allegretto Vineyard Resort in Paso Robles ranked No. 3. Best roadside travel motel: San Luis Creek Lodge in San Luis Obispo ranked No. 7. Best Vintage Trailer Hotel: The Trailer Pond in Paso Robles ranked No. 3. A Phoenix burn doctor is warning of the severe injuries people are experiencing after making contact with pavement as the city contends with a brutal heat wave. We are seeing lots of patients who are falling down onto the concrete, pavement, asphalt, and suffering really, really deep burns as a result of that, Dr. Kevin Foster, the director of the Arizona Burn Center, told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in an interview that aired Thursday. A billboard displays a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit during a record heat wave in Phoenix on July 18. A billboard displays a temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit during a record heat wave in Phoenix on July 18. In those kinds of situations, the burns are almost always third-degree, he said. On a hot afternoon, black asphalt can get 170 to 180 degrees [Fahrenheit], Foster added. Those who get burned are often older people who fall down and are unable to get up, or people who have fallen down due to medical conditions. It tends to make these injuries really, really bad because people just stay down for a prolonged period of time, Foster said. Phoenixs multi-record-breaking heat wave has scorched the city with temperatures thatve reached at least 110 degrees for 21 consecutive days so far. Arizonas capital is one of many places worldwide frying as a result of human-caused climate change, combined with the El Nino climate pattern. People walk in the street in People walk in the street in "The Zone," a vast homeless encampment where hundreds reside, during a record heat wave in Phoenix on July 19. Air Force veteran Christopher Malcolm told NBC News about the severe burns he received from a sidewalk about two weeks ago in Las Vegas. While waiting for a bus in 110-degree temperatures, the 73-year-old sat down on the ground and was burned through his bluejeans seriously enough that hes now scheduled for surgery. This level of heat that we are having in Phoenix right now is enormously dangerous, particularly for people who either dont have air conditioning or cannot afford to operate their air conditioner, Evan Mallen, a senior analyst for the Georgia Institute of Technologys Urban Climate Lab, told The Associated Press. Story continues Last summer, as Phoenix suffered a heat wave that was called the citys worst-ever at the time, 85 people were hospitalized from heat-related contact burns. Seven of those people died from their injuries, according to a news release from Valleywise Health Medical Center, where the Arizona Burn Center is located. Related... Oregon Corrections Enterprises surprised Peter Courtney on Friday with a custom Prison Blues electric guitar made from a 150-year-old maple that fell on the State Capitol grounds during the 2021 ice storm. The presentation came before the regular meeting of OCE's advisory council at its showroom on State Street. Courtney was lured to the meeting expecting to give a speech about his appreciation of Oregon Corrections Enterprises and its programs. He still did, embarrassed to admit he had never been to the showroom, so he made an advance visit earlier in the week. "I didn't want to leave," he said. "I was mesmerized by the products. The men and women incarcerated, their handiwork, their skill, I was just blown away. I can't say enough about what this organization is doing." A custom Prison Blues guitar made from a fallen 150-year-old maple tree at the Oregon State Capitol is presented to retired Senate President Peter Courtney on Friday at the Oregon Corrections Enterprises showroom. Courtney, former Senate president, is a long-time supporter of Oregon Corrections Enterprises, a semi-independent state agency providing work and training programs for adults in custody in Oregon prisons. In partnership with the Oregon Department of Corrections, OCE operates 21 businesses in nine institutions, with 1,400 adults in custody working in various programs, including wood and metal manufacturing, commercial laundries, and website graphic and video design. Courtney and two other legislators went to the furniture workshop in 2008 to recognize the thousands of hours inmates put into making desks and other furniture for the renovated House and Senate office wings. In 2013, he personally purchased miniature state flags from the embroidery shop to give as gifts to his fellow legislators. Inside the showroom at Oregon Corrections Enterprises, which operates 21 businesses in nine institutions with 1,400 adults in custody working in various programs. When the historic maple tree fell during the February 2021 ice storm, Courtney talked to then-OCE administrator Ken Jeske about saving the wood. They shared ideas about products some of OCE's manufacturing businesses could make using the maple, including a guitar. Prison Blues produced its first guitar in 2016, donating it to the governor's food drive. Two years later, OCE officials held a contest for adults in custody to come up with plans to develop a guitar manufacturing program. In 2019, blues rock recording artist Ty Curtis came to the showroom to test drive one of their guitars. Story continues Today, Uptown Music in Keizer sells the guitars. A salesperson said Friday afternoon the shop once had 10 but is down to three in stock. The Prison Blues custom electric guitars retail for $1,250. The neck of the custom Prison Blues guitar features a light wood fretboard inlay of the Oregon State Capitol. The custom guitar presented to Courtney features a lighter-colored wood fretboard inlay of the Capitol building on the neck. Courtney said he does not play guitar. But he used to play cello and trumpet. "I was pretty good," he said while posing for photographs next to the glossy guitar. Courtney took it home but said he will not be keeping it. "It belongs to the Capitol," he said. During the meeting, Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, also presented Courtney with a memento, a replica of the Oregon State Seal made of wood from the reader board removed from the Senate chambers. "We wanted you to have a piece of Oregon Senate history for you to display in your home or wherever you want," Knopp said, noting it is one of just 30 made. "This is very nice, too," Courtney said. "I'm humbled." Capi Lynn is a senior reporter for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at clynn@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6710. Follow her work on Twitter @CapiLynn and Facebook @CapiLynnSJ. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Guitar made from fallen 150-year-old maple at Oregon Capitol The Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry is making remarkable strides towards recovery The Ukrainian pharmaceutical industry is making remarkable strides towards recovery, as the pace of sales decline in the first half of 2023 has significantly slowed down. Reports indicate that the sales volume of medicinal products in Ukraine surpassed an impressive 420 million packages over the course of the first six months of 2023. As a result, pharmaceutical sales experienced a modest decrease of only 6.4% compared to the corresponding period in 2022. This is in stark contrast to the substantial 25% decline witnessed during the first quarter. The data suggests a resurgence in pharmaceutical production in Ukraine, as attested by the press service of Darnitsa, a prominent pharmaceutical company, citing findings from Proxima Research. On a monetary scale, the pharmaceutical industry demonstrated significant growth, with sales volumes reaching a staggering 62.5 billion hryvnias ($1.7 billion). This represents an increase of 11.7 billion hryvnias, or 23% higher than the combined figures for the first two quarters of 2022. Read also: Former health minister Stepanov facing charges by NABU The research findings also highlight the continued dominance of Ukrainian drug manufacturers, who currently hold a substantial 63% market share in terms of packages sold. Despite the ongoing war, pharmaceutical companies are actively introducing new branded medications and expanding the export of Ukrainian drugs to other regions. Notably, Darnitsa has recently entered the Australian market, underscoring the industrys commitment to international expansion. Founded in 1930, Public JSC Pharmaceutical Company Darnitsa has held a leader-ship position in Ukraines domestic pharmaceutical production since 1998. The company focuses on cardiology, neurology, and pain management solutions. 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 Geneva Seitz was used to cold winters in the suburbs of Philadelphia that forced her to stay inside. Now, after moving to Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix, at the beginning of 2023, the summers are too hot for her to spend too long outdoors. The heat wave brought more changes, including getting up earlier on the weekends if she and her family wanted to spend time outside. If someone in the home needs to use the oven or the dryer, they have to avoid using them in the peak hours of the afternoon, which can make it difficult to cool the apartment. The ongoing heat wave in Phoenix has been the most intense one the city has experienced since records began in 1895, according to the AccuWeather HeatWave Counter and Severity Index. This index takes into account the number of days a heat wave lasts along with how high temperatures climb during the hot spell. A person tries to cool off in the shade Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The Valley of the Sun has sweltered under temperatures of 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher for 25 consecutive days and counting. The old record streak of 18 days at or above a high temperature of 110 degrees, set in 1974, was broken Tuesday, July 18, when temperatures met the benchmark around noon -- but it wasn't the last record to fall. Several daily high-temperature records were obliterated by the scorching heat, as well as records for the highest daily low temperature. On Wednesday, July 19, the mercury only dropped to 97 degrees, breaking the all-time record warm low of 96 degrees set on July 15, 2003. By July 22, the Valley of the Sun had seen 13 consecutive days with daily lows at 90 degrees or higher. As of the morning hours on July 25, the temperature had not dipped below 90 for 16 nights in a row. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP "This really stands out on the new exclusive AccuWeather HeatWave Counter and Severity Index, which quantifies and measures the duration and intensity of heat," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. Story continues Through July 20, the combination of temperatures consistently rising to or above 110 degrees for 21 days led to a Heat Wave Index sum of 65. "That's almost two times as intense as the number two heat wave," Porter said. The second most intense heat wave Phoenix experienced on record lasted 17 days from late July of 1995 to mid-August. Its Heat Wave Index sum was 36. On the hottest day of that stretch in 1995, the mercury reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit on July 27. The lowest high temperature of the stretch came a day later when the mercury "only" hit 109 degrees, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Gresiak. In this recent heat wave, July 19 and July 20 have been the hottest days in the stretch, the mercury reaching 119 degrees. The lowest daily high temperatures during this streak were recorded on July 11 and July 12 when temperatures reached 111 degrees. Since July 20 through Sunday, July 22, 10 more digits have been added to the Heat Wave Index sum, making the total 75 so far. "Based on the forecast through Saturday, Aug. 5, an additional 12 digits will be added to the Heat Wave Severity Index, pushing the total for the stretch to 87," AccuWeather Director of Forecasting Operations Dan DePodwin said. Heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the U.S., outpacing tornadoes, floods and even hurricanes. This season, there have been 12 confirmed heat-associated deaths in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, according to the county's department of public health. Another 55 deaths remain under investigation. Last year, 17 heat-related deaths had been confirmed and 126 remain under investigation. The number of people at risk of heat events in Phoenix continues to grow as the population booms. More people are moving to Maricopa County than anywhere else in the country, according to data from the Census Bureau. The large majority of that growth is funneled into the Phoenix metro area. In 2012, about 4.2 million people lived in the area. About a decade later, the population surpassed 5 million for the first time, according to the U.S. Census. Once a resident of Pennsylvania, Seitz told AccuWeather she and her family have had to make adjustments with the shift from the Northeast to the Desert Southwest. "We were used to very cold winters that we would spend mostly indoors, that has now shifted to the very hot summers that we are not going outdoors," Seitz said. "We had never been somewhere this hot, so it has been an adjustment, learning all the tricks like always remembering the sun visor in the car or wearing long sleeves when hiking. Our neighbors have been very helpful, teaching all the tricks for living in Arizona in the summer." 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 number of politicians are stoking speculation that they could make late entries into the 2024 presidential race ahead of whats shaping up to be a potential rematch between President Biden and former President Trump. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) became the latest figure to raise questions about a White House bid after he released a cryptic video this week that prompted murmurs about a possible third-party campaign. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) has sparked similar questions for the past few months and in recent days. Meanwhile, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has been floated as a potential late entry into the GOP primary. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) was considered a possible choice as well until he ruled out a run on Monday. The speculation surrounding these candidates underscores the degree of frustration over the parties respective front-runners. This is the point of the race every cycle where voters start to think, Are these our only choices? And that always draws late interest, said Alex Conant, a consultant who served as the communications director for Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential campaign. Although these candidates might ultimately not choose to run, none of them has completely shut the door on the possibility. Polls suggest theres good reason for that, with many voters signaling they dont want Biden or Trump to be their partys nominees, as both have struggled with poor favorability ratings. The political organization No Labels has also increasingly gained attention around its plan to put forward a centrist ticket made of one Democrat and one Republican. But it has raised some concerns among Democrats that any such ticket could act as a spoiler and hand the race to Trump. The nature of our electoral politics means that the third-party candidate is almost never viable and most likely just serves to be a spoiler and primarily spoilers for the incumbent party, said Sawyer Hackett, a Democratic strategist and senior adviser to the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. Story continues He said the interest in a possible third-party candidacy comes from the sheer number of voters disillusioned with the two major parties. Meanwhile, he said theres a significant number of GOP voters who do not want to see Trump win the nomination, leading to hopes that another candidate might join that primary field. Trumps age and many legal woes including the possibility of a second federal indictment in the coming days could offer another Republican an opportunity, some party members argue. So I think everybody is still waiting to see what happens legally, what implications that might have, said Saul Anuzis, a Republican consultant and former Michigan GOP chairman. Are there health reasons or any other reasons that might create an opportunity? Here are the top politicians who are rousing speculation about possible late-entry 2024 bids: Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) speaks at an April 6 event in Fairfax, Va. (Greg Nash) Glenn Youngkin The Virginia governor has allowed questions to swirl about his 2024 ambitions since he was elected to the highest office in a state that was initially assumed to be trending blue. Youngkin has sent mixed signals for months about joining the race. He declared in early May that he would focus on supporting GOP candidates in Virginias state legislative elections this year but did not directly rule out a presidential run later. He released a campaign-style video later that month paid for by his super PAC that featured comments he previously made calling for a new era of American values. Brian Seitchik, a GOP strategist and former Trump campaign staffer, said Youngkins 2021 election was a national story that gave him name recognition, and he would receive at least a serious look in the race. He said history shows a late entrant to the race is not likely to break through, but he expects the race will tighten and GOP voters will consider if they want to fully get behind Trump as he faces multiple indictments. There will be a time of reflection before this thing is done where voters say are we really ready to make this jump? Now, if youre wagering today, youd have to say the odds are yes, but I dont think Trump goes wire-to-wire here without at least getting pushed for a period of time, Seitchik said. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan rehearses his farewell speech moments before reciting it over a video feed Jan. 10 in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Larry Hogan Hogan, a moderate Republican who served two terms as governor of Maryland, announced in March he would not be a candidate for the GOP nomination following serious consideration. But he said shortly after that he had not ruled out a third-party bid. The video from the super PAC supporting Hogan, An America United, did not directly address a potential campaign but included a voiceover of him talking about being an underdog and finding political success by working with both parties. Ive always been an underdog, and people have always counted us out, but every single time weve beaten the odds, Hogan said in the video he posted Tuesday on Twitter. Still, he has remained unclear about his plans. Hogan acknowledged to ABC News on Tuesday that a third-party bid would be a steep climb but argued it is worth trying. He said in an interview on CNN This Morning on Friday that now may be time for a third-party candidate, and he is serving as a national co-chairman of No Labels because he believes in bipartisan, common-sense solutions. But he also told CNN he is not considering a third-party run, and he has not taken any overt steps to take any actions. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) speaks during a May 2 hearing in Washington. (Greg Nash) Joe Manchin West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin has raised fears among his fellow Democrats that he is open to trying to run a middle lane between Biden and Trump. Facing what would likely be a tough reelection campaign in a strongly conservative state, Manchin has said he wouldnt decide his political future until toward the end of the year. On Monday, he headlined the first of multiple Common Sense town halls organized by No Labels, though he has not directly said whether he would run under its banner. A recent poll from Monmouth University showed Biden defeating Trump even with Manchin on the ticket as a third-party candidate, but senators from both parties have said they expect his candidacy would hurt Biden more than Trump. Democrats who spoke to The Hill say they ultimately dont expect Manchin to run for president. I certainly think he will want his legacy to be how helped shape and mold the future of this country as a senator of West Virginia, versus his legacy being how he helped elect right-wing extremists potentially, said Democratic consultant Antjuan Seawright, who noted that Manchin is known to be a serious political flirt. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Manchin said at the No Labels town hall that he has not ever been in a race as a spoiler, and if he runs, he will run to win. Consultant Simon Rosenberg said he would expect Manchin would perform no better than single digits in polls against Trump and Biden, which he said would be considerably lower than how unnamed independents have performed in polls. He tweeted last week that he expects any third-party candidate will receive even less support than they hope based on the gravity of the race. My guess is absolute ceiling for Manchin or anyone else is like 8-10%. Will be within a few months clear failure, life long embarrassment for whomever goes, he said in his tweet. I think were in still early days, and many of these efforts will not come out to anything, Rosenberg later told The Hill. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A Portsmouth bar that opened nearly two years ago has closed after a series of violent incidents the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority to revoke its licenses last month. Notorious Lounge, in the Manor Village shopping center off Portsmouth Boulevard, opened in October 2021 with VABC licenses for serving wine and beer for consumption on and off the premises and for serving mixed beverages. VABC initiated an investigation after a June 18 shooting in the parking lot. VABC found Notorious failed to take reasonable measures to prevent an act of violence from occurring on its property, on nearby properties or on any nearby public property. Additionally, Notorious did not sell the amount of food in comparison with alcohol 45% required to comply with the terms of its mixed beverage restaurant license, and failed to submit a complete and accurate annual review report for the year ending in April, according to VABC. At about 1:30 a.m. June 18, a man was heading to his car after leaving Notorious when he was shot in the torso, sustaining serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Asked why this shooting was considered the fault of Notorious, a Portsmouth police spokesperson said it appears all involved in the shooting were patrons of Notorious, as it was the only establishment on that property open at the time. A Portsmouth police spokesperson said there had been 13 incidents at the location since it opened. Previously, only nine police reports had been taken at that address since 1998, when their records begin none for violence. The 13 incidents included eight involving firearms that were either fired, displayed or stolen, and six people have been shot at the location, according to police. Mike Joynes, an attorney who represented Notorious, said the owners tried to take steps to improve safety after the instances, but attributed the violence to the surrounding area. Story continues I think that efforts were made all around by everybody concerned, Joynes said in an interview Friday. I think people need to understand, youve got to pick your location very carefully then you also have to watch because lots of times things are attributed to the establishment simply because they may be the only place thats open. Last month in Virginia Beach, the VABC revoked the license of West Beach Tavern on Cleveland Street in the wake of a May 7 shooting outside the bar. The owner was later jailed for five days on misdemeanor charges accusing her of illegally selling alcohol and running a disorderly business. She has a court hearing scheduled for August. In Norfolk, several downtown shootings in 2022 led to a crackdown on nightclubs, with the city pulling operating permits of five establishments. Legacy Restaurant and Lounge on East Plume Street was the latest one to close, shutting down in late June after operating for several months without alcohol sales following a quadruple shooting outside the bar that August. VABCs order of summary suspension listed prior incidents at Notorious that include shots being fired at the restaurant during an event on April 17; a physical altercation between patrons and security that resulted in a person being shot by security on April 29; and on April 30 and May 1, multiple reports of patrons being assaulted by security during incidents in which pepper spray was used. On June 11, someone was charged with aggravated assault after a victim was found unconscious on the ground in the parking lot outside Notorious, according to VABC. The business has fully stopped operating since surrendering its licenses on July 3, the owners confirmed via email, and a phone number listed online for Notorious is no longer in use. By surrendering their licenses, the owners waived their options to negotiate further or proceed to a formal hearing, and admitted to the violations VABC noted. Joynes declined to comment on whether the restaurant was at fault in the June 18 shooting, saying that surrendering their licenses means we take no position. (The owners) are upset, I mean they put a lot of time and a lot of energy and a lot of money and its like its beyond their control its other peoples actions and you try and do everything the right way and other people are sabotaging you either because of the location and the amount of crime thats around you, he said. Thats why people need to be very careful where they decide where to put establishments at this point. Joynes added that the law, specifically Virginia Code Section 4.1-225 outlining the reasons VABC can suspend or revoke licenses, has draconian aspects to it. This law thats based on public safety has got a lot of problems with it, adding that businesses like gas stations and supermarkets that have shootings on their properties arent held responsible to the degree that restaurants are. The way that the law is being administered I think is being done in a disproportionate manner. Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com Rep. Pramila Jayapal, flanked by members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, speaks at a news conference at the Capitol on May 24, 2023. Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post via Getty Images Rep. Pramila Jayapal's comments on Israel caused an uproar this week in Congress. But progressives argue that misses the point and discourages honest criticism of Israeli policy. "We never do anything constructive on this issue in Congress," said one top progressive Democrat. When Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington referred to Israel as a "racist state" at a progressive event in Chicago on Saturday, she also spoke of the strong political headwinds that meet any lawmaker who lodges criticism of Israel, or speaks firmly about the plight of Palestinians. "While you may have arguments with whether or not some of us on stage are fighting hard enough," Jayapal told a group of pro-Palestinian protesters, "I do want you to know that there is an organized opposition on the other side." That opposition was demonstrated once more for progressives in the subsequent days. Even after Jayapal clarified her remarks about Israel, House Democratic leadership issued a statement rebuking her. Separately, 43 House Democrats said in a statement that they were "deeply concerned" about Jayapal's "unacceptable comments." And on Tuesday, House Republicans held a snap vote on a resolution declaring that Israel is "not a racist or apartheid state." Meanwhile, Israel has continued to greenlight the illegal expansion of settlements deep in the West Bank, settlers often engage in violence against Palestinians, and rocket-fire from Gaza continues, all as the prospect of a two-state solution and Palestinian self-determination slips further from view. "We never do anything constructive on this issue in Congress," said Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, a chair emeritus of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, who said he wanted to see a special envoy appointed to deal with the conflict. "This seems to happen once a year," said Pocan. "There'll be something that flares up, and we overreact, and then we get back to normal." Story continues Couple the congressional reaction with the millions of dollars spent by pro-Israel groups to defeat progressive candidates and incumbents during the 2022 midterms as well as the looming threat of future primary challenges and the "chilling effect" that progressive lawmakers face on this issue becomes clear. "For some actors in this space, that is the intention," said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. "There's a few issues where any nuance is really discouraged," said another progressive House Democrat who insisted on anonymity to discuss the issue frankly. "This is one of them." Rep. Jamaal Bowman, whose New York District includes Jewish communities in Westchester County, said the situation in Congress was directly impacting the situation in Israel and Palestine. Rep. Jamaal Bowman said hes received blowback for his positions on Israel. Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The Recording Academy "One of the reasons why Palestinians continue to suffer in this power dynamic is because we're only having one conversation, and everyone's afraid to be critical," said Bowman. Bowman also noted the strong reaction that he often gets from constituents for his own criticisms of Israel, including joining other progressives in boycotting this week's address by Israel President Isaac Herzog. "I know what happens when I say certain things," said Bowman. "I know the calls we get, the emails we get, the letters we get, the tweets that go out, the texts to my phone. I know what happens when I say something like, 'I'm not attending Herzog's address.'" Bowman may soon face a primary challenge himself from a popular local Democratic official over the positions he's taken on Israel. "Sometimes the blowback is so intense, you can't even do your job for a number of days," Bowman added. "I can't even respond to constituents' needs, because I'm responding to all this blowback from something I said, which was totally reasonable." 'I understand why this is passionate for her' In recent years, a growing crop of progressive lawmakers have become more willing to criticize Israeli policies in stark terms, often using the "apartheid" label embraced by numerous international human rights groups and observers. It's a product of several factors, progressives say, including the growing influence of left-wing advocacy, conditions on the ground in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories that have become hard to ignore, and even the backgrounds of some of the lawmakers. Among the nine House Democrats to vote against the Israel resolution were the chambers' three Muslim representatives, including the first two Muslim women elected to Congress, Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Ahead of the Tuesday vote, Tlaib delivered an address detailing the harsh rhetoric used by top Israeli politicians to describe Palestinians. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) July 18, 2023 Sitting behind her the entire time was Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota, a Jewish Democrat who was among the lawmakers to co-sign the statement denouncing Jayapal's words. Phillips embraced Tlaib on the floor after her speech, later telling Insider that though it was "difficult" for him to hear the Michigan Democrats' words, he understood her perspective as a Palestinian woman who still has family members living in the West Bank. "I have empathy, and I understand why this is passionate for her, and she has given me the same thing," said Phillips. "I gave her respect, and love, because I think she's worthy of it." But Phillips held firm in his belief that it was important to firmly denounce criticism of Israel when it crosses a certain threshold. "There needs to be space and place for that criticism" of Israel, said Phillips. "But there are occasions where I think words are awfully damaging from people who have an extraordinary platform, and who I do not think recognize the impact that has beyond the words themselves." "There's a difference between advocating for Palestinian self-determination, advocating for peace, and criticism of an entire country and people when it is the only place of refuge for the Jewish Diaspora," he added. 'Diversity of opinion on the issue' Phillips and other Democrats also see the recent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the US as connected to broad-brushed criticism of Israel. Another House Democrat who signed the statement on Jayapal's remarks, speaking privately, cited the nature of pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses and its impact on young Jewish students as a key example. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota embraced Tlaib after her speech on Tuesday. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images Progressives, unsurprisingly, take issue with that idea and they see Republicans in particular as using the issue as a political wedge. "I believe that the cynicism of it is now very naked," said Ocasio-Cortez. "I think people now see, more than ever before, that these two issues are not conflated, that criticism of Israel is not in any way equivalent to anti-Semitism." While Jayapal clarified her comments and voted for the Israel resolution, she notably held firm on her belief that the status quo in Israel is "unacceptable, untenable, and unjust." And beyond the most vocal progressives and the staunchest pro-Israel Democrats, there are other Democrats who find themselves somewhere in the middle and frustrated over the lack of nuance. "The Democratic leadership has to acknowledge there's diversity of opinion on the issue of Israel, and especially how right-wing it has become," said another House Democrat who requested anonymity to speak frankly about the issue, who bemoaned that amid the outrage of Jayapal's comments there was "not a real opportunity to discuss some of the very real problems that exist right now" in Israel. The lawmaker added that they thought Jayapal's comments may have been too "broad" and "sweeping," but that some lawmakers "live in denial that there are actual issues of discrimination, and segregation, and some racism by representatives of the [Israeli] government." And though the word "apartheid" has increasingly been employed by international human rights groups including within Israel the lawmaker took issue with the term, given its specific association with pre-1990s South Africa and its relative foreign-ness to American history. They readily conceded, however, that "segregation" would be an appropriate term to describe the treatment that Palestinians often face. Read the original article on Business Insider Boston public health officials are advising residents to avoid affected water bodies in parts of the city for 48 hours due to increased health risks from bacteria and other pollutants after a recent sewage discharge. The public health warning was issued Saturday morning regarding untreated overflows in the Upper Inner Harbor, in Charlestown at the Charles River Dam upstream of the North Washington Street Bridge, creating a potential public health risk in the area of the Upper Inner Harbor, public health officials said. The latest untreated overflow in these areas ended at 2:56 a.m. Saturday, however the public is advised to avoid affected water bodies for 48 hours, officials said in a statement. Several other discharges shorter than the two-hour threshold have also occurred. Check the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority website here and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission here for current updates. Caution: Avoid water activities during or after rainfall. Combined sewer outfall nearby. A pipe nearby may have released stormwater mixed with sewage into the water during heavy rain. Sewage can contain bacteria that can cause illness, the public health warning stated. The public is advised to avoid contact with affected water bodies for at least 48 hours after a sewage discharge or overflow, during rainstorms, and for 48 hours after rainstorms end, due to increased health risks from bacteria or other pollutants associated with urban stormwater runoff and discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater. State regulations require local public health departments to provide notice to the public when these discharges may create a risk to public health, including when a discharge lasts for more than two hours. A combined sewer overflow occurs when a large storm overwhelms the combined sewerage system causing rainwater to mix with wastewater and discharge to a nearby water body. This prevents sewage backups into homes and businesses. Story continues More information about CSOs and public health is available at www.boston.gov/cso. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW As he runs for the GOP presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly points towards his overwhelming gubernatorial re-election last November and his hand in turning what was not long ago the nations most populous battleground state into a solidly Republican bastion. "What we did was not just a big victory. It was really a fundamental realignment of Florida from being a swing state to being a red state," DeSantis recently touted on the campaign trail. Its an argument DeSantis has been making for months. In an April speech to the Midland, Michigan GOP in the run-up to his presidential campaign launch, the governor argued that "the Democratic Party in Florida is a hollow shell Its like a dead carcass on the side of the road." HOW THIS ONE-TIME SWING STATE IN AMERICA'S HEARTLAND TURNED BRIGHT RED Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis after taking the oath of office waves to those in attendance at his second term inauguration in Tallahassee, Florida, on January 3, 2023. Florida was once the most high-profile swing state in the nation, and the state that handed former President George W. Bush the White House in the 2000 presidential election thanks to a miniscule 537 vote margin. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Former President Barack Obama narrowly carried the state in 2008 and 2012, and former President Trump captured Floridas 27 electoral votes by lower single-digit margins in his 2016 White House victory and his 2020 re-election defeat. In 2018, DeSantis narrowly won the governorship to succeed Gov. Rick Scott, who edged out Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in the Sunshine States Senate showdown. DESANTIS TOUTS WIN FOR THE AGES AS HE AND RUBIO WIN BIG But fast-forward to last November and the one-time purple state turned ruby red, as DeSantis secured a second term with a 19-point re-election victory and GOP Sen. Marco Rubio cruised to a third term in the Senate with a more than 16-point win. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida speaks to his supporters during an election-night party on November 8, 2022 in Miami, Florida. Rubio easily won a third term in the Senate. Four House Democratic incumbents also went down to defeat, as the GOP expanded their congressional majority in the state. Republicans also increased their already sizeable lead in the state legislature, securing a super majority, and Democrats were shut out of all statewide offices for the first time since Reconstruction a century and half ago. Story continues Some Florida political insiders point to the coronavirus the worst pandemic to strike the globe in a century as the catalyst for the states rightward shift in recent years. The COVID crisis precipitated lockdowns and restrictions in many states across the country, and led to an influx of new voters in the Sunshine State. Many of them were conservatives drawn by DeSantis controversial and well-publicized pushback against coronavirus restrictions as he moved to keep the state and its schools open for business. "I think we drew people who believed in what we were doing," DeSantis said on the campaign trail in Iowa earlier this month. "I think most of these people said, You know what, Florida is a free state." DeSantis noted that due to the migration, "the political orientation of it actually turned out pretty good." Rick Foglesong, a Florida based historian and political scientist, told Fox News "I think migration and immigration are one factor." "But I think that there is a legacy advantage that Republicans enjoy just because theyve been winning so long," he added. "You could call it an incumbent advantage that the Democrats just dont have the ability to match at this point. Foglesong also spotlighted that "Republicans are making big inroads among Hispanics" in Florida. Earlier this year Republicans surpassed Democrats in voter registration for the first time in state history. "In 2018, Democrats outnumbered Republicans by nearly 300,000. By Election Day 2022, Republicans outnumbered Democrats by 300,000. Today, we can announce that Republicans outnumber Democrats by 400,000," DeSantis touted in a February tweet. "Freedom is here to stay." The question is whether DeSantis is correct in his assesment that the Democratic Party in Florida is a "dead carcass." Or, if it will stay that way. Democrats obviously disagree and point to their upset victory this spring in the Jacksonville, Florida mayoral race as they flipped the office by beating a Republican endorsed by DeSantis. Florida Democratic Party chair Nikki Fried took to twitter after the election victory to declare that the Democrats "are back." But whether the victory in Jacksonville was an isolated case or the start of the Democratic Party comeback in Florida was far from clear. Michael MacDonald, a professor at the University of Florida who specializes in elections, said that "2022 was an aberration for Florida. I dont think its a long-term trend." Pointing to the Democrats' victory in the Jacksonville mayoral election, he argued "I think were seeing a reversion back to the sort of normal politics of what Florida is." US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken believes that it is necessary to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin that his regime will not be able to survive Ukraine and all those who support it, and this will change Russia's position on peace. Source: Ukrinform, citing Blinken at the Aspen Security Forum Quote from Blinken: "And the fundamental problem is this: President Putin believes, continues to believe, that he can outlast Ukraine and that he can outlast all of Ukraines supporters. Its vitally important that we disabuse him of that notion." "Ukraine is not going anywhere, and it will have the means to defend itself." Details: Blinken emphasised that it is primarily about support from many countries and, in particular, the G7 countries. Thus, in Vilnius, the readiness of the international community to assume long-term obligations regarding the security of Ukraine as well as to help it develop its defence capabilities so that Russia does not return to plans for new aggression in the future was reaffirmed. The US Secretary of State also does not see "changes in Putin's mindset that the Russian Federation will change its position" regarding the war. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Republican Party of Minnesota was in rough financial shape nearly halfway through the year, having about $54 in its federal campaign account and about $336,000 in debt at the end of May. The low cash balance raised eyebrows and alarm among state GOP activists who feared the party wasn't rebounding from being swept by Democrats in last year's election. But the party's top leader says fundraising has picked up now that Republicans can point to the results of the recent legislative session and make the argument that Democrats overreached. A financial report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Thursday showed the Minnesota GOP had close to $200,000 in its federal campaign account at the end of June along with about $361,000 in debt. "It has improved markedly since people have looked at the results of the last legislative session," Minnesota GOP Chair David Hann said of the party's fundraising. "[Democrats] said they were going to return the surplus. They said they were going to cut taxes. ... None of it got done." The GOP, which hasn't won a statewide race since 2006, will need all the cash it can get as it heads into a presidential election year in which U.S. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar's seat and control of the state House of Representatives will also be up for grabs. Its counterpart, the Minnesota DFL Party, reported having about $781,000 in its federal campaign account at the end of June and no debt. "The next few months for the Republican Party in Minnesota are going to be the most important that they have in front of them," said Michael Brodkorb, former deputy chair of the Minnesota GOP. "They have to raise money. They have to figure out their direction." Hann said the party's low cash balance wasn't as bleak as it looked. Political parties raise money so they can spend it, not hold onto it in their accounts, and that's what the state GOP has been doing to set its candidates up for success next year, he said. Story continues The party is focusing its efforts on winning back control of the state House of Representatives and trying to flip the Second Congressional District seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, Hann said. While millions in outside spending poured into Craig's race last year, she has a large fundraising lead against her challengers so far this year and has shown a consistent ability to maintain a seat coveted by Republicans. "This is a very evenly divided state and Republicans are going to be a majority party by 2026," Hann predicted. Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said he thinks Republicans will continue to lag in fundraising if they support candidates who make inflammatory statements and push fringe theories. "They've taken such extreme positions that even Republicans who used to donate aren't donating anymore," Martin said. "It's sad to see this once-strong Republican Party in this state that's just been decimated. But to be honest with you, the reality is it's not surprising to me." Unpaid bills The Minnesota GOP's federal campaign account filing through the end of May drew national attention when it showed just $53.81 on hand. The party's state campaign account was also low on money at the end of last year, having reported just $8,047 in cash on hand and about $76,000 in unpaid bills. By comparison, the Minnesota DFL's state campaign account showed a healthy balance of about $869,000 at the end of last year, with some $149,000 in debt. The GOP's state campaign account debt includes an unpaid bill for last year's Republican state convention. The party still owes the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester more than $20,000 for the event. Hann said he's confident the party will pay off all its debt by the end of this year. "We are in the process of doing that," he said. Filings show a number of other state Republican parties in the Midwest have healthier federal campaign account balances than the Minnesota GOP. The Illinois Republican Party boasted close to $413,000 in cash on hand without any debt through the end of last month, while the Wisconsin GOP filing shows around $940,000 in cash with no debt. In North Dakota, the state GOP reported nearly $169,000 in its federal account at the end of last month, and also didn't have any debt. Minnesota's Republican Party has faced setbacks and scandal over the past decade, including two years ago when former state GOP Chair Jennifer Carnahan was forced out amid allegations that she created a toxic workplace and engaged in retaliation. Earlier this year, the Minnesota GOP took a hit when it was fined more than $100,000 by the Federal Election Commission for violations involving the 2018 and 2020 election cycles. The state party took out a $100,000 loan earlier this year from Alliance Bank. Federal records show it has paid back $6,200 on the loan so far. "Past leadership didn't put us in the greatest position to succeed long-term," said Dustin Grage, a Republican strategist. "And that's a tough hill to have to overcome." Former Republican state Rep. Kelly Fenton said the party has been in worse positions in the past and recovered. Fenton served as deputy chair of the state party in the aftermath of the 2010 election. She said the GOP spent a lot of cash that year on the gubernatorial race between Republican Tom Emmer and Democrat Mark Dayton, which Dayton ultimately won after a recount. "It was a group effort just to uncover what the total of the debt was and to put the plan in to move the party forward," Fenton said of the work after that race. "What the party is dealing with right now, this is minimal compared to what it was back in 2011, 2012." She said the party needs to be disciplined in its messaging heading into next year, and she urged party officials to home in on kitchen-table issues that appeal to a broad swath of Minnesotans. "Democrats are making it more expensive to order packages from Amazon. It's more expensive to buy gas, to run a boat, to purchase a new car and tabs," Fenton said, making reference to fee and tax increases approved by the DFL-controlled Legislature. "The cost to do business in Minnesota is skyrocketing." Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has cleared the donor threshold necessary to qualify for the first GOP debate, his campaign confirmed on Friday. Tricia McLaughlin, a senior adviser on Ramaswamys campaign, confirmed to The Hill that Ramaswamy had reached 65,000 unique donors well over the required minimum of 40,000 donors. The criteria, announced by the Republican National Committee (RNC) in June, also requires candidates to be at a polling minimum of 1 percent in at least three national polls, or at 1 percent in two national polls and one state poll from two of the early primary or caucus states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. The fundraising milestone for Ramaswamy comes amid a small surge in momentum. The entrepreneur currently sits in third place in national contests for the GOP primary, according to the latest polling average from FiveThirtyEight. At 6.8 percent support, Ramaswamys average support is up more than four points in the last month, and above the RNCs threshold. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Ramaswamy on Friday took a swipe at the current GOP frontrunner for the partys nomination, former President Donald Trump a tactic he has largely avoided. The candidate claimed Trump may be too polarizing to advance the partys agenda while at a steakhouse town hall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, according to NBC News. Heres a reality about my friend, Donald Trump, Ramaswamy said. I respect what he did, but its just a fact, its not even his fault 30 percent of this country becomes psychiatrically ill when hes in the White House. Despite the criticism, Ramaswamy is one of many candidates that has stuck behind the former president amid his legal woes, even calling a potential indictment over the Jan. 6, 2021 riot on the Capitol a bad idea. But his rise in the polls may suggest a change in strategy for his campaign. The first GOP debate is set for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, and will be moderated by Fox News. The Hills Caroline Vakil contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The pilot of a private plane that crash-landed at Martha's Vineyard Airport on July 15 has died, according to a statement from Cape and Island District Attorney Robert J. Galabois. Randolph Bonnist, 79, of Norwalk, Connecticut died Thursday night at Boston Medical Center in Boston, Galabois' statement said. According to police, the plane, a 2006 Piper Meridian, flew out of Westchester, New York, on July 15. While landing on Martha's Vineyard, around 3:15 p.m., the pilot appeared to have "suffered a medical emergency," according to police. Bonnist's wife, Robin, the passenger on the plane, took over the controls in order to land. The resulting hard landing, in a grassy area near the runway, caused the plane's wing to break in half, police said. Randolph Bonnist was flown to Boston Medical Center in "serious life-threatening condition," according to police. His wife was evaluated at Martha's Vineyard Hospital and released. Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the crash. No foul play is suspected, according to Galabois' statement. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Randolph Bonnist, pilot in Martha's Vineyard plane crash, has died A Seattle woman was assaulted right outside her own home in Seattles Ravenna neighborhood. She says a new RV resident in the area shoved her in the face after she simply said hello. I was stunned and bewildered, said Anne Goodchild, who has lived in the neighborhood for nearly two decades. The incident happened on NE Blakley Street, right off the Burke Gilman Trail. Goodchild said she walked out of her home with her daughter last week and simply greeted one the RV residents outside. I said something like kind of causal, like hows it going? Goodchild said. Then she says the woman started yelling at them and following them. She was like, what are you looking at? Goodchild recalled. She got closer and closer to me and she put her hand in my face and pushed me, she said. I feel a little anxious just talking about it. She shared cell phone video her daughter took after the incident. You can hear the woman shouting, You stalker! Go away then if you dont like it! It was really, really shocking, Goodchild said. She said she filed a police report, and saw an officer come by in the following days. But the woman is still in the neighborhood. Its this concern about just my physical safety, in my own street, Goodchild said. She is currently driving out of her home, instead of walking places. Other neighbors told KIRO7 theyve also stopped walking outside their own homes. I feel totally unsafe. Ive started parking my car in the back, said Julia, who was too worried to appear on camera. Residents say the situation started escalating over the past few weeks. Ive filed maybe 26 reports, Julia said, scrolling through all the reports she submitted to Seattles Find It Fix It app. Theyve been dumping trash, brought a BBQ grill out drug paraphernalia, burnt foil, Julia said. But KIRO7 also spoke with an RV resident who says she moved to the neighborhood after recently getting cleared out of Magnuson Park. Its not fair its not right, this is what I can afford right now, said Kelly Colangelo, who is currently living in her car and RV that a friend helped fix up for her. Story continues She says shes been waiting on housing for 4 years. The frustration, the exhaustion of being out here. And not having a place to go or a place to be, Colangelo said, in tears. She says she didnt hear about the assault but wants neighbors to know. Were not all the same. But we all get the same rap, Colangelo said. I assure you, Im not having a party or a good time at all, she said. Residents in the Ravenna neighborhood say they feel deep empathy for people unhoused but want to feel safe too. Im walking down my neighborhood street. I should be able to do that, Goodchild said. KIRO7 reached out to both the mayors office and city council about the situation. A spokesperson for Mayor Bruce Harrells office said because of the recent escalation of incidents there, a team inspected the Ravenna site Friday morning to figure out whats next. Strategic Communications Advisor Lori Baxter said one option could be referrals to the new RV parking site in Interbay, which will be run by LiHi. LiHi said the RV parking site will hopefully be open in a couple of months. The site will have 26 spots and be specifically for people who are ready leave their RVs and move into transitional housing in 90 days. Full statement from Mayor Bruce Harrells Office: Mayor Harrell believes every person in every neighborhood across Seattle deserves to be safe and feel safe. If a crime is believed to be committed, residents should contact SPD. In response to reports about recent escalation at this location, the Unified Care Team (UCT) completed an inspection of the site earlier this morning to gather more information and help us deploy the right teams. This includes coordination of outreach teams, trash mitigation, and parking enforcement to mitigate the impact on public spaces. Standard parking enforcement guidelines are for vehicles parked in one location longer than 72-hours to be tagged with a warning. Parking enforcement officers respond to violations as swiftly as possible. The City is coordinating with KCRHA on a referral process for sites such as LIHIs Interbay site. That process will be managed by KCRHA in partnership with the UCT Neighborhood Teams. Statement from City Councilmember Alex Pedersen (District 4, Northeast Seattle) Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community and, unfortunately, we have seen illegal activities increase when multiple RVs cluster together and break our parking laws and camping laws. I agree with my constituents that the city government should not allow derelict RVs to ignore our laws in Seattle. We want safety for not only for neighborhood residents but also for occupants of RVs who are often victims of crime and in need of services to address substance use disorder. I appreciate the Harrell Administrations balanced response to these health and safety issues and look forward to them using their authority and resources to address these derelict RVs more quickly in Northeast Seattle and throughout our city. On The Record Ed Bastians plane is late. This one isnt Deltas fault its pouring rain in New York, and air traffic at LaGuardia, where Id arranged to meet the airlines CEO in the gleaming, airy terminal that his company spent $4 billion rebuilding during the pandemic quiet, is backed up. Hes also slow getting off the plane, which I take as evidence that he was flying coach, as he often does. He wasnt this time, he tells me when he sits down at the Trattoria Sunday Supper next to gate 73 in Terminal C and orders a Diet Coke. But during the flight from Deltas home in Atlanta, word had spread that he was on board. As the face of Deltas preflight video, hes more recognizable than your average CEO, and hed indulged selfie-seekers on the jetway. We talked about the summer-winter-summer of travel hell; bailouts; how to pay for carbon-free jet fuel; his advice for CEOs stepping into culture wars; and why airplane Wi-Fi sucks, over the course of an hour, before he headed out for a dinner with investors. Late arrival, but an on-time departure. This interview was condensed and edited for clarity. Liz: Air travel is a mess, again. Why does this keep happening? Ed: Demand has been off the charts. After the pandemic, people just wanted to go someplace. They didnt care where they were going, how much they were paying, they just wanted to get out. It was hard enough just replacing the employees who had left or retired. Weve hired 25,000 people in the last year. The technical complexity of these jobs is significant. You cant just hire people off the street and put them to work on the ramp or fixing planes or sorting out technology. The industry got billions in aid during the pandemic. Some people have called it a bailout, and one that cost an awful lot per job saved. Whats your response? The money the government gave us went to our people. It didnt go to bail out shareholders. Thirty percent of it were paying back in the form of loans. And by keeping those employees in the industry engaged, not only did it set us up for a rapid recovery, but remember we had an obligation to keep the airways open. People needed to be on the frontlines of the crisis doctors, people whose family members were sick, supply chain workers. Story continues If we didnt have the support from the White House, you and I would not be sitting here in a brand new LaGuardia Airport. This project would have been years in the making. We had the capital to invest, and because it was so empty, we were able to shave years off this project and billions off the cost. LAX, too. Salt Lake City. And Seattle, where weve opened a new international terminal. Ive seen the impact in other countries around the world where governments didnt step in. The European airports did not keep their employees and you had lines going for miles, a sea of lost bags. That was a glimpse of what might have happened here. Its 2023. Why dont we have Wi-Fi on every flight? Weve been rolling out free Wi-Fi on our domestic flights this year. Coming to international next year. And candidly if it wasnt for the pandemic, wed probably still be a couple years out. We took advantage of having a lot of planes on the ground to change out the equipment. Weve spent over a billion dollars in the last three years to create this. The only thing we ask is that you become a member of our SkyMiles program, which doesnt cost anything to join. Because SkyMiles members are better customers? Of course they are. And theyre younger. The average age of a SkyMiles member today is 38. The average age of [those who joined the program this year] is 32. These are people that dont have loyalty to a single airline yet. So were building generational loyalty. With Wi-Fi. With Wi-Fi. Theres a revenue component for you too, right? We have 200 million customers a year, 50 million unique. We have them, on average, for three hours at a time. Theyre seatbelted in. Theyre all looking straight ahead. And theyre bored. Our partners Paramount+, T-Mobile, American Express are paying us a meaningful amount to gain exclusive access to these customers. We have to pay for [traditional] inflight content, and here theyre paying us. Well have more lanes, too. There will be a shopping lane. In 2020, you were talking about futuristic tech like biometric screens and bionic baggage handlers. Then came the pandemic, and all those things seemed a bit ridiculous. Are you back to that kind of ambition? They did, and we paused some of them. But the biometric board, where you look at it and it gives you your itinerary, is up and running in Detroit. JetBlue is going to court to defend its takeover of Spirit. Is there enough competition in the airline industry? Were a hugely competitive industry. And were increasingly competing around service quality, which is another thing the pandemic brought to the forefront. The pundits all thought that Delta was going to get crushed because we cater to a higher tier of customers. They said the only people who are going to fly are the most price-sensitive, and so the low-cost airlines are going to have a bonanza at our expense. And just the opposite happened. The low cost carriers have gotten into a world of trouble. And you see that through the economy. The premium sector, through goods and services and experiences, has been on fire. People are investing in themselves rather than price. Labor is having a moment. Delta is less unionized than other airlines and has actively fought organizing efforts but you recently gave your unionized pilots a big pay bump that American matched. Well, theyre saying theyre going to match. Thats going to be a long slog. OK. But broadly this tug of war between management and labor coming out of the pandemic it feels like labor is winning. The pilots are unique. Our contract was essentially frozen for four years. And so while the headline number is large, those rates hadnt changed in four years, and this contract runs for another four years. If you look at it over an eight year span, its not nearly as expensive. But we want to have the best of the best. With respect to our other employees, we have the best profit-sharing arrangement in the industry, and were the most profitable. We paid $550 million [in February], more than all the other airlines put together. Lot of CEOs are getting caught up in culture-war issues. You were an early combatant there. Any advice? Be cautious. The pressure internally to respond in the moment is great. And you dont want to be so cautious that you are seen to have been a late follower. But being a pioneer in this space is a lonely place to be. Both times that I did that first with the NRA, and then the Georgia voting rights bill were for issues that had unique application to our company. Yes, they had broader societal [implications], but they mattered to our employees. Youve set a goal to be carbon neutral by 2050. How do you do that without just passing costs on to customers who may or may not share your priorities? Its an existential risk to our business if we dont make good progress on that. Flight-shaming in Europe is crazy. But we have a real opportunity here. We can operate an engine on biofuel today, but it costs three to five times what we pay for jet fuel. The aviation sector cant afford that; we just dont have the capital. And our shareholders cant be guinea pigs. Its going to take private capital willing to invest, but thats a long, slow pathway. As far away as [2050] feels, candidly, it feels even further away from our actual ability to achieve it if we dont start attracting capital in the sector. This is where government can step in with proper incentives not mandates, incentives. Energy companies that want to invest in research need to know that we can afford to take the product that theyre investing in. Three years after Covid arrived, wheres business travel? About 80% back. But theres a big caveat: New work patterns mean that people are traveling who in the past couldnt because they were in an office Monday through Friday. When I talk to CEOs and they moan about how theyre having a hard time getting their employees in, I say: I know where they are. Theyre on my airplanes. What was your first job? I worked on a highway when I was 16, repairing potholes and putting asphalt down. Is it true you didnt get on a plane until you were 25? Yes. Whats the last professional problem you had and who did you ask for advice? I have two close friends who are pastors business issues are personal issues, we just call them something else. Theyre all decisions you have to take. And I reach out regularly to [former Delta CEO] Jerry Grinstein. I went out to see him last year at his 90th birthday party. A business prediction for this year that is not about your company? Our economy is going to do much better than the prevailing pessimism. Tomas Lares will tell you: human trafficking in the state of Florida is happening right under investigators noses. The jail, the prisons here in Florida, they like to target them, Lares said. Lares, an advocate in the fight to stop trafficking, said there are recruiters inside the jail working for those those traffickers. READ: 2 Central Florida adults arrested for human trafficking, officials say there could be more victims They tell the trafficker theres (somebody) in the jail, (they) should maybe send her some money, Lares said. Maybe a phone call and maybe bond her out, so thats their recruiting. On Friday, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation announced Joselito Martineza and Tanya Wurster were caught trafficking three females between 2019 and 2021 in Central Florida. READ: Help Me: Kidnapped girl from Texas rescued in California after writing note to passerby The MBI said both would take photos of the victims and advertise them on the internet and commercial sex sites. In total, the two raked in $300,000 in a two-year period. Investigators said Martinez would control the victims by using narcotics, threats of violence and humiliating acts like shaving their heads, and even branded two of the victims as his property with tattoos. Investigators said theyre not ruling out there could be more victims, and that the couple was constantly looking for new victims. READ: Help Me: Kidnapped girl from Texas rescued in California after writing note to passerby 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. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene showed sexually explicit photos of Hunter Biden in Congress this week. It's not the first time the legislator has attracted controversy on Capitol Hill. Insider has compiled a list of her most disruptive moments. 1. Showing nude photos of Hunter Biden. Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene prepares to hold up explicit images of Hunter Biden during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing with IRS whistleblowers at the Capitol in Washington, on July 19, 2023. AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough Greene showed explicit photos of Hunter Biden during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing, claiming they showed him having sex with sex workers. The images clearly depict the president's son nude and engaging in sexual activity, but they include black boxes to obscure his genitals and the faces of people other than him. Despite criticisms from Democrats who said the images were "pornographic" and "irrelevant," Greene said she believed that "the American people deserve to see" them. 2. Calling Rep. Lauren Boebert a bitch on the House floor. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. Win McNamee/Getty Images Bubbling tensions between Greene and fellow GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado came to a head in June, with Greene calling Boebert a "little bitch" on the House floor. Greene reportedly made the comment to Boebert in a center aisle as a House vote took place, with the two being captured mid-conversation on C-SPAN's cameras, The Daily Beast reported. This incident, along with other disagreements with fellow GOP members, led to her removal from the House Freedom Caucus. 3. Heckling Biden and calling him a "liar." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene gives a thumb down as President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address on February 7, 2023. Jim Watson/Getty Images Greene heckled President Joe Biden during his State of the Union address in February and called him a liar. "You lie, you lie," Greene shouted from the back of the House chamber after he said the GOP wanted to cut funding for Medicare and Social Security. She also disrupted his 2022 address along with Boebert, who she was still on good terms with at the time, with the pair at one point chanting, "build the wall." 4. Chasing AOC down a hallway. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Greene's antics on Capitol Hill have not been confined to the House floor. Story continues She once pursued Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York down a hallway in Congress in 2021, accusing her of "radical socialism" and of supporting "terrorists and ANTIFA." Ocasio-Cortez ignored her, and Greene called her a "chicken" while reporters were present. 5. Getting into a shouting match with Rep. Jamaal Bowman. Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York. Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Greene got into a shouting match with Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York outside the Capitol in May. The argument began over whether Rep. George Santos of New York should be expelled but quickly turned into a confrontation about a range of unrelated topics. Ocasio-Cortez ultimately intervened to try to defuse the situation, telling Bowman: "She ain't worth it, bro." 6. Confronting a Parkland shooting survivor. David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland high-school shooting and a gun-control activist. mpi04/MediaPunch /IPX/AP Before she became a legislator, Greene once waited outside the Capitol to confront and harass David Hogg, a survivor of the Parkland high-school shooting, shortly after the 2018 attack. A video shows Greene calling Hogg a "coward" and bombarding him with questions about his views on gun control. The pro-gun legislator previously appeared to promote a false conspiracy theory that the shooting was staged. 7. Hanging an anti-trans sign outside her office. A transphobic sign was put up by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2020, after Rep. Marie Newman, D-Ill., put up a pro transgender rights flag across the hallway in the Longworth House Office Building. Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Greene hung up an anti-trans sign outside her office in 2021 in response to Democratic Rep. Marie Newman of Illinois hanging a transgender-pride flag outside her office to support her transgender daughter. The sign read: "There are TWO genders: Male & Female. 'Trust The Science!'" Read the original article on Business Insider Russian nuclear weapons on parade in Moscow Retired Russian colonel Konstantin Sivkov, who serves as the deputy president of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, has put forth the idea of detonating nuclear weapons at the North Pole "if necessary" as a way to convey a message to the West, in a statement on Russian state-run TV. During his speech, Sivkov called for the potential deployment of nuclear weapons and show-casing their presence at the North Pole as a demonstration, under certain circumstances. "If the situation escalates to an extremely critical stage, we could consider demonstrating a detonation, say, at the North Pole, he said. Similar to what we did with the [thermonuclear aerial bomb with a power of] 58 megatons on Novaya Zemlya, where the test went as planned, proving effective and sending a powerful educational message. Sivkov emphasized his desire for Russia to prioritize the "intensive mass-scale development of strategic nuclear weapons," arguing that such armament would provide protection "against any possible encroachments" on the Russian Federation. He further advocated for Russia to adopt "unconventional forms of using nuclear weapons," specifically referring to "high-powered nuclear munitions capable of causing severe geo-physical consequences, such as supervolcano explosions." "Therefore, the deployment of these nuclear weapons is, of course, necessary, Sivkov blustered. Its a pivotal matter... I strongly believe that transitioning to intensive deployment is strategically imperative. Russian officials have repeatedly made nuclear threats against Ukraine and the rest of the world. Medvedev, the former President and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, has notably threatened to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine on a number of occasions. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine The marshes dried up over centuries as its peat was harvested and the soil cultivated for grain or keeping livestock (Paul NOLP) Amid the fields of northern Germany a vast expanse of bulrushes has been planted to form one of Europe's largest reclaimed marshes. Just four years ago, the 10-hectare (25-acre) plot close to the town of Malchin was a simple field. Like 98 percent of Germany's historic wetlands, the area slowly dried up over centuries as its peat was harvested and the soil cultivated for grain or keeping livestock. Now, the land has been rewetted and planted with rushes that rise up to two metres (seven feet) high. With rubber boots that go up to her knees and a GPS navigation device in hand, biologist Meline Brendel wades through the marshes' stagnant waters. "Marshes cover three percent of the Earth's surface and trap twice as much CO2 as all forests," says Brendel. Left alone, such bogs are massive sinks for carbon locked into the peat and prevented from escaping as gas by the water that covers the ground. Once dry, however, the earth releases the stored carbon when it comes into contact with oxygen. "In this region, marshes therefore emit more CO2 than all forms of transport put together," says the scientist. Over a year, one hectare of drained marshland produces as much CO2 as a car travelling 145,000 kilometres (90,000 miles), according to the Greifswald Mire Centre. - Wetland habitat - In Germany, current and former wetlands cover some five percent of the country's land area -- although the overwhelming majority has been drained. To keep these emissions in check, the government-financed Paludi-PROGRESS project funded the rewetting of the former marshland. The land was criss-crossed with trenches, flooded and planted with bulrushes. Today, the area is habitat to a multitude of birds, fish, insects, spiders and amphibians. The bulrushes are cut each year and used for household insulation, among other practical applications. Her eyes glued to the GPS, Brendel navigates her way through the wet maze, sinking a spike into the peat as she goes to measure the level of the water. Story continues "The problem is that projects like ours are still just pilots. The plants cannot yet be used on an industrial scale" as material for roofing or insulation, she says. The German government, which aims to make Europe's top economy carbon neutral by 2045, last year launched a four-billion-euro ($4.5 billion), four-year plan of action to "improve the general state of ecosystems" in the country. Half of the programme's funds will go toward protecting marshes. A new law encouraging such efforts within the EU was recently adopted by the European Parliament. However, the programmes have run into opposition from farmers. - Cows and carbon - For Brendel, the point is not to "force the rewetting of fields on farmers", but to convince them of its importance for the climate and the possibility to make a living from cultivating wetland. The 28-year-old scientist concedes that farming marshes is currently "not recognised as agriculture and farmers therefore don't have access to organic farming subsidies". "We need to make it more accessible and less bureaucratic to turn drained land back into marshes and to share what we have learned." Twenty years ago, Bavarian farmer Lorenz Kratzer opted for an intermediate solution: keeping livestock on marshland that is slightly less wet than normal and giving his animals plenty of land to roam. On a hot summer's day in Freising in southern Germany, 20 or so of his cows seek the shade of the trees and bushes growing on his marshland used for grazing. As the soil dries out due to climate change, the 64-year-old says it "would be a very good thing... to let the marshes return to nature, to flood them again". "The creation of pastures goes along well with this. You can see that the grass is growing better," he said. Kratzer sells his organic meat locally, showing that it's possible to combine agriculture and marshland protection. Back in Malchin, across the way from the reclaimed marsh, a herd of cows grazes peacefully in a field. "You can't see it but carbon is escaping from the ground" dried to make pastures for livestock, says Brendel, who dreams of a world where "there are no more dry marshes". pno-pc/sea-dlc/mfp/cw New anti-aircraft ammunition for Gepard self-propelled guns, which are crucial for shooting down Russian drones, should be handed over to the advanced units of the Armed Forces in the near future. Source: European Pravda with reference to Bild Details: To solve the acute shortage of ammunition, Rheinmetall installed a new production line at its plant in Unterluss, Lower Saxony, in a matter of months something that normally takes years, according to the publication. It is noted that Rheinmetall is expected to supply 300,000 shells for the Gepard, 40,000 of which will be delivered this year. According to the article, due to the shortage of ammunition, the Ukrainian military usually fires only five times, although these gun systems are capable of firing up to 20 shells in one turn. In Germany, there was a shortage of ammunition for these guns because the Gepard dates back to the 1980s, and there is no documentation for their management. That's why the engineers reworked the existing 35-mm ammunition intended for infantry fighting vehicles to use them in air defence systems. "These products save lives. Every downed drone is important for the residents of Kyiv and other cities, who fear new attacks every day," said Rheinmetall head Armin Papperger. Background: Germany reported on the shipment of military aid to Ukraine, including six Gepard anti-aircraft systems, 3,230 155-mm shells and much more. Before that, it became known that Germany, in cooperation with the United States, intends to transfer 45 more Gepard anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine to strengthen its air defence by the end of the year. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Rozanna Latiff KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -Malaysia's government halted a music festival in the capital Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, a day after the frontman of British pop rock band The 1975 kissed a male bandmate onstage and criticised the country's anti-LGBT laws. "There will be no compromise against any party that challenges, disparages and violates Malaysian laws," Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said in a Twitter post after meeting the organisers of the Good Vibes Festival, a three-day event set to run until Sunday. The 1975 have also been banned from performing in Malaysia, said a government committee that oversees filming and performances by foreigners. Homosexuality is a crime in Muslim-majority Malaysia. Rights groups have warned of growing intolerance against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. In videos posted on social media late on Friday, Healy was seen kissing bassist Ross MacDonald after criticising Malaysia's stance against homosexuality in a profanity-laden speech to the festival audience. "I made a mistake. When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it," he said. "I don't see the fucking point ... of inviting The 1975 to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with." Healy later cut short the set, telling the crowd: "All right, we've got to go. We just got banned from Kuala Lumpur, I'll see you later." The band could not immediately be reached for comment. In an Instagram story, Healy appeared to joke about the incident, posting the festival's cancellation notice along with a caption: "Ok well why don't you try and not make out with Ross for 20 years. Not as easy as it looks". Healy was criticised for kissing a male fan at a 2019 concert in the United Arab Emirates, which also has laws against homosexual acts, media reported. Festival organiser Future Sound Asia (FSA) apologised for the cancellation of the show following Healy's "controversial conduct and remarks". It said The 1975's management had promised the band would obey performance guidelines. Story continues "Regrettably, Healy did not honour these assurances," it said in a statement. The festival had been scheduled to showcase 43 performances from local and international artists across the three-day weekend. The 1975 were the headlining act for Friday, with Australian singer The Kid Laroi and U.S. band The Strokes the main events on Saturday and Sunday. Performances on both days were called off. FSA expressed concern that the incident could "erode the confidence of music promoters and various stakeholders ... and threaten the stability of our burgeoning live arts scene". Communications Minister Fahmi said Malaysia was committed to supporting the development of creative industries and freedom of expression. "However, never touch on the sensitivities of the community, especially those that are against the traditions and values of the local culture," he said. The government in March introduced stricter guidelines, including on dress code and conduct, for foreign acts coming to Malaysia, citing the need to protect sensitivities, media reported. Friday's incident sparked uproar on Malaysian social media, including among some members of the LGBT community, who accused Healy of "performative activism" and said his action could expose the community to more stigma and discrimination. "Matt Healy undoubtedly just made it worse for queer Malaysians who actually live here, and have to face the consequences because we all know our politicians are gonna use this to further their agenda," Carmen Rose, a Malaysian drag queen and performer, said on Twitter. The 1975 are on Sunday due to play at a festival in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, where a recent LGBT event was cancelled amid security threats. The Jakarta festival's organisers did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether the band would play. The uproar comes at a politically sensitive time in multi-ethnic Malaysia where Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's progressive coalition government will face its first major test of public support in August, when six states hold elections. An alliance of opposition parties, largely representing the majority ethnic Malay community, has accused the government of not doing enough to protect the rights of Muslims. The premier has said his government would uphold principles of Islam and will not recognise LGBT rights. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Additional reporting by Bernadette Christina in Jakarta; Editing by William Mallard, Robert Birsel and Nick Macfie) To a crowd of Tennessee's GOP faithful on July 15, Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis went to his greatest hits and boasted about his self-proclaimed battle against "wokeness." Weve made the state of Florida the place where woke goes to die," DeSantis said in Nashville. And now, it is our mission as Americans to ensure that in January 2025 ... we leave woke ideology in the dustbin of history where it belongs. But woke ideology, plain and simple, is imaginary hatred that its critics can't even define. There is no culprit, only rabbit holes that lead to nowhere. What should be in the dustbin of history are white supremacy and white nationalism. They promote the view that nonwhites are inferior and are worthy of harm. Yet some in our country choose to hold on to these dangerous ideologies. Let me assure you, DeSantis, Tennessee does not have a problem with "woke ideology" but with white supremacy and nationalism that have led to acts of hatred and fear. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for president on July 15, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee's history with white supremacy isn't just history. It's recent past. Throughout 1996, 160 Black churches in America were burned down due to arson. Tennessee had victims of this hatred. On Jan. 8, 1996, the Inner City Church in Knoxville was hit with 18 Molotov cocktails. "Die (racial slur) Die! and White Is Right were painted on the backdoor of the church. More than 20 years later, no one has been charged with burning the church to the ground. Salem Missionary Baptist Church, a church northeast of Memphis, was also victim to a mysterious fire. Then-President Bill Clinton, first lady Hillary, Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper, went to the church to help repair the damages. Some Ku Klux Klan members keep an eye out for folks gathering in Decherd, Tenn. July 14, 1979 for a KKK rally. More than 300 showed up for the rally and cross burning. Let's not forget that just this March 2, hours after Gov. Bill Lee signed anti-drag and anti-trans laws, Nazis hung a sign up on Chestnut Street near Fort Negley in Nashville. The sign read: Thank you Bill Lee for tirelessly working to fight (anti-gay slur) and (anti-trans slur). We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children. Story continues Jade Byers, a spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Lee, said the governor "strongly condemns" antisemitism, white supremacy and hate: "Acts of hate have no place anywhere and will not be tolerated in the state of Tennessee." Blanket statements do not reach the heart of an issue. It allows white supremacy to seep through the cracks and continue. 'Try That In A Small Town' divides us: I grew up in small town Tennessee. Jason Aldean's song doesn't represent my values. In a most recent incident, three African American churches in Columbia, Tennessee, were victims of racial intimidation. Flyers that included hateful messaging were found at Faith United Missionary Baptist Church, Bethel Chapel AME Church and Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on July 9. The flyer references the "Old Glory Knights of the Ku Klux Klan" and includes an email address for an unnamed individual. The Rev. Tanya Mason talks about how a hate flyer affected her congregation at Bethel Chapel AME Church during a prayer service at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on July 12, 2023, in Columbia, Tenn. "This attack on the serenity and sanctity of Black parishioners is nothing less than demonic," Tennessee NAACP said in a statement about the KKK flyers. "This brazen act is a reminder that in 1996, (Black) churches across Tennessee and the South East were burned and their parishioners left without a place of worship." Police have arrested a 38-year-old white man and a 17-year-old boy and charged them with civil rights intimidation. Racism and white nationalism continue in our country frankly because leaders have attempted to make light of this hatred. Our leaders have encouraged white supremacy When asked during a radio show whether white nationalists could serve in the military, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., referred to them as Americans. After first defending what he said on CNN, he later retracted his comments, saying "white nationalists are racists." 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. When a U.S. senator says a hate group is wrongfully labeled as such, that message reaches across the country. It emboldens people to send KKK flyers to Black churches in an attempt to instill fear. But the hatred, the racism that is suffered at the hand of white supremacy is real. Black Tennesseans have the scars to prove it. Tennessean Opinion and Engagement Reporter Lebron HillMonday, March 20, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn. It is on us to make the past the past. The church burnings or messages of hate do not stay just a dark part of history if we do not condemn the ideology that people believed to carry out these unspeakable acts. LeBron Hill is an opinion columnist for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee, where this column was first published, and the curator of the Black Tennessee Voices newsletter and Instagram account. Contact him at LHill@gannett.com. Find him on Twitter at @hill_bron or Instagram at @antioniohill12 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 Nashville Tennessean: DeSantis thinks our problem is 'wokeness'. It's really white supremacy Russian army bombarded New York village in Donetsk Oblast with FAB-250 aerial bombs Russian shelling killed four people and wounded a further three in the village of New York in Donetsk Oblast in the evening of July 21, the Prosecutor General's Office reported on Facebook. "As a result of the shelling, four people were killed, including a married couple, the PGO stated. "The remains of their bodies were pulled from under the rubble of a ruined house. A blast wave from the shelling also damaged houses and infrastructure facilities. Read also: Four killed in Russian strike against infrastructure object in Zaporizhzhya Oblast According to the PGO, casualty numbers are still being clarified, as rescue workers and police are still working at the scene. On July 18, Russian invasion forces shelled the village of Zhelanne Pershe, Pokrovsk district, Donetsk Oblast, with multiple rocket launchers. The Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office reported five people wounded, including two boys aged 1 and 13. 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 As a result of the Russian attack on the settlement of New-York in Donetsk Oblast on the evening of 21 July, at least four civilians were killed. Source: Donetsk Oblast Prosecutors Office Details: On 21 July, around 19:05, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation bombed the city of New-York. Preliminary reports indicate that the occupiers used FAB-250 aerial bombs against the residents. As a result of the attack, four residents were killed, including a couple; the remains of their bodies were recovered by emergency workers from under the rubble of the destroyed building. In addition, three more civilians were injured, in particular a woman whose husband was killed. They are in the hospital. Residential buildings and outbuildings were damaged by blast waves. The number of people killed and injured is being determined. Background: On 21 July, the Office of the President reported on the attack, but there was no information about the casualties. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia's strike with cluster munitions on Druzhkivka, July 22, 2023 Russian forces launched an attack on the town of Druzhkivka in Donetsk Oblasts Kramatorsk district on July 22, using cluster munitions, the Novyny Donbasu news portal reported on July 22, citing local residents. A photo capturing the moment of impact was shared on a local Telegram channel dru_news. Read also: Putin issues new batch of threats and lies in response to Ukraines receipt of cluster munitions One Ukrainian soldier was killed in the attack, and several others sustained serious injuries. (Novyny Donbasu) A cameraman of Germanys state-run broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW) was reportedly injured in the incident. Deutsche Welle confirmed the Russian strike on Druzhkivka with cluster munitions, during which DW cameraman Yevhen Shylko was injured. He was promptly transported to a hospital, and DW reports that his condition is now stable. Druzhkivka is situated approximately 23 km from the frontline. Read also: Kyiv streamlines drone ammunition production Throughout the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has employed cluster munitions on positions held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as on Ukrainian cities. This factor played a role in the decision by the United States to provide cluster munitions to Ukraine. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Consequences of shelling of Sumy Oblast Russian troops launched 29 separate attacks on Sumy Oblast on July 21, employing various types of weaponry, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration said on Telegram. Communities including Novoslobidska, Seredyno-Budska, Esmanska, Krasnopilska, Bilopilska, Shalyhynska, and Velykopysarivska were targeted in the barrage, resulting in a total of 161 recorded explosions. Read also: Russia strikes New York village in Donetsk Oblast, killing four and wounded three The Russian forces utilized artillery, mortars, AGS (automatic grenade launchers), and helicopters to carry out the strikes. At night and in the early hours of July 22, border communities in Sumy Oblast survived another four Russian attacks, the Administration said in its morning update on Telegram on July 22. Fourteen explosions were recorded in that period. Read also: Kirvohrad Oblast targeted by Russian attack drones, reports regional administration Details regarding casualties and the extent of the damages inflicted are currently being clarified. 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 (Reuters) -A Russian war reporter was killed and three were wounded in Ukraine on Saturday in what the defence ministry said was a Ukrainian attack using cluster munitions, prompting outrage from Moscow. In a separate incident, German broadcaster Deutsche Welle said one of its journalists, Yevgeny Shilko, had been wounded elsewhere in Ukraine in a Russian attack with cluster munitions that killed a Ukrainian soldier. It said his life was not in danger. Cluster bombs are in the spotlight after Ukraine received supplies of them from the United States this month. Many countries ban them because they rain shrapnel over a wide area and can pose a risk to civilians. Some bomblets typically fail to explode immediately, but can blow up years later. Reuters could not independently verify the use of such weapons in either incident on Saturday. Both sides have used them in the course of Russia's 17-month invasion of Ukraine. The dead Russian journalist was named as Rostislav Zhuravlev, a war correspondent for state news agency RIA. His three colleagues were evacuated from the battlefield after coming under fire in Ukraine's southeastern Zaporizhzhia region, the defence ministry said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denounced what she called "criminal terror" by Ukraine and said, without providing evidence, that the attack appeared deliberate. "Those responsible for the brutal reprisal against a Russian journalist will inevitably suffer well-deserved punishment. The entire measure of responsibility will be shared by those who supplied cluster munitions to their Kyiv proteges," she said. No comment was immediately available from Ukraine on the incident. Ukraine has pledged to use cluster munitions only to dislodge concentrations of enemy soldiers. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said this week that Ukrainian forces were using them appropriately and effectively against Russian formations. Story continues Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy speaker of the Russian upper house of parliament, said the use of the weapons was "inhuman" and the responsibility lay both with Ukraine and the United States. Leonid Slutsky, a party leader in the lower house, called it a "monstrous crime". Their reactions ignored the fact that Russia's own use of cluster bombs in the war has been documented by human rights groups and by the U.N. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said in May that Russian forces had used the weapons in attacks that had caused hundreds of civilian casualties and damaged homes, hospitals and schools. (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan, Caleb Davis and Olena HarmashEditing by Frances Kerry) A Russian court has ruled that a soldier who killed his wife should not go to prison, the mitigating circumstance being his participation in the war against Ukraine. Source: Telegram-based news outlet Agentstvo (Agency), referring to the court register of the Russian Federation Details: The media outlet noted that Russian "war veterans" have long been given lighter sentences. However, this is the first reported case in which the war has been a mitigating circumstance in a murder. Private Eduard Bitarov was found guilty of murder in the heat of passion, for which Russian law provides a sentence of up to three years in prison. However, the court decided to reduce it to a restriction on military service with a deduction of 10% of the allowance to the state treasury. The court deemed the defendants participation in the war against Ukraine and his status as a "combat veteran" to be mitigating circumstances. Other mitigating circumstances include his guilty plea, being a parent, first criminal prosecution, being of good character, and partial compensation for non-pecuniary damage to the victims. Earlier, local media reported that Bitarov had killed his ex-wife "with extreme brutality", stabbing her 16 times. The victim's relatives also insisted in their appeal that the evidence in the case pointed to torture and murder with extreme brutality. In addition, as the relatives pointed out, Bitarov repeatedly changed his testimony in court, originally claiming to have acted in self-defence, then blaming the woman's immoral behaviour. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Rostislav Zhuravlev, a Russian war correspondent from the RIA Novosti propaganda agency, died at the front A Russian journalist from propaganda agency RIA Novosti, Rostislav Zhuravliov, was killed on the frontline, and four others were injured following strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, RIA Novosti claimed on July 22. Zhuravliov was killed on the frontline when he came under Ukrainian fire, RIA alleged. Photojournalist Konstantin Mikhalchevskyi, also from RIA Novosti, sustained injuries in the same attack. Read also: NAFO Summit, community combating Russian propaganda, makes waves in Vilnius Reportedly, the pair were in the area of the recently liberated village of Pyatyhatky in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, according to Russian media. Two journalists from the Russian newspaper Izvestia were also among the injured. Polshakov suffered four shrapnel wounds, one of which was an exit wound, while Shikov was found to have shrapnel in soft tissues and a minor hip bone fracture. Read also: Moscow uses school pupils to parrot Kremlin talking points on special operation Journalists from TASS and Russia, both known for their affiliations with the Russian government, were also caught in the crossfire and sustained injuries. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that a total of four Russian journalists were injured in the incident. The Ukrainian Armed Forces launched an artillery strike on a group of journalists from the MITS Izvestia and RIA Novosti news agencies, who were preparing materials about the Ukrainian armys artillery shelling with cluster munitions in populated areas of Zaporizhzhya Oblast, the Russian ministry asserted, without evidence. On July 20, Ukrainian forces eliminated Russian propagandist Mikhail Luchin, who ran the popular Telegram channel Misha in Donbas. Read also: Russia bans Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories from speaking with people in free Ukraine Luchin was known among Ukrainians for funding Russian military action against Ukraine, including an attempt to order drones worth $25,000 on AliExpress but his funds were diverted to purchase various sex toys due to the intervention of the pro-Ukrainian Cyber Resistance hacker group. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Editors note: This story is the first account of the Kyiv Independents contributor, Anthony Bartaway, who witnessed Russian shelling targeting volunteers during relief efforts following the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and the ensuing devastating flooding in Kherson Oblast. After Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka dam on the night of June 6, volunteers from all over the country and the world rushed to the flooded Kherson Oblast to save whoever and whatever they could. But the typical dangers of flooding were compounded by a constant drum beat of Russian artillery from just on the other side of the water, targeting rescuers and victims of the disaster as they were trying to receive much needed aid. One such group was a team of German volunteers called 4Paws Rescue, which focused on saving animals. They went to Kherson to help those affected by the manufactured flood but ended up facing the dangers of being on the front line of Russias invasion of Ukraine. Their team, along with others at the same evacuation point, came under fire from Russian artillery. Myself among them. One volunteer was severely wounded. Russian forces had been shelling Kherson since the city at the mouth of the Dnipro River was liberated from their occupation in November, but this incident proved somewhat unique. The Russian artillery crew responsible filmed and publicized their attack, providing direct evidence of their war crime. Ominous day I met with 4Paws at a guest house in Kherson that had become a hub for press, volunteers, and soldiers. Some of their members had been volunteering in Ukraine since the early days of the full-scale invasion and were involved in animal rescue efforts in many places, including Bucha and Kharkiv. For this trip, they communicated with UAnimals, one of the country's largest animal welfare organizations. Their initial task in Kherson was to set up an animal shelter for UAnimals, but they ended up coming prepared and equipped to rescue animals directly from the flood. Story continues British volunteer John Jones puts together an animal shelter along with other 4Paws Rescue volunteers in Kherson on June 14, 2023. (Photo: Anthony Bartaway) The day of June 14 was a long one and might have been ominous. The civilian relief efforts in Kherson were fairly chaotic and could be a complex web of permissions and coordinating who can get ahold of what equipment and when. After waiting several hours for a permit from the military authorities of the city to enter the flood waters, then came securing a metal boat from other volunteers that could handle the dangerous current of the swollen Dnipro River. By the time the actual work could begin, it was already late afternoon. Sometime between five and six o'clock in the afternoon, the crew arrived near a boat launch in the southwest of Kherson, immediately to the west of the rail bridge across the Koshova River. In peacetime, the bridge was the primary freight connection to the dockyards and warehouses of the Korabelnyi neighborhood that drove much of the citys economy. The Russian army is now perched on the opposite bank of the Dnipro, constantly shelling the area and making shipping impossible. With the Russian-made flood, Korabelnyi was swallowed by the deluge and was the focus of most of the rescue efforts within the city limits of Kherson. Saving lives from Russias flood: Inside inundated, shelled Kherson Since Russias full-scale war began, first came eight months of terror under occupation, then came seven months of intense shelling across the river, then came the river itself to Kherson. Over 24 hours after Russian forces destroyed the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant and its massive The Kyiv IndependentFrancis Farrell 4Paws had received information from sources working within the neighborhood about pets that had been left behind during evacuations and people waiting out the flood waters in the higher floors of multi-story apartments. However, even at the gathering point roughly 500 meters from the boat launch, there had to be more waiting, and we got news of more serious trouble. Police at a block post on the scene warned that the Russians had set up a tank on the opposite side of the Dnipro that had targeted the area with indirect fire the day prior and that they had a clear shot down the length of the road leading to the river. The teams sense of worry was rising, and now we were running out of daylight. But, during the wait, we met with several other volunteers from other rescue groups: House of Hope and Kyiv Animal Rescue Group. They would soon prove to be invaluable. While there was now much more trepidation than earlier in the day, the decision was made to proceed with the mission shortly before 7 p.m. The launch had only recently been covered by the then-receded floodwaters, so it was a big mud flat. After helping the team to disembark and get the engine working, some other members and I decided to vacate the area so the Russian drones would not see a large group of people to target. Volunteers launch a boat during relief efforts in flooded Kherson Oblast following Russia's destruction of the Kakhovka dam on June 14, 2023. (Photo: Anthony Bartaway) After returning to the meeting point, we got word that the boats engine was stalling out and that we would need to retrieve the crew. But then it came. The telltale whistle of artillery shells ripped the air, followed by the explosions from their impact. Within the span of a few minutes, roughly five struck nearby. Shortly thereafter, the House of Hope team sped back in the direction of the city, yelling to get to safety. As the rest of the group returned to the shelter at the meeting point, we learned that two of them had been hit. One was mostly fine, but that House of Hope van evacuated the other who had been grievously injured by shrapnel. The man who had been hit was a British volunteer named John Jones, who had spent most of the war filling in to help with whatever aid group needed an extra set of hands and seemed to have friends throughout Kherson and Ukraine more broadly. The area of the Russian shelling targeting volunteers during relief efforts in flooded Kherson. (Source: Google Maps) As doctors later determined, the shrapnel shredded into the right side of his lower abdomen, breaking his pelvis but somehow missing any vital organs. A few centimeters in any direction, though, and it would have likely been fatal. John described the incident with his signature good spirits: After the explosion I looked down and saw raspberry jam in the water. It took me a moment to realize it was me. The next thing I know I was being carried off. The incident was an intense one, but not very special. The Russians had been attacking rescue workers throughout the Kherson relief effort. According to the Interior Ministry, as of June 20, near the end of the flooding, Russian fire had killed five people. What made it unique, however, came the next day. Publishing evidence On June 15, a new video was posted by the Russian military propaganda Telegram channel The Disgusting 8. It showed the exact moment of the artillery strike along with the description that they were attacking a group of enemy infantry who had been trying to cross the Dnipro at the Koshova bridge, only to be intercepted by an artillery unit from PMC Livadia. The video was taken by the drone we heard buzzing overhead, spotting to find targets to shoot at. The production was complete with roaring music. 0:00 / 1 Livadia was initially reported on in Russian media at the beginning of 2023, described as a Crimean volunteer battalion. A piece by Russia 24 showed its members fighting in Kherson Oblast in February. The Disgusting 8 appears to be run by Russian soldiers deployed in Kherson Oblast, set up to show their everyday work, according to the Telegram channels description. It frequently publishes footage of drone and artillery attacks carried out by Livadia and calls its members brothers. According to the Center for Journalism Investigations, a Crimean outlet currently working from Kyiv, the Livadia battalion is part of the Russian Combat Army Reserve, or BARS specifically, BARS-30. BARS units are technically reservists in the Russian army, but in practice, they are often a way to legally formalize various irregular units, mainly private military companies. Through this organizational scheme, Livadia is considered a part of the 150th Motorized Rifle Division out of the Rostov region of Russia. The Livadia private military company was reportedly founded by Sergey Aksyonov, the head of the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea, illegally installed in 2014. According to multiple media reports, Livadia includes the Convoy private military company, an offshoot of the Wagner Group. Convoy is reportedly commanded by Konstantin Pikalov, aka Mazay, a close confidant of Yevgeny Prigozhin who had frequently handled Prigozhins business in various African countries. Livadia is part of a network of a few different units referred to as the Aksyonovites, after their leader. The primary mission that the Aksyonovites were recruited for is to prevent Ukraine from liberating the peninsula. Army of hired guns: How Russias PMCs are becoming the main invasion force Private armies are illegal in Russia, so naturally, Moscow has been using them for decades. Now, its making them the main invasion force. The rate at which Russia creates new private military company-like units sped up after 2014 but it really took off during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov More war crimes Russian forces frequently fired on volunteers working to rescue people from the flooding. One of the more prominent examples was a team daring enough to attempt a rescue mission on the Russian-occupied left bank of the Dnipro. The Russian military fired on them, killing three and injuring 23, according to the Kherson Oblast Prosecutors Office. Every other aid volunteer I contacted about incidents of Russian attacks on aid workers reported that the shelling got worse throughout the rescue effort, and most had close calls themselves. There were no deaths from this particular incident, and John is well on his way to recovery. But the simple fact that Livadia posted video evidence of themselves targeting rescue workers, who themselves have video evidence from the other end of the attack, is a rare incidence of being able to directly tie a specific war crime to the specific group that carried it out. Further investigations may possibly even find the exact Russian soldiers involved. Russias national postal service suffers losses due to loss of cross-border trade Russias national postal service has suffered greatly from the loss of cross-border trade and postal connections to a number of countries, Russian Post General Director Mikhail Volkov said at a meeting of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy on July 19. Russian Post suffered its worst yearly loss of RUB 30 billion ($330 million) in 2022, and lost another RUB 5 billion ($55 million) in the first quarter of 2023. Read also: Ukrposhta launches new mail service to U.S. The state-owned company is the second largest employer in the country after Russian Railways. Volkov complained that the accumulated debt of Russian Post has reached RUB 133 billion ($1.5 billion), with "has no sources of return and repayment." While agreements with creditors have helped the company avoid a default, but the situation remains tough, Volkov explained. Debt servicing for the company, including lease payments, will impose an additional burden of RUB 16 billion ($180 million) a year. Read also: Ukraines Nova Poshta plans to expand into whole Europe "Even at the best times, the company did not earn enough money to service the interest," The Moscow Times quoted him as saying. In response, the Russian government has considered introducing a tax on online commerce - 0.5% of the turnover of large marketplaces. This money will be directed to support unprofitable post offices in order to "save" the service. PostEurop, the association of European public postal operators, suspended the membership rights of Russian Post and Belarusian Post Belpochta within the organization in June 2022. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Ukrainian troops make a trench near Bakhmut on February 1, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photo by YASUYOSHI CHIBA/AFP via Getty Images The bodies of Russian troops have been left behind in Ukraine as Moscow denies the true death toll. In one case, a soldier had to fight beside a decomposing corpse for weeks before he himself died. Ukrainian soldiers told The Times they were "genuinely shocked" at how Russia treats their dead. Since the early days of the war in Ukraine, there have been reports of the bodies of Russian soldiers being left behind as Moscow refuses to acknowledge the true death toll. In one case, Russian troops fought alongside the decomposing corpse of their dead comrade for weeks, a Ukrainian soldier told The Times of London. One Ukrainian soldier showed the paper two gruesome images of recently captured Russian trenches. The first image was of a fresh Russian corpse; the other was of an older corpse reduced to a skeleton about a hundred yards away. This likely meant that the recently killed soldier had been fighting alongside the decomposing corpse of his comrade for weeks. Ukrainian soldiers have said they're "genuinely shocked" at how differently Russia treats their dead compared to how they treat their own, with scores of injured and dead Russian soldiers being abandoned on the battlefield, The Times reported. Russian troops patrol the destroyed part of the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works in Ukraine's port city of Mariupol on May 18, 2022, amid ongoing Russian military action in Ukraine. OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images The number of Russian soldiers that have died in Ukraine is one of Moscow's most closely guarded secrets. A recent analysis said there had been nearly 50,000 Russian casualties, according to the independent Russian media outlets Mediazona and Meduza. Representatives for Ukraine said it offered to return the bodies of thousands of dead soldiers to Russia to be buried, but Moscow refused because it did not want to acknowledge they had died. Ukraine's casualty rate is also a similarly closely guarded secret, with the official estimate being that three Russians are dying for every Ukrainian. However, Ukrainian soldiers have privately said this is a cautious estimate and that the real ratio is much more in Ukraine's favor, The Times reported. The outlet reported that superior front-line medical care for the wounded at field hospitals is helping Ukraine minimize its losses. Read the original article on Business Insider Igor Girkin (Strelkov), the former top military commander of the self-proclaimed "Donetsk People's Republic" and nationalist blogger, detained earlier Friday and accused of extremism, sits inside a glass defendants' cage during a hearing to consider a request on his pre-trial arrest in Moscow on July 21, 2023. Photo by ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images A prominent Russian war blogger was arrested on Friday after months of criticizing Putin. Igor Girkin, a former FSB operative, had long flouted Russian laws forbidding wartime criticism. But the pro-war blogger was detained this week after calling Putin a "cowardly mediocrity." A prominent Russian ultra-nationalist who has long skirted consequences for his Kremlin criticism was arrested this week after apparently taking his critiques of Russian President Vladimir Putin too far this time. Igor Girkin, a pro-war, former FSB security operative who goes by the nom de guerre Stelkov, which is Russian for shooter, was detained at his apartment on Friday on charges of extremism. Girkin's wife posted news of her husband's arrest in a Telegram message to his nearly 900,000 followers before Russian state media confirmed his detainment. But for all his critiques of the conflict in Ukraine, Girkin is decidedly pro-war, suggesting that Putin and his generals haven't gone far enough, and calling for the full mobilization of Russia's population. The arrest of Girkin signals a Kremlin crackdown on outspoken critics of Russia's war effort in Ukraine a month after Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin staged a short-lived mutiny that represented the most serious threat to Putin's power in more than two decades. For months, Girkin and other wartime personalities like him have been allowed to castigate the Russian government and military on Telegram, the social media platform that the Kremlin has yet to crack down on, in rants and raves that flout the country's ultra-strict laws forbidding wartime criticism. The high-profile war blogger, who once led a group of Russian militants in Donetsk, said in an April YouTube video that Russia was heading "towards military defeat," and accused Russian media of glossing over the war's negative impacts on Russia. In recent months, these bloggers have zeroed in on what they see as the ineptitude of Russian generals, oligarchs, and following the failed Wagner coup, even Putin himself. Story continues Girkin's vitriol toward Putin seemed to ramp up even more in the aftermath of the Wagner rebellion. In a June 25 Telegram post, Girkin suggested that if Putin can't win in Ukraine, "he needs to legally transfer his powers." Girkin's Friday arrest comes three days after Girkin made his boldest denunciation of Putin yet, saying, "the country will not survive another 6 years of this cowardly mediocrity in power," in a Telegram post. In court on Friday, Girkin was charged with making "public calls to carry out extremist activities on the internet," The Financial Times reported. He was placed under arrest until mid-September amid an ongoing investigation and faces up to five years in prison, according to the outlet. Read the original article on Business Insider The Russians have mobilised into the occupation forces Uzbek citizens who came to occupied Mariupol as builders, the General Staff of Ukraine reports. Source: report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Quote: "The presence of Uzbek citizens was noted in the units of the Russian occupation forces stationed in the temporarily occupied Horlivka of Donetsk Oblast. The specified persons arrived in Mariupol to carry out construction work. Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated, and they were mobilised to join the occupation forces as mercenaries." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A woman has been killed in the shelling of the city of Kupiansk, and a man injured in the village of Dvorichna in Kupiansk district, Kharkiv Oblast, on Saturday. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office Quote: "On 22 July, at approximately 11:00, the occupiers shelled Kupiansk. The territory of a private company was damaged. Around 13:30, the Russian military again shelled Kupiansk. A 57-year-old civilian [woman] was killed in the attack. Preliminary data indicates that the shelling was carried out with rocket launchers." Details: Later, the prosecutor's office reported that around 15:00, the Russian military also shelled the village of Dvorichna in the Kupiansk district. A 60-year-old man was injured. He was hospitalized. Later, the Prosecutor's Office reported that another civilian, a 45-year-old man, also died in the shelling of Dvorichna. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Russians pummelled Nikopol with artillery fire on the evening of 21 July, injuring three people, and damaging residential buildings, an industrial facility and a power line. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote: "Three people were injured. A 57-year old man and a 78-year old woman were hospitalised with shrapnel wounds. They are in a moderately serious condition. Another 42-year old man will be treated at home." Details: Lysak also reported that eight private houses and nine outbuildings had been damaged, as well as a power line. In addition, Russian forces once again shelled the city at night, hitting an industrial facility. The Oblast Military Administration noted that the Russians also attacked the oblast with a drone. It was shot down by soldiers from Air Command Skhid (East). It is probable that they downed a Shahed-136 drone. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Just months after a first-ever faculty strike, Rutgers University's move to launch a merger of the state's two largest public medical schools has once again divided the campus, with some medical faculty members asking if a merger is even necessary, and prompting an emergency session of the University Senate on Friday to issue a vote of lost confidence in Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway over the issue. Many say their concerns were ignored, and that the Board of Governors rushed to approve the merger just three days after releasing a report on a key question: whether medical residency options for the top students in the system could be weakened by combining the two schools. At a Rutgers board meeting July 10, only Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, defended the merger. Board members stayed quiet, voting to approve the motion without any discussion, after 12 members of the public testified against the merger. The vote occurred after three years of reports, evaluations and assurances from Strom and Holloway that appear to have convinced few about the merger's benefits. Rutgers Medical School in Newark on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Faculty councils at both medical schools disagreed with implementing the merger right now. Many unresolved questions remain, the councils said in letter sent to the Rutgers Board of Governors in March, asking it to wait for a supportive vote from the faculty before moving forward. On Friday afternoon, the University Senate's executive committee, in an emergency meeting, passed a resolution noting that since Holloway allowed the Board of Governors to vote on the medical schools' merger even after the Senate had asked for the vote to be postponed, the Senate "has lost confidence in the leadership of President Holloway representing the values of shared governance." The resolution called for Holloway to pause the merger until the University Senate has had the opportunity to review Stroms full proposal and issue a decision regarding whether it should proceed. It also called for a public re-commitment by Holloway to the principles and values of shared governance. Story continues Paul Boxer, a member of the Senate, said the executive committee operates as the full Senate when the Senate is out of session during the summer. Dory Devlin, a Rutgers spokeswoman, issued a statement in response. "Throughout his time as Rutgers president, President Holloway has respected the advisory role of the Senate and will consider this resolution with the seriousness that he has considered all resolutions of the Senate as it fulfills its role in shared governance with an advisory voice on important matters," she said. "The Board unanimously approved the administrative merger of the two medical schools provided that certain provisions are met including that the two schools maintain their presence in their respective cities (Newark and New Brunswick) and that the universitys commitment to the City of Newark is undiminished by this entirely organizational and administrative restructuring," she said. 'Natural' and 'logical' thing to do Merging New Jersey Medical School in Newark and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick was the natural and logical thing to do, Strom told NorthJersey.com in an interview. The merger, first floated by Strom in 2019, follows recent expansions Rutgers 2013 merger with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and a 2018 partnership with the private health system RWJBarnabas Health. The new merger would give Rutgers medical students cross-campus experience in a university hospital, private hospital and safety net hospital, with a wider array of clinical clerkships and electives and types of patient experiences, without the current administrative barriers, Strom said. But bigger isnt necessarily better in medical education, say many faculty members who oppose the idea. The merger would have very little impact on clinical care and on medical education, because the two schools collaborate anyway, they say. Collaboration needs to be improved, but not through a merger that would bring an additional administrative layer to an already stressed system, said Dr. Laura Willett, who taught and practiced primary care at the New Brunswick medical campus and retired as professor emerita in January. Rutgers University Newark, photographed on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Willett was also part of the first in-house committee that Strom created in 2019 to report on the pros and cons of a potential merger. The committee supported Stroms goals but said that without a bold, transformational change that could only come from a huge donor or financial boost to the schools, the merger was not justified. Combining two under-resourced schools into one didnt bode well for all its students, Willett said. If the chancellor had been able to locate a major donor who wanted their name on the largest medical school in the U.S., we would have heartily endorsed such a plan, she said. Reducing student residency options? The biggest sticking point is whether expanding the class size from 180 in each school to 360 in a merged school would undercut the most accomplished students as they try to get admitted to the most prestigious residency programs. The programs provide the in-hospital training medical students receive in their specializations. Top schools have limits on how many students they will accept from a single school, so combining the two might disadvantage students at Rutgers, Willett said. The huge size of a merged school would likely make our school less attractive to those highly qualified students, Willett said in a letter she wrote to the board. Chancellor at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences and Executive Vice President of Rutgers University Health Affairs Brian L. Strom. The residency question was important, Strom acknowledged, but should not be a concern, he said, pointing to findings from the independent consultancy group ECG, hired by Rutgers. Leaders representing a range of graduate programs do not see a merged program harming student chances, he said, citing the report. Leaders were nearly unanimous in indicating that they did not view a merged school as being a disadvantage to students seeking placement in their programs due to any 'limit' on how many graduates they take from a given medical school," Strom said in an email. The ECG report was disappointing and not convincing to veteran educators, Willett said. Faculty members question 'shared governance' commitment The skirmish between Rutgers leadership and its faculty over the merger echoes the universitys first-ever campus-wide faculty strike in April. Then and now, the administration has been accused of rejecting the facultys role in the "shared governance" of the university, since the board went ahead with the merger without consulting with the University Senate. The Senate, a faculty governing body, had passed an emergency resolution asking the board to remove the vote from its agenda. Strom called the Senates resolution a delay tactic. The Board of Governors decided it was time to do this, and there was no no reason to keep delaying, he said. There are a lot of unknowns, he said, insisting that he has provided answers to the best of his ability but faces resistance and anxiety from some quarters as a change agent. Dr. Robert L. Johnson, dean of Rutgers University Medical Schools, receives his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine administered by registered nurse Vivian Baez at University Hospital's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic at Rutgers Medical School in Newark on January 4, 2021. Operating two medical schools under Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences creates an artificial separation that hurts our ability to teach optimally, to provide the best care, and hurts our reputation, he said. Both he and Holloway have pledged to invite faculty participation and community input as the merger goes forward, and to examine impact on residencies. "Residency placement is understandably of great importance to our students and faculty, and we will be closely monitoring any placement patterns going forward," Strom said. The yes vote was already a done deal, said Boxer, the University Senate member. We were taken by surprise, he said, referring to the one-week notice Strom gave to the Senate before the board voted. All that Strom had to do was take up the Senates offer to convene an emergency meeting in the summer and discuss the final merger proposal, but he did not do that, Boxer said, incensed by Strom's suggestion that the Senate was delaying. The Board of Governors asked no questions about financial impact and went ahead with the vote in a manner that suggested it was pre-arranged in closed meetings, said Willett, a former Senate member. Concerns about diverting resources from low-income residents Newark politicians and advocates, including Mayor Ras Baraka, several doctors at University Hospital and the Newark Community Coalition, say the merger would divert attention and resources away from already marginalized and low-income Newark residents. Realistically, the people of Newark are nervous, given the history of Newark, that they're going to get cheated and that we risk abandoning University Hospital in Newark," Strom said. "They're worried about that. That's not going to happen. These will be two co-equal campuses. That has been absolutely inviolate since the beginning. There remains widespread faculty disappointment with how joint chairs have managed previously merged medical departments since the 2013 merger of Rutgers with UMDNJ, and fears about how salaries, bonuses and work schedules for physicians in the two medical schools would shake out after the newest merger. Quality-of-life and commuting pressures are another concern for physicians, who worry they may have to work in both campuses after the merger. Our members just arent going to have an appetite for these grand visions, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which had already stressed the medical community, said Diomedes Tsitouras, a non-faculty member and executive director of the RBHS-AAUP union, representing medical faculty. Fewer than a third of faculty members surveyed on both campuses felt that a merger would benefit them or their programs, according to a survey conducted by faculty councils at both medical schools last year. And more than 80% of faculty members wanted a detailed fiscal and operational plan laid out before the merger went ahead. The university has not provided any of this, Stroms critics say. Five-year process The merger would take five years to complete and must be approved by an independent accreditation body, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. A merged medical school would make Rutgers Medical School one of the largest in the nation and give it a significant improvement in US News & World Report rankings, Strom has repeatedly said a fact that Willett disputes, saying the ranking bump would be small. But that's just one issue on which they disagree. The bigger question is: What problems is the merger solving? asked Willett. There is no compelling reason for it. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Rutgers medical schools merger questioned by faculty Irish low-cost airline Ryanair is considering resuming a small number of flights to Ukraine by the end of 2023, assuming successful negotiations on partial airspace opening. Source: Michael O'Leary, CEO of the airline, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine Details: O'Leary stated that two plans are being considered: the end of the war and the opening of the airspace in one or two days. The second is that the airline may plan a small number of flights as early as the end of this year. In addition, O'Leary cited the example of Israel, where aerial operations continue despite occasional rocket attacks. Quote: "Aircraft can land on a daily basis in Tel Aviv, which is only 10 minutes away from the West Bank, where they are launching rockets," he said. Details: He added that the Ministry for Restoration is currently working to resume some flights to Ukraine at the end of this year. "I think we should be optimistic. Certainly, the ministry is working on trying to reopen some flights to Kyiv and Lviv in the end of this year. And if they can prove that it's safe to do so then we will operate those flights," O'Leary noted. Meanwhile, O'Leary stressed that if Ukraine fails to convince the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and insurance companies that it is safe to operate a limited number of flights to Kyiv and Lviv, the company will not be able to resume flights. Background: The management of Ryanair, led by CEO Michael O'Leary, arrived in Kyiv for a series of business meetings, during which they announced large-scale plans to resume operations in Ukraine and checked the state of the airport infrastructure and operational readiness for the resumption of flights. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Karwai Tang - Getty Images Rylan Clark has recalled a disastrous moment with hair removal cream, with the presenter saying he nearly circumcised himself. The Celebrity Gogglebox star and former It Takes Two host appeared alongside Emily Atack for Soap & Glorys video series, Soaking Up Life, and revealed that he had a close shave with hair removal cream in the past. People would think Im bald everywhere apart from my face, but Im not, Im actually quite hairy, he told Emily. One day, I thought, I'll be honest with you, I wonder if itll look bigger if theres nothing there? Karwai Tang - Getty Images Related: Strictly Come Dancing 2023 cast: All the line-up rumours So I had a little trim up and then I thought, Im gonna order some hair removal cream. When I say, I nearly circumcised myself I left it on too long and I didnt realise youre not supposed to put it on the shaft, he explained. I was moving about, going about my day, only for about 10 minutes. Categorically, I was like, 'Oh it's tingling, but maybe that's supposed to happen.' And when I read the thing, it was like only put [it] on the base of the pubic area, not on the shaft, Rylan added, before advising boys to be careful. Rylan, who recently made an appearance alongside mum Linda on Celebrity Gogglebox, will front a travel documentary with former Strictly star Rob Rinder, which sees the pair explore Italian cities such as Venice, Florence and Rome. Getty Images Related: Gogglebox star celebrates becoming athlete in his 50s When I found out that Rob and I actually get to go travelling around Italy for the Grand Tour, I couldn't have packed my suitcase quicker, said Rylan of the project. We're not going to be your typical Brits abroad though. We [will] properly immerse ourselves in all of Italy's cultural offerings. Rob will be teaching me all about Italian history and art as we follow in the footsteps of the cultural greats, while I show Rob how to dance on bars, he added about the show, which is currently titled Rob and Rylans Grand Tour. Story continues Gogglebox airs and streams on Friday nights at 9pm on Channel 4. You Might Also Like California State Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond Suppose a child begins to use a name or pronoun inconsistent with their birth certificate or requests access to school facilities that dont correspond with their gender assigned at birth. In that case, a Southern California school districts teachers must now inform their parents. There were several hours of debate Thursday before the Chino Valley Unified School District's board approved the policy. During this time, security officials escorted State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond away. He attended the meeting to voice concerns about student safety risks associated with the policy, Oakland Fox affiliate KTVU reports. I support parent rights, but I also support the safety of our students, Thurmond told CVUSD school board members, and he shared statistics on suicide rates for LGBTQ+ youth. Were here because of people like you, CVUSD board president Sonja Shaw remarked during a fiery rant. Youre in Sacramento proposing things that pervert children. Security escorted him from the podium as Thurmond attempted to respond to Shaw. The California Department of Education and the Los Angeles County Office of Education have previously partnered to provide teachers with cultural competency training to boost help for LGBTQ+ youth, which Thurmond has supported. Some parents agreed with his position, while others perpetuated false claims around parents rights without considering the rights of LGBTQ+ youth as individuals. As liberals and conservatives battle it out for power and influence in school districts throughout California, Thurmonds exit and the controversial vote come at a challenging time for education. (@) A video of the interaction between the conservative school board president and the superintendent was shared on social media. In response to the incident, Thurmond tweeted that he felt verbally attacked by the school board president. Story continues I dont mind being thrown out of a board meeting by extremists, he wrote. I can take the heat its part of the job. What I cant accept is the mistreatment of vulnerable students whose privacy is being taken away. (@) Thurmond was not immediately available for comment. hoover police press conference on carlee russell disappearance 25-year-old Carlee Russell disappeared on July 13th, 2023 after making a 911 call about seeing a toddler on the side of the road. She returned home on July 15th, 2023, after an intense search, prompting questions about her disappearance. In a world where cases involving missing women of color often go unsolved, Russell's safe return is undoubtedly a good thing. However, details about her disappearance have since emerged causing people to question the validity of her story. On July 19th, Hoover Police held a press conference to further discuss the Carlee Russell case. In the press conference, Chief Nick Derzis said that there is no reason to believe there is any threat or danger to the public connected to this case. He continued by stating that the police have not been able to confirm much of the information Russell provided to them in her initial interview. RELATED: Man Feels 'Betrayed' & Refuses To Go See His Missing Wife 30 Years Later After She Turns Up Exactly Where He Thought She'd Be In her initial interview, Russell claimed that she saw a baby on the side of the road. Then a man came out of the trees saying he was checking on the baby. This was when Russell claimed the man picked her up and put her in the 18-wheeler. Russell reported that she did not remember much about the man but was able to escape the 18-wheeler. She was caught again and put into another car. According to Russell, the next day she was fed crackers by a woman and put into a different car. She was able to escape again in the west Hoover area. Detectives were unable to confirm this information. According to Derzis, surveillance footage showed Russell taking a bathrobe and a roll of toilet paper from her workplace. She then went to get food before stopping at Target to purchase snacks. Then she departed to Interstate 459, where she made the 911 call regarding the baby. Police also shared Russells "highly unusual" internet history from a few hours before her disappearance. The U.S. Secret Service was asked to assist in the investigation and analyzed her search history. The following items were searched by Russell: Story continues Do you have to pay for an amber alert How to make money from a register without being caught Birmingham bus station One way bus ticket from Birmingham to Nashville The movie 'Taken' Maximum age of an amber alert According to police, Russells toxicology report was not suspicious and there is currently no indication of a mental illness. Police have still not determined if any crime was committed in this incident. RELATED: Mom Of Autisic Boy Who Often Runs Away Worries No One Will Stop To Help Him After Carlee Russell Went Missing As more details emerge in this case, people have begun to question Russell and her family. Before the press conference came out, people defended Russell on the internet. Some believed that the media was once again choosing to jump to conclusions and victim blame, and as a result, people were attacking Russell. However, the press conference has led to rumors regarding the truth behind Russell's disappearance. In a statement, Russell's mom Talitha Robinson-Russell attempted to dispel rumors regarding donations received in the wake of her daughter's disappearance. "We understand there are some questions about the reward donations through CrimeStoppers. It is my understanding from information I received when the reward was set up that any donations received that were not used for the reward would be returned to each donor," Robinson-Russell said in her statement, ensuring the family has not set up any GoFundMe accounts or asked for donations. "When we initially asked for the help of the public in searching and praying for Carlee's safe return we asked for sincere prayers not prayers or support that came with strings or entitlement," she added. RELATED: How Angela Lansbury Saved Her Teen Daughter From Charles Manson Russells case should not take away from the thousands of women of color who are still missing. In 2022, there were 546,568 people reported missing in the United States missing and 39% were people of color. According to the NAACP, as of 2023, there are more than 64,000 Black women that remain missing across the United States. Despite these numbers, the media often does not report on their stories. When young white women go missing, on the other hand, their stories frequently receive a ton of media coverage. As reported in an article in the Harvard Political Review, this phenomenon is known as the missing white woman syndrome. The article continued by displaying how the media portrays these missing persons cases as skewed. Media around the disappearance of white women often focuses on their roles in the community this causes people to sympathize with them and push for their safety, the article says. But when discussing missing people of color, the media oftens chooses to highlight the problems presented in their lives. These problems include criminal history, drug abuse, or dangerous living situations, and they use these details to justify the tragedies. RELATED: Family Of Woman Who Died While On A Date With Cop Claims Police Are Trying 'Cover Up' What Really Happened The justification instills a distance between the media consumers and the victims, making it harder for media consumers to sympathize with them. This can also generate apathy for the victims and normalize the tragedy. In a tweet, theologian and author Candice Marie Benbow said that the Russell press conference made her sad but she will never apologize for believing/advocating for Black girls and women. And I will do it every chance I get. I watched the press conference. It all makes me sad. Im praying Carlee and her family heal from this and are able to move forward healthy and whole. I will never apologize for believing/advocating for Black girls and women. And I will do it every chance I get. Candice Marie Benbow (@CandiceBenbow) July 19, 2023 To say the media is doing people of color a disservice in terms of coverage of missing persons cases is an understatement. The evidence is clear and there needs to be more action advocating for equal treatment of missing Black women. Cases like Carlee Russells or the negative portrayal of Black women in the media should not continue to allow people to turn a blind eye to advocating for these women. RELATED: Carlee Russell's Boyfriend Deletes Photos Of Her Amidst Rumors Alleging She Staged Her Disappearance To Get Him Back Tarah Hickel is a Washington-based writer who is a frequent contributor to YourTango. She focuses on entertainment and news stories including current events and human interest pieces. This article originally appeared on YourTango SuJin Kim welcoming students to a virtual Korean class on Zoom in Mexico City, Mexico on July 12, 2023. (Marian Carrasquero/The New York Times) MEXICO CITY To her mother in South Korea, SuJin Kim is a failure: Shes over 30, single and not working for a big Korean corporation. But to her millions of followers in Latin America, she has become a relatable friend and a teacher of all things Korean. In Mexico, where she lives, they know her, in fact, as Chinguamiga, her online nickname, a mashup of the words for friend in Korean and Spanish. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Her success has been propelled not just by her ingenuity and charisma, but also by a wave of South Korean popular culture that has swept the world, driven in part by a government effort to position the country as a cultural giant and to exert a soft power. In her homeland, Kim, 32, struggled with the grind of a hypercompetitive society where success is defined narrowly and young women face diminishing labor prospects, grueling work schedules, sexism and restrictive beauty standards. In Mexico, the growing interest in all things Korean has made her a social media sensation with more than 24 million followers on TikTok and more than 8 million subscribers to her YouTube channel, allowing her to gain popularity, financial stability and a romantic partner all on her own terms. There was a packaging that she came with, said Dr. Renato Balderrama, who leads the Center for Asian Studies at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon in Monterrey, Mexico, an industrial hub with an expanding Korean presence. She had all this training in Korea, in this new Korea that allows her to land in a place like Mexico and be successful. A sort of a teacher of comparative pop culture, Kim offers lessons on popular Korean soap operas, lyrics, fashion standards, traditions and social norms. She once worked as a waitress in Mexico for a day and posted about her confusion with tips. (South Korea is a no-tip country.) She showed followers how Korean students crammed for exams. She started traveling across Mexico tasting regional delicacies. Story continues Her social media success has attracted invitations to events, award nominations, magazine spreads and sponsorship deals, and yielded a popular business teaching Korean language classes online. She moved from Monterrey to Mexico City to gain more exposure and grow her brand. Kims budding empire now includes an online store of Korean beauty products. She will be featured as a contestant in the second season of HBOs Bake Off Celebrity show. Kims success tracks the growth of Korean influence in Mexico and the region. More than 2,000 Korean companies have a presence in Mexico, part of a so-called near-shoring strategy that has driven larger corporations Kia, LG, Samsung, Hyundai, among others to take advantage of a free-trade agreement with Canada and the United States. South Korea has not only arrived in Mexico with jobs, cars and cellphones but also with something more intangible: its own idea of modern culture. K-pop, K-beauty and K-dramas have shown Latin Americans a new, different way to be cool. K-pop bands have been performing to increasingly bigger and sold-out venues since 2012. This year, a summer festival will bring 16 Korean groups to Mexico City, with ticket prices starting at around $170. Some newsstands specialize in magazines, posters and merchandise about South Korean celebrities. Netflix offers dubbing in Latin Spanish for Korean shows. Movie theaters stream live K-pop concerts performed abroad. Kim grew up in Seoul, but after a work-study stint in Canada and traveling through South America, she returned home and found life in South Korea stifling. I dont want to go back to my old life, she remembered thinking. She moved to Mexico in 2018, driven by a desire to experience life in Latin America and trying to escape severe burnout. She worked for a Korean multinational corporation and found the work rhythm all too familiar, so she started teaching Korean. Then the pandemic upended the world. Its my moment; I have nothing to do, she recalled thinking before she started to post her Korean classes on YouTube. I had zero views. Nobody saw me. Her videos were straightforward language lessons: Easy Words in Korean 3 Minutes! But then she pivoted to TikTok and uploaded a short clip, this time explaining Korean culture. That same day, it had, like, 5,000 views, and I was like, what?! she said, her pointy nails adorned with jeweled stars, bows and moons. Very quickly, her TikTok following exploded. One afternoon this year, Kim welcomed her students to a virtual Korean class on Zoom; she charges $35 to $45 for each four-week session, with one 90-minute class per week. When the class started, 76 students had logged on. There were young girls, bespectacled moms and at least one longhaired businessman, spread across Central and South America. Kims bright blue curls bounced on the screen as she moved her head approvingly. When a student trying to figure out how to pluralize singular nouns asked, No plural? she chirped, No! How neat, right? After finishing college in South Korea, Kim said she experienced severe stress. I wanted to die, and I wished to rest, she said in one of her most popular videos. She has spoken openly about being hospitalized to take care of her mental health. She attributes her exhaustion to Koreas culture of sacrifice and grind that helped the country become an economic powerhouse after the Korean War. Everything is quick, quick, now, right this second, Balderrama said. This created a culture where theres no place for mediocrity, theres no place for those unwilling to compete. In Mexico, Kim hoped to find a more joyous life: I saw how Latin culture is, how Latin people live, and theyre living happily, she said. I dont want to waste a single moment Im in Latin America because its so precious to me. But if Kim has found a passion and a business, she has not completely found the peace of mind she was seeking. Shes in therapy to deal with what she described as some depression and anxiety. Her large following and popularity has bred fear: I feel people will forget me, that nobody will like me, she said, worried about the toll of having to come up with creative content to remain relevant. I also have this problem with haters, with peoples comments, which affect me, she added. She does get criticized online by users who say she should go back to Korea, who ask whether she pays taxes in Mexico (she says she does) and who consider her another foreigner lured by life on the cheap and who contribute to the gentrification of parts of the country at the expense of Mexican residents. In a recent video, as she prepared to go home for a visit, she showed an ID card that she said was proof of her status as a legal resident. She wanted to dispel any rumors she had to leave the country because she was on a tourist visa. Kim declined to discuss her citizenship status with The New York Times, but months ago, she posted a video in which she said shed taken the exam to become a citizen of Mexico. By many standards, Kim has made it. But what about her mothers standards? I dont think shell change her mind about success that Im not a success, thats a fact for her, she said following her visit home. Shes still more worried than happy for me. Still, after meeting Kims boyfriend and his family in South Korea, her parents promised to visit her in Mexico. c.2023 The New York Times Company CHEBOYGAN COUNTY Cheboygan County Sheriff Tim Cook is again offering ORV and boater safety classes to the community free of charge. Students will need to bring their own lunch and attend the entire class. Any motorized boat operator born after June 30, 1996, is required by law to pass an approved boater safety course and to carry a boater safety certificate. In addition, boater education is also required for all PWC operators born after Dec. 31, 1978. The marine safety class will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday Aug. 26 in the Cheboygan County Commissioners Room. Students should use the entrance on the north side of the county building. The minimum age to attend this class is 12. Any motorized boat operator born after June 30, 1996, is required by law to pass an approved boater safety course and to carry a boater safety certificate. In addition, boater education is also required for all PWC operators born after Dec. 31, 1978. Subscribe: Check out our offers and read the local news that matters to you The ORV safety class will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday Aug. 27 in the Cheboygan County Commissioners Room. The minimum age to attend this class is 12. Any ORV operator 16 years old and younger riding on public or private land is required to pass an approved ORV safety course. Parents and adults are encouraged to attend and take the courses. Class size is limited, and pre-registration is required. Interested parties need to visit michigan.storefront.kalkomey.com to register for the classes. Each interested student will need to sign up for an account on the Michigan DNR safety course website. Once an account is created, scroll down and click upcoming events for the safety course type you are interested in. Then you can find classes taking place in the area. Once you find a class you are interested in taking, click view, and then register now. Questions can be directed to Sgt. Earl Manuel, Recreational Division Commander at the Cheboygan County Sheriff Department, at (231) 627-8888. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Cheboygan Sheriffs Department offering ORV and boater safety classes HOPEWELL Its been more than four years since 31-year-old Angel DeCarlo was fatally shot by a police detective responding to a convenience store armed robbery in late 2018. Because a local officer was involved, Virginia State Police were asked to investigate, and a special prosecutor was appointed to determine whether he should face charges. Portsmouth Commonwealths Attorney Stephanie Morales agreed to serve as special prosecutor. That was May 2019. A decision by Morales office as to whether an indictment should be sought has yet to be announced. During a hearing Friday in Hopewell Circuit Court, a lawyer who represents Angel DeCarlos mother, Emily DeCarlo, asked Judge Wallace Brittle to remove Morales from the case and appoint another special prosecutor. Its been four years, two months and 12 days, since she was asked to handle the case, attorney Brian Telfair told the judge. We need some sort of closure not only for the family, but for the detective and the people of the Hopewell community. The shooting happened Dec. 18, 2018, at a convenience store on Winston Churchill Drive in Hopewell, a city of roughly 23,000 people about 20 miles south of Richmond. Police said officers were responding to an armed robbery call when they saw a woman who matched the suspects description nearby and ordered her to stop. They said the woman pointed a gun at one officer who then fired at her. DeCarlo was pronounced dead at the scene. DeCarlos mother has disputed the polices version of events and filed a civil lawsuit against the city and the detective in 2021 but agreed to withdraw it last year while she waited for Morales office to conclude its investigation, Telfair said. The family plans to refile later, he said. Brittle said he was concerned the investigation has gone on for so long. He said that while he understood such inquiries can take a long time, he questioned whether the circumstances would have been the same had the officer been the one shot. Story continues If Angel had shot him, I bet Angel would have been indicted in minutes, he said. But the judge also questioned whether it was in the best interest of the DeCarlo family to have another commonwealths attorney assigned to the case. Youre not going to find a prosecutor more willing to prosecute a police officer than Ms. Morales, Brittle said, referring to the many cases her office has filed against local police officers, including the successful prosecution of Portsmouth police officer Stephen Rankin, who was found guilty of manslaughter for the 2015 fatal shooting of a shoplifting suspect. Morales, who was accompanied in court by four staff members, said she and her team have been working diligently on the case since the beginning, gathering evidence and meeting numerous times with state police investigators, medical experts and others involved. It sometimes was delayed waiting on evidence, including a phone for Angel DeCarlo the family was supposed to turn over, she said. Morales told Brittle her office reached a decision in January on whether to recommend an indictment and scheduled a meeting with DeCarlos mother so they could tell her the news first. The meeting was canceled, however, when Telfair became ill and was never rescheduled, she said. Telfair filed his petition seeking to have Morales removed around that time and talks between the two sides came to a halt, she said. Weve been working extremely hard on this, Portsmouth Senior Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Haille Hogfeldt told Brittle. To say that we havent properly investigated this is insulting. The judge told the two sides hed hold off on a decision for two months, with the hopes a resolution will come before then. Morales and Telfair also agreed to meet soon. Jane Harper, jane.harper@pilotonline.com President John F. Kennedy is my grandfather, and his legacy is important. It's about a lot more than Camelot and conspiracy theories. It's about public service and courage. It's about civil rights, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and landing a man on the moon. Joe Biden shares my father's vision for America, that we do things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. And he is in the middle of becoming the greatest progressive president we've ever had. Under Biden, we've added 13 million jobs, unemployment is at its lowest in 60 years. Biden passed the largest investment in infrastructure since the New Deal and the largest investment in green energy ever. He's appointed more federal judges than any president since my grandfather. He ended our longest war. He ended the COVID pandemic, and he ended [former President] Donald Trump. These are the issues that matter. And if my cousin, Bobby Kennedy Jr., cared about any of them, he would support Joe Biden too. Instead, he's trading in on Camelot, celebrity conspiracy theories and conflict for personal gain and fame. I've listened to him. I know him. I have no idea why anyone thinks he should be president. What I do know is his candidacy is an embarrassment. Let's not be distracted again by somebody's vanity project. I'm excited to vote for Joe Biden in my state's primary, and again in the general election. And I hope you will too. (Bloomberg) -- The water cops knew their way around the maze of strawberry fields and dirt roads surrounding the Donana National Park in southern Spain. It still took more than two hours to find the exact spot where a well was siphoning water off one of Europes most biodiverse wetlands to cultivate lucrative crops. A handful of lush fig trees a rare green patch in the increasingly parched region and a white electricity box gave away the location. Most Read from Bloomberg Tracking down unsanctioned wells over the vast area, where legal and illegal farms are haphazardly arranged, is like finding a needle in a haystack, says a technician with the local water authority. He asked not to be named because hes not authorized to talk to the media and fears retribution from farmers. Were detecting more wells now thanks to satellite images, but farmers keep digging them because berry farming is so profitable. The agents sealed off the borehole with blue tape, but hundreds of additional outlaw wells continue to drain Donana every day. The water use threatens the survival of migratory birds, the endangered Iberian lynx and hundreds of other species while exacerbating an unprecedented water crisis. The fight over who gets Spains water has even become a matter of national political dispute. The future of one of Spains UNESCO heritage sites has been a hot-button topic in the runup to Sundays general election. Even as record temperatures wreak havoc across Spain, polls show Spaniards are set to vote against green policies like the one allowing the water police to shut illegal wells. The conservative Peoples Party has gained support among farmers by pledging to make it legal to irrigate more land, arguing that their incomes should be protected over Donana. Theyre likely to secure victory with the help of the far-right, climate-denying group Vox, which could end up playing a key role in the next government. Story continues Politicians on both sides have seized on Donana as a symbol of a broader fight over climate policies, even as issues such as the cost of living, gender equality and identity politics have also loomed large. Its a trend thats set to strengthen as global temperatures climb, driven by growing emissions of planet-warming carbon dioxide. In Spain, a second year of extreme heat and drought has put the changing climate front of mind for millions of citizens. Democracies all over the world, from Australia to the US, have seen climate rising on political agendas as more frequent extreme weather events make the crisis difficult to ignore. It remains to be seen how much the Peoples Party if it wins will alter five years of progressive climate policies developed under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs Socialist Party. Sanchez summed up the choice in a message on Twitter last month, asking people if they wanted a Spain that takes care of Donana, or a Spain that wrecks Donana. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the Peoples Party leader, meanwhile, has said the government isnt addressing farmers real concerns. Theres too much arrogance and a lack of solutions, he said in April. At least in their campaigns, the candidates have framed the future of Donana as an existential question for Spain: Do people want to protect Spains environmental assets for the next generation? Or does the nation want less red tape and more economic growth in the present? Donanas fate will have reverberations throughout Europe. At stake is a sector that exported 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) worth of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries in 2022. Spain as a whole accounts for almost half of all strawberries imported by European Union countries, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. A combination of intensive irrigation and seasonal migrant labor has allowed some Spanish farms near Donana to supply berries during the off-season, from January to June, often at significantly lower prices than local produce. But reports of human rights abuses and sexual assaults of female workers have already raised red flags. Now theres concern about the environmental cost involved as well. A recent petition with a quarter million signatures organized by Campact, a green group in Germany the biggest buyer of Spanish strawberries called on large grocery stores to stop buying strawberries from Spain. Some of the largest grocers are taking steps to ensure the berries they sell are not produced with illicit irrigation. UK supermarket chains J Sainsbury Plc, Tesco Plc and Morrisons, as well as REWE Group, ALDI Sud and Lidl in Germany said at least some of their Spanish suppliers certify that the fruits have been grown using efficient irrigation methods and legal water sources. Sainsburys and Tesco said they were also working to plot its suppliers farms against maps of legal and illegal regions in Donana. That data, compiled by the World Wildlife Fund, estimates there are over 2,000 illegally-irrigated hectares near the national park, accounting about a fifth of total agricultural land around Donana. Weve seen many certifications and claims by supermarkets that they sell legally-produced strawberries, says Friederike Gravenhorst, the campaign director at Campact whos also a member of the German Greens party. But that cant all be true someone, somewhere must be buying illegally-watered strawberries. Large producers with direct deals with supermarkets often receive unexpected visits from auditors employed by certification agencies who check on things like irrigation infrastructure, workers permits and living conditions. But most often these inspections only check documents and dont verify wells on the ground. It gets more complicated with the small farmers, who make up most of those operating around Donana, and often sell their products through local cooperatives. Thats where fruit from different fields is mixed up, packed on site and shipped abroad in less than 24 hours, making it almost impossible to track their origins. Multiple cooperatives and individual farmers in favor of allowing more land to be irrigated contacted by Bloomberg Green declined to comment. Felipe Fuentelsaz has been worried about Donana for far longer than this election cycle. The WWF official spent seven years negotiating with local politicians and farmers to reach an agreement in 2014 that would protect the national park from water thieves. My heart sank, he says, when local Peoples Party politicians announced in December 2021, ahead of regional elections the following year, that theyd put forward a bill to grant licenses to up to 1,900 hectares of illegally-irrigated land around Donana. The measure, backed by Vox, set off alarms as high as the European Commission, which warned it would significantly worsen the state of the parks aquifers and severely threaten the regions economic prospects. UNESCO said Donana would risk its status as a World Heritage Site. Losing the label would be a blow to a brisk tourism trade that relies on stunning views and rich biodiversity. On a July evening, the sun setting over the park drew gasps of joy from tourists in the nearby El Rocio village as the sky went from orange to purple. Flamingos and wild ducks grazed in the shallow lagoons, disturbed only by the neighing of horses roaming freely on the grassy plain. Thats how the whole marshland used to be, you could see 200 bird species in one single lagoon, Fuentelsaz says. But what you have in El Rocio today is just 0.1% of Donana and the rest is dry, or drying up fast. Unseen by the visitors, a canal about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away channeled water away from Donana to fields along its border. The dried-out grass inside that part of the park was a far cry from the idyllic scene from El Rocio. Three storks flew in circles above a patch of cracked mud where maps suggest there should be a water stream. While some lagoons regularly disappear during the hot summer months, many now remain dry all year round after 11 straight years of lower-than-average rains. Its a fate that Donana had managed to avoid for decades despite calls for it to be destroyed because of infections from the mosquitoes it attracts. Efforts to preserve the wetland started in earnest in the mid-1950s, after dictator Francisco Franco sought to turn it into a eucalyptus plantation. Large patches were turned into agricultural land, but WWF bought over 6,700 hectares in 1963 and turned it into Spain's first biological reserve. Sanchezs government has bought more land back from farmers and plans to channel some streams of water back into Donana. The local water authority has shut 229 illegal wells in the past five years in a game of whack-a-mole. Tagging a well is just the first step in a long administrative process that can end in a hefty fine and many more wells can be dug in the meantime. WWF estimates there are about 800 illegal wells around Donana. Some are large structures reinforced with concrete, others are just a pipe sticking out a feet from the ground making them almost impossible to find. Last year, the government took the controversial step of limiting the amount of water available for irrigation, angering many local farmers who had to leave their strawberry, cotton and rice fields unplanted this season. But even these measures are barely enough to keep Donana alive, says Joaquin Paez, the water authoritys president, with three out of five of the five underground aquifers that feed Donana still overexploited. Donana only has a future if we do everything that we have planned, he says. And if it rains. The increased scrutiny of Spanish berries weighs on the farmers of Almonte, a village on the Donana border. Any boycott will be another blow after years of struggling to cope with the drier weather. Efforts to improve irrigation efficiency and switch to less land-intensive farming methods will all be for naught if small farms in the region are all considered risky suppliers because theres no clear way to distinguish which fruits come from legally-irrigated farms. Almontes total berry production has already dropped as much as 15% this year compared with last season, according to Manuel Delgado, a spokesman for the farmers. Industry group Interfresa says drought and other factors have caused as much as a 30% decline in strawberry production this season across the whole Huelva province, which includes Donana and is the source of almost all Spanish berries. This German campaign is impacting every fruit farmer in Huelva, Delgado says. But none of that would have happened if we didnt have that Peoples Party proposal to legalize irrigated land on the table and if we werent in the middle of an election campaign. Almontes farmers say if the bill becomes law, it will drive those who have been following the rules out of business and further deplete Donanas water resources. They speak through Delgado because none of them wants to be identified in the media after some received threats on social media and text messages from other growers who want their wells legalized. The debate has tapped into frustrations that have simmered in Donana for years. The two water agents who sealed off the well in the strawberry field in July were escorted by officers from Spains Civil Guard, a standard practice after a 2018 incident recorded by WWF where an agent doing a routine inspection in the same area was assaulted by a group of people and hospitalized. That afternoon, the strawberry fields owner arrived as the water cops were disconnecting the wells electricity source. A big man wearing a half-unbuttoned white shirt, he descended from a gray SUV truck with a show of bravado, but grew quiet as the water police explained his violation and handed him a pile of forms, under the watchful eye of law enforcement agents. Almontes farmers worry a victory of the Peoples Party on Sunday could embolden illegal growers and lead to even more water extraction around Donana. But there are signs that the Peoples Party could soften its position on allowing more irrigation amid growing divisions among farmers and warnings from European and international institutions. Last month, Juan Manuel Moreno, president of the Peoples Party branch that brought the bill, halted its progress through parliament until after the election. Peoples Party vows to protect natural and biodiverse wetlands like Donana by applying technical solutions that are viable and efficient, according to the partys election manifesto. Spokespeople for the Peoples Party and Vox didnt reply to a request for comment. No matter the outcome, the prospect of legislation has already had a profound effect on everyone involved. Theres the possibility that this is a political game to mobilize some groups and that, in the end, the legalization doesnt go ahead, says Delgado, the farmers spokesman. Regardless, what were suffering down here is very real. Visual media produced in partnership with Outrider FoundationPhoto Editing by Jody Megson --With assistance from Alonso Soto, Agnieszka de Sousa, Clara Hernanz Lizarraga, Katie Linsell, Petra Sorge and Paula Doenecke. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The deputy spokesman of Vox, Jose Maria Llanos (second from right), in Valencia, Spain, on May 6, 2023. The deputy spokesman of Vox, Jose Maria Llanos (second from right), in Valencia, Spain, on May 6, 2023. Credit - Jorge GilEuropa Press/AP Veronica remembers feeling enraged when she heard Jose Maria Llanos, a leader from Spains far right Vox party from Valencia, openly declare last month that gender-based violence against women doesnt exist. The 42-year-old has spent the past decade embroiled in a tense legal battle against her ex-husband, whom she divorced in 2014 after he subjected her to years of abuse and violence, she tells TIME. Even after she separated from him, she says he once punched her in public and threatened to destroy her life, according to court documents seen by TIME. Veronica, who wanted to conceal her identity because her case is ongoing, now lives with her 12-year-old son in the city of Elche, known for a vast palm grove near the Mediterranean coast in Valencia. Ive already faced so much blame and doubt in the past, she says. My previous lawyers even told me to drop my case because it was about gender-based violence. Veronica is now represented by a progressive law firm that advocates for women and the LGBTQ community. Her lawyer, Isaac Guijarro, along with his colleague Rocio Moya, has since managed to get her case heard in a dedicated gender-based violence court in the capital, Madrid, which she says has been life-changing. I finally felt like someone was listening, she adds. These courts were created after Spain passed a world-first gender-based violence law in 2004 that made the survivors gender an aggravating factor in assault cases. They have dealt with nearly 2 million complaints and convicted at least 700,000 people72% of whom were menaccording to a 2021 study by the Institute of Labor Economics. But Veronica now worries about what Spains general election on Sunday could mean for women like her. Polls suggest the conservative Peoples Party (PP) will beat the current socialist government and come to powerbut only with the support of Vox. The far right party wants to repeal gender-based violence laws, block abortion access, shut down the Ministry of Equality, and revoke the solo si es si (only yes means yes) law. Story continues Read More: She Spearheaded Feminist Laws in Spain. Now the Government Is in Crisis Valencia, a region home to 800,000 people and Spains third-largest city of the same name, has already offered clues as to what a PP-Vox alliance could mean for one of the most feminist countries in Europe. When the two parties took the reins in Valencia following local elections across Spain in May, they signed a controversial agreement that promises to preserve the quality of education by removing ideology from the classroom; abolish gender equality officers in several cities; and replace the phrase gender-based violence with Voxs preferred term, intra-family violence. (Voxs local office in Valencia declined an interview request, citing the busy election campaign.) If you dont name something, then it doesnt exist, says 46-year-old Beatriu Cardona i Prats, a member of Valencias Feminist Coordinator, a national organization of feminist activists. This is why its important that we identify the problem as gender-based. As part of the power-sharing agreement in Valencia, Vox now controls the justice department, which administers gender-based violence courts; the education department, which has overseen gender-affirming school curricula; and the culture department. These developmentsand the fact that Voxs leader in Valencia, Carlos Flores, was previously convicted of gender-based violenceare alarming to many Valencians at a time when registered complaints of gender-based violence have sharply risen. In the first three months of 2023, the number of registered gender-based violence complaints in Valencia was 17% higher than at the same time last year. Its a very worrying situation for us, says Chelo Alvarez Sanchis, the president of Alanna, an association that works with survivors across Valencia. TIME sits down with Sanchis at Alannas office inside a big yellow house in Empalme, a suburb on the edge of the city. Sanchis estimates that two to three women come here each day to seek assistance or sometimes just to talk to someone. She says that Alannas funding comes from existing government contracts that are now at risk of not being renewed next year. While Valencia offers a blueprint for what a PP-Vox government could look like across Spain, it also serves as a model for how many women are pushing back against the far rights policies toward women. On Thursday, Alvarez and Cardona i Prats were among the people who gathered in Valencias Placa de lAjuntament, or town hall square, to protest against the PP-Vox government. More than 350 groups gathered in solidarity to promote feminism, gender, and LGBTQ rights, not to mention a range of other progressive causes related to the environment, migrants, public services, and unions. As the sun was setting, they convened under the slogan, For our rights, not one step back. Thousands of protestors gather in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Valencia, Spain, on July 20, 2023. Jorge GilEuropa Press/Getty Images The mood was somber, sometimes angry, about the new PP-Vox government in Valencia following 8 years of a progressive one under the left coalition Compromis. For 28-year-old Claudia Gonzalez Morono, the PP-Vox government represents a brake on years of improvements. Employment got better, people started to have their basic needs covered, women were being heard, she says. But now were back to how things were during the Franco regime. It feels like politics is just a cycle, Morono adds, referring to Gen. Francisco Franco, Spains former dictator, who ruled the country from 1939 to 1975. If the PP forms an alliance with Vox at the national level following Sundays vote, it will be the first time a far right party enters government since the Franco years. Read More: What to Know About Spains Most Important Election in Decades Within an hour, the protestors at Placa de lAjuntament had swelled to thousands, and shortly after the batucada, a musical ensemble, arrived with drums and flutes to liven the mood. The demonstrators marched across the square and through the city streets with vim, before landing at the Plaza de la Virgen, where Candida Barroso, one of the organizers, read out a manifesto defending public services, social rights, and the fight against gender-based violence. On July 23 you have to go out and vote for these rights, she urges the crowd, adding that the threat was not in the future but already here. In several municipalities in Valencia and elsewhere, the PP-Vox government has restricted feminist and LGBTQ-friendly flags, plays, movies, and books. That compelled a group of artists under the Free Arts Platform to issue a statement in May that denounced Vox for attacking freedom of expression. The censorship has also riled up Lola Sanhermelando Julian, a 39-year-old psychologist at the demonstration. She runs a weekly support group for survivors and says she was attending the protest for them. They have fought to get even a little bit of anything in this life, she adds, and now, [Vox] wants to tell them what to do with their lives. Voxs extreme positions have proved uncomfortable for the PP. Alberto Nunez Feijoo, the PP leader who polls suggest will be Spains next Prime Minister, has had to distance himself from the rhetoric of some Vox leaders. Shortly after Llanos, the local Vox politician in Valencia, denied the existence of gender-based violence, Feijoo tweeted that gender violence exists and our society is profoundly shaken every time a woman is murdered. The PP will never take a step backward in the fight against this scourge. We will not abandon our principles, whatever the cost. But on other matters, observers say that Feijoo and his party have adopted some of Voxs talking points and tapped into a sentiment in Spain that the government has gone too far in promoting a feminist agenda. Earlier this month, when Feijoo suggested he would eliminate the equality ministry, he told reporters, We arent here for that. The Minister of Equality, Irene Montero (center), and the Secretary of State for Equality and against Gender Violence, Angela Rodriguez Pam (right), in the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, on Dec. 15, 2022. Jesus HellinEuropa Press/Getty Images What worries many voters is how much ground the PP will cede to Vox if it needs it to form a government, as most polls suggest it will. Pablo Simon, a political scientist at Carlos III University of Madrid, says that if the PP and Vox come into power nationally after Sundays vote, its likely that Vox will push for having portfolios that impact gender-based rights. They will try to change laws, or at the very least in a more noisy and symbolic way, the governments position concerning gender equality, he says. Alvarez, the president of Alanna, says that prospect only makes her more determined to keep doing her work. Theres clearly a problem when it comes to gender-based violence, you can see it in the statistics, she says. Every day, I see more and more cases of violence, rape, and sexual abuse. We hope to work with PP and Vox, she continues, but we existed for a long time even without government funding, and we will find a way to reach the women that need our help. As Veronica continues to fight her case against her ex-husband, she says that she hopes a new government wont usher in an end to laws that have protected her so far. But she, like many Spaniards, will not forget what Vox has said. Gender-based violence does exist, she says, and all the suffering Ive been through is real. Bolivian President Luis Arce (L) speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Brussels, Belgium, July 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) BRUSSELS, July 21 (Xinhua) -- China has been an important partner for Bolivia, as bilateral cooperation benefits both countries and beyond, said Bolivian President Luis Arce. "China is a very important partner for us, not only for the commercial and economic side, but also because we have a long story with China. We share many ideas," Arce told Xinhua in a recent interview on the sidelines of a summit between the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). Bolivia and China enjoy friendly relations as the two sides support each other on a wide range of issues on many international multilateral occasions, he said. "We share the multilateralist view about the world." On the Belt and Road cooperation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Arce said he has high expectations and plans to achieve the goals. As a developing country, Bolivia is also pursuing greater development with its own economic model, and can take advantage of China's knowledge of development and incorporate it into Bolivia's own model, he said. The president noted that Bolivia is rich in natural resources while China has advanced technologies. "We can use them to benefit all of the world, especially poor people." He noted that China's experience in addressing inequality and reducing poverty should be studied. At the same time Bolivia has its own experience that can be shared with China. Arce said the Bolivian government and the people have been grateful to China for its support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. China has one of the oldest cultures in the world, he said, the two countries have a lot of things to share about culture, and common opinions about the world. The president pointed out that the current global system is witnessing great changes as the United States and Europe are facing economic crises and a lot of problems, while nations like the BRICS countries are rising. Regarding some Western countries' peddling of the rhetoric of "decoupling" or "de-risking" from China, Arce said he doesn't agree with them as those countries want to defend their own interests against the newly rising countries. Bolivian President Luis Arce speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Brussels, Belgium, July 17, 2023. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) There are weeks on Capitol Hill where one story dominates. Last week it was the defense bill. But when the former President of the United States appears headed toward another indictment, you know what prevails. IN THE SENATE, TIME IS PARAMOUNT This is just not former President Trump duking it out with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Nor is this Mr. Trump facing prosecution over his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. This is a likely indictment connected to the riot at the Capitol and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. And even though former President Trump hasnt been in office in two-and-a-half-years, he still manages to command nearly every cubic centimeter of news oxygen and political conversations on Capitol Hill. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Word of additional legal action followed a familiar script on Capitol Hill. Many of Mr. Trumps fiercest loyalists rushing to defend him. Then there were a few Republicans spinning or slightly distancing themselves from former President Trump. Democrats per usual went all in, excoriating the former President. "Its absolute bull----," proclaimed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., one of Mr. Trumps closest allies. "This is the only way the Democrats have to beat President Trump is to arrest him. Smear him. Charge him with ridic, useless charges. All they want is a coverup of Joe Bidens crimes. Hunter Bidens crimes." Greene said that the American justice system was "worse than some of the most corrupt, third world countries." She then proclaimed that Mr. Trump "is proven innocent time and time and time again and hell be proven innocent again." Former President Donald Trump reacts to crowd applause during a campaign event in Pickens, S.C. The former president faces a growing list of primary challengers in the Republican Party. And now for a diametrically-opposed view from the Democrats. "There will be criminal accountability for everybody who committed crimes against the government," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. "Were talking about a violent insurrection, surrounding an insider, political coup. This is a matter of the utmost pressing urgency to the American people to make sure we never relive something like that." Story continues "The President was a central figure in an effort to overturn an election. An effort to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power for the first time in our history," said Mr. Trumps nemesis, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Schiff served on the Houses panel investigating the 2021 riot at the Capitol. However, the California Democrat wondered why it may have taken so long to target the former President. "They moved quickly when it came to those who broke into this building behind us and assaulted police officers. But it seemed like almost a year, if not more, before they started looking at those who did the organizing. Did the inciting. Those who conspired to defraud the American people." Schiff then suggested that the 1/6 committee "unearthed evidence that the Justice Department could not ignore." HOUSE REPUBLICANS NARROWLY PASS CONTROVERSIAL DEFENSE BILL That said, there was consternation at one point by prosecutors that the 1/6 committee wasnt helpful in providing information to the DoJ for potential criminal probes. In fact, much of the week in Congress was about 2024 even though it didnt appear to be about 2024. The House Oversight Committee heard from two senior IRS whistleblowers who claim that Hunter Biden should have faced felony charges over his tax returns rather than a misdemeanor as part of his plea deal. "They were recommending for approval, felony and misdemeanor charges for the 2017, 18 and 19 tax years. That did not happen here. And I am not sure why," testified IRS agent Joseph Ziegler. Democrats said the IRS whistleblowers werent responsible for deciding who is prosecuted and what charges they may face. Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss said he had the ultimate authority to bring charges. But the whistleblowers and many Republicans believe pressure from above handcuffed prosecutors. "Weve got the two best agents in the place on the case," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. "And then, Shazam! Something changes." Surrounded by House Republicans, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) speaks during a news conference after a House Republican Caucus meeting at the Capitol, Washington, D.C., in May. At one point in the hearing, Greene warned everyone that "viewer discretion was advised." She then displayed lewd poster boards of Hunter Biden in compromising positions. "It's very serious that Hunter Biden was paying this woman through his law firm and then writing it off as business tax exemptions," said Greene. Republicans claim that Hunter Bidens tax issues and overseas business dealings are connected to President Biden and demonstrate rampant corruption. But before the hearing, Raskin predicted that no matter what the GOP did, they wouldnt demonstrate wrongdoing by the President. This is why the hearing oozed with 2024 presidential politics. Democrats contend the GOP only held the hearing to target the President. "I think (House Oversight Committee) Chairman (James) Comer, R-Ky., might have to fill out a FEC form as an in-kind contribution to the Trump campaign based on what's going on in this hearing," proclaimed Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla. But amid the looming indictment for former President Trump, Republicans said the hearing only underscored two standards of justice in the U.S. One for the Bidens. Another for Mr. Trump. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, talks with Representative Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing in Washington, Wednesday, July 19, 2023. An IRS supervisory agent has claimed to lawmakers the Justice Department mishandled the Hunter Biden investigation and that the U.S. attorney for Delaware, David Weiss, was prevented from bringing charges wherever he wanted. "The DoJ, the FBI and the IRS have worked to not only protect the criminal actions of the Biden family, but to continue persecuting President Trump," said Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C. The intensity of that rhetoric will only grow once the feds formally indict the President. The extent of the indicment and what it alleges about Mr. Trumps actions related to the election and the riot will amplify the invective the GOP hurls at prosecutors and the Biden Administration. And what Democrats say about the former President and Republicans. This is why some Republicans now want to expunge the two impeachments of former President Trump. However, its far from clear that the House would ever consider such a resolution - let alone have the votes to approve such an expungement. That said, Republicans presented a big platform this week to Mr. Bidens top 2024 challenger, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy testified at a hearing about censorship and the weaponization of government. "This committee has come to embody weaponization itself," said Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., characterized RFK Jr. as "a living, breathing, false flag operation" for his views on the pandemic. Kennedy drew criticism for declaring that COVID-19 was "engineered" in a way to grant immunity to persons of Chinese and European Jewish descent. However, theres a House Oversight Committee hearing scheduled next Wednesday on UFOs. Perhaps thats the only subject which could upstage the prospective indictment of the former President. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre was the most luxurious vehicle I've ever been in. Tim Levin/Insider Want to see inside a car you'll probably never afford? Here's what you're missing. I spent a day with the Rolls-Royce Spectre and saw what a $420,000 car interior looks and feels like. Whenever I mention that the electric Rolls-Royce I recently tested costs $420,000 and up, people can't help but burst out laughing in disbelief. And I can't blame them. It's mind-boggling that a car with four wheels, a steering wheel, some seats can cost about as much as the median US home. But the Rolls-Royce Spectre, the British brand's first electric vehicle, is a very special car. So it almost makes sense. The Spectre is magnificent to look at and drives smoother than just about anything, but here we're zeroing in on its absurdly elegant and comfy interior. Let me show you around. Rolls-Royce invited me and other journalists out to California to be some of the first to drive the Spectre. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Disclosure: Rolls-Royce got me a discounted stay in a nice hotel and kept me fed while I tested the car. I'm not some oil tycoon nor did I time the Bitcoin market right, so this was my first time ever driving a Rolls-Royce or spending substantial time in one. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider I have driven a lot of other electric cars, though, including some fancy ones from brands like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Audi. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider I didn't think the Rolls would be all that much different. That was a mistake. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider I found that one of the best parts of the Spectre was its interior, which kept me comfy throughout a day of driving and felt fancy enough to justify the nearly half-million-dollar price tag. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Read more: I got chauffeured in a $500,000 Rolls-Royce and saw firsthand how nice life is for the .1% The tester I had was done up in a classy white interior with blue accents. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider (I'll be showing the inside of a couple different cars here, but the white-and-blue one is the one I spent the most time in.) The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider When I got into the Spectre for the first time, I noticed how plush and supportive its seats were. Story continues The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider On the door, I could switch on massaging functions using a little "M" button. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider What stood out most as the day went on was the intense attention to detail inside the Spectre. That makes you, the driver or passenger, feel special. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Everything is made from the finest materials (except for some plastic stuff), nothing rattles, and every switch you interact with is sturdy and satisfying. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Read more: Rolls-Royce's CEO shares his 3 favorite details of the brand's new $420,000 electric car My test car had substantial slabs of genuine wood all over the place. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider The deep brown lent a warm, cozy feeling to the cabin, but Rolls-Royce buyers can pick from practically limitless trim options. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider There was soft leather covering the seats, doors, and ceiling. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Even the stalks sticking out from the steering column featured the same white leather and blue stitching as the rest of the cabin. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider The dial that controls the fan speed was wrapped in a slim piece of leather. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Ditto for the volume knob. Heaven forbid a Rolls-Royce owner has to touch some plastic. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider I was stunned by the amount of actual metal spread throughout the cabin. Most of the time when you see shiny metallic stuff in car interiors, it's plastic. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider But not in a Rolls. The air vents were made from solid pieces of aluminum and felt super satisfying to spin around and adjust. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Each vent had a shiny metal plunger for closing it off if needed. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider The speaker grates had this cool, flashy pattern. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider An analog clock front and center provided a more high-class alternative to the usual digital one. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider The window switches, door handles, and mirror joystick were all metal too. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Another thing in the Spectre you won't find in other cars: Switches that swing the doors shut electronically. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider There's regular stuff, too. Like a cubby between the seats. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Read more: Buying anything but a Tesla makes no sense right now The Spectre has a digital display for the speedometer and such, but it's designed to look like classic analog gauges. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider It has a touchscreen up front, too. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Rolls-Royce made sure we all got to ride in the back, and I found it surprisingly spacious for a two-door car. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Maybe I should've expected that, since the Spectre is enormous. It's longer than a Chevy Tahoe. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider There are two seats in back, separated by a console with cupholders, air vents, and climate controls. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider I'm a pretty tall guy, and I still observed decent amounts of legroom and headroom. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Scrambling in past the front seat wasn't the most elegant maneuver, though. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Rolls-Royce's starry-night headliner was pretty awesome, particularly at night. The Rolls-Royce Spectre's starlight headliner. Rolls-Royce For the Spectre, Rolls-Royce is offering the same glimmering stars on the inside of the doors. The Rolls-Royce Spectre. Rolls-Royce Nearly $500,000 is a huge chunk of change. But for those who enjoy the finest things in life and have the bank account to afford it the Spectre won't disappoint. The 2024 Rolls-Royce Spectre. Tim Levin/Insider Read the original article on Business Insider Kyla Wagner turned her back on her idling 2011 Toyota Camry for only two minutes last weekend. When she turned around, a strange woman had climbed into her driver's seat. Wagner, 31, was outside an apartment building on 26th Street and Colfax Avenue S. in Minneapolis preparing to drop her kids off with their father, standing near the car as the stereo played out the open windows. You're not about to take my car, she thought, grabbing for the rear door. Wagner recalled seeing the thief look back at her and grin as she veered sharply forward and sped away, sending Wagner flailing to the street. Wagner was in the process of moving and her car was full of memorabilia that belonged to her recently deceased dad, along with her kid's car seat and her phone. "Everything was in there," she said. In Minneapolis, stories of car thefts including brazen ones like Wagner's are more common than ever, especially in the city's southern half, where nearly two-thirds of reports have originated. As of July 16, about 4,700 vehicles were reported stolen across the city in 2023 roughly 24 per day according to data tracked by the Minneapolis Police Department. That marks a 70% increase from this time in 2022 and double the average of the past three years by July. At this pace, Minneapolis is on track to blow past last year's record-high 6,100 car thefts. Across the river, a different story is unfolding. This past week, law enforcement leaders in St. Paul celebrated a 32% decline in car thefts from a year ago and an estimated $6.8 million worth of recovered vehicles since September 2021. Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher attributes these results to proactive policing tactics aimed at taking the most prolific thieves off the streets. "We've focused on the repeat offenders, and when I say repeat these kids are stealing cars every day, sometimes several," Fletcher said. "If you want to curb crime and reduce the amount of offenses, you need to target the individuals who are doing it on a regular basis." Story continues In Minneapolis and St. Paul, Kias and Hyundais continue to be the preferred models among thieves, accounting for 63% and 40%, respectively, of vehicles reported stolen, according to data tracked by both cities. This trend, authorities say, is partly fueled by the popularity of the Kia Boyz a loosely affiliated group of teenagers who post videos of themselves stealing cars to TikTok for clout. Earlier this year, Kia and Hyundai agreed to pay $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of roughly 9 million customers for design flaws they say makes it too easy to steal their cars. In Minneapolis, the surge in car thefts comes in defiance of more positive crime trends. Homicides, robberies and other thefts are all down markedly from last year, according to Minneapolis data. Even carjackings, the more violent cousin of car thefts, have dropped 45% from the same time in 2022, a respite from the historic highs that began sweeping the metro area in 2020. Though by nature less violent than carjackings, auto thefts can also lead to carnage. Stolen cars are used in high-speed gunfights, as getaway vehicles for robberies and in street races. The prevalence of young thieves many too young for a license driving recklessly has on several occasions ended tragically for the people inside the stolen cars and others in their paths. Last Tuesday night, a stolen Hyundai smashed into a '64 Chevy Impala convertible at N. Washington and 22nd avenues, killing 55-year-old driver Andrew W. Hyde. By the time police arrived, the driver had bailed from the Hyundai and run off. 'Drive it like you stole it' Last Wednesday afternoon, Ramsey County Sheriff's Investigator Kyle Williams prowled through the side streets of St. Paul's North End neighborhood in an unmarked Ford F-150, searching for something he can't quite define. It might be a car with a broken window, or a license plate bent to obscure detection from automatic readers. It could be the shimmy of a steering wheel and light screech of tires a swaggering fishtail maneuver he says is a signature of the Kia Boyz. "You hear the term 'drive it like you stole it,' " he said. "Well, it totally exists for a reason." Williams, a 33-year-old St. Paul native, is part of Ramsey County's Carjacking and Auto Theft (CAT) unit a team of eight deputies and analysts created two years ago in response to the rise in stolen vehicles. The CAT unit, which this month received a Minnesota Department of Commerce grant that will fund it through 2025, is largely responsible for why St. Paul is seeing starkly more promising trends than its neighbor to the west, according to Fletcher, who is in charge of the team. Of the 260 arrests the CAT team has made since its September 2021 inception, Fletcher said three-quarters of the suspects are under 18 some as young as 11 and about 60 are "repeat offenders," meaning they've been arrested five to 15 times. The CAT team's goal, he said, is to get the teenagers into rehabilitative programming before they graduate to "career criminals." Williams also holds the title of "youth intervention liaison," and part of his job is to help young people find a new path after they're arrested. But the juvenile system is tricky, and an arrest doesn't always stick. "You talk about repeat offenders," said investigative analyst Francois Yang, pulling a hefty file from his desk drawer that he said contains reports on 25 stolen cars. "This is just one kid." Unlike Minneapolis, Ramsey County doesn't have restrictions on pursuing nonviolent suspects. Last month, the CAT team helped arrest seven teenagers after a chase led into Hudson, Wis. But members of the unit say they prefer the element of surprise. They can track a stolen car's GPS through an iPad in the glove box, or by shooting a tracker called a "puck" onto the vehicle from 10 feet away, and follow from afar until an opportune moment arrives to box in the vehicle. Their adversaries are always innovating. Williams said some have learned how to manipulate a car's GPS system to throw off its location. "I don't use the word 'smart,' because if they were smart they wouldn't be out here doing what they're doing," Williams said. "But they're savvy. They're clever." As the CAT unit roved through St. Paul on Wednesday, Deputy Nicolle Sparks announced over the radio she'd spotted a vehicle listed as stolen. Williams gunned the truck, flipped on his sirens and jumped a curb, heading off the suspect as he bounded on foot through a front yard and as his colleagues closed in with handcuffs. In Minneapolis, police chief is 'hopeful' Car thieves move fast. A vehicle stolen in Minneapolis can find its way to St. Paul within a few minutes, and vice versa, so the CAT unit is frequently leaving the borders of Ramsey County in pursuit of a suspect. Fletcher said he asked Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara if his department would join the CAT team, but he's not sure if O'Hara can spare the manpower with staffing still hundreds below what it was in 2019. In contrast to Ramsey County, O'Hara said Minneapolis currently has only one officer dedicated full time to auto thefts. Instead, the department relies on tactics like bait cars vehicles monitored by police and left intentionally vulnerable and triages cases involving repeat suspects. O'Hara said car theft in the Twin Cities looks different from what he saw as a police officer in Newark, N.J., where stolen vehicles were sold at the ports and shipped overseas for profit. "I don't see this here as a moneymaking thing," he said. Both O'Hara and Fletcher say car thieves are often involved in more dangerous behavior. In order to keep other crimes trending downward, they see it as critical to stop perpetrators before they hurt of kill someone or wind up dead themselves. In January, Minneapolis police responded to a crash report on the 4000 block of Dupont Ave N. and found a stolen Kia lodged in a snow bank, a teenager shot to death in the driver's seat. Last month, police arrested a 12-year-old who pancaked a bus shelter and sent a man waiting for Metro Transit, along with several teenage occupants of the car, to the hospital. The stolen Kia had been reportedly tied to an armed robbery and two attempted carjackings that day. Earlier this year, O'Hara instructed officers to start requesting that underage suspects be held in custody until a judge can review their cases, rather than releasing them pending charges. Last month, Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty's office announced a new collaboration with local police to work with families of minors involved in car thefts and divert the young perpetrators toward community resources. If a youth is released from custody, Moriarty's office pledged to expedite charging decisions in those cases within 24 hours. O'Hara said he's seen some early signs of progress. Car thefts are down in three out of five Minneapolis precincts this month. "I'm hopeful that the word is getting out, because I think a lot of these kids just don't understand the seriousness of this behavior," said O'Hara. "I'm hopeful we're starting to take the fun out of this to them." Matt Haney, a member of the California State Assembly, in his rental apartment near downtown San Francisco on July 14, 2023. (Aaron Wojack/The New York Times) When Matt Haney entered the California Legislature, he discovered that he was part of a tiny minority: a legislator who rents. Haney, 41, has never owned property and has spent his adult life as a tenant. His primary residence is a one-bedroom apartment near downtown San Francisco. The rent is $3,258 a month. (He also paid a $300 deposit for Eddy and Ellis, two orange cats he adopted from a shelter during the pandemic.) When I got there last year, it seemed that there were only three of us out of 120, Haney said of renters in the Legislature. Thats a very small number. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Looking to highlight their renter status and the 17 million California residents that are tenants a little less than half the state last year, Haney and two Assembly colleagues, Isaac Bryan and Alex Lee, founded the California Renters Caucus. A fourth Assembly member, Tasha Boerner, joined after the caucus was formed. The group added a state senator, Aisha Wahab, after she entered office this year. Haney said there was briefly a sixth, more politically conservative member who attended one meeting but never came back. Its possible they have other colleagues who are renters and have yet to come out. Being a renter is not necessarily something people project or put on their website, Haney said. That much seems to be changing. From cities and statehouses to U.S. Congress, elected officials are increasingly playing up their status as tenants and forming groups to push for renter-friendly policies. Politics is about being relatable. Candidates pet dogs and hold babies and talk about their children. Given how many families are struggling with the cost of housing and have lost hope that they could ever buy, it makes sense that elected officials would now start talking about being tenants. San Francisco Mayor London Breed talks frequently about her rent-controlled apartment in the citys Haight district. Lindsey Horvath, a member of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors the powerful body that oversees a $43 billion budget and more than 100,000 employees predicates discussions of housing policy with her status as a renter. Story continues In June, federal legislators followed California with a renters caucus of their own, although that one has looser criteria. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, who is chair of the Congressional Renters Caucus as well as a Democrat from Los Angeles, said instead of actual tenants, his group targeted members from renter-heavy districts, even if they own a home, as he does. Good elected officials are going to fight for their constituents, no matter what, Gomez said. Besides, he added, the strictest definition of renter can obscure economic insecurity. His parents, for instance, were homeowners who never made more than $40,000 combined and lived in inland California without air conditioning. Other people rent a $7,000-a-month penthouse. Are they considered the same? he said. When asked how many of his colleagues did not own a home, Gomez said, My gut is that its less than 10. In addition to advancing Democratic priorities like subsidized housing and tenant protections, these legislators are making a bet that being perceived as a pro-renter is politically advantageous in an era in which a growing number of Americans are renting for longer periods, and often for life. Haney and Gomez both describe their caucuses subsets of legislators organized around a common purpose as a first for their bodies. Which is easy to believe. Homeownership is synonymous with the American dream. It is supported by various federal and state tax breaks and so encoded in the American mythology and financial system that historians and anthropologists assert that it has come to symbolize a permanent participation in society. The underlying message is that renting is temporary, or should be. There is a pretty foundational bias against renters in American sociological and political life, said Jamila Michener, a professor of government and public policy at Cornell. So when policymakers say, Hey, this is an identity thats relevant, and one we are willing to own and lean into, thats significant. About two-thirds of Americans own their dwellings, and survey after survey shows that the aspiration of owning a home is no less potent today than it was for previous generations. But the number of renters has grown steadily over the past decade to about 44 million households nationwide, while punishing housing costs have migrated from coastal enclaves to metropolitan areas around the nation. More salient to politicians, perhaps, is that renters are increasingly well-off: Households that make more than $75,000 have accounted for a large majority of the growth in renters over the past decade, according to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. At the same time, the struggle to find something affordable has escalated from lower-income tenants to middle-income families that in past generations would very likely have owned their homes. In other words, renter households are now composed of families much more likely to vote. And after a pandemic in which homeowners gained trillions in home-equity wealth while renters had to be supported with eviction moratoriums and tens of billions in assistance, the fragility of their position has been made clearer. As cost burdens show up in places where we dont expect it, there seems to be more political momentum around addressing these problems, said Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, senior research associate at the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. By organizing around an economic condition, lawmakers are embracing a concept that renter advocates refer to as tenants as a class. The idea is that while renters are a large and politically diverse group low-income families on the edge of eviction, high-earning professionals renting by choice, couples whose desire for suburban living but inability to afford a down payment has made single-family house rentals one of the hottest corners of the real estate business they still have common interests. Those include the rising cost of housing and the instability of being on a lease. Its a lens that I dont think has been captured in the same way as race, gender, age, ability, et cetera, said Bryan, the California Assembly and renters caucus member whose district is in Los Angeles. Im excited to be among the first five legislators in California history to develop what the political consciousness is around this status. That the ranks of tenants also include legislators, albeit not many of them, is one of the points California lawmakers said they wanted to make by forming the renters caucus. It also plunged them into the surprisingly thorny question of who is and is not a tenant. Does the list include lawmakers who rent a dwelling in Sacramento but own a house or condominium in their district, a criterion that would qualify a good chunk of the Legislature? The group decided no. How about Lee, the Assembly and renters caucus member whose district residence is his childhood bedroom, in a home his mother owns? He doesnt own property, so sure. Despite having only five members, the California Renters Caucus, like the state it represents, is racially diverse but dominated by Democrats (there are no Republicans in the caucus). Its members are white, Black and Asian. Lee is a member of the Legislatures LGBTQ caucus. Wahab is the first Muslim American elected to the California Senate. Politically speaking, the outlier is Boerner, who lives in the San Diego suburb Encinitas and is the caucus more conservative member (as California Democrats go). Despite being the groups longest-serving member in the Legislature, Boerner, 50, was initially not identified as a tenant by her colleagues on the renters caucus. No one ever called my office, because Im a white mom living in Encinitas, she said. They thought, She must be a homeowner. Boerner frequently disagrees with her colleagues about the efficacy of policies like rent control, she said, though she voted for a statewide rent cap several years ago. She is also more skeptical of the states efforts to speed construction by taking land-use control from cities, and she voted against a bill that effectively ended single-family zoning in the state. Yet Boerner is also a lifetime renter who has moved three times since assuming office. Her current home is a three-bedroom apartment that she shares with her two children and her ex-husband, in part because its cheaper than if the parents had separate places. Families who rent come in all shapes and sizes, and what I hope to bring is a little diversity, she said. We have disagreements, as any caucus does, but coming together and saying, Hey, this is a demographic who matters that is the importance. A New York Times News Service article about California legislators working to form a renters caucus misstated the number of tenants in the state. It is about 17 million residents, not 17 million households. c.2023 The New York Times Company The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine states that approximately 5,000 Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group are in Belarus as of 22 July. Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Quote: "The State Border Service of Ukraine continues to monitor the situation closely regarding the arrival and stay of Russian mercenaries in Belarus. I would like to note that the situation along the border remains fully controlled by the border units and other components of the Defence Forces of our country. All of them have been warned about further risks that may come from the territory of Belarus, which, unfortunately, is under the influence of Russia and supports it in the war waged against Ukraine." Details: Demchenko explains that in the beginning, when groups of Russian mercenaries started entering Belarus, their number was estimated in the hundreds. However, now, considering the available information about groups of representatives of private military campaigns, their number is different and may reach about 5,000, the spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said. Demchenko emphasises that such a number does not pose a direct threat to Ukraine, but the Defence Forces must be ready for any situation, including preventing provocations at the border. Quote: "I would like to note that Ukraine is doing everything necessary to understand the real risk and guarantee reliable security due to the presence of mercenaries in a neighbouring country. We are reacting accordingly. Our border is being strengthened along its entire length and strengthened by the necessary means." Background: On 19 July, information appeared about the ninth convoy of Wagner Group mercenaries moving along the M5 highway from Bobruisk towards Asipovicy. Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC), allegedly spoke to the mercenaries who came to Belarus and said that they would be engaged in the training of the Belarusian army. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The baby was found abandoned in a trash bag. Getty Images A stray dog in Lebanon rescued an abandoned baby that was left to die in a trash bag. A passerby heard the baby's cries coming from inside the bag the dog was carrying. The child was described as being in a "serious but stable" condition. A stray dog in Lebanon rescued an abandoned baby girl that was left to die in a trash bag, a report says. The dog was seen carrying the bag by a passerby who heard the newborn baby's cries coming from inside, Arab News reported. The bruised infant, who is believed to have only been a few hours old, was taken to hospital for treatment in Tripoli, per the outlet. The child was described as being in a "serious but stable" condition. No further information is known about her health and the circumstances of her abandonment. Images purportedly of the injured child have circulated on social media, with many people expressing sympathy for the infant. Authorities are investigating the incident, and the baby will be put in an orphanage if no one offers to adopt her. Social media users also hailed the dog as a hero. "The dog has much more humanity, kindness, cunning, and intelligence than some satanic mutants in human form," wrote one. Ghassan Rifi, a journalist in Tripoli, said that the baby was left in a non-residential area where there are lots of stray dogs. "Is it possible that whoever dumped her wanted to get rid of her by letting the dogs eat her in this area infested with stray dogs, and that she was saved by that man who happened to be there by chance?" Rifi said, according to Arab News. But in any case, "the dog that dragged her was more humane in the face of the brutality and criminality of the one who threw her," Rifi said on Twitter. Read the original article on Insider As the 2024 presidential race ramps up, former President Trumps latest legal woes will likely dominate the Sunday talk show circuit this weekend. Trump, who is set to make an appearance on Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures, is staring down a potential third indictment, after receiving a target letter last weekend informing him that he is the subject of the Justice Departments Jan. 6 investigation. While it has long been apparent that the former president was a central focus of the probe, the target letter suggests that prosecutors may be nearing an indictment. The letter reportedly cites three statutes involving conspiracy to defraud the United States, obstruction of an official proceeding and conspiracy to deprive citizens the free exercise of constitutional rights like voting, hinting at potential new charges Trump could face. The current GOP frontrunner railed against the investigation at a town hall in Iowa on Tuesday night, once again accusing the DOJ of attempting to interfere in the 2024 election. I got the letter on Sunday night. Think of it. I dont think theyve ever sent a letter on Sunday night, he said. And theyre in a rush because they want to interfere. Its interference with the election. Its election interference. Never been done like this in the history of our country, and its a disgrace. The former president is already facing two indictments one from the Manhattan district attorney over a 2016 hush money payment and another from the Justice Department over his handling of classified documents while yet another probe in Atlanta remains ongoing. Several of Trumps 2024 competitors in the Republican primary race have voiced opposition to any potential charges. Former Vice President Mike Pence said earlier this week that while he believes Trumps words on Jan. 6 were reckless and his assertions about the 2020 election were wrong, he hopes the DOJ will ultimately not pursue charges against his former boss. Story continues I dont know what the letter today means, the notification means, but my hope is that the judgment about the presidents actions on Jan. 6 would be left to the American people, Pence told NewsNation on Tuesday. Conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy similarly called the potential indictment over the Jan. 6 riot a bad idea and suggested that voters should hold Trump accountable at the ballot box. I think he should be held accountable at the ballot box, not at the behest of a federal administrative police state, Ramaswamy also said on NewsNation on Tuesday. I think it is a bad idea for this country to make a pattern out of using police power to indict a lead political opponent in the middle of an election. Pence is set to join CNNs State of the Union this weekend, while Ramaswamy will make an appearance on Fox News Sunday. Fellow Republican presidential candidate and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is also on the lineup for CBS Face the Nation. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a long-shot candidate for the Democratic nomination, is also set to make an appearance on Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures. Kennedy drew sharp criticism from his own party earlier this week, after he asserted without evidence that COVID-19 was ethnically targeted to spare Chinese people and Ashkenazi Jews. The rebuke from fellow Democrats continued at a House hearing on Thursday, in which Kennedy claimed that he has been subjected to censorship on social media for spreading vaccine-skeptical content. Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows: ABCs This Week Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas); Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D); Palm Springs, Calif., Mayor Grace Elena Garner NBCs Meet the Press Preempted by coverage of the British Open CBS Face the Nation Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Republican presidential candidate; New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D).; Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas); Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego; Dr. Marci Bowers, expert in transgender health care CNNs State of the Union Former Vice President Mike Pence, Republican presidential candidate; former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.); Utah Gov. Spencer Cox (R); Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) Fox News Sunday Vivek Ramaswamy, Republican presidential candidate; Jared Bernstein, chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio); former President Trump; Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Democratic presidential candidate; Kimberley Strassel, Wall Street Journal columnist; Emma-Jo Morris, journalist For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) on Saturday argued that in order for another GOP candidate to win in 2024, they have to be willing to criticize the current frontrunner: former President Trump. This cant be our candidate, because it aint gonna win in November, Sununu said in an interview with Fox News Neil Cavuto, later adding That reality is really coming to bear All of these candidates have to start hitting this guy. You cant run against somebody and be 20 points down but not be willing to talk about him. Reacting to a recent University of New Hampshire poll showing Trump would garner only 37 percent of likely Republican primary voters, Sununu said it proves there is potential for another candidate to take the lead in the Granite State. Thats 60% of the voters right now that are not with Trump in New Hampshire, he said. I think that number will grow even more and more. His remarks come as many of Trumps opponents including former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have seemingly tiptoed around criticizing the former president. Sununu on Saturday said it would likely come down to the debate stage. The Hill Elections 2024 coverage Either youre willing to swing, youre willing to give the punch and take the punch and show leadership or or youre kowtowing, he said, arguing that pulling a Trump voter away is unlikely to happen. I dont understand the politics of it, because youre not going to get a Trump voter. Right? Theyre with Trump. So if the base is with Trump, the base is for Trump. Hes still going to be in the race, Sununu continued. So you got to find your own path. And I think Chris [Christie] was right. You gotta go through them. You cant go around. Story continues Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arizona Gov. Asa Hutchinson have been the most vocal candidates against Trump thus far in the race. The New Hampshire governor said the real key to the election isnt getting into the race, which he called easy, but coming out on top. Asked what the candidates risk by criticizing the former president, Sununu said nothing. They risk upsetting a voter that theyre not going to get in the first place. Right? he quipped. Those voters will come back in the general election. Sununu, who announced last month that he wouldnt challenge Trump in 2024, also made the decision to not run for another term as governor, capping off weeks of speculation. Ive been here going on eight years now. I still have 18 months to go to be sure. But I kind of wanted folks to know where I was Its not a public career. Its called public service, he said Saturday, adding I can win a fifth term. I mean, thats, thats nice to know. But you got to kind of hopefully leave things better than you found it, give somebody else an opportunity to run. He also sidestepped questions on whether he would run as an independent or on a third-party ticket in the future. No, Nothing Im looking at, Sununu said of right now, but left the question open to future possibilities. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The damaged bus stop on Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks, near Westlake High School, where a man plowed into a group of teens in April, killing 15-year-old student Wesley Welling. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) A man arrested in connection with a fatal crash that killed one Ventura County high school student and injured several others earlier this year has been slapped with additional charges in the case, including first-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder, authorities said. Austin Allen Eis, 25, was arrested on April 18 after he rammed his car into a bus stop near Westlake High, killing 15-year-old Wesley Welling and injuring three other students, after a violent crime rampage earlier in the day in which several people were stabbed and assaulted, authorities said. The Ventura County district attorney's office initially charged Eis with murder and four counts of assault with a deadly weapon along with several other offenses, including residential burglary, false imprisonment and brandishing a knife, associated with the earlier outburst of violence. But the ongoing investigation revealed new evidence in the case and prosecutors were able to identify six additional students who were in the path of Eis' car the day of the crash, the district attorney's office said in a news release. As a result, the district attorney filed an amended criminal complaint against Eis last week charging him with first-degree murder, which alleges premeditation, and 19 counts of attempted murder. Read more: He lived to be outdoors, even in extremes like Death Valley. He died doing what he loved In light of the ongoing investigation we have discovered new evidence to support additional charges and defendants premeditation, Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Amber Lee said in a release. The amended complaint reflects that evidence. The crash that occurred just outside of Westlake High School was the culmination of a rampage that allegedly began earlier that day when Eis entered a Walmart in Simi Valley, authorities said. Eis pepper-sprayed and stabbed one employee, assaulted another and lunged at two additional employees with a knife, prosecutors said. Story continues Eis allegedly fled the Walmart in his vehicle and drove to a home in Camarillo where he forced his way inside, authorities said. He eventually drove to Westlake High School, where he struck Wesley and three other students, who survived. Eis is being held in custody without bail. 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. A mom of six was caught in the crossfire and survived unharmed! It requires a truly selfish person to run from police, putting the lives of not only officers but innocent bystanders at risk. Then theres this guy in Tampa, Florida who punched things up several notches. Not only did he engage in a high-speed pursuit on city streets before that he stabbed the mother of his children in front of the kids 13 times before stealing his brothers AK-47 and driving off. Low-speed police chase turns explosive in a hurry. Sure enough, during the chase, 33-year-old Michael Bresnahan crashed into another vehicle with two innocent people inside. One was a mother of six children. The driver hopped out and was out of there in a hurry, but for whatever reason the woman didnt escape before the shootout erupted. Bresnahan didnt care about her, only about himself, opening fire on the police who had been trailing behind him all that time. With no other option, officers had to return fire. You can see in the footage of the shootout the SUV Bresnahan was in as well as the car the mother of six was inside started looking like Swiss cheese in no time. When the shooting died down, police were able to use a shield to advance and get the woman to safety. She seemed all too eager to get out of there, and who can blame her? In a TV interview afterward, the mother of six expressed her gratitude to police, saying she thought for sure she was going to get hit by at least one of the bullets and die. Thankfully, by some miracle, she got out of there unscathed. Bresnahan was shot dead in the firefight. No officers were hit. Before everything went down, the police chase wasnt high-speed, although officers had trouble hitting the tire with Stop Sticks. It was the kind of pursuit we see people cry about calling off because it would do more harm than good. Those same people likely would pin the mother and other innocent bystander caught in the crossfire as a reckless action by police, not Bresnahan. Story continues A man whos willing to stab the mother of his children in front of his own kids cant just be let go because, as the police chief said in a press conference, he constituted a public menace and danger to everyone. Thankfully, the woman he stabbed was transported to the hospital in critical condition but was listed as stable later, so hopefully she pulls through. The post Suspect Gets In Massive Shootout After Chase With Florida Police appeared first on The Auto Wire. Chinese citizen injured in Auckland shooting: consulate Xinhua) 09:52, July 22, 2023 WELLINGTON, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese citizen was injured in Thursday's deadly shooting in New Zealand's Auckland, a spokesman for the Chinese Consulate General in Auckland said on Friday. The conditions of the Chinese are stable, the spokesman told Xinhua. The Auckland police Friday afternoon informed the consulate on the injured person, following which, consulate officials went to the hospital to learn about the conditions, said the spokesman. Thursday's shooting left three people, including the gunman, dead and six others injured, including a police officer. Local police previously said on Thursday that no report of Chinese casualty had been reached. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) MEXICO CITY, July 21 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed and 53 others injured in a collision between a bus and a cargo truck in the western Mexican state of Michoacan, the local Attorney General's Office said Friday. The accident occurred at about 1:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) on the La Piedad-Vista Hermosa highway, near the city of Yurecuaro, according to the office. "A passenger truck on its way to Oaxaca from San Quintin, Baja California, crashed head-on into a tractor-trailer with two dry boxes carrying groceries, causing them to catch fire," it said, adding that six people died, including both drivers, with the wounded assisted by paramedics and taken to various hospitals. The victims' bodies were taken to a forensic's center for identification. A Rochester teenager has been charged in connection with the fatal shooting of a 35-year-old man in northeast Rochester in February, according to Rochester police. Kyelon Marbury,17, was charged with second-degree murder, first-degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies, and is suspected to be involved in numerous other shootings, assault and car thefts in the Rochester region in the past 18 months, said Capt. Frank Umbrino of the Rochester Police Department. Umbrino, who leads RPD's Major Crimes Unit, said that Marbury, was apprehended at a hotel in Henrietta on Friday without incident. He is accused of fatally shooting Jermaine Wilkins of Buffalo on Feb. 18, 2023. He is also accused of shooting at a man walking on Scio Street, near School No. 25, about seven hours before Wilkins was killed. No one was injured during the incident. Wilkins was walking in Rochester's Beechwood neighborhood - at Denver and Melville streets - when he was shot three times in the upper body with a rifle. Wilkins ran to a house on the 300 block of Parsells Avenue where around 9:20 p.m. he banged on a door yelling that he was shot. Arriving officers found Wilkins, who was unresponsive and died at the scene. Police said that Wilkins is originally from Rochester and was in Monroe County visiting family when he was killed. There was no known relationship between Wilkins and Marbury. Marbury was known to police, though Umbrino could not share further details. Umbrino said investigators are seeking to speak with anyone who interacted with Marbury. The teen was arraigned Saturday morning by Monroe County Court Judge Meredith Vacca and was remanded to the Monroe Country Children's Detention Center in Rush without bail, Umbrino said. Additional charges are pending as the case is to be presented to a Monroe County grand jury. Police are asking anyone who has information about Marbury or any of the incidents is asked to call 911 or RPD's Major Crimes Unit at (585) 428-7157 or CrimeStoppers at (585) 423-9300. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Kyelon Marbury charged in death of Jermaine Wilkins in Rochester NY Temecula School Board President Joseph Komrosky at a board meeting Tuesday. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) A conservative Riverside County school board that had previously rejected a social studies curriculum that mentioned gay rights activist Harvey Milk reversed course Friday night and said it would go forward with the instructional materials that meet state standards. The unanimous decision by the Temecula Valley Unified School District followed a series of contentious public meetings and a threat by Gov. Gavin Newsom to fine the district $1.5 million if it did not provide its elementary school students with new state-approved social studies books for the coming school year. Under what board members described as a compromise, the district will pull from the curriculum one supplemental lesson a fourth-grade unit that discusses the gay rights movement for further review and possible rewriting, according to a video of Friday nights meeting. Milk is not in the textbook, but his biography appears in materials teachers may draw on or assign to students, according to information provided at the meeting. Temeculas adoption of an elementary school history curriculum, a routine process in many districts, became a flashpoint in the national culture wars in recent weeks. Some conservatives from the so-called parents rights movement attacked the inclusion of LGBTQ+ topics in the Social Studies Alive curriculum as sexualizing and inappropriate. The board president branded Milk, the states first out gay man elected to public office, a pedophile and another member claimed the instructional materials promoted pedophilia. The board voted 3-2 in May to reject the curriculum. Newsom, who has fashioned himself as a progressive warrior against red-state policies, waded into the situation. In addition to threatening to levy the fine, the governor pledged to ship the district textbooks that complied with state law whether or not the board approved and pressed legislation that, if passed, will give the state new power over textbooks. He also announced in June a civil rights investigation by the state Department of Education. Story continues Fortunately, now students will receive the basic materials needed to learn, Newsom said in a statement after the board vote. He blasted extremists for opposing the curriculum, adding, Demagogues who whitewash history, censor books, and perpetuate prejudice never succeed. Hate doesnt belong in our classrooms and because of the board majoritys antics, Temecula has a civil rights investigation to answer for. During Fridays meeting, board President Joseph Komrosky, who had been strongly opposed to the curriculum previously, acknowledged fear of potential litigation. We have a fiscal responsibility so that I cannot steer this district into more legalities, said Komrosky, who teaches logic at a local community college. Under a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2011, history lessons and textbooks in California public schools are required to include contributions of gay, lesbian and transgender Americans. The curriculum currently in use is from 2006. Komrosky denied that pressure from Sacramento forced the about-face, saying, It had nothing to do with Gov. Newsom. He pointed instead to his recent discovery that nearly 400 parents in a district pilot program had vetted the program. Another board member said 98% of parents in the program supported it. Its a fine curriculum, board member Steve Schwartz said in an interview. A retired New York City schoolteacher, Schwartz supported the curriculum from the start and said he thought activists, some from outside, had stirred up the community without actually reviewing the materials. I looked through it and I did not find anything objectionable or anything to do with sex or pedophilia or pornography The vote was 4-0 with one board member who opposed the curriculum not in attendance. Board member Jennifer Wiersma changed her vote to adopt the curriculum, but acknowledged it wasnt my first choice and voiced continuing concerns about the presentation of gay rights. Its important to start healing. Its also important to protect the kids, she said. The district, which oversees the education of about 28,000 students, leans Republican and favored Donald Trump in the 2020 election. One board member, who has supported the curriculum, said at Fridays meeting that she has been harassed at work and accused of supporting pedophilia. If you know me in any capacity, it is laughable, said the board member, Allison Barclay, who is the chief executive of the local Boys & Girls Club. 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. Tierra Allen, 29, has been stuck in Dubai since April. Courtesy of Tina Baxter. A Texas woman can't leave the UAE after she was accused of violating a vague law criminalizing 'offensive behavior.' Staff at a rental car company reported Tierra Allen, 29, to authorities after an argument, Allen's mother told Insider. She said the rental car company was demanding large sums of money to return her daughter's passport and phone a known scam. A Texas woman, who is now prohibited from leaving the United Arab Emirates after a man filed a legal case against her for "screaming," may actually be the victim of an elaborate scam. Tierra Allen, 29, was riding in a rental car as a passenger in Dubai on April 28 when the driver, a friend from Nigeria, got into a "minor fender bender," Allen's mother, Tina Baxter, told Insider. Allen told her mother that she was briefly handcuffed when local police arrived at the scene. The car, meanwhile, was towed back to the rental car company with her personal belongings including her phone, wallet, and passport still inside. She was then released, and police told her to go to the car company for her belongings. When she went to the rental company the name of which the US consulate in Dubai advised the family not to publicize to get her stuff, its staff demanded thousands of dollars in return. An argument followed, and Allen says the staffers goaded her into yelling. An employee at the rental car company reported Allen to police for violating a broadly-defined law in the UAE that criminalizes things like swearing, rudeness, and insulting gestures. "She didn't get arrested for the accident. She got arrested for going to the rental car company, asking for her items that were left in the car when they opened the case," Baxter told Insider. "She became the main target when they realized she was a US citizen." Radha Stirling, a UK-based human rights advocate who runs an organization called Detained in Dubai that gives legal assistance to foreigners in the UAE, told Insider that Allen's story is something she's seen before, multiple times. Story continues "I just had three Americans in the past couple of months who said they were in pretty much the same situation," Stirling told Insider. "They ended up paying $20,000 that they didn't owe to a rental car company just to get their passports back so they could go home." Stirling, who is helping Allen, said that she has right now only been charged. As a result, she can't leave the country. Even if she was allowed, she doesn't have her passport, which Stirling believes is now in police custody. She is otherwise mostly holed up in her Airbnb using a replacement phone to talk to her mother and Stirling. "If the police choose to prosecute, that can take in itself four months, six months, maybe even longer, just until she gets a court date," Stirling said. "In a worst-case scenario, if she was prosecuted and convicted, she could be looking at up to two years in prison." The rental company involved in the case did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Allen has gone to the police and returned to the rental agency multiple times to try and resolve the ordeal, even offering to pay some of the money demanded by the rental company. When she did that, however, employees only increased the amount, Stirling said. There were also fraudulent charges made on the credit cards Allen had left in the car, according to bank screenshots seen by Insider. "I am definitely not doing well. It's been very rough," Baxter, who also lives in the Houston area, told Insider. "I'm trying to stay strong for her." Baxter said she was working to help her daughter but was conscious that she could make things worse as she raises awareness of her daughter's case. She said she was being careful not to say anything that might offend the UAE government or the authorities in Dubai. "People just think she's just some screaming monster when she's a very soft-spoken young lady," Baxter said of her daughter. "She was only pushed to the edge to respond back after she was afraid and being extorted for money and misled." Baxter debated starting a fundraiser on GoFundMe, but Stirling said it could backfire. "In a sense, doing that perpetuates this common issue, perpetuates the extortion scam that is so prevalent in the UAE," Stirling said. Instead, the family has contacted lawmakers in Allen's home state of Texas for help, including Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and Sen. Ted Cruz. "We're hoping that that's going to transition into ambassadorial help and diplomatic assistance in the UAE and that she should be home soon," Stirling told Insider. The US Consulate in Dubai told Insider it does not comment on consular cases. In a statement, Cruz's office said it had made inquiries about Allen's situation. "We have spoken to the family of Tierra Young Allen and have contacted the Department of State about the case," a spokesperson from the senator's office told Insider. "Sen. Cruz will continue to gather details and engage on this case until Ms. Allen is returned home to her family." Read the original article on Insider Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Courtesy Courtesy Fan-Pei Koung KHARKIV, UkraineThe war in Ukraine has attracted a wide range of Western volunteers to the country, from frontline soldiers to aid workers delivering critically needed supplies. But an Instagram influencer from Houston, Texas, who moved to Ukraine as the war raged, is the only one describing herself as an emotional support stripper. Volunteering alongside Ukraines heroes has led to a bout of intimate relationshipsmostly with Ukrainian soldiersand Fan-Pei Koung, 33, now refers to herself as a sex tourist. Koung has used her social media presence to create an OnlyFans account that is free for Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, and the occasional local civilian who she thinks could use some cheering up. On the site, she refers to herself as a globe-trotting girlfriend, now volunteering in Kharkiv. She added that she makes content about everything from free emotional breastfeeding to soldiers and volunteers, to collecting donations to distribute to volunteers. The OnlyFans model had her hair pulled back in a messy bun and glasses when she met with The Daily Beast in late July at her apartment in Kharkhiv. Im the sexy girl in Ukraine who wants to volunteer, and will probably put out, she said. Ukrainians Under Siege Are Turning to OnlyFans When Koung visited Ukraine for the first time in November 2022, romantic relationships were not at the center of her mind. She had decided to volunteer in womens shelters and orphanages in Lviv, the western city in Ukraine that has been deemed a haven throughout the war. Far away from the eastern front, the city has been spared some of the most brutal attacks of the war. Koung had recently moved to Europe, where she believed she could make a new start in her life, far away from all her problems in America. She met a family of Ukrainians in Croatia, who spoke with her about Russias invasion and encouraged her to volunteer inside the country. Everyone was telling me, Dont go, dont go. When youre a foreigner here, everyone who cares about you at all will say anything to change your mind, she said. Story continues Back in America, Koung said she had lived multiple lives, which include winning the first prize at a NASA Space Health Challenge in 2014, being deferred from an Ivy League school, and competing in the Miss Taiwanese American pageant in 2015. For the last five years in Oakland, CA, Koung worked in childrens events. Fan-Pei Koung refers to herself as a sex tourist" with an OnlyFans account that is free for Ukrainian soldiers. Courtesy Fan-Pei Koung When she began volunteering with children in Ukraine, the work seemed like a natural progression. The orphans flooded me. They were running, screaming, and hugging me, and I rehearsed some Ukrainian to tell them. We were dancing together, she told The Daily Beast. But the child care role was not enough for Koung. It didnt feel like anything unique to what I had back in the States. I wanted more. I wanted to be with the military, she said. One month after arriving in Ukraine, Koung left, but outside of the country, she still thought of Ukraine non-stop. I had flights to Tulum [Mexico] because I was going to live with this other fabulous, sexy, Asian influencer, and we were going to do a sexy, fabulous, Asian influencer dream team, she burst into a series of laughs before she carried on, But as soon as I left, I desperately wanted to come back to Ukraine. I was losing my mind trying to get back. Koung has an Instagram following of more than 50,000 people and has built a platform as an influencer, posting anything from lingerie modeling photos to video memes of her day-to-day life. Since visiting Ukraine for the first time in November 2022, Koung has also begun to post content related to the war. Ive lost about 5,000 followers since this whole Ukraine thing. Because I went from being a sexy influencer to a sexy influencer who wont stop talking about Ukraine. Non-Stop Shitshow In February 2023, one year into the war, Koung moved to Ukraine full-time, where she volunteered and lived among Ukrainians in Kyiv, the capital city. The longer Koung spent in Ukraine, the more she began to enjoy the company of Ukrainians. On a romantic level, Koung said in America, My standards are too high because I only want men who can care for themselves and think about people other than themselves. None of them [Americans] met my standards. And then I came to Ukraine, and everybody here thinks about people other than themselves Ukrainian men, they treat me like an infant. They need to know what I want even before I know what I want. Ive never been treated like that in my life, Koung said. In Kyiv, Koung met her then-personal trainer, the first man in Ukraine with whom she had an intimate relationship. He carried my 50-pound luggage up 13 stories during a blackout, Koung said. Since then, Koungs volunteering has taken her to the eastern Donbas region, where she has delivered water to people who remained in the destroyed towns and worked as what she describes as an emotional support person for English-speaking soldiers. Andwhere there is a mutual attractionKoung might begin a romantic relationship with some of the men she meets. Currently, the OnlyFans model is dating a Ukrainian drone operator, a power plant worker, and two information technology workers. Koung has been learning Ukrainian and said she could speak at the level of a 2-year-old. Still, artificial intelligence comes in handy when she cannot communicate efficiently with Ukrainians. One man, for example, named Sasha, Just speaks Ukrainian and Russian, so we just keep our phones next to each other, and we just translate into it, and anything he doesnt get, Ill explain it to him. Ideal communication with him is two phones and one laptop. We can get anything we need that way, she said. At times, Koung has also dated international soldiers who have come to Ukraine from other countries to fight. After a group of soldiers suffered casualties in Donbas, Koung went to their unit to comfort them. There she met a soldier from the United Kingdom who had previously fought in Syria before moving to Ukraine. Koung says she is dating a Ukrainian drone operator, a power plant worker, and two information technology workers. Courtesy Fan-Pei Koung Im there talking with him for six hours about how hes coping, his relationship issues. I feel so safe with this guy. At some point, I was holding him and stroking his hair, and he said, I feel precious like a kitten. I havent been touched in two years, said Koung. But despite the sometimes light-heartedness of Koungs time in Ukraine, she told The Daily Beast she had experienced judgment from other Western volunteers about her activities. After being added to a volunteer group chat with fellow Westerners, Koung claimed to have written a message reading, Hi, Im Fan-Pei thanks for having me on this humanitarian group chat. If any of you want to go east, please take me with you, Im very good company, before adding a quick joke that she wanted to have intimate relationships with some notable Ukrainians. These guys just tore me for three days straight! I think theres a couple hundred people in this group, and they said, You want to make porn off of mass graves? People were writing reports about how they were ready to discipline me. I just wanted to prove myself, but this has been haunting me. I feel like every volunteer in the humanitarian group has an opinion of me, said Koung. If I were a man going to Ukraine to volunteer, no one would question me about anything. But since Im a girl, its been a non-stop shit show. Its a trip. It really does make a difference if youre a man or a woman, she added. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. (Bloomberg) -- A party that was part of Thailands last military-backed government has ruled out joining any coalition that includes the pro-democracy Move Forward Party. Most Read from Bloomberg Bhumjaithai Party leader Anutin Charnvirakul said he conveyed the message on Saturday to Pheu Thai Party, which has stepped up to lead the formation of a government with Move Forward and other coalition partners. Move Forward had won the most seats in a May national election but its leader has been blocked from taking office by conservatives in parliament. Bhumjaithai has the third most seats in Thailands parliament. The coalition now led by Pheu Thai commands a majority in the newly-elected lower house, but the next prime minister needs to have more than half the votes in the combined National Assembly, whose strength is currently at 748. The key challenge is winning the support of the 249-member Senate, which is stacked with allies of the pro-military royalist establishment. Pheu Thai, the second-biggest winner in Thailands May general election, said it will seek the support of the military-appointed Senate before the next prime minister vote, scheduled on July 27. Bhumjaithais message will be conveyed to other pro-democracy alliance parties, Pheu Thai party leader Cholnan Srikaew said after meeting with Anutin. Pheu Thai is backed by ousted former premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Conservatives in Thailands parliament say they are opposed to Move Forwards campaign promise of amending a so-called lese majeste law that punishes anyone for defaming or insulting the king or other royals. A prominent senator, Kittisak Rattanawaraha, this week said Pheu Thai must divorce Move Forward if it wants support from the Senate to form a government. Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Tens of thousands of Israelis opposed to a judicial overhaul sought by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marched to Jerusalem on Saturday, as pressure mounts on his right-wing government to scrap a bill that would curtail the Supreme Court's powers. The government bid to change the judiciary has plunged Israel into one of its worst political crises, sparking nationwide protests, denting the economy and stirring concern among Western allies. Carrying blue and white Israeli flags, a kilometres (miles) long column of protesters hiked up the winding highway to Jerusalem under a scorching summer sun to the sounds of beating drums and anti-government chants. "Democracy is not as certain as it used to be," said Ido Golan, a protester from central Israel who joined with his partner and two young children, one on his back in a baby-carrier. "It's very important for us and also for them to know we did what we can to save the democracy." The protesters had walked for several days through a heatwave with their numbers swelling as they reached the city gates. As night fell, they rallied outside parliament ahead of a Sunday debate and subsequent vote on the bill, which would limit the Supreme Court's powers to void what it considers "unreasonable" government or ministerial decisions. Tens of thousands more protested across the country, including around 100,000 people in business hub Tel Aviv. Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition says the bill, which parliament is scheduled to vote on by Monday, is needed to balance out the branches of power. Critics say the amendment is being rushed through parliament and will open the door to abuse of power. Polls suggest widespread misgivings among Israelis, and Washington has urged Netanyahu to seek consensus on any reforms which should also keep the judiciary independent. The crisis has even sown divisions within the military, long viewed as an apolitical melting pot for a fractious society, with concerns about war-readiness voiced on both sides of the debate. Story continues Dozens of former security chiefs, including military, police and Mossad heads, some of whom had served under Netanyahu, published an open letter to the premier on Saturday to call off the vote and voiced support for reservists who have said they will no longer serve in protest against the government's campaign. Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption that he denies, has said he has been striving for broad agreements and has placed the onus on opposition parties to make compromises. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on Friday he was working to reach a consensus. Energy Minister Israel Katz told N12 News the coalition would not bow to pressure from reservists trying to strong-arm a democratically elected government. (Additional reporting by Dan Williams and Eli Berlzon; Writing by Maayan Lubell; editing by John Stonestreet, Clelia Oziel and Nick Macfie) People shop inside a New York City Disney Store on June 18, 1997. Reuters The Disney Store was a staple of shopping malls after its first location opened in 1987. Throwback photos of the store show mountains of stuffed animals, giant crowds, and holiday sales. The images also show how the store changed approximately 10 years before most locations shuttered. Years after Disneyland and Disney World became the ultimate vacation destinations, the Disney Store became the shopping-mall equivalent of the beloved theme parks. According to the official Disney fan club D23, the first Disney Store opened at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California, on March 28, 1987. It was the first store to sell Disney merchandise outside of the theme parks and Orlando Airport, D23 says, and employees were trained to hold the friendly, magical standards set by those at Disney World and Disneyland. Throwback photos of the retailer show the Disney Store in its heyday, years before most locations aside from outlet stores and a mega location in New York City went out of business in 2021. The Disney Store was a staple of shopping malls between 1987 and 2021. A Disney Store opens in the South Coast Plaza mall in Costa Mesa, California. Robert Lachman/Getty Images Today, most Disney Stores have been shuttered. Only a larger shop in New York City; the World of Disney in Orlando, Florida; and 21 Disney outlets filled with discounted theme-park merchandise remain across the country. The World of Disney store in Orlando, Florida. Amanda Krause/Insider Some stores had cartoon-inspired exteriors, while others were more upscale. But every entrance featured an intricate Disney design. Outside a Disney Store located in Chicago, Illinois, on March 15, 2004. Tim Boyle/Getty Images Mosaic and tile floors depicting classic Disney characters greeted shoppers as they entered. A Minnie Mouse tile floor outside a Disney Store in Chicago, Illinois, on March 15, 2004. Tim Boyle/Getty Images Inside the stores, statues of Disney characters could be found in every corner and even hanging from the ceiling. Inside a Disney Store at the Mall of America in 1999. Carolyn Schaefer/Getty Images But what fans will remember most are the mountains of stuffed animals and massive TV screens that played Disney movie scenes. People shop inside a New York City Disney Store on June 18, 1997. Reuters Disney often used these round displays to promote merchandise from new movies. In 1996, that was the live-action version of "101 Dalmatians." A young shopper at a Disney Store in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on November 26, 1996. Star Tribune/Getty Images If you wanted a sweet treat while shopping, there were multiple kinds of Mickey Mouse lollipops available. Story continues Candy at a Disney Store in New York City on October 4, 2004. Trish Lease/Stringer/Getty Images It was normal to see crowds of shoppers gather outside Disney Stores on Black Friday to score major deals. Shoppers outside the Disney Store in the Lakewood Center mall in California on Black Friday 2006. Robert Gauthier/Getty Images And the stores would always be decked out for the holidays with themed music and festive character displays. A Christmas window display at a Disney Store in New York City on November 25, 2001. George De Sota/Getty Images Sales were a big part of the Disney Store business. Many happened after holidays like Christmas, but there were also year-round discounts. A Disney Store at the Golf-Mill Mall in Niles, Illinois, on December 26, 2001. Tim Boyle/Getty Images During those sales, shoppers would stock up on Disney clothes, toys, and other merchandise. Shoppers at the Disney Store in Glendale, California, on November 23, 2007. Phil McCarten/Getty Images Princess dolls, costumes, and action-figure sets were other big draws when discounted. Inside a Disney Store at the Lakewood Mall in California on November 24, 2006. MediaNews Group/Orange County Register/Getty Images On occasion, you could find Disney Channel stars at Disney Stores for promotional appearances and meet-and-greets. Hilary Duff at a Disney Store in New York City on May 3, 2003. Jim Spellman/Getty Images Around 2010, most Disney Stores were renovated with new decor and shopping features, including activity areas for children with coloring stations and big TVs. Inside a Disney Store in New York City's Times Square on November 9, 2010. Mario Tama/Getty Images The updated store designs also included walk-through castles, light-up wall displays, and most notably, the removal of character statues. Inside a Disney Store in Orlando, Florida, on August 24, 2011. Gerardo Mora/Stringer/Getty Images The modern design remained until the Disney Store as most fans knew it closed in 2021. Inside a Disney Store in Miami, Florida, on May 18, 2013. Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images Read more: I shopped at one of the last Disney stores in the country, and it was full of discounted theme-park merch Read the original article on Insider Legendary singer Tony Bennett, who died on July 21 in New York at age 96, had a history of health issues over the years, culminating in his seven-year battle with Alzheimers disease . Although no cause of death was indicated in the announcement of Bennetts passing, his publicist, Sylvia Weiner, mentioned his 2016 Alzheimers diagnosis. The Alzheimers Association, with which Bennett partnered to raise awareness and funds for the disease, also released a public statement. TONY BENNETT IN HIS OWN WORDS: I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN TRULY BLESSED "The Alzheimers Association joins the world in mourning the loss of Tony Bennett, a great friend and champion of the cause," said Joanne Pike, president and CEO of the Alzheimers Association in Chicago, Illinois , in the statement. "For decades, Tony inspired the world with his music and, after being diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, he continued to use that powerful voice to make a very real difference in inspiring action and change." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Legendary singer Tony Bennett, who died on July 21 in New York at the age of 96, had a history of health issues over the years, culminating in his seven-year battle with Alzheimers disease. Several neurology experts shared with Fox News Digital the key points people should know about late-stage Alzheimers and its potentially fatal complications. Alzheimers disease is a cognitive disorder that causes damaging proteins to build up in the brain, according to the Mayo Clinic. LEGENDARY SINGER TONY BENNETT DEAD AT 96 Around 6.5 million people 65 and older are living with Alzheimers in the U.S., with the disease comprising up to 70% of all dementia cases. Over time, the disease causes brain shrinkage and kills brain cells, resulting in a gradual cognitive decline. Early signs of Alzheimers include episodes of short-term memory loss. It eventually leads to memory loss and an inability to function. There is currently no cure for Alzheimers, although a new drug called Leqembi, which works to remove plaque from the brain, recently received FDA approval. "The drug has been shown to slow down disease progression in the early stages of the disease," Dongxu Sun, PhD, an Alzheimers research expert in San Francisco , told Fox News Digital. Story continues "Leqembi, like all other plaque-removing drugs, can lead to side effects such as brain swelling and bleeding because it removes plaques through enhancing neuroinflammation." During the advanced stages of Alzheimers, patients experience severe cognitive decline, according to Dr. Rehan Aziz, a geriatric psychiatrist at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey and associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. During late-stage Alzheimers, patients experience severe cognitive decline. "In this stage, individuals may lose the ability to recognize familiar people, including family members and friends," he told Fox News Digital. "They may have difficulty communicating their needs." People with late-stage disease often need help with routine activities like getting dressed, eating and cutting food, showering, combing their hair or brushing their teeth, using the toilet and even walking, the doctor said. NEW DEMENTIA DRUG 'HAS GIVEN ME HOPE: ALZHEIMERS PATIENTS REVEAL THEIR STORIES They may also experience behavioral and psychological changes. "Individuals can develop a number of psychological symptoms, including apathy, depression, difficulty sleeping at night and aggression," Aziz said. These patients often require 24-hour care, either at home with the appropriate services or in a skilled nursing facility, the doctor said. Over time, the disease causes brain shrinkage and kills brain cells, resulting in a gradual cognitive decline. "Caregivers have high rates of depression, as well as increased chances of becoming physically sick," he warned. "It is important that caregivers take care of themselves and seek support." Aziz often refers caregivers to Alzheimer's support groups as well as to mental health clinicians if needed, he said. Unlike cancer or Lou Gehrig's disease, Alzheimer's disease is not a direct cause of death, according to Dr. Arif Dalvi, director of the Memory Disorders Center at St. Mary's Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. "However, as the disease state progresses, the patient's ability to take care of themselves, even with help, declines considerably," he told Fox News Digital. "This general deconditioning leads to complications that are directly responsible for death." VISION PROBLEMS COULD MEAN HIGHER DEMENTIA RISK, STUDY FINDS: 'EYE HEALTH AND BRAIN HEALTH ARE CLOSELY LINKED' The average life expectancy for someone with Alzheimer's disease is around 8-10 years, according to the Alzheimers Society. Longevity is shorter for those who are diagnosed in their 80s or 90s. "Based on a persons health condition and lifestyle, some patients decline quickly and succumb to the disease within a few years while others can live for many years after diagnosis," said Sun of San Francisco. In addition to causing memory loss, Alzheimers also leads to a decline of the immune system, the cardiovascular system and others, said Sun. "These declines can lead to the development of fatal complications like aspiration pneumonia, stroke or heart disease," he explained. Patients with late-stage Alzheimer's often require 24-hour care, either at home with the appropriate services or in a skilled nursing facility. Dalvi commonly sees Alzheimers patients succumb to infections, which can be fatal. "A combination of disease progression, general debility from aging and decline in hygiene due to an inability to take care of themselves leads to susceptibility to infections," he explained. "Pneumonia is the most common, although urinary tract infections also are seen fairly often," he continued. "In the debilitated person, this can lead to sepsis and death." Other potential causes of death include malnutrition as a result of not eating or having trouble eating, accidentally inhaling foods or liquids or falls/accidents caused by weakness or wandering. That's according to Dr. Jasdeep S. Hundal, a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist and associate professor of psychiatry and neurology at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine in New Jersey. Maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration is extremely important for those with advanced dementia, Dalvi, said, as it supports general well-being and immune function. Because patients with Alzheimers can forget to eat, the doctor said their weight should be monitored on a regular basis. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "Feeding should be supervised, as difficulties with swallowing can lead to aspiration pneumonia ," he warned. "Minimizing unnecessary medications and regular medication review is also important." Additionally, he emphasized the need to minimize fall risk. "It is also important to take care of the emotional needs of the caregivers and family during the late stage of the condition," Dalvi added. The author's nephew and niece looking at the Eiffel tower. Courtesy of Cheryl Rodewig My husband and I took my sister's kids to Paris, and things didn't go as planned. I learned that things will happen and you just need to embrace chaos and change. Talking about the things each of us liked and didn't like at the end of the day helped us plan better. I'm a pretty goal-oriented traveler. I fill my days with as much sightseeing as I can handle. Forget the hotel pool. I'm checking off national landmarks and natural wonders from a carefully researched list. This approach serves me well as a travel writer. Over the past 15 years, I've gone swimming with manatees, climbed a Roman aqueduct, and ziplined over canyons. But one thing I've never done? Travel with kids. This year, my husband and I decided to take the kids on our trip to Paris. Not our kids, mind my sister's. Things didn't go as planned, but I learned a lot along the way. Here's what I wish someone had told me before we did it. The itinerary will change, so embrace the chaos Before our flight, I had a four-page Google Doc detailing every stop down to the hour. There were directions, ideas for where to eat, notes about opening times, and prices. It was a thing of beauty. We did about half of it. There was a lot of change, not always because of the kids. Versailles was closed due to a strike, so we wandered the 300 years older though arguably less cool Chateau de Vincennes. And when the kids were exhausted with our 12,000 steps and six to eight monuments a day routine, I scaled things back and built-in midday breaks. It turns out, the slower place let us savor Paris as we never had before. Flexibility can be freeing. Everyone needs their space Booking hotels is usually easy for us. One king, please. Not so with two teens needing separate rooms. I scoured the internet for budget-friendly solutions until I discovered apart-hotels. It's just what it sounds like half apartment, half hotel. We had a front desk, continental breakfast, and other hotel amenities, plus a full kitchen and on-site washer and dryer for that last-minute laundry run. But most importantly, there was plenty of room for some much-needed alone time at the end of a long day. Story continues Guided tours provide a welcome structure I generally prefer exploring on my own, but our tour of the Eiffel Tower was one of the best things we did. The guide knew all about the tower, entertained us in line, and kept everyone moving along so my husband and I could take a back seat and just follow the group. Elsewhere, I was the de facto guide, the presumed expert on everything from 19th-century carnivals to cheese production in medieval France. I cherish the photos we took of each other While I typically fill my phone with landscapes of architecture and nature, my 13-year-old niece was all about selfies. We spent over an hour in the courtyard of the Petit Palais, snapping pics of each other by the cherry blossoms. We stopped for action shots of cartwheels under Jeff Koons' 41-foot Bouquet of Tulips they did the cartwheels; we did the photos. My niece even showed us how to take shadow selfies. And thanks to her encouragement, we have some of the best souvenirs from our trip. The group posing for a shadow selfie. Courtesy of the author We shared our highs, lows, and buffaloes This tip came from my sister partway through our trip, and it made a big difference in how we understood each other's differing experiences. Here's how it works. You ask everyone to share their high, low, and something random a buffalo from the day. It gives you a framework to talk about the ups and downs, recognizing that vacation isn't all rainbows. It also helped us learn what everyone liked and didn't like so we could make the next day better. Life is short; eat more pastries As cool as it was to see paintings by Rembrandt and ancient Gallo-Roman ruins, we found out that wasn't what the kids loved most. They liked pain au chocolat, truffles, and beignets. If I could go back in time, instead of visiting 10 museums and four patisseries, I'd do it the other way around. Because it was when we were just hanging out splitting a pastry or riding the metro that we really got to know them. That's when I discovered my niece likes K-pop, and my nephew knows how to cook chicken in the dishwasher, thanks to YouTube. It was those unscripted moments, things definitely not on the itinerary, that I remember fondest. So if I had it to do all over again, I'd plan differently, plan less, and just enjoy being with these pretty cool people that I happen to love. Read the original article on Insider RABAT, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Six migrants have drowned in a shipwreck off the northern coast of Morocco, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported Saturday. The victims were among 54 people who swam to board a speed boat at the open sea off the coast of the commune of Izanin on Friday, in an attempt to enter another country illegally, it reported, citing Nador province's authorities. Due to bad weather conditions and high tides, the boat failed to maneuver and collided with sea rocks, the local authorities said. Six people on board died from drowning, while 48 others succeeded in reaching land, it said, adding that the rescued people include a Tunisian national. The local authorities provided first aid to the survivors and recovered the bodies of the victims, according to the report. Top 5 Polish cities in need of Ukrainian workers An international recruiting company received 2,580 job requests for Ukrainian workers in the first half of July 2023, employment agency Gremi Personal told NV Business, mentioning the top five Polish cities that are in need of workforce from Ukraine. The cities with the most job openings are as follows (along with their respective provinces): Gdansk has 484 job openings Wroclaw has 236 job openings Katowice has 233 job openings Poznan has 232 job openings odz has 220 job openings. Read also: IT companies show increasing activity in job market, despite crisis Interestingly, the capital city, Warsaw, did not make it to the list, with the agency explaining that industrial and production-based jobs are located away from the capital, which is primarily offering white-collar employment. However, there are noticeable changes in the employment trend. According to Anna Dzhobolda, director of Gremi Personals recruitment department, there is a significant rise in demand for highly skilled specialists. This is attributed to the growing number of Ukrainian companies opening branches in Poland, who prefer hiring their fellow citizens, she said. This is good news for highly competent Ukrainians who, due to the war, were previously compelled to work in positions below their expertise. Read also: Europe struggling to plug workforce gaps with Ukrainian refugees, media reports The agency also disclosed the hourly wages offered to the most sought-after technical specialists: Welder: 30 zlotys (UAH 275, or $7.48) Meat shop worker: 28 zlotys (UAH 256, or $6.98) Electrician: 27 zlotys (UAH 248, or $6.73) Metal construction installer: 27 zlotys (UAH 248, or $6.73) Carpenter: 26 zlotys (UAH 238, or $6.50). On the other hand, jobs offered to women generally come with lower wages: Car driver (loader operator): 25 zlotys (UAH 230, or $6.26) Chef assistant at a hotel: 22 zlotys (UAH 202, or $5.49) Worker at a car wash: 21 zlotys (UAH 193, or $5.24) Worker in the production of semi-finished products: 20 zlotys (UAH 184, or $4.99) Bag seamstress: 20 zlotys (UAH 184, or $4.99). Story continues Dzhobolda emphasized the significant contribution of Ukrainians to Poland's economy. "Ukrainians account for a substantial share in Polands economy, she explained. Almost every sector of the economy relying on low-skilled and physical labor from metallurgy, construction, and shipbuilding to logistics, meat processing, fishery, and light industry is heavily dependent on Ukrainian workers. As a result, Polish employers find themselves in competition to attract and hire Ukrainian workers. *Gremi Personal is an international network of employment agencies with 16 offices in 13 major Polish cities. WIth 14 years of experience, it helps around 20,000 foreign workers annually, primarily from Ukraine, to find a job with 350 enterprises throughout Poland. 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 Rishi Sunak addresses Conservative members and supporters after the by-election win in Uxbridge and South Ruislip - Carl Court/AFP The Government needs to challenge unrelenting negativity from Remainers about the state of the post-Brexit economy if it is to avoid further by-election losses, a former Cabinet minister has said. Liam Fox, who did stints in the Cabinet as international trade secretary and defence secretary, said that the Conservatives had to get across the true facts about the economy to rise in the polls. The Tories recently experienced bruising by-election defeats in Selby and Ainsty in North Yorkshire and Somerton and Frome in Somerset both areas where a majority voted to leave the EU in the 2016 Referendum. The result in Selby was seen as particularly significant, with Labour enjoying its biggest swing from the Tories in a by-election since 1994. Dr Fox says that in each area of the economy, pre-Brexit warnings have not been borne out - Fabrice Coffrini/AFP While not part of the Red Wall of traditionally Labour-voting constituencies that fell to the Tories in 2019, Selby neighbours these seats, which are again expected to prove a crucial battleground at the next election. Dr Fox said that in order to recover from the defeats the Tories had to begin telling a more positive story about the UK after Brexit. He said: In the run-up to the EU referendum, the British people were subjected to a barrage of dire warnings about the economic consequences of voting to leave the economy would go into recession, unemployment would rise, investment would collapse and UK exports to Europe would face a bleak future. Voters, particularly in the Red Wall of northern Englands Labour heartlands, decided to ignore these scare tactics and put Britains freedom to make its own laws and determine its own destiny first. Ever since, the Left-leaning metropolitan Remainers have heaped condescension upon them, trying to imply that Brexit has been a disaster and that they were stupid to ignore their largely London-based warnings. Poisoning our discourse Dr Fox said that in each area of the economy the warnings had not been borne out. There is a legitimate criticism of the Government in its failure to get across the true facts about the post-referendum economy, at a time when the unrelenting negativity of the hardline Remainers continues to poison our political discourse, he said. Story continues That needs to change if our position in the polls is to recover, and we are to avoid a repeat of recent by-election losses. Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said that the ability of the party to hang on to Uxbridge and South Ruislip because of the unpopularity of the expansion of Ulez showed a way forward for the Tories. He said the electorate needed to be offered a clear Conservative choice. One that reduces the burdens on families and businesses. One that is open about the true cost of this rush to Net Zero. One that recognises the need to get there without an ideology that places huge burdens on taxpayers. 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. One can only imagine what it feels like to testify in front of individuals who decide what does and does not become law in California. To put it into one word: scary. I have testified before, but this time felt different. On July 11, in front of the California Assembly Committee on Public Safety in support of Senate Bill 14 to make the sex trafficking of children a serious felony, I felt like I was on trial, defending my life and the horrific experiences I have endured that have made me into who I am today. But I did not walk into that room to defend myself. I did it to defend the innocence of every child in the world. This moment was monumental to me. SB 14 is a collaborative effort between Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), the Kern County District Attorneys Office and myself. If any crime should be a serious felony to keep rightfully punish repeat offenders, it is the trafficking of a minor for sex. Testifying before the public safety committee about the bill, I spoke about how I was trafficked as a child and sold to the highest bidder. I was told at a very young age that I would be nothing more than a bed for men to lay on. My innocence was taken, and my belief in humanity was stolen from me. We have an innate responsibility to take care of our children. It is naturally in us to want to help others as human beings. But as I listened to the responses to my testimony, my heart sank. How could they not realize the severity of this issue? Opinion One committee member talked about the three strikes law; another talked about how this bill would affect Black and the brown communities; and another spoke about the mass incarceration rate. None spoke about the countless children being sold for money or held captive. They did not speak about the immense violence that takes place and the brainwashing that is endured as trafficked children are stripped of their identities. I heard so many political issues brought up, but I heard no compassion for the children. This is not a political issue; it is a human issue. Story continues In my testimony, I said that when you finally decide to care it may be too late. I cant help but think that their unsympathetic responses may have been different had this issue reached their front doors. If their daughters, sons, nieces or nephews were impacted by human trafficking. If we continue to do nothing, this heinous issue will inevitably reach their homes. One by one, committee members said they could not support SB 14. We left the hearing feeling not so much defeated as confused and emotional. We knew the fight was not over. The media chimed in right away, and public figures including Elon Musk and Gov. Gavin Newsom expressed their support for the bill, as did countless celebrities. There was media coverage from Croatia to Bakersfield. The world heard the committees response, and they were not pleased with the decision. Then, the tables turned. Newsom and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas intervened, and the public safety committee held another vote on SB 14 two days later on July 13. This time, it passed. Im happy, but I know there is still more work that needs to be done. I implore the public to call their state representatives and voice their support for SB 14. The bill must still pass through the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the Assembly floor before it finally reaches Newsom. My faith has helped me survive, and I felt God in the room while I was testifying. I know one thing for certain: Gods children are not for sale. Odessa Dess Perkins is the CEO of emPOWERment, an organization which helps at-risk youth and sex/human trafficking victims. A human trafficking survivor, Perkins is a published author, business owner, speaker, educator and intervention counselor. Megan Batoon Courtesy of Nicol Biesek Megan Batoon is host of Netflix's "The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals." She says she's learned to take a slower approach to travel. Batoon suggests people get lost on purpose once they arrive to their destination. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Megan Batoon. The following has been edited for length and clarity. As the host of Netflix's "The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals," I'm lucky that I get to travel to some pretty awesome places as part of my job. Even when I'm not working, I love exploring the world: I'm currently looking forward to a friend's wedding in the south of Italy. There are almost as many ways to travel as there are cool places to discover in the world. My approach to travel is different from my friends, and it's changed with time as I've gotten older. Whether you're traveling professionally or planning a once-in-a-lifetime vacation, here's what I've learned about getting the most out of each trip. Think about your travel vibe Planning a trip starts with asking yourself a question: how do you want to feel? It sounds simple, but this question can inform your whole approach to travel. If you want to feel thrilled, pack your days with adventures and experiences that push your limits. Want to feel spoiled? Book spa days and scrumptious dinners. Knowledgeable? Look for educational tours and museums. If you're traveling with someone else, you might need to compromise, take turns, or go on solo outings to make sure you're both fitting your vibe. I know that firsthand: my co-host is more likely to try adventures, whereas I love to spend time relaxing. The best trips happen when our experiences make us feel exactly how we wanted to. If your plans are serving the vibe you want to create, you're off to a good start. Get lost on purpose Getting lost might sound like a travel nightmare, but in my experience, it's how the best adventures happen. My favorite experiences are the ones I've stumbled upon, not the ones I've planned. Recently I was wandering around in Bali when I found an artisan carving a wood door. I watched him for about twenty minutes. No one would have told me to go there, but I found it so inspiring. Story continues In order to get lost, you have to have plenty of free time. I build this into my schedule by planning one thing each day that I really want to see say, the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Then, I keep time open around that so I can dine at a cafe after smelling their fresh bread, duck into a gallery that catches my eye, or stop for live music that I heard on my way. Just follow your instincts and see where that takes you. When you follow your curiosity, you'll never be lost. Embrace a slower pace When I was younger, I focused on getting the most out of every single moment of a trip. I wanted to be efficient and precise with my time, effort, and money while I was traveling. Over time, I've learned to prioritize what's important to me namely, not being too exhausted. That means giving myself time to sleep in on vacation and the grace to eat whatever I want. Rest is OK, and you don't have to be going 24/7. When I'm traveling, the only schedule I want to be on is the one dictated by my internal clock. Know your travel essentials When I fly, I like to curl into the window seat. I put on my headphones and eye mask and don't move again until the plane touches down. That means I can be an introvert and not talk to many people, but being in one position for hours on end leaves me with lots of aches and pains. That's why I always have Advil Dual Action Back Pain right in my seat-back pocket. Hydration is also key for me, so my water bottle and lip mask are never far away either. Travel is one of my greatest joys, but it can also be a painquite literally. Listening to your mind, body, and soul, and not being afraid to slow down, can help you have the travel experiences and memories that will last you and your family a lifetime. Read the original article on Insider My recent grocery haul was filled with favorites from Costco employees. Molly Allen I asked Costco employees for recommendations, from frozen food to snacks, and tried their picks. I loved Costco's premade quinoa salad, frozen meatballs, and peanut-butter pretzels. I probably wouldn't repurchase frozen acai bowls or Costco's premade mac and cheese again. Shopping at Costco can be pretty overwhelming. The warehouse club sells thousands of products from fresh produce to frozen meals. With so many choices, it can be hard to know what's worth purchasing. Plus, trying something new is a gamble when you're buying in bulk at Costco. To try to find some new favorites, I turned to those who know the store and its products best Costco employees. I bought 10 items recommended to me by Costco employees throughout various departments and tried them all. Two employees raved about the versatility of the Kirkland frozen Italian-style meatballs. Kirkland frozen Italian-style meatballs come in large bags. Molly Allen While in the frozen section, a Costco employee recommended Kirkland frozen Italian-style meatballs. I bought a large, resealable bag that came with about 140 meatballs for $20. The employee said they love to throw the meatballs in a slow cooker with their favorite sauce for a quick and easy low-prep meal. The meatballs cooked fast and were very flavorful. I tried the Kirkland meatballs in a variety of ways. Molly Allen Frozen meatballs can often be a bit bland, but the ones from Kirkland were not. They had great flavor on their own or I found tossing them with barbecue sauce or teriyaki sauce enhance their flavor even more. I cooked them both slowly for hours in my Crock-Pot and quickly for 20 minutes in the oven. I even had some for dinner after smoking and cooking them on my Traeger. All methods worked well. I asked a deli employee for their favorite cheese recommendation. Beecher's cheese is a pretty famous name. Molly Allen I think Costco's a great place to pick up staple cheeses and discover new, interesting options to add to a board. I asked a deli employee in my local Costco for their favorite cheese and they pointed me to the flagship cheese from Beecher's. They told me they loved the robust flavor and hard texture of the cheese and love to put it on a charcuterie board with pickled items, fruits, meats, and crackers. Story continues Beecher's cheese hails from Seattle, Washington, and smaller blocks of it can be pricey at other supermarkets. At Costco, the block was $11 per pound. This is a great cheese to serve on a cheese plate. Beecher's impressed me with its cheese. Molly Allen I sliced into this giant block of cheese and immediately fell in love. It's definitely not a soft cheese, so it crumbles just a bit. But because it's aged for 15 months, it has an incredibly robust flavor, making it the ideal pairing for other bold items such as pepperoncini. I would definitely buy this again if I was having a get-together and planned on putting on a spread for multiple people. It's delicious, but it's a big block of cheese to keep on hand on a regular basis for just myself. One employee said Costco's quinoa salad is their favorite premade item. Costco's quinoa salad comes in a pretty large container. Molly Allen Costco has a huge array of premade options in its deli section. An employee directed me to the large container of quinoa salad for $4.80 a pound. The employee who recommended it said they love to serve it for picnics and at parties or pair it with a main course at dinner. I would buy this quinoa salad every time I go to Costco. Costco's flavorful quinoa salad blew me away. Molly Allen The salad is made up of quinoa, mung beans, red peppers, tomato, cucumber, parsley, and more. Though it's seasoned simply with lemon juice and salt, it's anything but boring. It's jam-packed with flavor and absolutely delicious on its own for lunch or paired with other items in a meal. I kept it on hand in the fridge for a whole week and honestly wanted to eat it with every meal. This was a top recommendation given to me, and I will definitely be buying it again on my next trip. Several employees said Kirkland peanut-butter-filled pretzels are their go-to snack. Kirkland peanut-butter-filled pretzels have a loyal following. Molly Allen Wandering the snack section in Costco is a dream. There are so many items from familiar classic brands and fresh new ones. But one of the best items may just be from Costco's own Kirkland brand. A large tub of Kirkland peanut-butter-filled pretzels is about $10.50. A number of employees told me this was hands-down their favorite snack, and it's developed a cult following over the years. These pretzels are the ideal salty snack. Kirkland peanut-butter-filled pretzels are fantastic. Molly Allen I'm not much of a fan of stick or round pretzels, but these are on a different level. They have the perfect balance of crunch with a creamy peanut-butter center. I also love the flecks of salt on top. They're ideal for grabbing a handful when you want a quick snack. One employee said they love Costco's premade mac and cheese for dinner or a party. Costco sells a range of premade meals. Molly Allen One employee raved about the many ways they like to serve the chain's premade mac and cheese, from dinner parties to quick weeknight dinners. It can be found in the deli section and retails in large containers for $3.50 per pound. I wished the mac and cheese had a little more flavor. The mac and cheese was not my favorite item I tried. Molly Allen It's hard to say anything bad about a giant platter of mac and cheese. Costco's version of it is easy to heat up in the oven and had plenty of curly noodles to soak up the cheesy sauce. It was a decent, cheesy comfort dish and I'd definitely eat it again, but I wish it had a bit more flavor. I'd buy it again in a pinch to go with other items, but it's definitely not a new go-to for me. An employee in the frozen section said acai bowls are their favorite breakfast item at Costco. Acai bowls can be pretty versatile. Molly Allen One employee recommended I pick up Tattooed Chef premade acai bowls, which in a pack of six for $13.50. They said they love them for a grab-and-go breakfast bowl or as a base for a smoothie (if you skip the granola that comes with them). The acai bowls were good, but I probably wouldn't buy them again. The bowls are organic, vegan, and gluten-free. Molly Allen Each bowl comes with a mixture of berries, along with a package of granola with flakes of coconut and chia seeds. I loved the simplicity of grabbing one from the freezer and either letting it thaw at room temperature or heating it up for 30 seconds, but these weren't a new favorite for me. The flavor was great and they're incredibly convenient, but I didn't find them good enough to become an item I'd reach for on a regular basis. The Tattooed Chef sheet-pan vegetables are a favorite for one employee. In the frozen section, you can find plenty of fruits and veggies. Molly Allen One employee recommended I buy a bag of Tattooed Chef sheet-pan vegetables for a no-fuss addition to any meal. I bought a huge 4-pound bag for $13. I loved the convenience and versatility of these veggies. The frozen vegetables were delicious. Molly Allen I'm generally not someone who buys frozen vegetables because I prefer fresh ones. However, these are a great staple to keep on hand for convenience. The bag has a mixture of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, red onion, and sweet potato that's already lightly seasoned with oil, salt, and pepper. I made these by roasting them on a sheet pan and cooking them on the stovetop. Both produced delicious results with subtle flavor. I love that they're already tossed with oil and preseasoned and ready to cook, but I did add other seasonings to amp up the flavor a few times. Another employee suggested I pair Kirkland hummus with naan. Kirkland hummus can come in small containers. Molly Allen This recommendation came from an employee who stocks the deli section, and they said it was one of their favorite go-to combos for an easy snack. I picked up a pack of Kirkland hummus singles, which come with 20 individual hummus cups, and a tub of naan dippers, which is just mini pieces of naan. This is a new favorite combo for me, too. Naan and hummus is a great snack. Molly Allen Although hummus is often served with pita, naan is a bit softer. I loved these mini pieces of naan for dipping and they were the perfect size for the individual cups of hummus. The hummus was creamy with such great flavor, and the mini cups seemed easy to pack and take on the go. A combination of mini naan dippers, carrot sticks, and a hummus cup has become my new favorite snack. One employee said MadeGood mini packs of granola balls are great as a snack or breakfast. You'll find this MadeGood recommendation from an employee in the snack aisles. Molly Allen The MadeGood granola minis sell for $12, with 24 individually wrapped packages in each larger bag. The employee I spoke to said they take them on the go for a convenient breakfast. The big bags of granola minis have two flavors: chocolate chip and mixed berry. They're gluten-free and nut-free and each pouch has about six mini balls of granola. These are the perfect hiking snack or quick breakfast. The mixed-berry balls were solid. Molly Allen I preferred the mixed-berry flavor over the chocolate chip, but both were flavorful and hearty, with a slight chewiness. I brought these in my backpack for multiple hiking trips. I also had them as a snack at home and as a quick breakfast paired with a banana. I loved the convenience and flavor of the mini packs and will absolutely buy them again to keep on hand. Read the original article on Insider A bicyclist in Burke County was airlifted to the hospital after being hit by a car early Saturday morning, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. It happened along Airport Rhodhiss Road. A man was riding with a friend early this morning when he was struck from behind, according to troopers. Both riders had flashing lights and were wearing reflective clothing. ALSO READ: Caring: 26-year-old mother killed in southwest Charlotte hit-and-run Investigators are searching the area for a black, older-model Ford sedan with front-end damage. Troopers are asking for the publics help in finding the suspect. (WATCH BELOW: Woman seriously hurt in hit and run in Monroe, police say) Former President Trump isnt just campaigning for the White House. Increasingly, he could be campaigning for his freedom. Trump this week announced he has been informed he is a target in the Justice Department investigation into his efforts to remain in power after losing the 2020 election, a development that could foreshadow additional federal charges against him. Trump has not been convicted of any crime yet, nor is it certain he will be. But as he faces a potential third criminal indictment, with an additional state-level probe into his actions ongoing in Georgia, the stakes for Trump to win the 2024 election are ratcheting up, with a victory next year perhaps the best way to insulate himself from conviction or jail time. Its a huge factor, said Sean Walsh, who served in the White House press office in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations. At a minimum, if he wins the presidency again then he can say he was vindicated in the public eye, Walsh said. No. 2, legally if he is president of the United States, he could potentially pardon himself Trumps best bet at getting out of all his legal issues is becoming president again. Thats his get out of jail free card. The lines between Trumps political fortunes and his legal ones are steadily blurring as the cases pile up. A trial is currently set for March on charges against Trump in Manhattan over a hush money scheme during the 2016 campaign to keep quiet a previous affair. And on Friday, a judge in Florida scheduled the trial over his handling of classified documents and refusal to give them back to the government for May. At a campaign town hall in Iowa Tuesday, Fox News host Sean Hannity asked Trump how he managed to seem so unbothered as the investigations and charges grow. It bothers me. It bothers me for everybody in this incredible sold-out audience, Trump said. I got the letter on Sunday night. Think of it And theyre in a rush because they want to interfere. Its interference with the election. Story continues New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman said on CNN this week that Trump advisers have been pretty blunt in their view that he has to win the election to guarantee he does not face jail time. The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment about whether Trump himself views his 2024 bid as a fight for his freedom. But it is clear that winning the presidency could protect Trump from some of the legal consequences he could face in the months to come. If Trump is elected in 2024, experts said he could pressure the Department of Justice (DOJ) to shut down any ongoing investigations into his conduct or fire officials who refuse to go along with his demands, similar to the Saturday Night Massacre under then-President Richard Nixon. The DOJ has a decades-old policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted, meaning Trump would be protected from facing new charges. And, should he be found guilty prior to the election, a 2024 victory would allow Trump to move to pardon himself, something that is untested in the courts but that experts believe he could practically do. A handful of Trumps rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination have also indicated they would be inclined to pardon him of any federal crimes should they win, again underscoring the degree to which the 2024 election could factor into his fate. Should Trump be convicted in New York or Georgia, state-level crimes would not be subject to a presidential pardon. And felony convictions would have additional consequences, such as preventing Trump from voting. Experts said a 2024 victory for Trump after state-level convictions would create a complicated scenario where the courts would likely have to get involved. One potential outcome would be that Trump would seek to have the courts overturn his convictions or petition the Justice Department to get involved. Trump has maintained his innocence of any wrongdoing in the Manhattan case and the documents case, pleading not guilty in both. He has dismissed the investigations into his conduct around the 2020 election, both in Georgia and at the Justice Department, as politically motivated. But legal experts noted that the sheer volume of charges, should Trump face additional counts over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and remain in power, could make it more difficult for him to avoid all convictions. The DOJ investigation is based in Washington, D.C., which poses another risk for Trump, experts said, something the former president seemed to acknowledge when he shared news that he was a target of the probe. Going forward I think theres almost no doubt hes going to be indicted in Washington. And because hes going to be indicted in Washington and the potential for a jury that would sit and judge him in Washington, his prospects for remaining free got a lot darker, said William Banks, a professor emeritus at the Syracuse University College of Law. Banks noted that prosecutors have already had success getting convictions in for several individuals who were tried for roles in the violence on Jan. 6 and efforts to overturn the election. Another complicating factor for Trump is that his legal troubles may be a significant hurdle to getting elected a second time. GOP strategists and even some 2024 candidates have argued that while it may have a muted impact in the primary or even boost him among the party faithful Trumps long trail of legal problems will turn off independent voters in a general election, costing Republicans a chance at taking back the White House. The more that Trumps legal problems are front and center, it reminds independent voters of why they rejected Trump in 2020, said Alex Conant, who worked on Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential campaign. If were talking about Jan. 6 in the days before the 2024 election, Republicans are going to lose. The fact these court cases are going to be ongoing, it all is a huge distraction from what Republicans actually want the 2024 election to be about. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON - Donald Trumps rivals have found themselves either denouncing or defending the former president as he faces legal troubles related to a federal investigation his efforts to subvert the 2020 election and incite supporters on Jan. 6. But where biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, 37, stands on the issue is not so clear-cut. A week after the Jan. 6 attack, Ramaswamy, who is running for the GOP nomination, tweeted that What Trump did last week was wrong. Downright abhorrent. Plain and simple. Ive said it before and did so in my piece, referring to a Wall Street Journal article he co-authored. He also tweeted that same week that Unfortunately Trumps egregious behavior last week blinds us from seeing that Big Techs cure is worse. During a recent interview with USA TODAY, however, Ramaswamy said that he doesnt believe Trump was responsible for what happened on Jan. 6. "This is not to defend him," Ramaswamy, a Yale law school graduate with a net worth of about $630 million, said. "This is because I think we will get it wrong and fail to learn the lesson (of what led to it) and as a consequence, have even worse that we can expect in the future." Heres a closer look at Ramaswamys comments on the matter and what his rivals are saying. Ramaswamy: 'Pervasive censorship was responsible for January 6' Ramaswamy said in the interview that theres a clear distinction between how Trump handled Jan. 6 and whether he was responsible for it. I think that censorship pervasive censorship was responsible for January 6 I believe that's the cause of January 6, but that doesn't mean that President Trump acted in somehow a respectable manner, Ramaswamy said. These are two separate things." He referenced the Wall Street journal article he co-authored which discusses how Facebook and Twitter had banned Trump and some of his supporters after the Jan. 6 attack and that this alleged censorship is a violation of free speech. Story continues "I've stood by that position then as I do now, but I also think that that's very important not to conflate that view with somehow saying that President Trump behaved in the manner that I would have recommended," Ramaswamy said. "No, he did not." Ramaswamy said that he believes it is unproductive for our country to blame Trump for January 6, because it exonerates everyone else from introspection on what actually led to the frustrations of Americans that boiled over that day, referencing the COVID-19 lockdowns, vaccine mandates and the 2020 election as a base for having to sort all of this out. If you tell people they cannot scream that is when they tear things down, Ramaswamy said. And I think that's exactly what happened on January 6. However, in his book "Nation of Victims: Identity Politics, the Death of Merit, and the Path Back," Ramaswamy criticized Trump's refusal to accept to the election results. "It was a dark day for democracy," Ramaswamy wrote. "The loser of the last election refused to concede the race, claimed the election was stolen, raised hundreds of millions of dollars from loyal supporters, and is considering running for executive office again. I'm referring, of course, to Donald Trump." Last year, a bipartisan House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack wrote in its final report that Trump's false claims of election fraud allegedly played a role in the attack. What are Ramaswamy's 2024 rivals saying about Trump and Jan. 6? Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who's been a vocal critic of Trump, said in an interview with USA TODAY that Jan. 6 was a circumstance that Trump created. "He created it from election night forward, not just on January 6. It started on election night when he told everybody that the election was stolen, when he had no evidence to prove that it had been," Christie said. "And every statement he made after that, and every action he took after that, up to and including January 6, caused January 6." Christie also called Trump a "coward," noting how Trump told his supporters in a speech on Jan. 6 at the Ellipse, a park near the White House, that he would march to the Capitol with them but never joined in. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who testified before a grand jury in the Jan. 6 investigation, told NewsNation that Trump words on Jan. 6 were reckless and said that history will hold Trump to account for his actions, but hopes he doesn't face an indictment. "My hope is that the judgment about the presidents actions on Jan. 6 would be left to the American people, Pence said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, one of Trumps fiercest rivals, said that Trump should have come out more forcefully to stop Jan. 6 rioters and that it was shown how he was in the White House and didnt do anything while things were going on, according to The Washington Post. However, he said that whether Trump acted with criminal intent is a "different issue entirely." Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., said on Fox News a month after the Capitol attack that Democrats shouldnt be putting the blame of Jan. 6 on Trump. However, Scott appeared to have reversed his stance last year when asked on Fox News whether Trump was at fault surrounding the Jan. 6 uproar. Of course, Scott said. "I would say we all have the most responsibility for our own words." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vivek Ramaswamy says Trump not to blame for Jan. 6 Capitol attack Former President Donald Trump dodged what he described as a great question on faith during a Fox News town hall held Tuesday in Iowa. In a new video clip released Friday, a woman is seen asking the 2024 hopeful: How has your faith grown since you decided in 2015 to run for president? And who has mentored you in your faith journey? Trump complimented the question before swerving away from a direct answer. He instead mentioned heartache and turmoil, quickly adding that he had a wonderful life before his career in politics but also saying he couldnt be more glad with his choices now. Ive made America great. We can do it again, said Trump, who has previously boasted of total support from faith leaders in the state. But Ive gotten to know, because of this, evangelicals. I know so many people and they feel so good about themselves and their family, and they base it on religion, he said during the town hall. Trump went on to shift focus to the Catholic faith, claiming that the FBI has made Catholics the enemy and questioned how they could vote for a Democrat like President Joe Biden. Ive met some of the finest people that I wouldnt have had the privilege of meeting if I werent president, he said. Theyre religious leaders, and they really are incredible people. How has your faith grown since you decided to run for president? And who has mentored you in your faith journey? pic.twitter.com/7DtoHxCBBI Acyn (@Acyn) July 22, 2023 Twitter users poked fun at Trumps rambling answer and asked why he didnt quote from Two Corinthians, referring to a Bible-related gaffe he made in 2016 at the evangelical Liberty University. At the time, Trump downplayed the mistake as a small deal, blaming the president of the Family Research Council for how hed written notes on what Trump should say. Story continues In the current White House race, Trump currently leads Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by over 30 percentage points in an average of national polls on GOP candidates, according to FiveThirtyEight. Related... Former President Trumps muddled messages on early voting risk hurting Republicans as they look to revamp their strategy heading into 2024. During a town hall interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity this week, Trump said he would encourage Republicans to do early voting. At the same time, he also sowed doubt over the approach baselessly alleging people make phony ballots and claiming a lot of bad things happen to those ballots. Those comments are a stark contrast to recent initiatives launched by the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) to encourage GOP voters to cast their ballots early as they look to make up ground against Democrats in early voting. Its not helpful. I think [Trump] raising questions about mail-in votes is a big part of why we dont control the Senate and why we have such a slim majority in the House. Its just ludicrous that the party wouldnt be united in encouraging voters to vote early, said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist who worked on Sen. Marco Rubios (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential campaign. Republicans are increasingly embracing early voting as a way to juice up GOP voter turnout as the party looks to change Republicans mindset over a strategy the former president has demonized. Last month, the RNC launched a Bank Your Vote campaign that aims to encourage voters to vote early. A press release stated the initiative would encourage, educate, and activate Republican voters on when, where, and how to lock in their votes as early as possible, through in-person early voting, absentee voting, and ballot harvesting where legal. Earlier this month, Youngkin and several Republican groups teamed up to launch the Secure Your Vote Virginia initiative aimed at encouraging Republicans and swing voters in the state to cast ballots early in person or vote by mail. The initiative comes ahead of Virginias state Legislature elections this November. Story continues A Virginia GOP strategist confirmed the Secure Your Vote Virginia initiative is a seven-figure effort and said theyve been very pleased with how the response has been so far. What Sean Hannity and [Florida Gov.] Ron DeSantis and Glenn Younkin and [Georgia Gov.] Brian Kemp are saying is the rules are the rules, the strategist said, adding later, Get off the sideline, dont fight with one hand behind your back and follow the rules that are allowed and make sure youre getting as many votes as you can. Republican secretaries of state the top elections officials in their states have also encouraged early voting, including in their campaigns. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffenspergers (R) office noted last December that the state broke records for midterm early voting turnout and midterm absentee mail ballots cast during the November election. Georgia voters have been utilizing early voting for several election cycles now, and successful campaigns like mine and Gov. Brian Kemp have always incorporated early voting into our campaign strategies as would any candidate who actually wants to win, Raffensperger said in a statement to The Hill. In Kentucky, Secretary of State Michael Adams (R) has encouraged early voting, and his office told The Hill that Republicans are having an edge over Democrats in using it. From 2020 through the May primary of this year, weve seen slightly more Republicans than Democrats take advantage of early voting proportionate to our voter registration breakdown, Michon Lindstrom, a spokesperson for Adams, told The Hill in an email. Adams in May released unofficial early voting turnout numbers ahead of the gubernatorial primary, showing almost 42,000 Republicans and around 30,700 Democrats used no-excuse early voting. Even Trump more recently this year was encouraging the use of early voting methods. Speaking to a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in March, he said, Republicans must compete using every lawful means to win. That means swamping the left with mail-in votes, early votes and Election Day votes. Have to do it. We have to change our thinking. But while Trump suggested to Hannity this week he would encourage early voting heading into 2024, he also suggested Republicans couldnt entirely trust the process. I will, but those ballots get lost also, Sean, Trump said when asked if hed encourage his supporters to vote early. You know, they send them in, and all of a sudden, theyre gone. Trumps campaign for its part has said the former president has been straightforward on his view of early voting. Hes been very consistent in his messaging all campaign long. Even though its an imperfect system, we need to do whatever is allowed legally to ensure every vote is counted, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in an email to The Hill, pointing to his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in March. There, Trump said Republicans must be swamping the left with mail-in votes, early votes and Election Day votes. Some Republicans have brushed off the muddled messaging, saying Trumps comments to Hannity were one isolated interview. I dont think its gonna be that one interview and those comments are going to be impactful, said Republican strategist David Carney. For candidates, If thats one of their major talking points, it could, Carney said. But we cant win on one-day voting. But other members of the party see it differently, and theyll need to fine-tune their strategy on voting to win competitive elections. When you have somebody like former President Trump talking about something in generalities, it can certainly serve to muddle the message, said Allegheny County GOP chairman Sam DeMarco. DeMarco, whos part of the Pennsylvania GOPs task force on mail-in voting, said Republicans in the state are getting involved in their own early voting efforts. He said they spoke to a number of different states who use mail-in ballots in early voting to try to glean and learn best practices from them. And were working to put a number of those in place here in Pennsylvania, and in particularly in Allegheny County. Political experts say Trump should have an incentive for changing his tune on early voting especially if he wants to win the Republican presidential nomination again. I think it underscores what weve known all along, which is that, you know, Donald Trump is not very disciplined as a campaigner, explained Charles Stewart III, a political science professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and director of the MIT Election Data and Science Lab. If he wants to win and if hes convinced that theyre going that Republicans are going to do better if they can bank these votes, I think his messaging will come around, and it will be more focused, he added. Brett Samuels contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Kenyan President William Ruto meets with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Nairobi, Kenya, July 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) NAIROBI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President William Ruto on Saturday met here with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, with both sides pledging to deepen Belt and Road cooperation. Ruto asked Wang, also director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, to convey his cordial greetings to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Noting that Kenya-China relations have been developing smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, Ruto said strengthening friendly cooperation with China has become a consensus shared by all sectors in the country. Ruto highly praised China's efforts in growing relations with Kenya based on the principle of mutual respect. Kenya is firmly committed to deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, and is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges, deepen cooperation in such fields as railway, highway, water conservancy, aviation and renewable energy under the frameworks of Belt and Road cooperation and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, in order to promote connectivity and regional integration in Africa and achieve win-win results, Ruto said. The Kenya president said that his country supports and will actively participate in the Global Development Initiative proposed by China. For his part, Wang conveyed Xi's sincere regards to Ruto. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 60 years ago, China and Kenya have treated each other as equals, supported each other and jointly strived for revitalization, Wang said, noting that the two countries have become good friends sharing political mutual trust and good partners engaged in win-win cooperation. China approaches relations with Kenya from a strategic perspective, and is willing to work with Kenya to take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as a new starting point to align their strategies for revitalization with a focus on development and cooperation, and push their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to a new level in the new era, Wang said. The two sides should strengthen the strategic guidance of their leaders, enhance political mutual trust and increase exchanges between governments and political parties in various fields, Wang said. China firmly supports Kenya in safeguarding its sovereign independence and national dignity, fighting terrorism and taking a development path in line with its own national conditions, he added. China is willing to actively promote cooperation with Kenya in railway, highway, aviation, information and other fields while jointly advancing Belt and Road cooperation, the Global Development Initiative and the "nine programs" of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, so as to help Kenya advance its economic and social development and promote regional integration in Africa, Wang said. China stands ready to work with Kenya to practice multilateralism, preserve the central role of the United Nations in international affairs and the common interests of developing countries, promote the implementation of the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa and safeguard regional peace and development, Wang said. On the same day, Wang also met with Alfred Mutua, cabinet secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya. Weapons and ammunition could make the difference in the war for Ukraine The rarefied setting of Aspen, Colorado, with its mountain views and manicured lawns, is a world away from the minefields and trenches of Ukraine's front-line, but for a few days this past week the two places were connected. Every year, the Aspen Security Forum plays host to the influential elite who shape America's relationship with the wider world. And this time, uppermost in the minds of policymakers and think-tankers were questions about the progress of the war in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky even made an appearance - showing up remotely on a vast screen in the auditorium - to express thanks and ask for more help, an acknowledgement that this is a critical period in which much seems to lie in the balance. And arriving in Aspen off the back of three weeks in Ukraine, I found a nervousness not far beneath the surface about not just the pace of Ukraine's current counter-offensive but also about America's long-term commitment. Ukraine is a month into its counter-offensive and it is clear that it's proving, as one speaker put it, a "hard slog" with often just a few metres of ground taken each day. The first question to President Zelensky was why things were going slower than expected. He patiently explained that the launch of the counter-offensive had been delayed because of a lack of weapons, ammunition and training and that this had given Russia a chance to lay more mines and improve its defences. But, he said to reassure those that might be growing worried, the moment when actions would "gain pace" was approaching. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke at the US Capitol in 2022, but is support waning? Ukraine relies on US military aid - and you can glimpse tension over what has been given and when. Where President Zelensky in Aspen renewed his call for more, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan barely an hour or two later said that US military advisers do not believe F-16 fighter jets would play a significant role in current operations. Story continues Other Americans who have been closely involved in the weapons supply also privately say that Ukraine has what it needs for the current counter-offensive and re-arming them again to the same extent in the future may not be so easy. For that reason the next period on the battlefield will be pivotal. The war may look slow but it is not a stalemate - or at least not yet. Ukraine is still probing to find a weakness in Russia's defences so it can then apply the forces it has held in reserve in the hope of making a significant breakthrough. If that works, then Ukraine could be in a strong position. But if they cannot break through, then talk of a stalemate may be more accurate and lead to difficult conversations. And war is a battle of wills and of staying power as well as of weapons and ammunition. At Aspen and in Kyiv, intelligence officials and diplomats are keen to draw attention to signs that the pressure is beginning to tell within Russia. That was most evident in Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin's mutiny a month ago with his complaints about the failures of Moscow's military leadership. Other generals have been sacked amid reports of low morale and frustrations among Russian troops and their commanders. Both Ukrainian and American officials are keen to highlight those fissures and suggest they may deepen. In Ukraine, there is a clear sense of determination from a population that has suffered and that wants to regain the territory that Russia has taken. No one appears in the mood to talk about negotiations or compromise. Still, there are hints of cracks in Western support. Members of the US Congress spoke openly at Aspen of how their constituents could not place Ukraine on a map and questioned the scale of the financial commitment. Seventy Republicans in Congress had voted to end future assistance to Ukraine a week earlier - more than many expected. In the Republican primary to pick a presidential candidate, saying money should be spent in the US and not abroad makes for an easy applause line. The looming shadow of Donald Trump also hung over Aspen with questions about what his possible re-election would mean not just for Ukraine but for America's position in the world and relationship with its allies. Some Republicans, like Representatives Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, do not support Ukraine assistance America's allies are aware - and privately express their concerns - about the risks of support for Ukraine eroding, especially as the US heads into an election next year. UK defence secretary Ben Wallace caused a stir at the Nato summit when he talked of Ukraine's need to show more gratitude. What he seemed to mean was that Ukraine needed to be more mindful of the debates in Washington DC, especially after President Zelensky's tweet criticising the lack of a clear path to Nato membership. The UK's foreign secretary, James Cleverly, travelled to Aspen to make his case. "We must not allow ourselves to be seduced by the Russian propaganda that this is somehow a stalemate," he told the audience. His message was that the US needs to be less defensive about its support for Ukraine and to do more to make that case, including to its own public. All of that suggests that there is an understanding in both Ukraine and amongst the Aspen elite that the next few weeks and months will be pivotal. They are likely to determine whether Ukraine can break through militarily, whether cracks in Russia deepen and whether Western - and particularly American - support holds up. Explosions in Crimea The Ukrainian Armed Forces have officially confirmed the successful destruction of an oil depot and warehouses belonging to the Russian military in the occupied village of Oktiabrske, Krasnohvardiiske District, in Russia-occupied Crimea, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) said on Telegram on July 22. It also shared a video showcasing the destruction of the warehouses and the oil depot to provide evidence of the operation. News site News of Donbas suggested that one of the Armed Forces' targets was a disused airfield near Oktiabrske, where the Russian occupation forces had likely established a warehouse for equipment and ammunition. The other target appears to have been the nearby oil depot, situated alongside the railway tracks. Read also: Russians claim occupied Crimea attacked by almost 30 drones overnight On Saturday, July 22, a series of explosions were heard in Crimea, leading to a fire near the village of Oktiabrske, situated approximately 43 km from Simferopol. Crimeas occupation authorities attributed this incident to a drone attack. Crimean puppet head Sergey Aksyonov confirmed reports of an ammunition depot being hit by a drone attack. The detonation was so powerful that the Russian occupying forces had to evacuate residents from nearby settlements and halt railway traffic. 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 Situation Report: Huge Explosions Rock Crimean Ammo Depot photo A series of explosions at an ammunition depot near the Crimean town of Octiabrskoe led to evacuations amid several Ukrainian strikes on the occupied peninsula. Towering explosions shook what was reportedly a Russian ammunition depot and railyard in the town north of Simferopol, capital of the Crimean Autonomous Republic. An air base near the town was also reportedly attacked. https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1682699556079673345 https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1682674339676651521 https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1682681669466161152 https://twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1682667526973542400 Of particular note, the attacks brought rail traffic on the state-owned Crimean Railway to a halt, including the Kerch Strait Bridge. The rail line connecting Simferopol (as well as western port cities of Sevastopol and Yevpatoriya) runs north through Octiabrskoe to Dzhankoi, then back southeast to Feodosia and the Kerch Strait. https://twitter.com/Liveuamap/status/1682683134259732480 The Russian Ministry of Defense has since confirmed a Ukrainian kamikaze drone struck a Black Sea Fleet ammunition and fuel depot in the area, leading to an evacuation of all residents within 5,000 meters of the fire. https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1682756819783958528 https://twitter.com/anno1540/status/1682716278941790208 Saturdays explosions are the most recent in an ongoing series of strikes as Ukraine targets Russian infrastructure, in particular the transport and storage of supplies. Between drones in the air and at sea, cruise missiles, and the prospect of special operations deep behind enemy lines, Ukraine continue to focus on priority logistical targets. After all, fighting at the frontline is only made easier when the enemy can neither resupply nor effectively reinforce its myriad defensive positions. Before we head into the latest news from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. Story continues THE LATEST In its latest intelligence update, the British Ministry of Defense assessed that despite Russian mil-blogger Igor Girkins arrest, The taboo against unmasked criticism of the Putin regime has been significantly weakened. The update noted Girkin had begun to directly criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin in the days before his arrest. The arrest itself is likely to infuriate fellow members of the mil-blogger community - and elements within the serving military - who largely see Girkin as an astute military analyst and patriot. https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1682626185266704384 Girkin, a former intelligence officer and Russian nationalist who participated in both the fighting in the Donbas and later at the frontline in 2022, was arrested July 21, 2023, on extremism charges. The update also assessed that Girkins escalated rhetoric was likely another ripple effect from Wagner Group PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhins abortive coup. https://twitter.com/JimmySecUK/status/1682394754321899520 The Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) echoed this assessment, going further to say Girkins arrest could be the public manifestation of a shifting balance of power among Kremlin factions, possibly to the detriment of the FSB, in which Girkin had served. https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1682575407944441856 Poland has summoned the Russian ambassador after Putins veiled threats and wild false-flag claims in a Russian Security Council meeting this week. Warsaw has already ordered additional troops toward its eastern border with Belarus on account of both Putins remarks and the growing Wagner PMC presence in the Russian vassal state. https://twitter.com/KyivIndependent/status/1682711762808840192 Satellite imagery shows the Russian-exiled mercenary group has arrived in force at a former Belarusian encampment near the village of Tsel, as well as a large training ground along the Polish border near Brest. Imagery shows hundreds of vehicles and other military equipment in the camps. https://twitter.com/nexta_tv/status/1682728812897763329 State-run Russian news agency TASS reported this week that several T-14 Armata main battle tanks saw combat with units of the Southern Military District before being withdrawn for additional testing. The report cited a source in the Russian defense industry, but there has been no official confirmation on the deployment from Moscow. There have been previous claims that Russia's much-hyped newest tank, of which they have only bought very few of, has been tested in Ukraine and Syria with no visual proof to back it up. https://twitter.com/ryankakiuchan/status/1681580157432369152 https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1682608823263961089 Looking at the broader frontline situation, ISW reports Ukrainian counteroffensive operations continued in three sectors, with gains made July 21 along the Zaporizhzhia-Donetsk administrative border, as well as the flanks of Bakhmut. https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1682593821375320064 The Russian Ministry of Defense claims an RIA Novosti war correspondent, Rostislav Zhuravlev, was killed on the Zaporizhzhia frontline in a Ukrainian cluster munition attack. The War Zone cannot independently verify the circumstances of Zhuravlevs death, but it should be noted he was previously among the combatants that took part in the early days of the War in the Donbas, capturing government buildings in Luhansk and Donetsk. https://twitter.com/AlexKokcharov/status/1682734057988186112 To the north, Russian troops have made some advances along the Kreminna-Svatove line, particularly near Kupyansk and Kreminna. https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1682608951035133953 One of Ukraines M-55S tanks, a Slovenian-donated T-55 variant equipped with a NATO-standard 105mm L7 cannon, was destroyed in fighting near Kreminna, as video from an overhead drone shows. The crew can be seen attempting to conceal the old tank with nearby foliage before a series of strikes destroy the armored vehicle. https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1682710915811033092 In video remarks to international security leaders at the Aspen Security Forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the counteroffensive will soon gain pace, Financial Times reported. We are approaching a moment when relevant actions can gain pace because we are already going through some mines locations and we are demining these areas, Zelensky said. https://twitter.com/FinancialTimes/status/1682538510710984709 Even as the counteroffensive continues, Russia is still constructing fortifications behind the frontline. At the same time, The Washington Post reports Ukraine is now the worlds most heavily mined country, with a swath of the country as big as Florida contaminated with land mines and unexploded ordinance (UXO). https://twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1682708959289851904 https://twitter.com/DanLamothe/status/1682740544600981505 Lastly, theres a rather adorable video of a Ukrainian working dog, a Belgian Malinois, doing pushups with its handler. https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1682702490364420097 Thats all for now. We will update this story when there is more to report on Ukraine. Contact the author: stetson.payne@thewarzone.com F-16s for Ukraine U.S. delivery It appears that Ukraine is getting closer to obtaining F-16 Vipers it has long requested. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday the U.S. is moving rapidly to get F-16s to Ukraine. We are going to push as fast as possible, Sullivan said during remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Aspen, Colo, according to Politico. https://twitter.com/laraseligman/status/1682463198799179777 Now look, the F-16s will get there probably towards the end of the year, John Kirby, National Security Council spokesman, told Fox News on Thursday. But its not our assessment that the F-16s alone would be enough to turn the tide here. Ukraine and 11 other nations have formalized a plan to train pilots, maintainers and support staff to operate F-16s, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced Tuesday in a Tweet. You can read more about that in our story here and regarding which nations might be able to provide Ukraine with those jets here. Before we head into the latest from Ukraine, The War Zone readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage here. The Latest During a meeting of the Russian Security Council, President Vladimir Putin suggested that Poland is seeking to occupy western Ukraine and stage an attack on Belarus. He said that a well-organized, well-equipped so-called Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian" regular military unit will be used for operations in Ukraine, including to allegedly ensure the security of todays Western Ukraine. Vladimir Putin says Poland wants to occupy western Ukraine and attack Belarus. (Kremlin photo) But Poland's goal goes far behind mere security for Ukraine, Putin said. Their aim should be called "by [its] true name, the subsequent occupation of these territories," the Russian leader said. "The outlook is clear: in the event Polish forces enter, say, Lviv or other Ukrainian territories, they will stay there, and they will stay there for good." Putin also issued a veiled threat at Poland, raising the history of how the Soviet Union saved much of that nation from the Nazis during World War II. Story continues "I would also like to remind you what Polands aggressive policy led to," he said during a meeting Friday of the Russian Security Council. "It led to the national tragedy of 1939, when Polands Western allies threw it to the German wolf, the German miliary machine. Poland actually lost its independence and statehood, which were only restored thanks in a large measure to the Soviet Union. It was also thanks to the Soviet Union and thanks to Stalins position that Poland acquired substantial territory in the west, German territory." It is a fact that Polands western lands are a gift from Stalin," Putin added. "Have our Warsaw friends forgotten this? We will remind them. https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1682338309106802690?s=20 Poland, he added, was eyeing an attack on Belarus, Putins vassal state, which would result in a response from Moscow. Belarus is part of the Union State, and launching an aggression against Belarus would mean launching an aggression against the Russian Federation, he said. "We will respond to that with all the resources available to us. Poland, meanwhile, was making some military moves regarding Belarus. It's security committee decided in a meeting on Wednesday to move military units to the country's east due to the Wagner Group's presence in Belarus, state-run PAP news agency quoted its secretary as saying on Friday. Wagner Private Military Company boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was shown in a video on Wednesday welcoming his fighters to Belarus, "telling them they would take no further part in the Ukraine war for now but ordering them to gather their strength for Africa while they trained the Belarusian army," Reuters reported. https://twitter.com/GreyDynamics/status/1682385813684862976?s=20 But Polish officials are taking no chances. "Training or joint exercises of the Belarusian army and the Wagner Group is undoubtedly a provocation," Zbigniew Hoffmann told PAP. "The Committee analyzed possible threats, such as the dislocation of Wagner Group units. Therefore, the Minister of National Defense, chairman of the Committee, Mariusz Blaszczak, decided to move our military formations from the west to the east of Poland." https://twitter.com/visegrad24/status/1682300193213956096?s=20 Speaking of Prigozhin, last month, Ukrainian Maj. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov told us that the FSB was plotting to assassinate him after he staged an aborted mutiny. You can read more about Budanovs comments in our exclusive interview here. On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken seemingly confirmed Budanovs assessment You know, if I were Mr. Prigozhin, I would remain very concerned, Blinken told NBC news. "NATO has an open door policy. Russia has an open windows policy, and he needs to be very focused on that. https://twitter.com/jimsciutto/status/1682409778373623811 On the battlefield, Ukraine is continuing is counteroffensive along at least three different sections in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and the Donbas, and is making limited, incremental progress. Russia, meanwhile, is making limited ground attacks the Donbas while trying to counterattack near the border of the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Here are some key takeaways from the latest Institute for the Study of War assessment: Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front and reportedly advanced on July 20. Russian forces continued limited ground attacks on the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, around Bakhmut and along the AvdiivkaDonetsk City line and advanced on the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line as of July 20. Ukrainian forces continued limited offensive operations east of Kupyansk, near Kreminna, near Bakhmut, and along the AvdiivkaDonetsk City line and made gains near Bakhmut on July 20. Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations near Vuhledar, on the administrative border between western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhia oblasts, and south of Orikhiv and made limited territorial gains in western Donetsk and eastern Zaporizhia oblasts and western Zaporizhia Oblast on July 20. Russian forces continued to unsuccessfully counterattack Ukrainian positions on the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast administrative border on July 20. https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1682528277540347905 Russia is also continuing its airstrikes against the Odesa region. Today, Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky district is under attack, regional governor Oleh Kiper said Friday on his Telegram channel. The target is an important infrastructure facility. The Russians fired seven missiles at it. Unfortunately, there is damage. Russia struck an agricultural warehouse that resulted in 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley being burned, agricultural and rescue equipment damaged, and two people injured, said Natalia Humeniuk, spokesperson for Ukraine's Operational Command South. https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1682330317829316610?s=20 Reuters is reporting that the U.S. plans to announce as soon as Tuesday a new military aid package for Ukraine worth up to $400 million, primarily comprised of artillery, air defense missiles and ground vehicles as Ukraine's counteroffensive grinds on, three U.S. officials said on Friday. The package will tentatively include several Stryker armored personnel carriers, mine clearing equipment, munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-tank weapons including TOW and Javelin and munitions for Patriot and Stinger anti-aircraft systems, Reuters reported, citing the officials. The package was still being finalized and could change, the publication noted. https://twitter.com/front_ukrainian/status/1682477451748732930?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A The Ukrainian Defense Ministry (MoD) on Friday denied that it lost control of weapons donated by the U.S. as had been reported by a couple of American media outlets. "Artillery, ammunition, sophisticated air defense systems, armored vehicles - everything is accounted for in Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Defense Volodymyr Gavrylov said, according to the Ukrainian MoD Telegram channel. Last year, an automated system of accounting and passing of all [equipment] through logistics was implemented, he said. Gavrylov said Ukraine has been working with NATOs Logistics Functional Area Services (LOGFAS) logistics planning system and the Karavay requisition program to track donated arms. The programs place bar codes and QR codes on equipment for tracking and allow for site visits when necessary, Gavrylov said. With tens of billions of dollars of equipment flowing into Ukraine, reforms were introduced in January to help ensure the arms reached the desired location. Gavrylov was reacting to a story, first published by Military.com on Thursday and picked up by CNN on Friday, that said Ukraine had lost track of a number of weapons and ammunition before security services recovered them. Military.com stated that a Pentagon inspector general's report it obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request showed that in the opening months of the war in Ukraine, "American military forces were unable to monitor where much of the military equipment being sent into the country was ending up - showing a violation of U.S. law and suggesting some gear fell into the hands of Russians and criminals, Military.com reported. https://twitter.com/pravda_eng/status/1682435274658160658?s=12\u0026t=BQRSNakUKt7_8ssZiGBW-A Ukraine, as expected, is seeing a lot of equipment destroyed and damaged as it pushes a counteroffensive through Zaporizhzhia Oblast and the Donbas. To keep up with those losses, the U.S. and allies are shifting focus to repair and sustainment, a top Pentagon official told Politico on Wednesday. Were setting up repair facilities in Europe, were translating [training and repair] manuals, we have to do much more together so theres going to be more of a focus on that by partner nations, the Pentagons acquisition and sustainment chief, William LaPlante, told the publication. Keeping equipment in the fight is one of the primary functions of a 22-nation working group led by the U.S., Poland and the U.K., with LaPlante leading the charge, Politico reported. Dedicated to sustainment not only for Ukraine, but to restocking U.S. and European defense warehouses, that group meets regularly as part of the 50-nation Ukraine Defense Contact Group led by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. https://twitter.com/dave_brown24/status/1681771180301090820?s=20 Germany on Friday announced its latest tranche of aid to Ukraine. It includes 10 Leopard 1A5 tanks, 20 MG3 machine guns for Leopard 2 tanks, Marder IFVs and Pionierpanzer Dachs, 1,305 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition and 2,064 rounds of 155mm artillery smoke ammunition. The package also include one bridge system and 12 trailers, 10 ground surveillance radars, four border protection vehicles, 16 Zetros trucks, 80 RQ-35 HEIDRUN reconnaissance drones and 100,000 individual first-aid kits. https://twitter.com/oryxspioenkop/status/1682310036163313664 Speaking of Germany, Ukrainian troops are now in that nation training on Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. They will be turned over at some point to Ukraine. Oleksiy Makeyev, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany, recently posed in front of one of the Gepards, which was still painted in a distinctive desert of the Qatari Army from whence they apparently came. In February, the German Suddeutsche Zeitung reported that Germany was looking to purchase 15 of the Gepards from Qatar to provide to Ukraine. Germany has already provided Ukraine with 30 Gepards and the U.S. Army last month awarded a Florida company a contract worth nearly $118 million to purchase more from Jordan. https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1682013363998523394?s=20 On Wednesday, we told you about Russia's mysterious glide bomb, known as the UMPK, or Unifitsirovannyi Modul Planirovaniya i Korrektsii, meaning unified gliding and correction module. New video has emerged showing a Russian Su-34 Fullback fighter deploying them, with its wings opening after being dropped. https://twitter.com/WarMonitors/status/1681963703464337414?s=20 In a rare public appearance, U.K.'s spy boss blasted China and its communist ruler Xi Jinping for helping Russia in Ukraine. Richard Moore, the chief of U.K.s Secret Intelligence Service known as MI6, said China and Xi are absolutely complicit in Russias invasion of Ukraine, Moore said at a rare public appearance hosted by Politico in Prague Wednesday, the publication reported. Richard Moore known in the intelligence community as C said MI6 now devotes more resources to tackling China than anything else. When Putin invaded Ukraine, the Chinese very clearly supported the Russians, Moore told Poltico executive editor Anne McElvoy. They have completely supported the Russians diplomatically, theyve abstained in key votes at the United Nations, theyve absolutely cynically repeated all the Russian tropes, particularly in places like Africa and Latin America blaming NATO and all of this stuff. But this support has come at a cost to Vladimir Putins rule and prestige in Russia. What may have happened, which I know many Russians find deeply uncomfortable, is that the balance of power between them has shifted, he said. Its very hard to look at them and not recognize that one is very much now subservient to the other. https://twitter.com/fbermingham/status/1681668791804018690?s=20 Thanks to drones, we can see the horrors of war unfolding from the comfort of wherever we have our screen. Such is the case of this video below, showing Ukrainian forces advancing on dug-in Russian troops in trenches and trellises near Bakhmut. https://twitter.com/NOELreports/status/1682361877488103429?s=20 Speaking of trenches, they were a horrible place to fight during WWI and they still are today. Artillery still rains hell, and today drones spot troops to pinpoint fire or directly blow them up. This video shows the overall conditions though haven't changed much in a century. https://twitter.com/KorsasErik/status/1680643375194689536?s=20 Given the nature of this war and the enemy they are fighting, Ukraine doesn't enjoy the same casualty evacuation capabilities as, for instance, the U.S. had in Afghanistan and Iraq with fleet of casevac helicopters that didn't have to contend with robust air defense. So Ukraine, as you can see in this video below, is improvising, in this case evacuating a casualty with an all-terrain vehicle. https://twitter.com/warinukraineua/status/1681647080849174528?s=20 Video has emerged showing a large explosion caused by an Iranian-made Shahed-136 (Geran-2 as named by Russia) strike drone in the central Ukrainian region of Zhytomyr. https://twitter.com/narrative_hole/status/1682461040393564162?s=20 And finally, Russia has apparently developed a ghost fleet of fighters at its Yeysk air base in Krasnador Krai Oblast, Russia. These images, compiled by Planet Labs and posted on Twitter by researcher Brady Africk, show Russia has apparently painted decoys in a newly constructed part of that base. Located across the Azov Sea from occupied Mariupol, is about 130 miles from the front lines as they currently stand. That's well within range of Ukrainian drones, which have already struck air bases inside Russia more than twice that distance. Similar peculiar silhouettes also appeared at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan while under U.S. control. You can read more about that here. https://twitter.com/bradyafr/status/1682354735473655810?s=20 That's it for now. We'll update this story when there's more news to report about Ukraine. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, stated that Ukraine is writing a new chapter in the history of Europe. Source: Ursula von der Leyen during a speech in New York during the award ceremony for the World Peace & Liberty Award, quoted by Ukrinform Quote: "The story of our [European] Union is one of democracies, young and old, getting stronger together. It is the story of Germany's and Italy's rebirth after the war. It is the story of Spain's, Portugal's and Greece's paths from dictatorship to democracy. It is the story of the democratic renaissance after the fall of the Iron Curtain. And the next chapter in this story is being written today in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, as well as in the Western Balkans." "Not only is he [Putin] committing unspeakable crimes with cities razed to the ground, children taken from their families and civilians killed in cold blood. This war also goes against the very foundation of the United Nations Charter. It is targeting the very idea of a world order based on international law, where all sovereign countries have equal rights and all countries shall refrain from the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state'. These are the words of the UN Charter. This is why Europe stands by Ukraine for as long as it takes." Details: Ursula von der Leyen emphasised once again that Ukraine is fighting not only for its own freedom but for the freedom of every country, and this freedom is the fundamental principle of the UN Charter. "No one wants peace more than the people of Ukraine. But lasting peace can only be built on the foundation of international law. An independent Ukraine, within its recognised international borders, where accountability for war crimes has been met, and with security guarantees, so that Ukrainians can be free from fear. This is at the heart of President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula. Each of its ten points is based on the UN Charter and UN resolutions. The Charter must be the starting point for any negotiation for a just and lasting peace," the President of the European Commission noted. Story continues She said that there is another reason why Ukraine's war against Russian aggression demonstrates the deep connection between peace and the rule of law. "Ukrainians have made a clear choice for the rule of law and democracy. They want to join the European Union. That means deep and structural reforms, ranging from the independence of the judiciary to anti-corruption, from minorities' rights to media freedom. I must say, it is amazing to see how fast and determined Ukraine is implementing these reforms despite the war," Ursula von der Leyen added. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A military land vehicle lies wrecked by a shelling on April 12, 2023 in Bakhmut, Ukraine Viktor Fridshon/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Ukraine's allies are shifting focus from donating weapons to repairing what is already there, a report says. This shift in strategy reflects the acknowledgement that the war is expected to carry on for some time. Ukraine's counteroffensive has seen many Western-donated vehicles be damaged, and repairing them is crucial. The West's focus on supporting Ukraine's war effort has shifted from donating more weapons to repairing and sustaining what they already have, a report says. This shift in strategy reflects the acknowledgment that the war is expected to carry on for some time, a Pentagon top acquisition official told Politico. "We're setting up repair facilities in Europe, we're translating training and repair manuals, we have to do much more together, so there's going to be more of a focus on that" by partner nations, the Pentagon's acquisition and sustainment chief William LaPlante told the outlet. Since Ukraine began its counteroffensive to take back occupied territory from Russia, some of its Western-donated equipment, such as US-made Bradley fighting vehicles and German Leopard tanks, has been lost or damaged. Russia's defense lines have proved harder to penetrate than expected, and Ukrainian forces have found themselves coming up against dense minefields. But, hundreds of hardy armored vehicles donated by the West have been credited as life-saving by Ukrainian soldiers, who say the vehicles protect them and minimize injuries, per several reports If possible to repair, getting those vehicles fixed and back in action is a high priority, per Politico. The Times of London visited a secret repair workshop close to the frontline where they saw evidence of Western-supplied armored vehicles being worked on to return to the battle, including vehicles that had taken a direct hit from a tank but were only lightly damaged. "To be honest, the soldiers are all surprised at the ability of these vehicles to withstand fire," Serhii Ivanov, a lieutenant who is overseeing the repair of a British-built Wolfhound armored vehicle. Story continues "They really save lives. After a few battles in one of these, no one wants to go back to the old Soviet BTR or anything like it. By comparison, that's a coffin, a 100 percent chance of death," he told The Times. The US-made mine-resistant armored fighting vehicles have also been hailed by Ukrainian troops as being "almost indestructible." The Mastiff is one of the armored vehicle types sent by the UK to Ukraine. Leon Neal/Getty Images A 22-nation working group led by the US, Poland, and the UK is working to keep billions of dollars worth of equipment that is already in Ukraine working so it can continue with its counteroffensive. The group coordinates repair facilities and has helped Ukraine set up a supply support effort to help track high-demand spare parts. Since the beginning of the war, scores of countries have committed to sending billions of dollars worth of equipment to Ukraine. The diversity of the equipment coming from multiple supply lines poses challenges for Kyiv, Politico noted. Readiness rates of equipment have also been a concern for Ukraine, as it is primarily using either decades-old Russian equipment or weapons that are still relatively new to them. Some of the equipment sent to Ukraine from its Western allies have arrived in need of repair, and most of the serious repair work needs to be done in places like Poland or Czechia. Ukrainian soldiers train on a US-supplied MaxxPro MRAP Navistar mine resistant armored fighting vehicle on October 17, 2022 in Nyzhche Solone, Kharkiv oblast, Ukraine. Carl Court/Getty Images By comparison, Russia has much larger stockpiles of equipment that it has been able to continue to draw upon. Despite challenges, Ukraine's allies have managed to establish a repair infrastructure over the past year, LaPlante told Politico, and teams on the ground are able to "instantly get that information, and then we find the fix, and we get it working." "And I really want to give the credit to the Ukrainians, they're the ones doing it," he said. "But we're making sure that they have everything that they need. And if the parts have to come from a country halfway around the world, we make sure we get it to them. So the sustainment is actually most of the work going on right now." Read the original article on Business Insider Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has warned against premature conclusions about Ukraines Armed Forces' counteroffensive actions, and he expects changes on the front. Source: Voice of America, citing Blinken at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, as reported by European Pravda Quote from Blinken: "And as they deploy and as they actually put into this effort all of the forces that have been trained in recent months, the equipment that we and some 50 countries have provided them, I think that will make a profound difference." Details: According to Blinken, the United States knew "from the start that this would be hard going". "Youve heard a number of people talk about that. The Russians have laid significant and serious defences when it comes to mines initially. The Ukrainians are working their way through that," the US Secretary of State added. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The leader of a clearance team explains the operation as the Ukrainian army's 35th Marine Brigade members conduct mine clearance work at a field in Donetsk, Ukraine on July 11, 2023. Ercin Erturk/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine's counteroffensive was poised to "gain pace." Russia's dense minefields have slowed Ukraine's counteroffensive, Ukrainian officials said. Analysts say Russia had more time to lay mines and traps due to slow Western weapons deliveries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine's military is overcoming Russia's dense minefields and that its counteroffensive was about to ramp up. Speaking via video link, Zelenskyy told the Aspen Security Forum: "We are approaching a moment when relevant actions can gain pace because we are already going through some mines locations and we are demining these areas," the Financial Times reported. Zelenskyy told CNN earlier this month that Ukraine had been "slowed down" by entrenched Russian defenses and that he wanted the counteroffensive to start "much earlier" but felt he had to wait for more Western weapons to arrive. Russian defenses like landmines, tripwires, and booby traps have so far hampered Ukraine's progress, with soldiers forced to use metal detectors and other equipment to slowly search and clear pathways. The dense minefields laid by Russian forces have also meant that Ukrainian soldiers have had to leave behind some of their advanced Western tanks and progress on foot. A decorated former US Army Special Forces engineer who cleared out improvised explosives in Afghanistan and has since been tackling threats in Ukraine said the monstrous minefields Russia is laying down are unlike anything he has ever seen. Ukrainian soldiers have said that Russia was able to use the long buildup to the counteroffensive to lay these defenses. Satellite imagery from before Ukraine started its operation showed Russia strengthening its 600-mile front line with minefields, barricades, "dragon's teeth," and anti-tank ditches. Land mines along with unexploded bombs and artillery shells now contaminate a swath of Ukraine roughly the size of Florida, up to 30 percent of its land mass. It has become the world's most mined country, reported The Washington Post. Story continues Analysts told Insider last month that delays in giving Ukraine weapons also gave Russia more time to prepare its defenses, likely hindering Ukraine's counteroffensive results. unexploded munitions and other explosive devices as members of a demining team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine clear mines off a field not far from the town of Brovary, northeast of Kyiv, on April 21, 2022, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine. OLEKSII FILIPPOV/AFP via Getty Images Despite the mine threat, Zelenskyy insisted that Ukraine's counteroffensive was about to "gain pace." But it is not clear how much of Ukraine's forces have so far joined the counteroffensive efforts. Multiple Ukrainian officials recently said that the bulk of Ukraine's forces had not yet been dispatched to the frontline. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told the forum that the progress of the counteroffensive would only become clear when Ukraine properly committed all of its forces to the fight. "It is at that moment when they make that commitment that we will really see what the results of the counteroffensive will be," he said, per the Financial Times. Ukraine started the long-awaited counteroffensive effort in early June, but it has only made small gains so far. Meanwhile, Russia has only managed to capture a tiny amount of Ukrainian territory over the last few months, including taking less than 6.8 square miles in April. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainian troops fire an M142 HIMARS toward Bakhmut in May. Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Ukraine's use of HIMARS against Russia has earned the US-made rocket-artillery system high praise. Other European countries are pursuing their own rocket artillery, buying HIMARS or building new systems. Impressed with the success of the US-made M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launcher in Ukraine, more European nations want to buy HIMARS or develop their own version of it. German defense contractor Rheinmetall and US defense firm Lockheed Martin have partnered to offer GMARS, a replacement for Germany's aging MARS 2 multiple launch rocket system, according to Defense News. The acronym "GMARS" seems to reflect HIMARS as much as MARS 2, of which Germany has delivered several to Ukraine. MARS 2 is the European version of the US-made M270 multiple launch rocket system. GMARS would be similar to HIMARS but bigger, with a larger chassis based on Rheinmetall's HX 8x8 truck, and would have 80% commonality with HIMARS munitions and logistics, a Lockheed Martin official told Defense News. The GMARS vehicle would be about 39 feet long vs. the 23-foot length of a HIMARS truck and carry two rocket pods instead of HIMARS' one. A German Mars 2 rocket launcher at a training area in Munster in October 2017. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP via Getty Images Meanwhile, the US State Department approved a $10 billion sale of 18 HIMARS for Poland in February. Significantly, the sale includes 45 M57 Army Tactical Missile Systems long-range guided rockets that Ukraine has repeatedly requested but which the US has declined to provide for fear of escalating the conflict. HIMARS will help Poland "deter regional threats," the department said in an announcement. "The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region." HIMARS has a range of about 50 miles. An ATACMS projectile can reach up to 190 miles and can be fired from a HIMARS launcher, though that feature reportedly has been disabled in HIMARS systems supplied to Ukraine. The Biden administration is now debating whether to send ATACMS to Ukraine after the UK gave Ukraine its Storm Shadow missile, which has a range of more than 150 miles. (France is also sending its version of the missile.) Story continues A Soviet BM-13 Katyusha rocket launcher in November 1943. Sovfoto/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Multiple launch rocket systems have been around since World War II, when the legendary Soviet Katyusha battered Nazi forces. Until the 1980s, the US and its allies favored howitzers rather than MLRS, which were considered inaccurate weapons suited for firing over a large area. For the Soviets, who preferred massed firepower, and for dictators and warlords unconcerned about collateral damage, rockets were just fine. But rocket artillery has changed. A new generation of GPS-guided rockets, such as HIMARS and Russia's Smerch and Tornado-S systems, combine the accuracy of a howitzer with the range of a rocket and have the ability to fire salvoes quickly. What was once a blunt-force weapon that pulverized city blocks and the civilians living there is now a smart weapon. That "smartness" explains the buzz around modern MLRS at least as much as their actual military effectiveness, which is often overstated. An M142 HIMARS vehicle after its delivery in Warsaw on May 15. Jakub Porzycki/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images HIMARS initially proved devastating against Russian forces that placed their command posts and ammunitions dumps too close to the front line. But Russia adapted and moved its command and supply centers out of HIMARS range, though at the price of compromising some efficiency. Russian GPS jammers have also hampered HIMARS and the Joint Direct Attack Munition glide bombs that the US has given Ukraine. Rocket artillery can't replace howitzers, which offer some advantages, such as the ability to fire barrages continuously for hours. Still, rocket artillery is certain to join howitzers as the backbone of Western artillery. Modern MLRS rockets have greater range than howitzer shells although long-range rocket-propelled howitzer shells are being developed and in an era when battlefield footage is spread wide, far, and fast, there will always be something impressive about the fiery trail of a rocket heading toward its target. 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 Fighters of the Wagner PMC About 5,000 Wagner Group mercenaries have been deployed to Belarus as of July 22, Andriy Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service (SBGS), told NVs sister publication, Ukrainska Pravda. "The situation along the border remains fully controlled by the border units and other components of the Armed Forces of our country," Ukrainska Pravda quoted Demchenko as saying. Read also: More Wagner mercenaries arriving in Belarus, pose no threat to Ukraine - border guards "All of them have been warned about further risks that may come from the territory of Belarus, which, unfortunately, is under the influence of Russia and supports it in the war waged against Ukraine." So far, the number of Russian mercenaries in Belarus poses no direct threat to Ukraine, however the Ukrainian Armed Forces should be prepared for any possible scenario, including preventing provocations on the border with Belarus, Demchenko stressed. Wagner in Belarus: what we know On June 24, the founder and leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, ended his one-day insurrection against Russian dictator Vladimir Putin after negotiations with Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Putin presented the Wagner troops with three options as a result of the negotiations one of which involved their deployment to Belarus. Read also: Wagner mercenaries to share experience with Belarusian military, says defense ministry Shortly after, reports emerged of camp constructions in Belarus intended to accommodate the Wagner mercenaries. Satellite images of a potential field camp were subsequently released. While Lukashenko denied the existence of any camps specifically for Wagner units, 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 mercenaries. However, Ukrainian intelligence cautioned against premature conclusions regarding their deployment to that country. Story continues Later, information surfaced suggesting that the Wagner mercenaries 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. 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 Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Alfred Mutua, cabinet secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya, July 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) NAIROBI, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with Alfred Mutua, cabinet secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, here on Saturday. During the meeting, Wang praised the fruitful results China and Kenya have achieved in bilateral cooperation which he said stands out in cooperation between China and African countries. As Kenya's comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China has maintained a stable and consistent policy toward the East African country, Wang said, adding that China always adheres to the principles of equality and mutual trust in this regard. China firmly supports Kenya in safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence and pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, he said. Taking the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties with Kenya, China is ready to further deepen their traditional friendship, strengthen synergy of their strategies on all fronts and step up mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields, Wang said, noting that the two sides should work together to tackle challenges in order to achieve common development. Wang reiterated that China supports Kenya in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs, and stands ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Kenya to safeguard common interests of developing countries. For his part, Mutua said that the Kenya-China friendship is not a choice of expediency, but a long-term strategic choice that will yield mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Kenya will never forget the support and help China extended to the country when it faced difficulties and challenges, and is willing to deepen cooperation with China in trade, investment, agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure construction, climate change and other fields, so as to promote further development of the Kenya-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Mutua said. Kenya is ready to join hands with China to maintain regional peace and security, strengthen coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs and jointly build a better world, he added. Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, meets with Alfred Mutua, cabinet secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs of Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya, July 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) Ministry of Defense said that they are ready to attack the Black Sea Fleet of Russia The Ukrainian military is fully equipped to prevent the Russian Black Sea Fleet from operating near Crimea, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Volodymyr Havrylov declared on Telegram messenger on July 21. We now have this sort of capability, in comparison to how the war began, stated Havrylov. Read also: Military expert explains why Odesa, Mykolayiv arent protected from shelling opinion And they will only grow. These capabilities will allow us to fulfill the ambition I spoke of last year: to drive the entire Black Sea Fleet closer to Tuapse and Novorossiysk and restrict [Russian] movements within the Crimean zone. He further disclosed that Ukraines capabilities extend beyond the Neptune anti-ship systems believed to have sunk the Russian Black Sea Fleets flagship, the cruiser Moskva, on April 14, 2022. Read also: Our strength in this matter has grown compared to a year ago, and we continue to make further progress in this direction, affirmed Havrylov. 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 Every year since 2008, elementary school children meet with expert educators to learn how to rescue marine mammals and protect coral reefs. These young citizen scientists also study ocean conservation research, sustainability, and the importance of sharks. Called Ocean Kids, the hands-on activities program at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science is run by volunteers who are undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty and staff. This years event was co-hosted by Maria Cartolano and Executive Director of the Hobe Sound Nature Center Jill Richardson through the Ocean Conservancy Ocean Justice Community Grant. Ocean Kids was founded by Richardson in 2008. The students learned about current research that scientists are working on at the Rosenstiel, Cartolano said. They got to interact with Aplysia (sea slugs) and learn about how they are used for models to study human health with Dr. Rachael Heuer. One goal of Ocean Kids is to provide early access to STEM curriculum. Students investigated life cycles of marine organisms using a microscope with Dr. Erik Folkerts and Dr. Andrea Durant. And Dr. Richard Coleman shared his research about marine fish evolution and ecology, and showed students how to extract DNA! They also learned about fish physiology and even met a Gulf toadfish with the Rosenstiel Toadfish Lab. Ocean Kids is a no-cost, civic engagement and field trip event for elementary students from high-needs education districts in Miami. Over 120 students from three local schools rotated between 14 engaging education stations. Activities took place at Historical Virginia Key Beach across the street from the Rosenstiel campus. To learn more, visit www.earth.miami.edu and www.oceanconservancy.org There is an Ocean Kids Fund if you can help grow this important coastal conservation education program. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miamis Littles at the School of Swagger Graduation Ceremony celebrate their remarkable achievements. BBBS Littles inspire at graduation Student and family resilience and determination are always highlighted at the annual graduation ceremony of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miamis Littles. This year, the event showcased the achievements of 276 remarkable young individuals. Story continues And during the June 15 ceremony, the graduating Littles were awarded nearly $2 million in college scholarships generously donated by valued donors. Walmart and Old Spice School of Swagger sponsored the event. Organizers said the ceremony was made even more memorable by surprise celebrity guest speaker, Victor Fontanez, also known as Vic Blends. The renowned motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and barber brought his inspiring voice to honor the graduating Littles. The company sponsors also demonstrated their support by presenting the graduating Littles with gifts as tokens of appreciation. The gestures served as a heartfelt recognition of the Littles hard work and dedication throughout their journey with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. This year, the graduating class of Littles was noteworthy with 62 percent being Hispanic students. Many are first in their families to graduate. Also in attendance at the ceremony were the dedicated Bigs, the mentors for the Littles, and supportive parents/guardians. For more about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami and its mission to ignite the power and promise of youth through one-to-one mentoring relationships, visit www.bbbsmiami.org. Awarded students hold up their scholarship certificates at a ceremony with Coconut Grove Arts Festival president Monty Trainer, and Tony Albelo from EngageLive. Art students awarded Congratulations to 15 talented Miami-Dade County high-school art students who were awarded scholarships through the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. During the ceremony, members of the Coconut Grove Arts Festival and EngageLive, producers of the festival, jointly presented each recipient with a $3,000 check. We are in the business of connecting people to create truly engaging experiences, said EngageLive CEO Tony Abelo. So it is wholly fitting that we are now joining with CGAF to connect brilliant young artists with educational funding that will help further their studies. And we are honored to do so. The event also included a showing of each students artwork. Since 1963, the Coconut Grove Arts Festival has played a prominent role in promoting arts and culture in South Florida, most visibly through our efforts each year hosting the internationally acclaimed outdoor arts festival over the Presidents Day weekend, said Monty Trainer, president of the CGAF. Trainer added that behind the scenes, the organization has a proud history of giving back to the community all year long through arts educational and outreach programs. FPL External Affairs Manager Chris Ferreira hands a hurricane meal kit to a senior citizen of Miami-Dade County. Seniors receive hurricane kits Volunteers from FPL and United HomeCare in Miami-Dade recently helped distribute hurricane kits with three days of shelf-stable, nutritious food, water and snacks to seniors who cant leave their homes, or who receive home-delivered meals, after a storm. The groups made 2,460 hurricane kits for 820 seniors. Since 2016, FPL has worked with local community nonprofits to deliver thousands of hurricane kits to help seniors prepare for storm season. For tips, and to learn more on how you can prepare, visit www.FPL.com/storm Write to ChristinaMMayo@gmail.com with news for this column. Painting of leaders presenting the Declaration of Independence; African Slave Trade Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images Thirty years ago, after the fall of the Berlin Wall, there was a widespread belief that democracy would rapidly spread to envelop the whole world. Now we're worried about whether democracy can survive, The Varieties of Democracy or V-Dem project, involving thousands of experts, typifies the current focus of the last few decades on what is called the "third wave of autocratization." But what if something important is being missed by not taking a longer view? A new book co-authored by a group of social scientists and data scientists, "The Deep Roots of Modern Democracy," argues that there is. "The past is never dead. It's not even past." That famous quotation from Faulkner opens the book, which is ambitious in scope but modest in multiple other ways: It's mindful of the limitations of available data, open to other possibilities and reluctant to preach. Its fundamental lesson, perhaps, is that democracy today is not the same as it was or as it will be, but its past will always be with us. It is our choice how to understand and interpret that history, and how to use it to create a future. Any informed democratic debate about democracy itself will benefit greatly from the lessons gathered and drawn in this book. The authors of "Deep Roots" are very much aware of the contradictions embedded in the history of democracy. Direct democracy was common in the pre-modern world, but that isn't the subject here: The authors identify two principal roots of what they deem modern representative democracy. First is the presence of natural harbors, which facilitate trade and enable open societies. The second is more controversial and requires clear explanation: the proportion of European ancestry in a given society, which reflects the development of representative bodies and major European states, and the subsequent colonial expansion that spread such bodies around the world. To say that the role of European ancestry is complicated is to put it mildly. In many cases, this meant states and societies dominated by colonial settlers an insider club template of sorts where the alleged ideals of democracy were compromised by racism and slavery, and where Indigenous populations were largely wiped out or displaced. It's unacceptably naive to call democracy a gift to the world, given that context. It's more like a fragile mechanism of political progress that has been unevenly wrestled into something that applies far more broadly than it did at first. Of course the contradictions at the heart of American democracy are part of a much bigger picture. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data brought together in this book provides an invaluable framework for working through those contradictions we live with still. To explore "The Deep Roots of Democracy" more fully, I recently spoke with lead author John Gerring, a professor of government at the University of Texas, Austin, and a principal investigator at V-Dem. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. There's been a great deal of attention paid to democratic development, and more recently to democratic backsliding. But your book takes a much longer view. Why did you think that was important? This is a very hot issue now. There's an understandable but in some ways obsessive focus on very small changes that have occurred over the past several decades, and that tends to obscure the longer-term continuities. If you look at the countries that were first to democratize, almost without exception they're the most democratic countries today. And if you look at the number of transitions, there's been a general trend toward more democracy over the past 200 years. Nobody disagrees over that. But the relative order of different countries does tend to follow this long-established practice, which kind of corroborates our view that in order to understand democracy today, we need to understand its its deep roots. The title of your book raises two sets of basic questions: First, since democracy is a contested concept, what do you mean by it? And what do you mean by "modern democracy"? Democracy is defined in many different ways. In another project, Varieties of Democracy, we wrestle with that question. In the book, we take the conventional approach in political science, and more broadly on the policy world, which is to focus on multiparty elections as the critical institution in democracy. Other things are reflected in the indices we use, so it's not just about elections. But elections seem to be at the core of of democracy as it's realized through representative institutions in the modern era. That leads to your second question about what we mean by modern. Here we take what I guess historians would regard as a standard definition: things that happened after the French Revolution. That's the modern era, and that's also the era in which representative democracy really comes comes to the fore. So there's a fit, I think between the concept and and the historical era. OK, and the next question is: What do you mean by "deep roots," and why do they matter? In the book, there are these two deep roots, if you will. One is is quite a bit deeper than the other. The first is the existence of natural harbors. We have a methodology by which we identify natural harbors based on the configuration of the coastline, which doesn't require a lot of artificial construction to dock sizable ships. These parts of the world were more connected to the world in the first place, because they had this readily available technology. It bears emphasis that there really was no way to get around the world aside from ships prior to the advent of airplanes in the mid-20th century. So the role of natural harbors is immense in democracy, we argue. Any port is a natural point of focus for trade and for migration of people, and for this agglomeration of things that seem to be important for more advanced economies. And so it's no surprise that a lot of major cities were founded on ports because of their unique access to global or regional markets. In the Mediterranean, that goes back to antiquity. And if you buy the standard story that economic development is propitious for democracy, that pathway is fairly well established. Then there's the less obvious point that if you're a territory with a lot of ocean exposure, you have to develop a strong navy. There's really no other way that you can retain your access to global trade and also defend against potential incursions, because the port is is your most vulnerable and most valuable site. By contrast, if your territory is located inland or there are no natural ports, your investment in military infrastructure is likely to be centered on a land army. This has all sorts of consequences if you believe, as we do, that a navy is just more propitious for democracy. A land army is a great tool if if you want to stage a coup, if you want to control populations, if you want to have a coercive mechanism to extract taxes and keep people under the thumb of the state. But a navy doesn't serve well to do that: Your people are at sea, and you don't have nearly the manpower that you do in a standing army. Then comes the well-established argument about state-building, which is that cities constrained the growth of states in Europe and elsewhere. Where you have a lot of cities, you're going to have smaller states. Where you have smaller states, it's much harder for governments to exercise repression and to control the spread of ideas, and we're more likely to see the development of institutions at the forefront of representation. So if ports are formed the basis for cities and cities form the basis of small states, at least in the premodern era, then you can see that third pathway from ports to democracy. The fourth criterion, "openness," is somewhat more general. It's easier for immigrants and emigrants to come and go. It's harder for the state to control the flow of people and capital. If merchants who are generally the most important players economically, oftentimes as lenders of money to the state can easily pick up shop and moved to the next court, then they have a lot more bargaining power with rulers. This again builds on a long series of work on European history that suggest that the mobility of capital leads to more open political structures. You explain in the book how you went about creating models to test that claim. It's pretty technical but also quite convincing. But what other geographic arguments did you consider? And what did you find? Good question. To the extent that our arguments are convincing, it really does depend to a large extent on the number of alternative hypotheses being tested. It's easy to find a correlation, but to determine whether that's causal or not depends upon measuring all the other things that are geographic in nature and might in some way impact the development of democracy. So we looked at equatorial distance, we looked at whether a region was in the tropics are not, its annual temperature, the number of frost days, the degree of precipitation, the irrigation potential, soil quality, agricultural suitability, caloric variability, the fish that are found there natively on onshore, the degree to which the terrain is rugged and whether or not it's an island. Among all of those we found only two that seem to have any promise in terms of predicting democracy in the present: the natural-harbor distance variable and also the distance from the equator. These are independent variables, by the way. They don't disturb each other's impact. But distance from the equator is so highly correlated with the share of Europeans in a country that its effect is obliterated or fully mediated by the second factor. Right, let's talk about that. You are aware that your argument about European ancestry is complicated and potentially controversial. You make clear that it is not a racial argument, and what was initially spread by Europeans is not what we would call "modern democracy" today. But there is no doubt that there was something different about Europe, and that it was the birthplace of parliaments. Could you start by laying out the argument in broad terms? This is a familiar argument for those who have followed recent work in economic history and long-term development. There's a well-known series of articles by a group of economists building on the work of Johnson and Robinson, in which they argue that there is a long-term impact from the colonial era to the present and the impact flows through good institutions. They don't really measure democracy per se, but we can say that maybe democracy is a good institution. So in some respects we're following in that tradition of looking at the era of imperialism as a kind of founding moment with long-lasting influence. There is also a a strand of research that looks at Protestantism, another European import that is supposed to be related. We found some corroborating evidence for that view, that Protestant countries are more democratic in broad and general terms. So we've got colonialism and we've got Protestantism. Our contribution is to say that, actually, the share of Europeans found in a country turns out to be a better predictor of democracy throughout the modern era than these other things. Of course then you ask about the reasons for this, and the reasons are a little hard to establish. Here's the argument we make. For whatever set of reasons it may have something to do with natural harbors or some other historical conjuncture this idea of representative democracy was developed first in Europe. I want to be clear that there are lots of examples of direct democracy around the world in the pre-modern era. One might even argue that was the most common method of governance: people getting together in a small group, let's say tribal leaders, and deciding on what course of action the group wanted to take. So when we say democracy was invented in Europe, we are referring to one specific form of democracy that involves the selection of representatives through some electoral process. It's that set of institutions that seems to have been proven useful for governing very large organizations like nation-states. And that's why it's come to overshadow direct democracy in our thinking about democracy. So why did Europeans serve as agents of diffusion for this idea? Well, of course, they came up with it. So they knew what it was about, they knew how to establish it and how to practice it. But it also served their interests, in the sense that where Europeans formed a majority, or a substantial minority, they could control the outcome of the democratic process. That allowed them to coordinate amongst themselves and effectively to exclude people who were in the minority or who were specifically excluded. So Indigenous people, slaves and the descendants of slaves could not vote. Women could not vote, of course. And these exclusions were not unique to to the developing world. They were common in Europe as well. So where you have neo-European Indigenous populations who were wiped out through disease and conquest and forcible removal, Europeans could establish the same institutions that they were familiar with in this new territory. Where Europeans were minorities, they were, as you can imagine, more circumspect, because establishing democratic institutions that they couldn't control did not bode well for their for their position in society and would certainly have led to major redistribution of wealth. You can see in the Caribbean, for example, that British and other settler populations actively resisted independence. They wanted to retain their connection to the metropole because they saw the combination of representative institutions and independence as the death-knell of their preeminence and their control over property. So the argument is that where Europeans predominate you get this strong relationship with democracy, but where they are in the minority you get much less democracy, either because Europeans aren't interested, and in some cases actively oppose the spread of democracy, or because the idea simply isn't common and understood the first place. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. So it's not like democracy was this great gift of civilization, right? At first it was what's called "Herrenvolk democracy," with limited or no access to real power for non-Europeans until they managed to secure it, one way or another. That's a process we're still in the middle of in the United States, arguably. That may help explain why support for democracy is waning among so-called conservatives like the Trump-era Republican Party. Would you agree? That's right. As a general proposition, one can't think about democracy (or any other political institution, for that matter) as being neutral across all social groups and interests. In the book, we show how democracy was championed by Europeans where they constituted a majority or a sizable minority, such that they could retain the levers of power, because it served their interests. It was European-style democracy designed for Europeans. One can see this playing out today in the rules for citizenship, voting and other mechanisms that serve to define and delimit participation in democratic politics. And yes, it doesn't seem too farfetched to see current struggles over ballot access, in which descendants of Europeans resist wider participation by non-European groups, as a continuation of that primordial struggle. So how did you test this hypothesis about the proportion of Europeans and European ancestry in a population? We had another data-gathering challenge, in some ways much more difficult than measuring natural harbors. We had to collect and collate records from surveys and very early censuses and casual reports from the colonial office reports to estimate the number of Europeans present in all the colonies throughout the world, and subsequently in independent states so we could get a more or less comprehensive measure. That took a long time and we drew from many different sources, but ultimately we were able to put together a data set that reflects a plausible account of the change in the share of Europeans throughout the world from 1600 to the present, with the important caveat that Europeans are being defined by whoever's taking that survey or census. It's a malleable category, so we're really just registering what some researchers would call a constructivist idea of "European": Who identified as European, and who was allowed to identify as European. In addition to that, you take a specific qualitative look at the different spheres of colonial influence, most extensively the British Empire. I found that a fascinating supplement to your argument. What was involved there, and what did you find? That was one of the fun and really interesting parts of the project. We wanted to look at this pre-independence period, and it turned out that there are some data collection efforts that have located the existence of elections or representative assemblies in British colonies in particular. We see a relationship between the number of people from the metropole and the degree to which democracy was allowed to develop. Those parts of the New World with more Europeans within the British Empire, for example, like North America, were more likely to develop and sustain democratic institutions like parliaments, with restricted suffrage of course. I thought the example of the Caribbean colonies was particularly instructive, because there you have a wide variation in the percentage of Europeans in places with very similar geography. Yeah. That was that was one of my "aha" moments when you look at the British Caribbean. There are four islands with a substantial share of European settlers, mostly British: the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. And those were the only ones that established an elective colonial assembly that was allowed to continue through independence. You write that these deep causes all appear to have peaked in the mid to late 20th century. Why did that happen, and how does it fit with your theory? That's another intriguing part of the story, and it kind of fit with our expectations. If you think about the role of natural harbors, that flows through ships. What good is a harbor without ships? The role of shipping in the international economy has in some ways continued to grow, but as a mechanism of transport shipping has declined since the mid-20th century and has really been eclipsed by the airplane. So the high point of shipping, in terms of its impact on cultures and societies and politics, is probably the middle of the last century. So it wouldn't be surprising if the relationship between natural harbors and democracy begins to attenuate toward the end of the 20th century. Likewise, if you think about Europeans as a force in the world, in terms of the spread of their overall geopolitical and cultural influence, that also probably peaked sometime in the mid 20th century. We're accustomed to saying that Europeans meaning Europe itself, as well as its transplants, like the majority population in the U.S. are less dominant, thankfully, than we used to be. So the idea that there would be some attenuation of the correlation of Europeans and forms of democratic political institutions fits with our commonsense view of of the world. In your last chapter, you advance the idea that connectedness promotes democracy, with four complementary explanations. You summarize that by saying that, collectively, this constitutes a connection between globalization and democracy. What's the elevator-pitch version of this argument, and how does it relate to your main findings? This is a very speculative chapter, as many conclusions are. But we conjecture that although the role of harbors and Europeans may be declining, and probably will continue to decline over the course of this century, there may be a more general phenomenon that we can call globalization that has been present throughout the history of democracy and will continue in the future. If you think about democracy as depending on the free flow of ideas and people, insofar as people and ideas and capital can move across borders, and that this in some way reinforces democracy and constrains the power of leaders, well, this is a phenomenon that in some ways we're experiencing now. The caveats here are important, because the same institutions, the same technologies, that can allow for the flow of ideas can also allow for the repression of ideas. And which way this is going to go is something that I don't know the answer to. But I think it will be critical to the future of democracy. If we think about the internet as a tool of free expression or of surveillance, who's going to win that technological war? The last chapter does seem to offer grounds for optimism, as you just said. But representative democracies have been suffering recently, and I wonder how much you've thought about proposed countermeasures, such as citizens' assemblies (Salon story here), or other innovative developments that you think might evolve. This is a head-scratchier, because everyone can see that the seemingly inexorable rise of democracy has at best taken a pause. The institutions of representative democracy that people in my field of political science were uniformly optimistic about a couple of decades ago have now led to some consternation. We're seeing these same institutions used as tools for populist leaders with rather antidemocratic agendas. So, does democracy contain the seeds of its own destruction? That is the question we have to be asking ourselves. I'm not necessarily meaning to portray a pessimistic narrative, but the fact that we're having this conversation at all indicates that maybe we need some kind of reboot, maybe we need to consider alternatives to these long-established institutions. I can't say too much about these kind of deliberative assemblies, the James Fishkin model of democracy (Salon stories here). I know about that, but I haven't studied it, and I am a little dubious about how much legitimacy these assemblies might have. Are ordinary citizens going to regard their decisions as more legitimate, let's say, then the elected assembly? I think that's the crucial question, because governance by lot does have something to recommended it, but only if people believe that they're a source of authority. Other than that, I think we do need to do some collective head-scratching. I think there may be some improvements that we haven't come across or haven't tried or haven't been given a fair chance, and that those need to be considered. Read more from Paul Rosenberg on democracy and history Juan Trujillo A UPS driver named Juan Trujillo went on TikTok to clearly articulate the reasons for supporting the worker-led strike that is set to start on July 31, 2023, which is the date that UPS workers contract expires. Trujillo posted multiple videos responding to comments that UPS workers dont deserve the $42/hour wage they currently make. The UPS driver explained the valid reasons why theyll go on strike, despite being paid $42 an hour. As Trujillo made clear in his TikTok post, UPS workers are planning to strike to show their support for part-time workers, who only make $16 an hour. Trujillo recorded himself sitting in the front seat of a delivery truck, replying to a comment stating, No way you deserve $42 an hour as a delivery guy, lol. Takes zero skill. Yeah, $42 an hour is definitely not enough, Trujillo said. Even the company thinks so. Thats why were getting a raise, and we do every year. Its about $1.40 to $1.50 every year. And its going to be higher around this one. Were not going on strike because the drivers arent getting their raises our raise has already been negotiated. RELATED: UPS Driver Who Asked Customer To Spray Her With Water Hose Sparks Debate About Their Working Conditions The full-timers, the drivers, like, were gonna get ours. You know, $42 is not enough and were gonna get more than that. Were going on strike because a part-timer is only making $16 an hour, and thats unacceptable, he exclaimed. I will stand next to my part-time brothers and sisters and make sure they get theirs on this one, too. And Ill sacrifice 2 weeks of work if I have to, because thats what solidarity is. Thats what we do, Trujillo said. Trujillo believes UPS workers deserve to make more than $42 an hour because of the high amount of revenue they generate for the company. He praised the negotiating power held by the Teamsters Union, asking, How the hell do you think we got to $42 anyways? By sitting back and accepting $35? No, no, we demanded what was ours and thats what were doing now. And $42, thats what it is now. In August, when that contract gets signed, well have more than that. And its gonna keep going up every year because their profits go up every year. Story continues In a previous post on TikTok, Trujillo responded to a different claim that 42 an hour is more than enough. RELATED Worker Deletes Thousands Of Files He Created After Finding Out That The Company That Fired Him For Being Incompetent Is Still Using His Work I just wanna make a clarification, because some of you are missing the point, he stated. When I say $42 is not enough, its not because I cant live comfortably. Its not enough based on the amount of revenue that were producing for this company. Especially during the pandemic, when they made $100 billion and just kept that. They didnt even work for it. Im talking about their shareholders, you know who they are. They sat there, like, we were the ones loading the trucks. We were the ones delivering the packages. They were nowhere to be found. But we know where they were. They all bugged out to their doomsday bunkers, and left us out here to keep working, and keep the supply chains moving, Trujillo said. He criticized the companys actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, when UPS drivers continued to work, despite their lives being in danger. They sacrificed us, basically, Trujillo stated. That stuff was running through the hubs; people catching it some of them died. We were out here, the drivers, dealing with the general public, some of us contracted it, brought it back to our families, and some of them died. And they didnt care. RELATED: CEO Lays Off Half The Workforce And Is Surprised When Everyone Else Quits & His Business Fails He questioned the narrative being disseminated by various TikTok commenters who believe UPS are greedy for asking for higher wages. How are we greedy? Were not the greedy ones. Were the ones that actually worked for that $100 billion. They did nothing. Were not greedy. Were standing up and demanding our cut. Thats our money. They dont deserve one cent of that $100 billion, for having done nothing but put us in harm's way. We didnt get no hazard pay for that, Trujillo exclaimed. Theyre not seeing these people in the comments, defending them and their system of exploitation. That pisses me off. Yall supposed to be on our side. We can all get it; we can all eat. They did the same thing to you, except theyre only paying you 20, he said. Trujillo pointed out that the vitriol being cast at UPS workers is entirely misplaced, and that anger should instead be directed at the corporations holding the power. You guys gotta get it together, he said. Were not against you. You guys hating on us in the comments, but you should be hating on your boss. Yall should be emailing your CEO right now, like, You know what UPS gets? Why cant we get that? Or you should be calling your local teamsters office, being like, Hey, how do we get in on this? Instead, youre over here, wasting your energy hating on us. Its not about what they think we deserve, its about how much money were generating for them, right? Theyre keeping it. Its ours, all right? Yall gotta get yours, too. Everyone can, man. This is it, he ended his post. An article published by Forbes Magazine detailed the massive effect a UPS strike would have on the US economy, likely costing the US billions of dollars. As 340,000 workers prepare to strike, the possible ramifications would be dire. A strike would mean slower delivery times, supply chain disruptions, and higher shipping costs, which could get passed on to consumers to cover. RELATED: Top-Performing Employee Tells Boss That Because His Pay Is 'Below Average' His Work Will Be Too After Getting Denied A Raise For Two Years UPS delivers 24.3 million packages a day. If workers strike, other services wont be able to absorb the labor. According to Forbes, a UPS strike would be the most expensive strike in at least a century, costing the US economy upwards of $7 billion, including $4.6 billion in losses for customers, $1 billion in lost wages and more than $800 million in direct losses at UPS. Teamsters President Sean OBrien reported that the union seeks to establish a "livable starting wage" for part-time workers, who currently make poverty wages. Going on strike is a deeply-rooted act that workers have utilized throughout history to attempt to rectify inequitable working conditions. Trujillo made it clear that whats at stake is about more than money. Its about being on the right side of history. Its about a company that made immense profits on the backs of workers who they endangered during a worldwide pandemic. That company is now being held accountable by the workers that carry it, and its up to them to make the just decision. RELATED: Worker Learns She's The Only Person Not Getting A Bonus After Manager Accidentally Puts Everyone's Bonuses On A Screen During A Meeting Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team. She covers workplace issues, pop culture analysis and all things to do with the entertainment industry. This article originally appeared on YourTango The USS Canberra arrives in Sydney ahead of its comissioning. Dan Himbrechts / AAP Image via AP The United States commissioned a new warship in Sydney on Saturday, marking the first time in history that a U.S. Navy ship has entered service in a foreign port. The USS Canberra, an Independence-class littoral combat ship, had her colors raised in a joint ceremony at a Sydney naval base with American and Australian service members. The ship is named after the HMAS Canberra, a Royal Australian Navy cruiser sunk during World War II, which was itself named for the Australian capital city. Saturday's ceremony marked the first time that the U.S. Navy has allowed one of its ships to be commissioned in a foreign harbor. The ship is only the second-ever Navy vessel named for a foreign city, following its predecessor, a World War II-era cruiser also christened the USS Canberra. The new USS Canberra "honors our more than 100-year-long partnership with Australia and is a reflection of our shared values and continuing mission to support a free and open Indo-Pacific," U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos del Toro tweeted. The ship's comissioning comes following a closer alliance between the U.S. and Australia as part of the AUKUS trilateral security pact. The Australian Navy is expected to purchase up to five American submarines as part of a continued defense agreement between the countries, in an effort to beef up security in the region ahead of Chinese threats. A day prior to the USS Canberra's rollout, the U.S. and Australia participated in a joint naval exercise in Sydney, which reportedly included 13 nations and 30,000 military personnel. Del Toro told The Associated Press that the exercise sent a message to China that "we are extremely tied by the core values that exist among our many nations together." He added that the U.S. and Australia were "prepared to actually operate together in defense of our national security interests." You may also like Florida construction and agricultural workforces diminished after new immigration law takes effect Judge limits how Biden officials can communicate with social media companies How solar and wind energy are saving Texans from a record heatwave The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has "no reason to doubt" Russian President Vladimir Putins statement that Russian nuclear weapons are already in Belarus. Source: CNN; European Pravda Details: DIA officials told a group of reporters on Friday that analysts have "no reason to doubt" Putin's claims about moving the first batch of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. They did not specify what this confidence was based on. DIA officials also acknowledged that it is not easy for US intelligence to track the location of Russian nuclear weapons, even with existing capabilities. Earlier in July, Western officials told CNN that it did not appear that Belarus had finished preparing the necessary storage sites and that available satellite images showed no signs of preparations for the security measures that are standard for Russian nuclear facilities. However, other sources informed CNN that there are still some Soviet-era facilities left in Belarus that could host such weapons. The UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace said last week, when asked about the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus, that he "sees signs of this progressing" and noted that Putin "doesn't always lie". Background: On 25 May, the defence ministers of Russia and Belarus signed documents on the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory. On the same day, self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that Russia's nuclear weapons had begun to be transferred to Belarus. Russian leader Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi, said that tactical nuclear weapons will be delivered to the Republic of Belarus after 7-8 July. On 16 June, Putin announced that he had delivered to Belarus the first batch of nuclear charges, which are to be deployed in this country. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! U.S. intelligence officials told reporters on Friday that there is no reason to doubt Russian President Vladimir Putins claims that he moved nuclear weapons into Belarus, according to CNN. Senior Defense Intelligence Agency officials also said they dont believe the movement alters the global nuclear landscape or increases the risk of nuclear attack, the outlet reported. Putin announced in June that Russia had delivered its first nuclear warheads into Belarus as part of a plan to deploy tactical nuclear bombs in the country bordering Ukraine. This is a deterrence measure [against] all those who think about Russia and its strategic defeat, he said at the time. The Russian president also claimed that it was only the first batch, the Russian state-run outlet TASS reported. We will complete this work by the end of this year. As the Russia-Ukraine war nears its 18th month, the intel officials said they had no reason to doubt that [Russia has] had some success in transferring the weapons, which Putin called a deterrence against all those who think about Russia and its strategic defeat. While they didnt go into detail about what made them come to their decision, the officials acknowledged that the weapons were difficult to track even with satellites. Putin first announced plans to store tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in March, saying their placement is a response to U.S. nuclear weapons in nearby European countries and Turkey. He said their actions were no different than what the United States is doing. We are doing what they have been doing for decades, stationing them in certain allied countries, preparing the launch platforms and training their crews, Putin said at the time, as reported by multiple media outlets. We are going to do the same thing. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also said that he would not hesitate to use the weapons if provoked. Story continues We have got the missiles and bombs from Russia Not all of them, little by little, Lukashenko said in June. God forbid I have to make a decision to use those weapons today, but there would be no hesitation if we face an aggression, he added. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photograph: Tom Brenner/Reuters On a small stage in New Hampshire this week, the West Virginia senator Joe Manchin and former Republican governor Jon Huntsman sat together extolling the virtues of bipartisanship and talking very much like running mates. They were there on behalf of the centrist political advocacy organization No Labels, which is considering fielding a third-party ticket in the 2024 presidential election, and had enlisted the two men to debut its 67-page policy manifesto. Early on in the evening, the moderator asked the question looming over the event: were Manchin and Huntsman running for president? After a smattering of applause died down, Manchin deflected, saying they were simply there to explain to you that we need options. But Manchins refusal to announce whether he will seek re-election for the US Senate next year, and his presence at the town hall, has drawn speculation that he and No Labels may combine to upend the 2024 election. Related: The Guardian view on Robert F Kennedy Jr: from Camelot to conspiracy-mongering | Editorial No Labels has been around since 2010, largely promoting centrist policies and occasionally working to elect moderate Democrats to Congress. Its recent ambitions are far grander, as it plans to raise $70m, get on the ballot in every state across the country, and build a third-party ticket for the presidency. The group has become a specter looming over the 2024 election for Democrats, with polls showing that a centrist third-party candidate would draw votes away from Joe Biden and tilt the race toward Donald Trump. The growing prominence of No Labels and its potential to run a third-party candidate has resulted in backlash from Democrats and more centrist Republicans as a result. Democratic representatives and political organizations such as MoveOn have mobilized to oppose the group, including holding briefings for congressional staffers on the risk of a third-party ticket. Democratic and Republican strategists additionally commissioned a poll that showed how an independent centrist candidate would act as a spoiler against Biden. Story continues But efforts to show that No Labels could take a significant portion of the vote and effectively hand Trump the presidency have only emboldened the group. No Labels chief pollster told Axios that the recent survey which showed a moderate independent candidate would receive around 20% of the vote and shift the election to Trump was proof that their strategy was sound and that they had a viable chance at the presidency. The people who are spearheading this are not doing it cynically. They have convinced themselves that this is a unique historical moment and they intend to seize it, said William Galston, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who co-founded No Labels in 2010 before leaving it earlier this year. Galston disagreed with the groups decision in 2022 to focus on fielding a third-party candidate, he said, and after a year of offering arguments against the shift decided to quit the organization in April of this year. Although he still supports the group, he sees its current mission as misguided and has spoken out about how its likely to benefit Trumps presidential hopes. Donald Trump at the Turning Point Action USA conference in West Palm Beach, Florida last Saturday. Photograph: Giorgio Viera/AFP/Getty Images I could not go along with the formation of an independent ticket, Galston said. I saw no equivalence between Donald Trump and Joe Biden and feared that this ticket would, on net, draw support away from Bidens candidacy. No Labels, and its potential candidate Manchin, reject the notion that they will act as spoilers. The group has claimed it will not go ahead with its plans if it appears to shift the election to one party, though has been vague on its criteria for such a decision, and Manchin on Monday told the audience in New Hampshire that if I get in a race Im gonna win. Undisclosed donors As No Labels moves forward with its fundraising and attempts to get on nationwide ballots, it has faced increased scrutiny over who exactly is backing their efforts. The group refuses to disclose its donors, which it is not obligated to do, but a Mother Jones investigation identified dozens of wealthy contributors affiliated with No Labels. Although it includes several major Democratic donors, many of the contributors favor conservative causes and Republican candidates. A separate investigation from the New Republic found that conservative billionaire Harlan Crow, most recently known for his close ties with the supreme court justice Clarence Thomas, donated $130,000 to the group between 2019 and 2021. No Labels officials have cited privacy concerns as the reason that the group will not release its donors, while its chief executive, Nancy Jacobson, told NBC News this week that there was nothing nefarious about its fundraising. Galston brought up to Jacobson in the early days of the groups operations that a lack of transparency might become an issue, he said, but she told him in no uncertain terms that was how things would be run. Jacobson and No Labels did not respond to a request for comment on this article. It is unclear just how much of its $70m goal No Labels has raised, although previous years and Jacobsons status as veteran fundraiser show that it is able to draw large sums. No Labels 2021 tax forms, the most recent year publicly available, state that it took in just over $11.3m in revenue that year. The organizations highest-paid staffer was the former political commentator Mark Halperin, according to the 2021 tax form, who made about $257,000 as No Labels chief strategist. The organization hired Halperin despite allegations from multiple women of sexual harassment and assault against the once-prominent journalist. Halperin, who has previously apologized for some of the harassment allegations against him while denying other allegations including physical assault, left No Labels in March of this year. He could not be reached for comment. The tax forms also show that No Labels paid top Democrat-run consulting firms for their advocacy and communications work. It gave around $946,000 in compensation to the communications firm Rational 360 in 2021. Rational 360 did not respond to a request for comment on this article. The group has faced criticism from Democrats before, including when it endorsed an anti-LGBT, anti-abortion Illinois congressman during the 2018 midterms. A Super Pac tied to No Labels spent about $1m backing the campaign, according to the Intercept. But previous backlash against the group is nothing compared towithwhat it currently faces, with growing concern among Democrats that No Labels has the potential to lose them the White House. Its pretty clear that a No Labels candidate would help re-elect Donald Trump, the Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen told the Hill. No Labels has given itself until Super Tuesday when a large number of states hold primaries in early March of next year as a deadline for announcing whether or not it will run a third party. The groups national co-chair Pat McRory stated on Monday that if Biden and Trump are the likely match-up by then and the group sees a path to victory, it will run a candidate. (This July 21 story has been corrected to change references to Australian port from foreign port, in the headline and paragraph 1) SYDNEY (Reuters) - The United States commissioned a warship in Sydney on Saturday, the first time a U.S. Navy vessel joined active service at an Australian port, as the two close allies step up their military ties in response to China's expanding regional reach. The Independence-class littoral combat ship - named after a Royal Australian Navy cruiser that was sunk while supporting the U.S. Marine landings on Guadalcanal in 1942 - was commissioned at a ceremony at an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbour, officially joining the U.S. Navy's active fleet. "Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy," Australian Defence Minister Marles said in a statement. The commissioning of the U.S. ship in Australian waters reflected "our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order", he added. The ceremony comes amid the biennial Talisman Sabre military exercises between the U.S. and Australia, seen as a show of force and unity as China increasingly asserts power in the Indo-Pacific. The exercises, taking place in various locations across Australia over two weeks, include mock land and air combat, as well as amphibious landings. In addition to Australia and the U.S., forces from Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Korea, Tonga and Britain are taking part. As part of the war games, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) on Saturday launched a surface-to-ship missile off Australia's east coast at Jervis Bay, about 195km (121 miles) south of Sydney. Australia's Defence Department said the drill "marked the first time the JGSDF has tested the capability in Australia". Story continues Germany is participating for the first time with 210 paratroopers and marines taking part, as the European nation bolsters its presence in the region. Under the AUKUS project announced in March, the United States and Britain have agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Before that, in the early 2030s, the United States is supposed to sell Australia three U.S. Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines, with an option for Australia to buy two more. (Reporting by Sam McKeith in Sydney; Editing by Stephen Coates) Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says "there is still a long way to go" Labour must learn the lessons of its by-election defeat in Uxbridge, Sir Keir Starmer has said. The Labour leader had blamed the loss on London Mayor Sadiq Khan's plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) - a tax on polluting vehicles. Conservative Steve Tuckwell won the seat after campaigning against the tax. Addressing Labour's national forum, Sir Keir said there was "something very wrong" when a Labour policy was on "each and every Tory leaflet". In a bruising week for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour and the Lib Dems took two safe Tory seats. Labour's Keir Mather, 25, won in Selby and Ainsty, North Yorkshire, overturning a 20,137 majority to become the youngest sitting MP. The Conservatives clung on narrowly in the third by-election, in Uxbridge, Boris Johnson's former seat, despite a big swing to Labour. Sir Keir said that while the by-election win in North Yorkshire should give Labour "every reason to be confident", the loss in Uxbridge showed there was "still a long way to go". The Conservative win in Uxbridge sparked debates about both parties' green policies. Sir Keir told the BBC the Ulez plan had cost Labour victory - but Mr Khan has defended the measure as the "right one". Speaking during a visit to Shefford in Nadine Dorries' constituency of Mid Bedfordshire, the Labour leader told journalists: "I don't think there is any doubt that Ulez was the reason that we lost the election in Uxbridge." Sir Keir said he had spoken to the London mayor, adding: "But we're not sitting back, we're not looking over our shoulder. We're pressing forward." Sources close to Mr Khan told the BBC he was in "constructive listening mode" but added that he had no plans to delay the scheme's expansion at the end of August. Story continues Asked whether Labour needs to rethink its climate polices, Sir Keir said: "When it comes to green commitments, it's not a question of whether they should be done, of course it needs to be done - it's how they're done. "So there's a discussion to be had about that." Mr Tuckwell, the winning candidate in Uxbridge, said the "damaging and costly Ulez policy" had cost Labour the chance of winning the seat. The Ulez is a 12.50 daily charge for driving in London, applicable if the vehicle does not meet certain emission standards. It initially covered the same central area as the congestion charge before widening to the North and South Circular roads in 2021. A further expansion to cover all London boroughs is due to start on 29 August. On Friday, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said the Uxbridge result showed that "when you don't listen to voters, you don't win elections". Cities need clean air, she said, but she warned that people who needed new vehicles must get "proper compensation and support" so that the policy does not come "at the cost of working families". Some on the right of the Conservative party say that pulling back from some green policies would prove popular with voters, at a time when families are feeling cost-of-living pressures. Tory MP Craig Mackinlay, chairman of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, has suggested delaying the ban on new diesel and petrol cars, pushing it back "at least" five years to 2035. Downing Street sources say there are no plans to change climate targets - but that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will try to set his party apart from Labour in the coming months. Conservative MP Steve Tuckwell won the Uxbridge by-election on Thursday As the major parties digest the by-election results, ex-climate minister Lord Ian Duncan, a Conservative, warned that if Sir Keir and Rishi Sunak do not put politics aside and agree a common approach to climate change, people will face "serious challenges". Lord Duncan, who was the parliamentary under secretary for climate change from July 2019 to February 2020, said a "bipartisan approach" was needed from both parties to "get behind" common climate policies. The UK government's net zero tsar, Chris Skidmore, said it would be an "abdication" of responsibility if ministers "play politics" with environmental policies. Mr Skidmore, the Conservative MP for Kingswood, said: "The net zero review I chaired demonstrated that net zero isn't just an environmental policy, but a key economic driver of future growth and investment that can transform Britain for the better, but this requires all political parties not to play politics with safeguarding our futures." He urged politicians to prioritise "the lives and health of the public and the opportunity for economic growth" ahead of "gamesmanship". "It is also really bad politics, given that the environment and taking action on climate change consistently polls third in the issues that voters care about," he added. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) Multilateral lenders, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, have held initial "talks" with the Philippine government over the setup of its first sovereign wealth fund, but "no commitments" have yet been made, according to the Department of Finance (DOF). Finance Secretary Ben Diokno on Friday said the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) will be "up and running before the end of 2023," and the DOF has set a clear timetable to get there from finetuning the implementing rules to guaranteeing the 125-billion seed capital, to drafting the officers and board members that will oversee the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC). The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) has set an end-August target to polish the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) for the law that created the MIF. Diokno, however, said the BTr "is confident" it can deliver as early as the "second week of August." 100-B seed capital by end-year The board of the Land Bank of the Philippines, one of the two state-run banks that are founding members of the Maharlika fund, has approved its 50-billion contribution, Diokno said. The other founding government financial institution, the Development Bank of the Philippines which under the Maharlika Investment Fund law has to contribute 25 billion in capital is expected to follow suit. "There's no mechanism in the law on how they will remit the money to the corporation and the corporation still has to be organized so we will wait for the IRR. Maybe they can give it to the Treasury in escrow. When the corporation is organized, that's when the Treasury will transfer to the corporation," Diokno told a few journalists attending in a late Friday briefing. Together, the two state-owned banks will beef up the fund with 75 billion in initial seed money, but Diokno said he can easily raise that to 100 billion given that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has remitted 31.86 billion in dividends in favor of the national government. "Hindi maliwanag if 31 billion kasama na doon [It isn't clear if the 31 billion is included there] but if the government, if the Treasury is willing to give it to us, we will accept, Diokno said, noting that the central bank can use it to boost its own balance sheet or the national government can opt to remit it to the MIF. The law stipulates that in the first two years from the time it takes effect, 100% of the BSPs dividends "remitted to the National Government shall be earmarked for the capitalization of the MIC," read the DOF's briefing paper distributed to reporters. "It is safe to say that the fund is well-capitalized at the very start and we can start before end-year if there are investible projects where we can apply those money, the 100 billion," Diokno said. Non-voting shares The seed capital contributed by the founders allows them to subscribe to shares in the MIC the corporation managing the fund which has an authorized capital stock of 500 billion. Up to 75% of that authorized capital stock or 375 billion are common or voting shares that can be sold only to the national government, and government-run corporations or financial institutions that already counted the DBP and the Landbank. The rest of the shares 25% or valued at 125 billion are preferred or non-voting shares available for subscription of the private corporations and financial institutions. 'Advice' from multilateral institutions Those preferred shares open up the opportunity for private companies and foreign lenders. Asked if multilateral institutions like the World Bank, through its investment arm IFC, and the ADB signified interest in subscribing to shares in the MIC, National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said: "What we'd like to do is to have a conversation with them kasi they'd like to see muna [because they'd like to see first] the investment policy and also the IRR. Laging tanong [They always ask], who would be running it, so they want also updates, sino ang magiging [who will be the] CEO? Diokno added: "It really depends on the quality of the management." "There's a lot of interest but no commitments kasi [because] as we go along we talked with them. In fact, we looked for advice from them on how to organize this," he said. CNN Philippines cannot separately ascertain yet whether the World Bank, the IFC, the ADB and the IMF have received a formal request from the Philippine government for advice on the setup of the Maharlika fund, or whether the advice was just verbal. De Leon, however, clarified: "The investment can be in the corporation but can be also in the fund level. Kasi [Because] they need not invest in the corporation to be able to participate in the Maharlika. Sa fund pwede sila mag-invest as well [They can also invest in the fund], not just subscribe to the shares in the corporation." Pressed further if multilateral institutions would invest in the MIF, Diokno said: "It's favorable if they invest so that will give the impression that this is a very stable fund. Kasi kung mga multinational corporation ang nag-iinvest [Because if multinational corporations invest] IFC, ADB, JBIC if they invest in this then that would give the impression that this is very sound investment and stable. "There's a lot of interest," Diokno reiterated. Vice President Kamala Harris carried the culture war over Americas past through downtown Jacksonville Friday, delivering a rebuttal to new state standards for school curriculums she said replace history with lies. I do believe this is not only about the state of Florida. There is a national agenda afoot, Harris told an overflow crowd at the history-laden Ritz Theatre and Museum in LaVilla. The vice president filled the 400-seat venue in the citys most notable historically Black neighborhood and used the stage to weave together criticisms of measures Gov. Ron DeSantiss administration has pursued to reject what DeSantis terms woke ideology. The Democratic vice president argued the Republican governors efforts reach dangerously far outside the mainstream. More on Harris' visit: Kamala Harris on Florida's Black history standards: 'We will be stronger if we remember' More: Florida board OKs Black history standards, rejects concerns about omitting 'key' facts More: As demand for AP African American Studies curriculum surges across US, Florida ban remains Harris visit to Jacksonville came in response to the Florida Board of Education changes to the states African American history courses for kindergarten through 12th graders. One change civil rights groups and Harris have opposed included the addition of a benchmark for middle schoolers to understand that ...slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. Opponents have called the changes revisionist and ignorant of the oppression of African Americans. The state additionally revoked an Advanced Placement African American studies course in the spring and, despite College Board changes, have not reinstituted it. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks out against the Florida School Board of Education's new standards for teaching Black history on Friday, July 21, 2023 at the Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville. Harris compared the changes to other recent controversial Florida education laws, saying a lot of them refer to the same source. And what is happening here in Florida? Extremist so-called leaders for months have dared to ban books. Book bans in this year of our Lord 2023, Harris said. Story continues Extremists here in Florida passed a law, Don't Say Gay, trying to instill fear in our teachers that they should not live their full life and love who they love. And now, on top of all of that, they want to replace history with lies. Middle school students in Florida [are] to be told that enslaved people benefited from slavery. With the 2024 presidential contest looming over both sides of the dispute, DeSantis responded combatively to the criticism. Democrats like Kamala Harris have to lie about Florida's educational standards to cover for their agenda of indoctrinating students and pushing sexual topics onto children, he tweeted. Florida stands in their way and we will continue to expose their agenda and their lies. Florida GOP Chairman Christian Ziegler struck a similar tone, saying by email that Harris hopped on the first flight down to Florida in order to lecture Floridian parents that their children belong to the government and the government has a right to indoctrinate and sexualize our children. The government overreach on parental rights has already been overwhelmingly rejected in Florida, and we hope the other 49 states will join with us by telling the Biden Administration to go pound sand, he added. What did local leaders say about the event? Upon her arrival at Jacksonville International Airport, Vice President Kamala Harris, right, meets with Jacksonville's newly-elected Mayor Donna Deegan on the Tarmac before Harris's motorcade departs for the Ritz Theatre and Museum. Newly inaugurated Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said she was happy Harris came to Jacksonville to shine a light on the issue. Deegan greeted Harris as she exited Air Force 2 Friday afternoon and spoke to reporters before departing on a previously scheduled flight out of town. "If we're going to have unity, whether it's in our city, or our state or our nation, it has to start with respecting each other's humanity, Deegan said. That's the bottom line, and any insinuation that slavery was a benefit to Black people is offensive. Once at the theater, a succession of allies joined Harris and argued that history showing the warts and shortcomings of Americas past, including deep-rooted racism, can help a next generation to understand that confronting racial divides has been a core part of the countrys history. Black history is American history, NAACP National President Derrick Johnson said before Harris spoke. Our history is the history of perfecting democracy. Jennifer Jenkins, a Brevard County school board member who DeSantis aimed to replace in the last election, introduced Harris to the stage. As a parent, she said she wanted to make sure her child did not learn white-washed history. She reflected on her own time on the school board, including when she said protestors threatened her after she supported mask mandates in schools in 2021. They may want to rewrite our history, Jenkins said. They may want to make us relive the darkest parts of that history. But today, we get to witness history as our vice president gets to school the Florida Department of Education. Prior to her prepared remarks at LaVilla's Ritz Theatre and Museum, Vice President Kamala Harris speaks to guests at the theater on Friday, July 21. Harris tells supporters to stand together Harris supporters with invitations lined the sun-baked street before the Ritz opened its doors two hours ahead of Harriss talk, but Tami Gerena wasnt quite sure how shed ended up among them. Its a mystery, said Gerena, who said she received an email from the White House about 11:30 p.m. Thursday despite not considering herself very politically active. Her first thought was that it was a scam, but Gerena said she filled out an online form after talking to her husband and received confirmation and instructions Friday morning. She also got an invitation from the Duval Democrats, but by then she was already on the guest list. Some people went well out of their way to hear Harris talk. Carlotta Houston-Johnson left a church conference in Orlando when she got her invitation, and said it was a rare chance to hear a leaders thoughts unfiltered. Houston-Johnson, a longtime poll worker, said Harris had picked an important topic by talking about history. If you dont know about the dynamics of the past, she said, you cant understand where we are. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks before hundreds of supporters to speak out against the Florida State Board of Education's revised standards for teaching Black history on Friday at the Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville. Looking forward, Harris said she and President Joe Biden support people of Florida. In order for the country to progress instead of rewriting its history Harris said residents needed to stand together and form a coalition. This is unnecessary to debate whether enslaved people benefited from slavery. Are you kidding me? Harris said. Let us not be distracted by what they're trying to do, which is to create unnecessary debates to divide our country. Let's not fall in that trap. We will stand united as a country. We know our collective history. It is our shared history. We are all in this together. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: VP Harris in Florida warns of agenda to whitewash Black history For more than two years, Oceano Dunes Vehicular Recreation Area appeared poised to close to off-road riding by 2024. However, a San Luis Obispo Superior Court judge gave off-roading enthusiasts and wildlife advocates whiplash Wednesday afternoon when she issued a ruling that allows off-highway vehicle use to continue in the popular park. Judge Tana Coates ruling mandates the California Coastal Commission vacate its March 2021 amendment to the Oceano Dunes parks coastal development. That amendment had effectively prohibited off-roading at the park by 2024. The ruling marked the end of a court battled waged by off-roading advocates Friends of Oceano Dunes and EcoLogic Partners against the Coastal Commission after its March 2021 vote. The Coastal Commission is set to meet in August to discuss the ruling and next steps. Tire tracks are seen at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. Off-roading enthusiasts and businesses that cater to that community said theyre happy with the ruling, which opens up the opportunity to let them keep driving their vehicles around the dunes for years to come. We are extremely pleased with our victory showing the Coastal Commission exceeded its authority once again, Friends of Oceano Dunes president Jim Suty wrote in an email to The Tribune. Friends of Oceano Dunes will continue to fight to protect continued access for camping and OHV use at the Oceano Dunes the way it has been occurring for over 100 years. However, wildlife advocates are concerned what the ruling could mean for the threatened and endangered birds that nest in the dunes. This ruling imperils a whos who of rare and endangered coastal birds, including the Western snowy plover and California least tern, Andrea Jones, director of bird conservation for Audubon California, said in a statement Friday. Off-roading enthusiasts happy with judges ruling The contradictory reactions to the Oceano Dunes ruling is nothing new for those who have followed the controversial parks history. Since the parks inception in the 1980s, off-roaders and preservationists have battled over the parks uses. Story continues The off-roading area within the Oceano Dunes has shrunk significantly over the years from 3,600 acres to about 1,500 acres. The majority of those closures were to set aside areas for bird habitat and dust pollution control measures. Friends of Oceano Dunes have long argued those closures were far too aggressive and based on science the nonprofit did not believe was accurate. Fences surrounding a 300-acre snowy plover and California least tern exclosure at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area were put back up a week after they were taken down. However, the closures were deemed successful by California State Parks as the population of endangered California least terns and threatened snowy plovers saw recovery in areas closed to off-road driving. Additionally, dust pollution from the dunes has fallen measurably since State Parks implemented the measures required by the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District. Friends of Oceano Dunes has pledged to continue its fight against the use of bad science and the abuse of political power. Specialty Equipment Market Association and EcoLogic Partners entities that entered into a lawsuit against the Coastal Commission alongside Friends of Oceano Dunes where Coates issued her ruling said in a statement Thursday they were also committed to protecting off-roading recreation in the Oceano Dunes. The Coastal Commissions efforts to stop off-road access at Oceano Dunes were unreasonable and set a dangerous precedent, the two entities statement said. This is a hard-fought victory for the motorized recreation community and the millions of enthusiasts who recreate at Oceano Dunes each year. Vehicles are lined up at an off-loading area for Steves ATV Rentals at Post 2 at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area on Friday, July 21, 2023. Wildlife advocacy groups say ruling is deadly for protected bird species Off-roading enthusiasts promise to continue fighting for continued access to the Oceano Dunes is matched by that of groups battling to prohibit vehicles in the park. Audubon will continue to advocate for the birds, wildlife, rare coastal dune habitat, and air quality issues in the surrounding communities, as well as equitable access to nature, Jones said. Audubon California, the Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity say Coates Wednesday ruling marked a turn for the worse for the future of the Oceano Dunes. This is a deadly decision for the endangered shorebirds that call Oceano Dunes home, Ileene Anderson, a senior scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement to The Tribune on Thursday. A snowy plover walks along the water line at the Oceano Dunes. Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club director Andrew Christie noted that the ruling throws the future of South County and the Oceano-Nipomo dunes complex into limbo. In her ruling, Coates wrote that the Coastal Commission went about its ban of off-roading in the Oceano Dunes park the wrong way by amending the parks coastal development permit. There can be no dispute that the proper procedure is for the commission to first propose amendments to the (local coastal program) which authorizes such OHV driving, Coates wrote. To change the local coastal program, the Coastal Commission must submit proposed changes to the county or perhaps the State Legislature, Coates wrote in her ruling. Samantha Laurey/AFP via Getty Images A federal lawsuit says a Virginia man killed two women and that his mother, who worked for the police, prevented a full investigation. Michael Ebong was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Sheena West and Kelsey Paton. The lawsuit says Paton's death might have been prevented if Norfolk police had investigated the first death. A Virginia man convicted of killing two women was able to commit the same crime multiple times because his mother, who worked at the police department, helped quash the investigation and destroy evidence, a federal lawsuit alleges. Michael Ebong was convicted last year of involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Sheena West in November 2020 and Kelsey Paton in July 2021, court records show. Ebong was accused of drugging the women at local bars and bringing them back to his apartment against their will, where they later died from the drugs. But a new lawsuit from Paton's mother against the City of Norfolk argues that her daughter's death could have been prevented if police had properly investigated West's death just months earlier. Kathy Paton's lawsuit alleges that Ebong's mother "held a position of influence" within the police department and used that influence to ensure officers did not question Ebong, and instead "destroyed, concealed, and failed to preserve evidence" of the crime. The lawsuit alleges the police department's actions constitute obstruction of justice. "By obstructing Ebong's prosecution for murder, the Norfolk Police Department enabled him to remain at large in the Hampton Roads community to continue his modus operandi of drugging women at bars, removing them from the bars, taking them to his home, raping them, and sometimes killing them of an overdose from the chemicals he drugged them with," the lawsuit said. West's death at Ebong's apartment was initially dismissed by Norfolk authorities as an "accidental overdose" with no foul play suspected, according to media reports at the time. Then, less than one year later, in an identical scenario, Paton was found dead from a drug overdose at Ebong's apartment. Story continues Both West and Paton's families told a local CBS affiliate at the time that the women did not do drugs. Court records show Ebong was originally charged with second-degree murder in both women's deaths, though he was ultimately convicted of a lesser charge: involuntary manslaughter. The lawsuit says that the Norfolk police were responsible for that lesser charge because they failed to preserve evidence that could have secured a first- or second-degree murder conviction. Ebong's mother held 'various administrative positions' in the Norfolk Police Department A representative for the City of Norfolk denied the allegations and told Insider in a statement the city is "aware" of Paton's lawsuit but has not yet been served. "While the City sympathizes with the Paton family, it denies that NPD obstructed justice and it will defend the lawsuit accordingly," the statement said. The statement said Ebong's mother, Maravia Reid, worked as a civilian employee "in various administrative positions" within the Norfolk Police Department for 27 years. She retired in March of 2022. Reid did not immediately respond to multiple messages from Insider requesting comment. The lawsuit alleges that nine months after West's death, Ebong drugged Paton at a local bar, brought her to his home against her will, "gave her bruises on her thighs and killed her from an overdose." The lawsuit also alleges Ebong injured Paton with blunt force trauma to the head. As with West's death, Ebong called police to report Paton's death as an "overdose," and his mother then prevented responding officers from questioning him and from preserving evidence at the scene, the lawsuit alleges. Norfolk officers even permitted Ebong to carry Paton's body out of his home, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit says some of the evidence Norfolk police failed to preserve was Paton's purse, which Ebong said contained drugs, and whatever object Ebong might have used to inflict blunt force trauma to Paton's head. "The Norfolk Police Department shockingly failed to recognize that Ebong had previously called in the overdose of West and unceremoniously sent Kelsey Paton's body to the medical examiner without recognizing the pattern of behavior and without preserving the evidence at the scene of her death," the lawsuit said. Read the original article on Insider I recently visited Banff, Canada, during one of its less-popular seasons. Paige DiFiore Banff, Canada, is popular in the summer and winter months but I visited in May, an offseason time. I found the beautiful mountain town to be crowded but bearable, especially by Lake Louise. Most of my trip was pretty peaceful, and I loved the lack of lines and waits at restaurants. Located in the Rocky Mountains, Banff is a famous Canadian ski town that's home to Banff National Park, one of the most visited national parks in the country. I stopped by the popular spot in early May during the off-season while on a trip to Alberta, a province about four hours away. I imagine Banff is much trickier to navigate during peak season in the summer (June to August) or winter's ski season (December to March). But while I was there, I found Banff to be mostly peacefully quiet but with full parking lots and crowds of tourists in some areas. Here's what it was like. First, we stopped by Lake Louise. A lot of guides I read online warned us to arrive early, and the parking lot was almost full when we got there around 9 a.m. on a Friday. If we'd arrived later we might have had to park even further away. Paige DiFiore We passed many empty spaces where it looked like shuttles should be. Shuttles are popular during peak season because Lake Louise, and especially its parking lot, can get crowded. On our trip, we only saw one. I guess not many shuttles run in Banff during the off-season. Paige DiFiore There was still snow melting in patches throughout the area even though it hadn't snowed for a few days. We also saw a few construction areas on the way. I imagine most of the construction is saved for when tourists aren't coming in packs. Paige DiFiore The path to the lake that we took was clear and lined with puddles and melting snow. The walk was easy, pretty quiet, and took less than 10 minutes. The walk to Lake Louise wasn't bad in the chilly weather. Paige DiFiore Although it was pretty warm out, Lake Louise was frozen and looked sort of like an iceberg to me. I should've known Lake Louise wouldn't look like the photos I saw of it from peak season. Paige DiFiore Even though it was offseason, I still struggled to take any photos without other tourists in the frame. I can't imagine how crowded this gets in the summer. Paige DiFiore I also found a sign warning visitors about the possibility there could be an avalanche, which can occur from November to June. I definitely kept my distance from the lake. No avalanches occurred while I was there. Paige DiFiore Source The snowy mountain peaks looked beautiful, but I bet this view is even more fantastic in the summer when the ice on the lake melts. Story continues I wished I'd gotten to see the blue water underneath the ice. Paige DiFiore I noticed a lot of tourists climbing down the rocks at the edge of the icy lake. I was surprised by how accessible the lake was. Paige DiFiore It seemed like a bad idea because there were warnings about thin ice right on the rocks. Fortunately, I didn't see anyone on the ice. Paige DiFiore We didn't stay at the lake long because it was admittedly a little bit underwhelming during this time of year. We passed a lot of beautiful trees on the short walk back. I enjoyed how quiet most of our walk was. Paige DiFiore Eventually, we drove into the actual town of Banff. Finding a parking spot in a nearby lot was easy. Lots of people were walking around. Paige DiFiore The streets felt incredibly quiet and peaceful but weren't empty. We came across a lot of people as we walked around. I overhead accents from around the globe. Paige DiFiore The shops we stopped in were fairly empty, and it was easy to navigate the town. Banff was definitely walkable. Paige DiFiore The town felt super clean and had plenty of garbage cans with mechanisms to prevent bears from getting inside. It took me a second to figure them out. I liked how pretty the garbage cans looked with the wood design. Paige DiFiore We also stopped by the Canadian chain BeaverTails. I'd learned about its fried dough strips from TikTok, and a small line started forming when we arrived just before the store opened. It's never too early for a BeaverTail, apparently. Paige DiFiore I was the first person in line, so I only waited a few minutes for a hot BeaverTail with Nutella. It was delicious. I bet the line gets pretty long during the peak months. Paige DiFiore We ate lunch at The Grizzly House, a popular fondue spot a local recommended. He'd warned us to make a reservation, but we were able to walk right in without one. Offseason perks! The food was delicious. Paige DiFiore We also stopped by a mall in Banff but found it looked almost deserted. A lot of shops were closed, and we didn't see too many people walking around. We bought a few items but didn't stick around long. Paige DiFiore I appreciated that every view in Banff was beautiful. Even when we cut through an alleyway, we could see mountains in the distance. Mountains were everywhere, and they were stunning. Paige DiFiore By the time we left at 3:30 p.m., the three-floor lot we'd parked in was jam-packed. I can't imagine how hard it is to find parking during peak season. The views were even nice from a parking lot. Paige DiFiore Overall, Banff is a great place to spend a day and I don't regret going during the offseason. The weather was comfortably brisk and although I'm sure Lake Louise is prettier during peak times, I'm glad we didn't have to deal with even bigger crowds. Banff is definitely worth a visit. Paige DiFiore Read the original article on Insider Tim Friedlander, founder of the National Association of Voice Actors, speaks during Comic-Con in San Diego on July 21, 2023 (Matt Winkelmeyer) "Pandora's Box is open" when it comes to artificial intelligence, voice actors behind some of the world's most popular animations and video games warned at this week's Comic-Con event. North America's largest pop culture gathering is taking place during a major Hollywood strike, partly driven by actors and writers' concerns about the encroachment of AI into art. Voice actors are on the frontlines of the debate, with technology now readily available allowing users to clone somebody's voice and have it read new dialogue -- often without their permission or payment. Tim Friedlander, founder of the National Association of Voice Actors, shared a recent example of a voice actor who had worked for a company for three years, but abruptly lost their work. "They said 'we have three years of your voice -- we're just going to create an AI synthetic voice out what we already have,'" Friedlander told press ahead of Saturday's panel. The danger does not just come from studios. The last few years have seen a sharp rise in fans using AI "deepfake mods" to clone famous voices and have them read new material, often pornographic in nature. "I have children. There are things I don't want my voice to say and have my children hear and question if that is something that I have actually said," said Cissy Jones, of animated TV series "The Owl House." Zeke Alton, whose voice recently appeared in video game "The Calisto Protocol," said voice actors were not trying to ban AI altogether. "Let's be clear -- Pandora's box is open," he said. "If you're going to replicate me or any other performer, we should consent to that, and then we should be compensated for the use of what makes us money." - 'Digital replica' - Artificial intelligence is a key sticking point in stalled talks between Hollywood studios and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA), which this month joined writers on strike. Story continues Actors have accused studios of failing to take seriously concerns that would leave them "vulnerable to having most of their work replaced by digital replicas." The studios said Friday they had offered to establish informed consent and fair compensation when a "digital replica" is made of a performer or their voice, and that the union did not respond. Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief negotiator for SAG-AFTRA, told journalists at Comic-Con that studios want to "bury" AI consent clauses "in some sentence in the middle of a 12-page contract." Voice actors are "at the forefront" of the AI debate, he warned, with changes "happening more quickly with voice acting than it is in any other field." For instance, studios are exploring AI to dub dialogue into foreign languages, which would strip voice actors around the world of valuable work for their local markets. Another concern is that studios could use "synthesized" voices that merge multiple human voices, and not pay any of the original actors. - 'Not protected' - Despite the furor, not all voice acting work is currently affected by the strike, as some is negotiated under separate union contracts. Voicing characters in animation, announcing trailers or adding dialogue for background actors in film or television scenes -- a very common practice known as "looping" or ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) -- is banned. But voicework for video games comes under a separate union contract for "interactive" media, for which talks are still ongoing, and therefore can still be performed without breaking the strike. Still, Alton warned, "what happens in this strike is going to impact not only the acting profession, but every profession." "An actor is an actor is an actor. So if we are not protected at the end of this strike in this contract, we're not protected in any contract." amz/tjj The book includes haunting photos from inside the ghetto, along with its record of the medical effects of starvation. 'Maladie de Famine," American Joint Distribution Committee In 1942, a group of starving Jewish scientists and doctors in the Warsaw Ghetto were collecting data on their starving patients. They hoped their research would benefit future generations through better ways to treat malnutrition, and they wanted the world to know of Nazi atrocities to prevent something similar from ever happening again. They recorded the grim effects of an almost complete lack of food on the human body in a rare book titled Maladie de Famine (in English, The Disease of Starvation: Clinical Research on Starvation in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942) that we rediscovered in the Tufts University library. As scientists who study starvation, its biological effects and its use as a weapon of mass destruction, we believe the story of how and why Jewish scientists conducted this research in such extreme conditions is as important and compelling as its results. The clandestine projects lead doctor, Israel Milejkowski, wrote the bookss foreword. In it, he explains: The work was originated and pursued under unbelievable conditions. I hold my pen in my hand and death stares into my room. It looks through the black windows of sad empty houses on deserted streets littered with vandalized and burglarized possessions. In this prevailing silence lies the power and the depth of our pain and the moans that one day will shake the worlds conscience. Reading these words, we were both transfixed, transported by his voice to a time and place where starvation was being used as a weapon of oppression and annihilation as the Nazis were systematically exterminating all Jews in their occupied territories. As scholars of starvation, we were also well aware that this book catalogs many of the justifications for the 1949 Geneva Conventions, which made starvation of civilians a war crime. A defiant medical record Within months of their 1939 invasion of Poland, Nazi forces created the infamous Warsaw Ghetto. At its peak, more than 450,000 Jews were required to live in this small, walled-off area of about 1.5 square miles (3.9 square kilometers) within the city, unable to leave even to look for food. Story continues Although Germans in Warsaw were allotted a daily ration of about 2,600 calories, physicians in the ghetto estimated that Jews were able to consume only about 800 calories a day on average through a combination of rations and smuggling. Thats about half the calories volunteers consumed in a study on starvation conducted near the end of World War II by researchers at the University of Minnesota, and less than a third of the average energy needs of an adult male. When the Nazis designated the district of the Warsaw Ghetto, it enclosed two hospitals, one serving Jewish adults and another for Jewish children. The hospitals were allowed to continue to treat patients with whatever resources they could obtain, but Jews in general were forbidden from conducting research. Nevertheless, starting in February 1942, a group of Jewish doctors in the ghetto defied their captors by meticulously and secretly gathering data and observations on multiple biological aspects of starvation. Then on July 22, 1942, Nazi forces entered the ghetto and destroyed the hospitals and other critical services. Patients and some of the doctors were killed outright or deported to be gassed, their laboratories, samples and some of their research destroyed. With their own demise approaching, the remaining doctors spent the last nights of their lives meeting secretly in the cemetery buildings, transforming their data into a series of research articles. By October, as they put the finishing touches on the book, about 300,000 Jews from the ghetto had already been gassed. The physicians own data showed that another 100,000 had been killed through forced starvation and disease. With final deportations of the few surviving Jews underway and his own death imminent, Milejkowski wrote of the dark, yawning emptiness of the ghetto at that moment, and the horrifying conditions the doctors had labored under to conduct and record the research. Milejkowski had words for not only the reader, but also his dear colleagues, many of whom had already been executed. What can I tell you, my beloved colleagues and companions in misery. You are a part of all of us. Slavery, hunger, deportation, those death figures in our ghetto were also your legacy. And you, by your work, could give the henchman the answer Non omnis moriar, [I shall not wholly die]. The teams act of resistance through science was its way to wring something good out of an evil situation, to show the world the quality of the Jewish doctor, but mostly to defy the Nazis intent to erase their existence. With death knocking on the door, the doctors smuggled their precious research out of the ghetto to a sympathizer who buried it in the cemetery of the Warsaw hospital. Less than a year later, all but a few of the 23 authors were dead. Immediately after the war, the manuscript was dug up and taken to one of the few surviving authors, Dr. Emil Apfelbaum, and the American Joint Distribution Committee in Warsaw, a charity whose main purpose at the time was to help Jewish survivors. Together, they made the final edits and printed the six surviving articles, binding them into a book along with photos taken in the ghetto. Apfelbaum died just a couple of months before the final printing, broken by his years in the ghetto. In 1948 and 1949, the American Joint Distribution Committee disseminated 1,000 copies of the French translation to hospitals, medical schools, libraries and universities across the U.S. It was one humble, crumbling copy of this book that waited to be rediscovered about 75 years later in the basement of a Tufts University library. Many of the ghettos inhabitants had no other diseases beyond the effects of starvation. 'Maladie de Famine,' American Joint Distribution Committee The books grim descriptions Based on observations of thousands of deaths from starvation, this research from the Warsaw Ghetto provides insight into the biological progression of starvation that scientists now are just beginning to understand. For example, many Warsaw Ghetto residents who died of starvation were otherwise free of disease. The ghetto researchers found that while an otherwise healthy body diminished through starvation apparently had a decreased need for vitamins, the need for certain minerals remained. They saw few cases of scurvy (vitamin C deficiency), night blindness (vitamin A deficiency) or rickets (vitamin D deficiency). But they did see significant osteomalacia, a softening of the bones, as the body mined them for their stores of minerals. When the doctors provided sugar to the severely malnourished, their energy-starved cells quickly absorbed it. This demonstrated that the ability to quickly absorb and use energy remained to the end, suggesting that energy was the single most important factor in starvation, not other micro- or macronutrients. Each of these observations invites us as scientists to explore further. And with these lessons we can hope to prevent deaths or long-term harm from starvation through better treatment for the severely malnourished. As scientists studying starvation today, it would be unthinkable and unethical to starve people to learn how the human body adjusts and changes during the end stages of extreme starvation. Even if researchers go into a famine-stricken population to learn about starvation, they immediately treat the victims, erasing the very object of their research. Partly as a result of the experience of the Warsaw Ghetto, the Geneva Conventions made intentional mass starvation a crime, further strengthened by a U.N. Security Council Resolution as recently as 2018. Nevertheless, this inhumane aspect of war remains to this day, as evidenced by current events in Ukraine and Tigray, Ethiopia. Though Maladie de Famine has never been totally lost or forgotten, the lessons from the doctors research have faded to semi-obscurity. Eight decades after the destruction that ended their studies, we hope to shine a renewed light on this work and its enduring impact on physicians understanding of starvation and how to treat it. The unique data and observations regarding severe starvation that the Warsaw Ghetto doctors, despite their own suffering, presented in this precious book can even now help safeguard others from that same fate. The Joint Distribution Committee, which holds the copyright for Maladie de Famine, has allowed Tufts University to post a freely accessible scan of the book online. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Merry Fitzpatrick, Tufts University and Irwin Rosenberg, Tufts University. 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. Warsaw has summoned the Russian Ambassador to Poland after President Vladimir Putin threatened Poland and claimed it was eyeing territory in Ukraine and Belarus. After the arrival of 5,000 Wagner fighters into Belarus following their short-lived mutiny, Poland said it would move troops to the border. Putin reacted aggressively, saying Poland was about to occupy western parts of Ukraine and was "dreaming of Belarusian lands," threatening to respond with force. Number of Wagner fighters in Belarus reaches 5,000 About 5,000 Wagner mercenaries arrived in Belarus, according to Ukraines State Border Guard Service spokesman Andrii Demchenko. Their presence there does not present an immediate threat to Ukraine, he said. The Kyiv IndependentIgor Kossov The western territories of present-day Poland are a gift from (Soviet tyrant Joseph) Stalin to the Poles, have our friends in Warsaw forgotten about this? he added. We will remind you. "Stalin was a war criminal responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Poles," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on July 21. "The historical truth is not subject to discussion," he added. Russia has regularly threatened Poland and the Baltic states with military force. Putin has also been sabre-rattling using nuclear weapons on multiple occasions. Poland has been one of the key backers of Ukraine in its defensive war agaisnt Russia. Morawiecki said in an interview published by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on June 4 that Ukraine deserves a quick path to NATO membership given that it "fights in the interests of NATO." According to Morawiecki, Ukraine fights on behalf of the military alliance "in the sense that they are defending against this brutal Russian force which would jeopardize many other NATO countries," even though it is not yet a NATO member. For this reason "they deserve to be presented with a very quick path to NATO," the Polish Prime Minister said. On Tuesday, July 25, the United States plans to announce a new military aid package for the Ukrainian Defense Forces The United States plans to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine worth up to $400 million on July 25, Reuters reported on July 21, citing three informed sources. Sources have indicated that the main priorities in this tranche of security assistance will be "artillery, anti-aircraft missiles, and ground equipment to strengthen Ukraine's counteroffensive." Read also: Ukraine starts using US-supplied cluster munitions report Two sources additionally stated that the United States will not include cluster munitions in this aid package, as Kyiv has already received them recently. According to the report, the package will include: Several Stryker armored vehicles; Demining equipment; HIMARS rocket artillery ammunition; Ammunition for Javelin and Stinger systems; Anti-air missiles for Patriot and NASAMS systems. Sources add that the aid package is still being formulated and may change. Read also: Cluster munitions for Ukraine a temporary measure White House Earlier on July 21, White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden are still in discussions on the United States potentially providing Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles. On July 19, the United States announced a new military aid package for Ukraine, worth $1.3 billion. 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 Sunday, July 23, is 90 days since the adjournment of the 2023 legislative session. That means that a number of new laws will go into effect, including the creation of an aviation work group to find a suitable location for a new airport in Washington and a law to address the fentanyl crisis in the state. Here are some of the new laws that go into effect Sunday: Aviation work group This law replaces the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission with the Commercial Aviation Work Group as lawmakers continue to consider plans for a new airport. The work group is responsible for evaluating the long-term aviation needs in the state. The group is also tasked with considering all the possible impacts of a new airport in Washington, and is required to submit progress reports by July 1 of every year. Addressing the fentanyl crisis Also known as the Tyler Lee Yates Act, this legislation makes the purchase, sale and possession of pill presses a Class C felony in Washington. Both House and Senate chambers passed the bipartisan-sponsored bill unanimously after lawmakers said the presses have been used to make counterfeit pills containing fentanyl. Death with Dignity Act expanded Washington voters first approved the Death with Dignity Act in 2008 for those with fewer than six months to live. Under the new law, access to providers who have authorization to assist is expanded to include advanced registered nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Additionally, the new law allows the medication used in the process to be mailed and eliminates waiting periods after medication is requested. Landlords claims for damages This law does several things, including extending the timeline landlords have to provide documentation showing that they are right in retaining all or part of a tenants deposit. That timeline is extended from 21 days to 30 days. Additionally, landlords must provide documents or receipts to substantiate damage costs withheld from a tenants deposit. It also prohibits landlords from keeping a deposit in certain instances, such as normal wear and tear, or replacement of fixtures, appliances and equipment if the condition of those items was not documented during the tenants move-in. Story continues Name changes for transgender residents This new law changes the way that individuals can request name changes in the state and also changes the law so that individuals can request a name change in any district court and not just with the district court in the area where they live. The law will not only make it easier for transgender individuals to change their names, but will ensure that those records can be sealed to protect the privacy of people who go through the transition process. Runaway youth services Easily one of the most controversial bills from this years legislative session, this bill has faced some tough backlash as well as an attempt to gather signatures for a referendum before it even goes into effect on Sunday. As the existing law is written, runaway youth must be reported to their parents by a shelter within 72 hours unless a compelling reason such as abuse or neglect exists not to do so. The Department of Children, Youth and Families must intervene if a compelling reason exists and find placement for the youth. Under Senate Bill 5599, shelters would still have the requirement to contact parents unless a compelling reason exists, but seeking or receiving protected health care services, including gender-affirming treatment, would be included as compelling reasons. If the runaway youth is being served by the shelter without permission from their parents, DCYF is obligated to offer to make referrals for appropriate behavioral health treatment and DCYF must try to accomplish reunification of the family by offering services that are designed to resolve conflict among the family members. Licensed host homes do not need to contact parents of runaway youth if a compelling reason exists, but they still must report runaway youth to DCYF within 72 hours. DCYF must then make contact with families to attempt to resolve the conflict with the ultimate goal being reunification. If youth and families arent reunified, DCYF must provide case management for the youth outside of their host homes. Creation of psilocybin task force Under this law, the Washington Health Care Authority must establish a psilocybin task force with requirements for who can sit on the board set in statute. The task force will review all research surrounding psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic drug compound produced by more than 200 species of fungi, and will have to submit a final report to the governor as well as the Legislature by Dec. 1. Another part of the new law states that pilot programs offering psilocybin services in treatment settings must be available by January 2025. Increasing access to ADUs Under this bipartisan-backed bill, cities and counties in urban growth areas can now allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, which are secondary housing units on a single-family residential lot. They can be attached to the primary home or detached. The bill eases some of the barriers to ADU construction. Additionally, cities and counties can incentivize development of ADUs. Joe Manchin is thinking about running for president. The West Virginia Democrat stoked speculation about the possibility of an independent bid during a New Hampshire event this week, which once again has his party members pulling their hair. Though he hasn't committed to a run, he said he'll win if he gets in the race. "Ive never been in any race Ive ever spoiled. Ive been in races to win. If I get in the race, Im gonna win," he said during a No Labels town hall Monday. "I havent made a decision." So why did he campaign in the early primary state this week? "We're here to make sure that the American people have an option, and the option is: Can you move the political parties off their respective sides?'" Manchin said. "They've gone too far right and too far left." It's a move that has many Democrats raising alarms, arguing it could help Republicans namely Donald Trump retake the White House. President Joe Biden gives Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., the pen he used to sign The Inflation Reduction Act. Speaking of the former president, he confirmed another possible indictment, this time for allegedly trying to steal the 2020 election. If you're keeping count that will be third time Trump has been charged since announcing his presidential run. Yet he remains the unquestionable front-runner in the GOP primary as his rivals look to either reset or jumpstart their campaigns. Two of those contenders joined USA TODAY at its Washington Bureau to discuss their visions for the country and how they plan to win the Republican nomination. Also in Washington, two IRS agents testified about the yearslong investigation into Hunter Biden testified before Congress and had a lot to share. Supervisory IRS Special Agent Gary Shapley (L) and IRS Criminal Investigator Joseph Ziegler are sworn-in as they testify during a House Oversight Committee hearing related to the Justice Department's investigation of Hunter Biden, on Capitol Hill July 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. The committee heard testimony from two whistleblowers from the Internal Revenue Service who allege that the Hunter Biden criminal probe was mishandled by the Department of Justice. Namely, the pair alleged U.S. Justice Department officials slow walked the investigation into President Joe Biden's youngest son and that Hunter was treated differently than other suspects with similar charges. On a lighter note, the "Barbenheimer" debate hit the Senate as members in serious and silly ways shared their thoughts on the two very different Hollywood films which opened this weekend. Story continues Manchin '24, but not where you think Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, speaks to a colleague just outside the chamber, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, June 13, 2023. Joe Manchin hasn't indicated if he will run for reelection next year in what will be a crucial Senate race for Democrats, but that didn't stop the Mountain State lawmaker from stirring the pot on being a White House hopeful in 2024. Manchin, who has thwarted the more liberal elements of President Joe Biden's agenda, said it's too early to announce anything, but emphasized when it comes to the two party system: "We need options." The comments were made at town hall even sponsored by No Labels, a bipartisan group that is looking at forming an independent ticket. Who could be Manchin's running mate in this hypothetical? Seems the likeliest person is Republican John Huntsman, a former Utah governor and presidential candidate, who joined Manchin at the event bemoaning Washington's gridlock around key issues. "It's still the same-old-same-old," Huntsman said. "I mean if we ended up in 2024 with the same set of nominees that we did 2020 ... is that insanity? Is that the definition of insanity or what?" Trump's indictment trilogy June 13, 2023: Nadine Seiler shouts and holds a sign reading "Trump Indicted" while standing outside the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. Courthouse on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, in Miami, Fla. Former President Donald Trump was scheduled to appear in federal court to be arraigned Tuesday afternoon, facing charges that he illegally retained national security documents after leaving office. Here we go again. Donald Trump could face his third case in a year after saying Tuesday that he is the target of Justice Department special counsel Jack Smiths investigation into potential election fraud. He has already pleaded not guilty in two others cases, the New York one over alleged hush money payments to an adult film actress and claims in federal court that he mishanded classified documents after leaving the White House. Many speculate, as before, this won't hurt Trump immediately in the polls, but he is trying to delay those trials until after the 2024 election even as he showcased a stiff upper lip during a Fox News town hall this week. "I guess they want to try and demean and diminish and frighten people, but they don't frighten us because we're going to make America great again," he said. Oh, remember, there's a fourth inquiry into election fraud claims in Georgia. Christie, Ramaswamy sit down with USA TODAY Republicans Chris Christie and Vevek Ramaswamy are taking very different approaches to winning their party's presidential nomination. Christie, a former New Jersey governor, is taking a direct attack on Trump approach, and regularly calls into question the GOP front-runner's viability as a general election candidate into question. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur who is rising in the polls, is more complimentary of the former president and advertises himself as an outsider who will take the MAGA movement further. "I'm running against him with a different vision of how I would lead this country," he said. Either way, the two conservatives think that they're the best person to defeat President Biden and talked with USA TODAY editors and reporters about various topics from whether Republicans should seek a national abortion ban to eliminating the FBI. IRS whistleblowers blast Hunter Biden investigation, plea IRS Supervisory Special Agent Gary Shapley, left, and IRS Criminal Investigator Joseph Ziegler, are sworn in at a House Oversight Committee meeting on July 19, 2023 in Washington. Shapley alleges that the Justice Department interfered in the IRS investigation of Hunter Biden. Internal Revenue Service agents Greg Shapley and Joseph Ziegler walked Congress through their view of investigating gun and tax evasion charges against President Joe Biden's youngest son, Hunter, and described a troubling trend. "It appeared to me, based on what I experienced, that the U.S. attorney in Delaware in our investigation was constantly hamstrung, limited and marginalized by (Justice Department) officials as well as other U.S. attorneys," Ziegler said. Shapley added how Hunter Biden was treated different from other suspects with similar charges, and that IRS agents were discouraged from asking President Biden when conducting interviews. The Justice Department has denied both of their claims, but their testimony is bound to keep the fire burning among conservatives that the investigation and ultimate plea deal for Hunter Biden showed favoritism. Barbie v. Oppenheimer Moviegoers take a selfie in front of an "Oppenheimer" movie poster before they attended an advance screening of "Barbie," Thursday, July 20, 2023, at AMC The Grove 14 theaters in Los Angeles. There's plenty of other things the Senate could be doing, such as addressing a growing mental health crisis that U.S. mayors flocking to Washington this week pleaded with Congress to help fix. But the easier thing for them to do is oping on the Barbie, Oppenheimer divide as the two movies collide over this weekend. If you don't know: one is about a beloved children's toy, and the other about man who helped create the atomic bomb. Some senators are taking this seriously, such as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who say it has propaganda that benefits the Chinese Communist Party. Others are being silly. "Get you a Senator who can do both," Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, the Democrat turned independent of Arizona, said in a tweet that sported two pictures underscoring the two film's themes. Get you a Senator who can do both. #Barbenheimer pic.twitter.com/somIpHCzRW Kyrsten Sinema (@kyrstensinema) July 20, 2023 This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's indictment trilogy; IRS agents slam Hunter Biden probe Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 21) The Office of the Ombudsman has dismissed criminal and administrative charges against four police officers accused of murdering and attempting to kill a group of Quezon City residents in a 2016 anti-drug operation, including a "Tokhang" survivor. The Center for International Law (CenterLaw) said a copy of the decision was released just earlier this week, although the document was dated Nov. 28, 2022. In the 12-page ruling approved by Ombudsman Samuel Martires, police officers Emil Garcia, Allan Formilleza, James Aggarao Jr., and Melchor Navisaga were cleared of murder, frustrated murder, robbery, and of violations of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act and of the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act. It said there was no sufficient evidence against the policemen. The four were accused of killing Marcelo Daa Jr., Rhaffy Gabo, Anthony Comendo, and Jessie Cule during the early part of former President Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war on drugs. They also allegedly tried to murder Efren Morillo, who testified that the plainclothes policemen entered his friend Daa's house in Payatas while they were playing pool in August 2016, and fatally shot his companions. Morillo also alleged that the cops ransacked the house and took several valuables, as well as forced him and his friends to admit ownership of illegal drugs and firearms. He said he played dead after being shot in the chest. Meanwhile, the police officers maintained that they caught the group using illegal drugs, and that the latter shot at them first. The complaint was filed before the Office of the Ombudsman by Morillo and family members of the slain drug war victims. "There is no question that Marcelo, Jessie, Anthony and Rhaffy died, and Efren sustained a gunshot wound following the anti-illegal drug operation conducted by the respondents. However, these facts alone are insufficient to show that a crime has indeed been committed and that the respondents are responsible for the same," read the decision. The Ombudsman also said the statements of Morillo the sole eyewitness for the complainants' side "are suspect considering that he was one of the subjects of the very police operation." It further noted that it finds no probable cause to charge the policemen of robbery. The office said the existence of the items allegedly taken, as well as the alleged planting of illegal drugs and firearms, were not established. "As the administrative charge is anchored on the same facts as that of the criminal charge, the Office finds that the complainants failed to prove the respondents' administrative liability by substantial evidence," it added. Reinforces necessity for ICC probe In a statement on Thursday, CenterLaw condemned the Ombudsman's move. It said the decision "reinforces the necessity for the International Criminal Court to exercise its jurisdiction in order to prosecute the masterminds behind the thousands of extrajudicial killings during the Duterte years." CenterLaw added that the dismissal of the charges came "despite two previous court decisions that supported the complainants' narratives of the incident." The organization noted that in 2017, the Supreme Court granted a petition for the writ of amparo filed by the victims' families, prohibiting the policemen from approaching them within a one-kilometer radius from their workplace and residence. It also pointed out that the Metropolitan Trial Court of Quezon City acquitted Morillo earlier this year of direct assault charges filed by the same officers. "Centerlaw supports efforts of the victims' families to continue the fight for justice as they urge the Ombudsman to reconsider its decision. The families will exhaust all remedies all the way to the Supreme Court," it wrote. A Black family in West Allis said they were the target of racist threats and vandalism in 2022. A 45-year-old West Allis man was sentenced to 2 years in prison Thursday for making racist threats to his Black neighbors, stipulating they move, and for vandalizing the vehicle of a nearby resident. William McDonald, 45, pleaded guilty in March to federal charges, including interfering with housing rights because of race by force. There are two counts, one includes the attempted use of a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors said McDonald slashed the tires and broke the windshield of a Black woman's vehicle parked outside her apartment in the 1400 block of South 79th Street in March 2021. He then left an N-word-laden note threatening to slash the woman's throat and a demand that she move out of West Allis. A week later, McDonald slashed two of her tires and left a second note laden with racial slurs with another ultimatum that she move from the neighborhood or suffer violence. In April, a Black woman who recently moved into the same complex as McDonald found the N-word written in black pen on her door and two notes under her door. One read, "Stay here and see what the (expletive) happens, (N-word)." Prosecutors said McDonald, who is white, left notes with threats and racial slurs with other residents of color in the area. Two other incidents happened less than a mile away in the 8700 block of West Mitchell Street, where the suspect used similar tactics. However, the Department of Justice has not stated that McDonald admitted to those crimes. The incidents were mentioned in the criminal complaint and one of them led to local media coverage. A Puerto Rican woman with two young Black sons was living on West Mitchell Street in October 2021, when she said she found a note saying, "I've been watching all you (expletives) (N-word) moving into MY neighborhood." In February 2022, a Black couple with a young child, living at the same complex, found two of their car's tires cut. A note on the car read, "Get the (expletive) out of my neighborhood, (N-word)." Story continues According to the FBI, all the notes were written on stationary from a chain restaurant where McDonald had worked and surveillance footage showed a vehicle similar to McDonald's in the area during the incidents. West Allis police had McDonald write down information during a traffic stop in March 2022 and the FBI said his handwriting matched the racist notes. Many of the victims of the racist actions moved out of West Allis and took to social media following the incidents, leading to a reaction from West Allis Mayor Dan Devine, who at the time said, "This does not represent West Allis or what West Allis stands for. ... We have worked hard towards becoming a more welcoming and inclusive community to all. "I feel like we have made some progress, but then a story like this arises and reinforces that we still have work to do. This ignorant, hateful rhetoric has absolutely no place in our city, or anywhere else." According to court records, McDonald was sentenced to 2 years for the use of a dangerous weapon to interfere with housing rights because of race. He was also sentenced to nine months for an additional count of interfering with housing rights because of race. The sentences will run concurrently, or at the same time. After imprisonment, McDonald will serve three years of supervised release. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: West Allis man gets 2 years for racist threats to Black neighbors The White House marked the United States rejoining the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) ahead of first lady Jill Bidens trip to France, four years after former President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement. Senior administration officials outlined that the U.S. not being a part of the international organization was harmful to its interests. In recent years with UNESCO, it became clear that the U.S. absence from this organization was actually harming our interests, officials said, adding that U.S. competitors are working hard in the U.N. to shape the global agenda on issues ranging from emerging technology to sustainable development. If we arent in the room, we cant push back and if we dont show up, we cant fight for the American people and defend our allies abroad from unfair attacks, officials said. 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. The first lady will deliver remarks at the UNESCO flag-raising ceremony. She is set to leave Sunday evening and return on Wednesday. Officials cited rejoining UNESCO as part of President Bidens overall focus on U.S. leadership and participation on the global stage following the Trump years. From the very early days of this administration, we took steps to strengthen our global partnerships and recommit to American leadership at the U.N. and international organizations, officials said. The first lady will engage with UNESCO leaders on ethics of emerging technology, press freedom, and education, which is notable for her as a longtime teacher. She will also meet with Frances first lady Brigitte Macron, a fellow teacher, while in Paris. And, she will visit Brittany American Cemetery in Normandy to honor World War II troops. UNESCO was co-founded by the U.S. after World War II. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ATHENS (Reuters) -A wildfire which has been raging on the Greek island of Rhodes for five days forced hundreds of people to flee affected villages and beaches by land and sea on Saturday, authorities said. Coastguard vessels and more than 30 private boats evacuated at least 2,000 people, including tourists, from beaches close to the areas of Kiotari and Lardos in the southeastern part of the island, coastguard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told Skai television. He said an operation was ongoing to evacuate about 600 people from beaches in Kiotari and Gennadi towards Plimmiri. Authorities have also urged about 1,000 people to leave the villages of Pefki, Lindos and Kalathos as flames approached, fire brigade spokesperson Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. Firefighters, backed by air water bombers and reinforcementsby Slovakia, struggled with new outbreaks of the wildfire, which was fanned by strong winds. Greek television showed crowds of tourists with their luggage walking along a road as part of an evacuation operation, while smoke could be seen in the background. "We had set up firebreaks around the village of Laerma last night, but a 180-degree change of the winds this morning helped the fire grow much bigger across many kilometres ... reaching a tourist area," Konstantinos Taraslias, a deputy mayor of Rhodes, told Open TV. Those evacuated are being housed at an indoor stadium and at hotels on the island, Taraslias said. Three passenger ferries will also host tourists during the night, the coastguard said. The fire has scorched swathes of dense forest since breaking out in a mountainous area on Tuesday. It damaged at least three hotels in the seaside village of Kiotari on Saturday, according to the Athens News Agency. Civil protection authorities have warned of a very high risk of wildfires on Rhodes and many other areas in Greece on Sunday, as temperatures were expected to hit 45 Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) amid a heatwave. Senior government officials will travel to Rhodes to assist the situation. The Greek foreign ministry activated its crisis management unit to offer assistance to foreigners who want to leave the country, it said on Saturday. Fires are common in Greece but hotter, drier and windy summers have turned the country into a wildfire hotspot in recent years. Meteorologists have warned that the current sweltering temperatures are expected to last until the end of the month. (Reporting by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Frances Kerry, Mike Harrison and Daniel Wallis) (@blairsbrainiacs via REUTERS) Hundreds of holidaymakers have been forced to evacuate their hotels on the Greek island of Rhodes due to wildfires. A blaze, which has been burning on the island for five days, has forced authorities to order an evacuation of four locations, including two seaside resorts. The wildfire had been confined to the islands mountainous centre, but aided by winds, high temperatures and dry conditions, it spread on Saturday towards the islands central-eastern side. Local media reported the fires had reached three hotels, which had already been evacuated. Fire Service spokesman Yannis Artopios said on Saturday afternoon that residents of four localities were sent SMS messages to evacuate - in two places they were told to move to the north east and in two others to the south west. Jet2 where are you? No help, contact or guidance. Had to walk 4 mile in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a 5 year old. No possessions #jet2 #rhodes #lindosimperial pic.twitter.com/iWBHtFUoYi Jon Hughes (@hughesy_1985) July 22, 2023 Mr Artopios said that more than 200 firefighters and 40 fire engines were operating on the ground, assisted by three planes and five helicopters. The force includes 31 firefighters from Slovakia, with five fire engines. The main front of the fire is a triangle, with two of its points near the sea and one in the mountains. On maps, each side of the triangle appears more than six miles long. Three coast guard vessels, plus one from the army, were evacuating people from two beaches. Twenty private boats were also assisting, and the Greek navy was sending a vessel. Story continues Firetrucks line up as firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning on Rhodes Island, Greece (via REUTERS) The blaze is Rhodes is the most fearsome of several blazes ongoing around Greece. The fire north west of Athens and one near Sparta were subsiding, said Mr Artopios, although weather conditions, including temperatures set to reach 45C on Sunday and low humidity, mean there is a risk more wildfires might break out. The Fire Service has designated almost the whole eastern part of the mainland, plus the islands of Evia and Rhodes, as well as large swathes of the south west, as category five, the highest for the risk of fire outbreaks on Sunday. There will be a brief respite in the heatwave on Monday, but it will resume on Tuesday and could last until at least Friday, meteorologists have said. Firefighting forces from eight EU countries are either operating or due to arrive soon, Mr Artopios said. Israel, Jordan and Turkey have also sent reinforcements, mostly aerial equipment. Firefighters try to extinguish a wildfire burning near Laerma, Rhodes Island (via REUTERS) James Hall, a British tourist on the island of Rhodes, told Sky News: It was quite a bit of madness this morning. We noticed smoke and ash coming down and we got the government text, pretty much telling us to evacuate. And we walked south, as far as we couldWe dragged our suitcases for two hours in the 40 degree heat. Weve had no communication from EasyJet or any of the airliners about what we should do. I think we are going to miss our plane. Honestly it was bizarre, if you are in a wheelchair or on crutches, the chances of you getting out in a timely manner was almost nil. We got instruction to go the beach but we decided to keep walking. The sheer volume of smoke I dont imagine its particularly safe right now. Jet2 where are you? No help, contact or guidance. Had to walk 4 mile in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a 5 year old. No possessions #jet2 #rhodes #lindosimperial pic.twitter.com/iWBHtFUoYi Jon Hughes (@hughesy_1985) July 22, 2023 Tourists posted videos of their evacuations on social media, as they described the scenes and the experiences of their families. Currently stranded in #Rhodes escaping the wildfires on foot - left everything at the hotel and fled with towels across our faces, said Paul Kalburgi on Twitter. My youngest just told me he doesnt want to die. No news from any authorities. Terrifying situation here. Another Twitter user, John Hughes, complained to their airline Jet2, saying: Jet2 where are you? No help, contact or guidance. Had to walk 4 mile in the heat across dirt tracks in smoke and ash with a 5 year old. No possessions. The Transylvania County Courthouse. BREVARD Defense witnesses, including babysitters, relatives and others who spent time in the home of Johnathon Jessi McKinney said they saw no inappropriate behavior between McKinney and minors who have accused him of rape and other sex crimes. Those testifying on behalf of McKinney July 21, the fifth day of his trial in Transylvania County Superior Court, said to the contrary, the two minors who have accused him had normal and good relationships with him. The witnesses said the homes in which he and his family lived were usually packed with related and unrelated children, from newborns to teenagers, who enjoyed spending time together. "Did you ever observe any kind of touching or feeling or anything you thought was inappropriate at any time?" asked defense attorney Jack Stewart. "No, sir," said Cheyenne Owen, 22, who lived during some periods with the McKinneys, babysitting for them as they moved from house to house between Western North Carolina and South Carolina. "I've never seen him act any way out of the ordinary towards any of the children in the house," Owen said. While all the children's names were used in open court, the Citizen Times is not publishing them as a measure of protection and will refer to them as Child 1 and Child 2. There are three children named as victims among the 23 felony counts against McKinney, 38, of the Sapphire area in the west of the county. But just two minors testified at a July 18 court session. More: WNC children testify against man accused of 23 counts related to child rape On cross-examination at the July 21 hearing Assistant District Attorney Beth Dierauf raised questions about whether the defense witnesses had been present during key moments when the alleged crimes took place. And she asked if they knew about actions taken by social services about potential child sexual abuse by McKinney two different times before criminal charges were brought. Story continues In questioning Brittany McKinney, the current wife of McKinney, she noted that social services workers gave her 24 hours notice before visiting the home. "In 2017 your husband had a family meeting that involved you, didn't you? That's where you all discussed how he should not be alone with any of the children," Dierauf said. "And between 2017 and 2019, he was not to be with any child that was not his biological child." Brittany McKinney, who has two children from a prior marriage and three with McKinney, denied there was any such meeting. "He was never alone with any kids at any time. There were always people in our home," she said. Among those testifying for McKinney were his mother, Debra McKinney and father, John McKinney. John McKinney and Brittany McKinney raised questions about Child 1's testimony of going hunting multiple times with McKinney and having their pants and underwear pulled down. John McKinney and Brittany McKinney said Child 1 had only hunted one time with McKinney and John McKinney was near enough to see if there was any sexual assault. Stewart, the defense attorney, meanwhile raised questions about the motivations of the accusers, saying they might have been mad at McKinney. Johnathan Jessi McKinney in a prior appearance at Transylvania Superior Court on May 3. Child 1, now a teenager, has described multiple sexual assaults, including oral sex, dating back to 2013 and beginning when the child was younger than 10 years old. Child 2, also now a teenager described more recent assaults, in 2020. The family of one of the child victims filed a complaint with the sheriff's office in early 2021. A grand jury released indictments in April of that year. He was arrested two days later by Transylvania County sheriff's deputies. McKinney, who has an address in Henderson County but whose wife testified July 21 that he lives with her in Sapphire, is facing multiple grand jury indictments of felony child sexual assault offenses. He was issued a $500,000 secured bond but was able to post it, according to a county clerk. McKinney works with his family's tree service company in Transylvania County. At his appearance, the bond remained the same but additional conditions were added to his release, including that he is to have no contact with the victims or the victims families. The defense at the hearing rested its case, something the prosecution already has done. Jessi McKinney stood at one point to declare he would not testify. That was after Judge George Bell advised him that it was his constitutional right to either testify or not testify and that he could not be compelled to do so by anyone. Closing arguments by attorneys on both sides are expected on July 24. According to previous Citizen Times reporting, McKinney had been arrested in 2016 in Transylvania County in a separate case and charged with felony indecent liberties with a child bur later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge. Previous assaults: Families of alleged rape, murder victims try to remove DA Greg Newman for 'unrepentant misconduct' More: District Attorney Greg Newman removed from office; only 3rd removal in NC history Court documents say in October 2017, the felony charge was dropped by then-District Attorney Greg Newmans office, which then charged McKinney with a new, misdemeanor charge of assault on a female. McKinney pleaded guilty to that charge and was sentenced to time served one day in jail. McKinney was not required to register as a sex offender. However, the court ordered McKinney to have a sex offender evaluation by a psychologist within 60 days, to stay away from the children involved in the case, and not to be alone with any children under the age of 16 unless they were his biological children. Former District Attorney Greg Newman, whose office oversaw that case, was removed as DA for Henderson, Polk and Transylvania counties during a special hearing in April 2021, in part due to his mishandling of a previous child rape case. He was replaced in May of that year by DA Andrew Murray, who could be seen in court this week sitting in the audience and at times comforting the two child witnesses. Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: WNC child rape trial: babysitters, other defense witnesses saw nothing A 22-year-old Wyoming woman has pleaded guilty to setting fire to the state's first full-service abortion clinic in years that was being built, setting its opening back by almost a year, officials said this week. Lorna Roxanne Green agreed to plead guilty to a federal arson charge on Thursday and will face between five and 20 years in prison plus a hefty fine, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Wyoming said in a press release. Green told investigators she set fire to the Casper, Wyoming clinic in the early morning hours of May 25, 2022, because she opposed abortion and had nightmares, "which she attributed to her anxiety about the abortion clinic," according to a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY. The clinic, Wellspring Health Access, which was scheduled to open June 2022 according to the complaint, was set to provide gender-affirming services, OB-GYN care and abortion procedures. It finally opened in April 2023. Only one other abortion clinic exists in the state, and it offers only pill abortions. Abortion has remained legal in Wyoming amid a lawsuit challenging new bans, including what would be the nations first explicit ban on abortion pills. A judge blocked the laws while the lawsuit proceeds. Investigators went months without identifying the suspect, but received tips after offering a $15,000 reward that identified Green. She was arrested in March. POST ROE: Violence against abortion clinics escalated since overturning of Roe v. Wade, report finds Security cameras showed the suspect, later identified as Green, throwing a rock at glass in a door and entering the building, carrying what looked like trash bags, according to the complaint. She poured gasoline on the floor, and the footage shows her slipping and falling in it. At one point she lowered the surgical mask she wore and her face was visible to a camera. An arson last May at Wellspring Health Access in Casper, Wyoming has delayed the reproductive health clinic's opening for at least a year. There was "significant" fire and smoke damage, according to the criminal complaint against Green. Story continues "The fire had engulfed a room and spread to other rooms and down a hallway," the complaint said. Pans of gasoline were found in the building. Julie Burkhart, president of Wellspring Health Access, said earlier this year after Green's arrest she was "relieved that a suspect has finally been arrested," adding the arson "created a ripple of apprehension and fear across the Casper community." In court this week, Green told the judge she knew "right after" setting the fire that what she did wasn't right. "While she deeply regrets her actions, Ms. Green accepts full responsibility for what she has done," her attorney Ryan Semerad told USA TODAY in a statement. Green is scheduled to be sentenced in October. MORE: Two charged in firebombing of Southern California Planned Parenthood clinic Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wyoming woman pleads guilty to arson in abortion clinic fire A woman was sexually assaulted on a south Charlotte greenway Saturday morning, police said. The woman was walking along the McAlpine Creek Greenway in the 11800 block of Johnston Road when a man attacked her about 7 a.m., Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said on Twitter. The man approached the victim and exposed himself before grabbing her inappropriately, police said. The assailant then ran toward Pikes Nurseries near the greenway, according to CMPD. The attacker is about 6-feet-1 and slim, police said. He wore a blue Kentucky Wildcats hooded sweatshirt. Call 911 if you see the man or know of his whereabouts, CMPD urged. Or call the Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 704-334-1600. Police released a greenway safety tips video on YouTube. Filmed at the greenway, two officers in the video urged greenway users to always have a cell phone and a walking partner. If youre going to a greenway alone, let people know beforehand. And be aware of whats around you, especially near dark, the officers advised. Physicist Avi Loeb, right, on stage with physicist Stephen Hawking and others in New York in 2016. Lucas Jackson/Reuters Harvard physicist Avi Loeb announced the discovery of tiny "spherules" at the bottom of the Pacific. He said these spherules may be from an alien technology outside of our solar system. But three of the world's top experts on the search for aliens are skeptical the tech is from aliens. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb announced that he and his team discovered fragments of material at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that may potentially be linked to aliens. The fragments "could be a spacecraft from another civilization, or some technological gadget," Loeb told CBS News. But experts who have been searching for alien life for many years told Insider they aren't sold on the idea that Loeb's findings represent evidence of alien intelligence. "I like wild and crazy ideas they make us all think occasionally one of them might be right. But I'm extremely skeptical about this one," said Dan Werthimer, chief technologist of the SETI Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. 'A lot of unknowns' in the data Loeb's team found 50 sub-millimeter-sized "spherules" that he said he thinks came from an interstellar meteoroid, which he named IM1, that crashed into waters near Papua New Guinea in 2014. Both the speed of the meteor and the composition of the spherules is why Loeb thinks they may be of possible alien origin. But experts aren't convinced. "As I look at the data, there are just a lot of unknowns," said Douglas Vakoch, president of Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence (METI), an organization that searches for signs of extraterrestrial life by transmitting intentional signals to nearby stars. Several antennas that are part of the Allen Telescope Array. SETI Institute The meteroid's speed was calculated from incomplete data, experts said Loeb proposed that the meteor IM1 was of interstellar origin in a paper he published in 2019. To estimate its speed, he and a student used data from the Center for Near Earth Object Studies, which tracks the speed and trajectory of objects in space that travel close to, and occasionally hit, Earth. Story continues Loeb wrote in a first-hand account on Medium: "[The data] showed that IM1 was moving outside the solar system faster than 95% of all stars in the vicinity of the Sun. The possibility that IM1's excess speed benefited from propulsion and the fact that it was tougher than all known space rocks, raise the possibility that it may have been technological in origin." Bu Werthimer pointed out that the radar used to detect the meteor is known to make mistakes on the speed of meteors that come in at a shallow angle like this one did compared to other instruments. That said, US Space Command followed up on Loeb's calculations and, in 2022, issued a formal letter to NASA confirming IM1's interstellar origin with 99.999% confidence. "The velocity estimate reported to NASA is sufficiently accurate to indicate an interstellar trajectory," the letter stated. But it doesn't matter what any government official tells you the DOD statement has no standing in the scientific community, Vakoch said, echoing the concerns of some astrophysicists. The composition of the spherules could mean something totally different Let's forget about the meteor for a second. What about those peculiar spherule fragments? Loeb wrote in Medium that "based on the measured abundance of U238, Pb206, U235 and Pb207," in two of the collected spherules, their age was closer to the age of the universe than the age of our solar system. "In the coming weeks we will examine further any clue for the spherules being different from solar system materials. This will constitute independent evidence for the interstellar origin of IM1 in addition to its measured speed," Loeb wrote. Some experts are still skeptical. Monica Grady, professor of planetary and space sciences at The Open University, wrote in The Conversation that spherules from space have been found at the bottom of the ocean as far back as 1872 by the HMS Challenger. Nowadays, it can be difficult to tell the difference between spherules and products of industrial pollution. Vakoch agreed, saying that, "I don't see anything in the reports of these metallic spheroids that suggests anything close to them being an alien technology, or even necessarily something from outside our solar system." Loeb said that early reports of the spherules' chemical composition were from a small sample and not representative of the full collection. Moreover, "the X-ray Fluorescence analyzer used on the ship was blind to some elements," he told Insider over email. Now that he's back on land, he said the team has shared the materials with three leading labs that "include world experts with state-of-the-art diagnostic instruments, such as X-ray fluorescence analyzers, mass spectrometers, and scanning electron microscopes," to analyze the spherules' composition in more detail. Loeb told Insider that, when ready, the team will publish their findings in a scientific paper that will be "shared openly and submitted for a peer-reviewed journal." In the meantime, experts will likely remain skeptical until more concrete proof presents itself. "I'm very optimistic about life in the universe I think it's likely to be teeming with life but this is not evidence for it," Werthimier said. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo: Pool (Getty Images) 2023 has been a doozy of a year for anyone keeping their ear to the ground on technology-related legislation. In just seven months, numerous US states have passed age verification laws and parental content requirements for kids to access social media which would have been impossible to imagine only a few years prior. TikTok, possibly the most important app for sharing culture and discovering content, has already been banned in one state and Congress is gunning for it federally. Other bills up for consideration could fundamentally nuke end-to-end encryption. The good news is that most of the examples listed above either havent passed into law yet or are guaranteed to go through rigorous legal fights in courts. How courts rule on those cases later this year and next year could set the baseline for future tech policy. Counterintuitively, ruling against legally dubious laws could actually make it more difficult for cynical lawmakers or surveillance-obsessed wanna-be Stalins to push forward similar legislation. Read more Below are just a few of the worst internet bills proposed or passed this year. The list will almost surely grow larger. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images) Just about everyone agrees more should be done to limit young peoples exposure to the internets most harmful material, but solutions for how exactly to do that can quickly devolve into a dangerous surveillance grab bag. Maybe the best example of this is the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) proposed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). In theory, the wide-reaching legislation would pressure platforms used by people under the age of 16 to adhere to a so-called duty of care to prevent the promotion of content depicting self-harm, substance abuse, bullying, or other harmful material linked to an increase in teen depression. Story continues KOSA has received fierce and frequent backlash from dozens of rights groups who say its broad vision would unintentionally limit access to sex education and LGBTQ content and encourage platforms to increase data collection on young people. A coalition of more than 90 rights groups including the ACLU, Electronic Frontier Foundation, and Fight For the Future signed a letter saying it would have damaging unintended consequences for young people. The STOP CSAM Act Photo: Win McNamee (Getty Images) Like many of the bills on the list, the STOP CSAM [Child Sexual Abuse Material] Act has noble intentions. It intends to strengthen existing legislation criminalizing the sharing or harmful sexual content of children which has seen an uptick in recent years. Opponents, however, like the EFF and Fight For the Future warn its a Trojan Horse intended to weaken end-to-end encryption. Existing law already prohibits the distribution of CSAM material. This bill would go a step further and make it illegal for interactive computer services to knowingly host or store child pornography. Encryption advocates worry this overly broad expansion will make platforms liable to civil suits if users on their platform are found to have sent potential CSAM material to other users. That constant risk of debilitating litigation would make platforms less likely to support any encryption at all, which opponents say would make all internet users worse off and welcome government overreach. Age Verification Laws Pop Up For Accessing Adult Content Photo: Leon Neal (Getty Images) Earlier this year, Louisiana passed a new age verification law that would force companies that host adult content to check users ages against a drivers license or other form of government identification. More than half a dozen mostly conservative states have followed Louisianas lead. The laws are ostensibly intended to ensure minors cant access pornographic material but opponents to the legislation like the Free Speech Coalition argue the bills are ineffective, unnecessary, and a blatant violation of the First Amendment. Worse still, privacy activists warn the legislation could unintentionally lead to firms gobbling up reams of private identification data that could be exposed to vulnerabilities. Pornhub, one of the largest websites impacted by these laws, has begun to fight back. In early July, the porn megasite announced it would pull out of Mississippi and Virginia entirely in order to avoid complying with the states age verification laws. FISA Section 702 Reauthorization Photo: Alex Wong (Getty Images) Civil liberties organizations and privacy experts have tuned their noses up at 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) since it was first added to the legislation in 2008. In a nutshell, Section 702 authorizes the collection and dissemination of communications of non-US citizens located outside the country but it also collects torrents of communications from US citizens who happened to communicate with contact. Opponents of the incidental collection as its called say it amounts to a loophole for federal agencies to collect Americans communications without a warrant. Section 702 is on the list because it is set to expire at the end of the year if lawmakers dont vote to reauthorize it. Congress historically isnt exactly quick to relinquish control of powerful national security tools, but experts believe this year could be different due to a growing fashion of Republicans whove become die-hard opponents of federal agencies. It also doesnt help matters that FISA was reportedly used to spy on a former Trump aide. The RESTRICT Act Brings Bipartisan Support For a TikTok Ban Photo: Samuel Corum (AP) Republican lawmakers have yelped about banning TikTok nationally over supposed national security threats for years now but the increasingly prescient policy issue finally gained bipartisan political support this year with the introduction of the RESTRICT Act by Sens. Mark Warner, a Democrat, and John Thune. The proposed legislation would give the Secretary of Commerce the ability to ban digital products or services from China, Iran, Cuba, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela that involved information and communication technology. Though the RESTRICT Act isnt specifically limited to TikTok, most agree the Chinese-made app is its primary target. Opponents of the RESTRICT Act, like the American Civil Liberties Union, say it would give the executive branch broad authority to ban large platforms where millions of people gather to communicate. This, they say, could pose profound violations to Americans right to free speech and access to information. UKs Updated Security Bill Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images) Short-sided internet safety bills arent just limited to the United States. The most recent example of that is the United Kingdoms proposed updates to the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016. The new additions under consideration would require messaging service providers to clear new security features with the governments Home Office before rolling them out to users. Apple recently pushed back against the move, arguing it would give the Home Office the power to control its security and encryption practices all around the world. Pulling out the big guns, Apple threatened to remove FaceTime and iMessage from the UK if the provisions end up making their way through. Others like Meta-owned WhatsApp and Signal have also said they would rather cut off access than compromise their end-to-end encryption. Montanas Legally Dubious TikTok Ban Could Set a Precedent Photo: Thom Bridge/Matt Slocum (AP) While politicians in the House and Senate were busy pursuing their own half-baked effort to ban TikTok nationally, Montana broke new ground and voted to ban TikTok on all devices within its state. The first-of-its-kind law bans app stores like Apples and Googles from offering downloads of the massively popular short-form video platforms. App stores found to have violated the law can face a $10,000-per-day fine. TikTok has already filed a suit seeking to overturn the ban on First Amendment grounds as have a group of Montana creators who rely on the app for their livelihoods. NetChoice general counsel Carl Szabo previously told Gizmodo he believes the first-of-its-kind state-wide TikTok ban is a clear violation of TikToks First Amendment rights and amounts to a bill of attainder laws that criminalize a specific person or individual and punishes them without a trial. Bills of attainder are blatantly unconstitutional. EARN IT Act, The Surveillance Bill That Refuses to Die Photo: Darren McCollester (Getty Images) Some controversial tech policies keep popping back up year after year like a zombie that just refuses to stay dead. One of those is the EARN IT Act, which would remove Section 230 liability protections for tech platforms if they are found to have knowingly let their users send child sexual abuse material (CSAM.) Like the Stop CSAM Act, opponents believe this widening of legal liability would disincentivize platforms from providing any types of end-to-end encryption which could fundamentally alter the notion of privacy on the internet. Weakening encryption is probably the premiere gift you could give to predators and god-awful people who want to stalk and spy on kids, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden said at a Fight for the Future event earlier this year. It threatens the privacy and security of every single law-abiding American. Utah Enacted a Social Media Bedtime Law Photo: Proxima Studio (Shutterstock) Utah isnt the only US state seeking to require parental consent for minors to use online sources but it is one of the few setting mandatory digital bedtimes for kids. Yes, in addition to requiring age verification for users under the age of 18, the bill will also prohibit those young users from accessing social media sites between 10:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. Title Texas Parental Consent Law Photo: Logan Riely (Getty Images) An assortment of bills requiring parental consent for minors to access certain internet services have picked up pace across the country but few are as far-reaching as Texas recently passed Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act. The bill, recently signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, will require digital service providers to first obtain the consent of a parent or guardian before allowing a user under the age of 18 to open an account. That requirement applies to social media firms, but the broad phrasing of service providers appears to apply that same parental consent requirement to a wide array of other online services that simply require users to create accounts. Tech companies opposing the legislation like Meta and Google have said it would force them to collect sensitive new data on minors to verify their ages. It would also give parents wide latitude to cut off the types of content teens see, which could harm LGBTQ users or other vulnerable users. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The FBI was able to "detect and thwart" Chinese hackers attempting to access U.S. critical infrastructure, as well as malign threats from other adversaries, under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday in a letter to Congress defending the law. Fox News Digital obtained letters Wray sent to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on Friday highlighting the positives of the surveillance tool amid significant reforms the bureau has made under his leadership. The letters come on the same day the FISA Court released its 2023 opinion, which said a U.S. senator and a state senator were queried under FISA Section 702 in June 2022, and a state judge was queried in October 2022 demonstrating a "failure" to follow FBI policy. The opinion, though, said "the FBI has been doing a better job in applying the querying standard," and said its compliance rate with that standard is more than 98%, after the implementation of reforms. FISA COURT OPINION REVEALS A US SENATOR, STATE SENATOR, STATE JUDGE GOT SWEPT UP IN 702 QUERIES Wray's letters highlighted the successes the bureau has had in combating threats, using the tool of Section 702, which will sunset on Dec. 31 and requires congressional reauthorization. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "Section 702s critical importance to our national security has only grown with the evolution of technology and threats. Without Section 702 we would be unable to plug a critical intelligence gap one that foreign threat actors regularly exploit as they traverse computer networks and electronic service providers to conduct cyberattacks, espionage campaigns, or coordinate with likeminded terrorists," Wray wrote. Wray called Section 702 "invaluable" to the FBIs ability to "know what our foreign adversaries are doing and how they are doing it intelligence without which we could not protect Americans or the homeland." Story continues Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) allows the government to conduct targeted surveillance of non-U.S. citizens located abroad to acquire foreign intelligence information. When U.S. citizens are flagged as part of these investigations, the FBI takes over the process of querying them for possible security reasons. Wray outlined specific examples, including that the tool has been "pivotal for the FBI to detect and thwart Chinese hackers attempting to access U.S. critical infrastructure." FBI IMPROPERLY USED WARRANTLESS SEARCH POWERS MORE THAN 278,000 TIMES IN 2021, FISA COURT FILING REVEALS Wray said the intelligence community has assessed that China is attempting to "preposition" on U.S. critical infrastructure in an effort to set up "backdoors to cripple" that infrastructure "in the event China invades Taiwan," which he said would limit the U.S. ability to assist the small island nation. "Section 702 allows us to detect these hackers by monitoring them as they traverse the internet and determine when they access networks within the United States," Wray wrote. He said using queries for the "identifiers of potential victims," which he says some are American businesses, allows the FBI to see "whether the hackers are merely researching a victim for future attacks or if they have already compromised the systems." FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" in the Hart Building in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 4, 2022. Wray said the FBI was able to identify Chinese hackers gaining access to computer networks of a major U.S. transportation hub. "Along with impeding our ability to assist Taiwan in case of an attack, such Chinese intrusions are meant to wreak havoc with the everyday lives of Americans, and they have the potential to cause millions (possibly billions) of dollars in damage to industry," he wrote, adding that these targets can "potentially jeopardize the physical safety of Americans." Wray said without the intelligence gathered through FISA Section 702, the FBI "would be blinded to such malicious actions from China-based hackers and unable to counter them." ODNI REPORT REVEALS 'SIGNIFICANT DECLINE' IN FBI QUERIES OF US CITIZENS UNDER FISA 702 LAST YEAR Wray also pointed to Irans bolstered cyber capabilities specifically referencing its cyberattack on the Boston Childrens Hospital in 2021. "Iran, along with North Korea, is one of only two nation-states known to have conducted destructive cyberattacks within the United States," he wrote. "Iran has sought to assassinate American citizens, including high-level government officials," Wray said, referring to Irans effort to target former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton. "Section 702 collection and U.S. persons queries helped us connect the dots," he said. "We were able to warn the victim and his former Department, and as a result they were able to take proactive steps to protect him." JORDAN SAYS FBI SHOULD BE KICKED OUT OF PROBES INTO US CITIZENS FLAGGED IN FISA INVESTIGATIONS Wray said the FBI "needs Section 702 to keep countering the next five years of foreign threats stopping international terrorists plotting with collaborators to launch terrorist attacks, disrupting foreign cyber actors trying to hold our government, our people, and our businesses hostage, and preparing to meet the new threats all of these adversaries constantly seek to bring to the homeland." Wray said the FBI looks forward to working with Congress to "highlight the value of this important authority to the American public and how we can become the best stewards of this vital source of foreign intelligence." FISA Section 702 is set to sunset on Dec. 31, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are proposing reforms in order to reauthorize the section, with more congressional oversight. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) Tropical Storm Egay (international name: Doksuri) was forecast to further intensify into a typhoon in the next 24 hours, the state weather bureau said late Saturday. The tropical cyclone maintained its strength as it slowly moved westward over the waters off Luzon. In its 11 p.m. bulletin, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) also said there is a possibility that Egay could reach super typhoon category by Tuesday or Wednesday. So far, no storm signals have been raised but PAGASA said these could be hoisted over some areas in the Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas over the weekend. "Possible na tayo na magtaas ng wind signals dito sa area ng Bicol region at Eastern Visayas, pinakaamaga na ngayong hapon. At maaaring mas marami pang lugar ang itaas natin ng tropical cyclone wind signals sa mga susunod na araw," PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja earlier said. [Translation: It's possible that we will raise wind signals in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas on Saturday afternoon at the earliest. And it's also possible that tropical cyclone wind signals will be hoisted in more areas in the coming days.] On Saturday, PAGASA said Caraga and Eastern Visayas may experience cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the trough or extension of the storm. Western Visayas, Palawan, and Occidental Mindoro will also see cloudy skies with scattered rain showers and thunderstorms due to the enhanced southwest monsoon or habagat. Metro Manila and the rest of the country may expect partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms due to the habagat and localized thunderstorms. The bureau added that the strengthened habagat may bring strong bursts of winds to the western and southern portions of the Visayas, the northern portions of Northern Mindanao and Caraga, Romblon, and Masbate. Egay, the fifth tropical cyclone to enter the country's weather monitoring area, was last spotted 665 kilometers east of Virac, Catanduanes. It was packing maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center and gustiness of up to 90 kph. According to PAGASA's track and intensity forecast, Egay is seen to move west-northwest over the weekend then turn to a northwest direction to travel the waters east of northern Luzon starting Monday. Latest forecast positions available for Egay are 570 kilometers east of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan on Tuesday morning and 275 kilometers east of Basco, Batanes on Wednesday morning. PAGASA said Egay is forecast to remain at sea but a landfall has not been ruled out. "The current forecast track indicates that Egay will remain offshore over the Philippine Sea. However, the forecast confidence cone indicates that a landfall scenario over the northern portion of Northern Luzon is not ruled out at this time," PAGASA noted. Due to the storm, occasional rains are possible over Western Visayas on Sunday, the agency said. Gusty conditions will also affect most of Visayas and Mimaropa, and the northern portions of Northern Mindanao and Caraga on Sunday. PAGASA added that it may raise a gale warning over the eastern seaboards of southern Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao on Sunday as moderate to rough seas are expected. By Monday, the agency said Egay may dump at times heavy rains over Catanduanes on Monday, while the enhanced habagat may bring occasional rains over Western Visayas, Occidental Mindoro, and the northern portion of Palawan including Calamian Islands. CAIRO (AP) Yemeni police on Saturday arrested two suspects in the killing of a senior World Food Program official the previous day, authorities said. Ten others were also detained for their alleged involvement in the killing of Moayad Hameidi, who had recently arrived in the country to take the post of the head of the World Food Program in the southwestern province of Taiz. Taiz police did not provide further details. On Friday, two gunmen riding on a motorbike shot Hameidi in the town of Turbah. He died shortly after reaching a hospital. The attackers fled the scene. Hameidi, a Jordanian, was the latest aid worker to be killed in Yemen, which has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014. He had just arrived in Taiz a few days ago to assume his role as head of the WFP office in the province. The loss of our colleague is a profound tragedy for our organization and the humanitarian community, said Richard Ragan, WFPs director in Yemen. Any loss of life in humanitarian service is an unacceptable tragedy. In a phone call with WFP Chief Cindy McCain, Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed said the perpetrators would be held accountable for the terrorist crime they committed. He reiterated the governments commitment to secure aid organizations working in the war-torn country. Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, when Iran-backed Houthi rebels swept across much of the north and seized the capital, Sanaa, forcing the internationally recognized government into exile. A Saudi-led coalition entered the war the following year on the side of the government, and over the years, the conflict turned into a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the Houthis main foreign backer. Yemens conflict has created one of the worlds worst humanitarian crises and more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, have been killed. Taiz, Yemens third-largest city and the provincial capital, has been under a siege by the Houthis since 2016, as part of the countrys brutal conflict. The blockade has severely restricted freedom of movement and impeded the flow of essential goods, medicine, and humanitarian aid to the citys residents. In May 2021, an aid worker with the Oxfam charity died and another wounded when they were caught in crossfire in the countrys south. President Volodymyr Zelensky said he asked NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg during a phone call on June 22 to convene the NATO-Ukraine Council to discuss the terminated Black Sea Grain Initiative. "I turned to Jens with a proposal to urgently convene such a council for appropriate crisis consultations. The meeting will take place in a few days. We can overcome the security crisis in the Black Sea," Zelensky said. NATO launched the NATO-Ukraine Council, aimed at enabling closer coordination between Kyiv and the alliance, and extended the Comprehensive Assistance Package (which provided 500 million euros in defense aid so far) into a multi-year program after the summit in Vilnius held on July 11. Zelensky said earlier on July 22 that he spoke with Stoltenberg by phone about sustaining the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Black Sea grain deal collapses as Russia pulls from agreement 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 Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek Russia dealt a significant blow to global food security on July 17 by announcing its withdrawal from the grain deal. Brokered by Turkey and the U.N. last July, the grain deal has allowed Ukraine to export its agricultural products through the Black Sea during wartime. Ukraine is one of the world's top grain suppliers. The deal has been integral in alleviating global food price surges caused by Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Russia went on to launch a series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine's port infrastructure in Odesa Oblast and destroyed 60,000 tons of grain after withdrawing from the deal. According to Zelensky, he and Stoltenberg "determined the priority and future steps necessary for the unblocking and sustainable functioning of the Black Sea grain corridor." Zelensky also reached out to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the grain deal on July 21. Story continues "We coordinated efforts to restore the operation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Due to Russia's actions, the world is once again on the brink of a food crisis. A total of 400 million people in many countries in Africa and Asia are at risk of starvation," Zelensky said. The former head of Odesa's military enlistment office, Yevhen Borysov, is suspected of illicit enrichment and the violation of the order of military service, President Volodymyr Zelensky said via Telegram on July 22. While Borysov was notified, his whereabouts are currently "still being clarified," Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said. The inspection into Ukraine's military enlistment offices was ordered in late June, following the investigation by the Ukrainian online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda into Borysov. Ukrainska Pravda reported that the official's family had acquired property worth $4.5 million in Spain at the time of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. According to the investigation, the offshore property includes a $3.3 million villa, a number of expensive cars worth $500,000 in total, and office space in the city of Marbella, registered under Borysov's family members, including his wife, mother, and mother-in-law. Borysov initially told the journalists that his family has no property in Spain. But, after being presented with the data in the local registry, he claimed that his wife conducts business in the country and "he stays out of it." On June 23, Natalia Humeniuk, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Operational Command South, said that authorities had completed an internal probe against Borysov and found no violations. She also said that Borysov keeps fulfilling his duties on the job. Borysov was also subsequently suspended and the State Investigation Bureau launched an investigation into whether he abused his position. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg with a proposal to immediately convene a NATO-Ukraine Council due to Russia's aggressive actions in the Black Sea. Source: Zelenskyy in a video message Quote: "We talked [with Stoltenberg ed.] about the security situation now, in particular the Russian aggressive steps in the Black Sea. Any destabilisation in this region, disruption of our export routes will mean problems with corresponding consequences for everyone in the world. The price crisis is the least of the possible consequences. We discussed with Mr Stoltenberg our steps to unlock and ensure the sustainable operation of the grain corridor. In our cooperation, we have moved to a new, higher level the level of the Ukraine-NATO Council. And this mechanism can work. I have approached Jens with a proposal to convene such a council without delay for appropriate crisis consultations. In one of the following days the meeting will take place. We can overcome the security crisis in the Black Sea." Background: On 17 July, the Russian presidents press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced the suspension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. Russia also announced the withdrawal of the shipping security guarantees under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which ceased to be in effect on Monday, 17 July. President of Turkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said that he believes the Russian president actually wants the agreement to be extended and will talk to him about it. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested to Turkiye and the UN that the grain corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative should continue to function without Russia. On 19 July, Putin said that Russia "will consider the possibility" of returning to the grain agreement only if its conditions are fully met. In recent days, the Russians have been continuously destroying grain stocks in the south of Ukraine. On 19 July, as a result of Russian attacks on infrastructure in Odesa Oblast, 60,000 tonnes of grain were destroyed in the port of Chornomorsk. On 21 July, a night attack by the Russian Federation destroyed 100 tonnes of peas and 20 tonnes of barley in Odesa Oblast. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A view shows a fire on the Kerch bridge at sunrise in the Kerch Strait, Crimea. Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Kerch Bridge in Crimea must be "neutralized." Zelenskyy said the bridge is a legitimate military target as Russia uses it to "feed the war." The bridge opened in 2018 and links the illegally occupied Crimean peninsula with Russia. Ukrainian officials are done being coy about Crimea and whether they are responsible for attacks on the bridge linking the strategically important peninsula to Russia. Opened in 2018, four years after Moscow illegally occupied and annexed Crimea, the Kerch Bridge is about 12 miles long and carries not just cars but rail traffic. Since last year's full-scale invasion, it has been attacked twice: last October, with a bomb placed inside a truck an attack that Ukraine only acknowledged responsibility for this month and before dawn on Monday, when Russian authorities say it was attacked by a pair of Ukrainian drones. In remarks to the Aspen Security Forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking by video link, said Friday evening that the bridge is a legitimate military target. He suggested that taking it out is key to Ukraine's own ambitions, which include taking back all land occupied since 2014, when a popular uprising ousted the country's former pro-Moscow president, leading the Kremlin to seize the Crimean peninsula, which is home to a Russian naval base and provides the country direct access to the Black Sea. "The objective is to reclaim all of Crimea because it is our sovereign territory, an unalienable part of our nation," Zelenskyy said Friday. "And the Crimean bridge, this is not just a logistical road this is the road used to feed the war, with ammunition, and this has been done on a daily basis." Russia has labeled the attacks on the bridge "terrorist" acts. President Vladimir Putin himself described the latest assault as a "crime" that killed "blameless civilians," claiming the Kerch bridge "hasn't been used for military means in a long time." In fact, according to the Associated Press, the bridge serves as a "critical" connection between Moscow and Russian forces operating in southern Ukraine. Story continues Zelenskyy described the bridge Friday as "an enemy facility" that was built in defiance of international law. "So, understandably, this is our objective," he said. "Any objective, any target that is bringing war, not peace, has to be neutralized." Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that Sense Bank [a Ukrainian bank that had had Russian shareholders prior to being nationalised ed.] will operate as usual, and the rights of depositors and the stability of the banking sector are guaranteed. Source: Presidents evening address Quote: "Today, the procedure regarding one of the systemic banks, which belonged to Russian oligarchs, ended. Now, it has public management. The rights of depositors and the resilience of the banking sector are guaranteed. In the future, this bank will operate as usual." Details: Zelenskyy thanked the team of the National Bank of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers, and the Deposit Guarantee Fund for "the quick and effective steps within the legal procedure". Quote: "Another asset of the Russian oligarchs, who still continue to work within the system existing in Russia, is under the control of our state." Background: On 21 July, the Cabinet of Ministers accepted the decision to purchase in full the shares of Sense Bank from the deposit guarantee fund of individuals for UAH1. Thus, the bank becomes state-owned under the management of the Ministry of Finance. Individuals' deposit guarantee fund introduced temporary administration in Sense Bank. On 22 July, Ukraine became the owner of 100% of Sense Bank's shares, Dmytro Kuzmin was appointed chairman of the management board. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! After more than four hours of deliberation, a jury found a Gretna man guilty of second degree-murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony Friday evening, in what was a two-day trial. Matthew Isaac Critchley, 21, was arrested Aug. 30, 2021, after deputies from the Campbell County Sheriffs office responded to a home on Buffalo Lane at about 10 p.m. for reports of someone being shot. Lawrence Keith Taylor was found dead inside his home when deputies arrived. According to evidence presented in court by Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Mitchell Hanson, Taylor was shot five times one to the head behind the ear, one to his bottom lip area, two to his shoulder blade and one to his back. Hanson said the defendants mother Tracey Critchley, who was in a relationship with Taylor and lived with him for two years, had been arguing with Taylor for most of the day and she decided to leave work early. Tracey Critchley testified Thursday she went home early because of the argument and messages from Taylor, which continued through the evening. She testified he had been drinking quite a bit, finding beer cans when arriving home. Tracey Critchley claimed Taylor tried to set a fire in the living room that she ultimately put out, and he tried to set another fire nearly 20 minutes later. She called her daughter, Brittney Critchley, and told her what was going on, and her daughter advised her to leave or she would call the police, Tracey Critchley testified. Hanson explained in court Brittney Critchley then called her brother, Matthew, and told him to go to the house and help their mom pack her items. When Matthew Critchley arrived, according to Tracey Critchley testimony, he and a friend began helping her load the car with her clothes. Tracey Critchley said she went back to the bedroom to get more items while Taylor was constantly cursing at her and Taylor told her son that he and his friend had to leave. When Matthew Critchley entered the house for the third time, she explained, is when everything happened. Critchley testified the last time she saw Taylor, he was sitting in his rocking chair. I heard Matthew scream Ma, and she explained shots followed almost immediately after. She said her son came into the room to grab her and said, its okay, youre safe now. Tracey Critchley explained she checked on Taylor, because I cannot accept the fact that he was dead, Tracey Critchley also testified in court she never saw her son lift a handgun, which Hanson argued wasnt consistent with her previous statements to authorities. Hanson said she told authorities she was in the living room that night of the shooting and saw the gun. I did not intentionally lie to them, she said. I was very much in shock. I had never experienced anything like this; I didnt even know what I was saying. Captain Tracy Emerson, an investigator at the Campbell County Sheriffs office, responded Aug. 29, 2021, to the scene and did the initial interview with the defendant, which Hanson played in court. When he arrived, Matthew Critchley said in the interview, Taylor was acting out of character and Matthew Critchley tried to help his mom load items into her car. He added when he stepped back into the house, in the doorway, he saw Taylor get up and grab his shotgun and point it into the room where his mom was located. I thought he was going to shoot my mom, Matthew Critchley said, adding after he saw that everything just happened so fast. Emerson questioned, in the interview, the placement of the shotgun on top of Taylors hand. When authorities arrived, Taylor was lying face down on his hand, with his palm facing up beside him, where a shotgun was laying on top of his palm which Emerson questioned if the gun was placed there. What you told me is not what happened, Matthew, Emerson said in the interview. Matthew Critchley remained consistent throughout the interview with his story of protecting his mother. If someone pulled a gun out on your mom how would you react, he said. Hanson maintained, from the start of his opening argument and throughout the trial, that words are precisely what led to the death of Taylor. Attorney Matthew Pack, representing Matthew Critchley, maintained the argument from the Commonwealth is built completely off circumstantial evidence. What would you do if someone raised a gun at your mom, Pack said, arguing there was zero motive for Matthew Critchley. There was absolutely zero motive for first-degree murder of a man he ate with, had barbecues with, he added. Hanson said Matthew Critchley decided Taylor needed to die because of respect. Hanson argued Taylor was sitting in his rocking chair and the defendant pulled a gun and shot him and when Taylor tried to flee, he turns his back and Critchley shot him four more times. Hanson said the shots did not occur the way the defendant say they do. Now you have someone in their heart, determined to kill that person, He said. Pack argued Matthew Critchley did not come to the house with the intention to kill Taylor. This is not someone who was planning to kill Taylor, he was just trying to help his mother get out, Pack said. Pack told the jury it must be proven beyond reasonable doubt and he claims the doubts are more than reasonable in this case. The kid mowed his lawn and ate dinner with him, Pack said. He said Matthew Critchley cooperated willingly with law enforcement and didnt have time to change story, claiming he stayed consistent throughout the entire process and it all happened at a moments notice. What would you do if someone had a gun and tried to kill your mother, Pack repeated. Sentencing for Matthew Critchley is expected to take place in about two to three months. Lynchburg fire crews responded to a fire Friday evening at Seven Hills Rehabilitation and Nursing on Langhorne Road. Firefighters dispatched to the scene in the 2000 block of Langhorne Road around 7:45 p.m. A fire started in one of the rooms of the single-story structure and was contained by the sprinkler system, according to a news release from the Lynchburg Police Department. Fire crews arrived and quickly finished extinguishing the blaze; however smoke from the fire spread and forced the evacuation of the rest of the facility, the release said. Two residents were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital for treatment of minor smoke inhalation, according to the fire department. The remaining 90 or so residents were moved outside the building while fire crews worked to ventilate and assess the damage, the release said. Initially it was thought all of them would have to be relocated to other facilities, but ultimately all were allowed back inside, although five rooms are uninhabitable due to the fire and smoke damage, the news release said. Because of the potential size of the incident, Concord Rescue Squad was called in to fill Station 2 while several of Lynchburgs medic units were tied up at the scene of the fire. The Lynchburg Fire Marshals Office is investigating. At this time the cause has not been determined, the release issued Friday night said. Despite efforts on the state and local levels to expand the availability of quality, affordable child care, a shortage persists. From 2017 to 2022, the total number of child care programs listed with Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral declined from 6,132 to 4,661 a drop of 24% but the number of child care spaces in the state grew by 5%, according to data from the state program. The total number of children under age 5 decreased by 2%. In Pottawattamie County, the number of child care providers decreased from 197 to 138 a drop of 30% and the number of spaces dropped by 7%. The number of children under age 5 declined by 5%. During the same time period, the number of child care programs that accept state Child Care Assistance fell from 4,551 to 3,190, or 30%, across the state and from 163 to 94, or 42%, in Pottawattamie County, according to Iowa Child Care Resource & Referral. That made it harder for families who qualify for assistance to find affordable child care. One reason is that the maximum reimbursement rate paid by the state is often lower than the private fee charged by a child care program, according to Shirley Urich, community development specialist for Child Care Resource & Referral of Southwest Iowa. The Sheryl K. Johnson Child Care Center at St. Albert Catholic School is certified for 88 children from 6 weeks to 3 years of age and 42 4- and 5-year-olds, said Director Don George. The center runs at capacity and has a waiting list of about 50 children. The center added another infant room and another preschool room a few years ago, which allowed it to accept an additional eight infants and 16 more preschool-age children, George said. Part of that was to try to accommodate a growing (need) for infant care, he said. The center, a licensed and accredited child care provider, accepts Child Care Assistance and always has some families who pay with the help of assistance, George said. Eligibility is based on income. In some cases parents will run 100% (CCA), and in other cases the parents may be required to have a co-pay, he said. Its all set by the state. We have a good staff, and we get a lot of support from the overall St. Albert community. In 2022, the Iowa Legislature decided to allow families to pay the difference between the two rates as an incentive for providers to accept Child Care Assistance, said Dawn Oliver Wiand, President and CEO of the Iowa Womens Foundation, who spoke during a luncheon on Nov. 9, 2022 at Childrens Square USA. Childrens Square USAs Childrens Center is another licensed and accredited provider that accepts Child Care Assistance, according to Jonathan Holland, chief program officer. At Childrens Square, we understand the importance of providing access to high-quality child care services for families from all walks of life, regardless of their income levels, he said. We proudly accept Child Care Assistance to support families in need and ensure that every child receives the nurturing care and educational opportunities they deserve. Holland said Childrens Square has a mission to help build bright futures for children and families by creating learning environments that meet the educational and emotional needs of the children in our care. By accepting Child Care Assistance, we aim to remove financial barriers and make our Childrens Center accessible to as many families as possible, he said. Childrens Square uses the reimbursement rate as a guide, Holland said. We align our rates with the government rate so that there is equity across all families, he said. However, balancing the Childrens Center budget is increasingly more difficult, with the challenges associated with recruiting, training and retaining quality staff members. He said that the nonprofit doesnt have the same demands that a for-profit center has to remain open, but Childrens Square still feels the strain. We have a great staff of dedicated individuals passionate about allowing children to learn and play in a safe and nurturing environment, Holland said. Earlier this year, we received some grant funding that allowed us to increase our staffs starting wages, which has helped. However, competing in the current labor market is difficult. That, combined with balancing the ratio requirements, means that we are always one person (leaving) from being in a staffing crunch. The Legislature adjusted the staff-child ratios last year to allow providers to serve a few more children, Oliver Wiand said. House File 2198 increased the minimum staff-child ratios from 1-to-6 to 1-to-7 for 2-year-olds and from 1-to-8 to 1-to-10 for 3-year-olds, she said. The law also allows child care workers who are 16 years old to work without the direct supervision of an adult. They did that, I think, to try to accommodate some of the additional need for child care during COVID, but they have stuck in place and I think that is helpful, George said. The Legislature also changed Iowa Code last year to allow the Child Care Assistance program to serve families with a permanently disabled parent so child care can be covered while the other parent in the household is working or attending education or training, she said. These families were previously not eligible for CCA. The Iowa Womens Foundation, which has worked to raise awareness about the child care shortage, estimated last year that the state needed child care for more than 300,000 additional children, Oliver Wiand said. One of the few new childcare providers in Pottawattamie County is an in-home provider who can accept up to 12 children, Urich said. Meanwhile, an existing center is closing, George said. However, local school districts have plans in the works that could put a dent in the problem. Council Bluffs Community School District is preparing to open a new preschool and child care facility in August at North Eighth Street and Avenue F. The Anne E. Nelson Early Learning Center will have the capacity to serve 170 to 175 preschool students and provide care for 25 to 30 infants and toddlers ranging from 6 weeks to 3 years of age. It will help, Urich said of the new center. I think there still is a lot of work to do in southwest Iowa. Lewis Central Community School District plans to include an early childhood center in a new primary school facility it intends to build on undeveloped land south of its main campus, assuming the property proves to be satisfactory and a bond issue to fund that and other facilities projects is approved by voters in the district. Acquisition of the property was approved by the school board during a special meeting on July 10. The capacity of that facility has not been determined, and construction, if the project moves forward, will take until 2026 or 2027. Treynor Community School District will open its first preschool classroom this fall, Superintendent Joel Beyenhof said. The district will devote its one-room preschool to all-day preschool for 4-year-olds. Those who need early access and have financial need will have priority, he said. The class will be capped at 20 students, with the size initially limited to 17 students to allow for a few to start during the school year. For an online child care provider search, visit iowaccrr.org/families and fill in the search parameters. To reach a parent referral specialist, call 855-244-5301 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or visit childcare@caeiowa.org. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) The House of Representatives aims to approve the proposed national budget for 2024 before Congress goes on break in October. "May balita na ang BBM ay magsu-sumite ng ating 2024 budget, [national] expenditure program, a week after SONA. Kapag nangyari po 'yan, sigurado na tatapusin natin yung budget before the break, our October break, House Speaker Martin Romualdez said in a press briefing. [Translation: There's news BBM (President Bongbong Marcos) might submit the 2024 budget, the national expenditure program, a week after SONA. If that happens, we will finish working on the budget before the break, our October break.] The president earlier approved the proposed 5.768-trillion budget for next year, which is a 9.5% increase from 2023s 5.268 trillion. The Department of Budget and Management said it plans to submit the proposed national budget to Congress "a few weeks" after Marcos' second State of the Nation Address on July 24. Romualdez, a cousin of the president, said the lower chamber averages five weeks to work and deliberate on the national budget. He added that the swift passage of the proposed 2024 national expenditure program would allow Marcos to enact it by December. Bago mag-Pasko, kaya nang i-pirma na 'yan. Para sa Enero, on day one...released na yung budget, said Romualdez. [Translation: Before Christmas, it could be signed into law. So by January, on day one...the budget is already released by that time.] Correction The "A show of support for Plan 2" letter published Thursday, July 20 previously misidentified its author's affiliation with a local group. Waller is not the co-chair of the Concerned Citizens of Pottawattamie County or a member of the organization. The Nonpareil apologizes for the error. Maintaining equitable representation for all of Pottawattamie County We, 12 mayors of Pottawattamie County, are writing to express our collective stance against the proposed redistricting of the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors. This plan, in essence, threatens to sever the vital, whole-county representation that we currently benefit from. Our county is made up of diverse and vibrant towns, each with unique needs, perspectives and aspirations. From Council Bluffs to Walnut, Macedonia to Carter Lake, and every community in between, we are united by the desire for effective representation. Our strength lies in our unity, in having supervisors who understand the nuances of our entire county, rather than being confined to the interests of their individual districts. These new plans put our unity at risk. It is essential to remember that while our Board of Supervisors may be elected under party banners, the issues they confront are typically non-partisan. These are the matters of daily life -- infrastructure, public health, safety and more -- which transcend political boundaries. The accesibility and responsiveness of all five supervisors are what help us address the needs of our communities effectively. Under Plan 2 or Plan 3, we would be losing this dynamic, reduced to just one representative for 12 out of our 14 towns. Moreover, this same, single representative would shoulder the responsibility of our agricultural lands and rural townships versus the current five. Therefore, we strongly urge you to protect the unity and efficacy of our local government. We ask you to join us in supporting Plan 1 on Aug. 1. By doing so, we maintain a Board of Supervisors who represent all of Pottawattamie County, ensuring the diverse voice from Avoca, Carson, Carter Lake, Council Bluffs, Crescent, Hancock, Macedonia, McClelland, Minden, Neola, Oakland, Treynor, Underwood, Walnut and everywhere in between continue to be heard by five representatives. Let us strand together to preserve our united representaiton, not divide it. Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your continued committment to our shared communities. Mayor Tom Bruck, Avoca; Mayor Tim Todd, Carson; Mayor Matt Walsh, Council Bluffs; Mayor Chuck Hildreth, Crescent; Mayor Vince Guyer, Hancock; Mayor Melia Clark, Macedonia; Mayor Mitch Kay, McClelland; Mayor Kara Pogge, Neola; Mayor Brant Miller, Oakland; Mayor Allen Hadfield, Treynor; Mayor Denny Bardsley, Underwood; Mayor Brett Simpson, Walnut Imagine a better way Dear fellow West-Enders of CB, please take a moment to imagine how things could be better for us here on the grid: Imagine having more of a presence on the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors, giving us a much-needed voice so that we too can help improve our community. After all, when it comes to making important decisions, its easy to feel forgotten when no one on the board lives west of the viaduct. Imagine what it would be like if Democrats and Republicans could nominate and vote for a candidate who lives in our neighborhood and cares about our specific needs, someone who is personally invested in making our quality of life a little bit better. Imagine how smaller districts would make running a campaign much more feasible for those of us who work full time but also want to serve our community because lets be honest, campaigning across an entire county is unrealistic for working class candidates that might also have a young family to care for. Imagine if, like other large counties in Iowa, we had smaller districts from which to elect our Board of Supervisors. Did you know that four out of five of our current supervisors live within 10 miles of each other? Imagine if all of that power was distributed more evenly. Well friends, the good news is that you dont have to imagine it, because its exactly what Plan 3 offers. All of us, regardless of our political affiliation or walk of life, deserve a Board of Supervisors that truly reflects the talent, diversity and potential of every community in our great county. You have the power to make this a reality by voting for Plan 3 on Aug. 1 or voting early by mail-in ballot. C.S Irwin Council Bluffs A misguided effort for change I support Plan 1 for how we select county supervisors for the following reasons: We each currently have five votes for who serves on the county Board of Supervisors. Plan 1 retains that right for us. Plan 1 will assure that all voices and communities continue to be heard. Plan 1 assures continuous cooperation between the cities, small towns and rural areas. Plan 1 keeps partisan politics out of decisions by the county Board of Supervisors. Every one of the five supervisors represents all of us and are accountable to all of us. The misguided effort to change our county supervisors to district-specific seats instead of at-large officers will fracture the hard won unity that has made our county strong and successful. I encourage you to vote Plan 1 on Aug. 1. Dan Kinney, Sr. Council Bluffs Plan 3 offers fair representation I've been getting fear mongering and name calling texts about the Aug. 1st special election. The election is to give us the option to change the way we elect Pottawattamie County's five supervisors. We have the option (Plan 3 on the ballot) to have a representative from five areas of the county each represent their own neighbors. This would distribute the representation to the more rural areas of the county. Who is so afraid of fairly representing all of Pottawattamie County? Plan 3 is the most fair for county residents. Pamela McDonald Council Bluffs WASHINGTON (AP) Over the past year, inflation in the United States has tumbled from 9% all the way to 3%, softening most of the price pressures that have gripped the nation for more than two years. With the release of the long-awaited report from state auditor Mike Foley on North Fork Area Transit, many of the questions Norfolkans have been asking for months were answered, and at least in that document, it seems that all signs with regard to any financial improprieties point to former African venture results have declined in recent quarters, echoing the trends in other startup regions around the world, but with $1.1 billion raised in the first half of 2023, Africas startup ecosystem shows resilience in the face of the global venture capital (VC) funding downturn. Despite VC funding slowly retreating from the African market this year, the continents startup ecosystem continues to perform well compared with more mature markets like North America and Europe, according to figures from PitchBook, a capital market company. In 2022, $2.9 billion was invested across 689 venture rounds in Africa, making it the only region with a year-on-year increase in both deal value and count, according to PitchBook data. However, even though the total value of the deals completed by VC-backed African companies dropped sharply from $948 million in Q1 2022 to $419 million in Q1 2023, the capital raised in Q2 2023 climbed to bring the total to $1.1 billion in the first six months of the year. Meanwhile, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activities are fast becoming the norm in the African startup ecosystem, offering a pathway for funding, market consolidation, and sustainable growth. The M&A have emerged as the primary exit strategy for startups especially in South Africa, Egypt, and Nigeria, with founders increasingly eyeing this path as a means of realizing the value of their ventures. For example, in Nigeria, the acquisition of Paystack by Stripe in 2020 also ignited M&A activities in the fintech space. Other sectors have also seen smaller yet significant M&A, such as the acquisition of Lynk by EdenLife, Autocheks acquisition of KIFAL Auto, CoinAfrique, and most recently, a majority stake in AutoTager. St. Vincent and the Grenadines has reaffirmed support for Moroccos territorial Integrity, and considered the Autonomy Plan as being the unique solution to the Sahara Issue. This position was expressed in a joint communique issued at the end of talks held in Rabat on Friday between the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Everad Gonsalves, and foreign minister Nasser Bourita. In this context, Gonsalves hailed Moroccos commitment to the political process under the auspices of the United Nations and the Kingdoms full cooperation with the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for the Sahara, Staffan de Mistura. The Rime Minister who was accompanied by Inga Rhonda King, the countrys permanent representative to the UN, also praised the UN efforts as the exclusive framework for achieving a realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution to the regional conflict over the Sahara. In this connection, Bourita briefed Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves on the latest developments of the Sahara issue and reiterated the Kingdoms commitment to the ongoing political process aimed at reaching a just and final solution to this artificial conflict. The PM Ralph Gonsalves has also welcomed the leadership of King Mohammed VI in Africa and worldwide and his support of regional diplomacy, socio-economic development, and South-South cooperation, added the joint communique. He likewise highlighted the role of the King, Commander of the Faithful, in promoting the values of peace, coexistence and mutual respect among all people, regardless of their religious beliefs. According to the joint communique, discussions during the visit focused on an evaluation of the ongoing cooperation between the two countries, especially in the fields of agriculture, health, education, human resources development through vocational training of civil servants in priority fields for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and highlighted by the adoption of a new roadmap for bilateral cooperation for 2023-2025. At the multilateral level, both sides called for the development of a high-level joint political dialogue and stressed the importance of intensifying their contacts with the aim of further harmonizing their positions within multilateral institutions, such as the United Nations. During his visit to Morocco this July 20 21, Gonsalves also met with the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, as well as with the president of the Moroccan Employers Association (CGEM), Chakib Alj. Talks addressed ways of strengthening cooperation relations between the two countries with focus on Investment potential and the diversification of economic cooperation. During the talks with the CGEM Chief, the two parties identified several sectors for economic cooperation, including agriculture, tourism and finance. Gonsalves stressed that ties with Morocco are dominated by state-to-state relations, and that it was time to include the private sector, to strengthen investment and trade. For his part, Alj pointed out that Morocco is a bridge between Latin America and the Arab-African world, and that Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a platform to Latin America and the Caribbean islands. Based on their complementarities, Morocco and St. Vincent and the Grenadines could develop trade links and create jobs in several sectors such as agriculture, local handicrafts, and tourism, Alj pointed out. The Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association are teaming up to host the Drones in Ag Conference on Aug. 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension and Education Center, 1071 County Road G, Ithaca. Drones have rapidly gained popularity in farming and ranching over the last several years. The conference will include speakers, demonstrations, lunch and even a lunchtime film festival. Mike OShea, program manager for the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration will be the keynote speaker. His topic is FAA Perspective on Unmanned Aircraft Systems. Other presenters will speak on the following topics: Drone law. Everyday uses of UASs in agronomy. Photo/video production with drones. Using drones in the ag classroom. Crop intelligence to keep your acre moving forward. The whirlwind created by agricultural drones. Drone trailer setup/being efficient as possible. Alternative drone uses and relations to sustainability. Aerial crop scouting. There will also be breakout sessions along three tracks: Operating a drone business, Drones in livestock production. Drones in crop production. Field demonstrations will highlight uses of drones for mapping, applying products, monitoring livestock and more. People are encouraged to enter their drone videos for a lunchtime film festival where winners will be announced. The cost to attend the conference is $75 or $20 for students. For more information and to register go to the NEATA website at neata.org. Two interns are working to promote Lincoln County Fair and the planned Linco Ag & Education Center at the fairgrounds. Antonio Azpeitia Lopez and Laurent Ikuzwe are both excited to have a part in the good things happening now and to come. The two men are Rural Fellows with Rural Prosperity Nebraska, a focus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Their commitment was from May 31 to July 21, but Lincoln County Fair does not officially start until Wednesday. Azpeitia Lopez and Ikuzwe plan to be there to be involved in what they have focused so much of their attention on this summer. Learn more online Rural Fellows program: ruralprosperityne.unl.edu/rural-fellowship Proposed Linco Ag & Education Center: lincolegacy.com Lincoln County Fair: lincofair.com, facebook.com/lincofair Azpeitia Lopez is from Omaha and is a bachelors degree student in applied science with a minor in communication and leadership at UNL. Ikuzwe is from Kigali, Rwanda, in southeast Africa. He has been in the U.S. for four years, coming here for his education at UNL. He is a Master of Arts student, studying mass communication. Ive loved it. Its been very fun, said Amanda Carr, promotional secretary for Lincoln County Ag Society, which oversees the fairgrounds. She said she is glad that Lisa Citta, a former Ag Society board member, brought the Rural Fellows program to their attention. Board member Kathy Chessmore has also had an integral role in the projects. The inclusive leadership has been eye-opening, Azpeitia Lopez said. Theres a sense of satisfaction in seeing the results of our work, Ikuzwe added. Azpeitia Lopez has taken a lead on work related to the planned Linco Ag & Education Center. They are building on the work of others, including Mid-Plains Community College students. Students in a business class taught by Cathy Nutt compiled information for a business plan for the center, publishing their report in 2018. The focus this summer has been on updating that information and combining it with other data. This project aims to have all the information in one place, Azpeitia Lopez said. The results will help the Ag Society and its partners, and hopefully catch the eye of potential donors. The team is generating ideas for events that could be conducted in the center throughout the year, both for 4-H and outside interests. They are gathering comparative information about similar facilities in the region: the exposition center at Buffalo County fairgrounds in Kearney, facilities at Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, and Kiplinger Arena at Red Willow County Fairgrounds in McCook. Looking closer at hand, they have also spent time promoting Lincoln County Fair. That has been Ikuzwes major focus. They have placed yard signs in nearby communities, distributed flyers to the North Platte Visitor Center, grocery stores, convenience stores and other locations. Ikuzwe has put time into marketing on social media as well. Rural Fellows commit to work for 280 hours in their paid internships and give 20 hours of volunteer time. Azpeitia Lopez and Ikuzwe have far exceeded their volunteer commitment by helping at Nebraskaland Days events. They helped to assemble equipment, and put up and tear down the stage for concerts. They helped with the childrens bike rodeo and with organiaing people and exhibits for the parade. The pair had good things to say about their experiences here, their supervisors and partners with the Ag Society, and people in the area. We have enjoyed being in the community, Ikuzwe. said The community has welcomed us with open arms. There are 20 Rural Fellows across the state this year. They include three working with the city of North Platte and one at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis. This is the 10th year of the Rural Fellows internship program. If Americans think through it all for just a few moments, theyll realize that last months U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the First Amendment and websites hardly covers just one group. Yes, its crystal-clear that the motivation of the Colorado website designer in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis was to preclude her being forced to design a same-sex wedding website against her particular religious beliefs. Inevitably, our counterparts in the national press are portraying this as a showdown between LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedom though that issue alone should have been enough for a ruling in the plaintiffs favor, if the free exercise clause of the First Amendment means anything at all. But lets remember that the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act forbade all public accommodations to deny the full and equal enjoyment of their goods and services based on (in the high courts words) race, creed, disability, sexual orientation or other statutorily enumerated trait. To that, a 6-3 Supreme Court majority replied that the First Amendment prohibits Colorado from forcing a website designer to create expressive designs speaking messages with which the designer disagrees. Thats all-encompassing language, including but hardly limited to religious exercise or expression or promotion of LGBTQ+ beliefs and rights. It means website designers identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer or nonbinary cannot be made to design a website opposing their beliefs not even if the Catholic Church or any number of evangelical Protestant churches want them to. It also means the designer of a website promoting remembrance of the World War II Holocaust cant be forced to design one for groups denying the reality that Nazi Germany murdered some 6 million Jews (and millions with other characteristics, by the way). It means atheist website designers cant be forced to design religious websites. African-American designers cant be made to design a white-supremacist website. Native American designers cant be required by the government to design a website promoting the reprehensible belief that the only good Indian is a dead Indian, let alone one calling them Indians. And so on, and on, and on. Colorados law does violence to the First Amendment in multiple ways. The wrongs only start with a state government constricting the free exercise of religion or the denial of religion by those who dare to sell goods and services to the public. Mandating particular types of speech is also curtailing free speech, not to mention freedom of the press. And not just the speech of website designers using their 21st-century version of print-and-ink presses. The First Amendment protects everybody. Period. The only thing wrong with the 303 Creative decision is that three justices wouldnt see or state the matter just that bluntly. This dude. Reply Thread Link I cackled at this. There's really nothing else to say. Reply Parent Thread Link Nothing good comes of this guy huh Reply Thread Link dude is literal walking talking asbestos and white women flock to it like I'm supposed to have respect for who in this situation? Reply Parent Thread Link Im honestly glad hes getting raked over the coals. Idk if Id say he came out of the Taylor Swift thing unscathed but definitely nowhere near as scathed as Id like considering how foul he is Reply Parent Thread Link They're right to be angry. Its easy to sit back and say stupid shit like "GOOD, THE COUNTRY SHOULD SIMPLY CHANGE ITS LAWS" but look at USA lmao. We can't even keep Womens rights, what makes you think another country can JUST get gay rights. It takes years of progress and fighting. The girls and gays there at least had these music festivals and others like it to have a good time, and now they don't. Now even having acts over will be on the chopping block entirely, and the fight will be that much harder, miserable, and tiring. He literally played right into conservatives hands. All because some crusty savior complex that made him decide to act out like, "SCREW YOUR RULES!!! JUST BREAK EM, WHO CARES!! I'M GONNA LEAD THE CHANGE EVERYBODY LETS GO xD!!" Kind of like that lady in Dubai who started yelling like she'd lost her fking mind and got snatched up and arrested. Or the guy who "playfully" ran to the North Korean border. People from Western countries really truly need to stop doing dumb shit throwing around weight that they don't actually have selfishly causing a ton of trouble not just for themselves, but for other people too. Now hundreds/thousands of locals get robbed of their money, plans, experience and good time. And for what, to become surprise martyrs???? They just wanted to have a good time, get to meet up, and feel normal. Good job, self absorbed wanna be hero loser. Westerners stop thinking you're the center of the world brave savior strong minded main character in a leading change movie challenge. Reply Thread Link That story about the trucker in Dubai is definitely a fuck around and find out tale Reply Parent Thread Link But what I heard is that she fell for a scam where she went to get her wallet and things and the people told her she would have to pay them money to retrieve them. And when she told them her wallet was with the stuff, they said, "Make it work." And according to her mother, after the yelling she did go back and apologize but they upped the money and then got her for yelling when she couldn't pay. So to me, this was a scam where you have to pay for your stuff that was in a car accident or just not be able to get home. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link That man who jumped the nk border has baffled me. Like he would have gotten disciplined, maybe kicked out of the military, but did he think what nk would do is not as bad? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link white savior complex is right. As if he is going to be the one to change things instead of local activists on the ground working hard. I'd be pissed too honestly Reply Thread Link Literally. How arrogant and ignorant do you have to be to think you can turn up in a country with hundreds of years of VASTLY different sociopolitical standards and make a statement without thinking there will be repercussions? And then to have NONE of those repercussions affect you and just fly off? LITTLE DICK ENERGY FOR A HELLUVA DICK MOVE. Reply Parent Thread Link Idk, I don't like him and I think his music is trash, but if a government can close down a festival over something like this then the issue ain't him. Yes it's 'local customs' and he shouldn't have gone that far, but the issue isn't his drunk ass. Reply Thread Link When local customs are homophobic, lets all just sit back and enjoy the strokes sure sure sure. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah but these are all people who live under the government everyday and probably know it sucks but deal with it and their restrictions in whatever way they have to. Its gotta be pretty annoying for some random rich musician to come in and ruin not only this festival but the viability of future international concerts so he could give a speech that in no way is going to actually help LGBT people there. Edited at 2023-07-22 07:49 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I get that, I really do, and I don't think he went about it the right way - however y'all woulda been dragging him if he performed and didnt say shit as well. He is a dick but he's not at fault for the main issue. Edited at 2023-07-22 07:52 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link if a government can close down a festival over something like this then the issue ain't him. Yes it's 'local customs' this ain't about him failing to observe local customs, and I'm sure Malaysians living in Malaysia have a better understanding of their domestic issues and govt's failings than any one of us and certainly better than his toxic asbestos ass. this is about a flyover white person advancing nothing of value (while cashing $$$) to the citizens in that country who are directly affected by their oppressive governing bodies, and in fact, said white person creating greater jeopardy for Malaysia's most vulnerable citizens by further exposing them to an overreaching government. saying "he shouldn't have gone that far" is about as glib and patronizing as his performative activism, but he certainly takes the cake by hijacking a live audience. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i do get what you're saying, however if celebrities want to make such overt statements about regimes in countries that are not their own then they also have a responsibility to act carefully and ideally under the advisement of local activists....this is obviously not something he bothered to do and the fact that he clearly knew there would be backlash...probably he didn't foresee the whole festival being cancelled, but in a way that's the point, he didn't think it through at all. i know we're all BEC about this guy but he genuinely looks like he cares more about being seen to stand up against The Bad Thing rather than doing anything to actually help. Edited at 2023-07-22 08:52 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link This is a very clear example of white privileged westerners who have no knowledge of the realities on the ground and the nuances of the fight, who do not know enough and do not care enough to know, acting like they are the only way progressive ideas and freedom can come to us third world "natives". Do you see Matt Healy paying the costs of his action? He gains performative activism points from the Internet while Malaysians get shut out of festivals where LGBTQ people might get a fucking day in the sun to enjoy music and have fun. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm surprised more people aren't pointing out that maybe he just...shouldn't have gone to Malaysia in the first place? But no, he wanted the money and didn't give a fuck until that was already in his pocket, the little shitweasel. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link How about this, he performs, takes the money, donates it all if there is a way to the LGBTQ movement of there us one. But then but then he doesnt get attention oh no Reply Parent Thread Link I get where youre coming from and Id agree with it if there was any benefit from his little speech, but I cant come up with anything. His protest was all about him and nothing there will change for the better if anything hes changed things for the worse for them. This was purely ego driven to me. Reply Parent Thread Link I am sorry if that offends you and youre religious and its part of your fucking government, but your government are a bunch of fucking retards and I dont care anymore. If you push, I am going to push back. I am not in the fucking mood. Healy noted how the 1975s set would not feature any uplifting songs because Im fucking furious and thats not fair on you because youre not representative of your government. Because you are young people and I am sure a lot of you are gay and progressive and cool. So I pulled the show yesterday and we had a conversation and we said, You know what? We cant let these kids down because theyre not the problem.' If you want to invite me here to do a show, you can fuck off. Ill take your money, you can ban me, but Ive done this before, and it doesnt feel good. a source close to the band tells Variety, Matty has a long-time record of advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, and the band wanted to stand up for their LGBTQ+ fans and community. the tweet about him playing white savior is absolutely on the mark. anyone who goes out of their way to defend this dumbass deserves to have the the tweet about him playing white savior is absolutely on the mark. anyone who goes out of their way to defend this dumbass deserves to have the #fffff slapped out of them Reply Thread Link Cool of him to support one marginalized group using another slur against another marginalized group. So fresh. Reply Parent Thread Link I can't believe how much that word is thrown about Reply Parent Thread Link wow...i get that his heart may be in the right place but he still comes off as completely privileged and arrogant....he's can talk big about being "banned" but ultimately the consequences aren't going to be suffered by him? if you care that much, reach out to activists who are actually doing the groundwork....they would most likely have told you not to pull such a stupid stunt in the first place. work with people in ways that are going to actually benefit them. ffs. Edited at 2023-07-22 08:06 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The sailor moon and tuxedo mask meme in action: TM: My work here is done SM: but you didnt do anything. Also re**** really? Trash Reply Parent Thread Expand Link those comments, jesuuuus. Unhinged behavious. I can't believe this man stands up for anything Reply Parent Thread Link he's that guy that you're just like "please don't get involved, please, we can handle this ourselves" because he just makes everything worse. Reply Parent Thread Link Theres a lot to unpack here but Im stuck on he wont sing any uplifting songs because hes so angrywhat kind of childish logic it really makes me wonder about the dynamics with the rest of the band Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is such a white man 'making myself the hero' speech I can't stand it. Literally nothing of note here but emptiness Reply Parent Thread Link just like rina said, he makes everything about him. Reply Parent Thread Link So he will take the money? Of course. What an ass, this could have all been avoided if he did the bare minimum research. He could have supported local organizations but no of course not. He thinks hes smart, but hes just privileged and lazy. Also their music sucks. Edited at 2023-07-22 09:27 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link He's a complete privileged fucking asshole. He started the concert saying he's "not in the mood" and started drinking and cursing on stage. So disrespectful. He ruined a night of fun for so many and has no idea how much damage he's done, and he'll just go back to his country and when they ask him about this in interviews he'll laugh it up like so many before him "oh haha yeah, I'm banned in Malaysia now". Fuck him. Reply Thread Link i didn't know we had so many malaysian ONTDers! welcome! Reply Thread Link this is what happens when celebrities want to make a show about caring for something rather than actually caring. if you really give a shit about LGBT youth in Malaysia? find local activists, ask for their advice on how you can best support them, don't pull a daft fucking attention seeking stunt with zero regards for the consequences. Reply Thread Link This was such an inelegant way to show his support for his Malaysian LGBTQ+ fans omg. Sir, stop drinking at work. Reply Thread Link The biggest irony is that homosexuality only became a criminal offence in Malaysia when they were under British rule. So here we are again, paying the price for Matty Healy's ancestors' bullshit. Reply Thread Link this is what kills me about the british and westerners in general thinking they are a paragon of progress and the rest of us are savages. while they were busy scratching their unwashed asses, so much of the rest of the world was already so progressive and open minded and liberated and thriving and because of them, entire nations are never going to get anywhere close to how they once were. matt acts like he's this revolutionary and people like him are too idiotic to realize its his own moronic/evil background that set everyone else back. Reply Parent Thread Link it's just funny bc the west isnt much better. conversion therapy is still basically legal (doesnt cover trans folk and those who 'consent' to it) in the uk soooooooooo.... Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wooowe thanks for that info. Smh. Tale as old as time: white people being/creating the damn problem and also wanting all of the praise and notoriety for *fixing the problem with no care for how it affects anyone by themselves. *fixing in their own way of course with no input from those who are affected Reply Parent Thread Link And my friend said with state election happening soon in Malaysia this August, the timing for this is terrible. My friend, who's Malaysian, has been super critical about this and said Ratty practically gave ammo to an insurgent right-wing group who nearly came into power during the last election. One of the things the right-wing group like to campaign on is banning concerts for being too sexy, vulgar, lgbtq+, etc. (One example: the huge stir earlier this year that was caused over Blackpink's concert where the group wouldn't stop criticizing it for its "deviant nature"), so this stunt Ratty pulled is only going to make things worse.And my friend said with state election happening soon in Malaysia this August, the timing for this is terrible. Reply Thread Link this guy thought, how can we make an oppressive government look like the lesser asshole? and came up with this ..... i just... feel so sorry for everyone involved except the government there and this dude eta: idk any government anywhere atm that i like. so not taking jabs at any one government Edited at 2023-07-22 08:20 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I mean the Malay government made a gay conversion app to make people "normal" so I think it's okay to criticize them. If anyone is offended by that, that's their own issue tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link He should focus on fixing his own behavior. This is a serious issue, but he is not the person to be addressing it for many reasons, not the least of which are his ignorance and tactless personality. Reply Thread Link where was he when the band was booked for this festival? it seems like he thought he would get dragged for coming to the country so he decided to put up some performance activism. but this 'you won't get shit because YOUR GOVERNMENT SUCKS' attitude.... fuck him, he's such an idiot. Reply Thread Link Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) The five-day caravan of progressive groups under the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) Timog Katagalugan was halted on Friday after the Cavite police flagged their effigy ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s State of the Nation Address. The police stopped the caravan at the border of Imus and Dasmarinas in Cavite after noticing the 13-foot effigy of Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte of a combat boot. BAYAN, which tagged Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte as bootlickers, insisted that they did not violate any law as the effigy is within the 16-foot clearance. Ang panawagan po namin sa inyo [police] ay galangin din po yung aming karapatan sa freedom of expression, at yung freedom of expression po namin ay ginagarantiyahan ng ating Konstitusyon, BAYAN Timog Katagalugan spokesperson Kyle Angelo Salgado said. [Translation: We call on the police to respect our right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution.] Authorities said that they blocked the effigy due to safety concerns. Nung in-assess namin siya ay talagang unsafe siya sa daan kasi naka-hook lang siya sa isang passenger jeep. Then hindi naman talaga siya designed for parang tow truck na ganun, Dasmarinas Police Station Chief Lieutenant Colonel Socrates Jaca said, adding that the effigy got tangled in some electricity cables. [Translation: Upon our assessment, it really posed road safety risks because it was just hooked to a passenger jeep. And it wasnt really designed for a tow truck.] More than five hours later, both sides agreed to tow the effigy with an escort from the delegation, and for the effigy to be transported by a truck that BAYAN rented. In a statement on Saturday, the youth organization Kabataan condemned the polices move, calling it outright censorship." The group added that it exposes how the administration is afraid of any form of criticism that may risk its campaign to rebrand and deodorize the Marcos name. Reportedly, police also harassed drivers who are part of the caravan by attempting to confiscate their licenses and other official documents in an attempt to intimidate them to just go home, Kabataan also said, demanding that involved police officers be held accountable. Low score Meanwhile, various groups under BAYAN gave Marcos a grade of zero for his performance as president and concurrent agriculture chief, as they cited wage and livelihood issues. Zero yung ibibgay ng mga manggagawa kasi imbes na tugunan yung panawagan ng mga manggagawa unang-una diyan yung pagsasabatas ng nakabubuhay na sahod ay hindi niya pinakinggan, Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa ng Timog Katagalugan - Kilusang Mayo Uno Secretary General Mia Antonio said. [Translation: Workers gave him a grade of zero because he did not listen to our concerns foremost, our call for a livable wage.] Itlog, zero kasi inutil na presidente, inutil na DA (Department of Agriculture) secretary. Ang amin pong panawagan: kung hindi nyo kayang mag full-time as DA secretary, kayo po ay mag-resign at kumuha kayo ng gabinete na magiging full time secretary ng Department of Agriculture na may puso para sa mga magsasaka, said Tanggol Magsasaka Timog Katagalugan Regional Coordinator Orly Marcellana. [Translation: Zero, because he is a useless president, a useless DA secretary. Our call is: if you cant be a full-time DA secretary, then just resign and appoint someone to take on the Cabinet role, someone who has the heart for farmers.] A youth group even gave Marcos a negative score. Pwede bang -5? Kasi sa halip na matulungan yung kabataan na ipahayag yung panawagan, pangangailangan ng mga kabataan, what he does, what he continues to do ay patahimikin tayo, Youth Advocates for Peace with Justice - University of the Philippines Los Banos chairperson John Peter Garcia said. [Translation: Is -5 possible? Because instead of helping the youth voice out their opinions and their needs, what he does is he continues to silence us.] CNN Philippines' Digital team contributed to this report. OSHA, DOL Launch Investigations into the Death of a 16-Year-Old Boy at Mar-Jac Poultry Another worker died in 2021 due to injuries at the Mississippi facility. The Mar-Jac Poultry plant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was the home of tragedy once again, as a 16-year-old worker from Guatemala lost his life following injuries sustained on the job. According to NBC News, Duvan Tomas Perez, whose death authorities said was caused by equipment, became entangled in machinery at the Mar-Jac plant on July 14, 2023. Following the incident, OSHA and the U.S. Department of Labors (DOL) Wage and Hour Division launched investigations. As it turns out, Mar-Jac has a history of OSHA violations. In May 2021, another employee died at the plant after his sleeve was caught in a machine, leaving him pinned partially underneath. Mar-Jac contested OSHAs fine of $27,306; the case is still open. Just a few months later, per OSHA, an employee lost the tip of her index finger on the job, inciting an $11,396 fine. That case closed in June 2023. Regarding Perezs death, reps at Mar-Jac claim the staffing agencies it partners with are to blame, per an NBC article. Under law, minors are prohibited from working in poultry plants because they are particularly hazardous, according to 29 CFR 570.61. And verifying such details as age about prospective employees is the responsibility of the staffing company itself, per the article. Mar-Jac has denied knowledge Perez was under the age of 18 prior to his hiring. Although the investigation is still ongoing, it appears now that this worker was less than 18 years of age and should not have been hired, the company said in a statement (via NBC News). Mar-Jac would never knowingly put any employee, and certainly not a minor, in harm's way, but it appears, at this point in the investigation, that this individual's age and identity were misrepresented on the paperwork. Mar-Jac said in a statement it had launched an audit with its staffing companies to identify the source of the error and prevent re-occurrence. In the meantime, Joe Coleemanager of the facilityclaimed in a statement the company was cooperating with OSHA. This incident comes just months after news broke of the Biden administrations crackdown on child labor violations. Reps at OSHA did not respond to a request for comment on Perezs death. Australia, the source of much of Asias coal supply, is expanding its energy interests with high hopes for a range of major renewable energy projects. The government has already approved several wind and solar power operations and expects Australia to become a major green hydrogen hub in the next decade. And now the state of Queensland will become home to a SuperGrid, powered by renewables. Despite continuing to rely heavily on revenues from fossil fuels, Australia has announced a range of ambitious climate pledges. In 2022, the government announced the target of generating 80 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2035. It also expects to end its reliance on coal generation for power by this time. Australia hopes to achieve net-zero caron emissions by 2050, cutting its methane emissions by at least 30 percent by 2030. In September 2022, the Australian government published its Queensland SuperGrid Infrastructure Blueprint, aimed at decarbonising the states electricity system. The blueprint includes the target of 50 percent renewable energy for Queensland by 2030, support for the national aim of a 30 percent emissions reduction from 2005 levels, the provision of competitively priced energy, and transforming coal plants into renewable energy sites. This month, the Queensland government announced it had identified 12 renewable energy zones across the state that will be awarded the bulk of its $62 billion green energy investment. The zones are divided into three regions, with five zones in southern Queensland, four in central and three in the north. Queensland is the biggest greenhouse gas emitter in Australia, with electricity generation contribution one-third of these emissions, making this project all the more necessary. The Palaszczuk government aims to invest heavily in wind, solar, and pumped-hydro projects, all to be connected to the new super grid of renewable power, storage and transmission lines by 2035. Approximately 22 GW of new solar and wind capacity is expected to be added to the grid by 2035, an increase from the current mixed fossil fuel and renewable capacity of 16 GW. The government will consult with local communities, hold expert panels, and carry out a range of assessments for potential projects to ensure it gains the support of Queensland residents. Mick de Brenni, Queenslands minister for energy, renewables and hydrogen, said this this would be the biggest economic transition project the state had ever undergone. De Brenni stated Our nation needs Queensland to succeed Theres work to be done by governments to lead communities through a process and to develop that support for change. He added, We want to establish Queenslands transition as a best-practice case study for the nation. The project is expected to massively boost jobs in the region, with Australia adding a wide range of renewable energy jobs, as well as construction and other related jobs. This follows a global trend for renewable energy jobs, having seen a global increase of 700,000 jobs in renewable energy in 2021. While there were fears of the energy job market faltering, following the pandemic and due to a green transition, primarily in the fossil fuel industry, many more jobs are expected to be added in the green energy sector in the coming decades. The director of the Queensland Conservation Council, Dave Copeman, stated Its essential that traditional owners and communities are involved in designing their own energy future and protecting our biodiversity and rich cultural heritage. While the CEO of the Local Government Association of Queensland, Alison Smith, said its only right that they benefit from their fair share of the economic and social benefits that will come from these large-scale projects. And it seems like the government is taking this issue seriously. Landowners in the stated are expected to get generous payments for accepting transmission lines in their back yard thanks to a new framework introduced to accelerate the green transition, with $450 million earmarked for landowners. The SuperGrid Landholder Payment Framework from the company Powerlink will provide around $300,000 a kilometre to landowners that host new transmission infrastructure. This is far higher than the amount offered to landowners in other states, such as New South Wales and Victoria. The firm is also expected to compensate landowners with properties next to the new infrastructure. The companys CEO, Paul Simshauser, explained that the decision on payments comes after six months of consultations with councils, agricultural groups, landowners, consumer organisations and big energy users. Powerlink hopes to construct 1,500 new transmission links. However, there could be delays in the development due to complex regulatory processes. If carried out successfully, the Queensland SuperGrid could offer a blueprint for other states and countries to follow. The ambitious project is expected to transform the state, support a transition away from coal on which Australia continues to rely heavily, and provide thousands of new jobs in the region. The SuperGrid will also contribute heavily to Australias carbon cutting targets and its overall green transition. ADVERTISEMENT By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Americas increasing reliance on intermittent power sources and batteries is creating novel risks, according to grid specialists who testified before Congress on July 18. Many of the greatest among them emanate from a key geopolitical rival, China. Thats partly because the new technologies frequently use inverters. When solar panels, wind turbines, and battery systems generate or store direct current electricity, inverters turn it into the alternating current electricity that flows through the grid. Paul N. Stockton, a senior fellow at Johns Hopkins Universitys Applied Physics Laboratory, opened what he called a rabbit hole in response to a question on inverters during the House Energy & Commerce hearing. Do we have a satisfactory supply of inverters for all of the renewable energy thats being brought into the grid? Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) asked Mr. Stockton, who also holds positions on subcommittees in the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy. Manufacturers in China are important producers of inverters being deployed nationwide, across the United States, Mr. Stockton responded. He explained that the countrys reliance on Chinese inverters could jeopardize grid security. Sure, weve got inverters. Some of them are made in China. Others may be manufactured for final assembly in friendly nations, but they might have componentshardware, software, and firmwarethat could provide attack vectors. And the constant updating of firmware from the cloud and by service providerswhos on top of that for maintaining adequate security? Congressman, thats an opportunity for progress, Mr. Stockton said. Solar Panels With Parts From China The United States use of solar panels with parts from China that are assembled in Southeast Asia has been a source of controversy in this Congress. President Joe Biden vetoed a bill that would have ended his temporary pause on tariffs affecting those panels. In his written testimony, Mr. Stockton elaborated on the ways inverter-based resources provide China with new opportunities to disrupt the grid. He referred to a 2022 report from the Department of Energy outlining the cybersecurity risks associated with the changes to Americas grid. I propose that we prioritize our efforts to prevent Chinese leaders from accomplishing their goals in attacking the grid, Mr. Stockton wrote. He noted that inverter-based resources have some advantages, testifying in writing that they have provided reliable, much-needed power during the 2023 heat domes and other extreme events. Yet, they are also prone to catastrophic failures that can put the grid at risk. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.) also asked Mr. Stockton about inverter-related vulnerabilities facing the United States. Mr. Stockton offered a central recommendation to the lawmakers in attendance: ADVERTISEMENT Above all, ensuring that at the level of the devices, we hold manufacturers feet to the fire and ensure the adoption of safe and secure inverters, instead of relying on individual utilities or energy aggregators or other entities within the larger electric system to do their own homework. Bruce J. Walker of the Alliance for Critical Infrastructure Security voiced similar concerns about the threat from China, citing the U.S. intelligence communitys 2023 threat assessment. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's escalating measures to stop migrants along the U.S. border with Mexico came under a burst of new criticism Tuesday after a state trooper said migrants were left bloodied from razor-wire barriers and that orders were given to deny people water in sweltering heat. In one account, Texas Trooper Nicholas Wingate told a supervisor that upon encountering a group of 120 migrants on June 25 including young children and mothers nursing babies in Maverick County, a rural Texas border county, he and another trooper were ordered to "push the people back into the water to go to Mexico. The trooper described the actions in an email dated July 3 as inhumane. Travis Considine, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Safety, said the accounts provided by the trooper were under internal investigation. He said the department has no directive or policy that instructs troopers to withhold water from migrants or push them back into the river. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday that the trooper's account, if true, was abhorrent" and dangerous. Democrats in the Texas Capitol said they planned to investigate. We are talking about the bedrock values of who we are as a country and the human indecency that we are seeing, Jean-Pierre said. If this is true, it is just completely, completely wrong. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security condemned the reported actions in a statement but did not say whether the agency was planning to investigate the allegations. Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose sprawling south Texas congressional district includes the border, tweeted, Border security should not equal a lack of humanity. In one instance, according to Wingate, a 4-year-old girl attempting to cross through razor wire was pressed back by Texas National Guard soldiers in accordance with orders and that the child later fainted from the heat. Temperatures in Maverick County this summer have soared into the triple-digits. Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, who has supported the state deploying workers to the border, said he was taken aback by the trooper's account. I dont agree with whatever they were told to do, Schmerber said. Thats not something thats part of our mission. You know, I know that were here to protect and serve no matter who it is, you know, either immigrants or U.S. citizens. But were not going to do any harm to anybody. Wingate did not immediately return an email message seeking comment Tuesday. The Texas Military Department also did not immediately respond to a request for comment. As concern and outrage over the troopers account mounted Tuesday, Abbott's office issued a statement that said no orders have been given that would compromise the lives of those attempting to cross the border illegally. The statement did not address Wingates specific accounts and defended the border mission overall. The statement said the razor wire snags clothing but did not address the accounts of migrants being cut and bloodied by the barrier. The absence of these tools and strategiesincluding concertina wire that snags clothingencourages migrants to make potentially life-threatening and illegal crossings. Through Operation Lone Star, Texas continues stepping up to respond to the unprecedented humanitarian crisis at our southern border, the statement read. The email chain with the trooper included a log showing 38 encounters between June 25 and July 1 with migrants in need of medical assistance, ranging from weakness to lacerations, broken limbs and drownings in which life-saving measures were required. A dozen were under a year old. Other accounts included a 19-year-old woman who was found cut by the wire and having a miscarriage. The others had cuts or broken bones as a result of where the wires were placed, according to the email. We need to operate it correctly in the eyes of God, Wingate wrote. In response to Wingate's accounts, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw sent an email saying the priority of life requires that we rescue migrants from harm and we will continue to do so." A separate email exchange obtained by The Associated Press dated July 14 shows McCraw receiving pictures, originally sent by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, of injuries caused by the sharp wire placed by Texas officials. The pictures showed some injuries that required stitches as well as bloodied hands and legs. Associated Press reporter Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, contributed to this report. A 13-year-old boy on Friday admitted to manslaughter and gun possession charges in connection with the September 2022 shooting death of another 13-year-old boy in Hanscom Park. Jonathan Salado-Lorenzo, one of two 13-year-olds initially charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 13-year-old Lenny Rodriguez, accepted a plea deal Friday and admitted to reduced charges of manslaughter and unlawful possession of a handgun. The other child accused in the killing, Salado-Lorenzos cousin Erik Juarez-Salado, who was 13 at the time of the slaying, admitted to reduced charges of accessory to first-degree murder and unlawful possession of a handgun in May. Both boys will be under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court which could include probation or placement in a treatment or correctional facility until they turn 19. Children under the age of 14 cannot be charged as adults in Nebraska. Deputy Douglas County Attorney Laura Lemoine said police were dispatched to Hanscom Park, in midtown Omaha, to reports of shots fired at about 11:50 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2022. At the scene, police found Rodriguez with a single gunshot wound to the torso. Rodriguez, an eighth grader at Ralston Middle School, was taken to the hospital in extremely critical condition. The bullet tore through his chest and caused his lung to collapse. He died at the Nebraska Medical Center. Lemoine said that, before the shooting, Rodriguez had engaged in a gang feud on social media with Salado-Lorenzo. The boys did not know each other before the online feud, according to Salado-Lorenzos defense attorney, Denise Frost. According to both the defense and the prosecution, Rodriguez was a member of the Diamond Street gang, or DST. Salado-Lorenzo who had just turned 13 two weeks before the killing had recently been jumped in, or initiated, into the Vagos 13 street gang, Frost said. Rodriguez challenged Salado-Lorenzo to a fight at Hanscom Park via social media. Lemoine said phone data shows Salado-Lorenzo texted his older cousin, who was 14 at the time, to ask if he could borrow his handgun. The cousin agreed, and Salado-Lorenzo and Juarez-Salado went together to pick up the gun. Lemoine said Rodriguez was already at the park when Salado-Lorenzo and Juarez-Salado arrived. Gunshots rang out shortly after. If the case had gone to trial, the defense planned to offer testimony from Robert Maher, an expert witness in audio forensic analysis, who analyzed audio recordings from nearby cameras. Mahers findings suggested that two separate guns were fired during the approximately 6-second interaction. According to court documents filed by Frost, Maher found that seven gunshots were fired during the 6-second period. In his opinion, three of those gunshot sounds were attributable to one gun while four were attributable to a separate firearm. Frost said this indicates that Rodriguez also had a gun but that evidence was not considered as part of the plea deal. No shell casings related to the case were found at the scene, and no gun belonging to any of the three boys has ever been recovered. What you missed this week in notable Omaha crimes and court cases This week's local crime and court updates from Omaha World-Herald. Local News Homicide suspect from Papillion had a hit list, Omaha police say The homicide suspect shot dead by police on Saturday reportedly had a hit list that included Steven "Greg" Donsbach, the 52-year-old man he is suspected of killing, according to Omaha police. An Omaha man was ordered held on $1 million bail Friday for allegedly killing another man in a gunbattle in a residential neighborhood with several children present. Mark Keesler, Jr., 31, is accused of killing 30-year-old Deving Willis-Smith on Wednesday night near 27th and Whitmore Streets in Omaha. The Douglas County Attorneys Office charged Keesler on Friday with manslaughter and using a weapon to commit a felony. Omaha Police Department homicide investigators had arrested Keesler after the shooting. Douglas County Judge Sheryl Lohaus set the bail Friday and appointed the Douglas County Public Defenders Office to represent Keesler. Keesler allegedly produced a rifle during a dispute between a friend and Willis-Smith outside Keeslers friends house. Willis-Smith retrieved a handgun from a car and there was an exchange of gunfire, Chief Deputy Douglas County Attorney Brenda Beadle said. Keesler shot numerous times, more than 10, Beadle said. There were four kids in the car, she said. They were lucky they didnt get hit. Willis-Smith suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died at the Nebraska Medical Center after being taken there by ambulance. Through the investigation and after reviewing video surveillance, it was determined that the victim arrived at 2730 Whitmore Street at approximately 2047 hours (8:47 p.m.), an Omaha police investigator wrote in an arrest affidavit. The victim is observed exiting a vehicle and then making contact with two males, one of which is later identified as Keesler Jr., Mark, ... in front of 2730 Whitmore Street. The victim is ultimately shot by Keesler Jr. and dies as a result of his injuries. Keesler would have to post 10 percent, or $100,000, of the bail to be released from jail. A preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence for him to face trial in District Court is scheduled for Aug. 28. What you missed this week in notable Omaha crimes and court cases This week's local crime and court updates from Omaha World-Herald. Local News Homicide suspect from Papillion had a hit list, Omaha police say The homicide suspect shot dead by police on Saturday reportedly had a hit list that included Steven "Greg" Donsbach, the 52-year-old man he is suspected of killing, according to Omaha police. Kevin and Bonnie Culjat almost couldnt believe the checks they wrote earlier this week. Fresh off another College World Series, the owners of Roccos Pizza and Cantina wrote nine checks that totaled $142,524. Eight of the checks went to the food banks of the universities that participated in this years CWS. The ninth check was sent to Omahas Food Bank for the Heartland. The donations were made possible by the eye-popping number of Jell-O shots purchased at Roccos, which is adjacent to Charles Schwab Field across 13th Street, during the CWS. Fans collectively purchased 95,030 shots. That total was almost three times more than the previous record of 32,058 set last year. I would have never in my wildest dreams thought that Id be sitting down and writing a check for that kind of donation to anything, but this has just taken on a life of its own, Culjat said Wednesday. When we sat down yesterday and we wrote those nine checks, we just kind of took a deep breath. My wife and I thought this is pretty amazing where this thing has gone. One dollar from each shot sold was donated to the food banks of the respective teams. Louisiana State University fans drove the record-setting competition. Having purchased 68,888 Jell-O shots, they ensured their universitys food bank received a $68,888 donation from the Culjats. LSUs total was boosted by some big purchases. One came from Raising Canes founder and LSU alumnus Todd Graves, who spent $30,000 on 6,000 Jell-O shots for his team. Louisiana attorney Gordon McKernan purchased 8,888 rally shots for the Tigers. Brandon Common, the interim vice president for student affairs at LSU, said the Culjats donation is the largest singular donation LSUs food pantry has received in its 10-year history. Common thanked LSU fans for their support. Were not just a university. Were a family, he said. The Culjats also donated money to the following university food banks: Wake Forest University: $7,628 Texas Christian University: $7,070 University of Florida: $4,136 Oral Roberts University: $3,323 University of Tennessee: $2,207 Stanford University: $912 University of Virginia: $872 Additionally, 50 cents from each shot sold was donated to Omahas Food Bank for the Heartland. Stephanie Sullivan, assistant director of marketing and communications, said the Culjats $47,488 donation will provide more than 142,000 meals throughout the food banks coverage area of 93 counties this summer. Its invaluable to us and the neighbors in need that we serve. It allows us to keep our food pantries across Nebraska and western Iowa stocked with fresh, nutritious food, Sullivan said. Sullivan added the Culjats donation is especially timely because food bank donations typically are lower during summer. Culjat said he and Bonnie came up with donating some Jell-O shot proceeds to food banks after coming across one at the University of Mississippi a couple of years ago. The Culjats saw parallels with their own story of struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic when they saw who used the food bank. Coming off COVID, when I was real close to losing my businesses and (remembering) how hard that was, it kind of hit home with my wife and I, Culjat said. I cant imagine getting up every day and wondering how youre going to feed your family. Thats something I just cant really comprehend. In addition to the Culjats donations, Jevo, a Nashville, Tennessee, company that assisted Roccos in making the tens of thousands of Jell-O shots with its automated gelatin shot machines, said it also plans to make donations to the food banks. John Oberg, Jevos chief operating officer, said the company is currently calculating the amount of its donations after expenses. Like the Culjats, Oberg has empathy for those who dont have secure access to food. Food insecurity is the worst, he said. I was a broke college student at one time. There was a lot of time when we just didnt have food. And that really stung. Oberg added the Jevo team was really dialed in to the Culjats desire to help the hungry through the Jell-O shot completion. Not every Jell-O shot that was bought was actually served. When people purchase thousands of shots at once, they knew they were doing so for charitable reasons, Culjat said. They know theyre only going to get a couple of hundred shots for their money. But they just like being a part of it, he said. It works out well for everybody. WASHINGTON A federal judge in Florida has scheduled a trial date for next May for former President Donald Trump in a case charging him with illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents. The May 20, 2024, trial date, set Friday by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, is a compromise between a request from prosecutors to set the trial for this December and a bid by defense lawyers to put it off indefinitely until sometime after the 2024 presidential election. If the date holds, it would follow close on the heels of a separate New York trial for Trump on dozens of state charges of falsifying business records in connection with an alleged hush money payment to a porn actor. It also means the trial would not start until deep into the presidential nominating calendar and probably well after the Republican nominee is clear though before that person is officially nominated at the Republican National Convention. In pushing back the trial from the Dec. 11 start date that the Justice Department had asked for, Cannon wrote that "the Government's proposed schedule is atypically accelerated and inconsistent with ensuring a fair trial." She agreed with defense lawyers that the amount of evidence that would need to be sifted through before the trial, including classified information, was "voluminous and likely to increase in the normal course as trial approaches." "The Court finds that the interests of justice served by this continuance outweigh the best interest of the public and Defendants in a speedy trial," Cannon wrote. Trump could yet face additional trials in the coming year. He revealed this week that he received a letter informing him that he was a target of a separate Justice Department investigation into efforts to undo the results of the 2020 presidential election, an indication that charges could be coming soon. Trump's new lawyer in that investigation, John Lauro, told Fox News on Friday that prosecutors appeared to be accusing Trump of "some kind of effort to obstruct" the Jan. 6, 2021, counting of state electoral votes and "whether or not President Trump intimidated anyone or ballot stuffed." He said Trump would not appear before a grand jury because "he did absolutely nothing wrong." "He's done nothing criminal," Lauro said. "And he's made his case that he was entitled to take these positions as president of the United States. When he saw all these election discrepancies and irregularities going on, he did what any president was required to do because he took an oath to do exactly that." Judges appointed by Trump and Trump's own attorney general said there was no evidence of widespread fraud that could have affected the outcome of the election. Prosecutors in Georgia, meanwhile, plan to announce charging decisions within weeks in an investigation into attempts by Trump and his allies to subvert the vote in that state. The trial before Cannon would take place in a federal courthouse in Fort Pierce. It arises from a 38-count indictment last month, filed by Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, that accused Trump of willfully hoarding classified documents, including top secret records, at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach and conspiring with his valet, Walt Nauta, to hide them from investigators who demanded them back. Trump and Nauta have both pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, Trump's company and his former longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen settled a lawsuit over Cohen's claims that he was unfairly stuck with big legal bills after getting entangled in investigations into the former president. Lawyers for the two sides disclosed the settlement during a videoconference with the judge Friday, three days before Cohen's 2019 lawsuit was slated to go to trial in a Manhattan state court. Details of the agreement were not made public. Cohen said Friday the matter "has been resolved in a manner satisfactory to all parties," and his attorney, Lauren Handelsman, said the terms were confidential. Messages seeking comment were left with lawyers for Trump's company, the Trump Organization. Cohen claimed in his lawsuit that the Trump Organization promised to pay his legal expenses and did so for a time, footing more than $1.7 million in legal fees. But, Cohen said, the company reneged after he started cooperating with federal prosecutors in their investigations related to Trump's business dealings in Russia and attempts to silence women with embarrassing stories about his personal life. Cohen's then-lawyers stopped representing him after the company stopped paying. His lawsuit said that harmed his ability to respond to the federal investigations. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to charges admitting that he lied to Congress, violated campaign finance laws through excessive political contributions, lied to banks to obtain financing and evaded income taxes by failing to report more than $4 million in income. He was sentenced to three years in prison, though he served nearly two-thirds of it at home, released after the COVID-19 outbreak overwhelmed the nation's prisons. Photos: Trump indictment shows documents stacked in bathroom, bedroom, ballroom LINCOLN Prosecutors on Friday charged the 26-year-old man accused of posing as a teen student at two Lincoln high schools and coaxing underage girls to send him explicit photos. At a five-minute hearing, Zachary Scheich was informed of the charges sex trafficking a minor and two counts of child enticement and the possible penalties. If convicted, he would face 20 years to life on the sex trafficking charge and three to 50 years more on each of the enticement charges. Chief Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Chris Turner told County Court Judge Tim Phillips that Scheich is alleged to have forged birth, medical and education records to create a false identity to enroll himself in high school. He then began relationships with a number of children, some of them where he communicated through text messages and other social media apps in attempts to coax them into sexual acts or to produce sexually explicit material, Turner said. He said, following Scheichs arrest Thursday afternoon, that the Lincoln Police Department asked the community for any information that may help them identify witnesses or potential victims. And the Police Department did immediately begin receiving additional tips and the investigation is ongoing, Turner said in asking for $250,000 bail. Scheich said he wasnt currently working and couldnt afford to hire an attorney, so Phillips appointed the Public Defenders Office to represent him. Should he post bail, the judge ordered him not to have contact with two victims or anyone under 18 and not to use any device with internet access. Scheich is the son of Pastor Jeff Scheich of Christ Lincoln, a Lutheran church at 4325 Sumner St. In court records, Lincoln police say the investigation began in June, when they received information that Scheich, a 26-year-old man, had attended Lincoln schools and said he was 17 years old. Officer Ben Pflanz said, in the investigation that followed, that they determined that Scheich had created a false identity, Zak Hess, to enroll in two Lincoln high schools and was passing himself off as a student. He attended school from October 2022 to May 2023, going to Lincoln Northwest High School in the fall semester and Lincoln Southeast in the spring semester. Scheich graduated from Southeast in 2015. On July 11, police served a search warrant at Scheichs apartment, essentially across the street from Lincoln Southeast, and obtained his cellphone. Pflanz said a search of the phone turned up texts between him and minor females, where he continued to reinforce his false identity as a peer and discuss things like classwork and high school sports. Police say they found messages from February where Scheich had texted a 14-year-old student, coaxing her to engage in illegal sexual activity. And in March, Scheich allegedly texted a 13-year-old student discussing meeting up for sex and asking her for pornographic photos. Pflanz said after the girl sent photos, she asked, So what do I get this time?? Scheich then promised to send her money. The investigator said Scheich previously had sent the girl money. On Thursday, officers arrested him at Walt Library Branch in southwest Lincoln. At a press conference soon after, Assistant Police Chief Brian Jackson said Scheich, who is about 5-foot-4, 120 pounds, apparently blended in with other students. He provided a different birth certificate and presented himself as a 17-year-old seeking education, he said. On Friday, LPS Superintendent Paul Gausman said the district is looking to address how it evaluates prospective students for enrollment, including potentially doing away with the option to enroll online, as Scheich had. I can see that no matter how good we are at this process, we can always get better, Gausman said. We will certainly look at this gap and continue to look for ways we can be more involved. Gausman also emphasized that students, staff and parents should report any suspicious activity, regardless of what they can prove. We consistently say if you see something, say something, he said. Well take care of the verification and work with the right agencies to make sure that were being thorough and clear. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 22) Work in Quezon City courts will be suspended at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 24 in anticipation of heavy traffic in the city due to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa. This is according to a memorandum by the Supreme Courts Office of the Court Administrator dated July 21. All branches and offices shall ensure that all court users are properly notified of the work suspension and should continue to function virtually through their respective official email accounts and contact numbers, the memorandum read. It added that if possible, a skeleton staff should be maintained by the courts/offices to address or attend to urgent matters or concerns of court users during the rest of the day. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will implement a zipper lane on the southbound portions of Commonwealth Avenue to give way to vehicles of government officials and guests going to the Batasang Pambansa Complex. Meanwhile, classes in all levels in Quezon City will also be suspended on Monday. LINCOLN Sarah Centineo, a nurse attorney and two-term Bellevue school board member, has announced plans to run for the Nebraska Legislature. She is among five legislative candidates who have emerged recently. The others are: Alan Zavodny of David City and Allie French of Prague, who are running in District 23; Paul Hamelink of Hastings, who is running in District 33; and Nadine Bane of Scotia, who is running in District 41. Centineo, a Democrat, is seeking the District 45 seat now held by State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue. The district encompasses portions of Bellevue, Offutt Air Force Base and La Platte. Sanders did not respond to questions Friday about her plans for seeking reelection. Centineo said her experience in nursing, law and education, as well as her community involvement, make her uniquely qualified to represent the district. She lists public education, health care access and a strong workforce as priority issues, saying the politics of the day have ignored the everyday problems of Nebraskans and I want to change that. Zavodny is one of four Republicans seeking the District 23 seat held by Sen. Bruce Bostelman of Brainerd. Bostelman is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. The district covers Colfax, Saunders and part of Butler Counties. Zavodny was David City mayor for 12 years and is CEO of North Star Services, which serves people with developmental disabilities in 22 counties. He describes himself as a conservative who will fight to protect our agricultural way of life from burdensome and unnecessary environmental regulations, lower taxes on families and small businesses and help rural areas compete in a tough workforce environment. French is a leader with Nebraskans Against Government Overreach, a conservative grassroots organization, and the owner of Anglers Allie, a live bait shop near Czechland Lake. She said she is running for the Legislature because we need strong patriots willing to boldly stand for truth, even if they face standing alone. Her campaign website lists a number of issues, including support for the Second Amendment, opposition to abortion, support for regulated marijuana and opposition to government overreach. Hamelink owns Pauls Cigar Lounge with locations in Hastings and Norfolk. He is a Republican who has served on the Hastings City Council and Hastings Planning Commission. He is running for District 33, which includes Adams, Kearney and part of Phelps Counties. The district is represented now by Sen. Steve Halloran, who is term-limited. Hamelink said he would bring knowledge of housing, homelessness, community growth and economic development to the Legislature. He listed his goals as being to tackle out-of-control taxes, government overreach and onerous environmental regulations that are holding Nebraskans back. Bane, the vice chairman of the Greeley County GOP, is running for the District 41 seat that is currently held by Sen. Tom Briese of Albion, who is term-limited. The district encompasses Greeley, Howard, Valley, Wheeler, Boone, Sherman and the northern portions of Hall and Buffalo Counties. Bane is retired after working in home health care, the trucking industry and the family farming operation. She describes herself as a Ronald Reagan conservative Republican and lists her priorities as property rights, child safety and education, support for veterans and the military, as well as for rural housing and broadband. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023 LINCOLN Gov. Jim Pillen announced some interim changes in the leadership of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday. Bo Botelho, the HHS general counsel, will be the agencys interim CEO, starting Aug. 5. Botelho previously served as interim CEO from October 2018 to February 2019, when Dannette Smith took on the CEO position. Smith recently announced plans to step down Aug. 4 to take a job with a national firm supporting health and human services agencies across the United States. Along with being CEO, she has been interim director for the HHS Division of Children and Family Services since Pillen took office. The governor also named Tony Green to be interim children and family services director. Green is also the director for the Division of Developmental Disabilities and the interim director for the Division of Behavioral Health. Pillen has said he plans a national search to find a permanent CEO for the agency, which touches almost every Nebraskan in some way. The two division director positions have been vacant since January. Pillen decided against keeping former Gov. Pete Ricketts division directors. Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of July 2023 China, Ethiopia agree to promote cooperation, Sino-Africa ties Xinhua) 09:53, July 22, 2023 Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (R) meets with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on July 21, 2023. (Xinhua) ADDIS ABABA, July 21 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, here on Friday, with both sides pledging to promote bilateral cooperation. Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, paid a visit to Ethiopia on his way to the 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa. During his meeting with Wang, Ahmed spoke highly of the great achievements China has made as it embarks on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, saying he appreciated China's firm adherence to the development path suited to its own national conditions and its rapid economic and social development, which has set an example for other developing countries. Noting that Ethiopia will never forget China's strong support for the East African country when it faced difficulties, Ahmed said China is a great and reliable friend. Ahmed said Ethiopia is willing to learn from China's development concept and experience, strive to achieve self-sufficiency in agriculture and rapid economic growth, and promote green and sustainable development. Ethiopia abides by the one-China principle, supports China's position in international affairs, actively participates in the Belt and Road cooperation, and stands ready to work closely with China to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields in a bid to push for greater development of bilateral relations, Ahmed said. For his part, Wang said Ethiopia is a major African country with important influence. As comprehensive strategic cooperative partners, China and Ethiopia share common goals and aspirations, and have conducted fruitful cooperation under such frameworks as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, leading cooperation between China and African countries, Wang said. China cherishes its traditional friendship with Ethiopia, firmly supports reconstruction and economic recovery in Ethiopia, and stands ready to further tap cooperation potential with Ethiopia to help it advance industrialization, achieve agricultural modernization and pursue green and low-carbon development, Wang said. China encourages well-positioned and creditworthy enterprises to invest in Ethiopia, and would like to play a positive role in relieving the debt pressure on Ethiopia, Wang said, adding that it is hoped that Ethiopia will actively foster a sound business environment. He said China-Africa cooperation is an important part of the South-South cooperation, featuring mutual support and help between friends. While maintaining cooperation with Africa, China never interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, never attaches political conditions, and never seeks geopolitical interests, Wang said. He reiterated China's readiness to work with Ethiopia and other African countries to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, green development, digital economy, health and other fields, and continuously break new ground in China-Africa cooperation. During his visit to Ethiopia, Wang also held talks with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Sheng Chuyi) (CNN) One of the worlds longest serving leaders is looking to extend his iron fisted rule, running another tightly controlled election with no tangible competition as he prepares a possible power succession for his son. Cambodias Prime Minister Hun Sen, 70, has been in power since 1985 only the leaders of Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, both also authoritarians, have held office longer. Voters in the Southeast Asian nation head to the polls on Sunday for the countrys seventh general election but observers predict few surprises. Following weeks of campaigning and crackdowns on opposition figures, Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) is all but running unopposed. Like all dictators, Hun Sen will never give up his power, said Cambodian politician Mu Sochua, who once served as the countrys Minister of Women and Veterans Affairs and has since fled overseas. The July 23 election is just a day for Hun Sen to impose (his choices) onto the Cambodian people, she said. His ruthless policies and practices of eliminating political opponents and critics is all to protect his power and to transfer it to his eldest son during the late stage of his career. CNN has reached out to the Prime Ministers Office and CPP for comment. From democracy to autocracy Cambodia, a country of 16.5 million people, is renowned for its stunning Angkor temples but also its tumultuous recent history when the Khmer Rouge regime unleashed a genocide on its own people, an event which left families with inter-generational trauma while poverty and corruption remain deep rooted. A former Khmer Rouge commander who switched sides, Hun Sen has ruled Cambodia for nearly four decades. The countrys elections were initially competitive and an opposition tolerated. But in more recent years Hun Sen has turned increasingly autocratic quashing dissent and jailing critics, forcing many to flee overseas. He has also cultivated increasingly close ties with China and railed against criticism from Western governments, which he has often accused of helping Cambodias political opposition. The irony is that as Hun Sen has curbed political space at home, removing domestic political challenges he has garnered greater criticism abroad, said political analyst Bridget Welsh. The challenge he faces is that the election will not be seen as a democratic one lacking legitimacy. Without a competitive election and free media and space for civil society, Cambodia is not (regarded) as a democracy. The CPP has pointed to the participation of 17 other small political parties to support its claims of being a multiparty democracy. But this is strongly refuted by rights groups and political observers who say all meaningful opposition parties and figures have been neutered, jailed or banned in Cambodia. Hun Sen is afraid to run on his record and would rather hold an empty exercise than risk a free and fair verdict on his autocratic rule, Kenneth Roth, former head of Human Rights Watch, told CNN. Future prime minister Political watchers say this Cambodian election will set the stage for Hun Sens transition of power to his son Hun Manet. The oldest of three, Hun Manet, 45, has been serving in the Cambodian army and has long been seen as a successor in waiting. He grew up and was educated in Phnom Penh before joining the Cambodian army in 1995. The same year he entered the US Military Academy at West Point, earning a diploma four years later and becoming the first Cambodian ever to graduate from the prestigious school. He has also received economics degrees from New York University in 2002 and the University of Bristol in 2008. Hun Sen made clear in a 2021 speech that his son would be a future prime minister. This year Hun Manet will make his political debut standing for a parliamentary seat in Sundays election. Welsh said Hun Manet will need to earn his own legitimacy. He will have to come out of his fathers shadow and set his own pattern of leadership, she told CNN. This will be challenging as Hun Sen will remain the dominant figure in Cambodian politics and it is not clear how much he will let go of control. Hun Manet has a first class overseas education and some popularity among younger Cambodians but he will face tough challenges stepping into his fathers shoes, said German political analyst Markus Karbaum. Hun Sen leaves behind a poisoned political legacy of corruption and nepotism, Karbaum said. As long as he remains in good health, it will be very difficult for Hun Manet to step out of his shadow especially when it comes to foreign policy, he added. He will lose massive respect on the global stage if he gives the impression of merely conveying his fathers messages a politician without power and without a mandate will not be taken seriously. Repeat of the past, calls for boycott Cambodias political crackdown has ramped up in the years after its 2013 elections when an alliance of opposition parties, the Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), captured more than 40% of the vote. Huge opposition rallies followed as they contested Hun Sens win, further risking his grasp on power. Cambodias top court banned the CNRP in 2017 while dozens of the CNRPs leaders were jailed or went into exile. This years elections have followed a similar playbook. The Candlelight Party, which emerged from the little that remained of the CNRP and was the only realistic challenge to Hun Sen and his ruling CPP, was banned earlier this year by Cambodias national election committee over an issue with its paperwork. In weeks leading up to the election, Cambodian government officials stepped up harassment and arrests of opposition members, rights groups noted. The Cambodian government has declared open season on (opposition party members) using bogus and abusive criminal charges. They should stop targeting the opposition, immediately drop all baseless charges, and release all those wrongfully detained, said Asia deputy director Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. Opposition figurehead Sam Rainsy, who lives in self-exile, took to Facebook to call on Cambodians to spoil their votes when they head to polling stations on Sunday. Rainsy was banned from politics for 25 years by the Cambodian government over his campaign and Hun Sen has warned that those spoiling their votes could face punishment. Two Candlelight Party members were also arrested this week for inciting people to destroy their ballot papers, Reuters reported. This election is about keeping power within Hun Sens family and those supporting his regime, Rainsy told CNN. Cambodians, no matter which party they support, are being cheated of their right to cast their vote in a free and fair contest. Spoiled ballots will underline the aspiration of ordinary Cambodians to take part in real elections, he added. With limited political options, many Cambodians have expressed a sense of both apathy and fear. One voter, a woman in her 50s living in the capital Phnom Penh who asked to be identified by only her first name Teang, told CNN she feared consequences if she did not vote for the ruling CPP. Ive always assumed that my vote is private but from the way (the election) has played out can you blame me for being paranoid? This story was first published on CNN.com, "One of the worlds longest serving leaders is set to win another one-sided election" (CNN) Chinese engineers on Thursday broke ground on a new super deep borehole that will burrow far into the Earths crust as the country steps up its search for natural resources hidden tens of thousands of feet underground. The hole will eventually reach 10,520 meters (34,514 feet) into the ground at the Sichuan Basin in southwest China, according to state-run news agency Xinhua. The region is a major area for gas production and engineers expected to find a natural gas reserve there, the report said. The announcement came just weeks after China began drilling another super deep borehole which is slated to extend even further into the Earth with a planned depth of 11,100-meter (36,417 feet). That project is located at the Tarim Basin in Chinas northwest autonomous region of Xinjiang. If completed, they would be among two of the deepest human-made boreholes in the world. However they would not be deepest. That record currently lies with the now defunct Kola Superdeep Borehole in north-west Russia, a Soviet-era scientific drilling project that took 20 years to complete and went to 12,262 meters (40,229 feet). These ultradeep holes stretch greater than Mount Everest measuring from top to bottom, which is about 8,800 meters (28,871 feet) tall. Humans have reached the moon but when it comes to exploring the land deep beneath our feet, we have only scratched the surface of our planet. Drilling deep allows scientists to learn more about how the Earth was formed with the crust acting like a geological timeline of or worlds formation. But there are also strong commercial incentives tapping into potentially lucrative energy reserves buried deep below. Both the companies involved in the Chinese boreholes are major state-owned oil conglomerates. The most recent project at Sichuan Basin is operated by PetroChina Southwest Oil and Gasfield Co, a subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation, one of the biggest state-owned energy companies in China, according to Xinhua. Painting it as a move of great significance, the state news outlet said the effort is aimed at exploring deeply buried resources while promoting the progress of the core technology and equipment capability of Chinas oil and gas engineering. The drilling will further reveal the secrets of evolution under the Sinian formation, it said, referring to the way in which rocks are arranged in the Sichuan Basin. Chen Lili, deputy chief engineer of PetroChina Southwest Oil, told the state news outlet that they expected a raft of world-class challenges to overcome during the drilling process. Unveiling the Xinjiang project previously, Xinhua dubbed it a telescope into the deepest end of the earth, with its 2,000-ton design tasked to penetrate more than 10 continental strata. It said the drilling setup can withstand 200 degree celsius and forces 1,700 times greater than that of atmospheric pressure. In May, Sinopec Corp said it had struck sizeable oil and gas flows in an exploration well in the Tarim basin at a depth of 8,591 meters (5.34 miles) below the surface, Reuters reported. China, the worlds second largest economy and the worlds biggest carbon emitter, has huge energy needs. Chinese leader Xi Jinping has declared future energy security as a national security priority. China has become a global leader in renewable energy it is on track to double its wind and solar energy capacity and hit its 2030 clean energy targets five years early, according to a recent report. But it is also the worlds biggest producer of planet-heating pollution and is ramping up coal production. The US is the worlds second biggest carbon emitter. US climate envoy John Kerry met with Chinese officials in Beijing this week and called for faster action to confront the climate crisis. Xi did not meet with Kerry this week. But while the US climate envoy was visiting, Xi told a national conference on environmental protection that Chinas commitment to its duel carbon goals reaching a carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060 is unwavering, according to state news agency Xinhua. But the path, method, pace and intensity to achieve this goal should and must be determined by ourselves, and will never be influenced by others, he said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "China is drilling some of the worlds deepest holes in hunt for natural resources" (CNN) Spain and Italy may still be among the most popular destinations for Europeans to take their vacations, but there are signs scorching weather in southern Europe has started to change travelers calculations on where to go in the future. According to the European Travel Commission, a Brussels-based association of European tourism organizations, the number of European tourists planning to travel to Mediterranean destinations in the summer and fall has dropped 10% compared with the same period last year. Spain, Italy, France, Croatia and Greece were still the most popular destinations, but places like the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ireland, and Denmark had seen a surge in popularity, the ETC said in a statement this month after conducting a survey of around 6,000 people. This can be attributed to travelers seeking out less crowded destinations, and milder temperatures, the association said. This summers extreme temperatures follow blistering heat last year. A growing preference for cooler vacation spots in the coming years would be bad news for countries on the Mediterranean Sea, especially those whose economies rely heavily on tourism. Last year, the travel and tourism sector made up 18.5% of the Greek economy and more than 10% of Italys economy, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Pleasant weather remains the top consideration for Europeans when choosing where to vacation, according to the ETC survey, and 7.6% of respondents said the possibility of extreme weather during their European trip was their biggest concern. A spokesperson at ForwardKeys, a travel data company, told CNN that there has been a shift in preference towards cooler and more northern destinations among UK travelers as a result of the heat waves in continental Europe this month. It appears that the increasing awareness of heat waves has prompted British travelers to seek out last-minute destinations with milder temperatures this summer, the spokesperson said. Olivier Ponti, a senior researcher at ForwardKeys, said online searches in the United Kingdom for flights to southern Europe in the peak holiday months of July and August accounted for 58% of all flight searches at the start of July, down from 62% a month earlier. Meanwhile, online searches for northern European destinations increased by 3 percentage points to hit 10%. Heat wave only just begun Italy, Spain and Greece have faced unrelenting heat for days, but the European Space Agency warned in a statement last week that the heat wave had only just begun. On Tuesday, the land surface temperature thats how hot the ground feels to touch reached 45 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) in Rome, and 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in Nicosia, Cyprus, and the city of Catania in Sicily, Italy, according to the ESA. As climate change takes grip, heat waves such as this are likely to be more frequent and more severe, with far-reaching consequences, the ESA said in its statement. Johan Lundgren, CEO of British airline easyJet (ESYJY), told reporters Thursday that the heat wave had not deterred tourists from taking their vacations in the usual places, but added that the airline had the flexibility to adjust its routes in the future if vacationers preferences started to change. Tourist hot spots are already having to make adjustments because of the sweltering heat. Greek authorities said Thursday that the Acropolis and other archaeological sites would remain closed to visitors between midday and 5:30 p.m. local time till at least Sunday. Greeces meteorological service has warned that temperatures will rise further this week and are expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit) over the weekend in some parts of the country. In Rome, several tourists have collapsed due to heat stroke this week, including a British tourist who fainted in front of the Colosseum Tuesday, according to Romes civil protection chief Giuseppe Napolitano. The city has set up a command center to ensure crowds waiting to enter tourist sites have access to water, misting stations and shade when possible. Southern Europe still popular with Brits Despite rocketing temperatures, countries in southern Europe are still the go-to spots for many vacationers. A spokesperson for UK travel agency Thomas Cook told CNN that the company hadnt seen any difference whatsoever in the numbers of its customers traveling to Mediterranean countries. Customers are happily heading out on their holidays right across the Med, and bookings recently have been as strong as they were at the start of the year, the spokesperson said. Sean Tipton, a spokesperson for ABTA, an association of UK travel agents covering about 90% of the industry, told CNN that his members had seen zero evidence of cancellations, and that people were keen to take their holidays, which they had booked far in advance. Spain, Greece and Turkey are still by far the most popular [destinations], he said, which hasnt changed at all. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Europeans are still flocking to the scorching Mediterranean. But extreme heat could dent bookings in future" BLOOMINGTON A Chicago woman pleaded guilty Friday to one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. Rochelle A. McCray, 40, was sentenced to 24 months of what is known as first-time offender probation. Under the terms of this type of probation, if an individual pleads guilty to an offense and successfully completes their probation period, the charge would be dismissed. She was also ordered to pay a $75 discretionary fine and a $100 street value fine, to take a substance abuse evaluation, to perform 30 hours of community service and to submit to three drug screenings during probation. McCray was arrested in January 2022 when the vehicle in which she was traveling was stopped by Bloomington police for traffic related offenses. A police dog indicated there were drugs in the car, and a search revealed about 50 bags that each contained 50 grams of cocaine. In addition to the possession charge she pleaded to, McCray was initially charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance, but those charges were dismissed Friday. A co-defendant, Tony Robinson, pleaded guilty in May to one count of unlawful possession of a controlled substance for 15-100 grams of cocaine and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon. He was sentenced to four years in the Department of Corrections on each count and one year of mandatory supervised release on each count. Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson William R. Linden Zadek U. Moen Zachary T. Willis Cecily M. Sexton Tonisha A. Jackson James A. McConnaughay Jessica M. Longberry Barry D. Guyton Keon E. Spiller Melina Aguilar Carlos D. Cregan Wayne M. Damron Terrance L. Ford Stanley M. Miller Darryl R. Vinson Jarvis K. Heads Wesley M. Noonan Brad Carter Brian K. Burnett Kenneth D. Downey Kenyon J. Bones NORMAL Young at Heartland's senior acting workshop will begin fall sessions at 4 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 7. Class sessions will meet every Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. through Oct. 2. There will be eight 120-minute acting workshops, for those 55 and over, held at Heartland Theatre Company with instructors Andra Zielinski and Terri Whisenhunt. Ensemble members in the workshop will collaborate with the instructors in choosing appropriate material to be memorized and performed as a reading. Registration must be completed in advance, and is $50 for the fall sessions. Call 309-452-5647 or email boxoffice@heartlandtheatre.org to sign up by July 26. Spots are limited. The program is supported in part by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the McLean County Arts Center. Visit heartlandtheatre.org/yah for more information. Mr Prince Adjei, the personal assistant to Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, has come forward to shed light on the intentions behind his bosss recent commentary about the Ghanaian governments management of the cedi. In a statement, Mr Adjei clarified that the remarks were not aimed at Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, as widely assumed, but were instead a response to an anonymous government official at the Finance Ministry. The aide, who is affectionately called Guy Gee, admitted that controversy surrounding Kennedy Agyapongs comments had sparked intense speculation and heated debates about the governing New Patriotic Party's (NPP) economic policies, specifically the handling of the Ghanaian currency, the cedi, with some rank and file of NPP getting things twisted. Guy Gee stressed that many believed that Mr Agyapongs criticisms were aimed directly at Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, who is known for his expertise in economics and his role in spearheading the governments economic agenda. According to the personal assistant, the commentary made by his boss was in response to a specific statement made by an anonymous government official at the Finance Ministry. The official allegedly claimed that strategists don't go to the IMF, in an engagement, which seemed to suggest a disregard for seeking international financial expertise in addressing economic challenges. Misinterpreted comment Prince Adjei, therefore, emphasised that Mr Agyapongs intention was to highlight the importance of seeking external advice and collaborating with international institutions, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to find effective solutions to economic issues facing the nation. He indicated that by sharing this information, he hopes to redirect the publics attention to the real message behind the controversial remarks. Guy Gee emphasized the need for all NPP members to refrain from attacking Agyapongs personality to maintain a healthy internal party relationship leading up to the 2024 general elections. Addressing concerns about the opposition taking advantage of the situation to sow disunity within the NPP, Guy Gee urged party members to cease fire and focus on the larger goal of unity. He highlighted that the opposition was capitalizing on the situation and urged NPP members to avoid falling into their trap. Prince Adjei questioned the basis for attributing Agyapong's remarks to Vice-President Bawumia, stating, Where in the video was Bawumias name mentioned?. He called on all rank and file of the NPP to fully review the video in question to understand the context of Agyapongs commentary accurately. Prince Adjei stressed that Kennedy Agyapong's critique should not be misconstrued as an attack on Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia. He reiterated that his boss has always respected Bawumia's economic prowess and contributions to the party. He added that any misunderstandings should be resolved through open dialogue rather than escalating tensions unnecessarily. Press disappointment He, however, expressed his disappointment with certain media outlets for misinterpreting Kennedy Agyapongs statement and taking it out of context. He called on media organisations to exercise responsible journalism and avoid unnecessary sensationalism in their reportage. Guy Gee stressed the importance of accurate reporting to maintain public trust and avoid unnecessary divisions within the party. He urged party members to focus on the bigger picture and avoid internal conflicts to strengthen the NPPs position and present a united front to the electorate ahead of the 2024 elections. Mr Adjei also took the opportunity to call for fair and transparent campaigning among the NPP flagbearer aspirants. With the next general elections drawing nearer, and internal competition within political parties tending to intensify, Guy Gee cautioned against resorting to tactics that could undermine party unity and damage the NPPs reputation. The aide stressed the need for aspirants to prioritize issues over personal attacks, creating an environment conducive to healthy political discourse. He stated, Ghanaians deserve to witness a campaign that focuses on constructive debates, addressing the critical challenges facing our nation. We should promote issue-based discussions and refrain from indulging in smear tactics or character assassination. He believes that his call for a fair and transparent campaign resonates with Ghanaians who have grown weary of divisive politics and empty rhetoric. By urging flagbearer aspirants to maintain integrity, he said it will restore confidence in the political process and ensure that the voice of the people is truly heard. Kens comments Mr. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong voiced his discontent with the governments handling of the local currency. During his campaign tour in Kintampo East on July 16, Mr. Agyapong expressed his dissatisfaction with the depreciation of the Cedi. He revealed that the value of his $40 million in Cedi equivalent had decreased to $16 million over a period of five months, spanning from March to August 2022. While Mr. Agyapong refrained from explicitly mentioning names, he remarked that it was peculiar to witness an economic manager seeking budgetary support from the International Monetary Fund and still claim to be a strategist. Mr. Agyapong stressed the significance of conducting a clean campaign during his address. He pledged to address any accusations levelled against him and emphasized the importance of governing the country with common sense. The Assin Central lawmaker also cautioned his fellow flagbearer aspirants to maintain a fair and transparent campaign. He assured that he would address every claim made against him and urged others to be mindful of their statements. In presenting his economic management capabilities to party delegates, Mr. Agyapong asserted that he would be a more effective custodian of the economy compared to his competitors. He highlighted his successful businesses, which he said employed over 7,000 individuals monthly, as evidence of his ability to contribute to reducing unemployment rates in the country. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Accra High Court has dismissed the case against First Atlantic Bank by former National Service person, Deborah Seyram Adablah who has alleged sexual harassment against the bank and its former Chief Finance Officer, Ernest Kwasi Nimako. The High Court in Accra has awarded cost of GH6,000 as compensation to the bank against Deborah Seyram Adablah, the young woman who has sued a former Chief Finance officer of the First Atlantic Bank, Ernest Kwasi Nimako. That was after the court presided over by Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, struck out First Atlantic Banks name from the case today, Friday, July 21, following a motion filed by lawyers of First Atlantic Bank. Lawyers for the bank had asked the court to award a cost of GH50,000 but Adablahs lawyer pleaded with the court and the Plaintiff offered to pay GH5,000. Meanwhile, Lawyers of the Plaintiff, Deborah Seyram Adablah had on June 15,2023 filed a motion to set aside the ruling of the Court for execution and order for preservation of the vehicle which is one of the subject matters in dispute. However the substantive case, is still hanging as numerous interim applications have stood in the way of the case. Ernest Kwasi Nimako, on the other hand has filed an interim application to commit Adablah to prison for contempt. The plaintiff is seeking an order from the court directed at the sugar daddy to transfer the title of the car into her name, and also give her back the car. She is also asking the court to order the defendant to pay her the lump sum to enable her to start a business to take care of herself as agreed by the plaintiff and the defendant. Another relief is for the court to order the sugar daddy to pay the outstanding two years' accommodation as agreed between her and the defendant. Again, she wants the court to order the defendant to pay her medical expenses as a result of a side effect of a family planning treatment the defendant told her to do in order not to get pregnant. Background Adablah who is the plaintiff filed a writ alleging sexual harassment against Ernest Kwesi Nimako, former Chief Finance Officer and the bank. Following the action, the Bank had requested that its name be withdrawn from the lawsuit filed by the former NSS worker. In that application dated January 24, this year, the Bank requested that seven paragraphs of the writ be dismissed on the ground that they disclose no reasonable cause of action against the applicant. It contends that Paragraphs 7,8,9,10,11,31,32,33,34,36 and 37 which were requested to be excluded comprise portions of the writ that accuse the bank of watching on for female workers being harassed sexually by senior male officers of the bank. The substantive case alleging sexual harassment against Kwasi Nimako would be dealt with after this preliminary application. Substantive case Deborah Seyram Adablah's suit, filed on Monday, January 23, 2023, alleges that Ernest Kwasi Nimako, whom she refers to as her "sugar daddy," made several promises to her. According to the plaintiff, Nimako agreed to buy her the car, pay for her accommodation for three years, provide a monthly stipend of GH3,000, marry her after divorcing his wife, and offer a lump sum to start a business. The plaintiff claims that although the car was initially registered in Nimako's name, he later took it back, depriving her of its use after just a year. Additionally, she asserts that Nimako paid for only one year of accommodation, despite promising to cover three years. The plaintiff is seeking an order from the court directed at the sugar daddy to transfer the title of the car into her name, and also give her back the car. She is also asking the court to order the defendant to pay her the lump sum to enable her to start a business to take care of herself as agreed by the plaintiff and the defendant. Another relief is for the court to order the sugar daddy to pay the outstanding two years' accommodation as agreed between her and the defendant. Again, she wants the court to order the defendant to pay her medical expenses as a result of a side effect of a family planning treatment the defendant told her to do in order not to get pregnant. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video (CNN) On Thursday evening, the Israeli Prime Ministers Office announced a last-minute televised statement by Benjamin Netanyahu. Rumors and reports had been swirling that Netanyahu was going to step back or soften one bill of the judicial overhaul legislation that was set to come up for its final votes early next week: the reasonableness standard. But instead, despite the tens of thousands of protesters, the increase in refusals to serve by military reservists and even a very public and harsh criticism of the judicial overhaul plan by US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu refused to back down. Netanyahu spent the speech extolling how this piece of legislation, which would strip the Israeli Supreme Court of its ability to declare government actions unreasonable, would strengthen democracy, not destroy it even though the Supreme Court is the only check on government actions in Israel, since the executive and legislative branches of government are always controlled by the same governing coalition. He said he was still open to discussions with the opposition, but blamed them for the breakdown in negotiations towards a compromise over the past few months. He saved his harshest criticisms for two groups: the demonstrators on the streets and the military reservists who are refusing to serve in protest. Netanyahu said extremists in the protest movement do not want any compromise but are striving for only one thing to sow chaos in the country, and chastised the tens of thousands of demonstrators who have been taking to the streets, blaming them for blocking traffic, trains, even ambulances (a charge the protest organizations have vehemently denied). Even worse, he said, the growing number of military reservists who are refusing to serve as a form of protest endangers the security of us all, of every citizen of Israel. When elements in the military try with threats to dictate policy to the government, this is unacceptable in any democracy, and if they succeed in dictating their threats, this is the end of genuine democracy, he said, warning that refusal to serve by one side will certainly lead to refusal to serve by the other. The speech comes after a whirlwind trip to the United States by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who has been acting as mediator on the talks between the government and opposition. Herzog got the type of welcome in the US that Netanyahu has yet to receive an Oval Office sit-down with President Biden, a speech to Congress, and meetings with every top American political figure. Herzog used his speech to send a message Israel and the United States are and will forever remain good friends, no matter what internal turmoil may be boiling. He leaned on history and the Bible to tie the two countries together, declaring that Israeli democracy is strong and resilient as he received more than a dozen standing ovations from US senators and representatives including when he extolled the very institution Netanyahu is trying to weaken: a strong Supreme Court and independent judiciary. We are so very proud of the true friendship we have forged. A mutually beneficial partnership that has withstood challenges and weathered great disagreements, because it is based not on uniformity of approach, but on the ultimate currency of trust, Herzog said. It is not dependent upon operating in harmony, but on the history we share, on the truths we cherish, on the values we embody. But the day before, Biden had been sounding a warning siren to Netanyahu via the New York Times Thomas Friedman: Pass this overhaul without broad consensus and youre risking our relationship. This is obviously an area about which Israelis have strong views, including in an enduring protest movement that is demonstrating the vibrancy of Israels democracy, which must remain the core of our bilateral relationship, Biden told Friedman in their one-hour and 15-minute meeting. Finding consensus on controversial areas of policy means taking the time you need. For significant changes, thats essential. So my recommendation to Israeli leaders is not to rush. I believe the best outcome is to continue to seek the broadest possible consensus here. Friedmans own interpretation of Bidens feelings went even farther: He is basically pleading with Netanyahu and the prime ministers supporters to understand: If we are not seen to share that democratic value, it will be difficult to sustain the special relationship that Israel and America have enjoyed for the last 75 years for another 75 years. But in his speech on Thursday Netanyahu seemingly dismissed such concerns. Citizens of Israel, all of the remarks about the destruction of democracy are simply absurd, Netanyahu said. This is an attempt to mislead you over something that has no basis in reality. Netanyahu claimed efforts are being made to reach agreement on the issue of reasonableness, but made no indication about any plans to pull the final votes for the legislation, scheduled for Sunday and Monday. Friedmans column made major waves in Israel, dominating media coverage. So too did a discrepancy between the White House and Netanyahus office over whether, during a Monday phone call between the two leaders, a proper and formal White House invitation had been extended to Netanyahu. The Israeli readout used the word invitation, while White House would only say the two leaders had agreed to meet in the US before the end of the year. Meanwhile, the protest movement is still incredibly active, with more taking to the streets on Thursday evening in impromptu demonstrations, amid reports of more and more reservists vowing they will not serve. That potentially puts Israels military preparedness at risk, just as the reasonableness legislation is set to go through its final votes early next week. Should it pass, it will be the first aspect of the judicial overhaul to do so. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Netanyahu isnt backing down on judicial overhaul despite pressure from Biden" The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) in collaboration with the Ayawaso West Wuogon Municipal Assembly has evacuated three dumping sites in the municipality to improve sanitation. The nationwide evacuation exercise on dumping sites is in line with the ongoing Government's Clean Ghana Agenda aimed at resolving sanitation challenges in the country. The three areas are La Bawaleshie near the Bawaleshie School, Okponglo and Mepeasem dumping sites. The implementing partner of the project, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, one of the leading waste management giants in the country expressed their preparedness and readiness towards the exercise by deploying trucks and technical expertise, to convey the rubbish to its final dumping site at Nsawam. Speaking during the exercise on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, the Municipal Environmental Health Officer (MEHO), Mr. Sani Mutala, thanked the ministry for embarking on the exercise adding that the evacuation will ensure that rubbish will not serve as a hindrance to cause flood in the area. Mr. Sani said these dumping sites are over 10 years old adding that their evacuation is going to serve as a relief for students and residents living in these areas. He pleaded with Zoomlion to increase the number of dustbin containers in each site to three to ensure that at all material times, there is a container for people to dump their waste to discourage residents from littering. The MEHO said immediately after evacuation, We will deploy the environmental health officers to the community to educate them on the consequences and the need to stop dumping rubbish on the ground. We are looking at ways to fence the whole area and provide one entrance where security would be stationed to man the place and also mount signage warning people from littering the environment. Mr. Sani challenged Ghanaians to change their attitude towards the environment because mostly, we are ignorant about our actions or we deliberately do so. Assuming it's raining and you deliberately dump rubbish in the rain, where do you expect it to go? It will block h drain and cause flood and the same people will turn around and blame the government of the day. We cannot blame the government when we ourselves are not responsible to the environment. Go to peoples houses, the water that they bath cannot flow through, it becomes stagnant and breed mosquitos, he stated. I encourage each and everyone to clean their immediate environment and homes to at least the middle of the road to complement the ongoing campaign (Operation Clean Your Frontage). On his part, the Assemblyman for the Okponglo Electoral Area, Ishmael A. Djani, was excited about the Assemblys decision to evacuate the waste in the area which he said has led to outbreak of malaria and other diseases. Finally, our cry has been heard by the authorities, we are grateful to the Ministry, the Assembly and Zoomlion for their timely support to clear all the waste from our society, he expressed. Officials of Zoomlion thanked stakeholders for their cooperation for successful refuse evacuation exercise. Source: Peacefmonline com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour has called on the Interior Minister Mr Ambrose Dery to act swiftly on matters relating to the attacks on Sualah Abdul Wahab by senior immigration officers. We expect him to act swiftly just as he did in his reaction to the IGPs leaked tape, the GJA President stated. He made the call at a press conference held on Tuesday, July 18, 2023 following the rampant attacks on journalists. Amongst others, Mr Dwumfour complained about how an Immigration Officer pointed a gun at the Upper West Regional Chairman of GJA, Sualah Abdul-wahab and threatened to shoot him on June 20, 2023, without any provocation. The GJA President explained that Sualah, who is also the Upper East Regional Correspondent of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, was travelling from Wa to Bolgatanga on a public transport to attend a workshop on climate change. The vehicle stopped at the Immigration check-point at Naro in the Nadowli-Kaleo District for routine check of Ghana Card of all passengers. The passengers, including Sualah, disembarked from the vehicle. He then requested to use a kettle (buta) belonging to the Immigration Officers to perform Ablution in a make-shift roofing-sheet structure believed to be a urinal. But the Immigration officers declined his request so he returned the kettle (buta) and decided to go into the bush to urinate. He continued that on his way, one of the officers instructed Sualah to cross to the other side of the road to urinate. Sualah did not find any justification in risking his life to cross a highway just to urinate when it was safe to do so in the bush on the side of the road where he was. The Immigration Officer, out of anger, shouted: I am asking you to cross the road to urinate and you are challenging me. He then cocked his gun and threatened: If you are a man, go and urinate. Sualah, together with the other passengers, quickly moved away from the scene, and further into the bush to urinate. Mr Dwumfour said when Sualah returned, the Immigration Officer again threatened to blow off his head for challenging him. In the course of the events, another Immigration Officers with name tag, Anim Agyepong, who was wearing the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI), and believed to be the seniormost officer among them, suddenly rushed over and threatened to arrest and lock up Sualah. Subsequently, he rushed into his office and returned with a side arm (pistol) threatening to shoot the journalist for being too knowing amidst insults. He later put the pistol on a chair and wanted to attack Sualah physically but was restrained by some passengers and his colleagues. When calm was restored, one of the Immigration Officers asked Sualah to go and apologize to the senior Immigration Officer. But the passengers disagreed, contending that they (passengers) were rather the victims of abuse from the officers. When the immigration Officers realized that all the passengers were resolved not to offer any apology, they refused to open the barrier, and unduly delayed the vehicle for sometime as punishment before allowing them to pass. Read Also: Lawson De-ray Di Asa Season 7: Salomey and Peace qualify at Somanya That, the GJA President said, certainly requires urgent investigation and appropriate sanctions where necessary. Mr Dwumfour said, We see the men in uniform as partners in development in ensuring that governance and rule of law are upheld. They must be seen to be protecting Journalists rather than attacking them. As enforcers of the law, they must know better. He continued, Therefore, we take their actions against journalists as a deliberate attempt to gag journalists. According to Mr Dwumfour, the GJA finds the conduct of the Immigration Officers to be highly unprofessional and gross misconduct, which warrant severe sanctions. Meanwhile, as part of its action plans, he said the GJA has already petitioned the Controller General of Ghana Immigration Service, Lawyer Takyi Assuah, and copied the Interior Minister to investigate the incident and sanction the officers involved where necessary to serve as deterrent to others. Another issue the GJA President touched on was that of the Ashanti Regional Correspondent of GTV, Nicholas Osei-Owusu, who was attacked by some soldiers while covering some miners who were trapped in a mining pit at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region a few weeks ago. He said the only offence the reporter committed was videoing a warning-shooting spree being carried out by the soldiers to disperse a mob on the premises of the Obuasi Central Police Station. Mr Dwumfour said Nicholas explained that he ordered some of his men to confiscate his official working gadgets and asked them to delete the videos as well. When he was not so sure of what they had done to retrieve the content from the phone used to capture the unfolding events, the military man personally seized it, went through it and deleted every video the Journalists had taken. To be certain that no traces of the deleted videos were left, he went into the recycle bin on the phone and deleted everything there before handing the gadget back to him. Sincerely, there was no act of provocation/resistance from the Journalists as we have been told and as established by our investigations.The military man would not even tolerate the identity of the journalist as coming from the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and went further to make some scornful comment that he is coming from GBC and so what before snatching the phone, Mr Dwumfour added. The GJA President was afraid these acts, by the military against a journalist who was carrying his constitutionally mandated duty, can pass for terrorism against the Journalist and journalism in this country. He stated that the GJA has petitioned the military hierarchy and is waiting for an urgent response. Our demands include, investigating the matter thoroughly and sanctioning the culprits appropriately.Ladies and gentlemen of the media, few weeks ago in Ashaiman, Angel Fms Tema Regional Correspondent, Augustine Ahiabor was assaulted with his phone smashed by Residents of Ashaiman Lebanon Zone 2, just for taking picture of a toilet facility in a compound that had collapsed on people, he said. He added that,The matter is currently in court so we are keenly monitoring the outcome.Ladies and gentlemen of the media, the violations that have been recorded in Ghana over the past year, in our view, give course for pessimism regarding the countrys performance in the next ranking of global media freedom. It is obvious that our press freedom environment is deteriorating seriously and it is our view therefore that efforts to bring a positive change should begin from authorities, in sanctioning people who commit atrocities against Journalists and media practitioners. Source: Atinkaonline.com . Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video National Womens Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress NDC Dr. Louisa Hannah Bissiw has married a new husband in a very private ceremony. The new marriage of the NDC former MP comes after her marriage to Dr. Francis Kpormego, a Jamaica-based medical doctor, collapsed, credible sources told MyNewsGh.com. As a mother of two, details of her new husband who appears younger are sketchy. In 2014, Dr. Bissiws marriage to Dr. Kpormeg made headlines after her then husband surprised her with Toyota Prado for her birthday which drew criticisms. According to Dr. Bisiw, who is a veterinary doctor by profession, her then husband was a well-to-do person who owned over six major establishments hence could afford the car without any government funds. Dr. Bisiw explained that her then husband travelled from his base in Jamaica just to throw the birthday party, held at the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) premises in 2014. Hanna Louisa Bissiw was on born 23 July 1972 in Techimantia, a town in the newly created Ahafo region of Ghana. She was a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture and also the former Member of Parliament for Tano South. She attended Kumasi Girls Secondary School and later acquired a scholarship during Rawlings regime to study in DVM, Agrarian University of Havana, Cuba in 1999. Source: Mynewsgh.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A cleaner and bakery owner, whose four-bedroom house at Mpehuasem in the Greater Accra Region was demolished, is seeking justice a year after the ordeal. Benson Osei Acheampong, who works at the University of Ghana, bought the 70 feet by 100 feet plot from the then Chief of Mpehuasem in Accra, Nii Sodjah Obodai, and secured an indenture for the land dated December 31, 2011. An indenture, which he showed to the Daily Graphic, confirms that Nii Obodai gave the land worth GH40,000 to Acheampong on behalf of the Sanshie Family of La in the Greater Accra Region. In 2015, Acheampong completed a four-bedroom apartment on the plot and moved into it with his wife, three children and three other family members. But all that came crumbling down on May 18, 2022, when his wife called him from work to rush home and that there was an emergency. Upon reaching home, Acheampong realised that his four-bedroom apartment had been razed to the ground without prior notice and without explanation. His bread dough mixer and roller and brick-making machine were also destroyed as part of a demolition exercise, a situation which has brought the bread business to a halt. The remains of the machines were taken away by the demolition team, which allegedly included police officers and government officials. Narrating his ordeal to the Daily Graphic, Acheampong said he was only told that his structure was razed down because the land belonged to the government. A search result from the Lands Commission in Accra dated August 19, 2022, signed by an Assistant Lands Administration Officer, Collins Tetteh, on behalf of the Regional Lands Officer, disclosed that the land was not state land. Acheampong has since not been able to purchase his dough roller and mixer, which has a market value of GH50,000, and his brick-making machine worth GH30,000. He is currently living on the benevolence of the University of Ghana branch of the Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU), which has offered him accommodation at the Legon Staff Village for a period of one year. Acheampong is racing against time at his current abode to reclaim his land and the compensation he seeks for the demolished building. He has petitioned the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service to reclaim the land which has now been fenced alongside other lands in the enclave. The Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, James Dadson, at a news conference in Accra on July 12 last year, told journalists that the land belonged to the state. Acheampong said his dream was to build a four-bedroom house and move in with his family in order to expand his bread baking business. Upon moving into the house, he procured a bread dough roller and mixer machine, commenced and expanded his bakery business which was fetching him a daily sales of GH2,700. Acheampong later bought a brick making machine with the proceeds from the bread business to start selling bricks to real estate developers in the neighbourhood. Those businesses, he said, were thriving until the disaster struck on May 18 last year. Chief In an interview, the current Chief of Mpehuasem, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw IV, confirmed that his predecessor sold the land to Acheampong. He added that he had sued the Lands Commission at the court, and had secured an injunction to halt development on the land due to a claim by the Lands Commission that the lands were for the state. 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. Featured Video Ghana and Italy have renewed their commitment to deepen the ties of co-operation and the bond of friendship that exist between the two countries. They also pledged to continue to explore sectors of mutual interests for the benefit of their respective countries. This came to light during bilateral discussions between President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his Italian counterpart, President Sergio Mattarella, at the Quirinal Palace in Rome, Italy, yesterday, as part of the Presidents four-day official visit to that country. Relations President Akufo-Addo said that Ghana and Italy had strong relations spanning many decades, leading to some Italian companies establishing businesses in the country, and cited an Italian Engineering firm, Impregilo, which constructed the Akosombo Dam as an example. He reiterated Ghanas determination to continue to work with Italy, and expressed appreciation to President Mattarella for his countrys support in Ghana securing a $3 billion Extended Credit facility from the International Monetary Fund. President Akufo-Addo further said that Ghana would collaborate with Italy in the development of the countrys pharmaceutical and agro-based sectors, and that those were some of the issues that would be on the agenda when he called on the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, on Monday, July 24, 2023, in Italy. President Akufo-Addo also said that it was important to redesign the global financial and economic architecture to ensure that systems of injustice and inequity in the global financial sector were corrected. Reforms President Akufo-Addo further called for reforms at the UN Security Council, which he said was long overdue. We are anxious that the matter of UN Reform be given priority on the global agenda. It is time to correct the longstanding injustice that the current structure and composition of the UN Security Council represent for the nations of Africa. We are encouraged, though, by the attitude and sentiments of two leaders of the five Permanent Members of the Security Council President Joe Biden of the US and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic, who have publicly called for the reforms. We look forward to leaders of the three other Permanent Members to also throw their support behind the reform process, he said. While in Italy, President Akufo-Addo is expected to deliver the keynote address at the 4th ECAM Summit in Rome, which has been organised as a sideline event to coincide with the Coordination Hub of the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moment in Rome. The summit will discuss challenges and opportunities in the fields of healthcare and food safety in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Beacon of Democracy President Mattarella said Ghanas continued adherence to the tenets of democracy, good governance, the rule of law and principles of accountability had made the country a beacon of democracy and stability not only in West Africa but the entire African continent. He also applauded the role being played by Ghana in helping to deal with the jihadist and terrorist threats in the Sahel. Describing the Accra Initiative as commendable, the Italian President pledged the support of his country for the success of the initiative because the stability of the Sahel is important, adding that Italy would also support Ghana in its effort to contain the menace of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. The Italian President also agreed to President Akufo-Addos suggestion that the current set-up of the global financial architecture must be more responsive to the needs of the world. 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. Featured Video On 21st July, Okyeame Kwame organised about five hundred (500) students to walk from Accra Metropolitan Assembly to Parliament to petition the Climate Caucus to be more ambitious about climate justice. During the walk, there were chants from the students asking for climate justice, greener Ghana, reafforestation, and sounding the alarm of climate emergency. To receive Okyeame Kwame, the climate ambassador and the group at Parliament were Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, the UN Resident Coordinator, His Excellency Charles Abani, the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Elizabeth Sackey and some members of the parliamentary Climate Caucus. Unanimously, the hosts agreed with the advocates that the world needs climate, especially Africans and indigenous people globally, who contribute to less than 4 percent to carbon emissions must be compensated for climate injustice since we feel the brunt of the harsh climate conditions today. Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Marfo also commended Okyeame Kwame and the climate clock team for taking up this very important subject and involving future generations by conscientising them. The UN Resident Coordinator lauded Okyeame Kwame for taking on this very important task saying "his activism must go beyond regional level". The climate walk organised was in observation of the Climate Emergency Day which is on every 22nd July. After the walk, the students, teachers and activists were all refreshed with Ekumfi juice to support the initiative. A delegation, led by Okyeame Kwame and his family, after the Climate walk, also paid a courtesy call on the Head of the United Arab Emirates diplomatic mission in Accra, His Excellency Amer Al Alalawi together with Nakeeyat Dramani Sam; Youth Climate Advocate, Portia Adu Mensah; lead advocate, Climate Clock - Ghana and a group of media practitioners to speak about youth representation at COP28 to be hosted by the UAE in expo city Dubai in November. Speaking to the delegation, His Excellency appreciated Okyeame Kwame's initiative and assured the UAE is keen to include youth in most climate discussions and decision-making. He also commended Okyeame Kwame and the team for caring about the environment and sharing the vision of the UAE as well. The climate clock, from the 14th July to 20th July, visited Kwabenya Senior High School, St John's Grammer High School, Kaneshie Cluster of schools, St. Martin De Porres, to speak to over 1500 students using the figures of the clock to explain the climate emergency and the need for action now. The Climate Emergency Day is today, 22nd July and Okyeame Kwame will be joined by other climate activists on Facebook and Instagram to observe the countdown of the climate clock to 5 years. Later in the day, the conversation will be migrated to Twitter spaces hosted by Kwame Dadzie where Twitter audiences will meet scientists to discuss the theme "What Can We Do To Increase Our Lifeline". The panellists of the discussion will include Dr. Charles Abani; UN Resident Coordinator, Dr. Tutu Benefo; Head of Climate Change - EPA, Bossman Owusu Jnr' Country Director - Solidaridad, Dr Winston Asante; Climate Consultant, Gan Golan; Chief Strategy Officer - Climate Clock, Portia Adu Mensah; Lead Advocate - Climate Clock, Michael David; Executive Director - GIFSEP and Okyeame Kwame, musician and Climate Ambassador. The walk was organised by Okyeame Kwame Foundation in partnership with Accra Metropolitan Assembly and sponsored by Ekumfi Juice. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has resigned following public bashing in the wake of a reported case of theft at her Abelenkpe residence involving her domestic workers. This is contained in a letter issued and signed by the Minister on July 22, 2023. The Minister is reported to have lodged a complaint with the police, following which the suspected domestic staff were arrested and arraigned before court charged with allegedly stealing monies including 1 million dollars and 300,000 euros and some other valuable items from her (minister's) private residence. The matter has sparked public concerns including the minority NDC calling for her dismissal. When the facts of the court case went viral, the embattled minister, in a statement released in Accra on Friday, 21st July 2023 said there are "noticeable inconsistencies between what is being discussed in the public domain and the thrust of the original complaint on the matter". Hon Dapaah further indicated her resolve to examine the origins of the inconsistencies and provide a detailed response in the coming days. However, on Saturday, July 22, 2023 the embattled Minister announced her resignation in a letter copied to the President. "I am resigning therefore because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time," portions of her resignation letter to the President read. Read full letter below Mr. President, LETTER OF RESIGNATION I write to inform you that I wish to resign from my position as Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources. It has been a great privilege and honour for me to have been given the opportunity to serve in your government and an even greater honour to have worked to try and bring your great vision for our country to fruition. Since yesterday, Friday, July 21, 2023, social and traditional media have been full of stories about a court case involving a theft that took place last year in the home I live with my husband and daughter. The stories sought to suggest that I own various huge sums of foreign currencies and millions of Ghana cedis which have been stolen from Whereas I can stale emphatically that those figures do notrepresent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position. I am resigning therefore because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time. I intend to cooperate fully with all state agencies to enable them fully establish the facts. I have no doubt whatsoever that at the end of the processes, it will be fully established that I have conducted myself with integrity during my period in public service and I will be fully exonerated from all the allegations that have filled the public domain in the past 24 hours. I thank you my dear, Mr President, for the honour done me in giving me the opportunity to serve our beautiful nation Ghana. Sincerely, Cecila Abena Dapaah (MS) Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has accepted the resignation of Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah. Resignation The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources announced her resignation in a letter on Saturday, July 22, 2023. This follows a court case in which two house helps and others are standing trial for allegedly stealing $1 million, 300,000 and millions of cedis from her Ablekuma residence. This took Ghanaians by surprise especially the fact that a Minister of State had such an amount stashed in her house. According to Madam Dapaah, the media reports since July 21, 2022 have been full of stories about a court case involving a theft that took place last year in the home I live with my husband and daughter. The stories sought to suggest that I own various huge sums of foreign currencies and millions of Ghana cedis which have been stolen from my home. Whereas I can state emphatically that those figures do not represent correctly what my husband and I reported to the Police, I am very much aware of the import of such stories around someone in my position. I am resigning therefore, because I do not want this matter to become a preoccupation of government and a hindrance to the work of government at such a crucial time, she explained. Acceptance In response, President Akufo-Addo applauded Hon. Cecilia Dapaahs loyalty to the image and standing of his Government, and thanked her also for her wholehearted contribution and devotion to the progress of Government and the Nation. He wished her the best in all her endeavours. Meanwhile, the President will soon appoint a new Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 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: Gray whale breaching. Credit: Merrill Gosho, NOAA, Public Domain The gray whale population along the West Coast showed another year of declines, according to the latest estimates, but scientists say there are some positive signs for the formerly endangered whales. The population of the eastern north Pacific Gray whale has been sliding downward since reaching a peak in 2016 with an estimated 26,960 whales. This year, scientists put the estimate at 14,526 whales. The estimate is based on counts of migrating whales off the Central California coast and statistical analyses. In 2019, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared a population die-off as an "unusual mortality event." While the cause isn't clear, researchers theorized the decline is partially related to changes to food sources in the Arctic, where the whales spend the summer. Three dead gray whales found along Washington shores last month showed signs of malnutrition, according to the Cascadia Research Collective. There are signs of hope for the intrepid species, which migrates nearly 10,000 miles between the Arctic and Mexico. In winter, when the whales spend their time in lagoons, scientists counted more mothers with calves in 2023 than any of the past five years. Researchers also observed that the conditions of their bodies have improved and that fewer dead gray whales have washed ashore in Mexico and along the West Coast since 2019. All these signs lead researchers to believe "the gray whale mortality event may be slowing," said Autonomous University of Baja California Sur professor Jorge Urban Ramirez, who studies the species. NOAA's Marine Mammal and Turtle Division director David Weller said the administration will continue to keep a close eye on the whales. "We want to pick up on any signs or signals of a positive change in the concerning trend the population has undergone recently." The eastern north Pacific gray whale is considered a conservation success story because their population has grown consistently after they were protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act in 1972. They neared extinction in the 1950s due to commercial hunting. In 1964, the species numbered 13,426. Researchers say a small group of gray whales that stops in Puget Sound on their annual migration, known as "the Sounders," have been known to teach themselves how to feed on ghost shrimp burrowed in mud flats, often in shallow near-shore waters. The eastern north Pacific gray whale was removed from the endangered species list in 1994. Since then, similarly large fluctuations in this whale population has occurred before and the species has recovered from a similarly small numbers. 2023 The Seattle Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The pedestrian zone near the Acropolis in Athens is empty of tourists and residents as Greece faces its hottest July weekend in 50 years. Greece was Saturday facing its hottest July weekend in 50 years, with temperatures forecast to soar above 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), while a record-breaking heat wave stretching across the southern United States was expected to expand in the coming days. Tens of millions of people in the northern hemisphere have been suffering through intense heat this summer as the world appears headed for its hottest July on record. As temperature records tumble, experts have pointed the finger at climate change driven by the burning of fossil fuels, saying global warming is playing a key role in destructive weather. Across the southern United States, about 80 million Americans will swelter in temperatures of 41C and above this weekend, the National Weather Service (NWS) said. The country's worst heat of up to 46C is forecast for Phoenix, Arizona, which has seen a record-breaking three weeks in a row of highs above 43C. There were hellish scenes in the city on Thursday when a fierce blaze erupted at a propane business near the international airport, sending tanks exploding into the air. "Unfortunately, on a hot day like this, these propane tanks with that expansion of heat, they literally become missiles... They can travel upwards of 500 yards (meters)," Fire Captain Rob McDade told KPHO television station. The US city of Phoenix, Arizona, has seen a record-breaking three weeks in a row of highs above 43C (109F). Tourists, meanwhile, have been flocking to Death Valley National Park, which straddles the border between California and Nevada, in order to post selfies with a temperature display outside the visitor center. Many are hoping to see it break a world record of 56.7C, which was set in July 1913 but was likely the result of a faulty measurement, according to several meteorologists. Hottest absolute month Regardless, July 2023 is on track to be the hottest absolute monthnot only since records began, but also in "hundreds, if not thousands, of years," leading NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt said. The effects cannot be attributed solely to the El Nino weather pattern, which "has really only just emerged" and isn't expected to strengthen until later on in the year. El Nino is associated with the warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Schmidt said the trend of extreme heat was expected to persist, "and the reason why we think that's going to continue, is because we continue to put greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere". Firefighters have been battling dozens of wildfires across California this summer. Greece, which is battling dozens of forest fires, warned people not to venture out unnecessarily due to the baking heat. The exceptional temperatures also mean key tourist sites such as the Acropolis will be closed during the hottest part of the day. "This weekend risks being the hottest registered in July in the past 50 years," said Panagiotis Giannopoulos, meteorologist with state broadcaster ERT. "Athens is going to have temperatures above 40 Celsius for six to seven days, through to the end of July." Such a prolonged spell of scorching temperatures is exceptional for the Greek capital. Sunday is likely to see the city labor under temperatures as high as 44C, with the central region of Thessalia enduring 45C. A 46-year-old man was meanwhile reported to have succumbed to heatstroke on the central Greek island of Evia after being admitted to Chalkida hospital, which said cardio-respiratory failure following exposure to high temperatures appeared to be the cause. Greece is on alert for forest fires, with firefighters still battling dozens of blazes. The national meteorological institute EMY earlier reported temperatures of 41C in the Attica region, which encompasses the capital Athens, and forecasting up to 44C in Thessalia. Yannis Kallianos, meteorologist with private broadcaster Mega, spoke of an "interminable and powerful heat wave". "According to latest forecasts, the heat wave could last until next Thursday or Friday," Kallianos warned, adding that strong northerly winds could also spark fires. Authorities meanwhile reported firefighters were still battling 79 forest fires across the country, with their spokesman Vassilios Vathrakoyannis saying Greece would be on a state of alert through the weekend. Greece is just one of a swathe of countries battling a prolonged spell of extreme heat around the globe in recent days. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An adult male orca with tooth rake marks is seen in a photo courtesy of the Center for Whale Research. A male orca's best friend is his old mother. That's according to a new scientific paper published Thursday in Current Biology, which found female killer whales that have undergone menopause prevent their sonsthough not their daughtersfrom getting injured in fights. Lead author Charli Grimes told AFP what drew her to the subject was just how rare menopause is in the natural world. Most animals with ovaries remain capable of reproducing until they die, with humans and five species of toothed whales the only known exceptions. "A big question in our own evolutionary history is, how and why has menopause evolved?" she said. "In human societies, older females play a role in moderating conflict, and now this latest research has found that that might also be the case in killer whales," added the animal behavior scientist at the University of Exeter. The study looked at Southern Resident killer whales, which live off the Pacific coast of North America. These whales live in matriarchal social unitstypically consisting of a grandmother, her male and female offspring, and her daughters' daughters. Female killer whales survive up to 90 years in the wild, and live more than 20 years beyond menopause. Males will outbreed with females from other pods, but both males and females will stay within the social unit of their birth. Sons remain especially close to their mothers throughout their lives. Bite marks For their research, Grimes and colleagues examined the accumulation of "tooth rake marks"scarring left behind when an orca bites another during rough play or fighting. "These marks are really great for quantifying social interactions that are otherwise really difficult to observe, since most of the behavior takes place below the surface," she said. The Center for Whale Research in Washington state has carried out photographic censuses of Southern Resident killer whales since 1976, identifying individuals by their unique dorsal fins and saddle patches. Orcas have no natural predators, and this subspecies feeds exclusively on salmon, as opposed to prey that can bite back. This means the tooth marks could only be inflicted by their own kind. By analyzing thousands of photos in a computer program, the team found males who lived with post-reproductive mothers had 35 percent fewer tooth rake injuries compared to males who lived with breeding mothers, and 45 percent fewer than those who lived without their mothers. It's thought that ceasing breeding frees up time and energy for mothers to protect their sons. How exactly the post-menopausal moms are helping isn't yet clear, said Grimes. It could be that older females use their knowledge of other pods to steer their sons away from troublemakers. Or, they could be intervening more directly when a fight is brewing, perhaps using vocalizations to call off their sons. It's not thought that they get involved in fighting themselves, since they have very low rates of scarring. Pass the fish Daughters, however, were not found to have fewer tooth rakes with their mothers around. Females are probably less involved in conflict to begin with, said Grimes. Sons moreover breed with multiple females, meaning there is a higher chance of their mother passing on their genes. Ruth Mace, an anthropologist and biologist at the University College London who was not involved in the study, told AFP that the idea that post-reproductive life had evolved so women can help children is well established in humans. "So it is very interesting that this is also being established in killer whales," she said. "It's (a) remarkable study, utilizing an extremely valuable long-term dataset," added Stephanie King, who specializes in dolphin research at the University of Bristol and was also not involved. Prior work has shown older female orcas share their own fish, pass on ecological knowledge of where and when to find food, and improve their grandchildren's survival rates. An outstanding question is how exactly they bring about some of these benefitssomething Grimes and her colleagues hope to answer by flying drones over the orcas, documenting what they do under the waves. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The fight scene, preserved in a fossil discovered in China, suggests that small mammals preyed on the dinosaurs that ruled Earth. A badger-like mammal was sinking its teeth into the ribs of a dinosaur three times its size when they were buried in volcanic ash 125 million years ago, capturing the pair in a deadly embrace. The fight scene, preserved in a fossil discovered in China, suggests that small mammals preyed on the dinosaurs that ruled Earth during the Cretaceous period more than previously thought, scientists said on Tuesday. Jordan Mallon, a paleontologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature, told AFP that when he first saw the fossil "my eyes popped out of my head". Mallon, a co-author of a new study led by Chinese researchers, said they believe the fossil is the first ever discovered that shows a mammal and dinosaur fighting each other. Mammals were generally considered far too small to prey on the dinosaurs that dominated the world during the tens of millions of years they shared on Earth. But the fossil shows a badger-sized Repenomamus robustus sitting on top of Psittacosaurus lujiatunensis, a plant-eating dinosaur that stood 120 centimeters (47 inches) tall and had a beak like a parrot. The mammalone of the largest of its time but still a third the weight of the dinosauris sinking his sharp teeth into the dinosaur's ribs and gripping onto its leg. 'Feisty mammals' The way the pair are intertwined shows that the mammal was not scavenging on a dead dinosaur, Mallon said. They were discovered at a site nicknamed 'Chinese Pompeii' because of how many dinosaurs and other animals have been found preserved by volcanic debris there. "The dinosaur has collapsed down and trapped the hind limb of the mammal in the fold of its knee," indicating it was an attack, he said. The dinosaur also bears no bite marks, which mammals often leave on scavenged bodies. While it is rare for mammals to prey on animals so much larger than them, Mallon said one example was how wolverines had been observed hunting far-larger caribou. It was not possible to tell from the fossil if Repenomamus hunted solo or in a pack, he said, adding that either was possible. The almost entirely complete skeletons were found in China's northeastern Liaoning province in 2012. They were discovered at a site nicknamed "Chinese Pompeii" because of how many dinosaurs and other animals have been found preserved by volcanic debris there, similar to the ancient Roman city. The first fossil suggesting that mammals ate dinosaurs was found at the Chinese site in 2005. It showed a baby Psittacosaurus in the stomach of a Repenomamus. But the new fossil is the first piece of evidence that "there were at least some feisty mammals around during the Cretaceous... capable of taking down an adult dinosaur," Mallon said. The "once-in-a-lifetime" fossil is being exhibited at a museum attached to a primary school in the Chinese city of Weihai, he added. The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports. More information: Jordan C. Mallon, An extraordinary fossil captures the struggle for existence during the Mesozoic, Scientific Reports (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37545-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-37545-8 Journal information: Scientific Reports 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Shutterstock These days it's necessary to have at least a basic level of English proficiency in most research contexts. But at the same time, our collective emphasis on English places a significant burden on scientists who speak a different first language. In research published today in PLOS Biology, my colleagues and I reveal the enormity of the language barrier faced by scientists who are non-native English speakers. English has become essential in academic life Scientists need to know English to extract knowledge from others' work, publish their findings, attend international conferences, and collaborate with their peers from around the world. There's no doubt this poses a significant challenge for non-native English speakers, who make up more than 90% of the global population. Yet there is a shocking lack of insight into how much extra effort non-native English speakers must invest in order to survive and thrive in their fields. Making these hurdles visible is the first step towards achieving fair participation for scientists whose first language isn't English. We launched the translatE project in 2019 with the aim of understanding the consequences of language barriers in science. We surveyed 908 environmental scientists from eight countriesboth native and non-native English speakersand compared the amount of effort the individuals required to complete different scientific milestones. Big hurdles to jump Imagine you're a non-native English-speaking Ph.D. student. Based on our findings, there are several major hurdles you'll need to overcome. The first hurdle is reading papers: a prerequisite for scientists. Compared to a fellow Ph.D. student who happens to be a native English speaker, you'll need 91% more time to read a paper in English. This equates to an additional three weeks per year for reading the same number of papers. Non-native English speakers (yellow) who published an English-language paper had to overcome much greater hurdles than their native English-speaking counterparts. Credit: Amano et al (2023) / PLOS Biology, Author provided The next big hurdle comes when trying to publish your own paper in English. First, you'll need 51% more time to write the paper. Then you'll likely need someone to proofread your text, such as a professional editor. That is if you can afford them. In Colombia, for instance, the cost of these services can be up to half the average monthly salary of a Ph.D. student. The bad news doesn't end there. On average, your papers will still be rejected 2.6 times more often by journals. If a paper isn't rejected, you'll be asked to revise it 12.5 times more often than your native English-speaking counterparts. Attending international conferences is key to developing your research network. But you might hesitate to register because you "feel uncomfortable and embarrassed speaking in English", as one of our participants told us. If you do decide to go and give a presentation, you'll need 94% more time to prepare for it, compared to a native-English speaker. And to stay in academia, you'll need to overcome all of these hurdles again and again. Language barriers have a widespread impact These hurdles lead to considerable disadvantages for non-native English speakers. Our study participants expressed feeling "great stress and anxiety". They felt "incompetent and insecure", even as they made massive investments of time and money into their work. We can imagine how such experiences might ultimately drive people out of scientific careers at an early stage. One particularly unhelpful and shortsighted view is that language barriers are "their problem". In fact, language barriers have significant consequences for scientific communities more broadly, and for science itself. Research has shown us that diversity in science delivers innovation and impact. Scientific work conducted by non-native English speakers has been, and will be, imperative to solving global challenges such as the biodiversity crisis. If indeed, "much research remains unpublished due to language barriers"as one of our participants saidwe could be missing out on substantial scientific contributions from a number of intelligent minds. Non-native English speakers (yellow) who published an English-language paper had to overcome much greater hurdles than their native English-speaking counterparts. Credit: Amano et al (2023) / PLOS Biology, Author provided What the scientific community can do Historically, the scientific community has rarely provided genuine support for non-native English speakers. Instead, the task of overcoming language barriers has been left to individuals' own efforts. There are a number of actions individuals, institutions, journals, funders and conference organizers can take to change this. As a first step, journals could do more to provide English editing support to academics (as Evolution has started doing) and could accept multilingual publications (as the preprint server EcoEvoRxiv does). Conference organizers also have myriad opportunities to support non-native English-speaking participants. For example, last year's Animal Behaviour Society conference incorporated a multilingual buddy program to improve inclusivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) may have a role to play, too. AI was widely used by our survey participants for English editing. The British Ecological Society recently integrated an AI language editing tool into its journals' submission system. However, some journals have banned the use of such tools. We believe it's worth exploring how the effective and ethical use of AI can help break down language barriers, especially since it can provide free or affordable editing to those who need it. It's time to re-frame "I wish English was my first language." This comment by one of our participants underscores the way non-native English speakers in science are often viewed by themselves and the whole community: through a deficit lens. The focus is solely on what's lacking. We should, instead, view these people through an asset lens. By transferring information across language barriers, non-native English speakers provide diverse views that can't otherwise be accessed. They have an indispensable role in contributing to humanity's knowledge base. The scientific community urgently needs to address language barriers so that future generations of non-native English speakers can proudly contribute to science. Only then can we all enjoy the full breadth of knowledge generated across the globe. More information: Tatsuya Amano et al, The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science, PLOS Biology (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002184 Journal information: PLoS Biology , Evolution This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Dead penguins are scattered on the beach Barra Laguna de Rocha in Uruguay on July 20, 2023. Around 2,000 penguins have appeared dead on the coast of eastern Uruguay in the last 10 days, and the cause, which does not appear to be avian influenza, remains a mystery, authorities said. The Magellanic penguins, mostly juveniles, died in the Atlantic Ocean and were carried by currents to Uruguayan shores, said Carmen Leizagoyen, head of the Environment Ministry's department of fauna. "This is mortality in the water. Ninety percent are young specimens that arrive without fat reserves and with empty stomachs," she said, and stressed that all samples taken have tested negative for avian influenza. Magellanic penguins nest in southern Argentina. In the southern hemisphere winter, they migrate north in search of food and warmer waters, even reaching the coast of the Brazilian state of Espirito Santo. "It is normal for some percentage to die, but not these numbers," Leizagoyen said, recalling that a similar die-off occurred last year in Brazil, for undetermined reasons. Hector Caymaris, director of the Laguna de Rocha protected area, told AFP that he counted more than 500 dead penguins along six miles (10 kilometers) of Atlantic coast. Environmental advocates attribute the increase in Magellanic penguin deaths to overfishing and illegal fishing. Magellanic penguins also turned up dead along Juanita Beach in Uruguay's Maldonado Department. "From the 1990s and 2000s we began to see animals with a lack of food. The resource is overexploited," Richard Tesore, of the NGO SOS Marine Wildlife Rescue, told AFP. A subtropical cyclone in the Atlantic, which hit southeastern Brazil in mid-July, probably caused the weakest animals to die from the inclement weather, he added. In addition to penguins, Tesore said he has recently found dead petrels, albatrosses, seagulls, sea turtles and sea lions on the beaches of Maldonado, a department east of the capital Montevideo. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The marshes dried up over centuries as its peat was harvested and the soil cultivated for grain or keeping livestock. Amid the fields of northern Germany a vast expanse of bulrushes has been planted to form one of Europe's largest reclaimed marshes. Just four years ago, the 10-hectare (25-acre) plot close to the town of Malchin was a simple field. Like 98 percent of Germany's historic wetlands, the area slowly dried up over centuries as its peat was harvested and the soil cultivated for grain or keeping livestock. Now, the land has been rewetted and planted with rushes that rise up to two meters (seven feet) high. With rubber boots that go up to her knees and a GPS navigation device in hand, biologist Meline Brendel wades through the marshes' stagnant waters. "Marshes cover three percent of the Earth's surface and trap twice as much CO 2 as all forests," says Brendel. Left alone, such bogs are massive sinks for carbon locked into the peat and prevented from escaping as gas by the water that covers the ground. Once dry, however, the earth releases the stored carbon when it comes into contact with oxygen. "In this region, marshes therefore emit more CO 2 than all forms of transport put together," says the scientist. Over a year, one hectare of drained marshland produces as much CO 2 as a car traveling 145,000 kilometers (90,000 miles), according to the Greifswald Mire Centre. Wetland habitat In Germany, current and former wetlands cover some five percent of the country's land areaalthough the overwhelming majority has been drained. To keep these emissions in check, the government-financed Paludi-PROGRESS project funded the rewetting of the former marshland. The land was criss-crossed with trenches, flooded and planted with bulrushes. Today, the area is habitat to a multitude of birds, fish, insects, spiders and amphibians. The bulrushes are cut each year and used for household insulation, among other practical applications. Twenty years ago, Bavarian farmer Lorenz Kratzer opted for an intermediate solution: keeping livestock on marshland that is slightly less wet than normal and giving his animals plenty of land to roam. Her eyes glued to the GPS, Brendel navigates her way through the wet maze, sinking a spike into the peat as she goes to measure the level of the water. "The problem is that projects like ours are still just pilots. The plants cannot yet be used on an industrial scale" as material for roofing or insulation, she says. The German government, which aims to make Europe's top economy carbon neutral by 2045, last year launched a four-billion-euro ($4.5 billion), four-year plan of action to "improve the general state of ecosystems" in the country. Half of the program's funds will go toward protecting marshes. A new law encouraging such efforts within the EU was recently adopted by the European Parliament. However, the programs have run into opposition from farmers. Cows and carbon For Brendel, the point is not to "force the rewetting of fields on farmers", but to convince them of its importance for the climate and the possibility to make a living from cultivating wetland. The 28-year-old scientist concedes that farming marshes is currently "not recognized as agriculture and farmers therefore don't have access to organic farming subsidies". "We need to make it more accessible and less bureaucratic to turn drained land back into marshes and to share what we have learned." Twenty years ago, Bavarian farmer Lorenz Kratzer opted for an intermediate solution: keeping livestock on marshland that is slightly less wet than normal and giving his animals plenty of land to roam. On a hot summer's day in Freising in southern Germany, 20 or so of his cows seek the shade of the trees and bushes growing on his marshland used for grazing. As the soil dries out due to climate change, the 64-year-old says it "would be a very good thing... to let the marshes return to nature, to flood them again". "The creation of pastures goes along well with this. You can see that the grass is growing better," he said. Kratzer sells his organic meat locally, showing that it's possible to combine agriculture and marshland protection. Back in Malchin, across the way from the reclaimed marsh, a herd of cows grazes peacefully in a field. "You can't see it but carbon is escaping from the ground" dried to make pastures for livestock, says Brendel, who dreams of a world where "there are no more dry marshes". 2023 AFP A former Ocean City police sergeant was sentenced to five years in prison for having a sexual relationship with a high school student, the Cape May County Prosecutor's Office said Friday. Tyrone Rolls, 52, of Marmora in Upper Township, pleaded guilty March 2 to endangering the welfare of a child by sexual conduct. In addition to his five-year sentence, Rolls will join the Megan's Law sex offender registry, be barred from public employment and will be subject to parole supervision for life, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. Rolls was initially charged April 7, 2021, and indicted Nov. 16, 2021, on two counts of official misconduct, one count of endangering the welfare of a child and one of aggravated assault of a domestic violence victim. The victim told authorities Rolls began the assaults when she was a 15-year-old Ocean City High School student. She told police the encounters occurred both in his police car and at his home, according to past reports. He also was accused of striking the victim. Rolls had been recognized and awarded for his community work, and even received a key to the city from Mayor Jay Gillian. While the effects of female age on fertility have been known for a long time, more recent studies have found that the age of a male partner also affects the chance of pregnancy and its health. Male fertility starts to reduce around the age of 40 to 45 years when sperm quality decreases. Children of older fathers have an increased risk of mental health problems like autism, spectrum disorder, schizophrenia etc. Change in lifestyle can help Men with poor count and quality can reverse or slow down the further damage by a timely change in lifestyle. Reducing alcohol/smoking/ tobacco consumption Tackling obesity Managing hypertension Diabetes will go a long way in improving your sperm functions. Sperm preservation (freezing) There is a 100% retrieval chance even after many years. Men who have absent sperm in their ejaculate can explore the possibility of retrieving sperm through testicular biopsy or aspiration. These retrieved sperm can be used for IVF to pursue parenthood, or alternatively, they can be frozen for potential future use. Men are equally affected by infertility Only 10% of sperm are fit to fertilise the egg Male factors contribute to 40% of fertility issues The quality of sperm declines with age leading to miscarriage and babies with special needs The fertility assessment programme for men includes: Consultation with your doctor Physical examination Fertility of hormones: FSH, LH, Testosterone, Prolactin Semen analysis Scrotal scan to rule out hydrocele or hernia and varicocele TESA/PESA Genetic testing The views/suggestions/opinions/data in the article are the sole responsibility of the expert/organisation. For more queries, write to asktheexpert@punemirror.com DES MOINES Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Friday asked the Iowa Supreme Court to reinstate a new law that seeks to ban most abortions in the state, the governors office said. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed the appeal, her office said. In a statement issued Friday afternoon, Reynolds referred to Polk County District Court Judge Joseph Seidlins decision, issued Monday, to temporarily block the new law. Seidlin referred to a recent Iowa Supreme Court ruling that suggested judicial review of abortion regulations in the state could eventually return to the Iowa Supreme Court. For now, abortion remains legal in Iowa until the 20th week of pregnancy. Judge Seidlin stated this week that the Iowa Supreme Court left off last month with an invitation to litigate further the standard of review on abortion regulations. Invitation or not, I will never stop fighting to protect our unborn children and to uphold state laws enacted by our elected legislators, Reynolds said in her statement. The new law bans abortions once cardiac activity of the heart can be detected. Supporters of such policies say that is typically around the sixth week of pregnancy, often before individual is aware they are pregnant. Iowa Republicans in 2018 passed a similar law that would have banned abortions once a heartbeat is detected. It was blocked by the courts and never took effect. After rulings in 2022 from the Iowa Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court effectively eliminated a right to an abortion at both the state and federal levels, Reynolds asked the state courts to reinstate that 2018 law. In June, a split, 3-3 decision from the Iowa Supreme Court left the lower courts ruling in place. Last Friday, July 14, Reynolds signed into law the latest abortion restrictions, which were passed earlier that week by Republicans in a special session of the Iowa Legislature. Seidlins decision on Monday paused enforcement of that new law. Abortion opponents believe that, in the wake of those 2022 Iowa and U.S. Supreme Court rulings, new abortion restrictions will receive a more favorable judicial review than previous attempts. The right to life is the most fundamental right of all. Today, we are taking our defense of Iowas heartbeat law to the Iowa Supreme Court to allow the law to go back in effect and protect innocent lives, Bird said in a statement. Im confident that the law is on our side, and we will continue fighting for the right to life in court. The new law is being challenged by the same groups that challenged the 2018 law: Planned Parenthood, the ACLU of Iowa and the Emma Goldman Clinic. Planned Parenthood North Central States CEO Ruth Richardson criticized Reynolds' decision to appeal the injunction and said the organization would continue to fight for abortion access in an emailed statement on Friday. "Make no mistake: despite this appeal, the temporary injunction against the six-week ban remains in effect. Abortion is legal in Iowa," Richardson said. "We will continue to provide the compassionate abortion care that Iowans need and deserve as we await the next ruling." Official court documents for the appeal were not immediately available Friday afternoon when the governor's and attorney general's offices announced the appeal. Photos: Gov. Reynolds tours site of The Davenport collapse A Davenport man currently serving a mandatory 15-years in prison for shooting at law enforcement officers in Iowa County will now serve an additional mandatory five-years in prison after he was sentenced on Scott County robbery and theft convictions. During a sentencing hearing held Thursday in Scott County District Court, District Court Judge Meghan Corbin sentenced Jeremy Lee Krapp, 34, to 10 years in the Iowa Department of Corrections on a charge of the lesser included offense of second-degree robbery. Corbin ordered that Krapp must serve 50% of the sentence, or five years, before he can become eligible for parole. The sentence is to run consecutive, or back-to-back, to the mandatory 15-year sentence Krapp is currently serving after shooting at police in Iowa County in 2020. Corbin also sentenced Krapp to 10 years in prison on a charge of first-degree theft that is to be served concurrent, or at the same time, to the sentence on the robbery conviction. Krapp had pleaded guilty to the robbery and theft charges during a hearing May 17, 2023, in district court. Charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree theft were dropped in a plea agreement. According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Officer Jordan Sander, at 7:37 p.m. on March 6, 2020, police were flagged down in the area of West River Drive and Marquette Street. Krapp had pointed a handgun at the victims and robbed them. He ordered the victims to strip naked and threatened to kill them one by one. Krapp fled the scene on one of the victims vehicles, a 1996 Oldsmobile Aurora with Illinois plates. At 5:44 a.m. on March 7, 2020, Krapp was arrested in Iowa County after shooting a black Taurus handgun at an Iowa Department of Natural Resources truck that had its red and blue lights flashing. According to the arrest affidavit filed by Iowa County Sheriffs Deputy Andy Pahl, the bullet went through the back right door and exited the back left window. Johnson County Sheriffs Deputy Chad Bolen was sitting in the passenger seat while DNR officer Jeff Harrison was driving. Krapp pleaded guilty to two counts of assault of a peace officer while using or displaying a dangerous weapon, one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and possession of marijuana-third offense. Two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer were dropped in the plea agreement. On Jun 9, 2020, Krapp received a 30-year prison sentence for which he was ordered to serve 15 years before parole can be granted. Krapp is currently serving his sentence at the Clarinda Correctional Facility. A little more than 80 miles south of Davenport, the town of Danville, Iowa, population 905, is becoming a hub of education about the Holocaust with its Anne Frank connection. Later this summer, hopefully by around the middle of August, museum director Janet Hesler said a rail car of the era, type and kind used to transport Jews to the work and death camps, will arrive in Danville as part of its growing Holocaust education program. Housed in Danville Station, Danville's Museum with its Anne Frank Connection display has roots back to 1939, when, according to the town library's website, Danville teacher Miss Birdie Mathews initiated a pen pal exchange for her class. Juanita Wagner, who was 10, picked the name of a girl from the list who was her own age and lived in Amsterdam. That girl Wagner chose was Anne Frank. Danville is only one of two places in the world where letters between Wagner and Frank can be viewed. Additionally, the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities has helped the school system and the museum with education about the Holocaust, providing speakers and other artifacts, said Allan Ross, Executive Director of the federation. They have a really good schools system and weve provided Holocaust education and have found survivors to speak at the school, Ross said. The Quad-City Jewish Federation also donated 30 reproduction prints of the original paintings done in hiding by Erich Geiringer and his son Heinz. The two had begun painting to occupy their time and were able to hide the paintings before the family was discovered and sent to Auschwitz. The father and son died but Erichs wife, Fritzi and daughter, Eva, survived and retrieved the paintings. Fritzi Geiringer married Otto Frank, Anne Frank's father, in the 1950s. Otto Frank was the only member of his family who survived the war. The 30 original paintings are in the Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam. The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities received permission by Eva Geiringer Schloss to have prints made. They first were displayed at Davenport's Putnam Museum to complement the 2012 exhibit Anne Frank: A History for Today. Because of the donated print set, Ross said, They now have two major exhibits and other bits and pieces about the Holocaust. Hesler said the idea for the rail car came when she and her husband were wondering how they were going to hold the 1.5 million postcards the Danville Museum is trying to collect from children all over the world in honor of Anne Frank. That project began in 2012. We want to collect 1.5 million because thats the number of Jewish children who died in the Holocaust, Hesler said. So far the museum has received 41,400 post cards. It was on a trip to Whitwell, Tennessee, to see the Paper Clip Project at the Childrens Holocaust Memorial that museum staff saw that the paper clips, worn by Norwegians as a silent protest and a symbol of resistance to the Nazi occupation, were housed in a rail car. Hesler said the goal of the Paper Clip Project was to collect 6 million paper clips for all those who died in the Holocaust, but the project eventually collected more than 30 million. All of the post cards will not fit in our museum, she said. But they could be housed in a rail car of the kind used to take Jews to the work and death camps. It was then in 2017 or 2018 that Hesler said she began thinking of a rail car exhibit. Rail cars were found in Macedonia and Poland, but the deals for them fell through, Hesler said. However, one was found in Moers, Germany, she said. I want to say it was in November or December of 2021 that they found this car and we were wondering how we were going to pay for it, Hesler said. In August of 2022, the museum received an economic development grant of $500,000 through Destination Iowa, a tourism grant from the state, she said. It took around $260,000 to purchase and refurbish the rail car. In December of 2022, the car was moved from Moers to Duisburg, Germany, where it was refurbished by Die Schmiede, which also refurbished the rail car that is currently at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland. Hopefully it will be on schedule and in Baltimore in early August, she said. From there it will be put on a truck and brought to Bettendorf where the Quad City Jewish Federation will have it on display for a time before it goes on to Danville. Inside the car are refurbished railroad tracks on which it will sit. The rest of the grant money will be used to build ramps to the rail car, as well as parking and making everything handicap accessible. Our museum started in 2012, Hesler said. Its been open by appointment and each year wed get about 50 visitors and 48 of those were likely school children. The current building that houses the museum was purchased in 2015 and at one time was the oldest building in Danville, being built in 1897 as a lumber yard. Hesler said the museum will have a fundraiser to build a structure to house the rail car, but for now it can be open to the elements for a few years. Ross said there is no way to know if any of the rail cars in Holocaust museums around the world were ever used to carry Jews to the ghettos and death camps. It is possible they were, but no one can say for certain. What they try to do is make sure the cars are of the era and built before 1945, he said. Hesler said the car coming to Danville was built between 1939 and 1943. Still, Ross said, "the cars have a powerful effect" on people as they can envision the people packed into the cars. With the news of the Anne Frank Connection exhibit, the Geiringer prints and now the rail car, Hesler said the museum is getting more attention. We hope that people learn from this exhibit, Hesler said. We want the children to read and learn so something like the Holocaust will never happen again. Photos: Out of Darkness: Holocaust Messages for Today The Iowa Board of Medicine has suspended the license of a Des Moines surgeon who refused to undergo a neuropsychological evaluation to gauge his fitness to practice. Ronald S. Bergman, a 74-year-old Iowa-licensed physician who practices plastic and reconstructive surgery, entered into a settlement agreement with the Board of Medicine in January. The board had alleged that Bergman had a neurological impairment that might interfere with his ability to safely practice plastic and reconstructive surgery, and that he had engaged in unprofessional conduct when he sent inappropriate text messages to an employee. At the time, Bergman denied the boards allegations, but agreed to the boards offer to settle the matter by complying with restrictions on surgical practice, paying a $2,500 civil penalty and completing a course on professional boundaries. The settlement also provided that Bergmans license would be placed on probation through Jan. 1, 2023, after which time Bergman would be barred from engaging in the practice of surgery in its entirety. In May 2022, however, the board agreed to Bergmans request to let him perform surgery for an additional six months, through July 1 of this year. As part of that arrangement, Bergman agreed to complete a comprehensive neuropsychological examination no later than November 2022. A few months later, Bergman allegedly became aware that the disciplinary action resulted in his inability to obtain admitting privileges at local hospitals and at the surgery center where he had performed many of his procedures. At the time, he allegedly complained to the board that there was no point to him submitting to another neuropsychological evaluation and, according to the board, he complained the requirement had been slipped into the final settlement agreement he signed in May 2022. In October 2022, Bergman informed the board he did not plan to proceed with the neuropsychological evaluation, according to board documents. In December 2022, the board charged Bergman with failure to comply with a board order by refusing to undergo the evaluation. The board voted last week to indefinitely suspend Bergmans medical license, barring him from practicing medicine of any kind in Iowa. Other Iowa-licensed physicians recently sanctioned include: Dr. Anthony Vernon Dallas, who was granted an Iowa medical license and issued a warning. The warning stems from disciplinary actions taken against Dallas by 12 other states, all of which relate to a set of charges that the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure levied against Dallas in September 2014. The Mississippi board alleged Dallas was guilty of unprofessional conduct and unethical conduct that was likely to deceive, defraud or harm the public. Specifically, the board alleged Dallas administered or prescribed addiction-forming drugs in a manner otherwise than in the course of legitimate professional practice. The board suspended Dallas license for three months and also placed his license on probation for one year. Dr. Ravindrakumar Gangadhariah, who practices dermatology and internal medicine in Davenport. He was charged last year with practicing in a manner that is harmful to the public, and with improper medical-record management. In an entirely separate case, the board issued an emergency order in March 2023 that indefinitely suspended Gangadhariahs license. The board charged him with failure to comply with a board order, professional incompetency and practicing in a manner that was harmful to the public. As part of a settlement of the two cases, Gangadhariah recently agreed to have his license placed on probation for five years, during which time he must submit to workplace monitoring, undergo a neuropsychiatric evaluation and undergo training in infection control. The precise conduct that led to the emergency order in March has been not been made public by the board, despite a state law that requires those details to be disclosed to the public once a case has been finalized. Dr. Samuel Rickerl, who once practiced obstetrics and gynecology in Clinton and now practices in Illinois. In September 2021, the board charged Rickerl with professional incompetency. Board records indicate Rickerl underwent a clinical competency evaluation at some unspecified point in time, and then underwent additional training to address areas of education need that were identified in that evaluation. The board also alleged that Rickerl did not provide adequate coverage for his patients when he was unavailable, that patients and staff had difficulty communicating with him, and that Rickerl performed procedures not approved by the hospitals where he practiced charges he denied. To resolve the allegations, the board agreed to amend the charges to unprofessional conduct and settle the case with a warning and a $2,500 civil penalty. The precise conduct that led to the charges of incompetency has not been made public by the board, despite a state law that requires those details to be disclosed to the public once a case has been finalized. Photos: Missing children in Iowa Alexandra Storm Hailey Coleman Jamira Debose Osbourne Julian Murray Daniela Salinas-mejia Jade Colvin Fredrick Workman Benjamin Roseland Erin Pospisil Marc Allen Eugene Martin John Gosch Kimberly Doss Colleen Simpson Caleb Williams Xavior Harrelson Alyssa Dluzak Fatima Conteh Daniela Vera-Ortega Xerxes Blaesing Jorge Peneda Castillo Anya Pritchard Desirae Gifford Daquan Nelson Diomarix Crespo Alivia Beeding Caydence Roberts According to a new report by ReadyNation released Thursday, nearly half of South Dakotans live in a childcare desert, where there are three or more children per licensed care opening. ReadyNation brought together an online panel of speakers Thursday to address the issues presented in the report and to discuss potential solutions. ReadyNation is a nonprofit that unites membership organizations to promote solutions to help the next generation be successful, productive members of society, according to the group. Stephanie Wiegand, a mother of four kids, shared her experience of staying at home instead of working as a registered nurse at the Deadwood hospital. Both she and her husband work in the healthcare industry. He's a physician assistant in the Deadwood Emergency Room and it was his career that brought the family to South Dakota near the beginning of the pandemic. At the time of their move, they had a one-year-old in the family who would've required full-time daycare for Wiegand to work. Wiegand said she was only able to find one childcare provider in the area, but they were full and had a "very long waiting list." The daycare hours were also not conducive for the 12-hour shifts required for her profession. She found the same issues when looking for daycares outside the community, in addition of having to drive to drop off and pick up her kids. "As a parent I know I'm not alone in these problems," Wiegand said. She currently watches her sister's two kids because she was unable to find childcare when moving into the area. And for about seven months, she helped one of her husband's co-workers with their newborn until that family could find a full-time childcare site outside of the community. Wiegand said there are three areas this state lacks in childcare which is access, affordability and quality. On affordability, one of Wiegand's friends wants to go back to work but feels like she can't do both work and pay for daycare so she chose to stay home. According to ReadyNations report, almost three-quarters of more than 800 parents surveyed reported it's a challenge to access childcare and more than half said it is a significant challenge to find affordable or high-quality care. Its often too expensive when parents are able to find childcare. In South Dakota, a center is about $7,400 per year. The quality of childcare changed whether care providers are licensed or registered with the state. Those who arent registered are not subjected to health or safety rules. For solutions, a number of businesses are trying to help overcome the childcare crisis. Michael Bockorny, CEO of Aberdeen Development Corporation, said there are over 400 business leaders interested in taking action to address the issue. Businesses are also taking steps because the lack of childcare in the area turns away new employees or even employees thinking about transferring to the area. "There are not enough providers for the demand and it's not an easy solution," David Emory, former chairman and CEO of Black Hills Energy, said. Black Hills Energy ended up constructing a childcare center at its new headquarters. The center can take 48 kids, from months old to 4 years. It's full to capacity, Emory said, and the waiting list is almost equal to the capacity. Pioneer Bank and Trust in Rapid City started a childcare reimbursement program during the pandemic when spouses were getting laid off. The program pays for the first $5,000 per year of childcare expenses. Bockorny said Pioneer employees have had more thanks and gratitude for this benefit than any other. Aberdeen Development Corporation has also helped to try closing the gap in childcare by developing a daycare named the "Just Kidding Childcare Center." They worked with a growing church in their community which takes up the second floor of an office-type property while the corporation was able to get a capital loan to build the first floor as a nondenominational childcare center. The center is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. to accommodate shift workers and while the capacity is currently 60 kids, there is an additional remodel happening to double the size to 120. Leaders of ReadyNation are asking state and federal policy makers to support the access to affordable high-quality care because businesses cant be the only answer, according to Emory. South Dakota policymakers must promote health and safety in childcare settings by providing resources and through policy initiatives and must support the childcare workforce," Emory said, "including through compensation enhancements and education and professional development opportunities. The history of mining in western South Dakota goes back more than a century and continues to be part of the states economy to this day. The industry in the Black Hills has undergone some recent changes, with a major decision coming down regarding mine expansion in the northern Black Hills and the announcement of an exploratory drilling project near Mount Rushmore. A Superfund site near Lead may see new life in an effort to both continue reclamation and extract additional viable resources. Coeur Wharf expands Following a contested case hearing, the South Dakota Board of Minerals and Environment voted unanimously this week to approve the Boston Expansion permit for Coeur Wharfs operation. The Lawrence County Commission granted a conditional use permit for the expansion in January 2022, and a formal application was filed in June that year. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources received nearly 30 letters of support for the expansion during the public comment period in spring 2023; several letters were submitted in opposition before Rapid City-based activist Carla Marshall filed to intervene in the permit. Marshall previously stated during hearings in May her opposition to the permit was based on violated treaty rights, concerns over the states spill database, and the potential for environmental damage. Located four miles southwest of Lead near the Terry Peak Ski Resort, Coeurs Boston Expansion is 48.2 acres directly adjacent to current active mining areas. The expansion will produce 6.7 million tons of ore and add about three years to the life of the mine. Were very pleased with the unanimous Board of Minerals and Environment approval today of our Boston Expansion permit, culminating the efforts of over two years of detailed environmental and socioeconomic studies conducted by Wharf, as well as the thorough and diligent review by numerous DANR staff, Lawrence County Commission, and the SD Board of Minerals and Environment, Matt Zietlow, environmental manager at Coeur Wharf, told the Journal Thursday. The unanimous approval by the Board clearly reflects the collaborative effort and the sustained level of detailed review put forth by all parties leading to this decision today. The permit will be officially effective once the mine submits the additional bond amounts $13,906,800 for reclamation and $4,289,400 for post-closure later this year. Wharf is also required to address the selenium levels in False Bottom Creek. During hearings in Pierre in late May, Wharf and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources gave testimony regarding elevated levels of selenium in False Bottom Creek. False Bottom Creek is not part of the Boston Expansion area, but the state does require Wharf to mitigate the problem as part of its surface water discharge permit. False Bottom Creek sits below historical Bald Mountain tailings, a gold mining mill site which operated from 1905 to 1959. Elevated selenium levels began showing in 2014 and gradually increased above permitted levels in 2020. Wharf and the state began investigating the issue in 2017. According to Zietlows testimony, selenium was not found in 1990 when Wharf did testing. Roberta Hudson, engineering manager with DANRs Minerals, Mining and Superfund Program, testified in May they sent letters to Wharf regarding the selenium issue in July and November 2021. Zietlow said in May the source of the selenium isnt known and it isnt known if operations at Wharf which put rock on top of the Bald Mountain tailings contributed to the issue. They contested the finding that theyre in violation for selenium at False Bottom Creek, but the state said it met the criteria for a violation. In May, the state also said Wharf has been working diligently with them to correct the problem, and believed the issue wasnt grounds for denying the expansion. The selenium issue at False Bottom Creek is a historical issue and not the result of negligence on Coeur Wharfs part, according to Board of Minerals and Environment Chairman Rexford Hagg, who said he was comfortable with the evidence presented and the plans going forward, which will help keep the public and state more informed of the selenium situation. Wharf has 10 notices of violations in its file since mine operations first began, but none in the past 20 years, according to Hudson, and no spills affecting surface water recorded after 2011. Wharf is required to present the findings of its pilot study, which aims to find the most appropriate mitigation solution, by August 1, 2023. Construction on the company's chosen solution must be completed by October 1, 2024, and be operational by January 1, 2025. Coeur Wharf is the only large-scale gold mine still operating in South Dakota. It began in 1982, and has received four other expansion permits since, most recently in 2012 in the Green Mountain and Golden Reward areas. The company employs more than 250 people with an annual payroll of around $30 million, pays an average of $5.8 million a year in severance taxes, and donates more than $170,000 a year to local nonprofits many of which wrote letters in support of the expansion. It's amazing all that we do in the community, said Shelly Rose, human resources and community relations for Coeur Wharf. We don't tabulate it, but I would say we easily have thousands of hours out there every year that our employees are putting into the community. It's a unique industry to be in, and by far my favorite out of all the ones I've worked in. The Coeur Wharf Sustainable Prosperity Fund is held by the South Dakota Community Foundation and operates a multi-million-dollar endowment to continue benefitting local organizations after the end of mining at the site. To address the workforce shortage, Coeur Wharf works at the middle school level to get children interested in science and mining, Rose said. They currently have nearly a dozen students from South Dakota Mines and Western Dakota Tech either interning or on scholarships that will see them employed at Coeur post-grad. As of January 2022, the Wharf Mine had disturbed 1,278.41 acres and reclaimed 333.39 acres. Massive trucks hauling up to 150 tons of material snake along the benched roads of the mine daily, ferrying materials to process facilities or waste rock dumps. Five heap leach pads are in operation and work on rotated schedules. Each heap leach contains lines of tubing that drip a cyanide solution through the rock to extract precious minerals. The pads sit on a double lining of plastic with leak protection and computerized monitoring systems in place. Once extracted, the solution gets concentrated using physical and chemical processes and is generally shipped off-site to be refined. Most of the gold coming out of Wharf is used in medical equipment, according to Zietlow. Several ponds exist across the Wharf Mine, some used as overflow for storm water and others as process ponds for the extracted solution. They utilize plastic disks on many ponds to keep heat in their denitrifying ponds and to keep birds and other animals from potentially accessing water containing cyanide before its processed. The cyanide solution is processed and recycled, which Zietlow calls a zero discharge system. They collect and treat runoff at the site. With 2023 having been such a wet year, so far, nearly 80 million gallons have been discharged. Concurrent reclamation has led to green spaces within the active mine area itself. Green hills dot the land between open pits. The old Golden Reward area was reclaimed around 20 years ago, and now is hardly distinguishable from the surrounding landscape. It's really pretty. Were very proud of what we've got here, Zietlow said. The best part of it is that we've got a real, firsthand example of what our reclamation will look like. Portions of the Golden Reward area were re-mined in the last several years, and reclamation in the last year has already taken hold. Deer and other animals frequent the area, and Terry Peak plans to expand ski runs down part of the reclaimed area in the coming years, thanks to an ongoing partnership with the mine. Trail rides also operate in the area. Gilt Edge Superfund Site The future of a former-mine-turned-superfund-site east of Lead is in limbo as a Canadian company looks into the viability of re-mining the area. Agnico Eagle signed an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to collect data on the Gilt Edge Mine Superfund Site. The soon-to-be-finalized agreement will allow Agnico three years to assess the viability of the site and another year to analyze the data collected before making a decision on whether theyd like to apply to reopen the mine. Agnico will have to pay a base sum of $2.5 million annually for the four-year agreement, plus secure $2 million in assurance. Their work began in 2018 when a lessee agreement was signed allowing Agnico to drill around 40 holes at the site. Part of their objective was to look for potentially economic materials, but they also provided some data to the EPA about low-level, sporadic chromium contamination in Strawberry Creek. EPA Remedial Project Manager Joy Jenkins said the remedies at the site so far havent been able to curtail the chromium in Strawberry Creek, which they believe comes from an unknown, subsurface source that surfaces in the creek. Mining and mineral exploration began in the area in the mid-1870s, including some underground work until the 1920s. From 1935 to 1941, the mine operated steadily with expanded underground workings. Exploratory mining occurred in the 1970s, and in 1986, Canada-based Brohm Mining Company began a large-scale, open-pit cyanide heap-leach operation. Part of their operation was reclamation from the historic mining activity. Brohm went bankrupt in the late 1990s, and the site was abandoned in July 1999. It became a Superfund site in 2000, and the EPA stepped in to continue the necessary water treatment. Jenkins didnt have updated numbers for the total cost of remediation at the site, but numbers a couple years old were in the range of $120 million dollars. Costs to operate typically range about $2 million per year, according to Jenkins. Most of that funding comes from the EPAs Superfund, but also includes around $40 million from legal settlements and a cost-sharing agreement with the State of South Dakota. The concern for Gilt Edge is acid rock drainage. Surface mining activity exposed pyrite (or fools gold) to air and water, setting off a chemical reaction that produces sulfuric acid. The acid causes the surrounding rock to leach chemicals like zinc, cadmium, nickel, copper and chromium. If left untreated, the contaminated water from the site could pollute groundwater and be a major disturbance to fish and wildlife populations. The EPA contracts with HydroGeoLogic, Inc. to pump contaminated water from across the site to the former Anchor Hill Pit, where it is stored before being pumped through water treatment and discharged into Strawberry Creek. Gilt Edge produces approximately 96 million gallons of acid rock drainage each year. About 158 million gallons of water is treated annually. If Agnico determines the area is viable for mining, they will have to apply for a mining permit with the state. Part of any permit would require them to take on the responsibility of water treatment and reclamation into perpetuity. If environmental, technical and economic circumstances warrant, Agnico Eagle may pursue further exploration, resource studies and possibly a mining application, but that decision has not been made, nor has an application process started, said Kwinn Neff, community relations, Agnico Eagle. Agnico Eagle believes that when responsibly undertaken, gold mining plays an important and positive role in supporting sustainable socio-economic development in communities and countries around the world. Neff also said if they decide and receive permits to re-mine the site, taxpayers would save $90 million to $100 million in cleanup costs and South Dakota would collect a two-percent royalty in addition to sales and excise taxes on mineral extraction. Surface reclamation such as covering pits is on hold while the agreement takes place, so that any potential re-mining activity wouldnt undo the EPAs previous work. They graded and capped the former Ruby Waste Rock Dump in 2001, reducing the acid rock drainage in that area, according to Jenkins. We're on a pause in doing anymore surface remedy while we figure out if this is actually feasible, Jenkins said. Would a company be able to take on all the responsibility here and put in a good cleanup system and take on water treatment into perpetuity? Lawrence County Natural Resources Committee member Ron Moeller attended an EPA tour of the Gilt Edge site, accompanied by a group of concerned citizens, local government representatives, and journalists. Following the tour, Moeller told the Journal he believes new mining regulations and increased bonding requirements may prevent another Brohm-like situation in the future. Looking for lithium A mining exploration company has submitted a notice of intent to search for lithium-bearing materials two miles northwest of Keystone. SDO Services, LLC, operating under Midwest Lithium AG with offices in Sioux Falls and Switzerland, submitted the application in late May. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources notified the Pennington County Commission of the exploration intent on July 11. SDO intends to drill 55 exploration holes to a maximum of 850 feet in search of a lithium-bearing material called spodumene, and other pegmatite materials. Exploratory drilling will be done with diamond core water drilling and all holes will be backfilled and plugged. According to the Exploration Notice of Intent filed with the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the total disturbance for the drilling pads will be 38,500 square feet. Improvements to some nearby roads will result in an additional 4,200 feet of disturbance. Where possible, drill pads will be located on previously disturbed areas to minimize impact, according to the application. Keystone is the site of the former Etta Mine, the largest source of lithium in the United States for decades, according to Midwest Lithium. The largest spodumene crystal ever found was at the Etta site, which began as a mica mine in the early 1880s and continued operation until 1886. It reopened as a spodumene mine in 1898. Work at the site continued with interludes until 1968. Dr. Lilias Jarding with the Black Hills Clean Water Alliance called the project outrageous in a press release. Modern tourists would not be impressed by an industrial operation along a scenic road or near the most famous national monument outside D.C. and a destination for millions of people each year and the entire area is an important cultural site for Lakota people, Jarding said. Midwest Lithium General Manager Michael Schlumpberger told the Journal shortening the supply chain for critical minerals like lithium provides a variety of benefits, including being a year-round operation that pays 30% to 40% higher wages than are typical in South Dakota. Being on the backside of a mountain will keep the mine hidden and out of view of Mount Rushmore, he said. People havent really taken note of it before, and so my anticipation is, quite honestly, much of that would continue the same, Schlumpberger said. I would dare say that especially the tourists that drive by it they drive by a lot of other mines on the way to Keystone as well and never really take note of them either. If the company discovers lithium-bearing materials, it would have to complete the mine permitting process with the state before beginning mining operations. There is currently only one operating lithium mine in the United States Silver Peak, Nevada which produces about one-percent of the worlds lithium. The push for critical minerals under the Biden Administration is a result of the need to develop green energy. Lithium and similar materials are used in batteries and other clean-energy technology. Advocates cite the need to shift mining and processing of these materials away from countries like China, Russia and Iran. SDO will place a statewide surety bond of $20,000 in lieu of drill program specific surety bonds with the state before the exploration project begins, according to documents. More information on the Notice of Intent is available on DANR's website. ABERDEEN Officials in South Dakota's third most populous city, Aberdeen, are warning residents that their drinking water contains an elevated risk of disease. The Aberdeen Water Works Treatment Plant experienced mechanical malfunctions in two filters used to clean water and make it drinkable for residents, resulting in an increased chance of disease-causing organisms in the drinking water, according to a public notice from the city, The Argus Leader reported Thursday. The city noticed the malfunctions after a water sample taken July 10 tested at 5.35 nephelometric turbidity units used to measure the presence of particles in water which is more than five times the 1 NTU standard for safe drinking water in the state, according to The Argus Leader. The city's notice said it's not necessary for residents to boil or decontaminate their water, but that people with severely compromised immune systems, infants and older people are at increased risk of getting sick and should contact their health care providers before drinking the water. One of the two malfunctioning water filters has been repaired, while the other filter remains offline until it can be fixed, according to the notice. Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes out and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau testified before the United States Senate Committee on Indian Affairs on July 19 in support of S. 2088, the Wounded Knee Memorial and Sacred Site Act. The Wounded Knee Memorial and Sacred Site Act, sponsored by South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds, seeks to return 40 acres of land where most of the carnage at the Wounded Knee Massacre occurred and place it into restricted Indian fee title, with the names of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe both appearing on the title. The property was previously privately owned. Both tribes attempted to purchase the land in October 2022 from Jeanette Czywczynski for $500,000. The Czywczynski family had previously operated a trading post and museum on the property from 1968-1973. These acres are part of the Wounded Knee Massacre site, and because we lost our relatives on these lands, they are sacred to us as Memorial and Sacred Site Land, LeBeau said in his written testimony. Many of the Wounded Knee victims were from the Mniconju band of Cheyenne River. The tribes are asking that the land, which is part of the Pine Ridge Reservation, be placed in restricted fee status rather than trust so that it can be restored back to the original people in the name of the tribes, not in the name of the United States. Restricted fee status would also protect the land from commercial development and both state and federal taxation. The 40 acres in question is referred to as the killing fields, according to Chairman LeBeau. The 40 acres includes the hill where cannons were fired by US soldiers, the ravine where victims fled, and the land the old trading post sat on. Both Star Comes Out and LeBeau are descendants of Lakota people present at the Wounded Knee Massacre. This bill is of special importance to me, not only as a Native South Dakotan and a member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, but as a descendant of a survivor of the Wounded Knee Massacre, my great-great grandmother, Wizipan Garriott, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs said during the meeting. On December 29, 1890, the U.S. Army 7th Cavalry surrounded a group of Lakota as they camped near Wounded Knee Creek on the modern-day Pine Ridge Reservation. The cavalry had been arresting several tribal members who were participating in the Ghost Dance movement and told the camp to lay down their weapons and that they would be moved to a new camp. According to National Geographic, the campers began a Ghost Dance which the soldiers took as a signal and began to fire upon the majority unarmed Lakotas, killing mostly women, children and babies. The Wounded Knee land will be used for sacred purposes and remembrance, including ceremonies and prayer, and the descendants of victims and survivors of the Wounded Knee Massacre will be consulted about the proper care and maintenance of the land as a memorial and sacred site and about the ceremonies and activities to be conducted on the land, Star Comes Out said in his testimony. Earlier this year, South Dakota Representative Dusty Johnson partnered with both tribes to create H.R. 3371, which would aid both tribes in protecting the land associated with the Wounded Knee Massacre. The bill has since moved up to the Commission on Indian Affairs after being referred to the Senate as S. 2088. We urge Congress to quickly pass this bill and respectfully ask President Biden to sign it into law, Chairman LeBeau said in his testimony. Kathmandu, Nepal, July 22, 2023:: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is leaving for Italy today evening leading the Nepalese delegation to participate in the Food System Summit of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization is going to organize the United Nations Food System-2023 Stocking Moment in Rome, Italy. Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to address the program on July 24 in the capacity of the president of the least developed country. Likewise, Prime Minister Dahal will also participate in the discussion session about school meals that will be held on July on July 24 and will also participate in the discussion about food system changes and practices on the 9th. Likewise, Prime Minister Dahal will also participate in the interaction program organized by the Non-Resident Nepali Association. James Gordon Meek, 53, of Arlington County, admitted in U.S. District Court in Alexandria that he illegally possessed and transported child pornography. He covered national security issues for the network until he resigned last year. As part of a plea agreement, Meek admitted he used an iPhone to exchange child pornography, including a video showing the sexual abuse of an infant, during a chat session with two other individuals. An FBI affidavit indicates that agents founds dozens of child pornography images and videos when they searched Meeks home last year, going back to at least 2014. The affidavit says evidence was also seized showing Meek used Snapchat and other apps to pressure minors into sending him sexually explicit images, and that Meek sometimes portrayed himself as a girl in some of those communications. Those allegations are not explicitly referenced in his plea deal. Meeks lawyer had unsuccessfully argued that the evidence was obtained illegally and should have been tossed out. The plea deal preserves Meeks right to pursue an appeal to have the evidence dismissed. Failing a successful appeal on the search-and-seizure issue, Meek will be sentenced in September and faces up to 40 years in prison, though a maximum sentence is unlikely. One of the charges carries a five-year mandatory minimum. Meek joined ABC News Washington bureau as an investigative producer in 2013. He previously worked for the New York Daily News and also served as senior counterterrorism adviser and investigator for the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. Meeks abrupt resignation and the FBI search of his home prompted erroneous speculation last year that he had been targeted for his work as a journalist. NORFOLK A Virginia Beach man who admitted to taking part in the U.S. Capitol riot is suing CNN for defamation for a story the network published that mentioned his involvement. The lawsuit from Jacob Jake Hiles was initially filed in Virginia Beach Circuit Court, but CNN filed a document Monday in U.S. District Court in Norfolk seeking to have the case transferred there. Hiles, a longtime Virginia Beach charter boat captain, traveled to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, to express his support for President Trump by exercising his 1st Amendment Rights guaranteed to him under the United States Constitution, according to the complaint filed on his behalf by Virginia Beach attorney Alexander H. Bell. On the day of the riot, Hiles posted multiple photos and statements on social media. One post included a photo of him wearing a cap, sunglasses and gaiter with the caption: Feelin cute might start a revolution later, IDK in Capitol Hill. Another screenshot showed him wearing goggles and a gaiter inside the Capitol. Hiles pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a single misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating and picketing in a Capitol building as part of an agreement with prosecutors. He was sentenced later that year to two years probation and was ordered to perform 60 hours of community service and pay $500 in restitution. On Oct. 15, 2021, CNN Politics posted an article about a Capitol police officer who was indicted for his involvement in the riot, according to Hiles lawsuit. The story said the officer was also charged with obstructing justice for allegedly advising Hiles to remove photos and videos taken on the day of the riot from his social media accounts. A subheading on the article that read, Man wanted to start a revolution on Jan. 6, clearly referred to Hiles, according to his lawsuit, and falsely accused him of a crime he was not charged with committing. The statements accuse and impute to Plaintiff the intention to overthrow a sitting government which is one of the gravest felonies in the United States of America even though at the time of publication he had been charged with four Class B Misdemeanors and entered a guilty plea to only one nonviolent misdemeanor and resulting in the three other charges being dismissed, the lawsuit said. The story was posted on CNNs website, Facebook and Twitter accounts, where it was liked, shared and commented on by thousands of people, the complaint said. As a result of the publication, Hiles has received multiple death threats, his business has suffered greatly and his daughter has lost friends, been ridiculed by teachers and feared for her safety, the lawsuit said. Hiles is seeking $37 million in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages. A former tenured professor at De Anza Community College in California has filed a 53-page lawsuit against her former employer alleging discrimination, wrongful termination and violation of her right to free speech. The former professor, Tabia Lee, was the faculty director for the Office of Equity, Social Justice and Multicultural Education at the school. She alleges she was terminated in June 2023 because of her viewpoints and protected public speech and because of De Anza and the Districts ideological opposition to Dr. Lees humanism in the classroom. According to the lawsuit, Lee is Black and dedicated to humanism and civil rights. She alleges she teaches people to not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Alternatively, she claims that De Anza is hostile to this concept. She is suing De Anza and also several school officials, including the president and her supervisor, the dean. She alleges, Defendants, acting within the scope of their employment and as employees of the District and De Anza, repeatedly informed Dr. Lee that she was not the right kind of Black person. Lee founded Free Black Thought, which is described as an online journal and community of heterodox scholars and public intellectuals dedicated to the rich diversity of thought among and about Black Americans. She claims that those who publish in FBT are sometimes accused, as Defendants accuse Tabia Lee at De Anza, of not being the right sort of Black voices, of being Oreos, whitesplaining, perpetuating white supremacy (by somehow publishing Black authors), and other racist stereotypes and tropes. She claims that De Anza retaliates against anyone who deviates from the orthodoxy which she alleges identifies, Whiteness, White supremacy, and White colonialism as the root of all ills. She alleges, Black women are expected to think the same (or to shut up). Lee alleges she was accused of White speak, being transactional, and Whitesplaining and that she was criticized for expressing even mainstream viewpoints in her teaching at De Anza. She alleges she was terminated for opposing the schools expectation that the physical Office of Equity, Social Justice, and Multicultural Education was for students, faculty and staff of color only, using terms such as Latinx or Filipinx, and objecting to replacing the term women with womyn. She also opposed referring to a mandatory land acknowledgment that she claimed portrayed historical inaccuracy and was performative. She also opposed what she claims was the schools unwillingness to include anti-Semitism in its anti-racism programs. She alleged, De Anza prefers empty gestures and word gimmicks to ending discrimination on the basis of race. And the only significant action taken by Defendants has been to discriminate against and retaliate against Dr. Lee for her failure to conform to race-based stereotypes, among other allegations. Her suit alleges violations of the First Amendment to the Constitution, violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, wrongful discharge under California state law and violation of the California state constitution. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs have been criticized for engaging in what some view as racial stereotypes, preferences and quotas, in addition to focusing only on race and gender. These criticisms are unfortunate because most DEI programs are focused on creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Divisive programs such as some of the allegations described in the lawsuit are rare, but troubling, and bring an ideology that is myopic and divisive. Earlier this month, 13 Republican Attorneys General sent a lengthy letter to the Fortune 100 CEOs reminding them of their obligation to not discriminate based on race following the Supreme Courts decision on college admissions. Senator Tom Cotton also sent a letter to 51 law firms suggesting they give advice to their clients on nondiscrimination. Discrimination based on race or any other protected factor such as age, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, etc., in the employment setting was not legal before the Supreme Court decision, and it remains illegal today. Organizations need to make sure that all their employment practices are inclusive and not exclusive. The concept of DEI is to eliminate barriers to success, as well as stereotypes. From the Archives: 250 photos of Richmond in the 1940s Belle Isle Bellwood Drive-In Bowler School Cowardin Avenue Christian Recreation Center Floods Glenwood Country Club Grace Street Maggie Walker Powerline Public bath house Schools Semmes Shawondasee Sixth Street Market Sixth Street Market Streetcars on Main Street Swimming and diving championship The Mosque Trolley Water tower Stockyards Richmond fires Trolley organ grinder Mail box Mooer's Field 1940s floods Cornshusk rug farmer Sixth Street Market Tredegar Sixth Street Market Sixth Street Market Patsy Garrett boys club Hunting draft pool hall Mosque pool rollerskate Times-Dispatch Beavers Blues Armory Boulevard Byrd Field C&O Central State Hospital Central Station Post Office Churchill City Stadium Cowardin Avenue and Hull Street Curles Neck Dairy Dixie Elba Fishing Forest Lodge Fountain Freedom Train Friendship Train 1947 Monument Avenue Grocery Ice Kensington Avenue apartments Main Street Main Street Mayo Bridge Memorial Day parade Mules Nickel prank Oilfield Old Manchester water works Shawondasee Shriners parades Skyline Sledding State toxicologist Street Sweepers Sunshine Sue Tickets Traffic Trolley Tuberculosis ward University of Richmond Valentine Museum Fire Cary St Paper Powhatan Hill Playground Street scene race car Doll hospital West Avenue Broad St. mill Main Street Station Churchill Draft Air Scouts Maggie Walker pinball machines 1945 Allied Victory Day American Red Cross American Red Cross Armistice Belgian Friendship Building and Bell Tower Blackout Bojangles Braille cookbook Broad Street Station Bryan Park Carter Sisters Cigarettes City Stadium Confederate Soldiers Home Defense Special No. 1 train Draft Elba School Executive Mansion Fire Gasless parade Grace Arents School Grace St Grace Street pollution Henrico Red Cross Motor Corps Highland Springs Volunteer Fire Department Holden Rhodes House Ice James River flood Magnet mailboxes Main St Mayo Bridge Medical College of Virginia Melons Military parade Miller & Rhoads wagon mobile canteen Mobile kitchen Mooers Mooers Field Pamunkey Indians Parade Parking ban Parking Lot Canteen Quiz Kids Ration tokens Rationing Red Cross Richmond Quartermaster Depot Robert E. Lee Camp Confederate Soldiers Home Rosa D. Bowser library Scrap metal drive Shoe ration Sixth Street Market Street Sweepers Thomas Jefferson High School Cadet Corps Tin drive Toll house Trolley Typewriter repair Virginia Department of Agriculture War bonds Water tower Weimans Bakery Wilcox Lake WLEE WLEE Women in Production Service Womens Army Corps Works Progress Administration George Wythe Laundry Dog fortune teller Air Raid Wardens YMCA Charter Change Travelers Aid Society street sweepers Dupont 1940s floods Acca Temple elevator Restaurants Restaurants Red Cross Motor Corps shoe ration Air Raid WWII WWII Bikes sampson Dorothy Lamour Rationing typewriters Bellwood Native Americans Fort Lee ScrapMetal WWII WWII American Red Cross Production Corps archery bricklaying class Camp Lee Camp Lee Clark Gable Deep Run races Deep Water Terminal Em Bowles Locker First and Merchants National Bank of Richmond Gasless Sundays Liquid stockings Monument Methodist Mrs. Cupid nurses Old-fashioned swimsuit contest Pearl Harbor front page Rats Rockingham National Turkey Festival Sergeant Jack Blizzard Seven Pines Baptist Church Snowstorm Snowstorm State Library WWII Cavalier Arena Pamunkey Brookfield Patrick Henry carriages rollerskate Railroads Red Cross Richmond Terminal Richmond Colts 1940s floods AMLO says he intends to declare Sac-Tun in Riviera Maya a natural protected area Riviera Maya, Q.R. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says he intends to declare Sac-Tun a Natural Protected Jungle Area. The Sac-Tun land that lies south of Playa del Carmen in the heart of Riviera Maya remains in a legal dispute between its American occupant and the Federal Government of Mexico. Regardless, Lopez Obrador says around 2,000 hectares of jungle, which in previous six-year terms were concessioned to the subsidiary of the company Vulcan Materials, Sac-Tun (formerly Calica), will be declared a Natural Protected Area. He says that the Government of Mexico will present the company with a fair appraisal of the total land equivalent to 2,200 hectares of which up to 400 were exploited independently with the extraction of stone material that was exported to the United States. We are proposing that we buy everything regardless of what results from the litigation and of what is already impacted, he said adding that the untouched jungle will remain as such since he intends to issue a decree so it becomes a Natural Protected Area. He says before he leaves office next year, We are going to leave 2,000 hectares of reserve like the other, which is the Jaguar Park in Tulum, since in those 2,000 hectares there are a lot of animals, many native species, a lot of native fauna that is protected, he explained. AMLO said that the extraction banks of Sac-Tun will be used for ecological tourism and the nearby pier will be converted to receive cruise ships which currently only reach Cozumel, which could offset public investment. We are also in the heart of the most important tourist area in Mexico and the world, everything that is attractive, not only for us, but for our generation. We have to take care of this heritage for the new generations. We are obligated to do so, he stressed. Through the Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragan, the Mexican government will submit a fair acquisition proposal and appraisal. In this way, the federation endorses its position in favor of conviction and dialogue in the search for joint solutions without arbitrariness, he said. Mayor of Jose Maria Morelos takes guided tour of region like a tourist Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R. Jose Maria Morelos Mayor Erik Borges Yam says his municipality is filled with natural wonders. He made the comment after exploring town of Kantemo as a tourist. A natural wonder is found in this small town in the municipality of Jose Maria Morelos, he said after the guided tour. The cave of hanging snakes where thousands of bats come out at night is an attraction for people who enjoy natural events. On the roof of the cave live snakes that have developed the ability to feed themselves by descending from the heights and hunting bats on the fly. This event is rarely seen due to the way they behave, making it a privilege to be able to be on site. Mayor Borges Yam and his team are guided through the cave system. Photo: H. Ayuntamiento de Jose Maria Morelos July 13, 2023. Mayor Borges Yam went with his team of collaborators on a tour of the Chichankanab lagoon in a 4-kilometer section under the mountain. The group of 10 arrived with three guides around 7:00 p.m. The caves are only 1.5 km from the community of Kantemo and you have to go down almost 10 meters to reach and see this wonderful site, although at that time of night it is already in complete darkness, he said adding that the guides carry all the necessary equipment to live the experience. Baltazar Borges, a cave guide for 20 years, explained that bats belong to six different species. Some are insectivorous and others are frugivorous and every day at sunset, they leave en masse in search of food for an hour and a half. In the cave you see about a hundred bats a second. The guide, accompanied by his companions Edgar and Adrian Pacheco, said that there are 52 members that make up the Beej Kaax Ha Cooperative, which in Mayan means road, mountain and water. A crocodile was seen in the lagoon during the day. Photo: H. Ayuntamiento de Jose Maria Morelos July 13, 2023. After the tour under the mountain and reaching the lagoon, a crocodile could be observed in those waters that belong to Chichankanab (small lagoon). The lagoon runs for 30 kilometers with a deepest depth of 100 meters, he said. Upon returning again and at night, the group entered the caves where they observed the snakes in their natural habitat and experienced the masses of bats. Due to the number of bats, Baltazar Borges said the snakes live in the caves around half of their lives since there is always food. The snakes pluck flying bats out of mid-air. Photo: H. Ayuntamiento de Jose Maria Morelos July 13, 2023. The guide commented that spotted rat snakes are very common in the forests of the Yucatan Peninsula, but no other has developed this peculiar way of feeding in the dark. They are not poisonous, they are constrictors, he said. Baltazar Borges said that the area has been a popular tourist site since 2002 when the Kantemo company was formed. Mayor Borges Yam invites tourists to visit the site after dark since it is wonderful to live the unique experience. He said nearby, other popular attractions close to the Chichankanab Lagoon are Dziuche, Kantemo and Bulukax, which he referred to as paradisiacal places. Borges Yam says that while Jose Maria Morelos may not have beaches, it has places that cross boundaries and offer privilege sightings such as the Cueva de las hanging snakes of Kantemo Quintana Roo. Correction Mabel Musalino was one of Jeff Midkiff's earliest teachers. Her last name was misspelled in a Saturday story in print and an earlier online version about Midkiff's performance with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. For years, Jeff Midkiff thought he had to choose between mandolin and clarinet. Mandolin was Midkiffs first instrument and would lead him to gigs with bluegrass acts Lonesome River Band and The Shankman Twins. Clarinet came along in middle school and would be his ticket to music degrees, teaching opportunities and high-class performances at such venues as Carnegie Hall. For decades I tried to juggle the two and keep them separate, Midkiff said. While living in Chicago in the late 1900s and early 2000s, his perspective changed, he said. Increasingly I thought I need to start trying to combine what I do, because I really felt that I had a unique perspective, being able to compose on the mandolin, but I also knew the inner workings of what its like to be in an orchestra and what its like to compose for an orchestra. I thought, people have to do whats unique to themselves to make it in this world. I thought, whats missing is me writing a mandolin concerto, which I knew I could do. A dozen years after debuting his Mandolin Concerto: From the Blue Ridge with Maestro David Stewart Wiley and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, Midkiff, 60, has performed it with multiple symphonies nationwide, including a show at Washington, D.C.s Kennedy Center. On Sunday, the work will get its highest profile rendition yet: Midkiff will join the Boston Symphony Orchestra and its conductor, Thomas Wilkins, at the Boston symphonys summer home, Tanglewood Music Center, in western Massachusetts. Wiley, the Roanoke Symphonys music director and conductor, commissioned the piece about 2010, and commissioned another Midkiff work, Concerto for Mandolin and Violin and Orchestra, in 2014. He wrote in a message exchange that the RSO is thrilled that the Tanglewood audience will hear Midkiffs brilliant work. This mountain-inspired masterpiece so beautifully captures the sounds of Virginias blue ridge, and has been experiencing a wonderful life as an ambassador for our region in performances all over the country by our dear friend and colleague, Wiley wrote. Midkiff said he is grateful to Wiley and the RSO, where he is a clarinet alternate. They made the concerto happen, he said. Midkiff was 7 and growing up on Sugarloaf Mountain when he saw his neighbor, Sherman Poff, strumming a Sears & Roebuck mandolin. Poff offered to give the boy his mando, if he would learn how to play it. That was all a 7-year-old Jeff needed and I couldnt put it down. My folks got lessons for me I practiced till my fingers bled, but I loved it. My mother could not get me to come and eat dinner. He took up clarinet as a 7th grader at then-new Hidden Valley Middle School, where a teacher suggested his embouchure might be right for the reed instrument. As he advanced to Cave Spring High School, his love for classical music was growing, and he learned that the clarinet got to play violin parts in band transcriptions. Midkiff, who already was playing bluegrass fiddle, started learning the classical repertoire in that way. Midkiff cites his first mandolin teacher, Mabel Musalino at Ridenhour Music for teaching him to read music; and Dempsey Young (of The Lost & Found band), who taught him to play bluegrass by ear and build his mountain music repertoire. Middle school teacher Danielle Wise and high school instructor Bill Svec were important in his musical education, he added. At Virginia Tech, where he got his first degree, clarinetist and music professor David Widder mentored him. His graduate degree at Northern Illinois put him in a spot to make contacts and build his educational portfolio he is the longtime orchestra director at Patrick Henry High School and later, to move back to Chicago, where he hooked up with The Shankman Twins. After years in multiple spots in the United States, either teaching, touring or performing with symphonies, Midkiff pulled both worlds together to find his greatest success. Those long-ago fiddlers conventions and years with Lonesome River Band in the 1980s turned out to pair well with the symphonic world. It furthers his mission, he said. As a mandolinist and as a musician my whole life has been as a people pleaser, he said. I want all of my orchestra people to love bluegrass and all of the stuff I love about bluegrass. When it comes to the bluegrass fans, its the same thing, he said: to be able to spread the good word to all the people who love bluegrass and think that everything classical music is nothing that they have any desire to hear. The mandolin is a wonderful instrument to be able to have a new venue, so to speak, to share it to more ears. Thats another good thing that Im excited about. Ears beyond Tanglewood can hear the music Sunday, too, at 2:30 p.m. courtesy of a streaming link, classicalwcrb.org/show/the-boston-symphony-orchestra/2023-06-08/midkiff-and-wilkins-with-the-bso-at-tanglewood. Follow Midkiff online, including upcoming From the Blue Ridge performances in Texas and California, at http://www.jeffmidkiff.com. The countdown clock is ticking on the website for the New River Valley Fair, taking place this year from July 24-29 at the fairgrounds in Dublin. Highlights include a petting zoo, livestock shows, teeny weeny circus, demo derby, horse pull, pet show, 4-wheeler rodeo, lawnmower races, live pro wrestling, photo ops with the Princess Squad, and the Bulls And Barrels Rodeo capping off Saturday night. There will also be a host of exhibitors, vendors, midway games, rides and concessions. Hours for the fair are Monday through Thursday from 5 to 10:30 p.m., Friday from 5 to 11 p.m. and Saturday from 2 to 11 p.m. A full schedule of daily activities can be found on the fairs website. General admission is $7 for ages 12 and up, $3 for kids 7-11, and 6 and under free. There will be a separate admission of $10 (does not include gate admission) for the Bulls and Barrels Rodeo. Individual ride tickets may be purchased for $1.25 each or in discounted packages of 24 or 72. Unlimited-ride wristbands are $25 (per person per day) when purchased by Monday, July 24, by 5 p.m. The New River Valley Fairgrounds are located at 5581 Fairgrounds Circle off Route 100 in Dublin. For more information, go to nrvfair.com. - The Roanoke Times Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Russia comes under pressure at UN to avoid global food crisis and revive Ukrainian grain shipments Russia came under pressure at the U.N. Security Council from its ally China and developing countries as well as Western nations to avert a global food crisis and quickly revive Ukrainian grain shipments FLORENCE, S.C. -- South Florence High School's choral members weren't exactly singing for their supper Saturday morning as they washed cars to raise money to pay for upcoming trips to San Diego and Atlanta but the sentiment was similar. DARLINGTON, S.C. Three people announced their candidacy for the City of Darlingtons upcoming municipal election during a press conference Thursday at Bethel AME Church Fellowship Hall. Damian Prince announced that he plans to run for mayor. The office of Mayor is currently held by Curtis Boyd. Boyd is in his first term. Gloria Cheeseboro Hines and Albert Johnson announced plans to seek an at-large seat on the Darlington City Council. There are three at-large seats on the council. The seats are currently held by Bryant Gardner, John Milling, and Howard Nettles. All three are in their first term. Originally from Stafford, Va., the 28-year-old Prince is a graduate of Morris College and is employed as a teacher with the Darlington County School District. He moved to Darlington two years ago. Over the last two years I have grown to love this city like Ive been here for a lifetime, said Prince. My mother once told me, Dont sit idly by if you want to see change. If you want to see change, be a part of that change. Among his platforms are lowing the water bills, increasing police officer pay, and government transparency. I know there is so much more that we need to do, but we must do it together, said Prince. We need bold leadership. I believe that Darlingtons best days are ahead of us. Hines, who is retired, served as Darlingtons mayor from 2016 to 2020. Prior to her term as mayor, she served three terms on the city council. She is a life-long resident of Darlington. I realized a long time ago that politics is a tough job, said Hines. Ive watched for the last three years and I can no longer stand by. Politics is not about them versus us, but by showing up every single day, looking people in the eye and saying I care and I want to help. Lets make Darlington a city that works for everyone those at the top and those at the bottom. Johnson is a retired businessman who created and sold Uncle Alberts Famous BBQ Sauce. He was born and raised in Darlington. I want all the residents of Darlington to know that every city department is working for them, said Johnson. I want to fight crime in this city and keep our community safe. If elected, I will listen to my constituents and their concerns. It will take all of us to make Darlington better. The filing period for the November municipal election begins Aug. 1. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Mainly clear skies. Low 77F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 77F. Winds S at 15 to 25 mph. Dalondo Moultrie is the assistant managing editor of the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail him at dalondo.moultrie@seguingazette.com . Felicia Frazar is the managing editor of the Seguin Gazette. You can e-mail her at felicia.frazar@seguingazette.com . Seline Cai experienced a profound wake-up call when her uncle passed away this year. Managing his affairs, she discovered the importance of Lasting Power of Attorney and the need to express one's wishes clearly. (PHOTO: Seline Cai and Getty Images) SINGAPORE The Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) has emerged as a crucial legal instrument in Singapore that empowers individuals to safeguard their preferences and well-being, even in times of incapacitation. For 39-year-old Seline Cai, her wake-up call came earlier this year when her uncle passed away due to a heart condition. As she helped manage his affairs, she learned about the LPA and the significance of expressing one's wishes clearly. Recognising the growing aging population and the taboo surrounding such discussions, she initiated a conversation with her 73-year-old mother about making an LPA. Her belief is that preparing for the future can alleviate the burden on loved ones should mental capacity diminish. She said, "With my uncle's passing, I think that really had an impact on me. Even when one passes on, or especially when one is still around but does not have the mental capacity, the people living with them are the ones who will face a lot of question marks: What to do? What can I do? "When it comes to the will and LPA, there is still some taboo for us to start the conversation. But now, with the aging population, many of us need to take care of our elderly parents and face more health issues while taking care of them." Lengthy, costly process without LPA In the case of 54-year-old Gordon Goh, his sister was diagnosed with an advanced stage of dementia. Without an LPA in place, the family had to undergo a lengthy and costly process, taking six to seven months and costing $7,200, to apply for deputyship to make decisions on her behalf. After witnessing the struggles and expenses involved, Goh decided to make his LPA and encouraged his wife, parents, in-laws and friends to do the same. "For deputyship, there's a lot of paperwork involved. So I had to dig out a lot of things and try to find items like bank statements and evidence of a bank statement," he shared. "Even things like house ownership, and I even have to get her birth certificate, my birth certificate, and my parents' marriage certificate to prove the relationship. I had to gather a lot of evidence and statements... okay, I went through it, but it didn't even help my sister recover." Story continues Realising the importance of planning, Gordon also informed his loved ones about the importance of LPA. He recounted how his cousin, upon witnessing his sister's situation, decided to create a will, but soon realised its limitations. A will only comes into effect after death, making it insufficient for situations where a person is alive but unable to make decisions. Hence, he added that his cousin promptly established an LPA as well, understanding the need for such legal arrangements. The growing acceptance of LPA As per the official data provided by the Office of the Public Guardian, a total of more than 220,000 LPA applications have been received as of May 2023. Among these applications, 77 per cent were made by individuals aged 50 and above. Notably, the online application system, launched in November 2022, has seen a successful submission of over 57,000 applications to date. This growing acceptance of LPA highlights a change in mindset and a recognition of the necessity for future planning. Dr Raymond Ong, head of medical experience at Great Eastern and an accredited LPA certifier, has also observed a shifting trend. He explained, "Younger people are more keen to do LPAs now. Initially, it was primarily individuals in their 40s actively planning for retirement. However, we are now seeing young adults and even unmarried individuals taking action to secure their future." The perception of LPA has evolved from being primarily financially focused to recognising its profound impact on personal and social aspects of life. "LPA goes beyond financial planning; it addresses personal care and ensures individuals' ideas, concerns, and expectations are expressed and respected," Dr Ong said. Singaporeans still uninformed about pre-planning However, a survey conducted by the Public Service Division (PSD) in April revealed that there is significant room for improvement in raising awareness about LPA and Advance Care Plans (ACP) among Singaporeans. The LPA is a legal document that designates someone to make decisions on your behalf if you become mentally incapacitated. In contrast, ACP involves discussing and documenting your medical treatment preferences and end-of-life care wishes in advance. The survey involving 1,000 Singapore citizens aged 30 to 79 found that 64 per cent of respondents were aware of LPA, while only 28 per cent knew about ACP. Among those who had not taken steps to create their LPA or ACP, several key barriers were identified, including a lack of consideration, with 27 per cent of respondents indicating they had not thought about making an LPA, and 34 per cent stating the same for ACP. Additionally, 13 per cent of participants found the process of creating these plans too troublesome, while 11 per cent and 20 per cent cited a lack of knowledge on how to make their LPA and ACP, respectively. Moreover, some respondents believed there was no urgency to create these plans as they considered themselves to be in good health (11 per cent for LPA and 15 per cent for ACP). Survey finds room for improvement in awareness about Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPA) and Advance Care Plans (ACP) among Singaporeans. (PHOTO: Getty Images) Singapore government launches new campaign to boost awareness To overcome the identified barriers and increase awareness about LPA and ACP, Singapore's government is launching an extensive campaign led by the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) and the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), with support from other ministries and government agencies including Ministry of Social and Family Development, Ministry of Health and PSD. The campaign commenced with the official launch on Saturday (22 July), which included the unveiling of a television commercial titled "Scissors, Paper, Stone," directed by filmmaker Royston Tan. The ad features a short film depicting three friends choosing certainty through LPA and ACP, utilising a nostalgic childhood game to emphasise the significance of planning for the future. To promote accessibility, the launch will feature onsite activity booths and mobile clinics at Our Tampines Hub, offering complimentary LPA certification and ACP facilitation sessions for Singaporean citizens aged 50 and above. These activities will be expanded to reach citizens across the entire island. Starting from this month, the government will implement several initiatives to promote pre-planning awareness, including anchor roadshows with interactive booths and talks, monthly mobile clinics offering free LPA certification and ACP facilitation, and collaboration with partners to increase awareness. Workshops will also be conducted at Active Ageing Centres to generate interest in pre-planning further. Singapore Government takes action to promote pre-planning awareness with Anchor Roadshows, Monthly Mobile Clinics, and Collaborations. (PHOTO:istockphoto/Getty Images) Do you have a story tip? Email: sgnews.tips@yahooinc.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Also check out our Southeast Asia, Food, and Gaming channels on YouTube. SIOUX CITY The Sioux City Convention Center received a new piece of public art Tuesday for its front lawn in the form of an "I Love Sioux City" sculpture. The project, paid for by the city in capital improvement program money, had actually been on the drawing board for more than a year, according to Project Management Specialist Jessica Johnson. "We met with members of the community to see what the most appropriate would be," she said. "Then, we went about seeing how much it would cost." Sioux City council member Alex Watters said initial estimates exceeded what the city wanted to spend on the project. "Then, I saw some public art this year's University of Okoboji Winter Games that I really liked," he said. "I made some inquiries and who created the art and got their cost estimate, which turned out to be quite reasonable." Sioux City Sculpture Jessica Johnson sits with the new Sioux City sculpture beside the Sioux City Convention Center on Fourth Street in Sioux City, Friday, July 21, 2023. Sioux City Sculpture Jessica Johnson stands with the new Sioux City sculpture beside the Sioux City Convention Center on Fourth Street in Sioux City, Iowa, Friday, Sioux City Sculpture Jessica Johnson sits with the new Sioux City sculpture beside the Sioux City Convention Center on Fourth Street in Sioux City, Iowa, Friday, J In the end, Your-Type 3D Event Letters, a Winona, Minnesota-based company was commissioned for the piece. "Luckily, it was ready in time for the RAGBRAI riders," Watters said as more than 30,000 cyclists were expected in Sioux City for the start of the 50th Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. "I'm sure the sculpture will be a popular site for photo ops." Johnson said the sculpture is currently bolted into the cement at the Convention Center. It will eventually be moved onto a foundation on a grass patch on the front lawn. "The sculpture will show how much pride we have in the city," Watters said. CHICAGO President Joe Biden would seem an unnatural fit for the activists at Netroots Nation, an annual gathering of progressives that was created to harness online rage over George W. Bush's administration. More recently, it has championed the message of economic populism from Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, two of Biden's rivals for the Democratic nomination in 2020. But the antipathy toward Democrats seen as too mainstream or moderate did not largely extend to Biden at the group's recent conference in Chicago. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, even concluded the event by recounting how she became a Biden convert. "When Biden was in, I was like, 'Oh, man,'" said Jayapal, D-Wash., lamenting that Sanders and Warren fell short in the presidential primary. "But I gotta tell you, I am a Biden fan now." That brought cheers, which was no easy feat given that pro-Palestinian activists moments earlier shouted down Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., on the same stage. At past Netroots conferences, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was booed and Black Lives Matter protesters disrupted a presidential candidate forum in 2016. Biden, as vice president, was heckled over Obama administration immigration policies. Jayapal's comments point to Biden's progress in winning over his party's left wing, an important part of the coalition he is relying on to win a second term. Many progressives cheered steep federal spending increases on major social programs and green energy, as well as Biden's renewed plan to offer student debt relief after the Supreme Court struck down his original efforts. "This isn't someone who's spent the first term doing all kinds of objectionable things," said Karthik Ganapathy, a veteran of Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign who also helped progressive Brandon Johnson win election as Chicago's mayor this spring. "I think the sense is, he's had a much more successful, impactful, consequential presidency than progressives expected." Similar sentiments were echoed by Sanders, a Vermont independent, and Warren, D-Mass. Progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., recently endorsed Biden's 2024 campaign. Still, some remain angry that Biden did not deliver on other big promises, including slashing fossil fuel production, advancing a federal policing overhaul and expanding voting rights. "The narrative about the successes of the Biden administration is smoke and mirrors," said India Walton, a progressive who beat Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown in the 2021 Democratic primary but lost to him in the general election. Walton complained that Biden had not done more to protect abortion and civil rights after Supreme Court rulings that weakened both. She noted that student debt will continue to deal crushing financial blows to millions of people, even with Biden's attempted remedy. "We have not 'Built Back Better,'" said Walton, referencing Biden's 2020 campaign slogan. "And it's very frustrating to be a working-class American and being fed this 'vote blue' narrative, when the real conditions of our everyday lives are not changing." Such a backlash could hurt Biden in 2024, given that he is likely to face a challenge from the left progressive activist Cornel West is mounting a Green Party run and could be squeezed from the center the political group No Labels is trying to recruit a centrist candidate. That means even small erosions of progressive energy for Biden might erase the thin margins that delivered him critical swing states like Arizona and Georgia in 2020. A factor that could neutralize those threats is that Donald Trump could again be Biden's general election opponent. In 2020, some hesitant progressives were so appalled by Trump that they turned out to vote for Biden despite deep reservations. But it might be difficult to reassemble the same broad voter bloc that put Biden in the White House if some elements are motivated more by fear of Trump than enthusiasm for Biden. This group includes majorities of college graduates, women, urban and suburban residents, young people and Black Americans. DaMareo Cooper, co-executive director for the progressive Center for Popular Democracy, said Biden and top Democrats need to do a better job "messaging what actually has happened." Referring to opposition to Trump's candidacy, he said: "There's going to be a motivation factor. And I don't think we should assume that people are just going to go out and vote for the same reason." Biden acknowledged the importance of turning out even reluctant progressives in 2020, when he told that year's all-virtual Netroots conference in a taped address, "I badly need you." The president, who was in Europe and then at Camp David during the group's recent gathering, made such no such pleas this year. His campaign was little mentioned; at the same time, relatively little attention was paid to West or No Labels, or to Biden's nominal Democratic opponents, anti-vaccine activist Robert Kennedy Jr. and self-help author Marianne Williamson. Ganapathy said progressive support for Biden runs deeper than simply attempting to thwart Trump once more. "There's a lot that this president and this administration can stand on in terms of their record," he said. "It doesn't have to be a 'Don't vote for that guy.'" How Biden's approval rating compares to other major world leaders How Biden's approval rating compares to other major world leaders #20. Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea #19. Karl Nehammer, Austria #18. Mark Rutte, Netherlands #17. Jonas Gahr Store, Norway #16. Leo Varadkar, Ireland #15. Olaf Scholz, Germany #14. Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland #13. Rishi Sunak, United Kingdom #12. Ulf Kristersson, Sweden #11. Fumio Kishida, Japan #10. Pedro Sanchez, Spain #9. Alexander De Croo, Belgium #8. Joe Biden, United States #7. Justin Trudeau, Canada #6. Giorgia Meloni, Italy #5. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazil #4. Anthony Albanese, Australia #3. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico #2. Alain Berset, Switzerland #1. Narendra Modi, India WASHINGTON As Speaker Kevin McCarthy visited a natural gas drilling site in northeast Ohio to promote House Republicans' plan to sharply increase domestic production of energy from fossil fuels last month, the signs of rising global temperatures could not be ignored. Smoke from Canadian wildfires hung in the air. When asked about climate change and forest fires, he was ready with a response: Plant a trillion trees. The idea revealed recent Republican thinking on how to address climate change. The party is no longer denying that global warming exists, yet is searching for a response to sweltering summers, weather disasters and rising sea levels that doesn't involve abandoning their enthusiastic support for American-produced energy from burning oil, coal and gas. "We need to manage our forests better so our environment can be stronger," McCarthy said, adding, "Let's replace Russian natural gas with American natural gas and let's not only have a cleaner world, let's have a safer world." The Biden administration boosted exports of liquefied natural gas to Europe after Russia, one of the continent's largest suppliers of energy, invaded Ukraine. The Democratic president also said coal, oil and gas will be part of America's energy supply for years to come. Scientists overwhelmingly agree that heat-trapping gases released from the combustion of fossil fuels are pushing up global temperatures, upending weather patterns and endangering animal species. Still, government action to force emissions reductions remains a nonstarter with most Republicans. Enter the idea of planting a trillion trees. A 2019 study suggested planting trees to suck up heat-trapping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere could be one of the most effective ways to fight climate change. Major conservation groups, and former President Donald Trump, who downplayed humanity's role in climate change, embraced the idea. The tree-planting push has drawn intense pushback from environmental scientists who call it a distraction from cutting emissions from fossil fuels. The authors of the original study also clarified that planting trees does not eliminate "the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Planting a trillion trees would require a massive amount of space roughly the size of the continental United States and more trees could increase the risk of wildfires. "There is a lot of value to planting trees, but it is not a panacea," said Mark Ashton, a professor of forest ecology at Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. The GOP's new approach on climate was apparent in 2021. McCarthy and other GOP lawmakers, led by Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman, backed a bill to incentivize growing timber forests in the U.S. as part of a worldwide effort to plant 1 trillion trees. Westerman said he expects a similar proposal to advance this year. For Republicans, the bill checks the right boxes. It is friendly to the timber industry and touts a climate solution sequestering a massive amount of carbon from human-made emissions that also would partially alleviate the need to wean the country off fossil fuels. With a slim House majority, McCarthy pushed for expanded energy production. He made the "Lower Energy Costs Act" the top legislative priority of the new GOP majority, as signified by its bill number: H.R. 1. The proposal, which passed the House on a mostly party-line vote in March, would spur American energy production, especially oil, gas and coal. Democrats rejected the bill as a "thinly veiled license to pollute," but Republicans argued it would reduce carbon emissions because U.S.-produced fossil fuels are usually cleaner than those produced overseas. "What we've been able to demonstrate to the Republican conference is that the strategies that actually work are those that are actually increasing U.S. resources," said Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves, one of McCarthy's top lieutenants on energy and environmental issues. "It lowers energy prices, it lowers emissions, and it makes us more energy independent." The energy legislation also would increase production of critical minerals that are used in batteries for electric vehicles, computers and cellphones a priority Biden shares. House Republicans and many Democrats also advanced proposals to speed permitting for energy projects, including those for "clean energy" such as wind, solar and geothermal power. "I keep reminding Republicans that H.R. 1 made energy affordable, reliable, and clean," said Utah Rep. John Curtis, a leading Republican voice on environmental issues. "We're very quick to point out that it made it affordable and reliable. Sometimes we forget to remind people: yes, and clean. That's an important part." Not all Republicans agree that there's a need to address climate change. Rep. Scott Perry, who leads the hard-right House Freedom Caucus, in a recent hearing alleged the Biden administration's climate agenda was tackling "a problem that doesn't exist." House Republicans have tried to undo parts of Biden's climate agenda, deriding them as expensive and burdensome. Last week, they moved to restrict the Department of Defense from using funds to implement the president's executive orders on climate. Despite the recent law passed by the Iowa Legislature to eliminate some child labor restrictions, Iowa youth employment service providers say they have a harder time placing 14- and 15-year-old Iowans in jobs. Thats definitely the area thats hurting for our program as well, finding businesses and organizations to keep our 14- and 15-year-olds busy, Jason Vang, youth program coordinator for the Evelyn K. Davis Center, a program to help 14- to 24-year-old central Iowans realize educational and job dreams. Vang participated in a youth employment panel hosted by the Greater Des Moines Partnership on Thursday, along with youth employment service providers from MercyOne, Urban Dreams, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Iowa Jobs for Americas Graduates (iJAG). The agencies serve as the connecting link between young Iowans and employers looking to hire. Employers hesitate to hire youth Allyson Vukovich, vice president of programs and employer engagement with iJAG, said not all employers see it in their best interest to hire young people, despite the recent legislation. Some of the changes have made it easier to get our kids into employment, Vukovich said. But we also have to realize that when were working with employers, we need to make sure that were meeting their needs. So you know, even the younger kids that can move into work, there may be employers that are not ready to have them yet, and we want to set both sides up for success. The law, Senate File 542, loosened restrictions on youth employment, including industries they can work in and the number of hours youth can work. Its a benefit for the students, I believe, because right after school, a lot of them are doing extracurriculars, so that extracurricular could be the barrier between them working and not working after their extracurriculars, Vang said. So now they can work a little bit later til 9 rather than 7 p.m., that might give them more opportunities to get more hours. Transportation, workplace preparation cited Panelists said transportation was a barrier for youth employment. With much of Iowa being rural, public transportation is not available in much of the state. Iowans without a drivers license may struggle to get to work, especially if their parents are working. Another issue raised was workplace readiness. Some employers may be hesitant to hire young Iowans because of a lack of understanding of workplace etiquette, responsibility and communication skills, panelists said. Dwight Jackson, associate executive director with Urban Dreams, a non-profit organization looking to uplift underserved and underrepresented people, said one of his duties is to assist kids to be prepared for the workplace and understand the expectations that come with having a job. Preparing the students for the workplace, because a lot of them have not had the benefit of having that opportunity of being exposed to work, so they dont have the skills, Jackson said. We never have enough jobs for the amount of students that are interested, he added. Kylie Rinehart, workforce program partner for MercyOne, said career exploration is important to fill positions in industries like health care but credentialed, patient-focused jobs like a certified nursing assistant or patient care technician cannot start before age 16. Benefits include poverty reduction Panelists advocated for allowing young Iowans to enter the pipeline, allowing them to gain work experience and see if a job is right for them, or to open the door to a career with a specific company or industry at a young age. We know that if we can get kids to employment and a liveable wage, this is a poverty reduction strategy, Vukovich said. What we can do for our students and our community every day when we are engaging with our students and building their self-confidence and their skills, we can change the trajectory of their lives, their familys lives, their childrens lives. The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled 6-3 against affirmative action and race-based quotas in college admissions. As Chief Justice John Roberts wrote: The race-based admissions systems fail to comply with the twin commands of the Equal Protection Clause that race may never be used as a negative and that it may not operate as a stereotype. Roberts added: Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it. So how should institutions of higher learning proceed in light of the ruling that effectively bans using ones race as a factor in the admissions process? For starters, colleges and universities should return to the primary system they relied on before affirmative action became a feature in the admissions process. They should rely on merit, principally ones grades and test scores, to determine if they meet the demands of the university or college to which they seek admission. Historically, the college admissions process used objective criteria, such as ones GPA, class rank or SAT score, to determine if they met the eligibility standards for entrance. But in recent years, as the court documented, colleges and universities have relied less on impartial metrics as they seek to broaden the diversity of their student bodies. As the court ruled, this is an obvious violation of the Constitution, which specifically bans racial discrimination under the 14th Amendment. Universities and colleges now should follow the letter of the law by disregarding ones race in admissions and solely focusing on ones academic abilities using straightforward, unbiased criteria. In this, transparency will be of utmost importance. Of course, this begs the question: What about the practice of legacy admissions, wherein schools have tended to give preferential treatment to certain applicants because their family members have attended a particular institution? Legacy admissions should come under the same scrutiny as racial quotas because they undermines the doctrine of fairness and objectivity that the court sought to reinject into admissions in the first place. If a student is applying to a university with a long family history of attending, they should be judged exclusively on their academic record, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities. Just as it is wrong to award bonus points for ones immutable characteristics, including race, it is also wrong to award bonus points to a student simply because his or her family has a track record of attending (or donating money to) a particular university. Predictably, some are crying foul about the recent ruling because they claim that minority students dont have the same access to educational advantages such as private tutors or test preparation courses, which give non-minority students a decided leg up. But the solution is not to engage in racial discrimination. The solution is to truly level the educational playing field through unencumbered school choice. The sad reality is that far too many minority students in the United States are stuck in low-performing (and often dangerous) public schools that do not adequately prepare them for the rigors of higher education. Unfettered school choice, which is being embraced in states nationwide, is a remedy that will allow all students, regardless of their familys income level, to attend the school that best fits their unique educational needs. As a former public high school teacher, I believe far too many students in recent years have been pushed into seeking expensive degrees at colleges and universities that do a pitiful job of preparing them for the real world. Trade schools have become a taboo of sorts in public schools. But the United States is facing a crisis of not enough skilled craftsmen in integral sectors of the economy. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to abandon the tired talking point that the only path to a successful career is via a four-year program at one of the countrys institutions of higher learning. Instead, we should incentivize students to seek admission into two-year programs or apprenticeships in which they will avoid huge amounts of student debt and a degree that is not worth the parchment paper it is printed on. When a conservative Supreme Court majority effectively ended the use of affirmative action in college admissions, it disregarded more than 40 years of precedent and the realities of systemic racial discrimination. Meanwhile, the court left affirmative action for the wealthy in place. While colleges can no longer consider race as one of many factors in admissions, they can freely give preference to the children of wealthy and well-connected alumni. Protecting diversity on campus creates better paths to opportunity for students of every race. The question now is to figure out how. Affirmative action aims to address structural inequalities that historically have placed mostly children of white, wealthy alumni just a couple of yards from the end zone while keeping Black, brown and low-income applicants way downfield. But most universities also recognize that diversity is essential to prepare all students for a full and productive life. Study after study indicates that diversity in schools benefits not only historically marginalized groups but the whole student body and with it our workforce, economy and democracy. Diversity exposes students to new ways of thinking and new cultures, promoting respect across differences and preparing students to live and work with those different from them. This is why many institutions of higher learning put such an emphasis on affirmative action. Merely perpetuating the privileges of primarily white and already wealthy students through legacy admissions not only fails to advance these more significant goals, but it drives us backward. And its unfair. Despite the courts ruling, schools must still adhere to state and federal civil rights laws that require equal access to educational opportunities and eliminate obstacles that historically marginalized communities have experienced. So what can be done? One commonly discussed option is to consider factors such as household wealth and income as a metric for admissions. Another is to target disadvantaged communities for recruitment. Any step that helps lower-income students access higher education is worth taking. But considering economic factors alone can still leave out middle-class applicants of color who might otherwise face discrimination. Fortunately, the Supreme Court ruling still allows race to be considered not as a criterion in and of itself, but as a factor thats affected an applicants life. If students can show how theyve overcome discrimination, segregation or underfunded schools in a way that demonstrates their overall capabilities, colleges are still allowed to consider this. Colleges must make full use of this permission. Meanwhile, they need to lower other barriers to entry. Standardized testing has been shown to disadvantage students of color, so it shouldnt be used as part of any admissions process. Nor should a childs past involvement with the juvenile justice system, which is deeply discriminatory. Finally, the cost of higher education must be drastically reduced, community colleges should be free, and the path from community college to a four-year institution must be made more accessible. And those legacy admissions affirmative action for children of wealthy alumni must be eliminated. These steps and more can greatly increase diversity and equal access to opportunity in higher education. But that doesnt mean the fight for affirmative action should end. Affirmative action is still needed to address injustices that disadvantage Black, Latinx and indigenous communities. Colleges and universities must be loud about their support for affirmative action and its necessity to their missions. Court cases still can be fought and won. Legislation can help. Pretending we live in a colorblind society leads to even greater inequities. As Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent: The majoritys vision of race neutrality will entrench racial segregation in higher education because racial inequality will persist so long as it is ignored. We who care about a healthy country striving for racial equity must demand the restoration of affirmative action and for schools to use every tool they have to ensure a diverse student body. My family and I traveled to Sioux City in May to attend a graduation ceremony. We shopped and dined around Sioux City for five days while relaxing at the Warrior Hotel. I decided to write a letter to the local paper because my family and I were so impressed with everyone we met while in Sioux City. As soon as we arrived, the staff at the hotel welcomed us and gave directions to our room. The Warrior Hotel is absolutely beautiful! During our stay, we were most impressed by the tranquil environment. We never saw nor heard anyone in the hallways, but when we returned each day, our room was immaculate and well stocked. On our first day in Sioux City we happened upon the Johnnie Mars Family Restaurant. All I can say is, OH MY GOODNESS! We had just driven 14 hours overnight from Natchitoches, Louisiana. We were worn out and hungry. We stopped at Johnnie Mars for brunch and were blown away by the food and the service. During the beginning of our stay, we visited the city library across the street from the Warrior Hotel. Again, we were warmly greeted by staff and patrons alike. I was able to get a guest card and checked out a book to read during our stay. I wish I could tell about every place we visited and person we met, but I am limited by space. During our five days in Sioux City, we did not have a bad experience at any place we visited. Thank you, Sioux City residents, for such a pleasant visit to your area. We will be back. Mona Bamburg, Natchitoches, La. 2023 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #29 Posted on 22 July 2023 by John Hartz Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week: Sun, July 16, 2023 thru Sat, July 22, 2023. A chronological listing of news and opinion articles posted on theduring the past week: Sun, July 16, 2023 thru Sat, July 22, 2023. Story of the Week This heatwave is a climate omen. But its not too late to change course The warming of the planet including the most up-to-date data for 2023 is entirely consistent with what climate modelers warned decades ago Thirty years ago, the worlds nations agreed to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. But what is dangerous climate change? Just turn on the television, read the headlines of the morning paper or view your social media feeds. For we are watching it play out in real time this summer, more profoundly than ever before, in the form of unprecedented floods, heatwaves and wildfires. Now we know what dangerous climate change looks like. As has been said of obscenity, we know it when we see it. Were seeing it and it is obscene. Scorching temperatures persist across Europe, North America and Asia, as wildfires rage from Canada to Greece. The heat is as relentless as it is intense. For example, Phoenix, Arizona, has broken its record of 18 consecutive days above 110F (43.3C). Even the nights, generally relied upon as a chance to recover from the blistering days, now offer little relief: for more than a week, night-time temperatures in Phoenix have exceeded 90F (32.2C). Meanwhile, severe and deadly flooding has stricken South Korea, Japan, and the north-east United States, from Pennsylvania to Vermont. The climate crisis and yes, it is now a crisis is endangering us now, where we live. Whether its the recurrent episodes of hazardous air quality in the east coast cities some of us call home from windblown Canadian wildfire smoke or the toll sadly now being measured in human lives from deadly nearby floods, we are witnessing the devastating and dangerous consequences of unabated human-caused warming. That is a fact. Indeed, as you doomscroll on whatever social media platform you prefer these days, you might see selective images and graphs that would lead you to think Earths climate is spinning out of control, in a runaway feedback loop of irreversible tipping points leading us down an inescapable planetary death spiral. But thats not whats happening. Click here to access the entire article as originally posted on The Guardian website. This heatwave is a climate omen. But its not too late to change course The warming of the planet including the most up-to-date data for 2023 is entirely consistent with what climate modelers warned decades ago, Opinion by Michael Mann & Susan Joy Hassol, Environment, The Guardian, July 19, 2023 Articles posted on Facebook Sunday, July 16, 2023 Monday, July 17, 2023 Tuesday, July 18, 2023 Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Thursday, July 20, 2023 Friday July 21, 2023 Saturday July 22, 2023 To hear Senate Republicans tell it, you might think Supreme Court ethics is a partisan issue, and that Democrats are just being unfair and mean to the justices. At least, thats how it sounded at a hearing to mark up a Supreme Court ethics reform bill on Thursday, Dahlia Lithwick and Anat Shenker-Osorio write. Unfortunately for Senate Republicans, distractions and delusions about how Democratic efforts to enforce ethics rules will somehow foment attacks on the children of justices dont change the fact that a large majority of Americans recognize self-dealing and corruption and want a court thats actually just, they write. They explain why the alarm over the justices misdeeds is widespread on both sides of the aisle. A Jack Smith surprise Jack Smiths target letter to Trump named a potential charge that surprised close observers: the charge of conspiracy to deprive people of their rights. Norman L. Eisen, Ryan Goodman, Joshua Kolb, and Jacob Gaba explain what that means, why Trump would indeed be vulnerable to such a charge, and what would happen to him if convicted. Missed Connections Advertisement Theres something off about the New York Times newest Wordle competitor, Heather Schwedel writes. She takes apart whats so unsatisfying about the experience. Cruel summer Between anticyclones and roaming beasts, Europes heat wave is getting biblical. But it could have been much worse, if European governments hadnt resolved decades ago to build resilience against the next heat disaster, Nitish Pahwa writes. He explains how theyve achieved some notable, though limited, successes since then, and why the continent has to keep trying. Advertisement Plus: How hot is it in America? Hot enough to crash a grid, fry an egg, and force Americans into some strange and desperate acts. Addicen Bauer gives us an overview. Barbenheimer weekend is upon us Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ryan Goslings performances are kenfessional and kenfiding, yet hes always exhibited pure kenfidence. Sam Adams examines how Goslings performance as Ken is the culmination of a career-long obsession. Plus: For all of Oppenheimers strengths, Dana Stevens homes in on at least two ways the film is flawed. This Barbie apparently doesnt want to piss off China! Fred Kaplan unpacks the international controversy hiding in Barbie. Jim Newell shudders at the politicians who just had to go and ruin the memes. Sleaze appeal Minxs Doug Renetti is sweaty, grimy, and crushable as hell, Amy Zimmerman writes. She takes apart the sleazy-sexy appeal of Jake Johnsons charismatic deadbeat. Today, Slate exemplifies * NEW JERSEY EXCELLENCE much like this New Jersey man who has quite a prolific track record of involvement in Ponzi schemes. We wish you an excellent weekend, whatever state you may live in! Thanks so much for reading, and well see you on Monday. You may be hearing the phrase fake electors scheme a lot latelyin fact, just this week, 16 people in Michigan were charged with a slew of felonies because of it. The scheme has also been under investigation by the Department of Justice since last year. But what exactly is it? Its a plan allegedly devised by Donald Trump, his lawyers, and his advisers to overturn the 2020 election results and keep Trump in the White House for another term, despite Joe Biden winning the general election. The details are a bit convoluted. Were here to fill you in. Part I: Seed doubt In the months leading up to the 2020 election, there were signs that Trump might not accept an election loss. When asked, Trump wouldnt commit to a peaceful transfer of power. Instead, he seeded doubt in the integrity of the U.S. voting system, specifically mail-in ballots. Ive been complaining very strongly about the ballots. And the ballots are a disaster. Get rid of the ballots and youll have a very peacefulthere wont be a transfer, frankly, therell be a continuation, said Trump. Around that time, a group of bipartisan experts had produced a white paper laying out scenarios of how Trump could react to an election loss, predicting a constitutional crisis. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders also warned the country of a nightmare scenario where Trump refused to step down from the presidency despite losing the election. Advertisement Advertisement Sure enough, as it became clear in the days and weeks following the Nov. 3, 2020, election that Biden was going to become the next U.S. president, Trumps camp began to target seven battleground statesArizona, Georgia, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsinwhere Biden had won. According to evidence presented during the House Jan. 6 committee hearings, Trump adviser Kenneth Chesebro was the one to initially suggest this plan, and he pulled in attorneys John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and other Trump allies like chief of staff Mark Meadows and Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn to help execute it. Advertisement Part II: Lawsuits and demands for recounts Trump and his allies launched 62 legal challenges in battleground states. But 61 failed; one Pennsylvania judge ruled that voters couldnt go back and cure their ballots, if they had failed to provide proper identification, within three days after the election. The decision didnt change Bidens victory in Pennsylvania. Advertisement Undeterred, the Trump camp asked for the support of local Republican officials, who are in charge of facilitating their local elections. Trump infamously called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and demanded he find 11,780 votes, the exact number needed to win over Biden. Trump also personally contacted the speaker of the Pennsylvania House, Bryan Cutler, to request his help in reversing his states election results. Advertisement Advertisement Giuliani also addressed the Georgia Legislature in an attempt to convince them that Georgias election results had been skewed by fraud. Meadows traveled to Georgia to watch an audit of absentee ballots and sent the Department of Justice multiple emails alleging voter fraud and requesting investigations be started. Part III: Assemble electors Advertisement Before an election, political parties in each state choose their electorsthe people who will represent them in the Electoral College, should their candidate win. Most states award all of their electors to the party that earns the most votes, except for Nebraska and Maine, which send a proportional distribution of electors from both parties. On the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December, all the electors gather in their respective states to officially enter their votes for president. They record the vote on an official certificate, called the Certificate of Ascertainment, which they send to Washington, D.C. The Constitution does not actually require electors to vote according to their states popular vote, but since the winning party got to choose them in advance, its pretty rare for them not to. Some states have also passed laws that penalize faithless electors. Advertisement Advertisement This process usually runs smoothly, but there have been instances of trouble. Advertisement In 1960, when Sen. John F. Kennedy was running against Vice President Richard Nixon, the race was so tight that the Kennedy campaign demanded a recount in Hawaii, despite Nixon winning the state. As the recount took place, both campaigns organized their chosen slates of electors and sent signed certificates to Congress. Once the recount finished, Hawaii flipped for Kennedy, which then sent a second round of official electors and a new certificate to Washington, D.C. As vice president, Nixon was also president of the Senate, and faced three different slates of electors, but chose to honor Kennedys. The Trump campaign argued this set a precedent for them to object to states election results and put forth their own slates of electors. Though their excuse for doing sothe claims of voter fraudhad been widely disproven, the Trump campaign allegedly played a hand in assembling a hodgepodge of local Republicans in each of the seven battleground states to serve as fake electors. Advertisement Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel testified before the Jan. 6 Commission that Trump called her asking for the RNCs help in gathering pro-Trump electors across the country. Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers also said Trump pressured him to reconvene the Arizona Legislature and recall electors who were going to vote for Biden (Bowers refused). Advertisement Advertisement At the time, however, the governments top cybersecurity agency refuted Trumps allegations of widespread voter fraud. And Trumps own attorney general, Bill Barr, rejected the claims as bullshit. A Department of Justice investigation completed in 2022 also ultimately found no evidence of fraud that would have changed the outcome of the election. Even states that were more forgiving to Trump could not stand by his claims. The state of Georgia went through three rounds of recounts and Biden remained the clear winner every time. The same goes for Arizona, which held a hand recount of 2.1 million ballots cast in Maricopa County and found Biden actually gained 99 more votes. Advertisement Advertisement Although many Republican officials across all seven states refused to bend to Trumps demands, Trump supporters in all seven battleground states, who had no authority to act as state electors, still signed fake certificates declaring Trump as their states winner and sent them to the National Archives. Part IV: Convince the vice president All of these efforts would be futile unless the vice president would play along. On Jan. 6, 2021, Mike Pence, in his capacity as president of the Senate, was scheduled to preside over the receiving and counting of electoral ballots. Its mostly a ceremonial role, but Trump and his allies were convinced Pence had the authority to throw out the legitimate electoral votes for Biden and only count Trumps fake ones, though the law does not explicitly grant him that authority. Advertisement Advertisement The pressure campaign culminated in the days before the attack on the Capitol. Testimony from the House Jan. 6 committee revealed that Eastman, one of Trumps lead lawyers, told Pence directly in an Oval Office meeting, Im here to request that you reject the electors. Pence did not oblige Eastmans request, and days later, on Jan. 6, an angry mob of Trump supporters chanted Hang Mike Pence. Trump allegedly said the vice president deserves it. In the end, the fake electors were not considered in Congressdespite an aide for Republican Sen. Ron Johnson attempting to hand them to Pence minutes before the electoral vote count startedand soon enough the world learned of Trumps plan. Advertisement The aftermath American Oversight, a progressive watchdog group, reported on this plan in March 2021 when, through a records request, they got their hands on copies of phony electoral vote certificates from the seven battleground states. Almost a year later, MSNBCs Rachel Maddow also revealed the scheme on her show. Advertisement Then came the House Jan. 6 committee, which, through a series of public hearings, revealed some pretty shocking details. For example, when Bowers, Arizonas governor, testified, he alleged that Republican Rep. Andy Biggs called him the morning of Jan. 6 to try to convince him to sign on to a fake slate of electors, a request he refused. Advertisement Advertisement The committee voted to refer Trump to the DOJ on at least four criminal charges, handing over all of its evidence and transcripts. Thats when the department decided to appoint special counsel Jack Smith to investigate whether any person or entity unlawfully interfered with the transfer of power following the 2020 election or the Electoral College vote certification. And now that Trump has received a target letter in the investigation, it seems another indictment is going to come any day now. Meanwhile, states are conducting their own investigations into Trumps attempts to interfere with the election. Atlanta-area District Attorney Fani Willis has been conducting a criminal investigation into Trumps actions in Georgia surrounding the fake electors scheme, and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is also exploring a possible criminal investigation. Building new connections with prospective clients is not just a necessary activity, but it can be pivotal for the success and longevity of a small business. Traditionally, handing out physical business cards during networking events has been an effective strategy. However, in todays digital era, the trend is shifting towards using digital business cards, which are proving to be an even more effective and versatile tool for networking and client engagement. After rigorous research and meticulous comparisons, weve compiled a list of the best digital business card apps. These resources can assist you in crafting a unique and representative digital electronic card that encapsulates the essence of your business and presents it in a compelling manner. What is a Digital Business Card? A digital business card, also known as a virtual business card, is a modern take on the traditional business card. Its essentially a digital file, usually a cloud-based record, that houses crucial contact details, a direct link to your business website, and social media accounts, serving as a one-stop access point for your businesss digital presence. Conduct Market Research Sell Your Business Power Up Your Event's Success Advertise Your Business Here The content of a electronic business card is highly customizable according to the businesss needs and owners preference. Some opt for a simple layout with basic contact details, while others prefer a more comprehensive approach, incorporating elements like user biographies, professional photographs, geo-location, and other relevant information. This flexibility allows the business card to provide a broader view of the business. Sharing a virtual business card offers flexibility with several easy-to-use options. You can integrate it in your email through attachments or signatures. Another option is to share the URL of your digital business card via text messages for easy access. You can also generate a QR code for your card that allows prospects to save it directly to their devices with a simple scan. Some digital business card apps even offer the option of sharing cards through Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This feature can be incredibly convenient, allowing contactless sharing of your digital business card whenever both devices are NFC-enabled and in close proximity. Here are the key benefits of sharing digital business cards: They are cheaper than paper business cards. You can easily distribute them. Digital business card creation takes just a few minutes. You can easily update information on digital cards. As an added bonus, digital business cards contribute positively towards environmental sustainability. Unlike their paper counterparts, they leave no physical waste, making them a greener alternative in our pursuit of more eco-friendly business practices. Digital Business Cards in 2023 The use of digital business cards is growing rapidly. According to a report from Market Research Future, the global digital business card market is predicted to touch USD 242.3 Million at an 11.2% CAGR by 2027. So you can expect more small business owners to use digital business cards in 2023. What is the Best Digital Business Card Maker in 2023? If youre seeking the premier digital business card maker in 2023, consider Popl, Linq, and QRcard. Popl offers an assortment of NFC products, Linq excels as a networking tool, and QRcard creates efficient QR Code-based cards. However, the best choice will depend on your specific business networking goals. Whether you require versatile NFC products, a powerful networking platform, or swift QR Code access, each platform has unique offerings. By exploring these options in-depth, you ensure an informed decision aligning with your business needs, boosting your networking capabilities effectively. The 11 Best Digital Business Card Makers in 2023 We have listed leading digital business card creators below to help you pick the best option to create a digital business card for your business. 1. Popl A leading digital business card creator, Popl helps individuals and teams make beautiful digital business cards that can be shared in multiple ways. The company offers many NFC products to make digital card sharing easier. You can get a card, wristband, badge, and other options. Key Features: You can instantly share information (contact info, social media accounts, payment apps, videos, and files) by tapping, scanning, or sending. Popl enables you to capture leads from your profile. Then, you can favorite, group, sort, and manage all those leads in Popl itself. You can easily export captured leads to your favorite CRM. Popl can be directly integrated with Zoho, Salesforce, Hubspot, and many other CRMs. Popl solutions can help you grow faster by allowing you to easily make more connections, capture more leads, and generate more sales. Popl offers 24/7 one-on-one customer support to help business owners design perfect digital business cards. Pros: Popl offers mobile business cards with excellent NFC capabilities. The company also allows you to have both physical business cards and digital business cards. You can easily update information on your digital business cards. Cons: Popl offers various digital business card solutions with many advanced features. But these features come at a cost. So you should be ready to buy a subscription plan to use advanced features. Pricing: Popl offers a free plan that allows you to create one free digital business card. Its paid plans start from $6.49 per month, billed annually. Popl also offers a 14-day free trial to try its various paid plans. 2. Blinq If you want to leave a lasting impression on people you meet in a networking event, sharing a Blinq electronic business card can do the trick. Used by leading companies such as Google and Uber, Blinq digital business cards are easy-to-create. And you will have multiple ways to share your digital business card. From the Apple Watch app to smartphone widgets to NFC cards, you have various ways to let people grab your contact details and other related information. Key Features: There is no need to take your phone out of your pocket to share your digital visiting card. You can share your card right from your Apple Watch. You can easily customize your business card with your company logo and color scheme to maximize the success of your marketing efforts. You can add your business card to the virtual background of Zoom and MS Teams. Blinq focuses on the privacy and security of its clients data. So you will have secure sharing of contact information and other related details. Pros: There is no cap on card sharing. So you can share an unlimited number of cards to grow your network. It comes Apple Watch app to share QR codes with prospective customers. You can add notes to your contacts cards to make them more memorable. You can create dynamic email signatures. Cons: Blinq doesnt have the option to print paper business cards with dynamic QR codes on them. But you can download Blinq dynamic QR code and print it on a paper card with a provider of your choice. You may feel Blinq lacks color customization options. You cannot add videos to your business cards. Pricing: Blinq plan for business starts from $5.99 per card per month (three card minimum). All plans come with a 30-Day free trial. For individuals, Blinq also offers a free plan. 3. Beaconstac If you are looking for digital business cards with easy QR code functionality, Beaconstac is the right company for you. And the best part is you dont need an app to share Beaconstac digital business cards. You can share these cards via Apple or Google Wallet. Key Features: The company emphasizes the security of its clients. Its solutions are SOC-2 Type 2 & GDPR compliant and support multi-factor authentication. You can centrally manage your cards as an admin and enforce brand templates. You can integrate it with your favorite CRM software. Beaconstacs digital business cards can be integrated with 5000+ CRMs and HR tools. Beaconstac business cards allow you to track how often your prospects have checked out your business cards. Pros: The bulk creation feature enables you to create digital business cards in bulk in just two clicks. The company offers world-classed customer support to its clients. So you will not have difficulty creating powerful business cards to make an excellent first impression on your prospects. You can easily update your company information with the help of dynamic QR codes. And you can easily add custom colors, logos, backgrounds, and more to your digital business cards QR code. You can get a custom domain for higher plans. Cons: The starting plan doesnt support the bulk creation feature and many other useful features Some small businesses can find it expensive. Pricing Subscription plans start from $6 per user per month. You can contact the company for custom pricing if you are running an enterprise. Beaconstac offers a 14-day free trial. 4. V1CE V1CE is known to offer classy digital business cards. The company offers NFC-enabled cards with worldwide shipping. Moreover, you can order an iPhone NFC smart case with a message. This digital business card solution puts the power of a business card in the convenience of your phone. Key Features: The best thing about V1CE cards is you dont have to buy any subscription or use an app to start using a V1CE digital business card. You can choose a base material of your choice for your NFC card. The company currently makes physical cards in metal, bamboo, or plastic. You can take the help of inhouse-designers of the company to design your NFC cards. You can easily add, edit, and delete the information in your profile to share updated information on your NFC card. Pros V1CE offers stylish digital business cards that allow business owners to change their contact details in just a few clicks. You dont have to pay any monthly fee to use a V1CE digital business card. NFC cards will also have a QR code printed on the back, allowing people with older phones that dont support NFC to capture your contact details. Cons: As the company offers physical cards, there is no free option. So you have to spend money even to try the V1CE product. Sometimes, the product you want to buy might not be available. Pricing: V1CE offers NFC cards made of plastic, metal, and bamboo. So the price can vary, depending on the type of material your pick for your digital business card. Black PVC One card costs $70 (without discount). And the price of the Android NFC case is $51, while the iPhone NFC case costs $70. 5. Mobilo Mobilo offers multiple NFC options. You can pick an NFC card, NFC key fob, or NFC smart button to stick on the back of your smartphone. Its user-friendly interface allows you to customize your business card easily. Key Features: Your Mobilo digital business card comes with four powerful modesbusiness card, landing page, lead generation, and link to any URL. It allows you to track tangible results from your networking efforts. And leads you to generate will automatically be added to follow-up sequences. You can connect it to your HR system to automate on and off-boarding. Doing so will save you time and money. You can create unique email signatures of your team members with interactive QR codes included. Pros: You dont have to pay any subscription fee for using a digital business card for personal use. Buy an NFC product, and you are all set to start using your virtual business card. You can customize your digital business cards QR code to match your branding. You can update all your contact information on your card easily. And the changes are applied to your card in real-time. Cons: There is no free option available. If you want to try this digital business card solution, you have to buy an NFC card. Some business owners may find the landing page minimalistic, and adding a video is impossible. Pricing: Mobilo offers NFC cards made of various materials. So the pricing for a Mobilo business card depends on the type of card your pick. Mobilo digital card pricing starts from $4.99 (one-time cost) for personal use. And for a team of employees, the pricing depends on the number of team members. 6. Linq If you are a networking professional, Linq can be an ideal digital business card for you. Linq allows you to share information with prospects using a customizable page. Key Features: You can create multiple profiles for different settings under one account. You can set up reminders to follow up with new contacts. This feature will help you convert leads into customers. You can fully customize your digital business card to leave a lasting impression on your prospects. You can attach one or more profiles to multiple products. With LinqPro, you can embed videos into your card. Pros Linq offers a wide range of products to choose from, including tags, custom cards, badges, bracelets, and product bundles for networking and events. You can integrate Linq with 380+ CRMs. Linq offers real-time analytics to gauge the success of your networking efforts. It offers flexible subscription plans for teams. Cons: Some users may find Linq virtual business card app is not as intuitive as other solutions are. You have to pay a monthly fee to use advanced features, such as embedding videos, music, forms, calendar integration, etc. Pricing The price of a Linq product depends on the solution you decide to buy. Linq card pricing starts from $11.99. The networking bundle costs $44.99. 7. Haystack Haystack offers beautiful virtual business cards to make a great first impression. It is one of the worlds largest digital business card providers. With Haystack, you can drive traffic to your company website, social media, or other links. Key Features: Your Haystack card will have a unique QR code and a Unique URL. So you can share your Haystack card easily with anyone. Once your prospects have saved your business card in their phones, your name will display when they call you. This means your number will not come up as an unknown number. Your Haystack digital business card lets you add an email signature to any email client. Haystack emphasizes privacy and security. So you dont have to worry about data security. Pros: A free plan allows you to create unlimited cards and save unlimited contacts. A paid plan enables you to create a vanity URL for your business card. You can integrate the Haystack card with all leading CRMs. Haystack offers you analytics to understand how effective your marketing efforts are. Cons: There is no NFC option available presently. Only premium plans offer access to analytics. Pricing: The free plan of Haystack will meet your basic needs, and its business plan starts at $4,95 per month. For enterprise pricing, you can contact the company. 8. KADO Network KADO, as it claims, is an all-in-one networking and relationship science tool. It allows you to share digital business cards, receive business cards, and organize cards. KADO can help you capture leads and centralize your contacts. Key Features: With a KADO digital business card, you can edit colors to complement your branding. A KADO digital business card allows you to include the address of your office location, social media links, videos, and personalized buttons. KADO offers multiple options to share your digital business card. In addition to the mobile app, you can share your e-business card via QR code, widget, wallet, or email signature. KADO comes with an admin control feature that lets you fully control how your employees use their e-business cards. This feature will enable you to oversee analytics, privacy management, integration control, and more. Pros: It is easy to navigate through its user-friendly interface. So it will reduce the time your team would otherwise spend managing your contacts. The best thing about KADO is you can sync all your contacts to one place. You can integrate KADO with 1000+ CRMs. vCard feature allows you to share your contact details with your prospects even when your Internet is not working. Cons: A free plan lacks advanced features like personalized buttons, call-to-action, customized privacy settings, etc. Some small businesses may find KADO business cards costlier than other solutions. Pricing: KADO has a free plan with limited features. Its paid plan starts from $4.95 per month. The company also offers a free trial. 9. HiHello If you have just started your business and dont have money to spend on marketing and networking, HiHello digital business card is your best bet. HiHello free app is available on Android and iOS devices. Key Features: You can share your HiHello digital business card with your prospects in multiple ways, including QR code, Link sharing, Airdrop, NFC tag, Apple Watch, and many more. The business card scanner feature enables you to scan physical business cards and have the contact details added to your address book. And the best thing is human verification is done when you scan physical business cards to ensure you have the correct information. You can share your virtual business card by displaying a QR code on a virtual background during an e-meeting on Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet. Its professional email signature generator helps you create a professional-looking email signature that links to your digital business card. Pros: HiHello offers an easy-to-navigate dashboard to create and update digital business cards. You can include your photo, live photo or video, social media accounts, company logo, Yelp page, chat apps, and much more in your digital business card. HiHello app is the top-rated app on Google Play and App Store. So you can rest assured that youre using a trusted app. You can easily convert an NFC tag into a digital business card with the help of the HiHello app. Cons: It doesnt offer a bulk digital business card creation feature. Some small business owners can find analytics too basic. Pricing: A free plan allows you to create four digital business cards. For a business team of 5+ users, the pricing is $5 per user. And the Professional plan costs $6 per user. 10. Switchit Switchit is one of the best virtual business card providers. And the best thing about Switchit is that you can create one of the best digital business cards for your teams in just a few minutes. It also allows you to create reminders and set alerts based on day and time. This will help you better manage follow-up meetings with your prospects. Key Features: Switchit allows you to add a video/image, third-party content, and custom branding to your digital business card. With Switchits business card scanner, you can click a photograph of any business card and save the contact details digitally in Swtichit and your CRM. Switchit works with Salesforce and HubSpot. Also, you can add up to 18 social media platforms. You can add multiple contact numbers and URLs to your digital business card. This feature is helpful if you want to promote some products or services aggressively. Pros: You will have multiple ways to share your digital business cards, including QR code, Email, text, link sharing, etc. You will have the option to include branded themes in digital business cards. Switchit offers powerful analytics to track the success of your networking efforts. You can create professional custom Zoom background for virtual meetings. Cons: A free plan has limited customization options. Though Switchit offers good analytics to assess the success of networking efforts, this feature is available only in the business plan (topmost plan). There is no option to create an NFC card. A free plan doesnt have a business card scanner feature. Pricing: A free plan of Switchit doesnt offer features you will typically expect in a digital business card. So you will need to go for a paid plan to design a powerful business card. The premium plan of Swtichit costs $6.99 per month. 11. QRcard If you are looking for a digital business card based on a QR code, a QR card can be the right solution. With QRcard, you can create a lock screen image having your personal QR code. This will help you quickly share your digital business card without unlocking your smartphone. Key Features: You can share your business card without an internet connection. Just show your personal QR code to your prospects. All data is encrypted and stored locally on your device. Pros: QRcard comes with an easy-to-use interface. So you can create your digital business card in just a few minutes. You can use any photo as a background image for your personal QR code. Cons: You cannot integrate QRcard with any CRM. There is no powerful analytics available, so you cannot track the success of your networking efforts. You cannot create an NFC card. Pricing: A free plan allows you to add up to three contact details. But with a paid plan, you can add unlimited contact details. You will require to make a one-time payment of $2.99 for the premium plan of QRcard. How to Choose the Best Electronic Business Card If youre looking to choose the ideal digital business card app to create captivating virtual business cards, its crucial to consider several points: Know Your Goals Initiate your search for a digital business card maker by clearly defining your goals. Are you aiming to create an electronic business card just to disseminate your contact information, or do you aspire to utilize it as a strategic tool to bolster your networking efforts? Understanding your objectives will aid you in pinpointing the essential features you require. Check Different Digital Business Card Apps After formulating a feature list predicated on your objectives, start examining the various digital business card apps. Analyze their functionalities to ascertain which solutions are aligned with your specific needs and preferences. Compare Pricing Electronic business cards could come with monthly/yearly subscription fees or might entail one-time costs. Interestingly, some digital business card apps offer a free plan to create these business cards. Therefore, its crucial to contrast the pricing plans of various virtual business card apps, particularly those that provide the features you necessitate, ensuring you obtain the best value for your money. Read about Privacy and Security Always select an electronic business card maker that emphasizes protecting your privacy and ensuring security. Opt for an e-business card maker that employs encryption methods for your data and stores it locally for maximum security. Consider Reviews and Testimonials Never solely depend on the claims made by digital business card solution providers. Instead, make it a point to peruse reviews and testimonials on unbiased third-party sites to evaluate the actual performance and credibility of the e-business card company. Check Customer Support Options The last thing you want is slow or unresponsive customer service. Hence, ensure you choose a company that offers multiple channels for customer service, including chat, email, and telephone calls, providing a prompt reply to your queries. How to Make a Digital Business Card Even though not all digital business card apps are created with the same features, the fundamental process tends to remain the same for most digital business card makers. Step 1: Begin by installing your chosen digital business card app and logging into your account. Once inside, select an appealing digital business card template that you wish to utilize in crafting your unique virtual business card. Step 2: Your next step is to set up your personal profile by providing basic information about yourself. Usually, this includes entering your name, uploading a profile picture, adding a company logo, describing your professional journey, among other details. Step 3: Once youve completed your profile setup, you should input your contact details. These might encompass a contact number, website address, Google Maps location, and other pertinent information. Step 4: Subsequently, you can add in your social media links, a captivating video, an attractive image, or any other data that your digital business card maker supports. Additionally, you can customize the font and color to align with your branding. Step 5: After populating the essential data fields, you can select the specific features you want to activate, which could include URL domain, QR code template, lead collection, etc. Just follow the onscreen instructions to finalize your digital business card. And voila! Your professional and personalized digital business card will be ready in no time. Physical Business Cards Vs. Electronic Business Cards Physical Business Cards Electronic Business Cards Information Included Typically includes basic information such as name, contact number, company name, and title Can include more detailed information like social media links, videos, images, Google Maps, etc. Sharing Hand-to-hand exchange, requires physical presence Can be shared in multiple ways, including QR code scanning, link sharing, NFC tag tapping, email signature, and text messages; no physical presence required Analytics No analytical data available Powerful analytics provided to measure the success of networking efforts Updates Requires a new batch of cards for every update Real-time changes can be made via the digital business card app Cost Printing costs can add up over time, especially with updates Typically cheaper than traditional cards; many apps offer free e-business cards with limited functionality Popularity Usage declining in favor of electronic options Growing in popularity due to convenience, cost-effectiveness, and greater flexibility Electronic Business Cards Final Words Electronic business cards are swiftly gaining momentum in the contemporary business landscape, due to their numerous advantages over the traditional paper options. These electronic cards serve as a more environmentally-friendly, cost-effective, and convenient mode of disseminating contact details. With a wide array of customization options and the ability to incorporate an extensive variety of information, digital business cards have the potential to drastically enhance your professional networking experiences. Furthermore, digital business cards provide you with multiple avenues for sharing, thereby ensuring your prospects can access your details effortlessly. What is included when you send an electronic business card? When you dispatch an electronic business card, it encapsulates all the contact details and relevant information youve incorporated during its creation. Typically, a digital business card creator app allows for the inclusion of your photo, contact details, website links, social media links, videos, and more. However, its important to note that the extent of data you can include on your digital card can fluctuate depending on the service providers guidelines and features. What should be on a digital business card? A well-crafted digital business card should encompass vital contact details such as your name, business name, logo, phone number, email address, and website URL, as well as social media profiles. Additionally, it can be advantageous to include a call-to-action button to motivate recipients to take a specific action, such as scheduling a consultation, visiting your website, or even following your social media profiles. Are electronic business cards worth it? Absolutely! Electronic business cards are completely worth the investment. Digital business cards serve as an exceptional medium for exchanging contact information and cultivating valuable business relationships. In addition to being significantly more affordable than physical business cards, digital cards champion environmental sustainability. They also offer versatile sharing options, including email, QR codes, text messages, link shares, and more. Importantly, they can be seamlessly integrated with your CRM system, thus facilitating the conversion of leads into customers in a streamlined manner. Businesses in many communities are still struggling from the pandemic. Some groups, like women-owned businesses and those in major cities or economically disadvantaged communities, tend to struggle even more. But small business grant programs aim to offer some relief. Read on to learn about current opportunities. Connecticut Womens Business Development Council Equity Match Grant Program The Womens Business Development Council in Connecticut is about to launch a new application period for its Equity Match Grant Program. Women-owned small businesses in Connecticut can apply for funds to support a clearly defined project. Grants may range from $2,500 to $10,000; a 25 percent match is required. Businesses in distressed economic communities are exempt from the match requirement. In addition to being at least 51 percent women-owned and located in Connecticut, applicants must also have at least two years in business to qualify and have annual sales between $25,000 and $2 million. The application period opens on August 14 and closes on September 27. Power Up Your Event's Success Sell Your Business Conduct Market Research Advertise Your Business Here Cook County Source Grants Cook County, IL is now officially launching a grant program to support businesses still struggling with the effects of COVID-19. The program was recently unveiled while County leaders continued working out the details. Now, small businesses in the county are officially able to apply for grants between $10,000 and $20,000, with $40 million in total funding available. Funding amounts will ultimately be determined by each businesss revenue as of 2019. Businesses that earned between $20,000 and $50,000 can apply for grants of $10,000. And those with revenue above $50,000 can apply for grants of $20,000. August 18 is the deadline to apply. San Francisco Storefront Opportunity Grant Program and Business Training Grant Program San Francisco is offering two new small business grant programs worth $4 million. The goal of these programs is to strengthen existing businesses and fill vacant commercial space in low to moderate income areas. The first program, the Storefront Opportunity Grant Program provides entrepreneurs with technical assistance and funding to secure new commercial leases. Grants of $25,00 are available for those looking to open their first storefront location. And $50,000 is available for existing businesses looking to expand to new locations. The second program, the Business Training Grant Program, provides training and counseling programs to both new and existing entrepreneurs, with a focus on racial equity. Grants of between $5,000 and $50,000 are available. Fresno Small Business Growth Fund The deadline is approaching for submitting grant applications to Fresno, Californias Small Business Growth Fund. The city is partnering with the Global Entrepreneurship Network, Etsy and Progressive to fund the program. Individual grants may be worth between $5,000 and $25,000. To qualify, businesses must have less than $1 million in revenue in 2022. July 21 is the application deadline. Newton County Small Business Relief Grant Program Newton County, Georgia is now accepting applications for its Small Business Relief Grant Program. Funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the program is open to small businesses with 25 employees or fewer. Each business can apply for up to $20,000 in reimbursement grant funding, and must demonstrate how the pandemic had a negative impact on their business. Harrisonburg Business Recovery Grant Program Harrisonburg, Virginia is setting aside $200,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act Funds for a small business grant program. The Harrisonburg Business Recovery Grant program aims to support businesses that are still facing pandemic-related struggles. The program previously launched funding cycles in 2020 and 2021, but the city knows that many businesses that didnt receive funds are still struggling. To qualify for funds during this new round, businesses must not have received previous grants from Harrisonburg during 2020 or 2021. The deadline to apply is August 31. Get the latest headlines from Small Business Trends. Follow us on Google News. This past year was a sad reminder of how hateful words can easily lead to hateful actions, embassies emphasise. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share Share Twitter Facebook Whatsapp E-mail Link to the page As Slovakia celebrates Pride events around the country this year, including in Bardejov on June 10, Banska Bystrica on June 24, Bratislava on July 22, and Kosice on August 26, we stand with the LGBTQI+ community as they form an integral part of Slovak society, strive for full equality, and struggle in the face of intolerance. Everyone is entitled to respect, dignity and equalityno matter how we identify ourselves or whom we love. This past year was a sad reminder of how hateful words can easily lead to hateful actions, and that when one group of people is targeted, all people in vulnerable situations are less safe. The murders at Teplaren underscored how discrimination and violence walk hand in hand. Attempts to further restrict the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons cause further pain. In this respect, we feel obliged to underline that when we stand up for the rights of all, societies are more free, more prosperous, and more secure. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, celebrating its 75th birthday this year, states that each person is entitled to human rights and fundamental freedoms. Similarly, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action of 1993 affirms that human rights are indivisible, interdependent, and interconnected, and the principles of the Charter of the Fundamental Rights of the European Union require all EU member states to enshrine equal treatment of all, including LGBTQI+ people. The Equal Rights Coalition of member states and NGOs promotes the rights of LGBTQI+ people worldwide. These rights are nonnegotiable. They are human rights. They are indivisible. They are the cornerstone of our free and democratic societies. To the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people of Slovakia and around the world, we see you. We stand with you. Embassy of the Argentine Republic to Austria, Slovenia and Slovakia Embassy of Australia Embassy of Austria Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium Embassy of Belgium General Representation of Flanders Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria Embassy of Canada Embassy of Chile Embassy of Cyprus Czech Embassy in Bratislava Embassy of Denmark EIB Group Representation in Slovakia Embassy of Estonia European Commission Representation in Slovakia European Parliament Liaison Office in Slovakia Embassy of Finland Embassy of France German Embassy Embassy of Greece Embassy of Iceland Embassy of Israel Embassy of Ireland Embassy of Italy Embassy of Japan Embassy of the Republic of Latvia Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Embassy of Malta Embassy of Mexico Embassy of Montenegro Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Slovak Republic New Zealand Embassy Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bratislava Embassy of Portugal in Bratislava Embassy of Romania The Embassy of the Republic of Serbia Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Bratislava The Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain in Bratislava Embassy of Sweden Embassy of Switzerland Embassy of Ukraine Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Embassy of the United States of America Wallonia.be and Wallonia-Brussels International in Slovakia Juraj Droba, Governor of Bratislava Region Dana Kleinert, Deputy Mayor of the City District Bratislava-Old Town Silvia Porubanova and the Slovak National Center for Human Rights Matej Vagac, Mayor of the City District Bratislava-Old Town Matus Vallo, Mayor of Bratislava https://sputnikglobe.com/20230721/senate-republicans-blocking-aukus-agreed-transfer-of-submarines-to-australia---reports-1112049073.html Senate Republicans Blocking AUKUS-Agreed Transfer of Submarines to Australia - Reports Senate Republicans Blocking AUKUS-Agreed Transfer of Submarines to Australia - Reports Republicans in the Senate Armed Services Committee are blocking approval to provide Australia with three nuclear-powered Virginia-class attack submarines as agreed to in the AUKUS security pact, an American newspaper reported on Friday. 2023-07-21T17:30+0000 2023-07-21T17:30+0000 2023-07-22T09:52+0000 military aukus republican party australia costs republicans senate armed services committee us senate submarine nuclear submarines /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/0b/12/1090831656_0:18:1280:738_1920x0_80_0_0_454886adab34bf2ddf16472fb8872271.jpg According to the media, Republicans argue that the White House must boost the Pentagon's budget to strengthen the US defense industry enough to meet the needs of the US Navy and Australia. Republican lawmakers have not come up with an amount to request, but pointed out that the $3 billion Australia plans to invest in the US submarine industrial base for this initiative will not be enough, the report said. Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Susan Collins plan to send a letter to President Joe Biden in the coming days to address their concerns on this matter. The trilateral partnership between the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia (AUKUS) was launched in September 2021 based on the premise that the US and UK would provide Canberra with the technology to obtain its nuclear-capable submarines, which is dubbed Pillar 1. Pillar 2 of the alliance includes the development of other technologies, including the production of critical minerals. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/why-aukus-nuclear-sub-deal-will-stir-up-pacific-into-ocean-of-storms-1110982350.html australia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International republican party, republicans, senate armed services committee, senate, aukus, submarines, nuclear-powered, virginia-class, australia, nuclear submarines, security pact https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/about-4990-foreign-fighters-killed-by-russian-forces-since-beginning-of-military-op-in-ukraine-1112059801.html About 4,990 Foreign Fighters Killed by Russian Forces Since Beginning of Military Op in Ukraine About 4,990 Foreign Fighters Killed by Russian Forces Since Beginning of Military Op in Ukraine Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry stated that Kiev has intensified recruitment of mercenaries to hide heavy losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during... 22.07.2023, Sputnik International 2023-07-22T10:45+0000 2023-07-22T10:45+0000 2023-07-22T12:03+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine russia mercenaries /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/16/1112059634_0:191:2962:1857_1920x0_80_0_0_f6295e63e169c70c2f5ca50bc4518089.jpg 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 Lvov in western Ukraine, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday. "According to confirmed information, on July 6, as a result of a group strike with long-range, sea-launched high-precision weapons on the territory of the [Ukrainian armed forces'] ground forces academy in the city of Lvov, a large number of Polish and German mercenaries stationed there were eliminated," the ministry said.A total of 4,990 foreign mercenaries have been eliminated since the start of Russia's military operation, with 4,910 having fled combat zone, leaving Ukraine, the ministry said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230504/this-was-s-german-merc-warns-about-chilling-reality-of-fighting-in-ukraine-1110096447.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, ukraine, ukrainian crisis, conflict in ukraine, russian special military operation in ukraine, war in ukraine, foreign mercenaries https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/guatemalas-law-enforcement-search-offices-of-semilla-party-supreme-electoral-tribunal-1112055581.html Guatemala's Law Enforcement Search Offices of Semilla Party, Supreme Electoral Tribunal Guatemala's Law Enforcement Search Offices of Semilla Party, Supreme Electoral Tribunal Guatemala's Special Prosecutor's Office against Impunity and police are searching the headquarters of the Semilla Movement party and the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. 2023-07-22T03:02+0000 2023-07-22T03:02+0000 2023-07-22T02:59+0000 americas guatemala election runoff vote investigation constitutional court /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/16/1112055725_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_9b85151a8d3cf57c6aedbfb93c6e0daf.jpg The search is being conducted as a part of the ongoing investigation into the party's alleged forging of signatures during its registration and illegally financing the process."The proceedings are being carried out to obtain evidence to strengthen the investigation, respecting the Constitutional Court's decision on provisional protection."Guatemala's law enforcement is also searching the offices of TSE for the second day as part of an investigation into the alleged fraudulent registration of Semilla. The day before, prosecutors requested an arrest warrant for the interim head of the electoral court, Eleonora Castillo, "for obstruction of justice." TSE on Friday denounced the "disproportionate, intimidating and excessive forceful actions taken by various authorities" and vowed to provide legal defense to all officials and court staff. The Electoral Observation Mission of Guatemala slammed the actions of the prosecutor's office and the criminal court as intimidation of TSE, which threatened its independence and contravened the rulings of the constitutional court. On July 13, TSE recognized the results of the June presidential election and announced that former Guatemalan first lady and presidential candidate Sandra Julieta Torres Casanova and Bernardo Arevalo, the leader of the Semilla Movement party, entered the second round of voting, scheduled for August 20. The court added the final turnout was 5.56 million people, or about 60% of the total electorate, and that the National Unity of Hope received 888,924 votes and the Semilla Movement - 653,486 votes. An hour before the publication of the results of the first round of the presidential election, the Seventh Criminal Court of Guatemala, at the request of the prosecutor's office, temporarily deprived the Semilla Movement of its legal status. The party filed a lawsuit with the Constitutional Court the next day to overturn the ruling and against the judge who made the decision. On July 14, TSE also granted temporary protection to the Semilla Movement, whose registration had been suspended the previous day at the request of the prosecutor's office, so that the election process in the country could continue. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230714/front-runner-of-guatemalas-presidential-election-halts-campaign-amid-legal-standoff-1111865108.html americas guatemala Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International guatemala, special prosecutor's office against impunity, police, semilla movement party, supreme electoral tribunal https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/japan-doesnt-want-to-fight-for-taiwan-and-neither-do-other-us-allies-1112066099.html Japan Doesn't Want to Fight for Taiwan and Neither Do Other US Allies Japan Doesn't Want to Fight for Taiwan and Neither Do Other US Allies Despite Japan bolstering its military capabilities under the nation's new Defense Buildup Program, it appears to have zero appetite to engage in direct confrontation with China over Taiwan, Western media and think tanks say. 2023-07-22T17:09+0000 2023-07-22T17:09+0000 2023-07-22T17:09+0000 joe biden taiwan japan china us military kuomintang self-defense forces (sdf) nancy pelosi asia-pacific region /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102721/35/1027213519_0:233:4500:2765_1920x0_80_0_0_9a93dbeb368bb067b1c16334efba1bb5.jpg US military facilities in Okinawa, Japan, might play a central role in any Taiwan crisis, according to the Western press. Moreover, American military analysts have almost unanimously agreed that Japan is "the most likely US ally to contribute troops" in a potential US conflict with China over the island.Back in October 2021, War on the Rocks, a US online media outlet, quoted a Japanese poll which appeared to indicate that 74% of respondents would support their government's military engagement in the Taiwan Strait against China. The report further speculated about the possibilities of circumventing the country's Constitution, which limits Japan's ability to participate in conflicts.Bold statements made by some Japanese officials also seemed to confirm Tokyo's resolve. One of them, former Minister of Defense Yasuhide Nakayama, insisted in June 2021 that Taiwan is a "red line" and that "we have to protect Taiwan as a democratic country." Japan and Taiwan are geographically close and any possible military actions over the island could potentially affect Japans Okinawa prefecture, Nakayama argued at the time.Is China Going to Take Taiwan by Force?The People's Republic of China, which considers Taiwan its inalienable part, has repeatedly stated that it is going to reunite with the island peacefully, referring to years of fruitful collaboration with the former Taiwanese government formed by members of Kuomintang Party.The Kuomintang can make a spectacular comeback during the Taiwanese general elections, scheduled for January 2024. The party's victory could nip the fuss around Taiwan's secessionism and potential conflict in the bud. Even US lawmakers admit it, considering the Kuomintang's win a potential "threat" to Washington's plans in the Asia-Pacific.Biden Fast-Tracks Arming of TaiwanFor their part, the Biden administration and American legislators have repeatedly issued provocative statements with regard to the island, with the US president claiming time and time again that Washington is ready to "protect" Taiwan "militarily." The US has also bolstered arms sales to the island.In late June, Biden approved two potential arms sales totaling $440 million to Taiwan, including ammo and other military equipment. Earlier, in March, the US State Department approved a $619 million sale of hundreds of missiles to Taiwan to arm its new US-made F-16 jet fighters. Moreover, the Biden administration has started to use fast-track authority for accelerating the pace of the arming of Taiwan. The same mechanism has been used by Biden to speed-up Ukraine's militarization.Japanese Leadership Seems Unhappy With US BellicosityThe unfolding situation has apparently given shivers to the Japanese leadership. The Wall Street Journal broke on Monday that the Japanese government is ready to give permission to the US to use bases in Japan in the case of conflict over Taiwan, but Tokyo's own participation is unlikely.Per the report, Washington invited Tokyo to consider using its Self-Defense Forces, especially the Maritime Self-Defense Force for hunting for Chinese submarines around the island of Taiwan and for other military missions.Presently, Japan is home to about 54,000 US troops, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. It also hosts the headquarters of the US Navy's 7th Fleet and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.Tokyo's concerns have certain grounds. In May, Japanese scholar Kiyoshi Sugawa wrote for Responsible Statecraft, the online magazine of the Quincy Institute (a DC-based think tank), that if Japan fought alongside the US in a hypothetical conflict with China over Taiwan, the Japanese civilians and economy would suffer greatly. What's more, in a conflict between two nuclear powers, China and the US, Japan may itself become a nuclear target, Sugawa warned.The DC-based think also refers to the recent Japanese polls which indicate that just 11% of Japanese respondents consider it possible to fight alongside the US against China, while 27% said that their forces should not cooperate with the US military at all. The majority (56%) said that providing logistical support to the US would be more than enough in the event of the conflict.Nobody Wants to Die for Uncle SamWhat's more, Japan is not the only US ally unwilling to fight with China over Taiwan. The Australian government has recently signaled that it gave no promises to Washington about military participation in a potential conflict. The Philippines does not want to get dragged into the conflict, either.When it comes to South Korea, it also lacks any enthusiasm of joining the US in a combat operation in the Taiwan Strait. Western observers draw attention to the fact that South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol avoided meeting with then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Seoul after her controversial tour to Taiwan. The Diplomat suggested that Seoul has at least three reasons to avoid a possible war over the island. First, the China market accounts for 30% of South Koreas total trade; second, Seoul fears that a Taiwan conflict would increase "the North Korean threat"; third, for Seoul friendly relations with Beijing is a guarantee against a conflict with Pyongyang.Still, there is yet another US regional treaty ally, Thailand. However, according to the DC-based think tank, it's completely impossible to force Bangkok to fight against China for the sake of Taiwan.While muddying the waters of the Taiwan Strait, the US risks staying face-to-face with China which would mean a defeat in a possible military standoff, judging from the US' earlier war game simulations. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230628/united-states-provocative-behavior-in-taiwan-issue-creates-more-tensions-in-sino-us-relations-1111520747.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/us-speed-up-of-arms-supplies-to-taiwan-prior-to-islands-2024-elections-sends-ominous-signal-1109390632.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230511/natos-liaison-office-in-japan-part-of-plan-to-destabilize-china-and-russia-1110263884.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230607/why-aukus-nuclear-sub-deal-will-stir-up-pacific-into-ocean-of-storms-1110982350.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230612/what-are-japans-new-defensive-anti-ship-cruise-missile-targets-1111092642.html taiwan japan china south korea australia thailand Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Ekaterina Blinova Ekaterina Blinova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Ekaterina Blinova us-china relations, us-japan military partnership, japan defense buildup program, japan pacifist, japanese military, taiwan, taiwan strait, potential conflict over taiwan, aukus, australia, chinese people's liberation army, japan's self-defense forces https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/not-an-easy-neighbor-turkiye-unlikely-to-join-eu-soon-says-german-foreign-minister-1112055233.html Not An Easy Neighbor: Turkiye Unlikely to Join EU Soon, Says German Foreign Minister Not An Easy Neighbor: Turkiye Unlikely to Join EU Soon, Says German Foreign Minister Even as Germany may be prepared to open its doors towards a peaceful partnership with Turkiye, the country's accession to the EU remains at a standstill. 2023-07-22T02:07+0000 2023-07-22T02:07+0000 2023-07-22T03:55+0000 world turkiye european union (eu) germany russia annalena baerbock /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/03/1093558976_0:67:2993:1750_1920x0_80_0_0_dbdf21afcf7db76f0c9cb286f1b4c335.jpg German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock recently commented that Turkiyes path to joining the European Union is unlikely to happen any time soon, as the country is being held at arms length due to its human rights issues."The reason Turkiye has not been able to join the EU, Baerbock said while outside an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday, is because important [criteria] that are essential for these talks have not been met [by Turkiye].While Germany is open to a reconciliation with Turkiye and encourages a strategic and forward-looking approach between the country and the rest of the EU, Baerbock said they are aware Europe is not naive, and that the process will not be easy in these geopolitically challenging times.Russia has braced Turkiye to lower their expectations, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying: Nobody wants to see Turkiye in Europe. I am referring to Europeans.Last week, it was reported Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attempted to sway EU members by offering his support for Swedens NATO bid. However, EU officials, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission spokeswoman Dana Spinant, pointed out the two processes were not related. Erdogan agreed to Swedens NATO application, after opposing it for more than a year. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230330/turkiye-will-not-repeat-mistake-of-eu-members-that-suspended-their-npps-1108941432.html turkiye germany russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Mary Manley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/01/0b/1092187887_0:0:2048:2049_100x100_80_0_0_0c2cc4c84f89aff034cc55bb01fb6697.jpg turkiye, eu, european union, germany, russia, nato https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/pyongyang-fires-cruise-missiles-toward-sea-of-japan---report-1112055076.html North Korea Fires Cruise Missiles Toward Sea of Japan - Report North Korea Fires Cruise Missiles Toward Sea of Japan - Report North Korea launched several cruise missiles toward the Sea of Japan early Saturday, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) confirmed. 2023-07-22T00:52+0000 2023-07-22T00:52+0000 2023-07-22T00:49+0000 asia north korea south korea korean peninsula cruise missiles sea of japan joint chiefs of staff asia-pacific region /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/18/1108749424_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_bf2a027197cc4d36d4fd5290473e5ecd.jpg Reports have detailed that the intelligence agencies of South Korea and the United States were analyzing the launches, which occurred around 4:00 a.m. local time (19:00 GMT on Friday), to determine the type of missiles and other details. The latest launch came three days after Pyongyang launched two short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan. North Korea carried out its previous missile launch on July 12. The new-type Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile is believed to have flown over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) at a maximum altitude of over 6,000 kilometers on a lofted trajectory. On Friday, the South Korean Defense Ministry threatened Pyongyang with "the end of the North Korean regime" in the event of a nuclear attack against Seoul after the North said that the deployment of US nuclear assets in the region could be a sufficient reason to use nuclear arms. On Thursday, North Korean Defense Minister Kang Sun Nam criticized the deployment of a US nuclear ballistic missile submarine in South Korea earlier in the week, saying that Pyongyang could potentially consider it a sufficient basis for the use of nuclear arms for self-defense. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230719/pentagons-indo-pacific-command-chief-north-korea-has-missiles-that-can-reach-us-1111979464.html south korea korean peninsula sea of japan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International north korea, south korea, sea of japan, cruise missile launch, joint chiefs of staff, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/russian-ambassador-says-gave-proper-response-to-warsaws-complaints-over-putins-remarks-1112060685.html Russian Ambassador Gave Proper Response to Warsaw's Complaints Over Putin's Remarks Russian Ambassador Gave Proper Response to Warsaw's Complaints Over Putin's Remarks Poland received a proper response to its grievances over the comments Russian President Vladimir Putin made on Friday, Russian Ambassador to Warsaw Sergey Andreev told Sputnik. 2023-07-22T11:18+0000 2023-07-22T11:18+0000 2023-07-22T11:24+0000 world russia vladimir putin joseph stalin security council poland /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/16/1112060441_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_3710991c2ad9d2c82595b8e079e4bb1a.jpg On Saturday, Andreev was summoned to the Polish Foreign Ministry after Putin told a meeting of the Security Council that Poland's Western allies in 1939 left the country at the mercy of Germany. At the time, Poland practically lost its independence and statehood, which it regained to a great extent thanks to the Soviet Union. Putin noted that thanks to the Soviet Union, thanks to Stalin's position, Poland gained significant lands in the West, which once belonged to Germany. Andreev said that he spoke to Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski, who "laid out the grievances of the Polish side about what our president said yesterday at a meeting with members of the Security Council." The Russian ambassador added that he and Jablonski "noted a complete lack of mutual understanding and very different approaches to issues of both history and contemporary politics." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230721/putin-poland-plans-to-form-coalition-within-nato-to-directly-intervene-seize-land-in-ukraine-1112040943.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230721/poll-could-poland-invade-ukraine-1112049358.html russia poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia, russia-polish relations, vladimir putin, vladimir putin poland, joseph stalin, joseph stalin poland https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/russian-embassy-in-us-says-washington-responsible-for-kievs-strike-on-journalists-1112081405.html Russian Embassy in US Says Washington Responsible for Kiev's Strike on Journalists Russian Embassy in US Says Washington Responsible for Kiev's Strike on Journalists The United States is responsible for the strike by the Ukrainian armed forces using Washington-supplied cluster munitions that killed Sputnik military correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev and injured several other journalists, the Russian Embassy in Washington said on Saturday. 2023-07-22T17:57+0000 2023-07-22T17:57+0000 2023-07-22T17:57+0000 russia ukraine russia shelling cluster munitions journalist death /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/16/1112081247_0:170:2731:1706_1920x0_80_0_0_00dcf2b5d60b0d36e5bfcc1022d021ea.jpg Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Zhuravlev died during evacuation from injuries caused by cluster submunition explosion and four journalists received wounds of varying degrees of severity. The diplomatic mission stressed that Zhuravlev was killed as a result of the deployment of cluster bombs by the Ukrainian troops, saying that Kiev was targeting civilian infrastructure. "Rostislav died as a result of a Ukrainian armed forces strike with cluster munitions. Ukrainian radicals use these shells to hit cities and villages of our country, destroying homes of civilians. Kiev receives such weapons from the United States," the embassy added. The Russian embassy expressed deep condolences to Zhuravlev's family and wished a speedy recovery to his colleagues who were injured during the shelling. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/russian-foreign-ministry-those-responsible-for-death-of-sputnik-war-correspondent-will-be-punished-1112065127.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International rostislav zhuravlev, russia, ukraine, cluster munitions, russian journalist killed https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/some-1000-parcels-that-might-contain-poison-reported-to-police-in-south-korea-1112056580.html Some 1,000 Parcels That Might Contain Poison Reported to Police in South Korea Some 1,000 Parcels That Might Contain Poison Reported to Police in South Korea MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The South Korean police have received nearly 1,000 reports of suspicious international parcels nationwide amid concerns these might contain... 22.07.2023, Sputnik International 2023-07-22T05:30+0000 2023-07-22T05:30+0000 2023-07-22T05:31+0000 asia south korea police /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102421/67/1024216746_0:122:3462:2069_1920x0_80_0_0_a771d705557afcbad6fe693db90fd774.jpg The police were quoted as saying that they had received on Friday alone a total of 987 reports of suspicious parcels with cheap products or empty, delivered from abroad, mostly from Taiwan. No hazardous material has been so far found in parcels, but police said it would decide whether to launch an investigation after substance analysis. The media also cited South Korea's Postal Service as saying that it has temporarily suspended the delivery of suspicious packages amid growing concerns. Police did not rule out that a toxic chemical agent might have caused the injuries, even though medical tests did not immediately point out what caused the symptom, the media reported. The parcel was sent to South Korea's Agency for Defense Development for analysis. Another package was found at a postal office in Ulsan on Friday, with similar reports also coming from Seoul, Seoul's suburb of Yongin, as well as Jeju Island, the Haman county in South Gyeongsang Province, and the city of Daejeon, the report said. Following the incident, the police called for vigilance and said that the color of such packages could be yellow or black with "CHUNGHWA POST" written on them, and the sender could be from Taiwan's Taipei, the report said. A local news agency cited the Taipei Mission in South Korea as saying that it had found that similar packages were initially sent from China and arrived in South Korea through Taiwan. The media also cited Taiwan's customs agency as saying that it has conducted an investigation into the delivery route of the suspected parcels and shared the results with South Korea's agencies and police. south korea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International south korea parcels, south korea police on suspicious parcels, suspicious parcels in south korea https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/swedens-nato-bid-to-be-submitted-to-turkiyes-parliament-in-october-1112060961.html Sweden's NATO Bid to Be Submitted to Turkiye's Parliament in October Sweden's NATO Bid to Be Submitted to Turkiye's Parliament in October Sweden's NATO bid will be submitted to the Turkish parliament in October, however, the parliament's decision will depend on whether Sweden has fulfilled the conditions set by Turkiye or not, Turkish newspaper reported on Saturday, citing sources. 2023-07-22T11:37+0000 2023-07-22T11:37+0000 2023-07-22T11:37+0000 military turkiye nato sweden recep tayyip erdogan jens stoltenberg european union (eu) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/02/13/1107597735_0:49:3072:1777_1920x0_80_0_0_89f0f7f1dcb3dedf7d9c20c6935e8216.jpg Sweden's membership in NATO could be approved by the Foreign Affairs Commission of the parliament as a declaration of intent, the report said. However, the intensification of rapprochement between Turkiye and the EU depended not so much on Sweden, but on Germany and France, it added. Germany and France support Sweden joining NATO with the United States pushing for it, and will readily satisfy some of Turkiye's requests, the newspaper said. However, if Turkiye does not allow Sweden to join, these two countries will take steps so that Sweden could join as soon as possible, media said. While Turkiye's immediate accession to the EU is out of the question, Paris and Berlin do not want to make Sweden wait for a long time, according to the report. On July 10, on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Sweden would be able to join NATO after Turkiye is admitted to the European Union. Later that day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Erdogan agreed to send documents to ratify Sweden's NATO membership application to Turkish parliament "as soon as possible," and Stockholm promised Ankara to facilitate its path to the EU. Sweden, along with Finland, submitted its NATO application in May 2022. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230713/swedens-entire-territory-of-interest-for-nato-due-to-strategic-location---stoltenberg-1111859527.html turkiye sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sweden nato bid, sweden to join nato, sweden turkiye nato, turkiye blocks sweden https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/syrias-information-ministry-condemns-killing-of-russian-journalist-in-ukraine-1112064819.html Syria's Information Ministry Condemns Killing of Russian Journalist in Special Military Op Zone Syria's Information Ministry Condemns Killing of Russian Journalist in Special Military Op Zone The Syrian Ministry of Information strongly condemns the killing of Sputnik war correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev, Information Minister Boutros al-Hallaq said on Saturday. 2023-07-22T15:08+0000 2023-07-22T15:08+0000 2023-07-22T16:33+0000 world syria ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/16/1112064636_0:190:2968:1860_1920x0_80_0_0_43e0cef13e6f57690c6f55d3d43214e3.jpg The minister stressed that there is a common denominator between the terrorist organizations that killed many Syrian journalists and the Ukrainian government, and said that the United States was behind all of them. Earlier in the day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Zhuravlev died during evacuation from injuries caused by cluster submunition explosion and four journalists received wounds of varying degrees of severity. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/sputnik-military-correspondent-killed-in-ukrainian-shelling-1112060149.html syria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine kills journalists, ukrainian hunt on journalists, ukrainian terrorism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/turkiye-plans-to-tighten-citizenship-application-process-on-path-to-eu-1112066311.html Turkiye Plans to Tighten Citizenship Application Process on Path to EU Turkiye Plans to Tighten Citizenship Application Process on Path to EU Turkiye will make it harder for foreigners to obtain Turkish citizenship in order to join the European Union, a Turkish newspaper reported on Saturday, citing sources. 2023-07-22T17:03+0000 2023-07-22T17:03+0000 2023-07-22T17:03+0000 world recep tayyip erdogan turkiye ankara european union (eu) migrants refugees refugee crisis middle east /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105828/16/1058281626_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_5fd9271fbf80e6c099c5f601b51d5dd9.jpg Turkiye plans to change its migration policy, making it more difficult to obtain Turkish citizenship for refugees, especially Syrian, as diplomatic sources name asylum seekers as one of the most important aspects of the visa problem, the report read. On July 17, the Turkish Interior Ministry said that nearly five million migrants were living in the country and that 1,169 districts had banned registration of foreigners. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier in the month that the citizens of Turkiye would soon feel the changes occurring as a result of the operations against illegal migrants. In May, the Turkish government passed amendments to the citizenship law, providing new rules for the application process. Now, Turkish citizenship can be obtained if an applicant purchases property in the country worth at least $400,000 or has a deposit of the same amount in a Turkish bank. In addition, applicants are required not to sell the property or withdraw the deposit for at least three years. In early 2016, Turkiye and the EU signed a refugee deal, which was to accelerate the accession process and allow for visa-free travel between Turkiye and the bloc. But negotiations have been stalling since 2016 after the EU accused Ankara of human rights violations and non-observance of the rule of law in the country. turkiye ankara Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International turkey, refugees, migrants, refugee crisis, turkish citizenship, turkish-eu refugee deal https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/ukraine-attacks-village-in-russias-belgorod-region-with-cluster-munitions-1112059442.html Ukraine Attacks Village in Russia's Belgorod Region With Cluster Munitions Ukraine Attacks Village in Russia's Belgorod Region With Cluster Munitions Cluster munitions are banned by the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which has been ratified by 123 countries. Usage of such projectiles in generally considered to be a war crime. 2023-07-22T10:14+0000 2023-07-22T10:14+0000 2023-07-22T11:19+0000 russia ukrainian attacks on belgorod region ukrainian crisis /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105986/89/1059868925_0:114:2700:1633_1920x0_80_0_0_e3e3cd6177c07f4d337472f806df645f.jpg Ukrainian armed forces used cluster munitions against civilian infrastructure in Russia's Belgorod, shelling the village of Zhuravlevka, according to regional head Vyacheslav Gladkov. He clarified that militants used 21 artillery shells and 3 cluster projectiles, fired from a MLRS.In addition, nationalists used grenade launchers and kamikaze drones against the village. Ukrainian troops also shelled another village in Belgorod region Shetinovka, using grenade launchers, artillery and UAVs. According to Gladkov, there were no casualties or damage to the infrastructure.Early in July, US President Joe Biden announced the decision to provide Kiev with cluster munitions. Cluster munitions are banned under an international convention which has been ratified by 123 countries, excluding the US, Ukraine, China and Russia. Vladimir Putin, commenting on this decision, reminded that previous US administrations dubbed such actions as a crime and added that the Russian army has a big stockpile of various cluster munitions. The international non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch said that providing Kiev with such arms will ultimately lead to the long-term suffering of civilians and will nullify the international consensus not to use cluster munitions. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230708/everything-you-need-to-know-about-cluster-bombs-the-us-will-send-to-ukraine-1111735880.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian crisis, ukrainian terror attacks, cluster munitions ukraine, ukraine cluster https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/us-crossing-moral-red-lines-by-supplying-kiev-with-cluster-munitions-1112062761.html US Crossing 'Moral Red Lines' by Supplying Kiev With Cluster Munitions - Russian UN Envoy US Crossing 'Moral Red Lines' by Supplying Kiev With Cluster Munitions - Russian UN Envoy The United States is crossing "all moral red lines" by supplying Ukraine with cluster munitions that killed Sputnik war correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev and injured, among others, the news agency's photojournalist, Konstantin Mikhalchevsky, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyanskiy said on Saturday. 2023-07-22T13:40+0000 2023-07-22T13:40+0000 2023-07-22T14:45+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis the united nations (un) washington john kirby cluster bombs /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/105616/31/1056163110_0:0:591:333_1920x0_80_0_0_19519622261c3ca810791886e696b238.jpg "Cluster munitions supplied by the US is killing journalists in Ukraine. I wonder what US public opinion thinks of their country crossing all moral red lines in futile attempt to save crumbling corrupt Kiev regime. Looks like US establishment can only lecture others," Polyanskiy tweeted. Ukrainian troops launched an artillery strike at around 09:00 GMT on Saturday on a group of journalists from the Izvestia and Sputnik news agencies while they were preparing reports about Kiev's use of cluster bombs in Zaporozhye Region. Four journalists were wounded and one was killed as a result. Earlier in July, Washington announced its decision to send cluster munitions to Ukraine so as not to reduce the supply of artillery shells to Kiev while US industry ramps up output against the backdrop of low stockpiles among NATO members. On Thursday, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters that the cluster munitions that Washington provided to Kiev had already been deployed in the field. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230708/everything-you-need-to-know-about-cluster-bombs-the-us-will-send-to-ukraine-1111735880.html washington Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us arms for ukraine, ukrainian crisis, cluster munition for ukraine, un, ukraine war crimes https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/us-military-awards-985mln-contract-for-ai-tools-to-boost-cyber-capabilities-1112061205.html US Military Awards $98.5Mln Contract for AI Tools to Boost Cyber Capabilities US Military Awards $98.5Mln Contract for AI Tools to Boost Cyber Capabilities The US military awarded a $98.5 million contract for artificial intelligence (A.I.) tools to enhance operational cyber capabilities, the Defense Department said in a press release. 2023-07-22T11:52+0000 2023-07-22T11:52+0000 2023-07-22T14:47+0000 military us defense department artificial intelligence artificial intelligence /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107006/72/1070067272_0:0:1280:720_1920x0_80_0_0_33f5ab255047815fadca178b144218ea.jpg "Assured Information Security Inc., Rome, New York, has been awarded a $98,500,000... contract for software and reports. This contract provides for Artificial Intelligence/Machine Language-based tools and techniques developed in industry, academia, and in previous phases of this effort, to improve emergent and operational cyber capabilities developed by the Air Force and partnering combatant commands," the release said on Friday. Work will be performed in Rome, New York over the next five years and is expected to be completed by July 20, 2028, the release said. Earlier this month, media reported that the US military was running large language artificial intelligence exercises to test the performance of major military tasks for the first time. Five major power generative AI tools such as OpenAIs ChatGPT and Googles Bard are being used as part of an eight-week exercise run by the Pentagons digital and AI office and military top brass, with participation from US allies, the report said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230705/pentagon-reportedly-running-large-language-ai-tests-to-assess-their-reliability-1111683087.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230603/odds-of-smarter-than-human-ai-wiping-out-mankind-are-50-percent-or-greater-physicist-warns-1110881686.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us defense, us ai, ai military, us cyber operations, ai militarism https://sputnikglobe.com/20230722/watch-russian-and-chinese-navy-destroying-target-in-joint-drills-1112057070.html Watch Russian and Chinese Navy Destroying Target in Joint Drills Watch Russian and Chinese Navy Destroying Target in Joint Drills The North/Interaction - 2023 Joint Russian-Chinese naval drills are taking place in the Sea of Japan from July 20-23. 2023-07-22T07:10+0000 2023-07-22T07:10+0000 2023-07-22T07:10+0000 military russia china ministry of defense russian navy chinese navy video /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/16/1112058012_23:0:1662:922_1920x0_80_0_0_54f1a1548d4f9da9fb4c238b37b611bc.png Russias Ministry of Defense published footage that shows Russian and Chinese Navy ships firing rounds at mock enemy ship. The training target was placed at a distance of more than five kilometers. Russian sailors used 100-mm artillery guns, while their Chinese counterparts unleashed projectiles from 130mm and 76mm guns.In addition, the crews trained to locate and escort enemy submarines.The ongoing drills are aimed at enhancing peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region as well as strengthening the Russian-Chinese partnership. russia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sergey Lebedev Sergey Lebedev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sailors of the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy perform joint artillery firing at the "North/Interaction - 2023" joint naval exercise Sailors of the Russian Navy and the Chinese Navy perform joint artillery firing at the "North/Interaction - 2023" joint naval exercise 2023-07-22T07:10+0000 true PT2M27S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sergey Lebedev russia-china drills, russia-china fires, russia-china naval drills, russia-china naval exercises